Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Julie.

I am getting back into a routine and it feels good. As I look back at 2010, I see a layoff, a couple of pay cuts and that darn flood and I can't say I'll miss that year one bit! On the other hand, we got to go to WDW twice, we are all healthy and compared to say 2008 when my mom died, I'd say 2010 was overall an okay year to live through! I guess I suffer from mixed bag syndrome!:laughing:

We went down to see my sister in Colorado Springs on Sunday and had a really nice day with her and my nephew. He had saved his birthday cake from the 28th share with us at long last since the big blow out happned before we even cut the cake. I took my sister on a little drive with dd while the three guys watched the Broncos , and she and I talked some things out. I tried to explain a bit better why my brother is upset. She said she may send him an email in a few months. She is sending gifts for my nieces for their birthday and maybe that will start some forgiveness on his part. He is so stubborn and can hold such a grudge, I am not sure its that hopeful but we'll see. She's chosen to move on, but I told her not to expect much anytime soon.

Its sad, I cannot tell you how many people I know that have these type issues in their families and so often the holidays bring it all up to the surface. In fact I am having lunch with a friend tomorrow that had a big fight with her sister Christmas day so we should have a few things to talk about! I guess my Norman Rockwell meets Martha Stewart plans for Christmas didn't quite go as hoped but I sitll feel like it was a good Christmas.

I did well with food on Monday and Tuesdsay and so far so good today. I didn't sign up for WW, frankly I just don't feel like it. I am just watching what I eat, getting my fruits and veggies up and I did go to the gym today which felt great. In fact I ran into a friend I know from WW at the gym, she is the same way and said like me, she's sick of giving WW money but not giving it enough of her time and dedication to have results! We'll see, I may join up after we get back from WW, I am just taking it one day at a time.

I have five months until WDW:woohoo: and my goal is to just chug away at chugging it off!

Lisa: I didn't check more expensive resorts but I am still waffling if I want to downgrade to a value! But I want a moderate so we'll see!

Julie: I haven't been to a meeting in months either, at least I am not paying this time around, so often I keep paying that monthly fee only to never go!

[Amy&Dan]

I forgot to post earlier that I weighed this mornign and was down .7 from what I weighed on Monday. I really like the Wii scale. Bad news (very bad news) is that I gained more weight over the holidays. I came in at 252 pounds on Monday, I am just aghast. And very ashamed. But there is nowhere to go but down on that scale as far as I am concerned. Still it just blows my mind that I let that 15 pounds I worked so damn hard to lose last winter come back on plus four more. Yo Yo thing needs to stop once and for all.

I also have been stressed yet again due to dh's job. His contract is up, we werent' sure what would happen but praise the Lord, they are bringing him on as an employee. The pay is not at all what he is used to but we both agree he needs something stable. After the past few years, stability and peace of mind are worth quit a bit. And I am still thinking somehow I can find a job that isn't full time, isn't fast food or retail and can get me back in the work force! I still wish that job I interviewed for in June had worked out, it would have been so perfect. But then again, if it had been the perfect job and meant to be, it would have happened. Something is out there for me and I need to figure out how to get out there and prove how smart I am for someone to give me a chance! I just don't want to work full time and Dan is on the same page. So we'll see.

[goldcupmom]

I hear you, Amy! Everytime life hits bottom, my scale goes up. Looking at my weight on 1/1/07 I've kept off only 15 lbs in 4 years, but if you look at what I've lost each year, it's pathetic. Up, Down, Up, Down!

We CAN do this! We MUST do this! Together!

Glad Dan's job is becoming a bit more secure. You will find something. Hang in there!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

:hug: Amy,

Sorry to hear about the blowup at your nephew's party between your brother and your sister. :( I hope things work out between them. :wizard:

I'm glad to hear that they hired Dan as an employee!:banana:

Five months til WDW and one week til DL!!! Woohoo!:woohoo:

I hear you on the weight thing, Amy. :hug: I've not kept a single pound off that I have lost in the past few years. I feel like a yo-yo! :bored: (Never knew there was a yo-yo smilie!)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend. :hug: Any special plans?

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, I am so happy to see you!

Yesterday and today have been more of a struggle with food. I also took the day off from the gym, I overdid it on the treadmill hills and I was so sore. I also didn't sleep worth a darn last night. So I plan to work out this weekend one time.

I have been pretty stressed the last few days, our Cobra insurance went up 30% effective January 1st. Its already sky high, and Dan's benefits won't kick in until March. But we have to have insurance, ds' broken nose incident proves health emergencies happen! I can't wait for him to have benefits again.

This weekend's plan is to pack for DL, take down the rest of the Christmas decorations and stay on ds to study for finals. I am letting him have tonight off because he has worked his buns off all week, but come tomorrow, its study, study, study! I am sure he cannot wait.

The other thing that we need to do is have Dan talk to his aunt. He found out he is not allowed to take any time off for 90 days. He can take off for DL because its over MLK weekend and that is a holiday for his new company. But our trip to DC in March will not be possible. He asked if he could take it without pay, but they said no which is good because we can't swing that right now anyway. I know they'll be disappointed, but there is nothing we can do about it. Maybe we can go in the fall. What I really want to do is take a huge road trip next summer, go to Chicago, St. Louis, DC, Texas and everything in between. It would be a great experience to show the kids a huge chunk of the country. And frankly, DC is so complicated for us since his family doesn't drive, can't pick us up at the airport and it may just be easier to drive out there even though its like 1500 miles. We'll see. We are going to have to change our lifestyle, Dan gets just two weeks of vacation vs the four weeks he's had for years. And then there's that lower salary.

I called on a few jobs today, nothing that worked. One woman at one placement agency said "in a word you are unmarketable". Gee thanks. I think I will apply at some of the nearby retail places when we get back from DL. I have a friend from church who works at Bed, Bath and Beyond and she said they will only give you up to 20 hours which will be perfect. I just intend to stay firm that I cannot work on Sunday.

[toystoryduo]

:hug: Amy,

I'm sorry to hear about the Cobra increase. :( Health insurance seems to be getting more and more expensive these days.

How was your weekend? Are you packed for DL?

I like the idea of a cross country road trip!:drive: That sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to see the country! Any chance there would be a stop in Ohio?:flower3:

Sending some :wizard::wizard: for the work thing. Know that God is in control and He will provide!

Have a great day today!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

Two more days!!!:woohoo::yay::banana::cool1: Are you packed and ready to go? I hope you and your family have a wonderful time!!!:wizard:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, hmmm, Ohio on the way to DC sounds like a lovely idea! Btw, I had coffee on you yesterday at Starbucks!:hug:

So I am not packed, not even close. But I have all day tomorrow. Today I spent most of the day with a killer migraine. Then I started up my Wednesday night class this evening and it was so good to see all my little first grade girls. Although my head was killing me, it was just good to be back.

Today is the 3rd anniversary of when my mom died. Like all things in life, on one hand it seems like yesterday, on the other it seems like a million years ago. I am glad its not then. And while my weight journey is still stuck in neutral, I feel so much better emotionally and spiritually. All those long years of caring for her taught me a lot and its taken me some time to put a lot of things into persepctive. I talked with both my siblings today and my stepdad. None of them talk to each other but they all talk to me. Gosh, I feel like the popular girl at the lunch table.:rolleyes1

Food was good today but I didn't make it to the gym. I didn't yesterday or Monday either due to bad weather, but I did do Walk Away the Pounds those days and need to do that again tomorrow.

If I don't make it back on before DL, I will see you ladies when I get back. Its going to be a short trip but I am super excited and its going to be in the 70's every day we are there!:yay:

[DisDee]

A belated happy new Year to you Amy! I hope you found peace and love yesterday when you thought of your Mom.

I'm so excited for you and your trip to DL. The last time I was there was as a kid in the early 60's-scary huh? I used to travel the country with my grandparents every summer and we have distant family in CA.

Have yourself a wonderful time! It sounds like you'll have great weather.

[toystoryduo]

Sending a gentle :hug: for you, Amy. Always know that your mom is watching over you! :hug:

Great job on getting those WATP workouts in! That's what I've been using to get back on track with exercise. I just love Leslie's positive energy!:goodvibes

I hope you and your family have a wonderful time in Disneyland!!!:cloud9:

[toystoryduo]

Hope you're having a wonderful time in Disneyland!!!:cool1:

[eyor44]

Amy, I hope you are having a wonderful time in DisneyLand. Can't wait to hear all about it.

So happy that Dan has been brought on as a permanent employee. :banana: That and the benefits is wonderful! :goodvibes

Yeah, our insurance went up also. It does every year. Did the Federal Tax increase effect Dan also? The President finally signed the tax extension, but too late for the first of the year. Not getting a COL increase, having insurance go up and having the unexpected tax increase has hurt. We'll be fine, but still, wasn't expecting that one. :sad2:

Looking forward to your return and hearing about your trip. :goodvibes

[eyor44]

I'm watching the weather right now and your area is covered in white. I can't remember when you are coming home, but I do pray it doesn't cause you any problems. :hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, Denise and Tracy. We had a wonderful time in Disneyland, the weather was absolutely perfect. High 70's and low 80's each day, not a cloud in the sky kind of perfect.:cloud9:

We did end up staying at the Hojo across the street. I had kept that reservation because down deep I was just not sure I wanted to pony up so much for the Grand Californian. Finally just before we left, I cancelled the Grand and I am so glad I did. The room was so nice and spacious and at DL being offsite doesn't mean you are that far off! We were as close to DL as the Contemporary is to MK, you could hear the train whistle, the pool deck had a perfect view of the fireworks and it was perfect. Saving over $900 was worth more than being "onsite" for this trip.

Now I have to get down to business with my weight. I just feel like I have crossed a line with my weight. EVERYTHING is so much harder when I am this heavy. I could barely get my seatbelt fastened on the plane, going out we all had middle seats due to an oversold flight and I could just tell that when I sat down, the man next to me was not happy. I just tried very hard to not spill over into anyone else's seat territory.

I may go to Weight Watchers tomorrow, I just don't know. Its a new program, maybe I should give it a try. I want this so badly, but I don't seem to have any clear idea how to make it happen. I feel like I have really dug myself into a very deep hole. I also feel like I am at a critical point with this. If I gain much more weight, I am probably looking at diabetes and God knows what else. What scares me is that more and more lately, I find myself thinking I will never be able to do this. It used to be I NEVER thought like that. I always felt optimistic even when I was in a rut. Not so much anymore and I have to fight that because at the very least, I have to believe that it can happen.

I have a bad cold (thankfully got that starting yesterday afternoon so not on the trip) and today I ate weird food, didn't exercise and just felt lethargic and yucky. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

[toystoryduo]

Welcome Back, Amy!:banana:

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip to DL!!!:cloud9: The weather sounds perfect! :sunny: Glad you enjoyed your stay at Hojo!:goodvibes Congrats on saving $900!!:cheer2:

Amy, I have had the exact same thoughts about weight loss myself. I completely understand how you feel, but always remember that with God ALL things are possible. ::yes::

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend! I hope you feel better soon!:hug:

Sending you a PM.....

[eyor44]

So happy that you had a wonderful trip! :goodvibes and so glad to have you back! :goodvibes

If there is anything as your friends that we can do to help you, please let us know. We are here from you and I liked what Tracy wrote. ...with God all things are possible....::yes::

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy and Lisa and thank you both for the pm's.:grouphug:

Needless to say I have been off the boards lately, I have been so sick I can't even remember when I last got on here. I started getting sick the day we flew home, thought it might be allergies at first then just thought it was a cold but by Sunday night my throat was hurting so bad I literally almost cried. I looked back there and the whole back of my throat was covered in blisters and I had these little canker sores on the inside of my mouth. So I went to the doctor, tested negative for strep and she said its just a really bad viral thing that will have to run its course. Other than the doctor on Monday, I have not gone anywhere. The cold part is better, I am way less congested but my throat is about the same. I am living on white rice and white bread. Anything that has any sort of spice to it is out, I took a small bite of pumpkin bread today and the cinnamon in it amost killed me. I keep hoping this goes away, its hard to sleep or do much of anything. On the bright side, I am thankful its me down with this and not Dan or the kids. Dan has no sick time yet and the kids don't need to miss any school.

So I did go to Weight Watchers on Saturday (this was back when I thought I just had a cold), I woke up Saturday just feeling so down and depressed. Being sick probably wasn't helping on that front but I was just so down and desparate. The new plan is very interesting, really an emphasis on avoiding carbs. Carbs now have a way higher point value. Fruit is free (wow, how awesome is that:rolleyes1) and you do get more points but the carbs add up way more. Which is a good thing. Of course right now all I eat is carbs, chewing meat or veggies is literally impossible although I may try to eat some scrambled eggs later.

My weight is basically off the charts. I weighed in at my all time highest: 253.6. I am ashamed to even write that but I feel like I need to be accountable for the trainwreck I let happen. So I gained back all the 15 I lost the first part of 2010 plus five more. I can honestly say that number absolutely scared the you know what out of me, I am closer to 300 pounds than 200. Maybe this is that rock bottom I need to hit once and for all.

So my first goal is to lose 13 pounds (5%) by March 4th. Thats just a bit over two pounds per week. I feel very confident I can make that goal, although this week I have not been able to work out. On the other hand I haven't been able to eat much either! Sometimes when I am sick I actually gain weight, however if the scale at the doctor is at all near the WW scale, I am down a few pounds.

Thanks for stopping by, hopefully I am on the mend. I am so blessed and lucky to have friends who stand by me and motivate me. And you are both right, God makes all things possible and I know He doesn't want me to be unhealthy and is here with me. I just need to believe in myself and allow myself to be successful.:goodvibes

[eyor44]

Oh Amy. I hope you are better soon. :hug: Not strep? Gosh, sounds like the worst case of strep ever, but I'm not a doctor. Just a frequent strep host.
Are you taking any meds? I feel for you my friend, I know how bad that stuff hurts. What about oatmeal or grits? and jello. The cool jello might help if you can find a mild flavor. vanilla pudding? Chicken broth? Tea? I'm trying to remember all the things I try when I am like that. Maybe not chicken broth yet, might be too salty. Yogurt or milk.

Feel better, we'll be here when you get back. :hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Oh Amy. I hope you are better soon. :hug: Not strep? Gosh, sounds like the worst case of strep ever, but I'm not a doctor. Just a frequent strep host.
Are you taking any meds? I feel for you my friend, I know how bad that stuff hurts. What about oatmeal or grits? and jello. The cool jello might help if you can find a mild flavor. vanilla pudding? Chicken broth? Tea? I'm trying to remember all the things I try when I am like that. Maybe not chicken broth yet, might be too salty. Yogurt or milk.

Feel better, we'll be here when you get back. :hug:

Thanks Lisa, I am in such agony tonight, I think I have a sinus infection. My upper teeth, jaw and my cheeks are killing me and my ears hurt too. So now I have to go back to the doctor tomorrow, hopefully get an antibiotic and get better. Unfortunately, I see another long night in a lot of pain with no sleep. I am really frustrated because I feel like my doctor should have gone ahead and prescribed me an antibiotic on Monday. Of course this is the doctor that told me Matthew had a sinus infection when in fact he had a broken nose with a visible hematoma inside his nostril.

I think I need a new doctor, I just didn't feel like finding a new one on Monday.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll post I got an antibiotic and am starting to feel better.

[Amy&Dan]

Well, I am finally feeling better. I did go back to the doctor on Thursday and shd did confirm I had a sinus infection. She prescribed an antibiotic and some over the counter stuff and it really helped. Today I have been able to eat normal food for the first time in a week. The blisters in my throat are almost healed up, as long as I avoid foods that are too hot (as in spicy and temperature) I am fine. Unfortunately, Dan is coming down with it. I am pumping him with fluids and wellness tea and hopefully he won't get it as bad as me.

I did go to WW on Friday morning just to weigh in and was down 8.8 pounds. Clearly being sick got the credit for that. My goal this week is to just maintain that loss. And I also hope to work out at least 3 times. Even if its just a 30 minute walk.

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!:)

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, Amy!:hug: How is Dan feeling? I hope he is feeling better soon too. :wizard:

I hope you have a nice evening!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, Dan is feeling almost back to normal, thank goodness he didn't have it nearly like I did. I really pumped him full of liquids, vitamin C and wellness tea. I also made him stay in bed most of Sunday and sleep! When I started my journey with this bug we were in DL and I couldn't do those things and then I flew on a germy airplane and I think that sealed my fate!:sick::laughing:

The kids have not had school for two days due to our extreme cold. It got down to 18 below at my house tonight, both yesterday and today were highs either below zero or just above. It was a nice break but I must say I am glad they are going back tomorrow!

I have done well with food, staying right on points. No exercise. The rec center was closed yesterday and today frankly I just wasn't up to getting out. Its so cold and icy, tomorrow will be better for that and I have already washed my gym clothes, charged my Mp3 and am ready to go. I also just didn't feel strong enough yet. Its amazing how weak and lethargic I have felt. But today really seemed to put me back to normal.

I hope I kept off my 8.8 pounds, its hard to know since often when I lose that much weight from being sick, its tough to keep it off. Still, I hope I did!

I know a lot of you are dealing with this same awful storm we had, I hope everyone is staying warm and dry. If that groundhog is right, maybe the end of winter won't be too far away!

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad to hear that Dan is feeling better too!:goodvibes

Great job staying on points, Amy!:cheer2:

I sure do hope the groundhog is right!:thumbsup2 I would love an early spring! :sunny:

I hope you have a nice day today!:hug:

[eyor44]

Amy, I am so glad that the doctor finally prescribed you some meds so you could get better. Glad Dan is better also.
Are you all still freezing cold? Hope y'all warm up a bit soon.

Did you get to the rec center today? I hope you had a good Friday. :goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy. I have been a lousy Wisher lately! I have been spending way too much time on the Resorts board lately, its bitter cold, snowy, miserable and all I can seem to think about is my trip in June! I got a call from my brother yesterday, he and sil are toying with trying to come for a few days to WDW over our dates, its very iffy but I am hopeful. It would be so fun. Its just so hard for them to plan, my sil's mother is still doing very poorly in the nursing home and they just don't know how long she'll live. I am so sad for them. This trip would be so good for them, I hope it works out.

I lost 2.2 pound at WW on Friday, I was thrilled. My total loss as of last Friday is 10.4. I was very happy since that sort of makes me feel confident that big loss the first week will be kept off. I feel really good right now, long ways to go and a lot of work to be done but at least I am off to a solid start. Again. I didn't even bother to get my little 5 pound ribbon thingy, it almost makes me feel jinxed. I mean I have gotten enough ribbons, bookmarks, frig magnets and stickers from WW over the years to pave the way to WDW. Maybe less is more right now as far as their little reward system goes!

I have not worked out yet. Between being sick, the weather (another blizzard today) I haven't done a thing. I am okay with that though, right now I feel like I have gotten the food thing under control and in order, now its time to incorporate the exercise back in. I am really missing my treadmill. Some days, I just don't feel like driving to the gym, esp on a day like today. Maybe I'll Walk Away the Pounds later. In fact, I WILL do that at some point today. I just have to get some exercise in. Okay, so that is a plan now put in writing!

[goldcupmom]

Glad you are feeling better! 10.4 lbs is OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!

Give yourself time to recover. I hear you about the cold. Even UNM was closed most of last week. Are you getting the snow again today? We are supposed to, but so far, nothing....but wind, of course!

[toystoryduo]

Way to go on your weight loss, WISH sis!!!:cheer2:

No worries on working out, my friend.:hug: It sounds like you're still recovering from being sick. You don't want to push too hard too soon. Maybe some WATP or gentle walking...

Are you getting the snow that was predicted? We don't have snow here yet. Right now, it is bitterly cold though. :cold:

Hope you have a nice evening!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Julie and Tracy. We did get snow and bitter cold. Yesterday was a high of about 8 degrees, today we topped out at about 18, but at least it was sunny!:sunny: We got about 6 inches of snow so not too bad. Now we get a warm up, praise the Lord!:yay:

Food has been really good yesterday and today. I did not work out yesterday, but I did get into the gym today. I did 45 hard minutes on the treadmill and it was really hard. But I was really proud of myself, it felt good to get back. Tomorrow may be tough to get to the gym but I am determined. My car needs its 60K check up so Dan will follow me over to the dealership and then I'll bring him back home so he can work (Thursday's he now works from home) and then I'll drive back to the gym. I have an appt. at 11:30 so I will have to book to get the kids to school, all the way across town for the car, then back here, then back the same way I came to the gym. We'll see. If one person runs late, its all over before it begins!:laughing:

I am pretty proud of that weight loss. My goal is to be to 13 pounds by March 4th, obviously I will make that early unless something happens like me falling apart! Which will NOT happen!

[toystoryduo]

Way to go on your weight loss, Amy!!!:cheer2: You are almost at your March 4th goal!!!:thumbsup2 Keep up the good work!!! I know you CAN do it!:cheer2:

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!:hug:

[eyor44]

:cheer2: You can do it Amy! :cheer2: You can do it! :cheer2: Way to go on your loss! :cheer2: March on sister! :cheer2:

Please be careful with all that snow. Blizzards! :cold: I say a small prayer every time I see another storm come you alls way.

