Morning everyone.

Faye, I have thought about using Calgon but I am afraid that it wouldn't help as I have iron and suffer in my water. Although we both think that this softner is about where it should be. I have ran 4 washers full of hot water to try to get the lines clear. The cold is going pretty good for now, but still have to get the hot where it needs to be at.
I have decided to give the South Beach a shot. I offically started on it today. Here's to much success. I did great on weight watchers but right now it is a little hard for me to figure out points and I have forgotten many of the pt values that I had memorized. I am going to give this my best shot.
As for the issues with "the change". Wish that I could offer some good advice but I am sticking to HRT. I have went without it for about 3 months and then nothing worked for me. I loved the progestron cream but unfortantly it isn't recomended to use with a heart problem. So after I had used it for awhile I had to end it. Faye, are you using the cream 4xs a day? I found that worked best for me. Also it this compounded by a place that does this or is it something that you might have gotten at a place like GNC. I know for the max effect it is best to get it compounded, that way you can have the doesage adjusted to meet your needs.
Time to get ready to hit the road. Work is calling.

Here's to a sunny day to all

sandy

Mia
 

Hi Lovelies!

I apologize for being MIA for so long - so busy at work and other obligations - also getting ready for dh to come home from Germany this week. Well, he came home yesterday (Saturday) and I am sooo glad. He was so pleased with the sunroom - not the same as looking at pictures.

No weight loss to report this week - but I am hanging in - still not managing my points consistently - but no binges lately! :D I did :tread: Friday and Saturday for over 25 minutes. Concentrating on mastering exercising everyday and getting water in this week. Those are my areas of weakness. This week I have been mastering a fourth component to successful weight loss - adequate sleep. It has done wonders for my energy level and I believe it is a contributing factor to maintaining weight when I am not doing so well with plan, water, and movement. There is some great research on the effect of sleep on metabolism and weight loss.

I have been continuing to keep up with your posts when I am on the treadmill. Hope everyone has a great Sunday.

mscat816 :wave:

Hi all,

Been MIA also - I've caught another bug (or maybe the same one come back with a vengeance :devil: ). Both me and Nige are full of head cold and aches and pains - boo!

I've not yet got back on track with my eating and I've also not been swimming because I've been ill so have been feeling very sorry for myself. :(

However, I am in the process of sorting myself out - I went shopping and bought lots of healthy food, and I've been going through all my old slimming magazines and writing out lots of low fat recipes (still got lots to do). Now all I have to do is get myself into that kitchen and get cooking!

I have a prayer request - please pray for the health of my dad and brother. My brother has had a couple of fits and gets the results of his brain scan on Tuesday. My dad suffered sudden memory loss yesterday - completely out of the blue, he forgot that he is moving house and that my brother had just moved out. A nurse has said that it was probably brought on by stress, but I'm worried it may be something more serious. I suppose we all have to come to terms with our parents getting older and their health failing - but my dad is only 67 and is usually so strong and fit. having a 'spell' like this is just completely out of character for him, so it's given us all a bit of a scare. I'm probably worrying unnecessarily, but I don't want to lose him yet.

Thanks girls,

Love Amanda x

Evening everyone.

Ok day one is a 4ptr. Here goes one step at a time. MsCat so glad that dh is home. Enjoy it. Amanda I hope that you and Neige fell better soon. Also I will put your brother and father in my prayer. Going to get going time to sleep.

hugs
sandy

MONDAY: Today is Mission Monday and our mission this week is to get back on track where we have "jumped" off. Let's work hard to coordinate all aspects of our program and get back to 4 pt days again!

Amanda: Hope you are feeling better soon. Chicken soup truly is great for a cold! Get lots of liquids in you. I will pray for your family members right away.

SandyG: Rust is a horrible problem and isn't always solved with a water softner so be careful about it when you get it going.

MsCat So glad hubby is back home for awhile at least! Give him a big hug from all of us!

Gotta get going girls

Faye :)

Morning Ladies,
Phew, it feels like afternoon already. I got up at 5am to get in a couple hours of writing before the kids got up. I found I really can't write when they are around bugging me. And 2 hours in the morning when Ben is at school isn't really enough. So early mornings it is! :coffee:

I must be pmsing because I just wanted to eat everything in sight this weekend. Not good. But it seems to have passed, so all is well. I have done my pilates a couple more times. It is so quick, it doesn't even feel like I'm exercising...until the next day that is.

Amanda, I hope you and Nige get better soon. And my prayers are with your family.

MScat, enjoy having hubby home! I know you will :D

Faye, if you do decide to go the yoga route, please make sure you take a couple of classes first. Videos are great, but you are probably going to need to modify at first and a tv can't help fix your form. There really is no replacement for a live teacher. It may even be worth your while to just take a private class or two. That way the instructor can focus only on you, your form, your modifications, and she can tailor a routine specifically for menopause symptoms. BTW, there are a number of good yoga videos out specifically for menopause. So once you get the hang of it, a video will probably be all you need.

