Charlene K

Lori, I think you should cook what you have confidence in cooking. If it is a new recipe......practice it. I would let them bring a dish. People like to bring what they make best.....that's how I am. You will do fine and have good time. Since this was your DD's and DH's idea.....get them to pitch in with ideas. I am not too good at sit down dinners. I have always had so many people we do buffet style. We even do buffet when there are only six.

Phyl, I love your golf cart! Your my kind of gal. I also love your outfit! The place you live at looks like a place I would like to stay for the winter. I know it is mild down here, but too damp for me. Lori, I only started doing cards again last year. I am sending them again this year. You will see why. The quality of the picture is not that good because it was taken with my iphone, but hey someone offered to take it. It is rare that we are in a photo together. I wouldn't worry about not sending cards. My card sending is a year to year thing. My G-kids are going to get a shock next year because I am cutting my budget in half. I have refused to do it in the past, but my g-kids get too much stuff. I would rather clothe or feed a needy family next year.

Good Afternoon Gang! I went to church early to help with the Lord's Supper ( Holy Communion). It is sunny, windy, and in the fifties. We are having a freeze tonight. Janet, yep this cold weather coupled with my FM issues has given me more restriction than I have had in a while. I knew the cold front was blowing in last night so I took a muscle relaxer before I went to bed. I woke up this morning sore, but not aching. Yay! Then we had lunch. I went and bought Subway. I had half of a kids sandwich. Yep, stuck , but no pb. Every once in a while I have to eat bread to remind me "I can't eat bread". Apples, BRRRRRR!!!! I bet AZ looks better every day. Warm HUGS again going your way! Church at 5 degrees. I hope you had a safe trip. God Bless You! Sndy.....sorry about your dad. Maybe after he heals he would consider a retirement home. My mother lives where they have independent living, assisted living, and a nursing home. As long as your mind is good and don't have major health isssues you can live in independent . She is 87 and legally blind, but is able to get around the place real well. Start looking around for a place near you. That is a big help.....being close by. HUGS! Joyce, I saw where your weather is bad too. Stay safe! Laura.....seafood sounds awesome for Christmas dinner. I wish my DH would eat seafood. We have too many anti-seafood people in our family. I am up for shrimp any day. YUM! Okay peeps. I have to crank up the fireplace. My hands are so cold.....I think it is colder in the house than outside. CBL

Kelly, if you do the size before the color it goes back to 2. Color then size on "fast reply". Apples, I saw your weather report. The whole state is covered in snow. I heard it was going to be a bad winter, and I thought last year was the worst in years. Stay Warm. Cheri, doesn't it feel good to get the prepping done early? Have a great party! I did not cook chicken. We went to a mexican restaurant. I ate fish and veggies. The last bite of fish got stuck......we had to leave so I could pb. Ugh! What's up with all the getting stuck? I think it is the cooler weather. I rescheduled my dr's appt for the 30th, but I don't think I will need a fill. Oh, Apples, you state is on the news right now......20inches of snow and the airports are closed. Warm HUGS going your way!

Jessica........Awesome! WTG! and we are running with ya tonite! GO JESSICA! GO JESSICA! GO JESSICA!!! GO! GO! GO!

Good Morning Gang! Julie, I feel for you today. I watched your weather report up there. BRRRR!! No wonder you are hurting so bad. Have you tried muscle relaxers and xanax instead of vicodin? It may be your muscles and nerves causing you so much pain with the weather change. HUGS!!!! Meredith .....What are you studying for? Did you say Pa? Cheri......have fun at your party tonight. I love having parties, but I hate having to clean for them. Apples.....saw your weather report too.....be careful up there.....Stay off the roads if you can. Janet......lol! I babysat. My little one was really good, but my back is paying the price today coupled with the weather changing my IBS is kicking. I was on the way to my other DGD's soccer game and the IBS kicked in.....had to turn around and come home. UGH! Just makes me so mad. This was her last game too. Yep, my stamp book is full.....was all ready to unload on her and she didn't show. My DH got in a little inheritance money left over from her parents estate....203 bucks to be exact. He told her to come get her 203......she text him yesterday and said she was coming.......no show. You see, she had called me about 18 mos ago and asked us to help her daughter out financially .......she kept calling......we loaned her several thousand dollars. because the A$$ SIL lives with wouldn't help her out. Now she tells my DH that her DD is a loser and hit everyone up for money because her DH won't work. Anyway, she failed to tell my DH that she was the one asking for the money. She is such a LIAR. I am done! Let her come for her $203......she will get her money's worth. lol. I love her, but sometimes you have to put a hold on those toxic relationships......in my words......CASH OUT! I wish I would have learned that in VEGAS! lol lol lol EVA......so glad you got a new TV. You may not even need to wear glasses anymore.......Congrats!! I ate turkery sausage and yogurt this morning. Lunch.....gotta plan the day. I want to try a new chicken recipe. If it turns out good I will share it. CBL!

