Hi all. I'm resisting my urge to dig into a bag of peanuts right now. Instead I'm writing to you. Last year this really helped - writing instead of binging.

Marie, good luck with the shed. You and your dh are always project oriented - that's great. I too have noticed many people with illness this year. My husband has a nasty strep throat right now.

Judy, I hope you get some meds if the sinuses continue to hurt. One time when I was at a wedding in Annapolis I ended up in the emergency room with a sinus infection - only time in my life I thought "this is what it feels like to die," that's how bad it was. Thanks for asking about goals. I really need to focus. I've let a lot slide in the last month. My big focus is to fit into all those clothes I bought last year which are tight now. I can do it, I can do it.

Today's menu
- breakfast - banana bread (healthy recipe)
- lunch - roast beef sandwich, 2 apples, carrots
- diner - chicken, sweet potatoes (I love sweet potatoes), beans, 1 glass of wine
No in between - that's good
No after dinner eating - that's good
Time to really get psyched to reach my goal of 150. I really want to be slim for my Brazil trip. I know I'll enjoy it more if I feel good and can wear nice clothes. 7 months to do it. I don't even want to weigh in until I can get a couple of good dieting weeks under my belt.

What a day--it's been like several Mondays all rolled up into one! I don't mind having lots to do, but I really don't like feeling being disorganized or scattered. Oh, well, I'll try again tomorrow.

Tired, I'm so glad that you stepped away from the peanuts! I have to put nuts into little snack baggies and freeze them so that I don't munch right through them.

Marie, how was your shopping trip? I bet your family would have been a good candidate for one of those reality TV shows on the HGTV--"Remodeling with Marie."

Carol, I hope that you are doing alright. I'm feeling much better, but my headache is pretty much the same. No Pilates today, boo!

judy

just checking to see if this works I have had problems getting on.

Hi all. Carol, can't wait to hear about your trip. You've had so many great getaways. I love reading all about it.

Marie, hope you're doing well.

Judy, thanks for the "peanut" idea.

Good eating day for the most part.
breakfast - coffee, yogurt
lunch - salad
dinner - chicken, sweet potatoes, pasta (a little) and a bit of apple dessert - my dh cooked it and I couldn't resist.

That's it for tonight. I already feel better now that I'm getting on track.

Hello everyone I really missed getting on the sites. It was awful not being in contact but I kept it together. This weekend was a busy one. On saturday I went to an estate sale cool stuff. I plan on going again this saturday with a friend. Maybe pick up some nice gift ideas. Then I helped with the PTA for the grandkids school fall festival. It never ends once yah have kids its an on going process. Then sunday we went apple picking and then to the pumpkin farm. We picked 30 pumpkins my daughters darango was packed. The kids smashed in with all the pumpkins all on our laps under our seats on the floor etc.. Really funny time. One of the grandboys is having a party and needed 20 pumpkins for it. I wish you could of been there.I burned a few calories with just pushing the wheel barrow up the hill and then helping load the car. Never needed the gym..... We then stopped at McDonalds I got only a drink and yogurt. OH those aren't so good I haven't missed a thing! I attended a birthday party only dabbed into the salads etc.. Didn't over eat. Today I did okay not really crazy did have a BLT for dinner but added my calories up 1300 calorie day and I'm going to have an apple. 1380 Sounds like everyone else is doin good keep it up. Brazil sounds wonderful and a skinner you will be even feeling like having more fun. I am looking forward to Hawaii in maybe March that is whale time. Judy hope your feeling better sinus not fun. I am fighting a bit of that myself.... Marie hope your doing well.
Keep in touch! Tired better to have a little of something and be satisfied than not have it and binge on something else. Never go without but eat with in your calorie limit guidelines...

Hi all.

Carol You Live Life to the Fullest - a good model for all of us. Your weekend was wonderful. I can imagine you pushing the wheelbarrow full of pumpkins with a big smile on your face and your grandkids proud as ever!

Took another great hike up a nearby mountain with two other women and 12 children who were all terrific. For many it was there first mountain hike so that made it more fun.

Eating ok today. Not lots in between. I've been doing well with that. Now I just have to make sure that my meals are full of lots and lots of healthy choices.

Have a good evening!

