It must be the weekend over there and everyone is sleeping in except Mel. Morning Mel - well afternoon to you really.
Busy day yesterday and I was falling asleep in the chair by around 8.30 after the football when DB2 went home. I packed myself off to bed around 9.30 and will today continue on where I left off yesterday. I am shorn, I've been to the gym, I've shopped and cleaned. Today I'm back to the gym. I need to weigh and measure to get the new starting point and I'm back to clean living again. I'm joining in the challenge. I need to lose the 1.6kg I put on while on holiday. It's all collectively your faults that I put it on you know. You all feed me too well and didn't exercise me enough!

The garden is looking much the worse for wear as well but I don't have time to do much there. The roses are struggling along and doing their best in the circumstances. What ever is left growing is obviously now drought proof and can survive on the minimum rainfall. Had a bloke come in yesterday to ask if I wanted some of my trees chopped down. WHAT? You are kidding me are you not? Those trees are the only things which provide shade from the sun, give me pleasure when their flowers attract the native birds and prevent the entire yard from complete shrivelisation (is there such a word?) Go away and chop yourself off. They are not dangerous (yet) and the we need more trees not less.

Carla - I promise not to snoop in your fridge if you promise not to open mine! It is full of the non-healthy DS2 type stuff at the moment. He must have shopped before I came home.
Sorry to hear the massage was not great. It's a pain to pay out all that money and not get your full measure. Come to think of it I'll have a tame masseuse in Perth. One of the DS2's best friends runs a massage and beauty business over there. Pete does the therapeutical massages and Linda does hair, skin and nails. They have built up quite a thriving business over there. I do believe the DS2 told me they took out small business of the year award a couple of years back. I may be in need of that by the time I get there!!!

Ceejay - strangely enough most of us do better without the choclate in our diet. It seems to have become a new food group and while the dark choclate may now be getting some good health reviews, nothing is good for you if you overindulge. Ditto goes for beef. A small eye fillet once a week is okay. A ten oz steak which hangs over the edges of your place twice or three times a week is sheer stupidity. Nobody needs that much meat. And anyway as previously discussed - do we know where it comes from and what the producer uses to grow it? Moderation and portion control is the key in all cases. Off the :soapbox:

Right - gotta go. Time to don the gym gear again for a cardio workout, then home for shower and more cleaning. Then to the phone shop for an argument. Following that - pack for Perth and maybe some hammock time this afternoon. Loverly thought.

mel-you can complain/vent here any time. Sigh, the new bed frame hopefully will be here Tuesday after work. The furniture store owner called and asked if it would be okay. She's short handed. I've put the box springs and matress on the floor till then. I'm not putting this bed back together.

I'm going to ride the bike and finish cleaning the house.

Shad--I'd not thought about where the beef came from, ewww.

It's been a lazy day,I've needed that.

[QUOTE=carla49;1773206]
Painter, I know exactly what you mean with the self-sabotage. ... It's amazing how we're able to "forget" that we shouldn't have the insert food porn of your choice here but there are ways to outwit the hungry devil within. Some of the things I've been doing this round:
- I eat the same breakfast every day, and never skip it;
- If I'm going to work I make my lunch the night before and take it with me;
- I write everything down, not the calories but a simple food exchange system, with specific amounts of each food group allowed;
- I eat very simple dinners, grilled meat or fish and mountains of lightly steamed 'free' vegetables;
- I've completely dropped certain things - alcohol and sweets - for the duration. Much easier than controlling quantities...
- If I absolutely must have a treat, I try to stick to fairly harmless stuff, like a nonfat cappucino (sorry Mel!) or a whole bunch of fresh berries or watermelon. I also often steam extra veg like green beans or zucchini, which taste almost caramelized when cooled down and make a yummy sweet night time treat...
Oh - one final thing: we really have to forgive ourselves for the days where we just go nuts and eat everything in sight, and go right back to clean eating. Otherwise we fall further into that self-sabotage trap.
At the risk of yet another long post, I thought I would quote Carla's wisdom. (I've put in in my "weight management" file, but I can afford to read it the next time I post, too!!)

!!! LOVE IT. It might help if I could acquire some Alzheimers of the appetite, too.

When I was studying change management (i.e., how to MAKE changes) I realized that I'd never given enough thought to getting support and encouragement and on-going reminders. The stuff i studied said you have to do the new behavior for AT LEAST 6 MONTHS before it's "set"... and I really appreciate y'all's words of wisdom, sympathy and encouragement.

Mine is overgrown because of so MUCH rain. I did however, apparently run into a little bit of poison ivy yesterday as I have about 4 raised blisters on the underside of my forearm. Fortunately, I was sensible and took a long scrubby shower when I was through pulling the "weeds" and I don't think the blisters will be as awful as a couple of years ago. It isn't fair that however it looks is so innocent.

