Today I'm struggling with "Smile more bitch less". Can't say why other than that it's Friday, the week has been NUTS, I'm verging on clinical exhaustion and my Mother's Day has already been shot to hell. I don't know why I ever let any expectations about MD even enter my mind. It's not like I don't know these people. Oh well, maybe I'll take my own mother out for lunch and avoid some of the issue that's going to make me crazy here at home. Right this moment I'm trying to decide if I should get even with DH and buy tickets to the "Father Daughter" dance tonight.

Well all that and Mr. Screamy Pants is well, screaming, oh no wait he might have stopped, fingers crossed here. I've never been a big fan of cry-it-out, but I think he's one of those kids that almost needs it. Hopefully he'll be better once he can move himself around, and he can burn off some energy with a little less volume.

Well I gotta get going, somehow or another the house doesn't clean itself and I think I owe myself a few 2 minute planks.

Quinn I'm jealous over your deck and book time and your clean house.

Thursday report

Calorie limit 1600 1527, 1598, 1393, 1474
Calorie restriction at least 1037 952, 1097, 1086, 1114

Carbs less fiber limit 25g 30.4-over by a low carb flaxmeal muffin and NM peanut butter, 23.1, 20.2, 20.4

Protein target 120g 106.5, 107, 91.2 127.7

Really watch the sodium this week NO, NO YES YES

Limit one artificial sweetener packet per day 0, 1, 1, 1
Limit one piece sugar free candy per day 2 1, 1, 1


64 oz. water YES YES YES YES

1/2 hour exercise NO YES NO, 15 minutes--stamina poor but I honestly gave it my best shot

Stock up on low carb veggies DONE
Look for some new low carb veggie blends or recipes DID BOTH

Almeeker, big ol' HUG to ya! I hope you get some relief from the stress!

Quinn, your post on all you did to fake your family into thinking they're giving you the weekend off really tickled me. A lot of hubbies and kids have absolutely no clue what all we do to keep our households running like clockwork. LOL but serious.

Terri, "criminetly!" was one of my most often used exclamations when I was a kid. I got in a heap of big trouble with my Mom at 30-something when I didn't send her a Grandparents' Day card or a gift from my kids. Until then I hadn't even HEARD of that "holiday" but she had always gotten cards and gifts from my kids on Mother's Day, so I didn't understand why she got insulted. Glad time healed the equipment/experiment wounds or at least smoothed away the rough edges.

Cassie, wishing you and "the boy" a better day today! Thought of you yesterday when I ordered a Richard Simmons exercise DVD. I figured it would be good to have one for one the VCR wears out. This one exercises to different songs of the 60's--I expect it's a lot of the same moves. It'll be a week or so before it arrives. I have some vacation, kid and grandkid tapes I need to have transfered from VHS to DVD. I think the electronics repair shop up the street may provide that service.

Health & Fitness
1) Gal. of water a day yes, yes, yes, yes
2) workout 6 days yes, yes, yes, no
3) 1000+ cals deficient for the week -172, -248, +117, yes
4) eat clean yes, yes, no (had my 1 cheat meal (see #5), yes
5) only 1 cheat meal no, no, yes (doughnuts for breffest), yes

Non Health and Fitness
6) do Business drop-ins 1x no, yes, no, no
7) make money no, nope, no, yes (very little)
8) do 3 random acts of kindness yes, no, no, no

Just a reminder... This is a 7-Day Motivational Thread, not 5-Day so check in on the weekend. I know that Sunday is Mother's Day, unless you aren't by a computer it's 7 days for you.

Tomorrow is my daughter's graduation, I will be posting. Besides going to the cemetery to visit my mom, I'm sure I'll have company over and I'll be cooking for an army on Sunday. I'll be here posting, it may not be much, but I will show up!

Okay, Mike, I get it. Will see you here this weekend. Congrats on your daughter's accomplishment; I'm sure you're a proud dad.

My Mother's Day will include a free frozen yogurt...so I will be planning for that and reporting in!

Enjoy that frozen yogurt, Cassie!

I'll be checking in here this weekend, too. I tend to stray away from my goals if I stray away from my group.

Mike, congrats on your milestone--with your daughter's graduation. You must be very proud. I hope you have a good weekend full of happy memories and promises of a bright future for your daughter. I know you miss your Mom, but remember she is smiling down on you every day, very proud of the man you have become, and probably giggling at your many antics.

I had a pleasant experience in Walmart today. I saw an elderly lady going up and down the candy aisle acting very disappointed and muttering to herself. I asked if I could help her find something and she told me what candy she was looking for. No longer than 15 seconds later she found it herself and then thanked me. I said in surprise, "You're welcome, but YOU found it--I didn't do anything." She gave me a warm smile and said: "Yes you did--you cared." It's nothing compared to Mike's insurance story about trying to help the guy collect additional insurance proceeds due to "accidental death" of his mother, but just goes to show you that sometimes a gesture of caring can take as little as 15 seconds of time, but mean so much to the recipient. Now ain't that a warm fuzzy?

Happy Mother's Day to you and all the other mothers here. Y'all make the world a better place. You like the "y'all" don't ya?

Yes, I am very proud of her and I did get her gift today. Thanks Mern. I do miss my mom, it'll be a rough day. I'll keep my head up though.

Very sweet, Mern. I'm glad you were there to give her a smile today.

I'm sure Mike gave his mother a few gray hairs growing up!

Hope your day is filled with mostly happy memories of your Mom, Mike. Sometimes the best reminisces start with tears and end up with laughter.