September...my favorite month I do believe, for so many reasons!

Happy Labor Day to all! At the risk of being hit over the head with a pool chair, I will say this....115 shopping days until Christmas!

OK...I'm outta here before the chairs start flying....

(((hugs to all)))
s

__________________
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Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

I like Christmas!!! I've even started shopping!

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Joyful hugs,
..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Connie -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*

Good morning!

September! I am truly getting old. That saying about not knowing where the time goes is really true. Thanks, Shelley for opening this month up.

I am having a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. It started early with taking Friday off. I had some computer work to do -- making some web site corrections/additions, so I was able to take the day off yet still make some $$. Love that.

I spent a lot of time yesterday watching Fox News and their Gustav coverage. All my prayers are with anyone in Gustav's path. Judy, BIG prayers for you. Sandbags? I wouldn't have thought you would need them. I need to look at a map .... or really wrap my head around how massive this is.

Bob and I did go to the World War I Museum. It was fascinating. It was easily one of the most beautiful and informative little museums I have ever seen. I have a few items from WWI from my great uncle that I will donate. They say they are still looking for items ....

I also bought some pieces of landscape edging. I laid them down so I know how many pieces of each I need. Bob actually helped! We will buy the rest next weekend.

Only two more weeks with the old dishwasher .....

Judy, I know you are definitely having a labor day today. My prayers are with you.

And Barb, digging out dust bunnies? You have wood floors, don't you? They really show up on those!

XXOO -- off to have some breakfast and turn on Fox News .....

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

We are forecast to possibly get 20 inches of rain. I seriously doubt that will happen, but even if it is half that, we could have problems if it comes down fast. Our home is on the downhill end of the block. In extreme rainfall, water runs into our front yard and up onto our porch. Our houses are built on slabs with no basements. If we get the massive flash flooding that is forecast, we could find the water seeping under the front wall between the brick and slab. Unless you specifically have flood insurance, water from the outside to the inside is all on you. We are not in a designated flood plane, so we don't have it. Right now we are in the calm before the storm. DH is moving all the outdoor container plants and doing his best to get rid of stuff that could fly loose or be damaged. We will get wind, too --- but nothing that is considered hurricane level. We are in the outer most bands of the affected area. By the time it gets to us tonight, we may receive what is considered tropical storm winds. However, it appears that Gustave is weakening some, which is good news for us. That will leave us with severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. Our bad weather will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The combination of wind and heavy rain often leads to electrical problems. Our part of the state is called the "Piney Woods". We have very large pine and oak trees. In wet windy weather, we lose lots of limbs and even see full trees down. The hurricane itself is not our major problem. It's all the weather it spawns.

Off to do something--- not sure what it is, but something productive for my Labor Day holiday.

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

Hi guys... Happy Labor Day to you all!
I have the NOAA weather site up on my computer all day today and it is tracking out the storm... Judy / Shelley, let's hope it's just rain and not 20+ inches!! UGH!!

So here it is Monday evening, I'm still at work - it's been a long, long day so I'm turning to personal things now... (no such thing as Labor Day in Armenia, of course!)...

Here are my three last Beck Days...

Day 19, Stop Fooling Yourself! STOP with the "It's ok to eat this because...." here are my big ones:
+ because... I'll walk it off
+ because... It'll be a long time before I can eat this (or like this) again - when I'm heading to Kapan (or back to Armenia, or Georgia, or Bangladesh, or Uganda, or wherever)
+ because I paid for it (in a restaurant. This is a BIG toughie for me)
+ because... X made this especially for me (and in this culture they will be offended if I don't eat it, etc.)
+ because...it's a special occasion (wedding, birthday, etc..)
+ because... it'll go to waste
+ because... it's just a little (or it's not that much, or: it's such a small portion, or: one bite won't hurt)
+ because, + because, + because, + because, + because......

The message I wrote on my card is: It's NOT okay to eat unplanned food of ANY kind! I'm just fooling myself... I need to focus on strengthening my resistance muscle and if I fool myself, I'm not, I'm strengthening my "giving-in" muscle...

Sabotage responses:
+ I'm better off wasting money than gaining weight
+ I need to take every opportunity to resist unplanned food intake
+ I may be in Kapan for 4 weeks but I'll be back after that and can eat this again whenever I want
+ I may not care in the moment, but shortly after i eat this I will feel terrible about doing it - avoid regrets! DON'T eat it!
+ So-and-so will be fine if I politely decline the sweets - there is fruit or cheese I CAN eat on the table, too...

And yanno, it sucks to measure and weigh foods and to pre-plan what you are going to eat, but studies show that dieters who don't weigh and measure food are NOTORIOUS in underestimating the portions. And it's not forever. This is key. It's not forever!! ok, so it takes me a year... so what? Won't it be worth it in the long run? of course it will!


Day 20: Get Back on Track... have you ever slipped and then said, "well, I've blown it now, so I might as well eat whatever for the rest of the day..."

