Los Angeles has been "cold" and gray for the past couple of days... so I'm feeling blah, fat and frumpy too.

Part of it is that went to my WW meeting and weighed more than I thought I would. A whole pound more. And it doesn't help to know that I ate more than my alloted points over the weekend and here it is showing up. I thought that by exercising every day and eating very close to pure core since monday it would balance out. At times like this I want to throw in the towel... but I've lost a total of 5 pounds since Jan. 08 and I don't really want to give up.

Our leader was talking to us about POSTIVE SELF TALK... and all I wanted to do was shut her up. Sad but true. And she really is pretty teriffic...

What's a gal to do ?

Hi Patch,
I wouldn't let a pound get you down. People can vary 5 pounds in a day depending on a whole bunch of variables, including poop. Don't ask me why I'm thinking about poop. Ok, I'm overdue for some myself. (tmi)

Today I went to Chi Ball class, one of those mind-body type of classes which is exactly what I need. It was good. And it had lots of stuff for balance. Anyone else ever tried Chi Ball?

Oh Spiny I wish there was some Chi ball around here. It is exactly what I need.
I almost made it to the gym this morning. It is light out now by 6am and so that will get me going. I did not sleep too well. Sleep seems to elude me. Any suggestions anyone??
I just need some balance I am sure of that. It is a drag to wake up in the morning exhausted.
Hi patch. I can sure hear you about all the pain and no gain. Or no loss to be precise. I think that it unfortunately we have to stay pretty true to form.

I remember reading that "you can eat anything you want for 30 days of the year" I liked that. I like things that I can plan helps with the guilt.
So for me it would be all the holidays and my birthday. I could handle that.

Oh counting I know what you mean. I remember getting down to 129lb and people were saying I was skinny. Ate a hot dog the next day and gained it all back. I will be on guard this time. Not likely I will ever be 129 again but would be happy to be 150.
One day at a time as they say. I liked that old WW thing about setting the timer for 30 minutes and do something else in the meantime. I am going to pull some knitting out. Sweaters anyone. Everyone got a sweater when I quit smoking.

So hear is to a good day to you all. I am down another pound this week. slow but sure I guess.
Jude

Jay - hope the meeting went well AND you were able to stay OP.

Linda - I wish we had a mall to crawl Ah, life in a small town.

Patch - that darn scale is so fickle. I can stay POP and gain weight. I also find that neglecting my fluid intake for a couple days almost always causes a gain. As DH keeps reminding me - water is a great diuretic.

Jo - I would love to be able to try Chi ball. No such luck having anything like that around here. Ah, life in a small town.

Jude - I can usually get myself back to sleep with the old "relaxation" techniques: start with the toes, relax the muscles - work up the body. Lots of deep breathing as you go. It also helps me to wind down before I go to bed. A cup of tea, or a glass of wine. Reading something light. Crossword puzzle or game on my computer. Listening to relaxing music. Oh, and for some reason - I can fall asleep praying

I'm bummed - I didn't get my second workout in today. I came home from work, at my protein snack and promptly fell asleep on the couch for an hour instead. Everyone around me at work is out with the flu. I have been working overtime all week. I think my body needed the rest more than the exercise. But, I HATE it when I don't stick to my plan. Oh, well - glad I got my pilates in this morning.

Sleep is a challenge for me also; and always has been. I didn't even sleep well as a child. I remember being a little kid, listening to the radio all night because my mother found if she put a radio on in my room I would at least be still and quiet. Those AM stations were so bad. What was that song, Kat-a-reee-na, uh uh uh uh - played about every 20 minutes. I never heard it since.
Lately sleep has been especially bad, since my friend died. I don't know that I can or should recommend doing what I do, but I have lately taken a couple of Relacore PM's (no, it has not reduced belly fat but I think it helps my mood) before bed. Sometimes it does not result in any actual sleep, but it may be calming. It has some relaxing herbs in it.
Sometimes I find it helpful to think about a dream I had recently (if it's not a bad dream) because it might suggest to my mind that it should go back into that dream state.

