New Maintainers - Wk of 5/1

[CorgiGirl]

Just getting the new thread started for the week. Can't believe it is May already. Hope we get some warm weather soon. I am still at 109.75 Sunday. I made some coconut candy to use my coconut oil. It was really good but hope it doesn't cause a gain on Monday. Hope everyone is doing well. Vickie

[Janina]

Hi all.
It is late sunday/early monday here for me. Today was so great. Ava did so well in her performance. VA, I am sending you a couple photos tomorrow that I am hoping you will post. I am so proud of her for getting up in front of over three hundred people and singing and dancing her heart out. I left her with her group. They sat the girls in the front by the stage where the parents could see. The show was about 35 minutes and the younger girls(3 to 5) were one of the last numbers. Ava did so well and had no stage fright. We were amazed. So the next time some well meaning person tells me she needs to be in preschool to be socialized I will remember how she was the first girl out on stage with biggest smile and have not one moment of hesitation in my choice to stay at home with her as long as I can. Sorry to brag. I am so proud of her. it was a first for us. We celebrated by going to Target and buying her a toy for the pool and then going to a 60s diners. It was very yummy. Such a nice day.

I didn't overeat this weekend. I did have many many carbs but didn't too terribly on calories. Back to all protein tomorrow. I might try adding it with salads for dinner.

Brenda so glad you go to chat with your ds and had a nice time with other ds.

Vickie good job at under 109.

Va how are you?

Betty, wow woman you are amazing. Do you run in summer also or move it to a treadmill?

Ann, I love that photo of you! You look so amazing. I am not brave enough yo post a bathing suit..you should be sooooooo proud.

see you all tomorrow. My mom is here. i am hoping I can get her to stay with us for another day and do something fun!

[Brendajm]

Morning everyone, I am getting ready to run 5 miles before work. We were busy all day yesterday working on our kitchen,, it is looking so good though.

Janina, it sounds like your A is quite the performer,, I am sure the program was so cute. I remember my boys being so little and watching them in school plays, etc. It was so much fun. My oldest would always get a part with lots of dialogue as he had a knack for remembering things,,(except how to clean his room) It sounds like you had a great day..

Vickie, I really want to get my weight back down,, I have been 118 for the last 2 days,, I am really going to try protein for the next few days. I hear y ou on the weather, is this really May? I usually have lots of flowers bought by now to get planted and i have not gotten anything yet, the weather is just plain nasty, not spring yet at all. Well the upcoming weekend is looking better though.

Betty,, I hate running in that kind of heat. You are doing so good. What kinds of foods do you eat to keep up your energy for those long runs??

Vamom, I hope you had a good weekend. did you get your workouts in? I did not get much cardio in at all except for the race on Sat, I did a little weight training yesterday.

Well I am going to go and run,, talk to you all tomorrow,Brenda

[VAmomof2]

I'm here - no time to read - weight up a bit but expected it. Too busy at work and just realized the lilDD has an early dental appt today so it will kill my schedule - yuck! I can't wait for summer vacation -

[sugarless4life]

Happy Monday, everyone!

Great job Ava!! That's so cool that she did so well!! Wish we could have seen her!!

Awesome job, Vickie!! Woohoo, girl, you are doing great!

Brenda, glad the kitchen is coming along!!

As for me, 8 miles today in oppressive humidity .. but I survived and ran all the way. Hit the turnaround in under 50 minutes, a new record for me. I think those long Saturday runs of 10.24 are helping me get stronger and faster ... let's hope. I ran today with water bottle in hand and filled it up at a doctor's office halfway up the route .. good strategic planning on their part, building an office right where I need a water fountain refill aye? I've got to adjust to this humidity .. make take awhile, but I'm up for it. I'm getting quite a good suntan though .. Doesn't take long in this intense Florida sun.

I try to eat alot of protein and fat to keep my energy levels up. And of course stay plenty hydrated. I can sure tell when I don't drink enough .. I start lagging seriously ... So a pitcher of iced tea and back on the road again! Can't stand to run on a treadmill .. I much prefer to run outdoors with all the different variables: slope, wind, heat, humidity .. it all makes for a challenging and not boring run .. I love the birds and the wind in my face ... I am such an animal!

Hope you all have a terrific evening!

Betty

[VAmomof2]

I am trying to read a bit and catch up. I am still behind in work and the girls are keeping me hopping. I just got bills paid and think I might just sit and watch tv for a bit and veg - I don't think I sat down all weekend -

Vickie - Your weight is so constant it amazes me. I have heard great things about coconut oil but I can’t stand the taste or smell of coconut so it is not for me. I tried MacNut oil for a while and could hardly choke it down - yuck!

