I'm having a forgetful night...that and a weird spelling day!

Oh my....I forgot to say. I am grocery shopped up for the week! I'm ready to attempt this core thing! I'm quite honestly quite scared to do it! I mean, I can eat as much as I want of the 'approved' foods???? What if this backfires and I put on weight this week? I'm going to be so disspointed. Now, honestly, the ick is just around the corner, so I"m retaining water...so my beginning weight on Tuesday will probably be a bit skewed. But still.......

Yes, my weight is just flucuating like mad this week! It's showing me up at 185.2 this morning. Hmmmmmm. I was 183 last Tuesday and Wednesday morning! And since then I've been up! I know, historically speaking that I'm up for about a week before the ick hits...so I do expect it and know it's coming. However, it is still frustrating. All I can say is this. At lest it is only a 2-3 pound flucuation. When I first started this weight loss journey...back when I was 305 or so pounds....my weight would fluctuate about 10 pounds or more before the ick. At least the flucuations are getting 'smaller' also. haa haa haa

Busy Day

It's been a busy day. Woke up and exercised for 45 minutes, ate breakfast, got ready for church and lounged a bit before leaving for church. After church, I rushed around like a chicken with my head cut off making lunch. I made a Spicy Garlic Chicken with Jasmine Rice. YUMMY! Todd had to work at 1PM...thus the rush. After we ate, I did a few errends here at the house and then I hightailed it up to Hagerstown. Mom met me at the mall and we shopped for a couple hours. It was a very productive day for Christmas shopping! I got something for Bubby, Cindy, Dad, two of my small gifts for my work secret santa thing, and Todd. Ipuchased our 'yearly' ornament (we started the year we got married to get a yearly ornmament...we are doing the Hallmark 'cool decade' ornaments at this point). I also broke down and got Todd the Star Trek ornament that he's been DYING for. I also splurged and got him the "Major Award" ornamant....from The Christmas Story! I have it laid out on his desk....I can't wait until he comes up and sees it. I also bought some lotion from Bath and Body works...it actually seems to be helping my hand! (A Co-worker had me try it....so now I went out to buy my own!). Oh yes...and I got some three in one Peppermint Wash from Bath and Body. Yes, exciting stuff, I assure you. After all that excitement...I went grocery shopping! Yes, the fun continues! I came home and spent a while in the kitchen washing and chopping all my veggies for my salad, making homemade croutons, and mixing up a batch of salad dressing. SO I'm ready for the week!

I ate wisely today. I'm pretty happy with that. However, with all the running, I haven't drank near enough water! I'm drinking now...but I don't want to waterlog myself!

Sent an email to someone that I once considered one of my best friends. I'm not sure how that will go over. But I felt like I needed to do it. :-)

I spent a good portion of my afternoon getting myself ready for my grocery trip. I cut and organized my backlog of coupons. I also worked up my menu for the next week. Yeah, I do this everyweek....it keeps me from running to the store at every turn! BUT, this week took me longer.....I'm committed to doing the core program next week. I'm actually quite worried about it. It scares me to be able to eat as much as I want of the foods I eat. I've obviously had a problem with this in the past. So I'm actually petrified! But, I think it will be a good thing to try! I only hope and pray that I don't go backwards in my weight loss! A nice jump down would be really nice also!

I exercised before work this morning. Let me tell you...I HATE these early morning exercises. At least the sun comes up while I'm exercising now though! When it's over though, I feel sooo good!

After work (we are only open until noon on Saturdays) I also made some bread for Todd. I'm proud to say that I haven't had a bite of it! And bread is a HUGE downfall for me! YEah, that is another issue with Core....no bread...or else I count it! :-) I think I'm just going to not even buy bread this week! :-) We'll have to see! Not buying it would take away the temptation to eat it!!!!

My weight is doing it's monthly fluctuation in anticipation for the ick. Ticks me off! But oh well....I must live with it...as we all do (females that is)

Super Excited

Wooo hooo! It is amazing how something so seemingly little is so exciting! The dryer is DONE! It works wonderfully! I'm super excited!

