Hello New Journal ...

I've decided that my new journal will be a record of my weight each Monday. I was afraid to call this journal my "countdown" because I'm afraid I'll fail. But that's the wrong way to think, so COUNTDOWN it is. I want to lose 30 pounds ... maybe 35.

This morning's initial weigh-in is ...

168.2

My highest ever weight was 184 two years ago and I'm 5'4". I don't carry extra weight well ... it doesn't look good on me plus I feel tired, my legs hurt, and I hate to buy clothes. I've been changing my eating habits little by little and I've lost some weight. Getting older (I'm 60) made losing weight more difficult and out of frustration I'd eat even more.

I've also started to walk and exercise ... I'm still very new at both but I have started. I've done yoga over the years and still turn to that at times but I need to burn calories every day as a habit. That hasn't been happening often but I'm trying.

Diet Talk has been a very positive place for me and this is my third journal. Hopefully it will be the journal that takes me to my goal weight. I plan to check in every Monday with my weekly weight and any other time I want to rant and rave.

Stop in and visit me whenever you'd like ... I'm here every day reading journals for inspiration and support. I don't want to "lose weight" as much as I want to "change the way I live." Hanging out at DT is one of the changes I've made. It's a great place!

:o

Hello there, Ms. Jean,
I would never have guessed you age from your picture. You look good. I hope I look that good at 60.

I am 34. I also have to lose about 35 pounds. At my heaviest I weighed 192. I lost 40 pounds, maintained for four years, lost another 10 pounds (which brought me down to 142), and then boom I started gaining again. I am now 154. I surely don't want those numbers to get any larger, so I join this site in hopes of motivation. Very new to this.
Anyway, I look foward to reading your journal and staying tuned in to your progress.

Hi Jean,

I read your previous Journal and saw that you WERE STARTING this new Journal. Although I haven't posted ... I have read ( and will continue to read) your Journal with interest. Get a good night's rest. Hopefully will see you in the chat room. I am as always, Monica

You're right, close, Jean is a very beautiful woman, in every way you can imagine!

Jean, your weekend sounded "interesting." Always nice to come home. Anyway, I hope you will see lots of progress with your new journal and that you will continue to make changes in all the ways you want. You fought hard to get under 170 and I know you'll continue to fight to get under 160.

I hope today is very good for you, Sue

Go Jean this new journal will bring you to goal.. Just want it enough.

Jean, I just wanted to come on today to thank you for being such a good friend. You've been an angel sent from God to me. I'm truly blessed. When I grow up, I want to be just like you. :)

You deserve to have a absolutely perfect today and I hope you do. Love, Sue

Jean, you are so cute. I just got done reading your "last" entry in your summer journal. :laugh: That's what I like about you, neat and tidy, plus you're a fellow believer in the 'scope!

I have the feeling you had a good day. Hope my feeling was right!

"Make it great." Thank YOU, Jean. Your card made me smile today. Love, Sue

Just a quick stop to say "hi" :wave:

Beth :dn

Hi. My name is Lisa. I am new in here and nervous!! I am trying to lose weight and trying to feel good about myself while I am doing it. I am so tired of feeling frustrated!!! I look in the mirror, and like someone said in another post, it just does not match the image that I want to see. I have weighed 260 at my heaviest, and 221 when I was last counting, which was 4 years ago. I have not stepped on a scale since then, I am too afraid!!:help:

hi jean,
Your previous journal was very nice. You do things very perfect , I suppose.
Really we must learn from you.

Have a nice day.

Hello Journal ...


This week: 9/26/05 @ 167.4
Last week: 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Loss this week = 8 tenths of a pound
****************************************************

I am gratified that I even had a loss at all this week ... I did not follow any sort of diet for the first five days of the week. Wednesday was my husband's birthday and we celebrated on Wednesday, Thursday AND on Friday. It was the party that wouldn't end ... lol. But I wasn't helping myself either ... I wasn't making good choices. I finally pulled myself together this weekend and ate properly. Plus I started to Fall Clean my house and I was in full motion both Saturday and Sunday ... I'm sure all that movement helped use up some of the calories I ate all week.

I do want to thank everyone who visited my new journal ... Sue, my friend, my Boot Camp Buddy. Thank you for your constant support and steady friendship. I hope I see you online sometime tonight ... your absence all weekend has bothered me. I hope you show up soon with good news.

Beth ... the Boot Camp "originator" ... it's nice of you to drop by also. I was over at your new journal. I'm so proud of you for quitting work before you got all used up this weekend. You will see that all your work will get done anyway ... we have to admit that the world can revolve without us.

Monica ... thank you for your visit. I will try to get over to the "I Can" chats on Thursdays. My babysitting has knocked me out this year and by the end of my work week (Thursday nights) I haven't had an ounce of energy left by 9 PM ... I do what I need to do and then I get to bed (although I still stay up too late). I will try to get there soon. Thank you for keeping up with my journal ... I read yours all the time too. I cannot wait to hear about your daughter's wedding. I know from personal experience how difficult a wedding is for the mother of the bride. Good luck to you and come back with all the details.

Boblin (Linda) ... thank you for your visit too ... it was so nice to see you here. It's been a long time since I've talked with you. I hope you're doing well with your diet plan although I know you're in it for the long haul. I know you won't give up ... ever. Maybe we'll see each other in the "I Can" chat one night ... I hope so.

And how nice to meet some new friends here too ... notevenclose, I've been over to your journal which is a delight to visit. lbbear, I hope you'll take the time to make friends and progress here at DT. And subashi, thank you for your compliments about my journal. I'm far from perfect, believe me. I think what you're seeing is what the "good Catholic sisters" taught me so many years ago: good manners, good English, and good punctuation ... lol. The rest they left up to me and I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth.

I'll try to get back to my journal during the week. I'll try to eat better during this coming week, that's for sure. Last week I wasn't good at all ... I even ate candy! X-(

Talk to you soon.

:o

Thank you so much for helping me to feel welcome Sweet Jean! Will keep up with checking in here, it rocks and I love all the support and hope that I can return all the goodwill. Favorite site next to E-Bay, atleast it is not fattenening, my wallet looses lots of weight!! :beam:

Hi Jean. Always love reading your journal and congrats on every tenth of a pound you lose. Cleaning always makes me lose weight too. Sounds like Danny had a happy birthday. I'll talk more to you probably tomorrow. Love, Sue

Hi Jean. GKs keeping you busy? Are you and Adrianna still walking to library time? Just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. Sue

Hello Journal ...


This week: 10/3/05 @ 167.4
Last week: 9/26/05 @ 167.4
9/19/05 @ 168.2

Loss this week = 0 Weight unchanged
****************************************************

Rightfully I should have gained weight this week ... my eating was off more than on and I ended the week eating lots of ice cream. Granted it was fat free frozen yogurt or 1/3 calories with 1/2 fat, but I ate way more than I should have and I ate late into the evening. Simply put, I ate wrong for most of the week.

Yet there it was this morning ... 167.4 ... the scale had stayed the same. I was so happy because I didn't feel like beating myself up.

Lucky for me I just found out that thanks to a Jewish holiday there is no school tomorrow and Danny and I have the day off. I didn't know about this so I'm happily surprised. To celebrate I'm going to go take a nap. I'll get back online later or tomorrow to talk to you more about my week but right now my bed is calling to me.

:o

Welcome back!
Glad that your weight stayed the same after enjoying all that ice cream. Enjoy your day off!

Hello Journal ...

And hello Notevenclose ... thanks for stopping in. I have been enjoying my day off. To the MAX!

Now I wish I could say that I had done something amazing with my unexpected time off ... the weather is beautiful so I could have taken a wonderful walk. But here is the truth:

The children left at 4 PM yesterday and I was in bed at 5 PM. I slept until 11 PM, got up and had some Cheerios and milk, and went back to bed. Got back up at 6 or 7 AM, checked my email, ate two plums and drank a diet coke, and went back to bed. I surfaced once again around ... I forget ... I think close to 12 noon ... and here I am. I am now dressed. I guess I was tired!

I am wondering now what to do. I've spent all my time since I'm up on the computer doing email and Diet Talk ... just goofing around. It feels so good I hate to stop. The weather is still beautiful but I have no urge to go out and walk. My one small voice of urgency is to balance my checkbook ... that would make me happy. I'm not in a hurry at all because in the back of my mind I know that this coming Monday is another holiday (Columbus Day). Plus my daughter said that next week we have another Jewish holiday off ... I feel like I just won the lottery.

OK ... now that you all know how lazy I truly am ... I'll tell you some of my news.

My grandson is going to be a magician for Halloween so my husband bought him a box of magic tricks this weekend and had it waiting for him yesterday. Oh ... it's so much fun when you totally knock a kid out with a toy. The two of them sat all afternoon going over some of the tricks for Demetri to learn ... he was so serious ... I loved it. My daughter just wrote and told me that she took him to her boss's office and he got to do all his tricks there.

Tomorrow the baby and I will go to our second Gymboree class. We started the season a bit late so we have 3 make-ups to do and I plan to do one this Thursday. I have to run after her in class because she runs so fast in this huge room and although everything is padded there are still dangers that she doesn't understand. I'm afraid her confined playpen will soon be a thing of the past ... all they need is one taste of freedom.

Our garden is coming to an end. There are a few plants still out there but all the tomatoes are picked and my husband has canned and frozen a few for the winter. The pool is closed and covered and all the patio tables and chairs are put away.

My daughter told me this week that all her married friends are putting pools in their backyards ... she said it's the newest thing. They finance the pool with something like a mortgage for 25 years and the monthly payments are very low. If there's anyone out there listening to me ... listen carefully ... DO NOT PUT IN A POOL. THEY ARE AWFUL TO TAKE CARE OF, EXPENSIVE, TROUBLESOME, NO FUN AT ALL, DANGEROUS, AND CREATE SOCIAL OCCASIONS WITH FRIENDS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD. OK, I will say no more. And these words come to you from someone who has suffered the ownership of a pool for 34 years. Maybe in an area where it's warm all year a pool would make sense but with our cold weather, maintenance is very difficult. Oh, I said I wouldn't say anymore.

Well ... I've put it off long enough ... I must go now and do something constructive with my time. At least I didn't eat a lot for the last 24 hours. LOL.

