Good evening. Hope you're all having a good day. Marie and Carol I've noticed how creative the two of you are. I'm working at fixing up my house and having some creative success with it. I've been shopping at a lot of discount stores looking for great finds and I've found several quality items at low price that have really made a difference. Having a project like this helps me not to eat. I'm definately one who needs a focus or else I'm out of sorts. So it was a good eating and activity day. Glad you're all here.

Judy, hope you're doing well.

Tired your right just making your house fixed up a bit different makes a big difference. I like to light candles and have good smells running through it. Currently my neighbors mom has had surgery. She tends to be a bit moody to start with. I get along with her well as I go with the flow, but some others she dislikes and just can be miserable. Well I gave her some lovely lavender body lotion. My friend has burned some lavender candles and it has helped with the mood swing and she tends to be a bit calmer. Hey what ever it takes the house smells great people are in good moods etc... I just got a 10.00 coupon for yankee candles. They are a bit high but burn nicely. I even have the hubby into lighting them sometimes before I get home. My daughter which had the flood last year finally finished her home. Oh it looks so nice and the flow from room to room works out nicely. She has added some new pictures and they go nicely with her blown up pictures from Greece. They put in a slate floor just in case it ever floods again. I love the slate look. I want to make some new slip pillow covers for my rooms. I have an Adirondack room cozy little spot with a pellet stove. I love to hang out in there. Need a bit of color added to that room. I think I will add some new slip on pillow covers and some silk fall flowers, candle. I love the burgundy and greens. Well have fun with warming up your home with new ideas. It is fun and can be cheap with some creativity. One thing with my home is the way the rooms are designed you can't move around the couch much. My adirondack room is long but narrow. It kills the ability to change much around.
Marie it took some guts for me to get on that dang scale but now I feel more in control again. I guess sometimes I avoid it too and it gets me into trouble. I had a good eating weekend. All but an eclair... Oh! Can't be too good we would be boring. I had a great salad on saturday night. I used romaine lettuce, little blue cheese, almond slivers, chicken sauted in a bit of marinate with onions, red onion slices and a little italian dressing, croutons. Oh it was amazingly good. I made a big pot of chili yesterday so that will be lunch today and for a few days. I added a bit of jalopeno cheese grated on the top. I will take some celery sticks and peanut butter for snack and an apple. I am trying to keep things added in so I have a lot of variety. That always makes a difference with me. If I get in a rut its all over I will eat things I shouldn't. Good luck all and this week I will get to the gym 3 times. Starting today! I have to ck my schedule and if possible am going to take an hour off to get there early. I need to do this for myself! Good luck and have a great week lets eat healthy, move more and keep our spirits up!

Hi Carol and Tired, sounds like you're both doing good. Can you believe another weekend has gone away? I think I slept most of mine away. I was tired and had nothing planned. So I took naps, went on a hike, made a nice dinner, etc. Just a lazy weekend. It was nice and I wish it wasn't over.

I plan to walk this evening after work. So exercise is going good. I made a turkey for dinner last night so eating wasn't too bad. I didn't have any dessert so that was good.

Carol, I love candles, but they aggravate my asthma so I don't use them often. I got a great one last spring from a friend's fund raiser. My favorite scent in the whole world are orange blossoms and I bought a candle with the scent. It was unbelievably close to the rea thing. So even though I don't light it often, I'll pick it up and sniff it once in a while.

I guess I hsould get back to work. Talk with you both later.
Marie

Hi all,

Really good day. I've got a new focus - the classroom. I put my energy there and didn't look for miracles every minute. I accepted a low key pace and was happier all day which is better.

My home is a mix of warm earth colors - I love the feel. There's more to do and I'm going to go out tonight to look a bit more at a few discount stores. I'm enjoying this new creativity.

Carol, I heard on the news that people who weigh themselves more often stay thinner. Good for you getting on the scale.

Marie, I'm glad you had a relaxing weekend. I'm glad you gave into your need to relax and rest. Perhaps you and I can encourage each other to keep work at work.

Eating - great start however I caved for some chocolate ice cream when I got home. All is not lost though as I made a delicious, low cal veggie chili for dinner and won't eat after that. I've got to fit into those clothes and Thanksgiving is a nice goal - one month away! Month by month might be a good way for me to work at it at this time. It's a gorgeous crisp fall day here. The boys are playing football outside. The house smells good from the cooking. I love this 60's something temperature - I'm made for this temperature. Take care.

