Thursday, 12/28/17

You need to be posing with next to Jabba with Princess Leah hair and/or gold bikini. Go run up that hill again and get it done.

My gold bikini is in the wash. And shall be for a very. long. time.

Cecily, your hikes look so enjoyable. The Ozarks have a lot of up and down, but nothing like the straight-up elevation gain of the California coastal mountains. And nothing remotely close to the gains offered by the peaks Shel gets to climb. I've promised myself that one day I'll be back on those kinds of trails.

Weight: I think 180.4 but I can't remember. My days are running together.

Yesterday was the first day I've felt uncomfortable, probably due to pregnancy. I just felt like I head a lead pipe sewn into my stomach and couldn't get comfortable. I don't understand: my stomach still isn't very big! But I've found that baby doesn't just move and fold like fat!

Took my IP out for a trial run. I think I underestimated the learning curve on it. I really wanted one, but I'm already starting to feel buyer's remorse and wondering if it's a bad idea. Now I have to learn all these tricks to use it! It was FRIGID here yesterday (at least for us) with a high of only 24o so I made a very un-protein-friendly dinner of potato soup (in IP), and ham and cheese sliders using leftover ham while DH attempted to unfreeze pipes. Yep, when it rains it pours. Just got that room insulated and now the tankless ho****er heater isn't working! Gah! But it looks like he may be a pretty handy dude.

I watched a Youtube video talking about holiday eating strategies I need to go back and find and link later. I know we all have different theories, but I definitely identify with hers. She's a dietician and just so normal. She stressed that one of the worst things we do is not the eating we do this time of year. But rather the labeling and shaming ourselves about the food. Her attitude is that it's okay to eat indulgent food. It's okay that it's empty calories because sometimes it's okay and mentally healthy to feed our souls. Especially at this special time of year. So enjoy the glass of eggnog and your grandma's cookies. That's normal. What's also normal? To overeat. So don't feel bad about it. It's not the meal or even the whole month that ruins us. It's what comes after that. Yes, there are triggers. And yes, I've eaten too much crap that I generally just don't feel good about. But I'm also not sad I've eaten some yummies. I honestly believe that "dieting" was one of the biggest contributors to my being fat. That sounds absurd, and yet I think it's so true. I've mentioned to you how I feel that by allowing all foods, sometimes even having them readily available, deweaponizes them for me. I'm still seeking balance--because occasionally I still do think "oh, a cookie is in front of me, must eat it now." And that's not good. And I can't have everything I want any time I want it. But I really do think our culture has an unhealthy attitude towards healthy eating. Yes I'm excited to throw out some junk food and eat a few more citruses and kale salads in the coming weeks. But no I'm not going to swear off chocolate :)

BB, I really, really want to see a link to that blog/piece you describe. I would like to / need to read it! Thanks. :)

Here's the video blog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhE3sjZUkVY

Thanks, BB!

There is an instantpot forum on OH --- I belong to it tho haven't checked it out recently.

I have often thought it would be particularly good to make baby food so if homemade baby food is in your future I would give it longer.

I'll paste a couple of websites, too, later. There is a facebook page as well.

No weight. I tried to step on the bathroom scale at Ben's dad's but just got an "e". Better than tilt I guess!

We head on to Ben's Moms house today (they are divorced). Will get to see the siblings at both places. So far the visit is going well. No "feels" talks with family which should probably happen but midst likely won't. I tried to encourage Ben to go on a drive with his dad for some 1:1 time but you just can't force that kind of thing. I imagine his dad will make another trip to Wisconsin once things start to go downhill.

Greetings Great Ones

Still at 144. Last night's dinner was popeye pie and a salad. But thats gone so a new food plan is needed for tonight. And last night I just HAD to have some chocolate so I got into some that DH was given for Christmas. Didn't do too much damage but I sure didn't need that.

Love hearing about Atlas Diane O. And hearing about St. Sadie and the people she helps. Sadie's fan club is expanding. Someday Atlas will have one too.

Well my new haircut is ok I guess. But I still see an old lady in the mirror. Could be the grey and wrinkles and not just the cut. What I really need is a face lift which I can afford but I do not wish to go through the recovery.

Hey Liz, maybe DH could play board games he knows from the past rather than new ones. I wish I could teach you the Kings in the Corner card game. My mother was able to learn it after onset of her dementia. Its like Shel said - lining up cards in order after drawing them from a center stack. Played with an ordinary deck of cards.

Shel, glad you found your cross country skis so you could send us that picture! Worth 10,000 words. And still intrigued by the the "trail of poison snakes" image as well as nurse Booboo. Speaking as a person who has slept outside exactly ONCE in my entire life and promptly got strep and sent home from camp, I like hearing about the outdoor adventures of others. At Christmas I heard a camping story that involve a bag of hershey kisses in a sleeping bag and a bear. Harrowing but it ended safely.

Ann, thinking of you and chemo day.

I so can't wait until DH starts on Atkins as he will stop with the junk food. Too much of it is finding its way to my waist.

Hey I just read Devon's first blog post. This is going to be fun.

I got myself an expensive pair of deerskin work gloves yesterday to help me through the dejunking. Having messed up hands is such a drag.

Hey BB, exciting that you are now feeling "baby on board". I love hearing your progress. And your cooking.

Have a great hike Cecily. I wish there was a transporter beam so I could spend and hour or two in warmth but not have to deal with airports to get there.

Paula glad you are all having some family time. Priceless and the "talks" will evolve.

DH is off to lunch with friends so I get a precious hour home along. I wish I could use it to toss a lot of his junk but I would get busted.

Peace and Joy. Diane S