WELCOME to all who choose to stop here. We are a fun group providing support, encouragement and motivation. We hope you will sit a spell, grab a bottle of water and chat awhile. We would love to get to know you.

Maggie's focus!

Good morning ladies! It was sooooo nice to get away! We had a nice delivery before we left the house on Tuesday morning as well. It was a job offer packet. WooHoo! That job came through so DH starts on Monday!!!

Honey and I had a great time. We had a really nice room with a huge jacuzzi. We walked downtown but it was soooo hot we felt as if our time would be better spent doing other things (if ya know what I mean! ) Gosh, I hope you younger girls realize us 'old folks' still do 'other things'. At night, after dinner we saw that they had free entertainment in the lounge so we moseyed over there. They had moved the entertainment out to the patio and so we sat there for several hours listening to music. My honey even waltzed with me twice! We had a great time!!!!

Food has been awful this week. My scale is not saying that I am 'up' any since Monday, but I have learned that what you ate yesterday may not show up for a couple of days. Sooooo, here's to a crappy week, food wise, but a pretty decent week otherwise.

Oh, gotta tell ya. We stopped on the way home yesterday to see about getting a new van (lots of perks for turning in the old lease early, etc.). So anyway, the salesman shows us a van, we sign the papers, we qualify for the loan (with DH not working, that was a trick) and then an hour after we get home the salesman calls and says, "I'm sorry, but the van I sold you was already sold to someone else!" Ain't life a B*^%#????? And of course because of this promotion, these vans are hard to find and now he has to look for another one for us.....and the special incentives expire on Monday!!!!

I have been working for the last 5 months on a recognition program for the staff at the nursing home where my father was. (I had just agreed to be the chairperson of the Family Council and a month later my dad died, but I stayed on to get this project launched) We solicited gift certificates from lots of businesses and we will be giving out recognition to everyone who has been nominated for our I Got Caught Caring award. I'm really excited to be able to head up this project, they took such great care of my dad. Soooo, my afternoon will be taken up with our first recognition reception. Wish me luck.

Cindy: I've never quite heard of 'borrowing a dog'. That's cute. I bet the beach is beautiful at night.

Maggie: Good Going on your loss, girlfriend! You're on a roll!

Chatty: Welcome to our group. We're so glad to have you. Hope you'll be stopping in regularly. Congrats on rejoining WW. I too have lost and put on and then some. It's not a fun process! But with constant encouragement, we WILL succeed!

Terri: Thanks for the definition of 'dawg'. That was cute.

Brenda: I know how hard it is not to get discouraged. Just hang in there. The loss is coming.

Well, ladies, thanks so much for your well wishes. We had a great time. Now it's time to buckle down and get this D*^# weight OFF!!!

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole of France

Thinthinker: Ohmygosh!! I had to go back to the previous thread to see where you were going to be going. This little touristy town you speak of may very well be a half hour drive away from where I live - and a 10 minute drive from where I work. Whodathunkit?!!?

Wanted to mention that I like reading your little humorous stories and inspirational tips on (what I call) the Make Me Laugh thread. You have quite a collection. I actually printed a couple for hubby to read. My SIL was over before DH got home from work, and I said, "Here read these." Well, she did then put them in her purse to take home for HER hubby! So, not only I enjoyed them.

2oM (Annie)

Hi Annie: Glad you stopped in. Actually, I'm from Sterling Heights. We went to Frankenmuth for our anniversary. And my youngest son goes to Kettering University (the old GMI) in Flint. Small world, eh???? Glad you like the humor, I was afraid that no one laughs anymore!

I saw this thread and just wanted to say hi. You guys seem to be really great for each other and I think that is awesome.

I also really love Maggie's signature. I love that quote and I am going to try to stick by it. Thanks for the thought.

