The Return . . .
 

A gigantic sphere of yellowish-orange fire arose from the eastern sea this morning, and now it fills the sky. Some of the older ones think they have seen this before, long ago, but the younger ones feel much afraid.

Meowee!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Cheryl

6 FEET of SNOW??? Poor people in Rapid City!

I've been eating lots of strawberries myself...aren't we blessed in this country that we can buy strawberries all year long?

I also like the Progresso soups...and once in a while I do make homemade vegetable soup. Yesterday, I had the low fat chicken noodle soup at Panera Bread, and I don't know how it can be low-fat, it is soooo good.

I like the different brands of "diet" frozen pizzas too, and I just found that the cheapie Michelina lean gourmet pepperoni pizza is just as good as some of the more expensive brands (6 points and about a buck.) Put some peppers on top and it's even better.

I just had the WW smart ones chicken santa fe, (2 points), and it was really good. Topped it with a little melted lowfat chedder and salsa.

Can you tell I don't have a man to cook for?!!

I can also tell that you like to eat.:lol: :lol: Just kidding Gail. We all like to eat, that's what got us here in the first place.:rofl: :rofl:

All those goodies are not available here, sometimes I wish I was home.

Heh there, people! :wave: girlie, I'm following you over here... :lol: No, really, I'm just thinking I'm going to need all the support I can get with my new challenge starting up tomorrow. Counting calories is torture for me!

Hi all. Let me back in, please. Maybe I can keep up a little better this time....well, I'll try. Am starting counting calories tomorrow for my 21-day challenge. I have gained yet again! and am disgusted with myself...she says, after stuffing in more and more food...sigh.

You got that right Elyn....I have always loved to eat, ever since I was a little girl, and I was a "little" girl, but all that eating started catching up with me when I was in my late 20"s. When I was in high school, I would have never dreamed in my wildest nightmares that I'd someday weight over 100 pounds more than I did then.

I am thankful that there are so many "goodies" to choose from now at the store. Way back when I first started dieting, I remember buying a lot of tuna and turkey hot dogs. :) There weren't all the low fat products there are now, and dieting was much harder because everything tasted "blah" to me. Of course back then I didn't have much grocery money to spend on lots of healthy fruits etc. either.

Hi Red Balloon Wishing you success in your 21 day challenge.

Just set your mind to it
And you can do it!!!

How's that for a refrigerator magnet quote, and I just made it up on the spot! Whooo am I up today or what? But seriously I do believe it all starts up in our brains; to me the actual dieting isn't the hardest part; it's keeping the right attitude, getting and staying motivated. I didn't make this one up but i've seen this quote,
YAGOTTAWANNA

Hey Gail, how about "making up on the spot" instructions on staying motivated and YAGOTTAWANNA. :lol: :lol: I sooooooo need one.:yes: :yes:

Gail...I'll have to see if I can find that pizza brand you mentioned. I knoiw they will not have it in the town I shop in, I will have to go to Fargo and check. I love to cook and eat, that's my problem, I like it toooo much.LOL I do have a nice collection of "Light and Tasty" cook books that I'm using.

Welcome back redballoon and good luck on your 21 day challenge!

Linda...Your too funny!! Glad the big redball decided to rise in your area. Hope it's around for at least 6 months with warmth included. It was nice here as well, 73 and today is suppose to be 75. I'll be out for a couple of walks. Stepped on the scales this morning and I was back in the 330's. Hope it says a 2lb loss tomorrow for my weigh-in.

Elyn...Love your av, it too cute!!!

Have a great Sunday gals!

Cheryl

Staying Motivated

Gee if I could figure out the formula for that and bottle it, I would be rich...and thin!

Here is my latest line of reasoning concerning dieting or healthy eating if you'd rather call it that.

I have found for myself that whether or not I am eating right, I am obsessing about it, so I might as well go ahead and continue eating healthy. Does that make sense? Before Christmas I completely went off my diet and gained weight. Even though I was eating everything my little heart desired, I still wasn't happy, and I still called my friend all the time talking about dieting; driving her nuts I'm sure. (My blood pressure went up too, and I outgrew my clothes.)

