Weight Loss

I have looked for twins and poked around other groups without finding a real support group.

I am 48, 5'5", SW 151, CW 134, GW 128

I am the school teaching mother of three in their upper teens, wife of my 3 lbs from goal hubby.

SO...

Anyone interested?

Oh Connie!what a bummer! (I know you will keep reading even if your too groggy/in pain to write) I was thinking about you today ( the pina colada mix at Walmart caught my eye) I will move you up a notch or two on my list. And, well, maybe the drugs will be happy drugs?!?

Isn't it funny, I think we all have done it at least once: life sucks...but my weight is getting better! We are the "Queens of the bright side"! Hmm I think there is an Oprah hook there...

Thinking about you too Sue/Skin, PT and all. Nettle tea, I haven't had that for YEARS...as I remember it didn't taste like much, but it was so relaxing.  What are the medical properties?...I don't remember at all.

Sue, I am the same way about communicating with my kids! but relax, I take my 8th graders to Catalina Island for a week, and there is NO reception at all at the camp, It is weird to break away from the digital connection, but I think it does have some good sides to it for both parents and kids.

Just got word from the Ins co that the car my son drove through the water is totaled. GGGRrrrr!! anyone want a very tall, very "smart", and very aggravating boy to call their own for a year or so? Does anyone listen to country music? there is a song by Montgomery Gentry:"Back when I knew it all". I think about it all the time when he says "I KNOW, Mom". I told hubby that I was 'off duty' and it was all his to deal with.  Hope they both live through it!

I hear rum and the end of the dock calling....

( I am trying to write entertaining/funny/distracting things to help our healing  bunch!)

Connie - that stinks! I'm so sorry! I hope you will keep reading and come back to us soon. I don't know what it would be like without your humor. And at least you do have that scale to think about in your lucid moments. Shoes and clothes weigh at least 5 pounds right? And don't worry, we won't forget you! How could we when we are reminded of you every time we see a package of Pina Colada mix?

Aly - too bad about the car. In the first 6 months of his having his license our son rear ended a Jeep SUV in the traffic jam which forms every morning at the approach to the high school. The bumper of the Jeep was just enough higher than the bumper of our Camry that the entire hood was crumpled and radiator dislodged etc etc. $4000 worth of damage and not a scratch on the Jeep. Kids were ok thank God. That's what I needed to focus on or I would've killed him. At least he had enough money to pay for it in his savings account - cleaned that out in a hurry. Expensive lesson. And no, I don't want another one... thanks anyway.

Nothing new here... ankle's still getting better day to day. Made a big jump down on the scale but I'm not officially reporting it for a while until I know it's real. It's our town's 325th birthday today... now that's old! - Jenny

Ohh Connie - we are all thinking of you. Just keep on resting and hopefully soon the pain meds will be gone and the docs will figure out how to get you completely healed. I must say, we all think of you not as "cantlose Connie" but as "pina-colada Connie". I thought of you, also, on Sunday when at brunch for my husband's Father's day, a waiter walked by with the most mouth-watering glass of pina colada frosted with a rim of toasted coconut. Oh, I wanted to take it right off his tray!

Jenny - glad to hear of the progress you are making with your ankle and that Rusty is getting trained, too. Congrats on the weight loss - wanna' share your new number with us? I do EXACTLY the same thing about not reporting it for a few days. In fact, on the weight loss log here on CC, I always log my weight from a few days ago, then I put a comment in the box like "actual reading 180, wait 3 days to record". Silly, I know. What is the name of your 325-year old town? I didn't know there were towns in America that old. Altho' I'm from Chicago originally, out here in the west, everything is sooo new. Our house was built in 1980, and people here consider that "OLD". Can U believe it? The house I grew up in in Chicago was built before the turn of the century - uh, the last century I mean. You know what I mean.

Alylou- thanks for validating my thoughts about not liking it when you can't phone kids at camp. I usually feel like the only person who feels that way when I tell someone. I always get strange looks and smart remarks like "oh, I'm just glad to have some peace and quiet" etc. Best of luck to your hubby and son as they work through the car issues. It reminds me of that commercial on tv about "slight water damage" -- when the car was really flooded. Do you know which one I mean? I think it is for the CarFax reporting service. Anyway, your kids are safe - even the ones who drive through floods - focus on that. We share your frustration.

