Well...if nobody else is going to start this - I will be bold!!!

Good morning, good Monday and a good new week to all!

My rollercoaster ride continues with a nice upswing. Went clothes shopping yesterday and had a little problem. Seems that the jacket I wanted wasn't available in a size 6. I was forced therefore to try on a size 4 (four)** AND IT FIT!!!!! OMIGOSH!!!!

up here on cloud nine - or should that be cloud FOUR!!!!

I remain,
Yours truly,

Laurel

**this is a woman who couldn't get a pair of size 12 pants past her knees or a size 12 jacket across the you-know-whats 20 months ago. yeah, baby

OK - Laurel beat me to it. We'll use this thread. Here's what I wrote on the duplicate one!

"Well hello everyone and happy Monday. Hope you all had a fine weekend.

For those of you who have been following my renovation saga, the journey is almost complete. The new and improved master bedroom is back together again and looking quite lovely with gleaming hardwood floors and a fresh coat of antique nickel paint. It really did turn out well - surpassed my expectations.

Ditto for the bathroom. Even the wrong shade of yellow on the walls can't detract from how it looks now that the pictures are on the walls and the plants have been moved back in. DH has a few small things left to do; I anticipate another two weeks before the work will be behind us and the only thing left will be the enjoyment part.

Diet and exercise took a back seat over the past week or so, so I have a bit of work to do to get back on track. I should have more time now and I intend to get back into the groove. I signed up for a July 1st/4th challenge on another thread and now I really need to get down to business to make something happen. "

Hi everyone

seasaw: I'm with you on the eating and exercise being put on the back burner...same here and I don't like to do that. I'm trying to get back on track today.

Laurel: Way to go! It's great when you can buy something and it's a smaller size! Woohoo!

Work is getting really busy as we're gearing up for our first summer orientation program. The first one is always a bit overwhelming because of all the prep work that needs to be done. Once we get the first one under our belts the others seem to go a little smoother.

The weather here is pretty dull and drab today...no sun I'm hoping the rain holds off so that I can go for a nice long walk after work this evening.

Hey there!

The sun is shining & it's beautiful outside - around 85 degrees. I wanted to cut out early from work today, but, alas, I am still here.

Laurel - such a thrill to buy a size smaller than you were planning on - clothes shopping is such a pleasurable experience now, isn't it?

Seasaw - wow, almost done with the renovations - your home sounds wonderful. I need to get my butt in gear & do some more decorating....

Melissa - it's supposed to rain/thunder here tonight - it's sunny now, so I hope to get a walk in before it turns sour.

My eating was okay over the weekend, but my weight is still up?? I am starting to get pi**sed off - I only need to shake off about 5 pounds - GRRRRR... Went out boating on Sunday - just generally puttered around the lake & relaxed with DD & DH. Did have a couple of cocktails, tho... Yum....

Gotta go -
Katie

Hello ladies,

Happy tuesday. We are having rather unpleasantly cool weather for June. Its wet and cool, very good slug weather and snail crunching weather.

I had a nice weekend in Yosemite for my cousin's wedding. Rather splendid scenery and a fabulous Lodge. We did okay eating wise. We opted to not go the rehersal dinner and got a pizza and salad instead. We took my mom out to brunch on Sunday and walked to some of the lower falls. My dad, bro and gf went on a tour. I think we had more fun .

Here, things are a bit wacky. DP is trying to figure out what to do next in the career world. I think this stress is the worst she has ever gone through. Yikes. Do you take a job that pays less but may allow you more freedom to go to school? Do you stay in your old job and basically do the same thing for the next 16 years. We are talking a gifted programmer with lots of management expertise and scientific promise. Sigh.

Laurel- okay, I'm jealous. I am so wishing I was in your shoes. I am looking at the same sizes with envy. I got the 6-8 pants thing no prob, its the
10 top due to my too big top. I think its lifting for me.

Seesaw- see, its all hanging together! yeah. I too am getting used to the blue we used for the door and the third window colour. We are 97% complete, hopefully today if it stops raining.

kt- hmm - cocktails on the boat? Sounds divine. I'm glad the weather is cooperating. I know the 5 lb problem. I'm looking at it in 2.5 lb chunks.

melissa-I forgot, what do you do that you have summer orientation? I understand the back burner thing, my gym bag is looking so sad in the corner.

okay, off to figure out what to do for the day...

lala

Hi everybody.

Still feeling fairly wonderful about the size 4 thing. I know, I know - it was cut large. I know it was, but still...wow. Okay, I will shut up now.

