12Back to personals...

Oh poor Annie - I think anytime they poke and prod at the female organs, they complain LOUDLY. I wonder if an antispasmodic would have helped her. Thank you very much Michelle for keeping us updated. These are the times I miss having a smart phone. Feel better Annie

Laura - so sorry your tea went bad but thank you for mentioning it as I would have never considered it but you are right about the oils going rancid. No wonder some teas come packaged in foil packets. I have found with some of the better cinnamon teas that they do tend to be on the strong side and the cinnamon itself has a sweet element to it. I have some tea bags I am hoarding - they will never make this tea again and DH would drink it up in a New York Minute if he knew it was there. I am hoarding them so we can SHARE. As for the lukewarm water - I didn't realize it at first but did learn that when I'd come along with my tea mug (as was usually the case), someone else had just made a fresh pot of coffee - that uses up the hot water in the reservoir. Also someone else pointed out to me that if I went to get water while coffee was brewing, it also shorted out the coffee pot making there coffee too strong. Well ok, no one educated us on this - just more office rules! I am glad - I never have this complication at my home office HOLY COW - I just looked up your Tall Book of Christmas at Half.com - from $52 to over $200 - WOW. Smart of you not to store it in the attic area. I had to smile at your comment about your candles melting in the attic. When I lived in Tennessee they tend not to have basements but have large attic areas instead. When you get air temperatures that reach 120 degrees in the summer - you can imagine how hot it gets in that attic area. We learned quickly that most stuff can't be stored in the attic and 2)homeownerss that had the forethought to insulate their attics were VERY SMART. Who would have thought? Women's Workout World!!! Yes, I remember that - I LOVED that place!!!!! My favorite place of all time was a small independent ladies gym that was behind Waccamaw Pottery on Golf Road & New Wilke Rds. I think it was called The Women's Club - they had a full gym, a pool, sauna and really nice walking/running track. Occasionally they would have special interest presentations like Women and Estate Planning, Varicose Vein Treatment, stuff like that. And they would do fun fitness contests through out the year like Walk Across the US where you'd track your progress on a big map. When they tore that place down to build (I can't remember what's there now) I was VERY SAD. And as for grunting - I mentioned that to my coworker yesterday. Her late husband was the coach at the high school and said that grunting actually helps the body when doing exertion like lifts and weights and such. Oh well - they ones grunting look like they are showing off is all I can say.

Michelle - thank you again for keeping us updated. That is so awesome that you are able to improve your walking and stamina! Especially since that was one of your targeted improvements for surgery. Yikes that sounds like a long strenuous hike - probably better to work up to something like that but so wonderful to know that is there in the future for you to enjoy. I am very sorry about your friend Bob - sometimes I wonder if it's worth a long fight - quality of life vs time gained. But it sounds like he has given this lots of thought. I don't know why good people suffer so much and the bad ones just flit through life without repercussion. I can totally understand about missing food for comfort as well as just plain enjoying the bad stuff. But then again, I think over time, one starts to realize that bad stuff like McD's really isn't that satisfying when you don't eat it anymore. However you will always be able to enjoy a delicious sweet grape, won't you?

Yay Terra for joining the Fitness Center. I like the ladies groups much better. I hope you will enjoy it. I have always heard good things about TOPS too.

Ceejay - good for you getting on the bike. Are you feeling better?

Shad - how about you trade me some of your heat and I'll give you a bit of my chill? Maybe we can meet in the middle since I don't want all of "yours" and you don't want all of "mine"

Dee - I will let you know how the balance ball works out - maybe DH did you a favor by deleting your cart! I will also watch for it to go on sale again and let you know

Hi Susie - are you "knee deep in the hoopla" at work now that the holidays are over and year end has begun?

Well my tummy said lunch should be served and kitty is wresting me for control of my "resting hand" so time to get busy. Have a good day.

Laura & Happy ~ Yeah I'm looking forward to checking out Just Ladies Fitness on Friday morning.

