Skinny, thanks for the encouragement ;)

Tobaccy, you CAN do it!!! Yeah, for the loss of the holiday pounds. :)

Amy, I think big families are great. I come from a family of 6 kids and it was wonderful, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Well, I should go and clean, clean, clean....yuck

Diana

Good morning everyone, :flow2:

Kandice, the undies and t-shirt are a great idea. I’d love to see the look on Chris’s face when he sees them. :D

Amy, evening is the hardest time for me to control my eating, too. I get really hungry for salty things. If there are chips in the cupboard, I hear them calling my name. I think your idea of getting out of the house is a good one. One of my tricks is to take the dog for a walk. Being outside, especially when it’s colder, seems to break the spell. I also have some fancy teas that I save for such occasions, and I’ve found that drinking a glass of lime-flavored Perrier also seems to help. I think it’s because Perrier contains a lot of sodium and eases the salt craving.

Dena, glad to hear you’re feeling better. I live in Goleta. What are the odds? My son who was evacuated lives at the bottom of Old San Marcos Pass. All the homes in the area were evacuated. Cathedral Oaks road was closed from Patterson to Turnpike. It’s been very crazy here because the 101 has been closed at La Conchita since Monday, and all the commuters from Ventura have been unable to get to work. I think the 101 is supposed to open today, at least one lane in each direction. (So much for the traffic report :^: )

We have a good friend who lives in La Conchita. The mudslide stopped one block from his house. Those who died were his friends and neighbors. He is badly shaken. After the last deadly slide, everyone urged him to move, but he loves being close to the beach and decided to stay. I don’t know what he’ll do now. I’m with you. There’s no way I would live there.

Diana, I grew up in Illinois and had some cold winters, but never 40 below. Wow. :sman: That’s cold! I understand what you’re saying about the urge to eat even when you’re not hungry. I feel the same way a lot of times. So much of dieting has to do with the brain, emotions, and stress, and nothing to do with the stomach and hunger. I think being aware of this fact is at least a step in the right direction.

And now, back to work. I wish everyone a good weekend.
Florafae

Hello, everyone. Welcome to all of the new people! Our group just keeps growing and growing :dizzy: It will only make us all stronger.

Thanks to all of you for your questions and concerns about my WW meeting. It went really well, I absolutley love the leader, she is really energetic, outgoing, and a little loopy (just like me :D ) I think I will actually look forward to going to the meetings! I found out that I was not doing my points correctly, so mabey that has been a problem with my weight loss. I didn't know that I was supposed to have a certain amount of veggies an fruit and milk, I was just eating my alloted points. Whoops! I am OP now that I know and will use my Flex points over the weekend! I love the idea that I have these "extra" points, in case I mess up. It isn't really that expensive, I had a free pass to join. All I had to buy was the books ($25) and pay the $12 weekly dues. It is worth it to keep my butt in line :lol: Pretty sad that it takes this for me to be held accountable for my weight. But, at this point I am happy with whatever works!!!

I just wanted to tell you, Kandice your little undies and shirt sound so cute, I know Chris will love them! :devil: that is also so good that you are going to couseling, I am sure that you will have a very happy marriage.

I am glad that everyone is feeling better and keeping on track! I will be traveling with work next week to Savannah, Hilton Head, and Valdosta area so I don't know how much I will be able to post. I will try to keep in touch! Everyone have a wonderful and healthy weekend!

Flora,
You live in Goleta? And your son lives near Patterson? I lived near of Patterson and Hollister! Wow, what are the odds is right!! I'm glad you are all doing better. I can't believe that this has happened to my lovely little Santa Barbara area. I used to work and went to school at UCSB. Isn't it a small world! Take care.
Hugs,
Dena :cool:

Dena,

My husband and I are both UCSB alumni. We came here to go to school many, many years ago and never left. We still make it to a lot of Gaucho basketball games.

For all the terrible loss, sorrow, and disruption that the heavy rains brought, they have also turned the area into a beautiful jade jewel. Today, all the plants and trees seem to be sparkling. The mountains and hillsides that were brown from two years of drought are now deep green and lush with growth. The sun is shining. The sky is a brilliant blue. The air is crisp and clean. The birds are singing. It’s one of those amazing days in paradise. I’m sure you know what I mean.

Take care,
Florafae

Hello to all Dewcan surprize to see you say -40 I thought I was the only one from Canada But for you ladies that say that is to cold well there is nothing better to go for a walk on a snowy winter day and thats what I did to day 2 miles and it was wind chil -26 really feld good ......It is better then all that rain we were having .Well did good to day hope I can keep it up for the week end ,,I have a hard time keeping up with all you guys it is nice to hear that I am not alone with wanting to eat for the fun of it . I dont keep any chunk food in my house so if I feel like piging out I have to have freash veggies but I think I am on my way I hope three meals and snacks all planed and marked down ,,,, Healthy eating to all Jean

Good morning, ladies
 

Hope this finds everyone doing well. I did 50 minutes on the ellip. last night, was op and met my water goals. I'm getting ready to go for a walk. It's 25 degrees here at my sister's house in IN but I'll be bundled up! They are not members of the Y or a gym or anything so it's walk outside or skip it today. And skipping is not an option.