I hear you about dreaming of Disney. I am still 9 months out and you would think I have never been before. Let someone mention going, or ask a question and I am all over it with tons of advice. :sad2:

Happy Valentine's Day Amy! I hope you have a great day. :goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies for sticking with me. Once again I seem to be MIA way too often around here. :confused3

I have been struggling with my food and exercise. I have been so down on myself the last two days, feeling like a failure, feeling blah, depressed and just not myself. I think my recent re entry into the world of TOM is to blame for that. My hormones are wacked again, it was so nice for over a year to not have this worry! Now its back. I blame the whole darn thing on dd and the start of her "womanhood", her cheesy little hormones found mine and got them all fired up again!:lmao:

I also had to do some soul searching last night at 2:00 a.m. when I couldn't sleep. I had to almost talk to myself in third person and ask "why are you floundering". I really thought and came up with hormones, and dh's new job. He works from home two days a week and it frankly drives me insane. He's on the phone, he's HERE, he distracts me and for some reason its made my own routine just go to heck and back. I have decided that some of the things I normally do on Tuesday will now be done on Thursday. That way, I am gone a lot of the day! I love him dearly, but I am just not used to this.

I also realized that I have a tendancy to allow one little thing to bring down the whole ship. So I need to work on that. Challenges, stresses, drama, kids, husband's, blizzards, will all happen. I just need to not let anything or a few things get in the way. I need to stay focused. I can do this but its a lot of weight to lose so obviously it will take time. I can't very well put life on hold for the 18-24 months this process will take.

These are all things that are nothing new or that unique but I do realize its so easy for me to just shelve the things that make me do unhealthy things and then sit around and wonder without really thinking what the root issue is.

Today has been a good day, feel back on track, went to the gym, did well with food so maybe I am getting back on track before I got too off!

I'll visit journals later, dd needs her computer. Her computer as in the one I bought for her. Now mine is dead wouldn't you know it!

[toystoryduo]

Sending a gentle :hug: your way. I have struggled with a lot of those same feelings myself. Please know that you are an AMAZING woman, Amy, and you WILL get this through this and be victorious!!! ::yes:: I know you CAN do it!:cheer2:

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy:hug:!

Food was really good on Thursday, yesterday and today not as much. We had friends over last night, and then today my stepdad and his girlfriend came over and having company is always a challenge.

Today, as soon as I saw stepdad I asked "what's wrong". Apparently his nephew was taken to the ER last night with a severe headache. They did some tests and realized he had accute leukemia and was having a brain bleed. They couldn't get it stopped, and they turned off life support a few hours ago. He was only 53. I only met him a few times, but I do know his mother very well and I am heartbroken for her. And for stepdad. This nephew is also a minister and stepdad was very close to him. No warning, no symptoms until yesterday. Life is scary sometimes.

I look at Dan and I feel so lucky. Each day is a gift not to be taken for granted. It is a blessing that this man was able to baptize his new grandbaby recently but he will be sorely missed. He took many trips to Africa on outreach/mission programs, he didn't live a long life but he definitely lived a full and valuable one.

I am pretty beat, I may take a nap today. I kept waking up in the night for some reason and then got up at 5:45, ds went downtown to pass out donuts and coffee to the homeless with his youthgroup. He came home and said "Mom we are so lucky". He is so right. He said there was one little boy with his mom, they were so thrilled to get a donut. Stuff like this is good for him, for all of us to again realize how lucky we are. I must say, ds is really evolving. Sometimes with teenagers, its hard to see beyond the whole teenage thing, but lately he is really coming into his own. He has so much direction with wanting to be a marine and his church stuff. I feel like every day he is on the straight and narrow is another step towards staying that way. Kids have so many pitfalls to overcome. And I am thrilled to say, this semester he is at 6 A's and one B! He needs to do this overcome a very poor freshman year. Even though he wants to go right into the Marines, he still needs to keep those grades up so his options are wide open.

Now I need to do well tomorrow on food, weigh in will be Wednesday from now on so weekends have less recovery time once they are over! Ruth (stepdad's girlfriend) always brings candy to us. I tried to be good but this time it was toffee, my favorite. Wonder how many calories that had, I am afraid to look!:sad2: I must say, it was very tasty. I love it that she does this though, it makes the kids feel like they have a grandmother who dotes on them again. My mom was always bringing them candy and they love having Ruth do it. I just wish she'd bring licorice because I hate that!

Hope everyone is having a very nice weekend.

[eyor44]

Amy, please don't be too hard on yourself. You have had a lot going on in the past year to handle and changes on top of it doesn't help. How you have handled it all without going bonkers is beyond me. You will get there, you will. :hug:

I am so sorry to hear about Step-Dad's nephew. How absolutely awful for his family and congregation. Yes, life can change in a split second. I am learning this lesson.

Happy to hear that your DS is doing better this year. :goodvibes Does he drive yet? Good grades help with insurance discounts on some insurances. :thumbsup2 He is a good young man to be willing to get up so early to help others. A good show of character for him. :thumbsup2

Please don't tell me that your DD beginning TOM has started yours back. :scared1: I was thinking that mine should end before DD's begins. Now you say maybe no. :sad2:

I pray you are able to sleep better tonight. Maybe the full moon has you off. Does it shine in your window?

DD is sitting here and wanted me to tell you that she thinks this is me. :surfweb: She thinks this is what I do all day long. :confused3 Not sure where she gets that idea from. :rolleyes1

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa the full moon, as it gets further in the sky does shine in my window! Maybe I need to draw the blinds and shut the curtains!

Yes, it was funny. DD started up TOM in November and for the first time in around 18 months I got one too, exactly a week after she did. Same thing in December. So far January and February have been all clear (for me at least)!

So today I walked for one hour. Not bad considering it was 36 degrees and so windy it made it bitter cold. While I walked, I hatched a plan. Dan and I will have our 20th anniversary in July of 2012. I have been thinking the past few years it would be nice to renew our vows. Our wedding in 1992 was largely ruined by Dan's mother's antics and drama with his dad (they had only been divorced for about three years and she hadn't moved on yet and our wedding brought up a lot of anger and drama between the two of them) and in some ways, I'd like a do over. I don't want a big to do, just close friends and family and I'd like our pastor to sort of officiate. Dan is all for it, and really wants to do it. Now since I have to always find a way to weave my weight into all things in life, I have been thinking, hmmm, I'd have 17 months to lose a good deal of weight. I hated the way I looked at my wedding, I was a size 14, about 170 pounds (I long for those days now lol) and it would be sort of full circle to be thinner at the renewal! We'll have to think about it, but I must say, I find myself getting excited.

Food over the weekend was okay and today was good. I had lunch with friends from Alzheimers Support and I got on Dottie's site first, picked what I wanted and came out very well. Preplanning never lets me down!

[eyor44]

Sounds like a good plan. Gosh I hate that your wedding was messed up. Families can really show out at weddings and funerals. :confused3 Wonder why? Sounds like a great idea to renew. I :love: weddings. :cloud9:

How can we help? Pray, encourage, kick butt? just let us know and we are there for you.

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa, I do always wonder why weddings and funerals seem to bring out the worst in people. I did have a lovely wedding and my mom tried and succeeded in still making it wonderful in spite of Dan's mom's antics. But I have been thinking the last few years that doing a vow renewal would be special and sort of wipe out once and for all the drama that happened years ago. I just wish my mom was here for this event too.

So Monday and today I did get walks in. Monday was an hour, today was only about 40 minutes. Its been nice and sunny but very windy, however the wind really serves as good resistance when I walk against it!

Best part of today was extending our June trip by two days! Now we have 14 nights which will be really nice. Its very iffy for us to go to WDW in 2012. We really need to get the outside of our house painted and we need to hire it out which will not be cheap. So I want this upcoming trip to be really fun and plenty of time to enjoy the parks and our resort. We also will be meeting up with friends for the first few days, then my brohter and his family for five days so by extending that gives us four days on our own after everyone else goes home. Thank goodness for Southwest, I love the fact they don't charge change fees, great for people like me who are always scheming to get more time at Disney!

Food was very good today, I heated up a frozen pizza for the kids before I left to teach my class but I did make myself fish and some broccoli. Dan is out with the guys tonight so he ate there. That pizza smelled so good but I only had a two bites.

I did decide to keep Friday as my weigh in. Wednesday's are just too jammed packed and I decided not to switch to that day to go to WW. I have two friends from aquasize that weigh on Wednesday's, but in a way, I sort of like going by myself anyway. I really hope to have some sort of loss this week. Its been a lot of up and down with food lately. But come what may, I am feeling really good right now and very motivated again so that's good.

[toystoryduo]

I love the idea of doing a vow renewal!:love: Maybe you and Dan could plan a second honeymoon or Disneymoon as well!:thumbsup2

Great job getting your walks in! :cheer2: Remember that EVERY minute counts!:thumbsup2

Woohoo for adding 2 days to your Disney trip!!!:banana::banana: Two full weeks in Disney = :cloud9:

Sending :wizard: for tomorrow's weigh-in. I hope it goes well for you!:goodvibes

Have a wonderful day, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, I would love a disneymoon! We do have two free plane tickets on Frontier but I am betting they'll be blacked out during the summer. But maybe someplace else, we'll see.

I did decide today I want it to be just Dan and I, the kids and our best friends Scott and Angela and maybe stepdad during the vow renewal. There is an observation deck up at the spot where Dan's dad's and grandparents ashes were scattered with a magnificient view of the continental divide. They allow people to marry on that deck and I am thinking maybe we'd do that on our actual anniversary and then have a small party that weekend.

Today was busy and sort of stressful, I got really snarky and in meltdown mode with Dan. As we settle into this new salary, its definitely adjustment time! We both realize that a lifestyle change like this will take some growing pains but I truly feel this is what God is calling Dan to do. Less stress, less hours means more time with family. He found out that one of the jobs he considered would have had him leaving for Moscow this weekend for a two week trip. He is so glad he's not working there, he is simply not interested in travelling internationally if he can at all avoid it. Sounds good to me. After him workinig in San Diego for the better part of two years and only being home on weekends, we had our fill of him being gone and then some! In any case, I did see a job in the local paper and called on it but it was filled. Bummer. The hours would have worked, it was an afternoon receptionist at a law firm. Dan could have picked up dd on the two days he works from home and the other three days our friends could have (their dd goes to dd's school). Oh well, if it had been meant to be, it would have happened I suppose.

I walked an hour today bringing my walking total up to 2 hours and 55 minutes this week. I feel like I am finally on board with exercise. I came in right on target with points, weighh in is tomorrow and I am pretty sure I have gained a bit. I am not too worried though because in spite of a very iffy start this past week, I really recouped. Its a journey so one weigh in isn't going to affect the whole process.

I'll post my weigh in tomorrow, now its off to get dd to dance!

[Amy&Dan]

Here is the view off the observation deck where I'd like us to renew our vows next summer:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/danamymoore/100_1289.jpg

Its actually more spectacular since only part of the mountain range is shown here but you get the idea!

[eyor44]

14 days at Disney!!!!! :banana::cool1::woohoo: How wonderful! :cloud9:

I love the picture you posted. Looks like a wonderful spot. and keeping it small and intimate seems like the right idea for what you are going for. I love the idea.

Great job on the exercise and avoiding that pizza! Just like Tracy said, every minute counts! :thumbsup2

A Disneymoon, I like that saying.:goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, another advantage of keeping the renewal small and simple is that way I don't have to worry about my brother and sister. I may just not invite both of them, they each swear they won't be in the room with the other so I guess if I just don't invite them to such a small lilttle event, I can't feel like I am slighting anyone and I don't have to worry about hurting either of their feelings. Who knows, I have awhile to figure that whole aspect out!

I was up 1.8 yestrday. I was not surprised at all. My usual problem with weekends being food fest time always catches up with me. I did splurge some last night (went to a friend's house) and tonight we have some really good friends coming over (gotta discuss our upcoming trips that coincide with each other lol) so I will need to be careful.

My goal this week is to keep up with the exercising and also to really watch portion control and points. Last night about the only thing I did on that front was splitting a huge, dripping-with-cheese chicken breast with dd! Oh yeah, I split a drumstick ice cream cone with dh. See what a good girl I am?;)

Hope everyone is having a super weekend!

[DisDee]

Amy-Your vow renewal is a beautiful idea! I often think about doing it but never get around to the planning. Maybe for our 40th.

Don't worry about the weight being up. As we all very well know its the big picture that counts.

Have a lovely day!

[toystoryduo]

That view from the observation deck is beautiful!!!:love: I love the idea of the vow renewal with a 2nd honeymoon at Disney for you and Dan!:thumbsup2 Have you guys ever been to Disney with just the two of you before?

No worries on the 1.8 pounds. Just drink up lots of water and get some extra movement in. You CAN do it, Amy!:cheer2:

Have a nice evening!:hug:

P.S. Sending you a PM....

[traceycooper]

wow the vow renewel location looks stunning :)
so sorry to here about stepdads nephew, hope everyones doing ok xxx

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
How are things going your way? Thinking of you my friend. :flower3:

[toystoryduo]

Stopping by to say hi and sending lots of :wizard::wizard::wizard::wizard: your way! :hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies!

This was a good week, a stressful week and I had some moments with sadness and being overwhelmed about family issues and weight loss. But I lost the two pounds I gained last week so it was good. I did also get in three, one hour walks and aquasized once.

And I got free dining for our trip in June! What a saga. Long story short, one cm saw the pin, but couldn't book me since we were part of a grand gathering. GG cm didn't see a pin and was ready to just hang up on me, but I persisted and asked for a manager and one hour after I first got on with the first cm, I had my pkg booked with free dining. Disney reservations is so messed up. But I got my free dining which is hands down the best discount dh and I can get as long as we have the kids with us.

As far as the rest of my week, lets just say I struggled with my emotions but managed to hold my own with food and exercise. I did eat chips for dinner on Thursday but again, my overall week was solid enough to have me down a couple of pounds. I talked with my Bible study teacher a bit about this stuff with my brother and sister and she told me "you are in mourning for your family that in a sense has died". So true. I talked with both my siblings this week and they both seemed like they were mad at me. I may just be paranoid with my brother but my sister is always resentful and angry on some level so who knows. I just felt a distance from my brother and my sister outright said when I saw her last week "how can you still have a relationship with him". WTH? How can I not? Sheesh if I nuked everyone who can't get along with her out of my life, I'd have to live in solitary confinement. As for brother, I hope he also realizes that my nephew may very well understand my brother's viewpoint but in the end he'll stand by his mom's side. Poor nephew just another male relative to dump him because they can't stand his mother. His dad, his uncle, his grandpa, all did the same thing. How hurtful for him. At least he has Dan. I think my brother thinks its up to nephew to call him, Nephew thinks (and I agree with this) that my brother should call him and I will bet my free dining that in the end, neither will call the other. Time was when I would have "brokered the deal" between them but now I just don't have the energy. They are grown men, and even if I get them to talk, I doubt anything further would come of it. I truly don't think either of them care. Which makes me also conclue that in the end, I am not sure how much any of the lot truly care about me.

In fact, I have called nephew, and sent him a couple of texts but he can't be bothered to call me back. When we went down to see them last week, he wasn't home (at a friend's which is understandable he is a young and single guy) and I really miss him. I think he got so overloaded with family drama he just wants a break from all of us. Which hurts me. He'll come around eventually.

Strangely enough this whole thing has brought me and stepdad much closer because after being married to my mother for almost 20 years, he knows firsthand how things work and the dynmamics of the whole situation. He told me the other day how sad he is for me. It made me cry, I guess because I needed to hear somebody acknowledge, that being put in the middle of a feud between two familiy members you love is not a fun place to be.

I keep telling ds and dd, "please always remember you are family and even if Dad and I aren't around, you will always have each other". Dan has had very similar issues with his family and assures me in time, I'll just settle into the way things are and stop thinking about the way things used to be. I hope so and I do actually believe him because I watched him come to terms with this years ago where his family is concerned.

Ds told me "Grammy needs to come back and kick some a** and get everybody in shape. That pretty much says it all!

I have to say, the free dining thing really ended my week on a happy note. I love having the DDP (although its quick serve but I am fine with that), no carrying around cash or worrying about what we order. I see alot of Wolfgang Puck Express in my future!

Tracy: We did go to Disneyland once just us and it was fun but I missed the kids. I doubt we do a Disneymoon next summer, I don't think we'll be able to afford it, I want to take ds for Spring Break in 2013 before he goes into the marines and I want to stay deluxe at least part of the trip. Which over spring break will be so expensive!

Tracey: Stepdad's family is coming to terms with his nephew's death, but it was really a shock.

Lisa: I was thinking about you this week, sorry I didn't get on here too much yet again!

[toystoryduo]

Woohoo for free dining!!!!:cool1::banana::woohoo::yay::cheer2: I am soooo happy for you, Amy!:hug: Did you get the QSDP or the regular dining plan? Where will you be eating?

I am so sorry for what you are going through with your family. :( Family relationships can be so tough at times, especially when family members put you in the middle. I hope things work out for everyone soon. Know that we'll be praying for all of you!:grouphug:

Have a blessed weekend, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, its the quick serve. We could have paid the upgrade but for our 14 nights I think it was going to be $788 plus tips and that completely defeats the beauty of the savings we get! Our plan is to do Crystal Palace for breakfast (my sil gets a 50% discount there) and Sci Fi for lunch. I should add that this discount has destressed me big time. I foolishly extended our trip, thinking "we won't be back for two years, we are meeting up with friends, with family and we need a few days just us". That was a huge mistake! I sort of forgot that with Dan's new pay rate, gone are the days I can come up with an extra several hundred dollars. Dh and I have both been sick with worry that we should just cancel or slash the trip down to a week but of course airfare has gone up on SW meaning extra flight expense and the list goes on. I was racked with guilt for extending. Really good lesson to think before I book! But with fd, we are okay and the two week trip now costs a bit less than the original 10 night one. Still need to be a bit more careful. Life has changed for us beyond our belief and control and I fear it will be this way for a very long time.

I am back to cleaning houses. Sort of yuck, but thankful I have the work. I just cannot find a thing that works with dd's school schedule. Its not a good use of my brain or my college (no degree but still 3 years spent studying for something I thought might not involve cleaning toilets lol). With Dan's payrate being cut by over one third, we will do what we have to do. We are lucky, far luckier than others. And Lisa, I keep those lights turned off in my house too!

I am also laying in wait knowing the cost of dd's church trip will go up since gas is going up and they have to drive two vans all the way from Denver to Nashville. Dh and I both agreed ds will not go on his mission trip, he went as an 8th grader and now its her turn. He agreed and said he had been thinking the same thing. It seems a bit selfish to say "we are staying four extra nights at WDW so you cannot go out and do God's work" but as dh said, there is plenty of need and outreach right here at home. Ds doesn't need to go all the way to Oklahoma to find people to serve.

Anyway, Tracy I know we'll eat at Wolfgang Puck Express, all around the World Showcase, Columbia Harbor House (dh needs his fried fish fix lol), the POR food court and one day dh and I plan to go over to CSR to enjoy the Pepper Market. :goodvibes

I should be on WISH more now that I am not on the code/rate board with all the other "I need fd desparately" souls.

[eyor44]

:woohoo: for Free Dining!!!! :woohoo: I have been seeing posts about it and a lot of people have gotten it. Wondering if I should call. If I had one, could it be applied since I had a TA do the reservations? I'm glad you got it. :thumbsup2

Man that stinks about your family. I really hate that they are putting you in the middle like this and basically asking you to chose. :sad2: I think your DS has the right idea.

I so understand about the budget. April is cleaning houses and babysitting some to help out. I have been trying to think of something I can do on the side also. Cleaning is what I thought of also, but not sure when I would fit it in. I'm glad you were able to find people who needed the help and that you were available for them. Perhaps it isn't what you want to do at the moment, but I'll bet the people you are working for really appreciate your help.

:yay: on getting the walks in. and the aquasize. I was wondering when you were getting back to that. You always seem to enjoy it so much. and losing the two pounds....:woohoo: you are heading in the right direction. :thumbsup2

I hope you are having a great weekend my friend. :hug:

[toystoryduo]

I am so excited for you that you got the free dining! :cool1: Love your dining choices!!! :goodvibes (Especially Wolfgang Puck Express!:lovestruc )

That's good news that you were able to pick up some cleaning jobs. I've been thinking about trying that myself. How many houses do you clean?

How was your weekend?

Hope you have a great day tomorrow!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, I am only cleaning two right now but I think they will "go forth and multiply"!:rotfl: One of them is my stepdad's, his cleaning lady only wants to do commerical business now instead of private homes so when she quit he nicely asked me if I wanted the job. I grabbed it. I know his condo like the back of my hand since I cleaned it for my mom as a daughter should for years. Now that she's gone it feels a bit funny to take his money but he said he insists so I agreed. Bottom line, he can afford it and if he needs a free houskeeper maybe his loser son can take on that job! He has several friends who live in that same complex and a few mentioned they are looking for someone so we'll see.

I have had a good week so far. I blew it big time on Saturday but Sunday was good, yesterday was good and today is good. I am over the hump of the afternoon which is when I struggle so I am confident today is a done deal!

I have been walking outside quite a bit (couldn't today or yesterday due to snow and bitter cold) and find myself really able to think and pray when I walk outside. I walk on a school track that is next to open space and there are lots of geese, birds and the occasional coyote to put me in touch with nature which I like. I also get to see the planes as they head into DIA which I love. I like to look at those and count the days til I am on one heading to Orlando! In any case I find myself wondering about my yo yo habits with food and exercise. I got a little lightbulb moment on Sunday when I realize I allow myself to have this attitude of what I do is not enough. I walk an hour a day for a month then have a day where I can only do 15 minutes and then I feel like a failure and quit. I do well for several months on food, go to WDW, indulge in vacation mode, come back mad at myself and give up. Gain a bunch of weight then start all over again. Nutty!

