Fabulous 40's 1/31/04

[KIS13]

Hi Ladies...I took Rita's advice and started us a new thread. I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I am at work for the moment . I am hoping to get myself back on track by Monday. I have a lot of things going on right now but next week should be a good one. I am only working 3 days...I need a vacation already...lol Actually I am getting my carpet cleaned and decided I wanted to do a bunch of Spring cleaning in the middle of winter...lol I hate to cut this short but I must get going, I will try to check in later. Have a wonderful weekend!

(((((((((((((((((((GROUP HUG))))))))))))))))))))

[queenlene]

Good Morning KK!
My toe is now solidly "awake". The Dr had a time getting it fully numb enough to do the lasering and ended up giving me 5 novacaine shots before he could get to work. I didn't get full feeling into it until 7 last night. By 11 pm I was ready to go to bed to escape the throbbing!
Yesterday I spent the day with my sister, mom and daughter. DD decided to take a half day off and called me just as I was driving my mom and sis to Ruby Tuesdays so they could have lunch. I suggested we go there as I wanted to see what their LC menu looked like (I had just eaten the hour before so was only going to have water) So, dd met us there and we sat at the table talking for the next two hours. I did end up having a side dish of "mashed cauliflower" and was reading their LC menu while we talked.It couldn't have been more than 1/2 a cup, but they counted it as 7 carbs so I am thinking that net carbs weren't taken into account. It was probably half that count in net carbs.

Then dd took me to pick up DH as the new car was in the shop having a few lil things looked at. Then DH and dd and I went to the mall and she bought some new clothes while poor DH held our purses and jackets....LOL

Then we went to Red Lobster and I was good except I had three strips of calamari. I don't know what kind of carb count they have since this was the first time I've had anything with breading on it, but I'm hoping it wasn't enough to throw me completely out of ketosis. By the time DH and I got home it was nearly 9 pm and my toe was screaming at me and I was more than ready to sit in my recliner with my feet up!

The scale still said the same thing this morning as yesterday, so I'm still at 22 lbs lost.

I think I'll spend the day studying and watching TV and keeping my foot up! I have two tests next Thursday back to back (Ugh, I hate it when they are on the same day)

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Hugz,
Arlene

44 yrs yng
5'8
292/270/165

[KIS13]

I just wanted to let you know I am still around, work is at it's best again BUSY! I will try and post tomorrow..Have a great lowcarb day!

((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

[Princess Di]

Hi girls, feeling better since the stitch actually came out. Had Birthday cake Saturday for DS. Other than that doing OK low carb, still bouncing up and down the same few pounds since Christmas, but it has to give sooner or later. About 6 weeks until vacation, so I am really hoping to be heading in the right direction by then and maybe the warm weather and the scale will get me really heading to goal. 5 months until our anniversary, so I really need to get cracking!
Arlene, sorry the toe is still sore! That must be so hard!! How is the egg experiment going?? Still free from the nasty side effects??
KK, sorry work is so crazy, but atleast it isn't boring!! LOL Were you able to shop for your low carb stuff yet? I bought some shakes this morning...maybe a little jump start will be all I need to feel human again.
Rita, WOW!! What a little seamstress you are!! I have to start Miranda's quilt, I have 6 weeks to get it done. I just crocheted my son an afghan to curl up and watch TV in....I guess even when they're 23 Mom still wants to make sure her babies are warm!
Well it's time to go back...big hugs to everyone, I'll post more soon!

[queenlene]

Diane I am so glad that stitch is out and things feel like they are healing up!

My toe is feeling much better today. Last night when we got home from a SB party, DH and I were watching survivor and our lab mix doggy got excited cos we'd been gone a few hours, she of course dug her nails right into the sore toe! I almost fell off the couch it hurt so much, but surprisingly it seems ok today.

I'm about to do a little painting in my hallway. I've been a good girl and did my homework for tomorrow, so I promised myself to do at least an hour of painting today (I've only been putting it off for a year!)

