Hi everyone,
I just thought we might enjoy a new topic since our last one was getting on the long side!

I have been out doing my grandbaby duty, and it has been just wonderful! I am returning tomorrow for 3 more days this week, and then should be home for the rest of the month.

I'm taking my JC foods with me, it really helps me to keep from gaining on these weeks away from home.

Have a great week, I'll join you again this weekend!

Hi...I'm new to these boards but have doing Jenny since last May. I got off the program for a month but am trying to get going again now. I'm 68 and losing weight it harder this time.

Hello Ladies:

I really haven't gotten to discouraged so far, but here's what I do to stay focused on my weight loss:

I go in and look in the mirror That will scare me into weight loss.
I look through catalogs to see the new styles I will be wearing very soon.
I set small goals and strive to get there, like 10 pounds at a time and then purchase myself a non-food reward, like a new pair of shoes or something. It makes things more interesting. For instance, I recently lost 30 pounds. Now, I've set a new goal of 20 more pounds by May 31st.
I also set goals to do aerobics.
I go to the JC message boards and read other JC member posts.
I get out of the house and go for a walk if the weather is nice.
If the weather is bad, I put on my Leslie Sansone tape and walk 30 minutes. It gets the good
endorphines going.
I go into my closet and try on clothes that I haven't been able to wear for Years!!!
I call a supportive friend or relative.
I pick a project that has been crying to be done for a while and do it. By the time I get done, I've forgotten about what was bothering me.


I hope these help.

Betty Jo

Hi Jash,
Welcome to the boards! I think that it is harder, the older we get! We are here to help encourage each other on this journey!

Things are going good so far this week so hopefully there will be a loss to report on Wednesday! Talked to my daughter and she is doing much better - finally getting an appetite back! Had to work yesterday and it was really a slow boring day. I was really tempted to start munching on all the goodies they had out there but thankfully I brought my Jenny food along and stuck to that all day althought I may have eaten a bit too much cauliflour. But at least I didn't have any of the cookies or cinnamon rolls or pizza!!!

Hope you all have a great week!
Kathy

Okay Ladies:

I think I figured this issue out. I looked at my settings and I loaded my picture under Avatar Settings instead of My Personal Photo. Try going in and adding your picture that way and make sure the picture isn't to big.

Betty Jo

I think this time I'm going to see some smiling faces coming back at me!!!! Good luck.

Betty Jo

I think this time I'm going to see some smiling faces coming back at me!!!! Good luck.


Hooray!!! You did it, Betty Jo! I didn't have a clue what an avatar was, and it was so easy!!! It adjusted the picture size and just put it right on!

Hi Kathy,
what great news! I am so glad your daughter is doing better! That has to be such a huge relief to you, and you are probably sleeping better for it!

Hey, a splurge on cauliflower hardly counts as a splurge! I am positive you will have a weight loss this Wednesday!

I went to my daughter in law's baby shower this afternoon for our new little grandson; it was very fun. Thank goodness my daughter was in charge of the food, and we had cut up fresh fruit, veggies, some dip, little quiches (yes, I did eat one) and then we all had a teeny sliver of a cinnamon coffee cake that served as the shower cake. The gal that brought it doesn't like cake, and she had this one made up and decorated with the Disney Lion King figures, it was real cute and no one pigged out! I walked out of there guilt free...amazing!

Have a good week! I'll let you know how I do on Wednesday also...I need to really get in some walking over the next few days...

Hi Arlonne and Betty Jo - thanks to your help I got the picture thing to work finally!!!

By the way, congrats on being a grandma again Arlonne - just wish we could keep them small longer!! I will become a great-grandma sometime in August!! I have 18 grandkids, the oldest will be 20 this month and the youngest is 2. Now there will be another little one to coo over! I sometimes wish we lived closer to the kids so we could see them more often but at least they are not real far away so we get down there for the birthdays and in the warmer months to visit. We usually have everyone up here for the Holiday get to gethers.

I put in my Leslie Sansone tape yesterday - couldn't do it very long but am going to do it again shortly and hopefully if I plug along at it I should be able to build up some endurance. My driveway is finally starting to thaw out and hopefully if we get the warmer weather they are talking about things will start melting and I will be able to do some walking outside. Can't wait!!!!

Have a great day!! Kathy

Hi Ladies:

Now I see those pretty little faces. This is great!!!

Kathy, good job on the Leslie Sansone tape. That's exactly the way to get started. Just do a little at a time. When I first started I struggled through the first mile. Now I'm doing a mile and I've added aerobics on Fit TV. I like Gil Jarad. I was very, very sore at first, but I was determined to stay with it. Yesterday, I walked outside with my dogs for the first time this spring. Walking with my dogs is absolutely my favorite exercise of all time. This spring if I get caught inside because of rain or something, I'll do Leslie Sansone or Gil Jarad.

Congrats on all those grandkids ya'll. I don't have any . I have one adopted son and he's a bachelor living in New York City. He's a mama's boy, but I guess is too busy to have a relationship at this point. I asked him one time if he was ever going to get married and he didn't seem that interested. I'm wondering if I will ever have grand kids.

Well ladies, I'm looking for a great week. I'm glad you got your pictures up. Now you are both experts and you can pass the information on to others.

Betty Jo

Hi Kathy,
I'm so glad Betty Jo stayed with us until we got the code unlocked! It's too bad it isn't posted somewhere easy to get to...
Thanks, I am loving being a gramma. How many children do you have? More than my 2, I'm betting!
Where do you live? It must be where some of those terrible storms have been.... today here it's supposed to reach 76 again, it's so nice out, I have no excuse to give if I don't get outside! My little dog is anxious to get out on a walk again as I was gone so much last week!

