The new normal

I'm back from Denver after a very busy five days. The graduation was great, my niece gave the welcome speech, and received here Bachelors and her Masters of Business Administration. She turned 23 last week.<br /><br />We spent a lot of time with my husband's family and a lot of eating out. I heard the comment several times that I look amazing (an exaggeration, but it was nice to hear), and wow, you kept off all your weight. They've watched me go up and down with my weight for the last 22 years. This is the first time they've seen me in two consecutive years where I weighed the same. <br /><br />I was very picky about my food when we ate out. At the hotel breakfast buffet I'd always order a three egg white omelet with tons of vegetables and just a dash of oil. <br /><br />When my sister-in-law made dinner she made sure there were plenty of things I could eat. She didn't make something extra or special, she just made sure there was salad, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Sometimes I could eat the main course, sometimes I'd just have a bite. I didn't starve.<br /><br />I also managed to get in two really good workouts. Not as many workouts as I wanted, but there just wasn't much free time.<br /><br />Something my Weight Watcher leader said a week ago really stuck in my head the entire time I was in Denver. She said this is our new normal. How we're eating now, the exercise, the focus on getting and staying at a healthy weight, these things are all our new normal. We will do this until we die. <br /><br />What I did this last week wasn't hard or a challenge, I just did what I had to do. I didn't really give it a lot of thought, it's second nature to me to eat healthy. This is my new normal. 

The new normal

I'm back from Denver after a very busy five days. The graduation was great, my niece gave the welcome speech, and received here Bachelor...

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A Smidge Late!

<p>Hey friends! I don’t think I have slowed down since I woke up Friday morning!</p> <p>I forgot to mention on <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-won-today.html">Thursday</a> that I also whipped up a <a href="http://fitnessista.com/2008/11/something-worth-waking-up-for/"><strong>breakfast cookie</strong></a> while I was in my “mode”! I pretty much followed the recipe on the link, but for my mix in’s I was 1/2 banana, raisins, and cinnamon. It was a delicious <strong>6 points</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzWehxDeILVqoBbignyzwuEVs01gXu2VHxa2bmZNz_lGnbzA33wuHVkRPEiGlJnGT3QxtS6djsfc3c_nVfzoreaMxCEbetGkVCTXJxohrcRpqwM4QGyLnoQDPBYZ3HQJOkphfnKahGoiC/s1600-h/DSC07180%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07180" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8ZPURJ0VPzxZYCkuH_gh_knKcVaYprB_9XQRs2Wy5sZzZsHcwP0a9GdBrQpZY4WAo4KVCDA4yfJM60bpgxnCFUQ3Skf4OxM9Px_TbwT3OBc0QpsX2XBHpjViz7M7FqIhLOsfIIaAqaZS/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07180" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I couldn’t wait to test out my granola in my morning snack! I had <strong>strawberry yogurt</strong> with <strong>1/4c</strong> of my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/02/few-updates.html"><strong>homemade granola</strong></a> for <strong>2 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkS8YnBj9nTlqgQuu8YSnlzJ0Qi5DrS6_22Hi5zjJ3Xn_3PbT7WQtqoJid8IdJ3X4nYUmKJpcJaeVMUTC_diZdcFWsUkzpAJqOps24zYMlLo2ZJJmO8h7YoJcY5kArvTr8i4cNy6RZN1B/s1600-h/DSC07181%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07181" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIOMeH2oMvI_yaNCz7kEnxlgH78KiMeIuflI2XydnztZSaEEsaaIlo7aI8gXzsVW7eSq3ZDVoJ6_JiaZlILCR84jT9nCZg5I6pvZ1dDMuQuzfGMOto_hiSmCbkCL7co9nlxB5EGMUNTM1/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07181" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Lunch was at my desk…but pretty good, I had a <strong>Smart One’s</strong> for <strong>6 points</strong> (i think…can’t completely remember!). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio975uOMDsWSnwRrppx8HB4EBoF2ViSCPUZTavGAgaXMI6XmVSTr72Vdh9OTZ3r-ocQyS0rSCHaSGlv8SiABHRxldYXP0gDvD6jND-3N2rRVOnFglelYWuVkn2u6AfZxz2EODQCiw7u4-2/s1600-h/DSC07182%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07182" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2X2KJTAkx1t-1LS60fnOd0KHGytgwhPvnRVz9d31AJCP9mKllY98ygMR_IDLWO4cgPgoLn0vDC-wuBdbzlAn0JT_RPkT2Enb8DnIx9HwUpWwiwnwFgOqt-jn8lLymsci3H4pIXhj36iYw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07182" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I couldn’t wait for 4:30 and the weekend to be here! We had fun dinner plans with my <strong>BFF from junior high</strong>! We met at Applebees for supper. I ordered the <strong>garlic herb chicken</strong> for <strong>7 points</strong>. I took the picture a tad late…the only thing you’re missing is a few more broccoli stems! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64Fifbv148hvAl9Xx062byej8LTKnert6L4qTP4EMkWJEufTZCQSLOaY1khjGqd0IS3mELoEV6bySg7MJ4_VzPGYqZC23wQCa0jnT-ev_8xM6xVrzSj2QFChp-7gCxeuZgoYECkqdB6D2/s1600-h/DSC07183%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07183" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7ZNgYP-QzEPHfWDTeI2aGO71LrIx_8vbzrfZ5C8jMnygRUurskuoQ31fpcK-OCIrODkRfeOsa6X4GT_awrPv5eTAFUzQVPLsMAts4M3QWl8MSsQz8LeD0baBj5ByW3ND6GRnDYEpKkyP/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07183" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I don’t think we stopped laughing or talking the whole night! It was such a good time! Look what greeted us when we walked out the door! <strong><em><u>A FULL RAINBOW</u></em></strong>!! I loved that you could see both ends! Just a reminder of how wonderful God is!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvLqWvuwAPAN0c5YlmZC8HEChQ8qH1MsTGAoAYokE0f6SAwIyqmu9C0UqdZrpCSBC4t0PUqEEDGEg6lQitSSMLqw8U5PQ1ELDc7rwk6F0MLl97T7AqYU6rBiRBu8BvLKtHf5M5iWt2KQB/s1600-h/DSC07185%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07185" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2LdSYqNNtOewuexGi4SatGH3I5LEQoOV0gYvBjmOrMfxvew774gyJgkwXbH0NjMr7N0IfPTHIi99WyH1t7ut3gv0dYeCB3fKKI-8IF4kQobpQm5mKxsYfwjbf86pdCZc-Af3moW6P3Pj/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07185" width="404" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7AFPHTbOnIhFrbb1d8gfhBxmkKXVCiFBCpgV4uexQ7tPogAswdAInS0ACMJhQ4HPVR-xUPAP0AxCfgyEkQYeu6atcBqU-Nd2NvAbzkHTIOkJobDCCqKVxCDlxcPVM53RsjF7jd1manLc/s1600-h/DSC07187%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07187" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7oIkVg2DT9UxMdNPrT8tpp7RWrRYV61lhq88Tx-lDzioU2CQxMOYN6A6s27vvlCoCdlriZuFXSGLANjZzqoWhucTU_MmJyP6NKBz6IVlZ1LDau9LTRuKyUZB64h9cnBpLcDV3HTm8qBW/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07187" width="404" /></a></p> <p>This is Tawny…my junior high BFF! We don’t see each too often, but when we do it’s like we hadn’t missed a beat! Those are my favorite kind of friends!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw1_Plc01-FwAl4kjjrhbdLCuN5tGZBSX5fGUuJ49HgHHQtwW835-9nK8drQtb45YkE_mNwWfqgaMtOJ0clAb-Kutg9bpR0xZSEbYxtuUH1KrvV6EYstyqwKIAZ8rBD150hQzHDUjKpSQ/s1600-h/DSC07189%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07189" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictupSmCIRgAdJPQqfYq297HXqaKHD1iQ7u8g-tbnqW4eGEZZV4lE7T80Bm2xnVL5Zvk5sbJe-vj0PZKVkNu1FFc2cjebX-KiYmgpOvDf_eGHFGNYvskf7CqfGIPv2RwoByci0EbFfhUE6/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07189" width="354" /></a></p> <p>After supper we headed to the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/ram-5k-park-time.html">Dariette</a> for some desert! It was much <em>too cold</em> though to eat on the patio so we headed to their place! I had a <strong>lemon cone</strong> for <strong>6 points</strong>. I’m sure you guys are going to be sick of hearing about the Dariette by the end of summer…what can I say? <strong>I <u>LOVE</u> ice cream</strong>!</p> <p>We didn’t call it a night until almost 11pm when we left their place, but we had <strong><em>SUCH</em></strong> a good time! </p> <p><strong>FRIDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 27/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 8 used/27 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED =   0 today/8 week <br />WATER = 112 oz <br />EXERCISE = nada</p> <p>Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! I will continue to catch you guys up with a Mother’s Day post coming up next! </p>

A Smidge Late!

Hey friends! I don’t think I have slowed down since I woke up Friday morning! I forgot to mention on Thursday that I also whipped up a br...

