diane: I think you'd be fine in the attic as long as you store other items up there - just check them periodically so they don't start blooming - you don't want them to freeze and I'd be afraid your shed just might have that. But you can check on line for your plant zone and see what others recommend. sometimes just covering and tossing in the garage works for some too.

laurie: I am happy to read the probiotic seems to agree with you in some form. Sometimes it's just happening on what might work for your body. But everything I have read on gut/depression healing is interesting. Wouldn't that be great if they solved some of these puzzling health issues? Of course then we might be walking around mumbling -" ...and I suffered for years, and it would have been so simple had I known!" Alas, maybe work will slow down some and you can catch your breath.

hello all!

AM: Well, I have my project about a 1/3 of the way done. Woot - I started to make sense of the mess and I chose to work on those easier to slay items - sure it bounces me around, but I have my master plan in front of me, so it's just filling in the pieces.

Dinner is ready to pop in the oven, I plan to have big salad and small portion of main dish - cleaning out the fridge/freezer and no ideas as my pantry is lower than I thought of basics. So tonight is a ham potato and cheesy sauce. Looked good, don't know how it will taste as I only had string cheese on hand. I didn't have lunch today either, so calorie wise I think I am ok.

Here's hoping tomorrows scale is decent. I have my little card that says 230 on my monitor - it's only been reminding me FOREVER, but I think tomorrow I may change it and focus on 220 whenever I change my line of sight. Maybe that will be a good reminder and spur me on to do better and keep up the fight.

Alright gals - have wonderful evenings. I am watching project runway - wonder if that will be going away w/all the scandal that is by its producer. I always like it because it reminds me of projects from when I was in college. Alas - not the same media - but the rush to get something done.

I am off! :broc::broc::broc:

231.4

It’s possible that this weekend IF I’M good I may finally get out of the 30s. My goal through the weekend is to hold my own feet to the fire and get there.

My today shout out: as I was laying on my side last night I found that my hip bone has less padding on it where it’s more boney than fatty. Sure when I stand the weight shifts but I haven’t felt the edge to my hip in any form or function in a long time.

I’m getting there -slowly - but getting there.

Hope everyone is doing well. That the end of week brings lots of smiles and a fast moving day. It dawned on me yesterday I did not get all my Halloween decorations done and I’m not going to. I suppose I could but I’ll just leave the few things up and go from there.

Wishing you all well. Personals later. Get that day moving and may you all have happy scales!

And the hits just keep on coming.

I won't bother you ladies with details...just stress that didn't need to be stressful. Life goes on. Weight goes up...just 1/2 a lb...not even enough to move the ticker. But stress does that so I'm not going to freak out. Though I may scream and swear loudly about other things. Lately my life reminds me of a meme I saw, "I don't need Morgan Freeman to narrate the story of my life, I need Samuel L. Jackson. My life requires multiple uses of the word 'M.....-F.....'". :lol:

It's Friday. I've been at work (on and off) all week and accomplished pretty much zilch. So I'm going to make this a flyby and try to get something DONE!

Have a great weekend ladies!

Lilion: I’m sorry you are having the hurdles in life right now. Sometimes I feel it can be more pole vaults - hang in there. If you need to vent we’re here. I know I’m new to this group but y’all have helped me with my worries - and I’m sure we can help you through this too.

Hang in there as best you can!

Lilion: So sorry you aren't getting any relief right now with life issues. Hopefully things will turn around for you soon!

Lemonthyme: If you are better than me on weekends, I'll bet that you will make it below the magic number!! I tend to struggle some with weekends. I'm hoping I can stay on track since I've seen some losses this week. Also, love the NSV on your hip bone! It is great to recognize those things are happening. Getting our eyes off the scales sometimes is a great thing!

For me, still coming out of this cold. I just decided to take it easy again today and see if I can kick it to the curb. I did see a loss anyway this morning, so I think I'm doing well staying on plan with food. Might be a little bit of a struggle today, since I'm going out to lunch with my son. :)

Then, on Monday, I'll be ready to hit the gym again. It looks like the weather will be nice, so I might go for a hike, too. Maybe!!

So want sugar based products right now so figured to distract myself I’d post quickly. It’s been quiet here today but I know it’s a weekend and everyone has other excitement going on I’m sure.

It did snow here but didn’t amount to much as by me it melted as it hit the ground. Where my DH works it did collect for part of the day. So not wanting winter here at all yet but I’m resigned it will be full bore soon enough.

Today has been kind of meh on calories. I forgot to record my breakfast and I’m not 100% what I ate (horribly dumb I know). I was working on all these little projects I’ve let dam up and just sit and I’m tired of the resulting collections and general mess. One of them was repairing 8 books my youngest was a bit too loving with. It’s good to have done.

So tomorrow will be a fresh day. I do hope my scale is still kind to me. I think I might go stand in the shower I caught a chill and whatever I do I’m not warming up and I’ll step on the scale just to see where I might be and slay off 3 lbs from that to give me an idea of where I’ll be on wake up. I will be good this weekend is my mantra to keep the numbers down and not up.

Happy weekend all!

230.6

Almost there and of course it’s a weekend so I need to do my best. I’ll be building my garden today w/DHs help. So I will get some exercise in as we are making and loading raised beds. Granted it should be mighty cold today to do so but it needs to get done to season and winter over for spring next year. My garden goal is to actually once again have a nice producing one. The last few years it starts off well - well: being things come up and then it’s petered out before harvesting. I am pretty sure the soil is shot and amending it has not helped well plus I’ve got black walnut trees in the area - neighbors trees - and they aren’t plant friends to most as they offset juglone which is a plant killer.

Then if time permits I have lots of indoor projects to do but in the end I may end up sitting on my duff and binge watch my dvr of PBSs British baker show - I can watch and not eat. Will see.

So that’s my outlook today lots to do, be mindful of what goes in - as now DH Is readying to make pancakes and I said I won’t be eating them or then. He’s not quite on board w the IF but it’s something that’s working and I do eat my calories - just later in the day. And since he’s not interested in loosing weight right now I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and just explain once again why I’m not eating first thing out of bed.

Come Sunday I have to bake my cookies for a school Halloween party and decorate them Monday. I have to make caramel corn for a Halloween party Sunday and of course bday and Halloween in there - lots of little chances to really need to be observant and mindful on my end.

So my dears - have a wonderful day and weekend ahead - maybe someone will pop in and say hello. Enjoy your days of rest (which of course they never seem to be do they?!), enjoy your families and have happy scales! And know I’m this close to hopping into the 20s.

Hey guys, hope you all had a good weekend. Mine was alright. Mostly consumed by work and dealing with comments and critiques on scripts and catching up on The Voice and watching the football (of the soccer variety), but it was all okay in the end. My team won, The Voice was entertaining enough and though I yelled at my computer screen frequently, I did revise the scripts and send them back for final approval. In diet and fitness news, I did quite a lot of exercise on Friday and Saturday, but I also ate quite a lot of food. Weight is VERRRRRRRYYYY slowly creeping down though and I can feel myself getting stronger and fitter... ever so slightly.

