Hi all,

I've been lurking in the shadows lately. Don't have time to respond after all the reading. I must say though, you are all doing amazingly well having just passed through Thanksgiving.

I have been doing OK - quite saintly during the week, then I blow it on the w/e and it's back to square one.
This w/e, I am going to try really hard to keep it under control.

I need to have a little whine now - I lost a $50 bill today - not sure where or how...but it's gone. It put me in a vile mood and it took lots of strength not to drown my sorrows in shepard's pie.
I munched on a beet salad instead and just had a few TB of the pie.

Keep up the fantastic work everyone - you are my inspiration.

-S

sznn-That stinks! Sorry about the $$. I'd be soooo upset.
Lily-Be careful!
Midwife-ewwww
fiberlover-that's how I would think

Yesterday was an on plan day, despite more baking. I had two cookies, which fit into my calories so no problem. Things to do today but I'll take a snack so I'm not tempted.

Today, I have my hysterectomy at about 2:30. I'm nervous but not scared. Just a bit of the unknown that has me thinking too much. Think of me today and for the next few weeks. They say the first two weeks are the roughest, but I'm hoping to feel well enough to attend at least part of my youngest son's first ever varsity basketball game on Dec 9. I am so proud and pleased to know that he made the varsity team. I understand that he is now a force to be reckoned with. Of course, at 6'10", he is quite a defenseman.

Foodwise, my thanksgiving was pretty good. I don't like stuffing or gravy. I did have 1/2 piece of SF/FF banana cream pie. Sunday was not so good, though. Remember, I was making chex mix for my students for Monday. I made 9 boxes of chex mix. The problem, of course, was ME eating it as I finished each batch. Monday found me 3 lbs heavier though I know most of it was water weight. I have pretty much stayed out of it since then. Of course, that was helped along yesterday since I was not allowed to have anything but clear liquids since Tuesday a.m. I am SO HUNGRY right now! Won't be able to eat anything until Thursday morning they tell me. We'll see. If I'm hungry tonight after surgery and they'll allow it, I'll be eating something--almost anything. Have my own food packed for the hospital--something they say they have NEVER encountered before. Tough. Hospital food is nasty and far too salty. I'm going to control whatever aspects of this experience I can.

Exercise has been going along lately though I didn't make it again on Monday--too many loose ends to tie up before surgery. In hind sight, I should have got up that morning and exercised at 5:30. Now, I won't be exercising except for very slow walking for the next 6 weeks. I'm taking the attitude that I have to take care of myself. Since I'll make good choices when it comes to my food, I shouldn't have a lot of weight gain to deal with. Once I'm feeling a bit better, I plan to walk on my treadmill 15 or more minutes several times a day. Maybe that will help. I won't push it, though. It's just not worth it. If all else fails, I'll push myself in late January and get back to where I'm at now by March I hope--as far as exercising.

I have plans for Christmas but maybe they're not the best. I've decided that I'll let myself eat whatever I want on Christmas eve and Christmas day then it's back to reality immediately after Christmas. Of course, though I say anything I want to eat, I know I'll be watching it. Without exercise in my life, I think I'll have an awful lot of free time, so I've started to knit and read and just enjoy the quiet (which is rare in my life right now). I'll check in as soon as I'm coherent--maybe this weekend?

I'll be thinking of you today, Goal.

Hi everyone,

I'm eating on-plan. Have a nasty cold now that started yesterday, so probably won't get much exercise except walking my dogs.

sznn, sorry about the money you lost. I hate to lose money.

robin, I will call the authorities if I even see him in OK cause he has warrants out here for him. It is good that since DH formerly worked as a State Trooper, I have lots of police buddies that would stop at nothing to protect me and the girls. . Just lots of threatening phone calls so far and I'm recording them. This week should be quieter though since DH is home and he's afraid of DH. He has sent all kinds of horrible messages on Myspace to Shane and it infuriates me. Shane is fighting for our country right now and certainly doesn't need this guys crap to worry about.

Does anyone else use Hotmail for their e-mail account? I can't get to Hotmail on my computer, it keeps popping up saying error on page. Very disappointing since this is how I keep in contact with Shane. I did set me a new e-mail account up with Yahoo last night and I'll see if he gets my e-mails this way.

Thinking of you, goalsuccess. I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is quick and complete.

Lily~I don't often use Hotmail, but I do have an account and was able to sign on just fine a minute ago. I don't know what to offer you.

Goal~you're in my prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery.

I'm doing well this week except the only food in the house is leftovers from last weekend's multiple meals and parties. It'll all be gone tomorrow and we'll be back on plan. DH got sick yesterday and went home early. Today, we had two employees call in sick (including my father-in-law). Last week, we had several call in sick. I hope I'm not next. While I'd love to have a day off, I'd rather take the day off to do Christmas shopping rather than lie in bed sick all day.

szzn- that sucks about the $50. Maybe it will turn up, you never know.

Lily - please be careful, glad you have the police on your side!

Goal - good luck with your surgery. I'm sending healthy, pain-free thoughts your way.

