Good morning everyone. The sun is just barely up and it's past 8 already.

Ubee -- Thanks for the will power dust although I did just get finished with the dusting part of the cleaning routine. That must be why I'm having so much trouble -- the will power dust keeps landing on the furniture instead of me!

Porthardygurl -- Welcome! Sounds like even with your regain (a phenomenon with which I am intimately acquainted) that you're doing great on your efforts. It's hard to maintain when life is just coasting along. Throw in some major roadblocks and it can really throw us all for a loop.

Sam -- I just love your photo! I kept thinking that the one when you started 2 years ago shows a very unhappy young woman while the current one shows a happy, smiling engaged and beautiful young woman. It may have just been when you clicked, but when we feel better physically I think we feel better about ourselves emotionally. The people for whom you house sat sound like they've got a screw loose. I don't know what the rates are there, but out here pet sitters charge $30 PER VISIT ($60/day if you walk a pet 2X a day) and $100/day if you want them to stay at your house. The house visits include getting the mail and watering plants, making sure everything is ok, but it would add up for a 10 day vacation. Not to mention that during that time you had to run over to your house to take care of your animals. Sounds like there may be a little dementia there if they have food that out of date!

Terra -- Sounds like a good idea to do the home workouts in addition to your Music and Movement classes. It's hard to do, but definitely pays off.

Fi -- Standing up for 2-3 minutes is great. That's a great improvement over where you were just recently with not even being able to get upstairs. How are you doing with having sweet potato instead of the Muesli? Lots of different ways to fix them, but that's a big taste difference.

Today is floor day -- vacuuming and washing the floors so UGH. I'm also going to start the cooking for the birthday parties tomorrow. I try to make one dish that is a favorite for each family member. Sometimes that results in some odd meals! Cold seems a little better this morning. It will probably run its course by the beginning of the week. Hope everyone has a great day.

Good Morning Everyone! Turning out to be an ok day.. I live out here in Port Hardy BC, Canada..Think North Coast. We live in an almost constant state of rain although today it looks like it will be dry and sunny! Yay! Means i get to take my Labrador puppy out for a walk. Besides the walk..i have to go to the dreaded lab for more blood work. Ever since my gallbladder removal last year, i have had really bad pain in my side anytime i eat somthing with fat in it..doesnt matter how much fat it seems... So i finally went to my Dr after last days attack was bad enough to almost put me back in the ER. Now he thinks i should do blood work. If that wernt enough..ive been having issued with irregular heartbeat...my heart seems to go "thump thump thump skip a beat thump" Every time it does that, its like lose my breath and my chest hurts really bad..so being the good paramedic i am...i decided to get it checked out...now i have to do this test where i wear a portable ECG monitor for 24 hours. Problem is...this irregular beating is so random and not every day..so i dont think they will catch it.

I had another good drop on the scale today..yesterday was 233.0 and today is 232.2..like woah��!! I think my body really really likes the no gluten and wheat plus under 20 net carbs.. Oh by the way..made an aweome sugar free low carb vanilla ice cream the other night without an ice cream maker and it turned out awesome and only 2 net carbs per serving! Yeehaw! My birthday is coming up in Feb and i already found a recipe for a low carb sugar free gluten free chocolate chip mint fudge cake and now i can have a scoop of ice cream with it!!! Yay!!

Betsy- you are brave!! for cooking peoples favorite meals..i would be cheating on my diet leftright and centre and tasting everything. I still havent mastered social events very well yet. Glad to hear the cold is improving.

Well..better get my rear in gear to the lab to get my blood sucked out..err..i mean drawn��

Terra Thank you! Your class sounds like it would be fun!

Fi Thank you!! I've seen both of Bowie's videos. It's a weird coinsidence that I watched Blackstar the morning before his passing was announced. I was getting ready for work thinking holy cow this is amazing!! This album is going to be great and I can't wait to hear the whole thing. I bawled like a baby watching Lazarus. I read an article where the producer confirmed he made this album especially for his fans...He knew this was going to be his last album he ever made and wanted to leave a good memory to his fans. Listening to the lyrics more now that he's passed it's obvious he knew he was going to die. What an impact he's made on the world. I feel lucky that he shared his talents and I got to enjoy them