Lala - believe me when I tell you that if I could ever fit into a 6 or 8 top (all depends on the cut - I really think the 4 was an anomaly) you will too. I'm well-endowed in that department. It will happen. It will happen. IT WILL HAPPEN!!! I think the trick is shopping at cheapie places. They tend to cut larger. Your better clothing stores are more realistic - I avoid them like the plague - can't afford 'em anyway. I can only offer you silent support on the career decisions DP & you are going through. It is tough. Though secretly I say opt for fulfillment...

KT & la - Sounds like you each had very pleasant weekends. We're going upstate NY on Saturday for my oldest friend's (i.e. we've known each other since 5th grade)wedding, so I'm hoping for lots of beautiful scenery, happy reunions with other old friends and a few of those cocktails wouldn't hurt either. Maybe even getting the crotchety husband to...oh horrors! dance?!?!

Everyone, I bid you a happy rest of Tuesday.

weigh in tonight - i think i'm back in goal range, but nothing too dramatic...

Hi everybody. I'm back at work after an unexpected day off. Yesterday was dragon boat race day, and -- wonder of wonders -- my team won!! I still can't believe it. We won three out of four races, losing one by only two seconds. However, the determining factor for getting into the finals was fastest time and we qualified, then won again for the championship. I was so tired I just couldn't face coming back to work so took the rest of the day off to savour the win.

Laurel: How did weigh-in go? And you should continue to feel wonderful about the size 4 thing. I bought a pair of size 4 shorts last summer and still marvel at the number on the tag. The upper body is definitely a 10, maybe an 8 if the cut is right, but seldom anything less.

lalala: Sounds like you had a good weekend with the family. Has DP come to any decisions? I would like to say I'd opt for fulfillment, but I seem to have opted for security. With only eight years left until retirement, I just can't disregard the financial freedom that my current pension plan will offer. We plan to do lots of travelling and I guess I'm giving up total fulfillment now for benefit later on. I hope that doesn't turn out to be a mistake...

katie: Try not to get too discouraged. If you're staying within limits and getting exercise, it's gotta happen sooner or later.

melissa: Has the rain cleared up? I intend to go for a run tonite before dinner. I'm hoping it will remain cool but I don't think that will happen. Summer is a tough time for me as far as running is concerned; must be part Inuit or something. I prefer to run in rain than in warm weather.

Sorry for the long post but I needed to catch up. Later.

Well, I am the only one in the office right now - it is supposed to hit 90 degrees here today - I may have to leave early and enjoy the warmth.

lalala - I'm with the rest of the ladies, I say your DP should opt for fufillment. We spend a lot of time at work & it's better spent if you truly love what you do. I speak from experience; I want to get into something different work-wise, but seem to not want to take the first step. The probable reduction of income is another roadblock - plus I don't know what I really want to get into. I would love to be able to be one of those people that can truly say they love what they do.

LM - how did your weigh in go last night? I weigh in tonite & am hoping for a loss to get closer to my comfort range again.

I am jealous of you, lalala, LM, & Seasaw- I have the opposite body problem - I am pretty small on top (can wear anywhere from a 4 to an 8 top), but usually wear a size 8 on the bottom. Not really pear-shaped, but have always wished for a little more up on top. I tell myself that I have an athletic build on top
When I lose weight, it always goes from my chest first.

Well, gotta run - take care all!

Katie

Good morning ladies! It's a scorcher out there - 8:30 in the morning (okay so I got to work a leeeetle late today) and blazing white skies and sticky air - yuck. Makes one almost grateful for being at work in the AC.

KT & Seasaw: To all your kind enquiries re: weigh-in --- down 2 pounds and back into the goal range. Hooray. But here's the weird thing. You already know I'm a compulsive journaller, right? So I have the numbers recorded and I can look back and compare. Last week, the average daily points was 22. Lost 2 pounds. The week before the average daily points was 23. Gained a pound. Are bodies just plain ornery? I'll never understand it.

Seasaw: congrats on the dragon boat race! That is so great! (but what's a dragon boat, i've been meaning to ask - in any way related to an air tub??)

KT - I'd gladly give you a little off the top if you know what I mean. I always wanted that athletic build. It's the old story.

Okay, I guess I should do some work...Hi to everyone. will check in later.

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all your kind words re DP and the trials of career changes and higher education.

We have options and that is good .

We're off to roma today and other than the slog to get there, its espressos, pizza bianca con cippole and delightful antipasti for me....

I will probably not journal- its not worth it,but
I'll probably get enough exercise going up the 5 flights of stairs to our apartment and then running up to the hills of rome to find remnant acqueducts (DP's passion, not mine). I'll be looking for a new purse .

kt- I'm also offering a bit of my top.

lm- have fun at the wedding and congrats on taking it off (the weight that is).

seesaw: way to go on the dragon boat races! Good for you to try something different and succeed.

everyone else: I'll catch up on Tuesday of next week.

ciao meows,

lala

Hi everyone! It's seems like it's been weeks since I've last posted. It's been really crazy at home and work.

lala I work at a university and a big function of our office is to coordinate the new student orientation for incoming freshmen. Our program runs 4 weeks during the summer (Sun-Mon). Anyway, it's pretty crazy around here.

