Carol-Bear is a dog? Try to enjoy your day after you leave work. Getting out early is always good.

I was real good yesterday ate SB induction and today that 1 lb plus .2 is gone. Now I just hope to keep it off . This weekend is going to be hard. I know I will have loads of salt even if I eat only protein and moderate carbs.

Nikki

Yesterday was quite a day. Our son was here loading up his stuff in a U-Haul truck. I'm so sad to see him go. He just left an hour ago on his move to Idaho.

I got around to taking our cat, Tommy, to the vets yesterday as he hadn't been eating or drinking for a few days and hiding under the bed. I feel guilty that I didn't pay more attention due to things being so hectic lately as it turned out he had a huge infection on his hindquarters (probably from a bite from his brother). He had to have surgery right away and has all kinds of drains in him and half his fur shaved off. I'm supposed to bathe his wounds 3 times a day for 10 min. but that's impossible as he won't let me touch him. He just cries and cries poor baby. On top of that we were socked with an unexpected vets bill for $550.

I sure hope things calm down around here soon!

I hope everyone is on track and I'll catch up with the personals when I'm feeling better.

Penny, it's always somthing, isn't it? One kid heads off with a U-Haul and then the furry kids cause problems. I think you should hand the vet's bill to the brother who did the biting, it's all his fault, anyway. Seriously, you poor kitty sounds miserable, I'm so sorry for both of you.

Nikki, yaay for moving forward with South Beach! I know that you can handle whatever challenges come your way this weekend.

Marie, it's great that you are enjoying jogging That's really giving your muscles and your metabolism a jolt. I love your spring drink. I have lots of frozen strawberries, so I will definitely give that a try.

Carol, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who likes eggs in the evening sometimes. Sometimes I'll have a scrambled egg salad--a green salad with hot scrambled eggs--and it's pretty good, despite the faces people make when I tell them that

The meditation class is a godsend. I'm sorry that there's only two more. I am looking into finding a meditation group nearby. I'm getting back into my workout groove, and enjoying walking outdoors (although the temperature is taking a definite turn for the worst). I finally got up the courage to get back on the scale for the first time in weeks...228 . I'm keping the May 20 Challenge in mind, and thinking about dong the Curves Six-Week Challenge again, even though I will be in New Orleans for part of that time, and entertaining my beer-and-chicken-wings-loving brother at the end of this month. There will always be obstacles to figure out, and I can't keep using them as excuses....

judy

Hi all, I hope your Thursday was good. Penny, I'm so sorry about your cat and that your son is moving to Idaho. That must be so tough since he's an only child. When DS2 left for the military he'd been driving me bonkers and the other son was here. Now DS1 is driving me, DH and DS2 bonkers so I'm so looking forward to them leaving. Oooo la la, just a couple more days.

Nikki, good for you getting rid of the 1+ pound you'd gained. Don't you hate when the scale is mean one day then normal the next??? I swear sometimes that weighing everyday would be better, but then I'd really watch the types of good for me foods I eat that retain water. So it's best for me 2X a week. Tomorrow is my weighin... Let's hope the scale wakes up on the right side of the toilet.

Carol, I hope that the eye appointment didn't take all of your afternoon off and that you had a bit of fun. And snow!!!! Yucky!!!! But I'm not naive enough to think we're out of the woods. At 4100 feet, the high elevation dumps on us up till June some years.

Judy, I hope you can find the meditation group. That sounds ideal for you with your stressful life. And now it's time to kick that evils scale back into line...

I did the 4 mile walk slim and the .5 miles jogging this morning. I'm just a mover. My average calories for the 10 or so day on the challenge is 1531. Yesterday was right on target at 1550.

