Thanks everyone for the congrats on the new job...

Wish I had as much confidence in myself as all of you have in me!

Certainly, a real part was due to my own feelings about the current job...struggling to find "the niche"... Guess that would make anyone wonder what was up .. or down..

Empress-- I too, can empathize... in fact, the week I was not feeling well, ( the server crash week too) and my mood were so down I knew something was really bothering me to feel so low... and that's when I began to question that wasnt 2 years long enough to be "feeling comfortable"...
I realize that our situations are not the same, but I can empathize with having to "put on your game face" to face the world. It does seem to suck all the energy out of you and leave you wilted.

Punkin-- I am hoping your doctor will be glad the weight gain isnt more...
These things happen... Its happened. Its now time for the next step. You will decide what that will be. You know your options, you know what works best for you. Sometimes we are delayed on our journey. Can you imagine if you planned a trip across country and drove into a delay? You would wait it out, find an alternate route, etc, etc... I don't think you'd cancel the entire trip.
So, we make our next best choice.
I'm hearing more and more at meetings that its common for there to "breaks"
--that the important thing is getting back on program ( whatever your program is) and continuing.... We all remember my year of "Maintaining" that really started a gain of a pound or so a month... and then towards the end of that year, I regained almost 10 lbs in about 3 mos... I got scared and decided that the regained almost 20 was ALL I wanted to re- lose.
I finally said to myself... Its time to fish or cut bait.... S*** or get off the pot... I knew what to do... just thought as long as I kept saying I knew what to do, that's all I had to do.... NOPE....
At my age, the weight is very used to staying... and it was also FINALLY time to just get over this idea that "If you eat like a thin person, you can eat anything... its all about moderation"....
NOPE...
Not for me...
I'll never forget the WW leader years ago asked us what food was totally safe from bingeing in our house... It took me almost a month to finally have the answer.. for me, it was dog food...totally safe...
But then again, in those days, I had lots and lots of processed foods, sugared cereals, lo fat icecreams, etc, etc in the house.
NOPE.
Doesnt work for me that way.

I know 2 women who have been taking pills for maybe 6-8 yrs... before the ban, these two must have spent couple paychecks "stockpiling" ....
I see them often on brunch day picking a doughnut "for our meal "....
Works for them...
One still smokes too...
We'll see how that works out for her later.....

Dr. Phil likes to ask folks who come to him for advice " And how is that working for you?".
He's so right, every time... if you don't like the result you're getting...
( and if its in your control)... you need to change your method....

In fact, lately, I was wondering if that would be a good tatoo for me.....
"And how's that working for you...??"

WSW- you are still my hero. You always try to find the silver lining.... and you are right... the stronger you are, the stronger you will be... I am amazed at how much you have lost considering how many times you have had to wait out "technical difficulties" ... Sometimes I think to myself when something is calling me... " Snap out it, if WSW can work her program without looking for excuses, so can you!" .....

I know you will be quick to tell me that you make choices every day...

Yes, that's what we all have in common...

We 're off to see the wizard... to be told everything we need is already with us....

Ok...

Hello all!

Here we are! What small change can we reinforce today??
For me, I was very tempted to stay in bed long past regular wake up time.. after all, its a bit overcast, I've had a crazy roller coaster of emotions the past couple weeks....
but, one of our beagles didnt see things that way at all... from her point of view, if you're awake, it a great time to play, get a belly rub, look out the window...
In another words, " No time like NOW!"

So, here I am, cup and a 1/2 of coffee, wondering who else might be up.


****
Thought of the day :

"The writing of your life is in its days.
The days in which you live are your life.
The life in which you live is you.
Altogether, you are you life."

---Ron Rathburn


Question of the day :

"Are you a beach or a mountain person?"

****


KETTLE IS ON...

I'm sort of up! I always am because my cat is a small morning lion roaring in mine ears at first light, which was at approximately 4:30 a.m.

The small change I'm making today is starting my 21-day challenge over and NOT doing a weigh-in since I ate a lot last night and I do not wish to become discouraged by temporary water weight at this juncture. I am using making a working assumption that my actual weight is the same as last week and we'll see. If I get on in the middle of the week and it's down, I'll use that one, otherwise, I'll go with next Sunday.

