I had the work lunch which included a small piece of cornbread which I gobbled down with a little butter yum; that was like a dessert. My client that i've been working with got some funding which was a big relief although there's still more he needs. I went for a walk with DD and we both admired the leaves, its so beautiful out now. One the walk we bumped into my old minister which was lovely. She had done DH's service and I liked her a lot.
Back home I made baked salmon and a microwaved corn on the cob for dinner, then had a few tiny Halloween cookies that weren't worth the calories. I went to see BFF; her Mom just died which was a blessing as she had dementia and was doing terribly, but its still hard when it happens. I had a tiny glass of wine but no food, and went to bed with a mild hunger which seems to be part of the trick of losing weight for me. A good day all around.
Onebyone-I looked up the color reduction thing- wow, really cool! Thanks for the website rec.
Maryann-I'm going to sign up for 6 months too (I've been doing a half priced month trial) it's so worth the money.
Gardenerjoy-you guys are saints is all I can say!
Bill-DGD is at a really fun stage. so nice she appreciated the bathrobe, it gets challenging to get kids presents as they grow older.

Good Morning, Coaches.

Yesterday was OP. I am in the familiar place of struggle: Beginning again with weight lifting causes a temporary weight gain even though I am 100% abiding calorie limitations. Sigh!!!! I have now been solidly on a plan since AUG.19 ironically the date of starting this post with much smaller loses than I would have had twenty years ago. The big issue is my refusal to let go of daily weighing. Daily weighing has not been working despite a year of concerted effort. I need to try and do something different. My Trainer uses the high tech body fat machine every two weeks. If I am OP everyday that should be adequate. For today, I commit to not weighing till then. I will use NSVs to motivate.

We have a thank you dinner from our financial planner tonite. I will stick with protein and veggies.

BBE and JOY: It makes me smile to know the incredible impact you two have on the next generation. Resiliency studies show time and again the importance of strong relationships with adults who are not the primary caregivers. Credit you both.
Curly: Excellent day. Yes . I need to think in terms of doing things for six months to even make small gains. I think of a strong river analogy. Much energy is spent in just fighting the current much less making headway to my destination. It is what it is.

Thursday- African American inventor Isaac R. Johnson patents the bicycle frame (1899)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - A simple day, a welcomed simple day. Excitement was the trip to the laundromat where I read my book in their chair instead of at home in my chair.

Good news is that a friend, who has downsized in several step from a grand house in the suburbs to a small apartment without a kitchen in an adult community, is content with her new situation. I'm both surprised and impressed. I watch each example in my life of folks taking steps onward from their long loved homes.

Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi. Dinner was our dish we call "burger, beans, and rice." It's been six months since we've had that as DW meanders through foods trying to isolate what causes her GI issues. She didn't have any of the beans this time but will try them in one of the next two meals we make from the same dish. One odd part of my salad was the addition of green bell peppers to accommodate that which came because the only green bell pepper to be bought was humongous - more than the BB&R dish needed. Conclusion: Red Bell Pepper belongs in salad; Green Bell Pepper does not. I'm absolutely sure. Even though they're the same plant.


maryann – Sending support for the struggles. To weigh or not to weigh seems to have no easy answer. Thanks for the reinforcement that connections to non-primary caregivers helps kids develop.

curlyjax – Cornbread is a weak spot for me - provided that it isn't as sweet as some of it is baked these days. Neat that you have DD to take a walk in the Autumn colors.

Readers -

I was OP at work until I was handed some leftover pasta shells and meatballs, which I ate some of before my workout as I was hungry. Then finished the rest for dinner afterwards-full of ricotta and quite filling. The workout wasn't quite as painful as the Tuesday one, but still exhausting. I'm finding some core exercises are harder to do than others. It was a different group of folks this time too, including a guy who seemed quite full of himself. My colleague and I rolled our eyes together;) it's more fun when there are certain women there who interact more. My colleague is having a tough time with some medical stuff; I really feel for her, she's had issues for so long.
Today I'm getting my covid shot after work. I do hope I won't be sick from it, but at least its a three day weekend.
Maryann-I don't do well weighing every day, I get discouraged from things like what you said. I think i'll go for every few days. That body fat machine sounds awesome.
Bill-yay for a simple day. I'm with you, red or orange bell peppers are the thing for a salad.