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Planning de la semaine du 10 au 14 mai 2010

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le lundi 10 mai de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 11 mai de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 12 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/01/egee-nouveau-partenaire-la-maison-de.html">EGEE</a></strong> - lundi 10 mai de 13h30 à 17h (sur rendez-vous)<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> - vendredi 14 mai de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://www.mlo.fr/" target="_blank">MLO</a></strong> - <span style="font-style:italic;">Simulations d'entretien</span> - lundi 10 mai à 09h30<br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 11 mai de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 12 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 11 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 14 mai de 10h à 11h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - vendredi 14 mai de 14h à 16h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 10 au 14 mai 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 10 ma...

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I won today!

<p>I know I started my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/run-won.html">Wednesday post</a> out just the same…but I can’t help it! You guys are <strong><u>awesome</u></strong> and keep me <strong><u>motivated</u></strong>!! So…<strong><em>THANK YOU</em></strong>!! I SO appreciate our comments…keep em coming! :)</p> <p>For my oatmeal this morning my banana was <strong><u>EXTRA</u></strong> ripe so I mashed it up and mixed it in. Since I didn’t have a “<em>topping</em>” I crumbled up a<strong> 90 calorie fiber one bar </strong>and I still had the usual <strong>PB2</strong> (which I’m getting low on…not sure if it’s in the budget). ;) The total for my <strong>oatmeal</strong> this morning was<strong> 5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGDm4kovFOLvh0k_GG3Ik00JKQoZbrOaKanlJ3OEAaL7lORPHaAKtVpPC2N88SCY8pmY2Cooz3wpvUBsNXmdqb1tatc3yOvdtox3BKx0-WsYXamffuIJXMPHOoyg2rbN9hh-0ykKhwj9j/s1600-h/DSC07172%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07172" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh452x8vGa_IbH6GuoNIEowI1kWpgGKzTg2875xMtw7eQCrQzfhATwYF1aU25TUWxEjiGaXwnDXxRg41gvOUs_PwjF_D2r2f12efdhY5hQLSIYd4DOq3vlWZIDGKiMWkUEjEv65DLlOAPny/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07172" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Another duplicate today was my <strong>yogurt</strong>…nothing fancy, just mixed in <strong>1/4c grape nuts</strong> for a <strong>2 point</strong> morning snack. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aIGASYlgdZY1zojHvkuhC-WXZeOspb6WfcGNCSnJ883hYn6-hRD1yOq1GFOD3nizHHU9XkhmCiUcsFDmXi1d5u31pTTwQKzoyAGHHO4x2rndpHUDBvOk89HB9BygTOUxCK6iGK1Q9OWe/s1600-h/DSC07173%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07173" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfSevhQ_zOvsIgK8XRW7K1wDCGx-WbtoNdIMh81UzTulUGn6PlmIyGT8vK_s_nbFeT0lvyKIpNGmOG0rSlFNoErfjhwV9VpAYyqzvADBNu65FQzcyPA8BDju2-uAFwlln7BAPMgfLVmNa/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07173" width="304" /></a></p> <p>To say that my day went fast is a <strong><em>HUGE</em></strong> under statement! I didn’t get home for lunch until almost 2:30! I had a <strong>baked potato</strong> with about <strong>2/3c chili</strong> for a total of <strong>8 points</strong>. Very filling!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRritzqCNP2TO21LmepIv2JgX6AWWM-Yjxh127vO3Zsl9GxgwiWq_4dNhOTnqViqf1xJaK3AcVcFAR43uxH-pR7b_VLyBazu2k7Icdg8iEUwrr2u8p9HKk4u-ksLfoOavGb3QyHAS1fkAH/s1600-h/DSC07175%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07175" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9Cg183skh_BlhDBA3XYzym5zkeqoIEEZCZ4hQce37Cg4eMybaDTgB4noxGOkL0EuZPtkMI8DnKQAd4DqhLRrn4vyFxScVx-clsxl6pxhFevPteQGJaPPoYTc2QNlyRorK3o2Qjg1gZma/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07175" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We closed our office an hour early today for an “End of the Year Celebration”. Basically appetizers & drinks. I didn’t get a picture because I forgot my purse in the car. :( But I had<strong> 3 lil smokies, 1 small chicken wing, 1/4c spinach artichoke dip, 2 club crackers, and, 10 bite size tortilla chips</strong>. My best estimate for all that is about <strong>11 points</strong>. Sound like enough? I looked up each food’s nutrition facts & estimated from there. </p> <p>After the “celebration” I headed back to campus to teach my final class of the semester. Luckily it was a test and everyone finished early so I could get home to run!</p> <p>Before it got dark or rained I got in<strong> 3.63 miles</strong> in <strong>37 minutes</strong>. It felt <strong><u><em>AMAZING</em></u></strong>! Isn’t it crazy that one day you can feel like each step is SO hard and you don’t want to go any further and the next day you could run & run & run! I was sporting my <strong>Hawkeye</strong> gear tonight! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiikafUP6Fb9ikBO22R_QINEtUvAazyMpO1fIJ8vzNUqbIDPmDmuhzF248IuyqYnhzSmMbR8KXug2TliPUwNRvG8ZsdeKQD0Mc_FvKxv9yU1YTdaC7aT02fz-4LR3zggv3TgPxot2nCfu/s1600-h/DSC07176%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07176" border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGcL-cdcY6f73AUyCayKn4ZZch-nfBQG2HPBVoD-a0BuKeI7MHVVZDdEA7BuUOmaNSWD2nXMe65SCKMN98dpsEvE9EEmdxAJfPknLwgeqm5Vz-zyrI14ZBvT5_FBWxkwNIMXbVqBPzvIj/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07176" width="304" /></a></p> <p>I think conquering my run put me in the “on top of the world – I’m super motivated” mode! I peeled and <strong>orange</strong> (<strong>1 point</strong>) & got to work in the kitchen! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtys42263FEXnIaH1TeWkpzbT_NK5QisK37SJ6GXkmuQ2180yT5Y-VJGdCNrvBhY6VHHL_B48trriR3y30XCy2fRyawcrMyeKMzN0_5jWxxwNCvAzrAEJGbhdbP5o7aUSScqzwlH3IPgE6/s1600-h/DSC07177%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07177" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNSgCxRIfV8x10Luflzmz_usyML-e6CTDy4Mtf6kNwswQphUYDEawhyiGLeZTusgW8g5MqFoHic_cW6ohxFHsU5Edf9pFUzcrACGXTRkm5Xbm4TvkIPLrlYb80i1-OGzV_hKxODCrHKwm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07177" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I mentioned <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/run-won.html">yesterday</a> I’ve been wanting to make my homemade granola again so I did just that! You can get the recipe <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/02/few-updates.html">here</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc7Mqd3jTk3HNKtTNdA8WcTdps6og6Nk5r5Nvh0BXh-j_mC-wkCj-Ys5dLHFfYFb9LOjWHoL7kkkPR35eYq9kttMGB3-OwFdWwYmWLSekfXUoFuAXcZhap-tQ0Bf-35prhtPLEIkkmaB7/s1600-h/DSC07178%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07178" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wQWJqOp9zHR96tRsvwVreaRoc7B3KzuoVxwZuc798n6zN9-KTGXaSeqxOrJLOTn-sgle3JjRGvwlXhYyyS0X3s1T3iG_WTPp7hdoH04dfa7LPD9l0aT1k8UU8WKwSV1RwgbTQKOnmUWM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07178" width="404" /></a></p> <p>While that was baking I realized I had 2 VERY RIPE bananas and wanted to make something with them. I found <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/me/kyoddie/diets2.html#10">this</a> recipe and decided to try it out!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNJzBxFl45_0HffPpBk1Vu3qFBOOtgohyphenhyphenf1T95Lz5RmTbd0qlSYAUsCyWsXWgXcLd5mXls_66eLbuQ9_ZWvoMGp1ePt6sn6UQwYXl0tApT5WlplgOFObe1oLP9aaY9tfUEugO0ZOh3zWb/s1600-h/DSC07179%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07179" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB5MYdGqVAtRX5Ep5TvvQXdor85g5NzVY3KKmB-BJFoP9XLl8FkZOv1vgQFvIg42FEpjpVdZ6QzVlCII3jyITt2-4KxD_3NzUkZjk67D7duiNGX3VgMhVIZSs0R9F283j_rKaIV-OYRWI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07179" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Either Darci is a “ditz” or needs glasses ‘cause she cant’ read! Instead of using oat bran like it says twice on the recipe I used regular rolled oats! Sheesh!! So I’m not sure what they are going to taste like! lol Nevertheless, I thought I’d share the recipe anyway!</p> <p><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/me/kyoddie/diets2.html#10"><strong>Oatbran Banana Muffins</strong></a></p> <p><a name="10">2 1/4 cups oat bran <br />1 tablespoon baking powder <br />1/4 cup brown sugar -- packed <br />1/4 cup chopped pecans -- or walnuts <br />1 1/4 cups skim milk <br />2 bananas -- very ripe <br />2 egg whites <br />2 tablespoons canola oil <br />1 teaspoon vanilla extract </a> <p>Preheat oven to 425º. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the milk, bananas, egg whites, and oil in a bowl or blender. Add to the dry ingredients and mix. Line the muffin pan with paper baking cups and fill them with batter. Bake for 15 minutes. Watch closely that these do not overcook. Makes 14 muffins. <br />Points per muffin = 2 <br /></p> </p> <p><strong>THURSDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 27/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 4 used/31 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED =   5 today/8 week <br />WATER = 112 oz <br />EXERCISE = 3.63 mile run</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Ok friends, this post is getting too long & it’s much too far past this girl’s bedtime! Nighty, night!</p> <p>Tomorrow’s Friday, woo hoo!!!</p>

I won today!

