Hello everyone! It has been kind of a strange day... Our sewer backed up downstairs, not bad because we caught it before it was everywhere... but Tim rented a snake and got it taken care of this afternoon. Took about 4 hours to break through the "clog of roots" but all better now! $45 for renting the snake was a lot better than paying a plumber to come out!

Since I couldn't run any water until he was done with that I started cleaning and vacuuming in the living room. Moved the couches and my goodness I think there must have been at least one more pomeranian under the one couch!! LOL!

I got an email that my juicer was in at Walmart so went and got it. Chickadee, I just picked it up a couple hours ago and it is still in the box! I had to get supper done and get the dishes going in the dishwasher before I would even let myself open the box!! NowI have looked at it and been looking at some of the books that came with it. It is the Jack LaLane one and I already have a question..... Can you juice frozen strawberries in it? Or would it be better to do them separate. I have heard some say that you don't want to do strawberries in it... I'm so confused! So I will be looking for some recipes too. I may get the book "The Juice Lady" I plan to see what the juicing thread has to say here too.

Well, think I will do a little more research on this juicer and maybe at least get it set up and washed and ready to use.

Take care everyone.

Hi - did day 4 at the gym. I love reading all of your posts. Dh just came in and asked when we're going to eat. I told him I was on a roll with the Golden Girls. Usually I'm the one saying - I don't care if I've turned into the old crowd - it's healthier to eat at 4:30!
Marie - bless your father's heart - fingers crossed for next year with the Cubs!
Lucinda - have you ever tried psyllium husk caps? An old Atkins recommendation. I take a bunch every day. I am with you on the addiction thing. And resorting to other carbs when you don't do sugar - Sometimes I think I'm like the alcoholic that resorts to drinking mouth wash. Last night, bewitching time for me, there was NOTHING bad in the house - I thought. Then I spotted the Caesar Salad Croutons - 2 bags. Yes, I opened a bag. Thankfully they weren't very good, so I didn't eat many. I also agree that people don't take food problems seriously. 3fc is like an AA meeting for me.
Rosey - I love your plans - you have come a long way. You deserve it all. Question about the sexy undies - will you do a thong? In the summer when I was shopping at Nordstoms, I asked the twentysomething sales girl for some panties that are "no show" since I wore shorts (first time in decades) and thin fabric stuff and was getting the visible pantie lines. She told me that the best thing for no VPL is a thong. I said - you are kidding. We did find some others - not sexy and quite expensive. Then I found some that I like at Macy's but those aren't sexy either.
Isabella - cake is another addiction of mine Very impressive that you could put some in the freezer and just eat a bit with the kids. It sounds divine.
Chick - good deal with DH. The cleanup is the worst part. And I did mix you up with Gayle about the Alzheimer's/dementia thing.
Bobbie - Honey Nut Cheerios in the wee hours? I'VE BEEN THERE. Those are good. Now that DS move out of the house - I don't keep those around either. I mean anyone that tries to resort to croutons...
Oldest DS just came home because he has a work training thing out here in the 'burbs. He wants me to buy him Doritos. I offered to get him the snack size (was that Isabella that wisely did that?) - he said next size up. I told him he has to take the whole bag to work with him. I'm feeling very weak in the will power department right now. Hope you all had a nice day.

We started our day at my dh's retirees brunch. I think I did really well...much easier than later in the day. Before coming home we stopped at Home Depot for some grouting gunk for the bathroom and at the credit union for some cash. Since then dh's been working hard in the bathroom finishing up the floor. He's doing a good job. I've done a couple loads of laundry and finished up yesterday's and worked a bit on taxes. So, not a whole lot but may do a little more tonight.

Bobbi - No I'm like you...I'd rather eat my calories than drink them, except for my mochas and milk drinks. I rarely drink orange juice and tomato or V8 but that's about it. Also agree on the thongs! Ouch! After giving birth five times they are not for me, no way...

Deelee, congrats on being on a roll with your workouts! sometimes it is hard to get started, but momentum carries you along after that. As for the food addict thing, I read a book called "The End of Overeating" and the doctor that wrote it described how food manufacturers come up with the ideal blend of fat, salt and sugar that acts upon the pleasure centers of your brain, exactly like an opiate.

Gayle, I second Marie's suggestion for using the Audible app. I loooove my audiobooks, and listen on all my mobile devices.

Akrosey, I agree with you that I read everyone's posts, and even if I don't include everyone in my personals, it doesn't mean I am not paying attention to everyone. It's just hard to keep track of who is doing what sometimes! You ladies are all so busy.

Good luck everyone and I love all the recipes that are flying around here! I am on our annual "get away from winter" trip and won't have access to a scale for 8 weeks. Hopefully I will get a happy surprise when I get home.

