Sunday, March 12

wt 219 that's a bounce back. Calories 1531

steps: rough wiring on the shop in the woods. And laundry. And sweeping snow off the dog ramp / porch. None of it was very physical. To top it off I wanted to eat everything. I even ate a meal not N&Y.

I can't believe daylight savings time is still being done. I don't know anyone that it helps with more daylight since most people these days have electricity.

Virtual hugs all around, David

Dave, we posted at the same time! So I deleted mine.

Weight 116 OTD, calories 1464. Decided to let almonds back in. For some reason I seem to be able to eat slightly more calories when they are included. Maybe because of the fiber?

Went back to the gym for the first time since PS yesterday. Not quite as much stamina but not too bad. I can do 25 sit-ups which I was pretty happy with post-TT. Zumba this morning.

After all this good exercise, I'm going to brunch with SIL at DS' restaurant. We are going at the end of his shift so he should be able to sit with us. This is basically the only time we can celebrate his birthday (this past Friday) and mine (coming this week) between his work schedule and my travel. I leave for NJ tomorrow just after lunch, then leave for 16 days in Florida next Saturday.

Paula, I'm glad there is now a treatment plan for DH. It is going to be rough but obviously worth it. If DH gets stressed you might want to ask about anti-depression pills. A friend of mine battled with esophageal cancer and he felt his "happy" pills made a big difference (he never needed them previously).

Have a warm Sunday (it is 13 here this morning).

Weight today: 135

Macronutrients: Cals - 1,784, Carbs - 215, Fat - 60, Protein - 109, Sugar - 114, Fiber - 37

Veggies/fruits yesterday: 6 (goal is 7)

Exercise yesterday: Yoga (did a 50-minute session at home)

Plans for today: Another yoga session, laundry, Sunday crosswords with hubby,

* * *

Quick post on this wintry morning. Sending encouragement to everyone on the health, weight and fitness fronts.

135.2. No exercise.

Created a Caring Bridge site for DH yesterday. I was having to re-tell too many different groups of people the updates and this will be easier to just put it all in one place.

Not eating healthy. Portions good but I'm letting DH pick what/where he wants to eat since that won't be an option for him for long. He wanted tator tot casserole one night last week, chose IHOP on Friday for pancakes (I got scrambled eggs, bacon and hashbrowns and ate less than 1/2 of it), wanted pizza last night and wants to go to an Italian restaurant for our 20th Anniversary on Wednesday. And then there is the ice cream! I did eat one pint of the $10/pint wonderful ice cream but did so over 3 days and one of the days it was my lunch (instead of eating it in addition to something else!) Aye, aye, aye! I'll just try to make the best choices possible for shared meals and try to eat well the rest of the day when the choices are fully mine. Thank God for protein bars. I carry them in my purse or coat pocket so when we are running around with appointments I can still have something protein forward and not succumb to vending machine crap! I'm doing very poorly in the vegetable department and only fair with fruit! Ann, send me some of your F&V strength!

I think I will try to get some steps in while DH is having surgery on Monday, depending on how long the surgery is supposed to take. My hospital has a nice inside perimeter to walk around or I could go to our gym and hop on a treadmill. No exercise today, at least not planned for right now. Yucky cramps again. Not sure why my ovaries are still working at almost 52 years of age. They must not have gotten the memo that we don't need any more kids!

Speaking of kids, DS#1 is conflicted about what he wants to do post High School. He is accepted at the local U where DH teaches but it is not his #1 or #2 or even #3 choice of schools. His GPA and mainly ACT scores are keeping from the schools he really wants to attend. Honestly, I think he barely got into the local college and may be denied even yet if he can't do better this last semester! We have also told him that we are unwilling to take out a loan for him if he can't show us he is serious about his studies, which he has not done this year at all. The kid will not be accountable for anything in his life and told his band instructor last week that he might not go to college because of his Dad's cancer - always putting the blame on someone/something else - never owning the responsibility for his shortcomings! "Heavy sigh"! We did talk about maybe looking into a trade school, which I think he might be better suited for. Vent over!

