Happy New Year, all!
Glad to hear you are doing better, Connie and Susan.
This is my third try posting since before Christmas. Maybe it will work this time.
I am working as a waitress at the IHOP in Clearwater Beach. I think it was the last job up and down the beach. I think I hit every hotel on the beach and was just starting to go to the restaurants. I was hoping for a cook job, but I always seem to be put in the front of the house somehow. I am enjoying it, at least for now. Everyone is so relaxed and in a good mood. A big chane from the probation office. For the last few weeks business has been slow but it is now picking up some. On New Year's Day I came home with over $100. Of course, that isn't happening every day but I should be able to make a decent amount per week. I was supposed to work today but the manager gave me the day off because my allergies have my throat clogged up so that I am having a hard time talking. Hope it is better tomorrow. I havce to go in then.
We went to Seattle the first week of December to visit our daughter. It was a nice visit. A bit cold.
That pretty much catches you up on what has been going on with me. My scale is in PA still, so no weigh-ins for a whille. At least until I find a scale close by that I can use. Some of the stores have them.
Enough from me for now.
Welcome back to the states, Susan! Connie, please be careful.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone has had a nice break!
I didn't get much of a break, because I had 2 wedding cakes to be done for Saturday, and I had to make flowers while I was away camping! I came home on Tuesday to work on the cakes, while hubby and sons continued to holiday.
Anyway, starting from today, I have gone off dairy for a week (and the kids too!) I'm experimenting to see whether any of us are intolerant to dairy. I know my youngest son is intolerant to something, as he often gets tummy pains, but I don't know what it is yet. When I looked into it a bit, I found a list of symptoms, and I have a few of them too, so it will be interesting to see if there are any changes!
I had my hair cut today, and my hairdresser said she had been to Hong Kong for the Christmas break. While she was there she had a massage, and the Asian lady doing her massage told her that we westerners drink too much cold water. She said that's why we age quicker, and it's also why we have bulging tummies! Cold water tricks the body into thinking we need padding for extra warmth. Water at room temperature is not acceptable, either, it has to be warmed up. So I've been drinking warmed water today, because I can't have my normal coffee with milk anyway! I'll see how that goes!
warmed/hot water now I don't think I could do that! I am one of those guilty of not only drinking cold water but ICE cold water. I'll put my water bottles in the freezer for a bit then crush it so that it's icy water! (of course I don't do that for after I work out this is just as a regular beverage)...
Ok ladies well my bathroom is nearly done! I am SOOO excited! I have had sheet rock walls and concrete floors in my bathroom for 5 1/2 years now! Last yr we redid the kids bathroom (that's the one company sees) and this year we finally got to my bathroom! WAHOO! My dh started ripping out the tub/toilet the day after Christmas and as of last night all we have left to do is touch up paint, pick out our artwork for in there and load up the vanity! I'm SOOOO stoked!
Here is a link to my photobucket account so you can see a couple pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/redhare05/IMG_0007-3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/redhare05/IMG_0004-8.jpg
Now, I haven't taken a picture of the tilework yet b/c waiting until done w/ the touch up paint then I need to clean it again before any pics are taken! LOL....
I haven't been doing well on my eating since we still have lots of sweets leftover from christmas here (cookies mainly) and I keep nibbling on them. I think dh is going to take them to work though which would be AWESOME!
OOOH and OMG my dh is so sweet I get home from my parents house last night and my hubby had roses sitting on the table for me 'just because'. He said it's for being so patient w/ him lately OMG he's so sweet I don't remember the last time I rec'd flowers let alone for no reason!
You can always tell when I havent been good....I don't post. bad bad bad. I got into that "I'll just wait until the Holiday's are over to worry about this" I am doing that "THIS time I am going to do it" routine. I hope so. I am really unhappy with myself. I just don't seem to know how to stick with it. Now my gym membership is over too. I may join another place that is much cheaper and I can just do a month at a time if I want. I keep telling myself that it had been my decision to to keep gaining weight. I can make a choice to be healthier.
okay enough whining. Sounds like everyone has survived the holidays.
