PROVIDA SUPPORT COMMUNITY

LLARA~ SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. GUESS YOU ARE READING AND POSTING STILL. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT MAYBE MR PIBBS WILL WORK OUT IN THE END AFTER ALL.  GOOD LUCK AND MAYBE TAKING CARE OF THE HORSES WILL HELP JOSE LET GO OF BEING A BOSS OVER HIS BROTHER. GIVE HIME SOME HEALTHY RESPONSIBILITY AND SOMETHING ELSE TO LOVE AND CARE FOR. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST.  TO BE TRUTHFUL, MY MENU WAS CLEAN BUT MY FRIDGE/CLOSETS ARE NOT 100 % YET.  HOPING YOU WILL HAVE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF IN BETWEEN ALL THE ACTIVITY IN YOUR HOME. WHAT IS A PLAYSCAPE? LIKE THE OLD SWING SETS WITH ADDED CLIMBING ON THINGS? THAT WILL CERTAINLY KEEP THEM BUSY. HOPE YOUR HIP GETS SOME RELIEF AND WILL FEEL BETTER. HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.

WENT FOR A RIDE AND DID SOME STUFF IN THE OFFICE. NOW I AM GOING TO TIDY UP MY "HOTSPOTS"AS FLYLADY CALLS THEM.  TRYING TO KEEP TO MY GOAL LIST FOR JUNE/JULY.  I CANNOT BELIEVE TOMORROW IS JULY FIRST!!! YIKES!!! THE SUMMER IS FLYING BY ME AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!! MAYBE I BETTER GET BACK OUTSIDE! LOL AVE A GREAT DAY.

Hi,

LLARA, HOW LUCKY TO GET A PLAYSCAPE FOR FREE; THEY CAN'T BE CHEAP, ARE THEY?  GLAD TO HEAR THINGS ARE CALMING DOWN A LITTLE.  DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT YOUR HIP IS STILL BOTHERING YOU SO BADLY.

MEL, I READ A CHAPTER IN "ENTHUSIASM MAKES THE DIFFERENC." OF COURSE THE FIRST CHAPTER IS JUST AN INTRO. HERE'S SOME QUOTES FROM IT:  EMERSON--"NOTHING GREAT WAS EVER ACHIEVED WITHOUT ENTHUSIAM."  ALFRED KREBS (PROPRIETOR OF GRAND HOTEL REGINA IN GRINDELWALK, SWITZERLAND--AT LEAST WHEN THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN):  "THERE CAN BE NO SUCCESS WITHOUT ENTHUSIAM.  THE SECRET OF A FULL LIFE IS LOTS OF ENTHUSIAM, THE KIND THAT KEEPS YOU FIGHTING AND WINNING OVER ALL OBSTACLES--AND ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF IT."     OF COURSE THE WHOLE POINT OF CHAPTER ONE WAS THAT ENTHUSIASM TRULY MAKES THE DIFF. BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE; BETWEEN ENJOYING LIFE FOR BEING BORED AND UNHAPPY.    WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR CHAPTER YESTERDAY?

I HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED MUCH YET TODAY.  I'M OFF THIS WEEK; TOM. I THINK I'LL GO SHOPPING IN OMAHA--MOSTLY JUST ENJOYING DOING WHATEVER I WANT.  IF IT'S NOT TOO HOT I PLAN TO GO TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.  IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

I MUST PLAN MY MENU TODAY AND DO A DAY OF BANDS.  TALK TO YOU LATER.

Sue and Mel I understand about the hormones.  Some day I look forward to not having them so bad.  LOL! 

I agree Sue that I am not nearly as miserable when I follow the program.  When I overeat my tummy reacts badly and it doesn't go away.  I actually ended up with heartburn one day last week and I never get heartburn when I follow the program.  Don't understand why I don't get it.

I was sitting eating mindlessly one night, don't remember which, when my brain kicked in.  What I realized is I am finding very little pleasure in life right now and food seems to be the one thing that is giving me pleasure.  Yes I love my grandchildren and we do have good days but Jose and William are out of control most of the time so there is constantly someone in trouble, whining or being defiant.  I need to stop letting that get me down and eating mindless me because I definitely am not getting any pleasure from gaining weight or feeling physically and mentally bad.

Mel I don't let Jose do much more than just ride Pibbs because he isn't always nice and there can be dangerous consequences to not being nice to a horse, not to mention messing the horse up.  Jose hit Peek with a strap while I was putting the harness on and I almost ended up with a horse on top of me, the cart stopped it.  I am hoping receiving the pleasure that a horse can give like ridding and driving will somehow make him nice to them. 

