Hello, Chicks. It's not quite midnight here on the Left Coast but I thought I'd start the Thursday thread a bit early. I have such wonderful news I just have to share it.
I think I've mentioned that our younger daughter, Lisa, and her hubby, Greg, live in Edinburgh, Scotland. They are in the process of buying and renovating their first little home and it's quite an expensive proposition. They also had to spend quite a lot to go to Greg's brother's wedding in South Africa in May so money is really tight for them at the moment.
Lisa has been dithering for almost a year about whether or not she could make it here for Thanksgiving (Oct 12 weekend) to be Matron of Honour at her best friend's wedding. This is the same friend who went all the way to Zimbabwe, Africa to be Lisa's bridesmaid two years ago so, naturally, she's feeling guilty if she can't make it.
Still, her friend said she understood if Lisa couldn't make it and we had more or less resigned ourselves to not seeing her at all this year. Then, today she and I were chatting on ICQ and she said she was still looking for cheapo flights from Edinburgh to Vancouver. Suddenly I had a brain wave (doesn't happen very often and it was quite startling ). It hit me that we have enough Aeroplan air miles saved up to buy her a free ticket. Unfortunately not enough for her hubby to come along but they had already agreed that just she would be making this trip. After many lengthy delays I finally got through to the agent at Aeroplan and have booked her flights. Lisa was absolutely stunned and thinks I am a total angel. Little does she know that I would walk over hot coals to have her here for a wee while. Best not to let our children know what suckers we are for them.
Anyhow, that's my news for today and, as you can probably tell, I'm just bursting with joy.
Just a few notes to some of you Chicks cos I can't remember all the posts from Wednesday.
Pooky it's so funny that you want to get rid of cable hookup and today I will finally be getting my cable internet hookup and can say good-bye to this infernally slow phone modem and missing lots of phone calls because I was too cheap to sign up for the extra $5.00 per month for a Call Director. The guy is coming between noon and 5 (who else can book their appointments like that?) Well, doctors might as well.
Ruth take care of yourself. The heat and all that work for the fair have probably caught up with you. Don't work so darned hard. Believe me, the weeds will still be there when you're feeling better. Will they ever!!
Sue, don't get me wrong, cos I love reading your posts, but sometimes your typos make for very strange sentences. Don't change a thing. It adds character. So glad your job is going well, the kids are doing better and you get paid today. Yippee! Nothing like that first pay cheque. By the way, I must have missed the post where you described what business you run from home. Something to do with trucks and buses?

Oh now, I've forgotten all the replies I wanted to make to everyone. Nuts.
Anyhow, this morning (Wednesday) nobody showed up at the pool but me so I had a very intensive water workout without all the usual jabbering we do. It makes a difference to keep moving. I managed an extra length swimming and did some weight resistance work as well as my usual fast deep water jogging. I'm sure ready for my bed tonight.

I've discovered that I must have a very low Critical Carbohydrate Level. I can barely eat 15 grams of carbs per day in order to stay in ketosis. I've been trying to add another 5 gr as per Atkins' suggestion, but that puts me out of the purple. Some people still lose weight when the stix don't turn at least a pale mauve but I don't seem to be one of them.
As for the Metformine debate, so far I have not noticed any adverse reactions, re bowels, etc. My morning glucose levels are still a bit high though, even with such a low intake of carbs. What is THAT about?!
That's all for now. I must get to bed but I will check back with you later. Any suggestions for things I should save when switching over to cable access? I don't want to lose all my e-mail addies. I guess I'll have to get a new e-mail address for myself though as my other one was from my other provider. Hmmm, much to worry about.
LindaBC

I was in such a hurry last night i could not think then was so tired i could not see. HHHMM i must go back and read!! The budiness that I have started (with only 2 followers) is a weight loss support business. with a focus on being able to help people who would like to do a low carb. but no takers so far. I am willing to help others with regular cut the cal diets too. and cut the fat. But it is the weekly meetings and such that I am trying toget gong, with no success so far!

You know what those typos are from I have no idea how to stop it unless I slow down when i type but my left hand goes faster than my right. and I am right handed. so I do not understand it. but i will try to slow down as i send it off with out rereading what i write. it does make it hard to try to read. maybe I am trying to teach you guys a new language ???

I was wondering what you were doing up so early bug i guess it is late!! Night Linda!

For you early risers Morning!!!

Coffee Is on. and no soap!!

The kids were up last night drinking and puking UGH but they would do it all in the same trip so there was no mess but still to wake up to that, DS1 has been running a fever about 101-102 so motrin for him. just gave him some. poor kid i hope he keeps it down.

great news my bro will be joining us for camping for a few days. he lives in Florida and I have not seen him in 2years. this will be fun.

I am so tired now I almost want to sleep instead of exercise but i must get up and going as i will be lazy next week.

