So I had taken my scale to the downstairs bath last night due to the toilet out of commission upstairs so I could weigh before the gym this am. I hauled it back up tonight and stepped on it to make sure all was good.

Must have been one hades of a work out - my scale read 180! Being a huge skeptic I had DH hop on and it was way wonky too. After a battery switcharound and a reset I’m sadly back to my normal 230s.

Oh a girl can hope!

231.4

Well it’s a downward number so I’ll take it. I’ll plan to go tomorrow and cycle. I have to do a day between break as if I don’t I have continued problems with the body I don’t want, so day off for rest and then back again. I do hope today to get a walk in to help keep the rest moving.

Not too much exciting or new. I’ve got to ready for church and then get home and put summer away outside and then ready again and sprint off for family photos. It is not a day of rest at this house rather another full tilt day.

Happy day to you all. I hope all looks good for each of you.

Hey guys. Wanted to do a quick check in before I get swamped. The weekend went well. I finished a large part of what I needed to but I still have tons to do aside from tomorrow and Wednesday's workshop that I'm co-facilitating. Fortunately, I think I already have the slides I need as I've done this sort of thing before. I just need to review and make it applicable to this project. I'll try to get to those later today. Now back down my scripting wormhole.

lemonthyme: Yes I used to be a Real Housewives-aholic. I watched them all. From Orange County to Atlanta (where my favourite hashtag #tardyfortheparty comes from) to New Jersey (my mother's favourite), to boring New York... I loved those shows! But then I don't know, I kind of just fell off track with my pop culture viewings and now don't watch a lot of tv other than sports. But yes, I know the sucking in power of reality tv quite well. Which Housewives were you watching? Yay almost being finished with your project and also yay the good weigh in yesterday in spite of the scale pulling a bait and switch on you.

GOALS FOR THE DAY
1.) Complete To Do List
2.) Eat around or under 1500 cals
3.) Get in some kind of workout for at least half an hour this evening
4.) Go to bed early (before 11pm) so you can wake up early to workout.

Toasted: oh I don’t do them all -those ladies are crazy as I watch them; clips generally for the rest. Saturday it was the Dallas one. Generally the main one I watch is Bev hills. I gave up on nj - who does that when they get together with friends or family? I don’t know why you get pulled into it’s craziness but you do.

Hello ladies! Hope you had a great weekend!

AM: 232.4

Holy dear God this scale won’t let me leave. It’s got its gnarly old claws with a death grip on me. Or is it fingernails holding me back? I don’t know at all. I will say yesterday was iffy w my eating. My DH means well but tends to feed me poorly - doesn’t that sound horrible? I feed myself, but Sunday’s are usually his day in the kitchen and what he makes to offer or in his case pick up at least once - never is diet friendly. He errs on the side of it you eat one it won’t hurt you. Argh! And then when I don’t eat it he gets pouty. So my weekends are always iffy.

I didn’t get to the gym. I’ve irritated my problem so I’ve added an extra day of rest. I’ll take my short walk just to keep things moving. I know it doesn’t help my weight at all short term but it does count for some daily movement.

Well my crazy hope to have a scale move on out was - well - crazy. Hey I’ve got 2 weeks until turkey day: dang it’s hard.

Ok enough from me. Just know this decade really makes me irritated and my daily scale makes me mad. Alas - I’m off to deal with the day as best I can. I’ll wear my jeans that swim on me (I guess I couldn’t say swim back in June) take my walk, get the laundry in and try not to sulk today.

Happy day all.

Later: got the walk done. Ready to screech in the short time my kids were up and went to school I’m now ready to run away for the rest of the day. Good gracious when one is a pain I can deal. When it’s all - heck no. I’m glad school is open today. That was enough.

269

Laurie: Smart to take your own food on your work trip. If you just eat what is there, not only is it usually a little overboard on the calorie side, but sometimes I think it throws off your body - just because you're eating different foods. Hope you have a good time, at least!!

Toasted: I agree with you that it is important to not be so restrictive. I think that you need to be able to handle having a bite here or a bite there of food that may not be the best calorie choice. While we all want to lose weight, we want to be able to continue with life once we reach goal, and to allow some flexibility. Some of us... me... need to remember that we should wait to make the goal before relaxing too much!!

Lemonthyme: Ugh! Scales are just not nice at all. I hope you see some better numbers soon! I would bet that the extra bike riding will help as you go on. It is a tough time of year to get extra discipline, so maybe it is a victory that you are maintaining!!

