For those of you simply salivating to hear more about the weather in Berlin, yah right. . . . Well, it's a really pretty day here. Bright, bright sunshine. See myself as the cat who wakes up in the sun and goes to the door. You open the door and she freezes on the step. Then that incredulous, reproachful, over the shoulder look. Turn up the heat, mama. Pitiful.

And frankly, I'm feeling a little bit like a fraud. Up .6 today on yesterday's 821 calories; 124 g water; and 102 g protein. Maybe a grumpy fraud.

And after all the nice words about walking I have to admit I'm kind of a one trick pony. It's about the only exercise I can do.

Sorry, I'll be back to finish this. Hopefully more cheerful.

The trials we have to go through are usually not what we would pick if we could. The stress over the family history of breast cancer and then getting called back for additional mammograms and a biopsy has to have been horrible for you. On the positive side, it proved to you that you are okay and made you a stronger person for it. This diet is nothing compared to what you went through, but in the end it will be your salvation for having succeeded. God bless you and keep coming back.

Linden - you are not a fraud. Water weight fluctuates a lot and can change what we weigh by 3 or 4 pounds. That is why some people choose not to weigh often. You are doing great .

Ditto what you said Rosemary.....Hope your day got better Linden If it helps any, we were cold and rainy here today. The dogs wanted to take an extra long walk for some reason. I'm freezing out there with two coats on, a stiff east wind blowing in my face and the dogs decide it's time to wrestle each other for 15 minutes. I guess it's better than earlier today when I took the new dog (someone dumped on me this summer) to a kennel that has a meet and greet with the owners dog to make sure they will get along alright during their daycare when I board her. I was talking to the owner of the kennel when low and behold, my dog decides it's time to take a pooh inside the place. Lovely. My pride and joy. You know what they say though....it happens.

So back to unfinished business. Yesterday was a false alarm although the baby was due on the 8th. Going on 6:00 here and I've been up for an hour an a half. And other an other hour and a half until dawn so we are definitely not out walking.

Me grumpy yesterday was actually me with a blazing sick-to-the-stomach headache, something I almost never get. Shrimp allergy, I suspect, but I'm with you, Janedoc. Steven's roasted shrimp are heavenly and addictive.

About whey, IowaMom, there's whey and there's whey. Unless you can get a pure whey isolate, I wouldn't spend the money. The only decent product I can get, import or local, is Matrix Syntrax although I do have a German processed whey, that you're supposed to mix with milk!, that tastes like, well, you don't want to know. None is nearly as good as IP for taste, consistency, etc. and I'm afraid to cook with it for fear of "cooking" the protein as the compound doesn't seem as stable as IP. But it taste good as a shake and the amino acids are good.

About the somewhat innate perversity of well-loved little animals. . . . If it isn't too late to introduce "puppy pads. . .? I use the cloth, washable kind
and always take one with me on long train rides, etc. And they are a godsend when you only have 9 hours of daylight. And the wind. You got it. Yours off the plains; mine off the Russian steppes.

Rosemary, I know you're right and I was up a pound this morning, but if I'd slept four more hours it would be a different story. No problem this time around.

So Jane, I got the Omron to "work". Says to dampen your feet if you aren't getting a reading. Sure. And does that screw up the readings or what? For the time being I'm reconciled to it and the computer. Why don't you just get a new one, you all ask. Well, aside from the fact that I can't get one here with English instructions or an American keyboard, the shipping and the 19 percent import tax, no reason except I want to hold off until the next trip back to the states, if I can. Big IF.

And to all you dear Chicklettes, I'm so, so glad you're here. For those of you who recently re-started, I hope it comes back -- like riding a bike. If not, well here are some examples of persevere but this time with a little more maturity and, for me at least, a little more fun. Good morning, when it gets there.

I'm not sure riding a bike is quite the analogy I'd use for restarting, but it's definitely something. I feel like the circumstances are so different this time than last that it's a whole new game in some areas.

Last time I had a stress fracture and couldn't exercise at all... this time, I'm dancing hard at least 3 nights a week.

Last time I was not working and now, I'm working a job that has hours that vary daily so finding a routine for meals/packets has been really tough.

Last time I was very public with what I was doing and this time, it's simply on a need to know basis.

Last time I didn't cheat at all until I phased off and this time I know I have to add food to compensate for my activity so it feels like one giant cheat. For heaven's sake, I used 4 packets yesterday and picked on a pork roast for an hour after dancing and had a handful of dark chocolate m&m's yesterday and I went down a pound over night---which is the best loss I've seen since my oral surgery.

