I am so sleep-deprived and bleary-eyed, I can barely see the screen..... but I cannot sleep! Forgive the short reply.... welcome to the newbies. And Ginny, a giant wooooooooo hooooooo to you on the loss and busting the 150 barrier!

Spryng, thyroid removal is not very common, but sometimes necessary. I will have to take replacement hormones for the rest of my life..... hopefully, it won't effect much. Yes, I am nervous...... it is a big surgery. I will learn more tomorrow after I speak with the surgeon.

Sorry, gotta run....... hope everyone is well.......

Emily can you share the recipe for the porkshops (can't remember the name...had sweet potato...etc) please? We raise hogs and I'm always up to my ears in porkchops. I run out of ways to serve them. Your recipe sounds like one I've never tried. Your Ian is a doll btw. Thanks so much for sharing.
Candy love your pictures. You have a beautiful family. My Dd, the <~~ clown is also 2 and very solid. She's like a tank and nearing 34#! My oldest is tall and slinder tho. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Ginny WTG! I'm so glad to see you doing so well. Even with all you are dealing with...Dd and college. Keep up the great work! Oh and wish I could say the reason I wasn't posting today was because I delivered.
Spryng hope you get your quiet weekend with your family and nothing goes array with your FIL and MIL.
Welcome all comers!
I'm still hanging in here. We've had a line of minor criss' on the farm today. The water is still up and Dh tried to drive the farm truck thru a sand berm and got it stuck. He's had a pretty bad day. I'm still having contractions here and there. They don't seem as bad today. maybe I'm just getting use to them. I see the OB again tomorrow. YaY :rolleyes: I'm not happy with them right now. Long story... the jist of it all I think none of the nurses that work for my OB have a brain. Oh that was harsh. I'm just angry. Anyhow I spent the day working on Christmas crafts with the girls. They made some really cute ornament snowmen. It was an all day activity and I'm pretty exausted. My Dh had to call the highway dept to come and fix 2 places where our bridges washed out and pull his truck out of the sand so he's out in the cold with them right now. I want to stay up and wait for him. I'm affraid I'll fall asleep. So guess I'll get going.

Forgot to say hope you are getting some rest Jen. Keeping you in my thoughts. Hope your visit with the surgen goes well.

Here ya go, Michele...I really enjoyed them!!
Talk to you guys tomorrow :)


Autumn Porkchops

1 or 2 pork chops per person
1 small raw sweet potato (or yam) per person
1 apple per person - your favorite kind (we enjoy Rome or Yellow Delicious)
1/2 white or yellow onion per person (or more if your family loves cooked onions)
Salt and pepper
Cinnamon
Brown Sugar - Optional
Apple juice or cider

Clean onions and slice - place in bottom of crockpot.

Clean potatoes well and slice into thick slices. Place on top of onions. Sprinkle with a bit of brown sugar and salt if desired.

Rinse pork chops with clear running water, trim off any large pieces of fat and place in crockpot over onions, salt and pepper as you see fit. Peel and slice apples (or leave the skins on if your family doesn't fuss). Place over pork chops. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar if desired.

Pour in apple juice or cider to cover 1/3 of the mixture. Set crockpot on high for 2 hours, then set to low to finish - will take a good 3 hours or more, depending on how full the pot is. (You may need to experiment with your crockpot size and fullness). Of course, just like any other crockpot meal, it can sit on low after it's finished without harm. Serve to plates right from the crockpot. This is great with buttered brown bread and a leafy lettuce salad.

Intro
 

Hi Ladies! I wanted to join in the thread. I usually post under the TOPS Thread but actually haven't attending a meeting in years......lol But that's where I started out and met the friends I have now.

But I know it is time for a change, esp. since I am at the same weight I was three kids ago.... :dizzy:

My name is Penny, SAHM to three boys :) and home daycare provider. I am 23 (yes, 23 and three kids......lol I know) Yes, I am nuts.... :) I need a fresh start to get my weight loss going again. I was doing Atkins for a little while which was working great, but I am breastfeeding and was worried about the affects!?

Does anyone have any personal experiences. I need to find a plan I stick with and I liked Atkins. Thanks for the advice ahead of time :)