I know I started my Wednesday post out just the same…but I can’t help it! You guys are awesome and keep me motivated !! So… THANK YOU !! I...

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The Run Won

<p>Hello everyone!! We’re over half way through another week!! I just have to say that you guys are the BEST!! I <strong><em><u>appreciate</u></em></strong> all the support and feedback from my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/coming-clean.html">Coming Clean</a> post on Tuesday!!</p> <p>Here is a quick recap of my Wednesday…I need to get out to the door to work!</p> <p>I started my morning out with an old favorite…<strong>oatmeal</strong>! I mixed in a <strong>small sliced banana</strong> and <strong>PB2</strong> for a total of <strong>4 points</strong>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwd1lcg0FYbk_kFivQTEAt0uZTothLc5TJl0dXZM_9dSqVdEt_jrafLpg-yjIqIwc6_vN7Wm3w8cCoqhBifXPvAkMZ5VRnTOeYRAH7PYd4Kx-5Wd44mG7r67ARvF-N-2_a5GQcrXKaTr7/s1600-h/DSC07154%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07154" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWci9TcChX4M7M48vTjiFkSZLkwc2Dco-bmiJaMfN5jYmk8ZsWwptKmhFmdgBAnW54asgaWqplxHNQ0ISLty2t5JEtLSb4OsdtWAioQP0n0XFUdRpqnU9zdCOIr-x-shUWHSJ3oRwxt11/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07154" width="404" /></a></p> <p>For my morning snack I had <strong>strawberry yogurt</strong> with <strong>1/4c grape nuts</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong>. Which reminds me I really need to make another batch of my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/02/few-updates.html">homemade granola</a>!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCczHdTjjFcVcd43qZNAQ76J8H_rec7rklHnczLnah4oH9m4UjStUT4Fb48cTT3c9b4qK9Kbx9hwuNcgn2CPI_NxN79uw3tJpdTP7yX1jeaGaj1NBIOx5YaxuSs9fOZfLESmKl01e3U7tG/s1600-h/DSC07155%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07155" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_raw0DL7f4AojYVVyYIe3Fu6Acl9kfefLXadVOFhp0u8IGHZH4jk2zyjDfguX1TL_dTCSEly2RFtpDUyFO0Od5iTDd4HjDivNG866MvP7HTf_MEK55cOWpcp3o_heWBt2i_m_t1ONKxh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07155" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Before lunch I snack on these <strong>petite carrots</strong>! I love the skinny ones!! <strong>0 points</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKQ5fyq-sNGrYaZ9BxRBRgoBeP9R5-lIMr4SPq7P-8nzuJSZP40L_RUyxMY-TbePxejVfSI6LuMuuQ4ceIiC6sPjy5wzG_D0ihIRTWJA12gTxLzjLgdnrqdPey_zUzED9Y3IxwHbGCatb/s1600-h/DSC07156%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07156" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwn0gwN1OaVzoPa-zlLssVX6ma5hs49q7TB9SQyu22bTl3ntN-5AZfbP9FjEpPLtlfeRvzYEi7KssIRh5Ghx833xBOmKKujVAssU6AJFrZWItnmRyQz7ocriu9eSqjsrMYAtiKy7nmTiE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07156" width="404" /></a> </p> <p>Lunch was, once again, at my desk. I had a <strong>Smart One’s</strong> and <strong>1c fresh pineapple</strong> for a total of <strong>6 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYswRb8gvGXuCWvM9L2AeWXltvG2VKGlvVml1_-1wKKZ8oXUhPQL-dqfBT1EB1L3XtPZn7MFfk4LX52xn87dmoVQCoNc2_sSIHtXDrErF0gf_v6qQo3tHMIWrVOIsJjRYb7um6u0nbvmhm/s1600-h/DSC07157%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07157" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNTtT0EuQs0oaA6ovw8T0280htTY0dvX6lr6DkuRrwfr7Cm3YDBZJIY8BMHEZa5hEvVUtiZ6ncu07KF_2vxQa_Yk0cYSGWEaUzxW1ERmqZ6uE2BJhDXiipQlxyjW-6e-Fv2sLs-i3rdxC/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07157" width="404" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv5idKzz4_4hWzn2H3rizVpfyEg_XtFLVwd2OSHUyz0p04QJIqbNRInhnr8-mLQ7XpQZm1RFOPIW63IFV_AlVRwpB93ySP0wvscatoHjvDmuyY7s4LzkqpiKeBY5PTM7r_mzW7BWTMtEB/s1600-h/DSC07158%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07158" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzUGL5_Vybb0hOqrFY6WeUQfN1R7oGHM4IsdRXq8eSKdx6wa0DYeOKjW-AVUyUnmsOmhYTj123NL0Qz2DvHVv1454yOldpmOwjkdqiuhCwugkYfaUsGC55yuqvOHPOEni1YeiMxgxRVTX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07158" width="404" /></a></p> <p>It was another long, yet productive day at the office! When I got home Kyle and I decided we would have <strong>tacos</strong> in honor of <u>Cinco de Mayo</u>! My consisted of <strong>1/2c lean ground beef, 1 flat out</strong> (cut in half), <strong>1/4 ff cheese, 2 T ff sour cream</strong>, and <strong>taco sauce</strong> for a total of <strong>7 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30DPqkKJ0dSm1EI0zt0IX29d9loz_8B1fahyphenhyphen4Ll6nF6mP-RBfHJONQMfb2OvvwNGVsARNX6O3petCqEzFyzo6h8KVrEui3KY3BWnLhMRewgP82GLWtAOiKidOHyjG3rgzurfzV2z1jRQN/s1600-h/DSC07159%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07159" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWawat1gmQphi-IONFZ8pFGpxlTmR-sVk4rE8sCPsO1xhi8GZuQuog6Iwf1Diw3KctbOKX1LUFf7qhhziu9n4I3hk2h4_nlxJV0ey8W25rbd4IXXMq5kyH-NVsAdk4LMrpIrMYw4sknVg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07159" width="404" /></a></p> <p>But before our little fiesta we had a <strong>short run</strong>. Yes <strong><u>short</u></strong>. :( I just couldn’t get into it. There were many factors & they are just excuses. In total we put in <strong>2.5 miles</strong> in just under <strong>25 minutes</strong>. I was disappointed at the end for giving up, but then decided not to feel like that and thought “hey it’s better than not running at all”! <strong><em>[right?!?!]</em></strong></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 19/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 0 used/35 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED =   3 today/3 week <br />WATER = 104 oz <br />EXERCISE = 2.5 mile run</p> <p>Hope everyone has a <strong><em>GREAT</em></strong> Thursday!! I’m going to have to be strong today…it’s <strong>food day</strong> because it’s someone’s last day, we’re having a <strong>“end of the school year” celebration</strong> at work with all kinds of <strong>hors d'oeuvres</strong>, and silly me bought a <strong>giant bowl</strong> of candy for my students to munch on during their final tonight! <strong>I CAN BE STRONG & RESIST!!!!</strong></p>

The Run Won

Hello everyone!! We’re over half way through another week!! I just have to say that you guys are the BEST!! I appreciate all the support an...

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St. Bart and the Atomic Testing Museum

On Saturday, we drove up the lovely green Pahranagat Valley to White Pine County. We were visiting St. Bartholomew’s, Ely – not the regular annual visit but a special visit. I was there to dedicate their Memorial Garden. It is a lovely place with a superb sculpture of St. Bart in the center. The congregation commissioned it in memory of their late priest, Fr. Dale Miller. The statue represents the good saint leaning forward toward the street extending a hand as if to help a fallen child to her feet. It is a gesture of simple compassion. I have heard stories of unchurched folks who found the faith through the good works of St. Bartholomew’s, Ely “proclaiming the gospel” by such simple compassion. Their garden is the most serene and aesthetic spot in Ely – itself a blessing and sign of deeper blessings over the years and for years to come.<br /><br /> Then it was on to St. James, Eureka. Frank the musician, who plays old time evangelical hymns on the piano while Ministry Developer Norma Engberg accompanies him on the xylophone, had the heat on for us. The little church was toasty warm on a chilly sunny day. The congregation was Frank, Norma, Linda, a state patrolman, his fiancée, and me. It is small now, but there will soon be a mission there, a big mission. The molybdenum mine will open in the near future, hiring 400 miners, most of whom will bring families to this hard life in the wilderness. I hope we can find ways to help them with their daily struggles.<br /><br /> Monday was another day on the road back down the Valley – the Upper Pahranagat Lake is bluer than blue with bright green grasses -- enjoying a sandwich stop at Windmill Ridge. South of Alamo the vegetation switches from pine and willows to Joshua Trees and wild flowers. Stopping for road construction, we rolled down the windows and were awed by the depth of silence.<br /><br /> The St. Bart’s Memorial Garden lingers in my mind. Partly it is because the garden is such a beautiful work done so lovingly by good people. But there is something more. Tonight I will be at the Atomic Testing Museum with Nevada Desert Experience to say a prayer for an event to support the New START Treaty. Ely was downwind from the test site and has a high incidence of cancer. People there with some forms of cancer get special federal benefits because of the atomic testing connection. I think of the statue, St. Bartholomew reaching out a generous hand to suffering people there. Life is already so fragile and so precious. It makes war unthinkable; yet we keep thinking it and doing it, bombing others, bombing ourselves for practice. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” by us now.

