Nikki - Good luck for the interview. :crossed:

Carol - Sorry your back is still giving you grief but it looks like you don't let it slow you down much! I'm glad you had fun kyaking.

Judy - Way to go with the exercise :carrot:. It's a good idea to mix it up a bit so you don't get bored.

Marie - I hope you didn't come down with the flu or something. There's a lot of bugs going around here in the Portland area right now. Kind of strange for June.

I've been eating some salty foods lately (pickles, cheese, Chinese food, etc.) and it's shown up on the scale as a 2 lb. gain. My stomach is bloated up about twice normal size. Now that I've cut out the salt, I'm hoping to be back on track on the scale by Friday. I managed to get some yard work done despite the crummy weather. I just dashed outside between showers :rain:.

Well, as Mondays go, this one wasn't so bad. Hope it bodes well for the rest of my week, and isn't the calm before the storm!

Penny, it's amazing how just a little salt can be a sponge for weight!

Nikki, I have a Crunch cardio salsa video that I like, but it's a short wrokout and I don't really get my heartrate up as I'd prefer. I have a Shape one that irritates me...the jury is out on how much I'll like this new dance video. I spent most of my youth in the free-form hippie/reggae/punk era, so while I like to "dance" I'm not sure that what I do counts as dancing :D .

Carol, you are my hero, out there kayaking with the young folks. Between that and the gardening, I hope you're being extra kind to your back!

I only had time for a short workout this morning, so I'll go to Curves on the way to this evening's event. It's a sit-down dinner (I think) at an Italian restaurant. I'm thinking of just visiting with people briefly, but leaving before the food starts to arrive, so that I can go home and eat "safe" food. I do love Italian food, just the smell of the garlic makes me voracious, and of course there will be vino. But this is the kind of environment where I overeat. It might sound crazy to people who don't have my issues...retreating to my home where I have some nice roast chicken and veggies is definitely an option, if I don't think I can avoid the heavy, fattening delights.

judy

Way to go Judy you are on the move! I am trying to garden with bendings a bit differently and I think it helps also trying my best to have better posture. I have a seat that has an air control on it with the kayak. That is a blessing and really buldges in the lumbar area. Which is really good for me. Work is going well but really busy with me trying to fit everything in before my vacation time. I have just handed in two reports which are the last due before then and been real busy geting my visits in. I worked an hour and half over last night. I think today I might get out early as friday is a therapy day. So I already am only working til noonish. My daughter is so organized with this wedding stuff its great. She should be a wedding coordinator herself. I finished the little flower girl dresses last night. I am going to finish my trim on my dress tonight and be done with all of that stuff.
Nikki sounds like your interview went well. Good luck with that and the right job will come along and you will get what you have worked so hard for. Even know my pay isn't the best in the world its a lot better than years before. The job is really what I like and that out weighs everythings else even the crazy coworkers. I like making a difference in peoples lifes and with this job sometimes can do that. Sending them on vacations or off to camp or saying hey lets try this and it works thats what excites me. Also helping them solve some difficult problems in their lifes. I get quite a variety of tasks some I like and some I could do without. But thats every job I guess. Good luck!
Girls did Marie go on vacation I hope she is not ill? I do miss her come back Marie!!!
Penny the salty foods are tough and I know cause I crave them too. Love those pickles. I feel fat today for some reason. So a salad for lunch and grilled chicken for dinner is the plan. No junk food. Maybe I should just not eat at all. Oh now I know thats not smart but sometimes it would help. I am going to start to journal again today. A friend lost 18lbs with ww and is only 2lbs. from her goal I am a bit jealous. Great for her and she deserves praise!!!
Have a super day!!!

Judy-My friend ands I used to dance around her living room at least an hour a day. I was in the best shape ever then. We did hip hop and regeaa.

Carol- I hear you about the job. Alot of parts of this job I interviewed for sound boring. I am debating on takin it for that reason. It is hard because I don't know if I am use to academia and all jobs are like that.


Penny-That salt weight will disappear real soon.


I decided to go ahead and change my ticker to what my weight was last week so I don't get discouraged if I dont quite reach 151 again this week.

Nikki

Nikki, seeing your ticker is inspiring! You've come a long, long way from your starting weight. :carrot:

Carol, your daughter is lucky to have such a handy mom. I didn't realize that you were making the little dresses, too! I agree with you about choosing meaningful jobs when you can. Most people in the world just have to work, but when you have an education and live in a country like ours, we have more options than others do, and can look for work that speaks to our talents and values. I've been in nonprofits for over 25 years, and while it would be nice to have more money, I wouldn't trade this for anything. Well, maybe being the queen of the world would be nice...

So I ate at the restaurant last night after all. As soon as I got there, I knew that I wouldn't be able to meet-and-greet and then leave. I had a little salad, some eggplant parm and a glass of wine. The portions were enormous, the small lasagna could have fed three people! Another dinner tonight, at a New Orleans-style place. I'll focus on veggies, since I had turkey stew instead of a salad for lunch today.

