Thread: April Tracking

Happy April 1! Let's continue to keep track of each other for another month. Some of us seem to be doing great and some of us need a push. Whatever it is we need, we can do it together.

well, I've decided to rejoin you. I'm one who seems to be needing a push.
I've been peeking in on you, but just haven't been in a state to post much for the last several months.
my story - just turned 50 last month - been doing Atkins (or something LC) since 01/04. Had lost 50 lbs by end of October, then just 'maintained early' for about 5 months. My vacation & Easter have put 10 back on, and I'm just starting to get back into it.
I have 2 children (23 & 20) who are in college, son still lives 'kinda' at home - next door. I work from home (well, next door) in programming/consulting on a very specific manufacturing software.
I've been married for 27 years, and we got into motorcycling about 4 years ago - honestly, it seems to have really helped our marriage - it brought us back together. Not much choice sitting on a bike together!

Go to hallmark.com and send somebody a funny e-card (they're free).

If I've learned anything on LC (and every other diet I ever tried), it's that keeping track and checking in help a lot. Now that I'm working my way into pre-maintenance, I'm a little nervous. I don't want to get obsessive, but I DO want to introduce new good foods into my life--like more fruit. So...one day at a time...one week at a time.

Twice yesterday, DH announced "It's March 31st, finally!" Yay. And today when I got us he announced with a smile, "It's April 1st!" And as a wonderful announcement of the day, two swans swam by in the open water that extends about 50 yds from the shore. The pond is still frozen in the middle, but what a harbinger of Spring! There is a woman on a connecting pond who feeds the swans, and I have been pretty put out about that because they all finally migrate over to her! But, I swear this year I'm going to "Google" "swan food," so we can keep them!

I took your advice Brenda and have decided not to weigh but once a week. I feel better about it. I'm eating pretty clean. No big cheats.

Today I'm hoping to get outside and clean out some of the flower beds. We are supposed to have snow next week, but the temp says in the 40's, so it will be brief. Today the temp is 44, but supposed to get a little warmer. We will have rain over the weekend. It's okay. Anything is better than snow. My parking place is almost all revealed!

Thanks for starting this thread again, Judy!!!
Welcome MK! We've missed you. Now if we could hear from Law1. Wouldn't that be cool?
Good to see you, Barb. How about some tips about adding fiber.

Peace, Peg

April 1st....I was laughing so hard this morning when the radio announcer said that the trees in the park would be cut down to make room for a 3 story hotel. People were phoning in and they were furious. They were calling people out to come down and start hugging trees. Of course, it was just an April Fool's joke. Those guys are so good...they get so many people caught up in it each year.

We have an old lady that lives next door that only comes out at night (I call her the glow worm), and she walks up and down the lanes feeding stray cats. Well, the population has just exploded around our area. You can't walk anywhere without smelling cat urine. Not nice! So....someone (not me) called the SPCA and they came in and started catching all these stray cats. I didn't know they were outside. Until I got a knock on the door and they were asking me if I had a black and white cat. They thought he was a little too easy to catch and too friendly. I went outside and there was my poor little "Peanut" in a cage in the back of the truck and he was just screaming he was so scared. Just about lost the little guy!! I took him in the house and he ran downstairs and stayed there for hours. I don't think he's going to want to go outside for awhile now after that experience.

Wind is just howling here today as it was yesterday. But, it's warm. It's was 50 at 7 this morning. I'm hoping for a warm weekend so I can get outside and do some more yardwork.

I started out my day with another fight with my boss. This guy seems to think I'm some kind of miracle worker. I not only have month end to do today, but billing also included in that, along with payroll, and my usual daily jobs. Then he expects me to go over all 3,000 plus accounts and start to make changes in them. Right...I'll get right on that. I asked him just how many hours he thought were in a day and it went right over his head. I'm thinking maybe it's time I told him I wanted a raise. Hmmm, maybe I should just stop ranting and get some work done?

hi Gang!

Well, here I am at my computer in the shape I'm always in at this time on Saturday. Staring at a blank document on MW and wondering what I will write for tomorrow!

I'm getting anxious BC about what I will weigh on Monday. That's the day that I have set aside for weighing. Today I've had the (well, how can I put this delicately?)...well...I've been visiting the porcelain bowl frequently. While I don't like the immediate feeling, I like the results that sometimes happen on the scale. I say sometimes because it isn't always true. Now, lest you think the worst let me reassure you that this is a germ of some kind and not self-induced. I learned years ago that the only one I'm fooling when I use laxatives, is myself. Thank the Lord!