St. Bart and the Atomic Testing Museum

On Saturday, we drove up the lovely green Pahranagat Valley to White Pine County. We were visiting St. Bartholomew’s, Ely – not the regular ...

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Coming Clean

<p>Happy Tuesday, friends!! I want to start out by saying <strong><u>thanks</u></strong> for all your kind comments <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/announcement.html">yesterday</a> on the<strong> big change</strong> going on with me and Kyle. If you missed it, click <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/05/announcement.html">here</a>!</p> <p>Since Kyle has some free time he took me to work this morning! I could get used to that! :) I ate breakfast when I got to work, an <strong>oats & chocolate fiber</strong> <strong>one bar</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjperbMINmp1YnwvCD56NeTju3N35gxaQO81nN3c0OA3OA3vxUkYNeOYmexjtJ-Sy8vYDk99G83HkGBLSEoGZLLl5IIFBgkYoiItSf_p3wPd-2hji0d9J45AEJlfbX6boGcWg8NYRJedjrE/s1600-h/DSC07149%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07149" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIfIhTxpT-DQvf3UhfiSdvsGPHmN5XrqHFH9a0XhWkgIE6Tp2KXE8XYVgZfVhDFBb14KfuJMceBJMlKU_2N97s3ZfC8k-LkCAr31WOcDA6n35uHHA61SwGmtVP0EhGW66dw_bNJUqRfUQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07149" width="404" /></a></p> <p>A little later on I mixed up some<strong> strawberry yogurt</strong> & <strong>1/4c</strong> <strong>grape nuts</strong> for a <strong>2 point</strong> snack. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZtX3OXoDjWhsSGDALw3pGgwqZ-1TQuutJRXQaIpdNgZp_u-Y0m-6eBSGW2aop_62n2wAQGVDXyyWi4nwhCKx8z_ncPbPxPILT-QCIcBmlmX7PKz-N19pV9zrZHIYE_9rKlBpN7v64X6X/s1600-h/DSC07150%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07150" border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RnYEBPgkTDTH8J0CyCPp9vMsstGIfY1W7D97O9-f1VP8GUmuFynFB4G1bA5WTvkPUmxqWHxyZZ0VoxPJ_Q_1P0jK7Y7HR6Gs-hhAhg2St5tlZ9UhIrssEA0H5tzKHGDLqwHcAopD5zvo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07150" width="294" /></a></p> <p>Like I said yesterday, work is super <strong><u>BUSY</u></strong> right now! Since Kyle brought me to work and I had no wheels to go anywhere for lunch, I ate at my desk so I could get more things done. I had <strong>1/2c cottage cheese</strong> with a <strong>1/2c peaches</strong> and a <strong>Smart Ones meal</strong> for a total of <strong>6 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHQIsKj4KjCKWPk7gbAy_zCWd3vKjrdGEXcS77qfecdaiGRxHofIDNgzbGFc0jfiA2xGKJqbCnykjGZXUR7rsk0Jfpj7s95X7fhe-Vsq0BXkAw75ameuV9GeEJcL42bnF8S-t9PDXyhq9/s1600-h/DSC07151%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07151" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SH1C9Lj3PpXQ3xQfN9kvAs24hb0qvx9T_J3jIlZXsL6aI0IWaj9wyjNBfTLGyjyk4Ne92Ke2II7iXUuL7NQY3fKiiSu9opwR0g07LlpKqrfonHFfKi4X-lQGiytlcrhrRpfIsNPuve5J/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07151" width="404" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEADTmex8YqdnLPAnhFOOStYTNSMgqPt6Qgc8dUj-uosytgvhiH5OJbAn4dvkqeOkJ5BztcLCiS0FZp0c0MZoGp4n38Ow7i5-bw4RXyMaCizdz54fWz3ygBOyMFzXA403MOIhKkKRF0rGq/s1600-h/DSC07152%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07152" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8TC0EU2z_-kPxi-IJ_vroA_bQ-G6mzAhzL1E4Ydd24Ab8hxJSF4h5uvJifcsF6Dqe1WnE3UBd3vblsWkjo6wqdhjrCJwa-ELnfcTdjCGlfoNSV7L-euUxmONZtu-_MY7LARNe0p-O_uv/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07152" width="404" /></a></p> <p>When Kyle picked me up after work he had Abby with him so I had to bring her in to the office to <strong>show her off</strong>! She loved the attention and everyone loved her! :)</p> <p>We stopped at the Dariette on the way home for a<strong> lemon ice cream cone</strong>! I forgot a picture though. :( Click <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/ram-5k-park-time.html">here</a> for a similar one, I had a regular cone this time. (<strong>6 points</strong>)</p> <p>We had breakfast for supper tonight! I had <strong>2 eggs</strong>, a<strong> bagel thin</strong>, and <strong>1c pineapple</strong> for <strong>6 points</strong>. I <strong><u>LOVE</u></strong> fresh pineapple!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mKfUA4GNENmA-0JRQIK4Lp3vw3HfAXQK8AicDzVKvjvXP4vkBqD5JGHN5WTpqoFYKehXRVICATwuaa5z8qo-VvlQqpq0LCe6qET8Pl_Tkx9VWzgygBjGprcG-rT8g7jyttZvEvTiIEA2/s1600-h/DSC07153%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07153" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhGZKgdtmbxi6RrO3a6qW2Qjz6r9OWEyvlreyE4lnURZ5BiD6P7GeQMV7PpxIzqtDcBafZ3-PeiNJWVH5iJNEwuCul5ihfeBkeWya2MZ-OpNNungRmd2YZeIBvFkm3aR_T2rPB60w0_CL/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07153" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I tried to keep this short….but here is the low down on my weight:</p> <p>Yesterday I also mentioned I was going to “<strong><u>come clean</u></strong>” with what the scale told me this morning. It wasn’t pretty and I’ve been thinking about it all day. I was <em>frustrated</em>, <em>embarrassed</em>, <em>disappointed</em>, yet <em>determined</em> all at the same time. Ok, I’ll just put it out there….<strong>172.5</strong>. Ugh!!!</p> <p>I’m going to have Tuesday be my WI day and the start of my week for allowance points.. It used to be the day I went to WW (back when I still went to meetings). When I get back to within 2 lbs of my WW goal weight I plan to go back to meetings. I KNOW those are key in keeping the weight off and being successful.</p> <p>My WW goal weight was 161 so I need to get to 163 so I can go to meetings again without having to pay. Ultimately though I want to be 150 so I am hoping they won’t make me change my goal weight when I continue to lose weight beyond my WW goal weight. I really do not want to pay again (esp since we are a 1 income family!). </p> <p>I’m not happy with my current size. I need to remember how I feel right now…defeated & frustrated that I let myself do this AGAIN. All that bad food I ate was NOT worth it. I’m going to focus on that part that, I’m going to stay determined and move forward. That is all I can do!</p> <p>So my blog friends I’m asking for your help, keep me accountable and if things get out of hand give me a swift talking to or a good kick in the butt!! I’m sure I’ll need it! :)</p> <p><strong>TUESDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 22/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 0 used/35 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED =   0 today/0 week <br />WATER = 88 oz <br />EXERCISE = none</p>

Coming Clean

Happy Tuesday, friends!! I want to start out by saying thanks for all your kind comments yesterday on the big change going on with me an...

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Monday night and I'm well into my week of success

A very quick post because I'm totally exhausted. Three days of tracking my food under my belt, and I feel much more in control this week.<br /><br />Wednesday is a three-day trip to Denver for my niece's graduation in Boulder, Colorado. After five years of college she's graduating with her Masters in Accounting. She's only 23 and already has a job lined up. She's a very smart and pretty young woman. I remember when she was three and told me her brother was acting "dangerously". So cute and so sweet and now an adult. How time flies.<br /><br />I booked us at the Doubletree in Westminster because they have a pool and a gym. I'm going to get my workouts in regardless of what's going on with the family. <br /><br />Also, I had a record yesterday on the StairMaster. 142 floors in 30 minutes, a 77 steps/minute rate. Weight Watchers Activity tracker only has a 24-step and 30-step rate available for calculating your Points. <br /><br />Fading fast so off to bed for me!

Monday night and I'm well into my week of success

A very quick post because I'm totally exhausted. Three days of tracking my food under my belt, and I feel much more in control this week...

