Kirsty~ sorry to hear about your pain too. All my good thoughts I send you. I was just telling Jen that I think the winter is the worst. We need the wave of the magic wand form the Fairy Princess! Or a frigging miracle!! Whichever comes first! Feel better my friend.((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

Meadow, I read your post in my e-mail before and got bsck to exercising! just reading it gave me motivation. glad there are no ill effects! I agree that this was a great thing that shad did cause I for one was dragging my butt into the new year a bit.

Well chicks....I did my pedals for 30 mins and almost 10 of stretching. Too many aches and pains to finish but just enough to keep limber. Had a GREAT day and got loads done. this week I reall need to tackle the wash!!! I won't have any knickers left!!
Have a good day tomorrow and see you all Tuesday!

Hello ladies,

I think I'll have to do this in several pieces to get caught up with the updates.

Diane, good to hear that the nephew is doing better. What a relief that must be.

Mel, I'm glad your eyes are doing a tiny bit better - at least enough to let you post a few lines. And good going on the pedals! Yoga sounds like a perfect fit for you too.

Linus, I hope you feel better in the morning. I did get a laugh out of the idea of you exercising with the dog food cans and the puppies getting all excited thinking they were going to get fed or wondering what it was that you were doing with their food.

Meadow, thanks for the reminder about changing my location. I know EXACTLY what you mean about giving up one bad food group (sugar) and the other seems to sneak in. Good for you on the save on the Starbursts.

Nae, anything that has a backdrop of the Rockies has got to be just awesome. Sounds like you had a great time at the hockey game.

Teel, I hope you have a warm and cozy home very very soon. Brrrrrrrr. When you know you can't have heat it seems all the more colder. Get yee to the hot tub and let Holly snuggle under the duvet. You are doing great on the water challenge. Can't wait until I can match you stroke for stroke in our pool. The one bad thing about the older house is that it doesn't have a fancy whirlpool bath but DH said we could convert one of the older tubs. I will then be in heaven. Of course when it's near 100 degrees outside, who wants a hot tub? But I will need one as DH will want to keep the house freezing cold with the air conditioning once it seems like the temps are rising.

Holly, you have a great looking family and I am sooooooo jealous of your lovely hair. It's so pretty and so are you. Hope you enjoyed the weekend with your family.

Hellos to Tig, run any races this weekend or are you in training right now?

And finally Shad - the busy bee of the group. Good to hear that you are getting all organized and checking off the to do lists - a great feeling of accomplishment - even in the tropical heat. Also, I would love any advice on the garden. My sister asked me for ideas for DH for Christmas and off the top of my head I suggested a book on attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. She found 2 fantastic books. The yard in the new house is quite big - room for my vegetable garden on one side, and since the bees are attracted to the hummingbird feeders, I told DH his garden can go way off on the other side of the yard - far from the grill, patio and pool. I also want to do some container pots with a mix of flowers and some trailing vines. Will have to get familiar with the native plants to the area. The people already have pansies in the front which are one of my favorites but I think they may only last 1 more month or two because they like cooler weather and it gets warm here starting in March. Can you imagine it being in the 80's in March???? I can't. Guess I'd better hustle if I want to fit into some of my lighter clothes otherwise I will be more miserable than ever with it being hot and wearing my bigger winter clothes.

I did pick up things for lunch for this week and lunch is prepared and waiting for me to take to the office tomorrow - chicken salad with dried cranberries and sliced almonds, 5 huge red grapes DH picked from the store which are incredibly sweet and a small bag of sliced carrots, cucumbers and sliced tomatoes for munching. I also picked up a resistance band at the store today. I was just about to go use it after this post when DH came into the room and swapped it away from me.

I did not meet the people upstairs. They are extremely loud and noisy. They just drove in, slammed the car doors as usual, tromped up the stairs like elephants and now it sounds as if they are rolling large rocks across the floor. They must lead interesting lives. I'd rather NOT meet them because if I do meet them I have a nice parting gift for them Perhaps I will introduce myself on the day we leave. I told DH we have to get out of here as soon as possible. DH and I did spend most of the weekend looking at furniture. We did buy a lovely patio set complete with tea cart and baker's rack - will be lovely for decorative potted plants. In one store I saw some sort of an odd horn. It is a tiny horn but has this huge bulbous air thing that you squeeze to honk the horn. I daresay it probably has something to do with horses or fox hunting since I am in the middle of horse country out here. Since I am very strange, I of course had to try it in the store and nearly fell on the floor laughing at the sound. DH tried to make me put it away before we were escorted out of the store but I begged to be allowed to buy it. I am sure my sister will appreciate it as much as I do. It is now safely in the apartment and when the people make noise upstairs I will put the bell of the horn to the ceiling and honk away my anxieties.

