One blanket down, three more to go....

That looks comfy.

Darlene & Main80, I'll try to get y'all on the tree tomorrow. :)

Health & Fitness
1) Lose 3 pounds (starting @ 182.2)
2) 4 servings of fruit/veggies yes, yes, yes, yes
3) Gallon of water yes, yes, yes, yes
DONE 4) 3000 calories deficient -1060. -907, -965, -955 (3887 so far)
5) 1 cheat meal clean, clean, clean, clean
6) Gym x 3 day off, yes, day off, yes
7) No Bread none, I caved, none, none
8) Net Carbs less than 65g/day (not including cheat) 73.6g, 76.8g, 67.8g
9) No disturbing the ghost during the night (in other words, no getting up to eat after I lay down for bed) got up, no, got up
10) Daily:
a) Fish Oil yes, yes, yes, yes
b) Vitamin yes, yes, yes, yes
c) Glucosamine yes, yes, yes, yes
d) Fluoride rise yes, yes, yes, yes

Non Health & Fitness
DONE 11) Write 4 policies (have to turn up the heat on this one) 3, 0, 1 (4 so far), 0

Tori - what a cute little blanket! Forgive my ignorance, but are you making them for babies or for animals?

Time to report, I feel stupid about saying this, but it is SO hard to eat maintenance level calories without eating "junk", I don't know what crazy game my mind and my body are playing, or maybe I am just not that hungry. I have a dinner tomorrow so it should be easier to eat more ?! :confused:

1. Log everything. Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes
2. Drink water. 2L, 1L, No , 1.5 L
3. Exercise 4 times. No, No, No, No.
4. Sleep before midnight. Close but no, Oh so close. Pffft, I will :)

Mern, oh dear, I hope Bethany is doing better and she is able to eat soon, great news on it not being a serious disorder. Its surprising how something so little could cause such damage, to imagine all the things we put in our mouths, I saw somewhere that people accidently swallow a lot of paper clips because of this bad habit. Hope her parents are more calm now, really stressful days. As for you, you are a dear always concerned about others. About your plateau, it will break, body is just being stubborn, but you will show who is the boss.

April, hope your doctors appointment went well. I love what you wrote about your husband.

Tori, that blanket looks great, really something to snuggle up in. Yey on the sodas today!

Behaze, it is a great thing to be the youngest only girl and have everyone wrapped around your little finger :) Hope you manage to get your calories in, its crazy how hard it is to reach a certain number of calories with "proper" food.

Mike, wishing your brother a successful surgery, and you a no getting up night.

Tori Good job on finishing your shopping. Good for you for staying off the scale if it causes you stress, lots of people only weigh in once a week, I also have a scale obsession and I agree it’s not always healthy. Your blanket is beautiful I admire your artistic ability, I have none so I buy things that people like you make.:)

Main I am glad your cough is almost gone I hope you make a full recovery before Christmas. You may still be too sick to have your full appetite back yet, I hope you enjoy your dinner out.

Mern We will keep Bethany in our prayers and I hope a diagnosis can be made soon so that they can start on treatment or rule out all possibilities and hopefully she can be home for Christmas. Thanks for the kind words on the avatar pic, I think it’s funny also how some people have looked like what I had imagined and others I wasn’t even close. I hope your scale shows you some love soon I can relate to the discouraging feeling seeing no loss day after day leaves you with but it will pass if we keep making good choices. I don’t think next week will be a good calorie week but its ok I am looking forward to not dieting for a few days and just enjoying the blessings of family, friends and food after all I am celebrating the most important birthday of all.:D

April I am sorry you are sick I hope it passes soon. As for the Christmas organization I may need to remind you that for the first time in 18 years I am not working so it’s been a lot calmer getting tasks done this year and I clearly remember how much harder it was to juggle all of this last year.:eek: I love Christmas every part of it from celebrating Christ’s birthday to cookies left out for santa and all the fun and shiny things in between. I try hard to be done the work part early so starting next week it can be about celebrating and sharing the holiday with family and friends which is really the greatest blessing of the season.

