Thanks Red. I had a few more saves today. Shoveled snow, and still made it to church, because I realized that with going out ot lunch with friends today, I did NOT need a big breakfast - a bowl of cereal worked fine. Went to lunch, and did not have the cheese and sauce laden enchilada I usually enjoy. I had fajitas, minus the tortillas, though I did have chips and salsa, and some rice and corn cakes. Brought some of my meal home for tomorrow's dinner. Then, went to the gym and worked out, and complained about the trainer from yesterday so I can get a different one for my two sessions.

All in all - a good day.

Hi to everyone else, and hope to hear from you soon.

Hi there!
I'm back from my weekend and have to admit that I did have dessert, which was a chocolate ice cream pie. However, I resisted the chocolate chip cookies that were on the counter, and boy are they usually good when she makes them.
Red, you are right that one day or one night out, etc is not what gets a person to put on all the weight. It is the day in and day out indulgences. Today, I get right back on track and that it that. No chocolate as well, of course.
By the way, the ice cream pie was good, but I didn't enjoy it as I usually would and resisted the extra hot fudge sauce that was offered to put over top as well. I didn't have a huge piece, either.
Jolly, I get it now. I thought you hired yourself a personal trainer, which would be so cool. Only the very rich can afford that, for sure! One takes note of these Hollywood types who have babies and are right back in bikinis in three or four months, must be nice, right?
Red, Chach is gone for the next couple of weeks visiting family. Not sure about Raven and Happy.
Hope you did well at the track, Red. I think there are always going to be certain places that trigger us to want to revert back to our old ways. For me, having to conserve money is going to help me, I think?
Sorry the personal trainer wasn't all that great, Jolly. I would hope for something better than what you describe. Congrats on your NSV, though!
Red, I am so proud of you for sticking with the Lenten challenge at the track, just read your post. You are doing so well! Good job!
Hey, it's snowing here and I might have to exercise and shovel today, oh well.
Linda

Hello all. Hope we get a few more people back soon. I shoveled this morning, and made it to the gym for a short workout - even though the "bad" me tried excusing myself due to the shoveling.

I had a bit of a trigger today myself. It is the whole "restricted" thing. I am with a client all day today, so CAN'T stop for anything, so of course I feel like i need everything. i did endulge in some chips. like you say, we have to watch out for what triggers us.

Have a great day all. Congrats on getting back on track Derry, and for resisting some of the goodies.

Hi chickies.

Finally found most of the parts to get the office desks together and my home computer set up so I should be back on a regular basis. Missed you all.

Glad to hear your surgery went well Jolly. As for the trainer, most of them at my club were the "couldn't be interested in me" type. You are wise to try out another. Even if it's free sessions now, they do want you to sign up for more so it's in their advantage to be encouraging and helpful, don't you think? I was going to a trainer for a while, yes it costs money - I was covering the cost by not smoking. It helps to get a few lessons just to get you started in a program, especially if you need to know how to do things like weights properly. Good luck.

Raven, sorry about your job loss. Hope you find the means to follow your dreams. I'm sure a determined person like you will. Too often we talk ourselves out of things. Sometimes circumstances just happen and we have nothing left to lose but try what we were scared about - and we find that we were able to make it after all!

Speaking of which, Linda, good luck with the hubby. I can understand you wanting to hang on to some security even if he wants to just finish that chapter in his life. It's hard for both people to seek a common ground. That's how I was last year - there are moments when you're ringing your hands with worry and then boom, something happens and you muddle your way through. I hope that boom happens soon for you. Congrats on resisting most of the weekend goodies.

Red ole buddy - don't go losing your resolve. Toe the line and keep up with your good habits. Dried fish bits and almonds???? oh wait, you ARE in Japan. Maybe I need to mix more dried fish into my food - now THAT would keep me from eating the wrong things

Chachee - hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Catch up with you girls later, just wanted to say hello for now...

Good to hear from you Happy, sounds like you are truly getting settled.
Jolly, I'm thinking about joining you with the shovelling thing. It's been snowing all day. My sister was in a car accident this morning, in fact, on the highway - a multicar pile up, but she wasn't injured. Roads are trecherous, and there is no school.
I've been a good girl today, so far, but I am feeling super hungry. Seems like snowstorms realy get me into comfort food mode. I am having lite popcorn instead of pigging out.
By the way, dried fish would definately keep me from doing tons of snacking!
Linda

Hi all. Happy, glad to hear from you. I hope things are going well with the new job, new home, etc. Derry, sorry to hear about your sister's accident, but glad she wasn't hurt.

I have beeneating better. I did not, however, make it to the gym this mroning. I woke up very sore from shoveling and work, so slept in an extra hour.

I also had some very bad news today. I took my male dog in to the vet for some knee trouble, and it turns out he has cancer. WE are trying some stuff to keep him comfortable, so cross your fingers it works. That will at least buy me some time, until I am ready to let him go.

Take care all.

Hi people. Sorry I haven't been posting. Too busy now too, but will be in later today I hope. I just saw your message jolly and wanted to say heh and I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I really feel for you here and very much know where you're coming from. Two of my four cats have gum disease which is supposed to be chronic, fatal, no chance of recovery and I have to take them in for steroid shots just to alleviate the pain. I don't know how this is going to end because eventually they will no doubt build up a resistance to the shots and they won't help anymore and then I have nothing to help them. It's very hard to find a vet here who will put an animal down that is suffering. Some twisted philosophy they have about it. They'd sooner leave an animal to "God's will" and let it die on its own then take the decision into their own hands. They'd sooner dump puppies and kittens by the roadside then put them down. You can try to make your dog as comfortable as possible. Remember, we all have to go sometime. Your love is the most important thing to him. Just let him know you love him.

