4 the Birds #101

[Bailey's Mom]

Hi Ladies and gents,

I thought I would kickstart this post again. I have been posting up in Few to Lose with some great gals.

I lost my Christmas gain a couple of weeks ago! :exercise2 , fell off the wagon this last week and have just climbed back on.

What made me think of you guys (well I still think of you often) is this really neat website someone emailed to me this morning:

http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/

Check it out, it is a hummingbird nest that shows the eggs from just being laid to hatching. Really cool.

Where are you traveling Maple? Somewhere exotic? Or in a fifth wheel in Yuma?

And what about you Patti, Lemony and Foxy? Welcome Sophie, where are you from?

Talk to you all later,

Charmaine

[Maple]

Hello Birds,

Just checking in while I have the opportunity to connect to an internet signal. Looks like our thread isn't very active. I hope it's not going to die away while I'm away.

The weather hasn't been very good. Yesterday and today aren't bad but the rain in forcast to return on Thursday. California is a soggy mess! I checked the internet to see if we could find some better weather in Arizona or Nevada but it appears the bad weather is far reaching. We will go to Palm Springs in the morning because they seem to be hanging onto this "break in the weather" for an extra day. Fun huh? Oh well, sooner or later things will dry out.

[Maple]

Hello from sunny Palm Springs..........we it was sunny for a couple of days and now wet. Ugh! This front just doesn't let up in the south.........my home in the Pacific northwest has been sunny and dry. Go figure! Since I've planned a "down day" and don't have any plans until dinner with friends tonight I thought this would be a good "computer day". Sooooo HI!

Patti where are you buddy? Did you see the awesome Hummingbird pictures Charmaine provided the link to. If not, do look, they are really sweet. Have our men disappeared altogether? Was Christmas too much for them or did they get tired of us? Maybe they are spending more time in their birding chat room. I wonder where that is? They never did tell us did they? Maybe I'll surf the web a bit and see if I can find them. LOL wouldn't they be surprised if we turned up there?

[sophiegoren]

Good morning, Maple!

I'm keeping up with your travels, you lucky duck! Trust you have scope or knockers nearby.

In an effort to curb my outrageous sugar input, I gave it up for Lent. Not for religious reasons but as an artifical boundary I can work within. So far, so good. I have a calendar that I mark everyday. No doubt I will do it because I am a competitive person and I would rather gag on sugar than have to admit I can't do it.

Since I'm the fledgling on this site, be aware that I do check every day and I really would love to get to know you better.

sophiegoren

[Maple]

Hi Sophie,

Gave suga up for Lent did you? Patti did that a couple of years ago too. It certainly is a good motivation. I tried it once and didn't make it. I wish I'd known the day to begin because I might have tried again since you are doing it. Oh well, next year............. ;)

Still here on the desert and the weather has been a mixed bag. Rain and sun. I saw two Roadrunners today which was a treat since I'd not seen one in a very long time and was beginning the think they were extinct. When I poked my head out the window and yelled "honk honk" it took off running like mad. I wonder why? LOL

We are about to go out for an early dinner so I better get off this computer and get ready.

[PattiG]

Hey! I didn't see everyone posting here. I suppose I should be checking more frequently....then again, I should have been staying OP as well. Yes Maple, I did give desserts and candy up for Lent in the past. I also tried it this Lent and have failed miserably.

However, for the 1 zillionth 16 billionth time I have gone back to my WW meeting and started fresh yet again. I won't begin to tell you where my weight is but I can say I'm back where I was 4 yrs ago when I first started BC. That's a depressing revelation, but I'm at an all-time high weight and an all-time low emotional status. There is only one option here and that is to get back on track and not to look back. Spring is not far away (I say that with hopeful anticipation because we're expecting 5-8 inches of snow tonight) and I don't believe I have a single item in my closet that I can wear if I don't lose weight before the weather gets warmer. The time is now. I've come clean and need to be in active gear now.

Charmaine, I just looked at the hummingbird site. Those are EXCELLENT pictures. Thank you for forwarding them to us.

