Happy July 4th Weekend!!

OKay I know it is only the 3rd of July but want to make sure I wish everyone a happy holiday weekend.

Today is weighin day or day to report weight loss!! I am happy to say I am down 1 pound! Now I am on my way to reaching my goal!! The important thing to remember today is that no matter what the scales read we are on our way to success because we are eating healthy and exercising and making our bodies happy!!!! :coach: Happy weigh in day to everyone!! You are on your way to a healthier and happier person. If the scales did move then WONDERFUL!! If the scales stayed the same , then WONDERFUL. If the scales moved up and you have really worked on your program then WONDERFUL. We all know no matter what there will be times when the scales go up. I like to think of it as time when the fat is being replaced my water and next weigh in day the scales will be the same or moving down!!

Come on Snow Angels I know it is hot but we knew when we started this journey it would not be easy. Let's dig down deep and remember why we were so excited to start this journey!! I know why I did. The prospects of being 25 plus pounds lighter by December 31 sounds so EXCITING!!! I can hardly wait!!

You all with me?? Then let's get through this holiday weekend with lots of positive energy and committment to a better way of eating and feeling!! I WILL stay on my program this long holiday weekend!! I will be eating healthy foods and working on my exercises and plan my holiday meals !! I WILL be a success no matter how many holidays and birthdays and celebrations that I am involved in. I WILL not use these occassions to go on a binge and just eat!!!!!! Okay Angels there is your challenge!!!!!! Are you up for it??

I will check in everyday and let you all know how I am doing!! I look forward to seeing who all is taking this 4 day challenge with me!! Come on and take the challenge!! The only way to become more fit and thinner is to apply yourself and give it a good try!! Remenber Angels if you try and fail that is one thing but to NEVER try is very sad indeed!! If I try and give it my all them I am a SUCCESS!!!!!!!! I am a WINNER!! Let's go for the gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just look at how far you have come in a short time. The possibilities for today are endless!! I am in!!!!!!

Love and hugs,:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Lizzie


Note:
Even though there won't be a new thread for everyday, I will be posting in here on this post everyday!! Need to check once a day for my own motivation!! I only do one day at a time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Morning Snow Angels,
Lizzie congraulations on the 1 pound weight lose that's so wonderful. I'm down 1/2 pound. Not as good as I would have liked to do, but it's better then gaining. Besides this way I'm encourged to work a little bit harder this week.

Here are my goals for this holiday weekend

1. stay within my daily points (July 3, 4, 5, 6)
2. drink 4 liters of water (July 3, 4, 5, 6)
3. workout (July 3, 5, 6)
4. have a postive attidude (July 3, 4, 5, 6)
5. give myself a daily talk and tell myself jut how wonderful i'm doing (July 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. write in both my journals (July 3, 4, 5, 6)

Those are my goals for the next 4 days. Have a wonderful Holiday Weekend Everyone!

:) Katherine

Hello and good morning to all Snow Angels.....Well, like Lizzie said it is weigh-in day here at the SA challenge. I am excited to report 2 lbs gone since Sunday!!!!! WOW!! I was expecting at least a pound, but 2??? I am thoroughly excited through and through!! I almost couldn't believe my eyes this morning...I must admit I had to recheck the scale a few times over.

We can do this Snow Angels....we CAN and we WILL make it throught the holiday!!! We must try our best, and give it our all if we want to succeed. I am not doing too much over the holiday, so I guess it won't be too much of a challenge for me...BUT I wan't you all to remember when you are at gatherings, and picnics etc., just remember how far you have come....don't let a few days spoil your success. We are all doing AWESOME!!! I know that we can do this!!!:up: :shout: now let's get out there have a great holiday weekend, and just remember....... SNOW ANGELS!!!

LIZZIE~~~~~Congrats on that 1 lb gone forever...Give it a BIG
kiss goodbye!!! Like I said last night....even with a bum
hip...you're doing great.... keep up the hard work!!!
DETERMINATION!!!
KATHERINE~~~~~1/2 a lb is AWESOME!!! Like you said...better
than a gain.:D Way to go!!! You are making
big strides....keep it up Katherine....you have come
too far!!!
TO ALL OTHER SNOW ANGELS~~~~~Where did everyone
go???? I bet you are all out of town for the holiday....
I hope that all of you are doing great and staying on
program!! WE WILL SUCCEED!!!