Good Morning, Coaches.

I think the after effects of me weighing everyday was the reason I bought a KING SIZE Rees peanut butter cup on the way home from the dinner. I navigated the dinner perfectly but felt a rising resentment of "Why does this have to be so hard?" Then I weighed myself again this morning to find it up AGAIN eventhough the total week's calories would not justify any gain. Sigh. Here is what I know: I am not in charge!!!! The amount of calories I can eat and the exercise that must be done to lose is non-negotiable. I must be in the grieving stages of letting my best-friend food go because I am solidly in bargaining mode.

I will review my calorie intake requirements, log my food for the day, and take a nice walk in the fall weather. I need to get back into gratitude. I sat next to a man last night who was at least 350 pounds. I was wearing a beautiful linen dress from Africa and it was a medium.

Notes from things that make me happy that are in my control:
1. I cleaned out my coffee/tea/ supplement cupboard. I released two boxes and two bottles. The rule seems to be if I haven't used them in 10 years. This must mean I am starting to think of moving to the River House. I will not move clutter.
2. I bought the last ticket to La Sagrada Familia that fits in my travel schedule in Barcelona. Yeah. I have bought the remaining tickets for https://luminiscence.com/barcelona/e...QaAo37EALw_wcB to see with DS girlfriend.
3. I am to do some yard work setting the timer for 60 mins.
4. I will NOT turn on the tv until DH comes home. I think if I am more active it will help with the weight loss.

Our new Thursday gig went well. Only one child got injured and it could have happened under anyone's watch (that's what I'm telling myself). Road rash is how we learn that there is danger in going down hill too quickly on wheels. The kid was a good sport once we acknowledged how scary that was. He wouldn't let me clean his wound because he wanted to show it to his dad. Fortunately, mom was home pretty soon after that and convinced him that a photo would work just as well.

Next week, I think I'll try a nice safe playground. My ulterior motive is to check out the parks in the area where we are likely to move.

We're definitely in recovery mode today, but we both feel better than we expected that we might so this should work out well.

Food was excellent. Exercise was walking to keep up with a five-year old on a bike. Except for uphill, that required a rapid pace.

Exercise: 60, 545/1800 minutes for October

Frustrating day at work in that I waited TWO HOURS on the phone with a client and finally reached someone-who puttered about for 10 minutes, then told us her manager said they were backed up and we have to call a different number. Which was the exact same one we called in first place,but apparently have to figure out what to say to the AI that answers, so we get the right dept. Argh!!! I stayed out of the candy at work but promised myself some good ice cream. I nipped out for my covid shot on the way home-so far not feeling bad other than a mildly sore arm so yay. I was exhausted at home but DD dragged me out to take a walk and we got into a kerfuffle again. I dropped her at home and went to get my good ice cream, then a take out hamburger for dinner. Wow was that salty, but it filled me up. And then I even indulged in some non Halloween candy. We made up at home but I firmly said I needed to be on my own, and finished The Gilded Age, which lead me down the rabbit hole of Alva Vanderbilt. I have a book about the Vanderbilts somewhere, I 'll have to find it.
I'm not doing my weights class today so I can baby my arm. I'm excited for a three day weekend to catch up on things.
Maryann-I hear you about the sugar and bargaining mode. Good reminder that we are not in charge The luminscence looks wonderful!
Gardenerjoy-I would be worn out too from all that. That definitely would have happened with anyone there, and now the kiddo knows it too from experience.

Saturday - Eleanor Roosevelt (nee Roosevelt) born (1884, New York City)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Glorious success! The flush handle on the toilet came off in my hand. Yikes! Looked inside where it was obvious that a plastic nut that holds the handle to the tank had broken. Hard to believe that I'd be able to find that exact nut. But Mother Google located one quickly even though I'd have to order it. So I did. In the meantime, I took a baggie tie and secured the old one in place. That was too clever; amazed myself. It's working now and the permanent fix has been shipped. My initial thought was that this was going to consume my whole day.

Great walking, CREDIT moi, across the Boston Common and to and from the subway to see the Verdi's opera, Macbeth. Was great that no prep was required since everybody knows the story of Macbeth, Duncan, and the prophesy "until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him". The lines were sung, "Out damned spot," and "full of sound and fury." Was like visiting an old friend. A bunch was left out since opera doesn't do subtle. Opera does GRAND.

Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, with snacks having crept back in. Dinner was grilled chicken woofed down to get out of the house.



Joy (gardenerjoy) - Ouch for the pain of seeing a kid hurt themselves while under your watch. Finished reading Robert Reich . Best first chapter of any book describing an era. Just extraordinary writing. Had expected it to be like other memoirs but it’s about events that I remember well explained with perspective. Painful reading. Wholeheartedly recommend. Example section heading: "At Yale Law School with Bill, Hillary, and Clarence." Last names not required. Describes the coming to be of the word “borked” after the failed nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, a word that his current students do not know.

maryann – Thanks for reminding me to be on guard against resentment. Exciting that you already have tickets for a neat experience with your DS's DGF.

curlyjax – Yep, a friend is for being able to roll ones eyes together.

Readers -

Today holds the usual Saturday challenge of a midday event right when I normally eat lunch. My best solution is to eat my salad in the morning so that it's done and I don't have to talk myself into it later. So, that's the plan.
On the way, I'm going to drop off books for the giant book fair in St. Louis. The first of, I hope, many. I've curated my collection of books to near minimum, but I'm hoping that DH is able to rid himself of more as well.

Exercise: 60, 605/1800 minutes for October

BillBlueEyes: I just checked and Reich reads his own audiobook. I put myself on the waiting list at the library. Thanks for the review!

Good Morning, Coaches.

Credit for doing the climbing stairs at the gym before watching tv.
NSV: I am going to a Nenkaiki for my BIL's father. I put on a never before worn suit from March. It was a little tight then and I have been avoiding it. Today the Size 12 tailored pants fit perfectly. That is more about inches lost than weight lost.

Yesterday, I initiated a game for the last week before I leave for Spain. Game challenges help me with a goal. Into ChatGPT I typed several items of food that have been lounging in my cupboards for years: bag of lentils, bag of split peas, Powdered Keto Matcha Latte, Brown Rice protein powder, etc. . . I added decrepit frozen fruit and veggies along with random bits of protein. I had it build me a week's menu of 120 - 140 grams of protein, adequate fruits and veggies totaling no more than 1400 calories.
The gold medal will be awarded for:
No spend week
Decluttering
Staying OP

The added bonus will be the required increase in "willingness" to eat food all week of which none is my favorite. I am letting go of much control. Food is after all food. By lowering its place in the hierarchy of importance, I am hoping raise the value of NSV.

I have cooked lentils and split peas together in an instapot. I will add an egg to the mush and that will be breakfast.

Wave to all.

Sunday - National Farmers Day (Farming for 12,000 years)
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Walked, CREDIT moi, to the subway and back for the second night in a row. Attended the Boston Baroque Masterworks concert in Boston. That picture captures the magic of Jordan Hall. The music was absolutely enchanting. We were on the aisle, fourth row from the stage, Orchestra Center. Heard Suite from Les Bordeades by Jean-Phillippe Rameau which I'd never even heard about. Not unusual since he was ignored for 200 years because, during rehearsals for his premier performance, "the Opera's Palais-Royal theater burnt down."

Handel's Water Music blows me away. Listened to it pretending that I was on the barge of King George I floating on the Thames in 1717. "Many other barges with Persons of Quality attended." So maybe I was on another barge. Just asked Mother Google to learn that my barge was likely propelled by a large red sail whose mast had ability to drop to "shoot bridges" (like the London Bridge) without losing momentum. King George liked it so much that he made the exhausted musicians play it three times!

Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, with an afternoon snack of roasted pecans because tree nuts are good for me.


Joy (gardenerjoy) - Color me jealous for "I've curated my collection of books to near minimum." Wouldn't have expected a librarian to be able to shed any books at all. I have books that I know I'll never read again but enjoy the pleasure of looking at them on the shelf knowing that I did read them.

maryann – Had to look up that Nenkaiki is a memorial service. Congrats for having a skirt that feels good to you.

curlyjax – You who understand The Gilded Age would feel comfortable listening to music on a barge with King George I. Congrats for avoiding candy at work.