Kandice-love the panties/t-shirt idea. :D I'll bet he loves it! That's very sweet and thoughtful of you. We were already going to church so our pastor did our premarital. He won't marry anyone who doesn't have premarital w/someone. It doesn't have to be him but someone. One of the hardest decisions we had to make about getting married was what church to attend. We both attended somewhere and were very active. We ended up at Bill's church. The deciding factor were how my kids responded to his church and were they wanted to attend. It's been the best thing we ever did. Karen, my oldest, sings w/the praise team on Sunday morn. and night (she has an awesome voice!) and Ashley, my youngest, is becoming involved in things as well. Overall, it was a good move for all of us.

Jean-I'll be thinking of you when I'm walking around in the cold today. I don't know if I could walk outside in weather as cold as what you've got!

Amy-Six kids. Wow. I think that's great. I have 4 siblings and, as Diana already already said, I wouldn't have it any other way. There are so many wonderful memories of growing up in a house full of family. Full time student as well? What are you studying? I understand what you said about the days sometimes being long. I used to call the weather update just to hear an adult voice! And that was w/only two kids. But, I loved being a SAHM. It's the greatest, most fulfilling thing I've ever done.

Cole-glad you liked the meeting. I was doing the same thing you were w/my points. My friend straightened me out though and then I started seeing some awesome results. I saved my FP for this weekend as well. I knew my sis would be doing some extra things and I didn't want to have to worry about my points that much. This morning is pancakes. Yum. I haven't had pancakes in quite a while and I plan to thoroughly enjoy them! :) Be careful on the road next week.

Dena-glad you're feeling better! How's it going for you?

Bonnie-congrats on the loss! You're doing great. Hang in there. :dancer: I like pedis but, like Kandice, I think mani's are my fave. That's one of the treats I do for myself every now and then. What's next-a facial and a massage? :D

Florafae-how are things going for you? Sorry to hear about your friends loss. I liked that you try to find some good in things. You spoke very elequently of how beautiful everything looks now. I believe that's called finding the silver lining in the clouds. :)

Well, ladies, I must go. My breakfast awaits. Have a great health day and a great weekend.

okay, ladies
 

That HHfM post was actually from me. I have no idea who HHfM is or how I got there but it's actually me. Oh, well. Happy Saturday!! :)

Grandma57, I'm from Alberta. ARe you in Ontario, just a guess, cuz you were talking about rain.

Gotta run, have a good weekend!!

Diana

Hello to all yes Diana I am from Ontario and the rain is over cold sitting in -16 to day I did my one mile out side and Bonnie believe it or not I was sweating I had to many close on .But it feels so good I kind of like the cold but when Spring comes it is nice to get the heavy coats off ....and the mittens .......I dont really know how to make Putine but if french fries dont have enough calories you can add cheese and gravy I think thats what it is ....but not sure is that a Canadian dish ? well got a new Leslie Sansone walk away the pounds "walk and Jog " she must of made this one just for me it is great a half an hour long and the same as if you walked 2 1/2 miles did it to day plus my one mile out side I am on a Roll I will weigh on monday So every one keep going Jean

Bonnie, poutine is something people here really like. I've never tried it because I think it's best if I don't know what it tastes like :lol: Congrats on the pound lost!!!!

Jean, is that a new video, because I haven't heard of it? I'm assuming that it includes jogging, hmmm...how do you like it? I'll have to check it out.

Good night ladies
Diana

Hi Diana yes I think it is a new I just got it It is a 30 mni work out real simple and easy to do but I work up a good sweat she gets you moving walking and joging . Jean

I'm originally from Maine- my maternal side grandparents were all from Canada, and poutine was/is a family favorite! mmmmm!!! My grandparents families each came down from Canada to work in the textile mills and set up in Lewiston in a community named "Little canada" where all the frechmen lived who worked in the mill. Later after they befriended each other- they realized they were from the same area in Canada- they describe it as living in the next town over.

finding a church was hard for us too Skinny. I come a very Catholic family and was always very involved in the church. I came to NC and went to church and didn't feel the welcomeness and love that I was used to so I never went back. Chris never went to church. Chris and I found ourselves a Southern Baptist church that we like a lot. We're not allowed to become members yet- because we haven't been baptized (I had been Baptized Catholic and Eph- I forget which chapter- it says, "One Lord, One Faith, One baptism" but the pastor and chairman of deacons say I need to get baptized again). They won't baptize us because we're "living in sin" by living together before we're married. he said they'd baptize us after the wedding though.
Last night with our pastor that's going to marry us, we talked to him about it and he said he would be honored to baptize us if our pastor didn't have a problem with it. Chris and I talked last night and we want to do it with the pastor that's going to marry us. we've come to know and love him and want to share that with him.

weigh in day today! How's everyone doing? (Congrats Bonnie- one the lb lost! :D )
I'll post my results around lunch time.