My husband, gotta love him. We're not really ones to exchange gifts because we usually buy what we want/need whenever it is wanted or needed (within reaon, of course). But this year he bought me a present along with a beautiful card. You won't believe what he bought me ... 4 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup candy bars. They are my favorite. What the heck was he thinking?!

Dinner, btw, was delicious. My mom was here to watch the kids and is sleeping over so I think I'll take advantage and do a longer workout tomorrow.

Thank you for the tip in the signature-at least I only have to do it once a week lol. Husbands go figure-my ex was the same way everytime I started to do something about my weight-for me it was Ben and Jerry's. Don't know why they do that but I am so glad that you had a nice dinner.

LauraB-so sorry to hear about your ailment. I have heard that is awful stuff. I agree it is a good thing that there is a place where we can all connect. I think any type of obesity whether it is mild or moderate is such and isolating condition. For some reason whatever we go through we think we are the only ones who think or feel that way. It is nice to see so many of the same things I go through, others grapple with also and we now also have a sense of "belonging". I am happy I found this place.

Laura, lyme disease is a horrible illness...hopefully it was caught in time and you won't have any lasting effects from it. Feel better soon!

Jeanne, I'm glad you had a nice dinner. Peanut butter cups? Oh my...not exactly a diet friendly gift, huh? :lol: Oh well, remember what I said...birthday calories don't count. :lol:

JILL CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That is awesome!

I remembered what you said about birthday calories so I split one of the packages with him and sent the rest with him to work today.

The scale didn't agree that b-day calories don't count so I am off to exercise.

Good morning all!

CONGRATS JILL!! That's great! Wow! I'd be thrilled if I lost that much in a week!

Sorry to hear about the Lyme Disease, Laura, but I'm glad they've figured out the cause of your pain and fatigue so that you can start getting better.

Congrats on the new orthodics, StillTrying, and may you have much luck getting used to them!

Well, it's the thought that counts, right jjeanne? That was a great idea to have a little and send the rest off with him. My husband has done that kind of thing to me when I've lost weight in the past. I always thought it was kind of sweet of him, I'd much rather have a husband that would buy me treats once in a while instead of one that would always be after me about losing weight (bless his heart he has never said one negative thing to me regarding my weight struggles). He doesn't buy me the sweets anymore...he's finally realized that with my family history of full diabetes, heart disease, and cancer that I need to do something NOW so to reduce the liklihood of health problems later. I am sure your husband meant well, too, sometimes their brains just work differently than ours or something! Glad you enjoyed your b-day dinner!

It is also a huge motivator to come here and read what everybody is doing. I know this group is just what I need to stay on track. I had a really good day exercise-wise and food-wise yesterday and I KNOW that it's because I can check in here and talk about it. It's the most I've done in ages...I jogged a mile and walked SIX miles! That is really a lot for me. I also did my regular 10 minute ab routine. I can tell already that today won't be as good for me because it's rainy out. I really need to spend some time in the garden today if it is possible at all (mmmm...fresh tomatoes). I really have a hard time exercising indoors on rainy or hot days in the summer, but I am going to have to make myself do it if it doesn't clear off outside pretty soon. I also need to start lifting weights but I tried it a few weeks ago and ended up getting mild backaches. I have a herniated disk so I really try to avoid anything that aggravates it because I don't want to have to have surgery for it.

I am still really struggling with drinking enough water. Will try again today!

WHOOOO HOOO WAY TO GO Jill! :cb:

Laura, I am so glad they found what was wrong- now maybe you can feel better.. :)

Jeanne.. PB butter cups??? Oh I would not have been able to be that brave and given them up.. Peanut Butter and chocolate should be their own food groups IMO.. :D
Good for you in resisting!

( I am on a smilie kick today ;) )
YAY! it's FRIDAY and only working half a day, till noon, meeting hubby for lunch and finishing up school shopping ..OHH joy! don't need much just a ruler, different crayons and a pair of "Mary Janes" for the youngest-
I am doing good on water and rode bike for 12 minutes this a.m. will tackle again tonight, Food was good even with going out to dinner- had a good salad, bypassing the bad foods :devil: on the salad bar! they even had a good LF dressing available. had a nice portion of chicken and 1/2 baked sweet potato. the hardest part was sitting around afterwards while everyone talked and had dessert (I did not have dessert!)
I have decided NOT to weigh myself unitl my next goal date of August 24. If I continue to eat right and exercise I will lose weight and inches. I will not let the scale control my eating habits. I need to eat healthy for life, not just to lose pounds. (rant over :D )
Have a great day all and thanks for the support!