Lemonthyme: Re: Cake. Cake is my favourite thing in the world. In fact, I started my Whole30 the day after I got back for my cruise rather than at the beginning of November because it's my dad's birthday mid-November and I will NOT be skipping the cake. On birthday, I tend to be of a "treat yo'self" mindset if it's a family birthday or MY birthday. If it's a friend's birthday or something, then I tend to go more with Laurie's approach of fasting or eating minimally around the birthday cake plans. But only because cake is cake. I'd skip meals HAPPILY for cake. But I guess it heavily depends on your ability to get back on track after one day off. I have a cheat day every Sunday and have had one since I started this journey in 2009 and it hasn't hurt me but if it was going to lead into a spiral, then I see the point of concern. Also, you are less than 1 lb away from your mini-goal! :Carrot: :Carrot: :Carrot: Sending you all the whoosh karma in the world! C'mon lbs, go away go away go away!!!!! And yes also ogling all the Our Wisconsin pics on Facebook! GORGEOUS!!! One day, I'll make it to that part of America!

Laurie: I'm glad you were able to do a longer check in and that you're feeling better. And yeah the post-cruise struggle is wayyyyy better than no cruise! Are you kidding? I was living my best food life on that cruise. I definitely earned every pound gained! :ROFL: I know what it's like to have to be the work mopper upper in addition to doing your own work so I can't imagine what it must be like doing that plus having to catch up from the time you were feeling blue. Hopefully the spike in your workload ebbs soon especially as we come towards the end of the year and the festive season. I find Whole30 more boring than hard but that's mostly my picky-eating fault. For me funnily enough, the hardest part is the lack of bread and the fact that there's added sugar or sweetener in so many things. If I really want something sweet, I have a banana or 3 dates but in fairness, I'm not the biggest sweet tooth other than when cake is involved. If there's cake, all bets are off.

Diane: I'm feeling better. I eat 3 dates a day for health reasons but I think I might need to cut back because they might have been what was bugging my stomach. I laid off them Friday and Saturday and felt much better even though I worked out so maybe it's that. I hope your cold is better. I think a break is a good idea so you can give your body time to fight the virus. Hope you had a good lunch with your son.

Lillion: Sorry you're having a Samuel L Jackson time right now. I hope things get better and more into Morgan Freeman territory soon. Sending you ALL the hugs!!! :HUG: :HUG :HUG:


Alright I need to go get stuff done. Wishing you all peace and a fabulously productive week.


Goals for the Rest of the Day
1.) No additional snacks
2.) Work on scripts
3.) Hit 10,000 steps
4.) Go to bed before midnight
5.) Get up early to do strength training workout

Ate cake, ate meal (DH has limited culinary skills so pasta) and scale went back up to 232 and another year older. Will watch my calories today and hope this week finally gets me out of the 30s before TOM hits yet again and before this coming weekends family bday party for my nephew. Oh and halloween but maybe if I include and think through this minis before I eat those mini chocolate items if I feel I need to absolutely have them - well they’ll be accounted for.

Laundry in and cookies ready to be made. School parties and all for my kids tomorrow. I am doing rollout sugar cookies. Our school district: rural and all has a lot of struggling families (money, addictions and lots of single families). I tend to make sugar cookies that are all decorated - which I’ve been told is a special treat for some of them that they look forward to. Sure it’s a bit more work but if they grow up and have a small Memory someone thought of them with a sweet treat maybe they’ll return the favor to the next kid when they grow up or in the moment, know someone thought a good thought for them while baking and wanted to give them a smile for a day. I enjoy doing that more because I love seeing their smiles especially if life is a bit rougher for them when their faces light up when they are on the receiving end.

And yes they can eat the cookies and I’ll avoid 😉

So that’s my journey today. More weight ive gained to take back off yet again. I’m a sliding rule! But it is what it is.

Toasted: I’m glad you are enjoying the photos. There are so many things to see in this part of the world - most take for granted I think - but there are a lot of special hidden gems and others widely known. And we have all 4 seasons in fact it looks rainy once again. At least the snow melted as it landed! And winter has held off a few more days.

Sorry edits are a pain in the arse. I always hated them especially if it was something you’d agonized over to get right in the first place. Hang in there.

Hello all!

Morning Diane, Laurie, Vlad and Lilion! Hope the world is looking better for each of you and have a good start to the week!

Lemonthyme: Glad you enjoyed your birthday and all the special indulgences!! You'll get the weight off this week, I'll bet. But nice that you could enjoy the day. That's really nice that you can make the cookies as you are. I love sugar cookies, so that would be tough for me to ignore!!

Toasted: Glad you are feeling better! That sounds like you had a very busy weekend, and very productive! That's awesome!

For me, I have been overtaken by this cold. I suffered through the weekend, and it isn't a whole lot better today. Makes me mad because I had to skip working out today. But I'm really congested, so I don't think it is good to go like that. I hate it when people are there who are sick. I might even go home early today, and I never do that!

I did hold onto a 1.4 pound loss last week. I would have like to have it be more, but with limited working out, I had to rely on my eating skills. I did ok, but not completely on track all weekend. Hopefully, this will clear up soon and I can get back to workouts.

Oh! My! God! You are NOT going to believe this! We finally got the truck back Friday from the shop after two weeks+ waiting for the damages from the deer collision to be repaired. We still need to take it back to have the fog light covered put on. Sunday afternoon hubby runs to the store to pick up needed supplies for the candy he's making for our son and his girlfriend. The store is less then two miles from the house. After about 1/2 hour he calls and I say, "Wow! It takes a long time for you to buy peanut butter."

He replies, "No. It takes a long time to file a police report when someone rear-ends you at a stoplight!":faint:

Honestly! When does it end? We hadn't had the truck back 48 hours yet! Samuel L. Jackson - Where are you? :censored:

At least this time it goes on someone else's insurance. I'd love to be there when he talks to our insurance agent this afternoon though. I'm sure the man's jaw will hit the floor.

So, yeah. There's that. I did eat 4 of my husband's homemade peanut butter balls. There are three more (for each of us) at the house. I WILL eat them. But I will account for the calories and TRY very hard to stay out of the Halloween Candy. I plan to push the chocolate on the kiddo's that come by, as I can have a house full of fruity candy and never touch it. If candy isn't chocolate - it's not worth eating in my opinion. :lol:

Truthfully, I'd rather have liquor right now. I'm rather proud of the fact that I haven't bought or bummed cigarettes. We quit a year ago the week before Thanksgiving. But that does not mean I don't' want any when I get stressed out. It's knowing that they'll make me nauseated is all that stops me.

