Yes, never a truer word was spoke, o Meg! I just had to put my head round the door when I saw that.

And to say hullo to Robin. Life, eh? I'm so sorry it's a bit full and tricky at present. The wheel will turn.

I always read what you maintainers have to say, always full of insights. Thanks. One day I'll manage to introduce myself and take part a bit more but at present ... well, it's that Life again. I know you'll bear with me just popping in from time to time.

SB - pop in any time you please - we're always happy to see you.

Hi maintainers,

Zoom through post from me. I have been melting in a heatwave this last week, very rare for these parts ! I just wanted to post to say hello to Robin and Jansan.

jansan, Funny thing is that I myself am busy with this book of the "Full catastrophe living" . I still find it very hard to concentrate on my breathing though. I can manage 4 minutes now, and he just casually metions like to do 20 minutes !!!

Robin, Welcome back !! Just keep hanging in here and take it one breath at the time. i have been thinking of you in stressfull times.

Have to run now,
rabbit

i have been out of the loop for the past week or so. just feeling down about my pregnancy loss. i am feeling a little better, but now i have a further worry. as far as we know my dad has kidney cancer he's only 51 i am finding it hard to be 'happy' and i find it hard trying to positive about maintaining.

i had one bad day this week where i splurged. i licked off a half bag of doritos (i don't like the chips themselves, so i lick the chips and throw them away), a chocolate bar and we dined out on indian butter chicken and naan bread. i know i went overboard that day.....but i have been good for the rest of the week and it has been over a month since i ate anything above my calories for the day. i am weighing between 117-118 each day and as long as i never go above 120 again, i think i will be content.

i went for a 2 1/2 hr mountain bike ride today in 25 degree weather. it was awesome, but i was very exhausted by the time i got home!

hope all of you are well. i will take the time here now and read up on the weeks happenings.

jen

Oh Jen, I do feel for you. And your dad and family. It's a lot to deal with at an already challenging time. If I may offer you something which worked for me? Try not to get overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. Try to keep your loss and your dad's illness separate so they can each have proper attention, and you don't become overwhelmed by pain. You don't have to be 'happy', remember, it's a hard time. If you can take just one day at a time you're doing well.

In this context, it sounds to me as though you're doing pretty well. And coming here is definitely a good move.

Love, Silverbirch

Jen -- Prayers for you, your dad and family Silver has a very good idea there I just may try it myself since my dad is going through radiation treatment for prostate cancer...

Ilene

thanks ilene and silverbirch. you're right, i will try to keep my issues separate. although it's hard for me since i wonder if i'll ever have a baby before anything happens to my dad. i am praying of course that he will make it through this....that i will have a baby and he will have a grandchild.

ilene....i will send prayers up for you, your dad and your family as well. i too will send a

jen

silver and jen --- thanks so much ....

Not surprisingly, I am up 2.2 lbs. since my May weigh-in at WW. It could certainly be worse! My WW leader is really helpful and I got some good tips and support and the meeting.

I am seriously considering hiring a personal trainer to jump start my routine. My school principal gave me a gift certificate as an end-of-year gift, which would exactly cover the cost of 1 session at the Y where I am a member. Question: is 1 session worth it, or would I benefit much more from booking a package of 5?

In terms of food, the key will be cutting salt, and back to vigilant portion control. I have never used a food scale (always measuring cups/spoons) but it may be time to get one.

ANother blazing hot/humid day. I'm taking my son for more Bar Mitzvah stuff today. 6 more days!

Elana - Good for you for nipping your weight gain in the bud! 2.2 pounds isn't bad at all and you'll be able to get rid of them without any problem. How much better to deal with 2 pounds now than 10 or 20 pounds later!!

About the personal training - I think you would get a lot more benefit from five hours of training than one. When I meet a client for the first time, we talk about her goals and past exercise and weight loss experiences, cardio, nutrition, and do measurements, etc. Ususally that takes up about half of the first hour and then the rest of the time we spend on a fairly basic full-body workout. Once I've spent an hour with a client and know her goals, needs, and abilities, then I can put together an individualized exercise plan designed specifically for her. So we don't get into serious working out until the second session. But whatever you decide to do, let us know how it goes for you!

And good luck with the Bar Mitzvah!!

I feel like I should check in, but what to say? This is my life:



Will that do? I'm too incoherent for much else.

Hi everybody. Welcome back Robin.

Anne

Here's a smilie for you, Anne ...



It's all going to be better soon - just hang on a little longer!

Nice to see you anyways Anne... Just wave once in a while to say hi to let us know you're alive and at least lurking and getting in some good motivating information...

<<jansan, Funny thing is that I myself am busy with this book of the "Full catastrophe living" . I still find it very hard to concentrate on my breathing though. I can manage 4 minutes now, and he just casually metions like to do 20 minutes !!!>>

Hi Rabbit and all,

Re Full Catastrophe Living and meditating. One of the things that really helped me was using his tapes. They are not talking tapes about how to meditate per se, but are to be played while meditating, and are mostly silence with timely gentle reminders to go back to your breath and other helpful suggestions/mental images. While I have his tapes, I have also made a couple of my own shorter tapes by talking into a tape machine. I really like that book. It was one of the most helpful to me in putting my all too common anxiety into perspective, and then helping it go away. Just a thought, perhaps there might be some of his meditation tapes on ebay??

Today was a good day here. I worked in the garden and planted more beans and squash, and cleaned the fishpond. And the weather is very nice.

Yesterday I saw Wolfgang Puck on one of those shopping channels, and he was selling his panini grill (like the foreman grill). It looked really user friendly and I wanted one, but didnt want to spend $89 for it. Later that morning when garage/tag sale-ing, a home shopping addict was selling some things she had bought but never used. There was my Wolfgang panini grill, brand new, for $20, and still under warranty! Tonight I cooked my marinated chicken in it, and it was so easy and good. It has great possibilities.

Jan