Good Morning Ladies........

How's everyone on this fine Friday?

Hey Debbie...one small slip with chinese food isn't too bad. That was yesterday, today is a new day, make it better. One day at a time.

Jodi - Dang that Easter bunny and all his evil ways.....pitch the rest of the candy.

Spores...Hang in there. Keep your hands and mind busy with other thoughts than food. I know, easier said than done, and I am so there with you.

Holly - Your life is sure diverse. Great things to work on. God love your friend, battles in court are tough. Great strides for hubby at the workshop. Good luck on his interview.

Hi there to everyone else...

Yesterday was great on food portions and cal count. Stayed right at 1000 for yesterday. Didn't get my walk in with my buddy, we both were too busy to take a break and walk. Next week is supposed to be awesome weather wise, I can't see missing any days of walking. Very pumped and jazzed. Today is day 4 on my new eating/exercising and attitude plan, and doing great. I have been journaling my food which I forgot how beneficial it is and to also see how much I am eating and knowing when to slow down so the count does not get too high. I need to drink a bit more water, only consuming about half of the requirement so far. Baby steps, one thing, one day at a time.

Have a wonderful, positive weekend.

(((HUGS)))

Annie

Debbie: Good for you, lots of good choices and walking. Thanks for the low-fat snack idea. Sonds tasty!

Holly: Hooray for all te wonderful success you're having lately. Glad to hear your DH was so supportive and invloved. That's a great feeling. Gallato, I have never tried it. I will look at the store for some. Good to have for emergencies!

MychoiceSusi: Congrats on the loss! That is such a great feeling. You really have earned it!

Annie: Good for you for staying on plan! That is a great feeling. I too am journaling all my food and it really helps. One day at a time for sure.

Okay, well, I did pretty well with last night's cravings. I decided to make a smoothie instead of going out and getting cake. I got discouraged when I discovered I was all out of frozen fruit and bananas, but we had a little bit of leftover vanilla ice cream, so I made a smoothie with that and fresh fruit. It took the edge off. Then BF kept me distracted for the rest of the evening, and I did not eat any more. So hooray for that.

So. Last Friday I weighed just to get a baseline, and then I weighed again this morning. And, dum dum dah dum, I am down 3 pounds! I am very excited and pleased. But here's the trouble: I don't trust it! The second I saw that number on the scale, my first thought was disbelief, then happiness, then doubt. I weighed myself three times just to be sure! And now I keep thinking that it's not real, it's just water, it's not possible to be down that much in just one week, etc. This is how my brain wants to sabatoge my efforts. Because if I had gained or stayed the same, of course I would totally believe it and berate myself for it. But losing three pounds, my brain just cannot seem to accept that as possible.

I guess this points out two of my own personal obstacles: one is not really believing in my own success. The other is putting too much stock in the number on the scale. It seems I want to sabatoge myself either way. Either I gain and I feel horrible or I lose and I don't think it counts as a real success.

So today I am going to accept and celebrate my success. I am going to give myself a pat on the back for all my effort and accept that this weight loss is a real testament to my ability to stick to a plan and succeed. And I am going to give myself a reward for this. Not sure what it will be just yet, but it will definately not be in the form of food. Any ideas?

Hope everyone is having a great Friday!

Good day everyone. I'm so sorry to have been gone! How long has it been? Almost two weeks?!!! Holy cow!

I'm okay - just busy at work and have been going on the 45 minute drive to school with DH at night, 3 nights a week. He's getting very stressed and it sick of the drive and it helps if I go with him. I usually get a tea and go to the bookstore and read for a while - it's actually really nice to have that time with DH and by myself.

I went shopping last night and bought two pairs of khakis that fit great, and three tops for spring. In return, I'm going to clean some things from my closet this weekend. I've told myself I can't buy anything unless I get rid of stuff.

The problem with going with DH is that I'm not getting my exercise in at night. We don't get back home until 9.30p-10.30p and that's time for bed. The other nights that he has no class, I don't feel like doing anything.

Spring is coming and I know if I don't do something soon, summer will be very depressing for me because I'll feel fat and uncomfortable. Just losing 10 pounds would be so beneficial. Once I get into that "fat and uncomfortable" stage, it's an absolute wreck to get out.

DH and I are still having our road trip around Memorial Day - however, we aren't going north through Canada any longer. We've decided just to stick with meeting my family and going down through Virginia, to Richmond, to Colonial Williamsburg, through DC and Philadelphia, and probably back through Columbus back to Illinois. It will be fun and draining as well, and by cutting out going through Michigan and Canada, we'll not be so rushed to get everything done in a week.

I wish we all lived in the same area. We'd have weekly or bi-weekly get togethers and perhaps some of us could go out for walks and picnics and things. I'm such a dreamer!

Girlie

This is will have to be quick, I'll try to find more time this weekend:

Congratulations to all y'all who have been on track these past few days! And a big cheer to the losers!:bravo: The weekends can hold so many temptations, I love it when I end the week with a clear loss, it gives me strength to walk right past the hot pretzels and cookies it the mall....I'll change my ticker tomorrow. I am down at least a pound.

Annie--I've done a training for nonprofits at Naropa U in Boulder. And there are certainly fat Buddhists out there (like the great man himself, I guess). If you don't believe me, check out the Buddhist thread in 3FC support groups.

Keep it goin' ladies :cp:

Good morning.
I have a very busy day planned for today. Lots of errands to run. DGS is here. He will keep me company going with me shopping.
I ate a small portion of yummy chicken alfredo last night. Not a great choice, but I controlled the amount. I walked alot at work again yesterday. I plan to go to curves when they open this am. I hope to get weighed today. PLEASE..PPPLEASSE let me be down a few lbs.

