Hello

Hi All, I just wanted to check in and say I haven't forgotten you all. I'm just trying hard to limit my computer fun time right now. It's too easy for me to ignore the things I have to do and spend excessive amounts of time on forums and message boards! Right now, my main focus is split between my writing, exercise, and a job search...I was getting kind of depressed because I wasn't getting anything done, even though I had enough time...I realized that I just had to buckle down and get tough with myself. I've had a couple swimming lessons now and it's wonderful. I swam as a child and was fearless in water then, but I stopped going in when I started gaining so much weight. I've been deep water walking with a floatation belt and decided to take swimming lessons to get my confidence back. I've had two lessons so far and have six left, but I'm already doing some actual swimming and I'm enjoying it. Wow, though, it really involves the whole body and I was exhausted yesterday! Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror at the gym and I actually, for the first time, did a double-take. I look good! I look...like me again! It was like recognizing an old friend I have not seen in years...I feel so blessed, so proud, so joyful. I hope everyone is doing well! Hugs, Lisa

Glad to see you!! Swimming lessons are wonderful, I love to swim. Double take at the gym you go Girl and be proud of yourself for all that you have done. I hope that the job searching goes well for you and you find one soon. Keep in touch. Hugs~~ Deanne

Hi Lisa Glad to hear your doing well! You'll have to tell me about your swimming lessons and what you're learning. I've been doing a water aerobic workout, but I'm ready to add new moves because I'm getting bored with the same routine and feel I can add more to it, as well. Tell me about your deep water walking?? what are you doing, and for how long?

I was introduced to deep water walking at my gym a couple years back, and it's great exercise, but between the diabetes, asthma, and everything else that was getting me down, I didn't go as frequently as I wanted. Basically, with a floatation belt around the waist, to keep from sinking, you walk out in deep water - your legs and arms move as though you were walking or jogging, as slow or fast as you are able, but your feet never touch the bottom of the pool. It gives all the cardio benefits and toning, but has the advantage of putting no pressure on the lower back or knees. For anyone with injuries, it's a wonderful exercise. The pool at my gym has an area roped off for it and people do as many laps around the area as they wish. I don't count laps, but do it for a set amount of time - 45 minutes if that's all I'm doing, less if I'm also doing another activity. I'm giving away my (large) belt, as I can now wear the regular size belts they have at the gym Plus, with learning to swim, I won't need one that much anyhow. I am bringing it with me to the support group next week to see if anyone there can use it...only condition is that they have to ***use*** it!

Yup this is exactly what happens to me. I decided along with WLS to change a lot of things lol and computer time was one of them. I now get much more done during the day when I don't feel the pressure of the "pull of the computer" lol. Its hard some days when I don't want to do anything but plant here and veg lol but I just make up my to do list and slowly plug along on it and before I know it I have gotten done all I want to get done AND even enjoyed some computer time to boot. Its hard though.. computers are almost as addicting as food lol. I am so happy to see you are doing well. The swimming sounds great! I can NOT wait to get our pool up this year. We got a new one and its 24 foot by 5 foot and its going to wiggle the rest of this jiggle right off me this summer lolol. Keep on keeping on!! Felicia

Hi Lisa!! Nice to see you posting this morning. I understand about spending too much time on the computer and not enough doing the things that NEED to be done. I'm trying to get better about that too. Must be why the boards are so quiet lately. We are all trying to get our lives back instead of hiding out in front of the computer. This is a good thing!!!! Good luck with everything!! And, congrats on the double take! That's wonderful. Susan

Hello to all..I am with you all on being addicted to the computer. My DH calls it my other boyfriend. So "Hello, my name is Angela and I am a Computer Addict" It is nice to admit it. Hey I am home alone with my three dogs and two cats the TV and the computer and don't feel like doing nothing else so I am here on puter talking to the best women I have known in a long time. !! You guys put a ole smile on my face so yes I am a Computer Addict!! Hugs,

I'm with the rest of you. I'm a receptionist with free "reign" to surf the net while at work. On quiet days like today.....it's all I've got. When there is nothing to read on the boards..I get...bored.

Congrats on the swimming lessons, Lisa. Sounds like a lot of fun and a GREAT workout. I wish I could swim right now. We have a pool at a local gym, but the initiation and monthly dues are WAAAYYYYY too expensive for me to swing right now. I went pre-kids and loved it. Had to quit when I had my son, no time and too much $$$. Now with two kids it is even harder to swing. In June, I think they have an amnisty month and you can come back without paying the initiation fee again. Might look into that when the time comes. I will have another raise at work by then and might be able to talk DH into letting me spend it on that. We'll see. Also, congrats on the double-take. Isn't it funny how you see yourself every day and don't notice the changes until one day you see something in yourself you didn't see the day before. Yesterday I was looking in the mirror and thought "Damn, girl...your face is really changing. Lookin' Good!!!" Sounds like we are all in the same boat with the computer time. I work on a helpdesk on midnight shift and spend 9.5 hours a night on the computer and can surf the net as much as I want. I finished work at 6:30am today and here I am at 1:00pm back online seeing if anything has "happened" since I logged off this morning. I guess I need to get off the computer a bit to fix the kids lunch. Have a great day. Hugs, Tabby

Sounds like you are taking your life back. Good for you! I would love to do some of the water expercises. I grew up in Miami and we lived in the water. I did join a water aeorbics class once. It wasn't good for me. You see, I am only 5 foot tall. The istructor would watch me to see when my nose was about to go under when he would change direction for the group. Because of that I was always on my tippy toes and hurt my foot badly from the strain on it. I need a class in the kiddie pool. Aime