:o

Hey Jean,

Long time no hear:) Just wanted to say keep up the great work!! I am back to posting, so stop by some time! :wave:

Hi Sweetjean!! I know what you mean about the pool. I have never personally had one, but my sister had one in a house she rented, could not wait to get rid of it. Then she married a man who owned one!! Great for awhile, then they creep up on you for maintenance!!X-(
Our garden is gone, we have a few onions left. We are going to raze it and start over. Too many weeds, and a squash bug infestation. We have some pickled green tomatos and salsa in the pantry now prepping, and we will be canning applesause from my in laws orchard here for the next several weeks.
Keep on smiling and I will see you around!!! :beam:

Hi there Sleeping Beauty,
Glad you got some much needed sleep. How I wish I had Columbus Day off. Boy, let me tell you I am in desperate need of a day off.

I grew up in the city and always dreamed of having a pool. After reading your entry. I am now glad I don't have one.

later

I like that...sleeping beauty! Hope the baby doesn't tucker you out too much today. :-) You're doing real good, Jean.

Hi !!!!!! :wave:

I use to be a pool owner - note* USED to be lol 8-| for all the reasons you posted about above I am now an X pool owner :laugh:

I am thrilled you pampered yourself and got some rest :D

Beth :dn

Hello Journal ...

This week: 10/10/05@ 167.8
Last week: 10/3/05 @ 167.4
9/26/05 @ 167.4
9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain this week = 4 tenths of a pound gained
*************************************************
I ate too much this week for no reason in particular. I am disappointed in myself. I tried to improve as my weigh-in date got closer and I did do that, but I am not looking for that kind of dieting anymore. I want good performance every day, not just when the scale is coming my way. This week I will be looking for improvement and the only place to find that is within myself!

It is raining here again and promises to do so for most of the week. I have a migraine today and have spent the day in bed with my medication sleeping on and off. I didn't even want to read. This is the first bad one I've had in a while. And to think there was a time that I had them like this every week!

Thank you to all my visitors here this week, nu me, lbbear, notevenclose, Sue, and Beth. I've been over to your journals and left messages there. It's so nice to have your visits ... I will be over to see you again this week. My friends here at DT make my weigh loss effort possible ... I would have given up long ago. Now, I'm getting ready to make a better week of it this time.

:o

Hey, I'm here to offer some support!! It looks like even if you don't lose weight you are doing good...you're pretty much staying the same, always favorable to gain. Anyways, New Jersey is pretty close to me, you're probably getting the same miserable weather as we are...don't let it get you down :hug:

I am sorry you had a hard week!! I hate those. Tomorrow will happen and sending good thoughts your way that it will be better!!
I will keep up on you!!

Hello Journal ...

This week: 10/17/05 @ 167.0
Last week: 10/10/05@ 167.8
10/3/05 @ 167.4
9/26/05 @ 167.4
9/19/05 @ 168.2

:jn Loss this week = 8 tenths of a pound ... YEA ME!!
*************************************************

I'm going bananas over my loss this week. I turned a corner this past week and started doing better. I even changed my profile to state that the type of diet I follow is called "common sense" ... that's what I felt had come over me.

The rest of my week was extremely busy and I've been short on sleep. I guess I'll catch up on that eventually. I haven't exercised but I'm finally cleaning my house (REALLY CLEANING) and that's enough for now.

Thank you Becca and lbbear for your visits ... I've been over to your journals too and I'm happy for the progress both of you are making. When I first came to DT I was told by a buddy that keeping a journal would change everything. How true! Now both of you will experience that "change" for yourselves...

I'll be back next week to let you know about my "continued progress." How's that for POSITIVE THINKING!

:o

:wave: Hey Sweet Jean I am just stopping by to say hi and good job with the weight loss this week!! :hug: Keep up the good work!

Hi my Sweet Jean. I'm glad to see you doing so well since you turned your corner. Jean, I want to thank you publicly for writing to me and being such a good friend. Your love and friendship have been a huge help to me, have kept me going, and I appreciate you very much. Thank you, my friend. Sue

Hi Jean,
Glad things are going well for you. We are all moved into our house.....with a ......gulp.....pool....but it is closed for now. We will see next spring how much trouble it is. Hubby is all excited about having it. Best thing I see about it is that I am excited about the exercise I will get in it.....Water walking and swimming. It should be good for my achy joints!



:hug:


Vickie :dn

Hello Journal ...

This week: 10/24/05 @ 166.8
Last week: 10/17/05 @ 167.0
10/10/05@ 167.8
10/3/05 @ 167.4
9/26/05 @ 167.4
9/19/05 @ 168.2

Loss this week = 1 tenth of a pound ...
*************************************************
Well, I'm not jumping for joy all over the place but I'm thankful that I'm still going in the right direction ... DOWN. And as we all agree, DOWN IS GOOD!

I want to say thank you to my visitors this week. Becca, your photo as a blonde gives you a completely different look. You look nice with either color which is rather unusual ... your skin looks good with both tones. Ummmm. Tell us, do blondes have more fun? Thanks Sue for your continuing support ... you know I count on it now ... you have me spoiled. And Vicki ... I'll have to get over to your journal and find out how you're enjoying your new home. And as far as your pool is concerned, as long as your husband wants to maintain it for you, your problems are solved! I remember the people who sold us the house (and pool) had me come over before the closing to show me how to take care of the pool (the maintenance was going to be my job) ... THEY MADE IT LOOK SO SIMPLE. Oh well, many hours of enjoyment were had by many people in that pool and my daughter was 4 months old when we moved in ... she firmly believes that you cannot live without a pool. So there you go!

My week was not typical ... I guess my body knew first that something was wrong. Early in the week I didn't have an appetite and wasn't eating very much. That is not like me at all ... but it was such a nice change ... I guess that's how thin people feel every day. I tried to convince myself that I was causing this change in my appetite but I knew I wasn't ... I just wasn't hungry.

Later in the week the truth came to light ... we all came down with bad colds that started in our heads (congestion) and moved to our stomachs. First the baby, then her brother, then me (in bed by Thursday), then my son-in-law, and today it's back to the baby and me again! Mothers everywhere know what I'm talking about ... you can spend the whole winter playing with the same cold like this ... X-(

Anyway ... by Friday my appetite started to return and it was doing a good job of wanting this and that. By Sunday it got fierce and I began to have a demon on my hands. I was afraid to get on the scale Monday morning! I won't say I binged Sunday but I did eat a lot. I guess I was making up for not eating earlier in the week. Plus I roasted a chicken for dinner and I love my own roasted chicken dinners ... do any of you avoid cooking your own favorite dinners because of that reason? I do. My husband often asks me why I don't cook certain dinners ... you make them so well, he'll say ... yes, I do make them so well. I gain five pounds because I make them so well ... lol! Well, my roasted chickens are like that. Without even trying they automatically come with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas, and biscuits. I was so proud of myself on Sunday ... I didn't make the biscuits.

Still, I was afraid of the scale on Monday. I was relieved that I showed a loss but to be truthful I was disappointed that I only lost one tenth of a pound ... earlier in the week I had stars in my eyes and was thinking about something fantastic like a 2 lb loss for the week. But ... back to reality ... look at my number ... I am finally looking at 166. For years I have dreamed of seeing 166. So I must learn to be happy with what I've got and not go overboard with Sunday night dinners ... no matter how good they taste (thank goodness I didn't make the biscuits).

So that's my story this week.

I couldn't come on and write this out last night because this cold was attacking me again and I didn't have the strength. I sat at the computer for a short while and I kept falling asleep. I wisely stopping fighting it and went to bed at 8 PM. I don't feel much better today but at least I gave my body the rest it needed.

I woke up wanting hot oatmeal for breakfast but was so hungry I didn't want to wait while I made it (it would have taken all of 5 minutes) ... so I had a bowl of bran flakes with raisins. That's all I've had so far today with a banana. My throat hurts and I need to take pills to keep from coughing and sneezing ... the baby is taking medicine too. We're all in the house wearing sweaters or corduroy shirts ... I guess winter has arrived (Wilma certainly has).

ps ... I much prefer this weather to the soggy heat we had all summer ... give me cold weather any day instead of heat ... you can tell I'm a menopausal woman. My mother calls me a "hottie" ... she doesn't know what "hottie" means in today's world ... she means I'm a pain in the butt when it comes to being too hot all the time ... lol.

See you all next week. I hope you're having a great week ... warm or cold. If you're anywhere in Wilma's path I hope she's not hurting you ... stay safe and dry.

Hi Jean. Congrats on the 1/10 of a pound, because every single one of them have been worked hard for, and for seeing 166! The good side of this weight loss at the tenth-pound rate, lol, is that you probably also gain only by a tenth. Now, me, on the other hand can gain (and lose) over 10 pounds in a week. Different ways, same journeys. Either way, down is very good! :) We (I) just need to learn how to accept how our bodies work and work with it.

I like how you know that your body knew what was going on (with your cold) before you even became aware of it. I'm trying to learn the signals my body gives me at the very earliest stages of a downward trend for me so I can pick up on the signals before they become full-blown red flags. Our bodies tell us all kinds of things. We just need to listen to it.

Your post was very interesting. Hope you're feeling better soon. Sue

Nasty, nasty colds!! I just got over one myself. Hope you will start feeling better soon!
Congratulations on the 166!! That is so fantastic!
I personally think that some meals are just not the same if they do not have the things that we are not supposed to have, ie. biscuits, mashed potatos,etc. I think as long as we are keeping ourselves consistent in our exercising and practicing moderation, we can let our hair down occasionally!! But god job on your resistance, I guess some things, like carbs, make me weak in the knees, I love my breads!!
Take care and hope you and the family are getting better.

Hi SweetJean! I've been meaning to get over here and i finally did. Sorry to find that you and your family have these terrible colds. Lots of people are getting it and saying that it last like 7 -10 days. And they're miserable. So I can only imagine passing it back and forth! :O Hope you're all feeling better soon.

Well, I'm off to the shower although I'm not quite sure why. :laugh: We're taking the preschoolers on a field trip today for a hayride. I'm sure to come back scratchy and itchy. I'll have to take a second shower when I get home! But it should be fun.

Take care and I hope you're feeling better and get caught up on your sleep.

Hello Journal ...

This week: 10/31/05 @ 169.8
Last week: 10/24/05 @ 166.8
10/17/05 @ 167.0
10/10/05@ 167.8
10/3/05 @ 167.4
9/26/05 @ 167.4
9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain this week = 3 pounds
*************************************************
What terrible statistics to report this week ... at the end of the month no less! I have been stumbling through October fighting at the end of every week to bring myself back for my weigh in ... this week I totally lost it.

It was a combination of carb cravings and sugar. I got my hands on some candy ... then some more candy ... tried to stop, couldn't, wouldn't ... didn't want to ... then had more candy. It's hard around Halloween time of year too ... seems that candy is everywhere!