Its just imperative that I realize with all my mind and heart that life is a journey and that if things come up or I mess up, its not over. If I could maintain that attitude for the long haul, I'd get there for sure. It could take awhile but its taken me awhile to yo yo diet, get to this current weight so why now take awhile to go the other direction?

I am throwing out my "this much weight off by this date". It never has worked for me so why bother? I keep hearing my Bible Study teacher saying "the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting new results". Very true, and I guess that makes me insane since I have been doing that very thing for decades. I had made a little chart with my weekly weight loss goals up to June 5th, the day before we leave and I threw it out. Not saying I don't want to take off some more weight before WDW, I just can't get so focused on the number which has wreaked havoc with my mind for years!

So food and exercise have been good, my attiude is a work in progress and I am feeling pretty good.

[DisDee]

Amy, I like your new attitude re: your weight loss. Sometimes we do set ourselves up for failure but its great that you were able to think it through and realize that you needed a new way to set your goals.

Congrats on starting the cleaning business! I think you have a good thing going being self-employed. You're able to earn some money and along with that set your own hours and client list. You make the decisions and reap the benefits!

Have a great day!

[eyor44]

Amy, I agree with Denise. I think you have the beginnings of a great job for you. Not the most glamerous, but a wonderful service. You can set your own hours and chose your own clients. And you don't have to ask any one before you go on vacation. :thumbsup2

I like your thought process on weight loss. Just because you stumble doesn't mean it's all over. Yes, I really think you are on to something. Re-group and re-direct and you'll get there. You really will. :goodvibes

[toystoryduo]

I love your last post, Amy!:thumbsup2 I think it's wonderful that you are re-evaluating your journey and doing what works best for you!:cheer2:You are an inspiration, my friend. :hug:

That's great news about the house cleaning!:goodvibes I love what Lisa said about making your own hours, choosing your own clients, and NOT having to ask for vacation time off!:banana:

I hope you have a great day today!:hug:

[eyor44]

:wave2: Have a wonderful Friday Amy. :goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy for stopping by!:goodvibes

Gosh, what a busy weekend, although now I can't remember what made it so busy! Dan was able to take Friday afternoon off since he had too many hours. What a change from days gone by, he now works 45 hours a week vs 55-60 hours a week. I cannot stress how much nicer life is now. We can set the clock by when he'll get home and right now he just finished dinner and is happily watching a basketball game and relaxing. No more coming home from a long day only to work 4 more hours dealing with staff who work in India and are therefore a world and many time zones away. That higher salary is suddenly not so missed around here. God works His ways!

I was down another pound on Friday so I am down around 11.6 in about six weeks. I actually cancelled WW, I am paid through April 21st but I HATE the way they bill me two weeks early (in essence they get two weeks worth of membership by doing this and it drives me nuts). I am just not 100% sure I want to keep doing this. Money is tight and frankly it seems silly. I do know the new points system. I guess we'll see. I am also toying with just tracking what I eat and trying to come in at 1200-1400 calories a day. My doctor told me to do this and I was talking to a cousin in Texas and her doctor told her and her husband to do this. He's lost 70 pounds, she's lost 90. She said its easy and she is done with paying money month in and month out to do the same thing but with "points".

We did give up eating out for Lent, it feels good. Today was crazy, I cleaned a house and then came home and at long last got caught up on "Texas". Being I called and talked to several cousins in TX that I have been meaning to call and never seem to get to. I found out my uncle died (he was married to an aunt of mine that died many years ago so I had lost touch), another cousin is remarried and expectiing a baby at age 46 (better him than me;)) and lots of other family news. I also called my mom's best friend Ginny and she's in the hospital with pneumonia. So by the time I got done with all of this, it was time to get ds to Karate and then I was like "oh yeah dinner time, oh yeah I have to cook no take out allowed". Money and calories saved. I really hope to break the fast food habit Dan got me started on years ago once and for all!

[eyor44]

Amy, sounds like things are going good around your house. :goodvibes I'm so glad Dan is having an easier time at this new job. Sometimes, money, while it does have it beneficial uses, isn't worth it. April and I had a conversation much like that tonight. Sometimes God does know what he is doing :goodvibes and things actually work out much better than you would think.

What a smart thing to give up for Lent. :thumbsup2 Get out of something that will save you money and can be unhealthy for you. It's a double win. :banana:

:woohoo: for being down another pound. :woohoo: You are doing good. :cheer2:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Denise (I missed saying hi to Denise in my last post lol)!

So yesterday was day one of calorie counting vs point counting. I must say it felt easier. I came in at 1280 calories, here is what I got for my calorie dollar!

Slim Fast: 200
Almonds: 170

Vegetable soup: 120
4 oz chicken: 75
3 oz. carrots with ranch: 115

2 pieces low cal bread w/ 1 TB butter spread: 160

2 oz pasta with 3/4 cup marinara: 320
tangerine: 30

1 fiber one bar: 90
total: 1280

My goal is to eat between 1200-1400 per day with one sort of "free" day on the weekends.

I also know I need to diligently track everything I eat, its so easy to forget. The thing is for me at least, calories are easier to add up and track. With points, you don't really know how many points a food item is until you calculate it and sometimes you aren't able to easily do that. With this, as long as I know the calories, it just feels easier. I do need to buy a calorie counter to keep with me so that when I eat out, I can track what I am eating. Well see, its way to early to know if this is my winning strategy for life, but for now at least I have something I feel like I can do. If nothing else, its getting me back in the groove of tracking what I eat, something I have been woefully bad about lately!

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!:goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Ok,I need to vent a bit! I just checked my email and have one from my sister. I may have mentioned she got laid off recently and now she's all hot to get recertified to teach. She hasn't taught in over 28 years and in fact she never did teach but rather was a sub. It is all I hear about. What she has to do, how hard it is blah, blah, blah. She wants to move back to Denver and teach down here. Fine. She hasn't liven in Denver for 15 years but she's convinced life will be pefect when she comes back. I will add Denver is way more expensive than where she currenly lives. She is actually surviving fine on unemployment since her rent is so dirt cheap.

Anyway, today she writes she is on her way down to Denver to go to the public school hiring office to see what they have going on and at the end of her email she writes: "I'll let you know if I get hired so you and your family can put your lives on hold and move me back to Denver".

So typical. She's not kidding either by the way. Yeah, I put my life on hold for six weeks last summer. I cleaned out a house that was like something on a reality show, spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on hotels, packing and cleaning supplies and food to feed us all while we got her out of there. I helped her find a place to live that is beautiful and perfect for her needs and budget but for some reason she is now obsessed "with getting out of there". She amazes me. She finally gets some security and she's ready to throw it all away, up and move 75 miles and just assumes I'll be happy to help her with Fresh Start Number 20. She claims the district in her area isn't hiring but she does say there are others nearby that are, that she could easily commute to from where she lives now, and not up and move and lose what little security she has. But common sense seldom enters her universe.

I assume she won't try this until September when her current lease is up but who knows. Its seeminly impossible for her to do this given she's unemployed, has no savings and for once I won't be offering financial assistance but she has a way of throwing all caution to the winds and just going for broke. Literally.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled she's going to teach. I have mentioned to her for years she should go back and get recertified (which she never wanted to do until now) but like alll things she does, its all or nothing. I mean teach for sure, but start out in a district that is not too far away to commute to from where you now live. This is the kind of thing that made my mother not sleep a decent night's sleep for over 25 years.

Its just sad for me that so soon after getting on her feet, she's willing to risking falling back off the cliff. I guess in the end, she and I are both putting the horse before the cart. She has no idea what the requirements are, how long it will take and if she can even get a job. So I therefore don't know either. But what I do know is that she gets a bug up her butt and won't let it drop. She was so happy when we found this condo she rents, to me it was a God thing we even found it and now six months later its "done, time to move on". Why will the next fresh start be different? Oh well, its her life. This time I am not in a position to help her out so she'll have to do this one on her own. I just need to make sure she understands that.

[toystoryduo]

I hope things work out for you sister, Amy. :hug: I hope she is able to see that she has some stability in her life now and that it's up to her to make things continue to happen in a positive way. Sending lots of prayers for you and for her as well.:grouphug:

Great job on calorie counting yesterday!!!:cheer2: Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy.:)

My sister is one of those genius types that is book smart but life stupid! Her entire adult life reflects that.

I think at her age, with her history, she's beyond having the luxury to take a chance like this right now. In this economy, with teachers being cut right and left, I think if she gets into that profession, she should get some savings built up for a rainy day that might happen all too soon. And moving is so expensive, however she has not had to deal with that. Years ago when she moved from Denver, her boyfriend paid for the move, then my mother gave her 5K to cover the fallout that happened later on from her rush to move to a guy who turned out to be all wrong for her. In September, Dan and I came to the rescue and in spite of some really scary possibilities, it all worked out. I mean she got laid off and can still survive just fine in her current rental.

I don't even bother to say "I hope she knows what she's doing" because I know she doesn't. And she'll be leaving behind her son who is a huge support to her because he's staying put in Colorado Springs.

I know her and I know in her mind, this move will solve all her problems. In my mind it will just create a bunch of new ones that I can't help her out of this time. I get so tired where she is concerned. Its just too much work sometimes to even try to be supportive of her.:sad2:

[eyor44]

Oh Amy, isn't family wonderful :hug: Hopefully after talking to HRO your Dsis will think things through a bit more. Hopefully. You really did work so hard to get her where she is. :hug:

May I make a suggestion on keep tracking of the calorie counting? How about a small notebook to keep in your purse. That way you could at least write stuff down while you are out and have a record for when you write it all down later. This is what I am going to do to keep track of spending. I failed miserably by day 3 on remembering everything when I got home from somewheres. And receipts didn't work cause of all the little stuff you don't get a receipt for.

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, I do have a small notebook around so I think I'll take your advice and put that in my purse so that I have a place to record what I eat when I am not home. For now with our Lent promise to not eat out, its easy to track what I eat since its all right here in my own kitchen! But come post Easter, I know we'll begin to eat out some, just not too often because I must say, its so much cheaper with $$ and calories to eat at home!

I bought a calorie counter last night on my way home from church. Its got so much listed, plus restaurants so that should be really helpful. I cannot believe my Wed. nite class has just one more week. Those little girls (1st graders) have really been a ray of sunshine in my life. And as I have gotten to know the other two teachers, they too are blessings. We all three decided to come back next year and move up with the girls into second grade. I am happy for a break but already excited for next year!

I am mad at myself, I came home from church and ate 280 calories worth of ice cream.:mad:WTH??? Oh well, I did come in at 1555 for the night. I was just so hungry and thought "one spoonful" and then before I knew it I had eaten about a cup. I realize I need to really concentrate on filling foods, with only 1200-1400 per day, its easy to be hungry if you don't eat the right balance.

I did walk for an hour yesterday, my first "no jacket" walk of 2011 (not counting our time in Disneyland in January ;)). It felt good. I started out by myself then as the walk wore on more ppl started coming in (several people walk there while their kids have sports practice on the field) and as usual I was getting "passed" by everybody. I was proud in that it really didn't bother me. I kept my pace, I did an hour and in the end, walking slower than others beats not walking at all.

I also had time to reflect and pray regarding my sister. Bottom line, its her life. Dan told me that he feels (and said he thinks I probably do too) like its almost a slap in our face when she just callously says "time to move, do it all over again for me". Giving up 5 weekends in a row, working like dogs, is all done and over for her, but for us its still fresh in our minds. We both feel she's making a mistake to move so soon, but we both agree we aren't saying a word. I didn't respond to her email. If she rock bottoms again, well she'll figure it out. Maybe we have helped her so much that she's due to now help herself. In any case, worrying about it is stupid. I have enough problems of my own to worry about!

Hope everyone has a super Thursday, weekend is almost here!:yay:

[toystoryduo]

I think you did really well yesterday!:thumbsup2 Please don't be too upset about the ice cream. Yes, you did have some, but the portion was controlled and plus, you walked for an hour yesterday. I bet it all worked itself out!:cheer2:

How did today go for you? I had a run in (MAJOR stress eating) with a bag of Hot Fries and some cheddar cheese. The protein in the cheese helped since I paired it with the carbs. ;)

Have a wonderful evening!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, as long as you drank a diet coke with those hot fries, you are fine since diet drinks cancel out the fat and carbs with junk food! At least that's what my mama used to tell me.:rotfl: I gotta find these hot fries, they intrigue me.;) And to be honest, the only reason I portioned controlled that ice cream is because I ate the last bit that was left in the carton! Otherwise, I would have eaten more. Thank goodness ds had beat me to that ice cream throughout the week, it would have been a trainwreck if he hadn't!

So ds came home today all wigged out about this former friend of his. This kid and ds were friends back in 5th grade. I disliked this kid from the word go, he reminded me of Sid from Toy Story and he was obsessed with violence, and ways to "off people". The only reason I let it go on so long was his parents were the nicest couple. However, after some really disturbing things happened, I finallyhad to tell ds "you are not to be friends with him". Well they went to different middle schools but ended up in the same high school and just this semester the same English class. They all had to write a poem, ds' was about the Marines and being frightened about serving during war and was actually very lovely. This other kid's was about how he hates his parents and he wants to kill them. His last line was "you can't spell slaughter without the word laughter". Ds said the class was just deathly quiet and nobody knew what to do. The kid got hauled out of class without even being allowed to finish his "poem" which was more a blueprint for murdering his parents. He said his teacher was really shaken and upset. I do remember his mom told me once she wouldn't be surprised if he harmed them someday. He was 11 at the time.

There are times I cannot stand being the parent of a teenager. Between worrying about my own kids and praying the kids they hang out with are okay, its just plain scary. Just two days ago ds tells me two girls got in a fight, one of them had brass knuckles and shattered the other one's eye socket bone. Unbelievable. Glad I moved from the city to the suburbs to a great school district that was so much safer.:sad2:

Sorry to be so negative but this kind of thing really is upsetting, esp the thing today since I knew this boy and he was in our home and ds in his many times.

Well, back to the task at hand, I did really well this week with food and exercise. We'll see how the weekend goes. This is always my big hurdle (weekends), I am determined to just count calories. Tonight we have friends over, I am test running a pasta dish I'll make on Tuesday when my cousin and his wife are here. Its cheap and right now so am I!

We did a poor man's remodel today, moved a bunch of furniture around, touch up painted the walls (ds cannot walk by a wall without scuffing it up) and I redid some of my framed photos. I sort of feel like I got a new look without spending one dime.

We are being so frugal, dh has taken to brewing his own beer to save money! Next thing you know, I'll be making my own clothes. Oh wait, I can't sew! Too bad, dd needs all new summer clothes, she has blossomed right out of everything she wore last summer. I told her we'll start shopping now but I won't be removing the tags off anythign until its time to wear them, she may have another growth spurt!

Forgot to add I didn't weigh in today. I simply didn't feel like it and I am feeling like the measure of my week is not the number on a scale but how good I feel. I am really trying to get away from this insane numbers game I play with myself all the time. Obviously the scale is a big factor in weight loss, but I just decided to take a week off. Next week for sure I do want to weigh in since I know I need that accountablity and a measure of what (hopeful) progress I make.

[lovinaz]

Remember me??? :hug: Trying to get caught up on your journal, I haven't been around in forever... :flower3: That is horribly insensitive about what your sister wrote, but like you said - it's HER life. You have done more than a lot of people would have and hopefully one day she will realize that.

Wow, I'm at a loss for the whole school thing. That is so disturbing! Adam was always out there with his behavior, but he was never, ever violent. I can't even imagine what his parents are going through, I feel bad for them - I'm sure they have tried everything. I hope he is able to get the help he needs before he starts acting on those words. :sad2:

You are doing great counting your calories! :thumbsup2 You have all the right tools, I know you'll succeed. I like your Lent sacrifice. Maybe it will stick around for long after Easter, too. ;)

[eyor44]

Amy, I just can't get that kid out of my mind. I feel for that whole class and teacher. I am glad that the school acted immediately on it. Poor DS, you think you know someone. But wait.....the mom said a long time ago she wouldn't be surprized if he hurt them???????:scared1: oh WOW!!!!

You are doing great with calorie counting and walking. So what if everyone else passes you. Each person needs to find their own pace and stick with it. I'm glad it didn't bother you. You have reached a new level and I couldn't be prouder for you. You are going to make it. ::yes:: You have made progress already. Just remember, two steps forward, one step back. Just push forward again.

You could learn to sew. If I can, you can. Great web site called. You Can Make It. Step by step instruction. Just a couple of terms I have had to ask someone to explain. The Disboutiqers are amazing and so willing to help. But I feel your pain with DD. I took my DD shopping for summer clothes today. I haven't totaled the receipts yet. :rolleyes1

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Hey, I just caught the no jacket walk. :cool1:

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, I am so glad to see you! I hope you are here to stay for awhile, we sure have missed you! Believe me, the only thing this kid ds knows has in common with Adam is that they are both boys.

Lisa, this boy has always been one of those kids everybody knew down deep would have major issues. So I can't say I was surprised. I know a lot of their neighbors were really fearful for their kids and pets given some of the stuff that went on and things they caught him doing. His parents are the nicest couple and I know full well they have tried very hard to get him help over the years. I saw her a few months ago and she looked so weary and had really aged. No wonder.

Food this weekend has really been a challenge! Friday I was at 430 calories until our friends got here and I ate my weight in pasta, bread (with olive oil dipping sauce), four beers and two cheesecake brownies. I didn't even bother to count but I bet I came in at least 2000 calories for the day. Major derailment.

Yesterday was much better, I got out and walked. Got to the track and there were multiple soccer games going so I decided to go over to my mom's neighborhood. She lived (and stepdad still does) in a huge retirement community that is situated in a big circle around a golf course and you can walk the whole circle (2.6 miles) without ever having to stop. There are some hills but not as steep as my neighborhood. No kids on bikes and scooters to navigate around, no stop signs or streets to cross. So I did that, did the 2.6 miles in 45 minutes. Not the best pace but I was in the midst of a massive food hangover! Dh and I then took dd shopping down at the outlet mall and neither one of us ate enough lunch, then I got a migraine so we stopped at a 7-11 to buy a coke for my head and proceeded to down a bag of bugles and chex mix. Lesson learned from this one: TAKE SNACKS AMY YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!! I did drink a ton of water and basically skipped dinner.

I also got into a pair of jeans I haven't worn since the fall, they just zipped right up. The scale as of a week ago was showing almost 12 pounds, we'll see what it says this week.

As for my sister, I have not heard a word. Generally no news means Karma didn't rearrange the universe in the way she wanted it to, so I assume maybe this getting back into teaching thing may take some time and she wasn't offered a job on the spot that required an quick move! In any case, if security isn't something she desires, I can't desire it for her. It also occurred to me I kind of like having her far enough away she can't just drop by so maybe that is what gave me the heart attack more than anything!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

[toystoryduo]

Oh my gosh, Amy! :eek: That is so absolutely scary! :( I hope and pray that boy gets the help he needs and fast. His poor parents must be so worried all of the time. Sending lots of prayers for them, the English teacher, your DS, and everyone involved with this young man. Very scary stuff. :(

Great job getting a walk in yesterday!:cheer2: No worries about the calories from the weekend! Today is a brand new day with new choices to be made. I know you CAN do it!!!!:cheer2:

Woohoo for the jeans and the 12 pounds lost!!!:woohoo: Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

Sending you a PM...Have a wonderful Monday!:hug:

[eyor44]

:woohoo: for the jeans! :woohoo: that is awesome! and 12 pounds! :banana: you have been busy. Keep it up girl! :cheer2: You are on the right track! :cheer2:

45 minutes for almost 3 miles is a good pace. Especially for a route that you haven't walked in a while. You are almost to marathon pace. :rolleyes1 just sayin. ........

Hopefully your sis is getting time to think about her new direction she wants to go in. What you said about you can't desire security for her, is close to what I said to April tonight about Gram. I am ready to move her as I am very concerned for her security, but she doesn't want to move. :confused3

Do you have a Foodsaver? I was having issues with snacks at work, so I bought 4 different kinds of Chex cereal, mixed them all in a big bowl and then made snack bags with the foodsaver bags. I took a bunch to work and now when I get the munchies, or for an afternoon snack, I grab one of them. Healthy cereal, crunchy and no salt. I used the foodsaver cause 4 boxes makes a lot and I thought it would keep them fresh longer. Just don't try to suck the air out of the bags. Kind of crunches the cereal up. :upsidedow

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa, I do not have a food saver but its funny you mention it because I have been thinking about getting one. I think it would save me a ton of money since I like to buy and cook in bulk.

Tracy: Haven't heard anything else about ds' classmate but I can't get him or his parents out of my mind. Life is so hard sometimes, I just keep remembering that he is a child of God and has goodness in him, I just hope somebody can help him to express that goodness.

My cousin and his wife are here from Texas!:yay: He is so special to me, he was my mom's most favorite nephew and gave the eulogy at her funeral and I must say, its more fun to have him here for a fun visit versus a funeral. We had a great dinner last night, my sister and nephew came up, then tonight it will just be us. Dan is grilling steaks. I have church so it will be a late dinner.

