Happy new week LWL! Can't believe I'm starting the thread again this week - everyone is busy with other things now that the weather has gotten nicer!

Hope you all had a great weekend - mine was iffy, but today is a new day, and I'm back on track (again!).

Tiki - hope you survived the nasy weather that Detroit got hit with - we were lucky and didn't get many storms - they fizzled out by the time they got to us.

Well, need to get back to work - I'll write more later!
Cindy

Dang it!!!! I typed a post and it went away.

Detroit's weather was just super rainy. Further north and to the west got flooding and mudslides.

I'm still sore from this weekend - love it. Went to bed at 12:30 AM so 4:30 AM cardio was OUT! Am going bike riding with DD this afternoon while DS is at football practice. Should be fun.

Peace. Tiki.

Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day -
I still haven't had a chance to run at the track. It was thunderstorms all weekend, which will apparently continue all week except for the one day (Wednesday) that I won't get a chance to go running.

Hi All.

That there is a mind-body connection is beyond dispute. However, do you suppose there is a mind-body-Monday connection? Last week was awful, and I was receiving strong physical indicators when I opened my baby blues last Monday. This morning, I woke up before the alarm rang at 5, and I knew it was going to be a good day. Interesting, isn't it.

One thing I know for sure (to borrow a phrase from Oprah) is that I've GOT to figure out better coping mechanisms for arthritis flareups. As soon as I start to ache, I start to eat. These flares are usually accompanied by extreme exhaustion and deep blues ... almost like a mini attack of chronic fatigue syndrome. And they seem to have to run their own course. So, when what I would probably benefit MOST from -- easy exercise, such as yoga, gentle walking, stretching and absolutely clean eats -- is precisely when I eat anything but clean and eschew all exercise.

Not a good thing.

So, as you can see, I've defined the problem. Next step is to be alert so that when it happens again, I'm ready for it (at this point, I'm usually 2 or 3 days into a flare before I put the evidence together). And the next step after that is to devise a plan. I'm writing all of this down right here, right now, for that ol' accountability factor. Never again can I say, duh .... I didn't know.

So, last week was less than stellar; this is makeup time. We took the dogs on a long walk this morning, and I have a yoga class tonight. Have a nice clean lunch awaiting me in the frig, and I had a good breakfast. Filled up the old water jug, to boot.

Tiki, I don't know how you keep those hours girl! If I don't get 8 hours of , I'm useless. Glad to see you back Cindy.

And greetings to everyone else. There were wonderful posts last week, and I just didn't have the energy to respond. But they were great, and I learned a lot. Some fine writing going on over at maintainers as well. What I need is more hours in the day. But in the meantime, gotta get this week started.

Hugs to all.

Hey, everyone, don't forget to watch Dr. Phil today - it's the weight-loss challenge finale show! And, we'll get to see Monika's extreme makeover results (for those who missed it on that show, as I did!).
Cindy

heyhey!

Im back! My trip home was pretty good, and we did a LOT of sorting paper etc. I also bought some nice clothes (mmmwalmart!)

Today is on track! woohoo! Been to the gym for 1 HOUR (!) of cardio and then walked home (take that, fat! *jab*) and food is on track as well.

Its good to be back

Tidey

Hi Tidey!

Great to see you back AND on track. I thought about you this weekend as I was trying something different with my cottage cheese. I don't know if its your recipe or someone elses but I have gotten so TIRED of eating the stuff that I wanted to experiment and I remembered reading about adding splenda, vanilla flavoring and cinnamon to it and it was GOOD!! My daughter said it tasted like French Toast.

Tiki.

Hello,

I lurk here occasionally, and, Robin, when I read your post, I just had to respond. I know EXACTLY what you mean regarding your arthritis flareups. I don't have arthritis, but I do have a neurological condition that causes chronic pain, and some days are worse than others. I tend to do what I call "comfort eating" to cope. I know I should have some kind of plan to deal with this, but it seems like every time it happens, I reach for the food before I figure out, oh, I'm not feeling well and this is why I'm eating. Luckily, I can still exercise through the pain, but it's really tough to get motivated enough to go to the gym (driving to the gym and back is often more painful than the actual exercise).

My plan is to win the lottery and buy a Jacuzzi with all the trimmings. Instead of eating, I will soak in a nice big pool of bubbles! Seriously, if you develop a plan of action, I'm ready to hear it. I'd like to conquer this beast so I can get rid of this last 25 lbs. and keep it off.

