Carol Sue Glad you had a good casino trip and it is done for this week.

I didn't track today. Didn't eat all that much any way. We had chipped beef and salad. I had a taquito for brunch and had popcorn for a snack with a cup of collagen coffee. Right now I've got SF pumpkin pie flavored creamer for my coffee and it is pretty much making me feel like I'm getting a holiday treat. Kept to my 7 hr eating window.

Finally getting sleepy so will be going to bed in a few minutes. I've been sleeping better since I switched my hours so I'm through eating by 6:30 or 7 pm. So I'm expecting a good nights sleep to night as well.

Good night.

Glad you had a good day, Trish. I slept well again last night, but not long. 5 1/2 hours. I didn't get up for the bathroom until 5 am but that might be because I didn't drink much all evening. Before the pandemic, the casinos had self serve soft drinks but they did away with that. Now you have to buy them in the food court or from the girls who walk around, then you can get free refills in the food court. I get a drink if I eat but I didn't eat yesterday. I have water in the car but don't drink much when we are riding, for obvious reasons. It might be better for me if I don't drink in the evening but I need to get my fluids in.

I'm trying to decide if I'm going to bake Christmas cookies. I rarely eat them so they aren't a problem for me. I wasn't going to do it but my family would be disapoointed. I donated my cookie cutters last week but I kept the Christmas ones, and also the heart, pumpkin and shamrock ones for Valentines Day, Halloween and St Patrick's Day. I always made them to take to work when DH and I were still working. That was always a good way to make people like you!

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I'm getting sick. Yesterday my back hurt on the upper left. Last night it spread to the upper right and when I woke up it had gone to my right chest around my collar bone and my neck and throat. After I had coffee and scrambled eggs the sore throat went away and now it feels like a head cold. I hope it doesn't get bad because I have things to do. I don't think its Covid because I don't have a fever or headache. I'm coughing up mucus, and Covid is a dry cough. I will watch it and if necessary I'll get tested. I forgot to get butter when I went to Walmart. I don't want to go out so maybe I'll get DH to go to the local store and maybe get a rotisserie chicken for dinner, too.

Carol Sue Hope you don't get sick and especially not covid. A rottesseire chicken sounds good but I don't buy them too often any more. Might get one Friday if we don't go out to eat with sisters and BILs. DS is going out of town for Christmas to her daughters and BS said they may fix something at her son's where she lives if we want to come. If they decide to maybe I will get in the mood to bake or do something to take over there. BIL always liked the snickerdoodles I made when DH#2 was living. Might make some this year for him and some other things for the little boy nephews who used to come see me.

I always seem to forget something and end up having to go to the store when I go to beauty shop. Will have to go after beauty shop this time because I forgot to get H&H to make DH yogurt and he will need me to make it Friday and since temp is supposed to be in 80s I won't leave it in the car long enough to get hair done.

Liver and onions on the menu today with salad and cooked cabbage. Weight bounced up today but FBG was 95 so not worrying about the weight right now.

Hope everybody has a nice day.

Trish, when DH was going to play the lottery I asked him where he was going and he said the gas station so I didn't ask him to get butter or chicken. When he got home I was napping . When I woke up he had the rotisserie chicken and made mashed potatoes and corn with it. I asked him if he got butter and he said no. Well, he is the one who uses the butter so he will run out. I won't go out til I feel better. I do feel a bit better after napping and eating. We'll see how I feel after sleeping tonight. I will take Tylenol.

I think I've had another good day although I'm not tracking anything right now. I had a cup of fruit this morning and then a few bites of the can popcorn. We ate the liver and onions meal which really hit the spot. Then this evening I had my collagen coffee with a few more bites of the popcorn. So 2 snacks and a meal. Not sure how healthy but I've not been really hungry. I've been sleeping a lot this evening. I'm wondering if I'm a little depressed right now. If I am I will have to find a way to pull myself out of this funky mood I'm in. DH asked me if it was him or something he was doing, but I assured him that it has nothing to do with him. It is just me and I'm not sure why. Sure things are tough these days but really in truly we are truly blessed. I just don't know what is going on with me right now. I do this from time to time but never know why. At least I know I'm feeling this way and am watching to do what I need to do each day... follow a routine. I've had time when I was young when I went through them and didn't even know I had gone through it until one day I realized that I hadn't paid bills or some other major things that needed to be done I had let slip. So there is progress through the years. It could be a form of cabin fever because of all the lockdown etc the past few years because it feels like that. The only thing we do is go to the store and I go to the beauty shop.

Carol Sue I hope you are feeling better and continue to improve. My beautician told me last week that her allergies were acting up. I think that may be happening here. It is so dry so far here. We actually need a good rain and to be honest I need to wax my furniture. I usually dust but I don't think dusting is going to do it this time.

I hope a good nights sleep will be good for both of us.

I really slept last night! 9 hours but I think that included wake ups. I got up once for the bathroom then right back to sleep. I feel much better, still a bit of pain when I swallow. I take Zyrtec so my allergies are under control.

