M2G

I had a fantastic weekend, the dog and I drove upstate and we went to 7 different national and state wildlife reserves to birdwatch. Heavenly.....except for the doggie who was completely mental most of the time. She would wine, pant, bark and generality beg on me for food and who knows what most of the time. Usually she runs out of steam and just wants a ride in the dog stroller or dog pappoose (sp?) but not this time, she wanted to walk all of the time... that goes for when she was in the car as well. When we got home, she crashed for 12 hours in her bed.... little ragbag almost became cougar food!
It was beautiful though, lots of nature, and the fields and fields of walnut trees, alfalfa and other crops were beautiful too. BUT I ate at restaurants the whole time, with Starbucks in-between for coffee/pastery and wifi... I gained 2 pounds Fasting today.... Mom in law coming tomorrow.... wish me luck!

Y'all look great! What fun. Leaving for Disneyworld Friday!

Morning Gang!
Just returned from So Cal yesterday - we had a great time. I think I might have mentioned last week that we were attending a close friends wedding, and sneaking off to Disneyland for a day without telling the kids we were going (these kids are adults lol).
I made fairly decent food choices - and have been really watching the baked goods/rice/pasta/candy types of carbs recently and it feels like it has made a huuuuge difference in how I feel mentally, emotionally. physically. Feels like my sleeve has gotten a serious reset as there were meals that I could only eat about 3 bites and I was done. Yay for renewed restriction!
Starting the new job this week so I am going to see what days will be good for fasting after my first experience with that - maybe Wednesday - just working on awareness and keeping my energy up - on Thursday at Disney it was 90 degrees - and I was exhausted most of the afternoon - I was hydrating like crazy, but I also have to take Klonopin to ride in the car because of PTSD (from a horrific accident I was involved in in the late 80's that put me in the hospital and out of work for a year) - I am thinking this might have had an impact on my energy - and I have been slacking on Vitamins, coming off of my period, etc. Got a good nights sleep and feel good today.
I have yet to weigh in today - feeling a bit nervous because when I ride on airplanes I puff up like a puffer fish lol. Think I will drink oceans today and weigh in tomorrow morning.
Florinda - I have read many books on disordered eating, Geneen Roth is one of the big authors, but honestly I don't feel as if I have ever gotten much from her stuff (my therapists were big on her work) - I actually like the work of Judith S. Beck Ph.D. - she wrote The Beck Diet Solution, has workbooks etc - don't worry about the word diet - its more about cognitive retraining of your brain. I also like the literature from Overeaters Anonymous - because I am addicted to certain foods and tend to abuse them - just like a bad alcoholic, I can go on a bender and not know when to stop. I have gone to a few meetings, but have yet to find my tribe with that group so to speak. I like the message they have - one day at a time - which is what this is for me for sure.
Here are some pics from our trip - I have been feeling huge, I guess the photos seem to say otherwise - I have pretty bad dysmorphia - was the only woman at the wedding not wearing a dress - wore white capri pants because after trying on my Shapewear I thought I was going to pass out - it was like being full body squeezed by a boa constrictor - and I wanted to be comfortable. I will just get looser flowy things until I can have the skin issues addressed - its like wearing a backpack of pizza dough backwards on my front lol.
I actually saw a pic from someone else of my backside at the wedding and it wasn't too bad - which is crazy to me!
Check out the pic of the woman in front of us on the Space Mountain ride - mind you this was at 8:30 a.m. so it must have been a bit shocking to her lol. The gentleman I am with is my hubby who also had sleeve surgery two weeks before myself - we've lost a similar amount of weight.

Loved The Maze Runner! And I the same way! Used to ignore the popcorn. Not now. ????

Well I had 2 "loose" fast days this past week, I say "loose" because I didn't actually count calories, it was a guesstimate. Maybe I will up the ante this week and actually COUNT calories on my fast days!
Chip Butty...sounds interesting. Much more interesting than vegemite (not sure I spelled that correctly) but that stuff sounds positively yucky to me. LOL!!!
Went to the movies with the family (Maze Runner, oldest dd has read ALL the books...new one to come out in 2016) and really enjoyed the movie. Bummed that I have to wait a year for the next movie. May have to crumble and read the books. lol. Anyway, ate popcorn, AND licorice. Sheesh. Back in my days of being strict I would have smuggled in a Protein Bar and a bottle of Water. ha ha ha that feels like eons ago!

