Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you had a great a Mother's Day as I did.  My husband and I drove up to spend Saturday evening with our daughter and had a very nice time with her and her husband.  Yesterday was the very first service in our new church building.  Both of our sons were there as well as my mother.  Then we all had a wonderful rest of the day at my mother's house.  She and I fixed supper and the boys entertained, as they always do.  It was a simple, happy day.

Anniebean, I too do the Walk Away the Pounds workouts.  I love them!  They are effective and fun.  It doesn't suit me to workout in the morning.  I always feel so rushed and stressed at that time of day.  I prefer to do it in the evening after supper is over and the kitchen cleaned.  That is the time I used to snuggle up on the couch with the dogs and a good book and in between loads of laundry.  I now devote between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on my mood and whatever else needs to be done around the house, to the WATP workout.  Even just 15 minutes makes me have so much more energy.  I probably have 80% fewer night sweats than I used to have.  During the day, I take the stairs often, make multiple trips to the files instead of getting everything I need in one trip, park far away and walk and always walk around in stores during my lunch hour.  None of this is major or requires allot of effort on my part but it all adds up.  As of Saturday, I have dropped a total of 23.5 lbs (this is since January 5th) and I feel great.  It sounds like your workdays are extremely long, but if you can fit just a few minutes in here and there, you will feel better for it, mentally and physically.

Have a great day everyone.     Cheryl

Hi Everyone,

It sounds like everyone had good Mother's Days... the quiet peaceful ones are usually the best!  

Thank you Della, Barb, and Cheryl for your suggestions and comments about Walk away the pounds... I bought a Tony Little Gazelle last year and have a treadmill, but both sit idle in a corner because I rarely have time to use them, so that's why it feels like I "should" be doing formal exercise -- It's like a constant reminder.   I will take your suggestions to heart about trying to fit in my exercise in the middle of the day, during normal actitivities.  I work on a large campus and the distance to get to the cafe is pretty long, and there are stairs that I could do some stairclimbing for a few minutes every lunch hour.  And, I did check out the WATP DVDs online -- hopefully this weekend I will be able to order one.

I strugggled the last few days with eating right... we had an "after hours" get together for our team at work on Tuesday at a local brewhouse.  I ate well all day (but not enough food to be honest,  because I was running all day from meeting to meeting), but when we got to the brewhouse I chose to have a beer (which added up to a total of 3 throughout the evening) and ate from the buffet.   I had gotten down to 179 pounds as of that morning but now I back up to 182.   I was also out of sorts all day yesterday -- bloated and tired.   It was fun, and I'm glad I had that social time with my co-workers, but I wish I had eaten better and limited myself to a single beer.    Even yesterday, all I seemed to want was "comfort food".   Today, I will try to get back on track and eat better, and since I'm working from home with no travelling in between, I should be able to get some exercise in. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!          Annie

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all having a good day.  It is rainy and dreary here today but the plants need the rain so no complaints here.  Going to go and do a DVD workout "yes it is the afternoon and I know I am a morning exerciser but it seems I have no time in the morning lately so busy with work. 

Cheryl, I don't know If I ever answered your question but YES it is hard to get back on track after vacation... I am still trying, I have been very busy with the garden and work not in that order but just having a hard time getting back in the morning routine again, I will keep on trying and I will get there,

Have a wonderful night and weekend everyone.  Betty

Good Morning All,

Today is my daughter's 26th birthday so both grandmothers and I are driving up to spend the day with her.  My husband and I spent last Saturday with her because he decided this should be a "girls" day.   It will be fun.  Her actual due date is June 17th but, starting next week, they are going to do weekly ultrasounds to keep tabs on his weight.  The OB suspects that he will be a 9-pounder if he goes full term and they don't want that to happen.  It is just too dangerous for her to have a c-section because of the blood thinners she is on.  I am going up on Thursday to go to the ultrasound with her - taking a vacation day.  I wanted to be there for at least one of them and her husband understands and doesn't mind sharing the experience with me. 

My weight has been yo-yoing all over the place; was down 3.5 lbs last Saturday and up 1.5 this Saturday.  I have been pretty consistant in the food department and working out with the Leslie Sansone Walk Slim series, which, by the way, really kicks butt....whew!  Except for a couple of blood sugar drops this week (major shakes), I feel great.  I don't know what could be causing the drops.  I used to have them after a big pancake or danish breakfast or an ultra rich desert, but those are a thing of the past.  I keep a pretty got eating schedule too.  Any ideas?

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.    Cheryl

Good Afternoon everyone!  The SUN IS SHINING!!!  Wow!!  We've had an entire week of cloudy skies, drizzle and YIKES snow. OH my goodness to see the sun today is so wonderful!  Going out for a walk today after supper.  I can't wait.  I so look forward to beautiful weather.

My "Official" weigh in day wont happen until tomorrow-so I wont update till then.

