Hey Washu. Glad to hear from you. Believe me, I have lived in your shoes where it takes weeks to lose a couple of measly pounds only to put them right back on in a matter of days. Most of the time it's just water retention. I find that my body retains a lot more water when I do go way off plan after eating good-for-you-healthy foods for a while. As long as you get back OP and drink a lot of water and keep working out, the water weight will go. I agree w/Chris though, if you're working out like mad you're probably gaining muscle mass. Remember that muscle weighs more and burns more calories when you're in a resting state than fat does. Get rid of the scale if it brings you down. Go by how your clothes fit and the way you feel more energy and healthy when you do workout. Yes it's a long, hard battle but we're all here to spur each other on. I'm a daily weigher myself but if I gain a little I use that number to get mad and work harder to get those pounds off. It's been a long but steady process for me. I'm really happy that I'm still working at it--much happier now than I would be if I had just given up awhile ago. You can do this girl. We're rooting for ya!

I'm writing to the people who invented myvirtualmodel.com and requesting that they add a "lumpify" button. Or maybe a spot reducer/increaser button. My model has way too much on top and my waist is not at all that sexy and curvy--oh yeah, the thighs...that's another matter entirely.

Chris, you're not crazy at all. It's the one's who are really insane that do not question their sanity. I would feel like I was going crazy though if I was in your line of work. You have to be one tough cookie that's for sure. I admire you for your strength. After reading your journal about comparing yourself to your cousin, you're your own harshest critic and you shouldn't feel so bad about yourself. You will not gain all the weight back overnight. When I'm feeling crappy and fat these days, I go into my closet and pull out an outfit that I couldn't fit 20 lbs ago. I slip into it and see that it fits like a dream and I am indeed smaller. I may have eaten too much that day or skipped the exercise but the clothes reaffirm that the journey to lose weight and live healthy is worth continuing.

Angie, way to go on the size 12 jeans. Isn't it funny how when we're bigger we want to hide in baggy clothes but when we lose weight and feel great we want the clothes to be more form fitting? (Well that's the way I am anyway). What's the sense in wearing the same baggy clothes on your slimmer bod anyway? If you've got it, flaunt it.

Kempy, even though you ate those burgers and fries and stuff at least you were AWARE. Sometimes I just eat them and don't even think about what I'm doing and don't care. Burgers I can do without. French fries and pizza--especially pizza are the ones that take my self-control down the tubes. You did good girl, 1500 cals a day is great.

I saw there was someone name laney1733 or Serina that posted on the thread over the weekend. Hope you join us more often. The more the merrier!

Sorry I'm posting so long but my cable service was down for most of the morning and I was jonesing for this site. Now that it came back on I'm just typing away.

lol, hi, my name is Serina and I usually don't post here, just lurk. It seems like I have way more time to read than I do to post! Anyway, I was reading through the posts and I wanted to congratulate Angie on her jeans. Well I wrote it out and sent it befopre it occured to me that I don't usually post on this thread and people would probably wonder who I was! Sorry for any confusion, I do love to read about all of you Thanks, TTFN,

Hey Serina. I know you from the challenge thread. YOu can hang out here too. Don't be scared we don't bite much. lol

Angie how is the new addition? Do the cats get along with him? Has he tried to escape?

Noelle let me know if you get a respo0nse form the virtual model people. That would be great if we could customize the model.

Chris are you doing better today? I know it is hard not to get drained with all of the negative energy that is around you right now. This is the time that you really need to keep execising and you can use us as a vent place if you need. We will totally understand. We love you here.

Echo got in trouble last night. She chewed one of Joe's hunting jackets yesterday morning. I didn't tell him until he got home b/c I knew he would get mad. He did. He spanked he and put he in her kennel. I tried to tell him that she didn't know what he was yelling at her for but I think she did. As soon as he picked up the jacket she hung her head. About 15 mins. later he let her out and she sat by me and wouldn't move. She was glued to me. Within the hour she was laying on top of him. It was cute. Come to find out the jacket cost $250 on sale! YIKES! I guess we will have to save for next year when he needs it again. Darn dog.

Oh yeah, I lost the water weight plus I went down .5 lbs. I can't believe I am almost to 155. Now I only have 6.5 lbs to go.

WOW KEMPY!! Your Almost there. Cappie seems to be fitting in pretty well. Rebel loves to egg him on. They haven't growled at each other or anything, they just wrestle and Cappie tries to hump Rebel. Talk about funny. He hasn't tried to escape yet but my backyard is set up so that they have to go across the deck to get to the yard and there is a gate that I can close on the deck to let them out. Well I have a 27' pool and my deck goes halfway around so in the winter when there is a cover on the pool and the pool is frozen they could run across and jump off(Rebel and Candi don't) but Cappie assumed that was the way to the yard and tore *** across it and fell off. Luckily he came back in but he keeps going out into the pool so I leash him and put him in the fence until I can teach him not to get in the pool. He needs some obedience training. He is a good dog though, I can't imagine why they would dump him. He loves to snuggle.

