Hey Carol, I'm so happy to see you here!   I saw on another thread that you were back and was going to invite you here but then saw that Elia had already done that.  Now that I see your real name Carol, instead of chansen_2000, I remember you.  Congratulations on getting back on the program.  I'm telling you, I have not been behaving for several months and if it were not for these girls here, I would be finished.  We all try to keep each other motivated and they sure do it for me.  Caroline just joined us recently, and she's a great motivator.

Linda, is the sun shining there?  It is supposed to be 102 today and 104 tomorrow, so think about that when it's raining outside.  My poor tomato plants, when it stays hot like this for several days they need to be watered everyday and yesterday I just didn't get out there so I hope they aren't frying today.

Elia, you are a mover and a shaker.  Scuba diving indeed!  You do it all, you're fearless, and you also must be feeling a lot better.  Go for it, girlfriend!

Caroline, be sure and do go to the Farmers Market, that's where it's happening.  I don't know about SoCal, but I imagine it's the same there, the produce at our Farmers Markets has to be picked within the last 24 hours, so you know it's fresh.  I picked my nectarines a couple of days ago and they were scrawny but tasty.  I kept waiting for them to grow larger but when they started dropping on the ground I decided it was time to give up on that idea.  Peaches will be next to ripen, but there are only six of them this year.  That's okay, I'm drowning in fruit.  I'll wish I had some come this Winter.  Charlie/Broby and Spencer are doing much better.  They actually played together just a little bit last night, so there's hope.

Patty babe, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I know it involves taking care of all those babies, and I know you're making their lives better, so you just be sure and take care of you.

Have a great day everyone!

Love, Judy

Are all of you in contact?  I'm interested in finding a group of friends that have supported each other throughout their alli process - can you please respond to this post if you may be open to being used in advertising together?

Good morning,

Thank you girls for the wonderful welcome!!!  Yes, I am back now and for the duration.  I really need the extra support to keep me going.  After reading back some of your posts, you all sound like a fun and supportive group to be around.  I did have a little slip Wednesday night with 3 glasses of wine, but dinner wasn't as bad as I thought.  NO TE's!!   Yesterday was much better. 

Lynn, scuba diving in Key Largo sounds wonderful.  I've been snorkling down there and enjoyed it tremendously.  And it sounds like you have gotten into great shape!! 

Judy, I was part of the original AAA thread.  There were 3 of us and we had so much in common, it was scary.  I've lost track of one of the gals, but Dana and I still stay in contact through emails.  Just a little note, all three of our husbands had the same name, just a little different spelling (Jon, Jon & John).  Wierd, huh!!

I do have to tell you all, that only because of posting and reading the boards was I successful.  The stories, support, comaraderie, and kicks-in-the-pants helped me to lose weight.  As soon as I dropped off the boards, I lost that stimulation.

 Hmmm, it depends.  Who are you and who do you represent?

Judy

 Hello everyone!! Ah, msphillips, what are you taklking about??  Now, if there is money involved...just kidding!! Lynn, do you also scuba dive? have I missed something?? Caroline, where are you? good to have you and Carol on the 50's forum, see Judy, you should also join us there! heck, we have lots of age groups in there!! patty hon, I do miss you!! I hope that you are having fun with the kiddies!  Linda, how is the weather in your neck of the woods??  Have you been walking at all? I have not been working out since I caught that blasted cold! Today I missed lunch because of all the stupid reports that had tpe turned in! And...some dumb customer decided to buy some machines and give a deposit! One of the reports has to have all the open sales orders, so that one was kind of late!! I have to tell the sales people that they are to turn down all Friday's sales, better yet, they should all take Fridays off! Heck, I would definetly be fired for those ideas!! Ok gang,m I better check my e-mails and see if any of my bosses needs me!! I really hope not, since I want togo home!! Have a safe and healthy weekend!! Love,

Elia

 Just checking in briefly on Friday afternoon.  I'm off work today and HAD to go to the mall this morning to get some makeup.  I ended up walking the mall for about an hour (it's huge), figuring that was pretty good exercise, then stopped to get a sandwich at a bread bakery.  I asked for the most nutritious sandwich, which was on whole wheat bread that they make right there.  She said they grind the wheat themselves and use the whole grain of the wheat, skin and all, and I'm telling you that bread didn't taste anything like the cruddy whole wheat bread that (I don't buy) in the grocery store.  Now Elia, you will be proud of me.  Even though it was a low-cal, high protein sandwich, I only ate half!  I was thinking to myself, self - Elia said to watch the portion control.  I put the other half in the fridge and then spent some time lifting weights (which have been collecting dust).  Now I'm going to put in the "Walking at Home" DVD and actually exercise.  This could turn out to be a good diet weekend for once!  Oh, except my daughter, Lisa, who likes to eat as much as I do, is coming over Sunday afternoon and is going to spend the night.  That's okay, if we cook something off-plan for dinner, I will hear Elia chanting "portion control, portion control, portion control" and I'll be okay.

