Thanksgiving Streak #8
 

Hi, ho, thin people! I started a new thread, but you knew that, right? :)

I'm on Day 54, finished a very busy day with 1790 calories ... counted the extra exercise I had on the job as my second walk, as I walked all day doing interviews and didn't sit down until evening. I'm going to dump this client as soon as the present job is finished, though. I'm thinking of taking a job in another town and moving from here and I hope the stress will not cause the binge fairies to land here. :)

Babette: Congratulations on your 3.5 pounds down. You are doing so well.

Everyone is doing well and it's just a long, day-by-day process. Sometimes it is hard, but other times it just seems to flow effortlessly ... embracing the chi or something. It flows up and it flows down and sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes not so good. Much like the stock market.

I seem to be drifting into stream of consciousness here so probably my blood sugar is low and I should go eat breakfast.

Have a great day, everyone!

since i just blindly added on to #7, i guess i'll post here to bump it up above that one....

guess it pays ot pay attention once in a while....

:o

I am doing better today. It helps that two days of splurging didn't affect my weight. I am still holding at 157.

still doing well. splurged on cheese fries last night (oh they were GOOD), but it wasn't so bad as i had eaten rather well the rest ofthe day and exercised a lot.
so, i'm still feeling pretty good here on day 11.
i hope i stick ot it through the weekend-that tends to be a problem sometimes. we shall see.
i hope you all are doing well.

Day 55
 

And doing reasonably well. Switched to yoga for my second workout each day after doing the market research project, which is quite aerobic in itself, so feel myself getting tight and overtrained. Losing ground on weights, though, but will pick that up in a few days. Still walking in the a.m. Calories are on the high side of my "streak" plan, but within the parameters. Still want to go lower. We shall see.

Everyone seems to be hanging in well and that is encouraging me. I'm in such a hurry now, which is why this message seems a bit disjointed! :)

Downward and downward!

Check-in time for me -
 

I am happy that eveyone is doing so well. It is a struggle, so let's just make that struggle a day-to-day effort in our lives. It is worth it. I am worth it.

Our 18-year old granddaughter is moving out from our home after 2 1/2 years with us. She is a full time college student and a part time fast food worker. It is time for her to be on her own, but I must confess that the parting is a bit stressful. I wish her well of course,and I will miss her. And of course she may be back if independence becomes too difficult for her. Life is a series of events, isn't it? Nothing stays the same.

The weather here is beautiful. Cool at night, and moderate during the day. Crispy and clear. We have had snow, and more will be coming. Autumn is far and away my favorite time of the year.

Stick with it, everyone. The victory will be ours!!!

JoJo

My weight is still holding on - probably because I have been sick all week and not wanted to eat all that much.

I had to work at the football game last night. I was sucking on cold lozenges all night and taking liquid niquil. I actually had 2 kids ask me if I was drinking. That probably would have been better than the niquil. I could hardly drive home.

I need a day to just sleep or something. I am supposed to go to a halloween party tonight and I don't even have a costume.

Day 56 & counting ...
 

Still in a streak mode hanging on to my program by a thread, but determined to go to Thanksgiving, then we'll see. I'm sure weight is up again, though. For some reason it's just doing this up kind of thing and I'm not sure why, since my calories and activity are ok. We'll see.

Sorry you are sick, Morrigan. Maybe you should just say no to the Halloween party and take the time to sleep. Surely people would understand! But hope you feel better soon at any rate.

JoJoJo: It is good to "see" you. Hope the "empty nest" syndrome is not getting you down too much since your granddaughter left. Enjoy your lovey autumn day today. It is rather hot here again.

Sychie: Those cheese fries sound so good I may have some today. They aren't too bad a choice once in awhile.

Everyone, have a great day! I'm going to go wind some tatting shuttles so I can have something to tat when I take a break from working today. I am just making bookmarks lately until my concentration gets better. I've been extremely scattered for the past month or so. Very worrisome.

We get an extra hour this weekend!
 

Hi All,
I'm always very thrilled to get an extra hour. It seems to take a bit of the pressure off. And then, of course, it will make getting up in the morning a little easier, too. I'm all for it!

