WISH Away The Pounds~ Marvelous May 2014 Challenge! *All Welcome!*

[Connie96]

Two outdoor projects today. One was to plant 3 shrubs and a tree that I bought about a month ago. The second was to build a "river bed" style drainage solution in the front bedding area running from the downspout to the edge of the sidewalk. Lots of hard work but it felt good to do it.

 

[lisah0711]

Sounds like a lot of work but I'm sure it is very beautiful now that you are done.

Yard work is on our agenda today, too. We are spreading bark -- we call it the dessert project because it is done last and it always looks so nice when it is done.

I had a fabulous race yesterday. Got a new PR and took 1:09 off each mile from my race in April.

Happy Memorial Day all!

 

[Connie96]

Congrats on the new PR Lisa! That's awesome!

 

[Rose&Mike]

Hello all you Losers!

I thought I would post while we were traveling last week, but I didn't even get my computer out. We drove to SC saw DS and hung out for a day or so, then went to Orlando for 6 days (Mike worked two days remotely.) Then back to SC to see DS again, and home yesterday. Over two thousand miles on the car in 9 days. I am not a big fan of the car.

I did not plan well, my eating was horrible and I had a few cokes. So need to detox yet again...

Anyhow, I think we have finally decided to rent a one bedroom apartment here and buy a house in South Carolina. We are there at least once a month. We really don't want to buy a house here. Even if DS does not end up permanently in the area, we all love it there, and I know he will visit a bunch. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes moving forward.

Need to get my act together on the food, because I am rapidly approaching a number I swore I would never see again.

Hoping to read back and catch up on what's going on with everyone.

 

[lisah0711]

Congrats on the new PR Lisa! That's awesome!

Thanks! I can't get over how much I love running now that I am doing shorter distances.

Hello all you Losers!

I thought I would post while we were traveling last week, but I didn't even get my computer out. We drove to SC saw DS and hung out for a day or so, then went to Orlando for 6 days (Mike worked two days remotely.) Then back to SC to see DS again, and home yesterday. Over two thousand miles on the car in 9 days. I am not a big fan of the car.

I did not plan well, my eating was horrible and I had a few cokes. So need to detox yet again...

Anyhow, I think we have finally decided to rent a one bedroom apartment here and buy a house in South Carolina. We are there at least once a month. We really don't want to buy a house here. Even if DS does not end up permanently in the area, we all love it there, and I know he will visit a bunch. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes moving forward.

Need to get my act together on the food, because I am rapidly approaching a number I swore I would never see again.

Hoping to read back and catch up on what's going on with everyone.

Sounds like a great vacation, Rose! That will be fun looking for a house in SC and you can be snowbirds for awhile.

This is pretty much my mantra on my weight loss . . .

Have a great week all!

 

[pjlla]

Good morning my friends!! WOWZA, it feels like I haven't been here in FOREVER! I have missed you all!

Of course, life has been crazy!! I brought DD home on 5/14 for her VERY BRIEF summer break, drove back on 5/19 to move her into her summer apartment, then I worked on 5/20 and we left for our Mother/Daughter roadtrip on 5/21. We did Niagara Falls and then a trip to northern NY state to visit the childhood homestead of Almanzo Wilder. We were playing it by ear as to when we might come home (Saturday or Sunday), but made the decision to push through and get home Saturday night. That was a GOOD decision! We had so much stuff to sort through for DD to take back to school (she brought ALL of her clothing home to sort, etc).

Yesterday we got her car loaded up with the clothes and remaining kitchen stuff, made a Target stop, a grocery stop, and a Staples stop (for a new GPS to go along with the car we bought her ) and then FINALLY made it back to her summer apartment. Got everything unloaded and unpacked and DH followed us down a few hours behind to pick me up (DD wasn't quite ready to tackle a 2.5 hour drive in the new car by herself.... she hasn't really driven much over the last 18 months).

