I swore to myself that I wouldn't post til I had gotten some exercise done. I guess just thinking about it doesn't count. OK...I PROMISE that I will go walk the dog after I'm done here.****at this point, I just made myself get up, get dressed, all the way to my shoes. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, even got the leash out and gave it a jingle, so that the dog would be a constant reminder that it's "walkie time." BTW...it was 10:00 when i started this novel! While I was at it, I gave the house a "once over." Put all breakfast stuff away, loaded the dishwasher, put laundry in the dryer. Folded what was in the dryer. I'm set!

This morning I had a revelation of sorts. I made my breakfast and instead of reading the paper or a magazine or, even worse, eating while I read the posts, I sat at the kitchen table and just ate. Nothing else. This is very hard for me, so I consider it a minor victory! While i was eating, (since I had nothing better to do) I did some thinking...
uh oh...here goes...

I realized that I go through stages...once I "start up again," I am pumped and totally OP for about 4 days to maybe a week. Then I'll start to finagle the system a bit; little "cheats" here and there, kinda legal, but too many of which can send me down that long slippery slope...once I've done that and done a full blown, totally OFF program meal/dessert/snack whatever it may be, I feel as though all the good I have done is wasted and I may as well keep on eating. The binge is no longer for pleasure, but now it's punishment. (I know that I have consciously thought, "well, you're just a pig anyway, why not keep eating?") So then, how do I make myself feel better? By eating, of course! And so the destructive phase goes until I somehow "snap out of it" and start all over. Now, LUCKILY, I have been able to maintain my weight doing this...going up and down 5 lbs or so, over and over. I say luckily, because given the amount of good days, compared to the bad days, it could be much worse and I could have gained all back and then some.

SOOOOOOOOOO...with that in mind, I have decided to actually make some conscientious changes. (Such as not reading or otherwise preoccupying myself while I'm eating) I plan on using all the knowledge that I have (and it is VAST) about losing weight, and making the "good" days the absolute best days that I possibly can, KNOWING that there are going to be "bad" days, but hopefully minimizing them, by accepting that they will come, but not turning them into bad weeks.

I know that was long and rambling but I needed to get it all out and I feel pretty darn good for having "verbalized"(so to speak) all of that. I know you guys understand.
Chat @ 3fc is fine with me...thank you, Thin for getting the ball rollling.

Tina, I'm glad you're OK.

Gotta run, I need to get that walk in before it rains. If the weather holds out, I'm going to mow the back yard...I was only able to do the front and sides yesterday...Tonight I'm taking a "Pilates" class at the gym. London broil and salad for dinner tonight. Today is one of those "good days."

Thankful Thursday: Thanks for "listening" and for being here! I'm thankful for all of you!

Kat: I loved your post. I too, like many others I know am quilty of eatting my dinner in front of the computer screen. My kids, eat at the table sometimes? But, I am guilty as charged of letting them eat in front of the tv too. Hubby eats where ever he feels like it. I know that it is nice to sit down at the table and have family time and enjoy the meal.......soooooooo...you have inspired me. Tonight I will cook the meal, set the table, shut off the tv, not look at the puter, and we will as a family eat supper even if it kills us .

We are having good weather here today too, was supposed to rain, but I guess mother nature decided to grace us with just clouds today. I gotta get a walk in when I get home from work.

Duckie: Nice to see you!!!

Steph: Thanks for the concern about the gain, but I'm okay with it, really I am I had a good time doing it. I could have not eatten all the yummy stuff or drank the stuff, but well I gave me a treat and that is what I choose to do. It was a concious thing I did. I know I now have to yet again retake the weight off, but oh well like goes on and why beat myself up about it. I figure when I got home and stepped on the scale it said 271 and I about hit the floor, then all week it has been going down.....and I will post the exact number when I get home just like every thankful thursday.....but if you look down now at my stats it says last Thurs I was 262.5.....so Sundays weight was like .

Anyway girlies, I'm at work today and you all are not very chatty? Whats the deal? Please feed my addiction

Hugs to you all,

Congratulations 2cute on a smaller size!!!

I just had to come in and say that and get my fix before I do Taebo. I am getting addicted to it. After a good butt-kicking workout I feel great!!!

My son has a baseball game tonight and I have to go get drinks for the team for after the game and I have to pay some bills. I am still doing great where food is concerned and I am drinking lots of water so I am on top of the world.

