Well if its my weight in 2006, it will be just like the biggest loser scale...

the numbers will move around and around and be hard to read sometimes but

when the numbers slow down.... they will read 140.....

I'd prefer they 'd read 135-138 for the "cushion" but I was too hungry all the time at that weight....


who's next??


Eydie-- the salsa's are a great idea! So many uses today for salsa you wouldnt even have to include chips....
I am thinking of things like Infused Olive Oils... w/ garlic or hot peppers.... I asked a good friend if she had a recipe to make them but she said she never tried as she was afraid she wouldnt like it and it would be a waste of money....Dh loves hot pepper oil, he even pours a little on his salad....

Personally, I couldnt tell you the last time I ate a date.....maybe I should experiment...

I'm also thinking about sugar foot/body scrubs in scents that invigorate....
dh loves spearmint and often needs to soak his feet.....saw a recipe for a Peppemint Bath Salt that makes 12 "jars" of the scrub for about $1.50 a jar...
I'm not sure how much the cost would be for the sugar scrub... I already have about 10 lbs of sugar in my cupboard that would be much better as a scrub than inside me! :)!!

so....

today.... did ok w/ food... not great but ok...

A silent figure lurks near the palace walls and skulks in and sinks in a quiet corner exuding one big sigh relaxation. Ah, the peace and calm of the palace.

I'll venture my weight in early 2006 to get to 190. I'm probably dreaming because, while I improved slightly this week, I'm in dire need of taking me in hand.

I've hired someone to help w/dh's care starting next week. I've been hard at it for a month almost and it had to be that way. But now, in order to take care of me as well, I'm going to have some help. I can't send someone else to my doctor's for me or to get my hair cut or to exercise my limbs at the pool. We've seen some improvement but not nearly what I'd hoped for. He's still on potent IV antibiotics which seem to knock him so I'm hoping when they're done next week he may have more strength. Can't get enough calories in him yet either.

Then tonight I had turned in, fallen asleep (just) and the dialysis machine alarmed. It turned out to be a simple fix but when I went back to bed MY internal alarm was on. So back to the couch in the family room, dh restless and now i think all sleep has fled my body for a while. All sorts of goodies are calling me - much in house because in an effort to get some calories in the guy, all medical restrictions are temporarily removed. Can you imagine trying to ADD calories to everything for him and RESTRICT calories for me? No wonder i'm confused.

Christmas already, holidays already? Of course that time is at hand. Well, I'm skipping Halloween this year for sure and who knows what the other holidays will bring. But hopefully I can get back on a healthy track for them so I'll look forward to the challenge(s). It's pretty much a given that I have to be healthy and do healthy things to stay up to my current physical challenges. Motivation on top of motivation yet i'm still lollygagging. Lots of yogurt, cottage cheese and oatmeal in this house too. I just have to put labels on - MINE - HIS - and keep them straight. It's like this cheerful stuff - I know it's better for me.

I'm a little scared tonight, queenlets. Scared I won't be able to keep bad things away from dh (as I haven't been able to do all year really). I remind me i'm just a human, though indeed a royal one, and that one human cannot keep all evils from others nor herself and that she can only persevere in the royal one step at a time mode and do the best she can do at the moment.

Ah, my kingdom for some shuteye.

If I am a really good girl, lol, I could get to 145 by 1.1.06 :cloud9:, but then, maybe I am only dreaming...

I'll take a crack at it...2006 weight is exactly the number it says at the bottom of my signature. 165. That's what I want to be and that's what I'm getting at sometime in 2006. :p

The only one off the top of my head that's a missing Royal is Cerise. I miss hearing about her and Ramon.

Harrah!
 

Yowza, so many :queen: ly posties in the palace today.

Yea, the palace be a place for wanderin' through but thinkin' back, seems it's been here for a time now ... I know I posted heavily here in 1999 and since have transitioned back and forth and here we all still are ... that's sorta nice, anyhow, dinna yet think, :queen: s?

Ceara, enjoy thy grandma day, that's a great age and she must have wonderful things to say to thee.