Bindi What a unique name I like it a lot. Thanks for the compliment. I have about half my wrapping done, my 20year old son is moving out in Feb so I got him 2 laundry baskets full of all the stuff he thinks will magically be in his cupboards vitamins, advil ,mustard, mayo, spices, deodorant, toothpaste ,etc. so that’s going to take a bit as I want to wrap it all separately which will drive him crazy lol. I so wish chocolate and candy canes were nutritious but with your 1100 calories you obviously haven’t been tempted yet this week good for you.

Mike I would love to pray for your bothers surgery. Lol 2 for 1 prayer coupons, prayer is free it’s kinda like exercise you just need to do it to see results.:D

I loved my walk today it was so quaint with all the old fashioned window scenes and it did not rain or snow. Tomorrow my mom is coming to make shortbread with my daughter so another day of fighting temptation or following Aprils cookie rules hmm now that's a plan. In the evening we are all going to walk through a university park that has decorated all the trails with lights and different scenes its about 1.5 hours and it's supposed to be -3c (26f) so I think I will have to go look for the long underwear for that one lol. Well it's crazy late I should get to bed so goodnight all.
I hope you all have a great Friday!

Remember this December,
That love weighs more than gold!
Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Goals:
Walk 25k: M=8.2k, T=6k, W=2.5k, T=7.5k
Gym 2 days: 0, 0,0,0
Exercise 5 days: M=Hike, T=Walk, W=Treadmill, T=Walk
Squats 5 days: M=Y, T=Y, W=Y, T=Y
Ab work 5 days: M=Y, T=Y, W=Y, T=Y
Calories less than 1400: M= 1226, T=1236, W=1168, T=1192
Calorie deficit of 5000 for week: M=-818, T=-685, W=-984, T= -842
Christmas prep or participation everyday: M=Christmas cookie gifts packaged and ready for delivery. T=Cookie bags delivered, gift cards all purchased, mom and dad’s gifts done. W= Started wrapping. T=Walked around a Christmas village and enjoyed the decorations and family time.

Mike, prayers going up for David for successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted how he's doing. Knowing Bethany's mother, she won't be walking around with a toothpick dangling out of her mouth any more.

Main80, congrats on logging everything and on your water. Did I miss something? What's with four days in a row of no exercise? Just really busy? Wish I had some tips for you on how to eat maintenance level calories. I'll bet there are many others here who do, though. I must say I've temporarily held a paper clip between my lips on many occasions--I'll think twice about that in the future. Thanks--Bethany's parents are a lot more calm now. They'll be a whole lot better once her intestines are completely awakened and start functioning properly again so she can eat. They were told it should have happened by now, but that it's too soon to panic. She also has diabetes, so that may have something to do with the delay--I wasn't told that--just wondering.

Darlene, oh, goodness! I hadn't thought of that--there has been no talk of whether Bethany will be well enough to come home by Christmas. Did I read in skimming that you don't think you're photogenic? If so, WRONG! I'm waiting for almeeker (Amy) to put her pic up to see if she looks like the mental image of her that I have. I often develop an image of a poster according to what they write because they remind me of a non-cyberspace acquaintance. I associate my former dental assistant's face with Amy because she is very athletic, a swimmer, and does tons of volunteer work. So glad you enjoyed your walk--sounds wonderful. That's great that your mom is coming to make shortbread. My daughter doesn't bake from scratch, so I have the fun of Christmas cookie baking with my grandkids. Enjoy the lighted walk at the university--IN your long underwear!

bhaze, I love the name Bindi, too. :)

This particular blanket is for a 2 year old. I still have 3 to go, with ages ranging from 8-12. The fabric for those are a little more "grown up". I was trying to think outside the box this year for gifts. None of the kids actually need anything, and the Want List is a little too rich for AunTori (one word as that's how they pronounce it).

Thanks! I was pretty proud of myself on the soda too =)

aww thanks. I'm not sure of "artistic" is the right word. Artistic people are the ones who come up with the ideas. Crafty people, which is what I consider myself, just steal the ideas :p

Tori, the blankets are wonderful. My favorite gifts are the ones people made for me. I'm neither artistic nor crafty--I'm a "grateful recipient" of the artistry and craftiness of others. :D

UGH, I've got to go baby shopping for a shower tomorrow. I really don't want to go shopping or to the shower, but the shower is for my step-grandson's girlfriend whom I've never met, so I need to go and show my support and welcome the girlfriend into the family. I wish it was a couples shower so DH could go with me, but it's a women only shower. Uh oh--is my martyr complex showing? LOL

Good Morning Ladies, and Mike... ;)

What a crazy, busy time of year! Made my cut-out cookie dough this morning, so I'm killing time while it chills. Sounded like a great excuse to pour a cup of coffee and catch up with everyone.

