THE Svelte Chicky
 

Very beautiful pics Chris! That is motivation enough for me. You look awesome, very svelte indeed :cp: .

Angie aw shucks, supporting friends is what we're here for. Besides, I was just returning the favor. You've inspired me many times. Glad I could motivate someone. Yeah I like this bungee cord harness holding me on the wagon--works very well. I can grab for friends falling off and snap them back up on w/me. :lol:

essey: keep on trucking. 4 lbs is nothing to sneeze at. You're doing great. Keep your chin up and those legs moving. Have a great visit w/mom.

Gar organizing is 'a good thing' :lol:

Sandy did you make chili for dinner because you were still mad at him? hehe. You're such a sweetheart, cooking a separate meal just for him. I would've dumped it on his head while he was sleeping--but uh, that's just me :p . Hang tough lady, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but set 'em up with a choke chain and you'll be in fine form. :lol: j/k

I'm having a hard time typing right now since I'm waiting for my nails to dry completely. I'm actually using a pencil eraser to punch the keys so I'm a bit slow typing today. That's my one regular indulgence--pedicures and manicures every 3 weeks. I's so relaxing and makes me feel beautiful. Now I'm working on the rest of the body to go along w/the pretty hands and feet.

Let's see, Smiling Sal, Kempy, Washu and everyone else hope things are smooth sailing for the rest of the week. We can do this 'cause we are women, hear us roar!

:lol: THANKS FOR THE LAUGH MELE

Well, My scales aren't broken as I had hoped. :lol: My son got sick last night so he stayed home today and we just got back from the doctors. I made him run into the bathroom so I could weigh him and my scales are right on with the doctors.

He has strep throat. Poor kid. I used to get it all the time. So much that I missed so many days of school that when I was in ninth grade I had my tonsils removed. I hope he doesn't start that. So he gets to miss school the rest of the week. They get Friday off for Teachers Workshop. I guess no nooners for me. :lol:

Wow, finally I've caught up on all of the posts.... I disapeared to Portland for the weekend. Just found out that one of my old high school friends has moved there. So *bam* the next thing I know I'm catching a ride w/ a band I know.... It was a weekend of vices, Drank too much, Smoked too much, and this friend is studying to be a chef, so we ate some killer meals :T Luckily (I guess) I drank more than I ate and didn't gain anything. Working on re-hydrating myself now.
I'm also working on getting myself a 'real' job. Resturant work... but I had an interview yesterday and have another one this afternoon. Wish me luck :crossed:

Enough about me,

Chris, you are looking very Svelte. Lean and strong... I'd be very interested to see a "before" pict. You're such an inspiration.

Oh Sandy, I too know that situation. It must be a male genetic thing, or maybe it is society's fault like Essey said.

.... I want to continue that thought, but for the first time since 9/11 the news has scared the **** out of me. I need to calm down.

later
-w-

Hi Girls. You're so great! Thanks for the encouragement. I feel good too! I've got to dig up a 'before' picture. I've been at goal since Feb 10th, so I'm not a veteran to this. its really hard, especially today, cuse I'm skipping my aerobics. That makes me have to do it on my own, and I'm bad at doing things on my own. So, I may end up missing exercise tonigt. it's also frigid outside, so I may end up doing a video. Something. But, I was really pleased with the after picture. Finally a picture I feel looks like the real me.

Sandy, this one's for you
 

This one may have gone around before, but it just seemed so fitting for Sandy.

Hey angie, thanks for inviting me over! That's great that you'v elost so much weight! What program are you using if you don't mind me asking?:)

Thanks for the cartoon Mele., I got a good :lol:

Welcome to Amanda.

Today is WI day and I officially lost another 3.5#'s this week, so a total of 21.5 gone in 8 weeks. I am finally noticing that my clothes are fitting a little different now. This is a good thing. Can't wait to go down in sizes.

Hugs to all and God Bless our Troops & their families.
~~Sandy~~

Hi Amanda. I am just eating 3 meals (maybe a snack) everyday. I am trying to watch my fat and calorie intake and I exercise for an hour every day. That is about it. My house looks like a gym with the bike, treadmill and elliptical :lol:

Noelle, The joke is cute. You are having an awesome week. I wished I could say the same. I am starting to get really depressed about the weight. It still hasn't gotten back to 154.5. What gives? I am going to be so pissed on Saturday if I have gained or even maintained this week. I have been working so hard to get it off and see a loss. WWAAAHHH!!! okay, I am done crying for today.

