mdrai

Hi all!~~ A late-eve check-in... was up before 6a & out the door by 7! Spent all day @ a soccer fest in the 100 heat... ack! Drank a case of water & refused to use the port-a-potties so kept driving down the road to the McD's... too funny! Crashed for 2 hrs when we got home, am now cooking a nice dinner -- my in-laws are here! What a day! Tracy -- your new hair cut looks fab-u! Fantastic! :huggie: Tomorrow is the last day of summer... kids go back to school on Mon!! Am scheduling a pedicure for Mon morning to celebrate! I deserve it after 10 weeks of summer! I love Fall & Back-to-School time... to me it's a lot like New Year's... fresh starts & new routines... can't wait 'til the days are crisp & cool! Have a great night, everyone! OH! PS -- Clothing NSV today! Had nothing to wear today so I "shopped" in my closet & pulled out a cute hot pink/white gingham check searsucker shirt dress w/ short sleeves, size 22 & it fit! The sleeves were always the problem -- too tight! -- but not today! Yay! It was perfect for a hot day in the sun!

TERRY!!!!!~~~ THANK YOU for the beautiful bracelet & lovely note! I was thrilled when I went to the mailbox today! I really think this will help me... a concrete, visual reminder of What Judy Would Do... THANK YOU! ((hugs))

Happy Friday, Violets~~ I had a thought while in the shower this morning... "I *still* have to diet!" Wait! Let me explain! This is actually a GOOD thought. Here's the thing... I got the band and obviously a part of me thought that the band would take care of the whole volume eating/weight loss issue... I'd eat less of WHATEVER food & I'd lose weight. EXCEPT... it hasn't been working like that... not for me... and not for some I you, too, I think. Why? Because we *STILL* have to diet... for awhile anyway! I (& again, I think some others) are eating/behaving as if on maintenance, rather than the weight LOSS portion of our journey. We're eating out as a rule rather than an exception, we're eating carbs (my doc says no bread/rice/pasta/potatoes), we're eating too much (just because we CAN doesn't mean we SHOULD), we're eating at inappropriate times (11pm + ice cream = me the other night!), etc., etc. You get the idea. We've got the band in there, it's supposed to do the work, and we've forgotten all about the ingredient of *willpower*. Then we get upset because we're not losing, or even gaining! Yikes! It truly is a "What Would Judy Do" situation -- what is she always reminding us? "To follow the bandster rules"... well, I for one, if I am totally honest w/myself, have not been doing that! I've been playing the game of "if it goes down, yay!" The reason the "I still have to diet" thought is a good one, I think, is because it reminded me of MY responsibility to making this work! Do I want to drag the weight loss portion of the ride out... make it take longer than necessary? NO! So if I follow the rules, make the right choices, eat the right amount, EXERCISE... then voila!... the weight begins coming off again! Duh on me! (& yes, I realize that finding our sweet spots will help...) Don't mean to sound like a lecture... just wanted to share my shower thoughts w/ya'll... take what applies to you & leave the rest! It was the wake-up thought I needed, and maybe someone else can use it, too! Note the ticker: down 5 lbs! Yay! Make it a great day, everyone!

Don't count it out! They can do amazing things these days! Will you jiggle like that all day then, just cuz' you could? I bet you would!

Heck, girl, Life is Short! I say jump & shout today AND tomorrow! You deserve it! Yay Jen!

Ack Terry! :omg:

Hey Jen -- I see on your siggy that you reached your 2nd mini-goal today! Did I miss reading about it?? What was it & how fantastic did it feel??? Tell all!

Hey Tracy... Because you asked... I say "NO" to secrets... even good ones... why go there if you don't have to?... they always come out, someone always gets mad, it just muddles everything up (ever watch a soap opera?)... + then why go thru all the stress of a "real" wedding in March? which won't be "real" really?... too much! I vote do it one way or the other: either have a court ceremony & then a big fun party, or do the March wedding w/reception... TOTALLY just my 2 cents worth!

Too funny, Tracy! She *is* a nun, after all... what else does she have to do for fun??

Good Thursday morning, Violets... I feel *much* better today! I crawled into be @ 7pm, dh & ds brought me 2 cups of hot tea, then I crashed by 9... woke up @ 7... must've needed the sleep! Only good thing from yesterday is that the scale was down 3 lbs... I know it's not "real" weight, but still... I certainly hope I've learned my lesson! Wowza! Am drinking only pro shakes, sugar-free popsicles, hot tea & water today... tomorrow, also, probably. My in-laws arrive tomorrow for the weekend... gotta go unearth the guest bedroom!

