Renee - are you still around? Hopefully you are also enjoying the summer. I believe it has officially started.

I was outside last night for a while removing brush from the tree that is coming down. It's not really cardio but it uses some muscles and gets me moving. I'm planning on walking at lunch today.

I have been counting my calories online and even though I don't seem to be eating a lot of calories (yesterday about 1300 - I can't believe it was that low) I am not losing weight. I guess more exercise and being aware of water weight is important. I'll keep at it since staying the same is better than gaining.

Ang – I don’t want to disappear completely from this thread - I do want to keep posting. But right now it looks as if it’s just you and me left here?
When do you leave for your conference? Will you be away all of next week? I hope you have a great time!

Your life outdoors in the summer sounds so nice; it makes me want my own (small) garden. A place to drink my coffee in the morning, a place to work a little, have some flowers, a few vegetables – or at least some spices. Where I could read under the threes and just relax. Do you ever get to relax in your garden, Ang? Sometimes it sounds as if it’s just work for you?

If you’re eating 1300 calories a day – you’re really not eating much, and it’s weird that you don’t lose weight. But I agree with you: maintaining is better than gaining.

I have to go – but I’ll look in again soon. Have a nice day everybody!

mette - I will keep checking in too. I wish I could get the alerts to work again though so I'd make sure I didn't miss a post. Oh well - I'll just post when I can. Hopefully Renee will come back.

I was in Las Vegas this past week, which was why I wasn't around. The conference was boring but Vegas was fun. I ate whatever I wanted and it was nice. I ate good food (and too many desserts) for a change. After two days of eating whatever, I found that I craved good healthy foods and didn't even have dessert the last dinner out. It made me realize that I am feeling like I deprive myself at home and I eat sweets more for psychological reasons and not because I really want them. I'm not sure how, but I definitely need to increase the quality and diversity of what I eat. I think I will eat less sweets that way too and feel less deprived. Sometimes food just gets so boring (and costly if you're not creative).

I need to get back on track after being away. The house needs cleaning, backed up at work, etc. I must start fresh and change my ways (not just eating) though because I am not happy with the way things are and I know I am the only one who can change them.

The garden is usually great and relaxing in its own way. It's not really a sit and read type garden. I enjoy seeing the plants grow (I now have green tomatoes) and tending to something that needs me. Sometimes I walk around my property and just enjoy being outside. It's great for me to be with nature that way. Soon I will get some deck furniture so I'll be able to sit out and read. Right now I read in my sunroom, which is almost like being outside.

You could easily do some potted (or not) herbs that you cook with. They aren't hard.

How is work going? Are you staying with your eating plan? Any additional weight loss? I have realized that I don't lose because I don't exercise enough and mostly because I either eat too little or WAY too much. I need to learn how to regulate consistently in the middle.

I'll ponder over the weekend and let you know what I come up with. Enjoy the holiday!

It was so nice to have a long weekend. Although I didn't really do anything for the holiday, I had a relaxing time and spent much time in my garden - weeding! I also met a neighbor who is training for a triathlon with her husband. I'm hoping to go for a bike ride with her over the weekend. This may be a good way to jump start my exercise program.

I walked at lunch. I would've run but my head is killing me (migraine coming on to go with TOM) so I thought walking would be better. Eating has been under control, so that's a step in the right direction. Except for physically hurting while I sit here, my attitude is pretty good. I have a TON of work to do this month but am determined to take a few days off later in the month. Gotta have priorities.

I hope everyone is doing well.

It always happens that when I decide I'm ready to try and find/make a change, something happens to derails my efforts. This time it was terrible rain, TOM and migraine. The migraine is gone, the rain leaving and in a couple of days it won't be TOM. At least I still have a good attitude. If the rain stays away I'll do a big chunk of weeding in the garden tonight.

I'm excited that I have my first fun trip planned in a long time. In a couple of weeks I will return to VA to visit one of my best friends for an extra long weekend. Can't wait!