Sophie, glad to hear that you're a competitive person. Perhaps we should set up a reasonable weightloss challenge for ourselves (Maple and I used to do this) and try our best to get there. How about an April Fool's Day goal date? That's 5 1/2 weeks away. Dare we give ourselves 7-10 lb weightloss goal by then? I know for myself that 2 lbs/week simply doesn't happen week after week, so would 7-10 lbs sound reasonable for you?

Patti

[sophiegoren]

Patti:

I will join you and any other of our feathered friends in any goal you want to set. You tell me what you want, how you want to do it (count WW pts., calories, whatever), and how we can stay accountable to each other. The one thing you can rely on from me is I won't cheat, no way, no how.

So it may surprise you to know that even though I gave up sugar for Lent, I've already polished off one pound of turtles today. How can that be? Because there are 40 days in Lent but there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The 40 days are WEEK days and that means everything to know if I can just hold on, I can let loose on Sunday! In fact, I almost stayed up last night 'til midnight so I could relish a few of those turtles. Oh, the scurvy thoughts I have.

One pound of turtles and my husband, who tries to sabotage every effort I make to lose weight, brought a scrumptious cake home from the bakery this afternoon. Not nice. But, no doubt, I will scarf several pieces down tonight.

I guess I really need to set this goal!

sophiegoren

[Maple]

A challenge is it? Boy oh boy do we need one. :embarrass I will join the challenge too but I can't do the "number of pounds lost by April 1st" because I don't know what I weigh now (no scales) therefore, it won't work while I'm away. What I CAN DO is swear off sugar until I get home at which time I'll weigh myself and then go with the pounds lost challenge.

Since the weather has been so wet, I've not got all the walking in I had counted on either. I even bought myself a new pedometer. See......I have been thinking aboout it all along. I'll just have to get creative like go to the mall and shop 'til I drop. LOL Naw, that isn't much fun after the first time either.

So in the spirit of the challenge I am reporting what I've eaten so far today. 1/2 a Florida red grapefruit (yum) a bowl of oatmeal (on the desert? LOL) with approximately 3/4 cup 1% milk. I'll try to keep you posted.

UPDATE: Had split pea soup and whole grain bread for lunch. I've discovered this wasn't a good combination.........I've been suffering from intestial gas big time ever since.........owie tummy pain big time; so much so DH had to run out to get some Gas-X.

[sophiegoren]

Maple:

Thank you for inspiring to rejoin WW - but only online. Our leader in the tiny hamlet where I reside is so bad that I refuse to go to her meetings. So I hopped on the internet and signed up for three months in cyberspace.

I'm having a little trouble steering my way around the site; for example, I can't find how many pts I'm allowed. I was a life member at one time. I think then I was allowed 18 pts per day.

Anywho, I racked up 19 1/2 pts without including 4 1/2 cups of pineapple today! Wowser! Guess I didn't do very well. But it was sugarless even though my husband, the dear one, brought a cherry pie (my favorite) home from the bakery today. And then when I sat down to watch the news with him this evening he pulled out a humongous Hersey bar and ate about half of it in front of me.

Thank you for joining the challenge . . . I can't wait to hear from Patti to see how she is doing.

I'm nosy but how goes it that you can travel and travel and travel, you luck box!

sophiegoren

[PattiG]

Hello Ladies,
Seems as if we are all up to the challenge here. Great! Maple, do your best while on the road. We've been at this so long, we both can gauge our weights fairly well just based on how comfortable our pants feel. That should work well. I'm rooting for you!

Sophiegoren (is that your full first name or is it Sophie?) Joining WW online (or anywhere) is a good positive first step forward. Your daily point allotment will be based on your weight right now. I checked on the points for the 4 1/2 cups of pineapple. If it is fresh pineapple, count that as 1 point per cup. If it is unsweeted canned pineapple, that's 2 pts per cup. Maybe the best way to not be tempted by your husband's sweet tooth is to leave the room to do something else when he's snacking. Maybe that would be a good time to post here on the thread! Also, I know you look forward to Sundays as a reprieve from your Lent committment, but if you're serious about losing weight, you can't go all out on cheating. With an entire box of chocolate, you can easily sabotage your entire week's efforts. Don't do it. It isn't worth the immediate gratification. If you find chocolate to be a major trigger point, stay away from it entirely and try something else as a treat and try to keep it on program. Remember, as long as you work it into your daily points, everything is permissible. How about microwaved popcorn? Depending on the kind of (light, unsalted, buttered, etc) it's crunchy and satisfying and you can have 2-3 cups for only 1 pt.