Jolly, I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. Are things so far gone that at this point it's just making them comfortable? It's hard to lose a loyal friend.

Red, sorry to hear about your cats too. I admit I'm surprised, I didn't think Japan would be against euthenizing (sp??). Great advice about love being the most important thing of all to pets (and friends and family). Don't work too hard.

Linda, I swear that snow brings out the hibernation, bulk up the food stores instinct. I have always had the worst time dieting in the winter. The lure of warm foods is so distracting. Hang in there, be strong. Make a nice healthy veggie soup!

Hellos to the rest of the crew. Gotta hit the sack now...

Oh, guys, I just got home and found one of my cats dead at the door. I opened the door and when I put my foot up on the step to go in in the dark I hit something. I could just make it out in the dark and I knew it was him, the biggest one. He had been sick and I wanted to take him to the vet if he didn't look better when I got home. He had seemed better this morning. There was blood all over the room. It must have been horrible. It looks like something ruptured inside him. It's so horrible. I just feel awful, am sitting here crying. The poor guy, that's the way I found him a few years ago, after a car accident and he miraculously survived after I took him to the vet and he gave him intravenous for two weeks. He was so big and strong it seemed. I never thought he was sick. I don't know what it was. Ah, it was such a shock. Two animals I cared for in one month now have died. Just too sad.

Gosh, so sorry to read about Jolly's dog and your cat, Red. How sad.
Hard to say much else this morning other than that, I guess.
We're going through tough times with DH and the job, people are begging him to stay, and he is feeling guilty. Lot's to think about.
Linda

Red, I'm so sorry for you All I can say is based on what you wrote, your cat had a much better life for a while once he found you to take care of him...

and Linda, I guess DH has to consider whether there is a possibility of things improving in the office if people are able to talk openly. I think you said your husband was doing his boss' work. Generally when that's the case, things don't change - at least not for long and it leaves one or both parties a little uneasy with each other for the rest of time. So I guess he has to weigh the pros and cons and decide what's best for him and you and the family. As you said, not an easy choice...

Oh Red. You know my thoughts are with you. I am so sorry for your loss. Take care, and post when you can. We are here for you.

jolly, derry, happy, thank you all for you kind words about my cat. It was hard but I'm better now. It certainly isn't the first time I've lost a pet. I just miss him. He was always here. Anyhow, you're all so sweet. Take care and I will try to get in the swing of writing again soon.

Good morning, or evening, as the case may be. I can't tell you how many times, yesterday, I thought about Red and her cat. I hugged my own cats a few times in recognition (not that they don't get hugs anyway, of course) of her losing her cat. They are so special, truly members of our family. I know how heart wrenching this much be.
Well, back to basics guys.... here we are at the end of February. How do y'all think we've done so far these last two months? If I could give myself a report card, like in school of what I have put into this since January, I'd give myself a B, and a B for effort. Not too bad. Maybe I can work up to an A sometime soon? What grades would you all give yourselves right now on Jan. and Feb.?
In December, I would only give myself a C and a C- for effort, so at least I am doing better!
Time sure went by quickly, didn't it? I don't know about everyone else, but I feel that I have crossed a barrier. I have broken through the long-standing weight loss plateau! Two major things have played a huge part in this success, I think.
First, my Lenten challenge, giving up chocolate for lent might turn into a longer time period, with minor indulgences now and then for me. I think I have "kicked the habit" and I am feeling less emotional highs and lows in each day. I think the chocolate was responsible for a constant craving for sweets. I'm on a much more even keel and I seem to be less concerned about in between meal snacks. I have had some snacks, but I am truly not craving sweets, in general, anywhere near as much.
The second thing that is responsible for my continuing success is trying to be lighthearted (sure is helping even during a truly stressful time in my life) and allow that inner diva within me, the thin person, to have a true say in my choices. Frisky, the inner diva is so much more a person to be proud of. She has always been within me, but I am letting "her" speak to me. My WW leader spoke about our weight loss being a lifetime journey and that we need to find ways to enjoy the journey and not feel that we are always punishing ourselves. This really hit home with me and I am finding pleasure in the self control. I am discovering different eating habits that really aren't all that bad.
So, for me, I'm feeling better in 2005. I know some of us are going through some really rough times right now, jobs, pets, family, etc. But, we need to focus on ourselves and our goals, which can be accomplished regardless of problems that go on in our lives. There are always going to be issues that cause stress, we would not be human if that wasn't part of our lives. We can't make excuses. If one has no income, that is not an excuse to not exercise and eat too much. It might effect WHAT we eat, but we certainly can exercise self control. I have to remember this in the few weeks/months ahead.
A healthier, thinner person can face life's problems much better and be ready to accept challenges.
Together, we gain strength!
Linda, thoughtful on this cold New England morning

Good morning all. Derry, you really gave me something to think about. My search for my inner diva got kind of waylaid - I admit. But, despite the stress, I haven't been overdoing the food. I did skip the gym this morning. I was just exhausted. Between the high tension at work the last couple of weeks, the surgery, the new part time job, and now this - I am surprised I am still vertical, to be honest. So, tomorrow I have my second session with the trainer, so I know I will go. And I will keep going. The only positive out of this is a clear kick in the pants to ENJOY life - you can't wait for the right moment to live your life, as you never know how many moments you will get. How much time we waste? I will try that when I lose weight. I will like myself more when I do this or that. I know I am trying to make the most of each moment, to not be too busy to do the right thing, to spend time with someone I care about, to scratch a furry belly that is waiting for me.

Count your blessings, everyone - they are so much more abundant than your challenges!

And one blessing that I am especially counting today is that (for my horsie friends) I can ride tonight for the first time since my surgery Hopefully Chance will be as thrilled about this as I am.

Have a good day all.