Hi Coaches/Buddies/Friends!

Where can you spend $1200, feed your DH multitudes of free samples, buy an unlimited diet drink for 64 cents, take credit for not one bite and walk out with a gigantic smile? Yes, Costco, coaches. I have a new computer and I delighted in taking one of every sample I could find and feeding every one to DH, who then didn't need to eat a $10 meal at Whole Foods. We got to WF late, anyway, and I decided hunger wasn't an emergency and went from breakfast until dinner without a meal without experiencing any hunger. *credit* I did not get all my planned exercise in today but got lots of spontaneous. Now to figure out my computer....

Beverlyjoy, so glad to hear you are doing well! Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

BillBlueEyes, I was surprised reading "daffodills" this am so thanks for the clarification.lol. Thanks for the reminder about doubling up on fruit. I will remember as I eat my 2 giant organic strawberries tonight. Credit for a great day otherwise.

Hmm...BASKETBALL CALLS! DH is watching a great game by himself.

checking in
 

Hi coaches

Gee it's later than I thought.

Ok so my exhibition went well. My name is on a wall in black vinyl lettering with a spotlight on it. What a kick that is. Got my work all done. I had to chuckle at the audaciousness of showing work made in the last 16 DAYS--the folks downstairs had been prreparing for 6 months.

Many people came, many people commented, many people enjoyed my work and my project idea. Today I felt a great melancholia sweep through me. I'd been fantasizing how this show would go for a year. I envisioned it 3 years ago, maybe it was 4 years ago, during my first three day visit. Now I am on the home stretch.

So, in my moodiness I alternately ate nothing, then prepared a large amount of food, but when I saw it, I took a normal portion, putting the rest in the fridge for later. Moderation how did you creep into my life?

I had an unexpected nsv yesterday as I stood in the mirror getting ready for my show. I was pulling on my fancy duds and I caught a glimpse of my rib cage, some kind of a curve, a bit of a concave line was back that I haven't see for years. That was a surprise. And while I didn't like some of the pictures of me that are now posted online about my event, I didn't hate them either. In fact I am at peace with how I look "Yep, that's what i look like" is what I think when I see my picture now. I think it helps me to know I am moving past that even as I look at that image. the weight is falling away and soon enough, that won't be me anymore.

Tomorrows challenge will be that of a night at a casino = buffet. I am eating light all day saving points for dinner and then one plate only, a few bites of dessert and that's it. I need to keep in mind that weigh-in is tuesday night.

maplover I am very sorry to hear about your mother. Please take care of yourself and do what you need to to get through this. :hug: So sorry for your loss.

beverleyjoy Yay or getting rid of the gall bladder and for being on your feet already. Excellent. Thank for checking in.

:wave: to everyone

It was a relatively warm day here so I started seeds -- basil, two types of peppers, and three types of tomatoes. They are all safely indoors, now, but it was nice to have a pleasant day to work with dirt and water outdoors on the potting bench.

WI: +0.5kgs, Exercise:+45 705/1300 minutes for February, Food: 80%op, Read my Advantages and Responses: yes

BillBlueEyes: I've noticed that more of my friends have taken up running this year. I'm not sure if it's a wider phenomenon or just something about my circle of friends. I just read a book called Strong Women, Strong Hearts that quoted statistics saying that our level of exercise participation increased through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but leveled off after that. I'm wondering if it's starting to ramp up again?

Beverlyjoy: so glad to have you home safe and sound! And so glad to see that you're taking good care of yourself.

Lexxiss: sounds like a very successful Costco trip in so many ways. Have fun with the computer!

onebyone: congrats on the successful exhibition! That really sounds like it was fun and rewarding! I suppose the next day let down was predictable (but I never predict that sort of thing). Good for you for finding moderation within it.

Saturday
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Had a 100% on plan eating day, CREDIT moi, including an evening snack of exactly one serving of fruit. As a bonus, I skipped my afternoon snack since we'd been out until almost dinner walking (CREDIT moi) - its bonus was a Common Loon and a pair of Hooded Mergansers on fresh water in February.

When we entered the movie theater last night the smell of popcorn was almost overwhelming. It's easy to understand why that stuff is hard to resist. Fortunately, my neurons seem to be past the gotta-have-popcorn phase.


onebyone – Yay for your name in lights!!! Congrats on accepting your own body - such a positive step along your journey. Good luck at the buffet tonight.

Joy (gardenerjoy) – We're enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, but DW isn't happy that her Crocuses are coming up now in mid-winter. It is a happy thought to plant the spring seeds outdoors in February, albeit in their containers for the grow lights.

Debbie (Lexxiss) – Monster Kudos for doing Costco with such style; particularly like that you took all the samples ... for your DH! Are you guys caught up in Linsanity?

Beverlyjoy – Yay for "I HAVE BROKEN THE SURGERY CURSE" - I had felt bad secretly wondering if you were in for another cycle of that. May you survive your easy diet while training your digestive system.

