I just wanted to say that it's so inspiring to come here and read about everyone's efforts. We all have our down days but I know it helps me when I have some accountability to someone other than myself. I don't normally share my exercise highs/lows with others IRL (except dh and my exercise partners), and I don't normally "brag" about what I may have accomplished. But having a chance to share it with others here (who don't know me IRL) who are doing the same thing is a way to keep myself encouraged and accountable. And when I'm not feeling especially motivated, it's nice to come read a thread such as this one and see what everyone else is doing and think, gee, just go DO something. Hhireno, thanks for continuing to post these threads - and you are so kind to respond to each and every one with thoughtful words of encouragement and affirmation. Bethpen, I'm sorry that you are feeling so much stress and hope that you can find ways to cope. Baby steps are good, any step is good! If you can't find time to exercise, then do simple things like park as far as possible from where you are going rather than right near the door, take the stairs. And if you can find the time, try to make at least a few make ahead meals that are healthy so you can bring them with you up to NH so that you aren't relying on carb-heavy meals while you are there. I have a couple of good chicken recipes that are fairly easy (one is a Greek marinade that you can quickly make, put the chicken in a ziploc bag and freeze then take with you and then it's already for baking or grilling when it's meal time). If you are interested, I can post it here or email it to you. My friend just emailed me a bunch of recipes from a Bikini boot camp class she took - most are very easy and tasty. (I'm making one for dinner tonight - turkey lasagna with eggplant as the noodles). I'm sure you probably have plenty of healthy recipes...it's just making the time, I know!

The amount of hamburger needed will depend on the goulash recipe. Also, the number of sandwiches consumed will affect the amount of goulash needed. Let's plan for one sandwich and one portion of goulash per person. At 4 servings of goulash per pound of meat (each serving having the amount of meat in a quarterpounder) you will need 25 pounds of hamburger. At 6 servings of goulash per pound of meat you would need about 16 pounds of hamburger. Are the potatoes for potato salad? About 25 pounds of potatoes should do it. Bags of lettuce are various sizes. At 6 servings per bag it will take about 16 bags. But this is not an economical way to buy lettuce. You should consider buying bulk lettuce and chopping it up yourself. Figure on about 25 tomatoes and 8 to 12 cucumbers, depending on what kind of cucumbers. Jim This post was edited by jimster on Sun, Feb 10, 13 at 18:40

Ok....the next one is in South Beach:)))) in February...Do it...everyone - let's go!!! I'm kindof serious...want to? Oddly, Giada also had balls...I do have a pic with her but bad enough I put a double chin pic with Tyler...no way I post my giant Irish head with Giada's teeth and boob package. Ok, and I'll just say everyone was so nice .... except those top chef judges!!! ...omg Gail and Jeffrey...just sayin...is just a meataball not the nobel peace prize:))) Here is a link that might be useful: South Beach Food & Wine Fest

Sister Bernadette's barking dog : the quirky history and lost art of diagramming sentences --Kitty Burns Florey