Hi Ladies,

Just a quick note to let you know tomorrow is the day. Patty supposedly the stuff I have to drink is barium but they have added banana flavor to it. It is necessary for me to drink one bottle at 6:15 a.m. and another one at 8:15 a.m. And when I get there they will give me another one to drink. The test really only takes 10 to 20 minutes. However, it may be a little longer because they have to put some dye into me so they can take more pictures with contrast. The good news is perhaps we will finally get to the bottom of my problem. Needless to say I have used this as an excuse to go off my program. I am still writing down almost everything I eat but have not kept track of the calories. Maybe tomorrow I can start again.

Shad, why don't you come and visit Arizona--we are in between Las Vegas and California.

Hoping to hear from the rest of our group in the near future!

Take care,
Anita

RE: A plan, a routine...
 

Hey Girls,

Well, there certainly can be much said about remaining loyal to a plan, a program and this thread. I went back to WW this evening for the first time in 5 weeks. I've regained every ounce of the 8 pounds I lost, plus another half! Ironiclly, a woman came in, sat next to me and was so excited because she lost the exact same amount this week - her first week. I'd laugh, but I'm not in the mood. LOL

I won't pretend I did not earn or enjoy eating my way back up the scale. I will be honest and say I am disgusted.

Shad: Kentucky has beautiful bluegrass patures and horses. We have a two fairly famous horse racetracks (Churchill Downs and Keeneland). Naturally, we have really good food - bad I know. :devil: Let me know if you will be close and I'd love to meet you also!

Nita: All the very best as you take your medical tests. It is no fun taking any kind of medical tests. I hope it is quick, and uneventful.

OneDay and Cat... I've enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks for keeping the thread alive and popping us up to the top when needed.

Mooz: Hang in there good friend. Let us hear/see you soon.

I'll be more faithful, I know it works - paying attention to the details!

Hi everyone,

Well I am over the test--it was not much fun at all. The test itself was a piece of cake but the barium drinks were just awful. But I made it and even went bowling this afternoon. I was lucky because the lady gave me the x-rays before I left so I could take them to my doctor on Monday. I tried looking at them but I really didn't know what I was looking at except I did see my spine and it looked in fine shape. However, the rest looked awfully bizaar to me.

HalGal, I know where you are coming from. I gained back 3-1/2 lbs. back just worrying about this test. Perhaps after Monday and hopefully the report will be good I can get back on track and start exercising again. It is so very easy to get out of the groove of doing what is best for my health.

Thanks again for being there--you are my very best friends!

Anita

Hello Ladies,

Nita - glad the test went ok. Your right the drink was terrible. Let's hope the doc. finds some answers to your problems.

Hal - I'm with you. My eating is out of control. Work is very busy and when I get stressed I EAT! I know that's not the answer, but yet it the thing that comforts me.

I'm continuing to see my chiro and after each session I feel good. Unfortunately the next day or two the ache comes back. She told me I needed to strengthen my stomach muscles. She recommened using one of those big balls. It's on my list to purchase this weekend. Like I said earlier work has been very busy and I get so stressed. I need to learn to not let things bother me.

Hope everyone is doing ok!

Happy St. Pat's Day all!

St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo are both ex-patriate celebrations largely. I remember they used to say New York has more Irish than Dublin, more Poles than Warsaw etc. I wonder what the stats are with the new immigrants?

JUST A SHORT NOTE TO SAY HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I talked to someone at my doctor's office today and my report came back saying I had a renal cyst - 1 mm. I looked this up on the internet and found out this is a common occurrence in older adults. The doctor was not in so I will have to wait until Monday to see if I have to do anything further.

Take care all,

Anita

Nita-
Hate waiting for results. Of course in this case of course you don't want to find anything really bad--but you'd sure like to find something fixable. Hope they come up with something good!

Third anniversary of the war.

Hello Ladies,

Just a quick hello. We have been having lots of rains and storms here. Didn't log on at all this weekend. We have really been needing rain, but not all in a 24 hour period. So far we've gotten 9 inches.

Nita - Hope you can talke to you doctor on monday.

Cat - I can't believe it's been 3 years.

Will post more tomorrow evening.

Hi Ladies,

I did see my doctor yesterday and I am a whole lot happier today. Except for the blood still being in the urine which it has been for the last 20 years, everything else came out normal. Even my blood pressure wasn't high like it usually is. They also did an EKG which came out normal. I went for a blood test today and on Friday I will have one of those bone density tests. I still have to go and see the urologist just as a precautionary measure. He did give me an anti-depressant because I told him the stress I am under with Gene. Perhaps that will help the stomach problems. He also said the medication does not take effect until two weeks. That only leaves the mammogram which is scheduled for April 18th.