Well, I didn't go to Water aerobics. I pushed my DGDs in the double stroller. I was a good workout. Then I came home and finished cleaning house. I ate low cal tuna salad for lunch. It got stuck......I got nauseated and threw up. I guess it was from lifting my DGDS. I must have gotten my band in a bind. I am okay now except for the fact my drama SIL might come by. I don't want to be here. My stamp book is full ( remember green stamps and big bonus) and I have cashed her in for peace of mind. lol I get my DGD this afternoon for about six hours. I just may go over there and babysit. What's for supper? hmmmm? I have 16 pts left. Later peeps!

Tx.......yes, sounds like Bandster Hell!! Your body is in a war to hold on to what you are losing. Journal,......high Protein, low carb.....and walk! Get a pedometer. Work to walk 10,000 steps a day. I started doing 6,000 a day then it just started moving up. I wear my pedometer all day. You probably need another fill, but if you get too much at one time you might start slimming and pbing when you eat. Hang in there! Keep looking for other tools to help you push through those hungry times. I use the Livestrong app on my phone as a journal. If you are on a computer look up DailyPlate.....it is the same site. It keeps track of all of your protein, carbs, fats, Fiber. Check it out. I am going to Water aerobics this morning. Then babysitting the 3 month old all evening. My DD is taking the 2 year old to Yo Gabba Gabba Live. If you are a young mother or a grandmother I am sure you have had to watch it on tv. What to eat this morning? Turkey sausage, fruit , egg.........Yum! Apples, are you home yet? Missing your green posts!

Cheri.....lol.......I confessed so you would know I came to my senses. Really, oatmeal takes too many pts. I can eat oatmeal or an egg, toast( which I don't eat), fruit, and a yogurt. 6pt for oatmeal or 6pts for all that food.

WW veggie Soup..... and my version. 1/2 cup sliced carrots 1 cup chopped spinach( I used frozen) 1/4 cup diced onions 1 Tbsp tomato paste 2 minced garlic cloves 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/4tsp salt 3 cups fat-free chicken broth 1/4 dried oregano 1 cup diced green cabbage 1 cup diced zucchini Spray a large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray, heat. Saute the carrot onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth, cabbage, spinach, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered about 15. Stir in the zucchini, and cook 3-4 minutes. Serve Hot. My version: following directions except for tomato paste, dried basil, and oregano. I just added a can of Rotel chopped tomatoes and chilies then ADD 1 Cup of chopped chicken breast. Yummy 0 pts without the chicken breast. I figure 3pts at the most.

Hey Gang! I just got home from the hospital. My friend did not have any blockages so she will be going to rehab tomorrow. Oh my goodness, her mind is intact, but her emotions are all over the page. I hope when she gets out of that room then she will get better. She stays angry with the staff......and kind of paranoid. I told the doctor in front of her that she was depressed. He tried to prescribe her some medication, but she refused. I told her it was not normal to cry every time someone talked to her about anything personal. I also told her she had an eating problem because she has been depressed for years. She told me she thinks she has had diabetes for years. Duh! I guess it took a stroke to get her to a doctor. She is so stubborn. Sorry, just venting. I had lunch late. I ate another bowl of WW veggie Soup. It is so yummy. Then I had Carbmaster yogurt. I wish I had seen Biggest Loser this season. When is the final? I want to see it. Okay peeps, I have to go cook dinner. Low cal Taco salad. Later!

Janet, I guess what I meant is it is not working because I am not taking the recommendations. They recommend eggs, meat, and a fruit for breakfast instead of carbs.......Duh! It sounds like WW is coming over to our way of eating. Really, you could have helped them make up the point system. You are "right on" on the new point system with your sample menu.

Good Morning Gang! WW is not working for me yet. I need to ditch the oatmeal thing and go back to egg whites. I haven't been able to do as much exercise because of all the "other people problems" OPP. I am planning a high Protein Breakfast then off to sit with my friend. She is having a heart cath right now. They plan on putting stints in if they find any blockages. Then she will be transferred to a rehab tomorrow near her hometown. She is on four shots of insulin a day and her blood sugar is now down to 160. Ladies, if you are not going for yearly check ups.....go. Being that we had surgery and fills I think we keep up with those things. I will check in later! Have a great day!