OK ... now you've heard all my EXCUSES. Next week I hope all you hear are my "improvements."

I went to my doctor this past Friday ... I have a sinus infection. He loaded me up with my typical Rx ... antibiotics, nose sprays, inhalants, etc. I feel much better already but the course of treatment is for two weeks. I'm doing everything he said to do ... last year it took me 3 months to get rid of an infection but it was worse when we started. I hope this treatment is all we need this time.

So that's my story this week. I need to recharge my PROGRAM. I won't get anywhere at this rate. Time to rededicate myself to my goals and focus on what I need to do.

Before I close this post I want to thank Sue, lbbear, and Mel for stopping in for visits. I'll be over to your journals to visit each of you ....

:o

:console:
I am sorry to hear you have an infection, and that the halloween horrors found you. I know it is really hard when you feel that you are setback. But it does definitely sound like you have a plan to get back on track, and I think we all need to stop occasionally and reevaluate, that is healthy!! Do not kick yourself so hard, you have definitely taken it off before, and you can do it again. I believe in you and will be here to remind you when you need it, and even if you don't!! Keep on rocking and keep me posted on how you are doing??
By the way, how do I mark a journal like yours to keep track of new posts?? Is there a way?
Take care and I will be thinking of you!!!

sorry to hear your not feeling well :(

Hello Journal ...

This week: 11/7/05 @ 165.6
Last week: 10/31/05 @ 169.8
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Loss this week = 4.2 pounds :O
*************************************************
No, my scale is not broken, but my weight was that much different within one week's time! I think I was at an extreme high last week from all the candy I ate ... I LOVE pure sugary candy like spearmint leaves and jellies ... but they have so much salt in them. That probably made my weight high. This week I've purposely stayed away from salt and I'm probably at the other extreme of being very low on salt. I'll know the truth by next week ... LOL. I was also at the beginning of my sinus infection last week and my appetite was totally out of control (feed a cold?). Once the medicine started to work, my appetite calmed down.

And thank goodness my appetite did finally cooperate because I wanted to be very careful all week with everything I ate (I hated last week's weigh-in!) ... mainly I ate low-fat proteins (egg whites, chicken) and vegetables. A few starch servings per day (brown rice or potatoes) and yogurt at night to replace my evening ice cream ritual. I also had fruit every day and always one banana. I cut back on what was becoming a bad diet coke habit ... I was drinking about 3 or 4 a day ... I went to 2 then 1 and some days I didn't have any at all ... I drank water instead. I also replaced coffee with tea ... the coffee didn't taste as good anymore unless I dressed it up with all kinds of sweeteners and flavors ... so I thought I'd give tea a try. I put all these changes into action ... my weight last week was too close to the 170 I worked so hard to get away from.

This week's weigh-in was a lot lower than I expected and I'm not sure I completely trust this new number. But I am away from that dreadful high number, that's for sure, and I faced some realities about how I need to eat if I want to reach my goals. I'm happy with my chosen program of foods and my Way of Eating fits my family's lifestyle. I'm eating along with everyone else at the table and not feeling separate and deprived. Now I need to begin visualizing myself at another old set-point ... 158. I hung around at that weight for a long time on my way up to the 180s. So I need to start thinking of seeing it again ....

I hope everyone has a good week ahead and I'll see you here again next Monday. Thanks lbbear and Beth for your visits ... I appreciate your concern. I've been reading both your journals and keeping up with your progress. I'll have to leave you messages during the week. You're both doing so well.

:o

Hi Jean! Sorry you had kind of a bummy week, but you are so awesome to figure out how to get through it and not just give up!! Definitely make me want to keep going and constantly challenge myself, even though some days I just want to say "that is it, I am so done." I am so impressed on how you are handling your eating habits with the family, that is a very hard area!!
Take so much care and have a fantastic week, I think you are doing so well!!

WOW, Jean, congrats on the huge weight loss and for how you have turned your eating around. Major accomplishment. Now you know what works. Look out, 158, here she comes!

Wow, that's a great loss! Glad to hear you're feeling better. :)

Hello Journal ...

This week: 11/14/05 @ 166.6
Last week: 11/7/05 @ 165.6
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain this week = 1.0 pound
*****************************************
I had a good week with food but started to eat too much yesterday (Sunday). We had dinner company on Saturday and I started to enjoy myself too much that night and it carried over into Sunday. I feel lucky that only ONE POUND showed up. Unfortunately I ate all day long today also. I am putting a stop to this immediately. By next Monday this one pound needs to get lost and more if possible.

Thanks lbbear, Sue, and Mel for stopping by. I've been over to your journals to catch up on how you're all doing. I'll stop back again this week and leave some messages. I hope you're all doing well.

I'll be back next week ... hopefully with a better weigh in.

:o

stopping by to say "hi" :wave:

Hello Journal ...

This week: 11/21/05 @ ???.?
Last week: 11/14/05 @ 166.6
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

I'm pleading the fifth amendment this week.
*****************************************
I weighed myself this weekend but I refused to weigh myself this morning. I knew my weight would not be good and I didn't need to feel worse than I already did.

For some reason I've been eating since last Monday ... all the wrong foods and especially sugary desserts and candy. By the middle of the week I was out of control and I looked "heavier" and "lumpy" ... my little errors had caught up with me.

Sunday morning I got up and vowed that I would stop this streak of foolishness. For the past two days I've made a good start back on my program but it wasn't long enough to show on my scale. Therefore I don't want to put my weight in writing this week as it would depress me.

I am angry at myself for this trip and fall ... but I am trying to forgive myself. I wish I had fallen this week when Thanksgiving was happening ... then I could try out everything on the holiday table. But I wasted all my calories on junkie food that I bought at the supermarket ... mainly bags of candy and bread and butter. I also found myself back in the ice cream freezer.

OK ... enough said. Not the end of the world. I must move on. Tomorrow is already day #3 of NO SUGAR for me ... so I'm almost there. I'm doing deep breathing exercises whenever I have the urge to overeat ... I don't know where but I read it but after you do about 10 deep breath cycles, the desire for what you wanted to eat is supposed to pass.

Here's to deep breaths and Happy Thanksgiving dinners.

See you next week.

:o

Hi Jean.. Good day..

Hello Journal ...

This week: 11/28/05 @ 168.0
Two weeks ago: 11/14/05 @ 166.6
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain = 1.4 lb
Total Loss since start of this journal = 2 tenths of a pound
**********************************************

Hello Subashi ... thanks for the visit. And thanks to anyone else who stopped by for a quick read.

I need to admit that I am back to getting nowhere. I was stuck like this for a long time in the 180s, started to work seriously with my "plan" and I started to get results. I began making little exceptions here and there and soon I was letting SUGAR back in my life. That's like an alcoholic having a sip or two of wine every night. IT DOESN'T WORK. All of a sudden I was all out bingeing. My weight would have been even higher this week but I was sick on Thanksgiving and the day after ... spent both days going from bed to the bathroom and back to bed again. I must admit I wasn't sorry to miss all the temptation of the annual Thanksgiving table ... especially the desserts. I doubt I could have gone to the dinner and resisted all that delicious holiday food.

Since I've gotten better, I haven't been eating according to any plan. Yesterday I was very hungry and gave in to my appetite too much ... today I tried to be more sensible. Since I was so high on the scale last week I wasn't totally UNHAPPY with my 168 this morning but compared to where I was in September I see that I haven't made any progress. That's the benefit of record keeping.

I will need to strike a bargain with myself if I truly want to lose this weight. Of course the Christmas season is the worse time in the year to think about giving up sweets but for me there really is no alternative. I need to give them up or they will control my life. I'll be back next week and by then I will have picked a real plan that I will follow. I WILL LOSE THIS WEIGHT. DECEMBER IS AS GOOD A MONTH AS ANY TO MAKE A GENUINE EFFORT.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Now we can start running around in the Christmas rush. Or we could do it differently this year and stay sane. See you next week.

:o

Hi Jean. Girl, I sure do hear you on being stuck. Here's to doing what it takes in the long run to see (and keep seeing) those results and to giving up our addictions and whatever else holds us down. I so want this for you, and I KNOW you can do this! Love, Sue

Hello Journal ...

This week: 12/05/05 @ 165.0
Last week: 11/28/05 @ 168.0
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Loss this week = 3.0 lb
**********************************************

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AT LAST



:cheer: :cheer: :cheers: :cheer: :cheer:




THERE YOU GO ... THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW I FEEL TONIGHT!!! LIKE I DISCOVERED THE NEW WORLD!!!

I had a busy busy weekend ... made great headway cleaning the house and getting Christmas out of the attic and into the house. I haven't done that since my daughter got married seven years ago ... it takes me a long time to "get over" things ... lol. I only slept a little on Friday night and not at all on Saturday night ... I got too excited on Saturday with everything I was finding in the attic ... getting emotional I guess ... and I couldn't stop to go to bed (not a good idea but I couldn't help myself). Sunday night I slept very well ... I was exhausted.

The whole time I was working I ate every 3 hours or so ... little high protein snacks with some fruit or yogurt. This morning the scale said 165 ... 3 pounds down from last Monday. I think I've broken my personal code. All it took was 60 years and a world of family, friends, strangers, 21st Century technology, and continuous education. I know I'm finally getting somewhere.

I'll be back again next Monday. Time for me to get to bed ... I have some sleep to catch up on ... lol. I-)


PS ... Sue, thanks for stopping in to visit! I'll be over to see you at your journal soon. :hug:

:deer: This is how you must have felt after all the Christmas decorating, but I can just imagine how pretty your house must look now. Just makes you feel good, and that has to be good for continued progress on your weight loss. CONGRATULATIONS on that! Keep up the good work. Love, Sue

Way to go Jean!!!!!:)

way to go on losing 3 lbs ! :cheer:

and getting all that work done :D

Hello Journal ...

This week: 12/12/05 @ 166.2
Last week: 12/05/05 @ 165.0
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain this week = 1.2 lb
*********************************************

Hello Sue, lbbear, and Beth ... thanks for stopping in with your good wishes. I didn't do as well this week but I wasn't as strict with myself as I was last week. These past two days I started baking and that took me down the old sugar trail. I figure it's all part of Christmas and I'm not worried about it.

One thing that caused problems, however, was my sinus congestion again. The three medicines the allergist prescribed didn't help so I took "over the counter" pills. They helped me breathe but they put me to sleep! Even the next day I was walking around in a fog. I kept trying to wake myself up with sweet food and coffee but I went way off my program. That may account for the added weight this morning. I have a different medicine to try tonight ... it promises no side effects.

