MONDAY: Today is Mission Monday and our Mission this week: We need to become heart healthy. Friday was wear red day to bring to light the fact the #1 killer of women is heart disease! I heard a statistic that 1 of every 29 women who contract breast cancer dies, heart attack is 1 in 4! Ladies, the odds are not with us. Let's get serious about our hearts, by cutting our fats, getting our exercise and reducing the weight! We all want to be around for a long time!

POINTS FOR YESTERDAY:

Amanda
Donna

Amanda: I think you have plugged in to the program that is going to work for you! You are doing a great job! Keep it up!

Now that all the pain is pretty much past me, I am really kicking butt again. I feel really good and am anxious to get back to the gym and stay on my good eating program. I hope all you gals are with me on this. It is February and our challenge ends the end of April! I can't wait to give the gift card away to that lucky winner!

I will talk to you ladies later on today!

Faye

Morning ladies,
I wrote a long post yesterday, but apparently it didn't actually get posted. Oh well. The weekend blew....dd got sick (threw up all over walmart ) and we had friends over during a snow storm where we all proceeded to drink Irish creme liqueur and eat tons of homemade bread and herb butter. AND the knee is still bothering me. SO, I'm starting over today with the points. I did manage to fight some yesterday with my knee taped extra tight. So at least I got some exercise.

We're taking the family SOUTH at the end of the week. It's Feb. vacation for the kids, so we're going to NC to visit family and friends for a week. I sure hope they have some nice warm weather. I've got the Feb. cabin fever....just getting out of here for a while will do me a world of good. Just have to make sure that I don't do alot of fast food eating. Gonna actually pack a cooler with lots of fruit and veg snacks and sandwiches. Will save us money and calories.

Amanda, thanks for the butterfly comment. It made me smile from ear to ear! That's exactly how I feel, too.

Judy, glad your friend is doing better! I'll keep him in my prayers for continued speedy recovery.

Faye, glad your joints are feeling better.

We all need to be careful with the exercise. As I've learned with this knee injury......several of us have knee problems right now, I think......too much of a good thing is bad. I definitely was pushing the sanity envelope with the amount of exercise I got last week. Now I'm paying for it.

Well, I hope everyone has a great Monday.

Ciou for Niou,
Julie

I saw Faye's post about this thread in another thread, and thought I'd jump in and join the club. I hope that's not a problem. *smile* I want this journey to be a fun one, or I won't stick with it when the going gets tough.

My name is Anna, and I'm currently teaching English in China. I'm 27, and left behind a supportive boyfriend and a cat who hates me. Can't wait to get home and get my first hug since I left. China is not a hugging country.

It's the end of my Monday, and probably just beginning for the rest of you. I can safely say I drank lots of water today, and I did excersize, so 2 points for me! *smile*

I take a Wu Shu class twice a week (where I make a fool of myself on a regular basis. Why was I cursed with such poor balance!), and I'm doing a running program: Get from couch potato to running five miles in 8 weeks. I just finished week one yesterday.

I'm not concerned as much with what I weigh (and am having trouble finding a scale here anyway), and more with how I feel. I've been tired for the past... ten years, I think. I'm tired of always hating my clothes, of being embarrassed to go shopping, of denying myself pretty things because I don't think I deserve them. So my goal is to just get fitter, healthier and happier...

Morning All :
Well I had a very UN-OP weekend, my husband and I said that since we had been a whole month staying OP that we would eat what we wanted on Saturday ( within reason ) and that turned out to also head into Sunday - boy did I have some good food!!!! I did feel a little guilty last night but I thought hey I have worked hard for a month why not reward myself...so today we are totally right back on program and not looking back, I think you need that once in a while...have I made enough excuses for myself yet?

I also have something that is bothering me this morning, I noticed the start of what looks like a mole a couple of weeks ago, yesterday I looked at it and it was like three times the size it was, and sore - it may be sore because it is right underneath my bra line and it is rubbing, however it is worrisome, I called the dermatologist and she wants to biopsy it this Friday - I am not going to worry until I have something to worry about I guess ... any of you girls had mysterious moles removed???