I feel like I have done nothing but DRIVE for days now! We had so much fun on our trip, but it was definitely a more relaxed pace than our usual Disney commando-style touring or our GO-GO-GO types of trips. But it was nice to not be on a tight schedule or feel like if we didn't rush around we wouldn't see everything.

Niagara Falls was absolutely spectacular! So worth the 8+ hour drive!! We did the Maid of the Mist boat ride and the Cave of the Winds tour and they were both crazy cold and wet and a BLAST! I'll try to share a few pictures later.

But now, of course, we are both back to "LIFE" and things feel SO out of control! Fridge is a bit bare and there are no meals planned for the week, house is a bit of a disaster zone, DD's room is just a MASS of STUFF that she left behind, plus there is stuff in the garage that doesn't belong there (her fridge and some decorative stuff and books that she didn't want to have in the apartment. Nothing has been dusted for days and while DS did tell me he vacuumed while I was gone, it still looks pretty bad around here! Plus I have to get ready to work tonight. The school wanted me to work today, but I said a big fat NO to that!

Eating while I was away was overall very good and I worked hard to make good choices.... but I did have one big splurge that unfortunately carried over a bit to the next day (we ordered a pizza to the hotel room and had the leftovers for lunch the next day... ). And I'll admit I haven't journaled a single BITE since last Tuesday night. But back on track today, of course!! I'm sure that the scale will be UP this week because although I worked hard to make good choices, I'm sure I was over my Points target a few times.... and as you all know, it is especially hard to know exactly how to count restaurant food, etc. That being said, other than one morning at a Hilton Garden Inn (where I had a veggie egg white omelet and fruit), we had breakfast in the room from the cooler.... yogurt and instant oatmeal and fruit and tea.... plus a few lunches in from the cooler as well (yogurt and carrot sticks and popcorn and fruit) to save money and calories.

But we got plenty of walking in on Wednesday evening and Thursday with the sightseeing around the Falls. Not so much on Friday, as it was very cool and overcast and we mostly just did Cave of the Winds and then rode in the car. DD came down with a bad cold that morning and so we took it a bit easy. And Saturday was a lot of car riding as well (4+ hours from Auburn, NY to Malone, NY in the morning and then 5 hours from Malone to home in the evening), but we did walk around the homestead for about an hour.

I'll take a minute to try to catch up here and possibly answer a few QOTD before I get moving with my day here!..............P

 

[pjlla]

Howdy folks!

QOTD Wednesday, May 21, 2014: It's Woo Hoo Wednesday! Give yourself a big "woo hoo" for helping yourself to be healthy and share something that you did this week to help you with your goals. Hopefully you don't feel like you've been on the wildest ride in the wilderness!

I resisted a LOT of tempting JUNK while I was away with DD!! Ice cream, the entire dessert tray at one particular restaurant, cocktails, etc!

A friendly reminder that tomorrow is weigh in day.

This is my last day of coaching and I'm not sure if we have any more coaches lined up so don't be afraid to pop on and say hello and post a QOTD of your own if you would like if we don't have a formal coach.

I'll post a QOTD for today to help keep us moving!!

In honor of the approaching weigh in day let's talk about the scale with a little help from our friends at sparkpeople.com, of course.

55 Things the Scale Doesn't Tell You

QOTD Thursday, May 22, 2014: So what is your scale not telling you? It can be something from the list or something else.

BBL with my own answer.

Th scale does not tell me my worth as a Christian, as a wife, as a daughter, or as a mother. It is JUST a number.

I really, really try to believe that the scale is just a number and not who am I but I have to confess when I get a number that I don't like it makes me and and -- like yesterday when I had worked so hard all week and was down .4. But we have a saying in our WW meeting. "Did you have a bad week? You have 30 minutes to get over it!" So I did get over it and lost another pound today.

GREAT!!!!!!!

Does anyone have any fun plans for the long week-end?

I have a 5k on Sunday and we are spending the rest of the time hanging out at home and working in the yard. All the entrees are being cooked on the grill and my eating plan is portion control and staying within my points.

Don't forget to PM those weigh ins to donac.

