Auntie G congrats wow that is a super whoosh! I think you deserve some steak!
Penny wow you sure have a lot going on. Hope your dad is doing better soon. Never a dull moment. My sil has something like that she gets for living on a daily antibotic medication. She has had to in the past before living with us have the IV drip at home. Good luck. Oh by the way I have weed that looks like a morning glory even with a white flower. Someone told me that if you pull it out it just comes in thicker oh yeah I see that already. They said that on the garden show it said to kill the root with pouring bleach on it. Well this is in my veggie and berry patch is that a good idea? Do any of you have any insight on my wild morning glory that likes to grow onto my plants and chokes them out? Oh how mad I get when I see it growning like wild fire. The garden overall is doing well picking tomatoes, cukes and fresh green beans, basil like trees this year, peppers and a few squash too.
Marie happey B day hope you have a lovely day and off for your b day? Any great plans?
Judy I guess sometimes we all have a different opinion. I guess being in this field for so long I have my way of handling things and the opinion that if I step on someones toes oh well there is a reason behind it. I am not there to make friends in the houses as much as to ensure the safety and well being of my folks. So hopefully the boss has also thought it over and realizes we might not always agree on how things are but in the long run we both can get along. I am not looking to make waves but I won't be talked down to either and the other day it sure felt like that was the case and my wound will take a bit to heal if you know what I mean. A matter of trust will need to be rebuilt and it might take a bit of time. I guess her words hurt and were out of context for the situation thats what bothered me the most. I am a hard worker and have lots of respect throughout my company at times people might not like me and thats okay but the job I have gets done and its not always an easy one.
Judy glad your more on track its not so easy.
I kayaked yesterday and my daughter went with us she had a good time. Now its time to ask my other daughter to go as well. Sharing my time.
I also did some pool exercises last night and plan it again tonight. Some of my food choices this weekend weren't the greatest but could of been worse at least I added in exercise. I will do the scale on wed. this week.
Have a great day I have to go put my face on and head to the city!

Penny, I hope you're doing well today. We're all looking forward to your update :angel:

Auntie G, don't give those steakhouse extra calories anything to stick to this week and they won't matter! One meal won't throw you off, based on how well you've done these past several weeks. Go, go, go!!!:cheer:

I've got this ravenous hunger in a headlock. I'm disappointed that the scale hasn't moved down at all, but now that I'm not eating an extra meal or two a day, and TOM is over, maybe I can follow Auntie G into a whoosh!

judy

Judy sounds like you will follow her and I would like to go there with yah!
This a.m. I got up a bit to late to go exercise so I will have to fit that in later on maybe with some swimming and pool exercise. One way or another some exercise today. I didn't sleep well sunday as I decided to make a stupid move and take my medications at night well one is my thyroid and I think it kept me awake for hrs. So last night I read in bed at 7 and shut the lights out at 8:30 crazy huh? But today I feel good. Work has been a bit over bearing lately but today should slow down a bit I hope. I am thinking friday might have to be a sick day. Time will tell. Sometimes we just need that break and in the end can jump back in better. My food hasn't been to bad a little no no here and there but not overly crazy. Got away from my intake journal this a.m. I will start it back that is so important I think.
Hope everyone else is doing well Judy lets push forward this week and pray for a loss. I do have a lunchoen out on wed. I will try my best to balance my cals. Maybe have my dinner cals for lunch etc. That might help even a little extra exercise. Preplanning saturday is a picnic at my sisters I am bringing ck taco salad with black beans and lime dressing it is on the light side of cals. I am not going to sit by the counter and snack but find myself a location away from that area. Preplanning is my game lets hope I can be strong.

Good morning! Well, I've been behaving since my steak dinner fiasco, but on un-official weighing, I'm up a little. Grrrr... Hopefully the scale will behave by Saturday. Been trying to get some pool exercise in here and there, but this may be a tough week. There's too much going on. Ugh!

Carol, I'm thinking I might take Friday off, too! Can't call in sick, cause there's no one to call, so I have to plan ahead for it, but it seems like a good idea! I think writing down your food is absolutely essential to staying on track. It's too easy to forget what or how much you had if it's not written down. Good luck with your luncheon tomorrow!

Judy, thanks for the encouragement! Glad you're back on track, and don't worry, if you stick with it, the scale will cooperate!

Hope everyone's doing well!