Still feeling icky, but not sick either, so I'm trying to hurry up and get everything done, just in case it turns into the same thing that my husband had. Thankfully, so far, it doesn't seem like it though.

Tori,
I love those fleece blankets! They are so soft and comfy! We made the same one a couple of years ago for various friends and family. They all loved them.

Darlene,
I so admire the joy that you show for Christmas! I don't know if it's my age, burn-out, not feeling well, or what, but I'm dragging myself through the preparations this year. I haven't wrapped a thing yet which is really unusual for me! Mid-December is the height of college decisions and scholarship apps. and decisions and it just seems like we are given more deadlines than hours in a day to get them all done. If you are fortunate enough to get an acceptance letter, you also get another package of forms to fill out and additional scholarships to apply for. January and February will be even worse, I'm afraid. I'll be so glad when her senior year is over.

Mern,
So glad that your friend is on the mend. What a terrifying experience for her parents! I sure hope that she will make it home for Christmas, although I'm sure that she will be limited to what holiday treats she'll be permitted to have. What a terrible time of year not to be able to eat! Hugs to her dad as well. The same thing happened to me once when my dad was in ICU. I walked in and crumbled to the ground. I know exactly how he feels. I guess I'd make a terrible nurse. lol

Mike,
Prayers to your relative... again, what a bad time to have spinal surgery! Hope everything goes well. Let us know.

Time to get back to the cookies. :) Luckily, they don't tempt me much. I may have tried the biscotti and the icebox cookies yesterday... strictly for quality control, of course! ;)

Hope you all are able to take a few minutes from your busy day to take a break and take care of yourself... enjoy a cup of hot tea, a great mug of coffee, a moment of prayer or meditation or whatever brings you a moment of peace and relaxation. ;)

quinn

That's why maintaining is so difficult. It's also no fun. I find it more fun to eat like crazy, gain... then lose. I'm about to talk about my yo-yo below.

Thank you, and yes, you can never have too many coupons. :)

Thanks! So mom is gonna lay the law down?

Thanks & I want some homemade cookies. Speaking of cookies, a couple years ago my GF went digging and found all of my mom's Christmas cookie recepies (my mom use to make the best Christmas cookies, every year except for the year she was dying). She surprised me by making them all for me. It was like reliving my youth.
Enough of that... on to my yo-yo

I was looking at my weight graph and it's like a yo-yo, I'll try to post it later but these are my weigh in weights (for the past few weeks) at the beginning of each 7 Day Motivational thread.

11-28-11 I was up to 184.6, after crashing and burning Thanksgiving week!
12-5-11 Down 7 pounds to 177.6, a good recovery from my crash and burn.
12-12-11 Back up to 182.2, was sick & lazy last week and let my discipline slip out the window so I gorged.

My goal this week was to drop 3 pounds. That would bring me down to 179.2. Since that's still above my 177.6, I'm going to aim for -5 pounds (I say this AFTER cheating today), that will put me back down to 177.2. Looking at the not-so-big picture, that would be going from 184.6 (11-28-11) to 177.2 (12-19-11) in 3 weeks. -7.4 pounds in 3 weeks is still good. :)

It was supposed to rain today but it looks to be clearing up. I'm calling it a day. I worte my 4 policies this week, I'm going to go walk the French Quarter.

Tori, I'll take some pics. Do you want to see anything in particular?

I'm completely jealous!!!! Take lots of pictures!

a pic of a plane ticket with my name on it with the date of Feb. 18 on it would be great thanks. I'll send you the mailing addy too ;)

Quinn, will do.

Tori, sorry, can't help ya on that one. :(

ah well, it was worth a shot! any pics will do then

Uhh, Mern I don't think you need to bring the baby to a shower, so no need to shop for one :D.

It may be because I never had children (definitely by DH and my choice) and although I love children, I'm not much of a baby person, I have never enjoyed showers - especially all girl showers. I love buying the gifts for mom and the new babe, but attending the function has never been at the top of my list.

