TravelRocker

Well....I just trashed my died this past weekend. I was so frustrated with work and getting injured AND discovering that the X-Ray lab doesn't do X-Rays on Saturdays anymore I just flew into a Salami and Cheese sandwich and chocolate pudding! How stupid. I am totally back on track today and will get this off post haste.

I came across something pretty cool while watching QVC yesterday. Marie Osmond was on there with her husband and she has a new, very easy and effective stretch band program that you can do sitting down and standing up. It's called Bodygym. Basically a bar about a yard long with bands attached to the ends. You can either stand on the center and pull up on the bar or sit down with the center of the band behind your back and stretch it out. When that gets too easy you just twist up the bar ends and make the bands shorter/tighter. It's the kind of program that you can do while watching QVC, (in my house that's often, haha) or your favorite shows at night.

I'm excited that I can do SOMETHING to tighten it all up. I'm at about 45 lbs. down now but the "bat wings" need a little work. and this program also engages your core muscles as well. Have a good day everyone, :)

Hi Everyone, been trying to get back here all week. Had weigh-in last night and it's down another pound. So slow now but that's OK I guess, at least it's down. Had a scare the other day with my hip implant, (Rhonda, don't read this) :), I did something stupid and reached down too far and too fast to take off my pants and my leg locked up completely. Had to stand on the other leg and shake it real hard till it released. They tell me it's not the implant itself slipping out but a muscle that gets caught. Either way it was quite a scare and everything is still sore. I'm doing an X-Ray and MD appt. Monday, needless to say I won't do that particular move ever again! I just want to be able to get some good exercise in to get the pounds down again but then I do stupid stuff like this.

I've been trying some different WW microwave lunches lately, just had the Panini for 8 Points and it's really good, big and filling. I treat myself after work with the 3 point fudge bars or a pudding. I still have my wine or hard Cider on the week ends but count the Points giving up something else and loading up on 0 Point veggies or other things. I'm trying to hit 50 pounds by my next birthday in 3 weeks, have 5 pounds to go, gonna be close, :)

Have a great weekend everyone, I'm taking my book list around to Thrift stores to stock up, I love Detective/FBI Murder "who-done-its", my favorite authors being Jeffrey Deaver, Catherine Coulter and Michael Connelly and just discovered Tami Hoag. Anyone else a "reader" here???:)

Well I've been chuckling my way thru this thread for the last 15 minutes. as a cruiser of 3 MOR trips I can tell you that we are a very well behaved group, all 5,000 or so of us, (we sell out every year). We're not head-bangers, slam dancers or anything else but 80's music loving fans of the greatest hair bands that ever played.

While in the terminal last year two crew members were talking, one a "newbie" was asking about us, (he looked scared!). The seasoned one told him that our group is great, it was the Oakland Raiders fans that gives them the most trouble! :)

Hi Everybody, gee, seems like I haven't been here in a while....had my Thursday weigh-in and lost another pound, really, really slow for a while now. I'm always tracking but maybe it's WHAT I'm tracking, I don't know.

We went to a baseball game on Sunday, used to be season ticket holders but our favorite players moved on or retired and we got into other stuff. I COULD NO BELIEVE the price of food and drinks now. I planned on a salad, they still had them but without any meat or chicken, just a container of salad greens, $8.00. big pretzel, $4.00, drink, $4.00, lemonade later on $5.50, $5.50 for lemonade!!! I can remember being on WW back then too and sitting through about 4 innings with my huge bowl of tuna salad on my lap, really should have done it this time but I wasn't sure what you could bring or not bring in now days. (My husband said draft beer in the Pub was $11.00! That's a 6 pack of beer or cider at Bev Mo.)

Anyway, got a little off track there, haha. As long as this is a "cruise" site I've got to tell you about this, and, please forgive me if anyone is offended, it is just an observation and the cruising experience is very subjective. I like to print out the cruise reviews of others and read them before I go to sleep or early in the morning before work. There was one recently from an older gentleman who was, along with his wife, an experienced cruiser. He recounted his experience upon entering his cabin and finding a small bar of soap in the shower. He couldn't find his cabin attendant so called Guest Services, on hold 10 minutes, called back again, on hold 30 minutes, looked for the attendant again and finally personally stood in line at the Guest Services desk........to complain about a small bar of soap in his shower! I was laughing so hard I woke up my husband and the dog as well. I would have grabbed a tissue, dropped it in the trash and be on my way. It's amazing the little things that make people say "Worst Cruise Ever", and it's over water in the MDR or a lumpy pillow.......if you want a good laugh read some of these reviews.

Hope all of you have a great day as we work our way into the weekend. Cheers :)

Well....here I am...Thursday, lunch time and enjoying my cottage cheese, pineapple and choc. pudding cup! I don't deny myself much. Obviously I don't spend all 29 points on a huge chunk of chocolate cake, (and there's one in our work fridge. as we speak!) but I do have goodies and just count the points. I find that if I allow for them then I'm not face first in something gooey and sweet and blowing the whole day.