Well -- it looks like our house might sell! People put in a (low) offer on it yesterday, and we countered and we'll see what happens. It seems quite possible. We want to offer on a house in town (oh, my! to be in town!) and will do that immediately if we get to an agreement! High stress time, but I am very determined not to get off track. I made the decision at some point yesterday not to be overly concerned about my points for the day, because we have a monthly potluck dinner with a group of friends and it was last night. I'm pretty happy with how it went; I ate enough, but not too much. Ended up a little bit high, but not disasterously. 33 points, counting my exercise. I did the nautilus routine, did yoga and a.m. chi. This morning DH and I went for a 5 mile walk and then I did a.m. chi when we got back, so today is starting off great point-wise. Tonight we're having nachos and a movie, so the extra points will pay off. Plus I had breakfast at lunch-time, so I should be able to save enough to do it OP. Yay!

Crone, are you just assuming your weight is up again? It seems like your weight doesn't fluctuate much. Mine can easily fluctuate 5 pounds when I'm maintaining. I bet you have a good weigh-in (tomorrow, isn't it?). Tatting sounds good. I've been thinking of taking up knitting - good stress relief, plus I really love sweaters! Guess you don't need them so much in the southwest.

Morrigan, I second Crone's suggestion. Your first priority should be to look after yourself well. I'm sure that all the stress you had with the obnoxious parent(s?) didn't help you fight off your illness. Hope you're feeling better! Try to take it easy.

JoJoJo, I feel for you with your granddaughter moving out. I just became a grandmother last month and I'm amazed at the bond! I keep picturing you in Wyoming. I think it might be a bit too rugged for me, but it sounds very romantic!

Sychie, cheese fries sound good to me too - but what the heck are they? In Canada, we have something called "poutine" which is french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Quebecois. It's really yummy if all the ingredients are good.

Have a great day, Everyone. We shall prevail!

xo :wave:
babette
231/211.2/160 (so nice to be typing lower numbers in the middle!)

Hmmmm. Just me again, dropping in to say that I had a good day. 30 points taken in and had 6 or 7 points worth of exercise, which takes me down to around 24 points. Great!

Sweet dreams, All.

:yawn:

xo
babette

I did end up skipping the Halloween Party. I went out to dinner with my DH and friends, then called my mom 1/2 way through dinner. She picked me up and drove me home, so my DH could stay out. It was really nice of her. I am still sick, but I have absolutely no plans to interrupt getting well today.

I did really good eating yesterday. I just want to get back to a workout routine. This was the week to do it, and I have felt so crappy I haven't been to the gym at all.

Day 58 ...
 

... and counting. Haven't lost any pounds so still up from where I thought I was (or something), but that's ok. Still on streak and consistent behavior is what keeps me steady in life, so I'm cool. The market research work is not helping in that regard, but I'm hoping to dump it soon. I know it is that stress that makes me crave sweets.

Morrigan: Glad you are resting. Hope you feel better soon. Maybe instead of the gym you could just do yoga or gentle walking at home for a week or so until your body regains balance.

I have a highly unscientific theory that gentle walking and mind-body exercise rids the body and mind of toxins and focuses the spirit ... kind of like those people who walk around in circles on labyrinths or monks in Tibet who practice walking meditation. When my brother was alive, he had a lot of emotional problems and used to pace, pace, pace around the house all day. His family thought it was a manifestation of illness, but I know it was a seeking after balance and a way to soothe and heal himself (though it was not enough). Alzheimer's patients and other people with neurological problems tend to pace, too. One of my family members has mentioned that to me a number of times as an illustration of why she thinks pacing is dysfunctional. :)

But I pace around a lot, too, here and there, around the house, garden, yard, neighborhood, while working, reading, talking on the phone, on the desert. I do my fitness walks, but the pacing is something different and it seems just as important in my weight management program as the intense exercise. If I am not centered, balanced and well, I don't see how I can do anything, let alone keep weight off.

Since I live alone, there's no one around to tell me the pacing is crazy, so I'm left in peace to do what comes naturally. It also burns more calories than lying on the couch.