I'm up early working, as usual. I am hoping today is a better day than yesterday. I crashed a few times with my hypoglycemia despite being faithful to my low carb diet. Hopefully I can get the HG back in check soon. It is hard to deal with. Well gotta get back to work. Talk to you later.

Hi there! Anotrher bright and relatively cool morning in the Ontario hinterlands! Still no AC guy but we don't need the AC these days. I'll bug him later today though.

LindaBC, I can imagine how excited you must be over seeing your daughter once again. Great idea to use the Aeroplan miles. I used minbe to get a ticket for a WI friend to come for a visit here in September. What a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend you will have!

Sue, how the heck do you do it? Your life sounds like a whirlwind right now. Try to squeeze in a bit of "me" time. Work, family AND another business? You are nuts!

I still have the flu-like symptoms but realize why now. I have been picking green and yellow beans and munching on them raw as I pick! Duh! I do the same thing every summer and just realized it now. Checked my old journals and have had the same results around bean season for the past three years! So....no raw beans today.

Had a great morning with my friend Nancy from PA - Sally had already left to go back to the States. She has one of those twitchy husbands who wanted to get home early! Lucy charmed Nancy by licking her feet and then going to sleep on them.

I still am writing cheques for the Fair bills! This morning I will start on the Prize cheques for Homecraft - mostly small ones of making up a grand total of $3500! Can you say writer's cramp?

Gail called last night to say she would be here today instead of Monday so I am scurrying around doing my tidy act. I had planned to make some jams and pickles for Saturday's Church Sale but have changed the plans because there is no way I want to interfere with Gail cleaning my kitchen! I'll do a bit more weeding and then Hersh and I will go to the Office.

Have a super Thursday, chickies!

It's going to be a strange day for me indeed. Techinically I ave nothing to do but stragnley a lotof stuff just filedit up! Miree wet the bed last night--TWICE! so I have a lot of laundry to do. She also has her very first dentist appointment today at noon--can't wait to see what happens there and how cooperative she is going to be! Then we are off to the dollar store to reward for being a good girl at the dentist. A for me, well I am still in my jammies anddrinking coffee!

Linda, that is fabulous news about your daughter coming! You must be absolutely thrilled.

Ruth, I hope your time is almost over for this treasurer business--you have already given yor heart and soul to this!

Sue--you're my hero--I had noidea you had an extra business, how do you do it?

Good Morning mpinkham


Hope you all have a great day!

Morning chickies.......

I'm about to leave for work, so I don't have enough time to respond to everyone.... I promise to try to do that later -

Today probably will be a notsogood day, topping off a worsethanusual week...... my stress level is fairly high...... I'm not much of a drinker, but........ does anyone know how many carbs are in a margarita????????????? I'm for sure gonna need one by tonight or tomorrow!!!!!!

Will get back to check in with you all later.......... hope your days are better than mine's gonna be!

SG, sorry your days are going rough! Mine will be better for the rest of the week. Having problems with somebody at work that is causing me a little stress, but he is off until Monday.

Today I am going to stay on plan perfectly, no matter what! I won't falter no matter how bad I want sugar. It must be time for my period. Who knows, since I've been fixed. Today feels bright, hope it stays that way!

Jennifer

Good Morning Kids,

Its so beautiful out today, can't believe its this cool in August...LOVE IT !! Been thinking that I will have to go back to doing my low carb way of eating (not diet) Wahhhhhhhh. I just love sugar But I think it would be better for me to cut alot of the starches out and only treat myself once in a while.

Gotta run.

Have a wonderful day !

Love, Leens

Morning Everyone! Another beautiful cool day here--wish it would just stay this way right on through fall. This is the kind of summer weather you dream about. Not much going on around here. I just finished doing my exercise routine and am drinking my hot water with lemon juice, then a quick rinse in the shower before I make lunch when DH gets home. He stopped by to drop off the mail on his way to a meeting and said that his mom called him at work to thank US for the birthday gift WE sent her. We tried calling last night, but she wasn't home. Now, considering I bought, wrapped and mailed the gift I am so glad that she called DH to thank him. I really don't care for myself, but DS might have wanted to talk to her. Whatever! Anyway, I AM going to clean out my walk in today so if you don't hear from me tomorrow I am still lost in there!

Leens, hang in there girl!

Jennifer, hope you get the perfect day you are striving for. :flow:

Samsgram, did someone say Margaritas??? I'll be right over! Try and have a good day!

Pooky, good luck with the meds and hope Miree does great at the dentist.

Ruth, take care and get well.

Myra, hope today goes better for you.

Sue, hope your kids get to feeling better! Take care of yourself so that you don't come down with it.

Linda, how EXCITING and wonderful for you. I bet you are on cloud nine getting ready already for Thanksgiving! That is terrific news!