Maybe we could patent food alzheimers. Or fast food alzheimers. Or food with calories alzheimers.

Now you are being stupid Shad. Get back to the cleaning!!!

IGOOD MORNING PEEPS!! HOW GOES THE WEEKEND?? HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AND THE WORLDLY CHICKS ARE HAPPY THIS SUNDAY MORNING. I MYSELF HAVE A WORKDAY TODAY. BALA THE ACCOUNTANT IS ON HIS WAY. SHOULD BE HERE IN AN HOUR. I LOVE THIS GUY...HE ACTUALLY USES THE PHONE, GIVES ME TIMES AND DATES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IS ALWAYS ON TIME!!!
IF HE NEEDS ONLY ONE OFFICE I AM FREE TILL HE LEAVES.
TODAY WAS WEIGHIN DAY. 186 RIGHT ON THE NOSE. THAT IS UP 1.5 LBS. THE BALANCE IS A WEE BIT OFF AND FEET ARE A TAD SWOLLEN. I'LL SEE HOW THIS WEEK GOES. I SHOULD BE MORE USED TO THE CHANGES I AM MAKING. BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT CAFFEINE RUSH BACKING ME UP AND HELPING THE PLUMBING.
OTHER THAN THAT, ALL IS WELL.
HAPPY SUNDAY/MONDAY

PAINTER~ I WOULD LOVE ALZH. OF THE STOMACH!!!
AND OF THE MIND FOR ERASING THE PAST!! I HAVE OFTEN SAT WITH JEN AND WE HAVE WISHED OUR MINDS WERE LIKE VCR'S WITH AN ERASE BUTTON!! I THINK "TEAMWORK" HAS REALLY HELPED ME NOT ONLY TO LOSE THE WEIGHT BUT COMING HERE I HAVE MAINTAINED MY LOSS...MORE OR LESS. SO......
GO PAINTER GO
THANKS FOR BRING CARLA AND SHAD'S POST UP TO THIS PAGE!!

SHAD~ SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YOU AND ME KID FOR AWHILE! SLEEPY HEADS THIS BUNCH. SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE GARDEN...I AM SURPRISED ANYTHING HAS LASTED THRU THE DROUGHT. AND TO THINK OPF CUTTING DOWN THE TREES!!!!!!! WHAT IS HE THINKING???? NOT LIKE THERE IS A FIRE NEARBY
PROBABLY NEEDS SOME BEER MONEY!
GO SHAD GO WITH THE GYM!!! I EVEN GAINED WEIGHT WHILE YOU WERE HERE IN SYMPATHY OF YOUR WEIGHT GAIN! MUST HAVE BEEN THE TUB OF WHITE CHEMICALS WE HAD ON THE CAKE IN 3 DAYS I HAD MORE FAT THAN I HAD IN A YEAR!! JUST WITH THE SAUSAGES!!! WELCOME TO CHALLENGE CITY AND GOOD LUCK!!

CEEJAY~ IN MY KOREAN SOAP OPERA, THEY THROW A FEATHERBED OF SORTS ON THE FLOOR AND SLEEP ON THEM!! AND SIT ON THE FLOOR....BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. SOMEHOW I JUST CAN'T SEE THE REST OF US DOING THAT ON A DAILY BASIS!! HOPE TUESDAY BRINGS YOUR NEW FRAME!!

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHICKIES GONE
LONG TIME PASSING......LA LA LA LA

Morning everyone.

Like Mel this is a work day for me. I'm a little concerned about another employee. I just don't think that Retha is going to make it. From what she said Wednesday she's ready to fly the coop and calling in sick on Friday night. She mentioned that she wanted to go to the casino's. I'm staying out of this.

I found cigarette ashes on top of one of the chemical drums this morning. I will not see Tim until morning so I'm leaving him a note asking for no smoking signs to be put up for safety reasons. I try to keep the tops of the drums cleaned off but no one else does. It frightens me that someone would be brave enough to bring a cigarette into a place like that. Kaboom!

Mel--there are times when I would like to have an erase button.

PainterWoman-6 months is a long time, I'll bedoing good to make it 21 days which is my goal.

Sorry I've not been in to maintain my Worldly status but my life seems to be accelerating lately. Gotta stop that before it spins right out of control.

Had a great day in Ottawa yesterday with three other 3FC mods. We didn't talk about anybody on the site or talk diets! We were in the trendy market area (Benny's Bistro, Carla) and then did minor shopping in an upscale kitchen equipment place - Domus. There is so darned much stuff we don't need! Did you know they have goggles for chopping onions? I bought a great market basket as I am determined to eliminate plastic bags from my life.

