Full Time Working Stiffs!!
 

We are a fun group of working stiffs!! We love to chat about our crazy days and trying to stay focused on losing weight! It dosen't matter what your weight goals are, it dosen't matter if you have kids or not, it dosen't matter what diet plan you are following, and it dosen't matter if you fall off the wagon. (who dosen't ) We love to chat about surviving the parties at work, the mad dash to get home and get dinner together, staying ahead of the laundry, and trying to make healthy choices among it all! And above all we like to have fun!! Anyone is welcome to join in!!

Hi. My name is Kim and I would love to join you "working stiffs". I work the night shift, 7P-7A, 3 nights/week. I have a 13 year old son, so I stay pretty busy. I've been trying to get this weight off since October, but for the last 3 months I've gained and lost the same 5 pounds over and over. Well, I'm ready to get serious now. Summer is getting closer and closer and I'll have to wear a bathing suit soon. I usually track my calories on Fitday.com and I go to the gym 5 days/week. I've recently started attending spin class, step aerobics, and body sculpting. I'm ready to see some results. I look forward to getting to know all of you. Thanks for the invite Robin!

Yay a NEW Thread!
 

Good Morning! :coffee2:

Way to go Lori! :wizard: Love the new thread and intro.

Welcome Kim! :wave: Sounds like we are both about the same place. I've hit a plateau after losing 15 pounds. I've struggled to lose ONE lonely pound in about THREE weeks. I also use fitday religiously until recently. I guess I've tried to kid myself that I know what to eat and how to keep my calories down. After binging on chocolate cake last night, I'm not so sure. Chocolate is my WEAKNESS! :chockiss: I have to get back to using fitday more. I am terrible about exercising. Way to go Kim for exercising so regularly. There are lots of dedicated exercisers in our working stiff group. :strong: You'd think I'd catch the bug.

Alas, I am generally so tired after working, commuting and job searching in my spare :lol: time that I spend that little extra bit with DH because I adore the heck out of him. :love: I'm currently trying to convince him to lose 10 pounds with me so that we can spend time together getting fit. We'll see how that goes. :p

I'm hoping today isn't as stressful as yesterday. We're trying to adjust attitudes around the library. My colleague and I are determined to not let the old-bitties here at the library ruin our professional lives. It's hard, I gotta tell you, but doable. ;)

Have a great day ladies. I hope you all find the new thread! :grouphug:

Hi all,

Well I had to go back to work today and I'm having a really hard time. While I was off for spring break, I was literally perfect on my diet. No cheating, I exercised and drank plenty of water. Now that I'm back, I want to munch. I gave away my one good for you snack to a co-worker but kept the pretzels just in case I get hungry with the munchies. But it's so hard not to eat while I work. It's like it's ingrained in my routine. Type some at the keyboard, stick food in my mouth, type some more. I walked in the door this morning and immediately wanted to reach for my snacks. At least they're healthy ones - thanks to all of your suggestions. But I still have to be aware that they have calories and will sabotage me just as much as a candy bar would.

Okay enough about that. I like the new thread and welcome Kim.

Marie

Good afternoon!
 

Hello ladies! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. It's raining here in Idaho, but we desperately need it. I'm in a good mood today because I'm now in my size 14 jeans. I can't get into all of my 14 pants yet, but I have to start somewhere. So now I just need to get rid of my 16s so that I don't ever grow back into them.

My minigoal for now is to break the 190 mark by my next weigh in, which is April 11. That's only 3 lbs, but I've had a hard time losing more than 2 lbs every two weeks. But no Little Debbie snack cakes this go around. Two of my coworkers brought in donuts and leftover Easter candy (chocolate), but I'm doing pretty good at avoiding it. I had a few little pieces of candy after yesterday's weigh-in, but nothing since.

Lori: Thanks for setting up the new thread. I like the introduction. How's your son doing?

Kim: I'm glad to see you here. I've been with this group for about three weeks now. They're all very nice and supportive. And in spite of our schedules, everyone tends to post fairly often.

Kerry: How long is your commute? I currently have a 45 minute commute, one way. It's really annoying at how much time it takes out of the day. And like you, by time I commute, work, do chores, also job search, and try to spend time with my husband, there's just not much time left. After we build our house, I'll have only a 25-30 minute commute, so that will be better. And of course, I can't forget the sleep. I love my sleep. There's just not enough hours in the day.

Marie: Do you like to chew gum? It sure helps me when I'm sitting at my desk working at the computer. Koolerz has a pina colada, sugar-free gum that's really good.

Paige: Glad to hear you finished with your house. I hope you had a good visit with your dad aside from all the work.

Judy: 12 lbs by Memorial day is very doable. Good luck with it. And we're here for support.

Joetta: I hope the basement cleanup is going well. Are your muscles sore from tearing out the carpet?

Have a great day everyone!
Robin

Joetta
I need your financial help what does insolvency mean? I am looking at all this ugly debt and I remember when my friend filled for bankruptcy everybody offered to settle her debt. I called one credit card and they came down 20% of what I owed. Should I do this or not?? If you don't mind I need some advice!!

Oh goodness everybody, I'm losing my mind!! Welcome Kim!!

Robin Way to go on the size 14's!!! Don't worry I haven't lost more than 2lbs since the first week! So they say this is normal, but it sure is a slow processes!

Marie, type and munch! I used to do that alot when I worked at Verizon, I ruined more headsets from getting tomatoes and dressing in the microphone! I LOVE Quizno's Italian subs!!! But they really made a mess!! Going back to a daylight shift has seemed to calm my munchie button! Oh and I work with a bunch of guys, just try heating something up when they are around. It's not long I'm cooking for all of them! (almost like being at home :lol: )

All right Kerry, it's time to get down to business, I'm only 4lbs behind you so lets make a memorial day goal! If we can get you moving again, I bet that would kick up you loss!! Although I'm planning a cheat day this weekend (pizza and captin) Oh it's been way to long! I'll probably be hung over for days!! Can you see it now, me jumping up and down on that stupid box of mine with a barf bucket!! I may not drink again for another year!! :lol:

Ok I really need to track down Joetta, we close on the house tomorrow and I don't know how to spend my money! Can you imagine a girl not knowing how to spend her money! (I think I should have skipped my evening coffee, I'm a little to wound up!!)
Chat with you all later!!