I am thinking positive and may go back to the gym tomorrow and then go bowling as I used to do.

Hope you are doing well! Also, I am still not getting e-mails even though I have asked that I be added to your buddy list!

Anita

I am thinking positi

Hello Ladies,

Nita - :carrot: Good news on your test results. You definitely have to think postive. Get those bad vibes away from you. I"m sure getting back to a routine will also help. Exercising whether it's the gym or bowling alley also raises serotin levels (SP) which also help raise your spirts. I'm so ready for spring and sunshine. I know I get somewhat depressed in the winter.

As for me, I started back on South Beach. These past few months I just talk the talk, now it's time to walk the walk. I need visualization, or something that reminds me why i want to lose weight, Besides seeing myself naked. So I have gotten a Big Poster Board and put it right in my hallway between the kitchen and living room. I have written the reason why I want to lose weight. And everyday I will write some accomplishment that I have done, whether is passing up on a donut, or getting off the train one stop earlier. I have also written this is a 14 day committment and at the end of 14 days I will reevaluate what I have done. I'm tired of being fat, nothing to wear, single and it's just a vicious cycle.

Hope everyone is having a good day. Hope to hear from you all soon!

Sorry, haven't had time to post in a while, but I'll be back.

Good news from Nita. Hope SB treats you well Patty

Hi, guys. Nita--glad for the good news on the tests. Hope the meds help.

Shad--glad it was no more than rain where you are.

Patty--could idea to set sub-goals. I need to do that, too.

Hiya all,
It's been a bit of a tumultuous time these last couple of weeks and I'm sorry that I haven't been posting and keeping up with or motivating anyone. I've sort of been going through a motivational void myself for a while and it didn't help any when disaster struck last weekend. See note below which I posted in my other thread and have copied over here.

I appear to have had my wallet stolen from the end of my bed. Stupid me, let the cat out of the sliding door in my bedroom and left the security screen open enough for her to get back in while I went to the kitchen, loo and bathroom. Came back to bed, didn't shut the security, slept till 5am and now can't find the wallet. Have managed to find a few coins on the driveway and path. I can only guess that some lowlife was already in the back yard when I got up. Talk about cheeky. So far in the last 2 hours I have cancelled the credit card, the debit card, the mobile phone attached to the organiser wallet, called the police, and am trying to figure out how to cancel my drivers licence given that the transport department doesn't seem to have an after hours phone number. So how I am supposed to get any money from my account between now and the replacement time I don't know since I won't be able to get to the bank this weekend. Nobody cashes cheques anymore.

Well since then, this has happened,
I now have a new credit card and debit card. Medicare, RACQ, Frequent Flyer and a couple of others are on their way. Drivers licence is proving a major headache and I shall be 'illegal' for some time to come. I have just finished writing a letter to the Department of Transport 'pointing' out a few major flaws in their system. I have a new mobile phone. The stuff has not been recovered, the police think he was only after cash and would have ditched the wallet within 30 metres of the house. I've chatted up the neighbours and found that a few of them have had back yard intrusions as well although none have yet been burgled. Hopefully after my mishap they won't. They were to check their yards but so far no joy (so to speak). I am now the proud possessor ?? of two new leather wallets - one for money and one for cards. Never again will I have all the stuff together. It's bad enough losing money you can't afford to lose. It's twice as bad when the banks decide to charge you for replacement as well and the airport longterm parking decides that you must pay for more than you should have simply because you can no longer provide them with a ticket. These things happen. Please take care with your stuff and ensure it is safe at all times.

In the meantime, the weight has stayed the same. Little deviation in either weight or measurements. My food has been pretty bad these last couple of weeks and exercise almost non existent. I've had to force myself to leave the desk and get a walk in. My working day is around 12 to 14 hours. We are extremely busy and 'flu is attacking the training team like wildfire. At this rate there will only be a couple of us standing by the time training gets under way.

Okay, I have work to do in the house. Sorry I can't get to reply to each of you today. I'll have another go before I fly back to Sydney tomorrow night.

RE: Welcome Spring, welcome back, welcome back...
 

http://www.imgag.com/product/full/ap...3/graphic1.gif


Good Saturday afternoon Movers and Losers!

I finally replaced the mouse on my lap top. I don't know who thought up the built in version of a lap top mouse, but trust me, 'he' was not a genius. LOL

With that said, moving around the lap top is much quicker, and I'll be my very best to once again post routinely.

I did not go back to WW last week because I did not follow the plan - not even remotely. I will be out of town this week on meeting night, so you can already guess how loyal I have been. I've always thought of myself as a fairly disciplined person. I know it is a decision, and up to me. Trust me I am doing all of the self talk. Now to do the self walk.

