[derrydaughter]

HI guys!
Well, I started the day with the treadmill and have been so very good all day today, the remains of the apple pie are sitting on the counter and I have told DH to not let me have a single bite tonight. Boy is it hard to resist. If DH doens't have it tonight, I'm going to freeze it. That is a huge defense I have. I refuse to throw out good food and waste money, but I do freeze leftover things that are way too tempting to have around the house. Have you all done that?
I'm starving right now and have done all I can to resist any afternoon snacks. So, I'll be making dinner earlier than usual, I think!
DH had decent news today on this consulting job, nothing is 100% official, but the guy who wants to bring him on board to do the work liked his proposal and said that everything has to go through their Human Resources division and that he forwarded it onward. So, perhaps we'll be having some kind of income. That sure will be nice, otherwise we have one more paycheck coming to us on 3/15, and that is ALL - gosh it's scary to be thinking about withdrawing funds from our meager savings to pay the bills, but at least we have some savings.
I have an interview with a temp agency tomorrow morning, Kelly services. Not sure if they have that company in the UK or not, but I'm sure you know what that kind of thing is. I will also have an interview next week on the church secretary position.
Truly, I don't want to work at either job, but at least I'd be contributing.
Linda

[derrydaughter]

Good morning everyone, no others posting today?
Well, time to report that I am trying really hard and we are expecting another 6 - 12" of snow starting this afternoon. I worry about snowstorms as I usually crave comfort foods. Time to think of some low point comfort food items one might have ingredients for on hand? Any ideas?
Linda

[Emerald]

Aw, Linda, don't you every have what we call "snow flurries?" The kind that doesn't pile up a foot!! I would go crazy if we got that weather here! I'm excited because we are going to be having highs in the 50s next week. I'm ready for some Spring time! LP comfort food... how about tuna casserole? or veggie soup/chili? macaroni & reduced fat cheese? peanut butter on reduced fat toast? grilled cheese sandwhich? egg salad? Gosh, I'm glad I had breakfast, or I would certainly be hungry now! Good luck with the interviews! I know it's not what you really want, but since you need it, I hope you get it.

Gosh, I'm proud of me. I got up early and did a workout video! I did it! I exercised! And, it felt good. It was my 20 min. video that I felt I had outgrown before, but it really gave me a feeling of de ja vu and brought me emotionally back to last year when I was highly motivated and it was summer and sunny. It was a great way to start another winter day.

Then, DH (who is home today) fixed me a yummy LP breakfast!

And, I have another announcement to make... great NSV! I am wearing my shirt tucked in! The only other time I would do that is when catering and I had to. But, today, I chose too. Why not? I don’t have those big ol’ hips to cover anymore!

I am completely glad it’s Friday. DH is off work today and tomorrow; then he goes on the day shift!! I think we have enough saved back that we can go to a movie this weekend. We’ll see. I’m not sure what is playing that we want to see. Maybe Ring 2. I know. I’m weird. But, I like those movies that give me the creeps!

Later!

[dawnydw]

Hi everyone.
Well, I'm being extra good. I am determined to have a better WI next week, and I must save a point or two for tomorrows Wedding (MIL's in case I hadn't already mentioned it). I have already ordered my meal, can't remember what though, although it must have been something half decent, I'm sure. I will avoid the desert - definitely, no question, no turning back, no cheating, no picking, no eating! I will enjoy what I get, enjoy a full tummy and not fill myself too much to bursting. My diva Tiggy will ensure I'm a good girl. She's making me proud today, making me really appreciate what I'm eating and take time over it, not swallow things virtually whole and feel fuller in the process - therefore, eating less. That's the theory. Lets enjoy the practice!

Linda, good luck with your interviews, I know you aren't keen on the idea of having to go back to work, especially when it isn't by choice, but maybe it won't have to be for long, and who knows, you might even enjoy it. Sounds promising for DH too, hope it goes ok. As for comfort foods, they usually have to be quick to prepare too, otherwise we usually decide on the even easier junk instead, maybe the tried and tested toast and LC cheese? One of my favourites.

Melanie, well done on the exercise. Keep it up. BTW, I love the scary films too - scarier the better, I'm like that with novels too, Yeah, I have this weird streak in me that has to come out somewhere!

