January 30, 2003
Thursday


Hello everyone :wave:


I have started on a new journey with a motivational coach, book and audio tapes. 7 WEEKS TO WEIGHTLOSS & FITNESS SUCCESS.

This is about me becoming the person I want to be, and doing it in a positive and painless way. It won't be accomplished in 7 weeks. It is 7 weeks to relearn a newer and better way of thinking about myself, my weight, and how to achieve my goals.

Part of this is creating my new self image. A few notes from my book:

A self-image is more "imaginary" than "real"
But what it does is very real. Your vision of who you are reflects your perception of reality, which is much more powerful than reality itself. Your own vision of who you are is what determines how much you weigh.

We are always going through life wondering how "they" will think about us, if "they" like us. We need to realize that "they" have no right to control our lives. Many of us learned - or were taught - to see ourselves as imperfect, bad, flawed, incompetent...........all negative adjectives. But worse, since our self-image strongly affects our experience of life, we created a life to match our negative view of ourselves. Truly a vicious cycle.

No matter whay the world "out there" tells you about yourself, it means nothing until you internalize it -- until you believe it - until y ou "buy" it.

"what a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve."
If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten.

My first goal now is first learn to feel good about who I am, and to see myself as I desire to be, and if I will do that, my weight problems will take care of themselves, without effort or struggle. I won't need will power because a much stronger power, my own unconscious mind, will automatically be taking care of it for me.

It's time for me to take back the reins of my life. Time for me to reclaim the power that is rightfully mi9ne. I will be creating a whole brand new set of beliefs and I can dump as many of my old ones as I like and say goodbye forever to the unhelpful habits and behaviors they caused.

In the past I have worried about how much other people liked me. What I need to realize is there will ALWAYS be people who like me, and there will ALWAYS be people who don't.

The "bad" news is, there's nothing I can do about it.
The "good" news is, IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY!

I will continue using the Weight Watcher's plan as my food plan, but I'm not over-concerned right now if I am right on or off a little. I am giving myself the time needed to reshape my thoughts and gather myself together. This is not a hurry up program, and I want to give it a chance to work. I will continue to exercise because I enjoy it, and because I know it's good for me and my health and my body and my mind.

I am also working on getting off the paxil. I need to have all of myself to do what I plan to do and I don't feel that it is necessary any longer. I can do anything I set myself to do if I really believe that I can do it.

I will also drink my water because that also is necessary for good health and hydration. I will continue to weigh in once a week on Monday.

I won't ask anyone to wish me luck. I'm going to make my own this time. I will succeed.

Water today - 64 oz.
Exercise - 40 minutes gazelle - 1.7 miles
WW pts today - 31 (range 26 - 31)


keep smiling ................... :)
Sandie

Hey girl!

Long time no chat!

Glad you started a new journal...your other one was way too long and I always fell asleep trying to load it!...hahahaha!

Good Luck on your new journey...I know you will be a healthier and happier you in no time!

mcmarto

Hey there McMo!

Gee thanks. You are my very first visitor in my new journal about my new journey. How's that for being special, eh?

I'm sorry about the old one taking so long to load. If I had known you were visiting, I would have started sooner on a new one........hahahahha.

Thanks for your good wishes lady. I hope to share the best aspects of my journey with everyone. It has certainly given me a lot of food for thought so far, and I just got started.

keep smiling .............. :)
Sandie

::wave:Sandie:
:up: on your new journal. I love your new approach. You will do just fine and you will succeed. Always liked you anyway, but I agree about taking control of the reins to your life.


Great start Lady.

Louise:rose:

Way to go Sandie.

I too am trying to take a different approach to weight loss. I am using possitive imagery to help me focus on my ideal healthy body weight. I also use my other journal to dig into myself to discover who I am.
I like your approach. Take this time to know yourself and understand yourself. Then you'll be able to deal with yourself and the things or people around you.
Funny how what we think other people think of us affects us so much.

I know you will succeed. Enjoy your leaning process.

Darlene :hippy:

Hello Lulu,

Thanks for visiting my new journal. Yes, I thought it was time to try something different for a change. Now I'm wishing someone had told me of this book years ago, but they couldn't have because it has just been done and the program just started recently on GHF.com. Well, whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks is about to learn differently. This old dog is going to show them all.



Hi Darlene ~

Thanks you too for visiting my new journal.

I must admit, your soul searching got me thinking about a new approach, but I have to tell you, this one I have settled on ends all the soul searching. And I like that because I kept asking myself why, and couldn't come up with any answers.

This program says put it all behind you, close the door, and let it go. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. Anything and everything that happened in the past is no longer going to have anything to do with my life from this point on. It's in the past and it can't touch me now. It's over with, done.........kapput! It saves me a lot of work too........hahaha

Thank you both for visiting. I hope what I am learning will help others to learn also. I'm really excited about this.

keep smiling ............. :)
Sandie

Hi Sandielynne!

Sounds like a great new program. I'm looking forward to hearing more about it as you go along.

Misty's been patted on your behalf, thanks. :)

Stay warm!

Hi Ho Sandio,
I like your new approach!! Sounds wonderful to me. I know with your determination and motivation you will succeed. Just keep on keepin on!!!!!!

Love and huggers,
Lizzie

Hi Sandie :wave:

You know I am glad you are starting on the new phase of your Journey To Success :D.

I know I have said this before BUT WE ALL HAVE THE POWER AND ABILITY TO SUCCEED .... nothing is difficult ... UNLESS WE MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

I look forward to hearing (and reading) all the positive steps you will be making each and every day. As always, Monica

Hello sandie,

i like the goals you listed and you are so right in what you wrote. we should put our energy into making a lifestyle change and focus less on the scale, cuz if we make a healthy change the scale will show results anyways.

your doing so well and with positive attitude.

take care and enjoy your day too.

January 31, 2003
Thursday

What a beautiful day we are having today. Full of bright sunshine, and for once, it has actually gone above freezing. Yesterday we manage to reach 19 consecutive days at or below freezing. It also broke the record made back in 1989 of 18 consecutive days. I don't really consider it something we should be "proud" of, but if you call it an "achievement" then it is looked at in a more positive light. And we all know that being positive is the main ingredient for success and happiness.

Today I'm going to talk a little about exercise and how important it is that we find something that we can enjoy. If we don't enjoy exercising, we certainly will not continue doing it.

Whatever exercise you opt for must bring you some form of reward, either while doing it, or fairly soon after. It must in some way make you feel good, look good, or feel like you accomplished something.

You need exercise in order to be healthy.
You need exercise to get to your healthy weight and to stay there.
Most people don't exercise for one basic reason: The "costs" seem to outweigh the benefits.

If a behavior doesn't bring some kind of reward, it dies out. If you don't get some kind of a reward or "payoff" from your exercise, you just won't do it. This a major success secret. You will never get to your goal if the steps that take you there are not rewarding as you take them. When the reward stops, the movement toward the goal stops.

What kind of rewards go with exercise? A thinner, healthier, and more attractive you! So what you need is a reward that shows up every day, every time you exercise.......a short-term reward. Each day's activity needs to be both a goal and a reward in itself. Even if you do not feel especially good while doing it, you need to at least feel good about HAVING DONE IT.

You must also understand that exercise alone will not produce quick weight loss. It's not supposed to. If you can't accept that weight loss should be a gradual and steady process......one that involves a fundamental lifestyle shift.....you may once again become the prey of the Diet Industry. So take it slow. Learn to make the process of exercise as enjoyable as you know the outcome will be.

This evening I have an appointment with a neurologist to have an EMG done on my lower extremities. I've been suffering with numbness and severe burning in my lower left leg and in my feet for some time now, but it's getting worse. We are trying to find out if there is nerve damage or not.

We also don't know if this is being caused by a pinched nerve or something else. So no doubt this test will be the first one, with possibly a few more to follow.

Since the doctor's office is an hours drive away, and my appointment is for 6 pm, we are going to stop and have dinner out somewhere in the area. So I have no idea right now what my total points for the day are. But I will promise you that I will get my water in, even if I have to drink it all after I get home. But that is not likely. I do already have more than half of it down already.........LOL

:( I did not do any exercise today. My left hip is bothering me really bad, and walking is getting more difficult rather than less. So I gave it a break today. Tomorrow I will be on the gazelle again, or, if the weather is nice enough, I just might go for a long walk down that beautiful snow covered dirt road of mine. In either case, I promise you I will exercise tomorrow. No........that's not true.............I promise MYSELF that I will exercise tomorrow.
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Now to my visiting friends.

Kilogo ~ Thanks for stopping by chicka. I'm pleased so far with my new program as well. It is making a lot of sense and I'm going to prove that this old dog can learn some new tricks. It sure will be interesting to see if a person can actually use their mind and beliefs to lose weight rather than following a formal diet plan of some kind. But I do like the idea, and when it works, that will be super! Oh yes, thanks for giving Misty a pat for me.
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Lizzie ~ Hello friend. I have a feeling that this program can be helpful to all people and not just for weighloss either. But I will try to share the high points with everyone, and hope it will help others while helping me also. One thing I like is that is tells us we do NOT have to depend on "will power." That alone will be helpful for most.
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Monica ~ Yes lady, you have said it over and over, that if we believe strongly enough, then success will be ours. I think I believed it, but not strongly enough. This time will be different, and we will both see success this year of 2003.
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Minnie ~ Happy to see you lady. I appreciate you taking time out of your very busy day to visit me when you can. You and I both know a positive attitude can do wonderful things, but I'm also about to learn what a positive attitude combined with believing in myself will accomplish. And together, that is going to be something awesome!!
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I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful day, as I am. Take care and make the most of every day you have.

keep smiling .................. :D
Sandie

{{{{{{SANDIE}}}} How have you been? i guess your out side today enjoying the great weather. Early this morning around 7:00am, I was out here on my computer, and it sure was foggy.
It's clearer now and i'm glad, I really hate the fog, but I guess their's a bright sight to fog. It doesn't rain when their's fog, and I hate driving in the rain even worse.

Thanks for your talk on exercising. I agree with everything that your saying. Especially the part about how if you don't enjoy what your doing, your not going to stick with it.

I'm sorry to hear that you've been having numness and severe burning in your lower left leg and in your feet. I'm glad that your going to see your doctor. What's an EMG? I've heard of an EKG, but never an EMG.

Sandie if your hip is still brothering you tomorrow, please take it easy with your workout. Just do what you can and don't push yourself to hard because you may end up doing real damage to your hip.

TAKE CARE ~ KATHERINE

Hey Sandie!

Your new approach is great...I find that my success this past month deals with my emotions too...and I am getting past...the past...and not letting anything happening now bring me down!