Sandy, I just read your journal. YEAH!!! You truly are melting right away girl! I hope you and hubby made up.

Sandy, I have a few before pics but I don't have a scanner to scan them in.

I'm on my way out the door to work, but wanted to let Angie know, I was reading your journal when you were posting and you were reading mine when I was posting, so we missed each ohter....LOL...but I did write in your journal too and please keep your chin up, it will show.

Hugs again, I will try to check in from work, but we have been so busy lately.

Sandy

Thanks Sandy!! You guys are the best!!

Hello peeps. Rick decided to do some work here at the shop so I couldn't check in til now. (Had to appear as if I was working ya know! :lol: ) I'm really feeling hungry right now, or at least I think I'm hungry. I usually have my morning snack at 10:30 a.m. but I've been feeling this hunger pang since 9:30 a.m. I've been staving it off by drinking water but I'm distracted and working hard since people are around me. I'm so terrible. Leave me all alone and all I'll do is surf the net or park my butt @ 3FC.

Angie, stay positive lady. Your body just needs time to adjust. Your results so far are phenomenal! I look at your stats and I am amazed everytime. Think about it the way I see it: We started off a few weeks apart last October. You had your starting weight @ 206.5. I weighed 215. That's a difference of about 8.5 lbs and 3 weeks ( I started after you) . Anyway, today, you have made a 25.5 lbs difference--you've lost 17 lbs more than I have in about the same amount of time. That my friend, is truly amazing. I am continually on a quest to catch up to you but I probably never will at the rate I'm going. Thanks for letting me chase you.

Sandy, awesome loss!!!! Bravo!

Welcome aboard Amanda. I read your other post. Congratulations on your loss! How did you lose so much so fast? Or more so, how are you learning to keep it off? I've lost over 70 lbs before only to slowly have it creep back up over the years. I think this time because I'm doing it at my own pace and in a more realistic 'life change' matter, I'm more likely to keep it off.

Washu glad you had a good time in Portland. What, not enough rain for you in Seattle that you had to cross state lines? :lol: Just kidding. Both Seattle and Portland are beautiful places, I've been lucky enough to visit both. Good luck on the job interview.


Everyone else, have a great day.

Just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you gys, and the hard hard hard work it has taken you to get here. I'm also wanting to encourage the girls who are doubting themselves, and having trouble maintaining control. I can see myself every day falling behind, but there's something in me that is terrified of faling off this mountian and seeing the long trip back up. If you're ever struggling, get back up, and start over. every day. Just my thoughts right now.

Hello everyone didn't manage onto my puter yesterday and has taken me ages to catch up.

Chris you are beautiful. And I am very jealous :( I too hate pictures of myself, I had a new one taken for my works pass and I had a sneak preview of the snap, as soon as it is on the network at work I'll post it. It has been the first picture I have wanted to share with anyone for ages. Mostly I just hide them

I love the joke, think I might give it a go :) :) :)

Have been struggling to drink all my water today. The water coolers at work ran out of water !!!! Apparently more bottles can't delivered until Monday. So instead of buying bottle water at lunchtime, I brought diet coke - so was bagged up caffeine and had to swap back to tap water to flush some of it through yuck !!!!

Walked for miles and miles today, must be doing some good, as I managed to fit into a smaller size pair of trousers - only hope they still fit for the weekend as I am off to a friends wedding reception.

my Before PIcture
 

Okay, here goes, My 'before' Picture

All I have to say is.....WOW Chris!!!!!! You look so different now. I just read your journal and I agree with you about having men look at you. It is kind of creepy and weird feeling since before noone would look at me and now I catch some guys making eye contact. It makes me so glad to have Jay because I know he loves me heavy or not.

I wished I could post my before pics. I swear it doesn't even look like me at all. It is strange how we can look back at these pics and it seems so far away but it wasn't and I know for me sometimes I still see myself the way I used to look in my mind.

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!!!!

