Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[lovinaz]

Ahhh, I forgot you have DVC! That is definitely a financial motivator to stick with the WDW trips!

Maybe you can reschedule your adults-only trip for later this year or even next year?? Better late than never, right?

 

[Goofydiane]

Amy - I forgot you had DVC too. I've never purchased, although I've thought about it.

I'm sorry to hear that your vacation with friends needed to be cancelled. In these times, it is about making some non-fun decisions. Maybe you could invite these friends to a Disney vacation?

Or we just have a WISH board vacation at Disney and we all meet up!

 

[DisDee]

I'm in for the WISH trip. When are we going and where are those Mai Tai's? I actually know a couple that hit the Pa. lottery for 13 mill, so it does happen for us everyday people. If I hit, you're all invited.

 

[goldcupmom]

Hope you have a safe trip, Amy! If you fill gas in Pueblo, you should be able to make it to Albuquerque area without having to stop & pay a fortune! I'll be thinking about you coming thru here! I'd recommend not hitting albuquerque during friday morning rush hour, as I-25/I-40 interchange is usually a MESS!! Also, if you fill in Albuquerque, you should make Amarillo without having to get gas. (Yes, I've done MANY trips in both directions for gymnastics)

You did really well getting a sub instead of Pizza. Willpower is STRONG!!

I, too, vote for us winning the lottery! I'm so there in wanting to move to FL!! My DNieces who live an hour from WDW just booked camping at FtW every 6 weeks for the year (with a 40% off coupon, of course!) I am SO JEALOUS!!!!!!

Have a great rest of the week!

 

[toystoryduo]

ohhh i'm their, lets all buy a lottery ticket - & if one of us wins & moves us all out their we'd make the news & then someone would write a book about it & then they'd want to make a movie about us & then we'd be famous & make even more money to stay & then we could be on cribs & in OK magazine & throw annual DIS WISH bashes, that all the rich & famous would come to & we could advertise diet products or even better create our own weight loss programme........i'm getting carried away ...great idea Tracy

I like how you think, Tracey!!!! Sounds like a great idea to me!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Okay gals, I am IN for moving to Florida and having weekly WISH meets. We can just drink our way around the World Showcase and as long as we run between booze stops, we'll burn calories! I have my lottery winnings spent. Now I just need to start buying tickets!

Julie, I am not going that route, we always go through Raton and then catch 287/87 into Amarillo. But I'll be in your state for a couple of hours or so!

So my latest sad tale is now our October Disneyland trip is cancelled. All this wondering about trips, money, etc., got me to figuring our budget for the rest of the year. Given our trip to WDW, ds' mission trip and this wedding we just can't do that one either. We are also going to Chicago in July to see my brother. I had thought we would stay at my brother's house but then realized this is not a good idea. So I booked a hotel for that, which is more money than I had budgeted for that trip but probably money well spent. So no DL trip this year. We will probably do that in the summer of 2010 and then "gasp" not go to WDW at all that year. I have to realize that Dan no longer travels for work, ff miles are over for us and that the expenses with my kids are so much higher right now. We just cannot travel to the extent we have in the past. Oh well, poor us. I know, I know, I am whining. Diane is right, this economy is about no fun for all of us. So I just need to suck it up.

I am just packing, cleaning and trying to get ready for the wedding. I need to try on my dress with my shoes, panty hose, etc. When I tried it on at the store I had on gym socks and in that tiny dressing room it was hard to tell. I hope I like it and it fits as well as I think it does. If not, I am in trouble, its too late to buy anything else!

My sister was bragging about the lovely dress she bought at Macy's in the petite department. Nice for her. Never mind she got that dress with the beyond generous Macy's card I gave her for Christmas. Whatever. One thing about it, me looking like a fat house frau in my dowdy dress from Catherine's will give her a new lease on life. I am always happy to oblige!

 

[lovinaz]

I'm sure your dress looks fine! Stop being mean to yourself (even though I was cracking up! )!!!

Bummer about the Oct trip, but you are still going on a couple different trips this year, so focus on that! I'm pretty sure Disneyland will be there in '10.

Hope your WI goes well tomorrow so you can start of your trip with some fresh motivation to behave!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Amy, yes I know how lucky we are to travel as much as we do! Its just hard for Dan and I to realize that here we are, with him making so much less than he used to. Its hard to give up a lifestyle we loved and adjust to the fact this is the way it is. Oh well, its amazing how many things we have cut back in our lives and still lived to tell about it. We have now come to realize life is not going back to the good old days for us but we have each other, healthy kids and if we can still take a Disney trip every year, I'd say we are doing better than most.

