Carol: congrats on getting back to your exercises. That sounds like a good variety of exercises, and a good start.
Trish: sounds like a good way to do IF, and if you are sleeping better, its all around a better life. I am enjoying it. I had very little insomnia and didn't feel to bad last night, but also not worried since I could sleep a little late. The CBT says not to do that, but it eased my mind. My sleep cycle will be screwed up for the next couple of weeks with travel and jet lag, so I am not going to sweat it for now.
Had my counselling session today, and went to hot yoga afterward. I haven't been to that yoga studio much for the last 2 years, because my brother-in-law and SIL went there. They mostly go mornings. I will be avoiding them the rest of my life, I'm sure, but I do enjoy yoga, I have a lot of paid classes there, and I feel ready to just enjoy and go.
I get to go out for supper and go sing and enjoy live music with my jamming friends, so this will be fun.

I had a little help from my parents when I bought my first car for midwifery school. Same with DH, he had a little help for some school stuff. But since we finished our education, we have been on our own, and helping out if needed. Same with my sister. My Dad always worried the last few year about us both, as we paid off mortgages and cars, and got debt free, and had pensions, he was still worried. We just encouraged him to use up the savings, but he wasn't well enough to travel the last while. I guess if he hadn't been in assisted living he could have saved up his pension money, but that place was so good for him and his health, it was worth every penny. I am a little sad to have the inheritance I do, he and Mum worked so hard to save it. Most of it went into pension savings for me and DH so we will not be poor in old age. But we have worked for it all, and saved in many ways to have what we do. I hope our youngest will be ok with money as she gets older. He boyfriend that she is living with now is a good saver, so that helps. But he is crazy about her, so there is a chance she can get around his saving ways if they are not careful!

In any case, have a good evening friends

No scale movement this morning. I am a little achy today but I don't think it's from exercise except for a bit of a back ache. I might have to get rid of the ab doer. If you've ever seen one, it's a lot of waist twisting and bending. I have a history of back problems but haven't had any issue for years. This ab doer might bring them back.

I will soon be starting making the birthday cake. Hope it turns out good. I haven't made this scratch cake for years. After that's done, I have to go to Walmart to pick up an order. We ordered an ink cartridge for our printer. It is a recycled cartridge for $10. We are going to try it to see if it's any good. If not, we will buy a new one. It's a black cartridge. Right now we are using the color cartridge only. I know some people do that all the time because the color cartridge will print just black. We don't print anything important, unless step-daughter uses our computer for resumes and such.

Mad, I have no problem with helping kids when they need help. It doesn't sound as though you took advantage of your father's generosity.

Trish, I also do not plan my eating, but just take it as it comes. I never know ahead of time when I will be fasting. If dinner time comes and I'm not hungry, that day turns into a longer fast than usual. Then if I happen to get hungry later on I will eat something. It depends on the hunger. Hunger doesn't bother me if it's just a bit of stomach growling, but if I get what I call sick hunger, then I eat something. Last night I got hungry. I had a piece of my low cal/carb bread toasted with peanut butter. That might be why FBG was 167 this morning and I didn't show a loss on the scale. I probably could have made a better choice.