Trish, I sometimes think I suffer from depression but I don't think real depression is something you can just get over. Its a chemical inbalance. I would like to try an antidepressant but I'm afraid my doc would put me on something that causes weight gain. Then I would be more depressed. But I know what you mean and I feel it too. Mine is not from cabin fever because I like to stay home. I feel overwhelmed, like I have too much to do and can't get it done. So I do nothing. I need to start doing a little at a time and work toward accomplishing it. I think I did better when I was taking the Magnesium but I stopped all supplements when I started to feel sick. I will start back tonight as long as I feel ok.

I had a dream about work again last night. I don't know why I dream about work all the time. I have not worked for 11 years.

Trish, what kind of collegen do you use?



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Carol Sue I use Purely Optimal - Multi Collagen Peptides that I buy from Amazon. It is a powder and use it twice a day in my coffee when I remember to do it.

I think my problem is the same as yours. I feel like there is so much more that I need to be doing but it is too overwhelming because I don't reall y have the stamina to do it all. I try to do a little bit at a time, but since no one comes around any more, I figure why bother. That is why I think DHs rule of "call before you come over" was a bad thing for me. My family was not used to that when DH#2 was around and the nieces and nephews grew up with. it was nothing for someone to just drop in for a cup of coffee or whatever. I think I just expected things to be much different than they are. I guess I'm a little disappointed t o be honest. Then Daddy died and the holidays just aren't the same any way. I'm a people/family kind of person and DH#2 was too, but DH#3 isn't. I love him and wouldn't change anything as far as being with him. I think there is just a lot of adjustment going on as well at my age etc. I will get through it and I will. I just need make some changes that will will fit this time of my life.

Having said that I am starting with getting my diet back OP with some changes that will work better for me. This morning my weight was back up to 184 so I am changing my WI day as well making it Thursday instead of Saturday. I am using the sheet DH made up years ago for his DW#1 for tracking instead of MFP. For me it will be better. I will use it with WWSF foods and do it more like the old WW exchange system so that I can make swaps to adjust it to a more whole foods woe. FBG was 95 again to do and bp was still excellent. So I hope to be able to lose weight as well as keep my healthy #s where they are.

I wrote nurse at doc's office to ask for samples of Farxiga for DH and reminded them to be sure we are on the list for booster vaccine since we hadn't heard from anyone. I got a letter verifying my Medicare Advantage app was accepted. I also got a call from a lady about DH and they had the wrong address on his app. I was hesitant to call but glad I did because she said she was going to have to deny his if we hadn't called. So he will get his letter next week sometime. Then our info will be coming after that.

Fish on the menu for today. Tilapia for DH and swai for me. I don't like tilapia and he doesn't care for swai so I decided this way we both get what we want.

Hope everybody has a great day.

Trish, right now I am taking Hyaluronic Acid capsules for my knees that cause the body to increase collagen production. I have 100 mg and,read today that 240 per day is. recommended so I will try to remember to take it am and pm. It says it will also improve skin. I have 2 bottles so when that's gone I will try collagen.

I am sorry you can't get together more with family. I know you are family oriented. I would like to have step daughter come more often if I could keep up with the house more. She is my favorite, and I would like to go to her house more but DH doesn't like to go to peoples houses.

I procrastinated calling for an appointment for my dog grooming. I finally called today thinking I might have to wait until January and I am happily surprised that they fit us in tomorrow morning. Maybe they had a cancellation. I will give her an extra tip. She is the only one who can handle him and DH helps her hold him.

I also got my bills paid today. Another chore I can check off the list. I think it might help me if I make an actual list of all the things I have to do and that might help me get everything done. I think I will feel much better when I get some things done.

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Carol Sue That is a good idea making a list. I have done that before and it worked. I would make a list and mark things off. I heard someone on tv say if you don't get everything on the list done today just add it to tomorrows list. I think I will start doing that again too. I used to even put my exercise and stay OP to check off. Thanks for the reminder.

Glad you got your dog in for grooming. I too am surprised they had an opening.

DBIL is off tomorrow so we are all going out for steaks tomorrow afternoon. That will be good for all of us.

Excellent sleep last night! I took my magnesium and tart cherry and I feel very good today. The dog grooming went well and we're back home. After 6 years he's getting used to it. He only tried to bite her twice.

Going out for steaks will be a nice change for all of you. I don't know where we will go. DH is tired of Rodneys so we might take a break from it. He only orders 2 things from there. I like to try everything and I only had 2 things I didn't like. They have a big variety. Meals, sandwiches, salads, pizza and stromboli.
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Carol Sue Glad things went well for your dog grooming trip. Also it is nice that you got a good nights sleep. Hope DH decides to take you somewhere you both like to eat today.