Skn/Sue - let us know how the phys.therapy worked out for you. I hope you are getting some relief. I haven't heard of nettle tea - what is it? I love herbal teas, so maybe this something I should know about.

Well, this novel is getting too long. So, hello to everyone else; best wishes to each of you, my friends. Sue

PS. Went to the gym again yesterday. Ok, it's not too bad. Will keep u posted.

My latest update.... went to PT yesterday (hips).  I rather like their philosophy although I have only gone to this one session so far.    They explained right off the bat that humans have a predisposition to have the left hip forward slightly more than right simply due to the "internal load" (lungs, liver, spleen vs lungs, heart, etc) that causes a downwards diagonal gravitational pull.  Their philosophy is to work to *turn off* the muscles causing the unhappiness by *turning on* the ones that are not really pulling their portion of the load.  It will be interesting to see what this does (if anything).  Any of you guys perform PT or have thoughts on this?

Nettle tea - check out a couple of links that will do better justice than me!! http://www.proliberty.com/observer/20060517.h tm
http://www.siskiyouwomen.com/Herbs/Nettles.sh tml

Alylou - the Montgomery Gentry song:"Back when I knew it all" is priceless when I think of my kids too!!  I am sorry for this extra woe in life, but the fact that no one was hurt makes up for alot.   And Jenny... your sons fender bender was another of those - what a drag.  I really appreciate that no one was hurt.  My brother was killed when we were juniors in college  -- he fell asleep on the short drive home from school and hit a telephone pole (the pole was the only solid thing where the car went off - otherwise just a hay field) 3 miles from home.  Needless to say - devastating to us all.  We were so close that we never finished sentences.  We each would start a sentence and the other would answer before the sentence was finished.  <ugh - sad times>  However worse things happen to folks and knowing his end [and that it was most likely instanteous] was the bright side of a tragedy. 

Let's get off that sad topic   ... I just finished a cup of nettle tea; but I think I hear a cocktail calling my name!!  Thinking of you Connie!!!

Sue - glad to hear that you haven't ditched the gym already.  I used to swim at lunch time for a few years and loved the feeling after I was done... but the breaking away from work and getting there was my biggest hurdle.  I can almost always "talk myself out of exercise"!!!

I think I will fix a drink now and meander off to read my book - almost done the book *handed-down* in this months book club rotation (Murder in the Marais).   I kinda feel obligated to read each book so I don't become a book club slacker... and it keeps me away from other night activities - like zoning infront of the TV.
Hope everyone had (or is having) a good day.
Cheers,
skn

Hi girls! Feeling maybe a little bit better in the hand. Keep up those prayers and good thoughts....they are starting to work....miss talking to you already!  Connie

Connie, we'll keep sending them your way! glad things (finally) may be getting better!

Sue/skin, Wow that was an awful tragedy you and your family went through! I admire how well you seem to deal with it now, I know it was many years ago, but you seem to have done a good job of accepting the unacceptable.  You say the year you "were Juniors"...Were you twins? My sympathies for your whole family!

I had forgotten nettle tea had so many vitamins, as a coincidence, I got stung by nettles today as I pulled weeds in my garden! unfortunately, not enough growing there for a good batch of tea.

Hubby and one daughter are on their way back up to the cabin, so my 3 days of solitude are about to come to an end. (Hubby teaches a summer school course for 3 days a week in June)It was enough, I'll be happy to see them.

Do any of you ever-so-busy ladies have time for any handcrafts? I plan on knitting a sweater for one of my girls this summer and I am going back to another life..as a teen I was trained (somewhat) as a silversmith/jewelry maker. Hubby saw my interested dabbling and got me a fancy tool for Christmas. Now is my time to start justifying such an extravagant gift, but I am totally afraid of it and wildly intimidated! I feel like the little engine who could...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...  We'll see!

gotta go clean up some of my bachelorette messes!

The end of another day!!

Connie, glad you are still out there reading and living vicariously thru all our tales while you are recuperating. More prayers and good thoughts for your healing!!