My goals for the next few days....
Drink at least 96 oz water / day
Exercise at LEAST 1 hr per day!!
Stay within calorie range (1300-1500)
Be happy and have a good rest of the week!!!

Take care everyone....have great holiday!!! :sam:

I was finally able to log on HURRAY. I was going through withdrawl. I got weighed in yesterday, since my normal meeting won't be held this week. Found out I lost 2 lbs last week:D

Congratulations everybody on your losses.

This weekend isn't going to be difficult for me I will just be staying home. We will be going into town tomorrow to watch the fireworks but that is about it. It's going to be a nice lazy weekend.

Everybody have a great 4th.

Hi Snow Angels,
Makes me feel cooler just saying that!! SNOW ANGELS!!!!!! Even told my DH this morning it was going to snow. He looked at me with a strange look then I realized I said snow.!! To funny, of course I meant rain!!

Ellante, Yipeeeeeeeee 2 lbs!!!!!!!!:ribbon: That is wonderful!! I love when I see 2 lbs!! Don't you just feel wonderful!!!

Aj, Member of the 2 lb club! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! I get so excited when I see success!! Just can't help myself.!! 2 lb super super!!!

Katherine,
Down 1/2 lb!!! I know how hard you worked for that 1/2 pound. That is so cool!!!! You go girl!! Yahooooooooo those half pounds really add up fast!!!

Wanted to share something with you all. I really have to beat myself up to drink water. I took this little test to check my knowledge on water and got 50% right. Then I filled in the section on personal infor and guess what ??? I am suppose to be drinking 15 8 oz glasses of water a day for my body size and weight!! I was having trouble getting down 64 oz, Well I am going to give it a try for today and see what happens. Hello bathroom!!

Did I tell you when I got home from the doctor's Monday I had pink water!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. Water company said it was safe to drink, they had added a new chlorine product and that is why it was pink. Yaaaa sure I am still drinking bottled water.

:coach: Now let's do this!!! Going to go for the GOLD!!!
Love and hugs,
Lizzie

Hey Lizzie...would you be willing to share that water quiz with the rest of us??? I would like to know about it...Thanks....AJ

Wow aj, I will see if I can locate the quiz again!! Be glad to if I can find it!! Some bozo just threw a bunch of fire crackers by my window. Had to have agood throwing arm to reach over my 6 ft fence and sail acros my back yard to land at this window!! Of course I am home alone!! Oh well that is life!

Love and hugs,
Lizzie

Aj,
Found it!! Go to www.brita.com and look under "daily water needs" and you will find the quiz. Very easy but informative. I don't remember where I found the original article with the quiz but this takes you to the quiz! Good luck! Hope you don't need to drink 15 - 8oz of water a day!!
Love and hugs,
Lizzie

Well...I appreciate you going back and finding that. I am always curious about those types of things..... The "Brita" quiz, says I should be drinking 96 oz of water per day (12 - 8oz glasses). Looks like I am right on. For once in my life. :laugh: Thanks again Lizzie....AJ

Alrighty then! What a great bunch of "Winners" we are!! Woohoo!!!

I did really good until last night. I had a steak with a little gravy and catsup. Not real balanced and I wasn't real hungry. I'd had a couple of TENSE moments at work and was angry at the maintainence dude......can I call him names?
THEN.....I was mad at ME for eating more than I wanted or needed......tho it WAS delicious....LOL! BUT.....I am BACK on track this morning and will not let that pebble trip me up again.

I did not rest real well Tuesday night.....up at 1:30, a nap at 4 AM, overslept, did not get my walk in so James was on my bad side in 0.08 seconds!
I will go this morning and walk off the residues of yesterday and get a good start on the 4 day challenge. Mine will be today-Sunday.

1) Plan my meals
2) Drink 100 oz. water daily
3) Exercise each day (Wednesday was my "rest" day)
4) AVOID THAT BLOOMIN' TV...........no food on sofa!
5) Be GOOD to myself

Have a great Holiday and weekend everyone!

Brenda:tomato:

Happy Birthday America!!!!

