Marion, you seem to have found a fantastic balance between the right amount of food and exercise. You are inspiring!

Thanks Pat. I've kind of looked at this a a giant science experiment--when I have my head in the right place anyway. It helps that it's in my line of studies.

I, too, am concerned about a host of things, like liver, kidneys, the affect/s of the Program as one ages, and on. Mine is not a scientific background so sometimes I struggle trying to distinguish between what can seem like polar opinions about ketosis and low carbohydrates. Here are two articles that I find, first, understandable, and also non-contradictory and based on what sounds like good science. I sure hope so. But I still keep stressing to myself and others the vital importance of getting enough water. To that I add vitamin C and the best equivalents of the IP supplements, including enzymes, I can find. And I've started taking krill oil instead of other fish-based Omega 3s. They are supposed to be the most effective with fibromyalgia. After 2 or more months, I agree -- whether it's a placebo effect or not.

As side note, I think it's kind of sweet to continue to think of oneself as a bride. And even further aside, I kind of think I remember reading that there is a huge Walmart-with-a-British name outside of Manchester. Other than that, my only association is 19th century literature and driving a ring road around it.

I think the questions and answers after the first article are helpful, too. Sure hope this helps. Please feel free to share your research, too, OK?

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/k...m-and-ketosis/

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/k...ans-our-cells/

Here is a little email that I sent to my sister-in-law who is struggling to stay on plan! Thought it might help someone today:

*Remember that "IT'S JUST FOOD!" All we need it for is to stay alive and we only need a little to keep us sustained until our next meal.

*Set a mini goal. "I want to lose 10 lbs by Christmas." That is totally attainable.

*Don't let family and friends sabotage you. Let them know your "on plan" and cannot have certain things!

*Get the right food in your house and if you aren't strong enough to have bad food in your house then get rid of it.

*Change your attitude. Don't feel sad and sorry for yourself when you see other people indulging in your favorite foods. You have a goal in mind that is much more important than a few minutes of pleasure that will just consume you later with guilt.

*If you cheat, (which you shouldn't) don't let that be a free ticket to eat whatever you want for the next 5 days. Break that cycle!!

HAVE A GREAT ON PLAN DAY!!

Thank you for those links Linden, they do clear up my confusion.
Pat

I had a take out place that the recipe for cashew chicken (w/o cashews) worked with IP so last night, I had my daughter stop and pick it up for me. After taking a few bites, I realized they had totally changed the recipe by breading the meat and adding a ton of sugar! I was not happy and yet I was not smart enough to stop eating it because I knew I was leaving for dance soon and had to eat 'something'! The scale is not awful today, but it's not down like it should have been. I didn't check to see if I'm still in ketosis or not. Oh well, live and learn... make your own food you lazy bum! (points finger at self )

I've been having myself a little pitty party. While what I need is a swift kick in the fanny. I keep setting myself up for failure. Five days on program and then wham.....I cheat. I really need to figure out that it's all in now, or I'll never reach my goal. My poor body is wondering just what the heck I am doing to it. I'm down 2.5 in two weeks. Not too proud of that. But what do I expect if I don't follow plan 100%?

Last night right before bed, I get a text from my son saying he is thinking of changing his degree in college(again). He's already graduated in political science and changed his mind on attending law school since the job market for attorneys is not very good. Not much else you can do with that degree. Then it was pharmacy, almost ready to sign up for classes and now he's rethinking.......man, I can't take this much more. No wonder I was up half the night. Another son is on his 4th year of college and no end in sight. Oldest is an attorney and no jobs are out there. She's even licensed in three states. Pro bono doesn't pay the bills. Can you tell I'm a little down today. Sorry to dump my problems on everyone. I feel like going outside and yelling just to be yelling. But I won't. I think I'll do some cleaning in the house and maybe some yard work to keep myself busy. I keep telling myself to refocus. Things could be worse.

Honestly, you two. Marion, I'd consider Iowa's swift kick if (1) you'd had anything else to eat; or, (2) if I weren't laughing my head off at your calling yourself lazy.

And Iowa, I don't think many people here are into kicking a puppy when she's down. And WHY do the calls or e-mails always come right before bed, no matter what time zone you're in? I'm really sorry. Life decisions X 3-at-once stinks. s to both of you.

It's a new day and a new view on things. I spent the day yesterday keeping busy by cleaning up the fall leaves, cleaning out the garage, and putting patio furntiure away for winter. Took the dogs for a walk and a drive. Just to keep myself from eating anything extra. I realized some things are out of my control and the only thing I can control is myself. Time to pull up my big girl pants.