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Announcement

<p>Remember when I said this <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/weekend-recap.html">LAST</a> Sunday: "I should be back to my normal daily posts this week now that I’m feeling better!"? Well I'm sorry friends, that was a lie! My life has been <strong><u>VERY</u></strong> full lately! </p> <p>Here is a run down of my days last week: </p> <p>6am - wake up, get ready for work <br />8am-1:30pm work (we're SUPER busy right now) <br />1:30-1:45 Eat lunch at my desk <br />1:45-6:30pm or 7pm work <br />6:45ish-8pm get home from work and run <br />8:15pm-9pm make & eat dinner <br />9:30pm CRASH in my bed! </p> <p>Some days I worked longer, one day I had to teach until 8pm, one day we had a meeting a church till 9pm, and I think I spent 12+ hours on the phone with my sisters & parents last week! And a stinkin’ cold was trying to come on during all of that too! </p> <p>I have to say that I missed you guys <strong><u>SO much</u></strong>! So I am going to try my hardest to get back to my daily posts! </p> <p>Remember when I talked about how <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/to-verify-or-not.html">Kyle & I are tightening our "budget belts</a>"? Well I can FINALLY tell you guys why!!! No we aren't moving or pregnant! <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />Kyle decided to leave his job....yep we went from being <strong><u>DINKS</u></strong> (Dual Income No Kids) to <strong><u>OINKS</u></strong> (One Income No Kids)! It was a hard choice that has been coming for a LONG time! We decided that <strong><u>happiness</u></strong> and<strong><u> time off</u></strong> are <em>WAY</em> more important that any amount of money! So this past Friday was his last day at his job! And we both couldn't be happier! He is going to go back to school full time to get his bachelor's degree and hopefully find a less stressful job! <img alt="DSC07141" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA33cZme7CHcBne7TcnnG8ST4CTU4467YbK9vEPA9t5lw1_FUTCY7l3vDwSylkjp2X4A3L_j27zA5yxb0gwTJC1G3qeINLMxpu1i7duPgc_fHc9cXQFV9Zr4KmLOfVNdscwwVhIOmRsLX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07141" width="354" /></p> <p>As far as food this past week I was <strong>NOT</strong> a good girl! So I have <strong>LOTS</strong> of work to do. Summer is right around the corner and I really would like to be  feeling more comfortable in my clothes! So it's the beginning of May, I'm going to make a fresh commitment to stick with my points and get my workouts in! Hold me accountable friends! </p> <p>I'm going to hop on the scale tomorrow morning (probably have a heart attack) and be open with you guys on what it's telling me! I haven't talked about my weight much since before I went to Florida, which was mid-March! YIKES!! The <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2009/12/sister-challenge-is-on.html">sister challenge</a> is STILL on! I would LOVE to win!!!  </p>

Announcement

Remember when I said this LAST Sunday: "I should be back to my normal daily posts this week now that I’m feeling better!"? Well I...

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Another swimsuit shopping trip

Twice in one weekend I went shopping for a swimsuit. I'm truly a glutton for punishment.This time I tried on every suit that I thought might fit me, but I had a different focus today. This is not a suit that I'll wear at the beach and try to pretend I look sexy. This suit is to wear for swimming as exercise at the gym. <br /><br />I only had a few requirements:<br /><br />1.) cover my butt (no easy feat)<br />2.) cover my boobs (also difficult)<br />3.) straps that would stay in place while I was swimming<br /><br />Speaking of boobs, I don't know what the heck happened to mine recently (and if you're a guy, sorry, probably too much information for you). When I was this weight last time (about five years ago), I wore a 38C bra. I've been wearing a 38C for the last year, but my bras didn't fit right. I was constantly fussing with them (and these were expensive bras). I finally decided it was time to get fitted for a bra, something I hadn't done in years.<br /><br />A sweet, young 20-something at Victoria's Secret measured me and told me I was a 36DD. I told her no way, she was wrong. She insisted. She brought me a box of bras in size 36DD. I looked at them and thought she had to be kidding. No way would those fit me. They looked HUGE. They fit me perfectly. <br /><br />I don't know what happened, and I'm not exactly happy about it. I've actually always wanted to be smaller on top (and bottom), always wishing I had a more athletic build. My dream would be to have the kind of body where I didn't even have to wear a bra. I've never wanted cups that runneth over. Maybe it's the chest presses or something that caused this, but I'm just hoping when I lose the rest of my weight they'll shrink.<br /><br />Back to the swimsuit, I found one. It has one of those built in girdle things, but they all did (I guess that's a good thing). It covers everything that needs covering. I opted not to go for a skirted suit and just let my thighs be out in the open for all to see. They aren't slim and trim, they're lumpy and bumpy, but they're strong and powerful legs and that's really what's important. <br /><br />I'm really looking forward to getting into the pool a couple times a week. This is going to be fun!

Another swimsuit shopping trip

Twice in one weekend I went shopping for a swimsuit. I'm truly a glutton for punishment.This time I tried on every suit that I thought m...

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It happened last night

After writing my post last night about how I was going to get all serious about getting to goal, I went nuts. That's the only way I can explain it. <br /><br />I haven't had a binge in weeks, since I quit eating sugar about six weeks ago. It felt like a miracle, and then last night happened.<br /><br />Yesterday my husband and I had an argument. It's an old battle and there are never any winners in this one. We both walk away wounded and hurt and nothing is ever resolved. It has to do with his crazy family.<br /><br />Later we both said we were sorry, but as usual, the hurt words still hung between us. After these arguments it takes a while to heal and get back to normal. He went to bed early, I stayed up and watched a really bad movie, Couples Retreat. Stupid movie, don't waste your time on it. Especially don't watch it after fighting with your spouse.<br /><br />That's when I lost control. I had frozen my Muscatel grapes earlier and had a cookie sheet full of them in the freezer, frozen to perfection. These grapes are incredible, sweet and crunchy when frozen, and are a wonderful treat (beats those horrible Weight Watcher ice cream bars...one of my former binge foods). These grapes are expensive, $3.99 a pound, but totally worth it. I buy three pounds every week, freeze them, put them in baggies, one Point per cup. <br /><br />Last night I ate seven cups of frozen grapes, eight Points. It made for a 30-Point day (I get 20 daily Points, but always use my 35 and I had 7 Activity Points for the day). I realize this isn't horrible, and I've done a lot worse in the past. Many times I'd eat an entire box of Weight Watcher ice cream bars in a couple hours (18.5 Points), along with a lot of other things. I would also stop counting the Points in the past because I just figured the day was ruined and I didn't want to know how bad I had messed up. Last night I tracked everything I ate,.<br /><br />My issue is that I felt totally out of control. I was watching the movie and eating the grapes. I went through cup after cup of grapes and barely tasted them. My tongue was practically frozen by the time I was done. I even contemplated opening up a bottle of wine, something I haven't done in several months. I felt like numbing the pain, but decided it wouldn't be worth it.<br /><br />In my Weight Watchers' meeting yesterday our leader said there's a reason we're carrying around this extra weight. We wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't filling a need. We have to figure out why we're doing it and then get past it. <br /><br />I have an idea of why I want to keep this last thirty pounds on my body. It is serving a purpose. It's totally stupid and I know it's stupid, yet I keep doing it. It's a really personal reason, and one I'm not quite ready to share on this blog (because it's embarrassing!). Maybe later this week I'll post about it, if I get the courage (you'll probably think I'm an idiot, but I suppose that's nothing new).<br /><br />Have a great Sunday, and I will be back tomorrow! (item #5 for getting to goal, post here every day)

It happened last night

After writing my post last night about how I was going to get all serious about getting to goal, I went nuts. That's the only way I can ...

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Planning de la semaine du 03 au 07 mai 2010

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le lundi 03 mai de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 04 mai de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 05 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le jeudi 06 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le vendredi 07 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/solidarits-nouvelles-face-au-chmage.html">Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage</a></strong> - mercredi 05 mai de 10h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> (sur rendez-vous)<br />- lundi 03 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 07 mai de 09h à 12h30</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 04 mai de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 05 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 04 mai de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://www.mlo.fr/" target="_blank">MLO</a></strong> <span style="font-style:italic;">autour du film " La Connaissance du monde de l'Entreprise "</span> - jeudi 06 mai à 14h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 07 mai de 10h à 11h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - vendredi 07 mai de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://www.mlo.fr/" target="_blank">MLO</a></strong> - mercredi 05 mai à 09h30</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 03 au 07 mai 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 03 ma...

