It's 1:00 AM and I am stuffed and feeling awful and fat and all around yucky. We went to DIL's parents and there was fabulous food and I had spinach pie and mashed potatoes and shrimp and goat cheese and 5 kinds of dessert and too much wine, especially for me because I rarely drink.
Then we came home and I was on the phone with other DIL. It was the first time we really spoke deeply since she lost the baby and we were on for 3 hours, going over every minute and everything we felt and thought. It was a relief for me because I really love her and circumstances with her family have kept me apart from her, but it was good that she turned to me as soon as her parents moved to their own place. My boy is not handling his grief well. He is drinking and sleeping and hiding. At least DIL and I are both on the same page re him. I am hopeful. They are coming here tomorrow for 2 days and I hope we can talk to him and let him know that what happened with the baby was an accident and not somehow directed at him.
Anyhow, I am ready to be OP tomorrow. I reallly need it.
Laura

I did really well at Christmas, but only because I was at MILs and the people there were motivation to keep it straight. First, there was SIL, who lost over a 100 lbs. and is now putting it back on. This was a huge reminder of what I do NOT want to do. I watched her nibbling on the desserts and turned in the other direction...I had NO sweets, imagine that!

Then MIL who says she is going to lose weight, all the time she says this, but only gets larger. Nothing wrong with that, I've been there, but she runs her mouth too much. She used to give me weight loss stuff every year, intending to be offensive. You could always just see the evil in her face, and even hubby would be offended some years. This year, she didn't do that, she did worse and acted as if she didn't noticed I had lost anything.

That didn't bother me much,, but what got to me is the pettiness. SIL has always been chatty and nice with me, but yesterday she kept giving me these weird looks and wouldn't talk much to me. I caught her and MIL several times standing together, obviously discussing me and looking me over. MIL barely said anything to me at all. I am not completely left out of that little women's circle, which is fine with me anyway. I expected it from MIL, but SIL has always liked me so it confused me. The ony change is that she has gained and I have lost, so I have to assume she's just being catty.

Funny, this year I am losing weight and doing it right, and she knows this, and she doesn't get me any of those weight loss gifts, which she always claimed were just meant to be "helpful." This year she got me a cooler to put in the van...and hubby got to looking at it and found it was a freebie through the health insurance company. Hubby and the kids really made out, but I get the freebie. That's okay, at least they gave me something I guess. I think it's more the way they talked about me, looked me up and down like I was dirty or something, that has me feeling I was slapped in the face in a way. I actually stayed with the kids or the men most of the day.

SIL always gets me too-small nighties for Christmas. This has baffled me, since she knows I cannot wear a regular womens size M or something from the teen section. BUT, this year she got me a size L bath robe and it actually fits!!!! I am pleased, it's been so long since anything without an X would fit.

The only one who said anything about the weight loss was SIL's hubby, and I didn't hear the comment. He said to my husband, "wow, Theresa lost a lot of weight!" :D I was happy when he told me about it.

I had one plate with a little of everything I like, and no sweets. I came home hungry though and had a turkey sandwich, not bad for the day.

Kayelle, you look amazing in your current picture! You don't just look thinner, but more alive and happy as well. It's in your face, you just look more lively and healthy. You are one hot rocking mama, and my biggest inspiration.

Laura, I am so glad you were able to reconnect with DIL. Why can't you be my MIL?

Sandi, I was also the type to care for all and forget myself, but that has slowly changed over the past 5 months. It took adjusting, but I no longer feel guilty taking the exercise time and the kids don't even pay attentiong..they could care less what I do :lol: long as they are content for the moment, it's all good. Please let me know when you get the Biggest Loser DVD. I want to buy it as well, but only if it's worth the $$. Give your review when you do it. Oh, and I never thought of myself as sassy :lol: interesting to see yourself through others eyes sometimes.

I am checking out the body challenge to see if I want to do it...Kathy, did ya make it to curves this AM?

Melissa, a haircut and a quiet house...those are the best gifts you could get this year :lol: You should get some clothes with the gift cards, don't feel guilty at all. I am returning a stack of clothing from the in-laws, which they got hubby and he will never wear. he said I can return them all and get myself some clothes instead so that is the plan! You deserve it, get yourself something nice...a good pair of jeans that fit you well, every woman needs that when in the house with kids. I've found my new jeans make me feel better about myself, even I don't go anywhere. I hate it that Jason didn't take the kids and give you a break. Sounds like these people just expect you to raise their children while they goof off, totally taking advantage of you. Maybe you should have just outright told him "come spend time with your kids, I need a break." I have learned that men do not read women well, and you have to be very blunt with them if you want to actually accomplish something. Sometimes with hubby I feel I have to beat him over the head with a brick to get him to understand that I jsut need 5 minutes alone and he has to take the kids for that to happy. Sounds like Jason needed a brick as well.

