Monday, Sept 2nd

Good Morning Ladies...............Have a great holiday!

HAPPY LABOR DAY EVERYBODY!!!


Hi all --
I ate entirely too much this weekend and am getting back on program today.........I feel yucky from eating things I am not used to eating.

Am meeting a friend of mine at the gym this morning, holiday or no holiday we still have Body Pump class and we're meeting early to do treadmills or bikes or something first. I know I will feel better afterwards!

Em -- I forgot to answer your question about treadmills. Yes the treadmill will ask for speed when you pick a program but you can always increase or decrease it during the program if you want to. There's usually a button with arrows for up or down to increase or decrease speed. As for the fitness test........if the treadmill you're using is like the ones we have at my gym, you punch in your weight and age (I hate that part, always hope the person on the next treadmill isn't looking !!) and then it has a place to put your hands where it reads your pulse while you're using the machine and it judges your fitness by your heart rate. I don't usually do the "cardio" workout because I find it boring but the "random" or "hill" are kinda challenging to me because they raise and lower the incline. On our treadmills you also pick the level you want to work at.........I never really understood that part but I do know that the higher # level you pick the harder the workout is. Also we can choose between time or distance.........I can decide if I want to use the machine for 30 minutes or for 3 miles.........if I punch in 30 minutes it takes the "random" workout and makes a 30 minute program out of it. If I choose 3 miles it will keep me walking until I have covered 3 miles no matter how long it takes (or whatever distance I choose).

After gym today I think I'm going to buy some new flowers for my outdoor hanging baskets........I planted what was in them when we left for NY because the guy who takes care of the yard while we're gone never remembers to water them so I plant them in the yard. I miss my flowers outside my front door and think I'll go replace them today so it looks like someone lives here again.

Hope everyone has a GREAT, BEST day!!

Ann

Good morning all! Happy Labor Day!

I was trying to say hello to everyone & then aol said bye bye so now, you are all spared another of my mega-posts.
Well, love me or hate me, I'm making biscuits & gravy! SCARY!
We had friends over last night for way too much BBQ pork chops & chicken, potatoes in foil (see recipe!), some pretty healthy sides & oh no, lots of strong, smelly cheeses & some tasty wines sturdy enough to stand up to the menu! The kids each invited a friend & then invited them all to spend the night, so now I am cooking a deadly breakfast. Shameless, ain't I?
I send a collective THANK YOU & HERE'S TO YOU! to all of my girls
and beg your forgiveness as I leave you now to go make a masterpiece of the sausage that's sizzling in my kitchen as we speak!

Xena, the piglet!

I'll be back OP by tomorrow & I do plan to get some walking in today, so I'm not totally back to square one. Thanks for everything & I hope yo all do better than I have, though it'd be difficult not to!

Hi everyone. I had not a great weekend food wise but I have certainly had way worse in the past. I exercised like crazy so that is great. Tomorrow the kids are back at school and normal life returns. I know that will make things easier. I had a stressful emotional weekend and I did not totally pig out. My FIL is really depressed and not feeling well. Another close family friend is sick. My favorite Aunt and Uncle are moving out West and my mom leaves for Mexico in 7 weeks. Life I guess. I am still motivated to get this bod into shape so that is great. By next May Look Out.

Ann sounds like you had a nice weekend though. My flowers are looking blah here. We have had such a dry summer. Now that fall is here the weather should cool down. I sure hope that it is a wet fall though. Everything needs it.

I wish you all a happy Labour Day. As of tomorrow no excuses. Summer is over and we have to get this weight off.

Take care

Cath

Happy Labor Day all!

I have many activities planned for home today--cleaning and the like. Last night when I was up in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep (more proof that I need the aerobic exercise to sleep well, I only did my yoga yesterday), I was feeling kind of down about whether or not I could really do this. You know I haven't really lost any weight the last couple of weeks because I haven't stayed OP the majority of the week. Anyway, I decided I'd check my measurements since it's been over a month since I had. I've lost a total of 4 inches--that includes 1 inch from my waist, 1 inch from my chest (I have plenty to spare), 1 inch from my upper arms, and several fractions from other spots. That is really making me very happy and giving me new inspiration to stay OP with my foods and keep exercising! I have NEVER lost any inches before. (Previously when I would measure myself, I'd gained inches from the last time.)

Cath--You certainly do have a lot going on--s. I think you've found a big helper in keeping your emotions stable and therefore your eating by exercising--keep up the good work!

Xena--The potato recipe looks really good. I might try it today to got with burgers later. Sorry you lost your post--that is so frustrating!

Ann--I know you'll get right back on track! (I empathize--I feel like a slug today from my overeating, so I'm getting ready to do my walking tape in a few minutes.)

Em--I always like your rose! Our roses are starting to bloom again since I've been saving my "gray" water from handwashing and the like and watering them, plus we've had some rain.

Will check in with the rest of you later!

Shirley

Hi ladies,

All the cookies sound great. I guess we all sort of slipped from op for afew days. Well lets get started again. I am ready for today. I have decided to stop drinking coffee. I drink a lot daily. Tomorrow will be my first day without it. I am worried I will substitute food.

Dawn it is so ggod to hear from you. I am excited your house is ready to sell. Good luck!!! How is work going? Are back at school?

BSQ good job on the ice cream. I do the same thing looking at diffrent brands. I bought some healthy choice rocky road it was okay. I have decided if I want ice cream just get the good kind
Also I asked about your sweetie's school.

Desk your cookie recipe sounds so good, please post it so I can make it for the holidays.

