age 45-50 group. Anyone interested?

I have looked for twins and poked around other groups without finding a real support group.

I am 48, 5'5", SW 151, CW 134, GW 128

I am the school teaching mother of three in their upper teens, wife of my 3 lbs from goal hubby.

SO...

Anyone interested?

Oh Connie, I am so sorry... Warm thoughts, prayers and hugs are winging your way! Have a very safe trip, I am glad so many of you are going to be able to support one another.

Alylou

ditto Aly's message -

hugs from all of us, Connie, to you and your family. Support each other - and rely on the promises of God.

Momo- glad to hear the back is a little better - take it easy.

I'm worried about Janet - has anyone heard from her?

I'm grateful for all of you. Sue

Hey Sue, Ditto that about Tammy and Janet for me. and double dittos the grateful part, I feel a boost of thankfulness because of all you!

Just bought a Fortune's worth of groceries, I must be looking forward to having most of the family home...

Alylou

Hugs and prayers from me too Connie. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you Connie.

Connie I'm so sorry, some things you can never prepare for.... Thinking about you! 

I mailed Janet last week, no response yet. A funny and extraordinary thing how you can come to worry so much about someone you "only" know from the internet. Janet, if you read this: we worry and we miss you!

I hope everything is ok with Janet.  Not like her to be "missing". And Connie, I'm thinking about you.

I weighed in this morning at 172.4!!!!  1200 cals/day is working for me. I weighed in on here, on the 20th, at 176 lbs.  Nice to see the number going back down again.  I'm eating lots of fruits and veggies too.  So that may be a factor.  If I can just get back to 170 where I was when my back flared up, I'll be satisfied.

Where is everyone?  Must be having busy weekends with the families.

Yesterday afternoon I was getting a "rattle" in my chest, but now it's ok.  Everytime I would inhale deep I would start coughing.  Now there's nothing there.  How odd is that! I guess it cleared up on its own. 

well, enough for now.  Hope to hear from you all soon.

Janet said she was having additional surgery so maybe she's just recuberating.  I'll keep you in my prayers Janet!

Tammy great job! 

Friday night I had dinner with my sister since the men were gone hunting for the weekend.  She spent the night here and then after she left yesterday my daughter and I went to a day spa for a hair cut and manicure.  It's located in a new shopping area so we pretty much spent the day there.  Today I was at my parents then made the mistake of going into Walmart to buy stuff for Thanksgiving.  It was PACKED! 

I'm making corn casserole, german chocolate cake (J's favorite), and a green veggie for my contribution to Thanksgiving.  My family will be going to my sister's.  She'll be doing the Turkey and dressing.  We don't do stuffing in the turkey.  We make a huge pan of cornbread dressing.  My daughter is making chicken and dumplings which is one of the dishes she has mastered.  We also have sweet potato casserole with pecans on top,  field peas and butter beans, rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, pecan pie, sweet potato or pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and no telling what else.  Hmmm and I wonder how I got this weight problem.

Since we all live in different places with different traditions I'd love to hear what a traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes for everyone. 

Wahooo we're getting close to a long weekend!  I can't wait!

Prayers for Connie and her family, Janet, Suz, Tammy's back, Aly's arm and a little prayer for all of us to make it though the holidays safe, happy, and not too many pounds heavier.

I join you Lucy in your prayers!

Truus, how true that as much as we "know" something, we cannot be truly prepared for it!

Tammy, glad the scale god is smiling at you! Hope the back god smiles too!

Lucy, Our Thanksgiving will include:

• Turkey, stuffed with a cornbread/pecan/cranberry stuffing 
• gravy
  
• leeks in vinaigrette
• brussel sprouts
  
• green salad
  
• 1/2 potatoes with 1/2 rutabagas mashed
• homemade cranberry/orange relish (we even pick the cranberries at our cabin!...this year I made it with Splenda..)
• whipped sweet potatoes
  
• Cranberry/apple pie
• pumpkin bread (nobody is a huge fan of pumpkin pie around here)

I too would love to hear every body's traditions!

Thinking about ya Connie!

Alylou

PS:Those of you who had colds recently, would you quit breathing on your computers? Now I have the cold!

I'm waiting for the back god to help me out some day.  I want to get back to my exercise routine!

Our Thanksgiving includes:

Ham (we don't care for the whole turkey)

Dressing made in a pan from bread,celery,onion,seasonings,moistened with chicken stock

A variety of veggies, usually cauliflower (for me), fresh green beans, peas (for my dad), and broccoli

A green salad

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Cranberry Sauce (for my dad)

Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin Pies and Pumpkin rolls and cookies my mom makes homemade

See you all tomorrow!  I'm also joining Aly and Lucy in their prayers for everyone.

Hello ladies

I am sorry for being away for so long. I just read through some of your posts and I am very touched that you are thinking about me. I missed you all. Life just kinda got in my way.

