7 Day Motivational Thread 01/11/2016--ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!
 

Okay, I didn't see a new tread, so I started one. I'll post my goals when I get home from work. Hoping all have a great Monday and another amazing week!!

Onward and Downward!

Hi all! :) I feel I had a successful first week back at it in the New Year. I'm ready for another week of progress!

I'll check back in later with goals for the week. Have a great day all!!

Good morning, everyone!

I'm rejoining the group after about a two year absence. After I lost my weight, I was able to maintain from 2010 to March of 2015 when I had another pretty significant spinal injury. During that time, I was in a lot of pain and I ate a lot of comfort foods... homemade breads and rolls were at the top of that list.

Over those 10 months, I pretty much ate anything I wanted although I did workout, do PT and and walked 30-45 minutes a day. By keeping up my physical activity (...as much as possible) I was able to hold the weight gain down to about 12 lbs. But, now I'm ready to clean up my diet as well.

For those of you who don't know me, I joined Fitday in 2010 and quickly banded together with a group of 15 or so. I think it was our original group that started this thread, but Mike can correct me if I'm wrong. With the help and support of this thread, I was able to lose 30+ pounds and keep it off. Not with any fancy diet; just eating healthy foods, eliminating my 5 bad foods, (...bread, butter, deep fried, cheese and bakery) and walking every day. By following those simple, self-imposed rules, It's much easier to fall into a "maintenance mode" once your weight is off.

Who am I? lol I'm a wife, a mother of two adult children ages 22 and 32 and a retired full-time mom. My nest became empty a couple of years ago, and I'm trying to navigate my way into this new and exciting chapter in my life where I now have time to explore all of the things that I've always wanted to do, but didn't because the kids came first. My hobbies include backpacking, hiking and reading, although my biggest passion is cooking. If I have an extra couple of hours, you will find me in the kitchen.

Looking forward to meeting all of the faces who are new to me and saying "Hey!" to all of my old friends who became like family over the years.

Quinnesec, nice to meet you! I've been on here a while (previously under a different name), and I'm glad I found this group. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Libby and Debbie, great going on the losses this week!


I think I'm going to have a gain this week for the spring challenge. I always weigh less in the afternoon, so I'm not sure what my final number will be for the day. I was starting to really come down hard on myself. But then my cramps reminded me it's that time when I retain and bloat, so I can't be completely mad at myself. I really didn't do horribly last week. I had a few off moments, but I think I had more good than bad.

I'm going to work hard to have a good week despite mother nature!

My Goals For The Week...

The way I usually get back on track is by cleaning up my diet the first week, and then worrying about calories the second week. So, that's what I'm going to do.

1. Eat clean; eliminate the 5 "bad foods".
2. Limit diet Coke to one glass per day.
3. Drink 1 glass of tart cherry juice per day. (Recommended by my MD for joint inflammation.)
4. Drink one cup of antioxidant tea per day.
5. Take all vitamins and supplements.
6. 45 minutes of core building per day.
7. Walk 3 times this week; minimum of 30 minutes each day. (It's 5 below zero, here not too far from Green Bay, with a windchill of -15. I'll have to walk indoors somewhere.)

Next week, I'll add my calorie restrictions.

Good morning, Lisa! The weather here in the north is absolutely brutal. I wish I could just walk out the door and go walking, but not with a -15 windchill. It feels good to have my "clean eating" meals figured out for the week ahead and to be back on track.

This morning, I put a nice, big chicken into a large oval slow cooker with a tiny bit of olive oil and a seasoning rub. We'll have some for dinner tonight, and then the rest we'll use on sandwiches and salads throughout the week. =)

Welcome back losers! Quinn, I think it was originally about 15 of y'all cackling hens. I was the late comer.

I'm down 4.2 pounds from last week. I gained back a little of what I had lost over the weekend but I still smashed my 1 pound goal for the week.

This week, I'll shoot for another pound, I've I get more, that'll be lagniappe.

