Sandi, I want your date night, I am so jealous!!!! Hubby could have the popcorn and remote, I just want the sleep. I have been in a standoff all day with the kids...this making them help me thing is not going so well. I've tried making it into a game, making it a funny joke, helping them out, they just will not do it :angry: Hubby is on his way home and said he would deal with it, and I agreed because I am really worn out. He's been gone a week, and it's been a really long week. I know it's nothing compared to what you deal with Melissa, and there is no relief coming even once a week...you are more the woman than I, my ultimate love and respect your way.

Theresa

Would love the crockpot recipes! I thought dinner was good tonite but my kids disagreed(too bad). They all opted to not eat much and now they are trying to hit me up for snacks-NOT. It is all relative Theresa-really. I think if Amanda fishes in the toilet one more time I am going to scream. I just don't get the fascination really. I do get little breaks here and there. Monday I will be going to my SIL's baby shower and my Dad volunteered to watch all the kids-he is a brave brave man-lol. Josh will be here too so I am sure he will tell Pappa how things go.

Did awesome food wise and I think having to physically go in to weigh is keeping me more honest. I kind of felt rushed this time since the babysitter had to take her son to the denist by noon but the important thing is that I got to go. I am finally feeling like I am back in control again and it sucks that it took me like over two months to do it. The crockpot is a Godsend for me and since I make dinner in the morning what to fix isn't an issue anymore-woohoo!
Melissa

Hey Misty we all have our times of being a boardhog so post away when you feel the need. I am curious too to see if you have a change in your weight loss. I used to to work swing years ago and my lunch was either at 7p or 730. I started eating a piece of fruit instead of a meal and it made a huge difference. I would eat dinner about 230 in the afternoon. I wound up losing a bunch of weight. I am sorry hubby has to have another surgery! You sound like you are feeling better and that is good.

That 200 seems to be a milestone for alot of us and the fears and anxiety that goes along with it. Wonder why that is...guess we will have to do some soul searching and compare notes.

I will check in later ladies!
Melissa

Scale is back to 240 today, and I feel back to normal. Hoping the last 2 will come off by WI on Fri, then I can continue from where I left off. I've got just a couple minutes before I have to get in the kitchen and get things going for the party. The house is so nice right now I wonder why I can't keep it this perfect all the time :lol: oh yeah, hubby isn't usually here helping.

I will catch up with everyone later...off to party.

Theresa

I hope you have a wonderful day today Theresa! Our weigh in days are the same and oh yes it makes a difference when there are two pairs of hands doing the upkeep. Tomorrow is SIL's baby shower and I have determined no cake or nuts or anything. I am going to take one of my diet rite sodas with me and nurse that while I am there. I probably won't be too long since my dear ol' dad will be here holding down the fort-he just has no idea what he is in for lol. Have a great time today!
Melissa

i think things are finally getting back to normal around here for a change so i am going to take this great opportunity to spend the next week or two busting my plateau. i looked back in my diet log and realized i have been hovering at 150, two pounds up or down, since at least nov. 8. that's crazy! so i am getting serious now.. i need to stop messing around! i am going to the gym everyday, starting tomorrow, and keeping calories at a maximum of 1200. i have been averaging at around 1500 since nov. 8, so i am thinking that lower calories, at this point, are in order. this will be simple to do if i lay off the unhealthy snacks, ice cream, and extraneous meals. even more so, because dh is looking to lose a few lbs too (those 1400 calorie pints of b&j are catching up with him finally. he's like, shocked). i've started to get back into that ugly habit of eating just because i feel like it or am bored -- not hungry. my new goal is to get to 140 by feb. 14, as dh and i have a terrific date planned. we are going to take some wine and beach chairs down to this fancy-schmancy place on the san clemente pier we like so much, and chill on the beach until we get a table (for some reason, the place does not take reservations. it's a little bizarre) hopefully we'll have money.. that's definitely not a given ;)
i think we are all in a get-with-the-program state of mind. during the holidays, it seemed like we were all kinda blah, just hoping not to gain. i am optimistic about the fact that the group seems to be more enthusiastic and proactive these days. yay us!

I can only speak for me but during the holidays it was like there felt like there was no way to win so I got kind of a defeatist attitude about it. I am curious to see how I handle them this year since I will be so much smaller and hopefully at my goal weight. Food is awesome this week thus far and I am looking forward to Friday. Josh gave us all a cold again and I spent yesterday just feeling icky as if TOM wasn't enough to make me feel that way. Now I need to get the bike out again and get on the darn thing. I am not sure how I will get walks in this spring and summer unless I go buy a triple stroller. Odessa just can't walk fast enough to make it a productive walk for me and the stroller I have is just a two seater. I will check in later!
Melissa

Melissa, I had the same issue last year with walking out on the track. i had a double stroller, but it was really big and heavy and the only way to get down to the track was down a very steep hill with concrete steps. i could not carry the stroller and keep both toddlers from falling down face first, so I had to leave them in the van, walk the stroller down, go back up, get them down and then put them in. This was back when I very first started exercising and by the time we were ready I was worn out and sweating to death and ready for bed. There are no other tracks near us...or so I thought at that time. I ended up giving the stroller away and now I wish I hadn't. I don't know how I will do it this summer. There needs to be a park with a walking track built right around it, so mommies can exercise while watching the kids, that would be a dream come true. How was the baby shower? Hope you have a great time away from the kids!