Dinner was done when I got home tonight. I was nice and well worth the effort I made this morning! After dinner, I used up the few banana's that were starting to get soft (I only like my banana's when they hvae no black spots on them....when they start to speckle..they are tooo old. I prefer them firm). SO I made a big batch of banana muffins. I had a lot of points left over...so I did test the batter....and I did have a finished product. I made them with black walnuts (from my very own trees outside...picked, hulled and cracked by yours truely). I don't like black wlanuts...so they will not be at all tempting for me. :-) I froze half the batch...because Todd doesn't need to have that many muffins. THey would go bad before he could eat them all.

This morning I was almost in tears with dreading the thought of exercising! It was pitiful. I finally literally stopped and asked my self, "what is more important? Having an extra 45 minutes today or being thin? I chose being thin. :-)

I'm still planning on trying the core plan of weight watchers next week (my weight watchers week...starting Tuesday). I'm a bit nervous about it...but I'm going to give it a whirl. I plan on sitting down tomorrow after work and laying out my menus for the next week (something I normally do) and get myself all geared up for it!

Good quote...think I've put it in here before...but here goes again, "Pain is temporary, giving up is forever"

Ok, last winter I was cold all the time. I figured it was from the loss of all that fat....you know, it had to have been working as an insulator. Well, I had hoped that this year would be better. Is it? HECK NO! I'm already about frozen solid and it's not that overly cold out! This is terrible! That is probably the only negative to losing all this weight!

I was down a bit on the scales...not down to the 183 that I was at on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. BUT down from the 185.2 that I was at yesterday morning. I was a dead on 184 pounds this morning. That makes me VERY happy! I want to bring it down further...obviously!

This morning I was the exact same weight as a friend. It really makes me think. My friend who is the same weight wears a 8/10. Me, I'm in a 14/16. What the heck. Yeah yeah, I know that everyone carries their weight differently...but that's a HUGE difference! What in the world will I need to get down to in order to wear an 8?????? NUTTY!

I planned out what we are having for dinner. I actually did a good deal of the prep work....that way when I get off at 6 or 6:30 it twill be quick. I showed Todd what has been done and left instructions...that way, if he is done with his work, he can get it started! Woo hooo.

Work...Todd. Well.....he is working on fishing a wire through the wall. Our dryer electric line...the cable that goes from the dryer outlet to the breaker box apparently doesn't work. Our dryer was under warranty and stopped working....we called the service guy. He put a new motor in and found it still didn't work. LOVELY. Yeah, that left it being the line....joy joy. So, we bought the line...and 'rigged' it up (basically connected it at the breaker box...and ran it up the stairs and through the halls and hooked it up at the outlet) to check it. Yeah, it worked GREAT! SOOOOO thus commences the 'fishing' expedition. I'm praying that he can get it. It was being very stubborn this morning!!!

Tired Evening

After work, I rushed home and Todd and I beat a path down to Frederick were we dined at Brewers Alley. I got a pasta dish and salad. I had 18 points...so I'm very good with what I ate. Intrinsically, I know that I could actually 'afford' to get a 1 or 2 point ice cream bar. But honestly, I want it...but I realize that I don't need it. Does that make sense. I think I want it because I know I CA have it.

Thank goodness I dont' have to wake up early tomorrow to exercise! I don't have to go into work until 1PM....so that will be nice.

Meanwhile, I'm so excited about our plans for next Wednesday. We have a HUGE hike planned. A Couple hours worth! I've got to remember to take my camera!!!!!!

So Far So Good

Yes, I've been 100% on track today with my mission. I got up an hour early and exercised. I've eaten what I planned to eat...in preparation for going out to eat. (Last we talked we were still planning on going to Brewers Alley). So all it good. The weight was a bit up today. However, I'm not too worried. I did eat a little 'extra' yesterday. Plus, eating at a buffet you expect the sodium to be higher than I what I normally consume. SO I'm sure i'm retaining some water. We'll see!

I'm excited. Yesterday I found two gifts for my niece and nephew. It is a very tricky process this year as my family is trying to go without anything made in China. VERY difficult. So today, we had to run to the educational store while I was at work (for work) and I found another toy! Woo hooo! VERY EXCITED!!!!

Happiness and despair

Ok, so I'm not really in a state of despair. However, I allowed myself to have a free meal today. I didn't feel sick after I ate..however I was full! I also ate foods that I normally wouldn't have. Did I enjoyit? EVERY BITE! I did eat more lightly for dinner tonight. So we'll see how it goes on the scales.

