Royal Fresh Start Express... all aboard!
 

Fresh Start 2009!
 

Okey-doke. Ready!
 

I'm quite excited about the fresh start philosophy. I'm a returner to 3FC, and I love this website. It's nice to hear from all of you wonderful people out there, who I can relate to, and who can relate to ME! :) For 2009, I really just want to get back on the exercise wagon and eating healthy. I've already started the eating healthy piece, but am a little frustrated, since I have had a WICKED cold since Christmas day. The whole not being able to breathe thing has thwarted me a little, but I've still been trying to putter around the house, so as not to be totally sedentary. I am very ready though, and I feel like my head is in the game, so I just need to make sure I'm staying connected. Happy 2009, everyone!

Hello all!
LOVE the new palace!!

We have plenty boxes too.... in fact, I have cards yet to be written and sent....hmmmmmm.....maybe take some to work to do at lunch??? YES!

Anyway, I am running out the door..
.. am riding with DH, that's a long story too.... soundbite: what does satellite radio have to do with a car not running over 2 weeks, in the shop day 6 beginning today???

*****************************
Thought of the day:

"Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarised in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy, and the greatest of all is Confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably."
~ Walt Disney


Question of the day:

"How may times have you been to Disneyworld?"

****************

So good to finally be in the new Palace. Had some access issues which somehow seem to have (been) resolved.

Confession first - terrible, terrible over the holidays. Started on prednisone right before Christmas and the confluence of that appetite increase and the abundance of goodies overwhelmed me. Good part - I'm running after the wagon and have lost four of the temporary fluffies so feel a lot better. still more to go and they're probably not "temporary" ones.

Love the new Palace too and find all the new Restarts inspiring. I like the "every day" restart too. And add me to the people who'd be slim if they could/would go to bed right after dinner. I'm also thinking of adding Arabella's "eat at table" rule.

Welcome, New Life, and yes, do tell us a little. We are by nature "inquiring".

Glad Mom's ok, kat. Was this a joint replacement (since you said the rehab is just the beginning of the work)? By the way, I love your Emerson quote and have to comment - so true.

Hope our sickies are doing a little better. Lots of that stuff going around. After DSIL left on New Year's, I did a lot of Lysoling and L-wiping. Guess it worked so far. And I did have a marvelous holiday season - lots of back and forths, etc. but over all pleasant. And I got it all packed away yesterday so today is another Fresh Start in that direction too.

so off on another new Fresh Start Friday ;) Sun shining today but snow expected tomorrow. It's been mostly ice so far.

Oops, QOD - several times - once just to Epcot part. Disneyland once. Fun, fun.

Hi again, everyone. A couple of people have asked that I share a bit about myself, so here goes (I've recently realized that I'm not very good at talking about myself)... :)

I'm in the security/law enforcement field, so being healthy and getting in better shape is really important for me on a professional level, as well as a personal level. My work life is demanding, so it is sometimes an obstacle for me when it comes to making time for me (to exercise, to take time to prep. the healthy meals, etc.), so I'm consciously working on that right now, and trying to create some balance in my world. There's also a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family, so I am trying to become more healthy before I trail down the same path.

I have a hubby and two cats, who are all very important to me. I also spend a lot of time with my family that lives locally. My hobbies are wide ranging-- from quilting to hiking to biking to reading, and many other things. I've done a lot of research on health and nutrition, so I am taking a different approach to my, "journey" this time, with a focus on exercise and being more healthy, rather than, "dieting". I figure if I try to make some life changes for the positive, the weight loss will follow. Although that's important to me, being healthy is my main priority. I also don't want everything I put in my mouth to be a focus for me or others around me, and I realize I'm not going to set myself up for failure by depriving myself of something I REALLY want, as long as I don't go overboard, and as long as I'm still plodding forward.

I really enjoy 3FC because of the support and the ability to talk freely about things. So... thanks to all of you that make this a welcoming site and atmosphere!

Happy New Year :queen:s!!!

Count me in as one of the sickos. I'm on day 10 and just starting to feel better. VERY thankful for my codeine-laced cough syrup that is letting me get a few hours sleep inbetween hacking up a lung or three. Bah on germs!

Right, this weight loss thing.

I'm kinda at the point where doing nothing isn't really working. Have already been through WW, Atkins, South Beach, Body for Life...and while they work temporarily, I get tired of counting every morsel of food and minute of activity (or lack thereof). SO while I'm loving who I am right now, I'm focusing on an improved version of me and taking small steps every day to be stronger and healthier.