Penny and Marie, I hope you're doing well today!

judy

Judy - All that extra exercise you've been doing should counteract the yummy Italian food. I hope you can manage to avoid too much temptation :devil: at the New Orleans style restaurant. Hopefully they have some veggies that are also tasty. Being Queen of the World might bring a few too many temptations with all those state dinners! :queen:

Nikki - You are such an inspiration. I wish I had half your willpower. I'm glad to hear you are getting some job interviews. It's a good idea to weigh them up and not jump into the first one that comes along. Our son found it quite a change going from college to "the real world". He had a very heavy course load throughout his four years as he did a minor in Math in addition to his Engineering degree. Things move at a totally different pace in the workplace. He's enjoying his current job very much. He only stayed about 7 months in his first job and then was offered the job he took in Boise. He got a lot of practical experience in the first job though, so although it wasn't something he wanted to do long term, the experience has come very much in handy in his new job.

Carol - You're right about posture being very important for our backs. I've always been a bit of a sloucher, so I try to sit straight and walk with my head up and shoulders back. I have to really work at it as it doesn't come naturally to me. The yoga seems to be helping a lot with my posture as I'm more aware of my body since I started doing the yoga classes. It's great that your friend has lost some weight but YOU deserve praise for your progress too! Maybe your friend's loss will give you a bit of added inspiration.

Marie - We're thinking of you and hoping you're ok.

I was at the docs (plastic surgeon) today for my annual check up on my implant and he says I need a smaller one because I've lost so much weight and now the other side doesn't match! I'm going to hold off on doing it though as the surgery is about $6,000 and my insurance deductible is about $3,500. I wish all this medical stuff wasn't so expensive. It just cost me $770 to get the two spots removed and biopsied! I've been doing better calorie-wise the last couple of days, so I hope to be down again by my next weigh in. We're getting central air conditioning installed tomorrow. Hopefully it will get hot enough to try it out - it's been so cool here for this time of the year. We needed a new furnace anyway as our old one is about 25 years old and very inefficient.

Nikki you will know when its the right job. I left my old job of 10 years to go after an different job. It was after I go my degree in 98 late but better than never. I do not regret my move and now have doubled my old pay. But in the school district only worked 180 days, vac's, 32 hrs a wk. So I am surely in the field I fought to get in. I like my job even though it can be stressful I surely can say that I am never ever bored but would welcome the opportunity to try it once in awhile. I also work for a nonprofit organization for the past 9 years. One more year and I get my 5 weeks vac. my benefit pkg. is a good one. Sometimes when searching for a job checking out the whole pkg. is pretty important or maybe it was just my age and having a husband with health issues? Oh well thats where I am at. Yesterday trying to smooth things over with a couple in their 80's and a group home. They wanted to take their daughter home to live again. Oh now thats not a good idea! So I will work out their issues with the group home and hopefully have a happy ending for all of them. My life is crazy at work sometimes but in the long run I truly like what I do and it shows in my work I think or hope so anyways.
Girls I have been so tempted when coworkers ask me to go to the store for lunch I so right to the sub area. I did get whole wheat and lots of veggies with little mayo and turkey but thats still not so good. I have packed my veggies to make a salad for today and have a yogurt. I will stick to it. So that is my weakness lately. I guess the intake journal would help and I will do that this a.m.
Penny glad your son is doing well.The posture thing takes practice and I have to remind myself to do it also. But I do think it makes a world of difference. Did you explain to your doc's office your ded. is so high? Because they might be willing to knock off some for you. Many times we don't ask and there for they don't ever offer but are willing to consider it. So maybe you should ck this out if you want it done earlier? Good luck.
Judy I didn't totally make the flower girls dresses I redesigned them. I picked up some beautiful dresses for 20.00 a piece when Kaufman's went out of business they were 125.00. My daughter liked them but not the way they looked on the neckline or the trim. So we went off to a special wedding material and design shop picked out trim and I redid them. My youngest GD needed her shoulders and sides taken in now that was not fun. The other one just the sides. So we added the trim and ribbon and they match the big girls in the wedding. I am putting trim on my dress around the whole top neckline, shoulder straps and the lower edge of the mock top. It dresses it up as its too warm for my jacket that goes with the dress. Wow its coming fast. My carpets get cleaned on friday and I want to do some major housework on saturday. Then we have a wedding to attend at 11 and reception at 1. So that day is gone. Your doing a swell job and I know the restuarants its not easy. But they say just order and eat half!

Penny- As your son found I am finding the workplace much slower then academia. I am hoping I find something that I feel fits me. It feels good that I am getting interviews means I have skills lol.

Carol- I decided not to teach in the typical sense. I am going to try to use my degree to teach technology < software, hardware etc > in a college or business setting. I must say you have me really impressed by overhauling the girls dresses. I am waiting to get a job to get a new sewing machine. Mine broke and I am lost without it.


Judy-Good going with only eating a little. As Penny said all your exercising should counter it.



As for me, after blipping back up to 155 last week I managed to lose 4 lbs this week and go back down to 151. I will see 149 next week mark my words. I'm not going to screw this up I have 3 weeks to make my July 4 goal and I will do it. I think ,I can, I believe!


Marie I hope you are ok. We miss you ....