I ate all legal food at the SB party, but I way over ate in quantity. As a result, the scale was up 3 lbs this morning (big sigh) I am hoping it is ALL water weight since I ate salty sausage and olives!
It was so hard to pass up Amanda's famous home made NY style cheese cake. She told me next time we go over she'll make an LC one just for me. She's really sweet (she is the DW to my DH's work mate)

Well it's 1 pm already and I have laundry left to do as well, so I better scoot!

Hugz,
Arlene

[Sweeter-than-Splenda]

Hi all! Sounds like everyone is keeping busy! Well, I had a good weekend, but did "cheat" big time! We took our son out for a birthday dinner and he picked one of the "infamous" LV buffets! YIKES! I have NO willpower when it comes to buffets! I tried to restrain myself from going wayyyy overboard, but still ate more than I should have. I was too afraid to get on the scale this morning! I am back to low carb today and feeling better about the cheat.

KK- sorry to hear your still so busy at work! We miss you!!! At least when your off a couple of days you will be able to post. You will have to take a break or two from your cleaning! LOL

Arlene-Hope the toe is feeling better! I see your a Survivor fan too! I love that show! And this one will be so fun to watch!! I wasn't too surprised to see Tina be the first to go! Isn't it just great at how many restaurants are adding low carb foods to their menus? I just read today that some pizza places are considering making a low carb pizza crust. I sure hope they do!! I love pizza!!!

Diane- so glad your feeling better! So you're a crotcheter too huh? I've made so many afghans for myself and others that I've lost count! LOL They go pretty fast so I know you will get it done in no time! I know the warmer (shorts) weather will be here before I know it, so I need to get going too!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!

Have a great day all! Hugs, Rita

[queenlene]

Good Afternoon Gurlies!

My toe is doing pretty good considering. I am just ready to get my walking shoes on, especially on a day like today with all this lovely sunshine. If only, I would have walked at school while waiting for it to be time to pick dh up from work, but I still have on this surgical boot and it is not intended for exercise.

I was a little bummed that the scale didn't move (other than I re-lost the water weight I was carrying yesterday) but for some reason I decided to measure and was happily surprised by losses in all categories. Since last week I have lost 1/4 in. from bust, 5/8 in. from waist and 1/2 in from hips. I think that gives me an overall 11 inches lost in bust, waist, hip, thigh, calf, upper arm and forearm! What was really great was the jeans I had decided to wear to school today were actually baggy! I couldn't even zip these jeans up at Christmas without laying on the bed...and forget sitting down in them, they cut off my ability to breathe. I ended up wearing them anyway and just kept hitching them up as I walked.
It was all in all a lift to my spirits when I was thinking yesterday that I was never going to make it to my St Paddy's day goal. Perhaps I still won't make my goal, but I am still making progress!

Rita DH and I are die-hard Survivor fans! We like the amazing race even more and if it is still going next year DH and my son are going to enter to see if they are chosen. They have to wait til the next one cos that is when Tyler will be 21. They'd probably argue like mad, but they are both big competitors and losing is just NOT an option. My parents think DH and I are nuts, coz we don't go anywhere on AR and Survivor nights...LOL!

Well, I hope everyone is having a good day!
Hugz to you all,
Arlene

[KIS13]

I see everyone is doing good. I on the other hand have been just awful . But, come Monday I will be back on track, I will have the proper groceries in house etc... Jim, says it's how many calories I put in....NOT! He really isn't a firm believer in the lowcarb lifestyle mostly due to my lack of committment and success. What can I say...I have a major problem resisting foods that I like. I do really well and then poof ! Well, I am going to really try hard this time..I am cleaning up my spare room to make it a nice exercise room and it will be ready by Monday. Work is still the PITS . I am so glad I will be out of work after today until Monday. I don't do very well under a lot of stress...I eat . I hope you all understand where I am coming from, I just feel so sad I want to just cry! I really want to lose this weight yet I never seem to be strong enough to stick to the plan. I will check in probably in the evenings while I am off so I reckon I will chat with you guys then. Sorry for being such a downer. Rita, Diane & Arlene..I wish you all the best with lots of success. Talk to you soon.