Good Morning . . .

Yesterday was great fun . . . as well as the mall-crawl (next town over, BTW, we don't have one, here), we had Chinese for lunch and my first Birthday cake. Definitely staying off the scale for a little while -- maybe the rest of the month. Today is going to be an instant replay with a different group and a different restaurant, but it will end with more cake. Not sure why everybody has decided that my 65th MUST be celebrated. I've told them all, over and over again, that I'm never going to get older than '50-something' anyway. At least by Monday night it will all be over and I can, hopefully, get myself back on the great downward track. So far this has not been a good year for the diet and exercise routines.

At least the weather is doing an instant replay as well -- another day of and -- supposed to be making a change for the worse tomorrow, though; so guess we'd better enjoy the sun while it is hear.

Have a great day, gang . . . keep things moving and shaking . . .

Good morning, over 50s!

My business meeting literally took all day. It included a round trip of 3 hours, the last part of which was during rush hour. I can't imagine how I used to get through rush hour! A lunch out at the client's expense was involved--which was good--but I ate more than I ought to. Which was not so good. I've entered everything I ate into FitDay and am just going to consider that day closed.

Time to move on to a NEW day! And back to the gym...

Spiny, it sounds like you are really missing your friend... you must have been very close. Was it someone who lived with you--or near you? That would be hard...

hijude, if I ate anything I wanted for 30 days of the year, I'd gain. I'm just convinced of this.

But, who's counting!

Jay

LINDA - so it's a big birthday weekend for you! Here is my idea of the perfect birthday cake:

http://www.soompi.com/forums/lofiver...86716-300.html

Hi all -

Thanks for all the kind comments. I guess I really need it right now.

I'm desperate to break through to 164 lbs... That was the weight I was when I joined WW a year and a half ago, in August 06 right now I'm 166-7. The truth is up until this January 08...I just was not sticking to program and so I ultimately gained an additional 10 pounds

Now that I've been pretty focused I'm starting to lose again, but can't seem to get past the 166 - 167 mark. Any ideas ? I'm on the WW Core program and want to stay with that. thanks !

Linda and Meowee - happy B Day ! enjoy it gals !
Spiny - it's hard to lose a good friend. I like to think that a friend that I've lost is still with me... being my guardian angel.
Jay - I'm right there with biz lunches... btw those and biz dinners I guess it's no wonder I can't keep losing.
countingdown - you're right... I never drink enough water
[B]Jo[B] - So what is Chi Ball ?
Jude boy would I love to eat anything 30 days of the year. I have a feeling if I really stuck to that it might work out... but the weekends are so tough for me... I always want a "little more" of something. ah well

have a great weekend all

Patch

Looks wonderful JO . . . much healthier than the chocolate cheesecake version they whipped up at today's Italian restaurant. Once again, I'm so full I'm surprised I could fit behind the steering wheel to drive home.

Gee PATCH . . . . . . I may be big enough for two; and noisy enough for two; and definitely old enough for two . . . but there is only one of me . . . Linda is my 'realworld' name (and my 'realworld' birthday is Monday, the 25th).

Spiny - I used to listen to "Radio Mystery Theater" in the 70's when I was supposed to be sleeping. It got me hooked on audio books I think.

Linda -
We had sun today too. It felt GLORIOUS! And a beautiful sunset to finish it off. I almost think I can make it until spring

Jay - glad you made it home safe and sound. I don't think I could live in a city. I really hate driving during rush hour. And I'm not particularly patient when traffic slows to a crawl. I really am blessed to be able to walk to work part of the year, and even when I have to drive, it is a straight shot down the hill about a mile away.

Patch, I would say to kick up the exercise a notch. That seems to help me push past a stall. Also watching your carb/protein/fat balance can help.