On the news front... not so good news once again. The man the took my nieces life filed a lawsuit from prison against the state of Indiana on the length of his sentence. They reduced his sentence by 10 years. The awful part is every single fact he submitted (3 of them) is inaccurate or for lack of a more discreet way to say it - a lie. I've contacted both the local prosecuting attorney and state attorney general. One more thing on my list to take care of. I have this awful feeling I will be speding the rest of my life making sure this guy stays in prison for his sentence. My niece will never receive a shorter sentence, much less a parole from her grave. It amazes me how little value we seem to place upon the human life in the US, based upon average prison sentences or should I say lack of. I feel strong, and resolute that this is just something I have to do,and will.

We have one more week of school until spring break. I am ready! This week I'll be working with our state department of education to score and write and revise state test questions. It is an honor to be ask to do this, and I am happy to do this. I walked out of the school building at 8:30P last night. My hours are still incredible.

I have located a good doggie sitter for Rocky. I've always had neigbhors I knew that would come in to do this, but not where I am now. That's OK. I know he will appreciate the extra attention. More bad news tho, the groomer I take him to evidently hurt someone's dog pretty severely - nearly taking an ear off. That person sent an email to the entire school district to not only say the accident was awful, but the co-owners response was we have lots of business we will not miss yours. With that said folks began posting their own horror stories from that place. I've had a few curious things happen while taking Rocky there, and with these reports my sense of alarm is heightened. They nipped him just below his eye once and just casually told me to put neosporin on it so I did not have a problem. No apologies, no reduction in cost of offer to purchase the $6 tube of ointment. I like the co-owner that grooms Rocky, and I am sure the one with the attitude is ther other one but still. One person reported their dog died because they over sedated it. They don't ask your permission to sedate your animal if they do this. There have been a few times I picked up Rocky and he appeared to be more than normally tired. So... what to do. Rocky has gone to this groomer monthly (if not more) for 3 years.

Some of my friends are going to a concert tonight with Kenny Chesney, Sugarland and Dirks Bently. I have stopped going to these because I don't fit in the concert seats. This is upsetting. I wish I could get motivated to the extreme to just really take this weight off. Or as I tell my students to 'focus'. I overhead one of them saying that to another student during my class. LOL

Nita: You know it sounds like you are doing everything possible to stay healthy and your medical tests seem to prove this. I really think it is neat how you are so creative and busy. Hang in there, I am sure all good things are ahead for you and Gene.

CatLover: The teacher in the room next to mine has a sister that will have her first book signing for her first published book this Friday. I've invited my bookclub members to come, and I think 5 of them are coming. The book is "Just As I Am" by Virginia Smith. She describes it as a Christian chick-lit book. Evidently her publishers were so happy with this first book they have already signed her for a second book. As I read this very cool invitation, actually we have been invited to the book launch - there will be fancy food and drinks there. My radar just bleeped - food. Bad, huh...

OneDay: You remind me of ME! LOL How is your committment board going? You are right visulation is helpful. Possibly key. I think spring time with fewer clothes to wear helps in this area, huh? How is Blackie doing?

Shad: What a terrible thing to have all of your identification information as well as your cash taken. Were you traveling or at home when this happened? My neighborhood has recently picked up a few unsavory residents. I saw the police at a home down the street last weekend as I went out. Drugs and alcohol seem to be an intergral to what ever type of mayhem occurs.

Mooz: Car 54 where are you? :coffee: Join us for a sip of hot java and some good conversation. LOL

Have an OP week girls... :running: :dust: :running:

Hello Ladies,
My this weekend sure has flown by. Didn't really do much. Ran lots of errans yesterday, did laundry, clean house. This is 6th day of SB, and believe it or not the sugar cravings have stopped. It's just so hard to eat good, when your use to fast food. But I have my big poster board to remind me. Haven't done as well on the exercise but that is this week's goal.

Shad - Oh my goodness, I"m just so glad the bum who came in just took the wallet. I know what it's like to have that stolen.

Hal - I don't know how or why our legal system let's someone who has commited such a crime file a lawsuit to get a lessor sentenance. And why in the world would they reduce it. This is what's wrong with our system. OH, Hal, I think I would have to call the Grooming place and talk to them about this. Get there side of story. I know Rocky is like my Blackie and I want the best for him, and yet at the same time you've been taking him there for 3 years. I would definitely call them and tell them I'm concerned and see what they have to say. See what there response is! Have a wonderful spring break!

Cat, Mooz and Nita - Hope you all are doing well. Drop us a line!