Hope you all have a good day, welcome Trouble in China!!

Anna: You are more than welcome here! We will love having you! Actually, it is kind of funny. I was scrolling down the forum topics and saw the support thread you posted at and was going to go back and post there! I imagine being in China and away from your family is really hard. We are here to give you lots and lots of support!

I wrote a long post about weight loss surgery, but decided it would cause a huge storm about the whole thing so I deleted it. Guess I will just keep my opinions to myself!

Gotta go get some breakfast and start cleaning. Happy Monday everybody!

Faye

Welcome Anna......you're gonna love these ladies!

I just finished lifting weights, no knee stress there. I have to teach tonight, so I'll get some cardio in. Guess I'll be taping up again for that.

I know lifting is good for me and I need to do it, but for some reason I just don't feel like I get much of a workout. Ok, *while* I'm doing it, I feel like I'm exercising. But when I'm done, it just doesn't feel like much. Probably because I don't sweat buckets like when I'm using the treadmill. Oh well, slow and steady wins the race.....fast and long gets your knee hurt.

Faye, you can always air your opinions here!

Later,
Julie

Carri: Don't panic. I have had moles come out of nowhere but not cause any trouble so though it is growing, don't panic. If it is something for concern, it is easily taken care of.

Julie: I wasn't worried about fallout from you ladies, more from the lurkers who would not be happy with me. You know me, I feel a lot of compassion, but I also tell it like it is. Something someone had said on another post, just got me to thinking about it again. I usually steer clear because it is controversial! You keep up the good work. It make take some time with the knee so don't push it.

Hope everyone is doing well. I finished cleaning and am hungry but am going to try and wait til closer to noon. If in the next few minutes I seem to still be hungry, I will go ahead and eat lunch a little early.

It is cold and rainy today. I was hoping it would have been nice and warm, but I guess next month it will start warming up around here. I am tired of winter and ready for spring, big time. I don't know why I am so anxious, could be those slot machines calling my name?

I better get going. Will check in later.

Anna Welcome, You will find lots of support here.
Faye speaking of slots between me and dh we won almost $700 this weekend @ Creek Nation Casino!!! Hopefully in Vegas in can win alot more than that.
When it is time for you to go we will all keep our fingers crossed that you win Big time!!!
Last month, I was going to grill some steaks and I lit the gas grill and the stupid thing fell right out its stand, gas was going everywhere, so any way
we got a new grill with part of our winnings. I got the rest, going to put in savings.
My favorite soap is coming on General Hospital, my second addiction after food, so got to go.
Donna

Hi all!

Welcome to you Anna - this group is great and I'm sure you will fit right in!

I got 3 points yesterday - faye you are right about me finding the right programme. I am finding Weight Watchers so easy and flexible - I can eat whatever I want as long as I stay within my points - so I find ways of fitting in little treats, so I don't feel that I'm missing out on anything. I am finding it very easy to stick to at the moment......maybe it will get harder as my points drop, but there's no point worrying about that now!

Well it's my second weigh in tomorrow - I've been really good all week, apart from going well over my points after last weeks weigh in. I definately won't make that mistake again - I might have a little treat (within my points), but I'm not going to 'blow out' like I did last week!

Carri - Try not to worry too much about your mole. Hope everything is okay on Friday. (((hugs)))

Faye - glad you are back to full health!

Julie - enjoy your break. I know it does us all good to get away from time to time.

Donna - Congratulaions on your win! Very nice!

