Hello everyone, I thought I would check in. It has been a hectic week so far. I may be transitioning into another role, and then another opportunity opened up so I am interviewing for that on Monday. Needless to say, it has been a stressful week. Well, I got 2lbs closer to my goal right before my birthday, so I didn't hit goal, but 2lbs shy is good enough. I am working on a low fat, low calorie diet again, and we will see what happens with that. I have to get Alex cleaned up and in bed. His class teachers decided they were going to paint easter eggs with dye today, and forgot to put gloves on the kids, so Alex's hands are completely BLUE :fr: and his face has blue stripes, because he decided it was cool and he can be a Blue Power Rangers!


Have a great day, I will touch base with you all later.

Later ladies.

Reina

Happy Thursday Ladies

I was gonna have friday off because its good friday but since I was sick on monday...well I will work it and then take monday off for easter monday...ho hum...I was looking forward to having friday off..who knows I might just switch up the days anyway.

Tonight I think I will get back to exercising....I will try my new pilates dvd...cant wait...it looks interesting.

Today's Meal Plan

breakfast: carnation instant breakfast with 1 1/2 cup of skim milk
lunch: green salad with olive oil and lemon juice vinagrette (sp) and tuna
dinner: I didn't have the pork loin last night so I will have it tonight with the snow peas.
snacks: cheese stick and mixed berries
beverages: water, diet soda, green or white tea

exercise: pilates
Have a great day ladies

Cyan

Just a quick post....still sick...not going in to work today. Was awake most of the night with my nose running like a faucet. Nothing seemed to help. Of course now I look like Rudolph. Only good part is that for the past two days I havent felt like eating much. As soon as I feel better, I will try to get in to catch up on individual posts. Hope you all have a great day!

MIKI

I'm still here and I miss you guys
 

Hi all. Just wanted to check in and say hello. I'm still hanging in there. I miss you all and think about you everyday. Cyan, I enjoy our chats on instant messaging. This pregnancy is winding down to an end. I've gotten to the point where I am really ready for it to be over. I'm tired, I have back-aches, head-aches, and I need a fork lift to roll over in bed. I pee anywhere from 3 to 5 times a night. I've gained about 45 pounds. I have heartburn and indegestion pretty much all the time no matter what I eat. Even my maternity clothes are getting to tight. Other than that, I'm doing great. School is tough, but I'm doing all right. I'm doing my psych rotation now and it's all right. It's rather boring compared to critical care where there's always something to do, but at this point I'm grateful anything less demanding. We are planning on inducing on May 12, the day after finals, but my Dr. and I pretty much doubt that I will make it that long.

I was glad to see Cjunk here. I haven't seen you girl in forever. Glad you're back and doing well.

Has anyone heard from Tawain? Wasn't she pregnant also?

Reina, Newie, Miki, Debee, I miss you all!

And our new Australian friend, welcome!

See you all later!!

Lisa

Happy Good Friday Ladies
 

I decided to go to work today in part because of taking monday off due to illness and I will take Easter Monday off as well.

I know I am supposed to weigh once a week but since getting this new digital scale..well I am pretty much obsessed with it...so all week I have been jumping on the scale every morning and most evenings...and I have lost two pounds this week!!! :dance: Last monday I weighed in at 172 and this morning I was 170! Yipeeeeeeee I am one pound away from breaking out of the 170's ...I can't wait. :encore: Although on my old scale I was down to 169 before jumping back up to 176 on my new digital scale. Anyway, its all good now and I will stick with the program and this new digital scale.

Hey Lisa...I enjoy very much chatting with you too. I bet you cant wait to get this kid outa you. As I have said before, you are wonderwoman...with all of what you do. Keep us posted on how you are doing especially once your little bundle of joy arrives.

Hey Miki...feel better soon...I too had a sinus cold at the begining of the week and the best way to help get rid of it quickly is sleep...This past monday, I slept all day ...for real..and I felt much better for having done it.
Get well soon and get yer butt back in gear.

Well I did my first pilates dvd last night and I loved it...it was so much fun...I did the instructional dvd to learn the proper positions..I dont want to hurt my back...so tonight I move on to the 20 minute workout.

