Wow...today I was sooooo hungry all day long. I ended up eating a total of 1480 cals. I did get in a very fast 45 minute walk outside though. Maybe I really should consider raising my cals to 1400. Then if I have days where I am really not needing to eat as much, I can just drop to 1200. My fear is that I will not lose weight on 1400 cals. I have barely been losing any weight on 1200 as is! What are all of your thoughts??? I would sincerely appreciate your opinions on this.

susan, i am the manager for a store called rack room shoes, i work 50-55 hours a week. i went up to another store that is in pigeon forge tn to help clean it up after another manager had quit and left it a mess. 2 back to back 15 hour days, but the store is immaculate now.
jules, yes dollywood is in pigeon forge, and yes i was working too hard lol
cristina, i have been a manager now for 12 years. i am one that my regional mgr will call on to go help out at other stores. in turn, i usually get an extra day off or two and taken out for dinner lol. its really not that bad, just a few days of long hours.
well im off to bed, have to be at my store at 6 am.
hugs,
shawna

Good morning!
Sorry I missed out yesterday...just a real busy day. Today I slept in and missed yoga so here I am with a little extra time to post. VBS is going well, but it makes for a very busy day. Yesterday, I took Leigh to the toy store and then we went to Taco Time ( aack) I did ok with my choices as the veggie burrito was on sale. I ended up with 1780 cals for the day...not low enough, but will try to clamp down on them today.

Bep- for garlic, just take some leftover cloves ( preferably organic) and plant them in the fall. I plant them the same time as the potatoes. In June or July whent the shoots start looking like they are dying, I start pulling up the cloves. Last year I missed some, and they came back this year..now that's low maintenance gardening! As far as your calories, they look fine to me...it is true though that if they are too low, you could stall out as your body starts holding onto all its extra weight 'cause it thinks its starving. This may be too personal, so just slap me if it is but if you are nursing, that can play a part too. Anyway, when I can do it 1400 seems to be the magic number for me, but I have a hard time with it when I exercise alot.

BTW - I'm no Martha fan either...don't think she would approve of my backyard, with the big dirt pile ( from remodeling) and all the toys I never put away 'cause no one sees them but us ( very private backyard).

Susan- Thank you for the lovely card - that was very sweet of you Too bad about Gaby and VBS, but it sounds like she will be happier being able to play outside with her sister. I know you're broke, but there is a big consignment sale in Milwaukie this weekend...Saturday everything will be 50% off... if you want the link to the website let me know....it's all kid stuff up to size 12.

Shawna - glad Pigeon Forge went well...I would go nuts in a shoe store. I love shoes and have to restrain myself from spending too much on them.

Jules - Well I slept in today and missed my 6am yoga...but generally I do like it and am enjoying 2-3 classes a wekk, Yoga ab exercises are the best! My DH was commenting that my stretch marks are starting to fade a little, and my waist is more defined...thank you yoga abs

Hi to Cristina, Kathy, and Welcome Trixie...will bbl to chat with you ...have to go, everyone is waking up!

Katy Nope...I don't feel that's too personal at all! I am not nursing now. My youngest is now 17 months old.
Thanks for the garlic tip! I am going to try to remember to plant some this fall. I use a TON of garlic. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! Which means it is probably a good thing that I grow parsley and mint!


Hello to everyone!!! Hmmm...things are a a tad more quiet here than normal. Where is our gabby Susan??? Jules??? Michelle? Our newbie Trixie??? All the rest of you?

grrrrr, good morning!
I am here Bep!! I need to run back to my car though and get my starbucks.....so I can chat, chat,chat....and multi task with posting. haha

I just lost my post!!

So mad.

Katy - Gaby went to the ex's today. I am thinking of just moving to the sitters area since I can't afford this cummute. Course I can't afford anything at the moment...lol I can't even afford 50% off......and I am a woman!! I need to buy something!! sad, sad, sad.... you are welcome for the card

Bep - I feel bloated today!! ......just wanted to share...lol

Shawna - I thought you were part time. Just always working!! You are the Energizer Bunny!

Jules - Duke?? Not Luke?? I dunno....stumped - must have been after I stopped watching. You feeling ok today??

Michelle - HUGS

Trixie - How are you today?

Shel - Hope you are well and doing good

Cristi - Morning!!

Ginny - come chat!

kathy - sending the posse after you!!

Did I miss anyone?? Hope not.....need to get to work now!! Chat in a bit.

oops, forgot to talk about myself <roll eyes> .....can't do that...lol

Walked 2 miles last night!!! yay Did 2 loads of laundry!! yay and Gaby watched Land Before Time while I cleaned some.....yay,yay....and ,,,,,,I got to bed by 9 pm!! yay...and the Maintenance Crew is here today in the building for a training!! You know how many MALES that is???? a lot....-lol- my favorite one I hope is going to be here - course he is so smart he is probably doing the training ....*sigh*....

anyway, I gotta go....and - ugh.....*&^%$ work....chat later!