Wow what a morning!! I just found out if I walk first thing in the morning before my hip has had a chance to wake up I can do 15 minutes outside on the sidewalk!! I know that later in the day after bending and stretching and stooping my hip really hurts so if i sneak the walk in before all that--well I got by with it today!!:)

Hope everyone is all pumped for this holiday weekend and will be thinking about staying on program. Demonstrating our new found faith in ourselves to not allow holidays to interfer with out goal to become more fit and healthy!! I know I am really going to work extra hard to accomplish all my goals today.

Goals are:
Staying on program
Drink all the 15 glasses of water
Work on exercises--already did the walk--trying bike next!!
Eat only healthy foods and within limits!!
Will not use the holiday for an excuse to eat!!!!!
Keep a positive attitude!!

Okay that is my challenge for today!! I am all excited and so happy that I have a chance to have another day to accomplish my goals. Today feels so good to alive!! I am going to enjoy every precious moment this day has to offer!!

I am of to seek the possibilities of the day!!!!
Love and hug,
Lizzie

That's GOOD news Lizzie!
It's true we can do something before the rest of us catches on! That 15 min. will make a difference . That was funny.....telling your DH it was gonna snow!

I missed my walk AM due to the rain but it's clearing off and I'll see if I can talk me into it this evening. The FLC is closed of course so it's the track today. I'm looking forward to getting back to the FLC for that there hot tub! Hope they got the heater workin' 'cuz it was chilly my last time in. EEEEEK!

I made some yummy seafood sauce..........trying to copy somethin' I had at Papadeaux in Dallas a few years ago. I used imitation lobster, mushrooms,onion, celery, fresh ground pepper, a little flour with LF marg and fat free half and half mixed with some evaporated milk. Papa's had shrimp in it and was SO wonderful......... mine was very satisfactory though. I had some yesterday with my grilled salmon and some for lunch today with rice pilaf.

I'm enjoying my food so much more, am taking the time to cook some and it's not such a chore with the bagged salads available and frozen goodies I cook and store.

I'm in need of a nap now so will go do that!
Have a great day everyone!!

Lizzie........the info you e-mailed me is VERY helpful! Thanks a bunch!!

Brenda

Great work Snow Angels!!! Lizzie...so proud of you for gettin that walk in this morning....just remember, don't overdo it - k???

Blondee...doing great girl...Keep up the hard work!!! :up:

As for me well....I was a sleepyhead this morning....BUT I did do my morning exercises!! 15 min on Nordictrack, 15 min on stat bike, and 30 min Tae Bo. I am eating my lunch right now....
3/4 apple,1 kiwi, 1 c carrots, 1 c strawberries, and 1 plum. I went shopping yesterday, so I have all kinds of good fresh stuff to eat!!

My goals for the day...
Eat within my calorie limits...1300-1500
Drink at least 96 oz water.......
Get myself out of feeling down....???don't know what's up with me
Play with my daughter...yes she does have chicken pox BTW
Get some laundry done.....
Clean bathrooms....
Spend time with hubby and daughter this evening.......

I hope that everyone is doing well....Have a very very Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!:sam:

:coach:WE WILL SUCCEED!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello snow angels. sorry im so late getting on here but ive been quite busy. today is 4th of july and hope everyone had fun.
It is also my weigh day. i am pleased to say i lost 2 pounds for the week! i am down 34.5 pounds and 68 pounds away from long term goal weight.
23 pounds away from snow angel challenge weight for x-mas. i may be able to lose more but i didnt want to pressure myself to much.

my 4th was great. i exercised by swimming in pool. i did eat a bit but nothing out of control. not like i used to do at picnics.

Lizzie~~ the water quiz was very informative. i should be drinking 12 glasses per day. does it matter if i drink more thsan that cuz i usually do?

well i am off for bed. good night!

well i am posting early before work.
today seems alot cooler and i am glad too.
my goals for today are:
1. drink 96 oz of water
2. ride my bike
3.go out with hubby tonight
4. be nice to myself and others today
5. eat within points
6. go to work
7. enjoy the day!


i hope everyone has a good friday. we can do this. each day i learn something new. this site and all the people on here are wonderful.

i am so happy to be a part of it.

i am going now to eat breakfast and ride my bike before i have to get dressed for work.

bye for now!

