well - looks like you got all your questions answered before my post! I'm too slow

Stormy - my dogs like to stand over me and look down at me, one will drool and the other just sniffs and tries to give me kisses...either way I have the same problem - you're in the floor..that makes you a toy Mac will also flop his head across my belly and throw it around when I come up. nut!!

Crime girl - my boyfriend was no support in school either. And he didn't walk anywhere!! Like you said - come to us. I worked 3 part time jobs and had to quit 2 of them because I couldn't handle it. You handle what you can, the rest you get through!! You'll make it and we're here for you!!!

Jacque, great choice at Fazoli's. I know that it is so hard. I do not eat salad so I do not have that option. I would have caved. Good job!

Red, you will not be hot at that race, but you will look sizzling hot! Now make it happen!

Ok, I need to go and work on a project. Talk to you guys later.

stormy - let that teacher come out all you want!! I know what you mean though - I spend a lot of time teaching people too, so that they understand why what we are doing is important and why the exercises are important. I have not been runninp uphill but it was my first run yesterday and also, I have not had my feet clipped into a bike in a while and that will restrict abduction of the hip - which most people naturally try to do when pedaling...you can't when clipped so you fight the muscles a little. I've been in feet cages the past few weeks - that probably got this started...and then the running triggered the soreness....atleast that's what I'm thinking! oh and I have a bowl of different size balls and different types in my office with straps and mats and exercise balls..all kinds of stuff because my office works with a lot of athletes they think I'm just showing off my sporty side until we get to work

Jacque - the italian vs. salad myth is broken. Urban legend says a person can't pass up italian for salad! You busted it And enjoyed it too YEAH!!!! Good for you. Friday night we're going to a mexican place. The ONLY thing in the menu I can have is the steak or chicken breast. Nothing else. I'm going to see if I can get them to make me a salad. It's BF's favorite food though so I love to go with him. My lifestyle can be so restrictive and I refuse to push it on him. If he choses it for himself that's great but I won't be the one to push it on him.

Grasshopper,
I hope they can make you a salad!! That would be such a bummer to just sit and watch people eat I love Mexican food and would be so worried I'd break down! (Heck! I just love food!)

Stormy,
That myth was broken, but... VERY tough! I love pasta...love it love it love it! And I was so close to walking up and ordering a different meal several times

Well, Day 5 of work outs and I'm feeling GREAT!!! I've done 5 workouts! That's 5 more than I've done since high school

Jacque - 5 more than highschool!! Great for you!!! Your'e doing a great job! Keep up the good work

Way to stay strong at lunch. Pasta is one of my weaknesses too!!!

gahh lost my long post.. stupid thing. I even copied it too! grrr... ok will try to write it all out again soon.. have to get back to work now tho.

Ug - I cheated. sort of. I came home today and was hungry. Instead of just eating dinner like I knew I should I had a rice cookie. Then the rest of my rice icecream...then dinner. Then 3 more cookies. I realize I'm talking about cheating with rice cookies here but still for me it's a cheat. I am only suppose to have 1 every few days or so.....this is decidedly more than that. I already asked bf to take the cashews out of the house so I won't eat those and on the good side I finished the cookies and ice cream so i can't eat any more of those. Now I'm trying to resist the lime chocolate bar in my freezer!!

Someone please remind me that this is not the wagon and I am okay!! I know it on paper but I feel like I just caved on an extra large pizzza!

Hi everyone! I am back and much more calm. I had some supper and organized for school so that helped a little.

stormy- Thanks for the push. I am just going to get up tomorrow and get back on the horse. What other choice do I have? I can't stay this weight so I must try, try again. Today I was horrible though- fast food for breakfast, fattening food for lunch, and mexican for supper. It is almost as if I am trying to sabotage myself. Sigh!
Thanks fot the tip on using my crock pot. Got any good recipes? I am also going to take your suggestion and try to cook for the week on Sunday afternoons. I use to do that and it helped with stress through the week. I didn't have an excuse to forget eating well and hit fast food- all my food was there and easier than eating out. Thanks for reminding me of that!