For me, I was able to get back to the gym. I have a little residual stuff from having a cough, but I'm fine to be there and get back to working out. I went to Spin today. I'll do my weights tomorrow, and that's the part that I'm more worried about. I know it is going to be painful, since it has been a while again. Ugh!

Had a bad weekend with food choices and it is showing in my weigh in this morning. Not good. I guess I have now made it harder to make my "5 lb" goal. It is more like 8 lbs. But I feel good about getting back to working out, so maybe that will help and be a good push for me. So, my goal is to make it to 4 mornings at the gym. I'd also like to make the 5th one, too, but I'll make that a bonus goal! Ha! Making sure that I'm tracking calories and keeping on track.

Okay...so I had a long fattening 3-day weekend. I ate entirely too many of my baked goodies. I have, however, delivered all the left-overs to my office, where they will be devoured in short order by my co-workers.

Because someone asked, Fellowship time is after church and before Sunday school, every week. Families take turns with goodies. Some people just put out donuts or cookies. I do too much. EVERY TIME! But I enjoy feeding people and setting a pretty table and I admit it...I like the compliments a lot.

So anyway, today I have the ability to go out to lunch since the hubs is home and not deer hunting. So another fattening meal - though I'll try to make decent choices. Back on track tonight is the plan.

I'm just TIRED ladies. Really, husband came home to me bursting into tears every little bit. I just would do about anything to just go to bed and sleep until I woke up without an alarm clock, then pee and go back to bed and sleep some more. That sounds like absolute Heaven; sleeping all I want to sleep with no obligations, just for ONE day! I'm seriously debating paying to kennel the dogs for a weekend for just that purpose. It would cost like $100....money well spent.

Hubby did get up this morning and take care of the pups so I got to sleep until 7 instead of 6:15. I didn't even hear his alarm go off or him getting the dogs out of their crates and out the door. I slept thru it all. I sleep thru his alarm at 4:15 a.m. when he gets up to hunt too. I wonder if I'm being disturbed by it enough that it's what's causing me to be so exhausted...that it's waking me but I'm going back to sleep and not really noticing that I was ever awake? That sort of thing has happened before when he worked an odd shift and got to bed at like 3 a.m. After a few weeks I was just ill and went home and slept and felt 100% better. He quit coming to bed after that and just slept days while I was gone.

Okay....enough rambling. I have work to do. Happy Monday ladies. Onward and downward...right?

lil: how long do your pups need to take their meds? Sleep - you may be behind on it. I know when my DH isn’t in bed when I am I tend not to sleep deeply and keep waking myself which I hate then what happens is he finally comes to bed and then I’m wide awake. Argh! Try to get rest as you can.

Diane: how was your work out time? I haven’t gone. I have to finish these two big projects and then I will have a bit of breathing time to get the exercise back in. I’m working around my families schedule which is kind of crazy when you throw upcoming hunting into the mix. On top of it my GIL wants me to take her shopping somewhere in there. See - back to needing 6 of me! So I hope you exercise for me.

Hello all!

AM: totally feeling like a dry piece of leather - my house is so dry which means my humidifier is not working and I’ll guess the filter is plugged. My husband isn’t always on top of home maintenance. So I went and did some reading. I’m guessing that’s the issue. Feeling dried out is the response.

I have to tackle and finish those big projects. I’ve got to dome work on the one and then print and ready them for religion class tomorrow. The other I just want out of hair - I’ve had it long enough and not quite getting the help on back. Argh. Nothing like doing a project where no one helps where they should and doesn’t reply to your emails for help. Maybe I should say I QUIT. Maybe that will get action.

So I’m frustrated and it’s only 525am. I’m off to put my toe warmers in my shoes and get the morning moving. Happy day to you all in wish I was successful and I’m not doing something right when I think I am. Back to measuring and I’ll have to put romaine on my list once again.

Lilion: That's too bad that you have so much to do with the dogs. I know that lack of sleep is just so hard on you! It makes everything so escalated and so much more difficult. I hope you can get some relief.

Lemonthyme: Sounds like you have a lot going on right now. I hope that you make great progress today. It's hard when you have to do it yourself, and no one pitches in, even if you ask for help. Not fair at all.

For me, I did make it to the gym this morning. I was a little late getting up, so I almost didn't want to go, but then I knew I'd feel bad about it. So, I went, but I scaled back the amount of lifting I did. That's actually a pretty good thing because I'm just getting back into it. Maybe I won't be as sore! Ha!

