Carol, I totally know what you mean about bing more on track when checking in here. Last night I came back to the site and read the latest posts and it stopped me from having big dessert and only had a tiny portion of ice cream (way less than normal even when I'm dieting). I also read the Joy fit Club on the today show page. It's very motivating. I'm on track today. Yesterday I had another shot in my heel but I could still step on it this morning. As the asthma is starting to get better, I took the doggies around the 1.5 mile block. I felt nearly normal. Between the heel and the bronchitis/asthma, it's been a long month. Thank heaven for my pool where I've been exercising mostly lately.

Judy on the 211. Way to go. I hope all works out with your job. It's certainly not stress reducing to have that over your head. Hopefully the director will start doing a better job.

Penny, I envy you on the not wanting to eat when stressed. I like to eat stressed, happy, sad, mad, bad, etc. Food is my comfort and I have to find something else. I hope all goes with your distributor.

Things largely are going good. My first born is doing great and my second is a jerk. But alas, that's nothing new. DH and I have had some great conversations. We're going to Reno for the 4th. DS1 is checking out about fireworks over lake tahoe. Wouldn't that be cool???

Time to work.
Marie

Judy - Yay for you reaching 211! I'm a "nut person" too and enjoy eating almonds and walnuts. Lately I've switched to unsalted peanuts as I read somewhere they help with weight loss. Maybe that's why I'm losing - who knows? I keep it to a couple of tablespoons a day as they are very "more-ish"! I'm hoping our newly planted arborvitae trees hide me from our neighbor when I'm sweet-talking my plants!

Carol - That would be great if we could share plants. I do that with some of my girlfriends and it saves a lot of money on plants and sometimes I end up with something I wouldn't normally buy and they turn out great. Last year my friend gave me some beautiful white campanulas and they have come back great with tons of white bell shaped flowers. I'd love to see your garden - it sounds lovely. Try not to jump up and down too much with your bad back!

Marie - How fun that you are going to Reno for the 4th. That should be a great get-away for you. I know what you mean about this thread being such an inspiration. I know I couldn't get back on track without my daily check in. I hope your heel soon feels better. I'm glad your bronchitis/asthma is improving. It's a good thing you have your pool to exercise in. It must be pretty hot down there right now. We're expecting temps in the 90's over the weekend.

We went for a lovely walk by the Willamette river this morning before it got hot. It was very relaxing the I think it helped my DH with all the stress he's been under. Getting close to nature is always the best remedy for stress, I think.

I'm getting excited about our DS visiting on Thursday thru Sunday. He's going to be competing in a major regional shooting competition and we'll be going to watch. Hopefully the expected high 90's won't happen, but we'll take an umbrella and lots of sunblock & water just in case.

moreMarie your on the same idea as me move it off. I finally started jornaling it this week. I did good yesterday with the exception of a half of sub but only ate part of the roll. Then took the rest and cut it up like a salad. It was really good and still had the sub taste. I am going to try this again someday. The rest of the day was good. I have a little container for lunches if it doesn't fit in it I don't take it. So that is helpful portion control and better choices is what I am working on along with more fresh fruits and veggies. I took a little time off for my GS today its his moving up ceremony from 5th grade to the middle school. I am very proud of his hard work this past couple of years he has really tried so hard with his writing disability its not easy but he is so smart and the school knows it. That is important and the computer has helped. Well thats it for right now hang in there and have fun in your gardens girls. Judy hope your work week is good. Oh I heard from another coworker where the girls all switched to. She left me a message yesterday and we have a case together with providing diff. services. This gal left a message thanking me for my professionalism and always staying on top of things then said not like some other coordinators. Oh guess by that she ment the old gals whom now she is stuck with. I loved it and it made me feel great all day!
Penny enjoy your time out and try and stay cool.

Yesterdays intakes were good and I am off to a good start today. Packed a nice salad for lunch. healthy breakfast. Gotta fly in a min. Oh my pants today feel snug man! I am hoping the hubby left them in the dryer to long.

