I am posting early tonight as a male family friend is coming over for dinner – it will keep the neighbours guessing though DH knows about it and doesn’t care 1. Because he is so vain he feels this guy is no threat and 2. He has always been sure of me. I told him one day I might shock him ha ha. Willow, your foods sound delicious but what is romaine? Red cheddar is similar to red Leicester, an orange-coloured strong cheese. I had it with brown sauce (brown ketchup?) on my sandwiches at work today and got accused of being “a proper Northerner” ha ha. I liked the motto by Robert Updegraff – my dad always said we never count our blessings enough. Your bike ride around the lake sounds idyllic and you make me feel guilty that mine has been unused in the garage for 7 long years. Sheila, did your DD make her weight? Poor lamb having to sleep near the look! I know how you will be feeling when she goes; I had to wear sunglasses in the rain when we dropped DD at University my face was so wrecked. TWO glasses of wine?? I would be on my back, I don’t like the taste really though son says a sniff of the cork gets me dizzy and legless. I drink about twice a year and then DH has to restrain me from dancing on tables. Must tell you about a practical joke we played on a young man in the office today who is always playing tricks on others. . Seems he had bragged about buying an Armani suit a few months ago but I wasn’t there when he was telling people. So, very casually I said, “does anyone know a shop round here called +++++?” and straight away he said yes. I said, “The fraud section raided it this morning for selling counterfeit goods”. He looked panic stricken and asked what kind of goods and I said ‘seems all the big name suits are copies’. He was crestfallen and then said he had bought an Armani suit there and I said “really? Are you joking?” Later on I asked the rest of the group how long we should keep it up and my boss was all for leaving him hanging until tomorrow but I had visions of him throwing the suit in the bin when he got home so I confessed it was a joke. He laughed louder than us all, said it was so convincing and he was totally taken in.
Regards to absent friends.

HI EVERYBODY....I CAN'T STAY ON...AT STATION. MY MONITOR BLEW THIS MORNING!! I'LL BE BACK ASAP! TAKE CARE....

Oo la la, Puss! So did you catch your neighbors peeking into your windows? And who says your coworkers don't have a sense of humor? I loved that joke you played on that guy, and he sounds like a great sport. Good thing you told him when you did--I know I would have felt incredibly guilty if he had dumped a perfectly good Armani suit in the rubbish or even quit wearing it.

My daughter had her swearing-in ceremony today with one other Navy guy and an Army girl. We took photos. My Dad went with us, and I felt so bad for him. We had to walk through three different buildings to get the the recruit center, and after the ceremony, we had to walk back again because they wouldn't let us open a nearby exit door. I asked if they had a wheelchair and they said no. They didn't even provide a chair for him during the ceremony. Granted, it didn't take very long, but he wasn't in good shape by then. He was glad he came, though, and so were we.

Anyway, my DD called from the airport where she had to wait, and was crying and saying, "What did I get myself into?" She had too much time to sit around and think, and get nervous. She made her weight with 1 lb. to spare, after several days of fasting and doing unspeakable things to make the weight come off faster. When we see her again in a couple of months (hopefully), I'm betting she'll have lost at least 10 more--they keep 'em pretty active at boot camp!

I had my first acupuncture treatment today. It was interesting, and I think it did help. I find alternative medicine interesting, but my skeptical mind always wonders about this "whoo whoo" stuff! She had these Tibetan bowls to help calm me, but I noticed that my neck spasmed the minute she started ringing them. So no more Tibetan bowls for me. One place she put a needle in was incredibly responsive and I could feel it up my entire arm. It got really uncomfortable, and I had to have her take it out, but that was the one that seemed to help the most. After the treatment, I went home and took a nap--I felt very weak and tired, which I guess isn't unusual. I made an appointment for next week.

Hey, Charlotte, I'm sorry about your monitor. Glad you're feeling well enough to be working at the station and I hope you're enjoying yourself.

My great news for the day--my wedding ring has been found! My DH was searching through his jacket pocket and felt something solid. He pulled it out of the recesses of his pocket and, voila, there was my ring. I have no idea how it got into his jacket pocket. Maybe he was wearing it at the fair and I put my hand in his pocket?? I have no idea, and neither does he. It's safely tucked away in my drawer until I get around to putting some tape on it. I don't want to resize until I've finished losing weight. Given the serious overeating I've engaged in for the past several days, that day is going to be a long time from now. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day. Oh, yeah, it's my son's birthday, and we're going out for dinner.