Playscapes vary wildly in price depending on quality and what comes with them.  The boys playscape has two swings, a fort that is up in the air that the slide comes off and under the fort is a sand box, monkey bars and a built in bench for us to sit on.  The back has a wall so that the sand box is shaded most of the day and doesn't have direct sun light because the fort is above it.  They can range in price from $600 - $2,500 dollars, just depends on what you want.  I have the feeling the one we have was right around $800 to $1000.  Its made from the same materials you would use on a deck so its sturdy.  We are going to invest in a canvas slide cover to keep the slide cool and hopefully make Jose feel safe because he is afraid of it.  We also want canvas to go over the fort area and potentially lattice and a a door to keep the chickens and other animals out of the sand.   I would like a rock climbing type slope for the boys to climb to get up to the fort because I don't like what it has now, not safe enough for me.  Everything in time but they are really enjoying it. 

SUE~ ENTHUSIASM!! EVEN THE WORD GETS ME MOTIVATED. I WISH I COULD INJECT ENTHUSIASM INTO MY DAUGHTER!! SHE'S MORE LIKE HER DAD.  YOU GOT A LOT DONE TOO. I AM GLAD WE ARE DOING A CHALLENGE  THIS WEEK.  I READ MY 2ND VERSE AND AM  TRYING TO DIGEST IT. THIS BOOK WILL HELP ME IN A LOT OF AREAS I AM "TOO STRONG" IN...LIKE BEING JUDGEMENTAL!! LOL  I  LIKED YOUR QUOTES. ENJOY THE SHOPPING TRIP!! KEEP US POSTED ON THE PURCHASES! I CAN SHOP VICARIOUSLY!! IT'S SO MUCH CHEAPER!!  HOW DID THE LIST GO FOR GETTING ORGANIZED? I STUCK MINE IN MY JOURNAL SO I SEE IT EVERY DAY!

LLARA~  THANKS FOR BOTH EXPLANATIONS! I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT THE DANGERS WITH THE ANIMALS SIZE OR JOSE'S TEMPERMENT!!!! YIKES!! CAN YOU TELL I HAVE BECOME A CITY GAL??? ROFL  THE PLAYSCAPE SOUNDS GREAT AND IT WAS SO NICE TO HAVE GOTTEN IT. HOPE THEY LOVE IT. WHEN YOU CANNOT FIND HAPPINESS...COME HERE AND WE WILL SHOWER YOU WITH LOVE AND ATTENTION. WHEN YOU GO HOME FOR THE WEEKEND, TAKE US HOME WITH YOU IN YOUR HEART. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH LONG DISTANCE!  WE ALL REALIZE WHAT A CHALLENGE THIS LIVING SITUATION IS FOR BOTH YOU AND DH. I AM HOPING THAT GOD IS PAYING ATTENTION IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS. ((((HUG))))

I GOT NERVOUS FOR A MOMENT TODAY...THERE IS A DRIVER ON VACATION THIS WEEK AND I WAS AFRAID TRADER JOE'S WOULD BE CANCELLED. BUT MY DRIVER JUST CALLED AND SAID IT'S STILL ON!! YAY!! I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT ON THE 13TH THEY ARE GOING TO THE MALL THAT HAS THE NEW WHOLE FOODS THAT OPENED UP A MONTH OR SO AGO.  GOING TO STICK MY NAME ON THE LIST!! I STILL HAVE TO FINISH PEDALSING AND WASH MY HAIR. EVERY TIME I GO OUT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE AIR THAT ITCHES THE BEJESUS OUT OF ME!!!!

Cindy welcome back and look forward to your posts.  Personally I am struggling right now myself but I am trying to keep from gaining back all I lost until I get myself back on track.  Just posting here makes me feel like I am not giving up and keeps me a little motivated. 

Mike that was an expensive hotel.  I know sometimes you have to pay that price just to have a place to stay that doesn't have bugs climbing on the walls.  We stayed at a Motel 6 in Pennsylvania and DH warned me that it might not be good.  I thought, right.  Yep bugs like moths and flys were in the room.  I was almost afraid to go to sleep.   The bad part is we just left a Best Western that we stayed at the night before that was really nice.  I guess you get what you pay for.

So my weight is up but I am not willing to admit how much.  Doc has me on some hormone pills, TOM is here and my eating has been out of control.  So I will wait to post to see what happens.  I am hoping bloat is playing a factor.  I will say I will take Mikes 3 lbs over what I saw any day.

Used to be I was able to hold it together at work but even here I haven't been able to do it lately.  People bring in ICK, I eat it.  I buy ICK out of the machine.  I drink ICK which is not normal at all.  So step by step I will get back on track.  Today no ICK here at work or drinking ICK.  I am drinking water and I will get in 100 oz one way or another.  Lately about 40 oz if I am luck.  The rest of the time is soda and coffee.  Need to break that.

