Circle of Seven

[Denise78]

Good morning. I'm up but I'm dragging!! Dh shut the central a/c off before he went to bed (which was early) so I was up at 3 am, dying in the heat. The guy still hasn't come to fix the a/c so the only way you can shut it off or turn it on is from outside. I put on the fan, got a drink of water, but I still was having a hard time breathing. Finally had to wake dh up and he was good about going outside to turn it on. I don't think he ever went back to sleep though. I think he just stayed up as he usually gets up around 4:30 am anyway. So he'll probably go to bed early again tonight.

C, I feel for ya this wkd. If you had been losing weight at a good rate, I would say go and the heck with staying on plan. But you're losing so slowly, if you go off plan, I'd think it would be a gain or at least no loss for you again this week. Hate to have that happen too many times in a row, esp when you got on the scale recently and saw a gain. I guess your best bet is to bring the big purse like YH says, pack a few apples and maybe some jerky and protein bars, and eat consciously. If you're starving and you must have something off-plan, at least make the better choices. Go for a 2nd cup of soup rather than the cornbread. Have the one pancake but have it plain or with butter only, don't go for a stack smothered in syrup, know what I mean? And eat really clean, exercise as much as possible, for the days before and after your trip. It's do-able, you just have to put a lot of thought and effort into it. I hope someday we'll be so thin, we can go places without worrying so much about food!!

T, I was about to agree with E about the plum but I looked it up on FitDay and it's only about 8 carbs so I don't think that's it. Even I could eat an 8-carb pc of fruit and be okay with my sugar levels, and you know how sensitive my levels are with fruit. I'm almost wondering about the veggies you're having. The squash alone isn't too high in carbs but peppers and onions are and then you had cauliflower too. Might be too many carbs in one sitting for your last big meal of the day, and you may need to spread those thru-out the day more. Have you been taking any bedtime readings? I don't think being sick raises your sugar levels, but the things you eat or meds you take when you're sick certainly can. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better. Maybe now you can have your granddaughter over sometime this week.

YH, I hope things go smoothly at the hospital today. Dh and I always go on our appts together. It always helps to have an extra set of ears to pick up any dr instructions or details you might have missed. Good to see you got to Curves yesterday. Have you been measured again? I measured myself at home and oh my, I lost 11 inches off my boobs. Can't believe I had that much to spare. Sad thing is I still have a big rack so I must have been enormous!!! I lost a couple more inches off hips, belly, arms, etc., but my chest seems to have lost the most.

My friend definitely drives me crazy at times, but she has a of gold and would do anything for me if I asked so I put up with her flakiness and smothering. She called AGAIN last night because she found a puppy she wants me to go look at but it's one that looks exactly like Hannah and I just cannot do that. And then she called this morning to make sure we are still going to Curves. I am very leery when I make friends. One thing about this friend is that I'm sure she would never intentionally do anything to hurt me so I can trust her, can't say that about other friends I've had in the past. I have a lot of friends in my sorority but I usually do most of my running around with this gal as her kids are grown and married and she doesn't work or have any younger kids tying her down. Most of my other friends work or have younger children so they can't go shopping or to Curves with me.

E, hope you & Jake walked early this morning before the temp rose. Are you going anywhere with your friend today?

I'm off to Curves this morning. Then I need to stay home for a couple of days. I need to get some ppl lined up to help with our Fair parade, which is Aug 16th. Need to call the guy for the sound system and music, line up a few kids to sing the National Anthem and find 3 ppl to judge the floats in the parade as our sorority gives cash prizes to best float in different categories (adults, kids, business, organization, etc).

Well I guess I've rambled on (and played with smileys) long enough!

