Penny sounds like you had a fun day. Just an FYI, my scale appears to be stuck too. I want it move. Maybe it's gravitational pull from the changing seasons.

Carol, ok so I was only half right. Next time give the oven a shot. I have made some but microwaving them till hot then crisping them in the oven.

I jogged 2 miles and walked 2 miles this morning. The scale didn't move - phooey on it.

DH and I are going to movie Man of the Year in a little bit. Then we;ll go to Applebee's for dinner. I like their steak kabobs on the weight watcher menu.

Marie

Sound like everyone's doing well! Keep it up, Marie, you are my workout heroine.

Penny, the Japanese gardens sound lovely! I used to live nxet to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and I loved hanging out there. I could go to the National Arboreteum here more often, I guess, but it's more of an expedition, instead of a few blocks' stroll away.

Thanks, Carol, I will just have to curb my implusive shopping tendencies, and stick to a budget for holiday spending. I will get a little money back from the insurance company after I get a formal "diagnosis" from the clinic when I see the doctor in a couple of weeks. How much will depend on if instead of just being really fat, the doc says that I have some "itis" or "osis." Afterwards, I can get some of the remaining $$$ back from my flexible spending plan. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm officially sick! Yesterday I started to lose my voice, and by the time I got home from an all-day meeting I was alternately feverish or shivering with cold. So I've been napping and lazing around today, taking TheraFlu and missing out on the beautiful weather. But I'm feeling better already, a little achy and limp, but internal heating and cooling system has mellowed out. If I take it easy this weekend, I hope to be in recovery mode by Monday. If not, I'll stay home and sleep...after my adventures with upper respiratory infections last spring, I don't want to have another illness that lingers for weeks.

This has been a bad week for the journey, between whatever was going on in my side (which is fine now) and being flat-out sick. I was noshing on extra carbs earlier in the week, but now I don't have much of an appetite. Oh, well, we do what we can do.

I hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

judy

Judy, hope you feel better soon. I think once you're sick with a virus your immune system is compromised for quite a while. I was sick last December and January. I made it until September but then I got mildly exposed to a germ and bam, I was sick again. Before last December I hadn't had a cold/flu for 7 years. Now it's second nature. So.... it's a good idea to rest until you feel at least 75% because you'll just keep getting sick.

I walked 5.5 miles today. 5 miles a day is the goal and I WILL breadk the @#$@#$ plateau. I'm also making sure I don't eat anything I don't know the exact calories for, i.e. deli made stuff that you must rough estimate the calories. If I don't know the calories, it won't go in my mouth because you never know when devilish cooks add more fat/calories. I think I've been more lax than I should be the last 1.5 months and I don't want to get stuck. I'll let up when I'm maintaining and don't want to lose more.

Man of the Year was very good - much better than I expected because the critics knocked it. Thought provoking and funny - a good combination. And my 460 calorie Applebee entry was divine.

Well, have a great Saturday night.
Marie

Well girls I have had a weird weekend. Yesterday with the earthquake in Hawaii and not knowing for sure how my son and DIL was. But I was able to hear from them after a few calls. They were able to contact me knowing I was very worried and wanted to ensure they were okay. Oh I will be so glad when they move a bit closer inland. He said that other than lots of shaking and the dogs all barking in the neighborhood so far okay. They have some roads shut down as well few land issues. I will hopefully followup with the news today. In the future they are looking at land to purchase in Steamboat Colo. Oh I hope so. So pretty there too and lots closer to home. I didn't think so til they moved to Hawaii. It is much more reasonable to visit to. Well I finally did the scale today its been a few weeks. Oh next time yell at me and say get on it. I was up and I wish it had been stuck that would of been better. I have been slipping in a few extras and eating a little different with comfort foods. So today is jump back on. I am glad I got on that little white square as you say Marie it helps us stay balanced. Being honest with where we are and whats up helps us deal with it better. Guessing givings me to much space to be naughty. ALL said now I am on the path again. I will give myself a week to get thing a bit under control then change my #'s if I need to maybe I won't have to if I get serious. Judy hope your feeling better today? Once we get down like yah all said its easy to catch something else fast. Marie the movie and dinner sounded like fun. I was off to the pumpkin patch with the grandson and mom, dad and grandpah when we got back was when we got a call about the earthquake. At that time we didn't know much just that there had been one. Scary! Being on an island isn't always so good.
Well take care Penny hope your doing well.

Hi Carol, sorry about the evil white square. They do keep us in line though. I read last week the results of a pretty thorough study about people who had lost weight and were maintaining. Basically they divided the people into groups - those that weigh daily and those that didn't. Those that weighed daily kept their weight off because they didn't let it fluctuate. Interesting. Never thought to weigh daily. I will keep to the 2X week though (except during TOM).

