Hi everyone ...

A postcard from the road ... well, the New England coast, to be exact. Haven't forgotten you all, but haven't had internet access convenient for over two weeks now, as we travel and light here and there. My time with my DGD was simply great, and I thank everyone for all your good wishes.

I don't feel I'm gaining weight as I'm rarely eating between meals, don't feel "stuffed" as usual, but I don't know for sure. I certainly am shoveling good stuff down at meals, but it's usually the other eating that gets me!

I have eight more days on the road before being back at home with Mr. Scale so will let you know when the time of reckoning comes!

Tracy, Lisa, 4thebigday, Losing, Maeminglea ... I'm thinking of you all, and hoping you're doing well with the summer temptations! It's a fine line to make sure you enjoy the "lazy days" without doing too much damage. I'm sure that we will all find it easier when we get back into the Fall routine.

Off to read, and get ready for the 4th tomorrow. We are going to fireworks here on the coast with family, and maybe cook outside. What's everyone else doing? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOD OLE USA!!!

Have a good one!
Olivia

Hey Ladies,

Olivia it is good to hear from you. I bet you and your family are going to have a great time for the 4th. I think I'll have a low key day but I actually could use a rest. I'll grill out over at my mother's and we'll probably eat chicken and veggies.

I'm down another pound and my blister has healed enough for me to walk again. I did some TaeBo over the weekend and forgot how hard it was. The tape I do is an older version and I think it only lasts about 25 min. I think I need to get a harder and longer cardo workout into my weeks. Still thinking about joining the YMCA.

Tracy - I bet you had fun at your surprise party. That sounds like an occasion to cheat a little bit and celebrate YOU.

Lisa - your goals look really good. Determined is in your name and I know you'll find the best thing that works for you and your lifestyle. I am still working on it - but you inspire me. How do you incorporate barley into your diet??

Big Day - How is the wedding planning? I saw Michael Thurmond on Extreme Makeover last night and he seems to whip his clients into shape!

Losing - How is everything going?

Have a great 4th everybody. Isn't some one from Australia as well - if so hope all is well down under!

-Mae

Hi everyone...nice to see from everyone

I just jumped back on plan yesterday. With a slip up last night. Tonight will be better. Keeping the kiddo's busy and trying not to eat out to much. Have to get going again so can't stay for a long post. More next time. We will beat the summer gains

I'm pretty new to eating barley, so I'm really not the one to ask. Supposedly
the hull-less barley is even better than pearled barley, but pearled barley is
what I found at my local supermarket. I cook it like rice and eat it like rice,
usually with some meat/veg and gravy/sauce. It's harder to chew than
white rice but the texture is more like "al dente" pasta and not as "gritty"
as brown rice. Next I want to try cooking it with beef broth instead of
just water.

Lisa

Hey ladies ...

Tracy, Lisa, Losing, Maeminglea, 4thebigday ... hope you girls are still floating around out there somewhere! I'll be back home on Tuesday night, and the scale will tell the tale on Wednesday!

I sure hope you're all doing okay, at least enjoying your summer days, whether you've been able to be strict on your diets or not. I haven't been as bad as I usually am, so I'm hoping I'm not any more than 223 ... but we'll see!

Hope to see some of you reporting in soon!

Olivia

I have an insane life lol! it has been soooo busy! and it doesn't show signs of slowing down any. I blew it on 4th of july and then went on a week long binge....sigh...mad at myself. went back up to 172! ugh! but the past 2 days have been good and i'm back to 169, 2 more lbs and i'll be back where i was last at. trying to get back to it. i identify with lisa here as i am having to detox and grit my teeth through the cravings i invited back in. ugh! oh well, it's over and i'm back!
hope everyone is doing well, update when you can!
hugs
tracyg

I'm sick and I've been sick for so many days that I keep thinking this
stupid cold should be over by now. Anyway, I'm trying to keep eating
healthy foods and vegetables, but I'm also adding lots of refined
starches and whatever comfort foods I feel like, in sane quantities,
until I'm healthy again. I hope you're all doing well. Lisa

Hey All- I thought I made a post the other day but I guess it didn't stick. I did o.k. last week. I haven't lost any this week but I haven't gained. I have been feeling sick as well for over a week. I just don't have any energy and I have not worked out in two days now. I dragged through my day at work and I doubt I'll do much this evening. Hopefully with a few days rest I'll get back on track. I don't want to hit a major (or minor slump).

