Sorry Mel I beat you too it! I'm just all revved up for a new week!

I've been out for a lovely run at lunchtime, it was harder than usual but I pushed myself and consoled myself with slacking off a bit at the end! I will get better by the end of the week, so I'm not too concerned that I cheated! I feel so good now! Yay!

I'm going to do some UBW tonight, in accordance with the NEW PLAN! I've got my big bouncy swiss ball now so I'm going to have some AB fun with that! Any suggestions are welcome!

I managed a WHOLE WEEKEND of clean eating! That's a first! Big old early xmas to myself!

I'm feeling so positive about this week - I'm looking forward to the Christmas lunch tomorrow, I'm going to enjoy myself and my food, but be good! Life's not about stuffing your face, it's about enjoyment. I never feel like I've enjoyed myself if I feel like afterwards!

Ok ladies - Here's to a positive week and let's give ourselves the gift of health, wealth (in the glamour fund!) and happiness this year!

Hi LWL,

2F - I cannot beat the optimism that is leaping off your post.
Things are dragging along here. Sad thoughts about XH, triggered by a discussion with a friend over the weekend and my DD crying because daddy is gone. And again fuss at work. Since it relates to my future job, I have to pay iattention to it although it is making me upset. I send of some emails, put in a phone call, and now things will have to take care of themselves.

I'll try to put in a meditation CD for today. i certainly can use it. Also I started lifting a tiny bit agian. Actually this is because my right arm has RSI and this is worsening. I hope light lifting will give it some better condition.

Have a great day all,
rabbit

You're allowed to be sad sometimes, it's ok!

I'm glad you're getting back to a bit of lifting, it will make you feel mentally stronger too.

Morning gals! At last we're having nicer weather here - just around freezing (32F, 0C) and NO precipitation! In fact, the weatherman is promising we'll see the sun today. Of course sunrise isn't until after 10 am. We get 5 hrs 19 min of daylight today, but after Thursday we start gaining light again!!

DH is still gone so I'm finding it way to easy to slip into a lazier lifestyle. No one asking for something to eat, or a hand to hold something in place, etc. Unfortunately, no one to clean the litterbox or give the cat medication either.

Off to the gym tonight after work, as the only exercise I got this weekend was walking from the far end of various parking lots. I swear the whole town was at one store or another.

Hi LWL, I need help !! I can't stay focused! I've been working full time for the last 4 weeks and it's extremely difficult to stay focused ... I can't seem to stay on plan, eventhough I do plan but I fall off it so quickly ... Anyways, I'Ve done better today but I haven't exercised !! Tomorrow I'm running but I'm not sure if I can make it to the gym... DANG!! I need to get my act together...

2F spread some of your enthusiasm on me!!

Ilene - get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early, then get up early and slip the gym in before work - it will energise you for the rest of the day.

Lock up all the Christmas goodies out in the garage/basement/attic so that you can't eat them 'till Christmas! Don't take any change to work so you can't be at the vending machines. Take lots of FRUIT and any time someone passes round a basket of cookies, say, "No thanks, I've got an apple/satsuma/pear/banana etc... I'm set!"

Ilene, you can do this! It's just JUNK food around at this time of year, love your body and give yourself the Christmas present of clean eating and "athleticism"!

That enough enthusiasm for you?

Come to think of it gals, we can ALL do this! It's just a silly commercial time of year where everyone feels obliged to stuff their faces like little pigglings!

Did heavy shoulders etc last night. Feeling GOOD! Then I went and gave myself a 2nd degree burn getting the carrots out of the microwave Damn you fruit and veg! Spent the rest of the night in agony so was not happy! It's wrapped in cilng film (yes really!) and a plaster!

We're going bowling today for the work Christmas do! At least my thumb fits in my bowling ball with all the flippin dressing on! The benefits of having lost some weight since I got it drilled! Then it's "stuff-your-face" time! Boy am I looking forward to healthy delicious lunch! I really have a positive feeling about this, even though eating out is usually where I fall down. I'm NOT giving in this time!

Let's pull together for the last push before Christmas so we can be fit and healthy through the holidays! :

hi LWL,

2F - thanks for the support. Go beat the office at bowling, and energise yourself with the fruits and vegs... We can do it !

Ilene - That's good advice that 2F is giving! I can imagine mousing out on the christmas massive eating thing by going to work, but working the entire month and not finding time for yourself is overdoing it!!! Is everyone ill in the school department? it must be a huge change for you because things were slower in the past few months!

Pat - it's dark here too!!! I am also counting the days untill the days get longer again. Glad to hear that this already starts thursday, only 2 more days to go!

Things are perking up here again. I took another pill to cheer me up, did my lifting which is helping my sore arm. The emails helped me in the work situation, and I managed to slip in 15 minutes of meditation yesterday. I hope to be able to repeat that today, as I have an additional errand: I must present myself & the kids at the town hall at the next village to pick up their new passports. Then we are all set for our US trip coming summer!

I second 2F : only 1 more holiday week to go.
Come on LWL, we can do it !

Have a great day all,
rabbit

Come on Ilene (a little Midnight Dixie Runners - maybe I should wear overalls and put that in my MP3!) you can do this ... one step at a time. This is a rough season and working full time just adds to it. Remember that this is 80% nutrition, so treat your body like a temple and strive to put whole, healthy fuel in in 90% of the time. Plan and pack your lunch and snacks while you clean up the kitchen the night beofe (my secret weapon). Carefully chose and be picky over the last 10% - a sugar cookie at 3pm means no wine with dinner... you have done this before and can do it again. Treat yourself with a short run or 15 minutes of lifitng. This is not an all-or-nothing time of year. Every little bit counts as being good to yourself. You can do this. Normal is just a little while away...

