Morning ladies, judi hope you are feeling better. It sounds like everyone is about ready for Christmas. I am too, just a little bit of wrapping and then getting everything together for Christmas dinner.

I have fallen out of my zone and trying really hard to get back to it. Yesterday eating was much bettter and I did workout though not my regualr workout. I am up early this am and plan to have another good eating day and do the regular workout.

Just a quick check in. How is everyone doing? All is well here. Nothing too exciting, I am back to my regular workouts. Some treats are allowed the next few days I guess but I am trying to maintain some control. Will be making a big pot of healthy chili today to tide me through some less good choices.

Thur
 

Hi everyone!

Chili...now that sounds like a good idea...maybe I will make that today too.

All the snow is gone and we have rain and more rain...and wind...a tree just fell on our roof but did no damage PTL!

I still have the flu/cold...I went to the doctor yesterday and he must be the most popular guy on the island, everyone I knew was there...apparently a virus is going around. I had a flu shot too:?:

The upside is the 'eating' was wasy below par which is ok.

I got my book Alice and plan to read it today.

Glad you got your rain LaDean...snow is pretty but it makes it so darn hard to get around.

hi all. sounds like all are ok. i am to. yes love this rain. beau and i have missed a down pour and got a good walk in so far each day.. i am heading out this evening a friend and i to see some christmas lites. the seniors are taking a bus. and eat out. but a buffet so can be good. ha ha i am having my holiday treats all along. then back after that on none. glad you all are doing so good. glad the snow is all gone now. i know its the getting around in it. if i jsut sit in would love it. but we have alot of ice with it is what is so terrible. well its getting nearer christmas. how exciting. Hey ledom glad all is going good with your plan. chili we had it yesterday. was good. love it. have a good day all of you. LaDean

Morning all. Alice, are you ready for Christmas you've been quiet lately? Judi, so sorry your cold/flu has dragged on - it seems to be going around here as well. DD has had it from what I understand. How were the lights LaDean? I need to do something like that. Maybe tonight.

On Wed. night I got together with my girlfriends to welcome the solstice. That was fun. I was just thinking yesterday how I have greeted the solstices' and equinoxes' with them for so long now and how important this ritual is to us. We don't really do anything special, usually a light supper and visit and a nod to the new season. (Which by the way reminds me, I guess it is time for a new winter thread. I"ll think on that a little before I start it.) Anyway, I love those girls.

So tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I need to run out to pick up a couple of ingredients for dinner today and wrap a couple more presents but basically I am ready for it. On the 27th DD and I are going to see a production of "Beauty and the Beast" at the repertory theatre. I am looking forward to that. I will get to wear my new suit!

I have New Years planned as well if the weather cooperates. Camping with friends New Years Eve and paddling on New Years Day. That will be fun. We are going to camp at the area where the trail is that I have volunteered on so I look forward to actually walking on that trail for the first time when I can notice things more.

So I have really been thinking about what I am doing dietwise. I have had some very bad days sprinkled among some not so good days going on for 2 weeks now. I am very frightened by the loss of control. Last night I took out my current "bible" of weight loss Jillian Michaels "Winning by Losing" to reread the first 3 chapters where she talks about the reasons to do all the hardwork of diet and exercise - she is very convincing. I just got through the first chapter last night, but it was helpful. I also determined that I needed to use the mantra I did during thanksgiving. Christmas is just one day. It is a little late to be employing that, but if I can hold my eating to that for the next week I know I'll be ahead of where I will be if I don't. I want to splurge on New Year's Eve as well with a bottle of wine. After that I can't think of any more holiday excuses for not keeping it together until next winter!

I know I need to weigh but I am just not ready to do that. Today is weigh-in day and I didn't weigh last week either. I have got to just get myself geared for it. I can do this. Anyway, I really plan to do a perfect diet day today and I will report back on if I make it. I am thinking I will!

Okey Doke - just got up the nerve to weigh! OMG, will not go into detail except to say - I am glad I did because now I have the focus. Not weighing is not good for me, now I can't fool myself anymore about the cause and effect of Christmas goodies. Will just leave my tracker as is until I can ooch it down again but I will say some damage has been done.

Hello everyone, :clause:

ledom, it sounds like you're all set for Christmas. Your outing over New Years sounds like a lot of fun. Hope it stays warm for you. Glad that you had such a good time celebrating the winter solstice with your friends. You'll get back to your diet and exercise routine once the holidays are over with.

LaDean, glad that you're happy about the rain. A belated Happy Birthday to Beau. He & Lacee have birthdays in the same month. Her's was on Dec. 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, and she was 5. All that walking will help Beau lose weight too.

judi, how is the book coming along? I haven't read anything past the leek soup yet. I'll pick it up before the New Year and read the rest of it. I have discovered, I just have no interest in counting calories or anything.