Have a great weekend, gals.

Judy

Hi everybody, I'm here and reading. It's just amazing what a good mood all of you put me in with your presence. Judy, I sure do enjoy the little to no makeup business from a couple of years ago, but looked around a few months ago and came to the realization that people are wearing makeup again. In fact, they've been doing it for the last couple of years, and why didn't anyone tell me?! Why can't everybody just stay with something that works instead of changing things all the time. But this is our planet, and it's how it is, and it's nice to play with everybody. So I'm off shopping for this 'translucent' look, whatever that is. Hope you got some stuff that you're enjoying. A stash of supplies.

Hi Elia, those forums are really nice. I have finally graduated from the 'personal experiences' everybody visits first, and gone into the back room private forums with all the regulars, where it's relaxed, cool, and just a good place to show up whenever and always. I hop into different age groups occasionally because hey are too interesting to miss out on, and then catch myself, thinking, am I supposed to be here more than occasionally since it says it's for a certain age group sharing typical experiences. Hmmmm  Well, from the description of my age group, I definitely don't belong in that one, or they have the wrong description written down. Well, frankly, I'm not quite sure if you exactly fit your age group either. lol  I have enough years to know that time does not exist. Hey, even Einstein said it, so it must be true. Anyway, I absolutely love coming by, but am just tippy toeing in now and then, for the moment at least, to make sure it's okay to be there.

Carol, welcome! I can tell this is going to be good!! Linda and Patty, come out, come out. Patty, you need a break from taking care of everybody, if even for only half an hour or so. You need to recharge your batteries if you're going to keep giving all the time. And Linda, we have lots of sunshine just for you, along with your favorite comfy chair to sit with everybody. Do you guys know who's missing? Well, Kimberley hasn't logged on for a while. I've read her posts -- she is the one with the energy of 10 people and attitude of 'why ask someone to do something she can easily do herself.' Well, even she is likely taking on a bit too much right now, I imagine, or she'd be out here chit chatty with everybody. So, Kimberley, baby, I hope you've come to your senses and stopped taking on every single responsibility you spot that needs attention. Time to delegate, love!

Okay, everybody, so we're good -- makeup, whole grain darn good sandwiches, scooba gear. What else could anyone ask for on such a day.  

Lots of love, your pal, Caroline

 Hi everyone, not much new here. My 16 yr old still has a week and 1/2 of summer school. Next week my 10, 11yr old girls start Jump start, which is a summer school program done to give the kids a jump start on the new school year, they don't have to go, but with us living in the country it gives them a chance to see their friends, and is more of a fun hands on learning then durning the regular school year. they'll be going for 3 weeks 1/2 day. We're hoping my foster daughter will be ready to take her driving test by the end of next week, she needs to work on parking. It will be nice to have one of them driving themself to work and appt. Been working out on my elliptical almost every day in addition to teaching my classes. With all the stress before I ended up bingeing on some Gluten foods(cookies) gluten free ones are horrible, and i miss cookies,cake,pretzels, bread, etc...well of course it causes stomach problems, then fatigue due to the malabsorption of nutrients. But I'm back on track. It's been raining on and off here and high's in the 60's, this weather is crazy this summer.                                                                                                                                          It's good to see new people joining in the group since we've lost a few(Buzz,Diane,Kimberley)might even be more, I'm not as good as all of you keeping up with reading all the posts. Maybe in sept. we should start a new thread with the names of those still participating, just a thought since this one is getting so long. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I have my parents coming over for dinner this weekend, which of course always means more eating, but at least I can control the menu when it's at my house. Take care....

