Circle of Seven

[harley g-ma]

Good Morning everyone I got a late start this morning and then I decided I better do my walk before the sofa wrapped around my buttThere was a dead raccoon on the road this morning that reminded me of a funny story.At least I think it's funny but I may be warped.My dd2 was a big tomboy and she had some walker hounds that she used to coon hunt with and she actually(without our knowledge) scooped one up off the road and took it home,skinned it out ,put it on a big stick and was training her dogs when we got home one day!How Redneck is that? It's nice and cool here,in the 60's so the walk was nice The Dr.put me on the same water pill (hydrochlorot) I don't think it's very strong,but I guess thats all I need.My BP was only 110/over something which was low for me.Maybe its all the exercise They took blood and they did call me and said my calcium something or other was high.I do take calcium pills so maybe I'm getting to much.I'm going to get a copy of the report to take to my Dr.when I go home in Aug.He didn't check the knee,but it doesn't usually bother me when I'm on the water pill.I have heard exercise actually helps even with arthritis because you build muscle around the bone.There's just no getting around it,exercise is the key to every health issue
D, I hope you get to go to the pool today.At least you enjoy that exercise.You did so good on your eating out yesterday,and getting into your smaller clothes!How cool was thatWhat a wonderful feeling that is!
YH,I'm so glad you are getting some time with your G-son.That was one thing I didn't like about traveling.I missed my g-kids and the things they were doing.I wanted them to know me in more than just a name.My youngest is 13 now and they don't have time for me!Enjoy it while their young Good job on the KFC.I love fried chicken but it's not the same without the skin
T, I hope the smoke from the fires doesn't get to strong.I know it can blow a long way.It bothers alot of people with breathing problems even if it's not near.You are doing great on the exercise.I find it too hard to go to Mexican restaurants because of all the chips and salsa,and of course I like all the fattening stuff.What do you usually eat?
C, glad you got a little extra time off.I'm going to make up some eggs and stuff too for snacks.It pays to be prepared.Exercising in spurts is suppose to be the best way to excercise!They say you lose more weight that way,so keep it up
Miss A,Good job on getting into the pants! I had to lay on the bed to zip up some shorts and then I had so many rolls that came over the top,I wouldn't wear them anywayI guess I need bigger shirts!
Other than C,that has to work tomorrow what are the plan's for the 4th?I guess you don't celebrate our holiday,Miss A I just hope I get to see some fireworks

[miss.amaryllis]

Right, back after a mission to a Homebase, where TRoATU is keen to get timber, legs and whatever to build a baseboard for his model railway. It gave me a good excuse to check out the garden section. At last I have a good lawn rake; hooray.

Denise, I must have watched hundreds of episodes of The Simpsons, as my son l-o-v-e-s it. He's due to phone tonight and I can't wait to tell him that Springfield is modelled on your home town! Somehow it makes it more exciting to think it's a *real* place. The joke that really has stuck in my mind over the years - doh! - is where Homer is in prison for some reason or other and the library trolley comes round and he takes out a book called "Tunnel Your Way Out of Gaol". it just appeals to me; oh dear... The series about the woman parish priest is "The Vicar of Dibley" with Dawn French. Very very popular. Don't think DF is on a low carb diet!

What happens on the 4th July? Do you have parades and things? Fun! Fireworks!

Oh Elaine, a dead racoon! Aren't they rather big animals? I just can't imagine skinning a corpse and putting it on a stick to train hounds
But then, being a city person, not tough enough! Ferdinand is very proud of himself having caught and killed a baby rabbit. Urrgh, he had laid it triumphantly outside the back door. After a bit, when he'd fallen asleep, I somehow transferred it to give it a decent burial.

Everyone is doing so well and sticking to their diets and fitting into the clothes they love, so

Yesterday's menus:

Just tea in the morning.

Lunch; Asparagus, tomato, cottage cheese, another bit of Exmoor Blue, some crunchy lettuce, bowl raspberries, 2 tbsps yoghurt.

Dinner: 2 homemade turkey burgers, mixture carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms. A little bit of grated cheese on the turkey burgers, and 1 tbsp HP sauce (a brown sauce in a bottle with a Houses of Parliament picture - everybody loves HP sauce but rarely admits it. Not exactly classy.

My "waist" billowed over the top of the white jeans like a muffin rising out of its case, but I shall work on it.

Love to all!

[Denise78]

Miss A, you give such funny visions. I can't imagine weighing as little as you do and having enough waist to billow!! But now that you know you can zip those jeans up, you can use them as your guide, in addition to your scale, to see how you are shaping up!

E, oh a dead raccoon, ewwww. Yep, that's redneck for sure. It sounds like something my dh would do. Remember him laying the rabbit in the garden! We have a little windmill out back and hanging from it are 3 deer skulls. Ugh. I guess it could be worse...at least they are hanging in the backyard and not the front!! Yep, I really do think the exercise makes a huge difference. Eating healthy is good but you gotta get moving too!

Miss A, what is Exmoor Blue?? Did I miss your translation on that one??

I bought some new turkey burgers by Jennie-O. They have bell peppers in them and they are rather tasty, esp. since the plain ones are pretty bland and as my son says, taste like shoe leather. But I enjoy them on the grill when the rest of my gang is eating something too fatty and high-carb for me.

Hey YH, how is working going??

Sun is out so there's a good chance for the pool later on!

[miss.amaryllis]

Mmm... Exmoor Blue is a lovely salty tangy cheese made on a farm on Exmoor which is the moor in North Devon. It's very wild and beautiful there with wild ponies too. Can't you tell I'm turning into a local yokel?