Quinn, you deserve the patient mom of the year award to handling all those college/scholarship apps + all the holiday prep. I suspect once you get a chance to sit and take a deep breath, you will find yourself back in the spirit.

Darlene, your idea of a moving out basket is great! Sure wish someone had done that for me! I think watching him open up all of those little packages will be a riot, maybe you could hide something special in the pile.

Tori, I love those fleece bankies. With all the cute prints out there you can really make something really special for each of your giftees. Last year I made flannel PJ bottoms and found appropiate T shirts to go with them for 4 of my friends and relative. They were a big hit. I too am not particularly artsy, but I love crafts when I get the time and a creative idea.

Bindi (love the name) a couple of candy canes here and there won't wreck the diet too bad. At least they take a while to finish (as long as you don't chew through them):rolleyes:

Main80 - oh yeah, maintaining is hard.:confused: I have to say that is exactly why I stick around here. It has been said before, losing the weight is the easy part, maintaining that loss for the rest of your life is the hard part. You know what to do... just remind yourself that your old habits are what got you into trouble in the first place, and you really do not want to go back to that place.

April, how did the Dr appt go? We have a bunch of coughers around work this week and DH has been fighting some sort of bug, I am trying to avoid them ALL :D. Back when I was in college and then grad school, I was sick every single holiday... I refuse to let the happen again! (at least do my damnest to avoid it.)

Mike, I'll send my wishes and prayers out for your brother's successful surgery and recovery. BTW, you seem to be rocking your goals this week. I too am a midnight (actually 2 -3 AM) wanderer. Luckily, I am rarely hungery so I don't tend to hit the fridge. I will have a cup of sleepytime or chamomile tea which helps a lot.

This week I have been on a bit of a carb binge. Don't know if it is a response to low carb diets the last couple of weeks, the holidays, or just a fluke in the meal planning. But I have to say, my energy level has definitely been low.

So is this a cause and effect, or an effect and a cause? Is the low energy driving me to seek carbs, or are all of the carbs contributing to the low energy? Now, I haven't gone too far over board, mind you. Stayed mostly w/in my maint. calorie level, but homemade pizza, DH's manicotti (twice), chinese/thai food w/ white rice. Even lunches have tended away from protein and toward breads and pasta. hmmmm, I guess I won't stress about it, but it has been and interesting observation.

Quinn, thanks for your kind words for Bethany and her parents. Right now I think all she wants for Christmas is a Slushie and some ice cream. LOL Oh, you poor dear--crumbling to the ground when your Dad was in ICU. I can hold my own in a crisis, but when it's over, as soon as I get home I get the shakes really bad. The last thing I'd ever want to do for a living is be a nurse. Aw, that's great that you had time to relax at the computer with cyberfriends and a cup of coffee. Sure is fun coming here to chat, isn't it? It's the real sharing that makes our group so tight--and that's really special. I'm looking forward to some free time in about an hour when my daughter comes home from work. Live-in GD and her boyfriend are going with his grandparents to a Christmas dinner at their pastor's house tonight, so DH and I will have a whole evening alone with no grandkids to drive anywhere! Hooray!

Mike, even though it's only possible Bethany swallowed a piece of toothpick, knowing her mother, she probably won't be allowed near a toothpick until she's married and moved away from home. LOL Aw, that's so sweet that GF made your Mom's cookies for you! Yep, that's quite a yo-yo weight report. But we gals know how quickly you can take off the weight when you set your mind to it. We have a lot of faith in you! :) Enjoy your walk in the French Quarter!

Pam, I got a big kick out of your post. I did see several babies, but none of the mothers would sell me one. So I bought baby clothes instead. I love babies, but at 65 I've had my fill of babysitting them. I do enjoy the mixed couples showers--they're more like relaxed parties and we usually don't have to play the organized games like figuring how many squares of TP to take to measure around the expectant mother's tummy or finishing the nursery rhymes. I totally respect your decision to not have children. I know a lot of totally happy and fulfilled couples who have made that decision. I've gone on my share of carb binges and I don't regret eating the carbs, but hate that sluggish feeling afterward due to the blood sugar plummet a few hours later. When I have low energy I can better replenish my energy level with a combo of protein and fat, both satisfying my hunger for longer periods of time than the carbs. Mmmm, manicotti--I LOVE that! Have you ever tried the Dreamfields brand of lower net effective carb pasta? I control my blood sugar through diet alone and I've found it fits in very well with my carb limitations--only 5g per serving. I find it here in the regular dried pasta section of the grocery store.

