mdrai

Good Tuesday Morning, Violets!~~ It's Tuesday, so you know what THAT means... official weigh-in day for me! (I know you all have that marked on your calendars, right?? lol!) ANYWAY... drumroll please......... -6 ! :biggrin1: YAY! Which brings my total to -38... just 2 more to go 'til -40! That's my goal by the end of July... I think I can make it! Make it a great day, everyone!

OK, so I'm pretty sure this is all totally in my head, but ever since I didn't get my fill today, I AM STARVING! I ate a lot (all legal tho) @ lunch & now want MORE. No sticking today, so far. I feel like the beast is roaring: FEED ME!! Where's my littly kitty (from the LB commercial) when I need it???

My pages are looking normal again... yay! Jenn... 1st of all -- You ARE great NOW! In a year you'll STILL be great, but just in a different size! Look at all you've done & are doing every day & how you're sticking with it & not giving up!! You're working hard changing your thinking & eating & behavior habits formed over YEARS + your other struggles right now (job, bf, etc.). I am ordering you to buy yourself some flowers or take a bubble bath or something nice just for YOURSELF! ((hugs))

Yes, my screen is super-huge... I hoped it was cuz' someone had posted a big picture, but even here on the reply page I have to scroll over... odd & annoying! Went to docs and did NOT get a fill. Since my first fill 12 days ago (not even a whole 2 weeks), I've lost a solid 10lbs!! So no fill. He says to go slower & smaller w/the bites & chewing, etc., so I don't keep getting stuck... I *still* think I could've used a bit of a fill as I do get to feeling hungry between meals and I think the wt loss is cuz' I stop eating when I get stuck, not cuz I'm full, be he said to track it all for a week or so + wt loss & then call them if I think I need a top off. I have only 4cc in the 10 cc band now, he said that's on the low side, but w/the loss... so, ok! Whatever! I'll track it on paper & see what I can deduce. TRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! * C * O * N * G * R * A * T * U * L * A * T * I * O * N * S * ! * ! * ! On everything! Oh I'm so excited for you!!!!! Can't wait to see the ring! Hey-- why not have a CRUISE honeymoon w/the Violets????????????????????? Gotta go put groceries away... bbl!

Good Monday Morning, Violets~~ Judy -- Have a great time on your girls' trip! TracyK -- splish splash! Pam -- You're a painting fool! Wish you lived closer... Jenn -- Hang in there girlfriend!! You're doing great!! Terry -- I tend to like current fiction about strong women, HP is really the only "fantasy" I like... As I said, I check out the Borders new release lists + Amazon + book reviews everywhere -- Wash. Post, Oprah mag, even People mag! Here are some more recommendations: "Eat, Pray, Love" -- a biography... I liked it so much I want to buy it! "Life of Pi" -- bought this one, too! "Bird of Another Heaven" (reading this now, haven't finished, ok so far) "The Myth of You & Me" "One Thousand White Women" "Rise and Shine" "Recipes for a Perfect Marriage" "The Blood of Flowers" "The Red Tent" "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" "The Whole World Over" "Whitethorn Woods" Authors I enjoy are Elizabeth Berg, Anita Shreve, Lolly Winston... Maybe my 2nd fill today... will let you know when I get back! Make it a great one, everyone!

Good eve, Violets... Just a quick pop-in... I am sooooo tired! Was up 'til 4am on Fri nite/Sat morn reading, then up again 'til 1am last night finishing the HP book! It was good... the last 75-100 pp were great... but it was a bit meandering in spots & oh-so dark & evil & depressing most of the time... I have +s and -s about it, but overall, good. Took DS to his Jazz Band Camp week... he'll stay @ my mom's while he's there... just got home... long day... Tomorrow is supposed to be my 2nd fill, but I lost ANOTHER lb today, so that's 5 (!) since last Tuesday so I don't know if they'll fill me or not. PAM-- You're pretty much describing the feeling I get when I eat now, too... not ALL the time, but frequently... I think it's cuz' I'm eating too fast & w/too big bites... man it hurts!... I'm trying very hard to be slow & conscious of eating the bandster way... w/thoughts of Judy dancing in my head (the thoughts are dancing, not Judy... like sugarplums... get it?). I obviously need to go to bed & get some sleep!! G'night! Oh, books! Terry -- I LOVE to read and get all my books from the library... I get the Borders weekly list on e-mail & then when I see something that looks good, I go to the library Web site & put it on hold & then they e-mail me when it's ready... LOVE THAT. I buy only books I want to keep... like the HP's! Did you read "The Kite Runner"? If no, get it! If yes, then I highly recommend his second book that just came out, "A Thousand Splendid Suns". I don't know how he writes such beautiful, compelling stories amidst such misery & despair -- and it's REAL LIFE, not fantasty! They can be a bit brutal & honest, but they hit my heart & I find myself being AMAZED by these women & wanting to learn more & how I can help. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" "The Time Traveller's Wife" "Water for Elephants" (I think that's the title... it's on the best-seller list now...paperback...) "The _____ of Max Tivoli" (something like Amazing Life of or something like that??) "The Last Summer of Me & You" (or is it You & Me?) I'll check my library file & get more later... I know there are more! Ok, g'nite for real now!