This week before Christmas my eating hasn't been all that good. But, I usually take this week to indulge rather than indulging from Thanksgiving to Christmas. This way I only gain 1 or 2 lbs. rather than 5-10. :D

I want to wish you all a

:gift2: [COLOR="RedMERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A :newyear: [/COLOR]

So glad all is going good and everyone is ready for the holidays. i am to. oh neat both lacee and beaus birthdays this month.. yes so far no luck with beau losing wt. but hes eating right and that is what counts. wish i was ha ha i also just let go the holidays and do my thing. sometimes when i do this it helps me. i am not worry and fretting. instead being Jolly and having fun and enjoying. got the whole new year to get to new goal. and i will. oh your trip Ledom sounds so fun... well to all a nice christmas:candy: :tree:

Happy Christmas Eve!
I have been fooling around with my signature this a.m. I just feel better showing the original goal being reached and starting over on a new goal. Easier for me to keep track of. Was able to hold everything together yesterday with my diet and that has renewed my confidence some. I can do this.
Went hiking this a.m. and was strong for that.

Hope you all have a joyous day.

Morning girls - how is everyone this morning? I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas.

I am well, I survived. It was nice. DD was home and we both were on our best behaviour - no Thanksgiving repeat thank goodness. We had a good visit about a lot of things. She had some big news, a boyfriend! She had been to meet his family - I know that he has liked her for about 2 years. Apparently he never gave up on her and now they're together. I have to say I am very happy for her. It's time for her to be getting on with her life. Though I only know of the bf, I believe he is a sweet kid that is going to be good to her. I'll be meeting him soon I suppose.

Anyway, my house is pretty much christmas treat free. I packed up everything for her to take home with her. There is a frozen concoction that we had for dessert in the freezer, but I do believe I can stay away from that. The only reason it didn't go home with her was the problem of transporting it. I'll have to invite someone over for dessert soon to get that taken care of.

I feel very ready to get on with my clean living now! I have plans to celebrate the new year with friends that include food and drink, not evolved enough to give that up, but that is a week away and I plan to have an excellent week with that planned splurge a week from now.

Boxing Day
 

Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday to all doggies having birthdays:hug:

Nice to read of everyone's doin's these last couple of days.

We probably had our nicest Christmas ever. It was so much fun. My DH got a remote helicopter from our D and SIL so he and my hubby were out on the lawn all Christmas afternoon trying to fly it, it was fun to see DH having such fun. The baby was such a hoot too...he is learning to talk and is so pleased when he discovers a new word he can say.

I am glad everything is working out well for the D Ledom.

I wasn't too bad on the Christmas overeating because I still have a cold but I am staying away from the scale...I don't want to defeat myself mentally.

I have 3 new books to read ...all which I really want to read...the "French" woman diet one, "In the Vineyard of the Lord" (about Pope Benedict) and "How to Live Well on One Income"...a book I have wanted to read for a long time.

I am ready to get on with exercising and dieting and getting on with my resolutions.

I think I will leave the tree and decorations up for awhile yet, I am not ready to let go of Christmas. I did resist the temptation to go bargain hunting today.

:coolsnow: :rudolph:

judi - so glad your Christmas was so nice. It does sound like fun. It sounds like having a baby in the house makes everything more playful. That's neat about your DH spending the day outside playing with his toy. Everyone should have a toy for Christmas!

DD and I are going to a play of Sleeping Beauty tonight. I think I might have mentioned that already. Anyway, not much new around here.

Got back on track with eating yesterday. It was actually easy to do (knock on wood). I am ready to get back to the losing game!

Thurs.
 

Hi! I am up early I have to go for tests...no eating until so I want to get them out of the way.

I just bought Prevention's magazine (a special issue) on outsmart Diabetes...5 super foods for diabetes and walk the weight off/4 easy plans to manage your blood sugar. It was at the supermarket counter. It looks like it contains some good info.

I was up one pound over Christmas...not bad, still down 5 for the entire year. I hope to add a zero to that five number this year. That will be my goal.

We have had a lot of rain and alders have been falling down so we have had a few bouts of power outages. It is ok for me...I have a little book light so I always read in front of the fireplace and listen to my ipod. It is kind of nice.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Hi all. wish that was all i was up was a lb. i am uppppppp way uppppppp. but today i am with it again. going downnnnnnn. already rode ex bike 3 miles. going to get on it all day and walk to.. and get with my atkins again. got to get with it. for my health. i have played around now all these weeks. now its back to business and get with it. so happy to hear judi you did so well over holidays and you to aleka and ledom. you set an example for me to get with it. so today is that new day moving forward and going to do it. i am going for my new goal. just lose and when i get to that stand still then a new goal it be. so have a great day to all. HAPPY NEW YEAR.. LaDean

Good to see you girls. All is well here, very quiet. I just finished my workout and after my shower will go buy groceries. Time to cook again. I haven't made meatloaf in a while so I guess I'll try that. I find I eat the same things over and over. Anyway, diet is so so still. I mean it is not as out of control as it was, but last evening a slip occurred. And of course I felt terrible about it this a.m. I put off my workout because I just can't do it very well when I haven't eaten very well. Anyway, I am still trying to keep my cheats in moderation and have given myself until Jan. 2 to get back 100%. Easy on myself, huh? Anyway, congrats judi - you did great. I am not claiming any extra lbs., as I read somewhere they are just some fluff that will be gone very very soon.

