Yep, same story, same results... cheaters never win. nm

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and wasn't that a bit cruel that Ryan mentioned no one was voted off last year's Give Back show - ouch - that hurt

But you just named some fantastic results already after 1+ weeks -- you feel better, have more energy, and you're motivated. Those are the results that will get you to your goal weight/size. But -- and I'm no health/exercise expert here -- IMO how you feel and your health are the more important thing than what size jeans you wear. How you feel, your energy level, any health conditions that are improved, your self-esteem -- those are what you need to focus on and you're already seeing results in those areas! Congratulations!! The weight/size will take time but are worth the wait and are even more fun to enjoy when you FEEL better and you have the sense of accomplishment and pride that you did this for yourself. (Keep in mind how long it took you to get to your current weight and remember it WILL NOT take that long to lose it again :-) It took me 36 years and 4 pregnancies to get to my "fat" jeans - but only 6 months to get to my "skinny" jeans)

About 4 years ago I managed to do just what you are doing - walking on a treadmill 30-60 minutes (depending on how I felt and time) 5-7 days a week. I felt wonderful and so proud of myself for making this change. Gradually, over a couple months, as I felt better physically and mentally I added some LIGHT weights (hand and ankle weights) and floor exercises -- I never have been and never will be "athletic" or "physically active". I have never participated in an organized sport and never will and my hobbies are reading and embroidery, my job consists of sitting on my tuckus...

I also read the Adkins diet book. Like many I also did not want to change my eating habits -- mainly because I didn't feel I needed to all that much. I don't care much for sweets and, like you, have a house, family and full-time job to keep me busy. I didn't want to cut out any "treats" I could give myself to keep my sanity :-) Fortunately, I already pretty much ate an Adkins type diet -- I love protein foods and, as I said, don't care much for sweets anyway (other than Dove chocolates and strawberry licorace) and I could eat salads every day. Carbs were fairly easy for me to cut down on -- again, I did not take it to an extreme as suggested in the book (which I felt was extreme, anyway). I didn't change my eating habits much but was just more aware of them and learned some of the things I could/was willing to change that would help. What amazed me what how GOOD I felt. For the first time in my life I felt like I had energy, I slept better, and was more awake/alert during the day, and I was so incredibly proud of myself for doing this for myself - what a sense of accomplishment. It took about 6 months, but I was able to lose approx. 20-25 pounds.

Now for my big warning -- once you lose it you do have to keep working to keep it off! As I said, this was 4 years ago. Two years ago I had to take on a 2nd job. My eating habits went to pot and I had no time for exercise. I have now gained back 15-20 of those pounds. The good thing is I know it took me 2 years to gain that weight back but I know I can lose it much faster than that - thank goodness. I just quit my 2nd job and am SO looking forward to getting back on my treadmill and eating dinner at a reasonable hour instead of at 9 pm before falling straight into bed. That has got to be the worst habit I adopted! I can't wait to feel good again and have more energy, better skin and hair, and better health.

For the most part, she blames her actions on stress from her illness. I can (somewhat) see someone stealing to pay bills or to put money aside for savings, but not for a lavish wedding or cruises.

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- A woman accused of stealing more than $1 million from her nonprofit employer said she used the money to pay for medical bills, vacations and her daughter's wedding.

"My daughter was getting married; I wanted her to have a nice wedding," said Linda Bevins, who has colon and lung cancer. "I had nothing, it all went to cancer. I thought I was going to die. I wanted to have a good life. I wanted my husband to have peace of mind."

Bevins was fired in June from her job as a payroll supervisor for the Crotched Mountain Foundation, which runs a disabilities rehabilitation center in Greenfield. She, her husband, and daughter now are being sued by the foundation. A criminal investigation is also going on.

Bevins was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and took a job as a payroll specialist with Crotched Mountain in 2001 to help pay her medical bills; she was promoted to supervisor a year later. She told the New Hampshire Sunday News she began taking money in 2004 after doctors told her the cancer had spread to her liver, and the prognosis was not good.

Bevins said she's not certain how much money she took, but doesn't dispute Crotched Mountain's estimate of $1.3 million. She said at least $200,000 went to medical bills for her cancer treatments and another chunk paid for her daughter's wedding, which included a custom-made wedding dress. Bevins said she also took her family on two cruises and used stolen money to make donations to churches and other organizations.

"It bothered me a lot because I was not the type of person to do that," Bevins said of the thefts. "I would get depressed that this was happening and I'd say 'I can't do this anymore.' But then something else would happen and all of a sudden I'm doing it."

An audit commissioned by Crotched Mountain revealed allegations that Bevins issued payroll checks to her daughter, Holly Sears, and herself, and funneled foundation money into personal bank accounts. Bevins said biannual company audits didn't catch her scheme, nor did a co-worker who helped her with the payroll.