Talking of weird, I'm sat here now, typing this wearing a red nose - you know, like clowns wear! It has funky hair and a grinning face and is all in the name of charity! Every two years we have 'Red nose day', a big fundraising day on the BBC to raise cash for over here and unfortunate people abroad too. They raise millions, and is usually based on comedians doing even sillier things than usual, so its a fun way to put across a serious message. AJ was quite impressed with the red nose and has had it on all day at nursery. Quite a sight! I didn't bother with mine at work, I have to admit, I'm not sure my patients would have appreciated it, but I will wear it now with pride - and a sore nose!

Ok, gotta go for now, have a great weekend everyone, see ya later.

[Abirdee]

Well Ladies,

Today was my weigh in and according to WW scale I lost 1.5 pounds, but the doctors scale on yesterday said 5 lost. WW leader said that sometimes the scales get off wack and have to be replaced, so she would check into it. Today out of all days we are having a huge pot luck at work, I'm gonna stay away from it (but it sure smells good).....

I will talk to you ladies later, have a BLESSED DAY!

[derrydaughter]

Melanie, a tucked in shirt!!!! Yeah, good for you! So glad to hear that DH is home and will be on the day shirt for awhile.
Dawny, would love to hear where you are getting all those red noses! Sounds like fun, do people "pay" you to wear the nose so you can raise funds? Is it a "nosathon"? Ha Ha!
When I woke up this morning, I had an NSV, kind of, I was noting how FLAT my abdomen was as I was laying flat in bed before getting up. Can't remember when it was that flat, yet the scale here at home seemed to go up yesterday. I will be weighing in on Tuesday, so we shall see what the ww scales have to say about it all.
Abirdee, at least there WAS a loss for you, better than a gain, interesting how the ww leader made that comment about the scales. Do let us know if you hear anything about that.
Supposedly the scales at ww are "perfect", but I swear that one or two of them are "off" from the others. I swear that a certain scale they have (there are four) weighs in consistently higher.
Yes, Melanie, we do get flurries in addition to all these high accumulations of snow. This is an unusually snowy year for us, though. We already have over a foot of snow on the ground will get about another foot today. Usually, by this time of year that is not the case. Oh well. My sister and family are heading to Florida (Disney, of course) today and I hope they are not grounded and sitting in the airport all day and can get out!
Today, I am cooking a turkey dinner..... not exactly low points, but it can be if you eat properly throughout the day and also don't have certain things that the rest of the family are having, or at least limit them. I have a really huge freezer (25 cubic feet) in the garage and took advantage of the Thanksgiving time turkey sales. This 12.5 pound turkey was purchased for about five dollars (7.5 pounds, roughly?) and I decided it was time to finally cook it. I promised my son stuffing and gravy, though, but that doesn't mean I have to indulge in tons and tons of it. It will be fun on this snowy day to have the smell of roasting turkey in the house. Guess it will feel a bit like Christmas?
However, I shall spend 40 minutes on my treadmill, eat a low point breakfast and lunch and stay away from snacks today. I shall also more than likely be shovelling snow!
Linda

[derrydaughter]

Hi guys, me again.... no new posts from you all. Guess you are all out there having fun, at least I hope so!
Just want to say that I am leaving today for my mom and dad's. My dad is having surgery tomorrow and I am staying over with them to take him to the hospital. Will be back on line tomorrow evening or Tuesday am.
I weigh in on Tuesday and don't think I'll have a loss, but who knows?
Linda

[dawnydw]

Hi everyone.

Well, we had a good wedding with the in-laws yesterday. I was very good at the meal afterwards, and stuck exactly to what was planned, even if it was rump steak! I didn't go over points, and I stayed well away from any desserts!

Linda, good on you for the little nsv! flat tummies are always a good one, I think, makes you feel thinner despite what the scales say. I mentioned to our ww leader about the scales always weighing around 3# heavier than any others, and that it seems to be worldwide almost, and she agreed with me. It's obviously not just us that get the same results. That's ok, because if its true, it means we do, in 'real' life, weigh less than at our meetings! Yippee! That, I can cope with.
Linda, I also have two coincidences with you today. Not the snow thank goodness, but we had a turkey dinner, just finished it actually, and very nice it was too. Also, I just heard my Dad is heading into hospital on Tuesday for some kind of heart surgery. Nothing too serious I don't think - although I haven't actually seen him in 12 1/2 years, since the day I got married, so I don't have the full details, but I heard a message from him today that filled me in. We have just been invited to his 3rd marriage in July, and have been debating whether to attend, seeing as we are now like complete strangers, but I guess that sometimes we have to bite the bullet and break down those barriers and get on with things. It will be interesting to see what happens, I will keep you posted.

