[maryann]

Good morning, Coaches.

Yesterday was a success with food. I have moved down two pounds.

We avoided the swarms of people. I took an hour plus hike and then fiddled with the SUP. I had a fancy CO2 life preservers that was very confusing and I ended up inflating it. I looked like a comedy sketch. 13mph winds were difficult and I fell but have learned a better way to get up. All in all, exactly what you would expect for learning something new. Today is SUP, yoga and maybe a hike. Then I am getting my packing list out for Ecuador and bringing from here what I need.

At some point I want to use my new carpet cleaner. Wow - a busy day.

Karen: How do you drink your vinegar and how much?
Momma Meli: I often equate overeating with establishing independence. My father was very controlling with food. I also look for the momentary "high" that a "bliss point food" gives me.

Wave to everybody.

[karenrn]

Good morning coaches,

I had an extra snack yesterday due to being a little more hungry. It was a protein shake with almond milk, so I felt like I made a good choice. I hiked with my friend this morning. We both exclaimed that it felt quite comfortable even though it was 86 to start and a few degrees higher when we finished. Amazing how a little lower humidity and shade helps so much. Today I will do some meal prep that I thought about doing yesterday but we didn't really need it yet.

Maryann Dr. Greger recommends 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar in water or some kind of a drink 3 times a day. I seem to forget about one meal a day, so I'm putting about 1 T in water twice a day. If I get it in a third meal that's okay. It also reduces blood sugar, which isn't a problem for me, but another benefit. Yay for 2 pounds down!

GardenerJoy Your temps are about like mine, but I bet you have more humidity. I wanted to look at the video but the site is still acting up for me so I'll do it after I post.

MommaMeli Great evaluation of the overeating. I am writing down quantities on my food plan, but I agree it's better to review the plan. I honestly need to review mine before my meal to be sure I don't add something or forget something. I eat many different things. I agree it was probably too difficult not to be allowing yourself some kind of treat when you were in the midst of a difficult food situation.

Bill Congratulations on knowing when to use the engineers brain and when to use the husband brain. I guess that's why you've had such a successful and long marriage.

For all of you gals I'm just going to say here is a bit of advice and encouragement from me. You are all younger than I am by a good bit. Do yourselves a favor and try to get near the weight you would like to be sooner rather than later. My weight has fluctuated (about 30 pounds mostly) so much over the years that my skin will never shrink to the size I am now. I look a bit like a deflated balloon in places. Believe me, you don't want that if you can help it. I know building muscle helps some, but not enough. I'm not beating myself up over it but I sure am glad we wear clothes even here in Arizona.

Waving to the others.

[Penny.]

Good morning!

Yesterday was my first on plan day with the new plan. It was nice to eat when I want and weight came down a smidge.

My neighbor asked me about my cherry tree and if I was getting any cherries. He grew one from one of our pits just over the fence and has yet to get any cherries. Mostly we leave the cherries to the birds but it made me realize they have been weird the last few years.

I finally consulted the google and learned it has Little Cherry Virus, and maybe another disease as well because they are terribly bitter. No cure and the solution it to treat the virus carrying bugs and chop it down. Doh!

Woops, looks like I forgot to finish this and now I'm at work. Have a great day, everyone.

[MommaMeli]

DD’s appointment did not go well again. Sent immediately to the ENT who ordered further testing. She has a mass on her neck that the doctors had chocked up to a swollen lymph node caused by the sinus infection, but everyone is concerned that it’s not shrinking with the antibiotics.

Tomorrow we go for a CT scan of her sinuses and a ultrasound of the lump. I’m scared and too sick to eat like normal. It is not a good feeling when they work you in the next day. Even though cancer is the third thing on the list of what it could be, I’d rather not have it on the list at all. DH is coming with me and I’m glad. It’s going to be a long day, even though I doubt we’ll get results.

I’m going to focus tomorrow on eating good protein and as little processed carbs as I can to keep my energy levels up and prevent an emotional slump like I had today after skipping lunch. What a stressful situation! Credit for having empathy for myself & making a flexible plan that will be good for my physical and mental health.
If you pray, please pray for my baby tomorrow!

