Alison, I often wondered if something was a hot flash until I really got a hot flash. Then I knew. Like Pat said, you'll want to rip off all your clothes. My first one happened at church in the company of about five retired women who were quite understanding when I started undressing, fanning myself and standing in the open door during the middle of winter. So it sounds like you're probably getting whatever is going around that so many people here have. Start taking that zinc and vitamin C!

Our weekend trip with our DGD to see the lights at the Botanical Garden is off--poor kid caught a cold or something. My son is taking her to the doctor so hopefully she'll feel better soon. I'm bummed, but the lights are on through December so hopefully she'll be feeling better then.

Meg, from what I've seen on CNBC, a lot of AT's are shutting down--"underperforming stores" is the term, I believe. So it's probably good that you didn't get the gift certificate.

Have a good weekend, everyone! It's been sunny here, but cold (highs in the upper 30s). Hopefully I won't get banned from living in western Oregon again if I say that I'm enjoying the winter sunshine here.

Oh Sheila, it really is a toss-up isn't it? I didn't mind winters in Seattle, but I'll have to say the winter sunshine here is wonderful (esp from indoors!). What I don't like is dealing with the extreme cold, snow and ice. Something I really appreciate about the Pac NW is that you can go and do something outdoors most days. Sure it might be overcast, or even raining, but the icy stomy days are so much less. And we're not even going into the darkness issue..... 17 days til it starts getting lighter.

. . . has it's up side. I almost never, ever get sick. No contact with surfaces/people with germs I guess. And I've probably developed immunities to the dog germs (which I'm covered with all the time) so no kennel cough for me

Hope everyone who is coming down with/sick with something flu or cold-like feels better promptly.

Allison I never had hot flashes when I went through menopause. They're quite spectacular. My hairdresser is withdrawing from HRT and is now experiencing them. She turned bright red and sweat poured (and I mean poured) down her face last time she was trimming my wisps.

I had goosebumps during menopause instead. Suddenly my entire body would be covered with them, even in August during 30 degree C + weather in blazing sunlight. Very strange!

I weighed-in yesterday and today and got 131.8 both times. DH is "celebrating" writing his exam today by consuming wine (among other things) tonite. I'm gonna pass. I am going to see the 120's by Dec. 24th.

Have a great weekend all! Try to enjoy the Christmas stuff

Dagmar

Good Saturday everyone! I'm up early to do about a million things today. What else is new. I've seen dd off to Chicago, need to take ds to a basketball game and get my Girl Scout troop to a musical at 2pm. Not sure what I"ll do this evening.

Still hoping you're all feeling better soon. No hot flashes yet but you guys are making them sound so fun

I updated my ticker which is a good thing. It's probably water or an indication of just how much I was eating for the last three months.

Have a great Saturday everyone.

. . . has become a war zone!

I wandered around, trying to buy my regular groceries, and there were big piles of "Christmas" treats blocking all sorts of areas and choking off traffic flow at the ends of the aisles.

I started looking at all of this stuff and the lights came on in my brain. Another diet "aha" moment.

I really didn't want most of this stuff. It was all either super sweet, salty, and fatty, or a combination of all three. And most of it would taste as artificial as the ingredients in it .

And now I know I'm really determined to break into the 120's by Christmas. Last weekend I caved and bought the damn chocolate toffee salt things. This weekend they look gross. As do all the other things being marketed with them.

Weird how, when you're really ready, the changes just come. BANG!

Dagmar

Yay, Dagmar! What an awesome revelation! And you're so, so right. Most of the crap doesn't taste good and leaves you feeling gross. You're going to make it to the 120s, I just know it!!

DH and I went out to dinner at a really good vegetarian Indian resto last night to celebrate his finishing the second exam in his course.

He continued "celebrating" afterwards at home with wine, cookies, chocolate, muffins, and more wine. He's gonna lose a whole day today just lying around and feeling horrible. He kept pushing all this stuff at me so I accepted 4 cookies and then pulled out my fruit salad.

I was gonna take him on a hike today along a beautiful part of the lake shore that most people don't know about. But getting there involves scrambling down a hill and over a bunch of big boulders on very uneven, now snow-covered footing. He's in no shape today to do that.

I hope he eventually figures out that making yourself physically totally ill with food and alcohol is not a celebration. I remember being where he is. I lost a lot of Sundays.

No more. Off to do my weights!

Have a great day all!

Dagmar

Hi everyone. I am really sick today. Ugh. I think maybe the run yesterday pushed me over the edge.
Today is going to be a day of soft foods (very sore throat), hot tea, blanket, computer, and football.
I ate horribly yesterday, on top of that. But at least I ran LOL!
No exercise today, which is really hard for me.

I had such a stressful and bad day yesterday and it will be a challenge eating wise and exercise wise today-- I can just tell. I got almost no sleep and am exhausted. Many things happened yesterday but the day was topped off with dh's failed travels. This was after I tried to take my final for my class I am taking for my masters. The final was online and after I finished and submitted it, there was a technical problem. I am waiting to see if it went or if I have to start over...

Dh "tried" to fly from San Francisco to Singapore yesterday. He was at the airport all day and was finally flown to LA to catch another plane as his plane went elsewhere. Once he got to LA, he was told he couldn't take the flight they told him to take in SFO and he had to fly back to SFO late last night! He had me try to come and pick him up at 1 am from the train station. I left at 12:30 and realized it was extremely foggy out (I don't like to drive at night on the freeways period, and certainly not when it is foggy). I tried to take the back roads but I couldn't see ANYTHING as there was no light. I got onto the freeway which was slightly better because there was minimal lighting but it was the worst driving I've ever seen. I was shaking and almost crying by the time I reached the train station. I called dh and told him we needed to stay at a hotel 1/2 a mile from the train station and that it was too dangerous to drive. He disagreed with me (ok-- we had a fight). I didn't feel it was worth the risk to possibly get in an accident and leave our girls without parents-- he felt I was over-reacting and exaggerating. So, he drove the 15 miles home and we went to bed (not speaking). He left this morning and is driving himself to the airport (in the fog again-- but no train). Hopefully he makes it. I probably need to go back to sleep as I feel like a truck ran over me. All of my muscles are sore from being so tense.

I did decide to start journaling my foods again. I haven't done it in months and I think I may be overeating a tad. My weight is okay-- but I would prefer it down a pound or two. Since we are rolling out the new WW program this next week (and I am now working for them), I want to use the new journal and make sure I am living (and understanding) the new plan. I feel hopeful that it will be helpful as I always do better when I journal.

I hope everyone has a good Sunday.
Off to nap now....