Nikki

Lost my note be back later

Carol - I'm sorry you lost your post - that can be soooo frustrating! :mad:. I did mention to my plastic surgeon that I'd be paying 'full fare' for my surgery and he said he could give me a discount, but it would still be a LOT of money. It's not a really big deal as the difference isn't really noticeable and I'm also leery of having any kind of surgery as there's alway the chance of infection or a problem with the anesthetic. So I'll just have to avoid being photographed for pin-up pictures! :lol: You must be getting so excited about the wedding. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Nikki - Way to go with losing the 4 lbs. :cheer: I am struggling to get back to 187. I've lost one pound but I'm still at 188. I still seem to go one step forward and two steps back! I'm determined not to start gaining in a big way, so I'm still hoping to reach my goal for July 4th or at least get nearer to it.

Judy & Marie - I hope you are doing well. Poor Marie, I expect you came down with that bug. If so, get well wishes are coming your way :getwell:

I just got back from a fund raiser in Salem (our State Capitol). Lots of interesting stuff and some internal politics to digest. I don't think the Board is thrilled that I'll be stepping down after this term. I really have to work on saying "no"! I've been working a lot more hours in our business and it's just getting too much. Sometimes people think it comes easy and they think those in charge can just keep on going but everybody gets burn out eventually.

Hi, ladies! I'm having some very long days of meetings, and am just popping on to say hi. I'm making pretty good food choices, but no time for exercise. I can't wait until Saturday morning! Hope everyone has a good Friday. I'll check back in soon.

judy

Girls I am having a lot of trouble getting on this morning. I usually just go to Search and put in Daily check in. Today it says I need 4 words etc. Wouldn't let me do it. So finally after great frustration I put in new post and had to go all the way down to get it. Crazy and too much time. If someone could send me a private message to let me know how they get on I would appreciate it. Time is important these days.
Well yes Penny I am getting so excited. But it doesn't seem possible its next week. The couple have their passports and as you have heard on the news that was not easy. It was one of her hardiest things so far with many phone calls and one to the congressman. Then the gov't lifted the whole thing and on came her passport after the future SIL paid 40.00 extra dollars for a faster del. service. Many tears had come for this one as she felt her trip crumbling. So off to Mexico they go. Hey Judy our traveler is this wear they get jewelry cheaper ? Or am I thinking of a different location? Just wondered? At any rate I have increased my exercise this week and feel better for it. I am trying to beaware of my cals too. Got away from that a bit and now trying to gain some control back. Life gets stressful and we tend to let little things slip in and then regret it afterwards crazy moves we make sometimes. Well I am off to buy lots of groceries today to stock up my cupboards for the kids coming home. I already purchased my sons favorite ice cream choc. w/ peanutbutter. Its nice to have things that they enjoy and coneys too. We will be doing some camping after the wedding. I am looking forward to kayaking with them too. All the grandkids will camp with us for at least one day. Then I think we will take them for a weekend in August just Grandpa and I give mom and dad a little break. Well off to work I worked late again last night so I won't have to use as much sick time for therapy appt. today. I am also off to the hairdressers for highlights and color. Hope it comes out nice I am keeping it longer than in the past. I can pull it back when its hot. I did get to talk to my sister and asked her to not touch a drop of wine or anything til she does the poem during the wedding. SHe promised me and I said if you don't I will be extremly upset. I don't care how much she drinks afterwards but not before. Oh such extra stuff I need to think about!! Mom's stressing can yah tell? Take care and hope I can find the site again. I am still concerned over Marie.

Carol - Getting your hair done will be a nice chance for you to relax - at least for a while. I hope your therapy appt. helps. That was kind of funny about your SIL and the wedding poem :lol:. So many details for you to think about but it will soon be all over. I''m glad the passport situation worked out - it must have been very worrying. It's good you can have something else to look forward to like the kyaking trip with the grandkids. I'll tell you how I find this page - it may not be the best way, but it works for me: I just bookmark the current page and when it goes to the next page (like now it's page 7) I delete the old one from my bookmarks. I rename it 3FC so I can find it easily on my "bookmarks toolbar". I have a Macintosh iBook, so it may work differently if you use a PC.

Judy - Good going on your food choices.

Carol-Sounds like wedding plans are in fulll swing. When is it?

Penny-Hope everything is going well.

Has anyone heard from Marie? I am getting concerned.


I'm still on induction 1 week with no cheats. My TOM is due any moment so I feel icky. I'll speak to you all on Monday enjoy your weekend.

Nikki

The wedding is next saturday at 4. Your right soon it will be over and just a lovely memory. My son and daughte in law fly in on 5 right before rehersal dinner. We are attending another wedding today. Our daughters next week and then the following week were invitd to one in N.C. its never ending. But good times out weigh the bad. I may kill my sister whom is to do the poem by then but everything else is going smooth. My hair came out good a bit lighter than I wanted but I will deal with that just a little change. I will work in my gardens today before the wedding we are attending. My therapy is going well and I think I will continue for a bit. I feel better than in awhile and the goal is a good one. Getting back to the workout I was doing last August before I hurt it. So far I am keeping up with things she is giving me to do at home and then the exercises at their gym. Foot press yesterday and the nustepper which I was up to 1,000 steps in less than 12 min. So not to bad. I can tell in my walk that I am getting back to normal a bit more picking up my faster speed. That feels really good and I have missed that ability to do so in the past few months. Learning to bend differntly too. Well food intake is going well. I will becareful this a.m. to just have cereal with a few strawbetties then something lite veggies to munch on and maybe some yogurt before the reception. Have a good day everyone.