Readers -

Hi beckies/coaches/friends...

Things are going well for me, still. I slept through the night without needing to take any pain meds. Grateful for that. I had to weigh myself - orders from the surgeon. To make sure I am not holding on to water. It looks like I've gained a couple of pounds. I won't worry about it - it may be water and/or food. It's all OK. I can't go crazy with food/scale now - just need to be cognisant of making good healthy choices.

I am not allowed to do any exercises or stretching right now. I go see the surgeon next week. I'll need the go ahead from him to start that again.

Thanks again for all of your kind thoughts and support. I appreciate it very very much.

Bill - YES - believe you me that I was scared something would happen to make this surgery stop. I am SO grateful that I could go forward. YAY

Onebyone: Congrats on the exhibition! So exciting to see your name in lights :)

Beverlyjoy: Glad you're recovering well.

And the news on our front today friends is...I'M OVERWEIGHT! That means, of course, no long obese. Thank goodness! One more step :)

Hi Coaches/Buddies/Friends!

Another OP day as we trekked through FOUR Costco's searching for a close out for DH. No luck but we had a wonderful lunch at Whole Foods. DH got overwhelmed there on Friday and I thought a tour when we weren't shopping along with lunch might help out. It did. I got half my planned exercise and lots of spontaneous. *credit*

BillBlueEyes, what a great observation that even though the popcorn "smells" good that you don't need to eat it.

Donamarie(fyreflie24), congrats on being overweight! :lol:

Beverlyjoy, glad to hear you are another day better and keeping your spirit elevated!

onebyone, I'm just gleaming for you!

gardenerjoy, yippee for seeds and dirt!

Struggling a bit with some entitlement eating, but I have a plan for tomorrow that I can stick to.

WI: +0.1kgs, Exercise:+80 785/1300 minutes for February, Food: 85%op, Read my Advantages and Responses: yes

fyreflie24: congrats on being overweight instead of obese! That's a great accomplishment!

Sunday
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - At gym, CREDIT moi, there were handouts of FREE granola bars, which I took, even though it's a bunch of calories for the bite - just can't resist FREE. Now I have to find a place to use them since one bar has more calories than a normal snack and I find the thought of half a bar as silly as half a banana.

Food was on-plan, CREDIT moi, including dinner with friends where I didn't have seconds even though others did. I did have the hostess's homemade blueberry pie by leaving most of the crust.


Joy (gardenerjoy) – The mantra: "I have a plan for tomorrow that I can stick to."

Debbie (Lexxiss) – I celebrate mastering one Costco trip; making four is heroic. Whole Foods can be overwhelming; I have a friend who went for tofu and came out with cooked plantains instead, LOL.

Beverlyjoy – Sleep has gotta be the best healing activity possible; savor it - exercise will come later.

Donamari (fyreflie24) – Monster Congrats for making your overweight milestone and leaving obese behind forever. 61 pounds lost is a big deal.

Readers -

Morning coaches -

Well, it's been a **** of a few weeks. I am so glad I'm now able to focus and put my attention where it should be - on Beck and healthy eating and exercise.

Some good things have happened. I did start running again (though I haven't this past week and will restart tomorrow). I performed the Rachmaninoff preludes I've been working on for months, and they went pretty well, though I still learned about some things that I want to improve. And yesterday I had a long sitting session with my meditation group. One of our council members brought in a CD of a TIbetan sound healing practice (chanting syllables and visualization) which was really fantastic.

So I feel like I'm now in a good head space to recommit to my program and be a contributing member of this group again. I have started rereading the pink book from the beginning and I'm excited to continue. Thanks, as always, for being here for me.

Cheers,
Erika

I am listening to BBE and working on exercising the Not Giving in Muscle. I am listening to Gardenerjoy about the insidious attraction of chocolate. Just for Today I will sit when I eat. I will NOT eat chocolate.
Lexxiss: Great to exercise by cleaning house. That is a real WIN WIN
Maplover: These times must seem nearly impossible to walk through. Be gentle and kind to yourself. There is no wrong way to grieve.

Thoughts to all those recovering from overwork, surgeries and expectations.

I have been MIA from the blog and SUPER MIA from food plan. Credit for lots of exercise in skiing and yoga. Yesterday, I had a good cry about work and feelings of loss because I am leaving work and today I am willing to take a forward step. I will work on my paper all day, cook chicken noodle soup and fresh cranberry jello with bananas. DS and DH are under strick orders to pick another bag of oranges and a bag of the newly ripe Tangelos from our trees at the ranch. Changed ticker to reflect my true weight.

Hi coaches/beckies/friends - yesterday I felt a little better than the day before. I am making slow progress - but, moving forward.

