OK, I said I was here to stay and then stayed away toooo long.  I have had 2 major trips to see family and of course the LA trip.  No excuses though, I have just gotten wrapped up in too many other things and have ignored the people who have helped me so much.  I have been so delinquent that noone will probably even visit the site or read this blog but I hope so.  This week I pledge to reach out to those who have helped me so much and to get back to they gym.  I went last weekend and nothing during the week.  This weekend I have been on an all out campagne to get housework done and I am doing pretty good with it.  I had to figure out why I felt so overwhelmed and then go from there.  I have started with the storage areas throwing things out and of course making room for the current clutter to be put away.  Anyway, my weight is the same as just after LA...I have gone up 2, down 2 etc..  Many of you know that saga.  I am glad to be back...more later.  Denise

Yes, I had the time of my life in LA and have not had time to get back to the blogging yet.  We have pictures that will be posted soon but we are headed to Syracuse NY in the morning and won't be back till Thursday.  Please don't think I gave up because I am here to stay, it will just be a few days away from the computer and then back to normal.  Thanks to all of you for all your good wishes and staying with the blogging, comments, etc..  Denise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, we are almost ready to leave for LA.  Sooooooooo very excited about meeting all the contestants and seeing the finale.   We are holding our own with the weight but the workouts took a nose dive.  As soon as we return from LA it is back to the gym for us.  Gotta keep going, after all on Halloween I would like to wear whatever I like and not look for ideas for an overweight body.  This years theme is comic book super stars.  Anyone with some great ideas I am welcome to suggestions.  Let us assume that I will weight a maximum of 150 by then (that is only 4 lbs a month).  I will still be overweight but a lot better than now and I do not want to set unrealistic goals.  Well, enough for now, more after LA and we will post pictures as well.  Denise

 

 

 

We won't have time tonight to respond to all of you individually.  That will have to wait till tomorrow, so for now accept out heartfelt thanks for all of your good wishes and congratulations.  Thank you soooooo much!  Denise & Tara

OK, so now I am finding out first hand why we do not weigh in every day.  Yesterday back down those 2 lbs and today back up 1.  I have been sooo very good, last night I fought off every temptation to eat in the evening when I knew it was boredom.  I wasn't even close to hungry so I am learning a lot about what happens during inactivity.  Gee, maybe I should get my butt back to the gym.  My eating habits are still really good but the workouts have fallen by the wayside.  All is not lost though, after all I am finally digging in and trying to clean and get rid of clutter.  I have been up since 4 am this morning cleaning my bedroom.  Tara keeps giving me her clothes that are too big and I need to find a place to put them.  Boy am I going to look good when I get down another 2 sizes or so (she is a shop-a-holic).  Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.  Best to everyone out there!  Denise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bad news is that I am still up 1 lb.  The good news is that my blood pressures are lower than normal and this is exactly what I want.  My first goal of good health is to get off hypertension medication and sustained lower numbers will be the way to get there.  Of course I will have to show my doctor months of good numbers and show continued effort in working out and losing weight.  The working out has been sloppy at best.  I need to set workout goals for myself now to get that motivation back up again.  Surely, if I got back to the gym regularly that stubborn pound plus some would be gone.  How are all of you doing out there?  Have a wonderfut day.  Denise

I WAS down to 174 but somehow my scale found a pound and gave it back...and I have been soooo very good.  Oh well, it will come off again and hopefully before I go to Weight Watchers on Saturday.  An extra pound to show a loss instead of the same would be nice as well.  What I really need is a kick in the butt to get me back to the gym and then the pounds might just get easier to get rid of.  Well, here is to better and skinnier days ahead.  Best of luck to everyone out there.  Denise

 

 

Today has been a great day...absolutely no pain in that darn eye.  Still putting 4 different kind of drops in the eye but it is coming along.  Tomorrow will be the first day since last Wednesday that I will NOT be going to the eye doctors office.  Yeh!  Thanks to everyone that has been so supportive...you are all great!  The weight loss has been really kind to me this week but I did eat a fattening Panera Cheese souffle for lunch but then had chicken soup for dinner, fruit for snacks so I should be OK with my lunch choice (sure hope so).  Have a great evening!  Denise

 

 

 

This morning I go to Weight Watchers and I am down another pound...that makes 5 lbs in 1 week.  I have not done this since, oh, probably the 70's.  I am ecstatic and can't wait to weigh in at the meeting.  Could be nerves but whatever the reason I will take the loss.  This past Wednesday I had some laser work done on my eye and have had problems with the pressure and a lot of pain since.  Of course I am one of this with the extremely rare complication.  Why can't I be NORMAL.  So, maybe my nerves kicked my metabolism into gear...don't care why, I'm loving the loss.  You all rock!  Denise

OK, I complained about gaining 2 lbs over Easter...well, now I am down FOUR pounds and loving it!  I knew I was good over the last 2 days but never expected the best loss yet.  I will blog more later, gotta get ready for work.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Denise

OK, Easter and the day after cost me 2 lbs...but, today I am 6/10ths less than when I broke the 178 barrier.  I went back to 179 and now I am 177 again.  No more backward strokes, forward is the only way for me.  Had laser surgery yesterday so I did not blog with the headache and scratchy feeling.  I hope no thought I gave up...I am here and staying!  Also, I finally got back into morning workouts with "Walk Away the Pounds" this morning.  Good luck to all and keep moving toward you dream.  Denise

This is Tara... and I have fallen hard... off the wagon that is! I am so angry at myself and I also cannot motivate me to get back on... I gained 2 pounds this week... ERRRR what the beep! I am unsure of even what to say... please give me words of motivation and encouragement... I losing it over here!!!

 

 

I too gave up the idea of counting points yesterday, just too difficult to calculate but I ate less than ever on a holiday (no 2nds).  I did eat desert though.  I guess I will figure that yesterday eats up all my extra 35 points for the week and stick completely to plan for the balance of the week.  I am not dissappointed though because I did not overeat...started with totally healthy breakfast and snack and then Easter dinner was the rest of the days food.  Have a great week everyone!  Denise

OK it is Easter and only day 2 of Weight Watchers.  I stepped on the scale this morning and FINALLY down 1 lb.  Hoping this will give me the extra push to NOT eat too much today.  We do not do candy in this home but dinner could be another story.  We go to friends house and boy oh boy can she cook!  Yesterday I tried the chewing 20 times and putting the fork down and YES I did get the signal that I was full before finishing my dinner so I saved the last bit for a snack later since I had already logged the points.  This also made my snack healthier so I was happy.  Thank God Applebees has a WW menu, makes my job sooo much easier. 

 

I am so very motivated but I have to admit that when I think of eating this way forever it sometimes feels overwhelming.  I watched the show "I Can Make You Thin" and the technique of eating slower should have a major impact on those days when you just must have something NOT SO HEALTHY.  I hope as time goes by these thoughts will go away after all I gave up soda years ago and do not miss it at all anymore, gave up those croisant breakfast sandwiches and don't miss them (in fact I don't like them anymore) so I guess there is hope for the LONG range future.  I guess the most important part is retraining our way of thinking!.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  If we do eat too much, tomorrow is another day!  Denise