Hi Betty Jo,
thanks for hanging in there with Kathy and me...we finally were able to get it with your patient help!
How old is your son? Mine didn't get married until almost 31, and I was beginning to think it would never happen. It's his baby we've been celebrating...

I'm glad you made it outside again! It's sure been a tough winter for so many! My mother's relatives (they're mine also! ) all live in the far northwest area of Minnesota, it's been just brutal there.

When you said you wanted to lose 20 more by the end of May, my stomach knotted! Really! I would like to lose that much this YEAR also! You are tremendously motivated! I am finding if I go for around 1 to 1 1/2 pounds a week, that is very good for me. A few times I've lost up to 3, but it's been pretty rare. I think because of my knee replacement I am not as active as a lot of people. But I do try to walk 3-4 times a week, a mile to a mile and a half. Since I've lost the original 30ish, I've been able to handle the stairs without pain, especially going up. Going downstairs in the mornings is still a step at a time most mornings. (I had other surgeries on that knee, it was from a bad accident years ago.) But I am so much better!

Hi Arlonne:

My son is 35 years old. He lives in NYC and he loves to travel. I think he's addicted. He goes to a different country every year. I asked him one time if he ever planned to get married and he indicated that he was not yet prepared for marriage. Very grown up answer that I really wasn't prepared to hear. I just assumed everyone wants to grow up and get married. But he's different. He wants to see the world.

I have a bad knee too. It pops out to the side when I go down the stairs. It's very scary because it feels very unstable. I've been doing exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons surrounding it. It seems to be working. I hope so. Having a knee replacement can be very challanging I'm sure.

I want to lose 20 pounds by May 31st if I can and then after that another 35 pounds to get to goal. I'm in no hurry. I have nothing but time since I retired. I just want to be as healthy as possible. I'd like to live to about 85, if possible.

You have a great day, Arlonne. And take care of that knee. The last thing you want to do if fall on it.

Betty Jo

Hi Ladies!!

I also have bad knees and steps are very hard for me also. I am hoping that if I lose enough weight I won't have to go thru surgery! I can see an improvement already but the one knee is still pretty bad - probably too much damage done to that one already. When I did the Leslie sansone exercises it started doing some wierd grinding thing so I didn't stick with it for too long. Just plain walking doesn't seem to bother it too much but the side stepping and kicking thing doesn't work the best so I am hoping to be able to get outside and walk before too long!!

I have been doing some situps - while laying on the bed. I'm afraid if I get down on the floor I won't be able to get back up again!!! Probably is near as effective that way but I am hoping it will tighten things up a little!!

I live in Northern Wisconsin - right on the U.P. border and I had 4 children - son #1 was killed in a car accident l0 years ago. I have 4 natural grandchildren and my husband now has 3 children and between us we have 18 grandchildren. My first husband died 12 years ago and I remarried almost 4 years ago to one of the sweetest guys you could imagine. He spoils me rotten!!

My goal for the spring challange was to get half-way to goal. I don't think I will quite make it but at least I will be close ! Can't wait for that!! My next goal will be to get below 200 before my birthday in August and hopefull at my present goal by Christmas. I could probably lose more but when I get down to the 175 I will decide then If I want to go for more or not. The last time I was below 200 was probably back in grade school!!

Hope you girls have a great day!! WI tomorrow so I hope I have a good loss to record!!
Kathy

Kathy:

Congratulations on the huge family and a wonderful husband. I'll bet things are busy around your house during the holidays.

Don't worry about not being able to do much right now with the exercises. When I first started I heard weird things too but I just did push it. I did what I could do with out hurting myself and then built from there. Eventually, your body will accept it as long as you are healthy enough for exercise. After I lost 30 pounds, my legs really started getting saggy. So I knew I had to do something.

I want to surprise everyone this year at Thanksgiving. I would like to be to goal also. That's almost nine months away. We can do this Kathy. It will be the first time I've been under 200 pounds since I was born, I think. I don't ever remember being what I would call thin. Now that I'm 60 and I've found something that really works, I just want to be healthy. I don't have any grand ideas about being real thin either. It's too hard to maintain when you get that small.

You have a great weigh in tomorrow and let us know how you did. I weigh in on Thursdays and I'll be sure to let you know how I did. I think I may be at a plateau, but I don't know for sure yet.

Betty Jo

Hello, I am new and just rejoined Jenny Craig today. I was a member 15 yrs ago and to my surprise they still had me in the computer and still had my chart. Of course, I had gained weight from the last time. But when I was on JC the first time I played along with it and never did reach goal. The variety of food has grown and what I had for my first meal, a late lunch of stuffed Chicken sandwich, was very good. I was able to heat it up and then eat it in the car as I picked up two of my grandsons from school today. I am looking forward to dinner and my evening snack. In 6 weeks I will turn 67 and I hope to be down at least 12 lbs. My support will come from this site and another weight lose site I use. I will not be telling my DH or children as they will say,"here we go again".
Thank you for listening.
grandme26(aka Judy)

Hi Judy:

Welcome to the over 60's JC chat. We have a great bunch of ladies on here and I know your are going to love them. They are very supportive.

Twelve pounds in six weeks sounds very attainable to me. I wouldn't say a word to your family. Just let them be amazed. I've been on JC for 12 weeks now and I've lost 30 pounds. This is the first diet I've been on in years that really works for me. I can't tell how thrilled I am with JC. I've tried most of their foods now. I'm not real fond of their shelf-stable foods, but I've found lots of the frozen I like and all the snacks and desserts are to die for. I never thought I could eat this much and lose weight.

