Chris: Hey Chrily, good to hear from you. Thank you!

Judy: congrats! That is fantastic!

Princess: good afternoon. Have fun celebrating!

Ladies:
Good afternoon. I'm feeling a little better today, last night was bad, bad, bad. I cooked, and quit part way through the second dish out of exhaustion, and shoved everything in the fridge. At least the meatloaf (3 pts, from the WW magazine) worked out. I am feeling a little better every day. I'm going to try and work out tonight. I hate feeling like this -- remind me to not go to Colorado again for a long, long time (the environment change is making me "sick", super-tired, lethargic, sad and very irritable.) Anyway, enough whining. Today is weigh-in, and I hope to maintain after having to eat out so much last week. Wish me luck!

Ariana: Good luck with your W/I...
I know how you feel though, it was not even a change of environment that caused my slump... not really sure what mine was other then being in pain and a few other issues but I still understand what you are saying and my few words of advise are this... get some sleep, you sound tired - Eat good healthy food, stay with-in your points - take some time for yourself even if it is just a long bath or a walk around the part or quilting, something that you can just get your thoughts together and at the same time release some stress.
That's it... I know, not many real words of wisdon in there just my suggestions to maybe get you back to feeling like the old Ariana...

Susan

Ariana,
Just a :grouphug: from us to help you out. The environment can do that--think of what happened. You were in a different climate and altitude. You exercised strongly and ate well, but I am sure that the professional work you did was stressful and there was plenty of it. I would think you would have been very tired. Now you're feeling the aftermath. Sleep, drink lots of water, eat what appeals to you OP, and this will pass. I bet by tomorrow you'll be feeling much better.
Take it easy and feel better.

Princess, your ds is a very lucky guy. He will have a wonderful :hb: We're all happy for him!
Judy

I am so scared to jump on the scale. I just do want to see what it says. I'm scale -o-phobic.

Just had to pop in. Night time for me. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow to discuss Kelly's surgery.

Christina

Hi everyone:

Judy - nice job on the weight loss!

Just wanted to say hi - finishing up here at work then off to get dd at university then home to pack - then off to Vegas!

So, everyone have a great upcoming week & I will talk when I return.

Bye for now.

Ladies: Good afternoon! I am definitely starting to feel better. It took about 5 days (including the weekend), but I am starting to feel myself again. I am going to take a weight lifting class if I can make it on time, or try 45 minutes on the elliptical. Work is stressful today, but hey, what's new?

Now, for WI...I was just hoping to maintain this week, after eating out 2x a day while I was in CO, and then, not being able to workout the first two days because I felt so lousy...and instead...

I LOST 2 POUNDS! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

WHICH MEANS...DRUM-ROLL PLEASE...I HIT THE 50 POUND MARK! I've lost 50 pounds! Can you believe it?!? I barely can. :O Isn't that fantastic?

:carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

I'm going to go out and buy myself two new watches -- I promised myself a nice, new watch when I hit 50 pounds (my watch died several months ago, and I didn't want to spend the money to replace it). Since I don't like expensive watches -- really expensive jewelry makes me nervous -- I'm going to get two less expensive watches, two Timexes, one for everyday, and one prettier one for going out. :D

Anyway, on to you guys... :^:

Princess: I have been trying to take care of myself; I didn't workout until last night, and then only 30 minutes. I think I am up to doing 45 minutes or an hour tonight, I am finally starting to feel significantly better. I've slept a lot the last few days, and I think that is finally starting to do the trick. I have promised myself that Sunday will be about sewing, although it is not necessarily anti-stress to do it (since I am making pajamas, not quilting, that is somehow more stressful), but once I have the PJ's done, I will definitely feel as though another weight has lifted off my shoulders (I am worried about getting them done in time for Xmas, considering how much I will be out of town and busy. Silly, I know, but I really want them finished ASAP.) Thank you for all of your good advice!

Judy: Thanks for the hug! Yes, the trip was exciting but also quite stressful, but I have been kinder to myself lately, and it seems to finally be helping.

Chrily: I think it is important to continue to weight yourself, not to miss more than a week of weigh-ins. Scales are about accountability, of course -- and accountability is an important part of losing weight. I know that I avoided scales throughout most of college, and that protected me from facing the knowledge that I was gaining, it protected me from the pain and embarassment,maybe even shame -- but it did nothing to help the problem, and in fact, only allowed it to continue. So step on the scale. If you're not happy with the results, do something about it. Re-evaluate your strategy. If you don't know what to do next, come to us. Maybe we can help. That's one of the reasons why we're here, right? Good ideas and moral support?

