Good morning, all!
It's storming here. I was hoping to make it in to work before the heavy stuff started but I didn't.
Hubby is still hurting. He was given atnibiotics and they drained some infection out of his teeth. His follow up appointment is in a couple weeks and he is hoping that they will get started on the real work on them. He went back to work today.
Well, gotta go get ready to work now. I'll check in later.
Have a great day, all!
Ooooh, that sounds painful, Karen! Hope he's feeling some relief soon!
Merissa, your bag is gorgeous! It looks like it's reversible too!!??
I've had a good day. I spent about 1 1/2 hours brushcutting (and boy, it's hard work - I was dripping with sweat when I'd finished!) and the good thing about it, is I can see results and it makes me want to do more, so I'm going to attempt some more tomorrow! I've also eaten well, so I'm hoping to be down in weight tomorrow!
Hubby also had a good day. His back is still sore, but he actually did some diving today. (His big contract involves cleaning the growth off, and testing the thickness of 200 piles under a wharf) He spent 2 1/2 hours underwater when it was his turn, and said his back felt much better down there than on the surface!!
Good Morning everyone
I do feel better today thanks Sonia. I got up and worked out the first time in three days!!!
It is no cheat wednesday!!! How are we all doing. Me...not so good already. I didnt have anything for breakfast so I stopped and got a Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowl, Those are so high is everything bad, but needed something fast. I will try to do better the rest of the day.
I think I will work off some of it since I have to do some work today with my show material and that is alot of lifting, moving and twisting.
Get ready ladies, next week is my week for cheerleader and I have a challenge for every day!!!!!!!!
Lets get moving and kick those fat cells in the booty!!!
Hi Everyone~
I weighed in today and lost half a pound, which I'm grateful for because I did not limit my calories in San Antonio and it could have been much worse!
So I have a little story...a true one, that happened the day before I left and during my vacation. My very close friend Melanie, is 5'9" and about 100 pounds overweight. She carries it well, I was shocked about that. She'd been checking into lap band surgery and had it done in our city the day before I left. 2 Italian docs here actually had a hand in inventing and perfecting the procedure and people come from all over the world to have it. They've successfully completed over 1200 surgeries, so this is a good place to have it done. I talked to Mel the day of the operation and again the next day when I was at the airport waiting for my plane to leave. She was feeling great and went home the next day.
So....my last day of work before leaving, our psychiatrist came into my office, closed the door and sat down to talk to me. He knew about Mel's surgery (very small community) and knows we're good friends. I like and respect him and what can I say? He's a man. Because the next sentences out of his mouth stunned me and I can only assume this happened because he's a man (sorry boys!). He wanted to know if I'd considered the surgery and said he would do whatever he could to support me and help me qualify. Now, this is a person who knows how hard I've been working and has noticed some of my progress. I was stunned, hurt, embarrassed...a whole host of emotions 
. He has the best intentions, I know he's trying to be supportive because he's seen me working so hard. I know this. But I was devastated. And actually yes, the thought crossed my mind about having the surgery, but right now, it's not a consideration and I certainly never talked to anyone about it. I was mortified. He gave me literature on it! After about 15 minutes, I thanked him and basically dismissed him. I held my cool with him but went down the hall to talk to my doctor (female) friend and cried and cried. I just felt all my hard work was in vain, although I know it's not and it's unreasonable to think that way. I was so upset! My other doc friend assured me I'm doing the right thing, but boy that was a tough day.
Fast forward a week later...still on vacation, I'd called Mel a couple of times to check on her, she has done great. The last time I spoke to her before returning, she was 10 days post-surgery. I asked her if she was feeling any weight loss. A silence, then she said..."Well, I wasn't going to tell you unless you asked. I've lost 21 pounds." What? WHAT? She lost 21 pounds in 10 days and I've been struggling and starving for 5 months? You're f'ing (sorry) kidding me...of course I didn't say this, I congratulated her. And I don't think it so much that I was jealous that she lost all that weight, I just wish it could be as easy for me. Got off the phone, cried again. That makes 2x in 2 weeks I cried 
, that's a rarity. Now, with a bit of perspective, I feel good, am pretty confident, and although I would consider the surgery if I can't lose the weight or if I gain it back, it's not currently a consideration. I'm happy for Mel, who has not lost more weight, but is still pretty swollen and probably will soon and I just have to live with it. I love her and hope she loses the whole 100 without struggle.