Okay, I know I missed some people but there is so much I missed and this is such a long message, I will catch up with more later. I am going OP starting today. I am now focusing on my goal of being under 200 for my birthday, Feb. 15. I am also going to pick out a good song and make a little strip tease for hubby, and use exercise time practicing and getting it together. This will be a Valentine's present, and since that's the day before my birthday hopefully I'll be under 200 and looking better for it ;)

Okay...going to check out the body challenge soon as I get the little man something to eat, he keeps giving me the sad eyes and saying "hungie!"

Theresa

I went to www.discoveryhealth.com and can't find the great body challenge, even with a search of the site. Can someone send me a direct link? I'm blonde, remember!

Theresa- I just went to Discovery health and in the search i typed in National Body challenge and it took me to FAQ about the challenge. I think it's the great national body chakkenge but I typed in National body challenge and it got me to info about it. Will try and get a link for you . hated computer keeps freezing.

Laura - I hope the visit will be good all around. and i'm glad you and DIL got to talk. She sounds so sweet and i am glad she has you to reach out to.

As soon as i get the DVD & books I will give a review. I am excited and ready to start. I hate to start at the new year. i don't like these new year resolutions- seems just like a fad or the thing to do. not a commitment to a lifestyle change. I did get on my fancy scale and weighed in at 164.5 so no gain but no loss either. :( I need to be happy i DIDN'T GAIN!
I cleaned up this a.m. and am working on a really straightforward schedule for things that need to get done and when to accomplish them, chores, menus and exercise schedule. of course things happen - illness - hubby being off. :lol: but all in all a good thing for me. it just seems that when i bagged my snacks , had menus and had everything organized i could concentrate on me - when things are all crazed I just grab whatever and eat with no thought of is it healtlhy or not.
Theresa- i bet you burned calories just fuming at you Inlaws- maybe MIL told SIL something and thats why she acted weird? I feel for you. I am not sure i'd be polite enough to put up with that type of behavior from inlaws- i'd have to be either so sweet it'd annoy them or be rude right back. I guess it was a good thing they were so :p cause you didn't over do it (like me)

I am making a goal to lose 15 pounds between now and Feb 20th. thats bout 6 -7 weeks and not a huge goal. i'd like it to be more but will aim for 15 pounds. i am going to do it by eating healthy and exercising.

have a good day everyone- going to see narnia today and still busy cleaning bedrooms- i told hubby my exercise bike was not his towel rack!
Sandi

I AM DEFINATELY OP. No falling off today or all week.
Theresa- Now you certainly don't have to see MIL and SIL for a long time. They need to earn your next visit and I don't think they know how. They don't deserve to see you or the kids till they figure out how to behave.
Sandi - You really will meet your goal.
Son Jeff, DIL and the 2 boys will be here soon. I have a huge chicken in the oven and DH is making lots of roasted veggies. We will make potato pancakes because it's traditional for Chanukah.
Laura

I am with Theresa for goals. I want to be 199 by my birthday in Feb also. I got my little notebook out and will get the menus going. My house is totally thrashed! I kind of felt like a fifth wheel yesterday. The kids made out like bandits! I am going to have to go through clothes and freecycle some because I think in total they each got at least 7 new outfits which is great. It was a Dora Christmas for Odessa and she is thrilled. Josh came home about 1045p last night. He made it longer than I thought he would. When I get a spare moment, I would like to check out the challenge too. I have got to get some order back into the house cause it is driving me crazy! Today will be an official pajama day for the kids cause they are all wiped out too so they can lounge and play today.
Melissa

Okay, who pays $45 for a bath robe? I went to Kohls to return this robe my SIL got me, and that is what the thing cost her!!!! I traded it for a new pair of exercise shoes ;) much better use of the money, IMO. By the way Allie acted, she should have been home having a PJ day with Melissa's gang! We did get out of there alive, so I can't complain I guess.

Melissa, sorry you felt like the fifth wheel, but at least the kids got more gifts, they deserve it! So it's a race to 199, huh?

Laura, the chicken and veggies sound yummy...can I come over? :lol:

Sandi, I don't like new years resolutions either. I think we are all beyond that, since we have been working at this for so long already...5 months in this group I believe! We are months ahead of it just being a resolution. Your goal sounds like a good one...and YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Theresa

My kids are all so tired! Two are now napping. I wouldn't spend 45 on a robe lol but at least it was enough to get you something you can really use. I can almost see my kitchen again and two more loads to wash and all to fold. My livingroom is a disaster and I am trying not to let it get to me. I am kind of miffed because they bent up Dess' tent and it won't stand up right now so I am going to have to see if I can bend things back well enough to make it work. I am not making a resolution either, I am just getting back on track again and I am also putting my gift cards on the fridge so if I am tempted I can look at those and tell myself that I would rather go shopping for something that looks good and fits!
Melissa

:crazy: Mine are exhausted and cranky and clingy and on my last nerve. Glad I have a whole year before this happens again.

hi everyone. i didn't even have time to catch up on posts, but i wanted to stop in and say howdy y'all from texas. diet sucks. goodies on the counter all the time. family hangs out in the kitchen. it is a diet war zone in there. i've eating horrible but somehow i've been losing i think. prolly muscle because i haven't been going to the gym (they don't have one here).
hope kate is not preggers. holy cow that would suck.
laura, you are doing well to stay away. i would too. or else i would rip that woman's head off.
merry christmas late!

