Steph I am so PUMPED for you!! Oh and that steak is how we eat it here. This place called Fatz cafe serves a smothered chopped steak!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I am salivating. Mushrooms, green peppers, onions and brown gravy! SOOOOOO good.

Claire I think there are different levels of movers but luckily Darren's company and before that the air force always took care of it all. So we are lucky. Right now I want to move across town and Darren refuses because unless they are moving us he won't think about it. lol I want a Pool doesn't he get it?? Loser.

Cass- onions are totally a requirement in almost EVERYTHING we eat. They are so important for flavor. I do not eat them raw though. YUCK!

So I had my first offical day at the Y. Dropped Carter off at his running program at 8:30 then up the road we went. Got Riley all situated in the nursery and she was happy watching all the kids. Then I stepped out and saw two women I knew and chatted with them a bit. Took the Total Body Sculpt class which was basically cardio/weight training intervals. We even went outside at one point and ran sprints. Of course long legged runner here was in front by FAR. ( okay that is the competitive side of me I HAVE to be out front!) but it was so fun! My arms are a bit like jelly because I neglect my weight training So all in all it was a good first day. Would have liked a bit more cardio but I can maybe get that in with a run later. I do have a bit of guilt all of a sudden...Thinking should I be paying a membership, and driving there everyday in my big ol SUV with gas prices the way they are? Or should I work out at home and run outside and use no gas?

__________________

Karen - you deserve the time AWAY from home!!! It also gives Riley some time to play with other kiddos. Keep going!!

__________________

Yay, Karen! Me time! And I bet Riles had a good time too.

I'm pumped for me too. This company that seems interested...big company I've learned. Doing a little research. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

__________________

Cassie- well I am not HOME very much so that is why I wonder should I use my time at home to workout?? I dunno I am feeling guilty. I will talk to dh a bit more tonight. I guess I wasn't thinking of the gas thing and all that?? Plus the required clothing and shoes....LOL this will start to add up. I mean I have always worked out at a gym even before I met dh and I LOVE the atmosphere but now things are so crazy with the economy I wonder shoudl I cut some corners where I can? Sad that on my first day I am feeling guilty...

__________________

Karen ~ I agree you need me time, plus Riley hates the jog stroller right? I bet she loved interacting with other little ones and plus, you need the interaction (or competition should I say?). :P Also, I believe that if our economy is going to get its butt back in gear, Karen style, then the only way is if people continue plugging along...it can't get better with everyone scared to do anything and staying at home. True, Americans have to learn to live within their means, but we don't need the total opposite where people are afraid to spend a dime. If you earned it, you can spend it. Okay, I'm going to get off my soap box.

__________________

I totally forgot to weigh in this week since my mind is on work. I will weigh in next monday..

__________________

Karen- That sounds awsome, I'm so jealous. I am an extremely competitive person, and I used to actually be athletic and play basketball and race snowmobiles. *sigh* high-school really was the good ole days.

Steph- That's awsome about the job. See, yet another reason why you are my hero. When you decide to do something, you really DO it.
And even watered-down gatorade is too sweet for me. I was never a big soda drinker until I got DH drinking diet soda (he would drink a 12pack of reg soda a day-yuck) Then I would have one occasionally, and before I knew it I was drinking several a day. I'm tellin ya, there is something addictive in diet soda-scary.

Which brings me to my next question: How much water is too much? See, I gave up the smoking and replaced it with eating. Now, I'm trying to give up the eating (the incessant, mindless hand to mouth eating, of course) so I'm sipping water....chugging water......I've had 5 bottles of water and it's only 11:30. And it HAS to be Dasani, speaking of addictive. I actually went to the store to get more dasani bc I ran out. WTH?

__________________

Claire, I don't know if I told you this aleady, but one of the things that helped me was Altonds, combined with drinking a lot of cold stuff. I was SO thirsty when I was quitting, I drank iced tea constantly.

__________________

Yeah, you told me about the altoids (thanks). But they make my teeth fuzzy. For a fat chick, I really don't enjoy much sweet stuff. (except CHOCOLATE) LOL. I'm doing pretty good with sugarless gum, actually. I allow myself one peppermint patty after each meal, though-kinda like a smoke.

__________________

I must say I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO Proud of you two for quitting smoking! You girls ROCK! How about this...


This one cracked me UP! hahahahhaha Sick sense of humor?


My Bff got her boyfriend to quit smoking I wonder if this is how?? hahah

__________________

Karen you bad thing. I already have an oral fixation. But I did promise something...I don't remember what...to get him to stop biting his nails.

I quit quitting this time -- I don't have the energy right now. Perhaps with the Florida move.

Claire ~ Ritualization is VERY important. That sounds good to me.

__________________

Steph- Yeah, there's no way I could have quit smoking with all you have going on. I did it during the little window of stress-less that I could; the house was built, we were moved, my lap was over, we hadn't heard from Satan in months-yep as close to easy as it gets.

Karen- Now THAT's funny! Actually, DH quit before me, so there was no enticement.

__________________

Survived my second day at the Y. Today was MUCH harder. I took a Spin(cycling) class and the teacher was AWESOME. I was so pumped by her energy. Looking forward to taking more of her classes. She kicked my butt! Then did a 15 min abs class afterwards. I feel so GREAT! Now I am eating a PB on wheat sandwich. I needed some protein BADLY afterwards.

__________________

WTG, Karen!

I only got in 22 minutes on the elliptical yesterday - I was really hoping for 2 runs, or a run and a 30 min elliptical, but someone was EXTREMELY whiny yesterday and I had a headache most of the day. I'm feeling bloated today. I didn't eat good yesterday - I missed bkfast and that screwed me up. Oh well, I ate an egg white omlet and put on my fat jeans, and I've got a pitcher of decaf tea brewing so I can stay away from the diet cokes. Hoping to get in more proteins, fruits, and veggies today, and I need some rest - the early morning has been crazy today.

__________________

I got on the scale this morning and was SO suprised it was not up. I bought a bag of Chips Ahoy the other day!

We are going eat at a seafood resturant tonight, I've already planned to get Crab Au Gratin....for those who don't know what that is...


CRAB MEAT AU GRATIN

INGREDIENTS

1 pound white crabmeat
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup grated cheese (your choice cheddar or American)
1/2 cup finely chopped onions or scallions
1 small pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 heaping tablespoon all-purpose flourdash of white pepper
1 - 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup extra cheese
1 egg yolk, well beaten
dash of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Dash of paprika

INSTRUCTIONS
In a heavy saucepan, over moderate heat, melt butter, add onions and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and transparent but not brown. Stir in the flour, blend well. Add milk, stir constantly until smooth. Add pepper, nutmeg, mustard, and cheese.
Take pot away from heat. Beat egg yolk and add lemon juice. Then add crabmeat - mix well.
Butter baking pan or individual baking dishes. Pour mixture, over all.
Combine cheese and bread crumbs, sprinkle over top of mixture, then add a dash of paprika. Bake 15 or 20 miinutes until top is au gratin, brown and crusty.

__________________

Cassie - I'm jealous!

My first appt w/ the counselor is Next Thursday morning. Now I have a week to find a babysitter.

__________________