I keep posting later and later! :dizzy:

Mama, I hope your gall bladder is feeling better! Is something wrong or is this an issue you've always had?

Kristin, having two sheeps in a row confused me! I thought Mama was posting again! :lol: You have kitties? Yay for furkids! How many and what are their names? Glad day 3 is a bit easier for you. Bet you'll feel amazing by the end of the week!

Ellis, you sweetheart! Thanks! :grouphug: Enjoy the movie! I can't wait until it comes out on video so I can see it! Know the feeling about being slow! Oy! :p

Shequila, I love Trader Joe's! :yes: Please don't feel like I'm picking on you...I'm not...I just want to be helpful. :goodvibes: If you need crunch, what about carrots, celery, jicama (that is awesome stuff and perfect with guac!), red pepper strips, etc? If you HAVE to have a chip, try sweet potato chips. I found great ones near me, and I think Ruth had some the other day. I can look at the brand for you if you want. Or perhaps Triscuits? They are crunchy and salty and good, but they are OP in Phase 2! :D The corn in the chips you are eating will really mess up your weightloss. At to the movie, did you hear that Mc. D's is in financial trouble? I heard something like that on the radio at the gym yesterday, I think. Perish the thought! :lol:

SKHerb, here's hoping you can get the best of your TOM! :grouphug:

LC: CONGRATULATIONS on staying OP!!!! :cp: :high: :cheer: :cp: I am so PROUD of you, girl!!! :D

It sounds like Ellis needs to head up a huge gym caravan! (can we get dim sum afterwards? :lol: )

RNMom, you kill me! "I want to eat the wallpaper!" indeed! :lol3: Okay, here goes: :drill: You can do this, RNMom, and you WILL! :hyper: You've done so extremely well! Look back to your post about how none of the other food really tasted good...think of all your success, hunker down and get going! You are so healthy and need to keep it up! Check out some new recipes, get excited about OP food and get going, chickie! :grouphug:

Jodi, so silly that they couldn't have told you about the button over the phone! Oh well, at least it's working. :D CONGRTULATIONS on losing that weight...off you go into virgin territory! :cb:

Ruth, I hope DH's visit goes well and he's put on a bit of weight. I think you are remarkable for staying away from all those treats! Oh man, sugar alcohols and ice cream sandwiches...those are the ones that made me so sick! :tied: I can't go near them, but boy did they taste good at the time! :rolleyes:

Barb, how scary! :yikes: I'm glad you are okay! :D

2kewt: welcome! :wave: Glad to see you in the daily and your avatar pic is adorable!

Jen, would love to hear the recipe for the pulled pork!

Kvixen, so sorry about your computer...hope it gets fixed soon! :grouphug: Prince tickets? :yikes: Oh man, I would love to see him in concert!!! :D Please don't beat yourself up on the chocolate thing. Instead, hold that memory inside for the next time you feel like succumbing to peer pressure and don't do it! :jig: Let everyone near and around you know that you are slimming (I love the British way of saying dieting...sounds much better!) and help them help you stick to it! You can do this, girl!!! :cheer:

Peggy, I feel you on the weeds. I spent an hour or so in the yard last weekend just doing the two front beds. I got over 15 mosquito bites in return...blech! What a wet and dreary summer. At least it's not blazingly hot...that's a major blessing. :yes:

Chris, welcome! :wave: Sounds like you are making some great changes! Maybe try watering down your tea slowly to increase water intake. Use decaf tea as much as you can...the caffeine can slow your weight loss. You want to work up to having only 2 cups (16 oz. total) of tea be part of your daily water intake (I think we're aiming for at least 62 oz?). :goodluck:

Weezle, here's to a fresh start and lots of water! (as I run to the bathroom for the 40th time today....)