Circle of Seven group hug! Have a great day ladies -- D

[harley g-ma]

D,love you're dog smilie Looks just like Jake I'm not kidding it really does!Come to think of it,the walking figure looks like me too! I wear my sunglasses and tennis shoes.Now if it just had an ipod with wires hanging from my ears that would be meRain cleared up so was able to get my walk in.I feel like if I don't do anything else at least I did that much.Guess what? I found out Crystal Light is really good for youIt has 100% of the vitamin C you need,some calcium,and no sodium.I know all about the artificial sweetner,but I gotta have at least 1 vice It's better than not drinking any water and I'm going to start ordering water when we go out.My friend does do that at least.She drinks alot of water and tries to get me to We were suppose to go do laundry but of course she changed her mindWill probably stay home and clean today I got up at 4am with dh so I may take a nap later.Have fun at Curves

[MI CHICK]

Ok I am back from the doc's and have went thru the cupboards. I had to remind myself that it is just 2 days not 2 weeks....gee I get panicked & that's dumb cause it's just food not brain surgery So I have SB bars to take & almonds & my shake powder that I only need water to mix. Then a couple apples. These along with the food I can eat there is enough to survive on just fine.

Yeah D my fear is I did just what my mom kept telling me I was gonna do--wait so long to loose the weight that I'd be at the stage where living on water & toothpicks won't budge it...

Now on to other more important things in my life LOL

[Denise78]

Now that's the spirit, C. I know that feeling. Kinda felt it over the wkd when that 1/2 hamburger bun was staring me in the face and I was debating whether to eat it or starve. Not that someone my size could starve anyway if I didn't eat 1/2 a bun. But you know what I mean. If we just have a plan, that's half the battle right there. Sounds like you're prepared to go and have some fun now without the food worries!!

Went to Curves today. We've gone twice this week so that's it till next week. Friend is going away on Friday with DAR so she won't be here to go again till Monday.

We met up with a former co-worker of mine from when I worked at the bank 4 yrs ago so he had lunch with us and we had a lot of laughs. I haven't seen him in ages. Stopped at the grocery store for a bit. My friend had a big shopping to do so I told her I'd just see her later because I was done shopping and my things were paid for and already in my van. Good thing I came back in the store to tell her that because she reminded me that she left her vehicle at my house (in the next town!) so I was her only ride. I forgot we rode together as sometimes we both drive our vehicles to Hyannis and leave one there when we go to Curves. Then I asked her if she paid for lunch. Another We both ate our salads and walked out the door without paying. It was her turn since I paid for lunch yesterday so we had to go back to the place and explain that we are 2 flaky women who think they get to eat free wherever they go. They said they knew we'd remember and come back and pay at some point so they weren't worried. Life in a small town.

Glad you are getting more water in you, E. I like the Wyler's Lemonade, which is very similar to the Crystal Lite. Have you tried their Raspberry-flavored Green Tea? I buy those single serving "to-go" packets and they're really good. Mostly I drink plain water but I get on kicks where I want the lemonade too.

I am going to be happy to swim today. It is HOT out!!

[harley g-ma]

D,sounds like you had a full dayI glad you didn't get arrested for walking out on tab at restaurant I hope you have a nice swim

[Denise78]

It was 103 when I looked at the temp on the bank clock at 6 pm tonight. Geesh. I can only imagine how hot it was earlier!!

[Denise78]

I am tired tonight. We swam really hard at the pool. There's a group of us now that swim laps back and forth, back and forth. The manager told me the pool is 75 ft x 35 ft. That's a pretty big size. We go across the 35 ft width as we can fit more ppl that way and still have plenty of room to swim. Tonight there was 5 of us swimming laps.
I love it but it really wears me out.

Ds2 called. He's coming home tomorow night for a quick visit, going out to dinner with a friend, so I probably won't see him for more than hi and goodbye. Did I tell you that when he came home from Washington, D.C., he threw his arms around me and gave me a HUGE hug and told me he missed me so much! What a good kid.

I found a new treat but I won't have it too often cuz I'm trying to stop drinking diet pop. But...I put a few drops of cream in a glass of diet rootbeer and topped it with some Reddi Whip whipped cream. OMG. It tastes like I'm having a rootbeer float with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Only 1 carb. Mmmm!!!

