I agree with the "no such thing as too much support!!" That's why I'm on two threads and sometimes more. Yes, please join us. We're a very supportive bunch.

The gain after a workout comes from the body repairing the tissues. I haven't been working out much for a few months now and before I was doing very heavy weight training. So, even though I reduced the weights because I've lost a lot of muscle, I still like to go heavy and push myself. Naturally, that means I'm sore the next day and, I'm not sure how it works but, in order to build muscle you are in effect tearing down the muscle and it repairs itself and adds muscle cells, or something like that. Anyhow, when you're sore you body tends to retain water, so you'll likely see a gain until the soreness goes away.

Red, hope you do well with the journaling. I find it's awfully helpful as it truly keys me into exactly what is the problem. If you are counting calories, do you start with a total for each day and do a "count down"?
Hi Jacque, sounds like you are doing well with your plan. Good luck and welcome.
Giving up soda sounds like a good plan to me. I only drink diet soda (but know it's bad for me) or have water, coffee or tea. My biggest problem, more like an addiction, is chocolate. It's on my mind all the time, it seems. In fact, I am planning my next "fix" now.... very bad girl!
I shoveled snow today for exercise. We have about a foot now. It's pretty, at least.
Just read a bit further and seems like you guys have been chatting a great deal! You go girls!
I've been swamped lately, it seems. Just not keeping up with the tons of e-mail I have. I'm on online digests and these people seem to be so chatty lately! I collect antique sewing machines and the digests are related to that, and my quilting.
At any rate, my instant notification of messages being posted here are working again, I hope!
Linda

Hi Derry, I'm sitting at my computer doing work so I hear the bell (wind sound) whenever I get an email and immediately go over and reply. Nothing like a welcome distraction! So that's why I've been chatting a lot. Have to leave soon though.

No, I don't start with a number though I should. That's much too optimistic and feels too regimented and restrictive for me. I need that feeling of choice and freedom. That, in turn, will usually see me doing really well.

Hmm. I usually am not attracted to chocolate but lately I have been. Strange. Must be some need for something, maybe caffeine. I've cut way back.

Antique sewing machines? Cool. I learned on an old Singer, with the wheel and old. It was neat looking. Don't know if my dad still has it. Probably does. I really liked that. I hope he didn't get rid of it. What's your oldest machine? Do you have ones from other countries too?

Woo Hoo! I just had a 30 minute workout and I feel good That was workout number 1 in hopefully a long line

I've never been one for Chocolate! My vice has always been potato chips and the like... and I am staying FAR away from those right now Which brings me to my dinner plans...hmm... off to look for some fun ideas (I'm home alone and normally I would run to Taco Bell, but I'm going to cook!)

Still on line?
Hi!
My oldest machine is a Wheeler and Wilson made in 1958, just 7 years after the invention of the sewing machine. It's very interesting and doesn't look much like the ones of today at all. I have two other machines from the 1870s and then the rest are "newer" like in the 1920s, etc. I love them all, it's kind of a creative passion I have. I've become somewhat of a historian, I guess.
At least my sewing and quilting keep my hands away from food sometimes?
Well, it's off for my evening activities, it's morning in Japan, right?
I'll be in bed while you are working, my friend. Pretty amazing how the world is, yet we can chat on line in such an amazing way.
Have a great DAY, while I sleep!
Linda

Hi Derry, yeah, it's morning and I have to leave soon but still need to finish up this translation work I'm doing and shower.

I think you mistyped. You must mean your oldest machine is from 1858, right? Wow, you have my mom's old Singer beat by far. Cool! You must have a lot of space to keep all these machines. Shall I look for some old Japanese ones for you? They're probably from Europe though.

Yes, isn't the Net amazing. How did we ever live without it? OK, gotta run. Good to hear from you so real-time like. Bye for now and good luck staying free of choclate's clutches. Just a bit, mind you!

Jacque, just saw your post too! Great for you. Workouts always feel good AFTER the fact, don't they? Just keep that feeling in mind and aim for it all the time! (I say to myself as well.) Yes, stay away from chips! I'm like you and can do it because I'm alone, but I just keep the stuff far, far away from me. If I buy something, it's at work where everyone (mostly all guys) will scarf down anything put out on the desks in a matter of seconds. Good for you for cooking. At this rate, the weight will be plummeting. Power to you, Jacque!

Hello chickies and welcome to Jacque and Angie.

6 cans of soda a day? Boy can I relate to that. I was a major Coca Cola junkie and sometimes I'd see so many empty cans on the counter that I couldn't believe it was just me drinking all of that. I started a diet plan last year and kicked the sodas - was down to maybe 2 a week. But with all that's happened I have slacked off. I have about a 1/2 can 3 or 4 times a week. My new menace is sweet tea now that I'm down south. But I have started my office job and we don't go out to dinner much now that things are settling down so I've switched back to mostly water. It's funny how when you are paying attention, the sugar feeds itself. Many times I remember having a soda, finishing it and being "thirsty" 5 minutes later for another Coke - like I hadn't had one in weeks. I never thought I'd ever be able to give up the soda but I did. I never thought I'd be able to give up the smokes but I did. So it goes to show I suppose that you can do anything you set your mind to. But it takes constant vigillance - so easy to slip back into the old ways.