Anagramatic, I wasn't sure if thou meant keep bad things that dh wants to eat away or just keep bad things that might bother him away ... but I know thou will succeed in whatever thou triest, remembering, though, that ultimately, doing thy best is all anyone can be asked to do. Thou art truly stalwart ... and as for thy fitness goals for 2006 ... thou will ace 'em, I know that, too. My crystal ball tells me!!!! Take care, friend. Thanks for participatin' in me lil meditation quizzie!!! :wave:

Great job on thy challenge report, K!!! Thanks for the answer to my "meditation" question. The sugar scrub thing sounds fun ... re salsa, hast thou ever tried a drop o' balsamic vinegar in the mix? Adds something ...

Aria!!!! :wave: Thanks for the "meditation" participation ... I dinna think thou art dreamin' ... seems like thou are always pretty much on top o' thy goals!!!

MY MEDITATION ANSWER: The scale says 125 ... but it probably won't happen until the middle to latter part of the year, saith the Oracle Amarantha!!!

Dear Anagram...if only the palace was in real-time and we could all keep each other company in the dark of night when elusive sleep is beyond our grasp. A nice pot of tea and a friend to chat with would make the unknown a little less burdensome. As our wise Amarantha says, you can only do as much as you are able. This is all part of a greater plan than we will ever have the privvy to determine. Glad that you are getting some help next week. You need some time to look after you, too, and the time you do spend with your beloved will be more enjoyable because you can focus on him and not the mental list of things you still need to do for him that day. Have I ever told you what a courageous, strong woman you are? You are truly an inspiration. :yes:

Amarantha, I plan to reach 140 sometime in 2006. Certainly not by New Year's, but before the end of the year.

Missing :queen:s...Cerise, of course, our Punkin is AWOL again, I remember Seecat...there were others who came and didn't stay, but I don't recall names...It's really been "us" for the most part.

Think I'll work on a menu plan for the coming week.

Last night I was just too tired to do anything but be a slug on the sofa. Tonight I'm going for a bike ride. :bike: SO relieved the work week is over!

Thanks for the response on the "meditation," Wildfire!!! What great and noble numbers we are conjurin' up for the comin' year ... methinks all goals are wonderful and inspirin' ... we all have varied numbers floatin' like sugarplums in our heads for the comin' holidays, but the gist o' it all is the same ... healthy bodies!!!

My "number" for today is in the 1500s, exercise as previously announced was just work stuff ... two days left on my plateau-bustin' seven and then I think I will do another, but with a NO SUGAR focus ... had TWO donuts today ... what's up with that?

Wildfire, I also hope to see Punkin soon ... sometimes I am awol also but during the Christmas Lite season I hope to be around more and dedicate meself to the CHALLENGE ... I also remember Seecat ... Molly, I thought her name was ... I think she still posts at 3FC ... also there was a Yahoo from England? And Virginia Woolf? And way back with the Lites there was Joanie and also JoJo, who is a regular poster in the land far far ... a wonderful lady ...

Have fun on thy bike ride, I WISH my work week were over but it's just beginning ... I need to get control o' that job ... today stayed away from office and just did the streets ... was wonderful as I did not have some of the toxic stress from coworker ... I did not go seek out people that I fight with (re job) and that was also great ... got done two hours early and came right home without just sittin' in the office gettin' all stressed ...

I will be gettin' my nephew's car soon, probably next week.

A plan, a plan - at last I have a toehold to start my climb back to the wagon. The occupational therapist who came yesterday suggested I take her time here as an opportunity to bolt (well, my word - not hers). Too short for any real errands but ideal in my mind for a walk. So Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next 3-4 weeks I will be planning a walk whate'er the weather. I'm hoping for great central PA fall weather - we've had none so far. Of course, those are the same days I have someone coming in mornings so I can do real errands. That is changeable of course but I'll see how the first week goes. Won't be going anywhere the first Tuesday as far as the errands are concerned. But looking forward to haircut, pedicure and other "necessities" of life.

Thanks for the kind words, Wildfire, but 'tis just being queenly, doing what one knows one must, and putting that one foot in front of the other. And that other queenly trait - hanging on by the screechy fingernails.