My official weight last night was 184.6. That does sound about right. I weighed in at 183 at home...nekid as a jaybird. And I do know that the clothes that I wore would be about a pound and a half or so. So...I'm ok with it all. :-) How could I not...if I go my official weigh ins...then 184.6 is my lowest yet! WOo HOOOO! I'm sooo going to make my new years goal!!!!

Today Todd and I took another load up to the Rescue Mission. I'm very happy to announce that we have ONE more load to take up and then we will be DONE! I'm super excited...this is just one more step done...and almost at the end might I add of a LONG, DIRTY, NASTY project that started in APRIL!!!!! We also ran into the mall and walked around and went to Target. I bought two things for Christmas gifts. Yeah me! :-) BUt anyway...once we got home, I decided to finish up the organizing of my craft stuff! I'm so proud to announce that it is DONE! (What's up with me????)

Exercised this morning before we left for town. Really hard workout.....but bad because when I was done I actually felt lightheaded and like I was going to pass out. Everyonce in a while that happens if I"m pushing myself too hard! But...at least I know I got a good workout today. :-)

Tomorrow I work from 7:45AM until 6:15 PM. Long day. I've already got my lunch partially packed so I'm ready to go. I'll get up 2 hours early. Exercise during the first hour and then get ready to go. :-) Todd got a check in the mail the other day as a belated birthday gift. We are going to use it to go out to eat. I think we are going to go down to Brewers Alley in Frederick tomorrow night. It should be good food...and I can eat sensibly there! (Just in case, I've planned my lunch to compensate somewhat.)

So, here I sit at my computer. Last year, my computer somehow miraculously 'lost' all of my music on ITunes. Quite nutty....and since I don't keep my christmas music on my actual IPOD, it went POOF. Not a big deal...I have the original CD's. So it's just a matter of dumping them back onto my computer. That's my project tonight. I'm hearing a sampling of christmas Music as I dump it all on....it's GREAT! I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!!!

Finally some Pictures!

This one was taken of me in January of 2003. I was probably somewhere near my highest weight when this picture was taken. (300+ pounds)

These last two pictures are of me today, November 6, 2007. I weighed in this morning at 183 pounds.

Yes, I've still got a ways to go. I see the negatives when I look at the picture...but when I look at before and after side by side...eii yiii yiii,the negatives don't seem as big (no pun intended)

Woke up, and as it is my 'off' day for exercise I putzed around the house for an hour or two. Todd and I then went on a nice hike. Only about an hour.....but it was wonderful. We hiked a trail on the battlefield that we had recently discovered but never hiked. IT was a bit rugged, but nothing difficult. Felt good to be out in the brisk fall air!

I'm hoping tha tmy body is adjusting to the cool. Last fall and winter I was FREEZING...this year, while I get chilled, so far it's nothing really bad! No where near like it was last year!

Today is my short day at work. Woo hooo! So I don't have to go in until 2PM. After work I'll head up to my Weight Watchers meeting. Hopefully the scales at home and the scales there are compatible today (some days I wonder....)

Evening musings

Todd and I did indeed go for a walk. It was nice and crisp outside. We walked for about 45 minutes. We decided to go to the battlefield. It was quite enjoyable. However it really made me start to think about all the time we wasted. We live in an area that is just overflowing with really neat places to walk and hike.....and we never really did it. Being on a path to a healthier life really has opened our eyes to new and exciting things!

Dinner was interesting. I tried a new recipe...someone online "RAVED" about it. It was called "Southwest Easy Oven Chicken" Yeah, it was easy. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't something that I'd rave about. I've not yet decided if it will be a 'return visit' meal. Most likely not. :-) Oh well... That's the joy of trying new things...sometimes they just don't hit our palate like it does others.

After dinner Todd had to work. I mosied into the bedroom. We don't have closets in our house (gasp away...it's terrible...but old houses don't come equipped with the wonderful closets....so we put ONE in...but it's super crowded). THe lack of closets causes our dressers to be clogged and overstuffed. Often when I put the clean clothes away, I end up stacking them off to one side of the dresser or on top of the cd rack ....which I don't really worry about since most of my cd's are downloaded to my IPOD, which is what I use 99.9% of the time. So my mission tonight was to bring order to my clothes. Put everything away and make it nice and neat. My mission though was two-fold. I wanted to get the 'fat' stuff out. I do this periodically. I get rid of the stuff that is too big. SOOOO I tried on clothes tonight. I have my bag of stuff to ship up to mom's (for her to look at...then to pass on to Karla...and then on to the rescue mission). I also tried on a few things from my 'not quite yet' drawer/basket. Yep...some things fit me...so I'm pretty darn excited!