:c( I was SO bad yesterday. Someone slipped in while I wasn't paying attenetion and made a sugar free peach pie and somehow I ate it! WHO could have DONE that??
Sweet is SWEET and I was totally crazy! I hadn't had sugar but twice in the past week, very little ,and the pie triggered temporary insanity.

SOOOOOO.........today I'll shake myself off and get back on track.
AJ, Minnie, good to see you and you're doing REALLY good!!!

I'm getting ready to go for my walk in a few minutes. I ate pie instead yesterday.....wasn't nearly as beneficial!

Love and Hugs to all!!!
Brenda

Hi All:rose:
Sorry I have not been around........combination of not wanting to and just being busy. I have no idea whats up with my attitude.............I think it is TOM. But, I did loose 2 pounds last week and plan on loosing more this week...attitude or not:D Congrats to all you losers!!! Way to go! Keep up the great work and i hope to see you around.:rose:

Hope everyone is having a great day so far. I am doing ok today.... Minnie~~~~ Way to go on the 2 lb loss:up: Brenda~~~~Brush yourself off and you will get back on track today!! At least a positive of the pie was that it was sugar free, right?;) dougchris~~~~You are doing great!! 2 lbs....awesome!! Keep up the great work...the attitude should pass soon:D

I hope that everyone is doing well and staying on program....

My goals for the day are....
Drink at least 96 oz of water.......
Eat between 1300-1500 calories...........
Finish a load of laundry.....
Go to a concert at church with hubby tonight.....
Get out of this funk that I am in:( ....I HATE feeling this way

Best of luck to all Snow Angels...Have a wonderful weekend!! AJ

Good Morning Snow Angels,

Wow you are all smoking with the weight losses!!! I add my Congratulations to all you wonderful losers!!!! Just love to see success!!

Well Snow Angels I am not doing something right!! I got on my scales to check my weight loss and discovered I have gained 5 pounds since Sunday morning!! Now if I was the type person that got discouraged this morning's weigh in would have done it!! But I know I can lose and I know that I am doing something wrong or I would not have gained. So I start by looking at my points. Where am I adding points and not thinking about them or not realizing I am adding points?

I am starting with my water. I should be drinking 15 glasses of water a day according to the little quiz I took on the brita home page. So I am drinking a fourth of my water before each meal and in the early evening. Checking off in my journal every ounce of water I drink!!

Next I will exam my menu and check portion sizes and hidden calories. Plus I will not taste any food that is not counted and recorded!! Time to find those little bad habits that are slipping into my daily life.

I have to make sure I am eating at the lower end of my points to compensate for the loss of exercising due to hip. I am still able to walk for 15 minutes in the morning but have to do it when I first get up or hip hurts to much. Only walk every other day also. I can work in my garden but carefully with not too much bending or stooping. Looks like I will have to wait until Monday to get the results from the x rays!!

My goals for today:
1. drink 15 glasses of water
2. check portions sizes
3. carefull watch points and write down everything!!
4. work in my garden--for relaxing and destressing
5. be respectful of self
6. be respectful of others
7. Enjoy being alive!!!

:coach: Okay now get on the ball and do it LIZZIE!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aj, Sorry to hear the little one actually has chicken pox. Hopefully the heat is making them too bad!! Wow you are doing an awesome job on exercising!! Excellent on diet also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Super!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sandy,
Hey sweetie if you drink more than 12 glasses of water a day you have my admiration. Wow how do you do that?? I don't like water but drink it! Good job on staying on program and losing!!
Excellent!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bren,
Bet that peach pie was soooooo good. Well now you wouldn't be human if you didn't slip a little now and then but look at you! You got right back on track!! That is the sign of a successful person who recognizes the slips and get right back on track!! I would however keep an eye on the cook!!lol You are doing great and will continue to do great!! So hang in there~~ Yahooooooo!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christine,
Don't have to apologize for being human. We all are busy at times and some times I sure don't want to check in especially if I have had a bad week or day! Hey look you lost 2 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yahooooo That is wonderful!! Look at you committment to lose more next week --now that is a poistive attitude!! You go girl!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I am all set to accept the challenges of the day!! I already can see that the bathroom is going to become a close friend !! I drank one liter of water before breakfast and still am too full to eat food!! I have discovered the easy way to lose weight!! The All New Water Diet!! Doesn't cost much and easy to follow!!