Funny you mention exercise...this is now my alternative to eating...I feel bad...or down...I exercise (and/or visit DT)!...Walking and Curves...and my 2 and 3 mile tapes have been great!

I reward myself with verbal praise...and...I also enjoy a bubble bath every now and then!...haha!

Hope everything is ok with your leg!

Feel better soon!...

mcmarto

hiya Sandie :)
i look forward to learning more about these tapes etc that you are following. what you have shared so far is wonderful...
you know me and exercise....i love my exercise, although lately i have been struggling to be bothered to do it...but the fact that i get a lot out of it physically and mentally is what keeps me doing it......i think of exercise as my anti depressant it helps me clear my head.
its hard to not be concerned about what others think of us. i still have a hard time with it. in my heart i know that what i think of me is the most important but i need to remind myself of that regualrly.
i hope all goes well at your docs visit, those symptoms must be worrying for you.
i wont wish you luck, you have all the tools you need to succeed and i know you will.
hugs bell :)

Hey. What's all this reference to "old dogs" turning tricks in your journal???

Congratulations on the new journal, Sandie. I know you've been looking for a bit of a change and some new motivation and I'm glad you've found it! You seem to be keeping your wits about you and learning some new techniques will be fun and give you a bit of a jump start, I hope!

Yay for you!

But, just for the record, you ain't no "old dog."

Hi Sandie
How are you ?
I am looking forward to hearing more, I gave up exercising in the past because I didn't feel it was rewarding, I know this time if I ever get to that stage I will just try a different exercise.
Ellie

Hi Sandie
A new approach is great. Hope everything goes well for you and i found so much positive in your posts how can it not work for you weight wise mentally and otherwise. It is a life change that we need not an overnight one. That is why this time I choose low fat something i can do for the rest of my life. Love where you said leave the pass does that mean the housework i didn't get done yesterday can get thrown out like the laundry LOL
Guess not i know exactly what you mean leave bygones be bygones and go on with today. Today not Tomorrow Today.

See you lighter
Linda

February 1, 2003
Saturday

It was very foggy today, and not a sign of sunshine anywhere. In a way, the weather suited the events of the day. The terrible trajedy of the lost shuttle and it's crew of 7 very brave and good people. My heart and thoughts are with their families and loved ones.

Today, in my progression to learn about using positive thinking as it relates to weight loss, the next step is in learning to put depression out of my life forever. I am gradually taking myself off my Paxil. I have b iseen using it for the past 3-4 years or so, and I feel that I can do this and manage my thoughts much better now.

Some of the things I am learning is that depression is the result of my own unhealthy thinking. Or as Zig Ziglar calls "stinkin' thinkin'." A direct result of negative thinking about a specific life problem or issue. The pain of depression is our minds trying desperately to get our attention. It's telling us something we are doing or thinking isn't working and we need to try another approach. If I will monitor my own thinking, and notice for myself the connection between what I think and how I feel, and take the tesponsibility for improving the content of my thoughts, I will discover for myself the power that I have had all along to, in a sense, "depression-proof" myself for life.

So here we are back at the beginning. If we think it, and believe it, we will create it or make it a reality. If I contintue to look at challenges negatively, thinking I cannot accomplish my goals, then it will become or continue to be my reality as well. If I continue to think and believe that I am not worthy, it will continue to be my reality. But if I let all of that negative thought go, and move forward thinking positively in all things, believing positively all things, then my life will become a positive force that will create a positive reality. Therefore I am worthy, I am as good or better than many, my life is a GOOD life, and I am at my goal weight. I have simply accidentally gained a few extra pounds, and I WILL lose the extra pounds.

This does not mean that I will not ever see again days when things will not be as perfect as I would wish them to be. But that also means that I don't have to allow a bad day to ruin an entire week. I'm sure I will fall, but I am learning how to change my thinking in a way that will allow me to get back up, shake myself off, and then to step forward in a positive way.

According to the rules of my Success Journal teaching, I must state out loud my goals and a few other things, and so I will add them here also, since this is my Success Journal and weight loss journal.

Tthe top 5 reasons for wanting to lose weight are:
Health, Energy, Ease the pain of my Osteoarthritis, to avoid Diabetes, and to look and feel better all around.

Exercise #2 - Past Efforts
1. What methods have I tried in the past? - counting calories, weight watcher's, lose wgt-live longer diet that basically stated no salt; no sugar; no fat; no eggs.

2. How did I feel about these approaches, and how did I feel while following them? - I have always felt depreived of things I really enjoy most. I resent the fact that I gain weight so easily and that I have to work so hard to control my weight. I often feel barely tolerated by the general public and medical professionals both.

3. How did my past efforts work? - Usually I failed. Most of the time I would lose some weight, but then gain it back. Twenty two years ago, I did succeed to lose 122 lbs (from 262 lbs to 140 lbs), and I was able to maintain that for approximately 6 years by watching closely everything I ate. If I gained 10 lbs, I would be back to dieting again. Eventually, the weight gradually came back and as I continue to get older, it seems to be harder and harder to lose it.

4. Why do I think that was? - Complacency? Lack of energy, not enough exercise and eating too much of everything, and often eating foods that I know are not good for me or healthy for my body. Getting so sick and tired of having to watch everything I eat that I simply stopped caring enough to keep the weight off.

Exercise #3 - My Evolving Life

My life as it has been for the past 3 years: - I began retirement three years ago. To catch up with the world and to challenge my mind, I gave myself the gift of my computer. Since then, with the help and support of other good people at a website (www.quitnet.com) I managed to successfully quit smoking, cold turkey, and have remained quit for 2 years and 1 month to date. Last year I began working on losing the excess weight I need to lose to be healthier weight wise. And this past year we finally managed to purchase for the first time, our own home.

My life at is right right now: - Lew and I are very happy together. We are both enjoying our retirement in many ways. We are planning on making repairs and additions to our home and updating it to keep it in better repair for the future. I spend my time reading or knitting and crocheting and spending time on my computer with friends. We are beginning to make plans for our vegetable garden in the spring.

How do I want my life to be 2 months from today: - Pretty much the same as today, but I intend to be 10 lbs or more less in weight.

How do I want my life to be 1 year from today: - I want to be a minimum of 70 lbs less in weight. I want to be able to walk at least 3 to 5 miles at a time. I want my washer and dryer upstairs so that I have less stress on my knees by needing to use the stairs. I want to be several sizes smaller, and able to buy my clothing in a size that is more stylish, becoming, and easier to find a good selection of.

Exercise #4 - My Perfect Life
Now I am to get the "dream machine" going again. The one that got turned off because so many "practical" things got in the way. I need to get in touch with what might happen if I had clear goals and reached them.

What it has cost me so far - what it may be costing me right now - not to be at my healthiest weight.

The cost for being so much overweight has been painful and expensive. Gall bladder surgery; Osteoarthritis, which will eventually require knee replacement surgery, the possibility of Diabetes. I must lose the weight to aleviate these problems and possibly avoid some of them.

Now, thinking in terms of what is yet to come, what it will mean to me, my life, to be at my healthiest weight. The wonderful things that may happen when that is the case. Does thinking about the benefits of victory help to motivate me to succeed?

For me, when the weight is gone, there will be much less pain, a lot more flexibility and endurance. I will be able to enjoy a more active life because I won't be carrying around so much excess. It will cause less stress on my entire body. Bones and heart, lungs and all else. I will save money on clothing because the more normal sizes cost less then the Plus sizes. I will save money on food because we won't be consuming as much. I will feel much more confident and relaxed in public places because I will have plenty of room on any seat anywhere. I won't have to feel like the table is cutting my ribs open in a booth.

I talked to my Mother today, and she informed that she is going to be allowed to remain in the nursing home as a permanent resident. My sister and brother-in-law have made the necessary arrangement. My Mother is very happy there and actually requested to be able to stay. She said they treat her really well and she is very well cared for. In many ways, I'm rather glad for her myself. She needs oxygen 24/7 now, and she is on so many medications that now there is little chance that she will have to do without because my sister forgot to order them or the drug store was out of supply, so forth etc. Mom told me she has had her hair permed, and she loves it. She saw a dentist and they have ordered a new set of teeth for her so she can chew her food better. The ones she has now work badly. And she had her eyes examined, and they have ordered new glasses for her so she can read. She loves to read and has been an avid reader my entire life. She was a strong influence in leading all of her children to being avid readers as well. I'm glad she is content and happy now.

Since today is the first of the month, I have taken my measurements and recorded them.

Chest - 43"
Bust - 52.5" (+.5")
Waist - 49.5 (-.5")
Hips - 55" (+.5")
R&L Biceps - 16.5" (-.5" ea)
R&L Thighs - 24" (-2" ea)
Total change -5"

Total WW pts today - 20 (range 26-31)
Total water today - 64 oz.
Exercise today - 35 min.=2 miles
Total miles for January = 30.8 miles.

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Now for my friends:

KATHERINE ~ Hi kiddo. Thanks so much for stopping by. The EMG is a test where they attach electrodes to areas where they are trying to check your reaction time to electrical stimuli. Since the problem is with my lower legs and feet, the electrodes will be placed and tested in different areas of my feet and lower legs. It really wasn't too bad, but when he zapped the arch of my foot, I almost flew 2 ft. off the cot I was laying on.......LOL. From what I gather, but not 100% certain yet, I have bad circulation in legs and feet. Probably because of all that smoking I did for 40 years. Smoking does restrict the blood vessels, and it is extremely common for it to cause bad circulation in the lower extremities.
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MCMARTO ~ Hello lady, and what a wonderful surprise to see your smiling self here for a visit, and of course dear Olive. I'm pleased that you agree with my new approach. I am trying to share it as I go along so that maybe it will help some others as well. The exercise is one of the hardest for me to keep motivated about, so it will be curious to see if I can keep myself going in one way or another. I believe I will do just fine.......positive thinking, right?
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BELL ~ Hello friend. You will have to keep reading girl, because you cannot allow yourself to have doubts about yourself in any way. It will eventually undermine your efforts. Besides woman, you are at goal, so you must know positively that you look much better than you did before you started your weight loss program. That isn't even up for discussion, it's a fact. Think it, say it, believe it, create it.......... :)
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CHUMMLY ~ Thank you so much for reassuring me that I'm not an "old dog." I shouldn't have said that. That was not a positive affirmation, was it? And we can't have negative thoughts anywhere in the vacinity. Ok friend, then this "young chickie" is learning a few new tricks that are going to change her life completely and thoroughly. Damn, why didn't I find about this like 30 years ago? I hope you are paying attention. I think some of this relearning could help you too...........LOL
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ELLIE ~ You got the right idea girl. If it's no fun, you won't do it, so just keep looking till you find what works for you, and you can at least enjoy it to some extent knowing that it is doing wonderful things for your health, your body, your mind, your energy, and on and on and on.............nice thought, eh?
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BOBLIN ~ Sorry girl, I was not referring to housework. I'm afraid yesterday's dirt will be today's dirt and tomorrow's dirt if it isn't done eventually. But those bad thoughts and memories of the past can be tossed aside and forgotten. They have no effect on what you do today. That is up to you to make true. And I have no doubt that you can do that just as well as I can.......LOL.

keep smiling............... :)
Sandie

what a nice post to share Sandie !