I went to the dentist yesterday and found out I need a root canal on the tooth that got a crown five months ago. This will be the second time I've had a root canal, and the other time involved a tooth that had just gotten a crown. The dentist explained why that happens, but that doesn't make it any easier--if I ever get a crown again I might as well just get the root canal done at the same time and spare myself the months of pain.

I hate having dental work done. Actually, this will be the third root canal because I had to have the other tooth done twice. After the first root canal, I got an abscess and I had to go get it cleaned out and "re-rooted." The endodontist looked at me like I was an idiot because I demanded novacaine. Intellectually I knew the tooth was dead, but I didn't care because, emotionally, I wanted to make sure there wasn't even the slightest chance I might feel something.

So where is everyone, and what are you all up to?

I am reading a weight-loss book called "Flip The Switch" by Jim Karas. He states that lack of sleep reduces the production of leptin. Leptin is a hormone that signals the body to sop eating. Research has shown that overweight people have low leptin levels and lean people have high leptin levels. Therefore there is a correlation between leptin and body weight.
I know that on days when I'm tired I sometimes try to boost my energy level by eating. I now realize this is a no-no.
Good luck.
Swimmer40

Welcome Swimmer40 and thanks for the tip about leptin. This is new to me but makes sense, I read until 0130 most nights so only average 5.5 - 6 hours sleep a night. I will try to check those days when I have more sleep against normal ones to see if appetite changes.
Angel - sorry to hear about your monitor - you must be wondering what next??? Hope you are ok.
Sheila you found your wedding ring! That must be the ultimate in serandipity! So pleased for you. You must have been very emotional at your DDs swearing in ceremony and your dad did so well coping with the conditions, bless him, he must be so proud too. You make me laugh with your expressions ie boomerang son and now 'whoo whoo' remedies! I had to smile visualising you when the Tibetan bowls went off. I hope the acupunture works for you, though. So, you were envious of my two absessess and my root canal so you had to go one better, eh? ha, ha. Years ago dentists I had never gave injections for root canals but I have since learned from new brilliant dentist that the less confident ones prefer not to as they can tell by the patient's pain if they have reached the right spot. My dentist always deadens the tooth because he says the surrounding tissues are still very much alive and sights the exact spot by viewing the xray.
Well, my good news is I have lost the 3lb I gained the last couple of weeks pigging out on everything and anything. I am now 134.5lbs which is the lowest I have been for years. Unfortunately, I have decided to work from home tomorrow and I know I will probably put a pound back on because even if I force myself to eat the same as I do in work, I will be sitting down and not walking round the office or walking around the shops in my lunch hour and using up calories.
I told DH I had a nice evening with male friend eating lasagne and watching TV and chatting and he emailed to say he was really jealous of my friend.....why, you ask? "eating your lasagne and watching tv back home" was the explanation. GRRRRR!
Regards to all absent friends, Willow, I hope you are ok.

Oops! Good job I read my post for errors - my weight should read 144.5lbs Not 134.5, I wish!

Hi everybody! Hope you're all doing good today.
I've had one of those weeks where I've been busy yet nothing got done, if you know what I mean.
I had WW meeting last night, and I sooooo did not want to go because I knew I had gained again, .... for the second week in a row. All I've done all week is run here and there and get company(unexpected, at that) and grab what I could when I could. Plus, I did manage to make chili with chicken instead of ground beef, and I really held on to the fluids for a day or so, but that's because I wasn't paying attention to business and wasn't drinking my water. Anyway, I gained again. I bet the leader is wondering, "why are you bothering to show up if you're not going to try?"

I had tea and crumpets for breakfast. I thought that sounded like a proper English afternoon snack.
Anyway, I don't know if any of you can get these where you live, but the crumpets (where I live) are in the dairy case where the english muffins, bagels, butter, margarine etc are. They are fat free and they are only 1 WW point each. The brand name is FARM COUNTRY. It's a clear pkg with green lettering and a picture of a cow at the top.
With these I had LAUGHING COW cheese. It's a spreadable cheese, 8 little wedges to a round box, and several different flavors, but there is only one flavor to each box. I had ORIGINAL CREAMY SWISS, and they are also only 1 WW point per wedge. I used one wedge between the two crumpets. A yummy 3-point breakfast.

