Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Mine was super busy as usual. We are in the process of painting outside. The shed is just about finished. The really big project is the house. Hubby who is a teacher will be done with school in three weeks so he will have about a month to paint before he and son leaving for their annual trip to DisneyWorld. The new roof is being put on this week and pretty soon my new front door and garage door should be delivered and installed. Big things are happening and I'm really excited.

Finally got back on the scale after a month hiatus. I was surprised to see that I didn't weigh as much as I thought I did. My new weight reflects a new starting point. I'm going to break it down into three mini goals - first goal is get to 210, second goal is 190 and the last goal is 175. I have no set time to do this. I do not respond well to deadlines as I feel like a failure if I fall short of the mark regardless of how much I've accomplished. Life is stressful enough so I am going to focus on one day at a time and weigh in once a week on Sunday morning (so I can enjoy my two slices of pizza on Friday night and not have to worry about weighing in on Saturday morning like I used to).

Daughter is currently in Italy, heading to Rome today. She will be there for the remainder of the week and return home on Friday. She just loved London and is having a fabulous time.

Nothing much else to report. Hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful day. I'm hoping to journal at least twice a week and be able to read/comment on your journals as well. Thinking of you all! Welcome to the newbies!!!!

Have a GREAT OP day!

TM

Hi All:

It's been awhile since I've posted, however, I have been reading your journals here and there as time permits (I do this at work). Dietwise, I've been backsliding something awful. I had hoped to have lost at least 35 lbs. by now but I've only have 18 to my credit. I haven't been trying as hard as I should and know I can. Don't know what the problem is and why I'm not doing what I should be doing. God only knows I know what has to be done and I'm the only one who can do it (wish someone else could do it for me)!

Things have been busy at the office and at home. We are in the process of painting our house and shed which is very time consuming. We're also getting a new roof, garage door and new front door which is going to give the house a totally new appearance. Thank God these things we're having done by contractors - the painting we're doing ourselves to save some $$$ because I can't see spending $1800 for someone to paint my house.

Daughter is presently in Europe - just finished up a week's stay in London and now heading to Rome. She will be back next Friday. Son just marked his first anniversary with his gf. They are thinking about getting married in a couple of years.

That's about all that's new with me. I think of you often and hope everyone is doing well. Keep up the good work!

Take care,

TM

Hi All: Yep! It's me - THEMOTHER. I didn't fall off the face of the earth - just been incredibly busy both at work and at home. I have sneaked visits to this site here and there to check up on you but I didn't have sufficient time to post until today. Anyway, I'm hanging in and still struggling weight wise. Been walking at lunch time with a co-worker so that helps and have been out in the yard after work and on the weekend (when it's not raining) so I'm getting some type of exercise.

We're undergoing some more changes at work and the worst one is that the boss (female) that I LOVE may be moving to another position - possibly in MINNESOTA. At least she may be based there 2 days a week and hoping to work out of this office the other 3. It is still very much in the air at this point. I was so sad to hear this news because we get along so well. She is the BEST boss I've ever had. I now report to my other boss (male). He is nice, too, but I'm fonder of my female boss. Still, I have a good job so I can't complain too much.

Daughter went to see her "long distance" friend who was in from England on business in Philadelphia. She spent last weekend with him and came home very smitten. All I hear is "Andy this" and "Andy that". It's very difficult to do the long distance thing so I do not know what is going to happen. She leaves for London on 5/27 and plans on spending a couple of days with him there.

Nothing much is going on. I'm hanging in there trying to make good food choices but don't always succeed. I haven't given up the fight but it's really hard right now. I don't know why but it is.

Have to finish up some stuff so hopefully I can leave work on time tonight. Wish all of the mothers out there a very happy Mothers' Day. Enjoy your special day. I know I will.

Take care.

TM

Hello everyone: Just checking in on this dreary rainy Wednesday. I am struggling once again - can't seem to get past the 230 mark despite all of the work I've been doing in the garden last week and the tremendous amount of walking we did in DC the weekend before. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong but obviously I'm doing something. Maybe I'm too obsessed with the "number" and should pay more attention to how my clothes fit and how I feel. I don't know.