I would be interested in hearing about how the JC of 15 years ago is different from the JC of today. Have you noticed anything really drastically different yet?

Well, again welcome and good luck on your weight loss journey.

Betty Jo

Hi Judy - welcome to our over 60's group!!!

I started with Jenny just about 6 month ago and am happy to say that I finally hit the 50# off mark!!! I wish I would have tried this diet years ago, but I had never even heard of it then. The food is great and it is so nice to have everything ready to eat in the right portion sizes! I r


eally feel like I am eating more now that I used to eat but it is definitely working. I guess it just boils down to eating the right foods in the right amounts - and we still can have our snacks and sweets! I just love the lemon cake and the cheesecakes!!

Best wishes on this livestyle change and hope to hear more from you!
Kathy

Hi All - Happy to say that at weigh in this morning I lost 2.4# and finally hit my 50# off! I got outside to do a little walking yesterday but there is still a lot of snow and icy stuff out there so I didn't get too far. We actually had a beautiful day yesterday - hit 42degrees - and it really felt great to get out for awhile. Hopefully with a few more warmer days the road will start thawing and I will be able to walk a little more.

Arlonne - how far away do your son and new grandbaby live? Do you get to see them often? Most of my grandkids live about 3 hours away so we don't see them as often as I would like and they seem to grow so much between times!

Betty Jo - what type of farm do you have? Do you have livestock to care for? It must keep you pretty busy!

Have a great day everyone!!!! Kathy

Good Job Kathy. I'm so proud of you. You are doing such a great job. 50 pounds is quite an accomplishment for women our age. My next stop is 50 pounds. After I lose the my next 20 pounds, I will be there. Keep up the good work. How long did it take for you to lose 50 pounds? Was all your weight lost entirely on JC or other plans too.

We own 80 acres in the foot hills of Kansas. It's beautiful here. All rolling grassy lands and we have about 30 acres of wooded too. My husband has turned the farm into an animal sanctuary. We feed the deer, turkeys, and anything else that will come to the feeders we put out in the winter. We also put in a pond this year and had it stocked with fish. In the summer, my husband feeds the fish, which is very amazing to watch. Who ever thought you could have pet fish in a pond

I used to show dogs but I'm retired from that now. I just dabble in dog training and grooming now. We have 2 akitas, one aussie, and three cats. I would love to have some goats too, but I haven't been able to convince my husband that it's a good idea. On May 17th, I plan to do a dog training clinic for the chamber of commerce in Burlingame, which is a little town near where our farm is located. I've actually been raising and training dogs all my life so its all second nature to me.

It's supposed to get up to 73 degrees here today. I'm working in my flower garden.

Well girl, keep up the good work. I'm hoping for a 1 pound loss today. I've slowed to about 1 pound per week now, which is just fine with me. I don't want to get too flabby too fast. I need time this summer to tighten up.

Betty Jo

Joining the group - it looks great.
I am 62 and have 34.5 pounds to loose.

Welcome ICanDo to, in my opinion, one of best groups on the message boards. These ladies are very supportive and friendly. Good luck on your weight loss this week.

Betty Jo

Hi Betty Jo!
I was so exhausted yesterday-I think the enormity of all the trips down to see little Matthew and then his baby shower and all finally caught up!~ I didn't even get on the computer at all, ended up sleeping over 9 hours!

thanks for answering my questions; a lot of us deal with bad knees. Mine has caused me to fall a number of times, so I am fairly cautious about it now. I don't used stairs unless there is a handrail for me to grab if it goes out on me!

The thing that has helped strengthen mine the best is a large rubber band thing a physical therapist gave me. I tied it onto my stair rail, then I step into it, and then pull the leg in and out, and it really did strengthen those muscles and all. My doc says it's really important to keep your quads as strong as possible, they are what really helps you make any up and down stepping the best.

Your son sounds like a very interesting person...really enjoying life!

Hi Kathy,
I am sure the great weight loss you've had is already helping your knees! You may be able to avoid having any serious surgery because of your commitment. Unfortunately, mine was injury related at the age of 38. After 2 surgeries on it and 18 months on crutches, I went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. They said that once the pain got too hard to handle, I'd need to have the knee replacement. I finally had it at 55, couldn't even walk at the end, was back on crutches. My doc said it was the worst knee he'd ever done...now that's a prize I didn't want! But my other knee is perfect, with no arthritis, so I am happy about that!

You are so blessed with your family! You are a fine example of a grateful person who is enjoying what she has!

I set my first goal at 200, I couldn't even think about how I could go lower. Now that I've lost what I have, I am thinking about going down further after I reach it. I am actually going slow on purpose...I want this to be permanent, and I've lost weight before only to regain it. So I'm trying to teach my mind that this is where it is now....get used to it!!!

Welcome, Judy!!!
I joined as a lifetime member when I was in my 40's, and found it to be very sucessful for me. I always had it in my head that I would go back, and FINALLY did last April!

You just may make it; I lost about 6 pounds my first week. Then it really slowed down, now am averaging 1-2 lbs a week.

I really like the food, which is good for me! Sometimes I really dress it up, sometimes I eat it just like it comes! Betty Jo listed some of my favs also...and I am addicted to the chili! I almost always add 1/2 can diced tomatoes, some garlic salt, and some canned diced green chilis. It gives me a great portion, and I get more veggies in, which is a good thing.

Do surprize your family! You have a lot of spirit, and it'll be fun!

WOOHOO Kathy!!! WAY TO GO!!! I am doing a happy dance for you!!!