We all have our own food challenges, mine come from 9 letters. L O U I S I A N A. We take food to a whole 'nother level here. There's a season for everything. Right now it's carnival season. What that means is that Mardi Gras is right around the corner and the stores and bakeries are filling their shelves with fresh King Cake. I managed to go all last week without one. I'm not so sure I can make it another.

My goals will be short and sweet.

1) log every day
2) 100 oz of water per day
3) bottle of water before every meal
4) lose 1 pound

HEY!! =) Just for that, I'm going to remind you of how much you love rum cake and how very tasty it is!! lol

there goes a few pounds.:eek:

:eek: I'd have to move. We had a cold snap, right now it's 46*.

I'm back to post my weekly goals. :)

64 oz. minimum water daily:
max. 1500 calories per day:
full body workout x3:
core workout x3:
cardio workout x5:
take vitamins daily:

Let's make it a great week!

Afternoon, all! It's C O L D out there, but getting warmer. I think we're up to 11 now. There's a light covering of snow on the ground, perhaps 2-3 inches. Just enough to make it look winterlike. The sky is grey and a few of those big fluffy snowflakes are drifting about. It's all very pretty... and I'm glad I'm inside looking out.

Thanks, Tori, for getting the thread started.

Debbie, glad you had a great kick-off week. It's always nice to start with a success.

Quinnesec, I'm another hold over from 2010. Actually, I think I may have even started FitDay before that, but I didn't join the forums until 2011. Hence my screen name -- it was Episode 2011 of this apparently never-ending weight-loss journey. Heh I suppose I'm now on Episode 2016, but I'm not gonna change the name. Your story of loss and maintenance is very inspiring! And that chicken sounds delicious. I bet the house smells great!

Lisa, Mother Nature can be brutal to those of us struggling with weight. You'd think she'd cut us some slack, but nooooo. Hang in there.

Mike, wow, what a week! Congratulations! By the way, I had to look up "lagniappe". Thanks for teaching me a new word!

As for me, I'm pleased with last week's progress. I lost those holiday pounds and about half a pound extra! I'm now the lowest weight I've been since some time in the early 1990s and have lost a little over 80 pounds from my highest ever in 2007 (I think it was 2007).

Stats for last week, Jan 4 - Jan 10:

• Average daily calories: 1386
• Average sodium consumption: 1560 (higher than I'd like but offset by 1327 potassium, so it's ok)
• Average daily fiber: 30g
• Average daily protein: 66g

Everything is pretty much just where I'd like it to be, so I think carry it forward for this week.

Strategy for this week, Jan 11-17:

• Average daily calories: 1350-1450
• Average sodium: 1400-1500 (and at least 75% potassium to offset)
• Average daily fiber: at least 25g
• Average daily protein: at least 50g

And, of course, I'll continue drinking copious amounts of tea (I've actually come to not only enjoy tea but to crave it!) and to take my vits and meds.

I hope I can carve off at least another half pound. I'm a slooooow loser, so that would be just about right for me. How I envy those who can "drop" pounds! Sadly, that's not my lot in life. Oh well.

Let's have a groovy week, folks!

Okay, I didn't finish my goals out last week as I had wanted but I did manage to lose 4.2 pounds. We're calling that a huge WIN!

Goals for this week

Health & Fitness
1: log everything, food and activities
2: 50.7 oz water each day
3: walk at least 1 mile each day
4: go to the gym 2 times this week
5: preplan all meals
6: lose 1 pound

Home
1: don't yell at the doggies
2: shampoo bedroom carpet
3: do at least 3 loads of clothes

I figured someone would have to. Down here we say it to mean a little extra. Like if I were to get a fried shrimp poboy and it has so much shrimp that the sammich explodes with shrimp all of the plate. If I were to ask the waitress, she'd probably say "ehh, that's just lagniappe". If you look up poboy, it may either be listed as a poboy or a poor boy.;)

I'm slacking today. I woke up feeling sick. My wife has been sick and as we all know, the best way to get rid of a cold, is to give it to someone else. I haven't eaten much... but I haven't had much water either. I'm about to fix a hot cup of thera-flu (yummy!) and relax. Y'all should know that as a guy, I'm dying over here. Y'all will never get as sick as we get.;):D

Bless. Your. Heart. I feel for you. I really do. Suck it up,
Buttercup. You've got goals to make and weight to lose. Sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, eating Cheetos ain't the way those pants are going to loosen up.

