Wow, what a slow evening! We just got back a few minutes ago from a Christmas project fundraiser at church. It was pretty fun. Eating was bad of course. But like I always want to point out, better than I used to eat! At least it's something.
I had really intended to get back on hard-core plan Friday but these two parties this weekend have really thrown me into a tailspin. It was two Christmases ago that I really gained a lot of weight that caused me to increase a pant size. I'm remembering that this year. Celebrations are not about the food! But for me, I think it's just that all of my favorite foods are served and linger around during the Christmas season. One good thing is that now we live here and don't have to stay at our parent's houses over Christmas celebrations, so we won't be constantly surrounded by tempting food.
Sorry I'm rambling.
Vickie, I'm sorry that you didn't have a very good day. I hope that the meds help and you get well rested tonight.
Patti, hope that your baking turned out well!
Stef, I think those are great ideas. I like the idea that Kathy mentioned as well about recipes in the jar. There are so many cookie and soup recipes where you put the dry ingredients in a jar and attach the recipe. That would be pretty cheap if you were willing to put in some work.
Well I guess that you guys can see that I changed my tracker to reflect Friday's weight. Very, very depressing, but I thought I might as well fess up. But I'm starting to wear my 14s (did last night and tonight) and that is a success in itself. It's motivating.
Alright chickies I am about pooped. I'm headed to bed before too long. Night!
We're having LO ground sirloin chili with fresh corn bread tomorrow for dinner. It'll be easy for me to do after I wrap tomorrow. I'm bored too but Jim is done with his shower now so I'm off to watch TV with him.
Melissa, losing inches is almost as good as losing pounds. That's exercise for you! Wait until you start belly dancing. Those 14's will be falling off of your hips!
I'll be back bright and early to say good morning before I start to wrap.
Vickie, happy wrapping! I have none to do because kids get money, MIL/FIL will be out of town, my parents will be here next Saturday and their's is done except for the quilt. All nieces and nephews got theirs at Thanksgiving ... well, they took their gifts home with them to open at Christmas. And so all I have to do is go to the ATM a few days before Christmas! Gotta love those adult children, where money is the "one size fits all" gift!
I'll probably be around 45-50 presents by the time I'm done with everyone, including Jim's stocking. It makes me tired just to think about it. And...of course, I'm anal. All have to look pretty. Mutiple packages for each person have to be in matching paper. And, I try not to wrap any of Jim's in the same paper twice. Yeah, I know, I'm nuts!
Yep, I'd say you're anal!! Judd and I don't get each other anything for Christmas and we have no other relatives that we buy for besides the parents (and nieces/nephews). When the kids were little, it was a different story. I'm just so glad that part's over!!
I'm making myself a list of lunches and dinners for next week so I can prepare tomorrow. I'm going to try to work 10-11 hours per day Monday thru Thursday and then a little bit on Friday. I have a few things to get finished before the Christmas break. We're closed from the 22nd thru Jan. 3 -- and I can't wait to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for those days!
Vickie - darling - please don't go to any bother with our gifts - we honestly don't care if the wrapping matches!
I do hope the meds kick in soon - and you feel better - sorry you were under the weather today!
Kim - I just LOVED your holiday eating tips - what a hoot!
Kathy - I agree w/ the "1 size and color fits all" gift - can't go wrong w/$$. As for co-workers gifts - I usually hand out Starbucks gift cards as most everyone likes something they have to offer! (This also make a nice "emergency" gift which you can whip out when someone you had not planned on giving a gift to - gets something for you which you had not expected!).
Melissa - hope you enjoyed the party - and that you get a good rest tonight!
I did go w/dh to the "workshop" this morning - nice lady - in a gorgeous auditorium at the Heart Institute - maybe a dozen people there and a long table covered with those chintzy plastic food examples - and empty wrappers, boxes etc so we could read the labels.
It was very basic nutritional info - but really good explanation of how cholesterol worked - and how the good and bad lipoproteins and triglycerides contribute to the problem. Also large focus on exercise of course as well. Even when on meds for cholesterol or bp - need to STILL make the necessary lifestyle changes in diet and exercise to help meds work and diminish the problem.
Things I learned that I did not know!
1) your liver does not CARE what kind of sugar goes in your body - e.g fruit sugar or candy sugar or honey or molasses, etc. - any excess from the liver goes to your muscles and any excess after that is stored as fat (very bad news).
2) she says it's 8 cups of fluid and not necessarily 8 cups of water - and yes even sodas are included altho these would obviously not be the best choice
3) Reading labels very important - esp for sodium, fat and fibre (we all knew that) but sometimes need to prioritize - for example there is an excellent yogurt out with live cultures (Activia) however it has 3.5% fat (not considered a low fat yogurt) - nutritionist says that even tho it is not low fat, and has sugar in it (i mentioned using plain yogurt and mixing in fruit which is when she said - it would probably be the same amount of sugar as in the "regular" version), it is a WAY better choice due to the probiotic benefits.