Took Monday off as hubby is on his school spring break. Got a lot accomplished which was nice and I had planned to take this Friday off too but the weather is not supposed to be the best so I'll wait plus I'm planning 2-3 days off in May. I don't want to use all of my accrued time as the year is still young and I like some time off in early fall.

Daughter is meeting her long distance "friend" from England on Saturday in Philadelphia. He will be in the States on business and they've been chatting quite often online and by phone since they met two months ago at a business convention in FL. I'm apprehensive about her going - she's going to stay overnight with him (share a room). I know she's 23 but I'm concerned for her safety. He can sound nice on the phone and turn out to be a psycho - am I over-reacting or what?????? She leaves for London on May 20th and plans on spending a couple of days with him there (the trip was planned with a college friend before she met him in Feb.).

Work is coming along. Once again we've had a slight reorg - I now report to my "second" boss (male) instead of my female boss who was the one who hired me. I still support her but her role has changed and she no longer has direct reports. I feel badly for her because she is great. My male boss is a nice guy and we get along well but if I had to choose, I'd rather keep it like it was. Such is life. At least I have a job so I'm not complaining by any means.

That's about it for now. I hope to catch up on journals today since both of my bosses are out of the office.

Have a terrific day!

TM

Hi All: NO, I'm not missing in action although I haven't posted for 10 days. It's just that it's been SO busy at work (and that's where I read DD - ha!), I've had virtually no time to stay connected with you guys but I think of you often. I'm doing well. Down 1.5 lbs. from last weigh-in and I'm slowing getting back on track. Hubby and I went to Washington, DC last Saturday and walked about 15 miles - I kid you not!!!! The weather was phenomenal and it was so nice to be out in the fresh air amongst all of our nation's great treasures. We went to the WWII Memorial, FDR Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, The National Arhives which gave me chills to see the actual Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution and a bunch of other stops along the way. I love the USA! We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and had the most delicious grilled chicken breast with some garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. No dessert! Got home late Saturday night and Sunday I worked three hours in the yard. It is starting to shape up (hopefully I am too - ha!). Before long, it was time to get ready for another work week and here it is Tuesday already. I'm taking off next Monday and possibly the Friday after that as well as hubby is on his school spring break. I'm hoping to get some stuff done around the house since he is off.

Nothing else is new. Everyone is doing well and it seems that spring has finally sprung here in NJ. The trees are starting to bloom and the air is fresh and clean and it just makes me smile to believe that winter is finally over - maybe I can put the snowblower away.

Hope all of you are doing well and I'm planning on catching up on journals today/tomorrow since both of my bosses are out of the office on Wednesday.

Take care and have a GREAT OP day!

TM

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!What a week and I'm ever so glad it's Friday. I'm in pretty good spirits today. Had a decent night's sleep which is one of the reasons. It's also supposed to be a nice weekend (had tons of rain last weekend) so I'm looking forward to working in the yard a little. I divide my yardwork into sections so I don't feel overwhelmed by all there is to do and it makes it more managable.

Tonight is pizza night and tomorrow is weigh in. I've been thinking about changing my weighin to Sunday morning so i can enjoy pizza and not worry how it's going to show up on the scale. It really shouldn't matter if I'm keeping to my points allotment but I don't know.

Just wanted to check in. Today is catch up day at work. Both my bosses are out so I'm hoping to read a few diaries and comment.

Have a GREAT day and terrific weekend. I'll check in next week.

TM

Happy Thursday (already)! It's been a whirlwind week once again and I so miss not being able to check this site as frequently as I had in the past but as I mentioned before, the office (where I read DD) is hopping for the last few weeks. The days go so incredibly fast that I feel like I'm either on my way into work or going home from work and whatever happens inbetween is one big blur (ha)! I see we have some newcomers to DD so I wish you a hearty "welcome".

