Whats on your Thursday Menu?

Helllllo everyone! I am happy to sprinkle some positivity around today! Yesterday was just too much... I barely got anything done at work yesterday---they canceled all of our meetings and without distractions, I was glued to news alerts and CNN for most of the day. But I am up early today, and I am going to try to dive into the work I didn't do yesterday!

In other news, I decided to stop doing Weigh****chers. It was really helpful to get me to transition off of keto into a more balanced diet, but I hadn't been to a meeting since April, so it was a lot of money to spend on a food tracker that didn't really give me very much data. So now that I feel more comfortable with how to responsibly add carbs back in, I ditched the program and I'm back to tracking with MyFitnessPal. It's a MUCH better tracker anyway :)

QOTD: What was your favorite subject in school when you were a kid? Besides Art, which was always my favorite part of the week, I always had the most fun with Reading, Writing, and Social Studies. Making art, listening to history podcasts & reading books are still my all time favorite things to do :)

Yesterday's accountability was... whatever. I stuck to my menu, but then I had four fun sized Kit Kats and some cheese & crackers. Plus I barely moved all day--no exercise at all. But I am forgiving myself... I can't be the only one who has the urge to stress-eat this week!

Good morning JB and menu crew! My go**** seems like this week is almost as long as March was. How are there still two week days left? I have been so tired this week, last night I went to sleep at 830. It's good that my friend that is staying with me is self entertaining. I only have 9 hours of meetings today so go me.

QOTD - history and then any of the reading classes like World Lit, Mystery and Suspense, etc.

I did the elliptical yesterday and will today (I'm out of pilates classes on my membership until this time next week); I'm doing a series of 6 studio classes instead of the usual trekking around the world. Good exercise but I like the elliptical plus exploring better.

I ordered a bunch of cheese from Vermont (Grafton villages Sage Cheddar is one of my favorites and you can only get it in the fall, and it's so hard to find locally) and they get delivered today so I know what's on the menu for dinner today which is a bit of a change, lol.

coffee + half and half X 3

Carbmaster cottage cheese

Protein bar

cheese and salami

L&F greek

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!

Confirmed- this is the longest week ever. Especially because I am counting down to a week off! It's interminable.

Thanks for the recommendation on the cheese! I googled it, and just bought a few for those hard to buy for people at Christmas, which I can pair with a nice wine! Bam! More presents done! Whoo!

And the longest week waiting for election results!

I am on pins and needles.

I forgot to mention swimming w Dad 45 minutes yesterday - I'm getting a pretty intense workout these days because I finally got over going faster than him in the pool ( I used to always turn over and do a different stroke when it was obvious I was faster ) ...

now its changed, thankfully. I used to be weirded out because he never played chess with me after I defeated him once after studying/plotting for weeks lol in the SEVENTH grade lol ! The weird things we allow to influence our lives subconsciously (and profoundly )seemingly FOREVER !

B- Chai tea latte ,and finally a rollerblade or beach walk

L- Whole Foods lunch buffet - some sort of chicken in sauce , artichoke/tomato/avocado salad/ beet carrot ginger salad ( long drive north today , about 5 hours )

S- on-the-road commercial but fresh made chicken broth ( I like to sip it in the car ) , fat free sf coffee latte ( I bring skim milk powder with me in case because I know they only have half and half and creamer at the free coffee bar at the Hampton)

Whole Foods marinated grilled artichoke hearts 1 package

D- Whole Foods shrimp ceviche ( last nites dinner too ), Greek salad w fat free feta cheese n fat free blue cheese dressing.

S- probably a Yassos ice milk pop ( I'm addicted to the chocolate mint chip , pistachio brittle and butter pecan) and kettle cooked air popped popcorn w yummy raisins from Costco ( they have the best dried fruit )

I decided to make an active effort to hunt for the exercise equipment I'd like for Florida on Craigslist ( often you can find it free even) . The sad fact is many people invest in exercise equipment and then use it as a clothes hanger lol...

I find a few well chosen pieces DO get used provided 1) you enjoy the activity 2) its good quality equipment hat LETS you enjoy the activity 3) and you can see instant results every time you use it

My weak points are my abs, waist , upper arms neck and posture so I can correct a LOT simply by having a rowing machine, inverse bench/sit up bench and Teeter handy . I can actually use the inverse bench to do side sit ups too and cross overs and it won't take up nearly as much space as an ab roller

I bought a row of mirrors for one wall of my bedroom and plan to put the equipment on wheels so in nice weather ( and when I am here ) I can leave it on the ( living room wraparound very large ) balcony garden where I already do calisthenics n stretches to music most mornings to entertain the neighbors ... and otherwise use it in the 12x 14 empty space next to my bed which has a nice view ( and breeze from)patio doors opening onto the ocean and my white flowered bedroom balcony garden.

Its super important too to plan for fresh air flow , air conditioning , and a view if possible ( or at least a TV ) I think when setting up a home gym. Also mirrored walls really help motivate and make the space seem spacious .

My bedroom in Florida is quite large so I can try it- don't know if I really WANT to open my eyes to exercise equipment " accusing " me lol ( I am normally more the fireplace /lambskin rug luxurious linens and reading kind of grrl in a bedroom ...

but I have realized that the second bedroom needs to be a dedicated office space and pull-out-couch guest room if I'm ever going to be able to host select friends and family.

It will also serve a a second, more casual washable slipcovered TV room for kid guests or myself when I get my hands into the yellow staining " cheesy popcorn" I REALLY don't need messing up my white leather recliners and velvet sofa in the great room ...

Foldable ( and wheelable ) exercise equipment is a great option and most home gym equipment comes in a version like that . I go through phases when I DON"T use it too .. or even have a guest in the bed lol... so being able to wheel it out of the way and hide it in a walk in closet is important too.

Your view sounds amazing! We should do an OH "view from my window" and share all our views and yards; help give everyone something new to look at!

Good morning Menuers,

Just Jumping on real quick before everyone is here and off to live there lives today but I have a question I'd like to hear from you guys

QOTD2: What weight loss myth did you buy into before weight loss surgery that you now know is absolutely absurd?

I did an HCG diet that told me I could not use body lotion because it would not let the fat escape your body. For years I would only put it on my feet hands and thighs to avoid chafing. Now I slather it everywhere.

I always laugh when I remember the hard & fast rule we were all given, not to wear horizontal stripes. I mean... did we think we were fooling anyone? The one day we wore stripes did people gasp and notice we were fat for the first time? Makes me laugh every time.