200+ Haulin' Off The Weight

Okay, I promise to catch up with everyone as soon as I have a free moment to do something other than lurk, but I just wanted to post quickly and say HOLY COW, Nava, that would be AWESOME!!!! London is my most favorite city that I've ever visited (so far). I'm crossing and double crossing my fingers for you!!

Nava, how amazing! That sounds incredible. I hope everything works out for you!!

Annette: Sometimes I'm really glad my in-laws live in another country. I hate preparing for family visitors. Good luck.

Kerry: Your comment about me being "smart and handy to have around" made me feel super-good - thanks!!

Nava: I am crossing all my fingers and toes for you to get the job in London. I love London, it's a great city. Is the job actually IN London or is it somewhere near London? Your friends and family will eventually get used to you not living near them. With Skype and Facebook, we're able to maintain contact with all of our friends in the States.

Karen: Consider me cracking my whip! Get up to the gym and check out the equipment, you've come too far to get apathetic on us now. (and...I U)

Kristina: Hiya lady!

Kendal: I'm glad your podiatry bill is lower than originally thought - it still sux to have to pay that much though.

Pam: I've been at this for over a year and I STILL get uber-pissed when my weight jumps up during my TOM and I have to spend 2 weeks getting it back to normal so I can continue losing. I don't think I'll ever be ok with it.

rain: That cleanse sounds really, really unhealthy. Yuck.

So I'm gonna vent for a minute, please feel free to tune out if you so desire. The Hubbs is applying for a course for work that would be 3 months long..in D.C. Now, I'm cool with the deployments and the TDYs (as they are mandatory) but I am having a harder time with a voluntary 3-month long class. In January. That means that I get to shovel all the freaking snow every day and night by myself (on top of doing everything else involved when he's gone). And I KNOW that sounds whiny and selfish. It's just that he's been gone SOOOO much in the past 18 months and me & the Kid are left here with no friends or anything and everything seems to go wrong when he isn't around (police at my door, neighbors crashing into my car, bank accounts being drained). I don't deal well with stress and it's hard for me to see this as anything but him trying to stress me out for no good reason. (and, yes, I DO know that's crazy) And now I'm done.

We could but we have 2 dogs and a cat that would need homes for the time we're gone. I have a lady that will watch one dog (she isn't sure about the new dog yet) but only for a week or 2 and she couldn't watch the cat at all. And, as I mentioned before, we know NO one here so it's not like I can ask a friend or 3 to watch my animals for me. So it sucks.

Amy, just saw the response to Lacey... nm.

Are there any like... social groups for American expats over there? Groups for kids and for you? It's not fair that you guys don't get to have any fun social interaction.

holy crap balls! That took almost 2 hours to catch up to everyone's posts. I love you all so much though. I've been in such a BLAH mood lately, on the verge of giving up weight loss altogether, but you ladies have inspired me to keep going. It sucks that I stopped working out for 3 months cause now I am starting from scratch again and it's terrifying. Completely terrifying.

Hi girls. I am new here. Hope I can join in. I'll share my story and goals soon. Just wanted to say hello to start!

Jenn

Jenn w.: Welcome to the group! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Nava: That's cuz the spaghetti is cheap and the chicken is more expensive and they care about making money. (and they're lame) About the groups here: I don't know about expat groups but there is a homeschooling group that I'm getting involved with. They have a picnic getting to know you thing in September. I tried to get involved with this other homeschooling group in the area when we first started homeschooling but they were WAY to religious for me. (I'm not opposed to religion but this was a bit of over kill for me) Other than that, we've had Gabe in sports ever since we got here so he's had some activity with other kids. We're starting him with the German soccer team in our village this season to give him a bit more of a challenge (the Americans really aren't very good at soccer, which pisses The Kid off hardcore) so hopefully he'll make more friends in our area. Now that we have 2 cars, it should be easier to go to functions but with one car it was impossible. I was just b i t c h i n g - thanks for your concern and suggestions.

Rikki: My kid is the exact opposite, he's told me on several occasions how he's never going to move out of my house.

Kendal: Don't you dare give up on weight loss!! You are awesome and you can do this. Yes, it sucks to be laid up with an injury and you are going to have to ease into working out but YOU. CAN. DO. IT. And I'm gonna be right behind you doing the same damned thing (once I can walk again).

Lacey: There is no "try" - you are back on the weight loss train today. You can do it. You are awesome. You are gonna feel so strong after your walk/run. Dedicate you walk/run to me, cuz I would seriously give anything to be able to run right now. When The Hubbs takes the dogs out for a run, I get all choked up and petulant. So run for me. Do it.