Romaine is a dark nutritious lettuce. I love the baby romaine leaves.
Puss, I thought your joke on the co-worker was hilarious!
Your dinner with a male guest/family friend shows how secure your hubby is. Good for you guys!
Congratulations on your great loss!! Well done my friend!


Sheila, I'm so happy for you that you found your wedding ring.
However, I don't envy you that dental work you have coming up. Just the mention of anything other than a cleaning, makes me break out in a sweat.

Have you heard any more from your daughter? Just wondering how she's doing. Good thing that your Dad could go along to see her off.

Charlotte, I don't think your luck could be any worse. Take care.

Hello Swimmer, and welcome. Tell us a little more about yourself. I see you're from Chicago. I'm from MN. Never heard of Leptin before, but I looked it up, and all I got was prices for a supplement.

Well, folks, it's off to work for me. TGIF!
Everybody have a great day!

Hi everybody....well, all I know...this house is jinxed!
We moved the pc to the other side of the room to put in new windows...plugged it back up, & monitor came on! DH was happy...think I was so bored, it was driving him crazy! I'm having trouble with my images this morning, though...so if there's squares, instead....I'm working on'em.

Sheila...glad you found your ring! I have learned the hard way how precious our things can be to us. It's sure going to seem strange when/if the house is finished. Be a different house...& different furnishings, etc. So, you see, I am VERY happy you got your ring back!! Your daughter is in my thoughts & prayers. She'll be fine, I'm sure, after she's settled.

Fatpuss...congratulations on the weightloss! You're doing great!


Willow...don't worry about the weight gain...I'm sure it wasn't much. You had a lot going on....it'll come back off. You're doing great!

Hello, Swimmer...Welcome. I usually put large welcome graphics on, but my pc is driving me buggy these days. Well....I gotta try.....here goes....

Angel - I LOVED your fish!! Could you get any more clever?? Today on breakfast TV they were promoting the new animated
Disney film Looking for Nimo (?) and your fish is just like it. When you move into your new house yes, it will be a different house with different furnishings but also a different (and hopefully) new start and a line drawn under all the hassle and misfortunes you have had. Just you be careful, you know the old saying, "new house, new baby" we don't want you coming on here saying you are pregnant again!
Willow - glad you were ok during your absence. I am sure the WW lady isn't wondering why you bother. After all, even if she is really nice, it's money in her pocket each time and as a leader she probably knows more than us how weight changes with circumstances for those of us who are never constant. Well, well, well, Willow Bucket eating tea and crumpets - a right little Anglophile in the making! You will be asking us on this site "hello, how do you do?" next! (only joking) I have never heard of those crumpets only the ones I pop under the grill and smear 1/4lb of butter on each one. I did used to see the Laughing Cow brand when we lived abroad - my young kids used to think it was a funny name. Don't worry about the weight gain, I find it's times when you are running round like a headless chicken is when we snack or comfort eat or just grab what's convenient which is invariably high calorie. You will lose it again.
I restrained my eating whilst working at home and dashed out to shop for DS and girlfriend visit this weekend. Both can eat for England and girlfriend is about 10 foot tall and an ex-teenage model to boot! Where was I when the genes were dished out, eh? I bought loads of tasty and fattening things - including my favourite pate and french bread and all the ingredients for a full fried breakfast. I don't mind giving up one of my pounds for the weekend but not the whole 3lb!
Sheila, hope you are well and feeling a bit more reassured over your DD. Like your boomerang DS, mine will be bringing home his washing for a quick turn-around by mum.

Tea and crumpets, Willow? You sound like a very proper English lady. Were you wearing tweeds, too? I once had high tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC (Canada) and was incredibly disappointed. I even had to pack nice clothes just to be able to go into the restaurant--I'd heard about it for years. The tea was okay, but the pastries were bad. Tasteless, dry scones and flavorless tea cakes. And it was expensive! But I love crumpets, too, and I eat the ones at Trader Joe's for 1 pts--so good! Have you tried Sara Lee mini bagels with 6 slices of Hillshire Farms thin-sliced ham, and a wedge of Laughing Cow light? It's a filling, yummy, easy breakfast for only 3 pts. Good snack, too.