Brenda - That is so great that you got to talk to your son online. Also so cool to run with your son. I have been thinking of doing a 5k - I would love if bigDD could do it with me.

Betty - Your running is so great. I got so busy and rundown last week that I had to stop exercising last Tuesday but I did get in a short run today - better than nothing!

Janina - Your Sunday sounded terrific. When will I get the pictures? Also, you have yet to post about your ‘doctors’ appt last week - inquiring minds want to know!

BTW - I made fabulous peanut butter cookies last night - too good. Last Thursday night, DH brought home amazing cookies from a store by his client. He rarely eats sweets but said these were 'so good'. I was planning on just a bite but ate the whole thing - mine was peanut butter dipped in chocolate. I decide that I should try to make a lc version and I was so frazzled yesterday from helping everyone else (homework, cooking, food shopping, laundry, housework, ...) that I decide to make myself cookies. I used a regular recipe and just subbed in CQ, a little oat flour, vegetable glycerin (to keep them moist), a little molasses (to sub for the brown sugar) PolyD and sugar subs and then drizzled some melted sf choc on a few - wow! Next time I will lessen the leavening (to make them more dense) and add a bit more CQ. They are not very sweet and I really can’t tell them from the real thing. Now I just need to find some portion control -

[VAmomof2]

My weight is down to 132.6 - I am hoping to be back at 130 by the weekend. It will be interesting to see how much real weight I put on versus water weight. I will try to get some cardio in this week to help it along and then start lifting again once I get to 130 (and find some extra time).

I went to bed last night with a pounding headache and still have it this morning - just above my left eye and the back of my neck. Off to find some medicine -

[sugarless4life]

Hope you feel better soon, VA!!!



Betty

[VAmomof2]

My headache would not get better so I went for a run. I had a sf red bull and jumped on the treadmill and it worked. I remember that it has worked before so I got some exercise and felt better. It is still lingering and I hope it does not come back tonight but it is much better.

OK - off to check on DDs. They have standardized testing this week so very little homework - we might actual watch a movie tonight!!

[Janina]

Hi all a quickie as I need to get a bunch of online work done. I went to Sea World today with Ava and our best friends a super fun day! I need to tell VA about my surgery and catch up with you all..do you mind if I do it later! I want to do details...

Betty love the transformation photos!!!!

VA feel better

Brenda..what are you doing in your kitchen?

More later!

I PROMISE!!!

[Brendajm]

Morning all,,, I am down to 116 today,, so that is good, I thought I would be up as yesterday I made calamari for dinner and dreamfields pasta with marinara sauce, but all it good today. I am getting ready to go and run. Our kitchen and foyer area is almost done,, my DH is laying laminate flooring, now he wants to do our sunroom, but I am not so sure that is a good idea. The sun tends to show everything. The carpet that is in there is not real nice, but it works. Now I got to get my cabinets tabletop done,, but that will be in a week or two.

Vamom,, I hope you are feeling better and the headache stays away. How are the girls? could you post the exact recipe for your peanut butter cookies as they sound great.

Janina,, what surgery are you getting?? I hope all is well.. you day at seaworld sounded like fun.. I have been to seaworld in Florida years ago..

Betty, your pics are great.. you really took off some weight. My Dh and are thinking about trying to do the disney 1/2 too,, not sure if we can swing it this year 2006,so it might have to wait till 2007. We are doing the philly 1/2 and maybe baltimore too. We are running another 5k this weekend and our son is joining us again, so I am looking forward to that.

talk to you all later, got to get busy. brenda

[VAmomof2]

My headache is gone but now I have an earache today - really odd. It woke me up several times with that shooting pain but it is not crackling. Maybe it is like swimmers each - weird - I haven’t been swimming. I am having my hair cut today - yeah!

Brenda - I will post the recipe today or tomorrow. Even DH loves them - I am shocked they are sugar free.

Janina - Details…

OK - Back to work for me.

[sugarless4life]

Happy Wednesday!!

Was supposed to have the day off today, but the boss called me in to help him with a big project ... how *do* bosses get to be managers and be so inept?? Anyway, I got it done by noon and left .. Off tomorrow and Friday and feeling pretty happy about that!!

Thanks, guys, for your compliments on my avatar .. it was an experiment, I wasn't sure how to do it, but finally figured it out! Yes, I was a whale (in my opinion ..) those days are GONE FOREVER!

Its raining here today, but I still plan an 8 miler (yeah, I know, I'm nuts!) You know the saying, neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night..........

Janina, I am still living by your strategy to stay away from toxic people and I have to say, there's not a day that goes by that I don't thank you for that advice! Its really helped me alot to recognize the symptoms of people like that. THANKS!!

