As God is my witness, I'll never wear polyester again!

[crusin'minnie]

Hello everyone.

I'm in Las Vegas!! Our conference has an internet cafe set up so Voila I have stolen a few minutes and come to check in.

I have not left the hotel yet and I am going a little stir crazy. We go to Ceasars tonight to see Celine Dion and I am really jazzed about that.

I have been drinking a ton of water and I have not gone nuts with my eating. Although I am probably going over points each day. Still I am proud and hope to be able to continue the rest of this trip. If I can only maintain my weight I would be so happy.

My DM, DA, and DSister are flying in tomorrow (conference ends) so then the real fun begins. My Darling Grandmother (82) was supposed to come and it doesn't look like she will make it now. She has been having some heart palpitations and is at the Dr. office right now.

I doubt I will get to post again until Monday. Although it may be latter. Our flight is supposed to arrive in Houston Saturday at midnight and with Rita it is not looking so good. I guess there are worse places to be stranded that Vegas.

Alright I am going to find another bottled water and toast to my friends at the Dis. Thanks for checking in on me!!!!

 

[lovinaz]

Sounds like you are doing great drinking lots of water and making careful food choices! Have a blast and don't worry about what that scale says when you get home! Vegas lbs will come off quickly!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi!!!!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi!!! hope you are enjoying yourself!

Keep up the good work. And those Vegas pounds will come off......just like Amy said!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi There!!!!

Just wanted to pop in again and say hi! Hope all is well!!!

 

[crusin'minnie]

Hey LOOCIE I'm HOOME!!!

Hey guys I'm back! So here is my last 2 weeks in a nutshell.

Vegas!! Did really well the first 3.5 conference days. Drank lots of water. Got a free ticket to Celine Dion. FANTASTIC!!! Then my family arrived on Thurs. (DM, DSis, DA, DGM (Grandmother 82 ). They almost did not make it. They flew out of Houston and got to the airport 3 hours before the flight. Hobby (the smaller airport). It was a complete mob scene. My sister found the kiosk had almost no line because you could not check bags. So she made the rest of the group ditch their check bags and cram what they could into their carryons. They raced back to the car and dumped the check bags then raced back to security check and made it on the plane by the skin of their teeth. WHEW!!!! Now I must note here that DGM had only packed a small suitcase and a shoulder bag and she reminded the rest of our group a few times that they should have packed only what they really needed as she did. Gotta luv DGM.

Anyway we then embarked upon what I like to call the "VEGAS FOOD FEST OF 2005". It was ugly guys! I did continue to drink water no soft drinks, but that was about the extent of my dieting virtues for the next 3.5 days.

Thursday -We ate a yummy buffet at the Fiesta Henderson, then dinner at Top of the World at the Stratosphere (unbelievable view).

Friday- We hit the strip and ate the "best deal in Vegas" which was lunch at Ellis Island $4.95 for Salad, 10oz sirloin, potato, vegetable and rolls. And I had two coupons for buy one get one free That night we ate at Onda at the Mirage and saw Ray Romano (DGM favorite!!)

Saturday- We could not fly home had to stay another night. Green Valley Ranch was very accomodating and gave us a $79 rate! We ate at Fado's Irish Pub for brunch- yummy. Then played bingo at Sunset Station and then came back to Green Valley for a nap. DGM was tired so we did not hit the strip that night but played and ate at Green Valley. Chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.

Sunday- DSis and DGM and I went down early to hit the slots. At the elevator 2 older guys in swim trunks with messed up hair were getting off. One of them smiled at DGM and asked her "Aren't I the man of your dreams?" Without missing a beat she quipped "Not Hardly" We ate at the Original Pancake house (again yummy) and checked out and made it to the airport.

I do have to admit that in the midst of all this gambling and eating extravaganza we were watching TV and making calls home. We are all from central LA (except DSis -Houston) and when Rita turned we were worried sick about everyone back home. Luckily I was able to phone my 3 DD's at MIL and they never lost phone service.

It was very strange driving home from Houston to central LA. No electricity the whole way. South LA has been devastated. DH got called out to work in Cameron for 6 days. He said it was so sad. The town hall is partially standing- everything else has been wiped out. 3500 people in that town. They were allowed back in to see if they could salvage anything, but DH said most everything was destroyed.

I had birthday parties for 2 of my DD's this past Sat. and 7 out of town guests (and no DH to help). So it has been a whirlwind for me since I left for Vegas.

Now- back to the grindstone. I will be going to WI on Thursday. Heaven help me. A toast "To climbing back on the wagon"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Amy- We will see if you are right about Vegas lbs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jamie- thanks for checking in on me!!! I really appreciate it.

 

[lovinaz]

Sounds like you had an awesome trip! I know am right about the Vegas pounds - I am Queen of Vacation Gaining... I am in the same boat as you right now except mine are Mexico pounds... But have no worries, together we can tame those evil vacation lbs and make them flee in fear!!!

Welcome back and you will be back on track in no time!!! I wouldn't worry about Thursdays weigh in. Just go in expecting to have gained a couple then you won't be as disappointed IF you did.

 

[crusin'minnie]

WI today. (Star wars Darth Vader music here)

I will be accountable and move forward.