The new house has plenty of room for guests - we could have quite the party there. We looked at some couches that have built in recliners in the seats. They are so comfy that I'm sure they will induce a sound sleep in whomever sits in them. So when you come over, don't think the beds have the most comfortable accomodations.

We saw a few pieces we really liked but decided to hold off until we can get into the house and measure the rooms and layout better. It has been fun shopping I must say. And I haven't even started to look at the little side decorations here and there.

Well I think it's time to go get my exercise band back from DH. Get my workout in, perhaps a nice bath soak to relax and early to bed. Here's to a productive week chickies.

Oh great the neighbors are bouncing on the floor again which makes the kitchen light fixture bang and clank something terrible. DH is trying to watch TV. Perhaps he will greet the neightbors... to be continued...

Aaahhh the joys of apartment living. The people who shout and screech getting out of the lift and going down the corridors, who bang the doors and drop things on the floor and worse drop the cigarette butts on the balcony where they drop the ash and embers through the grating onto the one below. Those who practice the gentle art of ju jitsu or karate (not) on the furniture or flat mate or who fly into a temper tantrum and roar at the other half.
Been there, done that. It's not always what it is cracked up to be.

My 'boys' are back today after 3 weeks away. Not one of them wanted to be there. It was a struggle to keep them on track and get them working. They wanted to goof off all the time. Tomorrow I'm going to Sydney for a couple of days. I'm actually not that excited about going and when the boss lady rang at 4.00 this afternoon humming and haaing about what I was going to do, I was happy to say let's forget it. However having said that, she then turned around and decided I should go. No accounting for it. I'm feeling a bit iffy about the Sydney lot. Don't know what it is, just get this feeling. Anyway, there is plenty I can talk about as far as the training packages go so it may not be a wasted trip.

Young nephew is not a bad lad. Doesn't say much. But he's polite enough and friendly enough and it wasn't just me that took him out. His Dad was there too.

Done my exercises for the day and had gym this morning as well. Food is going okay, but I really don't know how I'll do going to Sydney tomorrow. Don't suppose the hotel room will have too cans of cat food in the cupboard. I may just go and see if they have a gym so I can keep up there. Food has been a bit weird today. Lots of sushi - Shad style. I haven't eaten any cheese or bread but am hanging out for something warm like toast at the moment. I'll get over it but it would be nice.

Not hanging around here tonight. I have to get up very early tomorrow as I will be leaving the house around 4am to go to the airport for the early flight - talk about a red eye special! Since I am already yawning, and I've had a bit of a kip in the chair already, the view down the hall is looking really good right now.

Try to catch up tomorrow, but no guarantees as there is no internet at work.

I did it!! 3 sets of 5 min with weights and NO cheese. DH asked if I was flapping to get any where in particular. I watched 5 hours of TV last night. Season openers for Alias and 24. It was Loooong. How do couch potatoes do it? I got up every commercial and tidied, did dishes, cleaned the litter box etc. Drank lots of water. I am feeling bloated for no apparent reason. Might be pms.
5 kids today. Storytime at 10. That means 5 kids into snowsuits.
The usual puttering to do.

Shad~ hope your trip is safe.
Happy~ an enjoyable post. What an exciting time for you!!
CL~ dont forget to save alittle time just for you.

Good morning and hugs to everyone!!!