Well, you always have been "famous" to us, so no surprise there!

Check out this article on Governor Christie and the Lap-Band. Feeling a little famous at the moment

I'll take your word for it, Cathy!

And I'm just gonna be honest here, Monday is not Looking like a good day for a weigh in. Lol

Yu yuk!!!!!! ????
 
Now, I've eaten BUTTER sandwiches as a child and love French fries but um, gulp.... ????

hahahahaaaaaaa - the chip butty is such as delicacy! Pure indulgence - it is my kind of naughty food! And I totally crumbled to it last night - and Yes brown sauce and real welsh butter too....hahahhahaaaa! The problem I have is that I don't feel one ounce of guilt either... not sure if that is good or bad - perhaps I have overcome the demons of guilt related to food. I ate it cos I wanted it, not cos I was stressed or upset etc!
Same will go for tonight - I will enjoy every drink and dance like no one is watching. I think as I move forward in my forties, I am realising that we have to LIVE!
Have a great weekend everyone xx

Thanks ladies - I am defo gonna enjoy the drinkies and will raise a glass to my 5:2 crew. Talking of which, today has been a complete disaster! I totally refused the cakes in work - there were reems of them; all colours, flavours and toppings. They all looked delish! But I didn't cave in,,, had chicken salad for lunch. Then got home and the kids wanted chips - oh the smell! I caved in and had a chip butty (sandwich)...grrrr! Well over my fast allowance now! Looks like Sunday will have to be a low cal low carb day for sure!

Hey! You lot are rocking the 5:2!
Didn't have porridge after Monday - ended up having baked toms and egg muffins with a bit of cheese... delish!
Next fast is tomo - was going to do today but we are having cake day as a fund raiser in school and I don't want to eat cake so the fast is a great excuse not too - although I will donate.
And I am going out Sat for a few drinkies with the girls. I am celebrating - I applied for a promotion in work and I got it! Yeh, at last, they've recognised my hard work... so it will be a cider filled day/evening hence the fast tomo - might even attempt Sunday or go low cal?
For all those struggling - don't be a stranger! Here is a great place to come and have a chat. I love this group x

Lisa I've been away from the boards for a while and I'm sorry to learn of your loss. You wrote a beautiful poem and I can't even begin to imagine your pain. I'm just so sorry. Hugs.

Don't have much time, just popping in to say I did a fast day today, which was a yogurt, a Protein Bar, half a piece of toast, salad, and shredded pork (from my crockpot, yum) ....and a TON of water! Oh and coffee, oh and 2 pieces of small candy. Ugh. there you go.
Didn't track calories, but my estimation is probably ended around 700ish.
Thanks for the motivation ladies!!!

Don't have much time, just popping in to say I did a fast day today, which was a yogurt, a Protein Bar, half a piece of toast, salad, and shredded pork (from my crockpot, yum) ....and a TON of water! Oh and coffee, oh and 2 pieces of small candy. Ugh. there you go.
Didn't track calories, but my estimation is probably ended around 700ish.
Thanks for the motivation ladies!!!

Kim, my boy in Oxford (Richard) is studying Chemical Engineering. I am very proud of him as he studied so hard to get there. He told me when he was about 14 that he wanted to try for Oxford and I said why? I was just thinking of the statistics because for every 10 that apply only one gets selected and I was worried about dealing with the rejection. Bless him though he said "why can't that 1 be me" so I agreed and said whatever you want or need in terms of extra curricular in order to compete then I will support you. The rest is history he studied hard, played lots of sport, drama, singing and had time to be head boy of his school. That College got one good all rounder.
My other boy (Peter) is already an engineer, he studied Mechanical Engineering in Cardiff (shout out here for Coops) and he now lives in Bristol where he works on stress in airplane parts. It has taken a couple of years for him to establish himself but his life seems to be good at the moment.
I'm very lucky as it is only one hour for me to get to each of them so we can comfortably meet for lunch or dinner have a catch up and then I can get home.
I'm just going to clear out the fridge and make a shopping list so that I can have a good crack at the week. I know I have visitors but if I plan it well I should be able to cope.