WOW.. CONGRATES! Everyone is down alot
must because of spring. It is so much easier to lose in the warmer months
Hopefully I'll post a loss next time.
Have a great day.

Debbie~Hope you day is great.

I was feeling like I needed a new challenge. I am off track! Anyone want to do a challenge with me??
Tried to sleep in.
This is our first weekend in 6 months without hockey!! I will actually miss the social time with the other parents. It is a GREAT group of families!!!
Quiet day yesterday. I worked on formatting the info in the handbook to make it accessable and reader friendly.
DH had a great interview. The job is installing electronic doors. He would travel SW Ontario. They give a truck, good pay, and benefits. Everything is crossed. He was really positive about it. He did stop by at an old builders and he can start Monday building houses but he would leave for this other position.

DH has been cleaning for 3 days. Our disgusting basement is sparkling. It is hard to imagine it is the same room. The walls and floor are ready to piant ( concrete). it is not worth our while to do flooring etc because we live on a watershed. We will flood. BUT it gives great extra space for kid sto play hard. The pool table is all clean and set up.DS has an area to practise hockey. I have a braid rug that I will set up in a corner for playing house etc. The weight bench will go down out of the spare room!!!!

We both tried to sleep in. LOL!! The kids were up at 6. We sent them down to watch cartoons but they popped up every 10 min. I finally got up at 8ish. DH is still attempting to sleep.
We really dont have any plans for today. Odd and exciting all at once.
DH went to see friends last night. I put the tired whining kids to bed at 7:30. I relaxed and watched Joan of Arcadia. I LOVE that show. Folded laundry and went to bed to read some Robertson Davies!!!
More laundry to do. More stuff to send to the thrift shop. I have my Great grandmothers steamer trunk to refurbish. Hmmmmmmmm. I have a pile of blankets in my closet waiting.


Oh, food and exercise have been up in the air. It hasn’t been bad until last night but it hasn’t been a priority. I had 2 bowls of icecream and then some chips last night. I did NOT feel good about it.

Hi everyone. Mind a newbie joining you? I want to get back to "one"derland too! A little about me. I am 35, single (divorced for 5 years), no kids, 2 furbabies, and a chronic yo-yo dieter. Last year at this time I was about 80 pounds lighter. I had lost 35 pounds to be in a friends wedding. After that I proceeded to gain back the 35 plus 45 more. Sickening. :( I struggle with binge eating, and the occassional bulimic tendency. Am working on that though. I have decided to do WW again, but on my own online this time. I suffered too much shame at the scale when I had "binge" weeks. I figure if I do it on my own, that will be less of a problem for me.

I really look forward to getting to know everyone. You seem like a great bunch.

Hi Xena, I just commented in your journal. Welcome here too. This is a great place for understanding and support. These chicks rock!!!!

Thanks for the welcome and the comment on my journal!

Hello,
It's a beautiful day here in Ohio. Nice to see the sun after yesterday's downpour.

I've been enjoying time to myself. DH is on his way back from the Final Four trip. He had a blast. My girlfriend and I had a great time last night going out to dinner at Red Robbin, seeing "Beauty Shop"--get your girlfriends together for this on and go see it!--and then we stopped at a club and did a little dancing.

I didn't make it up in time to go to church. Guess I'm getting eating...can't stay out until 2:00 a.m. (and lose an hour with the time change) and get up for church.

I'm doing great with the food. I'm working hard toward another loss this week.

How's everyone else doing?

Susie

Hi, Xena! I can relate to the frustration of yo-yoing. Among other things, it's embarassing, because people always comment on a big loss, and you know that they are thinking, "Oh, poor thing, she blew right back up, didn't she?" I'm not doing that again--with you guys' help!

Holly, I've got a Memorial Day goal, which gives me almost two months to work toward it. Wanna join me?

hi chicks!
i had a really nice weekend! i am totally back OP. I went to my WW meeting yesterday and was up .8, that is it!!!! i really deserved to gain more with how awful i was last week! i did really well yesterday and again today! i am doing this !! enough messing around! i have a good lan for the week and i am following it no matter what it takes!

xena welcome!! lots of great support here check in often! i am doing WW also, we can do this together!

holly- crossing everything i have for DH's new job!! good luck! it's sad about hockey ending. i feel that way when my DS is done with football for the season too. have fun with the spare time!!

mychoice- great job this week!! the peep rationing worked that is great!! you can do it!! keep up the great work!! that was a fantastic loss!! did you get snow last night? we got 7 inches over here. it is melting now but what a shocker when i woke up this morning!!

hello judy, debbie, girlie, spores, annie and anyone else i missed! hope you had a wonderful weekend!!

Hi everyone,
I have had a great weekend. I decided to wait and weigh next sat my regular weigh day. I'm real scalephobic.We went to eat mexican last night and I divided everything in half and only ate what I put aside for me and I left the rest. I had fajita's so it wasn't too bad.
Today we went to the flea market and walked the entire thing. I don't know how far but all the aisles together cover a couple of miles. I've stay op except for breakfast which is always big on sun we eat it as a brunch. I made my march goal of going to curves 3x a week. I joined on the 3/7 and went 11x by 3/31. Next sat we'll know if I made my 5lbs goal.
I sure am glad I joined it seems like its easier to stay op.

Jodi: Glad your weekend was great. good job staying op. Weekends are the toughest
for me because we eat out so much.

Judy: Hope you had a good weekend. What is your memorial day goal?