To everyone else have a great day!!

hey girls
so i was so in the best mood earlier, and cranky now. yuck.
sticking to the low carb. until yesterday. when the people who forgot my bday decided we needed lunch out to make up for it and i ate a bite of a brownie...but the ketostix are still purple so.....hope i didnt mess up my first week there.
i wish i hated sweets. would make things much easier i tell ya.

Here I am back again to check up on you all.
Samsgrandma, I have a recipe in the manual for my new ice cream maker for frozen Margaritas and I think they are only about 4 grams per serving. Of course, that's without any booze. I guess that's up to your own discretion or desperation.

Lovely day here today. Warm and breezy. I've been baking low carb muffins using some recipes I got off the Atkins Friends website. Just tried the Ricotta muffins and they aren't bad at all. I have substituted crushed pork rinds for most of the soy flour (which I cannot STAND!!! ) I also made some Chocolate/PB with chopped pecans using the same substitution. It makes for a nicer texture and certainly better flavour than anything soy. Also, lower in carbs. always a good thing.

For anybody who is dithering on whether or not to go back to strict low carb (other than CAD or CALP or some self-designed combination of low carb/low fat), I can only say give it another try. Once you get through those first few days without sugar/starches you will feel rejuvenated. It's really not that hard to get through the first two weeks of Induction without bread, fruit, cereals etc when you know that you can soon start adding some low carb muffins, cheesecakes, ice cream, etc. It makes it worth the wait, believe me. I still have to be extremely cautious about adding extra carbs. Unless I stay under 15 or 20 grams per day, those ketostix just won't change colour. Still, I manage to fit in a few new treats every day. By cutting back on veggies (not every day but occasionally), I can squeeze in a bowl of home made low carb ice cream or a L.C. muffin.
Today I'm also making another stab at low carb bread made in the bread machine. My last attempt was astonishing. It grew and grew and GREW until it burst forth from the bread machine like an atomic bomb mushroom cloud. This time I adjusted the recipe and after mixing the dough in the bread machine, I have divided it into three loaves and they are rising on my counter right now waiting to be baked. I have a feeling this will be a very dense, chewy bread though. Luckily, toasting improves just about everything. LOL
I'll let you know how it turns out.

Hello everyone! The first day of school went off without a hitch. Nobody cried, except one of the dads who was dropping off his son so I didn't really disgrace myself. She even slept at nap-time! I did finally get to experience school traffic, don't like it one bit, but no getting around (or through!) it. It's worth it, really!

Had a very O/P week going until my coworker decided to get that new spinach alfredo pizza that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE!!! And I ate 2 pieces, thank you very much. I can start fresh for dinner though, so gotta figure out what to make. By the way, all my being good is doing me absolute zero in the weight loss dept. Talk about frustrating! In this heat, it's a reat b*tch to exercise, but that's the only thing that helps me so I guess I'll just buckle down and get it done.

Ya'll have a good night, I'll try to check in later!

Hi y'all,

moving quickly on towards Friday, I'm very glad this week is going so fast. Only one more day of grownup clothes and there is enough half and half for tomorrows coffee, so I'm all set. That is the bottom line by Thursday- can I make coffee and can I scrounge up one more clean outfit. this is really no way to live. But on Saturday, I can sleep and relax and go to the library for new books and whatever...

Not much happening, just unwinding and going to go zone out in front of the tv for a while.

have a good one,

dottie

Evening!

Dh changed servers...I think, and shut down my e-mail because we were getting way too much spam. I think it was the advertisements sent to me to get my boobs enlarged that did him in.

I digress!

I will send out my new addy as soon as I figure out how to get to it! duh!

Very quiet today and the big boy is complaining that he is bored. Tough!

Dh and I are debating on whether or not to pull the kids out of school the 3rd week of September to go down near Cape May for a week! They need more practice at beach life since my back is burned because the boys are not so good at getting the edges around the suit with the sun tan lotion...they need much more practice! and, besides, we never did hit china while we were digging and making sand castles and catching sand crabs. They really DO have the potential to be beach bums...I just need to work on them a bit more!

Gosh, I love the beach! I don't care what I look like while I am there and every ounce of stress goes right out to sea. LOVE THAT!

oh well, the boys are spatting which beats spitting (I guess)...back to reality!

later gaters!
peach

It sounds like everybody enjoyed a beautiful day today. It was warm and a slight breeze here , also. So I hopped in my car, put the top down, and drove about 40 glorious miles of tree-lined highway to Commerce. They have several outlet malls there and that's where I speny my day.

I planned ahead and put some mini meatballs, cherries, protein drink and my cranwater in a small cooler for the day. This helped me to resist all the wonderful food places that I drove by

I bought some uniforms for work and some really neat pottery, wall prints and baskets to use in redecorating my study/office at home. It's kind of an African theme, which is unusual for me. Even my DH was shocked "What, no flowers!" as I tend to have alot of that in my house.
DH brought home some great steaks that we grilled out on the back deck.

~~Sil