Wednesday 1st SEPTEMBER 2004

Good Morning, its the first of September today!!

Another month, another fresh crack at the challenge!!
Well, the agenda today, is work am, swimming pm. Got a house to clean, washing to wash and iron, kids to feed...blah blah blah!
Breakfast ~ banana and pear
Lunch ~ j.potato and cottage cheese
Dinner ~ cheese and tomato toastie
Half an hour done on my bike this morning, half an hour to do this evening!
Must confess, was a little tired, and down last night, so I did sit and eat a quarter of a litre tub of caramel ice cream, very sorry, but I felt I needed it!
Feel better, but guilty this morning!
Off to weigh myself for the month, before I start work.
Have a great day all!

Good morning everyone,

It's beautiful here right now - not a cloud in the sky, so think I'll spend another day in the garden! Indoors really needs some work too, but it'll keep - rain is forecast to return at the weekend.....!

Tonight is harvest festival at the centre I go to. It's a little early this year as is has to be closed for 2 weeks. It's usually a fun night so I'm looking forward to it.

Breakfast is cornflakes, yoghurt and a banana.
Lunch - poached egg on toast
dinner - not decided yet.
snacks - fruit, rice cakes

I used a new recipe for the pork casserole last night. It was chinese style sweet and sour sauce - very tasty! I'm not too sure that it was totally OP but ds loved it eating it all but the portion was too much for me and I left alot of rice. The munchies kicked in late night so I indulged it with a choc spread sarnie - on wholemeal bread so I feel only half guilty!! I decided to try a bigger breakfast today to see if this will stave off the mid-night munchies!

Fran - with your level of activity today, I'm sure that ice-cream isn't going to have much chance of hanging around on hips so don't be guilty!

Have a fantastic day all!!

Good morning girls !

Even though I didn't get to post yesterday, I did skim the posts very quickly a few times! Went to work early and left late again. I was OP yesterday and will be today. It's a great feeling and I don't think I reported here that I am back to my pre-vacation, pre-estrogen weight, so now I am ready to move on to the next level. Yoga is done. Breakfast is 1/2 grilled chicken breast and green beans. Lunch will be a salad of some description with chicken on top most likely. Dinner will be sloppy joes--just a small portion for me with some Fritos scoops (just a few). Snacks will be nuts and apple.

My tailbone has improved tremendously so DH and I went for a test ride on the motorcycle yesterday . . . well, it's not completely healed--I was getting uncomfortable during the last 15 miles of our 40-mile round trip. Oh well, more time to heal.

Oh, guess what, I have chiggers all over my legs--must have gotten them on Sunday when I walked through a field--yikes, they have been driving me nuts!

Xena--That's still a lot of miles!! You are doing fantastic and you are so right that when you put a lot of hard work into exercise you certainly don't want to blow it on non-OP food.

Ronda--Congrats on the new job!!

Kay-- Look forward to getting to know you! The choices of your new food plan look fine, but when you stated what you ate for the day, it doesn't look like you are getting enough of them and enough protein. We really need protein. As women, if we are 25 and older, we need about 50 grams of protein a day. That's just for normal routines. People who exercise strenuously or those who are classified as athletes need tremendously more. Might want to discuss the portion of your plan more with your personal trainer.

(((Ann)))--Hope you are feeling better today! Hopefully, some sofa time with the pooches, chicken soup, and all the rest has you on the mend!

(((Nancy)))--Hope you are feeling better too. Maybe long, hot showers with the water aimed at those trouble spots will provide some relief.

Tamara--Hope your second day on the job goes at a little slower pace so you can take everything in!

musk2u--New recipes are always fun. Sounds like you made some good adjustments for your eating of the casserole.

Fran--Good going on your bike riding!


Hi everyone else!!! Don't forget Chat tonight! Okay, gotta run . . .

Hugs,
Shirley

WOW September 1st. Hard to beleive that it is that time of year already. Last night was gorgeous out and we ate outside. There wont be to many more nights like that.