Also...I'm hosting a church fellowship hour on the 12th. Then I have family Thanksgiving. Lots and lots to do with food. I love hosting fellowship, but I go overboard. People take turns and sometimes I go a little crazy. :) The first time I ever hosted, my in-laws were in town and I had never cooked for them. I ended up with twice the food I needed; lots of homemade cookies and breads and little mini quiche from scratch...you get the picture....it was like a buffet! The church people laughed at me and said I'd set the bar. I have learned to scale back :) but I do love cooking for people. Some people just bring donuts and punch. Some make some hot munchies and cookies and fruit. Me? I generally make sure I have three types of savory and three sweet; usually something hot if I can manage it. This time I'm thinking of some kind of fancy spinach/artichoke/chicken filling in a wreath shape pie and three types of homemade breads; pumpkin, banana and lemon-mulberry. Probably some veggies and cookies as well...or fruit, and hot mulled apple cider.

Yeah, I'm a bit of an over-achiever at feeding people. :p

Now - If I can not eat it.

Slashnl - I'm sorry you are ill. Feel better soon!

lemonthyme - Happy belated birthday! Hope you had fun making cookies. You are absolutely right...memories of these little things are the BEST part of kids.

Toasted - Thank's for the hugs! I needed that. Keep plugging along - you are doing well!

LaurieDawn - Whenever I read your posts they tire me out! You do SO much! 20,000 steps "at least" - I'm lucky most days to get 5,000. You are a winner lady! No doubt about that! Take care and stay strong! I'm glad you are feeling better. :hug:

Until next time ladies!

Lil: oh cripes! At our house bad news is always in 3s and it sounds like you have hit your quota. 😬 I do hope the rear ender had decent insurance. Does this mean the vehicle is now totaled or fixable? That happened to us a few years back w/multiple claims in a few year period. It is what it is but it does more to drive you batty then them I’m sure. Hang in there.

You sound like me entertaining - prep food to make something for everyone. I can say I did pretty well w the cookie baking and frosting so that was a help. We are in that season of food - I hope I can do well and continue to loose. This is the time I flipped out and stopped last year.

Diane: colds - who needs them?! Do they really offer any benefit other than your body doing it’s job and making you miserable? Hopefully it runs it course quickly! You’ll get back to the gym soon enough. I’d stay away because if your sick I’m sure there are others sharing their germs too especially knowing how the ones at my gym never wipe things down. Ick.

Toasted: cake - that’s too funny. I’m more a cookie gal but cakes good on occasion. I also like pumpkin pie but I haven’t made any of late and the one I had recently was not how I make it - I tend to season mine w/the spices of the season so it has a bit more kick to it. Nothing beats a good pumpkin pie. Ok - enough on sweets. I’m getting ready for bed and need to not dream of food. Did you get your exercise in?

Laurie: have you figured how to cut back on work craziness? Is it heavier this time of year or just normal workload? How’s all at home? Hopefully everything is going well for you.

Hello anyone I missed!

AM: cookies baked and drying (royal icing). However that darn icing recipe never turns out the same twice when I make it. Today it’s sticky and puffy. Ugh. Maybe I should find a different recipe but others have sworn by this one. I think it’s me!

Tomorrow I’ll get up early and pack the treat bags and get my tray packed for the school run. Costumes are packed so things are moving ahead here.

Weight - ate my chicken and salad tonight and popped in a squash - always a nice fall treat and my ILS grow quite a few so I picked up about 5 of them last weekend. I confess - I’m a pat of butter and a tsp of brown sugar when I bake a half. But it’s a good treat, however this particular squash was of a drier inside which was weird for a squash but still good.

I did get my shorter walk in this am. Crossed paths w a gal who I didn’t want to see - but she was in a car and I was on foot - I didn’t want to be in conversation on a topic I’m waiting for her to ask. Ugh. She’s a busy body and I don’t need others into my business. Good thing I waved and kept my head down and moved forward.

Ok so tomorrow I hope the scale looks better but as is my saga, I slide back and forth - slide rule - abacus one of those things is me and my diet. I can hope I’m back to 230 however I’m well prepared for it to have not moved one iota.

Wishing you all a splendid evening.

Ugh the 230s are very much like an octopus and I think I’m on my way out of them and one tentacle reaches up and wraps around me and pulls me down. I’ll try not to pout today and get on with it. It’s just frustrating for me. I know, I know the weight didn’t go on in a day but of late it seems it does. Or because I weigh daily I see such.

I’ve got the cookies wrapped and ready for today. I have to clean the house and hang some things outside so my halloween is packed in the sense of getting it done and looking better than it does. Pumpkins are carved, so little things have gotten done on my list but not all of it. Heck I even got all the winter accessories washed and put away yesterday - mittens hats, gloves and scarves - Lordy I’ve got a lot, but it makes sense to have multiples, especially of the mitts, as we go through them often with lots of snow play.

I am also on the search for a speaker cord as we like to pipe halloween scary music ala 70s ktel - yes - they have it on iTunes and yes I’ve had kids who won’t come up on my porch because of it. Hehehehe. I don’t want to disappoint.

So I will try, try again to get out of this da*n decade and on with it. I feel a bit like a repeat failure but I’m still less then I’ve been in a year, but I’m still heavy. I was in a family photo the other day and yep - still sporting the heavy look. I get we are our own worst critic. But darn it I just wish I could shed the fat shell.

Happy Halloween all! May the spooks and goblins give you a scare today and have a laugh at least on one kids costume - some of them make me smile as they come to the door (and I always have one rude one - I DONT LIKE THAT CANDY, give me something else - and I always give them a tootsie roll instead). Yes I hate brats. 😉

Happy day all!

Lemonthyme - The repair estimate for the rear bumper and bed of the pickup is over 2 grand. Our insurance just paid over 5 for the deer wreck. So altogether, almost $8,000 in repairs in less than a month! But, not totaled. The truck is a 2016, which we got used with only 5,000 or so miles on it. It'll take a lot to total a truck that new. lol We've had the darn thing SIX MONTHS! Crazy. I've gone YEARS without a dent in a vehicle.

Husband decided last night that he had a craving for Chicago style pizza. Dinner was NOT healthy or low-calorie. But I only ate one peanut butter ball and none of the Halloween candy. Tonight's dinner is rotisserie bbq chicken that he got on sale and really needs to be eaten, and salad which the pizza place forgot to deliver so we didn't get it until after we'd eaten, so into the fridge it went. At least we now have a healthy supper planned...and left-over pizza in the fridge. :(

I have a ton to do and a dentist appt. at 2 so I best get to work.

Hey guys, quick check in from my phone at home. I’ve been feeling incredibly exhausted recently and I’m not sure why. Maybe not enough sleep is catching up with me but I feel pretty run down. Woke up early to do a strength workout this morning and my 12-yr old DVD player refused to open. It’s been hit or miss with the opening mechanism for months now but today it gave up completely. So by the time I unearthed my brother’s old DVD player from storage, unscrewed the top of my old DVD player to rescue my yoga video and untangled the mess of wires behind my tv to remove said DVD player, it was too late to do any exercise. Sigh. Also the scale hates me because I eat too much. All whole and healthy foods but too darn much of it! Nonetheless technically, I should still be in a deficit and the scale shouldn’t be climbing so it could be water retention etc but it doesn’t matter. I know what to do. If I want to see results, I need to eat wayyy less and I will. Starting tomorrow. (Said not in a procrastinate-y way, but in a it’s 10pm and I’ve eaten all my meals for the day already way). Fortunately, we don’t have Halloween here except in edgy nightclubs and maybe funky private schools. But we don’t get the candy, there’s no trick or treating or decorating or anything. So there’s no extra temptation I have to face luckily. Do you guys live in trick or treating neighborhoods? Are you giving out candy?

