Oh, PQ, there you are...glad your bro is stable. Hang in there, sweetie. We all take different journeys through life, and it's hard to find enjoyment or comfort during your journey when loved ones are going through the rough patches. Deep breaths. Hang on to your sanity and find perspective.

This morning before meds my BP was 159/58. I took all my meds then went to the DR with DH. He told us that the purpose of meds is to keep your BP even, and not to have the spikes when it wears off. When we came home my BP was 129/59. That's perfect, in my book. Now if I can get it to stay that way. We went shopping after the doctor so I think the walking around helped.

SMF, I am on MFP but rarely use it. I have another tracker I prefer, but I don't think it shows micronutrients. I will have to check it out on MFP. Occasionally my doctor does bloodwork that shows my levels and how they compare to normal and they are usually pretty good.

Bro update: Cardiologist thinks it's better to wait until next week for surgery. He was meeting with three other heart surgeons this afternoon/evening to discuss his case. Either way, I'll be heading back to Florida.

Today's menu:

Break - McD's sausage burrito w/hot sauce and ice tea w/stevia
Lunch - leftover chicken w/lemon-mustard sauce over mushroom pasta
Dinner - leftover minestrone and grilled cheese w/bacon baguette

No snacks.......yet.

PQ How many valves does your brother need replaced?

I believe two. I just got an update from mom, and his bp and heart rate were decent and almost back to where they were before oral surgery. Sounds like they're going to let "heal" a bit more before they decide on a day for surgery.

Yesterday:
B broccoli/tapenade omelet, whey shake/coffee
L quinoa, beans, cabbage, tofu
S whey shake, coffee
D chicken, cabbage
S potato, broccoli PB2

Hopefully, I won't lose my post this morning. I lost mine yesterday and didn't have time to redo it!

Well, it looks like prayers are working! PrairieQueen's brother is stabilizing, Mars' mother is more settled, Carol Sue's BP is improving, SeeMyFeet's appliances are working (and hopefully people are more cheerful in your work environment during the holidays ), and my remaining cat is doing well! Hopefully Rennie, Chickadeee, and Bewildered are all healthy and happy! Let's hope the upward trend in life and a downward trend on the scale carries the season! That would be a wonderful Christmas present to us all!

Week 29: High 171, Low 170
11/29--171
11/30--170.5
12/1--170
12/2--170
12/3--170
12/4--DNW
12/5--170.5 Carb Day

Week 30:
12/6--173
12/7--172.5
12/8--171
12/9--
12/10--
12/11--
12/12--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch
Protein bar
Mio water

Tea Time

Dinner:
Large salad with roasted chicken, pumpkin seeds, and ranch dressing
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
2-mile walk around the track

....a downward trend on the scale would be reeeeel nice, Jac!

Yes, appliances are working. Still lots more to fix around here. Car's in the shop still. I called the automotive company to report the problem, because it's so dangerous. There is a 'consumer satisfaction program' (not recall) to cover the problem for another model (but not mine). Hopefully the dealership will kick in some $$, and the car company will issue a general recall. Could use a new stove (broken ceramic cooktop) and microwave (peeling ceramic coating--fire hazard). House needs painting outside and new roof (hailstorm, please?). But, Hey, that's what I get paid for, right? Fixing broken things, Drs appts & drugs, and college tuition! Ah, 1st world problems! Ha! I really do have good perspective. 's'all good.

Speaking of downward trends, and the Real Reason we're all here...What to do next to get the flab off me? Thinking of an alternating schedule with a focus on breakfast: Eggs/high protein one day and high fiber the next. I need to take my vitamins more regularly, so adding choc milk might help that--I make mine with cocoa powder, small amount of sugar, and 3/4 water+2% milk to keep calories low. But most importantly, NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE EVENING. Just water. And exorcise Every Day. There. I've stamped my foot. Think my brain heard?

Isn't it nice that brothers and moms and cats are doing better? One day at a time, ladees. Somewhere in the snow, there are roses for us to smell today.

BP is doing good. Still waiting to hear about my Echo. I have to call them again with BP results so I will ask about it then if they don't call before. I am hoping that no news is good news. Otherwise, it's bad news and they are trying to figure out what to do next.

I have not been following my plan of waiting until hungry to eat or stopping when satisfied. Foods have been appearing in my line of vision and ending up in my mouth. Yesterday, I actually ate a jelly donut. Those are the only donuts I like and DH bought some. I usually resits, but didn't yesterday. It was delicious with all that jelly oozing out. Back to business today.