My son, Jeremy, and his family live south of us about 100 miles. It should only take about 1 1/2 hours to get there, but we have to go through L.A. and sometimes the traffic makes it much longer. But hey! They are still in southern California, so I am not complaining! I have spent a lot of time with them lately, and then my husband is just "ga-ga" over little Matthew, so then we both go back!

Okay, how do I say this to my friends? I'll just blurt it out...I gained almost a pound today. I am not surprized, with all the trips down there, and cooking for Jeremy's family and staying up a couple nights with the baby so Jennaya could finally get some sleep...I really am not surprized. But that's my puny excuse. Since I am on the 1200 calorie level now, and have been totally on program today...I could eat a bear right now! But this will pass, and I am figuring I will see a good weight loss next week!

It was absolutely beautiful here today, my wisteria and jasmine are blooming, and it smells wonderful! It was 74 today, but a cold front is moving down from the north, and we may get some rain this weekend. That's always welcome here, as it is so dry most of the year. (Winter is our rainy season.)

Keep on going on, Kathy! You are inspiring me!

Welocme, ICanDo!!!

We're glad you are here! Are you going to a Jenny center?

Hi Betty Jo
I Started doing Jenny the end of last September so it took me just about 6 months to lose the 50# doing the Jenny program. When I placed my food order yesterday I decided to try doing the cereals and some of the snacks on my own, so I'll see in a couple of weeks how that works. It is just so easy now having everything ready to eat in the right portion sizes, but I guess eventually we will all have to get used to eating the right foods and portions on our own.

Your place sounds absoutely beautiful!!! I enjoy watching the animals too but the only thing we feed are the birds. We get quite a variety during the summer. Sometimes the deer come into the bird feeders and they have actually wrecked a couple of them but we do not feed the deer here cause there are too many hunters who come up to this area that would shoot them if they knew they came in regularly. I used to hunt myself and shooting a deer for food doesn't bother me, but there are too many trophy hunters around that like to shoot them just for a nice rack! Your fish pond sounds great! Are they strictly pets or do you eat some of them?

Hope you have a great WI today - you are doing an awesome job!!
Kathy

Arlonne - don't feel bad about the gain. I went thru the same thing when I was down at my daughters! I was cooking meals for her family and making some things ahead for when she got out of the hospital and there were several nights I ate with the kids and overindulged. At least I didn't do as bad as I would have a year ago! Back then I know I would have hit the desserts and snacks in addition to the foods I ate!!

I have been on the 1200 calorie level pretty much since I started Jenny - mainly because I am not very active. It shouldn't take you too long to get used to that level. If you are feeling too hungry the sugar free jello and veggies are a good fill in either as a snack or to add volume to your meal. I don't add too much in the line of extras now anymore but I still like the jello with a meal - seems to help satisfy my sweet-tooth!!

Hope you have a great day!

Hello Ladies:

Okay, I've hit my first plateau since I started JC twelve weeks ago. I weighed this morning and no weight loss this week. I'm sure you ladies have probably hit a plateau at some time during your weight loss. Do you do anything special to get the scale to start down again? Or just wait? Would love to hear all your methods.

Betty Jo

Six months for 50 pounds. That's fantastic Kathy. That's what I'm hoping for. Once I lose 50 lbs., I will only have 35 more pounds to go to get to goal. Then I will reaccess the situation to see if I want to make another goal. If I feel like I can make it to 150, I'll do it.

To date, we haven't had any deer come right up to the bird feeders because they are in our yard and its fenced. But we have had issues with hunters. Don had our place designated as a sanctuary to keep people out, but you still get the ones who try to go in anyway.

Speaking of bird feeders. I love the bird feeders. In about May, I believe it is, our birds will start bringing their young to the bird feeders. It is so much fun watching them. It's better than anything I can see on TV. Mama will line her little ones up on the fence and then feed each one of them. The babies are so cute, they can barely fly or stay on the fence rail. I have a snow ball bush right by my kitchen window and the babies go into it when they feel threatened in any way. So the babies are about one foot from my window. Love it, love it, love it. So entertaining.

My husband does go fishing down at the pond, but he does catch and release. Because we feed them, he doesn't think they would be much good to eat. But they are loads of fun to catch and to see them swarming to the bank when they hear my husband's 4 wheeler coming is priceless. That's how he calls them to come and eat. He revs the motor on his 4-wheeler.

Well, keep up the good work with those grand babies and your weight loss. I'm very happy of you.

Betty Jo

Arlonne:

Thanks for the tip. I have one of those bands. I'll add that exercise too.

Betty Jo

Kathy,
thanks for the encouragement, I am really tired of bouncing around this level. I am so ready to see it start really going down once more! I am going for a walk right after writing to you two.

Betty Jo,
Once when I was doing Weight Watchers I went 6 weeks without a loss. Then the next week I lost 6.5 pounds! I doubt it would ever take that long on JC, due to the difference in the program.

Drink more water...and actually they told me to eat a little more, like an extra milk or fruit, if it happens again....really! Somehow it'll shock the system and you'll lose that week. Weird, but it has worked for me before. Also, are you making sure you are getting your fat in every day?

Extra exercise doesn't do it for me, but sometimes just changing what you do really cause it to break through the plateau barrier. I have one of those big balance balls they sell at the center, and I use it off and on. It really helps improve my balance on top of being a different exercise. And it targets different muscles.

Betty Jo and Kathy,
your birds sound so fun! The main ones I feed here are the finches...mainly the brilliant yellow and black ones, but yesterday I had some red and black ones there also! They are so pretty! And nice to each other, unlike my hummingbirds, who tend to be real meanies about letting any other hummers around the feeder! The only deer in our area are the mule deer, and they are in the orchards nearby and the foothills.