Congrats on the new bathroom and having a sweet husband, connie.
Hope you get settled in soon Susan!
Congrats on your job, Karen!
Good luck on your diet changes sonia! Sounds like you were really busy with cakes too! Have you posted them? I will have to check!
Hi all
I have been MIA lately, but that is because of the holidays. I barely have time to breath never mind get on line and post anything.
My schooling has been temporarily put on hold. My company is having a few financial issues and I was asked to hold off for a few months. I am OK with that, I can concentrate on my health now. I have gotten back on to Spark People as well and will enter my intake today and get back on track.
Merissa I think we all are on the same page right now.
Connie put those cookies out of your sight or just throw them away. I find if I dont see the bad things, I forget we have them.
Sonia, I hope you find out what the problems are, it sure is hard when you think there is a problem but cant pin point it. Good luck!!! I cant do room temp water much either. I am with Connie, it has to be ice water!
Karen, congrats on finding a job. I know it is tough out there right now. My company has been laying off and I have been so far lucky.
Susan I hope you ate getting settled in and are feeling more at ease!
Happy New Year to all and lets all get back on track!!
I want to reconfirm my dedication to a healthy lifestyle and loosing some weight in order to get off of meds this year.
Hello, my name is Michelle and I am (what the charts say) obese.
I have not weight myself in a while but believe I am at least 230 if not more. I have struggled with my weight and yo yoed all my life. I love food and it is hard for me to change my thinking from "living to eat" to "eating to live".
My goals for this week will be
1- drink my 8 glasses of water, I will try to make at least one of them room temp.
2- work out at least 4 days for 30 minutes, with some of that time wieght lifting and strength training. I cant get more specific on the strength part because I still hate that part, so if I get some in I think I am doing good!
3- chart my intake and my workouts on Spark People. I will also rededicate myself to my groups there as they can be helpful!!!
Thank you to all of you ladies for being patient as I worked through school and was missing from time to time.
What a good idea, Michelle! A rededication for the new year....
Hi, I'm Sonia and I weigh 164.7 lbs. My goal is 140lbs. I have been off dairy this week and have lost 1.1, so am pretty happy with that. My short term goal is to reach 160 by my birthday which is 4 weeks away.
Love the new bathroom, Connie!
Well, I've been having warmed water sometimes, but we're in the middle of summer here, and sometimes I just crave some ice water!!
Well, on Tuesday I bought a guinea pig, and our dog started spending all her time sitting by the guinea pig cage eyeing it off. On Wednesday she started digging holes to try and get to it. By Wednesday night she had dug a huge hole, so my DH stood nearby and started throwing things at her whenever she went near the cage to try and teach her she was doing the wrong thing. One thing he threw was a plastic broom head, and he was a bad shot and got me in the face! I ended up in hospital and having 11 stitches in my face. The cut runs down my forehead and onto my nose. Today I have a bruise under each eye and my face is swollen, so I'm not feeling very enthusiastic! Actually, I'd like to just sleep the day away until the swelling goes down, but my kids are on holidays, so I can't do that! My husband is feeling REALLY bad, by the way!
What a great idea, Michelle, a rededication to start the new year!
Hi, I'm Sonia, and I weigh 164.7 lbs. My goal is 140. I have been off dairy this week, and have lost 1.1, so I'm pretty happy with that. My short term goal is to reach 160 by my birthday in 4 weeks.
Connie, I love the new bathroom!!
I have been having warm water sometimes this week, but we're in the middle of summer, so sometimes I just crave a glass of ice water!
Well, on Tuesday I bought a guinea pig. I noticed our dog started sitting by the cage watching it constantly. On Wednesday she started digging holes to try and get it, and Wednesday evening she dug a huge one! So my DH stood nearby and started throwing things at her whenever she went near the cage to teach her she was doing the wrong thing. One of the things he threw was a plastic broom head, and he missed and got me in the face. I ended up in hospital having 11 stitches in my face. The cut runs down my forehead and onto my nose (none of it covered by my hair, unfortunately!) Today I have a bruise under each eye and my face is swollen, so I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about starting the day. I'd like to go back to bed and sleep the day away, but my kids are on holidays, so it's not possible (DH is feeling REALLY bad, by the way!!!)