Meal Plan for today:
breakfast: carnation breakfast with 2 cups of skim milk
lunch: egg salad sandwich on black bread with salad
dinner: salmon with asparagus and or spinach
snacks: cheese stick, mixed berries and maybe sugarless ice cream
beverages: water, diet soda, white or green tea and maybe a coffee

Well Ladies have a wonderful weekend and HAPPY EASTER!

Cyan

Hello Ladies

I am getting ready to go into work this afternoon...Ugh!

Anway, I am holding steady at 170 pounds this morning...but to be expected...I ate lots of chocolate and deserts this weekend...rice pudding, flan with pound cake...a box of chocolate, hard candies..oh yes...I sure can pack it in...so today...monday...back to the game plan....the scary thing is that this friday...yep...my birthday which means more celebrations so I have to be very careful...I friend is having a sushi party for me on saturday. Then I have brunch sunday morning with another group of friends. Hopefully I can make it through without too much damage

I havent done any pilates since last thursday although I had good intentions...I just ran out of time.

Today's meal plan

Brunch: turkey breast deli meat with 1 tablespoon cream cheese on 2 slices of black bread and 1/2 cup of coleslaw
dinner: pork loin with asparagus
snacks: yogurt, mixed berries and maybe a hardboiled egg
beverages: water, diet soda, white tea

And I will do my pilates tonight.

Have a great day everyone. I look forward to reading your posts

Cyan

Hey everyone,
Hope you all had a great Easter weekend, I know I did with my family!

Cyan, Congrats you are doing so well, and who didn't eat some chocolate on Easter???? I know I did....You are doing so well on that South Beach. I just couldn't get my self going on it, I just don't have the time to schedule everything that I should be eating. I am holding steady right now, but I am walking 3 times a week and working out for 30 mins 3 times a week, and Sunday is my rest day>...Not bad, huh???


Lisa, It is nice to hear from you, Pregnancy seems to be consuming all your time. I wish you all the best, and I am sure the heartburn will stop eventually....

Well, ladies, I am working on eating tons of veggies this week with chicken. I am not a big red meat eater, so I am in need of some good recipes.. I am sick of all mine... Got any good ones that you can share??? if so , email me at [email protected]

I have a busy week. I don't know if I mentioned to you all or not, but come and check out my Pampered Chef website. We finally got them up and running. The address is www.pamperedchef.biz/reinafernandez

Take care ladies and have a great week.....

Hi Everyone!
 

Hello Ladies,

I am back and busy housecleaning--argh!@##! Last night I did about 7 loads of laundry. Tonight is cleaning floors and bathrooms. I hate cleaning bathrooms!!

Went away to Quebec to see my fiance's family for Easter weekend. The weather was beautiful and his family were lovely. Friday drove six hours and Sun drove six hours home. Lots of sitting and lots and lots of eating. Went to a Cabane au Sucre for Easter--basically everything is made out of fat and maple syrup. Yummy and not good for you. Had my fill and now I am paying for it with tight pants. Time to get back into the swing of things. Bought a bunch of veggies on the way home to make for dinner and some fruits for dessert. Had some sushi for lunch so today was a healthy day. My fiance's grandma sent us home with a tray of homemade date squares but she makes a low fat no-sugar option that is to die for. She gave me her recipe once but I can never seem to match it.

The good thing was that although I ate lots of maple syrup I ate no chocolate since I am allergic so that helped!!

Well, last week was busy with lots of medical tests. Now I am being tested for pernicious anemia. That is where your body's B12 levels are constantly low and then it causes your iron to go out of whack. Once we have the results of these tests I will likely be put on a daily regimen of B12 shots that I have to do on my own. Meanwhile, they will research why my body is messed up in this way. There are tons of reasons why and it takes some narrowing down. My iron tablet consumption has increased per day as per my doctor and unfortunately it makes me very queasy. On Thursday I had to cancel some counselling appointments and went home and laid down and eventually threw up all night long until there was nothing left in me. After that I felt a lot better. Figured out that I need to take my iron with a very large meal like at breakfast or dinner as opposed to on a more empty stomach. I will keep you all posted as to what happens from here. The Dr. also recommended I go on a certain birth control pill to regulate my period as I have been getting it often and it may be contributing to the vitamin losses.