The main thing we have to be careful about...even on the edge of the city where we live...are the bobcats. If they get too hungry, they'll pick off any small dogs and cats in the neighborhoods. We've lost several cats here in the neighborhood. We never let our little dog out at night without keeping an eye on her. They'll come right over any fence to get at them.

You are both very inspiring people to me, I haven't known others my age who take losing weight serious. Most people tend to gain and lose and gain and lose. Have a great day!

Good Morning Arlonne:

Oh, I'm glad I have big dogs. We have bobcats too. A mama and I guess her guess litter went trotting down our road last year. My husband immediately started getting worried. We keep our cats inside most of the time and when they are outside, we keep them in a covered kennel. So they are what I can semi-housecats. My neighbor loses lots of cats. They just disappear. That's probably what's happening to them. What kind of dog do you have Arlonne?

One of my dogs got into a skunk this winter and we've spent most of the winter trying to get rid of the smell. My dog has not forgotten the skunk. You would think she wouldn't go back for more. But oh no! She goes back to the place where she got sprayed every night to check. I didn't say I had smart dogs. I said I have dogs.

Arlonne, I'm very interested in losing weight and keeping it off. At my age, it becomes even more important to be healthy. I read the other day that if you are over weight, you have a 44% chance of making it to 90 years old, and if you are fit, you have a 54% chance of making it to 90. I think its worth it to eat as healthly as possible when you consider the options. I'd like to live until I'm 90 as long as I'm healthy. If I'm not healthy, I don't really see any point in staying around. So I'm working every day to get more healthy. It's never too late.

Betty Jo

Hi Betty,
do warn your neighbor...we are always on the lookout here! We have a sweet natured Maltese...her biggest goal in life is to con you out of a bite of whatever you are eating and to spend her life sitting in your lap!

I agree about being healthy; that is mainly why I'm doing this also. I want to be as healthy as I have the power to help with; and the weight is the only area I'm dealing with. Sooo....we should just keep helping each other to achieve these important goals!

We spent the evening with the new grandbaby again...too fun! And the afternoon exploring the Griffith Park Observatory and Planetarium. It was very interesting, done in a story form...

have a really great weekend, all of you!!!

Good Morning Ladies!

Didn't get on the boards at all yesterday. Had to work a full 8 hour shift and was tired when I got home. After being retired for a couple of years I guess my body just isn't used to it any more. I plopped down in my comfy chair when I got home and started reading a book and I have to say that I am terrible when I get into a book! If I am reading a good one I have a hard time putting it down. Several times it has happened that I get so involved that my husband will have to ask if we are going to have supper tonite?

I've got a couple of cardinals that have been coming into the feeders this past week. In all the years we have been feeding I have never had any come in before so it has been exciting to see them. Hopefully now that they are coming in they will stick around!! Right now have been watching for the robins to come around - usually that's a sign that spring is around the corner, which I am inpatiently waiting for. I can't wait till it gets warm enough to get out on my 4-wheeler but we can't actually do that around here till after spring break-up which usually isn't till the end of April sometime. Every year we do an overnite trip on the 4-wheelers to different places and I really love it!!! Two years ago we took a trip 110 miles one way and stayed over two nites, did some riding in that area the next day and came home the following day. It took us a little over 8 hours to get one way and it was a really great time. Got to see lots of beautiful scenery and animals.

Betty Jo - Belated Happy Birthday!!! Hope you had a great day! I agree with both you and Arlonne on losing the weight more because of the health issues! I have never been thin and at my age now I don't really expect to be but I just want to get down to a weight where I feel better and am able to do more of the things I enjoy doing. The last couple of years on our trips I missed out on many things cause I wasn't able to do the walking up and down the hills or on uneven terrain because of my weight and joints so I am hoping to be able to do more this summer.

Arlonne - I finally figured out how to work this friends thing and when I looked up your profile I found our birthdays are just two days apart!!!! Hopefully we will both have great losses to celebrate by the time they roll around!! Glad you get to spend time visiting the new grandbaby! I find I am actually starting to look forward to being a great-grandma though when I first found out it made me feel really old. When I turned 50 I actually cried but I find I am really enjoying this stage of my life. You have the time to stop and smell the roses!!!

Judy, Jash and I Can Do - Hope to hear how you ladies are doing.

Have a great day!!! Kathy

I MADE IT!!!!

Had to work again yesterday and boy was is a dull day!! It's a pretty slow time of year around here - snowmobiling is pretty much done and fishing isn't open yet so there aren't too many people around. This is a pretty small town and much of the business comes from people who have cabins and come up for weekends or vacations.

I work at what is called a party store - we sell beer, alcohol, soda, and all kinds of good stuff like chips, candy bars, sub sandwiches, and sweets and the goodies were really tempting me yesterday!! I must have checked out the chips at least 5 times for the calorie count and fat calories etc!! I almost bought a bag but then I decided I would eat my green beans I had brought along for supper. That worked for awhile till they started making fresh popcorn upstairs in the bar and I could smell it and it was driving me crazy!!!! I went outside and had a cigarette hoping the smell would be gone when I got back in but no - I could still smell the popcorn! So I checked out the chips again and just about gave in but ate my Jenny supper instead. But I still wanted those chips - BAD!!!!! I told myself I only had 2 more hours to go and I could make it till I got home to have my legal Jenny snack and started doing some cleaning to keep my mind off of the goodies that were tempting me. I made it!!! It's been awhile since I had a craving like I did yesterday and I really thought I was past all that, but I guess it will be something I will have to deal with from time to time. When I got home I was glad that I made it and did not give in!! Hopefully it will be awhile before I have such a slow day again!!! Next time I work I will bring along a salty Jenny snack just in case!!