Okay ladies, I'm going to try and commit to checking in here at LEAST once a week! With our crazy schedules and being gone 10+ hours a day for work, then lump another 3 hours for sports on top of that at least 3 nights a week...gah! No wonder I don't have time to sit here and visit, but I NEED this so I plan to carve out time for it at least once a week!
I definitely NEED a reboot. SO I'm down with what Georgia posted. I'll repaste it here for anyone who missed:
1. Commit to 5:2 week. REAL fast days
2. Set a Reasonable goal you want to reach/achieve. Even if just to get back on track.
3. Weigh in each week. Other group does Friday. So whatever y'all decide.
4. Be connected and help motivate each other in the next month toward healthy eating and lifestyle.
And I think Sept 22 is a great day to start so COUNT ME IN! I have GOT to get some of this regain weight off. It just keeps slowly creeping the wrong way and even after all the years of nutritional counseling, and dieting, and then having surgery, and on and on and on, you would *think* that taking it back off would be intuitive, but why is it so fricking fracking hard??? But I know 5:2 worked for me in the past, and I liked how I felt when I was actively doing the 5:2. So that is a good place for me to start.
Coops I missed you too! Thanks for saying that. Your daughter is just beautiful...you continue to inspire me my friend!
Kelly, I wish you the best of luck with the job search. It's SO easy to get down on yourself ...trust me I looked for a job for the whole 18 months that I went back to school and NOTHING, ZERO, NADA, until I found this job. It's HARD work looking for work. I hope the bookshop is IT for ya!
Kim, I'm so so so sorry about your mom. I can't begin to imagine the huge hole that leaves in your life. It's never easy stuff and I'm sorry I missed it and wasn't here for you but I'm glad there were others here to lean on.
Sheryl, I have totally missed out on the dating deal for you...who is Theo (just a recap please!) With all the dating, I wonder if you like dating so much or you really would like to settle down with that one special person? Not to be nosy, but I'm just curious if it's the thrill of dating or if you want that end result of something permanent? You don't have to answer, I'm just thinking out loud.
Florinda, speaking of dating, AWESOME way to see the new city, you are clever! I think I missed the boyfriend deal? He was no good? Glad you are getting out there, and hoping you eventually find that special person too! And no acid at all for me...ever. Just lucky but I think it is a big problem that you should not ignore.
Sarah, missed you girl...have you been able to get back to working out since plastics? YOU ARE SO SKINNY!!! Congrats on the plastics, you look fab!!!
Denise, sorry I missed the whole Bill thing too...is that on or off? Sorry to make everyone recap!
Dee...please come back and talk to us. Sometimes just talking it out helps. I'm sorry you are going through a miserable time. We are here for you (at least once a week. ) I'm having a miserable time with my weight, but my life is in a good spot. So I can see how having trouble in life, + trouble with weight can = misery. Hang in there please!!!
Wanda? Are you around?

Georgia, thanks for the reboot challenge. I NEED IT SO BADLY!!!!

