Hi Friends!
Sonia, thank you for your note...I just got internet access yesterday (Saturday)! I can't believe it took so long, I've missed everyone. I'll you later bore with the details of this very challenging transition, but there's one thing I can say...I'm very happy to be back in the States, so it was a good decision. Now I'm ready to start hard core again because I have not been watching what I eat or exercising. But that's all changing...more later, for now I'm just happy to "see" your smiling faces!
Love,
Susan
Hello friends! Welcome new baby! What is her name? Congrats Katie!
Sorry I havent been around. I don't know what I have been doing. I need to get back here and figure out what my problem is. Actually I started crying a bit in the shower today. After exercising 5 times last week (I ran a total of 14 miles plus some walking and weight lifting I gained 2 pounds!!!) My eating is OK, I dont think bad enough to gain 2 pounds with the exercise. I am just really frustrated.
I will be interested to hear continued updates on your elimination diet, sonia!
In good news, I had my kitchen licensed a couple of weeks ago! So I am all set. I got a new website too! But I don't have any work right now! LOL. Oh well, I am just kind of easing into this and with the economy so bad here I am not expecting to be super busy for awhile. But it is all mine! yippee!
I hope to get back here more now. I need all the help I can get. It was good to hear from everyone and to get the updates.
Congratulations Merissa! I can't wait to see your new website, I wish you the best of luck. Your cakes are amazing, I know you'll do well when the economy perks up.
Great to have you back, Susan! Looking forward to hearing what you've been up to!
Merissa, I'm jealous! But congrats! It's exciting news. I've had two weeks with no cake orders as well, but it's picking up again now, so hopefully it will for you too.
I've now been on my diet for 9 days, and still going well. I weighed myself after 7, and had lost 1 lb. This must be the longest I have EVER stuck to a diet!! I've been feeling a lot better the last 2 days, so the effort will have all been worth it if I can stick with it!
Katie, congratulations on your baby girl. Hope to see some pics soon.
Susan, so glad to hear your settling in well. Glad your back with us. I am sure you can tell some stories, can't imagine what you have to go through to move to a whole other country.
Sonia, anxious to hear how this works for you. I have heard how food intolerance can affect so many things.
Merrisa, congrats on the new kitchen.
I cna't seem to stay focused. Tried the Adkins diet for a few weeks. Did it a few yrs ago and lost about 1 lb a day. total of 50 lbs in a few months but didn't follow thru on the maintaince and put some back on. This time 3 weeks later only 4 lbs. I got discouraged and havn't been very good at all the last couple of weeks. Spring starts the end of the week, and not even looking forward to swimsuit season. ARGHHHHHH. I need to loose at least 15 lbs, 25 would be even better. What are you guys doing, having any luck
Wow, it's nice to be back here, and great to catch up with how everyone is doing.
At the risk of boring you, let me fill you in on what's been going on. After arriving in Houston the first week of January, my furniture came the next week and I was completely unpacked (albeit in a very small apartment), my agency talked me into moving into a bigger house around the corner from the apartment. I immediately and initially said no, but after reconsidering and with some persuasion from the directors, I consented. This provided me the opportunity to actually use my couch and an armoire, which would not fit into the apartment. I moved about 3 weeks ago (never actually got computer access at the apartment and just got it here last night). After 1 week of living here, my agency asked me to consider taking a foster child, a 9 year old girl who was in a family that did not want to continue to foster. They additionally asked me to consider adopting her. I agreed to take her in and thought seriously about adopting. This child is unusual to be at my agency because of her age, we do not take children over 6, however she has been there 6 years and no one has wanted to adopt her. She is HIV positive and not yet a citizen, so there are considerable issues. Anyway, I took the child in and one week later, the state called us in and said people who work for foster care/adoptive agencies cannot foster or adopt children from that agency. This is a huge change, as many people who work there have adopted and fostered in the 27 years of existence. The agency asked me to resign so that I could continue to care for her and they would provide financial support to me until the adoption went through, then I could return to work. The adoption cannot go through until the child is granted citizenship, which could be 12-18 months. I discovered very quickly that I did not want to be a full time, stay-at-home mom. On top of all this, I additionally came to the conclusion that having a child is not for me. Which made me feel like a terrible, terrible person. As a consequence, I did a lot of crying...a lot. Nothing felt right, nothing felt good, I felt out of place, I didn't have an established support system here, I felt like my whole life had been turned upside down. I talked to my bosses, explained to them I was not willing to stay home...after all, the only reason I came to Houston was to work for this agency. If not here, I would have chosen other cities I'd preferred to live in. Anyway, after much discussion, we decided to move the child into a non-employee foster home and continue to look for an adoptive placement and I returned to work. The child was devastated, which resulted in my feeling even more guilty. What a life lesson...I've begun to feel that either I have a parenting gene missing, or just maybe my "time" to parent passed 20 or 25 years ago. I'm back at work; our office moved yesterday and I don't care if I ever move again in my life. No one's ever heard me say that, but the last 3 months have sucked the life out of me. Now I finally feel I can begin to relax, live, re-center, and begin again to work on my weight and health. I just got computer access 2 nights ago and now feel I can rejoin the world. I look forward to catching up with everyone and hope you are all well.