I think Todd and I are going to hike some of the nature trails that we 'discovered' on the battlefield. We never knew about them...but low and behold, there they are! Ok, so we probably never noticed because we are usually on the North end of the battlefield and they are more on the south end....except when we are flying by on our bikes....and in which case we dont' stop to read the signs! haa haa haa! We made our discovery this summer...and we've been meaning to get out and go. Since tomorrow is my technically my off day from exercise, a nice hike would be a good option. (ok, so I'm nuts and still try to do something active on my off days).

Speaking of exercise....this past week...I exercised 5 out of 7 days. I had my off day....which I was ok with. YEs, I aim for working out 6 days a week. HOWEVER, on the one day we worked in our garden for 5 hours. We pulled the rest of the plants (what was left of them....), spread our summer compost (the compost we 'created' this summer) and tilled that in. Then we covered our garden with a fresh layer of straw. We also pulled what needed to be pulled from the flower, cleaned out the shed, did the garbage, etc etc etc. Man was my back sore when we were done! SO, even though it wasn't TECHNICALLY exercise, I think it was probably every bit as physically demanding as any formal exercise routine.

Today I just sat and looked at the post it notes stuck to my monitor. Yes, I have the normal to-do or 'remember this' post its (ok, only three). But the other ones are the ones that I really sat and looked at. One is a brief paragraph about my goals and my plan to achieve my goals. Another one is a post it that simply says "healthy weight range 132-164" That is my healthy weight range and what I'm aiming for. I don't know where I'll actually land..I only know that I'm aiming to land somewhere within that range. I do know that I've picked a number in my head...pretty much in the middle of the range as a mental figure. ONe of the other slips lists my weight on Oct. 30th (187) and then states my New Years Goal...which is 175 lbs. Don't know what made me really sit and look at those slips today..but it did make me really think about my goals and quite honestly what I need to do to get there.

Monday Morning

I have been able to keep that emotional eating under control. It's not as if I ate all the bad stuff that's at the house (I actually don't keep much bad stuff at the house....easy for me since my husband is also trying to lose weight). BUT my portions. At dinner, I ate TWO HUGE portions...QUICKLY! One portion was ok...but two was overboard. It just happened because I was upset while we ate and I shovelled and kept shovelling without thinking. :-)

We did our ride on Saturday. It was wonderful weather. I was comfortable in sweatpants, a tee shirt and a sweatshirt. Todd only wore sweatpants and a teeshirt. I had asked him if he needed a sweatshirt and he was like, "no...I'll be fine. Yeah, famous last words...he was cold! Regardless, it felt really good to be out on my bike! Fun activity!

We ended up going out to dinner.....for our weekly eat out. (ok, this week we'll end up eating out again....he has a board meeting to attend on Wednesday...so I'll probably go out to lunch with mom and dad while he eats at the board meeting.) We got home and I putzed around the house for a bit...and was simply relaxing. I just felt like I needed to move. SOOO I got up and cleaned the living room and office. A BIG cleaning...as in I moved all the furniture cleaning.

Sunday morning I woke up and with the time change I had lots of time before church. I made pancakes for breakfast and then I spent a good deal of time in the kitchen organizing and cleaning that from top to bottom. (Yeah, I don't know what struck me...but it struck so I ran with it). I followed up my morning cleaning spree with 45 minutes of heavy exercise. It was a great workout!!! After church, Todd finished hanging the screen door (we had started it on Saturday but had to stop to do that ride....because we had committed to do it at a certain time). I ran and got water, and dropped some stuff in storage. Then we ran to town, went to Sam's and the grocery store. Got home, had dinner and relaxed the rest of the night. Oh yeah, I rode the exercise bike for a short time....15 minutes or so.

Set the alarm early this morning...and I resisted temptation. I didn't reset it when it went off. I got up and exercised for that hour! So I'm all exercised up for the day. However, I get off work at 3 today. Todd doesn't work until 6 tonight. SOOO we have a gap of time. I will need an hour or so to make dinner...which we want to eat at 5:30....so that still gives us 1 1/2 hours to go for a hike or something....which Todd wants to do!