Last week was harder than I thought it would be. A blip down, then back up........and I caved. Very annoyed with myself. However, I did get back down so I have a 2 pound loss for the week. Keeping my goals the same with some small tweaking.

Goals for the week:
1. Drink 60 ounces of water daily
2. Workout at least 150 minutes a week
3. Log foods keeping macros in mind
4. Stay between 1000-1200 calories

I'm about to eat some white chicken chili, or whatever it's called. Pretty healthy.

No problemo!

So, a quick introduction for those that don't know me. (this may be long. I apologize now)

I joined FitDay in November of 2011 when I was at my highest weight (that I know of). I was around 255 lbs. Not so great when you're 5'4 1/2" tall!! I had always known I was heavy, but never really cared. All of my blood work came back in normal ranges, so why worry, right? Well, one day (it was a Sunday, I'll never forget it) I got on the scale, looked down and said "no more". I don't know why I decided, all of a sudden, that I didn't want to be fat anymore, but I did. I joined FitDay that day. I logged my foods for that week, made better choices in those foods, and lost 10 pounds the first week. TEN POUNDS! I had never had that kind of success before. I didn't really add exercise in until later. I remember walking my first mile. It was brutal. It seemed to take forever. But I did it! I decided to stick with it. In roughly 6 months I dropped 75 pounds. I was the smallest I had ever been in my adult life. Hell, who am I kidding, I was smaller than when I was a teenager. I felt great about myself. I met BF (Mike may refer to him as WHN, what's his name) about 50 pounds or so into my journey and was still doing well. Then he was stationed in Germany (he was in the Army). At first I was all "I got this, he's just a guy. blah blah". Yeah. I was a BASKET CASE!!! I had never felt so alone, or miserable. It was all his fault, right? He did some kind of voodoo on me. I was still plugging away, doing my best to stay on the path to my goal weight. Then I plateaued. I couldn't lose weight to save my life. And it was the hottest summer I can remember, ever! I stopped walking every day. I stopped going to Zumba classes. Basically I just sat at home and moped. I gained 5 pounds back by the time BF came home from Germany in October of 2012. I was still doing okay, but didn't have the drive anymore. He came home and wanted all the good foods he had been missing. Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, home made mac n cheese, etc etc. I won't lie, I baked a cake every weekend for the first 3 months he was home. So, I had to eat with him. I mean, I HAD to, right? So I did. I ate. I gained a little back. No big deal. I gained more back, and was like "hmmm, it'll be okay, he loves me." Cut to summer of '13 and I am back over 200 pounds and can barely move. I seriously thought I was dying. I was diagnosed with RD that July, and started meds immediately. I still didn't feel great but hey, now I had an excuse for being lazy. And that's what I was for over 2 years. I'm about 30 pounds shy of my highest weight ever and ready for a restart. I have NO excuse this time. I feel pretty good most days. I'm not in extreme pain like I was, just minimal most days. I know it will be harder this time, but I'm here to finally get it off and keep it off. I look forward to the journey with all of you.