Hope I got everyone:
Jill - Congrats on your loss! How do you like TOPS? I was thinking of joining since there is one about 5 blocks away. I could walk there, but the meeting ends when it is dark and I don't think I'd be comfortable walking alone at that time. I know they don't give you a diet to follow, but are the meetings along the lines of a WW meeting?

Laura - sorry about the Lyme Disease, but glad the medicine gives you some relief. Where in NY do you live? I am on Long Island.

StillTrying - I hope the orthodics make your feet fell much better. I was fitted for and received orthodics. I wore them for about 6 months or so, but then I got lazy about moving them from shoe to shoe. Now one is missing.

Melissa - you'll get there with the water. What was your recipe?

Suzy - Holy geez! Pushing a lawn mower -- you're my husband's kind of gal! I don't go near that machine. I tried to mow the lawn once last summer and was dying. That is exhausting!

Kaye - that was a lot of exercise! Good for you!

Well, I just completed my exercise for the morning. I walked on the treadmill for 36 min. I followed Prevention.com's speed interval workout. It is a 5 min warm-up, 5 min walking at a moderate speed (I did 3.3 mph), 2 min. jog (I did 4 mph), 5 min walk, 2 min. jog, 5 min walk, 2 min jog, 5 min walk, and 5 min cool down. Then I did some stretching exercises and some weights (not much since I am just starting). I may try to get another round of exercise in tonight after DH gets home -- gotta work off that dinner!

Have a great day!

Good for you on skipping the dessert! Restaurant desserts always look soooo good....it's not easy to resist!

And good for you for being strong enough to stay off the scale until your goal date! I am working on not giving that thing so much power, I know it's not a good thing to be a slave to those numbers. I have a hard time even skipping one day of stepping on it.

Sandi - I missed you. Wow, what dedication at dinner. And no dessert! I am impressed. Dessert is my favorite food. When do your kids go back to school? School doesn't start here until Sept.

I think my 3 yr. old was playing with the scale. I hope she didn't adjust it too much. I think I am going to spring for a digital one anyway.

Good way to start the day with a workout jjeanne. Makes you feel better for the whole day, doesn't it?

Ah...a 3 year old...you have your hands full, then. I'ts been a while since mine were that little but I did babysit for a two year old for a week earlier this month when her mom (my sister) had a new baby. She really wore me out! Wow she was a lot of fun and full of energy, though. I wish I had gotten a digital the other day when I got my new scale. I don't like my new one much. Aside from the fact it added 5 lbs. to me...the numbers are too close together and really hard for me to read even with my contacts in.

My kids go back to school (and I go back to work) at the end of August. I am looking forward to it but I'm a little worried about finding time to exercise. It's a lot easier to fit it in when we are home all day! I try to walk in the school before and after work but sometimes there's just too much to do.

I got the tortilla casserole that is listed under the WW recipes on the site. It is 6pts on WW and I think it is like 310 calories. It was pretty easy to make too which I like. I know I am bad about the scale. I do weigh everyday-but I don't get upset if I am the same or happen to go up a pound-know it can go up and down during the week so the only number that "counts" is the one on Wednesday when we do our check in. I am so happy to see all the success everyone is having! It is great.
Melissa

I saw that recipe and it reminds me a lot of something my Mom used to make when I was younger and it was one of my favorites, but now I don't like ground beef anymore...I wonder how it would be with some other kind of meat.

I would think that either gr. turkey or even shredded chicken would be just as tasty-I might try doing chicken instead myself.

Thanks for all your good thoughts.
Jeanne- I'm in Dutchess County, 90 miles north of the city, in the Hudson Valley. Very small town, very pretty, nice people.
Sandisuze- I think you are so smart to avoid the scale for a few weeks. I haven't had the courage to face it yet, but when I do it will be every 2 weeks, cause you can be perfect and the scale doesn't show it and then so disappointed.