Thanks for being my shoulder to "cry" on!!
Susan,
I'm sorry to hear this. It is really not something that somebody should approach you with. As for losing weight, that is great for those who want to go through with the surgery.
It is a surgery and a big decision and not without its downfalls and risks.
What it really boils down to is that your friend is just making her lifestyle changes more quickly than you are. She is forcing the issue.
I don't pretend to know much about these types of surgery, but I have heard that (and don't quote me) about half the people who do have that surgery gain back all the wieght in a few years. There are also the details about how much you can eat and drink and when you eat. I know that with the surgery where they take out a portion of your stomach you are just eating several small meals throughout the day and also there are several things that you are not able to eat. My former sister-in-law had the one where the stomach portion was removed (my idiot brother paid for it and then she left him). She did, I guess, lose the weight but I do not think it was easy on her.
I really think you are doing great and if you are able to lose the weight without the surgery you are probably better off not going through a surgey and risking complications.
I for one am proud of you for doing this the way you believe is right for you.
This is just my humble opinion and is my way of trying to encourage you. Of course if down the road you feel that surgery is the correct option for you I will be just as proud of you because you are a strong person and did not just take the easy way just because it was in front of you (even though that way is not easy, either).
I hope this does not sound the same as your friend who came to talk to you in your office. I am not trying to influence you and I hope you take this the right way and the way in which it was offered.
By the way, congrats on the half pound!
Karen
Thank you Karen, I so appreciate your support. I'm completely supportive of my friend and understand her decision. Right now, it's not for me. I was primarily upset about being approached without asking for advice. And then I was sad (and jealous) about Mel losing weight so quickly when I've struggled. But I feel better.
By the way, the gastric lap band is a relatively minor surgical procedure; in the States it's a same day surgery. There's no cutting of the stomach, it's a band that's slipped over the top portion of the stomach to make the stomach smaller. It's easily removed if a person becomes pregnant or has complications. It's all done by laprascope and Mel didn't even have sutures. You're right though, surgery is surgery and there are risks. The ironic thing is that I probably wouldn't qualify for it now because I've lost too much weight!
Thanks for listening...
Susan, I'm sorry to hear about the rudeness of that doctor. He truly had no right to approach you with such things. It was completely innapropriate. I had mest someone years ago who is now a friend and very thin, one of the first things she said to me was "you know you should try a diet because you'd look great!" OK I know this sounds horrible we had started working together and this was our second day of orientation. But I had been watching her over that time and I could see she was a hyperactive/innapropriate personality to begin with. So when she said this I laughed and thanked her for her advice and that I had heard of diets before. I worked with her for 6 years and we became friends and to this day she still hasn't learned that you don't just say whatever is on your mind. In that time she has seen me loose and gain all the weight twice!!!! I thnk she understands the struggle I have more now.
I don't know if you are close with the Dr but it's possible that he feels that he has seen the proceedure enough times that he feels that it is something he thought he should bring to your attention. Although I really don't think he should have. It's not like there are not commercials and advertisemnts for it. If you were interested you could find out for yourself.
I understand this struggle and have thought about lap band myself but I could not afford it. If it were free I would have done it yesterday!!!
This struggle is outrageously hard and depressing at times. I've gained and lost it so many times I just have to be on a diet the rest of my life!
I hope that you will feel better about this and continue your journey.
Hi Susan!
I think all of your feelings and emotions are completely understandable.
