Nikki your doing great and keep us motivated with this new challenge. I have my youngest daughters wedding on 6/23 so your valued outcome date is great for me.
Penny the drops are from the Natural Food Store- brand name= Newton homeopahics / relieves hot flashes, night sweats, nervousness, depression and anxiety related to menopause. So far they seem to be helping it took about 4 days. I also have been taking a motrin before bedtime it could be the comb. of the two but I am sleeping much better. Only wake a couple of times and am able to go back to sleep. The mood thing also might be better too. I think maybe its helping in that area as well. Let me know if you want to try it and need the address of the company whom makes it. Maybe your health food store will have it. Its so much easier than taking lots of different herbs there all in these drops. I am told the drops are more effective with getting in our systems quicker etc... Good luck. Judy I picked up some groceries last night and I am off to make my turkey stew sunday. I think I will invite my mom for dinner as well and serve a nice salad with it. Thanks for the recipe. I had the March/April addition. My painting project is moving right along nicely and I think burning cals as I worked up the ladder down the ladder reaching , lifting etc. Oh but it looks great I am very pleased . I have a great room kitchen, dining and livingroom with an island which seperates the two. My kitchen and dining area are heavy cream soft look, hallway soft yellow cream, and my livingroom is smokey slate which during the day looks lighter and at night a different effect. With all my woodsy look it goes great. Now I am looking for some of my flower pictures to take and turn into black and white and get some black frames for the livingroom behind the couch. Boy for 100.00 bucks lots of new look. I love it! Also spring cleaning to get the house ready for Easter company and wedding company too. Oh Oh I am so very happy to tell you all I am going to be a gram again! My DS and DIL in HI are going to have a November baby! How cool is that?? Anyways I need to save some vacation for a trip thats for sure. Either December or January time. They are so happy and I will get to celebrate with them in June when they come home. Challenge for this young gram I will say! I did great yesterday though so busy forgot to eat lunch gotta go.

Carol, a baby, how wonderful! You will be the best grandma ever.

Nikki, I hope that you had a chance to relax this weekend. you're doing so well on hanging in there with your program .

Marie, I'm so envious of your outdoorsy life! My big way of celebrating the beautiful weather today was walking 25 minutes to the grocery store . I'm an urban girl, what can I say? Sorry to hear about the doggie's paw.

Penny, my meditation class is pretty neat. I wish I could get the same effect on my own, but I know I could get there if I practice enough. I'll use my sister's visit next week--meaning I don't have to rush out the door in the morning or work late in the evening--to see if I can practice on my own at least once a day.

A very busy weekend. I went to an engagement dinner Saturday night. It was Italian food, served family style on huge platters, but I did well and filled up on the salads, and just had a little chicken marsala and grilled salmon. I was glad that the pasta, breads, and baked desserts with ice cream were out of the question. But I sat at the same table as the happy couple. I don't know the bride-to-be, and she was distressed that I wasn't sampling more. I think I convinced her that I'd had plenty to eat--trust me, I did!--but only after I convinced her that it wasn't because of dieting, but due to gluten and lactose issues. I guess this digestive stuff is coming in handy

The personal trainer came by yesterday and helped me with a good routine. And I showed him the small second-hand rowing machine I bought several months ago that doesn't work quite right. I thought maybe I was just to heavy for the mini-machine, but no, it just needs some cleaning and WD40. So hooray, on days I don't manage a workout in the morning I can easily row for half an hour while watching Jeopardy or something...actually I'm about to do that now, before having dinner. This week I've worked out at least some every day but one. TOM started on Friday (off schedule again) and I'm convinced that's related to my struggle with evening snacks. This week should be easier.

Let's all have a great week!

judy

Hi Everyone-

Well I blew my diet this weekend. However, I wil go back to it Monday. I had a lot of carbs but mostly good food. Maybe all is not lost. I am kind of disappointed in myself as I know that kind of behavior will not help me loss the weight I want by Summer. I was at my boyfriends and his mom made a yummy corn beef meal as a delayed st ptricks day meal. We also had irish coffee. Today I had a hot dog, hamburger and some onion rings. That was all I had so while not healthy it might not be that bad calorie wise.

