Hello,
I've been missing for a few days and it feels so good to get here.
My weighin on Thursday was really dishearting. I was up 1.75 lbs and I have NO idea why?! You know there are weeks that you know you will be up..you can go back over what you ate, why you didn't exercise and you can find the reason. This gain...I have no idea why! I even felt like I was going to be down. I took it really hard. Was sad and angry all at the same time. I thought about going to Walmart and buying those iced cookies I like so much and eating them until the pain went away...then I thought about "Every time I'm tempted to use food to satisy my frustraed desires", and I didn't go get the cookies, instead I went and bought myself a new spring outfit.

The gain is not why I haven't been here for a few days, it was just that life piled up on me. I've been using my time to get things in order again. I'm one of those that has to have things in order to feel in control.

I hope everyone is working their plans to the most and that you will have a good outcome at the scales to show for it. If you don't, just pick yourself up and move on....I'm hoping this week will show my efforts.

Yesterday we all had to go into work to move our cubicles around. They are putting us in sections with the inside sales girls and marketing girls to we can cross train and have been communications with those that work the same region we do. I'm excited about that move. It will allow me to be more involved in the day-to-days activites and because I would love to go into Marketing, I'll get a first hand look at it.

Holly: I wish I could bottle your energy woman! You posted that you were up at TOPS also. Maybe the TOPS scales were out to get us this past week? I know that they are in danger this week if they don't show a loss for all my efforts!

Girlie: I say "Bravo"! for quitting that job. If you need another part time job, you will find one and I think that working in a health food store or bookstore would suit you better. Sometimes we have to let go of the old so that we can truly move upward. Good luck with the 3rd interview..make sure they know that the best decision they can make is to give you the job..tell them that and why you believe that. It will impress them and you will get it. That's what I did when I went for my new job.

Jodi: I saw "Meet the Fockers"..it was very funny! Your Saturday morning sounded wonderful! I'm skipping church today to take a little time for myself. It feels good.

Spores: I'm so proud of you for using that treadmill this week! What's your plan for it this coming week?

I have a baby shower to attend this afternoon. Not really the way I like to spend my time, but sometimes those sort of things are neccessary and I'm honored that this girl invited me. I was involved in her life when she was a little girl and we have kept in touch; she said she wanted me there to share in the biggest event of her life...isn't that sweet?

Have a great day ladies! It's good to be back; I missed everyone.

Susie

My day yesterday got horrific.I am feeling much better now but ,whew, it sucked. I ended up being really sick with a queasy tummy, the runs, fever and wicked vertigo. I panicked because I was so sick and had committed to do a lot of stuff for the church for 9 am today. I asked DH for help. He got defensive, I cried, we argued.........
I slept for 2 hours in the aft, made supper, got the church stuff done, got the kids kids to bed, tried to talk stuff out with DH, he shut down, we argued again, I walked away from it and went to bed. He is still very quiet today. I actually feel fine with all of it.
I apologized for the hurtful things I said.I dont care about the details. I love him , that is what matters. He will come around.
In the past something like this would have dragged on or escalated into something much worse so I feel good about this progress.

SS went well. I ran a congegational meeting.It went well too.DD and I met DH and DS after hockey at a players house for a skating/toboganning party.We roasted hotdogs on a fire. Very nice. Kids LOVED it. Just got home. Puttering to do.Beds to change. I bought turkey pieces to roast for supper.
All is is pretty much well. Life goes on.
I am feeling very slim. Haven't been on the scale.I could be an illusion but I'll go with it.

Mychoice: Good for you for handling the gain so well! You know, we all get so focused on that scale number, and it winds up being in control of how we feel about our bodies. One little number determines our entire opinion of ourselves. Congratulations on all your hard work and efforts...that’s what counts! Thanks for the kudos on threadmilling, and thanks for asking about my plans! I hadn’t thought too much about them, and I appreciate you reminding me. I’m planning to treadmill on Tuedsay, Thursay, and Friday. I also plan to eat fruit and yogurt instead of junk what I want sweets, to cook at home every night except Thursday, and to do something nice just for me every day.