OUCH Sonia - I bet your face is SORE, and I imagine that your hubby feels horrible!
Thanks for the bathroom compliments I LOVE IT!
Well, I didn't do well yesterday or today BUT I was severely stressed out! My husband had to go to work yesterday KNOWING that they were going to have a layoff so the entire day was HORRIBLE! THANK GOD he made it and still has a job (REALLY THANK YOU GOD), but he is literally the only one left in his department which could mean 2 things. My hubby kicks so much a$$ they think he can handle the entire department alone OR they will be eliminating this department just wanting him to finish up loose ends first! Thankfully, this is the 4th Layoff since October that we have made it thru and I am SO thankful for that just hopefully we make it thru the one next monthy *(yes they are monthly).......
THEN to top it off I had decided to scrapbook yesterday to TRY and help my stress WITHOUT food and I get a call that my great grandfather passed away... He hadn't been doing well and he was 89 years old but still a blow nonetheless.... My kids are handling it well (I was worried about my daughter she didn't handle it well when my great grandmother passed last year). So far so good w/ her though....
SO last night hubby had a nice STIFF drink (SO don't blame him and rare for him too) and I had a big bowl of ice cream! UGH!
My chest needs to stop being tender so I can start working out again!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE w/ our new goals!
oh Sonia! I am so sorry!! 
I hope you heal soon! That is terrible!
Katie, congrats on your upcoming arrival! I can't believe it is time already! wow! Keep us informed! That is very exciting. All the baby talk made me just feel a little kick too....nope, not a kick, just some gas LOL! (Im all set there...no more kiddos for me!)
I have been pretty good this week. No exercise though without the gym membership. I am going to have to figure out what I am gonna do.
Here is my reintroduction: I weighed 163 on Monday morning. I can't believe it really. I really got on track this week and I weighed 159 this morning. I think it was mostly water weight loss,but I will take it. I would also like to weigh around 140.
Sorry for the double post above....we've been having lots of trouble with our computer 
Katie, how exciting!! You'll have to post a photo of bub when she arrives! It's great to hear you're still hanging around with us, too. You should post more....even just one line so we know you're there!
Great loss this week, Merissa. Keep up the good work!
Sorry to hear about your great grandfather, Connie! My grandmother passed away about 6 years ago, and I still really miss her!
My face is feeling a little better. The swelling was quite bad yesterday, and the bruises spread, but today the swelling has disappeared. Hubby took me out this afternoon (the kids had all been invited to a friend's house!!) but he asked me to wear sunglasses and a cap because he doesn't want people thinking he bashes me! (That's what it looks like!)
So have we made any new year's resolutions regarding our weight loss?? My new year's resolution is: I will take better care of my body this year and what I put into it! By next summer I will be back ito my bikini. My goal for this year is to lose 4 lb every month, and I should reach my target by July. How about you????
Hi ladies well I don't typically make new year "resolutions" b/c well ppl rarely follow thru with those BUT I do set goals for myself... If that even makes sense LMAO I just use a different word so that it doesn't see so cliche I guess call me retarded....
My new golas for myself I set EVERY time I set goals for myself (which is when I realize I fell off the wagon I don't wait for new years).... BUT to have MORE patience AND to handle my stress levels better. So technically not weight loss oriented but they do effect my weight.
Like right now the stress in my house is SO thick you could cut it with a knife. Dh and I TRYING not to lash out at each other or the kids is our main goal right now.
I have picked up my scrapbooking in the last 2 days to try and ATTEMPT to relieve some stress....
I did do some crunches yesterday BUT between not having done ANY in a month AND my chest being tender I didn't do so well...... When I stopped I was doing 300 crunches a day generally yesterday I could barely get to 34. I DID notice that in the dollar spot at Target they had 1lb weights and the elastic band things which I might pick up......