Morning everyone. I have today "off". Basically I'm working from home but since it's the end of the fiscal year on Monday I have to use my time. I may leave work early on Monday if thats possible.

My heel is in nasty shape so no exercise yesterday. I was late getting home from work and when I did, Kody was limping. He peeled back the pad on his front paw so it took a bit to bandage it and I'll be calling the vet when they open in an hour. Kai the Love Puppy snuggled with me this morning and that was a GREAT way to start the day. I plan to swim this afternoon - in the full sun. Don't worry Judy, I already am doused with sunscreen. And I'll reapply waterproof later on.

Carol, sounds like your back on track. I'm not with eating but not way off either (thank goodness for small things). I probably would have limped around the block this morning if it weren't for Kody's paw. His feet I care about - mine - who cares???

Penny, the walk sounds wonderful along the river. I hope the weekend isn't quite so hot for you but as a friend and I are going to Medford shopping, then coming back to float in my pool, hot works for me. Enjoy the time with your son!!!!

Judy, I hope you're surviving this week. Perhaps a job with a little less stress could be good???

Elyn and Juls, I hope all is good with you both.
Marie

Hey, I'm back! The days have gotten away from me (as has my best-laid eating plans). I even dreamed that I smoked a cigarette. I haven't had a cig in several years, and I pretty much stopped smoking six or seven years ago. But I'm managing okay, just really really busy with extra planning work related to refiguring our budget. It looks like I'll be taking a 10% pay cut for the rest of the year. We're recommending a 5% cut for the non-managers. So far no one has yelled about it, but we'll see. The silver lining is that we're recommending that we go to four-day workweeks. That won't mean that much to me in fall, because of travel and weekend meetings, but it will give me more time for projects and self care in July and August.

Poor Kody! Marie, the two of you must be a sight, limping along together. I hope that you both are up and running again soon. Yes, a job with less stress would be good, but that could be one of those frying-pan-into-the-fire situations, too. Ideally we'll be at a place soon where I can keep this job with less stress!

Carol, you're doing so well with sharing your intakes with us! Keep it up! I will try to remember to put up a recipe for you soon. It's nice to know that people appreciate you, even if it's after the fact. I have received a lot of unsolicited support from folks who know or suspect that my boss is a bit of a pill to work with. It really helped me center myself this week.

Penny, I hope that you're enjoying your son's competition. I'm sure that will be a welcome distraction for your worried hubby.

I attended a work-related party last night. It was fun, especially for people like me who approach schmoozing as a sport but I got home very late for a school night. I was too exhausted to work out this morning. If the newly shrunken fitness room is too crowded to ride the ebike, I'll lift weights while watching Jeopardy in my apartment. Today I had a protein shake for b'fast, and oatmeal and chicken sausage later; a ginormous chopped salad during a lunch meeting, and a big bowl of chicken-veggie soup for late afternoon snack. I'm planning to have grilled tilapia and veggies for dinner.

judy

Carol - It was nice of that person to leave you a message saying how much you're appreciated. I bet it made your day - a little thoughtfulness goes a long way. It's nice to hear that your DGS is doing so well despite his reading difficulties. It's a good idea you had to have a small container for lunch and control your portions that way.

Marie - I'm sorry to hear your foot is still so sore and now poor Kody too! I hope you're both soon feeling better. I can just picture you snuggling with Kai the Love Puppy! She sounds so sweet. We're supposed to get mid 90's the next couple of days and maybe 100 deg. on Sunday! I envy you your pool! Have a swim for me .

Judy - I'm glad you had a nice time at the party - it must have been a welcome break from the job stress. I hope the new job recommendations work out for you. It's good that you've had some positive support from people who know you're going through a bit of a rough time.

I've been busy getting ready for our son's visit. He'll be arriving in a few hours. We're planning on going to the Air Museum in McMinville on Sunday, where the "Spruce Goose" now resides. Good thing it's indoors as it will probably be close to 100 deg.

Happy Friday everyone. I'd say my 2 days off were nothing close to a vacation. I worked from home both days and wrenched my left knee pretty severely yesterday. I have my big brace on it and I can move around. Without it I can't. So Kody has his left foot bandaged and I have my left knee and we won't mention the heel. I'm literally falling apart. The brace has made it that I can walk though. Good since a GF and I are going shopping tomorrow.