Abirdee, great WI, keep up the good work. You see, WW does work!

I am so determined to lose lots of pounds this week, I am being so good you would not believe it. I have had the munchies a bit today but Tiggy diva has kept me on track, and kept telling me that if I'm a really good girl, that goal won't be far off. My scales have been good to me this weekend, so fingers crossed, not many weeks left to keep paying at my meetings!

Oh well, its that time again, and by that I mean nearly AJ's bathtime. You should have seen him yesterday in his little shirt and tie at the wedding - so cute, I could have eaten him all up - but too many points I think! See ya later.

[dawnydw]

Quiet on here today, oh well, just popped in, breaking news...my scales showed below goal this morning. I'm still not holding my breath, as we all know how different things can be, hour to hour, and I can't imagine that 3.5# can have really come off in just one week, but I'm optimistic, and being really good. I have even done a 'bit' of exercise, not much, as usual, but a bit. I did a few exercises this morning when I first got up (I got a free copy of the Jorge Cruise '8 minutes in the morning' book with a magazine, and was feeling a bit inspired!). I have also just been out for a 40 minutes walk with AJ. He does usually walk quite slow, so it wasn't a speedy jaunt earning lots of bonus points, but better than nothing I think. I got for dinner tonight lots of veggies and some chicken for a chinese stir fry meal. Very few points in that. I don't use sauces as such on it, just a bit of soy sauce for 0points. Yummy. Am I waffling? I am, aren't I? Sorry, Just in a good mood and letting you all know about it.
Hope you are all having a great day too. See ya later.

[derrydaughter]

Good morning everyone. I'm back. Dad's surgery went ok and he was "resting comfortably" at home when I left yesterday. Cateract surgery is amazing and quick, by the way. There would be a slight amount of discomfort involved with an IV and some drops in the eyes, etc., but if you ever have to have it - you are in and out in less than two hours. Bright lights would bother you for a day or so and you have to be careful not to lift anything heavy for the next 10 days or so, but that's about it. I was impressed.
I'm feeling really defeated this morning, gang. I figured out some money things and have decided NOT to go to WW meetings, just can't afford them. Don't know what this is going to do to my weight loss efforts, but I am really going to need you guys!
DH's last paycheck was directly deposited today and was about $700.00 (1.5 times that number in pounds, Dawny, so for pounds that is 1050.00) less than I anticipated. They pro-rated paying him for his vacation pay, which I didn't think they would do. So, I already have to dip into our savings to pay bills. How selfish would I be to take funds and spend them on WW meetings at this time?
He's doing ok and has some consulting work going on, but we are not in great shape and the less I spend now, the longer we can make it in the the end.... and who knows how long that will be?
So, I am determined to make this thing work on my own here.... but I'm scared. I've been one who truly needs the meetings and the weigh in routine for my motivation. I don't want to put the weight back on that I have worked so hard to take off.
Dawny, I think you should go and see your dad. Whatever happened in the past, is done and over with. Begin anew.... blood is thicker than water, as they say. Do they "say" that in the UK too?
I hope you met goal. I'm waiting to hear! Maybe you will inspire me and I am really at a low point here.

Linda

[Emerald]

Linda – I hate to see how down you are! All I can say is, continue to have faith that it will be okay. God always works it out. He isn’t going to allow anything to happen to you beyond what you can bear. He said so! I know the feeling of financial worry. These past few weeks are the first in our marriage where I can do a written budget and there’s actually enough money to cover the bills. I don’t know how I was tithing and paying the monthlies with $1700 income, but somehow, we were always provided for. AND, have faith in DH. He isn’t going to let you go under. It may mean not waiting for his dream job, but he will take care of you, I’m sure.

You know we are here for support. And we can YELL AT YOU TOO, IF YOU NEED IT! Or, if you need the face-to-face accountability, how about finding a few like-minded friends to get together once a week? Just a thought.

Dawny – How fun to see that number on the scale, even if it might not show up at the official WI! I like to weigh first thing in the morning (before the fat cells wake up), just so I can see that number! I don’t know what to say about the scales being off, but I know it happens. I’m sure we have had some “bad scale days” at our church meetings too.

Well, NSV! I have been doing well on my exercising and must brag on myself! None Thurs (bad tummy), but I did work out Fri, Sat, Sun, and this morning. That’s a great start back on the right track, in my opinion!

