Karen, Dale, Jr. huh? He's definitely not my favorite. I get the idea that people like him just because of his dad. But, hey, what would I know. I'm a Jeff Gordon fan. Why, I have no idea other than he's much maligned and I go for the underdog. DH and I checked nascar.com yesterday to find out when the Sonoma race is and it looks like I'll be going to my first Nascar race in June. I've been to an Indy car race, but I don't follow that anymore. Nascar is way more American.
Joetta, way to go on the exercise. It does start to begin to feel good after a while and the body does miss it if you don't do it. It's pretty much a habit with me, but I still have my days when I have to force myself to get on the elliptical.
Jenn, I sure can relate with your rant, but for me, it's more towards my kids and the kitchen. Both of my sons are cooks at restaurants but they can't cook their own food. They're 18 and 19, BTW. And dishes, there's a dishwasher for goodness sakes. One would think able bodied young men could hold a dish, bend over and slide the dish through the slot. Yes, I definitely can relate...
Lori, I tried figure out the PM and so far am unsuccessful. Pretty funny since I've sent on in the past. So I'll keep working at it.
Today is my Friday. In other words I took off tomorrow and it's weekend a little early. Tomorrow I'll have the house to myself for a few hours. That doesn't happen too often. I'm just hopeful I'll be strong willed against my diet competitor - the munchies. They are evil and I must resist. At work I've been doing pretty good. Now I just gotta be good a home without DH supervising.
So, today was good food wise and it's a non-exercise day. I'm going to work on my knitting and just vegetate tonight. Tomorrow I plan to finish my sweater and try to make a complete one in one day. I love the knitting machine. It's just way faster than by hand.
Have a great night and I'll talk to you probably throughout the day tomorrow. The computer always beckons me.
Marie
He-he-he this might turn into a race debate! My husband likes nascar, only because he does well every year in the nascar pool at work. They all told him the didn't want to play if he was going to. I swear we are cheering for somebody different every week. Personally I LOVE drag racing! I used to do a little in my younger years (lied about my age and everything, oh I was soo bad ) I don't knit well, I only ever learned to make one stitch and I can't pay attention to count! I am crafty when I feel like it, which isn't much anymore. I like to sew, but I never have time to finish anything! Well I must say the diet almost went in the can today at lunch. We had a big to do last night at work, some emergency drill. Police, fire depts., ambulances, FBI and all. It looked like a parade! Anyway they ordered too much food and well I almost got introuble until I spotted the pasta with no meat. Saved, but I did over do the bread, I love bread!! Any way even brought some home for dinner. We couldn't get it all in the fridge at work! So I was feeling very lazy not having to cook dinner, but I did finally get up and do 30 mins of cardio. (I'm soooo glad I did!) You all have a good night, CSI is coming on. I'll chat tommorrow.
One last post before I head for my pillow.
Growing up in the backwoods of Western Kentucky where I drove like a maniac on those twisty gravel roads, the nascar stuff seems so lame (a circle already? where is the challenge in that?)
I do have a little nephew that is into the nascar thing, but da hubby and son were in the Chicago area too long to get into the racing thing, but now, hey if you wanna talk about da bears and da bulls--they are right there with you!
Okay, my heart healthy glass of wine is kicking in, so the thought processes are even more warped than normal--- being a stock broker, I can talk about the bulls and bears also!!! Alright--it wasn't funny to them either!
G'nite all!
Joetta
Marie...Jeff Gordon fan huh? Well, that explains it... Actually, I hated Dale Sr. for years. Probably up until the year or two before he died. I really don't care for Gordon that much but atleast I don't hate him as much as I used to... We go to Talledega twice a year. We went to the night race at Bristol last year and will try for the fall race at Bristol this year and the Atlanta race. Can you tell we love racing... I hope you enjoy your first live race. There's just nothing like it....I hope you don't take offense to my Gordon remarks. It's all in fun...
Ok I guess I should pipe in on the NASCAR thing too! Dale Jr. all the way!! I like Dale Jarrett too. I think that he is hot for an older man! Oops, let me rephrase that.... a man older than me!! My DH and I are big fans. We have been to Martinsville and Richmond. I personally like the smaller tracks. I like to be able to see the whole track. And there is nothing like being there. Yes, it is nice to watch on t.v. cause you can tell what is going on a little better, but at the track when you have the headset on and can hear the drivers, and all that noise and the smell of burning rubber!!!! OK, I quit now!
I was a little bad at lunch today. I had to leave the house early to go to school with my son and I didn't have my smoothie. I called my bestfriend and she wanted me to go shopping with her. She just had a baby 4 weeks ago so I jump at any chance to see them. Well, she was hungry (breastfeeding and ALLWAYS hungry) so we went to a steakhouse cause I knew that they had really great salads. I ended up getting a steak fajita rollup. It was good but I couldn't eat much of it!! I stopped before I was full so that I wouldn't be miserable!! The only bad thing is that now I am bloated big time! Everytime I eat "real food" I get so bloated.