Okay ladies, I'm going to try and commit to checking in here at LEAST once a week! With our crazy schedules and being gone 10+ hours a day for work, then lump another 3 hours for sports on top of that at least 3 nights a week...gah! No wonder I don't have time to sit here and visit, but I NEED this so I plan to carve out time for it at least once a week!
I definitely NEED a reboot. SO I'm down with what Georgia posted. I'll repaste it here for anyone who missed:
1. Commit to 5:2 week. REAL fast days
2. Set a Reasonable goal you want to reach/achieve. Even if just to get back on track.
3. Weigh in each week. Other group does Friday. So whatever y'all decide.
4. Be connected and help motivate each other in the next month toward healthy eating and lifestyle.
And I think Sept 22 is a great day to start so COUNT ME IN! I have GOT to get some of this regain weight off. It just keeps slowly creeping the wrong way and even after all the years of nutritional counseling, and dieting, and then having surgery, and on and on and on, you would *think* that taking it back off would be intuitive, but why is it so fricking fracking hard??? But I know 5:2 worked for me in the past, and I liked how I felt when I was actively doing the 5:2. So that is a good place for me to start.
Coops I missed you too! Thanks for saying that. Your daughter is just beautiful...you continue to inspire me my friend!
Kelly, I wish you the best of luck with the job search. It's SO easy to get down on yourself ...trust me I looked for a job for the whole 18 months that I went back to school and NOTHING, ZERO, NADA, until I found this job. It's HARD work looking for work. I hope the bookshop is IT for ya!
Kim, I'm so so so sorry about your mom. I can't begin to imagine the huge hole that leaves in your life. It's never easy stuff and I'm sorry I missed it and wasn't here for you but I'm glad there were others here to lean on.
Sheryl, I have totally missed out on the dating deal for you...who is Theo (just a recap please!) With all the dating, I wonder if you like dating so much or you really would like to settle down with that one special person? Not to be nosy, but I'm just curious if it's the thrill of dating or if you want that end result of something permanent? You don't have to answer, I'm just thinking out loud.
Florinda, speaking of dating, AWESOME way to see the new city, you are clever! I think I missed the boyfriend deal? He was no good? Glad you are getting out there, and hoping you eventually find that special person too! And no acid at all for me...ever. Just lucky but I think it is a big problem that you should not ignore.
Sarah, missed you girl...have you been able to get back to working out since plastics? YOU ARE SO SKINNY!!! Congrats on the plastics, you look fab!!!
Denise, sorry I missed the whole Bill thing too...is that on or off? Sorry to make everyone recap!
Dee...please come back and talk to us. Sometimes just talking it out helps. I'm sorry you are going through a miserable time. We are here for you (at least once a week. ) I'm having a miserable time with my weight, but my life is in a good spot. So I can see how having trouble in life, + trouble with weight can = misery. Hang in there please!!!
Wanda? Are you around?

Georgia, thanks for the reboot challenge. I NEED IT SO BADLY!!!!

Okay ladies, I'm going to try and commit to checking in here at LEAST once a week! With our crazy schedules and being gone 10+ hours a day for work, then lump another 3 hours for sports on top of that at least 3 nights a week...gah! No wonder I don't have time to sit here and visit, but I NEED this so I plan to carve out time for it at least once a week!
I definitely NEED a reboot. SO I'm down with what Georgia posted. I'll repaste it here for anyone who missed:
1. Commit to 5:2 week. REAL fast days
2. Set a Reasonable goal you want to reach/achieve. Even if just to get back on track.
3. Weigh in each week. Other group does Friday. So whatever y'all decide.
4. Be connected and help motivate each other in the next month toward healthy eating and lifestyle.
And I think Sept 22 is a great day to start so COUNT ME IN! I have GOT to get some of this regain weight off. It just keeps slowly creeping the wrong way and even after all the years of nutritional counseling, and dieting, and then having surgery, and on and on and on, you would *think* that taking it back off would be intuitive, but why is it so fricking fracking hard??? But I know 5:2 worked for me in the past, and I liked how I felt when I was actively doing the 5:2. So that is a good place for me to start.
Coops I missed you too! Thanks for saying that. Your daughter is just beautiful...you continue to inspire me my friend!
Kelly, I wish you the best of luck with the job search. It's SO easy to get down on yourself ...trust me I looked for a job for the whole 18 months that I went back to school and NOTHING, ZERO, NADA, until I found this job. It's HARD work looking for work. I hope the bookshop is IT for ya!
Kim, I'm so so so sorry about your mom. I can't begin to imagine the huge hole that leaves in your life. It's never easy stuff and I'm sorry I missed it and wasn't here for you but I'm glad there were others here to lean on.
Sheryl, I have totally missed out on the dating deal for you...who is Theo (just a recap please!) With all the dating, I wonder if you like dating so much or you really would like to settle down with that one special person? Not to be nosy, but I'm just curious if it's the thrill of dating or if you want that end result of something permanent? You don't have to answer, I'm just thinking out loud.
Florinda, speaking of dating, AWESOME way to see the new city, you are clever! I think I missed the boyfriend deal? He was no good? Glad you are getting out there, and hoping you eventually find that special person too! And no acid at all for me...ever. Just lucky but I think it is a big problem that you should not ignore.
Sarah, missed you girl...have you been able to get back to working out since plastics? YOU ARE SO SKINNY!!! Congrats on the plastics, you look fab!!!
Denise, sorry I missed the whole Bill thing too...is that on or off? Sorry to make everyone recap!
Dee...please come back and talk to us. Sometimes just talking it out helps. I'm sorry you are going through a miserable time. We are here for you (at least once a week. ) I'm having a miserable time with my weight, but my life is in a good spot. So I can see how having trouble in life, + trouble with weight can = misery. Hang in there please!!!
Wanda? Are you around?