I slept good and woke up about 30 minutes before the clock alarm was set to go off. I like that because I don't really want it to wake him. Went to the store and got a few things. I got a can of lite cherries pie filler and a pecan pie crust. I think I will make a cherrie pie for DH and me for Christmas. We can put SF whip cream or diet ice cream on it. I also got a SF brownie mix last week to make for diet treat during the holiday. Hopefully it won't raise his FBG too much.

I am looking forward to going to be with my sisters and BILs for steak this afternoon. I'm glad DBIL who is still working could be off today. I am not sure we will go to BS for Christmas dinner or not. She may decide to do it another day so will decide then. I've about decided if she does I'll make deviled eggs and maybe a broccoli casserole to take over there. Will decide when she knows for sure what she is going to do.

I have decided to start making a list of things to do each day and get organized and pull myself out of this slump I'm in. I've never let this get the best of me before and not going to now. I think that is what my Daddy did and I don't want to do that. I also am going to make DH adjust to some of the things I want to do. He needs the activities as much as I do. And I know DS needs it. We have to learn to stick together and help each other now that it is just us.

Mad Been thinking of you and hope your meetings went well and you didn't get anything to cause you problems with itching.

Hope everybody has a great day.

We went to Rodneys. I had NY Strip steak and DH had salmon. My steak was very good. They were from the lunch menu so smaller portions and just one side. You can add another side if you want to. We went to the local grocery store and I got the cookie ingredients.

We are having an unbelievable December. We have not had any snow other than a dusting a couple times and warm temps most days. I know we still have 3 weeks to go and that could change.

I am going to make a list of what needs to be done before Christmas instead of each day. I think I will have my step children come over either for Christmas or for DHs birthday on the 28th. Step son might go to in-laws for Christmas. DH brought my little pink Christmas tree down from the attic. I also have artificial poinsettias on each side of the TV and a swag over the archway. That's enough decorations. We have a wreath on the door.

Visit with sisters and BILs was nice. Steak and sauteed mushrooms were delicious but the mashed potatoes were too dry not like their usual. We had a long wait because they were short on servers. That is really sad that people don't want to work. I had a banana and cup of collagen coffee before we left and another cup with my diet ice cream bar when we got home. Not sure I will have anything else.

We have a little tree DH had when we first got married. It is a very unusual tree. The ornaments look like different fruits. It is fiberoptic and those lights quit working years ago. You can't find one like that any more so we just put a lot of blinking Christmas lights one it. Then we have another little fiberoptic white tree with different blinking lights built into it that we bought a few years ago. We have both of them in our living room. We have another white fiberoptic that we bought for Daddy when he was in the nursing home. We have it in the front bedroom window for outdoor decor. We have a huge red ribbon DH bought when we had our house built in SC. Now DH hangs it on the front door on this house instead of a wreath and that is because the wreaths are still packed away and still are. That is all the decorating we do these days since it is just the 2 of us. I still love having the Christmas tree lights. We don't really do much of anything else for Christmas these days.

I'm still taking my magnesium too. I think it does help me sleep.

Sleep was ok last night. 8+ hours but restless. I finally got on the scale. Up .6 to 189.0. I was feeding my cold when I didn't feel well. I feel back to normal now. I will try more fasting.

I had steak and mushrooms too,but with green beans, no potatoes. DH had salmon and potatoes. I bought my ingredients for cookies but I might need more flour. They were out of my brand. Everything was on sale. Hope to start today.

SIL cut down big trees in front of their new house and it looks like a different house. So nice! Trees were big and blocking everything.

Hi friends: I am home now and all well. I wound up eating more during the time away than planned. (yes we know how that goes). With the way the meals went, It was hard not to eat 3mad. I did eat lightly at lunch and left some of it there. Dessert was ordered with every meal, and although they were small, its there. I only ate 3mad the one day, but I felt so full Friday morning, I started fasting then. So today I was 157 after that fast, so in spite of things, no weight gain from it all. I really enjoyed the social time. All of us there were delighting in it.

Carol: i always feel we cannot assume any illness is not Covid these days, and testing should be done. If there is a fever at all its even more important. It does sound like you are improving. But getting sick with anything means you picked up a virus somewhere, and it could be Covid as easily as a cold. yikes. I just don't want that for anyone! I don't mean to be judgemental or flaming you, just care about you.
I agree about donating diet books. I got rid of most of mine after I started fasting. I mostly kept cookbooks for lower carb eating, and things that are keto or low carb and fasting info. That turns out to be 3 books. I have all of Dr. Fung's books both paperback and online. I am rarely referring to anything these days tho, mostly going to the FB pages for IF. Hope you enjoyed the baking day.

About not having servers at the restaurants: We have a low unemployment rate here too, and not all places have enough servers even though fewer restaurants are open. (several closed because of repeated lock-downs, that did not have a good take-out business). I know many servers found other work during that time as a result. And it pays better. Many restaurants are offering better pay to keep their servers now.
The food and beverage servers at table were great at our meeting, but the front desk, management and catering staff, housing keeping were not as good or polite. We are considering taking out business elsewhere next time, after about 6 years at this place.
Have a good weekend friends.