Things are going well here. I start with my massage therapist/ yoga instructor and one of the owners of my gym as my trainers after 1st of year, until another senior female trainer starts in Feb. They are taking good care of me. I am also looking into race walking and getting off the focus on the numbers (How much do I weigh? What size am I wearing? What is my waist measurement? What is my BF%? How much did I just press? How many reps can I do?) and into the more abstract goals for 2006, being improved health and fitness and being the strongest and best I can be to face what ever is going on in my body. My Internist is a little disappointed that it is taking me so long to be seen by the MS Specialist (Feb) but still taking good care of me. If I could stop the pain in my leg it would be much better, but it is better and more bearable through the day. I am looking forward to next week and goofing of with DH and rest of relatives. Fa la la la la (off to buy still MORE wrapping paper)

Ilene - You've had some great advice already. You can do it. You know you can. Remember, you are only two hours away from another meal. Just take it moment by moment, and victory will be yours! Two thoughts re. exercise. Your body might appreciate a week off and then you'd get back to it with more vim and vigour. Or just get out there and do it!

Song to get you out of the door (you'll have to customise it a bit): Pronto monto by the McGarrigle Sisters. I think the lyrics are something like: Prends ton manteau, tes souliers, tes tapis (that can't be right!) Marche lentement dans le matin endormi. Anyway, you could substitute something really snappy like 'heart-rate monitor' or 'coolmax top' and just get yourself out of the door doing something. For 'marche lentement' I suggest you substitute something a bit more aerobic...

A list of obscure and not-so-obscure motivational music (work in progress)

Pronto monto - Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Come on, Ilene - Dexy's Midnight Runners (brilliant, Ellen! We can just substitute our own name here.)
Roll away the stone - Mott the Hoople
I like to move it - [Crazy Frog?]
Just walk on by - Dionne Warwick

Awww, thank you girls for the encouraging words...... I decided tonight that I will at least run everyday if I can't seem to make it to the gym... Ellen you're right, it's not an all or nothing time of year... I will get through this...

My GFs always, always sing that "C'mon Ilene" song when we get into the wine... They add on a bit though "C'mon Ilene, you're face makes me scream!!" Ooooh, they are soooo mean these wimin' ... With friends like that who need enemies!!

Tonight I ran... It wasn't a super clean day but it was cleaner than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today... One day at a time, some days, one minute at a time...*sigh* what can one do but keep plugging along!

TTFN

Gotta love those rhymin' things It's how I got my screen name, which you'll note rhymes with my real name! Good for you Ilene - we'll all get through this, so let's do it with a little dignity.

Frus reporting in after a Christmas lunch! I did OK! Had bacon and advocado salad for starters (no dressing), then turkey, 2 roast potatoes (I left one) 1 chipolata sausage, 1/4 sausage meat ball, cranberry sauce, broccoli, carrot & swede mash and no gravy. For dessert I had some creamy lemon thing with thin wafer biscuits and ONLY ATE HALF! Then at 9pm I had a slice of peanut butter on toast and some cherries and one Christmas chocoalte! I'm feeling virtuous and in fitday it all totals to 1800kcals! Hooray!

Went down to Oxford St to get my turkey and my Christmas present from DF, it was a bit bonkers, but nice to be out with all the Christmas lights and things and it actually BE Christmas! I got a book about weight training by Anita Bean and a book about women's running and a book about women who box! I'm all set with my sports specific books!

I'm taking today off running - my knee's slightly buggered up! It was aching a little bit on Monday, then I squatted down to look at the books last night and something twanged! :sad: I'm going to get properly fitted for decent running shoes on Saturday - a Christmas present to myself.

We're off to see King Kong tonight, so I shall try and squeeze in some weights before I go out!

Have a lovely day everyone - STAY AWAY FROM THE OFFICE TREATS!

Ilene - running every day sounds like a good decision.

2f - good work on the Xmas dinner. I've got that book by Anita Bean (Strength Training for Women or something like that). I think it's good. She was some kind of free weights champ, wasn't she? And she's the nutrition editor for Runner's World (UK edition, not sure about anywhere else). I've got time for her. Look after your poorly knee.

Everyone else: look after yourselves. If you're celebrating Christmas or Hannukah, remember what Ellen said: 'Normal is just a little while away'!

Off to the gymn (back, biceps, rowing intervals) and then up into the mountains to look for a new fleece jacket. Work has now taken a back seat.

hi LWL,

Ilene - you can do it! Your next meal is only 2 hours away. Running everyday, even if it is 15 minutes, adds up to 105 minutes a week which is MORE than the 3 times 30 minutes that doctors advise as the minimum to healthy living!!

Hi to all the other LWL. We can form a chorus with Silverbirch song selection! Sing together, " We are the champions" and we are going to make it!

I'm taking it easy today because of some work stress. Did my yoga meditation CD and things in my back & shoulders really creaked. i will throw in a bit of lifting today, trying to get my right arm away from the RSI consition that seems to be settling in.

2F - good for you on the office party1

Keep up the good work LWL!!

have a great day all,
rabbit

Great idea, rabbit!! I've just been watching England play Pakistan (for those who don't know immediately, it's cricket) on the telly at the gymn and have been thinking about fitness, injury and team support. We've certainly got team support here and, speaking for myself, that makes all the difference.

Must go. Have to hunt down some more lean protein. You know how it is.