All the meds have made my tummy a little queezy. I have anti-nausea medicine which is helping. Today I am going to try to eat more healthful foods. Still they need to be lite-ish. No raw veggies yet - or spicy foods, or lots of fatty foods - or big meals. I was told to add these kind of foods slowly back into my daily plan. That's what I will do.

I am hoping that soon I won't need the heavy duty pain meds and can get by with tylenol. I am not rushing anything, however.

My dear little neighbor girls came over in their cheerleading outfits (5 & 7 years old) They did some cheers to 'cheer' me up. Loved it!

maryann - I am glad to hear of your dedication to exercises. Sorry that you are struggling with the food. Great idea to have family pick up the healthy things to have around the house.

erika - Hi! glad to hear that your performance went well. Sometimes we need to get out 'head' in the right place to move forward with the best choices with food. Those are the days when I tell myself to plan, plan, and plan some more.

billbe - credit for not eating the granola bar right away. And... eating only the inside of pie along with no seconds. This consititutes a wonderful on plan day. Carryon.

lerxxiss/debbie - credit for good choices at Whole Foods. I LOVE their take out food...however, it is often heavy in calories. Spontaneous exercise is great.I love how DH had a free cosco meal and you strengthened your resistance muscle at the same time.

fiyreflye - I am doing a happy dance in your honor of being overweight. This is major. Rejoice, for sure.

gardenerjoy - it's so fun to get out the seeds and get them going for spring. I love it, too.

I need to weigh myself again. I am not sure whether to wait or do it daily. My food has been off plan for a week. I don't know quite what to do. I may wait until Wednesday... my official weigh in day. I do know, however, my main goal now is to be healing from my surgery. A couple of friends have reminded me my body has much to heal and readjust to. My head is usually so crazy when it comes to food.

Thanks again, folks, for your wonderful support.

Maryann: Good for you for feeling emotions and moving on. I struggle with that so kudos :)

Erika: Congrats on the concert! I LOVE Rachmaninoff!!

Bill: You are and continue to be an inspiration :)

Beverlyjoy: OMG your own cheerleaders! Love it!

GardnerJoy: Good for you for the preemptive plan! Sooo important!

Lexxiss: You lived through FOUR Coscos?! OMG woman, there should be a medal of honor successfully navigating through that!

I'm sorry, I had to laugh at not only the cries of joy that I'm overweight but that I'M happy I'm overweight! Oh the twists and turns and surprises of this journey! LOL!

I have also neglected to acknowledge how much I appreciate the community of artists collected here and how you each inspire me in my own work :)

Have a great week!

Map lover I am sorry to hear of your recent loss. :hug:

fyreflie WTG on moving from obese to "just" overweight. I am so proud of you.

beverlyjoy I am so glad that your surgery went well and you are at home recuperating. I had my GB out in 1992. Life got better--much better.

bill you are doing so amazingly well with exercising your resistance muscle. Daffodils have been up around here for the past several weeks. Even the dogwoods are in bloom (this should be the end of March instead of now).

lexxiss You are the Shop Goddess! Wow! I wonder how many steps was in all of that purchasing? GJ on exercising your control over FREE samples.

maryann I am going through a "weird" period myself. When that happens food and control of it just seems to get blown away. I am resisting a full out binge but gosh I just keep thinking I am beyond all of this, already!

onebyone :congrat: on your exhibition. I am so sorry that I wasn't able to get down there. I have been too sick to travel this past week for one thing. Hope the clothes arrived though and that you could wear them.

Well, this self-paced walking challenge (since February 16th) is getting off to a super start. I am having everyone "virtual" walk their state of residence. They decide where they want to go within their individual state, find out how many miles it is to travel, walk it and once they "arrive" they google that city or point of interest and share with the group some interesting facts or trivia. Everyone has really loved that added twist to getting in more exercise.

I am in the process of developing a challenge around the Beck skills and nothing else. It should be fun. I hope that it will start on March 23rd and run through to May 23rd.

I have gotten back to walking on the treadmill 3-10 minute sessions each day last week and then I got sick. I had a roaring fever than follow up chills so now I have been benched for the past four days. :( I dipped into chocolate last night. I have been craving that like madness and no resistance to speak of. Erika, play it again. I hear you! Arrrgh.:mad:

Take care all. I am thinking of each and every one of you.

Pam

I followed the plan I made yesterday. Yay! It was more or less our 3rd Valentine's Day so it was a generous plan. That's the last so that should end my entitlement eating problems for a couple of weeks. Next up, a vacation in March. But I usually do pretty well when traveling. Easter isn't until April 8, so I'll see if I can get myself firmly back on track so that's not a challenge. There's no need for it be.

WI: -0.1kgs, Exercise:+40 825/1300 minutes for February, Food: 100%op, Read my Advantages and Responses: yes

BillBlueEyes: maybe you need to find a friend to share the granola bar with?

eusebius: great to see you again! Cool about the Rachmaninoff.

pamatga: wishing you a quick recovery