OMG I love Go Lean Crunch! It's great!

Congrats Jiggly! So what were you doing?

Hey friends,
I'm tired. a good tired. We spent the day at the track. We went to the Bush race today. Lot's of walking and climbing...WOO HOO. I did great snacking at the track. We carried some ff pringles, a pack of 100 cal cookies. a couple bottles of water and diet coke.

Chicky: Glad to have you here,

Jiggly: WOO HOO!!! GREAT JOB.You should be very proud,

Later

Can I join the race to 199? Right now I'm at 218 and I started at 234. I'm hopeful I'll keep going down but I know how it goes. Sometimes success is my enemy for some weird reason. I don't want to fail again. I hope that being in a group will help. So, can I join?

Hello,
It was a busy week ladies and a nerve racking one at the least. I am happy to say I had a 1.80 lb loss at the scales. I am very happy about it. But you know what I have overeaten ever since! What is wrong with me that I keep doing this to myself. I am really unhappy being over 250 again. I mean, a little over a year ago I was at 239 and I was so excited...I've let it creep back on me.

No more!!!! I ate so much today that I can't breathe while I'm sitting here. The next 6 weeks I'm going to be pretty strict with myself. I need to get off the sugar and get back into filling my body with food that has nutrious value..not just filling. I looked at my face, hair, eyes and skin and I need to eat that way not just for weight loss but to look healthy and pretty again.

I'm setting a goal of 240 by ARD day--June 17. That's 1.50 lb a week. I WILL do this!!

Cayzee: Welcome to the board! Excited about you being here!

Jiggly: Wow! What a great feeling huh? I'm very happy for you!

Jiggly ~ WHOOOHOOOO!!! Congrats honey!

Hello ladies!

I am finally back in the land of the living and feeling wonderful! Something weird happened! I decided to weigh myself yesterday - I normally only weigh once a week so that I don't get disappointed by daily fluctuations and I had lost 4lbs! How the @#$* is that possible? Since Wednesday?!?!?!?!? Delayed reaction from last week? I got on that scale 3 times to check and it was the same - no doubt it is a fluke and at my official weigh in on Wednesday I will have lost nothing! lmao or it was cos I was 'sick' even tho I wasn't exactly sick I was just in zombieland... I am not going to change my ticker just yet...

Congrats Jiggly! Keep going sweetie!

Welcome, welcome, welcome Cayzee!!! Well done on the loss so far!

Well done on the exercise Girlie! That's amazing! I need to take a leaf out of your book!

Debbie - aren't you so glad you took snacks with you? That's what we plan to do when we go anywhere now - saves time standing in all those tempting lines too - "I"ll just have a [insert healthy option here]" and you end up smelling all those burgers and hotdogs and it's just too much to bear!

Yay Susie on your loss! I know how you feel, I was 207 a couple of years back and let stress get the better of me - I didn't eat more I just ate wrong! Went off my meds, slathered myself in sugary stuff and went into the depressing spiral...SHALL NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN!

I discovered something last night. DH and I had had a busy day and he really wanted something quick. Was going to get a nice healthy subway sandwich but they decided they weren't delivering last night and as we were both covered in dirt from digging out the old pool we didn't want to go far or take showers first. We went to Burger King drive thru (which I don't like anyway so was ok) I did get a strawberry shake as I hadn't had one in goodness knows how long and I got a baked potato and some chilli from Wendys instead.

Well the potato went in the dogs - I told dh it wasn't cooked well enough - 'put it in the microwave for a few seconds' he advised - but I think my body was telling me to ditch it, I only ever eat a bit of the chilli anyway, ate less than usual - that went in the fridge - and I couldn't drink the shake! OMG what is happening to me! lol It tasted to sweet and chemically. I made dh try it and he agreed on the chemical part (he's been not eating sugar either so...)
I shall no longer be wanting fast food shakes. Not that I really did anyway as I don't actually like McD's or Burger King etc. It's just a wonderful feeling that fast food won't be in my future (barring a visit back to the UK when I shall have to have fish n chips and a kebab! lol)

I'm feeling really good today! I hope it rubs off on all of you lovely ladies!

Ok, gonna stop rambling now....

Sarah

Hi all. Thanks for the warm welcome.
Hippy, I know what you mean about stopping for fast food. My husband and I are both changing our lifestyles (not dieting!) because we have to. Anyway, I've been avoiding going out to eat because it's too tempting. But I've discovered there are many choices. Last week we ate a chicken caesar salad at McDonalds with half th dressing. Then we had dinner at Applebee's. He had grilled shrimp and I had baked tilapia with steamed veggies. Today we went out to TGI Fridays and I had grilled shrimp with veggies. Yes, it was hard to flip thru the whole menu with all the pics of formerly loved foods that tried to kill me but I got to the end and made the choice to eat what's good for me. I feel so good the last couple of weeks because I'm making new right choices. let's keep on keepin' on!

I started the day off right by writing down my food and looking up the points. I still have lunch stats to record and I'll do that here shortly.

I wanted to go for a walk today but I've been working on TOPS things and I'm going to run out of time before I have to go to a church program this evening. I feel like I should have made it a priority but I know me and when I have things looming over me I feel overwhelmed and that feeling leads to overeating, so I'm working on what I must get done.