Hi everyone..it warmed up today. dh left at 4:30 am for anchorage. they did the allergy tests on his back and will get the results the end of the week. he was in amood this am. i hate when hes like that but chose to not let it upset my day. as far as the sexy undies no thongs for me. i spend time getting baggy undies out of my butt why would i deliberately put them there i jst like pretty matched sets in all colors. but they dont make them in big girl sizes. i was gorking most of the day except for when sadie climbed out and over the fence. she was having a blast racing around in the yard for several hrs ignoring me sheesh finally enticed her in with a cookie. hope you have a peaceful evening (((hugs)) rosey

breakfast
coffee

lunch
greek yogurt

snack
terriaki stick,1/2 apple

dinner
3 oz slice turkey
1/4 c mashed potatoes
1/2 c steamed brocalli
pickeled beets

snack
mocha smoothie

Good evening GG's,

Two days down ~ two to go. Got out late tonight by 2 hours. Grrrrr ~ oh well.

I did do my walk even though I got out late . That is what I had told myself, that even if I was late, I could still manage to fit in 15 minutes. I walked inside the store this morning ~ it was sprinkling and I didn't feel like trying to juggle an umbrella and the little cart.

K3 ~ I'm feeling better now. I don't know what happens ~ just get kind of blue sometimes ~ but it passes. Thank you for wanting to deliver some hugs ~ that means a lot. When we have that GG's get together ~ I'll take you up on it

My daughter was so sweet and caring. I've got such nice kids.

Well, it was a short evening, I'd better head off to bed.

Hope you all rest well.

Hi Freda - I was the one talking about the diet for diverticulitis. I keep forgetting to ask the DR if I still have it. I think he cut that part out. He did not tell me to avoid the nuts, seeds, etc. I decided that on my own. I was eating a lot of nuts before this happened so I decided that that was what caused this whole thing, and I am not taking any chances on it happening again.

I know that these holes that tunnel are common, but now that they tested the secretions and found the infection, I am more concerned. I have a bad heart valve so I am worried about bacterial endocarditis. I know the surgeon is aware that I have heart disease, but I don't know if he is giving any thought to that in my treatment. They have me on an antibiotic but I just wonder if they are being agressive enough considering my other complications.

Karen31 - Since 2008 I started having medical problems that require hospitalization. I am amazed at the kind of things that go on, such as them leaving that wire in you and then telling you it's not there. I have worked for 47 years of my life and I understand that we're all human and make mistakes. But I did accounting, and it's so much easier to fix something when you added instead of subtracting. They are involved in peoples lives and health. I thank God that we have people who want to be in the medical profession because we really need them. But if a patient thinks there's something wrong, check it out before telling them everything is ok! I don't mean to offend any here who work in the medical field. Most are very attentive to the needs of the patient. But these things do happen.

DeeLee10 - Several years ago I saw some thong underwear on a clearance table and I bought them. 3 pairs. I tried them out and they felt very uncomfortable, but I never got rid of them. In the past few years since I have been having medical problems, DH has been doing the laundry. Every once in a while I throw a pair in the hamper to see if he will say anything and he never does. I don't know if he doesn't notice them, or doesn't know what they are. Some day I will be gone and my kids will be cleaning out my drawers, packing my clothes up for GoodWill and they will find them. That gives me a chuckle.

Rie - I don't really know what it is that you do for a living, but I can tell that you have a dedication to your work and your employees. That is very admirable. We are proud of you!!

Jack La Lane Juicing tip
You can not Juice frozen strawberries You can not juice Kale or Spinach.
But you can juice beets, peppers. apples, peeled oranges/ grapwfruits. All fresh berries. carrots ginger. horse radish pears
I loved my juicer. I gave it to my son because he flashed me those puppy dog eyes and well. I melt.
I sprinkle cinnamon into jiuced carrot pepper ginger juice Heaven.
i bought a new juicer but i am saving it for passover.

Darn scale is still at 130.2 I've varied my calories from 1200 down to 800 something and it still won't move. Patience, I tell myself.
Nothing new here, going into town for RX's that was suppose to be ready yesterday, DH had to call doc because prescription had run out.
Mary...you'll have to take some pictures of all Joe's handy work when he's finished.

Good Morning GG's

Cold, wet morning, but no snow in sight. I was supposed to snow over the weekend, but didn't happen. I was supposed to work today but got a L/C day. I'll still, probably, have to go in at 3 for the last 4 hours. Hate that! I'm trying to do some more sorting and cleaning in the basement, need to go get some boxes. Some things are hard to get rid of. Not that I need them, but they are GOOD things. Hopefully, the Salvation Army can make good use of them. Today at 4 my DGS has to go to the ENT to find out what they are going to do about his nose. He was in gym last week and ran head on with another kid. they both got swollen noses and black eyes, but Chan's didn't go down. Took him to a Dr. and he said he thought it was a hematoma, but called the ENT and asked him to see him that day. The ENT said he didn't think it was a hematoma, maybe broken or, worse, a problem with the septum. If it's the septum it could ****** the growth and he will have to have surgery. Sorry for dumping, but I'm just a concerned mema.