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The swimsuit shopping nightmare

If you think you're looking okay in your clothes, and maybe you're not such a fat slob after all, go try on swimsuits. Holy crap! I was in tears at the end of my shopping trip today. I came home without a new swimsuit and a whole new perspective on how my body looks (and it's not good!).<br /><br />I decided I want to start swimming at the gym a couple mornings a week, to kind of mix things up a bit. One of cardio rooms at my gym has windows that look down on the swimming pool. It's almost always empty at 5 a.m. I thought it would be kind of fun to try something different. Two years of StairMaster, elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill (which I loathe), and crossramp workouts are starting to bore me a little. <br /><br />After trying on several suits I realized the importance of losing this last 20-30 pounds. It's time to really get off my butt and get serious about getting to goal. <br /><br />My weighin today was less than stellar at 166.2. Exactly what I weighed a week ago. It's also what I weighed March 25, 2009 and December 7, 2008. Seriously, it's time to stop my playing around with this and just get to my goal weight of 135-145 (not sure which yet). <br /><br />What I did wrong last week:<br /><br />1. An entire week of not tracking my food.<br /><br />2. An entire week of not weighing or measuring my food.<br /><br />3. Skipped my Weight Watcher meeting<br /><br />4. This one is obvious, but I ate too much.<br /><br />5. I didn't post a single thing on my blog, and read very few weight loss blogs.<br /><br />What I did right last week:<br /><br />1. Worked out five times, one to one and half hours each time. High intensity<br /><br />2. Didn't touch sugar. I think this is week five or six of no sugar.<br /><br />3. Didn't binge eat.<br /><br />4. Ate healthy food.<br /><br />What I'm going to do this week to get to goal:<br /><br />1. Up the workouts to six times a week (adding in one or two swimming sessions).<br /><br />2. Weigh and measure everything I eat.<br /><br />3. Track my food...and I mean it this time.<br /><br />4. Attend my Weight Watcher meeting - which I did today.<br /><br />5. Post something every single day on this blog. Staying away from the blog world is a real detriment to me. I'm back to stay this time.<br /><br />Two things happened today that really made me want to get serious about losing this last bit of weight. One was my Weight Watcher meeting where my leader talked about a type of person she sees at her meetings. Usually it's a female, who drops a lot of weight, 50 or more pounds, then looks at her body and says I worked that hard for THIS? She's disappointed in how she looks, wrinkled, sagging skin. Lumps and bumps where she thought she'd have taunt, firm skin. She said usually this person gives up and never makes goal. I felt like she was talking to me.<br /><br />The second thing that happened was my swimsuit shopping trip. From the waist up, I look okay. Lots of strength training have made my shoulders and arms look acceptable. I'm not ashamed of them, in fact, I'm kind of secretly proud of how they look. I wouldn't tell anyone this, because it's seems boastful, but I actually like my shoulders and arms these days.<br /><br />From the waist down, I'm not so happy. Especially my thighs. With jeans on they don't look so bad, in fact, they look kind of normal. With a swimsuit it's a entirely different story. I was a little bit upset today as I stood in the dressing room with the glare of the white light and the three-way mirror. All I could think was holy crap, I look like shit. <br /><br />I know 166 looks better than 240, but considering the hours and hours I've spent at the gym the last two years I expected better results. I'm disappointed, but not defeated. <br /><br />My plan now is to lose the last twenty or thirty pounds and see how I look then. Maybe it'll make a difference, maybe not, but at least I'll see what my goal weight looks like. The real goal is to be at a healthy weight and I'm not there yet.

The swimsuit shopping nightmare

If you think you're looking okay in your clothes, and maybe you're not such a fat slob after all, go try on swimsuits. Holy crap! I ...

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10ème semaine du bois

<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi7tjUfr5-PWrAc2b37ELE7BbhNQv5gtsKRpXXsqg9tKwE3OoSmPM3JeYbBT3HysvWpT_h0DBxTGWX4wa0seJjK9d88ygVON4QBi9bhBC3kJS0z20_9hdX47l7ymmERo6iG006ElJcUXt/s1600/Logo%2520Semaine%2520du%2520Bois.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465891467831894994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi7tjUfr5-PWrAc2b37ELE7BbhNQv5gtsKRpXXsqg9tKwE3OoSmPM3JeYbBT3HysvWpT_h0DBxTGWX4wa0seJjK9d88ygVON4QBi9bhBC3kJS0z20_9hdX47l7ymmERo6iG006ElJcUXt/s200/Logo%2520Semaine%2520du%2520Bois.gif" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><br />La 10ème Semaine du Bois aura lieu du 05 au 09 mois.<br /><br />Cet événement médiatique est notamment l'occasion de découvrir la filière bois et ses métiers.<br /><br /><strong>Découverte de la filière dans le Loiret</strong> :<ul><br /><li><strong>Découverte de la formation de menuisier</strong> (manifestation tout public)<br />A La Chapelle Saint Mesmin (45) - les 5, 6 et 7 mai 2010<br />Découverte de la formation professionnelle menuisier à la FCMB d’Orléans.<br /><strong>Visites sans inscription</strong>. <strong>Tout public</strong>.<br /><strong>Contact </strong>: M. Cédric BOUVARD - Fédération Compagnonique des métiers du Bâtiment - ZAC des 4 cheminées - rue Gustave Eiffel - 45380 LA CHAPELLE SAINT MESMIN - Tél : 02 38 70 53 00 - Fax : 02 38 43 27 85<br /><br /><li><strong>Visite de l’entreprise Kronofrance</strong><br />A Sully Sur Loire (45) - le 5 mai 2010<br />Manifestation réservée au Lycée Professionnel Jean de Berry à Bourges. Découverte de l’entreprise Kronofrance.<br /><strong>Contact </strong>: M. POURADIER - Lycée Jean de Berry - Tél : 02 48 48 18 50</ul><br /><br />Pour en savoir plus sur les manifestations organisées dans la région Centre, consulter le site d'<a href="http://www.arbocentre.asso.fr/Catalog/93/actualites/detail/p,2523%7Cs,21/semaine_du_bois_2010_-_decouvrez_les_manifestations_dans_votre_region_.html" target="_blank">Arbocentre</a>.<br /><BR>

10ème semaine du bois

La 10ème Semaine du Bois aura lieu du 05 au 09 mois. Cet événement médiatique est notamment l'occasion de découvrir la filière bois et s...