Susie: Your girls nite out sounds great.
I plan to go see Beauty shop it sounds hilarious.

Holly: I'm with Jodi I got everything crossed for dh's job. Good luck with hockey withdrawal.. lol.

Xena: Welcome, I also am a severe yo-yoer. Lost 60 gained 110. Now I trying again. This a great place to put a voice to your struggles and your sucesses.

Spores: Hope your having FUN...this weekend.


BIG HUGS AND ALWAYS BE KIND TO YOURSELVES.

HIYA!! It is good to hear everyone so happy!!!!!!
It is still and clear.The sun is shining. It is +7C.I hear birds chirping. Cool.

KALAN was on the Junos( Canadian music awards) last night. He rocks and is babe- ilicious. Yum Yum. I adore him. I need to get more excitement in my life!
I love Canadian music. It always seems to have that raunchy underground edge to it.
DH was particularily obnoxious last night.
Not sure what got into him. He was puffed up and loud and teasing and driving me batty. He spent the aft watching Nascar with friends but i think it is more to do with accomplishing so much in the basement this week. BY 9pm I had had enough of his bugging and got cross with him. he promptly feel asleep in the chair.
He is working today, building. This guy doesn’t have steady work but it is better than nothing. Still holding out for a better job!!
Our basement looks great. DH came home late last night and I had done the trim and sewed and hung some curtains. He was impressed. He didn’t get the big picture when i started it. The colours are on sections about 6-8 ft long with diagonal edges.It is a huge room ,30X30.That is the tangerine,lime and yellow part. Then I added 3 big vertical purple stripes.Then I painted the trim in turquoise, orange and purple. It looks funky and fun. It is for the kids and for parties( pool table). The curtains are a batik sunburst in most of those colours. I need someone to scan before and after pics for me. It is remarkable.
I am going to frame a few things like a vintage Bobby Orr calendar and Janis Joplin tshirt.
My knees hurt from kneeling on concrete and painting. My hand hurts from holding the roller too.

Storytime this morning.I have 5 kids today. DS went to school. He was in a happy mood.

I still need to focus more on food, it is a bit of a blur these days.

i wanna join this race to 199..that is my goal...first goal anyway..if i can get there id be ECSTATIC!!!!!!!!! any help is appreciated..dont have a problem with exercise at all..i do it 5 times week...weights and aerobics..enuff to work up a real dripping sweat!

problem? i dont know..maybe too many carbs? today for breakfast i have 1/2 bagel (110 calories) with a slice of cheese (80 calories) and i know real bad...5 ounces of COKE...which is about 60 calories....snack...protein shake 150 calories..any diet suggestions would be appreciated..ive tried low carb, low fat, high fiber..and although ill lose a few i gain it back and then some..thrrrrrrr...thanks!!!!

Hello Ladies - welcome to Xena and chocolate!

It was an eventful weekend - DH's uncle had to have emergency surgery for throat cancer...we spent almost 7 hours in the hospital about 100 miles away. It was a scary occasion, but it was nice to catch up with his family members. The surgery turned out successful and we're just waiting for a follow-up email!

We went to see the movie "Guess Who" that night which was hilarious. I love those types of movies, seeing as though I'm in an inter-racial relationship myself...my dad was a little like the dad in the movie! DH and I had to laugh!

I did nothing yesterday but go to the gym and go to church. I went on the elliptical for 50 minutes and it wasn't difficult at all. It was so nice being in the gym and it was practically empty. I want to use Saturdays and Sundays to have a nice long exercise session plus steam room/jacuzzi.

DH needs to take my car to school tonite...I need to work out this schedule...Maybe I can take a walk the nights DH has school, and then go to the gym on Wed and Fri and Sat and Sun. I just like the gym and prefer it to anything else.

It's BEAUTIFUL here...it's around 75 degrees F outside!!! Maybe a walk is in order.

DH bought pecan rolls. I took a fork and took a bite and that's it.

For lunch, I made two small spinach wraps with grilled chicken, onions, lettuce, tomato and cheese. I skipped breakfast and had to train all morning at work so I was really hungry at lunch.

We stopped at Bob Evans for breakkie on Saturday - I ordered a side order of bacon and a bowl of oatmeal...a surprise for me because I normally get eggs, hash browns, bacon, pancakes, the works! Amazingly, the bowl of whole oats with raisins, a tad of milk and some of DH's pancake syrup - it was so awesome! I forgot what a good bowl of oatmeal tastes like! So I bought some Quaker oats this weekend and I just need to find the time to make them in the mornings. I could have it for dinner too - my mouth is watering for it. Oatmeal and veggies for dinner lol!

I'm so proud of myself though for not ordering the big breakfast and getting the oats. DH got Eggs Benedict - ick - and fattening! But he sure had his share of my oatmeal!

Talk to you soon!

Girlie

Girlie--reading your post made me so envious! I love the spa parts of a good gym, especially when hardly anyone's there. That's one reason I would like to move from Curves to a 'real' gym, but not until I've really cultivated the habit of going to any gym again. It sounds like you are on a roll, keep it up, Girlie!!!

Jodi--What's your plan for the week? You sound really charged up, good for you :cb:

Holly--I wanna see this party room! I hope you'll send us a picture when you're done.

