Penpal match? Just turned 50, want to lose 75!

[Pam in TX]

Happy Saturday,

Couldn't sleep....... So here I am.... up at 4:30.... been awake for about an hour, and couldn't get back to sleep....

What a wild week this has been at the office........ Absolutely nuts... and problem after problem.... So glad it is over....

No loss to report but am staying on track with the eating.... Unfortunately I have really slacked off in the exercise dept... All the stress this summer has just zapped me... I am going to make a commitment to start back on Monday.....

Sister has now moved to the physical therapy floor at the hospital.... This will really help her gain back some strength that she has lost due to being so confined to the bed.... Am heading up there today to spend the day with her....

Leslie: You are doing so well.... KUTGW.... Oh, and it is now dry here in TX (at least around here).... so no more wet comments.... I grew up in CA so I know what you mean about the wet weather though.....

Sue: I hear ya on needing to get to the store.... I really need to do some major shopping... What is agastache? never heard of it before......

Carolyn: How are the "digestive issues"? Hope you are feeling better soon.....

Razberry: So where in TX are you? Carolyn and I are both Central TX area..... Nice to meet you and am looking forward to getting to know you better....

Ok, ladies.... Time for a coffee refill.... and then try to be a little productive before heading out....

Have a wonderful weekend....

[Suji]

Hi--
Saturday check in and I see Pam. Hi there Pam! I know what you mean about exercise--I just hate it for its own sake but I find that I really need to at least do stretches or I begin to feel like parts of me have gone too stiff to be useful (like my lower back). Also, I'd like to go hiking (Pleeze gawd make the weather cool down for that!) I am so glad your Sis is on the mend enough to do PT.

I ended up doing Ital sausage, onion and peppers for dinner. Too bad it was around 9pm--a no no! I note I am having my usual early LC induction issues of "gotta go gotta go". Whoever complained about constipation on Atkins? Gee whiz!


Carolyn, Leslie, Kayan--if you want to check in over the weekend to stay on track together, please do. Raz, how's it going so far? What area of TX are you living in? Do you work outside the home as well?

Sue

[Suji]

Just lil ol' me checking in to be self disciplined about reporting!
Yesterday:
BR: coffee and cream, 3 small eggs fried
LUN: tuna salad
DIN: salad, minute steaks

I stay easy-peasy boring on induction!

Worked hard and dirty at the farm yesterday clearing the patio. Luckily I brought my youngest son with us or it would have been much harder. As it is, only half the patio is cleared. None of this would have been a problem if all the roofing work was done quickly instead of being spread over a year--then we would have had a short term rollaway dumpster rental. Instead, all the debris went to the patio which is why there are never pictures from that direction!!!

We are going to have another week worth of 80's. This is just the strangest weather for the mid-Atlantic. I feel like I live back in Texas!

Today, I'm going to take care of all the prep for my after school group tomorrow and then, who knows. I've only got about 100+ pages/500+ left in my bookclub book (binge reading last night!)

Have a pleasant Sunday! TTFN!

Sue

[kayan]

Hi Ladies

Wow! everyone is so busy and sounds like everyone is on track. I did well for a couple of days, but that darn ice cream monster bit me again. I plan to start over tomorrow. I don't understand why I can leave everything alone but the ice cream. Had ice cream for breakfast and supper also twice yesterday and the day before.

Welcome Razberry

Leslie: Where in Oregon are you? My mom just visited her nephews in Cottage grove and Sutherlin I believe.

Carolyn: You are not alone, I am also so "cranky: that I don;t dare be around people because I am afraid I will say something I will regret

Sue: I think I will go with eggs to get back on track for tomorrow also.

I need to stay focused and one way is to visit here more often. I find that if I blow it then I feel what the heck and skip checking in, but i do need you ladies, and I will be around more

Kayan

[Suji]

Hi Kayan,

I like semi-sweet stuff more than really sweet the way ice cream and most other sugary foods are. It helps I suppose that I have sensitive teeth as far as cold desserts like ice cream. I hardly ever have desserts at all. I wasn't raised that way--my Mom was a firm believer in dinner desserts--usually pudding, jello, stewed fruit or ice cream in small dishes-- pie or cake more rarely. My ex never liked sweets except for gingerbread, so when I got married, I didn't perpetuate that dessert tradition. Now I don't make any because DH, like me, fights weight gain and he has NO SENSE of proper proportions on his plate!!! That man LOVES to eat. (Kid gets store bought cookies in his lunch. Desserts are for special occasions around here. )

Today was a repeat menu from yesterday since most of the quick items were too high carb for the amount I could eat. Oh well. At least I spent a bunch of prep time on the school activity!

