New You Dec 1st

Kerri, I don't want to scare you-- or maybe I do-- but it was skipping Asacol that put me into such a nasty two-year flare back in 2001. Take your Pentasa! And my doctor put me on pre-natal vitamins early since I have slightly low folic acid and we are hoping to become pregnant in February or after, so please everyone feel free to remind me to take some at dinner every night! (I usually don't have dairy at dinner, so that is the best time for me to take it so it won't interfere with iron absorption.)

Speaking of which, I starting temperature charting a few days ago when Aunt Flo started, and my normal waking temp is currently about 96-96.6 degrees. No wonder I am always cold.

Hope, do you have fat-free creamer? They do make that. Although some random things are inexplicably unavailable in Canada.

Aunt Flo just left yesterday. During the course of it I gained seven pounds, so I'm going to give myself a day or two to get rid of it before I weigh myself again. My measurements are definitely getting smaller though.

I haven't eaten yet, just had tea. And the fruit didn't happen last night (although the cherry crisp DID). I'll be able to get more in today though.

Breakfast:
Oh who knows, I'll think of something

Lunch:
tomato soup, saltines

Dinner:
stir-fried peppers, spinach, onions and beef with rice

Looks like I should have fruit and dairy at breakfast. Probably more dairy at lunch-- maybe I'll get a chocolate milk or something.

You guys are so motivating and inspiring here! And I sure do need it! I have been battling a sinus/cold/cough thing for 3 weeks now. I finally went to the doctor this morning. Got a shot of decadron (spl?) and two prescriptions - one antibiotic & one cough medicine. So maybe now I can GET OVER IT!!! The doctor said that about 4 hours after the shot, I would feel 100% better already. I am looking forward to 1:30 p.m.!!

Water! Yes, I am hitting my water hard. I've actually got my 64 oz. two days this week already, so I feel good. I put a little lemon juice in my sports bottle this morning. I am OK with just plain water right now, but I am sure I'll tire of it soon. I usually do.

Hope, I am glad you posted those little tidbits. I have to continually remind myself that it's a lot of *little* things, not making a half-dozen major changes in one fell swoop. I get really overwhelmed when I try to make too many changes at once. Just reducing my portions will result in a little loss, I think. My portions were just getting wayyyyy out of control. I was tending to not eat breakfast, eat a moderate lunch & then by dinner I was so famished I was eating the legs off the table, as my gma says.

So, while I'm not a Slim-Fast addict, I like the shakes and it's a good way to get some calories in my in the a.m. so my metabolism doesn't sleep until lunch. I had an omelet made with low fat margarine this morning. I don't have any fake eggs, but I plan to get some at the grocery this weekend. Every little bit helps.

I need some good recipes for low-fat smoothies! I am craving a good smoothie and was wondering what are your faves here? I think I'll get some fat-free vanilla yogurt and some blueberries this weekend and make one.

Hopefully, this shot will do the trick and I'll be able to breathe this afternoon. If so, I want to go to the community center and walk on the treadmill or do the elliptical machine. Fingers are crossed!

Well, I need to run be a flybaby for a while. Cya!

Vonnie

Mine is 3/4 in my body for today! Yep, I only have one more 16 oz. glass to go! And I feel so good. Got a shot at the doctor this morning for this "crud" and I feel soooo much better already.

So far today:

Breakfast: omelet and orange juice
Lunch: Healthy Request tomato soup and saltines
Snack: Carb Control vanilla cream yogurt (this is divine if you haven't tried it!)
Water: 3 - 16 oz. glasses so far!

My plan for the rest of the day:

Dinner: 1/2 hobo dinner (beef patty, carrots & small amt. of potatoes), 1/2 whole wheat English muffin with lowfat margarine

Exercise: at least 20 minutes on treadmill

Snack: granny smith apple with little bit of low-fat peanut butter

Early to bed because tomorrow morning I plan to do my DVD. It is Leslie Sansome "Walk Away the Pounds"; it's an indoor walking program. I'm going to go for the 1 mile program in the morning before DD gets up, so I have to get in bed early to beat her getting up tomorrow.

Thanks for letting me post every little thing here. It helps me to see it in black & white!

Vonnie

I am feeling very inspired by Karin and Vonnie. Sadly, I know myself only too well, and there is no way I would join in and keep it up in the lead up to Christmas! I am rushing around all over the place in December and find it difficult enough to eat regularly, let alone to eat the right things. I may well get on the wagon in January. I know what you mean about weight Karin, I am tall too and even the weight that is RIGHT for my height sounds like a large number! I would like to lose about 60lbs. I remember vowing on TNH to lose it by Christmas 2004..........that would be about summer 2002 that I said that! Maybe I should pledge to lose it by Christmas 2005. That would be a little over a pound a week. I'll get back to you about that on January 2nd (I can't start a diet on the 1st, it's my birthday!)

Michele, that to-do list. I write one every day and it's a very rare day indeed that I actually do everything on the list. I find it disheartening, but no matter how little I write down, it still never seems to all get done I don't know what the answer is. Stop writing lists maybe, but then would I do anything at all?

