Bro was on a reclining type chair today.....good for lungs. The meds that induce coma cause amnesia, so he doesn't remember anything so far. I'm sure he'll have some stories to tell when his body is "clean."

Tonight I took a widow friend to a "radio" dinner show of "A Christmas Carol." Hubs had two small parts and I had three big courses

Today's menu.....

Break - cheesy potato bake, Coke Life
Lunch - black bean soup w/feta
Snack - mini mincemeat pie
Dinner - goose confit and fig salad, prime rib w/Yorkshire pudding and mashed potatoes, plum pudding w/rum sauce, two light beers

Christmas Candy. The only thing I bought this year is Miniature Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Kisses. I bought them for cookies that I'm going to make next week. DH opened them and started eating them, so I had to hide them from him so I don't have to buy more. When I was a child, my mother always bought this candy called Chocolate Drops. They are very sickeningly sweet fondant covered with chocolate, in the shape of a pyramid. Every year I buy a bag as it reminds me of my childhood. This year I saw them in the store, pointed and said to DH "Look! Chocolate Drops" but didn't buy them. First year I didn't. No one else eats them, they are really way to sweet, and my BS doesn't need them. I did want to get a bag of that old fashioned mix, different colored hard candy. DH said his mother always bought that, but I know I will be the only one eating it so I didn't get it. Still might if I can find a very small package of it. It's something how these things take us back to the holidays of our childhood.

PQ, glad to hear bro is getting up into a chair. He'll be walking soon.

I love your secret goal, and also the two light beers! LOL

SMF, Hugs and prayers for you today.

Jacqui, DH only likes MY pumpkin pie because I put less spice in it than the recipe calls for. We were in a restaurant that has an in-store bakery and saw their pumpkin pies in the case. A couple of them were burned. I get extremely upset if my crusts burn and DH tells me not to worry about it. I don't think they should have had those 2 out for sale. They were really black. Who is going to buy those, unless they are the only ones left. $9 for a burned pie.

We always have Kraft Mac and Cheese in the house for DH, but I can't eat it. I like home made baked mac and cheese with a thick cheese sauce. I'm sorry I made you crave it.

Trish, I always liked to buy one of those tins of popcorn. I like the colorful pictures on them. Last year I realized we only like the caramel corn and the rest gets stale, so this year I'm going to try making my own caramel corn. I've never done it, but it sounds so easy. Just make the caramel and pour it over the pop corn on a baking sheet. I think I can handle that. LOL

Carol Sue, oh don't be sorry! It was yummy! In fact, I went back for more, and of course Carb Day is the only day I can have it, so I was happy to remember it was there! I agree with you on the pumpkin pies. I wouldn't buy ones that were burnt. I don't like a burnt taste on anything. Some people like blackened fish or pork burnt ends. Not me! Every once in a while when I make chili, I'll get busy doing other things and accidentally forget to stir it in time and scorch the bottom and I get so upset (like you with your pumpkin pies), and I will stir that chili, over and over, and spoon out any black pieces I see till I can't see any more, lol. My DH thinks I'm a nut, but I really dislike burnt taste!

SeeMyFeet, I am thinking of you. I hope you're doing all right!

PrairieQueen, I love reading your positive updates! It is just such wonderful news! I'm glad you had a good time at the radio dinner. I bet that was lots of fun!

Trish, great job putting the candy back!

Mars, you must be staying busy! I miss your chatty self! Hope all is well!

Tehshort, how's the diet plan coming along?

Rennie and Chickadeee, miss you!

I ate so much sugar yesterday! I went back for 2nds on the mac & cheese and then late-late, like 11:45 pm, I ate more candy! I have to admit I was a little worried about today, about whether the carb cravings would stay with me, but thankfully, nope! I had my eggs and bacon and water for breakfast (have to get to the store for yogurt) and I'm good! Even more incredible, I am still at 169.5 on the scale! I thought I'd weigh 175 today, lol! Typically if I don't gain the day after Carb Day, I gain the day after that though, so I'm expecting a jump up tomorrow. Hopefully it will only be a lb or two and not up to 175.

