Beverly, sounds like you really do have a lot of things coming up, but it also sounds like you're going to have a wonderful time surrounded by love ones. Which, hopefully won't be too stressful! Enjoy the holidays, they only come around once a year!

I got in an hour and 15 min. of exercise tonight, but that is about all that is working for me right now. Food has not been horrible, but it's not been on plan either. I did this swing workout on exercise DVD and LOVED it so much, it was so so fun! I can't wait to do it again. My mom used to swing and was very very good, and now I see why....so fun!

Tomorrow we go to hubby's aunt's house to exchange gifts, then Monday is to grandma's house, and Christmas day is to hubby's mom's house. There will be food every day and I am not feeling strong lately. I just feel I had an awesome week last week, then got busy this week and am barely maintaining and I just feel I can't focus on myself right now When I get stressed I eat, and it's so hard to break that...though I have been avoiding sugar and am aware that I'm eating out of stress and stop it short of an all out binge.

Oh, and then we have my son's 4th birthday party day after Christmas, too. I can't wait for the new year so I can relax again!

My fiance's mom came home with a bunch of little treats that she has been given... it's especially bad for her because she is diabetic. I admit I did sample some of the sweets, but that's probably just because I've felt pretty much miserable all day (TOM is here). I'm pretty sleepy now so it's night night time for me.

Today all the fun (and choas) begins. I won't be able to post much. The goodies are starting to fly in the door from all our wonderful neighbors. I definately over ate on sugar yesterday. However, it made my tummy feel not so good.

for today:

stretches
ice and heat
write down my food
meditate

breakfast - cherrios, 1/2 banana, milk
lunch - cottage cheese, pnb toast
3:00 - the party - clementine, a few shrimp, veggies and light dip, one cookie
later - ham sandwich, veggies
bedtime - oatmeal, flax

I hope you all have a great time in the next few days - full of good times and wonderful memories.

Beverly

Good Morning! Yesterday I was able to get all of my wrapping done! Yea! I have two errands to run today, but if I don't do them, it's not a big deal either.

Food was ok yesterday. My mom was here making cookies w/ my neice and nephew (their oven is broken and the parts haven't come in yet). She was going to leave a big plate of them here and I politely asked her to please only leave a few for hubby. (If he came home and smelled gingerbread he wold have been disappointed that there were any to sample!). So, I kept 5 cookies. That's it. I ate one and left the other 4 for hubby. She knows I have been trying to lose weight again and has been really supportive.

She has also given me lots of clothes--she has been losing weight and is already a couple sizes smaller than me, so it works out great. She's a lot taller than me, so all I have had to buy lately are pants.

She and my sister keep saying 'after the holdays we'll start our diets', which I disagree with. (Some of you may remember...my sister was going to do Nutrisystems...well, I guess she lasted something like 3 days. She couldn't stick to the food plan). I have tried to encourage my sister to learn about eating healthier day to day, rather than looking at it as a restrictive diet. I also suggested starting now, rather than waiting. I mean, I may not be 'perfect' through the holidays, but I am certainly not going to binge my way through them....that's just extra weight to lose after the first of the year! I am also really concerned about her health (she has really gained a lot of weight and is starting to have some health problems as a result). I know that she has to want to do it and I want to support her, but it is so hard. My mom on the other hand, looks fantastic! I am sure it is hard for my sis too because people will compliment my mom and I and while no one says anything to her about her weight, I know she is thinking that everyone notices that she is the heaviest she has ever been. The good news is, she has a husband who supports her, she has workout equipment in her house....so she has many of the tools she needs when she is ready to use them!

Wow, that turned into a long ramble!!!

Sara--Good for you! carrots and ranch dressing sound good to me too!

Purplefirefly--great job getting in some exercise!!! You can do this!!!!

Beverlyjoy--Soundslike it is going to be super busy at your house, but super fun too! My family can drive me batty sometimes, but it isn't the same when they aren't around for the holidays! I absolutely agree....progress is what we aim for! Last year I think I sat as close to the food as I could have--this year I was as far away as possible and did much better. I am shooting for maintaining, but even if I go up a bit I am not going to go crazy about it!

Rakel--Ok, so you sampled some treats, not a big deal. How are things going?

I didn't get any exercise in yesterday because my knee was really acting up. This morning it still hurts really bad. I am going to take some ibuprofen and see if that will help settle it down enough, if not, I'll have to pass on the exercise today too. Just finishing up some laundry and possibly running some errands today. Going to try to relax a bit because the next couple of days are going to be hectic!!! Monday I have to work at least part of the day---we usually get sent home early (but paid for a whole day), Monday night we go to my grandparents which we have done since I was a baby. Tuesday morning we are going to my brother and sil's for breakfast then home to open presents with hubby that back to brother and sil's for dinner later on.

Have a great day!

I totaled up my calories for the day and came in just around 1500, despite all of my sugar sampling... I really didn't eat much besides that, a strawberry smoothie, a tuna sandwich and serving of terra chips and 2 tacos. Though to be honest I never really felt hungry at all, I forced myself to eat just because I hadn't really eaten anything and I knew I should. I'm thinking as I lose weight my periods seem to get worse. I always had a really light period without any cramps or anything (even when I was younger and not as heavy), so maybe this is normal and I am just not used to it, lol.

Today there's a dinner after the evening service at church. I'm trying to think of a healthy snack or side dish I can bring. I would make a salad, but the pastors wife always makes one, and I would bring some deviled eggs, but this lady at church always brings hers. HMMM... I might not bring anything though, especially if I have to go to the store and get anything.

Today was hubby's aunts house and I was very happy to see she decided to grill out hot dogs and hamburgers rather than the full out meal we usualy do. I had one burger on whole grain bun with just mustard and ketchup, then one very tiny little carrot cake cupcake (mini size) which I was told was made with Splenda, then his aunt remembered she had run out and used sugar it hasn't given me any cravings as of yet, and I'll just keep on going since it's already done now. Hubby had one too, and his sugar is a bit high tonight.

I'm going to get some exercise in here tonight, then tomorrow it's off to grandma's house, and she will be cooking a full Christmas meal and a counter full of desserts...but, since hubby is diabetic now she made a couple sugar free things, so I am thankful for that.

Going to exercise, then take a long hot bath, the CRASH!!!

Well, of course I ended up making fudge, I only had a couple small pieces (2) and most of it went at the church gathering. For the remainder, I'm going to separate about four pieces or so to give to my fiance's nephew for Christmas (I'm going to make a little goodies basket for him, he's 5, so I'll also throw in a few small toys like matchbox cars and probably some peppermints) and the rest is going with me tomorrow to my fiance's brothers house where hopefully it will be gobbled up.

I make REALLY good fudge, it's always a hit when I bring it to gatherings and parties and such. Usually there is never much left, so I'm hoping it does it's infamous disappearing act, if not then I'll just start handing it out as gifts, maybe bring some to the interview I'm going on Wednesday for a little treat, actually, that's not a half bad idea!

As for food today, eh, it's alright. At church we mostly just had some deviled eggs, sandwiches, cold cuts and cheese, crackers, a veggie tray, etc, so nothing terribly unhealthy. I stayed away from a lot of the cheese and pepperoni/salami's. I just took small portions of things (most of my plate was from the veggie tray) and I'll probably be done eating for the night. Earlier I had 2 tacos. I guess if I eat again, maybe I'll have one of the free oranges we received from somebody's orange tree.