Oh, hooray, hooray, hooray, this past week is over. I feel like a new woman, now that I got through all the meetings, socializing, and work. I didn't lose anything, but I managed to just barely maintain, so I am pleased about that, too. It felt great to sleep a little later this morning, and then do a leisurely workout.

Carol, I'm so excited for you and your family. I have several relatives like your sister, they can be the wild card in any public gathering! Yes, Mexico is the place for silver, especially in Taxco. But you can buy some lovely high-quality jewelry at great prices all over the country. The good stuff will be stamped on the inside with a tiny number to denote the percentage of silver (.925 or higher) and "Mex." Tell your daughter not to buy it if it doesn't have the "Mex" stamp. To find our 3FC thread quickly, I have it as a "subscribed thread" in my user control panel. That way when I come to the site, I just sign in under User CP, and click onto subscribed threads.

Penny, maybe you can hold off on the surgery until you lose even more weight...then either both sides will match, or you can try to get a two-for-one deal from the plastic surgeon. :D I hadn't realized that the procedure would be so costly. I've always told myself that if I got down to 175 or under, I'd so something about these huge ropey veins in my legs, and I don't think this is something my insurance would cover. I guess one of the benefits of losing so slowly is that by that time, medical advancements should make this this a simpler and cheaper process.:rolleyes: Hey, I'm always trying to find the bright side of any situation!

Nikki, a week with no cheats is really good. You have willpower, girl, give me some of that! If you stay on track, I bet you'll see a little whoosh once TOM comes and goes.

judy

Nikki - I hope you'll feel better and start losing again as soon as TOM is gone.

Carol - This seems to be the year for weddings for you! I hope you had a lovely time yesterday. You are doing great on the step machine. I'm glad that you're starting to be able to do more again now that the therapy is helping. I hope your sis behaves - relatives can be a pain but we love 'em anyway!

Judy - I hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend after your busy, busy week. I'm also hoping that maybe the surgery will get cheaper for me in the long run as I will be on medicare in 7 years - about the time when I have to get my implant changed out anyway. I can't get the other side made bigger to match as that might interfere with my mammograms, which would not be a good thing. As you say, it's good to look on the bright side - this gives me 7 years to lose the rest of the weight and at the rate I'm going, I'll need that much time! :lol: My legs are so awful the only thing that might work would be leg transplants! :D Thank goodness for long pants. I will not be wearing shorts again in this lifetime.

I pm'd Marie - I hope she's ok. We miss you Marie!

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Well girls therapy is really helping and worth every cent. As I seem to have started to get back to my normal ability with dancing and yard work without an awful lot of pain afterwards. I wish you had all been there to boogy. It was fun I danced with a friend which has moved away and was up for the wedding. But they played anything from the oldies to country. Now the country they played was real hoe down country. My friend was trying to teach me good thing I had a few wines cause otherwise I most likely wouldn't of been trying it. Now that did hurt my back a bit all that stomping stuff and kicking your legs out. At any rate I burned away some calories that day and the next with gardening. I just did my push ups from therapy and they weren't too bad this a.m. Bear has to get kicked out as he feels I am on the floor to play! Silly dog! So I sent him out to chase birds he never gets them but its also good exercise. The squirrels haven't been around this year too much because of him. Now thats a good thing. My flower beds are looking great a little more work and they will be done. So exercise has fit back into my life nicely a little forced if you know what I mean. At therapy she has gotten me on the stepper and the press leg machine and adds a floor exercise as well to be done daily at home. I would of never thought this would work out so well for me. But as I said things seem to be improving. Saw my sister yesterday and no mention of rehersal dinner. I will call her thursday to ensure she knows where to go and the time. Someone mentioned something about doing another thing when we were together and I mentioned I am stressed to the max and can't take anything else on. I thought maybe she would get the hint to back off and just go with the flow. My intake of food wasn't bad this weekend being I attended a wedding and all. I guess the hrs. of yard work would balance that out too. I actually can see my flat slate walk through my big garden path now. It looks really nice. I think we are going to have around 30 people after the wedding reception at my house. So I will have to get real organized this week being I only have friday off and we are spending hrs. at the spa. Well Judy I know what you mean about work weeks ending and meetins etc. This week I only have about 8 people left to see then its paperwork crunch. I need to write up each visit and log all my progress notes for my supervisor. She will be handling my caseload while I am off playing. I am off from the 21st til the return date of the 3rd. I took one extra day then I had planned. Still need to put the trim on my dress no big deal just need time. Well gotta go and clean a little before work today. I figure if I tackle something each morning a little I will be farther ahead. Take care oh saturday will come quickly and boy do I know it.

thought i lost this?

Morning Ladies-

Carol- Sounds like your time off will be rather hectic. Have fun with it !!!

Penny, Judy...Hope all is going well.

I'm still doing ood on eating. Although I did have 1 bite of a burger bun this weekend. Otherwise I have not cheated ans am hoping to dip below 150 once my TOM leaves.