Joking aside I am ready to get this how onthe road and drop this added 5 lbs fast!! I will reach my goal of 25 lbs by December 31 no matter what life throws in front of me!! We are winners all of us!! Let's do it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and hugs,
Lizzie:cheer: :cheer:

Good afternoon Snow Angels.

It is such a nice day today. It is only in the high 70s and feels so good. But it's not going to last long next week we are supposed to get back up into the high 90s, the good thing about that is I won't have any problem drinking my water.
I didn't do much yesterday except go into town and watch the fireworks so I didn't have any problem staying on plan. I don't have much planned for this weekend, it's just going to be nice and relaxing.

My goals for the weekend are:
1. stay within points range
2. drink my water
3. ride my mom's horse
4. keep a positive attitude
5. relax

Sandy and Christine congratulations on the 2lb loss. Keep up the great work.

Brenda you have a good attitude about your little slip. We all have them now and then but the main thing, like you said is to just dust yourself off and get back on track.

Lizzie I am sorry to hear about your hip. Glad you found you can still walk in the morning. Do you journal what you eat everyday. I know that I have to write down everything I put in my mouth in order to hold myself accountable. Plus it is nice to go back and see what works and what doesn't when it comes to food choices. Well I know you will figure out what happened and you will have a loss next week.

Everybody have a great weekend and I will talk to you all on Monday.

What a week this has been. Between the site being down and my pc being tempermental, I have so much to put in my journal, it's almost frightening.....hahahha.

Just the same, I lost a pound this week, I have walked 1 mile every day this week, I have worked in my veggie garden for at least 1 hour every day this week, and made huge progress there.

I also took the quiz at www.brita.com and discovered that I require 14 - 8 oz. glasses of water...that's 112 oz. a day. Oh my, Oh dear, I don't know how I'm going to manage. Every day this week I did get my 64 oz, and was so proud of that until I learned how far below requirements that was.........hahahaha. That means 7 tall 16 oz glasses, and so far today I'm just starting #3. I have 4 more to go. I don't think there are enough hours in a day for all that water.......hahahahahahaha

Ok, goals for the day:

Get that water down
Walk that mile - DONE IN RECORD TIME
Weed that garden - Done
Stay within points

Wow, I'm just estatic about getting in to post. Maybe now I can possibly READ my journal and actually POST something to it??? Oh, am I hoping for too much. I certainly wish not......hahaha

Brenda, call me a heartless brat, but when I read your post, I just cracked up laughing....................."SOMEONE"????? baked a pie??? LOL. I would have done the same thing if "someone" had baked a sugar free peach pie here too. And I bet most of us would also, if they are honest with themself. (or they don't like peaches.......LOL)


Everyone that lost weight...........CUDOS to you!! I sure know how much work that involved.

Lizzie, don't even sweat that 5 lbs. Weight can fluxuate like that just from eating something that contained more than likely hidden salt in some form. Keep drinking that water, and you'll pee it all out in time. Good luck girlfriend. And please don't let it upset you. That kind of thing happens to me all the time.

Ok all, take care and have a great day.
Enjoy!~Enjoy!~Enjoy!
:hug: :hug: :hug:
Sandie

Howdy Snow Angels!

This site has been rather tempermental lately! It seems that every time I try to get on...it's down. Ok, I wouldn't have touched that pie...I don't like peaches!! But look out if you make a chocolate cream pie. :laugh:

I was up two pounds this week. Maybe cause I started working out again, maybe not enough water and wicked humid, maybe cuz I was constipated from not enough water...I'm not stressing about it!

I took the water quiz. I need 13 glasses a day. I have a 32 oz glass I drink out of, so that equals 3.25 glasses a day. I have noticed that when I drink more water I lose faster. Go figure!

:coach:I want to give a huge shout out to Sandy. She has become my motivator! And she didn't even apply for the job!! She has been losing so fast and regularly, so I looked at what she's doing that I'm not. She's working out a LOT more than me! I've decided that I am going to move my butt more. I rode my bike for an hour straight last night! 13 miles!! I've already ridden again today for 30 minutes. I also did my torso track last night (first time since my hernia surgery) and arm exercises, so I'm a bit sore today. I am going to lose this darn weight!! I'm not really looking to lose it unhealthily (is that a word???) fast, just at a regular pace. WW says 1-2 pounds a week, that's good for me. From week to week I'm so inconsistent! I can be down 5 pounds one week, and back up the next. I think it's got to do with water and exercise. In the long run, I'm still on a losing spree, so I just want to boost that a bit. Thanks Sandy!