Red- You are sounding much better and I am happy to see that. The publisher sounds like a great option and you seem enthused and happy about it. Good for you! I am so happy things are beginning to work out.
As for me- school stresses me out because the pages I have to read aren't just casual reading. I will probably read them at least three times before class and that takes a lot of time. I have tried splitting up the reading with peers but I am really funny about how people do a summary and in the past have run into problems trying to do it that way. I guess the main thing that has me freaked out is the amount of reading and the fact that I still have a life I have to run. I normally have no problem with time management-I am very anal retentive and keep a date book that schedules my life. The problem is I don't have enough time physically to do all of this work so it means less sleep and less down time for me. I hate when I am this stretched for time. I also have the added pressure of having to find a job and I am sure everyone knows that writing letters and applying takes a lot of time too. Anyway- I will quit moaning about it. I have to do it so there is nothing I can do about it. I need to grin and bear it. It will be OK- I know and maybe by next week I can calm down a little. Thanks for listening- it helps to vent.

jacque- sorry I didn't post to you last time. I didn't mean to leave you out- I just ran out of time. Great job today not caving at Fazoli's. Honestly I would have caved- don't think I can even go in there! I love italian food too much! I am truly impressed you didn't get the pasta.
Also great job with the workouts and your enthuasim is uplifiting. It helps to read upbeat and cheerful posts. Thanks!

little grasshopper- Thanks for the encouragement! You worked 2 part time jobs?? Man- I can barely manage the one job I have.
Don't beat yourself up over a few rice cookies. At least they weren't fudge brownies or something else equally evil! You are doing so well following a very restricted program so stay out of the freezer!

Well I think I responded to everyone who posted since my last post. You guys are great with the chatter. I just can't let a lot of time go between checking for posts or I get way behind!

How about food today?? How did everyone do so far this week? If you get a chance give us a quick recap and let us know how you are doing. Let's hear some bragging out there- you are all doing so well!

Tomorrow is - " What have I been doing to move my bootie" day so give us an idea of how your exercise program is going. What is your program tailored to do to your body? are you going for muscles or a more lean look?

Question for tomorrow- How did you pick your sign in name? Do you have any other interesting nick names? Confess ladies-let's hear them.

To everyone- Thanks for all the encouragement and support. It has been a blessing to know that I can post on here and there is always someone ready to lend an ear (or eye in this case). I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have met all of you and become a small part of your lives. Just wanted to let you know.
I will hopefully be on later-

Little GH if you consider that cheating then man we are all in trouble. Right now you are so limited in what you can eat, I am sure that what you did will not hurt you. Just try to stay away from the freezer. I found that the best thing that I can do for myself is just keep any temptations out of the house. If I do cheat it has to be outside of the house, so that makes it harder for me. However, for you I guess that it would be hard to go to the local ice cream shop and ask for rice icecream, right? Don't be so hard on yourself...you are doing fabulous!

CG, just be sure to get rest throughout all of this. If you do not get sleep you can not be productive. It will get better after you get everything organized. I will list some crock pot recipes when I have a chance. In the meantime, I have to get back to this project.

Ok here it goes on the super long lost post, mark II

LGH - YOU ARE STILL ON THE WAGON! Man I wish I could cheat with just rice cookies. Don't sweat the small stuff. chances are that will all the extra weights etc you have been doing the last couple of days, your body needs a bit more fuel! Stay calm. Remember one step at a time, and if you scuff your shoe, just put some nugget on it and keep on walking. As for the unsupportive friends.. At the end of the day, what you eat and what you do is between you and your DOCTOR at the most ONLY! Your friends have no right to comment. They should know you well enough to know that you are sensible and realistic about all of this. Just remember that people don't like change and it's probably a fear of being left behind that is making them act this way. Also your committment and progress is probably making them take a long hard look at their comfort zone and whether or not they need to move out of it and challenge themselves (not just weight but mentally too). Also remember, people can only make you feel bad IF you let them! (and that includes you making yourself feel bad).

Went out for dinner last night, my boy was back in town again! yay yay yay.. he's gone now for 7 nights.. we went to this italian place.. i wasn't too naughty, just had antipasto - stuck to the veges and the salmon steak.. but I may be guilty of not removing much at all of the dill sauce still it was fun we went with a couple that we are good friends with.. he he drinking on a work night!

Hmm went for a walk with some women from work today, however I ended up walking by myself as they were just really wanting to ramble and gossip. Personally I think if I am going to exercise, I'll do it at a level where I get some benefit.. also i find walking slow really hard now! he he... they probably think I am a show off or something.. but it's just hard i mean I have heaps more to lose than any of them so....

well better get back to work.. ate too much at lunch.. I'm feeling really crappy even tho I had gone for a 55 min power walk in the sun down the coastal walkway..

Crime girl - try a ratatouille.. it's really yummy and good on toast, or cold or with crackers or rice cakes or by itself or as a side.

Tiff

Hey!
I thought I would pop on before I go to bed...