I don't want to be skinny. I have a man who can't keep his hands off me and prefers a few extra pounds to that cliche size six model. I want to enjoy life and all the chocolate it brings and balance it with resistance training, long walks, yoga/pilates. I'm not looking for overnight results. I have realized that I want to live, not obsess.

So, "new year - new attitude" really applies for me this year. Except it's a different attitude. No all or nothing. No feeling like a failure for not losing x amount of weight in x number of days. This year, I'm going to be happy being me. Just think how much energy we spend beating ourselves up...and how much more productive we could be putting that energy into living better.

Here too, ceara, on the inflated "storm" reporting. We've had a little overnight, supposed to get a little more this afternoon but it turns out it will be more icy/slushy, etc. than snow. Of course, if the "front" had chosen to come just a tad further south, well, that would have been a different story. But I rearranged my day yesterday and today to accommodate at least 6 inches.

And I am feeling great, ceara. That's the good part of the p. Just got a bit more sleepless and stressed feeling than usual but had a great Christmas on it. Not nearly so much a drag (though, of course, that was not the reason I started on it).

Ah, yes, Wildfire. Health is the goal. You're already a stunning :queen: It's to be better able to long enjoy that new little Princess in your life. I know I could be healthier and I still have that goal. But I also know I've made many changes these last years in the palace that HAVE improved my health o'er what it might otherwise have been. Just need to keep at it.

New Life, sounds like you're on the right track too. AND very active and busy which actually can be a help once you've made some basic tweaks. Family health problems are really a good motivator.

I have given myself TODAY. Don't know what I'm going to do besides the usual necessities. Have started a veggie soup that looks rewarding already. Sorted out the upstairs freezer a bit to see what I should use up soon. But it's basically going to be puttering, sorting, enjoying. Maybe a Meerkat Manor Marathon (DS/DDIL gave me the whole 3 seasons plus a stuffed critter to hold as I watch ;) ).

Dunno - but at any rate TODAY I will have the luxury of choosing and to do or not do as my mood indicates for another twelve hours or so. Lucky ME!!!!!

And that's my theme for the day - LUCKY ME :kissluck::kissluck::kissluck:

I like the happy tone of this thread. Me, I haven't done too well thus far this year, EXCEPT I haven't eaten any sweets since the new year. A lady in my book group said she wasn't going to drink or eat sugar until Valentines Day. Drinkings not my problem, but those cookies ... well, that's another story. But ... I thought I could definitely get off the sweet train for a month and a half. I can actually go for months without eating anything sweet, but if I fall off the train ... watch out :((

I think my biggest problem is portion control. I like to eat and not be hungry. I haven't figured out a diet plan that works for me. I feel good on Atkins, but I'm worried that it's not healthy. But it seems like any kind of carbs, even low-glycemic index carbs, make me crave more and keep me hungry and/or eating constantly.

Advice for my problem would be appreciated.

Hi, all! This is a bit of a me-me postie regarding where I am "diet" wise and I apologize for overpostin' 'n to those who do not know me for seemingly driftin' off into flights o' fancy (I use fantasy a lot to cheer self up and motivate me on my journey).

Hello to all newer members, I appear to be a new member on this thread but have hung around muchly in the past under another name, long story. My nickname is "Am" ... so here's where I am ... Janus is an imaginary (so I SAY) research facility that formed the basis for my January challenge to evaluate where I am health and fitness wise.

I've also been doing a 2009 exercise minute count. I'm up to 1190 already and feel great, lot of walking and some weights and other stuff.

***
Am says: "Having become tired of January already, all the folks at the Janus January Research Center quit their jobs at that top secret facility followin' the Jan. 11 Ceremony o' the Golden Scale o' Dietary Justice in which, happily, the Maintenance Angel dropped by for a visit in lieu o' the Regain Demon (we had NOT sent him an invitation but sometimes he shows up anyhow).

All were delighted to see Maintenance Angel as the week had been one of high exercise and higher calories, there bein' a lot o' diet 'n fitness experimentation goin' on at Janus, which is a diet 'n fitness research center in an unspecified green 'n meadowy location in the middle o' Diet Amland, East Dietshire, Diet Wise Womanland, Planet Diet Earth.