[harley g-ma]

D,Speaking of cheese, what are those cheese sections that you and C, talk about eating as snacks.I looked at the store,but couldn't find anything like that.I believe thay are in sections.Last night I snacked on some carrots with what I thought was my SB ranch dressing,and it tasted funny and I thought it had gone bad and then I found some
cheese crumbles.It was dh's BLUE CHEESE dressing which I DONOT like.YUKKKKKKKWhats funny is I ate it anyway

[Denise78]

I buy Kraft string cheese, which are like little sticks that you peel and eat. I also get the Laughing Cow babybel lites which come in a little net bag and are a small round cheese wrapped in a plastic shell. Those are good too but they have lites or regulars and the lites are less calories and fat so you want to check the pkg carefully. I have bought Laughing Cow's sectioned cheese spreads that come in a round tub but those are spreadable cheeses so you have to eat them with a cracker or on a pc of celery (which is to me) so I prefer the string cheese or babybel lites. I've tried the cheddar string cheese and babybels, but the mozzarella/swiss ones are my favorite and lowest in calories/fat/carbs. Depending on where you shop, they are located in the refrigerator section by the shredded and sliced cheeses, but in Wal-Mart for some reason, the babybels are over by their deli counter with the specialty cheeses.

[Denise78]

Funny about the bleu cheese dressing!! I love it as a dressing but can't eat the bleu cheese on its own.

[harley g-ma]

Thanks,the babybel's are what I was talking about and thats why I couldn't find them at W/M I'm not a big cheese eater unless it's on pizza or mac& cheese.I like it on a salad but if I eat it by itself,I have to pretty much eat cheddar

[Denise78]

Just got back from swimming. Was good except none of the older women were there tonight, just one 18 yr old boy (technically it is adult swimming and he's an adult). He did one cannonball off one of the diving boards, and then thought twice when he saw my look and kept it to swimming after that. I was there an hour but probably only 45 min of constant swimming since I did stop to chat for a bit with the lifeguard, who happened to be ds1's girlfriend from yrs ago. The water was a warm 85 degrees and wonderfully refreshing!!

[harley g-ma]

D, glad you got your swim in.Does dh like to swim? I would think he would enjoy going with you Any news on Vonn? I hope the little guy is improving.Do they have any idea why this happened? We went out to dinner and I had the bar-b que ribs and green beans I'm sure the sauce had sugar but it came on them.I think this weekend is going to be hard with dh off but I shall persevere
YH, what are you doing tomorrow? Did bf hear anything on his biopsy? I hope he got some good news
T, do you and dh have any special plans?I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the day

[Denise78]

I was just reading the update on Vonn. Not good news. He has an infection and fever and fluid behind his liver. They have a drainage tube in him but are not allowing foods by mouth just in case it gets worse and they have to operate tonight. They still have no idea what caused this other than possibly a virus.

Dh does not like swimming but now that I've gone, I'm hooked so I don't mind going alone. It was rather relaxing to just swim and swim. I'm still not counting laps but this pool is so huge, I don't know if the laps are bigger than most anyway.

[Teresa3]

Swimming sounds sooo nice, it's quite warm and humid here this evening. We can see miles of long clouds of smoke from the Big Sur fire drifting out over the bay; it's so sad. They had to evacuate everyone out of there because the fire jumped the lines. 1600 firefighters and they still can't begin to get it under control. I just hope the historic businesses and campgrounds don't get burned, and over 1200 homes threatened now. We are doing OK here because the smoke is not getting us directly; most of it is either blowing out over the water or worse, way inland to central CA where it's hotter than here, and very bad.

Anyway, I'm glad you finally got to the pool again, D, and had such a nice relaxing swim. 45 minutes of swimming is a lot of exercise--that will burn a lot of calories! You know, maybe my increase in frequency of exercise has been a factor in some of my pain relief. I've pretty much been exercising every day, not heavily, but consistently and have been able to add time and exercises.

C, it may really help you to get on that airwalker a few times a day--that's how I started increasing my exercise, by just getting on the bike 10 mins at a time, and I've been losing better and feeling better, too. My bike has a seat with a back on it, Y, but I don't think it's what you call a recumbant bike. I ride at a low tension and for not too long at a time so I don't irritate my knees. I have noticed they can be sensitive to it.

How fun to have your grandson visit, Y--which son is his father? You must have a lot of fun things to take kids to in Florida. When is he arriving?

D, there is nothing that's more fun than buying baby clothes, is there! Sounds like you all had a real sweet visit! And a pretty good time at WM too! Do you think drinking 64 oz. of water a day is helping the weight loss? Congrats on being able to wear the smaller size pants! Oh, but now the cute capris are too big--one of the downsides of weight loss, I guess, but sigh, we'll just have to bear it, eh!

Miss A, congrats to you, too, on getting into those white jeans! See, putting out a smaller size really works! Your menus look so scrumptious every day! makes me want to copy them! It looks like it's a warm weather menu--what is the climate like where you live? OH, yes, re P&P--the one with Colin Firth is the steamiest; although there's never been a version of P&P that I didn't like! LOVED the Vicar of Dilbey, too!

E, glad you had a nice cool morning to take your walk! Guess what--I had bbq ribs today, too! And who among us can resist them? They had some at the lunch buffet at the gym today. Fortunately, I was able to control myself and only eat two small ones. Hope you did as well! When I go to Mexican restaurants, I tell them NO chips! Then I usually have a salad and a couple of enchiladas but don't eat the tortillas. Or sometimes a tostada, and don't eat the shell. Hard at first, but you can do it! Glad to hear your bp was nice and low; it's probably all your walking paying off!