Lemonthyme: Happy birthday in arrears! I hope you had an amazing day. All those cookies, girl you have ALLLLL the willpower. I think it’s awesome what you’re doing for those kids and I pray they pay it forward some day. I’m also experiencing somewhat of an upward bounce on the scale so I’m joining you to reign it in. I want to see a great weigh in this weekend so I’m in it with you. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all the things you need to finish today vis-a-vis halloween prep.

Diane: Oh noooooo!!! I’m sorry you’re feeling so under the weather. I hope you went home early and got some rest and lots of hot beverages and honey and if you can stand it super spicy ginger tea.

Lillion: I am in total shock about your car woes. Goodness me!!! If it was in a script I’d be going on about how implausible it is. Really would have loved to be a fly on the wall of your agent. Sorry about the inconvenience. I hope you catch a break soon. You’re way overdue for something lovely and joyous to happen in your life!


Okay guys GTG. I’m not going to do out and out goals because I’m sitting up in bed trying to digest and then I’ll go to sleep. Even though I missed my strength workout this morning, I think I’m going to go running tomorrow depending on the weather. Wishing you guys a blessed evening.

UGH! I worked off and on all day on a post, only to have it disappear before I was done. I usually copy and paste periodically, but I didn't. For now, just going to say I am following all of this, rooting for all y'all, and inspired by all of you.

And for the record, I'm up to 155.0. Need to start heading the other way, but hopefully, I'm on my way today.

Halloween badness! Candy is tripping me up horribly! I’m the one handing our candy out and I’m eating mindlessly! and I just saw an 8 year old in a French maid costume. Ugh!!!!!

I’m sure my scale will be huge AGAIN. Help me stay strong not to throw in the towel and say to heck w the diet until 2018. How about this one- I vow to do the best I can but just realize I’ll float about back and forth and be grumbly about it but it’s me and when I finally leave the 230s it will be time to leave for good. Plus it seems each weekend from now until feb I have something going on! Maybe dieting is easier when you are a hermit?

Enjoy your spooky nights. I’ll do personals later as in tomorrow. My family should be in soon and then I’m off to prep scratch Mac and cheese for them to warm bellies and I’ll have a small 1/2 cup and my big salad. Might as well end the night right and STOP the chocolate.

Oh the craziness!

Ok not facing the scale today. I know it will be up as the siren who haunts with Halloween candy called my name but good. I was weak!

So today will find me on my short walk, I’ve already got 33oz water in and it’s only 341am. I can’t sleep so many thoughts running through my head to the point it’s Driving me nuts. So I’m watching news and seeing the sadness/mess from yesterday. When will this world settle down?

Everything I said I’d do or avoid yesterday: TOTALLY OUT THE WINDOW. Back on the saddle and getting the day going in the right direction that’s my focus. Ugh, why do I do this to Myself?! Alright - I’ll get on with it.

Happy day all.

Hi guys. Checking in quickly before I get swamped. I hope you guys are all well. I saw the tragic incident in New York and thought of you guys hoping that you and all your friends and loved ones are safe. I ended up not working out this morning. I got up early enough but still felt exhausted and run down for some reason so I lay down and dozed a little more. If I get home early enough I’ll try to get some kind of exercise in. Also the scales went up another half pound and I allowed myself a 5-second freak out before putting on my big girl pants and reminding myself that I’m not powerless in this situation. I was a little mad. I’m a little frightened for the pounds that need to go because the rest of the week, I’m determined to be on it!

Laurie: Too bad about the post! I hate when that happens!!! I’m up again too, even from yesterday! Le Sigh! But it’s alright today is a fresh day!

Lemonthyme: The Halloween candy meltdown is totally understandable but it’s also only one day out of several other days when you’ve been on track. And same with all the other events coming up. They can just be one day or one meal out of others on track, 80–20 or 70-30 style. Because let’s face it life happens and it’s not nice to be the one bitterly munching on the kale in the corner. Even when I was super low calorie at 1200-1300 calories a day, I always took a day off each week and certainly a day off for family events and I lost 100lbs doing that. Please don’t give up or peace out till February. One because I’ll miss you on here terribly but mainly because you’re doing the best you can and most days aren’t swimming through a sea of candy and family food functions. You can totally do this and maybe the 220s might be harder won but maintenance or even small losses and the mindfulness that comes with trying is much better than the alternative of giving up. You’ve totally got this sabotaging events or not!

GOALS OF THE DAY
1.) Review/Re-write at least 6 episodes
2.) Stay under 1500 calories. Eat ONLY logged food.
3.) Hit 5000 steps

Toasted: thanks for the reminder! I guess I just get disappointed when I have a day or a few days. I think it irritates me more that I get the weight down and ready to move on and bam. I then see others on this site who just keep
Moving on down the scale seemingly with ease (well and I’m sure work!) Argh! I know, I know- my mom reminds me nothing is harder than loosing weight when you have kids. You just eat with them. Granted they move a ton more than I do and maybe I should pick up their activity practices. I feel today like being the poster child for the 230s yo yo. Oh to give it a swift kick!

Hope your humidity had dissipated and your rewrites minimal.

Laurie: I hate technology when it doesn’t work well! Hope things are looking up for you.

Diane: how’s the cold? I dread colds just because I hate all things associated with it and I swear it takes weeks longer than it probably really does. Hopefully you are on the mend.

Lil: and the deer rut is just beginning en force. Well maybe your grouping of crappy news takes a huge hike. But the good thing is your hubs is ok and the other stuff is replaceable. How was the pizza and candy? You sounded like me about what temptations were in your house too maybe you had better luck!

Vlad: how is you part of the country? Snow yet?

Hello all!

I’m still awake but I think I’ll try and nap as soon as the bus is loaded. This nonsense with sleep is driving me nuts. I am worrying about everything and nothing at the same time. My husband was snoring and sounded like an old fashioned percolating coffee pot at one point, and the moon (or streetlights) seemed extra bright with the bare trees. Oh I can find all things to worry and wake me.

And I came too owing $210 from a bad hair dye job taking my hair from brunette to strawberry blonde w l/ Kool aid red bangs. Don’t even ask what else the dream was, I couldn’t tell you at all but the hair was horrid.