I had a little drama with my old cat last night. She's about 22 years old, and I know she is starting to fail quite a bit. But so far, she seemed healthy and happy. But last night I honestly thought she had broken her hip or leg. She was limping terribly and could hardly get around. I thought that it was probably time to just put her down because I know she couldn't survive the treatment or surgery. But then this morning, she wasn't really limping much, and was so much better. WTH? Seriously, last night she was dragging her leg! I don't know if maybe it was just dislocated and somehow she got it back in? I know she is getting more and more frail and maybe it just happens.

Anyway, food is ok. I could do better. But I will be going to spin tomorrow. I promise!!

Suzie will be on these meds as long as she lives...unless a better med is found. Right now, I hope that will be a long time, but really, all I want is to sleep in just one day. Thankfully, my husband is taking a bit of time off deer hunting so he's taken care of them yesterday and at lunch today and yesterday. When season is over, we can maybe take turns on Saturdays and let each other get some sleep!

Sorry for the rant yesterday. I was just beyond exhausted. Better today.

Today ended poorly - caramel popcorn - I made it for my kids because I haven’t had a sweet snack for them in a while (all the previous baking went elsewhere). I’ve gotten in 66oz water and will push one more watching my show tonight. I’m tired and kind of cranky and know that he scale Will probably not be kind to me. I did get my IF in today but I am over 1 1/2 hrs this evening having just grabbed a late snack.

Yes my scale was a bit down this morn but now I’m sure I have inflated it again. I haven’t gotten to the gym and I didn’t do my walk today - it was rainy and cold. I’ll try again tomorrow if I can.

This evening I don’t feel successful by any means. I keep putting on and taking off the same darn pounds. It’s old. I’m old. Alas - I’ll keep trying to hit a goal of some sort. Diane - when do we weigh in again? I don’t even recall where I was 234? 235? I’ll have to reread the last month. I’m sorry I’m not a better competitor I can’t even recall where I was. I think I should put it in my signature. Maybe that will help.

Off to grab my jug of water and try to begin to think good thoughts. I just need to!

My scale had confusion this am and I didn’t have time to futz with it as I had to get dressed to get to the bus stop and get kids fed. And I’ll hop back on here in just a moment - however I have had some coffee and that will show.

Does anyone know if with IF if it’s ok to have some milk with my coffee first thing or is that in fact breaking the fast immediately and cause it to not work? I can’t find clean answers on it some do a bit of milk or cream others are super strict and don’t really do anything until 16 hours is up.

Do any of you just look at bills and say ugh and want to just toss them? I pay them - begrudgingly - but some moments I’d just like to say argh. I guess it bothers me toward year end when you find out benefits are going up and salaries aren’t. Or when all your siblings get huge bonuses at year end (always) and you get a turkey or a pointsettia instead if your lucky and your mom feels the need to tell you about their bonuses and their plans to spend it as a way to share their good news and she asks what’s up for you and say no bonuses and well I’m going to goodwill to see if I can find something new for me - it’s kind of a conversation killer. Today is a gray day in mood and outlook.

Well I’ll have to shake that off too.

Ok to officially face my day I’ll splash through the shower and see where the scale Will land. I guess I’m finding if I don’t stick to salads or vegetables and water and 1 hour of exercise daily my scale will go up. Tomorrow is pay day so I’ll get groceries: I see avocados are now down to 59cents on m stores app - finally! I’ll try to add those back in to my grocery list - I’m just tired of late fall early winter fresh selections.

Ok Debbie downer signing out. Today I’d say I’m giving up on the diet through the holidays. But I’m clinging on by my fingernails and saying you won’t win this year! I will not let fat win. So if y’all don’t mind my constant grumbling as I struggle with this some days and I’m euphoric other days I’d appreciate it. What a crazy journey - totally not at all what I thought it’d be.

Have a good hump day!

268.4

Lilion: Well, you are a good dog mom. I'm sure that Susie is living a much better life by having you in it!! Hang in there! I hope you get some sleep soon.

Lemonthyme: I love caramel corn. I can't have it around very often because I have no shame when it comes to eating it. Such a perfect flavor. Hope you have a better day today. Don't worry about the little goal thing I had talked about. If it causes stress, don't do it! There is enough stress to go around with other things. I wouldn't give up on it totally, though, throughout the holidays. If I do that, it makes it so hard to get back to it after Christmas. But, I also wouldn't make myself miserable throughout!!