Tired thank you for your warm thoughts. I had an okay day but let some chicken wings slide onto my plate. The hubby and I went out for dinner. I had a rough day at work with having a guy hit my car and run away with his. That started my day then the problem to my car damage is small only about 200.00 but it was having him just take off after he hit me. We talked he backed up and speed away. Most likely didn't have a license or insurance. The police were just not even helpful thank god I wasn't in real danger. Its not a good neighborhood that I work in. guess I should be lucky he didn't get scared and shoot me or something like that. Oh well I will live but stress always leads to a bad food choice. The rest of the day was good.
B=bagel w/light c.c.
L=1/2 OF A DELI SANDWICH made w/ dk. rye and roastbeef, little mayo and veggies
S= Apple
Dinner out= a veggies calzone w/ sauce 1/2 saved the other side for lunch on wed.
6 chicken wings and some salad
1/2 of a carm. candy apple. I at least shared the calories with the hubby
That was it oh 1 small glass of red wine.

Carol, I'm sorry about the start of your day. Did you get the guy's plate number? It's amazing how when things go wrong that food is our comfort. Since I struggle with bipolar, when I'm on the depressive side, I definitely struggle (As I am now). Looks like you pulled your day out though wiht other good choices.

Tired, your hike sounds fun. Right now it's hunting season so we can't take the puppies on hikes, so we're not going. Exercise is hit and miss with me. I did get my pilates machine and used it yesterday. It's a 3 time a week thing so I should be riding the exercycle tonight. But I don't want to. I'm surfing and knitting. Oh well. I will do the Pilates tomorrow.

Work is okay. I'm trying to have a better attitude, but it's hard. I'd rather not work at all.

Well, I'll talk to you all later.
Marie

Marie what yah knitting? I knit too! I have a sweater in the works right now. I am making a crop sweater with a bulky charcoal color yarn. It was a bit expensive in the end I could of bought a sweater. Hah Hah! Knitting helps keep my hands from getting into food in the evening hours. The weather has been so beautiful its hard to get into the knitting but on the cooler days I did. The back and front are done and I went out to buy one more skein as it might not of been enough. After this I am going to work on a sweater for my youngest grandson for school. It will be Thomas the train with the train running along the bottom of the sweater area. A lady from the net sent me the design. That will be a project to sit by the fire with. I can only knit for awhile and then have to stop I had carpal tunnel surgery and it can flare up at work and home everything in moderation like our eatting! Life! But I will not let it control my life or the way I live it. Thank God I am a determined individual huh?
Anyways I plan on having a good intake day. I am preplanning my day w/ the following.
B=cereal 150 apple a bit later in the morning 80
s=kashi bar peanut=130
L=1/2 veggie calzone w/sauce ? not much cheese 350
S=apple80
D=Tuna salad w/tomatoe and lettuce bed and a bit of dressing olive oil and vingar.250?
coffee w/ the girls and some dessert I should still be okay as I tried to be careful the rest of the day. I am trying to make sure I get more fiber in my diet too. That is something I used to figure in fats and fibers before my calorie counting days. I am on the low end today of fibers not even 20 should be 30. I will work on this the rest of the week. They help to keep you full and burn more fat off of your body. Check yours girls and see where you are its hard to get them in there. One good way is a fiber cereal. I gotta get a grip on this it would help I am sure of it. Share your intakes if you don't mind this may be a good stragie.

Hi all. Enjoy knitting. Wish I liked it because I love to see the beautiful sweaters. Also, it is a good way to keep your hands busy.

Carol, I'm so sorry about the car accident. Awful!!!!! I would be very upset too. I'm so glad the price wasn't too high.

I'm on the upswing. Hope it stays. I've got back some of that feeling from last year when I lost the bulk of my weight. I've got a couple of meaningful projects going on at work which helps a lot. I've had a bit of positive feedback which really helps too. I'll have to remember that when working with my students - a compliment here and there can go a long way.

today's intake
breakfast - cereal and yogurt
lunch - veggie salad
snack - 3-4 hard candies, carrots
dinner???? haven't got there yet.

Take care and thanks for being here.

Carol, I cheat. Really I do, I have a knitting machine. I'm not patient enough for real knitting, not when my machine can make a back of a sweater in an hour. I would really love to make a fancy, cable sweater, but that's too much fro my machine. I made a green sweater this summer that was made of chunky yarn and I love it. Right now I'm making a white cardigan with a hood. It's made of Lion Brand's Wool Ease. It should be warm. I love sweaters - in the winter I'm always freezing.

Tired, good for you in getting the feeling back at what makes you successful. I hope it sticks. I'm still struggling but today wasn't bad. I didn't cheat and I'm actually hungry for dinner. I'm been munching so much that I skipped dinner last night.

Work was terrible today. My co-worker and I rebuilt our webserver yesterday and screwed it up. Not to mention we lost some parts of the website. Tomorrow we're rebuilding it and I have to recreate the webpages that interact with our databases. Yuck. I guess all I can say is I haven't been bored...

