Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

Sunday Share - Today is the Eastern (Orthodox Catholic) Easter that I celebrated growing up and with my parents. Now that they have both been gone for a more than a decade (2 for my mom), I have gotten away from celebrating it in the past few years. Except this morning, even though I didn't go to church for the all-night service and basket blessings, nor did I go to church this morning; and I haven't been following the strict food rituals and traditions .... I found myself on my knees and yelling to the heavens ... in Russian ... Christ is Risen! And then the Lords Prayer tumbled out of my mouth in my original language. Somehow, that made eveything all right for me today. It didn't seem to matter that I haven't been celebrating this occassion in my old traditional way ... and it didn't seem to matter that I so often have doubts about my own faith and spirituality ... today is Easter and Christ is risen.

My food choices for today were not the best they could be. I didn't feel like cooking supper and so I ordered a chicken dinner and ate half of it, but then I ate 2 candy bars. Now I am stuffed to the gills and hope it lasts until morning!.

@cblue315-Lori, thanks for the welcoming back words. I'm glad thinks are looking up for you.
@hansea47-Amanda, also thanks for the welcome back. Glad the bad weather from a few days ago passed over you with no repercussions. Poor Gunner, thunderstorms really scare some animals terribly. My DIL's dog does better in storms when they put a tight t-shirt on her. Something about the snugness makes her feel more calm.
@kah68-Kelley, thanks for the welcome back. Yep, computers can be a hassle. I really need to start keeping a hand written address book, or get a smart phone!
@skinnyjeanzbound-Karen, ditto to you with the storms ... I thought about you when I heard about them. Thanks for the welcome back.
@RobinsEgg-Ellen .. My coffee maker doesn't work either ... so now I use 2 4-cup measuring cups, a small wire strainer (one that fits into the cups) and a coffee filter to make my coffee. It was something I did the first day I couldn't make coffee the normal way. Then I liked the taste of the coffee so much better that I have kept up making my coffee that way every day instead of getting a new electric maker. My method? I nuke the coffee in one measuring cup until it boils or nearly boils. Then I add my coffee grounds and stir it up with a spoon or fork, or whatever is handy. After it steeps a few minutes (usually while I cook the rest of my breakfast), I put the strainer with a coffee filter inside it into the second measuring cup and pour the coffee with grounds into it. When the coffee comes down into the second measure cup, I pour it into my coffee mug. Since I make 2-3 measured cups, I usually need to pour the coffee/grounds mixture into the filter a couple times ... but hey, I get to enjoy the smooth coffee while I wait! Yes, I know, it now is several things to wash and put away when I'm done, but what they heck, the coffee taste is worth it.

Follow-through
Niki

Sunday Share:
Had a nice mix of work and leisure today. Met my friend to do some house hunting with her. She's the one who lives in Lake Geneva, but is relocating back to Chicago area. We had lunch at a really good Mexican restaurant called Mago. I had a taco trio--fish, pork, and steak--and we split a side of plantains in queso. It was so delicious and though it wasn't a lot of food, it was really filling. So much so, that for dinner I just had a small piece of chicken breast. Right now I'm debating whether or not to have an apple with some peanut butter--it would put me over for the day by about 100 calories, but would bring my protein above 90 g. I'm going to wait awhile and see if I'm hungry enough.

On my way home, I decided it was still early enough to get some more grading done, so I stopped by the HS to drop off some of the graded journals and pick up more to grade. I then went to starbucks and graded 10 more journals, so I'm more than halfway done with those.

Good morning everyone.

Happy Thomas Jefferson Day
Thomas Jefferson Day celebrates the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. Major events during his presidency include the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
As a political philosopher, Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France. He idealized the independent yeoman farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favoured states’ rights and a strictly limited federal government. Jefferson also supported the separation of church and state and was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House—with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

In his early life Jefferson practiced law and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1774, he wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America, which was intended as instructions for the Virginia delegates to a national congress. The pamphlet was a powerful argument of American terms for a settlement with Britain. It helped speed the way to independence, and marked Jefferson as one of the most thoughtful patriot spokesmen.
As the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and a significant contributor to American political and civil culture, the Continental Congress delegated the task of writing the Declaration to a Committee of Five which unanimously solicited Jefferson to write the first draft, which underwent some alteration, but remained largely Jefferson’s work.

The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude. ~Dennis S. Brown

Tom

Bump - Yes, I'm still alive!! The week before Easter was crazy at work plus trying to wrap things up before Spring Break. We were gone Friday, 4/3 thru Saturday, 4/11. Between the unpacking and coming back to work e-mails I'm so behind. I'll read through the post and be back soon. Missed you guys!!