My food yesterday was not great but the scale was friendly enough this morning so that was good. Today has been good and I am going to go out and walk pretty quick. I'll be so glad to see them leave tomorrow but we are already making plans for us to go see them next summer. And in fact they said for us to let the kids stay with them, then Dan and I can go to San Antonio for a few days just us for anniversary. Is it July 2012 yet????

Hope its a good Wednesday for all of you!:goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

dbl post

[toystoryduo]

Hope you're having a great time with your cousin and his wife! :goodvibes

Have a wonderful day!:hug:

[eyor44]

I hope you had a wonderful visit with your cousin. Family visits can be so great. :goodvibes How sweet of them to offer to host the kids for you. San Antonio is a great city.

Hope you have a great day tomorrow! :hug:

[toystoryduo]

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, WISH sis!:hug:

[DisDee]

Amy, congrats on the 12 lb. loss!!!!!! I hope you survived the visit from your cousins. I'm thinking "Christmas Vacation." Is his name Eddie?

Have a super week!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies, I once again seem to have been a bit absent around here lately!

We did have a wonderful visit with my cousins and I did survive. I must say, I had a very hard time getting back on track with food and exercise. They were here two days but somehow one week went by with no walk, no aqua and way too much food. I had so much "good" stuff in my house (that was really bad lol) I just didn't watch what I ate. Then yesterday was better, today was perfect and I have walked two days in a row. So I got back "on" I am just mad I let myself get "off"! Oh well, that's me and I doubt I ever change. :rolleyes1

So now its spring break, kids are home, weather today was crummy (woke up to snow but it got a bit better) and I have two months til WDW and in spite of my vow to "STOP SETTING STUPID GOALS I CAN'T MAKE THAT ONLY MAKE ME WACKO" on my walk yesterday I decided to lose 18 more pounds by June 6 so that I am at an ever 30 by WDW. What the heck, I simply cannot help but set lofty goals so why bother to say I won't? At least I am honest!

Now I really need to check in on all of you but that may have to wait since my daughter is going through facebook withdrawl and this is her computer!

[toystoryduo]

Way to go getting back OP, Amy!!!:cheer2: I knew you could do it!:thumbsup2

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit with your cousins.:goodvibes

I hope you have a wonderful day!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Wow, I had this long post ranting about the same junk I always whine about and bottom line I'll just save you ladies' the task of reading about it and delete it!:rotfl:

Quick recap: Meltdown turned into a lesson and its all fine. Its funny how the same triggers in my life always produce the same meltdowns. :rolleyes1

Back to the task at hand:

I went to a lunch at Olive Garden today for volunteers and ordered a coke and not one bite of food. I felt like I had to order something to drink but I kept my promise and not one bite of food went into my mouth. I was proud. Let me tell you, to pass up breadsticks is not easy lol. I came home and ate a tuna sandwich instead.

Now I am finally going to get my walk in at long last. After I drop off dd and her friend at a movie. Her friend wanted to go this mall clear across town (as did friend's mom in that she wanted them to do that and needed me to do all the driving ) and I said, "nope, I have to get to the gym then get your brother to Karate so do something out this way". I love this woman but her main mission in life is running her kids around town but she's working now so can't help with the driving. With gas this high, they can jolly well do something closer. That won't cost me a total of 2 hours in the car or one hour in the car plus three hours sitting at a mall waiting for them to get done. Totally insane and I am not doing it today. Even dd said "what a dumb idea".

I will probably dream about breadsticks tonight, I can still smell them and there were like 5 left in the basket right in front of me!

[toystoryduo]

Sending a gentle :hug: your way. I hear you on the meltdown thing. I had one of those myself yesterday. :rolleyes1 I pray that today is a much better day for both of us! :goodvibes

Excellent job on avoiding the breadsticks and food at Olive Garden! :thumbsup2

Hope your Thursday is a good one!:wizard:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, Wednesday was just one of those days.;)

I didn't weigh in today, since Dan worked all weekend he got today off as comp time and the day just sort of got away. I also don't think I lost a pound in spite of a very strong week with food and exercise. I hate it when that happens but it does so I might as well press on. I really need to hit things hard in the next two months, I have a lot of clothes that don't fit and it would really be nice to have them fitting for our trip.

I paid of my package today!:banana: But I have to say, I am a bit disappointed, Coronodo Springs is now available for our dates but I can't change because of my brother and his wife coming. They booked into POR to be near us and I know them well enough to know that now is not a good time to suggest they switch. Unlike me, they don't enjoy switching resorts all the time.Also, I have no idea if CSR is available to them with their cm discount. Don't get me wrong, I love POR but CSR is my other favorite and we have not been able to get in there in a long while and now when its available we still can't. Oh well, its not going anywhere. I know once we get to POR I'll be so happy to be there it won't matter.

Dan and I spent some time planning today, its really tough to get this trip down the way we want it, partly due to meeting up with friends the first part and then my brother the second part. Part of the issue is that neither group we are meeting up with wants to do the waterparks. I keep thinking we should take those out (hate to pay if we have so many days we can't go) but dh and the kids are adamant we stick with them so I guess we will.

I am busy getting stuff ready for a garage sale. I haven't done one in many years but since my sub division does a community one every spring and since I have some stuff I'd like to get rid of, now seems like a good time.

I may possibly weigh tomorrow but I sort of doubt it. Still thinking that I need to switch to Wed. for my WW day. Although I only have three weeks left on my membership so I guess it doesn't matter. I still think I might behave better on weekends if I know I have to face the music a bit sooner the next week!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.:goodvibes

[toystoryduo]

Woohoo for paying off your package today!!!:woohoo: Did you see the post on the DIS earlier about refillable mugs being good for life? I had to LOL at that one!:laughing: Gotta love the April Fool's Day jokes. ;)

Hope you have a great weekend!:hug:

[lovinaz]

Congrats on behaving at Olive Garden! :thumbsup2 I'm pretty sure dreaming about breadsticks has WAY less calories than eating them! ;)

I know exactly what you mean about meeting people on your vacation and trying to plan. We once went on a cruise with 5 other couples, and it didn't take long for us to realize that we didn't have to do EVERYTHING with EVERYONE every day! It got to the point where we'd meet for drinks, or whatever, but everyone just did what they wanted and had a great time. So heck ya, go to the waterparks! Everyone else can figure something out and you can just meet up with them later. :goodvibes

Sounds like you are doing great working out and eating well! I bet you will be able to fit into all your clothes by Disney.

BTW, we are getting a new beagle baby! We wanted a girl, but ended up with a boy... His name will be Baxter, he is absolutely adorable. Poor Buckley has no idea what's in store for him! We will pick him up sometime after DD's soccer tourney the weekend of 4/16 (on the way home, if she has any say in it!) :laughing:

[Amy&Dan]

BTW, we are getting a new beagle baby! We wanted a girl, but ended up with a boy... His name will be Baxter, he is absolutely adorable. Poor Buckley has no idea what's in store for him! We will pick him up sometime after DD's soccer tourney the weekend of 4/16 (on the way home, if she has any say in it!) :laughing:

Amy, I am so glad Buckley will get a little brother! I love the name Baxter, in fact had Daisy been a boy, she would have been a Baxter. A long time ago, during the brief time nobody in our family had a beagle, my mom got a stuffed beagle for her bed that somebody gave her and she named it Baxter. A few years later she got a real beagle but ended up naming him Barney. Beagles have to have "B" names except for Daisy who somehow ended up with the wrong first initial!


Wow, what a week. I am so glad its almost over. Tonight when I get home at 9:30, I am going to collapse. Sometimes I think I must have been insane to not let ds get his liscense until he is 17. It was just with dan's layoff, we didn't feel like we wanted to pay for drivers ed until he got a job and then I was worried about the hike in our car insurance. If he had his licsense, life would be so much easier. Oh well, 8 months to go.

I have done VERY well with food all week. Last weekend was not so good. Have I mentioned lately how much weekends mess me up? I thought when we gave up eating out it would help but basically weekends are no easier even with eating at home 100% of the time. I just need to keep it to one day vs two full days plus Friday night. Bad me!

I just ate a large bowl of pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, however, I had about 700 calories to play with and by golly I probably came close. I'll have some raw veggies a bit later before I take dd to dance and call it a day.

Dan is hanging out with a friend tomorrow night. This guys wife is in Disneyland this weekend with their dd and so he invited Dan over to watch some guy flilcks, have some beer and I am sure play about 20 games of darts. I can't wait to have a nice, low cal evening (Dan is a bad influence on me I must say) and chill with dd and my new copy of Beauty and the Beast I have yet to watch. After the week I have had, its going to be very nice. And Dan can take his bad chips and beer habits to his friend and I can stay home and have a salad.

I only worked out three times this week, well short of my 5 time goal. Just have to do better next week. I did aqua this morning in spite of the fact the pool heater was broken and then came home and took my grueling, mostly uphill walk. It felt good and I was happy to see my time was 4 minutes faster than the last time I took that route.

Amy, my clothes had better fit for WDW, I have zero budget for new clothes and zero clothes that fit (since I gave them all away last year when I lost 15 pounds that I proceeded to gain back). I hung my favorite capris on the bathroom door where they will be sure to remind me to behave or wear sweats around WDW in the heat of June. ;)

I will weigh either tomorrow or Saturday, not sure which, if I postpone to Sat. I can go to Zumba in the morning if I desire. Or just walk. We'll see.

[Amy&Dan]

Ds just came home from Marine Corp. training and he ran a mile and half in 9 minutes, 12 seconds. He came in first and was pretty excited.

I have no idea how any child of Dan and mine's can run this fast. Its good for him, not long ago he was the skinny kid who everybody picked on. If those kids from 6th grade who bullied him right out of the school could see him now.

I doubt I could ran that fast if I was being chased by a pack of hissing snakes. :lmao:

And not that it matters or has one thing to do with anythng, but somebody needs to take Charlie Sheen out and drop kick him. He's on the tv as I type and the guy seriously makes me want to gag.:sad2:

[toystoryduo]

Congrats to your DS!!! :cheer2: First place is wonderful!!!!:thumbsup2

Great job on your food and workouts this week! :cheer2:

Enjoy watching Beauty and the Beast with your DD this weekend. :goodvibes That is one of my favorite movies of all time!:thumbsup2

Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend!:hug:

[DisDee]

Hi Amy,

We haven't seen you around here in awhile. Try and stop by and let us know how you're doing.

Have a nice week and a lovely Easter!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Denise!

It has been awhile. I don't know why I don't come on more often, I still love WISH, love all my "sisters" but I think I got in a mode where I just felt like my journal was the same old thing, day after day, week after week. I was really feeling for awhile like a failure that I have had so many years, so many attempts at losing weight and nothing but being heavier than ever before to show for it. I just felt like such a failure.

Then about a week ago, I really turned the corner again and began to feel very good about myself. In the end, my journey is long and it will never be over because like an alcohoic with liquor, my food problems and obsession will never go away even if I do lose the weight.

I sort of committed once again to keep going. And I have been doing really well. I weighed last week and was the same, which I was pleased about because normally when I quit WW I gain. But this time I held the weight off and am feeling pretty confident and upbeat about losing weight on my own, sans WW. In the end, its a great program, but I am tired of spending money, and with what I have going in my life (2 Bible Studies, cleaning houses, family obligations, teaching a class at church and working out) I do not really have the time to go to WW unless I give up something else. Right now, WW doesn't feel worth it enough to me to sacrifice something else.

So I am going to weigh at the gym, they have an old fashioned scale (the kidn with the lever you move across yourself) and its going to be new scale of accountablity. I weigh tomorrow, we'll see. I have had a SUPER good week, in spite of it being very stressful.

One of ds' friends who comes from a very dysfunctional family came to stay with us for a few days and in between calling the county sherriff and social services to get this kid safe and some help, I still worked out and did well. And realized how blessed I am. He is back home and I pray his mom and stepdad take advantage of the help and make this work. This boy has one heck of a life and he needs his mom to grow up and see his last year of boyhood through.

I promise to come on tomorrow, update my weight and then visit journals. Right now I have to take dd to dance (will this school year ever end lol).

But I am still here and I am vowing to get back on here more regularly. I just hit that mental "I'm done" roadblock but I found a way back. I know its been years I have been on here, but I am not ready to leave yet! I just still feel in my heard I have the strength to do this!

[eyor44]

Hi Amy. Sounds like you have been doing good. I hear you on the hiatas from Wish threads. I'm back too. Or will be after I catch up with you all. :goodvibes

You can do it Amy without WW. If you can go to Olive Garden and have a basket of breadsticks in front of you and not take one bite, :worship: :worship: :worship: you are strong enough to do anything you set your mind to. :thumbsup2 Plus, WDW in June in sweats....... just sayin'.

You certainly have a busy schedule now. Take care of yourself and keep on going. We are along for the journey with you.



Amy (lovinAZ) good to "see" you and great to have you back. We've missed you.

[Amy&Dan]

So today's weigh in was: 239.9. Just under the hair of 240 so another decade that I can hopefully wave good bye to forever.

Since the weigh in at the gym's scale was the exact same as my Wii, I am taking that as my true weight. This puts me at: 13.7 pounds in exactly three months. As usual, this is not as fast as I want but my periods of laziness and lack of motivation do have a way of hindering my progress! In any case, I'll take it.

Goal for this week: Lose 2 pounds, work out five times.

Last week's goal was five times at the gym (I set no weight goal) and I missed that by one.

I went downstairs today for the first time since ds' friend left to go back home, and the now empty room that he left so neat plus he had made the bed up so nice and it just made cry. I really hope he's okay. I waffled all week between wanting him to stay with us until he leaves for the Marines and wanting him back with his mom, but in the end, I just hope the days he spent with us stick with him that there are people in the world that care about him. I did get a call from the county sheriff that they will be keeping an eye on the family. I really hope so, dropping him off to a house that I know full well is not safe let alone loving felt like taking the lamb to the slaughter. I hope this woman at the sheriff's office is right and they will stay on it.

I also want to add that my sister was so great during this thing with ds' friend. She was so concerned not only for him but for us and what we might be getting into. I really can't think of a single time that I had some sort of "event" in my life where she was supportive and helpful. It was really nice. I mentioned the whole thing to both my stepdad and brother but neither of them said much so it was sort of role reversal. In the end, I do really love my sister, she has her moments for sure but this week she was really there for me.

I have mixed feelings for Easter, this was always my mom's favorite holiday, she loved them all but since she had this fetish for bunnies and loved the spring colors, dying the eggs, the whole nine yards. I have gotten into routines with Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and even Mother's Day but for some reason Easter is always hard. I always did the dinner but now my sister is Jewish so obviously does not celebrate, stepdad has all but left our lives and for some reason this holiday always feels very empty to me now. This is the fourth Easter since my mom died and this year we are going to take the kids to Country Buffet. I figured they'd have some traditonal stuff (dh likes his ham) and it would be the one place guaranteed to fill up my son the bottomless pit! I remember very well five years ago, having my family over (turned out to be the last Easter we were all together over here) and doing a big dinner. It was a lovely day, and after everyone left I went on a walk and ran into a friend/neighbor. She and her daughter were going to Country Buffet and I remember thinking "oh I would hate to eat out on a holiday, how sad". But I know we'll have a fun day, I got the kids each a DVD and a bunch of candy. I am feeling like maybe eating out will be a a good mix of tradition without all the hassle. Maybe all those years ago when I felt sorry for my friend, God decided to teach me that there is nothing sad about any way people choose to celebrate a holiday! We used to eat (as some of you may remember) at Country Buffet most Friday night's with my mom so it will bring back lots of good memories. Dan said he'll miss having her tell us each thing on the buffet as we walk down it (I think she thought we were blind lol)!

I just ate my treat of one Cadbury Egg. I have no idea why those things make me so delirously happy but they do! But I looked online and each one has 170 calories! I will have to make sure I avoid the clearance aisles in the next few weeks, if they are cheap in price that won't mean the calories are reduced as well! Too bad, think how nice it would be if after holidays all the candy was half off with calories just like it is in price.

Happy Easter to all my Wish Sisters!

[lovinaz]

You are doing great! LOVE the attitude! :thumbsup2 I know you can do it without WW. You have all the knowledge and now you have the motivation too. :goodvibes

I like the name Barney for a beagle! Baxter is a little terror - biting everything and driving poor Buckley nuts!

That was very sweet of you to take in DS's friend when he needed it. I know that is something he will always remember. Have you been checking in on him? Bless him…

I'm sorry you are feeling down about Easter this year, but I'm glad to see you are making the best out of it! I'm right there with you in the downer department - Adam's b-day is tomorrow and then Easter the very next day. :sad1: I can't wrap my head around having an Easter egg hunt with only one "hunter" this year... But life goes on and all we can do is do our best to get through it, right? Hang in there, my friend. :hug:

PS - I LOVE Cadbury eggs too! Don't know what it is, they are just so yummy!

[Amy&Dan]

I'm sorry you are feeling down about Easter this year, but I'm glad to see you are making the best out of it! I'm right there with you in the downer department - Adam's b-day is tomorrow and then Easter the very next day. :sad1: I can't wrap my head around having an Easter egg hunt with only one "hunter" this year... But life goes on and all we can do is do our best to get through it, right? Hang in there, my friend. :hug:

PS - I LOVE Cadbury eggs too! Don't know what it is, they are just so yummy!

Amy, I was reading back about five years on my old journal and saw an entry you did around this time and noticed you had talked about Adam's birthday. I am thinking about you my friend.:hug: I can't even imagine how difficult this weekend will be. Just thinking about you!

Cadbury eggs are weird things and so sweet they make my teeth hurt but they are my faves. Well those and those Reeses peanut butter eggs!

Barney was a great name but he was the mother load of naughty beagles! He was a sweetheart and my mom's last beagle baby, but omg, that dog was the biggest pig and so hyper! So maybe Baxter is the better choice for a name, I'd hate to think there could ever be another Barney! And this new puppy you have totally pays back Buckley!:rotfl:

Ds' friend showed up tonight at his karate and ds said he seemed a little less sad and withdrawn. I am hoping maybe he can come by next week for dinner or something.

[toystoryduo]

Oh Amy,

My heart goes out to you, my friend. :hug: What a week you've had! Your DS' friend is very blessed to have spent a few days with your family. ::yes:: I'm so sorry he had to go back home. :( Maybe his mom will wake up and appreciate the gift that he is. In the meantime, maybe you can have your DS invite him over for dinner and such so that you can stay in contact with him and see what's going on in his life. I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers for all of you!:grouphug:

Woohoo for saying goodbye to the 240s!!!:cheer2: You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

It sounds like Easter is going to be bittersweet for you and your family.:grouphug: I pray that the wonderful memories that you have of your mom and God's perfect peace will be with you all day long. :grouphug:

Have a blessed Easter, my friend!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

I'm sorry you are feeling down about Easter this year, but I'm glad to see you are making the best out of it! I'm right there with you in the downer department - Adam's b-day is tomorrow and then Easter the very next day. :sad1: I can't wrap my head around having an Easter egg hunt with only one "hunter" this year... But life goes on and all we can do is do our best to get through it, right? Hang in there, my friend. :hug:

Oh Amy!:sad1: I am sending a great big :hug: and lots of prayers your way, my friend. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult this weekend will be for you. :sad1: You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, WISH sis. :grouphug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you Tracy. :goodvibes

So yesterday was a total diet disaster. I did well until about 2:00 at which point Dan and I were running errands and decided we needed some chips. So he got two of those big grab sizes of chips and some diet coke and we noshed those down. Then we went to a friend's house for dinner, I had two pieces of pizza (at least it was whole wheat thin crust), some salad, a bunch of chips and salsa and probably three brownies. Oh yeah, I had two beers as well.

Then I came home and drank a bunch of water, none of which has gone out its merry way which means in addition to all the fat and carbs I ate, I also have several thousand mg's of salt in my system. Think I will not weigh today.

Today Dan and I vowed to do well and go for a nice long walk. Tomorrow will be Country Buffet and no doubt I'll rummage through the kids' Easter baskets so that day will not be a well behaved one! So today has to be perfect.

In case I have never mentioned it, weekends are my biggest challenge.:rolleyes1

[Amy&Dan]

Well the only diet disaster worse than Friday was Saturday followed by Sunday. What a weekend of pigging out. Why, oh why do I do this to myself?:confused3 And I have to weigh in tomorrow, early this week because my sister and I are doing our own version of the Royal Wedding Party tomorrow night into Friday morning and pizza and cake are on the menu so clearly Friday morning will not be a good day to weigh. Big sigh, I need to find some way to balance all the special and not so special occasions into a healthy eating plan. :confused:

The good news is that Monday, Tuesday and today were all picture perfect so I am just hoping to be the same on the scale tomorrow. My goal was two pounds, doubt that happens!:rolleyes1

I took a nice long walk outside today, our weather has been so crummy, cold, dreary, snow, hail, rain, wind but today was a bit better and although it was chilly (about 48 and windy) it was still nice to be out. After I did my hour (and I was cranking today) I climbed up the four flights of stairs that lead to the baseball field and had a nice view of the open field behind dd's school, the planes in the distance heading to DIA and some nice cows. It was very peaceful and I suddenly felt very close to God and to my mom and I realized that all I want in life I have except for one thing (think thin lol) and that too can be mine if I just keep working.

