Flying by! Just about to head out for a bike ride and then got to get some gardening done this aft. On Day 6 of the detox, all going well. I feel pretty good, although still a bit loopy. Friday night I drove out to the beach for a party at my sister's boyfriend's cottages.

GORGEOUS beach, just amazing. We stayed over (DS, DGS & I) in a second-floor unit overlooking dunes and water. Went for a walk, played on the shore in the morning. Did a set of tai chi facing the ocean. It was great! And we had sun for about the first time in 2 weeks, so feel much cheerier. There was a potluck dinner, and I stuck to my detox meal (tomatoes & avocado with a squeeze of lemon) and wasn't overly tempted to drink (quite a feat -- all good intentions go out the window sometimes at these things, but somehow the detox diet makes it easier).

K -- Must go, DS is getting the bikes out. Love to all!

Ever since telling myself that I didn't have to be so vigilant about counting calories, I've gone off my program in a big, bad way. Very unhappy right now. I've been trying for a few days to get back on track without any success. Arabella, I'm thinking of doing some sort of detox myself. Drastic times, drastic measures and all that sort of thing! Maybe juices for a couple of days? What are you doing?
I'm done eating for Sunday, mostly because I'm nauseous , and will try to claw my way back tomorrow! No, scratch that, I WILL get my groove back tomorrow!

Hello all!

System issues yesterday and then for the first time I can remember we actually had a power outage this am! Amazing since it must have been very widepspread as we have underground here to purposefully avoid downed wires,etc....

Not sure why I'm so tired lately, went to bed very early Fri, took a long nap yesterday, early to bed again... took a shorter nap today but DH had to do the veg shopping as I sat in the car as I got very nauseous....

Think I am eating very fast as I still feel "ravenous" most of the time... but keep forgetting that a big cup of tea is very satisfying....

Am sure some of it is "cycle" and some of it " ok, who's idea is 2 weeks notice anyway??"....

Anyway...

Here's the thought of the day... even though the day is nearly gone...

Thought of the day :

"A bowl of rice filled is good!
A mind filled is better.
A mind filled with disharmony is not filled but empty.
A glass upside down
can gather no water....."

---Ron Rathburn


Question of the day :

" Did you lose money on Smarty Jones?"

*********

kettle is on!

Yo, here's a notice I also posted on the journal thread ... sorry if I always seem to be dredging up business for new games ... should have been a social director:

I decided to tally my "streak" days of eating in the 1600 calorie range on the 21-day challenge thread and am wondering if that'd be a good place for anyone who wants to do a "streak" but not commit to the full-blown 21 days to also do a personal challenge? Just a thought! And a note on that thread, we've got some absent folks and as far as I can tell Ceara the Stalwart be in the lead of those who're reporting in! Huzzah for Ceara!

Cerise? Be thou ok? Thou wast ahead with thy vege challenge but now art amongs the missing. Hope all is well! Huzzah!

Kaylets, I was wondering if thou had computer probs again ... IMO thy feeling a bit off IS the two-week notice thing ... I'm not sure whose idea it was but whoever it was ruined things for the rest of us ...

Sorry to say I don't know Smarty Jones. Who is he when he's at home?

I suppose this is one of those things that everyone else knows about that not knowing marks me as either very elderly or very sheltered or just not in step with the in crowd? I have a lot of things like that!

A crisis in the newspaper chain I work for has lead to an unscheduled work day tomorrow and I don't know when I'll get back here to post, so huzzah to all.

Hope I am offending no one ... I worry that a lot of the things I said in this post may sound offensive in type but in reality I'm just tired and hot! Huzzah!

Hello all!

Where did the weekend go??
Scale shows 3 lbs up this am... I've got to wonder if my raging appetite is part of the increase as well as the SF hot chocolate I've been downing to "curb" my appetite. I'm going to check the sodium content...
I really do believe the gain is water but am still wondering how my body will "readjust" to that fast 6 lb loss in 2 weeks when I was sick...

Ah well....