More Before Pics
 

I always sat down, because it hid so much

Last Before Pic
 

Ok, this one gets me, I hated having huge thighs. That's me with my grandpa. -- Funny, I always thought I looked good that day. I even bought the outfit for hte occasion. It was summer 2000, and Mother's Day.

Chris those are some very inspirational pictures. I think you look very pretty at any size. Sure we're not happy with the way we look when we're heavy (otherwise why would be trying to lose the weight in the first place?) but I truly believe that we're our own worst critics. Bravo to you for going after what you wanted and working long and hard to get there. You've arrived honey! I feel priveleged to 'know' you.

Wow Chris look at you!!!! You are an inspiration for sure. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you loose to get to goal? You look maaaaahhhhhvvvvveeeeellllllllooooooouuuuuussssss.

Hugs,
Sandy

Thanks for the love sistas! I started this journey at 210 pounds.

Hey ladies, it looks like I'm the first one here this morning :) WI today, no change again. Actually, if it were a digital scale it'd show .5 up, but it's not and I don't care :LOL: I'm kinda disappointed but I know that I haven't been trying hard enough.

Sandy - WAY TO GO!!! That is a great loss for the week! Ok, I do hope that you and the hubby have made up... but boy do I sympathize w/ you sista. I couldn't write this last time 'cause the roommate was hangin' around. :devil: But OMG, they don't do anything. Simple, common sense things like take out the trash when it is full, seem to be beyond the male capabilities. Everytime that I vaccum, I notice new stains on the carpet.... anyway, dirtiness bugs me, so I clean everyday. (not everything, but at least something) but I try to make as much noise about it as I can (if they are home). Makes them feel guilty. BF and I have been around this cycle many times, and he at least tries. I was just getting him trained when the roommate moved in. 'HE' thinks that he's clean.... I see the food stains and the dirty dishes and the garbage not even close to the can.... and that he has slowly un-trained BF :lol:
My point is, Women ARE amazing! some men recognize this, but even they need to be reminded at times. Good for you for speaking your mind!

Chris - WOW! I agree, you are beautiful at any size. But 60ish pounds now has a visual for me. Thanks. Can you believe it? YOU did this!!!! You are superwoman! wow.

Hi Amanda :wave: I did not read your other post, so please tell us more about yourself. You've had some loss, huh? Great! How much, how are you doing it? Are you married, kids, pets, work hobbies...???? Ok, maybe I'm being a bit nosey, but we all like meeting new people. :)

How are ya Mel?
Has spring sprung yet Angie? Not here... still rainy and cold.
Sal - it sounds like your tap water is like ours, *yuck* Good for you forcing it down :lol:
Anyone, Everyone else... :wave:

-W-

Hey everyone, just a real quick check in. I'm really cracking down on my paperwork lately but wanted to jump in and say "hey". I'll come back later and chat, I promise. Have a good day!

Hi everyone, Today has been a busy one. Cappie had to go to the vets for an ear infection. I hope he doesn't keep getting them. He growled at me last night while I was checking his ears. He also came to us with an ear infection. Poor baby.

It is beautiful outside today!!! I love spring. I can't wait for the trees to start to bud.

I got back down to 154.5 today so unless I lose some weight tonight then I will have maintained? this week. It seemed like an awful lot of work to say I maintained. :lol:

Sandy I mailed out my before pics and I sent one of me at 135. You are so sweet to scan them for me. I put in an envelope with a stamp and my address on it already so it won't be any extra trouble for you to send them back. Thanks alot.

Angie, thanks for sending the self addressed stamped envelope....:lol: I was so worried about the 37 cents:lol: You are too funny. I should get them tomorrow if you mailed them out in time for your mailman and I will return them on Mondays mail. Then you can put both pics up for all to see.

Thank goodness it is Friday, I need a few days at home. I seemed to have *****ed and moaned so much about hubby and I figured I'll show him and I have been lax on the Laundry and I hate when it piles up, I need to do that. He does not know how to do laundry and lord know I'm not gonna teach him, and he does not want to learn......it would never get done. But he has been picking up after himself, and this afternoon when I got home and started putting groceries away and picking up, he got up and started helping:o . I know this may be short lived and I will have to have another talk with him, but I will take what he is willing to give right now. All in all he is a sweety, and after almost 14 years of marriage I still would not trade him for another. Like your hubby Angie, mine has seen me at 195 and at 295 so thats 100lb difference. I am shooting for him to see me around 160 this time and staying there, but my first goal is to reach below 200.