Well, enough rambling on and on. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Jenn, way to go on your control over lunch! There is no way I would have had leftovers!
Feels good--huh?
The weekend is upon me, and I am SO BAD on the weekends!
I need everyone to yell at me--please!!!!
Joetta
I've been down with something, and not online much these past few days. But I've managed to Eat Per Plan, although I haven't worked out since Monday. I think I'll make it back to Curves Saturday morning. I only just started a week ago, they will think that I got cold feet.
NASCAR? Doesn't do a thing for me. Joetta, I lived in Chicago for 16 years, so--how 'bout those Bulls, huh? Actually, I'm just a casual fan of sports these days, my ex totally burned me out on football and basketball. I'm only just recovering my interest.
Marie, you sound like a very talented woman! I love stained glass, please share your website with us.
I've been lurking the last few days and haven't posted. Things are going well, so far it's 32 days smoke free and 13 pounds gone. For some reason, I need A LOT of structure with the weight loss plan I'm on this time, probably because of the quitting smoking thing. It probably sounds pretty boring to all of you, but I eat 1200 calories every day and pretty much stick with the same foods at the same times. I can't explain it, but this has been incredibly easy for me this time.
I haven't shared this yet, but I'm the single parent of a 17 year old girl and she's leaving for college in August. At that point, I will be alone. The first of January when I thought about her leaving, I thought about what life would be like for me if I didn't make some drastic changes. The thought of being alone, 70 pounds overweight, and unable to breathe from smoking was too much for me to bear so I instantly decided there were going to be some drastic changes and made a plan. Coincidentally, I should be arriving at my goal weight of 120 right around the time she leaves for college. And I don't intend to be sitting around here feeling sorry for myself
The two things I haven't quite mastered yet are the water drinking and daily exercise. I have a treadmill that I have been ignoring all week!
People at work are starting to comment that they can tell I'm losing weight which feels good.
I think one of the things that has really made this work this time is that when I first decided to do this, I thought very hard about what life would be like if I didn't make any changes and actually had a very clear visual in my head of myself sitting at my computer all alone in my apartment, very overweight, and basically suffocating from my worsening asthma condition from smoking. Then I right away switched over to visualizing myself as a nonsmoker weighing 120 pounds and being wined and dined by very attractive men I mean really, which would YOU choose?!
Diana, I am so proud of you!!!!!! 32 days smoke free! Your daughter must be SOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud!!!!
The first date with my now husband, I had the audacity to tell him that I could not date a guy that smoked...kissing him would be like licking an ashtray! And I know the **** that he went through quitting....occasionally I bleached his cigarettes when he would slide
And thank you so much for not being into nascar--I was beginning to think I belonged with another group! Isn't it interesting how just living in another area makes a difference in interests? I find that fascinating.
So what area of Chicago did you call home? I ran the city of Elgin forever(okay, I just let the city officials think that they could not exist without me!). I really do miss it!
Keep up the good work kiddo! And single life is so empowering!!! Scary as all get-out, but it will make you so much stronger! A strong, empowering female--- a great legacy to pass along to your daughter!
If you need moral support, I'll PM my email address--lean on me anytime!
Joetta
Hi there everyone, today has been great. Some of you might remember that I had the day off and I had a great time. I finished a sweater and am wearing it. I still a beginner at machine knitting, but it is pretty cool. I already started another sweater.
Our tax return was deposited into our account today, so I paid several bills. That always beels good. And I went shopping for diet soda - it's my addiction - I love diet pepsi. I went overboard and bought 36 2 liter bottles. I could barely push the shopping cart. At least I won't run out for a day or two.
It's pretty interesting that we have so many nascar fans. I really like it but it puts me to sleep. I think I made it one race last season where I didn't feel an intense need for a nap and that was because I was working on stained glass. I like the beginning of the race and I like the last 50 or so laps. DH wakes me up for the end. I can't say I feel like I missed anything.
Joetta, what I'm a really big fan of is the Green Bay Packers. I just adore the Packers and not the Bears. I bet you feel the reverse. I have my whole office decorated in Green and Gold. Regardless, I know you can make it through the weekend without falling off track. You can do it and you will.
DaybyDay, that visualization was probably the best thing you could have done for yourself. I can relate to the asthma and weight problem (well, duh on the weight problem ). I think my weight problem has definitely worsened the asthma. I too went through a period of eating the same foods everyday last summer. I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and lunch, then something for dinner. I do the same occasionally but have branched out to having two slices of sweet oatmeal bread for breakfast and or lunch. I don't smoke, so I can't imagine how hard it is for you to give up two vices at one. Congratulations on your success. That is just awesome.