***
Today's thought:

"It is not bad that you would have a conversation with yourself.
It is however, when you know not who's talking."
--Ron Rathburn


Question of the day :
"When's the last time you've been photographed?"

***


Empress-- I wondered how many folks would not know about Smarty Jones..
He's a horse.. big excitement on the East Coast as he won 2 of the Triple Crown races and is from Phila, Pa, ( his owners)....
Direct descendant of Secretariat ( wonder how many 100's of those there are!)

I reread your post and cannot see anything to be taken poorly so not to worry!

I can feel the humidity increase here as I type... hmmmmm .... or is it a hot flash???

Ok...
HERE WE GO MONDAY! HERE WE GO!


to everyone! Big hug and here's a cup of your favorite...! I've been missing you all!

KETTLE IS ON!



KETTLE IS ON!
Kaye

Good morning All!

Day 6 (i think I mistakenly said 6 yesterday) of detox, still going well.

Eydie, here's the detox plan:
Day 1 & 2: fruit only
Day 3: Fruit + smoothie (can add juice/or soy milk -- i cheated and used yogurt )
Day 4: Add steamed veggies
Day 5: Add salad, 2 t. olive oil
Day 6: Add 2nd salad, 2 t. olive oil
Day 7: Add whole grains
Day 8: Add chicken
Day 9: Add yogurt (see I really cheated having it on Day 3)
Day 10: Add other proteins

I've seen others that appealed to me more -- less fruit, more veg., whole grains & some protein included earlier in the sequence. But I think this one is based on things that are particularly easy to digest early in the stretch, and then adding things on. Really enjoyed my salad yesterday at lunch. Then, at dinnertime, DS was having shepherd's pie, and I wanted some, but didn't weaken even slightly. Felt impulse, and overrode.

After I've finished with this, I'll try and keep the model going: mostly veggies and fruit, next whole (really whole) grains, light proteins (almost no red meat, chicken breast without skin, beans etc.).

Have been very thirsty when I wake up the last couple of days, for some reason. Maybe my system needs extra to wash itself out?

Amarantha, I'm with you on the PB cup thing! Second to really good chocolate (Godiva, for example) in my book.

Kaylets, oh, wouldnt't another weekend be nice! Ah, well, we just have to soldier on until Friday.

wsw, it's so nice to see you back in here regularly, not least because it means you're feeling ok!

Anagram -- re: KABOOM -- it never ceases to amaze me how almost mechanistic (not to mention short) the stress-eat cause and response cycle can be. I've sometimes found myself eating something before I ever even felt the stress. Preventative medicine, dontcha know

Ceara, how was the dog show (oh, that's funny -- i typoed "god show" first -- wouldn't that be interesting! )?

Zadie K, was the HP show fun? I've heard rumors that it's darkish.

Cerise, how are you, Darling? Time for a fly-by? (i speak as an occasional AWOL offender, my own self)

Punkin, how was your weekend? Full moon night? I think the moon got up pretty late. I haven't seen it this month at all (of course, big black clouds could be partially to blame, too).

Wildfire, are you around? I seem to have some notion you had a trip lined up, but not sure.

K. I really must hit the gym and then get to work. Love to all! Let's make this a good one!

Uh - happy Monday, folks. Have two decent days behind me and started w/slimfast today but do not seem to be adequately motivated yet.

Interesting detox, wood nymph. Can't say I'd be able but I think I'd like to be able to try it. Your beach stay and bike ride both sounded like great and pleasurable times.

How did the heathens do this weekend, Ceara? And how did thee fare?

Empress, I too have never learned to ride a bike though dh bought me one as an adult and tried to teach me as he had our kids so we could ride as a family. Took one fall and gave up and so deprived my whole family of a nice experience. Bike still hangs upside down in garage as a reminder. Sounds like you are well back on track and inspired by your new challenge. Glad you passed on movie popcorn but it does always smell so good. One must always keep the cardiologist happy.

Kaylets, sorry you missed your trip to sister's near Hershey. 'Twas really a rotten morning here. And I suspect the sodium will be high in your hot chocolate. I am really sodium sensitive and go up several pounds as soon as we eat a meal out. Any unused vacation you can take to shorten this week? Good vibes for new job start. Always unsettling but hopefully a great big improvement.

