Motivation, Success and Frustration Sharing!

shirley's (in pic) doing a little better, usually takes 3 laser treatments for improvement. Yesterday we had a ribbon cutting ceramony at our rescue. Granville Homes donated(most of it) to build a 4800 sq ft building on our property. There was the president of Granville, manager of Subaru ( They give % of car sales certain times of the year) some city council members. Our Rescue, Animal Compassion Team (check it out on FB) also got the contract last year for the county shelter. Before them, it was a very high euthanasia rate, now it's very low & they take dogs out into makeshift play yards & send alot out to different no kill rescues, out of state too.

@Evamutt - glad your dog is doing better. Sounds like some great work that you do at the rescue centre - such a great cause.

Jen - you are not alone, I have no willpower to say no to any food at the moment - too many christmas snacks lying around and it's not even close to Christmas Day yet. I'm doomed!! Hope your Christmas spirit is starting to make an appearance - I've had years where I just don't feel it and it's so hard.

Rachel - congratulations and commiserations in equal measure. But as others have said, at least you know about the PCOS - if you are aware of it, you can at least do something to manage it. And you are in a great place to start with so good incentive to keep doing what you have been doing. Glad Chance is ok now - I think it's a good job that all our pets are cute as they are far too much mischief to get away with it otherwise.

Joy - to be honest I feel like I have fallen off the side of the earth . Too much to do in too little time - going to have to take a view on what is really essential and what can be dropped otherwise me and my husband will be asleep by Christmas! I too thought we were sorted for Christmas but it appears we may not be - sigh!

Shy - sorry to hear about your father in law, hope he is doing better now. Sounds like another busy week for you - I truly don't know how you do it!

@Dalceridae - hope you get your dog home today as expected

So, in good news: I'm still here! Today is my last day of work until January 4th! We have Alistair's 2nd birthday party on Sunday which will be fun then my husbands birthday on Monday which will also be fun!

In bad news: I'm absolutely shattered! I'm coughing! And too much to do in too little time - party food and birthday cake to pick up tomorrow, shopping to do, swimming lesson for Alistair. Oh and then my father in law will land on us tomorrow evening for two nights - why did I think it was a good idea to invite him down to stay for the birthday party???? Then cooking on Sunday morning in between helping Alistair to open presents and then the madness of a 2 year old party in the afternoon.

Anyway, have fun everybody - for all of us who are struggling with one challenge or another, hang in there - it will get better. I won't be around much this weekend but I will be back and checking in next week and trying to keep on top of things over the next couple of weeks.

Welcome @somoejr!

@janetay01 I'd be shattered too, that sounds exhausting! I hope you can fit in some time for yourself

@Evamutt What a cutie! And congrats on the 2lb loss, throwing away doughnuts is a huge NSV!

@jdelaroy Sorry to hear you have it too. That is hilarious timing on your second pregnancy though! Kids have never been a plan for me so luckily the infertility isn't a concern. Just got to keep that heart disease, uterine cancer, and insulin resistance at bay!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! Our operating system is down so today is going by VERY slowly. I made it to the gym this morning since I've got a happy hour after work so I'm proud of myself for keeping active (@bluepoppies777 I seriously love the challenge idea!) I also packaged all the Christmas cookies from the swap yesterday so that I can get rid of them over the next few days and I only set aside a few for myself. I'm feeling much more in control this week so I'm hoping to ride that wave through the New Year

@gemwolf110 What a gorgeous dog! I'm so glad to finally have my girl back from the vet. We went out for a shorter walk today as I don't want her to overexert herself, but there was no snow sadly - just lots and lots of mud. I don't know what I would do without wellies.

Happy Monday! 6 more days until Christmas! It's snowing here today, so it's feeling quite festive! Warmed up a bit, so it's nice not to be absolutely frozen anymore!

Rachel, I ate every Christmas cookie known to man this weekend too what is going onnnnn?? Will have to try to wrestle myself away from all goodies this week!

We went to see Rogue One last night, took the whole fam. Everyone liked it! I have a family of all boys, so we see allll the guy movies. LOL. Pretty much behaved with the popcorn, didn't overdo it. and only drank a few sips of diet coke. I did get the fuzzy peaches, but didn't eat too many, so that was a win.... but the butter tarts got me at home later! GAH!

Gem - Cute pup!! Our last dog was a husky-shepherd with one brown eye, one blue eye. She was a beauty too, but not as fluffy as yours!

Have a good week, everyone! I'm sure everyone will be busy this week with wrapping and prepping for Christmas, so check in when you can, and sending Christmas wishes to everyone! xo

Joy - what are fuzzy peaches? They sound good!!

@Dalceridae - glad your border collie is back to herself. They cause us such worry when they get ill but playing with her toyds again is a great sign!

@gemwolf110 - gorgeous dog

Shy - so sorry to hear about your father in law, sending positive thoughts your way.

So, we made it through the birthday weekend - Alistair had a marvellous time on Sunday, lots of lovely presents and sugar overload with his birthday cake! The party was primarily our friends and family but he had his best friend from nursery round and they just rampaged round the house squealing and laughing hysterically so good fun was had by all. He was absolutely shattered by the end of the day and fell asleep, snoring, in my arms during story time! Father in law has now gone home so we are the final push for present wrapping, food planning and all the many other little bits and pieces. Have a good day all and I'll check in soon.

Hello everyone. Today is another fresh start day. Im frustrated with myself for slacking and giving myself excuses allowing myself to gain everything back. I really need to stick with logging my food and being accountable. I'm hoping that by joining the MFP Community it will help me with my failures.