Hi, gals--

I'm still on the journey and haven't forgotten about my partners in crime on this thread! My trip west was good but busy, and I came back to a pile of work that I'm just now beginning to get a handle on. Between the sinus infection and trip, I wasn't too good at eating or program or working out consistently most of this month. In fact, I ate like there was no tomorrow while I was away. It was the week before TOM and I was surrounded by chocolate and other goodies at every turn--and hadn't mentally prepared myself to make good choices. Several people commented on how much weight I've lost so far...and I'm sure they're still scratching their heads over how I managed to do it and still eat so much.

So I'm not even going to get back on the scale 'til near the end of the month. And I'm back on program, after a few days of struggling to reorient my body (and my cravings) back to healthy eating patterns. I went to my Pilates class this evening, after being gone for two weeks. Oy, is my core sore! I'll be out of town again on Thursday and Friday, but I should be able to work around things well enough this week.

I'll have to catch up on the personals later. I'm so glad that you are here to return to, even when I drift away for a few days!

hugs--judy

Judy welcome back we have missed you. Good to hear that the trip is done and out west was busy but good. It is a must to eat when your out of town and that dang Tom is always haunting us. He got me good last time and I over ate and paid the price. This time I will still do the scale to keep myself in balance. Cause when I didn't a bit creeped right back on. It is so easy to do. I know you will put your mind to it and get right back on track. At least we know the way we may stray but always come back.
Tired good to hear you had a nice day and are getting the feeling of control over life. Your home sounds lovely and warm a cozy haven. I ate a BK burger yesterday and felt sick afterwards now that was a dum thing to eat. It was emotional eating for sure. My tummy sure let me know it wasn't a smart move... I did manage to get to the gym first time in quite awhile lots of thoughts but never got there before. At any rate I took an hr. off at the end of day it was well worth my 1 hr. vac. time. I felt good when I was there like I had never left. I got right into it a bit slower on the treadmill but after a bit jacked it up. I did a couple of machines. I only worked out for 45 min. but next time it will be more. I am shooting for 3 times a week at least. I also fit a walk in to the main office and did the stairs 4 times. I counted for the fun of it 700 foot steps from my office to the other one. My eating was good right until that added on burger. I have to remember when I work out I tend to eat more in the beginning so I will pack and apple in the car for the ride home 30 min. Oh so many adjustments.
Marie congrats on the computer you did it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would of been completely lost. I am not that get on the computer. Sounds like your walks have been very helpful to you. They must bring you peace at the end of your busy day with the puppies too. I never thought of the candles that way. I wonder if they bother my grandsons allergies. He tends to sneeze a lot when he is over... Oooops!
Tired and Marie I used to bring my work issues home with me too. Big time they only eat you up emotionally. If something is bothering me after work a coworker and I talk it out in the evening but not as often as we used to. I think over the past few months its gotten better. I try not to let my supervisor get to me she is nice but can be pretty moody. She doesn't have an easy life either but sometimes her at home problems rub off at work and it makes a hard time for us to deal with her swings. Oh well its not easy to let go once you get home but it is better for you if you can.....Good luck!
Judy I am so glad your getting nice things said to you about your wt.. You deserve it!

Hi everyone, it sounds like we're all doing okay. I was pretty good last night. I was bad, but then I was good. How, you ask. I came home and munched on some apple cake and then a slice of turkey. Well, instead of having dinner, I counted that as dinner and was done for the day. YEAH!!!! That is big progress. I didn't eat anything else in the evening. So for the day, I was really good. I dind't go for a walk. I was in a deep blue funk. I sort of took work home with me. But then, I dropped it. Iw as trying to get a PHP script to work and I started downloading the code at home so I could continue to look for the problem (it was irritating me that I couldn't find the needle in the haystack) but I stopped myself and didn't do it. so this morning, I looked at it and found the problem in about 2 minutes. I was so proud that I dind't waste time at home yesterday.

Judy, I am not good about eating when traveling. I always look at it as though it's only a week and I can undo it. Probably a bad attitude, but it is difficult to eat good away from home. congrats on all of the compliments. You surely deserve them.

Carol, good job on the workout. Don't you wish that working out wasn't such a chore? I love the feel after doing it, but I find motivation difficult.

Tired, I'm glad you're enjoying the fall. I like it, but it's not like spring and summer (my favorite seasons). I think it has something to do with the fact that winter is around the corner. Your house decorations sound pretty. It's good that you're focusing on something other than work.

I did practice the drawing last night. I think that this is going to be an uphill battle to get halfway decent at it. Oh well, I don't have much better to do and I really want to learn to draw.