My relaxing time after Church turned into a steady stream of drop-ins! I've had Liz down to borrow my big coffee pot, Caron here to scrounge some lettuce, two new people from Church who came to admire the garden, Freida who wanted a copy of the Fair entry sheets, a teacher with some very late schoolwork..... all this in an hour and a half! I am considering becoming a hermit!

This afternoon I go to a BBQ which is a thank you for volunteering at the music festival. I am debating taking the Doggage along as it's at a cottage with lots of kids who will enjoy the mutts. On the other hand, the Girls are really tired from yesterday's day at the spa and may prefer to just sleep! It also looks like rain and two wet dogs in a small cottage with tons of people may not be appreciated.

Decisions! Decisions! Enjoy the remains of the weekend if you're lucky enough not to be at work.

Not working today. DH is in woodworking shop out back. So it is quiet. But all I want is a nap, and I've only had breakfast and read the NY Times! What a lazy butt. (hmm, that might now be the MOST encouraging thing I could say to myself. ) But DD says if I'm tired, I should nap. And I might.

I am still afraid of my yard because apparently I don't recognize poison ivy when I see it.

I pulled out all my oriental poppies... they were all red ones except for one lonely pink individual. They had all fallen over and were blocking the sun from my tomatoes, priorities I have irises taking over my front garden... contemplating making a separate bed for them or just getting rid. They are thugs, so needy with the space.

I like the Alzheimer of the stomache image. Lets just forget sugar exists or that we enjoy anything about it. How about we get exercisitis? Overwhelming compulsion to sweat... I have the "Women's fit for life" exercise DVD from the library. The exercises look fairly simple, deep knee bends and side to side stuff and a bit of weights. Of course I just watched it and didn't feel the impulse to jump up and actually try any of it. Ellen Barrett was the fitness guru who was talking/doing it. I think she bugs me. Anyway, I may incorporate some of the moves when I do my Lesley Sansone walk tape. Which I haven't touched in months. I'm a pool walker at the moment. I bend my knees and drag my kids around and make whirlpools :P At least I'm moving

Ruth-taking your dogs is like having kids, you always have to watch what they are doing. Have fun at the barbecue.

Mel-the accountant must like you to be on time...have fun number crunching. At least the weigh in was just a wee jump, it could be water retention or the bird behind you messing

Shad-I can't believe the number of tree haters that are out there. Beware the neighbour who wants a better view Give the roses a bag of mushroom manure and they will be fine. I'm sorry the others are struggling. I hope Perth is a good contract and you get lots of running in

Ceejay-holy moly! do you get danger pay? I hope the smokers get the message before there is an incident. at the gambling worker who is calling in sick, what a shirker! Stay safe.

PW-take care of the poison ivy owie I'm liking all the tips the ladies are giving you too. I hope you are feeling optimistic and know you can cope with whatever hiccups and calorie jumps that come your way. Persistence over time equals results. I keep telling myself that

Carla-hmm, farmer's market, fresh strawberries I'm looking forward to the fresh corn from the farms around here. Nothing like picked the same day nibblets I'm craving green beans now

Stay safe in the sun.

Morning all,
Meadow, loved the corn cartoon. Enjoy the water. Summer will be over soon enough and you can get some great aerobics in the water.

Mel - ah well, I guess the garden is replaceable. The trees aren't! and they are not coming out anytime soon. Just Joey (the rose) is about to pass away (kark it!) but most of the others are just spindly but surviving. The orchids are also surviving. Some of the plants I thought would not survive have done reasonably well considering. Nothing like Butchart Gardens though!

Ruth - you have been to Ottawa!!! and to a kitchen place. Carla will be green. She loves the kitchen gadgets. A gadget for all seasons. Just kidding Carla. Wonder if the NZ invention of the portable cheese slicer has made it to Ottawa yet? Didn't see it in Montreal gadget shops. Enjoy the bbq.

Painter - do the exercise and then relax, rest in the garden watching the PI grow.

Ceejay - be careful of those darn smokers. They should only be allowed to smoke in designated areas. Over here it would be the end of the job if they got caught out.

Well today is the day of the move to Perth. I'm on a plane at 19.30. The flight will take around 5 hours and I will get there just before midnight Perth time (and due to start work at 08.30am - won't be a pretty sight and I still need to confirm my accomodation for tonight. Hope that happens shortly.
Then I need to go flat hunting after work. That should be interesting!
It's a very cool morning again here. The natives are complaining bitterly. It only stays cool until about 9.00am though and then it warms up to 20 or so degrees.
Miss Puss is going to be upset tonight as she will only have DS2 for company. She won't be happy about that.

