Great2BThin

Oh, no the wine, I forgot the wine!!! Think the state run liquor store is open in the evening will make DH go with me tonight. I have to check out another grocery store for asparagus anyway. Walmart didn't have any and the one nicer store I really like wanted $7 a pound for it. I saw it at the other one the other day for less than that so will check it out. You bet DH will be helping me, this is his thing, he wanted me to do it so bad. Apples, I think I really do need to examine why I hate doing this so much. I love being with other people, it's just that I feel too on display and open for judgement I guess if I do the entertaining or put myself out there. Goes back to fear of failure, being rejected, etc. BUt I am proud of myself, while at Walmart I walked by the Fritos and left them in the store! I so wanted to console myself with a big bag!

I just walked down the street to my mailbox and about froze my butt off. Trying to defrost, wrapped in a blanket. It's the wind that's so cold. BRRRRRRR Joyce, good to see you! Will have to keep it in mind about the Water aerobics and my new knees. Haven't tried that yet. My gym doesn't have a pool but another 24 hour near me does and I've thought of trying it. Arlene, I love the elliptical over the treadmill anyday. so much easier on the joints and I feel I get a better workout. Apples, enjoy your gathering this weekend, sounds fun. Wish I could say I was looking forward to my dinner this weekend. All I am looking forward to is it being over.

Mornin'!! Woke up early today but was cold so lied in bed with my 2 fur companions. Me and 2 big lab mix dogs, soon as DH leaves they hop up on the bed. LOL But if they hear his footsteps in the hall they jump right back down. Not much planned today other than cleaning house, getting very nervous and worked up about my dinner thing tomorrow night. Linda, yes I got the recipes, thank you very much. Meredith, good luck on the final tonight. Phyl, what did your lost posts say? LOL Arlene, lawn guy? DH is my lawn guy. LOL But no mowing this time of year.

Melissa, my sister did the deli and the chickens and what not for Costco for almost a year. She lost lots of weight then. She said she never worked so hard in her life and that closing was the worst as far as work goes as they had to clean and scrape all the grills etc. Also how heavy the spits were that the chickens were on. I just went to a Sams club for the first time today. My friend called and I went with her as I always wanted to see what they were like. Very similar to Costco but a whole lot less crowded and busy.

Good morning! I am stuck at home today without a car. I could've taken DH to work this morning but didn't want to get up that early and really have no where to go. My car is at the autobody place getting the door fixed that got damaged in the wind driving across Wyoming for Thanksgiving, it's supposed to be done tonight. I sure hope so. Linda, thanks for the kind words and the tips on the dinner party. I already bought the prime rib so am going with that. Could I get your spinach salad recipe? I have one I make but it's more summery. Ugh, to go through all that work for the party only to have them cancel it. Phyl, leaving? Where ya going?? Laura, glad you got some answers on your rash, never heard of a virus causing a rash, guess those darn viruses can cause all sorts of things. HOpe it clears up soon. Couldn't get your link to work. Arlene, did you make it swimming? or was it too cold again? I thought when you said that you were going out doors. LOL BRRRRR Melissa, think of your job as getting paid to work out! What are you doing for Sam's? Apples, where are ya? Eva, ????

Good afternoon! Can't believe it's almost 4pm and this is the first I've gotten on the computer all day. I got up this morning and went to a brunch for the Bible study ladies group I go to on Wed. mornings and then after that have been on the go with DH. DH got an email from his boss last night telling him not to come in today and consider it a comp day for his Birthday so we've been out playing. We went to the movie this afternoon, I am making him spaghetti and meatballs for his birthday dinner, his absolute favorite and we had to drop off my car at the repair shop to get the door fixed that got damaged in the wind in Wyoming in our Thanksgiving drive. I don't like spaghetti so I am okay there, may eat a meatball. But I didn't board that Protein wagon today or fell off already. I did have popcorn at the movies. It's the only place I allow myself popcorn as it's such a red light food for me and did indulge today. So tomorrow will the wagon please come by and pick me up??? Meredith, I do not eat salad. My dr office warned against it as it tends to get stuck easily and also stretch the pouch. I've tried it once and did get stuck. I'm not a big salad eater anyway so it's an easy thing for me to stay away from as well as Pasta. Don't care for either much. Bread on the other hand is tougher for me to abstain from but for the most part I do. Arlene, great job on the check up! Janet, glad you are feeling better! Jodi, I got the 12! I love my new dishes too.

