Good morning!
Just wanted to check in as time got away on me yesterday.
Will be back to catch up later.
I am so grateful for all of you!
WELCOME BACK LARRY! Don't go away again. Going away is always the beginning of the regain.

Good morning all. Definitely not firing on all cylinders today as I had a rocky night last night -- just couldn't get back to sleep after my trip to the bathroom. Oh well, it's not like I'm making decisions that will determine world peace.

Larry Sounds like the Induction phase is going really well for you. I can do low carb, but just can't do the induction phase with being limited to the 20g of carbs. I'm trying to stay under 50g of carbs each day.
Tootsie Here's one we probably never thought we'd hear: Congratulations on being morbid! Or is Congratulations on not being super? I've got a post-a-note attached to my monitor with what I need to weigh to get down to the next level. I've still got to lose about 25 pounds to be down to the morbid level. Good for you -- it's cause for a celebration.
Sam 5 days a week is plenty on the exercise front. I imagine the small weight gain is from being on a very low carb to increasing your carb level. I know you're concerned about the amount of fat, but on low carb you'll be intaking more fat. My suggestion is just to focus on calorie count and carbs. And on true Atkins -- and some other low carb plans -- I don't think you even count the calories. With all the water you're drinking, you may have had something that had enough salt in it (like soy sauce or something canned) that it made you retain water. Don't get discouraged -- it's a bump in the road.
Ubee Glad you swung by. Hope you have a good day.

Yesterday was "going to town" day. Went to Home Depot for gardening supplies, then Costco for exciting things like toilet paper, then to the grocery store, and then home. It was at that point that I realized that I'm taking the boys camping in a week and we'll be celebrating the older grand's birthday. So, lots to do next week in addition to trying to start with getting the yard whipped into shape.

Almost back down to where I was before the road trip. Eating has been pretty good for several days in a row and that's encouraging.

Anyone have any advice on answering the "Have you ever been fired" question on a job application? I was thinking of going with skills that I lacked at the time, and how I've improved since then. I think that that is good because it turns a negative into a positive and I'm not putting the blame all on my previous employer or my co-workers. The only problem is that the skills could apply to the job that I'm applying for, so it could be used as a reason to discount me as a potential employee. What do you think? Does that sound like a good idea?

Betsy: I love your sense of humor. Thanks for making me smile.

Larry: You have a fun sense of humor as well.

Ubee: Good to see you here.

Everyone else: Hope that everything is going well.

Hi everyone!
tootsie I've read that you should always take responsibility and then turn it into a positive learning experience. So yes, I think your reply sounds pretty good. Congrats from going from super to morbid!!!
Betsy good job on stringing some good days together! It is OK to keep losing weight. You will always be super to me.
Larry I am trying to be on a similar diet. It is called Grain Brain. It is a little more strict. I am really struggling lately but not giving up. Thanks for the health update. Still volunteering with the Shriner's?
Sam yippee for the good blood work. As for the pounds STAY CALM! Go back and look over your records and keep doing what you have been doing. That also means showing up here daily.
Cindy please do let us know how your test goes. Blood clots are scary. Isn't it a sad world we live in when a doctor has to give us permission to put our feet up. (Most men can ignore that comment it was meant for women. )
Today I could get into my tight jeans without lying on the bed! Also had lunch with a group and my new weightloss cousin was there. When someone asked what I was going to order she gave me that over the glasses look and then I said "A salad".
Have a peaceful day.

Tootsie Thanks for the advice but I already have been eating only 1/4 cup of oatmeal. When I eat eggs I don't eat more than 2, maybe on the rare occasion I'll eat 3. Good ideas though I'll get this eventually.

Larry Glad to hear things are going well for you!! You are a rock star!!! Keep going!!

Betsy You're probably right on the gaining front. I just gotta figure out the right balance for me. I will get through this, just trying not to stress myself out. I bet your yard looks beautiful this time of year with all the pretty flowers. One of these days I'm going to have my own yard....just gotta take it one step at a time. Right now I'm focusing on my health, then I'll focus on getting a house, then a baby...hopefully it goes in that order but we'll see. I hope you have a great time taking the grands camping, I'm sure they will...you sound like such a fun person to be around. Great job on the POP days!!! You're doing wonderfully!!!