Have to go for now and I will talk to you all later.  

Hi,

Well, I think I lost my post (I hate that)

Llara, the sad part of overeating for me is it really doesn't give me much if any pleasure.  Even fancy dessert type stuff.

Mel, I worked in the garden today but need to either walk or bands tonight. I'll shop for you tom. too. 

Sorry I didn't come back sooner to post.  I haven't posted in so long that I really forgot about it!  Thanks for the welcome back ladies.  I see we have at least one gentleman here.  I look forward to getting to know you Mike and getting back into the groove of the 6WBM.

Food has been good for me.  Supper is my enemy at the present time.  I'm struggling with some anxiety today, but I'm determined to go get on that treadmill in a few minutes.  It may settle me down.

Sue-I have my natural color now.  I haven't colored in about 2 or 3 years.  Even then I had only a highlight for the summer time.  It's too expensive to color so until I get gray I'll stick with my natural self.  Most people think I've colored it and complement me on the color. LOL  It looks like an expensive color, but it's free!

OK, I'll do my best to keep posting often and bring in some motivational posts and articles for you.  I've recently signed up on facebook and it's a bit addictive at the moment.  Guess the newness has to wear off.

hey guys

Still around. Has been a really rough week. MIL still staying with us and really really getting on my nerves. Kids home for the summer and as Llara well knows , lots of fighting and bit on3es hitting the little one so that is always going on. Rebecca was sick these days so was up around 3 to 4am, that is always fun. My eating, way out of control. Guess I feel everything else is out of control and still no job and my eating has joined forces with it. Goodness, I feel like an alkie! But I keep trying. Weighed in today fo rthe first time because my mil has radar hearing like a bat. I get up and she is up within minutes of me so makes it hard to weigh in plus she is nosy like you would not beleive and will et over and see how much I weigh. I have gained like you would not beleive these few weeks but again, getting back on the horse today so shall have to keep on it. Telling myself that i just have to go 42 days to make it so I am trying to do that. Feeling a b it better but having a lot of troublew because I* am a pe4rson that needs at least 15 min or so time by myself with nobody around and I haven't havd that for some weeks. Go to the bathroom and little one follows me. Get up early in the morning and there is mil and she stays in the house all day so no getting away from her unless I go out and can't go out because the kids are here. At night, she goes to bed ande then DH is right there with me to take a bath and get to bed. Has been rough but today I am really giving it a try. Have too.

Rachel

LLARA~ YOU WILL HAVE TO JOIN SUE AND I IN  OUR "NO MORE ICK FEST" MANTRA. CHANT IT EVERY DAY WITH US!!

CINDY~ JEN & I HAVE ANXIETY PROBS TOO. HOPE YOU CAN GET RID OF YOURS OR GET IT UNDER CONTROL. NOT A NICE FEELING. GLAD YOU ARE BACK. EVERYONE I KNOW IS ON FACE BOOK!! ALL OF THEM ARE ADDICTS NOW!! YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPANY!! ROFL MIKE AND I USED TO BE ON A "C BODY" THREAD LONG AGO. I WAS HAPPY HE FOUND ME AGAIN.

SUE~ HOPE WE BOUGHT SONETHING NICE IN OMAHA! I WILL GET SOME STUFF FOR YOU AT TRADER'S ON THURSDAY! WE'RE HAVING A GOOD SHOPPING WEEK!  I CAN SEND YOU LOTS OF WATER FOR YOUR GARDEN TOO!

RACHEL...I AM SO SORRY YOU'RE GOING THRU SO MUCH AND ALL AT ONE TIME. SOMETIMES LIFE GETS ALL BALLED UP AND TANGLED. HOPE YOU DO GET BACK TO BASICS BEFORE YOU MAKE YOURSELF SICK OVER EVERYTHING. SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A NANNY FOR EVERYONE...INCLUDING THE MIL AND THE DH!! 
GOOD MORNING. HAPPY WEDNESDAY AND HAPPY JULY!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S JULY ALREADY? DANG!!  I HAVE SOME WORK FOR TODAY AND MAY NOT BE BACK TILL AFTER TRADER JOE'S TOMORROW. IN THE MEANTIME I PACKED MY STUFF UP AND EVERYTHING IS READY TO HEAN & EAT. I'VE GOTTEN IN THE HABIT OF PUTTING ALL MY GLADWARE SERVINGS INTO A CONTAINER IN THE FRIDGE FOR EACH DAY. NOW IF I COULD JUST STOP THE NIBBLING BEFORE AND AFTER DINNER.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Hi,

Rachel, I can understand how you feel as I need and I mean need my own time and space.  sounds to me like you need to resume walking and at least daily.  Leave the kids with MIL (maybe she won't like that so much and she'll go home faster) or your DH.  Either way you MUST have time to yourself.  Impress that on DH one way or another.  Don't wait for their approval; just do it. I don't think just talking to your MIL about "your space/time" would do anything, right? as that would be  foreign thinking to her.

