PROVIDA SUPPORT COMMUNITY

Welcome to "Angels At Play"

Yay!  We are up and moving! 

Thanks Tice! When I count my blessings, I count you twice.

Here we are, we're now called Angels at Play!  How cool is that.  Looking forward to th postings!  Like Cowgirl I am thrilled to be here.  Thanks Tice!

Evening Angels!

Have I told you lately how much it makes me smile to come "home" to this family? Well it does!  I hope after the holidays a few more of us find the space and come home to catch up!

I did lots today to make up for that lazy day yesterday.  Two loads of laundry washed, dried (Yay!), folded and put away.  I also spent some time sorting out BIG clothes from the closet.  What a fun task.  I will take them to Good Will when I go into "the city" next week. 

I did some work in the pasture including trying to refigure how to get that well house built the way I want it.  There's a power pole and a tree in the way. Hmmm...gonna have to make that thing smaller!  Bummer! I also made meat muffins, oatmeal bars, butternut squash soup, and cranberry relish.  During the "in between times" I tackled the mud room which had become overgrown with misplaced stuff and recyclables.  Some of it I just threw out on the back porch tso I can sort it tomorrow. LOL Anyway, you can once again walk through the mud room and even see the floor! changed sheets on Mom's bed and mine, did a little adjusting on Mom's wheel chair (she uses it when she gets really out of breath), repaired a leaky pipe under the bathroom sink (my bathroom), replaced the batteries inthe smoke detectors, and marked off the Christmas cards Mom got from friends.  I got started on getting all my printed off recipes into a binder, but got sidetracked by a nice walk in the brisk night air.  While I was out I checked the little makeshift greenhouse to be sure everything was cozy for those plants in case it freezes tonight.  It is not the kind of greenhouse that would protect the plants im the bitter cold most of you have been experiencing, but it does just fine for our brief cold spells that seldom get below 25*.

the cats were explaining that they would make sure things were okay if I would just leave the door open a crack. Big Trouble said he would keep one of the plants in a big pot warm by laying on it all night.  Such helpful kitties!  I had to make sure I didn't lock any of them in.  they DO have a nice big dog house with a light in it if they would like to have the benefit of added warmth.  they were quite silly on our walk tonight - they were bounding about and tackling each other indiscriminantly until we heard a coyote in the distance.  Suddenly they were all very interested in my feet. We all made it home safely. Glad I had the "attack poodle" with me. LOL By the way, this silly poodle has decided that any tme I am eating fresh veggies sheshould get some. tonight she ate carrots, broccoli and spinach!

Okay, a nice OP day (missed the timing on MAS by about 20 minutes while Mom and I were in town running errands).

I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Love to all,

Hello Angels ~  Woohooo, another place to call home! 

 
I know I'm late joining the room today....had church service at 7:45....forgot my purse at church, realized it when I got home originally, had to go back and retrieve it.  Talk about CRS!  I thought I had picked it up, but thankfully mass transit was on time today.  Didn't really want to be out in the rain, sleet, hail, high winds and periods of sun (although rather short periods), got home within an hour from the east side of town to where I live on the south side.  The warmer temps was the calm before the storm.  I'm greatful and blessed I have my apartment as well has having Spatz to come home to.  The only thing missing is my mate.  That too will come in time. 

I was late with my mms, had to fix something quick and made chicken gumbo to eat for lunch and dinner....one of my favorites..had to alter the recipe a bit, but it is op.  Next thing to do is to make a rub for my turkey that is defrosted, that I will stuff it's cavity with 1/2 orange and 1 lemon rind for a more juicy turkey.  I will prepare a rice stuffing instead of bread, and have my dinner ready for tomorrow and have turkey for the rest of the week.  Thinking of recipies to make with turkey....chili, soup, ground turkey, yum. 

I think I'll be clucking by the time it's over with between chicken and turkey....I'll be sprouting my wings.  Well, gotta go take a nap first so that I can have the energy to get these things done.  Have a blessed day my Angels.

Hi everyone!  I found you!  Yeah, we are up and running!  How fun!  Thanks for setting it up Tice! 

Well, I measured and I'm down 5.5 inches making a total of (drum roll please) 50 inches lost forever!!!  Woo Hoo!  My waist is now 29 inches which (if I remember correctly) is now one inch below the "danger" mark for women.  Woo hoo!  Yes, I am doing a major happy dance!

Okay, off to the grocery store now and to catch up on some other errands then home to get caught up on the cleaning.  I should have a pretty relaxing week ahead though.

So are we just posting here now and not at Angel Hall?

Yay!  Tammi found the playground!! Now if we can find her since she has gotten so tiny!! WooHoo!! Congratulations on the inches lost!! AND, I think Happy Dance counts as cardio!!LOL

 Tammi, this is for you in your inches lost never to come back again!  I am so very happy for you girlfriend.  I will be taking my measurements tomorrow.  I've been OP for the majority of the holiday, indulging in only a few ick or yuk.  I'm so very happy with myself.