Nuts! It was 91 here today! Are you getting this type of high up there in Maine, Kayan?

Sue

[sleepysue07]

Hi Girls,

My digestive issues are much better today. But poor DH has it now, so I guess it wasn't my diet after all.

I am sticking to my diet, but I have not exercised at all this weekend! a.) I have NO energy beyond the first three hours I am up in the morning, and b.) my joints ache constantly. I have been feeling this way for a couple of months now, and I guess that I just need to break down and go to the doctor. I hate going though. I was really sick about ten years back and I was at the doctors office, or in the hospital all the time, so now I avoid them.
I'm finding that it's easier to stay out of the kitchen if I keep my hands busy. I have been making Christmas ornaments all day. I enjoy crafts of all kinds, and I cannot craft and hold a fork at the same time.

Pam, it is very dry here! I thought your area had more recent rainfall than ours. We have cracks in our yard that look as though we have had an earthquake, some are two to three inches wide! I am so glad that your sister is improving. I'll keep her in my prayers for continued recovery. By the way, I am an avid Longhorns fan, so I love your new avi.

Kayan, it's good to see you checking in. I am sorry about the ice-cream. I have instructed DH to buy only the flavors I don't like, so I am not tempted. My problem is nuts. I have a hard time resisting them. I am just going to have to banish them from the house. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios...all varieties really. By the way, Sue, what's a "minute steak?"

I am sitting up waiting for my youngest to come home. He and his DGF are out later tonight because tomorrow is Columbus Day and they are out of school.

Even though the work week hasn't begun yet, I am already looking forward to the weekend. I will only work through Wednesday this week, and then DH and I will be taking a small vacation. He has been very stressed at work, and needs a little down time, and so do I.

Even though our youngest still lives at home, he is gone more than he is here, and we are beginning to feel like empty nesters. It feels so strange, because we have never been just a couple. My oldest wasn't even two when we married.

Well, I guess that it's really late, so I should go to bed. Monday is always my least favorite day of the week at work.

Hope you are all having a good nights rest, that tomorrow is a lovely one for all.

Carolyn

Carolyn

[Dreamcometru]

Hi Ladies. It's good to hear from everyone.

Well, I fell off the wagon. I ate birthday cake AND ice cream yesterday. Dang. Oh well, DH bought it for me so I couldn't not eat any. He asked too before he bought it and I said I would eat some, so I did. No gain, but no loss either.

I am a total sweet seeking person. I always want something sweet to conclude my meal. I guess I was brought up that way. Lately I've turned to berries mostly with some SF FF cool whip on top. Although by the time I'm done its about 14 carbs, but its only about 70 calories.

Sue, I can't get over the hot weather you guys are having. We've been running our heater. It poured last night. Not so bad today, but cloudy. It takes me about a week to get into ketosis, so you are probably right on track.

Kayan, I'm in Portland. My DD1 lives in Eugene though which is almost to Cottage Grove. As for the ice cream, it was sure good. But I hope not to go that route again very soon.

DD2 came home to celebrate my birthday with me. We ate at Red Robin. I was good and had the chicken ensenada which is two pieces of chicken breast and salad. Its actually really good. DS and DH came home early from hunting on Sunday. So we celebrated yesterday instead of today. DH did really well. He bought me a Nike track jacket I had been eyeing and the pants to match so I have something to wear on Saturday and Sunday mornings when we walk the golf course trail. Yay!

Pam, I continue to think about your sis and hope she gets better soon. It sounds like she's on the road to recovery. I feel deprived if I don't exercise. But I haven't been nearly as good as I should. Hopefully more time will allow me to exercise more, but it's also more difficult this time of year.