You'll have to post a pic of him. He sounds pretty funny. How does he act around the cats?

He doesn't mind them. He is interested but not obnoxious like Candi can be. It is funny though, Candi was bred for show and he is a back yard bred dog. You can see the difference in their appearances but they have the exact same mannerisms. He is a cutie.

Cappie is on the left and Candi is on the right

Woohoo Kempy! You're on a roll! Sounds like you've found your stride. Poor Echo...at least you know she has good taste too . That is cute how she "made up" with Joe. Your little baby sounds like such a sweetie.

Angie how's Cappy (sp?) today? Getting along w/Candi and Rebel? It's fun when all your pets get along. We used to have 2 dogs that we had to keep separated or they would probably kill each other, both wanted to be dominant. One finally passed away and the other, well he's still dominant or so he thinks--but he's a chicken if he's not with me or my sister.

Hope Chris and Washu are having good days today. I better get back to work now, I'll check back later.

Oh yes, I changed my avatar because I got to work and set my glasses down then they got buried under my paperwork and I couldn't find them for awhile...geez, bad eyes and bad memory. Am I showing my age?

oops, guess I was typing as you were posting. Such beautiful dogs and a cutie-pie daughter too. Rebel looks like a toy.

Oh my gosh! They are great!!!!

I wish I could go over there and cuddle all over them. I bet they are big balls of soft fur. Noelle is right Rebel looks like a toy. The pic makes me want to get a dog that is a big fur ball. I know that wont happen, at least not while we are living in Louisiana. The poor dog would burn up.

Hey guys, I'm going home soon for lunch and just wanted to ask...I found myself a bag of Wow Ruffles which I've never tried before. Angie you eat chips and don't have any problems with them right? So for those of you who have tried them and did have problems, how long after you ate them did they occur and how many did you eat? I ate 5 chips (serving size says 15 pieces) but I sat here reading about the negative effects that a lot of people had and stopped @ 5...I mean, I know I can't believe everything I read especially on the internet but ya know, I'm a little bit leery. I guess I just have to eat them and find out. So far, nothing...of course it's only been about 10 minutes. Some of the reports I've read have said people have gotten terribly sick and sometimes for days. Of course they probably ate a whole lot more than the one recommended serving size...I have no intention of eating more than a serving size but I don't want to have any symptoms...I wonder if you have to build up some kind of tolerance to them if you do get affected by it. Hmmm, lots to think about. I don't think I want my son to eat them since if it does do something to him he could get dehydrated real quick (or maybe I just don't want to share the chips--taste sooo good, it's been so long!) .

I can and have sat there and ate a half a bag before and had no problems with them. I think if you eat them regularly there is probably less of a chance of side effects but the only ones I have ever heard of are cramps and bowel movements.

Finally got on here. Hada busy busy day at work. Tried not to overeat, did okay. Ate a nice dinner with family. Heard that my aunt's having more problems wiht that lump. Turns out they need to take out more of it,a nd there will be a long pattern of radiatoin. I'm worried, even though she's being positive. We all met up for a nice dinner tonight, and instead of eating and running, we actually sat down and talked. I pray this makes us all stornger. I'm worrying a lot about this.

I haven't exercised today, cause I was in the car, or counseling my kids. I have appnts wiht them everyday, at their homes. I'm in the car a lot, and find myself spent aqt the end of the day. I need to keep exercising, or i'll get depressed, and quit this health kick all together.

I'm so glad you got that adorable dog Ange, she's beautiful, and fits right in with the others. What a pretty little girl you have.

Well, the scale liked me this morning, even though I told myself i'd wati all week to weigh myself. Last night I took a laxative, cause I couldn't go. Then, it finally kicked in late morning, while driving int he sticks.... man, I flew to the nearest gas station... i'll spare you. What a nightmare. I can't imagine how girls could abuse laxatives. Makes you feel terrible. Anyway, i'm trying to be positive. I have a meeting tonight, for the sunday school. We do it for the high schoolers. So, I get them all week, and then again on Sunday. What am I doing?! Well, God knows what we can handle. We'll probably see blessings in the end. I'm not gonna stop the sunday school until I see that others can pick up where we left off. THe Pastor tells me I have a gift. I can't see that.

Well, I'm gonna head out. Thanks for the encouragement. Feeling good right now, but every day is frustrating lately.