And good vibes again to the southwest regarding the merits of our Empress and her perfection for the job in which she's interested.

Lots of things coming up here in next few weeks so must get head organized. Good things mostly but there's still a need for my lists or I'll make them less pleasant than they can be. Lunched w/sister & her hubby yesterday and she brought along "surprise guest" - nephew who married last Nov. Had a pleasant visit all around which was about the only bright thing about the weekend. Did watch the Belmont but from home so had no actual money on Smarty. None of my five "pretend" bets worked out either. Have also done a lot of sleeping and REALLY should be rested and ready to take on the world. Maybe later.....

Photographed? If you mean snapshots, probably at the 4/24 First Communion of the elder princess. Professionally - a couple of years ago for some kind of book the church was putting out. I have been thinking I'd like to have a group professionally done of the 8 of us in the family. Last of those was twelve years ago at dd's wedding but we've added two since then. On to the long list of things I'd like to do, it goes.

Ra, Ra, Ra, let's go, Royals, let's go. And let's check in, y'all AWOLers and lurkers.

Hello,
It is a very sleepy Monday so far. Work has been okish, not great but not bad either. I just want to nap.

The weekend was fabulous. HP was fantastic and I saw a play on Saturday night and went to an outdoor blockparty type thing yesterday. Very fun.

At any rate, I must get back to work as the boss person is in town this week. Yikes.

Hello all!!

Here we go!! Ready or not!! It's Tuesday!

I am so tempted to just wish my week away, yet tomorrow is going to be wonderful because I will be speaking... hmm, guess that sounds very conceited doesnt it??

Well, since I used to be tongue tied and frozen in front of groups, getting up in front of a crowd is an accomplishment! At least for me!

Scale showed a gain at last nights meeting too... I suspected that big loss when I had the flu wouldnt last forever but I am also hoping maybe its salt bloat from lots and lots of hot chocolate ....

I think the really important thing is to recognize that this job change is very stressful and gaining nearly 2 lbs is not the end of the world....

So, I am out of here early today as I was late yesterday due to fog and traffic...

also need to pack more of my desk... amazing how much I can just put in the waste paper basket!


********
Thought of the day :

"Life is no argument. The conditions of life might include error."
--Fredrich Nietzsche

Question of the day :

"Have you ever been glad to have been wrong about something?"
*********


KETTLE IS ON!

"WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF GIVING UP ARE TOO SERIOUS."

Amarantha... you're a genius. I needed to hear this...

Well, back on the wagon - day 2. My Dr. appt. went fine, she was not surprised at ALL by my gain. She said it was very apparent that I was really tightly wound last visit (Oct. right after friend's son died) and she figured eventually I'd figure it out that I needed to quit trying to do everything and just give myself some "time off" to heal. And that's actually exactly what I did, now that I look back on it...

20 pounds was a small price to pay for my sanity.

Sunday mom and I walked the Heaven Can Wait 5K for a local breast cancer foundation and had a great time. Of course it was emotional, but we knew it would be. There were over 250 survivors walking amongst the 1,900 participants and this year mom was one of 'em! They gave the survivors little denim caps and had them stand in the center of the crowd - it was so cool to see. We saw mom's cancer case/support manager and was able to give her a big ol' hug too. We decided to keep doing this walk EVERY year, no matter what.
Then, as if 3.1 miles wasn't enough - I went to Sears and tried out treadmills! Found the one I want, just have to wait for this weekend's garage sale...

Zadie, welcome back! Have you seen the movie Spellbound? It's a documentary that followed some of the kids through the spelling bee competition a few years ago. It's worth finding to watch! Netflix has it...

Eydie, didn'tcha just loooove the new Harry Potter??? I saw it Friday night with a friend - stood in line for almost 1 1/2 hour but ended up with excellent seats! Ok, now, about falling off the wagon - come'ere and I'll give ya a leg up!!!