HistoryChick, so glad the date went well! I bet you looked charming in spite of the bowling ball incident...at least you didn't hit him with it. ;) Don't forget to tell us how the weekend goes! :D

Ah, Emily, sorry the pizza attacked you last night! Hope that the Phase 1 plan gets rid of the cravings. Think it's great that you figured out what are triggers for you. Sorry about your ex and your daughter's sadness. :grouphug: Hope you can love them extra and they realize that you are worth ten of him. :goodvibes:

Jenn, sometimes contributing your wisdom can be healing...and with all the weight you've lost I know you have a lot of wisdom to contribute! Hope you feel better and that you are proud of yourself for not letting one slip make the whole day go down the drain! :cp:

Me:

Well, DH is now out of town and so I took the opportunity last night to go shopping. It was so therapeutic! :D I found fabric to make a baby quilt for my girlfriend's baby and some things for the kitchen to replace our five year old ones like our dishrack. The kitchen looks so much better just with those little changes!

Even better, I took an extra string cheese with me so I wouldn't be tempted to eat off plan. In the past, the combination of being by the mall and away from DH would have triggered a bingefest of epic proportions. This may have been the first time that I actually did a trip like this without eating...wow!!! :D

This morning, I measured myself...something I hadn't done since June. I was amazed at all the inches I lost! I'm going to start a separate thread for that because I am sure that many of you have lost lots of inches too, and I think we should celebrate that! I lost 3 inches in my waist and 7.75 inches in my hips! :hyper: Yippee!

I'm going to Jazzercise tonight, and then I really hope that I can cut out some of the fabric for the quilt...that would be so much fun!!! :D Tomorrow I start the weight program from my trainer. It looks really brutal, so say a prayer for me if you get a chance. :crossed:

Have a great afternoon, chickies!

Laurie, you are so cute! Congrats on your mall trip! It sounds like you were productive and good! Actually, double congrats!

I am certain the baby quilt will be gorgeous- congrats for knowing how to quilt. I want to learn to knit, maybe when LSATs are over. Those are the sort of homemade gifts that people treasure.

I love sprucing up my house. I adore the dollar store- I know it sounds crazy,but i got a great dish rack there for- you guessed it- $1. Yours made me think of mine. And really nicely scented candles too. Hope you have some in your neck of the woods!

Thanks for the encouragement about the chocolate. I wish it had been favorite (caramel) now instead of stupid vanilla cream. I will try to be better tonight! Good luck to you all. Hopefully my computer will be up and running tonight! :shrug:

OMG1 There's no way I can catch up and comment to everyone so......

The doc visit was just fine - for me, anyhow. My blood sugar is perfect with HA1C at 062, my BP is great 120/60 and the doc is pleased with my weightloss. However...and there always is a "however" these days :( .....Harry is not doing well. I won't give you a whole bunch of details but his weightloss seems to be from loss of blood somehow. It showed up as raised albumin levels. He is anaemic and there will be more bloodwork and probably a colonoscopy to try to track it down. It doesn't sound wonderful. So if I'm a bit "down", you'll know why. I also got a minor scolding from the nurse practitioner for not walking these days. My frassing knee hurts, idiot, and I'm dealing with a lot of other crap!

Enough griping. It was my afternoon "off" and I have a trunkload of groceries to lug in and unpack. Mandarin Salmon for dinner with spinach salad and some wonderful whole grain ACE bread. No ice cream sandwiches tonight, thank you very much!

I'll be my usual insufferable cheery self by morning! :)

Ruth - keeping you in my prayers. Take care of Harry and take care of you. Love ya.

(((((((((((((((Ruth))))))))))))))))))))))))

Both you and Harry will be in my thoughts. :grouphug:

Well, Ruth, if it's not one thing, it's another. Glad to hear that your A1C, BP, etc are good (wish I could say the same....BP is out the roof, even though I'm on the Norvasc.) Very sorry to hear about Harry. Will definitely say some prayers. They should be able to fix him right up, though, with modern medicine these days. I'll be thinking of the two of you.

*HUGS*

ruth good luck to you and harry hope they find out whats wrong and take care of it real quick!! 'scuse me but does this nurse have a clue about how much running you do everyday??? glad all your numbers worked out on the good side keep up the great work!!

Ruth big hugs to you and Harry. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of both of you.