All in all I had a good week ... still getting ready around here for Christmas. I hope to do more baking this week and we have the first of our family get-togethers this coming Sunday.

I hope everyone is feeling the joy of the season. I'll be back next week ... hopefully with a loss.

:o

Hi sweetjean.......

All the very best....and take care.

Hello Journal ...

This week: 12/19/05 @ 169.6
Last week: 12/12/05 @ 166.2
Start 9/19/05 @ 168.2

Gain this week = 3.4 lb
*********************************************
Here I am ... a day late! And combined with last week's gain, I'm almost 5 lbs UP over the last two weeks. I have been ignoring my PLAN ... MY PROGRAM ... what the heck, call it my DIET. I've been eating and drinking everything and my theme has been SUGAR, SUGAR, AND MORE SUGAR. Why I've been doing this is a mystery to me but I've made no effort to get back my control or direction.

But I will say it tonight: starting tomorrow I am going back to my PLAN ... my holiday is over. By next week I will report here that all have improved and that I'm back on track. I guess I had to kick up my heels a bit before the end of the year. Whatever.

Thanks, Subashi, for stopping in to say hello. It's always nice to see a friend here. Stop in again anytime.

I'm off to do some more holiday chores and then to bed. I was up late last night working on a Christmas project that I enjoyed a lot ... but today I'm very tired. I'm going to bed very early tonight to buy back some of my sleep.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas. See you next week.

:o

Hello Jean

This new Journal is going to help your Accomplishments become Reality and I see that you're at 168.5lbs and thats a good thing because it means you're loosing weight and i have complete and utter faith that you're going to go to your goal weight like a rocketship into the Stratusphere :laugh: But really I wish you all the best of luck and if you need any support pm me or email me my email is posted in my profile
Good Luck Jean
Taneisha

MERRY CHRISTMAS JEAN

Have a great holiday weekend!



Vickie :whip:

Hey girlfriend - thanks for stopping by my journal and for the holiday wishes. Glad to see you're enjoying your holidays and I'd like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings you everything you want. :D

Sweet Jean, my friend, you have been a Godsend to me this past year. I pray that you will be blessed more than abundantly and I'm looking forward to seeing our friendship grow even stronger than it already is, if that's even possible, lol. You have given me so much, things that are larger than words, and you know what they are. Peace and enjoyment, Sue

Happy Holiday, Sweet Jean! You've made wonderful strides this year! Keep a'goin' ...

see below ... "I am giving myself an extra Christmas present and not weighing in today ... I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBER TODAY ... NOT EVEN TOMORROW. NEXT MONDAY WILL BE SOON ENOUGH!! ...."

Hello Journal ...

What a treat to open my journal and find so many good wishes left by my friends. Thank you Tiana, Vickie, Mel, Sue, Athletea ....

It's been a great adventure this past year joining this website and meeting everyone here, getting to know your stories, enjoying your support, crying on your shoulders (LOL), taking your advice, looking ahead with you to the future.

That's what I'm doing today ... looking ahead to the future. These past few weeks before Christmas I fell down a lot on my "program." Yesterday the food became too much for me ... I came home from our celebration with an old-fashioned stomach ache. I promised myself that by next Christmas I would look different and feel different ... I don't want to come home again and drink Alka Seltzer!

Today I am recovering and I don't have anything important to do for the next two or three days. I am reading a murder mystery (Hour Game, by David Baldacci) and sleeping on and off. My food choices today are moderate (fresh fruit and oatmeal and one hard boiled egg white ... lots of water). Little by little I'm returning to normal.

I'm giving myself an extra Christmas present and not weighing in today ... I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBER TODAY ... NOT EVEN TOMORROW. NEXT MONDAY WILL BE SOON ENOUGH!!

So that's my story today. This week I'll be at DT reading journals and catching up with everyone's stories and holiday news. My daughter has plans to leave the baby with me a couple of times this week. Then on New Year's Eve we are having both the children overnight. If I feel like doing anything I have plenty of laundry to do and the house needs lots of attention. I always have paperwork to do especially at the end of the year so I'm not worried about having "nothing" to do. What a funny concept that is! I'm also getting my mind set for the coming year. This year I am putting my goals in writing with a goal DATE. I've been told that without goals being in writing they are only wishes.

I'll be back next week with an official weigh in.

Happy New Year to everyone if I don't get back to my journal before then.

:cheers:

Dear Jean,

WISHING YOU AND YOURS ONLY THE BEST OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE COMING YEAR :cheers:

I want you to know MY HAND IS ALWAYS EXTENDED OUT .. if I can ever be of any help whether it is a shoulder or a listening (and hearing) ear JUST LET ME KNOW. I am as always, Monica

HAPPY NEW YEAR Sweet Jean..AND ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE COMING YEAR :party: Hope to get to know you better in 2006

LULU

Happy New Year, Sweet Jean! Hope you have a great 2006!

Happy New Year, Sweet Jean!

I am not weighing in until my weight is back to the 168.0 recorded in my profile. This holiday I did a great deal of damage to my program (translation = I ATE LOTS OF COOKIES) ... and I refuse to get on a scale. I know by my mirror and my clothes that I have gone off track. I am allowing my pride some recovery time before resuming my weekly weigh-ins. SJ
******************************************************
Hello and Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2006 ... soon to be known as the Year of Great Success!

Thank you Monica, Lulu, Mel, and Athletea for stopping in with your Happy New Year good wishes. I was so happy to see all your happy faces! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for the new year and all the happiness and success in store for us.

As you can tell I am determined to THINK POSITIVE ... to look on the "bright side" of things instead of expecting the worst. I know that when I talk to my friends I find the positive side of any situation going on in their lives. I tell them to carry on, things will work out, they will succeed. I've decided to give myself the same advice. I said to myself, "STOP WORRYING, JEAN. WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOU WILL DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ... JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO."

And that is how my new year is starting ... I am determined to make this a good year not "IF" everything works out ... but "no matter how" everything works out. I will control the things I can control (what I eat, how I exercise, the vitamins I take, the water I drink, the sleep I get) and I will "manage" the things I cannot control (life in general).

I want to enjoy every day that comes my way. I want to have adequate energy for every day that comes my way. I promise to honor all my duties and do them to the best of my abilities. I will assume responsibility for all my actions.

And finally I will advance past my first lesson of "I will form good habits and become their slave." I trust that after working on this lesson for more years than I care to admit I have a firm foundation of good habits to guide me safely through each day. Now it is time to work on the second lesson in my handbook: "I will greet each day with love in my heart."

That sums up my thoughts about the year ahead. I am excited by my newfound positive thinking. I am always trembling with fear about what will come next. I am tired of being afraid and tired of doubting myself. I looked back at some of the worst moments in my life and I never let myself down or anyone else who was counting on me. I acted honorably and fairly in all my transactions and when in doubt I let love rule the day. If I do nothing less than what I did in the past I see no reason to doubt myself. Now I just have to figure out how to lose some weight! LOL.

And that's my story for this Monday ... the first Monday in 2006.

:o

Dear Jean,

When I received the email regarding your post and I read what you wrote ... I wanted to share with you something that has taken me a LONG TIME and something that I am still learning to do: TO PUT MYSELF ON THE TOP OF THE LIST I used to think that by not putting others before myself that I was being selfish -- IT'S NOT BEING SELFISH. IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR OWN SELF WORTH.

It's hard for me to say NO TO MY DAUGHTERS AND TO LES ... but looking at it from another perspective it shows me I DON'T THINK ENOUGH OF MYSELF TO STAND UP FOR MY RIGHTS. We have to learn to say YES TO OURSELVES ... it's the same as saying WE DON'T COUNT AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON ... and you know THAT ISN'T TRUE.

I don't care if you don't weigh in that's totally up to you. But now that I am a member of WW I find that by going in and weighing in EVERY WEEK its a testament to WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED FOR MYSELF. I want you to know that EVERYTIME YOU POST IN YOUR JOURNAL I READ WHAT YOU HAVE POSTED. There isn't a doubt in my mind THAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS .... so my friend just know THAT SUCCESS IS SOMETHING YOU WILL ACHIEVE -- TAKE ONE ASPECT OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PLAN ... be it increasing your water intake *** exercising on certain days of the week or monitoring your food intake.

We're all walking down the same road AND GRANTED there will be detours and roadblocks BUT IT STARTS like a child who is learning to walk -- ONE STEP AT A TIME. I am here for you my friend AND I ALWAYS WILL BE. Take care and make tomorrow a great day. I am as always, Monica

Jean, I loved reading your post, so positive, so sensible. There's no way you will not be able to succeed if you keep up that way of thinking, staying in control as much as humanly possible. Not always easy, but I have confidence in you Jean, and I know you will make great strides this year. The things you want can most certainly become your realities. Love, Sue

Hello Journal ...

This is getting to be a habit ... but I still cannot post my weight. In fact ... my weight is even higher today than it was last week. Mercy me! When will this bad trend end?

Only when I decide that it's time for it to end.

And every night I tell myself that TOMORROW I will start being "good" to myself ... eating right, drinking lots of water, exercising, eating lean proteins, green veggies, complex carbs. Those are my night-time intentions. The following day, by late afternoon, I am usually off munching on a rich muffin or by dinner I have a buttery baked potato on my plate.

OK ... again I go off into a new week to try to break this pattern.

I'll be back next week hopefully with good news.

Thank you Monica and Sue for your visits. I love your messages and hope that I do not disappoint you in the future.

TOMORROW is a new day.

:o

Dear Jean,

I WILL NEVER EVER BE DISAPPOINTED IN YOU IN THE PRESENT, PAST OR THE FUTURE.

Just know THAT I am always here MY HANDS ARE OUTSTRETCHED ... and I know THAT YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT AND SUCCEED AT ACHIEVING WHATEVER GOALS YOU SET FOR YOURSELF in your own time. Have and make it a great evening. I am as always, Monica

Hi Sweet Jean. Today is a new day, this is a new hour. No time like the present (yeah, I know, easier said than done), but I 100% agree with Monica, you'll do it in your own time and then things will work. In the meantime, you're learning. Any idea what's triggering your afternoon munchies and what you can do to prevent them? Sue

Hello Journal ...

Well, much has happened this week. I am still not down to 168 lbs but I am happy to report that I am heading in that direction. Starting last Wednesday, with the help of a dedicated Weight Watcher, I started counting WW POINTS and I've done nicely ever since. I stopped eating sugar and had fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and high fiber bread instead. I feel better and intend to keep up this new way of eating.