WSW, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend with thyroid cancer... I've heard that it's actually really treatable nowadays though, so fingers crossed!!!!! Having little ones is probably more troubling for her though. It just makes my head spin how many people I've heard of having cancer diagnosises. Now, is it because I'm more aware of it, or are there really more cases?

Amarantha, continued job vibes coming your way!

Cerise.... were are you?????

Arabella, the beach sounds woooooonderful!!!! Yes, just last Thursday we had our full moon ritual. Out here she was beautiful - but I didn't think we'd get to see her because of the rain! But, just in time, the clouds left and we were able to be outside around a huge fire... listening to all the randy frogs!

Ceara, how's the pups do?

Kaylets, yes job change IS very stressful! I don't see it as wishing time away wanting things you look forward to to get here sooner - it's those bright lights in our week that make the rest of it bearable sometimes!! Now, go forth and speak!!!!!

Well, I should away. Get some work done and get more yard sale signs done. Hoping for a turnout even HALF what my mom's best friend got last week - she made $1300!!!!! Considering that I want a treadmill, need a washing machine and will eventually need to pull my well pump up to install a filter (to the tune of $400) I NEED this!!!!! Come on shoppers!!!!!

Happy week all!

Terri

Yo! Just a flyby whilst I contemplate lunch, which is going to be healthy chicken salad on whole wheat bread ... details on the food journal later ... HELLO, PUNKIN!!!! Yup, it soundeth as though thou be on the right track and I do so agreeth with thy doc that thou needed time off from the weight loss thing ... your body and mind are likely refreshed for the journey and you haven't gained back much, really, in the scheme of things. Congrats on walking the 5K ... wouldn't it be great to have a of your own. I'd kill for one ... the ones at the gym are always full or broken and they need more anyhow.

Anagramatic, glad there's someone in the universe besides me who never learned to ride a bike ... mayhap it's not too late for us, though?

Kaylets, have fun packing thy desk ... and re qod, I'm often glad to be wrong as mine foreboding are frequently dire!

Arabella, much like thy fasting program, the lust for pb cups seemeth to diminish when not regularly consumed! Sounds as though you're enjoying the program!!!

Zadie: What play didst thou seeth?

Ceara, I like thy "if it's not my mess, I don't clean it up!" motto! Makes sense! I have a question re dogs ... my vet saith that the tiny daily dose of canola oil I've been giving Old Dog (because her skin and coat were SO dry) is horrificly bad for her and that I should buy a special supplement for her ... I've looked at those fish oil supplements and I don't like all the extra stuff in 'em and the cardiologist I go to says the canola oil is good for ME, so what dost thou think? Sorry to bother thee with this and shamelessly beg for free advice. In the old, old, old days we always gave our dogs a little oil every day ... is this going to destroy my dog?

Got to go and eat before I faint!

Hi, Wsw, wherever thou beith!

BAH! After 6 days of eating almost nothing but fruit and veg, my scale had me up a pound from last WI. After 3 days, I was down 2, but have somehow got one back on. I know this will eventually work, but JEEZ!!! What does a girl have to do to get a little encouragement from scale?

I've been drinking the water, getting more exercise than ever. I know that all I can do is to keep on keepin' on. I'm also an emotional wreck, so maybe it's some weird hormonal thing, like PMS, only with no period to put an end to the foolishness. Who knows. Sigh.

Today the detox program has me adding whole grains, and I decided to have some melted cheese on my seriously whole grain toast for lunch. Maybe a little protein and calcium will help? We'll see.

Yet another post dashed off while my boss is busy. Yes, I am a bad girl.

QOD: yes, I am happy to be wrong frequently. it is not that i think the worst of things and people, but I am very pragmatic, so i am pleased by bursts of idealism.

The play that I saw was called "Blue/Orange" and it was about race relations/mental health in London. Very political in the broader sense as opposed to the partisan sense.

Punkinseed - i saw spellbound when it was in the cheap theater. Wasn't it just riveting? Real life suspense if ever there was.

I concur with everyone who loved the new Harry Potter film. I thought it was much better film-making than the first two, which I enjoyed but did not love.

I am really ready for this week to be, and on that note, back to work.