OMG! What a week. I can't believe Spring Break was such a disaster in our world. Both girls are fighting ear infections and have surgery scheduled for this Friday. Mommy visited the doctor on both Monday and Wednesday. The steroids he prescribed were NOT friendly to the scale. I am so ready for everyone to be healthy. Now our sky has opened up and their is a 90% chance of rain every day this week. Today is one of those days that I am wishing I had decided to do a gym membership instead.

I think my goal for this week is to keep better updated with this thread and use you amazing people to help motivate me and keep me on track.

"Take the focus off how losing weight is going to make you look. Instead, put it on how losing weight can help you improve your life"

from the book, 'The Best Life Diet' by Bob Greene.

Ushkil- Great to see you back. I have also been know to search for a better selection. It is even harder with local pizza places to find something comparable.

Nikki- Happy Easter.

I received my computer plug today and I am so happy to be back on my computer. It arrived alot faster than I expected so YIPEE.

I will be back at some point this week, but now I need to go to bed. It will be a busy week but I will deal with it.

Monday- Trainer workout for tri-prep
Tuesday- Rest
Wednesday- swim
Thursday-Rest
Friday-warm up workout- get up to race HR then back off
Saturday- TRIATHLON

@tlh0407 - MapMyWalk has a selection for "walk - treadmill" AND "Run - treadmill". Unfortunately it doesn't have one for "elliptical " so I used "stairs" which is a comparable exercise. Since it bases my calorie burn on the metrics I put in the app, I'm happy with the results. I tried using "other gym workout" but it doesn't generate a calorie burn.

AFM - I used my lunch to 1. Walk to the gym, 2. Do the elliptical for 10 minutes, & 3. Walk back to work. I used MMW to track each segment and it worked out to 316 calories for a 30 min workout! I'm very happy about that!

Good morning all.

Happy International Moment of Laughter Day!

It’s International Moment of Laughter Day! Today is a day to laugh loudly and laugh often! Watch a funny movie, read an amusing book, share your favorite jokes, and indulge in some good old-fashioned silliness to celebrate the occasion.
In addition to spreading joy, laughter has many health benefits. Studies have shown that there is indeed some truth to the old saying, "laughter is the best medicine." Laughter can act as an antidote to pain, stress, and conflict. It also strengthens our immune systems, boosts circulation, and relaxes muscles.
Whether you giggle, chuckle, chortle, cackle, or guffaw, share a moment of laughter with friends, family, and strangers today. Happy International Moment of Laughter Day!

You can bear your troubles or shrug them off. They're your shoulders. ~Robert Brault

Tom

well I survived my left knee scope today. after was very painful and very painful to get in and out of the back to come home.
thanks for all the welcome backs.I hope physical therapy will get me back to some activity.

Good Morning. It just dawned on me that it’s Wednesday, I guess it just feels like Tuesday since I was off of work on Monday.

Slow day on the thread yesterday.

@Karen~I am notorious for over-packing, you wouldn't believe the shoes I take! For every cruise, I bring two suitcases--I have the best of intentions for wearing everything I bring but it doesn't always work out that way. I always say next time I'm packing light but I never do.

@ushkii~I had my knee scoped and a meniscusectomy three years ago, after 4 sessions with a physical therapist my surgeon said my mobility had improved enough that I didn't have to continue. Just do the exercises religiously, both what your surgeon gave you post-op and what your PT recommends—you may not be running marathons but otherwise should be back to 100% in about 6 weeks. If you have access to a bike (recumbent or otherwise), it’s great for knee rehab. Oh and don’t be a hero, take those pain meds—I had the most pain 2 days post-op, then it gradually subsided.

Good morning everybody.

Happy Income Tax Pay Day
Apr 15. A day all Americans need to know—the day by which taxpayers are supposed to make their accounting of the previous year and pay their share of the cost of government.

This is the best day the world has ever seen; tomorrow will be better. ~R.A. Campbell

Tom

Hello All,
@NK1112 - So sorry to hear about your back. Mine troubled me a couple of times a year until I decided to do the preventative 6 week program at my chiro. I have not had any issues since last summer.

@ushkii - The best thing I can say is to do everything the pt's and dr's tell you to do.

@skinnyjeanzbound - Good luck and I hope all goes smoothly.

@Morgori - Thanks for the bit about the laughter day, I did not know about that holiday and I am putting in my calendar.

@Lauriek70 - I am so very excited for you. Yippee!