As for me, I've had a WONDERFUL first day back on program. I feel enthusiastic and encouraged and am looking forward to a good OP week. I even treadmilled for 55 minutes this morning before breakfast. After dinner my father had a slice of to-die-for cheesecake. I did my best to remove myself from the situation and got up to wash the dishes at that time. It worked. By the time he had finished, my stomach was well settled from dinner and I was full. I didn't even want a dessert. Tomorrow I'll probably have some applesauce after dinner as my dessert. A little cinnamon on top and I'm happy!

Good luck everyone.....may we all lose!
Patti

[sophiegoren]

Birdladies:

My second day back in the WW saddle went better than the first, but, jeez, I can't believe what I've forgotten about points!

For example, one of my better bad habits is eating a pound of cottage cheese with a 20 ounce can of pineapple for lunch! Whoa! Off the chart.

Another is the two gallons of skimmed milk I drink every week. That would be about 64 pts just in milk.

And, of course, my real problem is sugar and a husband who keeps our shelves sagging with my favorite kinds of candy, cookies and desserts. He wants me to be fat! Can you believe that?

Well, it was not good news when I told him I rejoined WW yesterday. But I was so busy today doing stuff that I didn't have time to fuss with him or EAT as a matter of fact. Just ate a couple hard-boiled eggs, an orange, a little salad and a palm-sized bit of hamburger steak today.

sophiegoren is not my real name; it's the name I use for bridge tournaments. I told you I'm a competitor. I'm also known as "Jenny Wren" which is what I should have used for this site but I'm so used to sophie, it has become another habit.

I am so glad you've welcomed me into your bird club. And I absolutely adore roadrunners!

sophie

[PattiG]

Greetings One and All,

Sophie, sounds like you're definitely on the right track. Go Go Go! Me too. Do you have the points booklets/trackers from the last time you were on program? Each day back on program is one step closer to reaching goal and making a positive "lifestyle change" for good. Notice I didn't say "diet." I think half the battle with us weight watchers is stepping back a moment to think about what we're actually eating and then making a conscious decision about whether we really want that particular item or if it is worth the points. How long have you been away from WW's?

So what are we going to do with your hubby? Have you had (I'm sure you have) a heart to heart talk with him about supporting your weightloss efforts? Could he possibly stash his goodies out of sight so they are not as much of a temptation to you?

Day 3 OP for me...so far so good. I'm trying something new with my exercise which may also be a help. Instead of trying to exercise in the evening for 40-60 minutes (which is a killer cause I'm so tired after work) I'm trying to split it up by doing 20-30 minutes in the morning before work and 25-35 minutes at night. Surprisingly, I haven't fallen asleep on my feet at work! Of course this is only the second day that I'm trying this, I don't know how long I'm going to last getting up at 5am everyday.

Maple, I hope you're taking some good birding pictures while on vacation. Something perhaps that we don't see around here regularly. Speaking of "around here", where do you hail from Sophie?

Patti

[sophiegoren]

Patti:

You really hit a painful nerve when you asked what am I going to do about my husband. Well, what about wringing his neck? Believe me, I have hurled every threat, including castration, at him I can think of. Nothing helps. He keeps this house stuffed with every trigger food that keeps me out of the beautiful clothes hanging in my closet, all 2 to 3 sizes too small.

I went on a birding trip to California in December and had to spend $200 just on slacks so I had something to wear.

I never had a weight problem until we married 10 years ago. He loves to tell people that the first time he looked in my fridge, there was ketsup, mustard and skimmed milk. That is true. I also weighed about 40 lbs less than I do now! I would freak out once a month, or maybe every six weeks back then, and go on an insane sugar binge. But because it was so infrequent, it didn't hurt. Besides it made me so sick at my stomach, I couldn't eat for two days!