:flower:


so strong


and a big CONGRATS !!! :balloons: !! ON THE FIVE INCHES


WOOOOOHOOOOOO

:cheer:

you are well on your way to your goals


enjoy your sunday


:hug:


Peng

Sandie, You sound so uplifting I really enjoyed your post may victory always walk with you. Love Ya My Friend, Ruthieb

Positive thinking!

Its what I have going here...and doing well so far!...Like you mentioned...not everyday is going to be perfect...but its how we react to the day that we can definitely control!

I choose to stay on plan...and not give in to my thoughts!

What will you choose?

mcmarto

Sandie
I am so glad your mum as had many things sorted for her, It will make you more content to know she is well and looked after.
Knowing other people around us are happy,gives us more time to enjoy the positive in our lives rather than the negative.
I know when my mum is happy and in a good mood it certainly reflects on the way I feel.
Take care
Ellie

Hi Sandie -- I'd love to see your work. Where did you post it? Or is it still pending?

Interesting posts. You are doing some great introspection with this program. You've done some great things in your life. Especially congratulations on the quitting smoking. Cold turkey, 2 + years. That's wonderful.

Nice that your mom is in a place she likes and her quality of life has taken a big jump, too. What a pleasure to be able to see to read and to chew properly!

Sandielynne:

Just popped in to say hello:wave:
I miss the morning chats now that I have gone to day shift. But I wouldn't trade days for anything.........lol
I really love being a lettercarrier. Even the really cold weather we have had doesn't seem to have swayed me from my decision to do this. One more week of training and a test and I will be on my own....yipeeeeeeee
Have a great week.

Judy2:dn

Wow. You're right, Sandielynne. I AM learning a lot from you and your journeys.

I actually LIKE dogs. And I don't mind getting older...it's a sign I'm still alive, afterall. So, I suppose calling yourself an 'old dog' isn't such a bad thing afterall. LOL

You are learning some great things about yourself Sandie. Thanks for sharing it with all of us!!!

February 3, 2003
Monday

Wow, we had a lovely day here today. Nice and warm, and full of sunshine for the most part. Not all day, but until well into the afternoon anyway. The more sunny days we get, the better I feel.

Today I am going to talk about my creative powers
Level 1 - my thoughts
Level 2 - my words
Level 3 - my actions

My Thoughts
Belief being the cornerstone of our creative power, then our thoughts are the tools with which we create or recreate our beliefs. Our thoughts powerfully affect what happens in our life. They are the precursors to our feelings, and to our actions as well.

Our thoughts have long-term concequences. Over time, what we thingk will become part of our "programming." My thoughts and beliefs in the past have made me who and what I am today. And just as my past thoughts created my current beliefs, my current thoughts will create my future beliefs, which will determine what will happen to me in my life.

My Words
If I look towards my husband, and I think "I love you," yes, it means a lot to me and it is true.
But when I look at my husbands and say "I love you," it means a lot to both of us, because now he has heard it and shares it and it has not taken on a more powerful meaning.

When we marry, it's not just the Justice or Pastor that says the wedding vows, but it is the marriage couple each that say them as well. And why is that? Because it makes the value of the marriage vows more real and more factual. There is a connection between speech and reality. Lying out loud carries much heavier consequences than lying to ourselves, and on many levels.

Therefore it is not optional that your words have tremendous creative power, it's a "given." What is optional is what you create with your powers of speech. And that is entirely up to us.

My Actions

Beauty is as beauty does, so goes the expression. Doing something is the ultimate expression of reality. The point is a simple and valid one. DO to behaviors that the person I envision becomeing would do, and I will ultimately become that person.

When taking action, you are using the highest level of your creative power. So just as with my thoughts and words, my actions can be powerful creative forces for bad as well as for good. Many of us don't have to look too hard to see how our wrong actions have produced unpleasant consequences. This means that our creative power is most maximized when our thoughts, words and actions are aligned toward a single goal.

Since these are the fundamental processes that by which we all create experiences, we can use them to do a whole lot more than just losing weight. But we must be very careful to apply the power of the three levels only to our solutions, never to our problems.

WHY?
Thinking about a problem give more power to the problem
Talking about a problem give it even greater power
Acting out the problem give it the maximum amount of power

And then the most powerful step is putting it all in writing. Writing is a powerful creative act, and part of Level 3, taking action.

From Catherine Ponder's book "The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity"
Man's only limitation lies in the negative use of imagination.

So in using the three levels of creation, I will get what I want in Life.
Using level 1 - MY THOUGHTS
I will mentally create my new life scenario
I will think my vision onto paper
I will be passionate in my mind about my success

Using level 2 - MY WORDS
I will tell myself what I'm creating
I will tell others what I'm creating
I will tell the universe what I'm creating........and with passion

Using level 3 - MY ACTIONS
I will get my body involved - passionately
I will act "as if" I'm already there.
I will take "affirmative action" every day
I will let it all go.........and let the Universe bring it into reality.

The key is to plan, envision, and articulate what I see in the future. I must clafiry my goal - to create that clear and compelling vision that, like a magnet, will pull me irresistibly toward it.

How do I want to feel at my desired weight? How do I want to look? What thoughts will be in my head? What will I do with my newfound agility and suppleness and endurance? I must pain myself into the picture........the look, the feel, the better fitting clothing, the admiring glances, and the many health benefits etc......that I want. And very importantly, it will be my willingness to actually do these action steps that will determine my own success. I am up against decades of old, self-defeating habits. I can change them into positive and self-affirming behaviors only with my own focused attention, clear intention, emotional involvement, supportive self-talk, daily repetition and re-affirmation, and the involvement and support of my physical, mental, personally spiritual aspects.

Like any new skill we learn, it gets much easier with practice. Keep it up and it becomes routine, even habitual. Which in fact is exactly what my goal is. It's time to begin to think in terms of limitless possibilities. This is my future, and it is in my hands. What I do here and now will determine what I get to do later in my life.

Todays accomplishments:
BREAKFAST - 9 pts
pasta cassarole 1.5 cups
orange

LUNCH - 8 pts
banana
baked chicen breast piece

DINNER - 12 pts
large baked yam
broccoli salad

TOTAL WW. PTS - 30 (range 26-31)
WATER - 64 oz (and yesterday I did 76 oz.)
EXERCISE - 40 minutes for 2.2 miles (WOO HOO again, broke another distance record)
WEIGHT - remains the same

Now, to my friends and visitors

PENGII ~
Hello friend. I'm glad you enjoyed my post and find it strong. I want it to be strong, like I am. And thanks for the congrats. I have to tell you, I was surprised. But wouldn't you just know it's most all in the thighs. That gazelle is doing something right, aparently........hahaha.

RUTHIE ~
Hi kiddo, thank for that lovly thought. And it will be up to me to make it so, and I promise you I will do just that. I'm sorry I haven't been over to visit lately, but I'm trying. Just don't always make it.

MCMARTO ~
Yes ma'am. You got that right, positive thinking and positive action. You are doing so well. I'm really glad to see that you are staying so well motivated. You too will be a huge winner this year. It is our year for success. I feel it in my bones.

ELLIE ~
Yes, it takes a lot of worry off my mind knowing Mom is happy, content and being well cared for. Especially now that she needs oxygen all the time. I will be going down to see my Doctor next Thursday, and I am looking forward to seeing her then.

KILOGO ~
Hi kiddo. I'm trying to share my work, but I can't seem to get the pictures to upload for some reason. I resized them so that they fit within the limits of the forum, but all I get is "the page cannot be displayed." I didn't even realize the words I posted had been posted. I never saw a page that said my post was successful or otherwise, so I just closed down and left. Of course, as soon as I saw the posts without the pictures I deleted them. They serve no good that way........haha

JUDY ~
Hello lady. I don't get to morning chats very much myself anymore. That's my knitting time.
I think it's great that you have finally gotten away from the night work. I know how good it feels to finally live like most normal people do, keeping the same hours as most people do. I also have no doubt you will make an excellent letter carrier. And I'm sure that the people you deliver mail to will realize it very quickly. There's nothing like doing a job you enjoy, and showing it by doing it exceptionally well.

CHUMLETTE ~
I'm so pleased that you are learning along with me. You see, I did have an ulterior motive to sharing as I'm learning. I was hoping that others that come here to read would also learn along with me, and together we will all find the success and happiness that it is within our power to give to ourselves, because we deserve it and we are responsible for it.

Have a wonderful week friends
keep smiling .................... :)
Sandie

{{{{{{SANDIE}}}}} Our weather was kind of the opposite today. It was just gorgeous outside. Not a cloud in sight. Around 5:00pm I went outside to take the garbage cans in, and it was a bit chilly.

I did my washing today and I was wondering if I should put my flannel sheets back on my bed or my other sheets. I think I'm going to stick with my flannel sheets for right now because we could get some cold days during the month.

I really enjoyed reading about your reason's to loose weight. They sure are an eye opener. Diabetes runs on both sides of my family, and since I'm over 100 pounds over weight I feel as someday my doctor will tell me that I have it. So far I've been lucky and actually have good blood sugar.

Like you I've tried other approaches to weight lose. Besides weight watchers. I've tried going real strict and giving up all junk food. That worked for a while, but then I start to get craving for the junk food. Finally I realized that ww is the one for me because you eat a balance of foods.

One of my friends quit smoking about a year ago. She had weight lose sugury and that motivated her to quit smoking. The other day she emailed me, and said that she's back to smoking again. I'm going to tell her about the web sight that you went to for support.

Do you know of any good web sights that can teach a person to knit and crochet? I really want to learn, but I have no idea. My friend tried teaching me how to crochet, but I'm totally all thumbs.

10 pounds down in 2 months and 70 pounds down in a year that seems doable. And a goal that I know you can reach. My goal is to loose 7 pounds a month. I'm not thinking of weight lose for the whole year I just want to focus on one month at a time.

I really enjoyed reading your post and all the insight you had.

Have a great evening! Katherine

Thanks so much for all of the inspiration!