Michelle ~ Thanks for the update on Annie, I'll still continue to pray for her.

Laura - If you like sort of a cinnamon tea, one I would recommend is Good Earth tea. It comes in caffeinated and decaf, and is really good. I need to add sweetener to most tea, but not this one. Bummer that you had to throw some bags out. Nice that the new slimmer tree fit in the attic opening. How cool that the storage bag has wheels. How lovely that you have a traditional Christmas book. I'm not familiar with it, but I'll look for it now. The bitter cold you have in the Midwest is just crazy! And crazy also that it's cold enough to freeze the train switches! I'm glad you have a warm spot to wait for the train. So nice that the Chicago schools are open so that parents have a place to drop their kids if no one will be home.

Happy - The black bear "beware of bears" print sounds nice and perfect for northwoods decorating. I haven't heard of The Pioneer Woman...but I don't watch much Food Network. The thing I like about Rachel Ray is that she shows shortcuts. Since I don't like cooking, I'm all about shortcuts. I hope the soup tastes good. Mmmm, tomato soup is such nice comfort food. As for the keys sticking, see if you can get a can of compressed air to clean out your keyboard (there may be cat hair beneath the keys). Other reasons it could be slow are if your C drive is getting full. My computer was acting very weird and wonky, so I asked my ex what to do, and he gave me the names of a couple freeware programs that can help clean out unnecessary files. I did what he suggested and haven't had any problems since. Thanks for reminding me about fruit...yes, that is satisfying. And I'm still enjoying the sugar free puddings. What I miss is ice cream...oh and brownies. And the convenience of eating fast food on the run. I'm getting in the habit of planning better, which is good. On my days off, I try and estimate how long I'll be away from the house and stock a cooler with enough for snacks and meals. I had to laugh about those grunting men...I used to think they were so ridiculous. Now, when I'm working out with my trainer and she's pushing me really hard, I have been known to let out a grunt or two...or more often a 4-letter word

No bike ride last night as my body was to tired but did my push ups.
Temperature is predicted to get as low as 10 degree's today. My stomach is feeling much better. But still curious as to what brought on that episode.

Not to talkative this afternoon. Be back later.

Here's a picture of my new print.

Michelle - I was wondering if you were learning how to cook. Really, it's the best way to keep things in line. I remember time after time successful WW leaders saying that they just accepted that they spent one precious weekend day planning meals and snacks, shopping, cooking and cutting up things and portion bagging them. It was a pain but probably their biggest thing that they'd attribute to success. And in retrospect, I'd have to agree. The worst part for me is when I am starved and looking for something immediate. Of course it is really helpful here that we don't have much access at all to fast food. I think it's been a saving grace actually.

I finally made it here! Work has been busy but I haven't worked over or brought work home. I will this weekend as I have some tasks that just need to be done when I'm not interrupted. I have told myself I will allow 2 hour of work on Saturday and 2 on Sunday if I still need them. I will get done what I can. It is one thing to put in a lot of hours when we have a big meeting or a Innovation review or something like that but the other is just because I have so much to do.

I started a notebook where I list the projects I want to get done each day; these are things that don't have to do with changing meetings that are already scheduled or answering this question or that question for a manager, or printing meeting materials for a manager...those are just daily routine things. Then in the notebook I log what time I started a task, regular routine things or projects and if I get interrupted then I log that time and what it was. I'm doing this so that I can show my managers in 3 months what my work load is really like. I don't think they have any idea.

I was really tired when I went back to work; I think it was from the pain in my leg. Today is the first day that I have felt any energy when I came home. My leg is getting better and my adjustment tonight went easy. He added a couple new exercises for me to do increase the strength in my adductor and abductor muscles which will keep things all in line. I only have one small sore spot in my groin now and it doesn't hurt like it did. I believe the inflammation is leaving and the muscles are healing.

I do the exercises and stretches twice a day and they take about 15 min to do each time. I slacked off on my pushups. I need to start up again.