I'm never going to be able to escape the issue of eating; because that is my area of weakness. I'm either going to control it, or it's going to control me.

I do feel good when I am in control. I find that for myself, I do better belonging to a group; now it is WW. When i diet on my own, I am not as committed, and it's easier for me to start slipping. I need that weigh in day.

I feel good today because I was able to wear some slacks I had outgrown!

There are so many reasons to eat healthy and lose weight, and only one real reason not to.......food tastes good!!!

Is the immediate gratification of that good taste worth what we give up...our health, our looks, our self-esteem, our energy, our wardrobe?!!

I am preaching to myself here; I need to remember these things when I weaken.

Wow . . . two days of sunshine in a row . . . and it is actually warming up a bit today, too . . . and you should see how green the grass is after all that rain.

Gail . . . Keep up being up! :hug: I like your quotes and I like your logic. It's so true, if we are going to be OC about our eating it might as well be about good eating.

Red . . . Welcome back and good luck with the 21 day challenge. :hug: You can do it.

Elyn . . . Love that new avatar. :hug: Wow, I hope we can all catch some of Gails' good vibes. :goodvibes

Cheryl . . . Yay, girl. :hug: Our weather is not as great as yours sounds, but it is trying to get there.

Okay everybody . . . keep moving and shaking and doing the good stuff and I'll see you again really soon. :carrot:

red Balloon hope the first day is going well. I know how hard that first day can be!

Let us know how you did; we're rooting for you!

:) Yea, yagottawanna would be a good name for a race horse; lot better than some of those weird names they have!

Well, Gail, I'm at work..got to the gym, felt like crud walking there and would have turned back but I was already too far. But then I got some weight training in, my crunches and 3K jogging so I did good. Now at work, just had a snack. It's the latter part of the day that is tough, but I will be strong.

I have been weighing how I can possibly take on more work that involves going in to an office but was trying to just because I need the money so badly. Then I just get an email saying they're putting off hiring...could be good after all. I gotta get my act together and start making my own work!

Heh, Yagottawanna would be good. In fact it sounds like it is a name, especially with that recent trend to have everything written as one word. I am involved in racing here...that's why it's on the mind. Course, this time of year, with the Derby coming up I guess it's in the news.

Well, thanks for the well-wishes!! Later!! :wave:

Wow Redballoon...What a way to start your Monday! I do good to get in a walk around the block!

Donna it is so complicated it makes my head hurt sometimes!! :?: I think T4 is converted into reverse T3 in the liver and kidneys...

I wish I could more helpful but I seem to know as much as my doctors and isn't that pathetic?? LOL!! Well they know more about the disorders, just not what is wrong with me :(

At least the nodules they discovered and I had to go through all that testing for, they were deemed to be "Hot" and therefore OK.


I've been kind of hit and miss here and I apologize for that - without my thyroid meds, I'm really dragging. Tomorrow is my weigh-in day so hopefully I'll have at least maintained. Dare I hope that I might have LOST an ounce or two?? ;) Well, we'll see, won't we!


Hope it's a good night for all :hug:

Hy

Well, no I dare NOT - lol!! Still the same, no loss this week. Honest, I've been 100% to the Atkins Induction since Feb 01 of this year, was doing OK until this thyroid deal and having to go off the meds - now I'm just sitting here at this weight and haven't moved for a month now.

Have a good week all!


Hy

hi
 

Good morning all, Hope you had a lovely weekend and are ready to get in there and show those calories who's boss!

Meow,:rofl: Hope you have a few moe days with that huge unidentified object!

:welcome3: Redbaloon! Hope you're feeling better and use this experience to help with the next time the eating gets the best of you! You're right, it doesn't solve problems, make you feel better, or confort! We'e all in the same boat, using food for purposes not intended. Yes, we should enjoy food! It norishes our bodies and gives us fuel to do what we need to do! Too much of a good thing is NOT good!