[gardenerjoy]

MommaMeli: That is a scary situation. You do what works for your baby. One of the things that I love about this group is that we can support each other through a crisis, through the moments when healthy eating isn't the top priority. We'll still be here when the crisis is over and healthy eating starts to creep back up the priority list.

[nationalparker]

momma meli take care of yourself and your DD. I'm glad your husband will be there with you. Remember to bring extra snacks of all types, and your charger.

This was another day of getting things done at our house. It feels so good to see some progress. DH assembled the two IKEA bookcases and I've filled them with art supplies, more art supplies, books, etc.

I realize I am at my line in the sand as well. I have been on an eating frenzy, oh this snack! Oh that! Nuts! Fruit! More nuts! Let me make glazed pecans "for salad" and then chow down.

so, again, I'm back restarting. I'm weary of this, but guess I'm just going to fight it day after day after week, month, year. Or call it quits and I know I'd gain 20 pounds fast. In which case I'd rather fight.


​​​​

[BillBlueEyes]

Diet Coaches/Buddies - At the supermarket I was one of the few folks wearing a mask. The fear of COVID seems to be receding even though the statistics for COVID itself aren't that encouraging. In this store, English Cucumbers are displayed at each end of the produce section. I picked one up from the bin marked $1.29 each. Later I passed the second bin marked $0.99 each. My goal in life is to be so centered that I just keep walking. But I stopped and compared their stickers - the same PLU code. (Price-lookup code for those of you who've happily ignored their name since 1990 and also don't know that over 1400 have been assigned.) Managed to monitor the screen when checking out to learn that I was only charged $0.99. My brain needs to focus on something bigger, LOL.

Finished reading Maus by Art Spiegelman. Was compelling enough to worm itself in front of all my other reading. Was caught by surprise that I couldn't put it down. I was driven to experience reading about the Holocaust again as experienced by mice in a graphic novel being tormented by the evil cats. Definitely recommend if you've managed to ignore it for the last 25 years. But it's not "happy reading".

Eating was on plan with no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. Dinner did not happen on the patio due to a few rain drops which made the gardener DW doubly annoyed since we lost eating outside and it wasn't the amount of water her plants needed. A male-female pair of turkeys with six chicks casually walked down our street. They live here now. (You biologists may prefer that the chicks be called "poults" but I've never heard "poult" in a casual conversation although it's hard not to note that it's a dynamite possibility for Quordl.)


Joy (gardenerjoy) - Neat dance video. I'm playing it as I type for the retro music. Hard to believe that the 80's were forty years ago.

maryann - So fun to hear your beginner's steps to getting comfortable with your SUP. I once inflated a CO2 life preserver when on the surface, not in trouble, on a scuba dive. It really annoyed the dive leaders.

nationalparker – Yay for new bookcases - one of life's simpler joys. Thanks for concluding with "In which case I'd rather fight."

Karen (karenrn) - Kudos for reaching the stage where you're not beating yourself up because you carried weight in the past. LOL at being happy that you get to wear clothes "even here in Arizona."

Penny. - Big Ouch for discovering Little Cherry Virus on your cherry tree. Kudos for first day on plan with your new plan.

MommaMeli - Such a neat list of observations of your eating. I particularly identified with "I just wrote down an all-healthy choices food plan that was too hard to stick to." Seems to me that when I do that, it's an invitation to eat whatever I want because I will feel so over constrained. I wish you well with your DD's visit to the hospital today. Yes, do take care of your physical and mental health so you can be there for your DD.

Readers -

Chapter 6 Stage 3 - The Challenging Situations Plan

challenging situation skills

Before the Event
4. Review your Advantages Deck.
It will be important to remember why it's worth it to stick to your plan when you encounter challenging situations.

Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., The Complete Beck Diet for Life (Green book), Pg 133.