((((((HUGS))))))

[queenlene]

KK Welcome back ! *big squishy hug* We all have those days KK...and then it hits us...why did I do that? Why set myself back for a moment's gratification? Then there is all that self-doubt, self-recrimination *sighs* BUT!! YOU ARE BACK! And that is what counts in the long run....n'est pas?

I had an awful morning...I didn't eat wrong or tell myself it wasn't worth the effort, but I had a big pity party and I was the only attendee. I feel so angry at my body, the mistakes I make, the slowwwww loss...all of it! Sometimes the boards lift my spirits up and I am soaring...knowing I can accomplish this and anything else. At other times I see phenominal successes and I ask myself why I can't do as well, lose as much, be as restrained, push myself harder.....yada yada yada.

But when it all comes down to the brass roots, it's me doing this for me, no one can do this for me. I am no longer 22 and able to lose 5 lbs a week by pushing myself to the limit. For one, my limits are smaller than they used to be, for two I have had these bad habits 22 years longer than I did 22 yrs ago. One day at a time...Sweet Jesus!

I know I am an instant gratification type person. I have little to no patience for things to "eventually" work out. I WANT EVERYTHING NOW! LOL.....but it just ain't gonna happen that way. So, I'm gonna keep on keeping on....I will lose this weight, even if it's 4 lbs a month, that is 4 lbs less that I'll weigh on March 4th than I weigh today. If I have to give up sweets and chips, so be it....but I am not starving, I can eat and if I am still hungry I can eat a little more...I've never been able to do that Low Fat.

This is where I am. This is who I am. This morning I could barely look in the mirror without wanting to just sob. So for now I am avoiding the mirror until I have a stronger day when I can be both critical and appraising of the accomplishments I have made so far.

We can do this....we can overcome....we can be survivors and live to tell the tale of "when" we WERE overweight and how we changed our bodies and our physical strengths. And most importantly, we can reach out to others that are at a crossroads, extend our hands in understanding and friendship, because our hurts are understood and our hearts are bigger because of it.

Hugz to all of my friends here,

Arlene

[Sweeter-than-Splenda]

Hi Ladies! I'm doing ok...still fighting myself too! Arrrg! I do well one day, then have a setback the next..but..overall I am still low carbing! I guess we all have "one of those days" and then we have to overcome them!

KK- I know where your coming from too girlfriend..Don't be so HARD on yourself..you're only human..and humans make wrong decisions sometimes! This weightloss journey that we are all on isn't easy...we have our good days..and our bad..but...we have to keep on keepin on!!! Hang in there Karen! We are here for you, so DON'T EVER think you are ALONE, OK? We all LOVE you for who you are..NOT how much you weigh! *big hugs*

Arlene- You wrote a beautiful post..and I agree with it whole heartedly (is that a word? LOL)...we all have those days where we throw ourselves a personal pity party..but then we get over it and move on! Hang in there girl..we love you too! I'm so happy you joined our little group. We may be small..but we are strong! I also agree that we are doing this for "ourselves" and ONLY ourselves...and only WE can do it! WE are strong girls...and WE CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING!!! I am a huge Survivor and Amazing Race fan too!!! That is so neat that your DH and DS are going to try out for it!!! I hope they make it!! WOuldn't that be awesome!!! Let me know if they do!! Take care!

Diane- How are you today? I hope life is good for you and that you are doing well. I'm still working on my shower curtain.. I kinda measured wrong and can't figure out how to fix it! LOL Oh well..I'll figure it out! Take care and hope to see a post from you soon! Big hugs to you too! Love you too girl! Coming here to see posts from my low carb friends makes my day!!! So glad I met you all!

