Good morning, ladies
 

Short and sweet as I'm to be in court in 15 minutes. Just wanted to check in. I have cappucino :coffee: and Christmas music so all is well! :D

Had a great visit w/my sis and my nephew. I had to relax a little as she is definitely NOT OCD like her big sissy! hee, hee. We didn't eat dinner until 8:00 p.m. and she hadn't even finished her shopping until Thanksgiving day! (breath, susan, breath!) So, it was interesting. I did relax though and just enjoyed being w/her. She's a single mom so I did some housecleaning for her while I was there. I know how hard it is to get everything done when you're on your own. All in all, good weekend all around.

I did okay w/my eating. Ate some things that I normally wouldn't but don't feel that I overdid it. I ate so many brachs soft peppermint candies that I thought I might actually turn into one. It's my favorite store bought Christmas candy! I walked some over the weekend and will be 100% back into the groove of things this week.

Weigh in tomorrow does not look promising as it's after a holiday and I'm in the middle of TOM! But, I will WI regardless! If I've gained, I'll just focus on losing it again before next weigh in.

Glad you both had good holidays! Like Marie said, I count this site and the two of you among my greatest blessings. Gotta run. Be kind to yourself. Hang in there! We will be victorious! :)

Hi Skinny and Marie,

Glad to hear that your holiday went well Skinny. It was hard for me too waiting for dinner to be ready and being on someone else's schedule. Glad to hear that you did well with the eating and so nice of you to clean your sister's house.

I'm back on track today. I really took a downturn this weekend - big time. It was interesting to realize all the things that led to the downfall. Spending a couple days with a lot of relatives brings many emotions to light. I am an emotional eater and do better in my own house and schedule.

Lots of course work to catch up on tonight. Take care and thanks for all your support. I'm going to stick with it all until the end of December and then I hope I'll burst into renewed health focus at the start of the year. Take care.

Hi TOF and Skinny, I'm glad to hear you're both doing okay. My Thanksgiving weekend was spent trying to solve all the many computer issues brought on by me buying a 250 Gb hard drive for DH's computer on Friday. I also bought the wireless stuff for my laptop so that I could travel through my house. The wireless card didn't work in my computer because my PC Card slots don't work. It's out of warranty and I never throught about testing the slots - I assumed they worked. That fiasco had me rebuilding my computer and losing IE on that computer. Then DH's computer - what a mess. I finally got the new drive to work - loaded all of the stuff on it, transferred all of our data on it, including all my pictures and Quicken and the drive failed. I mean dead failed. Everything was gone.I found a Quicken backup on my laptop that was from 10/14/04 so we had most of the data, just not all of it. The pictures are gone though. We returned the drive and PC Card to Circuit City. Got a new drive and found a USB wireless network adapter. Both work - yeah. What a mess. It took all of Friday, Saturday and Sunday to do this mess. I'm so sick of computers I could scream. Yesterday I joked with a co-worker if he wanted me to play with his servers at work since I had such a special touch.

Today I'm going to San Francisco again. My favorite place - not. I'm going to a three day seminar on Dreamweaver (web design program). I planned to leave at noon but the teacher that is going with me didn't take today off and we can't leave until about four. Add a six to seven hour drive on that and it's going to be late when we get there. I wasn't very pleased, but I don't have a lot of say in her getting a substitute for an extra day. I am really looking forward to the class though. Dreamweaver looks pretty cool.

My Packers played on Monday Night Football last night and they won. That was good. It's funny, I was home alone and it wasn't as much fun to watch the game as it is with family. I was cheering with my dogs. I think I'm a little nuts. I soldered DH's parent's Christmas present together while I watched. I wanted to sew my knitting together, but knew that we needed to get the stained glass done. I forgot that there were several pieces that were missing and I still have to cut those out and get them fitted to the piece. It's a purple irises panel and I think it looks nice.

