? ? ? Monday Vows ? ? ?

Good Monday morning folks! I hope you had as great a great weekend as I did. I got through both my dinner parties and treated myself to a NAP after church yesterday to catch up on a very hectic week. Then I took my new bike out for its maiden voyage. It was so much fun - I love bike riding! Walking is great but I get to go a lot farther in the same amount of time on a bike. We're having our annual family pictures taken Nov. 25th and I'm really needing to put forth some extra effort to fit in some of the smaller clothes I have recently bought in anticipation of cooler temps. So today I vow to: ? Eat fewer than 1000 calories. ? Get a minimum of 50% of my caloric intake from protein. ? Log everything in fitday. ? Drink a minimum of 100 oz. of water. ? Work out at the gym after work. ? No eating after 7:00 PM. What are your plans to stay on track with your personal plan today? Y'all have a Marvelous Monday! DeeDee

Morning DD, Aren't naps wonderful... Glad you are liking your bike. We have the twin Townies... I need to really hit it next summer.... for some reason I am still a little afraid of riding. Remind me again DD how many pounds you lost on the protein train. Was it 8? I had a friend do something similar and lost 4 so I am thinking I need to do that just to whip off these pesky pounds that won't leave me. I did write my food down the last couple days and feel more in control. For today I vow to: stick around 1800 cal 60 g protein 64 oz water 1/2 hr wt. training return phone calls run errands

I love my Townie and the weather is still pleasant enough to ride around here! We're going to be in the mid-80°s this week. I lost 11 pounds in 10 days on the protein train ... but, remember, I'm still about 75 pounds from goal so that's probably why my numbers are high. Actually, I'm starting back on it today. October was a non event - not really losing or gaining - just fluctuating with a couple pounds. I'm putting everything in fitday, weighing everything, etc. I KNOW the holidays are going to be hard and I NEED to get back on a downhill track of losing! I work in a department where vendors deliver baskets and baskets of Harry & David, Godiva, Fairytale Brownies (www.brownies.com) etc. so it's not easy. There is another manager who's trying to "steal" me away from my current manager. I'm having lunch with him this Friday and my main question about the job is going to be "do you have 20 candy dishes in the office and constant deliveries of gourmet foods?" DeeDee

Morning DeeDee and fellow Grads, I had a great weekend. Went to church yesterday, then brunch with my family. Hadn't seen my sister and her family in over a month and we did the sister thing talking and a little shopping. She gave me a brand new never worn Jones of New York Coat. Wow moment, it is a large and she was wearing at the time a size 10 , she is back wearing her 8's. She told me that I look slim and did I have a girdle on because my stomach looked so flat. (no girdle on) I feel good. Today I vow to drink 2 protein drinks, eat less than 20 grams of carbs, drink over 64 oz of water and I have already exercised today. Oh I lost 2 more pounds that 7 pounds in 2 weeks. Raven

Good Monday Morning to Everyone! I had a very busy weekend helping my granddaughters friend and his family prepare for his Eagle Scout Ceromony yesterday. We did lots of running around and the event went off w/out a hitch. It was a special moment and was blessed to have been a part of it. I didn't do too bad considering all the running. Even though the ceromony went well, when it was time to bring my granddaughter back home last night, she started crying saying she didn't want to go home and was really upset w/her mom. There has been issues w/her and my daughter for some time now and I let my DH make the call. I always get in the middle of these issues and this time I stepped back and gave him the ball. He decided she would spend the night but she had to go home this morning, especially since there was an 9:00 counceling appt. already. She needs to work things through w/her mom. I love my granddaughter dearly, but I'm worn out raising kids. I don't want to do it anymore. I'm going to be 50 next year and I just want to enjoy time w/my DH. He has always had to share me w/my kids and grandkids for the past 22yrs. and he has been a trooper though all of it. It's time my kids grew up and take care of their own family, cause I'm done! I have enough just taking care of "ME"...... Since DH is home for 9 more days, (sad he came home yesterday to this crisis) I'm going to spend every moment I can w/him. Just "US" and NO kids. I know I will p/u Alicea for the weekend again when he leaves to work, but for now, it's "OUR" time. Today we have an appt. w/our Pastor to talk about our stressing over a possible job relocation and move out of state. I have to deal and cope w/the unpleasant thoughts and anxieties that come w/a possibly moving away from family and freinds. Eating is not a viable solution. I also plan on attending an OA meeting tonight and an Alonon meeting tomorrow night. DH and I discussed that this might be helpful for me so I can once and for all deal w/my children and daughter in-laws drinking problems. God knows I can't change them and get them to see the light. Today I plan to: 1.Get all my protein in. 2.Get all my water in. 3.Look into Curves or our Civic Center. 4.Work on assignments for class. 5.Have lunch out w/DH and friends. 6.Atttend OA meeting. We need to keep doing what is best for 'us' and be successful at it without feeling guilty for taking care of ourselves. Be good to yourselves today! Jeannie