Gail, I like those WW sant fe dinners too! I always keep frozen dinners in the fridge for work. I found the WW little snack cakes yesterday and bought the lemon ones. I couldn't believe the size! But they were good with a cup of hot tea and did satisify my sweet tooth. But next time I will just make a lowfat cake with low fat/calorie icing! Yeah for you! You fit into your pants again! Doesn't that make you feel like it's worth continueing!!!! And, we should love food! We just don't have to eat everything all at once!!

Elyn, What products are you able to pick up over there taht help you stay on your diet? Do you have to make most things from scratch?

Cheryl, I love the light and tasty cook books too! I use them a lot and get a lot of information from them! I like them better than WW.

Hy, I think you've done well not to gain weight during this process of trying to get your thyroid back under controle!

Make it a good day, Freda

:coffee: Good Monday Morning ! Wow I just finished reading your posts from the weekend. You guys had way too much fun;)

:lol: Gail you have some great quotes,and you are so right,it starts in the brain. Problem is mine is usually a little fuzzy.

:goodluck: Red Balloon on your 21 day challenge :cp: You did all that exercise and felt cruddy? Girl I want some of what you're eating:dizzy:

:( Hy: that thyroid is really kicking your:tape: It makes it hard to stay on track with almost anything,I hate the way it makes me so tired all the time.
But it sounds like they are getting you on the right track,I sure hope so. Hang in there we are all with you.

Gail; you got into those slacks:hug: way to go.That always feels so good

Meowee: could you share some of that:cool: .We were 78 yesterday and then it rained over night,which we needed desperately,but the high today is only going to be 50 and windy and rainy.It's still Spring !!!!!

I know I missed some and I'm sorry :dust: Here's a little help for the week
I bought all of my plants for my hanging baskets yesterday,now they will have to set in the garage till the weekend,hopefully it will warm up by then and I can get them set out.
Have a great week everyone.Keep up the good work. DONNA

Hy...I know it's been a tough month for you, but you have done great! You have maintained at the same weight even with all your thyroid problems and no meds on top of it. Girl, you need a big pat on the back:encore: Celebrate for not gaining one pound back!!

Red...WOW! What a great first day back you had. Send me some of your energy, pleeeeeese!

Linda...I think the cool, raining weather you had, you sent to me by way of Canada.:rain: It's noon and we are 34 drgrees, very windy, with a cold drizzle.
I want my nice warm 75 back!!

Freda...I agree, I like the "Light and Tasty" books far better than WW. I also like "All Recipes", which I have change to low fat.

Gail...Love your quotes. Great job in getting into those slacks. Don't it make you feel good. Just warm and fuzzy all over.LOL

Well gals, I made it to 338 this morning, took me a month to get back to this point, but I made it and didn't give up. It's all down hill from here, right?
Have a good day ladies.

Cheryl

You can follow me over here anytime Red. Seriously, we're all glad to have you back. Good luck with your challenge,:goodluck: I know it's tough~ I have to start over myself. :o

a veghead who isn't eating fruits and veggies?!?! hmmmm. what is left to eat I wonder? ~ just teasing Red.;) :sorry:

YAY on getting into those slacks.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts/strategies on how to stay motivated. I'm sure that if I remember these things when I weaken, which is quite often:( then I'll probably do better.

Freda~ we have all the WW products here, we also have all those slim fast and atkins shakes and nutri bars. we don't have lean cuisines nor those healthy choices. do you still have those healthy choices products? we have very good low fat dairy products. there are also low cal and low fat dinners, but not much to choose from.

I've been on a vegetarian diet for over 2 months now, (was a vegetarian when I was in college) and I've been reading about all those vegetarian burgers, etc. that you can get over there. I would soooo like to be able to get them. These I have to make from scratch. Those diet pizza you've all been talking about sounds like heaven as well~ I'm sure they make some for vegetarians as well?:drool: :drool:

WTG Cheryl.:cheer: :cheer: Good you didn't give up, and yes , it's all down hill from here. :crossed:

Glad you liked my new avatar.:thanks:

Nice to hear you're finally getting a lot of sunshine. Glad you like my new avatar as well.:thanks:

To everyone~ have a great week.