An Idea!!
I definately feel a change in my committment since joining this group. I've decided to plan a falling off in September, maybe Labor Day. Anything like ice cream, my favorite, can wait till then. That way I don't have to feel deprived. I know I can have the treat then. When I crave something sweet or see some else eating what I want, I can say Labor day. Does anyone else like this idea and want to join me? Basically it's really stay on your plan, and then Laobr Day fall off and then end the falling off 8:00 PM and get right back on. It doesn't mean you have to binge all day, just plan to eat whatever, a favorite meal or some treats or a restaurant, do it, and then get right back on.
What do you think?
Laura

awesome Misty! We never do anything on labor day-but I do have our annual tacky BBQ at mom's which I already have planned for. I did find some strawberry pops through schwan's which are only 1 pt so that made me happy. We bring a tacky gift and exchange them for a good laugh. Kinda stuck on what to bring for that-this is totally non weight related but do you think it would be tacky to give a framed photo of myself? I thought it kind of was and I can't ask anyone in the family cause then it would give it away. It is an older photo of me in sweats LOL or if you can think of something that would be tacky let me know.
melissa

Are we all on a roll or what?! The motivation and determination in this group is AWSOME!

Jill ~ Congratulations on your loss! Keep it up!

Jeanne ~ I know how hard it was to part with those peanut butter cups...that takes amazing willpower! Good for you!

Sandi ~ I agree with you! Taking off these extra pounds isn't about a number on the scale it's more about making a change to be healthier.

Melissa ~ I love the idea of a photo of yourself for a gift, but as long as it's supposed to be tacky why not go to a thrift shop and find some tacky clothes, hat and shoes and dress the part for a photo? A funny pose and a tacky frame (maybe something with rhinestones ;) ) and you would have a REALLY tacky gift! :lol:

Misty~ Your determination is amazing! I give you lots of credit for going to the gym after a day like that!

Mel ~ Don't get too stressed about that scale. Keep going...you're doing great!

I had a breakfast meeting this morning at my favorite bagel shop...I SO wanted a big fat bagel with cream cheese, but I ate my usual cereal and banana before I went to the meeting and just had a cup of tea at the meeting instead. I'm not sure what the rest of the day is going to bring, but hopefully I can get in some kind of exercise later today or this evening.

Keep up the good work everyone!

I am going to make a frame out of popsicle sticks and lordy if you could see me in this picture-I can't believe I never ripped it up when it came in. I am going to let my kids decorate the sticks for me. It is getting harder the longer we do this to "out tacky" each other. One year my Dad got some troll doll earings! He actually wore them for the day too-we all laughed everytime we saw him.
melissa

That BBQ is such a great idea!

Wow, Misty! That's amazing that you have the energy to go to the gym after putting in a 14 hour night at work. Awesome!

Laura I like the Labor Day idea. I'm sure I can pick out something yummy to splurge on, and maybe that will help me get through a couple of days at the State Fair this month without completely blowing it if I can just keep it in my mind that I can have something special on Labor Day.

Melissa this is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing as a tacky barbeque, but it sounds like a blast. The popscicle stick frame with a less than perfect picture is a great idea. You must have a really fun family.

Mel it sounds like you had a great day yesterday. That is a lot of walking and a lot of water! Good job!

Good job going to your meeting prepared to resist that bagel, Suzy. I know have a really hard time saying no to a bagel.

It finally did clear up enough for me to get outside and get some exercise today, and I picked a nice bowl of cherry tomatoes out of the garden, too. Hopefully I can get another walk in later. My Mom mentioned that she'd like to get together and go walking with me in the evenings so I'm hoping it's nice enough that we can do that tonight.

Congrats jill on your weight loss!

Hmm, I dunno about the labor day splurge. I feel it may turn into the september splurge for me.

God, I'm having the worst cravings today :(. And I was so enjoying not having sugar cravings. I also have had a constant headache and have been in an agressive/hostile mood for two days. And I'm not PMSing! Is it possible to go through sugar withdrawl two weeks after giving it up?