Wishing everyone a great day! Hugs, Rita

[Princess Di]

BRRRR I'm freezing again today, but it's up to 29 degrees (colder with the wind, but I don't want to know how cold anymore!). We had a few nice days without wind that almost felt like early spring. It really made me feel alive again. Doing pretty good on low carb, but still bouncing up and down the 3 lbs. Rita, we'll need pics of the shower curtain when you're done. I have to get Miranda's quilt started, we leave in 44 days....why do I procrastinate so??? (cause I work better under pressure probably). This weekend we're waiting tables for the March of Dimes dinner. Our tables are Mexico themed, so Rick and I will be wearing poncho's and hats...lol KK I miss ya girlie...Even if you slip a bit think about the days you follow the plan....baby steps sweetie.... Arlene you're doing an awesome job!! Don't get discouraged....ok, I've run out of time...I really will take a minute and read every word you ladies have written and post a better message soon! HUGS

[queenlene]

Well, it looks like from now until something changes I am staying at about a 2 lb loss per week right now. My offical weigh in day has been on Fridays, though I cannot seem to keep from weighing every day. What is so destructive is that I seem to lose nothing from Saturday to the following Thursday, and then I get all depressed or angry at myself for not trying harder.

Diane The Mexican dinner thing sounds fun. Is this a charity you and DH help with on a regular basis? Where are you going in 44 days? Somehow I must have missed the post that explained that.

I'd like to see the shower curtain as well. If you measureed wrong in length, the fix wouldn't be too hard if it's possible to add a few inch trim of another coordinating material. I sew and do alot of crafting and trash to treasure projects. I am even learning a bit of wood craft and bought myself an electric sander and a power drill this winter. I have 6 chairs I bought at a garage sale that I plan on sanding down this spring, re-glueing the joints and recovering the seats. I have decided to do them in a country motif with roosters either hand painted or decoupaged on the backs. If they turn out ok, I hope to sell them on ebay.


I still can't wear my tennis shoes yet, but plan to go walking tomorrow with light weight socks and a pair of walking sandals that I have. I guess I'll go to the mall since it's still pretty cold to walk in sandals right now, but my body has been telling me to get up and move, so I am going to obey it (it might tell me to stay in bed and be lethargic if I ignore it too long)

Well, TOM is right around the corner....feels like it might even show up early this month (light cramps all morning) I went to the Gro store this morning to catch a sale on Sirloin and had a 30 second mood that said, "hey, you feel grumpy and PMS'y, why not get a candy bar?" But thankfully I came to my senses before letting that thought go too far. I did find some tangerine Diet Rite which is pretty good. I haven't had a diet drink or anything else but water in 3 days so I allowed myself one as a treat for breakfast.

Hope everyone has a good day.
TGIF

Hugz,
Arlene

[Princess Di]

Hi Arlene, the dinner we are waiting tables for is for the March of Dimes, we have done it several years now. It became even more personal for us when we had a preemie granddaughter 2 years ago. We work with alot of organizations, March of Dimes, Shriner's, Lion's Club as well as some local things. We found out last night that we were going to wait tables to benefit the Veteran's memorial on the 22nd of this month. DH and I love doing things like this together.

Good for you for skipping the candy bar!! That is so empowering to walk out the door and be in control!!!!

We are heading to NC in 42 days, we'll arrive the next day. We'll be seeing our daughter (and her husband) and our 3 little grand princess's.....I think Grampy is as excited as I am!! He loves to play with them and sadly we only get to see them once a year for a few weeks...it's very hard.

Well our buddies must be very busy, no postings from them yet. I know I need to get my butt in gear and make the babies quilt before I go (twin size), so I may not get to post much either...

Well I have to run...it's snowing and I need to leave a few minutes early. Take care and have a great weekend...hope to see our buddies soon too!!