A quick post to say that I'm back, tired but happy after my hols. Suffolk and seeing friends were great. We all ate a lot of fish and vegetables. And ... I'd lost a couple of pounds just before we went away and they are still gone. Fish and vegetables, friends, fish and vegetables.

And ... another thing. It was very interesting to see how a few slices of salami and cured meat, a few glasses of wine and eating late at a friend's made me swell up badly. I must have drunk gallons the next day.

I'm trying to catch up on the posts. What chatterboxes you are! And full of wisdom! I've missed you all.

Love, Silverbirch.

Hi Everyone! Happy Tuesday!

We've had some storms too, and on Sunday we lost out Internet connection (cable, go figure) and I only had the opportunity to get on yesterday morning. No complaints; some areas lost power.

I've been clean eating, but had a full weekend working in the yard and visiting my sister 60 miles south on Sunday. I've determined to finish this one landscaping project before we leave on vacation Friday, and I'm fighting the rain. Looks like more rain today, so since I didn't lift yesterday, today will be an intense work-out, I promise me! But I can tell ya that my legs are soooo stretched, from bending over working on this project. Cardio/treadmill has been kind of lame as a result. This week I am brain-washing myself for clean eats and lots of walking while we are on the boat next week. We will be sailing "up river" for 3 or 4 days if not more, so exercise will be limited to swimming, even if it's just holding on to the swim ladder and kicking my legs. So while we are in the marina, I *have to* get out and walk as much as possible while I can.

Tidey - so happy to see you back, girl and full of P&V!

Robin - Been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing since last week. I *knew* you'd get it together, some way. Yours and Sheila's posts made me feel like such a wimp/crybaby for my aches and pains, compared to what you go through. Bless your hearts!

Cindy - Dr. Phil comes on at 3PM here, and I planned my day around that hour. At 2:55, I got a cup of coffee and a peach, the remote and was ready. Just as the intro came on, the dogs went off and there was a corvette in my driveway, but I didn't see anyone from the window(?). So out I go, and it was a gentleman who had heard our old boat was for sale and was looking at it. "HOW DARE YOU COME AT 3:00 PM ON MONDAY!" my brain was screaming. But we need to sell that boat so we can buy stuff for the new one. I didn't get back in until 3:25, and of course had missed alot, including Monica. The only time I saw her was at the end, as the camera panned the challengers on stage. From what I did get to see, she looked amazing. Inspires me to save those pennies! And, I hope to catch the rerun of the show this summer. Jim sure made out, didn't he?

Hi to all! and on with this day - so much to do, so little time. SO if you don't hear from me much this week, I'm just bizzzzeeeee, but it doesn't mean I'm not thinking about y'all. I should have more time after vaca, and the weather's too hot to be outside during the day.

Love to all!

dip

G'mornin' LGWL!!

Not much happening in this neck of the woods, except that it's very dull out and doesn't give me much incentive to do much... But I will go to the gym and I KNOW once I start I will be fine...I slept like a log last night except D woke us up: "Mom, I can't sleep!" " dear, you want me to give you sleeping pill?!?" What she expects me to do I have no idea! I asked her that this morning, I said I couldn't go "Abracadabra, go to sleep!" she laughed... Oh well kids! She did end up sleeping on the floor in our room tho...

Dip -- I'm looking forward to complaining of too much heat! It's so darn damp and cold here, I even put the furnace on this morning to take the dampness out of the house... The Gazebo I was speaking of is not a wooden one like you would like I too would love one of those! This is more just a sunshade, I guess is the proper word... Our yard is just a regular city yard and doesn't have that much room... I would never know what to do with all that land I have basically a black thumb... I did buy some herbs this weekend, I hope they do well...sage, oregano, basil, mint and in a pot I planted lavender, I absolutely adore lavender! So I hope I don't kill it!

No work today, No one home , I'm alone, YAY!! I love that! But there are a few things to do so I be baaack!!

Hello all!

Wow things have been super busy, people graduating all over the place!

Just wanted to stop in and say hello. I quit caffeine for a couple of weeks and watched my calorie intake shoot up 400 calories a day! Eek! I had no idea that would do that! But I'm still keeping the caffeine minimal or not at all.

It's tough to stay on the workouts when things are so busy, but I'm doing my best. When people are mean or inconsiderate and I feel like eating, I stop myself and ask why am I making myself miserable/fat/off program when it is just someone else being a jerk? I've stopped punishing myself for when other people aren't being good to me. I think this is a major breakthrough. Staying on plan is an act of self love, and accepting that makes it not such a chore to write down what I eat every day, and workouts seem more like fun than work.