Thy beagle soundeth cute, K!

QOD: I'm a beach AND a mountain person.

Hi, to all, sorry my responses aren't flowing but I'm appreciating and mentally responding to everyone's posts.

I'm up and have read the Sunday paper already. Am putting off shower and being generally lazy. Put all responsibility out of mind yesterday and that worked out so well I'm trying it again today. Well, the small change I hope to try today is not to overeat at a picnic we're going to. I did well on this one last year and hope to do same this year. Won't be down to my calorie limit today, I'm sure, but just want it to be moderate. Same thing for cookout tomorrow. Nagging thoughts of things I have to do are trying to sneak into my consciousness but I am resisting them. I need more fun days (like yesterday) in my life and I'll get to that other stuff sometime (maybe).

Your general improved situation is coming through, Kaylets! Enjoy! How romantic that you and dh spontaneous trip to the movie.

No need for you to flow out in responses right now, Empress. You keep us going so often and it's your turn to get good vibes, etc. until things turn around for you. So glad you took your pria bars and shakes w/you. I usually carry a slimfast bar (sometimes others) with me just to prevent me from going bananas if I'm delayed somewhere or can't get decent food at the right time. Not as necessary now that I've changed lifestyle as it was at first but I still like knowing it's there as a security blanket.

So hi's and hugs to all - lazy morning beckoning.

I'm a mountain person. Raised in them thar and love the softness and coolness in spring and summer and the color in the fall though I no longer hike around in them at all. Like being on the beach in the winter but definitely not in summer

Hello all!

Dh and I spent nearly 3 hrs this am trimming bushes, etc in the front yard.. and planting tomatoes in the back, staking up chicken wire to keep the beagles out ( we had lovely garden fencing last year that both figured out how to squeeze thru)...

Was really great to be out there finishing small chores and looking for other small ones to do next.
I have some egglplant plants... wonder how much room I need for them... also found 2 tomato plants that must have been very brave. Often, we put the compost bucket next to the backdoor overnight so we don't have the smell in the house... Seems like maybe the bucket fell and now we have two tomato plants growing on their own near the door... I plan on making room for them.. I'd like scallions and maybe the eggplant could grow there too.

Am already looking for old windows or glass doors to use for cold frame come this fall.... If I had been thinking last year, it was mild enough I could have had the hardier cabbages, etc, growing right until December...

Am really beginning to see where I could easily become one of these ladies with the hat and great gardening structures ..... In fact, I just got smart... think I 'll let the eggplant grow UNDER the tomato plants... what a nitwit...
should of that of that this morning while I was out there... Ah well...

This years garden might be our best ever as we are using our own compost...
its very satisfying to the tightwad part of my soul... and to know that I am growing healthy food and that action helps me be healthy ( eating healthy, the physical activity part ... as well as recyling yard sale/ flea market finds.. chicken wire, stakes, etc etc) ....

anyway... that's what I did this morning.. then ran and got vegetables to eat this week...

so... DH is now out teaching himself how to use the powerwasher we just got repaired... bought it cheap last year knowing it needed work... DH is hoping some side jobs will come by too.... Its amazing how much mold you suddenly "see" when you've got the washer in your hands... Hopefully, the he'll get the worst of it...

Think its time for a cup of tea...
anyone?/

Something to think about:

Walking the daily journey

***********THE BUILDER**********
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business to be able to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."
*****************************************

Hello Royal Ones!

Fly-by postie -- Anagram guessed it, 'tis the dreaded EOM. Spent much of last week in a terrible stress/depress cycle. Didn't get half as much exercise as usual, fretted non-stop. Was in such a state that it was hard to concentrate. Friday I said to myself, "that's enough, you can't go on feeling this way" and started to do things that I knew would make me feel better -- eating right and getting plenty of exercise, for example .

Now I have to work like a dog until probably late tomorrow night, but at least I'm in a much better frame of mind. I'll be back Tuesday, which is also the first official day of my new diet program. Starts with a 10-day detox-quick start deal and a fitness test, weigh-in and measurement taking. I'm going to make a LOT of progress this month.

In the meantime, love to all!

Hello all!!