I'm very glad it is Friday - it was a busy week! I hope you all have a wonderful POP weekend

Patch - Chi Ball is (from my class description):
CHI BALL is an exhilarating class that will stimulate your cardiovascular system, tone your muscles, stretch your body, and relax your mind. This class combines the principles of Thai Chi-Chi Kung, Yoga, Pilates, and Feldenkrais with fluid movements using a CHI BALL. CHI BALL is a great class for the mind and body, for all ages and fitness levels. Chi Balls are provided.

The Chi Ball itself is about 6-7 inches in diameter, kind of soft, and comes in different scents for aromatherapy. The first half of the class has more rapid movements, where the second half of the class has slow movements.

Thanks to everyone for their kind understanding -- I really don't want to be a down-bringer.

Today I did Nautilus machines for an hour, and a bunch of ball-crunches. (not Chi.) This makes 3 days in a row at the gym this week. If I can go both days this weekend, and I shouldn't say "if," it will be a big change from the last 5 weekends!

It has been gently snowing since sometime in the middle of the night. At least it is falling straight down (i.e., no high winds are whipping it around) and it is not too heavy (about 3 inches).

Blizzard is feeling pretty happy this morning. I noticed that his headgear was looking pretty dingey and it was coming unfastened anyway, so I took it off to see what he would do. He did a little scratching, but more in areas where the collar was irritating him than in the sore ear, and then settled down to giving himself a good bath for the better part of three hours. The ear is looking pretty good so I'll let him alone for a while and just keep an eye on things. If he gets it bleeding again, obviously the collar will have to go back on.

Well, guess I'd better go visit a few other 3FC places. No big plans for today so hopefully I'll eat sensibly for today at least. Another party-like day on Sunday and then another lunch outing on Monday (which is actually my Birthday) and then, hopefully, all my so-called friends will stop forcing me to overeat ( , they actually tie me up and pry my mouth open against my will ) and I can get my act back together.

Hey! Today was a rainy day here, which was nice. We can use the rain!

Other than cleaning floors, I've had a pretty quiet day. I didn't get to the gym, but I think that's OK. I'll be there tomorrow. Of course, I could go there now... naw, not tonight.

I think instead I'll take a long hot shower and then settle in for TV or reading.

Food has been good the last couple of days since the business lunch, but not quite good enough.

I wish I were one of those folks who can eat high cals one day and low cals the next and lose weight--but all that happens to me is my weight goes up, then down, and basically stays the same. Bleah!

Spiny, the Chi Ball sounds interesting, but I despise most aromatherapy scents, so I'd have to stay with the scent-free version. I hope you're making it to the gym this weekend!

Patch, I agree with Counting--try upping the exercise a little bit. WW Core is a good way to go--I have a friend who has lost 40 pounds so far, and only had a few stalls on it. She walks every day and rides her bicycle to work.

See ya...

Jay

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Spiny - wow - you are doing GREAT! I think Chi ball sounds fun! I like yoga and pilates and I like most of the aromatherapy scents.

Linda - glad Blizzard is on the mend! Why is it that people think food has to be involved with every celebration? And of course - with a Halloween birthday - people always think that chocolate or donuts should be part of the fare

Jay - good for you <hangs head shamefully> for doing the floors. Mine were on my agenda today and I didn't get them done. I spent the time on the Internet trying to get cheap airfare and a hotel for our spring break trip to see my Mom. I had resolved that we would drive (about 13 hour trip) since airfare to Knoxville has been about twice what I paid the last two years. When, low and behold - prices for spring break week actually dropped. I put in a ridiculuoulsy low bid, and
The kicker is of course that it is a 6:00 a.m. flight, and we live about 90 minutes from the airport. So, I had to comb the Internet for a hotel near the airport with a free shuttle and free parking while we are gone. Wow - I've almost convinced MYSELF that I had a good excuse for not cleaning those floors