TGIF Indeed!
 

Oh boy it's almost quitting time here and I've only had time to get back now.

Sandy by the end of the week I always have to conquer Mt. Laundry too. I really should be doing a few loads during the weeknights but after coming home from work, getting dinner for my son, and then going out exercising, I just don't feel like doing laundry--I want to relax. There's just not enough time in a day that's for sure. Laundry's become my Saturday pasttime--8 am to 2 pm--sometimes longer.

Angie hope Cappie gets better soon. Does he have a lot of hair in his ears? We had a maltese once and my sister the groomer was continally combating ear infections with him. It finally calmed down after she took most of the hair out of his ears. How's Rebel BTW? Can't wait to see your before and before-after pics, you know what I mean. You look great now. I'm trying to dig up some of my 'before' pics but I can only find those that are like 8+ years ago. I've been a very elusive camera-shy person for the past 7 years when the weight started coming back. I'll try though. I have a scanner here at work, hope it doesn't break when I do it :lol: . I'll be looking for some pics this weekend. I think all of us gals should post a picture of ourselves--current, past pics, whatever. It really makes it more 'real' when we can see who we're talking with. (I need a new avatar), didn't like the old one.

I gotta get going, time to close up.

Washu, Kempy, Chris, Carol, Gargoyle, essey and anyone else I may have missed, have a good night and a great weekend.


Aloha,
Noelle

Weigh day! I actually went down a pound overnight so I guess this week wasn't a total loss:lol: Thank you to you guys because if I didn't have the support I get from all of you I KNOW I would have caved and eaten everything in sight out of frustration. Now lets just hope the weight doesn't jump up again this week too. :lol:

Noelle, Rebel is all done with his meds and I switched him back to his lamb and rice food so he is all better. He has such a sensitive stomache. Poor boy. Cappie has tufts of hair in the fron of his ear but I am not sure how much is in it. He had a yeast infection the first time and now the vet said it was a bacterial infection. It makes me wonder where he could have gotten it because he never goes outside other than to pee and play for a few minutes. My dogs have more ailments than my kids. :lol:

Sandy, You are too funny. I sent a few pics so if you want to you can pick the ones that look the worst and post them. Might as well make the after pics look good. :lol: haha

Morning girls. It's georgeous aoutside here, so I got up and immediately got a nice morning walk out of the way. After a very depressing week, it ended alright. We were going to go out to a basket bingo together, hub and me, but he was sick last night, bo again, we cancelled. That rally disappointed me, cause we rarely get out like that. But, we got into bed early, and watched the war on TV, and just layed there, together. It was nice. I regretted complaining, later we were laying there, and I said "gosh, this is better than being in a big crowded room, and losing every game" .. I'd trade all my socials to be with him. Ahh...

Anyway, I'm seeing the ups and downs on the posts, and I feel ya! Every day I look at myself, and usually say, yeah, I'm still thinner, but it's the full length mirror that doesn't lie. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror, and I feel lowsy. I'm still mentally comparing myself to other people.

Angie, you're really losing girl... and if you maintain that's just another victory.... maybe you're at a plateau, and that's there for a reason... maybe you oughta settle for a while. That's what I did with my last 10 pounds... took a couple months! You can do it. You've done it before, and this time it's for keeps.

Can't wait too see before and after pics. I'm a visual person, so I need to see that you're all making progress too,. or just to have a pretty face to recognize when we chat.

Peekaboo: just love that man of yours... their only mortal, not like us girls.. wer'e superwomen!!! ha ha.

Kempy and Gar, Angie, Noelle, and Sandy, and Carol and essey, and Washu... stay strong and be courageious, we're at a war, with our bodies, and in the world... take care of each other.

Good morning everyone. I'm down 2 lbs this week bringing me to 178 (can you believe it?, I can't :lol: ) . I haven't seen that number on the scale for like 7 years! :dance: To infinity and beyond! Rick has had some kind of flu for a couple of days--hope it's not that Asian strain! He was coughing and hacking away quite a bit last night, all wrapped up under the quilt w/the ceiling fan off and there I am in my short pj's on top of the covers trying not to sweat. Hope he gets better soon or I'll have to bunk up with my son.