Has it been a higher temperature there than normal? and if so, are you drinking enough water? heat can make a person cranky and too much heat can give you headaches-heat stroke. My first thought was PMS but you put a halt to that one lol. I actually drank 1.5liters of water today!!!!! That is a first for me I tell you but it has been a bit warm here too the last couple days. As with all cravings, these too will pass, try doing something "busy" to get your mind off it. It might help.
Melissa

Uncovering- have you had less coffee or tea lately? That sometimes gives me a headache. Are you an emotional eater like me? Lot's of times I eat to stuff down feelings, especially when I'm in distress over one of my children. If I eat I won't have to feel bad. So maybe you're feeling hostile cause you can't use food to help when you are distressed. How's that for me playing shrink?

I am one of the women who rush to the fridge when something goes wrong. When one of my sons was having troubles, I would open the fridge as I answered the phone expecting some awful conversation that would upset me. My biggest weight gain came several years ago when my absolute best friend moved 1000 miles away. I was distraught and every night I would wait till everyone was asleep and eat a whole gallon of ice cream.
I am trying to be more aware now, but it's so hard.
Laura

Good insight-never thought about caffeine intake and I can so relate to emotional eating. I know if I miss my coffee, I have headaches so I don't miss my coffee lol.
melissa

Laura - OH MY GOD good catch! When I look at the past week, my coffee intake *has* decreased (I liked my lattes full of sugar). And you know, it really helped for me to stop and think about the emotional part of it. You know, I have all this time now that I used to spend eating alone. I suppose that time is now spent actually feeling my emotions, and I'm probably pissed as all get out that I can't stuff a muffin in my mouth to numb myself. Thanks.

Melissa, good idea. I think I'll go clean my dresser.

You know, this is my first week on the site and it is becoming such a support in my life. Amazing.

I'm an emotional eater as well...I always have been. I eat when I'm happy, sad, mad, worried and especially when I'm bored. Those are hard habits to break!!! I'm trying to find something else to do instead of eating...drink a glass of water, clean, or work on a quilt for a few minutes. It seems to be working, but I'll admit there are still times when I REALLY just want to sit down with a spoon and a carton of butter pecan ice cream! :lol:

I am definately an emotional eater. That's why I decided to make Labor Day a falling off day. Even if I can't figure out exactly why I want to eat now, tired, bored, lonely, angry, mad, worried, etc, I can tell myself it's ok, I'll eat it Labor Day.
I'm not worried about Labor Day becoming a month long binge cause I am planning it, and the big part of the plan is that at 8:00 pm, it's over.
I've never been able to that before. Falling off was always the beginning of the end whatever I was on. It's just good to know that I'll be able to stop.
Laura

Whew! I was getting scared there for a minute. Yesterday the scale was up all day -- like 3 lbs. But, fortunately, today it is back down. I guess that's why we're supposed to weigh ourselves more infrequently. I think I need to hide the scale.

Anyway, off to exercise. More later!

I am terrible about weighing every day. I just can't seem to stay away from it but even if I happen to be up one day I say it doesn't count and look at the big picture and only Wednesday morning counts. My goal today is to drink at lease 1.5 litres of water again. That is something I have to work on-not sure why-I think I just get so busy during the day, I forget to drink after my morning coffee.
melissa

So last night I went shopping. There are some great sales out there right now. Unfortunately, I just bought a bunch of tops off the rack with trying them on and not one thing fits nicely. :mad: I am cursed with a large chest, which is only compounded by the fact that I am still breastfeeding my 3 mo. old son. Everything is sooooooo tight across the chest. The only luck I had was in finding shoes for the wedding I am in next month.

I know exactly what you are talking about! By the time I get a shirt to fit me across the chest, I have about a foot of sleeve that goes past my hand. When I was nursing my son (long time ago), I was a 46G. I used to tell people my chest got there 10 minutes before I did.

:D Ah, so you know what I mean! I am pretty sure the last bra I special ordered was a 40G. I think, however, I was bigger with my daughter because my friend told me I carried her in my chest! :lol:

And I can't believe nursing is not a recognized activity on fitday.com. I thought it was supposed to burn some ridiculous number of calories a day.

Yes it does burn alot of calories but it doesn't bring the heart rate up or work the muscles ect. I know when I was losing weight after my first child, I was eating like 2600 calories a day and losing weight like gangbusters. Of course only being 19 at the time, didn't hurt matters.