Debbie: we must have been posting at the same time! congrats on your sucess at Curves. That is just wonderful to find a place where you feel comfortable. I have heard of Airborne too; I will have to stock up on some. I am always getting student colds!

The energy is so good here today! I hope everyone is doing well. Holly, hope you are feeling better today! You don't want your picture taken with a big red nose :(

Girlie--How was your lunch yesterday? I love Vietnamese food.

Tae2Tas--Don't let the hormones get you down! They always send me into massive carb cravings.

Spores--I think I'll start calling you Imelda ;) Thanks for the meditation on holding onto our weight, despite wanting to lose it. I'm a beliver in how intertwined our size is with our self-esteem, our past, our fears and the way we've always done things. It's so much to deal with, it's just easier to count calories, right? Well, yeah, until that stops working and we don't know why......

Debbie--Hi, fellow Curvie! My main gripe about Curves, along with the lack of shower facilities, is the music. The beat is helpful, but generally the songs make me grit my teeth! But I can tolerate almost anything for just half an hour, and it's really helping my muscle tone.

Hey, Jenn--welcome! I'm also trying to work up some enthusiasm for the treadmill. Congratulations on your progress so far!

Susie--do you like fruit? I'm fighting my sweet tooth with apples, berries and pears.

I'm feeling good today. Didn't have time to work out (had to write out my bills and get them in the mail, which does make me sweat a bit :?: ) but I got a short walk in this morning. I packed a salad w/salmon for lunch, and will be meeting a friend and her mom for dinner at an Italian restaurant. I will order something heavy on the veggies and fish, no pasta, and pretend that the bread was baked with cyanide....I haven't changed my ticker, but my scale says I'm back up to 241 :mad: I tell myself that it's all this new muscle. But it's also from giving in to too many temptations. Gotta get with the program. I'm seeing the bariatric doctor on Thursday, and the number on the scale today doesn't reflect my progress over the last month. I won't be at 235 for Easter, but I would like to be within hailing distance!

Have a great afternoon, ladies!

judy

Howdie Everyone!!

It is great to come here and read everyone's wonderful, uplifting posts.

Holly thanks for the recipe, but won't get to use in on Easter. My crazy-older brother, whom I love to death, has decided we are having mexican for Easter. Nothing like Easter tacos. hahaha. His band plays on April 16th at John Wayne's Pub on the southside of Indy. I wish you all could come. It is a blast to go and lots of fun when you know the band. Some of my Kohl's buddies are going to go with. I took them a demo CD and they all loved the band. I am excited to go, as I don't get out much. Always doing kid stuff. You would think the kid stuff would slack off once the kids get older (17 & 19), but you just do older kid stuff with them. Does that make sense? Keeps me young.

I have been slammed with work at work, but not complaining. I love my job, and it is great.

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening! Gotta get, lunch time is about over.

Hugs to all

Anne

P.S. Welcome to all the newbies, you will love it here!!

Helloooooooo!!!!! To everyone!!!!
I actually have felt better as the day went on and I took down all the light fixtures and washed them. Egads. Gross!!!
We cant get Airborne in Canada yet.

Spores~ you are totally on the right track. I have been through a lot of the same process and I am still holding onto the weight to a certain extent but I have let a lot of material things go.I have let some toxic relationships go too.
I have a comfort zone around 228-230. I was below it for a bit but with all these darn bugs I am creeping up a bit. I know for a fact it is about protection and feeling safe. Just gotta believe in myself and DH's love and the love of my kids. And mine for them. All WILL be right in the world.Easier said than done.
We can do this though!!! Chuck out another 10 pairs of shoes and see how great you fele!! LOL!

Hi everyone. I'm full. Had a bad lunch at Taco Bell including an apple empanada. It was darn good.

I went to Illinois State with my husband so no gym...I know he'll want me to go tonight too...I dunno! That's my dilemma.

Spores - I wanted to say that I love the analogy you made. Awesome.

This really is short. I just want this day to go by!

Girlie

The closer I get to 199 the harder it is...
 

Hello All,

Thanks Holly & Judy. Well it looks as if my cravings have slowed down a bit. However I think it's because I gave into a few of them :mad: . However I can't let that get me down. The best part about it is how guilty I felt about it. Prior to this I wouldn't have felt a thing. I am at the point to where I am yo-yo-ing and I think that is the excuse I have been using to cheating. Gosh this is so hard. Two weeks ago I was on the ball, I mean I really had it together. I was focused and I exersized daily.

The upside is I in the last month I have trained myself to eat better, now I need to work on the subject of exersize.

Hi all;
I just got in. I went to curves after work. I may have trouble making 3x this week the will be closed sat. I going to try tomorrow am but thats my 10hr day and we are working 1 person short. I get plenty of exercise at work. I have stayed op all day, oats with flax meal and splenda just a touch lowfat milk
for b-fast. A diet frozen dinner of roast turkey and rubber greenbeans and carrots.