This week I have to make up some hours by working late to cover for the puke-fest of last Thursday!!

MikiG--How are you feeling?? I hope you are doing much better.

Cyan--congratulations on the weight loss! I hope you are feeling better too as I understand that last week you were feeling a bit off.

Lisa--so glad to hear from you! You are right I haven't been here for a while!! In fact, I don't think I remember you being pregnant--so a big congratulations to you!! By the way you describe things it sounds like you are pretty far along??

Reina--if you get any good meat recipes, pass them on to [email protected] as I need to increase my meat intake for my iron levels too!! I love Pampered Chef items and use my Pizza Stone all of the time--I will have to check out your website! My girlfriend has the apple peeler-corer and swears by it!!

Newie--Did you hit the track today??? The first phase of SBD sounds really tough!

Debee--Hope you are sunning it and funning it in Florida!!

Talk to you all soon,

Cjunk

Back To Work
 

Oh boy is it ever hard to get back to a schedule of waking up early and working...this 9 to 5 grind gets hard very after you havent done it for a few days.

Well I stuck to plan yesterday after 3 days of debauchery...and I did my pilates...the 20 minute winsor pilates tape. My stomach muscles are a little sore.

Tonight I cycle for 20 30 minutes.

Hey Reina...thanks for the encouragement. And way to go with the exercise regimen...Its great! I clap vigorously at you :cp: Keep it up.

Hey Cjunk..welcome back...sorry to hear about your medical tests...I hope you will get some answers and get back to feeling 100 percent soon.
I am feeling better..sinus cold is gone.

Today's Meal Plan

breakfast: 1.75 cups of skim milk with carnation breakfast
lunch: pork loin sandwich on black bread with honey mustard
dinner: grilled chicken breast with asparagus
snacks: 2 medium hardboiled eggs, yogurt, sugarless jello
beverages: diet soda, water, white tea

exercise: 20-30 cycling

Have a great day everyone

Cyan

Hi, ladies! I am struggling!! After I wrote my last post, in which I stated that I was going to try SBD again, I just couldn't do it!!! :no: It was the lack of carbs!! I just don't want to give up carbs to the level of restriction I would have to. Also, if I don't have some kind of whole wheat bread before bed, I can't sleep!! :tired: I tried other things like cheese or fruit or salad before bed when I was on Atkins last summer, and I just didn't sleep right--fitful, waking up, couldn't go back to sleep, etc.--and that has been a problem for years for me! When I was on a strict eating plan about 20 years ago (I joined OA, and abstinence meant no eating between meals at all), I would literally be awake all night because I was hungry! Anyway, I am trying to figure out what will work for me. I have determined that high glycemic foods are not a good thing for me to eat. On Easter I ate two pieces of bunny cake and some jelly beans, and I was horribly bloated yesterday and up two pounds overnight! :yikes: I don't think giving up refined carbs will be hard for me after how I felt. I also want my peanut butter sandwich for breakfast--that's on whole wheat bread. When I eat that, I have no need to eat for about 4 hours following. Over the last few days, I've experimented with different things for lunch and dinner. I seem to be fine with the low-carb menus--protein and veggies, as well as a big salad--there. I'll just have to keep working on it.

I've only been to the track one day--that was Saturday. I just couldn't drag my butt out early. :dunno: Also, Thursday and Friday I had a horrible headache :headache: --was it hormones or delayed stress reaction? I sometimes get a headache when my muscles relax after a stressful period of time.

