By the time I thought to take before pictures it was too late. There is so much light coming in the windows since I cleaned them it is hard to get a good picture but I'm trying.

My father is well known for insensitive comments about weight, especiallywhen it comes to my mother (they divorced when I was 18 ) One day a while back my dad looked at me and said "you'd better watch your weight or one day you will look just like your mother." My responce to him... "And there's a problem with that?" Shut him right up, lol

Good for you, Sandy!! Doncha just love how a freshly painted room feels so clean? I'm looking forward to pictures! Did you take "before" pictures for us, too??? That's as good as before/after weight loss photos!

Congratulations Sandy.......there's nothing like a freshly painted room. You have really cleared out a lot of "stuff" this year and it's been very interesting to watch your process and I've loved it. I've been working on that some as well....my two problem areas are the master bath and my sewing room. Tomorrow I will take two stuffed 30 galloon bags to a lady who makes quilts for Lebonheur. I am so excited so I know how you're feeling today too.

Dana in Olive Branch, MS

I survived. I got my bedroom painted yesterday, ceiling and walls and it took 5 hours. I packed up and moved junk out of the room Friday night so I missed two days on the treadmill but I feel like I have been put through the treadmill. Between stepping up two steps to cut in around the ceiling and bending to paint around the baseboard I got a good workout. And that doesn't count picking up and carrying.

But the room looks great and it is CLEAN. Nothing came back in that was not dusted from top to bottom. I painted it Fresco Cream (looks like coffee with lots of cream). After I finished painting and before the stiffness moved in, I took my husband shopping for new curtains. I took down the dust collecting blinds and hung light and airy sheers that can be easily washed. They are up but I need to go to Wally-World for curtain rods for the curtains.

Now the really hard part, what to do with all the junk I am not going to move back in and there is a room full. It re-enforced just what a pack rat had become and how much prettier and bigger the room looks with just the bedroom furniture. I even have a wall to hang a quilt. I'll take a picture when I get the curtains up.

Gloria, this is way too much information that you want to read now but you can do your own powdering. I have had that little flap ever since my twins were born and they are 42 years old now. Judy in AZ

Eileen I love it. I am NOT the queen of snappy comebacks. I am going to remember that and the next time she rains on my parade she's going to hear it. What it did do, though, is make me more committed to changing my eating habits. I quit smoking 10 years ago so this should be a piece of cake. Oops, poor choice of words. Gloria

GloriaH wrote:
Gloria,
My response is usually "I brought you into this world babydoll..and I can take you out!!!"

We could use some of your rain in TN. I started out at 9 min on the treadmill and thought I was going to die. I started adding a minute every other day. So take baby steps. Congratulations on stay steady.

I'm doing my Fri check in here since I have not figured out how to blog yet. I'm still at 6 lbs down, but I did start exercising on the treadmill. I'm doing anywhere from 10-20 min, my endurance is not really very good yet. I've started logging all my food so I am really thinking about what I am eating. Anyways, I will keep trying. Sandi in rainy FL

GloriaH wrote: Awwww, Gloria. Your daughter is baaaad.....can you still spank her? Ok, not politically correct; how about washing her mouth out with soap? Time out?
Hugs and hang in there.
Jan in Spokane

My clothes aren't looser but my wrist watch won't stay in place any more. Whooo Hooo I have the skinniest wrists in town. I watch HGTV while I'm walking. Any one want me to design on a dime for them : Sorry, I'm a bit discouraged. My daughter is a nurses aide and she came home today and said "Mom, you need to get rid of the spare tire. I don't want to have to roll you and powder your skin folds some day." AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH

I've started out on the treadmill for 15 minutes. Next Monday I will pump it up a notch to 20 minutes. I love the idea of watching something that is educational as you exercise. You're exercising your mind and body. Sandy,Thank you for the continued inspiration.

Looser clothing is almost as good as losing a pound. I have had two people at work mention my weight the week. They are noticing the new me and it makes me feel wonderful. My food diary is in another bag and I can't remember to get it so I have been lax in writing down what I eat but I have been pretty good anyway.

I have started watching The Revolution that was on the History Channel on July 4. I knew I did not have 10 hours to sit and watch it so I recorded it and am enjoying it as I walk on the treadmill. I'm learning a lot and I'm not sure I could have taken the leap of faith our forefathers took in declaring our independance. Thank goodness they did though.