I didn't go to the French Quarter. There was a fatality accident on the interstate and the roads were closed. We stayed in town and went out to lunch... and I ate too much. Had too much bread as well. We are supposed to get up early tomorrow and go, so I'll post pics tomorrow.

pictures tomorrow then...lots and lots of pictures.

I wish there was a way to share photos other than attaching them to posts. I took about 9000 (not really) when I was down there in May. Some turned out wonderful, others not so much. I got some really good ones in one of the cemeteries. St. Louis 1, maybe???? The one with Marie Laveau's tomb.....

I'd like to go take cemetary pics. They are awesome, other people reading this probably think we are nuts. ;)

wouldn't be the first time I've been called "nuts" or any of the other variations that mean the same.



one of my fave pics from St. Louis 1

Cool pic Tori!

birthday party calories don't count, right??? can I use the Christmas cookie rules??

Enjoy your evening - it is well deserved. I bet if you went shopping for teenagers, there would be lots of mothers ready to sell them :D. I haven't tried Dreamfields, but I'll keep my eye open for them. Since DH is the manicotti maker I might have to trick, nag, or threaten him into using them though. He's one of the people that doesn't adjust to new foods very quickly:cool:.

Sure and the "foods eaten standing up don't count" and "foods snitched from someone elses plate doesn't count" rules ;)

I've been to NO several times - twice to Mardi Gras (many years ago) and 3 times for a mix of business and holiday. My main regret is that I have never gotten very far out of the French Quarter. Next time, I'll spend a lot more time exploring other areas, it is such a fascinating city!

Speaking of not counting. I quit logging earlier today. I'll guess that I'm +1000 on calories and 300g carbs. That's probably pretty realistic. Damn it's going to be hard to finish the week -5pounds.

Eek, so it WAS just me! I haven't been able to log on for two days and thought the site was down, as I couldn't even "back" into it. But I see from the chatting that it wasn't the case. I'm not surprised; this has been a week of everything that can go wrong, will.

I think we have isolated this to a router problem and hubs and I are shopping tomorrow and will replace it. I need to get today's food logged in; I didn't think to write as I went along yesterday but I did today, so I can get my totals up later tonight and catch up a bit then.

Cassie, the site WAS down earlier today, so if you want to use that for your two day excuse, feel free.

My brother is out of surgery and doing well. Thanks for the prayers, even though we weren't able to get a BOGO coupon.

I'm right there with ya! I knew I was in for a bad day when I woke up hungry. i'm never hungry first thing in the morning

did a rough guess of my caloric intake today and O! M! G!! I don't think I've eaten this many calories in a day in ages. I seriously feel sick to my stomach, and it's all my fault for giving into the junk that was offered at the party, cake included. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, I am however going to seriously work my butt off tomorrow and watch what I eat closer over the rest of the weekend. I KNEW I should have brought my own food....dammit all:mad:

Mern Oh my trust me the camera and I are not friends a few years ago when I went to get my license renewed and the lady said hmm let me take that picture again she then replied “for such a pretty girl you take a horrible picture”:eek: my daughter almost fell off the chair laughing as I was already a wreck about getting my picture taken. My daughter thinks I get nervous in front of the camera and she may be right the couple of pics that are ok like this one I had no idea were even taken. My mom much like yourself is thrilled to share her love of baking with my dd it works for me to I much prefer to cook and eat their baking. My long underwear were defiantly needed tonight it was beautiful to see all the lights draped among forest trees they did some neat designs and scenes with lights and props also, there was an opera singer in one of the main buildings singing Christmas carols and the sweetest elderly lady reading Christmas stories to kids it was great. I hope your baby shower will be better than you expect and you enjoy your quite night with hubby.

Tori My dd is very crafty also so you can both call it whatever you want I can’t do any of it so it’s a great talent that I admire. Your pic is really good I also think there is some beautiful art in cemeteries. I am sorry you had a bad food day but you will bounce back you have had a good week so far.