Take care all!

love Amanda xxxx

POINTS POINTS POINTS POINTS:

Anna
Amanda

Donna: Do you play the $ slots? I play nickel mostly but play the maximum which ends up about $2.50 a pull. I like the interactive slots the best where you get the extra windows/money. My first game that I fell in love with was I dream of Jeannie, but I really like Jackpot Party though it can be hard to get to the extra window with that one. Jack hates slots but loves roulette and bacarat. I am giving us $100 a day apiece for gambling and when that is gone, then that is it! Lord help me, the wedding reception dinner is at Tony Roma's! I guarantee I will put back on some lbs, but I am going to keep myself busy so hopefully I won't be eating ALL the time! Two more months and Jack and I are just itching to go!

Amanda: My gut tells me you have lost 4 lbs tomorrow. We will see how good my prediction is!.....

Well, ladies, I need to go. For those absent ones, get your behinds back here!

Faye

faye - ha ha ha! I've Never lost 4lb in one week in my life!

I will be very happy with a 2 or 3lb loss though!

You'll be the first to know tomorrow!!

Amanda xx

Faye, and all the rest of you Serious Funners!! Here I am, and I have missed you all immensely!!! It occured to me the longer I stayed away the harder it would be to get back into the groove!!! I have seriously fallen off the proverbial wagon as they say. I have not been following any program whatsoever, and the old devil of compulsive overeating has been running rampant. I have gained back abt 5-6 lbs of the 56 I lost. And I am mortified that I will not be able to find my way back to you..............Thanks to those of you that have attempted to keep in touch with me, when I stopped replying it certainly did not mean that I was ungrateful for your kindness your concern, your unconditional love and support.

I did not go back and read all the threads I missed. I just started with today.


Amanda Panda, how are things going across the pond??? missed hearing about you.........

newme4me, winning at the slots!!! yippppppppppppppppeeee have, when is that trip to vegas??

Julie, glad to hear that you are still hanging in and hanging on, and dancing, that belly dance jig..........

Hello Miss Satine! and many welcomes trouble in china, these girls are wonderful!!! I came here a while back, and made this my home for a bit, had much success, and I am convinced now more than ever, I have to have you gals in my life!! I have to!! I tend to withdraw and isolate, which is exactly what I have been doing and therefore it makes the eating easier, any excuse right?? But it did, and when all was right in my world, each part of the program was an integral part, the eating plan, the exercise, the water, and the journaling, and most importantly the connection with you girls.

Okay, okay, I have rambled on and on. I love you all, and hope that you will have me back. (I am back anyway!!! so there!)

Good evening all
2 point for saturday...and 2 for sunday, and at least 2 for today, I don't think I'll stay op again because of a friend's birthday.
Welcome back Pam!!!!

Hi Pam!

I do exactly the same thing. "Ack, I hate myself, I'm just going to curl up with chocolate and coke and watch old movies until my head falls off and I die." (Seriously this was my thought last night. Then I ate two chocolates, didn't drink the coke, and fell asleep before the credits. I'm chalking that up as a win.)

(Which reminds me, I need to fill up my water bottle, BRB.)

I did my Wu Shu last night, and boy did I suck. It really showed that I hadn't been practicing all though Spring Festival. I was slow, clumsy, weak, and I fell over a lot. But I laughed, too, and I can see how much better I've gotten with the stretches. I just wish it were easier, you know?

But, I know when I get home I'm so keeping up with the martial arts. I really do enjoy a class structure for excersize. I mean, I'm liking the running (I get to run tonight, go me!), but having a class where you're actually graded on how well you're doing suits my personality better. Plus, I need constant encouragement. My biggest hurdle with the Wu Shu is my teacher doesn't speak much English, so he can't correct my stance effectively, and he can't tell me where I'm going wrong.

But, yay! If I do my water properly and my running, I'll let you know. Cuz me, I want my 2 points. (I don't have an eating plan. My goal is to remember to eat every day, and stop going three days in a row without eating.)

Anna

Hi Ladies,

I walked 3mls on Sunday pumping hand weights and 2mls this morning wearing leg weights not bothering too much about anything else because i'm just over a week away from my trip back home to England and anything goes there i sure won't be dieting thats for sure i can worry about getting in shape for Summer when i get back.

Hello Pam and Anna nice to "meet" you