Hi everybody . . . that big red ball rose this morning . . . but then some clouds came along and covered it up this afternoon, and they are predicting more rain. :( Something we really do not need right now. At least it is almost 15C (60F) . . . a great improvement over last week.

Red . . . its truly amazing how fast the body gets used to being fed a little better and how fast it can rebel when it's given junk again. All that wonderful exercise is sure to help. :hug:

Gail . . . YAGOTTAWANNA . . . would also be a great name for a thread on 3FC. :hug: As Cheryl knows (we post in three of the same places), I'm kind of looking for a new name . . . would you maybe consider letting me borrow it????? :^:

Hy . . . Don't you worry the weight will start to fall off again when all this medical stuff is behind you . . . just be patient; you've been through a lot. :hug:

Freda . . . :hug: As those who know me will attest, I'm usually very shy and quiet. :D But when it comes to those nasty calories, I can get very bossy. :mad:

Donna . . . Trust me, girl . . . you do not want my weather . . . at least not before June or July. :hug: Good luck with the gardening.

Cheryl . . . How absolurely, positively right you are. :hug: I am running out of ways to say Congratulations :lol: to you, kiddo.

Elyn . . . I almost know how you feel. :hug: We are a little hard-done-by here in Canada, too. Although I do think we have more choices that you do, it's next to nothing compared to what they've got in the USA.

Well, I've definitely had too long away from that work-project, so I'd better get back to it before they come looking for me. Since I'm already retired, I don't think they can fire me for slacking off. :dizzy: Hopefully I'll have more time to myself tomorrow.

Have a great evening, gang. Keep moving and shaking and heading in the downward direction. :carrot:

Hey it's great to "see" all of you on here, and to read all your lovely encouraging posts. I must say, this has to be the best group I've ever been a part of online.

Thanks for all the congrats about me getting into those slacks. That makes me feel better today, since I weigh exactly the same as I did last Monday morning.

Hy I applaude you for sticking with your eating plan in spite of all the medical issues you're going through. I would probably be so self absorbed in my health woes, that I would want to just eat anything and everything I wanted.

Meowee Sure you can use YAGOTTAWANNA...I didn't make it up anyway, but used it in a motivational program I did for TOPS many moons ago. But I think that little phrase says a lot. The desire has to be there before anything else. Some goals I never achieve because I simply don't want to badly enough. When I just think halfheartedly that I ought to do something about my weight...that's as far as I get!

Cheryl Keep up that positive attitude girl!

When I get discouraged I remember something I read over 30 years ago, attributed to an old southern preacher:

"We ain't what we wanna be, we ain't what we're gonna be, but thank God, we ain't what we was!" (and what I "was" was 223 pounds and a size 22/24!)

I love that qoute Gail. Thanks for sharing it.:)

Hi Gang . . . day started a little grey and it's ending the same, but it was gorgeous in the middle. :D

Gail . . . :hug: thanks for permission to use the name (although I think we are going another direction) and that is another great quote.

Red . . . :hug: Oatmeal and Giant Salads are a couple of my favourite mainstays, too. they'll never do you wrong.

Cheryl . . . :hug: we actually get Boca Burgers up here in the frozed north and I love 'em. I've tried other brands of veggie burgers and they tasted like . . . well, veggies. The Boca Burgers, dressed up with some fresh tomato, lettuce, and onion, really taste like hamburger.

Been a very busy day today and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon. Keep up the good work, ladies. Our efforts will eventually pay off, big-time. :carrot:

Hi all . . .

First the bad news . . . I gained .8 this past week. :mad: I really don't know why because I was good and I can't even blame it on TOM at my age. Oh well, this too will pass. I'm not changing my ticker and I shall repeat the following mantra every 15 minutes for the rest of the day (maybe even the rest of the week). Ohm . . . if you keep doing the right stuff, the rewards will surely follow. . . ohm

And the good news is . . . looks like I get the rest of the week off from the work-project. Yippee, I can get some fun stuff done. . . quilting projects, here I come. :D Oh, yeah . . . the sun is shining too. :cool:

Have a great day, gang. Keep on moving and shaking and heading in that great downward direction. See you soon. :carrot:

Meowee Are you lonesome on here all by yourself?

glad to hear you got some time off from your project, and can do something you want to do.