Carolyn, we are experiencing empty nest also. With just DS home, he's always gone anyway, so its kind of weird being just DH and I. Besides going to the gym, I'm going to try to fill my time with DD1's scrapbook and household organization and cleaning tasks. I want to paint the bathroom too, and then perhaps progress to other parts of the house. I want to, should, would like to, etc. but whether or not I get to it is another story.

Hi Razberry. Hope all is well with everyone.

[Suji]

Hey Leslie and Carolyn,

I'm back from my garden club volunteering. Lots of adorably cute little second grade girls, a couple of boys (1st and 3rd) and one 5th grader. It was hot as Hades outside while we were planting pansies in the Worst Dirt in the World! And dry as heck with no way to water anything! I'm so glad I brought 2 five gallon bottles of hose water just in case... !!

Today- 2 mugs of creamy coffee, eggs fried, tuna with salad, roast beef with salad and broccoli.

I lurves me some berries, Leslie--especially raspberries--but not yet! Have you ever had good mulberries? I tried to plant one this year but it didn't make it out of dormancy, so I'll try again this year. I have had wild mulberries locally that were sweet and tangy red-black color and of good size but the park service cut down the tree!!!

Carolyn-sorry to hear about your joint problems. Could it be early arthritic changes? I'm sure that is what is showing up for me in small ways. Also maybe weight compression on nerves? I found that when I lost a fair amount of weight, a problem that I had with aching hips and body parts falling asleep on me in the night just vanished. I know my hands are getting problems from use damage.

Although I have 2 sons at home, the older one is gone most of the time-school, work, friends. My youngest still has another year to go before college. THen I guess we'll know what empty nest feels like. This place will feel large and empty!

Hope you have a pleasant evening,

Sue

[kayan]

Evening Ladies

The weather last week was way above average, The first time all summer, it actually reached 90 then today it was cold and in the 50's. The saying goes here in Maine, If you don't like the weather, wait a minute. That sure seems to be true lately, one extreme to the other.

Stayed on track today, I work tomorrow so will see how that goes. Today was a short day and I drove right by 3 stores.

Carolyn & Pam. It has been dry here. It rained last night here. I cannot remember when it last rained. It is so dry that the leaves are falling from the trees before they turn the colors of fall.

Sue: send the heat up this way DH is trying to build a garage this week the lumber and trusses came today.

Leslie: My mother loved Oregon. Her nephew even took her hunting and she saw some elk.

Everyone have a good evening and will catch you later

Kayan

[Suji]

Alright! Where are all our happy re-Inductee campers, hmm?
Today-
Br:scrambled eggs w/cheese and java, couple pieces of cooked broccoli
Lun: pepperoni slices
Din: ground turkey w/ chili flavor and maybe salad greens, green pepper slices (dunno yet)
Water and more water

I kept thinking about those poor pansies in our 90+ degree heatwave and how dust dry the soil was, so called to get a hose hookup at the school to use today. I must have watered those guys for 45 minutes. Supposedly this ends tonight. Oh pleeze! The NOAA weather discussion is talking about warm and dry conditions for the next two months. DId you all hear about the dire state of Atlanta (here is a bad result of too much overpopulation/economic development). Major waterproblems with talk of rationing how you shower, flush, etc. Their only reservoir is like down to one years worth of water.

How are the rest of you doing??

[Dreamcometru]

Hi Ladies:

Sue and Kayan: I can't believe the heat you guys are experiencing. I'm wearing a turtleneck and blazer today to stay warm at the office and I wear a coat over that on the way to work with the heat on in the car. And it poured rain all night long. We are supposed to get a dry stretch of about 5 days.

Sue: Those poor panzies. They do need a lot of water. It took mine a good month to get going really good. Then when we had a huge dry spell, I couldn't keep up with their needs. They had grown really scraggly by then anyway.

Kayan: DH and DS go hunting all the time. They aren't very successful, but they still have fun. Saw an elk two weeks ago. DS got lost last weekend. If they didn't have walkie talkies, he would probably still be out there. It was pretty scary. Also, there was a mother bear and two cubs in his location. DH finally reached him on the walkie and told him to sit down and stay put. Shoot his gun into a stump and DH would follow the sound. It worked. They tried honking the horn on the truck at first, but DS couldn't hear it he was so far away. DH is really good about direction and such, but he was scared that DS would get between the mother bear and her cubs. DS said he kept hearing something that sounded like pigs. Ah, the bears. He was so close.