Well, you've been through quite an emotional time, Susan. It's a big thing to take on someone else's child. I'm sure you're not missing a parenting gene! My sister has foster children, and I really don't know how she does it. I certainly couldn't!!
Alaina, 4lbs might be less than you were hoping, but it's still great!
Oh susan...! what an emotional roller coaster! Wow. I don't think you are missing a parenting gene. Of course there are people out there who feel that fulfilled and rewarded to take in foster/adopt special needs children. But I am sure it is quite a different experience from bonding with an infant. I find it quite interesting that they approached and asked you to adopt a child and to leave your job! That is such a personal decision, one requires much consideration...maybe weeks/months or years to answer! While I love being a mother, it wouldn't be a fit for me either. Youre not a terrible person and there isnt anything to feel guilty about. feel better!
Hi everyone. sorry for the MIA status. I have been concentrating on Spark People tracking all of my food and workouts to see if anything will help me start to loose. I have found that tracking all of these does help. I am now down 9 pounds and feel great. I was sick last week so didnt do any of my afternoon workouts and my morning ones were less than stellar, but I am back at it this week.
Katie, congrats!!! I love babies.
Sonia, I hope you find out what is causing you problems. I have a friend who cant eat wheat and eats a gluten free diet. It is dooable, but is a challenge. Keep up with it you will figure it out and feel tons better.
Merissa, it could be just a fluke fluctuation, or some muscle increase. Dont get discouraged, keep at it. congrats on the kitchen!! I would love to do that.
Alaina, 4 pounds is great. Keep at it, As the years pass it is harder and harder to get the weight off. Dont quit.
Susan, what a time you have had. I am glad you are back and safe. Dont feel that you are missing any kind of parenting gene. I know I couldnt have kids now, at this time in my life. I, like you think my time was at least 15 years ago. You had the misfortune of being roped into this without having the time necessary to really give it the thought needed. You are not a horrible person, I think you made the right decision rather than making that change to keep her and then ending up regreting it or resenting her for what you had lost (your independance, privacy, job....) Nothing that would have been her fault, but none the less you may have ended up being bitter.
Yea glad we have all come "home"!!!
Thank you everyone for your kind and supportive words. I love our group!
Hi, all! I have just gotten the internet connected here this afternoon, so I am back now and will be able to check in more often.
Katie, congrats on the new baby! Glad to hear that everrything is going well and that you are able to have more time to spend with the new little one.
Susan, please, please, don't beat yourself up for not adopting a child that you feel you will not be able/willing to care for. It is a big decision and is not for everyone. You have to get settled yourself before committting to another life.
Alaina, 4 pounds is 4 pounds, and you are that much closer to your goal now.
Swimsuit season is here now in central Florida. I am not scared of it. I am, however, working too much to enjoy it (beach across the street notwithstanding). I worked six days last week and will again this week. Thank goodness that my husband is doing all of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry and I am able to do absolutely nothing on my day off. At least I am bringing home some money now. I hear it will be like this for the rest of the summer. Next November, December, and January, things will slow down to next to nothing again.
It is nice to see that everybody is making their way back now. Soon the whole gang will be here again and the place will be hopping with everybody jabbering away.
BTW last I checked I was at 156 pounds, which hasn't changed, but my clothes are looser on me. Of course, if I continue working like I am I will lose about 50 pounds soon.
Wow, Karen, I wish my hubby was that helpful!! So glad to hear you have regular work.
Michelle, you're doing great! Keep it up!
This is day 14 of my diet. I'm doing really well, and have a lot more energy. I am going to start reintroducing things now to determine what exactly I need to stay away from.
Karen I almost have to say "congratulations" that you are working so much! It is good to hear that you are staying busy in this economy! It is pretty bad here in Michigan. We are fortunate that my DH still has a job, they let a lot of people go a few months ago. The thing is that he work for an auto supplier designing bumpers and such.
Good morning everyone. It is a great day to start a new week. Everyone have a great day!
Thank you, Michelle. It was a good day. I had a helper at work today, the new girl was following me around for her training this morning. I really needed some help,too. My allergies have been bad. I actually had to take the day off yesterday. I'm feeling a bit beter now but still very tired. I might be working seven days this week.