I did come home to the sweetest puppies in the world so life is good. Work is just 8-9 hours of my day. I'm getting better at putting that into perspective. I'm sure my dogs don't like when I come home cranky so I'm really trying to leave it at work.

TTYL.
Marie

Hi, ladies--

Carol, I'm sorry you got stuck with the bill for your car. This is one of those times that a camera phone might come in handy, just snap a picture of the jerk speeding away! At least you weren't hurt in any way (besides your wallet).

Marie, puppies are so sweet! And I'm not particularly fond of animals....I hope that the puppies and your knitting are helping you regain your balance this evening.

Tired, you sound great! It's so nice to hear from you more often like we used to.

I am feeling a little better. I'm taking these hugely expensive antibiotics and juggling nasal spray, Allegra and positive thinking to banish this sinus pain before Friday. I haven't worked out since early last week, and my eating has been slightly off kilter. Feeling stressed because I'm behind at work, and crummy because of the constant headache, makes me want to eat--eat chocolate, to be specific. I wolfed down some M&Ms today, but generally I'm not eating bad food, just too many calories total, and burning fewer off. Life is this way sometimes, I guess. I will try to keep this in perspective and let it turn into a relapse.

Thanks for sharing your ups and downs! It reminds me that I haven't invented any of these problems, and they can all be addressed.

hugs--judy

Judy that type of phone would of been great. Hopefully I won't need it again but that is a thought I will keep in mind. Some of the group homes use them when a client has been injured or there is some type of problem others need to view. Boy when we get sick it takes a lot out of us that we normally take for granted. Just doing regular stuff wears yah down. Take it slow so you don't have a relapse. Also if you eat peanut mm there not so bad at least yah get some protein. I had a brownie 1/2 but it was big so the size I ate was big. Just got Tom and needed some choc...... I won't do the scale til he has gone away! I wish he would take a hike permanently.
Judy glad your knitting something you will enjoy. Yes you are cheating but if yah can't do it the old fashioned way and have the means to make it still good for you. I have never used a machine. I have a few sewing machines and quilt. I have a couple of quits I should be working on. I also have a chair which is 1/2 done which stares at me while I am on the computer some day they will all be done! I can do lots of things just need time and when I have time I find other things to do. Too many interest I guess. Never bored though. The puppies sound cute and loveable. But they can be a lot of work too. Must keep you busy. What kind are they?
Tired I am so happy for you. In your journal if you have one write how you feel right now. And every day reflect on it when your starting to feel down. I just read you should keep vivid memories of a day that was going great, exercise, eating intake was good, and you were having an upswing day. This will help you stay focused on reaching your ideal goal. Track your food, stay positive and do cardio even if its 10 min. thats better than none. These are tips from the biggest losers. Makes sense to me! What do you all think?
Have a great day. I am off to open house at the grandaughters school tonight. They split the district and she goes to a different school than her 11 month older sister and her 4 year older brother crazy huh?

Greetings from a hotel business center near the Seattle airport. I'm waiting for the shuttle up to Skagit Valley, and avoiding the snacks in the hospitality suite. Today wasn't a good eating day--I didn't do my mental work and think through strategies for making good choices. But now that the traveling is mostly over, I will focus on getting back on program for the remainder of the trip. I will check back in if I can, otherwise I'll see you all on Wednesday. Have a wonderful weekend, and start the new week with your best foot forward!

judy

Judy I loved my visit to Seattle last year actually almost to the date. I found it to be a lovely city with so much to do. I especially enjoyed Pikes Market. I know you will get back on track.It is so hard when your away and so many different types of foods and get togethers are available. Hang in there you'll do it!
I haven't been to bad but have had chinese food 2 times this week. But inbetween meals and snacking at night haven't been bad. I had the two little girls stay overnight. Then pops watching them this a.m. I am off to an estate sale and garage sales to shop. I just love it. Then I am coming home and baking apple pies with the girls and applesauce. I am going to prepare the pies and then wrap them tight and in the freezer to bake at a later date. I think I am going to send my son and his wife some fresh apples. Before the postage go up any higher. I am worried my Hawaii trip will be quiet expensive with fares going up. I would book my flight now for March but a friend of mine will be going to hopefully and she hasn't the funds yet. I will keep my fingers crossed it stays under 1,000.
I started my morning at 6:00 and finished cleaning my closet and drawers out for fall clothes. That is an accomplishment for sure. Putting away summer stuff is a bit depressing though. Well hope everyone is ready to enjoy their weekend mine is a longer one with monday off. I am wallpapering my daughters bathroom that day.