Good Morning!
I am here, sort of. I have been sleeping so poorly at night that when I get home from work, I am so very tired that it is a fight to keep from dozing off every time I sit down. My son woke me up last night, I had fallen asleep sitting at the computer table! I don't know why I am not sleeping at night---well that's not right either, I haven't slept well since my husband died in March. I just would have thought that by now, it would be better.
Points - 2, water and food.
Wednesday's woes---boy I need to be careful or the floodgates will open. My woe is that I am so tired of fighting. I fight with the money, I fight with my weight, I fight with my diabetes, I fight with my hormones, (this peri-menopausal stuff is the pits). I need a vacation! or re-inforcements. At the very least a new battle strategy!
Well, today is another day, another chance to make the fight go my way.
Hope everybody has a wonderful day!
Judy

UGH! I just typed up a long post and then lost it when I went to PM Faye. I figured the PM would come up in a separate window! (Note to self: Hit shift before doing that again!).

Faye - I PMed my profile/stats to you.

Editted to complete my profile: I'm a SAHM (with two parttime businesses) to two wonderful children, 14 and 6. I'm very fortunate to have a super supportive husband, but I need to lose some more weight. My highest was over 235, my lowest in ten years has been 185. I've been hovering back at 200 again, and want to get down at least 20 lbs initially, 40 ideally. I have hypothyroid and PCOS which makes the struggle even more frustrating and slow. My username Zookeeper16 came from a friend of mine. I have 2 dogs, an inside cat, a bird, a guinea pig and fish. Outside, we have 4 horses, 11 cats, 6 rabbits, 6 guinea hens, 2 peacocks, a pheasant and a bunch of chickens. Hence the zoo! It keeps me busy! I also do a lot of volunteer things for school/church and 4H, as well as serving on the Board of Education.

I'm doing good today. Got lunch in the crockpot, the kids on their respective buses, did my Tae Bo Live Basic workout and have been through the shower. Working on my second 24 ounce water bottle already too. I read this morning that in order to figure out your ideal water intake, take your body weight and divide it by two. This gives you how many ounces you should be drinking. I've been falling short of my 100 ounces....getting anywhere from 72-96 in, so I'll work on that.

Guess that's all for today! Will check back in with my points tonight.

LisaZ: geez Louise Lisa, I pee all the time now! If I had to drink 160 oz of water, I would never leave the bathroom and that is without the extra for exercise I suppose!

Judy: My sweet friend, YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF TIME! I know being alone now to raise your son and pay all the bills on your salary etc etc is very stressful, but you are still not over grieving even if it has taken a different form. Give yourself some space for goodness sakes. Listen, sounds like you could just use a good nights sleep to rejuvenate you. Have you ever taken sleeping meds of any kind? I read where you shouldn't take Tylenol PM unless you have pain because the Tylenol is not good for you, but the doctor that wrote the article said that you should just take Benadryl, which is what the PM part is and it is harmless, you won't become addicted, it won't cause any trouble down the road and he wrote this in answer to someone who was in the 70's and taking TylenolPM all the time so I am sure it is safe. I take a couple every once in awhile when I have had a lot of peri-menopausal insomnia problems and it will drop me like a rock. You sleep sound, but if your son would need you, you can be awakened unlike prescription meds. I will say an extra prayer for you and your son as soon as I get finished here. You have to allow yourself time and not think you are out of control just because things seem to get to you fairly easily! I would also highly suggest something like pilates or Yoga to help you exercise AND relax you.

Ok now for points:

Kim: for Monday
Me
Julie
Judy

I have to go. I haven't eaten any breakfast yet and need to get out and walk.

Faye

Hello

Sorry I've been gone for a while. I things have been weird on my end, not bad, just weird. Anyway...WELCOME LISAZ!!!

I noticed that the welcome message says I'm going to the university of Oregon...I forgot about that! I was so dead set on transfering, and suddenly changed my mind! (which all worked out very well in the end) Faye, do you think I could change my little message?

Hey Susan welcome back!

Pam welcome...we missed you!

Welcome LisaZ hope you like it here and find the support helpful.

Happy B-day SandyG hope you have a great one!

