Good morning, Ladies!

Jolly: I have to do the same thing that you do when I throw out "bad for me but tastes so good" food. I run it through the garbage disposal and throw the wrappers away. Who would have ever thought we would get in the garbage because of no self control? Reminds me of the Sex and The City episode where Miranda digs the chocolate cake out of the garbage. Funny, huh? Not really. Great job on the save, though.

Happy: Still waiting for all the answers in life.. will keep hanging out!

Hippy: I hope you have a wonderful time on vacation. I will be thinking of you swimming while I am still trying to get pictures hung in the house. Have fun and make sure your sons don't get too consumed by the dental floss! Oops, I mean bikinis!

Have a great weekend everyone! I am going to do my best to stay OP! Red, I have planned to have chicken stir fry with brown rice tonight. It's a great low points meal. A little high in sodium, but not that bad.

Chach

Hey all. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Hippee, have a great vacation. Happy, thanks for the good words. Chachee,I hear you.

Bad choices abound. I am almost scared to get on the scale Monday. Ah well. That is the price for bad choices. Busy weekend ahead. Have fun all.

Hello people,
Just wanted to check in. Can't address you individually now, am at work, Saturday.
Just wanted to say I've been doing OK, took the day off from exercising yesterday. Choices are OK but quantity is too high. Want to get back on track and crack down.
My weight did finally drop by the way, am now under 71 kg. My new goal is to see me get under the 69-kg mark. So, when I see 68-whatever come up on the scale that will mean I have achieved my goal. Wish me luck! Here's to the push to 68!! :drill:

I'll get back to you all later. Here's wishing you a good weekend! :wave:

Top o' the wee morning hours here, except for Red who is in the middle of her workday on a SATURDAY :write: !!!! :yikes: You keep up the faith girl, congrats on finally seeing some numbers on the scale that make you happy. You can do 68k - slow and steady, ok? Baby steps. :high:

Jolly, I keep telling myself that each minute is a new opportunity to make a good start in the right direction. I will if you will, ok? We can't afford any backwards momemtum here from anyone - tote that barge, lift that bail whatever the heck that means... :rolleyes:

Raven, it sounds like you've found a really great new home for the ponies. I know you bought Shadow, are Eve and Arashi yours to take and move now too? I thought you were still on the dollar a year for a million years payment plan - or so it seems, right? Sorry if I misunderstood. And being closer you will get to enjoy them more AND maybe even get to bed at a decent hour too. Wow! Sometimes the universe comes together.

I have discovered a new trigger food - Edy's Grand Lite 50/50 Bar (Dreamsicle ice cream). I simply cannot be trusted to be resonable with it so along with Snickers, it's now on the banned pile. Sigh and summer's just starting... Somewhere in my house is my beloved Walkman which I need desperately. I must find it AND my exercise music soon. Very Soon. Going to mom's tomorrow to help her with her computer and might spend the night. Will be good to visit with her, bad for trying to catch up and cram everything else into the remaining few hours on Sunday. But they again hey, who would actively chose spending time doing laundry and dishes over time with a beloved mum? Dad's been gone for a long time so there's no one to celebrate Dad's day for - just honoring memories.

Hope you all have a good, active weekend with great weather. Red - what's the weather like in Japan? Are you in winter now?

Catch up with you later ladies.

Hi Happy! Still at work, still Saturday. Thanks for the thoughts and the encouragement on the 68k. I've got to get the weight off. I have so much muscle that I look a lot bigger than people who never work out. So I have to have to have to get this fat off! Saw myself in a shop window. Yuck! Don't want to look like the Incredible Hulk! :no:

You made me laugh with the winter question. No, we're not in the middle of winter. We're heading into summer just like you. You gotta be beneath the equator to switch seasons! :rofl: Heh, but who the heck knows where Japan is, anyhow? who the heck cares? again. . . :rofl: It's officially the rainy season here which means the weather is very unpredictable. We've had a week of sun but there's a typhoon heading this way could bring some major rain. That actually has nothing to do with the rainy season, which tends to be very humid and lots of fine misty rain with intermittent downpours. It's getting hot, summer here swelters with temps over 100 F. Killer stuff.