Alylou - no my brother and I weren't twins... he was 16mos older than I was, but he took off to Italy for a year (Jr yr of High School) thru AFS, so they made him stick around for another year of high school in order to have enough English equivalents for college. You never quite let go of the sorrow and turmoil that death brings, but my father was very strong/stable in reasoning and he found a gentle way to remind us that we need to continually remember and talk about those we lost when my brother died so that it didn't turn into a bitterness that ruined us. After all you HAVE to have built tons of good memories that are worth repeating and sharing!!! My mother on the other hand was equally stabalizing thru her strong faith, which she shared and lived out as an example to each of us. And, the truth be told, I have had PRACTICE! My brother died in '78 less than a month after he turned 21yrs and then a younger sister died in '01 at 33yrs due to blood clots. With the inevitable aging of parents, I lost my dad last August... but I still have a younger brother (6yrs younger), a younger sister (18yrs younger) and my mom to enjoy.

Each of us is shaped by our encounters in life. That is why it is such a blast to be able to share and "dip into" thoughts and memories that make up each of you folks that follow this thread. We are truly blessed to have such a nice group of folks to call our own little CC family.

I did a second bout with the PT folks today. My new *homework* is to develop better gluts and abs. Dang... just when I thought I had snuck out of this whole exercise / work regime!! I am willing to give it a try as I don't want to be slowed down or side-lined at this *young* age.

Crafts... no, I am not really too crafty. I do sew up the horse blankets (patch upon patch sometimes) each winter, so can I claim that as a craft?

Oh, oh, I have one. Ok, so maybe it isn't REALLY a craft, but I will share anyway. I took some online courses (vu.org) and learned how to use HTML code (created my own website) and Javascript!  Can I get craft credit for that one?  If not, count me in as one of the not-so-crafty people. One thing I LOVE to do is woodworking and carpentry though.  My grandfather was an architect from Denmark so I think I come by it honestly. 

I made the entertainment center which houses our TV and stereo components in the living room. I can scan a pic if anyone wants a peek. I also had serious bouts of "nesting" when pregnant. The first pregnancy was pretty subdued all-in-all. I sewed up some curtains, decorated the babies room -- all the normal things. The second pregnancy got a little worse and I tackled turning the space over the garage into an inhabitable room. It has knee walls and also a sloping ceiling. At 8mos pregnant I was determined to wriggle around on the floor behind the knee wall nailing up aromatic cedar against the slope of the roof in a space which was designated for seasonal storage. It is quite a feat as many know seeing as you can't bend in the middle. The third (last) pregnancy only got worse and I decided I needed to finish the entire basement which included a second kitchen, a bathroom and shop area. My husband started joking with friends saying we weren't going to have ANYMORE kids as the projects were turning into a nightmare when the nesting kicked in.

However, not to deter you Alylou... I think the jewelry/silversmith craft could be seriously creative and satisfying. There is nothing like being able to admire something you did with your own hands. It is one of the most satisfying things, I think!!

At any rate, I must get myself to bed. Til tomorrow, skn

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the long absence, it's been really hectic here lately.  Also, nesting in preparation.  Not quite like skn but getting everything cleaned and straightened.  I'm telling everyone (except my husband!) that I'm not cleaning again until September.  Some people who don't know me well think I'm kidding.  They will be very surprised if they come to my house at the end of August!   One week left after today and we will be on our way.  I'm excited and scared at the same time.  I don't think I really have more energy than most others "our" age, just really like having kids around!  Alylou, I'll take your son if you need a break!  My oldest son and my husband have the same personality.  Very aggravating sometimes!

Hope everyone's healing, it's really frustrating to feel bad for a time.  I've been having trouble with my weight.  I'd made it to a new record for me and kept it there for a few days (I met the three day time limit for recording it even) and then this week gained two pounds that just won't come off!  I was blaming not eating well over the weekend but now I've decided it's stress.

I'd better go, I need to get a shower before the lady who will stay here at night while we're gone (to make sure my mom's ok and not afraid) will come to get keys to our house.  I don't think she wants to see me before I'm dressed! 