I suppose I should work a little more consistently now (in other words, I keep coming back to this post). So I will talk with you all later.
Marie

Marie you will become very good at drawing as time goes on. At least you are doing something that interest you. I bet that you will look back at where you started in a few weeks and say wow look what I can do now. It is all a learning process its different just drawing and learning the correct way to go about it. Sounds like a good thing to beable to work on when those snowflakes are slowly dropping from the sky. I can picture you drawing in front of a sunny window just relaxed with a cup of warm hot choc.... sugar free of course. Have fun with it and good idea on the dinner last night and no eating afterwards!
I came home last night from work made a quick dinner with chicken breast, sauted with low cal sauce, onions, mushrooms. It hit the spot and I was eating lite as we were going to the casino girls evening out. We were going to have dessert and coffee and we just were having fun before we knew it the time was 10:30. Ooops and on a work night by the time we got home it was after 11:00. We never had our dessert or coffee but my calories were only 1,000. I had preplanned my day for that little extra and never got it. I guess thats okay but I try not to go to low in cals as well as high. Anyways tonight we are going out for burgers so I am sure my intake will be up there again. I can tell you that the ab. machine kicked my butt on monday. I feel like some one did a whale of a punch in my middle... At least I know the workout did something I guess. I am planning to go again today it is a chore to get there but the results and energy level after are well worth it. I redid my bathroom closet shelf on monday evening. It looks nice only 3 more to go. I have purchased too many towels and now have to reorganize the house....
Tired and Judy hope your doing well... We are all going to see some lovely changes soon with all our good efforts and best foot put forward...

Hi all,

Eating was ok today. It was so busy that I hardly remember what I ate. Glad to see you back Judy. Carol and Marie I'm happy to see that you're both well. I'll be back tomorrow, but I unfortunately I have to run. Take care.

Good Morning. Good night's sleep last night. Studies show that people who get enough sleep actually eat better. I know that's true for me.

I have to lose these pounds that I gained by Thanksgiving. It's realistic. So I'm starting to chart again today Thanks for being here.

Breakfast - yogurt (130), coffee

Plan:
snack - apple
lunch - salad with tuna
dinner - slice of homemade pizza - lots of veggies, healthy sauce, carrots
lots of water all day!

Tired good idea I know it really helps me to chart. That way I don't let so many extras jump into my intake. I worked out again yesterday only on the treadmill for 40 min. but thats better than not at all. I am getting back into the swing of things. Preplanning is one of the things I am working on. I knew we were going for dinner so the extra 250 calories I burned off helped balance my intake. I also had a healthy lunch and poached eggs, dry toast. Its the little things that can help make a difference. I started months ago to order dry toast when I have eggs it is just habit no to do so. Well dinner cals were a bit high last night but we were at our favorite burger joint. Have a great day and keep up the good work. I am glad to see you have yogurt in your intake thats suppose to be helpful in losing. I think pizza is fine especially homemade as we can control how we make it.
Intake plans: Kashi wheat cereal 200, 1 banana 110, blk coffee
apple snack 80
1/2 turkey sandwich on dk. rye no mayo, mustard, veggies prov. ch.?400
apple 80
chicken grilled w/broc. steamed and salad w/ olive oil and blueberry vinegar, spices. 400 yogurt 100

Hi. Good for you Carol working out. Lots of good advice too. Very good start to the day, but then a tough afternoon at school sent my diet off course. I'm really struggling with the admin. dictates right now. I love to be a creative, interesting teacher, but lately the admin has had so many dictates that it makes me feel like they'd rather have robots than real people teach. I'm trying to keep a low profile, but it's hard for a passionate thinker like me. Oh well, lately I feel like I'm being nudged in a new direction, but what is it? Oh well, I'll have to have a good eating night. Thanks for staying on the post. It's nice to know you're here.