I'm not a cook, ie: don't "like" to cook haha, so eat pretty simple and save the labor intensive meals for either my hubbie or restaurants. I like to "graze" throughout the day at work to keep my strength up, a big lunch just logs me down.

I found that I didn't have too much trouble on my last cruise because I went in with the plan to eat the good stuff but in moderation and I'm a huge salad lover anyway. I was surprised to see how much we walked each day! Those decks are pretty darn long. I wore my pedometer and 16,000/18,000 steps was the average. Being as we went on a music themed cruise it was racing back and forth from the main theatre for one band to the very back of the ship for the pool stage bands and lounges in between. Then on Port days we made it a point NOT to just find the local Senor Frogs or Hard Rock Café and park it on a bar stool for the afternoon, I know, fun but not too productive! We walked out legs off around the Atlantis Resort one time and all around the private island a few days later. I really believe that if you go on your cruise with a Game Plan and just take one day at a time that at least I felt good the next morning knowing I didn't blow things sky high.

Rhonda, if there's anything you want to know about your surgery/recovery just ask away. Mine was a long haul but the results were fantastic...take care everyone, enjoy the rest of your day, :) Oh, going to my meeting tonight, wish me luck!

Hi everyone, I'd like to join your little group too. (I started with the other longer WW thread but it seems a little slow right now.) I've been going to WW meetings for a little over a year now and have lost almost 45 lbs. This is my second, well third if you go back 20 years, :) and was very successful before, 62 lbs. I loved it, so when things got out of control last year I knew where to go.

My next cruise is April 2015, a music theme cruise out of Miami for 4 days. We did it earlier this year and had a fantastic time, (MSC Divina). I'm looking at 50 lbs, by my next birthday in 6 weeks. Maybe 65 lbs. by the cruise. Oh, I'm in my early 60's too so everything is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w this time too.

Rhonda, I especially wanted to talk to you, I feel your pain. I had my total hip replacement 2 years ago and was in horrible pain before my surgery, hanging on to railings and counters etc. exercise from the waist down was impossible and it was frustrating. I was a walker before the pain started in. I hope your surgery and healing goes well. It's kinda funny, I was on a cane for the 1st cruise after it and all that deck walking really loosened me up!

I have wonderful support from my husband, retired, I map out my menu in the mornings for the day and he puts it all together while I'm getting ready for work. He's actually lost weight just having healthier food in the house. Those "pink boxes" used to call my name at work but I don't even look in them anymore.

Right now I'm having to get some new clothes in smaller sizes, I have a few upgrade "Thrift" type stores that I've found and bought some really beautiful tops and a few coats this past weekend. I'm in the smallest size that Roaman's (catalog) offers so I'll have to cut them loose shortly too.

Oh, my weigh in night is Thursday so I can "enjoy" the weekend meals a little more. I am on the "Points" program, could not get into Simple Start, I found the WW menu at Applebee's and the Roma steak selection is to-die-for delicious! Looking forward to participating on this thread and getting to know you all, Cheers, :)

Thanks for the info: I like the idea of a limo, :) Money saved on the flight can be used here....

what about FFL to a South Beach, (Miami) hotel, any options??? Thanks.

Don't worry, we had almost the exact location last year but on Deck 12, you won't hear a thing and boy is it nice to have the elevators so close, enjoy your cruise! :)

Well, thank you very much! We've done the big balcony suites and they are very nice, this trip we are economizing and using the extra $$$ for a few extra days in South Beach! Nice trade off! :)

Hi, I think we paid $20.00 for the photos, the formal ones were very nice and I believe worth the splurge. I don't remember any 5x7's, (but they may..).

Wow, I'll have to reconsider this one unless......can we open the "Oceanview" window at all for ventilation? Skier52 can you send me a photo of the outside as you have done for others??? Really appreciate it, thanks, :)

Hi, I would appreciate a little information for Divina cabin #8169. We've sailed twice before on MSC and had balcony cabins but because we spent most of our time on deck or in the lounges and theatre, (music themed cruises) we opted for downgrading in price.

I've heard that some cabins have "drop down" beds from the walls, what are these and does our cabin have them? Are those cabins that small??? Any info/advice will be greatly appreciated, I may have to arrange for something else, thanks, Cheers :)

Hi, thanks for the response....we are in 8169...:)

Hi, I will be taking my 3rd MSC cruise next April, last 2 cruises we chose balcony cabins but didn't really spend that much time out there, (we were on a music themed cruise). So this time I booked an Oceanview, (with the round window). Then a friend said she had one previously and it was "stuffy", hmmmm didn't consider that.... can I please get some feedback from those of you who have reserved cabins with no open doors/balconys? This is on the Divina , Deck 8, if it makes difference, thanks, :)

Hey, I started the MORC Roll Call a few days ago. Go there and join up! :)

Hi everyone, yes, I too am at a "Resetting" stage, refuse to call it a "Plateau"! After 38 pounds that darn scale just won't budge more then .2 or maybe .6 every week. It's discouraged but I refuse to get too depressed, haha. I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do.