I'll try to stay in touch more!  Betsy

Connie - I really thought of you and your neighbors this morning when I started reading email.  My HungryGirl daily email was entitled - Cocktailmania, HG Style! (3 New Martinis!).  Well that sounded like an email that just needed reading.   Thought I would share!!

Orange Creamsicle Martini
This low-calorie cocktail tastes EXACTLY like those sherbet 'n ice cream bars you used to eat as a kid... Mmmmmmmm!   (entire recipe, 1 martini): 109 calories, 0g fat, 69mg sodium, 2.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 0.5g sugars, 0g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Ingredients:
4 oz. diet orange soda, room temperature
1.5 oz. orange-flavored vodka (like Smirnoff Twist of Orange)

1.5 oz. Torani Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
1 tbsp. Cool Whip Free

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a martini shaker, but DO NOT shake (or the carbonated soda will explode!). Mix thoroughly with a spoon until mixture is mostly lump-free. Add about 1 cup ice (crushed, if you've got it), and stir until mixture is cold. Then place the strainer on top and pour into a large martini glass. Enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING

Mounds Bar Martinis
Creamy... chocolatey... coconut-y and deeeeeeeelicious. This recipe will rock your world!   PER SERVING (half of recipe, 1 martini): 112 calories, 0g fat, 80mg sodium, 2.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 1.5g sugars, 1g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Ingredients:
3 oz. vodka (80 proof)
1 packet Diet Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix (the 25-calorie one)
2 oz. Torani Sugar Free Coc onut Syrup
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Fill a martini shaker halfway with ice (preferably crushed). Combine cocoa mix with 2 oz. hot water, and mix well. Then add 2 oz. cold water, and pour the mixture into the martini shaker. Add the vodka, syrup and Reddi-wip, and cover the top of the shaker. Shake for about a minute, or until the liquid is cold. Then strain into 2 martini glasses. Enjoy!
MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Kickin' Key Lime Pie Martini
This one tastes even better than a slice of key lime pie! Don't believe us? TRY IT!!!  PER SERVING (entire recipe, 1 martini): 129 calories, 0g fat, 21mg sodium, 7g carbs, 0g fiber, 4g sugars, 0g protein -- POINTS® value 3*

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. lime-flavored vodka (like Finlandia Lime or Smirnoff Twist of Lime)
1 oz. Torani Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
2 tbsp. pineapple juice
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. Cool Whip Free

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a martini shaker with 1 cup ice (crushed ice works best). Cover the top of the shaker, and shake thoroughly. Strain into a martini glass and enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING

HG Non-Alcoholic Alternatives! For the Orange Creamsicle Martini, just swap the alcohol for an extra 1.5 oz. diet orange soda. For the Mounds Bar Martini, use cold water in place of vodka. The alcohol-free version of the Orange Creamsicle Martini or one Mounds Bar Martini will have 15 calories or less and a POINTS® value of 0*. For a virgin-style Kickin' Key Lime Pie Martini, trade the alcohol for 1.5 oz. diet lemon-lime soda and STIR your drink instead of shaking it -- that liquorless beverage will have just about 30 calories and a POINTS® value of 1*.

skn

OK OK Much to everyones surprize I saw that same article and though I have npt tried any of them yet have already set forth a plan to drive with my good arm to the stores needed to do the orange one....will let ya know how they are if anyone beats me to it lets hear a rating ok. Arm is about the same as yesterday...will definitely have to go to therapy next week. Hi to all of you and I will catch up and comment to each one soon!  Connie

Hi,

I'm still here but buried in work! 

Jenny

Morning all-

Those drinks sound great - but it's the "Mounds Bar Martini" that really caught my attention. I have my doubts about the diet hot cocoa mix in it, though. Anyway, Connie and Skn need to do the research and let us know!  :)

Betsy - thinking of you today as you get ready to enlarge your family. Don't worry about the dieting and the cleaning, just enjoy this special time.

Skn - I was amazed reading your post about the losses you have endured. I know everyone has a story, but yours seems like it is more overwhelming than most. You are a testimony - I think you must be a very strong person. And I love your description of the home-repair/nesting projects. I like doing home repairs, too, I joke that "home depot" is my favorite store. Let us know how your PT is going, too.