You're the CEO of the house it sounds like to me.  So organize them.  You're a very strong woman;  get a plan (for them) and have them hop to it.  esp the kids. Plan them some sensible meals--OP no less, but don't tell them. 

I know, easy for me to say.  Are you drinking your water?  I had gotten down to maybe 1-1.5 liters per day.  Often I think I'm hungry but just thirsty.

You know, after telling Llara I don't really get that much pleasure out of eating/overeating anymore (for the most part) I am beginning to wonder why I overeat?  Why do you?  I want to eat when I'm stressed; sometimes for boredom.  It's sad to think I don't even enjoy all the calories.

Don't wait til you get a job/visa to settle down and do for yourself.  You can control you; you know you can; you've done it before.  You can't control the job, etc.  Rachel if nothing else you'd feel so much better.

For all the things I did right last week I only lost net loss 1.5#. Still eating too much (and forgive me, Mel, too much ick).  But I'm plugging along and I'm at 170 this am.  This bod just has to get into the 160's as I'm so sick of the 170's.

Have a very very good day.

I just became a "fan" of 6WBM on Facebook!  It's really neat to be able to socialize with friends and family and more.

So glad it's Wednesday.  Just checked in with my boss to be sure, but we are planning to be OFF this Friday!  Yipee!!!  So, tomorrow is my Friday.

I appologize, but I don't know where I got this post so I don't know who to give credit to.  I hope you get alot out of it, I just did.

My top ten tips for staying on track!!

1. Don't consider eating off plan food. Once you can begin to explain to yourself how to eat this off plan food and that off plan food... you train yourself to believe your rationalizations. The way the POPpers stay POP is they don't even consider it. Candy in the office. So what? Fast food. So What? Kids left Macaroni and Cheese on their plates? So What. It is not an option for them.

2. Fully accept that every time you go off plan, you reintroduce those cravings back into your palette. Then it is at least 3 DAYS of being POP before your cravings go away. Ugh. So not worth it! It doesn't take much off plan food to totally start the craving cycle up again. For some of us (and you know who you are) it only takes one bite!!

3. If you DO go off program, GET BACK ON 100%. This is VITAL. If you can go off for some reason but then get back on 100%... you build your confidence and your own self trust. If you go off and can't fully get back program, it is easy to start berating yourself and saying things like... "Once I go off, I just can't get back on! What is wrong with me?" That only hurts your psyche and your self esteem. Going off but then getting right back on, facing those 3 days of cravings, and totally committing to POP is an amazing gift to give yourself.

4. Face the tough situations with a plan and be determined to SUCCEED in them no matter what. Do a few practice runs. If you are in NBU, tell your NBU dorm what you are going to do and tell them you will report into them. Or a POP or 100% thread. Go to a movie with just water (and a protein bar if you want one) and see the movie WITHOUT going off plan. Go to a restaurant. I go to Ruby Tuesdays and order their smart eating steak or chicken, steamed broccoli, and baked potato. No added oils, salts, or butters. I tell them to rinse off the Broccoli because they get it shipped to them already buttered. I eat out about once a week to every 10 days. JUST TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I CAN.

5. Join a POP thread. Seriously. Seeing the commitment of those POPpers is really helpful.

6. Here is the thing that totally clinched it for me. My very first day back on program, I found a success story named Tillya. She started at about the exact same weight I did. She lost her weight in 18 weeks and looks AMAZING. I decided to see her secret for success. I read every single one of her last 100 posts. (Found in her profile.) Every one. Her secret? She was POP. Period. She went from very "fluffy" to put it nicely to very athletic looking in 18 weeks. Her sculpting and exercise secret? The program. I was converted. Totally and completely converted. If she could do it 100% POP... so could I.

7. Use a mantra to get you through it. I loved one that I read here in someone's signature and use it all the time. My own version, of course. No tweaking, No excuses, No enabling, No quitting. No tweaking, No excuses, No enabling, No quitting. It really does help. Right now I am in my 2nd 6 weeks and so far in this 2nd six weeks I am up to 32 out of 35 days POP. And trust me... whatever I ate on those 3 days not on plan wasn't worth it.