Good tohear from you Happy and hopefully the time will go fast in the apartment the house and yard await your loving care.
I have been doing good.... I am still doing my oatmeal in the morning and no beer....and I have been on the treadmill and using my weights.... So I have made Monday mornings my weigh in.... I have gone down 6.5lbs in one week. I couldn't believe it.....small changes seem to be paying off. When I made my sandwich for lunch only using one slice of bread....I must confess that I have had a few vanilla wafers for my sweet tooth but nothing else. Anyway I am hopefull of putting in another good week. Good Luck to everyone else.
The hockey game yesterday ended in a tie and it was so fun the coaches let the girls have a shoot out at the end and each one of them shot on goal. It was so great.
I have a busy week with meetings and trying to handle some stuff for my boys. Everyone have a good day! Let's get through our challenge and on to the next one!!!!
Peace,
nae

For a change I am chock fjull of good news. I weighed in this morning and was almost 172. that would be 3 lbs since last week. I think this new plan may be the right one for me The eye doctor doesn't see any rosacea actually IN the eye so he was happy. He says I look less stressed than usual and thought I looked great. Loves my blue eyes without all the red around them!! so do I!!!! I feel so much more motivated than I have been. Just like when I first started. Hope IT STAYS!!!
I did 1/2 of my pedals and am going to do the rest before bed. Another 30 minute day!

Diane~ I will send some energy by fed ex tonite....should be there first thing in the morning! Hang in there!!! You need A LOT FOR THAT GRANDBABY!!!

Shad~ Have a great trip! Hope the weather is nice and you get to see some sights!!!
did you charge the batteries? (snap, snap)

Happy~ So is this the real deal and you ARE getting this new place?!?! Sounds like you already do in your head!!! The plans sound lovely! Have a great time setting it to you and the DH's personalities!! Gotta love a new adventure!!

Nae~ Good for you and the weight loss!!! I am very impressed with the way you have set your mind to it!!! Congratulations!!! Hope this week goes just as well!!!

Holly~ Snowsuits!! I used to hate those things!!! When Jen wanted to go to the store with her father, he would wrap her up like a mummy in a wool stadium blanket and off they would go. she loved it! also easier for HIM!!! ROFL Hope the day continues with your goals looking so good!!

Hello to the others that are missing. Hope Teel is getting warmed up by now and Linus is bouncing back!! Have a great night

HI Miss Mel!! sounds like a good report from the eye doc. Glad you are still feeling peppy. I am happy to hear you do the chair yoga. I LOVE yoga. Hope it is good for you too.
I have had a great day with food so far today.Just had turkey sausage and salad for supper.If i dont eat anything before bed....well...woohoo!!
I did the WATP today. Last week was like walking in quicksand. Today was much more vibrant.
Gotta take DD to dance in a half hour. DS is going as well to see what it is like to wait for a sibling at a hobby. DD spends a lot of time at the rink.
He had a horrible morning here and a school. I had a looong talk wiht his teacher at noon. Separation anxiety.Not pleasant for me. I am handling it better than is sept, though.I blamed myself somehow then and got depressed.

Hope everyone's day is going well. I will get my bean cans out after the kids go to bed.

Holly~ sometimes there are kids that just need that little bit of extra special attention and patience. Nothing is your fault and I hope you know this now. No more depression. It's not good for the soul!! come here and ***** instead! Good luck with the walking too.

Well I did all my exercises and pedaled before bedtime. The day was going so well that I didn't want to screw it up. Feeling a bit tired today. Lot of stress is going so I feel like the deflated balloon! Today is a Mel-iday and the wash can wait for tomorrow.
Hope you all have a great day.

Mornin',
I di 5 min with the beans last night. I di eat some cottage cheese before bed. Low fat though. I dont count that as "cheese". No where near as evil. Still a good food day in all.
DS had a good morning, yippee!!
Time seems to be flying today.It is 11am already. Must get dome cleaning done.
I have the 3 little kids today. They will all nap this aft!!!

Tig ~ you must be having a good year for grapefruit down there. I picked up 5 for $1 that are absolutely perfect. They are often $1 each. MM MM MM!

Shad must be on her way. I missed having coffee with her this morning.

Mel~ you are a sweety!!!!

Nae~ it is nice to hear you enjoy the hockey so much. i have afeeling I will eventually too. I LOVE watching my son but dont think much of all the other. My SIL had been at it for 15 years and loves it all now.

CL~ I hope YOU have a wonderful day!!

Linus~ How are you feeling???

Hello to everyone.