Quick check in! Tracy & Jenn... have a great time @ your events... we want PICTURES! Kat... That sure does put things in perspective and remind me to be GRATEFUL EVERY DAY for all my blessings. Ok, so last night was a BLAST! We had SO much fun at the HP Book Release Party! Everyone LOVED our costumes... we had loads of complete strangers asking for pictures with us! Then DS & his friend, who went as the twins Fred & George Weasly, won the Boys' Costume Contest! + we got our books, of course... we were home by about 1:15 or so... I whipped up some omelets as we were all starving, gobbled them down, and sat down to READ! DS & I each have our own copy, so no fighting! We read 'til 4am, then I HAD to go to sleep, & he did too. But he woke up earlier than me (I got up @8... I'm too old to do 4-hrs of sleep anymore!), so now he's further along in the book than I am. The book is great so far... but the events unfolding in it are horrible... really awful... and I actually have a knot in my stomach as I continue to read... I can't see how this has a chance of ending well... oh my gosh! It's a GORGEOUS day here, so I refuse to be in the house all day, so dd & I are going to the pool where I can read in the sunshine! I can't wait to see how many folks are also reading the book there today! Oh -- down a teensy bit (.4) today... but it's still DOWN! Monday is supposed to be my 2nd fill, but lately (the past 3 or so days), EVERY time I eat I feel "stuck" and have to stop & walk it off. & that's eating only about 1/2 of the little bit I serve myself! So I am trying to figure if it's the band, or if it's me still eating too much (big bites) too fast. That's what I think it is, honestly... I get going and BAM! I need to remember Judy's rules!!! So we'll see about Monday, I guess... Ok, time to get back to the book!!! Have a great day, everyone!

Enjoy the wedding tomorrow, Tracy... I bet they'll all be whispering, "She's gotten smaller! How's she doing that???!!" as they stuff their faces w/cake! <evil grin!> I'm going as Dolores Umbridge, cuz' as we all know, it's more fun to be evil! DS & a friend are going as Fred & George Weasly, the jokester twins. DD is going as Hermione. My friend is going as Tonks, her dd is going as Ginny Weasly, and her littlest one is going as Harry. Oh, and I'm taking 2 extra kids (because I am a glutton for punishment!) & I think they'll be Harry & Hermione. I'm getting so excited! How weird am I???????

Hi all... Well, the kids & I just got back from waiting for an hour in a line that wrapped around the outside of our Border's store for our "wristbands" that will allow us to wait in ANOTHER long line tonight to get our books! Phew! I know we're crazy, but it's the last one... no more after this one! +, being an editor & book lover, it warms the cockles of my heart to think that a lowly BOOK can cause this much fervor & excitement -- for kids & adults alike! So the plan now is to work on our costumes, eat, & then go back around 6:30p to ensure that we get an INSIDE THE STORE spot for the evening's activities, which begin @ 9pm. So woo hoo... I get to spend 6+ hours at a book store tonight! Then come home & READ ALL NIGHT! The scale was down another lb today! I'm shocked, but I'll take it! I keep waiting for it to stop... or go up... but it hasn't. I have my 2nd fill on Monday & since my first one 2 weeks ago I'm down 6lbs, so I hope they still do it! I do feel some restriction, but not what I think it should be... I still feel like I'm doing a lot of it w/sheer strength of will, and would like a bit more help from the band. My private, personal goal is to be at -40+ by Aug. 1, -50+ by Sept. 1... and (dare I say it?) -90 to 100 by Jan 1!! Janie... SOOOO glad to read that your FINALLY recovered from the hernia operation! That's really been quite a battle for you! I'm so glad that you're back to "normal" & can get in the groove now. You're doing so great w/the losses, despite your obstacles! Tracy... Yay on your continued losses! 20s are coming up soon! Judy... Hope your yard sale goes well, w/lots of fluffly women coming in! Terry... I'm definitely not at the place you are w/exercise, but I do feel better when I do it... I hope I can get to the place you are soon! Pam... Good luck w/"Do Nothing Day"! Everyone have a great day!