All week I had a sinus infection which had me quite low. I saw my doctor and he put me on antibiotics but the infection caused tremendous pain in my jaw, eye, ear, and upper teeth. Most of this weekend I was in bed with a heating pad. I don't remember ever dealing with such terrible pain. Tonight I feel much better and I hope the worst is over.

Thank you Monica and Sue for dropping in for visits. So nice to see friendly faces. It's exciting to have the whole new year ahead of us full of hope and promise.

I'll be back again next week ... I think by then my infection will be completely gone. Maybe I will be able to start recording my weekly weight LOSS again. I know that day will come!

I hope we all have a good week and that we stay on our plans and reach our goals.

:o

Hi Journal ...

Oh what a week. I don't think I've ever been this sick. Today is the first day I feel pretty good. I had another bad weekend with my sinus congestion. I had pain in my face, ears, and what felt like a headache every day. As if my migraines aren't enough.

Give me a break! :sigh:

Anyway ... today I do feel better.

Complaint Department officially closed!

I stayed exactly the same on the scale this week since last Monday. During the middle of the week I went a bit crazy with my points. I got myself back in order after a few days and here I am still not back at 168. I am a good example of what NOT to do during the holidays. On the 5th of December I weighed 165 but only one month later I had gained more than 10 pounds. And these 10 pounds did NOT just fall off after one weekend of "eating lightly." They seemed to want to stay put! This has been a difficult lesson.

Okay ... I am back on track, I feel better, and I am not going to look back. I will start recording my weight in this journal again on February 6 ... no matter what it is. I said this is my "count down" journal and a count down it will be!

See you next week. I will be back to report a good week.

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.

:o

I am determined to make this a good year not "IF" everything works out ... but "no matter how" everything works out. I will control the things I can control (what I eat, how I exercise, the vitamins I take, the water I drink, the sleep I get) and I will "manage" the things I cannot control (life in general).

I love that! :) Sounds like you are off to a terrific start for the New Year.

Sorry you've been so under the weather - it seems everyone's been battling bugs and infections lately! yuck. I hope the sinus and migraine pain subsides. And... I know what you mean about not wanting to post your weight stats until you're ready to do so. I took down my stats for a while last year because, well, I just didn't feel like posting my weight for a while. It's a gal's prerogative. :) Hope the rest of your week shapes up nicely - I'll check back with you on the 6th! :wave:

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.

:o [/QUOTE]

You're RIGHT, Jean, you CAN and you WILL! :) Love you, Jean! Sue

Hello Journal ...

I have good news and bad news.

First the good news: I'm back!

The bad news is the that I'm also BACK to my beginning weight! My weight this morning was 178.2 ... practically the same weight I was when I joined DT more than a year ago. It's disheartening ... yes ... but not unexpected considering the way I've been eating. I've had periods of eating right but they've been too short and far too insincere.

I made today the date that I would begin again so here I am ... keeping this date with myself. I had some good momentum going for a few weeks with WW POINTS but for some unexplained reason that didn't hold up for me. Today I counted calories and I plan to that for the rest of this month and see where my weight goes with that. In March I will reevaluate my method.

I will be back next week to report a good week. That's my intention. I hope everyone is doing well ... I've been visiting lots of journals here at DT and we seem to be having varied sorts of results. I know that we are succeeding as long as we keep trying.

Thank you Anne2 and Sue for your visits ... it means a great deal to me that you stopped in.

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.

:o

Awe, Jean, you need a great big {{{{{HUG}}}}}. But good for you for keeping at it, trying different things to see what works best for YOU.

Intention is a powerful thing. Believe and act like you're already exactly how you want to be, stay focused on that. I've done this. It works, it's easy...as long as you stay focused on that way of thinking. Love, Sue

Hello Journal ...

I'm full of all that new "start-up" energy. I promised myself I'd start a firm program this morning after being "careful" (but with some candy included) this past week.

Last week's weigh in = 178.2

- 3.6 lbs loss

This week's weigh in = 174.6


Okay, now I feel better. I stopped my senseless binge. I am also ready to accept the fact that I must change my way of living once and for all ... I've been like a child having a temper tantrum refusing to do as I'm told. I'm finally willing to accept the facts of life. Why this has been so hard for me to do is beside the point. The point is to begin.

I signed up for WW Online to have the structure of their record keeping as well as the information about food and Point values. I did try calorie counting this week but after doing Points for those few weeks, calorie counting seemed bothersome. So back to WW I went ... I know it's a solid program.

So that's where I am today. I spent the day at my daughter's house. My son-in-law had to go for some surgery today and I watched the children at their house. The baby slept all through the afternoon and I spent my time organizing all their toys in the playroom. Why is it that cleaning someone else's house is more fun than cleaning your own? Plus it was like a treasure hunt looking for all the pieces of each toy or game and putting them together. It was a nice gentle use of my body and I was satisfied with my results ... especially the look on my daughter's face when she came home! It gave her a nice lift. The whole time I was working my grandson was like a small prince playing his games nearby knowing that I was doing "his job" for him. His contribution was to tell me what different pieces went with what game ... I told him it was my Valentine gift to him. He said, "Thanks!" LOL.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. I hope everyone finds a Valentine and gives and gets a hug or two. Thank you Sue for giving me a hug last week when I needed one so badly!!! I did feel blue when I saw my weight. You were sweet to come over and give me that hug. I appreciated it. Here's one back to you

:hug:

I'll be back again next week to report a good week ... I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.


:wave:

Good Morning Jean (my fellow WW),

First of all WAY TO GO ON THE ALMOST 4 pound loss :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

I am thrilled for your success ... I hope you know if YOU EVER NEED any WW recipes lol just call on me .. it seems like my other cookbooks are being replaced by WW cookbooks. I'm debating as to whether or not I should erase those recipes that I have on disks -- but THEY'RE LIKE OLD FRIENDS .. no I think I will keep them maybe someday I will organize them into volumes for my daughters lol ... something to remember the old lady by. Have and make it a GREAT DAY ... Happy Valentines Day :hug: I am as always, Monica

Hello Journal ...

It's so much fun to report in when I have a loss! This week I lost 3.4 lbs, almost as much as last week. Here are the numbers:

Last week's weigh in = 174.6

- 3.4 lbs loss

This week's weigh in = 171.2

What is so nice about Weight Watchers is that we had company yesterday and the house was full to the brim with cake, brownies, and candy (our company included five children). I was able to have a brownie and later another half and then a small piece of cake. I also had two pieces of candy. I allowed for these treats in my points and was still within my points allowance for the day and week.

It felt strange to be eating such non-traditional "diet foods" the day before my weigh-in but I had been careful all week and knew I was okay. It felt good to put out these treats for everyone else without needing to deny myself. In the past parties like this meant either bingeing everything in sight or clamping my mouth shut and not having one tiny morsel of anything.

Yesterday was better.

Today's scale was even better.

WW rewarded me by LOWERING MY POINTS PER DAY!!! I thought that was a "negative" result to my success ... lol ... by if that's what it takes to succeed, so be it.

Today I started Week #2 of WW Online. I know the early weeks of any program are always the easiest ... the losses are higher, the program is fresh, the excitement is high. The hard work will come later when the losses are only by the half pound or none at all and I'm bored to death by my daily choices. But I've learned from my friends here at DT how to shake things up.

Thanks for stopping by, Monica, and for all your cheers. Whenever I feel low or tired I will think of you and your phenomenol success and I will keep going. I will always say what you taught me to say:

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.


:o

Hello, Jean! :wave: You are doin' great on WW. It really is a solid program and sounds like you are enjoyin' it, which is actually the most important part of any weight journey, in my opinion. Have a great week!

Dear Jean,

Just briefly stopping by to say hello and say :coach: HOW VERY PROUD OF YOU I AM ... and THRILLED :jn FOR YOUR SUCCESS. You are PROVING :up: THAT YOU CAN AND WILL ACHIEVE THE GOALS YOU SET FOR YOURSELF.

Take care my friend and KEEP ON MOVING :down: DOWN THE ROAD TO YOUR GOAL. I am as always, Monica

Hello Journal ...

And hello Athletea and Monica! Thanks to the both of you for stopping in and saying hello. It was so nice to hear your cheers for my progress ... this week I'm afraid, I fell off my horse. I had a sweet piece of cake early in the week and it triggered something in my brain that wouldn't leave me alone afterwards. I raided the candy jar every day after that and ended the week eating heavy carb foods and white bread (which for me might as well be cake).

OK ... that was then ... it's over. I'm back on my horse and not looking back.

Last week's weigh in = 171.2

+ 3.2 lbs gain

This week's weigh in = 174.4

Maybe I had to have one more nostalgic fling with my 170s before saying goodbye to them forever. I have been going steady with them for years. Whatever. Now I'm back to points, and proteins, and smart living again.

See you next week.

:o

Hello Journal ...

I did much better with my eating this week but I still had too many sweets. I counted my points and did fairly well but Saturday and Sunday I didn't do good at all. Perhaps that's why this morning I show no loss at all for the week ... in fact, I've gained another pound.

My weight is now 175.4!

This is as high as I'm willing to go!

I started a new week today and I am determined to keep trying ....

I can do this. I will do this.

:o

Whoa Jean, you're going the wrong way! :laugh: Sometimes those sweets call my name too. Sometimes I'm able to tell them to 'shut up!' and other times I'm not.

Just thought I'd stop in and say hi. Sounds like you're still having fun with your grandkids. Mine were here last weekend and we took them to see Curious George and went to the Dairy Queen for dinner. They thought that was great fun. So did I, lol.

Good to see that you're doing WW's, it's a good program and there's no need to get bored with your choices - that's the beauty of the program, there is such a variety to choose from and still stay OP.

Take care and have a great week! :hug:

Hello Journal ...

It's not going to look like much BUT my weight did go down this week. This means a lot to me because I feel I've stopped the UPWARD movement my scale was making. We celebrated my grandson's 5th birthday this weekend so I'm especially happy that my extra eating at his party didn't hurt my progress completely.

Last week's weigh in = 175.4

-.4 lbs loss

This week's weigh in = 175.0

I slowed down my bad food this week and went back to many of my good habits. I still had candy and sweets because of the party but nothing like I had been doing these past few weeks. I feel good today as I start a new week and I'm confident that I'll be back next Monday with very good news.

Thanks for stopping in Mel ... and yes I know I've been going in the wrong direction ... LOL. I see from your signature that you're only ONE POUND away from your goal ... what an inspiration you are! I'll think of you all week as I get back to my best behavior. I'll have to get over to your journal this week.

