Challenging myself this week to 1/2 hour walk and no food after 7 pm every day!!!

Howdy! I’m back in more or less ok shape. The screaming uglies have passed just in time. I was away for the weekend at a Science Fiction convention and now it is back to reality. I finished reading the Dr. Gillian book (“You are what you eat”) and what she says makes a lot of sense – though much of it seems very complicated. I found myself a bit depressed reading. It has at least given me food for thought. I’m going to attempt to incorporate some of her larger ideas into my life – eating more veggies, modified food combining, avoiding sugar and other “naughties” – Right now going whole hog (pun intended) sounds a bit too much. I caught an episode of the show the book is based on last night (Thanks Meadow!). For anyone who has seen this show, is she always so obsessed with people’s love lives and their poo??

Holly~ Pity you have to travel so faaarrrrr to go camping. All the conveniences of home, within shouting distance of home! Hope you had a terrific campout.

Mel ~ Tell java we miss her turtle self. Congrats on keeping your head when those about you lose theirs. Good work. There is a difference between using sugar to influence people and just being a running honey!

Suzi ~ Congrats on the new ‘do. It is such a trial to find a good hairdresser and then have them wander off. It has happened to me too. I agree with the hairdressers should know when to be quiet. Nothing worse than being trapped in a chair with Chatzilla. Hope you feel better. Drinks lots of fluids!!

Happy~ Did you get your DR.’s note. Pity more companies don't automatically see the benefits of giving us equipment that will make our jobs more comfortable to do. Do they do not realize the money in health benefits and lost work days they could avoid having to pay out?

Howdy to everyone else I didn’t get to : Hope everyone is having a lovely (!!) Monday. I’m leaving here at 4 to go to the gym. No. Really.

Today’s thought I picked up from miscellaneous reading in the last few days: Aim to workout every single day – that way you will be sure to make it at least 3 or 4 days a week.

[QUOTE=ceejay52]Just in to say hello-

Today I'm challenging myself to stay with in 1600 calories and to burn 400 calories. The pedometer shows 1.8 miles walked today just at work. I'm going to try to ride the bike for at least 15 minutes when I get home and complete my weight routine before I go home.

Madcat--glad you are feeling better.

Happy--Did you survive the rain? It poured here.

Hello to all the rest

A quick wave at SHAD..I might have missed you by now.
i hope the Gold Coast wasn't too scary
Your Dinner with DB2 sounded good. Yes sometimes this is what it takes a good wake up call to see where your life can take no matter what the problem, The good part is,everyone can change...it's not a disease just a really bad habit with nasty consequenes. I hope you are still enjoying your painting and rest of you break before you get back into the swing of things.

Holly so happy to hear you had a lovely time, that darn cleaning never does go away. I think i have a dish mop attched to my hand permanently. Good job on the new goal.

Ceejay you are doing so well with your exercise. i am hoping for lots of walking in DW. I need to get some into today. It's a beautiful day today and supposed to be a lovely 23 degrees. i hope it lives up to it.


Madcat...Ive seen that show is yes she is a little obsessed. I giggle when I watch her. She is brutal but it's a good wake up call. Some of the practises are a little extreme. i think if you bring it all into balance. A lot of the people she works with on the show are really way off. You only have to look at the pile of food on the table they eat in a week. it would make you sick. It's good to get a good kick up the drawers though.
oh teel, it's a such a shame when you hop on those scales, they can be scary, still onward and downward. You have done this once and you can do it again. I know it's a lifetime battle.
everyone...big waves. I am on the other page so just going by memory.

Well...I am like a girl in a candy shop. i am getting almost giddy at the thought of getting to DW. I have started packing and getting all the bits and pieces organised. It's so nice to put the summer clothes back into the suitcase. I am a little worried on what to wear on the plane as want to be comfortable but also don't want to be hot! I think i have some really comfortable jeans I will travel in. I must remember to pack extra knickers into the bag to be "fresh" :P
OK..I'm am off to look at my to do list and somewhere in there it will say exercise. I tried some of my shorts on yesterday and they were a little snug, i'm pretending they were very snug to start with ...ugg
Love to all
Suz

Holly i just noticed you changed your avatar...looks so cute

11:06 pm. Just finishing up some Avon work for the breakfast meeting tomorrow. It is that witching hour where i strap on a feed bag and munch..............
Going to bed instead. I am reading a popular author's romance novel. Weird yet somehow enjoyable. Went for something light and different.

Hi all, this is going to be a short post for me (apologies for selfishly only talking to myself instead of you folks, but I HAVE to get to bed earlier tonight). Yesterday was sort of a blowout day. I had lots to do with the homeowners association business. It was one of those things, start something, get on to something else and then chuck up the hands and say I might as well finish it. So I spent all day - I mean all day as in 9am to 6pm in front of the computer. On a Sunday yet. And I still haven't started work on the newsletter and I'm debating about volunteering myself to update the cheesy free website they started a few years back. At the meeting last week I clenched my jaw and kept the lips zipped when they were asking if anyone in the neighborhood knew anything about websites. All too often I volunteer without thinking and then curse myself for committing to things I don't have time for. In this case more than half of our neighborhood is not computer literate so I don't see that we'd get value out of all the time I'd have to put into this.