Well girls it was a very emotional day for me yesterday and ended in not such good choices. I did good until the evening when we were invited for dinner at a friends. The food and dessert full of calories galore. I was an emotional reck anyways I made the decission yesterday to have our 17 year old dog put to sleep today. It was so hard but something I needed to do. The girls told me it was time and I didn't want to hear it really. So after a few weeks of thinking and more issues health wise with my dog it was time I figured. So a call to the vet was made. I was a reck for a bit after and my coworkers all animal lovers were very supportive. I am taking today off to take care of matters and to deal with my emotions. Afterwards I think I will work out put some stress and emotions to rest. She has been a lovely dog and I guess we should be so lucky we have had her in our lifes for this long. But it is not by any means an easy task. I haven't contacted my son but will over the weekend. I told my hubby no more for awhile. So the place we went to for dinner last night just got a new puppy the other day oh so cute. My hubby really fell in for her. She is just a little butter ball about 500.00 dollars too. Katie will never be replaceable. She always follows me around from the min. I get in the door until bed time. Oh thanks for listening I needed to get this out I think. I know its the right thing to do as she is losing control over her bladder throughout the day and night.
Well I am not going on the scale until sunday. I decided because of my slip up last night that I would wait til sunday... Gave myself a little break! Talk to you all soon.
Oh Tired I remember working in a school and I love the kids learning with a creative teacher I know you will meet the demands of the school and still beable to reach your own level of creativity. Your a good teacher and you need to remember that! The kids are so lucky to have you and the fact you care!

Hi Carol, I'm so sorry about your dog - 17 years! That's a long, long time. I can imagine your pain and sadness. Perhaps you can write a little book about your dog and add some pictures. That will comfort your grandkids and give you a memory all in one place. Food can definately be comforting in situations like this and you're so good now that you can get back on track once the black cloud moves over a bit.

Thanks for the kind words about school. I had a good day today. I did some writing that helped me to see clearer.

Marie and Judy, I hope you are both doing well. I'm actually going out tonight with a couple of friends that I've had for almost 40 years! It's funny but they know me just about as well as anyone else. When we were kids we spent every afternoon at one of our houses talking, talking, talking about the ups, downs and theories of life.

Take care

Tired thanks for your kind words. It was a very hard day and thank goodness we don't have to do that very often. I never imagined it would be as hard as it was. The house it a bit empty with out her. She would greet me when I got home, followed me around etc.. I will adjust with time. The book is a good ideas thanks, the kids are making a cross and painting it for her grave site.
Today we are having a family birthday celebration for the 2 grandsons. I baked two cakes last night and that kept me quite busy. The one was from the current country living mag. it is a choc. pumpkin cake from scratch. It is 3 layers high and frosted with orange cream cheese frosting not low in cals at all. Then I made a little box mix cake and frosted a pumpkin on it and decorated it. We are having lunch for the boys today. My kitchen was a mess but the cakes look good! I hope they taste as good as they look. The party will be fun and I love watching the kids together at a gathering. I am off to a few sales with my friends one is a garage sale the other a moving. I love the moving sales. Usually you can get great stuff and reasonable. I spoke with my son last night about our trip in the spring to Hawaii. He said the whales will be around from Dec-April a real cool experience. I think the hubby is going to go and I am pleased with that. I am going to book the tickets soon. Something fun to look forward to.
Well its to be a cold weekend here. I am going to breakfast with some friends in the morning on sunday and then plan on working out. My emotional eating has gotten the best of me the end of this week. I need to get a grip!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Carol, Judy, and Tired. Carol, I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved doggie. Last night as I walked my two huskies, I thought of you and the pain that you are going through. Don't be too hard on yourself for seeking comfort in food. Like you said, that pain isn't a daily occurence and you overeating isn't either. So be gentle on yourself. Enjoy the birthday parties (the homemade cake sounds delicious) and the moving sale.

Tired, I'm glad your day was good yesterday. I can understand your frustrations with administration, but just a word in their defense, more than likely their dictates are mandated by the state and federal governments. More often than not, when I require a stupid thing to be done by teachers, it's because the state mandated some type of reporting. The red tape that is being thrown at schools as a whole is unbelieveable. It certainly isn't good for education and our future generations. I'm glad that you're creative in the classroom - at least you know in spite of red tape, you're still doing your job as you see it. That's good.

My job is going good. I hate the start of the school year and that's over now. I've got the dumb webserver up and running in peak performance. I've got PHP and MySQL running on it and I'm learning a lot about both programs and making them work for my web page. Next week I'm going to San Jose for a class on dynamic web pages and that should be fun. This week, I want to learn more about PHP and MySQL so I'm not lost in the class.

Things are going good family wise. DS1's GF had another ultrasound yesterday and there are new pictures. It's amazing how clear they are. I'm excited to be a grandma. DS2 and I had a great night together last night. He was home when I returned from the walk with the dogs. We made homemade pasta (spaghetti) and garlic bread. It was delicious. I didn't have dessert again. Dessert is my favorit thing in the world and is my treat when I'm good through the day. Well, I'm trying to learn when I'm not hungry not to eat it just because I don't need to. So I haven't had dessert in the evenings all week. Sort of good, sort of a bummer.