Alylou- the jewelry making sounds so exciting! I have never been able to learn crocheting or knitting (altho' I often wanted to try); silver-smithing sounds mighty impressive to me. I have several VERY crafty friends who let me try things out with them, but my stuff is never quite up to par. I like doing the sort of things I used to do when I was a Girl scout leader and Sunday school teacher. Kid-friendly crafts are about the limit for me. I have considered trying to weave baskets, that sounds like something neat.

Connie- sending wishes that your arm starts healing soon. It must be very frustrating for you to be limited in what you can do. I have a good friend (one of the "crafters" I mentioned above) whose dominant hand is in a cast, and it is nearly driving her insane. I think we need to come over and push the buttons on your drink blender for you! :)

Jenn- thanks for letting us know you are still around. I hope you get some breathing time over the weekend to enjoy your family.

You know, I was thinking about the ladies who were in our group briefly, but not anymore. I assume Suzenf is still in Europe and I hope she'll write when she gets back. And, we hear from Soph once in awhile; but think of all the others who came and went. I guess either this group or CC wasn't for them. I checked on a few of them by going to their profiles (Cho, Sandy/Webbgalarza,  etc) and they haven't logged on for weeks. I'm so glad to keep in touch with all of you.

My week has been just sort of quiet. My daughter is still away at church camp. She comes home tomorrow but then leaves again in 8 days for a 2 week (in-state, thankfully) music camp. I'm excited to see her tomorrow. The house is quiet when she's away. My son has been quietly playing his video games, etc. I've been working on communications for the band parent group I lead. In fact, I need to finish a mailing to about 100 families today. Eating+Exercising has been okay for me this week - I don't feel like I've ever exceeded my calories, but the scale isn't moving too much either (up-a-pound, down-a-pound, repeat). I guess everything is just sort of slowed down right now. It's gotta' be the HEAT!!  113 degrees yesterday. Arrgh.   Bye all, Sue

Hi!  Can I join you guys?  I'm 48 and have a lot of weight to lose.  I'm too ashamed to tell.  I have two grown sons and a husband who loves me but I hate the way I look.  I put on about 30 pounds in the last six months since I quit smoking so now I have that to lose on top of what I already had.  I'm rather proud of myself for managing to quit smoking and not I'm on to my next challenge and it would be great to find some friends to give and receive help along the way.

Original Post by caverlady:

Hi! Can I join you guys? I'm 48 and have a lot of weight to lose. I'm too ashamed to tell. . . . it would be great to find some friends to give and receive help along the way.

Of course you can join us - WELCOME! Don't worry about how much you have to lose, and don't be ashamed, you are on the right path now and our little group is here to support you. Don't be surprised, however, when we shorten your name - we are practically addicted to changing people's user names. It just means you're one of us. Have a good day. Congrats on taking a step on this long, hard, healthy road!

ohh, shoot, I didn't tell caverlady about our dues and the secret handshake- should I??

Welcome Cave-L
I think you will find that both CC (and our group) will be a nice *crutch* to lean on as you start this new journey of weight loss.  Congrats on the smoking cessation - you must be very pleased to have passed that hurdle in life.  It then frees you up to concentrate on your new goal.   Yeah Sue - shhh, remember we have to let our new members settle in before springing the dues thing and double secret handshake and greeting rules on them! 

Sue - enjoy the time with your daughter during her *touchdown* at home.   My daughter who will be turning 12 next month is in the same boat.  She heads out tomorrow for 2weeks.. comes home overnight on JUly 5th, then [we all] leave for a week away, she has a week home, leaves for 4 days, comes home for 3 days, leaves for a week, then has a 2 week respite at home before leaving again for a week (all of us again) and getting home 3 days before school starts.  Makes my head hurt just thinking of her schedule.  .. ugh, did I mention you need to keep your heat, too!!!  That is wicked.

Alylou - are you guys drying out at all?

Betsy - Good luck.. and just sit back and soak in all the good things without stressing about food or the bumps in the road that will soon all be behind you.

Jennie - hope things slow down a bit for you too.

Connie - continued healing vibes.  Did you try that orange martini yet?