Heh, I hear you on the trigger food. All sugar is my trigger. God, just your mention of Snickers has been drooling. Specially since I discovered those new hazelnut ones (new here at least). Sickening sweet but so yummy, specially when I'm rolling into the PMS sugar craving days here. Heh, maybe I can just pretend I ate it and not. Anything to give it a try.

OK, gotta run. Good luck on finding your Walkman and music. It is a fantastic motivator. Have you considered a heartrate monitor as well. They're a lot of fun. Playing with your heartbeat. When I first got mine I used to wear it in the office for fun and would see just which guys sent my heart a racin' !!

This has got to be fast... I'm pretty much at a dead run. Horsesitting 40 minutes away, then getting Artemis up to Rosa's to be picked up by her new adoptive family. *sigh* Yes, I'm happy about it. *sniffle*

Red - Bah, I know where Japan is. I know a lot about Japan, courtesy of my father who fought in the war and started my curiousity with his stories, my brother who loved everything eastern, and my daughter who wanted to move there but has since changed her mind since she has a horse she doesn't want to leave, so instead studies the history and the language. Though we're moving on to german soon. ;) Japanese and Russian histories fascinate me. I can't help but wonder, Red, if your body image is somewhat distorted. You need to post pictures so we can give you a good old american reality check. ;)

Chachee - Funny, but not really. The story of my life. ;)

Happy - I was leasing Shadow and bought her outright, that is correct. Arashi I rescued from being sent to slaughter - I paid $500 for him, and Eve was gotten from the Rescue for the princely (princessly?) sum of $100. Too many horses, not enough responsible owners. :( I can certainly relate to needing the music. That's part of my problem right now, too. Artemis chewed up two pair of headphones and I just couldn't afford to buy another pair. Maybe now, eh? :D

Ok, I gotta git. It's going to be a long, hot, sweaty day. :grouphug:

blazing sun today . . .
 

Hello all! Finding a little time here to jump in for a post and get back to those of you who have posted and I wasn't able to reply to before the backlog is too great!

RAVEN -- Hurrah for you and your amazing stores of knowledge. You are a rare breed! :smug: Yes, I knew you knew about Japan. :sumo: I wasn't putting a challenge out and didn't mean to sound flip or anything, happy. Your question tickled me. Never ask, never learn. Most people don't know about Japan and I don't see why they should. That's what I was saying. I was never into Japan at all. Had no interest in it whatsoever, and really, after 22 years here, I can't say I have anymore interest in it than I did in the beginning. I just know a lot about it. But then again, it's now become a part of me so I don't know if "interest" is the correct thing to even be thinking about. A big part of me is now Japanese, a bit is German, a bit is India and a big part is still U.S. of A., no wait, make that Pittsburgh!! Yeah Pittsburgh!

So, your daughter has changed her mind about Japan? Oh well, if she ever wants to come give it a peek feel free to avail yourselves of me. German was my major. Good language to be learning if you're getting into dressage. Nothing like Munich beer! :cheers: That's where I lived for four years, that's where I learned to drink beer. Getting off the subject, must be thirsty here!

Heh, just wanted to express my congratulations as well on your finding what seems to be a great setup for your horses. I hope all works out. By the way, what does horsesitting involve exactly? Feeding, exercising, grooming, I guess the works, huh? And about Artemis, it'll be sad for you to part but you've done the best thing one can, find a good home. The world needs more people like you, Raven. :angel:

Oh, and about the distorted body image, thanks for the try but nah, the distortion is definitely centered around my waist and posterior! :yikes: But, now that you said it, yesterday I said I was disgusted at my reflection in the store window and yes, it was yucky, but I realized a lot had to do with my clothes. I've gotten in the habit of wearing loose shirts that cover my butt and the roll around my gut and they look sloppy and they actually make me look bigger than I am. I have no money for clothes though so this kind of thing has become my usual wear except when I'm doing an interview or something but I do have to work on that as well.