Yeah!
 

Lori- Thanks for the new thread!! You did a great job! :cp: :cp: :cp:

Kim- Welcome to our group, we are always glad to have to new "faces". :wave: :wave:

Kerry- Good Luck on getting your husband to join in. My husband is doing WW with me (I think). However he has only lost 10lbs to my 30, but he is trying and it does help me to stay focused. :jeno: :burger: :hungry:

Marie- I am so proud of you for doing so well staying on plan during spring break!! :cb: :cb: :cb:

Robin- Good luck on your minigoal!! You can do it!

I met my birthday goal 4 days early with a pound to spare!!!!! I guess I need to start a new goal! :dance: :dance: :dance: I am not looking forward to my birthday. I guess I only have a few more days to enjoy my 30's. :cry: :cry: :cry:

Paige

Hump Day
 

Good morning ladies! :coffee: It is bright and sunny and beautiful outside here in the Carolinas today. We are supposed to reach temps around 80 degrees!! Of course I have to spend my day in the library instead of the sunshine. :mad: I'll probably try to sneak out during lunch to soak up some Vitamin D.

Lori - I guess I'm planning a cheat day too :lol: DH is a DJ and has a residency on the first Friday of the month at a local club. I don't always go, but I am planning to go this Friday and I will be drinking Martinis for sure! :smug: But you're right, I need to get moving. What kind of a challenge are you presenting? I do really need to get moving to lose more, that's for sure.

On that note - Robin - My commute is about 45 minutes each way as well and that doesn't count the time walking in and out of the hospital up the stairs and into the garage. I feel like I lose so much time in the car. I used to listen to books on tape, but nowadays I just listen to a lot of talk radio. I think it was Marie that mentioned taking the train and that would be GREAT to not have to drive and have that time to read. I am a BIG reader and would rather read than exercise anytime!

Ok I'll also admit that I am lazy. I don't like exercise. I was even a track runner in school. I saw the kids out on the track yesterday and I cringed thinking about training for the season when I was young. I LOVE to swim, but I have no where to do it. EXCUSES EXCUSES! :p

Way to go Robin on the size 14s!! YAY!! :)

Marie - I do better AT work than when I am off. I drink a lot of fluids and that seems to help. I munch on graham crackers, apples and yogurt. I try to eat on a schedule at work and that seems to help. I hope the munchies don't sabotage you!

Paige - CONGRATS on getting to your most recent goal! :cb: And you should not dread turning 40 - You've EARNED those years!! I look forward to that age because I feel like I am still floundering so much at 30 that I'll surely have more to show at 40. So Happy Birthday! :gift: What do you have planned?

Joetta - I hope you're surviving the gutting of the basement. Hopefully you're losing some pounds in the process.

So yeah I've gone on and on. :blah: I'm working the front desk this morning and had the time to post since the library's dead in the morning hours.

Have a great day ladies! :sunny:

Well Kerry, I'm gonna suggest something short, but productive! What type of activity besides running have you done? I do a short 30 min. free weights 3 days a week and usually a longer 50 min. areobic 3 days a week. I use Joyce Vedral's Defination work out to lift with. I highly recomend this book, not the video (it's way too fast and her form is awful) As for my cardio (I was a weakling 10 weeks ago) I started with Susan Powter's step tape. She is really informative and honestly knows what she is doing. The best part there is some not so slim people taking her class (which helps) If this isn't it there are sooooo many options!!! First is to find something that you will do, then second it to do it! I've finally started to look forward to my work outs, and if I skip a day I can tell I'm not quite as up beat. Let me know Kerry, it really stinks to hit a wall three weeks for that one pound, I don't know I may have smashed the scales!!

Any way I'm getting very close to my half way loss, which was a small goal I had set for this weekend (coz we are going out) So I guess it's time to set a new one. I'm averaging about 1lb a week so by memorial day that should be around 8lbs so I'm going to set a 10lb goal for that weekend.

Oh Paige, half the time I don't know how old I am if somebody gives me a pop quiz! After the kids I stopped counting, I don't know how old anybody is, but I know what year everybody was born. So if it's real important I can do the math.

A HUGE THANK YOU!! for the toe advice!!! They were feeling sore today so when I got home I took you all's advice and they feel better (at least I can stand it) I swear if I can let them grow out I'll never cut them again, I'll file them down to keep me from doing this again!!
Ok really yacking now, I'm gonna go eat (Still looking for Joetta, I have money to spend) :lol: I hope they let her out of the basement soon!!

Exercising is necessary :( But good news!
 

I went walking tonight. I took Bella and she always makes it more of a work out. It's beautiful and warm here today (almost too warm/humid like a precurser to the sweltering summer that awaits me in the south). I guess I need to invest in some new exercise videos. I have the pilates/yoga tape, but I don't like it. Lori, I'm going to go look up the one you mentioned. I guess I'll need a step to do it huh? I looked into checking something out from the library, but they're all out and have waiting lists. :mad: I'd just like to sample a few things to see what I like before I purchase. :sigh: I'll get moving. I don't know if I can lose anymore if I don't.

Good news! :) I got an email from Ohio University today requesting to schedule an interveiw for the first of May. I have a positive vibe :goodvibes about the whole thing and I'm looking forward to visiting the campus and interviewing. Hopefully some of the others I've applied with will contact me in the next month and I'll get a few options, but OU would be good. :)

Evening all,

I hope you all had a better diet day than I had. I screwed up this evening. I was making a dessert for a party tomorrow (that's going to be another diet nightmare) and my fork found it's way into it. All I can say is that I didn't have too much and each bite was worth it. Black Forest Triffle. Mmmm. So, I screwed up but now I'm evening more resolved. I came to my confessional and told you all. I also didn't exercise. I blew the evening away until it was too late to exercise. I need at least 90 minutes before bed to bring me down from exercising or I can't sleep the whole night. So today was a diet screw up.