So where have I been ?? I've been here at home all along but I haven't counted  my calories in a long time. I'm afraid I've been rather a failure at this lately. I haven't even wanted to step on the scales.

Please encourage me to start counting again. I really did lose for the first bit and then when it slowed down, I lost heart.

Someone I know and love very much is having a very hard time right now and I'm afraid I let myself caught up in their depression. It's hard caring too much. The last 2 days were very tough but today it's looking a bit better.

I'm going for my second breast cancer surgery in 3 days. I'll be off work again until after Christmas. I hope this will be the last surgery I need. I'll only know afterwards.

Enough of that! You're all really good friends and I don't want to be a downer. Just give me a little push to start counting again!!!

Our Thanksgiving is different in Canada but your food is sure sounding good. I wish you all a great Thanksgiving.

I'm not sure what some of the recent posts were about but some of them sure sounded funny! This Butch sounded fascinating.... I went to a movie the other day and saw a preview for a movie with Vin Diesel. Now that man makes my heart palpitate. Is that as bad as a Butch???   haha

I promise I will check on you all more often. I should have lots and lots of time after Wednesday...

Connie, my thoughts are with you.

love, Janet

I'm putting a new picture of me being silly with my niece so you all won't think I'm too negative and serious...lol.

I really don't look that bad ...really...lol. She had just "done" my hair...

janet

Janet!  I'm so glad you're back!  I've been where you are many times.  I almost lost heart with counting too.  But you have to remember WHY you wanted to lose weight to begin with.  And sometimes it does go very slow and it gets frustrating especially when you see others losing so easily, and you're not getting anywhere.  Do you measure?  I do because sometimes you may not lose weight, but you lose inches. For example, last month on the 28th I realised I hadn't lost a pound in a month but I measured and I lost 4 inches in the same month.  So you may want to give it a try.  We are here for you.  We'll help you get through anything.  Your a part of our "family"!  :)

So this is my "push" for you to start counting again.  Vin Diesel is a man that can get anyone's heart beating fast! LOL 

If you don't come back before Wednesday, I'll be thinking of you.  Take care!

Glad to hear from you Janet! You will be in our hearts on Wednesday, so sorry you have other downers going on, right now you don't need any extras! I love your pict! silliness is a blessing, and I laughed because your niece looks just like MY niece that I spent much time with a summer ago being silly all over Europe with!

There is a Canadian Thanksgiving is there not? Not such a big deal?

Suz is in NYC for the Macy's Parade, hope she has a window she can look out and see it! Thinking of you Suz! (isn't Wed Suz's procedure?...)

Poor Truus, no Thanksgiving for you. You can come to my house! I'll stuff you full of pure Americana!

G'nite, Alylou

You know ladies - I've seen movies with Thanksgiving dinners in them, way to go. And no we don't have that here in Europe. But hey I'm Danish, you wait till it's time for Xmas and I'll let you know all about the Danish Xmas traditions: lots of food as well and more. I'll hang a picture of our very Danish Xmas tree here by then, then you'll know the difference - exciting he  And then here in the Netherlands we have Sinterklaas, yes he's a kind of Santa but coming from Spain with his black helpers, Pieten, to bring gift on his birthday, December 5th. He wrap his presents as surprises, so you might get a big box that looks like guitar - but then you read the funny and personal poem he put on it, and you start guessing what's inside. I might be anything - a kitchen knife or whatever. Lots of prep work here for everyone, but fun. Took me more than 10 years in this country to be able to write a poem in Dutch though But now I tease as well as anybody here, on rhymes  (at least I think so, how will you ever no for sure when it's not your mother-tongue?) Traditionally lots of sweet stuff to go with that evening, luckily I can't eat any of that anymore

Thinking of Suz today, hoping all goes well. Janet, welcome back: Butch - hubbies asking how we know for sure that we're all women and are who we say we are - so there was a "confession": someone's really Butch (Was it Tammy of Sue?) From there the jokes kept coming... Make any sense??? Aly how's your arm? Are you sure you should be cooking all that stuff? But - IF you make it anyway I sure would like to come - can I bring my family???

Axe about insulating and cravings: I read somewhere that sweet herbal tea helps and that cravings when you're in a place where stuff smells good can be helped by chewing mint gum. Sounds way too simple to be true, so I tried it: it works

Wow - we're all feeling chatty! Nice to hear from so many - and, of course, Janet - we are all especially glad you are back with us. You know, logging calories does take time and I've not been good at it lately - which is probably why my weight is absolutely STALLED for a month now; but even if you just get more conscious again about what you are eating . .it's a step in the right direction. You CAN DO IT.

Tru - I love the Danish traditions. Can't wait to see your tree. Am I correct that you feature woven stars (made of straw?) and things like that? One of my friends here celebrates Dec. 5th - she calls it St Nick's Day. They do surprise gifts for others on that day, too. They pack a bag of goodies, attach a silly message, drop it at someone's door, ring the bell and RUN! In my family, we celebrate on Christmas Eve and often wrap gifts to be intentionally misleading.