So if one doesn't feel exactly up to a kick-*** workout, a gentle pacing stroll can be a way to come back to a state of well-being where intensity is again possible.

Good luck on your house sale, Babette! Funny, you want to move to the city and I want to move further and further away from it. You are right, we don't need too many sweaters where I live, though they come in handy at times. When I first moved here, I tried to continue knitting as I'd always done, but to me it's just basically too hot to even want to look at yarn, even in the winter. So now I tat, which is a cooling activity, though one of my old, old tatting books recommends NOT tatting in the summer as one's hands might sweat, thus ruining the lace! I always thought that was amusing.

Downward, everyone! Have a great day, whatever it brings.

hello all. just checking in to say i'm still here and doing ok, i guess. fri and sat were not the best of all possible days, eating-wise, but they could have been worse, too. i just finished cleaning the house and i'm thinking of doing some yoga. trying to keep moving (also helps keep warm-it's getting cold here)
take care everyone, keep up the good work

Hi All,

Another day down. I'm feeling so much better! I did eat at a shower this afternoon but tried to be judicious and ended up with 27 points when i factored in all the exercise I got today. Yay!

Crone, your points about pacing around are very interesting. I think the fact that pacing (like walking a labyrinth) is not in a straight continuous line but sort of back and forth and here and there is what makes it therapeutic. There's a fair amount of neuropsychology research that suggests that moving the body through space in a non-linear way (like dancing, or tai chi, for example) is very good for psychological health and may even forge new neural pathways. I'm trying to come up with an article outline tying this into Tai chi, so I've been thinking about it quite a lot lately. Know what you mean about the knitting -- I couldn't begin to look at yarn on a hot day!

Hope everyone is doing well!

'Night All! :yawn:

xo :wave:
babette
231/211.2/160

Addendum ...
 

Having a hard time staying under my calorie limit tonight, but should make it if I go to bed! :)

Babette: I'd like to see your article when it is published. I see how Tai Chi is related to the kind of thing I was talking about. Actually, though, I sometimes do walk back and forth in a more or less straight line but that's usually just a fitness walking thing. I have a very long hallway, so when it is too hot to walk or jog outside or I just don't feel like getting dressed and going out, I use my "hall treadmill" to get some exercise. I walk back and forth and I like to count the trips as I go. This is fast walking usually; the counting seems to keep my mind occupied and eliminate thoughts of quitting. Sometimes I cut exercise short because I get scattered, e.g., thoughts about what I have to do that day or what I want to do or whatever intrude and make me want to stop.

I do this outside, too. We have a long street that used to back up to the desert but now backs up to a housing addition. I tend to exercise in perfectly straight laps, back and forth, and count. This is fast walking or jogging.

So, I guess you could say the straight-line walking is more businesslike, an objective to an end (weight loss and fitness), while the pacing around and about is more of a spiritual or emotional release. But the latter incidentally produces a byproduct of increased fitness as well as mental clarity. Which seems to me to be the objective of Tai Chi, ballet, Pilates and yoga.

I think I'm rambling again, a privilege of cronedom. Good-night all! :)

Day 58 & counting ...
 

And I'm on my way! Have a great day, everyone!!! Remember DOWNWARD, always DOWNWARD ... and/or ... THE SAME, ALWAYS THE SAME!!

Maintain or lose are the only words in my vocabulary today! :)

Me too Crone! :) "Lose" is the word of my day today.

I like the ideas of walking being therapeutic. It most definitely is. I love walking my dog Montana in the woods and just taking in the air and looking at everything around me. It's very healing. I get a chance to think things over and really consider the bigger picture in life, putting things in perspective. Just having the air move around my body because I'm walking is therapeutic.

