Just a quick update..

Still trying to get better.. Cough is still killing me. Other then that I feel almost normal. Work had to send me home today though because of it. Hopefully I get over this crap soon.

Weight: 338

Question.. When will I start to see a difference. I don't see anything yet. I asked my mom and she said she cant really tell either.

I have a little Christmas fun to share with you guys. It starts with a poem titled "Nicolas Was" by Neil Gaiman:
And here's the animation of the poem.. Enjoy!

imnotperfect - feel better soon I can definitely empathize!

Fi - thanks for sharing. Good morning Chuckle!

Hey gals so holding steady at 318 despite a weekend of definitely less than perfection. :-|

Desperately need to grocery shop tonight to get me through at least until Friday. And with 3 potential dinners to go to (24th, 25th, 26th oh my!) I'm going to need things to bring and no ones really told me whether they want appies, deserts or main dishes yet. That makes it so hard. I think I'll shop for appies and desert fixings.

Dr's appointment to get to, wish me luck. Routine blood pressure type of appointment I'm hoping. I'm not sure why they're insistent on seeing me again so soon though, which isn't putting my mind at ease.

Good morning chickies!
Betsy, I love how you go from sorting magazines to sitting next to them with a drink and snack. So true. I'm glad you are posting or I would forget it is Christmas time. I did pack the cookies away...under my button.
Silent, you so sound like my much younger twin. You do not lack self discipline. Our brains have a different way of processing things. There is hope for us! Good job keeping the weight off!!! Good luck at the Dr's.
notperfect, hope you are better soon. It took 60 pounds for me and others to notice. It just happened all at once it was really weird.
Fi, thanks for sharing and the link. I will check it out.
My scale is up and it is past my red line weight. I was tempted to LIE on my chart. I came clean in the end. I so have Newyearsitis! Trying to think of healthy treats to have for Christmas.
How is everyone doing?

BP was a touch high, so I need to work on that... salt-be-gone! That should help the 316.2 get better? (I just cheated, I took the scale into the bathroom at work, and weighed without the tripple layer of pants ) I need to get back into working out, I just don't think Christmas week while I have a temporary pet is the best for routine-starting. I'm walking the dog and stuff but he's old so its nothing that intense and because its cold we can't go for that long. (I'm bundled up but poor guy his feet and nose are so cold even though we've only been going for 15 20 minute strolls...).

Grocery shopping has to be my ultimate priority tonight anyhow. If I have energy after putting away the groceries then.. I'll keep on keeping on with the decluttering. Maybe at the very least try and Clean up the entry way so that I can vaccuum it. It's a small enough room and the first thing people see if they knock on my door.

Good morning, ladies. It's a typical NW rainy day here, and for some reason, Toby is whining endlessly. He's been out. He's had a treat. He has access to his toys. His nose is cold and wet. Maybe he just likes the sound of his own voice!

SilentArctic -- Glad to know I'm not alone in taking several days to clean house. It will get done! I'm with you on having a lot of dinners this week and keeping straight what food is going to which dinner. Did you get to the grocery store -- always a challenge at this time of year just from a long lines perspective. Sorry that your BP was up some. I just read that our potassium and sodium intakes should be about the same each day -- Fi, what's the skinny on that?

Ubee -- We've stored our cookies in the same place!!!! I'm hoping there are enough of the cookies left that it isn't apparent that the cook did too much taste testing. I'll join you on the NewYearItis -- ready to get back on track.

Perfect -- Your cough sounds horrible and hope that it's doing better. Glad you're feeling some better. In terms of seeing the difference, at our size it takes 50-60 pounds like Ubee said. BUT, I noticed that my clothes were a lot looser and there were things I could do (like tie my shoelaces) that were almost impossible before. So, there are many ways of seeing a difference and revel in changes in things you can do even if you haven't reached the stage of people commenting on your weight loss yet.

Has anyone else been learning the hard way about the evils of sugar and carb laden foods? I've definitely been off track this past week. Things I've noticed: my cold got worse instead of abating, my arthritis is more painful, the bags under my eyes are more pronounced, and my skin looks coarser when I look in the mirror. Plus, in spite of sleeping really well at night, I'm up and down with lots of energy and then the crash -- all due to sugars. Definitely need to get things back on track as eating this stuff just isn't worth the results.

Have a great day, ladies.

Silent, you are so close to your 2014 goal! Sorry about your BP. I love salt. Good luck cleaning up your palace, My maid sure is lazy lately. All she wants to do is go on the computer, hang on the phone and of course eat. I sure hope my husband doesn't fire her!
Betsy, give Toby a kiss for me. I think that is what he needs. I feel ill from eating carbs and sugars BUT does it stop me???
I better get going I forgot to bring our little tree up and plug it in!