[Sweeter-than-Splenda]

A BIG hello from one of your "buddies!" LOL Thought that was cute! Not alot new with me. Trying to keep my carbs under 25 a day. I don't think I was eating enough carbs or calories and think that is why I'm not losing. SO, I'll try this for a week and see what happens! The weather here today is gorgeous! Sunny and 60's. It was cold and windy yesterday. In Las Vegas, if you don't like the weather..wait 10 minutes and it changes! LOL

Diane-you sound like a busy woman! That is so neat that DH and you like to help out with charities together! I bet that is a great feeling! So, are you making a quilt or crocheting one? Either way..I KNOW you will get it done! I can tell both you and DH can't wait to see your grandbabies..How fun!! And I bet they can't wait to see the both of you either!!!! '

Arlene- Congrats to u too on resisting that candy bar! I'm close to my TOM too, and have been craving chocolate. I did find a yummy low carb sugar free chocolate bar with only 1 carb! It's made by Asher's. I know some people say it stalls them..but I figure...at least if I'm cheating..it's with a low carb product. I mean...you gotta live life and have fun with it, right?

KK- where are you girl? Did you get all your cleaning done? Did you maybe misplace the computer? hehe just teasin ya. Hope all is well..keep in touch! We miss ya!

Wishing you all a great weekend! Hugs, Rita

[Princess Di]

Hi girls! I realized I don't have Arlene's e-mail address so I could send her a picture of my "prize" the other night! Arlene, could you pm me with it??

I won an $800.00 diamond necklace at the dinner we waited tables at!! YAHOO!!! I also won a pound of coffee, but somehow that doesn't seem as exciting!! I have to call the insurance company today to add it to my policy. The picture I send Rita and KK doesn't do it justice. How it worked was $10.00 per chance, but for each $10.00 chance you would get a $20.00 gift certificate to this jewelry store (they do it every year) and there were only 250 chances. Last year I bought a garenett bracelet (with tiny diamonds) with the 6 coupons I bought. It's like getting jewelry for 1/2 price (and you all know I'm a clearance/bargain queen!!) Anyway, so this year I decided since we needed all of our rings sized because of the weight loss I'd get 15 chances so we could do them for 1/2 price (also have a ring that needs $100.00 repair all by itself). I'm glad I did!!
We had a great turnout at the dinner and everyone seemed to have a good time...oh yeah, and I got hit on by a man while I was there!! I had taken off my poncho and hat and this man came up to me (not bad looking I might add) and started speaking spanish to me, I looked at him confused and he said "You're Miss Mexico right" and I said oh yeah and laughed he asked if I spoke spanish and I said I barely spoke english and laughed again....he looked at me and said he spoke better english in the nude and smiled at me...then he walked off...I was shocked....I noticed him watching me several times after that....WOW...That was a shocker!! Not bad for a fat old granny huh?? LOL Well I'd better run, I have to pick something to wear for work...what a short weekend!!!! HUGS!! KK, come home soon!

[Sweeter-than-Splenda]

HI all! Can't beleive it's Monday again! Weekends go by too quickly!

Diane! You are a RIOT girl!!! I was laughing so hard as you decribed what happened to you!!! WOOHOOO you go girlfriend!!! And your NOT an fat old grandma! You're a hottie!! Teehee I bet that felt great to be "hit on" like that! How fun!!! Congrats again on winning that beautiful necklace!!! Sounds like you had a terrific weekend!

Arlene- I'd love your email address too! That way we can all keep in touch! How did your weekend go? Good I hope!

KK- where are you girlfriend? Still busy with work? I saw Diane say to come home soon...did you go somewhere??? Post soon. We miss you!!!!

Well, I had a busy weekend. And was did some bad eating. I really need to get back on track but somehow I can't seem to! Grrr! Today is my son's 13'th birthday so of course I made him a cake. I'll just have one piece and get rid of any leftovers and then I'll be ok. I'm reading up on the South Beach Diet. I got the book from the library. Looks like a plan I might be better off doing. Gotta run!

Hugs to you all, Rita

[queenlene]

Rita, we have a new thread which I will bump up after this one.
Hugz
Arlene