Babette You are doing SO great. I hope your potential home buyers come back with another offer. Selling a house is stressful but you can do it and stay OP. You're doing wonderfully with the exercise too. I wish my DH would walk with me. :)

Crone I also want to move farther and farther away from the city. Right now I like in a pretty rural area but not rural enough for me. :)

Hi everyone
Well, I'm planning on having a great week this week. The time change always leaves me feeling energized. I go to bed early and wake up early and ahhhhh get lots of rest. One of my goals this week is to get 8 1/2 hours of sleep every night and see how this affects my eating patterns. I've heard one of the causes of overeating is not sleeping enough.
I did not have a good eating day yesterday but the days before that were great. I've gone back to AM to AM journaling because the PM to PM was giving me too much freedom to over eat at night and then try to compensate in the morning. This doesn't work for me because I do my workouts in the morning and my body needs fuel afterwards.
I think on Monday I'm going back to my old Weight Watchers group here in town. I really need the support of the people I started this journey with and I miss my little group quite a lot. Who knows what I will weigh-in at, since I'll be switching from an AM weigh-in to PM but a part of me doesn't care. I just really want to be back with those people.
On a sad note, my sister's dog passed away last Thursday after being ill for about a week. We are all very sad, since Sophie was like a human family member in every way. I didn't get to say good-bye, since my sister lives in Texas, and I know I'll miss lil' Sophie very much. Here's her website: In Memory of Sophie
Despite being sad, I'm trying to move on. I know that I'll see my animal friends again when my time here is done. It's just this time in between that feels a little lonely.
Have a good day girls.
Love, Lisa

Can I Play?
 

I must admit I've been "eavesdropping" for a while now and so many worthwhile things are being said that I'd like to jump in! :^:
Crone, Morrigan, and Babette [and others too!] I remember you from the Summer Lites thread! BTW, Crone--I know what tatting is now-we had a demo where I work and I was fascinated! Such delicate work and those flying fingers!
I've got an 11 day streak going and I'm loving it! I finally have the old passion for all this back. I'm back to how I lost weight in the first place: low-fat and daily exercise. I feel so good it makes me wonder why I ever deviate from this plan!

About the walking/pacing: a few years ago I cooked for a zen meditation retreat and several times a day they'd do a walking meditation. It was the middle of winter and there was snow outside so they walked inside this old farmhouse. In silence ,and a monk would ring a bell at intervals. Walking very slowly and deliberately. A break from all that sitting! but still meditating.
We have a labyrinth on our property and I love to walk it, but I have that sense of 'what have I done?' when ever I take that first step into it because I feel compelled to do it all the way thru and it's big and convoluted and it always feels like a journey!

One thing that's been very helpful to me lately is setting the tone for my day first thing in the morning by reading something inspirational or meditating for 5 minutes. Seems to make me stronger and better able to resist the food temptations that always come up.

~Eydie

That time of the month again
 

The end of it, that is! :( I've got to keep my nose firmly to the grindstone today and tomorrow, to finish all the work that I haven't gotten done all month. Ick. I've been doing well and will have to redouble my efforts to stay OP with this. Ended up with 31 points yesterday, counting exercise. Weigh-in is tomorrow, so I hope to have a loss. The house offer seems to have stalled; we'll have to see what happens. Seems like if it doesn't go we'll likely be here for the winter again.

Welcome Goddess, we would love to have you come play with us! How long does it take you to walk your labyrinth? I've sort-of envisioned making one on our property, but now we're moving to town. It sounds like it would be great, though. I like your idea of the 5 minute day starter -- I often think I don't have time to meditate, but it's really more the mental space, i think.

Weeesa, I love walking in the woods, too. Such a rich experience compared to walking on the road. I'm looking forward to taking my new grandson with me! Sorry about your loss -- I think people often underestimate how much our four-legged pals can mean to us. Dogs are such wonderful animals -- I think they have a greater capacity for love than almost any others.

Crone, I'd be happy to send you the article when (if) it gets written. Right now it's at the "getting an outline together for a query letter" stage. I'm trying to branch out from technical writing to do writing that's more meaningful to me, but the problem is that I have lots of bill-paying type work on hand. :rolleyes:

:wave: Hope everyone is doing well. Let's make this a great day, All!

xo
babette
231/211.2/160

Weesa, I'm sorry I forgot to touch on the loss of your animal friend. I understand completely. This year we've lost 3 members of our family--2 dogs and 1 cat. At least we lost them to illnesses in their revered old age so we had them for many years. it was hard but it's so much better to have loved and lost, I always say. I dream about them all the time and they're the ones I want to see coming to met me in the white light when my time comes!!