But girl....you are doing great! You really are my inspiration. If I were you, I wouldn't even consider it right now. You've lost more than 30 pounds since the beginning of the year and have been absolutely consistent and determined. Now I don't know what the future holds, and whatever desicion you make later on, I would support you becasue I know you have given this a valliant effort! Plus a quick fix isnt always best. Hey, I've watched my fair share of Dr. Phil and I know that often times people are overweight for a reason. You take away the compulsive eating and now replace it with something else (alcohol, shopping whatever!) to deal with the issue. Am I right? Now YOU are taking your time, developing new healthy LIFESTYLE.
Wow, Susan! I'd be devastated too. AND it came from a psychiatrist!! Shouldn't he know better?? You would think he would be suitably qualified to understand how a woman would think about his comments!
You are also my inspiration, and I don't think you should change a thing! I know how frustrating it must be to see someone losing weight so easily, but hey, you can lift your head high and tell the world you did it ON YOUR OWN!! That's something to be proud of!!!! 
(and surely her weight loss will slow down....? I can't imagine someone losing that much consistently!)
Y'all are so great! Thank you for your kindness and support. Now that I've had a couple of weeks to process it, I'm much better. Probably not fair, but I just chalk up the psychiatrist's suggestion to being a man. Men always seem to want a quick and concrete fix to things, they don't seem to do well with things unfolding. I do have great respect for him and am glad to work with him, I just think he was out of line on this issue. I know he thought he was helping.
And my friend is doing great and I'm happy for her loss...I was just wishing at the time that mine could be as quick and easy! I see her almost daily and if not, talk everyday on the phone. Her weight loss will slow down, but whatever it is (I expect her numbers to pass mine in a week or two), I'll be fine with it. I think now I'm prepared for it, I was just shocked in the beginning and that it happened so quickly.
I won't change my ticker because I only do that on Wednesdays, but as of this morning, I've lost 33 pounds. And I'm happy about it!!
susan, since you and this man have mutual respect, he probably did have good intentions when he brought it up. Whether or not it was the right thing to say, it sounds as if he cares about you. It seems as though he actually sees this as a struggle (which is good probably). It almost would be worse if he were one of those people who would say something like "why don't you just go on a diet?" Like it's easy!
Good morning, all!
Yes, I am sure this doctor thought he was trying to be helpful. I know that I sometimes say things without completely thinking them through myself. I really think we all do at times.
I am not doing well with my eating plan. My water intake is down, too. I wonder why I do that to myself. When things seem to be starting to go well I will turn around and not do them. I am back up a pound today.
Well, I'd better go now to get ready to start work. Have a great day, all!
Oh, I wanted to let everybody know that Hubby's antibiotics are starting to wrk and the swelling is starting to go down as is the pain.
Good morning everyone.
Susan, I am so sorry for the emotional roller coaster you were put on before your trip. It was probably ment as helpful information, but delivered wrong. You are my inspiration too and I hope someday to actually report a loss on a consistant basis as you have. Keep your head high and know that you are creating life long habits for a healthy lifestyle.
I am up a pound like I knew I would be. I have decided that I will not be worried about that scale. It doesnt matter what I do, I have been working out daily, watching my intake and have cut down my calories so much and I either stay the same or gain a pound with once in a while a loss of 2 just to keep me always in the same 2 pound range!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant stand it any longer, I hate the dissapointment week after week. Now before all of you think I am quiting, I am not!!!!! I am just not going to weigh myself for a few weeks, just work hard and eat realativelly well. I think I just need a break or I will just quite!!!
OK it is my week for Cheerleader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA (perhaps this will give me the kick I need.)
First off count all of your blessings today, ALL OF THEM, family, job, food, health, eye sight, hearing.......you get the picture.
Now here is a link to your first challenge,
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=127
Seated Knee Lifts With a Chair
Do 25 of these at least 2 times this week.
I dont know when everyone goes grocery shopping so here is a heads up for Saturday and Monday. You are to eat one fruit and one vegitable with every meal...Breakfast, lunch, dinner!!!!! So keep this in mind so you will have them on hand on Saturday and Monday.
Ok better get to work
Michelle
Hello Everyone,
My weight has stayed the same this week. I'll have to say I had a baby shower for my sister and I did not put down the cake!!!