Betsy Thank you!! It has been awhile since I updated a photo so I figured what better time than now? I was very unhappy in that photo. I never realized how much my face showed it...especially not at the time. I'm just glad that I won't ever be that unhappy girl anymore. I may never be the size I want to be but I've made a promise to myself that I won't go back there. We came to an agreement on how much they paid us. We originally said $450 but they insisted $800. That was for 14 days staying at their house every day and tending to their animals and watering their two rooms full of house plants, keeping the house tidy, checking the mail and little things here and there. Maybe they do have dementia or something but they are so young to have that in my opinion. I believe they're in their mid 60s. The bad thing is we really enjoyed their doggies and they were so sweet. We were hoping they would ask us to do it again one day because the money really helped us out. I'm sure now they won't ever ask again, but DH and I talked about it last night and we don't think we would do it even if they asked after that. Hope you get a lot done around the house today! It's been rainy here too.

Porthardygurl I forgot to say hello to you in my last post!!! Glad to see another person joining our gang!!! You've made great progress!

Having a troublesome day today. My monthly friend is making their appearance and so I am extremely tired, worn out, my legs feel sore and I feel like I haven't eaten anything all day. I've stayed on plan with no problems. I did eat a little popcorn this afternoon and when I got home I made a PB&J sandwich so those are the only things I wouldn't normally eat, but I feel like I'm starving still!!!! This is the only time where I feel like I'm not getting enough to eat. I'm like a bottomless pit. I'm so exhausted that I'm skipping my workout tonight. Just don't think I can muster up the energy. Plus the nasty old broad below me is home and I don't think I could deal with her coming upstairs to yell today. I might go ape $h*t on her. I'm going to take it easy and snuggle with my cats this evening, then tomorrow I'll be working on getting my closet cleaned out and organized and will possibly move the furniture around in my room. My turtle has a bigger tank now so we're trying to figure out a good place to put her but still have good room in our bedroom. We've contemplated moving her into the living room so she can have her own privacy sometimes but we really just don't know where we could put her in there without having to worry about her 3 furry sisters wanting to come play with her .

Does anyone have any pointers on how to curb the monthly flo visit cravings?? This past year has been the first time ever that I've had to deal with this. I don't know why it's changed all of the sudden but it makes it hard for me to focus and make sure I eat right or not eat too much. I'm sure I will gain some of the loss that I've had since the holiday. I'm back up to 207, I was 215 when I got home from holiday . I didn't want to tell you guys but I shouldn't feel like I have to hide it from you. That just shows you that if I am not strict with how I eat and how I exercise that I will gain the weight back fast. I'm ok with the fact that I gained. I'm not upset about it. I know I will lose it and keep going but gahhhhhh why did I have to start my lady time this week of all weeks!?!?!?!?!

Ok...Rant over. Thanks for any tips you can give! Good night!

Hey Sam..i have AF today too..gee i wish i had your problem..I havethe opposite issue..i cant eat cause i feel so bloated almost to the point of nausea. Also when i get my period i get faint and my heart starts beating irregularily..its freaky..still trying to figure out why. As for cravings during AF..i keep a sugar free chocolate bar in the freezer and eat if i need need need somthing. I just make sure to count my calories and carbs into my journal for the day. It makes a difference...feels like im cheating but im not.

Just a fast swing through as I need to get the table set and the rest of the cooking done for today. I got the cleaning finished yesterday, but felt horrible the whole time. I'm ready for this silly cold to be gone.......not a good patient!

More tomorrow. Have a great day.

Good Morning All,

Well my day went sideways yesterday. Period cramps left me bed-ridden all day..yes they are that BAD!!! Despite taking 2 extra strength Midol and 400mg Advil all at the same time. So bloodwork never got done today...and then i had a crappy day cause my heart was skipping beats spontaneously and i was having chest pains randomly..plus feeling faint..i think the faint feeling is from low salt on this low carb diet???? just a guess.. I think this is the first time ive lost weight while on my period..normally i gain like 4 pounds of water weight but not this time.. i jumped down the scale from 232.2 to 230.4 overnight.. i counted the number of days ive been on this low carb diet and its been 10 days. I started this diet at 239.8..ive lost like 10 pounds in 10 days almost..i wonder if this is normal???