As for me, last week I've posted a 1 lb. loss. I'm pleased by this although I know I could have done better. It seems on the night before I weigh, I sabbatoge myself by having a little extra than I normally would. Why do I do that? The fear of success? I feel that I'm not worth it? I don't know! On the exercise front, I've done the treadmill twice this week for 20 minutes & 18 minutes. On Tuesday, it was so beautiful out that after dinner I worked out in my yard raking leaves and whatnot for TWO hours. I did not do the treadmill that night. Also I've been walking with a coworker at lunch and we do three laps around the parking lot (normally when I go by myself I do two). So, all in all, I'd say things are pretty good on the exercise front. An exciting thing happened over the weekend. I went pants shopping with my sister who had come up to help me with the taxes for my kids. We went to JC Penney's and I was able to buy a MISSES' size 18 pants - no more WOMEN'S. It was truly an exciting moment. There are some things I still need in Women's (like tops)because I am big on top. Still, it was truly a "moment" and I thought of all of YOU and couldn't wait to tell you guys.

The weekend is rapidly approaching and my plans are to finish the taxes (need to copy them onto a good form) and do some work in the yard. This, of course, is in addition to the usual stuff - food shopping, laundry, running errands, etc. Boy, I wish I worked a 4 day work week so I have the "extra" day to catch up but such is life. I'm planning on taking a day off on the 22nd of April and then a couple of days in May - one to drive my daughter to the airport when she leaves for Europe on 5/27, another to cook for my niece's college graduation party that we're having at my house on May 21st and then one day for ME on May 24th (to recuperate from the party and clean up). Then we have the long Memorial Day weekend so May is shaping up to be a busy month but at least I'll have a couple of days off - not too bad.

Nothing else to report. I hope to read some journals and comment here and there as time permits. Keep up the great job you're all doing. For those who are struggling (myself included) don't give up. WE can do it!!!!!! The weather is getting warmer and that, in itself, is an incentive to shed some pounds.

Thinking of you all.

TM

Hi All: I'm in a funk today. The weather is cloudy and foggy (just like my brain). It's been one hell of a week. I cannot believe it's Friday already (although I'm not complaining). I'm somewhat upset by a mistake I made in sending out a client communciation letter (I work for a pharmacy benefit management company - we're the guys behind your prescription cards when you go to the pharmacy to pick up your meds). It was an honest mistake and not really a big deal but the person who caught it sent an email to his boss who in turn send one to my boss. I guess it was "one of those days" because although my boss never said a word, I was really upset and was talking about it to the person who is training me on how to send out these email blasts and next thing I know, I'm crying (not boohoo crying but my eyes well up with tears). What's with that???? It was embarrassing to say the least but I could NOT control it. I guess it's a case of trying too hard and feeling very overwhelmed. I don't know. Anyway, I'm just feeling very vulnerable. Plus, there are a couple of people at the office that I just don't care for. Ever have that happen where you meet someone, never have cross words or anything but you just don't care for them for no particular reason. I can think of two right off the bat. One guy who is about the same age as my son became a new father (first time). I know this is an exciting time (the kid is now 6 months old) but all he does is talk about his wonder kid whose name happens to be the same as my son's (Sean). He brings in pix shows everyone around me (except me). I don't know why - never had an argument with him or anything. (I do have to deal with him occasionally businesswise but it's usually on behalf of my bosses' who are the head of the department so he is "nice" to me probably because of "who I work for" which I HATE people like that - maybe that's why I don't care for him). Sorry I'm going off on tangents.

Moving on to other things - the diet is going OK. Not super good like it once was but OK. I've been doing the treadmill 3X a week and walking at work when the weather permits (this week has been yucky!).

Tonight my sister is coming up to stay overnight so we can work on the kids' taxes (geez, they're due in TWO weeks). We will go to my favorite pizza place for dinner and then to Kohl's (we both LOVE that store). Tomorrow we'll work on the taxes (she was an accounting major in college) and hopefully get them squared away. Hubby does ours.