[curlyjax]

Hi folks, I slept late yesterday and had no time to post. Sunday I had a lovely time overnight with my friend at her mom’s house right on the beach. We could see lots of fireworks from their house which was a treat, although it did go on pretty late. A puppy was there who was adorable but exhausting The weather was perfect and I could have sat on the screened porch for hours. It was also nice being “the kids” again as what my friend and I called the real adults bustled around (aged 78-88) and made soothing parental noises. I drove home on the 4th leisurely and went to friend #4’s house for a fairly healthy dinner and then way too many marshmellows around the fire pit. The best weekend I’ve had in ages.
This week at work is very easy and light which is nice, and there is no lunch served this week so I have to stay on track, which helps. I’ve been feeling a bit glum but gave myself a stern talking to-maybe I need to start a gratitude journal-and I’m going to work on my attitude.
I started reading the book “You are a badass” last night, and I thought, why yes, I am
Karen- I had to giggle about the deflated balloon bit, I think a lot of us can relate! Dean Ornish is awesome, I will check out that book.
Mommameli- thinking of you and your baby, I’m so sorry you’re going thru this, but it sounds like you have a great medical team who is on it.

Wave to everyone else!

[karenrn]

Good morning coaches,

Food is on plan. I haven't made today's plan just yet, but will as soon as I finish this post. Breakfast is the same every day, so no problem there. I hiked with my friend just under 2 hours. On the drive to the trailhead the temp actually went below 80 for a spell. It was a pleasant hike and it looks like morning temps are going to be comfortable the next couple of days. Beginning on Friday our highs are around 110 for the week. Yuck! I seem to have something going on with sciatica, piriformus syndrome or something. The doctor said she would refer me to physical therapy if I wanted and after thinking about it I decided to request that. I'm not sure what's going on so maybe I'd better see someone who can figure it out and know the best exercises etc. So next week I have a mammogram and go to PT.

Curlyjax I'm glad you had such a fun weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing my Washington and Canada friends when I go at the end of the month. I need more socialization than dh does.

Bill It seems so odd to see the turkey family walking down the road. I did see a javelina and her baby on the way to the trailhead the other day though. I put a hold on Maus.

Nationalparker That's great that you and dh are working together and getting things done. I'm looking forward to being able to follow through on organizing when I have dh's help. I know my health/weight is something I will be working on for my lifetime. Anymore journalling my food and making some kind of a plan for food is almost like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. It's just something I do. As I've said before though my swings in weight are not as large as they used to be. I call that a success. Anyway, you know you certainly are not alone.

MommaMeli I saw your note last evening and have prayed a number of times for your little one and for you. Do take care of yourself as best you can and I hope things go better than expected today. Glad dh can be with you.

Penny Poor neighbor thought he was getting a free cherry tree and now no cherries. Glad weight is down without worrying about it.

GardenerJoy I loved the music in the dance video. I agree I think our group is good support for one another when we go through a crisis. I do wish we could all meet in person one day.

Maryann I think I've mentioned a guy in my hiking group who lives at Incline Village in the summer. He's doing the whole TRT on Wednesdays with the association. Anyway, he is a FB friend so I see his photos and he had photos of the "fireworks" display at Lake Tahoe which were really a drone show. Maybe it was LED lights in patterns. One was USA, a flag, Lake Tahoe. Did you see these?

Well on with the day. I hope to hear good news from MommaMeli.

[VertOlive]

Back again after what I hope is a resolution to the password issues that have kept me off this very helpful site! Fingers crossed.

4 months ago I had a finger chopped off at work and the resultant downtime and depression led to a 5lb weight gain which crossed my “Miserable Line”. Dr. says I have about 2 more months of wound care and healing to go. In searching for a solution I joined “Noom” which also employs Beck principles. So far, so good and I’ve dropped 3.7 lbs since I started. That really helps with the depression and a “feel better-do more” cycle is underway.

So HELLO again to all here, wishing you a great day!

[gardenerjoy]

Our supper plans changed after DH "ruined his dinner" (as my mother used to say) by having a very late snack. We negotiated and came up with an even better plan for the piece of salmon that I purchased yesterday. The only problem was that I managed to decide that I somehow deserved a little extra starch. A reminder that I don't need starch at every meal and that I want to be a little careful when plans change -- that's not permission to eat whatever I want.

Exercise +50, 265/1600 minutes for July

VertOlive: Happy to see you here! I'm way less happy to hear about your accident. What a thing to go through! Good for you for finding a path back to healing mentally and physically.

[maryann]

Good morning, Coaches.