I couldn't agree with you more Cheri. And I am going to hop on that protein train with you tomorrow. I've been thinking it's what I need to get back to and when I put on my black cords tonight and they were tight and then read your post it confirmed it. It's one of the reasons I can't even have the fat free 100 calorie popcorn, it triggers something in me for salty and crunchy foods. Chips, Fritos mainly, and popcorn are major red light foods for me. I always thought I didn't have a sugar problem since I don't care for sweets but all those foods have a high amount of carbs/sugars in them. Oops gotta go ride for bunko is here

Congrats Kelly on another pound gone for good!! Apples, my guess is the route would be down via NE and then through CO as well as that's how we always drove to SD. When you are on I-76 in northeast Denver at about 120th Ave you will be about a mile from my old house. I'd have come flagged you down! My DH is a gawker too. He's always looking for critters in the fields and looking to see what crops are growing, etc.

Apples, yes Costcos are a membership type warehouse just like Sam's is. Even though it's just the 2 of us now I still like to buy some things in bulk and have shelves in my basement for what doesn't fit in my pantry. Not sure how you would transport 2 bikes inside a car and have room for anything else. Heck when we drove with my SUV for Thanksgiving with just the dogs we were loaded to the gills. LOL What route south are you taking??

Karen, while I have not been to a Sam's club I believe costco and Sam's are very similar, they are both warehouse type stores. I've been told that Costco carries nicer things, not sure how true that is. My friend here has a Sam's club membership and has promised to take me there if I take her to Costco so sounds like an outing in the future. I love Costco and it's always a treasure hunt as the stuff changes so quickly there it seems. I've never seen such a busy Costco as here, must be the large families and everyone buying in bulk. We usually get our electronics there, I get some clothes there (very tempted to try the Seven jeans LOL) and quite a bit of food items, my dog food, Water softener salt, paper products, etc. Of course, gotta check out the samples sometimes LOL and get a $1.50 hot dog and coke on the way out (no bun of course). LOL This FAcebook thing is so amazing, just got in touch with a cousin, growing up we spent summers together in Wisconsin but since adult hood or mostly since that set of grandparents died haven't had much contact. We are busy emailing photos of our families back and forth. Her sister (of course my cousin too but not the one I was as close to) lives in Minneapolis. Couldda run into her at the mall last week and not known it. LOL

Good morning. Still a nice day out here (well not by you warm weather climate folks but for us cold weather climate folks it is in the 50's). I need to run back to Kohls today, I hate it when you buy something and then the next day it's on sale or they are giving Kohls bucks. Wonder if they will price adjust or if I have to return everything and repurchase? Will find out. I got my new dishes all washed and put away in their new home, my cupboard last night. Used a plate for Breakfast this morning. Arlene, so it's dishes? I could not figure out what a Franciscan apple was and had no idea you were talking a dishware pattern. Nope never seen that pattern before. I've seen something similar with pinkish flowers on it though. Meredith, happy painting. What colors are you doing? Janet, hope you are feeling better. Thanks for the vote of confidence in my entertaining, I think. Any pointers?? TX, where are ya, how's the shoulder and the hunger been? Karen, are the fake grandkids gonna call you grandma? Enjoy they are at such fun ages. Laura, I just itch reading about your rash. Hope you get some relief soon.

Arlene, so is it a ceramic apple like a centerpiece? a cookie jar? Still confused what a Franciscan apple is. I am picturing little glass apples???

Arlene, nope don't do Laura Geller, I am strictly Bare Escentuals kind of gal, but I did get that TSV a couple weeks ago, 3 of them in fact. One for me, one for DD and one for DS's girlfriend for Christmas. Love it! What is a Franciscan Apple?? My new dishes aren't that heavy, lighter than my last ones anyway. Had to go back to costco and return one box, the plates were all broken. GRRRR but have the second load in the dishwasher now ready to take their place in my cupboard. We decided to box up and save my old stuff just in case we get that Grandma condo one day. Julie, glad you are getting somewhere on the pain? Are you done with Mayo???

