Chachee, I was at the podiatrist this week and she has displays of the Right Shoes in her examining room. They are displayed on the huge shoe with steps on it. They are adorable and so intricate! Now that I know what they are I wish I'd taken a closer look at them. Sorry to hear about the leaky basement. You're wise to wait on the remodeling until you're sure everything is going to stay warm and dry.

Tracy, sorry to hear that life is wacko again for you, but thanks for peeking in and letting us know. We worry about you.

Jolly, you've been through alot over the past year with your job. I'm sure that if you weren't the best you are at your job, you still wouldn't be there. You devote alot of yourself to your work and I'm sure it shows. Don't fret over the inspection and go for that promotion!

Lucky, we're not only twins but also members of a huge sorority. Funny how there's umpty bazillion diet programs and books out there and no one's found the answer to our issues. Or an answer we can accept I started a serious diet last year and the weekend before I started I declared I was going to have everything I knew I'd have to give up for a while - cheeseburgers, pizza, pasta, etc. Instead of scarfing the stuff down, I truly savored every bite of the forbidden foods and for a few months, it actually did help me to stay away from them. And I did break my lifelong Coca Cola habit. Someone here once said to remember that there's nothing that you can't EVER have again. You just can't have it right now and you can't have it every day anymore.

Raven, glad to hear that there's nothing life threatening with Richard. Maybe he should take it as an alarm to start making some lifestyle changes. Perhaps all of you can take a walk in the evening, get your exercise and have some quality time all in 30 minutes Hope you enjoyed the stables tonight.

Hippy, good luck with the diabetic plan. You'll have to keep us posted on what you like about it (or not) and how it differs from SBD. Curious minds want to know

I got all 4 points today. Did well on food - passed up warm cookies and the mid afternoon urge to nibble on something, increased my water today from yesterday (AND horrors noticed I'm running out of toilet paper) and while dinner was in the oven I ran downstairs and did 40 minutes on the treadmill instead of surfing the Internet. Tomorrow will be a challenge as years ago I told my husband I don't cook on Fridays. It's hard for me to make a healthy choice when it comes to restaurant or take out food. But I am NOT cooking no matter what.

BRRRRRR.......It's 34 degrees here this morning!!

I've been reading the posts feeding off of everyone's positive attitude. I have lost mine and feel very discouraged. I ate well yesterday but blew it AGAIN last night. I never blew it when I was doing south beach. I like the diabetic plan because it allows more choices but it also has several carb servings in a day and I guess I just can't handle what they do to me which is make me want more. I'm going to take this weekend and regroup, write what I'm eating, when I'm eating it and so on. I will compare it to south beach and go from there. I can't give up now girls! I'm going to have to work hard to reach my Christmas goal. Anyway, enough about that.

Going to the grocery today. Have to go to Wal-mart and get some things for Jordan's birthday. He will be 13. I don't know where the years have gone.

Wish you all a great day on earning your points!

Good morning everyone.

Hippy I don't know if this will help but Today is a great new day and you haven't blown it today. Your back to beeing on track.

Well I almost made all my points yesterday. Got 5 glasses of water in. No coffee, just didn't have the usual amount of pep in my step. Kids were sick so didn't get alot of exercise in. Used liquid fabric softener so I had to go up and down the stairs twice as much. Does that count? Parked at the very far end away from the doors at the grocery store. Thats all I accomplished for yesterday.
While at the grocery store I bought my hubby a package of the halloween chocolate bars. I don't know why because I ate them all throughout the day. So did I actually buy them for him or was that just my excuse because I knew I would eat them?
But today is new and I will once again try for the points. No more little halloween snacks in our house for awhile.

I have to ask about the journaling on here. I haven't been in the journal section to much because it seems like this is a private thing for people. Is it hard to post your thoughts and have other people read them? Just wondering. But I will have to start in order to get all my points.

I have to go to the mall today so I am going to Hallmark to check out the shoes. They sound very cute. I will look on ebay if they don't have any in our store. Just aiming to get out and about.

