All telltale crumbs are gone, Kaylets, so hop back on with those of us barely clinging and off we go. Had a good day at about 1530 which included one tiny pb cup (thank goodness they make them so small these days). I've been living with candy, pb oatmeal cookies and nut roll in the house and have been pleased with my resistance. it's that ice cream I'm bad about. (and with pb sauce I'd be totally lost, Arabella). I've been getting more sleep/rest (except over the weekend) and I find that's helping too.

Anyway, doctor this afternoon so I'll probably find out what real damage is

And considering the mono, just not gaining a lot will be a victory. Speaking of, I tried on a booful blue silk blouse from my past and found it fits well enough to wear. Huzzah! Like found money! A 'new' blouse.

Kaylets - report on trip to York and seeing/hearing nephew, please, and how was Boston? Seewhat we miss when you're away?

Oh, and QOD - All's a miracle, of course. Queenly course.

Dr. visit showed only one pound down in 3 months
but at least DOWN. Might have done better if I hadn't just been out to breakfast w/friends. All else going ok. Bloodwork tomorrow.

Had another nice walk today - I think that's five days in a row now. But weather to take a turn...........ah, I can take a little cold.

I note this is Post 500 in this thread - time for another?

Arabella!!!! Such wonderful news-such a nice raise. Yes - a pedicure/manicure, yes, another facial - and yes, YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!!!! Such good news must be helpful as you and DH face these difficult times.

Oh yes, today's scale is down 1 and a half lbs from yesterday's weigh in before brekkies. I've been at this poundage a couple of times recently but it always jumps around so and manages to be high for an "official" weigh in. Dr. NEVER mentions weight which I've thought of as good but when I go see someone else it's such a shock to be called obese or whatever. He's currently pudgy again himself - he's up and down too.

I occasionally go on a salt binge too, ceara, even though it's years since I salted anything in kitchen. If my head is working,I avoid it but occasionally like a pretzel snack. Boy do I pay for it on the scale for a few days.

Yes, I guess it is time to face the festive season and find ways to deal in a healthy manner. I'm going to watch Oprah this afternoon to see what her latest guru has to say on subject.

All the lies seemed to be having cloudy skies in some way for a while. Mayhap Wood Nymph's loverly success will bode a turn of events for all - and if not, I am most happy to just share in her good news.

'Tis a new month, after all, and that's always a good excuse for a FRESH START.

Hi all...quick postie on my way to the gym. I've been on a roll this week, have exercised every day, plus this is the last day of my detox/cleanse thing. WI tonight should bring good things. I am CRAVING a salad! And an orange! Hopefully, I've "re-booted" the system just in time for the fast-approaching holiday season. My mom, sis and I were discussing the Thanksgiving menu the other day. We'll gather at Mom's house, she'll make the basics: turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, cheesy broccoli and cauliflower. I've been assigned stuffed mushrooms ( ), fresh cranberry-orange relish, rolls, some kind of dessert, wine of choice. I can modify all of them (except the wine ) to make them healthier in some way. My dh is working nights that day so, at some point soon, we'll have our own little turkey day, just the four of us. That one, I can be in total command of! So, TWO Thanksgivings for me!

I am planning ahead for the holidays this year. Have revved up my exercise this past week, and plan on keeping up a serious pace. Daily cardio, strength training 3x/week, yoga when I can. Continue to count points. Stay focused. I do not want to undo what good I have done (23 lbs off at last check, but I'm waiting for official number after tonight's WI.) I'm shooting for at least 10 more lbs off by Christmas. What a wonderful gift to give myself!

Arabella, Sounds like you are being well rewarded for all your hard work! You surely deserve all that pampering! Congrats on the raise! NICE!

anagram...Congrats on your loss too! We are bunch of losers this week, arent we?

ceara...Yes, "shopping" for new clothes in the closet is a wonderful reward for our efforts. I'm holding off for a bit, waiting to get closer to Christmas, I have my eye on a few items that were "NO WAY" last year.