Talk to you all in the am,
Nikki

Judy I would almost trade in my hot flashes for Tom! Hah hah! The stuff I bought at the health food store is helping a bit. But its not fun at all. I think that if your body goes through the hot stage for a few min. then cool it like a work out don't yah think it should burn some cals. Now come on gals I am streching for some good to come out of this situation. I worked on my great room the hubby painted a shelf and a little cupboard for me to match the livingroom area. Wow what a difference. I went out to buy some new plants yesterday for the area and was delighted to find some great deals. Now I need some cool pots replant them and the area is complete. Just need to go to the next room now my Adirondack room spring clean make a couple new pillow covers. The little girls came over and my daughters we had a dress try on day. The girls dresses need a bit of adjustment as I knew they would but it will be easy. I don't need to hem them and just change the flowers to add the wedding colors in and wow done with them,. Oh Judy I made the turkey stew it was tasty. Thanks next time I will cut my sweet pot. a little bigger they got a bit mushy. I am taking it for lunch today with a little side salad too. I am going to plan on working a bit later. Gotta take my mom to the doc's on wed. afternoon. Then I am taking her to look for a dress for the wedding. I am still unsure of my dress I got guess I will keep it and if I find one thats better it will go back. I never thought this process would be such a challenge for me guess I am picker than I thought. Well I am off to work and Judy good for you having someone come in to ck out your equipment and give you tips. Marie hope the pup is better. Nikki don't beat yourself up sometimes and increase in cals for a short time and then jumping back in triggers your metabolism. So all may not be lost at all. Good luck. I have to get on the scale this friday. That is an area I haven't ventured lately. Exercise has been painting and walking a little. Gotta get off my butt.

Morning everyone, I hope your Monday is off to a good start. I'm at work and really don't want to be. I guess this is my punishment for having an early spring break - now everyone else is on spring break. I do have work to do but I'm on hold till someone else gives me more info.

I did great on the calories this weekend. I actually lowered the average so that was good. For the 4 days since the challenge began, I've averaged 1542. Pretty good. I'm pleased. I'm definitely back on track.

I walked 2 miles and jogged 2 miles this morning. It is easier to jog inside than outside. I'm thinking maybe of trying a little jogging outside again as a regular thing or maybe on DS2's treadmill. Maybe, maybe not...

My co-worker is irritating. There, I said it. I contributed to his hiring and I don't think that was a mistake, but his voice is annoying me. I keep turning up my music so I don't have to hear it. Probably because he was very inappropriate a few months ago and I gave the info to his boss and he got talked to. So now he ignores I exist (which is okay) but he's blatantly nice to everyone else. Ah, work politics. You've got to love it. There are other things that bug me about him and I know he's applying for other jobs as he's driven totally by money (not good in education) so he won't last long. Hopefully.

Enough of the whine...

Judy, I hope you have a relaxing week with your sister. Practice that meditation sinc eyour job is so stressful it would be very good for you to get it down on your own.

Nikki, sorry about the overeating. But today is another day, so get right back on board. We learn from the past, we don't have to stay focused on it.

Penny, I hope your weekend was good.

Carol, congrats on the new grandchild. That will be hard that it's so far away but you'll be a great long distance grandmother regardless.

Marie

Marie - I hope your unpleasant coworker finds a job soon! You're doing great on your calories. I'm trying to stay under 1600. Of course, I don't do anything like the amount of exercise that you do. You are an inspiration!

Carol - What an exciting time for you - a new grandbaby on the way and a wedding to plan - and you still find time for decorating! You are a real dynamo!

Nikki - Don't worry about the little excess calories - success is as close as your next meal. Just focus on your long term goal, an occasional splurge won't make any difference.

Judy - I hope you have a nice time with your sister. Sounds like you had a great weekend. A nice break from all the traveling.

