[retiredone]

Today I ate at potluck and I believe I made some good choices. I piled my plate with salad vegetables and had some brown rice and chili, low fat sour cream and salsa. And instead of dessert I chose a raisin bun (some would call it a scone, but we call 'em buns) with a little margarine and homemade jam. The bun was still full of calories and such but it paled in comparison to some of the desserts on the table. I might have had fruit if it was available but I'm happy with my choices.

[meowee]

Hi . . .

Our official forecast calls for mostly sunny, but you definitely cannot tell by looking. Guess our rain yesterday was quite localized. Unfortunate, because today it's difficult to even guess at the weather by looking outside. There is a very large out-of-control brush fire raging just this side of Halifax (about two hours from here, luckily) and the smoke is definitely blowing this way. About 5000 people have been evacuated and so far there is only property damage but they just cannot seem to get control of the fire. Think I'll be sticking to home again today . . . not a good day to be out and about.

Hope the rest of you have a great and fun day . . .

[retiredone]

Hi Meowee, we saw the forest fire on the news. I hope no one gets hurt.

Back at it today. No walk as it was cold and raining so I did 40 minutes of aerobics from the Dollarama dvd, 5k on exercise bike and 35 counter push-ups. I also spent 3 hours shopping so got in lots of strolling around the grocery stores and mall.

After trying to keep up with the aerobics dvd, I have come to the conclusion that I'll never be a professional dancer. I just kept moving and worked up a sweat but I can tell you that most of the time what I was doing did not resemble the movements of the instructors. By the time I figured out what they were doing they weren't doing it anymore. But it beat going out in the cold rain.

[meowee]

Originally Posted by retiredone

By the time I figured out what they were doing they weren't doing it anymore.

The story of my efforts exactly -- I can't even keep up with the WiiFit Miis. Hey, at least we try.

[meowee]

Happy Monday Morning . . .

My day is looking decent -- both the weight and the blood sugar went in the right direction this morning -- but more importantly that fire has finally been contained and all but 50 of the 5000 evacuees have been able to go home. The firefighters finally got a break and the wind shifted and blew the fire back where it had already come from and it quite simply ran out of new fuel. Hopefully by the time I'm writing this it will have been put completely out and the cleanup can begin.

Other than that -- nothing exciting for me -- weather is a little dull right now but at least the smoke haze is gone so I hope to get out at least to run some errands.

Hope the rest of you have a great day . . .

[retiredone]

A happy Monday to everyone. Today for lunch I made the most awesome rice dish- brown rice, broccoli, onion, feta and cheddar cheese. Oh my, I had 2 servings and could have eaten twice as much. It's the feta cheese that gives that wonderful flavor and saltiness to the dish. It was about 200 calories per packed 1/2 cup serving.

And I've been baking banana bread. I had 9 large dead bananas that had to be used or committed to the garbage. I made 2 large loaves, one with walnuts and one with candied mixed fruit. I had enough batter left over to make 16 small muffins. I'm trying to use up bits and pieces of containers of left-over food/baking supplies so therefore the mixed fruit in banana bread. I made the walnut loaf with 100% whole wheat flour and the mixed fruit with half white and whole wheat. I don't think any of the breads will help me get lighter but they'll keep me happy in small doses.

I need to go exercise as soon as my dinner digests a bit more. Today is my circuit workout. Yesterday I did the aerobic dvd and today I have a sore bum. Must have worked a new set of muscles.

Ah, there goes the oven buzzer. Time to take out that last banana bread. Have a good day.

[meowee]

Good Morning . . .

Not feeling too full of vim and vigour today -- partly weather since it's pretty overcast and supposed to rain later one -- partly because this is the day for my annual Gyn visit -- partly because the weight blipped up again. Oh well -- everything on the list will pass in due course.

Hope everybody else has a good one . . . see you later

[retiredone]

Didn't get in my exercise until 9 o'clock last night. But get it in I did. Today I'll walk as the rain has finally stopped-5 days in a row! The sun started coming out late this morning but the rain had stopped a bit earlier and it's supposed to get a little warmer-17 degrees C. is predicted. It was only 4 degrees early this morning, burrrr.