Oh, hurrah, hurrah, :twirly: today I just got back from riding and I was out in the big arena where the mirrors are!! And I took a good luck and there was definitely less fat sitting there behind me on the saddle! Oh, Raven, I'm not going to post any pictures (even if I knew how) until I can definitely show a before and after. Otherwise you'll just go, "Oh, yeah, man, she really IS a little tub!" No, really, I'm a size 10 on top, usually a 10 or 12 on bottom depending on how stretchy the fabric is and at my height that is just too rotund, distortion or not. I want to fit easily into a size 8 and maybe a size 6. I've never been there and I don't know if I can get there but I think I can. But yes, bit by bit, one bird at a time. (more on that later!)


CHACHEE -- Hurrah for you and your weight loss! :bravo: That is so great and I'm so happy for you. Heh, but don't go getting into a race with someone else. :nono: Keep it coming off at your pace, your body's pace, slow and steady wins the race, remember? That's the race against the fat, not someone else. I guess you'll be better by now, right? Hope you are. What a nasty thing to get a flu going into the summer. I didn't look up the Gazelle yet but will. Thanks.

Good luck on your new goals. They sound a little ambitious but if they provide the right motivation for you, then fine. Only you can say. And that sounds like a great dinner you had prepared the other night, brown rice too. Hurrah for you. I'm in the land of white rice and I always make brown because it's so much healthier.

JOLLYGIRL-- Glad if my saying something helped you. I think like that recently when I've been disappointed or hurt by someone, aggravated or whatever. And I'm starting to be able to do it for stress too, which is really the same thing. Feeling like I have to eat because I've been working so hard is only hurting me too. It's a bit harder to do that one though because there's no real adversary I can put a name to. Maybe I should draw up a picture of something like Mr. Stress :stress: or Mr. Office, like Mr. Yuck (anyone remember him, is he still around?) And good for you Jolly, for throwing out the junk. :cp:I am very familiar with the picking it back out of the garbage bag. And I know to make it inedible as well. Now I've learned to not bring the stuff in the house at all. If I absolutely must have something I buy it at work and take just a little for me and give the rest away. But that is dangerous because I have ended up many times NOT giving anyone else any!! Now, I just don't get started. The best place to dump it is down the toilet!

HAPPY-- hope to hear more from you soon! Read Raven's part so you don't take my laughing wrong about your Japan question! ;) I couldn't stand it if you did!

HIPPY--You probably won't have time to post before your vacation. Just want to wish you a really great time. Swimming with the dolphins. :goodvibes: Now that is something I would love to do. Have fun!

Anyone else I haven't mentioned, a big hello and I hope to hear from you soon. :write: Remember, even if you've been going hog wild for the past few weeks, the war ain't over til you stop fighting! :cheer:

*****

Well, I'm off to the gym after some luscious watermelon. I've been living on the stuff. I ADORE watermelon. It satisfies my sugar cravings and just tastes soooo good!! :cloud9:

Will check in later and report my workout. :tread: :strong: Wish me luck . . . . and the strength of gods!!!

Just popping in while I have a cup of coffee! We are going to be taking off this afternoon. Just wanted to tell everyone bye :wave: Hope everyone stays well while I'm away. Take care girls, talk to you next week!

Hey all. Hope everyone is having a good weekend (and has a good vacation!). Send some gentle kicks my way. I have been stress eating, as I freak myself out worrying about my horse. I know tomorrow's weigh in will not be pretty. But, I will have a better week. I will.

Have a good one.