We've been very busy the last few days shopping for furniture and a new washer as we're donating our old stuff to our son, who will be moving to Boise in a couple of weeks. We're giving him our leather sofa set and some other bits and pieces to get him started. He's hoping to rent a house and doesn't have much stuff as the place he's been renting here is furnished. It's taking me a while to absorb this as he just went for the interview a week ago and they want him to start on April 9th. It's sad he won't be here for Easter, but he's really excited so I'm happy for him. I didn't log my calories on the weekend, but I think I did ok. Let's hope we all register a loss this week!

Penny - How exciting for your son.

Marie- Irritating co workers stink. I hope things get better


I am pretty happy today I just found out I passed my last state certification exam. This means when I graduate in May I can teach !!!! I did better on eating today. I had bacon for breakfast and a bannana and a south beach bar for lunch.I'll be happy if I maintain on Wednesday's weigh in .


Nikki

Nikki - Congratulations on passing your exam!

Nikki congrats to you its a lot of hard work and now your being rewarded for all of your effort you put forth. I wish you all the luck in the world. Are you cert. to teach special ed as well? I only ask because around here they push people to do both wondered if its that way elsewhere? Keep up your hard work with the goal here and you will be golden!
Marie aren't office politics awful but sometimes one can only tolerate so much then yah kind of explode inside and have to release or it makes things even worse for you. I confronted my person and this time that was the best move I could do. Hopefully this guy will move on quickly thinking he is worth more.
Judy the turkey stew was even better second day around. I had it for lunch yesterday wished I had a little hot sauce I bet that would of been good too. I am taking some to mom for her dinner. Gotta an appt. with her on wed. and then we are going shopping for a dress for the wedding for her. She is excited little does she know I am going to get her a wheelchair at the mall. Afterwards she will realize it was best and she can see more lately walking is getting really hard for her she shuffles her feet. Hard to see our parents changing as time goes on very sad. But at 85 she is still a wonderful woman and does a lot.
Cal wise I think I am okay didn't journal too good the last few days but with in my head cal counted. No real sit down dinner last night had to go watch the little grand girls cheerlead. How cute they were 7 and 8 years old. Fun age. My grandson is 10 and he is just getting cuter by the min. my daughter is going to have to fight the girls off. How fun! Dark hair, blk eyes the Italian in him from dad's side and that olive complexion. Ooooh!
Tonight I will fit in some exercise after work. Hope everyone is having a great start to their day. Did anyone read the Womans Day mag? Good info on Sonoma diet great ideas pushing protien and veggies etc...

Thank you Penny an Carol.

My cert wil be for PreK-6 regular ed. However, I a going to find out wht it will take to get certified as an educational technology specialist. I should just need to take 1 more test then I wil be dual certified. My goal is to go back to teaching weighing the same thing I did first time around. My first year teaching before I got sick I wore a size 6 suit. If I ahieve my weight goals here I will be there again Yesterday I went right back to eating wel and exercising.

Nikki

NIKKI!!!! We knoew you'd pass. That is just great news. I hope that tomorrow's weigh in will be nice to you. I'll weigh in next Tuesday when TOM is gone for a few days. It's been several weeks since I weighed and I went on vacation to boot. So I'm not really looking forward to it. Now if I stay on plan till then maybe it won't be too bad.

Carol, I doubt I'd be so lucky to have the twerp quit for a while. He's young and immature - good worker but so immature I want to strangle him. And besides we're still short one person in an office of 5 so him leaving would be icky at this point. I am seriously thinking of rearranging my office so that I don't hear him very much. I bet I do it today.

Penny, it's going to be hard having your DS gone - especially after he returned after college for almost a year. It's nice of you to give him a headstart on a few things - plus you get new. Our little challenge here has definitely helped me log, even on the weekend. I live by it again - it's so good to be accountable to the little log.

I did 2 miles walking and 2 miles jogging today. After work I'm having my hair trimmed so that will be nice. I had to darken it after Florida since it had bleached so much and always when I color all of it (not just the roots), it gets mad. So a trim is good. Food is on track but I had to have a snack because my breakfast wasn't "big" enough and my vitamins upset it again. So I decided the heck with vitamins. Today is the last day I'll be taking them. Since I'd already gone down to Flintstone vitamins, there's not any lower to go and I eat healthy so I think it should be fine.

