I think the best thing I ever did was to volunteer to help out the other branch. I have learned so much. One to have more confidence in myself as this place is so laid back it has allowed me to know my stuff. The main branch the woman has a way of making me doubt myself but a week here and I know I prefer the rules at the main branch but I do know what I am doing. I like just being a few minutes from my house. I know I work because I have to work. I'm not there to go out to lunch everyday or to buy b-day gifts for everyone. I'm there because I have bills that need to be paid and a family to take care of and I am ok with that.

I really need to get back into the routine of exercising again. I'll try and start this week. I also need to cut back the chips. I have gone on a chip thing when I am working on dinner. I can't walk outside with the leaves as they make me wheeze. they are not falling off the trees as quickly as I would prefer so it makes being outside for any time hard.

Have a great day everyone!!

I totally blew it today! I wanted fritos and a little Debbie cake. I stopped at a grocery store to get them. They didn't have the snack size bag of Fritos. The smallest size they had was a 9.25 oz bag. I knew better than to get it. I told myself I would share the bag with my co-workers by putting it in the break room. By the time I made it to work I told myself there was no need to put the bag in the break room because I would walk back and forth to the break room to get the chips until they were all gone. So yes, I ate the whole bag of fritos and the cookie for lunch with a Coke Zero. My doctor wanted me to gain a pound by tomorrow so he would know I was concentrating on getting well and not on weight loss. I think he will get what he wants and maybe even more! : ( On a good note, I did avoid the good cookies in the break room. Also, I'm wearing my new skinny leg pants and slim blouse with knee high boots and loving the way they look and feel. I remind myself I can't eat the way I did at lunch and continue to dress this way. I'm not even gonna say tomorrow's a new day. I am starting to improve now and going to go back to my healthy eating plan for the rest of the day. I failed for one meal. I got back up and am going to kick butt again. I hope my doctor releases me to return to the gym tomorrow!

@2020pinktogo My new school also had staff members wanting themes for Halloween costume. My team did Wizard of Oz. I was the scarecrow. Simple enough, I just didn't like that I "had to" do it. I think costumes should be optional.

I think my husband is on vacation again and I hate to ask as it'll just send me over the edge. He's never home on a sunday night and he was home and had the tv on. I guess I will ask when i get home and if he is still up. Normally he would have all his vacations used up but there was a lot going on at the store and he too was asked to move his vacations even though he's been with the company 40 some years. So if he has a week left I know he will be cranky it's this late in the season. Yesterday the dog and I went to bed early and I think he felt left out but I was feeling off and it was cold and the dog just made herself comfy in front of the vent in our room. I must be a very cold person as she camps out in front of the heater and if I'm not in the room and my husband is there she jumps on the bed and gets on my side. My husband says it's true I am so cold it's like a frozen turkey is on that side of the bed. I think the dog and I just prefer the same side of the bed. LOL Have a great day everyone.

I am tired, sick, and stressed. I am having the house appraised for a refi at 2 and it's not ready. I'm going to the doctor at 3:45. I have been dealing with the stomach issues for over 2 months now. The good news is that I'm currently dealing with pain and burning in my stomach and no diarrhea and vomiting. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Friday. Oh joy. The way I feel right now I'm about ready to go back to a clear liquid diet. I'm sure it will get better! A good night's rest tonight will help tremendously.

Happy Monday! My husband was out of town for the weekend and comes home today. :-) When he leaves, I treat the time as a stay-cation for me. This month, I have two more week-long stay-cations to look forward to. o_O I prefer having my hubby home with me; the stay-cation idea is a way for me to not miss him too much. Anyway, I'm still on my low-cal diet and feeling pretty good. I've working on a salmon necklace this weekend, and the 3 I made just don't look right. Hopefully, I now know what I want and I'll be able to get it done. I am a shrink plastic artist. I draw on paper, trace it onto the plastic, color, cut out, shrink, then make a piece of jewelry out of it. Most of my inspiration comes from the ocean. (Sorry if I've already shared this before. My memory's not what it used to be. XD)

@CaptainBoing -- Wow! Sounds like a really active holiday! Enjoy!

@2020pinktogo -- Hope things work out with your medication. Also, sounds like you're fitting in at work that's a plus. If you only ate some m&m's at home after being near 2 big buckets of candy at work, that's a win!

@1skholloway -- :-( How are you doing today? I hope you were able to relax a bit this weekend and that your Friday wasn't too terrible. Please take care. 2 months is such a long time to feel sick. Sending healing vibes your way.

@blitzbis -- All you can do is your best. Just don't give up! Were you able to go to the store? You are right-- every meal is an opportunity to make healthy decisions!

*gasp* Just realized that tomorrow is Nov 8! I don't care who you vote for, just please go and vote! Here in WA we have mandatory mail-in ballots, so I voted last week. :-)

Hello all, I feel better finally. I'm eating light foods and I found a med the doctor prescribed for diarrhea and cramps that helps with the stomach pain. I have been able to rest. I try to eat somewhat within a maintenance level of calories. I haven't been able to get back to the gym yet. Hopefully I can go back next week. Friday I have the colonoscopy. I'm ready for it!