I've been exercising regularly. So that's good. I haven't stepped on the scale because I know I could do better eating wise, but my new clothes fit perfectly. So I'd guess I'm maintaining.

This morning DH and I are going hiking with the doggies. DH has to work this weekend (Guard) so we're going before he goes to work. Then I have drawing homework to do so that should be fun. I did a little better this past Wednesday than I did the week before. My homework is a grid drawing and I'm going to do my beloved Alaskan Husky. Should be cool.

Well, I'll chat with you all later.
Marie

Marie thanks for your kind words. My house is a bit different these days. I bought a few things to spruce it up and that made me feel a little better. I have to say it does take a lot out of yah! I am looking foward to starting fresh this week with my intake and exercise. I did a bit of christmas shopping yesterday. The store had Barbies stuff marked down 1/2 off so I figured might as well get it. So both grandaughters are almost done except for my sewing part.
The weather has been so rainy here your lucky you can get out walking.
Glad your work is going better.
Tired I hope you have a good start to your week with school. You play an important role in those little ones lifes. Hope your weekend was good.
Judy you must be out of town or super busy miss hearing from you.
I am planning to eat well and exercise this week. For things to do this week I plan on finishing my sweater then working on my grandaughters quilt.
Well gotta go to work I packed my lunch last night that seems nice not to have to do this a.m..

Hi Carol, I'm glad that you're looking forward to a fresh start this week. I need to get back on the diet band wagon. I admit I'm not being good eating. Not awful, just not good. We're going for a hike today and that will be nice. I have the day off and not a thing planned. I have drawing homework to do, but that's it.

I had a nice weekend. Relaxing and time spent with family (except DH who had to work).

Not much going on so that's about it. Talk with you all later. Hi Judy and Tired.
Marie

Yesterday was a bit stressful I had to disput with my supervisor over the source I used for my day off on friday. I have time with vacation and sick no problem there. But she fought me on taking a sick day for being upset over the dog I had for 17 years. I told her people take time off because of a lot other things including hang overs, boyfriends having issues etc... I felt my need for a day off when I was in an emotional state was a good enough reason. I told her if I hadn't been honest of my reason it would of never of been in question. So in the future yah just lie to cover the reason you need a day off. Well needless to say she wasn't to happy with my responses but I felt strongly to use my sick day as I know how others use them. I also said I guess it depends on if your the bosses friend to how you get granted time off. Well its all behind me now 10 min. later she called me back in and granted me my time. Its just too bad I had to go through that to get it.
So I am hoping today is a better day with less stress which leads to not the best choices of food. My coworker had a bag of chips and we all got into them in the afternoon. Today is a new day and I am charting my intakes and exercise off to the gym. Talk to you soon Marie we will get to our goal just a few obstacles get in our way thats all. Gotta keep the big picture in mind I guess.

Hi, all--

I'm still out here, plugging away! I wrote a long post on Saturday but it got lost somehow. Anyway, I'm back from traveling again, and dealing with my overwhelming desire to eat sweet and/or hearty food on days like today, when it's dark, chilly and wet outside.

Carol, I was so sorry to hear about your beloved dog. I'm so glad that you stood up for yourself and took your sick day.

Marie, I laughed when you confessed the "dessert is my favorite thing in the world" :smug: Snacks are mine, because I think that includes desserts, and a dessert in the middle of the day is a snack! If that makes sense to you, then you are just as bad as I am.

I went to Pilates last night, and promise to practice more between classes. I'll go to Curves today after work. Although I'm moving back toward my usual eating patterns, I am still straying just enough to consume a few extra hundred calories a day. Today it was a blueberry muffin and chai tea. But I'm doing better than I was a few weeks ago, when I ate like there was no tomorrow. I won't get back on the scale until this weekend. I hope I haven't gained too much weight back.

Gotta go for now, I just wanted to check in and wish everyone a great day!

judy

Judy, I did get it. I guess we're in the same boat. :) Good luck getting totally back on board. I'm straying too much, but the exercise is keeping me somewhat in line.

Carol, good for you for standing up to your supervisor. I take it she's not a pet owner because no one who loves their animals would dispute the emotional grief that you went through.

