Hi guys. Not much is new with me. I didn’t make my step goal yesterday but I did work out for an hour after dinner so I’m pretty pumped about that because it’s not the easiest thing for me to do since I get home so late. I did okay reviewing scripts and ate within my calories and the scale is down 1lb today. I doubt that’s because of yesterday’s good behaviour though- more likely letting go of some water or something. I’m trying for 2 days in a row of being on plan. So far, I’ve exercised this morning (upper and Lower body strength training which hopefully won’t lead to DOMS and water retention tomorrow and a scale bounce but we’ll see) so now I only have to stay on track with eating calorie-wise and I’ll be 2 days in a row on plan for the first time in basically forever!!!! C’mon Me!!!!

Lemonthyme: Yay ending the evening on a good note! Totally woooooot worthy! It’s so hard when you’re having a strugglicioua day to turn it around. It’s easier to say “oh I’ll just start again tomorrow,” so go you taking action immediately! As for the koolaid bangs dream... Eek!!! The humidity here isn’t going to get much better. We only have 2 seasons here- the dry season (when it doesn’t rain much) and the rainy season (when it rains endlessly)- both are hot and humid. 70% humidity is pretty much as low as it gets and average temperatures are usually in the 80s year-round with humidity in the 80%s being typical.

Lillion: My mind is blown that people would still for toys for tots. My Pollyanna side hopes the thieves whomever they are are of the Robin Hood variety and are stealing the toys for children who don’t have any rather than for commercial purposes.

Laurie: We’re all fellow strugglers. I’m thinking of you and hoping you can come up for air soon. Here’s to less stress and a little more breathing room very soon for you!

Diane: I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better. I hope you’re back to 100% soon. Colds have a way of really knocking the stuffing out of one. Sorry! Yay dropped pounds for any reason!

I wish you guys a fabulous day ahead. It’s my favourite day of the week because it’s filled with Friday dreams and weekend anticipation so I’m pretty pumped. Blessings to you all.

GOALS FOR THE DAY
1.) Stay under 1500 calories
2.) finish reviewing scripts
3.) finalize lists
4.) Go running tomorrow morning, weather permitting

232.8

Well it’s better than I feared it would be. So working on taking it back down. I’m resigned to the fact I’ll definitely be a yo-yo through New Years. My hope is that I can get into the 220s at least by Christmas. Yo-yo or a fishing bobber - that’s me!

Toasted: ugh the humidity - I’d look like that broccoli icon I use often - my hair would be crazy and out there. In fact I’ll finally pick up the gel today to take it. I feel quasi politicians wife hairdo - it’s really looking too boobish right now. Well I do hope you enjoy your cooler weather. Good for you on getting some movement in - you are doing better than I. Today I will be sprinting through my grocery store to get the shopping done in between the bus pick up and drop off. Do you celebrate a 10 lb loss, and if so how?

Laurie: sorry to hear work is overwhelmingly busy. I hope it slows some for you. You had said you lived in MN once - I’ll send you the snow we got yesterday as it amounted to probably melting all today but we do have a good dusting. Hope you manage to catch your breath.

Lil: how was dinner last night? Did you get your rotisserie chix eaten?

Vlad: where did you go?

Diane: how are you feeling? Hopefully healthy and on the run!

Hello all!

Me again - so my outlook today is I can do as best I can. I’ve hidden the candy so it’s not in eyesight - in a cupboard at knee to foot level. So even if I did open the door I will not see it calling my name.

Grocery run today and I’ve a lot of fresh on my list to get - and avocados have come way down in price so I’ll add those back onto my list. I have principals of not paying over 1.00 for one. They can keep them - I think in the last few months the highest I saw was 1.89/ea. They are good, just not that good! I will see what fall produce is in and see if roasting is a good fit for some Of them to my diet and outlook.

So I’ll post more later when my brain is with me, the groceries away and the day slows a bit. I’m grateful y’all listen to my ramblings. It helps me to keep going on this darn journey and not give up. Activity on here helps so thanks for that!

Happy day all the week is Almost done. Thank goodness. But I’m traveling again - marathon car time with traveling out of state for bday party so in the car all 3 days for 3 hours each ride. Oh dear.

Hey all.

Lemon, I did get my chicken eaten...with potato salad. :/ So not so healthy, but it's eaten. I only exceeded my calories slightly last night, as opposed to the THOUSAND I went over on Halloween!

Toasted, I wish I could be Pollyanna too about the theft, but as the thieves DESTROYED any toys they didn't take ($10,000 worth!) I somehow doubt they're "give to the poor" types.