Penny

Good evening all!
Boy I am so tired... don't know how big this post will be.
Misty! I was hoping to hear that you were on your way to the hospital!!! Awww... I know you get tired of people saying that. I just hope you have a nice evening and get a good nights sleep. :) I'm thinking about you often.
Welcome Penny!!! I'm Spryng, mother to 3 (ava is 3, bubba is 2 and Tanner is 4 months old) and been married for 5 years now. I'm currently on weight watchers and LOVING it! I'm 23 too!! I get the same reaction... 23 with 3 kids!! But I was married for a year before I got pregnant with #1... I was 19 when I had her. So it's all legit. lol. Boy do I have experiance with Atkins!! Been on it so many times I can't keep up with the count anymore. But i do know induction is too rough for a breastfeeding mother. It can dry your milk supply up. How old is your baby? And I don't know a way to modify it to be ok for breastfeeding. I do know that just increasing your exercise can help you shed weight while breastfeeding. It's so hard to diet because you need all those extra calories to make your milk. But maybe some of the other women have more advice for you. :) Karen, is currently on Atkins and doing fantastic! She may have something to say. But welcome and I hope to see you here more often!!
Jen I'll be thinking about you tomorrow and hope your appointment goes well.
Emily your little boy is sooo cute! I just love babies.
candy, yes Ava is 3, will be 4 NEXT month!! And yes she is petite. She was only 5 lbs 2 oz when she was born at full term. So she's always been small. She weighs about 24 lbs now. Bubba, my 2 yo weighs more than she does! he's 11 months younger.
Ok, I need to get in bed. Have a great night! :)

Oh, Misty? You are 39 weeks today aren't you?? My goodness... any moment now. I'm really thinking about you now! Do you think you'll go to 40 weeks? I can't wait to hear what your doctor says tomorrow! G'nite!

Hey! Thanks for the reply. My little bit is 5 months old and is a nursing fool. I have three boys, Hunter 4, Nicholas 3 and Andrew is the 5 month old. I have absoutely no energy lately. :( Wonder why after writing that last sentence.... lol I think it is the kids making me tired. Just need some motivation to pump me up again. I actually have the 10 week pre paid passes for ww, bought them but I just can't stick with the counting, measuring, tracking etc.

Will check back in later. Have a great night everyone !

Penny

Hi Penny and welcome! :) I'm a fellow mom of boys as is Ricci...mine are 5.5, 3 and 6 months so they are pretty close in age! I'm breastfeeding too and it tends to slow my weight-loss down, but I'm committed for a few more months and then we'll see.

I have to admit that I didn't have the best eating day today...I bought some girl guide cookies (same as gorl scouts- Thin Mints)...Ijust had to ...then tonight at Costco I had twist yogurt. It was my first day of TOM and you gals know how it is. Actually I have to say that this month wasn't too bad with the cravings! (Well, aside from today-LOL) Usually I have a week before where I could live on peanut butter and chocolate and I was actually surprised to see TOM this morning. I've been really good about taking my vitamins and a couple supplements so hopefully it's been helping.

Well, I'm really getting off now...I keep puttering tonight and getting back online. I'm so tired though- my early appt. yesterday has caught up with me. SO ttyl!!

Good morning all!
Boy I have a busy day ahead of me. Still getting last minute things done around here before DH gets here sometime today. Then it's off to town to pay bills, send letters, and get some groceries. I'll be running around for a few hours. We are looking into moving so I may be looking at some houses too! I'm so excited about that!! We really need something a little bigger.
Ok, just wanted to pop in and say hello and I'll check back in later today sometime. Have a great FRIDAY!!!! :)

Good morning!!!!!!!
Welcome Penny!!!! Sure sounds like you have a full plate~ 3 children of your own, one nursing and a home daycare provider! Wow! How many children do you take in? And how many #'s are you trying to lose? I can't speak for Atkins- I do know that some (heard this at a WW meeting) complain of fatigue after being on Atkins for an extended amount of time. Here we have Karen on it- and she is doing great and has been successful. I do know that WW (weight watchers) has a program for nursing mothers- and one lady at my meeting is on it ~ complete with a nursaholic 6 month old- and she is doing great and feels energetic (but, then this is her first too!). Ok, I am an advocate of WW- but one thing I can say for it is that it is balanced- all food groups are included.
No, you do not have to attend the meetings- you can purchase the program thru their web site- or even Ebay! And there is plenty of support here, for whatever program you decide to use.
I look foward to getting to know you better!

Michele- man, when it rains it pours......Sounds like you have had just a really tough week- not feeling well, and now problems with your farm. Hang in there, we love you here!!! and are all pulling for the best for you. Forgive me for not mentioning how adorable your picture is!!! Your daughters are so cute- and I really enjoy seeing the pictures as we will most likely never meet! Hope your day goes well.....:)

Emily- thanks for the recipe- it sounds great. I will give it a try next week, as you know I am a big fan of my crock pot. I have been known to have something in my big crock pot, another item in my small one and bread in the bread machine......talk about automatic dinner! Great that the vitamins help (I have found that too). Don't worry about a day or two of not the best eating- start today over fresh and look foward to better food choices.

Jen- my Ds is on thyroid meds for the rest of her life, and I have another friend who is also. Both told me that once the meds are found that best suit you, life is pretty much normal. I willl keep praying for you. How are you feeling? How did the visit with the surgeon go?

Spryng- never a dull one for you, my friend. Now you are looking for a new house? Are you looking to stay where you are or go somewhere else?