good morning: slept ok, I think the new CPAP setting is much better for me. I sleep a bit longer before waking for the bathroom, and thats in spite of drinking plenty of water last night while out. certainly more fluid in the evening than I would normally have. I also got out for a good walk yesterday, using my "urban poles". I had been avoiding them because of the arm injury, but I want to take them to Scotland for the hill walking. They also transfer some weight to the arms, so gives me a little weight-bearing exercise for the upper body while I walk, and its supposed to help take some of the weight off the hips and reduce wear and tear there. I have used them somewhat in the past, but want to increase that this year. I helps me get ready for cross-county skiing when we get snow. (no I am no where near Calgary that just got a huge dump of snow). I also went to yoga class yesterday after my counselling, since the two places were in the same neighbourhood. I haven't been to a class there in about 2 years, since the falling out with BIL and SIL. They used to go there too. But by going in the afternoon, I think I avoided them, and not sure if they even still go there. We have barely spoken in that time, other than saying hello at parties and such when it would be more awkward to say nothing. We try to be civil, but thats it.
So this is the next fasting day. I am mentally in a good place to accomplish this. I followed the advice from the support group to eat plenty of fat in my meals, and I have some plans to help if I start to feel crummy, and some preventative measures.
Mostly when I have fasted, I have stuck to tea and water. This time I will add broth with plenty of salt, will take extra magnesium,. I am going to start ACV, and even take some pickle juice. I have tried it, its like liquid pickles, and I love pickles so that should be ok. These are some of the strategies suggested, so I am hoping this will help me power through this 2nd fast this week.
I am trying to do this challenging fasting protocol both to jump start a weight loss again, so I don't plateau here at 159. I also hope that this will give me a grounding to having some longer fasts, like 3-5 days, in time. The big benefit I am hoping for is something called "autophagy". So please don't think I'm nuts. I get a little boost of autophagy after about 24 hours of fasting, when I switch from a glucose based fuel burning system, to fat burning systems. But longer fasts will increase this. Its one of the ways to prevent a lot of loose skin when losing weight, but it also really great for regenerating the liver and helping it heal. As you may remember, my CT scans and ultrasounds showed a pretty severe fatty liver. So that is what I really need to get rid of. When I check my own belly, I think it is a little smaller than it was in the spring, instead of so enlarged, so I hope I am helping it heal already, and want to help that along the way.
I think I am feeling better by far, in many ways, but it has been gradual so sometimes hard to tell, and of course sleep issues affect all of that too.

Carol, I think if you are feeling some back pain that isn't just stiff muscles, avoiding a thing that uses twisting motions may not be a good idea. If you can do planks, or even modified planks, they are been shown to be more effective for ab work without the back problems that crunches and such can cause. I found the planks very hard to do at yoga yesterday, I have clearly not been doing enough of that. Time to get back to that, much more regularly.
Good for you to get into your exercise room.
Trish, congrats on doing better with your eating regimen. I hope you are starting to feel some benefits. Even feeling better is worth it, weight loss and inch loss will follow with time.
Pipsicle, hope you have been doing ok learning to get on this WOE if thats right for you too.

Mad, I couldn't do a plank if my life depended on it. :D I will continue to use the abdoer but gently, and if it still causes a problem I'll just get rid of it. It cost me $15 and I've wasted more than that in my lifetime. I wanted this because it was something that could be done sitting down.

Her is a video of how it's used. I only did some side to side and back to front motions. It's not as easy as they make it look. It could be easy to lose your balance on some of those moves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8tM7fRwmOo

The cake is in the oven. I won't get to try it beforehand, but the batter tasted the way it should. I found out Grandma's secret. It is a very heavy cake, and everyone liked it because of that. It is a Red Velvet Cake but she called it Red Village Inn Cake. Rather than dig out her recipe, I found one online and it actually calls for sifted cake flour and she only used regular flour, so that is why it was so heavy. I used regular flour too, because I wanted it to turn out like hers that eveyone loved. The recipe might have been handed down through the family, and that's the way she got it. I bought a qt of buttermilk 2 days ago, but when I opened it up it was bad. Dated Oct 20. It would not pour out of the carton, and you had to shake it to get it to plop out. I sent DH back to the store. The one he bought had the same date, but it poured. I should have had him take it back with him, but I don't usually return food. I just dump it out and take the loss. With something like milk, they could think you didn't refrigerate it properly even though I know I did and it's not hot here right now.

Yesterday was not best eating day as I caved in last night and snacked. I was just so hungry and I didn't make good choices either, Carol Sue. My FBS was 162. I am learning that there are certain foods that are even ok snacks (my choices weren't all on that list) do raise my FBS the next day. I do so much better not to have any night snacks. My weight wasn't really a gain since it was up .6 lbs. I think the successful fasting days probably saved me there. Back OP today.