So happy to see ceara back - have been wondering how you're recuperating. Glad you were ok for a vaction even if it turned out to be "tvfh". How great to have a gran with such great genes. All the more reason for you to ride the wagon. Does she have any longevity secrets? Esp. any pleasurable ones like a wine or two a day? Or is it just her sheer joy of living?

Empress, glad to see your enthusiasm again relected in vibrant colors and challenges!!You fuel my faltering engine. As do Kaylet's inspirational musings. Missing Cerise as well, and Punkin - two primo queens. So happy to hear from Wildfire and Wood Nymph though. And concerned about wsw with all this rainy weather her way - can't be good for her technical difficulties. Frogger's Sydney reports brighten the way and remind us of the joy of renewed life and all the excitement ahead for both of them.

Aaah - such comfort in the palace. Later.

This is a little late but my floating golden numbers read 133 pounds! I'll take it! :)

I'll hop on later---must away now!

Yoeth! My floating golden number for 2006 doth read 165, the number at which, coincidentally, I do look my slender and lovely best (Hey Froggie!). I can't be disturbed by the fact that I am now heavier than I was when I joined this site. I had a hard few years, dropped down 30 odd pounds and then bounced back more when life turned difficult. However, the major factor in my gain was NOT weighing in for looooong periods of time. I would never have allowed it to happen if I had allowed myself to see that it WAS happening. :rolleyes: Never again :nono:

So, here I am parked in a Comfort Inn in Scarborough. Going to go for a walk, do some tai chi and yoga. Tonight's the big party for MIL. Despite crushing fatigue yesterday I held strong and ate wisely and got a good walk in, besides the endless airport trudging. :cp: :cp: Today I will do likewise and tonight I'll make wise selections. :yes:

Anyhoo, I must away, else the day will escape me. Love to all!!!

Oh, for got to say -- Empress - love the idea of a long route to Christmas, broken into weekly challenges. Really think a weekly (if not dayly or hourly) goal to hocuspokusfocus is what I need! I'd go so far as to suggest a WI thread, to be updated weekly? What sayest thee, Faire Amarantha?

Quick reply as I am supposed to be in the shower and getting dressed to run errands with DH. Heading to the Reuse Center to rummage for a couple of old lamps I can clean up, rewire, then put lovely new beaded lampshades on. Why pay retail when I can get a pair for about $5.00 AND the satisfaction of putting my personal touch into the finishing? Also going to buy the dreaded halloween candies to make treat bags for the many goblins who stop here for Trick or Treating. My plan is to buy stuff I don't like so I won't be tempted. :s:

I like the ongoing Christmas challenge, too. Of course, my personal challenge will be Dec 9. I like a weekly weigh-in to keep up all honest, too, whether it's here or in another thread. Let's get serious!

Much to do today, better scoot before I get in trouble! I'll be back tonight. :wave:

Yes, and yes and yes...

That is, I agree, would love to see a Sign in sheet of all royalty who come by....... and I'll be first to extend my hand for the virtual brownies... can you believe even though I know they are virtual, my mouth is watering!

and I also agree that our Q Anagram is very courageous and very wise to take advantage of the time the Royal Assistants are there .... and yes, twice a week plan to only walk, nothing else... walk and ok.... perhaps to think but of nothing worrisome... that is a very wise plan... hmmmm.....

and the third affirmative is about the Holiday Lite thread w/ weekly weighins

makes so much sense....

How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time....

hmmmm

got myself a brand new electric pressure cooker yesterday for $10....
never used. still in its wrapping...

Now...
anyone got any tips?/

Its my first pressure cooker experience!

:lol:

Ooooh, Kaylets---a pressure cooker! I love mine! What size is it? You're going to love it. You'll be able to make the most succulent bean soups in no time. I can make a lentil soup in 45 minutes that tastes like it's been simmering for days.

First rule is to forget all those horror stories you've heard about pressure cookers. The new ones have so many safety features now.

Have fun!

I'm really excited to have all the extra queenly support during the holidays! :)

I'm in a silly giggle mode at the moment. Read Kaylets "how do you eat an elephant? ..." and my mind changed it to "How do you become an elephant? One bite at a time." So a bite less here and there and I won't need to worry about becoming an elephant.