However, it was pointed out that this was a special day to Diet Maiden Am, a diet Janus employee, who is tired o' the dreary month that is January, tired of employment and wants to go live full-time in her diet rose covered cottage just over the next diet knoll from the Janus facility and make plans for the FESTIVE SEASON O' ST. VALENTINE'S DAY, where in East Dietshire, everyone celebrates backwards and does not eat any candy and they make vows of self-improvement instead of saying in hedonistic glee that they intend to work on reaching their diet 'n fitness goals following Valentine's Day.

So Am and then her Janus coworkers all quit and decided to devote themselves full-time to diet 'n fitness.

Am uses the word "diet" to mean "diet" ... as in "diets do work if you work 'em" and she shuns the modern practice o' sayin' that "diets don't work and callin' 'diets' lifestyle changes when the word 'diet' means a food plan and together with a weight loss or weight maintenance and fitness goal means 'lifestyle' so WHAT is the diet word problem, world?

The GOAL for this St. Valentine's Self Challenge is for Am to lose a teeny amount of weight (again) to (again) reach her goal. The larger goal is to work on her New Year's Resolution of becoming SUPER FIT and to work on her newly sprouted streakity streak exercise minute count for 2009 (no worries that she is overtraining as she is varying the workouts enough so that won't happen and in truth, she modestly must aver that she actually knows a lot about exercise, diet and fitness and how it applies to her body and life 'n hopes it be not offensive to say this, but in the interest o' truth, there it be).

The PLAN is to continue to SEEK a liveable calorie allowance with a target (rarely reached) of approximately the 1500s on average, BUT to make sure each week to vary daily amounts to include high, medium and low days (that was what the experimentation was about) as that really works best for Am.

A SUBGOAL is to feel happier and more springity spring like, tra la, , an to RELAX yet mayhap once in awhile she will have to report self to Diet Wise Woman for corrective action, rememberin' that this may seem like a piece of cake (scratch cake) but losing those few pounds is actually one of the hardest diet challenges she's ever faced in this journey. THOSE POUNDS WANT TO STAY, but she's gonna kick their anatomy outta here!

Another SUBGOAL is that she is scratching the sugar free MANDATE and just generally going to eat sugar once in awhile but try to stay low glycemic.

She is ALSO (lot goin' on here) goin' to re-evaluate her decision to return to vegetarianism, so far no decision has been made.

(Caveat: it should be noted that the nonvirtual Am has NOT actually resigned HER actual nonvirtual employment as she has bills to pay, but that employment does come with some challenges that seem to trigger STRESS EATING so the Stress Eating Demon has been placed on the Most Wanted Demon List and his picture can be found on the wall in your local Dietshire Post Office!)

That's all for now. Janus management sent out a memo to all the staff members who resigned requesting that they not let the door hit 'em on the way out but wishin' 'em well in their DIET goals! An ad appeared in the East Dietshire Diet Daily for new employees but nobody reapplied."

Hi, there CJZEE and :welcome:

We are indeed a pretty cheery group but certainly do not frown on complaining, kvetching or otherwise venting as we generally feel that the Palace is the "perfect place" to let it all hang out as we do try to practice being non-judgmental in a :queen:ly fashion.

Oh, dear motivated and motivational Am, it's so good to have you back in the Palace on a more regular basis.

I'm still working on my January goal setting and here you are working on February already! Inspirational.

I'm puttering around again today. Amazing how much I get done when I just puter as vs. when I set goals and don't meet them ;)

So, hi to all :queen:s and am looking forward to a full Palace for Fresh Start Monday.

:belly:

Repost warning:

I'm back, OP, doing well. But I'm having network problems that mean I'm spending half my day keeping the network up so I can get anything done. The weekend was totally busy -- wake and funeral for a friend's mother Friday evening and Saturday and then a family party out of town on Sunday. And - OY! - it's going to be a busy week.

Not letting stress get to me though. I'll be back with "the personals" ASAP!

Just have to say:

Welcome, CJZee!

And Anagram, re: puttering - we ARE twin :queen:s I can putter things done and enjoy it but if I've got a major goal I'm forcing self to accomplish -- well that brings out the bad kid in me.

Love to all!

Good morning, busy :queen:s. Sorry about Network problems too, Arabella. Frustrating stuff.

I'm here for the day as I'm having new flooring installed in two bathrooms. Hoping to sort of lollygag, putter my way through a lot in a very disorganized fashion.

Did a lot of fruit/veggie cleaning up, cutting so today shouild go well.

Back to puttering.........................