Seasaw: Yes, the rain finally cleared up and the temps have soared the past couple of days to warm, humid ones. It figures...we go from being really cool (low 60's) to mid 80's without batting an eye.

On the exercise front I'm really motivated...I've been able to get out for a walk before work and so far it's been working out well. At least it's still cool in the morning (7:30 a.m.). I'm going to try and get more than one walk in a day if I can. I went for my meeting today and was down .6 (thankfully) so I need to buckle down here and make my journaling & walking a priority.

Hope everyone is staying cool!

Hi there.

So I am so jealous of that Lala - off to Rome. I'd love to go to Italy. I was once stuck in Ancona Italy for a couple days. Didn't have very good memories of that place - a shipping town. I think the pensione we (I was in high school and was travelling with a few college girls) ended up staying in was really a bordello.

It is totally hot and humid here. The darn husband did not install the ACs in the windows. He insists it's perfectly comfortable. Yuck. So sweaty. so hot, so cranky...

Melissa, I have to say that so far exercise is one of my strong points. I started off this journey with being determined to move more. The WW part came later. I started out taking walks everyday outside during lunch. Last summer I progressed to the gym at work (treadmill & stairmaster). And very recently I got the nerve to join two classes during the week - cardio/weights and kickboxing and I'm really enjoying them. Do you have a gym at the college where you work? That might help now that summer is here and it's too hot to go outside. I'm so impressed that you go out walking before work - wow. I could never do that.

but, whoo gotta love that kickboxing!

Hi everyone!

The temperature here is hot & humid...a balmy 87 outside and the air is heavy. I was able to get in to work early again this morning so I was able to get a 25 minute walk in before work. I didn't push too much because it was already 74 out and I didn't want to be limp by the time work started.

Laurel: The university has a rec center that I can use...I just fight it...I'd be better off if I would just go there when it's too hot to walk outside. I do have to admit that it's not that bad walking the track as long as I have my headphones and my walking tape.

We're finally getting caught up with what needs to be done for our first orientation which is a huge relief...I was getting worried that we wouldn't be ready.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Well, I finally cut out early at work today. Thought I could get a nice long walk outside. Got home & the storm clouds rolled in! Had a big downpour of rain late this afternoon, so I hit the treadmill instead.

Melissa - your weather sounds just like ours here in Wisconsin - high 80s followed by rain. I have been thinking about doing a walk in the am before work. I don't seem to stay asleep in the early morning hours, but I am almost always at work by 7am, so a morning walk would be like at 5:00-5:45 am - I'm not sure if I want to tackle that!!

LM - I'm with you and Melissa with regards to exercise - that is one of the items that I am pretty dedicated to sticking with. I also can nearly always get my water in - I always aim for drinking half my body weight in ounces. Our WW meeting started a walking club where you log how many miles per week you walk (or 20 minutes of another physical activity like lifting weights or aerobic class counts as 1 mile). The walking club has been motivating me to try to get in 3 miles at least 6 days per week. My problem area is the after dinner snacking time - need to get away from the kitchen.

I start my beginner's yoga class this Saturday morning. I really don't know what to expect, but I am looking forward to it. I did lose a couple pounds last night at my meeting, so I hope to be back in my comfort zone of under 145 within a few weeks.

I'll check in on Friday!
Later,
Katie
191.8/148.6/153WW

It's Friday!! And hot and humid here. I too am an early morning exerciser and my sister and I went out for a 30-minute run this morning before work. We were soaked by the time we finished, but it's behind me now and I'm ready for the day. I feel great!

Laurel: I believe you asked what a dragon boat is. It's kinda like a big canoe for 20. For the races, they attach a dragon's head and tail on the bow and stern and someone usually sits up front banging a big drum. I'm sure there's a wonderfully interesting history attached to them; I just don't know what it is. Anyone else? (My arms and shoulders are still sore!)

Melissa: You're so fortunate to have the gym at your disposal for days when it's just too awful to be outside. I would like to have that option - winter and summer.

Katie: Wow, you get your water don't you. I realized this morning that I've really gotten away from some of the better habits I developed while I was losing weight. Like water and staying away from high-fat and calorie snacks. I have decided to concentrate on water for the next week, then see if I can kick the chocolate and potato chip habit which was crept into my routine of late. I feel so much better when I eat food that's nutritious.

Have a great weekend everyone. Don't even think about lalala gallivanting about in Rome