BF and I have two dogs, a 4 year old Doberman/Dachshund mix named Boss. He's a 22 pound lover boy! And then there's Junior. He is our gigantic puppy. He's weighing in around 80 pounds now. He's a 9 month old German Shepherd. We decided to forgo having human babies (because we're getting to "that" age and because of my meds), so we focus on our four legged boys. I've always been a cat person, but these guys have changed my mind. They absolutely crack me up. BF and I also work opposite shifts and weekends are really the only time we see each other. It's often why I'm MIA on the weekends. We bought our first home together in February of last year and have many many plans to spruce up the yard. The first thing we need is a fence for the terror...I mean, for Junior. You'll also probably see me rant about his family from time to time. They're crazy. All of them. Well, except him....most days.


quinn--I definitely remember you from when I was active here before. You were in maintenance mode and I envied you for it. Sorry about the injury. I'm super excited that some of the people that were here before, are still here, or back. It seems kind of like a family reunion. (Mike is the crazy cousin we don't let people know we're related to ;))

epi--I also remember you. I don't think I was around long after you started in the forums though.

Lisa & Debbie--I look forward to getting to know y'all better as we battle this journey together


I miss Mern, Cassie, April, and Amy though.....

Sounds good. Care to share the recipe?

what are these "shrimp" that you speak of? are they similar to Skrimp?

I was going through old posts and found this. It was quite a while ago and honestly, I think this was this person's only post, but it made my night tonight. I'm hoping I can get back to where I inspire people again.


"Originally Posted by sauererc
Hi Tori,

I'm really proud of your weight loss achievement. I signed up for fitday about 1 year ago. Never did anything serious about it and actually gained more weight. My current weight is over 200 lbs. can you share some of your weight loss secrets with me?"


Thanks for the kudos! The real key for my success is the fact that I am DILIGENT in logging my food. The good, the bad, and the ugly!! I had no real clue what I was putting into my body. And now that I do, when I find myself reaching for the bad stuff, I hesitate. I don't always say no, but I'm thinking about it now. That's really it. I try to workout at least 3 times a week, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. I also try to get at least 3 good walks in during the week. Find out what you like to do, and DO IT! If you like walking, DO IT! If you like going to spin class, DO IT! Etc. etc. Again, it doesn't always happen, but I try. I've cut out most of the crap in my diet, and I keep my calories within a limit that works for me. It's nothing insanely difficult. If I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm not hungry, I make myself eat. That's it.

When I don't feel like doing something, I at least try to do it. (Don't read anything I've posted the last 2 weeks though, it's been ugly ) Sometimes I need to be pushed into doing it. Mike does a good job at telling me to GOMA. Most of the time, for me, all I need is someone telling me DO IT! And sometimes I need someone to challenge me to do something. I'm ultra competative, so someone saying "I bet you can't do 20 miles this week" is usually all it takes, then I strive to do what I can. I have yet to hit those 20 miles, but I got 17 in in one week. Which is a personal record.

I would say good luck to you, but I don't think luck has anything to do with it. It's Hard Work and Dedication!!


I guess I need to take my own advice. Be diligent, work hard and just DO IT! Mike, once I'm fully back in the swing of things I think we need to do a few one on one challenges again. I liked kicking your a$$

I'm off to a great start for the week!! I don't have a lot of time to post tonight, I'll check back in tomorrow!

Weekly goals:

64 oz. minimum water daily: Mon - 72 oz.
max. 1500 calories per day: Mon - 1198 cals
full body workout x3:
core workout x3: Mon - yes
cardio workout x5: Mon - 30 min. elliptical
take vitamins daily: Mon - yes

This comment made me smile...big :D I had a German Shepard when I was younger. She was my very best friend....I still miss her to this day. I love Shepards! Your dogs sound so sweet! ;)

They really are sweet boys. Junior still has a LOT of puppy in him. We start obedience training in March.

Today went well. I had coffee with a friend of mine who is struggling with her weight. She isn't ready to do any thing about it right now but I try to encourage her any way.
Tori, good to know you better. I appreciate your advice.
Debbie my buddy, nice loss this week. I hope that we all have a good week.

