Yes, 4keeps, I never heard anyone in this forum or on this site in general ever objecting to a pep talk. If the spirit moves within you, stand up and say it.

I am down nearly a pound from two days ago. I am still not understanding cause-and-effect here. Probably if I were a calorie counter it would make more sense, but I practice the closest thing to intuitive eating that I can conceive of, given my circumstances.

Ugghhhhh.... I'm sick I think. 3 days from the tough mudder and I feel lousy. It might be severe allergies but I'm not sure. Sore throat, headache, stuffed nose, lethargy. Any miracle cures that will work by Saturday for me? Thinking I should rest today and not exercise? But then I thought my planned bikram yoga might sweat stuff out? I'll see how I feel later. My weight is up still so that may be tied with my yuck. No time to be sick. I've got 8 kindergarten classes and 2 others to deal with today.

Hope you're not sick Michele. My DS got a cold the first week of school and is now dealing with a plugged up ear which is bugging him a lot. He thinks it's wax buildup (which he's had before) but I think it's due to his head cold which is mostly gone. I'll call the doctor and get him an appointment for after school Friday.

My weight is continuing it's downward move but not quite in the 140's yet. Usually I hit that at about Friday but I'm hoping for tomorrow so that by Friday I see 148. Don't know if I'll hit red line by the end of the month, but even if it is as low as 147 I'll be more than happy.

Aw, Michele! Sorry to hear you're not up to snuff. Well, my regimen is not for everyone, but here's my fix. For a sore throat, heat up some good old plain chicken broth, and load 'er up with cayenne pepper. The capsaicin in the pepper will reduce the pain, and the steam from the broth helps loosen everything up. I also take 1000 mg of Vit C three times a day til I'm sure things are resolved. Finally, my other "home brew" is to peel and shave a 4 inch piece of ginger into a saucepan, add about 12-16 oz of water, simmer it good for 7 minutes, strain out the ginger, add some honey and a dash of lemon juice, and drink up. Ginger is a very potent anti-inflammatory - it should be so strong that it tastes hot-spicy.

When all else fails, I grab the Nyquil. Truth be told, I have not had a cold in the three years since supplementing Vitamin D at 5000IU from September through May ... nor flu or any other illness.

Michele I hope you are feeling better, when you are going to Tahoe think of me as you pass the exit to Davis, not exactly sure but am thinking you will be on the freeway , 80 maybe. I just moved here a year ago and when I go to Sacramento I am always amused when I see the exits for Reno and Lake Tahoe, I feel like I am on vacation, not true of couse.
Good luck with the Tough Mudder.

I hope you are feeling better in time for the race, Michele!

Welcome, 4 keeps! You look fab in your avatar picture!

Thinking of you, Shannon and Dagmar.

My scale is not giving me any love, but someone asked me today if I have lost weight. I'll take it.

Thanks Bargoo-- I'll wave going by! Even though I've lived in CA now for 7 years, I really don't know my way around. And geography has never been my strong suit. Dh asked me to find a restaurant along the drive tomorrow for dinner so I found an italian place about 2 hours away (half way)-- he wanted pasta and veggies-- so hopefully it will be a good stop.

I also just signed up for a half-marathon. It benefits our school district and is a big fundraiser here. I did the 5K once years ago but I've never done a half-marathon. However, several teachers/staff members are signing up-- some are planning on just walking-- so I figure I can walk/jog depending on how I feel. It is the Sunday before my book fair starts on the Monday so it may be crazy timing, but so be it. I can promote the book fair as I'm running by the parents and kids!

michele - a half-marathon, wow! I still think I'd rather swim the mileage than try to run it. At least there's four limbs involved to share the work, plus gravity is less of a factor. Best wishes for a successful Tough Mudder - the pictures I've seen make it look like hard work and a LOT of fun!

ward, having someone notice is muchhhh better than random scale attacks!

allison, yay for the continuing downward trend!

I'm hangin' at 147.5. I really need to focus on the right things this weekend. It looks like the guys are going hunting, which leaves me alone in the house (bad thing, historically). I have a detailed yet not paralyzing to-do list that should help. My hall bathroom is scheduled for drywalling late next week, so I have a lot on my plate - figuratively only!

Hard to decide where to post. But the title of this thread is "facing fall fearlessly" and I have been doing the opposite. I threw my maintenance routine out the window for over 2 weeks and wound myself into a frenzy over what my father is trying to do. My fear and anxiety have overwhelmed me since Sept. 9 - when he arrived back.

There are other people now trying to stop him. If his stubbornness wins and he goes home to die there's not much I can do. Well I can change the locks but that is still socially unacceptable. DH has schooled me in "optics" and I can't go that far.

Sure feel like it though. Dying at home is just more gasoline on the fire of what my father does to me. He could co-operate and give me a break for once in our relationship. But he won't - combat to the literal end.

As with DH's diet I cannot influence anything my dad does - much. I can only limit my contact with him to relieve all the stress it causes me to even be in the same room with him.

I have to now start getting myself in hand and going about MY business. That starts with getting back on track with diet and exercise. Then starting to really market for more business so I can again pay the bills and have a bit left over for small pleasures.

I am picking up my life again.

Dagmar

Dagmar. if you know the serenity prayer say it several times a day . In case you don't know it , here it is.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

dagmar, Sorry you're having to deal with an emotional vampire. At least you're aware of it. Keep putting your peace first - it seems clear that you've tried to make this better and tried to offer up the best ways to deal with it, to no avail. As you've said, your role has ended.

Average is up for the week, although the last four days were good, they couldn't overcome last weekend. Maybe I have reached the maintenance level for the lifestyle I am living. It's time to find another incremental change. I need to go from sloth to turtle mode. At least the turtle has a second gear.

I love Bargoo's idea of saying the serenity prayer Saef. I think I'll start saying it as well. I hope you find peace and tranquility no matter what your dad's last days are. You said he has cancer? Is his cancer a type that will limit his days so you have an idea as to how much longer he'll be around?

I'm still not feeling great. My weight is up. Tough Mudder is tomorrow and I leave today after work. Sigh.

Dh went to the knee specialist this week to find out more about his torn ACL. Apparently his knee has many issues besides the torn ACL. He will need a partial or total knee replacement in the next few years. In the meantime, the doc told him to do whatever he's comfortable doing so I guess he can't hurt it more. He will be going in soon to get some sort of shot (not a steroid but something else) that will hopefully relieve some of the pain, but it has to be approved my insurance before it's scheduled.

So sorry Dagmar. I wish there was something I could do or say that would help ease your emotional pain.

I'm confident my week's calorie totals will come in closer to 10,000 than 12,000 and for that I am happy. My shorts feel a lot looser than usual although there is no discernible change in weight.

Dagmar, I understand probably about half your burden of your father dying of cancer, but not the rest, which is your painful relationship with him. I wish you the best. As I said, this will be life-changing. Hang in there. It will be like gripping something slippery through a storm. Just breathing and existing will take all your energy. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that, when it's over, you will still be here, even if your father isn't.

As for me, I think I need to true up my ticker with my life. My scale said 147.1 this morning. My doctor's office scale said 149. The doctor said, in that simultaneously noncommittal and incredibly judgmental tone: "Hmmm. You've gained a little weight since your last visit."

Yeah, something like six pounds.

I am working on it.

Started the week last Sunday at 116.8 this morning I was 116.4 and have been all week except for Monday when I weighed 115.6 , that lasted 24 hours, but all in all I am pretty happy with my weight this week.