It's past 10pm and I think i might jsut go and have an early night for once. Well I have to do SOMETHING to deserve my place on the New You thread! Especially now Vonnie and Karin are giving us such a good example

I feel like I am being inspired here. Y'all all have so much knowledge in how to treat ourselves right. I just feel like a sponge soaking it all up here!

I am about to go get myself ready for bed because I would love to get up far enough ahead of DD to do the 20 minute DVD of fit walking I got today.

Here's what I did since my midafternoon posting:

* Finished my 64 oz. of water for the day; had only decaf iced tea with my dinner; decaf coffee before bedtime
* Went to community center and walked for 30 minutes on the treadmill; checked out the other equipment & made a plan of equipment I want to use and when

I just feel so good; I hope this feeling lasts! And what is so weird yet so good: this time I feel like I am truly committed. I am not doing this to please my coworker (like I tried to do several years ago when I joined WW) or anyone else. I am doing it because I want to feel good. My goal weight is just a number right now. I may have to adjust it up at some point. I chose it because when I was that weight, I was the size I wanted to be. My body has changed a lot since then (years & years ago), so I may have to raise my goal weight a little. We'll see how things go. Karin is awesome! I am so glad to have an accountability partner and not feel like I'm having to compete with them (like what happened with my ultra-competitive ex coworker). And this forum is so great! Y'all keep me on the straight & narrow now, y'hear?

Headed for bed and signing off for tonight.

Vonnie

Kerri, I can't do water in the winter. In the summer I can gladly drink lots of it, but not now Can I drink squash instead, will that do? Or hot water with lemon I suppose, I can do that.

I am so far behind the rest of you - I have a real struggle trying to remember to eat three meals let alone anything else. I know what my problem is - I have a complete lack of routine in every area of my life! Mealtimes are extremely variable depending on what we're doing and when we're hungry, bedtimes are equally variable - I go anytime between 11 and 3. It is quite common for me to realise at 2 or 3 in the afternoon I've only had one coffee to drink all day and I've eaten nothing. I generally cook a decent meal in the evenings, and I eat a lot of fruit, but breakfast and lunch are often non existent. DS13 does himself something at those times, usually.

Today for instance it is now 12.10. All I have had is one coffee. It's getting on for lunchtime, I haven't even had breakfast and I don't feel remotely hungry. I am going to make a sandwich shortly, but I really don't want it. If I don't eat though, I know that by mid afternoon I will be feeling sick and dizzy

As for my weight, earlier in the year I lost a stone (14 pounds). I have no idea what I weigh now as I haven't been on the scale since April. Yesterday someone remarked that i was looking slimmer but I think it was the outfit I had on. I may start wearing it everyday....

One thing that IS good is that I don't tend to put on weight at Christmas. I am not much of a fan of either Christmas cake or Christmas pudding, nor of nuts and chocolates. My favourite is satsumas! (a kind of little Christmas orange, for those that don't have them)

I'm off to have that sandwich

I had a sandwich, a satsuma and a cup of tea,
Dinner will be Chicken Kerri which is what I call the curry I make to Kerri's recipe, with the paste she sends me Jelly (Jello) for dessert, at DS' request - he loves it. I will probably have a yoghurt or some ice cream. I am trying to improve my dairy intake, which is pitiful.
I will be going for a walk shortly too - though only to the shop to get potatoes for the curry, and some bread. It's about a 20 minute round trip, I suppose any exercise is better than none, eh?
Have you used your pedometer lately Hope? I wore mine recently on a day when I went for a really long walk with the dog, of over an hour, AND I did all my Mum's housework that day which involves quite a lot of walking, and I STILL only made about 7,000 steps! I think I need to take smaller strides

I forgot when I posted my planned menu for the day that Fridays are the day DD and I go to lunch together: her choice. So, she chose Pizza Hut. I still did OK, though. I had a small tossed salad with light ranch dressing, one piece of pizza and a breadstick. More than I would have had at home, but not terrible at least.

The rest of the day pretty much has stayed on track. I have a party tonight. SIL is bringing a veggie tray, so I'll probably concentrate on that.

I plan to go hit the treadmill at the community center when they open in the morning at 6. DH will still be here (albeit asleep!) to listen out for DD. Hopefully, I can get in my walk and get back home before she wakes up. We have a busy Saturday and Sunday planned, so I need to get it done first thing.

Oh, water!!! I am on my last 16 oz. bottle right now. I wanted to drink it within the hour before I leave to go to the party. Hopefully that will help quelch any cravings when I get there!!!

Y'all have a great night!!!

Vonnie

Wow, Vonnie that is true dedication!

Well done on the walking, Becky.

Yesterday's dinner didn't go according to plan, as I realised too late that I had no coconut milk for the Chicken Kerri. I have also realised as I type this that the chicken I left out to defrost the night before last is STILL out so we won't be eating that.

Once again it's nearly noon and I haven't eaten anything yet - oh yes, one satsuma. They are very tiny though, so I will have to have something else. It's 11.40 so I'm not sure whether to go for breakfast or lunch. A bowl of bran flakes with raisins I think, that'll do. Tonight I think we are having sausage casserole.