Debbie--my Memorial Day goal is to lose 12 lbs., and to handle myself better on my next two out-town trips than I did last month :ink: In some ways I'm off to a good start, but I'm still slipping here and there. My weight is stuck again, but I hope that once TOM has move on, the scale will show more improvement.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

hello everyone!
i am still hanging in there, 3 good days behind me. better attitude! feeling positive, it is about time!

judy- i planned all healthy meals for the week. i am sticking to it like it was a rx from the doctor lol. no excuses, eating well, drinking water, staying positive! good luck with your memorial day goal you can do it!!

holly- your room sounds great! so fun and festive!! good for you!!

debbie- we like to eat out on the weekends too so they are really tough, i am determined this week though so no restaurants for me!! great goals for the month! you can do it!!

girlie- good for you skipping the big b-fast! keep looking forward girl!!!

hello to everyone else hope you all had a great day!!

Girlie: Glad to see you! Sounds like you have a ton going on. I know what you mean about being uncomfortable in the summerI am really hoping to go down a size before the weather gets unbearable. Congrats on getting that workout in! Mmm, I love oatmeal. I put soy milk and raisins and sometimes walnuts in it...and lots of wheat germ!

Judy: Congrats on being down! Good for you! Woah, you’ve done training at Naropa? That’s where I got my Master’s! Small world. What kind of training?

Debbie: Good for you on the portion control. That is a hard one for me. Sounds like you’re doing great!

Holly: Yes, a challenge sounds great! Count me in for one.

Xena: Welcome! Glad to have you. I too struggle with binging. We’re all here to support you with it!

MychoiceSusi: Sounds like you had a great time. Hooray! Glad to hear you are doing so well.

Jodi: Glad to hear you are feeling so motivated. Me too. In fact, my BF is eating pie in the other room right now and I am not even tempted! Well, maybe a little...but it’s not worth it!

Choclatecatz: Welcome, hop right in! We all have different plans and strategies here, and everybody has so much great info to share.

Well, I kinda blew it this weekend, but surprisingly not as bad as usual. I had planned to eat out twice this weekend so that I wouldn’t feel deprived, and I stuck to that: just two times. But I had also planned to limit my portion sizes on eating out, and I blew that all to ****. But today is the start of a new week and I am feeling good about it. I have stayed on plan today and have a good plan for the rest of the week. I have a poetry reading on Wednesday and I’m really nervous about it, but I am going to deal with that through yoga and breathing instead of food. I am so inspired by everyone’s great attitude and success. We are rockin it out, girls!

I am afraid to say this out loud but here I go......I kept track of my food on fitday today. It seemed like a lot and it was. I was at 2496 cal.YIKES!! 50% carbs,30% fat, 2o% protein. Double YIKES.
I have been off track a bit but maintaining but last night and today have been a food frenzy. Not "bad" food but obviously way too much. I can lose at 18oo. So that will be my goal. Be tons more aware and do fitday and move my *** with WATP 3X's this week.
We NEVER eat out. It is all up to me to make it.I love the whole process right from planning and shopping. Even what i cook is not unhealthy. it is all about the amounts and eating for a "break" when I am not hungry.
i really need some support to not creep back up.I have stayed the same since the end of Jan. Our holiday weekend is May 24th. 7 weeks=7lbs.
Feel free to gently kick my butt and hold me accountable.

Hello to everyone. Great posts today!!

Hello,
I didn't get a chance to get online at all yesterday. I was busy in the morning when I was getting ready for work and then yesterday there was a big sales meeting that I had to attend and speak at! My boss came to me on Friday and asked me to give a presentation about the Claims process at the meeting. I was very nervous but I did it and I've had a lot of people tell me that I did a good job.

Went to see Miss Congenatiality (sp?) last night. It was a cute movie. The first Monday a bunch of us gals from the Y and our friends go to a "Chickie Movie night" and then out to Damon's afterwards. It's always a fun time; even if I do have o give up a workout night. I think it's important to be well rounded and not just focused all the time on diet and exercise.

I've got my lunch packed today with some fresh veggies, and also my workout bag so I can hit that treadmill at lunch time.

How's everyone elses day shaping up? The posts for yesterday were great. I hope to have some time today to go back and do more personals.

Holly: I used to use fitday and I'm thinking about going back to it. I'm going to try to look at it again today and see if it's still the same or if anything has changed. I know you used to be able to make it so others could see your info. Maybe doing that (if still available) and providing the link in your signature would help keep you accountable. Just knowing that someone else can go out and look at it might be a key to that accountability?

I've got to run ladies. Keep up the motivation and positive vibes...and if you can't share that as well...we all need a hand up sometimes.

Susie

Today is the first day of my new resolve with taking care of me. I have become a gerbil in a wheel in some ways again. It seems there are too few hours in the day for everything.
I have been giving a lot of time and thought to the Parent Handbook. It is important. It is setting the tone of the next 8 years of my children’s school life. This IS a priority. I spent the whole weekend in the basement and hence housework and laundry are way behind. I did get some stuff done yesterday. Nicer weather = more time outside with the kiddies which is great but less time to putter in here. I am FULL time babysitting these days which is also important and necessary.
These are NOT excuses ,they are the reality. I need to schedule time for exercise and I also need to have groceries available that are healthy choices. I am a little freaked out by the cost of fresh food. We spend almost $200 a week. That includes daycare lunches but still. Gas for our vehicles up to $4 a gallon. It is necessary to drive where we live and having 2 vehicles keeps me from going bonkers being home full time.
8:45-kids on the bus. DD was hysterical again. Just wants to be at home. Apparently I have 2 kids who love home and me so much they have separation anxiety. Sigh.
I have 4 toddlers today. I need to revise and write more handbook stuff. I need to vacuum 2 rooms downstairs. I want to go through the basement shelf and get rid of stuff. I need to finish painting the basement trim. I am going to the church tonight from 6-10 for people to view their portraits for the church directory. Another woman will be there all aft. Tomorrow night is a congregational meeting. I am skipping a turtle days meeting on Thurs. Friday DD starts gymnastics.
I think it has been 2 days since I showered. Ew! Gotta squeeze that in too.
I am not lovin the time change. I was til after 12 last night, tired but not ready to sleep and then I am shocked awake when the alarm goes off. The kids are sleeping later so it is more rushed in the AM.
I had a school council meeting form 7-9:30 last night.
9:01- been up for over 2 hours still need to have breaky. My newest little guys is sobbing. Misses his Mommy. I have had his older bro for 3 years, he is in school with DD.
Okay breakfast, put 1 baby down for a nap, shower, WATP (at least 1 mile), dazzle the kids with my wit and charm.............
9:18 still sitting here reading.....go eat something healthy!