Well I made it to swim this evening after work before dinner. I also switched dinner cals for lunch 't cals today. Due to the fact I ordered lunch with a friend and had a sub but on ww roll so it wasn 't that bad. No snacks today I will have some fruit in a little while to end my day. For dinner I had a small salad with some cheese, ck, romaine let., tomatoe with a little spicy sauce and a few lime chips in it. Tasty and not so bad. Did a 40 min. exercise in the pool and some stairs and walking today. I was pleased it didn't rain yet so the swim fit in.
Auntie g sometimes we have to just get something a little special like steak it will be okay. They also say sometimes having extra cals one day and less the next kicks our system to different cal burning levels who knows. Sounds good huh?
Well thats about it keep moving!

Hi chickies,

I just spoke with my doctor and the test came back negative! :carrot:

It seems I must have either fought off the blood infection or the antibiotics I was on after my surgery did the trick. I like to think it was all the good vibes from you and all my other friends who were pulling for me. We're still waiting on one of the tests, which measures general inflammation in the body.

The doctor is still very puzzled about my case and is going to speak with some of his colleagues as to whether I should have some more tests to be on the safe side. The main thing is I don't need to go into the hospital for the heavy duty antibiotic treatment.

Now I can exhale!

Thanks again for all your good wishes.

I'm Back and A Year Older...
 

Hi all, thanks for the wonderful b-day wishes. I'm so exhausted from my sister's visit I'm thinking of doing Carol's sick day tomorrow. I'd like to just sit for the whole day. But, alas, I can't do that. At 5 on Friday morning I drove to Reno (4.5 hour drive), had my hair cut (looks fabulous) then picked up my sister. We had lunch with DGS, almost DIL and my son. Then we drove back here. Halfway back we came upon a head on accident that probably happened 2 minutes or so before we got there. Very desolate type of road and we were lucky to get 911. Took about and hour before Emergency responders got there. Luckily all the people seemed to make it. I was with the worst injured for the whole time and I'm not a medical person. I knew enough to cover her with a blanket and keep her talking. I was terrified when they had me holding her head (to keep her neck straight) as they put on the collar and moved her onto a back board. An ER physician took over when he realized I was scared but allo the paramedics said I did great. I'm thankful I'm not a dr. as I don't think I could handle that on a daily basis. Anyway, the woman was airlifted to Reno and her five children to Susanvill by ambulance. Can you imagine the terror the lady felt know she wasn't with her children??? Eeks, I can't stop thinking about her. She was seriously injured but should make it.

So then my sister and I drove SLOWLY the rest of the way and got back way after dark. We swam in the pool to unwind. The next day we did decide to keep with the original plans and drove up to waterfalls that Oregon is famous for (DH did the driving, thank you...). We hiked, picnic'ed and then went to Crater Lake (my avatar...). Then on Sunday, we celebrated my birthday by kayaking down the Rogue River. So Carol, we kayaked on the same day. :) It was awesome. I capsized in some nasty rapids but maintained my cool (only after lecturing myself to stay calm as I held the flipped kayak and paddle) through the rest of that set of rapids). BTW, mountain rivers are COLD. :D

Yesterday we were bums in the morning. Played in the pool then drove back to Reno. We had a nice SMALL dinner (YEAH) then visited with DS, almost DIL and DGS. It was really nice. My sister's flight back to Iowa arrived at about the time I got home from Reno. All in all it was a wonderful, great visit. It just started out lousy. I pray for that woman and her family. BTW, the other vehicle I don't know much about other than the two passengers had to be extricaded by the jaws of life and were both alive and holding their own.

OK, food wise I did pretty good. Actually I'm surprised that I did so good. This afternoon (letdown day) I munched on a few oreos but know that if I added the cals, I'd be on target because I'd been good except that. I might swim here in a bit but I'm so exhausted I'm not sure I feel like it. Exercise, not much structured other than a doggie walk before anyone got up on Sunday. The hiking and kayaking were definitely exhausting. So all in all pretty much on track to get back on the wagon in the morning as was my plan last week. I'm not going to weigh until after TOM (which will be here in a few days - as I've learned from Penny about water weigh gain from traveling). So the evil box will get used again. And DH started swing shifts again for a few months and I'm always a much better dieter when I don't have to make a "dinner". So here I go, I'm going to lose weight. I do have a goal. To loss weight for the next year and for my b-day next year, I'm going to choose a plastic surgery procedure to make something a bit tighter. As most of the body will always be flabby from a life overweight, I'm going to choose the one the bugs me the most. So there you have it. I have a goal.