Have a good night and good luck to all!
Melissa

Good Evening Everyone,

Hope everyone is having a great OP day. It is hotter than the dickens here in Indiana...muggy, hot, sticky and just what we all wanted this past winter. The air is on inside and everyone is happy, but I still love the open windows and yes, even the humidity. Suppose to cool down next week, so the windows will be wide open again and the curtains blowing in the breeze.
Just finished day three, but have to admit that I struggled day two. I was completely on track until I got an invitation to go out as a group after bell choir rehearsal. I hated to say no and I enjoy the group, but unfortunately we went to a Mexican place and all those free chips and salsa put me over for the day. However today I lowered my points and with 30 minutes till bed, I think I am right back on track. Next time I will just have to sit on my hands when we go to a Mexican place! Lesson learned anyway, so that is good.
Thinthinker, your trip sounds wonderful. Glad you and DH had a great time. We go on vacation in a few weeks and I am really ready for a change in scenery.
Well, better scoot....have a 6:30 shift in the am so it is early rising for me!

Chatty

Good Thursday night ladies, it's a hot, humid one here. I've been keeping up with the water and the exercise, but not doing so great with the food. Borrowed a dog, again, tonight, and went for a walk. Managed to ignore ice cream's siren song after the walk, but got mugged by a bunch of cookies! I just hate when I do that. No more eating for me tonight. Just water, water, water (and then probably bathroom, bathroom, bathroom) I am taking a vacation day from work tomorrow and am looking forward to the break, even though I have a whole list of errands to run, beginning with car maintenance checkup/oil change. I bought a bunch of fruit tonight (after walk and cookies) and will have it ready for tomorrow! Ripe apricots beat cookies any old time. Hope that you each have a great evening and a solid OP day tomorrow. Cindy

Maggie, I'm wibbling and wobbling my way back to program. Darn my bad habits. Why is it so easy to fall back into the bad old ways and so difficult to reestablish the good ways?? Enjoyed your colorful "FOCUS." I should print it out and paste it on my refrigerator and at my desk at work. Keep up the good work and your strong focus!

Geri, your anniversary special celebration sounded delightful. Glad that you were wined and dined with style. Congrats on being selected to head the awards committee. It is a special honor. BTW, "borrowing" a dog is what I do to take a walk at night in the city and stay safe. My cats are stay at home girls and would not take kindly to accompanying me on a walk outside of their homeworld. Mom and dad's dog, on the other hand, is raring to go anywhere outside. He's barky, wary and full of energy--a wonderful protector and willing partner on the exercise/walking front. They live closeby so it is no problem to borrow the dog at a moment's notice. Geri, I'm sending some OP thoughts your way. I know that this week will be a better OP one for both you and me. Here's to you, kiddo.

Terri, Chatty, Melissa, Annie, you go girls! Keep up the good work OP.

Good morning ladies! Food has just been awful this week. Heck, last week too for that matter. I'm soooo ashamed to tell you that since I was the cheerleader 2 weeks ago and all of you have caught on. Once you start feeding your face, it sure is hard to stop! I was hoping to do some damage control for the next couple of days, but I have movie theatre jobs today and tomorrow so I'm not sure how much control I will have. Thoughts of skipping WI on Monday have even crossed my mind. Not that I would give up, just that I would give myself a good week OP before facing the music. Of course I have tried that tactic before only to blow another week and still not have made any progress. It's these kind of weeks that make me wish I didn't have to face a scale!!!

Anyway, enough of this whining. Honey had his physical yesterday and definitely starts work on Monday! They have not found another van for us at the dealership yet. And the recognition reception I was working on for the nursing home went wonderfully! We had all kinds of positive comments. I think the staff really appreciated getting a thank you from family members. The home does little stuff for them periodically, but this is the first time that there has been a family council and the first time they have gotten recognition in this form. So I was very happy to be pioneering the effort!!

Oh BTW, honey suggested that we all jump out of bed and run to the scale first thing in the morning. That way our weigh in will be done before gravity has a chance to take hold and make us weigh more. That's just his theory!!!