Hi to all our traveling or wayward members that have been flat out too busy in life.  Have a nice weekend all.
skn

Hi everyone!  Welcome Caverlady!  It's wonderful that you were able to quit smoking.  Just work on the next challenge slowly and try not to get too frustrated if it doesn't always go as smoothly as you would like.

The drinks sound great, whoever tries them will have to let us know how they turn out!  I certainly could use a few this week and certaily will need them when I get back from our trip!  I'm getting really excited now.  In one week we'll be in China and in 8 days we'll already have our daughter!  Still cleaning and packing but I feel it's getting done without too much stress.  I planned some times when we'd either go to visit friends or they'd come here over the next few days so I'll have time to relax and have fun, too.  Weight is still stuck at the higher level.  I guess I'll just have to be happy with it there for now since I really don't have time to work on it now!  Maybe when we're in China it'll just fall off!  Just kidding, last time my daughter and I were there I gained 5 pounds eating noodles!

It sounds like everyone's kids will have busy summers!  What happened to being bored and not doing anything all summer?  I miss that!

Sue you can definitely keep the heat there!  Connie hope you're arm is getting better!  Alylou also hoping you're getting dried out!  Hope everyone else is having a great weekend!  Betsy

Hi girls! Just wanted to peek in and see what was going on. My arm is feeling some better. Still have the numbness but gonna call the chiropractor and set up an appt for this week.....will let ya know. Hi and welcome to the newest newbie! I won't mention the $$$ or the very secret handshake but will tell her that every newbie has to tell where there name (before we change it of course) comes from....so......caverlady......? Hope the china trip is safe and very very happy! Aly I am hoping by now that you are drying! We are on the other end...drought. How are "our" horses doing these days??? I may have missed some of what everyone has been talking about ....I have been very medicated ya know...after I stopped being yukky from the pain meds they did kinda turn into happy meds Aly!!! Skn I did try (would you have expected any less) the orange "martini" went back to my pina's. They are very good but even sweeter than a pina colada. Now i have to come up with a good drink to mix with smirnoff with a twist of orange...any suggestions out there..??  Ok lets see I have skipped all over the place but um as far as crafts I used to paint some and do needlepoint but that was many moons ago and it was when i could see had patience and had AN ARM that didn't go numb! But do expect gifts when we go on Oprah!! LOL UMMMMM and MY BIRTHDAY is thursday ladies...don't let me grow old with out good sarcastic comments from MY GROUP!!!!!! My fingers are tingling as we speak so I better go for now. I will be slowly coming back to harrass so don't any of you worry ok????   Connie.....down to 131 this a.m.

Hello all!

You will never guess...it is raining! actually we are past the flood issues, but the farm fields surrounding our home look mighty beat up.

Welcome Cave! (they warned you if you didn't tell us what to call you we get to go with our own ideas!) GOOD FOR YOU! now that smoking is history, those pounds will be too soon! welcome to our very fun bunch.

I am back in Oshkosh for a few days then go for a week to Seattle for a long "girls weekend" with my Mom, sister, niece and daughter...

gotta run...I'll finish this later!

Ok, I'm back.

Connie, 131! now that is something to drink about! and those drinks sound way to tasty..I think I would have a hard time stopping at 1, or 2, or 3,or 4...

Sue/skin your nesting stories made for very funny visual images!

Sue, With all you children's musical talents, are you gifted that way too? I bow before the musical types, being the type that if I don't sing/play people consider it a gift! I agree that it is interesting how some come and go and some come and stay on this thread...I think that personalities have something to do with it...or maybe we have set the dues too high for some?

Jenny, hope your ankle is sound now and that you get a break soon!

later, alylou

PS: next post is 400!!!!

Welcome caverlady!  This is strictly a no-shame place - we like you regardless!

I wish it would stay dry for a while here too.  I'm on high ground, so there's no chance of flooding, but I use electric garden tools (weed whacker, chainsaw), and I can't get stuff done when it's raining or everything is wet - it's just not safe.  This means, though, that my weeds are getting out of control!

I had to re-measure myself, because my comfy jeans were almost falling off me.  Turns out that although I haven't lost much weight, I'm firming up - lost 2 inches off my waist, and 2.5 inches off the hips.  If I do that each month for another 1-2 months, I'll be looking good!