At work, I did better today than I did yesterday with my healthy snacks. I tried the advice you all gave me to have halthy snacks around for my munchie monster. I had crackers and pretzels. I overate them. So I threw them out this afternoon. I have to go cold turkey or bring a little serving from home. If it's there, I eat it. Tomorrow will be a bust, but on Friday I will bring a small packet of grapes for the morning and the afternoon I just have to make it because I want to feel hunger occasionally (tells me I'm onthe right path - just not lots of hunger - a gnaw here or there is good enough).

So that brings up tomorrow. Our department is having a party and I'm bringing chili and the dessert. I figure the chili is pretty lo-cal but what everyone else is bringing isn't. There aren't that many people (6) and it's very noticed if you don't eat and feelings get hurt bery easily. So I figure I will take a little of everything and push it around my plate. Think that will work? These people mean a lot to me and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so if I have to eat, I will. There's always the evening to recover, right?

Speaking of tomorrow, it's a day of beauty. I'm getting my hair trimmed and frosted. I've been growing it out for the last 6 months and it's finally to a stage that I like it. So a trim will shape it up and I decided to add a frosting to it. I've been coloring it red, but it fades back to my natural dark blonde quickly. With swim season and sun around the corner, I didn't want to color it red only to have it fade in a week or two. I have a pool, so the chlorine would strip the color right out of it. So I'm going to have light blonde chunks put in it tomorrow. Should be cool.

KERRY!!!!! AN INTERVIEW!!!!! My prayers are with you. I really hope it works for you. I know how hard this has been for you.

Lori, great news on the halfway goal being reached. I'm way away from that but I'm only half old, so I have years to keep on this trek. Just kidding, in two years, I want to be maintaining not losing. I also don't know how old I am unless I do the math. Today I told someone I was 45 and then did the math (think before speaking Marie) and realized I was 43. Oops.

Have a great Thursday.
Marie

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I've had an O.K. day. I ate half of a package of Keebler chocolate covered graham crackers, but somehow still managed to stay under 1500 calories. I figure I burned about 600 at the gym tonight. I'm doing good with the exercise, but I can't seem to get the eating under control.

Paige- Great job meeting your minigoal!!! :bravo: Do you like doing weight watchers? I was counting points, and that's how I lost my first 17 pounds. I think I will probably start keeping up with points again tomorrow since I know that it works.

Kerry- Chocolate is my weakness too. I ate way too many calories yesterday. 1/2 of my daily calories yesterday were from chocolate. :nono: I just started exercising in October, and at that time I could barely make it up a flight of stairs. Now, I'm addicted. I feel soooo much better when I do it. :workout:

Marie- I have lots of days that I'm in the mood to munch. I have no willpower when we have potlucks at work. I don't know if it's stress related or what, but if the food's there, I'm going to eat it. Good luck tomorrow. :goodluck:

Robin- Way to go on the 14's. WoooHoooo!!! :cb: :cp: You definitely have a challenging workplace. They are always bringing good stuff to eat.

Lori- Sunday is usually my cheat day. I think I might cut it out for a while. I'm pretty sure that if I would cut out my cheat day (or days here lately), my weight loss will pick back up. I could probably lose 2 pounds per week. I kindof lose control though. Sometimes I eat up to 3500 calories on Sundays. :ink: I read that you do a step aerobics video. I just started attending step class about 3 weeks ago and I absolutely love it!

Have a great night!
Kim ;)

Howdy!
 

I haven't posted for the past two days. I've been feeling kind of blah. My inlaws were all sick this past weekend with a stomach/intestinal virus, and I think my body has been fighting it. I've been nauseated, but not actually enough to get sick. But it was bad enough that I didn't eat any of our Mexican pot luck at work yesterday. I have NEVER turned down Mexican food. I lived the first 29 years of my life in Texas. I can't survive without it. It's in my blood. Instead I didn't eat anything.

However, I did have a small peice of cake later. I ended up regretting that afterwards. I ate some saltine crackers for dinner with a diet Sprite. I've been taking it easy today, too. Not doing bad today, but somewhat tired.

Kim: Your workouts really impress me. I used to work out like that, two years ago. I missed it when I didn't get to do it. Now I just don't have time for quite so much. I wouldn't worry so much about the cookies, either. With the way you work out, you've burned them all off already.

Kerry: Congratulations and good luck with the interivew. I hope it goes well. Did you ever hear anything back from Idaho?

Marie: Black Forest anything is one of my favorites. I love chocolate and cherry together. I bet it was great.

Well, gotta get back to work. Everyone take care. I'll check back in later when I have more time.
Robin

Tired
 

Hi Ladies, I'm REALLY tired, but I wanted to make a quick post.

It seems that chocolate is the EVIL DEMON :devil: for quite a few of us. I have the last of a dark chocolate bunny calling to me. :mad: I've done really well all day so I might have a bite. Shhhh!

Robin, I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I hope you get better ASAP! I can't imagine turning down Mexican food either! :lol:

Thanks for the good luck wishes for the interview. I'm going to need it! I got word today that VCU in Richmond Virginia is checking my references this week. WOW! :spin: I can't believe I actually have TWO bites. Then there are another FOUR closing today and tomorrow including the Washington State job. It's going to be INSANE if they all call and I have that many options! :yikes: I'll let you know as everything progresses.

Problem is that my suit pants don't fit. While I am glad of it, I either need to see my alteration lady or buy a new suit!

Good night ladies. I'm going to go be a slug on the couch and watch the OC! :) See ya tomorrow!

Hi everyone!!!! I hope you all have had a good week. I am so glad today is Friday. It is really hard to go back to work after being off for 10 days. I am sure this weekend will be a stuggle both emotionally and food wise. I am not looking forward to turning 40 tomorrow. I think I have worn black all week in memory of my 30's. Today is the last day I can say I am in my 30's. I think I have cried everyday for the last week. I don't know why this is affecting me like this. Everyone at work who is older then I am think I am being ridiculous, but everyone younger gives me their sympathy. I don't know what 40 is suppose to feel like but I know I don't feel like I should be 40. I have just wanted to eat all day, and that is not a good thing. I think I have 1 and 2 pointed myself to death today. I know tomorrow won't be any better. I have to try to regroup and stay on plan. I have worked too hard to blow it this weekend.