I've been busy non stop making cakes it's my busiest week yet and next week is even busier. I will be making a good profit this month. Although my husband wants to quit his job and work with me. I could really use it and if it keeps being busy like this I will probably need him to. It's hard to say if I will always be this busy. But I've done very little advertising thus far. My next challenge will be to go over all my pricing strategies and change them some... As soon as I slow down.
Michelle I like your challenges this week!!
Wow Susan what an emotion week that was... I'm proud of you for realizing that you are still doing what is best for you and once over the initial jealousy of the ease for her, you realized how well you are doing...
Michelle that looks like a great ab exercise (and one I can actually do WAHOO ~ so rare to find an ab workout I can physically do)...
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
HHHMMM Well Connies post got me thinking. I forget that some of us may have physical limitations. I always remember that some of us dont have equipment and keep that in mind, but I forget about the physical stuff.
Connie and any others with limitations, do the best you can on the next challenge.
I challenge you all to do this set at least once.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=727
This is a 6 minute butt blasting video
Just a reminder for tomorrow, eat at least one fruit and one vegi at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Have a happy Friday all!!
It's nice to be able to get into the site, I couldn't at all on Friday. I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Suprisingly, I'm still a bit jet lagged, I usually don't have much at all. But this week I haven't been able to get to sleep on time and have been staying up late and not ready to get up the next day. I guess a 7 hour time difference makes a difference as you get older! So I've slept a lot today and feel human again.
I went to see Sex and the City last night...I don't know if any of you are fans, but I absolutely loved it. There were high highs and low lows and I'm not sure I entirely agree with one aspect of it, but I thoroughly and totally loved it. Only had a diet coke though!
Michelle, good challenges, thank you. I've been doing the fruits and vegetables for lunch and dinner but I'm pretty much in a breakfast rut with my steel cut oatmeal. I can try and add a fruit though.
Do y'all have new ads on this site as of today? There are now ads in Italian across the bottom for those who are "passionate about music". Maybe that's why there were doing maintenance.
Have a great weekend.
Just a very quick note to say we are going away for a couple of days, but I'll be back! Just on our way out the door.......
I could not get on all weekend...ahhh
Susan, I'm sorry you went through so much emotionally. I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said already. You are a strong woman and also my inspiration.
Karen and Sonia glad to hear your dh are feeling better.
Merissa - Happy Belated Birthday. Sounds like you had a nice dinner...I love Red Lobster and can never eat well when there.
Connie - your trip sounds fun.
Michelle, thanks for the challenges. I need to eat more veggies and work out!
My weekend hasn't been very good. Saturday was my sons last tball game. Usually they are at 8:30am so we get up early, I make him write out his thank you notes to the coaches (which was like pulling teeth at 7am) get to the park...there's no team. Call one of the moms, games at 10:30.
Go home, go back. We're there for about 15 minutes when my daughter falls off the bottom bleacher (metal) and wacks her head on the next seat up 3 times. There was about a 1 inch long gash in her head. Go to urgent care, of all the Sat's to be closed this is the one. Go to E.R.. We're there for about 2 1/2 hrs. She was so well behaved, I was hoping it was a permanent condition from the fall. 4 staples later and we get to go home.
Today I cleaned out my car. Vaccumed, washed the plastic parts of the interior (very sticky with spilled stuff) and washed the exterior.
My eating hasn't been terrible though. I didn't even have b-day cake at the party we were at yesterday. Only because I spent my lunch hour in the hospital and was starving for real food instead (which was a huge sub from Subway).
Anyway sorry I totally dropped the ball on cheerleading things have been crazy for me and I go to Florida in 3 weeks...I really need to lose a few lbs still.
Whew, nice to be able to get into the site.
Casey! Wow, I don't know how you did it, it makes me tired just to read your post! I laughed about the permanent condition of good behavior. Any evidence of that yet?! Sounds like you've been eating as best you can under the circumstances. I'm glad you're going on vacation...you deserve it!
Sonia, can't wait to hear about where you went and how it was. Hmmm...the mystery vacation.