Have a great day everyone.
Lucky

Hey all. I came to the library to get some new reading materials. Had to pop in and say hello. I am feeling better now, just need some caffeine - I haven't gone to get any yet, and I am headachy. Otherwise, things are ok. I am still uptight about the survey, but that's just me. Thanks for all the kind words.

Chachee, good luck with first shift. I hope it works out for you. Your shoes sound cute. Sorry to hear about your basement. is this something that the builders are still responsible to fix?

Happy, I am glad things are sounding better for you. Great job with your points. I think we are all feeding off each other's positive energy right now.

Hippee, tkae a breath. One bad food choice does not mean you've blown it. Just do better next time. you are ok.

Lucky, I am glad you have joined. I hear you on the chocolate thing. It never gets to anyone else.

Have a super weekend all. See you on Monday.

Hello Ladies.

I'm running behind tonight, so this needs to be quick.

I'm over on WW points today, but did good with journaling and water. That puts me 10/12 for the week. Not going to get the shoe, but will try to maintain 4/4 per day the rest of the week.

I'm off for the weekend, so I'll check in on Monday.

Hugs to all

Chach

Good Morning!!! You know, 1 bad food choice isn't so bad but when I'm doing it daily that's really bad. I feel good today. I did not make any bad choices yesterday. I think I figured out my problem. It has been cold here and the last thing that I want is cold water so I have been slacking. Cold or not water is a must for me. We live in the country and our road has several hills, yesterday I went out and walked from my house up the hill and back several times. No slow walk, I was bookin it!!!

Gary and Jordan are gone today so I'm going to go walking outside again and go shopping for Jordan's birthday. I didn't get all of my stuff done yesterday but that's okay because that gives me the chance to get out moving today.

Lucky, I meant to comment on you visiting Kentucky, OOPS! I forgot! Anyway, I can't imagine anyone wanting to visit here but I guess it's because I see it all of the time! It is pretty. We had some friends to vacation in Canada and said it's wonderful. I have seen pictures and to me it looks so beautiful.

Today I will strive to get all of my points. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

I know several of you don't check in on weekends, so I guess you'll see this one on Monday.

Richard's blood test results came back yesterday, everything was fairly ok for a person who eats fast food for lunch everyday is is virtually sedentary. Except his homocysteine level, which was around 15. It should be under 10. His bad cholesteral was slightly elevated, and his good could be better. He's going to be on Foltx (folic acid, b6, b12) for a while, and I'm going to pick up a good vitamin supplement for him, too. He needs to lose about 20 pounds (grumble, men... he can probably lose that in a month), so he's going to start walking on the treadmill or with me in the evenings. The doc seems to think he may be experiencing some of the very first symptoms of hardening of the arteries because of his elevated homocysteine level, so hopefully this will work to bring that down. Interestingly enough, while I was reading up on the effect on the cardiovascular system, I ran across several articles that mention high homocysteine levels as a culprit in Alzheimer's disease, as well. Hmm. I wonder if my blood test included homocysteine? I think I'll call and check. In any case, Richard has taken the typical approach to the "I have to lose a couple pounds" issue... he eats a "healthy" (fast food sub or salad) lunch, and then skips breakfast and dinner. *sigh* So we had a talk about that this morning, and I told him I didn't lose 30 pounds of fat and gain about 10-15 pounds of muscle by skipping meals and eating junk once a day. I told him that I was trying hard to get this family healthy, and that he'd just been kind of floating along behind the boat, but now it was time to jump in and be actively involved in his own health. I don't know why, but for some reason he hates taking his lunch to work. I'm not sure if it's a masculine thing, a geek thing, or what... maybe it's just an inconvenience thing. Or not a cool thing. Heck if I know. But I think I may have convinced him that a tuna sandwich from Blimpies is NOT a guarantee of a healthy lunch. He can make it here and know exactly what he's eating, while the ones he buys fast food-wise are made with stuff that are considerably more fattening and processed. Bah.