Sandy and Mary- I really enjoyed chat last night and I hope to do it again soon. Maybe we can get the others in there next time.

Tina- I miss you girl!! Where are ya today?

Hello and hugs to everyone else but I have to run if I want to get my workout in and I DO!!

Tracy

It's rainy and gloomy here again today, It's been raining since last Friday, aren't we lucky, I guess most of us have been getting the rain. Well at least the farmers are happy.

I've been a sick girl came down with a sore throat last Friday, turned into the flu and now I have a terrible head cold, and am weak and have no energy. My poor son had the same flu but was throwing up all day Sunday. He now has the cold as well.

I've been trying to get on here since Monday to post, but things just kept on getting in my way, Monday I left early cause I was feeling terrible, Tuesday the power at work was off for about 8 hrs, and when It finally came on I had alot of work to do, Yesterday was a first for me, My son's school called, and said I had to come and pick up my son right away, He has head lice, now doesn't that just make a mother feel real good, I am definetly not a dirty person, and live in filth and I do not neglect my son, It just happens to be going around the school, and I guess there's a couple of uncaring familys that arent bothering to treat their children, and keep on sending them back to school. So the school has to keep on sending the kids home, so my son was one of the many unlucky ones that got the lice as well. So I had to go home early yesterday, pick him up, got the clippers out, shaved his hair ( he was do for a cut ) shampoo it in NIX, then wash all the bedsheets, and his clothes and vaccum the beds and clean anything that might be contaminated. It was a really fun day, not

So today seems a little bit back to normal, quite at work. One good thing about being sick is that you don't feel like eating and you lose weight. Jumped on the scale on Monday and it said I lost 4 lbs last week, I wouldn't recomend my method, but now that I have a little bit a head start and wasn't expecting it, I'm going to try to have another good loss this week.

There's been so much going on here, since last Friday, I'm not even going to try to reply, alot of Newbies, welcome you've found a great bunch. I'm glad I missed out on the whole Baylee issue, don't need that kind of negativity in my life, her post was deleted before I got to read it, and you think you know someone, Tina glad your safe, hope the weather looks better real soon. 2Cute thanks for always being here and keeping this little group together, I think of you as mother hen
always know the right thing to say, and always has an encouraging word for others. Doesn't it make you feel good when you can fit into smaller clothes, I have a box of old jeans and shirts, from about 5yrs ago, that I can't wait to get into. I felt great when I was able to wear these clothes.

Well I better post this before I get booted off or I lose it, check in later

Hey Duckie: Don't feel bad about the lice. That stuff happens here too. Thank goodness I've not yet had to deal with it, because usually during lice season (is that a real season ) I hack my sons hair right off to a crew cut or buzz. But this is the first year my girl is in school and she has little past shoulder length hair (fingers are crossed that I don't have to cut that) Don't it just make you mad that some families will continue to send kids to school and spread the stuff. Congrats on the loss, but don't be upset if some of it comes back.

Baylees post? It got deleted? I didnt know that? Oh well.....it was hateful anyway and we don't need that.

Things are running slow here today? Whats up chicklets?

Tracy: Did you try to add me to yahoo? I got Marys. Same with any of you.....if you have yahoo?

Sandy is........... sansan04551 on yahoo messanger
same on msn..... sansan04551

Im just so original

Hey Gals!
Just popped in to see how everyone is doing and to say hello!!! I'm a little frustrated at the moment and just had to get my mind of work. I just came out of a meeting with a "not-so-nice" person who told me that something I was doing for the past 9 months was not working for her billing method --- however, she is the person that told me to do it this way and never told me any differently! It was just very frustrating the way she said it!!!

Now that I have that off my chest, I hope you are all having a wonderful day!!! I'll check in later when I have more time.

Barb

Official for the week.......is a 3 lb gain.....not bad, considering what I thought it was gonna be.

Thankful Thursday:
I'm thankful I can come back here no matter what!!! I'm thankful that my family is all healthy and well. I'm thankful for so much its hard to list it all.

