Lou, Hi! You are very welcome to join us. This is a great place for support on the maintenance path, because as Judy intimated, maintenance is about more than food. Here, we all understand.

Thank you all for your support and stories. TB, that was really a wonderful analogy. It's funny, but generally I think I've grieved about as much as I need to or want to, yet find myself totally surprised on the actual anniversary of Mom's death at my feelings, and I hardly ever even think of the anniversary beforehand..... Oh, maybe that's PJ (my subconscious, remember?) playing a little game with me. I'm sure she thinks it's her job to protect me from lots of things rolling around up there in the neurons......Donna, I'm sorry to hear you lost your father so recently.
Well, hugs to us all. I didn't mean to bring up such unhappy thoughts for all of us, though....

TB, I really love the idea of stenciling the outside of your shades I'll bet you'll find the perfect one. I'm really impressed with your weaning off caffeine. I've tried it a couple of times, with varying degrees of success, but generally decide I'm fairly useless without it.

Judy, that's a great comforter I think you DH did pretty good. I know mine would have come back without anything--so I give yours lots of credit for not only trying, but snagging a lovely one. Yes, we have Tuesday Morning's too, but I am never there when there's anything but the dregs left.

Peg, have I been gone THAT long????

Ugh, got all the taxes submitted electronically tonight, and I'm wiped. Tomorrow is Khaki's visit to the specialty vet, so I may not check in until later in the evening. Meanwhile, everyone have a nice day.

Yup, I think I'm baaaaaack :silly:

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Brenda, you haven't been gone that long............. the kitchen was the China trip. The living room was the Africa trip. I just wish my DH would take a two day weekend and leave me to it. Remember he's the one that considers the word "paint" to be obscene. I am pretty pleased with his shopping venture, though.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Aha! Wrong room, wrong continent. LOL, did I mention I was losing my mind???

Judy, I love to paint, too. Even my DH will help out, but anything not in some version of "off white" is beyond his understanding. So thus far upstairs I have off white paint, but with accent walls in bold wallpaper--which I usually do when DH is elsewhere. We should send these guys off more often, eh? Truly next time I will have glorious color no matter what.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Lou!!! Congratulations on reaching your goal weight! That's such wonderful news, indeed.

This forum isn't just strictly about maintenance - anyone who feels like a vet is welcome to participate. And, as you read along, you'll see that the support system isn't always directly focused on diet or food.

Many of us here find maintenance to be a whole new learning experience and weight control journey; sometimes, it seems more challenging than weight loss itself. I'm sure there are some people for whom weight lost maintenance comes naturally, who just don't feel the need to post a lot.

I was in a doctor's office today and read an article in Health magazine that decried the lack of studies, support systems, and "real" information on maintaining a weight loss. But, here at LCE, we do have a support group as we each do our "individual" studies about what works and doesn't work for us.

So, here's a biG welcome to a fellow vet!

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Yes, Lou! TB is absolutely right. And I was quite remiss in also not congratulating you more emphatically on your accomplishment.


(Hmmmm, I may not have mentioned losing my mind or something or other..........she says sheepishly.)

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Judy: Love the comforter. I just finished re-doing our master bedroom. Did it in blue and yellow with white furniture. Sounds strange I know, but it turned out just great! Thanks to Trading Spaces for ideas.

I'm still keeping steady at the 151.5 weight. I tried my new walk dvd last night. Wow!! What a workout. It's a George Foreman one and I figured...he's an old man now, how hard can this thing be? Well, he has a girl standing beside him that does most of the stuff while he just walks....it was definitely a workout. I felt so good....I can't wait to do it tonight. Hmmm...can this really be me....talking about exercise and using the term "wanting to do it" in the same sentence?

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Hi troups.
haven't been posting, but not for not-trying. Our stupid DSL keeps quitting on my just when I put a post in.

I'm fine. Getting back into exercising finally. But the sugar demon has hold of me also.
Ankle is fine - doesn't even bother me anymore - but it sure derailed me from my exercising, and I've gotten extremely lazy.

Love all your decorating work - beautiful pics. We finally carpetted the living room and family room, and had the kitchen tiled. First real work we have done in about 15 years on the house. It does help - I don't hate it quite so much anymore.

love reading up on all of ya.

__________________
Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Hi All:

Sorry to confuse you Brenda! It will be two years this summer since I did the kitchen. DH was in China then. It was just in January that I did the living room. DH was in Africa then.

Tonight DH is in San Antonio. He'll be gone until Sunday. I have a few projects planned. But, I just didn't have the energy tonight. He had to get up at 4:15 and I never got back to sleep. So, my tail is draggin' now and I'm off to bed.

Eating today not sterling, but not too bad. I drank a lot of water. Hate the peeing. Not enough time! Ha! (Who do I think I am anyway?)