Keep up the good work!

mcmarto

trying to upload for you.. sandie

I like the idea of "suppleness."

I can hardly remember what "suppleness" felt like.

I can't wait to find out what it feels like again!!!

Have another good day! Congrats again on breaking your Gazelle record!!!!

Hi Sandie

wow fancy socks alright where did you find such fancy wool. I knit a lot of socks also i like doing those and watch tv don't have to watch my work.. But what do you do with them all. I give mine away. Gave a pair to my uncle last night he wanted wool socks to go to bed with. And being his birthday tomorrow. he got socks. But not as near as fancy as yours.

Your post are so motivational how can we go wrong.

see you lighter in the chat room
Linda

Wow, very fancy socks. Beautiful!

You know, you can put pictures on your own website and put a link to there here. Use the IMG button that's available when posting a reply. Then you won't have to worry about the DT size limitation. Just an idea.

Yowza!...Those are some psychadelic socks!

heeheehee!

mcmarto

Thank you Kilogo for the idea.

You can see my needlecraft articles I have made recently at my Webshots album: Needlecrafted items
http://community.webshots.com/user/sandilew

I will do my regular post and answer all of you tomorrow.
I was away most of the day. Sorry.

Sandie

You are quite a fancy knitter, I agree!!!

You may not know this about me. But I am freaked out by clowns, puppets, and doll faces.
:help:
But not their dresses!

How is the weather there today? I hope it is sunny for you! What will you eat today? I am thinking of tomato soup and how much you like it. That is what I plan for my lunch. Along with various and other sundry things.

I love being folksy. New Yorkers just aren't folksy, y'know.
8-|

Beautiful work, Sandielynne! Thanks for posting that.

Were you away someplace fun?

I got so behind on your previous journal that it got to be the unachievable task (just in my mind of course). I love your new journal and congrats on losing 5 inches!

I hope that you and your doctors can figure out what is causing the leg problems.

Your experience of keeping weight off for six years, and then slowly gaining it back, is a good cautionary tale for me. Unless I undergo a change in mindset which is unprecedented in my life, I really will need to watch what I eat for the rest of my life. So I'd better work on accepting that and making it something which I don't question. I could get tired of bathing, too, but I still need to do it anyway!

February 5, 2003
Wednesday

We had a terribly windy night last night. Yesterday's warm air mass is gone, and the brrrrr is back for a while. I guess we can expect a lot of this back and forth over the next several weeks, but it will end eventually, and the song birds will return, the days continue to lengthen, and the sun shine higher and brighter. Before we even realize it, it will be Spring in full swing. Then it will be bunny rabbits and Easter eggs all about. I'm looking forward to it, but if we should be blessed with another good snowfall or two, I will enjoy them just as well while they are here. Today the sun is shining for the most part, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Yesterday we did our monthly grocery shopping trip, and once again I almost disabled my body with all the walking. I am going to have to make some changes somewhere. Either go more frequently and take less time to shop or use one of the automated carts to ride about in rather than walk. I just cannot be on my feet that long without suffering the consequences. We had dinner at the Chinese Buffet, and I am really proud of myself. I did not pig out. I did not gorge until I was ready to burst. I stopped when I was comfortable. It paid off in two ways. Eating less is always good, but avoiding a sore tummy is great. It was really nice not having a tummy ache all the way home and a bad case of indigestion to go with it.

Since I have been doing my exercise really well for the most part, I took today off to rest my legs. By the time I got to bed last night, my entire left side, from the shoulder down to my toes, was screaming for the rest. A lot of it is better today, but the knee and the hip are still making themselves heard quite loudly, thank you............LOL

To continue on my weight loss journey, and following my new program, today I will discuss Action Step 2 - Putting my goals in writing.

As a place to start, I need to create goals for myself in at least three areas:
#1. Goals for my body - I'm at my ideal weight, in shape, great condition, excellent health, dynamite appearance, and getting adequate and appropriate exercise.

#2. Goals for my mind - I have supportive beliefs, great self-image, high self-esteem, positive outlook, supportive self-talk, and no hint of depression.

#3. Goals for my personal spirit - I connect, re-connect, or improve connection with my personal inner self. I begin daily spiritual practice, and I feel and I show gratitude for my many blessings.

I don't need to be a good writer or a good speller to create my New Life Scenario. Just translate my vision on to paper. I am writing this for myself, not the New York Times Book Review. There is great power in having WRITTEN goals. I must not deny myself that power by skipping this step. I can do this!!

Some of this is easier said than done, but in keeping with a positive attitude, I must continue to reassure myself that it can be done, and I will do it.

My personal goals are to lose the excess weight, and by doing that, to releive the pressure on my overworn joints in my knees and hips and make daily everyday living less painfull and more enjoyable. I would also hope to lower my cholesterol, and reduce the strain and overload work that my heart is dealing with every day carrying about an extra 100 lbs, and having to pump blood to all of the extra veins and arteries needed to supply blood to all that extra weight. I wonder how many miles of extra veins and blood vessels my poor body is being forced to create to feed this disgusting fat. I want to be able to sit down and cross my legs properly. I am quite able to tie my shoes and such, but still it causes me stress. I can feel it and hear it. So I would like to be able to tie my shoes without the need to breathe harder while doing it. I want to be able to sit in a booth anywhere and be comfortable doing it, rather than feeling as though I am being forced into a sardine can, and barely able to breath. And even if I am forced to have my knee operated on, I don't want to cause extra stress to the new knee by forcing it to carry around and hold up and support such a large body. I want to feel pleased with my appearance at all times. I am so not enjoying shopping for my clothing in the Plus Size section of the store.

How many times have I gone into Fashion Bug and found something really gorgeous in the regular sizes, but no where in sight in the Plus Size area. Sure, Plus sizes have come a long way in the past 10 years or more, and no doubt will continue to improve. But just the same, if you find something in both the Plus sizes and the regular sizes, it is a given that the regular size clothing will cost a good bit less, and no matter how pretty it is, it will look better on a thinner person no matter what you tell yourself about looking good. I am definitely going to be one of those smaller persons that look better in a dress than I would as a larger person.

Stats for today
BREAKFAST - 10 pts
1 orange
1 cup banana crunch cereal
1/2 c. soy milk
1/2 matzoh cracker
1 T. penut butter

LUNCH - 12 pts
1 banana
1 large hot dog
1 roll
1/2 cup fat free, sugar free Edy's ice cream

DINNER - 24 pts
2 cups bean soup

TOTAL WW POINTS - 34 (range 24-31)
WATER - 64 oz.
EXERCISE - R&R today


Now to my friends
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KATHERINE ~
Thanks so much for coming buy to visit. I always look forward to your cheerful smile.
About the knitting and crocheting, I don't know exactly where on the web you could read and learn. I do know there are a lot of websites dedicated to both crafts. But if you go to a craft store, like A.C. Moore or Michael's, you might be able to find a VHS tape or DVD tape that teaches either. I have seen them in catalogs, so I know they are available. Then you could watch it on your TV and learn in the privacy of your own home. Anyway, can't your Grandmother teach you, or what about your Mother? You mean they don't know how?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
McMARTO ~
I'm glad you are enjoying my posts. And if they are helping you some, that is even better. I am hoping that my journey will also be helpful of others as well. And I will be over to visit you as soon as I can. I am feeling bad I have not been there yet. And thanks for the compliment to my knitting........LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHUMLETTE ~
At the rate you are going, you will be telling me how "suppleness" feels........hahaha
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOBLIN ~
You like them socks, do you? Thank you very much. I had fun making them, but I never gave them to anyone because I made them with acrylic yarn, and I gather that is not the best. Now I use wool and wool blends. They are the only pair I've kept, the rest are all given away. I seldom make anything for myself. But I have a great time making things for gifts for friends and family.

I'm glad you are enjoying my posts as well Boblin. This is all what I am learning about, and I wanted to share it so that maybe it would help a few others at the same time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KILOGO~
Thanks so much for the idea about putting them on the internet and then posting the link. Great idea, as usual. You are such a smart cookie chicka........haha. I'm glad you like them. I have so much fun making the things. Right now I am working on the doll clothing. I have patterns for about 5 different outfits for that doll. Right now I am working on a blanket for her. I am sending them to my girlfriend's daughter in Georgia. She will be 8 years old on the 21st of February. Right now it appears I will be fortunate to get the one outfit and the blanket done. I will continue to make the rest though, and then send them on to her. They will be late, but she'll get them as soon as I can get them done. Her Mother told me she is nuts about baby dolls and she will love having the clothes to change her dolly into.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LUTHA ~
Thanks for visiting. I know full well what you mean about getting behind in journals. I've gotten behind in everyone's journal now for some time. But I enjoy popping in for a visit when I can.

I hope reading how I failed myself after maintaining for 6 years didn't upset you too much, or make you think that it will definitly happen to you. Don't do that to yourself. We are two different people, and I am in the late years while you are still very young and vibrant and a young child to be playing with and keep up with. You are far less likely to be sitting around knitting as I am. But it does show that it can happen if we are not watchful and careful about knowing and understanding ourselves. I'm sure you will do just great.


keep smiling ..................... :)
Sandie

Hello sandie,

glad to see your doing well.

i havent been around too much as ive been sick and 2 of my kids have been so they have been home from school and me from work and ive been busy nursing them.
but everyone is back to school tommorow and me back to work.

hope you have a great day tommorow.

Hope you had a great Thursday!

Have a nice...healthy...weekend!

mcmarto

Hi Sandie
I hope you are feeling better after your tiring grocery trip.
I am so glad you posted your knitting and crotcheting it is beautiful, I love the fancy socks.

You have given me more to think about with your journal again, My sister and I had a problem (small family problem, with one of our brothers) and we were trying to talk it through, Obviously we have given this problem to much thought, we must now think of how we will solve this and put it into action so the problem doesn't get bigger.
If you can't understand what I am on about it doesn't matter, Through reading your journal, You have solved one of my problems. So I must thankyou for that.
I hope the weather isn't too bad.
Ellie

Hey girl. Did it snow there? It is snowing like mad here! I hope you have recovered from your shopping trip! Perhaps you could let Lew get some of it, so you aren't on your feet for so long? Or would he bring too many bags of Fritos home with you? Did you ever hear results from your feet and leg tests?

February 7, 2003
Friday

Here it is, another Friday come, and soon to be gone. Another week of living that is now in the past. And everything that has occurred up to this very minute is gone, finished, and never to be experienced again exactly the same way. But within the next hour, next day, next week even, it is all ahead of us, and waiting for us to create something special for ourselves from what is yet to be. So everyone put on your thinking caps and think of what you want to make of next week, or even just tomorrow, and then just do it!