I mean, what the ! Really? WHY steal thousands of dollars of TOYS meant for needy children? Makes my blood boil and breaks my heart all at once.

So anyway, I'm in a mood today. An awful, evil, I-don't-know-whether-to-cry-or-smack-someone funk. No real reason...I'm just tired and crabby. I need to sleep for a week - or at least until 9 a.m. - but every day including Saturday and Sunday it's up with the dog and two pills, 1/2 hour apart, the second needing down by 7:30 at the latest, so no sleeping in for Lil.

Yesterday was a drizzly 50 degrees. I thought it was definitely soup weather - so after choir practice I spent an hour putting a delicious stew together in the crockpot - venison, potatoes, carrots, wine, onions, garlic, wild mushrooms - you get the picture. Today it's sunny and 70. Eh. I guess it'll still taste good...just not what I planned, as is the norm for me these days.

Sorry...I'll quit being a downer now.

Lemonthyme: I'm glad you ended your day well. That's something to smile about!! I agree with you that it is much more fun to eat something warm and comforting in the winter. I think it can be done, but you need to try to go for the lower calorie versions. I love soup and I actually prefer the more broth type. I know you said you like the creamy soups, but maybe throw a few of the veggie/broth ones in. It is really hard on the baking and temptations over the next couple of months. I guess we should try to keep a little under control and have a few indulgences as well! Just a tough time of year.

Laurie: Hang in there! Work can really overtake a lot, so I hope you are still able to take care of yourself. Sounds like you are keeping in control as much as possible!!!

Toasted: Way to go on the exercising! I am anxious to get back to it. I'm really missing it. Glad you saw a loss too! That's always helpful to get some extra motivation with seeing some results!!

Lilion: Such a sad thing with the toys. People are just awful sometimes. By the way, though, your stew sounds wonderful! Enjoy it! It sounds so good and so healthy!! Very nice.

For me, I'm getting better. I hate that it takes so long to get over a cold. Ugh! I do think that by Monday, I should be good to go back to the gym. I miss it so much! I feel so lethargic and tired. While some of that is the cold, some of it is just the lack of activity. I think we're supposed to have a decent weekend, so maybe I can at least get outside to do some stuff.

I have been doing well with food. With no exercise, I have to try extra hard to restrict. I hate that. I don't know how this week will end up, but I'll keep trying.

I am thinking of coming up with a special goal for the next couple of months. It is tough with the holidays, but maybe with a mini goal, it will help me keep on track. I won't make it too crazy, because I don't need added stress, but something to focus on. So, I'll check my weight on Monday, and I think I'll shoot for losing just 5 pounds over the next two months. I might be able to do that.... Anyone who wants to join me is welcome!

Diane: I’ll join you in the 5lb challenge - however since I’m a yo-yo I hope in the end there is a net loss! How often do you want a weigh in reported- Daily? I’ll even promise to weigh when TOM makes its appearance. One of my favorite soups is a beef veg (clear broth) but I don’t have excess cooked roast in the freezer which I had been throwing in the last month on my soup nights. Any soup I make I enjoy I should rephrase- I prefer creamier ones, however there are only 2 I make at home, my potato one I love, but have to be mindful of as it’s a bit on the rich side with some cheese, cream of soup and sour cream. I’m making it tonight, as it’s my families favorite and I haven made since last winter. I’ll make sure mine is a smaller portion and have more salad then soup.

Lil: soup weather - it’s here - I was doing lots of soups in September. Enjoy it - what I miss is the warm bread I used to make and serve with it and tonight I plan to make soup tonight. boo on the potato salad - you’ll get there, one day both of us will be on task w the calories! I thought of you as I sped down the road and saw a deer on the side - it wasn’t there on my trip to town, only on the return. I think the car won as best it could as nothing else was there but the deer. Our counties just have you call in and file online as long as there is no bodily or property damage other than your own vehicle. My DH called before I left today to tell me he spooked up 3 or them in his first 20 mins of his commute. I loathe deer rut and their blind chase.

Hi all!

Ok I promised my little family we would do a dress up dinner once a month - good China, dressed table etc. however for the life of me I’m drawing a blank on what to serve. I don’t want to do turkey - and I’ve a spouse who is not a fan of meat when the bone is attached (ugh). Any suggestions? We are also not a fish family unless it’s deep fried and I don’t do that at home ever. My sides, I have no issues with, but my main is my biggest issue.

