***Welcome To Cruise Diet Countdown Club***

[BuilderMan]

Sandy - My DH is a general contractor and he & I along with his dad own a contracting business. We mostly do just residential/commercial remodeling, but my husband is licensed to build new homes and buildings up to 10 floors as well. We've just chosen to stay with remodeling and away from the new home building.

If you click on "User CP" on the top blue nav bar, go to "Edit Options", scroll down to where you see "Miscellaneous Options" and change from "Basic" to "Standard Editor" you should be able to add smilies to your text. It enhances the posting square adding more options when you post. Have fun!!

Lynn

[ejhall]

I read a previous post that mentioned a whipped cream cheese cake recipe....on a diet countdown club? Cool! Baking is one of my addictions, er habits. I usually bake and then send the results into work with DH or take it to work myself. Gotta satisfy the baking urge, then get it out of the house before it does any damage! Does anyone still have the recipe?

Sandy - Yes, I am enjoying my MIL's visit! We're hoping to take her to the Dutch country in Pennsylvania on Monday, thinking that Monday will be a better day (less traffic and people) than Saturday. It's a little over an hour from my house and a nice, country-side drive.

Ellen

[Sandycruise]

Lynn, thanks so much for the smiley advice.

Ellen, Are you familiar with PA Dutch Country? I just came from there and can recommend Plain and Fancy, Good and Plenty, and Miller's Smorgasbord. They were all wonderful. (Oh, yeh, this is a diet thread isn't it).

[indiaksue]

Hi;
How are we all doing today?

Sandy - I am going strong right now. I went thru a no loss May even though I was watching my calories. Once I cut back 200 calories per day, I now am losing again. So momentum is good right now.

Lynn- We too are business owners. My husbands father has owned a meat processing plant for 25 years and now he is getting ready to retire in a few years. He has slowly turned it over to us. We have about 40 employee's so getting away without the phone can be difficult sometimes.

This week end DH and I are going away for the 3 day weekend. Hopefully with a minimum of phone calls from work. We are shopping for new clothes for our cruise and my weight loss. I am a little nervous about eating during this time. I know I will be moving and walking a lot but not knowing exactly what amount of calories I am getting is hard for me. I went to Calorieking and have made a big list of fast food and dining places with foods I can eat. Hopefully I can stick to it.

Ellen- I think you are doing great. Changes in schedules, and meal times and such things can really mess up your how your body burns calories. At least that is how it is for me. I don't know about you but when I here dutch country I think hot apple crumb pie and cream! Be Careful!

Have a great evening everyone.

Angie

[BuilderMan]

Originally Posted by indiaksue

We have about 40 employee's so getting away without the phone can be difficult sometimes. Angie

Angie - You can appreciate why we love cruising so much!! No phones, no faxes, no computers! No one can get a hold of us and it's great!!

Think of your 3 day mini-vacation as a test run for your cruise as far as eating is concerned. Pay attention to what you're wanting to eat and what you do eat. This will give you a good idea what to look out for on the ship!

Sandy - glad I could help.

Lynn

[GinandAl]

Hello Everyone!

I typed a long post this morning and my phone rang, and I had to answer it (16 year old DD was out with my car) since I only have one phone line I lost it all!

Sandy - Question of the day, for me........I'M GOING STRONG! I have been so strong since Feb. that I can't even believe it myself sometimes. I have to think it is my WOE, which is low carb. I don't get the feeling that I need to eat everything I see!

Welcome to all those that are new here. We are glad to have you join us. Some said they don't have a cruise booked or already went. I don't have one booked either, but hopefully will in 2007 for our 30th Anniversary!!

Have a great evening and stay strong!
Ginny

[Sandycruise]

Look! I figured out the smileys! I also figured out that I was in some Mid Eastern time zone which made all my posts show up as the incorrect time for my zone.

I am so happy that I am finally getting used to this board.

I am enjoying reading about our member's businesses. For those who are new and who have not read the other posts, I am a music therapist and an occupational therapist. I am mainly self employed.

Good night! Let's see if my signature shows up too!

[Sandycruise]

Good morning everyone! Hi Ma,
I tried to put a poll in our thread. Let's see if it works.

[ejhall]

Good morning!

Sandy and Angie - We love the Dutch country and usually go 4-5 times a year. I love Kitchen Kettle Village and their relish and jam store! I adore their picked beets (yeah, I'm wierd!) and I always pick up some of the no-sugar-added jam/jellies for my diabetic grandfather. There is a fabric store there called Zook's that is so huge and very reasonably priced if you like to sew or quilt.

For a little background, last year I was self-employed as a consultant, until the project came to an end and now I'm an accountant for a small company. I would LOVE to be self-employed again and am looking into it for the future. It was very nice to be able to set my own hours and, for good or bad, answer only to myself.

Have a great day!

[kcagg16]

Has anyone tried mat pilates. I started them two years ago and found it to be the best exercise for me. I now alternate between The FIRM and Winsor Advanced Pilates. That way I get a little cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises. The problem is pushing yourself to do it. I work full time with a lot of overtime - so I can only exercise at night during the week. I put aside one hour for me 7-8 to exercise. That seemed to work. Everyone has to find an exercise that they do not mind doing otherwise you will not do it. Pilates got me going again. Let me know if anyone else has tried.

Karen

[Deluzy]

Good morning (or afternoon to those in the east).