All is well here, looks like our week long rain storm may be over, it was bright, sunny and warm yesterday and again so far today. Not much else going on, welcome to a new week!
Morning all,
Just a quick note. I am at the library. Took the day off for a cleaning. This every three month cleaning is getting old.
I don't have internet at home any more so I was not able to get on over the wekend at all. I also couldn't get on Friday.
well, I'd better go. They time the computer use here. Have a great day, all.
Yea everything is back to normal here.
Casey, sounds like you handled everything very well and you arent expected to eat perfect all the time, things do come up!!!
Well since we were not able to get on yesterday I will change up the challenges. Todays will be what yesterdays was supposed to be.
Relax, do something that makes you happy. All to often we are scurring around doing things to make others happy, today is your day. Now this would have been easier on a Sunday when we dont have work, but do the best you can.
Ok gotta run and do some work.
michelle
sorry to hear about your DD casey! poor thing!
Well I had a couple of parties this weekend (baby shower and a 60th birthday for FIL) I probably ate too much. I didnt feel like I ate a lot, but I was really full. So I don't know if that is a good thing or bad 
okay today I ran my fastest 3.1 miles so far! I walk the first 2 minutes to warm up, then run the rest and I did it in 30:24. I came home and signed up for the 5K this morning. (it will be on the 21st) I am hoping to do it in less than 30 minutes. I don't think the course is too hilly or challenging. I am not sure why I am nervous about it...I mean so what?
Merissa, what a great job running! I don't think I could ever run unless someone scary was chasing me...good for you. I hear running is a great way to not only burn calories and lose weight, but get into shape. Great job!
Today's my No Cheat Day. I planned out everything from breakfast to dinner, but then I remembered a friend who lives in Germany is in town this week and wants to go to dinner tonight. He wants to go to the only non-Italian restaurant in town, an Ethiopian place that has great food (and a break from the same old Italian), so that will be fun, I just have to make sure I watch what I eat. They have these delicious flaky crust triangles filled with either lentils or meat, but unfortunately, they're fried. There are plenty of other good things to choose from, so I'll just have to be careful. And not go hungry!! And goodness, my Wednesday night group tomorrow night is going to a cheese and wine lecture that comes with a cheese and wine dinner! Hard food challenges this week!
Well, I'm back! It's not a huge mystery, Susan, I was just in a hurry to get going! DH has been working away, about 2 hours from here, and this week his job has been halted by wind coming from the wrong direction. He has been staying in a 3 bedroom cabin (he has 2 workers as well), and had negotiated a very cheap rate because it was for approx 2 weeks accommodation, so he decided to take us there for a couple of nights while the workers weren't there. It was lovely. Right near the beach, and a playground just outside the door. The playground consisted of 2 HUGE trampolines, a skate bowl, a cubby house, and a huge boat (real!) with a slide coming out off the upper deck. The boys thought it was awesome!
Hubby's back is slowly getting better. He actually slept through the whole night last night - the first time since this started, 2 1/2 weeks ago!
Merissa, your running sounds great - I'm definitely NOT a runner! I much prefer long walks!
Casey, your poor daughter, is she OK now?? I know how you must have been feeling - my youngest son fell over on the McDonald's playground last June and split open his forehead. We could see his skull! Because he had just eaten they wouldn't operate till the next morning! He now has a 1 1/2 inch scar, and it certainly was not something I'd like to go through again!!
Ok, it's nearly no cheat Wednesday, everyone! Let's all do our best and show those fat cells who's boss!!
Sounds like a great getaway Sonia! Man...I REALLY REALLY want to go Australia. Ever since the olympics were there several years ago, it has been a dream of mine. I'll probably have to wait until the kids all grow up.
My DH just told me there was a posting for a 2 year gig (through his company) to work in Frankfort, Germany and wondered if I had any interest. I think I might consider a 1 year placement, but I just don't know if I could do two! It seems scary. Plus I really want to start my cake business! But it would be a great life experience. I asked him if there were any placements in countries that spoke English though! LOL! He said usually they would be in Germany, Mexico or China. Did you speak Italian when you went to Italy, susan?