:o

Hello Journal ...

This will be a short entry because it is too late to chat. I lost weight this week even though I don't know why. I didn't eat right at all and this weekend was hit and miss every day. I guess I did less harm than I imagined.

Last week's weigh in = 175.0

-.8 lbs loss

This week's weigh in = 174.2

I'll want to come back next Monday with better results. I want to be able to say that I'm following my program wholeheartedly again and that my hit and miss days are over.

8-|

Sweet Jean.... I found your journal! Hope your week is going well. Tomorrow is Friday. Here in NYC we are having beautiful weather.... hope you are too.

Your stats are loking good. Take care.

Enjoy your weekend,
Nicole

Dear Jean,

LOL I actually had to search to FIND YOU... I wanted to say THANK YOU for your message in my Journal ...

I guess because I have been using Weight Watcher's for a relatively short time it doesn't seem like it's fair to SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF WW ... I'm grateful that I reached the goal that the doctor had set for me ... and what's more MY BLOOD SUGARS continue in the normal range.

Like you I too have to be FOREVER MINDFUL of my food intake. This journey is never ending. I hope you post more often. That way I can keep my eyes :O :O on you. I hope you're feeling okay. Know that I LOVE YOU ... I am as always, Monica :hug:

Hi SweetJean - thanks so much for your visit to my journal. How've you been doing lately? I've missed seeing you post various places - have you been busy with the grandkids again? I had all three of mine for 5 days last week, what fun! We had a great time, they are really a joy. :) I have had an incredible amount of energy lately, but I've had to - I've had way too much to do, lol. I don't have much choice but to keep on going! It's late, I'm off to bed. Just thought I'd stop to say hi and to wish you a very Happy Easter!

Hello Journal ...

Today I figured out why I haven't been writing in my journal every Monday as I said I would ... it's because of the title I gave this journal. I knew when I named it my "COUNTDOWN" it made me nervous and anxious. I was putting pressure on myself to report that my weight was going DOWN every week. As much as I told myself that wasn't the way things HAD TO BE ... in my mind THAT'S THE WAY THINGS HAD TO BE. So weeks ago when things started going wrong for me I couldn't come here every Monday and report my weight ... my numbers were too depressing.

Today I decided that I would write in my journal every Monday but I would only report my weight when the number DOES GO DOWN. So the last number I reported was

174.2

Until I can report a number lower than that I won't report any number at all. I'll just write some of my thoughts for the week, maybe some of the difficulties I had, and let it go at that.

I refuse to abandon this journal and I refuse to abandon my COUNTDOWN. I have been upset these past few weeks ... I cannot pinpoint the cause but it made me run to food, especially candy and bread, and I was getting daily migraines. The medicine I take for my migraines makes me tired and I have no desire to do anything. I sit around and do nothing ... then I think of food, eat and sit around some more. Not a good pattern.

I finally went to a new doctor who changed my medication. Then for Easter I had a week off from watching my grandchildren which was a nice change of pace. I visited my mother at the shore, helped her with some of her errands, and my migraines completely stopped. When I came home I started to eat better and I finally feel on an upswing. I certainly hope so.

Today was my first day back with my grandchildren (I have a 5-yr-old boy and a soon to be 2-yr-old girl) and I did have a migraine today. So perhaps it is the stress of being with them ... they are a handful. My husband is retired and helps me 100% but they are still a lot of work. We have two more months with them and then we have the summer off since my daughter is a school administrator. They are only this little a short while so I would hate to give up this time with them.

So that is where I've been since you haven't heard from me. I want to thank my friends for being here more than I have ... Sexy, Monica, Mel, and anyone else who comes here and follows my journal. I come to DT almost every day to read journals and other threads. I love to keep up with the progress everyone is making and I get so much encouragement from the members here. When I feel like quitting all I have to do is read a few entries and I'm back feeling full of energy again.

I'll be back next Monday and eventually one of these weeks I'll start recording my weight again as it goes DOWN. I'm not too far from 174.2 but far enough that it may take a week or two to start the "COUNTDOWN" again. But like my friend Monica taught me to say,

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.

:o

Hello Journal ...

This might turn out to be the shortest journal entry I ever posted! I didn't even weigh myself this morning ... I forgot to do it. Now there's a first.

Yesterday was Greek Easter (my daughter and SIL's holiday) and we celebrated with my mother at the shore. It was a lovely day and we had fun with the children and my sister and her husband are here from Florida. It was very difficult to get up this morning and get back to business as usual ... there should always be a day off after every holiday ... LOL.

Anyway ... my week went fairly well ... until yesterday at least (although I was moderate with the treats). I'll be back again next week ... I'm still in the game!

:o

Dear Jean,

JUST STOPPED BY TO SAY HELLO :wave: ... and to let you know that I was LURKING :O ...

I'm here if you need me .. YOU CAN DO THIS JEAN ... TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME .. ONE MEAL AT A TIME -- MOST OF ALL BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND IN YOUR POWER TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. I am as always, Monica :hug:

Just stopped by to wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You must be busy celebrating! Hope you had a great day.

:bd

Dear Jean,

I wasn't online at all yesterday and I didn't realize it was your birthday ... so PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY and I wish you a BELATED :bdaybanne ....

I hope that your :bd was a day filled with MUCH HAPPINESS :balloons: and shared WITH THOSE YOU LOVE AND may this birthday and all birthdays bring you only the BEST OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS :cheers:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEAN :cake:

I am as always, Monica

I considered starting a new journal since I've been gone so long but I wanted this to be my "COUNTDOWN" so I'm keeping it!

THIS IS GOING TO BE MY COUNTDOWN JOURNAL!

I haven't been completely gone from Diettalk ... I stopped in frequently to see how things were going and you all did so well. I am exactly where I was when I stopped writing more than a year ago ... as far as my weight is concerned. Right around 174. In between now and then I had my ups and downs but here I am back at that old familiar number.

I have a PLAN OF ACTION in mind and coming back here to write in my journal is part of that PLAN. I think I finally understand what kind of food I need to eat and how often I need to do so. I even plan to exercise. I've practiced my PLAN and know I can do it ... I have problems with my emotions. I've had a bad year as far as emotions go and unfortunately I'm not the kind of person who doesn't eat when she gets upset! I only wish! LOL.

My goal is to reach 140 by my next birthday (MAY 2008) ... when I will be 63. Then I will give myself the next two years to trim off the final 10 pounds so I can arrive at 130 for my 65th birthday. At that point I want to be ready for the second part of my life. The way people are living so long anymore, retirement and old age are not what they used to be. I've begun to make plans for a second career effort. I've never had a lot of free time on my hands and I don't think I'd like it. So by 65 I want to be trim, energetic, and healthy ... ready for Act II of my life, or will that be ACT III?

This past month I've had an upset stomach practically every day but my doctors agree there's nothing physically wrong. I am uncomfortable every day and through the night. I had stomach aches like this when I was a child. I was always upset when I was a child and I am upset now. We have my mother up here with us since she's not feeling well and we are taking her from doctor to doctor having all her ailments seen to ... new glasses, podiatrist, MRI, bloodwork, etc. We're trying to get her to eat more ... she's mostly depressed since her last sister died this winter. My daughter and I are both upset about how she looks and feels.

Well ... that's enough for now ... I just wanted to say hello again and let you know that I am the same as I was when I left ... on the scale. But my head is in a different place and I'm anxious to get working on this body of mine. I want to work at it ... I finally understand that this is not an overnight FIX like when I was 23. This is a commitment for the rest of my days.

I even took my measurements ... now that is commitment!

:)
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So good to see you again!

Welcome Back Home Again Jean, Love you lots, I am as always, Monica :hug:

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, WOMAN???? We've missed you, lol.

It's good to see your new resolve! We'll be here with you every step of the way! Hope your tummy feels better soon. :hug:

Welcome back. It is good to see you here again.

Carol

Thank you ... eball, Monica, Mel, and Carol. I REALLY AM BACK ...

BUT ...

yes there's a "but"

I'm rushing again ... I'm rushing all the time lately and I'll tell you why when I get back later this week ... but I wanted to stop in and record my Monday weight. I am finally down a little more from my last recording at Diet Talk ...

173 ...

My goal is to reach 170 by the end of August. I haven't gone under 170 AND STAYED UNDER 170 in YEARS. So after August I have my work cut out for me. I will need my buddies here more than ever.

As for right this minute, please excuse me as I run out the door ... I promise I'll explain myself as soon as I return. And I am keeping on my plan ... low fat proteins and complex carbs ... NO SIMPLE SUGARS ... lots of water ... the usual good things that make us healthy.

Thanks to all of you for your warm welcome back. You mean the world to me ... :o

Thank you for your understanding as I rushed away last week when I posted. I was leaving for my mother's and as usual I was running late.

My update for this week is not glowing ... I cannot post a loss for the week and I refuse to post a gain ... so I will just leave my weight at 173 and plan for a better report next week.

What happened to me this week is what's been happening to me all year ... my anxiety increases and I eat to overcome my anxiety. My mother at 90 now requires more care from her family and most of it has fallen upon me. I was at my mother's almost all week and by Sunday's dinner I was eating mindlessly. My daughter was there with her children, my mother was disappointed that they had been on the beach all day and were still going out after dinner, and the mood at dinner was dismal. The children wouldn't eat, my daughter took phone calls on her cell phone all through dinner, the kids left the table and walked around, their mother threatened that they wouldn't go out later if they didn't eat (even though we all knew they would) and my mother sat there without saying a word. I said nothing but ate almost a loaf of Italian bread with butter.

That's an accurate description of my life this whole past year. Stress, anxiety and more stress. I've tried to keep my mother healthy, living independently on her own, driving to her home regularly to take her to her doctors, and running for emergencies when she'd fall or have serious setbacks. This past month her doctor finally came to the conclusion that she can no longer live alone because her behavior is unstable. We need to make some decisions. Luckily what is bothering my mother (a form of dementia) is also weakening her stubborn nature ... she is finally accepting our help rather than fighting with us.

My older sister lives in Florida and she will come and stay with my mother for two months and then my mother will stay with my husband and me during November and December. Then my mother will go to Florida and be with my sister for January and February, back to NJ for March and April, my sister will come again for May and June and we will go to the shore and be with her during the summer months of July and August. That is our basic plan.