VA, so sorry about the earache .. do you have some hydrogen peroxide you could put in your ear? Sometimes that helps me .. Hope you like the haircut .. post some pictures!!

Brenda, that'd be great if you and DH could do the Disney 1/2 next year or the following year. I'll be there waiting for you!!

Where is Ann hiding?? Hope her back is doing better!!

Have a great day everyone and I'll post my running miles after my rainy 8 miles!

Betty

[Janina]

Hi all..I am so sorry my life has switched into overdrive and I can't keep up. I have been selling on ebay along with everything else(our wholesale buisness and our website buisness)..it is fun and i am doing well but after this lot not more. I can't keep up. I made a commitment to myself to really get out there with Ava. Make playdates and do things with her daily. i don't want to look back and regret anything. So far we have been doing so much and she is having a blast. Today we went to the park and met friends and she found a four leaf clover. I have never found one and how she did is beyond me!!! She is a lucky little girl and I just feel so blessed to have her. She is top priority and I want us to have the best summer of her life.

As far as me..I did two days of protein and today I was so tired and pmsed I ate a crumbcake and nuts and dried fruit. today I got an email from my old best friend of 10 years. i dropped her as she was "TOXIC" Very competive with me. I set her and her husband up after he had a crush on me(while I was married) He is a DR she is a lawyer. They make big bucks. After she got together with him she turned into a superficial bragger..it was all about the size of her diamond, location of her wedding and dollars spent on thier house. Her husband is very controlling and not the kindest to her. She has a tendancy to gain weight(we are same size i have always been a 0 or 2) she was 4 thinnest and up to 10. She always resented me and my weight and body and easy attention from men. She was a stalker, I got stalked. Anyways the relationship her and i had in beginning was the best. In end so toxic. I was finding myself playing her game and that isn't me. I dumped her, and it was hard. Anyways we have bumped into one another and she has my email, we will send occaisional photos of kids. She emailed me a card with her new address and I recognized her new development. Prices 1.5 million. I found myself feeling so jealous today. A feeling I am so not comfortable with. In all honesty i don't want to live in the type of home she lives in. Snobby area huge track homes. i love our older home, family area and my backyard is one of the best I have ever seen with view and pool and spa. I don't even want her place..why am i feeling jealous..ok that was a rant but you guys are here to listen right?

Surgery..eye lift. I have very droopy eyes. i will send a photo to VA along with As new photos..tomorrow ok where you can see the eyes. Otherwise my skin is 10 years younger looking(what dr said not me) I hate looking at my droopy eyes. I can handle big nose and baggy tummy from it being streched so much from A and not even consider surgery for those areas but the droopy eyes gotta go!!!! I hope you guys don't think me vain... I guess I am a bit.

I will bbl for indies. I need to email three clients before A gets up. i got too caught up in this post and my rant..

see yuo all later

[VAmomof2]

Janina - Rant away! Your surgery sounds great - if you want it and you trust your doctor I say go for it. I am still considering a little 'enhancement' some day so that I could stop wearing a padded bra just to be an A! Can't wait to see your pictures.

Betty - I love running in the rain. It gets too windy at our new house to run in the rain but I used to do it at our old house all the time - it just washes the sweat away!

My ear is still aching but I finally got my work done that was due last Friday. Now I have new stuff that was assigned for this week that I have just 2 days to do - what a pain!

My hair looks funky. The color is fine - she just does a partial highlight and not very light, just enough to cover the gray and brighten it a bit. She dried it to the wrong side so I tried to fix it but it is now just straight in my eyes. I did not do anything drastic - just had her take an inch off the ends and add a few more long layers.

DDs are possessed tonight so I am getting nothing done. I need to order a present for my nephew’s 17th bday - I am thinking of a cool bracelet because he likes jewelry - off to search -

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

Hi everyone. I've had a good week of workouts and still maintaining around 105. My back does seem to be doing much better. Its good to see everyone is staying busy and sticking to their plans.