Do I sound silly giddy? Feel it. Prince Charming (in the guise of ds) showed up yesterday and gave me some time to run around - got the haircut and got brows waxed, got cash, food, took some sickroom supplies back, bought two new fall items for kitchen, PLUS a Powerball ticket. Must check and see how much I won.

Anyway, I hadn't been expecting him and I don't think he was planning to come until I mentioned in an email that Friday had been tough. Then he wasn't planning to stay overnight but ended up doing so and I had the best night's sleep in a while. Whether because he was here or because dh didn't seem to be fighting as many demons in his sleep or what, but I am grateful for it. The plan was that he and DDIL would come next week and we'd all take dh on a leaf-peeping tour. Some may remember we're loony on that topic and dh so wants to go. Fingers crossed.

And I'm looking forward to so many improvements this week - well, let's just say I'm giddy.

So thrilled too to see so many weekend posts. I think it's the season when our :queen:s become ever so lively and glad to see resurgence of spirits (of all kinds).

May have some out of state family drop by but other than that it's football/sleep for dh except for meals, meds, dialysis. And all time in between is my own. I'm going to try to stay away from that list of "musts' and look for more normal stuff (like lots of thank you notes, etc. to do).

On the "nice" side - last year i bought a pair of black slacks and could get into them if I didn't try too hard to breath. Ended up not wearing them. Have them on now, very comfy. So even though I haven't lost much, it's still going, an oz. here and an oz. there.

Looks like my kind of weather outside - may sneak in and out and do an outdoor chore for the joy of it.

Huzzah, all!!! Anagramatic, it be so wonderful to read o' thy fun day and of thy recent accomplishment re the "comfy" black slacks!!! That's the way to do 'er!!! You're doin' great!!!

Re the resurgency o' the :queen: ly spirit that lately hath come about in the royal environs, methinks it be the crisp autumn air and the waft o' holidays to come in the air, along with a reminder by our :queen: E that we'd better start a'thinkin' o' that "deadline" to come ... 2006 ... once we get past the Halloween candy season and the season o' ho ho ho, let's eat mo' ... hmmm, anyhow ... here's my challenge report:

Amarantha's Seven Day Plateau Bustin' challenge was successful (except for a tiny .10 of a pound that she didn't lose) and her weight is 1.2 pounds lower ... not perfect but we are callin' it good in A's house. When everyone else in the challenge reacheth their seven days, please announce it and pm me with an address, as A meaneth it when she said she'd send a card through the actual mail ... can ya believe they still mail stuff that way these days ... oh well!

Two Week Halloween Spirit Contest: Be There Or Be Square!!!!
 

Further, Amarantha hath pledged to post a :welcome: to any :queen: who declareth herself herein as an OFFICIAL HALLOWEEN SPIRIT TWO-WEEK CHALLENGER!!!

Ok, Amarantha, but what about all those SEVEN DAY PLATEAU BUSTIN' CHALLENGES THAT AREN'T OVER YET 'CAUSE THEY STARTED LATER IN THE WEEK?

No prob, Mysterious Questioner, 'cause it's all good and Amarantha be eagerly awaitin' the results o' all those challenges AND be thinkin' also that those who dinna want to do a TWO WEEK HALLOWEEN SPIRIT CHALLENGE, should at the end o' their SEVEN DAY THINGIE, JUST POST THEIR OWN TIME PERIOD ... so long as we're all kickin' Demonic Weight/Fitness Blah B*tt here together so there's no nasty surprises come Christmas time!!!

Even though my 7-day challenge ends Tuesday, I want in on the 2-week Sprint to Halloween. Honestly I've forgotten what my 7-day goal was :o ---I really should backtrack and check, that would be the honorable thing to do!

I'm declaring the goal of getting closer to my goal of 135 pounds. If I'm not there, I plan on being pretty darn close for Halloween! Also, I'll be working out every day for the next 2 weeks and I'll be posting my food journal with no slacking even if things get ugly [which they won't! :cool: ]. And I'll be trying out that calorie cycling plan that I'm so fascinated by. I'm thinking 1200 calories one day, then 1350 calories the next day, then a big 1500 calories day, then cycle back to the start. It may work, it may not. I may go mad from lack of calories and become a slavering beast, but this way I'll know for sure.

