Wizzie and Petra, sorry for your losses.

{{Wizzie}} Sorry to hear about your Uncle. One of mine passed away a few years ago...he was just like a father. Uncles are awesome!

KittehMomma—so? We're all waiting...how was the gym without your exercise partner? Did you make it there? Did you find you worked harder or not as hard? And did you count calories? Tell all!

Petra—nice that the smaller pants fit. It's always a good thing to cross back over to the “regular” sizes. Conrats. I hope you figure out a balance of eating vs. losing.

newleaf—hmmm, trade off on breast density for bird-like appetite...I'd take it. I hope the appetite thing lasts, and I'm glad you are feeling so much better.

motivatedchickie—you'll find the motivation again (you have to; it's in your name!). Smart to be looking within. Don't let the weekend get you down...it's bouncing back from a not-so-great few days that makes this process work for life and not for a short time.

AnnieDrews—ohhh I hate when I go out, give the restaurant my money and my calories, and they fail me! SO frustrating. As for “wasting” your weekend...you started by saying you had a good weekend, so that's no waste at all. Sometimes we need to be less productive and enjoy the nothingness. Your to do list will wait for you (and sneer at you as it adds things to the bottom faster than you can cross things off, if it's anything like MY to do list).

Wizzie—sorry to hear about your uncle. I hope your busy week goes okay...

ICU—Yeah, the structure of the work week is good...it's the “work” part that's not so good! I'm going to really make an effort to plan better for the weekends and make each weekend a bit better than the last. It can be done (she says with fake confidence)!

Peanutsmom—when I put avocado on my sandwich or in my salad, I find I stay full so much longer. I think it's the fat in it. It definitely makes a difference.

I had a good day yesterday...decent food and great exercise—first a walk, and then mowing the lawn including the hilly part that I HATE mowing, but it's a heck of a workout. It's raining right now, but it's supposed to clear up at some point. I will get a walk in after I tutor this afternoon and before my son's lacrosse game. I can walk at the field if I don't get a chance before. I also would like to make the time to do some yoga. I need it for mind and body today.

Have a great Tuesday!

Sue

Petra – congrats on the 16Ps!! That is awesome!! You must feel so great!! Hopefully more good things will follow soon Sorry to hear about your uncle…

AnnieDrews – good luck with your planters this week! Gardening is supposed to be good exercise, by the way… think strength & flexibility as you bend, squat, reach.

PeanutsMom – great job sticking to plan!

Wizzie – so sorry to hear about your uncle

ICUWishing – LOL Re: DH. Good job tossing out your landmines… I hope you have a great week!

SLRoth – isn’t it always like that, rain right after mowing, aaargh! Like the grass just can’t wait to get going again… Sounds like you are leading a nice, active lifestyle, WTG!

AngelsKeep – I guess you were right about my weight and having not eaten leading up to and after the surgery. My weight just keeps going down, I’m 4 pounds below my pre-surgery weight. Not eating for 4.5 days and undergoing surgery – not the best weight loss route, but I’ll take it!

My weight keeps going down and I’m in awe. I tried on some assorted pants last night, and this is “real” weight, things that didn’t fit before fit now. So, I have to hold on tight to this post-surgery 4+ pound bonus and own it, maintain it. I’m really happy and surprised. My parents are coming to visit for a few days so this will take some effort since they don’t really cook, I can’t cook so easily, so I guess we’ll be ordering in.

Good morning, everyone. I'm sorry to say I didn't get to the gym yesterday--I got an early call to come in to work. Gotta keep those big birds flying. Yesterday wasn't too bad for the diet, but miserable for allergies, so I went straight home and took a dose of antihistamine that would make me unsafe to drive--in other words, I took a full adult dose. Yeah, I'm a lightweight.

I have also found that I need fat in my diet. I think it's my northern European ancestry. One of my sisters-in-law does great on a high carb diet, but I think that's her ancestry (in ancient times, her ancestors had a low protein, high carb diet, lots of grain-foods. Those who thrived on that diet lived and reproduced.

When I was eating no refined sugar (and very little other sugars except fructose) and no starches or grains, I could eat fat and lose weight.

So, why don't I do that diet again? Because when I started eating sugars again, I went out of control! I put all the weight back on again, faster than before. So now, I want to find a sustainable diet that includes some sugar, some complex carbs, but that still let's me lose, and eventually maintain, my weight where I want it.