Neither her daughter nor husband knew anything about the thefts, though she acknowledged that sometimes she asked Sears, 26, to cash checks for her, Bevins said.

Bevins said she's ashamed of what she's done, but blames at least part of her actions on her former employer.

As the only employee who could handle the payroll, Bevins said she was constantly on call, even while on vacation or sick leave. She said Crotched Mountain workers even called her cell phone while she was in the hospital, and nurses became so fed up by the they asked a doctor to put a stop to it.

"If I didn't have the stress, maybe I wouldn't have gotten sick and wouldn't have had the bills and maybe (the stealing) wouldn't have ever started," she said.

Mom dying, dad with Alzheimer's, so I'm taking care of both, though my dad was still independent in ADLs. I worked at home so I didn't really work and I was supposed to take everyone to the doctor. My sister had 3 days off, the same time as my son's/husband's birthdays. She said she would come help one day, but that needed time for herself. I'm the one with young kids, I'm the one trying to maintain 2 households and work full-time ....... I finally moved in with my parents, gave up any privacy, spent 98% of my waking time when not working taking care of someone or something. I don't regret it and I would do most of it all over again because I'm a caretaker, but if there are 4 other siblings why should I have to carry the burden. After my mom died I fell apart. I had to put my dad in a facility and my sister said she would take over primary caregiver duties, but she was hit or miss. Her kids were grown and out of the house, her DH was always off playing golf. She complained that my dad was only getting 2 showers a week, but she wasn't willing to go give him a shower. She complained about using all her vacation time for doctor's visits - like I didn't have to either take vacation or make up my time. I could go on and on. They told us in grief counseling that in most families there is one that always ends up doing everything.

The only thing I can say is that when your dad is gone you can seek comfort in knowing that you did all you could to help him, that you were there for him when it counted. Your sister will be the only who has to live with the guilt that she wasn't there (and she will suffer, must maybe not right away). At the same time I think your dad is just thinking about what he wants and I completely understand. My mother wanted to die at home in her own bed, not a hospital bed, even if she was still at home she didn't want a hospital bed, but I also think it puts a lot of stress on you and one day he will be gone and you'll have to pick up the pieces and continue on and there may be a day when you can no longer care for him at home.

I was very long-winded, but what I'm trying to say is don't worry about your sister. Focus on your dad and do what you can do and that is all you can do.

I have a sad story to tell. My husband's cousin's x-wife had an accident Friday night and was severely injured. She was coming from a night out and was drinking and wrecked. She was ejected from the vehicle and suffered severe head trauma. She was put on life support and was found to be brain dead. Her parents had to make the decision to pull the plug. The doctor assured them she had no brain activity and could not breath on her own or anything. So they unplugged her yesterday. This young woman was I think if not mistaken 29 years old. She had 3 children ages 8, 4, and 2. They have no mother now. She was so disfigured from the accident that her boyfriend went in ICU to see her and hit the floor as he passed out from the shock of seeing her face. She never dreamed when she left to go out last Friday night that she wouldn't be returning and she was leaving her kids for the last time to soon find they had no mother. I had the pleasure of knowing this woman for her brief time here on Earth. She will be so missed by her children and the rest of her family. The 8 year old boy is taking it by far the worst because he comprehends what death means and that he won't see his mommy anymore on this Earth. The 4-year-old just knows mommy is in heaven but can't comprehend that mommy can't come visit her from heaven. The 2-year-old just doesn't understand at all. She just misses her mommy. Brief story about what the 4-year-old said to her mawmaw yesterday: They were going down the road and she had learned earlier that day her mama was gone to heaven. She was staring out the window at the sky because she was told that was where mommy was. She was just desperately hoping for a glimpse of mom I guess. Then she said mawmaw that's my mom. And she pointed to the sun. It was shining really bright inside the car on them. It was a really sunny day. Her mawmaw says where baby? She said do you see the sun mawmaw? She said yes baby I see it. She said that's my mommy shining down on me. She is watching me mawmaw. This is from a 4-year-old. Now if that don't break your heart what does? Pray for these children who have suffered probably the greatest loss they will know. And please don't drink and drive.

my girlfriend's husband was put in jail for 5 years because he was a "victim" for receiving child pornography. Says he opened up an Email and it snowballed from there.

Of course it was all a lie. He had his own website out of the UK and was filming himself masterbating. I did some research and it was amazing that almost ALL men that are busted say the same thing --- they were innocent and all they did was open an Email! Hope he rots in jail.

CJ was playing with a stuffed hedgehog he found at my house. My niece showed him that it squeaked. As she continued to squeak it, he started to cry ... and then softly howl. I had to ask her to stop.

I have 2 teenagers and 1 in college. I get to work in peace most of the time. The biggest emergency I had this spring was when my daughter drove to school early for band practice and her younger brother, who doesn't drive yet, failed to arrange for alternate transportation and then also missed the bus, so I had to stop to drive him to school.