I got a new stove about 3-4 years ago and have not been satisfied with the way it bakes. DH thinks it's funny to blame it on the stove, but he doesn't understand that they can be different. The cookies were browning very uneven and I was very disappointed. Finally, this year, I adjusted to the point that I'm getting perfect cookies! I turned the temp down 10 degrees from the recipe, set the timer for half the baking time and turned the cookie sheet front to back, then continued to bake 2 minutes at a time, watching them closely. They turned out great! It's a shame that I have to go through all that with a brand new stove I paid $1700 for, but it's worth it to get better results. It's a General Electric Profile and I don't recommend it.

SMF, we had hail damage to our roof and homeowners insurance covered the cost of a new roof. Check into it. It was a Godsend as it cost a big chunk of change. One of our cars was damaged from it too, and covered by insurance, too.

I am concerned about our furnace as it is original. 40 years. DH replaced the motor once and he cleans it himself. Never had it checked by a furnace expert, but we have CO detectors so it doesn't seem to be leaking. DH doesn't believe anyone can do a better job than he can.

I recently bought some Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Packets. I used to drink them in the past and had forgotten about them. The ones I get are "light" and are only 25 calories, 4 gm carb and 2 gm sugar. They do contain some artificial sweetener that I cannot pronounce for those who avoid artificial sweeteners. I know it needs hot or boiling water to mix, but I wonder if I could mix it then chill it and have chocolate milk. I bought it so I don't have to drink so much coffee on cold mornings.

Mars, what type of potato did you have for your snack? How are you preparing your cabbage? I have gotten into my salad in a low carb pita and have gotten away from the sauteed cabbage I like so much. Cabbage seems to keep longer in the refrigerator so I'm using up the salad fixin's that don't. We like cole slaw, too, but I forget to make it.

The rolls at Texas Roadhouse are really hard to resist and the sweet butter doesn't help at all. I would tell them not to bring them but DH, who is not normally a bread eater, likes to have one with his meal. It's our favorite restaurant, and during the week the meals we order are on the Early Bird Special, $1 off.

Jacqui, I see that you are teetering just above the 160s. It just doesn't want to make that drop permanent, does it? That's how I am with staying in the 190s and it's maddening.

PQ I am glad that your brother's health is improving although slowly. I hope they are monitoring him closely. I realize the success of the heart surgery can depend on him being stable to begin with.

Hi to everyone else!

I have some quinoa and have it occasionally. Mostly don't think to cook it. I have heard of the roasted cabbage slices but never tried it, and never tried bok choy. I'll have to get some one of these days. I ended up having onion and cabbage sauteed in a pan for lunch after reading about yours.

I buy these Joseph's pitas that are low carb. I chop up different lettuces, like iceberg and romaine, slice some onions, add a bit of chicken or chicken salad when I have it and either use ranch dressing or just mayo. I put it all in the pocket and eat it like a sandwich. It is more enjoyable to me that an actual salad.

Rennie has one of those potato bags for baking potatoes in the microwave and she likes it. I have one that I bought but never used. One of these days I will get it out and try it. I buy these things when I see them but put them away and forget I have them. In fact, a week or so ago I told DH I wanted to buy a small 4 C coffee maker to use for my decaf when he is using the big coffee maker for regular coffee. He told me we have one in the attic! LOL He got it down and it works fine. I don't know what all is up there.

bro update: docs decided this afternoon that surgery will be tomorrow. He's scheduled at 9am and mom/stepdad are meeting with doc at 7. I fly out at 7am to arrive at noon.....step dad picking me up 10 min from hospital. It will take 2-4 hours. I've been running around like crazy for two days at school preparing for my absences and getting exams ready for next week. The office staff and my coworkers are wonderful though, and I'm not worried in that dept.

Break - sausage burrito, ice tea w/stevia
Lunch - leftover chicken w/lemon mustard sauce and mushroom pasta.
Dinner - chicken tenders and onion straws, lite beers
No snacks last night or tonight.

P.Q Prayers continue coming your way.

BP and BG both pretty good this morning. I had some salty popcorn yesterday and that did bring BP up a bit but not the way it used to. Now to get the weight loss moving.

PQ will be praying all day that the surgery is a success!

I have a chicken in the oven, sitting on a beer can, so that's dinner tonight. I will probably have broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with it, and some type of starchy carb for DH. Whatever he wants.

Good news!!! He made through 4.5 hours of surgery. It went fine w/one hiccup....they found undetected abscess hiding but was able to take care of it. He now has two pig valves, instead of prosthetic. Doc thought it was best in his situation...the pros outweighed the cons. Next 24 are critical ...High risk of infection due to them having to dig around to clear out abscess. His lungs are still weak but should start to improve. We get to see him in about a half hour