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COUNTDOWN CLUB: AUGUST(see link to new thread)

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OK .... my wonderful DH arrives home TONIGHT (12 hours early) ....  so ...... one of you needs to volunteer to post the "QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND" since I will be .... ummm.... distracted!

Heck, you can ALL post Weekend Questions!!!

* wanders off, happily *

MOLLY

My wonderful DH Ron arrived at Andrews AFB early enough to get to BWI (Baltimore Airport) and catch a flight home TONIGHT (Friday night), rather than having to spend the night and wait for a Saturday morning flight. So, he called me from the airport (yay, he has cell phone coverage once again) and confirmed that he was able to switch tickets and get on the flight to Vegas, and then a smaller flight at midnight from Vegas to Fresno. He gets in at 1:08am.

Oh, how I've missed him in the three months that he's been gone... the house just isn't the same, and things just seem so much more difficult/harder when he is gone.  I feel like three months of our life together were missed ... like missing a really special phone call, or missing the chance to go to a really special event. But I am proud that I handled this summer's deployment so much better than I handled it LAST summer.  So much has changed in my life, and I am so much healthier than I was back then. And I'm 100 pounds lighter, too. And off insulin. And so much happier.

Since my wonderful DH left, I've lost 15 pounds, taking me to the 100 pound lost mark. He owes me a trip to Hawaii! And I've been maintaining that (give or take a pound or two) for the past month ... yay. My plan is to stay in "maintenance mode" until August 22, 2008 (my one year mark of dieting), and then get geared up to lose at least another 25 pounds. I am hoping that by early September the weather will have cooled enough (and our air quality improved enough) to start biking again in earnest.

He has missed the sunflowers ... we had one 8.5 footer, and a bunch well over 7 feet -- but I sent pictures. And he missed the tear-down of the old fence and the protracted installation of the new fence and new lattice, and new bushes -- but I sent pictures. He missed the delivery of the new couch. He missed the adoption of our fuzzy-wuzzy foster kittens. He missed my summer trip to the coast. He missed the Fourth of July.

But, for the first time in our married life, he hasn't missed his birthday. (July 18) ... we get to spend it TOGETHER. In each other's arms. Not tearful and apart and separated by thousands of miles. For this -- and his safe homecoming -- I am eternally grateful. For he is a wonderful gift from God, one that I am both proud and privileged to open again and again.

Thanks for your friendship, thanks for your encouragement, thanks for your company, and thanks for your prayers.

Five more hours.

Molly, I am SO happy for you both! That is awesome news! Yeah! He's coming home tonight!

~ Beth

Original Post by mollymouser:

QUESTION OF THE DAY -- FRIDAY JULY 11

What's your current favorite "ethnic" food(s)?

MOLLY

My favorite ethnic foods would have to be Chinese or Mexican!  They both have very yummy flavors!

Well, I am night owl & if I am right on the time zones, Molly, you should be holding your DH about right now!  Yippee for you!  I do know what it's like when your spouse is away for long periods of time and then how special the reunion is!  Awww, I'm getting misty eyed!  What a wonderful weekend you are going to have!

Original Post by mollymouser:

QUESTION OF THE DAY -- FRIDAY JULY 11

What's your current favorite "ethnic" food(s)?

MOLLY

Okay, I've been trying to figure out how to answer this one and I just have to say "ALL OF THEM!" I love Tex-Mex, Authentic Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, French, Greek. I can't think of any I don't like. I even liked some (not all) of the food in Papua New Guinea. I guess I just LOVE food. That's what got me into this mess in the first place.

I just got back from our wonderful neighborhood farmers market. I got Rainier cherries, strawberries, peaches, rainbow chard, spinach, kale, Japanese cucumbers, baby zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, and sugar snap peas. Yum. Anyway, that brings me to my own

QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND (Medveditsa style): Does your town have good farmers markets? Do you go to them often? What are your favorite farmers market foods?

Hi All,

Warm wishes to Molly and Ron.

QOD: No, unfortunately we do not have a good farmer's market and I'm really on the hunt to eat more locally.  I have found a few local farms and I'm looking for a farmer's market, even if I have to travel a bit.  This summer I've decided to grow a lot of what we eat.  It's been quite the learning experience and I'm excited to try again next year- now that I have more of a clue.

Have a good weekend-Dianne

Hi! I'd like to join in!

Molly - I'm so glad your hubby has returned home safe!!!