Tamara when are you coming to Gulf Shores?

Ladies let's make this the BEST day!!

Michelle

Well, it's Monday, tomorrow's weigh-in and I know it'll be bad: So far, only one OP, very OP though it may be, day out of the week. Even if today and tomorrow turn out very OP, I can still look forward to a gain instead of a loss

As I mentionned, yesterday was very OP: even came short of a bread, by the end of the day. I rode my bike for almost 2 hours (ended up having to backtrack 'cause I lost a $20.00 bill ) and a day at the Hot Air Balloon Festival didn't end up in a junk food day: all I ate was a plate of cheese and grapes And I did walk, a lot!!!

So far, today's OP and I plan to keep it that way. Providing the rain holds off, I'll go for another bike ride.

I hope everyone's having a BEST day. Keep up the good work: it's worth it

Hi,

Well, this is the 2nd day of steady rain after a week a few gloomy days. It's too bad for people who planned cook-outs but we really need it.

BTW, I don't want you ladies to be surprised at anything "strange looking" about my posts. My laptop froze up last night and the only way I could turn it off was to let the battery run out. I guess all my settings went back to default because now it has a very light touch. I just tried to page down to see your posts and I "submitted" this post. Now I'm on an edit and can't see all your posts.

Ann, thanks for the info on the TM. I'll spend some time trying them out and see what I like. So far I've just been doing "quick start".

Xena, I had the potato last night. You were right....it was wonderful. I love roasted potatoes and this was very much like it only more moist and flavorful. Thanks.

Since we didn't have a cook-out planned to today I told DS I would take the 2 yo for the afternoon. Looks like I'll just be taking her to McD's and then home here for some bonding time. Every time I pick up the boys to take them out she asks me if I'm taking her too.

Well, I can't remember what everyone else said in their posts, so I'll sign off and check back later to see what's going on.

Happy Labor Day to all those who have the day off, and happy day to everyone! I am having a quiet day and have done okay so far. Lunch is next, and then maybe some reading. I am not going to spend the day on the computer. We did NOT go to the forest this morning, and we missed our walk completely. I got up at 6, fed dogs and cats, DH continued to sleep in (unusual), so I went back to bed and he got up and fed dogs and cats again and started in on his routine of whatever it is he does around the house. Now the sun is shining and althought it is not particularly hot, it is too hot to walk the dogs in the sunlight. After two breakfasts, they seem content to snooze anyway.

I'll post the cookie recipe for interested parties. The cookies freeze well and the dough usually freezes well, too, so you can keep it on hand for emergencies if that's not a problem for you. And I am anxious to try Xena's potato recipe, too.

So instead of replying to everyone as I promised last night, I am going to rest and again send a blanket hug and encouragement to stay OP and return OP when you stray. This is a lifetime of change and maintenance and we need each other for support. You are all the BEST.

Desk

Oh my gosh, Cath, you do have a lot of stress right now. So sorry! How great that you are remaining motivated and have a plan! Surely that will help you manage all of these changes you’re facing.
Michelle – NO COFFEE???!!! You are my hero for today! I’ve been working on changes but am nowhere near ready for that one! Are you going cold turkey or tapering down to tea or something? I wish you the BEST of luck & my hat’s off to you! Kudos on those 2 lbs GONE!
Blissful- Sounds like you’re behaving well throughout this holiday weekend. Great job!
Aren’t people funny? If they realized what could have moved in where the home depot is, they might feel a bit better about it! Sometimes you get some pretty crummy businesses going in. Plus, it’s a place to go walk if it’s raining-HD is HUGE!
Trish- New Dietpower commitment, new Y partner, new place – you are on a ROLL! Good luck with all of it & with getting your stuff unpacked & put away!
Oh, Shirley! 4 inches! WOW! With your dedicated 2x daily workout, we shouldn’t be surprised, should we! You are true inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing the details, that really helps to make goals seem tangible. Sometimes “getting fit” seems vague to me, and stories like yours make it real and remind me of what I can do. I’m very happy for you & I thank you!
Ann, it’s great that you share your expertise with us! Like EM, I’m fairly new to the gym and appreciate all of your info. Sometimes those places are intimidating & we just don’t get the help we need from the staff. Hope you have a nice time planting. It sounded funny to me to be planting now, then I remembered you’re in FL, not IL, like me! Enjoy.
Dany – You are really pumping up the activity! 2 hours on the bike & more to come! GREAT! Did you find your $20? Looks like you’re having an expressive day! Your post is lively! Hot air balloon fest, cool! Visited Quebec 1x & LOVED it! With such beautiful sites, your outdoor exercise must feed your soul as well as whittle your waistline!
BSQ - Perhaps you’re the real Princess Warrior here, GREAT job in the ice cream/veggie aisle! Good luck with you Dr. visit. Hope he lets you walk a bit, probably helps keep your spirits up, tho I’ve seldom seen such a good attitude as yours! Thinking of you during all this muck.
Isabelle- Your size 10/husband story is FUNNY! Hooray for you for getting those cute little size 10s! You’ll be the cutest little Capri mama in the Magic Kingdom! How wonderful to be celebrating 25 years of marriage, and you still shop together! Nice
EM & Jubilee- Thanks for all of the GREAT sounding recipes! My family thanks you in advance for the nice variety in this week’s menu!
To everyone, thanks again for all of your inspiration & for letting me come back even after preparing the most lethal and disgusting B&G! (I can’t even say the words anymore.) I promise to do my BEST for the rest of the day!
Xena