<p>feel better, lmnop</p>
<p>Ellemnope,
Glad you went and hope you feel better!</p>
<p>Marilyn,
What’s a Meet Up group?</p>
<p>Update on WW:</p>
<p>I started weight watchers online three days ago and I am loving it. I don’t totally buy into all of their methods (they don’t count carbs much different than anything else and fruit is 0 points) but I am modifying my diet using their point system and my own understanding of the carb/sugar thing. I feel good and it is keeping me honest in a way that the Livestrong site wasn’t. Maybe because I am paying for it! Lol.</p>
<p>Thank goodness, Ellemenope! Take care of yourself, and you’ll be back to normal soon.</p>
<p>Glad to hear you’re starting on the mend, Ellemnope. It’s always hard to get yourself to a doctor for something that you think will go away on its own but sometimes medical care actually does help!</p>
<p>EPTR - Meetup dot com - it’s a national web site thing where anyone anywhere can start a group in their area of interest and set up events to attend. It’s extremely wide ranging from hiking to wine to moms to just about anything you can imagine. It’s free to join and once you do you can search by location and interest to see what’s near you. I got DS to join a couple of meetup groups and he goes to 2 or 3 events a month. It’s great for people in a new area or who otherwise want a way to meet people. I think there’s an annual fee for each meetup group to be on the website, but the events themselves may or may not cost anything - DS’s group often asks people to bring food to share but the only cost is if there’s an admission to where they’re going.</p>
<p>I’d been looking around our area for a very long time with nothing that appealed until I finally stumbled upon a group that holds about 20 events a month all over the Chicagoland area and beyond; there’s over 1700 members but attendance varies from maybe 12 to 100+ per event. So the first event we attended was an afternoon meetup at the beach in front of a beach bar. Tonight we’re going to a happy hour at a hotel patio bar to listen to reggae. I think it’s a major hobby for the organizers of this group - they follow a couple of bands and go to any event where the bands are playing.</p>
<p>Hit “Normal” weight this morning on the Wii fit. Past 49 pounds now.</p>
<p>My Mii jumped up and down and gave me a thumbs up. Since I’m sure to bounce up and down past this level I’m curious if the Mii will get so excited every time.</p>
<p>Congrats Marilyn! Great to be “normal”</p>
<p>Yah, for normal! Went to the Dr. for a routine check-up yesterday. Had been almost two years since I was last there. Back then my BMI was teetering between normal and overweight. Yesterday my BMI was 19.27…firmly in the normal range…yah for normal!</p>
<p>SJTH, I envy you we went to Skye and Orkney a couple of years ago. I would love to go back. Unfortunately the professor who ran the conference in Glasgow that invited my husband has retired so I don’t know if we’ll have an excuse.</p>
<p>Marylin, congrats on reaching “Normal”! That’s a big milestone. :)</p>
<p>Congratulations to you, Marilyn, for reaching normal. Now you can listen to the daily news reports on the obesity epidemic and not feel like you’re part of the problem.</p>
<p>Congrats to Marilyn! Normal is great. </p>
<p>I just returned from my class reunion weekend. It was fun to see everyone and weird, too. I felt bad when I mis-remembered people. Fortunately, the food was not terrific, so I didn’t over do the eating, but did have more wine and beer than I usually do. How strange to have a drink with the same crowd that I technically could drink with 30 years ago. </p>
<p>I played golf but also sat in a car for 22 hours total, so I will have to kick up my exercise this week to catch up. I didn’t gain weight but I feel like a slug, so I’ll just feel better after a few good hikes with my dog, who by the way is looking pretty fit lately.</p>
<p>Congrats, Marilyn! Thats fantastic!!</p>
<p>I was pleasantly surprised that my weekend away didnt seriously wreak havoc on the scale. But that said, I am still a pound up from my low and still 6.5 lbs away from my goal. So now that birthday and anniversary are past, time to get back on the program officially and get the weight off.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Even if I reach my goal weight I won’t be able to say that! But at least I’ll be slim and odd instead of chubby and odd.</p>
<p>Jym, you and I have about the same amount of pounds to lose! We can keep each other company.</p>
<p>Jym and EPTR, me three–same amount of weight after my low (which I should get back to any second here).</p>
<p>Marilyn - congrats! You have really been on your path and have shown what it REALLY takes to get to our goals.</p>
<p>Oh goodie!! Travelling buddies (well, sort of-- you know what I mean!) I got down to this weight a month ago, and the lowest I got was a pound less, but I need the companionship to get these last pounds off. Any thoughts??</p>
<p>Well…I’ve been fighting these pounds for a year now. I lose three, gain three, and so on. I finally rejoined weight watchers so we’ll see how that goes. So far it seems to be keeping me honest, anyway.</p>
<p>My Women’s ASICS Gel-Kayano shoes have died, and I need to find a replacement with a lot of stabilization (I pronate like heck & have orthotics) and a big toebox. I’d prefer something that breathes a bit more than the Kayano did. I use them for walking and while strength training. The new Kayano model did not fit my toes as well, and the $140 price was more than I wanted to pay – I’d like to stay at or under $120. </p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>You might want to go to a running store and let them measure your feet on one of those gizmos that looks at your stance and your run. Then try on a few. I bought 2 pair- Adidas Supernova Sequence 3 and Saucony Progrid Guide 3. Both are really comfortable . I think the Adidas have a wider toebox (from looking at them). </p>
<p>By the way, my DH LOVES Asics. Thats all he wears. I just ordered him a new pair (GT-2170) and found by far the best price on line from a store in Maryland called Holabird sports. Their price was significantly better than the competitors. Most were $110. I found one at $99. Theirs was $85 plus free s&h. They should arrive within the next few days.</p>
<p>As an aside, my weight is down to within 5 lbs of goal!!! BMI is 23.56! I find that when I eat oat bran cereal I lose weight. Its recommended in that Dukan diet. I dont follow that diet, but the oat bran cereal really seems to work.</p>
<p>** A quick look at the gel kayanos on holabirds website looks like they are around $112</p>
<p>Jym,
What kind of oat bran cereal?</p>
<p>I weigh in today when i go to the gym. I hope I can say I’m within 5 pounds, too! I have to say, i feel bloated today. It is unbearably hot here.</p>
<p>I eat something called Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran Cereal. Its actually really good!! I put a little Splenda Brown Sugar blend in it and its quite yummy and very filling. I made some for myself and my DH yesterday. </p>
<p>Its very hot here too and my rings were tight this morning, but our office building keeps the temperature like a meat locker and now my rings seem to be looser.</p>
<p>I like Saucony too. Am currently wearing Brooks Ravenna because I got a great deal on them. The toebox not quite as generous as Saucony. </p>
<p>Go try shoes out at a running shoe store. Find what you like. Thank them for their time and then come home and find the best deal online. </p>
<p>I’ve gotten good deals at [Sierra</a> Trading Post - Great Deals. Great Brands…](<a href=“http://www.sierratradingpost.com%5DSierra”>http://www.sierratradingpost.com) You have to sign up for the Deal Flyer(discounts sent to your email)l to get the best deals but even w/out Deal Flyer, their deals are better than retail. [Women's</a> Running Shoes up to 73% off at Sierra Trading Post](<a href=“http://www.sierratradingpost.com/womens-running-shoes~d~604/]Women’s”>http://www.sierratradingpost.com/womens-running-shoes~d~604/) </p>
<p>Also check Overstock.com and 6pm.com</p>