QOD:  There's a small farmer's market by me, but I've gone and really don't like what I find there. It's not very good at all. And there's another one that I use to go to with my mom, but it's just too far away with the gas prices the way they are.

Here's alittle about me:  I'm 43 and have 2 kids (15 and 21) and I'm married. I'm disabled from a back injury that gives me alot of leg pain. I do go the gym and do as much as I can. I've found my limits the hard way!

I started my weight loss at 236 lbs in October, and curently weigh in at 179.2! I've lost 39 1/2 inches and I've got the stretch marks to prove it! lol

Look forward to getting to know you all! :D

Welcome "momof2funykds"!

Molly & Ron - Hope you are having lots of fun getting reacquainted.  I know Molly doesn't miss us right now. Should we take guesses on how long it will take Molly to come back to us? I think it will be Tuesday or Wednesday.

medveditsa - good question - I know there are farmer's markets around here but honestly I haven't tried the ones in town. I do travel to the Rio Grande Valley (South tip of Texas) and they have great  markets. I LOVE it when it's citrus season. We always stop to get oranges and grapefruit when it is. It's also common to see street vendors just outside town occassionally. I have stopped for those and gotten tomatos, shrimp (yes, the shrimpers sell also), and a few other items.

I'm feeling rather "pretty" this morning. I got dressed for church and my pants fit just right and I'm wearing a blouse that I've never worn but it has been in my closet for months. I love it but it used to make me look fat. Today it looks really nice on me! (I'm down 17 lbs)

Have a great weekend everyone,

Beth

Does your town have good farmers markets? Do you go to them often? What are your favorite farmers market foods?

I have no idea. I can't afford the gas to go there. I typically walk where I need to go.  But I like fresh fruits and vegetables of all kinds.

momof2funykids: Welcome aboard! Congratulations on your progress so far. That's amazing!

southern-midwife: Aren't those days awesome, when you just look really good? I value those way more than a day with good results on the scale. I've also had a few things in the back of the closet that I always thought made me look big. Now some of them are too big for me! I guess I have to remember to go through the closet once a month so I don't forget about them. Congratulations!

Molly and Ron: I hope you guys are having a great weekend.  Welcome home!

I love looking good in smaller clothes! Makes the effort so worth it. I'm at the point where I have to keep buying clothes. My "small" clothes are getting big on me. Mostly bc I'm working out. I know I weighed less before when I wore those clothes.

I'm down to 177.6!!!  I completely skipped 178! That's the 1st time that has happened to me. This is the lowest weight I've been. I saw it once 2 weeks ago. Now I want to get below it. And keep on going too! lol

Have a nice day everyone!

Original Post by momof2funykds:

I love looking good in smaller clothes! Makes the effort so worth it. I'm at the point where I have to keep buying clothes. My "small" clothes are getting big on me. Mostly bc I'm working out. I know I weighed less before when I wore those clothes.

I'm down to 177.6!!!  I completely skipped 178! That's the 1st time that has happened to me. This is the lowest weight I've been. I saw it once 2 weeks ago. Now I want to get below it. And keep on going too! lol

Have a nice day everyone!

Isn't it nice to have that firm muscle?  You're solid, with less wobbly fat to make you jump up in clothes size.  I haven't lost a lot of weight yet (7 lbs. so far), but because I'm working out regularly, I've lost 3 inches EACH on my waist and hips.

QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND (Medveditsa style): Does your town have good farmers markets? Do you go to them often? What are your favorite farmers market foods?

We have one but I rarely get there.  It's about a 15-20 minute drive from my house and with gas prices I have a hard time justifying it for just a few veggies (it's not real big). However, I have a decent sized garden so I often grow my own veggies. And recently bought blackberry vines & a peach tree from the farmers market so next year I should also have berries and peaches in 4-5 years. My favorite farmers market foods - whatever I don't have growing in my garden at the time!

Welcome Momof2 and congrats on the weight loss.  One of the funnest things to do is go into stores and pick up the smaller sizes.  I use to have such limited selection and now I'm often delighted to find that I can shop in most stores without a problem.  Keep up the great work-Dianne

thanks luzd!!  I can't wait to get smaller so then I can really have fun shopping! I can barely remember when I had fun shopping. It was so long ago. I told my kids next summer we're doing alot of swimming bc I'm buying a swimsuit! lol  I haven't been swimming in yrs. Like 12 yrs! I can't wait for that!