That's it for now....I'm heading off to the gym for "Cardio Mix." Never took this class before, gonna give it a shot. So, that's what's happeing!

Have a great day all!

Katrinabgood, I was going to ask if you could use frozen cranberries for the fresh cranberry-orange relish but decided that was too stupid to even ask. Guessing you need fresh? I'd love the recipe

Hello all!

Well, how nice to sit and chat....
Anyone for a cup of tea?
Tonight we have orange spice decaf.....

Well.... yes, lets think of a theme... especially since the upcoming Food Feast Days are upon us....

Hmmmm


As for the play in York... the theatre is part of the Penn State facilities there in York, so its not enormous but not tiny either. Very nice. The play was amazing! We knew Nephew was playing Sancho in Man of LaMancha but we didnt realize that's the 3rd lead. AND HE WAS GOOD. Really, really good.
We had a late supper w. him afterwards. We'd have stayed longer but the hour was late and we needed to be in work albeit late the next day.
We got home about 2:30 am and it was hard for me to keep my eyes open.Not sure how DH did it.
As for the play, I have very high standards and was truly impressed. The lighting, set, staging,etc all very professional, very clever, very discreet....
Really had your attention and kept you believing.....
Outstanding.
And what was so ironic to me was the this is Nephew's dream to be an actor even though he's met resistance.... family, etc. And his first "real" experience is in Man of LaMancha, who's theme is "if you see things in their best light, they become that way".....
Very very thought provoking.



Boston, too a couple of weeks earlier was a delight too. Weather was perfect, flight nearly so. New England always makes me homesick but Boston is differnent enough that it kept me interested in what there was to see. D Brotherinlaw made us brunch and we toured a little of the area. We did go to the Kennedy Library which made me very emotional. The site itself has a breathtaking view of the ocean which too, reminded me of the JFK's love of sailing. We also toured around the Harvard area, ate in a cheap but good tasting Mexican place called Boca Grande and then it was time to come home.

Planning for the holidays makes good sense. Food and Acitivty wise I mean.

I pledge tonight to start the stairs. I still am struggling with sugar.... I will continue to struggle....

OK.....

Perhaps a theme to get us beyond the food days and into the New Year?

What do the Royals think?


Tea anyone?

So sorry our wsw is unwell - cheerful thoughts fly down south. How's the soup? I made a minestrone last week that I ate for days, so good. Kaylets, thanks for the trip reports. I love to travel vicariously! Love walking the harbour vicarioiusly too. Esp in the moonlight. Sigh....

I did watch the Oprah show and agree Dr. Oz' advice is being pretty much a way of life for you, Arabella. You can save the price of his book! What interested me was when he showed the omentum - yikes! And then the info on the leptin and the grelin. I'm going to try the Sweetnlow in water thing too but I think I know the answer already (love sweets). Had read things re the first three but visuals helped a lot (though the o. is certainly gross). His fiber bits were good too though also gross - we are certainly gross critters, I guess, if you look past our pretty faces. I have started adding cinnamon to my oatmeal since the program. I had read about its benefits before and added it to a few things but then forgot about it. But putting it in oatmeal is certainly easy enough. Interesting enough show but not as "big diet secret" as I expected. Maybe you Royals have taught me too much already.

Got bloodwork back. All healthy EXCEPT weight and LDL. Brought LDL down but not enough and total cholesterol only down 2 points. HDL fine at 55 and trig. good at 83 so I don't think it's "food" - must be I need more exercise. BP was 118/70. BIGGEST (no pun intended) offender is weight - still hovering around 206 at drs, 203 at home. So close, so far. Still holding at -45 pounds for the journey but no real loss in ages.

Theme - don't know - just something revolving around fitness, festivies and FUN through the holidays.

Have a fabulous weekend, s!

Hi simulposter Ceara!