I'm at work - I don't want to be but I have lots to do, so off I better go. I did really good through the morning, then lunch dessert came and I was bad. Good thing I'm walking the pups today. TTYL.
Marie

judy thanks for your support and you too Marie. I don't regret my way of handling things. But today the day after she says to me I am working on your evaluation. Oh now thats not so good do you think? I laughed and jokingly said to her well after yesterday I can just imagine. I am not worried about it I am a hard worker and do a good job. I might not always agree with her or the system but my clients are well taken care of and that speaks by itself. That is what really counts. We don't get paid anymore for being wonderful or awful. It is a crazy system everyone gets the same percentage. I don't always agree with that but I guess its more fair to everyone in some ways. I know without a doubt that there will be something reflecting how I need to take my supervisors advise and direction better. But I feel that most of the time my way is best and I have been in this field a long time now. So I will have to eat up what ever is said to me I guess. But I will review it carefully before signing off. Marie I don't think she cares for many things except herself at times... Well thanks for letting me vent. The good news is all in all I had a better day today! I ate well stayed at 1425 calories and worked out for 55 min. and burned at least 275 calories on the treadmill and then what ever else on the other stuff. I raised my incline and speed today. I felt really good after my visit to the gym. I even looked at halloween candy and walked away. It was helpful to know I had dinner in the crock pot waiting for me. Then I ate a yogurt and almonds for snack tonight. Well I feel like I am gaining control working out helps us eat better I THINK!!!!!! Take care ladies and have a good night. This helped me stay motivated and its almost bedtime.

Hi all, writing quickly as I have to run to work. I'll be back to talk later, but just wanted you to know that I'm still on the journey. I've been climbing "a mountain" lately, but I think I've reached a bit of a plateau for a moment. We'll see. Take care and have a good day.

Tired we all reach that spot its okay for awhile as long as you take a maintaining break. But then for me at least I have to shake things up a bit or the changes I want won't come. Today I have preplanned my meals as I am honoring the request of a little birthday boy to go to Friendly's with grandpa and I. So I have figured in extra calories for later and will do a workout too. That way I will not feel guilty in making choices later. It should all balance out. I feel that I have more control this week and will continue on with this journey in a more positive attitude. Take care and will ck. in again maybe. It helps to keep me on my way.Have a great day.

Hi there, fellow mountain-climbers--

I'm determined to go to Curves today. I worked too late to go yesterday, so I'll make this quick so that I have no excuses. I snuck back onto the scale this morning: 233. I hate having to my ticker up :mad: I will wait to see where I am by Sunday. This will be motivational, I hope, to keep ignoring the H'ween candy in the office.

Tired--Plateaus are a drag, yeah? Maybe it will also give you a chance to catch your breath and see how far you've come....

Carol, I hope you're having fun with the birthday boy!

Marie, thanks for understanding how I think...

judy

We had a great time with the little one. We are so lucky to have such nice grandchildren. They bring warm thoughts and tender unconditional love to our lifes. At any rate last night he also brought gram to Friendly's. I had some sandwich on wheat roll but it was a buffalo chicken strip, and I had waffle spicy fries. Oh so off the charts! I didn't finish the whole roll like that mattered! I didn't order dessert or have anything else after I left there thank God! I didn't get to the gym yesterday as I forgot my gym stuff and had time yesterday to go to. But I did use the stair case every opportunity instead of the elev. and walked to the main building for a meeting. So all in all it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I went for my breakfast with a friend and had poached eggs, dry toast and only a half of order of potatoes. But all in all to many potatoes for the day and bread. I will make a pt. of taking my clothes today and eating healthy to make up for yesterday. Well hope the rest of you are doing well. Judy you can do it your are half way there according to your chart. I still have to put a chart on here if I can figure it out. I was up on the scale last week and it motivated me to get my butt moving more to the gym and stairs, walks, journaling etc... So even with my little slip ups I feel pretty good and in more control. I know that others will bring in halloween candy into work and I am going to bring in some sugar free hard candy to keep in my desk for those times of need! Good luck with avoiding it picture the scale waiting for us to get on that will help us all! Hah hah! Gotta keep a sense of humor or we will lose it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

real quick entry. I'll have more time this weekend. Trying to loose 5-10 by Thanksgiving. Today's menu
breakfast - apple
lunch - chili, carrots
dinner - Thai food
all done for the day. My new plan is low key (to almost no) carbs, 3 meals a day, no inbetween and I have to drink more water - my water consumption has been too low. I'm feeling motivated. Hope you are too.

Tired thanks for some boost with motivation I was feeling a bit down. The scale still hasn't gone down for me. I gained a little back and need to get it off. I have been careful this week with most meals but the eating out got me. I have a christmas shopping event planned for saturday with a couple of friends. We have to go early as one girl is having back surgery tues. metal piece being put in. Oh! Anyways I am going to at least preplan my other meals and trying to also go back to less carbs. Somehow some extra carbs have jumped back into my intake. Having to much bread, pasta it needs to go. So I am going to reflect back to some of my south beach low carb diet...
Good luck and I am with yah more water, exercise and lets do it! I will also aim for at least a 5lb.- 7lbs. loss by thanksgiving....