My plan for today is--eat healthy and don't worry about the exact calorie count just yet. That will come. I'm going to start attending an exercise class in the mornings--that will give me a required starting time twice a week. The other days, I will just try to keep up with my habit of getting up early and heading off to the gym--I'll alternate weights and the treadmill or elliptical machine.

Wizzie--my condolences on the loss of your uncle.

My uncle died about 6 weeks ago. I think I mentioned it at the time. I was just being empathetic with Wizzie-not trying to make a big deal out of it.

Heidi-a jewish mother who doesn't cook? Congrats on your 4 lbs. I know how much you have wanted to get out of those 160's. Sort of like me and my 220's.

motivated chickie-its the internal motivation that lasts so I'm glad you are finding it before you get to goal. Would hate to see you get there only to be disappointed that your weight loss didn't lead to whatever external reward you were expecting and gain it all back.

I'm on call this weekend. Not looking forward to that. I"m also raining on someone's parade at work. I hate doing that but it really leads to something that is terribly unfair and will ultimately lead to resentment later. Our nurse practitioner who is salaried like the physicians (most nurses are hourly employees) wants to go to 4 day workweeks. She has 2 small children at home. I understand her motivation but we would all like 4 day work weeks. She doesn't take call so she gets every weekend off and doesn't have to deal with having her pager interrupt every aspect of her personal life-from my perspective she already has a good deal. And it certainly justifies the difference in compensation-yes, I am paid more than the NP so I SHOULD have to put up with more crap and take more responsibility, etc. My contract is up in 6 months and if they let her have this, you can bet there are going to be some interesting conversations when we renegotiate my contract. We already have an issue with my friend who just came back from maternity leave-she only has 4.5 day work weeks except the week she is on call. She used to be in private practice and that is how she had her practice set up. The hospital bought her practice so she is now a hospital employee and they let her maintain her previous schedule.

Hi everyone!!

*****HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!***** May the 4th be with you.

Annie - LOL! That Star Wars gag made my day

Thanks to everyone for your condolences. My uncle was a great guy and only 70. I remember when I thought that was really old.

Becky - I think you are on to something with this low fat thing too. I crave peanut butter all the time. When not eating healthy I never eat the stuff. I have found that adding a piece of cheese or peanut butter really does take the edge off.

Other good news - With the extra Vitamin D and sunshine, I'm really starting to feel better on the fatigue front. I'm not near as tired.

The funeral is tomorrow so I won't be online more than likely. Take care everyone.

Hi Wizzie! I got a giggle out of the newsman that told the Star Wars thing on the news this morning....couldn't wait to use it myself. I am so sorry for your family's loss. You are right....70 is getting younger and younger to me as I creep toward 50.

Petra-I can see how the situation at work could be sticky. I have been on the other side of that issue myself. When my boys were small, myself and another tech would "share" a shift so that we could each have two afternoons off a week. It was a welcome time away to spend time with our children. I know there were others that weren't happy about it, but we did give up certain perks by reducing our hours. We had originally hoped to do the 4 day work week, too, but it didn't work out, so we took what we could. I also remember there being dissent when I was a nursing mother and took breaks to pump breast milk....these were mostly from men who were "old school" in their thinking on that issue. I know this is a totally different situation, but just wanted to put in my experience. Good luck.

Kitteh-I think an exercise class sounds like a great idea!

Heidi-Good luck with your parents' visit this weekend. Hopefully you can get food from places with a manageable menu for your food choices. Enjoy the visit!

SLroth-Mowing is great exercise! Enjoy your lovely lawn.


ICU, Peanut's, Suki....

I finally had to add a combination of fat/protein to my diet. I wasn't feeling hungry as much as I was feeling tired and draggy. I have been trying not to add too much fat, but have tried to include more cheese, cottage cheese (I've been buying fat-free, may try some low fat??). I just hate to stray too far from what is working well for me right now.

Everything else is good here, a beautiful Spring day. Love to all!

I've been good with my food this week and decided to restrict myself to only 3 nights of alcohol during this 2-week stint away from home (normally when i'm away with all the sales people and at conferences i end up drinking alcohol every day, just because everyone else does).