Kerry- Congrats on the interview!! That's great!

Kim- I really like WW it has worked really well for me this last 2 months.

Robin- I hope you start feeling better soon!

Paige

Girls, I have found the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a quick post, I'm trying to catch up...Lori I am so sorry that I have been MIA!!!

Insolvency has a legal and accounting definition--a person is insolvent if they cannot pay the bills as they come in or if the total assets owned will not cover the total amount owed. As far as accepting the lower amount owed for the cc?? That is how the credit card counselors help--they ask the cc companies to accept a reduced amount, reduce the interest rate, or lower the monthly pmts. The companies are usually willing to go along with that simply because it is in their best interest to go ahead and get what they can rather than getting nothing if a bankruptcy ensues. Individuals can do the same thing--ask the companies to accept a reduction.

As far as what to do with the money? Set aside an emergency fund--and save it for a real emergency--like having a sewer back up in your basement with no insurance coverage.............. Secondly, pay off the high interest rate debt--and resolve to not get back into that same type of debt. Whatever you do---DO NOT treat it like bonus cash--buying things that you really do not need. Getting out of debt is great--staying out of debt is awesome!!!!!!

Kerry-best of luck on the interview hon!!!! Hope it goes great!

I have had three high school football players helping with the basement--what a fun trio! And I am SOOOOO impressed with how hard they work--so cheerfully! It is a mess, and very smelly, but I am still counting my blessings. I wound up having to go in for a tetanus shot-but that too, I took in stride. I'm thinking the house will never be back in shape, but this, too, shall pass!!

Thanks for starting a new thread Lori! Great job!

Joetta (back from the sewer)

Good Morning Chickies :coffee: !
I LOVE the weekends, I have to kind of work today. We have a vender booth set up at a local home and garden show. So I'm going down for a few hours to help out this morning. I have not been working out this week like I usually do, I have skipped way too many days. Man I hope I'm not getting burned out! I'll lift this morning since I got up so stinken early, and squeaze in my step tape when I get home from the home show. That should keep it balanced enough that I don't too guilty for skipping days!

Kerry, I'm sooo excited for you, I hope you have more than one job to choose from! It always helps to have options, I had many offeres when I decided to leave Verizon, but I waited to find a small company closer to home and am I glad I did. I took a small pay cut, and lost alot of vacation, but now with gas prices the money is balancing out. And you can't put a price tag on sanity!! :dizzy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAIGE!!! Stop crying, dust yourself off and forget about the number!!! It's your day, and 40 is no longer old! Eat and drink anything you want today, it's the perfect excuse for a cheat day, as long as you get back on the wagon tomorrow!! Give yourself a pampering day,Ya know you can still tell people your in your 30's who the heck is going to know the difference! :D

Damn Robin, I hope you start feeling better!! I really was starting to think you were going to slide through the flu season untouched!! I'm sure you'll be all better by the next Mexican pot luck!! All joking aside, take it easy and get better!!

Kim, I am very impressed with your gym schedule, and jealous too! I wish I had that kind of time!! I have to rely on videos and free weights! I agree that WW is one of the best programs out there. I don't follow it though, because I just look for ways to cheat, like a Big-Mac has this many points so I won't be able to eat anything else for the next 2 days. After a few weeks I can't keep up the starving and binging so it's best for me to just stay away from the fatty food altogether. I watch my fat intake and when I do deicide to do a cheat day I have to watch after being with out grease for so long too much really makes me feel ill! So it works for me!!

Marie, how was you party? Black Forest cake Mmmm!! It might not have made it out of my kitchen! :^: I do have a low fat version of black forest cake some where, I just might have to dig that up!! How did your hair turn out?? I don't get mine done at the saloon anymore, they use the stuff that's way to harsh! I put a dark golden blond in mine and I'm pleased with it, it is the closest thing to my younger days!

Joetta, thank you for the advice and information! I got the highest cc to settle for 55% less than what I owed them! So that soooo helps, what we have decided to do is pay off a few of the bills with the bigest payments to free up our monthly income incase my DH would get knocked back to 40 hrs a week, which his work is looking fine, but this living beyond our means is what got us introuble in the first place! So now we will have extra money to send to the rest of the debt as long as his hours at work are good! I agree that an emergency stash is the best alternative to cc's! I'm glad the basement work is coming along, thank goodness for the extra help, I hope your done soon!!

Ok this got way longer than I meant it to, that's what I get for being busy and not keeping up!
I'll check back when I get home this afternoon, I'm soooooo looking forward to a nite out and PIZZA!! Oh how I miss the pizza!

I was a BAD Girl!
 

I was bad yesterday but it felt GOOD. We had tacos and queso/chips for dinner then out to the club where I had Razberry Ice teas (think long island with rasberry vodka). Then on the way home we stopped at SteaknShake and had Burger and Fries! YUM! :cbg: It was good and FUN!!

But the most wonderful thing happened at the club: OLD friend came up to say hey and IMMEDIATELY asks - Have you lost weight?? :cool: I told him yes and he said - You look GREAT! :smoking: I felt like a million bucks for the rest of the night. I also got sucked into an April Fools joke and it was all about me being HOT and embarrassing some guy who is a player. DH was in on it too. :joker:

So I am even more inspired to get this show on the road. Dh broke the scale last week trying to weigh himself and the dog. (See Rottweiler at left :lol: ) So I've been shopping for a new one. I almost got one at Ross yesterday, but I'm holding out. I tried on skirt suits yesterday. I think I've decided to get my pant suit taken in. :chin: Decisions decisions. I did buy a wonderful bag set yesterday for the marathon interview. This thing will go from breakfast to dinner. I'm going to need to pack an aresenal of things to survive!