Quinn You have been so busy and under so much stress with all this scholarship prep I totally can see why you are tired and not feeling the joy of the holidays yet but it will happen and when it does you will enjoy the rest and family time it brings. I know for me I am a little sad with my baby leaving home in a couple months this will be his last Christmas at home so I want to enjoy him rolling out of bed in his pjs looking for his gifts. So my only advice is the advice I am taking slow down, enjoy every minute, laugh, share and savor the time with our kids our life is changing and I want to enjoy these last few months before I have adults not kids anymore. So enjoy your daughter with all the work you have put in to her education I am sure it will work out great even if you take a week off to refresh yourselves.:)

Mike It sounds so wonderful to just go walking in the French quarter, I have never been but my parents loved their trip I hope one day to visit. Did you get a chance to update the tree so I can go back to Christmas avatars I have a couple I am eager to use.

Pam I love your idea of hiding what he will call “good gifts” among the practical ones it will surely keep his interest so he will have to open them all. I don’t really watch carbs like some do, I aim at 40% but I really notice that empty carbs sugar, white flour, etc really drain me and I get headaches that I don’t get if I go carb crazy with my bean/flax tortilla chips and hummus, sweet potatoe fries or my one to many glasses of wine so it may be the white food.

Cassie I hope you get a good price on your computer parts and can get all caught up on your food logs.

Have a great night all I need to try to go to bed I have not been able to fall asleep for 3 nights until almost 3am so I need to get off the computer and turn off the tv and give it a better shot tonight.:rolleyes:

Remember this December,
That love weighs more than gold!
Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Goals:
Walk 25k: M=8.2k, T=6k, W=2.5k, T=7.5, F=5.7k
Gym 2 days: 0, 0,0,0,0
Exercise 5 days: M=Hike, T=Walk, W=Treadmill, T=Walk, F=Walk
Squats 5 days: M=Y, T=Y, W=Y, T=Y, F=N
Ab work 5 days: M=Y, T=Y, W=Y, T=Y, F=N
Calories less than 1400: M= 1226, T=1236, W=1168, T=1192, F=1320
Calorie deficit of 5000 for week: M=-818, T=-685, W=-984, T= -842, F=-784
Christmas prep or participation everyday: M=Christmas cookie gifts packaged and ready for delivery. T=Cookie bags delivered, gift cards all purchased, mom and dad’s gifts done. W= Started wrapping. T=Walked around a Christmas village and enjoyed the decorations and family time. F= Walked with family through Christmas park and gardens, made shortbread with mom

Darlene, I haven't had a chance to update the tree, sorry. I'll do it really soon, I promise.

Darlene, I got it done. :) Thanks

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...atarscopy7.jpg

My brother called me at 8am, he's doing great. He's up walking around like a new man! Thanks again everyone.

I'm so pleased to here that, Mike

Mike Thanks! I even figured out how to save it, this forum is making me internet and chat literate which my hubby said was an impossible task lol. I have spent 15 years working on computers and I am the queen of excel, word and office I can whip up a spread sheet in no time but ask me to save a picture or upload something and I am lost. Can you use old posts to add Amy and Terri to the tree I know they have posted pics in the past but I have no idea if it would be hard for you to track them down you may remember if others have posted in the past also.I am so happy to hear your brother is recovering well, will he be home for Christmas? Enjoy your day.:)

Pam Have a great Saturday.:)

I am having a lazy morning hopefully even trickling into the afternoon. Tonight we are off to our church, every year they put together a fantastic Christmas play that happens at the base of a 50ft man made fully lit up Christmas tree filled with our church choir, it a great show that I am so looking forward to. I am excited to say my body has finally agreed to get back on board with my weight loss plan and after 3 weeks of nothing 2 mornings in a row the scale says 145 so that’s -2lbs and 10 pounds away from my goal.:D Talk to you all tonight.:)

Tori, I went to Cafe Du Monde for begniets and just had a shrimp poboy for lunch! Got pics for ya

See, now that's just bragging!

As many times as I've been down, I've never actually had the beignets there. The last time we were down, we had them from somewhere else. I think the name was Morning Call? Maybe??