Jacqui excellent! It has only happened to me a few times, but I know how great it feels.

Carol I thought the same thing. If he's able to get upset or agitated, then he's getting "with the program." Since things have started to improve, my mom has been calling the hospital late morning and not going over until after their early dinner. She sends me a report/pic/FT when she gets there. My kids are hoping he's able to FaceTime a little on Christmas Eve.

I was so worried about getting stuff done this morning before the last shopping adventure and lunch with hubs, I didn't remember to weigh before I started swallowing down the H2O. So I just skipped it...I still feel puffy anyway. I skipped breakfast to save calories for my lunch out AND hubs still wants to go out tonight for dinner! At least we're going later than usual and I am always box up some of my wings). I'm never going to lose that last 0.8 lb before Friday at this rate.

Bro had a bronchoscopy scheduled for early evening yesterday. He's too weak to cough everything up out of his lungs. (If that doesn't put you off the snack you were about to have, I don't what will!)

Yesterday's menu....

Lunchfast - small Philly cheesesteak and fries
Dinner - grilled wings w/blue cheese dressing

I'm still up 0.4 lbs from the weekend. I'm sure all the potatoes I've been having doesn't help. Must drink more water and avoid those taters!

Still around just lurking. Busy day. DH birthday is tomorrow so taking him out to eat at Olive Garden today so will be a carb meal. We usually go out for steak for our birthdays and anniversary. We do his on the 23rd because so many people eat out on Christmas eve, but his DD sent us a nice Christmas gift of steaks and other items from Omaha Steaks. We got them last night and there is enough for 4 meals including baked potatoes and tarts for dessert. He decided to not go out for steaks today, but have one of the steak dinners Christmas day. Strange thing is we couldn't decide we wanted to have for our Christmas dinner this year since it is just the 2 of us this year. We have no family here and we are all scattered. So looks like it was taken care of for us. A nice blessing. Hopefully next year we will be living in TX and have our holidays with my family there.

Jacqui CONGRATULATIONS on 167.5 surprise Nice Christmas gift.

P.Q., SMF, CAROL SUE, RENNIE AND EVERYBODY

Merry Christmas.

PQ I had forgotten about coughing up all the junk after heart surgery until you mentioned it. Thanks for reminding me. LOL One time I felt like I coughed up a baby bird.

Trish, I think you came up with a great idea for Christmas dinner since it's just the two of you. I think we are going to have steak on Christmas Eve. We would go out, but around here, many of the restaurants are closing early on Christmas Eve.

I keep forgetting to tell everyone "Thank you!" for all of your prayers and positive vibes sent to my brother. It still seems so surreal to me. Things are still going well. He's speaking (but mom says he still comes out with some crazy statement or question once in awhile). I tol her it's normal, and it could take months for the delirium to pass. We're Facetiming tomorrow when my kids are here. And I've tentatively scheduled two trips to Florida to help my mom, February and spring break.

Carol Sue did you have a valve replaced? I've read in some of your posts about your cardiologist and such. Sorry for not asking about it earlier....I was so wrapped up in my own drama, but I'm "here" now.

Carol Sue, Wannabe, Jacqui, Pattygirl, SMF, Mars and anyone else I may have forgotten, a big Christmas hug early.

Today's menu....

Break - last of fajita filling (finally) and Coke Life
Lunch - tomato soup and crackers
Snack - skinny popcorn
Dinner - mushroom-lemon chicken and angel hair pasta (my favorite)

I just made ladylocks. They turned out terrible. I don't know what I did wrong. I haven't made them for 10-15 years but I used the same recipe. It seemed like I put too much Crisco in the dough, and the filling was really runny. I think when I made them before we were still using whole milk. I think I should not have used skim milk for the filling. I put them in the freezer with the other cookies. Sometimes my cookies taste better after they have been frozen, so maybe they will be OK or maybe no one will notice. DH says they're fine, but you could put sugar on anything and he'd eat it. Well, just about anything. LOL

PQ, I had 4 blocked arteries and had open-heart surgery in 2008. I have 2 valves that are leaking, but they are not bad enough yet to need to be replaced, and may never be bad enough. They said I am better off to have my own valves as long as I can. I get them checked once a year, and my cardiologist said they might start checking them twice a year. If I get fatigue and shortness of breath, dizziness, that's a sign that they need replaced. I was having dizziness recently, but they did an Echocardiogram and there has been no change to the valves. I think the dizziness was due to nasal allergies, and it's been gone for a few weeks. No more dizzy dame.

PrairieQueen, I'm glad your brother is still doing well!

Trish, Happy Birthday to your DH!

Carol Sue, I bet your DH is right and everyone will love your ladylocks!

The 160's are sticking for me so far! I weighed 167.5 again yesterday and after eating at Olive Garden last night, I still weighed 168 today! I've had so many blessings this year and I count all of you ladies on this thread among them! Thank you all for helping me along on this weight loss journey!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!!

Not sure who called it Food Porn? I suppose it is pretty close to what it is, I think of it as Toxic Food: my body, just rejects certain foods. I've been on the Wheat Belly diet & it is where I lost my 1st 20 lbs, & then didn't loose anymore weight. I'm thinking I will have to alter my diet.

Hi Blessed2BeeAlive! We all hit a cog in the wheel eventually and have to adjust what we're doing.

Jacqui, you went to Olive Garden too. Did you see Trish there? Oh, yea, probably not the same location. LOL We haven't been t Olive Garden in years because it's all pasta pretty much. I like it, but my blood glucose doesn't.