:gift: Happy Birthday Paige!!! Enjoy it! You deserve to celebrate your 40 years! :hb: If I were there I'd party it up with you!! :hat:

Well, it's rainy, windy and dreary here today. :rain: I don't have any plans for the rest of the weekend. I should get busy and do something. It's good to clear the head though. I've been looking at exercise videos and haven't found anything. I'm being too picky. I also find that I feel REALLY silly when I do the workouts on Videos. :lol: I keep hoping I'll land one of these good University jobs and have a wonderful fitness center and pool to use within walking distance to my job. :sigh: A girl can dream can't she?

Have a wonderful weekend ladies!

Happy Birthday Paige!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

FROM ALL OF US AT 3FC :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:



:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :gift: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:

:hb: :hb: :hb: :hb: :hb: :hb: :hb: :hb: :hb:

40???? :cb: :doh: :stress: :censored: :yikes: :yikes: :crazy: :crazy:
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!! I remember way back when---during the age of the dinosaurs, I LOVED the 40s! I allowed myself to become a little zany-(okay, so I allowed myself to be a little zanier...) Enjoy Girl!!!!!

Joetta

Kerry, I enjoyed reading about the clothes issue for the interview--I have been interviewing this past week and am always amazed at what some people think might be appropriate for an interview. Sounds like you've got it all together!

Best of luck!!!!

Kim, welcome!!! I am the ancient one here, having passed the 50 mark last month! I have been mia since last weekend when the sewer backed up into our basement..I had a guy come out to give me an estimate on cleaning, and I could tell that he wanted to do only cleanup that involves insurance companies. He feels justified to charge more that way. He kept telling me that it would be cheaper to do it myself, even after I told him that my husband can't (he has MS), and that I work so many crazy hours that I really don't have the time. Long story short, my impatience got the better of me, and I sent him on his way. I pulled the carpet out, scooped out the sewage, and had some boys come over to help carry everything outside. There was tile under the carpet, and I had hoped to just stick with that, but there are too many loose ones, so I am now scraping off the tile, and will start from scratch. The basement is a mess!! I have a 15 yr old that has had to move upstairs for the interim, and the large screen tv is being given up for a smaller one upstairs for now. I will eventually have to move the computer hutch, and that will be a bear! But---all in good time... At any rate, welcome to the madness of the working stiffs!!!!
Joetta

OMG Joetta it sounds so awful! Hang in there girl. I'm glad you have help at least. Thanks for telling it from the other side of the interview too. I guess I'd never thought anything of wearing pants, though my mom thought I was crazy. Must be a generational thing. :)

Good Morning Chickies :coffee: !
Well it's Sunday and I'm not hung over, so 3 cheers for me! I only drank 2, but the pizza wow, we went to a place called J&S, the family is from Italy and you just can't buy pizza like that anywhere! I would have been fully happy to go home after the pizza, but of course that wasn't the plan. I was so full that drinking just didn't appeal to me very much. We had a good time, but today we have to run over to my Aunt's house, she was not feeling well last weekend so she didn't come over for Easter, now she is stuck with the food she was going to bring! I'm going to eat bad again today! I'm going to jump up and down on the step today to help make up for this weekend of cheating. Thank goodness nothing else is coming up until Memorial Day!!! Oh my goodness it snowed last night, I'm not kidding, flakes as big as gulf balls!! I was stunned and insisted it couldn't keep up that pace, yea what did I know, when we left the pizza place there was about 3 inches, but as we headed home it was like driving through a curtain, we came to a spot and there was no snow at all the rest of the way home.

Kerry, rules of interview suits, go with navy or black, not to much jewlery or make up, and no crazy hair. Pants or skirts no longer make a difference, but dressing conservative does matter. And for goodness sakes make sure you make eye contact often with everyone in the interview, and a good body language move is to lean in and listen. Don't lean back and cross your arms and try not to fidget, it makes you look dis-interested. Make a list of questions, that looks good too! I have been through a million interviews and I am usually #1 or #2 on the hiring list, if I could make a living out of interviews I'ld be rich. It's the one thing that I'm good at! Try not to be nervous, but don't get too comfy and tell them all of your problems. You will more than likely get asked, your weaknesses and strenths, your future goals (work related) and why should they hire you over everybody else! Start thinking now, but when they ask appear to be pulling the thought from the top of your head, don't just blurt out the answers! Something like "Hmm, my weakness, well I would have to say I could use some improvement (your choice)" Same with strengths too. Oh and they usually ask you about your hobbies or what you do with your spare time. My answer at my last interview was that I spend my spare time running my kids to ball practice, they thought that was funny. Remember to have fun too, your selling yourself, so be yourself, you may realize in the interview that the company is not for you too, you are interviewing them as well.
Oh I have to get a shower and get running, I'll be back later today!!

Question on the job search front since you all seem full of GREAT advice! :) Should I let them know at all that DH is coming with me and that he would be attending school there? I mean that is HUGE for us, but I don't want it to hurt me. Although, in a sense I can see that it could help me. It's so confusing. :( Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated!

Lori - sounds like you had fun! Good for you :) I love authentic pizze - Yum!

Turn it into one of your questions, you could mention that DH is finishing his schooling (Sorry I don't remember the details) and your interested in the detail of that part of the package. Just don't appear that is the only thing your interested in, I know it is important, but remember he won't be in school forever and you need to let them know you looking ahead to the future, not just the present. As in when he graduates your not planning on leaving impression.

I'm back
 

Hi!

Sorry for being gone for so long, but it's good to read all the new posts and to catch up. Love the new thread! Everyone's energy and candor is so refreshing. There's too much to respond to, so I'll just say: Congratulations to everyone who's losing, or who's at least giving it her best shot! And let's hear it for birthdays, job opportunities and new friends on the thread!!!