Cadwell, your date sounds awesome! Maybe you can pick out or buy a dress that you want to wear that night, and work to fit into it. Or, just find a nice picture of the dress online or in a magazine and hang it up somewhere. You can do it, Candace!!!! You can!

Suzette, I can't wait to hear the results of your lunch break experiment. No way to learn unless you try it out...good luck!

Hubby is leaving this afternoon so I better go spend some time with him...though he seems to be in a bit of a mood and I keep thinking "is it time for him to go yet?" :lol: sometimes I love his job.

I guess I will just have to do more work outside this summer to make up for not walking. I just don't see how I can swing it this time around but there are other ways to get movement in. Baby shower is 7p my time and I already talked to Dad and he seems excited to be with the kids (ignorance is bliss I have heard). Josh will be here too so at least if Dad gets stuck or can't find something, Josh knows where it is and I will take the cell phone too if there is an emergency. I have enough "freezer surprise" that I don't have to cook tonight and how awesome is that??
Melissa

:lol: your dad might never come back after tonight. No, usually grandparents love the little ones and he'll be volunteering again, I'm sure. They will love the hassles and the high energy just as much as you do...even though you need breaks like tonight. I am glad to hear you getting out some. Don't rush home, milk this for the kid-less time you need. What's going on with Kate? Did you ever hear from her again, and when is her court date?

My eating has been rotten yesterday and today, but I made out my meal plans for tomorrow through next week and will stick to that. Also gave me an exact shopping list and I'll not buy a single thing not on the list, always better than just picking up whatever as I walk through the aisles.

I'm back in the swing of exercise though and that feels great. Well, I've just been doing the gazelle, not the videos. Got 8 miles in yesterday and felt back in the swing after that.

Theresa

theresa, i love your idea! i always love the idea of a new outfit. i really don't have any dresses. the reason of course is that i never felt i looked good in them because of my weight. i am going to hunt online for some right now, and later i will get my it-girl mom to help me look. she will love it! depending on the brand, maybe it can even be a six if i make my 2/14 goal. woohoo!!

Kate was supposed to come here last friday never showed up or called me. She called me hysterical last night about 9p about some other charges from when her home was raided in september and she now really has nowhere to live. Michelle could get her placed but Katy is full of excuses and not really willing to do what she needs to. She was supposed to be here today but it is now 435p my time and I have neither seen her or heard from her. I am just trying not to deal or worry about it. She is an adult. She had court on the 13th and was half an hour late and then she goes back again I think next month for trial setting. Like I told her last night-sometimes we make terrible choices for ourselves and it takes time to make it right again just like getting fat for me. I didnt do this in a couple days and it is going to take a whole bunch of right choices to make it right again.

Good idea to make the menus ahead. Even if I just do the next day ahead of time, I do so much better. I have tomorrow's done except for dinner-only because I haven't decided yet but even if I don't do it till am the first two meals are done so I will be good.

I know you can make your goal Candace! You have almost 4 weeks to do it and with your new determination to get to the gym, you will be there in no time flat! I used to love to buy clothes and shoes but after I got heavy it was a chore and always felt like a frump in whatever I wore. I look at old pictures and can't hardly believe it is me. The kids are all so young, they may not remember fat nanna which is what I am hoping for. I better get it together here before the lamb comes to the slaughter. I am trying to have everything done so he doesn't have to deal with anything much.
Melissa

OO I :love: clothes! i stopped buying and caring as i am so heavy & short it was a chore to try on clothes and find something to fit- i know people who are heavier than me and wear smaller sizes?? I guess it's all about body shapes. But i am looking forward to something new -especially around Feb 20- pics are being done and i want to wear something nice and not dumpy or something that I get just cause it covers the flab.

the exercise is kicking my butt- i am hurting again. sore muscles and tonight will be "honey, can you rub my back with the bengay?":p I will be able to one day laugh at myself about my complaining.

I really think the meal plans work out so much better than "winging it"
I am taking a cue from Melissa and really using the crock pot a lot these days.
I like it as it keeps me from do the whats for dinner and I don't know what to cook thingy. I think I am saving money too tho.

Theresa -how was the party?? were the inlaws ok??
Melissa - i hope you are having a blast tonight.
Candice- new clothes :love: you can hit your goal! anyone who works at Starbucks and doesn't eat the :D cookies can do anything.
Suzette- good luck on your new plan- i worked 11p to 7 a.m. for a while and lost all kinds of weight- course i smoked like a fiend too :devil: but when i went to 3-11 -I gained 20 pounds. i was hungry all the time. You can break the 200- you can do it!:carrot:
I feel that way about the 160's i so just want to be in the 150's- i guess i will feel as if i accomplished SOMETHING- but i have to remember my NSV!
calories today were 1420 so thats good and i exercised-
:cb: Just Look out Excess pounds cause you are going to GO AWAY !:carrot:

Have a good night all!
Sandi

that really is true about the night shift. when i went to texas i helped my mom with the papers and we all stayed up all night and i lost a couple pounds i think even with all the christmas goodies, and it was just 11 days. dang, i want to work a night shift! maybe they will put me on opening and that will have a similar effect. no one ever wants to work at 4 a.m. so it's a possibility.
i have been good today so far. no snacks, no treats, and i went to the cheap produce mart and stocked up on veggies. now i will have to eat them instead of junk or else they'll go bad. waste not, want not! lol. i think that philosophy had at least a little to do with my weight gain, and now i am going to use it in my favor.
melissa, i think they are all so young, i don't think they will remember you anyway except "skinny nana," lol.. but you have to destroy the photographic evidence :devil: