Morning all. Looks like you girls are doing very well, it's wonderful to hear.
I love coming here and reading about all of your lives, it's like my own little show. Usually my life is like a soap opera, however since I got "rid of" MIL, things have settled down quite a bit! But that's a whole other post, so I'll let it at that. heehee

Hanging in there, 4th day on new med and so far no other real side affects aside from some stomach aches. Weird enough I found that I only get them when I take food with them. Weird, huh? I had taken it this morning w/out anything and so far no pain or anything. I completely stopped the effexor yesterday. It was totally by accident really. I had been using 75mg sample packs the dr gave me and I keep the one I'm using on the counter, well I used the last one and didn't put a new one out. Well, alarm goes off to take meds and I take one but not the effexor! Didnt realize it til this morning and had no more sick feeling or anything. So I'm just not going to finish the tapering, it's sorta ridiculous to IMO. Now I can just let that stuff completely leave my system and let the other do its work(hopefully) and I can see what happens.

Katie, I am so looking forward to hearing your good news about school! I've got a sister who's a jr. in high school and she's been busy looking at her choices, it's all very exciting.

Catherine, I'm sorry you are having a rough time right now. I hope that things with dh get better and the thing with FIL will resolve itself and hopefully he will feel good in the home he's in. Hang in there lady, we're here for you.

Nori, you are melting! You're avatar is adorable. Your dinner last night sounded yummy, I was sitting here drooling.

Mo, I wouldn't worry about the pizza at all. You did alot better than I would have, that's for sure! I love Wendy's french fries for some reason, haven't been there in ages for that very reason!

Sarah, that is so awesome to hear about your shopping for new clothes!!! 14's is amazing!!! I can't wait to be able to start shopping there again, I've only done it once in my life and that was like 5 years ago. Can't wait to get there!! You're an inspiration to me.

Well ladies, I'm off to do some shopping. Decided I needed some time out alone just to do what I want, so this is the day. The weather is gorgeous today, about 79 with a breeze. Dreading that 120 degree weather in a few months!!!

Have a great day gang! I'll peek back in later to see what's up.

79 with a breeze...sound so lovely!!!!!!!!! I hope the transition is 100% successful, Danielle!

Hello ladies:

Nori: I do get flex points but I don't usually use them because I wanted to try for 2 lbs a week, it seems when I use any bonus points I lose only 1 lb. at the most.

Well I don't have to post yesterdays menu! Today is hopefully going to be cereal for breakfast, my Wendy's salad and subway for dinner.

I won an auction for a piano today! Now we have to drive 3 hours each way to go pick it up! I hope I made the right decision, it's hard buying something like that without seeing it. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Have a great weekend, I probably won't check back till Sunday or Monday.

Mo

I got the letter today.. and I'M IN! I'm pretty sure I'm going to attend their short summer session (6 weeks beginning in June) before the fall semester starts.. it will get some core classes out of the way, which means more time for me in the fall. I'm so excited and happy right now! I definitely want to start out college near or at my goal weight. Now I have a date to shoot for!

Mo - oooh, a piano! I've always wanted one. I hope it's a great one!

Danielle - I hope your med transition is successful as well! I'm glad your sister is looking at colleges now. Next year's going to be very exciting for her!

Nori - that dinner sounds to DIE for!

Well, I'm off! If I am going to the summer session, I have to get started buying things NOW!

Catherine - I'm so glad you're getting at least a 10 day break. I'm also glad DH is home. Keep us posted. You're still in my prayers.

Nori - omg that bbq dinner sounds so good. There was a restaurant back home (in Kentucky) called Mark's Feed Store, and it was all bbq and yummy food just like you described. I'm so proud of you for only eating 1000 calories! I could have had a total binge fest on all that. And yes, DS used to get lots of ear infections. He hasn't had one since January, but there is still fluid trapped behind his ear drums and he's suffering some hearing loss from it.

Mo - I agree with Nori. 2 pcs. of pizza, not bad! One day last week I ate 4. Did I forget to mention that? Oh yeah, because I was so embarrassed! LOL I swear though, having a really high calorie day every once in a while seems to kick your metabolism up.

Danielle- Good luck with the med change! Sounds like it's going a-ok so far. Keep us posted!

Katie Bug - WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! Best of luck getting ready for your summer session! You're going to have a wonderful new wardrobe in your new size and everything that will get you off to a great start!

Ok - I'm at work and must work. On a personal note, my husband and I sent in an offer on the house! We're waiting to see if the builder can agree to our terms about the closing. I'll let you guys know what happens!