Carol Sue The cake sounds so good, but I don't make them any more since DH doesn't like cake. If I really want a piece of cake, I can have it when out at a buffet, but we don't even do that much any more. In fact, I don't do any baking any more. I do get hungry for a piece of pie once in a while and now that they have those frozen ones that have desserts for 2 people, I will buy those, but haven't been hungry enough for it to buy them in almost a year.

Mad I just learned a while back that my Daddy's grandfather's family was probably from Scotland. I have a cousin that has been doing our genealogy on my Mama's grandfather's ancestry and every once in a while the name of my Daddy's grandfather comes up from Scotland. I find it interesting to see way back in my ancestry that my Daddy and Mama's family may have connected.

There is no way that I could do planks and I don't know if I ever will be able to. I think I'm too fat and probably too old for that at this time any way.

Don't have any idea what we will eat today. I'm not really hungry for anything in particular but have to cook something for DH. Funny thing is last night I was so hungry but never could decide what I wanted which is a bad thing because that is how I get in trouble with eating anything and everything. I need to learn how to deal with that type of situation because I reverted back to old ways of snacking of chips. I think maybe eating them with humus may have been what saved me. I just hope it works out for me this time like it sometimes does so that me getting right back OP, I will see a good loss by the end of the week.

Y'all have a good day.

Carol, the ab thing looks great, but the hard part is doing the moves with only the abs and not using back and neck muscles to move yourself using it, same as for all ab exercises. I think I read that crunches would be ok if people did them properly without using the back and neck muscles. I hope the cake turns out well and everyone enjoys it. I think you are right to make it like grandma's recipe because thats what they want, that trip down memory lane.

Trish, sorry you had problems last night. If you get back to IF, make sure you get enough fat with those meals. Maybe not as much as I take, but enough to feel well satisfied.

I went walking on the trail with the urban poles, and was interested to see how many more steps I did using it, in the time frame. Usually in 45 minutes, I'm about 3800 but this was 4500. my pulse went up well too. was good for the hilly trail I went to today. I woke up in a funk. I don't know if I mentioned that I had a difficult counselling session. I am working to accept that I need to do this work to help me heal the anxiety and PTSD issues that have cropped up this year, but it was tough. I went to yoga afterward, and had the nice night out last night to help. But I felt kind of down when I got up. Tried to be positive, but am having a tough day, took a while to get dressed, really had to work on myself to go for that walk. It didn't hurt anything, but didn't help the mood either. But better than sitting around all day.

Trish, DH likes cake, but it's really a waste for me to make them for him because there's so much and after a couple days he doesn't want any more. Since the box cake mixes only cost $1.29 it's not really that much of a waste to throw it away. They now sell mixes for a smaller pan, but they include a small baking pan with it, so the cost is more than the cost of a bigger cake mix. He usually just buys coffee cake and such in the grocery store bakery, or buys those small pies they sell in Walmart.

Mad, all I really wanted from the abdoer was to be able to sit and bend my waist in various directions. I think I am really beyond ab exercises. I would not attempt crunches etc. My belly protrudes so much it doesn't bend.

carol, maybe you have talked about the surgery that left you with an enlarged belly, but I don't remember. What is that about?
I hope you can keep moving and stay healthy that way. Whatever it takes.
Today is mostly a write off except for my walk. I understand better why DD had days like this after her sessions. I really wasn't thinking about anything, I just couldn't move, Didn't even read. ugh

I actually made my 8 hr eating window. I didn't eat a lot of protein today. I'm dealing with a rash and where I always thought it was the carbs, I didn't have a problem since starting 8:16 IF until I tried to switch to more low carb. So I think it comes from trying to cut back on the carbs and eat more protein. I'm back to eating the way I was doing with a little more carb.