Today's menu:

B-1/2 c bran cereal, 15 blueberries, 1/4 c cream, coffee
L-Italian salad
S-beef jerky, rootbeer float
D-steak, broccoli, salad
S-1/2 c bran cereal, 10 blueberries, 2 strawberries, 1/4 c cream

Water-96+ oz
Exercise-45 min Curves, 1 hour swimming

Good night ladies! D

[Teresa3]

Oh, the rootbeer float sounds to die for, D! What an inspiration--yum! That's what hot weather will do for you, makes you creative trying to think of cold drinks and snacks. 103 is incredibly hot; I used to hate having to go out in that kind of weather when we lived in the desert--don't know how you can stand to shop, etc. in it! You are really reaping the rewards of exercising, although most of us would faint if we had to give up 11" of rack! Good thing you have some to spare! I won't even measure myself there, it's too sad. You're going to have a gorgeous figure when you get all done!

I did look into the blood sugar being up from being sick and found out that does happen. It said your body puts out hormones and your liver makes glucose to fight the illness, so that's the reason. It said you should check more often when you're sick, so I checked after meals today, and it's fine. I'm getting better anyway, but thought you'd like to know what I found out. Stay healthy!

E, glad it stopped raining long enough for you to go for your walk this morning. Your friend flaked out on you again--who wants to do laundry anyway! I've got a bunch of it accumulated I haven't been able to get to--ughhh! That's one thing I will never allow dh to do--a man will mess it up every time! Hope you got a nice nap in today.

Y, it's so sad everybody moves away from there. I think tourist states are like that. This is a tourist town, and we have a high rate of people who don't stay but a few years. I have lost a number of friends and acquaintances from it. When we lived in the desert it was the same story. How's bf holding up after his presurgery tests?

C, it looks like you're all prepared for your trip, now you can just relax and not have to think about it. Sounds like a real fun thing to go to. We have Amish in IN and sometimes would go visit their area. So quaint.

Had another boring day today just laying about and watching tv. But I do feel better. I have an appt. to get my hair done tomorrow afternoon, so I will probably have lunch out at the Mexican place because it's near there. Now if I can just keep up eating less. I can feel my appetite returning though! Here's today's menu:

B - egg, spinach, sausage
L - small salad w/few grapes and apple slices, chicken veg. soup
S - small plum, goat cheese, almonds
D - small salad w/chicken
S - string cheese, almonds

See y'all tomorrow! T.

[yellowhair11]

I am having a time of it with BF home already and its only been a few days, I am so use to his second shift. The hospital appts. were forever, we were there about 5 hours. Then the surgeon called and rescheduled him for Wed. instead of this Fri. He wanted to go to a Cuban restaurant and I was off plan with some kind of beef, rice, did not eat beans, but had the roll. Scale up 2 lbs. this am. I find myself eating more and exercising less, more stressed with him at home so I must get into a different mode of some sort. He will probably be home for 6-8 weeks.

Today I have hair color after work, my hair was short layers but now kinda growing into a short bob but its going thru the pain stages, not bothering with new colors because of the sun and pool, its a totally diff. color after a week. Looks like we will be at the hair place at the same time T. Good to hear your feeling better !

Sounds like your ready for your trip C - it will be fun - I went to some Amish fair not too long ago and the quilts were so beautiful, pricey too. Did you schedule the hand surgery yet ? How has that been lately ?

What did you end up doing E ? Did you get your walk in ? What kind of dog is Jake? Oh, I miss having a dog so much !

I believe you are tired D from the pool, an hour is a long time ! In fact I was thinking of not counting laps and go by time and ill get a better workout. When I do 30 lets say its no more than a half hour and im pooped. Of course I go faster tho to get it over with. I like the sounds of your new root beer treat !