We had 5 inches of snow yesterday but the commute wasn't too bad. Now it is freezing. With wind chill tonight they say 30 below! I'm thinking of Happy and that she lives with this sort of stuff most of the year!

Happy: I promise I will get that yoga bag mailed out to you on Friday. I'm going to the post office on my lunch hour. I didn't make it on Saturday as I was just dealing with that ache in my leg and so much to do around the house. After I came back from the chiropractor I slept for 3 hours!

Annie: I'm praying that you get good news from the surgery and that everything settles down and you start feeling well.

Ceejay: Did you make it to the doctor? I'm glad to see that you are feeling better.

Michelle: My heart if breaking for Bob and for you. It is hard to see people you love go through this sort of thing. I hope he gets good news.

What you had to say about measuring and really paying attention to portion sizes along with exercise is so right. I needed that pep talk.

Terra: You are very brave to admit that you weren't being completely honest with yourself and to figure out a way to get yourself back on track.
I belong to a TOPS Chapter and they are a great source of inspiration to me. If you have any questions about TOPS, please let me know and I think I can answer them for you.

Dee: Great idea to order your items right away so they don't disappear out your shopping cart!

Laura: I have been thinking about you at that train stop and wondered how you were dealing with the cold. It just wears me out to put on all those layers and things but it is a must for me and I'm just going from the house to the car or from the parking lot to the building...it was sooooo cold today!

Your bathroom renovation sounds like you have a lovely bathroom room now and you are in the fun part of getting to decorate.

Shad: It's awful that you can't find good meals where you are. How long is this assignment?

I'm getting ready to be in bed by 10 p.m. so I must end my post and I will see you all tomorrow.

Hello ladies,

I was wondering if this is a private thread or if I can join you all!

thanks!

From Annie this morning:

Cramps in lower back. Bit of a headache. Stayed home one more day. Plus it is too cold to venture out.
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Good you're home Annie. This weather isn't fit for man or beast. Rest up & feel better soon.

Good morning ladies,

I had a good evening yesterday...I went to the gym and worked out with my trainer doing mostly upper body stuff (chest, back, biceps and triceps). We started off with the pushup challenge. I wanted to do the 3 pushups (on my knees) with her watching to make sure I had the correct form. I tried to do full pushups (on my toes) and managed to do one. It's a starting point.

I tried to get up at 5 and go to the gym before work, but my body wanted none of that. So I'll go after work to do cardio.

Tomorrow, I'm helping Bob's sister clean and declutter Bob's house. With as much pain as Bob was in prior to the amputation, he couldn't get around well. Now we're hoping that Bob will get through this setback and be able to go back home eventually.

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Happy - I love the bear print! As for cooking, I know how to cook and am a pretty good cook...I just hate to do it. So I'm looking for meals that I can make ahead and freeze, or at least make enough for at least two dinners. So not only are you living among gorgeous scenery and beautiful animals, you also are away from fast food temptation! That's definitely a plus!

Claygirl - Welcome!! I love your tickers and well done on the weight lost thus far!

Susie - Good for you for cutting back on the number of extra hours and working at home. Good for you for documenting projects. I hope the leg pain eases up because pain can truly sap your energy. Thanks for the kind words about Bob.

Laura - Thanks for posting the update on Annie.

Annie - I'm glad you're taking another day to rest. I hope the cramps and pain ease up soon.


I've got to sign off for now. Hope this is a great day for all of us!

Much love,

Morning all. Another very cold day. And I decided to walk to the train station from home today. That was fine – I was moving. What I didn’t like was that the train was delayed about 10 min. Oh well. Nothing I can do about that.

Last night I had a hair appointment. After that I did my pushups. I think I must be tired from the two previous days because I couldn’t do a single full pushup last night. But I did do 5 knee pushups to take care of the day’s challenge. Steps yesterday were 5,102.

Nothing going on tonight. It might be the night I finally get my fitbit set up!