Girls its a struggle to eat healthy and I am trying hard to behave. Yesterday a coworker brought in Dunkin Donuts. I had a half of a jelly filled one. I guess thats better than a whole one. I got comfortable with my wt. for a bit and then lost control. I guess now its reality and time to get back on track.So Tired I am with yah girl and trying to move more, watch the goodies and make alternative choices. I told myself yesterday that a 1/2 was okay as long as I could control my urges not to have more and I did it. I ate lunch out which was on the higher end of cals. but had a light breakfast and cereal for dinner. What ever works! Today is another day off to christmas shop with my friends. We are going to a buffet for lunch. I am not having any bread, pasta, fried food or pastries. I have made up my mind to eat veggies, baked or broiled meats or fish, and have fruit for dessert. I can do this and I will! I think I have convinced myself. I have to take this seriously if I want to lose some more wt. before christmas. Hope your all doing well. My journal is helping as I am writting what not to do and what to do. Does any of this my sense or am I losing it?

Hi Carol,

Good to hear from you. Great that you stopped at 1/2 a doughnut - way better than one or two. I'm sure, even when we're not totally on track, we're skipping some foods that we used to endulge in regularly.

I did a lot of cooking for the family yesterday. Good foods. Nice warm, harvest foods. The boys are happy and doing well. I'm happy to have the day off today. I'll be accompanying my older son to a jazz concert benefit for Katrina. I'm looking forward to that. It should be a healthy day - no big cravings. I hope your shopping trip went well.

Take care. Hi to Judy and Marie. I hope you're both doing well.

Half a donut is better than a donut "whole" :lol: As you can tell, I'm in a silly mood today. It must be that extra hour of sleep. I've spent much of the weekend dealing with clutter, and playing with my exciting new paper shredder. I've been eating pretty well, and hope to earn a smiley face today by staying on program. I went clothes shopping yesterday, and there's nothing like seeing how I look in my underwear in the dressing room mirrors to help stay focused.

Carol, I hope you did well at the buffet. I'm terrible with buffets, I invariably go back for seconds (or thirds). Whenever I have a choice, I choose a place that doesn't have a buffet. I guess you can't do too much damage if you stick with the low-fat and low-carb options and pretend that the South Beach doctor is standing right next to you.

Tired and Marie--hugs to you both, and best wishes for a great Monday!

judy

Thanks for your support girls. It wasn't too bad of a weekend. I did okay at the buffet a lot better than I would have if I hadn't thought it out. No pasta, no breads, no pies but I couldn't resist the pumpkin dessert pudding. It was only 1/2 cup serving and so tasty. I didn't eat breakfast and thats not normally me. But I figured we'd stop and then we didn't. The shopping was fun lots of laughing and that is always good fun. My friend whom will have surgery on tues. got some of her shopping done. That was actually a big point of the trip. These are gift shops that we go to every year and she would of missed out. The surgery will keep her down for awhile wearing a neck brace etc. Well next weekend I am taking my sister inlaw to a amish shopping area in Penn Yan about 1.5hrs. away. I promised and so I need to follow up. They have a great store to purchase baking supplies so I will stock up for christmas baking. I didn't go exercise this weekend but did some gardening. I am going to at least fit in a walk for 30 min. today. It will be a nice week to do that weather wise. Hope your all off to a good start. I purchased some things to help keep me supplied for the week with good choices. Including a small bag of sugar free choc. little hershey bars, pira bar mint, hard sugar free candy. I am cutting down on my pastas, breads so forward we go! Sounds like you both had a good weekend. Tired sometimes making the warm foods is a good thing and having left overs for the next meal. I made beef strognoff yesterday and had my mom over. Oh see I did have pasta............... Not too much though! Gotta be honest! I guess as long as its not so often its okay? I counted the cal's up only around 1500 so I stayed within my guidelines.... Thank goodness!

Off to Pilates, ignoring the bag of H'ween candy that was left by one of our vendors. This would normally be an off-program day: Rosa Parks' "homegoing" is happening at the church just outside my office, and the entire service was broadcast onto the streets, so it has been an emotional and unfocused day for me.