Good Morning, everyone!

Holly - sad to hear about the little guy sobbing. 7 pounds by May 24th is totally attainable!

I made some yummy oatmeal today and added dried cranberries. It was so good. Goal is to try to do that every morning. It's 10am and I'm not hungry but struggling with the fact that I feel like I should be nibbling on something. That is so hard.

DH and I are headed to TN on Thursday evening and coming back Sunday. Gotta get the house in order before then. We'll have my MIL come once a day to feed the cats and make sure there is water in their bowl. I'm such a poop, I always miss my cats when we go out of town for a couple days.

My big thing...eating healthy on road trips. I will consider this 16 hour drive (there and back) a test...in 2 months we take our week-long road trip. I want to be at 220 by Memorial day. That is almost two months to lose around 12 pounds. It is totally attainable, I have to stay focused. If we find a hotel that has a fitness room or pool, I will use it and get in some exercise.

Girlie

Holly: Good for you for recognizing that there was a problem and addressing it. That is really hard to do. Getting those portion sizes under control will really help. I’m sure you can do it! You’re so strong and motivated. Finding time to fit everything in really is hard. I am constantly aware that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I read a really inspirational thing on skinnydaily.com last night about how hard it is to prioritize oneself, and that really resonated with me. Making yourself and your weight goals a priotiry is hard when it means you have to say no to someone else. Oh, I am with you on the cost of fresh food. Another priority thing. I think it’s sad that in our society, fresh and healthy food tends to cost more than the junk!

MychoiceSusi: Congrats on giving a great presentation! Speaking in front of others can be so nerve-wracking. Sounds like you knocked it out of the park! I jus purchased the fitday PC software and really like it so far. I like how it calculates everything for me. No math to do makes it eaiser for me.

Girlie: Your trip sounds like fun. I agree, eating healthy on the road is really hard, especially when fast food seems to be the only option. Whenever I go on a road trip, I pack lots of snacks. Clif bars (those keep me full for a few hours), grapes, carrots, mixed nuts with raisins, stuff like that. Maybe you could also bring some of those organic dried noodle cups for quick meals – you can add hot water at a gas station and have a healthy meal. I also like those Campbell’s Soup at Hand things – just heat in the microwave and a gas station and you can sip your soup in the car. Yoplait makes some drinkable yogurt that is good too.

Well, I did really well yesterday. Today I am feeling all out of whack, though. I slept in more than two hours later than I had planned, so I am feeling behind and rushed. Also, I have a job interview (just a little part time thing to help make ends meet), and I am nervous. My fear is that I won’t get my workout in because of this. I will probably get home from the interview right before BF gets home, and I have yet to tackle the challenge of working out when he is home. So I am going to try it tonight. I am just going to tell him that my workout is important and that I feel self-conscious doing it when he is around. I’m sure he’ll be supportive and make himself scarce for half an hour. I have got to conquer this silly embarrassment.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Hi, ladies!

Jodi, I like your plan--it's short, sweet and reasonable. My plan was so complicated at first that it was too much to focus on. I'm better off with a couple of mantras, like "make good choices," and a simple framework to work within. I tend to get cranky if I feel too boxed in--and when I'm cranky, I eat :lol: --but if I have too many choices, I head towards the slippery slope of not enough boundaries....oh, it's so hard! At any rate, good luck with the interview. I hope you get the job!

Spores--I made the mistake of letting my pride get in the way of working out in front of my ex. It was crazy, here's a guy who knew my most intimate nooks and crannies, so what if he saw me hopping around in spandex? Your BF will probably tease you at first, then he won't care. Who knows, if you got a weight-lifting or Tae-Bo tape, he might end up joining you.

Holly--good luck with your portion control. I'll bet that's the key. They say if you stick with any one behavior religiously for two weeks, you will see results. Have you seen the book Volumetrics? It has lots of tips for gauging the amount of food you're eating--who wants to whip out a scale at a restaurant :D

Susie--I like your girls night out. I'm trying to figure out when to pull a bunch of friends together, and a movie is a good idea.

Girlie--I feel your pain about eating on the road. I pack portable snacks, but if I'm bored or stressed, I'll eat them all on the first day :^: I'll be in Seattle for a few days around the middle of the month, so I'll focus on eating seafood. But i'll be back in New York at the end of the month, and tend to be really undisciplined when I'm there, meeting friends for drinks and going to my old haunts....

It's bee-yoo-ti-full out, gotta gofor along walk before the sun goes down.

Bye--judy

Hey everyone, This will be quick. I just got in from work and ds1 need me to come a rescue him from car trouble. I made curves yesterday and today, and am doing better on food using my crystal light. No sugar in my tea for me. I'LL post personals later. HAVE GREAT EVENING

Hello,
It's going to be another beautiful day in Ohio. 75 and Sunny! I've got on the cutest little black skirt and pink top...feeling good.