Hey, if I can be a little gross here, when you say this too shall pass, you could "pass" that .8 of a pound just by going to the bathroom! :)

I like how you say keep moving and shaking in that downward direction, so I'm saying right back at 'cha.

Enjoy the sunshine and enjoy your week!

Get out the Hankies!!! I have a TERRIBLE cold :(


LOL!! I don't get them often so when I do I take it awfully PERSONAL and do lots of whining and the like :devil:


Nothing worthwhile posting as a result, just checking in to let y'all know where I went...


Hy

Oh, people, I am so stressed, really awful. Had a very upsetting phone call from the credit company and my enormous debts and an email from work which means I have more work that must be done when I am already swamped. I have two stories to write now and I am sitting here simply in a state....I really, really need some help, but thought just coming in here and saying something may help. hyacinth, get well soon! Cheryl, thanks, and congrats on the weight loss!! :cb: Everyone else, a big hug and best to you. :hug: Hang in there! :strong:

Hi there, gang . . . the sun hasn't popped out from behind the clouds yet, but the forecast says it is going too. Hope they are right.

After my partial meltdown of yesterday morning, my day finished up within my acceptable calorie range although I couldn't exactly call it 'well-balanced', too much starch and fruit from the diabetes point of view. I'm back in the groove today.

Gail . . . I get used to talking to myself. ;) It's OK but people tend to look at you a little funny. By the time 'the passing' you mentioned came about, I'd already had breakfast and two cups of coffee, so overall I didn't see a difference. But, yep, that usually works. :hug:

Cheryl . . . Wow :hug: The weight is just falling off you, girl. Congratulations and keep up the good work. I sure hope I don't gain one everytime you lose one. :dizzy:

Hy . . . Sorry you are feeling under the weather. :hug: There is nothing so debilitating as the 'common cold'. Get well soon.

Red . . . Hang in there kiddo. :hug: Things will get better. They always do. Even though it seems pretty bleak at the moment, things can turn around very quickly. ;)

Have a great day, everybody. Keep moving and shaking and heading in the downward direction. :carrot:

HI everyone, It's always nice to come here and hear about how everyone is doing. I look forward to it. It's like I'm talking to friends.

The scale finally was cooperative! I was beginning to think I would be able to lose those last few lb.'s. But today I stepped on the scale and i'm within 1 lb. of my goal.

Donna, I've been wanting to get out there and play in the dirt too! And i'm getting the urge or clean house too!! What is comming over me! Is this contagious? Did I catch it from one of you?

Cheryl, Good for you!!!! You stuck to it and it paid off!! And way to go, resisting those M&M's. It's so easy to just eat them at the time and regreat it later.

Elyn, I'm not a vegetarian but I love vegetables, and I buy the vegetarian burgers too. The Boca are ok, but my favorites are the Dr. Pragers. No, they don't taste like meat, but they are tasty! make a great burger!

Gail, Loved the quote! But, I love old Southern Preachers! My grandpa was one!

Meow, Glad you got that sunshine I sent! Looks like I need to send you some more!

Red, Love steel cut oats! I have mine with raisins, flax seed, cinnamon and splenda! Keeps me fueld for a long time too! Stay away from that Brew, girl!! A dieter's worse enemy. Not only does it add calories, but it makes you for that you want to diet!

Take care all, Freda

Good Morning Everyone! :)

Hy Hope your feeling much better...you're not supposed to get sick when it's springtime and so beautiful outside!

Cheryl Yay...another pound gone, dare we say it? FOREVER! Since I reported no weight loss Monday, I've actually dropped 2 pounds myself! I'll also wait until Monday to change my ticker since that's my weigh in day here, but if I can keep it off until then, that will be 20 pounds this year.

I even ate out twice yesterday and had a lovely piece of carrot cake. But my other choices were mostly healthy and I took a walk, and didn't have a snack last night to make up for the cake earlier.

