ljv52

That recipe I was thinking of that is supposedly a famous sandwich in MI is Runza -- it's made with crescent rolls, ground beef, cabbage and cheese. Drove me insane every time I woke up trying to remember the name of it. Linda

Arlene, saying prayers for your mom -- proud of you for staying on the train during this hectic day. WTG! Hope she gets out tomorrow and is much better. Cheri -- loved your stories about DH and your student. Agree with Apples that you are doing such a great service to those students. That's why Oprah should have had YOU on that show for the giveaways. I'm still steamed about that. Forgot to mention Biggest Loser -- did any of you watch it? Should be an interesting season. Great -- hoping your DD continues to do well - bedrest is hard but she can do it -- did you say you are going to Denver next Tues? Phyl, hope your trip is going well -- haven't been on FB much so haven't seen any news lately. Hope your mom is better too. Okay, really gotta run now. Linda

Evening everyone, just a quick note before bed. Apples, drive safely -- sounds like you're heading more west right away and not coming in my direction, but if you can stop on way back from Az. would love to see you and meet that DH of yours! Meredith - wtg on passing up all the tempting cheeses. Like you and Janet, I too was a cheese freak. I completely avoided cheese since surgery. Recently I've discovered Laughing Cow light cheese wedges and I allow myself one each day -- it's pure heaven. 35 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per each wedge. I add mine to my salad and it's heaven to find those little bits of creamy, tasty cheese. Goes well with the light balsmic vinegrette I've been using lately too. Yum. Anyway, just wanted to share that all cheese is not all bad -- it tastes good too, even if you just eat it plain. Janet, thanks for the recipes. That one you made tonight reminds me of one I used to make -- it was named after some famous Michigan sandwich (Meredith) had cabbage and cheese and ground beef in it -- I just can't remember the name, but my friend from Michigan had given me the recipe and everyone loved it. Very similar to that recipe. Lori, I buy almost those same items at Sam's that you buy at costco. I especially love to buy the boneless chicken breast there cause it's soooo much cheaper and also much cleaner -- almost no fat left on it which is very nice. I just freeze mine in packages of 3 breasts and then I cook those and that will last me almost a week. I eat half a breast at a time. Here's my food for today -- Breakfast: Protein shake with a scoop of powdered Peanut Butter. Morning Snack: greek yogurt with a very small amount of strawberries (less than 1/4 cup chopped and sweetened with splenda not sugar), Lunch: left over salmon patty with green Beans. Dinner: greens with chicken and wedge of my laughing cow cheese. Evening snacks: SF Jello and SF pudding. About 8 holiday grapes (can't resist). Probably around 800 to 900 calories. Aylah here tonight. Katie is "sick". Had a godo night -- Aylah rubbed my feet and legs with lotion, it was heaven. She's quite the little massage therapist. LOL. She's so sweet, so smart and just wants to be a happy little girl. She deserves everything and more, poor little girl. Apples, funny story. Maybe I've told it before. But when we first moved here we drove to Ohio to visit my brother. Well, when we got to Illinois we saw our first Cracker Barrell except I thought the sign said "Chicken Barrell" and I couldn't understand why there was a chicken restaurant next door to a KFC. LOL. So now my entire family always calls it "Chicken Barrell". My neice that got married last summer worked at one in Florida for 4 years. That's where she met her new hubby. Now I have a hard time calling them by the real name. We also love their food and don't get it often. However, there is one now in Des Moines, so you can stop there when you come through some time. LauraK, hope to hear more about Mr. Fillet Mignon. So far I think he's great. LOL. Jodi, the party sounds wonderful -- I can't wait to see the pics -- Dassi will have a wonderful time and you'll both look gorgeous -- lots of money yes, but you can't put a price on memories. I bet she can't wait to show you off too - hope you find an amazing dress for yourself. Joyce, sorry you won't be able to make Chicago -- we'll have to try to get together over the summer. Eva, you really are amazing with all that you do -- I just can't believe how much physical stuff you do -- I'm very impressed. You didn't say how your plants are doing after the cold? Do you still have them covered? Has the cold finally passed now? Gotta get to bed -- have Water aerobics in the am. This is first 5 dayer in long time and I'm worn out. LOL. At least our weather is pretty nice. Later. Linda