I'm having a bit of a rough day today. The weather is bringing down my mood, I think. I don't really have seasonal affective disorder, but this time of year I'm sometimes so homesick for Houston, the sinking feeling in my chest and my stomach is well nigh indistinguishable from depression pain. Houston is gorgeous in December—clear skies with maybe just a few fluffy white clouds, temperatures in the 70s. The DC area can be, as today, quite dank and dull, with a sky that is uniformly light grey, reminding me of lead. And it's afternoon, my low point of the day. So I'm hangin' in here, but rather downbeat.

I think that it was Betsy, one time, who said she didn't know that depression can cause physical pain. It certainly doesn't do that for everyone: the depression associated with bipolar disorder tends to be "more brutal," as my psychiatrist puts it. Plus, the pain of depression, while it's felt in the body, is not exactly the same as physical pain. The best way to describe it is to say it's like the pain of grief. If you've ever experienced intense grief, you've had a taste of what it's like to experience severe depression.

notperfect— There's a couple things you might do to be able to appreciate your weight loss so far: One is to turn sideways to the mirror—you may be able to see the difference better that way, because sometimes we lose weight in the front of the belly &/or back of the butt, which you can't really tell if you're facing the mirror. The other is to try on a shirt, even just a T-shirt, that you remember was tight when you were at your highest weight. Or one that just fit when you were at your highest. You should be able to notice how it's a little looser on you now, hanging more smoothly down your body. As for when other people will start noticing, man...that varies widely depending on how observant the other person is. Some people just don't observe other people's bodies. I have one doctor (!) who claimed not to see any difference when I went from 250 to 350. Best wishes with getting over that cough! Even garden-variety colds always go down into my chest, so I know how awful a bad cough can be. Be sure to go back to your doctor if it's not improving, because you can sometimes catch a different bug in your bronchi that maybe wasn't sensitive to your first round of antibiotics.

Betsy— Sorry to hear about Toby's whining: remember that dogs can hear a whole lot better than we do, so there may be some noise out there that's bothering him. Or else he doesn't like rain. My mother-in-law had an English spaniel that was so freaked out by thunderstorms, it was quite a problem: she barked, she whined, she trembled all over, when the least little thunderclouds blew in, such that it drove my mom-in-law nuts. As for how much sodium vs. potassium we're supposed to take in, I don't know. I'm afraid "I don't know" would be the answer to 95% of the medical-type questions you might ask me, because my training as a physician was over 30 years ago, and I had to retire quite early, because my bipolar disorder was very crippling when I was younger. Plus, I'm not supposed to opine about things that are outside of my area of expertise: the ever-evolving & puzzling science of nutrition definitely lies outside of what I've ever known much about.

Ubee— Good for you that you were honest on your chart! Bob prints out a new graph for me, once a month, that I put up on the fridge with magnets. The graph begins in February 2012, when I weighed 351, and clearly displays two phases of gaining weight—one when Bob got very ill and was in the hospital for two weeks, and one after the death of our much-loved black cat. I find it helpful to look at the graph and remember what stress does to me. You may be under more stress, Ubee, than you consciously appreciate. Maybe you've been eating more sweets because you feel a need to be taken care of. Just a thought...

silentarctic— I like it so much that you're posting more often! I have a lot of decluttering to do, as well, so I'm listening to what you say about your process. I have a bad tendency to get overwhelmed by how much there is to do, and then just give up, instead of focusing on one small area at a time. Say, are you ever going to satisfy my curiosity about where you live, or is it a big secret? I'm imagining you up near the arctic circle somewhere, but that's kind of vague. Bob and I drove one time all the way from Houston up to Montana, then up into the Yukon, taking the old, not always paved, Al-Can Highway up to Alaska. It was a fascinating trip!

Grocery Shopping did not happen, I'm going to try and see what I can round up at the convenience store soon. It is too stormy to go back out right now all the way tot he grocery store (well not unsafe just not pleasant and I'm too tired to deal with it) after I see what I can get there I'll try and make a hopefully smaller grocery run tomorrow. I need to bake tonight.... but we'll see...

Good morning!
Fi, hope your mood lifts. You amaze me. I just about shot out of my chair when you suggested I was treating myself. WOW! I think you hit the nail on the head. I had been treating myself with fancy healthy foods but with the holidays all of a sudden all these carbs/sugars were delivered to my door.
I have changed our menu to be somewhat healthier. Thank you!
Silent, good luck with your trip to the convenience store. I've found out I really don't need to do many of the things I was doing.
I am off to the meat market and grocery store. I hope I find the strength to go past the bakery/candy shop.
Have a good day everyone!

Fi - I live in northern canada. If you want me to I can PM you more specifics I'm not comfortable saying more than that out here on the public internet space

Ubee - I didn't do anything I got some food , that I ate but the storm/weather/a mood hit and i just didn't want to do anything. I'll try and buy a couple deserty things today before the stores close to get me through the next couple events I guess. The cold weather/storm sapped my mojo!

Good morning ladies. The sun is out here and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny as well. That's good because I'll have to leave Toby here with Becky (my BIL's black lab) all day while we're gone tomorrow. They'll be fine. I'll be worried. Ubee, Toby said to thank you for the kiss from me although he would have preferred to get a doggie treat.