Happy Holidays to All.

Facetimed with bro tonight! He Can speak okay but raspy and still weak. He's up to his old self expression wise.....I was so worried he might some type of cognitive/brain damage. But so far he seems "normal" except for drug-related stuff. He'll be transferred to rehab as soon as he can eat and drink on his own....week or two.

Kids left about an hour ago and I'm pooped. Great night but I over indulged. Back on plan tomorrow

Today's menu...

Lunch fast - leftover lemon/mushroom chicken and pasta
Dinner - barbq pork, ham, Mac & cheese, green beans, cole slaw
Drinks - 2 lite beers and two skinny margaritas

I am so full!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas with family and friends. It was quiet here, since we did ours last night. I'm still in my PJs....been Watching TV, getting my new Fitbit set up and cleaning up. I'm going to make myself go up and tKe a shower soon

Today's menu....

Breakfast - pasta w/ mushroom-lemon sauce
Lunch - homemade deviled ham on crackers
Dinner - Mac and cheese
Snack - guacamole and sweet potato chips

High carb day but calories in check.

Congrats on the WL surprise, Jac. Wonderful to hear about the progress with your DB, PQ. And congrats to everyone with the maintaining.

I've been home for a few days, but haven't felt like chirping in here. Still feeling gutted and having difficulty going about "normal" things. I'm feeling so guilty thinking about setting goals, and I have this overwhelming urge to purge everything from my house and organize. Torn between preparing for the inevitable versus living life, I guess. I have not exercised for the past few weeks, and until a few days ago, was not eating much of anything. Of course, I have not lost any weight. Ugh. Annnnd TOM appeared, which was a bit surprising. And annoying. And exhausting.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, and don't worry...I'll work my way through this. I'm surrounded by my kids and that helps a lot.

Hope everyone is starting to recover from the Christmas "extras" and getting back on plan. I'm trying...

Got a Fitbit from DD and I love it. She is such a great supporter and cheerleader. we both have them now, and she has already invited me to my first challenge. My new "thing" is to do our stairs at least 2x whenever we're watching live TV and there's a commercial break.

Today's menu.....

Lunchfast - homemade deviled ham and whole wheat crackers
Snack - sauerkraut
Dinner - Donatos mozzarella trio pizza and a lite beer

SeeMyFeet, so good to hear from you! Odd that you should mention purging. That's how I felt after losing my brother. In fact, I have "organized" quite a few areas of things I didn't think I'd ever get rid of and taken them to auction. I'm slowing down, but even today I went through a cabinet and picked out items to get rid of. We all grieve in our own way I guess. I'm glad you have your kids to help you get through this, and I have no doubt you'll be all right.

PrairieQueen, yay on the Fitbit! How fun that you have your DD supporting you! Great job jumping back on plan! I'm so glad your brother is progressing well!

Carol Sue, yep, I was at Olive Garden too but no Trish, lol! I stayed away from the pasta but it wasn't easy! I had citrus chicken and sauteed vegetables.

Blessed2BeeAlive, the good news is that no plan is set in stone, so it can be altered. Do what works best for you and don't give up!

So on Thursday I weighed 168. Yesterday, I didn't weigh. Today I weigh 171.5, which I think is a great after-Christmas-Day weigh-in! I'm wondering if the scale will go down any as long as I'm eating leftover ham with all its sodium, but we'll see! And I really need to start walking again.

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: High 171.5, Low 167.5
12/20--169.5
12/21--170
12/22--167.5
12/23--167.5
12/24--168
12/25--DNW
12/26--171.5

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch
Ham
Mixed nuts
Diet Dr. Pepper

Tea Time:

Dinner:
Ham
Baked beans
Deviled eggs
Diet Dr. Pepper

Late Night Snack
Mixed nuts

Today's Exercise:

I did so well with my eating on Christmas day. Since I was hosting I was too stressed out to think about eating, but I sure made up for it yesterday. My step-daughter was coming over to take the leftovers, so I had to try a little bit of everything before it left the building. LOL Then we went to the casino and ate the buffet. I wasn't hungry but ate anyway. Now today, I have to get down to business. I am still in Onederland, so I'm happy about that, but need to get back to exercising and get a bit more weight off. It's time.

I'm so glad I have my own exercise equipment at home because the gyms are going to be jammed with the first of the year exercisers.

Jacqui, I didn't bring the ladylocks out til after dinner. I explained that they didn't turn out right while they were shoving them into their mouths! LOL Everyone loved them and took some home, but they were still a little bit frozen so the filling hadn't started running out yet.

Your after-Christmas weight is good. My step-daughter took our leftover ham as neither DH nor I need the sodium. BP issue. I was surprised that the turkey was all gone. I would have liked to have that leftover for us. I have a turkey thigh in the freezer and will probably buy a breast and cook them together for DH and I. We really like our leftover turkey, with Campbells Cream Of Mushroom soup poured over it.

Good to see you here SeeMyFeet. Hope you are feeling better, and remembering the happy times you had with your brother. Nothing can ever take away your memories. {{{{hugs}}}}

PrairieQueen, Yay on the Fitbit. I love mine. My friend lives in a 3 story townhouse so she gets in lots of flights of stairs. I don't do anything out of the ordinary to effect my numbers. In fact, I forget that I have it on. I don't set any records but just like to be able to see how some days I'm much more active and some days I'm practically comatose. LOL

Looking forward to hearing from Mars, Rennie, Trish. Hoping that Chickadeee and Bewildered will come back in 2016. I hope they're OK.