Love you all!

Paula

Paula, Some kids just need time to grow up, and DS may need time to find his way. Hard for us parents... Our DS went to school in VA (we live in MA) for 3 years for International Business - A fair amount of $. Then decided he was "only happy when he was cooking". Once he crashed and burned in VA, he came home, got energized and found a Culinary Arts school (got his BA last summer and makes pretty good $ now).

As to the cramps etc, I'm glad they are gone (stopped in my mid-forties), but some of the substitute issues are not wonderful (hair where you don't expect it, drier/saggier skin).

DH sounds like he wants to keep doing all the things he would usually do (like going out for your anniversary). He must have a lot of strength (as do you). Happy 20th anniversary in advance!

Paula, re the F/V fu, here's mine:

Fruits: Blueberries. They go with everything.

Veggies: Baby carrots. I actually like 'em. And they offer even more crunch than chips, which I don't eat any more because those are trigger foods for me.

That's it. That's all I got.

124 OTD, I feel more hopeful that the painting project will eventually complete.

I commented about DianeS's gallergy's facebook page but it might have been the post that OH ate. Arcata Artisians Coop. Scroll down to see example of our fierce leader's art. Diane, your sense of humor is baked into each piece. Thanks for the smiles.

Dave, the scale is a shameless flirt.

Paula, I plan on signing into your caring bridge tho it feels like cyber stalking.

Devon, I'm glad you are here. About maintenance, I use the phrase "finding new maintenance dose" all of the time. It is a catch-all phrase that acknowledges the body has adjusted so I am making a drug adjustment to match.

To me, maintenance is dynamic and there is no negative in the need to adjust. There IS a negative in not seeing the need to adjust or failing to act just because of sweet inertia.

Post-VSG maintenance adjustments are much more complicated than just a medication adjustment. I salute your dogged (Ha!) determination to walk the path despite the pain. I also find inspiration in your killer workouts!!

Enough from me! My messy chaotic home needs some adjusting.

Have a warm, cozy, healthy day!

Shells

Anyone is welcome to follow the Caring Bridge Site - not stalking at all. I consider it an honor that people want to follow our journey! Here is the link if any of you want to follow!

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/benarbaugh

I joined last night when I saw the FB post. I was hoping you wouldn't mind!

I am not a fan of the Spring Ahead day! I love Daylight Savings Time because I love the late light summer evenings. I just wish we could pick a time and stick with it! Dave, the DST started in Canada, but I'm unclear why. The country that originally introduced was Germany in 1916 to support the war effort. DST has always been about the conservation of energy. It never had anything to do with crop harvest or farm work as so many of us believed. The US adopted Fast Time in 1918. There are many sites you can Google to get the history. I did a few years ago for my students and was rather surprised that it was originally about energy conservation and saving money. Who knew? Benjamin Franklin even had an idea for DST, but it had to do with getting one's azz out of bed in the morning! LOL!

My weight is up 2 pounds. I'm guessing it's on account of very sore muscles from that workout on Friday - even my lats are sore! Don't even need to talk about my hamstrings from all the damn squats!

Eating goals were both met yesterday. Little victories, but I will take them! The bedtime goal was easier than I thought it would be, but still the compulsion to eat something was there.

I want to extend a very public thank you to KDOLPHIN for reaching out to me yesterday. You message and sharing of your own experience meant the world to me. Your story gave me so much hope. I shared your experience with Vyvanse with my partner and I'm now so excited to see if it might work for me. I him how we share so many similarities. I also found out that I have been so good at hiding my bedtime eating he had no idea I was doing it! So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Same goals for today.

I ripped my middle finger open on a staple in a spelling book at school last week. (Good 1/4 inch long, deep gouge just above the top joint on the fleshy side of the finger.) The wound has healed over, but I believe it is infected. It is puffy and hurts. I can't bend the top joint without discomfort. It is very localized, though. Will give it a couple more days and see what happens.