My TOM just started so I am using that as my excuse for whining. Also, I have a bug bite on my ear and that sux.

Weigh-in from Friday... 234.2 Grr... up from last week, but down from 237.0 earlier this week.

I haven't touched my computer in almost a week, basically because I didn't have to. I sometimes have to take these little vacation from technology. Unfortunately, I've also seemed to take a break from eating well and exercising. :grumble: I've been thinking of all the ladies here and have no excuse not to get caught up tonight as I've agreed to work for one of my co-workers that has decided she is tired of the BS as well. So, 8 hours all alone with my computer means catch-up time with y'all!

Hope your Mondays are going well.

Nava: I want to be you!! London is awesome. I totally get Joe's reaction, though. When my Joe was looking for work, we thought we were moving to Texas in January, Las Vegas in April, Boulder in June, Orange County in July, etc. It was really hard to say, "Yes!! Let's do what's best for you!!..." when all of my friends and family are in Vancouver, Washington. All. of. them. But, I knew that Joe's work supported us and it would be a great opportunity, so I said..."Let's go." He never knew my concerns until he got the job in Beaverton (only 25 minutes from here.) I fell to pieces, finally, because the stress of moving my kids and away from our family, church, and friends was terrifying me. So, talk openly with Joe about it and make sure he is telling you the whole truth...it will make you both feel better.

Amy: That is not whining. It is totally acceptable to feel alone and over-worked with The Hubbs gone all the time...and then to take a voluntary assignment back home and you not able to go...wow. I would freak out. I am prayin' for you, girl. I think you're pretty amazing.

Rikki: I keep a dark chocolate bar in the fridge for that very reason. It is the only junk food in the house. Also: sugar free hot cocoa does the trick sometimes...except it's August...so you may not want hot cocoa.

Kendal: I am so proud of you for starting again -- even if it is from scratch. There is no sense in getting down on yourself...you just start where you are and go from there. I think you're a rock star and I can't wait for your excited posts about how great you're doing.

Hallie: I loved attending a community college before going to University. I paid community college prices for the same classes I would be paying university prices for and was able to do it cash. No student loans for me, sister. You may not believe me, but you DO NOT want to be paying for your school after you're done. I promise. So, settle in and get as much done as you can at the Community College level so it is that much less money out of pocket.

Kerry: I am so glad you had fun and good weather. You are so cute!! Your personality totally comes through your posts!! I love reading them.

Well, for me, I got a surprise day off from The Monsters. Their mom is an on-call Dental Assistant for Kaiser and she was cancelled for today. Can I just say, I cried this morning from relief when she stopped by to tell me.

I spent the entire day on the couch yesterday, eating. Once I finally posted on here about my laziness, I got up and did Level 1 and Level 2 of the Shred. I couldn't stand it. I felt better after.

We have out of town guests coming the first week of September for 10 days. So, I have to clean my house top to bottom and stock the freezer/fridge. I am so grateful for my day off today so I can tackle one or two rooms. My house stays pretty orderly, since I am a SAHM, but I have to do things like: move the bed and obliterate the raccoon-sized dust-bunnies, touch up the paint on the door jams, and clean out the tracks in the windows, (you know, where all the insect die...) I have already taken down all of the light fixtures and cleaned those and replaced the light bulbs. I love doing this stuff because I always end up getting rid of a bunch of stuff. It is so freeing. Plus, I get new curtains for the dining room and my bedroom. Hooray!!

Hubby started his new job today. I threatened to take a picture of him in front of the door wearing a backpack and carrying a lunchbox. He wasn't game for that, so instead, we had a cup of coffee on the patio before he left. He was practically giddy. Fewer hours, less responsibility, twice the money...I would be giddy too!!

Ok, so today, I am going to eat really well and work to get to 1200 cals. I have a 7 mile run in the a.m. and need to make sure I am fueling the day before as well as the morning of. I have a pork roast in the crockpot for BBQ Pulled Pork tonight. Yum.

On the in-law front, my SIL tried to start another fight with me in front of my MIL. I told her to take a FLYING LEAP. I am so sick of this drama. She was shocked (so was I) because I just don't respond that way. I am a peacemaker by nature, but she said something snide about my kid...so she got a new perspective from this MamaBear. I'm h oping that is the end of it. But, if not, she is going to be schooled again. And the best part? We get to spend the whole weekend together at a family function in Seattle. yay. the joy. the thrill. it's underwhelming.