I think I need to get more variety in my life though, food wise. Now that the Summer is here those fantastic fruit and veggie stands are calling my name. Went to one last weekend and spend around $60.00 on delicious, huge beefsteak tomatoes, almonds, a cantaloupe, huge purple onions, strawberries etc. Next time it's the peaches, nectarines and plums.

We'll see what happens next week, I'm also pumping more water...hate having to get up in the middle of the night though, :) Cheers!

Hi, yes, we were in cabin 12165. I would say it was in an ideal location, just around the corner from the rear bank of elevators. Most of the activities we did were in the back and also the buffet. The cabin itself was beautiful, had a balcony and little couch/sitting area with small table. Bed was big and comfortable.

Now....I have already booked our cabin for our next Monsters of Rock Cruise next April and we are going for an Oceanview this time, that's the round window on one wall. Probably on deck 8. After our last cruise we figured we had been out on the balcony twice, to take pictures, there was just too much stuff to do on the decks and theater. I think if we were NOT going on a theme cruise again, just a regular cruise like Princess or any of the others we would do the balcony again. It is nice......:)

Couple of things...MooMooCow, I am jealous. Just got off the Divina last April and have are already booked for Aoril 2015. It is a fantastic ship to sail on. Now, I was on a Music Theme cruise so a regular cruise may work a little different, but we had acoustic acts play in the atrium and we we were able to stand on that absolutely beautiful crystal staircase to watch. Even if your cruise has no music in the atrium you have got to see the staircase.

Out to sea, you mentioned something that may be of interest to the Powers That Be at CC. Over on the Tripadvisor forums they dedicate certain very knowledgable participants to be City Experts so to speak. They take a very active role in answering any and all questions pitched to them. I've gotten some amazingly valuable information from these wonderful folks in Cairo, Egypt, (all about the 800 year old Khan Al Kalili Market), Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, (she even sent me a discount coupon for the riverboat cruise to Millionaires Row) , Miami, Florida (Really cheap "hopper" buses from the airport to our hotel) and others. Though I am not delegated as an expert I know quite a lot about London and contribute over there often. I don't mind answering the same questions either because I have been in their shoes.

Maybe it would take some of the strain off everyone if CC started this practice......designate someone intimately knowledgeable in everything Divina or any other ship...just a thought.. Cheers, (and smooth sailing).

Wow, where did our thread go! Guess I'm not the only one who got caught up in "Life". I'm holding steady at 37 lbs. I feel that my body is "resetting" itself right now, I'm losing inches instead of pounds...this is totally OK with me as I'm getting into pants I have not dreamed of wearing for years. My T-shirts are waaaay to big now and rings are going on other fingers! I'm ready to start going d-o-w-n again with an extra push for the fruits and veggies, more water and different exercises.

I've booked my next cruise, it's around 297 days from now, haha, but at least I'm not killing myself to get the weight off and can do it slowly and sensibly.

Let's get this thread "cookin" again shall we~! :)

What a beautiful letter. I can't imagine witnessing this and not being shook to my core. I too am glad you ran into the husband and were able to give him a little comfort. (I hope they had trip insurance). Don't be too hard on the crew, they probably did their best and I'm sure they are instructed NOT to make a "big deal" of it as to not upset the other guests. (they probably should have called the doctor sooner and/or started CPR though).....well, it's hard to know sometimes. I think they believe most guests really are just seasick....

Hi, yes "earn", I too don't see where the difficulty is....

MSC Roll Call is right there where it should be on the main menu (2nd block of listings), and it has loads of cruises and listings. Is there perhaps a different format on some Boards if you are out of the US???...though you yourself are in Scotland....interesting...

Oh God, they have a candy store!!! I'm really in trouble now! :)

Thre Promotor of our Theme Cruise just announced that they are (once AGAIN) going to Nassau! A lot of us are disappointed as we've done this 4 years in a row. (His other B to B cruises go to different Ports and we don't know why he can't swap some Ports around.....anyway, we've decided to just hit the main street in Nassau, a few bars, a few shops then spend the rest of the day on board checking out those shops we completely missed before. Candy store, uh oh! :)

Oh, I got ya! :) Don't you remember making macaroni necklaces as a kid? I'll have to scour the ship next time, Cheers

They also had very beautiful Italian jewelry.

Thanks, WHERE did you purchase the jewelry??? Was it actually in the Eataly Restaurant???