I lost my weight about 14 years ago and have kept it off since. My big ol' secret was just to make changes to my diet that I could stick to forever. Like swapping my normal 2 Pop tarts and giant Frappuccino drink for a bowl of oatmeal and fruit. And having a sandwich on wheat bread and a salad for lunch instead of a burger and fries and a cookie. I incorporated exercise gradually--starting with walking, then running and other things. I had my little plateaus and setbacks, but I got there. The only reason I think I was able to keep it off so long is that I made these things lifestyle changes and nothing was too extreme. If I had gone on TBL, I would be back to being 200 lbs or more now. That show pretty much tortures people and gets them to lose 100+ lbs in less than a year. It just isn't very healthy.

My ex used to blame me for all his missing stuff too. When I'd stick up for myself and tell him it wasn't me he'd throw a fit because he specifically remembers leaving it "here" last and couldn't possibly entertain the idea that he moved it after that and forgot. I made a habit early on of only putting his stuff in one spot if it was in my way (I even made a special box for his crap to keep on the dining room table so if it ever wasn't where he left it and I touched it he would know where it was) but again...if it wasn't where he remembered leaving it and it wasn't in the one place I put his stuff it was always me who was blamed.i almost never got an apology. And when he moved my stuff and it got lost forever I got halfassed apologies, if any.

Yes, STEPmother, not mom. They don't owe you anything. Their mom will be their mom forever. You are just the latest person their dad has married. Do not include yourself in the same category, deserving of the same recognition, as their mom.

I was on the deed, right to life or whatever, not the mortgage. When we split that bitch paid me cash. Without paying me, he'd have me on the deed forever. Women, we are not powerless.

I know I need to lose weight but when I actually think about all the weight I need to lose I feel discouraged and like there's no point in starting. it'll take forever before I even notice a difference.

Excuse me while I rant here, since I can't always say this IRL. Of course I realize that I need to accept the bad with the good in a relationship. Duh, I'm not an idiot. And I didn't say I was looking for perfection. I'm not perfect, and I realize no one is. But I'm also not going to stay in a relationship that I don't consider healthy just to have a guy in my life. And yeah, thanks for the reminder that I'm not a teenager anymore and that I'm not getting any younger. Oh and thanks for all your wisdom. You've been happily married for over 30 years and haven't dated since age 17, so what would you know about how difficult the dating world is? If I end up alone forever, so be it.

I have an ex-boyfriend who is bat-shit crazy. Like had to change my phone number 4 times crazy. He was even calling my dad and grandmother (their numbers have been the same forever) 15 years after we broke up trying to "touch base" with me. We dated for 3 years, no kids or anything. So, I won't automatically fault someone for saying an ex was crazy. Now if they say that about every ex, then that's kind of a red flag.

We had a wonderful boss for about a year. The President of our company heard so many good things about our boss that he offered him an Executive position. He left us at the end of last year. We had a meeting with 2 manager's yesterday. Five of us were so upset, we emailed our Sups and went home. Today has been another shit storm. I left early again. I work for the State of Cali. This is what happens when you get a taste of a really good Manager and then you go back to being with ahole Managers. We're going to get the union involved. This is ridiculous! A lot of the old managers who have been here forever treat people under them like crap. We're not going to take it anymore!

OMG! One of our good couple friends want us to watch their baby on Sunday. Me and dh's kids are 26 and 16. We haven't watched a baby in forever! What do we do with him?? He's almost 1. I told dh that babies like baths and we can keep him in the bath tub for awhile. :) He said we can take him to the park and tire him out. :) This is going to be an adventure for sure! Maybe I'll call in sick Monday! :) Any advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA.

I had a dentist appt yesterday morning. When I got there the waiting room was filled with people 60 and older. I'm 53 and felt like the youngest one there. There was an older lady with a portable oxygen tank (very noisy & annoying ) and a walker. How does a dentist even work on a person with oxygen on? Then another guy was playing on his phone. Had no problem with it until he put on some video loudly and everybody could hear it whether they wanted to or not. Finally his wife told him to stop it. Another woman (w/ oxygen lady) was arguing with the receptionist about insurance coverage. I couldn't wait for the hygienist to call me in for my cleaning and escape this madness I finally got my teeth cleaned and then waited for the dentist to come in what seemed like forever (usually doesn't take that long). Probably oxygen lady held up the show. I think I would rather have sat in waiting room with a bratty kid. I usually don't mind waiting rooms; just give me some magazines and I'm good.