Good Evening Gang! I made the WW veggie Soup and put a cup of chicken breast in it. Of course I had to spice it up with a can of Rotel chilies and chopped tomatoes. It was delicious. It had cabbage, spinach, onion, garlic, carrots, and zucchini in it. I used low sodium chicken broth. I am kind of excited about the new recipes. I even have an App on my iphone to track the points. Linda, I hope the new over the counter supplement helps. The change in weather is a killer on me. It has been cold all week so my pain is just the normal everyday stiffness. It was in the forties today and the humidity is 66%. It is the dampness that makes our weather suck. I hope you have a great holiday party with no snow. Eva, I hear ya on the callus problem. I am getting one on the bottom of my foot because my bunion is causing my toes to cross. Good luck on getting it off. My pedicure girl scrubs on mine once a month and it always comes back. Melissa, Congrats! on the new job. LauraK......glad you are getting to see DD for the holidays. Laura........so glad your parents are coming for the holidays. I know Nels must be so excited. I love his pic! Kelly.....I hope you don't burn out on that tuna. You should drop a few on that diet. Lori......can't beat a buck for a hamburger, and get full. Enjoy your time with DD. Gonna buy baby stuff? Janet......You looked fabulous in your close up pics. Are you happy with the results of the injections? Phyl, Julie, Joyce, Sndy, Jodi......I hope all of you get to feeling better. Take Care! Tx....are you okay? Apples......are you home yet? Missed ya today! Jessica and Meredith .......must be hard at work.....take care! Cheri......HUGS! I went a little crazy today at Macy's. They had 60% off of Christmas decor with a early morning special of another 10% off. I bought two Jim Shore ornaments and two Santas. I also got me a caphalon pan for grilling. I really wanted a new set of knives for the kitchen, but I am hoping one of the kids will give them too me.

Good Morning gang! Cool and raining this morning so walking is out! So, maybe Water aerobics and then a little shopping. Today is the last day for Macy's sale.....cash back and 20% off of sale items. I ate my oatmeal. Now I am going to make chicken salad for lunch. I got a WW cookbook with my information yesterday. It had an awesome vegetable Soup recipe. I might make it too. I hope y'all have a great day! CBL

Cheri, yep, I have to watch it. I am not going to eat any different except try to eat more veggies. I am a terrible veggie and dairy person. Oh, sitting in that meeting today I realized how much I had learned about food over the last year. It looks like WW has moved towards making healthier choices. Back in the day when you counted calories with WW that is how we ate. Then the point system moved in which allowed too much junk eating.

Hey Gang! I joined WW. The processed food and foods with higher fats has higher points. So, do you want a apple for 0 pts or a 100 cal snack for 3 points. Makes you think. I plan on staying low on the starch stuff. There again they are low on high Fiber whole grains and high pts on starchy foods. Really it is very close to the way we eat. I have all this stuff to read about the plan. I bought some new stainless serving spoons....a 1 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1/4 cup. I use to have a set, but I lost all, but the 1/2 cup and they were in hard plastic. Laurak.....No Worries! I am getting that email from two people I never talk to. Weird! Laura, sorry about the allergy......that must be itchy. Eva......glad to see you back posting. Missed ya! Phyl, ......take care of yourself! Jodi......I was like that when I was too filled and it was only about .2cc. Maybe just a tweak will help. I think it is the cold. I have restriction now......then next week it will be 80 and I will have an appetite like a horse. Maybe this new accountability will reel it in. Janet......Kick butt!!! at boot camp! Cheri......I hope you are doing okay this evening. It must have been a trying day. HUGS! Joyce......you are so encouraging to all of us.....thanks for the props! Yep, Janet's pictures are the closest we will get to warm weather for a while. lol Great......BRRRRR! Sounds like a dreary day for you. Crank up the Christmas tunes!!! I don't know how you peeps in the north endure all this cold. Speaking of cold......Hugs to anyone north of me.....Julie, Linda, Sndy, Kelly........stay warm too! Tx How is it going? How is the Shoulder? Apples......I hope you had a great day with GF! I spent the afternoon sitting with my friend. She just cried. I think the reality of her disability is setting in. Also, her blood sugar was 357 with insulin. I think it may be partly do to an aid that didn't know how to help her today. My friend had been an aid so she was frustrated. The cardiologist came in and told her there is a dark spot on her heart ultrasound. She will be having a dye test on Thursday to check out her heart. She is a good example of why we need to eat right and exercise.

Apples, I don't see who is watching the thread......I can change size, but not color

Good Morning Gang! I am going to join WW this morning then off to sit at the hospital with my friend. Her blood flow is back to normal. She did have a small blood clot. She also is on two insulin shots a day for her diabetes. If her heart checks out after tests she will go to a rehab on Thursday. I hope she goes to the doctor now when she doesn't feel well. What a way to get a check up? She is so stubborn. I have seen her suffer with bronchitis for months. I will check in this afternoon. Cheri.......HUGS! and PRAYERS for you today!!!. Such a tragedy. CBL

Woohoo! I had three Bunco's tonight......won 10 bucks! We had to play with only 8 people. Peas.....yep WW is for accountability. The meeting is less than two miles from my house. I'm thinking about canceling the fill appt. Since I slimed on chicken today I think I must have restriction........at least today. Jessica....WTG on your grades!