Anyone else having comfort food thoughts with impending winter time? I was looking at recipes as I told the kids we’d try to do a special dinner (the good dishes, good food and good manners) once a month. Sadly most of the recipes that pique my interest are calorie loaded but good. I need to stick to roasted veggies and lean protein I guess instead and leave the recipes alone. However some of them sounded so good!and fat! And comforting! Roasted vegetables it is. 😊

Here’s to trying to shake the worries and maybe the weight will follow. Maybe I’ll find my loss mojo yet again. But until then I’d better go grab some coffee to at least get me through bus stop standing in complete darkness - I’ll keep my kids on the porch until the bus rolls down the street and they can run out to catch it. This whole time change is a pain in the butt! And currently it’s dragging big time.

Happy day all.

Remember how I said we had a healthy dinner planned? Yeah...not so much. I'd forgotten about Wendy's. You see, hubby and I are very supportive of Toys for Tots. We contribute every year and belong to a medieval reenactment group that does a big toy drive. Well our local Marine Corps League chapter had their Toys for Tots storage locker broken into and ALL the toys collected this year so far were STOLEN! So there's a huge push to get LOTS of toys quickly. To start it off, Wendy's promised 30% of their profits to TFT from sales from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the 31st.

So yeah...I had Wendy's for dinner.

Wendy's and candy. Lots and lots of candy.

We had almost NO trick-or-treaters! We aren't in a busy neighborhood, but we got like 30 kids last year. This year I planned and bought 2 big bags of candy. I got 7 - SEVEN - kids! So there's STILL an unopened bag of snickers and a bowl of M&M's and Skittles! But I had my share, that's for sure.

Got to work. It's a terribly busy day!

Take care all...I'll try to bbl.

I'm pretty swamped here at work, so this may be short. I went home on Monday around noon and then took all day off yesterday. Lots and lots of coughing and just feeling achy. I'm better today, but still not 100%. I needed to come in for some training though, so I am staying upright. I couldn't get 3FC to come up on my computer at home, so I didn't get to post.

I've been still trying to log my food and I've been weighing. I've lost a couple of pounds, but I'm not sure if it is because of actual weight loss or if I'm not keeping up with water. That's been a problem. :)

I'll be more exciting tomorrow!! Sorry! I'm fading.....

Slash: sorry you are still feeling poorly. Maybe the time Off will help and you’ll bounce back come Monday.

Lil: why do people thieve things meant to help others? I’ve never understood that and though diet wise it wasn’t perfect, I’m glad you turned out to help them out again to gather toys and monies.

Hello all! Would it be so nice of me to let you know it’s snowing right now - big white fluffy flakes. Yuck! And my yard stuffs aren’t put away yet. I have furniture and coverings from summer to put away yet and a garage to finish cleaning (1/2 done). I’M NOT READY FOR WINTER.

Today has just been a bust in all things. I’m loafing about. I have been up since what - 230am? And I’m on and off chilling and of course eating what I shouldn’t be eating. And my daily outlook is blah for diet and weight loss. I found the kids candy stash. Yes, I’m a bad mom eating their candy. 😊 and I was reading other threads and those lucky sorts are all whipping through their numbers. Does that mean I’m not totally committed to loosing? I don’t know what it means. I mean well to loose, but the damnable eating of 1250 calories a day is driving me batty of late and because it’s getting colder who wants to eat salads daily? I have to figure out my transition to diet friendly winter foods and that always takes a while for me to switch to something that works. Any suggestions?

I will admit in the cold months I like warm and hot for foods - I like creamy soups, hot dishes (quick meal), pastas when it’s cold out. I like to bake as the flakes fly and as you can read - it’s all a bit detrimental to my svelte self that’s been hiding for 10 years. Well I wasn’t svelte then, 180; but I felt good and I was newly married and was totally optimistic about the future. Fast forward to present and I guess I was naieve with what can happen with life’s journey - job losses, many a miscarriage, housing displacement etc. and the weight came on as I ate my stress and worries. And now I have hurdles where I struggle because some days my outlook changes and says WHO CARES! I’ll admit that’s part of my issue right now.

Ok I’ll take my mumbles and run on off to think some more about it all. The one good diet news of the day is I’ve gotten my water in. Well it’s one thing.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll be stomping mad by the time I hop on my scale and have the most fab outlook with it all. Here’s hoping!

155.0

Not enough time in the day. Making bad food choices, but not terrible food choices. Not getting in the work-outs I need, but still doing stuff. The workday is coming to a close, and I still hadn't posted here. I've skimmed through everyone's entries, and really need to take time to respond to individuals, but that's going to have to keep until I can come up for air.

Thank you all for your consistent posting, though! Even though I am not responding specifically to each of you, it is great to know that my struggle is not mine alone, and to see the commitment other people are putting in despite challenges.

FINALLY I’m ending a day on a good note - a small serving of scrambled eggs, salad and 1, yes one, thin slice of Italian bread w/ a pat of butter. So I’ll have some more water and get on with it. I’m sure the scale will still be up there again as I just be a glutton for punishment to keep revisiting the same numbers. Woot - I’ve never said I’m a super achiever 😊

Ok - may all your troublesome pounds take a hike overnight. I aim to have better spirits tomorrow to deal with it all.

Hi guys. Not much is new with me. I didn’t make my step goal yesterday but I did work out for an hour after dinner so I’m pretty pumped about that because it’s not the easiest thing for me to do since I get home so late. I did okay reviewing scripts and ate within my calories and the scale is down 1lb today. I doubt that’s because of yesterday’s good behaviour though- more likely letting go of some water or something. I’m trying for 2 days in a row of being on plan. So far, I’ve exercised this morning (upper and Lower body strength training which hopefully won’t lead to DOMS and water retention tomorrow and a scale bounce but we’ll see) so now I only have to stay on track with eating calorie-wise and I’ll be 2 days in a row on plan for the first time in basically forever!!!! C’mon Me!!!!

Lemonthyme: Yay ending the evening on a good note! Totally woooooot worthy! It’s so hard when you’re having a strugglicioua day to turn it around. It’s easier to say “oh I’ll just start again tomorrow,” so go you taking action immediately! As for the koolaid bangs dream... Eek!!! The humidity here isn’t going to get much better. We only have 2 seasons here- the dry season (when it doesn’t rain much) and the rainy season (when it rains endlessly)- both are hot and humid. 70% humidity is pretty much as low as it gets and average temperatures are usually in the 80s year-round with humidity in the 80%s being typical.

Lillion: My mind is blown that people would still for toys for tots. My Pollyanna side hopes the thieves whomever they are are of the Robin Hood variety and are stealing the toys for children who don’t have any rather than for commercial purposes.

Laurie: We’re all fellow strugglers. I’m thinking of you and hoping you can come up for air soon. Here’s to less stress and a little more breathing room very soon for you!

Diane: I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better. I hope you’re back to 100% soon. Colds have a way of really knocking the stuffing out of one. Sorry! Yay dropped pounds for any reason!

I wish you guys a fabulous day ahead. It’s my favourite day of the week because it’s filled with Friday dreams and weekend anticipation so I’m pretty pumped. Blessings to you all.