So I went to the gym again today, then rode the bike at home, and dh and I went for a little evening walk to the park that is two blocks away, and sauntered thru the neighborhood a bit. We don't have plans for the 4th except maybe to take Poodie out to lunch at our nearby bakery cafe that has outdoor seating. Fireworks are banned this year in our city because of our extreme fire hazard. I am so happy, because people come from out of town and set them off at the beach for several days before and after, and it's so nerve-wracking. Who's having a BBQ? Or other plans? Hope you all have fun tomorrow! T. Oh, and here's today's menu:

B - egg, sausage, spinach
L - salad w/2 slices salami, 2 small bbq pork ribs, strawberries
D - halibut, broccoli, crookneck squash
S - string cheese, almonds

[MI CHICK]

Good evening gal's! It's after 11 & I am watching the baseball game DH is napping on sofa.

I spent a little time looking over the lean for life thread Harley. At one point in time I would have really liked the strong regiment but not now. How does it seem to be working for you? Same foods as SB I think, just in a certain order. I think you are right D--sometimes I think you do have to mix it around, same w/the exercise, or your body just doesn't respond. I did great on strick Atkins before but was one of the ones whose chols #'s went up with it....which was a pooh cause I knew others who did good w/it & their #'s went down or stayed good. But I have a bad family history for cholesterol so probably would have went up anyway. Now I'm on Crestor trying to work it back down. Main reason I tried SB this time--was the lean version of the program that worked so well for me. Not sure if I need to go to another program or not. I have kind of bounced all over cause I couldn't quite decide what I was going to do....maybe that has screwed my metabolism around? I did do WW's many years ago & it worked good. Course I only thought I was fat & so that 20lbs I lost so quickly was all I really needed to loose. Didn't slow down as much as I thought I did way back then. Do you understand what I'm trying to say??
Have thought about it when I read Y's menu!! But the SB gives me the fruits & grains that I want, at least further down the road they do. I really need to pick a plan & stick with it....different things work for different folks & that is what is so confusing I think! I've known a few to just eat sensible & count calories and start exercising and loose--& keep it off as long as they kept to it.

Well that's too bad about Vonn!! After all he's been thru you'd hate for a bug to do him in!! His parents must be half insane with worry by now!!

Yeah you can refresh your mind & work your body at the same time D! The one time I was by a pool & could go every night I did & by myself. Found like you it was nice to not be interrupted, just kept walking my lengths till the hour was up. Was so great! Checked into some of the health clubs here & the YMCA too wanting to be able to continue that good experience and was just shocked at what they were charging!!! Geez! I didn't want a personal trainer & surgery--just to have the pool access. That's when I checked out the Y & found in the city they had been all updated & moved up the ladder. Too much of a social status thing here. I'm a peon & can't go. Or won't I guess I should say. I'm sure I could beat the $$'s out of the budget somehow, but instead of giving up one thing in exchange like I'd thought it turned out it would have to be many things & wasn't sure what the heck they would be?? Don't think dh would be too happy with having to drop things for me to be in a health club either LOL! So I need to just use the crap I own or take my own legs out the door & walk, that one is free

One of the few cheeses I don't like is Bleu! Yuck! I like the Laughing Cow wedges spread on celery! Like that SB lets me use 1 tsp of natural peanut butter on my celery too! Yum! The Babybel's come in their own wax & are perfect cheese rounds & way too good!!! Have a hard time leaving them alone...so don't always buy. got kind of tired of string cheese, plus some brands were kind of salty. But it is a good snack cheese as you can sit down with it & slowly peel off the stings of cheese.

Oh Ms A my dh has drug me around to train shows over the years...has some nice stuff & has talked about & planned but never actually built the table(s) to set it up. Seems a shame to me to have it all boxed up in the basement....last fall he had them set up in the dining room for weeks. I finally had to say this is fun ya know but I really do need to be able to set things up for Thanksgiving dinner...so he did box it up & took it to basement. Some of the ones we've seen set up were just wonderful & so much fun to watch run!!

Ok so todays menu will be posted. Would like to snack now just cause I'm up....can't be snacking at midnight!
B=coffee w/cream
L=salad w/tuna & cheddar ranch dressing
S=SB bar
D=lf ham & cheese on lc bread sm granny smith apple
S=ham & cheese roll ups 3 dill pickles

[Denise78]

I think I overdid it in the pool today. My shoulder is killing me, pain radiating down my arm. I'm off to bed and will catch up with you gals in the morning!

D

[miss.amaryllis]

Yes! another pound gone! 9st 10lbs (136lbs).

12 lbs left to go. Then it's choosing Mother-of-the-Bride outfit and staying at that weight so I don't then bulge out of it!

The Bride spotted a MOB ensemble she really likes in a Brides mag. It's very fitted, she says, split up the side, gunmetal grey embroidered satin with a little short jacket. I must check it out. I'm determined to cover up my legs which are on the sturdy side, but don't look too bad in high heels and stockings.

Stockings! I was tidying out a drawer and checked I'd got a pair of my favourite stockings (well, you never know, Joachim Phoenix might turn up and ask me out to lunch) and looked at where they were made, and yes - you're right - in China. Isn't everything?

Teresa, that is so horrifying about the Big Sur fire. I'm really shuddering to think of it. Terrifying. 1,600 firefighters. I automatically thought that to live in an area where fire can spread so fast must mean the most horrendous insurance. After the floods here last year - some people still not back in their homes! - the Government has cottoned on that the firefighters who struggled so heroically to rescue flood victims have been highly trained for fire but not flood... new training "aims and objectives" ready for next time... Give Poodie a stroke and kiss from me. Lucky little dog to be taken out to lunch!

MI Chick, it's interesting what you say about the expense of health clubs. I belonged to one of the Fitness First chain when I was working back in Kent and it was very affordable because, in the middle of a town, it didn't have a pool. At the time I had a little job working for a (lecherous) estate agent, didn't have the time for a swim before work but used the gym. The gyms with pools in the area were very expensive, especially the smart private ones.
I'm so excited that you too have a husband who's a model railway fanatic! TRoATU belonged to a club back in Kent where he could build for the Club layout, but now we're here he wants to build a layout of his own. All his exquisite little models are in a wall cabinet waiting for rails of their own. Oh dear, I can't actually get excited about model railways, but must say he does do modelling to a perfectionist standard!