Well, gotta fly now. Here's to a four point week!

TTFN.
Julie

Hello Beautifuls... i have been away for a while as well... I am in Green Bay still.. will be heading home this afternoon. Saturday night we had a surprise party for my brother(he turned 30) and he was soooooooooooo surprised...LOl then yesterday i went to my cousin Liz's wake... the cancer finally got the best of her and she passed away on Friday morning... This is the worst funeral i have been thru... i practically ran outta the church crying and had to sit ont he steps and try to calm myself down... i was hyperventalating... i jsut couldnt stop crying... today is the funeral mass and i am hoping i can do better... Theres just so many memories... and yet i wasnt this messed up when my brother died... is that wrong?? why am i feeling assbackwards here... Or is it just everything finally catching up with me... i have no clu... but i feel as tho i could just cry for days..; maybe i need a good cry... who knows... She was only 41... my age ... but at least shes no longer in any pain... and tehre was so much of it at the end... thanks for letting me get this off mychest ladies... not like u have a choice but its good to get it out... Havent been keeping track of points... but i have been good with my eating... so not counting any for the last 3 days... Hope everyone has a great day... my love to u all... Amanda i will keep you and your family in my prayers...
God Bless...
Sandy

Julie: Thanks for the yoga info!

SandyB: I think that every time we have to go through some type of grieving, previous passings sneak up on us and just pile in with the grieving for the person so it is not unusual for you to really take your cousin's passing hard. You are still grieving for your own brother and it comes back and slaps you in the face when someone else dies even if you don't realize it. My fil have been dead 30 years and I still grieve for him especially at the holidays. I was only married to Jack for 3 years when cancer took him and he was an exceptional man and I miss him very much and miss that he not only never knew he has more than one grandchild (my son was 2 when his granddaddy died) and never got to see his great grandson. In fact, none of our parents ever got to see Thomas. My mother was the last of the 4 to pass and she died 4 months before my dd got married. So, don't think yourself too weird that you broke up, it just comes flooding back.

I am doing great today even with the rain outside! I am back on track and feeling pretty good, though I gave up the dr phil thing and have gone back to my own fat and calorie program. His program made me sick. I had a lot of diarhhea with his program and headaches. The minute I went back to just fat a calorie counting my digestion improved and the headaches went away? Weird, I know! I just have to stay very focused and keep looking forward and making goals to achieve then not get down about my physical stuff.

Everyone have a great day.

Faye :)

TUESDAY: Today is Target Tuesday and our target this week is exercise! Let's make sure we get in 4-5 days a week and vary it some. Remember to build muscles with strength and toning using weights! Your body will thank you for it!

Morning girls! It is thundering and lightening here so I will hurry this off and check in later.

Faye :)

Morning everyone.

Just wanted to check in briefly before it was time to get ready for work. Sandy, I agree with Faye about the grieving thing. Julie, I understand about getting up before the youngins do to get in writing. I must agree early morning do suck but hey at least you get in your work. I think that I qualify as an expert on the early mornings. The weekends have sorta been getting to me lately and I was praying for the fulltime position with Keebler but I found out last night that a friend of mine that works for Pepsi got the job. She has had at least 15yrs with that company so I can understand why she got it. There is still the opptunity with Frito Lays that I am hoping for. You know it is pretty bad when you get to the point that you really don't care about things anymore. I know that 90 percent is because of the lack of rest and the other 10 percent is just the fall/winter thing creaping in. Sunday was a 4 pt day, yesterday was OP and got in my water. No exercise as I think that I am getting auther in both of my hips and was in too much pain to exercise last night. At least today I will be very active have to work both jobs. Rambled on long enough time to shower and get up my critter for school. Here's to suuny thought today

sandy

Hello all !!! Well with all the stress of the house I have been pigging out for about a week and have gained a couple of pounds, but today am back OP and strong, till stressed again, ha ha :lol:

So we did end up signing the papers for our house on Friday, it is sold!!! And we started the ppwk for the one we wanted, so it looks like it might all work out so far...we have the inspection on our house next week so keep your fingers crossed that it goes well, it worries me, but our house is only 7 years old so shouldnt be too bad...

Sorry I cannot do individual responses as I have not been in the loop, hope you are all doing great on your programs and all...talk to you soon, have a great week !!!

Morning Ladies...oops, afternoon!

I did so well yesterday, and then I realized this morning that I totally forgot to drink any water...DOH! So 3 points for me yesterday. I bought another pilates dvd which has 3 levels of difficulty on it. So I should be all set for a while.

I was up at 4:30 this morning and got all but about 2 pages of my writing done for the day. I can finish this after dinner easily. Think I'm catching a cold...need to get some more vity c in me.

Sandy--so sorry about your loss (es). Let yourself grieve, holding it in will only make you sick. My dh's mother died at 41 of cancer, too. He was still in high school. He misses her very much. I wish I could have met her.