Ubee You're right. I'm doing my best to stay calm because stress can cause weight gain too. I know I've kinda just flown by here this week and I think it's just been because of lack of sleep. I'm also getting used to not taking blood pressure medicine anymore so I've been dealing with small headaches. I'm taking aspirin which has helped a lot but still is going to take some getting used to. I promise to keep posting, I'm not going anywhere. I don't like the dark place I go to when I'm not posting here...even if it's just to fly by to say hello, even though apparently that isn't good enough for me to do sometimes...this week however I did have a good excuse I love you guys and appreciate you looking out for me

So last night I did some reading about things that can cause a stall in weight loss. One of them was too little calories. It said when your eating a huge deficit in calories your body can only do that for so long and then it will get into sort of a starvation mode even if you aren't hungry and will eventually attack your muscle, etc. I've been eating less than 1,000 calories a day for over a year on most days so maybe I've just been doing it too long. A lot of girls I've talked to who has PCOS said that they have the same thing with the calories, but maybe I just need to up mine somehow and still eat nutritiously. I've worked on eating a little more today but I'm sure I won't see any real results from that right away. I also read like Betsy had said that if you are going to lower your carb intake, you have to increase your fat intake because lowering both will make you go crazy. I felt the best when I was eating lower carb and higher fat so that's what I'm going to try for awhile. I'm going to go back to eating real eggs but alter my recipes slightly and see how we go. I can't keep switching my diet up once a week because I don't think I'm giving myself enough time to adapt and make any real changes in my weight loss. BTW I had that egg substitute for breakfast today at work...I wasn't impressed. I'd rather have one whole egg and then one egg white than to eat that crap again lol....I don't know how people do it.

Tonight my plan is to do a turbo video and then work on arms if my head isn't feeling too bad. I have a slight headache but just had some celery with some PB2 for a snack before my work out. I'm still getting pains in my right ham string so I'm going to have to be careful with my work out.

This weekend is supposed to be beautiful here so DH and I are planning to go to the beach at least one day this weekend. I'm so ready to get in my bathing suit since I have a new one this year! I still have the same bottoms from last year but I'm thinking about maybe going out and getting some new ones that fit me better. My old ones are a bit too big, but will do for now if I don't find anything I like. I still need to install the blinds with DH's help so he said he's going to help me this weekend. Tomorrow I'll be going to the farmer's market to get stocked up on some fresh veggies and hope to get some farm fresh eggs...They are so good!!

Ok guys I gotta get my work out in so I can get dinner started too. DH requested my new famous sloppy joes....I still can't believe how much he likes it and it's actually good for you lol...Have a wonderful night everyone!

Ooh! Sam, please share that Sloppy Joes recipe if you haven't. We liked the canned Manwich before they changed the recipe. We tried other recipes, but nothing is good. . Sorry if the eggs comment bothered you. There's a lady named Jamie Eason, who does weight lifting and she eats 6 egg whites or 5 egg whites and one whole egg and veggies for breakfast, so I wasn't sure how many that you ate.

Hi everyone. Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Time got away from me.

Larry, nice to meet you. All of our snow has been gone for about a month. In fact, earlier this week we experienced some Florida weather, but Spring is back now. I live across the river from Albany, so quite a bit east of Buffalo.

Tootsie, congratulations on not being super morbidly obese anymore. Also, I think Your idea of how to handle the "Have you been fired" question is a good one, especially if you have improved on those skills since then. Even better if you can cite examples of how you have used the skills they are looking for.

Sam, I have also read that 1000 calories a day is not enough, and that your body will eventually go into starvation mode. I do think that when you make an adjustment to your diet, eating fewer carbs, increasing fat, or whatever it is, you need to give it some time for your body to adjust. Don't stress though. You have come such a long way, and lost so much weight that you are obviously doing something right.