I got out my grandmother's recipe card box searching for a recipe for Thanksgiving. She's been gone since 1975. She always took care of us when she was alive and watched over us. Looking through the hand written recipes brought back lots of memories. I then put up the Christmas tree even though it is very early. While putting the lights on the tree, my daughter called with some great news. She was called for an attorney's position at a firm in Chicago. It's not a sure thing yet but the employer thought she would make a good fit with the firm and she is going there to meet with them. Somehow I can't help but think my grandmother was watching over me and my family. Years ago close to Christmas, I couldn't find the Christmas spirit. In the mail one day, I received an envelope in the mail from a distant cousin that I hadn't seen for over 25 years. In it was a picture of my grandmother and her sister smiling. I sat there and cried tears of joy. With that picture, I found the Christmas spirit. Yesterday it happened again with me going through her recipes and the phone call from my daughter. Sometimes you have to look outside the box to get a better view.

Today is a better day, and tomorrow will be even better. Sometimes we need a little help from our friends and family. I am so glad I have all of you as my friends.

Take care my friends.

Iowamom - Grief is a very different experience for everyone. Your grief is real and please celebrate the fact that you can feel it. It is when we tuck it away and bury it without recognition that we suffer emotionally. That is when we hurt ourselves over past experiences and lost loves. For people like us it is through food and similar soothing types of responses. I want to tell you that you had a grand response by raking leaves and cleaning the garage. Keep on feeling and keep on moving forward. You are a marvelous person.

Linden - I really enjoyed the two Links that you gave us. I needed a fresh look at "how this works and do I still want to do it". It is like I always say - "a way of life" for some of us. A man that wrote the article has been doing it for 30 years. I liked the fact that he mentioned 60 grams of carbs will still keep us in Ketosis. I know that a lot of people eat 20-30 grams, but I have always been in the 40's, thinking I was doing something wrong.

Thanks - for sharing your research!!!!!!

Yes, Linden, I could have used a swift kick in the butt! Food preparation is one of the places I have been lazy through the years---it was always easier to just pull into a drive through, so I know I need to be really careful about that sort of thing. I'm pretty disciplined about taking lunches to work now, it's just that by the time I get home or if I'm teaching into the evening, dinners can be a challenge. (I did take my dinner yesterday.) I take consolation in that we danced pretty hard that evening and I feel like I'm back on track.

I have a potential obstacle this afternoon with a staff and volunteer lunch at a Bohemi restaurant, but as I understand it, they have salads. My concern at going out to places is normally not being able to get enough protein in a salad, but I'll supplement afterwards if I need to.

Thanks you for sharing Iowa. I love reflecting on memories and it's always wonderful that even though someone has died, they continue to touch our lives. When I work with families to plan the funerals for their loved ones, one of the things I do is gather information about the person to help Father prepare his homily. He likes them to be personal and while he may know a person, it's only been for the few years he's been at the church and there is often so much more to their lives. So many times, they will be describing the person who has died and then, as I listen to the interactions around the room, I can see that person in those people. Coming from the perspective on usually not knowing the family or the person that died, pointing that out to them can be consolation because they can see that person will live on--even in death. Your grandma lives on in you, Iowa.

I'm kind of in awe of how well you dealt with with everything yesterday,Iowamom. I really mean that. And I couldn't be happier for you and your daughter. I sure hope everything works out. I actually went searching in the Chronicle of Higher Education and similar HE job lists -- because it's all I know and because university council positions often don't get advertised outside the community, but didn't come up with anything. And ironically, I've been thinking about my grandmother this week, too. The only one I knew and she died when I was seven, but she's still dearly loved. I remeber a story my mother used to tell about her inviting scads of people for Thanksgiving and forgetting to light the oven. Apparently no one was too disappointed, though, since she hadn't thawed the turkey when she brought it in from where she'd stored it on the back porch. Like I said, she was much loved, but not because she was a cook.

Marion, I hope the luncheon went well; or maybe it's still going on. And I'm also hoping that your ankle is doing a little better? Have you seen the doctor yet?

Dr. Eades was the person who clued me into krill oil. Rosemary, but I didn't make the connection until I went looking for the article for Pat. I really appreciate his willingness to share what he knows. And his experience.

Lunch was good, but you should probably just get out the boot. I'm an adult and I knew my choices, so I'm not going to sweat it.

Seriously though, I think I kind of knew where I was at restarting and that I wasn't going to be as uptight as I was the first time around. I'll see how that does getting me through Christmas and if I'm not making enough progress, I'll get really uptight again and do it.

But Marion, you are losing. Think about the wedding. Even if you only lost 5 pounds a month; well, you'd be there.