Iwent back and checked out my plan for the last 7-day challenge and discovered that I had no plan. Pretty sneaky.... :s: Just a declaration to start whittling away at the 7 pounds I'd gained since July. When I started 7 days ago, my weight was 142, I'll weigh in Tuesday and let you know if any magically "melted away".
I hate that expression--I've never had anything 'melt away'! :lol:

Hello, Royal Ones!
 

Still here in Toronto, getting my fill of DH's relatives, mostly it's been pleasant but more interactive-intensive than I need. Looking forward to kicking back and getting some work done tomorrow :lol: at MIL's place.

Could have been a disasterous weekend, foodwise, because there were 3 gatherings with almost entirely high-fat, white-flour-based, high sugar foods. And little to nothing otherwise. Ugh. Last night i just made the best choices possible from what was offered and didn't eat much of anything.
Today I just ate a handful of chips because there was, at both parties, literally nothing to eat that wasn't full of white flour and/or sugar and I just needed something in my tummy. But forewent the pizza, chocolates, etc. Then came back to the hotel and had some roast chicken and salad. Should be easier to control what's available from here on in.

I'm in for the 2-week challenge, but taking it right to the 31st and overlapping with my current 7-dayer which I'll be WIing for on Wednesday. I think that gives me an extra day on my 7-dayer and one less on the 2-week, and it will more or less even out.

Lots of walking -- a couple of hours yesterday and Friday. Today DH and I walked down a trail we found close to the hotel that took us right down to Lake Ontario and the stunning Scarborough Bluffs. Beautiful, huge cliffs, multi-colored leaves. There was a wonderful, big sculpture down there too. Rugged and steepish path down to the water, strenuous going back up. So much nicer than my highwayside walking yesterday. Tomorrow I intend to go back down there and do some tai chi and back up again.

K -- must turn laptop over to DH. Love to all!

The weekend is over and there is still so much I wanted to do....hate having things hanging over my head. Ah well...can't do anything about it now, will just have to whittle away at them during the week.

I'm thinking my 7-day challenge ends tomorrow? Tuesday? Hmmm. Why is it such a bother to go back and look? I'll declare it tomorrow because I'm eager to start the new Two Weeks to Halloween challenge! Didn't do terribly this last week, but definitely room for improvement. Seem to have won the battle of whatever bug was trying to infest me, so this week I'll feel more up to exercise. I can't do daily morning posts, but I can do daily sometime posts, most likely evenings. Two weeks...I'm going for five pounds...might as well reach high if I'm going to reach! Dec 9 is approaching quickly.

No luck on the lamps at the Reuse Center yesterday. DH found a brand new ceramic butter dish, though, for $2.00. Excellent find, because I've been using a tupperware container to keep butter in, and this lovely domed butter dish looks MUCH nicer!

Also an excellent find on your pressure cooker, Kaylets!

Anagram, so glad to hear you've had a good rest and enjoyed your day!

Hooray, we've got a challenge!!!! GO QUEEN TEAM!!!!
 

Huzzah!!! A hearty Towel Boy kind o' :welcome: to the TWO WEEK BE-THERE-OR-BE-SQUARE-GONNA-KICK-SOME-HALLOWEEN-DEMON-SOMETHIN'-ER-OTHER CHALLENGE, to Wildfire (tomorrow, and hey, the daily postie thing was just the Towel Boys blatherin' ... post when ya can, Wild Thing!), Arabella (sorry they fed ya white flour and sugar, don't ya just hate that, you did good), Eydie (great goal and you will do 'er 'cause ya always do and calorie cycling really helps, E, lookin' forward to the menu postin')

Kaylets, I'd love to have a pressure cooker. Thou inspireth me.

Aria, be thou out there? :)

Hallo to all :queen: s, mentioned or un ... let's have some fun!!!

LET'S GET SERIOUS!

I wanna wear a bikini in 2005.

Really.