As for me, yesterday was a big drain on me, so tiring. Ds is in basketball- so there is the 1 1/2 hours of driving to get him from practice. Good news is that he is the center of the JV team. I am so happy for him! Now if he can just keep his grades up........;)
No walk today yet- I will probably try to sneak in a short one later.
The elementary kids have a half day, so I have to go back out again soon to get the monsters home. Guess I'd better get upstairs and finish the bills and get started on dinner. Have a great day.
Ginny

WW tip #9 (I love and use this tip!)After dinner, turn out the kitchen lights and literally close down the kitchen (tell that to a constantly starved growing 14 yr old!). If you feel the urge to eat something, you'll think twice about actually doing so.

Hi!
 

I’ve been getting to know you all over the past couple of weeks and thought it was about time I introduced myself. I’m Geri from Wisconsin, wife, mother of 2 boys (2.5 & 5 months) and soon to be a SAHM. The company I work for is closing (yeah) and my last day is December 1. I would have kept working full-time if this didn’t happen … I’ve been here 16 years and have had enough anyway so this comes at a great time for me. I recently turned 40 (yikes, how did that happen!) so I’m a bit older than most of you! At 23 I had no thoughts of being a wife/mother … I was too busy hanging out with my friends until all hours of the morning and then going to work a couple of hours later!! I give you ladies a lot of credit for taking on all the responsibility of kids at such a young age. Met my husband through friends 5 years ago and we’ve been on the fast track (got married May 2000, had DS1-Will- May 2001 and DS2-Tony May 2003) The May thing is purely coincidental!
I’ve had weight issues all my life. I’ve lost a lot more than once, but gained it back each time. I’ve done WW twice and really like the plan. The cost of the program is too much for me so I joined TOPS in January 2002. Lost over 35 pounds then got pregnant with DS2 and gained that back (but, thankfully, not more than that). I lost 12 pounds while on maternity leave, but I’m in the process of putting that all back one since coming back to work! It’s very stressful to watch people you have worked with for such a long time leave. We had a wonderful department – I supervised 6 people up until October – now we’re down to just me and my manager. Only about 50 people left all together. So we’ve been having lots of food days whenever the next group would leave (the 1st of each month). The work has slowed down to the point of extreme boredom … so I munch during the day. ANYWAY, only 2 weeks left then I can concentrate on my boys and getting back on track!! I want to lose 60 pounds.
I can’t identify with Michele’s end-stage pregnancy. DS1 was breech so I had a scheduled C-section. Didn’t even know that I was having slight contractions when I checked into the hospital. When I got pregnant with DS2 I had a choice. I chose a 2nd C-section because I like to plan everything!! Turned out I was having contractions during my last OB appointment- didn’t know it again – and Tony’s heartbeat was slowing down with each one. So, had him 5 days before I was scheduled to & it turns out the cord was around his neck! All turned out well and the 2nd C was easier than the 1st!!
Karen, my OB would probably already have done the hysterectomy by now. She doesn’t fool around. My closest girl friend had one a year ago and she’s so glad she did. Hope all goes well with you!!
I’ve babbled for quite awhile here. I’ll be posting more after I’m home. Don’t have too much free time these days. 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks! I’m going to relax for the holidays (as much as I can with 2 boys) and then look for something part-time early next year. It’s going to be tough to cut our income in half but we also won’t be paying for daycare.
Later ladies!

Welcome Penny and Geri!!

I'm Karen SAHM of 2.. ages 7 and 5. I wish I could get more personal now.. but I cant.. gotta get the kids to school...

But I just wanted to address Penny and Atkins. You can do it BF.. there is a way to modify it... Let me get the info when I get back from school and I will post here for you!! I LOVE Atkins.. I have been on it now 3.5 months... induction all this time... My energy has never been higher and I am losing so much weight with it!

I will get back to you on this asap!

OH.. And Julie! Welcome too! I am so glad you joined us on this thread! We've been PM for a little while! :)

Someone wanted the WW points calculation the other day ...don't remeber who, but here goes:

Points = (Calories/50) + (Fat grams/12) - (Fiber grams/5)
Cap fiber grams at no more than 4

Have a good one.:D

Welcome Geri and thanks so much for the formula! It was me that asked fot it...Lots of moms of boys here! You will love staying at home with them- esp. at their ages...lots of fun ahead!!

I guess you know if you've been reading, but my boys are 5.5, 3 and 6 mo. I love being home with them (As long as I get my computer time-lol!)

I'm feeling better today, but have a slight headache...probably from lack of caffiene (I'm trying to cut back-- diet coke, not coffee) I have a lot to do this morning so need to cut this short...I asked DH to pick up the kids from school (I carpool) and take my van so I could clean. SO I'd better clean since he will be home at lunch!!

Have a great Friday everyone and lets all gear up for an OP weekend!!