Carol, how did your return to work go with the boss and your argument. You wrote about it but I didn't see a follow up. Please tell as inquiring minds need to know.

Penny, yeah on the good medical news and boo on your father being so ill. I hope you both recover quickly. A friend at work has an infection and is on daily shots that her DH has to give her. Eeks, I'd be bad at that!!!!

auntie g - you are doing so excellent. I too usually don't veer from my daily food as it's easier to not get creative. So I really relate. And the steak house - don't beat yourself up on it. Just hold on the the feeling that it felt icky and it's be a positive rather than a blip on the diet screen.

Judy, I hope the chemical smell is gone. Headaches always make me munchy so I hope they make you hate food. :D at least there would be a benefit then.

Well, I'm going to stop typing now as this is WAY too long. Again thanks for the b-day wishes. It really was a wonderful b-day.
Marie

Yaay, Penny!:yay: That's wonderful news. What a relief!

Carol, it sounds like you're being especially thoughtful about how to tweak your routines to get results. I bet you enjoyed your swim--it's hot out there!

Auntie G, I knew you could jump right back on the wagon :)

I'm going to try a few new things. I will do an "evening" check-in most days, to mark when I've done eating for the day. Today I had a protein shake for b'fast; half an apple and a string cheese late in the AM; cup of lentil-butternut squash soup and a big salad w/turkey breast for lunch; yellow pper slices and tofu for mid-afternoon snack, and five chocolate-covered blueberries later :devil:; grilled burger w/cabbage, broccoli for dinner, smoothie pop for dessert. I am done eating today! No workout this morning, but I'll do a full yoga routine before bed.

By the way, I've improved my frozen smoothie pop recipe, by squirting a little whipped cream (a brand without too much chemical junk) into the mix before blending. It makes them a little less dense, and has nice "mouth feel," as we say on the Food Network.

I'm much too stressed at work...besides feeling too munchy, I'm not sleeping well. The fall, particularly October, my life will be on overdrive. So I'm committing to doing at one intentional stress reliever every day, no matter what (or where): feeling journal, yoga or meditation, every day, between now and the end of September. It's gotta help.

Nite-nite!

judy

Penny that is super news now you can relax on that huh? Glad for you! Marie wow you did well with that accident and that lady must of been so grateful to have someone with her. Its not easy I have been in similar things before and sometimes it takes us a bit to forget what we have seen. So relax and take sometime for you. Glad your hair cut came out nice. I have had the same style for a bit but it works for me so no new ideas yet.
As far as work goes I decided to request when we have meeting with quality assurance this week to have her review for me and the newbies what our role in medical is. Maybe I am over reacting and advocating to strongly its possible. I get pretty involved with folks and want the best for them. Maybe I am working too hard? If so I am going to take a lighter approach now pick my battles and document and send an email in a simple form to state the issue and cc it to my supervisor. That way if anything comes up I have covered my bases. I will be less stressed etc. She was a bit cool to me on monday but then it was a monday and much on her plate those days and she is normally like that on that day. Tues she was off. I tried on monday to mind my business and was also talking with her when I needed to. I am not going to play the game of being a piss ant! She did move up my date of supervision from the end of the month to the middle who knows. Life goes on! I guess sometimes I can come on strong when I believe in something and maybe I need to as I said just email the issue and wait to hear back etc. But with email yah have to be careful too not to sound rough or whatever as someone can read into it wrong so then again rereading it before it goes off. I am using email a bit more to contact folks about appointments etc.?
Well I think tonight is a fish night for dinner I am going to broil some fish have some tomatoes and cukes, zuc, peppers for dinner maybe a brown rice.
Taking a salad for lunch today and some fruit. My snack last night ended up being an 80 cal. icy watermelon flavor not so bad. My friend stopped over and had one to instead of our glass of wine.
We are both working on being better in the exercise and food dept. I read last night that people whom use the scale daily do better anyone ever hear that one?? I always thought to much made you upset and then every ounce seemed like a lb. Who knows??? Just hope we have an auntie g woosh soon.
Judy your smoothie sounds devine!!

Happy Hump Day!

My brain is finally getting over the steak night - YAY! I'm going to try some healthy pizza tonight, maybe on the grill if the weather holds up. I don't foresee any food problems during the week, but alas, another cookout event awaits me on Saturday. If I can just stay away from the potato salad...:nono:

Carol, sounds like you're doing well with food and exercise - you go, girl! I think that daily weighing thing is interesting. Every article says something different, doesn't it? Personally, I do weigh every day- "un-officially". I usually know why on the days that it's not good, and I try not to let it get me down, except I did have a hard time this week! In the long run, I do think it's better to keep a grip on it. When I lost my weight the last time, I stopped daily weighing, and then I was shocked how much it had gone up when I did weigh. I think that having the chance to do something about it before it gets too far out of control may be a good idea.