I've also packed my lunch and it's got fresh veggies in it.

I'm hoping for another loss at those scales tomorrow night. I've been doing very well with the sweets, but today and tomorrow I'm not going to have any. Don't want to tempt those scales to go up.


Holly: How are you doing on the "Taking care of Holly Plan"

Debbie: You are doing so great with the Curves...keep it up

Judy: Did you get that walk in before the sun went down?

Jodi: How's it going?

Girlie: Pack your snacks for the car, that way you won't be tempted to stop for those fries, and such on the road.

Spores: Did your BF let you have time to exercise? You will loose the embarrasement as you loose the pounds....so keep exercising.

I've got to get busy at work ladies. Have a great day!
Susie

HOWDIE, HOWDIE. Happy Hump Day from Sunshiney Indiana, 75 today, and walking is good!

Sounds like everyone is doing a great job...HURRAH!!

Had my first weigh in at TOPS last night. DOWN 2 LBS! YIPPIE! I was a little dissappointed at first cause the scales showed more at home all week long. Then thinking to myself, decided it was a great thing, be proud, work harder this week. When I woke this morning, Auntie Flo dropped in overnight, I really don't like her much, however I figure the next weigh in will ROCK, even MORE!! I walked EVERY DAY, except one last week. I am so proud of myself, that is the longest I have stuck to something in a great while. TOPS is helping me stay OP. Counted my calories and wrote EVERY single morsel I ate, on paper. I have a great log sheet I created, if anyone would like me to send it to them, PM me. It really does help to write it down. I am so jazzed! We did this really cool thing at TOPS. We wrote down 5 things that help us stay OP, then put them in a basket, each then drawing out one piece of paper. We went around the group, reading them out loud, then guessing who wrote them. Now this week, we are to apply the 5 things on the paper we drew out of the basket, to our OP week.

My 5 items were....

1. Walk everyday.
2. Drink a glass of water BEFORE each meal.
3. Eat oats for breakfast to stay full.
4. Eat at least one piece of fruit a day.
5. Be kind to ourselves, look in the mirror, say out loud how wondeful we are.
6. Journal our food. Keep cals low.

I had six, however I was on a roll.

Holly - A challenge is greatly need here, what type do you want to do? The basement sounds like a fun place for kids. BTW- you sound like a great mom and babysitter, I can tell from your posts.

Susie - Girls night out sounds like fun. We should have more of those. Congrats on the great loss!

Girlie - glad to hear your Unc's surgery went well. Great choices at Bob Evans also.

Jodi - Way to stay OP, and having several successful days in a row, not it will become a habit.

Chocolate and Xena - welcome to the club, dive on in, you will love it here, the support is awesome!

Judy - love the mantra....I have a little prayer...that I posted back in the fall here...

God, please put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

Spores - great job on exercising, even if in front of the BF, have him jump in there too!

Debbie - glad you are sticking with Curves....you deserved to be good to yourself.

Best be getting back at it. Have a wonderful, OP, delightful day!

Hugs to all...

Annie

Good morning everyone! I've got an internal interview in a little bit, just keeping my mind preoccupied.

Spores:
How did the interview go - and the exercise session? You know, I am proud to workout in front of my DH...because he congratulates me. Once I got him to get on the elliptical machine next to me and I kicked his butt :) And once your BF starts to see that this will be a regular thing and sees results, maybe he will get on the bandwagon as well!

Judy:
I am with ya, I will probaby eat all of my snacks on the way there! I will pack some raisins and things...I'm going to try to do well on this test! I hear ya on going to the city, like NYC and not being able to resist all of the eating temptations. It's like a part of the city experience! That's how I get when I go to Chicago or Philadelphia - gotta have hot pretzels and cheese steaks and such! But I love Philly because in the summers, there are fruit stands everywhere, and you get to choose what you want in your fruit salad. Very yummy and quick. I just love the city!

Debbie:
How are you?!

Susie:
You sound very upbeat, and your outfit sounds cute! The weather IS beautiful here in the midwest, isn't it?!

I'm struggling with every little decision. Keeping my liquid down to only water and sugar free tea. Was running late and didn't have time to have breakfast and it's almost 10am and I'm HUNGRY! I have a soup bowl here that I might break out after my meeting, or I have low fat microwave popcorn that I can make and nibble on as well. Trying hard to cut down calories. Saw that Dh made cookies while I was in bed and I didn't even have one this morning, as hungry as I was. I'm going to try not to have any at all.

I may not be going on the road trip this weekend...gas prices are so high and we're just going to see how things go in the next day and make up our mind then. If I don't go out of town, I'm going to do some spring cleaning. I am going to get rid of old stuff I can't fit into, I have so many bras and undies that I've outgrown, socks with no match, etc. I want to totally economize - get down to enough undies and socks for one week only, make a "workout clothes" drawer so I am always prepared with that, and do a better job of keeping my work clothes hung up and organized.

I think it's a great first step to keeping my life and routine organized. I'm excited. Now I'm kinda hoping we don't go out of town! You ladies would be amazed at how much STUFF I have. I'm going to be selling some of my older nicer/name-brand clothes on ebay and giving the rest away.

Spring cleaning is in order!

Girlie

Anne,

You posted just before I did so I didn't get to see your post - but I wanted to say that you sound GREAT, congrats on the loss and your five goals look AWESOME. It is true, the oatmeal keeps you full...I find that eating regular whole oats with some raisins and light pancake syrup keeps me much more full and satisfied than instant oatmeal. There's a huge difference. Good for you Anne! PS - are you anywhere near the IL border?