We're having torrential rain and wind today. The temps are in the mid-30's. Nasty day overall. But, I don't have any plans to go out, so I'm just doing fine. Yesterday I was hoping to get out in the garden, but I chose to sit and read instead! That was nice!

Brenda: I went to the local yarn store and bought what the sales lady said is an easy pattern for a vest. I have all kinds of yarn left from scarves, so thought I might "do" up a vest in some of that left over stuff. I also got a book called, "Knitting for Dummies." Standard yellow cover, etc! I haven't cast on yet, but will maybe tonight.

I had the funniest thing happen yesterday. Remember that I redecorated in January? Well, at that time (when my bf was here from SoCa), we went to Boston Interiors, fell in love with a swivel rocker and two fabric ottomans, bought them and I have been waiting for them every since. The rocker needed to be made up in a yummy red. Well, they finally came with the ottomans yesterday. I was so disappointed that they didn't have the rocker. It is really the "anchor" piece for the living room. The delivery guys kept sympathizing with me. "We don't have it." "Sorry." I said, "I've been waiting since January!" "January," he said. "Wow!" All this while they carried in my ottomans. Then, they both went back out to the truck and I followed. They burst out laughing, pulled my rocker off the truck, and said, "April Fools!" I was in stitches. They got me really good. They said that they had been doing it all day!

DH is off at a conference today. The house is quiet, which is a good atmosphere for me to work. So, think I'll get to it.

Peace, Peg

Peg, I hate to tell you what a beautiful day it was here. So, I'll just attach a pic that DS took of future DIL and her dog. Although they went to Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum, this was taken somewhere near where he lives. Those are azaleas in the background. (Ok, I'm ducking as you throw the garden tools at me..)

Have a good weekend all......... eat better than I have.

Good morning all.
we have a motorcycle club meeting this afternoon - a little cool to ride the bike today, so will be driving. still below 50 here, may get up to around 57.

We drove to PA yesterday - 4.5 miles each way. Hubby is a wonderful person. He sold his old motorcycle (only 4 yrs old, and beautiful) to a guy in PA, and since we have a trailer - drove it all the way there to deliver. It was a yucky ride (rain/snow the whole way) - but a nice way to spend the day together too altough I snoozed a lot of the way. I got a good man and have to remind myself of that a lot, I'm sorry to say.

Judy - future DIL looks lovely there. and the flowers make me jealous. We saw a lot of MUD yesterday. Eastern Ohio still has a lot of ground water (temporary lakes actually), and some flooding all the way around route 70.

Peg - love your delivery guys sense of humor. made me laugh.

Donna - bosses are no fun. So glad I don't have a real one anymore, although hubby thinks he is sometimes.

Barb, glad you found this thread. Nice, nice people.

BC, glad to see you back regularly. I missed you.

Okay, I did my trip to town and it's going to have to be the last one for awhile. I have this habit of spending way too much money. lol Guess that's why I have to work. I got some great bargains (sears...hot pink jean jacket for $29...costco a pale yellow terrytowel fleece lined jacket for $9). Ended up with 10 new pieces of clothing that I could very well have done without. But, losing all this weight has developed a monster in me.....I love to shop for clothes now. Just a year and a half ago, I would have left the stores crying because nothing fit or everything was so ugly. Now, I can shop in any store and there are tons of clothes that fit. I have to stop myself from buying things that are far too young for me though. I think I'm trying to make up for lost years when I wanted to dress in style and couldn't because of my weight.
I started stocking up for the new patio also with a few solar lights and a tiny little evergreen tree and a huge terracotta pot. It's kind of cloudy today so it might be a perfect day to transplant it.
All that walking yesterday and I'm down another half pound so back to just 2 pounds from goal. It's not such a big deal anymore as long as I stay no more than 5 pounds from goal. I used to obsess about it, but now I think I'm becoming more comfortable.

Judy: Loved the picture. Your new d-i-l will make a beautiful bride.

Hubby should be home from his dart tournament soon so maybe I should get some housework done to look like I've been productive this weekend. Have a great day all!

Donna, I'm glad you are having so much fun refurbishing your wardrobe. I bet you look adorable in the new threads.

Judy, fDIL is a knockout! And, she looks like she has a kind heart, too.

Peg, that is ~so~ funny about your rocker! Those are BAD boys! But, I bet it all looks wonderful in the room.

Barb, I think you'll be fine with maintenance as it sounds like your are alert to the pitfalls and slippery nature of the beast. I find that reading and posting here helps a lot when my "focus" is drifting.

MaryKay, a nice long drive does sound like a good way to spend some time together. DH is always wandering off somewhere when he's home - little errands, off to the computer room, snoozing in front of the TV.