NBK- what is a ratatouille??? Sounds italian but not ringing any bells.

stormy- I will try to get some rest- you are right. I am no good without some sleep. How about you? Are you stressing or is school going OK for you? You have mentioned a project- is that going well?

Okay happy people- that is it for me tonight! I will talk to you all tomorrow.
Have a wonderful night!

Hi all!

Been a very busy day, so haven't had time to catch up. I had volleyball tonight, and then we always go out afterwards. We went to Applebee's, my favorite, and all I had was a Berry Lemon Cheesecake from the WW menu - 5 pts! Whoo hoo!!!

As for today's question - I wasn't original...my initials and my birthday (12/3). As for "moving my bootie", I've been walking 2 miles with Walk Away the Pounds each morning, and I play volleyball one night a week. I'm going to try to get some hand weights this weekend and add a weight regimen that I read about in a magazine that seemed feasible. I'm looking to mainly lose weight, and get leaner while doing so. Don't want to be bulky, maybe have a LITTLE definition, but basically be the long and lean creature I imagine myself being!

I wish I had time to respond to each and every one of you, but I am exhausted and REALLY need to get to bed.

CG, Stormy, LGH, Red, Jacque, NBK and anyone else I'm forgetting....keep it up! You can all do this - let's lean on each other and be motivators for one another. I know I'm not gonna want to get up in 6 hours, but I will because I want to be an example and supporter for you all!!! Love to everyone!

Kelly

Crime girl, ratatouille is basically a vegetable stew with a fancy French name! The difference is that you use eggplant, which is good baked beforehand then simmered together with other veggies such as zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and such. But you don't have to bake it if you want a quick version. Spices are basil, tarragon, thyme and parsley, sometimes oregano, and you can or cannot use some olive oil. I can give you a recipe, haven't tried the recipe but it sounds good.

In fact, I think it's just the thing for me! One of those things I can divide up and freeze for work, have plain or over rice or noodles. Yum! Oh, I'm wanting some good food. I want a cook!

Hi guys - 4 am here and I'm wide awake. Partly because of the ongoing snoring, partly too much water, and partly because I Forgot to take away the bones from my dogs before bed. They tore into them.

Anywhoo - kelly I beat you up I'm am NOT walking right now though. I may watch the west wing I tevo'd.

Crime girl - I make chicken in my crock pot all the time. Mine is plain but still wonderful! Just ckicken pieces and salt and pepper...but you can use the hidden valley ranch dressing (dry packages) and it's just heavenly!! Let it cook over night or while you're at work - put about 1/2 cup of water in the bottom to keep it from sticking and you're on your way. (oh, cook on low). It's sooo yummy - then you can either eat the chicken hot or eat it cold on salads.

Stormy - do you hate salads or can you not eat lettuce well? Just curious?? Already legs are feeling better. Thanks for the massage idea though. I will have to add a noodle to my assortment of tools

NBK - I won't even begin to tell you how jealous I am of your walking area. BF and I walked to the mail box last night. I was actually surprised he agreed to go. We like to camp and realized last night that walking through our street is a little like walking through a cam ground. The people that live directlly across from us are something else. They love to burn things in a big fires in their yard and they always have kids running around. The "camp fire" helped with the feeling Anyway, it's very hilly with tons of trees and I live off a short gravel road so it feels like a smokey mountain campground.

KJK - I'm really excited and impressed about your dessert choice!!! Isn't it great to know you can go out and eat and feel good about your food, and stay on plan at the same time!! There IS life after a healthy diet Resturants seem to be doing a decent job at catching up to everyone's eating habits. With Atkins menues and weight watcher's options. I think they're finally realizing we're not eating as much death by chocolate so they need to do something

Guys I read a great tip somewhere - (hope it wasn't here and I'm about to repeat it ) When you go out to eat have the box 1/2 the meal immediately. With the huge portions you get here, that's a great idea!! I'm going to do it Friday night.

Looks like everyone is either asleep or at work. I hope you're all sleeping well, or working and moving that fanny

my name here came from my sensei's father. He called his son grasshopper (very original, I know) anyway, named me little grasshopper because he liked me and because there was already a grasshopper. I mentioned it one day at work and it stuck. I have also been called half pint - but not because of my size....

I have been walking/riding the bike and running - mixing it up a lot I have also be doing 30 minutes of weights daily and pilates classes twice a week and 15 minutes a day. I am trying to park further away from buidings too. I read that if your movement is sustained for 1 minute or more it counts as exercise....I'm walking every where I can