Today my oldest is taking the baby sitting course with St Johns Ambulance. She is so excited. I hope she has a great day. Hard to beleive she is going to be 11 in October. She is turning into quite a lady. Now my little one well she is just a wild fire

I am starting KISS today. Which is Keep it Simple Stupid. Yes I know. It is no dairy. Just meat and veggies. It is difficult but it always gives me such a clean start. I need to get off some of the weight I put on. It comes off fast as you can imagine. I am hoping to do this til Tuesday. WE SHALL SEE!

Shirly yippeeeeeeeeee on being back to your lowest weight. I know you will get way more off with your dedication to your new lifestyle.Maybe I will see you in Chat tonight.

Musk gorgeous here to. Your casserole sounded pretty good.

Fran thanks for the start up.

Okay I am off

Katie

Goodmorning everyone!
welcome Kay
Congratulations on your new job Ronda! It sounds like a great place.
Katie, good luck as you start KISS today, I wish you success.
Congratulations on your weight Shirley, I can't imagine having chicken and green beans for breakfast
Hi Musk, it is so beautiful here today too. Clear blue sky, enjoy your day in the garden, the house can wait until rainy days.
Wow Fran, sounds like a busy day for you. Don't feel guilty about your ice cream, once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt.
I am off to Curves today and to maybe have lunch with a girl I went to school with and haven't seen in 31 years at least. She found me through this site. Can't wait to see her.
OP for me today.
B- Raisin Bran and Orange Juice
L- Salad
D- ??
Snack will be vegies and yogurt.
Have a wonderful day everyone.

Helloooooo everyone!!!!! Sounds like the weather is nice everywhere today. Before I forget, Congrats to Ronda on the new job, to Kay and Shirley!!!! Hope Ann and Nancy are feeling better today!
Well, today starts the Curves challenge. I start out at 192. I will definitley be OP although last night I was like Fran and ate too much ice cream. Ack! Tonight is a walk with hubby and water will be the drink of the day.
When I read Melissa's post last night, I remembered to tell you guys something. Whereas she had a nice MO moment, I was highly disappointed on Sunday at my sister's picnic. There were alot of people there I have not seen in at least a year and not ONE person said "hey, have you lost weight?" How disappointing!!
By the way, it is one year today that I started on my healthier lifestyle and I feel great!!!!!

Emily

Hi BEST s I'm back... both to posting and to being OP I guess that the last straw was realizing that the shorts that were snug last week were way too tight this week!!! And it didn't help that I ate wayyyyy too much licorice and ended up with a bad IBS flare!!! That stuff is soooo good but vicious!!!

Sooo, I'm back on South Beach, Phase One, might add carb a day, but the good carbs (fruits and cereals). I'll also try to bike at least once a day, just to keep in shape. So far, breakfast was two eggs and a tomato. Don't know what lunch will be. Supper will be low-fat steak and vegetables.

((((fran)))) ice cream is always such a comfort food. Have you tried the low fat, sugar-free varieties? There are several brands that are now available in Canada. There might also be some available in the UK? Still brings all the comfort, without the guilt!!!

((((musk2you)))) You know what they say: breakfast is the most important meal of the day!!! Have you tried adding a bit of protein? Even just a bit of Cottage Cheese can make the difference between being hungry and being sated. And not eating enough for breakfast has been linked to those late afternoon/early evening cravings.

((((Shirley)))) Congrats on being back to OPness: we can do it together!!! Sorry your tailbone is still giving you grief. Guess you need to pamper the princess just a little longer.

(((Katie)))) I know what you mean about the kids growing up: my DS is now 13 and is not only taller than I am, he's also taller than his dad!!! What a strange feeling it is to be looking up to your "little" one!!! Sounds like I'm not the only one getting back to the program today!!! We can all support each other through it. We will do it!!!

((((Marden))))) Wow!!! You must be so excited at meeting with your friend sooo long after the last time you were together!!! And it's awesome that she found you through this site!!!