Ubee -- Let me know if the not doing housework results in your husband firing the maid. Oh wait, I live alone. I'd have to fire myself! Well, so much for that idea. I had a major cookie binge yesterday so I think I've gotten the sugar fix over with for several days and hopefully weeks -- don't even want to think about anything sweet.

Fi -- Sorry you're having a bad day, and I do think that where we are currently habitating can have a powerful effect on us both emotionally and physically. Thank you for the explanation on the pain associated with depression. Unfortunately, I knew too well what you meant by the pain caused by intense grief. Toby loves the rain (he's half Golden Retriever and never met a mud puddle he didn't want to frolic in). Turns out he just wanted to go outside and be in the rain. I finally gave in and now have towels stationed at every door.

SilentArctic -- Consider not going to the grocery store as a challenge to make something from what you have on hand. It may be a very creative recipe, but do a shopping of your pantry and make something from what is already there. If you're like me, I could make meals for every day of the year with what's in the pantry and yet I still go to the store because I have something specific in mind. Hope you enjoy your parties.

I'm definitely going to try to stay on plan today. This whole sugar/carb and how I feel now after watching them more carefully than in the past has really got me thinking. For instance, this morning my stomach feels funny -- not upset, just different. There are a few things to do today to get ready for tomorrow such as loading up the car, making up the goody plates, and getting the car gassed up. But, overall in looking back on this month, I'm pretty happy with the fact that while I was a far cry from perfect, I didn't stray too far afield in the eating plan.

For all of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope tomorrow is a day filled with joy and happiness. Actually, even for those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope that every day can bring a moment of joy and happiness for all of us.

I'm listening to a rock-n-roll Christmas radio show, agreeably fagged by my nightly leg exercises, thinkin' about how to turbo-charge my weight loss. Three pounds a month may sound like a nice steady pace, but y'all know I'm aspirin' to something a little faster for the upcoming year. Aren't we all? I gotta get my feet moving out the door more, if only for the effect that it would have to lift up my mood.

My mood has been great today, though: a cold front blew away all those dull grey clouds, and it was clear and pleasant out. I took advantage of the low humidity to spray a couple of my collage postcards with the acrylic fixative that is so picky: whenever the temperature's too close to the dewpoint, it tends to get cloudy with little water droplets.

Betsy— I can certainly understand how your recent overdose of sweets has making you feel icky: whatever else is going on with me these days, giving up my cookie binges makes me feel so much better, I'm sold on that one new aspect of my lifestyle. Good for you that you're being more observant of your body! Give that darlin' Toby an extra treat for Christmas from me. =grin=

silentarctic— Northern Canada sounds good to me: if I get curious to know a little more, I'll drop you a private note. My father's mother had an island in Lake o' the Woods in far southern Ontario, an island that now belongs to my cousin, so for me the word "Canada" summons happy memories of summer weeks spent fishing and swimming and blueberry picking in the land of cool blue water and cute little glacial outcrops. My husband and I went up to the island on our honeymoon, and took a canoeing trip, just the two of us. One night we stood on a big smooth rock and watched the aurora borealis, the most spectacular light show I've ever seen. You take care of yourself in all that ice and snow and frigid temperatures!

Ubee— That's really cool you had an insight into what you've been doin' with all the candy & cookies, and are takin' a turn toward healthier food again: you go girl!

My warmest wishes to everyone for a very merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!
Silent, the weather can sap my mojo. Spring can start any day now! I'm sure if you show up at an event without food they will still welcome you with open arms.
Betsy, like you, I am the maid. You know I am really glad you are bringing up how carbs make you feel. I need to get them all out of this house and treat my body better!
Fi, yes I think we all want to lose more then 3 pounds a month. For me it is about being realistic.
I am going to do the next challenge thread. Anyone want to join me?
How is everyone doing?

Good morning ladies. It's a crystal clear -- and therefore, cold -- day here. But after all the hubbub of yesterday in celebrating Christmas with my 3 and 6 year old grands, the quiet of the day is very calming. And in light of all the junk I ate yesterday, calming is what is needed as those are definitely the more successful staying on plan days.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day -- whether you celebrate Christmas of not. Does anyone else get to year end and get in a reflective mood? I've been thinking about all the changes that have occurred this year with how I view eating and how many still need to change. I think I have come to accept that I have zero will power if the "bad food" is in the house, so I want to learn to deal with that issue better. But, I am also happy at accepting that I know I can't banish favorite foods as it just leads to a binge. The effect of sugar and carbs on my body has been an eye opener. While looking a lot better is a nice reward, the overall goal is being healthy.

And I've started a list of things I can now do that were previously either very difficult or even impossible. It's posted on the frig door so that I remind myself that there are rewards even if I'm the only one who knows about them.

OK. Enough yearenditis. I'm going to start taking the Christmas decorations down and getting the house back to normal. The gym is closed today, so no workout -- or at least not one at the normal place. Hope all of you are doing well and have a great day.