Hey, the leader is probably thinking, I'm so glad she's got the courage to come back even when she's gained. I didn't go to my meeting today because I knew I'd gained (I won't even begin to go into what I ate this week, but it ended with my son's birthday dinner last night at my favorite Italian restaurant), and I have a hard time making myself look at the number. I'm a coward--and you are a strong woman!

Charlotte, I love that fish, too! Glad the monitor was easy to fix. Do you have gremlins at your place? Little Maytag gremlins. . .

No, no, Puss, it's Willow Bouquet! I was listening to the news last night and the sportscaster was talking about a player named Ri-shard. All I could think about was that would be a good Hyacinth name--instead of Richard Bucket, she should call him Ri-shard Bouquet! My DH and I had the same thought at the same time and ended up belly laughing. Guess it doesn't take much for us to get going!

I've already written my daughter a two-page letter with photos, but I have no place to send it. I'm looking forward to getting her address. My DH had already started a card for her, too. He had a hard time sleeping on Wednesday night, wondering how she was doing. I'd like to say I did, too, but I take medication so almost nothing interrupts my sleep.

Hey, the other 3FC group I'm on (the 100 lb. Club) is having a convention in Chicago at the end of June (the weekend of June 26). They are thinking of making it open to any 3FC person. I'm planning on going so I'd love to meet some of you there, too.

Jacqui and Bluet--are you guys around? Would love to hear from you.

Hi all!

I am back!

We had a perfectly wonderful time camping last weekend. The weather was fabulous during the day but cool at night which was fine. We were just outside of Banff so the scenery was spectacular with all the colors of the leaves and the green of the pine trees. It was nice just to leave all the troubles at home for a few days ( 5 actually ).

We spent the past 3 days moving mother .....what a job, but we sure did downsize. She is a little disoriented but should settle in nicely. It sure is going to be a lot less stressful knowing she is being checked on.

The diet has gone out the window for now. Hopefully next week when things settle down I will be able to put my heart and mind into it.

It took a while to read all the posts and get caught up on everyone. Glad to hear you found your wedding ring Sheila ... I know what that is like, I packed mine with baby clothes and got it back when I lent them to a friend of mine. It sure wouldn't slip off my finger these days! We were at the Empress last year but didn't have High Tea. I bought the Empress Tea and had my own at home.Nice to hear your monitor is up and running Charlotte....computer trouble is so frusterating!

Welcome Swimmer I am new to the group too!

Hi to everyone I have missed....must get going and get on with supper.

Jacquie

Hi Sweet Ladies,

Have been really busy and stressed with some work issues, and when I get home from work each day I just want to run for cover and put my head in the sand and not talk to anyone. Things have kind of quited down now and maybe I can get back on track. It's just this big old male jerk at work that is getting under my skin. I can handle it.

The weather here has just been fantastic this last week. Finally we have our Indian Summer. The only problem is it woke up all the Asian Beetles and they are getting in the house by hook or crook. Every night I run around the house with my hand vac with a long tube on the end sucking up Asian Beetles. I don't know how they are getting in, we are very careful about keeping doors and windows shut tight. Someone said they have only been released in Wisconsin to control the Dutch Elm Disease. Go figure, it would take Wisconsin to come up with something like that.

Speaking of Wisconsin, the great cheese state, I have never heard of the Laughing Cow Brand of dairy products. It must be around, you would think, but I haven't noticed it.

Our grandson who lives next door is selling his pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, etc on our lawn. Everyday when he gets home from school (he is in the first grade) he makes a beeline for Grandma and Grandpa's house to see how much money he has made. So far he has made about $20.00. He thinks he is rich.

I love Hyacinth Bouquet, been watching her for years and poor suffering Richard, do you think he will ever get out from Hyacinth (Lady of the House) thumb? Hyacinth's sister and her family are a little hard to digest though. There are so many victums in the show, it is so funny and the English are so polite. I love that about the English people.

I just fell asleep while typing, sorry I have to call it a night. Promise to chat more tomorrow. Take care everyone. You are all special.