Hey gals,
I was wondering if any of you know anything about Birth Control Pills, I'm on Tri Cyclin, and have been for years, my question is, if you miss taking your pills consecutively does that mess up your period, you see, on Sunday, I started my period 2 weeks early, my first thought was the flu and being sick, and then I realized I was 4 days late taking my pill. I'm never early with my period, and It always comes on the same day like clockwise, I have since caught up with my pills and am wondering if I could be pregnant, I know your not suppose to get your period when you pregnant, but I am worried that if I contiue taking the pills and I am pregnant what effects will it do to a baby. I know I'm probably early because of missing the pills, just curious to what you guys might think, and can sickness bring on you period??

Duckie,
I think if you missed 4 pills thats why you started your period. Your body is reacting to the lack of the hormones fromt the pills. And if you were prego, I think the pill would not hurt the baby, lots of woman get prego on the pill and don't know it for a month or so. But, I would suggest to take a test to make sure. Good luck.

Hey sweeties.....

Internet is still not up and running at home. I actually had to download one of those "Gee, will you please come back to AOL?" cd's just to be able to get on here really quick. I'm ok, but sure will be glad when things get back to normal. Kids were out of school today, so you can imagine how fun it was for me today. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I will hope back in tomorrow when I get to work.

Love you guys.....

Hi ladies, just dropping in to say hi. Tomorrow I get my new computer so hopefully you'll see me tomorrow. Once I get it up tomorrow I'll post a pic for you. (I haven't been able to because of the webtv not being compatable with my camera.) Anyway, I'll see all of you tomorrow.

Hey Gals!
I hope everyone had a great day! Mine was pretty good, but I am not feeling the greatest right now. I hope I am just tired and not coming down with anything. Nevertheless I think I am going to tuck myself into bed.

I hope to be back to my cheery self tomorrow and catch up with all of you then!
Barb

Quick HI!

I had a good night. I never made it to Pilates tonight. Dh, son and I went to see "X Men United" It was good, if you like that sort of stuff! I liked it. Sicne I knew I'd miss Pilates, I tried to get to the Step class at 5:45...missed that by a few minutes, so I went into "Sculpt." All I can say is "WOW." I'll be going back to that class! Weights, bands, balls, bars, steps...all kinds of equipment came into play here. I am going to pay tomorrow! But in a good way!

My food has been great. It's been a good day!

Time for bed for me, see y'all tomorrow!

PS...I just got up to let the dog out (she's got some nerve, at 2 AM!) and i realized I forgot to tell you the most important thing of of all...I did not have ANYTHING to eat at the movies!! I debated with myself going in, trying to decide what would be best...a small, no butter popcorn? Nah, too many carbs...and that's about the healthiest choice there...Then i realized, I'm not hungry...we ate dinner early, and I was simply not hungry. (Not that that is necessarily a factor!) So, I stuck about 6 Hershey's Caramel Tastations in my pocket, "just in case." They are 3 for 1 point. I bought an expensive $3.00 bottle of water...that was all I had. I had no problem turning down the popcorn that dh offered to share with me.

So that is my success story of the day, See? If the dog didn't have to PEE at 2 in the morning, you'd never have known!

okay back to bed for me...

I just wanted to drop in before I head to bed. I had another great day today. I drank 80 oz of water and did my Taebo again and my eating has been very good. I even parked far away when I went to Walmart today. Another great accomplishment is that usually when I go to Walmart I spend way too much money because I buy junk I dont need. Today when I went in there I passed up all the goodies without a second glance. I bought bananas, hot dogs weiners for the kids, cheese, and a few non-food items. I was not even tempted. The only thing I forgot to do was buy some more fresh pineapple....yummy.

Well gals I am off to bed. I wish every single one of you a beautiful tomorrow!!

Hugs,
Tracy

Hi all!

Well, it is official; I am rescheduled for my new photo session next Friday, the 16th! As of this moment, I am also officially BLONDE! A lot of people seem to like this better than my natural dark brown...go figure


Low Fat Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

6 slices Smart Beat Fat Free cheese product

1/3 cup skim milk

4 tablespoons Blue Bonnet Lite margerine or lite butter product

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni

Dash of salt and pepper


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a small casserole dish with cooking spray. Layer bottom of dish with 1/2 cup macaroni, 2 tablespoons butter, salt and pepper to taste. Add 3 slices of cheese product; repeat with 1/2 cup macaroni, butter and remaining cheese. Pour in milk; bake at center of oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cheese product is totally melted and a light golden brown. Makes 3 1 cup servings.

Calories: 275 Fat: 6 grams

(Not sure of point exchange)