Have a wonderful skinny weekend!!!!!!!!

WOW, it seems everyone is in an upbeat mood. Good Carma seems to be going around.

First and foremost Katie, I am so proud of you!!!!! You can always do anything you put your mind to!

Danielle, I am glad the transition is going well so far! I would love to be where you are now, but I would not want to be there later in the year.

Nori, Your cheating is better then mine. You have to learn how to eat stuff like that without going overboard. It seems you have mastered it. Thanks for the inspiration.

Sarah, I have not reached 14's yet. Can't wait to join you there! It is actually going to be a 12 day break! Enjoying it so far. I need to go see FIL now to bring the stuff I forgot to pack yesterday.

Maureen, Would you be interested in an antique pump organ? I have the originial sale ad from Sears and Roebuck for it. Can't remeber what the price was right now. Anyways have fun with the piano.

On the personal side me and hubby have done a lot of talking. Dealing with his dad really seems to be the center of everything else. We are just trying to deal with everything. We have some pretty "interesting " text messages going back and forth. My mom is still not talking to me. She will talk to me eventually. I am going to my grandparents tomorrow, to help out. That I hope is not to emotional. We found a camper, whether I found it. So we will not be on the ground in Martinsville. This will be mine and my husbands get away. It is used but exactly what we wanted and in great shape. Can't wait until next weekend.

Well, I got to go. Talk to all of you later. Thanks for everything.
Catherine

By the way, I was 178 this morning! All that stress eating did completely blow me out of the water.

Hi everyone:

I ate too much this weekend, but hopefully the walking evened some of it out. Today I was still the same 200 Next week "onederland" for sure! Even though tomorrow is my birthday (39, I'll have to start "holding"). I asked my mother to get me angelfood cake. I'll try to do some exercise this week to get this magical pound off.

I'm glad everyone is doing well. Here's hopefully the last of my bad menus:

B: granola bar L: cheeseburger, chips, pickle S: granola bar D: special K w/ strawberries, RF lemon girlscout cookies

Boston was fun. My son loved the Star Wars exhibit and both of them loved the laser light show. My favorite was the iMax movie on how they make special effects. We also did Fanieul Hall and Quincy Market on Saturday as well as some of the Freedom Trail and lunch at the North End. The only bad thing was we had to drive home Saturday and drive back up past there on Sunday to get that piano. Boy was it heavy!!! It took 3 guys to move it.

Well, the boss is out sick again (somethings not right about that). Anyway, it's quiet today so I'll check in later.

Mo

My ticker has moved! My ticker has moved!


I'm really working on eating less processed food. It seems to be helping, and I feel more energetic. Anyone else doing that?

I finally watched Yoga Booty Ballet. I watched it just so I would know what to expect when I do it. It looks fun!! You definitely can't get bored with this one! I'll let you guys know how it is once I actually do it.

Anyone reading any good books? I've been reading parts of Dr. Phil's book about weight loss - and the part that sticks out to me is how some of our thoughts/beliefs are so ingrained we don't even realize we're having the thought. So he suggests slowing down, and paying attention to how things make you feel. I realized that the snide comments of a co-worker are what drive me to the work candy dish. So now, I can step back from the situation, and control my feelings. (Well, that's the goal this week, anyway!!!)

Everyone, have a great day! And keep up the great work!

Catherine - so happy Dh and you are talking about the issues. And you are taking a get-away together! Sounds like fun! When does FIL go to the adult home?

Sarah - Congrats on your weight loss. You've really pucked up steam recently! I don't eat much processed foods either. I'm not totally "free" of all of it yet, but it is a goal for me. I feel much better eating mostly whole foods. Let me know how you likey doing YBB once you do it. Do you still do the Firm?

Maureen - LOL about "holding" at 39!! Glad you had a fun trip to Boston. I love IMAX movies too! Are you the other other person in the office when boss is out? What do you do again?

Well, I lost 3 pounds this past week! I'm a little shocked since it's TOM and I didn't exercise Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The most I've ever missed is 1 day here and there, but I was helping my Mom at work and just didn't have time. Kudos to all of you who work outside the home full time and then come home and exercise on top of all the other Mom duties!! I'm still loving Winsor pilates! I tried on some 16W's that I wore last summer and while they fit fine in the waist and butt, the thigh area is SOOOOOO much baggier than last year. I cannot believe it and I really think it's the Winsor pilates side-kick series that's trimming my thigs down so quickly.

Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week!!

I just don't understand it. I'm so tired of being over weight. I'm tired of nothing ever fitting but I just can't motivate myself to do what's necesary to lose the weight.I've been doing this since the beginning of the year and haven't accomplished anything. One week I'll do great, the next I just completely back track. I'm exhausted. Thinking about it all the time just wears me out to the point that I don't even want to do it. Morning time isn't a problem for me but by lunch time I'm so hungry I can't stand it.

Serena - check out Dr. Phil's book. He has sections with quizzes that help you figure out why we all sabotage ourselves. I think everyone does it - whether it's losing weight in an unhealthy way (like starvation) or it's losing a couple of pounds and then eating the things we know will put it back on. I'm learning alot about myself from the book.

Go Nori!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep up the great work!!!!!

Serena - I was in your shoes last year - for about 9 months - and actually ended up gaining about 25 pounds. It was so frustrating. And I'd struggled off and on for the previous 6 years as well. I was just so damn tired of hating myself and listening to negative self talk that pulled me down. And my Dh was tired of hearing me complain all the time about being fat too. I've come to the conclusion that it's really not about "motivation" for me. If it was, I'd get no where. It's simply about doing the right thing and doing it right now. And doing it over and over again. Doing it when I feel like it and doing when I don't. And when I get off plan, not wasting one negative thought on it...just acknowledge it and move on. I tried to "analyse" my weight problems (I never read Dr. Phils book, but did read on his site) and could never get anywhere. Try it, lots of people get help and answers from it. For many people there is an underlying issue or issues. But if you don't, just believe in yourself and your ability to do the right thing. You're worth it!

Hey ladies! Not much news to report this week.. I'm down a pound, and only a pound away from my goal for this month. Woohoo! I'm going to be going out of town for spring break (next week) so I'll be taking a bit of a break.

Sarah and Nori - way to go on the weight loss!!

I'll check back in later. I'm still a busy bee..

Hi ladies:

Nori: Wow!! 3 lbs, that's fantastic!! I'm looking at this week as a re-start, I need to get back into the habit of writing my food down, it's been slipping away from me. That's the only way I'm accountable, last night I was bad. I'm a secretary to one guy. When he's not here usually someone will step up to cover him but aren't necessary physically in this office. My boss is in charge of a mail processing facility, we have about 1,000 people working here 24/7 so he gets stressed out having to be on-call 24 hours a day. He came back to work today but just left for our district office for staff meetings for the rest of the day most likely. I've been here 19 years, started on my 20th birthday

Serena: Maybe it's the stresses if your life that are making you "yo-yo". Maybe now that the nicer weather is here you can get into a routine of walking. Have you heard of Stroller Strides, I saw it on the news the other day, it was started by a woman who wanted to get in shape but had little kids and didnt want to bring them into a gym day care. They exercise and push strollers in public places with their kids involved. I'm not sure if there's one near you but you could look into it. It would also get you out socially and meet others in the same situation as you.

Katie: Congrats on the loss! Have fun on Spring Break, I remember getting so sunburned I had to stay in our motel in a vinegar bath!! I guess the alcohol made me forget I was Irish and couldn't sunbathe. Use protection (sunscreen I mean!)!

Sarah: I bought Dr. Phils books at a booksale for my sister and sent them to her, maybe I'll pick up a copy next time I'm at the library. Congratulations on moving that ticker!

Catherine: Hope your family issues are working out for the best. Your family is lucky to have you looking after them.

Danielle: I guess everyone has "MIL" issues! I'm lucky mine lives 3,000 miles away. When we went to visit her one time I found out later that she had gone through my suitcase. She asked me to buy her some bras and I asked her what size she needed and she said, the same size you wear! Another time she was snooping in his son's house that he was in the process of building next to hers and she went up to unfinished 2nd floor to go through his papers and when she came down the temporary stairs gave way and she hung from the ceiling until she couldn't hold on any longer and ended up breaking a collar bone! She's so nosey it's unbelievable. Also one time she stayed with us when she left I noticed a big frying pan missing, either she burned it or stole it! I got her back though the last time we went for a visit I broke her washing machine. It was an accident!!!

B: cereal L: Lean Cuisine, granola bar D: cookies, granolas, part of baked potato, a night of grazing -- Pts: probably about 28 Exer: none Water maybe 20 oz?

Wish me luck eating at Grandmas. I only brought 10 points of food to work, but I may have to use some bonus points for dessert tonight. I'll start my water now!

Mo