So on saturday i had my first alcohol eve. Had a good time, it was great. But ever since then i've had a shocking headache all day. Of course on Sunday morning i thought it was just a hangover, but the longer it's gone on the more i'm thinking it can't be just a hangover - i didn't drink that much!!

Any thoughts? Is it my reduced carbs? Is it my reduced exercise (due to broken foot?). Is it a coincidence?

I used to get headaches that would last a few days a few years ago, but haven't had them for the last few years. I don't know what caused them then, and now i'm none the wiser, but i'm just hoping that a) this one goes pretty quick and b) i don't get any more.....

The good news is that i seem to have moved in the right direction on the 'pantsometer' (possibly because i haven't even wanted to eat with this hurty head!).

Ange, could you be dehydrated? Experiencing caffeine withdrawal? Both of those things could cause headaches.

Everyone-I'm around and reading. Just kind of off my game right now, though the eating part is fine. It is windy here...and we had snow last night, just a little. Can't get outside as much as I'd like yesterday and today, and it sems to be affecting my disposition. I think the dvd player is hooked up downstairs...we live downstairs in the summer and are kind of bouncing back and forth right now...not enough guests to make it permanent for the season yet, but enough to need to move stuff around depending on where we watch tv. Maybe I'll just put in the WATP video and see if some exercise improves my badditude.


Barb

edit

Hi barb, it's not caffine because i've not changed my caffine habits (still drinking a couple of cups of coffee a day). It could be dehydration i guess as i'm not drinking as much as normal - but i put that down to not exercising as much as normal (therefore not sweating as much as normal). Good suggestion though - i'll slug more water and hope for the best.

So you run a guest house or something?

PM-Glad for you to be back on track. And the whole month ahead the same! Lucky you to have nice weather.

Annie-Sorry your restaurant meal wasn't good. I can't imagine giving up calories AND the enjoyment...wasted for naught...ICK! Hope you are getting your planters done and having some relaxation with it. Good luck on your recipe search for the sons, too. Lots of wayas to make food weight loss friendly and not taste like "diet" food. My friends all tease me becuase when I cook, they can't tell what's what or why it's any different. I think that's prolly good.

Wizzie-my condolences for the passing of your uncle.

Becky-I wish I had cashews and walnuts. They seem a little too high to fit into my plan easily right now ao I've avoided htem, but I LOVE nuts.

slroth-you're doing pretty well, keep up the good work.

Heidi-sounds like you're well on your way back and beyond. Excellent news!

Petra-the pantsometer is such a great thing...even if the scale number is stuck, you are definitely doing something right to be so small in your new pants. I think I'll be in a size 16 in another 30 lbs...seriously. UGH! And I do so hope that you can work things out so you feel great, get your schedule straight, and have the numbers you're looking for. I hope that your work schedule for the on call goes smoothly this weekend. Maybe nobody willwig out..isn't the full moon over now? I think that on call stuff would be the pits no matter how much or little you are paid!

Ange-I own a bed & breakfast. We are pretty quiet in the winter and crazy busy in the summer. Summer is almost here. I get to meet lots of great people from all over the world, but I am exhausted all the time. Have been wondering how to fit in exercise, but I guess all the physical labor of housekeeping etc. will have to suffice for the most part.

Laughing at Star Wars. Forgot to get Robert to leave the camera out when he left for work, so still need to remember the geocaching pics. Lazy AND grumpy today.

Barb

Annie-love the yoda picture. That's hilarious. Thanks for the perspective on the work situation. Right now, I'm the only one without kids at home so it does create some sticky situations.

Ange-I would agree with Barb, probably dehydration and try to drink more water.

Wizzie-so you crave peanutbutter too? I'm not the only one! I always knew it had something to do with the fat but I didn't get it.

Barb-funny how we are the same height but must be proportioned very differently. Hope you feel better soon.

As I imagined, I created quite a few waves at work today. The nurse practitioner took it as a personal attack and I had to assure her it wasn't personal, it was about creating a policy that only applies to one person-that doesn't work. And my boss and I got into a yelling match. She wasn't even trying to hear me. I think if she talked to some other people after she left my office, she may have gotten some other perspective that let her understand how I feel. I go back to the nursing home tomorrow for the first time in 2 months. I think it will be good for me to get out of the hospital for awhile.