hey all. well, i had been doing really well, but after yesterday, it's back to day one for me (again!). i realized that it's not so much what i ate or how much exercise i didn't get-it was the mindset. i went to **** yesterday with that and because of it, i pigged out. i'm not restarting cuz i overate, i'm restarting cuz i really slipped mentally.
of course, i'm not at the gym as i should be right now, but i'll get some exercise in today (i hope).
it must be the halloween in the air-i am craving chocolate and i don't usually eat it-aaarrrghhhhhh!
:dizzy:
well, i guess i'll try to get some schoolwork done and keep my mind on track. keep up the good work, all of you...

Day 59 ...
 

And still counting! :)

Looking for ways to make today wonderful, as I am feeling a little down and don't wish to translate that feeling into excess calories!

Goddess: It is good to "see" you, electronically speaking. I am in envy or your possession of a labyrinth. I've thought of creating a mini one in my front yard, which is a desert of weeds at the moment. Hope your tatting demo gave you ideas of joining the sisterhood of tatters (or brotherhood, as many men tat). You can learn needle tatting in about five minutes, shuttle might take a bit longer (but it is worth the extra effort in my opinion). For me, tatting is a diet aid, as I hold that one cannot tat and binge at the same time. Tatting is also a form of meditation for me and brings peace and joy to my soul (and also Christmas presents to give my friends). Can't ask for more from a simple knot! :)

Babette: I empathize about doing the bill-paying stuff before the features, etc. This is the first year I haven't been able to support myself with features or newspaper work ... hence this market research gig that I don't like. But it'll all even out eventually and life will be fun again, don't you think? That's why I want to keep the weight off and my fitness level high ... so I can enjoy the coming good times! :)

Weeesa: That is sad about your family's pet reaching the end of her life. I don't really know what I believe about an afterlife, but I am with Goddess in having a mental picture of all my sweeties running to greet me in some happy land (maybe with a giant park where the dogs can run, the birds perch in trees and the cats just sit observing).

I'm off to do market research! Let's have a glorious rest of the day and burn fat like crazy! :) :)

Hi everyone. I am back down to 155 and fairly happy about it. I am also finally getting over being sick. The next 3 days are going to be rough. I have to ride a bus from Sandpoint to Boise (Idaho) for about 9 hours with the high school football team - eating at all you can eat buffets along the way. Idaho is way to big of a state when playoffs come along. It is a long drive. I think I am going to have a rough time with all the junk food on the bus and eating out at buffets. Salad bar for me!

Babette, It takes me between 10 and 20 minutes to walk the labyrinth depending on my mood! It's 30 feet across and is modeled after the Chartes cathedral one. Made out of bark mulch that's been raked into the pattern and surprisingly it holds its pattern for 2 years and then it neds to be re-raked and refreshed with more mulch. It's beautiful in the snow!

Happy Halloween, Folks! Remember to admire the full moon tonite! BTW< I've successfully avoided the seasonal goodies this year. I'm on lucky Day 13 of my streak!:)

Day 60
 

And I'm on the run out the door to the hated market research gig! :)

No Halloween candies have tempted me this year as I've simply not bought any. I'm afraid I'm going to be a spoilsport and batten down the hatches tonight, as I don't really approve of trick or treating from a safety standpoint. I never have and this year I especially don't. I think it's much better for groups and parents to hold supervised Halloween parties on this night. It can be just as fun for the kids ... or more fun ... and much less risky.

So my extreme grouchy cronedom is helping to focus my restraint today! :)

But have a great day, anyway, all Streakers! :)

I hope this day after Halloween finds everyone ON PROGRAM??? :)

I'm happy today because now that Halloween is over, we can get started on the Holidays! This is my favorite time of year-right about now is when the spirit starts to move, saying "Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming...." Christmas is my favorite time of year because it's the ONLY time of year when my family is all together. That means more to me than anything else I can think of. This year we are all going to the Bahamas for four days before CHristmas! :D I can't wait- we have two cottages right on the beach at a quaint little Cove. Now if that's not motivation to get thin, then I don't know what is!