We hired another new person in my office. I might not have mentioned that last candidate that accepted the job and did all the drug tests and paperwork decided to stay with his employer a couple days before he was to start. I'd say he's blacklisted from the district. But this guy we hired today seems really good and I know his wife and that he wouldn't do that (at least I hope).
Marie

What a week! But I survived it, and got the most important things done, I think. But I will be working over the weekend, to do some planning and thinking. There's just too many meetings the three days I will be in the office next week, and I can't leave town without sorting some things out.

I'm eating well, did a short (half hour) workout this morning and went to Curves at lunchtime. I've decided not to sign up for the six-week chalenge, as I may have to miss two of the meetings. But I read about a book that I'm going to look for on my way home that might help me with the right mindset to stick to a program on the road or during times of maximum stress....I'll tell you about it if I can find it. I've been feeling bloated and lumpy for some time, probably for the past six weeks, which I hadn't realized until just now. It's amazing how quickly you can get used to feeling crummy!

Marie, you're about a mover...remember that old Sixties song, one of the ones with a cheesy Farfisa organ? Congratulations on being on target .

I hope that everyone has a good weekend, that Nikki's whizzing along on South Beach, that Marie has an empty nest again, that Penny and her cat are recovering, and that Carol's off being an Easter bunny.

judy

What a difference a couple of days makes! Our son got to Boise safely and is all unpacked and having fun exploring his new environment. Tommy gets his tubes out tomorrow and looks more alert. I got a fairly good night's sleep and worked out at Curves for the first time in over a week. The sun is shining, it's 75 deg. out today and everything is in full bloom in the garden.

I'm starting to get more into the mindset of starting to eat and exercise properly again. I'm finding it a bit of a drag recording all my food every day so I'm going to start taking weekends off but still watch what I eat. I've managed to maintain my weight over the past couple of weeks but I really need to start losing again soon.

Nikki - I'm glad to see you are still making good progress. I hope you like the Atkins diet and that it works well for you.

Carol - That naughty Bear chewing up your glasses . It's hard to stay mad with them though when they look at you with their big brown eyes!

Marie - Your strawberry drink sounds refreshing, I'll give it a try. I hope your new hire works out well.

Judy - I'm glad your meditation class has been helpful for you and hope you can find another one now that the first one is finished. It sounds like you have a very stressful job. I hope you get a bit of a chance to relax over the weekend.

Thanks, everyone, for all your good wishes during this past week. Have a wonderful Easter!

Hi everyone, today has been a lousy day. Very tip top worst type. Last night/middle of the night I made the awful decision to put Goldilocks out of her misery. Today at 4:00 she was put to sleep. It was very peaceful except my DH and my wet eyes. I'm tearing up as I write this. Tomorrow ill be better, but it's an empty feeling with her gone. She's been part of my life for nearly 12 years. This is very difficult. I'm very blessed to have 2 more dogs to hold and love.

I did lose .6 pounds but it doesn't matter today. I did 2 miles walking and 2 miles jogging WATP style then the .5 mile on the treadmill. All I can say it distracted my brain occasionally during the hour or so workout.

I will chat more this weekend.
Marie

Oh Marie, I'm so sorry to hear about Goldilocks . I hope she's at peace in doggie heaven. Just remember the happy times you shared together.

Marie - I am sorry to hear about goldilocks. I know that is a very hard thing. Just know she is in peace now.

Penny- I am glad to hear your sun is settling in well. How did it go with Tommy?

Judy- I really admire you for taking the time to meditate. I used to do that all the time. I oftn wonder why I stopped. Life was so much more peaceful then. Try to stick with it while you are in the zone. It gets harder once you are out of the zone.

I am at my boyfriend's now. He is off on a job interview. I thought it was weird the guy wanted to meet him 9 am the Saturday before Easter. Oh well. My fingers are crossed for this job as he has not been able to find work other then retail. I would like to be able to move out in a year and we both need good jobs for that one. I have little doubt I will get hired for September. I should have dual certification come June so that gives me an edge.