 Hello everyone!! So good to hear from you Patty! You really are missed but I guess we all do know how busy you always are with the kids, specially during the summer! I agree with you, we need a new thread! caroline hon, you have given me an idea and I will be calling Kim, it has been quite too long since we last heard from her!! Hey, i also go to different forums, heck i even hanged out with the guys on alli for a while, well they were investigating beers!! Thjere may be dufferent age groups but the most important thing taht we all have in common is the common goal of losing weight, heck some of us even want to be healthier!! Imagine that!! Hon I am with you, age is a state of the mind, the body is just a vessel that we have to deal with!! And we better treat it righ if we want it to serve us in good faith! Judy babe, your "portion contro, portion contral" mantra kept in check last night!! I kept thinking that if you were following my advice, the least i could do was to not let you down, so I had to follow it too! We did get take out from "La Carreta", Cuban restaraunt. I asked for grilled chicken breast, white rice and black beans, I cut the chicken breast in half before serving myself, then I added two tablespoons of white rice (iknow, bad for you, but you know us Cubans, white rice and black beans are comfort foods and cheap!!) to the beans! Heck, they even add olive oil to the grilled chicken! It was toped with cooked onions, quite good really! Well, I have food for lunch or dinner today, that is for sure!! hey, one trick that I have learned, whenever i finish eating a meal, I grab a fruit, that is my body's signal that the meal is over, so deal with it! I have finally made it into a habit. I automaticlly go for a fruit, be it plum, peach, orange or just some water melon, whatever fruit I have at hand! On vacation I plan on taking my own fruits, they may be dried but I like this plan of mine and it is working! Although I may have a piece of Key Lime plan at one of the restaurants that we are sure to go to! carol, how are you? Hey, kery welcomed all the new members of the challenge and gave all a little speach! She really is great for doing all that work!! Well, I bought two bathing suites last night (Caroline, you were saying about rewards??) and another pair of shorts! The bathing suites were both on sale, shoot one was for only $24.97!! And I am talking good brands, one is a Speedo and the other TYR, my two favorites for swimming laps, now....if I would only get back to doing that!! I will, not to worry!! Linda hon, I really miss you here!! Like Caroline says, come on out and play!! Ok gang, have a great weekend!! Love,

Elia

happy Sunday! Judy hon, I followed your example yesterday and indulged! I had ceviche tostadas, I am sure the tostadas were fried!! But oh so good!! I behaved the rest of the day and intend to do so again today. One meal does not a failure make!! heck if I am ever going to be a failure with this new lifestyle again!! Love u all! Have a great Sunday! Love,

Elia 

Good morning ladies, (well almost noon here on Monday).  Yumm, ceviche tostadas, sounds fabulous.  Does it count as calories if you have fruit for dessert?  I was going to try that last night after some stir fry that my daughter made, but ended up with ice cream instead.  After that I figured it was too late for the fruit.  I guess I eat so much fruit during the day that it doesn't sound like dessert at night.  Elia, did you happen to call Kim?  I know you were busy all weekend with scuba diving (in your Speedos?, brings up bad images of the guys in their Speedos in the 80s), so probably not.  Patty, I can't keep track of your kids!  I know you have a 16 year old, and 10 and 11 year old daughters, and a foster child who is about to be turned loose on the road, but not sure how many little ones you have.  My granddaughter, who is 16, just got her license after failing the driving test two times before, and now she is loose on the road.  I sure don't want to ride with her.  Caroline, I was laughing at your translucent makeup, I don't know what that is either.  Translucent to me means you can see through it, and why would I want that?  I'm using makeup to cover up and hide my sins, not to expose them.  I guess it means just the opposite, I just looked it up, it means "Admitting and diffusing light so that objects beyond cannot be clearly perceived".  I guess sort of like "opaque", only not as thick or heavy?  Anyway, how did that shopping trip go, and does it work?  Carol and Linda, how are you?  Where are you?  We miss you.

I have to go home now and check on the dogs.  My daughter's dog, Sadie, is there too, and they're all loose in the house.  Charlie holds his own, that's for sure, he's a fearless little 4 pound puppy, who doesn't realize that Sadie is 80 pounds, (she loves him though).

Later, Judy

hello evryone!! heck Judy, I really forgot to call Kim, I was kind of feeling lousy yesterday, too much pool on Saturday and my cold was back in almost full force!! I will call her though, will wait until next weekend, I need you to remind me, I am really bad at remembering things that I plan to do!! Hey, I ate fruits yesterday like there was no tomorrow! I guess between the stress of losing my mom's bank card and the feeling under the weather, I just caved in!! At least now I indulge with fruits instead of beers, chips, cheese, ham, and sausages!! Tomorrow the scale will tell me how I really behaved, not that I bekliev it 100%, she knows that I am going on vacation and may be jelous, therefore may show a gain!! That is my excuse and I am sticking to it!! heck, they are already planning baking a pork shoulder on Sunday! Boy, I better do lots of swimming while there!! Linda hon, are you ok? I miss you here!! How about you Patty? I know you must be busy!! Hey caroline, how was youe weekend? I do hope that you ALL behaved, well I already know about my sistah in sin, Judy!! have a great week!! Love,