I am still doing the PM to PM journaling here. I love it! Today I'm not OP though because I messed up last night and got into some cupcakes. So I'm streaking into Day One starting at 5PM today. I'm eating lightly all day today though. I had a grilled cheese (with Lite Bread and FF cheese) this morning and now I'm eating some grapes. Lunch will be light and then I won't eat again until after supper. I really need to have a loss when I get on that ol' scale next Monday night. :)

Goddess Your labrynth sounds soo neat! I would really like to make one for myself. Too bad my back yard is only 34X15. :lol: Thank you for your condolences on my sister's dog. She truly was a kindred spirit and I hope to see her again when my time on earth is over.

Crone How are you doing?

Morrigan Back to 155! That's great!

Well, my fingers are sticky from eating grapes and I've got payroll to do, so I'll see you skinny girls later!

love, lisa

hello. well, i started a new job yesterday and it being halloween, they had a big luncheon. so, i ate quite a bit more than i should have, but i tried to stick to better choices (the raw veggies instead of nachos). we had enough kids come by last night that we have NO leftover candy! i only munched a few pieces all day, so i'm feeling ok about that. i haven't made it to the gym this week cuz of school and the new job and blah, blah, blah, but i have been trying to get in some yoga like stuff every day. i may not be burning tons of calories, but i'm keeping moving.
everyone sounds like they're doing really well; i hope you all keep up the good work.

goddess-question for you-are you in northern va or southern? if you are in northern, do you know of any public sorts of places that have labrynths to walk? i went to one in arlington once, but they closed, and i would love to do it again. my backyard is WAY too small for one, unfortunately.

morrigan-155......honestly, i don't remember that.....must have been....7th grade??
i'm impressed and i hope i'm there again sometime.
congratulations

Day 61, 21 to go ...
 

I'm rededicating myself to my program for the three weeks until Thanksgiving, though I've not been off once. Still I am not where I want to be weight-wise, but decided I don't care. I just need to continue the program. Still would not MIND having a LOWER weigh-in this week, but it's up to my body what it wants to do. I'm not fighting with it ... just counting my calories and doing the workouts.

Everyone seems to be upbeat and hope this will be a great day for all. I honestly can't stay awake and need to take a nap before I run out and pay bills.

Downward!!

Day 14!
 

The day after Halloween and my program's intact! Luckily my favoite peppermint patty is low-fat and allowed occasionally so my streak continues. I know it's only been 2 weeks but I've gotten really attached to my tender little streak!

Sychie, I'm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I don't know of any labyrinths in Northern Virginia. Someone was telling me about a national labyrinth registry--something to research? And hey, if you're ever in the neighborhood.....:)

I'm still not ready to weigh myself--I'm curious if anything has shifted but I don't know if I'm strong enough to handle it well if there's no change.
I'm in a good space right now. Right now it's not even about weight. All I know is I feel really good and positive!:D

Eydie

Day 62
 

Very busy day and hard to stay on program but made it through.

Goddess, sounds like a good idea not to weigh yourself for a time. It's important to be in the right mindset first. I envy you your "good space" ... hoping to find mine soon, too. :)

climbing back up out of the pit
 

Hi Women!

I've had a few nasty days this week (Tues-Thurs). Off program, up to my neck in work, and the deal for our house had fallen through. I was too busy to exercise (which is not good for my mood) and stressed. Plus I had just finished a commitment to post my journal online. All these things contributed to my going off the rails. It takes all the tools I can muster to stay OP, but feels SO much better when I manage to. I'm going to start posting my journal again (not here - I'll spare you that ;) ). I will also make sure to get enough work done early in the month so I don't end up against the wall, make sure I get in my exercise and so on.

The good news is that we got an offer on our house yesterday, close enough to accept. The bad news was that the house we'd been planning to put an offer in on sold --- the day before, after having been on the market for almost a year! But I'm sure there's a house with our name on it.