Today I am going to share more about the next step........Action Step 3.....Getting Passionate about my Success

It is crucial that we get emotionally involved with our own success. Involve our feelings deeply and fully. Ignite oour passions. Our emotional passion is a key component to our success. This passion, emotion, is the rocket fuel that will propel us to our new vision.

clear thoughts > powerful vision + strong feelings > passionate emotions > focused action > dramatic results.

When clear mental focus is fueled by emotions, we are unstoppable. The more we think about anything, and the more feelings we have about it, the sooner and more powerfully it will materialize in our life.

With this comes a warning.........the process is a double-edged sword. While there is only one way to be sure we'll create what we do want, there are many ways to create what we don't want. NEVER focus our attention on what we don't want. If we focus on our excess weight, what we're really doing is giving our weight more attention, therefore more power. As a result, our excess weight becomes more REAL than a reduced body weight. That is NOT what we want.

The second way to create what we don't want is to leave it to our unconcious. Then we create "in ignorance" from our default settings.

If our goal is to create a thinner self, then we need to create a mental image of a thinner self, and create strong and positive feelings about that image. We must let ourself feel good when we think about it, not envious of those who are already there. To create the new and positive self-image, there are some things we want to eliminate.
wishing, anxiety, hoping, fear,
worrying, doubt, envying, yearning,
longing, frustration, wondering how, any kind of negativity,

On the other hand, there are also things we want to embrace, such as
clear mental imagery, eagerness,
strong desire, a sense of accomplishment,
sharp focus, gratitude,
excitement, faith,
positive feelings, patience,
positive sensations, confidence,
pride of "ownership" , all feelings born of positive thoughts,

The rules are simple, and the power is all ours. What we put out is what we get back. If we focus on the negative, we bring negativity to ourself. If we radiate fear, we will find ourselves surrounded by frightening things. But focus on success, keep it positive, and live happy every after.

Get your target weight - the exact number of pounds you wish to weight - set in yur mind. FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL AND NEVER ON YOUR PRESENT WEIGHT. Your present weight is "history." Better yet, forget about it entirely. IF YOU DWELL ON ANY PROBLEM, YOU GIVE IT LIFE AND, BY YOUR OWN ATTENTION, YOU MAKE IT MORE REAL.

FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION AND THAT IS WHAT WILL BECOME REAL. tHE CHOICE IS ALWAYS OURS.

BE SURE TO GET DISGUSTED AT OUR BAD BELIEFS, AND NOT AT OUR SELF.
REFOCUS ALL SELF-TALK AWAY FROM THE NEGATIVE AND ON TO THE POSITIVE

BE LIKE A KID AT CHRISTMAS OR HANUKKAH (KWAANZA). KNOW that your presents are on the way........................AND BELIEVE IT!!


I guess that is enough for this time. I could go on and on, I am learning so much that is foreign to my normal way of thinking, but after reading and thinking about what I am reading, I am finding it all so believable and possible as well. It does make sense and good sense at that. I really wish I had read this many years ago, but that was not to be. I must believe that it was for a reason. Fate is always mysterious, but not everything is left to fate. There are many things that we control and have control over. And I am now learning that my weight is something I have had control over much more than I realized all this time. I simply didn't do what was necessary to take control properly. Complacency is a dangerous thing. It serves no man or woman well.

I made another attempt on the gazelle today, and again it did not go well. Because I will be seeing my doctor next Thursday, I have decided to take a bit of a vacation, rest up the hip and knee and feet, and see what he has to say. On top of the hip bothering me so much, the cyst behind my knee has never stopped bothering me, but I forced myself to "deal with it." I think now that it's time for the Doctor to deal with it and to suggest a way of stopping the pain. I don't care if it's an injection or surgery, but I just don't want to try and ignore it anymore.

I have continued to do very well with my water consumption. I've had a minimum of 64 oz. every day. Some days I even go over by 12 or 24 oz even. It's playing havoc with my good night's rest, but I'm drinking it just the same.

My food intake is still giving me a lot of problems. I really don't have anything here at the house that is "bad" for me. But I continue to eat more than I should. Even if all I ate were fruits, I would still manage to overdo my points in fruits.................LOL. That would be hard to do, wouldn't it? But I am fairly certain right now I could do it.......haha.

I don't know if it's the weather or what. But I am just so very hungry. I bought myself some chewing gum, and I'm sure it is helping some, but not enough. It kills my jaw to chew it, so I get rid of it, then find something to eat. I need to train myself to keep the gum going and ignore the knawing in my gut.

I talked to my GP about going off the Paxil. I didn't want to throw myself into a panic attack or depression by stopping them too quickly or too soon. Fortunately for me I "guessed" really well on how to do it. For the past 11 days I have been taking them every other day. As it turns out my GP told me to do just that, take half the dosage for 3 weeks, then 1/4 for 3 weeks, then stop. So I am at least 1/3 of the way home now. The Paxil has worked very good for me and really helped me get through some very rough times. But I have decided that it's time to take control of my mind 100% and allow myself the full power over my total being and not just what I weigh. I CAN DO THIS! I WILL DO THIS!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINNIE MOUSE ~
Hey girl, I'm really sorry to hear that you haven't been well. But I am glad you are recovering
now and doing okay. It sounds like things have been pretty rough for you if you had some
sick kids home with you. It's hard enough dealing with being ill, but having to care for
others at the same time just makes it even rougher. I don't envy you kiddo. I must be totally
honest and admit that I am really glad those days are over and done for me. I know now why
we have our babies when young. No patience left by this stage of the game, not for cleaning
up sicky goo anyway.......haha
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

McMARTO ~
Hello again. And here I STILL haven't been to visit you. Well that is about to change very quickly.
You will be my very next stop the minute I finish here. I promise!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ELLIE ~
Oh my, I can't thank you enough for that Ellie. That in my posting I was able to help you solve a problem. That's just the best news I could hear. I am so glad now that I decided to share. You know how it is, if you only help one person, everything you do is worthwhile. And you have just proven that to be so. And I really don't need to know what the problem was. It's just great knowing that what I posted was able to help you in some way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHUMLETTE ~
Lew was with me during the shopping trip and he is a big help, believe me. He does all I let him do, anyway...haha.

I see the Doctor next Thursday, so I will be gone for a while. If we get more snow next week, I may even have to leave here Wednesday so that I am down there Thursday and not late for my appointment. Then I will drive back Monday morning, weather permitting. But if I see the weather will be good on Sunday and bad on Monday, I will come home a day early. I only stay that long because my family like me to so we can have more time to visit while I'm there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope everyone has a super great weekend. Remember now.........only POSITIVE thoughts create
POSITIVE results.

Love n hugz,
Sandie

Hello Sandielynne, Well the snow has fallen my buns are froze and I have little feeling in my toes. The kids are home and I'm insane my head seems to be in so much pain. My stomach hurts from the flu and I really don't know what to do. So I thought I would come and see how you were before I go off with my mind in a blur. My little poem to you. Ruthieb

February 9, 2003
Sunday

Today is my best friend's 54th birthday. And it was 40 years ago that our friendship began. I was a young, 21 year old Mother with a 4 month old infant, and I needed a babysitter to watch over him while I drove his Father to work in the morning, and when I picked him up from work in the late afternoon. Kate was a brash 14 year old city girl who had moved, with her family, out to the suburbs for better employment oportunities. Her Father being a bit of an alcoholic, and her Mother a control freak, we gradually became fast friends and my home a refuge for her when she needed to escape unpleasant moments at home. Over the years the friendship developed more as sister's than simply friends. We have shared 40 years of ups and downs, sharing the growth and maturing of each other's children, and an enduring friendship that has weathered the test of time and trials. I have always been extremely grateful that at a time when we both needed someone to share problems and joys with, that our paths joined and then remained closely joined ever since. I am pleased that on this, her special day, the sun did shine and give special light on this day of her birth.

The other day I was over at the little deli store/gas station/post office, and in the deli they had this broccoli salad. My Lew just loves broccoli. I think it's his very favorite of all veggies. So knowing he would probably really enjoy it, I bought a 1 qt. container of this salad. As I knew it would, he truly did enjoy it, but when he noticed the price on the container, he nearly flipped. Foolish me, I hadn't even considered the price, and actually never did notice what I had paid for it. I wanted it, I knew he would enjoy it, and so I purchased it. Don't we all do that at times? Anyway, when we went shopping this past Tuesday, I bought fresh broccoli and the other ingredients needed for the salad, and I made some yesterday. I only used 1/2 the broccoli I bought, but I might just as well have made it all up, because it was totally finished last night for dinner. So I ended up making the rest of it this morning rather than wait and have the broccoli wilt or spoil. For any of you that might be interested, I will share the recipe with you here.
BROCCOLI SALAD - 6 servings
1 large head broccoli, remove and save flowerets (about 4 cups)
1/2 lb. lean bacon cooked crisp and drained well, then crumbled
4 oz. can mushrooms, well drained
1 med. onion, sliced thinly and separated.
1/2 cup lite mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, swill, monterey,provolone, etc)

Blanche the broccoli for 5 minutes, then plunge into ice cold water and chill immediately.
Add all ingredients except the cheese and toss real well.
Add in the cheese and stir.
(If you wanted, I'm sure you could also add chopped walnuts. I haven't tried that, but I have a strong feeling they would add another texture and great flavor as well)
4 pts pr serv. ( if you use low fat bacon, and low fat or fat free cheese, this will be lower still)

For our dessert tonight, I finally prepared the Cherries Jubilee recipe we got in 100+chat a few weeks back. And I haven't figured out the point value, but instead of using lite cool whip, I used fat free instead. Let you know tomorrow how we liked it. Sure looked good anyway. I also didn't have any toasted almonds to garnish it with either. So I used crushed walnuts instead since I had a small bit of them laying around. I'm sure they will taste just as well.

I don't have any motivational material to share with everyone today. I have to read more, so that I will be able to shar what I am learning. The past two days I've been knitting more than anything because I want to get this doll blanket finished so I can mail it out with the doll for my little friend's birthday the 21st. I am also hoping greatly to be able to make a little nightie for the doll as well before I have to mail it out. Whether I manage to get that much done or not is another story altogether, but I'm trying hard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello RUTHIE ~ :hug:

You poor woman. You sound like you've been through the wringer and back again. I certainly hope things ease up for you, and soon. And thank you for the little poem. Very nicely done too. I wish you a totally delightful weekend.

take care and keep smiling........ :)
Sandie

Hello sandie,

glad to see your doing well.
i think you are so right about the emotional and mental part of losing the weight.

i, myself am trying to do soul searching for why i eat the way i do and to end this nightmare of struggling each day with the love and comfort of food.

we will beat this thing.

what a lovely story of the friendship you share with your good friend of many years. not too many good friendships last. nice to see one that did throughout the years.

take care and have a wonderful night.

