Checking in from Peoria IL. DH is a snorin too loud and my noise machine broke!
Thanks to everyone who quotes, and thanks to those of you who summarize - I only went back two pages...
WELCOME, welcome WELCOME to the New Peeps... has UTM made you post your pix in a bikini yet? She swears its the best motivation!!

There was some talk of putting the pic up on your fridge too....
My name is Sandy, and its so nice to meet you!! I'm in IL, grew up in nw IN... married my high school sweetheart 25 years ago... we have 3 kids, 2 in college... since I read a newbie is in Speech and Path,, I know that - my ds is hard of hearing... he's 21, my middle son 18 is trying to major in Music, but is having an awful time in aural skills... and may switch to a Math Major! Our last baby came as a surprise to us, but planned by God - dd is 10, did you know ten is the new 15? Girls are different than boys...
I'm a permanant sub at our district, which means I get to work 3 days a week, and then I can advocate for my boys, and volunteer for my dd class! I too gained weight through those pregnancies, and never lost, and weigh more than I did with my 10# babies!!

I've joined ww, nutrasystems, and quite a few others in my past... and I'm hoping to lose 40# and to gain a better me - and dh says if I can run the 1/2 marathon in '08 he'll run the marathon...

he says its a safe bet as he knows how much I hate to run (I get shin splints, and my

e:

e: prohibits that much movement...
This weekend we were at a funeral for my great uncle, on my dad's side of the family. My dad's father had a brother. My dad's mother had a sister. My grandparents married, and had 4 kids, and the brother married the sister (this is so hard to 'splain, they werent siblings!!) and their off spring are considered "double cousins" coming from the same gene pool... and you can see so many people that look just like you!!
I have relatives in Champagne IL!! lots of them!! I'm going to meet them next time I come to town, at the Texas Roadhouse for lunch!!
Do you know how to go to a pizza parlor and not gain weight? Make them put green peppers on the pizzas, and when a lone cheese pizza comes out, make sure your dh gives it to all the kids, but forgets his wife!!

He's very supportive that way!!

Well, that's how I did it anyway!!
The bad part of the trip came roaring in last night. My mom and I have a relationship. Strained on my part, her she is just who she is. I'm a lot like her so I keep that in mind... Suffice it to say there was lots and lots of hysterical laughing, followed by a phone calls to those not here (my brother, and an aunt) followed by crying as my mom did what she did... and the aunt that is here put her foot down to stand up for me... I just left crying... and now as I sit here, I remember how Bob Greene, Oprah, and all the rest tell us that this weight is more than about the food, there is an emotional layer to all the eating...
So, even when you know what the emotional layer is... you have to stop. Food is my faithful friend... so very comforting at times like these, you know? My cousin adds that we have to eat to live... as other vices can be given up, but we need food to sustain life (she also wants to lose 40#) and as we all know it takes weeks and weeks to lose 5# but just one meal to gain it back...
I cant wait to get home... but first I have a lunch, and a BEARS game to do... and I have to figure out what to say to my mom, I just want to get through it... and not let her know how much she hurts me, because she never intends to... at least this time she didnt come running after me with the intent to "knock some sense into me"... *sigh
Like others have posted, lets keep up the humor, its the best medicine I can think of to replace food!!