Well, not posting mulltiples but is acting like it will. sorry all if it does. Anyway, I can't wait to retire so I can travel more, so anything I say is strictly in jest and/or jealousy. Arlene, hope the train doesn't de-rail today. LOL. You are such a trooper to put up with all of us giving you grief. How's your friend doing at home? Apples, honestly, I don't know what to say about your stupid friend. I once told you I thought they were jealous but you said you didn't think they were. I think you handled it well, but I agree with Janet, you've had enough stress already. Glad you don't let it get you down. Great, WTG on the 5 lbs!!!! Congrats. You deserve a new outfit for that one. Better go shopping . I think your shopping can be incorporated as part of your exercise program. LOL. Sorry that trainer on the game is yelling at you. Hope you aren't as sore today as before. Hugs on that -- it'll make you feel stronger though. Congrats Jessica on the scholarship -- that's great news. Things just seem to be less of a struggle for you now - I think it's the self confidence -- you carry yourself differently, you have such a different mind set than before -more positive. Congrats. Well, at work, gotta get back to it. Later. Chris where the heck are you? Missing you on here. Linda

Morning all. Lori, you KNOW we are all teasing you I hope -- I for one am just jealous I can't travel let me end this it's pausing shoot may be going to junk up the thread

Well, haven't even caught up with all the posts yet, but just wanted to thank you all for making me feel so great -- never had so many compliments in one day -- feeling great - big smile on my face as I go to bed. Thanks everyone for the nice compliments. Great -- I told DH earlier tonight that I'm going to make an appt. and go talk to a PS just to see what they say and see if I can get insurance approval -- as for my larger "taaa taaas" wouldn't even mind having a bit of them reduced - I've always had "more than my share" and with my back adn now recent shoulder and neck problems, maybe that would help. LOL. Never know till you make an appt. and ask, right? Great -- I'm with Arlene -- do feel soooo sorry for you having to go back to Hawaii - try to endure it. LOL. Wish we could all meet there and spend an entire week together. Thanks again and I will sleep well. Love you all. Will catch up on reading tomorrow. linda

BetsyJean, are you eating a lot of sliders? That might be why you don't feel like the band is working like it used to. Try going back to basics - google the 5 day pouch test and try doing that for five days -- you should be able to see that you still have restriction if you eat just plain protein. I discovered that recently and it's really helped me get back on track and remember why I had the surgery to begin with. Let us know how you are doing. Linda

Screaming right now!

sorry that just started happening so I knew I was going to be junking up the thread again. Not sure why that happens. Linda

sorry that just started happening so I knew I was going to be junking up the thread again. Not sure why that happens. Linda

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12 pairs of shoes. LOL I know that had to be tough on you.

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12 pairs of shoes. LOL I know that had

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12 pairs of shoes. LOLL. I know

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12 pairs of shoes. LOLL. I k

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12 pairs of shoessz

Morning all -- at work so this will be quick. Before I forget, LauraK are you down to 122??? Just wondering when you say you want to lose 18 more and you're goal is set at 104. Good going on getting on the train. Great, good for you on doing the exercise -- you will get used to it again - it's truly the one thing I dislike about our journey, but as I mentioned previously, I tell myself "you CAN and WIILL spend 1 hour per day for YOU." Taht seems to help -- and I do do something every day unless I take a planned day off. My routine right now is M,W, F I do a one hour Water aerobics which is 45 and sometimes 50 minutes of aerobics and 10 to 15 of stretching. On Tues., Thurs. and Sat. I go to the gym and do at least one hour and many times 70 mins. of cardio (elleptical and stationary bike) and then half an hour of weights. On Sundays I usually do my one hour of step aerobics which is a really hard cardio work out. Just keeping it moving -- I can't do the really hard core stuff like some of them here because of my fm and my rods/screws and arthritis in my back and my bionic hip, but I do keep it moving. Anyway, Cheri -- yes, I do think about the weight of the excess skin but I wonder why our surgeons don't discount it at all? My surgeon goes by the weight on the scale, doesn't even give us any for the clothes. They do have us take off our shoes though. I have the opposite problem -- when I weighed this weight before I wore much smaller clothes - of course I was a bit taller -- lost almost 3 inches with back surgery and then around 1/2 with my hip replacement. Used to be 5'4-1/2 and now I'm lucky to be 5'1". I know my belly skin is much bigger than last time I lost the 100 lbs. Sigh. Anyway, Arlene, hope you can stay on the train today. My food yesterday was pretty much identical to day before -- had salad with chicken and sf pudding and popsicle for Snacks. I added a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge with my dinner as well. Love the garlic/herb one. Yum. Today so far, Protein drink with powdered pb and some holiday grapes. Looking forward to some low carb salmon patties and green Beans for lunch. Tonight will most likely have salad and chicken again. I use baby greens and add baby spinach to that for my salads. I buy a big tub of each the spring or baby greens and baby spinach at Sam's for very cheap ($3 each package and it lasts at least a week and some times 10 days). I ususally add sweet onion and cherry tomatoes and that's about it. I like plain -- hate uncooked carrots and cabbage in my salads . Yuck. Also dislike most uncooked veggies -- like broccoli,etc. Yuck. Okay, gotta get going. Meredith, hope that test went well, Apples, proud of you for limiting yourself to only 12