Elia

Hi everybody, I'm happy you all had a good weekend -- Judy with your lovely daughter, and Elia with your adventurous attitude, and Patty, busy with her beloved little ones. So Linda and Carol are still due for a report. Judy, I think it's funny you looked up translucent because a couple of months ago I thought it wise to look up transparent, translucent, and opaque, just to make sure I wasn't missing something. LOL  What is it with those words anyway. I'm up to 6 rewards already and haven't lost a single pound, so I owe my ticker 6 pounds. LOL Today is a slow and sleepy day. I wish people would post something, anything, so there's more to read on the board. Oh, well, just one of those days. That ceviche sounds really good. What a great idea for lean high protein. Elia, I've never been to the Keys, but know they are really a nice place to visit, or even live at. Let's see, there's the movie Key Largo with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and those two would never shoot a movie unless it's in an exotic, adventurous, really gorgeous place. Then we have the intellectual Hemingway, maybe my favorite author even; he's way up there in any event. Well, I'm sure there is no substitute for actually going there, so I hope you really enjoy your trip. I'm really excited about it and am not even going myself! Judy and Patty, I'll watch out for any drivers 'loose on the road'. LOL        Chums forever, Caroline

 hello everyone! Carolin, you are right, the boards were kind of quite yesterday!! Hey, I am Islander, if you have ever lived on an Island, you will always long to live on one! Ok, so Cuabe is kind of a big Island but he atmoesphere was still there. I also lived in the Dominican Republic, nothing like it!!  I do live close to the Keys, about two hour drive, and should really visit more, but you know how it goes!! I did spend a couple of days there this past February, do not even ask what the heck I was doing there in the middle of winter! Actually we had planned an alli buddies' get togethre but only Kathy and I showed up! We had met on alli and had ben able to be touch out of alli but had never met! We still had a blast and even managed to lose wieght while vacationing.  You may have met her on the 50's forum, she has met her goal and has been on alli less time than I have! That is real determination, or just stubborness, on her part!!  Hey, maybe we can plan another alli get together, actually there is one in the making, we may go to New Orleans fro a marathon in '10!! Judy hon, how is it going? Oh, myscale behaved, it is telling me that I lost a whopping .5 pounds!! So I am at 138, perfectly fine with me!! Only 3 more to main goal, and then three more for just in case! I can do that! I have not worked out in about two weeks, since July 5th when I really became sick. I may start walking today! Yesterday I just drove my Volky around, does driving stick shift count? Not likely, but so much fun! Caroline, I have a '66 convertble Bug! One of my toys!! Linda hon, I am getting worried about you! You have been missing for way too long!! Patty, have you checked out swimoutlet.com? Great stuff at great prices! I finally found my ankle weights for the water!! Ok gang, have a great one!! Love,

Elia

Hi everybody! Everything I have said today has come out sounding kind of strange, so I decided to zip it up until later hours. I hope I don't read this tomorrow and think 'did I write that?' Sigh! A get together in 2010 in New Orleans sounds really good. Fabulous, in fact. I've always wanted to go -- the music, the people, the food. Who else would choose such a destination but someone remarkably fun! Elia, good job with the scale. You're practically at your goal right now; just a couple more steps after a long trip, and you're there. Does Kathy have the code name MNJJJMOM? If so, I thought her weightloss was quite an inspiration too. So, she is the adventurous type too, is she? Good to know, because I can certainly relate. I don't know about any marathons though. LOL I'll just meet you at the music bars after you're all done with your running. Or I can watch and cheer you on, of course, but they've got to have refreshments if there is inclement weather -- any of their specials will do just fine. You have been really fortunate to live on such beautiful islands, Elia. You will please share the best hideaway nooks and breezy spots to go to? Well, Judy, how is the week after the weekend coming along? I just love Spencer's name. Are you keeping Charlie's name; maybe Broby had something to do with some sort of 'rug accident'? Hmmmmm.  Let's see, now what is this about guys in Speedos? The imagery! Well, I'll think about food instead, my easy escape. LOL I've been eating my whole life! and have now started a more or less high protein diet with relatively small amounts of fats and carbs, so I hope the scale budges again. I'm collecting more high lean protein ideas, and all input is appreciated. Okay. Patty, it's always nice to have you sit with us. And Linda, where are you? Behave, ladies!   Your buddy, Caroline  xoxo