GOALS FOR THE DAY
1.) Stay under 1500 calories
2.) finish reviewing scripts
3.) finalize lists
4.) Go running tomorrow morning, weather permitting

232.8

Well it’s better than I feared it would be. So working on taking it back down. I’m resigned to the fact I’ll definitely be a yo-yo through New Years. My hope is that I can get into the 220s at least by Christmas. Yo-yo or a fishing bobber - that’s me!

Toasted: ugh the humidity - I’d look like that broccoli icon I use often - my hair would be crazy and out there. In fact I’ll finally pick up the gel today to take it. I feel quasi politicians wife hairdo - it’s really looking too boobish right now. Well I do hope you enjoy your cooler weather. Good for you on getting some movement in - you are doing better than I. Today I will be sprinting through my grocery store to get the shopping done in between the bus pick up and drop off. Do you celebrate a 10 lb loss, and if so how?

Laurie: sorry to hear work is overwhelmingly busy. I hope it slows some for you. You had said you lived in MN once - I’ll send you the snow we got yesterday as it amounted to probably melting all today but we do have a good dusting. Hope you manage to catch your breath.

Lil: how was dinner last night? Did you get your rotisserie chix eaten?

Vlad: where did you go?

Diane: how are you feeling? Hopefully healthy and on the run!

Hello all!

Me again - so my outlook today is I can do as best I can. I’ve hidden the candy so it’s not in eyesight - in a cupboard at knee to foot level. So even if I did open the door I will not see it calling my name.

Grocery run today and I’ve a lot of fresh on my list to get - and avocados have come way down in price so I’ll add those back onto my list. I have principals of not paying over 1.00 for one. They can keep them - I think in the last few months the highest I saw was 1.89/ea. They are good, just not that good! I will see what fall produce is in and see if roasting is a good fit for some Of them to my diet and outlook.

So I’ll post more later when my brain is with me, the groceries away and the day slows a bit. I’m grateful y’all listen to my ramblings. It helps me to keep going on this darn journey and not give up. Activity on here helps so thanks for that!

Happy day all the week is Almost done. Thank goodness. But I’m traveling again - marathon car time with traveling out of state for bday party so in the car all 3 days for 3 hours each ride. Oh dear.

Hey all.

Lemon, I did get my chicken eaten...with potato salad. :/ So not so healthy, but it's eaten. I only exceeded my calories slightly last night, as opposed to the THOUSAND I went over on Halloween!

Toasted, I wish I could be Pollyanna too about the theft, but as the thieves DESTROYED any toys they didn't take ($10,000 worth!) I somehow doubt they're "give to the poor" types.

I mean, what the :censored: ! Really? WHY steal thousands of dollars of TOYS meant for needy children? Makes my blood boil and breaks my heart all at once. :(

So anyway, I'm in a mood today. An awful, evil, I-don't-know-whether-to-cry-or-smack-someone funk. No real reason...I'm just tired and crabby. I need to sleep for a week - or at least until 9 a.m. - but every day including Saturday and Sunday it's up with the dog and two pills, 1/2 hour apart, the second needing down by 7:30 at the latest, so no sleeping in for Lil.

Yesterday was a drizzly 50 degrees. I thought it was definitely soup weather - so after choir practice I spent an hour putting a delicious stew together in the crockpot - venison, potatoes, carrots, wine, onions, garlic, wild mushrooms - you get the picture. Today it's sunny and 70. Eh. I guess it'll still taste good...just not what I planned, as is the norm for me these days.

Sorry...I'll quit being a downer now. :wave:

Lemonthyme: I'm glad you ended your day well. That's something to smile about!! I agree with you that it is much more fun to eat something warm and comforting in the winter. I think it can be done, but you need to try to go for the lower calorie versions. I love soup and I actually prefer the more broth type. I know you said you like the creamy soups, but maybe throw a few of the veggie/broth ones in. It is really hard on the baking and temptations over the next couple of months. I guess we should try to keep a little under control and have a few indulgences as well! Just a tough time of year.

Laurie: Hang in there! Work can really overtake a lot, so I hope you are still able to take care of yourself. Sounds like you are keeping in control as much as possible!!!

Toasted: Way to go on the exercising! I am anxious to get back to it. I'm really missing it. Glad you saw a loss too! That's always helpful to get some extra motivation with seeing some results!!

Lilion: Such a sad thing with the toys. People are just awful sometimes. By the way, though, your stew sounds wonderful! Enjoy it! It sounds so good and so healthy!! Very nice.

For me, I'm getting better. I hate that it takes so long to get over a cold. Ugh! I do think that by Monday, I should be good to go back to the gym. I miss it so much! I feel so lethargic and tired. While some of that is the cold, some of it is just the lack of activity. I think we're supposed to have a decent weekend, so maybe I can at least get outside to do some stuff.

I have been doing well with food. With no exercise, I have to try extra hard to restrict. I hate that. I don't know how this week will end up, but I'll keep trying.

I am thinking of coming up with a special goal for the next couple of months. It is tough with the holidays, but maybe with a mini goal, it will help me keep on track. I won't make it too crazy, because I don't need added stress, but something to focus on. So, I'll check my weight on Monday, and I think I'll shoot for losing just 5 pounds over the next two months. I might be able to do that.... :) Anyone who wants to join me is welcome!

Diane: I’ll join you in the 5lb challenge - however since I’m a yo-yo I hope in the end there is a net loss! How often do you want a weigh in reported- Daily? I’ll even promise to weigh when TOM makes its appearance. One of my favorite soups is a beef veg (clear broth) but I don’t have excess cooked roast in the freezer which I had been throwing in the last month on my soup nights. Any soup I make I enjoy I should rephrase- I prefer creamier ones, however there are only 2 I make at home, my potato one I love, but have to be mindful of as it’s a bit on the rich side with some cheese, cream of soup and sour cream. I’m making it tonight, as it’s my families favorite and I haven made since last winter. I’ll make sure mine is a smaller portion and have more salad then soup.

Lil: soup weather - it’s here - I was doing lots of soups in September. Enjoy it - what I miss is the warm bread I used to make and serve with it and tonight I plan to make soup tonight. boo on the potato salad - you’ll get there, one day both of us will be on task w the calories! I thought of you as I sped down the road and saw a deer on the side - it wasn’t there on my trip to town, only on the return. I think the car won as best it could as nothing else was there but the deer. Our counties just have you call in and file online as long as there is no bodily or property damage other than your own vehicle. My DH called before I left today to tell me he spooked up 3 or them in his first 20 mins of his commute. I loathe deer rut and their blind chase.

Hi all!

Ok I promised my little family we would do a dress up dinner once a month - good China, dressed table etc. however for the life of me I’m drawing a blank on what to serve. I don’t want to do turkey - and I’ve a spouse who is not a fan of meat when the bone is attached (ugh). Any suggestions? We are also not a fish family unless it’s deep fried and I don’t do that at home ever. My sides, I have no issues with, but my main is my biggest issue.