@melifornia - Good luck on the writing assignment. You are so dedicated with your morning routine, I am thinking that one over to see if I can fit something in to help me deal with all this stress.

@Tanya949 - I am so happy about you getting to Onderland. Hope it happens soon.

AFM: STRESS!!!!
Hubby has diverticulitis and is having an episode this week and off work for at least 3 days.
Oldest son has a court hearing tomorrow. I will be going along.
Work is crazy busy. At least 3 weeks behind right now and I am so distracted with home life that it is hard to concentrate at work.
Sister is having such a great time with her grandson and I am finding it very hard to not be bitter about it. I know no one's life is a peach but mine seems to be getting to me.
Weight is staying where it is. I know what I need to do to get the scale to move but am finding it difficult at the moment.

Good things in my life:
Even with all the stress I have not gained any weight.
I am cancer free for three years. (Colon cancer April 2012)
I had enough money to pay my federal taxes today.
My refund for the state taxes is enough to pay all my estimated state payments for this year.
There is much in my life to be grateful for. I must try to concentrate on those things instead of the not so good things.

Love to all,
Lori

Whew. . . I’m finally caught up with 350+ posts. Super long post as I wanted to reply to some of your posts. Happy Hump Day!!! Well, this week is just slammed. With the e-mails from being away and some new projects on my plate, I’m barely keeping my head above water. BUT, I’m loving my new job and I’ve already been here 4 months. Can you believe it??!!

Vacation was exactly what I needed and total relaxation. We really didn’t do anything except beach, pool, and beach again. It was heaven. Siesta Key in Sarasota is my favorite and if I ever win the lottery I will have a place on the beach somewhere. Of course, you have to play to win so I guess that will never happen. LOL!! For me, the ocean is so mesmerizing. I can just sit there and watch it for hours in awe. Love, love, love it. As for the other journey, not so good, but one day I’ll be ready to stay focused.

Here's a few pictures of Cyrus. We brought my BF Shawna and her daughter Rylee. Shawna is the one who lost her husband to cancer in December. I’m trying to keep her spirits up so I thought a trip to the beach would do her good. Plus, it gave me company on the drive down and Cyrus company too. We had such a great time!!








@Laurie – Just saw your post from the 23rd. Congrats on the swim meet and beating all your seed times! You should be so proud of yourself. I know I am. I can’t believe your Tri is already here. I’m so super proud of you!!!

@Tlh0407 (Tracy) – I was so sorry to read about the senior from your church. What a horrific accident. I know it’s a blessing he’s alive, but he’s going to have a very long road ahead with recovery and accepting his new life. Thinking of him and his family during this extremely difficult time. Also, saw your post on seeing Joan Jett – love her!!! I’m a rocker at heart, but keep it hidden a bit. Also, saw your post on Jacob, our boys are like two peas in a pod. Cyrus has ADD and has been on medicine since the 3rd grade. It has helped, but as he gets older I’m also seeing the depression and anxiety, which is on his dad’s side. We did everything through his pediatrician and I never told the school he was on medication. Due to some of his recent behaviors, I also had a sit down with his M.S. teachers and talked directly with one of the counselors. We haven’t lost our boys yet to school, BUT nows the time we have to help them and get this figured out. Hugs my friend. I know your pain. I’m a few days late, but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!

@Laurie/Kelley – The offer still stands for Atlanta. Come on down!!! We can start planning; discussing details and get it locked down. Plus, this can give me that push I need to start making some changes and start preparing for it. Also, I checked out the website and the event runs through Piedmont Park, which is such a beautiful park. I like the idea of making it annual in a different city. I would be totally game for that too. As long as I have plenty of time in advance to plan, I’m good to go!!!

@Skinny (Karen) – I’m so glad your friends moved back from Switzerland. Always great to reconnect. The Thai Chicken is my favorite at CPK. The half is plenty that’s for sure and so yummy! Chuckling at your Size 2 comment also – very fun!! Keeping my fingers crossed the agreement gets approved. I know you guys have put a lot of effort to do things right. Good for you!

@Angelika – So sorry to read about your son and his accidents. Yikes! Luckily, Cyrus has been somewhat accident free – thank goodness!!!

@Morgori (Tom) – I just saw National Waffle Day on 3/25. Cyrus would be stoked. One of his first places to visit when we returned to Atlanta was the Waffle House. Oh brother.