Melissa, you sound so much more positive today. Keep up the good work. Are you carb sensitive? The Pasta might not be a good choice if you are. Some people can eat it and some can't. I can't. Walmart sure has been good to my son. He's been there since the summer between HS and college and he's 27 now. They worked around his school schedule etc. and I believe like to promote from within. He started part time as well. His benefits are good too. Well just got home from costco with my new dishes and gotta go back. Opened one box and the plates are all broken. GRRR but if you go to this link and look at letter G that is what I got: http://costcoconnection-cdnsrc.texterity.com/connection/201011/?pg=98

Arlene, your pool is indoors isn't it? Laura, that would tire anyone yet. Cute pics. Hope that rash gets better. UGH!! Apples, you convinced me 12 it is! LOL

Well prime rib it is, Smiths (Krogers here) had it on sale for $5.99/lb. I am comfortable making that and it always turns out yummy. Plus I am getting an early visit from Santa! I've been wanting new white dishes ever since DD got some for her wedding (she has the square Food Network ones from Kohls if you know them) but it was just a want and not a real need. I tend to tire of dishes easily and always want new ones, but my thinking is white will be so versatile and I can always change up colors to go with it. Then I saw my exact dishes (cheapies from Walmart) on the news one night for having lead in them so I've wanted them more lately. Well seems DH was thinking of getting me some and we saw some at Costco sortta like the Kohl's ones but a little different and are going to go pick them up this afternoon. What a guy! Now do I want service for 8 or 12? Usually do 8 but with the family growing, HMMMM??? They are really cheap so may go with the 12.

I will look to see if they have that kind of wine at the state liquor store. I'm in Utah remember we have funky liquor laws. LOL I've heard of that kind before and think my daughter gets it. I have some bottles here that I like but have had them for awhile and would be embarrassed if they went bad. My most favorite is V Satui and we used to get it when we lived in Sacramento all the time. I loved going to Napa and they only sell their wine at their winery and very few restaurants. V Satui Gamay Rouge YUMMY

Yeah, Apples figure out how to get her green back! LOL And Julie is hopefully going to get a diagnosis and plan of attack for her pain today! 1Day is going to stop making excuses and getting back on the 'band'wagon. It's a good day! We are having a warm front they call it move through yesterday and today and it's been so nice. That foggy inversion stuff is gone and it's bright and sunny and the snow is melted. Though they say more is on the way on Wed. So enjoying while I can. I don't even mind the snow so much as that awful inversion. I think I have a plan for my dinner on Sat. night. I am going to the store today and seeing what they have prime rib at and will pick one of those up. Sounds like both couples are coming. Then I made it even worse on myself last night, figured I'd get it all out of the way at once. We go to a small home group through the church we go to on Sunday nights, I offered to host our little Christmas party next Sunday night. I figured the house will be clean, etc. everyone is bringing 'hearty' hor d' ourves (what the heck is that?) and I just have to host it. In Denver I hosted a small group at our house every Wed. night. It was easy as I basically just had it everyone else provided the treats, etc. It's not that I think of myself as a bad cook. I am not fond of cooking and just know how to do basic every day things, nothing fancy for entertaining. And worry about what if conversation lulls, what if everyone has a bad time, etc. Julie, I hope you get the answers you need. Was this dr through Mayo? or will you be going back to them?? Anxious to hear a report later today. 1Day, so glad you are getting back on track. Forgive yourself and move on. Beating yourself up and making excuses will just result in the scale going in the wrong way. We are all human and all slip up from time to time, it's how we handle those slips that will determine our success going forward. Congrats on the new job. You called it Sam's is that like Sam's Club?? If so, DS works for Walmart and they have been so good to him. Swan, welcome! You will find lots of help and advice here. The most important being follow what your dr tells you to do. As you will discover many docs have different theories as far as pre op diets go, fills go, etc. You are so smart in taking care of this now. I was a healthy fat person too. I didn't have a weight issue til my 20's and then always felt I was okay because I was healthy. Well it wasn't til my 40's that the health issues appeared and they were directly related to my being so overweight for so long. I developed high blood pressure, and wore out both my knees. As for telling your dad, don't tell him til after if you don't think he'll be supportive. That's what I did, I told my folks afterwards. I had enough on my mind going in for surgery and I didn't need my mom's negativity to add more stress to me. I didn't tell them til the weight loss was noticeable. Only my kids and husband knew. Meredith, what are interdisciplinary studies and nonprofit sector studies? Congrats on your degrees by the way! Arlene, how's the Water? LOL

Thanks for the recipes, Apples. I will do the asparagus for sure and will do the roast if I don't find a good prime rib. This will help a lot. I will have to use everyday dishes as that's all I really have except for possibly my mom's set of the blue and white Currier and Ives dishes everyone had in her day. We are really boring when it comes to beverages, DH & I have diet coke or water. We don't drink much alcohol, or tea or coffee just because we don't like it not because we have any issue with it. What should i have to drink??? Is instant coffee a bad thing? I do have a really old coffee maker my kids complain about when they visit (tends to get a lot of grounds in the coffee somehow). Wine? what kind??

