Hi Laurie! :wave:

Good morning everyone...good FRIDAY morning. WOOHOO!!!

Spent last night still installing hardwood flooring and we are just about halfway finished the bedroom. We have another 250 square feet to finish, so that should be done tomorrow sometime. Can't wait to start to get the mess cleaned up, but I am stubbon and not wanting to start until the full mess has been created.

ellis - Your idea of Phase III during stressful times is great, but I am confused about any special recipes for Phase III. When I read the book on Phase III, it basically just says to eat what you want around the healthy parameters laid out in the other phases. If your weight goes up, then cut back to Phase 1 for a bit to keep it under control. For me, I found that eating at the Phase 2 level was a state at which I maintain weight, so that is basically the program that I am following right now, with some Phase 1 days thrown in here and there and a few OP treats on special occasions. Sooooo, I can't be of much help when it comes to the Phase III thing. :D

Mama - How are your roads today. I would rather have the snow that we have than the freezing rains. Our weather warmed a bit yesterday (up to minus10 or so) and the roads became quite slick. On the way home, we passed a 5 car pile-up - just driving too fast in rush hour. Take care driving today.

Kim - I have been the same with work. Sat for months with almost nothing to do, then, whammo, everything hit this week. It seems the bosses want to clear their desks before Christmas - I am not impressed with the idea that it goes from their desk to mine before Christmas, though. About the treadmill...try taking a picture of a treadmill and putting it in his lunch (if he takes one), pockets, post on the fridge, etc. and leave many hints about the treadmill. If you can find a picture that has something Christmas attached, then all the better...he might actually relate the time of year with the object (don't count on that, though :lol: ). If that doesn't work, then wait 6 months until all the people who bought/received them for Christmas are finished with them ;) and start looking in thrift shops or second hand stores. Good deals to be had there.

Bamiegurl - My offer still stands. Send me your rain and I will send you mine. It's on the hard solid side, though.

A Broad - We are hoping to have the temps up to freezing by this afternoon. It was substantially warmer this morning than it has been all week, but it is still -10. 40F looks good to me right now, but it didn't look that great when we went down to that temp in the fall. Stay warm and have a great weekend.

Ruth - So nice that you were able to get the lights and garland up. I can't get DH to put lights up any more. A few years ago he was painting the trim on the house and fell off a ladder from the second story...I was looking out the window at the time and saw him whiz by the window. He fell on a concrete apron on his back. He was fortunate in that he only compressed a couple of vertabrae. The doctors at the hospital said that a fall that far usually has more disastrous results. A few of weeks after that, one of the fellows at work fell off a ladder putting up his Christmas lights and died. It just didn't seem to be that important to decortae the outside anymore. We put up a bit of garlad and some lights around the doors and around the deck, but that is all I will let him do anymore. On the lighter side, the kids still tease him about his 'Homemade Drop of Doom.'

TubaMom - Yes, be patient. You have already come down and each pound counts. Before you really realize, you will be down huge amounts and wonder how that happened so fast. Just keep working at it. Have a great weekend with your friend, but remember to eat healthy.

Bostonchick - I didn't hear the temp in Bermuda and no :nono: I am not jealous, not jealous, not jealous. :lol: I was having some minor blood pressure problems this past fall and seem to be able to control is I exercise and do some deep breathing exercises. I guess mine is more through anxiety than anything, so the weightloss doesn't seem to help. Do check with your doctor, though, heart problems in young people is increasing so doing something about it early is the best. Hope you have a great Christmas and enjoy Boston...especially the weather.

Barb - Things never slow down for you. Try to have a quiet weekend and not too much work. Don't get caught working all day Sunday, either. Take care.

Me - I'm pooped and glad it is Friday. However, today was official weigh-in and I have lost .2 pounds so far this month...without even trying. That actually worked out to about 3 or 4 pounds so far this month since my pigging out incident last week. I am hoping to lose another couple of pounds before Christmas. If I overindulge at Christmas, the recovery afterwards won't seem so formidable.

Tomorrow is bath day for the puppies and Christmas pictures for them. This year we got them pet Santa hats for their pics. I just need to dig their Christmas tree out of storage and get the dog bones tied on it.

I just had a meeting with a technician from one of our parking vendors. We just purchased a bunch of new parking machines from this company. They placed three machines as a trial for a year and we ended up buying them and a few more - based on increased revenues, decreased maintenance, etc. Well, since they installed the machines in the middle of November, we have had nothing but trouble. The guy is new to the company and came into town yesterday morning (they don't have a technician here), was supposed to fix the machine and be back home (3 hour drive) by noon. He spent from 8 am until 7:45 pm fixing machines in -20 weather. And he still can't get one of them working. He had to stay in town overnight...without a razor, change of clothes, nothing. They are flying another tech in from Vancouver this morning, bringing a third in from Calgary to get these things fixed.

I asked him this morning if he was still interested in the job. :lol: I guess that wasn't funny. :rolleyes:

We don't have much planned for the weekend...pick up a hide-a-bed that I bought, pick up and deliver a fridge that DS bought, plus try to get some more of their junk out of my house and in to theirs, finish installing the hardwood flooring, bath puppies and get their Christmas pics taken, sing in the cantata at church on Sunday, go to an open house at one of DH's staff member's homes, dinner at DS's on Sunday....and if time permits clean up the mess from the construction. Guess the laundry will have to wait. :yikes: You will be thankful that you don't have to be around me next week. ;)

Hope everyone has a super weekend. AND stay OP. You will be better at Christmas for it. Take care.