Wed.
am-grapefruit and nectarine
lunch-kashi with raspberries, cuke, tomato
dinner-Cuban food
treats-fruiti
exercise-none

[yellowhair11]

PS: I got ticked from work comment yesterday by very overweight gal who comes up to me and says " Your starting to get a beanpole look " negatively. I said very heartily " Thank you very much " ! She says negatively " Oh, well I guess thats what your aiming for ". I said " yes, in fact I am " and walked away. Now I will never have a beanpole look as that is impossible since I am short and dont have that shape- look no where near bean pole-ish. This somewhat aggravated me because I mentioned Curves to this gal when I just started there because SHE asked what I was doing and I was very nice and wanted to encourage her. Come to think of it, this gal complimented me on new outfits when I was 200 and now the nasty comments ( this was not the first time but this one got to me yesterday for some reason ).

[Denise78]

YH, ppl like that are just envious! Bean pole, huh? You shoulda dressed in all green today with a little tassle on top of your head, just to tick her off even more. And....brought some green beans to munch on for a snack!!
Wow, 6-8 wks. I my husband but I don't think I could put up with him for that long, 24/7!!! I wonder if you will exercise MORE now, ya know, just to get out of the house and away from each other! Well at least you work during the day so that's good. I really wish you would get a picture posted! Now it's a different hairdo, in addition to all the weight lost?? Geesh. We aren't even going to recognize you!

T, I never heard that about being sick. Hmmm. Learn something new everyday. Now don't jinx me into getting sick........but remind me the next time I am under the weather to check to see if my sugars are higher, never noticed that before.

My back is killing me this morning. It's too hard for me to go to Curves and swim on the same day I think. But I'm going to tough it out because I don't want to give up swimming! Oh, did I tell you that my friend said her husband thinks she should give up the gym because she's gained 25 lbs since we started. I told her I didn't think it was the gym causing the gain ...maybe her husband should be asking her to give up the cake and cookies. We had a good pep talk on the way home but I know nothing will change. She feels that since her husband insists on having dessert every night, SHE has to eat it too. Fine, then make sugar-free jello or make 2 desserts -- one for him and a lighter version for her, but I know she won't. I know you can't force a person lose weight or eat healthy if they don't want to, but I fear she may quit going to Curves with me, using her husband as an excuse to stop watching her weight. She says she loves food too much. Well holy moly, does she think I look like this because I HATE food??!!
I found the idea for the rootbeer float in this forum. Seems it's a popular treat for those watching their carbs and/or calories, but I added the spray of whipped cream cuz dh's ice cream soda looked really good and I knew I couldn't have that so I was looking for a little something that made it more of a treat than just a diet pop. Very refreshing and killed the sweet tooth immediately. I imagine a diet orange soda would taste like a creamsicle with a little cream and whipped cream.

E, you must be typing s l o w l y. Are you going with your friend to do laundry today? I love doing laundry here at home but it'd be a pain if I had to drag it out and do it at another place, esp. if I didn't have a car and had to depend on others to take me. I think maybe you should sneak off with dh's bike someday. hahaha. If he's anything like my dh, it'd be the last ride of your life!!

Are you allowed to take pics where you're going this wkd, C? Some of those ppl/places don't allow themselves to be photographed. If you can, hope you can figure out how to post them so we can see them too!

Today I am staying home, finally. I have lots of laundry and dishes to catch up on!

Have a happy day ladies! D

[harley g-ma]

Hello, Everyone.No walk this morning,had to go do laundry with friend.She likes to go early so it won't be so hot.I will have to do a video inside We had plans for Friday but she cancelled,as she is going off with someone else.Thats OK though,maybe she won't get on my nerves so bad if we see less of each other I'm glad you got your swim in D.It sounds like you really need it to cool off. It is taking so long to get your A/C fixed.That guy must be really swamped.It's a good think you can turn it on outside or you would have had to move back to your other house
YH,that is so funny about your co-worker.She is just greenwith envy! I would love to be called a beanpole,because I know no matter how much I lose,I'll never be that thin It probably ticked you off because of all the other stress you're under now and you have to wait even longer for bf to have the surgery!That sucksDo you get to keep the original time off or do you have to change it? It might be nice to have a few days of doing nothing before the surgery
T, I thought about you yesterday.That were making egg spinach dishes on tv and they looked wonderful It will be nice to get out to have your hair done.That always makes you feel better