Penny, that's great news! :broc::broc::broc::broc::broc:

Marie, glad you had a good time with your sis! And even though that accident had to be upsetting, it's great that you were able to help.
I agree about the dinner thing while your hubby's on swing shifts. My DH is a truck driver, and he has different start times every day, which is very hard on him. But it's so much easier on me when he is already in bed at dinner time!

Judy, I like that idea of checking in in the evening to mark the end of eating for the day. It sounds like you're doing well with food! And a daily stress reliever sounds like a great plan, too. I think I need to look into that, myself.

Have a great day everyone!

auntie g, too funny about hubby being in bed at dinner time. It is so much easier when no one depends on us to cook. DS2 was home for "dinner" last night and I flat out said I don't cook when dad's on swingshift. as he's in the process of moving out, I think it's not a big deal. He mentioned he remembered that I won't cook.

Carol, never take your work light just because of an idiot. You do important work and you're passionate about it. Don't change that because that's what makes you valuable.

Judy, sounds like you're continuing the stress work road. I'm sorry about that. I do hope eventually it eases.

Penny, I'm so glad you're test came back negative. Maybe soon you'll recover completely and be healthy. Let's hope the same for your father.

Today was the first day of being on track. I'm at 823 cals and that included a small slice of choc b-day cake my co-workers bought for me. I'm leaving the cake here as I don't want it in my house. Of course I said I'm leaving it to share. Nice of me, huh? Really I'm just self-preserving.

We had a bid storm last night (keep in mind i'ts lightening and thundered just a handful of times since I moved her 8 years ago). And it poured in the desert. Now that the sun's out it's humid - another novelty in the desert. I'm going to swim after work and then do my legs (the epilator thingie I think I described a couple weeks ago). Other than the much interrupted sleep with DH on swings, I think I just might like this. :)

BTW, I'm acutally back in my office. It's weird to be in the same building/same office and have a different view (they rotated the building 180 degrees). It's nice to have some semblance of normalcy. At least for now...
Marie

Marie - Wow, you were an angel sent to help that poor woman in the car wreck :angel:. It must have been very traumatic. I'm glad the rest of your birthday weekend went well. That must feel strange, being in the same office with a different view! :dizzy: I agree about it being easier to stay on track when we eat our usual meals. It's always the "treats" that make it so hard to be good.

Carol - I hope the difficulties at work get better for you soon. You have a hard enough job without those kinds of hassles! I also heard that people who lose weight consistently weigh every day. I must admit I'm a slave to my scale, but as soon as I don't weigh I gain for sure. It helps to keep me focused.

Judy - I hope you're finding some ways to relax. You reminded me about yoga. It would probably help me to do some gentle stretches. I haven't exercised at all for over two weeks. I'm not supposed to do any real workouts till the end of the month. I have absolutely no energy, so I'll have to push myself to at least walk 10-15 minutes on the treadmill. Maybe I'll try a few yoga stretches too.

Auntie G - We bought a thin crust pizza from Trader Joe's. It is actually called a Tart Alsace or something. It's ultra thin pastry (not like real pizza dough) and has some bits of really good smoked ham and gruyere cheese. It is only 150 calories per slice. I put some very thinly sliced tomatoes on top before I baked it and it was so yummy. Two good sized pieces and a side salad for about 400 calories - not bad!

I'm gradually doing more - I pruned the roses and watered the container plants today. I'm still very tired, but that may have something to do with having anesthesia twice in a two week time span. I'm going to do everything I can to get my energy back (which was not too good to begin with). I may go to my naturopath and ask him if he has any ideas for supplements.

My Dad is still in the hospital and they have him on blood thinners. Hopefully, he'll be able to go home in a week or so. He's still got his twisted sense of humor. The nurse walked in and asked him "diabetic?" and he replied "no, Church of England"!