Making it
 

Oh my goodness, where did my post go? :? I thought I had posted over the weekend... I remember commenting to the northeastern crowd about the big storm that never was, praising Wildfire's awesome message, asking about meerkats (ie: huh?) and talking about Mom's knee replacement... and now?

*poof*

Oh well... (scratches head) will just move forward from here!

Well, I lost 2# this week. :dance: :dance: Which is great, but @%*&! I hate losing the same weight over and over! I decided that I needed to reboot the system, as it were, and have embarked upon a 10 day cleanse. I've done it (Mastercleanse) before, with good results, so I just felt that I needed that boost that a good detoxing gives me. Shakes up the weight loss a bit and gears me up for some really clean eating after it's done. I've got 3 days under my belt and feel good. Free, actually... but in control. Hunger is not really an issue, as soon as I feel hunger pangs, I drink more of my concoction and they go away. Which makes me realize what my triggers really are... and it ain't hunger! Sight, smell, any number of emotions, fatigue...

I could ramble on and on and I really want to reply to everyone, but I have an antsy teenager breathing down my neck, and pacing the room while looking longingly at the computer. He's not hanging around for the company, I'm thinkin'! I've put him off for as long as I could, but I can't think with him hovering.

Hang in there, :queen:s! Another fresh start is only a few hours away! :flow2:

Such inspiring behaviors! And staying op w/all that stress, Arabella, my heroine!

The floor is vinyl, very neutral and bland - I have been keeping in mind that I plan NOT to be living here forever. It's the same floor in both bathrooms and I will perk it up otherwise. (Not that a room w/gold metallic wallpaper with lots of brown and blue butterflies needs much perking up ;) ). But this whole thing went so blissfully well that I hardly had time to stress over it. True I've been planning it for a while but had really just started looking when I spotted an ad I've seen before - emailed Saturday morning, he brought samples over Saturday afternoon including the one I chose (and guess what - he had enough left over from an earlier job and I got a steep discount on it). He came and left Tuesday, did a nice job, etc., etc. Wow!

Oh, kat - sorry for the lost post but I've had it happen so often and know it takes twice as much effort to redo it. Hope Mom's well w/knee replacement. and all the therapy. She'll not regret having it done.

And good for you with grabbing the horns and going for a REAL boost. I've been doing my Slimfast thing (my usual reboot) but not following through enough. But also acknowledging my triggers are not hungry ones. Fatigue a big one, prenisone another, stress always, boredom too. I'm tapering on the prednisone so it's not as big a factor as a couple of weeks ago. I'm acknowledging I'm NOT hungry for the cookies, nut roll, even ice cream in the fridge. I do have peppers, tangerines, carrots ready in the fridge for the munchie moments and that helps. Back to getting in more veggies. Not up enough on the water. Maybe too much tea but I've been cutting that back a bit. I finally bought a water filter for my kitchen faucet (not on yet - I guess they don't work well when they're sitting on a counter) - I've noticed a change in water taste over recent years - used to really enjoy our water but no more - and they're planning to add even more yucky stuff. If it doesn't help, it won't be a great loss as I bought it on sale, with a rebate, etc., etc. (Cheap above all ;) )

Anyway, I must be off. It's going to take a lot to make me beautiful today but, once done, I'll be ready to take on the world. For a while anyway.

:belly: :belly: :belly:

Oh, kat - Meerkat Manor is a show sometimes on Animal Planet. About some twelve inch high critters run by a dominant female ("Flower" the first couple of years). All the grit of a soap opera - love, hate, sex, brutality, competition, fun (the babies are so cute), conniving (all supplied by human narration,of course). Happened upon it while channel clicking once and converted DS to it as well.

Timon is the only reason I had ever even heard the word "meerkat" before! (having watched "the Lion King" 30 zillion times or so with ds) I will look for Meerkat Manor on Animal planet... sounds cute!

Ooh, that Prednisone is a bugger isn't it, Anagram? Glad I'm off that! New floor sounds loverly, btw.

I punched out already and was going to hunker down here for a good long post, but I see there's a good class at gym at 7:00. So now I must fly! Cleanse going well, just what I needed! Day 5, I'm 7# down since Sunday! Yes, I know it's mostly water (some other stuff too :p TMI!) but it's mostly for the psychological jolt I need... seeing those same two lbs go up and down the scale is NOT good for my emotional well being!

Okay, I hope to be back later... stay warm!!