I got 3 pts for yesterday. Okay kinda busy here today so i gotta run but take care girls and stay warm.

oh by the way i peeked at the scale last night and it said 156.5!! Very happy, but going to wait until Sunday to log in my loss...I am crossing my fingers to accomplish my Jan. minigoal...figured I have my own little challenges each month like that...keep me motivated and hyped up.

Faye- are we supposed to let you know on a weekly basis how much we're losing or just at the end of the challenge?????

Happy Birthday Sandy!!!!



P.S. I love how the Bananas dance along to my avatar!

Hi Pam and Welcome back! Good to see you here again

I got 2 pts yesterday for OP, but I did not exercise due to an aching back and I came in short on my water.

I have had some kind of tummy thing.. my stomach feels just awful. Its more in my abdomen but its kind of making me feel sick if I eat. Been this way since last Thursday on and off.

Hoping today is better. My Weds Woes is I have the usual winter time blues. Today has been very blue.. as well as the last few days. At least the sun is shining today. I have all the shades up and curtains open to let in as much sunlight as I can. I am going to try to find something to do today that will pick me up and doesnt involve food.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day... did I see someone has/had a birthday? If so.. then HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Have a big slice of cyber since its no cals here!

Susan: either send me a pm or an e-mail with your new bio typed out and I will replace it no problem.

That goes for everyone else too! If there are changes to make on them just let me know.

Dorothy: I only need the exact amount you weigh either April 30 or May 1 at the latest, nothing til then.

I went and walked 50 minutes with my dog and woo he can tire you out. I am not kidding he is a yorkie and that little bugger can move. I must have tired him out though because I got in and took his leash off and he went straight to his water bowl!

The sister in Ca had to give her little shih tze (sp) to one of our friends when she moved to Ca and she called last night and said Mandy had died and she is only about 2 years old. She was having all these seizures and stuff since Christmas I guess. I told her I thought maybe she got into some poisonous plant out in our friend's yard or something for it to come out of the blue like it did. I feel sorry for my sister and for Becky who had her. I guess they buried her in Becky's backyard and I will take her a chewy or something as we are staying with Becky when I go to Indiana for the shower. Pets effect us greatly.

Well, I need to go get my soup and have lunch. Later girls!

Faye

I guess my Weds woe would be that since I have gotten back on the diet track and really taking care of what I eat I have been getting these annoying little headaches, most likely from the caffiene withdrawal ( or fat withdrawal )
I was having like 4-6 pepsis a day...well but my eye sight is also bad so I have a eye dr appt next week...I have glasses but have not been to the eye dr in about 6 years, and I can barely see the TV from a distance so that is probably it, eye strain... however I am very proud that I am doing so well ( for now ) and hope to encourage any of you ( as you did me ) to stay OP....
Lets do it!!!!

Julie - Thanks for the encouragement, I hope 6 months from now we both are
sitting at or around 170 or less, can we do it??? YEAH!!! I want to get as far away from 200 as possible....

Judy - Sorry to hear that you are having a rough time of it right now....I am with Faye, there is no harm in taking something to get some good sleep.

Happy Birthday Sandy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faye - sorry to hear about your sisters dog, we do get so attached to them and yet so annoyed at other times at least I do but I would be so sad if anything happened to my little Les

Pam - Great to hear from you Girl!!!

Hi to all !!!!!!

Hi Friends,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDY G !!!

I have to get something off my chest - I AM STRUGGLING!!

I am finding it really hard to take the first step - I think about dieting and exercising all the time, but can't seem to find the 'passion' for it that I once had. I think the problem is that I have been feeling a bit depressed over the past month or so - so motivation and passion for anything is hard to come by. I do really want this though - I'm just finding it hard to make the first move. I know that exercising regularly will really improve my outlook and attitude, but I struggle even to get out of the house. Today I was up nice and early, but then went back to bed and slept all day! I know these are all symptoms of depression and I have an appointment to see my GP next week, but it really comes down to helping MYSELF. I know from experience that the only way I can get out of this is to reach deep within and pull myself up and out of this. I know I will get there - I just thought that I would share my struggles with you as I know you all understand and support me through this bad patch.

Tomorrow is another day, and I will try again!