4) Make sure the whole grains you eat actually SAY whole grain on the list of ingredients - she showed us several items which said made w/whole wheat flour on the package - but when you read the list of ingredients it is way down on the list - and barely any in the product!
5) Re fibre - it's the soluble fibre which is more important than the insoluble fibre - so make sure you get more of that stuff!
6) and definitely look for products w/added omega 3-6-9 such as eggs and milk and the good oils! (yes the stuff is more expensive but dh and I have decided that it is probably worth it for our health!)
So of course it was off to the grocery store after that (after our lunch stop at Subway instead of Pizza hut as originally planned) to load up on lots of fruits and veggies and healthy yogurt and whole grain flax bread and avocados and lots of berries (raspberries, blueberries and strawberries)
Hope we can get further inspired now to eat all that stuff! ha ha ha
Went out to movie tonight with dh as well - Syriana - a bit confusing and dark! Does not leave you with a warm feeling that's for sure!
Now waiting for dryer to "call" me so I can fold and go to bed!
Melissa-That's great about the 14's. I'm 157 and in 12's.
Frouf-I'm glad you enjoyed the holiday tips. I was beginning to wonder if anyone had read them. Thanks for all the information. I love learning anything new about health and nutrition. I didn't know that about the yogurt. I wonder if Wal Mart or Kroger carries it. I've bought those eggs a few times but wondered if they were worth the extra money.
My Sunday school party was a lot of fun, but I ate until I was literally sick. I'm not going to make my Christmas goal, but I need to definitely get back on track. I'm thinking about trying flex again. I get so sick of the same foods and get bored easily with different diet plans. I never really lose much but I guess I keep myself from gaining. I do enjoy this group of core ladies so I hope that even if I do flex I can still post with y'all.
Good Morning Chicks! I feel a bit better this morning. I've printed a cystitis sufferers food handbook and I'm going to start keeping a journal so I can figure out what the triggers are for me. Biggest problem is that some of the foods are Core foods. Sheesh. It's hard to serve so many masters.
Frouf, thanks SO much for all that information. I didn't know we'd benefit too! It was very kind of you to type it all out for us. I have to admit that I don't know the difference in soluble/non soluble fiber. I must read up on that since I have both high BP and high cholesterol. I've been to the diabetic sessions with the nutritionist with Jim when he was first diagnosed with diabetes. My WW training helped me to know what was considered a serving size, guess calories, etc. I hope you and DH enjoy this shared journey. It might be something to do together that will bring you together. And, Subway was a MUCH better choice than pizza.
Kim, I so sorry! I'm such a bad friend. I read the eating tips and thought they were hysterical. I thought I told you so but see that I certainly did not. I hadn't seen this version before and it was definitely funnier than the others! Don't worry about your Christmas goal. Just try to maintain. Really, that will be a BIG accomplishment for all of us.
Hey Frouf, will you be having a big Hannukah observance? Was I right about it being the same day as Christmas this year? Will presents be involved?
Stef, Frouf's message made me think back to my Manager days when I used to buy my staff holiday presents. I almost always did gift cards unless I really knew their tastes. Some of the gift cards that I bought were for movie theaters, Starbucks, Bath and Body Works, the local chocolate store, Dunkin Donuts, local restaurants, etc. I also bought instant lottery tickets for the gamblers on my staff. They all really seemed to enjoy these gifts, especially the gift cards.
Well, I can eat breakfast in about a half hour and then I must start wrapping again. I hope to be done with all but the decorations today. I wrap and put the to/from labels on and then go back later to put on bows and ribbons. It really requires a completely different frame of mind for us anal chickies! I'll go do a menu thread (but first I'll check thoroughly to make sure there isn't one already!).
Happy Sunday, all! Let me see what's going on today ... I went to the store and got a few things for lunches next week, then took my car to get washed. It's a very sunny day and not too cold -- maybe in the 50s? I've done 3 loads of laundry, made sugar cookies, planned the dinner, listed some ebay, and now I'm playing solitaire on Gamesville while watching TLC. I should be vacuuming but it'll interrupt the football that Judd is watching, so I'll wait. I know there are more things I have to do, but I need to think about it and make a list.
Actually, I just finished eating lunch. Couldn't stomach the idea of split pea soup so I ate an eggbeater omelet with FF american cheese and ketchup. I just got off the phone with Sports Illustrated trying to find out where Jim's commemorative hardcover edition of the White Sox World Series win is. That's why I ordered the goofy magazine and it still isn't here. It was shipped 12/6 so I guess there's still a prayer of it coming before Christmas. If I finish wrapping before it comes, I'll just have to leave a roll of paper out to wrap the stragglers. I'm still missing about 4 or 5 items.