You all sound like you're doing great -- I'm going to start doing that myself. I had a good day yesterday, finally, even though I was still glued to the computer from 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Have a wonderful day, Everyone! :wave:

xo
babette
231/211.2/160 (missed weigh-in this week :( )

Babette. I remember so well when we were looking for our house. Several things fell thru and every time I was devastated because searching for your home is such an emotional thing. We finally found the perfect little house that was ideal for us and I'll probably live out the rest of my days here because I never want to go thru the search again!
So no one can blame you for going a bit off program while you're going thru such a stressful time--be proud that you're doing so well!

BTW, DAY 16 of my streak! I could get used to this. My challenge tomorrow is having friends over for brunch tomorrow. I'm doing all low-fat stuff so I can eat my fill and still stay on track. I told them it was BYOB [bring your own butter!].

:lol:

I'm climbing out of the same pit, Babette!! And I don't have the stress that you do! Just a busy week and let myself get sooooo off track!
So today is day 1 again...I feel so awful and I want to remember this so I don't go turning to junk again.
Went shopping and my fridge and cupboards are stocked with lots of good choices for me.

This coming weel will be *much* better. I feel myself getting more focused again. What a battle/journey this is!!

Day 63?
 

But it's not over yet. Really feel the urge for ice cream but hope to avert disaster. Very stressful day but the mail held a surprise: a copy of the magazine in which I have a story running, reminding me again that I really am kind of good at what I do (when I do it) ... so should have no need to comfort myself with ice cream, right? Still want some, though ...

Babette: I'm sorry your house deal didn't work this time, but I believe you will find the house you are fated to own and all the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. You will also reach the level of weight that is best for you ... no off-program days here and there will keep you from it. You will climb out of the pit and not fall in again, someday.

I tell myself all of the above over and over, year after year and slowly, I am getting there. I think. :)

Goddess: Congratulations on your 16-day streak. I love your BYOB line ... I most likely will steal it for my personal use in the future! :)

Jelynn: I am with you on the coming week being better than the last ... in fact, I am almost 100 percent sure it will be the best week ever. I know everyone will be on track and focused and all of our wishes will come true. The time is now!

Downward, everyone! :)

It's a beautiful day!
 

Good Morning, Lovelies!

It is such a gorgeous day here. We've had mist floating away and now it's sunny, blue blue skies and bright leaves still hanging on.

Thank you all for your kind words. I feel so much better now and I really have to avoid those situations. Not get behind in my work, and etc. As for the house stuff, I know i must stay positive. I'm excited to be moving to town in any case and we could find the perfect house before the end of the month. We did find the perfect buyer. He's young and enthusiastic, and wants to do all the things with the property that we would do if we had the time and money: a bridge across the river to the 30 wooded acres on the other side, a foundation, a screened gazebo down by the river, etc. He fell in love with the place and I feel good about selling it to him. I think any time we increase happiness in the world its what you know who would call "a good thing." Plus its a difficult place to live, and I would have hated to sell to someone who I thought didn't really know what they were getting into.

Jelynn, why do we crawl down into the pit when it's such a crummy place to be? Let's stay out from now on! Having the house properly stocked is so helpful. I'm going to do that myself!

Crone, that's so great about having the magazine arrive! It really is satisfying to have stuff out there, isn't it. Can I ask what magazine, or would that be too nosy? (if it is just tell me, i won't be offended!) I found out yesterday that I got a credit in the print version of the online technical encyclopedia I've been writing for as "senior contributing writer." Which gladdens my heart, even if it is technical writing, and even if I sold my rights, so that I don't get anything monetary out of it.

Goddess, our homes are so important to us, aren't they. I am fighting the devastation. I know that a house will come up for us and even if we have to rent over the winter (and move again in the spring :( , we will be just fine. I have been longing for a house to settle into for all my adult life, and this one is going to be it!

Have a wonderful day, All!

xo
babette
231/211.2/160

Day 65, Transmutation ...
 

Is that a word? Anyway I like it. Last night after I posted, I realized how burned out I was with my streak, so I ate some mandarin oranges, some cereal and some yogurt, which is all I had in the house, and brought my calories to approximately 2600. Streak ended, hooray! I didn't gain any weight from that, of course, and my weigh-in was boringly the same as last week. Also I had reached the last page of my weight management journal and that seemed to be sending me a message.