Betsy - Sorry to hear that blasted cold is still bothering you.. Do you have any Emergen-C ? These little packets you add water to and it boosts your immune system and helps to combat that cold.. You can take like 4000 mg of Vit C per day..it has no ill effect on a person..whatever your boy doesnt use..it pees out.. In fact Vit C used to be given intervenously years ago as an alternative treatment for chemotherapy. Sadly the Dr responsible for that discovery was told by the FDA they would not approve high doses of Vit C as a drug therapy ...want to take a guess as to why?? $$$$ cha-ching... Drs and drug companies would not be able to benefit financially. All of the studies and human trials he did were locked up and un-available to other drs and the public for further study. Sucky deal considering he was seeing stage 4 cancer patients go into remission due to vitamin c given through IV.

Anywho...hope you are all doing well my new friends��

Gee, I do feel for you guys who're having struggles with the monthlies. Cramps, cravings, bloated feelings....yes, I used to go through all of that. And then I had a relatively easy menopause—just some night sweats—and ta da!! at age 52 I had all of that behind me.

I sure am frustrated with my 60s so far, though. I was really looking forward to my 60th birthday in February of last year, but by the time it came along, my legs were collapsing beneath me and I was falling down all over the place. But I didn't yet realize I was having spasms from serotonin toxicity. And since then...jeez, I try to be brave and hopeful, but being disabled and in so much pain, I often feel sorry for myself and break down in tears.

And Mike is really pushing for me to be able to stand up longer and learn more Qi Gung moves that you do standing up. And my legs are complaining about it, quite a lot. I have nothing to take for the pain—just acetaminophen, which does exactly nothing.

Friday was a bummer because Grace had not yet told me whether she was coming over or not, so I had to keep checking my email all morning. When she finally did get in touch, it was to say that her parents had scheduled an orthodontics app't and then a music lesson for Friday afternoon & evening. Oh well...it really does make me feel like the lowest priority in her schedule...yet another reason to feel sorry for myself, I'm afraid.

But today I forged ahead with regaining my life as an artist—yay! I made a collage inspired by David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" (click on image for larger version) and did all the hard work to scan it, go over it in graphics software, and upload it to three different places. When I finished all that, I was totally exhausted and hurting from my hips down to my feet on both sides, but it felt good all the same to have put up that little tribute to an artist I've admired ever since the early 1970s.

And Grace has Monday off from school, so (crossing fingers) we may be able to have some hours together that day...

Best wishes to all...I'm just too bushed to do personals this time 'round.

Hey Fi- yes definitly lucky on the pms side of things or shall i say no pms. I just wanted to say that i fell for you. I understand whatit is like to live in a chronic state of pain. I used to have Fibromyalgia for which i was bed-ridden and in so much pain that i was recieving injections at the hospital daily and i couldnt even type let alone curl my fingers. It was horrible! No one can truly understand chronic pain until you have personally been there. And yes it is hard to be positive. It takes so much energy just to do the most basic things let alone be happy. Pain does not = happiness. I cant speak to your situation from a medical standpoint or say with certainty what the future holds but i just wanted to let you know that your not alone

Well..as for me..I managed to drag myself out of bed to try making a new recipe..Made homemade sugar free low carb meringue cookies..and yay..they worked out.. I have tried 5 times before and each recipe has failed but not today. I enjoyed a meringue cookie with some warmed strawberries and whip cream for dessert tonight. It was great!

In other news..this pain in my side is getting soooo bad. It hurts after everytime i eat anything solid and feels like i have constant air bubbles. Im getting nervous cause its getting hardr to eat..even mashed up scrambled eggs cause the pain to get worse and the air bubbles to get worse too.. Im hoping we will get to the bottom of this problem soon. Till then i am going back to my post op diet of eating 1/4 cup portions of proteins until my tummy gets back to normal.

Well thats all..

Hi everybody. Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days. I have been poorly again with my chest and feeling extremely sorry for myself. Coupled with that I have had bouts of vertigo which mean I could little except lie down and wait for it to go. So needless to say my exercise and healthy eating have flown OUT of the window. So I kept away as I didn't want my grumpiness to be infecting anybody else!! The medication I take for the vertigo makes me sleepy and gives me really weird dreams that were full of my abusive ex-husband so I would wake up really distressed and crying.
Well tomorrow is that start of a new week...thanks heavens.
Hope you are all doing OK will do personals tomorrow but big hugs to you all.
Donna

Hi Donna Sorry to hear your not feeling the greatest. Feel better soon.

Hello Everyone,

Well i couldnt be happier as i watch my scale move. I hit 230.0 today..only need to lose .1 to make into the 220s land. I really feel like this diet is working for me..i just hope it becomes a part of life.