Yesterday was ... not so good. *lol* OTOH, even with my "bad" eating habits down here, I have lost a pound that I gained up in AK. I find that highly amusing. Today I am going to hit the treadmill, and start slowly. I am aiming for a simple 20 - 30 minute fast walk. Perhaps I'll do a very light weights workout (upper body only) with just the bar to get back into the movements.

So my lovely friends here... take your multi-vitamins, please? Or if you buy into the "multi-vitamins are not digested" theory, pick up the folic acid, b6, b12 supplements, eh? We're all getting older, and heart disease is rampant in this country, as is dementia among the elderly. I wonder if my father had been actually eating and taking his vitamins if maybe he would have escaped the Alzheimers. All I know is that I want to do everything I can to avoid traveling that road.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Hi everyone, Its another great day today. We have been having incredible weather this last month. (knock on wood) The kids are over their flu so I think it will be a bike ride day.

My hubby does make a sandwhich here that he packs full of stuff for lunch ( he says you can't buy them like he can make them) sometimes gets to eat it and sometimes doesn't depending on how busy his day is. Doesn't eat breakfast , and eats and snacks all night long. We usually eat supper at about 8:30 or 9:00 pm after we get back from visiting the pony. He could maybe lose 10 or 20 lbs, but he looks good. Why is it that most men can pull that off and even worse why is it that I am slightly envious of that? Because he is not really healthy. But he does take a vitamin everyday.

I love the shoes. They are worth collecting. Looked on ebay also. They had quite a few. So how many shoes do you have? And I couldn't believe the price for most of them. Can't beat $3-$5 for most of them. What a great reward.

hippy we would love to live out in the country. Are trying to find an acreage, but don't know if it would be in the finances this year. Kristi really wants another horse, but we cannot afford to board 2 horses. She does have a job to help pay for it, but she should have some money she can spend on herself also. Ontario and Quebec are beautiful. Alberta is well.... flat and boring. Prairie country. My husband doesn't like it here. He is from Ontario. There is not alot of trees, not alot of lakes, not alot of anything but farm land. You go to any store and the conversation you will hear is all the farmers talking about how much rain we did or didn't get. But where we are is a great place to raise kids. We just make the best of what we've got. I had a friend who lived beside me for years, and we were diet buddies, exercise buddies and support but they moved to Florida a few years ago. They love it. Thats my next place on my tour list.

Raven, as I was reading what you wrote, I got up and took a vitamin. When I was pregnant I was so sick that I had to get pills from the doctor that worked amazingly well. I found out that they were just a combination of b vitamins, so vitamins are probably underrated.
Doesn't that subway commercial just get you? The guy looks great after he lost all that weight, but I don't think that subway would be the healthiest diet. It was probably more to do with his exercise, and changing his lifestyle.
Did the doctor say that the hardening of the arteries could be reversed? Or do you just have to prevent it from becoming worse?
Is that a picture of your horse up in the corner? Is that Jolly's horse also?

Well I haven't had coffee for 2 days now. Replaced it with water. I do think I have lost at least a pound from walking to and from the bathroom. Have been getting my water in so one goal is being achieved. Feel pretty good about that.

My turn to make lunch so I better get with it.

Ladies I would just like to thank you all. You are so great.

Lucky

Hey all. How are you? I had a wonderful, if busy weekend. And while I have lots to do today (hence the short post), I did have some good news. We had a state survey done at another of my group homes 2 weeks ago, and it came back with NO deficiencies. I so needed that.

Anyway. Yes, Lucky, that is my boy in my picture. Raven, I hope your guy gets with the program. Hippee, your hubby's sandwiches sound great.

I am off to post on our new thread. Will talk more later.

Good Monday Morning!! I made it through the weekend without screwing up my diet. I did discover that I can pull my jeans down without unbuttoning and unzipping them and another pair drop to my hips and that makes them too long so I couldn't see my feet!!!! That was my encouragement to continue on! We were going to see some friends and my hubby asked me if I was wearing those pants!! He was relieved that I wasn't going looking all baggy and slouchy!!