Love Amanda xxxxxxxxxx

Amanda - Girl I know exactly where you are...I had that problem from about the first of November till right after Christmas...I blamed it on holiday eating but it was me, I couldnt find the excitement for it that i once had and if I couldnt eat what I wanted then what was the point?
I was on an anti-depressant for many years ( stopped taking them last Christmas 2002 ) and there is no shame in taking something if you need it...let the dr assess ( sp? ) you and see what he/she says....you can come out of this and things will get better!! I know... you can get back on the band wagon ( band wagon? that sounds funny ) it is just going to take some time, do not stress yourself out over this, it will come.......it will.
Take care!!

wrap up points:

Dorothy
Debbie

I was hoping the challenge might light a fire under us all, but it hasn't. Everyone has to understand that one of the things that is hard about dieting in winter is lots less sun, lots less warmth, we are limited much of the time by what we can do. You need to kind of create an artificial summer for yourself to give your spirits a lift. Get up first thing in the morning, shower and dress with LOTS OF COLOR. I know many of you work so you do this anyhow, but fix your hair and your makeup even if you are staying around the house. Look in the mirror and notice how nice you look, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE even for a little while. Being trapped in the house gives you an opportunity to eateat eat! If the weather is such, go for a walk, even a stroll as you need to lift your spirits not exercise right now. Exercise will however make you feel better so that should be a priority. Drink some OJ! There is nothing like orange juice to make you think of sun! I know some of you are diabetic and this may not be possible. Call a friend and go shopping even window shopping. If you don't work and can't seem to get back into the market, DO SOME VOLUNTEERING! There is nothing like helping someone else to make you feel better!

Those of you who have been here awhile have seen my poem about weight loss, but I want to post it again, just to give you a little smile. THIS IS NOT HOW I FEEL, but how I perceive most women feel about losing weight. I received my coffee table book with my poem in it today so I am pretty jazzed about that. I was even given the very first page in the book. Anyway, here it is:

Blissful Ignorance

This fat on me is like an armor coat,
It smothers me exactly like a hug,
Surrounding me just like a castle moat,
And choking me just like a grave fresh dug.

Oh not to have these rolls and rolls of mass,
And freedom from constraints it holds on me,
If ever to be thin of breast and ***,
Would certainly provide for me much glee.

But only now the truth to me has come,
To rid myself of such a glob as this,
Means exercise and food reduced by some,
To **** with that I'll just die in fat bliss!

NOW INSTEAD OF THINKING THAT WAY, THINK POSITIVELY AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN WIN THE BATTLE!

Faye

wednesday woes: I have stayed op , drank my water, I even added exercise everyday since monday [4 points 4me] but I have not lost a single pound,
I am going thru menopause right now, things got so bad emotionally for me that I had to start taking an antidepressant, they help so much, I do not set around and cry anymore, Judy if I was going thru what you are I would be a total wreck. I have to give you credit for being able to even consider a weight loss plan with what you are going thru, I would be eating everything in site.
You evidently have a lot more strength than you give yourself credit for. AND you know sometimes we all need to just go have a good cry, if that is what you need , go run yourself a hot bubble bath . get in and just have yourself a good cry. or come here and tell us how you are feeling,
we will be here to listen and help however we can.
REMEMBER you are not alone, you have all of us here. and all us here have each other, i am sure any of us here would be glad for you to email us or pm if you need to just have a one on one talk with any of us. or post it here and maybe one of us can say something that will make our days easier or just give one another a little lift or say something that will brighten our day.

Faye, everytime I take Sissie [pekengese dog] on a walk, she gives me a real work-out too, she goes so fast I can barely keep up with her, then when we get half way done with our walk, she stops, lays down, will NOt get up, then I have to carry her home, lol
EVERYONE have a good day and hopefully a better tomorrow,
Donna

Donna: All I can say is hang in there and the weight will start coming off. I have a lot of menopausal issues also that disturb my well-being also and it is very tough. I have insomnia, night sweats (those just started), hot flashes, body aches and on and on. I just don't let them control me, I control them! Sometimes, I do get sick with some of the stuff, but I really try even when my joints are killing me to go and walk. I am not fully into menopause so I am still having periods and am there right now and cramping and such, but I FORCE myself to get out and walk. I think the older women in this group have to take a stand against what is happening with our bodies and instead of dreading it, embrace it as another stage in our lives! BTW: You get for all your OP days! I am very very proud of you! You are doing great!

All of you ladies have a great night and I will talk to you tomorrow!

Faye