I have tried to start a post here at least three times since Friday, and every time I get interrupted and have to bail. So, let me try again. :D

It was a very busy, hot, sweaty, work with my horses kind of weekend. We will be moving them on the 1st (hallalujah!) so that means we have a lot to accomplish in a week and a half. My boss is giving me Friday the 2nd off, and I get the 5th off for the 4th of July holiday. A four day weekend right after I move the horses, what a blessing! Artemis is officially in her new home, and I have to admit it was darn nice getting up and not having the panic thoughts of getting Artemis into the garage, fed, and walked before she could make a mess anywhere.

Into work at 5 this morning, meant I was up at 3:30 because it's an hour drive to get here. I'll get out of here early (around 11) so I can meet the farrier at Rosa's to see if we can epoxy her damaged hoof. She blew ANOTHER abcess, and now, finally, is starting to feel better. The supplements are working their magic, the pressure is out of her hooves, and shes not in pain anymore. Poor Eve, OTOH, needs shoes badly. I'm going to see if the farrier can shoe her today, too. Her hooves are wearing faster than they're growing on that darn rock, and since we've had her for such a short time and had her eating good food and getting hoof supplements, that hasn't had time to produce enough growth to offset the wear. She's sore, poor baby. I'm anxious about the move. It's all I can think about! :dizzy:

I'm so focused on that I don't have the time or energy or desire to even try to think about food or exercise. Very preoccupied. BUT! I will have a round pen in the new place, and I keep thinking how good the workouts will be when I start doing round pen basics with all three horses!! Lots of running! I want to move NOW! *lol*

Red - My post about Japan was a lame attempt at humor, I hope I didn't sound like know-it-all or grumpy. I think living in Japan must be something like living in Alaska - you live there, it's nothing special, yay. Horsesitting is just about whatever that particular client wants. We do just about everything. We're going to start learning how to braid for shows, too, so if someone needs that we'll be able to offer it. Mostly we're doing it because we refuse to shave our horses' manes. So if we're not going to clip, then we need to pull and braid. Whee! One bird at a time? You have birds in your pockets!? *lol*

Work is calling. Time needs to be done, and I need to get things wrapped up before I leave. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Hey all. WEll, weigh in was not as bad as I feared, or deserved to be honest. I stayed the same. So, keep sending kicks my way. I need to stay focused. I just need to trust that the pony will be ok with time. It is hard worrying about your fur babies though.

Raven, I hope all goes well with the farrier today. And congrats on being able to move on the first. should be great.

Everyone else. Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and have a great week.

Farrier visit went well, Shadow and Eve are sporting classy new front shoes. They're stylin. ;) Arashi got his trim, and we'll hold off on Eve's rear shoes for now, maybe with the new pasture she won't need them. We won't be riding her for a while anyway. Shadow looks like she's feeling great finally. What a relief. One more step towards getting them to their new home.

I have some cheap headphones, I'm going to see if they will work with the stereo till I can pick up the better ones. If so, tomorrow I hit the treadmill. I'm going to try to put my morning routine back in place. Wish me luck! That will put me one step closer to getting back OP.

Jolly - I WISH my scale would have stayed the same. :o As you know, I can really relate to worrying about the four-legged kids. I have allowed it to pretty much completely derail my weight loss. Tsk. Please let us know how Chance is doing.

Off to bed... have a great night, everyone!

Hi kids,
I had a really nice weekend with my mom again. But then that meant that everything else got backed up. I was torn at first about it but hey... laundry will always be there, some day Mom won't. So I made my choice and stuck to it. I even got to bed at a decent time yesterday and better hustle today. That's my goal for this week - get enough sleep.