I've been off the plan as well and letting summer get the better of me. I'm still just taking one day at a time and enjoying the summer with my daughter. I have good and bad days. Not much summer left .....before we know it it will be back to school.

Get well soon Lisa

Hey ladies ...

Back to reality, and eating at home sweet home! Vacations are good, but your own bed is the bomb, right?

My instincts were NOT right; though I didn't feel I was overeating by much if at all, I gained two lbs. so now I must adjust my ticker to 225! Considering that I've been off plan for nearly a couple of months, I guess that number could be worse.

For those of you not feeling well, hugs to you. I've just had a bout with a stomach bug so I feel for you. I hope you're all feeling in the pink very soon!

I really thought our little group here had about fallen apart, as I saw so few posts for awhile, with apparently everyone else as busy and distracted as I've been. I hope we can hang on for the Summer, doing the best we can, then get very serious as the Fall comes. I miss chatting with you girls when I can't get here.

I think we'll go see the new Harry Potter movie in 3-D at the Imax. It's getting such great reviews, and I love 3-D, like a 5 year old!

You girls have a great weekend, and I'll report my weight Monday, no matter how scary it is!!!

Cheers!
Olivia

Happy Saturday Tracy, Lisa, Maeminglea, Losing and 4thebigday .... the scale was down to 224 this morning so one lb. down since I got back from vacation. Not much but it made me smile!

Now deciding on dinner ... so hard for me to be *good* on the weekend. Do you guys have that problem???

Morning and happy Monday, ladies!

Just dropping in to say that since it's weigh-in day, I'll report 222 lbs. which is a pound less than when I started this thread. Considering the vacation I just took for weeks, that's not bad but certainly not what I had in mind for myself when I started this thread!

Hope to hear from some of you today ... have a good one!

Olivia, Great to hear from you. I've been sick for a while, but I'm definitely on the mend. This morning I was 142.4, which is pretty good considering that I haven't been eating 100% health food recently. I'm still bringing barley and veggie-stew to work every day, but some days I buy other stuff. I guess I sometimes eat too much for a few days and then I get disgusted with myself and I "diet" for a few days, and over the course of a week it has the appearance of staying steady. Actually I don't care how it happens as long as I don't regain. In the fall I'll try to lose again but for now, steady is fine.

Lisa

Good morning, Lisa ... and any of our other ladies checking in!

Lisa, if you're staying steady, that is an accomplishment. Glad to hear that you're feeling much better. You are within 20 lbs. of your ideal weight, right, so your body will fight you for the weight, that's for sure. It won't come merrily off like it does when you're still 72 lbs. up, like I am. That is, it WOULD come merrily off if I actually stuck to a diet for awhile! I'd just tried to stay steady through my trip next month, if I were you. If you gain a couple of lbs., you'll take it right back off in the Fall when we all attack our healthy programs with great ferocity, right?

Still haven't been to see Harry ... any of you?

So where are all you other chickies, Mae, Tracy, Losing, Fit4??? Have a good one, all!

Olivia

Hey all! I am still not 100% better from my unknown sickness - but I'm battling through workouts. I found my old Cindy Crawford workout tape (I love this tape) and did it over the weekend and I was satisfyingly sore the next to days. Even though I was sedentary for a couple of weeks I still managed to lose. Could it be that my metabolism has actually increased with diet and exercise? I guess I've been averaging 1,200 calories a day and worried about maintaining that (believe me I've been consuming a lot more over the years). I feel newly inspired that I am 8 lbs away from Onederland. It's been three years since I've been in the 199 and then of course I had gained that back plus more. But I do feel it is important to stay positive and focus on my goal. If I continue to lose over a little more than a pound a week I'll make it. People at work have notice my close fitting better which also a Big Boost!

Olivia - I'm glad to see another Potter fan. I have seen the movie (not in 3-D though) and read the new book. I never thought I'd be a fan but I was at an internship in Virginia a few years ago and did not know anyone so I was reading a lot. I picked up the first Harry Potter to see what all the hoopla was about and I've read everyone since. I admit that I'm sad the book series are over but am glad we have two more movies to look forward to.

I hope everyone is having a good week!!

-Mae