Melissa: You're right, we are really good for each other. Some of us have been here a long time. I hope you will decide to stop by often. We would enjoy hearing from you again.

Chatty: Our trip was really, really nice. I always have soooo much to do when I am home, even if I'm taking a 'night off' it seems like my brain won't relax. It keeps thinking of all the things I should be doing and more often than not I get up and do something else besides relax. At least when you leave your house behind you're not tempted to 'do something else' because you can't. ;p Where are you guys going for vacation??? Someplace fun, I hope.

Cindy: I love the 'borrow a dog'. I guess you would want a pooch to walk with at night in the city. Is he ferocious???? Probably not, but good company anyway. Congrats on the water and exercise. That's 2 things you're doing this week that I'm not. I'm sure your WI will reward you for your efforts. Isn't it hard to get back on track????

Well, ladies, I'm going to run. I'm due at the theatre by 12:30 and I want to run to the fruit market before I go. Love to all.

"To achieve, you must believe something and want something with all your might, then, you must be willing to commit yourself to a course."

Thinthinker: Well, I was wrong about the city, but F'muth is only about 1.25 hours away for me. Fun little place. Sure it's hard to stop eating once you fall back on old habits, that's why most of us are here. Just start over. Every day is a new one.

melhoward: I like the part of Maggie's posts that say stuff like "Maggie sippin Hazelnut coffee . . . " I can just picture her sitting out on a swing on a huge porch just relaxing. Kinda like one of those International Coffee commercials.

chatty: I like the fresh air as opposed to the air conditioning, too. When I was a little younger, I didn't mind the 80+ degrees weather, but lately, it just feels overwhelming. Now, I welcome the air conditioning, but still prefer the "real" air. I enjoy Mexican food and when I'm strong, I can order very sensibly at the big chain restaurants, but it IS the free chips that make it hard. I've managed it in the past, but it takes every ounce to keep it (my thinking) together. You did excellent watching your "day after" points to make up for the chips.

lunacat: Borrowing a dog is a very good idea! Everyone benefits. Once you get the dog into the habit, it'll be hard to find an excuse not to exercise. His big brown eyes will say, "Take me for a walk", and how can anyone turn that down? They are so fun.

Have a good weekend ladies,
2oM (Annie)

Good Evening Ladies,

Hot, humid, sticky...that is the weather here again and I hate to admit it but the air does feels pretty good right now. Just watering the flowers made me sweat!
I finished day four and am still looking at 3 points to use before bed. I think a yogurt cup has my name on it!
Maggie...your deck sounds wonderful. I would love a forest to look out on, but how are the buggers at night? We live on the golf course so the only wild things are the ones that swing clubs!
Annie...I am impressed that you can even order at a Mexican place. I did a salad that night with a light dressing on the side. I did not want to blow it too bad and I knew those chips were just calling my name!
Thinthinker...I know the feeling of not wanting to face the scale. I did that and now have gained all but 2# back. GO! Sometimes just facing it prevents us from quiting when the going gets tough.
Lunacat...you looking for a dog? I have one that I would love to give you! Warning....she sheds, barks and jumps up on everyone who walks in the door! We call her psycho dog at the moment, but that is a whole other story.
Well better scoot. Housework is calling me. I have comminted the next two days to playground installation at my child's school. Since I did all the begging for the money for new equipment, I better show up tomorrow to help put it in!
Have a great OP weekend everyone.