Merissa, I do feel fortunate to have a job and to be getting some hours. I think I have to enjoy it while I can.
WOW glad to see everyone back on here!
Last week was SPring Break here so had alot of family time which also meant NO exercising. But I did get my 200 crunches in yesterday.
Now my dh is sick so we all know what that means for me LOL.....
Keep up the great work ladies.
Go Sonia! Congratulations...I need your energy and renewed enthusiasm! I need to get back on track...
Congratulations, Sonia!
I am glad to see everyone back online, too.
So much for my seven work days this week. My boss has given me today off. I have not been feeling well and he wants me to get some rest today and Friday. I am having an allergic reaction to all of the tree pollen around here. It is so much worse here than it was on the east coast of Florida.
Have a great day, everyone! Talk to you soon.
Karen
Hi ladies.
Karen I am so sorry about your allergies. I am fortunate enough not to have them right now. Hope you feel better soon.
My home computer has issues and is in getting fixed so I will have only my work computer for a bit.
I am making progress and working out twice a day most days and feel great.
Have a great morning everyone!!!
Katie she is just ADORABLE! Congrats again. SOrry you are having to work full time and the 2 days a week didn't work out but at least you have trustworthy babysitters that in itself is a blessing.
Katie
She is so pretty!!!
Good morning everyone!
Ohhhhhh, what a little angel!!! And congrats on the loss, Katie.
Michelle, however do you find time to workout twice a day??????
Good morning everyone!!
Sonia, I MAKE myself get up at 3:45 every work day to do at least 2 miles with my Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds DVD's (love them by the way), then M - W (and now I can add Th since Dad went back north) I do MFC in the afternoon after work. Sometimes I do Friday afternoon as well, but not enough to add into my equation. Saturdays I do at least 4 miles sometimes 5 with Leslie. Sunday is my break day.
The reason I say MAKE myself get up is because who in their RIGHT mind gets up that early to workout. I have found over the years if I depend on working out in the afternoons, things come up and I skip it, or I get home and make the mistake of sitting down first, then never get up. So I know if I get up that early I will get in at least one workout at day.
I know since I dont have kids, it is easier for me. I dont know how you all with kids find the time to do everything and still have time to breath!!!!
Have a great day everyone.
Hi sorry I haven't really been consistant in my posts lately. I have been doing my 200 crunches at least 3x a week. DH's party is 2 weeks from TODAY! AHHHH so my 1 1/2 years of planning are finally coming to a head! I'm getting nervous and excited ALL at once!
Also my oldest is going to be starting Kindergarten in August so this am I went and toured the charter school she got accepted to and I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed and nervous and sad all at once LOL....
My babies are growing up!!! In August my oldest will be in Kindergarten and my youngest will be starting Pre-K ugh time flies entirely tooo fast.
Katie ~ Your baby is absolutely gorgeous, congratulations! I'm sorry you had to go back to work full time. What a blessing to have your parents watch your kids, I know that must make you feel better.
Michelle ~ 3:45??? THREE FORTY-FIVE??? Geez, what time do you have to be at work?? I'm very impressed, sounds like you are "in the zone".
OK, I have a confession and need some advice. I don't like my KitchenAid. What's wrong with me? Did anyone else feel like this when you first used one? Maybe I just need to get used to it. I have trouble getting the bowl out, it seems like you can't use it unless you're making a huge cake because the beaters don't go down far enough to reach the batter (unless it's on a fast speed). Any words of wisdom? do I just need to use it more and work out the kinks?
I have to be at work at 7, but I have about a 45 minute drive. I like to spend a bit of time with DBF in the morning, so that means that I get up a bit earlier. I dont mind, I am a morning person anyway.
I only use my kitchen aid for butter cream. I use a hand mixer and my batter bowl from Pampered Chef for my cake mixes.
Good morning everyone. How is everyone doing this morning, and this week so far?
I have made it up to work out both mornings missed yesterday afternoon had errands to run.
Plan on it today though!!
OK, this is the first time in a couple of days I've been able to get on...anyone else having difficulties?
I joined Curves! I went for my first session yesterday and really enjoyed it. I really liked that everyone seemed to know everyone else and was very friendly. I also like that it's for women only, I just feel a bit more comfortable. So I'm hopeful...I've gained about 5 pounds (it really hurts to say that!) and I'm ready to lose my next 35!
I could NOT get up that early, of course I am not a morning person either....
I haven't gotten any crunches done this week so far but I WILL do them tomorrow I WILL (did that sound convincing?). Today I have spend ALL morning cleaning ONE room in my house BUT I scrubbed the window seals and cleaned the blinds did the spot bot on the floor. The rest of the rooms SHOULD go faster UGH I hate cleaning for a party especially for ppl dh works with AH the pressure to have a nice home.....
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