My weight was a bit up today. I'm wondering if it is water. I had a bag of 100 cal pack chips...and I had sauerkraut (ok, I love sauerkraut...does that make me weird?????). Both of those things are really high sodium. I'm just determined to be good today...watch my sodium and all that because I want the scales to be nice to me for my official weigh in tomorrow night!

I did very good eating wise today. However last night, my husband and I were talking while we ate....and I learned something. DO NO TALK ABOUT UPSETTING ISSUES WHILE EATING! Yeah, we were having pesto with girlled chicken. I had very little chicken (as I don't like much meat) but the pasta and pesto I had calculated and portioned out. Well, I shovelled it in so fast...that before I could think I was going back for seconds!!!! And then I had dessert! (WW sundae cup..but still!) So I got hit with an emotional eating episode!

Like I said...today I've done pretty good. Emotions are still pretty ragged...but I"m resisting the temptation to drown out my sorrows with food. I guess I realize that I'll eat...and it won't make things better. IN fact, it makes things worse because I either A. Feel so yucky after I shovel in all that food or B. I feel guilty after shovelling in the food. ANd sometimes it's a combination of the two!

Tomorrow Todd and I are doing the sweep ride for the canal associations heritage hike. That gives me a bike ride for activity tomorrow! Hopefully the weather is decent. I don't feel like riding if the weather is crappy...but I will. I guess I'll have to!

Third Times a charm

Yes, this would be my third entry for today. However, I have some "gem's" that I'd like to put down to remember.

I'll start first with my weigh in ..... 1.8 pounds down. Could have been more if I would have been SMART about the sodium yesterday. But oh well, a loss is a loss. That was a respectable loss.

Sherry told me about something she had heard recently. It was in conjunction with how people tend to throw in the towel when they've made one bad choice. For example, if they eat poorly for one meal, they throw in the towel and give up for the rest of the day...or the week or even the month. Well, the analogy that was used to show how crazy that concept is was, If you have a dozen eggs and you break one...do you throw out the other 11?

We were also talking tonight about how I'm happy that I'm losing the weight more slowly. I shared my frustration at how slowly I'm losing.....especially when I see other people seemingly just drop the pounds. I know in my heart that the way that I"m doing it is the healthy way....and the way that is really going to enable me to keep it off for life....but it just gets so frustrating sometimes! So I thought I'd come home and vent here a bit!

Cool thoughts I found

Things that really hit me as I read the 'elmination blog's' of the people that have already left the show this season....found these on ivillage.com

Live for the moment (present), Live for you, your family, friends, Live for whatever makes you happy. Once you start realizing what you are living for then it becomes easier to lose weight.
Who do you think will make it to the end of the show

What advice can you give other people who are hoping to lose extra pounds? It's possible! Stop thinking about it and start doing something about it. It's that simple. Muscle definition is as addictive as crack. Get over that first crappy hump of getting started and you'll be fine. The greatest thing I've realized through this experience is that it is so much more than just losing weight. If all of your energy is exerted and focused on the physical aspect, you ultimately fail. It was more than just eating poorly or too much that got you to this point. There are mental, emotional, and spiritual revelations that you need to consider in this transformation.

.) What do you think your biggest weight loss obstacles will be now that you're dieting on your own? At first, it was realizing that I changed but the world had not. Everyday it is a struggle to say no to the ding dongs and hamburgers, but the trade off is so much greater. My energy leave is so much higher. The way I see myself is so much better. I can walk into a room full of people, look them straight in the eye and now know the feeling of them looking back at me not because I am fat but they can see the things I have always wanted them to see. Me.

What advice can you give other people who are hoping to lose extra pounds? Just don't stop. Keep moving. And be proud of yourself. Losing weight is a journey not a one day adventure. One of the producers told us to respect the scale. Every time I step on to the scale, even if my weight loss is only 2 pounds. I respect it. I earned it.

I'm royally ticked off!!!!!!! Yesterday I was 185....today, I'm 188...and tonight is my weigh in. I KNOW what I did......too much salt yesterday. 100% my fault! I actually stayed within my points...and there is no way I gained 3 pounds in one day! But it will reflect on the scales tonight....I'm going to drink drink drink today......stopping at like 4 or so (I never drink in the 2-3 hours befor my weigh in) in hopes that it may start to counter act all the salt before my weigh in.

