Hi Chicks,
I'd love to join you. You're a fun group I see and I DEFINITELY qualify for membership. I'm a Unix Systems Administrator and with my commute and unpaid lunch, I'm gone from home about 55 - 60 hours a week. I have a 16 month old boy, and a husband of 3 years as of today (to see pics, login is "pics" passwd is "pics"). I'm also 42 years old and about 80 lbs overweight. I have worked full-time since I was 21, with about 9 months off total during that time unemployed.
I love to work, but tend to let it overshadow the rest of my life. I'm getting better about that since becoming a Mom.
I joined up here at the end of the year, and promptly lost 10 lbs, then gained 2 of them back last week primarily because of evil girl scout cookies and my total lack of control with them. I signed up for WW in 3-d on Thursday to add a layer of F2F accountability.
I am determined to get to my goal weight once and for all to have more energy, be a more active Mom, and improve my health.
Nice to meet you all!
Kim

Kim, welcome, we would love to have you join in!!!
I sent you a quick PM I'm sure you will have a good time with us!

Happy Saturday All!
Welcome Kim, to our humble abode!!!!
I invited "Paige" from an "Overwhelmed" thread to join us here--hope she does!

Da munchkin just told me that he needs a "Romeo" costume in about 6 hours!!!!!!!!
Can you spell K I L L ??????

Later!
Joetta

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm still around. My computer is down at home and the boss is in town this week so there's no time to play during work... I'll be back by Wednesday when everything will be back to normal. So, I'll talk to you all later....

Thanks for the invite Joetta and HELLO everyone. My name is Paige and I am an elementary school Asst. Principal. This group is right up my alley!!!! I am married and have two children ages 4 and 6. We also recently adopted a cocker spaniel from a rescue center a few weeks ago. I have organized a group at work of 22 teachers and staff to participate in WW. It has been working out really well having WW come to our school to do the meetings. My excuse before was that I didn't have time to pick up the kids and get to a meeting. So this has worked out great. We just started week #3 and I have lost 6 lbs. so far. Now my biggest challenge is finding time to workout. I
found a gym close to our house that has great hours. I'm just not sure I want to be bound by this for a year. I am taking a break right now from cleaning out my closet. I decided it was time to get rid of all the clothes that I think I might beable to wear someday. When I know perfectly well that once I lose this weight I'm going SHOPPING!!!! How do you all find time to workout????? Well time to get back in the closet!

Paige

Just wanted to pop in and say Hi to all of you. A big welcome to the new ladies

My loss is now 17 pounds and it's been forty days since I smoked my last cigarette. We had a mild Minnesota day yesterday so I hurried home from work and walked outside for an hour. Wow, what a difference! The asthma seems to be a thing of the past and I can walk so much faster than I could before. I had an awful flu bug last weekend - temp of 101.8, chills, body & headache and cough. Over the last 2 years, a respiratory virus put me in the hospital twice with asthmatic bronchitis. Apparently, my lungs have healed enough that I no longer have trouble breathing when I get these things. I can't wait to show my doctor the new Diana. He was pretty sure the damage I'd done with smoking was permanent. As I get closer to my goal weight I'm going to pay him a visit and surprise him.

I'm still at 1200 calories and as long as I have consistent losses of 2 pounds per week, I'll stay there. I was surprised that even the week prior to TOM, I lost 2 pounds. People at work are really starting to comment on the weight loss which feels good. Clothes are starting to be a problem and I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet because I still have fifty pounds to go. I wish I would have had my daughter take a picture of me when I was 188. This weekend, I'm going to have her take a picture of me so I can have pictures to show my progress.

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Hi Kim and Paige, welcome to a great thread. The thing I like about it is that everyone here is busy and can't post all the time. I suppose that didn't make sense since I like to read the post. I just think it's nice to feel welcome after a busy couple days at work that you can come back and still feel part of the group.