Don't know if this be late night or early morning post! Would like to say it's my enthusiasm for challenge that has me up but the dialysis machine alarmed at 3:20 and sleep again eludes me. Going to have to do better about all this.

Anyway, my 7 day challenge was sort of vague and while I wasn't GOOD, I at least was better and did finally come up with a toehold (walking plan). So I'm declaring that one done and embarking this morning on my renewed, refreshed, rarin' to go Halloween Happiness Hike. Not being strict with me - just improving diet, water, etc. I.E., I have one HUMONGO bag of frozen broccoli in the freezer - I declare it will be gone by the end of the challenge - I have been veggie impaired. Fruit impaired as well. DHs diet alone has been a challenge and I've been piecemealing around it. I hereby declare that I will now pay attention to the health needs of both of us, opposite directions though they be.

So, ok, that's a lot of back to basics. I've really only been ROTTEN the last four weeks and, with the help of my weight lifting (DH), have not gained a whole lot. Last weigh in still decent. But of course I think of how much better I could have been. Anyway, I'm in.

And I must confess I don't feel a bit bad about the PUMPKIN flavored ice cream I had yesterday. About a lot of other things I had but not that one. And I think that's how I'll get through this - if it's something REALLY SPECIAL that isn't always available, I may have it. Otherwise, it's eating not so much to lose weight (though that's always such a thrill) but to be in a healthier mode.

AVANTI --------- :crossed: :crossed: :crossed: :goodluck: :goodluck:

And a hearty :welcome: ... well, a double :welcome: to our newest TWO-WEEK-HALLOWEEN-HIKE (stole that, thanks Anagramatic) challenger, Anagram!!!!! Huzzah!!! Thou be an inspiration, Ms. A ... hike away!!!

AND, congratulations to Anagramatic for the successful carryin' out o' the seven day challenge. You really are doin' well!!! Rock on!!

Arabella, methinks natterin' on be called for right now and I love it when though natters anyhoo ... methinks we need to sound the drum, natter and yell and voice our opposition to the IMPENDING ANNUAL HOLIDAY FITNESS/WEIGHT MANAGEMENT dilemma we be facin' so we'll all arrive (or stay) at our favorite weight and the year 2006 at the same time!!! And, I do think you are right ... take care of the bod's health and the weight will take care o' itself. There are many lovely weights to be at, IMO, the GOLDEN NUMBER, for me, is just somethin' to get me mind around, to give form to the quest. It is about health and feelin' good and we must never lose sight o' that ... and I AM takin' another rest day from exercise so I can feel like doin' the spinnin' tomorrow.

My mini-goal for today in the interest o' the TWO WEEK CHALLENGE is to cycle cals downward so that the WEEKLY AVERAGE (which appears in the calendar as I update Fitday PC during the day) drops to the 1600s. THIS IS DAY 2 of no refined sugar, flour, etc., THE NEW INITIATIVE. It's no prob ... did it for seven months straight and can do it forever if need be.

WooHoo! Great to see so much enthusiasm---we're going to do this thing together, my friends! :D

I'm not sure that I mentioned this---but it finally happend this past Friday. I had my first sugar in over a year. :o We were at my favorite restaurant and they brought us a compliementary dessert. They were so kind and earnest that I couldn't refuse it.
It was tiny anyway! It was simply a strong sweetened ginger tea in a saucer with a small quarter-sized piece of silken tofu floating in it and they sprinkled brown sugar on the tofu. And it was served warm so it was like a spicy custard-thing. It was really good and comforting---and it didn't trigger me to crave more sugar at all, so maybe I can lighten up here and there within reason. I'll not be ordering dessert or buying chocolates :) anytime soon though.

SUNDAY--Oct. 16
 

coffee w/ 1/2 and 1/2
1 veg. 'sausage'
apples and sweet potatoes

mini ww bagel w/ lite cream cheese
1 protein 'truffle'

2 whole grain bread w/ cheese, spinach, red peppers, onion
lentil soup
Clif 'nectar' bar

smoothie [oatmilk, choc, whey protein, banana, peanut butter]

calories: 1575
water: 8 glasses

exercise: 20 min. Pilates**15 min. yoga
2 miles treadmill