I'm doing well on plan. Still in the groove, and still in the 130s for weigh in today, that was a bit of a surprise. Even a tiny loss. I think I might be getting sick, though. I hardly ever get sick - the last cold I had was in January of '07. My husband says that doctors should study me LOL. Anyway, I have a hint of a sore throat, but I am hoping it is just from the dry cold air. So - started Zycam just in case.

Oh - and has anyone tried the Gingerbread bagels at Panera Bread? I had one today and they are marvelous! And not bad food stat wise, certainly easy to fit into a day.

Goal-- I am thinking of you today too. You sound like you have thought everything out and have the right attitude. Just remember the main benefit-- no more monthly visits! Hope you have a speedy recovery. I can't believe no one has brought food to the hospital before; I haven't thought of doing it but it sure makes sense.

Lily-- I hope you can get in touch with Shane soon.

Hello to everyone else!

Goal Hope everything went well for you today and that your recovery is speedy and relatively pain free.

Lily My primary email account is Hotmail. They have been changing the format and it's really slow sometimes and sometimes works just fine. I find I always have to retype my password now to get on, no matter how careful I am to get it right the first time.

Don't know if you Americans have a version of the "peace bond" but I believe it's a legal thing that prohibits a person from getting within a certain distance of you/family members. You don't have to wait for that person to do anything but can call the police as soon as he "crosses the line". Might give you much more satisfaction to pepper the guy but he might hurt you while you're doing it. Be careful!

And I am OP tonite (still queasy from the chocolate/salt combo) and will stay that way.

Have a good night all! I hear the laundry calling me really, really loudly - "no clean undies tomorrow, no clean socks either lady"

Dagmar

Peace bond - that's such a nice phrase. Here we call it a 'restraining order'. Doesn't sound so nice LOL

Hi everyone,

I've been home sick for the last two days and finally am feeling a little bit better so I dragged myself back to work (and I'm sure at this point I'm not contagious anymore). My head is still a little loopy, but it was just a bad cold/touch of the flu. I'm a little frustrated with myself for not staying close to plan food-wise, and haven't been working out since Monday. I've just been bored and feeling sorry for myself. This is not a good time of year to be missing workouts, but if you're sick, you're sick. The overeating I could be doing better on! Grumble grumble. I'm hoping I'll be back up to gym shape tomorrow. Life works better when I'm working out! Right now I'm looking at the clock and can't believe it's only 10:40. I'm ready for my nap!

Goal, my thoughts are with you for a safe procedure and speedy recovery.

Lily, that's scary! Be careful! Maybe a restraining order would help - even the threat of one might be enough to make this guy back off.

sznn, losing that $50 stinks! Good for you for not digging into the shepherd's pie. I would feel the same way.

Michele, let us know what the doctor says tomorrow. I hope it's not really a hernia!

Lori, IKWYM about the 5 lbs too! lol

Hi Jessica, Pat, Robin, Meg, Allison, Dagmar, Lisa, Lisa, Ward, Gary, Freda, midwife, and everyone I missed! Hope everyone is having a good week! I can't believe it's Thursday already... I guess I've been busy at home sick, lol...

Goal, I hope the surgery went well.

Megan - glad to hear you're feeling better!

I'm annoyed. I was calculating calories for my planned dinner tonight, which is cooking light black bean and chicken chilaquiles. The recipes says it's something like 283 cals per serving, but when I enter all the ingredients into CalorieCount it comes out to 460 cals per serving! Someone screwed up somewhere, probably at Cooking Light, because the values in Calorie Count all seem reasonable.

Jessica~sorry about the calories in your dinner. Are you certain that calorie count is looking at the low-fat ingredients? I've noticed that sometimes it recognizes cheese but not low-fat cheese, etc.

Megan~sorry you've been sick. Have some chicken soup and feel better!

OP? Not me. I swear I've gained a pound a day each day this week. It's all because of the darn leftovers. I should have thrown everything out, but when you spend that much money for all that food you just can't waste it. Tonight is the last night, but then tomorrow is all messed up with a Karate ceremony so we'll either get pizza or go out to dinner. Same with Saturday as we head to Fullerton for DD's concert (although we'll eat a late lunch and not do dinner at all, so that will help).

Morning. Spent yesterday morning finishing up a rush project, then DH and I went to Anchorage to meet with our tax/financial advisor. We did a couple errands and then went out to a Vietnamese restaurant where I did indulge a bit, but for the veggie side they had awesome spring rolls - very fresh and crunchy. We ended up the evening visiting a friend who's just back from a several month trip. Long day though, and I crashed when I got home.

I have a new antibiotic and while I think it's working, it's really making my mouth dry and leaves a weird taste. Grrrr. The doc's office should have a culture back today and can tell if this one will kill the bad little bugs. I'm still feeling very fatigued too. Just not enough to stay home from work.....

Goal - hope everything went well with the surgery.

Lily - yes, a restraining order may be the ticket if he actually starts coming around. As for Hotmail I have an account there and haven't had any problems. Gmail (Google) is another place you can get a free account.

Megan - hope you're feeling better.

to everyone else.