Vickie I tried the Coconut Oil; lost three pounds and then gained two of them back. After I stopped the stuff the two pounds came back off. I guess the net effect was good. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week. KUTGW, Ann

[Brendajm]

Hi all.. look like i am back to work today and I still have so much to do. we are almost done putting in out floor, Dh should finish the last few pieces tonight. I have so much cleaning to do,, I reallly wish I could take the next 2 days off and get it done,, there is dust everywhere, and I need to wash the new floors, reorganize, etc. but it sure looks good. My grandma is in a nursing home,, she is 92 and it looks like her time on this earth is getting ready to come to an end, so I spent some time there yesterday, really sad, she is so confused, she has always been sharp as a tack in her mind, just her body had been failing her, but now to see her mind leaving her and she cant talk is just sad. I am going to try to lift some wieights before I go to work, I should spend that hour cleaning, but I feel so mcuh better at work if I work out before I get there,, it helps with stress relief too.
Janina, I would get my eyes done in a minute if we could spare the cash,, I too have d roopy eyes,, and puffy ones.. I would get my tummy fixed too,, so go for it if you can.

ann,, I have been doing the coconut oil too, dont really think it helps me lose weight,, but it is great for a sweet treat and it does curve my appetite.

Va,, glad to hear the headache went away,,hopefully the ear will get better too. I hear you on not filling an A,, god definately gave mine to someone else. and when I did lose weight, it went from there first.

Betty,, keep up your running,,I never run in the rain as I got really bad blisters once from doing it, so now I stay inside if it is raining or really windy..
well I got to go and workout,, hope everyone has a great day, Brenda

[VAmomof2]

Ann - You are such an inspiration to me. DH and I now have a pact to live a very long and healthy life together - we want to be playing tennis at 90!

Brenda - Your floors sound terrific - will you get some days off this weekend to get stuff done? I am so sorry about your grandmother. It is great that you can spend some time with her. I had 2 grandaunts who were like my grandparents - they lived close to my parents while I was growing up and died when DDs were little. I used to call them and visit whenever we went to NY but I do regret not getting to see them more often - they were really terrific to me. One of my brother’s was there every day. He has said that he feels that his purpose in life was to take care of them at the end. He would go every morning on the way to work and then every night he would go tuck them in - I am tearing up just typing about it.

I am up just a tad today but I expected it. I did not get any exercise in yesterday and had the munchies last night. I really wanted popcorn but had sunflower seeds, yogurt, bran crackers with light butter and 2 sf cookies - I should have just made popcorn! I want to get in a run today but DH wants to play some tennis so if it warms up, I might play with him instead. BigDD has a lacrosse game this afternoon that I will go to - her next 2 are away games and then a weekend tournament and then the season is over! School is winding down and as much as I am looking forward to the family time, it is freaking me out how quickly this year went.

Off to work -

[VAmomof2]

Good morning - my weight is up this morning but duh - I ate popcorn and other bad stuff last night while hanging out with DDs. I chugged 32 oz of water before bed but it is not magic. Maybe I am pmsing - the dr. says I still have cycles because I still have the hormonal changes just not the actual period because of the surgery - it will reappear at some point though. I am thrilled with a few months or years off but without it - I never know if I am pmsing or just having the munchies - I need to find some self control.

Cleaning ladies are coming today - I think I am going to kiss them. With company for the weekend I am so glad not to have to clean the house again on my own. Once they are finished, I do have to straighten everything up and then do the things they don’t do, or don’t do well,but it is so much less than scrubbing 6 bathrooms!

Busy work day ahead and then I am hoping to take DDs bowling before dinner. I would like to get some family time in before all the extended family arrives and starts to drive me nutty!

Happy Friday everyone!

[Janina]

UGH I am sick. I have a cold..dizzy head and PMS..great!! feeling to tired and out of it to post more but wanted to drop in...
see yuo tomorrow!
Janina

[VAmomof2]

Janina - I hope you are feeling better soon!

LilDD had a headache so we got dinner first hoping it would help her head - I ate cornbread - it must be PMS - no will power. After that we did go bowling and then did all the foodshopping for the weekend. We had so much fun. DDs even asked if we could do this every Friday night - they really enjoyed the family time as much as I did - I told them it was the best Mother’s Day gift to have some special time before all the company arrives. Tomorrow will be laundry, washing dogs and cooking. I am trying to prep some stuff for Sunday to get it out of the way.

I am off to chug some water and head to bed -

[Janina]

Happy MOTHERS DAY!! To all the special ladies here. I am so lucky to have you guys! B spoiled me and got me an ipod, lingerie and a 100 plus flat iron for hair I have been eying but didn't want to spend the dollars on. It is glass based and doesn't harm your hair. it is amazing. Ava made me a handprint wall hanging that is the best gift of them all. B is making my mom and i a huge brunch(yes carbs will be involved) I am looking forward to a nice day.

OK so I am still sick. Spent two days ago in bed and sleeping 18 out of 24 hours that day. Yesterday i got out a bit. Today feeling better but not 100%. I am also pmsing. I have been eating carbs like crazy.

VA..so sweet about your dd! it is nice to be appriciated!

I am off for now!
see you later
J

[Janina]

I can't find the Maintainers new thread..help!!