I HAVE to dye my hair this week. I am very grey underneath my hair dye - I estimate that I am probably 1/3 or more grey, I can't tell for sure as I've been dyeing it to cover the grey up since I was 22. I'm looking about ten years older at the moment, with lots of lovely grey roots I'd like to get my hair cut next week too, as we have some Christmas outings coming up in the next couple of weeks. Eyebrows need plucking too, legs need shaving, nails need filing and painting.......does everyone let all these things go in the winter, or is just me?

Honey, I don't know if it's the season or the weather, but I too let some of those things go. Shaving my legs for sure is one that i just don't do as often because there's no man currently to be embarrassed in front of, and i'm usually wearing trouser socks or tights under my clothes, so no one sees my stubble. When it starts hurting, and the hair going through the tights, that's my cue to shave. And i broke down and finally had my hair professionally dyed. I was using a store bought semi-permanent that covered the gray only but it seemed i had to do it so often, now i have someone do it and i LOVE it! I have to go in about every 6 weeks but it's worth it to me. And i don't get my hair cut each time so it's not so expensive. I'm glad i finally had it done professionally.

I'm feeling the pressure of the holidays coming up and not getting everything done. My guy, Doug, is coming to visit for the weekend so he can go to my Christmas party. He'll be here in 2 weeks and we have a lot of plans for the weekend including a fancy dinner at one of the nicest restaurants i've ever been to on Friday night, the Christmas party on Sat. night, church on Sunday and then we're going to a local apple farm and they have Holiday in Lights, you go on a ride through the farm and see the holiday lights, they give you blankets to cuddle up, and then you go to the lodge and have dinner. Doug is really spoiling me (and i'm loving it!) He already is planning something for my 40th bday in March, and i'll be going to Las Vegas to meet his children in January! Things are looking up...

Is the recipe for Chicken Kerri on the site? Where can i find it? I love anything that has coconut or coconut milk in it.

Peace,
Michele

And I'm married to someone who thinks leg-shaving is nice but not necessary, which is a real de-motivator.

Breakfast:
-tea w/ milk, oatmeal w/ brown sugar, dates, and milk
Snack:
-2 caffe lattes, one regular and one decaf
Lunch:
-leftover spaghetti bolognese with cheese
Snack:
-1/3 cup of dates
Planned dinner:
-the stir-fry beef and vegetables I mentioned earlier, with the addition of ginger and some broccoli slaw mix
-vitamin!

That would be my house. So I had a piece of fruitcake last night. And then DH brought home a bag of little miniature twix bars (I had two). But otherwise I ate what I said I'd eat! And I made sure to keep my portion of beef/veggie stir-fry (which was GREAT if I do say so myself, funny how remembering the cornstarch makes a difference!) to a reasonable size, since I'd already had fruitcake. I think I'm going to go put some whisky on the remaining fruitcake so I'll be forced to let it age at least another week.

Hope, do they not have all those salads and things at Burger King where you are? Is Canada trying to beat the US at un-healthiness? Good thing we don't have poutine here.

Anyway, I DID get some exercise last night. I rode on the exercycle for ten minutes.

Hope, that is so funny!!

Hope~I love that, tit for tat. That's a good one.

Peace,
Michele

Not sure this will work, but trying to post a pic of my guy Doug from Vegas. He took me to this really nice restaurant in town, this was our first real date.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/mitchypoo/DM2004/b0e5ff34.jpg

Peace,
Michele

Vonnie,
Thanks

About the ab exercises, i have to do them to try and improve my back and the ones that i like are on a yoga ball, you know the ones you sit on. They make the exercises easier on your back, but they are still effective. Another one you can do without any equipment is one where you lay on a flat surface w/your knees up and feet flat. Then you tuck your pelvis, so there's no space under your back. Then you put your hands behind your head, not necessarily holding your head, and then you focus on something on the ceiling and you lift up just enough to feel it in your abs. The key is to keep the pelvic tilted and to use the abs to raise yourself. Then do the same but lift to the side, like picture your elbow crunched toward the same side knee, then the other side. I'm sure this makes no sense. I'll post more if i think of them or can think how to explain them.

Peace,
Michele

How long have you known him, where did you meet him, what's he really like, etc etc

You look good together

now water, no medication, no exercise (except the frantic quick shopping dash)... umm...

well put it this way - I have to get off here and get on with something since it's already 5:30pm (and we're having tempting stuff for dinner with very few veggies involved. That puts it down to a glass of water for the tablets and another glass of orange to try and make up a bit for the lost veggies. And I put the kettle on a fwe minutes back for a warm drink, so I could be drowning internally very soon!

You're very brave Michele, putting a photo on here to get ogled and, because we just love to live everyone else's lives vicariously!! You are now guaranteed no peace and quiet at all about this guy until you're walking back down the aisle as Mrs Doug, so I hope he's the right one!! But seriously... you do indeed look fabulous, and he looks like he knows this is the photo you're going to be showing on here - a little like a rabbit in headlights! Otherwise very nice!

Good for you Lenora... hope yu can distract Flo long enough to keep her from eating all the Christmas goodies. Maybe you could brush your teeth more often, so that your mouth is constantly filled with the taste of toothpaste and it might put you off eating!

I'd better go get drinking (no comments please!)

Kerri.

I haven't made any! Problem solved! I haven't had the time or the inclination to bake/make anything tasty (yet) this year.