Mind you, I am really not trying to whine. The changes are good, but it makes everything more complicated and new.

Have a great day everyone. I'm going to see if I can figure out my meals for today since I won't be home for lunch or dinner.

Wow!.. everybody seems to be doing so well... to all!!!.. a few missteps here & there, but generally in a victorious direction... I'm so proud of you all & so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful bunch of strong women...

As for me, last week was a semi-disaster, food-wise... off & on protocol on alternating days... my emotions were up & down & I'm gonna blame that for my inability to stick with it... why did I get myself into this long-distance relationship???.. because he's the love of my life & I can't imagine ever living without him in my life again!.. I fell in love with him 40+ years ago & never really stopped loving him... still, it's really hard, not having face-to-face contact & not having any idea of when that'll ever happen...

This week, though, my emotions have smoothed out (in a good way) & I've been able to stay on protocol 100% since Sunday... I think it's unlikely that I might already be in ketosis, but maybe I am since I didn't have any cravings at all yesterday & so far none today... I even went grocery shopping yesterday & wasn't tempted by anything off-protocol... one thing I tried, that I hadn't ever thought of before, before I went into the store, I said to myself, no cheese, no chips, no off-protocol food... maybe that's the key, to make the decision out loud before I have a chance to start thinking otherwise...

hugs

Oh my gosh Linden - Are you are about to have a grandchild? I must have missed that somewhere. What a miracle it is to know that one minute there is a live baby in a mommy's tummy and it will be out and breathing any day. Congratulations! I will be quite embarrassed if it the pup having the baby after gushing all over the place.

MarionM - Things are different for you, that is for sure. Don't make the mistake I did last Spring. I thought my circumstances had changed, therefore, I needed to change the protocol of the "plan". It didn't work for me - probably won't work for you either. I think if you feel you need something extra on dance nights, use another protein - 1/2 before and 1/2 after.

Aunt Sheshie - I have certain things in the store that I have to talk myself out of because I have spent so much time trying to talk myself into them. Different grocery stores for different items. What usually stops thee "psychotic self talk" is to turn the package over and look at the servings and multiply the calories by that. I always walk away. The stuff in the bakery is a little harder because it doesn't have calories listed, but I know it has sugar. I heard on TV tonight that takes weeks to months to reprogram your brain after you begin a healthy eating plan. It takes less than 1 week of eating recklessly to change a well programmed healthy eating mind into the bad one again. And I wonder why I am having ssuch a hard time. It will get better - this I know.

Iowamom I have three dogs and they are my babies. I have two chihuahuas and a 14 year old, 3 pound, shih-tzu. They are my babies. My tiny one uses a throw rug during the day while I am at work. It works great for me - I just change it out and throw it in the wash. Who would have ever thought

I depend and trust all of you - thanks for being here.

Rosemary, I laughed! Enough to wake the pup who gave me The Look. Presumably a sex change is not in his future. And yes, grandson is much anticipated. See note.

Sheshie, I see a change in your future. A long trip to a warmer clime. A tall dark stranger. . . . Nah, forget that bit. But are you wedded to the high plains forever? I know, I know. Families. But still. And, moreover, it's absolutely none of my business. But still.

Iowa, remember Bevs? In several of her posts she says she uses NOW flavorless whey protein isolate and either adds her own flavors or adds it to other stuff. I'd go by anything she recommends.

Ruby, I sure hope things have taken a less stressful turn. And Pat, I miss your humor. Come share some here?



(Note: Last night after we passed, or almost passed our door for the third time the pup took a stand. No more passing Go. If we're home, we're home. And I realized I'd been circling the block to make sure a taxi didn't pull up while I wasn't there. )

Tati, I've thought a lot about your question. In fact, I suggested something similar in another thread -- to invite back some maintainers for a reunion and for their thoughts on continuing maintainance. But I'm ambivalent about that, too. I do know that some of the people I'd like to ask back have very good reasons for leaving without necessarily reaching a stated goal. Some were satisfied with where the were; wanted to exercise; had some horrendous, and one felicitous, family situations; were disaffected with the site or their treatment. Lots of good reasons. So. . . . I don't know. Sorry.