Oh yes, Teresa, I'm amazed to think you consider my diet menus nice. I think American food, with all those low carb things to buy, look really exciting! My choices seem so... basic... somehow ? And all those fab restaurants you have!

You'll be fast asleep right now, Elaine, but later you'll be taking that walk! Do you have a pedometer to record the three miles, or have you measured the distance on the map? You makes me feel a bit guilty really - there is a little footpath where I can walk to the village or a longer route there by road, and I know what I ought to choose... I've put on the banned cycle shorts today because I move faster in them + trainers; do some pushups against the kitchen sink in them for my pudgy upper arms..

The climate here - one of the mildest areas in the British Isles - being in the Western peninsula it's much more changeable. Squalls of rain blow over, then quickly blasts of sun again. The most useful garment I could do with is a smart mac with a hood!

The Vicar of Dibley - believe me, it's only too accurately written. Completely realistic! Have you ever seen Porridge? Ronnie Barker as prisoner Norman Stanley Fletcher in Slade Prison? That series is utterly iconic and loved by all - especially beloved by those detained at the pleasure of Her Majesty. Oh, oh - the Tinned Pineapple Chunks episode! I've only got to think of it...

The update on little Vonn. How agonising this is, and how those parents must be suffering too. I keep thinking of him.

The South Beach book should be available when the library opens at 1700hrs! I I can't wait to read this!

I had a good chat with my 93 year old godmother on the phone yesterday. She was very ill and in a coma for 12 days early in the year. Now she has been for a shopping trip in a taxi to Sainsbury's with her carer! She's planning a similar trip to the library, "where they've got a lovely place for coffee too!". She's amazing. She was my father's beloved girlfriend - yes, I know, complicated!

I've just remembered my dear old abdominal sit-up gadget unpacked into the garage during the move. I'm going to clean it it and get it out. Trouble is, it's a bit of a clumsy thing to have in the sitting room but I was a little miffed by the muffin waistline effect, so out it must come!

Lots of love! Soon be morning in fab America! Angela XXX

Oh yes - thanks to edit function, here's yesterday's food -

Just strong tea in the morning.

Lunch: 2 oz cottage cheese, two leftover turkey burgers, few slices of a leek. tomato, lettuce.

Dinner: green salad, with a horrible Caesar salad dressing which I won't buy again, half of a small quiche Lorraine (I ate the filling, not the pastry) bowl of gooseberries with sweetener, 2 tbsps yoghurt.

Later on I drifted out to the fridge feeling like picking at something, but reprimanded self and had glass water instead.

XXX

[yellowhair11]

C - You need you to pick a plan and stick with it - one that you can be happy with. You lost on ww before, but is it you think you have too much to lose and it wont work ? I am not advocating any plan but it seems you need something new. Are there any gyms you can dicker with ? Many times you can say say your a senior on a budget and I can only pay x amt. and they will take it, all they can do is say no, I have done that and it worked. Also Hospitals here have programs/gyms and from what I heard they are reasonable. And like you said you really dont need a gym but if you could find a cheap one that would be good - you can even dicker with Curves as I heared one gal say she cant pay sign up fee but can do 25.0 a month when they charge 50 here. You just got to have the nerve do do it-tears help too. Well you can do this i know - just have to find your nitch as our bodies change and may take some experimenting. Oh yeah, I will say im going to Curves or gym and BF will make a comment like " how nice for you " - I dont care - I also heard the comments when I was so big - so I am over that.

T - geez the fires sound like a real mess, we have the fires in the Everglades but no homes ther yet, im surprised as they built so far west here and then people wonder why gators are all over the place. The bike I am talking about is the one that is low to the ground, not like a regular exercise bike and is not suppose to hurt your back. Your random exercise is good, thats what I do with the Callanetics - a few here and a few there since I cant do my dvds. Grandson is coming on the 12th for 10 days- S1's son. Lots to do here but then again you have the extreme heat factor-ill have to get over it because kids dont care.

Its so fun to read your posts during the day at work - I want to respond right way but my desk is a mess and have to produce occassionally at my do nothing job, but I get a good laugh and it surely helps me get thru the work day and I have this board on instant message.

I really like the babybel lite cheese H thanks to this board but I dont eat alot of it. Did your water pill kick in yet - I hope so, I gather your reg. dr. is in Atlanta. Oh my goodness, your racoon story - I feed those guys at work in the wee hrs. when I arrive, they all sit with the ferral cats like one big happy family and share but they are insatiable (sp). They wait for me and run after my car till I park like the pied piper. Sounds like you will be off exploring on the bike for the long weekend - how exciting !!!!

Miss A - your story about the baths was just too much-makes me want to catch a flight to England, surely you must go and give us a report. I know what you mean about the muffin billow tummy - I am convinced that no matter how much exercise or how much weight you lose at this age it has to be cut off or sucked off. I fear ours days are past for a crop top and low rise bottoms. The loose skin will not go way, in fact when I got down in the past I went to 3 plastic surgeons and they all said the same thing. I have seen people go in the mineral springs on crutches, wheelchairs, and swear by it, the one here has a 95% Eastern European crowd, I drank the water too, I believe I dumped 7 pounds that week. The water is apprx. 93 degrees. What kind of job are you looking for so you can buy your lucy boots for your white jeans ?