Sounds like a good weekend.

Happy Friday!!!

First week of this challenge... gained 1.2.
Second week of this challenge... back to even for the month.
Third week of this challenge... DOWN 2.6!!!!

It feels so good to be moving in the right direction again!!!

WOOHOO!!

Oh, and Plexus came thru for me again yesterday. When I was in that training session, they brought in lunch from Jason's Deli. I selected a wrap and a big pile of fruit from the fruit tray. There was also a large platter of cookies and brownies that I just had no real interest in. It's going to take me a while to get used to NOT having a reaction to such things. It's just so unlike me.

Good job making the SMART choice!

I don't know if this is QOTD worthy but I do have a question for everyone...

If you listen to music while you workout or run or walk or whatever, do you listen to songs that have been remixed specifically for workouts or do you just build a playlist of your favorite general releases? Either way, what are your favorite workout songs/albums?

Lots of times, I'll listen to podcasts or Audible books while I run or walk; working on the mind and the body at the same time and, depending on content, perhaps the spirit as well. But, when music is called for, my go to workout album (which I can't find on itunes any more) is very much like this one: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/50-1-workout-christian-hits!/id703888203 I think the one I have may just be a slightly older version but has mostly the same songs.

I still think that RunDisney should produce a cardio/running album. Something similar to "Four Parks One World" but remixed for serious movement. I would totally buy that album.

LOVE that idea!! I have a playlist that DD made for me, but I need to tweak it as there are some songs that I ALWAYS want to skip.

Congratulations on a great loss, Connie! And for resisting the siren's call of the goodies! I think you've found a product that really works well for you.

Thanks for reminding me I need to do a mix for my race tomorrow. I do mixes of my regular music. I've tried using one of the apps that helps you find music with a certain number of BPM but I haven't found one that I really like or can get to work.

I do have this list one of my WISH friends posted on FB that is geared to a 15mm:

Get On Your Feet - Gloria Estefan
Wake Me Up – Avicii
I Love It – Icona Pop
Light a Roman Candle With Me – Fun
Titanium – David Guetta & Sia
Remember When (Push Rewind) – Chris Wallace
Pumpin Blood – NONONO
All the Pretty Girls – Fun
Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welch) – Calvin Harris
Are You Ready? – Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Glad You Came – The Wanted
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
Tonight Tonight – Hot Chelle Rae
Red – Taylor Swift
Ice Ice Baby – Glee cast version
Bust A Move – Glee cast version
Forget You – Glee cast version
Thriller/Heads Will Roll – Glee cast version
Firework – Glee cast version
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Glee cast version
Bad Romance – Glee cast version
Old Time Rock & Roll – Bob Seger
Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Little Boots
Crush – Glee cast version
If you need to go a little faster:
Do You Believe in Magic – Aly & AJ
Burning Love – Wynona (Lilo & Stitch soundtrack)

I also have some club mixes for Pirates of the Caribbean songs that have really good beats.

You have to be careful with some of the mixes on Itunes because the songs may not be sung by the original artist and that is annoying if you don't figure it out until it's already yours.

Enjoy the long week-end!

Great list! Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like a lot of work but I'm sure it is very beautiful now that you are done.

Yard work is on our agenda today, too. We are spreading bark -- we call it the dessert project because it is done last and it always looks so nice when it is done.

I had a fabulous race yesterday. Got a new PR and took 1:09 off each mile from my race in April.

Happy Memorial Day all!

WOOHOO on the PB!!!

Hello all you Losers!

I thought I would post while we were traveling last week, but I didn't even get my computer out. We drove to SC saw DS and hung out for a day or so, then went to Orlando for 6 days (Mike worked two days remotely.) Then back to SC to see DS again, and home yesterday. Over two thousand miles on the car in 9 days. I am not a big fan of the car.

I did not plan well, my eating was horrible and I had a few cokes. So need to detox yet again...

Anyhow, I think we have finally decided to rent a one bedroom apartment here and buy a house in South Carolina. We are there at least once a month. We really don't want to buy a house here. Even if DS does not end up permanently in the area, we all love it there, and I know he will visit a bunch. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes moving forward.