I've been mostly good. My body complained about doing cardio every day, and by Thursday my thighs felt like limp noodles! But I still got a long walk in Friday evening, went to Curves on Saturday, and did 50 minutes on the treadmill and elliptical trainer this morning, and don't feel quite so knackered. I've been eating per plan, except for last night, when a ferocious craving just wouldn't go away. I probably ate an extra 500 calories in "healthy" food, don't know what that was about. Either my fat cells are in full revolt, or it's nearly TOM (both are probably true). But I am in charge today, and mentally recharging for a stressful week.

Keep making good choices--judy

Mondays Stink
 

And the time change GOT me this morning. I was running late and the traffic was horrible. I hate commuting!!! :mad:

I stocked the fridge with good stuff to eat this week. I forgot my carrots this morning though - dang it! I was bad on and off all weekend and made DH promise last night not to buy anymore chocolate chip cookies! :devil:

As for the interview protocol for mentioning DH attending with me and being interested in the University - It happens to be a HUGE financial benefit that makes their package more appealing. Meaning if the tuition waiver weren't part of the benefits I wouldn't be considering the position because the salary is low. But if we can save 10k a year on tuition it would be worth it. KWIM? I swear I've spent hours running the numbers to figure what we can and can't live on and if we should buy a house etc etc. I'm losing my mind.

Well I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. I hope to see you around here!

PS. I couldn't weigh in this morning bc my scale is broken and I didn't purchase another one yet. :lol:

Happy Monday - ha!!!! I hate Mondays. I too got a late start and was late to work. I can't get up on Monday mornings (most mornings to be honest). So I had a bad breakfast, a muffin and 2 oreos. I definitely did bad diet wise this morning. But I'm back on track and will be good the rest of the day.

Kerry, good luck on the job interview. If it were me, I wouldn't mention DH. If you know it's part of the package, then that part is a done deal. Talk about the future like Lori mentioned and let the rest fall into place.

Judy, great job on all the exercise. Tell me how to be that motivated. I used to be, but I just can't get interested in it. I like it when I'm doing it and of course afterwards, but just taking the step to get to the exercise equipment is the tough part.

I promise to exercise and eat right the rest of the day.
Marie

Another week...
 

Good afternoon, ladies. I've been MIA the last few days, too. My stomach issues ended up just being a few hours of nausea, thank God. And I didn't have much appetite for most of last week, but then that isn't a bad thing for me. :)

I was going to check in yesterday, but the house we're renting until we finished building is really old. And yesterday, some of the power outlets stopped working, including the one the fridge is on. So we had to shuffle things around into our chest freezer and small, dorm-size fridge. The landlord came up and was checking out the wiring and such, and in the process had to keep turning the power on and off. So I took all the laundry to the laundry mat - seven loads! It's amazing how just my husband and I can accumulate so much laundry. But the machines at the laundry mat are smaller than our one at home, and by time I throw in the sheets, and towels, and such. It really adds up. And I hate doing laundry.

Anyway, I'm here now. I've been doing okay with walking, in spite of the fact that it has rained here almost every day for the last two weeks. But I really need to get to doing some crunches and pushups. I have the pilates DVD, but I can't find time to do it.

My DH and I also spent a large portion of the weekend cooking. My DH makes really good marinades. We were trying to cook up a bunch of meat, so that when we really get in the heat of building, we don't have to eat out so much. We can just reheat stuff from the freezer. It's a good idea, but we don't have a dishwasher right now. And our kitchen is TINY. We grill most meats, so at least that doesn't use many dishes. But the marinades do. Oh well. I'll be glad we did this later.

Kerry - Good luck on the interview! What day is it? I know you said on an earlier posting, but I couldn't find it. And for my two cents worth - do make eye contact, and make sure it is with everyone in the room, not just the person asking the question.

Paige - Happy Belated Birthday! :gift: :hb: :dancer: I figure that life can be pretty hard, so every that you survive is a reason to celebrate. And from all of my friends who are in their 40s, they say it's their best decade so far.

Joetta - I hope the basement clean up is going well. You mentioned that you're having to clean up tiles, too, that were under the carpet. I don't know how old your house is, but if it's very old, I recommend that you take a sample of the tile to the county health department and have them check it for asbestos. Some of the old floor tiles were made of asbestos, and clean up requires a hazmat team to clean up. That may be why they layed the carpet over it. Hopefully they're not. My dad had to leave his tiles down for this reason.

Lori - I hope you enjoyed your pizza. My favorite is brick-oven pizza. There's a place in Austin, TX that has a south-western chicken brick-oven pizza. It was really good. I miss it.

Marie - If you're looking for exercise equipment, try the classifieds in the paper. You'd be surprised at how many different, new items you'll find this time of year. A lot of people either buy them at the first of the year, or get them as Christmas gifts, and then sell them. You could even try pawn shops.

Well, take care everyone. Drink lots of water and be strong against the evil foods of the world.

Robin

Okay, so I guess we're not too good at "springing ahead," are we? I got off to a late start, too, but I did make it to the gym this morning, and I'm happy that the sun is still out at 7PM. I've been eating the right things at the wrong time, and ended up also eating 4 GS cookies (classic chocolate mints). So I'll walk a little extra tonight and think of what I could have done differently.

Robin, I hate laundry, too! The main reason I want to buy a condo is so that I have my own washer and dryer. Re strength training, you might check out the book Strong Women Stay Slim, which has a nice short program that's easy to do at home, and is more interesting to do than crunches and push-up, which I hate with a passion.

Marie--I'm no big fan of exercise. I guess the trick is finding things you like doing anyway, or finding ways to make what you don't like more tolerable. I enjoy walking, it clears my head, so that's easy. The machines aren't fun, but I crank up my walkman, and that helps a lot. I am happy about my imroved muscle tone, and so that's motivational for me. Even when my weight loss is slow (like now), the exercise means that I'm still losing inches, and the scale will come around eventually. And more than anything, I think of my mom and the older women I see who struggle up a few stairs, have a hard time getting up off the couch, etc., and I know I don't want to be fighting like that with my own body when I'm a senior. Even if I'm never small, I can always be strong! :strong:

Kerry--Good luck with the interview! My only advice from interviewing so many people over the years, is to wear clothes that you're comfortable in, and bring good questions to ask, not about benefits, but about how people work together, the guiding philosophies of the library, etc.