My friend's 13-year old daughter spent Friday night and Saturday with us. She's been interested in "cooking" (experimenting with sweets) for a while now. So on Friday, I taught her how to make the 3-minute Chocolate Cake, but using traditional sugar in her cake, as her mom is suspicious about artificial sweeteners, especially for children. She had fun with it as the finished product is done so quickly - instant gratification. Saturday morning, I took her to her roller hockey game, then we strolled around the neighborhood block sales and walked uptown for a latte. She loved going to garage sales, but complained a lot about all the walking ("can't we go get the car and drive to the sales?", "you're torturing me, this is the Walk of Death!", "my legs hurt, we should go get the car"). She's very fit, so the whining was mostly for the entertainment value in it, I think (probably wants to stay in practice for when mom returns, LOL).

This morning my weight is back up to 139.5 (sigh). I ate way too much salty, high fat snacks yesterday (bacon=bad,bad,bad!). My fingers and eyes are all puffy - must push water today!

Hello all! I had a close encounter yesterday with the freezer case at Wal-Mart. I stopped to study the labels on all the so-called low-carb, no sugar, "healthy" ice cream treats. Ha! The bottom line for me: not worth it. These things are all way calorific! And who knows what all those sugar alcohols will turn into once ingested?

Bought some fresh strawberries instead, and will replenish my supply of frozen mixed berries at Costco tomorrow. Sweet and cold. That should do it!

Barb, you're a better woman than me.............. I bought some of the chocolate ice cream last week, and have nearly eaten the whole carton. Of course that is also a definite indicator of why I have the 3 extra pounds.

Hi gang, checking in for a quick one here. I'm over the cold, but we spent all weekend working on the floor (yes, still!) in DH's computer room (otherwise known as the third bedroom). We had to pull new netowork wiring, too, but the floor there is finished, the computer network set back up and about half DH's veritable warehouse of software, boards, cables, books, parts, and goodness knows what put back in place.

I'm also trying to cadge some time to make jewelry. I took a bunch to the shop last week about half of it is already sold, so my friend Pam is asking for more, more more. Funny, sometimes thing sell like crazy and something things sit for a while.

Peg, I hope the scale is kind to you. I was thinking, if not weighing daily is too scary, perhaps you'd like the "7 day average" approach. So ok, weigh, but then only "claim" your average weight for the week. You start to focus on the trend, then, rather than the daily ups and downs. I'm sure the homily muse was kind yesterday, and that your sermon was a good one The vest with your leftover stash sounds like a wonderful idea. I've been missing knitting this last week.

Judy, what a lovely DIL....and the azaleas aren't half bad, either. I do so miss azaleas.

Mary Kay, so nice to see you, too! My Dad has had motorcycles almost all his life, and even now at 80 has the big Honda scooter in our garage. I finally talked him into the scooter after he had both knees replaced. His eyesight isn't as good as it used to be and I was really worried about him on a big bike. Of course this scooter isn't a tiny thing, either.

Donna, we have a few strange neighbors here, too, but LOL, no glow worms that I know of. I have to tell you, I was evil encarnate at the mall the first year of maintenance. Oh gosh, I think I was making up for the past 30 years........I finally had to swear off clothes like I swore off sugar

Teel, sounds like you had some fun with your friend's DD. "Walk of Death" LOL!

Barb, sounds like a sensible approach with your choice of strawberries. I'm glad you are joining us and can add your own unique voice here.

This weekend has turned a corner for me I think. Friday was the 7th anniversary of my Mom's death, and it seems to sneak up on me every year, as does the depth of my grief. It occured (again) to me that not only am I grieving for my Mom and the loss of our relationship, but also grieving the recognition that there really is no one to fill the void of "mothering" I still long for, even at 56. My Mom loved me fiercely, but couldn't pass on to me a wholeness of being she never had herself. Anyway, after Friday (yes April 1--who ever said my Mom didn't have a sense of humor) my mood lifted dramatically as it does almost every year. And I never remember that this always, always happens! Sheesh, the mind is a terrible thing to lose.

Anyway, I "just did it" and joined Curves. I have my first run through with the equipment tomorrow, and am looking forward to their moving next month to within three blocks of me. I'm working on not beating myself up so much and just accepting the reality of me as ok, even if I'm not where I need to be with this blip on the maintenance screen. You know, I always talk about being compassionate with yourselves, but obviously I'm the one who needs to learn that lesson most.

Oh Brenda....I just love you.....
More later. I'm trying to find out how to reduce pics on my computer. I have a doozy to post of my new living room!
Peg

Peg,
Download a free program called Infranview. It's easy and does a great job.