Holly: Sorry to hear about your bad day. Discord between lifepartners can create such a sense of unbalance. Glad you are feeling better.

I sort of blew it on eathig this weekend, but I am trying to focus on the positive and look ahead. I am hoping this will be a good week. I am for once ahead of the game on lesson plans and grading, so I might actually have a scrap of free time this week. I want to use it productively and not waste it on stressing out about things I have no control over. I think I might try to get back into journaling as well if I have a few minutes. Hope everyone’s week starts off wonderfully!

I roasted the turkey pieces and veg for dinner. Dh came home and he was kind and cheerful. He has worked through his feeling and let them go.We had a fun evening . He and the kids watched the superbowl. I only watch halftime.
Paul McCartney... I absolutely think Paul is a dream in many ways. When I watch him perform I fell spiritually uplifted and joyful. I LOVE how he lives his life. I LOVE how much he loved Linda and now Heather. I LOVE how he values and supports his children. I LOVE how he uses his fame and wealth to be an example of goodness. The halftime show made my day!!
I did not over eat at all yesterday. I was in a total groove. I felt connected to my spirit. Today I will aim for the same!!!!!!

Susie~ I was up 6! last week. There is no way it is realistic. On my scale it is gone already. Maybe I ate something salty, who knows. It does feel disappointing though. The spring outfit sounds wonderful! Good for you for not binging.Hope the rest of your weekend was nice!

Spores~Great on the organization and freeing up some time. Start fresh today with the food. You can do it!

Here is a pic of me from last weekend. I have a fullbody one too but it is too big to post. I dont know how to scale it down.

Good morning, ladies.

Just checking in. This weekend was relaxing for me since no grocery store, but I ate horrendously. We ate out three times this weekend! I also skipped the gym yesterday and had no good excuse as to why. I didn't go this morning either, but will do something this evening. Since we had a big breakfast yesterday, I didn't cook the Sunday dinner I had planned to, so I'm making that tonite - lean pork chops grilled with BBQ sauce, fresh green beans and homemade smashed potatoes. I also got some organic FF gravy and I'll try that out.

I am going to have to think through my plan for this week. I want to eat more salads, but haven't been into it lately...probably because a salad doesn't sound good in cold weather...there was a sale plus coupons on organic soups, so I bought a few. I love split pea soup.

Girlie

When I get tired of salad I just have lots of cut up veggies...red,yellow, orange peppers, celery, cucumber........

Holly: Sounds like you had a great day. Good for you on food. Thanks for posting the pic! We should all post pics so we have faces instead of just avatars!

Girlie: Sounds like you had a nice relaxing weekend. I'm sure you can hop back up on the horse! I get tired of salad too, and am not sure how to fix veggies well. I like them stir-fried with lots of garlic and hot sauce. Does anyone have good veggie recipes? I might check out some vegetarian cookbooks for ideas on how to make veggies a main dish. Too often I think of them as secondary, but I know I need to eat more and make them a main meal.

Well, there were snack cakes in the house yesterday, and I ate a couple, and asked bf to take them to work with him today so I wouldn't eat them. When I got home, I regretted it. Wanted those cakes so badly!!! But luckily they weren't here, so I had a yogurt instead, and am feeling just as satisfied. There are some foods that I just can't have around. And I'm glad I got them out of the house. I just have to be vigilant about what I keep around.

Busy day and I'm tired already. Am reminding myself over and over that I will cook healthy dinner tonight. No resturant food. Not worth it.

Hope everyone else is well.

Hello, All!

Holly:
I like most veggies...except peppers and celery...I can't do it!!!! But I love to stir-fry zucchini and yellow squash!

Spores:
I know...snack cakes! See, when I was younger, we didn't have much "junk" food in the house...and now I'll eat 2 or three little debbies or something in a day. Unthinking eating.

Lately, it's been bread. I've been craving it like crazy...the grocery store bakes their own crusty italian bread that comes in a paper bag. It's soooo good with real butter. Ouch, bad! I did get some butter spray this weekend.