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: High 173, Low 169
12/6--173
12/7--172.5
12/8--171
12/9--170.5
12/10--169
12/11--170
12/12--170.5 Carb Day

Week 31: High 172, Low 169.5
12/13--172
12/14--170.5
12/15--171
12/16--170.5
12/17--169.5
12/18--170.5
12/19--169.5 Carb Day

Week 32:
12/20--169.5
12/21--
12/22--
12/23--
12/24--
12/25--
12/26--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Mio water

Lunch
Protein bar
Mio water

Tea Time:

Dinner:
Chicken wings
Steamed brussel sprouts
Diet Dr. Pepper

Today's Exercise:

Guess who discovered that Christmas trees are fun for climbing?! Lol! And of course, Barnabas didn't go for the tree with the plastic, wooden, and homemade ornaments. Nooo. He went for the sparkly tree with the vintage mercury glass ornaments! Luckily, I was just starting to decorate it, so I've only lost 4 ornaments so far, haha! I just hope the whole tree doesn't come down because I don't want him to get hurt! He does make the cutest decoration on the tree though! However, I decided to move my favorite vintage ornaments to the aluminum tree in the parlor. It rotates!

Jacqui so adorable! I've been lucky that my girl Limoges isn't very adventurous, and Mr. Darcy is bored easily if "things" aren't interactive.....he gives up after about 30 seconds of tapping the bottom ornaments.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with aluminum trees However, I really scaled back this year with the decorations and only one full-size tree. We didn't have our annual party either.

PrairieQueen, thanks! What cute names you have for your cats! It's completely understandable that you scaled back on the decorating and didn't have a party this year! Oh, I love aluminum trees! They bring back such memories! I used to have 5 of them, but nobody needs that many, so I'm down to 2, a big one and a small one. I have gone from 15 trees to 4 now (not counting little tabletop ones). I just don't have the energy to do all that anymore. I don't think I'll ever get down to one tree though. I figure I may eventually get down to 3, the family room tree with the kids' ornaments and colored lights, the foyer tree with vintage glass ornaments and white lights, and the large aluminum tree in the parlor with more vintage glass ornaments and of course the rotating color wheel, lol! So, I'm almost there!

Bro is still doing well. He yanked his feeding tube out, so they had to put mitts on him.

Today's menu...

Breakfast - hash brown, pimento cheese, sausage, fried egg stack, Coke Life
Lunch - three deviled egg halves, one mini mince pie
Snack - Skinny popcorn
Dinner - chicken fajita

Jacqui I love the picture of your mischief maker in the tree--a furry elf! Yay you for staying in the 160s after Carb Day! That decade is calling you Yes super busy and I'm afraid will remain so for awhile. Will be sporadic in my posting. Wishing you and all a wonderful holiday!

Mars, I bought some Tapenade today. It's not a premium brand, it's from Aldi's. They had a small jar for $1.99 so I figured I'd try it. I liked it. It has capers in it but not anchovies. It's made with both kalamato and green olives, which is what I plan to use, and has EVOO, red sweet peppers, garlic, capers, salt, white wine vinegar, basil, oregano and parsley. When I make mine I will use less olive oil as this seems to be oilier than it needs to be, and omit the salt, as olives are salty enough. Two tbs is 50 calories, 45 of which come from fat, but with olives and EVOO it's healthy fat. I don't usually make omlets, but I can eat a spoonful along side my scrambled eggs.

Thank you for helping me find another thing to add to my foods I like. Just what I needed! LOL

Jacqui, cute kitty in the tree. I don't know if my step-daughter's new kitties like the tree or not, this is their first Christmas. Rusty is not even aware that it's there.

Jacq Cute kitty in the tree.

SMF Praying for you.

P.Q. So glad your bro is getting better.

I don't know if I shared here that my sink was stopped up or not. DH usually can clean it out but couldn't fix it. It cost $331.00 to fix it. We learned that the noodles DGS puts down the garbage disposal (and maybe left over rice I put in there when we have Chinese food) caused the clog. WOW. He told DH that noodles are one of the worst things you can put down the garbage disposal because it swells and hardens and clogs the pipes. (He told DH he could show him pictures of what it does to the pipes.) He had to cut a piece of the pipe out where it was clogged and replace the pipe. My beautician had already told me the day before that rice and cabbage will clog it too. This makes me wonder... if this stuff does that to my sewer pipes what does it do to me? Maybe that is why it isn't wise to eat it.

I don't know if the non-flour pastas or brown rice does the same thing or not as I didn't talk to the plumber. DH did. However, this does make me re-think low carb... perhaps this is why low carb is so much better. Hum It certainly makes sense to me as to why we should be more careful when it comes to eating simple carbs.

Changed my ticker to fit where I am. While MFP shows I am down 1.2 lbs from last week and I'm thankful for that... no fanfare as this is all recycle lbs which I shouldn't be having to deal with if I hadn't had so many carb days. Trying to do better between now and Christmas Day.

I'm sure all of you are busy getting ready for family gathering. Y'all have a great day!!!

