Sunday February 19

I'll start this off today ....

Weight this morning: 135.2

Macronutrients yesterday:  Cals - 1,495, Carbs - 153, Fat - 67, Protein - 81, Sugar - 67, Fiber - 13

Veggies/fruits yesterday:  3 (goal is 7)

Exercise yesterday:  None

Plans for today:  Some yard work, a little housework, reading (Joyce Carol Oates' "Soul at the White Heat"), and crosswords with hubby

OK - my new health project is to wean myself off of the Rx sleep aid Ambien (otherwise known as Zolpidem).  The dose I take is 5 mg. (half of a 10 mg. tab), which helps me sleep just fine.  I used to take Ambien intermittently, but the last few months I've become more dependent on it and taking it most nights.  This is probably because in winter I'm not as tired at bedtime as I am in spring/summer/fall when I work outside and walk a lot more. 

These days there's more concern among the medical community about seniors (I'm 71) taking sleep aids long-term.  Unfortunately from my perspective, the research conclusions about seniors' possible downsides from taking Ambien, e.g., falls and fractures, automobile accidents, mental impairment and lack of focus, increased risk of Alzheimers, etc. lump Ambien (and other "Z drugs") together with Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, etc.).  Nonetheless, here's a good lay piece about that research.  https://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/more-on-sleep ing-pills-and-the-elderly/?_r=0

The bottom line is that I'm starting the recommended 18-week step-down program to wean myself off Ambien.  After all, who wouldn't like to be more mentally alert and focused?  Although 18 weeks from now it'll be June and I'll be working my arse off outside and sleeping like a baby every night with or without sleep aids.  ;) 

Good morning! I'm back on Cape Cod trying to straighten out my world here (DS left a lot of clutter which is driving me crazy). Oh and he had a birthday dinner for his Birth Mom and family (with our permission) and someone put wet glasses on our wood furniture so there are several white spots on the finish! Does anyone know how to get rid of those?

116 OTD, have no idea of calories (tracking stopped in the midst of travels). Something tells me that the scale here is a bit heavier than the one in Florida - I have to pay attention when I go back. I rarely go up an entire 1.75 pounds in a day and I remember being surprised at how light I was when I first weighed down there after the drive.  I just checked my weight records and in that 5 days my recorded weight down from 115.25 to 113.25, which I doubt is true. 

Anyway, back to reality! Good luck weaning off the ambien Ann. I took it daily for many months after my daughter died and when I decided to stop it took a while to get a natural sleep pattern back. I think that's when I started forcing myself to get up really early every morning even if I hadn't slept the night before so that eventually I got so exhausted I had to sleep.  

Thanks Liz, re your Ambien encouragement/tips.  

And re white water spots on furniture -- the old-school advice I always got was ... mayonnaise.  Full-fat mayonnaise.  Leave it on for a while.  And if that doesn't work, try the Old English furniture stain.  

I've used a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda that has worked in the past to get the moisture stains out!

Good morning everyone.

Dave glad that you are nearly all moved.  A huge job.

 Hope that all the doggies are doing well.   

Hope that you Californians are safe and dry.

A great food day, walking for three hours.   

Happy Sunday !

137 OTD. I don't like that number, AT ALL!

Good day yesterday both eating wise and with exercise. Will try to duplicate that again today!

Church this morning, women's bible study group tonight with some exercise and trying to catch up on bible study homework in between is what is on tap for me today. Spent a good portion of the day yesterday working on nutrition and food safety information to teach the scouts on Monday for their cooking merit badge.

Yesterday's Macros:

I am grateful for people like you that work with our kids!

Good Morning ! Last full day in CA. Yesterday was the Immigration March in LA with my daughter, and lots of walking. We had massages when we got back. I had my first experiences with Lift, and the LA Metro... both very positive ! I'm planning on my six mile route today and tomorrow, before my 11AM wish departure for the airport.

I'm praying my driveway is cleared of snow, and that I can put my car in the garage. Shoveling the deck, stairs down to ground level, and path to garage door should be a great workout, with packed snow. I'll get in after midnight Tuesday, get some sleep, then pick up my sweet Sadie. I am dreading checking my work email... have absolutely refused to do it this entire vacation. I'll have to go in T, W, &Th to work on some hard deadlines for reports. After I bank a little more "mad money" for future trips, I really have to seriously work on retirement. My replacement should be available to start training at the end of March.

Protect your healthy choices !

Safe travels Diane!

Skinny Sunday is here! 

123's.  I still have to add "before bed" to MFP for yesterdays macros but I can sheepishly report that calories will probably be between 1800-2000.  I'm "done" with my MFP data collection. Will likely repeat this summer.   I'm glad I did it.  I didn't expect to find such high protein numbers every single day. (And I never, ever use protein shakes/bars) I'm beginning to shift some of those calories to vege/fruits/legumes which is where my culinary heart lies anyway.  

What I would serve if I had you all over for a VSGMG dinner:  spring rolls!  The non-fried variety, natch.

 I have, of course, had these in restaurants,but had never tried them at home til last night.  Good fun, a bit like taco night.  DD loved it, too, a rare win in my household.  We filled them with lots of vege's/avocados/basil/shrimp.  For a bigger group would have other proteins available, too. I had made a peanut sauce for dip.   Very low cal but filling, too.  

Of course there would also be coffee and wine.  For dessert....maybe a yogurt/cardomon/pistachio/saffron/touch-of-honey concoction I like.  (Dave, it doesn't count to N&Y when you are west of of the Mississippi.) 

Thanks for being here to kick off my day:)  

Shel