Tonight we had friends over, they (two families) are going to WDW in October and its their first trip so I helped them plan their days and we made their ADR's. It was really fun, but sad, originally this was supposed to be all of us going. But when Dan got laid off, we knew we could only do one and picked June. Still a good decision but it was a bit sad to make the plans but know we won't be there. In all reality, I highly doubt we get another Disney trip in for 2012 or 2013, we have a lot of home repairs and improvements that have been put off for far too long. Its going to be hard and I guess you never know, a trip might happen but for now I just intend to focus on June and remember all the memories. We'll get back when the time is right. Or as my grandmother used to say "when the Good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise"!:laughing:

[Amy&Dan]

Ughh, I was up .2

Its times like this, I realize weighing in can actually be detrimental. I know exactly why I am up (three days of non stop eating and carbs last weekend) and in all, I should be happy its not more. But it just really upset me to the point I don't even feel lilke going to the gym today. Which I will not succumb to but still.

I have just got to find a way to be consistent on the weekends. They literally kill me. I can't lose enough weight during the week to keep my monthly averages going like I want because I spend at least three days each week taking off the weekend gain, which leaves me like two days to actually lose.

So far to go and I am back in a decade I had hoped to be done with. Again, I have been in and out of the 240's for over five years.

Okay, time to pick myself and haul my 240.1 self to the gym.

I really hate myself sometimes for being so stupid and self destructive.:mad:

[toystoryduo]

Sending a :hug: your way. Please don't be so hard on yourself! I bet after your workout and a glass of water, that .2 pound gain will disappear! :wizard:

I hear you on the weekend thing though. I can make good choices during the week when we have a routine, but when we have less structure on weekends, I have a tendency to eat more. We will find a happy medium, Amy. We'll just keep trying!:cheer2:

Have a blessed day, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy. Well another crummy weekend on the food front! I pretty much ate and drank non stop from Friday night through yesterday afternoon. I really need to approach weekends differently. Next weekend is Mother's Day so I know on that day I'll eat and drink more than I should but the rest of the weekend needs to be as Tracy says, way more structured. I tend to plan all my meals during the week, guess I need to really plan the weekends too since this go with the flow thing on weekends is flowing right onto the scale.:mad:

My brother's mother in law passed away Saturday. As you may recall, she suffered a brain hemorage from a tumor they didn't even know she had last June. After such a long illness I am thankful she's out of her suffering but so sad for my sil and the rest of the family. I would really appreciate prayers. I looked at some photos last night, one in particular stood out. It was taken at Disneyland in December of 2004 and it was all of us together, including her, my mom and Dan's dad all having a wonderful evening. Good times, good memories.

So we leave five weeks from today and I am determined to be at 25 pounds. No more excuses, I can make it happen but only if I stop having food fests three full days a week. I weighed today on my crummy bathroom scale and I think I am up a good three pounds. Which if I get back on NOW should go off pretty quickly. But this idiot cycle needs to stop because even when I get to goal, its a bad idea.

I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do this week. The house is a wreck, Dan got all his old Star Trek collection out. He spent probably close to 20 years collecting stuff and he's ready to sell. He still loves Star Trek but no longer has any interest in keeping it. Its been sitting in our crawl space for 14 years. He found a collectibles dealer who said she would definitely be interested so he's going through each thing, trying to determine its value and also it needs to be catalogued because we want to make sure what we drop off is kept track of. Its going to be a big job, maybe we'll get some much needed money for this stuff and having the space open in the basement is a good thing. I think he kept it all these years in case ds wanted it but he has no interest in Star Trek so I guess its on its way out of my house! In the meantime there are lots of boxes and bins and its driving my OCD self insane. :rolleyes1

And on top of that, its time to get ready for Disneyworld, clean out closets and give any winter clothes we don't want or summer clothes the kids have grown out of plus get stuff organized for the garage sale. Its going to be a busy five weeks but I want to get all this done before we leave so its done.

[toystoryduo]

Amy, Amy, Amy!!! I am sooooo excited for you!:cool1: Your WDW ticker is almost under the 30 day mark!!!! Woohoo!!!:woohoo::banana::cool1: (By the way, any chance you can take me with you? :flower3: ;) )

I am so sorry to hear about your SIL's mother. :sad1: Our thoughts and prayers go out to her, your brother, and family.:grouphug:

Have a nice evening, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, her funeral service is today and then they'll head back home on Friday or Saturday. I know how ready they are for this day to be over.

I am so struggling right now. I was actually up 4.2 pounds when I weighed on Tuesday. Just so angry at myself. My weekend this past weekend ran from Thursday through Monday. Stupid.

Running out of time before my trip, don't have the proper clothes, can't fit in the ones I do have and I have absolutely no money for new ones. I just don't know what to do. Maybe if I lose ten pounds in the next month but how in the heck am I supposed to do that when I spend all weekend eating and all week working to lose what I gained. I did weigh today and had two of my four pounds off. Wow, what an accomplishment.


Same viscious, idiot cycle I have been doing for over 15 years. I get depressed out my weight and eat. I have seen several threads on the disboards lately (community board) about obese people and many people have no sympathy or empathy for what a struggle it is. On the other hand, they have a valid point because it is just a form of laziness and lack of motivation. I whine way more than I work!

I am off to the gym right now even though I don't feel like it, I have worked out three of the last five days so that is something I suppose.

I need to officially cancel weekends! And whining!

My next weigh in is on Saturday so hopefully that other two pounds will go bye bye.

[Amy&Dan]

So I was down another 2.7 pound today which means I lost the 4.2 I gained last weekend plus another .5 I am happy but still peeved in that its taken me two weeks to lose .5 all told.

I did very well last night resisted the urge to eat chips and beer after a very long day of running errands and all sorts of other stuff. I went for a walk instead which was good since I had done my aquasize that morning. So I also got in my 5 times of exercise last week.

My next weigh in will be Tuesday. Today so far has been decent, we had lunch out with stepdad and I got a grilled chicken sandwich with no cheese or sauce, ate it open faced and it came with a very small serving of fries and I got a huge glass of water with lemon to drink. I did however get into the chips awhile ago, guess that is my dinner! I got two bags of chips for our Mother's Day bbq and they were buy 2 get 2 free. Needless to say I needed those two extra bags of chips like a hole in the head.

Even if I blow it tomorrow, this weekend will be a huge success compared to the last umpteen weekends so I am going to count this as a success a bit early (thinking positive).

Hope all you ladies have a wonderful Mother's Day!:flower3:

[toystoryduo]

Happy Mother's Day, Amy!:flower3:

You've been in my thoughts and prayers this week. :hug:

Great job on weigh-in and on your food choices this weekend!:cheer2:

Have a wonderful time at the BBQ today!:wizard:

[lovinaz]

Happy belated Mother's Day! :flower3:

I used to be EXACTLY like you on the weekends. To the letter! :rolleyes1 And then one day, I finally got it through my thick skull that I was sick of wasting a whole week's worth of effort on the weekends. And I started focusing all my attention on the weekends - making sure we didn't eat out just because we were out and about, planning dinners at home just like during the week, not letting myself snack just because I was home and not at work, etc. And FINALLY I am at the point where I don't totally lose it on the weekends anymore. Not saying I don't go overboard occasionally, but it's become the exception, not the norm. You will get there too! It's a total mental game and you know as well as I do that you have to force your brain to do the right thing for a LONG time before it becomes a habit.

And you know what finally helped me get over that hump? Seeing the results on the scale! Knowing that the next pound I was going to lose was going to be a real pound, not a weekend pound. And not feeling like crap from eating too much, and getting down on myself all the time. It's a vicious cycle, but I know you can make it stop. :wizard:

I will loan you Baxter for a couple weekends. I can guarantee you will not have time to over-indulge! :lmao:

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, you are so right! Its a mental thing. I get in my head that weekends are either "my treat for the takin" or "why bother, its impossible to do well on weekends". I am sick of it! It gives me hope to knwo you have made weekends successful!

Wow, its snowing here today. Why do I live in Colorado? On the bright side we need the moisture and four weeks from now I'll be at Blizzard Beach!

Mother's Day was fine, not my best. When my mom died, my friend suggested we start a new tradition of having manicures and pedicures and getting our two families together for a bbq after the salon. Very nice for three years. Well this year, I begged off on the spa thing since my budget is nasty this close to WDW and it ended up being that her mom and her husband's mom came over too. I really love their moms and didn't mind one bit but it also made me really sad. Seeing them give their mom's gifts, seeing the mom's interact with their dd just made me miss mine so much. I was struggling anyway and not getting my spa appointment and then being at a mom party with no mom of my own, well it just made me sad and sort of off. But it was still a nice day. Dd picked me out a nice pair of earrings with a Penny's reward certificate I had, Dan and I had made a nice meal, the weather was perfect and it was all fine. And I told dd she and I will go to the salon for manicures and pedi's before WDW together. Part of the reason I had to skip is my friend won't go to anyplace but her normal one and its 3x more expensive than everywhere else. So I'll just delay my toe gratification a few weeks and have lovely nails for WDW!

So food this past weekend was so much better! I did eat Baskin Robbins for dinner on Saturday (but that was what I had so it was better than eating food and ice cream) and Sunday I ate one meal. I definitely splurged but slammed the water. Monday was perfect, yesterday not so much but today right back on track.

Amy is so right, I need to focus on losing real pounds not weekend reminder pounds!

I hope all of you ladies had a great Mom's Day.

And Denise if you read this, thanks for the Mother's Day card, I need to send you a pm!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

Did you say snow? :scared1: Did you mean at Blizzard Beach or at home? ;) LOL! :lmao: The past few days have been so cold and rainy here. I wonder what happened to our spring? :confused3 I hope the weather is getting much better out your way!:wizard:

You're less than a month away until Disney!!!:banana::cheer2::cool1::woohoo::yay:

Hope you had a great weekend!:goodvibes

[Bamavalentyne]

I will be going to Disney World in March of 2012 with my daughter, her husband and my 5-year-old grandson, Luke. I have over 100 pounds to lose and that Disney trip is my major motivation. I want to be able to keep up with that 5-year-old and not slow the rest of the family down.

I plan on using Weight Watchers. I did well on it a few years ago. I will start a journal thread in a few days.

Charlene

[eyor44]

Hi Amy :wave2:

Happy Belated Mother's Day.

I thought about you when I heard of the snow up there. I was thinking man, Amy is going to miss her walks, this snow has got to stop. I am praying that Spring finds you soon.

Have you heard from DS' friend lately? I have been thinking of him and hope he is okay.

Hope this weekend is going well for you my friend. :hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies, Welcome Charlene!:goodvibes

I have just been so bad about journaling the past few months, of course I think we all have!;)

My goal is to get back on her like I used to once I get back from WDW. Its just been so busy lately and honestly, I am so keyed up for our trip, getting my garage sale done and Dan and I have also been decluttering and selling a lot of collectibles he has (Star Trek stuff and comic books) had for years to a local dealer. We can only take a bit at a time and its getting close to being done. We really need this money right now for our WDW trip, as well as dd's mission trip that is in July. I am praying for good weather on June 3rd and 4th since that is the garage sale (its a neighborhood wide one). Busy, busy!

I cannot believe we leave two weeks from today. I have not really done anything in the way of getting ready for this trip. Not like me at all!

My weight has been stuck for two weeks. Weekends (the last two) have been much better. I have been doing a "free meal" vs. three free days! I have also been working out 5x per week for one to two hours per time so I have no idea why I am not down at least five more pounds. Its frustating beyond belief but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to keep forging ahead.

So thats about it, I need to catch up with all of you and also see if charlene has started a journal! I feel so bad I haven't been on here lately to even notice I had a new visitor!

[eyor44]

Awesome that you have kept up the exercise with all you have going on. And holding is better than gaining. Do you do the same type exercise on the same days? Perhaps if you mixed it up a little? I know you do several different things but if you do them in the same order all the time your body has gotten used to it. Just a thought.

Good luck on the yard sale. I think neighborhood ones are great. Lots more people show up. More competition, but more shoppers.

Where is DD going on the mission trip? I fondly remember the couple I got to go on. Such great experiences. :goodvibes

Have a great week Amy. I will see you next week.

[toystoryduo]

Woohoo!!! You're less than two weeks away now!:banana: I bet everyone is getting excited!:yay:

Sending lots of :wizard: for your garage sale!

Hope you're having a great week!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

Woohoo!!! You're under the 7 day mark!!!:woohoo::banana::cool1::cheer2::yay: I hope you and your family have a wonderful time in WDW!:wizard: Safe travels, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy and Lisa! Lisa I do try to mix up my workouts. I do aquasize on set days when they have the classes but mix up the cardio between walking track, treadmill with inclines and the stationary bike. I am just on a plateau that has now even seen me gain when I am behaving. Frustrating!

I cannot believe we leave in four days. I am wayyy behind schedule. No packing done yet, lots of stuff to do around the house and my garage sale is tomorrow and Saturday. And I am sick. I got sinus and ear infection and now I have laryngitis so I can't talk. I feel better but sound awful and am not getting much sleep at night since I can't breathe. I also haven't exercised since Monday but I just truly don't feel up to it.

Somehow I will get this all done and be ready for the trip!

I had a fantastic few weeks going and stepped on the scale last week (can't remember the day) and was up two pounds. I really had a meltdown. Then I just had to move on. I am doing all I can, the scale is just slow to show it. Bottom line, I am not on the Biggest Loser and I am not going to have dramatic weight loss. I plan to weigh Monday morning before we leave and I should be at 15 pounds. Four and a half months to lose 15 pounds is not exactly what I had in mind, on the other hand if I do that for a year I'll be down around 40 pounds by next January. So when I put it like that, suddenly it doesn't seem so bad! And I have lost quite a few inches, that much I know by how my clothes feel. Also my stamina is so much better, I climbed up the steep flight of stairs at church Sunday and wasn't even huffing (its about three stories). I remember when Bible study first started I could barely make it. So progress has been made and the name of the game isn't Speedy but I can live with that.

So, my plan for WDW is to have fun, drink my water, share plenty of meals (I told my brother we'd use some of our credits for them and of course I can always count on ds to eat up credits). Its going to be brutally hot (97 on Tuesday, wish me luck!) and that may help kill my appetite. In any case, its two weeks and that's a chunk of time but if I come back and am up, well its bound to happen with a trip that long.

I will try very hard to get on everyone else's journals later. I have a lot to do but that's no excuse for being a lousy wisher! Just hope I feel a lot better by Monday.:wizard:

[DisDee]

I'm so excited for you Amy!!! Two weeks at WDW would be so awesome!!! I just hope you begin to feel better before that plane ride and remember to delegate some of the pre-trip prep to your family.

Your weight loss is slow and steady just as it should be. I know how frustrating it is to see the scale go up a little and then back down again, but know in your heart that you are doing the right thing for yourself and it will take time. There are a couple of us who post here who haven't seen a loss in awhile so we can take some inspiration from you, our friend who is toughing it out and sticking with her program even when she's sick and has so many things to do before vacation. Keep up the good work!

[eyor44]

3 days now!!! 3 days until Disney!!! I am so excited for you! :banana:

Girl, you have been making progress. If your clothes are looser and you can climb stairs better than before.......WAY TO GO!!!! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2: You have made wonderful progress.

How did the yard sale go? Were you able to talk? I hope you are feeling better now. Have an absolutely wonderfully, magical time. Two whole weeks there. :cloud9:

[toystoryduo]

How did your yard sale go? I hope you got lots of sales!:wizard:

I hope you're feeling better, my friend. :hug: Do you have your voice back?

Have an amazing, wonderful, magical time in WDW! :wizard: Safe travels to you and your family!:grouphug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies. I am still sick, although much, much better. I am just a bit worried about flying when I am this congested and my ears are still stopped up and painful. I guess I can wail with all the poor babies if my ears hurt once we get up in the air!

I got on the scale and was down 2.6 pounds, so am officially at 15 pounds. I was hoping to be at 20 but that didn't happen. I will probably weigh in tomorrow morning for one last weigh in.

All things considered, I am happy with the weight loss. Thank you Denise for making me feel like a winner! I have stuck with it, its been a long four and a half months and I have definitely had some ups and downs but I have stuck with it.

I cannot believe we leave in less than 24 hours. I got us checked in, I was a bit late logging into Southwest but we still all got A Boarding. Makes me glad I saved $80 not doing the early check in. Dan will have to go over to the lobby the day before we leave to check us in but that won't be a big deal.

My brother and his wife will be joining us for 8 of our 14 nights. I am very excited to see them, we have done Disneyland with them I think four times, but never WDW. They have had a rough year so it will be really good for them. I must say I feel guilty and sad. My sister has no idea my brother is coming with us. She knows we are going but Dan, the kids and I all agreed we would not tell her my brother is coming. It would probably make her feel hurt and left out and I wouldn't blame her. I absolutely hate the way my brother and sister's relationship has imploded and frankly, it hurts me and Dan quite a bit. If only they would both have thought about what this might do to me and Dan and how caught in the middle we'd be. We'll all be having fun at WDW and my sister will be alone, broke and lonesome in Colorado. Thank God she has no idea. I don't intend to ever tell her. I have certainly had my fair share of problems with her and she to this day can really upset me and Dan, but this ridiculous wasted mess between her and my brother has made me more determined than ever to keep my relationship with her a priority. I owe it to my mother. Sometimes when she's in one of her moods, I just visualize her teaching me how to put on mascara right before her engagement party and the day she went over to this bully's house and got in that kid's face on my behalf and it reminds me why I put up with the good, the bad and the ugly! Please say a prayer she never finds out about this combined trip, I know enough to know it would absolutely devastate her.:guilty:

I will log in at least one day, Dan has to log into work at least once. If only WDW provided free wifi like every other hotel chain on the planet!

I'll miss you guys and I intend to get back to posting like I used to when I get home.

Thank you for all the support and encouragement, I'll miss you ladies!:grouphug:

[DisDee]

Have a wonderful time Amy and we'll "see" you real soon!

[toystoryduo]

Hope you're having a WONDERFUL time in WDW, my friend!pixiedust: Don't forget to have a Grand Marnier Slush for me!:drinking1

[eyor44]

Happy "1/2 way through your trip". I know you all are having a wonderfully magical time.

Don't worry, none of us will tell your sister. We'll keep it our little secret. ;)

[toystoryduo]

Hope you're having a wonderful time, Amy!:cool1: Miss you and look forward to hearing all about your trip!:hug:

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!:wizard:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies, our trip was wonderful! I literally cried this morning at 1:45 a.m. when we had to say goodbye to Magic Kingdom. The new castle show they do each night is awesome by the way. I must say, it was not fun to get back to POR at 2:30 then get up three hours later to catch our early flight but I wanted to do emh at MK and get in the last fun of the trip. We did a lot of late nights and they worked out well with the heat.

The whole trip went perfectly. We spent the first four days with our very good friends who love Disney like we do, said a sad goodbye to them that first Friday night and a happy hello to my brother and his family the next morning. The heat was intense but we did fine, my brother struggled with that but he still had fun. Dan and I got to spend a whole day alone with my nieces, my sil had a convention for two days over at CSR and we told my brother "take the day off" so he stayed at POR and relaxed and my kids went off and did their own thing, so Dan and I took the girls to AK all day. It was such fun. I used to do so many one on one things with my nephew while he was growing up but he lived close by. With my nieces being 1000

miles away, its been different so this was a real treat.

POR was wonderful as always, I think I just need to move there.

Now I am home, exhausted but wishing I could just go back. I can never get enough. Not sure when the next trip will be, we have to figure some things out and see what we think. We may have to skip next year altogether but I really want to take one last family vacation before ds heads off to the Marines in the spring of 2013. So we'll see but I am daring to hope maybe we can go next June.

I will catch up with all of you in the next day or so. I have a ton of laundry to do, bills and mail to catch up on and a lot of unpacking to do. And I am exhausted. We hit the parks harder than usual (still did a lot of relaxing too) and on more than one day we left the room early and got back 14+ hours later. I don't think we ever slept longer than a 6-7 hour stretch. I didn't want to waste the time sleeping. But now I am worn out!

I did pretty bad with food but I did drink a lot of water and walked a lot. So we'll see. I think I'll weigh on Friday morning to give my body time to readjust. My feet are super swollen and puffy so I'll let some of that water go on its merry way before I step on a scale!

[toystoryduo]

Welcome back, WISH sis!!!:cool1:

I am SO glad to hear that you had a wonderful trip!!! :cloud9: Will you be doing a trip report or a highlights post? You know we'd love to hear about your trip!:goodvibes

Sending lots of :wizard::wizard: your way as you transition back to life at home. :hug:

Hope you have a wonderful day!:hug:

[goldcupmom]

Glad you had another wonderful WDW trip! Sad to come home....as always!

How is it that your DS can be old enough already to be entering the marines that soon? SCARY!!!!

Heres some :wizard: for the weigh in!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Julie and Tracy. Sorry I have not been around in awhile. Its funny, I love coming on here but just don't seem to get on much anymore. I have no idea why!

I have not offically weighed in yet. According to my bathroom scale which is notorious for being off, I am up about five pounds. I have been very spotty with food and have not exercised once since I got home. I got horrible blisters one day which means only flip flops until they are gone. Thankfully they just about are. Its funny, it happened the day we pulled a 12 hour, no break day to Animal Kingdom and Epcot and literally as we got off the bus and headed back to our room I felt them and by the time we got up there and I got my shoes off there were four huge ones on the back of my heel and two on my big toes. They must have started earlier, I just never felt them. Ds also got blisters this time as well as some bug bites that got all infected. The doctor said he had a bad case of Disney Feet!