Red, I'm glad you took the gain in stride and didn't let it get to you (too much). Lots of things can cause a temporary gain and if you were extra good as you say, chalk the weigh in to a freak thing. I wish we didn't measure our success so much by the scales. You just keep doing what you did right last week girl.

Good going on the workout Jacque! Can my husband come visit your kitties? We had one for 22 years and I was horribly allergic to her. I didn't realize quite how much until she passed away and the house got cleaned of cat hair. A few months later and I discovered I didn't have to take another allergy pill again. He would really like another kitty but I said no, my need to breathe was more important. So he needs to adopt some neighborhood cats. I really like cats myself - just can't live with them. I think I mentioned that we seem to be in the midst of horse country out here. Horses everywhere.

It was a long week at work and I really appreciated seeing the weekend roll around even if it is done already. We spent a good part of the weekend going to every furniture store in the greater area getting ideas. We did buy some patio furniture but are going to wait on some of the other pieces until we can get back into the new house to take room measurements. Thanks for the nice comments on the house Red. We're pretty excited about it for several reasons. Hopefully all will go well with the inspection on Tuesday and we can move on with getting settled in.

I did get things to bring my lunch and it's all packed and ready to go. I also picked up an exercise resistance band at the store. No excuses now.

Linda your sewing machine collection sounds so cool. I remember as a small kid, my grandmother had an old singer that had a foot "trundle" not sure what you called it but it wasn't electric and had this wide wrought iron foot panel that you'd push up and down to "sew". As kids we didn't know any better and one would sit on the pedal and the other kid would push pack and forth real fast for a cool ride. That was at least until grandma caught us She hollered but there was no keeping us away. I'm sure we broke more than a few needles in the machine. But I fondly remember that thing and I must have been about 4 years old when I last saw it.

Well I have to go catch up on a few more things and dig through my papers and find some work related notes that I have to take to the office. The weekends sure do fly - even if I don't have to spend as much time cleaning as I did with the house. Take care and hellos to Michelle, Chachee, Jolly, Lucky, Apple, Sassy and Raven.

Raven, I do hope you'll be back posting soon. Sending you some good karma woman... Here's to a good week for all of us.

I'm doing good at cooking healthier foods, which I thought would be VERY hard since I have never liked veggies or fruit! But I'm making myself like it and I'm fairly surprised! I also got Sugar Substitute and that's helping to sweeten things a bit

Hi people. Just a quick post as I don't have much time. Boring day at work. I overate, had sugar too, but I am determined to get it all put down in the food journal so I don't just go forgetting about these times. There are way, way too many of them! It's making me angry.

Ok, I quit caffeine and I'm feeling very tired and lethargic and have no get up and go, no interest in doing much of anything. I know these are partially the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, or, as in my case, sudden drastic reduction in caffeine intake. I almost gave in today but didn't but instead pigged out. I want to do both though, stay off the caffeine AND not overeat. I just have to keep at it, again!

Happy -- good to hear from you. You did great kicking that soda habit too and that's right, you've been off cigarettes for a long time now. That is even better. You don't realize how dirty and foul-smelling they are until you're not hooked on them. I cringe to think I was sticking them in my face all the time.

So, if we can do anything we set our minds to, do you think I can stop overeating? I don't know what it is with me. I just want to eat all the time more or less. I know it's comfort food, some sort of anxiety driven fixation. Sigh. Sigh. I will conquer this!

So, you see, happy, I didn't do so good with the weight gain. I WAS good last week and now I've been pigging out because of that gain. It's like some pouty child who's going to "show" everyone she doesn't care anyhow! So there! Grow up!

Too bad about your cat allergy. That would be a killer for me I so love animals. Maybe you'll change and you won't be allergic anymore. That does happen.

Yes, the house is beautiful. I was thinking you were already in it. Not? Are you going to totally refurnish it? Wow, if you are, it looks pretty big.

Good luck with your eating right and exercising. You're not alone in trying to get back in the swing of things. I have been so knocked flat by the past few months of ****. Everytime I think I'm OK and getting back on my feet I realize I'm not. But I AM better. I did get to the gym a lot last week and rode and I was eating pretty clean. Too bad my body went into shock over it and gained weight!

Happy, I loved your description of your memory of sitting on the sewing machine. I can just picture you sitting on that trundle and having a great ride!

Jacque -- how are you doing? It sounds like you're doing a lot better than me. I need someone to cook for me, to have things ready whenever I get home. You're making some great changes in your lifestyle. I really wish you luck and hope to hear lots of success stories from you.

What did you find to cook tonight? Something good I bet. I suggest you experiment with all sorts of spices. They are the best thing to add flavor and fun to things. I find that most recipe books don't use enough of them. I once had a book just for cooking with spices and it was so good. There are some real strange combinations (unless you're from a certain area) that become addictive. I love Indian and use about 10 different spices when I make curry. A Filipino guy at work was just mentioning he used clove and something else and basil and I thought that was a very strange combination but he said it was kind of a Thai thing, which I don't know about because the Thai food tends to be too hot for me. But he said they use all sorts of contrasts, sweet and sour and so. So maybe the basil, clove combo is understandable. Of course, he may have just been pretending to know! He's like that.

