My new mattress pad is no longer working. I guess my big butt has flatten it out. So back and hip is back hurting at night. Never ends. But at least it is Saturday. My piano teacher had to cancel for today so I can now get my oil change for truck and go with hubby over to step daughters house she just bought. It is a fixer up but she got a really good deal as she bought it from her mothers family.
I also watched the special last night. Even tho I do not like Dr Phil. I know.Don't start yelling at me about how great he is. I think he can be very cruel at times and I do not like that. We can agree to disagree.I could not see where he was saying anything different than what we all already know. I have a book that came out years ago that says almost the same things as he did. So sorry ladies I heard nothing new from him. He was just nicer than usual. If it helps someone. Great But we have all heard the same thing they were saying over and over. It is not a matter of knowing what to do as most of us know exactly what to do. It is a matter of doing it.And the outside world just does not know how hard that can be. They just think we are lazy or we don't care. Well we know that is not true. We are all hard working smart women that do care but just don't seem to be able to do it. Yet we don't give up and keep trying. It is a very hard struggle. It is a wonder to me that we don't just say to h___ with it. But the fact that we don't show we are special people. Ok I will get off my soap box.
Have a great weekend.

Good Afternoon Ladies
How is everyone. Having trouble with the "beast". Really slow. And dont want me to sign on. Hopefully one of these days we can get a new computer.

I was trying to tape Dr Phil last night. I thougth it came on at 9:00. So set the VCR for that time. Then come to find out. It started at 8:00. But did get a hour of it. Want to watch Mondays show. I kinda agree with Eleni. Sometimes the man makes me mad. But then sometimes he is right though. I want to get his book. Wonder if they have it at Wal Mart. Or if you have to go to the book store for it. Will have to check it out sometime.

Well the banquet last night was really nice. But the winner for summer princess didnt show up. Everyone but 2 people came. Boy did I get a surprise. I won the vase. Does all groups do this. And then hubby was to draw for the door prize. He went and drew his own name. Was a pretty fall center piece. The food was pretty good. Had lemon pepper chicken. We had our banquet at Holiday Inn. Everyone seemed real happy with it.

Not alot going on here today. Raining and dreary. Was going to go to town. But didnt even feel like going. So going to stay home and save money. Well ladies I am going to get off here for now. Will check in later. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Boy isnt it sad about John Ritter and Johnny Cash. I really liked both of them. Well take care everyone. Am thinking of all of you.
A TOPS PAL

Time sure goes fast when you get older and have lots to do.

Anyway have been doing pretty well since Wednesday -- the day I rejoined TOPS. I am really hoping/praying that this time around the group will be encouraging and have good programs.

Watched Dr. Phil's special last night. I tend to agree somewhat with the comment that he can be a bit gruff -- but you know what not everyone can tell it like it is -- and that is just what he does. Sometimes when we hear it told this way it hurts but it is what we need to hear.

I have bought his book and from what I have read I like -- he sure is not pussy footing around in it. Also I think most of us with a lot of weight basically know what to do, but when we do try for some reason we tend to sabatoge ourselves -- otherwise we would all be at goal weight -- KOPS -- and we would be encouraging all the TOPS members right. But we aren't. So maybe we do need someone to shake us up and help get us on track by being a little 'gruff' -- it is difficult to lose the weight, I know I have been there now for 35 + years -- but you know what -- as Dr. Phil said last night on his show -- we do have the choice -- we don't need to eat the junk but we do. Yes it is difficult but we need to look at why we do where the 'skinny minnies' don't -- why do they control their emotions without food and we don't - why do we use food as comfort and those with no weight problem don't.

I have read a lot of different books on this and most of them basically say the same thing -- one think I like about Dr. Phil's book though is the 7 keys that he gives -- from the bit of reading I have done so far I believe that might be the key to some of the problem -- we tend to look first at the food, then at the problem -- think it needs to be the other way around.

Anyway I am going to work the 7 keys he outlines and see what happens -- I am also incorporating some of the other material I have read from 3 different sources. These other books are
'Thin Within' by Arthur and Judy Halliday (doctor and RN) and '3D, Diet, Discipline, Discipleship' by Carol Showalter, and 'Step Forward' by Julie Morris' -- out of all the books I have read I believe these are the ones that are going to help me get to where I need to be -- but all the reading will not do a bit of good unless I pull up my socks, admit the problem, and work at it by making some life changes -- not a fad crash diet -- but life time changes.

Anyway I'll get off the soap box now -- hope everyone has a good weekend and that the next time you get weighed that you will be pleased with what you see.

Marilyn/Sprout

Hi all,

Welcome sprout.
I have to say that I to like Dr. Phil and he motivates me. I didn't get to see the show you are all talking about. I could start taping it everyday and watch it at night I guess. I miss it and didn't know he was on at night the other night or I would have watched it myself.
I do agree with eleni on this point though that he isn't telling us anything that we don't know already. We all know what we have to do. We know it isn't the diet that we choose that works it is a lifestyle change. We all do good for a certain length of time then yes we sabotage ourselves. I have his tapes of a book. I love it but he says there is a reason that we are fat. I have tried and tried to come up with that reason and I can't find one. I have no idea why I eat like I do and allow myself to lose this weight. I know that if I can stay on plan and eat like a normal person the servings I should I would be at goal weight as well along with the rest of you. But I don't and I get so mad at myself about this and still I continue to gain the weight. I have gained 2 lbs this week. I didn't eat healthy. I have to. I feel like I am going to burst and feel so fat it isn't funny. I know I will be gaining and can't help it I am fine with that. But I am not fine with the weight I have already and can't seem to do what I need to long enough to lose it.
My breathing is bothering me already so that isn't a good thing. I walked down to my parents house today and I was winded. I climb the stairs and I can't breathe. This pregnancy is going to be just like the last one I am afraid and I am going to have the breathing problems and the acid reflux like I did before. I don't think I am going to be able to work the whole time we will have to see what happens. I am so exhausted all the time. I have been going to bed by 8:30 all week and I am still tired. The last time I didn't feel that effect because I wasn't working and I slept in in the morning but I can't do that this time. I was spoiled before.LOL We will just take it one step at a time and I am not going to worry too much about the weight. I am just going to start eating more healthier is all this week.

I cleaned out the spare bedroom today and got a lot of things thrown out and reorganized. It looks like a room again. That took me most of the day to do that. Then had to get my house back in order after my daughter trashed it with all her babies and stuff. Now there is a place for everything and hopefully the house will stay picked up. Especially since she will be in school every day instead of bringing things back and forth from here to my parents house. Now it can just stay put away.

Not much more happening here.

I am going to church in the morning. Our minister is supposed to make a public apology to our congregation tomorrow. She has ruined our church and has only been here for a year. I don't like her she wasn't too nice to me and embarrassed me so much I stopped going and a lot of people have quit the church because of her and the community doesn't like her either. But instead of firing her they are giving her another chance to change. I can't see how it is possible but I want to go tomorrow to see how sincere she is with the apology.

Talk to you all later.

Sherri