[harley g-ma]

D,when we were in Pa.there were alot of Amish people and I didn't know they didn't like to have their picture taken and a guy was coming across a covered bridge with a big horse wagon and we took a picture and he stopped and asked us what we were going to do with it! We told him it was just so picturesque that we wanted a picture.He was OK then.Some of them think you steal their soul When I retired me and dh were together 24/7 for years before he started this job.We also worked at the same place(thats where we met) and rode to work together and even took breaks and lunch together.We hardly ever had problems.You notice I said HARDLY

[Denise78]

Dh and I get along good when we're alone if we aren't on top of each other all the time. Like if he's working in the garden and I'm off doing something in the house. It's practice for when he retires. But when he got his promotion last year and they told him he could do a bulk of work from home on the computer...well let's just say that after 3 days, I was asking him to go to the office!! My dh loves to cook so we were getting in each other's way in the kitchen. He likes to watch tv for hours in the bedroom (much like YH's bf) but we have very different tastes in tv shows, and our livingroom tv and bedroom tv are on the same receiver, so they have to be on the same channel. It's nice that he goes to work and we have a little break from each other. We still do a lot together, probably more than the average couple since neither of us go out with friends at night or on the wkds (other than my 2 sorority meetings per month or his occasional business trip).

So now that you have your laundry all done, E, what are you going to do with yourself today?? I need to run outside and get the first load on the line since ds2 will be home tonight and asked if I'd wash something for him to wear to dinner with his friend Amanda. He's the only one, other than myself, that lets me dry his clothes on the line. Dh and ds1 insist on the dryer for some reason. I think hanging clothes on the line is therapeutic for me. I love to look at them blowing in the breeze and the fresh clean smell of clothes dried outside is pure Heaven to me. I know, I know, I am neurotic.

[harley g-ma]

I don' t really have ANY thing to do,that is nothing I WANT to do I NEED to defrost my refrig.Thats one thing they haven't perfected yet in campers.At least not in campers under $100,000.00 It may or may not get done.I have lots of magazines to catch up on.I'm not a big tv fan. I'm glad I'm going home the end of Aug.I miss my dd1 and her family.We may go see g-daughters college if I have time.She will be gone by then I sent my dd1 an e-mail yesterday with a bunch on BIG new smilies on it and she sent it to the people that work for her saying"This is what people do,that are retired,and don't have anything to do" I can't post the new smilies on here for some reason.

[Denise78]

I just went to different sites that offer free emoticons and copied and pasted them here. But I did find one site that won't let me do that, so maybe those were copyrighted or something.

I've got my laundry all done. Thinking about dishes but for now, it's just a thought.

I'm snacking too much though so I should go and do something. Too bad we didn't live close to one another. I would have picked you and the others up and we could have swung by and taken YH out for lunch!

[harley g-ma]

I don't know how to copy and paste and all that good stuff! I wish we all lived closer too.That would be fun.I think we are scattered about as far away as we can be

[MI CHICK]

Hey there ladies! Long day & glad it's over! Am eating dinner & doing email then I will pack our suitcase & do my nails. Wish I had a pool to go relax in for an hour before I start everything.

A string bean aye YH....wow what a compliment I'd love to have someone tell me I was melting away & better watch it or call me a string bean or had I been sick cause I was so thin....just insult me anytime!!
Sorry the surgery date was changed! BF will be even more nervous waiting the extra days, poor guy! Do you have to change all your work days around--his folks have to change their flight etc?? More complications than anyone needs at that time.

Yes it is the Amish that don't care to have their pic taken, not the Mennonites. And I don't know who told you that screwball thing about them thinking you're taking their soul Harley--I read that about one of the few tribes left in Africa somewhere. For the Amish it's all a avoidance of vanity--same thing with their "simple" clothing style. Some of the Mennonite groups don't dress different from us. And yes I took many pic's last year.