Bandit -- good to hear from you! Again, enjoy Vegas!

Okay, Okay, this Bale of Turtles rocks!
Ariana, this is such unbelievably wonderful news! You lost 2 pounds following a week away and it is the same week in which you lost 50 pounds. :goodscale: :bravo: :dance: :tread: :cheer:
Weigh to go girl!
Judy

Happy Friday!
 

Ariana: You rock! I am so so so happy for you! 50 lbs is awesome... really awesome! Have fun making your PJ's... you are way more advanced a sewer then I am... if it is anything more then a straight line I am out of luck :D

Well my son's birthday went really well last night... he was so surprised and excited about his car... He was just stunned and never saw it coming so it was wonderful to see his face when he opened the box and found the car keys in it... very cool!

Bandit: have a great time in Vegas... I have never been there but I hear it is a blast!

Chris and Judy: How are you both doing?

Well have a great day all!


Susan

Well the meeting with Kelly's surgeon went well. We now have to get two more procedures done on him in a couple weeks to determine what kind of surgery they will do. But we talked and he wants to try to lose some weight before the surgery because the doctor says it will be easier on him. The only down side other than the risks is the recuperation period. We thought he'd be down for a few days...looks like he won't be able to work for 3 to 4 weeks. There's a bite to the finances. But get this...swallowing will be difficult and food won't go down as well until the esophagus heals because of all the swelling so the poor guy won't be allowed to eat red meat or bread for a month afterwards. Those are the two worst offenders for choking. He'll be a little twig man after that.

Well I took your advice and jumped on the scale this morning. See the other day when I jumped on it was almost at 212. I was SCARED! When I peeked this morning, it was 209.7. Better but not good. I've been watching my eating this week and drinking more water, while laying off the pop so much. Must help some. If I can just figure out where I go wrong and how to keep me on track, the weight usually comes off quite easy. It's just keeping me there on track that's the problem. Last year, my dr. did a profile on me and I answered all these questions, and I have been diagnosed as having a binge eating disorder but I quit going to her after my weight loss stalled. Of course their cure was really restricted calories, medication, and protein shakes. That doesn't quite get to the heart of it all.

I am going to kill two puppies (hubby's idea. He figured Simon needed a play buddy). ANyhow, they both chew on the furniture now. The little guy is only 14 weeks old and Simon is 10 months old. I know Max is still teething but I have rawhide chews, chewie toys, etc all over the house.....

Well gotta go. If anyone has any good breakfast ideas for me, let me know. I'm bored with cereal. I'm VERY allergic to yeast (so no bread or donut things) and VERY allergic to wheat. That knocks out alot of foods. Darn it.


CHristina

Chris, I'm so glad the meeting with your dh's doc went well. I am also happy for you that your :goodscale: worked out so well. It's important to keep track of our weight on the scale because sometimes we're doing just fine, think we are not doing well, and then overeat because of our fears. Crazy, but it's happened to me. So, I'm glad things are going better for you.

Princess,
I am so glad you were able to pull off such a great surprise for your ds for his :hb:. Good for you! How terrific. You sound optimistic and your weight loss is going well. Isn't it funny how just a week or so ago all of us were stuck in a plateau mode and now we're all losing again? Without you guys I'm afraid I might just throw in the towel. After all, I want to be healthy and fit and I want to weigh less. I did fine yesterday and it's been a good week so far. After this I am going to make a Core meatloaf to have on hand for dinner tonight since dd and dgrandson will be here again today and we often get pizza when they come. Pizza once a week is fine for me, but I don't want it two days in a row.

Ariana,
So glad you treated yourself to watches. It's great to celebrate success with something you can hold and admire and remind yourself that you're doing well. :bravo:

Bandit, I bet you're in Vegas by now. good luck! :cheer:

Mousie and everybody chime in as we go through the holidays. We can offer support and you can give a lot to us.
Judy
Have a good weekend.
:cool:

Happy Monday
 

Morning all!

W/I went very well on Saturday which really surprised me as it is that TOM for me... but I was down 2.4 so my total lost is 36 lbs! I have passed my half way mark which makes me very happy.

I have to run to a meeting so will have to come back later to check on the weekend posts that I missed.