I wanted cheese toast and pb toast this morning instead of eggs etc. So that along with the 1/2 banana and coffee is all I ate for breakfast. We had DH fave SOS and a salad. I always take just a 1/2 cup of the chipped beef. I ended the meal with 70% dark chocolate and a few nuts with my pecan coffee. I decided to eat supper to keep from snacking so I had steel cut oats with yogurt and blueberries and a small glass of red wine. I decided I need to start drinking some of resevarol so I can drink it with the last meal of the day. Having the steel cut oats worked as I've been satisfied all night.

I hope everyone has a good night sleep tonight.

an ok sleep, but not the best. Still feeling a little low. I am not sure if its the back to back fasting or the counselling. DD was always low after this form of counselling, so will let that take the blame. I cannot afford to do nothing today, we leave tomorrow night. We have most stuff done now, and today I am having lunch and later supper with some friends I wanted to be sure to see before I go. Bestie and I out for lunch, haven't seen her for over a month, though we have touched base by email and text. The other is a colleague and former student who has a brain tumour so is off work. I haven't seen her since her diagnosis, and don't know what the update is, so wanted to check in on her while she is doing well, in that she can still drive.

Arm is a little sore from the poling yesterday, but I hope to get out again today for a bit, getting ready for the trip.
Trish, what kind of fat to you add to things? Olive oil? butter? mayo? avocado? You are too high carb to be getting the Keto rash, and that usually doesn't happen until you have been on it for a while. So I am wondering about an allergy to something. It is certainly odd. Well, the wine certainly gave you some nice carbs.
Have a lovely day everyone

I forgot to weigh before coffee and food today, so scale was back up to 197, but I know it's because of the food and liquid, so I'm ok with it.

Blood sugar was way up too. After DH gave the cake to his daughter he wanted some, so I made another one. I ate a piece of it, and it was way not worth it. Now I remember way back when I first met DH, everyone used to rave about this cake she made, and I, not really being a sweet lover, couldn't understand what the fuss was all about. To me, it was just OK, and it's just OK now. It is basically a red velvet cake. If I never have it again, I will be just fine.

Mad, what is it about the counseling that gets you so down, if you don't mind discussing it. One time my doctor asked if I think I'm depressed but I don't think I know the difference between depression and the normal highs and lows of life.

Trish, I remember clearly that you used to get that rash and said it was from eating too many carbs. So I don't think it's from not enough carbs, this time. If it's from protein, maybe it's a particular protein. Maybe Mad is right, that you have an allergy to something. Maybe you could keep close tabs on what you're eating to see if you can notice a pattern. Not necessarily track calories or carbs, but just which foods might cause the rash. Or maybe it's something else, like stress, or a soap or chemical you're using. Is it the same rash each time?

Mad, in 2011 I woke up with bad abdominal pain. It was the day after I used the Torso Track. By 4PM I was in the ER. They did a Cat Scan and by 8PM I was being prepped for surgery. I was not aware that I had diverticulitis. It perforated and the contents of my bowel went all through my abdomen causing severe peritonitis. They removed part of my bowel and I had a colostomy bag. To do this surgery, they cut my abdomen open vertically, cutting through my ab muscles. 6 months later they reversed the colostomy, cutting through the abdominal muscles again. Repairing the muscle is not part of the reversal. The muscles no longer hold anything in. I have bulges where the contents of my abdomen are poking through weakened abdominal wall. Everything is pulled toward the left, including my belly button. It is no longer in the middle of my belly, but a few inches off to the side. The bulging is bigger on the left side than the right. I don't know if all people who have that surgery end up like this or if it was because I started out with a good bit of abdominal fat. I also don't know if the doctor did not have me wear the binder long enough. I don't know what the result would be if I could lose the belly fat. The abdominal muscle would still be damaged and wouldn't hold the organs in place like it's supposed to. Years ago I worked with a woman who had a big protruding belly like me but I don't know what her's was from.

Yes, the rash is always the same. I haven't had it since I added the oats, lentils and small amount of grains. It came back when I decided to take those foods out of my diet and try to start Atkins again. One day back on Atkins and no grains and the rash was back. I actually believe I just need a small amount of them. Even though I had added some back into my diet plan, I was not eating all that much. FBS was back down to 144 this morning so I will not worry about them.