Hope every has a wonderful evening! :wave:

Hey Chickies! I wasn't late but the world flew apart after I got there!! I had to go to the bank because the credit card settlement check was going to bounce due to a hold from the bank (large check) After I transfered all the funds around to cover it I went back to work and felt better, then the _hit hit the fan. The credit card co. called and took back there offer, and they had my money! After wanting to cry, I got a grip come home and call the guys supervisor and really wined. He re-agreed to the settlement. Oh what a day! But with all the cheating over the weekend I did manage to lose a little weight. 2lbs Yea!!!

I was given this advice once about excerise once and it really works, every time you work out put a dollar in a jar. After X amount of days treat yourself to a reward.

Oh Robin, nothing worse than outlets not working. My renters called me a few weeks ago at 2 in the morning (on the weekend thank goodness) half the electric in the house wasn't working, and of course the furnace and sub-pumps were part of the not working. Long story short, it wound up being the transformer on the line, I would have never thought of that!!

Kerry, your aloud to say the school package is important, but you have to look like your going to stay even after that. Who would you hire, someone who will leave in 2 yrs. or the girl down the street who has lived there all her life and dosen't look like she'll ever leave. Focus girl, you got to land the job to save the money!!

I never told my job I would take a bigger pay cut to be closer to home and daylight. I just pointed out that they were important goals, but I was more interested in getting out of the corprate office and into a nice cozy family run business. Trust me, closer to home and daylight were way more important!!! I honestly would have sold my soul to the devil to not have to commute so far, I really missed my kids and their activites. They offered me alot more money than I expected so it all worked out!

Love to keep chatting but the bathrooms are crying to be cleaned!! I'll check back later!!

Joetta if you wind up having bad tile, ya know the "A" word PM me and I tell you what to do with them. That's now my line of work, the dumpster lady, as I was so graciously reffered to one day by a really dirty stinky guy!!!

And its only Monday.... How can one day last so long???? Today wasn't a bad day but i swear everytime I looked at the clock it just wasn't moving.

Thanks for the b-day wishes. It turned out to be a good day. My kids were very sweet and wanted to sing happy birthday all day. My daughter kept wrapping up her toys and bringing them to me as gifts. My DH surprised me with a bubble bath and a wonderful dinner that he made all by himself, and he doesn't know how to cook or so I thought. He cooked the samon and veggies on the grill and baked potatos. He then made fruit parfaits for dessert. What a sweety! He has been very supportive of my weight lose and didn't want be to blow it on my birthday. And it tasted delicious!!!

Today was sabbatoge at work. When ever we have something to celebrate the food always goes in my office because it is the best location. So this morning I walk in my office and 6 birthday cakes are set up on my back table. What are these people doing to me!!!! They know I am on WW it is no secret but this was insane. I was a cake pusher today!!! I offered cake to anyone that walked by even the fed ex quy!! And I am sorry but I can not stare at cake all day and not have any. It was good but I feel horrible for caving in.

And 3FCs need to add spell check to this stupid thing!!!!!!!

Paige

Marie - How did the rest of the day go? I don't think that's too bad. You only had a couple of Oreo's ;) Yum! I have to have milk for those!

Robin - It sounds like you have been so productive. Way to go the distance at the laundry mat. You're a better woman than I am! :lol:

Judy - You had cookie sabatoge too!! :p I swear if it's chocolate flavored, covered, filled or chipped IT'S DANGEROUS around here!! :devil:

Lori - That's GREAT you lost 2 pounds!! You're on fire girl! :flame: I will be able to do an official weigh in tomorrow because I bought a new scale this evening.

Paige - I felt the same way about the clock today - it wouldn't budge. Don't feel bad about the cake. You deserved a piece of your own birthday cake! :hb:

As for the interview/job search front with me - :thanks: everyone for all your input. Things have progressed with two additional Universities. One (our first pick in Richmond, VA) is checking references and my boss spoke to them last Friday. And the other (Univ of Georgia) contacted me for a 30 minute phone interview on Friday. Needless to say :stress: I am reading interview questions and practicing, I'm compiling my master list of questions I must ask them and preparing like a madwoman. :fr: It all seems overwhelming! I'm also being initiated into the Int'l Library Science Honor Society this Thurs, which is a great honor in my profession, but adding just a little more stress and pressure since it's a big event on campus followed by a reception yadayadayada!

So daylight savings has officially kicked my butt. I'm exhausted for no good reason. :tired: I can't focus at work bc I keep thinking about the interviews. OMG I'm going to lose my mind. Now is the time that I need to start working out to work some of this off.

I'm weighing tomorrow. Here's hopin :) ;)

Good evening/night
 

Good night everyone. This makes twice for me in one day. I'm on a roll. Actually, I'm sitting here at 8:53PM eating my Cream of Wheat cereal that I added some cinnamon, all spice, and nutmeg to (sorry for the bad grammar). I hate eating this late, but by time I got off work, went to Wal Mart, drove 45 minutes to get home, took the dog for a walk, and called some contractors, it got pretty late. But it would have been worse if I had gone to bed with my stomach growling. I can't sleep like that. So now my belly is full, and at least it's full of a low-fat, low-sugar, vitamin-enriched meal. Plus I love cereal of any kind.

Judy - Thanks for the book idea. I'll check it out. My time at the moment is more time related. I actually like strength training. It's the cardio I can't stand. I hate sweating. And I got to thinking, when we start building our house, I'll get in shape in no time moving lumber and stuff around.

Lori - Congratulations on the two lbs. We all work hard for every pound we loose. Even if it were really cold out (unless it was under zero), I wouldn't have called you at 2AM. I would have found a solution for the next five or six hours until I could call you at a reasonable hour. And if you are feeling bored, please feel free to come clean my bathroom, too. We have only one right now.

Paige - There is no way I could have resisted multiple cakes in my office. I can handle on, maybe two. But multiple cakes would be too much. And I think it was cruel and unusual punishment for them to put them in your office knowing that you are one WW.