((((Emily))))) I know what you mean about the disappointment that comes when people you care about do not notice that you have lost the weight. And we all know just how much effort it takes to do so Good luck on your Curves challenge!!!

Welcome to all the new members I've missed over the past few weeks. I'll try and drop by later today.

Hi girls!


You all sound good today!

Well, dh fixed the odometer last night and the sad truth is that our ride is really only 11 & 1/2 miles. So there it is but hey, it's way more than what I was doing. We aren't going at a very brisk clip yet & have decided to push a little bit on the speed starting next week. This week is just getting going. We've been coming home absolutely famished after our rides so today we brought little bags of nuts & had a small snack midway. We're such babies, have to have snack time! It made a big difference & eliminates the danger of a huge pig out when we get home.

Hi Dany, Emily, Margo, Katie, Shirley, Musk, and Fran!

Hey Emily, I think sometimes people just don't comment on body issues. Maybe they aren't sure if they will insult you or not. You know you've lost weight. So does your wardrobe! And btw, You look Mahhhhvelous!


xena

Good morning ladies. I've been for the last few days with tonsillitis. I'm just glad I caught it early enough and it did not turn into strep throat. So, I've been as OP as homemade chicken & stars soup will allow me to be. Jello, popsicles, gatorade. If nothing, at least is a colorful diet!

Skipped the gym, didn't feel like it, and didn't want to spread any of my germies.

I've started a quasi challenge for September in this thread. I'm one who has to find my pedometer again. I never wore it past the 3-day challenge.

Melissa: what a fantastic MO! Congrats!

kay: welcome! All the foods you've mentioned sound sensible. Have you discussed with your trainer that you are famished all the time? I would think that would be a nono, cause you'd be more apt to binge?

Fran:sorry about the ice cream incident. I know from whence you speak. I can't let the stuff into the house.

Emily: I agree with Xena, I think some people just don't know if it's OK to compliment on weight loss for fear of insulting you in some way.

Katie: good luck getting through the first couple days on your KISS program. I honestly don't know how you do that one! It's seems tough.

Ronda: congratulations on the new job. It sounds like a perfect fit for what you were looking for. How fortunate you are!!

Xena: 11 miles is still a ways to go! Good Job! and what fun to be riding with a friend!

To all: have a BEST day!

BSQ

Good morning, all!

Are we all fired up to make Steptember the BEST month yet this year???

I haven't been in here very much lately - mainly because I feel I have nothing to report. I'm still on a plateau. Nothing lost since June. I think this hit me so hard because of the success I was having in the previous months. I did a search of the Goals pages in HS and found that I started posting on the monthly goals threads a year ago - Sept 2003. I totaled up my monthly losses and it's 73 pounds. Not as much as my year loss between surgery in Mar 2003 to Mar 2004 - which was an even 100 pounds - but I'll take the 73.

I've been discouraged and mad at myself at two months of no loss at all. In my head I understand that I just need to be patient, that my body is adjusting to where it is now - 150 pounds lighter than it used to be - but patience has never been one of my stronger virtues...

I gave myself a little pep talk this morning while walking in the park. Something I think we all need to do from time to time and I've been neglecting it. It went something like this - "Self" I said. "We are healthier than we have been since we were in our twenties. We are down from a size 28 to a size 18. We have a sense of purpose and a self confidence that we've never had before. We have accomplished amazing things in the past 17 months. And we have accomplished these things not in any year but in a year of recovery from major surgery. And at the age of 54! Self - We are a strong incredible woman"

And I'd like to pass that on to all of you. You are all strong incredible women! You set goals for yourselves and are working on obtaining them. You are making plans and following them, posting here, sharing, taking action!

I want to thank you all for being my support - for the shoulders when I needed them and for the kicks in the behind when those were necessary. I wouldn't be where I am today without you! I am proud to be one this group.

September is going to be the BEST month!

I hope you're all having a wonderful OP Wednesday!