Have a great day - Kathy

Hi Kathy:

Whew, that was close. You could order additional JC cheese curls and those Bruchetta Veggie chips to take to work and leave there in case that happens again too. The veggie chips are fantastic and very salty. The cheese curls are really crunchy, but not really salty. Or you could even keep extras in the trunk of your car. You did great for the pressure your were under. I went into Sam's club yesterday and they were roasting chickens. When I walked in, I didn't feel hungry, but the closer I got to the meat counter, the hungrier I got. They do that in-house because it increases sales. The other smell that drives me over the edge is the bakery.

Then I went to Walmart. They had samples out all over. The one I finally tried because now I am getting hungry was a new product put out by Quaker--Caramel drizzled mini rice cakes. They are very, very good and they are low in salt, fat and sugar and only 90 calories for a small bag of them.

On another subject, I found out yesterday that JC has discontinued the peanut butter anytime bar. They are coming out with a new one. I really liked the peanut butter one, but not real fond of the other one. Just a matter of taste I'm sure. So we can look for a new anytime bar soon. Yeah!!!

I recently went on JC's rewards program. I'm excited because I get 10% off for the next 10 orders. Then 20% off the next 10 orders, and then 30% off the next 10 orders. So I'm going to be saving some money on my orders. I heard on chat that the Nestle's company makes JC's frozen dinners. The same company that makes Lean Cuisine meals. So when I went to Walmart yesterday, I checked out the Lean Cuisine meals. I did this because I will be moving to Alaska and I can't get JC frozen dinners there, so I wanted to see if they were similar. They had more calories looked bigger actually. I need to check the the weight of my JC meals and go back again.

I lost one pound this week so far, so maybe my plateau is no more. I hope so. Well, good luck this week. Don't let them win!!!!! I'll be back tomorrow to see how you are doing.

Betty Jo

Hi Kathy,
Well, you did just great with all the temptation. You are a brave lady, I just know could not face all those goodies all the time and not eat them!

Yes, I noticed also that we have practically the same birthday...amazing! You struggled with 50, I was absolutely mad about turning 60! I just never wanted to be this old, really! Now, I'm kind of adjusting to it, but still get shocked when I realize I'm "there" now. BUT they say that now 60 is really 50...when I think of how my Mom was at 50, I think I'm actually a lot healthier than she was then.

Hi Betty Jo,
my center does the Rewards program also; and it has saved me a bundle. Jack and I are both at 30%, and it really helps. My center is not a franchised one, it's company owned. They said that the franchised ones sometimes operate differently on these kinds of things.

When are you moving back to Alaska?

Judy, Jash and I Can Do,
I hope your week is going well...and that you are enjoying yourselves!

I am heading back down to help my daughter in law tomorrow for a couple of more days. She has injured her wrists from having to help little Matthew so much with nursing. She's to the point of having a difficult time even picking him up. Her Mom was there with her today, then I'll be there the next 2.

I'll catch up with you on Friday or Saturday...do have a good week! And Kathy you need some sunshine!!! I hope you get it!

Hi Ladies,
I started with the rewards program when I started with Jenny and am now getting the 30% discount on my foods. It really makes a difference!!! When I talked to my consultant last week she told me they are replacing the peanut butter anytime bar with a chocolate mint one. Sounds very good to me. She said it is also supposed to be a little larger that the ones they have now. I liked the peanut butter bar better that the cookies and cream one also. I'm disappointed they picked that one to discontinue!!

Betty Jo - I'll have to check out those rice cakes - actually sound good. When and why are you moving to Alaska? Sounds like you'll still be able to do Jenny but just not be able to get the frozen items? For Christmas I got a Jenny Craig cookbook - called 'No Diet Required' and they have some very good recipies in there. I haven't tried any of them yet but anticipate doing so shortly when I hit my half-way goal.

Arlonne - sorry to hear about the problems your daughter-in-law is having but glad you are getting to spend some time with the new grandson.

I will be starting to do some of my breakfasts and snacks on my own this week. I will be doing my own cereals and I picked up a couple of the 100 calorie packs. For dinner and lunch I plan on doing the Jenny meals yet except for the couple times a month when we go out to eat. I am both anxious and leary of doing the meals on my own. It is just so handy having everything all ready to eat in the right portion sizes. I have weight in tomorrow and then will be starting with some of my own meals so we will see what happens the following week!!!

Judy, Jash and I Can Do - Haven't heard anything from you yet. Hope all is going well and hope to see you posting.

Have a great day everyone - will check in again tomorrow hopefully with a loss to report for this week!!
Kathy

Hi Kathy:

Good for you. I know you are going to do a fantastic job. I've had to do some meals on my own already and actually it's quite easy now because I have a much better understanding of what portions sizes are supposed to look like. I actually weigh and measure on the days I do meals on my own and count calories to make certain I don't eat more than I should. I read in JC maintenace book, which I recently received when I joined rewards, that the calories that you eat when you eat meals on your own will be slightly higher than the calories you would eat if you were just eating JC meals. So I thought to myself, oh, I better weigh, measure and count on those days. And it works great. I just make certain I don't go over my alloted calories for the day.