Whoops... 2 more things. Completely unrelated & one is even off-topic! #1: Had my most major "sticking" episode last night & I did not like it one bit!! (I've had only 2 total before this.) It was on a shredded pork roast that I cooked all day in the crock pot so it was very juicy. I took a few bites, and WHAM!... that was all she wrote! I thought I'd been "stuck" before, but this time I had to leave the table, go in the bathroom, & walk around w/my arms in the air, praying I wouldn't start to slime (I didn't, phew!). But it hurt like... crazy... let's say. And when it hit I had more in my mouth and I'm sitting there like "ack! what do I do? I can't swallow!" #2: Completely off topic: Anyone else here a Harry Potter fan??? My ds & I are!! We can't wait 'til midnight tomorrow night! We're going to the Borders party, in costume. I think he's going to be "Fred" & his friend is going to be "George"... I think I'm going as Dolores Umbridge! Too funny! I figure there won't be many of her! That or Tonks. & DD will be either Luna or Hermione. Anyhoo, we had to pre-order 2 books, as we both want to read it immediately (as in, we're going to come home & read ALL NIGHT!) and we know we can't share nicely... at least not this! We're wacky, I know... but as an editor I LOVE how she crafts her sentences and the fabulous vocabulary she uses... and as a Mom I love that this series has encouraged so many kids to read + gets adults & kids in families excited together & discussing them... something that we can share in. Now really, I'm off to work! (Yeah, right!)

Fantastic, Tracy! :clap2:

Another "whoosher" reporting for duty! Scale read "282.4" this a.m. -- yay! But it isn't "official" 'til Tuesday... now THAT's the challenge... keeping it off 'til Tues (or, dare I hope, even losing a bit MORE???)! Jenn -- IMHO, you need to give your bod time to adjust to your new fiber/more cals eating regimen... drink tons of h20... & maybe take a break from the scale. Another day in paradise here... work, take both kids to various activities, laundry, etc... just a regular day. Enjoy YOUR regular day, Violets!

WWJD!!! & she's a church lady & a pastor's wife! HA HA HA HA HA!

You can RUN but you can't HIDE, girls!! I found you! (Thanks to Pam's freak-out post on the general board!) Lots going on as always... Pam, you sound BUSY! Good luck w/the fill today! Thanks for the recipe info, Laura! & Kat... the zuch boat sounds great... a perfect solution for me for when the family has spaghetti! -.2 is the right direction, Tracy! Jenn... you've mentioned that book several times before, so I hopped over to the county library site & requested it! Someone hit a new low... who was it?? Well yay, you!! Was it TracyK??? I can't find it. Ack... I think I need to take notes as I read! Hope I hit the highlights of everyone! Good thing this isn't IM or voice, as I always think of lots of replies to everyone's posts as I'm reading them, then I get here to type and I'm like... duh... Sorry! I am proud of myself today! I went to my 7:45-8:30am aqua pilates class & did better than before w/staying balanced, etc.... and THEN I stayed to try out the 9-10am "aqua core" (aerobics) class too! It was a good workout! I'm glad I went, as I never could tell from reading the Y booklet which aqua class was the little ol' ladies bobbing around not wanting to get their hair wet & which was the "real" aerobics class.. well, trust me, I found the real one! I was all wibble-dy wobbly when I got out! So then this nice lady from both classes tells me that she does both 2x/week! Oh my! So evidently, that's how it's done around here... you don't sign up for just 1/week, but 2/day 2x/week! I've got my work cut out for me! I picked up the Fall schedule & have to check it out to see what will work w/the new school schedules... it's 90-something here today... crazy to be thinking about Fall! Ok, that's it for now... have to go work! Kisses!

I am in menu heaven here AND... as an extra added bonus... RECIPES thrown in for good measure! You all spoil me! Life is GOOD! Terry... I love that recipe & forgot all about it 'til you posted! I put in cheddar chz, too. When I make it next (which may be tomorrow now, lol!) I'll use either turkey bacon or low-sodium bacon & 2% ched & lite mayo & splenda. Laura... do you have to whip up the cream cheese to soften it up enough to mix in the nuts & grapes? And I still want to make Tracy's pork steak alfredo thingy, too... oh my... too many recipes, not enough time! Here, I'll share! This weekend I made that 7-layer salad w/the lite mayo & splenda & vinegar mixture that you spread on the top... not bad... but I think I forgot a layer... ha ha ha! I'm all giddy from the menus... I'm being silly... so off to do more editing! Tomorrow is FINALLY my 2nd aqua pilates class... for those of you w/long memories, the 1st one was 3 WEEKS AGO! It's every Weds from now 'til the end of Aug, thank goodness... I can remember only a few of the moves & I do look a bit odd at the regular pool doing them over & over during adult swim! G'nite... sleep tight!