@Cblue (Lori) – 188#’s? So stickin’ proud of you!!!!! You may not think you care I know you really do. Just maintain that number for now until some of your life stuff starts to balance. With your hubby back to work, this will help relieve some of the stress you’ve been holding down the fort. Hugs to both of you as parents with the trials and tribulations surrounding your son. I really hope he stays sober for his own future, but yours too. Also, just read post about your sister. I’m sorry for your family’s loss, but I bet we all have some of those same feelings with certain family members. I’m sure Karen would agree with her MIL.

@RobinsEgg (Ellen) – 12 lbs? You rock!!! I’m so proud of you. As for the car, yuck! I had dealing with car stuff. Luckily, my 15 year old Toyota 4 Runner is awesome! I just hit 200,000 miles last week. I took it in for a check-up and only $300 of maintenance and running like a charm. You deserve something newer and to keep you safe too. As single women or any woman for that matter, we cannot be stranded along the road somewhere. Saw your post about Pad Thai – one of my favorites, but eat sparingly. Love it though.

@Goinstd12 (Tracy) – Being a caregiver is so hard. Everyone is so concerned for the person who’s sick, but they forget the person taking care of them. My best friend took care of her husband during his stage 4 cancer. It completely drained her and I had to constantly remind her to take a break. Find a friend to sit with him while she gets away for an hour. It’s so important for your mental health too.

@RobinB – Great seeing you again! I’ve been on the downside for quite some time, but slowly pulling myself back out. Missed you too!

@MyMowMow (Kris) – You know I love when you sneak in. I can’t believe Mow Mow is 11 already. Where does the time go? You know you’re welcome anytime and thanks for checking up on me. You’re a doll!! Also, no more Doctor McHotty Pants – say it isn’t so??!!) I use to love when you chatted about him. I use to have the same anxiety about the dentist, but I’m so glad it went OK. Also, where in Florida is your family? Yes, yes, yes come south. I just left there last week back to Atlanta and go often. We can finally get together and meet!!! I’m a few days late, but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!

@Tanya – I’m a bit behind, but how’s the fast food goal? How did you end up for the month? I know you were doing so well. I totally agree with your April goals about tracking EVERYTHING the good, bad and ugly.

@Kah68 (Kelley) – Blueberry Muffins don’t count because their a fruit. LOL!! Also, I saw your FitBit Charge HR shipped. Mine hasn’t. Poo!!! Perhaps mine will be soon since we ordered and backordered about the same time.

@Melifornia – While you may be in a little funk too, thank you. It helps me to know I’m not alone. I often think what is wrong with me, but it really helps to know others struggle too. I guess that’s why I’ve stuck with this thread. When you have a significant amount of weight to lose, you need to be surrounded by people who understand the ups AND downs. Hang in there!!

@MNWalkingqueen (Holly) – I was thinking about you and wondering how things were going. Thanks for checking in with us. One of my single mom friends lost her job 12/31 and just landed somewhere. It was getting close for her financially, but luckily a door opened. I know it will for you too!

@Goins – Very cool about your family on Family Feud. I live in Atlanta. I should see where the taping is and if there’s any tickets left. I can be your cheering section for them. My son would love it!!! Also, 2.8 lbs – yippee!!!

@Hansea – Thanks for the reminder on the measurements. I think the last time I took mine was like a year ago. Totally forget to check.

@Jennbo – 15 lbs away from 100? You go girl!!! So proud of you and can’t wait to get to know you even better. Thanks for joining our thread!

@Ushkii – Great seeing you again!!! You know you’re always welcomed back.

@Cassybaca – It will take time, but definitely check in daily. During the week, the thread moves a lot. They’re a chatty bunch for sure. Many have been together 3+ years so we’re really friends. They’re an amazing group so check in when you can. I’ve been following Paleo as well. Not 100%, but pretty close. I have a couple really good recipes if you’re interested.

@NK1112 – I was down about the same amount of posts. Slowly getting through them all. Missed you guys!

@Garysgirl – Sorry to hear about the twins ear infections. This is one thing I was so thankful never hit my son. He’s 12 now and almost 13, but has stayed fairly healthy. I count my blessings every day for a healthy child.

@Annr – I can totally relate about closing down the kitchen. Late night snacking has always been my Achilles heel.

@GrandmaKaye – I’m so glad to read DH is still cancer free. Always wonderful news.

I am happy (and a bit embarassed) to say "here I am again". I have been so lax with MFP for a while......I come back a while and poof I get lazy. I love this thread..... so many inspiring people here! I do take time to read posts, but if I don't comment back to you, please forgive. I find the personals so hard to get in! If anyone here would like to be on my friends list, please request! I need some new people to keep me accountable! A lot of my friends haven't been on for a while so it is kind of lonely ! I am on a new plan from the dr. and so far it is working!