I just wanted to pop in and see what everyone was doing and to say hi.  So HI

Cheryl: just know your daughter and grandson remainin our thoughts and prayers.

By the way -has anyone seen or heard from Ro?  She's not signed in since May 3rd-and we all know she was having some serious health issues with her thyroid not functioning properly.  I think we should make a concentrated effort to remember her in prayer too.

Take care everyone-will check in tomorrow.

Della

Well it's Sunday-raining, dreary, snuggle bed kind of day.

Not much to say today

Weigh In: 200.3 lbs-I've plateaued=AGAIN. Oh well-at least it's still down and not up.  I will be below 200 soon enough.

Hope everyone has/had a wonderful weekend.

Chat later

Della

And now it's Monday ~ Where is everybody??

Della

Hi Everyone,  The grandmothers and I had a great day Saturday with my daughter and her husband.  We went out to eat and then just came back to her house and talked for a few hours before heading home.  She is doing very well.  We are just waiting until delivery day, getting nervous.  I do very much appreciate your continued prayers for her and the baby.

I have a minor health concern.  I have developed a blood clot on the top of my right foot, up close to my ankle.  This kind is not very dangerous, just more of an aggravation.  So far the doctor has put me on aspirin.  He sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound and is supposed to call and let me know if I need to take plavix.  The worst part (unless they tell me differently) is that I am supposed to be sedentary and keep it elevated.  This means no WATP workouts.  I have been doing so well and hate to backslide now.  Oh well, it could be worse, much worse.

Della, I'm glad you are finally getting a little sun.  It is cool and damp here this evening but the forecast sounds more promising.  I am soooo ready for summer.

Have a great week everyone.     Cheryl

Good Morning everyone,

Cheryl, I am so sorry to hear about your blood clot, I will keep you in my thoughts.  It is very hard to be TOLD you can't do anything, hang in there.

Della I am glad that you have sun, it makes the world of difference doesn't it.  I don't know where Ro is hopefully just busy.

I am still busy with work and working outside when I can.  I can not get going in the morning these days, so slow but I am getting better with the exercise and becoming a bit of an afternoon exerciser.  I have gained a bit more I am sure due to my inactivity although I have been doing a lot in the garden hmmmm...  I will just keep working on getting back in the swing of things and it will get there I am sure.

Hope everyone has a good day today.  Betty

Good evening everyone.

Just a quick update, I haven't fallen off completely. 

Last week we had a really big scare here.  My husband was taken into the hospital with signs of a stroke.  The Doctors put him through every imaginable test and in the end diagnosed it as a TIA.  (A stroke wannabe)  He is now on a medication that thins out the platelets and also has added aspirin.  Thank God he has no permanent damage and there were no signs of a blockage.  It was very surreal.  The good that'll come out of this is that he's starting to watch what he eats.  We both need to be better at that.

So now that I've got my head straight I can get back to logging my food and catching up with all of you.

Cheryl, I hope all is going well with your foot.  Take care of yourself, the aspirin really does work.  Della I'm glad you;ve got some sun.  Up here in the north we're still waiting for it and warm weather.  I'm afraid we're going to have a cold spring and summer.  I'm really thinking of Ro,  and hope all is well with her too.

I'm still keeping up with my exercising but boy do I have aches and pains in places that never ached before.  My family and I are heading to Chicago this weekend.  Both kids graduate from college on June 6th so we're making this a celebration weekend.  We thought this would be a good time since both have got jobs and will be starting their busy lives.  We're all looking forward to getting away for a while.  We plan to do a lot of walking so that'll have to count for my exercising.

I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.  Becky

Wow Becky I know that must have been awfully frightening for both of you.  Just remember we're here to support you to the best of our ability.  I'd be lost if I didn't have the support of the ladies here on CC. 

Cheryl, are you taking a low dose aspirin?  The doctor recommended those for my mom and dad to aid in thinning the blood and to prevent blood clots. 

Betty, so good to hear your staying busy - I'd love to see pictures of your garden-in my imagination it looks beautiful.

Hopefully, this weekend I'll be able to start a new garden bed (flower) I have visualized in my minds eye.   We have it laid out-now just have to purchase the materials for it.

Well not too much going on in this direction-thankfully.   so will chat with everyone later.

Della

Good Morning all,

Becky, I am so sorry to hear about your husband's TIA, but thankful that it wasn't more serious.  Life has a way of giving us a good strong jolt sometimes just to keep us from taking too much for granted.

I got a good report from my doctor about the blood clot in my foot.  It is only a superficial clot and the ultrasound showed that my entire leg has very good circulation.  I am still taking the aspirin but he lifted all physical restrictions.  Now I can make to two hour drive to go to my daughter's (grandson's) ultrasound appointment tomorrow.  Last night I did the entire Leslie Sansone Four Mile Walk Slim workout.  I felt so much better afterwards.  I tell you, sitting around on your butt all the time will kill you.