I am bored. I guess I will take a break and go purchase some treats for a meeting. I never keep track of the receipts , I am always having to call and ask for a copy weeks later. I made 2 purchases this month and went looking in my wallet last night....and they were gone already! ugh.....what a pain.
chat later,,,,,,,at least the maintenance staff is showing up!! Need some excitment in my life...and hawaii guy called and is planning a trip to another island...made me annoyed as I sit here broke....bad attitude?? probably....need to work my way out of it!!

WhatEVER. I can chat with myself, you know I can!

So, anyway Susan, I went to Traders Joes and picked up some delish cranberry/ oatmeal dunkers, white popcorn and corn chips w/ salsa for the meeting. Only $12.00 - accounting can't whine about that. I asked about a receipt that I had lost and Checker Chick didn't know. Fine , I will call.

Picked myself up a greek salad and albacore tuna. Went to put in our kitchen, opened up the fridge and what was there???? omg - the fried chicken that was there Monday. ..........I didn't touch it on Monday because it belonged to someone but now it is Thursday and I figure..............it is forgotten. It was SCREAMING my name and begging me to EAT it.....otherwise it will spoil....and no one can enjoy it if that happens.. .....*sigh* what I do to save chicken.
I ate some, not much....2 bites from a leg.....and I threw the rest in the garbage and walked away from the bag left in the fridge.

I thought I did good. I looked in the full length mirror and I don't look bad .. .....anyway....I better get going....and amuse myself with work.

You are such a little punk! I am glad you were enjoying your own conversation.


Who is "Hawaii guy"? Is it some kind of Nap joke or is it a real person?

I can't believe you ate chicken that has been sitting in a fridge since Monday!!! YUCKY!!!! I won't eat cooked food that has been sitting in the fridge for more than 2 days. I am SERIOUSLY anal about food safety. DH laughes at me about it...but I can't help it.

Bep
So, you decided to check in , eh?? Yes, I enjoy my own conversation. We argue at times but always make up. Though that Susan can be a little tart at times but don't tell her that. haha
Hawaii Guy is a real man Sheesh Bep.....lol
He is someone I have known for eons (6 years) we met in a parenting group on line in 2000. We met 2 years ago November when I went for a visit. He adores me!!! <eyes roll> lol ,,,and he visited last July here in oregon. We have talked about me coming over in Oct for a visit with Gaby. lala...that is the only romance I have in my life.

We still have eggs and hashbrowns in there from 2 months ago. No one comes and cleans up their own mess. I am sure no one remembers the chicken....bunch of lazy workers!! Not like me....lol
It was gooooood chicken Bep......no fuzz or icky odors yet.
I do the 5 second rule too if food falls on the floor and as long as the garbage sack hasn't been closed yet.....anything in the garbage is up for grabs too.



lol

You are invited for dinner any time Bep!!!

A weight loss prayer....



Dear God,
I admit that I have come to both love
and hate the word "diet."
On the one hand, it represents hope for change.
On the other, it's like a sign flashing "Failure ahead!"
I don't want to embark on another faulty plan, Lord.
I want to embark on a journey with You
that is led by You and depends on Your power.
I can do nothing on my own!
Show me the path that will enable me to change.
Show me, as only You can,
what works for me, what is healthy for me.
I want to think of this venture in positive terms, Lord--
not that I am signing up to be miserable or in want.
I want to learn to feed my body what it truly needs when it truly needs it.
And to feed my soul with the Bread of Life--You!
Today I place my future, my failures, my setbacks,
all of my hopes and plans into Your hands.
There alone will I find meaning
and true success in my life.
Amen.

Hiya ladies

Feeling all bloated myself Susan. Bloated and crampy...ick, TOM is the PITS for sure! That damn Eve, just had to eat that apple didn't she?

SUSAN...that is just gross, ICK! I am picturing fuzzy chicken legs, eeewwww! Of course the eggs and hashbrowns don't sound so great either. So how is the Rock doing anyway? Speaking of Napoleon...don't be a hater now...but I saw him last night and he was lookin' kind of cute! I watched that movie with him and Reese Witherspoon...can't even think of the name of it, darn. But he was cute in it, even cuter than in Napoleon Dynamite. I can't believe he is in his 30's. WTG on the walking! All those red smilies lined up like that look like the Rockettes dancing, lol.

BEP...I too am not a fan of Martha, never have been. Can't stand her monotone self...voice is irritating to me. But I have watched some of her shows and the woman is pretty crafty, and a good cook.

KATY...glad VBS is going well. And WTG on your NSV! Nothing better than DH noticing!