Chatty

Good Sunday afternoon everyone, it is a beautiful cool day today, with low humidity, bright sun and clear skies (for now). Last night was miserablely hot and humid, but during the wee hours of the morning, all of that changed. Don't you just love it when that happens? I'm hanging on to program by my fingernails. Only managed to keep up with the drinking water and modest exercise parts of it for the past 3 days. I know that I can do better than this, and I will. I've stocked up on delicious summer fruits. Now I just have to remember to eat the fruit instead of ? Spent all of yesterday, trying to help with the care of my elderly aunt who is growing increasingly senile. We've been trying to help her for the last six months, but it is a very difficult and worsening situation. We believe that she has Alzheimer's Disease, but don't know for sure. At the end of the month, she will undergo a comprehensive evaluation at the hospital's Aging Center where the doctors are geriactric specialists. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will cooperate with us in going to the hospital. I'm going to leave pretty soon for a pedicure appointment. It is a luxury that I only have done in the summer when my toes are visible in sandals. I am really looking forward to a little pampering today. Here's hoping that you each have a happy first day of July and a great OP week. Cindy

Chatty, WTG on your strong OP days! I gain strength from you and the other ladies, here at the board. Thanks for the "offer" of a dog. She sounds like a handful for you all, but I know that you wouldn't part with her for the world. Mom and dad's dog is quite a handful too, and "borrowing him," on a part-time basis is enough for me! Have a good one.

Maggie, apricots, and now, peaches and cantalope rule. Have a good one.

Annie, since the weather is so nice today, I just might "borrow" the dog tonight again. It will be a pleasure, as compared to last night, when it was agony! Your right, it is hard to turn down his soft brown eyes (as well as his scratching claws as he jumps on me, and loud hysterical barking, as he runs crazily around the yard in excited anticipation, nearly knocking me down) Have a good one.

Geri, oh girlfriend, I agree that it is hard to get on track again, but you are doing great OP overall. Don't let these little program zigs and zags get you down. You will be back on track with renewed vigor, soon. You have the skills and the will. Go Geri go! Mom and Dad's dog is a nervous, high-strung dog. He's not too big, around 65 pounds, but is very strong. Loves to bark and growl at passersby who dare walk too close to us. I think that he is saying "stay away, I'm big, I'm tough, and I'm SCARED." I feel safe with him by my side, but I also feel a little bad when kids want to pet him and I have to tell them that he isn't friendly. I think that he is all bark and no bite, but I don't want to take a chance. Well, we will go though this again tonight on our walk. Have a good one.

Hello ladies!

Boy have I been AWOL. Not really, I have posted but for some reason my posts disappear! Now I have no clue what I said in those posts.

I haven't been doing the best with food the last few days. I haven't been out of control totally but I have been over in my points.

Today my MIL took us out to lunch after church because tomorrow is my birthday. She really wanted the fried chicken place which has the best fried chicken and mashed potatoes. At least I'm not eating anything for an evening meal. Its kind of disturbing because here I am at 41 still battling the same weight I had when I turned 40. Only lost about 15 pounds in this last year. And have lost all my exercise stamina as well. So I need to do some soul searching and get my act together for the WHOLE week, not just part of it and do it every week.

Geri - I bet your DH is feeling a big weight off his shoulders. I'm so thrilled for you. And what you did for the staff at the nursing home. You have such a big heart. Hang in there, lets help each other get our act together and quit dinking around. We need your cheerleader!

Melissa - If I hadn't said welcome before, welcome to the group. Glad to see a new face.

Chatty - Looks like you're doing fairly well. I admit I'm a wuss to the heat. The only time I really enjoy the sweat is when I'm bike riding.

Cindy - My heart and prayers go out to you and your family in dealing with your aunt. Its so hard when family gets old and can no longer make their own decisions. Be sure to take care of yourself like you're doing with the pedicure. And all the luscious fruit sounds wonderful! I can't wait to get my dog home when we move. He'll require lots and lots of exercise for me and him!!

Maggie - You're doing so great with sticking to your point total day. You keep me hanging in there!

Anyone else, if I missed you, I'm thinking about us all anyway. Keep up all the great work. Have a great evening and start of the week.

Take care,

Wow,

Everyone must be busy for the holiday! Hope you're doing okay OP.

Tonight we're going out for Italian then its back OP for me. No more dinking around.

Have a great evening!