Well, Michele, let us know how to pray/think good thoughts for you and this new relationship: for clarity, for communication, for commitment????? ...or "D" all of the above? Whatever the need, I'm there for ya!

Hope? Baby? I can't wait to hear!

I wrapped up an "A" in Middle Childhood and Adolescence, today! ...the group paper we turned in was not fabulous...but my professor was more generous with the points than I would have been. (I'm gonna be one of those hard teachers! )

The only grade sill a "maybe" is Special Ed...which I'm working on now (you guys are my study break!)

I did o-kay wiht food today...no time or $$$ for junk food! I spent my long break buying a few gifts for the holiday. I'm usually done by now, and still have to get another package or two for MIL, who will be here on cCristmas Eve/morning. I need something "fun" for DH, too...hmmmmmmmmmm any suggestions for a guy who's not into golf/sports/cars?

Well, back to my essay/lesson plans.

Blessings,
Lenora
PS. I showed Dh the "tit-fot-tat" conversation! He thinks we're all nuts! Actually, he thought it was pretty funny, too!

Today is my day not to go into the office, so I've been running my errands, etc. I still feel really good. I'm not craving anything. I think it's because I'm keeping myself so hydrated. I had a Slim Fast shake for breakfast, took all of my vitamins, and had a carb control yogurt for a snack. Went to the community center and did my 35 minutes on the treadmill and then home to a Lean Cuisine meal and a small green salad with fat free Catalina dressing. I had unsweet tea with it, but I’m back on my water now. I plan to have a smoothie (low fat milk, fat free plain yogurt, strawberries, banana) for my afternoon snack. Dinner is a mystery so far. I’ll probably make spaghetti and have just a small portion of it.

I bought a carb smart canned soup at the grocery store and some other frozen lean cuisines. Has anyone else tried the carb control yogurt? It is sooooo good. I get the vanilla cream and it is really good.

Well, I need to go make the beds (sheets just finished in the dryer). I need to find my pedometer so I can track my steps per day.

See you all later!

Vonnie

We're having latkes at our house this week. Don't look to me to set an example!

Thanks Kerri for the vote of confidence (not)
At least it gives me a reason to post I guess..........to make the rest of you look very good by comparison!

Michele, I hope things work out for you with Doug. When are you likely to see him again?

Vonnie and Karin, you both are doing so well! How are you managing it, so close to Christmas? I'm impressed.

I have been managing to get to bed a little earlier, but not often before 1am
Eats are whatever I can grab, really. Nothing changes. Water I am not even going to talk about, I just can't do it this weather. I'm drinking grapefruit flavoured squash as a next best thing.
Yesterday I looked after my friend's two boys for the day and she bought me a box of chocolates. What am I supposed to do if people WILL sabotage me

Honey's apparently online at the moment and it's after 2am where she is... If you're gonna be bad at least be good at it, and don't get caught!

I'd better go off and take today's medication now, otherwise the righteous indignation falls a little flat!

Kerri.

I didn't even take time to sit down and post. I am trying to discipline myself to not get on the computer (except to check the weather) until I am dressed to shoes with hair & makeup done. So, that's where I am this morning.

OK, I admit it: I weighed yesterday. I felt so light, I just KNEW I had lost some more. Well, I hadn't! I was crushed. In the past, I would have gone and got one of those remaining brownies that DH and DD haven't eaten yet. But, I didn't! Instead, I laced on my walking shoes and went and did 1 1/2 miles on the treadmill. I did a course that had uphill and downhill and I sweated like you wouldn't believe! It felt good!

I'm doing pretty good with my eating. Keeping the food diary is helping because I don't want to have to write down something I shouldn't have eaten. Today is Day 12. I need to make myself some weekly goals. Right now I only have my ending weight goal.

The water is helping, too. I've managed to down 64 oz. per day this week. My skin is even looking better!

Hope y'all have a great New You day! Take care of yourself!

Vonnie

I know from experience that when I lose weight quickly without trying much, it is a harbinger of less-pleasant things. And I have been having some gassiness and diarrhea for a week or two which I was sort of ignoring because I was so distracted with school; and I thought about it last night and realized my appetite has been rather low lately. But none of this is severe, and I'm hoping it can be fixed by going back on Asacol or something rather than anything stronger. So I have to call the doctor today.

I'm feeling much better after lots of sleep. Still a little queasy post-breakfast, and quite tired, but otherwise okay.

Had pizza for dinner last night and breakfast this morning! No, that's not why I'm queasy; it actually tends to be soothing when I am careful about what toppings I put on it. I also remembered to take my vitamin last night.

Posting back-to-back to myself! Hmpft!

Well, this was weigh-in, measure-in day! I have lost one pound this week and 1 inch overall. I'm not complaining, really. I feel so much better, I'm happy with it. I walked 40 minutes on the treadmill both Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. I'm going to start doing some Pilates today, in addition to my walking. Also, I've got to get my 64 oz. in. I bought some Dr. Phil vitamins that are supposed to be formulated for your body type. I am an apple and they are supposed to help me metabolize carbs faster. We'll see how they do. I got them on sale, so not too much lost if they don't work.

Well, DD is snoozing on the sofa so I need to go get her up and at 'em!

Cya!