Bluet

Welcome back Jacqui and Bluet - you were missed. Glad you had a good break, Jacqui, interesting you stayed at Banff because I used to live near there but it was in Scotland and it was also really beautiful. You will be able to relax more now that your DM is in assisted dwelling and it may broaden her own interests so will may depend on you less. We are waiting for that for my mother too, she was offered a place where her sister has a unit but the particular unit was the smallest one so she refused it. Hopefully another will become vacant soon.
Bluet - I don't like the sound of your Asian beetles though can't be as bad as the massive cockroaches I had to endure in the Middle East and the Far East, those things are in every house and apartment no matter what you do to get rid of 'em. My particular fear is earwigs and what did DS pitch up with for me yesterday? Big bunch of lilies (lovely) and CHRYSANTHEMUMS!!! I won't have them in the garden never mind the house because my arch enemies just love them. I asked DS has he ever seen them in the house (I buy flowers every week for the house) and he said he thought it was just dahlias I was frightened of. Half right, same creepy hiding place I suppose. I made him shake them to death and cut and arrange them I am such a coward. Poor lad, that's what being nice gets him! Bluet, I can see your DG being the next Richard Branson, so sweet selling the vegetables on the lawn. I am sorry you were having trouble with a guy at work. Some people take delight in being awkward and nasty and I think it's usually because they have a rubbish home life or a damaged personality. I am not sure about the Britsh being polite nowdays, certainly compared to the rest of Europe I have found it to be true, but things are changing. Even the grannies are getting pushy, ha ha.
Well I knew I shouldn't have had the fried breakfast I made for DS and his girl, or the gooey carrot cake with cream or the mint chocolates because a lb crept on overnight. They are leaving tonight so back to basics but I really should have had the willpower to abstain. Talk about an addictive personality!
Sheila, have you heard from DD? I bet she loves it and has made lots of new friends already.
WIllow, you ok, dear?
Sue, if you are out there, we miss you too and hope all is well with you.

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well. Had another busy weekend. Helped a co-worker paint his office on Saturday. I decided to talk him in to a faux painting technique for his office walls. Well he went along with it. I have done this technique in three rooms in my own home and felt they looked really nice. I chose two colors of beige and brown (manly colors) and spent all of Friday painting the walls and 5 hours on Saturday faux painting the top layer. Well, as to be expected it did not turn out. My GOSH, what was I thinking to even suggest it???? I took DH with me to work after church this morning and he thinks it looks fine. The owner of the office thinks it looks fine. I don't even have the option to paint over it now. What a fiasco. What is my problem? why do I suck myself into these situations in the first place? I don't drink, I don't do sugar or eat white flour, I follow Dr. Kathleen Des Maison's food plan to the letter. In doing so I am suppose to feel centered and sane and radiant. When will I ever learn?

DH and I came home after stopping at the office and had a brunch, then he painted an eave on the house he had replaced. I painted a storm door and two new shutters, to match the colors we have on the house. Then we put up the shutters on some new windows, and rehung the storm door. Then I cleaned up the perenial beds and wash the front windows on the house, put all the painting things away and swept out the garage. And now I am ehausted again and falling asleep at the keyboard.

WILLOW and SUE where are you?

Take are until tomorrow everyone.

Bluet

Bluet - why do you think the painting you did for your co-worker is not good? If it was fine in your house and he and your DH say it's fine, sounds like you had an attack of the colly-wobbles and lack of confidence. I think we are all like that to a degree when we do something for someone else, fretting it may not be good enough/quite to their taste etc. A friend of mine is a whizz at making celebration cakes for her immediate family. When her co-workers asked her to make some for them, well, this confident, competent cake genius turns into a tortured artiste! I've told her to stop doing favours because she gets into such a twist trying to make perfection, she is never happy with the final result (sees things nobody else does) and for what? She doesn't charge for it, only for the ingredients. Rest assured you have made a good job for your co-worker. Personally, so long as I didn't have to do the work myself I would be thrilled no matter how it turned out!!
Well, I paid for the fried breakfast, chicken and fries, peppermint creams etc Saturday and bacon roll, roast turkey and beef dinner, apple pie and custard and cake etc etc on Sunday because I have put 1.5lb on this morning! Typical case of you can't have your cake and eat it!! Must stop making excuses and knuckle down if I am to look like Liz Hurley at DHs Xmas party, ha ha.
Regards to all