Today is a short day at work! Woo hooo! This morning Todd and I are going to take another load of stuff from the trailer up to the Rescue Mission. Part of me kicks myself...I could be making some bucks off the stuff that I"m sending up there. It's stuff I no longer want. However...that just seems really selfish. Finding this stuff at the Rescue Mission can make someone really happy...brighten the life of someone. PLUS, the money that they make off of these items really does go to a good cause!

Got a REALLY cool wedding gift idea yesterday from my boss/manager! I'm stoked...because we have a handful of friends that have weddings coming up!

Tomorrow Todd and I have off. I think we are planning on finishing off the garden. We have left the garden go.....still picking and eating off the garden as the weather remained nice. Of course on Sunday we heard about the frost warning so we went out and picked the last of everything. We still had hot peppers, lima beans and some tomatoes. It was amazing to see these really healthy looking plants with flower/buds on them at the end of October! So now we want to go out and pull the rest of the plants (we pulled a good many of them when we picked the other day), do our fall tilling, spread our compost, cover it with straw and call it quits for the winter. I also have to mow at the trailer.....HOPEFULLY for the last time this year! and hopefully for the last time EVER with a push mower! :-) So I'll be getting in a good workout I guess! Yeah, I admit...other than the time consumption, it's been good for me! At least on Wednesday I won't be sweating like a banshee when I mow (I hope!)

tomorrow will tell the tale

Weight wise, things are still going pretty good. I am still down...nothing has changed that yet. I'm holding my breathe as tomorrow is my 'official' weigh in day. I've been on track with my plan and it truely is amazing how my body responds when I'm doing what I should be doing.

Today was an early day at work (7:45AM, ok, that's early for me!) I am proud to say that I got up an hour early and did it. I got up and exercised....and today was a "hard" day. Basically meaning that today was a day that I pushed myself a little harder...yes, I knew that before I even went to bed......it's an every other day thing. :-)

Just feeling VERY melancholy and sad.

zippity do da

Yes, I'm singing. I am back at my lowest ever (yet) weight! woo hooo! That is exciting!

Got up early this morning and did my step aerobics. I rotate through my workouts. So eventually my body gets 'used' to the routine and I switch it up...or move to a different workout. So lately, I've been doing one particular workout. Well...this morning I decided to up my riser on my step and add that last riser. Eii yiii yiii. The same workout...and it felt different! That's a good feeling though.

I've got to go grocery shopping after work today...then Todd mentioned going out for dinner tonight. So I'm not sure what we will end up doing. He mentioned one or two places and I've been making mental plans of what I'll get at either of those places.

Been thinking...next year is the year for big things to happen in my friends lives. We've got two weddings (that we know of right now), Julie and Buddy's. And babies...eii yii yiii.....Julie (haa haa haa, I just reread that and it looks like the same Julie is getting married and having a baby...haa haa haa...but not...at least I dont' think Julie M. is planning on that next year), Karen, Ashley, Bree, it just continues. haa haa haa

Learning from past history

I'm going back and reading through all my blog entries. In some ways it's interesting and cool to see how far I've come. In other ways I'm amazed at how much I still struggle in some areas. In some cases, things that I seemingly conquered back a year or more ago with this weight loss struggle has reared its ugly head again. Well, that only goes to show me that I will need to be on gaurd for the rest of my life if I want to keep this weight off! That makes me think of something that I read online here the other day. They were talking about motivation and what motivates them. The whole premise was 'How badly do you want it?'. When it comes down to it you could be saying something like , I don't want to exercise.....and in response...."how badly do i want it? And if I'm asking myself, a piece of fruit or a bag of chips? The answer should always be "How badly do I want it" It goes both ways....How badly do I want that piece of fruit. But more importantly...How badly to I want to lose the weight. There will be sacrifices along this journey....but if I want it badly...and that outweighs the desire to eat or not exercise or whatever...then it should be a simple choice.