Vonnie

I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday morning. I've mostly just been eating whatever doesn't make me queasy at a given moment. So an odd diet with very few vegetables. But I was able to eat chili happily yesterday. Nothing EVER makes sense.

We just have a big bowl of chilli each, possibly with cheese and sometimes with tortilla chips. Mainly because my version of chili takes fifteen minutes (microwave!) so it's the dinner I make when I am really in a rush, or if I am having a lazy day. So I wouldn't want to be making rice too.

I can't remember what I ate yesterday, except for dinner, which was crispy duck with pancakes. I did my grocery shopping last night and it was reduced. I expect duck is very fattening, but for me it's always a bonus if I can find something with protein in that I actually like.

I had to walk to the sorting office yesterday to collect a couple of parcels. I rather enjoyed it, the weather was quite bracing. DS13 was freezing but I was okay. Must be the layers of fat

It's eleven and I have had a satsuma and two mince pies for breakfast.

I just typed mice pies and had to correct it. Now THAT would be an interesting breakfast. Protein, too

Just tortillas. There were a few beans in the chili but not many, and I made it with tomato sauce instead of salsa to make it gentler. I sometimes eat chili with rice, but not that time.

Good morning!

I've been forced to cut back on caffeine since getting more symptomatic, and now that I'm feeling better I am keeping it at a lower level again. I am going to have one cup of green tea this morning, and that's it until we go to DH's boss's place for coffee this evening.

I knew that about alcohol but not water. My eyes only get very puffy on prednisone so it's not much of a concern for me.

I think I need to put my legs on my list of things to do too Hope. I feel that Christmas might just warrant the extra Christmas gift for DH!

I'm trying to think up a veggie dish to go with curry that won't need to be done at the last minute. Probably some kind of gratin, except that I think a normal gratin would be a bit creamy with curry. And no, I'm not risking any weird veg like fennel that might be a bit more of a contrast - my in-laws are not the most adventurous people. My eldest BIL doesn't even like cheese!!! What does one do with people like that!?! So if anyone has any bright ideas I'd love to hear them. I'm not boiling any veg... I steam or I stir fry or I bake, that's it. And I don't want to be stir frying green veg at the last minute if I can avoid it. DH keeps saying well it only takes a couple of minutes, and then adds on a couple more dishes which also only take a couple of minutes... and it ends up taking about 15mins while everyone else has been sat down eating. I suppose I could mash the cauliflower, but I just can't imagine my MIL eating that somehow. She doesn't like new things - very suspicious woman. Only the fact that DH is now quite large has her convinced that my food is all edible, though she does quite like some of my dishes - I'm extra careful when she's around!

I skipped lunch yesterday, or rather I rewarded myself for taking my medication with a leftover Easter egg (not a typo!) and then promptly forgot lunch altogether until about 5pm. Dinner was at about 7:30pm in the end. I'd better find something for lunch today or it's going to be a junkfood binge all day today. But we don't have anything interesting for lunch, and I can't be bothered with soup.

I'd better go get some late breakfast, take my medication and slug down some water while I'm at it of course!

Kerri.

I'm about to leave for my parents', so for a few days I will be in transit and/ or hanging out with them and probably won't be on TNH much if at all. Then after I've been there for a bit I can start to come back on from their house. I wish you all well!

p.s. Okay, I'll admit what I had to eat yesterday: three doughnuts, two decaf lattes (which I made at home), and 2 bowls of King Ranch chicken.

yup - plural. I had them in my wardrobe so it never really gets as hot as it would elsewhere in the house, and we don't get bugs here like if I stored all the snack foods in the kitchen where I originally had them. They're the smallish filled kind, known to the Brits at least, as Creme Eggs, and also soe Terry's Chocolate Orange eggs. They were stuffed inside a plastic bag so although I was vaguely aware of them I never bothered with them. Plus I usually have so much other junk food around that it isn't an issue.

Becky, travel safely, eat wisely, drink plenty! Of water I mean...

I have come to the conclusion that I'm getting very dangerously close to making myself ill. I had a REALLY rough night last night, on top of a reasonably rough one the night before (DH snoring didn't help much), and I ended up taking a 1mg tablet of leftover steroids. I don't know how wise it is, but anyway. Maybe it will have no effect whatsoever, maybe it will be just enough to help my Pentasa do its job. I need to take my health more seriously.

My mother's doing well with her dialysis apparently. She's 'in training' for this week, then she'll be on her own with it over the weekend and a nurse will come out t check she's still alive on Monday! My parents have kindly dug up some photographic information on how it all works, which is helpful for me, and will hopefully help my poor squeamish DH be able to deal with it. After all, 20yrs may be a long time in medical technology, but he may still have to deal with me going through the same procedure.

One of my cousins has her entire family hibernating at home with bad colds apparently - her fairly useless DH is even off work to nurse them - and her mother landed herself in hospital with some kind of lung infection (she's asthmatic). What more do I need before I will take my health seriously on a daily basis I wonder??

Today is a day of trying to find foods I feel like eating to fill my poor empty stomach and which will hopefully not aggravate it. And no more iced lemon tea for me. I was so thirsty last night that I had three very cold glasses of it, and it really didn't help anything very much. Cold liquids create air bubbles in your system which some people will find more uncomfortable than others. There are probably so many things at the moment contributing to how rotten I feel, but the very least I can do is take all my medication WITHOUT FAIL, knowing how messed up I am at the moment. And not stop taking it when I feel fine. That's the hard part... when I feel 'healthy' again, and I slack off and the habit of taking tablets vanishes.