I am determined that I will have a loss this week. It's very important to me. I want to gain my self-estem back and feel in control.

I'm going to go and relax with my book for half and hour and then get up and get ready to go to the program.

See you all tomorrow.
Susie

Life has been a bit of a nightmare but there is a peaceful glow at the moment. Just has some lovely shrimp and salad for supper and I think i am down 1 lb.

This is long but i will share. I have sent this to 2 local papers and my member of Parlimant and my municipality.

April 6 2006

Reality Check

I am wondering if the developers and politicians know or care about the human and real aspect of their choices and decisions.

Just in case they haven’t given it much thought I will share my thoughts on the sewer system being installed past our home on Petty Street.

Three weeks ago we woke to sound of chain saws. Beautiful and majestic maple trees were being stripped of their branches. My five year old daughter asked, "Mommy, why are the trees all naked?"

My 7 year old son asked about the one crimson maple that was our harbinger of Fall that turns a brilliant red every year two weeks before any other trees in the area. Gone.

Last week I needed to pull out of my driveway to pick up my son from school for a dentist appointment. Ten minutes before leaving I went and asked a fella to move his truck, that had been blocking our driveway for the entire day, to move it, telling him I would be leaving in ten minutes. He did so quite willingly. In ten minutes time when I went back out to leave, the truck was back across our driveway again with noone in sight. I drove out across our grass to get to the road.

I have a home daycare. The parents have been unable to turn onto our road or into our driveway for long periods of time, most mornings, for a few weeks now. Even when they leave home early to allow for the construction they are getting to work late. The school bus has been late many times.

For the last two days I have woken to sound of engines roaring, the incessant beep, beep, beep of trucks backing up and buckets crashing on the ground at 6:30 am. I have listened to this continually until 8:30pm at night. Yesterday, there were four pickup trucks parked up our driveway completely blocking it so noone could get in or out. People were afraid to park on the road because of all the huge equipment moving around, fearing for themselves, their children and their vehicles.

When I wake up at 6:30 am, I need to keep all my curtains pulled shut because there are half a dozen strange men all over our front yard. I sit and try to enjoy my first coffee of the day to the tune of beep, beep, beep.... crash.

It is not safe for our children to be outside without serious and extremely vigilant supervision.

On a much deeper and personal level these sewers are affecting our family values.

The more disheartening aspect of all of this is the long term impact on our lives. There has not been clear and specific information provided to us about just how much this is costing us. The proposals and estimates that were sent out stated that each household will be paying $15,000.00.

To break it down, we are looking at finding an extra $125.00 a month, for the next ten years, if this estimate was accurate. Along with the high rise in cost of fuel, hydro and healthy food our family values are being compromised. My husband has been working longer hours. This takes valuable one on one time away between him and our children. I have taken on a second home based job to still be here for our children but to also earn more income. I have begrudgingly stepped down as Sunday School Superintendent at our church to give that time to earning income. This position has been spiritually fulfilling for our entire family and also a service to the community we love. I have also declined helping out with Gala Days this year because I am afraid to give time to something other than my children and earning income.

We moved to this community based on many things but a big part of the reason was the type of close knit, caring, rural community it was, as well as being able to afford our home and it’s expenses. Six years later this is being threatened by circumstances beyond our control.

I have yet to speak to a single person, in the last three years, from Nairn, in regards to the sewer system, that is in favour of it, wants it or feels it is necessary and yet it is happening.

The developer and politicians have their pat answers and reasons for pushing it through and some may even be realistic. The bottom line is that it is hurting my family on several levels and I doubt we are the only ones facing these issues.

My husband and I work in trades that are the back bone of our society, we give back to our community of Nairn/Ailsa Craig every way we can, our children are the future of this community and their world and well being are being compromised.

My big questions are: Is the development of Nairn really worth hurting the emotional, spiritual, social and family values of the citizens who currently make their homes here?

Does anyone really care?

And for our next challenge as a community, will the people of North Middlesex really be able to have an impact on the proposed school closures in the area or will that just be pushed through too?

Sincerely,ME

Further Comments

April 7 2006

Today it is raining.The workers were out in front of our house at 7am. No one spoke to us. The entire end of our driveway is a 20 ft deep hole. They dumped a load of gravel across the part of our lawn that is on Municipal property but we still have to drive across our grass to get out. We have 1 ft deep tire ruts at the moment. I will be taking pictures. I have called the company and left a message.I have a home daycare and parents need to come and go for their children. They are getting stuck on our lawn.

Considering that it is Friday ,I am now concerned it will be left like this for the whole weekend.

I expect this to be remedied well and to our satisfaction.

Later:

I was contacted in person and by email to be reassured this would be taken care of and given phone numbers in case I was not satisfied.