Hello Sandy,

Nice to see you again.

I understand what you are talking about. Sometimes I sit down to a meal as though it's going to be the last one I ever have. Or you might think that if you saw what I ate. And it's so foolish. If the meal is that wonderful, I could always put a plate of leftover in the freezer for another day, and that way it wouldn't spoil.

You know, we also have to remember a lot of our negative habits come from long held subconcious ideas. I know when I was a child, my Mother served from the stove and gave each of us what she thought we should have. We were forced to sit there and eat it. It didn't matter if we disliked it, or were too full, you simply ate everything on your plate and without a word at that. I don't know about yourself, but for me it would be my next meal if I sat there till bed time and hadn't finished it yet. It was a nightmarish experience, and you quickly learned to just eat it, no matter what.

Things like that stay with you for the rest of your life, unless you make a concious effort to break the old habits and thoughts, and make new ones for yourself. You will just go about eating what is there rather than leave anything. In many ways we really have our work cut out for us.

I'm glad you enjoyed the little remembrance of how my friend and I met and so forth. Yes, it is unusual to find many friendships that have lasted so long. People move around so much more now days. And that is not always condusive to long standing close friendships.

I hope you have a great week girlfriend. Take care.

Sandie

Guess who Sandie.......:D
Yep it's me....I know it has been awhile but life ya know keeps you on your toes...Looks like you are doing well so glad to see that. I am at the one day at a time stage here..The pounds are coming off but very slowly and that is so frustrating at times.
I am so ready for spring so I can get outside and away from the fridge.

Take care of yourself ya hear?
Have a good week
Laura

Wow...the broccoli recipe sounds great!...I am going to try it!...Do you heat it?...or eat it cold?

How was the cherries jubilee?

Hope you have a good week!

You will be under 200 in no time!

mcmarto

Hey Laura ~
Nice to see you again. Thanks for visiting. Don't feel bad about the weight coming off so slowly. As long as it is going, you're doing everything right. But I know what you mean about getting outside and away from the refrigerator.

I'm looking forward to that myself. Just itching to get my hands in the soil again and start weeding out the flower bed and planting the vegetable garden. I sure hope it does better this year than it did last year. We certainly have enough snow on the ground, and more coming, to make the soil good and moist. I doubt very much we are going to suffer drought this year like we did last year.
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Hell McMarto ~
The broccoli salad was fantastic, and yes, you do eat it cold. Lew and I were discussing it over dinner, the different things you could do to alter it here and there to make it different. Like adding chopped low-fat ham instead of crisp bacon. Or even chopped white chicken or turkey. Also, using different cheeses would vary the taste in subtle ways as well. It sure was tasty, I know that.

The low calorie cherries jubilee was fantastic. And I used reconstituted non-fat dry milk for the pudding too. The only thing I did different was that I used all of the cherries instead of only 1 cup. I also used fat free cool whip instead of lite cool whip, and so when I was finished spooning the layers into the dessert cups, I finished them all off with the remaining coolwhip. I figured, why not, it was fat free after all.........LOL.

I hope you have a super good week as well.

Sandie

Hi. How are things today? It snowed all day yesterday (big, beautiful flakes, just softly falling) but for some reason didn't stick. Weird since we still have snow on the ground from the last time. I am proud of you for getting up every morning and trying hard to have a healthy day! I am really, really proud of you for that, my friend!

{{{{{SANDIE}}}}} How have you been? I feel like it's been forever since we've last chatted. Did your friend have a nice birthday? I think that's really sweet that you've been best friends for such a really long time.

I love broccoli too. It's gotta be my favorite veggie. My mom buys frozen broccoli with cheese on it. My sister swears that it's really good, but cheese on broccoli I think it ruins the taste of it. I like just plain broccoli or mixed in with a meal.

have a great day! Katherine

Hello Chum and Katherine

Thank you both for visiting. It's getting late now, and I still have messages to mail out, but I didn't want to leave without saying hello to you for coming by.

I'm going to head out tomorrow for my sister's place so that I won't have to rush down there on Thursday morning. I am so afraid of being late or missing my appointment when I need to see him so badly. So I will say goodbye now.

Take care, both of you. I will miss you terribly.

Love n hugz,
Sandie

:)

:spring: HOPE YA HAVE FUN SANDIE!!!:gflower:

Have a safe trip!

mcmarto

Sandielynne, Have a good one & a safe one girlfriend. Ruthieb

Hi Sandie
I hope everything went OK for you.
Take care
Ellie

Sandie,

have a safe trip and will miss you while your away.

take care of yourself and talk to you soon.

Sandie, are you back yet? How did it go?

February 16, 2003
Sunday

Hello everyone,

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but I am home. I drove home Friday afternoon and was here to spend Valentine evening with Lew. I picked up Chinese on the way, and we had a simple no-fuss dinner together.

I came home early because of weather reports calling for a lot of snow down there for Friday night thru Monday. Then yesterday my sister called and laughed at me for being such a wuss! All I can say is that the snow that is falling on her right now, I hope it buries her in, just to teach her a lesson...........hahaha.

The visit with the Doctor was a mixed bag. Good news and not great news.

The EMG results had not reached him, so he was unable to discuss that with me. The blood work shows that my auto-immune system is still working overtime, but against what, he doesn't know. Now he wants a urinalysis to rule out the kidneys.

He decided that there was too much work to cover in one visit, so he covered the two major problems at the moment, the hip and the knee, and I need to return for another appointment March 27th. He gave me a cortisone shot in the knee and the hip each. The shots have worked minor miracles.

I have no pain in the hip at all now. But one thing else I know now. It is definitely NOT sciatic nerve related. He assured me of that. There is still a bit of tenderness in the knee, but to such a small degree that I have literally outdone myself on the Gazelle for the past 2 days.

Yesterday I did 2.5 miles in 37 minutes. This morning I did 2.5 miles in 42 minutes. All with the help of the Gazelle and a cassette tape of ABBA. The time just flies and I'm having so much fun, it's unreal. Now Lew is getting concerned that am pushing too hard and that I'm going to reverse the good that's been done. Well, that better not be the case. It's just so wonderful to be free of pain after such a long time. I feel invigorated and excited and really loving my exercise.

I am now at the half-way mark with eliminating the Paxil from controlling me. I now start 1/2 a pill every other day for 3 weeks, and I am starting to notice some things that are different. For one, the hot flashes are back with a vengence. Lew thinks that I am too easily excited as well. Friday night and all day Saturday my face and neck were very warm and I was extremely flushed. I probably should have checked my blood pressure, but at the time I didn't think of it. I am hoping this is just a minor glitch and that it doesn't get any worse than this. This much I can handle. But I have also noticed very small headaches which I never have. But for the past couple of days, they have come and gone. I hope that this too will pass in time.

For all of you that came to wish me well, I can't thank you enough for your caring and concern. I really appreciate it.

Bettyboop, McMarto, Ruthie, Ellie, Sandy and Kilogo.
Thank you all for stopping by and enquiring. I will try to visit you all soon.

So until tomorrow, take care and have a good nite.

keep smiling ................. :)
Sandie

Glad to hear you are doing well and you had a safe trip!

Keep up the good work with the exercise!!!

Have a great week!

mcmarto

Sandie,

I'm so glad you're finally free of the pain! What a relief that must be. One thing at a time, but we want them all addressed RIGHT NOW! LOL I know that feeling. Please be careful! I'd hate to see the pain come back worse then before. Did you doctor give you the go-ahead for the Gazelle? I sure hope you asked him!

Enjoy yourself!

:hug:

Hello Sandie,

gald your back safe and sound and you were smart to leave early cuz we got a whopper of a snow storm. i was trapped home for 2 days with the kiddies.
i had cabin fever too after a bit.

ive been sick with strep throat but am now on antibiotics.

glad to hear your free of pain for now. must be such a relief.
and glad your having fun on the gazelle. hearing alot of good things about it and am interested in buying one. will be pricing them soon,.

well take care and go easy for now. dont want to overdo it just yet.

Yay! You are home! I will catch up more tomorrow. Missed you!

Back for a little bit.

While I am delighted you are feeling so good (!!!), I must admit that Lew is making some sense here. But you tell him that you KNOW you cannot overdo it or you will be worse. You know to be careful. He is sweet, though. I think you guys have a darling relationship (what I can see of it online).

So, do you have to go back soon for the other tests? Or can they do them closer to where you live and then send your doctor the results? I'm glad you missed the snow. I was thinking that you'd be stuck down there for several days. ha

So, guess what? I am learning to knit. I only want to knit a scarf, but I am learning on Monday. Will it take long to make a scarf? Hopefully, I can do it before winter is over. LOL

I am so glad you're back!!!!

February 20, 2003
Thursday

Wow, I have so much to catch up on, it isn't even slightly amusing. That is if I am going to share the news of my trip down to my sister's, seeing my Mother, and of course, THE DOCTOR VISIT!! Ha ha

I guess I should start with the trip. I was hearing on the news that they were expecting snow last Thursday morning, so I didn't date wait and then find myself slipping and sliding down Rt. 402 and 611 to Doylestown, Pa. Both roads are extremely hilly, curvy, and in bad weather, dangerous to say the least. Rt 402 runs right through the Pocono Mt area, and Rt 611 just below Easton runs alongside the old Delaware River canal, and it is so curvy, it almost resembles a coiled snake at times.........and it's very narrow as well. But this is the most direct route back and forth, and the one I've driven now for 30 years. I could very easily drive this with my eyes closed, I think......haha. Knowing a route so well means I know the dangers as well as the benefits of using them. By doing so I avoid a lot of heavy fast-moving traffic. It's like going "the back way" through several small towns. I like it because it breaks up the long drive, and it's extremely scenic as well. More than once I've seen Bald Eagles over the river as well as other forms of wild life. Rt. 402 runs right through some of Pa.'s State Forest land. Several years back, it was so seldomly traveled that I used to be terrified my car would break down along that route. I might be sitting there for days before I was discovered and rescued. Over the years things have changed greatly, and it is much more traveled now. Not heavy like a main thoroughfare, but enough I never need worry about being stranded for long.........lol.

I arrived down my sister's place about 4:30 pm Wednesday. My sister informed me that she and my niece were going out to dinner with friends (both of which I know and am friendly with also-thru her) and that I was not invited. Well! That was NOT a good beginning, but I accepted it and graciously enjoyed the time knitting. My sister has a friend staying with her who was also left behing (this time) to keep me company, and eventually my Brother-in-law came home from work. When my sister and niece returned home, we had a nice time visiting and chatting and so forth.