Lori, I like the recipe idea. I have a great recipe for Sweet Oatmeal Bread that's made in a bread machine. You don't add any fat to it and it's great. My kids devour it. I'd love to share it. BTW, I got my new bread machine this week and if anyones looking for a great one, try looking at the Ultimate Breadman. It's way better than my old one (Welbilt).

Kerry, good luck on the job search. I swear that is the most depressing process in the world. I remember one time after not getting a job that I sunk to the floor in tears wondering why nobody liked me. This was when I was about 33 years old. By then I shouldn't have taken it so personally. Then I was in HR for so many years that I saw the other side clearly. Sometimes one candidate has one trait or skill that isn't part of the job but would be clearly beneficial to the company and that was the deciding factor. The lesson learned, always promote anything that you can do that will put you over the top, even if you don't think it's important. It possibly can be. Good luck to you.

Work was busy this week and yes it seemed very slow. I think it's because it's winter. I blame everything on winter. I'm not a cold weather, dreary day type of person. But yesterday I saw my first signs of spring - the lilac bushes have growth on them. Spring is coming then the days will be flying by.

I've been exercising and that's the good news. I'm definitely starting to get in the mood to exercise (I started regularly as mine and DH's new year's resolution). The bad news is that I'm having trouble with eating. The portion sizes are just too big. I might need to measure for a couple weeks to get that back into control. Bu first I'm going to try harder. That is my promise to all of you.

To everyone, have a great weekend and really enjoy yourself.
Marie

Welcome Paige, yea were a bunch of busy nuts! I find myself working out sometimes right before bed! I couldn't imagine trying to get to a gym!

Diana, I'm soooo happy for you!! Keep me posted, I'm planning on tackling the smoking thing this summer! I'm also glad you dropped a line to let us know how it was going!

Marie, we'll have to come up with a solid plan to get everyone in on a reciepe post. The bread sounds wonderful. I have a bread machine some where, hmm, I'll have to look for that!

Karen, we'll be here waiting on you when you get rid of the boss!! Imagine, him wanting you to work! I know the feeling!!!

Joetta, my only mom duty this weekend it to get treats for the Valentines day party, thank goodness. Yes, I know the feeling of KILL! My favorite moment is trying to get out the door in the am and I hear, I forgot to do my homework! I just want to run out side and run myself over in the driveway!!!
I'll check back later!!

I did it!!!! Luckily he didn't want to go over the top on the costume, so I didn't have to run to the local fabric store and spend another small fortune (as I do every time I go). I had made Justin a gauze shirt last year that he loves to wear around the house. He calls it his "Gandhi" shirt. We used that, and then a quick pair of blousy knickers, sashes, a pair of tights, and off he went!!!!

Do any of you have problems with cravings during ovulation? HEY I meant food cravings!!!! Thank goodness I have moved to an area that does not have a bakery around the corner (or down the street, or in the next town, or in the next county...you get the picture). I never have a chocolate problem, I have never liked the taste of chocolate, but man carbs get me salivating!

Anmyreah and Diana, I am happy that you both are feeling better--and Diana--you rock girl! Every day smoke free is a victory!


Alright Lori--Miss "I have a second to spare so let me use my computer skills to create a customer data base including shoe size and nose hair count from scratch"--What do you mean, Start and new Thread???? I do a little jubilation dance every time that I find my way back here!
Okay, maybe I am over reacting just a bit---If you do something different, just please explain to me how to find you again!!! I can put together a Romeo costume in an afternoon, but I can be totally blown out of the water when it comes to computers.

and welcome Kim and Paige.

Lori I think the receipe trade is a great one. I have a breadmachine somwhere also. Better start looking for it.

Marie your bread receipe sounds great. Also I'm so happy you are a machine knitter. I know how to knit but I bought this machine from a lady who got a new one and she sold it to me for $25.00. It's just the basic manual machine but I could use some pointers on how to start a project. Quess I directions in a book haven't always been easy to understand for me. I have it all set up and I just want to make a basic baby blanket but I think I'm affraid of the thing.