I had success making homemade sugar free meringues yesterday but sadly the amount of moisture where we live, turns everything more soggy. Boo Well I hope to be starting to swim at the pool..losing weight makes you realize just how much you need to exercise to tone up your body.. I have so much flab going on..bat wings and now slowly my apron on my tummy.. Anyone else thought of the remote possibility of a tummy tuck when at goal? Seems like a looooong way off.. o boy!

Well..have a great day

Betsy ~ Its not that its hard, Its not hard but I just dont like working out by myself.

Sam ~ Your welcome, Music and Movement class is alot of fun. I enjoy going every week.

Good Morning Everybody,

Its 9:14 a.m. I've been up for an hour. Today I need to take a shower and clean the bathroom. I know I dont like to work out by myself but I need too cause I havent worked out since Music and Movement class on Thursday and I know working out one day a week is not helping my weight loss efforts. Anyway I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday.

Hi Terra... I hear ya on the working out alone..let alone working out..it sucks.

Good morning everyone, hope yall are feeling better.
I am sitting here in the lab waiting for bloodwork. My scale jumped down again..yay.. I keep waiting for the scale to stop moving or slow to a crawl. Actually last night i had a dream that i was cheating on my diet but it wasnt on purposem I was being served food that had sugar and carbs that were hidden and i was freaking out over the fact that i ate it. I am paranoid about faling off my diet because its a ketogenic diet. I know the moment i eat sugar i will get hooked again. Yesterday i had a sugar free italian soda and it tasted so much like it was really sweetned with sugar that i was convinced theyy made a mistake.

Anyway...onward and forward. Have a good day!

Good morning all. It's a windy day out there, but the sun is shining so hopefully I can get the fish pond cleaned out and refilled today. Always something to be done with owning a house.

Sam -- Hope you're feeling much better by now. No advice from me on helping with the TOM cravings. I was one of those lucky women with minor cramps and went through early menopause so was all done with it by 45. Don't miss it one bit! And don't worry about the weight gain -- you are one of those people who has figured out that it needs to come back off and you've been successful in getting it back off. Don't ever worry about telling us about the ups to go with the downs. We've all been there and will be there again.

Porthardygurl -- Since I'm down in Washington, I certainly understand the rain phenomenon. This pain you're going through with eating sounds awful. I can't remember if you've had your gall bladder out, but wondered if that was a possibility. Hopefully you can get the blood work done soon and can find out what is causing this. In the meantime, congrats on the great start on the low carb. It is so empowering to see the scale move in the right direction!

Fi -- Yeah, the 60s have not been kind to you at all. Has Mike discussed his plan with you -- sometimes knowing what someone is trying to achieve and in what timeframe helps with accepting the pain involved in getting there. And sometimes it doesn't! I like your new collage, but mainly like that you're able to get the joy from being able to do these again. Did Grace get to come over today? Hope so.

Terra -- It definitely takes more discipline to exercise alone than if you have a class or an exercise buddy who will push you. Good for you for making yourself do it.

Donna -- I'm so sorry that you're feeling icky again, and really sorry about the horrible nightmares. You can't be getting good rest if you're having such bad nightmares. Hope things begin to look up soon.

Ubee -- Where are you? I need a snappy comeback from you to put a smile on my face.

The birthday dinner was this weekend, and we had a nice time together. They weren't here all that long, but we still managed to watch a football game and ate at half time (thank heavens I was able to schedule dinner for half time so the world didn't have to come to an end). A bit of sarcasm on my end, but honestly, I can hardly wait for the Super Bowl to be over so we don't have every Sunday taken up with football.

Weight wise was a good week. I had a 4 pound gain in the middle of the week (not good!), but am back to eating IF and had a net loss of 4 pounds (so total of 8 pounds lost). Obviously a lot of water sloshing in and out! Time to go get blood work done and then to the gym. Hope everyone has a good day and that the health reports start looking a whole lot better.

Hi Betsy

Yah i had my gallbladder removed a year ago this May. So i know its not a gallbladder issue. Its so hard to say what it is. Only thing i can say is that its a nice weight loss help. Knowing that you will be in pain every time you eat makes you not want to eat inless you absolutely have to..

Porthardygurl ~ I dont mind working out, I just dont like working out alone.

Betsy ~ Yeah, Thats true that it takes more discipline to exercise alone than if you have a class or an exercise buddy.