I'm home alone today, hubby had to work, so I'm doing laundry, already did some exercise, and I'm taking out all of my old size 24's to GET RID OF FOREVER!!! I will NEVER wear them again!

Back to work for me. Have a great weekend all!!

:tomato: Good morning all!
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement! Yep....I'm gonna have to watch who I let in my kitchen!
I'd not tried the sweet'n'low for cooking before and it was really good! I won't do that much tho, unless it's to share! LOL! I found a good recipie for SF carrot cake I'd like to try but will wait for a Holiday to use it.

I did get myself back to the FLC for a walk yesterday. Only got a mile as I had a headache.....wonder why?? Wouldn't have anything to do with a sacchrine laced peach pie, now would it?
It lasted all day and still had it this morning but took a couple of tylenol.....should be fine by work time. Allergies are kickin' in as well from being outdoors but I'll just tote kleenex! It's too nice to avoid totally!

It's back to work this morning. I'll be scootin' out in a few minutes.

I discovered WHY I wake up with my feet flat on the bed with a leg crossed! It's my back! I am subconciously trying to alleviate my back pain! It only took two years to figure it out! It happened again this morning aroud 2:00 AM and I realized my back was hurting and in pulling my legs up it helped relieve the pain temporarily.

Well..........poooh......time's up! I've gotta run. I had to get off-line, then back on this morning as I couldn't open anything. I did that to see if it would work and it did. I couldn't even get AOL help so I knew something was up with my end of it.
Have a great day/weekend everyone!

Love to all........
Brenda
OH LIZ..........I too have an extra 5 pounds back! Water, bad eating for two days and hugging the sofa. I aim to stop that and behave myself!
Catch you guys later!

Hello Snow Angels~~

wanted to post before i leave. going to get new freezer soon. cannot wait.
hope everyon had a great holiday.

Stacey~~ thank you so much for the compliments. im glad i am helping you. you helped me out alot too.
you are doing so good and lost so much. that in itself is an inspiration to me.
but you did suprise me with what you wrote and i felt good that i can help you too.

i see some of our regular friends have not been on here or journaling unless there gone away.
did anyone else notice the MIA?

well my positves for today are:

1. will go get new freezer
2. hang outside clothes i just washed
3. spend time with hubby
4. drink all my water( i did great yesterday with that)
5. eat healthy and include some fruit too
6. help sis wuith computer
7. give sis some of my bigger sized clothes

well i am off for now and congrats to all who lost weight i know how much work is involved in doing it. and to all who maintained great job too and to those who gained each day is a new day and we shall succeed.

i am happy this site is back and running. i was miserable without it.
i guess it helps me more than i realized.

everyone here helps me alot and it is touching the kind words that are said to one another. i still say one day we should have a diet talk reunion and meet. impossibele?? nothing is impossibel. we all should know that by now. if we can dream it we can achieve it.
Love you all :rose: :rose:

Good Morning Snow Angels!!

Another beautiful Indiana day!! Only 82 and sun is shining and just checked my garden and it is growing like crazy!! Lots of little tomatoes and little green peppers. Plus my blackberries are starting to ripen. My flowers are blooming and doing wonderful and I am so pleased. Last year my garden was a bust and my flower were not as pretty last year. I am thinking what is the difference from last year to this year???

The difference is me. Last year I could have cared less about my garden and it showed. But to give myself some credit my back was so bad that I had to ask others to do the work for me. Plus trying to do any work cause be have breathing difficulties. Not so this year!!!!!! I have done all the work myself except tilling. My son did that but everything else has been me. My attitude is positive and I feel wonderful. My garden shows that I now have pride in my work again and everything is growing!!

What has made the difference is taking stock of me. I am totally focused on losing weight and becoming fitter and heathier. Oh i have the usual slips but now I get back up and start again. Sometimes I have several days that it is hard to stay on track. But deep down I know that I will win this battle no matter how long it takes.