Not much else has changed here. Same struggles and same joys. BF situation still stressful but good. Too much work but trying to get things done one at a time.

Hope to hear from someone soon. I hope you're out enjoying life.

Hey there...is anyone still out there? Things here are going along. I'm enjoying the weather and long days tremendously. What is everyone up to?

Wow poor Ang, we all left her!

Sadly, my having vanished was not just being busy and good, it was me being totally bad and falling off the wagon. I feel horrible about it, but still can't pull myself back into focusing on food and exercise.

I am going to really try to start, and I should start tomorrow, but then I convince myself tomorrow is a bad day to start, start on Sunday.

I had surgery on my toe on Saturday, permanently removed an ingrown toenail, so I have lost the ability to run and jump and dance until it gets better, and go figure, for weeks I didn't feel like it, and now that I can't, I want to.

Anyway, going to try to get back into checking in here. How's things going?

Hi Renee - I'm so glad you're back. Hopefully mette will rejoin us soon. I am sorry to hear that things have been so tough for you. Did something happen in your life to cause you to fall off the wagon? Hopefully by the time your toe is heeled you'll be raring to go. About how long will you need to be nice to your toe? How is the rest of your life/summer going?

The short answer of how things have been for me is that I am in Virginia right now visiting a friend (so this will be short) and taking a short vacation. I celebrated another birthday since you guys took your hiatus so that was a little tough. I also am getting ready to embark on a new 'attempt' at being healthy as soon as I get back home. I feel relatively motivated so we'll see what happens.

The rest of life is just going along. Work is not fun and too busy but still the same. My garden is doing well so that's rewarding, although a ton of work. The bf is still around, which is good. The summer is going by way too fast but I'm enjoying the nice weather.

I hope to hear from you again soon (and mette). I check in regularly but can't get the notification option to work anymore so I have to rely on remembering to check in to see if anyone has posted. I'll be back soon though (Tuesday or Wednesday). I hope you had a good weekend and found that one of these days was a good day to start. Just take small steps.

Take care of yourselves and enjoy the outdoors while you can!

Well, I don't know where everyone is but hopefully you're having fun.

I am back into regular life after getting back from Las Vegas. I have started picking lots of veggies so I am eating more fresh veggies, which can't be bad. Unfortunately spending so much time on the garden means that I'm not making time for exercise. I need to remedy that.

What has everyone been up to? I'm status quo with weight but in general a little happier with life. I'm considering doing this bike/run/paddle race with people from work but it's $50 and I'd have to get dedicated to training. The bike segment that I would do is 22 miles. I'd be in in a second if I felt like I fit in better at work. Do you think I should do it? It ends up being a whole day thing since we support the rest of the team when we're not in the race. Did I mention I'd get a free shirt? I'm just not sure.

I hope to hear from someone soon. I'm also thinking of starting WW on Aug. 1 and wouldn't mind some opinions or advice.

Hey Ang, hope you still check in here. I am currently doing weight watchers and it is a sound program. Hey, since I am so forgetful checking in here these days, would you like an email that you can send stuff to?

I just recently signed up for Weight Watchers ETools, which lets me track online everything I am doing, but you need to also attend meetings to get that. (ANd it it still Extra $$)

I would recommend doing the meetings though because there is something about it that really makes it work better when you do it that way.

Anyway, was just thinking about you (all you guys) and thought I'd drop a line in.

Hi Renee - I did get the e-mail saying that you had posted. If you want to correspond by e-mail that would be good. You can post it here or send me a private message and we'll chat more. I'm still hoping mette will come back but...if she does I should get the alert.

I just started WW today with a friend. We're going to try and support each others efforts and hold ourselves accountable. It's been a while though so I don't remember any of the points. I guess I'll be calculating some this weekend.

Have you tried any of the WW forums here? I haven't looked too hard but am not sure which would be the best for just starting out. I don't know if I want to join an already established group, particularly if I can't post everyday.

I hope you are doing well. It was good to hear from you.