Arlene that was minus 2 and yes, went to work -- it was beautiful out -- sunny and up to almost 30. Very nice weather we're having. No snow and clear and beautiful blue skies. Sorry about your train trip -- hope you can continue your journey for rest of today with no further problems. Went and saw True Grit Sunday -- very good movie -- took my own 100 calorie kettle corn -- that and senior tickets for matinee and it was a cheap date. Gotta run, still at work. CBL Linda

That was poPsicle, NOT poOsicle. LOL. On my way to the gym. Later. Linda

Morning everyone. Had a busy day yesterday at work -- was surprised but happy cause it's been soooo quiet and boring during the holidays. Great -- thinking of you and praying for your daughter and baby -- will be anxious to hear about the test results today. Jessica -- thank you for figuring out how to upload pics. We'll have to all try it in the near future. I too watched your video the ohter day -- very nice job -- For some reason I hadn't realized until recently that you were doing a blog -- great job and great way to stay on track. Tina, sorry about the doctor's appt. but Thurs. is just around the corner. Congrats on the 3 lbs. -- that's quite an accomplishment over the Christmas/New Year holiday - I'm sure your doctor will be very pleased with your progress. Melissa, do you have Type I diabetes? Sounds like you do. Two of my step kids have type I and I know how tough it is. Keep trying to get your health under control -- yes it's very hard to do, but you can and will accomplish it -- remember how good you felt when you were at your lowest weight -- and try to get there again. Take your readings and stay on top of your diabetes. I agree with Janet, everyone deserves affordable health insurance. IF you do have type I I know that you may qualify for a federal program -- you have to go to specific doctors for coverage, but you are covered -- you might want to check into that. Both my adult step kids qualified for it because of their diabetes. My youngest is now able to be back on my insuranc with the newest change that anyone under 26 can stay on parent's insurance. It's a huge relief to me as he can't find a job with any coverage either. Since you also have clerical skills, you might be able to get full time quicker than some of the other employees -- do they post all the jobs that open? Hope something opens soon that you can apply for. Hugs. Julie, sorry to hear you are back to having daily pain. I was hoping you were just busy. Congrats on the adoption -- what a great day for your family and little Mimi -- so happy for her. Meredith - don't forget that our metabolism works much harder when it is busy digesting Protein - it has been proven in studies that we lose more fat when we eat protein rich diets, so don't be afraid to add that protein in. My food for yesterday: Protein Drink witih added powedered PB for bk, greek yogurt with 1/4 cup strawberries and salad with chicken for lunch, and another salad with chicken for dinner (was really craving this for some reason). Snacks: sf pudding and 1 sf poosicle. Arelene, good going on walking to your daughter's -- and keep up the good work. Great -- proud of you for staying on train - good going on choosing the beef instead of fritos. Everyone have a great day -- stay on the train - no stopping at the station!! CBL Linda