This is my favorite holiday but sometimes it make me crazy.
Ok, I'm starving today. I've eaten all my food through my lunch snack and I'm still hungry. I've also already had 32 ounces of water and 24 ounces of coffee. So am I just hungry because I have to weigh in tomorrow? Sheesh.
I'd say yes. You're just hungry because you know you have to weigh in!
I still haven't eaten but should, I suppose. I woke up with a big craving for Crystal Light Ruby Red and Sprite Zero. Is that weird or what? It's all I thought about from around 4 a.m. on ... so as soon as I got dressed, I went to the store for those two things (and a few more). I'm on big glass #2 of it. Dinner will be easy and so I'm enjoying taking it easy today. The next four days are going to be long working hours so I need to rest up.
Hey all, hope you are having good afternoons. We went to church this morning and then out to lunch, so didn't get home until 1:30 or 2. Then we bummed out on the couches and watched a movie. It is so cold here and was snowing earlier. We both fell asleep. DH is still fighting off whatever dizzy-illness he had last week and I feel pretty crappy myself. I wish I would either get sick or get better though. At least if I would get full-blown sick I could take off work, instead of just feeling blah.
Well aren't I just rambling?
Vickie, you are pretty anal about the wrapping, but I bet it looks great. This is the first year that I bought two rolls of coordinating paper. It doesn't match, but has similar colors and the same snowmen on both. Made me feel all kinds of special. Even let MIL borrow it so that it would all match. And I am still getting gifts in the mail too. In fact, there are some things that we have yet to order!! Those are the things that DH is "taking care of."
Kathy, your vacation plans sound wonderful. We get two big days off for Christmas, and then a day for New Year's as well. I'm looking forward to it though. I'm glad that Christmas is on a weekend this year, so that we at least get our days off in a row. Your drink sounds good, though I've never had the ruby red flavor. I really like orange, I think it's called sunrise orange?
Frouf, thanks for sharing the info with us. It sounds like it was a good day for you and DH.
Hey, shouldn't Sandra be back? Or is it not until tomorrow?
Kim, I'm sorry that your eating was not great last night. Maybe instead of switching plans you could find some new foods to incorporate into your plan? You just seem to be doing so well. The holiday tips you posted were hilarious. And too much like how I used to actually eat.
Here's a random question for you guys. I'm looking for something to get my grandmother who has everything. She wants nothing. Really. The only thing I can think of is a frame with a pic of her and me and my mom. Anybody got any genius ideas for anything else? I can't do gift cards because she will just spend them on us. She is a widow and just takes care of everyone!
OK, off to wake up DH. We have been really lazy today.
Kath, your hours for next week sound horrible to me. I'd even rather be cleaning my house!
So I guess it's basically just you and me today. Harumpf! I came here for a break while my corn bread is in the oven and the chili is warming on the stove. What a great meal for today. It's really cold here and the chili will feel good going down. Not that I've been out today! In fact, I'm still in my pj's. After dinner I'll shower and get into fresh pj's! A decadent life I have to say.
Tomorrow will be insane for me. I've got my weigh in and meeting and then at least 10 errands. I have a few more odds and ends that I need for decorating the house and the packages. I'm finished wrapping everything that is here. There are still about 5 gifts on the way for my honey. We both spoil each other rotten. Christmas is my favorite time of year so we still buy for each other and fill each other's stockings. We don't buy presents for our birthdays or anniversarys. We just go out for nice meals then. I guess I'm still just a little kid at heart.
I watched two movies while wrapping today. The first was Miracle on 34th Street and the second was Christmas Carol with George C. Scott. I think this might be one of the best versions I've ever seen. Jim and I will watch Santa Clause and Santa Clause II together since he likes them too. The others I'll probably watch by myself.
So Sandra has an excused pass but where are our dearest Froufie and Melissa? I'm done babbling to myself. I hope you pop in Kath to see my ramblings. I sure hate to think that I'm talking to myself.
I guess I should go make some applesauce and some SF/FF banana pudding. Jim will eat the pudding if I keep it in the refrigerator.
Vickie I had visited! Did you miss my post? Is it invisible? It sounds like you have had a productive but restful day. I like those days when you never get out of pjs. Fun stuff! I hope that you get all of your errands done tomorrow. We're supposed to get snow tonight. My intention was to go to Wal-Mart today but it was SO cold and nasty that I just couldn't bring myself to go. So I guess I'll be going tomorrow night. Your chili sounds yummy!
) to load up on lots of fruits and veggies and healthy yogurt and whole grain flax bread and avocados and lots of berries (raspberries, blueberries and strawberries)
Those are the things that DH is "taking care of." 