It's now 3.25 hrs after the fateful bite & I'm still not right (altho some may say I never was...). My throat/esoph feel shredded & I still think something is still down there. I must say that I am impressed w/my own ability to multi-task while in pain. While driving the kids, my mouth kept getting full of "slime" & I kept wiping it onto a towel I brought w/me, but then I felt there would be more so I grabbed the zip-lock bag I'd brought w/me & heaved into it -- WHILE DRIVING! -- & lots of nasty rubbery chicken skin & pieces came up (sorry)... dumped it on the side of the road... that made me feel better, but as I say, I still feel nauseaus & sore. Thanks for the liquids reminder! I feel so stupid right now I probably would've gotten steaks for the grill tomorrow! It was/is a very juicy rotisserie chicken... not dry at all... sigh... I'm going to go up & crawl into bed. DH is picking up the kids. I may try some hot tea later... it sounds soothiing. 7pm: Good night!

OK HOW STUPID AM I???????????????????????????????????????? Answer: REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY STUPID!!!!! Am sitting here w/the longest "stuck" feeling of my life. I'd say it was a full-blown PB except that I haven't actually chucked anything up... not cuz' it doesn't want to, but cuz' I won't let it. OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW! I can hear the extra saliva all bubbling down there when I do a little burp or open my mouth. OMG it is KILLING ME! Actually, it doesn't hurt AS much as yesterday, but it won't stop, so the pain has been going on longer. It really hurts. This would be the best torture for some really evil person! I keep having to hold a hand towel up to my mouth & open my mouth & also to wipe the tears... ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. Oh, chicken. That's what did this. I think it had a chunk of skin on. Ok, I know it did. So it's the dam rubbery chicken skin & it's not going anywhere! Oh ow! It's mostly in my right back & throat... I keep getting up to walk around... now I'm coughing & that doesn't feel or sound good... ack! I'm supposed to take the kids to their activities in 20 mins & I honestly don't know if I can drive like this! ..... Ok I"m back... bet you didn't even know I left! I had to go in the bathroom & it's official, I've now PB'd. I retched into the sink & watery stuff came up & it must've moved the gunk a bit as it's not AS painful, but still somewhat. At least this is an "innocent" stick... on something "legal" rather than completely not. Oddly enough, that thought is not comforting the feeling in my esophagus! I think it's high time I become a picture-perfect bandster. Y'know... the little teensy tinsy bites, chew them 30+ times, put fork down & wait, take 30 mins to eat, no bread/rice/pasta/potato, protein first, then veggie... you get the idea. I have to hold this pain in my memory so that I do not repeat this again! It's still obviously "stuck"... a dull pain rather than sharp & stabbing... whooh, this is kicking my butt! Gotta go to the bathroom again... I have 15 mins to pull myself together & get the kids out the door!

Ugh... I ate the ice cream anyway... bleh & grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Wow I had my most MAJOR sticking episode to date (& I thought a couple had been on the bad side before!)!!! It was stupid. I was stressed out over having to pay $700 for car maintenance today & I grabbed the box of low-fat Wheat Thins & just started to munch... why oh why does it feel so good to chew & chew & chew on salty crunchy things when stressed??... & it hit me before I knew it! Of course, dummy me, was running on old autopilot & didn't realize that those things when chewed & mixed w/saliva basically turn into paste... ugh! It hurt soooooo bad and I kept walking & jiggling & stretching to try to move it a bit & kept trying to do little burps & actualy big, fat tears ran down my face from the pain (I wasn't crying, they just fell!)... in reality, the major pain ended w/in 5 or so mins... but I'm still feeling the aftereffects. About 1/2 hour after I was at dd's pom practice & took a sip of water & had to spit it out as it was going no where. Wow, what a lesson learned -- I hope! So after that & still feeling stressed (the car is just on top of several other things that really are "just life" but when viewed all together just are yucky...) when dd & I returned home I called my friend & went to her house & did 20 mins on the elipitcal & 15 on the bike... I told her that it was that or try to avoid eating the remaining ice cream in my freezer! So at least I feel a bit good for channeling all that stress/emotion into a positive outcome rather than negative. Maybe I AM learning. Maybe. Now it's time for bed. G'nite.

227.8!!?? Tracy, you absolutely TORE into the 20s! FANTASTIC!! :whoo:

YOU CAN DO THIS, TERRY! You are taking back your health & taking no prisoners! Your focus & determination that you've showed re: weight loss will also work for you in this next challenge. We are always here for you!

Whoops Judy, guess we were posting @ the same time! Have a FANTASTIC time at WDW! It's one of my fav places!! Just planning a trip makes me happy! I will think of you skipping around the Magic Kingdom in your tank top & skort! :car: Hang in there, Jen. I'm in the same place w/my body catching up. Why is it so slow? I'm right here... catch up already, dang it! lol!

