Kaylets, Last year I was in a convenience store ladies' room and there was a handmade sign that requested "no spitting on the floor" with all sincerity! You mean we're not supposed to spit on the floor? I don't know if I'd go so far that i'd make it illegal, but it's certainly a disgusting habit. I hate to see it, particularly among the fairer sex!

zadie k, congrats on losing 1 1/2 pounds!

I stepped on the scales this morning and I'm down to a clear 134 pounds. My ultimate dream is to get down to 130 and have 5 pounds wiggle room, that way I'd never go above 135. I've gotten rid of all my big sizes, so there's no going back! I don't know if I ever mentioned this but Garry's on a quest to lose a few pounds and he's doing really well. He's lost 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks---he'd like to weigh between 160-170 pounds [he's at 177 now]. He's following my lead with counting calories [I'm so flattered!]; it's fun to do it together!

Wildfire,best of luck on your decluttering endeavor! I love to do that, it's incredible how things re-accumulate though. I've never regretted getting rid of anything.

Kaylets, so this is your 50-pound mark? You deserve more than a magnet, my dear!

Amarantha, You have me dreaming of brownies. I see myself making some in the very near future!

Anagram, thanks for checking on us!

wsw, any new developments?

Arabella, how are you?

Cerise, PunkinSeed, and MIA Seattlejo---What's up?

As rare a' sighting as Bigfoot I tell ya....

It's Punkin!!!!!!

Whatta' week from Hades. As it is I've only got 8 minutes and haven't had any time to go back and read posts (will hopefully do tomorrow). I've missed you all bunches, but haven't had a spare second to get my hiney over here!!!

In a nutshell, we've been going through a self-imposed financial audit (wow were we wasting a LOT of money!) and just plain BUSY!!!

I must away to yonder post office and get home and into bed. My wonderful co-worker (aka mummsies) decided to share her cold and I'm feeling a little snorkey.

Smooches to all, shall return tomorrow!

Terri

Hello, darlings,

Feeling a bit better today. I only have those marathon coughing sessions (you know, the kind where people stick their heads over the cubicle walls and go "Are you OK?") a couple of times a day now. At night it's a different story. I have a very patient husband.

I'm sorry to be so fly-by, but every moment at work is spent feverishly packing and the hard drive's dead at home. I'm reading posts and thinking of you all fondly.

Oh, yeah, and I lost another .5 pounds this week. Must've been the high fever and plegm loss.

I have a horrible spitting story (not me spitting, as I don't, but ...) to tell but can't as there's the tiniest fraction of a chance that I'm recognizable to someone who might not appreciate it ... it gives me a headache just to think of it ...

Ok, not making any sense, shall go to bed.

Cerise, glad thou feeleth better and congrats on the .5 down!!! Actually looking at thy stats, thou hast made tremendous progress on thy journey ... don't ever stop, keep a'goin' bairn, it be worth it!!!!

Punkin!!!!! Thou livest!!!! Sorry thou hast been having to do that financial stuff ... sheesh, I hate that! Anyway, I'm glad thou showed up as the towel boy hath been asking ...

Guys, I'm making no sense and think I caught thy colds as my head is splitting and I feel feverish thou it be 50 freakin' degrees. Of course, I'm sitting in front of a space heater with pajamas on, plus a robe and a blanket around my shoulders, so maybe that's it.

Later ...

Eydie, didn't see thy post up there ... congrats to thee on reaching 134 ... that's exceeding thy goal! I'll be seeing thee at that weight soon ...

As a matter of fact, congrats to ALL here who have or will reach success in their journeys ... we'll all be MERRY MAINTAINERS very soon.

Ok, leaving now ...

Hello all!
Trying to waste less time early mornings ... the latest trend has been to leave the house at the last possible second and I don't like the that last minute feeling....I'm still in "training" but can really do quite a few things... its starting to get busy... need to establish some new routines so I can stay on on top.

I posted a soup recipe on the Food Demon Thread if you like Saurkraut... its ZERO POINTS!!

*****
Today's thouight of the day:
"The man who makes no mistakes
does not usually mak anything."
--Edward Jones Phelps

Question of the day:

"Do you consider yourself adventurous?"
--Table Topics by the Pampered Chef

*******

Here we go Wednesday, Here we go!

Punkin... glad you had a chance to check in... Dh and I are also revisiting budget issues... in fact, just cancelled the Y membership as we are just not getting there since my swim lessons ended and our gym nearby is installing
saunas and will have spinnng classes...Its amazing how the "little" bills add up.... what we pay now yearly as members for the gym is a fraction of the Y family membership.... there isnt a pool but I'm not getting to the other place to swim so..... but I did learn how to swim which is a major plus so I don't regret the expeience....