Excellent suggestion, Rosemary... I have to confess to not reading labels religiously... the two foods I mentioned above, chips & cheese, seem to be the things I miss the most & are the ones that scream the loudest as soon as I enter the store... another contender in the screaming contest is cashews... some health "experts" suggest eating a handful a day because they're a good source of protein... whatever a handful is... trouble is, I can never stop with that amount & before I know it, I've eaten the whole can... I DID read that label & was SHOCKED!!!.. one ounce is about 165 calories, so that makes an 8-oz. can 1320 calories... EEK!!!.. & about 70% of those calories are from fat... that put the fear of God in me, so I don't have to remind myself anymore not to eat those...

I heard that too, about how long it takes to reprogram our brains... I think it was a guest doctor on "Biggest Loser".. uh-oh, did I just confess to watching that?!!!..

Linden, you are too cute!!!.. you got only two things wrong, he's not dark & he's not a stranger... what hair he has left is white, but it was blond before he got old... as for being wedded to the high plains, I suppose not... yeah, sure, my parents are here, but my son & his family are in Alabama... I'm torn, in that way... & as for this being or not being your biz, I appreciate your input... in fact, I was hoping for it... thanks for giving me a much-needed lift... I, too, see a change in my future, but it's not just around the corner... I'm learning to be patient...

Congrats on the soon-expected grandson!.. being a grandmommy is the BEST... do you have other grandchildren, or is he your first?..

I remember BevS & agree with you wholeheartedly about trusting anything she recommends... next time I need whey isolate, I think I'll try the NOW unflavored... right now I have some Cytosport Whey Isolate, sugar-free, lactose-free, 0% fat, 25 g. protein, blue raspberry flavor... 18 amino acids... it's made by the makers of Muscle Milk... it's okay, but I'm pretty tired of the flavor, not much I can do to jazz it up... btw, no, I don't work for the company!.. I ordered it from amazon.com...

Day 5 for me, being 100% on protocol... it's surprisingly easy this time, so far... I've chosen to stay off the scales for a while, just measuring my body fat with that might-be-somewhat-reliable Omron Fat Loss Monitor... in the past 5 days, it's dropped about 1.5 percentage points... I'm happy with that... I've set a goal of being back down to my lowest BF% (seen in August) by Thanksgiving... I'm also watching with almost-obsessed interest the state of my double chin & jowls, which seemed to reappear overnight about 2 weeks ago...

Have a TERRIFIC Thursday, y'all...

hugs

Today is my 2nd day back OP. I've been doing another program from the last month and still lost 9lbs. So I happy and ready to give IP all i've got for the next 2 months! I'm doing Phase 2 as it's easier on the wallet and I was averaging -2-3 lbs a week before the summer.

It's like I never missed a beat! last night I made a wonderful Salmon and Stirfry dinner, leftovers today for lunch, and All I can think about is going home to make another great, filling dinner!

Congrats to everyone on their own success!

Well shoot, Sheshie. Alabama? That right around the corner. I had to travel 12 time zones to live close to my son. And yes, I did feel awfully, wrenchingly bad about leaving an 100-year old father behind. But he was 5,000 miles away in Hawai'i and 5,000 miles away in Berlin, and I could get to him much faster from Berlin. AND FIVE DAYS, that's just wonderful. You're over the hump.

Yes, I do have a 3-year old granddaughter. Amazing child, she said modestly, having never met a 3-year old who wasn't. But she's special to me.

And talk about EEEK! I remember, around August-September last year, I think, a big discussion about Muscle Milk and some other products containing something like cyanide. Google maybe? Probably not an issue now, I hope. And your BLANK and BLANK reminded me that I decided today what I'd have for my very first treat day breakfast. Oh sugar, I can't figure out how to blunk it out. Ok guys, turn you heads away. A grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. At least I'm putting my carbs and fats into breakfast rather than dinner.

And JC, if you're still with me despite the frivolity, welcome back! You're probably going to put us all to shame. Go to it.

Back again. Just remembered I had an NSV of sorts today. If this is too much information, sorry. I realized I was clipping my pedometer to my underwear to hold up my skirt. Or, perhaps, maybe more precisely, so it wouldn't sag over my knees while my hips and other extrusions held up the rest of it. Now that I think about it, it's a pretty humble NSV. Feeling a bit like Eeyore.

I went shopping to purchase a couple of sweaters since last year when I reached this point, I wasn't working and I didn't have to dress up as much. I got a couple of really cute ones though. One of them is long and has a couple of buckles in the front which give me a waist. I was thinking that in the past I would never add a bulky sweater over my fat butt, but I was okay with it today.