Now I live in a house of chocolate, ice cream, every Hostess product known to man (I have eaten an entire box of Twinkies in one swell swoop before). Then when I get so buzzed on sugar that I have to have some salt, there is a full complement of chips and dips.

He says he will not sacrifice his sweets because I can't control my addiction. Okay, so why does he buy my favorite cinnamon donuts instead of the fruit-filled ones he prefers?

Well, certainly, I don't have any answers and it makes trying to stick to WW almost impossible.

By the way, I am a Hoosier, residing in southern Indiana. Where do you live in New York and what kind of work do you do? I am now retired but I was an English teacher for 20 years in Indianapolis and a newspaper editor for 10 in my little outpost on the Wabash River.

Now, I sit around on my fat bottom, thinking about birds, playing bridge, cross-stitching and planning the next bite I'm going to have.

I do congratulate you on your exercise and I hope splitting your schedule will help. You do have your shoulder to the wheel!

I was so happy when I saw that you had posted a reply this morning.

sophiegoren

[Maple]

Hello my feathered friends,

I posted a nice newsie lenghthy post yesterday but it got lost in cyber space somewhere between here and there. I could have been I was on the last hour of my internet connection and "coach connect" jipped me. Oh well, I forget most of what I chatted on about so this is a new day.........sunny too!

I'm definately having problems WWize so I'm going to change me direction once again. I'll wait until I get home, get to a WW meeting proto and take up the challenge. I know what it's like having nothing to wear Sophie. When I almost reached goal a year ago, I got rid of all the big stuff just to make sure I wasn't tempted to slip back into the larger sizes. Now I'm in the unfortunate position that I don't have a lot of selection to wear. So be it! I refuse to buy anything larger and will either have to be bored to tears with my wardrobe or get my act together. The latter sounds like the wise choice.

As for you husband Sophie, why do you suppose he is so resistant to you losing weight? Could a new slender you pose a subconscious threat for him. I've heard many men feel this way. My husband likes me slim so he's very supportative to my efforts. He's one of those guys that stays slim no matter what he eats. Would you husband be agreeable to just not eating his sweets in another room from you or wait until you leave the room?

I have to cut this short as my DH is milling around me waiting for the computer.

[PattiG]

Good Morning Everyone,

Well, we've got 8" of fresh snow on the ground and we're expecting a possible Nor'easter on Monday. Oooh, I can only hope work will be cancelled for the day!

Sophie, I live on Long Island. I didn't know you were a teacher! In between my years of working in science research, I taught high school chemistry for 3 yrs. I did enjoy it at the time, but there were a number of factors that influenced my leaving the field. Right now I'm working for a company that develops the raw materials that go into personal care items (such as moisturizers, anti-aging components, etc) and I'm involved with the clinical studies used to validate the claims of the product. LOL Kind of a come-down from cancer research huh?! The good part though is that I often get samples of products put out by Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, La Prairie, Sephora, etc.

Maple, when are you coming home? I understand the clothes issue....I'm at that point now and am praying that things will start fitting a little more loosely within the next few weeks. I don't want to go out and buy more things.

Sophie I'm trying to think of helpful ways for you to bypass some of the sweets that are staring out at you at home, but I'm guessing you may have already come up with these ideas. Would freezing some of the items and putting them in the back of the freezer take them out of sight? I know that sometimes if we have leftover cake, if I wrap it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, and then put the whole thing is a sealed baggie in the freezer....the thought of having to unwrap all those layers just to get to the cake is enough time to get my WW-sense back in gear and deter me from my actions. Perhaps even a closed (opaque) tupperware container strategically placed in the pantry for just your husband's junk food would be helpful to set up at least a mental "barrier" for you.

On the other hand, (and boy have we all been there!) maybe the degree of binging would be a helpful positive step. When I'm home alone on Friday nights, if I get into the ice cream (which I love) and overdo it....I know the chocolate and then salty goodies are sure to follow. Within a very short time, I've consumed a week's worth of points and the frustration and anger at myself is totally overwhelming. I've tried very hard to change that behavior in myself and it has gotten considerably better. The bottom line is a matter of giving myself permission to do something. Fighting the impulse in some circumstances not to cheat may be impossible (it may actually cause even more stress) but if you MUSTmust have something....limit it. Don't give yourself the permission to go through an entire box or bag of anything. If necessary....throw the rest of it out at that moment! Would your husband know the difference of whether it was eaten or simply thrown out?