Here's a few of my happy moments I've had since losing almost 60 pounds:

1) my wedding rings fit me now! 2) I fit all my old clothes I bought 3 yrs ago when I had lost this weight the 1st time & now they are getting big! and 3) My hubby told me I look good! He said that about a month ago. The 1st time in a long time I've heard that! :D

Just wanted to share that with everyone! What are some of your "happy" moments?

Original Post by momof2funykds:
...

What are some of your "happy" moments?

Months ago I made myself some new clothes. I made this decorative wrap thing to wear over pants and a plain top. It's made of sheer material and so it's just meant to accent an outfit. It's short sleeved and long and slinky. I thought I would like it but I hated it on me. It just accentuated all my fat. So, I've never worn it and it has just sat in my closet.

Well all my clothes have been fitting differently on me and I've even gotten too small for some. So, I decided to give this sheer thing another try yesterday. WOW, I looked great in it! I couldn't believe it.  So, that was definitely one of  my "happy" moments.

I can also wear sleeveless tops again without being embarrassed about my upper arms. I'm really working hard to get rid of my old lady arms. The celulite in them is completely gone and now all I have to do is get rid of the rest of my underarm flab. I'm 53 but I still think I can have muscular trim arms. That's my goal anyway.

Original Post by southern_midwife:

Original Post by momof2funykds:
...

What are some of your "happy" moments?

Months ago I made myself some new clothes. I made this decorative wrap thing to wear over pants and a plain top. It's made of sheer material and so it's just meant to accent an outfit. It's short sleeved and long and slinky. I thought I would like it but I hated it on me. It just accentuated all my fat. So, I've never worn it and it has just sat in my closet.

Well all my clothes have been fitting differently on me and I've even gotten too small for some. So, I decided to give this sheer thing another try yesterday. WOW, I looked great in it! I couldn't believe it. So, that was definitely one of my "happy" moments.

I can also wear sleeveless tops again without being embarrassed about my upper arms. I'm really working hard to get rid of my old lady arms. The celulite in them is completely gone and now all I have to do is get rid of the rest of my underarm flab. I'm 53 but I still think I can have muscular trim arms. That's my goal anyway.

Trying new (or old "new") clothes is a great way to emphasize how much weight you've lost.  Isn't it fun?  All of my clothes are hanging on me and I have to belt my pants way in - they look silly!  But I don't have much money right now, and I still have 20 pounds to lose, so I'm trying to buy only the *bare* minimum until I get to my goal.  I don't want to (and can't afford to) have to replace my wardrobe twice!

Midwife - be sure to tell us how you get your arms firm!  I have ALWAYS hated my upper arms, even when I was young.  They have definitely slimmed down with the rest of me over the last few months, but they still look out of proportionally thick (I think I just collect fat there) and are less firm than I want them to be.  I've tried doing weights and stuff and nothing seems to help.  So if you find a good technique for getting that part to look good, I'm all ears!

 

Original Post by momof2funykds:

What are some of your "happy" moments?

1.  A few months ago I "found" my wristbones.  I'd forgotten they were in there.  2. In April I had to take a panel out of my favorite skirt, because it was literally falling off me.  3.  Realizing that I can officially climb all three flights of stairs to my apartment without getting winded.  (A 4th floor walk-up is a great weight-loss tool!)  4. Buying a skirt at Goodwill that I thought ws 4 sizes too small, only to realize it already fit! (I was going to put it away for a while because it was a really good deal.)

Happy Monday everybody!

Good Morning!  My wonderful DH just left (looking dashing in his flight suit) to head over to the base for "in-processing" (which, apparently, is an all-day long, torturous/frustrating event involving tracking people down so he can jump through hoops and sign paperwork advising them officially that he's back.) He should be home for dinner and, hopefully, will have the rest of the week as leave so that he can focus on important things like fixing our deck and repairing our sprinklers.

I brought him home from the airport Friday night about 1:30am, he came home, kissed me, petted the kitties, and fell asleep for the next 12 hours. It was sooo nice to hear his familiar snores -- and he woke up COVERED in kitties! We then went to Applebees where he thoroughly enjoyed a burger and fries, then did some shopping and headed home to the pool. We barbecued steaks on Saturday night -- yum. He was asleep by 9pm, poor guy! Sunday was pretty much the same, only we went out for Mexican food for lunch, and grilled turkey sausage and fresh corn for dinner.  We spent a lot of time hanging out in the pool, talking, and we also did some shopping since he's in the market for a Garmin GPS for his Explorer. Anyway, it's now Monday and he's off to work -- at least for today.

So, I may be a bit scarce this week, still ... but next week should be back to normal. I will keep checking in!

MOLLY