8. Believe that you can do it. You can, you know! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

9. I don't know how much of my success is due to the SMART tapes. But I brainwash myself constantly. I listen to the SMART tapes. I play the success cd's. I have Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight loss Solution on book and tape. I have a book called the Thin Commandments and another one called Thin for Life that I read all the time. I am rewriting my thinking completely! I am becoming thin from the inside out! My head is already there. My body is just catching up!!

10. No matter what happens... stay on the boards. Keep coming back and reading and posting until you find the thread or the message or the person who says the thing that helps your brain "click" into place. Someone here has the wisdom and knowledge you need combined with the ability to say it in the way you need to hear it. Keep hunting until you find them!

LONGER DAY THAN I THOUGHT. FEELS GOOD TO GET UNDRESSED AND READY FOR A SHOWER BEFORE THIS LIGHNING GETS GOING. ALMOST HERE. I JUST HEARD THE FIRST RUMBLE. YIKES. GOTTA GO. SEE YA TOMORROW AFTER SHOPPING.

NICE QUOTE FROM THE BOARDS CINDY.

SUE...WAZZUP LADY?  HOW IS THE DAY GOING FOR YOU? I WILL THINK OF YOU IN TRADER JOES...SEND ME YOUR LIST!! LOLOLOLOL

Hi,

Cindy, I want to print that POP stuff off and read it very often. 

Mel, here's what we did today.  We had a lovely day. Relaxing.  After running a few errands we ended up a the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens in Omaha (you should go online and read about it).  We walked pretty fast most of the time but I slowed down to read all the names and smell the various roses in the rose garden.  I really love roses, esp when they are fragrant.  There was a cool breeze when we started but by noon it was getting pretty hot.  Left to go look at sofa beds.  I want one in my spare bedroom and get rid of  the queen bed that's hogging much of the room.  Seems like a full or queen runs about $700.  The saleslady (Patty) didn't recommend futons or flip flop sofas.  I hadn't ever seen a ff sofa.  You can fold them up, down flat, or reverse the seat and back.  Sofa beds are more comfortable.   then we went to Penzey's Spices and bought a few things.  Then I bought a new pair of walking shoes.  I was ticked.  My discover card rejected.  When I got to the car i called them.  The security division shut the card off.  I had used it over the phone at home this am to buy tickets to Larry the Cable Guy at memorial stadium in Lincoln for July 4th--$6 each.  He's doing a special show because  he's a huge Husker football fan.  (He's from Pawnee city, ne--in SE NE--about 45 miles from me).  I can't believe they're letting him do it at Memorial Stadium because it never gets used for anything but Husker football and maybe the NE high school all star game.  It will be taped to air on Comedy Central in January. Then I stopped in NE city at the outlet mall and used my card twice--about $20 and $10, then at Penzey's in Omaha--another $20-- and then tried to use at the shoe place.  If you had stole a credit card would you be spending 10 and 20 dollars or hundreds of dollars?  I thought shutting it off was stupid and of course a little embarassing. They turned it back on.

By now I was sure getting hungry so ate at the food bar at Whole Foods.  Then bought some produce--mostly lettuces and carrots with the tops on.  Bought a couple pounds of lean gr beef, rice cakes, wild rice/brown rice combo, rice pasta.

Then we went to a big mall:  Younkers and Dillards--dept stores.  I don't think you have them back east.  Anyway, lots of stuff on sale.  Many things 50-70% off the clearance price (just on end of the year type stuff).  dillards even had that plus another 30% if you used your dillards card.  I bought a bunch of socks, some with rubber bottoms--for ladies in a nursing home.  These were only two dollars less another thirty percent

Only thing i bought was a bra and then ran out of time and headed home>  I really wanted to stay and keep looking at everything

oh I forgot to tell you about a pair of bright orange "crock type" shoes i bought for fifteen dollars>  my DD would flip if she saw them.  It doesn't matter what color they are as I NEVER where them away from home. NEVER.

Hello girls

Today is a much better day. MIL went back to her home for a few days and let me tell you, the difference!! Wow, She really isn’t a horrible woman but sh3e is like ex lax, only good in small doses. Heheh. Ok, another topic. Feeling better and it was great to get up this morning and just be by myself , really great. Today is my bd so I ordered my cake (nope, will not eat it but the kids want it) Don’t know if MIL will be back tonight because she has to have help right now because she had a major operation last month