Girlie

I am 10 miles west of Indy. I used to live within 25 minutes of the border, but moved after the divorce and sale of home. I am acutally just outside the west side of Indianapolis, but willing to make road trips!! My kids are 16 and 19, and have lives mostly of their own.

Judy: Yeah, it’s silly to be shy about working out in front of the guy who sees me naked on a daily basis. And I knkow it’s all me: he’s told me time and time again tht he thinks it’s sexy when I work out! Just have to get past my own hang ups. Mmm, Seattle seafood, sounds like you are in for a treat!

Debbie: Good for you for finding a sweet tea subsubstitute. Hooray!

MychoiceSusi: Good for you on those sweets. I’m sure it will pay off at the scale.

Annie: Congrats on the loss! Sounds like TOPS is a great place. I love that idea of listing what helps you stay OP. I will have to try that one.

Girlie: I know what you mean about struggling with every little decision. But just take it one thing at a time. You can do it! I hate having to skip breakfast. I like to keep Clif bars and some Kashi shakes handy in case I am running late. That usually helps me not get too hungry. Sounds like you will have a great weekend no matter what you do. I too am in spring cleaning mode – I wanna get rid of all this extra crap in the house. There is just no reason to have 20 fondue forks.

Well, yesterday kinda sucked. Ate Chipotle for dinner (I chekced – 1500 calories for just one burrito – yikes!) and did not work out. Was tired and grumpy. But today will be better. I have a poetry reading tonight and am really nervous, so I am going to do my workout as a way to release some of that tension. And I know that heavy foods before I perform are a bad idea, so Im going to eat a light and healthy dinner. That’s the plan.

DS is off to school. I have been practising some of the techniques from the workshop and I must say I am having results. HE was WIRED this morning, agitated. I used some of the language and he defused.
I am feeling relaxed BUT I did have a heck of a time getting to sleep. A busy evening followed by putting away groceries, tidying, folding laundry......
I watched Idol at 11 and did some stretches and then I read til 1. Up at 6:45. Darn alarm was startling.
The 5 toddlers yesterday were dreamy. It got up to 17C. Lots of time outside. I was busy around 5 when the Mom’s came and then DH showed up at 5:45 and needed a ride to go get his car form the shop. Dinner was ready but I shut everything off and away we went. I unladed the kids and headed to the church. They enjoyed the dinner I cooked. LOL! Interestingly I was not hungry all evening. Hmmmmmmmm.
I have started my period and it just doesn’t seem possible that a month has gone by. I had a godd argument with myself bout it last night but the fact s are overwhelming. Wowza. It explains the eating frenzy the other night and the 3 lb gain.
I did well yesterday with food and I DID the WATP in the aft!!!!!!! Going for the same today.
I popped over to the grocery store last night too in between appts and got stocked up on fresh stuff.
I have DD and 4 others today. 2 go home at noon. I think I will unload more stuff at the thrift shop and then look there for a couple of things for the basement, then take the kids to the park.
It is already +6C. Wooohoo!!! It is enjoyable. I like these temps. I don’t appreciate the temps above 20C(70F).
Been to the park for 2 hours kids have flopped in front of a movie.AHhhh! DS comes home in an hour. Dont have time for personals but i am thinking of you all!!!

Hello everyone. Just another afternoon update. I went home for lunch, STARving. I heated up a Healthy Choice meal and ate a whole package of frozen broccoli with lowfat cheese sauce. Um yeah, I was hungry...but I felt like I made a good decision. That broccoli probably had as many calories as two sugar cookies that DH made...and a ton less fat. I also did my best to strain the broccoli from the cheese sauce so that I was mostly eating broccoli and little cheese. I tell you, the FIRST thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen were those cookies DH made! I didn't go anywhere near them!

It's late afternoon and I had a no sugar added pudding cup and I'm full. I know there is no reason for me to eat anything else until dinner!

On another high note...I had my internal interview today and wanted to cry when I got out. I didn't feel like it went well enough. And then I got another meeting request with the marketing manager. YAY.

Anne:
I live not too far from Bloomington-Normal, IL. So we're around 2.5 hours apart.

Spores:
What are your fav Cliff flavors? I have never had one but know they are larger than Luna bars!

Holly:
I'm always amazed at how much you accomplish in a day! I'm with you...any temperature above 75F I'm not fond of. I think 60F-75F is perfect. I could never live in a warm climate! How hot does it get over there around London in the summer?

Talk to you all later!

Everyone update and say something GOOD that happened today!



Girlie

Hey everyone, I made it to curves mon and tues, but have been very busy at work and won't get to go back til sat. Thats when I get weighed and measured. Hoping for a loss.. Still drinking my crystal light. I haven't done too bad on food, not quit dieting but not binging. Trying to watch portion size even when eating bad food.
Dh forgot his phone so I was running it out to him and tripped in the gravel drive. I torn 2 chunks out of my hand, and bruised my left leg in 3 places. I bet I'll be sore. Too old to take falls like that. I work 10 hrs today, maybe I'll walk the soreness out. I'll have to do personals later, again. Have to leave early enough to stop by store. These bandages won't stay on well enough for work. Everyone have a great day

BIG HUGS

Debbie:
I'm sorry about the fall! I am like that - I fall and trip, and bump into things. Maybe my I don't percieve my butt to be as big as it is so I keep bumping it on things? :)

I'm doing okay. I made it to the gym last night and got in 50/4 miles minutes on the elliptical. I want to ease myself back to 60-65 minutes/5 miles. I got on the scale...I'm .6 down. It's not official weigh in until Sunday, but not sure if I'll make it to the gym on Sunday. It's confirmed - I'll be headed for Tennessee today. Probably won't be back until late Sunday. Will have to weigh in on Monday. I have low fat microwave popcorn and dry fruit packed. Our hotel doesn't have an exercise room, but I will try to do stretches and crunches every day. Hopefully the hotel is in an area where I can go for walks down the street, and maybe a grocery store where I can get fresh fruit.