Sonia - I'm glad your swelling is going down.
Merissa - Congrats on the great weght loss this week
Hello, everyone.
The internet he is still on again off again. It is working for now.
I never make resolutions, myself. I am feeling a bit better about myself now, though. I still want to lose some pounds, but I am not so stressed out about it as I was when I was in Pittsburgh. I guess it is because I can wear real clothes now and not sweaters all the time that make me look 10 pounds heavier. I did step on a scale at the Publix on Friday afternoon and was at about 158 lbs, which is down from what it was; but I have completely lost track in all the confusion in my life for the last several months.
Working graveyard shift tonite (the person scheduled is sick), so I am hoping to make some tips to bring home. I am also thinking about staying to work at least part of my regular shift tomorrow morning. Everyone here says that the season should be starting here soon and business (and tips) should be picking up. We barely made the rent last week.
Our car is also dead now, well, maybe in a coma. It is the catalytic converter and has no power to accelerate, so we can't get it back out on the road until we can get that fixed. We really need things to pick up for me at work right about now.
Glad to hear that everyone is on the mend now. Katie, you take care of yourself. I can't believe that it is already almost time. Make sure to post some pictures.
Are you feeling better, Susan?
Talk to y'all when I can.
Karen
Hi all
Merissa, Great job on the loss
Karen, hope things pick up for you soon
Connie, hope things pick up for you as well and the chest feels better quickly. Work back up slowly, dont want to cause any further damage in your haste.
Sonia, hope the face is doing better.
Well guys I got up and worked out this morning, I also went shopping yesterday and got good for me things. I had breakfast and made a salad for lunch. I have some diabetic reciepes to try for dinner.
I bought the Wii My Fitness Coach game this weekend. This one is different from the Wii Fit game. There is no board and incorporates what I already have at home. It is interactive and you set up a profile that requires you to do a fitness test before anything starts. I can choose music, the background and what parts I want a focus on. I just did their guest pass this weekend, will set up my profile tonight and get started.
Michelle
Great job everyone! Please keep posting. I still need inspiration and have no motivation. Connie, I hear you. My DH is an autoworker. We hold our breath every week, his plant usually has over 300 workers, and had shut down for 3 weeks at christmas so everyone was temporary layoff. Then they only brought back 14 people for the 1st 2 weeks of this year, and this week up to 50 are back. Geesh, sad times. He is 35 in seniority so if he goes they must be closing. Autosupplies are at the mercy of the big 3 so .....
Thanks for letting me vent.
Your enthusiasm is great, Michelle. I wish you could pass some through the phone line to me!
It looks like the enconomy is affecting a lot of us! Hopefully things will pick up again soon.
I had my stitches out this morning. My bruising has nearly all disappeared, so it's all going well.
My eating hasn't been as good as last week. I had a bit of milk again on Saturday, and haven't been able to get back on track since then!
I didnt make it up this morning, but I plan on working out when I get home. I go straight home and no one will be there to derail my plans!!!
Glad you are doing better Sonia!
Had a pretty good breakfast again, and I have salad for lunch again. I will make dinner tonight, I didnt last night just had left over chili. I had a meeting that I forgot about so didnt have time to cook.
Have a great day everyone!
ALaina- ya my dh works in the architecture field so w/ this economy ppl aren't building things therefore no need for an architect! UGH it's so stressful - we've been thru 4 layoffs since October and we KNOW another one is coming in February. PLUS at the same time dh is taking his tests to earn his architecture license. Dh is struggling w/ them which I KNOW it's because he's distracted b/c he knows the stuff.... So dh is feeling pretty low spirits then work isn't helping matters.
I know that everyone is struggling right now and I'm not asking for a pitty me party at ALL. Just sucks for everyone right now that's for sure!
Anyway, I saw this link this morning and I thought of you ladies. Maybe it will help us out!
