Hi Hi

Just got back from an awesome strength training session. I'm trying out all sorts of new S.T exercises - different ways of training muscle groups etc. Things like eccentric chin ups (lowering down from the bar, but not pulling up) and isometric tricep exercises, like holding onto the dip bar and hanging there as long as I can.

That's my biggest news! It's a gorgeous day here. Things at work are same as always ( I work in a small retail store part-time) and we're seeing huge sale increases because of christmas.

Auntie - It's good to know there's still other people who are old-fashioned when it comes to technology. I also tape every day - it's super convenient, isn't it! When you watch your favourite shows, you don't have to sit through commercials. Great control with the kisses! Chocolate is haaaard to resist - especially at work. Keep up the awesome effort.
Oh - and I hope all goes well with the ceiling fan installation.

Judy, it sounds like you've been busy these days! Hopefully things will, like you said, calm down - and you can enjoy the four day weekend. Great work staying on plan all day - even if it was for the chocolate.
Sounds like chokkie is a weakness for all of us.

Does all of the US get a 4 day weekend for thanksgiving? It's sounding better and better all the time!

Hope all is going well Marie.

Well I'm off - seeya ladies!

- Mariana

Hi, chickies! I'm having a lovely lazy day. I roasted a turkey breast in herbs and garlic--and my apartment smells wonderful . But I'm not eating it today--I'm going out for dinner in Chinatown, then to a basketball game. So, Mariana, a lot of folkswill have to work--the subway and bus drivers, the cooks in the restaurant, and the vendors, ticket-takers and basketball players, to name a few...but for most lucky people it's a four-day weekend.

Auntie, good luck with the ceiling fan! Are they hard to install?

This morning I slept in, which was wonderful, and did a long workout on the cardio machines. I had a hearty brunch--omelet, with a treat of two wheat-free waffles--and had a snack of yogurt and blueberries. Oh, an a bit of the turkey, but purely for quality-control . Dinner will be at a Mongolian grill, so I will load up on the veggies and not get carried away.

I hope everyone is having a good, healthy day.

judy

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a nice day without overdoing it on food. I didn't reach my -5 lbs. goal, in fact I gained 5 , but, as my motto says: quitting is NOT an option! I'm feeling a bit better, so no more medicating with food! I did a light workout at Curves this morning, so I'm slowly getting back on track.

Having a lovely weekend so far. Saw two really good films--Slumdog Millionaire and the Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The second one is especially good, and not a depressing as you might think, given that the plot revolves around ****s and a concentration camp. The child actors are fabulous, and there several lovely, funny scenes. Movies for grown-ups, imagine that! I've had a fun hanging out with my brother, who's in town for a wedding. Today I'm working for a few hours, preparing for a trip to New York (Sunday-Tuesday).

The Thanksgiving meal was okay. We were in the party room, with platters of mediocre food brought out to us, so the only veggies were broccoli drowning in salty sauce, or the bits of onions and pepper fried in spring rolls or in General Tso's chicken. I was really happy that I had turkey, veggies, cranberry sauce, etc., at home. I've worked out some days, but not every day.

Auntie, don't feel bad about losing it. At least you caught yourself and put things in perspective. Holidays can certainly be a strain, and it sounds like you'd had a long and tedious day already. If everyone stopped and took a deep breath when they know they overreacting, instead of justifying the drama, the world would be a nicer--and safer--place!

Penny, it's good to hear from you. You and I are somewhat in the same place re Thanksgiving goals. But tomorrow is another day, and quitting, I've heard, is NOT an option .

I will be traveling for 21 days between now and Jan. 3. My only realistic short-term goal, I think, is to weigh myself tomorrow morning and try to maintain that weight through this next series of trips.

judy

Hi everyone, sorry I've been MIA for a few days. Work on Tuesday and Wednesday were hectic and no time for a web-break. Then on Wednesday we drove to Reno with the dogs. Eeks, that was painful. After an hour, I drugged Kody with a tranquilizer. Then to DS1, almost DIL and grandson's house for Thanksgiving. Other than we had to tranquilize Kody and Kai, it was GREAT!!! We had a great time. Everyone did a part of the meal that we had in the early afternoon. DS1, DS2 and DS1's friend played rock band. Almost DIL had a great time and I think her obnoxiousness in August was just TOM as she was wonderful. And DGS, what can I say other than he is the most fabulous person in the world. I never knew I could love anyone like I love him.

So foodwise - I'll give you my almost DIL's comment after I logged my calories. "I can't believe anyone can be under on their calories on THANKSGIVING!!!!" Yeah for restraint. I did really good and was under on the way home yesterday. Right on track again today. Nothing is tempting me to fall off the wagon. That's very new for me.

DH and I bought a turkey this morning as it's my favorite meat (as I only like turkey, chicken and occasionally beef and pork) not having leftover turkey was depressing me. So it's cooking as I type. I tossed in one sweetpotato that DH and I will share, and then some beans. No gravy, stuffing, or potatoes. All good for me stuff.

So I was thinking during lunch. I've really come to accept my 1/2 sandwich as a fine portion. When that happened, that I didn't feel like I was being jipped, I have no idea. And a shared 1/2 apple with DH. So strange. Could this be a real turn for me or another false hope and the pounds and food will find me again??? I haven't exercised yet today. I think I will aerobics in a bit. The doggies are wiped out from the meds and they should be out of their system completely by tomorrow. Although high on tranqs they still went on many walks. OK, perhaps that would be a good choice.

Mazza, congrats on the 2 pounds. It sound like you're having a grand time with the strength training. My almost DIL joined a gym and that's the part she likes. She has biceps now and it's helped her constant back pain. And she's lost 5 pounds since August. So when I read your strength training I thought of her. I need to remind DH to bring our weight machine back from the garage. I told him I wanted it about a month ago. I know, I'll clean out the space it's going in. That will do it. He did bring in the bench but what am I supposed to do with just the bench.