Hey Chris, I like reading your posts and journals. I can feel so much love between you and Chris, so much positivity despite the medical problems. You guys are so great for each other. There'll be other socials but those quiet, calm loving moments of just being together, sometimes they turn up when you least expect them, especially with busy lives.

Angie, woooo-hooooo!!! A loss! Don't you just love this place?
Support is what it's all about.

Everyone else, what's on the agenda for the weekend? And I mean fun stuff, not the regular domestic drudgery like I have...laundry, vacuuming, etc. Any movies out there that you've seen that you'd recommend? We have a weekend carnival here that I may take my son too tonight, hope it doesn't rain. Well, got to get up and get my day started. Have a good one!

Hey Angie,
Your pics should be in your e mail? Check and let me know if they came through? If not I will try a different way.
~Sandy~

PS) I figured you could put the ones you want to here on the site. And just wanted to tell you WOW you should be so proud!!!

Thanks Sandy! I am going to post them now. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!

ANOTHER BEFORE PIC
 

I am at about 245-250 here.

HERE IS MY AFTER PIC
 

I weigh about 135 here. It was taken on June 17,2001. Hopefully I will be back to this by this summer sometime.

Hope you did not mind that I croped them a little bit. I figured you did not want to put the kids pic's up and I didnt know who the other person was on the couch....LOL...

But hey, you look great now, I just finished going way back here on the thread and showing my dh (his name by the way, I don't think I ever told you all that is Fernald, but we call him Fern) your picture from a week or so ago and he was like wow, she did a great job. So chaulk one up for Angie you impressed my dh. Jay must feel like a lucky man:lol: . I keep telling my dh that once I get some of this weight off my sex drive will be better. I think because I won't be so self consious of myself.

Hugs,
Sandy

Hey ladies. Angie you should be so proud of yourself. You've made an amazing transformation! So inspiring. I will make a concerted effort today to go and look for some 'before' pics of me. The ones I can think of may be quite a few years old (before I started getting gray hair :lol: ) and I may have less wrinkles. Don't know where I'll start but I'm sure I can dig some up. Bravo Angie! Sandy you're a great lady for scanning them. Oh yeah, sex drive definitely improves w/weight loss, as does the stamina and daring :devil: .

Well I just got back from my morning walk, just shy of 3 miles I think..l This may be a new habit for me since I took my son along. Saturday's are usually my rest days. Got him a bite to eat and he ate as he rode in the stroller. He is too big to be in that thing but I get an extra workout by pushing him and we get to be together. If he had walked himself this walk may have taken 2 hours instead of just 1 :lol: . I'm feeling pretty pumped. Ready for an OP weekend.

wow angie, you're fabuloso sista! can't belive that's you, everyone tells me the same thing. It's like a different girl. Just goes to show you, hard work makes you feel wonderful!!! Stay positive, and you'll see 135 again. If it's what you want.

I love seeing those before pics. Amazing difference. Thanks for the encouragement Noelle. .. you're so sweet. I like seeing everyone's issues in the journals too. It's like "oh yeah, she's like me... " or 'oh, so i'm not crazy after all"

Angie,
Quick, run outside and check your flower beds. I checked the front one next to the house and I have crocuses peeking their little heads out of the gound. Green~~~at last, but now they say we might get a dusting of snow tonight? But its still 42 here on the coast.

I KNOW!!!! I noticed the daffodils are coming up in someones yard on my walk. I was so happy. It hit 49 around here today. I love Spring. It is my favorite season...that and Fall.Not too hot or too cold.

I snacked a little on my BlueBunny ice cream today but I still want some for later so I gave Corey my dinner roll at supper. I am so proud of myself. :lol:

Hi have been to a wedding reception in Aberdeen this weekend, was wonderful, but it meant that the eating went totally to pot.

Drank far too much wine and ate far to much rubbish, but how often do I manage to escape for a kid free night. Then this morning in the hotel the breakfast was to die for, good job I don't stay out overnight very often !!!!

Have a feeling weigh in will be disasterous this week.

Only had a quick look at everyones pictures, will need to hunt out one of me at my heaviest and post it and my new one together.

I think you have all done great.