The leaves here are so beautiful. Our oak trees are slower to turn but when they do, I will try to remember to get a pic. I'm not sure what the rain will do to them.

Good job ladies for staying on plan. I'm still edging out the birthday cake and goodies so I haven't been good. A girl in my research group is determined to lose 20 lbs by the end of the year. I said we should do it together. My goal is just to get to the 170's by the end of the year. I hope, I hope, I hope!

Have a great day.

[Suji]

Hi Leslie--Yeah, it's been awful BUT it breaks today. It wasn't bad out at the farm at all. I picked all the ripe tomatoes I could find and took some peppers too. Then I spent the rest of the time tearing up roofing felt into smaller pieces and bagging it to go out with the trash. That took hours and eeew! factor was high (centipedes)!

So far today:
2 mugs coffee w/cream
2 eggs fried
1 can tuna w/mayo and chopped onion
Dinner: salmon or cajun blackened fish w/salad
water

I have gotten comfortable with this group's dynamic, I think. I don't usually surf around on this site but checked out a small group doing Oct 1 Induction and thought, why not? But they are newbies and kind of talk to only each other (which prompted me to post on etiquette), so I will likely bug out. I like that we are all well mannered and welcoming to whomever pops in regardless whether they stay or not. I think Raz was a temporary blip here-she had a lot of posts elsewhere.

Just wanted to say that I like you gals. :-)

Sue

[Dreamcometru]

Hi Sue:

I agree with you, they dynamic of this group is good. I'm also in a century club challenge. At the time I started I had 100 lbs to go. I like it, but the people in it are constantly changing and its dropped down to about 5 regular posters and who knows, that may change b/4 the end of the year, but I like the girls who are in it. We are all very supportive of each other. I will hang with that group until Jan at which time I'm sure a whole bunch of new challenges will start up. I think it's great we have stuck together this long. I've tried penpaling with others and they drop off the face of the earth. Our thread is really long so we might need to start a new one at the first of the year.

Ah, fresh tomatoes and peppers. The pepper harvest is in full swing here. My boss is Macedonian. It's tradition for them to get 400 or 500 lbs and cook and can them. They limited themselves this year to just 150 lbs? Sheesh. What do they do with all of them. I think they serve peppers at every meal, seriously.

Its also apple time. They are so good, but the best are found when you make the commute about an hour up the Columbia Gorge to a town called Hood River. Omgosh, there's nothing like the apples and pears you can get there. The climate is just right for growing and the place is loaded with fresh produce. I don't have much on my plate this weekend. DS drove me up there last time for driving practice, but since he will be gone hunting, I may drag my mom with me and head on up there. It will be an nice outing for her and the fall colors are in full swing.

No losses to report today. I finished off the birthday cheesecake yesterday. So, today I will be good. Our group had a tour by a nutritionist at a market called new seasons which prompted me to switch to some low calorie whole grains and more fruits. We'll see what it brings. It seems whenever I switch it up, I lose a couple more lbs.

Hi Carolyn, Pam and Kayan.

[Teresa3]

Hi, Gals--

Just wanted to check in and offer a hello to you all! I have so enjoyed reading your posts recently--you all are an inspiration! I'm from CA and it's so interesting to hear about your gardens and activities in other parts of the country. And the diet struggles, of course!

We have a small (but lovely ) group at "New and would like a buddy," if any if you are feeling chummy and want to check in with us, too. We share your disappointment of having hopefuls join and quickly drop out (oops, could it be us...? ) We are in it for the long haul! And with my slow weight loss, and frequent falls off the wagon, that could be years!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your posts help me, too, and I think you're a great bunch of women! If you're open to another voice, I would enjoy checking in with you!

Cheers! Teresa from Santa Cruz P.S. I love your beautiful avatars!

[Suji]

Teresa,
How kind of you to drop in and say hi. :-) You and your group can come and visit our "house" too for coffee and...water... I guess! I think a group that posts for a while develops a kind of personality and maybe some people aren't good matches (?) and they don't come back.