I swam about 20 lengths (2/3 of what I usually do) using only my arms. That's a workout. Then DH came out and I stopped so we could chat. The pool is too warm - 88 degrees - so it wasn't cooling in the heat Penny described. Food is ok as it's too hard to go feed my munchies.

Penny I hope the son's visit is going great. My DH would love to go to the museum with you.

Judy, You're awfully nice to take a paycut. I'm not sure I'm that generous. I donate extra time, not money.

Carol, I hope you're ready for a good weekend.

Juls and elyn, where are you?
Marie

Well girls I feel like I am back in control with eating thank goodness. I had felt bloated etc. Just not a good feeling at all. Then yah think why did I let this happen? My answer is it creeped up quickly before I really knew it I felt yukky. So now I am trying to eat less starches and sweets and sub. veggies, protein and fruits. I can say its made a diffference already. With camping long weekend coming near I need to plan good foods for that. So a fresh fruit salad lots of cut veggies and a lowfat cheese and pretzel crackers will be in the plans for staying on track. I think kabobs on the grill with ck and veggies sound like a hit too. Just because we are being good doesn't mean we have to go without I think that creative ideas will be a must. I will take some wine to go but not over do too much. I read how much the cals are on that and plenty of bottled water iced cold instead of soda except for fresca diet no cal. with a lemon slice and ice. We will be kayaking and walking so exercise is no problem during camping. We got our new canvas top and it is so nice looks like a new camper not a 1993. So this week we will be packing to get ready we leave on thurs afternoon. The guys are taking the campers up early and setting up so when us girls arrive from working it will be all set. We are going about 85 miles from home and think we will stay til the 8th depending on the weather. A little time off for me. Hurrah! More corporate compliance rules are starting due to medicaid fraud etc. So more to learn and keep up with. Judy I am with you work is challenging and we are always changing right along with it. At this time they are thinking of a 4 day work week but first are trying to get people to carpool. Its hard for my dept. as we all see clients at their homes work areas etc.. I tried this week to do visits with a coworker but we are always waiting for one another etc.... its seems like a pain. Good luck with the changes at your work.
Marie too bad for you and the doggie. Bear is a bit fixed on camping but he isn' t going this time no doggies just us. He will not be happy on the 3rd when we all leave but with kayaking its too hard to leave him alone at the camp grounds we aren't familiar with. Good luck with the food thing boy its not easy the first few days or so I really couldn't get it totally together now I feel like I see a difference and so it gives me power to continue to try to eat more in control.
Penny hope your doing well. My garden is a bit out of control guess I better pull out some plants its a bit over crowded. Bet your enjoying your patio. I have some ideas to decorate my screened in porch when its completed.
Talk to you all soon I have a graduation ceremony to go to with the SIL its her grandsons.

Hi everyone, well my 4 day "weekend" is almost over. Yesterday was the only day I didn't work, but it's WAY better than going to the office. I'd so love to work at home. My knee is slowly recovering. I can't be without the brace for long, but with the brace Iw as able to walk Costco and the mall with little pain. It's in the 90's so the thick neoprene brace is hot. So fro the moment it's off and I'm on the couch. Food was BAD yesterday. Today not too horrible but with room for lots of improvement. I actually overate FRUIT. Yes you read that right. I ate so much fruit this morning that I'm still full. There are way worse things. I'd bought lots of fruit at Costco and mayde a humungous fruit salad that only I will eat so I got started. I love melons and grapes.

Carol, sounds like you're ready for the holiday weekend. Both our doggies will be sad. We're going to Reno and the pups are staying at home with DS2. My friend from work that I shopped with yesterday like the idea of in the future to housesit the pool and the puppies. She was great with them when we got back and played in the pool.