Nikki

Time is flying thats for sure. I have been on target with the exercising the therapy helps as that is 2 times a week 45 min. at least. I have been trying to do the exercises on the side she gives me and introduces a new one each time I go. I have been doing okay on the food end too. I did cheat and have a bite of cake but then regretted the calories I had. An egg roll but counted the cals in. So at least I am aware of my intake and portion control. It is to be in the 90's today then cooling off. Nikki it is so hard when we try to control the intake but you have done well. I think having a bite is better than nothing at all. So good control habits your building. The girls at work were saying oh your so good I said you don't see me when I am being bad. The therapist added leg curls yesterday. So I did them as well as the other equipment. I feel really so much better and I wasn't really going to go to get this service. Now I am glad I did and its paying off. Take care and keep up all your good efforts I figure in the end they have to pay off sometimes it takes more time than others. My future son in law just started a month ago to go to the YMCA and I think he is very pleased with his results. They did the family package and really are using it. Hopefully it keeps up cause he looks good and must feel so much better.

Carol-I am glad you feel better. I would not be surprised if the therapy helps your weightloss. It is added exercise after all.

Yesterday I had a good day. I had lots of protein and got all of my water in. Hopefully all of my eating well will show on the scale soon.

Carol - Leg curls are what saved my knee. I've found that since I started working out at Curves, my knee pain is totally gone. Before, I could hardly go up and down the stairs without a lot of pain. There are several machines at Curves that focus on the leg muscles and that has really helped. I'm glad your therapy sessions are helping you.

Nikki - I'm sure you'll soon see a loss as you've been really on track with your plan.

Marie & Judy - I hope everything is well with you.

I went for a free acupuncture session today with a friend who is a licensed acupuncturist. Another friend went with me and she did acupuncture on both of us - me for my ankles and my friend for her hand arthritis. I managed to walk around town quite a bit afterwards without any pain. Hopefully it lasts. My friend and I took the opportunity to go for lunch and we had a nice lunch at an Italian restaurant. I had the poached seafood salad and she had ravioli with bolognese sauce. We shared a bit of each and it was delicious, without too many calories. I'll have to make a point of going downtown more often as it was really fun to look around all the shops and see all the "different" types of people!

Nikki time is flying by did you have an interview? My daughter is looking around for a job with better hours. Her company doesn't want to lose her and is checking into having her work the same hrs. needed but from her home or a lap top. That would be very good as she makes pretty good money and any job for her will be a pay cut. Time will tell. She had a second interview at one job and she isn't going to take it. They changed the job description since the first interview a bit with no more money and she would be salary without any adjusted time and a demanding position. So out the window that one goes I think. Well our time is flying by with the wedding coming qiickly. My intakes have been pretty good. Last night I did have a BLT for dinner but that was it. And cooked the bacon on papertowels in the mic. to obsorb the fat content more. Then naughty Bear got the rest of the bacon on the dish and a tomatoe slice. He got in trouble naughty thing he is. We don't give him table foods but if we drop something and he gets it before us. And he is fast. I swam yesterday and that was about it for exercise.
Judy you must be busy. Marie you are really missed here and I pray all is well.Penny your walk to in the city sounds wonderful and yes sometimes we don't take advantage of where we live etc. So check it out and if its like me things are there I had no idea about. My friends daughter now owns the little diner in our town. I had no idea it was hers. We will have breakfast there this saturday with our kids. Hair appts at 11:00 dressing at my house at 2 and wedding at 4. Think of us and pray all goes well. Your lunch sounded interesting I was careful yesterday but did have lunch out of the office at a chinese resturant. Didn't eat only a few noodles with sauce and 1/2 the rice and left on some of my food. Better than I normally would be so I took it as being good. Has anyone tried the little green tea packets to add to your water. Oh so good. I stick a bottle of water in the freezer at work then a little later go add one of those it is so refreshing and in the 90's I needed it. We had quite a rain storm last night but the yard and gardens needed it and much better to have it today instead of saturday. She is hopefully getting married on the large deck at the lodge. It is called Arrowhead Lodge and now I hear its getting quite popular to get married there. Everything under one roof wedding and reception beautiful setting. I will post a few pictures afterwards. Well off to work I go and this will be a stay on program day. I have poached eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch, grilled chicken for dinner with veggies. No snack grab only healthy. Oh a health bar and a few dried apricots. Lots of water, tea and coffee too. Stay healthy and every once of goodness must bring a change in our future. Were looking good girls lets keep it up.

Penny - Is the accupuncture still effective today? When I went for accuuncture someone told me you don't realize how helpful it is until you stop going. I believe that.

Carol- I had 1 interview which was not good the woman who interviewed me seemed like she wasn't even interested in me and bad talked the executives in the company. Not someplace I would want to work.
You will be in my thouhts this weekend.

As for me I had the worst weigh in. I am showing a 4 lb loss. I am wondering if somehow I am sabotaging myself. I eat usually sausage for breakfast 2 patties and a cup of ice coffee with 2 splendas. Luncxh has been a hotdog or burger no bun. and dinner a burger or chicken with brocolli. I also have plain turkey roll ups for snack and 90 ounces of water minimum. I cant understand what I am doing wrong.

Hey, sorry for not checking in. I began a reply yesterday, got distracted for a long time, ended up losing the post, and didn't get back to it until this morning. I'm a little bloated from TOM and salt (noshing on too many nuts lately), so after a peek at the scale this morning, I'll just stay away from it for a few days. I got away from my planned menus last week, and have been eating carelessly.

So Carol, the big day's almost here! I'm glad that you are putting up some limits. The better you are at getting things done, the more you are asked to do....you are doing well to stay so focused on therapy and healthy eating! I know you'll look beautiful and feel good this weekend.