A year ago this would have been impossible because my mother was refusing to cooperate with us and demanded that we leave her alone in her own home. It has been a terrible year and I've had to call upon relatives and neighbors as well as the First Aid Squad and Police to get my mother out of different jams. She fired doctor after doctor and refused to take her medicine and kept telling me she wanted to die. My doctor told me that soon he would order me to stop seeing her because she was making me sick ... my blood pressure went up, I was having constant stomach pains, and I got shingles.

That brings you up to date except to say that my sister picked last summer to tell me that she always resented me and didn't want anything further to do with me or my daughter. She never wanted a sister and she was sorry my mother had me. I ruined her life. Then my mother told me that my father only wanted one child so it seems my mother was the only one who wanted a second child. It explained a lot of the distance I felt with my sister and my father and it took me by surprise how much this new information hurt me.

As if to punish us, my sister stopped calling my mother, writing, visiting or participating in the holidays. All we got from her end was silence and my mother went into a deep depression. Like I said, it was an awful year. I saw my mother's health deteriorate this year. My daughter and I did our best to keep up her spirits but in February my mother's last sister (she had 3) died. Since then she has been crying for days, not eating, and losing a disturbing amount of weight. Around a month ago she began calling my daughter in the middle of the night asking her where the children were ... they weren't in their beds at her house. She told my daughter she was going outside looking for them and the next day she wouldn't remember these phone calls. We took her to the doctor and after tests he put her on Aricept, the new drug they are using to delay memory loss. He also told us to keep her around us or a companion 24/7.

I called my sister to update her on our mother's condition and NOW she wants to help. She said her one wish is for "Mom to be happy." I guess she's been waiting all year to say that. She also said she'd "feel terrible if she weren't part of the solution."

My mother is THRILLED that my sister is coming next month to be with her ... she could hardly talk she was so happy. When you see how much children can hurt their mothers, you wonder why we have children at all. When my aunt died in February my sister didn't even call my mother to console her. My aunt was like another mother to us ... they were only 11 months apart in age. Everyone who came to the funeral stood around talking, looking at their watches, leaving as soon as they could. She was 90, old, useless ... of course she died. Nobody was surprised, sad, or sorry. Just another old life gone. Her children put her in a rest home after promising her they wouldn't.

Life can be cruel. When it's your children being cruel, that's the worst. My aunt died a sad woman and if my mother only had my sister, I think she'd suffer a similar fate. I see my sister as heartless now. I never knew ... I only loved her and love is blind. My whole view of life has changed since last summer.

So that's where I've been and that's my story. Like I've told my friends in person and I'll tell you now online, thank you for listening. I spent a large part of my life believing in childish notions of love and sharing. I went to the other extreme for a while and believed in nothing and hated everything .... and now I'm finding a middle ground that is reasonable and realistic.

I've relied on my friends and my doctor who has held me together with his skills as a doctor and his sense of humor. My husband has been the light of reality and a guide of sanity for me. I always trusted my sister ... it was a hard habit to break. She talked to me yesterday and the edge was back in her voice ... giving me commands ... telling me what to do. I realize that I haven't missed her at all. I've learned to do without her.

Now I have to learn to do without sugar.

I think giving up sugar will be easier, don't you?

I'll talk to you again next week ... hopefully with a lower number than 173 ... 170 by the end of August is still my goal.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week and looking forward to success with your weight loss and lives.

:o

Dear Jean,

Oh my dearest friend ... I wish I was nearby so that I could put my arms :console: :hug: around you ... I've been in your shoes BUT as an only child I had to STAND TALL and care for both my parents .. my father lived with us for three years and HE THEN decided he needed to go to a convalescent home -- and within a year he died .. Although my father has been gone for 31 years I so MISS HIM

I went thru so much with my mother (she had a radical mastectomy when I was 9 years old) and after that EVERYTHING WENT DOWNHILL .. she was in and out of private hospitals (sanitariums) UNTIL my father couldn't afford to pay both psychiatrists and hospitals .. and she was placed in a State mental hospital (Camarrillo) .. I didn't have a mother and what I experienced as a child MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY ... it's taken me this long to FORGIVE .. but I'll never forget ..

Insofar as your sister is concerned, I can only say I FEEL PITY FOR HER ... because in time WE ALL GROW OLD and what we give in our lifetime WE GET BACK .. but at a time WHEN WE CAN LEAST AFFORD TO .. you know the old adage WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ..

Don't beat :whip: yourself up Jean ... just do the best you can .. you and I are very fortunate because OUR HUSBANDS ARE OUR FRIENDS .. Take care of yourself and know THAT I'M HERE FOR YOU WHENEVER YOU NEED ME .. I love you .. YOU ARE THE SISTER I NEVER HAD .. in fact here at Diettalk I HAVE FAMILY so I don't feel so alone... Love you lots, I am as always, Monica

Hello to everyone of my friends at Diettalk!

I gained weight again this week so I cannot post new numbers today. That's two weeks in a row. I was nervous all week "beating myself up" over one thing or another but thought I could start over today. That did not happen. My breakfast this morning was sweet, delicious, and bad for me. I get on these sweet binges now and then and it's like the weather ... it comes and goes. All I can do is wait through the storm.

I cannot pinpoint why I started back with the sugar ... all things considered, everything is going very well. Still, I know myself, something is bothering me. It will come out eventually ... it always does. Meanwhile I am eating too much sweet stuff and it comforts me.

Monica, thank you for your understanding reply and for sharing your childhood story with me. You were called upon to be mature too early in your life and of course that marked you permanently. Our early experiences make each of us unique. Your father must have had great love and wisdom to raise you to be the woman you are without the help of his wife. He turned a child's loss into the strength you have today. I'm sorry you lived your young years without a mother's comfort but I'm sure your daughters have benefited a thousandfold because you made sure they didn't.

Sometime during this coming week I hope to find some quiet time for myself and commit to my PLAN. Not for a week or a month or even a year. I want to commit to my PLAN for the rest of my life. I want to stop being driven by the comings and goings of everyone else in my life, letting their problems become mine, letting their celebrations become the slice of chocolate cake on my plate, letting their dinner parties postpone my new way of eating for another week. I need to eat MY WAY ... RIGHT NOW no matter what else is going on around me.

I need to make myself important to me. I am still putting everyone else first. When the day is done I am exhausted with no energy left to take care of me.

Then I say those terrible words, "It's okay, I'm not important. Someday I'll take care of myself, just not right now."

That's my problem.

What I need to do is take care of myself until I am well. I don't feel well and if I were a friend of mine I'd tell her to stop being everything to everyone, to slow down, take it easy, take care of herself, and do the things SHE NEEDS TO DO FOR HERSELF EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK!

I give very good advice! Now I need to follow IT!!!! :laugh:
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Hi Jean :wave:

I have been reading your updates and my heart goes out to you - I wish I had words of wisdom for you - please know I care :hug:

Hello my friends ...

Here I am again. Hello Beth ... thank you for caring. You always do ... you have such a big heart. I love you.

I can honestly say that I am ready to go.

My weight is back to 173 and I'm eating small portions, lean proteins, and sweets occasionally. I'm thinking of giving sugar up completely but that seems unreasonable in the world today. I'll just say that I won't intentionally overdose on candy, cake, and sweets that I know will do me harm.

Best of all my sister is in NJ with my mother. Now I actually have time to spend on myself and my concerns without fear of being interrupted with another one of my mother's emergencies. It is such a relief to know that my mother is getting the care she needs.

The first thing I plan to do is start my exercise program this Thursday. I want to get up every morning and immediately do my exercise routine for the day. I want to redeem my body. It will take a long time to bring my muscles back to life so I plan to start slowly and mix in a lot of pampering along with the workouts. I expect my muscles will complain at first so I plan many hot showers and long soaking baths to relieve pain. The baths especially will also promote relaxation ... something I've been far too short of all year.

I believe that while I am doing this consistently my awareness of food will change. I will no longer want to stuff myself with food to numb my feelings. Instead I will want let myself feel again. Instead of fearing each day I will look forward to it. I am giving myself 2 weeks of this startup program before deciding my next step. The exercises I will perform are part of a program I purchased from the Discovery Channel ... it is on DVDs ... all still in their original packaging.

I'm pleased that my body cooperated by going down to 173 so I could start at my lowest weight. Our bodies must everything we're doing. When we're hurting them or when we're being good to them. Right now my body is so happy about my plans it actually went to sleep last night. I slept close to 12 hours. My poor body ... what I've put it through. I won't abuse it again. I'm back taking my vitamins, eating fruits and drinking water.

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS.

Hi Jean ! :wave:

It is GREAT to see you again :D

Happy your getting some "me" time in !

Maybe make your soaking baths your reward of sorts for doing your exercises - like light candles, use bubble bath - read a book in the tub ( i do lol ) - make it a real pleasure for yourself.

I say the only thing that relaxes me more then a hot bubble bath - is a bubble bath and a glass of brandy lol ;)

A hot bubble bath and a glass of cold champagne!

Knock Knock ! Is anyone home ???

Miss you and hope your doing well :D

Hello ...

Hi Beth, Hi eball, and everyone else visiting my journal ... thanks for stopping in. Nice suggestions Beth and eball came up with ... I do read in the bath sometimes but I've never done the drinks ... that's something to consider for the future ... LOL.

I wanted to let everyone know how I'm doing ... I haven't been checking in on Mondays. My sister's visit hasn't turned out to be the "relaxing break" I expected. At first there were many phone calls about "where is this" and "where is that" and then there were cousins in town unexpectedly who disturbed all of us.

At my mother's request, my sister and I planned to make some financial arrangements for my mother while my sister was in New Jersey. I spent a good bit of time setting up appointments and arranging time to go to my mother's. At the last minute my mother didn't remember asking me to do any of this ... actually got angry about the plans I made ... and at a distance of 63 miles I got into hot water with my mother. Besides the time I wasted, I was angry at my mother for the way she was talking to me. I am not good at "understanding" that she is older and possibly unclear in her mind. She understands so much ... why is it always my sister or myself that she MIS-understands and argues with?????

Then the above mentioned cousins made a visit to my mother's house (I couldn't participate in the visit) and took my aunt with them. My aunt told my mother that I had "privately confided to her about my concerns about her" ... my mother was furious with me for talking about her to my aunt!! Later my aunt said she was sorry ... she didn't realize my mother would mind that we had "talked." I learned a new lesson about families ... LIVE AS FAR AWAY FROM THEM AS POSSIBLE.