Well D I now have an excuse to not exercise cause I sure don't need to gain 25lbs!!! That whole paragraph had me in stitches We all love food too much as you said & that's how come we're all here making new friends

T I went to Shipshewana IN about 4yrs ago w/ my 2 girlfriends as it is known as a good shopping place. We stayed in a very nice B&B & had a good time but I got tired of the shopping real quick. Not a big shopper. And I wasn't looking for furniture. Very pretty area. Course I really like farm land.
Glad to hear you are feeling better! Getting hair done & going to lunch should raise your spirits. Wear your tight jeans though so that you don't get a wet burrito And take a spoon to that salsa, don't be licking it off the chips like you haven't got the manners your mama raised you with

For some reason your Wed menu just sounded so good D. Made me want to eat it everyday for a week!

Ok need to get a move on.
B=coffee w/ cream
L=15 almonds
S=babybel
D=tky smk sausage & cantaloupe

[Teresa3]

Well, you sure did eat light today, C! Getting ready for your trip--are you leaving tomorrow? Funny, I have never heard of Shipshewana. Dh is always asking me where this or that town is in IN that I've never heard of. There are so many small towns in IN I can't remember them all. I'm like you though, I don't like to shop, even if my feet could take it. I don't know what people do with all the stuff they buy. I got tired of the clutter around the house, so when I redecorated last year I didn't put hardly anything back. Now the house has a very minimalist look, there are so few things out and few pictures on the walls. Except for the kitchen, it's always a mess. I wanted to get new cupboards and countertops, but dh wouldn't have it. So I just left it a mess! Well, I digress. Hope you have a great time, C, and maybe you will see something special you will get!

Y, that is tough to have had bf's surgery rescheduled--hard on both of you! I'm with D--wish we could bop over there and take you to lunch to get you out of the house. Dh works at home so I go out to lunch frequently. Or go for a walk. Or to the drugstore, or to run an errand, or whatever I can dream up! I'm sure you'll think of something to get you out of the house! Take up meditation or yoga--no man ever wants to go do that with you! Or go to Curves!

I about fell off the bed laughing about D's suggestion you go to work dressed as a green beanpole and munching green beans! I guess we love to live vicariously because we have no one to p*ss off! But the things people say to you when you have successfully lost weight are amazing! What makes them think they can just nonchalantly cast slings and arrows at someone who is getting healthier? I wonder what Miss Manners would say about this. I just love her witty responses to rude people. Maybe I'll write and ask her. Although I'm sure I'll never get thin enough for anyone to offer such a comment!

D, I used to help my mother hang out clothes on the line. There is nothing that can replicate that fresh-washed and line-dried smell. I guess today was laundry day for you and me and E. First day I felt up to doing it, and dh was complaining he had no shorts to wear, although I question why he feels he needs to wear shorts out on a foggy morning. It's not gotten out of the low 70's here for weeks! Maybe you all should come visit me here! Losing weight is a lot harder when you don't have supportive friends! You and E both deserve a special handclap for pressing forward in spite of sabateurs all around you!

Sorry you had kind of a bum day, E. I sympathize with you missing your dd1. Where does your gd go to college? I love to see college campuses, they are so pretty. My step-gd is going to a real old college in OR this fall, and I want to go see it, too. When you go back home in Aug. you will still be with us, won't you? Did you end up defrosting the refrig?

I had a pretty good day, ate at the Mexican restaurant and got my hair done. The shop was so busy and noisy though, it was torture! I really don't like hearing all my hairdresser's personal troubles, or being prodded to tell her mine. I just wish sometimes I could find a stylist who didn't talk a lot and who just did my hair! I don't think such a creature exists! Here's today's menu:

B - egg, spinach, sausage
L - salad, 2 shrimp enchiladas, no tortillas
D - minestrone soup w/shredded chicken, 1/2 apricot
S - string cheese, almonds

Have a fun Friday! T.