Hope everyone is off to a great start! Carol, you're modeling how to do it--be prepared! Were you a Girl Scout?

judy

Funny you should ask that. Actually I was a GS up until about 3rd grade and thought it to be nerdy. Then for my girls I was a leader for years and the head of our district for a couple of years! That was too funny you made me laugh!
At any rate it worked yesterday the supervisor went out and brought back a bag of candy. 100,000 bars 2 little ones racked up 180 calories. Well after I read the calories I went into my drawer and grabbed a hard piece of sugar free candy. Now thats not to say I stayed out of it completely I had 2 later on at my grandsons but added them in to my calories. That bag at work was gone with in 2 hours and only really 2 people eating them. I was glad to have the control. In the morning it was cake time for one girls birthday I had a small piece but figured it in. I am gaining some control and I think having alternatives really has helped. If I read the calories I either am better about the serving size or not taking it at all. Well hope the rest of you are gaining strength too! Good for you Judy going to exercise. I am going to fit in a walk this afternoon our weather is beautiful this week. My friends surgery is today and I am thinking of her today. I am not going to the hosptial but will see her on wed. at home. I figured she will be most likely really knocked out or sleepy most of the day. I stayed just under 1500 cals for the day! Hurray I made it through halloween! Now today will be another tough one everyone brings in their leftover candy. I am going to hold strong! I have my supply of resources in my desk. I think the pria bar mint flavored and only 110 cals will be my treat! Good luck!

Congrat, Carol, on not having a really scary Halloween :carrot: I had the smallest Kit Kat I'd ever seen--smaller than my little finger, very strange--and that was pretty much it for me. Definitely my best H'ween ever.

We have full days of board meetings on Thursday and Friday, plus a big reception Thursday evening, so work is very busy. I brought carrots to help me through the 'nervous crunchies' that will hit me late in the afternoon. And I'll go to Curves today. After I send this post, I'll go back to my signature and bump my ticker back up. I was 232.5 this morning, better than last week, but still a big gain for the month of October. This month I'll move in the right direction!

judy

Judy its better for us to realize we have gained and to do something about it than just pretend it will just go away. Too bad it wouldn't huh? Good luck and keep up your good work I will writer more on thurs....

Today I am having a high fiber cereal to start my day. I am having lunch at the college with a client. There are always lots of choices they have the best caf. I ever have seen. For dinner I am grilling up some chicken and making some squash, salad. So my days intake plans don't look to bad. Yesterday I ate those dang little bars but other than that didn't do too bad. A bit to much in the bread dept. though. Due to my bagel in the a.m. and my peanut butter sandwich for dinner. Well with me preplanning really helps. I hope to get that scale moving soon down and not up. I also am excited as I am starting to ck into flights for Hawaii. It isn't cheap thats for sure. So far the best rates are around 830 each so double that for me the hubby is going. I need to make special arrangements for him. But I am glad he is finally decided to go. The kids will love it.

Carol, think of how much better you'll look in a grass skirt if you keep loading up on fiber and generally staying on program!

I have no time to post today, but I wanted to say hi, I'm doing well so far on a day of meetings. I'll be back tomorrow, I hope.

Marie, Tired, et al, hope you are feeling good today!

judy

Judy that is a funny thought! I am trying my best but sometimes take a slide down a bit. I ate a good breakfast and dinner but my lunch was chinese. I had sesame chicken and an egg roll. I figured my calories were about 1800 for the day. That is high for me. Today I am going to be better I have planned out: Cereal bar for breakfast at 160 cal. and an apple 80, lunch salad w/ grilled chicken low cal dressing300 cals, dinner will be broiled haddock, squash and coleslaw. I hope to be around 1450 in cals today. To make up for yesterday. I am not doing the scale til saturday that makes me more likely to stay on track a bit through the weekend. I am off to shop in the amish area towards Rochester on saturday. I am taking my mom whom is 83 and my sister in law. We are going to do a bit of christmas shopping and picking up baking supplies for the holidays. Take care and hope everyone else is doing well!

The scale moved hurray! Only a lb. but I will take it. I had a good for the most part but did over do a few times. So when it was down I was pleased. Now maybe it will give me the incentive to try harder. I think eating less white bread, pasta and sweets has helped me trying to get back on track. Funny how those things slide back into our lifes. Now I reflect back and think well if I had only eaten better this week it would of been changed even more. Oh well best to look forward and not back. The journal has helped me to stay on task more. I also document my progress, changes and of course the wt.... I have a ways to go to reach my goal. But every little loss helps along the journey! Hope your all doing well. I am off to shop in the Amish shops with my mom and sister in law. We will have a meal out so I had poached eggs and rye dry toast for breakfast.