Marie, welcome back! We must have been working on our posts at the same time last night. Between the scary car accident and the rapids, you certainly had a thrilling b-day weekend. You sound very resolute with your new goal--I'm looking forward to celebrating your success :encore:

Carol, don't let your boss get into your head. It will sap your energy and make you nuts. At least, that's what happens with me. I get lost in a continuous loop of previous comments and anticipating what may or may not get said or done in the immediate future, instead of staying in the moment. I'll be thinking of you. Re the daily weigh-in, I think it works as long as you can keep the long view (and the almost hourly fluctuations in anyone's weight) in mind. If you let it determine your mood for the whole day, then it's not a good idea. I find that when I avoid weighing in, it's because I don't want to admit that I'm headed in the wrong direction.

Yum, potato salad :hungry:. Auntie G, I have BBQs and other food-oriented social events coming up in the next few weeks, with lot of tasty food I rarely eat otherwise--like potato salad. I have to really talk to myself before hand--and have something to eat before I arrive--if there's any hope of not throwing my healthy plans out the window.

Penny, you are doing really well to be moving around as much as you are! I hope that you'll continue to pace yourself, and don't push too hard. Your dad sounds like a pistol! Where would we be if we couldn't laugh about things?

I had to get an earlier start than usual today, so just time for 30 minutes of cardio before running out the door. Protein shake for b'fast, half an apple and a string cheese for AM snack; big salad w/egg, and a cup of lentil soup for lunch; celery sticks, salmon and a few potato chips (at least they were "natural") for PM snack, with almonds on the bus ride home; veggie meatballs in marinara sauce, over sauteed spinach for dinner, and berries w/kefir for dessert.

Having a hard time winding down. I'm listening to jazz, will read the paper for 20 minutes or so, then take a hot bath. I hope that will help me get a good night's sleep, instead of waking up at 4AM with my mind racing around in circles. It's hard to belive that just a few weeks ago, I was oozing serenity, sleeping in a yurt on a hillside!

judy

Girls I did the scale and guess wt. wise I wasn't doing so well. Now I really don't totally get it. I have been pretty darn careful of my intakes. So now that it hasn't moved well guess i better relook at my intakes. But they have been around 1500 cals a day. That seems a good number to me? And no real junk food now I did have some lime baked tortilla chips with salsa. But last night had a healthy dinner with broiled fish, small scallops and whole wheat rice roni. Maybe there was more salt content in the spice mix I used and I guess rice a roni even the ww has quite a bit of sodium in it. Well guess with all my increase in exercise and the way I look in the mirror which I think has improved doesn't count. Man!!! Like I am a bit upset!!
I was hoping for a good change as I felt it was warranted. But the box doesn't agree with me. Today I have a lunchoen at the Olive Garden for the director whom is eventually leaving our dept. Oh did I tell yah the nice director guy whom just started had a personal family issue and stepped down wow it was a shock 3 days. So we are back to hiring a new one again. I am real sorry about that one. Work has been so so. Big meeting today on regulations and medicaid fraud etc.. The demands of us on a daily basis to be accurate with our work ethics etc. Big stuff! Then I requested her to go over medical as far as what we should be responsible for. Every email now that I send to this one mtg. I send also to my supervisor that way if anything comes down I can say oh well you knew too. Guess the emails come in handy sometimes and better than a phone call I always reread the info. before sending them out to ensure I have been matter of fact and not a brat. Hah hah! One of the higher ups has been calling me this week with questions regarding a case we work on together and she has thanked me for all my input and would like me to attend one of their meetings to talk about working with my population and how to enter into their homes a bit differently and make it more inviting and not so intrucive. I find this interesting and said I would be willing to meet with the board in the future if they would feel it was something helpful. Gotta keep some good connections.
So I just had my measured raisin bran cereal with a splash of milk. And will have my lunch out and switch my dinner cals for lunch. If I have to will do just a salad tonight. I will stay away from the bread sticks at the restaurant even though I love them they are white and bad for me... Whole wheat is the way I have been going like hey its really made a difference.
Judy keep up the good work.
Penny it takes a while after surgery of any kind to feel up to normal. Boy do I remember that but it comes back pretty quick depending on how much junk they put into your system. We all seem to do differently with how our bodies react. Good luck. Just getting outside must of felt good. A little bit more daily and before you no it you will be back to yourself again.
Marie your office is at least updated you'd die if you worked in my place. Can't wait for them to move us around.
I will continue to work on healthy choices and exercise in hopes that eventually I will see a change in that dang box!!!

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share this link to some good recipes (some low cal, some not so much). http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/browse-recipes.asp

I hope everyone is having a good Thursday. I'm feeling a little more energetic today. I'm taking a supplement called Ashwagandha so maybe that's helping. It's also supposed to help with memory - I need all the help I can get in that department!