There is the difference. I have never stayed on a diet this long in my life. Plus I have never dealt with any issues concerning when and why I like to eat. Yes I do like food but I will not allow food to control my life anymore. So I have worked on several issues and have changed my behavior and added new behavior. I have finally learned that I don't need comfort foods and I don't have to make eating a big event. Food is what will help keep my body strong. Food is not a friend, or lover, or a comforter. Food is only food. Food hasn't solved any problems for me or completed task I should have finished. Food has not handled anger for me although I behaved in the past as if it did. Food is just food or fuel for the body and mind!!

For today I am going to :
1. Keep working on my program
2. look for hidden calories and points
3. Continue to be honest with myself no matter what
4. accept life's challenges without whining!!( Glad to hear that
Lizzie)
5. Accept me for who I am
6. Be happy with who I am
7. Contiinue to love my family and tell them and show them
8. try some exercises without stress hip!!
8. Just enjoy the day!!!!!!!

Snow Angels are you with me??? Yes Sandy I have missed some folks. I am hoping the MIA's come back and continue on with our journey. We are not here to judge anyone else or give anyone a hard time. We are all in this together like sisters!! We learn from each other and support each other. So if you haven't checked in lately please do . We would love to see you back and no questions asked!! Although we are all traveling together once in a while we take a different road but it always leads back to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's make today a super day and stick with our programs and forget all the yesterdays with the extra lbs!! Today is a new day and a new start!! Let's make today COUNT!!!!

Going to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love and hugs,
Lizzie

hello everyone......what a beautiful summer day in Montana!! I am doing pretty well....I am having a better day so far. 1 hour of exercise done for today, and get to spend time with hubby and daughter. I will probably do some rubber stamping and try to get a page or two done in my daughter's scrapbook. I have a stamping club meeting on Monday, it's my turn to hostess. I love doing that kind of stuff. I have eaten pretty well so far today.

My goals for the day........
Drink 96 oz of water......
Eat within calorie range.........
Exercise.....DONE!!!!!
Spend time with hubby and daughter........
Have a fun and relaxing day.....

I am going to get going and get a few things done so that I can do some stamping. You guys are all wonderful......Keep up the hard work......Give this some time and patience, because we WILL succeed!!!!!!!!!:ribbon:...........I know we can, and WILL do this!!!!!! Now get out there and get movin'!!!!!!! LOL:laugh:

Hope you all are having a great weekend!! Best to you all, AJ

:) Good Morning fellow travelers

Here in northeast PA. the sun is shining, humidity is low and it is only about 74 degrees right now. There is a nice breeze blowing too. A perfectly lovely day. Don't you agree?

Blondee49, (or Brenda) have you tried using splenda instead of Sweet n Low? It can be purchased loose and used exactly as sugar in recipes, and no saccharin either. I've used it for some time now and it works great. You can even add it to hot things and it doesn't break down like Equal does. I think you would like it.

Well, I went for my walk bright and early this morning, and then I did some weeding and hoeing in my flower bed this morning. Weekly maintenance type thing now. The roses are coming along better every day now, and more of them are blooming. I will have to get some more photos. They are really so beautiful.

I have this one small rambling rose, called "Apple Blossom." It is in the miniature rose group. Grows about 18" high and 3' across. Right now it is blooming profusely and just out of curiosity, I smelled the blossoms. Amazingly they actually smell similar to apples. It has so many blossoms on it right now, it isn't easy to see much foliage. And where you do see foliage, it is covered with branches loaded with buds about to open any day now. Just magnificent.

Yesterday my sister and nephew came for a visit and they went on my walk with me. It was nice to have someone to talk to while walking. DH is just too busy with other things first thing in the morning, so he can't accompany me. And after the way my poor Emily was dragging the other day, I am afraid to take her with me now. Oh well, I do have the birds and many other wildlife for company. That will have to do for now.

My goals for today are half finished, but just the same:
Do my walking - DONE
Clean up the flower bed- DONE
Enjoy the day (not hard)
Get my 112 oz. of water down (haven't succeeded yet)


My 3 positives for today:
#1. I have the day to myself, DH has a pony pull elsewhere
#2. I am feeling happy, fulfilled, and enriched in many ways.
#3. I have many new friends at DT that make me smile and feel good about everything, including myself.

Ok, take care everyone. Always remember......Enjoy!~Enjoy!

Love n :hug:
Sandie