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Happy – I don’t have to imagine how those expanses of glass make it really chilly indoors – yesterday at the salon, I sat down to wait for my hair appointment. The seating area is up front by the storefront windows. I had my back to the windows and of course my back quickly got cold, so I went all the way to the back and sat in the chair next to where my stylist’s station is located. Much better. Not sure why I thought sitting by the window was a good idea anyway. I like that black bear print you snagged at the thrift shop – and not just purely decorative in your case! Do you find yourself buying a lot of items from the shop? I imagine you’ve been donating a lot of items too. Have you finished going through all the boxes that made the move from down south? I bet you find stuff in there – several years post-move – and say, “I haven’t needed this at all since we moved, I guess I just don’t need it.” ? I hope the tomato soup turns out flavorful enough for you and dh. I hate taking the effort to try a new recipe and find it disappointing. Re the cinnamon-orange tea – I’ve learned my lesson about teas with strong cinnamon flavor – not my cup of tea, so to speak, lol. That said, one of the Bigelow teas I bought on sale at the amazing produce store in Niles (did you ever go to Jerry’s?) was one called Cinnamon Stick. We’ll see how I like that. If not, it goes in the coffee room or atrium kitchen area. Those tea bags are individually sealed, so the quality will hold for a while yet. When we moved to the burbs, the Waccamaw was already gone, and so was the movie theater that was there. Now there’s a banquet hall. Re grunting – I’ve heard there’s a valid reason for it, and the pro tennis players certainly have gotten on board with that! I just don’t think the majority of the male gym grunters do it for the physical benefit but for the EGO benefit, LOL. Hope you enjoy the Peggy Cappy videos. The one I have right now is the Pilates for weight loss one. Not sure of the connection…but then again, I ignore most of the pre-workout warnings and hype, haha.

Michelle – I don’t know how much fruit you can eat because of the sugar content, but maybe a frozen banana could make a good ice cream substitute. You can put it in a blender and make “soft serve” or freeze the banana on a stick. I love that! Good job starting on the pushup challenge!! Yeh, hard to get into a morning exercise routine. It takes my body a bit to wake up. Maybe a gentler workout is good for the morning, like yoga/stretching.

Ceejay – Glad your tummy’s better. Yeh, it would be good to know what brought it on and how to avoid it in the future!!

Susie – Glad you haven’t brought any work home this week. Good to keep a record of all the projects that come up on an ad hoc basis – the boss’s need to know how much gets added to your daily load! I’m so glad the groin pain is easing up for you! Re the cold – I just try to dress as warmly as I can on days like this, and I do have a decent cold weather wardrobe, including several thermal undie tops and bottoms, wool-blend socks, boiled wool blazers/cardigans, and my long down coat. Walking is generally alright – it keeps me warm. It’s standing around in the cold that’s a problem. Needless to say, I’ve been avoiding that!

Hi Claygirl – This isn’t a private thread – you’re free to join us! Welcome!!

Shad – Hope all’s well in Melbourne. It’s your Friday, so maybe you’re home already?? Have a great weekend!

Hi Terra, Hi Dee!

TTFN!!

Afternoon
It's cold but I need to get out of the house in about an hour to go pick up the paycheck. Actually got out the electric blanket last night and kept it on low most of the night. I woke up to 10 degree's. I don't like this kind of weather. We actually had a few snow flurries yesterday morning.
I didn't go to the doctor this morning but will in the morning. Need to get refills. I'm not to keen on getting blood work tomorrow either. Food hasn't been as good as it was last time.

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Claygirl
Welcome.

Happy
Love the bear picture/print. I do a lot better if I pre plan my food. Been binging this week but not as bad as I've done in the past. Still have some sodium to deal with.

Susie
Good idea to keep a journal of your work. Do you get over time when you bring your work home?

Laura
On your walk to the train station. I'm such a wimp when it comes to this cold. Keep telling myself that it's just for tonight. I don't like anything below 30 degree's.