Need to get my act together on the food, because I am rapidly approaching a number I swore I would never see again.

Hoping to read back and catch up on what's going on with everyone.

Congrats on making a BIG decision about the future!! Sorry that the Coke hit happened, but you are ready to move on again, I'm sure.

**********************

Okay friends.... I'm feeling a bit more caught up!! Now to catch up on real life here! TTYL.................P

 

[pjlla]

Unofficial QOTD for Tuesday, May 27, 2014:

The fridge seems bare, there is nothing planned, and the family is crying out for dinner.... What is your back-up plan/emergency meal plan? Do you keep a spare meatloaf in the back of the freezer? Do you call it a breakfast for dinner night and pull out the eggs or pancake mix? Open a can of soup? Or do you give in and pull out the pizza delivery menu?

 

[pjlla]

And here are a few not-so-flattering pictures of me at Niagara (nothing of DD because she needs to give her okay before I put pictures of her on the web).

Wednesday evening when we arrived to a lovely sunset on the American Falls....

Looking a wet mess on the Maid of the Mist in front of Horseshoe Falls....

At the base of Bridal Veil Falls.... standing in some VERY COLD water!

That's all for now!...................P

 

[lisah0711]

Unofficial QOTD for Tuesday, May 27, 2014:

The fridge seems bare, there is nothing planned, and the family is crying out for dinner.... What is your back-up plan/emergency meal plan? Do you keep a spare meatloaf in the back of the freezer? Do you call it a breakfast for dinner night and pull out the eggs or pancake mix? Open a can of soup? Or do you give in and pull out the pizza delivery menu?

Breakfast for dinner is always a good go to option when the fridge is bare or even when you just don't feel like doing a bit dinner. Soup would work, too, but maybe it is getting too hot for soup? I always have pasta and a bag of frozen vegetables in the freezer -- pasta primavera if you want to add a can of tomatoes (I always have those, too) or pasta salad if you want to toss with fat free italian dressing. Or send one of those guys who ate all the food to the store with a list.

Sounds like you have a great time with DD, Pamela! Thanks for posting a QOTD!

 

[bigsis1970]

Unofficial QOTD for Tuesday, May 27, 2014:

The fridge seems bare, there is nothing planned, and the family is crying out for dinner.... What is your back-up plan/emergency meal plan? Do you keep a spare meatloaf in the back of the freezer? Do you call it a breakfast for dinner night and pull out the eggs or pancake mix? Open a can of soup? Or do you give in and pull out the pizza delivery menu?

Breakfast for dinner 70% of the time .. I always have Eggs, cereal, bread and milk.. the other 30% we order out!

I did a marathon meal prep day on Sunday.. I made and cooked Meatloaf, Shepards Pie, Taco Meat, Mac & Cheese. I also made up baggies of meat stuffing for Zucchini/Peppers, Zuppa Soup, Spaghetti Sauce, Pizza Topping. I made up baggies of burger pattys, chicken breast, boneless pork chops and a few smal pork roast, and some sirlion steaks and steak tips.. Also there are meatballs for subs and sauce, ham steaks, Digiorno pizzas and a bag of chicken tenders..
All in all I made dinnertime meals for 11 weeks! I never plan a meal for Sun and some weeks are missing Fri and Sat or just either Fri or Sat.. I was so tired by the end and we had someplace to be - I cut it very close .. But I am soo glad it's done!
My plan is to "shop" from the freezer for the main dish and supplement with sides.. I am trying to no heat up my oven often over the summer - my trailer get sooo hot! I am also going to try and limit the grocery store to every two weeks.. trying to cut out our impluse buying - we are awful!!
I spent a total of $330.00 on the meats, seasonings, bags, foil and containers. I figure I have about 55 meals (55/330 = $6 per meal for 3)and that going to the store every two weeks (milk fruits veggies sides snacks) should be $75 or less.. saving me about $50 per week and about $500 over the course of the 11 weeks.. we will see how it all works out..