Son is down at his gf's school and daughter is constantly on the phone with her long distance "friend" and I mean "long distance" as he lives in LONDON. They met at a convention in FL the end of Feb and have been heating up the phone lines, text messaging and emailing each other for over a month now. She is going to London on vacation in May with her good friend from college (these plans were made before she met him) and they are going to spend some time together while she's there plus he may be coming stateside in May on business.

That's about it for now. My fingers are tired of typing and I need to get out an expense report for one of my bosses among other things. Today should be a good "catch up" day.

Hope everyone is doing well and has a good weekend. I'm going to try to read some diaries too.

Take care,

TM

P.S. To Cynthia - thanks for your support and encouragement. It's nice to know I can always count on you! Have a super day!

Good morning, All: I have not been missing in action as some might assume. It's been getting incredibly busy at the office (which I love) plus doing stuff at home so the days are just rolling into each other but I have been reading your journals and posting a comment here and there. First and foremost, you'll notice a new HIGHER weight. This is due in part to the purchase of a new WW scale. I was hoping that I would actully weigh less but I never seem to have such luck. When I asked my family to weigh on the new scale, they all weighed within one/two pounds of what they were on the old scale so I can only assume I am up 2.5 legitimate pounds and the remaining 2 is from the change in scales. I'm really upset (maybe disgusted is a better word) because I have not made any progress on weight loss since the holidays and it's nobody's fault except my own. It seems everyone is losing weight but me. My son just hit the 30 lbs. mark and he's been dieting since the new year. My brother who had gastric bypass is down 56 pounds and it's not even three months. Granted he took a more drastic approach. My sister is looking good, too. Friday is April 1st and spring technically has "sprung" - although you would hardly be able to tell with the 4 inches of snow we got last Wednesday. However, with the 2 inches of rain we had Sunday/Monday, most of the snow is alreasdy gone and I'm anxious to get out in the yard and do my thing which to me is a form of exercise. Nonetheless, I'm here and will continue to be as long as it takes to get this problem under control (how long will that be - probably for the rest of my life). Anyway, had a lovely Easter dinner at my sister's. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones (those who celebrate Easter). I did indulge in some goodies but I can honestly say, I didn't go overboard. Yesterday, it was back to business as usual. I did 18 minutes on the treadmill and ate very healthy. Today, so far so good, had one granola bar and an apple.

Not too much else is new. Planning on taking a couple of days off in April and May. I have to run out to pick up lunch for a business meeting my bosses are in so I have to go for now. Hope everyone is doing well and welcome to all of the newbies.

Have a GREAT OP day!

TM

Good morning, all: Today is a rather sad day for me. 20 years ago my wonderful dad passed away from a massive heart attack - no warning, no nothing. One minute he was here, the next gone. I simply cannot believe 20 years have passed. In some ways, it seems like it was only 5 years ago. The passage of time and how quickly it goes, makes me more cognizant of the fact that I need to "stop and smell the roses". I'm such a routine-oriented person that I cannot leave something work related undone (laundry, yard work, etc) and go have a good time on the spur of the moment. I need to get my chores done first, then I can enjoy whatever (at that point, I'm usually too tired to fully enjoy it anyway). I admire people that can simply drop what they're doing and take advantage of a chance to do something fun. I have no clue why I'm like this. Maybe my desire to be "good at something". I'm known as "Mrs. Clean" because I can't stand when things are not put away and I'm always picking up lint off the rugs (beats having to take the vacuum out everytime). Anyway, this is something I need to work on in addition to losing weight. Speaking of weight, I had a good OP day yesterday. Managed to do 25 minutes on the treadmill although I was so tired that towards the end I could barely lift my feet. Slept pretty well, in fact I woke up late but still got to work 20 minutes early. The weather is so befitting my mood - dreary, overcast and rain/snow is on the way. Yesterday was so beautiful - like the saying goes "what a difference a day makes".

Nothing else to report. My male boss has arrived so I need to attend to him.

Hope everyone has a good Wednesday.

Take care,

TM