I read a book once that women do not need a lot of protein and I think I am one of those people at least for now. I know a man who was a low carber for years just because he loved eating meat and not harldy any starches if at all. I was shocked when my DS told me years later that he was diabetic and had stopped going out to eat with their church group because he had to go home and eat what his wife call mush which is oatmeal. It was the only way he could control the diabetes.

I'm not going to eat a lot of carbs, but just eat like I was before when things were working for me. The only fat I use is EVOO and butter although I don't eat a lot of either.

Weight is leveled off at one point so something is working since I'm not gaining. I will continue with IF as that seems to work in my favor so well. I won't make any big changes for now. I did so well with the oats in the evening and it gets a lot of other good foods in that I need for now so I will continue to eat it for a while. I'm keeping my other meals lower carb as I always eat. I still don't want to do high carb or keto low carb.

I've had 2 days back on 8:16 so all is good. It really is getting easier to pretty much stay within the 8 hr eating window. I'm just going to go with that for a while and see how that goes. Although I don't eat extremely low carb, I'm not going really low fat either. I actually am eating a little more butter and EVOO which seems to be making me more satisfied. At the same time I do use some FF products like FF half n half and nonfat yogurt. I use Pam type spray mainly because it makes for easier clean up.

Early day tomorrow going to beauty shop and going to see Daddy. I will run by the store after seeing him before I come home since I will over by the store that has the best fruit. I need to go to Walmart too sometime before Sunday when I do our meds for next week.

I'm headed to bed a little earlier tonight since I have to get up early. Hope we all are able to have a good nights sleep.

Carol: sounds like you had surgeons who left you with post-op herniations, which is not ok. That would really contribute to your back pain, if the abs can't work well. It may ben late to really bring them together, but surely there should be a repair in there. That kind of thing really depresses me. One of my clients who had a large umbilical hernia, had to have a c-section. I spoke with OB about it, and it was arranged to have another surgeon come to the section and since she was also getting her tubes tied, they put in an appliance to repair the hernia at the same time. Happy results for all.
I don't want to imply all is well with Canadian health care, but it was definitely one of the good moments.
Trish, this rash is a mystery, hope you can figure it out.

This was an eating day, may have had a little much today. I did a little comfort eating this evening. I had supper with my friend, colleague, former student who has a brain tumour. I guess I should say brain cancer, the tumour was (mostly) removed. Found out this cancer was pretty advanced, and she will likely never work again, and not many more years to live. Her daughters are 17-20-23, and Dad has hardly been in the picture for years. So her priority is to help them prepare to live their lives without her.
SO I was a little bummed.
However, the comfort food was steel cut oats cooked in milk, with some frozen cherries, and a little maple syrup. Not so terrible really.

My daughter also came to see us today before we leave for our trip. She has been having this EMDR therapy for a while, and after sessions often had very quiet days with no motivation. With PTSD the memory gets locked into a part of the brain instead of diffusing in the way most of our memories do. (this was a plain language explanation given to me years ago, my neurology courses are too long ago for me to be competent to do a better explanation) The EMDR therapy is an electrical stimulation on both sides of the body (the EM stood for eye movement, but now they often use hand held devices, which is what I did) in order to stimulate both sides of the brain to deal with the memory. Its a pretty intense time, unpacking old traumatic memories, looking at them, reliving them for most of an hour, then repacking them and putting them away.
I expected a tough time that day, but not so much the day after. I wasn't dwelling on anything, not really thinking about anything, If I am depressed or anxious, I am dwelling on events or sadness all day.
As DD explained, after the therapy, we are building new neural pathways, and that is exhausting.
Made me feel better about my day. I was pretty normal today. Still not terribly motivated, but able to get myself moving, and once moving, I had momentum and kept going.

Tomorrow we finish packing and leave 7 pm!