Spending all day yesterday meant I was behind on the grocery shopping and laundry. Cleaning bits I can do in spurts with a Fly Lady once over. I stopped at the store after work today and it was really good to be eating clean again. We had grilled salmon and swordfish (each a respective favorite), I had some asparagus, we both had some fresh crunchy veggies and a bit of grilled pineapple. I have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch and dinner this week. Yum. Have to work on breaking that soda habit. It sneaks up on you and doesn't want to let go.

Speaking of which - here's a pic of one of the baby birds emerging from the Coca Cola condo. There were 4 birds in the nest, 2 died for some reason and the parents tossed their bodies down to the ground which seemed rather cruel. 2 babies made it out of the nest and clung to the bricks. DH left the garage door opened and they made their way into the garage. One wall is open brick latticework and the parents tried very hard to encourage the babies out. They spent the night hiding behind the tool box but were gone in the morning. Both of us searched the entire garage several times and we have to believe the parents got them out to freedom. I sort of hope they don't build again as this is getting somewhat traumatic.

Ok, I have just enough time to put the dishes in the dishwasher and get an extra hour's worth of sleep tonight. Goodnight and I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

STILL HAVING A WEE BIT OF EYE TROUBLE. WILL RETURN SOON

According to the radar I'm expecting some more rain with in the next couple of hours.

Happy--The bird looks very content.

Mel--Hope your eyes are much better tomorrow.

Holly--I do lke the new avatar. Also like the idea of taking care of the body. Think that is the most important thing we could do.

hello to Shad and Suzi.

I didn't meet the 1600 calorie limit yesterday and I'm not off to a good start this morning. Got those chocolate cravings. The little voice inside my head says I should give myself more calories and exercise more. I'm also with Holly on not eating after 7 p.m. but when I don't get off from work till that time it's kinda hard. Think I'm going to start having veggies and salad's on the day's that I work instead of high fat and carbs. If I didn't have to man the phones during 5 p.m. til 7 p.m. I'd eat dinner at work. Therefore, I'm going to try and stay with in a 2500 calorie limit and burn 3500 calories per week.

Bad habits are hard to break.

Suzi - it is getting close to time for you to go on your holiday. Bet you are all getting really excited - when is it?? Friday??? Will try to get in touch again before then, but I usually remember that I was going to do just that when I am up a ladder and covered in paint

Mel - so sorry to hear that the eyes are playing up again. Get better soon. I guess we will just have to talk rather that write

Ceejay - Do you think a 2500 calorie limit may be a bit high?? I think I might try a little lower. 3500 calories burnt per week means at least one hour of strenuous cardio 7 times a week. That doesn't give you much rest and relaxation or body repair. According to the machines at the gym this morning, I burnt 517 calories with 15 minutes each bike and treadmill at level 9, 12 minutes ellipse at level 9 and 5 minutes on the rowing machine keeping an average of 2.27 minutes per 500metres. I'm just concerned that you won't be able to keep up the pace for 7 days.
The idea of Holly's not to eat after 7pm is a good one. I was reading somewhere on the threads about a lady who switches lunch and dinner sometimes and seems to burn off the calories better.

Happy - You gotta wonder if the neighbourhood website is a good idea if half the folk are not computer literate - although you may be able to give lessons and make yourself some holiday money. I think you are right in not volunteering at this time. Maybe you could say that you are website literate but that you can not devote the necessary time - go armed with facts and figures about how long everything takes. It's a shame as most neighbourhoods, here anyway don't have the same support structure and neighbourlyness they used too and therefore no one is worried if a strange van pulls up and empties the neighbours house!
The Coca Cola condo looks very comfy. It seems strange that the parents lay 4 eggs but only bring up two. Maybe you will have to intervene if you want the lot to live. It could be that there is not sufficient food for the survival of all four and this is Mother Natures way of curbing the population. Maybe she should try it on the human variety. I know of several I could happily live without.

Holly - nothing wrong with a light novel now and then. Heck there are times when we just want some down time and nothing too thought provoking, violent or frenetic. A nice gentle novel fits the bill.

Madcat - Dr Gillian is always obsessed - full stop. Yes she is really into the poo! bits and only occasionally with the love life unless it is a man, then she is right into the love life bits. I could never go whole hog with her - since whole hog generally seems to mean vegetarian in her case. However I think it is a right wake up call when you see the load of fat that people eat. No wonder there is so much dietary related disease around. The last one I saw had a woman who persisted in the biggest portions I have ever seen. Dr Gillian gave her the daily calorie count in Yorkshire puddings and gravy. What a sick making sight.