I spoke with BF today, and he shared with me several of his health issues that have developed since he's gained weight.  Well, I immediately shared with him that I have the answer, that as soon a he comes home, I'll let him take the questionaire and help him set up the meal plan for his body type.

He's enthusiastic because of my success, and is eager to change his circumstance.  I am enthused to help him.  Besides, if I'm going to be a hottie, then he needs to get himself in shape to keep up with me.  I've already shared with him what he needs to stay away from, how he should be eating and drinking more water.  He appears to be excited, and I will help him as much as possible.  Well Angels, I have to leave for now, but will be back tomorrow.  Have a great night. 

Your so sweet, I feel the same way about you

wildandwooley:

Yay!  We are up and moving! 

Thanks Tice! When I count my blessings, I count you twice.

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Fatima, it sounds like you had a glorious day. Nothing like a good message to get you started. What weird weather. I can’t wait till it warms up for good. It stands to be a long winter the way we are going.~

Raven, so sorry to hear about your SIL. That is so scary. How old is she? I pray she heals soon and without further complications. These things are so scary, we just have no control over some things. Like you said, she seemed to be in perfect condition. We just never know do we? ~ Wally’s funeral does not sound strange. It sounds wonderful. What a treasure for them to have a piece of your artwork. Where in SD do you live again? It must be close to Souix Falls and I hear you talk about it a lot. My BIL lives in Brandon. ~ Well it sounds like you know what you need to do to succeed with your plan. I don’t know what it is that “clicks” with a  person to commit and dedicate to weight loss, but when it does it is so fulfilling. I know you’ll continue down the right path. It was good to hear that even in the face of family stress, you were thinking of success and packed your food. Keep up the hard work, and you’ll see results soon. It’s amazing and unfair at the same time, how much a little bite of ick can hurt. Especially when we don’t see a gain from it and then our brain allows us just another bite, and another, and finally we can see why they say even one bite will hurt. ~ Family weight loss can be very beneficial. It seems one can keep the other strong, just be careful that you both aren’t keeping the other enabled. My sis and I are good at that. You’re so right to heal yourself first, then work on the others who need you.~

Tammi, congrats on being able to take a breath. It seems after a recital the decision to dance again is pretty easy for them. I’m sure she’ll want to do both when the time comes, but it is so hard to do all that running. Good for you on making her pick one. It help to focus  on being the best at the sport you pick. I consider dance a sport. Very physical, and team work. Curious, why do you call this type of dance competive? Do they do routines for judges too? It’s a great talent to have in life. Congrats on skipping an avi. I never try to get too upset if I don’t lose or even gain a few lbs. Cause I know if I stick with it and exercise it will fly off the next week. Isn’t this plan the bomb? And the support of the internet is  unmatched. I’m so glad I dug that box out from under my bed last year.

OK Angels, I do think it’s time we moved to the motivation and support thread. If everyone found it and is ok with it, that is the only place I’ll post. It’s too hard to post in both places. The winter session should be open soon too. Don’t know if I’ve heard when we can register though.

Tice

Add for the new thread:

Fatima, that is so wonderful. Good luck to BF with the diet and I know his health will improve if he sticks to it. You are a great example.

Tammi, wow you are on fire! Keep going girl, that metabolism is working in your favor.

Cowgirl, again, how do you do it. Even with a healthy diet, wow, you have more energy than anyone I know.

Raven, did you find us? Hope you decide to keep posting here. I love your life. You are so very interesting.

Now this time I’m really going to bed. I might go to the dorm and get my last post first.

You all are so great. If you go to motivation and support, I set up a thread called "Angels At Play" I'll try to post more there later. Raven, I don't know if anyone responded to you yet, but go to motivation and support and scroll down, you'll find a post that says "Angels At Play". If it's not on the first page, we might have slipped to the second page.

I have so much to say concerning your fantastic posts the past few days.

 It says enrollment for winter 09 starts Jan. 3. Hope some of us are in the same dorm, but I don't think I've ever been in the same dorm with a past dormie. Others have though, so it could happen.

Good morning Angels!

Mom and I are headed out on an adventure this morning.  We spoke with her doctor about her difficulties and he wants her at the hospital.  He suspects she is slipping into heart failure.  We are finsihingup our usual morning routine and I will pack some clothes and stuff.  Then we will head to Gatesville.  I may not be posting for a couple of days but will try to keep you updated.  I would appreciate your prayers for Mom.  Also keep me in mind as I intend to try to stay POP if possible.