Julie, I am so glad you posted. What are the doctors giving you for your condition? I know you are so tired of the pain. I can totally relate in a small way. I am going to make your bar Cookies and freeze them for Christmas. If I put stuff in the freezer I won't touch it. My kids like homemade stuff for Christmas. That is just a tradition I can't stop until I can't do it anymore. Try to check in more often.....even if it is just to say HI! HUGS! Janet, I went on FB to see your picks. I saw your son, DIL, DGDs, and DGS. Looks like y'all had an awesome time, and the place was gorgeous. My DD got married in Playa de Carmen. They didn't want anyone there. Boo! I should have gone anyway. I bought two huge bottles of vanilla in Cozumel, but I just went through customs at the port.....we didn't fly. I did buy some drugs.....prevacid, flexeril, and antibiotics. Stupid me, they asked if I bought drugs in Mexico and I said "yes". I had to go through my luggage and produce a bottle of prevacid. This twenty something kid scolded me and let me go. Geez! I would never make a good drug dealer......I have too much of a guilty look when I lie.

Charlene - Girl you just gotta understand that you gotta budget those calories - I think WW is great - I don't know about the point system as I learned it on the exchange system which limits your starches - but again it's not about dieting - it the way to eat for the rest of your life - that you can't eat the way you want - you really gotta watch the starches. Janet, well it won't let me change the color if I copy and paste.......anyway, My DD has joined WW. They launched their new program last week. It is still points , but they raised the points on processed food and veggies and fruit are 0 points. Also they are counting Protein. I want to check it out. I think if my DD and I are on the same plan we will do better together. I do have an appt to get a fill on thursday. Once again, the weather has turned cold and I have restriction. My band is as fickle as my system. I am still going to talk to the dr about the fill. I just got back from Water aerobics and sat down to eat a green salad with chicken....started sliming. Phyl, the home tour was so nice. When I went to homes by people my age they were filled with collections of santas, snowmen, and trees. Then I would go to a home owned by thirty year olds and it was what is that word for the uncluttered look. The big thing this year is colored mesh used for garland around trees and on wreaths. One place had big santa hats for the toppers. I wonder where you get them? All I know is my stuff is outdated, but the grandkids don't know that. They think is is awesome. Great......I think I heard on TV that there are only 40 scanners for 400 airports. The one at Houston wasn't working because I don't think they have enoughtTSA workers trained. Then coming back from Vegas my DH asked for the scanner. It was so much easier, but still a huge invasion of privacy. No how are they going to catch terrorist when the only people being scanned are those with replacements. Please! There has got to be a better way. Apples......what kind of Cookies. I don't make cut out cookies. They are a pain. I do make a cookie called "sweetie". You drizzle almon flavored glaze over it and it soaks in the cookie. Eva, it would have taken forever to get down to where I live. I sure would have liked seeing you. I hope we can get together next fall again. CBL

Good Morning Gang! I haven't read the posts from yesterday, but I just wanted to check in. I got on the scale this morning and I have gained two lbs I lost. I did not exercise yesterday then last night we went to a Christmas party. UGH! I am paying for it. I am leaving in a few minutes to go to water aerobics. Then tomorrow I am going to join WW. I Need a meeting close by. Dr. Davis is too far to go to weigh. They said I can come by an weigh there whenever I want to, but 28 miles is too far for me. I will CBL and read the posts.

Hey Gang..........Yay! The Sheriff is back in town!!!......and the posse too!......Lori glad you made it back safely. Well I just talked to my friend's daughter. She said her mother's sugar level is 400. No telling how long she has been this way. May have contributed to her stroke. Her daughter said she has been acting stressed for several months and she thinks it is due to the fact her husband has been offered a job overseas. My friend was stressed over living on her own. Her daughter is going to reassure her that they will take care of her. Yep, this was a Ah-hah moment for the whole family. I am going Tuesday to sit with her for a while. This all has made me want to eat "clean" and exercise daily. I am off on a Christmas tour of homes. Several ladies at the church opened their homes to show there Christmas decor. I hope to get some ideas for next year. CBL

Morning Gang! I made it through the night ......the muscle relaxer kept me asleep. Yay! Now, I just have to keep moving to keep the pain down. I am off to church. Please pray for my friend who had a stroke. She lives with her daughter and family. They have been pretty disrespectful to her. I just pray they realize how much she has done for them and return the love. She needs them now ......more than ever. CBL. Janet......missin my sheriff! The posse needs direction. lol