Sue, I wish I could leave the kids and go but MIL can’t really do much at this time because she is not allowed to do a lot right now and DH is never home because this is the busiest time of the year so just do’t have the time for myself at this moment but hopefully can get it sooner or later. MIL will not be going back home till Sept. I think she went hom3e for a few days this time because she was getting on my nerves and the kids so bad. I have tri4ed to organize things for the kids but sometimes it doesn’t work espe3cially when little one busts in on things. She wants to be involved but the two big ones don’t want her. As for eating wise, My fil cooks actually and th3y would never eat like I eat because chinese love their oil an salt way too much .  I am not sure why I eat so much. A lot is boredom and stress, yes and maybe it is rebellion. I can’t control anything in my life right now but I can control what I eat so I “control” by overeating. Does that make sense? Sometimes it just is that I get tired of fighting so much in my life that I don’t feel like fighting overeating anymore. I don’t enjoy it that much. I feel terrible when I do it but I just keep doing it.  But I did do well yestereday. Did eat some tthings but nothing like I have beend oing. Today, going all out for POP. I do want to get control of myself no matter what is out of control.

Cindy Lou, like those tips!

Rachel

Rachel, I realize some of the Chinese people (more younger) are getting fat because of changing their eating habits but in general, how do so many of the Chinese in your area stay slim?  If you're going to live in that culture and eat in that culture, maybe going have to figure out how it can work for you.  What do you think?  Maybe you've already tried it and it didn't work.   As for eating because you can't control anything, that's me too.  I originally ate because that was one thing my mom couldn't control.  And I eat often from frustration.

so tell me one thing you could do amidst all the things you can't do.  Could you round up the kids and go walk or to the park, etc?  Get all your water in every day?  Glad to hear MIL went home for a few days.  Maybe you could try to have a talk with her.  Are you closer to your FIL?

today I walked for an hr in a nearby town.   Now I'm sitting in DH's office answering the phone while he's at a funeral. He's one of the team that shoots the guns as a tribute at the end of the funeral.  The man who died was 87 and must have served in the military.

Do you have your visa renewed yet?

SUE...WOW WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN OMAHA!! I CANS SEE ME RACING AROUND TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH YOU!! I BOOKMARKED THE GARDENS AND WILL "VISIT" THEM LATER ON TODAY. I LOVED OUR DAY!!  HERE IS OUR DAY IN NJ...WE GOT UP EARLY AND SPENT TIME GETTING THE SENIORS ORGANIZED FOR THE WEEKEND. TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY NEEDED SOMETHING DONE...THEN TODAY WAS THE DAY. WE GOT ON THE BUS AND  WILLY TOOK US TO TRADER JOE'S.  THERE WERE FRESH CUT FLOWERS RIGHT INSIDE THE ENTRANCE AND WE GOT A BUNDLE OF WILDFLOWERS TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY ROOM WHEN WE GOT HOME. AT TRADERS WE FILLED THE CART TO THE BRIM FOR THE MONTH OF JULY!  WE GOT PEACHES, SOFT LETTUCES, ROMA TOMATOES, SHELLED EDAME, BLUE AND STRAWBERRIES, GREEN PEPPERS  AND  SUNFLOWER SEEDS FOR MY COCKATIEL. HE'S GOING ORGANIC AS WELL! ROFL THEN WE BOUGHT ALMOST THE SAME LIST AS  WE DID IN OMAHA! ROFLMAO RICE CAKES, RICE PENNE PASTA, PEACH JUICE (NO SUGAR OR SALT)  GROIUND BEEF PATTIES, OREGANO, BASIL, RED PEPPER, CHICKEN BREAST, SMALL SIRLOIN  BEEF ROAST,  AND FROZEN VEGGIES.  NOT BAD HUH??? I AM SO GLAD  WE HAD SUCH A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!
I LOVE CROCS AND WEAR THEM EVERYWHERE. I HAVE 3 PAIR WITH LINERS FOR THE WINTER AND A LIGHTER PAIR  FOR THE SUMMER. MAYBE WE NEED MORE COLOR IN OUR LIVES!! LOL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
RACHEL~I AM SORRY ABOUT MISSING YOUR BIRTHDAY!! I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE 7TH NEXT WEEK?!?!   HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!  I AM GLAD THE EX-LAX WENT HOME FOR A FEW DAYS. HANG ON TO THE GOOD FEELING AND ENJOY EACH MINUTE. WE AS MOTHERS NEED TO LEARN TO ASK FOR HELP. IF WE DON'T....THEN PEOPLE TAKE US FOR GRANTED AND THINK WE ARE SUPER MOMS.  YOU'RE SUCH A SWEET PERSON  AND I THINK  THE MOM IS A BULLDOZER!!! I REALLY HOPOE THIS WEEK GOES BETTER AND YOU CAN FIND....OR RATHER MAKE THE TIME  TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. SENDING GOOD THOUGHTS AND HUGS YOUR WAY.  ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN-HOME TUTORING? WHERE DID I READ THAT? OR AM I THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE? GETTING OLD!!! LOL