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/7481/uncover-sexy-abs-without-crunches/
Yesterday I didn't get any workout in I spent the whole day cleaning my rear off then I was exhausted and took a cat nap (which I totally blame the stress for my lack of energy it just consumes me).
GOOD LUCK TODAY LADIES
Sonia - I'm glad that you are nearly all healed up!
Michelle good job on the eating you'll get to the workouts too
Morning ladies! Well, I can honestly say right now that my chest no longer hurts! 
SO yesterday I did better w/ my crunches I did 100 then stretched ALOT to make sure LMAO... This am before taking my daughter to school did 150 crunches ahhh it feels good to be getting back on track...
I've even gotten some scrapbooking done which always makes me happier to be one step closer to caught up.
I hope that y'all are doing well in your goals! WE CAN DO IT I KNOW WE CAN!!!!!
For me the count down is ON! My dh's party is April 10th so I'm in the final stretch to lose this tummy
Glad to hear your chest is better, Connie!
Would you like a new cheerleading roster, or would you like to try without it for a while???
cheerleading thing is up to y'all!!!
Well, I didn't get to my crunches yesterday - I'm not going to give up an excuse it was plan and simple I wasn't in the mood so I didn't find the tim to do them... BUT yesterday wasn't a complete flop. DH around 9:30 or so wanted dessert so he went and grabbed something and I RESISTED! even w/ my tummy now growling for one (wasn't growling before but once he was sitting by me it started) I resisted I was SO proud of me!
I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! I'm STOKED for the holiday. My Best Friend since we were 6 she and I are going to have a KID FREE LUNCH! Our last one before she's a Mommy she is due on Wednesday, so I got a sitter and we are having a girls lunch it's going to be AWESOME! I don't recall the last time she and I did ANYTHING w/ my kids in tow
Have a fun lunch, Connie!
Katie, is it tomorrow your baby is arriving?? Wishing you all the best! You'll have to post a pic.
Thanks, well lunch fell thru she wasn't feeling well... I was able to get my 200 crunches in so small wahoo still
Arrrgh! I just wrote a long message and it didn't post! Briefly, I'm tearning my hair out and don't have computer access at home or work, I'm using a colleague's computer now. I'm sorry to be gone so long and look forward to rejoining the group as soon as possible. It's quite overwhelming moving back, but I'm glad to be here and hope to be back on the thread regularly very soon.
We've been missing you Susan! Howz your weight going??
I have been very slack with my exercising. It's been really hard lately as the kids are home on school holidays and I've been flat out making cakes, but hope to be back on track when they return to school on Feb 10! I've been drinking heaps of water
Hello, all
Connie, glad to hear you are doing better.
I have not been doing anything recently. The car has been scrapped on Thursday. We are without again now. The bus stop is right in front of the apartment and I get off right outside of work, though, so no more two hour commutes.
We are having the superbowl here on Sunday so everybody is hoping that we will have a busy week at the restaurant. I hope so.
Just checking in for now. Our internet is still intermittent, so I am still having problems getting on with any regularity. Check back when I can.
Hope everyone is well.
Karen
Well, I'm not doing so well with my eating. The kids go back to school in 2 weeks, so can't wait to start my walking again!!!
Hi everyone. Karen glad to hear from you, hope you do well with the Superbowl. We had it here in Michigan, last year? I think, and it was insanely busy everywhere. Great for the economy.
My eating has been reallllly bad lately. Been doing alot of baking and testing recipies for the bake off, practicing designs for choc-covered oreos for the upcoming holidays. Not a good field when your trying to loose weight. Looking into herbs, I'll let you know if I find something good, I just met a great herbilist at my Herb study group last night. Very intersting stuff.
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well.
Hi all
We are all missing except for Sonia!!
Well my hours at my job were cut in half so I am now working 1/2 days. I am trying to keep busy so I dont eat and dont go crazy worring about bills.
I do two workouts a day now and doing some cleaning so I dont eat my way through the fridge.
Connie glad you are better and I hope we all come back soon!
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