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Weekend Recap

<p>Hope everyone had a great weekend! Our’s was full, but great! </p> <p>Kyle and I made it home from Omaha late Friday night, but still managed to roll out of bed Saturday morning and hit the pavement for our<strong> long run</strong>! We got in <strong>8 miles</strong>, but they were <strong><u><em>HARD</em></u></strong>! I don’t think the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/stones.html">kidney stones</a> helped, I had to take a lot of walk breaks. But we <strong>finished</strong> and got the miles in. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WXRN0HD_v8BhQY3Hng0EMop22l7LPkpSuMK3xCYzLc0KApavEyVICNedVrKrEhbt8Pi-vZo7EhCmc-HtDBa6-mHmAR7-gi6E6GNch8xp3GJI3AwsRGmnHoi12HzMrgcBuAfgmLtKlMgP/s1600-h/DSC0708311.jpg"><img alt="DSC07083" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt4S1ufMl4ar-L1QBd-pdXJB2qkx0D6-Zdmw0JbdjjgXmYtWjfaknh_9V3aUJCIFUneOCt0LTj4zmNq49GDiz-1UBnVkzw_QfsIV8E-uT4M0kUaqWh2HWWfXf2Bq3N97AWMV4FhYnLu7s/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC07083" width="304" /></a></p> <p>I made<strong> protein smoothies</strong> for both of us when we got home. I mixed up <strong>1 c strawberries</strong>, <strong>1 small banana</strong>, <strong>1 scoop protein</strong> <strong>powder</strong>, and <strong>ice</strong> for a total of <strong>4 points</strong>. Don’t ya love the Hawkeye mug!?!?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY_T8DqSdvU0xrnfJqpK76fi2WU1yFsp6KKNcnlDK6zYsK4xua6QUX1A2B8gr0-_9UeLDrWyns2i8xBdXdyI98jzu3UJ9sF6PBk-sNOvxeud2qqbnonVJKgLUoqNSnyQOWbM5i6kGQU-A/s1600-h/DSC070823.jpg"><img alt="DSC07082" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVEV0PvD_49wRQIehZAewqu7beCzU6IuWxIYeGCpRuF4y_TzfVZy8NzB1V3GwvGaWvXFge8MEXM9WP9pemizxLqzq9cfz5ztg8rvpptjdeRJ5XHS_7LM-uRdORjHtcimFU3usMoB86Jjc/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC07082" width="304" /></a></p> <p>Kyle headed to work and I was <strong><em>lazy</em></strong>! I think the late night and long run wore me out! When Kyle got off we headed to his parents house. Kyle’s Mom makes some <strong><u>great homemade pizza</u></strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuIwt0yajJ09ZD5p_ivwnIXuc1BY-3wxVT8HbjV4EUfFtgCQixo8aOhBKXrlCNTmnpaeIGc4X6XHWY0t7j-uIDE8OtX_CD-S5JE6vA7butGVhNmlvs0RUzB-Lf5emOKL0trPwj18W-VNj/s1600-h/DSC07085%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07085" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwwLKl30XvalK2bwMomwpwBh1DY1G5m6S8nksbOHwrhGJYnF1BqOVmAlUBXurbjuCYGK5vbQNA8dU4eaZv-SdPwFHHLsFm30cMQTSwneVb5Wo_UM3i0gfaE1ap-wDmuYe9KQrdlYMFlk4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07085" width="404" /></a></p> <p>The majority of the night was spent watching sports…Kyle just couldn’t pick: hockey, baseball, basketball, or arena football! His decision was to get multiple TVs! I napped!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4slhdwyuA8plqOODCqHf0iLNyVNCDT4bqaOujFxfqBg-nMpD_LKot8HZUuRqhPW0nbswHP9I3MSmKR0yDLQmHrW07BDmYXgeXwW65l45pZxn7mMvV1n2XLtuhYuk7o10Lfo-nRI793xBe/s1600-h/DSC07088%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07088" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHktpN60wJ3VsXvGH8ZOhs8ZJ2U0nX-oiWeQja-8pywylq9pGkS7RA-4wD-2bnxmW8KmjlUQFK-b-oLUhCzKlzOWKKeYpGYzsJENWxKu8dFVqCjzKhS2t8Wyp08l18X0XunVsmosTOzOh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07088" width="304" /></a></p> <p>Oh and the best part of the night was homemade ice cream!! Can’t beat it!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxywYLpC2ZwiKRIjprX3uMc9AT8kZakQgptauMghdO1kGjrQp-5SHOnZwK28z5IUNlJd1q7M8kyEUASgKRZRdKtMqDHzgs3vQLxwDVyYVJUMbcyB5Rv9TmPl1khCMYkKuA60gOWdWRuXG/s1600-h/DSC07089%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07089" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaGW5xpVxDJfQBDyKQExyTzlQgr9W6xzKhYDk9vPXPhyHIFrfGPpOXXVyafamxWXFyI_3atHByUcgnk52gKvtcvcimnBdv1qpD0RARGJRB7KFPc4WEgOwkzp0bIIvyMnFj1eeb-hYwUxI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07089" width="304" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFr15XrSrkslFxkPS7hzq9Lwho7KOuIHzfQmsF7p2XuUyLnjDQRaRPGdFvR76lsG6zuYAW_ckos7RbfCQqrwP8-xZO7IKCUQpwGRKuSXNiv__NZH4Cn-DExmW0nbGk68klfLH_ukgvXi9/s1600-h/DSC07090%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07090" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0stEJ1p3ACX0hs-93Y61NYKWbQqgzxbMYsAbFoFU9j9KGC5EK62lgyACp67BxL1F1etvTbQ6TExNlmVHxE-FiMpjTUxFlEEK_p2D-3MaXvO4Ro7LoYq8soP3ePzDIFhrDOmZGiGmcrtc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07090" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We got home late Saturday night and rolled out of bed early Sunday morning for church! After church we did our weekly grocery run and then hit up a local favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. (NOT point friendly!)</p> <p>Afterwards we napped and then got up and got busy in the kitchen! We baked <strong>cookies</strong> and<strong> banana bread</strong>! It was Kyle’s boss’ birthday, another boss was in the hospital, and a friend got dumped this weekend. So we wanted to cheer everyone up!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j1ECUEG9vf7oSG7ogDV7e-UXXfSu_UN6SGH71rnySigc76L7u1hsVQFNWrQT4UoddNRRkCMOCgn2Cm74HNu3NY9nXfrVEzIeUbjgue0c9K592-SyhM-bgWGUHb07giUq33i2l18epZVb/s1600-h/DSC07092%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07092" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdVkPKMRDo-XSU_VTcT7CmHSfJMKOuv9NYg8YwTsRz1CGKy2NGxYreRNzNIa4ud5I41siD0RByWXlWypBcp1b5-GZ5xjlByKXirxsen17x61F_QtQK-sEdlGtNDMp6eL_S1RJRk8Q32Ir/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07092" width="304" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wecqsgnOXOKW3JZID7dRnvWEVqHA5tjPmuUjnhiNYAjGogCi4mlwjBoru5Ph_0ZY0JV-ev9sEd0TPSUazDX_3yMiiw0fXgvXEGNGkXvT89pSH1JlAecC_c56sAdxoO7H6rCXnVOgUfvR/s1600-h/DSC07093%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07093" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhlyvhBVjLAz2L2X6GoeNwMlnpYfgc9GnpyJAfUf4jswLUkgUb58ZXG5LGeb0TvZjx5tw8jTH406lCrLX8_FwOHxxX6fHZap_vAQvrkxT2PLpi5md9Xsv_2Gv9rWchThfQJFbaAHtmxHi/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07093" width="404" /></a></p> <p>And we made all our deliveries to everyone and I think made them all smile! :) It’s fun to do simple acts of kindness!</p> <p>I hope everyone had a great weekend! I should be back to my normal daily posts this week now that I’m feeling better!</p> <p>And just for fun here is a picture of my sweet little Abby! She was at our feet the entire time we were baking just hoping we would drop something for her! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUm7P7Jj4SO1BiYelkNdmhsMEoABzVBHqmnQfBNAulrL2sZrmpu_R1VrXB3i79BmOQLXOixNr9LMU4yVeXayQVrqpiW53w-Qw5buah5QlzJgBOvhdsNkGX9o-3p6e5eMb054nLQpqm5yC/s1600-h/DSC07095%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07095" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OvXTUS6XAzqWpoLSUWhviOrY8ano20Ce6ZVN2eiWtAh6vnIN863gls8ntMvLBtOBfUOu1S73_II5xgaPee_DlXA8qd9BTjdbR2LJ-du66eXpY8GZ-1nGcxZ4TpkJf7lzBKFB4tWIcA4d/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07095" width="404" /></a></p>

Weekend Recap

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Our’s was full, but great! Kyle and I made it home from Omaha late Friday night, but still managed to r...

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A week off helped get my head back on straight

I took last week off...from everything weight loss related. I didn't post anything, I didn't track or weigh and measure any of my food. I read very few weight loss blogs and commented on even fewer. I worked out three times last week instead of my normal six, and they were light workouts. <br /><br />After a fitful night of sleep last Monday (I'm sleeping the sleep of the damned again), I woke up up exhausted. My first thought that day was "I'm so tired I just can't do it today." Normally I ignore these thoughts. Exercise has become a habit after two years. That morning I decided maybe it was time to take a break.<br /><br />I got up and looked at my exercise calendar and realized I hadn't had a day off from exercise since Easter. Fourteen straight days of exercise. My body was sore and tired. My left elbow and shoulder had been aching for days. An old injury that happened about six months ago when I was trying to lift 25-pound dumbbells when I wasn't ready to move up on weights.<br /><br />My previous week's workouts had been pathetic. Each day was a struggle. Each day I'd written in my exercise journal something negative. "Too hard today!" or "Just not into it." or "Worst workout ever!" I was going through the motions but my heart wasn't in it. <br /><br />I decided last Monday maybe it was time to ease up on myself a little. In the NRWL4W it says you should take a recovery week between stages. It talks about the necessity of letting the body recover, the connective tissues, nervous system and bones need a week off every once and a while. I've ignored this advice for over two years for fear of falling into another one of my long term bouts of not exercising at all and gaining back weight like it was my job (history repeating itself).<br /><br />The previous week I lost four pounds and was down to 164.8. If you want to lose one pound you need a 3500 calorie deificit. Multipy that by four and that means I had a 14,000 calorie deficit the previous week. No wonder each workout had been tortuous and miserable. I was starving. I wasn't tracking my food, just eating a lot less. <br /><br />Last week I was in the mood of "to hell with all of it". The one thing I continued was my ban on sugar. I ate good, healthy food. The cravings are still non-existent, the night-time binges are a thing of the past. I still get hungry, but nothing like when I was hooked on Weight Watcher ice cream bars and other "healthy" junk foods that are full of sugar.<br /><br />My weigh in yesterday showed I was up 1.4 pounds. I'm not upset or worried about it, I'm not freaking out over the small gain. I needed the added calories. I needed to eat and take a break. I'm finally learning to listen to my body. <br /><br />Yesterday my workout was probably one of the best workouts of my life. During my hour and forty-five minutes of cardio and strength, I was energized. I felt much stronger than the last several weeks. Taking a week off was probably the best thing I could have done for myself. <br /><br />Yesterday I was back to tracking my food, making sure I eat enough, but not eating too much. It's a fine line I walk these days between not starving myself and making sure I'm getting in the calories I need, yet still lose weight. It feels good to be back, back in control, back to exercising. Back to being me.

A week off helped get my head back on straight

I took last week off...from everything weight loss related. I didn't post anything, I didn't track or weigh and measure any of my fo...

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Planning de la semaine du 26 au 30 avril 2010

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le lundi 26 avril de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 27 avril de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 28 avril de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le jeudi 29 avril de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le vendredi 30 avril de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> - vendredi 30 avril de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/12/atelier-parcours-emploi.html">Parcours Emploi</a></strong> - mardi 27 avril à 9h30<br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 27 avril de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 28 avril de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 27 avril de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 30 avril de 10h à 11h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - vendredi 30 avril de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>Boutique de gestion</strong> - lundi 26 avril à 14h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Visite d'entreprise</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>Visite de l'entreprise <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/04/souvrir-les-portes-des-metiers-du.html">Eurovia</a></strong> - mercredi 28 avril à 13h30</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 26 au 30 avril 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 26 av...