Penny, I'm so glad you are feeling a tad better. I think you should get the shoulder fixed and put 2008 and the medical misery behind you. 2009 you'd be good as new. Even better than new.

Judy, wow, you're schedule never ceases to amaze me. I do not envy your travel schedule. Your turkey sounded wonderful and way better than the eat out dinner. You and Penny will make new goals because Penny is so right that Quitting is Not an Option. We're all in this together.

Auntie, I'm glad you had a good Black Friday in that you're done with shopping. I ventured out to two places. First one I couldn't force myself to wait in an 1.5 hour line to purchase the DVD Upconverter. I'll be ordering online in a few minutes. The second was a new store called Scheel's. It was the coolest place I'd ever shopped. It was the most awesome sportings good place ever. Two humungous stories with lots of two story aquariums and a ferris wheel in the middle. I went for a food slicer (that was a doorbuster for Saturday, not Friday when I went so I paid full price but it works great so I don't care), and helmet and goggles for almost DIL's b-day presents. She'd found them in the ad and asked for those so I changed my original plans. And when I was there, I actually found pink MITTENS that match my ski outfit. I have loo0ked for two years. I have a pair of "mitten" that have gloved insides. I hate gloves and when I put my skeptical fingers in the pretty pink ones, I nearly dance for joy. So I piad full price for those and a pair of very thin gloves for doggie walking. Controlling 3 leashes with bulky gloves wasn't working. I'd dropped Blizzie's leash one day and she ran to the street and a car was coming. At 5 inthe morning, I was screaming my head off for her to come back. That won't happen now. Anyway, that store was so fun and I thought of you and your Black Friday madness. My almost DIL and you would get along great.

Carol, I hope your Thanksgiving was great.

OK, since this has turned into a novel, I'll say by for now.
Marie

Greetings all.

Internet has been out for a few days, but luckily last night we got it working again.
This whole weekend I was at a course to become qualified as a spin class instructor. I've never cycled so much in my life! I'd say all together around 6 or 7 hours. I'm feeling okay but my nether regions complained when I got on my bmx bike earlier.

I had a blast, met great people. Burned over a thousand calories while doing something I love.

Heya, Marie - rock band! Awesome! One of my friends just bought it, as it's just been released here. He says it's great. Is it hard to pick up? I'm super curious, as I play music in 'real life' and would like to see how that has been converted into the video game world.

Judy - when you say 'travelling' does that mean holidays? If so, I hope you have an awesome time! Good luck for staying OP during travel.

I'm hoping everything is okay now after the tree mishap, Auntie. My biggest fear is all of the cables and things that it takes to power up xmas lights and decorations. It might only take 1 spill of lemonade and .....eeek!

Penny - Hi there, I'm Mariana - I'm not sure if we've spoken here before How do you like Curves? I've heard mixed reviews and I'm interested in what you have to say, out of experience.

My warm thoughts to you all.

Mariana

Auntie G - Sorry to hear about your leaky tree - I hope it didn't stain your floor. There's worse things to eat than pizza - just think of all that healthy protein in the cheese and the lycopene in the tomato sauce! .

Marie - I'm glad you had a nice time in Reno with your family, especially your darling GS. That was brave to take your doggies on such a long trip.

Mariana - Yes, we did chat a couple of times before I went awol with my surgery and then my sore shoulder. I'm the one that lived in Sydney for several years. I'm impressed with you and your spin class . Wow - burning 1,000 cals is fantastic, you must be fit as a fiddle.

Judy - Well, we both didn't reach our Thanksgiving goals, but at least we're still trying to lose. It must be even harder for you with all the traveling you do.

Carol - I hope everything is well with you.

My shoulder is a bit better - hence my longer post. Today I'm having lunch with some friends at a place called Sleighbells. It's out in the countryside and has an enormous selection of Christmas items - tree decorations, etc. and a very nice restaurant decorated for the holidays. I'm going to be careful and pick the healthiest option on the menu.

Marie - I guess our posts crossed in transit. Sorry to hear you are under the weather. I hope you'll soon feel better. A nice snuggle with your doggies will be comforting.

Hi, chickies! I'm back home, but feeling crazed. My trip went well, a very busy itinerary but very positive, and I spent Sunday evening with one of my closest friends, which was really nice. Today at work, though, I was just hyperactive and tired, coping with too many little fires and feeling a bit out of control...the pace of the past three-plus months has clearly gotten to me. I got home late this evening, and just going to take a hot bath and go directly to bed (as soon as I finish this post). My food choices have been hit or miss. I walked a lot in Manhattan, as usual, and I did a 45-minute workout this morning.

Mariana, the travel schedule includes a week and a half with my family, in two cities. It won't be relaxing, but I will be glad to see my grandma, whose health has suddenly turned precarious this part year or so, and I haven't spent much time with my mom and sibs since last Christmas. Being a Spinning instructor sounds awesome Re Curves: I was going off-and-on for a few years. Some women find it boring once they've mastered the basics, but because it close to my office, it really helped me establish a discipline of doing at least one workout most days of the week. I really miss my steady workout schedule, and can't wait until January to start over again.

Marie and Auntie, shopping and wrapping already? The only gift I've begun working on is my secret Santa recipient at the office--and I haven't bought it, just decided what to buy. Marie, I hope you're feeling better soon. And Auntie, you've been on wee vacation from your hard weight-loss work, but I know that you'll want to end the year on a high note, so step away from the pizza!

Penny, it's good to see you hear more often! Hmm, a restaurant named Sleighbells must smell like gingerbread. Hope you had a nice time at lunch.

judy