Holly: Hope your doing well I haven't seen you post today.

Tae2tas: Sounds like you've got it figured out its, 1 challenge, 1 day at a time. always forgive yourself.

Judydc: They play alot of 60's music
at our curves. I can really get into that.

Spores: WOW, I never thought anything about a pakrat, fat connection. but you sure explained alot. I have a house full of stuff. I'm not a shoe person I'm hate shoes. I'm more the barefoot blue jean type.

BIG HUGS TO ALL

Debbie! thanks for caring. I am fine. Busy with kids today. Just researching stuff for school council right now. The cold is a bit better.

HUGS CHICKS!!!!

Good morning, I have just got dh off to work. I love mornings, after he leaves I have a couple of minutes before I get in the shower. It's so quite, except the soft snorring of my
ds's.
Holly: Glad to hear your better. You are so busy. I'm not sure how a cold germ can catch up with you. I hope you have a great day.

I probably won't post again until
fri pm.
Everyone have a blessed day

I have had lots on the brain. A newish"friend" has caused some grief with the school.All is okay. I needed to process it.
I have a feeling I will be writing today. I talked to the School Council Chair last night. It mostly helped just to say my feelings out loud. I realized that I am mostly hurt by someone I “thought” was going to be a good friend. I can deal with that. She made a point of how these parents are using bullying tactics themselves to get what they want.

I realized that by doing what I believe in is setting a good example for my kids, handling myself with grace, intelligence and maturity.
So, I started to research ideas for a Parent Handbook and there were hundreds of examples of exactly what I felt our school needed. I have the absolute 100% support of the principal and staff. Today I will start to write it.

The fever is gone but now I have a sore throat. Big kids are in school. Last day and then 4 off. I will have the toddlers here. yesterday I had a family return from a mat leave. The older boy is 4 , like DD, I had him since they were both 1. His baby bro is 1. It was a breath of fresh air to have the little man back here. I ADORE him. He is funny and sweet.His Mom called last night to tell me how wonderful and happy her boys were. Happy sigh. Nice balance to the negativity.
I wasn’t hungry at supper so I didn’t eat. I snacked last night. I was down a 1/4 lb at TOPS.
Have a cheerful day!!

Hello,
I've let other things take control of my time for the past few days and I know I'm going to be up when I weighin tonight. My first thought was, I'll just eat whatever I want today and then tomorrow I'll start over. Then I thought...why? Is that going to get me where I want to be? The answer is NO. So, I'm starting today...and starting with my food log is a good way to start.

3/24/05-
B=rice crispes w/milk, water, 5 cookies (ok..that was still with my former thinking..it's done and over with...so onward!)
L=going to have a garden salad and a baked potato (leftovers from last night's dinner)
D=I don't know yet.
Exercise=walking for 1 hour tonight at the Y with my walking buddie...also will do my ab work

Holly: Glad to hear you are feeling better and that you were down 1/4!

Spores: Where you looking inside my head? I KNOW I've been dealing with the same thing you wrote about. What an eyeopener to me...I think I'll spend some time writing about the person I think I'll be when I'm at goal....very interesting....hey..wish I could've been there when you were throwing out those shoes...I'm a size 10 (well..my feet are! lol)...I love shoes and purses.

Debbie: You are doing so great with going to Curves!

Judi: I do love fruit, but I can't eat it due to my IC (bladder condition). I can't have anything that is acidic. They say that most people with IC can eat watermelon and pears...but I'm too afraid to try...I don't want a flare to start. I've just got to learn to limit myself with those sweets.

Girlie, Tae and others that I might have missed: Keep posting...you keep me inspired.

Got to get to work ladies.

Susie

Judydc: Yeah, all the inner and outer stuff is completely intertwined; it’s just not always clear how. Guess the western midnset isn’t too big on developing the mind-body connection. Your plan for the day sounds great – good for you. I’m sure that gain does actually have something to do with muscle, and that’s a great thing. Keep going!

Anne: Sounds like you have a fun time planned. Have fun, you deserve it!

Holly: Glad you are feeling better. Yep, getting below tht comfort zone is hard. Knowing yourself and finding those things is such an amazing process. Sounds like you are really handling the school council stuff well. Good for you; what a great example for your kids.

Girlie: Hm, no gym. How about a walk around campus? That should burn a few off! I hear ya on the Taco Bell; nothing to do but move on.

Tae2tas: I know how hard it is to have some success and feel like you have totally blown it. Such a hard thing. But the main thing is to just move on and pick back up with your good habits. So you messed up. Okay. Ask yourself why you think it happened so that you can find ways not to do the same thing again. And then just move on. You can get back on track!