Good Monday morning, Violets, The ice cream party went great last night, even tho indoors. It was fun getting together w/everyone & catching up about their summers, etc. I was a tad worried about myself around 12 tubs of 12 different, yummy ice creams... but w/all the mingling, etc., I had only 1 small cup and even that I kept putting down & losing! The only thing is that they didn't eat all the ice cream & so I still have 11 now half-eaten tubs of ic in my freezer! Somehow, when we weren't "allowed" to eat it, it didn't bother me... but now that it's all fair game... yikes! I gave 2 tubs to one friend already, and I'm going to take 2 or 3 down to another friend today... let's see, that'll leave 6 more. Sheesh! I'd like to be able to fit some real food in the freezer again soon! Tracy, love the pics! Yep, they definitely look like trouble!! :car: Another cold (for summer), grey, rainy day here today... I had 3 extra kids spend the night after the party (hey, what kid doesn't want to stay all night where there's a freezer full of ic & a mom who wants it GONE? They all had a second round around 11 last night!). After they're all up & out, will have to see where the day takes me (my original plans are shot due to the weather)... I'm hoping some errands + my friend's eliptical. Oh! & we may join the Y today, long story as to why finally, but that'd be fun. Make it a great day, everyone!

It's good to have friends in "high" places, huh Judy!

Good Sunday morn, ladies~~ Today is the ice cream party day, and of course, after a summer of near-record high temps & drought, the day I invite 40+ folks over for ice cream OUTSIDE, it's 60s & raining! Now THAT sums up my luck in a nutshell! HA! So it's "clean the house like a maniac" day here, + not each much all day so I can enjoy some ic later... I did WIN it after all! (PS -- anyone who wanted coupons, I'll pop them in the mail this week!) Judy... Exactly how does the pastor's wife skip church? Wouldn't he notice?? Too funny! TracyKS... Pictures!! Sara... You are beautiful! I can see you personality bubbling through your pics, esp the second one! Jenn... You go girl!!! Hi Terry! Time to go dust & vac & scrub... DH thinks I'm funny for doing what he calls "deep" cleaning (uh, hello, I do this every week, duh! (only he's usually at work when I do it, he must think we have helpful house elves or something ha ha ha!)) only to have 1/2 the neighborhood come over to eat ice cream & mess up the place! I tell him it's a girl thing. Altho, he may have a point -- but don't you dare tell him I said so! Make it a great one, everyone!

Back again! I did 3 miles on the stationary bike & 2.2 miles on the eliptical (20 mins)... not earth-shattering but major for me! The other day I did 2 miles in 20 mins, so I'm getting a wee bit faster -- yay! Off to take a shower!

Good Sat morn, everyone~~ Denise... I had the same thing going on... gaining, bleh... so I jumpstarted myself back to losing by doing 2 shakes (am & pm) & a healthful lunch and it seems to be working! yay! oh, + add in more regular exercise... walking or something... speaking of which, I'm on my way to work out on my friend's elipitcal right now! Tracy, I am so *not* a BB regular or really a fan, I've just caught it a few times here & there simply cuz' there's nothing else on summer tv! I realize that the "difficult" folks are more interesting/fun, but I can't stand the negative energy and really hate it when the bad guys win... it's probably all just for show, anyway, but still... I prefer to surround myself w/ positive input v. negative... I guess I'm just not made for "reality" tv! Oh well! Viva la difference!

What Terry said: "I have to adjust my attitude some other way. ... Ok, so I look at it this way: "Oh well!" I mean, look...getting a minimum of a 1000 calorie deficit every day and I'm working out at a reasonable level. This is THE prescription for losing weight and better health regardless of what the scale says. There is no other prescription! SO, I will just keep doing what I'm doing and TRUST that I'm not some freak of nature...and IN TIME the results will come. PATIENCE and TRUST...." THIS is EXACTLY the mind set I need to cultivate!! Better health no matter what that stupid hunk of metal says! Patience & trust! Excellent mantra! Maybe we need braclets that say that, too! Hi Tracy!! Glad you're back but not glad to read about the boys... it's bad when work looks better than vaca! Jennifur -- I'm w/you... I don't wanna know my BMI... why add inslut to injury?? Also... I LOVE love love the Starbucks iced skim caramel machiatto... had one this a.m.! I also make a fake-y one @ home w/decaf, micellar protein milk (or skim) & sugar-free caramel... even my 12-y-o loves them! Gr8ful -- Hope it all works out & your mom feels better soon (& the bunny)... it's in these stressful moments that we really get to USE the positive tools we're trying to develop & to stop the stress eating. Not easy, but necessary -- you're doing great! Hi Judy! Hey... anyone have pre-teen daughters who are counting down the minutes 'til High School Musical 2 debuts tonight @ 8pm on Disney channel?? Obviously, I do! We're going to an HSM2 "party"! What a money-making machine Disney has going there -- wow! But it's fun... my ringtone on my cell phone is "We're all in this together"! Ha! Enjoy the day!

Good morning, Violets~~ That's interesting... I find that I am waking up earlier as well, but feeling rested when I do... I wondered whether it had anything to do w/the wt loss/better nutrition... of course, today when I awoke @ 5 I managed to "force" myself to lay in bed 'til 7:30! Another busy day... make it a great one! PS -- What happened on BB? Did Evil Dick get the boot? I hope so... I hate that guy... and his sniveling daughter, too!

Now lickboxing might be an activity I could get into! hmmmmmmm... Losing in chunks... a lovely visual... me walking along w/chunks falling off as I go... lol! Trust me, if there's a long, hard way to do this, that's the way my bod will go!