Almost April 17th Monday

greetings everyone from the land of no sleep.

very annoying as had a busy day culminating in a delicious turkey dinner which was made even more delicious because I didn't cook it.

Walked for an hour, cut the grass/moss, delved into a tote that had not seen the light of day for 10+ years and applauded family members that reorganized a dreadful shed area.

Happy Monday all.

So sorry, Carbon ! I was up and roaring to go at 3:55 AM! Was in bed and fast asleep at 9 AM last night ....full day in the sun, lots of exercise, and raked wet leaves off the pool cover, with a snow rake for an hour.

Tonight is Sadie's big test ! The plan is to "cheese her out" during the day, so when it is offered and on the ground tonight, she is like....blah...not more cheese !! Now why doesn't that work with jelly beans ?! So glad those bowls will be gone !!

Tried a decent recipe for cheesecake.... 2 eggs, 2 scoops protein powder, 340 grams Greek yogurt, 340 grams cream cheese, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat on low for three minutes, and on high for one minute. Bake in 6" spring form pan, sprayed with Pam and placed on parchment paper at 350 for 30 minutes, then 320 for another hour. I found Greek cream cheese, at 3X the protein. You can put fruit, PB2, or whatever in the mixture. I used vanilla protein powder, but you can use whatever you want.

Good morning! I'm sorry you aren't sleeping Carbon. I had a difficult time sleeping last night too, but I know why. We didn't get home from our Easter travels until 8 pm and I needed to eat something. So of course I ate too much especially for that late. So, I couldn't settle properly into my evening routine and my intestines kept getting me up for a couple of hours after I tried to go to bed. But I was up promptly by 5:15 am. I will be fully doing my compressed work week this week, so my day will be 6:30-4:30.

Ocean, that cheesecake sounds great, but I would eat the whole thing. We actually have mini cheesecakes sent home with DH yesterday which I have to hide from myself. DD did a great job hosting Easter. Very enjoyable and we met my nephews 3 month husky puppy, Ella. What a sweetheart and very well behaved!

Weight 116 OTD (no change), calories 1569, which I felt wasn't bad overall after a holiday. I had a taste of everything, but not to excess. So I didnt feel deprived, but didn't eat until I didn't feel good.

What a sweet doggy face! You're making me want another doggy. (Don't look! Don't look!)

Wt 218

Yesterdays festivities went off well. Eating mostly controlled. It rained a bit but let up for the egg hunting. Fitful sleep last night. Up and working on the shop in the woods by 2 am. I may take a nap here in a bit.

More later you sleepless in our group, David

Weight: 138.2

Yesterday's food: 1,170 calories, 114 carbs, 38 fats, 99 proteins, 42 sugars, 11 fibers

Exercise: None

We're baaack! Got home late Saturday night after a 25-hour journey via cars and planes through 4 airports. Whew! Yesterday we lay around and tried to stay awake. This morning I woke up at 2:00 am (still on Greenwich time), but I feel much more rested.

First, the trip was wonderful. After this trip to Portugal and our trip last fall to Spain we're ready to become Iberian snowbirds. Seriously, those folks live so differently and IMO a lot smarter than we do. They walk more, eat more nutritious foods, live to work (not work to live), and are so much more polite to each other -- at least more so than Americans in general. Clearly, I'm flirting with expat life. ;)

BTW, I ate TONS of veggies and fruits, both on the transatlantic cruise and then in Portugal after we arrived. The Italian cruise line we frequent does nothing but "slow food," with an emphasis on Mediterranean cooking. I also (ahem!) drank lots of wine and champagne, not to mention ate dessert twice a day. Not "tons" of it, but I certainly didn't abstain.

One of the deals I made a few years ago with my therapist is that when I'm traveling or on vacation that I won't track my food in MFP. This is his attempt to get me to listen to my body and appetite and eat mindfully as a result. I think this is a good thing, at least it is when I do it as a BREAK from real life, although it certainly would not work for me as a regular lifestyle.

Consequently, counting from 3 weeks ago today (Monday is my weekly record-the-weight day) I gained 3 pounds. That's not horrible, but it's definitely weird. I can see it, and I can feel it.

So for the next 3 weeks I'll be knocking my daily cals down to 1,200 and forgoing most of my treats. I'm very aware that at 2 years and 8 months post-op I'm standing at the gateway of maintenance fatigue and easier regain. But I'm committed to staying at goal (135), so am feeling a bit pressured now Not To F**k Up. Those of you who are further post-op than me will surely remember those feelings.

Anyway, enough of this. I am slowly reading the last few weeks' threads here to catch up. While we were gone, I thought of you all and wondered how you're doing.

As they say, it's good to go and good to come home. :)

Welcome back! I'm glad you had a good trip!

Welcome back! We missed you!

Diane O.-Interesting cheesecake recipe. Do you taste the protein powder? I still cannot seem to get around protein powder or bars anymore. Just overdid in the past I guess

Liz-Glad you had a good Easter. What a cute puppy

Carbon and David-sorry for sleep troubles everyone

VSGAnn-Sounds like an awesome trip! Did you say it was Lisbon and Portugal (or was that a previous one)? Cruise? When DH and I are in Europe I find I walk so much that the weight gain is minimal. I find that the days when I get back are hard to readjust, though, because I still am primed to enjoy those types of food, but I'm back to my desk job. Good for you for tackling even minimal weight gain. I definitely think that's the way to long term success. I really only gained 10lbs. above a weight I maintained, but first off 10lbs. is hard to lose, but second of all the cumulative effect is that if you, to use this example, only ever gain 3lbs. every time you vacation, and you vacation once a year, 10 years later you could be juggling a 30lbs. gain! Crazy!

Afm, Calories I attempted to approximate, but right around 1900-2000, Weight: 157.8 (same, ugh but probably good considering) and no exercise. Okay, back to basics today. I'm definitely having that "oh well, it's too late to meet my goals now" feeling. But I know I need to keep moving forward. Plus I have other goals than Hawaii in 2 weeks. My surgiversary is in 6 weeks. I might still be able to make my goal for that. And regardless, I'll be closer! Trainer tonight!

Thanks, BB -- I see the maintenance math the same way you do: Spot it early, get it off early. At least in theory. ;)

I know for me that if I didn't plan and track my food daily I would soon be wandering in the weeds.

A friend recently posted on another site a link to this (not so recent, but very legitimate) article about life after WLS. I think it's brilliant.

http://www.bariatriceating.com/2013/03/bariatric-surgery-onl y-makes-your-stomach-smaller-otherwise-youre-exactly-the-sam e/