Kids on my last nerve- hubby on my last nerve - the cat etc...
FIL buys all kinds of new movies and loaned some to us. i really didn't wanna see the movie because i had planned to do stuff tonight- like clean up the room, fold clothes- but no i had to stop and watch the movie. I whine too much ya know? at least my hubby wants to spend time with me. movies are ok at times but i am not into much tv- especially when i feel i need to get stuff done. ok enough whine for this week :lol:

Hey Candace- Merry late Christmas!

I have never spent 45 $ on a bath robe- maybe 15 at wally world :p
I thought Kohls was a discount store? we don't have any around here -there's one in Orlando but thats an hour from here. I would have returned it for something practical too :)

I am going to go get a chicken and bake tuesday ! That made my tummy growl!
All i want right now is light- fresh foods- no more mayo or greasy or heavy foods.

Has it been 5 months?? I have only lost 12 pounds in 5 months :(
I am lazy -plain old lazy-

I am going to go crash cause it's back to work tomorrow
see ya'll tomorrow!
Sandi

I would say Kohls is not a discount store by any means, but it might depend where you live. Their prices are high as most department stores, but when I lived in Ohio the one near us always had great sales with better prices. I hadn't been in there since I moved here to NC seven years ago, so I was surprised to see that a plain t-shirt was about $20 in that place...a bit pricey for me these days. I couldn't find any clothing that I liked enough to pay their price, esp. their plus sized stuff. With the Christmas prices it wasn't bad, but I just didn't see anything I really wanted...besides a pair of blue cotton exercise capris, but who wants to pay $22 (on Sale!!) for exercise pants? Maybe in the summer when I am exercising outside at the track, but even then I could get the same exact kind of pants at Walmart for way less.

Geez...I used to buy clothing if I liked it and never thought about the price. Things have sure changed since the kids came around. I feel guilty about paying $15 for jeans for myself, but will pay twice that for a nice dress for Allie...I have got to get myself straight in this department! I could have easily spent that money on the kids, their clothes were adorable, but I decided it was my christmas gift so I got the shoes instead.

Theresa

Quiet day here ladies, hope we are all off being healthy and striving toward the new year. My goal today is to only drink water and to save up calories during the day because I am going to a surprise birthday party for MIL this evening and don't know what will be for eating. I don't want to go to this party, but hubby volunteered me to help SIL set up decorations beforehand, so this will be interesting. She called hubby and asked him if I would help and he said yes. She should have called ME if she wanted my help, not him? :?:

Okay, off the rant. I'll check back this evening if the kids don't totally wear me down.

Theresa

Rant all you need to. All 4 kids are cranky today and totally out of sorts and I am trying really hard to be patient and not become a Yetti! I made myself some WW soup for lunches for me. I wound up blowing it bad again yesterday so as I was laying in bed this morning waiting for Logan to start singing to me, I was wondering what my gig was. I was so together before and losing! Anyway what I came up with is that I am purely overwhelmed and I dont' usually handle that well and I was putting myself last again since there are so many demands on my time and energy. Joke of it was is that the house isn't any cleaner by my skipping myself nor are the kids anymore put together. The only difference is that I am putting my weight back on and of course at that point too I began to panic and stress and freak out. Also counter productive. So one of the things I am going to try and do is just cook dinner earlier in the day. I can reheat it when dinner time is here. Being the ol' lady I am, by the time dinner is here, I am just wiped out and go purely for convenience which is not healthy for me or the kids. I know once I get back to losing again, I will have more energy and be feeling better too so that should just make things fall into place better.
Melissa

I had my eldest son DIL and 2 boys here overnight. I fell apart late last night and ate icecream and cookies. Today we took them to the Chinese Buffet, the boys favorite restaurant and then we all went to a 3:30 movie, The Producers. It's fabulouly funny. So that's another day of being not OP. But back to Scarlett I go and tomorrow is another day.
Theresa-I've never had a $40 robe and I don't want one. I once spent $80 on a pocketbook that I love madly. I don't spent $40 on jeans either or even a sweater. I wonder if we all will feel different when we like the way we look.
I hope we can all pull together in the next few days and get back to our good old ways.
Laura