I think one of the things that made me sad about this DL trip is this was also going to be time spent with fil. His health is not good and although he at times drives me batty, we love to see him. He is going to try very hard to come to Florida in June. He can travel, just not to our altitude. This is another thing I miss. In the past, Dan and I paid for fil to come to us, we just can't do that anymore. So if he can't come to Florida and we can't go there, its going to be awhile before we see him. Its never really apparent how he is doing, he has been known to be less than honest about his health so we have to sort of see him with our own eyes to know that he's okay.

Food yesterday was weird but came in okay on points. I am so tired today and must take a nap. I have 420 miles to drive beginning at 4:00 p.m. Dan got very little sleep (up working most of the night, why do problems always come up when he's about to take a day off?). So I told him I'll drive and he can sleep.

I packed my own food for the trip. This way we aren't eating out meals in between all the meals that are provided by the wedding. Save some money and calories! I am bringing turkey and lite bread for sandwiches to eat on the way home. Its supposed to be really nice, we can stop at a rest stop, stretch our legs and have a picnic. This is going to be my first road trip to not pig out across state lines! For some reason being in the car always makes me insanely bored and hungry. So here's hoping my 100 calorie snacks and fruit holds out!

 

[toystoryduo]

Amy,

I'm so sorry to hear that you had to cancel the DL trip. I totally understand where you are coming from. It took my DH and I weeks to decide that our annual WDW trip was not in the cards for this December. (We decided to go with the September trip since the food is free. ) Here's hoping that the economy picks up sooner than later and we can all resume travel plans for next year!

I'm sure the dress looks fine, Amy ! Maybe a reminder to your sister about how grateful she must be too have gotten such a generous Macy's gift card to purchase the dress in the first place will help. (I'm just sayin'.... )

Sending some to help you with your packing. I hope you have a safe, relaxing, and fun trip this weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, when we decided not to take our DL trip I thought of you and your dh and how you had had to cancel your December WDW trip. If you guys can do it, we can! I haven't officially cancelled, (it was points at the DLH so no money in yet) but will in early summer. If Dan should get any sort of bonus and if fil can't come to FL we may still go. But I think that is so slim its not even worth considering. Bonus in this econonmy? Porbably not.

Weighed in and was down a pound. So I am at 9 even since Janury 2nd. Not as much as I would like as usual but I am happy I lost. Given my spotty food and no exercise since Monday, I am pretty lucky I lost even that pound!

Just packed my cooler, now have to pack clothes. I just keep saying this wedding isn't about food so I need to not make it that way. Losing the pound helps me hopefully to stay motivated. If not, well its two days!

I am taking the computer so I'll check in on Saturday!

 

[traceycooper]

so sad you had to cancell your trip Amy
I'm sure the dress looks lovely, remember if you carry yourself with confidence & pride you'll look 10 lb's slimmer
Enjoy the healthy snacks - have a safe, fun trip
missing ya already

 

[lovinaz]

Great job getting that healthy stuff packed for the trip! I am with you on the eating in the car thing, it's just so BORING! Maybe you can read a good book or something to pass the time?

CONGRATS on the loss!!!! I'd kill to be 9lbs down since the beginning of the year, you are really close to that 10lb pin!

Have a great trip, and you have the right attitude - the wedding is about FAMILY, not food.

 

[Goofydiane]

Amy - quit putting yourself down, you are going to look great in your dress and your family (husband/kids) love you for who you are inside. Who cares that your sister is in a new dress from Macy's, she doesn't seem happy. From what I've learned about you, you are the glue that holds everyone in your family together, your family looks to you for strength and you have it for everyone.

Look at what you've accomplished this year -
9 lbs lost!
exercise goals met!
planning good choices when you know you will be tempted
giving support to all of us here

I don't know where I would be without your support on these boards, you are strong for all of us and you are beautiful inside and out!

 

[toystoryduo]

Great job on your weight loss and on planning healthy foods for your trip, Amy!

I hope you have a wonderful time at the wedding!

 

[toystoryduo]

How did the wedding go, Amy? I hope everyone had a great time!

Have a wonderful week ahead!

 

[traceycooper]

hope you had a fab time at the wedding Amy

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks everybody, you ladies always say the nicest things! The wedding was wonderful! My niece looked gorgeous and we had so much fun with family. The weather was also perfect but I didn't manage to exercise. We had brake problems and Dan spent much of Saturday finding a Ford dealership that could fix it, leaving me and the kids stuck in the hotel room. I should have walked on the treadmill and I did go down but some young guy was running on the other one and I just felt too self conscious. Isn't that stupid? I was also stressed and so worried we would not be able to drive home if they couldn't find the part. I did horrible on food on Saturday but much better yesterday and today. It really helped having food to eat on the road going out. I just really didn't stress too much about food because it was a special occasion. It was really only Friday and Saturday that I ate too much. The rehearsal dinner was Mexican and no way was I going to sit there and stress. So I ate til I was full and just had fun.