Tuesday I have to get another tooth pulled - don't know why I seem to be having such problems with deep infections in my jaw. I am not happy about this but what can you do? Back to soft foods again for a few days. I must have spent 45 minutes scanning labels on soup cans in the food aisles. So much sodium in most of them, the ones that are low sodium taste like dish water - I know, I've tried them. :lol:

Quick catch up... Hippy, I know I missed you but I hope you have a great vacation. Have fun for us! Red, you are right - I don't know where Japan is, so I looked it up. You're much more north of Australia than I thought. Heck, you're just across the sea from Russia. Anyway, I have met quite a few ladies from all over the world on this forum and it's been an interesting education for me about other countries and cultures. Thanks for not turning around, making the mppppfffffhhhhhhttttt sound and laughing hysterically at me :D I figure, if I don't ask, I don't learn, right? And when I figure I'm done learning, that's when I really get dumb because there's always something new to encounter each and everyday. And you are so right about people wearing baggy clothes to try and cover up some bumps and bulges and ill fitting clothes just make it seem worse. Someday all of us will just have it all together, right?

Raven, it sounds as if the horses are doing better, must be quite the load off your mind, now to focus on the running again. That's good, we should mix up our priorities at times. Good luck with the moves!

Jolly hope Chance is doing better. No stress eating - scuff, scuff, nudge, nudge --- 'k????

Well I really have to get to bed, you never want to go to the dentist when you're yawning alot! Hellos to Lucky and Chachee too.

a bird in hand. . .
 

Hello people. This always happens on weekends. I check it at work and then, probably because I'm not logged in as redballoon I never get notices saying there have been posts and then I realize, duh!!, oh yeah, this again, and there's a backlog.

Well, no time to catch up now but I did glance over things and because I haven't continued with my "one bird at a time" explanation and Raven is making fun of me!! for carrying birds around in my pockets (there have been stranger things in my pockets!) here's what I wanted to say.

I found this in a book and thought it could help us during those rough times and when the task ahead seems overwhelming. . .

Give it a read. . . :)

****

. . . If you want to change yourself, try making the changes as small as they can be. If you want to create yourself, like a great painting, don't be afraid to use tiny brush strokes. If you want to add more vegetables to your diet, try adding five percent more. The creation occurs because we're moving toward the creation.

When we stay the same, It's not because we didn't make a big enough commitment to change, but because we didn't do anything today that sent us moving toward change.

If you continue to think of yourself as a great painting you are going to paint, then wanting to instantly change is like wanting to finish your protrait in 10 minutes and then put it up in the art gallery.

If you see yourself as a masterpiece-in-progress, then you will relish small change. You'll be excited by a tiny thing you did differently. today. If you want a stronger body, and you took the stairs instead of the elevator, celebrate. You are moving in the direction of self-creation. There are no unimportant changes, no matter how small. . .

. . . Huge things can be accomplished by focusing on one small action at a time. Novelist Anne Lamott recalls an incident in her childhood the memory of which always helps her "to get a grip."

"Thirty years ago," she remembers, "my older brother, who was 10 years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulders, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.' "

-- from "100 Ways to Motivate Yourself," by Steve Chandler

***

I hope you liked it. I like the "bird by bird" part. It's something I can remember easily, you know, like our fresh water analogy and the "such and such is not my friend." I'm going to use it.

Wow. I really liked what you wrote, Red. I get that way sometimes. So frozen by the huge amount I have to lose, or huge amount I have to save, or whatever, that I am afraid to make that first step. And the other part is right as well. Any great masterpiece takes time.

Raven, I am glad things went well with the farrier, and I hope you got your butt on the treadmill. Happy, I hope things go well with the dentist. It must be painful and frustrating. Have you checked out soup recipes??? recipesource.com has some good ones. Good luck.

Well, I did my spin class this morning. Did not get out of bed in time to do weights as well, so must focus on that later. I, too, am trying to get enough sleep. Doesn't help that I am working a couple of third shifts this week. But, I picked up some trail mix to eat, so I am not tempted by worse crap. Chance is still pretty much the same. The allergic reaction part seems gone, the muscle soreness is still there. Walking and massage. Walking and massage. And you are right, Happy. Like he needs even more weight on his back when he can be ridden again.

Here's to a great day all.