So there you have it... plenty of honesty from me. And CQ's daily advice?? To be happy with 'enough' and not want 'more'. Wise words as usual.

Kerri.

For now, anyway! DD is napping. She went down without a fight today. Of course, she is getting the runny nose/cough thing again and doesn't feel very good, so that's why she laid down so easily!

Yesterday was my day not to go into the office and I was running around almost all of it! So, I didn't get my water intake. I just can't do it when I don't know how far I am from a restroom. My body will adjust eventually and I won't have to go quite so often, but right now we're still getting used to it.

Today has been much better; back on a regular schedule. I've had 32 oz. of water so far (that's my typical goal: 32 in the a.m. and 32 in the p.m.). I had a slim fast shake for breakfast, then my Dr. Phil vitamins, and a chicken sandwich (grilled) for lunch. I haven't had a snack today, mainly because I wasn't starving at snack time and didn't even think about it. Progress! I'll probably have a carb control yogurt or maybe a smoothie this afternoon.

We're making cookies for the neighbors, but I don't think I'll be very tempted by that. For some reason, my normal temptations just are not bothering me. I'm not going to complain & who knows when that honeymoon will be over!

Monday is weigh-in day, so I don't have anything tangible to prove it to myself, but I do feel I have lost some more weight because my fat jeans are a little loose today! Woohoo!

Well, I'm gonna go. I actually have laryngitis myself, so I'm going to go get some hot tea and put some lemon and honey in it.

Y'all have a great day!

Vonnie

I've got no cheese (except a very little Philadelphia), very little butter, I ran out of milk yesterday (and remember I buy UHT boxes so this shouldn't happen!)... I know I need to clear the fridge ready for the Christmas influx, but this is insane! So much for my grocery shop next Thursday... methinks some of the items will have to get done this weekend, as little as I like the idea of dragging myself out the last weekend before Christmas. At least then we can clear drinks and essentials. I think it looks like my Sunday morning just evaporated (again) since that's the only possible quiet time - DH is working tomorrow morning, and off to a wedding dinner on Sunday night.

No fair.

Good news is that I got a proper night's sleep last night, which not only means I'm less sleep-deprived this morning, but also that my insides were back to behaving relatively normally. That tends to point to those three glasses of icy cold lemon tea before bed as being the main troublemakers.

But you can bet I'm sticking with my medication. I got the scare I needed and I don't need any more. Not for now anyway.

I've never been much of a sherry drinker, but then we only had it in the cupboard for guests when I was growing up, and I have never owned any myself. If I'm going to be genteel and ladylike I'll have port and lemonade or Bailey's (just one is plenty!). Otherwise Jack and I are quite happy with each other and some Coke! Did I mention that DH bought me a whole new bottle of Jack on his last trip?? I gotta get through the whole bottle before we leave in June too... life can be so tough sometimes!!

Right... this reformed alcoholic (I used to be able to drink quite a fair bit of red wine, but not any more - a couple of glasses and I know time's up!) is off to get some fresh water in her cup (Mary Engelbreit mug, and very large!) and get those tablets down. At least my stomach doesn't feel painfull empty this morning, so I won't need to spend the whole morning trying to fill it before taking tablets like I did yesterday.

Way to go Michele!! I wish I could get up the guts to spray my SIL with temporary fluorescent hair dye when she's not expecting it!!! And congrats Vonnie... now you have room to really enjoy Christmas!!! I assume that was your reason in wishing to lose weight... There could be any other reason??

Kerri.

I forgot to say how my appointment on Wednesday went! So, I told the GI I'd been having a mild flare (described the symptoms) but that it had waned with plenty of sleep. He said that sounded as though I was fine, then looked at my most recent blood test results-- from June. He said I had an elevated sedimentation rate (an inflammation marker) despite the colonoscopy's showing remission, asked if I still had joint pains, and when I said yes, said that he wanted to re-run the blood test (when I return in January). If it still shows an elevated sed rate, I am to see a rheumatologist to find out if I have some sort of inflammatory arthritis.

When I've been at doctors' for joint pains, they have always told me to exercise as much as I can stand to, no matter what the root problem is.

Keep taking your meds Kerri! I have been good about taking my vitamins. Little brat isn't even conceived yet and I already am doing things for him/ her.

More Pilates on Monday evening. Sore abs, here I come.

I am experiencing a relapse of my acute sinusitis, I am afraid. So, I'm back on my medication. Hopefully it will go away before I run out (I had to take two of them until they were gone, so I only have the liquid for cough/sore throat, but that is the worst part right now).

After today, I am changing my weigh-in day to Fridays. Mondays are just too hectic/depressing for me. Anyway, I did lose two pounds this week for a cumulative loss of -7. I finally measured before I got dressed and I have lost 1.5 inches this week for a cumulative loss of 5 inches. I met my goals for the week, so I am happy with it.

Hope everyone has a great day & feels well.