This is advice I have read on these boards on many occasions from wonderful moderators and vets like Barb and Shelley...

Get back on track immediately:
- Acknowledge the slip (okay, one mistake, don't let it own you, move on)
- Recommit yourself to your plan (go back and read the pieces of this book or your diet notebook and your advantage card - that helps me.... "I won't want to be remembered as the fat aunt!)
- Draw a symbolic line (I stop here: and then brush your teeth, go for a walk, call a friend, check in with your diet coach(es), focus on a non-eating activity)
- Give yourself CREDIT for stopping!
- Continue to eat normally (i.e., go back to your plan)
- Learn from your mistake!
- Watch out for feelings of failure or helplessness... EVERYone slips, no one is perfect (even Barb! although she's close!) it's normal to stray from time to time... it's o.k.

for me - the ones that work best are:
+ re-read my ARC card, (no fat aunt)
+ give myself credit for stopping, and
+ brushing my teeth (that really works! I now carry a travel toothbrush and paste with me in my pocketbook so I can actually do this... it's great!)


Day 21: Get Ready to Weigh In.
I can't quite do this until I'm back in Yerevan but it's a great chapter... getting the weight chart set up and appreciating the weigh-ins: to keep me honest and build my confidence, and to celebrate, and help me stay committed - there are lots of great reasons to keep up the weigh-ins.


Tomorrow: Day 22: Say, "Oh Well", to Disappointment...

Thanks lovelies for having me back on track - I appreciate that these posts are long and tedious but they are so helpful for me so once again, thank you - thank you - thank you for allowing me this space here by the pool it's such a huge help to me...

Hugs to all.... R

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Hugs, Rachel







(the horn is in honor of DH!)
Quien canta, sus males espanta... ("She who sings fightens away her ills") Miguel de Cervantes

4:30.......... It's just now started to rain. The wind is blowing some -- nothing bad yet. We just got a reverse 911 call to alert us that we are in an area that could flood. (Humm, ya think I might have known that already??) It's sort of creepy looking outside.

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

Our weather guys have changed the forecast. Now they say only 6-9 inches of rain in the SE part of our state(earlier predictions were 6-20 inches). Could be even less than that; remains to be seen.
And, they are also saying they think ole Gus is loosing some of his punch. Sure hope so!

Stay safe, Judy! Good thoughts and prayers headed your way!

(((hugs to all)))

__________________
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Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

This afternoon's rain was just a warm up. It passed pretty quickly. In fact, Lexie and I even had a chance to go out for a short walk. The real stuff is supposed to show up around midnight. Let's hope it has lost it's power by the time it gets here.

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

Judy: You've been on my mind all day. Like Shelley says....stay safe. Is school cancelled for tomorrow?

Barb: There is no pain as the blood in my legs travel another path. But every now and then I'll get like a hot shooting pain..that's the stuff they infect flowing through the veins. I just walk off the pain. It's not a pleasant procedure...but it's better than having the veins taken out. After the procedure I have to take a 30 minute walk..then I can do whatever I want. It's kind of hard when you're wrapped up like a sausage though. lol

We spent Saturday night and all day Sunday at dmil's. Going through paperwork..doing up her taxes and dfil's taxes. Then did up some government paperwork. Sunday we cleaned out the garage. As usual, no one else showed up to help us. She seems to perk up when we are there...but when it's time for us to go she always looks like she's going to cry. I can't understand why the rest of the family is just ignoring her. I guess that's what happens when there's a death in the family...everyone is around for the first little while and then they just go back to their own lives ... so sad.

So today being a holiday I decided to finish up some things around here. I slept crappy last night and woke up this morning with a good case of the blues. I figured just keeping busy was the best thing. Started out with some baking for dmil...cut the neighbours grass..did my ironing...washed my car...did some baking...made a batch of lc cabbage rolls...nothing seemed to help. So, after walking the dogs after dinner I headed for the tub with my chocolate and my book and soaked away my sorrows.

While I was doing all this stuff today it struck me that I should get dh to put on my headstone when I die..."she's finally relaxing". lol

I'm off to watch Deal or No Deal...I heard someone will win the million tonight.

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

Good morning!

Judy - how are you ... and your house? I apologize for not really knowing where you are on a map. One of the maps Fox showed yesterday showed eastern TX in the path and I finally realized exactly how bad this could be for you. Many hugs and prayers.

Rachel, I haven't bought the book yet. Sigh. I just keep muddling through and not doing anything right. Why was commitment so easy the last time I started ... and so elusive now? My brain!

Geez, Donna ... are you sure you are not hyper-thyroid? I really do not know where you get all that energy! And the grave marker sentiment? LOL. Fits you to a T! I can so sympathize with your dmil. Does she have any hobbies? If not, I can imagine those times by herself are very hard.