Thus far doing well with calories YEAH. maybe once the little one is up we’ll take a quick walk - it’s been raining on and off today. I was able to dodge the drops when unloading the car. And though my time for a walk isn’t too great - I’m at least moving a bit. My goals for the rest of the day:

1. Drink my water
2. Eat only my calories allotted.
3. Try for the walk
4. Laugh

Ok I’m off in quest for number 4. Happy afternoon all!

Ok - I like Christmas however can I ask why today, while watching tv; that most commercials now feature Christmas trees, holidays etc? I mean Halloween is barely over and we start w Christmas ads already? What about thanksgiving? Just crazy!

Vlad: I was listening to NPR on my way to town today - I didn’t realize the northeast was battered by storms - hope all is ok by you and you aren’t one of those w/o power!

Ok - soups on and smells good. Had to bake two treats for DHs meeting tonight - I’ve even accounted in my Calories for a small piece of one of them as it’s a jelly roll tray full. I’ll cut it up and make it look good for serving. I will avoid bread and butter with gr soup though that sounds good too! I will be good and avoid those extra calories.

I hope I can do this this weekend. Always a bit of a challenge when traveling but I think I’ll pack a salad with me as I’m not sure what I’ll find to eat when we arrive. My family is ok with it all - they know I’m trying to loose.

Ok - I’ll hop off and just get on with my evening. Enjoy the end of the week.

The bone is an issue... I'd have suggested Cornish game hens for something with a fancy presentation. Maybe you could do something like chicken cordon bleu? You can actually make that pretty healthy. I make it with a bit of honey mustard and laughing cow cheese to make it extra creamy.

Hey guys, how is it going? I didn’t go to bed early last night and so this morning, instead of pressing snooze, I accidentally turned my alarm off and slept for another couple of hours! SMH! So, no run. However, I weighed myself and the scale was positive so I felt motivated to do a Tabata video workout anyway and so I did one and was late to work. So definitely starting Friday in an unexcellent way. The only way is up! I’m determined to make the best of the rest of the day. I stayed under 1500 calories as planned yesterday but I didn’t accomplish my other goals. Hopefully I’ll do better today.

Lemonthyme: eek about the First Lady bob. Do you think that’s why you’re having bad hair day dreams? Re: the fancy dinner, what about steak or duck or pork loin or some kind of roast you can carve. Or you can do some kind of stew with a fancy French name to go with your sides. Safe travels this weekend.

Diane: I’d love to do a challenge with you. I’ve been bouncing around the same poundage for a few months now so I’d love to kick away 5lbs for good. When do you want to start? I’m glad you’re feeling better but give yourself time. A cold has a way of really wiping a person out so that even after you’re better, you still feel generally icky.

Lillion: That’s just terrible! To add destruction to thieving is just the absolute worst and to deprive needy kids of toys that people have particularly wanted them to have is just unspeakably awful. I hope the thieves are caught. I’m sorry you had a rough day. I can’t imagine how physically and emotionally exhausted you must be after the past few weeks you’ve had. I’m praying for strength and peace for you. I hope you can find a little time for some self-care and doing something that makes you happy. And it’s okay to feel rage-y sometimes. Human emotion shouldn’t be one dimensional. I suppose it’s finding a positive outlet or a safe place to share your emotions. Know we’re here for you whenever you need to rant or vent or just talk about how you’re feeling! :HUG: :HUG:

Wishing you guys a fabulous and safe and blessed weekend!

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
1.) Stay under 1600 calories for the day
2.) Go to the grocery store and get all the veggies
3.) Get up to Episode 21 in script review

Hey everyone!

Toasted, thanks...I'm feeling better today. I went home yesterday at noon and didn't come back. LOL I was just SO TIRED! That's been half the problem lately. I don't get enough sleep and I'm tired and cranky and craving carbs and comfort food. I forgot to weigh this morning! But I'm sure it would have been up a couple pounds...which is annoying, but really, what could I expect with how I've been eating?

Anyway - I went home and on the way saw this huge and wonderful wild mushroom in a neighbor's yard. As luck would have it - the one I just ran out of! They are called Maitake - or Hen of the Woods - and they are delicious and grow GREAT BIG. One will give you several meals worth. So I delayed my nap to clean it and put some in my stew - which was insanely good if I do say so myself. The other mushrooms I'd planned on really weren't our favorites...I was more just using them up. I did eventually get my nap for about 1/2 hour, which was lovely, and husband and I were in bed by 10 p.m. I still overslept this morning, and I'm still tired, but better.

Lemon - do you like beef stew? I seriously have the BEST recipe! I'd be happy to share. I used venison, but that's because we have so much in the freezer!

Slashnl - glad you are feeling better.