Vonnie

Lemonade? In eggnog? That's NOT eggnog. Eggnog is eggs, milk, cream, and sugar. I don't know what Advocaat is though. Good on you for being cooler though!

It might be a very English thing in your part of the country, but whilst I may have heard of a snowball, I have never known what was i one or known anyone who's drunk one. I guess I belong more to the mulled wine brigade than the eggnog and snowballs set!

Kerri.

I changed my weigh-in, measure-in day from Monday to Friday this week. With only 4 days between them this time, I was not expecting to see much, if any loss. Well, imagine my surprise when I clocked-in and found that i had lost 3 more pounds and 1/2 inch! Celebrations are going on quietly here at 5 a.m.! I wasn't able to walk any this week because I am still so stuffy, so I might have lost 4 or 5 if I had!

Well, the holiday feasting officially begins for us tonight. We go to my Mom's tonight and DH's parent's tomorrow for mid afternoon lunch/dinner. I am going to eat something lowfat right before we leave to try to stave off any sudden cravings/splurges. And of course, drinking my water!

I'll probably checkout now until Monday. Believe it or not, my office is open Monday (I am really ticked about that), so I'll be back in the saddle right after the holiday this time.

I hope everyone has a great "New You" holiday!

Vonnie

Congratulations on the weight loss and the inch loss Commiserations on having to work on Monday Over here everyone gets Monday and Tuesday off this year.

I am eating taramosalata on toast for breakfast. Bit of a treat as taramosalata is high in calories, but it's protein, so that has to be a good thing. I don't eat enough protein. In the New Year I am going to try eating protein at every meal. I hope it might stabilise my energy levels as they are very up and down. Although I didn't really get on with the Atkins Diet, having a protein meal in the morning did wonders for my energy. I just couldn't manage eating nothing BUT protein - there aren't enough protein foods that I like, for it to be my sole source of food.

Later today I will do a mini buffet just for myself and DS, with some of our favourite goodies. Not too much though as I don't want to give myself heartburn again, before tomorrow. Luckily I don't usually put on weight at Christmas. I am not madly fond of christmas cake, christmas pudding or even chocolate. I do have some of each of those, but I find it quite easy to resist them. I adore satsumas though, but they contribute to the heartburn

Onwards and upwards (lots to do!)

DD has croup, so my day has gone to you-know-where in a handbasket! Had to go to the dr. this morning, then to pharmacy to get meds. DH is out now getting a few things at the grocery for me. This week I am doing stuff for my office manager who is on a ski trip, so I have to go in to the office my normal hours (only today, Tues & Thurs because of the holidays & only my usual 8-11 a.m.). DH will have DD in the morning; good luck to him! She is not doing well being cooped-up inside.

Anyway, onward & upward! I have had a WONDERFUL day with my eating. I am trying to stick to 1200 calories a day & it is not always easy. Today I have done really well. Had a Slim Fast shake for b'fast, a Boca burger patty on a piece of "carb counting" whole wheat bread with dijonnaise mustard & a piece of 2% cheese. Ate a few Baked Lays with it. It was really tasty & quite filling as well. This afternoon I had a Slim Fast snack. We're having hobo dinners tonight (ground chuck patty with an onion slice on top cooked in foil with potatoes and carrots.) I will have a Weight Watchers dessert after I walk on the treadmill. That will get me around 1100 calories today. I've also had all but my last two glasses of water & I'll get one with dinner and more than one when I walk at the community center.

My pants are really loose today, so I'm taking that as I haven't gained any weight from the holidays. I am really looking forward to walking tonight, too. Hopefully, I'll have time to do some core Pilates as well.

Where is everyone besides me & Hope? Still festivating?

Talk to everyone later!

Vonnie

but not doing anything useful except trying to force my medication down. I skipped Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - not intentionally. Didn't overeat bcause I spent three days with the kind of sore throat and mouth that often precedes ulcers and really makes you not want to eat anything. I'm catching up a bit on that (mince pies for breakfast!) but it probably kept me reasonable over the weekend, which on the whole is good. Overindulgence is invariably a bad thing, and not just as a matter of weight gain!

I'm also trying to drink. I adit to a late night last night. I finished a book, went to the toilet and accidentally started and finished another book. At the end of the first book I was on track for a reasonably early night. By the end of the second it was well after 1am. I slept in this morning but that's just not the same, and I feel a bit of a wreck.

All we had for dinner last night (me and the kids) was pasta with a spoonful of pesto (oops, empty jar) and some grated romano cheese. It did the job, the kids were finished in minutes and it was probably a good idea after all the other stuff. Though I'm not sure we can compete since all we had was salads, dips, finger foods and toasted sandwiches for dinner on Boxing Day (courtesy of DH!).

My dad on the other hand... with Mum being ill he's finally learning to cook. He made dumplings during the week to go with leftover stew from the next door neighbour, and then he cooked the roast lamb and trimmings that they had for Christmas dinner!!! He was following instructions of course - Mum's not that sick! - but he wouldn't let her touch anything. He said the lamb was a bit of an anticlimax after the dumplings because it wasn't as hands-on! From omelette and sausages his repertoire is expanding hugely, and he's dead chuffed to have cooked things I've never cooked (do they even sell suet in Singapore I wonder??).

so he's reinventing himself I guess... Maybe he'll be the one to teach me how to cook a roast in time for next year's Christmas dinner! Since my entire adult and married life has been spent in the tropics the issue has never really arisen!