Karen31, Good to have a "handy" husband around.

Delee, Hanes makes some underware thats "invisable" not beautiful, but not ugly either.

Bobbi, about time you got those glasses. I'm glad you're happy with them. You are really going low on your calories. I find that if i'm really in a slump and haven't lost for awhile, if I slightly increase my calories I lose.

Mary, Me too. I have to chew my calories. I do drink V8, I think the nutrition is worth the calories.

GardenDiva, I love my autio books! I have one in the car all the time. And at night, if I really have problems sleeping, I listen to one. If I just lay in bed I can't shute off my mind. Your mind doesn't wonder if you're listen to a book. Do you buy yours or get them at the library?

Gayle, Yeah!!! I'm so proud of you. and 15 min. is great, if that is all you can manage that day.

Rie, My ticker is not correct, i'm just too lazy to move it. I appologize for everyone thinking that I am THAT good. I'm not, and it's not that easy. But I will get back there and so will everyone else, with time, effort, and support.

Chicky, I've seen staples and sutures left in. It's usually because the skin has closed over them or they have scabed over and were not cleaned off before they were removed. They will let you know they are there.

CarolSue, it wouldn't hurt to call the Dr. and remind them about your heart condition and ask if the antibiotics you are on are agressive enough considering that. Always ask questions. Don't take for granted that a Dr. will call you with a results or remember everything.

Freda

Yesterday was such a good day until about 9 pm. I cleaned and dusted our bedroom, moved a round table out and replaced it with a smaller piece with shelves, packed up small clothing for a better weight, exercised and made a good dinner and felt really good. Around 9 pm DH tells me our DS wouldn't be visiting on the weekend and I did a 180 turn. I went on a binge. Talk about opiates. I really miss having a full house with the kids and their friends. I've been retired for 6 years but this is really the first stretch of time I've had without taking care of someone, other than DH. I'm having latent empty nest syndrome. When I'm busy I don't notice but January & February tend to be slow. But at the same time I like having the house to ourselves. Anyhoo, I survived last night and am back at it today.

Karen31, Lucinda mentioned that the leafy greens don't juice in the LaLane juicer. This is true because the leaves kind of clog the blades. I found if I wanted to use the greens, I rolled them up and put them in the hopper with a very juicy vegetable or fruit near the end. I would get some green juice but a lot of bigger pieces of leaves in the pulp. I used the pulp in muffins or veggie burgers/loaves. Some people use the pulp in meat loaves, too. There's a lot of fibre in the pulp. The juice is delicious, though. Fresh ginger root is lovely in many of the juices. Yum.

Deelee, if that cake had been chocolate I wouldn't have given it another thought, but the vanilla is so good. Good job with the Doritos.

Bobbi, thanks for the tip on adding squash/pumpkin to the pudding. I don't like carob. Must be one of the few things I don't like. I'll eat it and I've baked with it but I don't really care for it. I've noticed most people like it though. Post a picture of your new glasses.

Mary, eating early in the day is always so much better than later. Glad to hear Joe is getting the bathroom done. I'm sure it will look very nice.

Gardendiva, have a very nice vacation. I just want to know why the rest of us with winter can't come with you? LOL

Rosey, are you gonna post a picture of you in your "pretties" or will that be too much revealed? Hahahaha. Just joking, of course. I like pretty undies but right now I wouldn't want to be in an accident without an extra pair in my purse. I'm refusing to buy new anything until I loose this weight I put on and things are looking a bit, shall I say, worn for everyday use.

Gayle, good for you doing your walk even though you were late from work. You deserve a star for that (teacher talking here).

Rie, what a day! How come everything comes at once? Hope your day is better today.

Carol Sue, what I've heard about diverticulitis is that each patient is different. Some can eat the nuts and seeds and some can't. I'd be wary too after your surgery. I'd also agree with Freda to talk to your doctor and make sure he's got you on the right course of meds. You don't want to slip through the cracks.

Lucinda, when is Passover? You'll have to post some special Passover recipes that you like.

Freda, hope your grandson will be alright. We Nannies (love the term mema) are always concerns about our grandchildren.

Freda's post got me to thinking about the terms that are used for grandmother and grandfather. In Newfoundland most people refer to "Nanny (Nan) and Poppy (Pop)". What are the terms used in your part of the world?

Have a good day everyone. Gone to take a friend to the store.