Had a super yummy lunch today. Yeah, that sound really trite and almost like I'm trying to talk myself into it. HOwever, when I finished my lunch, I literally said, "wow...that was really good". I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, corn, and steamed brocolli. Yeah, it may not sound like a good combination to some...but it was delish (as Rachel Ray would say........and why in the world did I even think of that...since I'm not a big Rachel Ray fan...haa haa haa). Tonight for dinner we are having something called a meal...not sure what to call it....but it has ground turkey, pasta, sourcream, zuchinni, green peppers, salsa....it's also super yummy! (And Todd says that it reheats REALLY well..so the leftovers will be eaten by him for lunch a day or so after we have this meal). I'll probably serve it with Peas or green beans and I think our fruit will be grapes (gotta finish them off before they go soft on me). Yeah, green beans would be a better choice...but I'm hungry for peas. :-)

Ok....The last weigh in I went to I showed a gain of like 2 pounds. Then we were on our mini vacation...and I gained 5 pounds. That is so uncool. I had vowed that I would be ok as long as I stayed within 5 pounds of my lowest. Well, I freaked out....because I went over my self imposed 5 pounds. So...I've worked hard and all but .4 of that gain (BOTH gains) is gone. I'm point four pounds away from my lowest ever weight. I'm ecstatic with that! Tickled pink. Dancing a jig. Oh well, you get the point! That puts me at 56 weight watchers pounds gone....with a grand total of 116 pounds GONE. What a difference that makes in life! In how I feel, act,...all aspects of my life.

We had an interesting call last night. It was the c&o canal association. They are having a big hike nearby (on the c&o canal obviously). Last year at this hike apparently they had one hiker that was out and they had to send out the park police to go figure out why the person hadn't come off the towpath yet. So this year they were looking for a different alternative to try not have to utilze the park police. So they asked if Todd and I could do a sweep on our bikes of the area that everyone is to be hiking. It sounds like fun. I'm only hoping for good weather. It's a week from Tomorrow...on Nov. 3. It could conceivably be cold. And if today's weather is any indication...quite damp! That would be miserable. Todd and I agreed to do it regardless.....we can always go home, take a nice hot shower and feel better. :-) I'm looking foward to the ride. :-)

Good Day

Today was a good day. I had a really good workout this morning!!!!!! Worked out for an hour! I ate wisely all day....for dinner I made Szechuan Chicken and Rice. Yummy! (ok, those of you who know me are probably laughing thinking about me eating an Asian inspired dish..when I'm not a big 'Asian' food lover...but it really is a yummy recipe.....if you want..just ask and I'll share) I then rode the exercise bike for about 30 minutes tonight. The second small workout was not becuase I overate or anything. It's because I just wanted to.

Work went well...fast and relatively smooth. It was a short day for me...so that was nice. :-) I got to spend a good deal of time talking to Janet during the down time...which is always a plus for me. No deep conversations today...but fun non-the-less.

TOdd found a picture of me that he is going to print out. I'd wager a guess that it's me at probably close to my highest weight. NOt something I really WANT to remember but something that I NEED to remember! So, I need to print it out and put it with my other 'fat' pictures. (this one that I found is the biggest...by far!)

A day off

Mom and dad came to dinner tonight. We had a nice time together. I so enjoy spending time with my parents. Dad brought his laptop and worked a while. In the meantime, mom and I must have been getting tired, because we sat in the living room enjoying each others company...but occaisionally laughing like hyena's at the simplest thing. :-)

I had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn and sauerkraut (and baked beans for dad). Not exactly the healthiest options out there. BUt managed and eaten accordingly. I've got just enough leftovers of the veggies that I'll be able to have a little smorgasboard of veggies tomorrow. Just about 1/2 cup of everything. Oh yes, and for dessert...home canned pears. YUMMY! I did step aerobics this morning. Felt good.

Todd and I got some stuff done today. We took another load of stuff to the mission. We are really making a dent in getting this stuff out of the trailer. We went to the board of zoning and planning and talked to them about the options for our land. We got some REALLY good news. It has been rezoned.....the old zoning was very restrictive....whereas the new zoning is no restrictions! We also got a few things from Lowes....a new screen door, wood for a repair...and electric line to fix the dryer electrical line (dryer repair guy...you better not be trying to get Lowes out of replacing our dryer that is still under warranty!!!)

Oh well...I think I'm going to retire to the bedroom and read for a bit. Todd has to get up early to work....and I don't have to be at work until 2PM.....woo hooo....I can exercise in the morning (that is not sarcasm...I prefer to exercise in the morning)!!!