Georgia, thanks for the reboot challenge. I NEED IT SO BADLY!!!!

Hi guys!
 
Sorry I have been MIA - this has been a challenging summer, I think it took two months to heal from the shock of what went down at my former teaching institution - still feel like I am healing, but feel much better. I am used to being unemployed during the summer - but since fall is here I am have applied for unemployment - something ballsy for an adjunct instructor to do - seeing as my department broke the collective bargaining agreement to force teacher into taking early retirement I figured I would apply for it.
It is demoralizing applying for jobs - something I don't think I have had to do since I moved to NYC in the early 90's. No one calls back - even for gigs that are a perfect fit - its easy to get pretty bummed out, but I figure that keeping a positive outlook is a very precious resource so I have been really trying...
 
With that said - being just over 2 years out I have tested the limits with how much utter crap I can eat since May and the scale is up by 15 lbs...Sleeved hubby has been doing the same thing - both so stressed about money, so he is up too. One very good thing is that I have been walking 3-5 times a week with one of my best girlfriends - walked 4 miles yesterday and got 6.5 miles today. I have started to limit the coffee to just a cup from the french press - and am drinking plain Water - no artificial sweeteners. I had a good fast day yesterday, as well as today - if anything I am finding myself going overboard - not wanting to eat anything.
 
My goal is to get my rump back on track and slay the carb monster - this is day two and Hi my name is Kelly and I am most definitely an addict
 
I haven't been to the board much - honestly I thought I had broken my sleeve - have felt little to no restriction so I felt like I shouldn't even bother to post. So working on getting back - no more Cookies or pastry like things - the funny thing is - I didn't even like food like this when I was really big - but I sure seem to now.
 
Florinda hope it goes well with your artist pal - you should pm his name I might know him - the Seattle art scene is not huge.
 
Thanks for saying you missed me Kim  
 
I should go join the challenge.

Yes! Robbie Williams - the other love of my life...lol.. British singer and basically the sexiest man ever! lol

I have had a reply from Alex and he confirms that our group is still private, even on the new app.

Florinda.... I am LOVING the profile pic!!!! So, glad you like the bits and bobs... glad you rec'd them all in one piece! Each time you have a 'brew' think of me...lol xx

I'm in Kim...defo back on the 5:2 wagon.
I'm doing something called the clean9 - it is a detox programme that is going wild over here... a lot of people have had great success with it for weight loss and then it has kinda re-booted them and they continued to eat clean healthy food.< /p>
So, after reading a lot and talking to some friends who had done it I thought I would give it a go.
Basically it is some aloe gel - tastes vile - and a range of Vitamins that you take daily; first two days are just liquid days and the following days are low cal with a shake. I'm not saying it will set the world on fire, and I have lost a few pounds (still in my bounce range) but the biggest benefit I have found is that my hot flushes are twice daily instead if twice hourly. I have not had monster flushes through the night and have slept really well over the last week. It is a great feeling to sleep through and not wake every hour or two covered in sweat!
I think it has rebooted my sleeve too - as when I do eat a meal, I can't finish it! My sleeve feels tighter, which is always a good thing.
So I am ready and focused to get the 5:2 back in and under control... and whether I lose weight or not doesn't really matter at the moment as I like the way I feel!