I did 2 walking and 1 jogging mile before work and 2 walking/kick boxing miles after work. I'm aiming for 5 miles per day. I will break the plateau.

Work is okay. The new person starts 2 weeks from today so it should get better.

TTY Tomorrow.
Marie

Well Marie at least I got on and bit the bullet. Sorry to say it wasn't what I wanted but it wasn't a total surprise. So now its facing the issue watching more closely. Portions, exercise and doing my journal. I did okay yesterday but too many starches, good on my water intake. I also got some walking in on sunday. We did a corn maze and had trouble getting out. One way to fit in a walk. Hope your new employees will work out. A little gossip has started around our office again. I just don't get why people always have to look for trouble. At any rate it was bosses day yesterday another friend and I organized bringing in bagels, cc. Nobody else wanted to do anything when we asked the other day. Well its not worth making someone feel not wanted so we did it. I felt good about taking the measures. Everyone else participated in the intake of the bagels a couple donated some funds. Not that we really asked though. Well I hope by friday I have some loss. I also wonder about this new dosage of thyroid? Well we will see.
Take care all and have a nice Tues.

Hi, ladies--I didn't log on yesterday because I was feeling too whiny. I'm home sick again today. The congestion is improving, but my head, throat and body still feel pretty bad . I am going a little stir crazy in my apartment! Last night I got dressed to take out the trash and pick up my mail, which was exciting, and I will see if I can manage my laundry this afternoon. Most times I'm happy as a clam being a singleton, but times like these it is nice to have someone around for little things and moral support.

Carol, I'm glad to know that your family is okay after the quakes. One of my colleagues is in HI, on a rare gala vacation with her sisters (and no kids!), that they'd been planning for six months. I'm sure she'll have some stories to tell when she gets back. You don't have to be on an island, Carol--wasn't there a pretty strong tremor in NY State earlier this year? And besides California, there's a major fault line in Missouri...I'd rather be in Hawaii than St. Louis when my time comes!

Marie--Kick-boxing? I missed that one! I had a Tae-Bo tape that I loved, but it fell apart, and they don't make that one any more (it was lower impact than most of Billy's workouts). It's good that you are mixing things up. Re the daily weigh-ins: I had a fierce argument with a friend this summer, who insisted that getting on the scale so often was a sign of obsession. For me, when I'm avoiding the scale, it means that I know that I'm straying and don't want to face the music. But everyone's different, as long as you know what works for you.

Okay, time for a a light b-fast and a nap. Have a good day.

judy

Judy - I hope you're feeling better soon.

Carol - Glad to hear you're getting back on track. I know how easy it is to backslide with eating a little bit extra here and there.

Marie - You must be so fit with all that exercise! You are an example to us all!

I'm a bit under the weather with an ear infection AND a bladder infection - talk about double-whammy! At least the antibiotics should take care of both of them in a few days according to my doc.

The combination of cooler weather and not feeling well has had me reaching for the carbs, so I'm tracking everything carefully. This time of the year can be very tough when I go into my 'hibernation mode'! I'm getting really fed up with this plateau - I feel like I deserve to lose at least a pound!

I managed to go to Curves yesterday but I think I'll take it a bit easy for a couple of days.

Okay I've got to say it...

The scale woke up on the right side of the toilet today.

The increase in exercise and resolving not to eat anything that I don't absolutely know the calories of worked. I lost 2.4 pounds. Yippee!!!!!!! Best morning I've had in a long time.

Judy, I sure hope you start to feel better. I got WATP Walk and Kick. It's not like Billy's video but I do have that one if you want mine. It's the Tae Bo Basic VHS. I don't use, never will so if you want it you can have it.

Carol, office gossip is so obnoxious. At least you like your boss and honored bosses day (which I didn't know it was but since I'm sort of boss-less - I guess it doesn't matter).

I did 2 miles jogging and 1 mile walking this morning and will do the new Walk and Jog DVD when I get home. I really like seeing a loss.
Marie

Marie - Congratulations on the loss . You've really worked hard for it!

Judy I think thats what I was doing with the scale avoiding because I knew it was up thinking I could lose before I went on. I also had a client there on vacation in Hawaii she I am sure will tell me all about her experience there. It is her 3rd trip. She works and saves for things like this. I am going to attempt to call my son today and ck to see if he has power now. Being a camper I am sure he is okay with no elec. for a few days. Feel better soon.
Penny I hear you with the hab. fact I feel the pressure as well. Hope you feel better too.
Marie congrats pass some this way. I think I will try the counting cals and mix the exercise.
Today I am trying to really get back into it. The girls talked me into going out to the buffet last night. Not the best choice for me. I ate but not as bad as it could of been. Today I will write down things and becareful. My friend was going in for surgery today she is the one whom had a stroke last year 2 weeks after surgery. So we all got together last night to get her mind off of it. Well take care and hope everyone feels better Marie keep up your losses they are surely adding up. I am motivated today by your loss.
CC

Yaay, Marie, great work!!! Thanks for offering to let me take Tae-Bo off your hands! The routine I liked was called Tae-Bo Gold. It had people in it who didn't look like professional "talent," including a few middle-aged folks and a guy in the back who they didn't show up close but seemed to be a very eager developmentally disabled guy. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to get through most of the moves, but over time, I got pretty good at things I wouldn't have tried before. I haven't clicked with other Tae-Bo routines, though.