D - I did not know the Simpsons was your old hood ! S3 loves the Simpsons and so did my mom. When she was in the hospice last yr. her last few days we brought all the characters there for her to look at as she loved that show and I was always sending her one. She loved Maggie. 45 minutes continuous is a long time in the pool D - you just did too much like me with the ribs and now your shoulder-I hope it is gone today-but you do get a better workout yourself im sure. You shoulda got on that diving board to do a cannonball. What fun. My pool is just a regular size so you are doing great in the olympic one - 85 degrees is nice ! Because of the summer rains it cools mine off - which is good. BF and I have been on many cruises and we stand in line and go on the water slides with all the kiddies.

No exercise on Thurs. unless you count picking up and some cleaning exercise for a couple hrs. The place is such a disaster-truly-but I need everyone to leave for a long time otherwise its hopeless. I got over it ages ago as it was making me nuts, I still have many piles of clothing to go thru but I need space and privacy-I have dumped all the sizes that are 16 and above, next are 14's, then you have XL, XXL, PL, etc. My guest Adam approached me yesterday to tell me how thankful he is for the roof and food, ughhh, I wanted to cry and could not tell him he has to get out. Him and S3 are very quiet when they are here, no loud music, they just watch the tube or the constant poker computer, and go wherever they go for a short time. No alcohol being brought in either. I think they will be at the beach for the 4th stuff today. I will end up having a barbecue for sure. In the evening I can see the fireworks on the beach from my yard in a nice relaxing lounger or the pool on a floater on my back and have a sparkler. Maybe BF will want to do something but doubtful, he is besides himself, he found out he has to have bowel surgery for the large polyp and dr. says a 4-6wk recoup, he hates his job, no word on the ones he applied for and constantly complains and yells about how miserable he is and how he demands S3 get thrown out and now the friend. So its very stressful for me, I feel like leaving to another state and not tell anyone where im at and have peace in my older years but I know thats not realistic - a daily fantasy. So what is everyone doing for the 4th ?

Thurs.

cantelope, kiwi, raspberries
lunch-oatmeal w raspberries, cucumber and tomato
dinner-plain meatloaf and green beans
snacks-fruiti, pretzels, skinny cow cone

Callanetics and house pick up, laundry.

I see we are posting at the same time Miss A - congrats on the pound ! Now when is the wedding ???? Im sure you will find a superb outfit, now you need to post a pic soon. I bet we all had the same big clumsy ab gadget you are talking about-the rocker thingy-it killed my back tho and is history. Do give Callanetics a thought. If you still have a vcr they are dirt cheap. I think you would be thrilled with Callanetics.

[slendercate]

Happy 4th of July, all.

Glad I finally found y'all. So busy this week, new person, short week, whew!

Love the new name. Maybe we can continue but start a new thread with our name each month? Don't know how to do that, but I have noticed others on this board that do that, ie: circle of seven, may 08 or something like that. Just a thought.....I will find y'all no matter what!

Miss A, congrats on the white jeans, congrats on the lb gone.
I love British comedys and watch all the old ones faithfully on late night Sat & Sun on our public channel. My sis could be a twin for the star of the Vicar of dibly, (can't remember her name) and I have a relative by marriage that acts just like Hycinith on Keeping up Appearances. We lol when we watch.

D-way to go on the exercise, hope you are feeling better today.

C, you might check out Protein Power. Have decided to stay with it, it is so flexible, as long as you stay within your carb amount, you can eat anything you want. I agree with the YMCA prices. Just checked out the nearest one to us, all I want to do is swim, gee.

T, the fires sound so scarry. Glad you are ok. I hope all the historic areas don't become a casuality. I used to love to walk in a local state park near my house. With this horendously hot summer, haven't been lately. It opens up at 7am which is too late for me, closes at 10pm, but go too late and you have spiders, (snakes) to content with by flashlight.

YH, way to go on the swimming. I used to love to swim, new town is so small it doesn't have any facilities.

E, babybells are so delish. Like c said, love to spread on celery. I love Blue cheese crumbles and the dressing. Also, DH favorite. Aren't we glad we all have different tastes?


Yesterdays menu:
b-none, early class to teach at hospital, so just had starbucks w/ h & h.
s-string cheese, few cherries
l-south beach frozen dinner
s-plain yogurt w/ T blueberries, (yum)
d- chicken wings, nachos, lc tortilla cut up into "chips" with a smear of bean dip, grated cheddar, monteray jack cheese on top, favorite salsa, nuked in the microwave.

To celebrate the 4th:
Friends and inlaws are coming to eat BBq from the grill at noon. lc items I am preparing, sf coleslaw, watermelon, grilled chicken, brats, steak. Friends are bringing potato salad, (it is so delish) so I might have a bite, deviled eggs.
Love these friends, (some 22 years or so we have known them), but though he has to watch it, she has always looked like a stick.

Tonight: same friends have invited us to a local Rodeo at a arena in a air condioned box. There will be serving dinner, BBq, and I don't know what else, but I hope I can find something to eat on plan.

I am so excited.
I will be wearing a new slim fitting denim skirt (size 10) with my red, white and blue American flag shirt, blue sandels. I am not bragging, but I love the way I look in the mirror. I haven't liked what I have seen in soooo long.
Thinking of that, maybe I will avoid the potato salad after all.....

will post later......

[Denise78]

Good morning gals!

Nice to see YH had company in the middle of the night! And such long posts -- I love it!!

Congrats on the lb loss, Miss A, (or should we call you Angela???). Great job!

I was up at 3 am in severe back pain and my stomach was burning, very nauseaus. I tested my sugars, 117, so they were fine. Woke dh up because I was nervous, never had that feeling before. He doesn't even remember me waking him up so good thing it wasn't anything serious!! I'm feeling okay this morning but I think I'll skip the pool today. I probably just did a little too much in there. My MS has been feeling so good these days, sometimes I forget I have it and I just have to be careful because the reminder can be very painful.