Carrie--Glad everything's working out on the home front...I HATE those :censored: inspections. Because they always find SOMETHING wrong. And it's always stupid stuff. Well except when we sold our 200 year old farmhouse last year and had 1800's wiring that was still live! If the insurance had known.... :lol: You'll get through it, don't worry.

Other Sandy--hope you get a great job soon!

Ok, gotta go now. Lots to do.
Julie

POINTS POINTS POINTS:

SandyG :bravo: :cp:
Julie :doh: :cp:
Faye :bravo:

Carri: I know you are thrilled about selling the house. Your inspection will go fine I am sure so don't worry. You have to be excited about getting another house though!

Julie: Like I told Amanda, do your chicken soup! :lol: Hope you feel tip top soon!

SandyG: Sorry you didn't get the job. I am sure there is something perfect for you out there and you will find it soon. As for the depression type thing, I am sure it will work itself out. Try hard to get more sleep for one thing then don't let things bother you, they will all work out in the end!

It was thundering and lightening this am so didn't walk but did clean the downstairs and got a lot of exercising doing that. I may try and get out this afternoon if the weather is clear. I went around and blew out the candles downstairs and with the last one I blew hot wax all over my face and into my hair! :( That was tough getting it out of my hair and I don't seem to be burned thank goodness. What a dumb thing to do I guess!

As soon as the holidays are out of the way, I am finally starting my own business. I have checked into a lot of things and finally found something I think I am going to love to produce, can do it in my home and because I myself love the product think I will be good at selling it. I am going to make soy candles. I talked at length with dh and we decided to not doing any selling until the holiday season next year and in the mean time I can perfect my candles and get supplies up. I will eventually do a website too and when Jack is able to retire from the city, we may do craft shows around the country a little, who knows? I only know that when I went to the Christmas show with my dd last week, NO ONE was selling candles. Anyway, it is a way for me to have something to do and make money and like I told another friend, if they don't sell I can use the inventory! :lol:

Everyone have a wonderful day. I am off to the shower

Faye :)

Hello beautifuls... thanks for the words of kindness and the support... and it makes perfect sense... its just never easy to deal wtih grieving...
Sandy i hope things work out for u with a new job...and i totally agree with Faye.. try to get more sleep and try not to worry about things... something will come along and be perfect.
Carrie good luck on your inspection...
Julie... wtg on your writing... im proud of you
Faye.. thanks for making me feel normal...lol altho i am not quite sure of the meaning of that word...lol And good luck on starting your own business... i am thinking of doing the same... starting my own business... selling Mary Kay... i too love the product and use it myself.. so what the heck.. lets give this a shot. I have my parenting with love and logic class again tonight... looking forward to it... i think hubby is taking the kidlets to Kentucky this weekend to look for a place for him and show them around... and to see gramma and grampa. Im not sure what i am going to do... i may go back to green bay as there is a benefit for Liz this saturday... but i am not sure. Hope you all have a great day and i will check in later... love to u all...
take care of U
Sandy

Evening chickies.

Another 4 pt day! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

Faye, good luck with the candles. I know that you will be a success.
Sandy, too bad that you are not comming to Ky we could have gotten together for lunch or something. THat would have been fun I think.
Julie, make sure that you get plenty of rest as well.

Going to get time for sleep. Everyone have a great evening

sandy

WEDNESDAY: Today is Wednesday's Woes. What can we help you with?

later girlys

Faye :)

Morning Girlies,

Faye, how on EARTH did you blow wax INTO your face??? :lol: :lol3: I know it's not funny, but MOST humans exhale AWAY from their bodies!!!! Glad to hear you're not hurt!

Yesterday was another 3 pointer, because I didn't get the exercise in. I am noticing that my hands are bonier, though...I think this getting up at 4:30 am thing is making me burn more calories. It's weird, but I know I was sleeping too much before. I'd get 9 hours at night, and then I'd always take a nap during the afternoon. The nap thing is a habit that I started when all the kids were babies, and I needed the sleep. But it's so ingrained after 10 years, that even when I'm not sleepy I automatically head upstairs to lie down around 1pm. So, now I'm getting 6 or 7 hours at night and I don't feel guilty taking an hour nap in the afternoon. I feel better, have more energy...and I really like getting so much done before anyone even wakes up. DH thinks I'm crazy...but that's nothing new.

No woes today that I can think of....

So TTFN,
Julie

POINTS POINTS POINTS:

Julie :cp:
SandyG :bravo:
Faye :bravo:

Just thought I would peek in and see what's going on, but looks like everyone is busy. I have felt icky today, but am staying OP and went for a walk this am, which was tough again today. Maybe it is my new shoes. I had to go and buy new ones a couple weeks ago so maybe I am getting used to them or something. I just feel so worn out walking. Anyway, nothing serious!

Julie: How the heck do I do half the stupid things I do? The candle was on the fireplace mantal and instead of taking it down, I just blew on it and it splashed back at me somehow. It took me forever to get the wax off the mantal, which was the worst part. Hope your book is coming along and that is probably how come you have skinny fingers! :lol:

I guess I should go and check the roast. I can smell it clear up here

Faye