So I'm starting a new streak to Thanksgiving (actually the Sunday after Thanksgiving). I am changing the program to 1500-1999 calories and only ONE exercise session ... the market research is so active a pursuit I don't really need to formally exercise a second time most days.

Babette: Nope, you are not too nosy!! :) It's not a national market magazine, but appears everywhere in this area, so I really don't think I should post the name. But I am pleased with the nice layout they gave me and how super they are to work with. Wish it ALL could be this easy!

AND, BABETTE, congratulations on getting the byline on your online encyclopedia contributions. It is important to get the credit we deserve for our work and bylines have a way of focusing our priorities and reminding us what we are all about ... at least I feel that way.

Glad you found the right buyer for your property. It sounds so beautiful, I wish I lived there! It would be wonderful to walk in 30 acres of TREES!!

Downward, everyone! Have a wonderful day and remember we are WINNERS ... ummm, make that LOSERS!!! HOO-RAH! :) :) :)

Will ya take me back?
 

Hey Gals and Pals, It is me, your old friend...I am ready once again to get serious about this mess of a body I created. :cry: I need your help and support....I knew I'd find you here.... :angel:

My weight has climbed by leaps and bounds, but I am going to look to the future, and not to what has been. I am planning on eating a sensible dinner and weighing my self in the morning...I will then be on my way to thinness and freedom !!! I'll let you know how it goes.... Love to you all...Joanie

It's worse than I thought
 

Hey Gang....Day one of streak one....I weighed in at a whopping 242....but, the good news is that this is the heaviest I will ever be...it is all downhill from here! I am going to eat and exercise sensibly and drink 8 glasses of water a day and post here regularly....here I go, wish me luck!:D Anyone care to join me? Love you all....Jh

Joanie! Yay!
 

So great to see you back again! Man, isn't that the way of it, though. Always a shock to weigh again after a long time not weighing. :( Why can't we hop on the scale and have it register lower than we'd prepared ourselves for? I managed to gain 15 pounds back while I WAS weighing myself regularly. It came on in 5 pound clumps (and I could point them out to ya :rolleyes: ) that I somehow managed to refuse to admit to. The human mind is a fearsome thing, n'est-ce pas?

Crone, you are not only a fine model of a streaker, you even break your streaks perfectly. Awesome! That's definitely CRE at its finest. WTG!

Okay. I've been doing GREAT again. Since Friday. And I'm going to keep doing great. Yesterday I took in 31 points and got 9 (!!!) points worth of exercise. And here we have a fresh new week, almost a fresh new month and enough time before Christmas to have a really great improvement. Let's do this thing, Gals! Love to all!

xoxoxo (feeling extra exuberant today!)
babette
231/211.2/160

Joanie Welcome back girl! :) Remember that it doesn't matter where you've been, or how you got there, it only matters that you're back where you should be. Keep posting with us- you'll find the road back to thinness again, I promise! Also remember that it takes energy to lose weight. I know you had a lot of things sucking your energy out over the past year so maybe now the time is right?

Crone Congratulations on your article in the magazine. I'm glad you're pleased with the layout and everything, because that's so important.

Babette We are always strongest when we lift ourselves up. :) I'm glad you're back OP and ready to fight all over again. We can do this! I hope your house situation turns out well- and it will. Just give it time. Moving is stressful but you can manage it.

As for me, it's PMS time again. I just feel yucky all over. Don't you hate that? I'm craving like there's no tomorrow. I was off program on Saturday and feeling yucky about that. I had pizza which ALWAYS makes me sick, so I should know better than to eat it. But I did anyways. Then last night I was doing super good until I heard my husband open the freezer to get out the ice cream. :( So (since I'm journaling PM to PM) I'm going to salvage what remains of today and carry on. If I do this right today, I can still end up with 39 Points, which should only show a small gain on the scale. I know PMS is tripping my up but it doesn't have to be that way! I can fight it! Exercise is good here though, I did jump rope and weights this morning and plan to ride my horse this afternoon. I've got five glasses of water down already too. I am NOT giving in this month!

Well, I'm going to go drink up more water and get to work. Take care girls- eat to live, don't live to eat. :) (Sorry- I know that's cliche) :D

Love, Lisa