Hugs to you all, I hope you are all doing well, I wish I could post more but I have to run....

Jennifa

PS I'm in a size 12 now!!! So happy. those 24s are HISTORY!

Hey LWL - just popping in to say Hi! Welcome back Silverbirch, and congrats Jennifa on the 12's! Welcome back Tidey as well! Where in Canada are you from?

Dip - I have Dr.Phil on my DVR - maybe I can figure out a way to tape it and I can send to you - I'll try to see what I can come up with... Yes, Jim got a ton of stuff, but he sure did deserve it!

I had a doctors appt this morning to have my shoulder looked at again, as it's still bothering me. He's sending me to physical therapy for it - says the muscles are incredibly tight, but doesn't think there's any tears or pulls. Hopefully just massage and stretching can get it back to normal. In the meantime, still no UBWO, golf or tennis for me, which really sucks! The weather is so nice and it's hard not to want to be outside doing these things. I'll get back on my bike in the meantime...

My eating is back on track again - it's so funny - last night I found myself wandering to the kitchen around 9pm, looking to snack, and then it occurred to me - - it's time for my last meal, dummy! So, I whipped up JC's "apple pie" recipe and had a great snack! I think it was Meg who talked about getting back to basics - how basic is that - eating when I'm supposed to!?!?!

Well, lunch is over, so it's back to work. Everyone have a great day!
Cindy

Oh - did I mention that last week I finally treated myself to that iPod mini? I absolutely LOVE it! I've got 600 songs on it so far, and have more to load. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread! The guy at the Apple store said it would "change my life", LOL, but I do believe he might be right! If you have even the slightest inclination to get yourself one, do it - you'll love it too!

Tuesday and I just now get a chance to post here in the weekly thread...ai yi.

On Dr. Phil - Yup I watched the WLC Finale last night (Dr. P is on at 8 pm here thank goodness...). GREAT show. I wrote kind of a mini-review on it in the Dr Phil Phorum here at 3FC. Jim (the WLC Jim, not MY Jim) is pretty cool, but Thomas has been my favorite all along. The BIG surprise for me was Kim, who has done a total 180 IMO...remember her arguing with everyone at the beginning of the season? WOW what a diff now...just a great, great show. And I loved the prizes - that was totally unexpected!
(BTW, Dip, I would've FREAKED if something interrupted the show... )

This was a SUPER weekend for us - we celebrated my Dad's 72nd B-day on Sunday. The four of us girls (me and my 3 sisters that is) pitched in and bought him a bicycle - his is really old and doesn't 'fit' him at all. Since Jim and I both worked in the bike retail biz for awhile, we went to the shop we used to work in and bought him a really nice DiamondBack 'comfort' hybrid the week before, and hid it in my sister's toolshed. When it was wheeled out, Dad was just thrilled! Jim made the proper adjustments and Dad went riding around the backyard (which is 1/2 acre, so he had plenty of room to ride). We grilled steaks and salmon, with baked potatoes, GARLIC BREAD (yup I had a piece...yummers...) and cake. It's not very often that all of us 'sisters' are in the same place at the same time, so it was a very special day for both our parents.

And of course, spent the usual amount of time at the stables...

Also wanted to call your attention to the new post in "Articles worth Reading" - very good article from T-Mag. Check it out

“Gently does it. Hang on a minute.” That’s what it said. And when my body speaks, I listen. We’ll be 49 at the end of August. So the two of us know a thing or two about aches and pains.

Like Dip, I’ve had about three weeks off. Possibly almost four. I’ve been to the gymn this morning but I did less than half my usual routine. That’s one set not two of weights, half of the cardio time but a full set of stretches. I feel just fine about this. I know that I’ll ease myself back to my usual routine in a week or so. I know that being so careful will mean fewer aches and pains and more good temper and energy for the other bits of life. (Other bits of life include mowing the lawn, cutting the hedges, digging a pond for the tadpoles to live in, hula hooping, skipping, running and grabbing dangerous four-year-old, working, etc, etc. This is the shortened version but I expect you get the picture.)

So, if you’ve had time off, don’t feel guilty. Just get back to it. If your body’s saying ‘take your time’, well, take your time and build up slowly. No guilt. There’s no need for it.

I’m in a positive mood, you may have noticed. This is despite my gymn’s appalling lighting and mirrors. Holidays are good for me.

Enjoy today!

Love, Silverbirch.