We are moving back to Alaska. We actually moved to Kansas for a while so that I could be closer to my mother as she was getting up in years. Also, my husband needed heart surgery and there really wasn't any good heart surgeons in Alaska at the time. Now that my mom has passed on and he has had his surgery and is feeling better, we've decided to go back to Alaska. Actually, he wants it more than I do, but it's his wish and his daughter lives there. He wants to be near her for a while.

Good luck at weigh in. I'll be thinking of you. I know you will do great. By the way, I'm almost half way too. About 5 more pounds I think. My official weigh in is Thursday.

Betty Jo

Hi All - Had a good week - WI this morning and lost 3# more!!! It really surprised me to have 2 good weeks in a row. Usually after I have one good week I have a couple of small losses after. Only 2# more to go to make it to half-way!! I will really have to work on keeping focused this weekend with having company all weekend. I am sure I will do good as long as I control my portion sizes. We will also be celebrating 4 birthdays over the weekend and I will probably have a piece of birthday cake - one of my favorites - but instead of having a corner piece with tons of frosting I will have a small piece from the middle of the cake and count it as my snack for the evening. I really want to hit halfway by the end of this month!!

Betty Jo - I didn't realize you were from Alaska. I can understand your husband wanting to be closer to his daughter. I would really have a hard time getting used to the short days they have there during the winter months!! I have a hard enough time dealing with the winters around here!! What area of Alaska will you be moving to?

Have a great day! Kathy

Hi Kathy:

We will be moving to a town called Wasilla in Alaska. It's about 40 miles north of Anchorage, which is the biggest city in Alaska. We lived and worked there for 30 years before moving back here to Kansas. In the winter,you get about four hours of daylight in Wasilla. You really don't notice it so much after living there for several years. We always used room darkening shades in the summer so you could sleep. You get about 22 hours of daylight during the summer. It's a little different, but like I say, you get used to it. The thing that really bothers me is that you have 6 months of winter and the farther north you get that goes up. Right now in March, it's warming up in Alaska, but you still get snow just like here. Just more of it. I would probably equate living in southern Alaska to living in New York or the mountains of Colorado. It snows quite a bit during the winters.

I can't get the frozen foods in Alaska because it has to be air-lifted, but I can still get the dry products and the shelf-stable if I want them. When I signed up for the rewards program, the counselor pointed out to me that I would probably be on maintenance by the time I moved there, so I decided to go ahead and do the rewards. What I really like the most about JC is the support you get from members. You don't get that anywhere else. It seems to be what was missing from all my other attempts to lose weight. For instance, last night my husband decided he wanted chocolate. Well I had already had my snack, so I came in my office and got on JC chat and chatted with the ladies on there. I totally forgot about the chocolate. So having access to others on JC really is an advantage and I want to have access to that even in the maintenace phase. I'm sure it's going to be much more challanging than losing the weight.

Eating just a piece of cake from the center of the birthday cake was a very good choice and you didn't have to feel deprived. Good job. I love getting ideas from others. I like the end piece or the piece in the middle with all the icing under the decoration too. But I've got to make a life change, and that seems like a great way to solve that problem. Birthday parties certainly are not going away, that's for sure. And if you have a big family, it can be a big problem if you attend parties all the time. Congrats on your current weight loss. Now, you only have two more pounds to lose to get half way. I think that's fantastic. I'm getting close too. I weigh in tomorrow, so I will know more. I'll write to you and let you know the official weight loss for the week.

Betty Jo

Hi Everyone:

Just checking in. I lost 2 pounds this week. Total 32 pounds now and just 10.5 pounds to half way. Yeah!!! I'm doing it.

Betty Jo

Betty Jo - Way to Go!! Great Loss! And you did great walking away while your hubby had the chocolate!!

I had a really bad day yesterday - the worst since I started this program!! One of my sons had a bad insulin reaction so I was up to his house trying to get some sugar in him. Thank God I got there in time to help and we didn't have to take him to the hospital. Then when I got home, one of my good friends ( who is into the final stages of cancer) called to let me know her husband had a bad stroke and is unresponsive and has bleeding in the brain area. Doesn't sound good for him. It just made me feel so helpless! She is to the point where she depends on him so much to help her because of the cancer and now she may possibly be alone thru her ordeal. I will definitely help her out as much as I can, but I can't be there for her like he was!!

I ended up totally messing up the diet yesterday and just couldn't shake the mood I was in. I got up this morning and felt like **** - I'm sure from the bad choices I made yesterday. I am doing better today. I told myself there are just some things we cannot change and that eating like I did yesterday and ruining my chances at a healthier life is not going to do me or anyone else any good!

Sorry about carrying on here but I just had to vent some! My husband has PTSD and cannot handle it very well if I get upset or anything and it gets really hard to have to pretend everything is fine and not break down and get upset in front of him. Thanks for listening!!
Kathy

Hi Kathy:

Sorry to hear you are under so much stress right now. Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed. I'll bet that just how you felt. I know I would have. The older we get it seems like there is more and more stress too with the kids and the spouse. I used to work but I quit because my husband had a 4-way bypass last April. When he went into the hospital it scared me to death because he's always been my rock. So I decided to quit work and take care of him. He needs me now. Fortunately he's doing okay now, but I do worry. Once your loved ones are sick, your always worry. I'm sure you think about your kids and your friends everyday. And you worry and worry. You are a very nurturing person and that what we do when we are that way.