Annie
Hope you are feeling better. Sending good healing vibes.

Ceejay - Since you're seeing your doctor tomorrow...please remember to mention that you were vomiting blood last week (or was it the week before?). Anyway, p lease mention it. That's not something to fool around with.

Michelle
I am planning on telling the doctor about that. I'm a bit afraid and think that is why I'm binging. But I am making a promise to myself and to you that I will mention it.

Morning all,

First of all, to Claygirl. Nothing much is private around here and you can say how you feel about anything or everything. I hope you enjoy being with us. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm in Adelaide, where last week they had horrendous out of control fires north of the city and 27 homes were lost along with the contents. The poor wildlife is just now coming out for help. It is so sad. Dozens have had to be put down they are so badly injured. This week they are about to get torrential rain. Probably more than the normal monthly amount. Weather keeps getting sillier and sillier. Fires in the south, floods in the north - although that is to be expected in the tropical in summer. But according to our PM, there is no climate change - although he will change his mind about that, since he has backflipped on everything else he initially said.
I'm staying with DS1 DP and the granddaughter although they have gone to work and school today - we will have tomorrow and Sunday together until I fly out on Monday. They met me at the airport last night and little miss S run up to give me a big hug. She is quite delightful just now, although since she was late to bed last night, she wasn't at her sunniest this morning. I'll try to post some photos over the weekend.

Work is getting busier and busy. My contract is only supposed to last until end of Feb, however I can see it getting renewed. I can also see me working some very long hours and days and not the 4 days I originally signed up for. I will have to sort out something for the house AGAIN. I really didn't need this but I think I will have a big tax bill after the NZ job so maybe I had better work. I keep saying that this will be it, but it doesn't seem to work out that way.

Happy - like the picture. What colour is the wall behind which you will hang the picture? Oooh did you like my Victorian grammar there? Hope the ball works out. I used to enjoy the balance ball. It really did improve the posture and the muscles of the butt and thighs.

Ceejay - get to that doctor. Tell him everything and don't leave until you have been satisfied with the answer.

Michelle isn't it great that everything is working out so well and that you are getting fitter by the day. Sorry to hear about Bob. I think he has made sensible suggestions and has accepted that what will be, will be.

Laura - flavoured teas are always a bit dodgy for me. I hate them too sweet and I would probably have not like the Cinnamon Orange since I am not a fan of Cinnamon. Get those steps in girl.

Dee - hope the foot is now starting to heal. Stay off it as much as possible although busy people rarely seem to be able to do that.

Susie - good to hear that you are cataloguing your hours. It seems there is far too much for one person there since you feel the need to work weekends and evenings.

Annie - hope the cramps are easing now. It's always something bad when they do operations like that. Get better soon.

Terra - hope you are doing the exercises now and will wait to hear how you go at the ladies gym. Good for you.

Okay, better go sort out my stuff and go do something. Good to catch up again.

Hello all and thanks for the warm welcome! I joined 3fc last year and have had great success here with all the wonderful people and support here, I feel I owe a good bit of my success to the people here who have cheered me on! I'm 26, married to my best friend, I'm a therapist for children with special needs, have 1 adorable beagle, 1 super cute German shepherd mix, and 1 attention loving cat. My husband and I recently decided to try to add to our family, and I'm continuing to be healthy and lose while trying to conceive. In my spare time I like to throw pottery on my wheel, and read... a lot. That's pretty much me in a nutshell!

Shad: I'm so sorry to hear about the fires in Adelaide. That's so awful. It's even more frustrating to me that people in power to make changes keep saying there's no climate change and just ignore it. At the very least we should try to take care of the environment and maybe not argue? Just my opinion. A little action would be nice. Politicians exhaust me, and make me feel crazy.

Ceejay: It was 9 degrees when I woke up this morning here, ridiculously cold for us in SC. I miss my heated blanket. My beagle attacked it one night... no more warmth. It was a sad day.

Again, thank you all for the welcome!