Ok, gonna go. Write again soon.

Good morning, or evening, as the case may be....
First, speaking of cats, I have what I think are two stray cats living under my back deck. I am really worrying about them, poor things. I'm going to put an add in the lost and found, I think, about them. I can't capture them to try to identify them, the run off when I come out of the house, sadly. I'm a real animal lover and it's really sad and depression, as we have about a foot of snow and they are cold. I've been sneaking food outside the last few days, which my husband is not happy with me for. I note they have been eating it, though.
The proper word for the apparatus on a sewing machine is treadle, but I know what you mean. I own four of that type of machine. Red, I appreciate your offer to find old Japanese ones, but the shipping would just about "kill" me, so I guess it wouldn't be a good idea. Those old machines are heavy, no doubt! By the way, Japanese machines were always (until at least about the 1940s) copies of European machines, they would make them and even copy the logos on them, to the point of even the part numbers. Interesting. Germans also made "clones" of Singer and other US and UK manufactured machines and did not put any identification on them at all, for fear of interfering with patents. Yes, I did make a type-o, thanks for picking up on that! My machine is 1858! I have one from the 1970s, that is covered with mother of pearl as well, amazingly beautiful. These were not only useful, but decorative in the home. The machines of today, being ugly plastic, are kind of sad to me, though they are wonderful technology. No one buys them for their beautfy any longer.
Well, I seem to be hovering at my weight this week, I don't thing I'll have a loss when I weigh in at my ww meeting tomorrow. I've not been horrible this week, but have not been super good, either. I have worked out, though, and was hoping that would help me out.
Today, the day before my meeting, I shall drink extra water and plan a very "good" dinner. Would love to have some ideas for herbs or spices to add flavor. I'm very sick of the same old thing for meals. It's very hard when it's four of us. Seems like everyone is doing lots of complaining about meals lately, our of boredom?
Happy, the house sounds terrific. Can you provide a link to the photo?
Raven, where are you? I am so worried about you and your job. How are you doing?
Linda

Good morning everyone --

Just a quick post before I leave for work. My company has instituted a new policy where they are paying close attention to our internet usage, so I've got to mind my P's and Q's.

In terms of eating and exercise, I don't get any awards for the weekend either. I did better with exercise than eating though. But today's the day hubby and I start challenge at the gym...so now we get a 2 month membership, free group personal training sessions, etc. I'm going to be a "gym rat" for the next two months at least. And I'm going to get back to journaling as that does help.

Jacque -- Welcome! You and Red had quite the chat. Sounds like you're doing great! Good for you for kicking the soda -- I drink about 3 cans a day (mostly diet, but once in awhile....). I'm working on cutting that out.

Happy -- Great to hear from you. I'm glad you're settling in so quickly.

Red, Jolly, Linda, Raven and everyone -- Here's to a good week for all of us.

Michelle, and Jacque, cutting out soda is probably the best thing you can do for yourselves! I think the average can of soda is something like 140 calories? Think about having three of them in a day - gosh, that's a MEAL! Give me the food anytime!
My physician once said that he thinks soda is what is responsiblie for the obese children in our world, also "super-sized" foods. He said to me, once, that he loves fast food too, but just gets the small fries vs. the huge ones, the basic plain burger vs. the huge one, etc. He is right, I think.
We can all still indulge in SOME things, but going wild is what is wrong.
Red, I was wondering what it was that you ate at work, especially the sugar thing. Maybe we can brainstorm for you about planning snacks.
One time I was at a WW meeting and someone asked about how to deal with out of control snacking.... she was told that she needed to leave enough points to plan for snacking throughout the day. Maybe you need to think like that and have some prepared snacks with you at work, stuff that is filling and keeps your blood sugar "up"?
Linda

Red, I'm doing good, but I'm only starting day 6...give me a few weeks, I'm terrified that the exitedness will wear off! (So you'll probably start to see me even more around here...)

My goal today is to get 30 minutes of exercise in (I'm setting daily goals for myself, hoping that will help me!)

Hi Ladies,

Wow, lots of activity on this thread. Whew, took me a bit of time getting caught up.

First, I did okay this weekend. I usually blow it, but I didn’t do too badly. I had a couple slice of pizza and spaghetti, but all in all, stayed almost within points.

I got 3.19 miles in on Sunday and 1.5 in on Saturday.

I finished the “top” to my mom’s birthday quilt this weekend and am starting in on the one for my friend’s birthday in October. If you are reading, Lucky, it’s green, and I totally thought of you when I was picking out the colors!

Not much going on otherwise. Went bowling yesterday. I suck, but had a great time. We went to Chuck E Cheese this weekend, and that was fun also. Just typical “family” weekend and it was great.

Welcome to Jacque. Looks like you and Red had some good conversations this weekend. I usually unplug on the weekends, just because I’m on the computer so much during the week. I think you will find these women quite fun, supportive and entertaining!

Hi to everyone!!

Happy Monday!

Chach