Thanks, Jenn! As I said, I love reading what others are eating... the combos, the nutritional values, etc... it's weird, but it's me! Thanks!

Just popping in again when I should be editing (trust me, Terry, if I could take a "me" day, I would, but that's what got me into this mess, so... I'll just defer it a bit!)... Jenn... keep posting your 400 cal menus so we can see what you're eating. I love seeing people's menus. I'm weird that way. Yay Laura on the NSVs! Sorry I must've sounded like your mom, Tracy, re: the smiling... Back to work!

Good Tuesday Morning, Violets!~~ Today was weekly weigh-in day & it read 285, which is down 2, so I'll take it! We're all just shrinking away! And speaking of shrinking... TRACY! You go girl! You look fan-tab-u-lous... but please... act happy & SMILE next time! Jenn... your plan sounds great & glad to hear about the plumbing! Judy... Your gardens are amazing! It must be all the TLC you give them! Kat... So glad Kinsey is doing well! You're always so busy, I never know what to comment on! Hi Pam!... I definitely think painting counts as exercise! Hi other Tracy... Have a great day! We're back home & the place is a shambles... I've got to work AND clean the house today... oh, and laundry!... & the kids will want to go to the pool... if only I could clone myself! Make it a great day, everyone!

Finally! Caught up! You girls are big yappers! I'm in NJ @ my in-laws... I've snuck onto my MIL's computer to check on you all! I've been doing well w/eating while here (it's usually a huge foodfest w/me not having to cook, which makes it all the better!)... and even went to Curves this a.m. w/MIL! Yay me! Will be home tonight! Make it a great day, everyone!

Laura! -- BEAUTIFUL PICTURES! Just beautiful. Honestly, I can't tell that you were hot... I mean, you were "hawt"... but you don't look "hot". And a cutie patootie hubby, too! All together now... "We've only just begun..." Judy -- Doing the sunshine dance here for you! Terry -- If my choices are 1 or 2 drinks... I'm guessing... 2! Too busy today + leaving for NJ... make it a great one, Violets!

Good Friday Evening, Violets!~~ I tried to post this a.m. before leaving for the day, and it wouldn't let me... was all wacky... hmmmmm.. WOO HOO TRACY! :Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20::Banane20: You set your goal and you DID IT! Yay you!! Not much time... will try to write more tomorrow... altho am going to NJ until Mon night, so it may be Tues before I get back here (altho I'm sure I'll commandeer my MIL's puter to check in!). I doubt I'll go to Vegas in Feb 08 w/everyone... I'd prefer to save my travel $ for a Violets gathering. I say "no" to Atlantic City... too... icky. So were are WE still considering? Vegas. Cruise (out of TX or VA). Spa somewhere? (for example, Wild Horse Pass in AZ -- beautiful nature, relaxing spa features, casino...). Other ideas? Oh -- and I appreciate whoever added the tip about avoiding cruises during Spring break... good point!! Have a great night & I'll check in when I can... 'til Tues when I'm back home! :kiss2:

Jenn... You could drive here & we could drive the rest of the way together! Ahhhhhhhhhhh... daydreaming! :clap2:

OMG! Sign me up! Seriously -- where do we sign?

Yes, I want pampering! (Right now, if it's not too much trouble! )

ha ha on me! I didn't know there was a new page so I answered Jenn's post from the last page... then when it posted I was like "what the??" Duh! Thanks for looking that up, Terry! How convenient that we have you in our midst! I guess we need to think about what we want to DO... party? relax? get pampered? enjoy nature? shop? That might help us narrow down a location. When I travel w/out kids, I tend to want to RELAX... get pampered... enjoy nature. I'm not much of a shopper/partier (altho I do enjoy an umbrella drink or two now & again by the pool, but I am *not* a bar girl). Maybe a girls' spa getaway? Or cruise. I keep saying that, huh. I've never been on one, so I have no idea... or Vegas... I've been there & I jackpotted on a $1 slot machine... it paid for the whole trip + upgrades! Well, obviously, someone ELSE is going to have to choose -- I'm too loosey goosey!