Penny, I'm glad hear that you got immediate relief from the acupuncture. Your Italian lunch sounds yummy. My lunch meeting for today was cancelled (yippee) and I didn't bring lunch, so maybe I'll have something Italian.

Niki, do not despair! Have you been working with a nutritionist? I wonder if there's a guided way to tweak your metabolism by mixing up your eating and exercise, maybe your cells are hoarding every little bit of energy, to keep you at this plateau.

I PM'ed our Marie also, and am sending her positive thoughts....:hug:

judy

Well girls the count down is here for sure. The kids will be on their way home soon. I hope they get in on time etc. lots of airline problems yesterday here with flights. I painted their room last night a last min. thing just threw some old paint together then got the stuff and an hour later it was done only a small room and only 2.5 walls to paint. They I took the little curtains down, made some quick ones. Want a laugh I cut the material kind of decortive stuff heavier stapled it instead of sewing threw them up trimmed them to size. I was done no sewing and YAH know what they look great. I felt like I was part of one of those makeover shows. My daughte stopped by not the bride to be she was laughing mom what are you doing now!!! I laughed and said I think I am over the edge. But all is well the room is clean and looks good. I hope they like it. They enjoy the private area being downstairs etc. its peaceful and a little get away space. Maybe I should try it? Anyways Nikki this last week I started to have slim fast for my breakfast most days. I like it the coffee one but put it in the freezer for a bit. I think it gives me some energy and more protien in my start of the day. Now yesterday I had breakfast out but had my shake for lunch and a salad with low cal dressing. But my bad girl thing was cheese and crackers with a little pepperoni with a friend after work. Then I ate my chicken grilled for dinner with veggies. I feel good and I still haven't gotten on the scale just clothes tell me the story thing going on. I did therapy again yesterday it would of been easy to cancel but I thought and said best to go and glad I did. The painting must of wore off those extra cals. The weather is to be only around 75 on saturday no rain in the forecast so I will have a choice to wear my jacket or shawl or do both ways if I choose. Spa day is friday and we are having a little lunchoen only 6 of us. I am going to the deli area and picking up some speical salad stuff and putting fresh fruit on kabobs with a little dip. Judy glad to hear from you hang in there. I will most likely touch base on friday but of course not saturday !! Penny hope all is well and that your still getting results from the service.

Judy- I should have done what you did and stay awy from the scale. TOM is evil !

Carol-Two more days wow you must be so excited. I would be careful but dont not enjoy yourself eat smaller portions but enjoy the day.

My weight gain yesterday was from TOM thank god. Today I am back down to 151. I am hoping for a 2 lb loss minimum this week . I will feel a lot better once I hot the 140's. I am inching on a 50 lb loss. That is some mile stone !

Nikki

Okay, I apologize - I'm not sick or on vacation. I've been so darn busy with the end fo the school year at work and DS graduating from college. DS graduated on Saturday and we had a big party (loads of work to prep) and days of out of town company dining at my house while I was working the end of school stuff. Hectic doesn't even describe it. By Sunday I felt like a bulldozer hit me and Monday the hectic work started up again. June is my busiest month and having company and big party was too much. The only me time in the last two weeks was to exercise at 5:30 in the morning. The rest was work. So, Carol, my hats off to you since you have the big wedding in two days - you managed better than moi.

So again, I am sorry I worried all of you. That was never my intention. I'll be better in the future - except from July 7 - 14 when I'll be in Alaska but you won't worry now. :)

Carol, I'm so glad the weather looks like it will cooperate with you on Saturday. That's always a relief. I kept watching the forecast for last Saturday - the part was a pool party and there was no way all the people would fit in my house for an extended period of time. So looks like the weather gods are/were on our side.

Nikki, my fingers are crossed for the right job to come along. DS got an interview last week (right after his final - before the ceremony - in San Diego. They called out of the blue from Monster and the flew him down there, moved him about in a limo (I've never been in a limo) and they hired him. So he accepted the job and will start on Aug 20th. Beaucoup bucks so he's quite excited. Definitely lucky boy.

Penny, can I assume from the past two weeks of posts I've tried to read between working that you once had a masectomy? If yes, I didn't know. What a cool, backhanded compliment that they aren't the same size anymore. I like Judy's point on the 7 years to finish losing so that Medicare can even them out.

Well, I'm on track exercise wise as usual. I've changed my routine and take my two huskies out every morning as it's light at 5:30. I missed the jogging and so this week I added jogging on the dirt road. Wow, who'd ever guessed I'd jog in "public" (no one's around at that time of day and I live in the sticks). But it's working well. I'm also swimming 1/4 mile every afternoon after work (except during all the company). I ordered a Kathy Smith Lifting Weights to Lose Weight DVD and someday will find time to try it out. I need to tone as I'm looking flabby on the top half in summer clothing. Sweaters are so forgiving.

Food wise - struggling some days, some days I'm angelic. I need more of those days.

Well, back at the work pile.
Marie

Marie, it's good to hear from you. The bad part about a virtual relationship (besides the fact that you might be precocious 11-year-old, but Penny has met you :D) is that when someone drops off, you don't know why, or if it's just for week or forever. I'm glad that it was for celebrations and company. I hear good things about San Diego, I bet your son is delighted!

Nikki, I knew it couldn't be as bad as all that, with as little as you eat.