We went snowshoeing on Thanksgiving. I was so exhausted. We went for a couple hours and I didn't think I could go any farther when the Jeep finally came back into view. Snowshoeing in the mountains is tough. I can handle the downhill, it's the uphill that gets me. We did have a really good time though.

Last night I had the remaining stuffing for dinner. And a Heath bar. Healthy, huh? I didn't overeat on Thanksgiving or the days following. But I'm still having trouble staying motivated. Yesterday was better, but I'm not at the level I like to be at. I've decided I want to continue to lose during the holidays because I don't need to use the time of year as an excuse. I don't bake cookies anymore, so that will help. And for Christmas, we'll probably have turkey again so that's not high in calories. I'm just too afraid of letting myself go and not getting back on track. So I'm going to battle the munchies and if I win most of the time, that will be good. I know I won't beat that monster all of the time. I figure if I keep battling the monster, after the holidays I will be in better shape to get totally back on track. Does that make any sense?

TOF, I have to agree with you about emotional eating. I was bored and frustrated this weekend so the munchie monster tried to take control of me. I didn't do too bad, but I could have been better.

Well, I'll talk with you both later.
Marie

Hi Marie and Skinny, good day today eating wise. I'm really busy right now with school, the course, family and the holidays. A good,healthy busy thought. I can see the end of the course in sight so that's good. The children are happy these days and my sister is talking to me again. No complaints.

Marie, your trip sounds interesting. I'll be anxious to hear all about it. Skinny, I imagine you're busy with the holidays, family and work too. Take care all and good luck staying on track.

Good morning, ladies
 

Well, I weighed. I have somehow managed to maintain-which I will gladly take! :D I haven't gotten back into the exercise routine yet so that's my next goal. I know I feel better when I exercise so keep me accountable, please! How did everyone else do?

Marie-I'll go to San Francisco in your place! I've been there once and I really liked it. I don't think I'd want to live there but I did enjoy visiting. I wish I'd had more time so I could have hit some museums and such. Maybe next time. Let me know how your trip goes. Hope you enjoy your seminars.

TOF-Glad things are going well for you. You are almost done w/your course! Woo-hoo!! :) Soon we'll both be back on track w/exercising and giving each other a run for the money! Hang in there!

Marie-forgot to tell you that I'm picking up a copy of the book an unquiet mind today. I appreciate your offer but I think I need my own copy so that I can highlight, write in, etc. Both of you ladies please continue to think of my DH and me. He has an appt. soon w/the psychiatrist and we are researching for Christian counselors and bipolar support groups in our area. He's also looking for a job as he is intent on cleaning up the financial mess he's made. Thanks so much for your support and the thoughts and prayers that I know you're sending our way. Oh, and he resigned from his church positions in order to better concentrate on getting healthy. Not quitting church, just stepping back some.

Well, my angel friends, :angel: :angel: I must run. Have a training session today and I need to hit the road. Let me know how things are going. Have a great health day!

Hi Skinny and Marie,
Skinny, I'm glad to hear that you and your dh are on track with seeking counseling and working on financial matters. I'll send you good thoughts and prayers. Life isn't easy and these hurdles we face are very difficult. I think, in some ways, it's a particularly hard world for men especially when it comes to jobs. I hope you find a good counselor. I know that can make a world of difference - they have so much experience and can often direct you in just the right way.

Marie, I hope you are doing well out there.

Yes, I soon will be joining you with the exercise. I can't wait! I have Christmas week off and I want to exercise every day. I think I'll be able to do it as my older son can watch my younger two. Of course Christmas Day I'll be serving dinner for my family so that won't be included.

I'm going to try to reorient myself tonight, center myself for the Christmas holiday and days to come. I want to stay on track mostly, stay calm and loving and try to give a little extra especially to those who are down hearted at this time of year.

Take care.