Betsy, congrats on having several good eating days in a row and on dropping your road trip weight. I am up almost 5 lbs. from these last two weeks and not happy about that. I can't seem to string two good days together anymore, but I'm trying.

Ubee, congrats on getting into your tight jeans, and for ordering a salad at lunch. It sounds like having your cousin around could be good for your waistline.

Fi, Terra, Rabdstoat, Misstoni, Donna - hope you are well. Please post when you can.

Well, I don't have a blood clot in my leg. Not surprised - I didn't really think that's what it is. I talked to the nurse at the doctor's office today, and she thinks they will probably refer me to a vascular group next. Meanwhile, elevate it, rest it, hot pack it. It feels better today but since this happened last month too I really want to get to the bottom of it. I went to work today but took it easy and I don't really have plans for the weekend so I will be following doctor's orders again.

I hope you all have a good day tomorrow

Good morning! Last night was my final A&P class, thank goodness! Managed to get a B in the course, which for this girl who has a B.A. English, is quite pleasing! Also managed to lose 2 pounds though I felt like I've been stress eating non-stop these past two weeks. I have 3 weeks with no school before summer class starts, and my goal is to exercise at least 5 days a week. I feel so much better when I get up and moving, even if it's only a walk with the dogs or a quick Leslie Sansone video.

Good morning.
Mae enjoy your 3 weeks free from school. Give your self credit for the 2 pounds down AND any exercise you get in a day. Anything you are doing is lapping those sitting on the couch.
Cindy I am so pleased to hear that the doc did not find a blood clot! I too am having trouble stringing two good days in a row together. Let's aim for this weekend. Yes, I think my cousin is going to be good for my waistline. She has that maternal/warden thing going on.
Hello tootsie how are you?
Sam are you taking vitamins? Vitamin D3? Magnesium?...
Betsy I woke up to your PNW fog this morning. It looked scary out. I am sending it back to you. 230 days left until 2016. Time to get serious.
Terra HELLO are you out there?
Hi Fi, Donna, Rabid, Larry, Silent, Miss Toni,...
So, I have observed that my nephew and his new girlfriend are quite suited for each other. I think wedding bells are in their future. I am going to use the maybe future marriage as incentive to get the weight off/down.
Deviled eggs are made as is a protein shake mixed with flax seed and almond milk to fight off the unhealthy binge eating.
Have a peaceful day.

Good morning. Dreary day out there, but I'm in a ridiculous good mood -- and this is before coffee!

Tootsie Your approach is a good one -- take responsibility for it happening and include information on what you've done to improve in those skill areas.
Ubee Ooohhh -- tight jeans! Way to rock it. Love the description of your cousin. Is there some way she could perhaps move in with you (now that you're used to running a B&B at your house!) and provide those looks that only women can give? You know the ones since you're a mother -- that look without saying a word that if you engage in that activity, life as you know it will end. Good choice on going with the salad. Keep that day count down coming.
Didn't understand the deviled eggs and protein shake -- please clarify.
Sam One of the things that I've found with low carb is that not only does the fat level go up, but my calorie count ends up being closer to the 1200 calories/day rather than 1000 or less. You've just got to find your sweet spot. And please do give us your sloppy joe recipe. Enjoy the beach. It was wonderful when I was there last week, although almost no one actually gets in the water out here unless we have one of the rare heat waves as the water is freezing -- not like the Atlantic at all.
Cindy So glad no clot is involved and heading off to check on your circulation is a good step. I've got venous statis (basically big, ugly blotches on my shins) from poor circulation. Walking helps and, of course, the cure for everything (according to the doctor)......weight loss. Hope you get an answer soon.
MaeCrochet Good job on finishing the course and enjoy those 3 weeks off. And a big congratulations for losing during this time.