So I am a bit bummed. I thought maybe at long last I might have a job possibility. It was at a Christian pre school, working with two year olds. I used to be group leader qualified but now the state of Colorado has changed those qualifications. I am now about 500 hours short on my working time and the college credits I need I don't have. It used to be my college credits in Elementary Education worked fine, now as of 2010 they don't. I mean this is basically babysitting two year olds and just getting started on having them be able to be in a group outside of home and its like $9 an hour for about 10-15 hours a week. But I am not qualified. They want over 3500 hours of work experience and even with working full time for 9 full months and part time for two years, I don't have enough hours. And all that experience was with kids aged 18 months to three years. I cannot believe I am not qualified but I am not. So much for that, maybe an aide position will open up although most schools want aides to be group leader as well so that if the teacher is out, they can cover. Another dead end. Even if get the experience, I'll have to take some college courses to get that done. And right now Dan and I cannot afford that and frankly I don't see why I should spend that money for a $9 an hour part time job.

Dan is in Floridia right now on business and I am hoping to use the evenings to get caught up on stuff I never get done. Like sort some of our photos and also complete the last of our family Disney trip reports. I don't do reports on disboards anymore but I do have a big book I keep up (or try to) of our Disney trips. Dd loves to read them and even though its sort of silly I like to do it. I used to send them to my brother to read but all he did was make fun of them so now its just me and dd to read them! Anyway, I have quite a few trips missing but I have the notes and between those and my pictures on file I can reconstruct the days very well. I also have a really good memory, once I get started it all just flows back to me. I can't remember a darn thing at home but my Disney trips stick with me!

I am so proud of dd. She has worked last week and this week doing all day babysitting. She made $280 :thumbsup2 and we were $277 short for her mission trip. I feel horribly guilty that I somehow could not get this trip paid for but Dan swears all the band trips he took in jr and sr. high he paid for himself by fundraising and mowing yards and they meant more. There will still be expenses for her food on the road and she needs some more clothes and we can cover that but for the most part it was her babysitting, butter braid sales and dh's aunt and cousin and my cousin in Texas who made this work.

Ds meanwhile sleeps, works out, eats and texts his friends. He wants a summer job but hasn't been able to find one. Gee wouldn't it be funny if he did and dd continues to babysit. Then even my kids will have gainful employment while I sit her scratching my head trying to figure out how to find work and wondering what I'll be when I grow up!

[goldcupmom]

Its funny, I love coming on here but just don't seem to get on much anymore. I have no idea why!

...I sit her scratching my head trying to figure out how to find work and wondering what I'll be when I grow up!



Wow! You can I could be clones!!! I keep telling my kids that I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when(if) I grow up! And Ditto on DIS.

It's not a bad thing that your daughter is earning for camp. I think it's AWESOME! A good lesson and she will appreciate it a bit more knowing that she has earned it.

Hope today is a good one!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Julie, if I ever decide what I want to be when I grow up, I'll be sure and let you know!:rotfl:

I do think dd is proud and will get more from this trip because she paid for over half of it. And she's really enjoyed babysitting these two little boys. Anything that sort of draws her out of shyness shell and gives her some confidence is good in my book!

So today Tracy/Toystoryduo sent me a link to a thread currently going on the community board. Basically someone posted she had a friend who had been in the midst of a very long struggle to lose weight and was beyond frustrated (can we all relate or what) and she asked her doctor for advice. He told her "walk three miles every day". She asked if she needed to change her diet and he just kept saying "walk three miles every day". So she did and she has lost 83 pounds (I think in roughly a year maybe). This whole story made me think abodut my mom. Who did just that, walked at the mall 6 days a week for 3-4 miles each time and lost 65 pounds in a year. She didn't stress about what she ate, she didn't give up margaritas at her favorite Mexican place, she didn't worry about carbs, she didn't do any other type of exercise and she didn't join Weight Watchers or any such thing. She walked six days a week. Doing that gave her another six years past what the doctor thought she'd get when she got sick and the doctors were always convinced it was because she was a walker and was in such good shape.

Its funny. I always believe God gives us little clues and tidbits but we have to be looking for them or at least ready to pay attention to them! Just yesterday I posted on here on Denise's and Tracy's journal yesterday that I think its easy to make weight loss complicated. I really thought about this last night, thought about my mom and her approach years ago to losing weight and it was like, "I need to start walking". I like the aquasize too but in the end, walking is my favorite form of exercise. And right now my rec center can't seem to keep or find aqua instructors so you never know when class will be held. Whereas with walking, its always available. So tonight when I take ds to karage at the rec center, I am going to do three miles. And start doing that every darn day but Sunday. Then today, Tracy sends me this link about this woman who walked and only walked and its like "hmmn, maybe God is trying to tell me something". My mom always said I made my weight loss too complicated and extreme and that was why I never lost weight and kept it off. She was probably right.

That thread is over on the community board by a poster named C.ann and I think its titled "who knew". Lots of interesting comments and stories.

I went out for Mexican last night with my stepdad and his girlfriend and ate way too much and just felt miserable all night. So today needs to be better. Obviously I am going to have to be careful and not binge above all along with the walking I AM GOING TO DO EVERY DAY BUT SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Stepdad looked like he was 101 years old. He got into a car accident earlier this week and I really feel his sons need to take the keys away from him. But I say nothing because if I do, that will just make them more likely to not do that. He can't see to read a menu, ds walked right up to him and he couldn't make out it was him and he can't hear a darn thing. But he drives all over the place. I really worry he's going to hurt someone one of these days. :sad2:

[toystoryduo]

Oh WISH sis!:hug:

Isn't God AMAZING?!?!:thumbsup2 I love that He sent all of those confirmations your way!:goodvibes Your plan to walk 6 days a week is a good one! :goodvibes That's what we are doing with the WATP program. We are gradually working our way up to consistent 2 and 3 mile walks and beyond. I love it! :goodvibes

I'm so sorry to hear about your stepdad's accident. :( How is he doing? I hope his sons realize what is going on sooner than later for his safety and those around him. Sending prayers!

I hope you have a wonderful evening, Amy!:hug: If you get a chance, please let us know how your first 3 mile walk went!:thumbsup2

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, stepdad is fine, in fact he and his girlfriend are coming over for dinner tonight. I do very much believe he should not drive anything out past his complex but its not my call. I just pray the next accident (and I know there will be one) is like this one with nobody getting hurt. Getting old is tough and its even tougher when you have a stubborn man and two sons who really kid themselves about their dad's situation.

I walked at long last today. Been home two weeks, its been one week since I decided to do the "3 miles 6x per week" plan but better late than never. I had to stop at 35 minutes, I could feel a blister coming on. So I literally stopped on that track, got my shoes off and got down to to the locker room to put on my flip flops I had brought. I need to use Blister Shield tomorrow.

I have had such a hard time getting back into the swing of things since we got home. Missing my brother and his family, missing the trip, the anticipation of a trip and just realizing how many decisions Dan and I need to make about a lot of things. We have a lot of decisions to make, please say a prayer we have the wisdom to make the right ones!

Monday is our 19th anniversary, Dan is going to take a vacation day and we may try to go to the local pool and just spend the day relaxing and talking through all that we have going on.

I was so down yesterday as was Dan but then he opened the mail and there was a certicate from ds' school, he made honor roll! I was so proud as we all were. Dd was a good sport, for some reason for the first time ever, she just slacked off and came out of her last quarter with a 2.2 gpa.:confused3 I told her that is her one and only get out of jail free card with grades and not to pull that stunt again. It really brought down her overal GPA, she still finished the year with over a 3.0 but I was just irriated with her and me. I typically don't keep too close a tab on her since she's always spot on. I should have known all that time on facebook and texting her friends was takign time away from her homework! Lesson learned. I think seeing her brother make honor roll was a wakeup call. She doesn't like coming in behind him with grades!

I forgot to add earlier that food has been spotty but Monday and Tuesday were much better and so far today has been good. Just slowly getting back on track and I did weigh in today and I am up 5 pounds from a month ago. Really need to get that off soon. Apparently taking a full month off is not the brightest idea around but hopefully I can get back on quicker than I normally seem to after a vacation.

[toystoryduo]

Sending a :hug: and lots of prayers your way, WISH sis.

Congrats to your DS on making the honor roll!!!!:cool1::banana::yay::woohoo:

Happy Anniversary to you and Dan!:lovestruc Enjoy your special day together on Monday!:goodvibes

Have a blessed weekend, my friend!:hug:

[toystoryduo]

LOVE the new ticker, WISH sis!:thumbsup2

I hope you have a nice weekend ahead!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

dbl post

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, thanks for checkingin. Once again I am just absent around here for way too long.



This past week has been hectic, we are having plumbing issues. The hot water tap will not turn off in the master tub. We got a plumber out and the only way he can fix it is to rip out part of the tub surround to access the pipes under the faucet. We have a policy through our mortgage to cover plumbing and appiance repairs and replacement but they are always loathe to approve anything with plumbing. Basically we have had to manually turn on and off the hot water valve in the basement anytime we want to take a shower or use hot water to wash dishes or clothes while the plumber haggles with the home warranty people. Finally just call a call that the work is approved, they'll have to rip out some of the tile and the plumber will put in a trap door so that if this happens again it will be easy to fix it. Dan at some point will have to replace some fo the tile but at least we will now have hot water again when we turn on the faucets! Right now I am washing clothes in cold water and I have to wash dishes by hand since the dishwasher will only run if the hot water is on and I don't feel like wasting hundreds of gallons of water (that is heated no less so wasting electricity too). In some ways I like washing dishes, takes me back to my childhood at my grandmother's house!

Dd is home from her mission trip to Nashville and she had a great experience. She got to work in a Feed the Children warehouse, organize and hand out school supplies for teachers in really needy areas, work with disadvantaged kids at a community center and they had nightly worship with kids from all over the country. She came home tired but really feeling like she got to do something for a week of her life. She is dying to go to this Chrisitian university in Nashville where they stayed but I looked at the tuition and about had a heart attack! I told her to work hard because scholarships are out there. I cannot believe dd is of the age where we are talking about this but hopefully seeing that college will make her stay steady and keep working hard. She goofed off way too much last semester and she can't do that and get into the college of her choice!

Food has been pretty bad, exericse non existant. I am still determined to start walking 3 miles at least five times a week and I think a fresh start is on my horizon! As is so often the case, a vacation got me off track and its taking me way, way too long to back on track. I have toyed with joining Weight Watchers yet again, but in the end, I don't want to spend the money, I am not too keen on the new program and I can't rely on outside forces to make the inside of my mind and heart and do what it needs to do. I need to get on here more or at least journal daily what I eat and feel where food is concerned. I know what I need to do, I just need to do it!

[eyor44]

Well you have had a busy summer my friend. I am so happy that your trip was so magically wonderful. We all need that. And spending time with your brother's family was icing.

Congrats on DS making honor roll. I know the struggles there. Hopefully he will keep it up and I'll bet DD won't be slipping again. Gotta keep ahead of her DB. :thumbsup2

Sounds like DD really enjoyed her mission trip. I used to love those. Spending a week with friends and doing things for others, it just makes you feel good inside.

Have you been walking? After I read what you wrote (I am going to check out the thread you mentioned) it makes a lot of sense. Your body is used to a certain amount and type of food. You begin exercising which burns calories and if you change/decrease what you are eating also then you might make your body begin hoarding calories instead of burning them. Which is why you don't lose. Does that make sense? So if you walk and yet eat the same, you are going to lose. I guess you should still watch what you eat, (salt, sugar and stuff) but not to go to the extreme. I still think you need something else, but then I am quite partial to Zumba Abs and Palto. ;)

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, its so good to see you!

So this week was back on track time and I am happy to say I did pretty well on that front. I started reading the six week WATP book that Tracy read and really like it. I got in three workouts this week, two walks and one aquasize. I do agree with Lisa that I need something else and for me that is definitely aquasize. I love the toning exercises and being in the water. I am just not comfortable with any other type of group exercise at this weight and rather than fight that I just intend to do what I like and feel good about. There are other classes I can always try out when I want to. Zumba and Yoga are the top two but again, I am just not there yet physically or mentally.

I am sad to say I have put on a lot of weight this summer. I fear I may have gained back all but a couple of my 16 pounds. This is the second time in a year I have done that. Going on vacation both times was the culprit of getting me off track. I guess its good I am not going anywhere until next June!

Today as I walked I added up in my head just the "major" weight loss victories I have accomplished (all of which have been gained back). Here they are:
1995: Lost 22 pounds (just in time to get pregnant with dd ;))
1997: Lost about 15 pounds
1998: Lost 30 pounds
2006/07: Lost 33 pounds
2010: Lost 16 pounds
2011: lost 16 pounds.

There are many more, pretty much each year I would join WW and lose weight but those are the ones that stick out. If you add that up its a total of 132 pounds. Which in some way made me feel good. Like I just said in another journal, what can be done once (or in this case many times lol) can be done again. Clearly I have some work on sticking to the long haul nature of weight loss. I just don't feel that God put me on this earth to be fat and miserable.

So for now I am doing the WATP book. I am going to do as the book instructs which is focus on getting back into exercise. I'll watch what I eat but I am not going to count calories, points or anything else. Just try to east sensible and see what happens. I really respect and like Leslie Sansone and her approach feels right to me right now.

I also am going to try to get on here more. I have to be honest, its sort of sad to come on here and see so little activity not only on my journal but everyone else's! I do have to say, I miss all my Wish Sisters and the daily contact we used to have. Maybe it will pick up around here. If not I may just subsribe to my journal and everyone elses and post as others come on. So many of my buddies are not around anymore and it makes me sad!

I also intend to keep up with my personal journal and really track my progress, success, struggles and thoughts with this journey. Its a mental thing as much or more than a physical thing.

I am ready for the kids to go back to school and excited for getting this thing done again, once and for all!

[eyor44]

I just don't feel that God put me on this earth to be fat and miserable.


No he did NOT!

What is the name of the book you all are reading? Is it just WATP? or something else?

Come on Amy. We can do this. I know we can and you know we can. Let's start walking.

[DisDee]

Amy, I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I miss seeing our friends on here also. I'm guessing everyone has been busy with summer stuff like family and picnics and trips so something is going to take the back burner and for women and moms its usually us.

Just so you know...you and my other Wish friends are always in my thoughts and heart even though I may not post regularly. You have all been a wonderful support system for me through my cancer treatments, in some ways even more than friends that I've had for a very long time.

Let's all make a renewed vow to get back on here and make ourselves a priority. I can't post on my own journal or others right now cause I have to get ready for work, but tomorrow is my day off and I'm going to be back then.

I think I may join the Leslie Sansone group. I checked out Comcast On Demand and it has 4 of her workouts.

Hang in there Amy-I will be here for you and would love to see the Wish boards as active as it used to be.

[toystoryduo]

I miss our WISH buddies too, my friend!:hug: Maybe once summer winds down, we'll all be able to get on journals a bit more.

I'm so glad to hear that you love the WATP book!:goodvibes I haven't been doing as many walks as I would like, but I know I can always return to WATP!:goodvibes

Girl, I am right there with you on the weight loss thing. :hug: We just need to keep moving forward and doing the best that we can each day. ::yes:: We CAN do this!:cheer2:

Have a wonderful Wednesday!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you Lisa, Denise and Tracy. You ladies are the best, what would I ever do without you?:grouphug:

I have been walking, not as much as I need to but I got in three walks last week and this week I have thus gotten in one. And I walked for an hour yesterday which felt great, although I am a bit sore today. But still fully intending to walk later, sore or not!

I finally got up the courage to weigh today. I cleared out my old Wii profile because I just want to start over. Still I know what I weighed in June before we left for WDW, and just as I feared, I gained back all but three pounds of my 16 pound loss. Omg, that bites. Oh well, time to start over.

I had coffee with a friend who for the second time encouraged me to get a job at a plus sized store. She starts off with "I don't want to offend you and have you take this the wrong way" and then proceeds to tell me I will feel so much more comfortable selling clothes to other overweight women vs. books at Barnes and Noble (told her I wanted to work at B & N). She said she just feels I will feel less out of place and self conscious if I work someplace where the customers look like me. Um thanks I guess.

Then fast forward to last night when I had to go to Dd's freshman orientation. I ran into a few people I hadn't seen in awhile and it was just embarrassing to have them see me so much heavier than I was a few years ago. One of them was our friend "C" who was one of my biggest cheerleaders a few years ago when I lost my 33 pounds.

Leslie Sansone says not to over dwell on the mental issues in this six week program and maybe that's good, and yet all night I found myself wondering why I do this to myself? I keep losing around 15 pounds then gainin it back. I almost think I had it my mind the minute I left for vacation I'd start the process of gaining it back. So frustrating and just a total mystery how my own mind works and why I let myself do this!

So yet another fresh start. I still say I can do it.

[Amy&Dan]

Today was a much better day. I never did get to the rec center yesterday, I had to take ds to the eye doctor and to get new glasses, a haircut and do other back to school shopping and the day just got away. But first thing today, I got to the rec center and did 45 minutes on the treadmill. I am amazed at how out of shape I have gotten in two months of slacking off (not that I was marathon ready or anything ;)). I have been doing 20 minute miles and the sweat is pouring off me and I am sore. Pathetic and a good reminder to keep at it and get my pace back up to 3.5-3.8.

Food was also good today. I hung out with a friend today at the pool for the last time this summer (and the first time since we haven't managed to find a time until today) and told her I want to lose 52 pounds by June 9th. That puts me in "onederland". With another 60 pounds to go!:scared1:

I am so darn sore tonight, its like suddenly my body is just revolting against the extra weight. I started to drink a beer tonight and just stopped thinking about how alcohol calories convert to fat so quickly and it just didn't feel worth it.

Dh and I are tossing around what we want to do as far as our trip next June. We are both tired of the wait-for-Disney-to-release-a-discount game and are toying with a combo Disney/beach vacation or just doing a beach vacation. We could fly into Tampa and get a beach rental in Clearwater for two weeks for around $2000 less than what a Disney trip would cost. Very tempting but sort of makes me sad we might miss a year at Disney. But they are so darn expensive. I just get a bit nervous renting from an individual and am not sure I want the hassle of all that research. Disney is fun to plan but I don't have to research per se because I know it so well. We'll see, given the current state of the economy in this country, I should probably bury my vacation money under my house because I may need it.:sad2:

[Amy&Dan]

Well today was a bummer day on the Disney front. After a long night of tossing and turning and worrying, I cancelled next summer's trip. For the first time in over 8 years, we don't have any plans to go to Disney. I cried the whole agonizing time I had to hold with CRO today to cancel (listening to Disney park music no less) but it had to be done.

Dan and I realized we just need to take a year at least off from any travel that is longer than a half day's drive away. Also, I won't know for months if any discount is available for my dates, the rising cost of airfare, and the insane way Disney has raised their prices, well its just not happening anymore. Luckily, we have a lot of wonderful Disney memories and we have been so lucky to travel like we have.

Dan and I did get online and find some really nice condos for rent up in the mountains. Some with lake views, a few in particular stood out. They are walking distance to restaurants, bars, free summertime concerts, there are mountain bike, walking and hiking paths right there and going there for a week and really enjoying ourselves will cost less than one fourth what a week at Disney would cost. We plan to mull that over for a few months and then we can book one if we decide that is what we want to do. Summer is low season so its not like we have to book now to get in for ski season.

Now we can get the house painted, get some money in savings and have a much nicer Christmas without this trip hanging over our heads and stalking my wallet!

I am still sad, but almost as relieved as I am sad so I am taking that as a good sign we did the right thing.

[lovinaz]

First of all, I'm sorry for not posting on your journal more often! Part of it is because the only time I have to get online is at work, and since my computer screens are situated for all to see, it's kind of hard to justify typing into a box that is flanked by a bunch of crazy smilies on the right... :laughing: A dancing banana doesn't really scream "engineering"! :banana:

Secondly, I KNOW you can lose this weight! I know it's frustrating to lose the same 15lbs over and over, but guess what - once you break past that 15lbs and lose the 16th one, you will know it's possible and there will be no looking back. :goodvibes

As for the vacation, I know you are going to miss Disney, but like you said - you have so many wonderful Disney memories! And I know there are TONS of things to do in your home state that are awesome, less expensive and don't require airfare x 4! I am the same way - always planning that next beach vacation, and there are so many things we haven't done in AZ! So please don't fret about what you are going to be missing out on - focus on the new possibility and the excitement of doing something totally different! :woohoo:

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, it is so good to see, I miss you around here! You are always so good at putting things into persepctive for me.:hug:

Today was such a good start to the week! I cleaned my house, cleaned stepdad's condo and walked for 45 minutes and that was all before noon. My pace on the treadmill was a bit faster, I kept it at 3.2 most of the time and even could have gone higher but didnt' want to overdo things. I only got in 45 minutes, was hoping for an hour but just had so much to do. I did have lunch out with a friend (she's starting a new job on Wednesday) and had chinese but managed to do pretty well all things consdidered. They give you an appetizer with lunch so I order crab/creamcheese wontons which I don't like and brought them home to ds who loves them. Saved me from a greasy egg roll I didn't need.