Monday Update

Health & Fitness
1: log everything, food and activities M:Y
2: 50.7 oz water each day M: Y
3: walk at least 1 mile each day M: Y
4: go to the gym 2 times this week M: nope
5: preplan all meals M: kinda
6: lose 1 pound---dunno yet

Home
1: don't yell at the doggies M: Y
2: shampoo bedroom carpet---not yet
3: do at least 3 loads of clothes---not yet



Looks like you're off to a great start. Keep up the good work!!

I should have waited to weigh in for this week's challenge 3 more hours. I was down a full pound from what I had been at noon, so my gain this week isn't all that bad. I always wonder why I weigh less in the afternoon, and I think I have an answer (maybe). I think I retain water and puff up over night from laying down so long. My feet are puffy when I wake up in the morning. Then by 2:00 or so I'm down 1-1.5 lbs from when I woke up after I've peed a million times in between. Does this sound plausible?

Tuna noodle casserole for dinner tonight. Made with real onions (I usually just use the crispy fried onions in the containers) and real mushrooms added in with the peas, tuna, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, and milk with egg noodles and of course I did also add in the crispy onions. I had 1.5 cups for 840 calories. Not so bad for a full dinner! I still have room in my calorie count for an atkins w/ milk before bed and then I'll be barely over target. I'm happy with my day so far. It's only 7:00...hope I can make it until atkins time!

Tori, I was on previously when you were for just a little while, but I didn't know much about you. I had a different screen name then. I too am short fatty. :rolleyes: I'm only 5'2" and my highest was 277!!!! yikes!!! I have a hard time moving around too much. I've been at this for quite a while, logging calories and trying to work in exercise when I'm really able to push myself to do it. I go up and down, and I'm very tired of it. This time is going much slower, but I hope to keep it off for good as I go along. I'm happy with 1-2 lbs/week. I'm a stay at home married mom of 4 (14, 15, 20, 25). I keep busy playing all the different roles a stay at home mom does, from taxi driver to chef and everything in between. I've lost nearly 20 lbs this time so far. My ultimate goal is to be around 140-150, but I'll be ecstatic when I can at least fit into a size 14 and buy off the rack again.

Libby, good that you encourage. Hopefully she takes it the right way, as some people may take it as harping or sidehanded insulting. But if she takes it the right way then it's good that you can be a good example for her. When she's ready she'll be there with you.

Hi Mike and Debbie!

I have a cousin like your friend. She's constantly complaining about her weight, yet when I invite her to come walk with me or to the gym she always has an excuse as to why she can't. I've gone as far to tell her that I'll meet with her whenever she wants, but she can never find time. She can always find time to go eat fattening meals though...just sayin'

You'll also find that I'm talkative :D I don't really have a set ultimate goal. I'm just trying to find where I look my best and then maintain it. I got as low as 179 last time and was hovering between a size 10 and 12, yet the BMI calculator still had me listed as "obese". It's incredibly frustrating to work so hard and have that one little word kick you in the throat. I'm not too concerned about that word anymore. I looked pretty good at that weight and clothing size, so that's my first real goal. To get back into those 12s in the back of the closet. I know it will be harder this time because I have the medical issues to deal with on top of being overweight. Not to mention cooking for two this go around. I'm trying to find BF friendly meals that fit in my limitations. I've made a few changes that he's okay with so far. Switching to ground white turkey instead of ground beef, but only in chilis and red pasta sauces. I'm switching to whole grain and whole wheat pastas. I'll eat more salads along the way too. So far he's on board. We moved his sister's treadmill from storage to inside the house (she's storing it at our place for the time being) and we both got good walks in this evening. He can stand to lose a little too. He's 6'2" and around 265 or so. He said he wants to get down to around 220. He's one of the lucky ones though. As long as he works out daily he loses weight. I have to work out, count calories and pray to the weight loss gods. Sometimes there are smalls sacrifices to those gods :p

Just a quick check in. I made it through the night. I was tough but I pulled through. I'm still on my death bed. I've tried theraflu, NyQuil, mucinex, devoured cough drops all night. Nothing seems to help. I'm going to try some Alka-Seltzer. I hope something will take me off my death bed (besides the king cake in the kitchen).

