This a thread for the former to 200 in 2001 bunch & all who wish to join in . We are happily (most of the time) to be a BUNCHA LOSERS . Come on , join in .

Hey all ,
We all need to say a big prayer for Dora , Cassidy , & family . I got her newsletter before I read the thread & had no idea why her munchkin was in the hospital . I really hope Cassidy has a swift & permanent recovery .

Marion congrats on all your hard work . You are doing excellent .

Lauren , I hope you're over your cold . I hate colds . It's bad enough to feel icky , but then you have to have a red nose for everyone to see .

My mom , who is almost 62 , has asthma , emphasema , & lung damage from radiation . She went into Seattle yesterday , to go for testing at the Univercity of Washington . She's hoping to get into a study . She wants a lung reduction but V.A won't pay for one . They'll pay for a transplant , for which she'd have to take anti rejection drugs for the rest of her life . Those drugs severly compromise the immune system , which hers isn't good now . She wouldn't need the drugs for the reduction . I still like my member helper job at Weight Watchers , I just got a 95 Ford Taurus with low miles friday , in dark blue green (which I love) .

Gotta go . Kathy

Kathy, I hope your mom gets what she needs. That must be so frustrating for her.

Dora, how is your daughter? How are YOU?

I had a lovely weekend up north and even lost the weight I'd gained by eating too much up there. You can't ask for better than that.

I'm working from home today, then leaving for St. Louis tomorrow. I don't know if any of you read Dotti's Weight Loss Zone's web site (except Mama Rose ), but I read it regularly in addition to 3 Fat Chicks, and we're having a convention this weekend. I'm finally going to meet a bunch of these folks. Among the agenda items: I'm going to be making an exhibition of myself by singing "You'll Have Thin Thighs" with a bunch of other folks to the tune of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." Oy. How do I get into these things? But it'll be fun.

Have a great day and weekend, and be good to yourselves.

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/189.5/174 by Labor Day

hey all, long time no post but I am still here. Dora and Kathleen I hate to here about the family illnesses. I hope everyone is better.

My mom has Fibromyalgia, Addison's, and Parkinson's and she is having to fight to get her disability. She can't even drive. Just riding in a car takes a lot out of her. But for some reason the folks in charge of disability have the incredible kindness to say well she can work with all that happening. Give me a break she a trained seamstress, like she can sew now with the tremors from Parkinsons. Gotta love those folks.

My mom and I do have one thing in common, we are both battling the depression thing. In fact that is why I haven't posted lately. The doctor changed my medication and I reacted badly to the new stuff. Unforturnately when you stop taking this medication you go through some crazy side effects. I get major dizzy spells all day whether sitting or standing. I am also really tired from having to be in a good mood at work just so I can get some work done. Forget working out, I am afraid I would pass out with the dizzy spells. But he said that should end soon. I hope he starts me on something to get my chemicals in my brain back to the way the should be. Its odd, I have never been depressed until I go to about 25, I was always a bundle of joy as a child. I think part of my depression is linked to my weight.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Mystery

Lauren , Dora & her family are back home now . I'm sure she's exhausted . Her daughter had a heart procedure , which apparently seems to be working , thank God . She will have to be on meds for a couple of months . I used to go to Dotti's , but I can't get on anymore . I don't know why .

Mystery , I can relate about depression . I have chronic depression , but do well on medication. I have a genetic tremor , called essential tremors . When I was first on anti depressants they put me on Zoloft , which made me shake more . Then they switched to Paxil , which made me sleepy , then something else . They then took me off meds thinking I was okay . I wasn't ! I went back on Paxil , but take it at night & it's okay . I shake more with the meds than without , but am willing to deal with it . Just don't ask me to hand you a cup of coffee . I am doing terrible with the plan . Too much turmoil . Have a good week . Kathy

hello ladies
well i am still here plugging along, having an off week i think, lots of stress, my youngest has to have 3 teeth pulled thursday do to in part a dentist that shouldnt be a dentist I am off to bed, just didnt want to think i forgot you all, i will post again soon.

Marion

Hi, Marion, good to see you as always. OUCH for your kid! I hope that goes well.

Kathy, thanks for the update on Dora and her daughter. How scary for them.

Mystery, how's it going with the new medication? That can be tough adjusting.

I'm having a very hard time motivating myself to exercise. Didn't do it this morning again. In general, I'm just having a hard time disciplining myself in all kinds of areas right now. Seems like when one goes, they all do. I'm tracking in my journal, but often after the fact -- sometimes a day or two late, even. I'm getting lax about points. I'm not exercising much. This is the kind of behavior that gets me into ruts and eventually packs pounds back on. I see that, and yet I still do it. I guess if I had the answer to this, I'd be rich. Well, the *easy* answer, anyway. We all know the tough answer, the only one that truly works --

JUST DO IT, LAUREN.

Ah, well. At least the water weight I gained with TOM is gone and I'm back in the 180s by the skin of my teeth. I'll tell you, I'm really looking forward to the end of Lent. This is such a tough time of year for me on a lot of fronts. Spiritual struggle always is, I guess.

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/189.5/174