@2020pinktogo oh my goodness! Your is lucky to be alive!

@blitzbis yep sounds like you need new shoes. I need some too. I don't like buying new shoes. There are so many choices and not enough information. Then there's the price. Oh my! I have two pair of go walks by Skechers but since I lost weight they are really too big. I wear them now for non exercise activities. I think I need cross trainers now.

I did vote last night. I was in and out of the polling place in 9 minutes! I haven't looked yet this morning to see who our new president is. When I last looked I was surprised at the results but the west coast still hadn't reported their results.

Like a lot of folks, I'm glad election day is over. As @blitzbis said, now we can get back to our normal lives!

@1skholloway -- I'm happy to hear that you are finally feeling better. I hope the appt on Fri gives more information.

Felt a bit out of sorts today. I am finding it difficult to stay within my calorie goals these last couple of days. I was 200 cal over yesterday and just under today. Just another 12 days or so!

So today I bought a faux suede jacket on the sidewalk sale. It was a dollar and I love it But... it has shoulder pads are shoulder pads out should I remove them? When it comes to fashion sense I buy what i like and usually throw it out the window but this is something I am going to wear to work so I am asking your opinion.

Hello friends! Well the colonoscopy and the prep really weren't bad. I was able to sleep a lot!!!! The doctor found and removed 3 polyps in my colon and that's all that was found. That's good news but I was disappointed. I wanted him to find a cause for the illness, off a treatment, and to get well. The doctor did mention to my mother that artificial sweeteners can cause diarrhea. I had only been using liquid stevia. I had talked to my regular doctor about it on 2 or 3 occasions and he said that wouldn't be the cause. I thought about it and decided to leave off all artificial sweeteners. Ughh!!!! Yesterday I used plain ol white sugar. I then started researching liquid stevia. Everything I read said stevia should not cause diarrhea and cramping. I then researched the brand I used - Great Value - the Walmart brand. A man's diet blog happened to mention that it contains sugar alcohol which causes diarrhea!!!! I used this stuff exclusively - a minimum of 3 times a day I would guess. The symptoms started a month after I started using the stuff. Also the symptoms started right after eating some no sugar added frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf. It probably has sugar alcohol too! Y'all, I feel so stupid!!!! I knew about sugar alcohol in sugar free candy and no sugar added icees. I didn't know what they were called. I had no idea sugar alcohol would be added to liquid stevia. I have probably been sick for 2 months because of a sweetener I have been eating. I think anything with sugar alcohol in it, should have a warning on the label. A few foods do have warnings. I googled sugar alcohols and came up with a list of their names. I now have those stored in my phone and will read labels. What a lesson this has been! Hopefully I can save someone from what I have been through.

@2020pinktogo great shopping! I'm so glad y'all had a good time and got some bargains! You are so respectful of your daughter. I have never minded sharing clothes with my mom. I can usually find clothes for my mom (aged 76) at Sears and Bon Worth. She likes Belk and Dillard's also. Sears is the go to for dresses for her. Bon Worth is super for clothes for mature women. I have also bought a few items there. I am like you and wear it if I like it. I don't like shoulder pads and I remove them. I have broad shoulders so I have never needed them. The 80's styles seems to be back so shoulder pads may be making a comeback.

@blitzbis I'm so happy you are feeling better!! Thank you for the sympathy illness but please, do not go there. I don't want anyone sick on my account.

I erronously got a $13 gift card in the mail from old Navy this week. Oh darn! What to do? If I turned it in to the store would an employee use it? I used it. Sweaters were 1/2 price and I wanted long sweaters to wear with leggings and boots. I ended up getting 2 sweaters for $20 after I used my gift card. That's more than I'm used to paying at thrift stores and consignment shops but still a good deal.

I'm going to a flea market this afternoon with friends. I hope to get in some walking but not spend much money. I'm looking for a few unique Christmas gifts. I have bought most of my Christmas gifts already. I still need to get gifts for my 4 great nephews ages 2-12, a 16 year boy, a couple of co-workers, and a couple of friends. I have ideas for most of them. Praise the Lord for Amazon Prime!!!! I don't have a good idea for my dad. We seldom have a good idea for my dad. I'm thinking of getting my mom an instant pot. I just don't know if she will use it. I need to find a way to bring up the topic. I guess I need to let my sister and sisters-in-law know we need to discuss them over the Thanksgiving holiday.

I hope to get back to the gym this week!!!! I bought some new athletic shoes. They are champion brands. They aren't a great brand but they were on sale and affordable. They will probably work for what I do.

I hope y'all have a great Sunday. 'Sorry for the novel. I guess I'm catching up on not posting for a while.

@1skholloway Thanks for sharing about artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohol.

I don't make any Christmas decisions until after Thanksgiving.