*sigh*

Girlie

Girlie: I too grew up in a mostly junk-free house. Now I go nuts on processed foods like crackers and chips and pastries. I just can't eat them sensibly. It's two or three or more portions in one sitting. I just have to resign myself to never eating them again. Or at least only eathing them, like, once a year. I am with you on the bread thing, too. I am not a low-carb person, so I don't think bread itself is bad; just the white breads. I am lucky in that I really love whole grains and health breads with no butter, so I don't feel bad about eating them. Again, it's the portions.

I had to skip luch today, so am fighting the urge to pig out on french fries. Hoping bf will be home soon to talk some sense into me!

hello everyone,
glad i wasn't the only one this weekend. i made brownies (actually they were made by my fat evil twin) i ate them though!! and candy ugggg. i just needed chocolate. it is all gone now and i did ok today. did not exercise this morning. wow i am such a rebel. tomorrow will be a better day!

holly your pic is cute, is your hair naturally curly or do you perm? i love the waves. glad you had a better day. the half time show was good wasn't it?

girlie- glad you got to relax. i love the bread and butter too. hang in there!!

spores- i am terrible with veggies too. if you find any good recipes let us know.

mychoice- sorry about your weigh in keep at it though. sometimes the scale has a mind of it's own. you did a great job last week, keep it up!! good for you with the outfit!!

Good morning,
I just finished reading the posts. Seems like everyone was fighting the "sugar" snack urge lately. Sometimes I can keep those snack cakes in the house and sometimes I can't. I knew this week would be one of those "can not" times, so when we went grocery shopping I made sure none of it was bought unless it had chocolate on it; I won't touch it because of the IC.

I usually go to the Y at lunch on Tuesday's but I'm not feeling it this morning. I can't decide if I'm going to pack my workout clothes or not. I think I will and then access how I'm feeling about it at lunch. I'm just tired and it takes a lot of effort to work out at lunch because when the workout is over I have to get ready for work all over again. I'm just making excuses; I know I am.

I apoligize for not posting individually to everyone this morning, but I'm running late.

Have a good day! Work hard towards those goals.

Susie

I am thinking about Lent.
I gave up wine after new years and I gave up cheese except one day a week and I am doing well with both.
I am thinking that for Lent I will give up eating in the evening. It really is unecessary and indulgent.
I made the Pork Medallions with Red Peppers off of this site last night. MMMM!!! DH licked the pan.
For Fat Tuesday we are having pancakes, bacon and fruit salad.
I had a school council meeting last night. It was empowering. More details in my journal.
Jodi~ my hair is naturally wavy. I enhance the colour cuz of a TON of grey.
Hope today is better. I made low fat banana bread on the weekend. It satisfies the urge for sweets.
Crackers, good bread and pasta are my big issue.
Girlie&Spores~ I was raised junk free and my house is much the same. Our big indulgence is Kraft dinner. I over eat all the right stuff. Bah!
Susie~You do so much in a week. Take one day off form the gym and get back at it refreshed tomorrow!!!

I am off to do the books for taxes. Almost done!

Hello everyone. Seems we are all struggling a bit with one thing or another. We are a strong group!!!! Hugs to you all!

Spores:
Fortunately, I love heathier breads too. My favorite is by Natural Ovens - it is called Sunny Millet bread. YUM! It's rather expensive, but I usually spend more on whole grain breads and justify the price because it's an important health issue - one that I try to follow. That white crusty italian bread gets me every time. Must stop now. The loaf is gone so I will be okay.

Holly:
I'm Catholic too and have been thinking about Lent as well. I'm thinking about tomorrow, not eating all day...how am I going to make it through?! We typically abstain from meat on Fridays and try to give something else up. My non-Christian friends think I'm crazy, but to each her own, right? I'm trying to make sure I don't make my Lenten sacrifice something to do with a diet...like that I am using to lose weight from specifically...but one that will be a sacrifice mainly. I've been thinking about all the meat I've been eating lately and think I will eat only vegetarian meals throughout the week and allow meat on the weekends. I've been pigging out on meat lately. I need to eat more fruits and veggies and fish. I'm still thinking about this, because I want to succeed. I used to contemplate becoming a vegetarian because I rarely ate meat...now it's just the easiest thing to do, seemingly.