Tonight - well, it's a good thing that breakfast and lunch are lower cal because it's time for a tub of popcorn, extra butter, while we see Thor - Ragnarok. I'm excited to have a movie date with the hubby. Saturday I'm going to a craft show with a friend who's got a booth to chit-chat and help out and then shopping. I have exactly ONE pair of slacks that still fit me and I need work clothes!

You all have a great weekend.

Lil: my MIL collects morels every spring on their land - I hope you enjoyed your mushroom. Sounds like it made a nice addition to your stew!

Toasted: who knows on the hair, drives me nuts I can’t find someone who knows how to work with waves and curls. The trend up here is to flat iron it all. I loathe flat ironing on myself - both for time and heck - I like my crazy hair as it’s a bit of my dad that lives on.

Sometimes maybe a sleep in is what is warranted. You’ll get the exercise in when you can. I just set the timer for my youngest to get himself dressed and then we’ll go for our walk. Nothing great just some movement and fresh air.

Hello all!

AM: with clothes on 233. How much winter pjs weigh I don’t know. I’ll slay off a pound and make myself happy and say
232

Ugh. Well once this weekend is done I will have 2 weeks of non celebrating. And then turkey day and more travels. Well maybe in that time I can find the elusive 229 - a whole flipping year later. 😨

Finishing my coffee. I’m way behind due to laundry which was huge as I pulled out the rest of the winter totes so everything is clean and fresh. I have us packed for the weekend less the personal care and chargers. I have a house to clean - I think every family should be gifted the help of a cleaning team once every month. I’d sure enjoy it. As is, huge amount to be done and my DH doesnt see any of it. But I’ll get some picked up and cleaned so we have a clean space to fall into upon our return home. Some days I feel that’s all I do.

Ok happy weekend to you all. I will try to be proactive about this diet all weekend long. I’m even making dinner here to take in the car w/us. I hope it works fine and will save me oodles of calories I’m sure!

What is this? Back twice in one day? Who am I?!!! Anyway, I'm back on here because I'm obviously not going to accomplish any of my work goals today. I've been inundated with admin-type tasks and responding to clients and reviewing glossaries for translators and that kind of stuff so that it's 4.30pm and I've done NOTHING on the scripts. Oh well... I was late today but I won't let worker's guilt stop me from leaving at the crack of 5 today (usually I stay pretty late). The organic food store I want to go to closes at 6pm and I can already tell there's Friday traffic. Also distracting was the fact that it's our office baby's 2nd birthday today. To explain, our office baby is actually the younger child of our Grants Administrator. We are a baby-friendly office in the sense that there's no creche per se but you can bring your babies or kids to work as long as you have a nanny or babysitter or someone to watch them as there's a baby room sort of set up. Anyway we call them our office babies and our youngest office baby turned 2 today and brought cake and soda etc. I don't drink soda anyway so I felt nothing about that, but cake!!! You guys know how I feel about cake!!! Low-key tears, man! Low key tears! I was like "should i break my Whole30 for cake? I don't want to be that person that didn't eat office baby's cake." In the end office baby dived fist first into her own cake and got it all over herself (a girl after my own heart) and when her mother took her away to clean her up after we'd sang and she cut her cake, I told the person divvying up the cake not to divvy me in. Instead I had roasted plantain and grilled chicken drumsticks. Like a saint. #SaintlySigh

This is obviously going to be a work-filled weekend at home for me so I'm just making sure all the stuff I've been working on is on my cloud and trying to wrap up the admin stuff and for once, clock watching hard. Maybe I'll try to do one script before 5 once I'm done with this check in. Let's see.

Lilion: I'm glad you took a much-needed afternoon off. I googled "maitake mushrooms" and they look pretty impressive. What do they taste like? Mushrooms are pretty expensive here because they are all imports from Europe. The only mushroom that readily grows here and thus isn't a luxury item is the oyster mushroom and it's not my favourite at all- so chewy. I guess I've never found anything good to do with them yet. Any suggestions?

Alright bye again. Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

Toasted: hah! I’m the one that posts throughout my day - it helps me
To not eat! Good for you bypassing the cake - strong! Enjoy your weekend, I loathe weekend work as I used to do it often. Didn’t get paid for it but included it.

AM: got out w the little and took our 15 min walk. Nothing much but it was something. Just had breakfast nothing great either. Oh well within calories I guess as only a hard boiled egg will do😊 I’ll have to look up
Plantain - I’ve heard of and can’t picture - is it like a banana?

Got heavily complemented on one of my treats I sent a/DH for his memorial service he held. Kind of nice to hear others like my treats. I’ll fatten them up. Hehehe. No, I actually reminded him some of these families might like to sit and talked about their loved one lost. A little bit of sweet and coffee/tea is always appreciated. Been there done that w loss in my life.