Kerri.

I have followed my eating plans to the letter today. I walked on the treadmill last night (boy, I missed it!). When I was walking up to a glass door today, I actually thought "hey, I can TELL I've lost some weight!". Usually I have a heart attack when I see myself in one! Woohoo!

I'm working on my water for today. Just jotted down some fitness goals for 2005. I want to get on a [flexible] schedule for cardio, Pilates and stretching. I want to be flexible enough that I don't throw in the towel if I miss one time, but I want to pretty much do each component on it's proper day. I have some good a.m. stretches and p.m. stretches I want to do from one of Denise Austin's books. I'd also like to get myself motivated to do a Pilates segment (core, butt or thighs) each morning before DD gets up & I get my shower. Then if I do one while DD naps, it's just a bonus!

OK, y'all are gonna think I am nuts, but I've done this little thing before & I think I'm going to do it again. I drink my water at work and so I go to the bathroom a good bit. Every time I go to the bathroom, I lay down in the floor and do crunches. Sometimes regular, sometimes the ones for the lower tummy. I start out doing 15 then progress to more & more. Gets me some extra tummy toning in between the rest of my life!

Well, DH is cleaning DD's playroom and DD is actually asleep for her nap. I think I'll run to the pharmacy and see if they have my vitamins in yet.

Have a great day!

Vonnie

Why am I having such trouble getting my water in lately? I guess because I've been busier at work and at home. I'm not drinking anything else, just not drinking the water. I'm back on task today, though. I bought some green tea yesterday; a co-worker told me to try it iced. It is supposed to provide antioxidants and help in weight loss.

I walked at the community center on the treadmill last night. I did 35 minutes; still am so stuffy that breathing gets to be an issue. But, I felt so good afterwards. I also bought a variety pack of hand weights so I can use them when I walk as well as with my exercise DVDs. I need to check my new DVDs (thanks, Santa!) and see what workouts are on each one and how long they last. I want to make a schedule for myself and try to stick to it.

Has anyone here ever done an a.m./p.m. stretch video? I found one I may get on amazon. I don't do very well with just photos in a book (I can't read the instructions and do the move at the same time!), so I thought a video might help. I want to do a stretch routine every morning when I get up to get me energized and then one every evening to help slow me down and get ready for sleep. I have never stretched like I should.

My food yesterday was right on task; I followed my plan to the letter. I still need to sit down and write out today's plan. Probably a Slim Fast shake for b'fast, a snack, a Weight Watchers meal for lunch & I will most likely make Chicken Oriental for dinner. And I'll make that green tea & see how it turns out.

I hope everyone is doing well & feeling good! My motto for the new year is going to be "Gonna Thrive in 2005!"

Have a great day!

Vonnie

If I may...

I have not been taking care of myself well at all, not since August really, and it is haunting me in so many ways, so I'm re-committing to my health!

So far I have gotten back to exercise (remember I ran a half-marathon last May? I had not exercised at all from late August until December 24th.) :-0 I was pleasantly surprised that I did manage to hang on to some level of fitness, I am doing 60 minutes and running/walking every other day.

As for eating, I am not really doing anything different for now, but once I go grocery shopping I am going to do a sugar purge and really bulk up on the veggies. Sugar does bad things to me and I have been eating way too much of it lately. So, out, out, bad sugar!

I have also been really sleeping this week and also trying to relax and just rest. I have been very, very, very stressed the last two months to the point that I couldn't relax at all I was just wound tight like a spring. But that is better, I think the exercise helped the stress and the sleeping both.

Today's goal: drink water!

See Ya,
Jo

Hope, it is a "private" bathroom here at our office. It's used by a handful of ladies. I haven't done it very often, though, for the very reason of thinking of who might have tromped there (or worse!).

It's a slow day here at the office; thank goodness! We're going to close tomorrow after all! Yippee!

I have done my treadmill walking Mon, Tues & Wed this week. I hope to get to go today; they close at noon tomorrow so I don't know if I'll make it and they are closed all day Saturday.

I'm still having to push the water. Like right now, I'm the only one in my dept. so I can't just drink a ton of water because I can't get up to go to the bathroom every 15 minutes. Sheesh! This place is putting a kink in my weight control efforts!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Vonnie

I want to get this down before I forget...

I just got on the scale.

I had lost 35 pounds from my highest weight as of last June.
This was still 20 pounds above my goal weight.
I have gained back 10.
So, I'm still 25 pounds down from where I was, with 30 to go.
I have set my goal date as July 29, 2005.

7 months for 30 pounds=5 pounds a month.
OK, that's doable.
Peace,
Jo

PS. It's certainly not really about weight at all for me, I am much more concerned with health and well being. I just thought it would be good to check it out and set a goal.

Jo, the comment on "no underwear" is a reference to something Lenora said on the "Clearing Clutter" thread. Hope sometimes throws in references to that thread here to remind us Flybabies to lurk over there, I guess.

Nothing special to report re eating. I did do a lot of walking yesterday.

Happy new year everyone!

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I may be old......
but I'm younger than you!

Hope you had a good one!