Mars, thanks, lol! Santa did good this year! This little furry elf brings me lots of joy! I'd love to stay in the 160's and I do think I might get to that point eventually. (I hope!) Happy Holidays to you too!

Trish, thanks! He's a sweetie! That's good food for thought on the simple carbs! Yikes on that plumbing bill! Thanks for spreading the word that noodles and rice shouldn't go down the disposal! There should be a little fanfare for your drop! This is a difficult time of year not to gain, so yay on going down 1.2 lbs again rather than up another 1.2 lbs! The best part of all is you're staying mindful and that's going to get you to where you want to be in the long run!

PrairieQueen, yay on another positive update! Oh, he's feisty! That has to be a good sign!

Carol Sue, thanks! I hope your step-daughter's kitties stay out of the tree, lol! It is really cute but it's also a worry! Considering what dogs use trees for (pee post, back scratcher), it's a good thing Rusty ignores yours, haha!

SeeMyFeet, I hope you're well!

Not a bad jump up for me today, just back to 170. My body really likes that number!

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: High 173, Low 169
12/6--173
12/7--172.5
12/8--171
12/9--170.5
12/10--169
12/11--170
12/12--170.5 Carb Day

Week 31: High 172, Low 169.5
12/13--172
12/14--170.5
12/15--171
12/16--170.5
12/17--169.5
12/18--170.5
12/19--169.5 Carb Day

Week 32:
12/20--169.5
12/21--170
12/22--
12/23--
12/24--
12/25--
12/26--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Mio water

Lunch
Protein bar
Mio water

Tea Time:

Dinner:
Fish fillets (breaded, unfortunately)
green beans
Mio water

Snack:
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio

Today's Exercise:

Bro update: He failed his swallow test, so feeding tube has to stay in a few more days......he is not happy. Baby steps.....

Today's menu...

Break - leftover chicken fajita
Lunch - homemade tomato soup (from freezer) and oyster crackers
Dinner - leftover breakfast stack and fajita filling

Leftover days are common here when there's no company to help eat up the meals. Good part I don't have to do any real cooking until Christmas Eve.

PrairieQueen, he'll get there! Considering all he's been through, that's minor, but I hope the tube comes out sooner rather than later so he'll be more comfortable! I eat leftovers quite a bit. Sometimes things are even better the 2nd time around!

I was just looking at my progress on this time's Slow Carb Diet journey compared to last time's. Last time, I lasted 7 months, 6 days. This time, I've been at it 7 months, 18 days so far. Last time, I got down to 168 but then bounced back up and stayed around 173. This time, my low has been 169 and I'm hanging out pretty steadily at 170. Last time, I was struggling to stay on plan near the end and started losing interest in coming to 3FC everyday. This time, I don't feel like I'm struggling at all, and although the holidays may be keeping me busy, I look forward to coming here each day! I feel like I'm still going strong, happy I'm on this plan and motivated to stick with it, whether I lose any more weight or not! I'd say that's progress!

I'm so excited! I got an unexpected Christmas present from my scale today! I weigh 167.5! I had so hoped to surpass my low weight from last time, and I did it! I was not expecting that at all this morning! In fact (and this is TMI), before I stepped on the scale, I was just thinking how I wished I could go to the bathroom first (but no luck), so I was SO surprised to see that low number! I got on the scale 3 times just to be sure it wasn't a fluke! There really is a Santa Claus! Lol!

Edited to add: I've thought all along that if I could get below my low weight from last time I would remove my old ticker, which I was using as motivation. Instead, I think I'm going to change it to a "Bonus Goal" ticker. So if I actually make it to 164, I'll keep myself in the game mentally by having another goal on hand to strive toward. Besides, I really like the colors of my pink and green tickers together and don't want to delete it, haha!

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: High 173, Low 169
12/6--173
12/7--172.5
12/8--171
12/9--170.5
12/10--169
12/11--170
12/12--170.5 Carb Day

Week 31: High 172, Low 169.5
12/13--172
12/14--170.5
12/15--171
12/16--170.5
12/17--169.5
12/18--170.5
12/19--169.5 Carb Day

Week 32:
12/20--169.5
12/21--170
12/22--167.5
12/23--
12/24--
12/25--
12/26--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Mio water

Lunch

Tea Time:

Dinner:

Today's Exercise:

Jacqui, good for you for surpassing your previous low! You go girl!

PQ maybe brother's feeding tube will come out in time for him to eat something for Christmas. Not a ham sandwich, mind you, but something!! I'm just glad he's feeling well enough to get upset about the tube!