@wishfuljune My work swap cookies got me too...they are dangerous!

@gemwolf110 That sounds exhausting! I hope a position opens up for you and all that extra hard work pays off

@Bobbie48421 Welcome!

Yesterday was rough....I got home and literally curled into bed and didn't move for the rest of the night. My director is luckily out today so I can take a breath, and then I don't have to come back to work until January 3rd! I might be a bit MIA during that time since we're visiting relatives in other states but I'll check in from time to time and be back swinging in the new year.

The secret to waking up naturally at 5am is to go to bed at 8pm. No joke, I often go to bed before my Grandma's bedtime. I did it again this morning and did some rejuvenating yoga to get me in a better headspace to make it through today. Happy Wednesday everyone!

Good morning. I missed everyone. I was sick all weekend into Tuesday. Finally started feeling better yesterday. I am still looking for the Christmas spirit, I feel like I am trying to find it, but it is being very elusive. I have 18 people that are going to be at my house for Christmas. This is my first year hosting. Holy crap am I nervous. I don't even know where everyone is going to sit. We might be eating on the floor, but it will be great either way. I am also not very excited for my birthday. It feels like it is just going to be another day. No one in my family has asked what I am going to do, so I think it is going to pass quietly by.

@wishfuljune I am a Christmas Eve baby. My birthday tends to get overlooked by most my friends and extended family. Completely understandable. My immediate family has always been really good about making sure to remember. I think everyone is just having an off year. Oh well, I know they love me, so not too worried. Just feeling sorry for myself.

Hi everyone! I am dyyyying at work today... and I still have to be here tomorrow too! Talk about dead!! And the cookies and goodies around here are going down the hatch a little too often! (no self control)!

Jane! Fuzzy peaches are candies! They are round shape, kind of flat, but plump and they taste like peaches, with a dusting of granulated sugar (a bit sour) on the outside. I seriously LOVE them. Glad to hear the birthdays are over and fun was had by all! Now to focus on Christmas, which will be so fun with little Alistair. This age it's so magical for them!

June - I love going to the movies! I wish I could go every week, but getting a babysitter that many times is out of the question, there would be mutiny at home! LOL. Enjoy your trip, have safe travels!

Gem - good job at work, you are doing great. And have a merry christmas with your pups!

Rachel - You are so awesome, getting up early and getting your work outs in! Massive kudos to you! I pressed the snooze button this am, just could not get up at 5:15!! GAH! I just realized at this moment, I think it's because I'm eating crappy right now, so that makes me more sluggish and tired! (duh!!). Enjoy your time away from the office and safe travels to all those different states you are hitting for the holidays!

Nichole - I'm so sorry to hear Jenna had that accident, but thank goodness she came away nearly unscathed. What a year for you, it's been so many awful things after another. that is probably the reason that you and your hubs are having some problems. So just hang in there, things are going to get better, and then things will smooth out with him too. It's got to be all the stress of the year, it would affect anyone. Try to get to some yoga classes and just have patience with each other. As I like to say fake it til you make it (like pretend to be nice to him until you feel like actually being nice and loving!)

Shy - glad to hear the FIL is out of the ICU, that is a big relief! Poor MIL, thankfully you guys are there to help her and keep her spirits up. Have fun on the bar hop! I WISH I lived closer to you! LOL! also, what the heck - a cheese raffle ???!!! I think I may have been from Wisconsin in my past life! or we were separated at birth... one or the other. LOL!

Jen - Hopefully you will get dusted with that magical spirit of Christmas in the next few days and feel more excited about it. It would suck having your birthday on Christmas, so I hope that everyone acknowledges that when they are at your house! If they don't, I think you should get everyone's attention during dinner and say "I'd like to make a toast - to me! Happy birthday to me, everyone!" And don't be nervous about hosting, my advice is to be happy (even if shizzle is going sideways)!! If the host is a stressed out madwoman, it puts everyone on edge. But if you are relaxed (or pretending to be relaxed), everyone enjoys themselves more. Also, delegate things! Just say to people can you please mash the potatoes for me? or get everyone a drink or put this/that on the table, carve the turkey... whatever! Just give people jobs! And if anyone gives you attitude, tell them they are on dish duty! Also, people will sit on the couches with their plates or whatever, so don't worry. You could ask a few people if they had some extra folding chairs they could bring. Good luck!! And happy birthday!!

Well, I've been having a good week. Drinking far too much rum and eggnog (it only comes around once a year so I dive in!). We are going to another party tonight. My brother is coming with his family from San Francisco tomorrow for a week, so we will be busy ice skating/skiing, snowshoeing, etc etc... I probably won't have time to check in too much over the next week.

I want to wish you ladies a very Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for the friendship, motivation, and encouragement. I really appreciate you guys so much. It's been a bit of a wild year for some of us with family members passing, changing job situations, and general ups and downs of life (and weight!). But we all pushed through and we all have been there for each other. Let's be thankful for our health and make a commitment to succeed in 2017 again.

One more thing - a few years ago I heard of this thing where you pick a word for the year. 2 years ago mine was "minimalism" (that one stuck but that's besides the point)!. This year mine was "care." (was going for self care, caring for friends and families etc). I'm thinking about my word for 2017. (tossing around focus, health or balance). You can pick any word - spirituality, fun, love... and let it guide you through the year. it's just a word that you can think of to motivate yourself when you need it, to guide you through decisions big and small, and things like that. So I wonder if anyone else wants to pick a word with me? We can think about it and let everyone know their word the first few days of January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! xo