I HAD A WONDERFUL WEEK. I HAVE READ MY VERSES EVERY DAY, WATCHED MY FOOD, DRANK MY WATER, EXERCISED,  MADE EXTRA CASH FOR SEPTEMBER, AND DID A LOT OF "FAVORS" FOR THE SENIORS.  I WENT TO TRADER JOE'S AND BOUGHT A KITCHEN FULL OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS. MOST OF THEIR STUFF IS LOW SALT AND SUGAR AS WELL. I STOCKED THE SHELVES THIS TIME SO WHEN I CANNOT COOK, (WHICH IS MORE OFTEN NOW) THERE ARE MUCH HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES THAN THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET OFFERS.  SUE'S POST A FEW DAYS AGO REALLY GOT ME TO SIT DOWN AND MAKE PLANS, FIND EASIER RECIPES,  AND GENERALLY JUST GET RE-ORGANIZED. . I HAVE BEEN POSTPONING THIS BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO ADMIT THAT THE WEAKNESS PROGRESSES AND I NEED TO MAKE CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS. I SAY THIS TODAY AND THEN TOMORROW I TRY TO PRETEND IT ISN'T HAPPENING!!   I AM FOREVER IN DENIAL!! ROFLMAO  BUT DENIAL HELPS ME GET OUT OF BED AND CARRY ON! SO IT'S USEFUL IN SOME SENSES.  I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER SINCE I AM GETTING FOOD, WATER AND EXERCISE GOING AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS AT A HIGH OF 189.5 LAST WEEK AND AM 187.5 TODAY.  HOPEFULLY I WILL GET THIS BLOATED CRAP OUT OF MY SYSTEM IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE 3 DAY HOLIDAY AND WILL USE EVERY MINUTE TO KEEP PLANNING MY MENU AND KEEPING TO THE CHALLENGE!!
HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Hi,

Rachel, i forgot to wish you happy birthday too.  How old are you now?  What did you get for your birthday?

Mel, I really enjoyed our day at Trader Joe's.  I just love that place--all the unusual stuff to look at.  How did you make money now for Sept??  As for denial of aging/progressive diseases, it's not such a bad thing.  A positive attitude accomplishes much.  Also the mind controls the body so how much thoughts and determination of healthiness overrides the diseases in the body? ?  It strengthens the immune system--a very good thing.  Plus we need to visualize, ie see ourselves healthier, younger, happy, calm, and at a heathy weight, etc--so that our subconscious comes to believe that image and work towards that end.  I could do much better in this area; I never have really put my subconscious to work except with my list of positive thoughts.  How about you?

I;ve gotten all my water in the last 2 days. Have walked at least an hr 4 days in a row.  I'm pretty sore so will only do  bands today.  I can see that there's no way I could exercise enough to eat too much  on a daily basis.  I'm reading my motivational book but not enough.  Today I'm studying the SD laws/statutes.  I had to take a break as my eyeballs were beginning to hang out.

It's kind of rainy today but hasn't actually rained much.  I wish it would as the top ground is very dry; plus if we got alot of rain I would pull my garlic.  That's so much easier than having to dig it. 

I'm making white chili for me for supper.  I ended up using some gr turkey I had made into taco meat.

talk to you later.

Llara, I have my guineas locked up in their house because I've lost 4 of them in the last week or so.  I don't want to lose anymore.  Plus something scared momma and she's not sitting on her huge nest of eggs.  And here i was all worried about what i was going to do with all those guineas.

I JUST FINISHED IN THE KITCHEN. GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS AND MADE SOME SPAG. SAUCE. THEN STEAMED SOME VEGGIES. THE BLDG IS LIKE A MORGUE...SOOOO QUIET!  THE ONLY NOISE WAS THE CONSTRUCTION BEHIND ME.  SEEMS LIKE THE DAY FLEW BY AGAIN. I WANT THIS WEEKEND TO GO SLOWLY!!!  WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO ANOTHER WHOLE FOODS ON THE 13TH..I PUT MY NAME ON THE TENTATIVE LIST AGAIN FRIDAY. WE'LL SEE. I CAN SEE THAT I COULD GO BROKE IN THAT STORE TOO!! I FOGOT TO SAY I BOUGHT A TANGERINE SUGAR SCRUB AT TRADER'S. SMELLS DELISH!