Okay, back to the sanding, sealing and painting in the lounge. I've been to gym just about everyday for the last ten and managed to let go of a massive 1.5kgs. This is going to be tough! I've also been keeping a food diary. I'm beginning to think the answer is too much bread and too little water although I am getting through near enough 1500ml of fluid per day on average. Time to go get on with it.

Hiyah chicks,

Don't get too wet Ceejay - the rain is all up your way. We're just getting some slightly dark clouds that tease of rain but don't deliver.

Rest those peepers Mel.

Shad, I have already decided not to do the neighborhood website. I'm still a bit upset at spending so much of my Sunday on this and I still have another full day's worth of work on the newsletter. I have to start catching myself. I sometimes think I pick up some things to avoid doing other, more important stuff. Then I get to bed late, get behind in chores or wind up spending a whole lot of time on things that don't matter or too few really care about. I get like that at work sometimes too. Now that I don't run off for a smoke to procrastinate, I guess I find other ways to do it. Tonight I came home from work and jumped in the pool for a while before time drifted away or I talked myself out of it. We had a simple steak, potato and salad dinner. I put the steaks on the marinate, popped the potatos into the toaster oven and it only takes 5 minutes to make a salad. I swam 10 laps of the pool back and forth, then did a sort of a jog run that left me slightly winded even tho I was suspended in water. I figure that has to count for something as I was stretching everything, moving fast and my heart rate was up. It was only 20 minutes but it felt good to finally DO something instead of just thinking about it. I really do wish I could get to bed early, get up earlier and get home earlier. It's 11pm before I even blink twice. My food was pretty decent today. Should have swapped the one soda out with an extra 2 bottles of water but all in all, I did good on the water. Need to remember to drink more tea too.

As far as the birds go, last time they laid 4 eggs, all of which hatched. However when the parents decided to push the babies out of the nest, 2 of them were clearly not strong enough to fly to the safety of the tree. One was so weak he barely hobbled under a rock to die. The other we watched over for 24 hours but the parents abandoned it after about 12 hours. They did a bang up job to entice it tho. In the end tho the poor thing did die after no food or water (there was no way to feed the chick ourselves) we figured that is how nature works. Have 4 chicks or 8 as we have had, if even 2 survive I guess that's good odds. Like I said it's kind of sad for us. As for food, there is plenty around. We have 3 feeders, obviously at least one is filled with the seeds the Carolina wrens favor. There is also an abundance of bugs and worms here. DH sat for at least 2 hours one day watching the parents get food for the babies. They also seem to favor something in the moss that grows on the garden rocks. Given all the activity literally right outside our back door, we can vouch that both parents were constantly bringing food in. The little buggers would cheep, cheep, cheep when the parents would appear at the box, thus proving the squeeky birdie gets the worm. DH said the 2 dead ones looked fully formed so I'm not sure what happened. I think we're going to have to clear off the baker's rack of any and all nest enticing materials. They lay several clutches a season but I'm pretty much over the excitement of nesting.

Tig - are you under water? We have monitors at work that display headlines, company news and a weather map. It appeared that all of Florida was getting rained on today. It was almost as if the whole state was covered by yellow and red rain blobs. Don't worry Suzi, Florida is a sandy state, it might rain but it dries quickly.

Good on yah Shad for nudging some of that weight off of you. Easy to get on, almost like sticky glue to get off.

to the rest of the chicks. I'm off to bed.

Shad--Congratulations on that 1.5 kg. loss.

I got on the scale this morning and was down 3 pounds. I'm back to 183. The test is can I stay down this low.

I've been doing some weight sessions this week and I'm beginning to feel some tightness. For once in a long time I have a feeling of flat abs! I think most of this is due to the Activia that I'm eating for the IBS symptoms. However, it's a good feeling.

I'm getting very excited about my trip to Dallas tomorrow. The airline has been called and my flight schedule has been confirmed.

Hello to all the rest.

We're still behind as far as rain is concerned.... you are right, Happy.....we get the rain, but the sand just soaks it right up! This time of year in Florida it always rains in the afternoon. That just gives folks at DW time to take a break and rest up for the night time festivities! At least, that's what we always use it for when we go to the parks. I've got the 22nd blocked out for you, Suzi, unless the thought of driving on the 'wrong' side of the road is freaking you totally, then I definitely understand.

I'm swamped at work. The project is ultrabusy and some folks are ultrawhiney. Their nature.

to All!! I read daily and comment with my usual invisible ink.

'morning all,

Geez we've become the quiet lot lately.

Nothing special going on in my part of the world. In fact sitting here, I can't think of anything to say...

So I should get moving and get to work a little earlier. Things are starting to pile up and I could make use of an extra hour or two to get things done.

I'll be back later. Carry on folks...

ok, new day - STILL nothing much going on. Work is keeping me very busy. But at least it's Friday, my favorite day of the week.

Let's hope the weekend is filled with wonderful possibilities for all of us