Judy, my website is at www.stainedglassbymarie.com. I love stained glass and have sold a lot, but mostly I put up the website so that I could try to sell some and make window space available for the new stuff. I just made a howling wolf in front of a big moon and blue/purple sky. It is so pretty and I just don't have room for it. I'm going to take it to work and let it clash with my Packer decor. Anyways, thanks for asking about the site and the compliment. Sometimes I don't think I'm very creative, but then other times I realize the reality of what I really love to do and know that I'm artistic, just not in the traditional sense. And Judy, I sure hope you feel better and get back to Curves. Exercise is the best thing for you.
Jenn, the fajita rollup wasn't probably as bad as you thought it was. Most places marinate the meat, then grill it. It isn't boiled in oil and the fat content is pretty low. Then they pack it with veges and I bet that it was actually a pretty good choice. Protein and veges - a good choice.
Karen, no offense taken. I know by the boos that there are a lot of Jeff Gordon dislikers. Doesn't matter to me and it probably is a big reason I'm his fan. I just don't get why people are so against him. DH said it was because he used to win so much, but I don't know if that's the case - I wasn't a race fan back then.
Lori, way to go on finding the meatless pasta and sticking with your diet. You're doing great. And I bet you had no idea that you'd collect so many nascar fans in your thread. Maybe you should rename it - just kidding.
Diet so far today has been good and the exercise is planned for this evening with my DH. I was excited that I found an ice cream at the store that was as delectable sounding as my DQ Cherry Chocolate Chunk Blizzards. It was called cherry cordial and I took a spoonful when I got home and it was better then DQ. So for a 1/2 c. serving there's only 180 calories. I use that 1/2 c. on a cone (I eat way less ice cream if it's on a cone) so that's only 230 calories for a favorite taste. I will leave room in my calorie counts every evening. I am an ice cream fanatic. I've always been able to lose weight while still giving myself that indulgence. So today was great. There's way less calories in my cones than in a blizzard.
Talk to you all tomorrow. I think I've rambled enough for today.
Marie, thanks so much for the encouragement! I really do plan to be good this weekend, but my good intentions seem to all too frequently go awry!! Knowing that I will have to account to you guys may help keep me in line!
I was at my sister's house a couple of weeks ago, and she brought out a baby sweater that I had knitted (my first) for her eldest son. He is now 25 yrs old, and he and his wife are expecting a baby, so she is giving the sweater to them. Made me cry!
Sorry girls, I get sidetracked so easily---but a sideline here--the nephew that is 25 yrs old is in Tikrit. He is a military reporter, and he covered the elections. We heard from him today, and the good things coming out of Iraq are so inspiring! He said that locals wanted their pictures taken with our guys. Adam said that one man came up to him and asked him to please hold his baby so they could get a picture--history in the making!!! Our guys are helping to set up city councils, getting project underway to make their lives better. They are building new schools to replace the mud huts being used now, and the kids just love our military boys! What a feel good story!
Okay back on line now--Marie, my secretary is from Wisconsin and a big Packer fan. I went to Cub and Bear games, but really never got into it. I loved Walter Payton, but only because he was such a neat person, it didn't matter to me what he did for a living. Green and Gold is not a bad color combo! And I love cheese curds!
I think we've had pretty good first week!! FINALLY FRIDAY!!! Ok, I work Mon. thru Fri. so yes I live for the weekends. I'm glad we have some many different views from sports, to hobbies, and diets. I took alot of courses in college and the main thing I learned the less people are alike, the chances are better for the most creative solutions!
Jenn, don't feel bad about lunch! If you wouldn't have had it you would have felt deprived and you can't lose any weight if you feel deprived!!
Diana, you are going to have a great time when your daughter goes to college! Keep me posted on the patch, I'm very interested to hear how it's going (which appears to be great!!!) Oh, and dust off that treadmill, I'm jumping around like an idiot on a step that I use for a weight bench too. My energy level is getting better I can feel it!!
Judy, I hate being sick . Hope you start feeling better!! One advantage to driving a school bus for 7 years, I built up a heck of an immune system! The second winter I drove I had a fever every other week, no kidding, but haven't been sick since.
Joetta, I have to do a birthday party this weekend so you stick with me! I wanted to order out in the worst way tonight, but I didn't! I want to keep my eye on the ball, but I'll have to go get my glasses !
Karen, I hope you get your computer fixed, we'll miss you over the weekend!
Ok, I'm heading to bed, hope to chat with you all over the weekend!!!