 

[pjlla]

Breakfast for dinner 70% of the time .. I always have Eggs, cereal, bread and milk.. the other 30% we order out!

I did a marathon meal prep day on Sunday.. I made and cooked Meatloaf, Shepards Pie, Taco Meat, Mac & Cheese. I also made up baggies of meat stuffing for Zucchini/Peppers, Zuppa Soup, Spaghetti Sauce, Pizza Topping. I made up baggies of burger pattys, chicken breast, boneless pork chops and a few smal pork roast, and some sirlion steaks and steak tips.. Also there are meatballs for subs and sauce, ham steaks, Digiorno pizzas and a bag of chicken tenders..
All in all I made dinnertime meals for 11 weeks! I never plan a meal for Sun and some weeks are missing Fri and Sat or just either Fri or Sat.. I was so tired by the end and we had someplace to be - I cut it very close .. But I am soo glad it's done!
My plan is to "shop" from the freezer for the main dish and supplement with sides.. I am trying to no heat up my oven often over the summer - my trailer get sooo hot! I am also going to try and limit the grocery store to every two weeks.. trying to cut out our impluse buying - we are awful!!
I spent a total of $330.00 on the meats, seasonings, bags, foil and containers. I figure I have about 55 meals (55/330 = $6 per meal for 3)and that going to the store every two weeks (milk fruits veggies sides snacks) should be $75 or less.. saving me about $50 per week and about $500 over the course of the 11 weeks.. we will see how it all works out..

WOWWIE-KAZOWIE!!! That is terrific! I haven't done a full on big cooking day like that in a while. I'm SUPER impressed!! ...................P

 

[bigsis1970]

WOWWIE-KAZOWIE!!! That is terrific! I haven't done a full on big cooking day like that in a while. I'm SUPER impressed!! ...................P

it was my first one .. started at 8:45 ended at 3:30 packed it in cooler bags by 3:45 then showered and dressed out the door by 4:15 unpacked and loaded it into my sisters chest freezer then headed off to the city (Portland) for a surprise engagement party for my sister in law and her new fiance' by 5:30 then we stayed out till Midnight drinking , eating and bowling! I slept like a log !!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hello everyone!!

I am back - with a wonderful tan and some souvenir pounds on the scale (I am sure, haven't yet dared to step on the scale yet). But I am also wonderfully relaxed. Going on vacation for 4 weeks makes you feel like you have been away for half a year. What a bliss! I am seriously thinking to do that again next year!! Will post a few pictures when I got them all sorted (I took 2530 and then there are the ones that I bought on the cruise and at our sea lion encounter excursion and the DL photopass). I will also do a trip report again and will post a link once that is started in case anyone is interested. The Panama Canal cruise was absolutely fabulous and Disneyland is just awesome!

I am all set to host the thread for next month! And that will also be the starting point for me to get serious again (like step on a scale and start tracking again). At the moment I am still trying to readjust to life back home and the time zone. Jet lag makes me hungry in the early morning hours, but not at all for dinner, so my eating is a bit out of place. I also did not do well during vacation with making good choices. Certainly something I need to work on more in the future. I can do weight loss but since I never seem to get to my goal, I never got to practice maintaining my weight.

Anyway, but first it is back to losing weight. But I do not regret most of the foods I ate, I did enjoy them a lot!

 

[pjlla]

Hello everyone!!

I am back - with a wonderful tan and some souvenir pounds on the scale (I am sure, haven't yet dared to step on the scale yet). But I am also wonderfully relaxed. Going on vacation for 4 weeks makes you feel like you have been away for half a year. What a bliss! I am seriously thinking to do that again next year!! Will post a few pictures when I got them all sorted (I took 2530 and then there are the ones that I bought on the cruise and at our sea lion encounter excursion and the DL photopass). I will also do a trip report again and will post a link once that is started in case anyone is interested. The Panama Canal cruise was absolutely fabulous and Disneyland is just awesome!