Tori, kick my ass? You couldn't kick my ass if you were given a step stool. You best recognize. And yes, skrimps. I didn't want to confuse these people.

Good morning, everyone and thank you for the warm welcome back! :)

My first day back on my food plan was actually amazingly easy. For anyone who needs an easy way to create low cal, flavorful meals, your slow cooker is your best friend. About once a week, I put some crumpled aluminum foil balls in the bottom of the slow cooker, season the chicken (...or turkey) with a good rub, set on low and let it cook for 6-7 hours depending on your slow cooker.

When the legs are loose enough to fall off, it's done. Turn it off and let it cool for 15 minutes or so to let the juices redistribute. It doesn't brown, but most of us trying to lose weight are removing the skin anyway. The crumpled foil balls lift the chicken out of its drippings so that it's not soaking up all of the fat.

We have one meal (...usually the breasts) and then debone the rest for salads and wraps during the week. It always turns out moist and delicious and so much healthier than deli meat.

You'll probably find me talking about cooking a bit. I love to cook and as I find easy and good recipes and methods along the way, I'll pass them on.

So, on to my Monday report:

My Goals For The Week...

The way I usually get back on track is by cleaning up my diet the first week, and then worrying about calories the second week. So, that's what I'm going to do.

1. Eat clean; eliminate the 5 "bad foods". Y
2. Limit diet Coke to one glass per day. Y
3. Drink 1 glass of tart cherry juice per day. (Recommended by my MD for joint inflammation.) Y
4. Drink one cup of antioxidant tea per day. Y
5. Take all vitamins and supplements. Y
6. 45 minutes of core building per day. Y
7. Walk 3 times this week; minimum of 30 minutes each day. (It's 5 below zero, here not too far from Green Bay, with a windchill of -15. I'll have to walk indoors somewhere.) N (It was so cold yesterday that my car wouldn't start. :mad:

Next week, I'll add my calorie restrictions. At the end of the day, I did log to see how I did. I was only over my usual calorie goal for reducing by 45 calories. Pretty happy about that! :)

Sure. Google



















http://allrecipes.com/recipe/228650/...chicken-chili/

Tori - A little about me....I'm a mother of two, a 9 yo boy and an 8 yo girl (great kids!!). I've been married for 16 years to a very patient man ;) I work full time, lucky for me I work days not nights! My husband and I juggle our schedules so that he can drop the kids off at school in the morning and I pick them up. Lucky for us we don't have the extra cost of daycare!! It's a crazy busy life working full time and having a family to take care of. I have very little time to myself. Usually when I'm posting on here, I'm either on a break at work or the kids are in bed. My weight history....I used to be one of the lucky ones who never had to worry about my weight....that is until I quit smoking at age 27 right after getting married. I went from 110 lbs. to 128 lbs. in a matter of a month. At the time, I was shocked...never had I weighed this much and I wasn't doing anything different except not smoking. I complained to a friend who quickly introduced me to Weight Watchers and that was that....I've been some kind of diet ever since...or so it seems. I lost the same 10 lbs. a few times over the next several years....but never going over 128. Then I got pregnant with my first...I was 121 when I got pregnant and by the time I had him, I was 155. I lost the weight after my first by simply watching what I ate and walking a few times a week. I wasn't sweating it at that time because I was planning baby #2 sooner than later. I easily got back down to 121 lbs. in few months then got pregnant with my second. I again got up to 155 by delivery time. After my second, I was pretty overwhelmed with 2 babies only 18 months apart. It was at that time that I started running....I think it was the only thing I could do to manage the stress at that time. I ended up with hip issues and eventually stopped running. I got down to 114 lbs. Then I discovered wine. Ah red wine...that sure did take away the stress. Sadly, wine has become a bit of a crutch for me and certainly a bad habit. That was when the weight came piling on!! Wine has a lot of calories and after a glass or two, I start snacking. In Sept. 2013, I weighed in at 143 lbs. I was actually now overweight!! I was in shock!! That was when I started posting here and tracking my calories....something I had never done before. I have always worked out off and on...so I upped my workout intensity, counted calories and only allowed myself to have some wine on the weekends. I got back down to 119 lbs. by Spring of 2015 and then I injured my shoulder and couldn't do my high intensity workouts. I didn't substitute with lower intensity stuff or even walking....I completely lost my footing once again. The next year and a half, I would try a hundred times to start again but only last a few days. That brings me to current day....I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life...a couple of weeks ago I weighed 161.8 lbs....the heaviest I've ever been...even heavier than what I weighed at 9 months pregnant with both my kids. I still haven't given up....I think I'm now on my 101st try...but I'm still trying. I'm so very uncomfortable in my own skin, I simply refuse to give up. I'm determined to get back to a point where I at least feel comfortable in my skin again. Okay, I guess that was a lot about me! :p