This will really be a test for me. I will get oatmeal if we go out for breakfast. I will have salads, and let myself have one yummy, gooey, greasy southern meal...and leave some on the plate when I'm done.

DH will be busy all weekend and I will basically be on my own, so it will be a battle between my own boredom and eating...I am going to make it a total ME weekend...long hot baths, I'm taking two fat novels and I'm going to sleep in every day and make myself feel good!

Keep your fingers crossed for me, and I'll update you when I get back!

Girlie

Happy Thursday All....

Rainy but warm, may walk between downpours. :^) Got 30 minutes of walking in yesterday. Feel really good, cals at 1100 yesterday, that felt even better. I need to ad some crunches and stretches, but don't want to overwhelm myself and give up. May have to do WATP tonight if the rain doesn't let up.

Debbie - OMGosh, Trips are fun, but not that kind. Your cuts and bruises sound nasty. Feel better.

Holly - with all you do, it is a wonder there is anything left of you. You must not be from this world.

Girlie - Glad you could overcome the sugar cookies. What was DH thinking making those evil things anyway? Your trip sounds wondeful, take a couple of candles for your long hot baths. My daughter and I were in Normal a few years ago for a week long softball tourney. She played 16 and under travel ball for ISU.

Everyone have a great OP day!

Annie

I thought I posted this morning. I will copt my journal.
Annie~ I do what i think is important to my family, myself and the wellbeing of our world.I think complaicency is dangerous.My house looks like abomb went off right now because of the work in the basements and meetings. I dont ever do it ALL.

Girlie~everything is crossed.

How is everyoine else today????

wow, I walked away and have been doing stuff with kids for almost an hour.

Debbie~ OUCH! I am clumsy too. I keep thinking I am too old to have sraped knees but, they do appear. Take care!

I do NOT have a meeting tonight!!!!
It was a GORGEOUS day here yesterday. 17C sunny, breezy. I was outisde with kids ALL day then I sat through a 3 hour church meeting that went in circles and circles...I am dizzy.I tossed in a load of wash at 10pm so DS can have clean pants.
I unloaded more stuff at the thrift shop and then found a bedskirt and curtains for DD $2.She wanted something grown up, she's 4 ,hello??? I think I am trouble, the little Diva.Pale mauve with daisies on it. Cute. Got a plain blue bed spread for DS too.
Looooong days for me this week. Holy cats, 16 hours non stop ,3 days in a row.
I found 10 pinecones in the dryer this morning with DS's clothes. Little seeds every where. LOL!!!4 toddlers today. DH came hame cause of rain and he is sanding drywall mud in the bathroom.DS made a life sized guitar for a school project out of solid wood and couldn't carry it so I loaded the 4 toddlers and drove it to school. Cant that kid do anything half way?(nothing like his Mommy at all)!

Shad commented that we are doing lots of shifting things about and sprucing up,which we are. We have lived here for 5 years. The house had a nice kitchen and fireplace and a big property, surrounded by bush and a work shop. It met our criteria. The rest was really ugly and needed structural work. We paid next to nothing for it and have a really low mortgage which was also part of the plan.DH and I are both very handy. For 5 years we have worked on the BIG stuff. Like roof, siding, drainage, insulation, 1/2 the windows,jacking up the centre of the house, tearing up and regrading the WHOLE property, putting in a new drive.....
DH and I each lived alone for more than 15 year before marriage so we had 2 of everything and then wedding gifts. We kept everyting to see what we would actually use. So, now I am in the process of unloading what we dont use and reorganizing what is left. Reusing space more efficiently etc.
I am feeling very liberated and like I am acheivinga dream. 5 years is along time to wait to see the results of a humungous amout of back breraking labour.

Having a minor family drama. I was perterbed but not upset so I am liking that. My Grandma and Aunt startled a robber in G's house Mon morning. The kid ran away and all is well. The BXB( Battle Ax Brigade) have been is constant contact for 4 days and no one thought to call me and let me know. Been here, done this a million times in 39 years. I asked why I wasn't called and mother dear, said "we didn't think it was important enough to call you." So why were all 3 of them on the phone 24/7 for 3 days?
Losers! My sister said something in an IM and I had no clue, she got off and my Mom called me. Bigger losers. I am soooooo hard to cope with, ya know. Bah!!

Lots to tidy up today!!!! Best go give the kiddies and snack!!

Have a fantastic, happy day!!!

Hello,
I'm swamped at work (I don't like this feeling!) but I thought I would take a little "me" break and read the boards.

Tonight is weigh-in night. I'm hoping for another loss as I've been working for it. I had lunch with two friends of mine today. I used to be really close to these girls then life got busy. We still can pick up where we left off though. We went to Wendy's, I had a Jr. Cheeseburger, and ordered a small fry (which looked really big), so I asked them to not order fry and share mine. That was a good plan...don't you think?

One of the girls was talking about when we used to work together 13 years ago and she said, you look so much smaller now than you did then. Well, you know what ladies? I didn't weigh as much then as I do now (I was about 25 lbs thinner then) but I didn't exercise then..that goes to show you what exercise can do for you.

I don't have time for personals, but I did read the posts. We are an amazing bunch of gals ladies!

Talk to you tomorrow.
Susie