Thursday we all sat around in conversation over our coffee and such until I went to see the Doctor. After the Doctor visit we went over to visit Mom at the Nursing Home.

Mom is looking great. On the way down I picked up an tailored skirt and blouse by Jacilyn Smith Classics at K-Mart for her. She told me she wanted something dressy to wear to the Thursday sing-a-longs. She loved the outfit, but there was a minor problem. The skirt fit perfect, the top too tight for a full busted woman as my Mother. Lucky for both of us, there is another K-Mart not too far from the Nursing Home, so I exchanged the top for a larger size, and when I came home, she was wearing her new outfit, and beaming............hahaha She is completely enjoyingherself in the Nursing Home. And considering that she does require quite a bit of monitoring, it's really best that she be there anyway. I'm just happy that she is happy with the situation too.

The Doctor visit went very well, for the most part. I was rather miffed because the results of the EMG had not arrived as promised, but he did have the results of the blood work regarding my auto-immune system. For some reason, it is still working overtime, and the Doctor still does not know what is causing the problem. He is now requesting a urinalysis to rule out the kidneys causing the problem. I wish we could find the answers more quickly, but that is not the case. Still, he is working on it and will continue to do so until we discover what the cause is.

There were some things he was not able to address because it would have taken a lot more time than he was able to give me. And I can't even think of complaining because he does not schedule his patients closely together, and it is very normal to spend an hour with him if necessary. He did decide to give me a shot of cortisone in the hip and a shot in the knee to help with the pain in those areas. I have to tell you, I have been very happy with the results so far. It has made it possible for me to exercise on the gazelle again, and I'm doing better than I was before. I will need to see him again on March 27th. I may find out more then, and I also may need another cortisone injection by then. I honestly don't know right now. But I am definitely going to thank him for the wonderful feeling of freedom from pain that he has provided me with. I don't know how or what will be required to maintain this pain free state, but I am ready to do anything to have it now. It is sooooooo liberating. You just don't realize how much it affects every aspect of your life until you are without it. Amazing.............totally amazing.

Thursday night (and early Friday morning) the weather report from Philadelphia was going on and on about the snow storm that was on the way, starting Friday night. And if I didn't leave that day, I was going to be stuck down there until Tuesday, at the earliest. The idea of being away from home and Lew all that time, and sitting down there feeling like I was in the way, was more than I could manage. So I informed my sister that I was leaving that day, but wanted to visit with Mom first.

My Mother was totally understanding. She was sorry I had to leave so quickly, but she knew and understood why and was very accepting and supportive. My sister was anything but. After being there Wednesday and Thursday, she at that moment decides to tell me that SHE HAD MADE PLANS for the weekend, and here I was, about to ruin them completely. Isn't that nice? Of course, not a single person in the house knew of these plans. Have I ever mentioned that I'm starting to believe my sister is a "control" freak? Anyway, I told her I was very sorry to upset her plans, but she never informed me that she had plans earlier, and I was taking no chances of being stuck there for a week. I told her to get over it, I kissed her goodbye, I got in my car, visited with my Mother for about 2 hours, then I drove home Friday afternoon and spent Valentine's evening with my Lew. On the way home I stopped and picked up our favorite Chinese dinners, and we had a very nice evening together.

Of course, on Saturday my sister couldn't wait to rub it in my face that they didn't get any snow and I was the wuss that ran out. Then I heard what they were calling for starting Saturday night. She ridiculed me for believing the weather man, so when they started saying she would be getting 20" of snow, I told Lew "I hope she is buried in it. It would serve her right for being such a snot about me leaving....." And don't you know, when I called and asked her how much snow she got, she LIED to me about it, said they only got a foot when they actually got 16-20" as predicted.

Anyway, I'm sure everyone now knows that we got a good snowstorm, and it didn't all fall on my sister's home. A large portion of it fell right here. Much more than I was expecting, actually. I managed to get out yesterday and take a couple of new pictures, but not a lot of them. I went out and took my camera with the express purpose of taking photos. Then when I finally got to where I wanted to get some good shots, I discovered the batteries were dead in the camera. I drove all the way home, replaced the batteries, but by then I was no longer in the mood to go driving around for pictures again. So I took a few pictures right here at the house, and that's all I got.

Since I've been home, I had a project I have been working on very diligently. I have a friend, who will be 8 years of age on Friday, the 21st, and I have been making doll clothing for a doll I purchased for her. I previously posted the link for the doll's play outfit, and now have added the blanket, sweater and hat, and a sleeper. I finished the items yesterday, and got them wrapped and to the post office to ship out Priority Mail. Now I cross my fingers and hope that they arrive in time.

For anyone that is interested, you can see the pictures of the snowfall in the Winter 2002-2003 album, and the doll clothing I have done so far in the Needlecraft album. The link is:
http://community.webshots.com/user/sandilew

Now, since I've been home, I've been using the gazelle and doing great. So far I've done 10 miles in the past 5 days. I've managed 2.5 miles each session. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I've decided to Gazelle 2 days, off 1 day. Trying hard not to overdo the good that's been done for my knee, but very reluctant to slow down too much. I'm wanting to go at it all gung ho, but my Lew is cautionary about my doing that, and so to make him happy I am not pushing too hard. The Doctor knows I use a gazelle. I took a picture with me so he would know. He said it was fine with him, and he did not warn me to go slow at all. Of course, I don't think I really pressed him on that either. I rather forgot. But I'm sure that if he didn't want me using it, he would have said so. He is not one to pull his punches at all.

Now, I have been doing really good with my water as well. But I must tell you all that I am still struggling with eating. I know it is something that only I have control over, and it's just a matter of flat out deciding that I am going to do it, and then just doing it. But for some reason, I have not yet reached that place. I am getting closer. Each day I can feel that. Maybe it is the longer days and the more frequent sunshine, but I am approaching the day very soon now when I will just do it and I will be off and running. Regardless, I still need and appreciate everyones support even when I am vacilating so much. I know it's time to either $hit or get off the pot, so I'm working on it very hard.

So far today, it has been the best, foodwise. Hang in there friends. I'll be aboard 100% very soon.

I hope this has brought everything completely up to date. I believe I have managed to do just that.

Because this has become so long, I will post my replies to my friends in another post.

keep smiling ............... :)
Sandie

Ok, now I will say hello to all of my visitors. And I promise all of you that I will make my best effort to come and visit each of you as well. I sincerely apologize for getting so far behind. I just find it almost impossible to keep up with all of you and get everything done I need doing here at home as well. You might think that being retired I have all the time in the world, but I guess that isn't quite the case.......haha. I am constantly finding myself very short of time and greatly in need of it.

Hey there McMarto ~

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the good wishes. I'm doing well with my exercise still. So far the past 5 days, I've clocked up 10 miles already. Breaking records here for myself and making a new "personal best." It feels great too. Lew is worrying overmuch about it I believe, but I have to compromise to ease his mind I guess, and so I am "gazelling" 2 days on, 1 day off. And I think it's probably a good idea anyway. I have noticed that after the second day of exercising, the knee is starting to feel a bit tender. But then the day off seems to strengthen it again.

I was so happy for you when you were nominated and voted as the Diettalker of the week. I know you have done fantastically well and worked so hard for your recent accomplishments. So you were a very worth recipient.
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Hello Stacey ~

I want to tell you the Doctor told me to go at it full blast, but I can't. I took a picture of the Gazelle with me, so he could see exactly what it looked like and how it worked. I showed him the picture, I explained to him how I exercise on it, and he was approving. He didn't caution me at all. And I fully explained that because the pain had become so much worse, I was then unable to do the exercise as I wanted to do. And I totally feel that was one of the main reasons he saw fit to address the pain in the knee and the hip as quickly as possible. When I first started seeing him, one of the things he made certain of was to obtain a promise from me that I would walk at least 15 minutes every day. The Gazelle is even safer and less jarring for my knee than walking is. So I can't see where he would object at all, and since he didn't tell me NOT to do it, I'm going to make the most of my situation for as long as I can..........hahaha. You know what they say? You have to make hay while the sun is shinning. Same thing when it comes to moving. While the pain is gone, I'm going for all I can get out of it. Better than sitting around trying to "protect" the joints and then lose everything I've gained so far. Don't you agree? I knew you would.

Take care friend. And by the way, I LOVE the new YOU! That picture is fantastic!! :D
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Hello Minnie ~

Thank you very much girl. I'm so thankful to be home home safe and secure too. That sure was a whopper of a storm, but you have to admit my friend, it was beautiful as well. Positive thinking, remember. That goes for all aspects of life and living, including a snow storm. It is just wise to prepare, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy as well.

I'm very sorry to hear that you have been so ill. Strep throat is a very serious illness too, and contagious as well. I've had it many times, so I know what you are dealing with. I hope you are feeling better and stronger every day. And don't let the "cabin fever" get you down kiddo. Spring really isn't that far away. I have a feeling it's going to arrive very quickly this year, with little "easing" into it going on. Take care, and have a lot of soup and other liquids so you don't irritate that throat any more than necessary. ok? ((((((( HUGS MINNIE ))))))):hug:
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Hello Dear Chumlette ~

Thank you so much for that wonderful welcome back. I feel so guilty, because I have been here at home now for days, and you didn't know of it. But I was so busy, I just didn't have the time to come and post. I barely got to answer the e-mail. In just those few days, I had like 300 emails to sort through. Of course, the majority was trash, but nonetheless, they had to be sorted. What a pain that was.

Oh yes, my dear, I listen to Lew. Don't want to upset him, you know? Besides, he is such a sweetie and I know he is concerned. And my friend, we do have a very special relationship. I was never luckier than the day I became his wife, and I have never looked back with regret either.

Next month, I go back for more whatever. I will be having the urinalysis done at the local hospital here (that's a joke! Local hospital still is 25-30 miles aways regardless of the one I choose.....haha)

Congrats kiddo, on the knitting lessons. I truly hope you enjoy it and find it relaxing and pleasurable. But for a person just learning, please don't set yourself up to fail before you start. It is highly unlikely you will finish a scarf in a few hours. Of course, if the needles are large enough, and the yarn bulky enough, who's to say. You could shock us both. But I would recommend that you just take your time with it, and learn to flow with it. It's a lot more pleasurable that way. And I do want you to enjoy yourself. Then with a little practice, you can start making hats and gloves and socks for the hungry and homeless there in the city.

Chum, you are good to come home to.
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As a postcript, I thought I would share what carelessness can do.