Hope everyone has a great week.    Cheryl

Good Morning everyone,

Becky, I too am so sorry to hear about your scare, I am glad your husband is doing well and it was not anything more serious. 

Della, I will take some photos of the gardens and post them when I get a chance.

Cheryl, I am glad your blood clot is not serious as well.  FYI, one thing that helps with traveling and blot clots is stopping on a regular basis so you can get up and walk around.  Mom has a huge blot clot from her thigh to her knee since last year, so we have been working on getting it better for a long time... 

I have been doing good, working out on a regular basis this week so far i.e situps each day and bowflex or Leslie Sansone DVD once a day and working in the garden when I can, still busy with work.  But seem to be getting more on target with a routine again and feeling  better.

Hope you all have a wondeful day.  Betty

Afternoon everyone.

Betty: I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Cheryl: I was looking at the video Walk Slim 4 Really Big Miles-but there are two editions online-2007 & 2008.  ? Is/are these the video your speaking of?

Not too much going on today-raining-cloudy-cooler. . must be spring. Still working out and watching what goes in. And guess what? Today I'm wearing a size 16. . first time in a very long time. . LOL

Della

Hi Everyone,

Della, I ordered the Walk Slim series from QVC for less than $30 plus shipping.  It consisted of five dvds (in four cases); Fast Firming which is about 30 minutes of strength training, Fast Start 1 & 2 Miles (35 minutes) and another disc of Fast Three Miles (45 minutes), 4 Fast Miles and lastly 4 Really BIG Miles.  The 4 Fast Miles lasts 50 minutes and has five jogging intervals.  4 Really BIG Miles lasts 56 minutes and has jogging intervals in the third mile and the stretchy band in the fourth mile.  I can't see an edition on any of them, but they certainly are challenging.  I am hooked and that is something for a former couch potato.  Also, congratulations on the size 16s.  Way to go!

Betty, currently I am taking the equivalent of two regular aspirins a day.  The clot is still there but nearly all the inflammation around it is gone and it feels much better.  I didn't think to ask the doctor if he thought I should be taking one low dose aspirin a day but I should look into it as this is the second superficial clot I have had in this foot in the last three years.  I do have really bad varicose veins in both legs. 

My daughter and I had a great day together today.  The OB is thinking she may have about three weeks til delivery.  They switched her blood thinner today to something that is safer for childbirth.  She was in good spirits.

I hope everyone has a great rest-of-the-week.  Cheryl

Happy Friday Everyone!

Cheryl: Thanks for the information on the videos-I too love WATP's and want to expand my library. Also you should talk to your doctor about the low dose aspirin and maybe compression hose.  My mother had really bad varicose veins and prone to blood clots in her legs as well.  The doctor had mom wear hose and take a blood thinner to help prevent the clots.  She found both beneficial.  She said she could tell a big difference in how tired her legs felt at the end of the day when she did not wear the hose.

Can't wait till you sign in with the news of your new grand baby!  I'm going to see mine in August! We're going down for  3 weeks and I plan to spend every second with him that I can.

Hope you all enjoy the day!

Della

Happy Saturday everyone. 

It is beautiful out today and I thought I would write before I go out to garden and get lost in the day, "my promise to be better about writing".

Della, congratulations on the size 16, so proud of you, keep up the good work.

Cheryl, I can't wait to hear about the new grand-baby as well.  Glad your leg is doing better and not so swollen.

I am hanging in there doing a lot of gardening and getting outside as much as I can with the nicer weather.  I am getting back in the routine of exercising, 3 days this week on the bowflex and twice with the DVD, situps 6 days and then cleaning and gardening 5 days.  Holding at the same weight lost the few pounds I put on over vacation.  Eating well and good with the water... 

Not much going on here two parties so far, plan to go to just one and work outside as much as possible, it is suppose to be a beautiful weekend.  I have 12 trees to plant, hope to get in at least half of them, I need hubbies help with most of them they are 3 to 5 feet in height and pretty heavy.  We are doing over one of my garden areas with them (less plants more trees/bushes).  I am trying to make my gardens more "low or no maintenance" so as I get older I have less to do, I am at 24 yards of mulch and counting right now I can't keep doing this so I need to make some changes to my gardens over the next few years so they are more manageable.  I hope you all have a great Holiday weekend.

Betty

Hey Cheryl and Betty:

Hope your weekend was good.  I spent most of mine outside. Cleaning the car, raking lawn, putting out lights, just general spring maintance.

Didn't lose an ounce this week. . oh well. . always next week.

I posted 2 pictures in my gallery-both were taken after my mom passed away in 2007.  One is with my oldest daughter and myself and the other is just a close up of me.  

Take care-goodnight.

Della