Don't worry about your friend. She will survive when he's gone. With all the problems you have with your family, she won't expect much from you. She will need you more than anything for moral support or maybe advice. I have a friend that lost her husband about 10 months ago. She depended on him for everything. She went into a deep depression after his death, but is doing much better now. She doing something that's making me very nervous right now though. She's going to move to Florida with a daughter who doesn't work and has a baby. She doesn't have much money. Just the insurance money left over from her husband's death policy. I'm so scared she is going to get down there and won't have enough money to survive. It's scary. I told her I thought she should stay put because she didn't have enough money to move. But she's listening to her daughter. I'm so nervous for her. But you know, I've had to come to terms with it. There is only so much you can do for friends and family. I know it doesn't keep you from worrying, but there is some soltice in knowing that everyone has a survival mode and it will kick in sooner or later.

Oh, you know you mentioned something that really made sense to me. That was the fact that you didn't feel good when you were off program. I've noticed the same thing. I feel empty or something and I can't fill it up when I go off program. So it makes sense to stay on program even when your stressed out. If only we could remember that when we are stressed out.

Well, my husband needs his breakfast. Guess I better go for now. You hang in there and anytime you need to unload, I'm here.

Betty Jo

Hi Betty Jo,
Thanks so much for your encouragement. I did much better yesterday and stuck to the program, although I felt like I was starving all day. I'm sure it was because of eating all the wrong things the day before.

I talked to my friend last nite and her husband is showing small signs of improvement. Not sure at this time yet if he will recover fully yet or not. He is moving but apparently not coherent yet. I guess all we can do right now is pray for the best!!

I feel bad for your friend and I hope she makes it after the move. I also have a friend whose daughter rules her life and whatever her daughter wants if what happens. Sometimes I think she is just afraid of being alone and that is why she goes along with everything. Yor are so right when you said there is only so much we can do! Just hope everything works out alright.

That was quite the major surgery your husband went thru and I am glad to hear he is doing well. I also quit working when my husband was seriously burned to take care of him. I must say that I do miss working and getting out and seeing people. I started working just a day or two a week last fall and he is doing ok with that and it gets me out of the house a little so I like that part. I was just offered a full time job which I ended up turning down cause I know he wouldn't be able to handle being alone so much. I don't really want to be that committed to a job anymore either. There are too many other things I like to do, especially during the summer months.

Hope you have a great Easter.
Kathy

Hi Kathy:

Yep, you are absolutely right. Eating all the wrong things does make you hungry. I was reading in our JC manual that it's because our blood sugar goes up when we eat sweets. Then the body wants more. Studpid body. Won't let me eat sweets !!! I don't want to be a diebetic, so I try not to not over do it on the sweet side.

I'm so glad your friend's husband is better. Cancer is a nasty disease. How was your husband burned? I'll bet that was a challange for him and you. He's okay now isn't he? I just want to keep my husband around as long as I can. I don't know how I will do all alone. I only have the one adopted boy and I'm sure he won't want his mommy around all the time. So my goal is to keep my hubby as healthy and happy as I can for as long as I can. We are both retired now and have all the time in the world to be together.

I'll bet you are going to be with the grandkids this weekend. Have fun and don't let the Easter bunny catch you eating too much Easter candy. I'll be right back here next week. Oh, by the way, I lost another two pounds. Only 8.5 pounds to go and I'm half way. I'm so happy about that.

Betty Jo

Hi Betty Jo and Kathy,

It's amazing what happens when I'm off the boards for a couple days! Congrats, Betty Jo, on the weight loss! And Kathy, once in awhile life just happens, doesn't it? I'm just glad you were able to get right back at it again!

I'm actually struggling right now. I've been more off than on since Feb 22 when our new grandson was born. I was doing so well, and now am feeling a bit demotivated because of being gone so much. I haven't even called to reschedule an appt yet, and I'm out 2 weeks now. I am on my JC food today, and was yesterday also. I haven't totally given up yet, but the thought is rattling around in my head.

I so want to lose the next 20 pounds. But I wish it wasn't so much work. Help!!! How do you keep yourslelf on track?

Hello Arlonne:

Your back. Don't you even think about quitting. Everytime that rattles around in your head have a self talk with yourself. That's what I do. I tell myself I haven't come this far to just quit!!!! Beside, Jenny Craig is not something you go on and off of. You are on it for life. Maybe what you need to do is maintenance for a while until you feel you are ready to lose again. I"d certainly talk with my counselor about the prospect of doing that before I just quit. There is nothing else like Jenny Craig. We both know that and if we stick to program we lose weight. Right?

I think losing weight is more about where I head is at the time. If we focus, losing weight is easy. If we don't focus it's a struggle. And besides, I don't want you to leave. I love hearing from you. You don't have to be perfect right now. Just stay away from the really bad stuff and don't binge. Think about how nice it's going to be to get into real jeans instead of the fat ones. I can't wait. And think about how bad you will feel when you are off program. I hate that feeling. I feel like a blob. Sluggish. No energy. You don't want to go back there do you? Then you'd feel like crap, gain all your weight back, and you would be back again to lose what you've already lost. Why not just stick with it and maintain for a while.

Do you have the cookbooks--Volumetrics and 30 Meals in 30 Minutes. Get those. Cook out of them for a while. You are probably bored to tears. If you get the cookbooks and cook out of them it might just help you get out of your slump. I get bored pretty easy. If I don't have a goal, I get bored. Maybe that's what it is and you just need to spice up your life a little. The other thing too is you might just be tired. You've been under a lot of stress lately and you really haven't had much time for yourself. Don't try to be perfect. None of us are perfect. Just try to tread water for a while until you are ready to lose again. You're not off program when you are maintaining. Your just treading water.

Also, you could go out and buy yourself some new clothes. That sometimes lifts my spirits. I hope some of these ideas help you. You can do this Arlonne. Please don't give up on us. Kathy and I need you for support too. You are such an inspiration.

Betty Jo