I'm glad s3's friend is so appreciative and I don't blame you, I couldn't throw him out either, YH, especially if he is being a good guest. Sorry to hear about bf and surgery. Poor guy. I imagine he is unbelieveably upset over it. Hugs to both of you.

I bet you can find lots of things to do with grandson -- zoo, Reptile Gardens, Marineland, kids love those kinds of things and you could rent a wheelchair for your tired old body when he keeps going and going and going. Hahaha. Just teasin' ya. Will both s1 and grandson stay at your place during his visit? Where will you put everyone?? Oh I know, just ask bf to skooch over in bed, I'm sure you could fit one more in there and he probably won't mind. Oh he would hate hearing me say that so don't tell him -- ha!

I think they would outlaw a cannonball from me -- it would take too long to refill the pool.

We are invited to a 4th of July party at one of my sorority sister's houses in the next town. Doesn't start till 4 pm but I don't know if we'll go. We had such a busy wkd last week, it would be nice to just hang out this wkd, so we'll see. Ds2 is going tanking with his former wrestling coach and family and then to fireworks in their town (the trip to South Dakota was squashed by MOM ) and ds1 is hitting the casinos in South Dakota with a few friends (but that's ok since he is 21 and ds2 is only 16 -- big difference). Ds1 and his crowd are so casual -- no hotel reservations -- they will sleep in a tent or in the car, no problem.

Your MOB dress sounds gorgeous, Miss A. MOB -- sounds like you belong in the mafia. Is it long or short skirt? What does Troatu mean? Always meant to ask you that -- never heard of it before and I'm assuming it's not your dh's real name.

Yep, I agree C, you need to find a plan and stick with it. Perhaps you are not losing cuz you are switching things up too much?? These plans work if you get through their Phase I or Induction by the book. I was true to SB for the first couple of weeks, no fruit, beans, breads, rice, potatoes or pasta at all, not even low-carb ones. Have you done a clean 2 weeks of it yet? If not, that's probably what is stalling you. Those first weeks are designed specifically to get all the toxins and sugars and cravings out of your system so you do need to be strict with it and then later on, you can adjust it accordingly to fit your lifestyle. I think I lost 16 lbs the first 2-3 weeks of doing SB exactly by the book. I even picked carrot shavings out of my salads, I was so strict with it. But it worked! Does your area have a town pool that you could swim at? Mine only costs $2 per day or I can buy a season pass, but I figure I'm better off paying as I go since I haven't gone a lot yet. I have heard of hospitals allowing "civilians" in to use their gyms too. Maybe even your local high school. YH had some good suggestions.

Well it's about time you made your way over SC. I know you have a hectic lifestyle but I wish you could post more often, it's hard to keep up with us if you're only posting once a week or every few days! I was beginning to think we should have named this thread Circle of 6!! LOL. I think this one thread is enough -- it took YH & I forever to come up with this name, I'm not doing that again every month! We had some good ones too -- the tears were literally rolling down my face, I was laughing so hard at some of our suggestions. Plus the whole point was to keep it to just the few of us, so now that we have this one, I think we will be successful since it was just the name, New and Would Like a Buddy, that kept drawing ppl in till they read a little and decided that we weren't really new anymore and not what they were looking for.

Oh YH, you'll be happy to know that I pulled out the Callanetics tape and did just a little of it yesterday. I really need that reminder more often -- ya know my short-term memory loss and all -- which I seriously do have from the MS but also from getting old. I left the tape sitting on top of the vcr in hopes that I'll remember it that way!

The outdoor cafe sounds nice T, as long as you resist temptation at the bakery!! But I have faith in you because you are going like crazy with all your healthy eating and exercise!! We aren't having local fireworks either because the guy who usually runs them, his wife passed away from cancer right around the time he was supposed to apply for the license and of course he was so upset that he forgot to tell anyone there was a deadline to get that license and by the time someone realized that, it was too late. Too bad because they were really nice ones out at the fairgrounds and we would all just park our vehicles and take out our chairs and sit and visit and watch the display. We normally buy hundreds of $$ of our own fireworks to light off at home but since both boys will be off with friends for the 4th, dh and I decided to save the $$ and make it a quiet celebration this year -- maybe grill a couple of steaks or burgers just the 2 of us. We'll make our own fireworks.

I probably shouldn't have had bratwurst last night -- too fatty -- but dh grilled them perfectly and they were so yummy, I couldn't resist. I will eat leaner today to make up for it.

Yesterday's menu:

B-coffee, drink potion
L-pork, salad, babybel lite
S-hardboiled egg
D-bratwurst, cauliflower, cucumber slices
S-few pork rinds, 10 almonds

Water-84 oz

Well I'm sure you're sick of reading by now so I'll end this -- finally!

Have a 4th of July, ladies!! D

[miss.amaryllis]

Hey - I know I've already posted rather a lot today but have got to say - Slendercate! A slim-fitting size 10 denim skirt! That is so fantastic. Well done you! It's a wonderful feeling when you look in the mirror and love the way you look. I've come over all unecessary now! Ooh!

Love from Angela

[Denise78]

Miss A, I told you -- we would rather you post MORE so don't apologize! (Besides, I post way too much so it makes ME look better when you are chatty too!!)

[MI CHICK]

Congrats on the lb lost Ms A!! Your speaking of the wedding reminded me that I have one to attend in 3 weeks & need to dig my one dress out of the closet & make sure I can still get in it....sure hope so cause I am in no mood to have to cough up money on another one that I won't wear again. Gunmetal gray--would that be a silver/pewter kind of color I wonder.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder D!! But it's interesting to have found an exercise you like enough to over do on it LOL Little Ben Gay & the heating pad--or those Therma Care wraps. I love them & you won't believe how warm they get & stay, for hours! No smell. I always keep a few styles in the closet cause they are so great! The off brands do not work has to be the TC brand.