I think I'm going to go for a swim - 1/4 mile with arms only. Maybe the knee injury will be good for the big chicken wings.
Marie

Guess everyone is out and about this weekend. Well I am still pretty much on track. Had the graduation dinner last night that was most likely my worse intake for the weekend. I had ck parm. oh so good. I did have a healthy breakfast and only a dish of fresh fruit with cool whip for lunch. Trying to save myself for the dinner. So all in all better than my norm for such a event with the family dining out. Today I have been on track and purchased some really healthy choices for lunches this week and camping foods and snacks. Did some walking yesterday due to parking 3 blocks away from the event. So 3 each way not so bad at least it was something. My intake for today:
bagel with lite veggie cc
blk coffee
whole wheat pita 2 small ones with ham, veggies
dinner corn 1/2 c. fresh squash grilled ck. cukes tomatoes red onion with dressing.
Dessert: 1/2 cup of pomgranden ice cream get that one new.... with fresh fruit on top and a bit of cool whip.
Thats it oh an iced coffee made at home with a little creamer and splenda rest of my day iced water and one fresca no cal.
Storm is coming I must run

The storm is done thank goodness. I wanted to share with you that this afternoon I wanted to bake some banana bread. My grandson loves it so I ckd for a recipe lowfat on the net. I got this great recipe and it actually came out well. No oil or fat I used applesauce in its place and replaced the white sugar with 1/2 brown added walnuts. I baked two one for camp to share for dessert and I actually will know the cals and one for the family today and kids visiting on monday. Well have a good evening.

Monday Madness Everyone...

I'm back at work. I did swim yesterday and swam 1/2 mile. I got swimming with only kicking one leg down pat. It worked really good and I got a good workout.

Carol, I have a good fat-free banana bread recipe as well - I did the applesauce swap too. I also swapped sugar for splenda and hated it. I HATE splenda so I wasn't too surprised.

Food is ok. I'm definitely OD'ed on fruit. My poor stomach.

I'll swim after work and then play with my doggies. I miss them. They are the best in the world.

Marie

Hey, I sent a post yesterday, but I guess it disappeared. That's not surprising. I totally shut down this weekend! Sleeping, wandering around the library like a zombie, watching Netflix movies ("War Dance" and "American Gangster") and pretending to do chores. I did workout, though, and ate on program. It helped to finally restock my kitchen, and I cooked up big pots of soup and chili. This morning's weight was tantalizing...210.5lbs. I'm definitely doing the Happy Dance if I take off another half pound or more by Wednesday's weigh-in.

Marie, I hope you you're more mobile soon. A big leg brace takes away from the long, slim silhouette we're all trying to achieve here. I love fresh fruit in season, especially berries, peaches and watermelon. I know lots of folks who can't eat more than a little fruit, poor things.

Carol, you're doing great! I'll have to keep an eye open for pomegranate ice cream! Gee, you could put some chocolate syrup on it and market it a super healthy antioxidant dessert! I'd have to get it to go, though--even though I can't digest ice cream so well anymore, I'd still chow through a pint in one sitting and scrape the carton, looking for more

Penny, I hope you had fun with your son!

judy

Marie - I'm sorry to hear about your knee and hope it's getting better. It's a good thing you can at least swim with your arms only. You'll get some great upper body exercise.

Carol - Your low cal banana bread sounds great. I'll have to give it a try with the apple sauce some time. We had a big storm last night too. Lots of thunder and lightning - which is very unusual for here. It didn't last long but it must have rained about and inch. It's very humid today and around 92 deg. Summer has arrived at last!

Judy - I'm glad to hear you had a low key weekend. It's good to veg out occasionally. Hooray for the 1/2 lb. lost, I hope the scale will keep being nice to you.

We had a great weekend with our DS. We watched him compete in the shooting competition on Friday and Saturday. I found it to be surprisingly interesting and it was a very challenging course. He did very well, coming in 16th out of 350 competitors. We went with him to the awards ceremony at the Holiday Inn last night and he got some really good prizes. It was great to see him so happy and catching up with a lot of his buddies from Montana (where he did an internship for two summers), Idaho and Oregon. Some guys (and gals) came from as far away as Texas. I enjoyed seeing some of the women shooters do just as well as some of the guys.