Debbie: Wow, long day for you. Maybe you can have a back-up exercise for when Curves is closed. Sometimes their hours are just impossible. Sounds like you have a great menu going. I have heard flaxseed is good. What does it taste like? Yeah, I have really been thinking about the emotional meaning of all the stuff I literally carry around with me. I guess we all have things we hold onto for security.

MychoiceSusi: Wow, good for you for not giving up and eating poorly in the face of a gain! I also fall into that mindset of “well, I’ve messed up, so might as well throw in the towel for the day.” Good for you for resisting that kind of thinking. It’s so easy to get all hung up on the weigh-in, like that is the only time that eating matters. Every bite counts! Wow, no fruit; that must be hard. I don’t know much about IC, but I wonder if there are other healthy sweets you can eat. Have you tried stevia? It’s a very sweet herb with no calories that can be used to sweeten things. Maybe you could satisfy that sweet tooth with stevia-sweetened teas or baked goods. My mom uses stevia for all her baking (I think one tbsp stevia equals one cup of sugar) and loves it. Maybe you could bake some healthier cookies? My mom bakes oatmeal cookies with stevia and whole wheat flour and nuts and olive oil in place of butter...they are so delicious. I so admire how you deal with this condition and weight loss at the same time. Yeah, it was hard to get rid of the shoes, especially since I love shoes and handbags too! I am sending them all to my mom’s friend who wears my same size, so at least I know someone will get some use out of them. Every now and then I have this major pang when I realize I got rid of a $200 pair of Donald Pliner stilettos...and then I realize that I had them for five years and never wore them once! I keep reminding myself that holding onto the past is getting in the way of the present.

Well, this week has not been a great one, diet and exercise wise. No treadmill so far, and lots of eating out. Not what I had hoped for. But today is a new day. Did oatmeal for breakfast and plan to have lan cusisine for lunch. Will COOK tonight!!!! Am feeling kind of at loose ends today. There’s so much I want to get done, and I know I can’t accomplish everything in one day. So I’ll just take it one thing at a time. Weather has turned cold and wet here, which makes me want to curl up in bed. Maybe I can try to have some fun with exercise today. Hope everyone is doing well.

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!

Sounds as if everyone has a plan of attack on this weight issue. That is great!

BIG NEWS........I have found a walking "buddy" here at work. We are going to start on Monday. (Tomorrow is a holiday for us) It is supposed to be in the 50's all next week, that is tolerable for me to walk. I love to walk, but am more inclined if someone pushes me the first few days. I have promised myself I WILL do TOPS on Monday evening. So far, nothing standing in the way of that. I am tired of being overweight. I have been doing better on eating choices, however no exercise. One hurdle at a time.

My 75 yo Aunt from Michigan is getting re-married (my dad's brother, my uncle, her husband, died of cancer about 5 years ago), to her high school sweetheart May 21, so I am giving me that as a goal to lose at least 20 pounds. I think it is doable, almost 2 mos. to get there.

Had my doggie's hair cut on this past Monday night. Afterward the groomer introduced me to a "pinch" collar for her. This keeps her from pulling and choking, so now maybe I can walk her of the evening and weekends. My dog is a Jack Russell and wired all the time. (Isabella Roxanne, we call her Belle).

Well best get back to work. Everyone have a lovely Easter! Chat again on Monday.

(((HUGS)))

Annie

A quick "hi" and hugs to everyone! I've been very busy at work, and running out the door for meetings in the evenings, including tonight! Things are going welll, I got a great pep talk at my weigh-in this morning, and I feel more determined than ever to succeed!

More tomorrow, I hope! Keep making good choices!

judy

Annie: Congrats on finding a walking buddy! That sounds like a great idea. Good luck!

Judy: Glad to hear you're doing well. Keep it up!

Okay, I spent several hours yesterday and today going through my piles of paper and resources and have come up with a doable (I hope) eating plan. Starting now.

First big goal: lose 15 lbs by May 20th. That gives me eight weeks. I think I can pull it off.

Lifestyle goals for this week: Exercise 3 times for 20 minutes each (more if I can manage it), eat on plan (I have made a plan for each day that should amount to about 1500 calories), record what I eat, drink lots of water, and journal every day.

I also bought the fitday.com PC software and have been playing with it, but it's a little complicated, so I will start using it in earnest later.

My big concern is that every time I try this whole "time to start a plan" thing, it lasts a few days and then I tumble off. When it's a ready-made plan like weight watchers, it's just not flexible enough for me. But when it's a plan I make myself, I immediately start to doubt it, like it's not right and it seems so arbitrary, and of course then it's curtains. So. I need to find a way to make this work this time. Any ideas on that?

Hope everybody is having a good start to your weekend!