Thus far doing well with calories YEAH. maybe once the little one is up we’ll take a quick walk - it’s been raining on and off today. I was able to dodge the drops when unloading the car. And though my time for a walk isn’t too great - I’m at least moving a bit. My goals for the rest of the day:

1. Drink my water
2. Eat only my calories allotted.
3. Try for the walk
4. Laugh

Ok I’m off in quest for number 4. Happy afternoon all!

Ok - I like Christmas however can I ask why today, while watching tv; that most commercials now feature Christmas trees, holidays etc? I mean Halloween is barely over and we start w Christmas ads already? What about thanksgiving? Just crazy!

Vlad: I was listening to NPR on my way to town today - I didn’t realize the northeast was battered by storms - hope all is ok by you and you aren’t one of those w/o power!

Ok - soups on and smells good. Had to bake two treats for DHs meeting tonight - I’ve even accounted in my Calories for a small piece of one of them as it’s a jelly roll tray full. I’ll cut it up and make it look good for serving. I will avoid bread and butter with gr soup though that sounds good too! I will be good and avoid those extra calories.

I hope I can do this this weekend. Always a bit of a challenge when traveling but I think I’ll pack a salad with me as I’m not sure what I’ll find to eat when we arrive. My family is ok with it all - they know I’m trying to loose.

Ok - I’ll hop off and just get on with my evening. Enjoy the end of the week.

The bone is an issue... I'd have suggested Cornish game hens for something with a fancy presentation. Maybe you could do something like chicken cordon bleu? You can actually make that pretty healthy. I make it with a bit of honey mustard and laughing cow cheese to make it extra creamy.

Hey guys, how is it going? I didn’t go to bed early last night and so this morning, instead of pressing snooze, I accidentally turned my alarm off and slept for another couple of hours! SMH! So, no run. However, I weighed myself and the scale was positive so I felt motivated to do a Tabata video workout anyway and so I did one and was late to work. So definitely starting Friday in an unexcellent way. The only way is up! I’m determined to make the best of the rest of the day. I stayed under 1500 calories as planned yesterday but I didn’t accomplish my other goals. Hopefully I’ll do better today.

Lemonthyme: eek about the First Lady bob. Do you think that’s why you’re having bad hair day dreams? Re: the fancy dinner, what about steak or duck or pork loin or some kind of roast you can carve. Or you can do some kind of stew with a fancy French name to go with your sides. Safe travels this weekend.

Diane: I’d love to do a challenge with you. I’ve been bouncing around the same poundage for a few months now so I’d love to kick away 5lbs for good. When do you want to start? I’m glad you’re feeling better but give yourself time. A cold has a way of really wiping a person out so that even after you’re better, you still feel generally icky.

Lillion: That’s just terrible! To add destruction to thieving is just the absolute worst and to deprive needy kids of toys that people have particularly wanted them to have is just unspeakably awful. I hope the thieves are caught. I’m sorry you had a rough day. I can’t imagine how physically and emotionally exhausted you must be after the past few weeks you’ve had. I’m praying for strength and peace for you. I hope you can find a little time for some self-care and doing something that makes you happy. And it’s okay to feel rage-y sometimes. Human emotion shouldn’t be one dimensional. I suppose it’s finding a positive outlet or a safe place to share your emotions. Know we’re here for you whenever you need to rant or vent or just talk about how you’re feeling! :HUG: :HUG:

Wishing you guys a fabulous and safe and blessed weekend!

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
1.) Stay under 1600 calories for the day
2.) Go to the grocery store and get all the veggies
3.) Get up to Episode 21 in script review

Hey everyone!

Toasted, thanks...I'm feeling better today. I went home yesterday at noon and didn't come back. LOL I was just SO TIRED! That's been half the problem lately. I don't get enough sleep and I'm tired and cranky and craving carbs and comfort food. I forgot to weigh this morning! But I'm sure it would have been up a couple pounds...which is annoying, but really, what could I expect with how I've been eating?

Anyway - I went home and on the way saw this huge and wonderful wild mushroom in a neighbor's yard. As luck would have it - the one I just ran out of! They are called Maitake - or Hen of the Woods - and they are delicious and grow GREAT BIG. One will give you several meals worth. So I delayed my nap to clean it and put some in my stew - which was insanely good if I do say so myself. The other mushrooms I'd planned on really weren't our favorites...I was more just using them up. I did eventually get my nap for about 1/2 hour, which was lovely, and husband and I were in bed by 10 p.m. I still overslept this morning, and I'm still tired, but better.

Lemon - do you like beef stew? I seriously have the BEST recipe! I'd be happy to share. I used venison, but that's because we have so much in the freezer!

Slashnl - glad you are feeling better.

Tonight - well, it's a good thing that breakfast and lunch are lower cal because it's time for a tub of popcorn, extra butter, while we see Thor - Ragnarok. I'm excited to have a movie date with the hubby. Saturday I'm going to a craft show with a friend who's got a booth to chit-chat and help out and then shopping. I have exactly ONE pair of slacks that still fit me and I need work clothes!

You all have a great weekend.

Lil: my MIL collects morels every spring on their land - I hope you enjoyed your mushroom. Sounds like it made a nice addition to your stew!

Toasted: who knows on the hair, drives me nuts I can’t find someone who knows how to work with waves and curls. The trend up here is to flat iron it all. I loathe flat ironing on myself - both for time and heck - I like my crazy hair as it’s a bit of my dad that lives on.

Sometimes maybe a sleep in is what is warranted. You’ll get the exercise in when you can. I just set the timer for my youngest to get himself dressed and then we’ll go for our walk. Nothing great just some movement and fresh air.

Hello all!

AM: with clothes on 233. How much winter pjs weigh I don’t know. I’ll slay off a pound and make myself happy and say
232

Ugh. Well once this weekend is done I will have 2 weeks of non celebrating. And then turkey day and more travels. Well maybe in that time I can find the elusive 229 - a whole flipping year later. 😨

Finishing my coffee. I’m way behind due to laundry which was huge as I pulled out the rest of the winter totes so everything is clean and fresh. I have us packed for the weekend less the personal care and chargers. I have a house to clean - I think every family should be gifted the help of a cleaning team once every month. I’d sure enjoy it. As is, huge amount to be done and my DH doesnt see any of it. But I’ll get some picked up and cleaned so we have a clean space to fall into upon our return home. Some days I feel that’s all I do.

Ok happy weekend to you all. I will try to be proactive about this diet all weekend long. I’m even making dinner here to take in the car w/us. I hope it works fine and will save me oodles of calories I’m sure!

