[maryann]

Good Morning, Coaches.

Slept in on Hooky Day. Going to meet a buddy at coffee in an hour. DH and I are going to brave the storms to get up to Tahoe to dig the cabin out and get some snow sport in. Credit for getting extra steps in on commercials during movie nite. When I wear my pedometer, that seems to happen more often.
Scale saw ticker. I need to be less satisfied with maintenance.

BBE: Very interesting about the Egyptians. I'll have to throw that at my freshmen in about a month.
Curly; Glad the eating day was reasonable. I love Japanese because it is low calorie. I get sashimi and Wakame salad. Sometimes I get a side of sushi rice. Still feels like a special dinner.

[silverbirch]

Lots of snow overnight. The schools were closed and the buses stopped running so the SO didn’t go into the office. And I didn’t feel like wrestling with ungritted roads with the brake fault alert going off too so I cancelled today’s gymn session. I’ve missed it but I'll be there on Monday.

Food - probably too much but it was all OK. Scratch meal tonight too as I had been going to go shopping but didn’t. So mushroom ravioli (originally reduced, from the freezer) with bacon, onion, celery and pesto (last of a Christmas present jar, frozen in ice cubes). (maryann, you’ll have recognised this behaviour!) Mushrooms had gone over or we would have had them.

Bill, very impressive that you only had a tiny amount of leftovers for your lunch. And particularly that you didn’t try to supplement it. I should learn from your example.

curlyjax, good work with having a sensible amount of food for the day.

maryann, I could join you in being less satisfied with maintenance!

[BillBlueEyes]

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Eating was on plan with no daytime snacks, CREDIT moi. By happenstance, no evening snack either but that's not a big gain since my evening snack is usually a small serving of blueberries. Dinner was 13-bean soup with a modest (CREDIT moi) serving of pita chips. And, of course, Bok Choy and green salad.

Excitement was leaving the house to attend a brick-and-mortar performance by the American Repertory Theater of The Wife of Willesden. All staff and most patrons wore masks at all times. I was pretty psyched for the performance. A spin off on one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath's Tale, (The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe) set in a modern London pub. Warned in advance to be prepared for loud noises, bawdy lines, and general brouhaha. Did all that, nonstop for 95 minutes. [Spoiler alert: the handsome young man honors his promise to marry the ugly old woman who then rewards him by turning into a beautiful young woman.] They had no qualms about pub patrons using iPhones and Mac laptops seeing magic appropriate to the fourteenth century. Led to a discussion whether either of us had actually read the Canterbury Tales. Neither could remember, but DW won because she knows exactly on which shelf a copy sits in our library. "I'll get it for you so you can summarize it for me," she kindly offered.

For extra exercise, CREDIT moi, I parked farther away from the venue to enjoy a longer walk through some nice city scenery. Walking at night in the cold is pretty special.


Silverbirch - Seems wise to avoid the roads. I try to remember that it's not my driving that's the limiting factor, but all the other idiots who also think they can drive in the snow.

maryann - Hope you make it to Tahoe; our newspapers continue to publish pictures of too much snow on cabins and narrow roads blocked with abandoned cars. Neat that you can think of "snow sport" anyway.

curlyjax - Wish you well solving your body issues and the doctor issues that go with it. I'm always encouraged by "no sweets at work" being reminded that it's a choice.

Readers -

Chapter 6 Stage 3 - The Challenging Situations Plan

Special Advice for When You Are Sick or Injured

This is usually counter-productive to their recovery, and they often regain any weight they had lost - if not more - as soon as they are feeling better and eating normally again. Resist the temptation to eat in an unhealthy way when you're under the weather.

Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., The Complete Beck Diet for Life (Green book), Pg 164.

[curlyjax]

I waited too long to have my lunch yesterday, and succumbed to a big muffin at work after eating my salad. Dinner was fried rice with chicken with a side order of shumai. And then I finished off manfriend's ice cream while we watched a dreadful movie with Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Manfriend's cat was friendlier than usual and snuggled on my chest for about 5 minutes, which was the highlight of my day!
I called and made an appt in a few weeks with my doc to discuss next steps after ultrasound so I feel good about that.
I slept in today and am moving slowly which is fine. It will be a quiet day of errands and house stuff which feels good for today.
Bill-that performance sounds really fun. Walking in the cold at night is special indeed, the crisp air feels good when spring is around the bend!
Silverbirch-that sounds like a lot of snow indeed. Ooh that pesto sounds great.
Maryann-have fun in the snow. I hear you about maintenance. ugh.

[maryann]

Good Snowy Morning, Coaches.

We got here in the sun yesterday. Dug out pretty easily. Snowing all day today so we have to tactical about leaving. Maybe 2:00. snow sport is cancelled. I will do yoga this morning.