OK gals, I may need some help here. I don't know how many of you picked up on that met me, I am not a terribly confident, outgoing person. One of the things I hate because I am so nervous doing it is entertaining. I just hate having people over (besides family). Well DH has been pestering and pestering me to have some folks over for dinner or something and while DD was here she joined in. So after much badgering I have decided to invite 2 couples we know rather well over for dinner on Sat. night, one has RSVP'd yes and haven't heard from the other yet, so there will be 4 or 6 of us. Help what do I do? Part of my insecurity is I am not a good cook, don't enjoy it and also don't feel as I have nice entertaining stuff. Plus DH and I don't drink coffee or tea, so I don't even know how to make it! LOL One thing that I know I can do pretty well is prime rib so am thinking of having that, unless it's so outrageously expensive. DD suggested garlic mashed potatoes? I found a crockpot recipe for them thinking that would be good as I don't have to mash or get them ready right when guests arrive or the meat comes out of the oven etc. I can just have them done in the crockpot. Thought of putting some asparagus in a glass dish and drizzling with olive oil and some sortta spices??? help,,,,any ideas??? Do I have dinner ready right when they get here? Wait a bit? Do I ask them to bring stuff? The one that has rsvpd offered to bring something not sure if I should tell her to or not, maybe dessert or a salad? Oh why did I agree to this?????? I am going to be a nervous wreck all week. I have a beautiful home and is all decorated for Christmas so thought it would be a good time to do it. The one that I haven't heard back from yet is rather la-di-da and though she's a good friend, she makes me the most nervous. She's not a judgemental person yet I feel like that is what she'll be doing, I guess I just don't feel 'good enough' and that has been an issue all my life. I never feel good enough, etc. I think that's why DH is pushing so much, I 've dealt with so many of my buried issues in my weight loss but still struggle with this one. I know there's some awesome cooks and entertainers on this thread so give me your hostess 101 tips.

Mark me as one who isn't happy with this new website either. I know others have mentioned if there was another place to go. Once when I was googling 5 day pouch test I came across a message board that looked like our old one on something called Living after Weight Loss surgery or something like that. Just thought I'd put it out there. On the one hand I'd hate to leave where we all met but on the other hate if others are leaving because they don't like the changes either. I am using Explorer and am not having trouble with fonts and colors. Regarding cold weather, I've never noticed that affecting my band, but then again I don't seem to be affected by flying either and know that some others are. Funny how it reacts differently in each of us. Hard to believe that we will be going to Denver in a little over a week for Christmas already, it sure is coming up fast. I am not doing Christmas cards this year for the first time in years. I always put so much pressure on myself to get them out that I decided not to this year. Not sure if it was the right or wrong decision but am going with it for now. Sandy, sorry to hear about your dad. Does sound like maybe assisted living or something is in the near future. I just dread having to face these issues with my folks and they aren't too far off. Mom is terribly opposed to anything of the sort right now as she's not old enough according to her. Yet where my grandma lives there are all sorts of them younger than her there and in better shape. She's in the independent living part but you can get certains services if needed. Apples, sounds like that starter on your car is just the thing. Glad you were able to get out this morning for church. What kind of church are you going to?? I was raised Lutheran but go to a non denominational one now.

Good evening. Just got home from taking DD back to the airport, we had a nice weekend. I'm a little behind in the posts here. Not sure why some can't get color and some can. Also I can click on size first in fast reply, then I choose my color and then bold. I use the Fast reply at the bottom of the posts, if that helps anyone. Was so hard to see DD leave, but I've been very lucky to see her as much as I do. Today is the first day of her third trimester she said and she is finally looking pregnant. Hard to believe she's as far along as she is. Julie, sorry to hear you are having so much pain. Can't you go back to Mayo and say what they told you to do isn't working and what's next??? Jewel, congrats on the 5k that's awesome!