SHAWNA...DS was a manager for almost 6 years, not at the same place but he couldn't take it anymore. So now is working part-time at Target as a cashier (because no one else will hire him) while he goes to school full-time. He's tried to get out of retail but with the hours he needs to work that is about the only thing that fits his schedule. But kuddos to you and anyone working in retail as a manager, or working retail period. But a shoe store...think I would spend most of my check buying them, lol. Hopefully you get a break soon. How's the moving coming along? Sorry, can't remember if you mentioned when you were moving.

JULES...I feel I have to go to It Figures...think that is the main reason I joined. I knew if I were paying for it I would go. I have an exercise room at home but it just sits there. I use the treadmill when it rains and I can't walk outdoors. But since joining IF the weights just sit there. I'm hoping that after a year of paying to work out that it will keep me going and I will use the equipment at home then, on a regular basis. Totally understand though...you work all day and I know the last thing anyone wants to do is go home and relax...and you've not been feeling so great lately so...you probably just need to take it easy right now. You'll get back to Slim-N-Tone soon. How are you feeling today by the way? Better I hope.

MICHELLE...anymore news on your mom? What about you, how are you doing? Check in when you can, we miss you when you're not here.

HI GINNY...we miss you as well. Hope you are well too.

Well, I am getting something done today. Had errands to run and then got on the computer and signed on here and remembered I had some things to do online before I started reading and posting. Forgot to order checks and we are almost out, oops! Waiting for clothes to dry to finish my laundry and was cleaning up puke this morning from Ernie dog. Not sure why but when he gets stressed he gets sick. Doesn't happen often but in the last week we've had several thunderstorms and those always kill him. Anyway, got it cleaned with some carpet cleaning stuff I bought when we had the carpet cleaned a few months ago...it works GREAT! I need to go get him some doggy tranquilizers for the fourth...another thing that stresses him out. He freaks when he hears the fireworks, poor doggy. Anyway...

Today is my free day. Was going to walk and then remembered that I do take a day off, just from the exercise/walking. Still getting the water in and the vitamins and must say I have done pretty good with it. I know I should drink more water but...figure 4 bottles is better than nothing. And I have been doing it for 2 1/2 months now which is awesome for me! I will start a challenge and do good and then once the challenge is over that's it. But no challenge this time...just getting it in my head to drink that water. Going to watch Munich later and possibly Brokeback Mountain. Rented movies last Friday and then have to be returned tomorrow. Watched the Heaven one last night, Weatherman a few days ago and then that one with Harrison Ford-it was pretty good. Weatherman was a little boring but there were some funny parts. And that's about all I have.

Take care ladies and I hope everyone is having or trying to have a great day!

Cristi Napoleon is cute , isn't he?? I like him best in the orange afro but I will take him anyway I can get him. I ain't picky.
I am sure the chicken is fine - maybe it was Tuesday I saw it in there instead of Monday, I don't remember. The dunker cookie had 170 calories. I did eat one. Co worker lady on WW said it would be worth 4 points so she passed on that. I bought another greek salad - 320 calorie , I think.
60 oz water so far today! yay
anyway, Rocky is good. Soooooo laid back , annoys me. lol His son got elected to the All Star team and if they win their island they go to Maui- so he is thinking ahead and planning where he is going to stay. If they end up in the mainland it would be California....though they have had it here in Oregon out at the Albenrose.
Are you drinking water?? That might help flush our systems Cristi RAch was cursing Eve yesterday - lol
The ex called and said rach and Gaby have been taking a nap for 3 hours now - they must have been tired. All the traveling back and forth wears Gaby out. She had dark circles under her eyes the other day.

anyway, going to fill my water bottle up again!

Katy--always nice to be complimented by the DH!!! There are some places I could take yoga in Hagerstown where I work but I ride to and from work with DH--his car is a gas hog!!

Shawna--my DD couldn't work in a shoe store--she'd be owing the company money on payday--she definitely has a thing for shoes....

SuzyQ--Luke never did it for me....I couldn't eat that leftover chicken--you are a braver girl than me!! I took a food bourne illness certification class--so I am the one that usually cleans out the work fridge--people get made cause I post when I am cleaning it out and warn them that I don't open closed containers--they go straight in the trash...

Bep--I love garlic myself--Do you need alot of sunshine to grow it??

Cristina--I blame Adam -- if he would have been beside Eve instead of doing who knows what--she wouldn't have been tempted and we wouldn't have the curse!!

Michelle ma belle--where are you!!

Trixie--how are you today!!

Ginny--miss your morning posts!!

Going to the doctors tomorrow to see if I can get something for the stress--don't want chest pains again!! Maybe he will tell me I need to lose weight and give me a magic pill!!! Yes I know--I am dreaming -- there are no magic pills or we'd all be skinny!!