It's time to get ready. Sigh. Back to work! XXOO

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Hi all, just a fly by... I see on the radar that the storm appears to have moved East completely - into Mississippi and not into Texas... Judy?? Y'all dodge this bullet??! I'll be back in a day or two with a Beck update... I wonder where Brenda is and hope all is well with her...

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Hugs, Rachel







(the horn is in honor of DH!)
Quien canta, sus males espanta... ("She who sings fightens away her ills") Miguel de Cervantes

Looks like Gust was a Bust.......... We have gotten some rain, but not at all what was speculated. They are still saying that tomorrow may be bad but from looking at the radar right now, it looks like most of the weather has gone north and east of us. Overall, we haven't had anything worse than a few windy downpours. Boy, am I glad! for your concern and for checking up on me.

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

Judy: So glad that everything turned out good for you. We've been storm tracking on tv and it's still a mess in other places. Damned weather!

Alida: Noooo, I don't think I'm hyperthyroid..lol I just like to have things done before I can relax....OCD is probably more like it.

Rachel: Thanks for keeping us on track...or trying in my case. I'm having a terrible time. Like Alida says...why was it so easy first time around? Wish I knew.

Brenda: Where are you girl? You're missed.

Heather: I bet you're up to your armpits in sawdust about now. Working much to hard...but worth it. I was thinking about you the other day when I was out working with my flowers and thinking how maybe this time next year you will be playing with your flowers...we hope.

Shelley: Finished raining in your area yet? We still have blue skies and sunshine. The heat is gone unfortunately. I love it and really miss it. It's sitting in the low 20's now (60'sF) and I do love fall, but I'm just not ready for it this year.

Well guys, it's only 16 more days until we leave on holidays. Dh got to work this morning and laying across his desk was the uniform from the young fellow that we hired about 4 months ago. He quit! No notice..just quit. Isn't that just great....it's really hard to find any employees much less one that will work 2 graveyard and 3 days shifts. I have no idea what we will do...I'm leaving it in dh's lap.

This is a really busy week for me so I'd better get to work. I'm doing my best to stay caught up daily so I won't be leaving anything unfinished when I do go on holidays (if we get to go now). Love ya all..hope you understand if I'm not in here too much.

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

Good morning, my dears. You can tell I've been taking it easy. The first rain from Gustav arrived in KC last night with a big thunderboomer. Today looks like a long drizzle--and probably tomorrow, too. Nothing like a flood drenching though. As expected, it looks like some New Orleans evacuees are grumbling that the government over-reacted. Just imagine what they'd be saying if they were sitting on their rooftops. Can't win.

Unlike Donna, none of my current busy-ness involves physical labor. I'm working on two different fund-raising projects, and dickering around with studies and plans for my Frost class in January. I get tired of sitting at the computer on nice days however, so maybe a rainy day is a good thing to keep me at it. Also, there's something about having a filing cabinet that automatically makes me feel more organized and businesslike. Old habits!

Rachel, I admire your determination and organization when it comes to weight management. You're an inspiration in more ways than one.

Shelley, I love September, too. I always get a fresh burst of energy. It's the old back-to-school feeling.

Blessings to all.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. You all are always in my mind and close to my heart, nevertheless, as I was reminded last week when I was catching up with you all and actually got tears thinking of what a warm and loving bunch of friends you are and how much you mean to me. And not a hormone in sight to blame it on

No excuses here other than work. Although there are four of us sharing desk duty 12x7, between family illnesses, vacation, holiday, and now an impending surgery, I've been picking up more hours--working almost every day--and that will continue through September. Even though some days I only work 4 hours, my body doesn't know the difference, LOL! (Don't laugh at me, working gals). I get a late three month review this afternoon and I hope there are brownie points for being flexible, since there is no $$$$$ involved



Judy, much relief that you and everyone one in the Gulf was spared major catastrophe. A lot to be concerned about in addition to starting a new school year.

Shelley, lots of love to you during this, your FAV month I hope you are in the midst of planning something fun for yourself, involving mountains, bling, or preferably both.

And Alida, yup, you know exactly how many pieces of which edging you need.........but are you very sure you can send dh to purchase them by himself

Donna, I haven't looked back for an update, but I hope Lily is continuing to flourish. I was reminded that Khaki will be 15 this month!

Rachel, bless you!!!! I know when I get back to Beck I will value re-reading these threads for your thought. Truly I am SO inspired by you, even though there is something of a gap between my inspiration and my action at this moment

MK, your house pictures! Wonderful imagining your excitement.

Bert, speaking of excitement, hope you are having NO excitement. I know you know what I mean.

Peg, I continue to smile when I think of you and SP. No one with any awareness can have a dog and not be truly changed by the experience.

Barb, I know you are enjoying life. Continue on!

and Heather, thinking of you and all your hard work

Everyone else, big waves and hugs. I'm in the midst of cleaning out and straightening my office/studio room. Maybe I'm weird, but it is always SUCH a relief to let go of things I've convinced myself I should keep. I'd let go of more if dh weren't hovering

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108