Hope everyone had a great wekend!

Hi Ladies!

I had a tough weekend with food, but am back on track today. I am not going to get all my points this week, but am hopefully going to lose some weight.

Hippy: Congrats on the jeans! I always want to measure my success on how my clothes fit more than the number on the scale. I bet it felt wonderful!

Lucky: You have such great energy! I remember when I gave up caffeine and what a bear I was. Talk about a migraine headache! Ick! I haven't had caffeine for almost 3 years and I don't really miss it. I have some decaf coffee at times, but mostly tea, water, decaf ice tea and Caffeine free Diet Coke. I love my shoes and I have about 200 of them I think. I have some that are signed by the artist also. I get most of them on Ebay, although it won't be the case this week!

Raven: I'm glad Richards tests came back okay for the most part. I know what you mean about men and losing weight. My hubby gained weight when I was pregnant (I only gained 2 pounds, yes two pounds) and then he lost it all right away. He can lose weight so quickly it makes me sick. I take a good multi every day. Makes me feel real good. Have you posted on the other thread?

Jolly: Thanks for putting up the other thread. I just posted over there. Congrats on the reports coming back in your favor. Now you need to go put in for that new job!!

Okay, I gotta run. Three more weeks on nights, then it's back to day shift for me!!!!

Chach

Go Cubbies!!!!! Yay!!!! Sorry Raven but you can understand that we've been waiting since 1908 for this. Last night after the baseball game I walked outside and you could hear all sorts of fireworks and cheering all around. Nutso Cubs fans. Even I got sucked into watching the game.

I did well up until Friday night and it was a very hectic weekend and I was totally off plan. Starting again on Monday and keeping an eye on my trouble spots.

Raven, thanks for the info on the blood tests. I went and looked up my results from my CBC test but they don't test homocystine on that test. But you gave us very useful information and made a good point about ... if we took care of ourselves earlier... I've been taking vitamins and a few supplements for years now - the whole antioxidant, heart healthy, eye healthy, bone heathy thing. And I do think it makes a difference.

I think it's a man thing about cutting back to one meal a day. I have been touting smaller portions and regular meals to my guy for years. However, because they are more muscle, it's much easier for them to lose weight so they look at us and our plans and probably figure why listen to them when this works for me? Although this time around my husband is not seeing the quick results any more and had to work hard for 3 months to lose 10 pounds - which he regained. I was dancing for joy - aren't I mean?

Lucky you also make a good point about looking healthy but maybe not being so healthy. Sometimes I wish our skin was invisible so we could really see what's going on inside ourselves. I think that's why we have a tendency to lose our resolve at times. That is so great you were able to give up on the coffee. I only really started drinking it about 10 years ago and now I find it harder to give up than I did Coca Cola. And really after a good night's sleep you need the water to rehydrate and wake yourself up way more than the coffee you THINK you need.

See Jolly, told you that you were good at what you do - all that needless fretting. But congrats on the great inspection results.

Hippy it's interesting that sometimes we think we need loose clothes to cover the loose body but if they are too big, it makes us look worse. Yay for you on a successful weekend.

Chachee how long have you been on the night shift? Can you make a pretty quick transition to days?

Good morning everyone. Just a quick note, before I am off to meetings for hte day. I went back to kickboxing last night for hte first time in about a month. It felt good to be back, but man am I sore. I also met with the personal trainer this morning. Luckily, Igot up early and did a short (20 min.) workout before we met. This session was just listing my current level and goals. No sweat. We are meeting again Saturday (in between kickboxing, barn, and my dinner party ) to do an actual workout, and have him set a program for me. We shall see.

We will have to discuss my eating here soon. I am way off base. I need to set a new start weight, as I have gained back all I lost last year But, onward!

Have a great day all, and talk to you tomorrow.