Carol, you frighten me, lady. Whoever heard of the mother of the bride implusively painting a room days before the wedding? You sound like the original Energizer Bunny.

I am struggling with munchies a lot. I know that it's stress, and my body not wanting to go any lower (my fat cells think that 220 lbs is skinny :dunno:. I am working out, but snacking too much. I really want to get close to my July Fourth goal, but it won't happen if I can't keep my lips shut!

judy

Marie - I'm glad you're back. It sounds like you've had an incredibly busy but fun time. Yes, I had my mastectomy 5-1/2 years ago (left side only). The right one was reduced because I had huge boobs and that way I didn't need a huge implant to make them even. It is kind of a back handed compliment from my doc that they now don't match because I've lost a lot of weight. How come I couldn't just lose it from my butt???

Judy - I've been struggling a lot lately too so my goal seems to be slipping away. Tomorrow is a new day so I'm going to try to be extra good to make up for my slip ups. I hope you can hang in there and get back on track too - I know how hard it is with stress eating.

Nikki - I'm glad your bloat has gone with TOM. It's great that you're near your 50 lb. milestone - what an achievement!

Carol - You sure are the energizer bunny! I hope all the last minute preparations for the wedding are going well.

I've had a sore hand ever since the acupuncture. She put some needles in my hand and some in my foot - somehow the "meridians" are connected according to Chinese medicine. This has kind of put me off of doing it again as I don't need any more new pains, I have enough with the old ones!

Also, I have a horrendously sore throat today so I may be coming down with the cold from heck that my DH had a few weeks ago. A lot people around here have come down with it and it lasts about 3 weeks with a lot of folks getting bad bronchitis afterwards. I'm doing all my herbal stuff and Zicam so I hope it doesn't get full fledged.

Oh Marie so glad it was only a fun time with family and the end of the school year business that kept your away and not an illness. I can only say oh how I know what thats like getting ready for company, events etc. It all is busy work and in the end it always turns out nice. Yeah girls I was a bit over the edge the other night but at least it got done and looks really nice for their arrival today. Just a little creativity and some work for a couple of hrs made a super difference. The wedding spa day is today there is 6 of us and I have packed some lunchoen foods for the event. They serve us wine etc. but we provide the food. All healthy let me tell yah veggies , fruit, salads and whole wheat pita pockets. Then off to an Italian resturant for dinner tonight. I am doing a slim fast for breakfast to get a good start for the day. I tried on my jacket last night that goes with my gown it fits better than a month ago. I thank therapy for that those push up must of slimmed my arms a bit toned up. Its going to be only in the 70's but sunny no rain in the forecast. So I am able to wear the jacket instead of the shawl if I choose to. I finished putting the trim on my dress at 10 last night. The food for the saturday night after party is bought and cheeses cut etc. Thanks to my best friend and her hubby whom came over to lend a hand. I am very luck to have such a close friend. She is really closer to me than my own sisters. I guess we just have so much in common. I am going to teach her some of my exercises from therapy. Penny we all slip on food at times its how far we go that matters. I am sure that you are more careful than you think. Nikki sometimes that scale can be evil I guess thats why lately I haven't used it but I should ck it soon. Maybe I am just maintaining? But the clothes fit and thats a plus. During some stress I jumped off the path a bit. Lately I have jumped back on and thats whats so important. We can stray girls as long as we don't go far cause that gets all of us in trouble. Well time to say good bye and get some things done. Penny I am going to pick some fresh flowers for my vases in the house. My foxglove plant is about 40'' high. Love this type of weather this year for the gardening hot, cool , rain etc. a variety helps. Have a little thought for us at 4:00 on saturday and toast to my daughter Tam and her new hubby Mike. The lovely couple. I am off from work til the 5th decided to take a little extra time. I hope that I don't regret it later as I will have to earn some more. Oh well little late to think about it now. Kayaking and camping, gardening and having time to do what ever will be a nice change.

Marie - So glad you are ok :) Your son is lucky he landed a job that fast.

Penny-Feel better soon. Sore throats stink

Carol- Have fun this weekend can't wait to hear how everything went.

Judy-Hang in there I know you can do this :)


Well ladies I need some help today. Tonight we are going to my bf's friends house for dinner. She is making pasta :yikes: ! I only met this girl once and I don;t want to insult her but.....I do not want to throw away all my hard work. I don't want to eat the pasta. I would rather eat something at home before we go. How do I handle this tactfully ? Am I doomed to eat the pasta?
The worst part is I emailed her to ask her if we could bring anything and she told me they were making pasta and if I wanted to bring a side go ahead. I know my boyfriend would say you should have told her you couldnt eat pasta when you spoke to her. However, I was not raised that way. When in Rome do as the Romans ya know. Normaly this would not be a problem but I'm finaly seeing a loss and I don't want to mess it up . Please help me out !!!

Nikki - What I would do about the pasta is to take a teensy tiny portion (hopefully you can serve yourself) or ask for a small portion and try and just eat whatever meat/sauce is on it and fill up your plate with lots of salad. If you don't mention it, she probably won't even notice you're not eating a large portion of pasta. Good luck!

Carol - It sounds like everything is on track for the wedding. I'll be thinking of you and the happy couple tomorrow. Thanks for your support - I'm going to be really careful what I eat today.