Anyway...not to much new here. i think I have some tendonitis in my heel. I was sort of excited that I must be working out enough to get a sports injury! LOL!
I am not cheating today. There.
Merissa, I love your attitude about having a sports injury! It's funny!
Noooo...I didn't speak Italian when I moved here almost 6 years ago. Learning was a matter of survival because not many people here speak English. However, it's much different in Germany. Many, many people speak English and I'm not sure, but I suspect you could live there successfully without having to learn German (seems a difficult language!). One reason so many people speak English is because after WWII, the US established a very large number of military bases throughout the country and hundreds of thousands of Americans still live there because there are a lot (more than 25) bases still open. The other reason is that Germany is a relatively small country and in order to compete in the business world, they need to learn English. The same holds true for Italy, but Italians have such a convoluted government with incredible amounts of business red tape, that they don't do a lot of business with other countries, comparatively speaking!
One thing I can say for sure...the travel opportunities are amazing, it's what I'll miss the most. You can hop on a plane, train, bus, or your car and be in a different country in a very short time. It's really different than living in the States in that respect. Like right now, I'm planning a long weekend in Paris in September...I obviously couldn't do that in the States. I've been flamenco dancing in Spain, wine drinking in France, to the Olympics and the Pope's funeral in Italy, to the tulip festival in Holland, slept on an ice bed in the Arctic, pub dinners in England and Scotland, to Auchwitz in Poland...and many more amazing places.
If ever possible, I highly recommend European living!
I couldn't get on all day yesterday kept giving me this weird phishing warning...
Anyway WOW Casey I hope your dd is ok and I SOOOO laughed that the good behavior was a lasting 'injury' HAHAHA good luck w/ that one.
Merissa you are so lucky I want to go to Germany SOOOO bad, but just as a visit not to live, heck I give my dh grief when he talks of moving 700 miles away from my family! My mom was born in Germany (My grandpa was in the army and stationed there). She still has some of her school books from when she went to school there. I took German in highschool (didn't retain much b/c well I was ummm distracted w/ boys hahaha). BUT German is the closest language to English and actually some of the words and spelled the same as in english (ie: hand is the same in both languages). The only 'words' that I know is the stuff that my mom taught me when I was a kid so like I love you, thank you, your welcome and I can count to 10.
Anyway, I have to clean up the house our life insurance agent is coming over this evening PLUS I need to get the supplies to make a cake that my mom requested for a coworker.
Good morning everyone.
I hope everyone was able to do something that they enjoy yesterday to take a break.
Merissa, take the opportunity to live in Germany. My brother was stationed there for a few years and loved it. He saw the Vienna Boys Chior on Christmas Eve....Went to the black forest, Paris, London....everywhere. I could just kick myself for not visiting when he was there. The life experience for the kids will be wonderful also! Great job on the run also and good luck with the 5K
Sonia, wow what a great weekend. Glad you got the chance to unwind and relax with the family, that is so important.
Susan, man oh man you have such cool experiences. Have a good time tonight at the cheese and wine dinner!!! Hope your Ethiopian dinner was good.
OK so todays challenge is:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?ID=108&from=fitness
25 close arm wall pushups.
Gotta run and do some work.
Michelle
Merissa great job on the running. I'm with Susan on the scary guy chasing me thing. What a great opportunity to live in Germany but at the same time I don't know if I could. I love my extended family way too much and hate being too far away.
Susan you've had so many neat experiences, I'm so green. I can't wait to travel when the kids are older and I'm still young.
Sonia sounds like a nice time with the family. I'm glad your dh is slowly getting better.
My daughter is doing fine and no the good behaviour didn't last. Surprisingly she doesn't complain about it hurting or anything. The staples come out on Fri. so that will be nice.
My sons tball team is having a pizza party tonight, blah. I plan on the salad bar and bringing my Newman's Own 'cause usually restaurants don't have great dressing selections.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%