Everyone enjoy the weekend and don't eat to much candy

Nikki

Nikki yes he is but I don't think he really acknowleges that fact sometimes. The vet said that Bear thinks he is souly mine and so I need to back off a bit and let my husband take some control. So now I have him feeding him so the dog looks at him a bit differently. I also and trying to be a bit hard on him in order to gain some control. He is a bit bratty and I guess the vet knows it? Opps I have been a naughty mom. Oh well all his shots are done now and we can hit the parks and start walking that will be nice. He also had a tick on him uh! I felt it on his neck line but didn't know what it was and just had found it as I was petting him on the way to the vets. So I asked? Long behold it was a yukkky tick. So now Bear is on meds too. He is now 21.5 lbs. and will be around 30 full grown. Oh thats the end of my puppyness.
I think we all need to have a vet acct. I know I dropped 93.99 there yesterday and they are worth every cent of it but oh! I am sorry your vet bill was so high I thought mine was only to be around 55 but then with the unexpected tick it went up cause we had med involved. Oh Marie if I could ask what do you use for fleas and ticks? He said Frontline but others say Advantage? I am going to order something from online its cheaper. Next month we do our fixing job.
Congrats on the loss Nikki. Good luck on the job search sometimes subbing is where you have to start depebnds on the where you live I think. Thats the way around here though. Charter schools seem to be blooming everywhere and have lots of opening not sure the pay scale is as good. In our area there getting lots of gov't funding which surprises me. Judy you can order grilled chicken strips for yourself and ask for the buffalo wing dip on the side. I do that at home with chicken strips and make my own dip it healtier no skin or frying? Just a thought as I love them too. In fact I think thats a great dinner for tonight thanks!
Marie what is with people accepting jobs then changing their minds? Yah know its crazy look at what happended at my work and she is still not happy and never will be with somethings. Hope this new guy will work out great for all of you our new girl is very nice and we all like her. I have done a lot of the training and she really is doing quite well.
Marie when I put Katie down it was a relief for her but sadness for all. We think of her so often but know she is taken care of and not suffering now. We were going through family pictures last night getting ready for the wedding video for my daughter. Along came a picture of Katie and we both were a bit sad. You know in your heart what you did was brave and needed to be done when that time comes we recognize it and do whats needed. My thoughts are with you on this matter for sure. Maybe Katie and Goldilocks will find peace with each other in doggie heaven.
I am going to be brave today and hit the scale yuk! Lately I have been on task off task and not using the scale so the time has come to face myself! Maybe doing it before Easter is smart keep me in line a bit more. The sun is shining and Bear and I will go to the lake today for our first walk.

Morning everyone. I'm doing better this morning. It's actually raining here so the skies are crying for Goldie too. It seems the huskies finally realized she was gone. They are very mopey today. Sort of strange because we brought them both over to Goldie yesterday before we buried her. I thought they were supposed to have animal instincts and know that she was gone. Oh well, if it stops raining we'll take them out for a walk to cheer them up.

Because we're hoping to wlak the doggies, I did 1 mile on the treamill this morning. .5 mile walking and .5 jogging. I dind't want to miss the jogging.

Apparently my DS1 and almost DIL are moving out tomorrow not today. That was a bummer. DH and I are thinking of disappearing for the day so they can't stick us with the packing. They are so LAZY!!!! But the future cleanliness of my house looks very promising.

Well, I'm going to think about grinding my glass for the wolf piece I'm making. The key word is think about doing it.

Carol, I hope the scale was nice. I re-weighed this morning and it was the same as yesterday but today I was happy about it.

BTW, DH and I were zoning out last night and watched an old episode of CSI. At one point there was a line in it that fit me to a tee. "Have you ever done the right thing and still felt guilty about it? Yeah, and doesn't it s@ck?" That's how I feel about deciding to put Goldie to sleep. I know it was right in my head but my heart feels guilty. And it does s..." It was sort of cool to have a TV show of all things put my feeling into perspective.

Nikki, here's crossed for your boyfriend. I hope the interview is successful and gets him on a better track than retail.