I've been doing some housecleaning. Hubby has been helping me a lot, and I am recruiting my girls, especially where dishes and cooking are concerned. The older one does a lot of eye rolling :rolleyes: , but too bad--I'm the mother. I've also been doing a lot of reading--what I do to relax. I curl up in bed with my book and the cat (if she chooses). Since Wednesday, I've read the last half of "Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul" (I love that series--very upbeat, short stories that I can pick up any time), parts or whole of about three magazines, and anything else I can find that is enjoyable. :goodvibes

I also did our income tax and my mother in law's. :dz: Today is the day I staple everything together, have hubby look at it and sign it. Then tomorrow it's in the mail--one day early! :cp: I had to file two state returns this year--Illinois and Indiana--since my old job at the teacher store was in Indiana, and I live in Illinois. What a pain!!! :headache: I'm glad I work in Illinois again. Also, today I have to do a telephone open enrollment procedure for health insurance with hubby's company. On June 1, we will finally have insurance again!! I have in my possession a teaching contract for 2004-2005 to sign when I am home, so then I'll be officially set for a year in my job. :cloud9:

I haven't graded any papers yet. Most likely I will do a few today--if I leave it till the weekend, I'll ruin the last few days of the vacation. If I break the task down into smaller pieces, it will work better. I also want to work in my yard--most flowers are up, and there's junk in the yard that needs to be picked up.

Tomorrow I am taking my girls out shopping for clothing. That will be a fun day except for the part where they fight about who I should buy for first!! :rolleyes: My nine-year-old doesn't need too much--though I struggle when I buy for her because she's very tall and VERY skinny--has her father's genes. Her height is size 10-12, but her measurements are size 7-8! My thirteen-year-old is another story. As my husband commented the other day, she's "a child trapped in a woman's body." :lol: She needs all new jeans and bottoms of every type, even pajamas--she has a very tiny waist and wide hips--genetic also--when she was 2 1/2, I had to toilet train her in a week because her bottom would no longer fit into the largest diapers made at that time!! Needless to say, that lovely bottom has all of her clothes skin tight, which doesn't work for me. She's on the shorter side--just about 5 feet tall--so we may look into some of the petite sizes--hemming up pants is not my idea of a good time!!

Anyway, I am rambling. That is how I am spending my Easter vacation. I'll keep everyone up to date on my struggles with this food plan of mine. I want to do what works for me and lose weight too. See everyone later.:wave:

Newie...ah the joys of motherhood....two teenage daughers...get ready LOL

Cyan

Dear Friends

I have some very sad news. It looks like my friend's mom is going to lose her battle with cancer. She is very sick and getting weaker. I dont think she will make it for much longer. I am asking for prayers and good energy sent to her. Her name is Guermina Maximiano...a matriach of her family who runs a real estate mini empire. She and her husband come from very humble beginnings and worked very hard all their lives to amass their mini fortune.

MORE...
Her candle is burning out but she will live on in my memmory and in the memmories of those who know and love her.

With lots of sadness and a heavy heart

Cyan

Cyan--sorry to hear that your friend's mom is so bad--prayers sent :angel: on the wings of an angel. God be with her.

Its wednesday...and it feels like the weekend will never get here. Ugh some weeks just crawl on by and some..well ...go by a little faster. I dont know why I want the weekend to go by faster...I guess because I am not happy with my career...I really shouldnt complain...but I guess its not my true passion in life...I am not sure what that is ...yet...I guess I would like more freedom...I would love to travel like I used to...but for the moment...my wings are clippped.

I always get like this before my birthday...I analize where I want to be and where I actually am and the realization that I am a year older...makes me scared that I wont realize my full potiential...that time is running out...that I wont get to do the things I want to do....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway

Meal Plan for today
breakfast: all bran cereal with skim milk
lunch: smoked meat with protein bread and artichoke salad
dinner: grilled chicken with snow peas and green salad (olive oil vingagrette)
snacks: mixed berries, yogurt
beverages: diet soda, water, white tea

exercise: pilates

I cycled last night for 20 minutes. That felt good.

Ok Ladies Have a great day

Cyan

Cyan, my heart goes out to you, your friend and her family.

I still dont have time to address individual posts and I'm too far behind to catch up now I think, but I did want to check in. I am back on track since Sunday. On Sunday, I did my AirWalker for a full hour, on Monday 15 min, Tuesday 20 min and got up this morning before work and did another 20 min. I am about to hop on again while I have the house to myself and can blare that music. :lol:

My eating has been much better all week so I am very encouraged. I plan on a loss by Monday. I'll let you all know. Thanks to all of you who continue to post. Your posts are a major motivation to me.

Hope you're all having a good week.

MIKI