I am all set to host the thread for next month! And that will also be the starting point for me to get serious again (like step on a scale and start tracking again). At the moment I am still trying to readjust to life back home and the time zone. Jet lag makes me hungry in the early morning hours, but not at all for dinner, so my eating is a bit out of place. I also did not do well during vacation with making good choices. Certainly something I need to work on more in the future. I can do weight loss but since I never seem to get to my goal, I never got to practice maintaining my weight.

Anyway, but first it is back to losing weight. But I do not regret most of the foods I ate, I did enjoy them a lot!

WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!! You have been missed!! It truly sounds like a WONDERFUL trip and I cannot wait to hear more about it and see photos and read your trip report! Be sure to post a link here when it is done!

How interesting that you continue to learn about yourself in this journey, even though you were on vacation. The learning truly NEVER stops.... there is always a new challenge, a new hurdle, a new thought process!

********************

Morning all and HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

Due to a mix-up I am NOT working today, so I plan to make the most of this day with cleaning, etc. DH is home today and we were going to do some yard work, but Mother Nature put a stop to that plan with a lot of rain going on right now.

I FINALLY had a Tuesday evening where I didn't want to eat everything in sight after my meeting! I actually ended the day UNDER my Points Target! I think the key was that I left a small snack in the car to eat on the ride home (about a 25 minute ride) and it took the edge off my hunger just enough that I was able to make SMART choices rather than just start stuffing in food! And it also helped that I started my late dinner with a HUGE salad.

I still don't really have a meal plan for this week and I will play it by ear until the weekend. The men did not eat the marinated pork tenderloin that I left for them when I went to NY last weekend, so that will be tonight's dinner, along with some green beans that I blanched and froze a few weeks ago (when they were on markdown) and a baked potato for DS. The fridge is truly getting down to bare bones, so these next few days I will definitely have to get creative!

To get through the remainder of the week without a grocery purchase will be a good trick, but I think I can do it. I have one sweet potato, one beet, about 5 lb. of carrots, a few good apples, a few dates and a few fresh blueberries and strawberries.... no greens, no onions, no celery Again, if I get CREATIVE I think I can make it through to at least Saturday.

I will peel and chop the beet and sweet potato and roast those for my lunch today. I'll give DH a turkey sandwich, a pickle, and a few carrots sticks with the remaining strawberries for lunch. Tomorrow gets a bit trickier. I will probably pack yogurt for lunch (I am probably working) with frozen berries and have egg white for breakfast (we have plenty of them), but I will miss not having any veggies with them. THere is just enough ham left for two sandwiches for DS (he eats a ham sandwich for lunch nearly every day if I don't have leftovers for him). And as long as he doesn't guzzle down the remaining milk (dairy milk and rice milk), there will be enough for his breakfast smoothies for the next two days as well.

Since I have so many carrots, I will make a batch of curried carrot soup for Thursday night (since we have a robotics meeting and will have to eat early). I will serve that with crackers and cheese for the men, plus sliced apples.

For dinner on Friday I have some two marinated chicken breasts that I will cook for DH and myself... not sure what I will give DS for a protein.... maybe scrambled eggs. And we will have roasted carrots with that.

Okay.... obviously I'm just thinking out loud here, but how does that sound? Like a plan???

I'll post another unofficial QOTD and then I'll go get something done!..............P

 

[pjlla]

Unofficial QOTD for Wednesday, May 28, 2014:


Of COURSE it is WOOHOO WEDNESDAY!! Thinking back through this month of May, share a WOOHOO moment that you had.... a moment on the scale, a moment when you made the SMART choice, a moment when you got a new PB time in a run (not thinking of anyone in particular of course, Lisa ).... anything that made you say WOOHOO in regards to your healthy lifestyle!

 

[Rose&Mike]

Woohoo Wednesday...
hmmm....I didn't wait until June to get back on the wagon. Best I can do this month. Oh, and I still got in a mile every day.

