Hi Sara, I totally agree with (the suddenly shrinking!) Marion. You had the gumption to do this from the start on your own and I don't doubt you'll go back and finish, quickly I hope. Meanwhile, this is a good place to be -- no whining, no illusions/delusions, and pretty nice people. You fit right in.

Sheshie, I'm headed south into Saxony near the Polish border to stay with my DIL's family -- they who put real candles on a Christmas tree and light them. Lovely.

I just had one of those realizations that gobsmack you with the obvious. I wrote a note to the in-laws asking them to get me some big bottles of water to have at the inn, because I drink a lot of water. [During Russian occupation the land was polluted with so much fertilizer and insecticides that the water can't be drunk.] I immediately followed that with a note to the animal sitter stressing once again that the animals drink a LOT of water. Then it hit me. Probably the reason Andy's made it to 19 rather than succumbing to the kidney problems that most older male cats (and dogs) have is because he DRINKS A LOT OF WATER. There HAS to be a lesson there.

Do you have to remind them that you want water without gas? When I went to Ukraine, who has similar water issues--not to mention nuclear waste pollution, with our dance team they kept trying to give us carbonated water at room temperature! It turned out that the way you needed to ask for the water translated to water without gas!

thank you Marion!

thank you Linden! I want to get back on it and in it as soon as I can (boxing day) because the longer I am not OP, the harder it will become I'm sure!

I feel good at the weight I am at since it is the smallest I have ever been as an adult but I don't want to be comfortable... I want to reach my goal and feel great!

Sorry, I've been off line since the 22nd and just got back to Berlin a little while ago. Good for you for starting yesterday. I wish I could have. I won't regale you all with German cooking except to say that predominant at Christmas dinner were roast goose, roast venison in dark gravy, and 3 1/2 inch potato dumplings, in rich gravy, of course. And red cabbage in butter sauce. Can't wait until I weigh in tomorrow morning. I'm thinking of starting on the first, since it's a Sunday (and I have a rotten cold). What about the rest of you. Best of luck, Sara.

Good morning everyone! I hope we all get back on here soon. It's been very quiet over the holidays. I am trying to decide whether to restart Thursday or to wait until the 1st of Jan. My daughter heads back to Phoenix tomorrow and I'm not sure yet if my husband and myself are doing anything New Years Eve. I don't want to start with something to trip me up right away. I guess I'll make a call to our friends that we usually spend New Years Eve with and see if we are going to spend it together this year. I personally just want to stay home and relax for once.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoyed family and friends. I am so looking forward to a New Year and a new me. This time I'm hitting my goal!

I'm kind of with you. I'm eating pretty well, but I'm not fully on plan. I have a weigh in on the 2nd, so I'll probably use that as my jumping in point. (At least in an official sense.)

We had an awesome Christmas. This was the first Christmas since we moved to Iowa that it felt like Christmas because we had people over. I'm still enjoying the quietness of the season. Yesterday, I wrapped up my classes for the week. It's a little thing, but to not have to think about them for a bit is nice. Even though I'm in the office, it's pretty quiet since I don't have to teach until next week. I'm doing those things I've been putting off while things were so busy.

Marion

Hanging in there during the holidays - but can't wait to get back to a "normal' routine. Planning to get started back on January 1! Having company for several days and cooking for them, is tough! Normally it's just husband and myself to cook for, that makes it so much easier! He will eat whatever I cook - I just usually add a carb dish for him. Haven't gotten on the scale since last Wednesday. Tomorrow will be the next weigh in for me.

Sorry I missed your message. I hope your cold is better. My youngest had a bit of a bug for a few days, but seems to be doing better now.

I'm still kind of wondering what "normal" is! I think that is totally out of my vocabulary.

I'm just a bit tired myself... though I wonder if that's from inactivity or laziness or the fact that I do too much. In either case, I'm going to just kick back and rest this afternoon because I can.

Hello Ipeeps,

I have decided to start back OP tomorrow instead of waiting until the first. I like the routine of it! Sure hope everyone had a great holiday, we did. Our daughter will not be home until Jan 10th and I can't wait to see her. I can stay OP while she is here, as she watches her diet. My hubby got me a Nook Tablet for Christmas, haven't played with it yet, but tomorrow I plan to. Sent all the "goodies" home with relatives on Christmas. Well, psyching up for the start-up tomorrow. Here I come phase I (using alternatives)

Wishing you the best Bella!

Oh my, that brought back memories of visiting my husband's family in what used to be Yugoslavia (now Croatia). My sister-in-law worked as a cook in a fancy restaurant. She and her family had lived in Germany for years and all her specialties were German. Also when we were visiting they had friends from Germany visiting so we had a German Christmas. I have never had such rich fattening food in my life. You will likely find it a relief to get back on track. Good luck with the detox from the German food and I hope your cold hits the road soon.

Pat

Yorg! Does sound as though you've been there. The funny thing is I lost about 2 pounds even eating what was on offer. I guess I was so scared of eating and getting even sicker than I was; and I had a protein drink before I left the inn and when I got home at night. And I think you are really courageous to lower your goal, Pat.

Bella, I wish you (and everyone) good luck, too. I ended up re-starting this morning. What the hey? If I'm going to feel miserable from a cold and sickish from coughing so much, can going back into ketosis be any different?

Good plan to restart while you are feeling miserable anyway. Only problem will to be to get everything in but you can take the liquid option whenever possible although the shakes are quite filling too.

I am like that when I get the flu; it immediately kicks me into a migraine which overshadows anything else.

Thank heavens for the flu shot, which is free for everyone here.

What an accomplishment to lose 2 pounds while you were away and with little control over what you could eat. That shows the power of the protein drinks and the wisdom of planning ahead when you are going into what appears to be an impossible situation.
What I remember about my trip was that the meat was all breaded and then fried. Way too rich and upon reflection now I realize the meat must have cost a huge amount of money. That was in 1984 when we were in Sarajevo for the winter Olympics. Aside from the food it brings back wonderful memories, except we had to estimate when Canada was going to start losing at hockey and get my then 8 year old son back to my hubby's village where at least the food was much simpler.

Sorry for the hijack, your comment on the food brought back so many memories. You will have the best memories too of spending Christmas with family while your grandkids are so little.

Pat

Bingo on doing too much! But everything you do is for the good of yourself and your family. I can tell you from experience that you will look back in later years and wonder how on earth you could do everything you are doing now but you will be so glad you did it. Enjoy your brief well deserved rest.

Pat