Speaking of avatars, your little poodle is giving you "love eyes" in that pic! Nice garden spot!

Sue

[Teresa3]

Thanks, Sue--

The picture was taken in June before the dahlias bloomed--now they are draping dark red all throughout the beds, and the greenery and flowers in the center bed have grown tall and lush! And you said it right--our dear little Gena is the most adoring and adorable fluff ball on four poodle gams! I'm hoping someday to post another picture after I've lost the 45 lbs. By then I imagine the landscape will be entirely changed, and I will be as gray as Gena!
(But hopefully still as spirited!)

Hope you all are having lovely dreams, and may we all wake up tomorrow to a day where our thoughts (and mouths) are not always on food! Cheers! Teresa

[sleepysue07]

Teresa, it's nice of you to drop in. Please feel free to stop by anytime.
Sue, I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday regarding my joint pain, which has been much better the last couple of days, and I don't know why.
I'm sure that it is probably a symptom of being overweight. Although my legs are fairly long, I don't have a very large frame, and it just wasn't meant to carry this much weight.

I am being a very good girl this week, and it is SO working! I have lost 6 pounds in a week! (Not much by some standards, but quite the boon for me!)
The three pair of shorts I bought at the beginning of the summer no longer fit me.

DH and I have both taken today off for a long weekend. We are going to work out in the yard, and then go to DS2's football game tonight. Tomorrow we are going to a Christmas in October festival, and then to a production of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," on Saturday evening at Table Rock. I am trying to talk him into going with me to see the new movie about Queen Elizabeth on Sunday, but if he won't, I'll go with a friend, or go alone. I love history and have been so looking forward to that one.

Tomorrow night's game is against the team we played last year when Michael sustained his brain injury. I think he is just a bit nervous about this. I know that I am because most of the players on that team tower above our boys. I love football, but I'm on pins and needles this season. Michael had a great game last week though and was given a special award by the coaches. Please pray that Michael will be safe tomorrow night.

Leslie, you reminded me of an apple salad recipe that I wanted to try. I am going to go to the market for apples today.

Kayan, in the 50's already? I am so envious. We are still hot and dry here. The AC is causing the electric bill to be outrageous!

Pam, how are you? I hope all is well with you, and your sister.

Have a wonderful day!

Carolyn

[Pam in TX]

Morning all,



Has been a pretty hectic week at the office.......... Been putting out fires all week long.... Am planning on taking off at noon today to head up to visit with my sis.....

She is doing much much better..... Yesterday she became "wireless"... No more IVs.... The plan is for here to stay in the hospital for about one more week to watch and make sure that the infections don't return.... She has physical therapy 2 or 3 times a day and had made significant progress this past week on getting to walk.... Still very slow and unsteady but every day it gets better..... We are actually seeing a llight at the end of the tunnel, and even the end of the tunnel is becomming visible.... Monday begins week 9 of the hospital stay...... It will be nice to get back to some semblence of normal again...

Our weather here is still hovering around 85-90 most days.... did have a couple of cooler mornings this week...

Have stayed on track this week with the eating.... Not so great with the exercise though.... I will be getting back on track with that next week....

Sue: You are doing a good job on the food selections....

Teresa: aboard..... Nice to have you join us..... I love Santa Cruz.... I grew up in Livermore, and lived in Mtn View for a couple of years.... We used to go to the Boardwalk in the summers.... and Santa's Village also....

Leslie: Glad to hear that the bday was a good one..... I went to Red Robin for lunch just last week.... Love to get the Swiss and Mushroom Burger (lettuce wrapped) with a salad.... We are now empty nesters.... It took some getting used to, but now we enjoy it....

Sue: Enjoy your weekend.... and your time off.... Hope the game goes well this evening... good job on the weight loss also...

Kayan: 50's.... Wow.... That would be downright chlly around here.... Hope all goes well with the garage building....

Time to go get some things done before heading out.... Have to get my bags packed so that I can leave town directly from work........ Have a great weekend everyone.....

[Suji]

Great for you, Carolyn! 6 pounds is really good! Although I have a larger frame , I too find that I experience a lot more problems when I am forcing my skeleton to carry all this excess upright. Just for health is a good enough reason to take off the pounds. I can see all the problems in my 4 nieces (20's) who are tall and very overweight--blood pressure, back problems, difficulty in locomoting, likely candidates for diabetes. All that deep south sweet , starchy, salty food in excess, you know.