Diana congratulations great job

Joetta I work in a Library and we have school children come in all the time and want resources on some topic they picked at school and we belong to wider system so if we don't have it we have to send to our member libraries for the info. The trouble is they come in for the info Tuesday after school and ask for it because it's due on Wed. It just happened again a week ago. I just chuckle and think I probably did the same thing when I was young.

I also have a ?
Where do you guys get all your cute Icons that make up your weight charts and such.
Anmyreah

Hi Anmyreah...go to User CP at the top of your page. Then click on Edit Signature. It will tell you where to click if you want to set up your own weight tracker.


Diana

Anmyreah, I found the video that came with my sweater machine. You can have it if you want it. Even if they're not the same brands, I'm sure it will help. Also, I have the basic instructions how to set the machine up if you don't have that. PM me if you want any of the stuff.
Marie

Mornin' all!
It is 4 AM and I am wide awake=silly, silly me!!!
The scale is not friendly--I did lose the pound that I put on last weekend, but nothing more. I am not discouraged though, since my weekend jeans, I can now just pull up and zip. No more of the wiggle-jiggle, squeeze, yank, lie flat on the bed and suck-it-in just to get the zipper closed--and then try not to bend for the rest of the day!

I know that the hubby will talk me into going to church this morning__I know-shame on me that I have to be talked into it! The associate pastor lives across the street from us, and he and Tom have become good buddies. They usually want to take us to lunch afterward, and then we have a B'day party for a 2 yr old this afternoon. Tomorrow we have a Boy Scout Court of Honor with lots of food--so the temptations will start hot and heavy this week. I'll have to get my game face on!

Paige, you asked about finding time to exercise. I was going after work to the fitness center, but way too many days, I had too much to do. When I did go, I would stay for only 30-40 min. I dusted off the old cross-country ski machine at home and have it the family room. I hop on that while the guys (and I) watch TV. They give me support in gentle reminders that keeps a guilt trip going if I don't get at least three 20 minutes rounds per evening. I find 20 minute stints frees me up in between to do dishes, laundry, etc. That is working much better for me than the fitness center.

Have a great Sunday gals!

As for recipes--anyone interested in cabbage soup?????--Yeah, didn't think so....

Joetta

Good morning !
The weekend just goes buy way to fast! Ok, it's Sunday how about confession time . I had pizza last night, not just one slice either, it was soooo good! Pizza and a short glass of pepsi, wow did I miss that! I'm glad I did it, and in a few weeks I'll do it again! Something I learned along time ago when I actually did lose all my weight was that it was the best idea in the world to cheat now and again. Once I get the weight down and I'm ready to maintain (I can't wait) I would have a cheat day once a week it worked and I never felt depived.

Joetta, I had kind of a late night myself. Like a fool I let the kids talk me into running to Walmart and 11:30 last night, they didn't have what the kids wanted so they thought we ought to shop around, by midnight I was ready to leave both of the at the store. The didn't get anyting and were both tired and mad at me, not a fun ride home. (I need a smile with tears flying out of it) But this morning they both still have their money and I can call around to some other big stores and see if they have the game they wanted.

Anmyreah,
I did my weight ticker over on www.tickerfactory.com, you can get it the way you want it, copy and past it right in your signature when you edit it. You can use the user cp link at the upper left hand of the paige and it will open up a new screen with links on the side, choose edit signature and away you go!! If you need more help give a yell.
Ok, I'm going to make breakfast, I'll be back!!!

Off to church I go---but I forgot my confession----Friday I succumbed to Chinese at lunch, and then when I got home my dear loving (gonna have to hurt her) sister had taken my and her munchkin out to eat --the restaurant had a special of fried green tomatoes--so she brought me back an order. They were soooooooooo gooooood!!
Joetta