As for our 2012 travellling, Dan and I have decided to take a break from worrying or making any firm decisions. For sure we could go somewhere right here in Colorado for so much cheaper but then again, ds will be graduating in 2013 and plans to go into the Marines right away. Summer 2012 might be our last opportunity to go to WDW with both kids while they are both still home (can't believe my kids are getting so grown up). For now we are just taking a wait and see attitude. We have no idea if taxes will go up in 2012, how much our insurance is about to jump since ds is about to get his licsense and also how much Dan's bonus will be. Once we know all the facts then we can make our decision. In any case, I did cancel the reservation I made at CSR because we do know if we go to WDW it will need to be a value unless a discount is released and we also don't think CSR is right for us. Their food court is expensive and since we won't be on a dining plan its not going to work. The only way to have a cs meal at CSR without a gratuity is to eat outside. Not a good set up in the heat of summer.

Dd started high school today. She went from a small middle school with only 700 kids to a 2300 kid high school that is a maze of hallways and pods. She did well and also was only one of a few kids in her English class that did her summer book report so she got off to a good start. Ds helped her find her locker and her first class and she found a friend from church in the enormous lunch room so she had a friend to eat with. I cannot believe my baby is in high school.

On the other hand can I just say it was WONDERFUL to have both kids back in school. :cloud9: Life is getting back to normal thank goodness!

[eyor44]

Amy you are doing good my friend. You will get there, I know you will.
You are very smart to push yourself, just not to hard in the beginning. You will build yourself back up in no time.

:hug: on Disney. We all know how much you love those trips, we all do. Tough decision, but mountain cabins are nice and relaxing. A different kind of vacation which can be just as fun. But I hear ya on how expensive Disney is and wanting that last trip with DS. You'll make the right decision.

Are y'all okay? I saw about the earthquake a couple days ago. Kind of stinks how everyone is focusing on the East coast one. :confused3 and totally forgetting y'all. As soon as I saw where it was I prayed you were okay. :hug:

[toystoryduo]

Sending a :hug: and lots of :wizard::wizard: your way, my friend. I think a wait and see attitude for Disney is a good idea right now. It would really help if Disney would put their discounts out much further in advance or give automatic discounts to those of us who travel there quite frequently. We can dream, right? ;)

Keep up the good work on your walks!:cheer2: Each step you take is one more step closer to your goal. :goodvibes You CAN do it, Amy!!!:cheer2:

Have a wonderful weekend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, its so good to see you. I didn't feel the earthquake but some of our friends did. I guess I am not too observant!

Tracy: If Disney would release discounts early, that would be nice. Probably not gonna happen though!

I was much better this week with food and exercise. I was all set to go the gym today but just have so much to do at home so I am going to go for a walk tomorrow. Dan has to work some in the afternoon so it will be a perfect time to go.

I am also feeling a little queasy this morning. I think its because I ate some chocolate late last night. Stepdad and his girlfriend came over for dinner and bless her heart she always brings candys. She brough us each a gift bag that had a full sized bag of Lindor Truffles and a big box of m&m's. Those milk chocolate truffles are my favorite candies on the planet. So I ate two of them before bed and it was not a good scene. I sent the leftovers (as in almost three full bags) to school with the kids. Told them to put them in their lockers and have a piece or two each day The kids don't need it either. Oh well, they never get candy unless Ruth brings it over and when some nice older lady on a fixed income brings a gift by, I don't have the heart to not let the kids enjoy it.

We have Happy Hour tonight. Dan and I have not been since February. We just can't really afford it anymore (paycut has a trickle down affect on our local Happy Hour scene lol) but Dan got $15 for taking some online survey about this restaurant chain so we can go pretty cheap. Then we have friends coming over for pizza Sunday afternoon. I turned down an invitation for a get together tomorrow night. I am just not up for it and don't want three eating/drinking gigs in a row. I also just feel so lousy and fat right now (clothes all too tight or too small AGAIN) I don't feel like putting myself out there. I also don't feel like being with that particular group of people. I need to set boundries in all areas of my life and realize that saying no, to myself, to family, to friends is something I need to work on. So I did and guess what the world still continued to turn!;)

It is so hot here right now, we hit 99 yesterday and today will be in the mid 90's. I am ready for some cooler fall weather but I think its not around the corner!

The kids did great their first week. I was proud of dd, she settled right into the routine of high school. Poor kid has to get up at 5:00 to be out the door by 6:30. Makes for a long day. Shelby and Daisy continue to wonder why in the heck we are getting up so early. In fact, Shelby has been hiding under ds' bed all morning refusing to get up. Hey, she's 63 human years old, if she wants to sleep in far be it from me to stop her!

Today's plan is to get the house shaped up and just be around here today. We have a busy weekend and I am enjoying the peace and quiet.:cloud9:

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
Did you have a good weekend? Sounds like it was going to be a busy one. So glad DD is settling into high school. I remember vividly those days of getting up super early to be ready for the bus. Then the hour long bus ride. ugh!

How is DS doing? Junior right? How does he feel having DD in his space?

Good job on passing the candys on to the kids. :thumbsup2

Have a great Monday my friend. :goodvibes

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, the weekend was good but it was busy!

I am plugging away with my exercise, getting back up slow but sure to a better walking pace (am at 3.3 mph at this point). I made my goal of 4x per week last week and was hoping for 5x this week but not sure that will happen. I missed Monday and we have such busy weekend I am not sure I'll be able to walk. But I may just have to think of a way to squeeze in 30 minutes on the treadmill early Saturday morning. I knew I should have gone Monday!:mad::rolleyes1 The only way to make it happen is to get up around 6:00 Saturday morning and head to either the track or gym. Gotta do it!!!

My day today has been hectic and I just spent an hour on the phone with my sister. She is wanting to move to Denver but has not gotten a teaching position yet. She needs to find a job, any job she can so she can find a place to live since her current townhome rental is on the market. Naturally she wants a loft downtown. Well those are generally occupied by lawyers and other professionals. Bottom line, I never understand how someone so ultra smart can be so devoid of reality. Exactly one year ago we got her settled in after she had let her life spiral so out of control it was unbelieveable and now here we go again. Bottom line, she needs to figure this out herself and my checkbook is not open for loans/assistance. She knows that and understands and yet I fear on some level she thinks I'll come to the rescue. She has to solve it herself this time. Last year was so beyond what I can do now. She has to solve her own "you know what" just like I have to solve my own issues. I pray it works out and I bet it will. I used to think if I didn't jump to somebody's rescue I was bad, now I realize its okay to let grown ups be grown ups.

Back to school night tonight. Can't wait to cram my fat self into a tiny student desk. I swore last year when this same dilemma presented itself, that "this" year I'd be thin. My weight has now morphed into an area where day to day living gets to be tough. When I am this weight, I can barely get an airline seatbelt fastened, run the risk of being told to buy another seat ticket when I do fly, cannot bend over to tie my shoes very easily (or paint my toenails) and things like getting up and down off the floor are downright agonizing not to mention awkward. I keep telling myself that if nothing else, I need to get off 25 pounds just to make everyday simple tasks less of a nightmare. My knees are killing me.

I have yet to lose a pound, I think my food is not as good as it should be and also for some unknown reason anymore, when I start to workout hard, I tend to lose slowly or even gain. But in a week or two my body should start to respond. I can't get discouraged!

[toystoryduo]

Great job on your walks!! Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

Sending some pixiedust: your sister's way. I pray that she finds a way to make the move work for her.

How did back to school night go?

Keep your head up, my friend! ::yes:: You are getting back into a routine with your workouts and I bet food choices will be soon to follow. Before you know it, the pounds will be coming right off! I know you CAN do it, Amy!:cheer2:

Have a wonderful day today!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy! Back to School Night was very nice, I really like all of ds' teachers. Dan went with dd to meet her teachers so I didn't get to meet any of them but he was also very enthused and impressed.

The downside was just as I had imagined it would be, trying to squeeze into those student desks was not easy and somewhat embarrassing. Also it was hot in the school hallways and walking and climbing up the stairs just made me realize again I need to lose this weight, at least a big chunk of it.

I'll add, I purposely picked ds to accompany as opposed to dd because I knew I'd run into fewer people I know from yesteryear and have less feelings of "omg, I so don't want this person to see me this fat". Sad but true. And just brings up the whole issue of how much my weight factors into everything I do. I only have a very few things that actually fit me and its a race to fit back into my jeans before it gets cold.

I weighed today and was down two pounds. I am happy to have the loss but given the amount of waking and aquasize I have been doing its tough not to get discouraged. But I'll take it as a good start and a move in the right direction. I didn't go to aquasize today but plan to walk an hour pretty quick and also walk tomorrow. Then I will have my 5x this week which will feel good.


I hope everyone has a nice three day weekend!

[lovinaz]

Don't get discouraged! My body does that too, and it is aggravating! :mad: But you know if you stick with it, you will eventually start to see results. Even if it isn't on the scale, as long as you are losing inches and feeling better and more energetic, you are making progress. :thumbsup2 The scale will follow when it's ready, as frustrating as it is… :confused3

Hugs for the situation with your sister. :hug: I know you want to help her, but you have your own family to put first. Hang in there, and congrats on getting all those walks in! Celebrate your newfound dedication! :banana:

Have a great long weekend.

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Amy, I was frustrated at first then realized if I lost a pound a week and stuck with it, I'd be at goal in two years instead of heavier now than I was two years ago! Oh the life I lead....:rolleyes1

Today was frustrating from start to finish. I lost my cell phone and spent hours trying to find it. Then this afternoon was one of those days where I had to run both kids all over the place (in opposite directions) and somehow make dinner and fit a walk in and oh yeah, clean the house which as usual had a weekend hangover. And I didn't get to keep a phone date with a friend I was really wanting to talk to. But I FINALLY found the phone late this afternoon and was relieved I almost cried. It was wedged so deep in the couch it was no wonder I didn't find it the first ten times I looked there and since the battery was dead, it didn't ring when I called it.

The kids are now at their church group kick off for the year, can't believe dd is in high school. And the house is quiet, its cool and very rainy and quite fallish. Which is very nice.

I did well on food today for the most part, I did have some Dr. Pepper this afternoon when I was so mad about the phone I was ready to split nails and I also ate a two tortillas I didn't need but toned things down with dinner. And did manage to get 45 minutes in walking in while I waited for dd to finish her training at church (she is going to teach with me on Wednesday's).

So my ticker tells the story of what we did decide on our WDW trip. We changed dates, are now going over spring break vs. summer. I NEED a discount and free dining is the one that is the best for us and since Disney did release some fd dates in March that coincide with the kids' spring break, we booked CSR for ten nights. That is 2K worth of the DDP that is free (well free with a rack rate room). Just have to pray we can swing getting it paid off and find good airfare but I am just happy to have a trip planned with a discount. Summers are getting so busy for the kids, its hard to find time to take a trip anyway. I know we should save money and stay local for vacation but I have a feeling we'll be doing that plenty when ds is gone and dd is in college. I feel really good about this but am glad we really stood firm that we were going with a discount or not at all. If Bob Iger wants to do away with discounts thats fine, but he'll be seeing me way less if he does. Of course everytime they say that they end up just releasing discounts anyway.

My goal is to lose (get ready ladies for goal #4897 on this journal :rolleyes1) 40 pounds by March 23rd. If I lose that I have a whole closet of clothes that will fit for WDW, I'll have lost the biggest amount I have lost and will really feel like I accomplished a huge feat. This would put me to what I weighed in 2006/07. My little goal is to lose ten pounds by Halloween. I also told Dan and the kids the holidays will not be about eating and to not expect 15 different kinds of cookies and candy cause its not happening. We have nobody coming in from out of town anyway which will save me a ton of calories and money.

I am so ready to lose this 40 pounds so stay tuned! Weigh in this week is Friday, we'll see how we do. Oh yeah, food over the weekend was not too good. Gotta make these weekends not all about food!

28 weeks and two days to take off 40 pounds is a hair under 1.5 pounds per week. That is a pretty lofty goal but for now, that is the one I am setting!

[eyor44]

:cheer2::cheer2: Come on Amy! You can do it! Come on Amy! We are all cheering for you! :cheer2::cheer2:

Please don't get discouraged. It's just like Amy said, don't just watch the scale, watch the inches also. They tell the real story. And how your clothes fit. Remember the day when you put the beer down? You can do that same things with others things also. You can do this. ::yes::

Disney at Spring Break? Hmmmm, wonder what your actual dates are. I'll have to see if I can figure it out from the ticker. DD's dance school is going the first week of April. They go every other year to attend a dance workshop at Disney and then get to perform.

Any news from your sister?

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, your cheering me on made feel good!!!

Our dates are March 23-April 3. Right now I have fd booked at CSR for the 24th-3rd and I'll add a room only night for the 23rd once I book airfare. Fd doesn't start until the 24th (sat) but I am hoping we can come in on Friday night. We have such a long travel day that if we don't fly in until Sat., that day is basically lost.

Today was a good day. I walked for 20 minutes and aquasized for an hour. The instructor worked us hard which was great but of course some of the old biddies complained. It never fails to amaze me why people who don't want to follow an instructor bother to do a class?

Food was very good today, I even ate out at Wendy's but got a plain baked potato and a half cup of chili for a lowfat and healthy lunch. No fries or burgers for me!

Putting things in the 1.5 pound per week perspective is making me feel this is very attainable. I will weight on Friday to see if I make this week's goal!

[toystoryduo]

:hug: Amy,

I'm sorry to hear that you had a rough Tuesday. It sounds like yesterday was a much better day!:thumbsup2

Woohoo for a new Disney trip!!!:cheer2: My DH and I were just talking about maybe going to the World for his birthday in March if we can manage it financially. That would be so cool to meet you and your family in person! :banana:

I think your weight loss goal for Disney is totally do-able. I know you CAN do it!:cheer2:

Great job at Wendy's yesterday!:thumbsup2 I love their chili!:goodvibes

Have a great day today!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy I am keeping my fingers crossed my trip, your trip and Lisa's trip all connect up so we can have a Wish meet!

My weight stayed basically the same but I plan to weigh again tomorrow. I worked out really hard yesterday and came home, ate too much then had to skip dinner only to arrive at church last night for a Sunday School training meeting starved. To a table full of pies and cake.:confused3 Anybody ever heard of a fruit and veggie tray?! Oh yeah, they also had Hershey miniatures and chex mix on each table. I had one piece of candy, about a 1/4 cup of chex mix and about 1/4th piece of key lime pie but lets face it, that was the last thing I needed. Dd was with me, (she is going to start helping out with the 4 year old class) and even she said "wow, that's a lot of junk food on one table".

I am working out very hard and having a hard time getting my food totally in check. So I need to address that and if necessary, work out less and eat less too!

Tomorrow is dd's 15th birthday. I cannot believe my baby is 15, in high school and so grown up. I can remember 15 years ago today like it was yesterday. I was having a scheduled c-section the next morning and I remember hanging out, hugely pregnant with ds (who was not quite two) and my brother who had flown in for the occassion. And of course my mom. I also remember not eating a thing all day and then about 7:00 that night suddenly having a craving for a fish sandwich from Burger King which I ate and lets just say I have not eaten one since!:sick: Life goes so quick.

I really miss my mom so much when the special occasions roll around. She was so good to me when I was pregnant with dd. I had been on bed rest virtually the whole pregnancy, with a toddler and even though she was still working, she'd often come by with dinner and to help out with ds in the evenings (dh travelled a lot in those days). She was with me and Dan in the operating room when dd was born, we had no idea if it was a boy or girl and it was my mom who leaned over and told me I had a daughter. I am so glad she is at peace but man oh man do I miss her.

So today I am baking dd's favorite strawberry cake, tomorrow we are having cake for breakfast because we are going out for a nice lunch and know we won't be hungry later on and then on Sunday we are going to my sister's and she's ordered another cake. I see a struggle with food in my immediate future.

Hope everyone is having a great week and a nice upcoming weekend. Its really beginning to feel like fall around here and I must say, its welcome.

I'll post my official weigh in results tomorrow.

[eyor44]

Hmmmm, do I see a very possible Dis/Wish Meet in our future? :woohoo: I plan to arrive on Saturday, March 31. :thumbsup2 NO pressure Tracy. ;)

Amy, I have beent thinking the same thing lately. Does no one know that you can get very nice veggie and fruit trays from the grocery stores. Even WalMart does that right. Glad you held back.

:hug: to you. I think it is so great that you and your Mom had such a wonderful relationship. It is obvious how very special she is to you.

Hope this weekend is going great for you guys and you find some time to at least get a walk or two in.

Happy Birthday to your DD! I hope she has an absolutely wonderful weekend.

[DisDee]

Hope you had a nice weekend Amy! I'm with you...I am so looking forward to fall!

We may have a WDW trip in March too, but it would be early in the month and just an extended weekend. I would love to get together with you and Tracy sometime. I feel like I know you both better than some friends that I've had for years.

Have a wonderful week!!!!!!

[toystoryduo]

Happy Birthday to your DD!!! :bday: Hope she had a wonderful 15th birthday!:goodvibes

Sending a gentle :hug: your way. I know how much you miss your mom, my friend. :hug:

How did your weekend go? Did the fall-like weather continue? I love fall, but allergy season has really ramped up out here.

A WISH meet in March would be so much fun!!!:cool1: My DH and I are working on the numbers now. I really hope we can make it!:goodvibes

Have a great day today!:hug:

[eyor44]

Just stopping by to say hello! :wave2:

How has your week been? Good I hope. :goodvibes

[eyor44]

Hi Amy :wave2:

[DisDee]

Miss you Amy!

[Amy&Dan]

Where oh where have I been?:confused3

So to recap! Dd had a great 15th birthday, our lovely fall weather is gone and replaced with temps in the high 80's making our fire danger high. :sad2: I have visions of this lasting right up to the first blizzard and then boom, its winter and we got no fall! I hope not, that's what happened last year and it stunk!

I have not been walking this week, I hurt my ankle and also pulled (I think) my achilles tendon. Really painful and so not what I needed. I think I need new shoes. Sometimes I wonder about using a treadmill, for some reason my feet seem to get beat up when I use them too often. But I love the workout they give me since I can do the hills. Today my plan is to do a WATP DVD and see how that goes before venturing back to the gym and treadmill.

Started back up Bible Study, teacing Sunday School and teaching Wednesday night 2nd grade girls at church. Keeps me busy but I really enjoy it.

My sister's life is still not settled and its not only stressing me out but stressing out Dan. We both feel this sense of doom that the condo she rents will sell and since she is not working she wont' have the ability to find an apartment that will rent to her. Which will make my finished basement seem like her perfect solution (from her viewpoint). She needs to find a job but refuses to look for anything outside a teaching job in the one district she wants to work in. I get her dream but her reality is somthing she is not getting. I just keep praying which makes me feel better since in the end, God is in control of this situation. But still wonder what we'll do if the situation of "she has no place to go" comes up. Again.:sad2:

I was up .7 last week and so mad at myself! It was my old foil: WEEKENDS. So last weekend I tried much harder, still had a splurge lunch with some pizza and a few beers and appetizers Friday night but it was two meals vs. three days of eathing like the weekend before. I weigh Friday, my hope is to lose my 1.5 goal plus the .7 I gained the week before. Not so sure since I haven't been able to work out since last Friday.

So one of the reasons I have been off here is that I spent a few days updated my facebook photos. I have recently been "friended" by a few cousins, one of whom I haven't seen since I was 13 (thereby making her completely unaware of my life, my family and she didnt' know my mom had passed) and a two others I see maybe once every 5 years. They were clamoring for pictures so while I was feeling the pain of this messed up ankle and a sinus thing, I went through all our computers and got it updated. And in the process noticed how overweight I am and how long its been. One picture in particular rang home and the sad thing was, I was 15-20 pounds lighter than I am now. So this got me to thinking of a goal. To lose weight (obviously) but to also at some point put an album on facebook that I will name "my journey". I had Dan take a "before" picture of me and someday I hope to see that picture followed by ones of myself at each ten pound milestone until Oila! I am at goal. I just keep visualizing how neat it would be to have that on my Wall and to be proud to post fat pictures next to the one that shows me at my goal. :idea:

I need to catch up with journals but it may be later tonight or tomorrow, today is a busy day and I gotta go walk away those pounds before I leave for the day and night!

Thanks for sticking with me, now that my fb is up to date, maybe I"ll have better luck at keeping my journal up to date too!

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad your DD had a great 15th birthday!:goodvibes

I'm sorry to hear about your ankle. :( How is it feeling?

Sending lots of prayers for your sister and for you and Dan. I pray that everything works out!

Great job on your food last weekend!:thumbsup2 I hope weigh-in goes well for you today!:wizard:

Have a nice weekend, my friend!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, my ankle is much better, I plan to get back on the treadmill on Monday.

I lost 1.5 for my weigh in and was happy. I am close to being right on target but that gain of .7 last week did slow me down. Gotta make that up!

I talked with my sister which was basically useless. I don't intend to bring this up again, I think she's really not addressing her situation but its her situation.

Food yesterday and today was not great, not as bad as some weekends but I really need to get myself in check tomorrow. We are going to my sister's so I'll have to be careful (taking pizza and brownies).

[toystoryduo]

Yay! I'm glad your ankle is feeling better, my friend!:thumbsup2

Way to go on the weight loss!:cheer2: Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

I'm sorry to hear that the talk with your sister didn't go as well as you had hoped. I pray that she is able to see her situation clearly and make right choices about it. I'm praying!