For me, I was really tired this morning, but I made it to Spin class. It was actually really good. I felt so exhausted by the end of it, but I was glad that I had gone. I definitely want to go tomorrow to lift weights because I'm still pretty sore from Tuesday. For Friday, I was thinking about not going, but we'll see. It wouldn't kill me to go and do something.

Somewhat on track for food. The scale went down a little today. Hopefully, that will start moving downward a little more quickly.

Diane: no it’s not that your holiday challenge is my issue - it’s my weight loss in general. I feel kind of dumb being here and being stuck so long in one decade. I am trying - just some days end up becoming half hearted dieting and then I wonder about others judging me beyond judging myself. It’s just a constant fight in my own head. I see women who were st the same place where I started and they are in the 100s now and here I sit still at 233 flitting and floating like a tadpole not knowing what to do. I know - don’t compare myself to others and don’t worry what others think right? Well, I do. No - I’ll keep your challenge as my challenge and hope I can finally shake this decade for good. I’m sorry to grumble so. Until I get out of the 200s I wonder if I must micromanage everything including breathing in sweet smells.

AM: Sorry I’m typing out loud if you will - trying to make some sense of it all as I ponder the direction I’m going besides in a big circle. Some days I am that hampster on its wheel: round and round she goes where she stops no one knows!

Ok - well maybe tomorrow will offer more insight and direction. Today isn’t it that’s for sure. Someday I go to bed hoping I’ll be lots lighter. Thinking oneself thin does not work. Oh if only!

Happy evening. I need to adopt a better attitude - now now and where does one find it and stick to it?!

230.6

Wow - doesn’t sound like much of at all but the scale moved a bit. Note to self do not make caramel popcorn again. I looked in the mirror and my NSV because I haven’t posted one in ages: viewing myself in the over vanity mirror and from my shoulders to mid torso I look thinner. I haven’t measured recently so maybe I should. Anywho I’ll take both little victories and be happy w such.

I was making a project for church and presented it last night as it ties in the youth group. I’m not sure it was well received because my parish tends to like to say they are welcoming - however as a non local who came into it I will say they really aren’t w/outsiders/non relatives. But I’m trying to give them some fresh ideas and ones that have been ignored far too long that I always enjoyed at my older parishes. Alas - some people don’t like change.

Ok so next week is turkey day for us in US. Can I maintain over that weekend whatever maintaining is? I’m traveling and seeing all my siblings (stress) and it’s a long weekend. What are some cheats you all do for multiple family stops to stay on task? I will save room for my pumpkin pie of course! But do any of you give yourself some extra calores that day or just go all out? I don’t want to do that!

Ok I’m up early to pay bills and to make my grocery list and start my day slower then how it starts when I wake w l/the kids and am on a tear.

I made DH put out a mouse trap last night. I’m not 100% sure I’ve a beast in my walls. It’s that time of year that it’s not unusual for one to sneak into the house for warmth. I’m not a welcome host for them, they can go meet their demise. The joys of rural life living in town.

So my mini goals:
1. Drink my water
2. Eat w/in my calories
3. Avoid stressing over things I can’t control - just live

Ok off to get my grocery list together. I’ll do personals later after my grocery run.

Happy day all - it’s gone quiet here so I hope you all are doing well.

Thanksgiving. Ugh. I have only ONE family meal, than heavens, but it's a doozy. My husband has 5 sisters and a brother and all of them have kids, most of which are grown. Everyone brings a dish and that is a LOT of food! I have to admit, Thanksgiving food is my favorite, bar none. I'm the only one at my house (even when the kid was home) who likes sweet potatoes. I love stuffing and gravy and TURKEY! I love turkey more than any human should love a food. I could eat roast turkey every single day of my life in large quantities. I love it SO much that I only buy it at Thanksgiving because otherwise I'll eat it all! I try to tell myself turkey is low-cal...but not when you leave the skin (which is the best part) and cover it with gravy. Give me a dinner roll with butter and a nice thick piece of turkey, with some salt - my ultimate comfort food.

So...I need a plan of attack. I plan to eat my favorite foods that I never get - the turkey and sweet potatoes. I'll volunteer to bring the green bean casserole, so I can make it with fat-free soups, etc., instead of full-fat. I'll have a salad first if there's any not dripping in mayo to try to fill up a bit before the meal. I will have ONE dessert - or maybe two half-pieces? I will stay away from the cookies/snacks/etc. because they are not something only available one day.

Otherwise, I'm just going to remind myself it's only one day and NOT pig out over and over. The nice thing about NOT hosting the meal is that I won't have a fridge full of left-overs.

My WI is tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it.