TICE~ I appreciate you setting up the site so much...thank you...I would feel a little empty moving on and having no place to contact my good friends .  Thanks for asking about my sister in law...she just turned 50 last month.  I believe a lot of her problem is stress.  She is pretty hard on herself in that her house is always perfect (clean and organized) she puts so much on herself.  She takes care of her infant grandkids...her father died this year and she was fighting with an overbearing sister in law...She is Game and fish comissioner for the state....on the school board....and they have a pretty big ranch to manage...well...to me...that is a bit much....she always hosts the whole family for Thanksgiving and Christmas which is way over and above what she needs to do..I think she may slow down a bit after this bout....well...maybe not knowing her. We love her dearly...she is really a sweet lady.

Your BIL lives in Brandon?  That is right outside of Sioux Falls...do you visit ever?  What does he do there? 

Thanks for the compliments on my work...I have been painting for over 35 years and making a living at it...I feel like a kid who never put her crayons down...a blessed life.....a degree in recess.

What are your plans now that the play is over?  what is next on your playcard? I had a feeling you would get some clothes for Christmas...ha ha...you bettcha...skinny minni...ha ha

COWGIRL~~I am so glad that you have a doctor that is alert to your moms health and condition.  He sounds pretty sharp and I am sure there is medication or something that will keep your mom's ticker ticking...I does kinda give you a scare...I hope she will be alright...attitude is everything and you are so upbeat I can't imagine any negativity around you all....Your dogs are funny....I kinda miss ours when I go on walks, but then again...she was an airdale and always seemed to find the (porcupine egg bush) stickers...I would spend a good half hour brushing her tangles out..
Again...you wear me out just reading what you do in a day...Your greenhouse sounds wonderful...I want one up here, but the winds seem to tear those things up...and the sub temps....maybe someday...I am keeping my dream alive of a new house and greenhouse...someday ....

Your mom and you are in my thoughts today...keep us updated on her...great that you are staying pop....planning is so important.   

Fatima~ It is so nice when your example spurs someone you care about into action. I hope he enjoys the benifits of the plan.   Your best friend will be a good diet buddy on top of being a great friend now...You can cook together and share recipes...how fun.  Your trips around your town in a bus sound interesting.   Do you rely on the bus route for your entire travel to grocery store and going to dog training?  do you ever miss being able to drive or is it cheaper and easier to ride transit?  I lived in San Fransico for a while and used the bus system to go every where....oh and the trolly cars...now that was fun!!

Hug your pooch for me and talk to you later...enjoy your turkey...an orange and lemon?  yum.

ravenmask:

Fatima~ It is so nice when your example spurs someone you care about into action. I hope he enjoys the benifits of the plan.   Your best friend uh, that would be my son is my BF, I meant my boyfriend...will be a good diet buddy on top of being a great friend now...You can cook together and share recipes...how fun.  I always look forward to sharing ideas with him as well as cooking.   Your trips around your town in a bus sound interesting.  They can be...if I'm on the bus more than an hour, my body needs 2 days to recuperate.  The driver seems to hit every bump, pothole, or obstacle in the road.  OMG it hurts everytime they do it.  Do you rely on the bus route for your entire travel to grocery store and going to dog training?  I rely on the mass transit to go to the grocery store when I can carry my groceries....for the training sessions, I have to rely on someone else to take me...it's in another township...plus he can't ride the metro system yet until he gets his certification...do you ever miss being able to drive or is it cheaper and easier to ride transit?  I definitely miss driving.  As soon as I am able, I need to get myself a vehicle so that I can come and go under my own power, without counting on anyone else.  I lived in San Fransico for a while and used the bus system to go every where....oh and the trolly cars...now that was fun!!

Hug your pooch for me I sure will...and talk to you later...enjoy your turkey...an orange and lemon?  yum.

Tice – My DD used to compete in dance.  Her studio traveled and competed in front of judges against other studios (and each other in some cases).  At the age of seven she was at the studio eight to ten hours a week taking technique classes and rehearsing for her competitive teams.  She enjoyed it the first year (when she was six and was only there about six hours a week) but about half way through the year last year she just was tired of it.  She really only wanted to do ballet but was having to do tap, jazz, and just a little bit of ballet for technique (they don’t compete in ballet).  She finished out the year though as she had made a commitment but it was her choice if she wanted to audition again this year or not.  She chose not to so we switched to a studio that focuses on ballet.  (Her old studio focuses on competition.)  So far, she is much happier here and absolutely loved performing for an audience instead for judges.  She says everyone wants you to do a good job when you are in a performance as opposed to when you compete… everyone wants you to do poorly so they will have a better score than you.  Makes a lot of sense to me.  Anyway, originally she thought she would just take a break from the competition scene so she could try other things, mainly softball, but now she says there is no way she is going back!  I kind of thought (and kind of hoped) she would feel that way.  It was a huge time commitment and a lot of money.