I may have overscheduled for today......due to reading a book for most of the afternoon yesterday. I need to cut the grass and trim, need to haul all of the plants I bought out of the car and get the baskets hung, need to dust, need to vacuum, need to assemble a bench I bought for the front garden, need to assemble a heddle loom I ordered because I've decided that the 28 craft projects I already have in some order of completion aren't enough and I'm going to take up weaving, and need to do some bookkeeping. Oh yeah, need to get three birthday cards mailed, but first I need to buy some stamps. At least we now have confirmation that I have officially lost my mind!

Going to try a new recipe from genaw -- hamburger cabbage casserole. I have one that is made with tomato soup, but this has some different ingredients in it and is more of a stir fry so the cabbage is probably crunchier. Guess I'd better get some breakfast and get started on the chores. Hope everyone has a great day.

Just came in from cutting the grass and trimming. My back was killing me, felt like heck all during the trimming, and my first thought was that I deserved a reward for doing the work; I.e. A mushroom-Swiss burger, onion rings, and a caramel shake from the diner in town. I sat down and asked myself if I wanted to be this uncomfortable for the rest of my life by eating that way, and realized the answer was a resounding NO.

Don't know if that approach will help anyone else, but seems to be helping me a lot.

Tootsie Sure I'll share the sloppy joes recipe!!! It is:

1 Can NSA Tomato Sauce
2 TBSP NSA Tomato Paste
1/2 Cup Ketchup
2-3 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
1 TBSP Honey
1 Onion Diced
1 Bell Pepper Diced (I use red)
1 TBSP Garlic
2-3 tsp black pepper (more if you like it spicy)
Salt to taste.

I mix all the ingredients except the onion and pepper then cook the peppers and onions then mix it in with the sauce. Then after I've cooked my turkey I mix everything together and cook it until it thickens up a bit. I use lettuce leaves to serve mine on but DH likes potato rolls.

BTW it didn't bother me about the egg comment at all!!! I just wanted you to know what I ate since I don't actually talk about how much I'm eating that often No worries!!

Cindy Thanks for the advice. I think you're right that I'm not giving myself enough time to adjust. I'm working on increasing my calorie count and I think I need to watch my salt intake a little more carefully. I think that may be the culprit in why I'm not losing recently. I'm glad to hear you don't have a blood clot...That would have been bad news. Hope you get to the bottom of everything and are well soon!

Mandie Glad to hear school is over for you for awhile...great job on that B!!! Hope you get a little bit of time to enjoy yourself before school gets started again...Great job on the 2 pound loss even if it may have been from stress. Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Ubee I take the Alive Multi-Vitamin that has a ton of stuff in there...Only thing is I forget to take it on the weekends. I have some liquid B-12 and some D3 at the house I should probably take if I forget to bring some of my Alive vitamins home from the office for the weekend. I also take Vitex to help with my monthly cycle. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Betsy Thank you for your insight. I guess when you're so used to making sure you don't eat too much fat that you forget that sometimes you have to increase it if you're cutting something else. I shared the recipe above so hopefully it turns out ok for you guys DH loves it better than Manwhich so that makes me feel good. WOW it sounds like you got a lot done today!! Good for you! And GREAT JOB noticing that we shouldn't reward ourselves with food that's just going to make us feel like crap later...It's so hard sometimes though.

Today was pretty nice. DH and I had a nice breakfast. I had 1 whole egg with 2 egg whites and added onion and spinach and some ham to it. Topped it with a little bit of cheese, salsa and sour cream, and hot sauce. We went to the farmer's market but got there too late so all the strawberries were gone..phooey! I did get some really pretty organic broccoli and some other things we needed for the week. I think my salad this week is going to be some sort of broccoli chopped salad I just need to figure out what to put in it that'll be good and find a good dressing to make with it. We also went to this local retro gaming store and got a couple of games. I went to Target and got me a new bathing suit bottom. Funny thing about it is I tried on the exact same bottom in the regular sizes and this maternity brand that they carry there. They fit exactly the same but the maternity one was cheaper so I got that one instead. I don't care that it's maternity lol...We're going to the beach tomorrow so I'll be sure to have DH snap a pic for me to share on here

Tried to take a nap this afternoon after running around all day but my FIL called about DH's granny. She's not eating again, well, only 1 slim fast shake a day because she isn't hungry. My FIL wants to see if we can come up and visit her next weekend since it'll be Memorial Day. He's pretty sure she's not going to live much longer and wants DH to get him a suit ready and such. IDK if DH wants to go up there...I told him we could even though I have no idea how I'm going to afford getting there and back but the bad thing is it'll be a quick trip since I can't miss work. If she ends up passing my boss already knows I'd have to miss work for that but that would be the only reason I could call out for. We're supposed to talk it over tonight and figure everything out.