Let me tell you what happened to me today. I got up at 5:30 this morning to fix DH breakfast and get him on his way for the new day-shift he is working. So, we have breakfast together, I send him out the door, workout, get dressed, and just as I was going to work at 7:45, he walks back in the door. His overtime day was canceled! I got up at 5:30 for nothing! Urgh! Oh, well. I did get quite a bit done and had a good breakfast.

I have a new favorite breakfast I’ve been making that I want to share. I take some refrigerated diced potatoes w/ onion already in them too. Saute in a splash of EVO (extra virgin olive oil) When ready, add a bit of tomato and egg substitute. If you want to use the point, add 2% shredded cheddar. Makes a fabulous and large frittata for what I figure to be 3 pts (without cheese)! Very filling and easy. I have also found some lean bacon for 1 pt for 2 slices!

Well, gotta run! Oh… but first… more good news. DH says that if his check is really good this week, as we expect, I can call the phone company and get the internet access I want for the house! That means, you can’t get rid of me on the weekends anymore!

[dawnydw]

HI, can't stop long tonight, just got in from work, worked over a little bit, and may have to do some extra tomorrow too on my day off, we have two ladies off sick and one on holiday and in a little place like our it doesn't leave many staff left - we've had to call in the bosses wife to lend us a hand or there would be one optician, one receptionist or one dispenser (me the dispenser) and thats it. Hopefully, all illness will have been quarantined and not passed on to the rest of us and back to normal very soon.
My scales were not so good today, but I still feel a good loss coming up this week, assuming of course, I don't go barmy tonight in the food department. I won't though, I'm still being good.

Linda, I do understand the problem with not affording the meetings. I like Melanies idea of getting together with some friends locally if there are others nearby, however, this isn't always practical, or wanted with people you know well, but worth keeping in mind. Plenty of people have, however, successfully lost weight without going to meetings, and I'm sure you can go again in the future when things settle down. We're all here for you, you know that, just shout when you need us. Maybe we could set up webcams for your weekly WI, so we can keep tabs on you!

Melanie, good on you for getting up so early, even if you didn't need to - at least you got a workout in, and lots the last few days by the sounds of it. I like the breakfast recipe, I've never tried egg substitute, and I'm not sure I like the sound of it. Do they even have it here I wonder, I'm sure they must do, is it as good as the real thing, and can you tell it's supposed to be egg? Can't wait to get the internet I bet! I'm thinking of going on broadband, my pc just gets on my nerves being so slow on dial-up, so I may be a super-fast web surfer very soon!(oh yeah, like I'd know what that meant anyway!)

Ok, gotta go for now, have a great day everyone, back soon.

[Emerald]

Dawny - There is good and bad in the world of egg substitute. I have tried some store brands that were hideous. I really like Egg Beaters and can't tell aren't eggs! Actually, they are egg based. However, I tried the kind that has cheese, that is supposed to be ready for an omelet and can only say, YUCK. But regular "brand name" egg substitute is good to me! I understand your misgivings. It was a loooong time before I would break down and try it. Sometimes there are good surprises!

Good luck with broadband. We considered it, but no more than we are on-line we couldn't justify the expense right now. We did however, just sign up for movie rental by mail. We like to watch movies and doing it this way makes it cheap entertainment. And, I have discovered that I can check out exercise videos for variety and to try them before I buy them. Fun! I really should add some intensity to my workouts. This way I can figure out which ones I can do now and which are still too advanced!

The web cam idea sounds like fun! Might be a good excuse to get one!

[sugar_cane]

Hey girls! Just got back from the trip with friends, had a great time and a nice surprise awaited for me at home. I weighed myself this morning and 1.5 lbs off!!! I'm very happy, I feared a gain cos of the weekend away, but I have to admit how much I tried, I didn't cheat a lot, avoided a lot of desserts and we walked and danced a lot so I think this weekend away was a very good idea diet-wise!

I read through your posts, Linda and Dawny I hope your fathers are doing well.

I can't stay longer, I'm exhausted and really need to get some sleep, so I'll see you tomorrow.

Take care ladies!!

[dawnydw]

Good morning ladies, just popped in early to catch up. Melanie, I know what you mean about the broadband, although I'm on aol and its now only £2 more per month than what I pay already, so while its cheap I might as well get on with it. Not sure how well a webcam would work on normal dial-up, not sure if its fast enough, but it would be fun!

Still not too sure about the egg stuff, I'll keep my eyes open at the supermarket and decide if and when I see any.

Anyway, back later.