It's getting a little cloudy in Seattle today - good for my grass, not so good for the my weekend plans! :P

Sandy, I get that I would say that I am somewhere between goiing strong and so-so. I am 95% doing well with choosing lots of veggies and protein, but I do have a bite every day or every other day of something sweet. (my husband and my current favorite is having cookie dough in the freezer and having a spoonful for dessert. Hey - it is equal to less than a cookie when cooked!).

Welcome to all who have joined recently! No matter what those pesky stars say, we still have one of the bestest and largest threads in the forum!

~Suzy

[Sandycruise]

Ellen, I LOVE Kitchen Kettle Village. The jam store was amazing!

Karen, I swear by Pilates. I've missed my weekly class several weeks in a row now, and I can already see the difference in my stomach. . It takes maybe a month of work or laziness to see a difference either way.

Suzy, I hope the weather does not mess up your week-end plans.

[kcagg16]

Sandy,
I agree. You do feel a difference when you stop. I am leaving for Florida on 7/15 and then on the Mariner cruise on 7/18. I am hoping that they will have some type of class. I would like to work out a couple of times while I am away. Not too crazy as I really just want to vacation and relax for a change. Always on the go.
Thanks

[SpoiledMom]

Lynn - Thanks for the smiley tips I have been to busy to search for help -glad to find it here.

Karen - Maybe I will see you in the gym on the Mariner... my husband works out regularly and hasn't been able to drag me along lately. We tend to do everything together, so I guessing I won't be able to avoid "excercise" on the ship.

We used to have our own business - we owned two flower shops until about 1997. Now I work in the corporate world -pretty flexible with the option of working on my laptop from home... hoping for three days from home in the near future

[Sandycruise]

Good Morning Everyone! Hi Ma!

If I look back at the old archives, I can see phases where I seem to have lost my momentum with dieting. Well, I suppose I am in one now, though I can definitely say that my WOE never gets as bad a s it used to. I was thinking about what caused my "slip" and, for me, it seems that a change in routine can be deadly. I was doing so well with my Pilates and Tai Chi class every week, but BBQ's and events got in the way of that. Next, school let out and my whole routine seemed to go crazy. So, in order for my WOE and WOexercising to be consistent, I really do need routine. So, that brings us to the****************** QUESTION OF THE DAY *******************
What events or situations seem to trigger your little "slips" and how do you think you could anticipate them? How can you catch yourself and get back on track as soon as possible?

Karen, Will you be visiting Disney? I love Disney so much.
Spoiled Mom, it sounds fun to run a flower shop.

[Sandycruise]

Hi Everyone,
I just found out that if you click on the numbers in our poll, you can see exactly who responded for each category. That is great! I am really starting to like these new boards, even though I miss those who have not settled in to the new routine!

[kcagg16]

Sandy, yes we are going to Disney. We are staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. We love Disney too. Have gone just about every year for the past 14. The last three years have been with a combination Disney visit and then a cruise. We were glad that Royal had a ship out of Port Canaveral so that we could get a couple of days there. We have done the Disney cruise twice.

Sally, that would be great to meet in the gym. I read somewhere that they have some classes - maybe even Pilates which I would like otherwise we will use the treadmill, etc.. I know my daughter plans on going too.

Also anyone use the spa on these ships. Both my daugher and I plan on booking something. Just wondering if they were any good.

Oh the countdown is on - I can hardly wait.

Sally when do you leave?

Karen

[indiaksue]

Hi everyone;

Sorry this is just a quick post to say my computer is down at home. I am doing this at work and don't have time. I leave for my weekend get-away first thing in the morning so I will have to catch up when I get back. Have a wonderful and safe 4th.

Angie

[BuilderMan]

Good morning!

Karen - We were on the NOS a month ago and the ship shape spa is wonderful!! All sorts of new and advanced equipment for you to use for free! We didn't use anything but the bikes, but I could see that there is something for everyone. Also, looking out the windows is very calming when working out. You'll love it.

Sandy - I'm with you. Any change in my daily routine seems to throw my exercise schedule out the window. I never seem to have enough time in my day as it is, and when something different is added my exercising seems to be the first thing to go out the window.

This is going to be a tough weekend for me to stay good, too. We have a 40th birthday party to go to tomorrow night and then there's the 4th of July. I'm going to have to muster up all the willpower I can get.

Lynn

[SpoiledMom]

Sandy - I really enjoyed having the flower shops... EXCEPT for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. I remember one Valentine's Day when most of my staff pulled an all-nighter! Mother's Day is not as bad since it's usually spread over the several days beforehand - but Everyone wants Valentine's Day deliveries on Valentine's Day!

Karen - I think they charge for some of the classes, I am sure we will get all of the detail on the ship. I used the spa services years ago and when I was on the Monarch in Jan - I wasn't thrilled with the prices. We are planning on massages in Cozumel We are going to Mr. Sancho's Beach and the do outdoor massages by the jacuzzi and waterfall for a really reasonable price... aghhhhh - relaxation! We fly out of Phoenix on the evening of the 13th (11 more days!!!)

I mention in an earlier post how funny it is that 1/2 a pound becomes so important (at least to me... lol). I have been "stuck" for a couple weeks and just dropped 1/2 a pound . I know it's not much, but I have been tightening up my eating and maybe I am back on the move...