Empress, I wondered if this was a workday for you....
am wondering if the trainer might have any tips on the upper under arm flapping .... I am working my way up on hanging both arms up over and behind my head ....too soon to out of shape to use any weights... I might have a 1 lb around...
But I really need some ideas other than just keeping that area covered w/ longer sleeves!

Ceara- Hope you are "good busy" and not "Stress busy"... keeping the kettle on for you and your seat saved too...

Arabella- the same message, you're so right...I always forget that what I need the most during stress is the 3 basics... eating well, acitivity, rest....
Good vibes sent to you to let you know we have your back...

Anagram- Any more diggers come by to help you thin out those plants??
DH and I trimmed some bushes yesterday. DH had ideas to wrap a chain around the one and pull it out with the truck... but we are sure many roots are intertwined with the house electric, cable, etc.... much less, might even create problems for everyone else on our "grid".... in this development everything is underground... it was supposed to be a "safer" idea ... to avoid blackouts from overhead lines going down... and for the most part, its great...except when you want to dig!

so....

Monday...
And for me at least, with no where to be. Although it would be pretty good day for traffic... at least now.. might run to the Big W store for a few things once DH and I have breakfast.

No official weigh in tonight... scale this am says maintain again which is fine as A... its that time again
B...I lost 5 lbs 2 weeks ago
C.. and lost .2 a week ago

In the long run, it does all average out I guess...


oh and by the way...

Any body every figure out if these sweet black bean rolls at the Chinese places are high in points?? calories?
They are tasty.
I guess its like anything else, if you put enough sugar on it, it will taste sweet..

***
Thought of the day:
"The difficulty is not in the world, but in men's minds."
---Ron Rathburn

Question of the day :

" Do you know how much money you have in your pocket ?"

***


KETTLE IS ON!

Flyby today, royalettes. Rainy w/more expected. On way to cookout at youngest sister's. Should be able to manage well as she's the one who has lost at least 50 lbs in recent times and cookout is in honor of home visit by her vegetarian daughter so food choices should be healthy enough. I offered her five choices of what I should bring and she picked cuc salad which is great because I was going to bring that as well so dh could have something he's allowed.

Last two days have been very restful for me as I have somehow managed to banish all concerns and just let the world pass me by. Hoping to do same today. Something I've very much needed. So I've truly taken a "holiday".

Looking forward to thy verbosity, Empress. Congratulations on being back on track again, also to Wood Nymph, Eydie, Ceara and all others.

Off I go........

Hello all!

Dh and I ran to the big W store and I wound up with 2 new pairs of clogs as well as a new bra...

Interesting how I am still the same size cup I was 80 lbs ago..which makes me believe I must have needed larger size then....
No wonder one of my constant expressions was that my bra was trying to strangle me...

Then DH and I reorganized some things in the garage..

and then, I just fell into bed for a 2 hr nap...

been raining since about 3 so I have pretty much become inanimate watching Oprah and Dr Phil reruns in btwn a West Wing marathon on Bravo...

Am getting geared up to write a note to the other Toastmaster Officers so that they hear from me first that I'm leaving my job... I can change to a night meeting club but right this minute, am still "consdiring" my options.

It will be impossible to travel 2 x a month to continue this meeting... with travel time and etc, just impossible...

so...

am off to write a letter ....

Enjoy thy holiday from care, Anagramatic. Nice that thou be going to a bbq with healthy choices. I recall when I was vege, it was always a problem getting together with any extended family as they simply didn't get the "I don't eat meat" thing. Reflecting today how little meat I actually do eat at present and thinking about chicken for tomorrow.

Kaylets, I believe many of us went with that "compressed" look at one time or another ... bras really need to fit right or there's a lot of pain!

I admire thee for the making the contact with the new Toastmasters and wanting to keep that up. They have some meetings here but they are all early in the morning and don't occur in the summer when many of their members go back east or up north. I'd like to join if I could find a suitable club.

Ok, not verbose yet. Finished work, taking nap. Not really hungry today so feel eating is ok. Had a nice workout. Practicing showering at gym (as opposed to spending an extra half hour in the a.m. driving home, showering and going out to work again) so that I might be more employable when and if I'm able to make an advantageous career move.