Marie

Nikki, congratulations!

Marie, let's hope The Voice moves on soon. When I have to work with an irritating person, I end up being even more irritated with myself, because it's so hard to control my own reaction I'm lucky in that I genuinely like all my coworkers, even when they get on my nerves. We're such a small office it would be hard to have to avoid anyone.

Penny, I'm glad that your son got the job he wanted. And now he'll have a little piece of home to chill out on.

Carol, that stew is pretty good, huh? I've still got some in the freezer. How nice of you to treat your mom to a wheelchair. My mom is a lot younger than yours, but she has a bad knee and I can see where she makes a lot of her decisions based on how much walking might be involved.

My sister is here, overjoyed to be on a real, child-free vacation. It will be over 80 degrees today, a good day to check out the monuments.

Take care--judy

Thank you Thank you

Marie- It sounds like you are right on track with your exercise. Way to go!

Nikki

Nikki thats great keep it up and feeling good will help you reach your goals.
Marie I heard about a hairspray that has a sunscreen in it. I am going to ck it out myself as the sun does a number on mine. Especially with my kayaking this year and being right out on the water. I will let you know the name in case your interested. I have been trying to grow mine out so for the wedding I can wear part of it up in the front and let the back flow with some waves or something??? I hired a gal to do the alterations on my daughters gown she is coming to my home on sunday. That took a lot of pressure off of me I would rather pay the price its a local lady very talented. I am getting better with delagations at times of course. Sounds like your going to be just fine on Tues. scale day trying to get back into the swing of things. I made some tacos last night with ground turkey and hot and spicy seasoning the shells were salsa favored oh so good. I am taking the leftover filling for a taco salad for lunch. I really am trying to make some good changes. Recently I started taking a bag of greens to work and salad fixings at lunch its great to just pull it out. Takes 5 min. and is healthy as can be. Also took in a bag of walnuts to keep in my desk for a healthy counted out snack. I feel more in control of my intake recently. I too have avoided the scale but friday will make the effort to get on and see how its going. My clothes fit well except the jacket to the dress for the wedding is a little snug in the sleeves wish that would feel a but nicer maybe with some wt. loss it will happen. I love having the May 10th goal but switched mine to May 6th my daughters Cino Di Mayo wedding shower date. I am trying to add more protein in my diet and veggies saw an article in the March Womans Day Sonoma diet. Just grabbed a few ideas from it. Today I have to take my mom to the surgoen. Hopefully they will decide she doesn't need a breast biopsy. Then we are going shopping for her dress and shoes and I am taking her for dinner out. We haven't done this in a long long time life is short and I need to get a little more involved with her. I guess sometimes we all get wrapped up in our own lifes and miss some important opportunities. As they say don't forget to take some time to smell the roses how true that statement is huh? Marie hope work goes better today. I recently changed my office around it made me feel better actually for what ever reason. Ck it out it might help! I would kill that guy with kindness and he'd think you have flipped if he knows he's not getting to you his game will be lost. Hah hah just a thought. At any rate he will totally be confused and wonder what the heck is wrong with you have you flipped! Take care and I think freezing the stew is a great idea Judy. My sister called and a close relative has to have a bone marrow surgery. I feel so bad for her this summer her son is going to be married the week after my daughter. So sad she will be going in the hospital on the 8th for one month. Thank God her sister is the same type and willing to be a donor. Say some prayers for Kathy if you would. Boy life is so uncertain at times we aren't telling my mom til after Easter. Gotta go take care and keep healthy we an do this challenge and I did my intake yesterday 1450 cals.

Carol-. That hairspray sounds intetersting in the summer I am outside alot. Let me know how it works. I think hiring someone to do the dress is a good thing. Your may 6 goal is so doable. Eating more protein and vegggies is like what I am doing. Good Luck at the surgeon today

I had my weigh in today and lost 1 lb despite my weekend free for all. I am very exciting and hoping to see the 150's within a week. Thank you all for being here and being so supportive

Nikki