Dance is very physical.  She is always in the best shape of all the girls on her “sports” teams.  She has the most stamina and the most strength… I know a lot of that is because of dance.  When we went to Disneyland, they have Tarzan’s Tree House and a rope that you can climb up.  She was the only girl to make it to the top!  People always are commenting on her cute little body and how toned she is… again, a lot of that is because of dance.  If I was a little more confident and less self conscious, I would totally start taking classes again.  There a lot of moms that take classes… I still have too much jiggley stuff to do it and feel comfortable though if you know what I mean.  Oh, speaking of other moms… I am not the biggest mom at dance anymore!!!  Not that I want others to be overweight, I totally don’t, but it is a nice feeling to not be the biggest for once!

I was trying to not get to upset about not losing either, but it was my first time since starting the plan that it had happened.  I haven’t been this small in eleven years so I was a little worried that I wasn’t going to be able to lose anymore.  Everyone is telling me that my goal is way to low, but I always tell them about you… I think a lot of it for me though is that they have no idea how much I weighed to begin with.  We’ll see, if I feel totally comfortable before I hit my ultimate goal, I might raise it up a little.  I keep getting mixed messages.  One place I looked online said 120lbs. for 5’4” was on the high end of the healthy range… another place said 145lbs. was the high end, so I don’t know.  I’m thinking I will take it a pound at a time and see how I look and feel.  I know I’m not done yet though!

I do have a question for you.  I have lost 40lbs (in ten weeks, Woo Hoo!) and fifty inches, but have only gone from a size 16/18 to a size 12/14.  At this rate I’m thinking I will never get down to single digit sizes… did you also drop sizes slowly???  Do all of a sudden the sizes get closer or something??? 

Thanks for any wisdom you share!  You are totally my mentor (like it or not)!

Fatima – DH has considered trying the plan too, but has no willpower.  He is such a baby when it comes to sacrifice.  Plus, he has slowly been losing weight (45lbs over about seven months) so he keeps saying, I’m losing it my way.  Whatever, he still needs to lose more though.  Oh, and I don’t think I told you guys that because of his height/weight ratio, he has to do a cardio EKG stress test before the CHP will accept him.  We have to pay for that out of our own pocket.  Bummer as it is going to cost somewhere between $250 and $700.  If he doesn’t pass that, he may have to do the thing where they run the dye through your blood (can’t remember the name), but that can cost up to $3,000.  I’m looking at it as an investment though.  After all, they are going to pay him (not much, but a salary nonetheless) to go to the academy and how many thousands of dollars to people spend on their educations, right? 

Anyway, I hope your BF has better success with the program!  It would be so nice to have somebody close to you to share the journey with! 

Raven – Wally’s funeral doesn’t sound strange to me either and I agree that it sounds beautiful.  I embrace different cultures and traditions… that is home America came to be so great, right?  It is so awesome that you can give such personal, unique gifts, what a blessing!

How is your SIL doing?  Wow, fifty is really young!  It does sound like she is under a lot of stress like you said though.  She and all of your family are still in my prayers.  Keep us posted on her progress.

I’m glad you are trying to figure out how to stay on track!  What an amazing gift to give your daughter… a healthy mother that can help her!  That is a big part of my motivation… I want to be a good example for my children and would really like to be around and able to play with my grandchildren!

Cowgirl – You and Mom are definitely in my prayers!  Like Raven said, sounds like she has a good doctor… that is a huge blessing right there!  And way to go to try to stay on plan as much as possible.  If you can’t, just try to make the best choices and don’t use it as an excuse to binge… I’m sure you already know that, but I felt the need to say it… after all, I can go to your house and dig out the biting boot if need be!

Well ladies, I’d better go for now.  I feel a cold coming on which is totally a bummer, but tends to happen if I don’t get enough rest and as you know I have not been resting at all lately.  I’m still planning on going for a walk this afternoon.  It is warm here though so it shouldn’t be too bad… I’ll just make sure to get in bed early.

I’m so glad you all decided to stick around!  I can’t imagine doing it without you.  Like Tice said, the online support is amazing!  It is so nice to be able to post my successes, questions, concerns, and trials without judgment.  And I feel like I have actually developed friendships here… thank you! 

I’ll try to check back in later this evening!

Fanitma((((((()))))))I know that abbreviations are popular in the dorms...we got a WL (whole list) of them the the beginning of NBU.  I was NIM(not in the military) so IGC (i get confused) sometimes.  It is not YF(your fault) that I got BF(boy friend) confused with BF(best friend) or FTM(for that matter) DS(dear son) I just don't PA (pay attention) like I should.    I am JG (just glad) there is not an abbreviation for dogs....or is there??? FS (Fantimas Spatz) or is it SF (Spatzes Fantima)? (question mark)  I STL  (suspect the latter)  I SC (stand corrected) will BRB and see you in the AM  after my BM>>>>K? or ASAP