April 8 2006

It did take 3 hours before anything was done with our "driveway" . Two hours after that the on site manager came by to apologize. It is still sloppy but manageable. I am not an unreasonable person. My concern at this point is that about two weeks ago when the pipe to access our property was installed there was a huge piece of machinery parked on the parking pad part of our driveway. It was tearing up the gravel and part of the lawn was heaved and it was spewing water and mud all over. I did ask the workers to be sure it was fixed up when they were done. Later I watched a man go over and pat the ground with a shovel. That was it. We had to rake and re-grade our driveway and the lawn is still heaved and caked in mud. We did not receive any written material or phone numbers until a week after this.

I would have appreciated being asked or notified that our parking pad was going to be used. Our house vibrated for several hours.

On Thursday several perennial plants I had around our 911 sign post were torn up. I know this is on municipal property but given the opportunity I would have dug them up and saved them in pots.

The access lane provided is adequate but not safe. There are two large pieces of machinery on either side. It is necessary to pull out onto the road to see oncoming traffic and then rev the engine to get out of the gravel.

We are definitely being inconvenienced in many ways by all of this. I personally feel very devalued and disrespected.

April 9 2006

I have now had time to thoroughly read the 4 page, full colour document that came in the mail on Friday from the Municipality. It is similar to the information in the website. We also have received a hand delivered document with contact info several weeks after the work had started ,the last week of March.

Interestingly, the "Project Background" does not include information about the housing developer who wants to develop the farms north and south of Nairn into subdivisions but cannot do so without a new waste management system.

I also understand from this document that because some of the133 households affected have not properly maintained their own septic systems and thus causing harm to the environment each of the households will be impacted and will pay a minimum of $15,000.00.

I also understand there were public info centres available. In 2003/04 when the sewer issue first came to my attention I was new to the area and home with toddlers. I did not know many people in the area and those I did know who had attended the public meetings came away thinking there was little an individual could do to change this going through. Frankly, I personally dropped the ball on this but have serious doubts as to what I could have done to change it.

The reality is, it is becoming a glaring reality.

For what it is worth, I am unaware of any environmental study being done on our property. We do regularly maintain our septic system and have documents to prove it.

I am also wondering whom to direct my children to with their disappointments over the next ten years?

Who will explain to our 5 and 7 year old children why Daddy is not at the dinner table each night like he has been every single day of their lives because he is working longer hours?

Who will console my teary eyed children that I send off to school on Friday mornings after telling them they cannot have pizza like their classmates because we do not have the money for it ?

Who will explain to my son why there is a good chance he will not be able to play hockey( his one true joy in life and ONLY extracurricular activity throughout the year) next year because we cannot afford it?

It is breaking my heart to have to deal with these let downs for my children.

We are humble folk, trying to live and humble and good life and provide for ourselves and children. Our wants and expectations are few.

$15,000.00 is a LOT of money.

Holly:
I thought of you yesteday - I was looking for seeds, and I found a package of Hollyhock I actually didn't know that was a flower, I thought you'd just made it up!

Jiggly:
Hooray for you!!! That's great!

I'm on the downside a bit...I weighed in yesterday - UP 2.6 pounds! How in the world does that happen! I did an hour of cardio every day this week. Food was okay. It's so disheartening. I am on my period, and I didn't feel that hollow feeling that I usually feel at weigh-in. My stomach felt heavy and bloated. And I had a lot of sodium on Friday, as we ordered Chinese at work for lunch and got shrimp and veggies. My leader even asked me if I'd had soy sauce the day before. She knows I've been doing well. Well, all I can do is keep going, eh?

This is just going to be a really long, hard, bittersweet journey...it feels so tough sometimes.

Girlie

Hey everyone,
I've had a very relaxing Sunday. I even took a 2 hr nap this aft. Now after 2 glasses of coffee. I'm UP...LOL
I've only ate once today. Bad I know. I never got around to b-fast then we went to the mexican resturant for lunch. I didn't do to badly. They make a chicken dish that has bell peppers onions and muchrooms. It's like a tex-mex stir fry. I only eat 1/2 of the rice and beans. It can't be that bad. I had a small piece of sf chocolate cake, and a hand full of grapes.
I went for a short brisk walk. I hope to go to curves in the am. I do so much better in the morning.

Girlie: Yes, it is a long hard journey, but we are all here for each other.
It is not impossible.

Holly: OMG... I'm so sorry for all the turmoil in your life...and yard. Keep on them and make them take care of the property damage they cause. They won't do anything about your inconvience, But they should fix as much of the damage as possible.

Cayzee: You are the right track...making great choices. Eating out is my biggest downfall.

Hippy: great job...

Susie:

Later

Hey everyone. I've been sick these last couple of days and I'm positive I've gained. *sigh* Oh well. I'm back on track tomorrow.

Feel better Shari.

Love to you Deb!!

Big kids launched. DD is resting, 3 little people playing cars.

I am having a sandwich. Turkey breast, FF cream cheese and baby spinach on whole wheat.Not really breakfast food but I have been up for 3 hours.

Today is day off from Avon. I always take the day after my order goes as an Avon free day!! It was HUGE order,yippee!!

Going up to 12C today. I will designate today as a yard work day. Good for the kidlets to be outside!!! I think I will expand the veggie garden while the ground is soft. We may NEED to eat form it as apposed to want to eat from it.

I can get early seeds in this weekend if DH gets it tilled.


HUGS!!!