My throat is a lot better - maybe all the herbs and potions helped. Have a great weekend everyone.

Penny - Thats the problem I cant eat any of it. My metabolism finally got to the point of not craving the carbs and finaly I am losiung aain after the last 3 weeks. I don't want to mess it up and even one bit of pasta can do that with atkins. I think I wil make a lare salad and bring it. but still have the pasta issue . I cant even have the sauce to many carbs. I am on 7 carbs a day plus veggies. Unless I put it on my plate and don't eat it but slip it to my bf lol.

Nikki

Nikki, I think you should be honest and tell her what you're doing and how far you've come. Bring your own food and tell her you are so happy to be there to enjoy the company. But don't eat to please someone else. That's always a losing combo. Most people respect your diet if you're honest. But some won't and those are the ones that you don't care if you hurt their feelings as they don't care about yours. right?

Penny, I'm glad you're feeling better. I swear by echinecea. Always nips it in the bud for me (okay most of the time). Plus it's definitely allergy season.

Judy, I'm with you on the munchie struggle. Somedays I'm so good, then bam, I get hit with the munchies. Luckily they are about even and the exercise is keeping me steady. But I want to lose more so I need to get back in better control. I'm thinking of being on this teeter-totter until after my alaska vacation, then get back on track full-time. Only my birthday would be an off day so that's do-able. I'm going to break up the summer in eating goals.

I did buy Alli from Costco the other day. At one point I'd been on Xenical and I didn't like the dose. too strong. So this 1/2 dose sounds like something to try. I don't eat high fat, but I don't go fat-free either. I'm giving it a go. I'll let you know. I'm only using it for lunch and dinner as I have no fat at breakfast. That means the 150 capsule bottle at Costco for 70 will last 75 days. We'll see what happens...

I walked the doggies around the 2 mile block this morning. I didn't jog any of it as I wasn't in the mood. Up the big hill, I did truck so my heart rate would be pushed. I'll probably swim 1/4 mile later this afternoon since I do every afternoon.

Carol, I'm hoping you're having fun at the spa and that the wedding be blessed tomorrow at 1:00 my time.
Marie

Nikki - I really feel for you in this situation. Maybe you can fib a little and say you have an upset tummy and just eat a bit of salad. Otherwise, you'll just have to come clean and tell her you're doing low carb, although she probably won't be too sympathetic if she's spent time preparing a special meal for you and your bf. I wonder how other low-carbers handle this kind of situation? Maybe there's a thread here on 3FC that has some advice on the subject.

Hi all, Carol, I'm thinking of you and your family. 90 minutes to the wedding.

We took the doggies out running on the mountain. Probably about a 3 mile hike. It was a nice morning. I'm thinking of trying the lifting weights DVD I bought two weeks ago. I guess I'd have to open the package. :)

I was going to rebuild DH computer with VISTA however I decided I needed a bigger C: drive (I have a D: drive for data) and found a great deal at Staples. So I called Staples and they don't have any - so I ordered online and it'll be here on Wednesday. Got me out of playing with the computer all weekend. :) I just figured the small C: drive wouldn't work well with the bigger operating system. So my C: drive will go from 20G to 500G. Small steps. :)

Well, that's about it. Hope it went okay last night Nikki.
Marie

Hi All-

Thanks for your advice. Friday night went well. My boyfriend gave them a heads up before we left and she was gracious enough to make me a rosemary chicken with brocolli. So I was able to stay on track all weekend.

Marie- I just spent the weekend watching my bf and his dad build a pc from scratch. Lucky you did not have to do that.


Talk to you all tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Nikki

Oh, my poor brain..it so much wants to be on vacation! I was in meetings all day Friday and most of Saturday. It was fun to go to a baseball game Saturday night, tho. But today I have been a total slug, some puttering around the house but not much else. Oh, well, some days will be like that.

Carol, I thought about you and your family on Saturday afternoon. I hope you are somewhere with your feet up as i write this!

Nikki, it was good of your guy to speak to his friend. Sometimes people give you attitude if you mention a diet--as if you're choosing to snub their food--so sometimes I just take Penny's advice and allude to something digestive, nobody wants to hear details on that! Here's where the gluten sensitivity has started to come in handy:D, so feel free to borrow that one from me. Good for you, you're on a roll :carrot:.

Penny, I hope your throat problem is totally gone. I'm sorry that the acupuncture made you sore! I'd complain to the acupuncturist. You shouldn't feel any discomfort, unless the person just isn't very good.

Marie, let us know what you think of Alli. The side effects sound kinda gross, but I've read that your body adjusts after a few weeks. I wish you were here--I managed to delete my sound icon from my toolbar, and am trying to figure out how to get my sound back!

Last week was one of my worst weeks in months. I even had a candy bar on Friday, and boardwalk fries at the ballpark last night. I think I'd finally let myself relax after a stressful period at work, and wasn't focusing. But I did a long hard cardio workout this morning, and am enjoying having a day filled with healthy veggies and protein. It would have been nice to have gone to the BBQ festival downtown, but I guess I would have spent the afternoon eating too much. I'm back to using my little whiteboard "menu" on the frig, after two weeks of eating out more than eating my home-cooked meals. I will stay absolutely on course these three days, to give myself a nice start before leaving town on Wednesday.

Be well--judy