Put briefly, I haven't had the peaceful time I planned and everytime the phone rings I wonder what new problem has developed that I'm sure is my fault. My sister will be leaving at the end of this month and my mother does not seem pleased that she came even though my sister catered to her every whim. My mother claims she doesn't want to go to Florida with my sister this winter and doesn't want to come to Union for Thanksgiving and Christmas ... so generally speaking we've gotten nowhere after doing a lot. We still have a 90-year-old mother who shouldn't be living alone but with no real solutions in place.

My mother's response to all this is that she doesn't need either one of her daughters to help her and she can do whatever she wants to do. Two days on her own and she'll forget she has medicine to take and how to make her coffee in the morning. I have an outbreak of eczema on my left hand and right elbow and I'm sleeping at most 5 hours a night. I don't feel well and my weight has been up again and right now is back to my classic 175. I take daily comfort in lots of cereal and I eat more carbs than I should. I repeatedly ask myself why eating wrong helps the situation but I must get some kind of comfort from the heavy carbs.

The plan right now is for my mother to go to the foot doctor next week and we're supposedly taking her for orthopedic custom fitted shoes afterwards. I'm driving down this coming Tuesday to go with them for the fitting but who knows if my mother will still agree to get the shoes by the time I get there.

That's my story. I wanted to let you know what's going on. I need to find my own inner strength to overcome my mother's manipulation. My sister and I don't take charge as we should and my mother takes a great deal of pleasure out of ordering us around. She keeps telling us "I'm the boss and don't forget it." I'd be thrilled if she could take care of everything herself ... the Lord knows we're not trying to be her boss. Our only concern is her safety and we know she doesn't have the ability to do it all alone anymore.

I hope next time I write (and it will be soon) I can tell you that I have gotten on the right road with my food. I know if I stabilize my diet I will feel better. No matter what troubles I'm having I don't need to be giving myself a roller coaster ride with my food ... I can be working in the right direction with food the whole time I'm working on my mother's situation.

Here's hoping the next time I write I can tell you I'm taking care of myself and feeling great ....

8-|

Good to see you posting, Jean! Sorry to hear of all the problems with your mother - those kinds of things are hard to deal with! Hope things level off soon and you have some time for you without all the stress.

How are those grandkids doing? Take care and it's good to see you around - hope you make it a habit! :hug:

Sweat Jean, Oh, I so understand where you are coming from with your mother. When you said " need to find my own inner strength to overcome my mother's manipulation", I said Oh yeah, been there done that. My mother is 88, and in the last year, after a very scary admission to the hospital, we finally got her in assisted living. Yo would think that would make things easier, but we kids have had hell to pay. And not only are we paying a kind of emotional hell, we are also paying a substantial difference between a semi private room and a private room... plus her hair bill, cable bill, her Medicare supplement tie-in bill ... You know, heaven forbid if she had to use her medicaid for doctors, they "would not treat her right". Thank heaven there are five of us, because we are shelling out about $700 a month. And negotiating to pay off her credit card balance, about $4,000.

Your mother tells you and your sister that she is the Boss. OUr mother tells us that she is competent and we can't make her do anything. And then of course, we get the whiney or panicked phone call when something needs doing. Two of my brothers moved away... the other three kids carry the burden mostly, with financial contributions from the others once a month. I collect money and pay the bills. Baby Brother carries the big burden of going out to see her a couple of times a week. He has the most patience, as he is a good Christian guy and tries to live what he believes.

Yes, I know. The scales are up at my house too. Not sure why I was struggling so much. Then I read your post and thought, maybe that is one of the underlying problems. Every time the phone rings or I walk in the door and see the answering machine blinking my stomach tightens up. Every time. Every time I sit down and hassel with the bills I want to scream. Then she calls and says she needs to have the higher level of cable for her TV... "since she doesn't really have anything else now". Another $40 a month, another bill.

The only advice I have for you is to keep coming here and posting. It does help. And there are people here that seem to understand and not judge the rant.

Jo

When I read Sweet Jean's post about her 'mother' problems, I thought of you, Jo! It's too bad some mothers have to be like that. :(

:hijacked:

Hugs to both of you. :ghug:

Hi, Sweet Jean! I haven't "seen" ye for a long, long time but happened on your journal whilst surfin' today. Sorry things are so difficult with your mother, it gets hard when our parents reach a certain age and we are concerned for them.

Take care.

Hello Everyone ... Beth, Mel, Jo, Athletea and anyone else reading my journal today ...

I changed my weigh-in day from Monday to Sunday ... so today I weighed myself and the results were 176.6

Each Sunday I will be back to report my weight and I'm going all the way this time ... this is it. I am no longer willing to live the way I am living. I know I will not be able to change all my bad habits all at once but I can BEGIN.

8-| The first rule I will follow is that I will remain within my WW POINTS PROGRAM EXACTLY AS IT IS DEFINED.

I have not followed any diet plan EXACTLY since 1992. I kept looking for a way to "fool" my body into losing weight while I continued to eat my same old way: candy, cookies, ice cream, cake, soda, etc. Pretty much anything that had sugar in it was for me! I've never been someone who exercised so I'd try that in bits and pieces but it never lasted. I just kept buying bigger size clothing and for a while I liked the way I looked. I'd be lying if I said I thought about my health ... for me it was all vanity. After a certain point, however, "style" couldn't hide the fact that I was overweight. I didn't like anything I could wear, that made me depressed, I eat when I'm depressed, and I gained even more weight! I finally reached 180 lbs ... plus!

After a while at that weight my body began to feel a difference. I was tired all the time. I didn't feel like moving around as much ... cleaning my house, gardening, playing actively with my grandchildren. My knees and back hurt me every day. Going up and down the stairs inside my house became a burden. I started to walk around my house slower ... a lot like my mother walked ... but she is 90-years-old!!! Now my health began to enter my overweight picture.

I reduced down to the mid-170s by eating smaller portions but I stayed there for years unable to get my weight any lower. I had some success with a few diets but always returned to my usual eating habits after a while. I read stories here at DietTalk and realized that success comes when a person lets nothing interfere with his or her goals. The food plan had to become a person's top priority.

I finally made the commitment to follow my plan every day. I have taken my first steps toward a new lifestyle and I already feel better ... my uncertainty is over. I have a direction now ... a goal. I also believe that I can reach that goal. Other people have done it and I can too. I'm excited. For the first time in a long while I'm looking forward to the days ahead.

:) I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS. :)

I CAN AND I WILL DO THIS

Woohoo! You're on your way! I'm excited for you!

Dear Jean, :wn

THERE'S NO DOUBT -- YOU CAN :cheer: AND WILL ACHIEVE :cheer: WHATEVER GOALS :cheer: YOU SET FOR YOURSELF .. I am as always, Monica :hug:

Jean, you and I are right about the same pounds. So we have about the same to lose.

Kudo's to you for you attitude. And following the WW point system. I had joined WW online, managed for about a week... and then stopped. Tomorrow I am going at it again. I will give it a long enough trial of using the food tracker to give an honest effort.

Exercise, that too is tough. Maybe a walking program for you? Something very simple? Exercise is very important for health. We both know that, now it is a matter of Do!

Jo

Hi Jean :wave:

What a WONDERFUL attitude !!!! :up:

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test2

Test 1

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving ...

It's been a while since I've written in my journal. I wrote a few times and lost my entire messages. That was frustrating ... there I was writing to everyone feeling like the next great American writer and cyberspace ate up all my wonderful thoughts! Now I cannot even remember what I was writing about ....

:laugh:


It is about a month since I've been here and in that time it was decided that my mother would go to Florida with my sister for the winter. That was a huge relief to me. In Florida my mother will be warm, have daily companionship, and constant care. I am grateful that this situation has come about. They talk about coming back to New Jersey in April.

My weight meanwhile has stayed the same. I didn't lose anymore weight because I had a two week binge ... a breakdown of sorts. That happened before I knew my mother was going to Florida and I began to panic thinking of going back to my old routine of trying to be in two places at once. My mother insists on living on her own 60 miles away from my home and it is difficult. I spend a great deal of time driving back and forth helping her with her home. Caring for aging parents is a problem people my age are having and there are very few good solutions.

What happened to me over the years is that I internalized my fears and anger by eating. It felt wrong to express my feelings so I ate instead. This is just one aspect of my overeating but an important aspect. I hope now with my sister's help I can calm down and get my eating under control. I want to bring a feeling of personal joy back into my life. For too many years everything has been about my mother.

Today we are going to a my son's-in-law family's Thanksgiving dinner where there will be many different foods to eat. With proper attention it will be possible to eat well and stay within reasonable calorie limits. As long as I avoid the lavish desserts I will be fine. They always have beautiful fruit if I want something sweet at the end of the dinner. Or I can drink tea.

In my opinion, they could do away with all the entire dinner and I wouldn't even notice ... it's all those beautiful sweets and desserts that drive me to distraction!!!

8-|

I need to get up, get moving, and get AWAY from the temptation. I can go play with the children. I can go for a walk. I don't need to keep sitting at the table with those beautiful cakes and pies and other tempting sweets in front of me for hours.

That's the way I'll think today ... INNOVATE. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. DON'T JUST SIT THERE DARING THE DESSERTS TO JUMP ONTO MY PLATE!!!! :crazy:

Again, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope we all have a wonderful day and a healthy holiday season ahead.

Hi Jean, :wn

I'm sitting and waiting for the car service (Laurie ordered a car service to take Les and I to her place for our Thanksgiving dinner) .. all dressed .. make up on SMELLING GOOD lol .. so I thought I would come here to see what's happening ..

My dear friend I so UNDERSTAND what you've gone thru with your mother .. and I know what a relief :sigh: it is to know that your mother's needs are now being met ..

I don't know if you will understand what I mean when I say "IT'S OKAY THAT YOU DIDN'T LOSE .. THAT YOU STAYED THE SAME" .. those maintains are a blessing because quite honestly IT COULD HAVE BEEN A GAIN ..

I've been struggling these past two months .. primarily with my blood sugars .. that is my ACHILLES HEEL :foot: and because I've sometimes reacted in a very childish way (i.e. if my blood sugar is high .. I might as well enjoy the high by eating something) .. as a result I've had SLIGHT GAINS .. but those SLIGHT GAINS ADD UP VERY QUICKLY .. the reason I am sharing this with you is to let you know IT'S OKAY .. don't :whip: PUNISH YOURSELF ABOUT IT ..

I've made a decision that starting December 1st I'm going to GO BACK TO ALMOST (lol) SQUARE ONE (at least I didn't gain back 130 pounds) .. and RESTART MY WEIGHT LOSS PLAN with the SAME ENTHUSIASM that I had when I started 7 years ago ..

We've both learned a great deal .. and imho THERE