Good almost afternoon here (1145am). Just got home from dropping DD off at her training near the airport not too long ago. Got turned around coming back and ended up downtown SLC, not sure where I went wrong. It's so weird as roads I knew 10 yrs ago don't go through like they used to etc. They rebuilt some freeways etc. around the time the Olympics were coming here and exits are different etc. So I feel like I know where I am going but don't half the time. Same is true for life I guess. Sometimes I think I know the direction I am heading and then God may have other plans. LOL Arlene, glad to hear you are going to consider giving up your oatmeal in the mornings. You seem extra sensitive to carbs and that's gotta have a lot. Glad to hear WW is going over to our way of eating! LOL My friend is real nervous about the changes though. She knows the old program so well and is successful on it so may stay with it, though she did buy the new point calculator thingie. But you've only been doing WW a few days, give it some time to work. Janet, that's exciting that your DIL may get surgery as well. Is she not interested in the band? I was over 300 and it worked well for me. Though the sleeve sounds interesting to me. Don't think I would ever do the bypass. But that's just me. Something about rerouting my innards. LOL Linda, I am watching Biggest Loser and Survivor. I can't believe how far Elizabeth got. I don't think Bob or Jillian are thrilled either, they've been pretty hard on her for relying on others. All she ever says is how she deserves it but she does nothing to deserve it. Well she has lost weight but compared to the others. She just doesn't get it and is one I don't see being successful in the long term. I doubt she'll get the votes to stay. As for Ada gaming it, I dont' think so, this is the only time she's ever been below the yellow line and it does her no good to sandbag as the finale is by total weight loss from week one not from this week so it will be overall percentage. I just love that show. I didn't see Survivor last night but last week when those 2 gals quit was awful. How many people would give anything to be on that show and to just quit. Jeff Probst seemed pretty disgusted too. And then the one, Naonka, still taking that reward challenge when she knew she was leaving and letting the other girl give it up to get a tarp and stuff for the tribe was so greedy. Laura, hope the rash is improving. I hate steroids but they do seem to do their thing. My email notifications take me to the thread but not to the post, it just takes me to the end of the thread and I still gotta scroll around for the post where I left off on my last visit. Apples, where are you? How was your girls getaway??

Good morning! Looks like I am able to still choose font and color, etc. in the fast reply. Woke up to major wind outside. They are building a house behind me and have it all encased in plastic so they can stucco, think they do it in the winter for the weather, anyway the plastic is just whipping around like crazy, my dogs are afraid to go out back. DD is coming in today, she had to come to SLC for the day tomorrow for a training class for work so she is adding her weekend to it and staying with me a couple days. Will be fun, DH is in ATL so now I have company. Since we were gone for Thanksgiving we are going to cook a turkey on Friday. Laura, have you changed laundry soaps or anything? my DH is very sensitive to that if I change and I can't use Bounce sheets or anything like that. The first place it affects him is in underwear elastic. Glad your folks will be coming for Christmas. Janet, I had a hamburger patty last night too. Actually a McD's one though. I was at Walmart and ran into a friend there. Her DH was out of town and we were just going to sit there and chat and get a coke or something but were both hungry, had no one at home and got dinner. I found out you can order a hamburger (I got the McDouble for $1 w/o cheese) w/o the bun. They serve it to you in a bowl then with a lettuce leave and knife and fork. Who Knew?? So I had dinner for $1. LOL I'll be having a burger for lunch again today too as the first thing DD wants to do on our way home for the airport is go to In & OUt Burger. She loves those and misses them from CA, they recently built them here. I usually never have burgers now 2 in 2 days. oneday, congrats on the new job.

Sounds like WW has changed some. Before banding I had gone for years and knew the points program inside and out. Actualy they never really did allow the junk but people manipulated the plan to include it. If you followed their 'healthy guidelines' it spelled out how you were to eat. But folks translated it into well I can have a Big Mac for X amount of points and still be on plan if I don't eat the rest of the day because I am within my points. But tended to ignore the 5 fruits and veggies requirement, the dairy requirement, Protein, etc. I used to like the Core plan when they had it. My friend is real nervous about switching to the new plan as she's done so well on the old and is almost to goal and may stay with what she knows. LauraK, that 'virus' in the email has been going around. I saw on the news if you click on the link in the email that it reads all your email addresses somehow and then sends out the emails to your contact list or something. It's always with no subject in the subject line or something and usually from yahoo email addresses but does come from other web based email accounts too. No worries, i've gotten it from my son even.