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Stones

<p>Hello my favorite blog friends!! It’s been a <strong><u>crazy</u></strong> few days for me. Let’s back up to Wednesday night when I last posted!</p> <p>If you recall I went to the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/read-with-caution.html">doctor Wednesday afternoon</a> and <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/mia.html">the week before I was feeling “off</a>”. Well I had<strong> UTI</strong>…twice. :( (sorry if this is TMI!) Got it a week ago Monday, came back this Wednesday, and early Thursday morning I woke up with a horrible pain in my back. I had <strong>kidney stones</strong>. :( The doctor prescribed a few different meds and said I would just have to wait for them to pass and believe me it was <strong><u>painful</u></strong>! I was home from work all day Thursday. Luckily Kyle was off work and took good care of me!</p> <p>He even made a WW friendly crock pot meal! I believe this recipe is courtesy of <a href="http://happytexans.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a>. (Kelly if I’m wrong, you can take the credit anyway!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0i_41uw1bvcnpt0HEqUPjvgPi6VI8fRRH1v4fHy7J4IQ7t7GC0naccQNc1Hv4BeVQ0sSyZ3SeZfyzAxHEVVCgN-bsUzgSlaGe6ZmwwN1oGOPJPmDeIG-soD7tlyVzlJ8Eq4ZrB1PgJ92/s1600-h/DSC07072%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07072" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzzQP2lXFW8jAe02iilU3ndTjnPoWqbSkaWdfcqnO1ZXnOo2KGnQGXTpiywUn83piwWcKTlZVj84f7sLsdD_st9N6n9vDgynzPyPxyOLhgA6kIMixLUrM-nRtdrWeBrEuHG9g8o1cwmyb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07072" width="404" /></a></p> <p><strong><u>Cheesy Crockpot Chicken</u></strong>, 8 servings, 3 points each</p> <ul> <li>2lbs chicken breasts</li> <li>2 cans cream of chicken or celery soup (ff)</li> <li>1 can cheddar cheese soup</li> <li>1/2 t garlic powder</li> </ul> <p>Place chicken in crock pot. Mix the soups together with garlic powder and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles. </p> <p>Friday I was feeling <strong>much better</strong> than Thursday, still not 100%, but I knew I had to go to work to get some stuff done. I put in a part day and then we headed to my sister’s in <strong>Omaha</strong>. We had to take them some stuff and pick a few things up from them!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqzhjy9ZcLA3GLd4kYU2sprReytCAB21EYkcbSFhIjg_4Isi8TowovwP8zrfLX7ol9u0fKF9K6tG3d5SlsgJ6eW-L3Z55XYN6kxStSk4jJNTdIPQeF58MAfEgi5t98YxmpvNsXwSEItZO/s1600-h/DSC07078%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07078" border="0" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EI5IXPxjyl-_z3HeWA_r0ayLHwLX0yN1AKcJ0fkkmls9zeA9_nzfUkXp6DFRqyQoDiudCeKi3mVlhmlPG7FI-IunSSCYcucVsTVijl06EKzhmKaW_fzBrSseK2Md_pyv2qVMaE3OmaeD/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07078" width="324" /></a></p> <p>We were only going for the evening so they made us dinner and ate in at their place! (it’s a 3 hour drive) We had chicken parmesan, Kyle’s favorite!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWOrPjJVOitoP_YgaK0zrlKctcWM7PaFSY_H3II-AtF8Hvym-4qHiTdZQoym4IKLaeI2yFIg-NEO32RqhvDzXrO9-hBjTmDFMOHFLG2P7eFlJ-gSA0BtyTUsk0cMuxybrNTP_Jw2Kd9Rz/s1600-h/DSC07075%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07075" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo27FSLQRCHKLMDqxN07xbRfMBa8ZSxszS3TGN-j5t57eZt1LVDwsh_7EiTEmInd85lHpIh2anIU5bitKGxsWz0i-vQZaMmb35AvuuqvwMY1sbgb7-uPy8WFCUDUO-NY0OMYsg1wQ1DXYX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07075" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We spent the evening talking about what she should do in her house…decor wise! They just moved in 6 weeks ago. It’s a HUGE lake house! Can’s wait to spend the weekends in the summer with them! Before we hit the road we had to hit up DQ for their <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/04/read-with-caution.html">BOGO</a> deal! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZm_2VAYJ1M4eNYS9C3GnbULXutAMlwCyFjPKztV-WtC-jsarIEJ1gLYRw8xCf2pdhaen8AB9xLr9jOEmraM1Gnk6miDd7kpnZ8vNo3qB2r09FXL_BKpesyjqmMqdMzswOkvahhMEenTq/s1600-h/DSC07081%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07081" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfk6XFpw6yhW4yyi3YN01iU_WpgV3kjKYxsep8k1WYrlTiS3fXOlalTPjbRquQwYyqbtW0dI83HVUV5OYQrHGWsKu8RrmgLIsfDU3WYsbS4ElSpMv7612v-Iw3ygXI6S9wD4NQGs_tyQg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07081" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We also got to see Kyle’s little sister! She also lives in the Omaha area and joined us for the evening! It was a fun time, but short! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTiNZfGsfsr-3MZAhNwgw-d-RG5lSeIijCT4DzGKmfWvtLUnKGfwlxwSKQNdUFGNqG6zG8zpcbKDTfeQqBMlNzmu0J5ai7M1tByM23nx6S3g9iLRNiioH3g8ninkKxfZpxuS3Eajul2DD/s1600-h/DSC07079%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07079" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-EjU4tO_XvjSbyywOVI1R_Fs87IHX4zk-gFQuDWDOU55NFYQ31KDbBoHQNHsct9Rlg8kvtIW831OMuSxJDMS3HJcAO44swEF26J9utdpzgBb8zHS2YwbYhZnD2yje-H6T6jO3RCh1OD-/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC07079" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I think the stones are mainly all gone, but I still have a slight pain, so I’m not sure. The doctor said it may take up to 4 days!</p> <p>That’s about all I know for now guys! Hope everyone has a great weekend! We have some more family time on the schedule! :)</p>

Stones

Hello my favorite blog friends!! It’s been a crazy few days for me. Let’s back up to Wednesday night when I last posted! If you recall I ...

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Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day!  Did you do something for the planet today? That seems to be the theme of the day on all the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Facebook</span> pages and Twitter tweets and email advertisements that have flooded my inbox.  Thank goodness we don't do this all by junk mail anymore, imagine the trees that would have died for the sake of Earth Day, ironic as that is.<br /><br />I took my daughter for a walk today in celebration of Earth Day.  She's only 16 months old, but she loves the outdoors already.  I suppose she gets that from me, at least I hope she does.  She thoroughly enjoyed her walk, even if it was just around the neighborhood.  She learned what a stop sign was, she picked up several pine cones, she filled her little pockets with rocks from the neighbor's driveway, and she stopped to watch a pair of mallards waddle through a field, proclaiming at the top of her lungs "<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Ucks</span>!"  She is fascinated with all things outdoors, from the tiniest leaf on the deck, to the pile of mulch in the driveway.  It's so much fun for me to see these things again, but through her eyes.  And we literally have to drag her kicking and screaming into the house to get her into the tub before bed.  That's my girl.<br /><br />If you ever wonder how you make an outdoors person, don't discount the<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">se</span> little moments.  Ask anyone in the field of outdoor or environmental education and most will tell you that they chose this career because of their memories of the outdoors.  Mine are with my uncle.  He was, and still is, and avid outdoor enthusiast.  He is an amazing photographer and, even now in his 60's, can still hike miles and miles in a day with his dog.  He used to "kidnap" me and my brothers and sister and take us on day-long hikes in the parks around our hometown.  It was fun, we felt like we were escaping.  He made us feel like we were sneaking off to some far away land that only we knew about.  I now know all the same parks and natural areas that we went to as kids and they are very well known and well used.  B<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ut</span>, as a kid, I don't ever remember seeing anyone else out on those trails with us.  We always felt like we were so far away from everyone and everything.  It was great.<br /><br />So, in celebration of Earth Day, don't just do something for the environment, let the environment do something for you.  Get outdoors! That's always the first step toward being an environmental steward.  Take a walk, catch a fish, spy on a bird, photograph a sunset.  Do whatever you can that will recharge your batteries.  Enjoy the outdoors!  And take a child with you.  You'll never see things the same again.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day!  Did you do something for the planet today? That seems to be the theme of the day on all the Facebook pages and Twitter...

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S’ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 28 avril 2010

<BR><br />En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers du bâtiment<ul><br /><li>le mercredi 28 avril 2010<br /><li>sur un chantier de l'entreprise <strong>EUROVIA</strong>.</ul><br /><br />Le transport est pris en charge par la Maison de l'Emploi avec l'appui du PLIE.<br /><br />Le nombre de places est limité.<br /><br />Pour s'inscrire, contacter la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans : 02 38 24 18 03 ou <a href="mailto:accueil@news-these-days.fr">accueil@news-these-days.fr</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Départ</strong> : <strong>Mission Locale</strong>, 9 Boulevard de Verdun, 45 000 Orléans, à <strong>13h30</strong> (<a href="http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=fr&geocode=&q=mission+locale,+9+Boulevard+de+verdun,+orleans&sll=47.907028,1.903623&sspn=0.009666,0.019205&g=9+Boulevard+de+verdun,+orleans&ie=UTF8&hq=mission+locale,&hnear=Boulevard+de+Verdun,+45000+Orl%C3%A9ans&z=16" target="_blank">Plan</a>)<br /><BR>

S’ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 28 avril 2010

En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métie...

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