Penny thank you for the kind thoughts.
Marie

Marie, you have my sympathy and a big, big hug . I'm so sad for you, your hubby and the other doggies, I know that you will all miss her very much. But if she was suffering, and in pain, and not going to get any better, you did a hard thing but the right thing. It sounds like you gave her a nice home and a lot of love, and that's all that matters in the end.

Yesterday was one of my favorite kinds of Saturdays. Slept a little late, did yoga, did a few chores, talked on the phone, read, practiced my knitting while watching The Big Lebowski...I could use a week of days just like that one! But now I'm procrastinating. I have three things to do before the weekend is over (and before the Sopranos comes on tonight) and I don't want to tackle any of 'em. But one of them will be big drag if I don't get on it, so....2006 taxes, here I come!

judy

Nikki - I hope your boyfriend got the job. Tommy is doing much, much better - thanks for asking.

Carol - Sorry to hear Bear picked up a tick - good thing you caught it quickly. It's hard to tell with all that fur. That's why we didn't see Tommy's infection - even the vet missed it at first - and it was massive.

Marie - I guess your DS1 and almost DIL have moved by now. It will be nice for you to have the extra space again. I hope they will be happy in their new home. I hope your sadness is easing a bit after losing Goldie. Perhaps you can dedicate your wolf piece to her memory.

Judy - I'm glad you had a relaxing weekend - you deserved it!

We had a quiet weekend. It rained a lot, so we couldn't get outside and do some much needed yard work as we'd planned. Our son has settled in well and emailed us a bunch of photos of his new place. He's already got everything unpacked and it looks really nice. I'm glad we gave him our old leather sofa set as it's something familiar for him from home. He just started work in his new job this morning, so we're looking forward to hearing how it went.

Tommy is doing lots better and, after dropping another $120 at the vets, we decided not to take him in for any more visits. The vet wanted to see him every day this week which would have been several hundred more dollars. He's doing just fine, healing up well and eating like a horse!

We were invited to friends for Easter and I ate way too much which was reflected on the scale this morning. I am really going to knuckle down and get back on track now that things seem to be calming down. I need to get back to normal eating again or things could start spiraling out of control.

I hope everyone has a good week.

A quick check-in: I didn't get too far on my taxes, but I did find the folders with the info I need, so that's a start! I did a long cardio workout in the fitness center Sunday evening, and my quads are still complaining, so I guess I need to find my way down there more often. Today I'll lay off a bit, except for going to Curves this evening. I had a weird little binge last night: those little Dole fruit bowls were on sale, two for one, so I bought two packages, one applesauce and one mardarin orange. After dinner I mixed one of the orange ones into some cottage cheese....and did it again...and eventually ate the remaining two orange cups before the evening was over. So, no more orange fruit bowls for me. I reacted to the high sugar content as if they were Godiva chocolates . I should have known!

Penny, how are you planning to knuckle down? It will be May 20 and the end of Nikki's Graduation Challenge before you know it...

Marie, I hope you're doing okay today.

Nikki and Carol, I hope you had great weekends.

judy

Judy - Those little bowls are very more-ish! I always get the tropical fruit ones and pour off the juice, which saves a few calories. I sometimes have them with cottage cheese for breakfast and manage to only eat one.

You asked how I'm going to "knuckle down". Well, starting today I'm going to log EVERYTHING I eat during weekdays and make sure it's under 1600. I've been 'cheating' a bit lately and not recording evening snacks (which are my downfall). I am also reducing my breakfast calories to under 300. Snacks can only be up to 100 calories each and NO alcohol - which I've found to be disastrous lately as it relaxes me and but I tend to overeat even more. Oh, and I'm not going to eat out as much - we've had Chinese a few times lately and that stuff is so loaded in fat and calories. I've also started exercising regularly again now that I'm feeling better. Hopefully this will all make for a loss on the scale.