;gvb;.;'/f;'p;gfp]uiryu7 - My kitty says, "HI." She loves to help me type.

Kerry - Good luck on the weigh in tomorrow. Congratulations on your award. That's quite an accomplishment. And I hope you get the job in Richmond. If they're checking your references, they must be serious. And the fact that you won the Int'l Library Science Honor Society award should help a lot.

Have a great night every one. I'll check back in tomorrow.
Robin

So I weighed this morning and I'll take my 1 pound loss. I think this is how it will remain with me a pound at a time if I don't do something different. I don't think I stand a chance of meeting my goal. I am just so exhausted, mostly mentally and short on time. When I get home after fighting traffic I go straight to the computer to catch up on all the email, study these universities and questions. I'm overwhelmed - I'll say again.

I need to make an appointment to get my hairs cut. I don't want to and I don't want to spend the money, but I have long annoying hair that gets way outta whack if not trimmed every three months. I have this ceremony of Thursday, so I guess I should try to do it before then. :sigh:

Hi everyone,

I hope your day is going great. Mine is a bit boring because of the work I'm doing. But what it does is give me time to surf and of course, I just surf here. Lori, great news on the lose. Kerry, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you (get the haircut for the interviews too). Paige, that was just plain mean of your co-workers. I know their heart is in the right place, but us dieters can't be surrounded with cakes and be expected to not succumb. I just ain't going to happen.

Yesterday, I promised I'd be good for the rest of the day and I was. No more snacking and I did exercise. Today has been going much better. It's almost lunch time and I'm hungry. I can't say that for the last few days since I snacked throughout each morning. Today I'm hungry and I have a nice healthy lunch.

Hopefully after work, the weather will hold out on its rain so that I can take the dogs out into the woods and go for a walk. My aim is to workout 4 days a week and be active on the other three. Today would be an active day. I love going in the woods and watching my youngest husky run. He's just a beautiful animal and his power when he runs is amazing. So today, that's what I'm planning on. If it rains, I will do an exercise and have it as my fourth day for the week. I'd rather the walk.

Be good today and keep writing. I love this thread.
Marie

What a beautiful day in PA, my kids jumped me when my car door flew open "can we go for a bike ride", not today, but tomorrow would be better if the weather keeps up!! My goodness, work was busy, everybody must be doing spring clean ups. I've got to get the house cleaned up, my aunt is stopping by this weekend for breakfast and I would like for her to have a place to sit when she gets here :lol:.

Is it just me or what, I was starving today and the same thing happend yesterday when it was time to leave work. I don't know if it's just the time change, but I should be able to go an hour longer since we turned the clocks ahead!

Trust me Robin, cleaning anything is the second to the last thing I want to do. Laundry is my #1 dislike!!! And trust me she got some really stupid answers out of me until I really started to wake up!

Paige, not one angle food cake??? That's just not right, I thought they were all on WW too??? Are they not doing as well as you or what??

Marie, I hope you got your walk in, or did the dogs walk you??

Kerry, go get your hair cut silly girl!!! I love to get mine done it always makes me feel better, well dying it too does the same thing! Besides you deserve to do something for yourself (before you go crazy)!! Way to go on the 1lb, still moving in the right direction!! I went weeks with only a 1lb loss at a time, that's why I picked the turtle for my ticker!! Hey and just think of how a hair cut will show off your thinner face!!

Oh and Paige, I agree with the spell checker, yep, could really use one!! And that was very impressive of DH, not only to cook but also be diet smart too! Do you rent him for parties and stuff? How about just show and tell, as in tell my DH he can move the clothes to the dryer and not have to lose his dirty mechaninc look!! Although he would have to wash his hand first, someone will need to tell him that too! :lol: I can't complain, if I ask he will do it, but foget doing it on his own!!

Ok, going to clean some more, check back later!!!

I made an appointment to get my hairs cut but at the end of the call the receptionist told me that the price has gone up to $40! I mean I thought $30 was salty!!! So I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't get in before Monday, so I might cancel and shop around. Ugh! Probably is I got it done down here it would be less. I'll definitely get it cut before the interview.

I'm not so sure that UGA is a good option for us. DH says that their program doesn't look like it line up too well and they have an admission policy that says they'll only accept 6 hours towards an art major. :mad: I've put in a call to the program director. What a mess. Why can't this all be easy - like this is where you are meant to go and we'll take good care of you both. I'm still feeling good about Ohio though. :)

I've wasted another evening and I have no good plans for dinner. I feel like grabbing a bite because I'm tired and don't want to cook. I guess I'll drag my butt out there and see what there is to do about it all. :lol:

I'll see you all later :)

Another day down
 

Tomorrow's hump day, that means only three more days to the weekend. :cp: My next official weigh-in day is this next Monday, but I snuck a peek at the scale this morning and was 189. That's the first I've been under 190 for quite a while. I just hope I can keep it down that low for Monday's weigh in. Problem is, I weighed in at home, first thing in the morning, while wearing only a T-shirt and underwear. I can't exactly wear that while I'm weighing in at work. But if the weather's nice, I can wear some lightweight capris and a T-shirt. And I always take my shoes off before I weigh. I still feel good about the 189, though.

Kerry - One pound is still one pound less than before. At least you're going in the right direction. I've been losing only about one pound a week, too. It's slow, but I think it's a better way to lose because your skin and body can adjust to the loss easier. Also, if the job isn't feeling right, then it probably isn't right. Go ahead with the interview and get a better feel for the place, but if you and your dh don't feel great about, I would hold out. You've got other prospects.

Lori - I've been hungrier, it seems, at the end of the work day, too. I hate day light savings. Or rather I just hate changing the clocks twice a year. I really don't care which way it goes, but I wish the powers that decide these things would just pick a time and stick with it. I'll adjust my schedule as needed.

Marie - I love taking our dog for walks in the woods, too. We live on the edge of the mountains, near a reservoir. And hiking in the woods along the water's edge is always nice. I love to listen to the birds and watch the wildlife, too.

Have a great evening.