Hi everyone,

Glad that you all had a good Christmas. Mine was good too. We had planned on taking Lacee to a doggie beach, but as it turned out it wasn't a very good beach day.

I tried to start my diet on the 26th, but failed miserably. I got too many goodies for Christmas gifts and all week I was into them. I am starting Jan. 2nd, and I'm sending the rest of the goodies with DH when he goes to work.

All of you sound like you're really determined and are doing so well with your eating.

I am reading a book from Oprah's Book Club, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It's his story about what he went through in recovery for alcohol and drugs. It really is good and I can't put it down.

I want to wish you all a Safe, Healthy, and Happy New Year!!!!
:newyear: :snow4:

Morning Alice, To say this is not the diet season is an understatement! We'll get through this week and then maybe the sailing will be smoother. I made this fabulous christmas dessert. It is called Peppermint Seimifreddo w/ choc. sauce. The good thing is that you make it and pour it into 6 serving bowls so at least a serving is delineated, sorta - the choc sauce is served on the side and that can get out of hand. Anyway it is like a frozen peppermint custard. I ate the last one last night instead of my EFL Cheesecake. There is still half a chocloate bar in the freezer. I THINK everything else is out of the house now. Anyway, bought my groceries last night. My shopping cart was the cleanest, healthiest one in the store, it had to be. Lean protein, veggies and fruit.

Will be good today, will carry on like a fool NY eve and day, and then buddy I am getting serious! Promise!

Hi, all i am also going to be serious Jan. 2nd aleka... i got to. this year i just went crazy i think. but we got so many goodies and the neighbors brought us over some to. so its getting less and less. i am shoving it in front of the daughter and hubby. ha haha shes trying to watch it to. ha oh well this is the time to be Jolly and so i am. i will get serious my new year . the book sounds good. i need to get into reading more again

Ledom. good for you see your making the right move by getting your good food early and having it. good for you.. i have a turkey i plan to cook. that will help me get with it. going to cook him new years day... well so glad everyone is moving forward this Jan. we will do this together.. sensibly.. LaDean
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.. HAVE A GREAT AND FUN ONE. we just stay in..

Ledom. Oh i am so very happy for you. go girl and lose that weight. we will work together. i have 20 more lbs at least to lose. so i am going to get with it the first of year. get on my plan and extra exercise and all. so we will all share our eating more ok. that helps and gives ideas to.. i think don't you. oh gee oregon... Have you ever been here ??? you will love it . so pretty and so much to see. but you have been so many places and all. if i may ask where in oregon???? just curious... ha oh so happy for you and you have a right to be on cloud 9. its so neat to share and all. so happy you did... have a good week now. we will do this.. LaDean

Thanks LaDean. And no I don't mind, he's in Eugene.

Well, going camping and paddling. Will see you all in the New Year and until then

:woo: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

:woo: :newyear: to all of you. have a happy new years eve. Oh that is close to me like 50 miles. neat.. i am so glad your getting to go and all. you will have so much fun... I am going to start my plan full blast the 2nd.. i got to. have eaten so much candy just feel uck.ha ha but i keep putting it in. ha ha well hey to all of y ou have a good day. LaDean:newyear:

Happy New Year Everyone!!
 

:woo:

Ledom, that is good news, thank you for sharing...I remember a couple years ago you mentioned that there was someone special in Eugene. It is good to be on Cloud 9:cloud9: It should happen more often to all of us!!

Well, I lost 2 1/2 more pounds so as on today I am down 7 1/2 pounds from one year ago.

I am thinking of making some New Years resolutions. I have been thinking about them for about a month or so. This is what I want to do.

1. Spend an hour everyday praying.
2. Exercise at least 5 days out of 7.
3. Keep track of all the books I am reading (I did that when I was going to university).
4. LOSE FIFTY POUNDS this year!!!

I am going to be babysitting my grandson for the next couple of days which should be fun.

Well LaDean, Alice and Ledom I wish that this will be the VERY BEST of all years for you:cheers:

love judi

judi, what plan are you doing now. is it still the atkins. i am thinking of getting back to it tomorrow. got my turkey to fix and all. lots of vegies and all with it.. i got to do it. i have gained over the holiday. good for you that is great to lose at this time of year and all. i did last year. but this year got off it. guess i figured hey only live once. ha ha oh well got a new day tomorrow and a great new year so going for a new goal.. I wish you a very Happy new year to and also you ledom and aleka.. hey girls lets get this wt off this year. together we can and we will do this.. LaDean

New thread up.