Have done well on doing the weights, four for four now. Not so great on the sugar... alcohol got me this time. An amber rum and pepsi to be exact two actually, one on Sunday that lingered in my mind till I had another with dinner on Monday I also had maple syrup on my flax pancakes on Sunday morning. I have avoided all chocolate and candy versions of sugar though which is a sort of willpower Bought three new pairs of trousers from Sears, one fits great, the other two are snug and need a weight loss to allow comfortable sitting so they are in the drawer as insentive. One of the pairs if fake suede, oooo!

Mel-so good to hear that the eyes are perking up, along with the decrease in your stress levels... hmm, you could actually achieve a Zen state. Time for a bit of tea and let your mind wander

Holly-My kids don't even look back when they hop in the door at school. Makes me feel funny the other way. They are just thrilled to be amused by the teacher and all the kids.

Shad-how was the flight? Do you just adore those other workers?

Rose-congratulations on your loss! That is alot to drop in a week, must be all the meetings you were atticipating that made you anxious and kicked your metabolism up a notch. Good luck with all that business.

I had to log in again after the board froze on me so I better post before everything vanishes

Hi everyone how are we doing on the challenge? I have had a good week again and I finally got my treadmill to stop turning itself off.... so that is a good thing. Shad must be working so hard she hasn't had time to jump in and tell us to keep up the good work.......
Mel I do hope you are getting better and your spirits remain high.... no word from linus for a few days.... I hope you aren't in as much pain...that is so draining..... let us hear from you.
Well still a busy week for me so I will check in tomorrow....take care evryone.
Peace,
nae

O YIPEE YIPEE it is all over! Gas central heating!! I am now at last sitting in a nice warm house! The work is all finished and the electrcians have been and gone. Funny though. There was only one man to do all the heavy installation work and two men to do the very little electric work that took all of one hour!
So here I am, sitting in the study next to a lovely warm radiator. The hpouse itself does not feel all that warm right now but I guess it will take a while to warm itself to a reasonable temperature then it will sort itself out to be comfortable and I will be a very happy happy bunny!!
After a few initial problems the installer and I got on quite well. He even said to the electric men thes morning to make sure the door was shut so the dog couldn't escape However I do get the distinct impression these days that one should follow workmen around to make sure they are doing exactly what they are meant to be doing! Take your eyes off them for one second and something gets "forgotten". I wanted the storage heaters switch plugs to be removed as there was absolutely no need for their existance and the electicians asked as to how many heaters here had been and I said "4" so I am sorry to say I when after they had gone I saw they had only removed three of the plugs.....
HAPPY congratulations on aquiring your new property. It looks absolutely gorgeous! I hope you and your family will have many happy a year spent in those enormous gardens!! How goes the new job this week??
LINUS I hope the weather in Edinburgh is not as horrible as the general picture we are seeing in Scotland as a whole. Keep warm and safe. How are the boys? No more displaced noses I trust.
SHAD I hope you are keeping well. Sorry you have to visit Sydney tomorrow. Especially as you have to get going at such an unearthly hour... Looking forward to reading a post when you are safely home again/ Can't have you disappearing from our thread again 'cos of bad cybercafe connections just when we have our Happy settled!
MEL I am so pleased that your eyes are looking the colur they should be for the time being!! Well done to you! Lets hope they stay that way!
HOLLYHOCK I am sorry you are having a rough time of it. It's meant to be the children who get anxious and tearful when they go off to school, not the mother!. Big [[[[[HUG]]]]] for you my dear.
ROSEBLUSH on your fantastic weightloss for last week! That was phenomenol! I think you had better post an exact copy of your diet for the whole seven days and maybe I will get to lose some too!!
CANDLELADY I hope that young grandson hasn't worn you out too much!

Ok thats all from me! All keep warm (or cool if your name is SHAD) and safe and motivated!!
Love from Teel...

hi all no i havent disappeared off the face of the earth just fed up and ever so slightly pi***d off with myself ive done my weights all week not quiet managing 10 mins but getting to eight but my eating is terrible just want to eat ALL the time seriously thinking about smoking again as ive put back all but one stone of all the weight i lost and put on a pound this week and im feeling the extra weight my legs ,hips and back have been killing me all week and this blooming weather isnt helping one little bit this morning at 7.00am we had 70-80 mile an hour winds and torrential rain and its sooooo cold but ill get over it i think until then my family say im not to be talked to as i just shout all the time so ill be back tonight when ive got more time to catch up and reply
kirsty