Ellis... I'll take the snow gladly since we never get any down here!
Sweet Tooth... You can keep your rain! teehee I don't want no part of that!
Anchor... I bet DS looked so cute in his "Boots!" A man and his boots it's a beautiful thang Mam!
Beachgal... I long for a romantic evening with DH! Both kids will be gone this weekend so I suggested a date night to a place I have been wanting to go and his reply was... well I'll just have to see what is goin on! Hello! There could be a lot goin on if ya play your cards right but so far you ain't even got the deck out! He said he planned on us goin out.... out in the yard and raking leaves! Yea he's a regular comedian! hahaha! Have a good w-end all! Don't work to hard everyone the weekend is supposed to be for relaxing!

Hi Ladies! I got mixed up with this thread and the jeans so here is the brief update
Drumroll Please!!!! I lose 6 pounds!!! i also decided to add fiber one in b/c i've been wacky for carbs. Wednesday Night Dh bought me a pair of earrings just because
So I'm more than halfway to my december goal!!!!!
I'll respond to everyone later b/c i need to whip up some lunch
but RUTH! I want a skill saw!
bbl
Kierie

Okay, here is my plan to get out of that funk.

I will post here everyday in December and get to know you all. I will at a minimum follow Plan III through the New Year then pick a date to do PI over for the entire two weeks and get myself up and going. I will return to the gym for at least three sessions a week throughout December beginning on Monday. I will start treating myself with respect and kindness. I will set some reasonable goals.

Love the cowboy boots. Of course, I didn't jot down notes so don't remember who said what now. I thought it was the orthodontists bill that made us go :yikes:

I work all weekend long days so am off to work. Everybody have a wonderful weekend and you that are getting snow enjoy it, we get a little snow once every few years. Rain rain rain rain rain and the rivers are risin'.

Quickie... the new recipe sections aren't up yet, but we're working on it.
Peggy, I just want to add a few "out-of-the-ordinary" recipes to make Phase III look like it's decadent or something. :lol3: Yes, Phase III is just an extension of Phases I and II, but it's nice to see something concrete. If you know what I mean. ;)

It's snowing. I'm sure it's very pretty, but if I slip and fall because of the ice beneath the snow, you'll all hear the yells.

:lol3: :lol: :rofl: :lol3:

Bamie, you kill me!!! ;) Maybe we chicks should get dolled up and go out to places where the men appreciate our looks! ;)

Men can be so blind sometimes! I think you should drop a couple of hints about how the men at work (store, gas station, etc.) keep staring at you. Might give him the idea to take a real look at you! :love:

It's freezing rain here, Ellis. There have been several sirens going through the village - just like the BIG CITY! I imagine there will be many accidents tonight. I am definitely staying inside with heat, Scotch and two cuddly dogs for comfort.

Bunna, great plan! I think you're going to do fantastic, and I love the part about respecting and loving yourself. That's the most important part! :grouphug:

KO, :bravo: :cp: :cheers: :high: You are doing great!

Ellis and Peggy...I might be nuts, but there do appear to be a couple of Phase III recipes in the SBD Cookbook that show ingredients not allowed in Phase II like Phyllo dough. I can't wait to have that! Of course, you want to use PAM or some such spray and not butter between the layers, but it'll be a lot of fun to use! I'm making little tartlets from phyllo with feta and sundried tomato filling for our party. I'm also making these cheesy southwest pockets from phyllo. I'll try to post both recipes. At this point, phyllo sounds VERY decadent! ;)

Bamie, if it's any help, I'll be in Huntsville this weekend...you wanna meet for coffee? You can hint at a mysterious "date" and see if that shakes him up a bit! :lol: Men! :rolleyes: Sometimes, as dense as they are, it really makes you wonder how they've managed to increase the gene pool all these generations...

Bunna, good plan!! With all the holiday temptations, you have to have a good defense in place.

KO, 6 POUNDS!!! Way to go, girl!! :bravo:

Anchor, I have the cutest picture of dh when he was about 2, wearing his dad's cowboy boots. They were so big and he was so little, all you could see was his body sprouting out of the boots! :lol:

Beachgal, hope your romantic dinner is perfect in EVERY way! :love:

Everyone else, Hello!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! :wave:

I'm off to Huntsville at the fannycrack of dawn to pick up Auntie Sally and for a brief visit with Uncle Justin and the cousins. The storms of last night passed but more blew through this afternoon. Not too terrible, and I even saw a pretty rainbow! :)

Okay... gotta go finish feeding the dragon (doing laundry), then rustling up some grub for the gang.

See all you Chicks on Monday!

Mamacita

Dawg Mama I should have caught you before you left! hahaahaha Oh he's so goofey he probably wouldn't even care! Well thanks for tryin to help me out though! Have fun in the Rocket City!

Laurie... Maybe I'll tell him I had all these men lookin over at me drivin DD to Cullman tonight! Like they could have seen me whizzin by at 80! I'll leave that part out! haha