Have a happy day!
Susan

Susan, weigh to go! This is fabulous. What a wonderful WI and TOM to boot.
Something's going on and it's very good. Keep up the good work. Yay!
It's great that you've reached your halfway mark. Day by day keeps us all going strong. :bravo: :cheer: :dancer:
Judy :cool:

Ladies -- sorry I didn't chime in on Friday, I went out to lunch with some people at work and I didn't have time to get in a response. Well, my weekend was nice, I went out with friends on both Saturday and Sunday night. Sunday, I managed to finish one of the two tops in the pajama set for mom, and the pants were already done, so I only have to finish one more pajama set (2-4 hours of work) and they'll all be done, unless I find out this week that her waist is much smaller than the measurements I made it too, that will add about two hours to fix the waist. I'm leaving town Tuesday afternoon, so you probably won't hear from me after Tuesday until next Monday. Happy Thanksgiving, ladies!


Judy -- thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so excited! :D That was exactly my thought -- the watches were something I wanted, a carrot in front of this horse's nose, but they are also a tangible reminder of success... :D Re plateaus -- it is so true -- last week we were pretty much all frustrated, now we are rocking and rolling again. It just goes to show what re-evaluating and persisting can do for you!

Susan: Thank you so much! I am thrilled too. :D I would probably enjoy the pajama sewing more if I weren't on a deadline. I used to sew clothes a lot, and while I am only adequate in that department, it is enough to get the work done. Congrats on your WL and getting to that milestone of 1/2 way there...isn't it thrilling? <big grin> Also, I'm glad your son liked his gift so much.

Chrily: Hooray for you for stepping on the scale. It's important to be honest with ourselves about our progress and our status, and regular WI's are part of that. I think that, if you want to stay on track, you need to honestly evaluate why you slip, and work on strategies to strategies to get around it. For example, I was a stress eater, so I found other activities (quilting and working out) to cut my stress instead of eating. If you do the alternate activity long enough, your body can start to crave the alternate activity instead of the food, unless you're really, really stressed (and then the craving is not as strong.) Tell us -- why do you think you slip? Glad the meeting with Kelly's Dr. went well. Re breakfast ideas -- what about yogurt and fruit?

Today I took a conscious effort to eating. I do notice I eat when i'm stressed or bored...but this is interesting, I ate two waffles for breakfast and was full but on the way to work, I couldn't get it out of my head that I didn't need to eat anymore. I kept thinking I should get something fast food and rip the egg out to eat for protein and throw the rest away because I was afraid I didn't eat enough and I would get hungry later. I think I eat MORE as an attempt to make sure I don't get hungry later on rather than eating to just being satisfied and full but not too full. This always fails. But be happy...I didn't take the bait this morning and I finally pushed the little voice out of my head and didn't eat any more until breaktime and had a yogurt. I didn't eat ANY candy today either.

I keep screwing up my typing. My hands are dry and my cuticle cracked and tore on the side of my thumb and its a little infected and REALLY sore.

Ariana-I guess I might have missed something but are you making pajamas for your mom for a Christmas gift? I'm making jammie bottoms for all my girls for presents. Hopefully I can get them done. Kayla gets flannel Polly pocket bottomes, Nicole gets Hello Kitty, and for Tiana I found some way cool flannel with the Lucky Charms leprechan and logo all over.

Okay...gotta get to bed.

Christina

Morning all!
 

Well it is cold here today... but sunny and it is supposed to warm up for the week with the afternoons getting up into the 50's.... yah! That means that I can take walks to help get rid of the holiday calories and since only my mom is coming in for the holiday she will take strolls with me... she does not walk fast or long but will take strolls and that will work to keep things moving in the right direction.

Ariana: That is just too cool that you are making PJ's! I am so jealous of your talent! Your mom is going to love and treasure them, what a special gift!

Chris: You are a sewer also?!? How wonderful that you can make some holiday gifts also!

Judy: How are you doing? What is going on with you lately?

Bandit: What is happening in your neck of the woods?

Is everyone ready for the Thanksgiving holiday? My meeting leader said something that really sunk in for me and I have been planning my up coming holiday around it... She said "it is only a one day holiday... not a four day holiday" and I think that my family tends to think of it as a holiday weekend and not one day so I have changed my thought pattern. I am planning some game nights, movie nights, take the dogs for walks in the afternoon, go shopping on Friday with the rest of the bargin shoppers, etc... things to keep me out of the "food" environment/kitchen for four days straight. Not sure if it will work but it is worth the try.

Have a happy day!
Susan