Sandy, yes, I understand how you feel and where you are coming from as that has been where I've been this past year as well -- in fact, almost exactly. In my case, my mind set was on 100 lb. weight loss -- when I hit that I hit a wall although I still have another 10 (as of today) to get to my "normal" bmi. I too exercise every day and have been able to have more food and even some sweets (which yes I like too) and I just stayed and maintained all year. Then for some reason I gained a couple of pounds and my pants were getting tight. I jumpedon the scale and had gained a few - not many -- like 4 or 5 but it was enough to make me uncomfortable. That's when I found the 5 day pouch test and rediscovered my enthusiasm for how we're supposed to be eating again vs. how I had decided to eat. I was eating way too may carbs, had even at times started drinking during meals again, etc. Once I did the 5 day pouch test and stuck to it I felt sooooo much better -- had so much more energy, etc. and I lost that 4-5 lbs. during that time. Since then I have tried very hard to eat correctly and follow all the rules. During Christmas I did as I liked for 5 days. On the 6th day I was really quite nauseous and had the runs from all my eating. I went ahead and did the pouch test again last week and feel better again. I decided that I WILL lose that last 10 - that it IS possible - I just need to follow ALL the rules and stay off the carbs and do it. I truly feel so much better when I follow the plan -- Protein first and no carbs -- just getting back to basics reminded me of why I had surgery in the first place. Anyway, to wrap it all up, I felt exactly as you do, and I got excited again by just going back to the basics. My goal now is to get to that original goal weight of 132 by my band anniversary on Jan. 26 -- which if I lose 2 lbs. a week will happen. Arelene, hope you have a wonderful day. I was up until 3:30 a.m. - could not sleep -- my vertigo came back -- I think I just overdid yesterday. I was very sore and just could not shut my mind/body off enough to go to sleep. Beautiful day today -- sun is bright -- it's 12 degrees, but I think will warm up to almost 30. Life is good. I tried to do the post by replying and putting in my availability but I couldn't get it to work. Lori, yes, you are an incredibly gorgeous woman with wonderful taste. I love the way you dress and you look fabulous in every outfit I saw you in in Vegas. Lori and Meredith you will both do well -- you've both accompished so much already and you will continue. Lori you've dealt with a lot this year and you handled it well for an addict -- and even though you agreed to move from Denver it did hit you hard - and it happened so fast -- but you are one strong lady. Okay, time for step aerobics -- then maybe we'll go see True Grit this afternoon. CBL love to you all. Linda

I can go with the flow except for Memorial Day - I already have a vacation planned and we are leaving on Memorial Day. Except for that, I can probably make it at any time. Linda

Janet, that was something for you to click on QVC and see that I also like adding the "learn" to our mantra -- very nice thoughts. Well, it looks like Christmas never even happened around here -- that's what my DH just said. Everything done and put away and cleaned. Soup is in freezer and dishes done. Just finished some coffee and wil get my dinner goig soon. Just not hungry yet from all the activity. Going to have chicken breast and salad tonight - haven't had salad in over a week and am hungry for it. Another NSV that it only took us about 4 hours to completely put everything away and clean--WOW. I remember before banding that I would sometimes take two days to get the decorations out and put away -- this year it only took me about 4 hours to get it all out too - so I too notice a huge difference in my activity level. Apples, yes doing 65 seconds of cardio two years ago probably would have killed me -- doubt I could have even done that. I am in really good shape -- probably the best shape of my entire adult life since I don't smoke any more -- last time I lost the weight and exercised daily (20 plus years ago) I was still a smoker. So I can really do cardio with no problem. I just get sore -- but I'm sore without exercise so it doesn't matter. My shoulder has been feeling better the past few days. I've been off upper body weights now for about 2 weeks and I think it's finally better. I'm supposed to be getting a call from my orthopedic surgeon to go in for a one year check up on my hip so when I do I'll see if he can check out my shoulders too. Might as well see if there's a problem with the joints or if it's just fm or stress. Love putting up the Christmas decorations but also love looking at my house after I put them away -- It's like it's all new again. I even take artwork off the walls and put up Christmas artwork, so it does make a big difference. I have so much stuff from years of crafting and being at all those craft shows I bought lots from other crafters as well. I love all my Christmas goodies -- that's the one thing that will be very hard for me when we finally do sell and go to our RV. I just really hope the kids will want this stuff cause I really don't think I could sell it or donate it -- too many memories wrapped up in it. Eva, your party sounded great. But why didn't you spend the night as well? Ricotta and spinach pies sounds great. I usually make my broth that way too but I was in a hurry today and didn't want to let it set in the fridge and then scrape off the fat - plus I like my pea soup thicker than DH does, so making the two pots was another way to solve that problem. LOL. Great, I miss the mountains -- Reno is much like SLC -- Reno is in a bowl and mountains around it -- I miss the dryer air too - I wish we could have moved to Reno after LA instead of here, but it just wasn't meant to be. Okay, I'm game for Chicago, but I already have plans starting on Memorial Day for that week. I need to go to Ohio sometime this summer -- so I'll wait to firm up those plans after we decide when to meet. Probably would be easier for Cheri after school is out?? Or we could try to do it in the spring like March or April -- that sounds pretty good to me. I might just jump on the train from here and not drive -- it's a nice train ride and easy from here -- takes about the same amount of time as driving but you can sleep and read as you travel. Okay, gotta get my dinner. Have a great night everyone. Hope your weather gets warmer in the southwest - I'm sure it's tough cause you don't really have the clothes for it. Later chickies and Chris. Linda Okay, will