Okay, Penny, you win, you are more miserable than me . Hope the antibiotics are kicking in. I'm with you about wanting more carbs. I made myself throw some things out of the cabinet last week, because I couldn't stop digging in. Just remember how you feel about the plateau, keep our friend Marie in mind as an example .

Carol, I remember the situation with your friend, and I hope she's doing well today. I bet she felt good knowing that her friends are looking out for her.

I am back in the office today, coughing a lot and being medically "productive" but feeling much better than I have in several days. It will be a while before I can officially work out. Just getting dressed and coming to work this morning was a physical chore. I keep a calendar in the kitchen where I mark the minutes logged exercising or power-walking each day. I hate seeing so many blank spaces! If I can sleep better tonight, I might try a little yoga in the morning, just to stretch a bit. I've made it through this day; off to make a brief appearance at a reception, waving my bottle of Purell in front of me like a force field, before toddling back home where I belong.

judy

Hi Everyone,

Penny, wow you sure go a double whammy. Bladder infections were my specialty until I got my tubes tied. Then it was only occasionally and I now drink lots and lots. Ear infections - believe it or not - I've never had one. I had strep throat repeatedly as a baby through 11 so maybe all the penicillian kept the ears healthy. My thoughts are with you.

Judy, I'm glad you're a litle better and can work. But take it way easy. Have you searched ebay for the tae bo tape you like?

Carol, I hope your friend is alright. That has to be mighty scary. Good luck staying on track.

This morning I did 3 miles jogging and 2 miles walking before work. That was the first time I bumped the jogging to 3 miles. I just can't believe I can do that. So this afternoon, I don't have to exercise to get my 5 in. I did them all but I am a tired cookie (I can be one just can't eat one).

Food and all is good. I've been at 1500 calories and very careful - hence the loss yesterday.

I think I'm going to do a little knitting this evening then vegetate.

TTYL.
Marie

Carol - I hope your friend is doing ok. I sent up a prayer for her. Buffets are tricky, but I think it's possible to do them if you count your calories like you are doing.

Judy - Don't worry about missing out on exercise while you are sick - you can catch up later when you are all better. A few nights of good sleep make all the difference.

Marie - It's interesting that having your tubes tied would make a difference with UTI's. I've had a few bladder infections and they are the pits. Kind of like a nagging toothache (but lower down ). The earache is better, so I'm half way there. I find it amazing that you do all that exercise, yet you still needed to lower your calories to lose weight. I would have thought you could eat at least 1700-1800 calories with all the exercise you do. You must be 'blessed' with a slow metabolism like me. I don't think I could survive on less than 1600 calories. Well, I'd survive but I'm not sure I could stick to that low an amount for long. This doesn't bode well for me as I do a fraction of the amount of exercise that you do. Sorry if I sound negative, but sometimes it gets so frustrating .

I seem to be eating about 90% carbs lately but at least I worked out today.

Judy glad your feeling a little better. Boy lots of stuff going around. At work a couple of girls have that awful cough. Then others have had a stomach thing. Yuck! I called my sons home in Hawaii and their answering machine picked up so electric is back on. I am pleased for them and feel better knowing their okay now.
My friend is fine and already planning a day with the girls. Thanks for asking.
Marie keep it up I want to be like you. Your so motivated.
Penny hope your feeling better too. I hope everyone gets through this sick thing quickly.
I did good with drinking plenty of water yesterday. But then made some jam last night had to taste it a couple of times to ensure it was okay. Most likely added in extra sugar there!!!!!!!!!! I did okay with the regular eatting though. But all calories count. Today will be a challenge I have a conference with lunch provided. Usually thats a buffet but maybe not. If so I will have to becareful. I have my workout clothes and plan to stop in the gym today. Seems were going to be getting some rain here they say. Last night I made saurerkraut and polish sausage for dinner. Most likely more salt then I should of had. But my breakfast and lunch was good. Today if they have cake I will have fruit if its available. I am trying to preplan and jump back to doing whats best for me. Wierd how easy it is to get off balance and track with all this stuff. Take care.