Super excited to make spring break plans. I get to see DS concert in Michigan and spend Easter with him. Then I am heading to my sisters in Annapolis. Finally I'll spend a few days with an old friend in Virginia then home.

Wave to all.

[silverbirch]

Snow is melting and the forecast is for warmer weather. Phew. The SO and I went shopping this morning. That is, he went into three shops and bought food and I didn’t. I recycled things from Thursday’s decluttering client, looked at cars in the car parks (am thinking about getting a new one), thought about and wrote a couple of texts and did part of the crossword. This afternoon I prepared kindling (a builder has cut up old windowframes with an electric saw and I have to remove insulation before burning it). This is quite relaxing and I listened to a few podcasts. I did a bit more of the crossword.

Food was probably OK. Breakfast was fine. Lunch was all right (more soup than usual but no bread as the SO hasn’t made any more yet). Late afternoon: apple and tsp of peanut butter. Tea: pork, apple, onion, potato casserole with carrots, broccoli and sauerkraut. Although the SO made this meal, I seem to be eating more veg in the evenings which is a good move. I think it goes along with a bit more mental space. So I’ll take a bit of CREDIT for that. But more veg means that there’s not much space on the side plate!

Bill, oh, The Wife of Bath! She is a shocker. I know I’ve done (= studied) two of the Canterbury Tales but not that one. I think it was the Prologue and the Nun’s Priest’s tale. Of course, it’s coming up to April and “thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages”.

curlyjax, very interesting that waiting too long for your lunch led to a big muffin. Thanks for mentioning it as I think that kind of thing can happen to me too. It’s often when I’m travelling about and I think that I’m fine and it’s all OK. And then it isn’t.

maryann, how lovely to be planning another trip. Hope you got home OK in the snow.

[BillBlueEyes]

Diet Coaches/Buddies - After dinner, set all the clocks one-hour ahead. Then, when I later looked at the time, I felt sleepy appropriate to the time on the clock instead of my body time. So went to be 'early'. Don't know whether it's good news or bad news that my little brain is that susceptible to a visual input. Went to sleep just fine. Now I want to experiment and see how far, hour by hour, I can tweak my body out of its natural rhythm just by changing the clock. Good experiment for my next life, LOL.

Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, albeit with a daytime snack. Just thinking about taxes makes me think that a small handful of peanuts will make the IRS less interested in my submitted forms. The planned walk didn't happen when a drizzling rain set in. Yes, I have rain gear, but I'm losing the romantic feeling that a rainy walk is fun. Except along the beach in the summer. Then I can feel like I'm beating the system because the rain doesn't matter if I'm occasionally dipping into the ocean anyway.


Silverbirch - Looking around car parks to get ideas for your next car is a super way to see the different models in different years all in one place. You set me off with Chaucer. Had to google why my brain remembers the single line, "Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote." I suspect that in high school I was beaten with a stick to read the whole first sentence of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Only remember longing for a period to arrive soon, LOL. Yep, Kudos for more veggies.

maryann - Good news that the snow didn't collapse the roof of your place at Tahoe. Your trip to see your DS in concert sounds terrific.

curlyjax - Had to google shumai - and now I'm drooling. Then had to peek at the trailer to Ticket to Paradise (Is that the one?). I'm a big Julia Roberts fan. Loved her line, "How about aggressive aggression!" Howsomever, I'll accept your review and pass on the full movie.

Readers -

Chapter 6 Stage 3 - The Challenging Situations Plan

Special Advice for When You Are Sick or Injured

Even when you are sick or injured, stay as close as possible to your diet and exercise programs. If you can't do your regular exercise, check with your health-care provider to see what you can do.

Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., The Complete Beck Diet for Life (Green book), Pg 164.

[curlyjax]

I got a very late start to the day but that was fine. I dyed my hair,went to the dump, then went shopping at LL Bean to spend my "Bean Bucks" and got a midweight coat for free since I had $120.00 in coupons. I also treated myself to a light pullover spring jacket. I discovered I have another $19.00 in a gift card coming to me from LLBean, and got a ten dollar coupon to use before May, which was all very satisfactory. Then I zipped thru a few stores looking for odds and ends and ended up getting a bunch of snacks for DD at Target. So exercise was functional walking. I haven't been shopping in awhile so I did indeed enjoy myself.
Today I am bringing DS back to college, then meeting some new people at https://nebg.org/ for lunch and the orchid exhibition. I think I have a friend who is also going; there's about 15 of us from a FB group. Then I should pick up some groceries if I'm not exhausted
Bill-that was the movie, aren't you clever! Yay for adjusting to the time change already.
Maryann-your spring break plans sound very fun. yay for digging out easily.
Silverbirch-fun to be looking at cars; the new ones have great gadgets. Yay for an SO who shops while you do other things.