So todays agenda is full, Post Office and Dentist Office as soon as the shops open, then packing for the first couple of months and trying to find some winter gear that will get me through the worst of the Perth winter. Around 14.30 it's off to DB1 for a catchup with him and some NZ friends and a bite to eat. Then to the airport. So I better go do something about it all. I've still got a bit of cleaning to do. I'll get into that now and my coffee is finished so time to go.
May or may not be in tomorrow. I'll be back as soon as possible. Meantime take care.

BYE BYE MISS SHAD
HAVE A SAFE AND WARM TRIP. HOPE YOU DON'T FREEZE IN PERTH! WOULDN'T WE ALL LOVE A BUTCHART GARDEN IN OUR BACK YARD...OR FRONT FOR THAT MATTER!

MEADOW~ THE CARTOON IS CRACKING ME RIGHT UP!! I NEEDED THE LAUGH TOO. ALTHOUGH I AM MUCH LESS STRESSED TODAY! I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF MR. POOPY WAS ON MY HEAD OR LEFT ANY WEIGHTY DEPOSITS BEFORE I GOT ON THE SCALE HAPPY WHIRLPOOLING TO YOU AND THE KIDS!! I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF IT! I DON'T THINK OUR LIVES WOULD HAVE ANY PROPER MEANING WITHOUT ANY SUGAR

PW~ HOPE THE NAP GAVE YOU A BOOST....NOW GO AND DO SOME EXERCISING YOU LAZY WENCH!
AND NO POISON IVY! A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A TERRIBLE CASE! WHAT IS THE DH BUILDING? BIRDHOUSES? I MAY HAVE A TENANT FOR YOU IF HE IS

CEEJAY~ HOPE TIM SEES IT YOUR WAY ABOUT THE CIGGIES. NO KABOOMS ALLOWED! AS SOON AS I FIND A WEBSITE THAT SELLS AND DELIVERS ERASE BUTTONS, I WILL LET YOU KNOW....**** I MIGHT AS WELL JUST ORDER A CASE AND SEND ONE TO ALL MY FRIENDS

RUTH~ YOU BUSY LADY YOU!! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME. LEAVE THE DOGS HOME AND JUST GO AND ENJOY YOURSELF!!! HOLD DOWN THE FORT LADY AND DON'T GO GETTING YOUR LIFE OUT OF CONTROL!!!

I AM WRITING TONITE CAUSE TOMORROW I MIGHT GO TO THE MALL IF NOTHING ELSE POPS UP. IT'S NOT A BIG FAVORITE OF MINE BUT SOME TIME OUT WOULD BE NICE. WE'LL SEE. BALA HAS GONE AND I ATE DINNER AND SHOWERED ALREADY. GETTING READY FOR SOME HOME & GARDEN TV AND MY SOAP OPERA!
EVEN THE BIRD IS READY FOR BED. WE SPENT QUALITY TIME BY THE WINDOW TO SOAK UP SUNLIGHT TOGETHER. CAN'T HAVE US GETTING S.A.D TOGETHER
HE IS SUCH A BRIGHT SHADE OF YELLOW NOW THAT HE LIVES IN A NON-SMOKING HOUSE. POOR OLD SOD. HIS COUGH AND SNEEZING HAVE TOTALLY VANISHED NOW. I TOLD THE KIDS THEY CANNOT HAVE HIM BACK. IT'S JUST TOO UNFAIR. MY LITTLE MAN IS A VERY HAPPY AND PAMPERED PET! MEL'S BIRD SANCTUARY!
OK CHICAS...GOTTA GO. TV IS CALLING ME. WATCHING NEFERTITI AND THE PYRAMIDS.
WAVING A HAND TO ALL THE MISSING CHICKLETTES!! YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS!!

Just a quick note. I have put the butterfly house shots on webshots. Perhaps Happy or Mel can post the link. Everytime I do it seems to bomb out.

Sounds like lots of folks had great days.
Meadow: I'd be hard pressed to trade tomatoes for poppies.. love poppies! But homemade gazpacho would be nifty, too!!

Shad, hope your flight wasn't too grueling. You must have tons o' stamina.

Must get to bed.
Night all.

SHAD I WILL GO AND FIND THE LINK AND GET IT HERE!
HAPPY WEEK! SWEET DREAMS

PW~ HOPE YOU HAD SWEET DREAMS TOO

I WILL GO AND FIND THE LINK FOR WEBSHOTS AND THEN GO DOWNSTAIRS TO YELL FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I AM OFF. SEE EVERYONE TOMORROW!
HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!! BRAND NEW START TO A BRAND NEW WEEK!