Back from the gym, had some food and got both pots of split pea Soup on cooking. I'm making two cause I put the ham bone in one and didn't want all the extra fat in mine. I used low fat/low sodium chicken broth for my base. Smells good. Figure I'll freeze mine into small containers -- will be good for quick lunches at work. I sometimes get stuck at work and can't leave so I like to have things like that on hand. I agree about Oprah -- she's very closed minded about some things -- like lapband for instance - I'm quite happy she won't be on every day anymore .I actually got kinda upset when I watched her favorite things show a few weeks ago -- she said she had teachers and other people who "give" in the audience, but yet, Cheri wasn't there -- Cheri should have been invited for that show -- she lives and teaches right there in Chicago and deserves it with all her work --especially in the school where she teaches. So, I wonder who those people were and if they did, in fact, derserve all of that. Katie came and took Aylah home -- so now we are going to put away the Christmas decorations. Just nagged DH that I would like to get started now cause I don't like starting projects so late in the day - I like to do my work early and then relax. Went to the gym -- did my 65 mins. of cardio - feel good. We watched a newly released concert on PBS last night -- from 1964 - it was so funny - Jan & Dean hosted and they had the Beach Boys, Supremes, James Brown, Smokie Robinson and the Miracles, Leslie Gore and the Rolling Stones - all these go-go type dancers -- so funny watching them -- everyone did like 4 songs -- except the Stones and they did 6!! It was really early on in everyone's careers -- very fun to watch that stuff. The credits showed it was a 2010 Dick Clark Production -- I wonder how many other oldies but goodies he has stored away and will eventually be released? We started to watch NYE in Times Square with Carson Daily but could not take the musical guests they had on -- AND the interviews were so terrible -- I mean I don't even know who any of those people are anymore -- and I don't care about their aunts or their girlfriends/boyfriends. Boy do I sound like an old fart!! LOL. CBL. Linda

Cheri, I swear, you could retire from teaching and be a counselor - you are right on in your message to Tina. Sorry you are feel so lonely and blue. Wish I could help you out, but I'm too far away. The only good news I can pass along is that the sun is shining here today and supposed to shine all week so it should be getting to Chicago in the next few days. Only 12 outside, but at least the sun is out. Nice. The only thing I can recommend to you is to do some exercise -- it should lift your spirits too -- is there an indoor place you could go? Maybe some gyms in your area are offering some free days you could take advantage of -- usually the first of every year there's some free deals. Just got up -- Aylah crawled in bed with us and with her AND Merry there too wasn't much room for me - kept waking up and finally at 5:00 I asked Aylah to move back to her bed which is right next to ours -- it's one of those reclining chairs that is just perfect for her. Thank goodness we have that as we sleep downstairs and the other bedrooms are upstairs and she's too little to be upstairs by herself. We kept Aylah again although Kstie seemed to be much better. Hopefully she didn't do anything stupid last night as we love Aylah but would be nice to have some of my weekend kid free. Taping the Rose parade to watch in a little bit. Doesn't start here until 10:00. I need to go to the gym or do my step aerobics here. Our westher is fine -- no moisture -- just cold. I wouldn't care if we don't have any more snow -- would be just fine with me. I plan to make splt pea Soup later. Sounds good in the cold weather. My DH loves it and I can use up the rest of the ham from Christmas dinner. Well, need to get going. Have a good one everybody. See ya later. Arlene, choo choo today??? Love ya, Linda