Hope you have a great day!:hug:

[eyor44]

:hug: hoping the situation with your sister resolves itself (with her help). :hug: I completely know how hard it is and how frustrating that they can't see what is going on and that they need to take responsibility for themselves. But you know all of that. :hug: :hug:

Glad your ankle is better. Have you tried the new zumba class yet? Have you been back on the tread mill? You mentioned doing hills. Do you use one of those that you can set a route that includes inclines? I have always wondered how those work.

Way to go on the weight loss. You met your initial goal. :woohoo: You have set your path. I like your idea of posting pics of your losses. That is a great way to document what you have accomplished.

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy. My ankle flared up again, I think the true culprit is that I broke that ankle over 20 years ago and the doctor was iffy on whether surgery was needed but it didn't matter since I didn't have insurance! I was young (22) and went two days without insurance and managed to break my ankle in that time frame. Anyway, from time to time, it will really bother me and I will walk on it improperly and I think that is what sometimes causes my achilles tendon to pull, and even my calf muscles on that leg to act up. I have not worked out all week and today its feeling so much better. I really need to get new shoes. Like yesterday!

So I have decided its the time to finally go back to work. Dd is no longer open enrolled meaning she can walk to the high school she and ds attend. I am so glad we open enrolled her in the middle school (ds too) she went to, but being that they were open enrolled it was our responsiblity to get them there. With that behind us and also dh's layoff and paycut, well there is no time like the present!

I had an interview yesterday, its at a very nearby preschool/kindegarten/daycare. I wouldn't make very much, yet it would offer a much needed boost to our reduced income post layoff. I am so hopeful! The interview went very well, I talked to the director, assistant director and the owner of the school and left feeling good. If this doesn't work, well there are other schools in the area. With the new regulations I may or may not be group leader qualified (I was 19 years ago but things change), so I am going to send off for my college transcripts. If I am its almost 20% more pay. If I am not, I may take a course or two at the local community college if I think the cost of school won't take too long to be offset by higher pay. Now I just have to wait and hope.

I was down a measely .2 today. I didn't even bother to weigh last week. My food has been pretty good but with only a couple of workouts in two weeks, I wasn't expecting much and I was right not to!

I am at least 3 pounds off my mark but really do think this ankle injury is the biggest culprit. Also the stress of figuring out what to do for a job (finally decided less pay to return to something I love was worth more than more pay for something I'd probably be miserable at).

Please say some prayers and good thoughts, that one way or the other I am working within the next month so that we can get our trip paid off and give the kids a nice Christmas.

Ds is 17 today, just almost on the brink of being a man. But still my little boy as far as my heart is concerned! All day I have thought about the day he was born and also how six years ago today, we flew to WDW with my mom and stepdad. So many memories. Six years ago tonight I sat out by the pool at All Star Sports with my mom laughing over mai tai's, now she's gone and I am just missing her so much. And wishing I was at WDW today having mai tais!

[toystoryduo]

Happy 17th Birthday to your DS!!! :bday: How is it possible that your little boy is 17 already? I hope he had a great birthday! :goodvibes

Sending lots of prayers and pixiedust: your way! I hope you get the job you want, my friend!:hug: How long will it take before you know something?

I hope your ankle feels better soon. pixiedust:

Have a wonderful weekend!:hug:

[goldcupmom]

Hope the ankle is feeling better. Prayers for the job possibility!

I can't EVEN believe your DS is 17!! YIKES!!! Amazing, tho, how our kids get older, but we don't! :rotfl:

Hope your week is going good! HAve you had snow yet?

[Amy&Dan]

I got the job!!! I am very excited and feel like this is the perfect time to begin this new chapter. I will be working less than two miles from home, I have the early hours I want which means I'll be home just before the kids get out of school and I won't have to worry about dressing nice or commuting. So even though this is far from a high paying job, I won't have any expenses often associated with working so that helps to even out things a bit.

My food and exercise have been pretty dismal but so far the scale is holding steady. Lets face it, stress isn't my most well handled event!

I promise to get to journals tomorrow, I don't start until Monday and Dan is going to take a vacation day Friday and he and I will spend that day together which I am really looking forward to.:love: We plan to have lunch out and then take a nice walk in one of our favorite parks near where we lived when we were newlyweds.

I feel so good about this, to be honest it will feel really good to be contributing to the family income and to feel like I don't have to justify still being home to anyone. I have been saying for years I wanted to wait until dd was in high school, I wanted to work close to home and I wanted to be home in the afternoons when the kids got home. I got what I wanted, how cool is that?!

Right after I hung up when they called me with the offer, I looked over at my mom's picture and I swear she was smiling wider than normal in that photo. I think she is happy for me!

On a deeper not, please pray for my friend Deb and her daughter. This little girl has had to go an inpatient mental facility, she's just ten and it so sad. I have had you guys pray for this friend of mine before and her kids. Meanwhile her deadbeat ex husband does nothing and can't be bothered to even care. He just hangs up when the doctors and social workers try to talk to him. I'd love to take care of this guy Texas style and hang him up!:mad:

[toystoryduo]

Congratulations, Amy!!!!:cool1::banana::woohoo::yay::dance3: I am so happy for you!:hug:

Sending lots of prayers for your friend and her family.:grouphug: This must be such a difficult time for all of them. :( I can't believe her ex refuses to get involved!:mad: I hope he understands the principle of reaping and sowing because he may find that one day he is on the receiving end of the way he has chosen to treat his family.

Have a wonderful time with your DH today!:goodvibes

[lovinaz]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1::banana: :banana: :banana:

Congrats on the job! Not only did you get A job, you got one that meets all of your requirements! :thumbsup2

I know I'm late, but happy belated b-day to your babies!

So sorry to hear about the troubles your friend and her daughter are having. :sad1: Hopefully she will get the help she needs.

[DisDee]

Amy, I'm so happy to hear that you got the job! It's wonderful that you found something that fits your requirements and you can be home after school for the kids. When things fall into place, it doesn't get much better than that.

I pray for your friend and her family. Its so sad to hear about situations like that and it makes us stop and put our own so called problems into perspective.

Have a wonderful weekend as you get ready for your first work week! You'll do great!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks ladies, I am still on cloud nine! Its funny, I never feared or worried about actually working, but the thought of trying to find a job was what made me ill. After lots of failed attempts to find the right thing then interviewing for what I prayed would be "the job" last year and not getting it, all of the sudden things fell into place and even though the other job would have been half the hours for basically the same money, this job will definitely be more to my likeing. Working for some rich, spoiled Mary Kay rep who in the end wanted somebody to be her flunkee would have probably been a nightmare. When I saw the way she treated her other assistant, I should have not even wanted that job. Oh well, life has a way of working out quite often if we let it!

My friend's daughter is still in the hospital. They have taken her off all her meds and are trying to find doseage's and meds that will work for a very tiny ten year old. I think she was probably so over medicated, but things are definitely better and she's getting the help she needs.

I have also decided to go back to WW. Doing it on my own has hardly been successful. I am hoping that being back in a routine, having some much needed financial security (for the first time in over four years) and the fact that I will literally be on my feet for 8 solid hours, five days a week will all work in my favor to lose this weight or at least a big chunk of it. I am a little worried about how I get my work outs in, I have to leave home by 6:15 a.m. then get home and somehow wonder if I'll feel like working out after such a long day on my feet.:confused3 Aquasize would be a perfect option but its only offered in the mornings although I could take it on Thursday night. I'll have to really figure things out on that front.

I am a little worried about my March/April trip. I already told them I had this trip and will fill out the time off request Monday, but I hope they are okay with the fact it will be a total of 8 working days missed. I'll be glad when that process is complete. She said it was no problem but when I said "over spring break" she may have though it was only one week. I got online today to try to change our airfare but there's really nothing left since its such a busy time. Plus the cost to cut our trip short would be huge, even with having two nights less hotel (still would cost more). I am sure it will be fine, but I am so not used to having to worry about this kind of thing on my end!

[Amy&Dan]

I forgot to post earlier that my sister found an apartment! Although I worry about the location (inner city, just blocks from downtown and literally near skid row but also near two million dollar lofts and rennovated victorian houses) but its what she wants. I really worry about her dog, its a tiny apartment and at night, when its dark in a VERY high crime area, how is she supposed to walk him? On the other hand, there is no no chance she'll be wanting to live in my basement! She's excited, I am excited for her and once again, we'll be helping her get packed up and moved. Excpept this time she's not moving just two miles away and Dan and I are unable and frankly unwilling to shell out any money to help with the move. She managed to figure out and come up with the damage deposit, and now she'll have to do the same with the moving expenses. We are going down to see her tomorrow and hopefully she'll have figured some of that out. My nephew really wants me to take the dog (that is actually his dog) but we have tried it twice lately and he finds a way to get out of the yard, taking Daisy and Shelby with him and with me now working, well its not happening, besides she adores that dog and he keeps her company. He'll just have to adjust and she'll have to take him out for his potty run before the local drug dealers and nightfall became an issue.

[toystoryduo]

I'm so excited for you and your new job!:cool1: I hope you'll post on Monday and let us know how your first day went. :goodvibes

Sending more prayers for your friend and her DD. How is she doing without all of the meds?

That's great about WW! :) No worries about exercise, my friend.:hug: Once you are settled into your new routine, it will all fall into place. Plus, I bet you'll get some exercise at work as well.

I'm glad that your sister found a place to live, but it sounds like a scary area!:eek: Will her son be moving with her? I hope she can figure something out with her dog. If her son is moving with her, maybe he can walk the dog in the day when it's safer? Praying that all goes smoothly with the move and that they both stay safe!:wizard:

Have a nice weekend!:hug:

[DisDee]

I hope your first day went well! Let us know all about it.

I need a WW buddy. I've been thinking about giving it a shot to see how it goes for the next 5 weeks. I pulled out my materials and have to get started. As you said, going it alone doesn't work real well. Let me know if you want to do it.

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Denise and Tracy.:hug:

What a week! I do like my new job very much, but my feet are giving me fits. I stand for 8 solid hours, if I get a sit down break once for about ten minutes I am doing good. Two days this week, I didn't even have time to go to the bathroom. :sad2: But I think as I get more used to the routine and get faster with what I am doing that will get better. I need a better pair of shoes and of course losing weight would help tremendously.

The day flies by, I leave home a little after 6:00 and usually get home between 2:30-3:00. And collapse. Dd has nicely been giving me a foot massage which helps a lot. I have had retail jobs where I stood all day but that was 25 years ago and I was younger and thinner! Yesterday I stood for hours dicing cucumbers and making turkey rollups. I actually feel better when I make the food deliveries to the classrooms and am walking. Standing still for hours kills the footsies! But again, I think my body will adjust and I think new shoes will help.

Being so close to home, working on my own and doing my own schedule all makes this the perfect job. And I really like all the women who work there, the kids are so sweet (lets face it, the lady who delivers the food to the kiddos is ever popular lol) and being home before 3:00 are all nice. And I will get a real paycheck on Friday for the first time in almost 18 years. Hard to believe!

We had our first big snowstorm this week, we could have gotten up to 18 inches but luckily only got about 8 inches of snow. The roads were thankfully just slushy. But the good news is that with only two miles to travel, it wasn't going to be a big deal for me anyway. We managed to not lose any tree limbs with all that heavy wet snow on still leafed out limbs, but some of the northern suburbs are a mess. I hate these fall and spring snowstorms.

I have not worked out once, I am so dead tired when I get home all I want to do is sit and then take a hot bath before I start dinner. But I talked with a friend and we plan to walk on Tuesday's and Thursday's but I told her I needed to wait until next week for that. We may water walk which might be easier on my feet until again, they get used to this all day standing routine! Then I will do a workout on the weekend (again, not this weekend giving my body some time to adjust) and honestly, I think between the classes I am still teaching at church and the fact I am either standing or walking all day, will have to be enough. I am not going to kid myself that I can do a job this physical and work out daily too at my age and this weight. Three maybe four times per week will have to suffice. I want to buy a pedometer and see how many steps I take during the workday.

I also have to add, I love my husband.:love: He is really stepping up to the plate, he has his schedule down for Thursdays and Friday's when he works from home to do laundry and he mopped all the floors and vacumed on his lunch breaks those two days. Which leaves me only doing about half the housework I normally do on the weekend. Very helpful.

I told stepdad yesterday this isn't the job I "wanted to be when I grew up" but the pay is good, the hours are perfect and the people are so nice that I am feeling pretty lucky. I also feel like I have great job security, there is only one kitchen manager and its me and they can't operate without that position so as long as I do the job well, I think I am good.

Denise: I am trying to figure out when I want to start ww, I would love to be your ww buddy when I do! It may be a few weeks though. I cannot seem to find any of my materials, I think I may have tossed them.

Tracy: My nephew is staying in Colorado Springs and is getting his own place (with a roomate). I am glad for him, its high time but I do have to say, I am worried about my sister. But its what she wants. Dan and I talked and if her beagle cannot adjust to apartment living, we will have to figure out a way to have him here with us. We love him and he's Daisy's brother so he's family! I hope he adjusts.;) My sister is so good at taking plunges in life without thinking it all the way through. Rather than move someplace where Dan and I are closer, that has outdoor space that works for the dog, that's safer, she goes and does this and now has a one year lease. If she ever thought before she lept, well her life might be different. Still I am excited for her because it makes her happy, I just hope she'll be extrememly cautious. Nephew told her to be careful and to not walk after dark but that will be tough with shorter days and a dog who needs potty breaks.

[goldcupmom]

Wow! I had to go back & catch up when I read you have the job! Congrats!!!!!!!:cool1:

Also glad about your sister & the apartment. Things are looking up!!

Praying for your friend & her family. So hard to have a child so sick!

Amy & Dee I'll also be your WW buddy. I rejoined on the 18th. Finding it a bit easier this time to get in the groove with the points plus instead of points. Trying to view it as a totally new thing, not the WW I have done on & off again since 2003.

Have you had snow? I am really wanting snow, but know I won't see any. Makes me a bit sad. But life goes on!

Hope you have a great weekend! Water walking sounds perfect. Don't overstress your feet. You might try inserts. I got 2 pr of orthotic inserts at Costco & they have really helped my plantar issue & the metatarsal swelling & pain. Also shoes with good arches.

{{hugs}}

[DisDee]

Amy, I'm so glad you like your new job aside from the fatigue. It does take awhile to transition into a new routine. Get yourself a new pair of very supportive sneakers and that should help with your feet. I know that when I went to full time a month ago I has a tough time with eye strain and neck pain but my body got used to it after a few weeks. I'm sure yours will too.

Don't worry about the WW thing. As usual I started out really strong and then fizzled. Maybe we can make a commitment to each other for the New Year.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!!

[toystoryduo]

I'm so glad that you like your new job, Amy!:thumbsup2 I bet the new pair of tennis shoes will help a lot. :goodvibes Maybe you can get one of those mats that have cushion in them. We had one in front of our kitchen sink a few years ago and it really helped while standing in one place when washing dishes.

A snowstorm already?!?!?:eek: I hope it's all melted by now. :sunny:

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies, I am sorry to be so absent lately.

The job is going along well. I do have to say, I am not sure how long I can do this unless I lose a serious amount of weight.

If ever there was a time when I NEED to lose weight this is it. I have lost maybe 3-4 pounds but my food schedule is messed up. I basically eat breakfast at the crack of dawn and then frequently do not eat again until I get home. I come home starved, tired and in the worst pain I have been in.

I have been working about five hours of overtime a week which just adds another hour to my day on my feet.

I did take a walk tonight for the first time since I started working. My goal is to work out at least three times per week. Its not really a time issue as much as it is that sometimes I come home in so much pain I can't even imagine getting out of my chair. I have used the heating pad and taken more Advil in the last three weeks than the previous three years combined.

I really need to figure out exactly what strategy will work to get this weight off and also if this job is even the right job for me. I am not sure at 47 years of age a job in food service is a long term solution but for now, I am so thankful to have it. And I do have to say, I never worked with such a nice bunch of women and again, the location and hours are perfect. Just need to lose the weight so that I can do this without turning into an Advil addict!

[Amy&Dan]

Happy Thanksgiving Wish Friends!:)

My pain is getting better, one thing that helps is I have learned a few tricks that work for me. I change shoes about two thirds through the day, and MAKE myself take a 15 minute break where I prop up my feet, massage them a little and drink some water and take a couple of advil. I also come home and immediately get into a hot bath. No matter what I need to do, I do that. Its amazing how much better I feel. Still come home dog tired and hurting but by the time I take my bath, I feel close to normal.

I have taken off about 7 or 8 pounds since I started the job and hope to keep that up.

Working out still not happening much if at all, however, I do so much walking, lifting, standing and upper body working at my job, I am not too stressed about that and know that somehow, this will come into play soon enough.

Thanksgiving was nice, I have picked up a bit of a stomach bug but felt better yesterday and had a nice day of too much eating. And the rich food came back to haunt me today!

I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving, I can't believe the holidays are here. I am about to go over to stepdad's to put up his tree and clean his condo. Which I don't feel like doing but he needs his tree up and I want to make sure Dan and I do that for him. In the old days, we'd go over when my mom was alive and make a day of it. Now most of her decorations have come to me and my siblings so there is just the tree and a few other thngs (stepdad likes a "less is more" theme and is happy its not so decorated like my mom had it) it only takes about an hour. Which is good because I am tired and not feeling that great!

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!

[goldcupmom]

Glad the job is going ok & that weight is coming off. Sorry about the feet...I can relate. Maybe get one of those massaging foot bath things....I had to use one wi my ankle surgeries & they help. The mat idea is good, too.

Hope things are getting better. Kudos to your dh for helping. He's a keeper! Hope you have s restful weekend. :hug:

[toystoryduo]

Hi WISH sis! :wave:

I hope this finds you and your family doing well. :goodvibes I know it's been awhile since we've posted in our journals, so I thought I would stop by and say hello.

Have a great day tomorrow!:hug:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, good to see you, dare I welcome us both back???!!!

Well, life got busy to say the least. Going back to work full time after 17 years was a big adjustment but one I am happy to say I have made work very well. Dh has really risen to the occasion, I was a bit worried, lets face it, me being home spoiled him but he got right on board and we now share household duteis.

One of the biggest changes is me letting go of my need to run the house and all its occupants. :rolleyes1 I have learned the house does not have to be spotless all the time, if its picked up it still looks pretty clean. The kids can be on their own more and guess what, its good for them. I can say no very well now something I never felt like I could do because I was home and therefore had so much time (yeah right) on my hands why not say yes to every request from friends, family, church and school. It feels kind of good.

I have lost about 15 pounds since late October. Between having a very physical job and also not being home and by myself so much (its so much easier to pig out when nobody can see you) its been a good start. I did join Weight Watchers on New Year's Eve. So I have lost 8 pounds since then (so 7 on my own without dieting or watching what I ate just having much less opportunity for bingeing).

I worked out twice this week. This has defintely been my biggest struggle. I stand all day and go in very early. However, I am finding that working out actually makes me less tired. I even managed to get to the gym last night at 9:00 after I had taught my class at church. I literally did not have opportunity to work out before that but kept my promise to myself to walk for at least 45 minutes.

We leave for WDW in six weeks, and we are also going to DL for our 20th in July (kids coming with us so not exactly a romantic getaway lol). I am really excited for both trips. :yay:

My goals for the rest of February are to continue working out, preferably four days a week. I need to evaluate whether I want to renew my gym membership or maybe invest that money into a treadmill. Walking outside right now is impossible since we got 20 inches of snow last week and even though most have shoveled, as it melts off the grass, it runs onto the sidewalks, freezes and its a slow go.

I also want to get better about tracking points and getting more veggies in.

I feel like 2012 is off to a very strong start.

I PROMISe to get to journals tomorrow or Saturday, right now I need to go to bed, I have to get up in six hours. :sad2:

[goldcupmom]

Amy, I am SO GLAD you are back!!! I was thinking on Tuesday night that if you weren't back soon I would need to PM you & make sure all was ok. Glad it is!

CONGRATS on the weight loss! You are definitely on the right track!!

And a WDW and a DL trip in the sights! Lucky girl you are!

Hang in there & Welcome back! You have been missed!!!:grouphug:

[toystoryduo]

Way to go on your 15 pound weight loss, Amy!!!:cheer2: Keep up the good work!:cheer2:

Your trip is so close!!!:woohoo: I bet everyone is getting so excited!:cool1:

Have a great day today!:hug:

[eyor44]

Hello, Hello! My you have been busy. I am so happy for you. A new, perfect job. A gem of a DH. and you have a 15lb loss on top of everything. :banana::banana: And good news about your sister finding the apartment. How is she adjusting there? The dog okay?

I agree with you about working out even if you are tired. Some days I will want to cancel walking, but make myself go. I always feel better when we are done. Are you able to take better breaks now at work?

I am just so excited for you Amy. How wonderful that this worked out for you. :goodvibes

What day do you all leave WDW? We arrive on April 1 or 2, haven't decided yet.

[DisDee]

Amy, just checking in to say hi and congrats on the weight loss and a strong healthy start to 2012.

I think its really great how everything has come together for you and your family since you got the new job. Its amazing how much we're able to do as women and moms but don't forget to make some quality time for yourself.

Keep checking in now and again and let us know how you're doing.

[toystoryduo]

Two weeks from now, you'll be heading to Disney!!!! YAY!!! :woohoo::cool1: I bet everyone is getting super excited!:yay:

How has your week been? I hope all is well with you and your family!:goodvibes