Maple, any other suggestions?

[Maple]

Hmm good question Patti. Firstly we are ALL in the same boat or else we wouldn't be here. We all have eating issues that need to be addressed before we can permanetly succeed. The difficulty as I see it, is to find out WHY we overeat the foods we should limit. I wish I could answer that myself so I could reach my goal AND stay there. Next comes the excuses issue. Sophie I see you are using your husband (granted he's not being helpful) to derail your efforts. Patti came up with a good idea about storing his "stash" in opaque containers rather than a bag of cookies on the shelf. I do that and it seems to work because I tend to forget they are there. Would your husband be agreeable to keeping his goodies in a different room or designated cupboard in the kitchen (call it a "his only" cupboard and NEVER open it} For example, my husband will store is goodies in his home office and I am never tempted by them. He will generally eat the goodies in that room too. Remember now, he likes to see me slim. If your husband, as you say, likes you fat, then there is an entirely different issue going on........HIS ISSUE, not yours. Have you asked him why he likes you fat? Is he fat and just wants a partner in fatdom? Maybe he fears other men will find you attractive and he will lose you? On the latter don't laugh it off because this is one of the most common fears even in a good long standing marriage. Sit down and talk to him to find out what's going on in his mind. Assure him you will love him no matter what. You might mention that you being fat is not good for your health and he could lose you from a heart attack if you don't lose weight. Come to think about it, a little white lie could be helpful. Tell him you doctor wants you to lose weight because of health issues.

Phew! It's been a long time since I went on and on like that. I hope between Patti and me you find a solution Sophie,

Caio!

[PattiG]

Short and sweet....WI results from this morning: WOO HOO!! -1.8 LBS!!

Catch ya later!

Patti

[sophiegoren]

WOO HOO again, Patti! A big congrats for losing almost two pounds!!!

I feel as if I did pretty well this week but I am taking today off. Not that I deserve it but I did give sugar up for Lent and I think I have earned a reward on Sunday (not counted in the 40 days of Lent).

Thank you both for your thoughtful remarks about the problem I have with my husband. His motive is quite transparent. He is a jealous man and he's also a bully, so it's not just the sugar thing that causes problems. Therefore, I will try to focus on my lifestyle issues here at BCB rather than complain about him. If I may respond to one idea you suggested, Maple, let me tell you that he IS my doctor! More than anything, I guess, it flabbergasts me most that I am the only overweight patient he has who doesn't bother him! Wowser!

Are either of you movie fans? I am and I'm looking forward to the AA tonight. I always try to see as many of the big contenders as I can before the show. If Hillary Swank and Jamie Foxx don't get best actor awards, you'll hear me schriek all the way from New York. Where do you call home Maple?

Tomorrow, I am facing peridontal surgery in Indianapolis. That is a 250 mile round trip from here so it is an all day effort. But I will be looking into BCB, hoping to hear that you enjoyed a snow day, Patti, and that Maple has dropped in to say "hey" between birding spots.

Sophie

[Maple]

Great work Patti...........keep it going and you'll be back in shape in no time. Just don't get it all done before I get home. LOL I'm going to have to work my butt off in April!

Sophie, in Canada a doctor isn't allowed to treat his own family members so that's interesting that you DH is your doctor. Is it kind of weird? I suppose it really has a lot of benefits though.

Tomorrow we are going for a flight in a Hot Air Balloon. I'm really looking forward to the experience and am hoping I don't get scared when we get up there. LOL I guess there is nothing I can do about it if I do huh? I went in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon so I'm thinking this couldn't be much worse. In fact, once we "dropped" over the canyon edge I became so ingrossed with the magnificent scenery I forget to be scared. Tomorrow I hope will be the same.

Be good everyone!

[sophiegoren]

Good morning, friends!

A hot air balloon ride? What an adventure! Do you live in Canada, Maple? And Ontario by any chance? I have been birding at Point Pelee several times and what an experience. Got 100 species in one day, as everyone does, including some lifers!