Yesterday I felt like I was in the Biggest Loser Camp. I SUPped on clear calm water and thought "Oh this is how easy it is supposed to be." Then I shampooed all the carpets here. At 2:00 I reached the base of Palisades (formerly Squaw Valley) to face the biggest kick *** mountain scramble I have ever done. It is 2100 feet elevation gain to 8,000 feet for 3.8 miles. At the top you can take the tram down. But the tram closed at 5:00 p.m. I had never done the hike without a load training pack so didn't know if I could make it. I went for it and pushed the whole way. Heavens. I made it in 2:15. Exhausted, I ate my dinner in bed while the carpets dried. I am now convinced I am in good enough shape for Ecuador which wants you to easily walk a rough 2 mph. I have got this. Today I will just fiddle around packing from here what I will need for my trip, figuring out how to best store my SUP, and a few other putters. I will head home and stop and my counselor's for a check up appt. I have seen her for 17 years. I want to chat a little about DH and DS both of whom are struggling some. I want to be the best support I can be.

Weight is down 3 pounds but I am sure I sweated out all my water yesterday.

Karen: I hear you about the loose skin. that is one of the reasons I will be content at 165. I have been blessed with some good skin genes but I have been over 200 pounds in my life.
VertOlive: Oh my goodness. Your finger must have been very traumatizing. I think you did very well to gain so little. Glad you have solve your password issues.
Momma Meli: There is no fear like a medical fear with your child. Once my 1 year old DS had a febrile seizure. I held him in the backseat of the car to the emergency room. He was stiff as a board. I'll never forget the terror. I also remember Thanking God I was in America with top notch health available to me. Just for today your baby is in good hands and there are thousands of solutions. In my thoughts and prayers.
Curley: great weekend.
Penny: I am glad the new plan felt right.
nationalparker: I bet it is great to work on your house rather than your in laws.

[Penny.]

Good morning!

Yesterday was on plan with vegan and I finished off the nondairy ice cream. Without that, I'll be very close to plant-based today. I'm still probably going to have a bowl of tortilla chips. Oh and a beer. I have two more cans in the fridge that have been sitting there since my son's 21st birthday in May. Having fun with "reverse dieting" lol.

Last evening was my first tennis class. It's held indoors in the gym and there are six students total. I was the only one wearing a mask. It's a lot of fun!

Mommameli, sending good thoughts your way as you navigate healthcare with your baby. That sounds very scary!

Vertolive, welcome back! That's awful about your finger.

Maryann, your single day's activity sounds amazing! You are definitely ready for the trip.

Curly, your weekend sounds so nice! I'm glad yogr plans all came together as you hoped.

Bill, I want to watch a turkey family on the road! That sounds like some fun bird watching to me. Thanks for the review of Maus.

Karen, I guess we're both having relatively cooler temps. Congrats on fitting into the silk pants. Those nsv always feel so great! I'm afraid it's too late to prevent the deflated balloon syndrome for me after gaining and losing so much weight over the years but at least I stopped before it got very bad.

Nationalparker, yay for new bookshelves! The desire to snack is a constant battle and it does get tiring, I agree.

Joy, I need to go back and find the dance video. I love good retro dance music.

[MommaMeli]

Well our worst fears are true. DD has cancer. We are hospitalized until further notice. Biopsy in the morning to determine the type of cancer and hopefully point us to the right treatment.
Food was whatever I could find when I had a free minute. She wasn’t allowed to eat for 13 hours while they tried to schedule stuff. Right after the CT she finally got to eat. So I certainly couldn’t eat in front of her all day.
I’m obviously not going to be dieting for a while. Focus will shift to self care. I’m still pretty numb but I know there will be bad days (and good days) ahead.

Thanks for the kind words and prayers.

[nationalparker]

MommaMeli- Oh, I am so, so sorry to read your update. I was hoping beyond hope, as we all were, that it would be a minor issue. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your DD and each other.

Regular check-in tomorrow; long day here today. Back on track for the most part, not 100% but at least 90% and that's good for me today.

VertOlive - Goodness, what an accident! I look forward to getting to know you here. I'm not sure if I was active on here when you started with the group. But also, my memory is terrible.