I made another great lunch today. If you have been following the saga of my life the last few weeks you know I have groceries and dishes all over the counters, tables and floor with the installation of patio doors and the removal of a large shelf unit. Anyway, I've been trying to use up as much of the food that isn't in the cupboards and today I made a lovely chickpea soup. I had a large bag of dried chickpeas sitting out so the weekend I put 2 cups to soak and yesterday I cooked them. Today I used 3 cups of cooked chickpeas, sliced carrots, onion, garlic, cauliflower, turnip greens and canned tomatoes to make a very delicious and nutritious soup. I served it over a scoop of couscous and it was great. One cup was only 126 calories so I had 2 cups for my lunch.

Edit: Did 5k walk/5k bike ride/35 counter push-ups

[meowee]

Hi there . . .

Very muggy and overcast today -- and I ache in a lot of places -- but things have been so changeable lately, who knows what the afternoon may bring. A good rain would be very welcome since it appears there are still some little hot spots in the firea area -- and they found the ignition point. It appears to be 'careless camper' syndrome. Will people never learn?

Spent 90 minutes in the waiting room for my 15 minute appointment with the gyn yesterday. At least he changed the picture on the ceiling over the examining table since the last time I was there. Two of the cutest little chocolate lab puppies you'd ever want to see. One bit of good news, his scale weighed me 1 pound lighter than my own. Always a pleasant and totally unexpected surprise; especially since it was 4 pm and fully clothed vs first thing in the morning and fully unclothed.

Have a great day, gang . . . see you later . . .

[retiredone]

That's great weight news Meowee. The last time I got weighed in a medical office, fully clothed, and mid-day I was 10 pounds heavier!! So I'd say you're much lighter than you thought. I would imagine you had a grin from ear to ear after reading the weight on the doctor's scales.

I'm aching all over too. I finally broke down and took an ibuprofen before going to bed last night. It worked really well and I finally had a good night's sleep. I kept waking up with hip and leg pains for several nights before that

We've had rain for 5 straight days and I thought today was supposed to be sunny but woke up to rain again this morning. It seems to be clearing up now and I believe the sun will shine again today--a repeat of yesterday.

I've been very good at keeping my calories and exercise on plan so far this week, even with the banana bread sitting on the table. I sliced it thin and one slice is only 111 calories. It's really good with a light smear of peanut butter and a cup of tea to wash it down. Had a slice for breakfast yesterday and today.

[meowee]

Hi there . . .

Looks like a busy day for me . . . the Bengal twins have to go to the vet for their annual shots. Will probably take two of us an hour to get them caged up. Then they will screach and complain the whole time. When they get back home again, they will disappear from sight for at least two days and it will likely take about 3 months before I can get near them again -- they are definitely not the most tractable cats I've ever shared a house with. But, they are great grudge holders. No idea where they are right now -- haven't seen either one since I brought the cage in from the garage.

After that, guess LouLou and I will do our normal Thursday afternoon shopping "thing" -- if we've got any energy left. To top things off, it's cold and very overcast . . . difficult to believe it's only two days until Summer is officially here . . . I'm still waiting for Spring.

Anyway . . . hope you all have great days planned . . . keep things moving and shaking, gang . . .

[retiredone]

Hope the cats cooperated with your plans today, Meowee. You must have the same weather we've had for days. It's a bit warmer today with promise of the sun showing through. It did peep out for a minute or two but other than that it's pretty gray up above.

I dragged my tired body to the exercise bike and outside to walk. Finally got everything done but my legs are aching today. I want to go shopping in town at the mall but right now I don't know if I can get up off the couch I'm so tired. I had a 15 minute nap this morning but I think I could use another one about right now. Ha, ha or should I say zzzzzzzzzz.

I tried another good recipe today for lunch. It's called Lazy Lentils and it's on the UK recipe thread, page 5. It's very good and tasty and about 200 calories for 1/6 of the recipe. I'm going to make it for the next church potluck I attend.

[meowee]

Actually, the sun came out yesterday afternoon and it got almost hot (well, low 70's).

Up way too early this morning and still trying to recuperate from the 'cat ordeal' of yesterday.

Hope to be back later and in better humour. :

[the slim me]

Good Morning ladies, Just got back from vacation. It was fun but i'm glad to be home too. It worked out quite well since several family members are on WW and are cooking much healthier. And I made pretty good decisions at the places we ate out at too. I am happy to say that I didn't gain. I was able to get in lots of walking and some swimming too.

Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things here too, Freda

[meowee]

Still in a funky mood today . . . yesterday I ate everything that crossed my sightline . . . hopefully today will be better.