SUE~ IT IS OFTEN SAID IN TOWN THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR! PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF MY OPTIMISM BUT IT GOT ME THIS FAR AND THRU A HORRIBLE 8YR MARRIAGE AS WELL AS HAVING LACK OF CARING FAMILY. I AM FOREVER EITHR SINGING OR LAUGHING. SO NO PROB THERE FOR ME. MY ONLY PROBLEM IS  I DON'T THINK BEFORE I ACT. NOW WITH THINGS LIKE YESTERDAY'S AMMONIA...THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I NEED TO SLOW DOWN A TAD. ROFLMAO  I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY LIST OF ANXIETY STUFF. MAKING SLOW PROGRESS.  THIS WEEK I WAS WONDERING IF I WILL EVER CHANGE FROM THIS VOLUNTEERING NUT AND SLOW DOWN.  I THINK IT'S GENETIC. ROFLMAO
YOUR WEEK SOUNDS GOOD WITH WATER, BOOK ETC.  I HAD FORGOTTEN YOU STILL HAVE THE OTHER TEST TO GO THRU.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT OR WHEN THE MAMA HEN GOT SCARED? POOR THING.   HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

TOMORROW THE FIRE WORKS ARE ON THE HUDSON RIVER. THE TOWN IS CLOSING THE ROADS OFF BEGINNING AT NOON. THERE SHOULD BE A DELUGE OF PEOPLE HERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUTSIDERS OFF ALL THE ROOFTOPS OF ALL THE HIGHRISES. THERE ARENT ENOUGH PEEPS TO DO THIS I DON'T THINK. OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE OF FIGHTS, OVER DRINKING ETC. FUN RIGHT? LOL SO JUST IN CASE IT GETS BUSY OVER HERE AND I NEED TO LOAD MY MUSKET AND MARCH IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY  & A SAFE TRAVELING FORTH OF JULY WEEKEND!!

Good morning to you all.

Well, countdown is to 38 days left and counting down. Not too bad and feeling much better about myself./ Better then the ick, the loss of pounds an dinches  is the feeling of control. I am tryng to do like soul and be positive to myself an dkeep telling myse4lf, I can do this! Today is Sat for me, July the 4^th but of course, we do nothing for it here. Perhaps I will be back in the States next year for it, that would be a blast!

Sue, Since being here I have to say the chinese are slim I would say mostely because of genetics, really. I can eat the same thing they eat but gain a lot more. But , that being said, it is how much and what they eat also. Although they do use a lot of oil and salt, their food is so much healthier then our food. We use lots of butter, flour, cheese , mayo and sauce wherein they don’t. We sit down and eat something over 1000 caloriews in one sitting for a main meal and then follow that with dessert that is probably another 800 calories if at a restaurant. But here, dessert is fruit if at a banquet. If at home, there is no dessert, no snacking and so on. I watch the girls while they eat and they honestly don ‘t eat that much. Of course, the men eat more but that is usual for any country. But the girls just don’t that much. The younger generation is getting heavier now becauwse of he snacking. After school, they hit the small stores and buy ice cream, bread, cookies and so on and this is cuasing the kids to get heavier. The older generation and my husband’s gen. Really don’t do much in eating ice cream, cake and sweet things. For instance, my bd we have a cake. Only the kids ate it. My fil/mil did not touch it nor did my husband or his cousin. So, genetics plays a part in it but also what they don’t eat, junk!   Now, at the school, the teacherw always had some kind of snack food there but there was also lots of fruit. When they snacked, it was one piece, one time. Not a whole package like I would do

Can’t really talk to mil about the way she is because she can’t change. Her mother is like that and worse. She has always been like that and interpretes it as care and love. I can’t take that away from her. She knows it bothers everyoen and everyone, inclucing her kids, get frustrated with her but that is alll you an do is deal with it. As for a visa, no, haven’t gotten one yet. I should hear from one school on Monday if they want me but it is a middle school and I hate middle school! But a job is a job. The college will not give m an answer till August, don’t know if I want to wait that long.  Thanks for the bd wishes. I am 35 now but feeling 23. Age doesn’t bother me so much. The kids gave me a painted pic  and pens. From others, nothing. They don’t realy give things for bds here

Mel, crocs are popular here also. My smallest one has a pair for inside the house but they are so light. Your grocery list sounds great, send some of that over here! Nope, bd is the 2^nd actually but don’t worry, it isn’t a huge thing so just hand over the cake and nobody gets hurt , hehehe

Yes, mil did go home and should be back in a few days but the breather is heaven sent!  I am trying to find time for myself but the kids needs so much time also and having trouble with son and him being rebellious. I know there is a cause but have to find what it is . He wants to go out side and play all th time but doesn’t realize that is hard to do .

Yes, doing in home tutoring but in their home. The son is going to america to study high school on the 20^th. Good money and I am acutally setting it aaside for the kids. Shhh, DH doesn’t know.