Great pictures Pamela. We went to Niagara Falls in 1987 and loved it! I am so impressed with your cooking plans to get you through the week.

LisaH--so happy to hear you are enjoying your runs!

Welcome back Magdalene! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Can't wait to see some pictures. Thank you for hosting June.

bigsis1970--very impressed with your meal planning!

****
I am trying rice in the crockpot today. I am not sure why I think this is a good idea, since it only takes ~2 hours, but I think if I could come home from work and throw it in and not think about it, that would be better than making it on the stovetop. Plus our apartment kitchen is tiny so less tripping over each other if there is one less thing to cook on the stove.

I am hoping I have hit rock bottom with the bad food choices. This has been coming for a while, but I think I am going to try a dairy free challenge for a bit in addition to the gluten. My stomach felt great when I did the week of paleoish type eating--no dairy. But I really missed the grains, so going to try a whole foods approach--with no dairy or gluten for a bit and see how it feels. Lots of people who give up gluten have to give up dairy too, I have just been in denial. Sooner or later something will make my tummy feel better--and hopefully help with some of the brain fog, other issues as well.

I think this is a good thing.

 

[Graciesmom77]

****
I am trying rice in the crockpot today. I am not sure why I think this is a good idea, since it only takes ~2 hours, but I think if I could come home from work and throw it in and not think about it, that would be better than making it on the stovetop. Plus our apartment kitchen is tiny so less tripping over each other if there is one less thing to cook on the stove.

A rice cooker has saved my life! I can cook an entire Thanksgiving meal, but rice kicks my a**! It is another kitchen appliance, but it is so helpful. I can cook brown rice in about 30 minutes with no work. I add the rice, water and any seasonings, click the switch and I'm done. I love it!

I can't wait to join the June challenge. I am determined to lose this weight. I have a ton to lose, but every step forward is a step in the right direction.

 

[myweegirls]

Hi! I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Much.

Magdalene, welcome back!! Your trip sounds amazing - I am thoroughly envious of such a long trip. I hope you're feeling refreshed and ready to dive back into everyday life. So glad you'll be back around the boards!

Woo-Hoo Wednesday: I did *not* want to get up and run this morning. Usually, I can pull myself out of that by reminding myself that I'm always glad once I get out there, but it was so hard today. But I got my butt out of bed, got my gear on, waved in the general direction of both DDs (who were already up, ack!), and got out for 3.1 lovely miles. I'm so glad I did; it really got my day off on the right foot. Haha.

We went to Boston for Memorial Day weekend! My sister is there now, with her daughters - we stayed up the street at my cousin's house while they were away in Maine. We had a great time on Saturday at my best college friend's house - he and his wife have two little girls, too, so it was the grownups and six little girls running around! Sunday we went to Lexington, MA, and enjoyed touring a couple of the historical sites and then lounging on Lexington Green. It was a beautiful day, and it felt very appropriate for the holiday.

The drives were long, but I'm glad we went - I love it in MA and miss living there! I wasn't spot-on with my food choices (definitely tripped and fell face-first into a lobster roll and 3-scoop sundae at Friendly's on Sunday night) but after a day back, I'm back where I was when I left on Friday, so I think I managed okay overall. Totally forgot to send my WI on Friday, but I may just hang out here until the end of the week and then sign on for June. I've bounced around this month with very small losses, but that beats gaining...

XO
Liz

 

[pjlla]

So glad that we have heard from some of our MIA friends!! I'm praying that things pick up a bit for the June challenge!!

If we don't hear from Dona soon, I will ask you all to just post your progress for the month on the last day (if you want to.... but no pressure)..... either your percentage toward monthly goal or pounds lost, whatever you want to do. I'm guessing that life has jumped squarely in her way and I'm sure we can all appreciate how that feels! Just praying that she is okay.

Just found out that this week's robotics meeting was moved to TONIGHT. I don't always attend, but since I am organizing a fundraiser for next week, I need to go.... just wish DH had thought to tell me a week ago when the change was made!

Off to make myself reasonably presentable!....................P