Diana~Congrats on the not smoking. I have smoked for 15 years or so and I have tried to quit several times. I know how hard it is. And for you to be try to diet at the same time....all I can say is WOW After I lose some more wieght I will try one more time! Just remind yourself everyday how far you have come and how much you will lose if you are ever tempted to smoke "just this one"!! What does your 1200 calories a day consist of? I eat the same thing pretty much every day too, so maybe you can give me a fresh new idea or two!!
Marie~36 bottles of soda I would have loved to see the looks you got while pushing that buggy around the store!! Hey look at it this way...it was good exercise pushing that heavy thing!!
Thanks to everyone for making me feel better about the rollup at lunch!!
I am not very good at this thread stuff - I'm having a difficult time following along, keeping everyone straight and being able to respond to each of you. I've decided to go into lurk mode on this site for awhile.
You're all great ladies and I'll be pullin' for all of you as your ticker numbers go down. Thanks so much for all of your support.
Diana, please don't just lurk! We are are struggling to remember each other and post. Something that might help, when you hit reply if you scroll down from where you are typing there are the most recent threads. You can at least reply to them, and I know the signatures disappear, it's making me crazy too trying to associate everybody's user names with their real name! That's why I had the email/short bio idea. I thought it would help with remembering everybody. It's more fun when we all come out and play!
My 8 yr old son is looking through one of my low fat cook books so we can decide what new dish to try this week! I think it is wonderful that they will at least try a new dish when I make it. I made that low fat tuna casserole and there wasn't much left for my lunch, they all tried it. I can't believe it, it's 6 am and were all up , I've runied everybody, nobody sleeps in anymore! I have sooo much to do today, groceries, pick up boots for work (I have a job in the field on monday), and a birthday party. Oh yea, and get a gift! I'll probably be out most of the morning, but I'll be back to play around dinner time.
Oh yea, and where is Christina? I wonder how her 1400 cals. are going? Marie, what kind of machine makes sweaters? I always spend a small fortunie on mine, it would be nice to be able to make some. And 36 2 liters, where do you put them all ?
Jenn, don't feel left out, I also smoke. I figured it wold be best to get the weight down before I quit. I was afraid I might take out the whole neighborhood if I cut out fat and smokes at the same time ! So hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be fit and smoke free! I hope the patch thing works for Diana, I'm excited to see!
By the way were big Steelers fans here! My kids played their first year of pee-wee football and learned about the game, so they were both very much into the NFL this year and it's been alot of fun since our team did well this year.
Ok, I'm getting my shower and off to shopping, I'll be back to play later.
My husband likes nascar, only because he does well every year in the nascar pool at work. They all told him the didn't want to play if he was going to. I swear we are cheering for somebody different every week. Personally I LOVE drag racing! I used to do a little in my younger years (lied about my age and everything, oh I was soo bad 
) I don't knit well, I only ever learned to make one stitch and I can't pay attention to count! I am crafty when I feel like it, which isn't much anymore. I like to sew, but I never have time to finish anything! 
Well I must say the diet almost went in the can today at lunch. We had a big to do last night at work, some emergency drill. Police, fire depts., ambulances, FBI and all. It looked like a parade! Anyway they ordered too much food and well I almost got introuble until I spotted the pasta with no meat. Saved, but I did over do the bread, I love bread!! Any way even brought some home for dinner. We couldn't get it all in the fridge at work! So I was feeling very lazy not having to cook dinner, but I did finally get up and do 30 mins of cardio. (I'm soooo glad I did!) You all have a good night, CSI is coming on. I'll chat tommorrow.
We go to Talledega twice a year. We went to the night race at Bristol last year and will try for the fall race at Bristol this year and the Atlanta race. Can you tell we love racing... 
Hope everyone has a great weekend!! 
Your daughter must be SOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud!!!!
. Hope you start feeling better!! One advantage to driving a school bus for 7 years, I built up a heck of an immune system! The second winter I drove I had a fever every other week, no kidding, but haven't been sick since.
I wanted to order out in the worst way tonight, but I didn't! I want to keep my eye on the ball, but I'll have to go get my glasses 
After I lose some more wieght I will try one more time! Just remind yourself everyday how far you have come and how much you will lose if you are ever tempted to smoke "just this one"!! What does your 1200 calories a day consist of? I eat the same thing pretty much every day too, so maybe you can give me a fresh new idea or two!!
I would have loved to see the looks you got while pushing that buggy around the store!! Hey look at it this way...it was good exercise pushing that heavy thing!!
, I've runied everybody, nobody sleeps in anymore! I have sooo much to do today, groceries, pick up boots for work (I have a job in the field on monday), and a birthday party. Oh yea, and get a gift! I'll probably be out most of the morning, but I'll be back to play around dinner time.