Good Evening Ladies.

Well it was day number 2 today for me to be back at work. It feels great. It would be perfect if I could put the baby in the backpack and take him to work with me, but he loves the babysitter so all is good.

Was able to drink most of my water the last 2 days so that is one goal I have been achieving. I am just eating supper now at 10:30 so that goal is shot for today, as I just got back from bowling so I hope that is enough exercise to work off my supper. Have been walking so that goal is met. The best thing about being back at work is I have no time to snack. I have been cookie free for 2 days.

Jolly- He's a beauty. What type is he. Can he be a bit stubborn and bratty like our boy at times? Is that the Arabian or the Quarter horse in ours? What type of job do you do? It sounds important. Good luck in getting the promotion. Thats great that you can do kickboxing. I would try it and I would be a great source of entertainment as I probably would not be able to lift my leg that high, and I have no balance so I would end up on the floor. If I was to go with you, you would be to busy laughing to realize you were getting stiff and sore. Well then it might be worth it.

Happy- I get to thank you for my being cookie free so THANKYOU. When I read that you were able to resist fresh baked cookies, I thought you will not make that sacrifice for nothing so I have just said "NO" to cookies and thought of you while I was doing it. I sound like a cigarette commercial. Just say no. Although sometimes the put food in mouth habit seems just as hard as the quit smoking habit.

Chachee - Thats amazing that you only gained 2 pounds when you were pregnant. I gained 14 and my doctor was an absolute drill sergent with every pound I gained although without her on my case I wouldn't have been so careful. I have to go back at the end of November so I have to try to lose some weight because I will not hear the end of it if I don't. I say that because I actually lost all my pregnancy weight but then in the last few months I have gained it all back plus a little more. Where is it that you work? Good luck on getting a shoe this week. (Are there any left that you don't have? Because it sounds like you have a great collection of them.)

Hippy - YAHOO (I would insert something cute and encouraging but I don't know how) So I am doing the joy dance for you. That must be the best kind of encouragement you can have. And even better you will need new clothes. Even if you don't buy anything I do think power shopping is a form of exercise.

Raven - Hope your weekend went well and that you got some good horse time in. I have been trying to remember to take my vitamin everyday. Plus a calcium and magnesium as I have basically cut out dairy from my diet also.

I found a card that describes me perfectly.
I had to give up exercising because it was bad for my health.
My legs rubbed together so much my underwear kept catching on fire.
I actually had a good laugh at this card. My family says that I am warped and this probably does prove it.

Have a great day tommorrow.

Kathy

APB.....RAVEN IS MISSING....APB.....RAVEN IS MISSING.....

Just giving you a hard time, sweetie!

My weigh in is tomorrow, ladies, and I am afraid. Tonight for my snack I will have an apple with peanut butter. Lots of water when I get home and I will cross stitch because that occupies my hands when I watch tv.

Happy: I have worked nights for two years. I did it when I came back from maternity leave. I work a 4 pm-12:30 am shift now, and will switch to 8:00 am-4:30 pm. It will be a little tough, but it will be better for my family.

Jolly: Congrats on the gym. Any exercise is better than nothing. Let's talk about the eating when you are ready. I posted my weight on the other thread, but I am at 257 and I have a hard time telling ANYONE that! It so embarassing, and I want to get the weight off so I can tell people "I used to weigh 257, but now I am 160". I guess me telling everyone my weight now is better than last year when I was 283. Ick. Slow and sure.

Lucky: My doc was on me when I was pregnant because they thought I was dieting! Give me a break! I got gestational diabetes in my fourth month, so I had to be so careful with my eating. I should drag out my old stuff and see what I ate so I could do better. They wanted me to gain a little weight, but I didn't. I lost 35 pounds within a month after giving birth to my son. Once I stopped breastfeeding, though, the weight came back on. Just watch it! No shoe this week. Maybe next week.

Okay, wish me luck on the weigh in. I hope I at least stay the same.

Chach