That sounds really good as far as your sis is concerned , Pam. 9 weeks! Yikes, what a long time to be away from home!

42 degrees tonight they say! Gonna be time to dig up the tropicals to bring inside starting with the hibiscus.

Teresa, I don't like posting my own picture much because I so seldom have one that I like my face in. Generally I'm scowling in the flash or someone takes it while I've been working (sweaty, hot, dirty, disheveled, frizzy haired and with ill fitting clothing meant for working in stain potential situations where nice clothing could be ruined) and don't REALLY want to be be photographed. No sir, I don't like it! ....I think *your* picture is charming.

Anyway--I have more shrub butchery to do outside now that it is cool. SUCH fun cutting poison ivy and bittersweet vines out of everything. NOT!!!

Later,
Sue
(Hi Kayan and Leslie!)

Avatar:New England asters grown from seed this year

[kayan]

Morning Ladies

COLD and rainy here today. We are suppose to get a couple of inches of rain today and more tomorrow. I have to go to town to get some paint for DMIL. We(I hope) are going to paint her cupboards tomorrow. They are getting a new floor next week, so hope to get the painting done before that.

I have not done well. Had ice cream Tuesday and Wed. although none yesterday and none so far today. It doesn;t matter that its only 10 am. Some days by now I would have had 2 lg dishes.

Welcome Teresa Yes Sue has such beautiful pictures and they are of her property and animals. "Coffee" always taste better when you share it with friends

Carolyn: Great job!!! 6lbs is a lot I wish I could stay on track for a week

Pam: good news about your sister, I hope things continue to go well

Sue: There is nothing like fresh fruit. We have a couple of apple trees and a pear tree We usually get a few on each. I do miss the fruit. I only eat berries and a bite or 2 of melon.

Leslie: OMG a bear. I would of been like screaming. Your DH would not of needed a walkie talkie to hear me. Actually my DBIL got a 350 + bear last fall behind his house he was up in a tree stand and he thought some deer were coming and it turned into a bear. Boy was he surprised

Well everyone have a good day and hopefully I can get my grocery shopping done without getting soaked

kayan

[Dreamcometru]

Good Morning ladies:

Pam: I'm so glad to hear your sis is making progress. Phew, that's a long time to be hospitalized.

Carolyn: Yipeeeee! 6 lbs. You go girl. You are on a roll. I wish I could roll with you. My losses are still nil. Ah, but I'm hanging in there. Enjoy the football game. Try not to be on pins and needles the whole time. I'm sure your son will do really well. I'm so glad DS chose music. He joined the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra made up of kids from all over the city. He's really enjoying it and it is helping him tremendously with his musicality.

Kayan: You can resist the ice cream monster. I wasn't good up until we finally got rid of the birthday goodies. Yesterday I was good all day. We'll see about today. Its so hard sometimes. We've had the 40's and 50's here. No sun in our future. Just cold and an occasional rain shower.

Teresa: It's so nice of you to stop by and thanks for the invite to your group. Please drop by and visit us often. Another west coaster. Yay! I love the pic of you and your beautiful dog. I'm going to try to get a nice fall pic of my kitty this weekend. I wish I had flowers to show like Sue, but (laughing) we had such a dry spell I've cleaned my beds out for winter already.

Sue: Once again, your pic is absolutely beautiful. Yep, my family indicators too were that I was headed in the wrong direction and would soon run into diabetes, high blood pressure, among other ailments. I want to stay healthy, so I keep plugging away. Of course, I couldnl't do it without all of you.

My DH and DS are gone hunting for the weekend. I have the house to myself. Yay! I'm truly considering painting the bathroom, but I can't decide what color. We really need to change schemes, but the one I'm thinking of includes white walls AGAIN. Oh well, a shower curtain, carpets and towels can do wonders. I doubt I will get the painting done, but perhaps go look at some home improvement stores to get an idea. I need to buy the shower curtain first before I decide on a color. I plan to hit the gym tonight. I will be walking tomorrow and Sunday.

Bye for now.