This morning, on our local news, we were shocked to learn that our local (this time I mean local-only 4 miles away) Firehouse lost it's roof because it caved in early this morning due to the weight of the snow on it.

Now, for the past two days I've been hearing them on the news telling everyone that if your roof is not pitched steeply enough, to get it shoveled off, because with the warming temperatures, the snow is melting and becoming heavier as it refreezes at night. And any roof that is not pitched enough can and will collapse.

Where was our fire company? Don't ask me. Maybe none of them watch the local news? I don't know. But they sure have a mess to clean up now. All of the equipment and trucks are buried under the collapsed roof, and we can only hope the engine trucks and ambulance are not too badly damaged. We are a very small rural community here, and everything is volunteer. That means it takes a long time and many charity dinners and other methods to raise the money to purchase just one piece of necessary equipment. And as mentioned, the hospitals in this area are not close by, so it is very important to have this equipment up and working, not buried under mounds of roofing and snow. Beside that, the next village with a fire department and equipment is not right around the corner either, but rather a good few miles distant. It will be very painful for the entire community and surrounding area if our hard earned equipment is damaged badly and inoperable. Crossing my fingers here....................this could be very serious should a farm or home suffer a fire.

keep smiling .................... :)
Sandie

Hey Sandie!

Thanks for all your cheers!...Soon we can nominate you for the DT member of the week!!!

I think its a good idea to have that rest day in between workouts...we don't want you to get hurt!

I feel so terrible for your community.....hopefully everything will be ok with all the equipment...!!!

Have a nice ... healthy weekend!

mcmarto

Hello McMarto,

You are most welcome young lady. But please, do not even THINK about me being a "member of the week." I have not even begun to earn that honor. Officcially I have only lost 17 lbs in more than a year. That is not setting a good example, in my opinion.

I have heard that they did get all of the trucks out from under the collapsed roof. I understand there was a huge outpouring of volunteer help from the community at large and they worked all day yesterday to free the equipment. I have not heard if there is any significant damage yet. Hopefully, not. Thank you for your concern.

Have a very good weekend yourself!

keep smiling ............. :)
Sandie

February 21, 2003
Friday

:wave: Hey girlfriends.........HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Boy do I have some news for all of you today. This is one fat lady that is really rocking................lol

I don't know if it was the beautiful day, or the music of ABBA, but I totally blew my record exercising today.

I put in my ABBA tape, got on the gazelle, closed my eyes and totally spaced out. It's just amazing to me how easily I can get lost in the music when I'm not anguishing over the pain. Time totally rocketed ahead, and in short time I discovered I had done 50 minutes of exercise, and clocked 3 miles on the gazelle. I was still full of energy and still felt great, but I called it quits at that point rather than push too hard and do any damage.

Then, on top of that, the weather being so very beautiful, I put on my boots and coat and went for a walk out in the fresh air and sunshine. I took the camera with me........got some super pictures and a few oh so goods. I'll let you decide, ok?

So here's the link again............http://community.webshots.com/user/sandilew

Check out the Winter 2002-2003 album. I must have added at least 15 new pictures today. Some with the ponies, and even got one of Lew on his trusty tractor........lol

Other than that, the water is good, the exercise great, the food horrible.

It started out wonderful, and then went downhill all day.
For breakfast I chopped a potato (skin on), red pepper, onion and put them in a little teflon fry pan, added a little seasoning and water, covered it an let it simmer until the water was all gone. I call that fat free sauteeing........hahahaha It was very good and I really enjoyed it. If things could have continued that way.

I fixed a salad for my lunch. Another good choice, right? And it was super good too. I now make my salads like McDonald's does. I put the veggies in a rubbermaid like bowl, measure the dressing, snap on the lid, then shake. I find I am totally satisfied with far less dressing this way, so that is good too.

Then Lew told me he was going to the horse auction this afternoon. You know what? This is a repeat problem that is finally sinking in. Every time Lew goes away, I binge eat. And it's not like he's doing anything wrong. My goodness, he's only going to a silly horse auction. He gets a lot of his bridles and other equipment there, wormer for the ponies and other items he really needs. And he pays a lot less for doing so. Just the other week we were in a major pet store, and in passing items for horses, he was showing me the cost of them and then telling me what he pays for the same items at the auction. The savings is amazing. So why do I respond to his going anywhere by binge eating after he is gone. I never hide the evidence at all. So what is going on? Well I'm afraid I don't have the answer, but I think this is something I need to think long and hard about and the next time he goes to auction, see if I can work through this problem and make it a non-binge day after all is said and done. Another thing I need to remember is that I go away for days at a time, and he doesn't binge because I'm not home. There is something definitely strange at work in my head here. But since I haven't a clue, it must be a subconcious whatever. It's not a concious one!

After he left I decided I wanted a roast beef hoagie for dinner. So I drove over to the mini deli and ordered the hoagie. When they asked me if I wanted the 6" or 12", I say "make it the big one." Then I see this cake in the glass, and I love fresh baked cake, so I asked what kind of cake it was. Well, it was "oreo cake". It seems that the lady working the deli counter baked it with her son's input. A yellow cake with oreo cookies broken up inside the batter and baked into the cake. It was a yellow cake with white frosting, my absolute favorite, but with the oreo cookie pieces added. So I told her to give me a slice of that cake too. My goodness, that cake was so mouthwatering delicious, that after I ate it, I almost got back in the car to drive over for more. I was ready to take the rest of the entire cake...........hahahha. It was THAT good!!

Well, on the way to the check out, I noticed a sale sign. It seems they had the chain brand ice cream on sale 2 for $4.00. Another big hurdle for me. So I grabbed 2 half gallons of ice cream too.

I get home and first off I eat the cake and a small bit of ice cream. It definitely tasted like more. And then about 2 hours later I ate the hoagie. Every single inch of it.

I have done so well with drinking my water. I'm doing even better doing my exercising. My eating right now is not under control. I know it, I'm struggling with it, and I know that eventually I will make it a priority. I have no idea what the stumbling blocks are to doing that yet, but I'm working on it. Obviously my exercise is keeping me from gaining back the 17 lbs I have still lost, but I need to see that number of total pounds lost grow, rather than dwindle, as well.

Hang in there with me folks. I'll get there. That's a promise I made myself, and I don't break promises unless there is nothing else to do. As long as I live and breathe, I will continue with this until I reach my goal weight and beyond.

Whatever else happens between now and bed time, I still have my exercise achievement to be very proud of, and believe me, I am very proud of it. With 3 miles on the gazelle, and walking a mile outside, I have 80 minutes of exercise for today alone..............AND I COMPLETED 4 MILES distance...........WOO HOO!!!

keep smiling .............. :)
Sandie

way to go on the exercise !!! I am so glad the doc finally has you feeling better

:hug:

and you didnt go buy the whole cake lol I cant tell you how many times i have made more than one trip for food


Your pictures are so wonderful... I absolutely love where you live

you have a nice life, my friend


mind you I never have had to see the working end of a horse pooper scooper hahahah


the country... the ponies... you...


how nice


I hope you make it through the rest of the night smiling


I am going back to look at your pics again


:hug:


Peng

Hello Pengii,

Thank you so much for visiting. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. Fair swap if you ask me. A great laugh from you last night, and you get to see my beautiful countryside tonight. I can't help myself. To be totally honest, I feel so very lucky and fortunate and blessed to live where I do. There is not a single direction I can turn and not see beauty abound. Many people cannot say that.

I'm going to have a good night, visiting my friends in their journals........haha.

keep smiling ................. :)
Sandie

My goodness. Our snow is gone. Melted away in the rain. Yet the winds of hell blew in today and they are STRONG, icing over all the snow melt. Craziness, I tell you. My folks got a blizzard where they live today and then it is supposed to be near 60 there later in the week. And yet, Geo W doesn't think there is any global climate change goin' on? Puhleeese.

Well, you are doing fantastically on your Gazelle. I am just delighted. And I know your eating has been a little better too. What do you think has made the difference? Less pain in your movement? More exercise inspiring better eating? Well, I'm really proud of you, Lady. Keep up the good work!

Tomorrow is my knitting lesson. I'll let ya know how it goes (if we don't all stab ourselves or each other before the lesson is over!).

Hey there Chumlette ~ :wave:

Tell me about that wind lady. We actually lost shingles from the NEW part of our roof...............hahaha. My goodness, at the rate this winter is beating down on us, we will be lucky to have a building standing when it's over..........hahahha. Thank goodness we have a huge barn. Animal power does pretty good in the heating department too. And if the ponies don't keep us warm, their $hit will.............hahaha. I'm in a rare mood, just in case you haven't noticed.

The exercise is still great, the water good, the improved eating crashed again........hahahhaa. I'm going to eat up all this ice cream and then I won't buy another drop of that crap every again. I'm going off it altogether. Otherwise I will NEVER get a handle on things here. This is utterly rediculous. It should never take this long to get back in the groove. I think my blades must have broken.........hahaha. They can't seem to find their niche.

Hey gal, good luck on that knitting lesson. Can't wait to see you knitting fair isle sweaters one day........tee hee.

Many ((((((((( HUGS ))))))))
loves ya lady,
Sandie

No need to wait till the ice cream is gone.. give fitday a chance.. or if you are into weight watchers do the points.. you can do it! Really I know you can if you want to! It is hard to change our mindset and change our eating habits but we can do it! Glad to hear the excercise is going well but eating is a big part of it.. impossible to lose any weight without getting that under control and you are in control whether you know it or not... you are in charge of what goes in.... so take care!! Just popping in on ya to say hello and see how things were going for you. You have been a very inspirational person to me and given me lots of great advice including the water site... and I appreciate that. (((((((((hugs))))))) we can do this together! :x

Hi Sandie,

My bf has been saying, "I'll just finish this container and then I won't buy anymore" about his ice cream for about 2 years now. The longest he's been able to make it without ice cream is about a week. It's addicting, apparently.

I must say I have operated a horse pooper scooper myself. It was a big ol' shovel.

Take care, Sandie!

{{{{{{{SANDIE}}}}} HEY GIRL HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? I'm so sorry that I haven't chatted with you for a while. I was online earlier today, but I guess I must of missed you.

Wow I really admire you for going off ice cream totally. That's something I can never do. I don't buy ice cream myself anymore, but my mom does every once in a while. However since we eat it so fast she feels that it's waste of money to buy it. So I guess that's a good thing.

take care ~ Katherine

Hey Sandy!

Get rid of that ice cream and buy some stuff you won't feel guilty about eating!...I had a strawberry shortcake Silhouette (Skinny Cow) last night...mmm mmm good...only 120 calories and 2 grams of fat...it had 3 grams of fiber too!...It was good!

mcmarto