I went ahead and booked our room for the Thanksgiving trip!!! I used Priceline and got Gaylord Palms for $83/ night. We usually stay on site, but I am protesting the changes to the AP Discounts this time. I thought DH would have something to say since (short of lipsuction) there is no way I can make my deal weight. Not a word. He is tired out from Hurricane work and major stress at work from some idiots there. I think he needs to go to the happy place too!!!

 

[rcyannacci]

Glad your back!!! I sucked down the water in Vegas; it's SO dry there.

Good luck with weigh-in!

 

[Cruise04]

Sounds like you had a great trip. I would LOVE to see Celine Dion. But don't know if I'll ever make it before she ends but there's always hope.

Sounds like, even you may think you aren't, you are doing good - you have a good grasp on what you need to do and what you are doing. That's is great and is something that is hard to gain when you first start up. Keep up the good work!

Chris

 

[keenercam]

Welcome Back! So glad you had a great trip. Now you can get back on track and stay focused for the next 6 or 7 weeks until you and DH get to go to your happy place!

Have a great day!

 

[crusin'minnie]

I lost .6 lbs !!!!

I still can't believe it! I soooo don't deserve it, but maybe this is payback for that week I gained and did not deserve that. Regardless I'm gonna take it and run!

I purchased a fresh new journal and I am seriously journaling today.

I have been really thirsty and slurping down the water. Plus I brought a healthy snack and a slimfast drink for lunch so I should have plenty o points for dinner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christin- You're not kidding about it being dry in Vegas. This Louisiana skin was really glad to get back to it's natural humid environment. I never thought about that being the reason I drank so much water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris- Celine was amazing. If you are a big fan it is a must. I got my ticket free at my conference. I like her music, but was never a huge fan and I don't think I could fork out $200 to see anyone in concert-but it was really amazing. Her coliseum holds @4500 people but it still feels intimate. FANTASTIC!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keenercam- Thanks for the encouragement!!

 

[lovinaz]

YAY on the loss!!! AND the Thanksgiving trip!!! See, you are not doing as bad as you think. Who knows what weight you will be down to by the time you go?!?!? You might surprise yourself!

I am the exact opposite of you regarding humidity. My brother was stationed in Shreveport a couple years ago and I went to visit him for 4th of July and I thought I was going to suffocate and die! It's like I could actually chew the air. Here in AZ it is hot, but the sweat evaporates as soon as it comes out of your pores. I don't know how you guys do it in the summer, hats off to you!!!

Keep up the good work Cindy, you are doing it!

 

[Cruise04]

Just checking in to see how you are doing. Hope everything is okay.

Keep on
Chris

 

[crusin'minnie]

I'm Back!!!!

Went on my second trip to Las Vegas Oct. 25th. I did not fare as well on this trip. I did not drink as much water as I did before. We ate at alot of really great restaurants. I did not eat desserts in the restaurants instead I would treat myself to a hot chocolate after dinner. (I figure that had to save some calories and fat grams) But still I could feel my clothes were tighter after this trip.

So I have been floundering the last few weeks trying to get myself back on track. That is why I have not been posting. Guilt.

I finally faced the music and went to WI Thurs. I gained 1.8lbs. I felt that was more than fair. I am determined to take it off before this week's WI. So far so good. The clothes are feeling better.

Of course the sad thing is I am getting back on track just in time for my trip to WDW. Oh well! I am planning on doing most breakfasts in the room so that will help and we will pack a few lunches in the park. Also the water should not be a problem.

I can't believe we leave in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jane E.]

Cindy, you get the best deals on hotels!! We stayed at the Gaylord Palms for a conference when they first opened. The conference rate was $150 per night plus a resort fee and this was several years ago. Also, great job on the Green Valley Ranch stay! I loved watching American Casino on Discovery Channel when it was on.

1.8 lbs isn't bad for a trip to Vegas. I've heard of much worse. You'll lose that in no time! Have fun on your upcoming trip to Disney.

 

[crusin'minnie]

Thanks Jane!!!

I also just added a Sat. night at the Dolphin to our trip. (Now we'll just have to drive straight back on Sunday.) We have never stayed at the Swan or Dolphin so we are really excited. $149 government employee special thru DU. DH is a police officer.

Diet is going well. I have only used 6 flex points since Friday. I do need to kick up the water a notch though

I found some new WW candies at the store. The Crispy Butter Cream Caramels are wonderful. I also got the toffee bars, good but sticky. They are only 1 pt. each.

Only 4 days until WDW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jane E.]

Dh and I stayed at the Dolphin last year for one night. They have the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on. Their location next to Epcot is unbeatable. Also, we loved being close to Jelly Rolls. Have a great time on your trip. All that walking at WDW will keep you in great shape!

 

[lovinaz]

I'm with Jane, 1.8 lbs for a Vegas trip is nothing! I can gain that in one meal...

Your trip will be so great! Don't worry about your weight, HAVE FUN! Deal with the weight when you come back. I'm sure you won't do as bad as you think.

 

[Cruise04]

Hope you have a great trip to Disney. And I agree - 1.8 gain ain't bad!!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[crusin'minnie]

Thanks guys!!

I am planning on enjoying my trip- but trying to be reasonable!

WI today. Wish me luck.