Lisa - How did you do last night after dinner....did you make it until Atkins time?

Libby - Thanks for sticking by me and cheering me on...even after all the fails I've had. You still seem to have faith in me....thank you for that :)

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!! ONWARD AND DOWNWARD! :D

Mike and Tori,

Do I have to separate my two favorite siblings again from picking on each other?!? lol =)

Mike, why is it when women get a plugged up head it's "just a cold", but when men do it's full-blown ebola? lol Just kidding... (...not really ;) ). Load up on lots of hot beverages all day long... tea with honey and lemon help to loosen everything up and take the aches away. Soup was a good choice, too.

Cheer up, Buttercup... It's going to be 7-10 days. ;)

In letting my "hippie-dippy" ways show, I use a 500ml essential oil diffuser/humidifier in my home from November thru March. Today, I have a blend of eucalyptus, lemon and peppermint going. Smells amazing and I haven't had a cold or flu in 4-5 years. A necessity with winters like ours. Today it's 4 degrees with a -15 windchill. Our high is going to be a whopping 7 degrees. Hard on the lungs, for sure.

As I typed my book......I mean my story....Mike and Quinn were posting!

Mike - Hope you feel better soon! I hear those man colds can be pretty nasty!! ;)

Quinn - I've never tried cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot...heck I never even cook a whole one in the oven! I only ever cook skinless boneless chicken breasts...usually marinated and cooked on skewers on the bbq. I'll have to try your crockpot method someday! Do you make your own rub or use a store bought?

I might need to get tested for Ebola. I should check my temp. It's probably around 98.8. :eek: a little higher and I'll explode at 100. I have two dogs in my bed, I'm going to curl up and sleep with them. I'll check back later, if I survive. ;)

You're in Wisconsin right? Are you talking Celsius or Fahrenheit? I live in Ottawa Ontario Canada.....so I know a thing or two about very cold weather! :rolleyes:

Debbie

The rub that I use I buy from a little Amish market, although it's easy enough to just mix the spices that you like in a small bowl, add a little bit of your favorite oil, s&p and you're all set.

Ahhh... Finally someone to the north of me! =) Hello, neighbor! Yep, I'm in northern Wisconsin. Our air temp is 8 degrees F with 25 mph wind gusts. I guess I shouldn't complain. It had been a very mild winter up until this week. In fact, we actually had rain over the weekend. I don't remember that ever happening here in January.

Mike

Don't drink hot tea in bed. You could burn something! lol What is it you use to tell me... Ahhh yes... Walk it off! lol **fleeing**

I drug myself out of bed and went to check out the progress on the house. I did walk from the yard front to back, so I guess you could say I tried to walk it off, Quinn. It didn't work though. I'll lay back down, no hot tea in bed for me.