I think I'm intaking too much salt...I will eat deli meats sometimes as a snack or with my breakfast and I think the salt count in those must be making me hold water weight or something. I need to figure out other ways to get protein and fat without all the salt. Maybe just need to get some chicken and such and cook it myself and maybe I can make a chicken sausage at home or something or turkey sausage to help with my breakfast...Any ideas guys??

I wasn't going to exercise today because DH and I are planning a nice walk on the beach tomorrow but I think I'm going to do it anyway...That way the walk can be leisurely and it doesn't have to count as exercise. Hope everyone has a good night

Thanks for keepin" me in your thoughts, y'all. I'm still having cramps in my legs, but not so much as before, and the real good news is that I'm writing this—as always, on my iPad—in bed upstairs. What that means is that I'm finally beginning to have access to my upstairs collage studio—yay! I'll be returning to the Kollage Kit blog as soon as I finish up a trio of smaller postcards (4" x 6") that I owe to some people on swap-bot.

I'm kind of disgusted with my neurologist, because she hasn't responded to my queries about the results of all the (mostly) painful tests I went through. I don't see her again until June 11th. But that date is so far out because Bob (who manages my rented wheelchair) has to go away for 10 days to California in late May, early June, for the memorial service and ashes-scattering for his oldest sister, followed by the graduation of his niece from UCLA medical school. His sister really wanted to live long enough for that graduation, but she smoked (lung cancer + COPD) herself to death and didn't quite make it. Bob is worried about how I'll do alone in the house while he's gone, so we've been focused on making sure I'll be mobile enough to handle stairs, bathrooms, etc.

As for my diagnosis, I don't know squat, yet. Everyone seems to be out of town, including my psychiatrist. Oh well... In the meantime, I've backed way down from the medications that may have caused this weird kerfuffle. I haven't fallen down in about two weeks—another piece of good news. I still can't walk more than half-a-dozen steps, but I had a good time with Grace yesterday.

It's so good to see you back on the thread, Larry!

Thanks for keepin" me in your thoughts, y'all. I'm still having cramps in my legs, but not so much as before, and the real good news is that I'm writing this—as always, on my iPad—in bed upstairs. What that means is that I'm finally beginning to have access to my upstairs collage studio—yay! I'll be returning to the Kollage Kit blog as soon as I finish up a trio of smaller postcards (4" x 6") that I owe to some people on swap-bot. So expect some links to new collages, soon!

I'm kind of disgusted with my neurologist, because she hasn't responded to my queries about the results of all the (mostly) painful tests I went through. I don't see her again until June 11th. But that date is so far out because Bob (who manages my rented wheelchair) has to go away for 10 days to California in late May, early June, for the memorial service and ashes-scattering for his oldest sister, followed by the graduation of his niece from UCLA medical school. His sister really wanted to live long enough for that graduation, but she smoked (lung cancer + COPD) herself to death and didn't quite make it. Bob is worried about how I'll do alone in the house while he's gone, so we've been focused on making sure I'll be mobile enough to handle stairs, bathrooms, etc.

As for my diagnosis, I don't know squat, yet. Everyone seems to be out of town, including my psychiatrist. Oh well... In the meantime, I've backed way down from the medications that may have caused this weird kerfluffle. I haven't fallen down in about two weeks—another piece of good news. I still can't walk more than half-a-dozen steps, but I had a good time with Grace yesterday.

It's so good to see you back on the thread, Larry!

Sorry about the double posting: I can't figure out how to get rid of one of them.