Sorry to hear bf has to have the surgery Y!! The mending will be tough on you as we know most men are weenies when it comes to such! How polite of ds's friend to thank you for your help. Those things generally show ones true nature I think. Maybe some of him will wear off on ds LOL is he helping son stay clean? Is hard to hate your job--& now he won't be able to take a new one & do surgery....yup he's gonna be grumpy Y....you will be spending lots of time in the pool floating in the quiet
I can just see you as the pied piper of the work parking lot!! I am not a "dicker" kind of person--can't even ask for a lesser price at a garage sale.... no hope for me talking down the people at life time fitness!

Ok I am procrastinating here--have to get off & put together our suitcase for the weekend. Need to do laundry to do that. Decided to just buy a fruit tray on the way to their place tomorrow morning. It will be 1 & time to head off to work. Have a great 4th everyone!!

[MI CHICK]

Good grief--so everyone is posting while I was LOL
I'll never get off here
Have to read the new ones & then must turn off this
computer....maybe I'm switching my food addition to
a computer addition....LOL!!!

[harley g-ma]

I have loved reading all the posts this morning,but Dh is chomping at the bit to get going.We are riding up to Lake Michigan today.The Navel Training Academy is open to the public today and thats where he went for training when he was 17 and joined the Navy It's about 80 miles or so and of course we are going on the bike.May stay for the fireworks The weather is suppose to be nice.Will talk to you all later.Have a wonderful 4th you all. Will says some prayers for Vonn. I DID do my 3 miles this morning

[Denise78]

Way to go on the 3 miles, E!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday -- sounds really nice. Maybe someday if I allow dh on his bike ever again, we will get together for a ride.

[harley g-ma]

Well I'm back.Our trip was a little farther than we thought.Round trip was 286 miles!The bad part,not to mention my butt killing me was when we got to the base they wouldn't let Dh in because he didn't have on a helmet. I value MY brains more than he does so I wore one Oh well,Dh enjoyed the ride and just seeing the base again. It sounds like everyone is going to have a nice 4th.It's funny D,but I was just thinking today that I was going to ask Miss A what Troatu means OK Miss A,give us the lowdown.
D, so sorry to ear about you pain.Everytime we try to do a little extra we end up hurting ourselves
T, I measured 1 1/2 miles out on the truck outside the campground.It was exactly at the bottom of a big hill.I have done it everyday except Sun.This Mon.will be 3 wks.You ladies keep me motivated.I wouldn't do it without all the encouragement.
It's past my bedtime.I'll talk to you all tomorrow

[Denise78]

Sounds like you had a really nice day, E, even if dh forgot his helmet.

We decided to stay home today and enjoyed lounging around, nice and peaceful. I am feeling much better, must have just been that I overdid it in the pool. I'll take it a little easier next time.

Today's menu:

B-bratwurst, coffee
L-pork, cabbage
S-jalapeno poppers
D-lc nachos made w/4 bran crisps (0 carbs, 16 calories), shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream & lettuce
S-4 strawberries

Water-96+ oz -- I was a drinking machine today!!

Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July holiday! Remember -- weigh-in tomorrow. Hopefully we all did good this week!!

Good night ladies! D

[MI CHICK]

Well the air just reeks from all the fireworks all across the area---were the worst from 9-10---but went on all nite. Still a few strays out there. I don't mind but I know folks w/asthma have real issues.

T you encouraged me to get back to my break outs of exercise. I know they worked in the past. I did the few floor exercises I could remember. Then I just stood in the living room & walked in place like I was doing my dvd at home. Didn't want to make any disturbance as Charlotte was napping so I didn't get into the kicks or anything. All this I could quietly. Went downstairs for the first time to see where the cats go after I put out their food for the nite & close the laundry room door. Looks like everyone else's refinished basement w/ the unused treadmill & a bike. The treadmill was a huge thing that look like it needed to be plugged in. So I just hoped on the bike & rode like crazy for 10minutes & went back upstairs. Everyone's home that I've ever been in has the collection of exercise equipment in the famous basement LOL. One other client that I worked 9hr day/5days a week had a really old bike in the basement & when she'd nap I'd fly downstairs & ride like crazy for 10min & then hustle back upstairs. What a hoot! So I ended up at least getting some movement in while she was napping instead of just sitting down & reading for that 30mins. When you get old you seem to take a series of cat naps all day long--it's hard sometimes to fit in the things you need to do w/folks. But they never sleep long periods either. I just find that interesting as it is so common.

The bike ride sounds great but I can't believe how numb your behind must be Harley!!! He doesn't wear a helmet huh....am kind of surprised they didn't let him in though.

Glad your shoulder is feeling better D & that you guys just lounged around your place. I get tickled at folks that kill themselves w/these huge mortgages & these huge kitchens and are never home, & never entertain in them. Always meet folks at a restaurant or club. I'm like so what's the point?? For that you can live in an apt/condo LOL!! Some of the state of the art kitchens I'm been in that have never served up any food...& I'd love to get in their & start slinging the pots an pans around I do see a lot of interesting stuff in my job LOL

Todays menu was:
B=coffee w/cream
L=roast beef slices & cottage cheese
S=10 almonds
D=salad w/tuna & cheddar small granny smith apple
S=1 laughing cow wedge on my lc faux cracker things

D I did do the 4wk clean strict eating when I started last June. My system might need it again, but I think I just need to be strict w/phase 2 & not have my portions off or stupid days where I eat 4 lc ice cream bars. The exercise is a big hold back for me too. So I think having honestly evaluated the situation I know what's been wrong. I did go back & forth between plans for awhile when I was working the 65hr weeks that couple months...was too tired to get a solid grip on things & make that decision.
I am hungry now but am going to finish this & take my V8o drink down my bedtime pills & hit the hay.

