[mousie]

Hi Turtles, just letting you know I'm still here. I finished finals on thursday then did the traditional after-finals thing: got sick. So I'm down and out, basically, but I wanted to let you know I was still here.

Eating has been screwy because of the stress of finals and then being sick, but I've gotten my workouts in and am noticing results. So I'm happy with my new program.

Judy, I'm so glad you still write to us.

Lauren, I loved that story. I'm going to remember that one.

Lin, are you sure you're not just psychically sending your cold to me?

[Itryharder]

Okay,
I feel good things happening again.

Lin,
I am sending you the best vibes in the whole wide world. We are doing this evidenced by the fact that we keep writing to each other. Your soup sounds yummy and I think I'll make a pot myself because the temp. here is 43 degrees. Egads! I know today you'll keep track of your points and start something else in baby step time to keep you on the right path.
It's not fun overeating over stress and I've got to find suitable alternatives. Many times I get on an eating roll, and it's not even enjoyable. We're going to do this!

Lauren,
Thanks so much for reminding us of WW lectures. And the biggest thanks is to your telling us how you regained 16 pounds, lost them, and then 9, and then 4, etc. Yes, I do not want to regain all I lost. Yes, I can do this. Yes, I know how to calculate points and keep track and I'm doing that today. I am also going to watch salt because I won't see a weight loss if I retain water and that's too discouraging. I am thinking of getting out my journal and writing down foods again. That's my goal for tomorrow.

Erin,
It's not a bit surprising that you got sick right after finals. I can't tell you how many times I struggled, worked too hard, took care of my kids, got everything done, came to long-awaited vacation and got sick! Not fun and I sympathize 100%. I must have followed that pattern for years and years. When I finally realized what I was doing, I eased up a bit, took a day off every once in a while when the pressure was impossible, went to bed a little earlier once in a while, and tried to relieve the stress I felt. Believe it or not, that helped. I hope this may help you a bit because you are so young that you can make life style changes that can benefit you forever. It's so neat that you're a turtle.

I am going to bake a low point dessert and have FF refried beans and sauteed peppers for dinner. That sounds unbelievable yummy to me. I think the cloud is lifting.

[Lin S]

Hi, Turtles,

I know I need to change threads, but I'm going to do it tomorrow.

Judy, what a great post. Thanks for the good vibes. What I like about your posts is your persistence and determination not to give up. You cannot help but be successful in the long run because you keep on going.

Erin, psychic colds!! What a concept. I'm feeling better so I'll send you psychic wellness now.

I weighed myself today for the first time in a long time. I didn't really want to face the number, but I know I needed to. I'm planning an extra special dinner as a celebration of a new start. I figure that since food has been my problem lately, I have a better chance of making this new start stick if I make food a positive part of the solution. So, I'm cooking some favorite recipes and I think I'll make that wonderful brownie recipe.

I'm also starting my plan to write down the menu and points in advance and then noting any changes to the plan on the same page in my journal. I need to go to the store later, so I'll get in a short walk. I'm planning to eat at the top of my range and gradually add exercise back in. I know that after being sick for a week, I cannot immediately go back to my normal program.

My plan is to set 5 pound goals. I think I can reach those often enough as I go along to keep me motivated.

Have a great day!! Happy turtlin'!

Lin

272/249 /244

[LaurenH]

Hi, tortoise beings.

Erin, hooray on being done with finals! Condolences on being sick. Yup, that was my pattern, too. Listen to Judy; she's the voice of wisdom on this one. That "student" pattern doesn't go away in the working world unless you make it disappear in favor of the path of moderation. I'm still working on it.

Judy, your plan sounds like a good one. Your dinner actually sounded pretty good to me, too. It has been in the 40s here as well -- what's up with that?? Well, this week promises to bring spring weather at last.

Lin, good for you getting on those scales again and facing the music. Your plan sounds good, too. It's so hard to break out of emotional eating; it has to be the hardest thing of all on this journey. Last week I came home from work and had the house to myself; I immediately picked up a book and started to eat mindlessly. I got through a bag of Smart Pop and a WW smoothie, then the cat nipped me (she didn't want to be picked up), which is something she never does. I burst into tears -- and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed! I figured out pretty quickly that this wasn't about the cat at all, I just needed to have a good cry and I didn't even know it. I had turned to food initially, without realizing what was behind it. Once I had the cry, I didn't feel like eating anymore. We are complicated creatures, aren't we?

Good news, turtles -- I'm going to leave my current project early, in spite of the decent money, and take a part-time gig with the company I really love (they're called Menlo -- www.menloinnovations.com ) doing software usability! It's just for about 5 weeks, although it might get extended if the client likes our work. This is perfect, because I'll also have the freelance writing for U of M to supplement it. There will be some stretches with no income (such are the pitfalls of freelancing), but we have savings to carry us through those points. I'm excited to finally be doing work I enjoy again.

As for the journey ... I've been writing it down and am still playing with the same pounds due to some overeating. Not snacking, though, which is good. TOM is just winding down, so I'm going to make a concerted effort to stay within my points every day this week. May as well work with my hormones when they're in my favor!

We're going to Canada this weekend for Memorial Day to pick up MIL. Anyone else have any holiday plans?

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/189/170s before Adirondacks

[Lin S]

Hi, Turtles,

Time for a new thread. See you all in number 66.

Lin