Good morning, ladies
 

Hope everyone is having a good health day. Things here are good. I ate a healthy breakfast, cream of wheat, toast and milk and I'm drinking hot chocolate right now. You thought I was going to say cappucino/coffee, didn't you? :) I had waaay too much caffiene yesterday. I had a capp, 5 cups of coffee and three big old glasses of tea! I was running to the bathroom all night! :D

TOF-I'm so glad you have time off during the holidays. I've been playing Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving! We're putting up our Christmas stuff this Sat before the Christmas parade. I'm in the process of rearranging my house, ie-getting my son out of the living room-so that I can exercise in the mornings again. It's getting too chilly here to be walking in the mornings. I'd get sick for sure. I think the girls are going to double up so Justin can sleep on a real bed. Also, they're going to clean out a couple drawers for him so he won't feel that he's living out of a suitcase.

Marie-thinking of you. Hope things are going well for you in San Fran!

We always adopt a local child for the holidays through the salvation army and make sure they have a Christmas. It reminds my girls how good their life is, even when it's difficult, and reminds us to love our neighbors. They really enjoy doing it and have a lot of fun.

Hi TOF and Skinny,

Things are going good at the class. I'm learning lots about Dreamweaver. It really is a cool program. Been eating too much but at least the food is worth it. Most meals I've been in my calorie limit, but out to dinner at yummy places has been hard. Exercise - nope havent' done that either. On Saturday a.m. I will be rededicating myself to my diet. I'm not bad now, but it's not been good either.

Well it's time to get back to class. Take care and I'm thinking of you both.
Marie

Hi all,

Marie, I'm glad the trip is going well. What kind of software is Dreamweaver? It is hard to stay totally true to diets when away. Sounds like you're doing well though.

Skinny, that's great that you're adopting a child to give a Christmas too. That's great. I'm sure your girls gain a greater meaning of the season that way. Good to hear that your eating is going well.

I had a tough day. It ended by two boys stepping on an open yogurt container on purpose and spraying the yogurt all over the hall - you can only imagine my reaction! The custodian got the sponges and the boys did all the cleaning. That's the part of my job that I don't like - the crazy things children can do. These boys are not bad or malicious boys - just a bad choice. It's laughable to some degree. Once when helping a boy clean his desk I stuck my hand into an old, open jar of yogurt. That was worse. Then this year while helping a boy clean his desk water began to pour all over my feet, he had left an open container of water in his desk. As for the curriculum. . .we manage to fit it in around all the social and behavioral issues.

Good eating day - I'm really feeling thinner these days. I bagged almost all my old clothes up and put them in the attic - I'm not ready to part with them yet, I don't have that level of confidence. I find I can't stand wearing the too big clothes anymore, they hang and drag - what a wonderful feeling!!!! After the holidays I'll be ready for a gunho effort to get to goal weight. One motivation will be buying new spring clothes in bright colors which I avoided before. I'm not going to buy many new winter clothes. I can get away with what I have as the colors are dark and I can mix and match.

Take it easy everyone. I'm so glad that you are here to help me on this health and life journey.

Good Morning all! I know everyone is very busy with the holidays, but I wanted to check in. I feel like I'm getting some order in my thoughts today finally. I feel like we'll get through the holidays focussing on what's important in life and then we'll begin chapter two of the weight loss journey in January. My focus for January is going to be a combined staying the course of 1500 cals a day and adding fitness. I'll have lots of questions for all of you. My goal is going to be the August mini triathlon for women. Skinny, perhaps you and your daughters could make a team and participate in one too. Just a thought. No pressure.

Have a good weekend - I'll write again soon.

Hi all,

The class is over and I'm glad. After 3 intensive days, I feel like my brain is going to pop. Eating wise, it was okay. I've certainly done better, but I've also been a lot worse. I'm starting to watch what I eat today but what I saw was empty calories. Junk food seems to be calling my name these days. Exercise, I forgot what that is. I will restart that too this weekend. Now that I'm not going anywhere until July, I can focus on my health routine. I really want to do beter than I have been the last month while traveling. No more traveling and that should help.