[miss.amaryllis]

Hello everyone!

Well, as the cat prodded me into activity (pat pat, miaow, purr) I tottered to the scales all set, not to have lost any more, but to have remained at that glorious new 9st 10lbs. Instead that mean horrible digital display flashed 9st 13lbs. How on earth can I have gained 3lbs overnight?

It's an unkind trick of nature. It's a dieter's doom. Yesterday, an assistant in our local little supermarket noticed me checking the label on a product, described me as "full-figured" (oh, how that hurt) and said that she went to Weight Watchers in Tivvy herself. Note a) righteousness and b) inherent scorn of my shape. I felt so cross.

Here, having acquired the South Beach book by the evening, is yesterday's
food.

Just tea am.

(I really do feel lighter, less hungry and more energetic if I don't eat breakfast)

Lunch: The leek soup from "French Women Don't Get Fat". V simple and filling. A little tunny fish and lettuce salad.

Dinner: (Help! We need to go on a food shop.) One grilled sausage in a tomato and onion sauce on a bed of dark green cabbage. 2 oz brown rice.

I heard a crying and whimpering from the bookshelves and there was my dear old calorie book begging for some employment. Out of interest, I added them up. Well, South Beach gives calorie values! Verdict, 1014 calories.

So there you are.

But don't think this despondency will last long! No! It's Weigh Day for the Circle of Seven, and in a few hours there will be good news from the other side of the Atlantic!

I do hope you have all had a splendid 4th of July!

The RoATU - I began jokingly calling my husband this after meeting his family - the father and three brothers all seemed to believe that they personally were Ruler of All The Universe, as they dictated their own unarguably right solution to all world problems and rarely agreed with each other... the bonus of this is that, in their family, the men always wash up, and if they're doing the washing up, who cares what they argue about?

I know exactly what you mean about perfect designer kitchens, MI Chick. Designed for the preparation of delicious meals and never used for that purpose!

Elaine, I can't believe you weren't allowed into the base because he wasn't wearing a helmet! After riding all that way! Ooh!

I had a little giggle over your post. Now do, do forgive me for teasing but you've accidentally created a glorious pun with "Navel Training Academy". I had a sudden image of all these men a) training their navels for Contemplation b) training their navels to be sucked in under their military trousers c) any women training their navels for piercing... ! Come to think of it, I could well do with training my navel to hide beneath the waistline of my white jeans. Take me to that Academy!

So glad you're feeling better, Denise. A MOB dress! Very funny. Perhaps I should enter into the spirit of the thing in a sinister black! I've just discovered that the bridesmaids have chosen a silvery colour for their dresses, so grey is out for me! The bridesmaids are my second daughter the BB, and Susannah's best friend. She is never without a sheaf of brides' magazines herself. I've never met a girl so desperate to get married. Susannah calls her "Bridezilla". I tried giving her my dear late father's words of wisdom.

"It begins when you sink in his arms" he would say. "And it ends with your arms in the sink".

But she just laughed at me. disbelievingly. We were in the bridal salon at the time, and her eyes were glazed over with fanaticism. Silk! White satin! Ivory tulle! Diamanté ornamented sparkly veils! Ruched trains etc etc!

Exercise! I wish we still did have a video machine, as the charity shops are full of exercise videos which people have bought and obviously never used.

Back in Kent I'd joined a long queue in the audio section to ask - what was the very latest in exercise DVDs? There were two spindly acne-encrusted youths behind the counter, the shop was noisy and you know how boys of that age grunt instead of speaking?

It seems that what they said was "It's the All-Star Programme".

But what I actually heard was

"It's the Porn Star Programme".

Well, of course I was excited! "Just what I need!" I squeaked! "Me too!" said the woman behind me, and the news spread down the queue. right down to a rather seedy-looking man-in-a-mac, who was clutching a large bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate.

"I'll 'ave one too, darlin's" he leered. "But I'll just watch".

Well, I look forward to hearing all your wonderful news on Weigh Day, and congratulating every body else... *sighs*

But onward and downward!

Love from Angela

[yellowhair11]

Thats great you can get some exercise bouts in at your job, I have read many times small spurts are very good ! I try and do that with the Callanetics, a couple I can do at work and I have weights on my desk that I need to start using for some arm work ( underarm flab ) I have to share an office now but we have a big partition so no one can see me. Working long hrs. is definately no good when trying to diet.

Sounds like you had a nice bike ride, I remember swimming in Lake Michigan many a summer when I lived in WI. Now I dont know if I could do it because the water was cold even in July. My oldest brother went to the same base E.

Sounds like you had a relaxing day at home D - thats great, yup you just overdid it at the pool, hope the pain has vanished from that incident.

I did not do much, S1 stopped by briefly. I was going to grill but then the black clouds, thunderstorms came, beach fireworks cancelled. I ended up getting everyone Subway. BF, nosy neighbor, and me hung out at the pool for a couple hours, nosy neighbor behaved. BF started walking across the pool now in the shallow end, he says he must get rid of some belly fat so there is less to cut thru for the surgery. I did 40 laps, more like a slow doggie paddle with gloves and zoomers on so I could socialize.

am-yogurt
lunch-I mixed husk powder with crystal lite ( out of greens at home )
dinner- 1/2 Subway on wheat (turkey)
snacks-sugar free gummi bears ( not sure on these ), few pretzels, skinny cow cone.

I will weigh in shortly.

[yellowhair11]

A - I see we posted at the same time again, I think you are 6 hrs. ahead of my time, not sure Ughhh, I dont know how you could weigh 3 pounds more !!! I weigh myself after I go to the bathroom which is always in the am, completely nude, with the scale in the exact spot on a dedicated tile in the john. I find the scale is unkind in the pm hours for me.