Patti, I hope a snow drift hasn't carried you away. I watch the weather and groan for you. We haven't had much snow here in southern Indiana but, oh, we have had some bitter days. These are days that I prefer to sit in front of the fire and cross-stitch. But my dogs, Fred and George, are already begging me to take them for their walk. And they won't give me a break until we go.

Any chance the two of you could motivate me to start walking? You have done an excellent job of getting me back on WW. I watch my points during the day like a hawk so I can have a half-way decent dinner. It's working. I am going to make our challenge!

Sophie

[PattiG]

Hey Sophie...I've been running like a madwoman at work the past two weeks so I haven't had much time to post, but I'll sit down and write something a little more substantial tonight. I'm thrilled that you're doing so well back on WW! I'll share some ideas for the exercise later. lol We'll get ya walking and exericising in no time! Keep up the good work.

Ciao for now!
Patti

[Maple]

Hi gang,

The hot air balloon didn't fly. This was the second day in a row that the wind was wrong for them to go up. Today was our last chance to go since w are leaving Palm Springs in the morning..........heading for Arizona for a couple of days to see our friend in a horse show before pushing on to Las Vegas.

Sophie I live in British Columbia on the coast. Fred and George huh? I have a Charlie! Lol good dog namees! I also have a Porsha........a good car name. They are black and silver miniature schnauzers. What are Fred and George? Our friend has a cat named Fred.........all 25 lbs of him! He weighs more than my largest schnauzer.

I'm happy to hear you feel we have helped you get OP. That's what this is all about. I will be leaning heavily on you guys when I get home because I've done worse than I've ever done. I'm not complaining or whining and wouldn't dare tell you more for fear of being drummed out of BCB...........I would deserve it too! Walking has been a problem for me because I am rehabilitating Charlie after his surgery to replace a ligament in his hind leg knee. I have to walk him real slow so he can't hop and has to weight bear on that leg. This is a four month committment at least to get him walking properly again. I think it will be easier to go for a brisk walk once I'm home because it will be easier to slip away without him giving me the big sad eyes for leaving him behind.

This could be the last internet connection I'll get for a few days but I will check back as soon as I can log on again. Keep up the good "Birds".

[sophiegoren]

Friends,

Good to hear from both of you and look forward to Patti slowing up a bit so we can find out what she's been up to. I'm impressed she has survived this awful winter!

Maple, I can hardly believe you have two schnauzers! Over a 20 year period, I had four schnauzers, two at a time. When I lost Uncle Ernie in 1996, I swore no more schnauzers were going to break my heart. He was 15 years old and was in very poor health; even so, I cried until my eyes swelled shut. His buddy, a little 12 pound sweetheart I called my "little wild man" had already died and I couldn't take anymore. All my "boys" were miniatures with salt and pepper coloring.

I've been a dog person all my life so when I finally missed Ernie more than I hurt, it was time to get another dog. True to my word, I went to our animal shelter and ended up with Fred and George, both American dogs.

Fred looks like a small black lab and George resembles a little sheep dog, with a mop of unruly hair splayed over his entire head. The day I adopted George, he was going to be put down. He had been so horribly abused that I took a real chance in taking him. But I couldn't leave him cowering in the corner of a small pen with a half dozen other dogs about the size of giants. It took a long time (in fact, he didn't bark for three months -- I didn't think he could) but it was more than worth the wait. Of all the dogs I have had, he by far has the sweetest nature.

I could talk about them for hours and you can probably guess that I am attached to them as much as I was to my schnauzer boys. I have to plan my trips so I can be heading home within 10 days because I miss them so much. And any time it is possible, they go with me. Particularly Fred. He is quite a traveler.

And here you have Charlie and Porsha. Are both of them with you? I do hope that Charlie's leg improves each day. How did he hurt his leg?

Patti, do you have dogs? I would love to hear about them, too.

I'm watching the weather for you too Maple. I've seen why your balloon ride was canceled. How long will you be traveling the western states? I guess B.C. is a LONG way from Pt. Pelee. My, I almost hyperventilate when I think of the bird species you have in your back door.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I get a treat . . . the first one I've had since last Sunday!!!

Sophie