Well, yesterday was a wash of a day, literally and figuratively. I stayed home all day expecting the winds and rain to get worse and they never did. The typhoon didn't make a direct hit on Tokyo. So, I never got to the gym, but I did practice the piano, much needed, with tomorrow a lesson.

I also, I must admit, binged on sugar and I am very unhappy about that. Must do something. Will see today.

Anyhow, the smoking challenge is done as well. Tonight, if I meet my old drinking buddies, I may be sorely tempted to do one or the other (drink or smoke) or both. I am very depressed these days, just see no light at the end of the tunnel and even things like riding and weight loss seem to have lost any meaning for me. I'm really in a bad way. All these changes are not helping for now. Keep pushing on, is all I know how to do, so I will...

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 12 completed, 2 pauses taken

No alcohol (round 3, 1 pause on round 1, no pauses on round 2) --
Day 0 0 pauses taken

No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) -- Day 21 completed 0 pauses taken -- SMOKING CHALLENGE COMPLETED!!! Hurrah to me!!!

Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 6 completed 1 pauses taken

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diyana -- Good to see you and thanks for the congratulations. Yes, I did it, a full three weeks without a sip. That makes six weeks with only one night out. I wish I could say I feel great and that my skin were better but neither is the case. I will say that it is nice knowing I will not feel too awful in the morning after a drinking session. As I wrote above, the temptation will be there tonight (if I go..I may not). Let's hope I don't think I need to "mark" anything with a toast.

Yes, I missed you over the weekend. Too bad you had to take a pause. I hope the nibbles were so big as to play havoc with your weight loss. Are you a member of some club, like Weight Watchers, or are you just doing this on your own? You speak of "weigh-ins" so I was wondering.

Well, good luck!


I've decided to try to get the sugar and the calories under control. I am so tired of sabotaging my hard work constantly. Why, oh why do I do this? I also think it is much easier to eat sugar calories than drink booze calories. If I could just learn to only eat VALUABLE calories, maybe I could make progress. I feel so happy thinking of eating sugar and then I keep going and going and I'm enjoying it but not really because as I'm doing it I am hating myself. What goes?
I guess this is classic addiction behavior. But I believe it's a mental addiction. Trying to fill a hole that can't be filled with food or drink and knowing that but not knowing what else to do.... why is life so hard?

Sorry I haven't got back here. The days have gone a bit weird and it's been somewhat busy.

Haven't yet worked out the challenges as such. I think I might stick with the 4 I have been using for the next round. I'll have to add things as we go I think so.......

1300 (about) daily calorie limit
Exercise daily
Portion control
Water - 1 litre at least.
3 pause days for each.

Red - so you went off the rails for a day. I guess you will be back into it tomorrow again. We are here, just not always available - although I always read. Depends on how busy I get as to how much I get to write. So having done all that, its time to go back to stirring the meatballs.
Pity none of you are closer or you would be getting some of the produce from my garden which is going berserk at the moment.

Dang it, I posted yesterday but somehow it was lost.

Red - I'm glad the typhoon didn't directly hit Tokyo. When my dad and step-mom lived in Hong Kong many years ago, they said that typhoons could be fierce. Are they the same thing as hurricanes? There's a bad one of those barreling up the Mexican/Califonria coast. Here in WI, we have tornadoes and, of course, snow. So you binged on sugar on 8/31 and then went out and drank and smoked? You were doing so well on your challenges. Oh well, it's just a pause...but please don't let this be the start of backsliding. By feeling bad, your body is telling you that stuff isn't good for you. I sensed the depression in your post from 8/31. Riding has no meaning? Now you have me REALLY worried. You love your horse and your horse loves you. The kind of unconditional love we get from animals is so heartwarming and uplifting. As for your question of my club...I do Weight Watchers at Work and our weekly weigh in is on Thursdays during the lunch hour. Good for you for the sugar free day. I'm not sure I could do that. As Shad says, we are here, and I did actually post yesterday...of course, some how it got lost in cyberspace.

Shad - I'd love some of your produce and your meatballs. Wish I lived closer!

I walked for 1/2 hour at lunch yesterday, then went to the gym for 1/2 hour of cardio and 1/2 hour of weights. Because of my lungs, I kept the intensity down a bit. Of course now, my legs and back are saying I may have done too much. Why can't they tell me that at the time?

Next week, we're going away for Labor Day and my birthday, and it may be difficult to make healthy eating choices...but we should be getting A LOT of walking in.

Journal and Stay Within Points, 2 pauses left - Day 10 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 2 pauses left - Day 10 completed

Day one over and done with. Weigh in this morning was 81.1 which is a drop of 2.1 from the beginning of two challenges ago. It's not the greatest weightloss in town, but it is better than what I have been doing in recent times.

Can't see the loss yet, apart from the odd dimple in the fat! Mind you I think the chine and shoulders are losing. That's usually the first place I lose. Now to get back to the 70's

Gotta run. Running late for today already. I'll be back later

I weighed myself this morning in advance of my official WW weigh in at lunch time. I'm kind of expecting to be the same weight or have gained a little. We'll see. I was so exhausted yesterday, I just needed to rest...so no gym or walking for me. But tonight, I've got an appointment with my coach/trainer...so I'll go to the gym for cardio, weights and to meet with him. I ordered a couple pairs of pants in Misses sizes...a 16 Misses and a 14 Misses. And even though now, I'm a 16 Womans I know that's not the same as a 16 Misses. They were on sale and I figure I'll get down there sooner or later - hopefully sooner!

I am way excited! This weekend is Labor Day weekend here in the States. And in addition to having Monday off, my company is closing down tomorrow afternoon, so we get an extra 1/2 day. AND my DH and I are taking Tuesday and Wednesday (my birthday) off, so we have a very nice LONG weekend!! We are going out of town to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (which is attached to Northern Wisconsin). We leave on Sunday morning and come home on Wednesday! We found a great place to stay that is okay with us bringing our doggies and it's very reasonably priced! I can't wait! Since we're going to a place that's even less populated than the country town we live in, I'm not sure what our eating out options will be. We do have a small frig, microwave and stove in the cabin. I'll make the best possible food choices, making sure to have lots of fruits and veggies for snacks, and drink LOTS of water. And I know we'll be getting A LOT of walking in and some "weight lifting" as we plan to do some serious rock collecting while we're up there. I'm sooo looking forward to this!!

Journal and Stay Within Points, 2 pauses left - Day 11 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 2 pauses left - Day 11 completed

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Red - Congrats on wearing a shirt you haven't been able to wear before AND getting complimented on it! That's wonderful! Sometimes, people who don't know you're trying to lose weight don't dare comment on weight...so don't take that to heart. You're doing really well with your challenges! Keep up the great work!

Shad - Congrats on losing 2.1kg! YGG! That's wonderful!! My little bit of weight loss is showing up in my chins (there are fewer - LOL).