I must say, I hated my dress. It was soooo clingy and I forgot my slip and by the time Dan got back, it was too late to go buy one. I could have my sister take me shopping but I would rather eat dirt than have her take me to a big size store or department to find a slip. I just didn't think it was that flattering and was really wishing I had just worn the dress I bought for my mom's funeral last year which fit much nicer. Oh well. It was comfortable which was good, the dumb people my cousin hired to clean up the reception didn't show so we all pitched in and cleaned it up ourselves! I really hope my cousin hadn't paid them yet. In any case, it probably looked fine, I should have shopped around more but really and truly who cares! The great thing about a wedding, is that all eyes are tuned to the bride, not my clingy dress!

Came home with an upset stomach, probably a combo of nerves and all that time in the car. We have dinner with stepdad tonight which will be frozen pizza and potato salad. Yummo (not!). I also don't feel like going over there tonight in the slightest. Stepdad kindly informed me last week he feels sorry for me because people probably make fun of me behind my back. I really think maybe he has a lack of oxygen to his brain! It'll be interesting to see what he comes up with tonight, can't wait for that. This will be my good deed for the next several weeks.

There is no way I can make February's challenge. Oh well, there is always next month. I think I'll go back to 700-800 minutes. 950 is apparently too much for me which is pathetic given how so many people on this board do as many as 3000 minutes! I am actually okay with this, but hate to lose my own game! I really miss my treadmill, its not my favorite but it was such a great backup on cold days. Oh well, that treadmill is as old as dd so it lasted quite awhile! I may check out some garage sales this spring and see if I can pick up a new one. And I need to break out the exercise DVD's and do those when I want to exercise at home. I have a Jillian one I have never used (loaned it to a friend and she just brought it back at long last). If Jillian can't motivate me who can!

Thanks again for all the nice comments, as always you all motivate and inspire me!

 

[Goofydiane]

Glad you enjoyed the wedding, and you are right - all eyes are always on the bride. Sorry to hear about the car issues, nothing like being out of town and having a car issue to add to the stress level. Happened to me once while driving to Disney - my car key wouldn't come out of the ignition and I didn't know what to do, it was at night and I wasn't leaving the car outside with a key in it all night! Nothing like stress when you are miles from home.

Check out 2nd Wind or something similar for a treadmill, they usually have some great deals on used treadmills.

and know that we inspire each other!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy,

I'm glad that you enjoyed the wedding. I'm sorry to hear that you had car trouble. That would have stressed me out too!

How did dinner with your stepdad go? Has he always made comments like that to you? Going to dinner last night was your good deed for several weeks!

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Diane: I was really worried about that car issue. It started when I was driving over Raton Pass late at night. Its very isolated out there so we pressed on (horrible noise stopped) thinking maybe I had run over something like a tumbleweed or piece of plastic (which was all over the highway). It all worked out, thank goodness the Amarillo Ford dealership had the part.

Tracy: Stepdad used to be the quite the opposite. But as he's gotten older he's sort of lost his filter! He does it with everyone. I remember my grandmother being like that too as she got older. But for some reason it bugged me less with her!

Dinner was a diet disaster! The menu: pepperoni pizza, cashews, potato salad, seafood salad and ice cream. Luckily he only made one tiny pizza for all five of us so I only got one piece. But the cashews killed me. And I had done so good all day! Oh well. I think next time I'll have him over here. For one thing, ds has so much homework at night and he can't do it over there (no computer) so by the time we got home it was past 7:30 and he was up until 11:00. Way too late on a school night. I also just hate going over there. Without my mom that house feels so empty. And seeing the furniture etc that stepdad still refuses to sign over to us in his will, upsets me too. When I think about all the happy times we spent there, it makes the here and the now depressing.

Today I plan to walk, finished getting unpacked and finish our budget for the year. All fun stuff. Or not! Its a nice day and I plan to call my friend, if she can't walk I'll just go myself. I haven't exercised properly since last Tuesday. I also need to grocery shop, we have no food in this house or so my kids tell me. And I also plan to spend a couple of hours job hunting. A friend of mine told me about this one ladies clothing store in the mall that is hiring part time help. So I plan to check into that and an employment agency she says has lots of entry level jobs. I figure after I work on our budget, that will really motivate me to job hunt.

Hope everyone is having a great day.