WSW- I posted a note to the other lady hoping she'd see it and respond.
Will keep you posted.

To those coughing, feverish, falling asleep in file drawers....
GET THOSE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN!!!! even if you have to do it w/ vegetble drinks... Please... you all know why this is so important...its easy to forget when we don't feel ourselves....
Soup is a good way to get these in... even canned soup is better than no vegetables at all....

Arabella... We are with you! ((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))


Take care all!

Fly by postie: Yesterday was the 3rd day in a row of stair stepper for 30 minutes. Did well with food. This is turning into one of my best behaved weeks ever.

I will be back later today, but I was just so excited that I actually have been consistently GOOD for three days

YAY! Punkin is back...kinda...well, at least we know she's okay...except for the possible cold...Punkin, take care of yourself!

Cerise, congrats on the loss! A loss is a loss, no matter the reason! Feeling any better today?

Amarantha, you too? Feeling sick? Oh dear.

zadie, sounds like you're on a roll there!

Eydie, 134??? That's incredible!

I found out today that I have an interview on Tuesday for the job. Was going to go to WW tonight and declare a fresh start (slipped a bit while sick and think I gained!) but the time just got away from me. Will stop after work tomorrow night.

Hellos to everyone!

hi wildfire!
kaylets-congrats on the 3 lbs. down and the -50 lbs. fantastic!
eydie-that's terrific to have gotten down below your goal! as always, you inspire me to hang in there.
cerise-congrats on your weight loss! glad you are feeling better at least. hope your full recovery will be soon.
hello to all! i am still a huge "technical difficulty." i finally made it out today to go to my p.t. appt., but couldn't do too much except the passive exercises. a little disappointing, but glad to have made it out on my own steam at least. the cold weather makes stuff worse for me physically---and there is snow due tomorrow. i am not looking forward to this at all! i still have yet to finish up my first application for a service dog, since they are so long and involved, but i am almost finished with one of them. i did speak with someone from this organization on the phone yesterday and she knows to expect it soon. my friends are so cute and excited about how the condo is looking. i haven't been able to see it since sat. and apparantly there is a big difference even since then. they call me often with updates. i smile when i think about what they are all doing for me. what a huge gift of their time, effort, and vast enthusiasm. my physical therapist suggested that if possible, it is a good idea to have the occupational therapist in her office take a look at my new place to give me some suggestions on how to make it as "user (handicapped)-friendly" as possible. my friend said this is a great idea and would love to hear what she might suggest. well, that will depend on whether my insurance would even cover such an evaluation, but if so, i will definitely do it. i stuck to my food plan today, which felt good, and did the excercising i was able to. now, i just need to go to bed instead of raiding the 'ole frig. which is calling to me. i think i can do that, though. i hope everyone's evening is good. thinking of you all. take care.

Hello all!

Went to bed early last night and what a luxury! It really was only 1.5 hrs early but what a great feeling of relief to just let go, give in, surrender....
Is this what I've been using food to do?? hmmmmmmmm.....

Wildfire! Great news on interview! My guess is that your weigh in will be better than you expect too.... I always like to have a fresh haircut for interviews...the difference in my mental attitude is immeasureable

Zadie! Now you're doing it! Be careful w/ the ankle, cold, etc... sometimes I do well for a few days and then expect too much from myself.. and PUSH to the next level and then get hurt and then crash and burn... I need to jumpstart my activity too... Am thinking since one of the beagle's is carrying too much weight that we both start a "speed walk" habit...

Eydie! GOOD FOR YOU!! I wonder if any of this is still very hard to believe...
I was sharing w/ folks that I lost 50 lbs and found it was like talking about someone I didnt know....

Anyone see Wynnona Judd on Oprah??? DH taped it for me ( he is the best!)
...
Oprah has "lent" her Bob Greene....and they are working her program in pieces...first... as much consistent activity for herself as possible as well as no eating 2-3 hrs b/4 bed... Bob Greene agrees with Wynnona that she "forgot to put herself on the list"... meaning her priority list... she admits she is always "the martyr"... and horribly, horribly shy which made her value food after performing even more....

****
Thought of the day:
"The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes."
--Frank Lloyd Wright


Question of the day :

"Are your closest friends older or younger than you? What do you think that says about you?"
--Table Topics from the Pampered Chef

****


Here we go Thursday, Here we go!

KETTLE IS ON!