What is this? Back twice in one day? Who am I?!!! Anyway, I'm back on here because I'm obviously not going to accomplish any of my work goals today. I've been inundated with admin-type tasks and responding to clients and reviewing glossaries for translators and that kind of stuff so that it's 4.30pm and I've done NOTHING on the scripts. Oh well... I was late today but I won't let worker's guilt stop me from leaving at the crack of 5 today (usually I stay pretty late). The organic food store I want to go to closes at 6pm and I can already tell there's Friday traffic. Also distracting was the fact that it's our office baby's 2nd birthday today. To explain, our office baby is actually the younger child of our Grants Administrator. We are a baby-friendly office in the sense that there's no creche per se but you can bring your babies or kids to work as long as you have a nanny or babysitter or someone to watch them as there's a baby room sort of set up. Anyway we call them our office babies and our youngest office baby turned 2 today and brought cake and soda etc. I don't drink soda anyway so I felt nothing about that, but cake!!! You guys know how I feel about cake!!! Low-key tears, man! Low key tears! I was like "should i break my Whole30 for cake? I don't want to be that person that didn't eat office baby's cake." In the end office baby dived fist first into her own cake and got it all over herself (a girl after my own heart) and when her mother took her away to clean her up after we'd sang and she cut her cake, I told the person divvying up the cake not to divvy me in. Instead I had roasted plantain and grilled chicken drumsticks. Like a saint. #SaintlySigh

This is obviously going to be a work-filled weekend at home for me so I'm just making sure all the stuff I've been working on is on my cloud and trying to wrap up the admin stuff and for once, clock watching hard. Maybe I'll try to do one script before 5 once I'm done with this check in. Let's see.

Lilion: I'm glad you took a much-needed afternoon off. I googled "maitake mushrooms" and they look pretty impressive. What do they taste like? Mushrooms are pretty expensive here because they are all imports from Europe. The only mushroom that readily grows here and thus isn't a luxury item is the oyster mushroom and it's not my favourite at all- so chewy. I guess I've never found anything good to do with them yet. Any suggestions?

Alright bye again. Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

Toasted: hah! I’m the one that posts throughout my day - it helps me
To not eat! Good for you bypassing the cake - strong! Enjoy your weekend, I loathe weekend work as I used to do it often. Didn’t get paid for it but included it.

AM: got out w the little and took our 15 min walk. Nothing much but it was something. Just had breakfast nothing great either. Oh well within calories I guess as only a hard boiled egg will do😊 I’ll have to look up
Plantain - I’ve heard of and can’t picture - is it like a banana?

Got heavily complemented on one of my treats I sent a/DH for his memorial service he held. Kind of nice to hear others like my treats. I’ll fatten them up. Hehehe. No, I actually reminded him some of these families might like to sit and talked about their loved one lost. A little bit of sweet and coffee/tea is always appreciated. Been there done that w loss in my life.

Nightmare before Christmas is now on for the little. Today is our loose day to do things no real pressure. Friday’s are no school days, so we play and read and he gets his movie. I get things done in that time usually. I will miss the days when naps end.

When you all want an in calorie dessert what do you tend to turn to? In the summer for me it’s s fruit salad - winter time is harder. Looking for new ideas - I’m always open to try something new.

Happy day all!

Lemonthyme: No real rules on the 5 pound loss goal. I'm going to start mine with Monday's weigh in. I just wanted to have a mini goal to try to keep on task with all the holiday stuff coming up. Oh, and I am with you regarding the Christmas overboard. I absolutely love Thanksgiving, so it makes me sad when people want to forge past it to Christmas. Way too early for that stuff!!!!

Toasted: Good job with the cake issue! That's really hard to turn down, I'm sure. As I said above, whenever you want to start on the goal is good to me!! Oh, and it sounds like you are rebounding well after a rough start!! I rarely oversleep because I am such an early rising type of person, but it makes it hard to function the rest of the day.

Lilion: Movie night sounds like a good time! I have heard some good things about that movie, too, so I'll bet you'll find some laughs there!! I've never heard of a maitake mushroom. That was quite the find for you!!

For me, very happy to have the weekend. I am feeling better but still not 100%. I think the weekend will help. I hope to do some outside things since it will be pretty nice this weekend. Not sure how much longer we have with nice weather, so I need to get some stuff done.

I do think that I'm ready to get back to the gym. I will probably need to take it a little easy, but I just want to get back. Have a good weekend everyone!

Ha! I'm back too! I just don't want to work, but I will in a few.

Toasted I hadn't caught that you are in Africa. How interesting! I bet you have lots of exotic (to us) things you eat. But mushrooms are kind of an acquired taste I think. I'm surprised to hear Oyster mushrooms called "chewy". Fresh ones that grow here are very delicate. If you get them old, they may get woody and then they'd be chewy, but fresh ones shouldn't be. Unless you have a different type of Oyster there. I'm going to have to google that; you've peaked my interest. I'd imagine you end up getting most of your mushrooms canned or dried? I know you can order them dried over many websites, including Amazon.

Maitake is the Japanese name. It means "dancing mushroom" because when you find it you dance for joy. lol It's a very bold mushroom - not a subtle flavor. It tastes a lot like a morel to me, but stronger. They're sturdy too...more of a chew to them than say a white button mushroom would have. They are VERY good for you. In fact, they've been found to lower blood sugar, blood pressure and fight tumor growth! My dog is actually on a supplement prescribed by the vet for her cancer and Maitake is one of the four mushrooms in it, along with Reishi, Turkey Tail and Shiitake mushrooms. I'm not a great finder of mushrooms. I find ringless honey mushrooms, and chanterelles occasionally, but morels evade me. Maitake I find every year...and it doesn't take many. I had one last year that was over 8 pounds! A single mushroom!

Now you all know my secret...I'm a closet forager. I love looking for wild edibles. Berries and nuts and mushrooms and such. You don't even have to be in the woods - some of the best stuff you can find in people's yards! Shutting up about it now. :lol:

lil: with morels they say if you save the water you cleaned them in and then dump near a tree in your yard, you will have morels spring up. How true this is I don't know, nor do I know what side of the tree you do this on and if it has to be special, like an oak. But I did tell my MIL, however it's my FIL that cleans and dehydrates them and he's quick to disperse the water. I think a few springs ago they had like 4 gal bags of dried ones.

diane: Ok, then I will weigh in on monday. I am sure I will be back high, no sense in loosing over a weekend my body says, my mind says shut the heck up. Will see where I fall.

smoke: Does your area have to worry on the plague? I know it's on the east coast/madagascar area I think (news article is away) and I wondered if this is something you all have to worry about like we are suppose to "worry" about the flu or ticks? Did you get to your grocer before they closed? Are you hanging with family in between your work?

AM: I forgot to eat lunch! I will just have dinner and call it happy. I may have an extra piece of string cheese in there. I had begun water drinking, but lost my bottle somewhere in all that I was getting done. I have finally gotten all my laundry and winter clothes done and hanging - not everything is put away - I will deal w/that on monday.

I may not be online this weekend. I aim to keep busy and also get a walk in - shoes are ready to go into the car. I have a hat and mittens too - it was brisk out when the little and I went this morning.

alrighty - will try to stay strong this weekend and see what I can do! Hopefully you all do well yourselves!