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

San Antonio!?! He picked the right time of the year to go there. It should be beautiful. That's a trip that you should have bought a ticket for, too.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Yeah, I know, Judy. I gave it serious thought. But he will be in meetings the entire time. That includes dinners too. It will be a stressful time for him. I just didn't want to go to San Antonio for a week by myself! I would rather spend the time "doin' stuff" at home.

I think I'm going to try and repaint my master bedroom before Sunday. I never know if my energy will hold out to finish a task like this. But, I've ordered a "summer" coverlet and bedskirt that is a quilt with a white background with red gingham "wedding rings" on it. Right now the room is pretty dark with a dark "winter" spread and wall hangings. It is a pretty small room, so it shouldn't take me forever if I can stick with it.

I'm doing a Deacons retreat on Saturday. But other than that I have the weekend pretty free. (Oh, Confirmation on Sunday night, and attendance on Sunday morning, but I'm not preaching) The Program year is winding down. Next week is Spring vacation for the schools, so most of my staff (who are Mommies) will be gone. Then, we have confirmation, Youth Sunday (kids get Bibles, etc.), and the year is over. Yay! Looks as though I might stay here until the program year begins in September. That's okay. I can use the bucks. Also, I will miss it. We will leave for our big cross country trip in November, so I won't have so much time to think about it.

How're y'all doin' today?
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

Disclaimer for those of you that have watched the national news today and heard the story about the coach being shot:

Yes, it was in East Texas
But, NO, IT IS NOT MY COUNTY!
Yes, it is about 60 miles from here

East Texas and particularly the Tyler area have looked pretty bad in the national news lately. I almost hate to let anyone know that I live here. I have a friend that teaches at the school where the shooting took place. I emailed him early on in the situation to see if he could answer and if they were OK. They were, but I know it was scary for everyone. He said that helicopters were all over the place above the school.

East Texas really really isn't the crime capital of Texas. If seems that a few idiots have made it look that way lately, though.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Sounds like a busy week to me, Peg. Hey if I were in your neck of the woods, we could get that room painted Your new coverlet set sounds perfect. I need a summer set myself, but can't find anything I like.


Long day at the vet yesterday since it was too far to come home during the ultrasound, x-ray, and biopsy. Khaki's a little droopy today from the anesthesia but certainly knows when it's meal time. Gotta love 'em.

Today I worked out--yea! for me, that's 3x this week--and ran some errands to get DH ready to fly to FL tomorrow. I plan "girl time" next week, and a bunch of jewelry making, too. So many ideas, so little time. Well, that's all I know today and more....

so how's everyone else??

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

What did you find out about Khaki? So, did you get some knitting done while waiting?

When I got home my energy was all gone, so didn't even start prepping. Maybe I won't paint. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. My bed stuff came. so cute!

Haven't seen the news, Judy. But, glad to have that disclaimer. Thanks.
Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

Judy, I didn't think it was your town, but it is a very tragic situation. I assure you, we know that east Texas is a nice area with normal people. Aberrations seem to be occuring more frequently everywhere, though, and I'm sure are especially shocking in areas where there is normally little serious crime. I have to say, though, that I do think being a teacher these days is much scarier than it used to be. (I also haven't been able to catch anything else since the coach was murdered and hope that was the end of it.)

Peg, sorry you've lost your energy :( You know, it hasn't been that long ago that you were really sick, so no point in pushing it.

Khaki--well, no masses visible thank goodness, but her liver was smaller than the internist thought it should be for her size. Hopefully the biopsy results (maybe Monday) will give a clue. Got some knitting done , had a nice conversation with a woman there with her dog who was having radiation treatments, and read for while, too.

Well, turning in soon--or at least going to grab a book for a while. See you!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Good for you BC on the workouts. I'm keeping up with mine too. The George Foreman Circuit Walk is an excellent workout. I've done it 4 times this week. I actually look forward to doing it at night.

Got into the pork rinds last night...bad. They make me retain water and that sure showed on the scale this morning. I didn't drink enough water yesterday either so it shows I'm up 2 pounds. I was doing so well too.

It's a gorgeous warm day today and the weekend is supposed to be the same. So, tomorrow will be an outside day. Grass needs cutting and borders need to be cut back. Gotta get the sprinkler going on the dry patches too. It's so easy to tell who has puppies by the brown patches on the lawns and I sure have my share. I can't wait to get outside and get dirty. I got a gardening magazine yesterday in the mail and I ordered myself a selection of rare plants. I love lillies and they have two new ones....a frog lily that is white with reddish spots on it and a blueberry lillie which is white with blue borders around the flowers. Of course, I had to have them so out came the "secret" credit card. They should make quite a showing with all the calla lillies I planted (21 this year).

Hope you all have a great weekend.

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!