Kaylets, Thank you for bringing it up. Yes, yes, yes! Being at my goal weight is really hard to believe. This is strange: when I would weigh myself and Garry would ask me about it, I'd automatically say 145, instead of 135. I would do that every time, it's like I just couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that i was at my goal weight. Garry would always catch it.
I was doing bicep curls 2 days ago. I was sitting on the edge of my coffee table and I looked down at one point and was shocked to see that my stomach was rather flat. I'm so used to seeing the 'pooch'. It's not like my belly suddenly disappeared--I was just finally ready to see it, I guess. Shocking--I had to call my best friend and tell her! I've read about people in their maintainence phase never quite losing their 'phantom fat'. That is, they still see themselves as overweight, even though it makes no logical sense!
And I'm always shocked when my clothes magically get bigger too!
We have a friend that I've always envied because he's always seemed so comfortable in his body. And I realize that I'm finally getting a taste of what that feels like. And that's shocking too!
I'm glad you brought it up, it's a subject I've been wanting to talk about. It's been such a long journey [6 years!] and it's almost embarrassing that I have to adjust to my new body.

I saw 'Oprah' yesterday and was riveted. I think that Wynona was so supremely courageous to do that voluntarily. If I had to predict I'd say she's going to do the '4 steps forward, 3 steps back' that so many of us are familiar with. I'll be watching---she's supposed to be back in May.

wsw, Your friends love you so much! What a blessing!

Wildfire, good luck with the interview!

Happy Thursday! It's snowing here, so Garry and I are trapped at home togther! The joys of rural living....

Eydie! I am jealous... would love to stay home today but will let you do it for me... Been meaning to tell you, I love the idea of Garry's cards....lets do it!

Lets come up w/ something that would lift someone's spirit....
and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to have a note on it asking that they pass it on ...??? Wouldnt it be something if one came back????
I'm loving the idea of the cards being given in secret... or maybe not always...
but especially if the card mentioned that we don't realize how much we "color" our world just by our attitude moving through it....

I am reading a book by Mark Victor Hansen about finding delight. He challenges us to expect delight and we will find it. He did an experiment in crowded stores... as he was in line, he kept thinking "to" the cashier... "You are a delightful person, people enjoy being around you"... and literally watched the cashier's stress lessen.....

Hmmmm...

Yes, Eydie... sometimes the journey takes us places we didnt expect. Guess we're not in Kansas anymore??

Hola Chicas!

How is everything? Went to the OBGYN yesterday. My 'official' due date is September 20th. I can't wait!!! I'm so excited!
Still have to tell the boss though. She'll be let's just say, less than thrilled.

So here I am at the demon job, Thursday. Waiting on stuff that should have been given to me tuesday. Have to work tonight and tomorrow night. They better hurry up if they want it done. I leave at 3....

Well. What do you know....I was down 1.2lbs when I weighed in after work.

We're a little sad tonight. We went to clean out DH's car and say our goodbyes. He's been a good car all these years and we're sad to say goodbye.

wsw, Spring is coming! 37 more days! You should take up the offer for the occupational therapist to check out your new condo. You may not be able to do everything she might suggest, but she might point out some things that could be useful to you. Glad to hear you're working on the dog guide applications.

Kaylets, you were right about the weigh in! I just had my hair cut a couple of weeks ago, actually. I was toying with the idea of letting it grow long again, and it was at that critical keep it or cut it stage....so I chopped it all off into a longish pixie style. My thinking was it would look more professional if I was going to be looking for a new job. I'm still at work when Oprah is on here, and I'm sorry I missed that one. I've always liked Wynnona. Hey, I've been going to bed earlier for about a week now, and what a difference it makes in my mornings! I think the "thank you" cards are a great idea. They could be printed on business cards that are available at the office supply stores. Something as simple as "You are appreciated." or "You are doing a great job." or even "Thank you for your help."?

Eydie, please talk about all the things you're feeling and discovering! It will be great inspiration for the rest of us. I am so thrilled for you!

Frogger, it won't be long before you start feeling kicks from inside!

Where is the rest of our Royal Court? Did someone declare a Royal Holiday and not tell us?

Yowza, s!!! Sorry, this be a brevity postie, as my sinus infection seems worse ... had only strength to post on the food thread ... my 21-dayer is going well and dragged myself to gym after brutal day with sinus hurting and actually did moderate cardio ... still will have to go some to reach my challenge goal of 360 minutes per week.

Forgot to mention this is a whine and me-me postie. Sheesh, I don't feel well and I need a life.

Wildfire, congrats on the 1.2 s thou hath waved bye-bye to ... hope thou packed them a lunch and got 'em a reservation at some far-flung motel in a warm climate so's they'll stay away from my neck o' the desert!!!

Sorry if I missed congrats on anyone's weight loss ... been posting in the royal kitchen as our Demon Food Slayers contingent needeth to stay active 'cause those s be EVERYWHERE, just everywhere ...

Really need to lie down. Hope this pain goeth away tonight in lieu of last night when it should have.

If this postie dinna make sense, well, it won't be the first, so's I'm assuming thou shalt not mindeth!