Thanksgiving for my family includes:

Turkey, stuffing (bread based with lots of celery, onion and sage), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, fresh cranberry sauce, and then a few different things from the "traditional American" meal: cooked cabbage, sauerkraut, bread dumplings (a large dumpling, boiled, sliced like bread), cucumbers in sour cream/vinegar, and too many desserts. The different side dishes come from my parents' Czechoslovakian ancestry. So, come on over, especially to our Canadian, Bermudan, and Danish friends and enjoy our strange American/Czech Thanksgiving.

My daughter is home sick today. That NEVER happens. She's a senior in HS and has only missed 1 other day of school since 1st grade. I think she has a raging sinus infection - so we'll be off to the Dr. this afternoon. Then, son woke up with a cough and sniffles. I hope we won't all be sick by Thanksgiving!

Sue

PS. Butch said to tell you all "Hi" - he's having cowboy beans and a grilled turkey leg with his beer for Thanksgiving.

Janet so great to hear from you!  I know you'll be logging again soon but for now concentrate on taking really good care of yourself.  Prayers for your surgery and I love the funny picture.  Even if you're not upto counting please check in with us and let us know how you're doing.  I too let other people's problems effect me too much so I know how that can pull you down.  I hope they get better too.

Aly - your food sounds yummy and so much lighter than mine will be.  The rutabagas might be a good side for me to fix since I love those and it's not something we usually have.  The relish sounds wonderful.  I'd love to have the recipe for that.  I've never eaten leeks so that's something else for me to check into.

Tammy - sounds like you make the same sort of dressing as I do.  I make mine with a pan of cornbread, a bag of Pepperidge farm herb stuffing mix, lots of bell pepper, onion, and celery that has been cut tiny and sauted in butter, lots of sage, a little Nature's Seasonings, and either chicken/turkey broth and/or drippings from the turkey if I cook one.  I also boil lots of eggs cut them up and add them to the mix right before baking.  I love to make it after cooking a Butterball turkey.  I'll add lots of water to the bottom of the pan so it has lots of juice, then I dump that in the dressing.  It makes it very rich but very good. 

Sue - I like all of your food too.  Hmmmmm rutabagas or cabbage for my veggie.  I love both.  I hope your daughter gets well quick so she can enjoy the holiday.

Tru - I'm so excited to learn about different traditions and so look forward to hearing everything about your Christmas.  My menu will almost be exactly the same for Christmas.  I do like to fix a big pot of seafood gumbo for Christmas Eve. 

We call it Thanksgiving but I think it should be renamed to Eatfest.  LOL We'll eat and the women will sometimes take a long walk then we come back for dessert which defeats the purpose but it's a great family time.

Suz - thinking about you and praying for a quick recovery!  Connie, bless your heart, still praying for you and your family.

Hi Girls!

I'm home. Laura is still hanging in there. They have upped her meds even more so she is mostly sleeping but out of pain. Only one quarter of one lung is working for her breathing. I won't get into all of it. One thing she said to my little 81 year old Mom before we left.....I'll be waiting for you in Heaven so you just take your time..... TALK about the tears flowing from all of us. I went earlier and shopped and am going to attempt to make our usual turkey day feast SOUTHERN STYLE of course but most of it made in a bit easier fashion this year...Spiral ham with brown sugar and pineapple glaze, sage sausage dressing, squash casserole,green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows,mashed potatoes, deviled eggs,rolls or biscuits (smoked turkey breast,spinach dip my ex- husband is bringing) yes he always spends holidays with us when I am single....Pumpkin pie sweet potatoe pie and Bannana pudding. I think thats it.....Ya think I'll blow my diet?  oh and cranberry sauce which I do not care for and its probably the only not fattening thing there will be!

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. Keep 'em coming please!!!!

Janet glad to hear from you as well. Best wishes thoughts and prayers your way too!

Love ya ladies

Connie  <they need to make a pudgey angel and then a medium and then a skinny so that I can use those to declare how well my weight loss is going!

Hi Connie,

I'm glad you're home but still worried about you and your family.  Let it be a great comfort to you that your precious niece sees heaven in front of her.  I'll pray that her pain is eased.  I'm glad you and your mom were able to see her.

I forgot about the deviled eggs because we have to have those and my brother in law makes fantastic banana pudding so I've have to drop a hint for that.  I think I'm gaining weight just by reading.

Did I miss something?  You're ex is coming to Thanksgiving??

love ya

Hi Lucy,

You know that's exHUSBAND not the stalker ex-boyfriend. Yeah we have been friends for years after a fifteen year marriage from hell. Isn't that wild? Oh yes you must have deviled eggs and I make a mean bannana pudding myself!!! I think i need to get some sort of ear mufflers for my scales cause if they are even listening to me talk about turkey day they are gonna add 10 lbs by wednesday LOL!!!! 

xoxoConnie