[maryann]

Silverbirch: I wish I could send you the walnut wood from the trees DH is pulling out. It is the best burning wood. I use to read a frugal blog from a lady in Cornwall. Your post reminded me.
Curly: I love "shopping for free." Good for you for taking care of yourself with little pleasures.
BBE: Spring ahead is always a tough one for me. The kids are sleepy for a week. I slept until 11:00 ( new time.)

I am off to a quilt show. My friend got second place. DH is coming with because I told him to remember all the car shows I have visited.

Here are my thoughts on breaking maintenance:
I am using too much screen time with Chess and TV combined. I am putting the pedometer back on and shooting for above 10,000.
I have stopped the gallon of water habit and replaced it with tea but then put creamer in it. Oops. So I will keep the tea but add the water.
I eat constantly at school. I am going to declare a breakfast, 1 snack, and lunch. Done. No sweets ate work.

I'll use the time change to see how many days I can put together.

[silverbirch]

I’ve been thinking about diet and sleep today. Against a backdrop of the SO making Boston brown bread. Half a tin of black treacle / molasses?? And in the oven for three hours. Anyway … [ETA - have eaten two slices now. Tomorrow is another day.]

Sleep. I need at least 7’30” of sleep and more would be lovely. Anything later than 2245 for lights out seems to make me wake up too early, and has a knock-on effect during the next day. And indigestion also makes me wake early.

Carbs. I turned out the light too late last night and woke at 0520 this morning which wasn’t good. I had breakfast (muesli etc) and then stolidly ploughed on with some bread and toast during the morning. I think that this was my body setting things up for what I call a ‘carb coma’ and, sure enough, I conked out for almost two hours about midday. Excellent.

Lunch. I had a late lunch at 1425 (rollmops, left-over jacket potato sliced and sauted and sliced apple - fantastic meal). No need for anything in the late afternoon. I’m building up a database of recipes that work and I’ve just made a tag for ‘lunch’ which helps so much when I get it right. And roast chicken, potatoes, green beans for tea. I had some sauerkraut with it to help digestion.

Bill, your clocks have gone forward already? Ours don’t until the last Sunday in March which is the 28th, so we’ve got a while to go yet. I know what you mean about rainy walks. It’s rain and the kind of wind that blows your hood down and gets up your sleeves that niggle me.

curlyjax, nice to have a successful day shopping with all those coupons! And I keep meaning to ask you: is there no municipal rubbish (garbage?) collection where you live? Always having to go to the dump must take a lot of time. And what if you don’t have a car or can’t drive? (Yes, the SO shares all that stuff which is partly why I chose him. He’s in charge of food at the weekend too but see above about the Boston brown bread.)

Oh, maryann, please send over the walnut wood! That would be wonderful! (The wood I'm cleaning up from the windows is oak. They were made from wood from a redundant chapel in Liverpool.] The quilt show sounds fun. I’ll join you with the pedometer. I use mine for outside when I’m actually walking but don’t use it indoors because the readings seem too high when I’m hardly moving so I wonder how it’s counting.

[curlyjax]

Dropped off DS in the morning, then went to the botannical garden for lunch and orchids. I had half a cranberry chicken sandwich and a cup of squash soup, both of which were quite good. The orchids were beautiful. I bumped into a friend who haven't seen in awhile who lost 40 pounds, I was quite impressed. She said she stopped drinking which I guess she was doing every night and went on the Optiva program, and is doing a lot of hefting boxes preparing her house for a move. I must say it inspired me. Afterwards I went to the grocery store and then took a nap; I think I was mentally exhausted plus didn't sleep well. I made: baked salmon, oatmeal for this week, boxed mac and cheese for DD, and a pan of sauteed diced sweet potatoes-onions-arugula-cherry tomatoes. Then banana brownies because DD requested it. Which of course I ate also.
This week my goals are; minimum of 10 minutes of walking a day, eat only within the 8 hour block, and go to bed feeling a little hungry or at least not stuffed.
Silverbirch-I'm out in a suburb, so it would be very hard to not have a car; the public trans is very limited. My town has a dump that you pay a sticker for, and then you can go 4 times a week, which is quite awesome. You can pay a trash removal company to pick up your trash which some folks do. But I like being able to throw it in myself, do the recycling, and there is a swap shop as well where you can leave books or pick up used toys. The scouts will sell cookies or wreaths on Saturdays, people have petitions to sign, etc.
Maryann-I'll rejoin you with no sweets at work.

[BillBlueEyes]

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Excitement was the third birthday party of the (3 yo) DFGD. It was an order-from-the-menu luncheon at a popular chain restaurant with a section reserved for the 45 of us. Yes, 45 adults and children. The Birthday Girl managed to stay calm without a breakdown despite the brouhaha (we'd skipped the 2.5 hour part at the indoor play space). She did get her face painted and did change clothes twice, "Because she's three and I'm indulgent," our DIL explained. Did get to chat with two high school buddies of our DS who've remained friends all these years and now all have children. Learned that it's still fun to work at Google, although a bit painful to have its stock fall by 40% so rapidly. The company has to work harder now; the tech world is a much tougher place.

Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, because I planned to have two half-lunches. Waiting until 1:30 to eat lunch would have left me feeling deprived, so I had a super light lunch at home. At the restaurant I had a bowl of fish chowder - nothing else. The fish chowder was super good; apparently this restaurant is known for it. I won. DW ordered a bowl of French onion soup. She had the opposite experience. Apparently it's possible to make a lousy bowl of French onion soup. And they did. We had a light dinner as if we'd already eaten. Might have ended the day a little under calories. Oops - except for the small slice of birthday cake. It was mediocre even though it came from a good-enough bakery, and I didn't take advantage of the chaos to skip having a slice. Naturally, I assumed the entire assembly would be watching if granddad didn't have birthday cake. Realistically, no one noticed what I did or didn't.


Silverbirch - Yes, beware of Boston brown bread; it's addictive. Congrats for staying your plan despite the late lunch - that's a challenge.

maryann - I nominate your DH for sainthood for going to a quilt show - just not my thing. Apparently, my body isn't as adjusted as my mind; I overslept an hour this morning since my body can't read the clock when I'm asleep, LOL.

curlyjax - Shopping at L.L.Bean is fun since everything is of good quality. You really did well with your "Bean Bucks." You picked a good day to drive your DS back to college; the next few days might not be so nice.

Readers -

Chapter 6 Stage 3 - The Challenging Situations Plan

Special Advice for When You Are Sick or Injured

Maybe you can swim or work out on machines that strengthen the uninjured parts of your body. Consider whether it would be helpful to consult with a physical therapist. And when you recover, make sure to build up to your previous level of exercise as slowly as you need to.

Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., The Complete Beck Diet for Life (Green book), Pg 164.

[gardenerjoy]

My experiment to post at 3FC late in the day has clearly failed. So, I'm back to morning or mid-day posts.

My experiment to change the timing of my meals and snacks also failed last week. But the idea held some promise on the day or two that it worked, so I'm going to keep attempting it. The time change will help me with that.

CREDIT for 120 minutes of exercise yesterday. Most of that came courtesy of walking with a 20-something friend.

I'm a day late to the Canterbury Tales discussion. I read it in high school. I'm pretty sure that none of the adults in my life had read it except my English teacher who gave a bit of a wink and a nod about the more shocking elements that she knew I would encounter. There are definitely passages in The Miller's Tale and The Summoner's Tale that would provide for dramatic reading in front of a school board. Unfortunately, I fear that strategy would only get yet another book banned rather than demonstrate the point that kids survive reading shocking material and, in fact, might process material better in words on a page than visually on the internet which has much more damaging material than anything on a high school library shelf.

Exercise +120, 785/1700 minutes for March

[silverbirch]

Somehow the day seems to have gone wrong in terms of food. I’ll spare you the details. In brief, I slept quite well, I went to the gymn and had a great session. I had a number of errands to run afterwards and I got cold, wet and a bit miserable. I became ragingly hungry in my very quiet post-gymn way, tried what I thought was a tried and tested food and it isn’t any more. Then I fell off a cliff. Though, if I replay the video (let’s imagine there is one), things really aren’t that bad. So perhaps the day hasn’t gone wrong. Perhaps it’s been an opportunity to learn a lesson or two and to move on. I’ll do that.

Bill, 45 adults and small children sounds like a lot of excitement! My approach to birthday cake is to leave the plate and uneaten cake somewhere else, if possible. Shoved on a shelf or something. Thanks for the Boston brown bread tip. I don’t want to curb the SO’s creativity with making food but some things are pushing it, in my view.

curlyjax, the dump sounds like a good place. We seem to have renamed our tips (aka dumps) recycling centres here but there’s less community activity than you’re describing. Dad (engineer, inventor, make do and mend generation) and I (daughter of the above) used to find good things there together.

gardenerjoy, no doubt about it: the Canterbury Tales are bawdy. Walking with a friend sounds nice.

[maryann]

Good Afternoon, Coaches.

Short week. We have one more full day and then a minimum PD day then two half days of midterms. Good.

I ate the school cafeteria today because I forgot my lunch. I briefly explored a Door Dash thing and saw it would be $24.00 for a half sandwich and half salad. Nope. I went and got a taco salad which was tasty and it came with water, fruit and chips. I also saved the environment a little car pollution.

Silverbirch: Yes, days go southward. good news is you can close the kitchen at any time.
Curly: The dump sounds like a cool community experience.

DH came home early. better get dinner started. Wave to all.