Readers -

Not great eating day although at least I did eat the leftover salad lunch from the day before. Somehow I got into yet another kerfuffle with DD in the morning; this one was not my fault. We were stuck in the car and both of us said things we shouldn't have, as we couldn't get away from in each other.I left the house for awhile to go to the dump, then spent time at the library to get books and calm down, and sob in my car. We made up a bit at home and I left to see collegefriend for a chat at Panera, and then get groceries. I did have a cookie on the way home, but had looked at various items and wasn't craving any of them, which I felt good about. I cleaned the half bath and spent the rest of the night reading a new book from one of my favorite authors.
Today we're supposedly zipping out to get a pumpkin this am although DD was up late,and then my BIL is swinging by for a few hours. It will be great to see him. The house is a mess but I'm not going to freak out about it.
Maryann-great idea to use up leftovers in such a way.
Gardenerjoy-a giant book fair sounds quite fun.
Bill-love the barge and music info. I would definitely be a person of quality on another barge;)

Happy Sunday!

I navigated food very well yesterday. The memorial was followed by sushi. It was very easy to choose healthy food. Exercise was shopping for three weeks of food for DH while I am gone.

Today we are hosting a couple who were my first friends in this small town of mine. They always host us. I am not a comfortable host. However, the upside of stretching myself is I will get the back yard mowed and tidied. DH will bbq tri tip and I will make potatoes in a dutch oven. It is a fool proof recipe from Barefoot Contessa. Literally, that is the title of the book.

BBE: I love all Baroque music. My favorite is baroque brass quintets.
Curly: I am sorry about the kerfuffle with your DD. I think of the fights DH and I get into and I know a big part of them is just two adults trying to live together. Nothing more.

Today is a more relaxed day. That sometimes can trigger a desire for comfort food. Here's my reminder that I have better ways of relaxing. Here are two good possibilities: making a plan for the week and yoga.

Exercise: 60, 665/1800 minutes for October

BillBlueEyes: I started shedding the books I own when I was in library school. It became so obvious that the library had way too many books for me to read. I'm always going to find something good in their collection so I don't need one of my own. I'm occasionally tempted by titles that they don't own, but I also have good luck with Interlibrary Loan. I just requested Jane Austen at Christmas which seems like it should be a popular title (especially this year because Jane Austen's 250th birthday is December 15), but it was published in Britain and isn't widely available in the US.

maryann: "Food is after all food" will help me today.

curlyjax: That's an excellent plan to focus on the visit and not the house. I'm sure that your visitor will do the same.

Monday - Indigenous Peoples' Day: Columbus Day: Native American Day in South Dakota
 

Diet Coaches/Buddies - Absolutely exciting to watch the 20th HONK! Parade. Hard for promotional pictures to capture how joyous and out of control the whole affair is. HONK! consists each year of "Activist Street Bands" supporting every cause for which there's a movement. The players ages range from grade-school kids to older senior citizens. The Free Tibet group marches in native dresses with pleated aprons. The Philippines ladies wear formal dresses. Everyone else looks like they're wearing whatever was least dirty from their pile of clothes that morning, LOL.

The (5 yo) DGD and parents visited in the afternoon. The DGD inspected the pumpkins on the front steps carefully to name each one. Then demanded to know why one of the smallest had a small imperfection that was likely a bite taken by a squirrel - they do that each year. The five of us played a game with a standard deck of cards that was part of her Kindergarten games: one places a card from ones hand that's one more or one less than the upturned card. Fun to watch the little mind working out her numbers. Minor rules change: instead of the first one to play all their cards being the winner, that person draws more cards to keep playing since playing is fun and winning apparently isn't that important.

My plan to eat an Italian sausage sub failed because of threatening rain. CREDIT moi for not having a caloric sub even if the weather was the reason. Dinner finished off the burger, beans, and rice dish. Conversation after a visit from a DGD is always grands doting on their talented offspring.


Joy (gardenerjoy) - Useful to be reminded that leisure can arouse the desire for comfort food. Also useful to be reminded that the libraries have far more books than I can own and that I have easy access to a bunch of them.

maryann – Always Congrats for navigating food successfully. I'll go look for Baroque brass quintets.

curlyjax – Congrats for anticipating your BIL's visit without concern for a perfect house. May you have a successful pumpkin hunt.

Readers -