I really feel like this is doable this time...I can lose weight and keep it off. I may even reconsider my final goal weight. Not being very optimistic, I put it at 160, but I'm only about 5'3", (stretching it to be that tall!) so I should be more around the 140 range at the most. I remember when 140 was fat to me...wow that was a long time ago!

Red I feel for you honey, and wish I could say something to make you feel better. All you can do is take it one day at a time, and just do your best. I'm sure it's hard to write when you're stressed about other things. You know stressed spelled backwards is "desserts", and normally that's what I would prescribe, but no you can't drown your sorrows in an ooey, gooey banana split or the like!

Just know you can come here, we all have broad shoulders you can lean on. although we don't really know each other personally, we all have a common bond, and I feel like there are some outstanding women on this board. You can vent to us anytime, and we can all share with each other. Hey, we sure can't go running and repeat anything to each other's family members or friends! So this really is a safe place to unload, right? :)

Meowee Are you a writer too, like Hy? I always enjoy your posts. Glad to hear you're back in the groove!

And last, but not least...well maybe you ARE least, :smug: Freda! Congratulations for being within a pound of your goal weight :throwing confetti: WAY TO GO! You inspire us all.

:bravo: Gail: That is just wonderful that you have been able to get rid of
20 pounds so far this year. Just think where you will be by years end!!! Great job

:cheer: Freda: 1 pound to goal !!! how awesome is that

I've missed posting this week, just too busy at work,but that is a good thing.
I managed to maintain this week so I'm not changing my tracker until Wed.
My youngest daughter and grandson are coming for the weekend, so hopefully I will be too busy to eat, at least stay away from all the junk food that has been taunting me. My dh has a terrible sweet tooth and he doesn't gain a pound:?:

Hope everyone has a great weekend, sounds like we are in for cooler and rain.
Big city-wide garage sales tomorrow, that will keep me walking.

Talk to you next week,love reading everyones posts. DONNA

Hi all . . . I was up very early this morning with a little diabetic hypo. Ate an orange, watched some TV and then went back to bed. Now my day is totally out of sync. I ate breakfast (or the rest of it) at 11:00 and now it's after 2:00 and I guess I'd better have a bit of lunch or I'll never get through to dinner.

FREDA . . . Oh wowee, wowee, wow, wow. :hug: Only 1 pound away from goal. You must feel absolutely wonderful. Now just be sure you don't go away and forget us when you hit the magic number. :D And thanks, I got your sun today. :cool:

GAIL . . . a big WOW for you too :hug: Keep up the great work. No, I'm not a writer, I just like words. Good thing, too, since I used to be an English teacher in another lifetime. Even after 30 years in private industry, I still tend to think of myself as an academic-type. Guess it's in the blood. :dizzy:

DONNA . . . don't you just hate those men sometimes? :hug: My ex was one of those people who didn't even like sweets. He just seemed to have a built-in self-monitoring system when it came to eating. In the 40 years I've known him (no we were only married about 10 of those), I don't think his weight has ever varied by as much as 5 lbs.

Have a great day, gang. Keep moving and shaking on the great downward trip. See you soon. :carrot:

AWOL Again!!!


Wow this cold or whatever it was really knocked my socks off...it's just when you've skated by for several years without a cold or such, you start to get a little cocky and then WHAM...life shows you who's boss ;)


Today's the first day that I've actually felt pretty good, so I'll take it!!


I celebrated by getting all my "Atkins Approved" foods prepared and ready for the next few days - boy that is the challenge of doing Atkins - so much needs to be prepared. The Induction phase anyway.


So I cooked up some chicken breasts, hard-boiled some eggs, got my black olives all counted out into the correct portions and put into little containers and cut up all my salad vegetables...then I had to go take a nap - lol!!


I am going to do some SF Jello this week - after 3 months on Induction, I want some Jello, so there!! :p


Thanks for all the get well wishes - they worked!! :hug:


Hy

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear this news - how awful. My condolences to all of your family - I'm sure your foster daughter appreciates your support.


Hy

Absolutely FANTASTIC Freda :bravo:



This is so exciting!!! Congrats! :hug:

Hy