Susie:
I agree...take the day off of the gym if you want to. You will work out harder the next time you go and feel good about yourself. The hard part is to not make a 2nd skipped workout.

I went to the gym this morning...45 mins elliptical and I meant to go into the small women's only room for 15 minutes on the treadmill and try to get in 10 minutes of jogging, but the two treadmills in there were occupied and I was too much of a chicken to do it in the main gym. So I did 50 or so crunches and leg lifts. I feel like a Chicken. I already skipped my kickboxing workout today. I feel so down when I'm done with the class...so I've been avoiding the class, three classes now! I don't feel good about myself in the class, especially when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror during the class. I don't feel strong. It's a sad feeling.

Last night I was feeling a bit of depression setting in. I was feeling so worthless, feeling like I'm not getting any of the jobs I'm interviewing for, feeling like my workouts aren't enough, etc...I ate to console myself. Not a good thing. Keep trying to say positive things to myself to keep me going. I feel better today. I'm wearing a bright color cardigan and have my 3rd meeting as a management candidate...we're meeting over lunch so I dressed business casual. I hope I do okay.

Talk to you later,

Girlie

HUGS Girlie! I am sorry you were feeling down. I have certainly been there.I am happy for you that you are tkaing positive to feel beeter before it gets worse!

I am not Catholic.More of a spiritual nomad. I attend the United Church of Canada.We do Lent too.

How is everyone else doing today?

Hope your lunch goes well Girlie.

Jodi: I found a recipe for lightly steamed broccoli drizzled with lemon garlic butter. Nix on the butter for me, but I am thinking of trying to whip together a bit of olive oil with lemon juice and minced garlic instead. I should ask my mom – they eat pretyt much nothing except veggies. I expect to arrive at their house one day to find them grazing in the garden!

Mychoice: I am with you on working out at lunch. Such a pain to get dressed twice! Once I am in workout clothes, I stay that way all night. But better to leave yourself the option! And at least it gets you out of the office for a bit. Makes the afternoon go faster.

Holly: Wow, giving up wine. That’s brave! Will you share the recipe for low-fat banana bread? Sounds yummy, and I have a ton of bananas in the freezer.

Girlie: It’s such a difficult thing, when healthy foods seem to cost so much more than junk. I went to the grocery with my mom over xmas, and she spent $200 on a week’s groceries for just her and my dad! They eat all organic, vegetarian, no renderings, no additives, etc. When I was a kid, we shopped at Aldi and had processed stuff, and she fed our family of four on $40 a week. Amazing. It’s always a struggle for me at the store when the healthy stuff is so expensive, because I’m trying to trim my waistline and my budget at the same time. But in the long run I think it’s worth it to spend extra on good food. The food winds up being so much more satisfying and nourishing. And it is one more way we prioritize ourselves and our needs. PS, good luck at the lunch! I’m sure it will go smashingly. Isn;t it amazing the way color affects our moods? Hope your day is looking brighter than yesterday.

Holly & Girlie: Will you share more on giving up things for Lent? I’m not Catholic, but most of my family is, so I am familiar with Lent, but I don’t know the details. How is giving up soething for Lent different than just giving up things for weight loss? Which do you find easier to do and why? I wonder if that sense of higher purpose makes it easier, and how that realtes to ou methods of weight loss.

I am feeling glad because I didn't feel like doing my treadmill today, but I did it anyway and wound up enjoying it. Yay! On the downside, I had a burger and fries and milkshake for lunch. Phooey. I would have been so much happier with a salad; my lunch made me feel gross. I've been reading Frank O'Hara's "Lunch Poems" a lot lately, and the guy just loved cheeseburgers. So now I am thinking about them all the time. Oh well, must move on. One poor choice does not a failure make.

Now to think of what nice thing I will do for myself today. Hm. Short on ideas.