TOF, according to Macromedia, author of Dreamweaver, it is the industry standard for web page development. I plan to redo my web page with it over the next couple months. It really is pretty cool and I want to learn more. The escapades with the yogurt were funny. You made me smile. Kids are such little darlings.

Skinning, you and I will do 1500 calories a day together and exercise. We should have a buddy-accountable system set up. If I have to report to you my approximate calories and exercise for the day, I know I will be good. What do you think. But, I'm not into triathalons. Too much for me.

Take care and I am glad I'm back. You two are really good for me to stay on the right track.
Marie

Hi Marie,

I just got back from a dinner out with old friends. Interesting evening. The dinner was ok - I should of ordered the fish which looked much better than the beef tasted. The dinner wasn't worth the calories, but that's ok - live and learn.

Back on track tomorrow. Yes, I'll try to stay with the 1500 - it makes me feel so good to lose the weight. I love wearing the new clothes that are brighter and more fitting. Sad and happy to say though people are treating me better now that I'm thinner. Is that because I feel better or because I look thinner - probably a little of both, but I'll take it.

Studying tomorrow. The next big holiday party is 13 days away so I'm going to try to stay on track for those days. There's a few little get togethers in the meantime but not worth breaking the diet for. The next free eating day for me will be Christmas Eve. I hope you don't mind me going on and on, but when I write it here for all of you to read it feels like a promise to me, a promise to people I trust so I'm making that promise. Thanks for listening.

Marie - it feels so good to stay on track and I know the exercise will make it only better - I can't wait to start that. Good luck. Have you thought of giving yourself an incentive - my next big prize or incentive will be buying spring clothes at a brand new size. I'm trying to visualize spring shopping and buying clothes that look and feel good and bein more active then. That means a few months of hard work, but we can do it. What incentive will inspire you? Take care.

Hi TOF,

1500 calories it is. I had the best motivator this morning. Since Minnesota, I had gained about 3 pounds. I stopped weighing myself in the last two weeks and was staying in the calorie range but not eating good foods. I guess that isn't all bad because I lost the weight and am back at 189. I was sop shocked. I expected to maintain or to have gained some. It is absolutely thrilling to see 189 again. So I am so excited to lose more. What an incentive and what a surprise.

I will start my exercising again today. I am going to ride my exercycle for 30 minutes. I'll do it while I'm watching football so I'll be in that room anyway. We can do this. Speaking of execise, I tried a gazelle thingie at Sportsmart when I was in SF. I was doing it and thinking is this really exercise. It was really easy. So I'm going along thinking, this is really nice but it isn't doing anything. Then when I got off, I could feel that I exercised. So TOF, I think that is going to be my reward. When I see 179, I get to get a gazelle ecliptical thing. It wasn't too expensive and I liked it. By then I'll have some extra money and will be able to afford it. So my goal is 10 pounds and then I get a reward. That is a really good idea you came up with. I like rewards.

Good luck on the studying. It's almost over.

Hi Skinny, I hope things are going good for you. Did DH get the job he wanted? I keep thinking of you two. I really do know the place your in and and it is tremendously hard. I hope the dr. appointment went good too.

Talk to you later. Six hours of football with my son today. It should be a a sore butt day watching the TV the entire day. :)

Hi all. Marie your positive attitude is rubbing off on me, keep it coming. Good luck with the 10lb goal. You make me want to weigh myself again - it's been a month or more. Take care.

TOF, today was a good day. I ate healthy!!!!! Yeah!!! I also stayed on my plan but I was fighting with the computer and didn't exercise. I suppose I could now until I go to bed, but then I'd never get to sleep. DH said okay to my goal and getting the exercise machine. I find that if I don't weigh in, that's when I let myself get out of control, then it just keeps snowballing so I forced myself to weigh today and was so surprised. Just goes to show that junk food isn't all bad if in moderation. :)