Nightmare before Christmas is now on for the little. Today is our loose day to do things no real pressure. Friday’s are no school days, so we play and read and he gets his movie. I get things done in that time usually. I will miss the days when naps end.

When you all want an in calorie dessert what do you tend to turn to? In the summer for me it’s s fruit salad - winter time is harder. Looking for new ideas - I’m always open to try something new.

Happy day all!

Lemonthyme: No real rules on the 5 pound loss goal. I'm going to start mine with Monday's weigh in. I just wanted to have a mini goal to try to keep on task with all the holiday stuff coming up. Oh, and I am with you regarding the Christmas overboard. I absolutely love Thanksgiving, so it makes me sad when people want to forge past it to Christmas. Way too early for that stuff!!!!

Toasted: Good job with the cake issue! That's really hard to turn down, I'm sure. As I said above, whenever you want to start on the goal is good to me!! Oh, and it sounds like you are rebounding well after a rough start!! I rarely oversleep because I am such an early rising type of person, but it makes it hard to function the rest of the day.

Lilion: Movie night sounds like a good time! I have heard some good things about that movie, too, so I'll bet you'll find some laughs there!! I've never heard of a maitake mushroom. That was quite the find for you!!

For me, very happy to have the weekend. I am feeling better but still not 100%. I think the weekend will help. I hope to do some outside things since it will be pretty nice this weekend. Not sure how much longer we have with nice weather, so I need to get some stuff done.

I do think that I'm ready to get back to the gym. I will probably need to take it a little easy, but I just want to get back. Have a good weekend everyone!

Ha! I'm back too! I just don't want to work, but I will in a few.

Toasted I hadn't caught that you are in Africa. How interesting! I bet you have lots of exotic (to us) things you eat. But mushrooms are kind of an acquired taste I think. I'm surprised to hear Oyster mushrooms called "chewy". Fresh ones that grow here are very delicate. If you get them old, they may get woody and then they'd be chewy, but fresh ones shouldn't be. Unless you have a different type of Oyster there. I'm going to have to google that; you've peaked my interest. I'd imagine you end up getting most of your mushrooms canned or dried? I know you can order them dried over many websites, including Amazon.

Maitake is the Japanese name. It means "dancing mushroom" because when you find it you dance for joy. lol It's a very bold mushroom - not a subtle flavor. It tastes a lot like a morel to me, but stronger. They're sturdy too...more of a chew to them than say a white button mushroom would have. They are VERY good for you. In fact, they've been found to lower blood sugar, blood pressure and fight tumor growth! My dog is actually on a supplement prescribed by the vet for her cancer and Maitake is one of the four mushrooms in it, along with Reishi, Turkey Tail and Shiitake mushrooms. I'm not a great finder of mushrooms. I find ringless honey mushrooms, and chanterelles occasionally, but morels evade me. Maitake I find every year...and it doesn't take many. I had one last year that was over 8 pounds! A single mushroom!

Now you all know my secret...I'm a closet forager. I love looking for wild edibles. Berries and nuts and mushrooms and such. You don't even have to be in the woods - some of the best stuff you can find in people's yards! Shutting up about it now.

lil: with morels they say if you save the water you cleaned them in and then dump near a tree in your yard, you will have morels spring up. How true this is I don't know, nor do I know what side of the tree you do this on and if it has to be special, like an oak. But I did tell my MIL, however it's my FIL that cleans and dehydrates them and he's quick to disperse the water. I think a few springs ago they had like 4 gal bags of dried ones.

diane: Ok, then I will weigh in on monday. I am sure I will be back high, no sense in loosing over a weekend my body says, my mind says shut the heck up. Will see where I fall.

smoke: Does your area have to worry on the plague? I know it's on the east coast/madagascar area I think (news article is away) and I wondered if this is something you all have to worry about like we are suppose to "worry" about the flu or ticks? Did you get to your grocer before they closed? Are you hanging with family in between your work?

AM: I forgot to eat lunch! I will just have dinner and call it happy. I may have an extra piece of string cheese in there. I had begun water drinking, but lost my bottle somewhere in all that I was getting done. I have finally gotten all my laundry and winter clothes done and hanging - not everything is put away - I will deal w/that on monday.

I may not be online this weekend. I aim to keep busy and also get a walk in - shoes are ready to go into the car. I have a hat and mittens too - it was brisk out when the little and I went this morning.

alrighty - will try to stay strong this weekend and see what I can do! Hopefully you all do well yourselves!