Thursday January 11, 2018

Weight 116.6 (same as yesterday), calories 1609. Day 3 of good sleep. I put a battery operated motion detector on the bathroom and that seems to be working for DH, so he isn't flipping on all the lights on the way to the bathroom every 2 hours and waking me up.

Wow to you guys considering yoga and dancing! I went to beginners line dancing yesterday and did okay (stayed on the back), but no way to tap or jazz! And though I have tried yoga on the beach I am INCREDIBLY inflexible - the idea of hot yoga makes me cringe as I sweat when I exercise like crazy and hate it, so I can't imagine wanting to be in an environment where I would sweat doing nothing. Not to mention, but. A friend who loves it dislocated her shoulder doing it!

I think teaching is one of the most difficult professions around. Knowing material, how to teach it, how to do that with kids whose brains/perspectives are skewed by brain development, AND how to be a bit of a therapist with them is unimaginable to me. It has always amazed me how our Society talks so much about valuing their children and the importance of a good education, then doesn't pay our teachers commensurate with their work.

I am getting to know the ladies in my neighborhood walking group better. We went to coffee yesterday and are doing a lunch outing next week. There is a broad range of ages and personalities so it makes it easy to find someone to feel comfortable with. And one of them is on the HOA board so she knows how to get things done (which is helpful).

Have a totally good Thursday!

Good morning ! Thanks for the positive feedback on yesterday's post. The thoughts just poured out, and I'm so grateful to have friends who are deep thinkers and idea bouncers. You challenge me to reflect, learn and move forward. I want to clarify that Breakthrough at Caron is for people experiencing any single or multiple addictions. In my group of seven, I was the only food addiction. The rest of my program mates were dealing with alcohol, drug, gambling and sex addiction. All of us had underlying codependency issues to one degree or another. I firmly believe that an addictive personality doesn't manifest itself in acting out in a singular way. Working closely with individuals diagnosed with a variety of addictions underscored the commonalities, and strengthened my ability to see cross-addiction potential.

A third long, dry night for Atlas. Good thing, because we woke up to a "toilet clogger" in the master bath. I ran to grab a rag under the kitchen sink, only to discover one of the drain pipes was leaking profusely, and flooded the cabinet under the sink. Luckily, coffee was already brewing, so we were fortified !

Today will also be the third day Sadie and I can do a walk outside. Liz, I envy your walking group ! Most of my neighborhood is teachers, so they're not around during the day. Several men and women run, but my knees will never run again.

Let's manifest a stellar day !

Addiction is addiction. Mine was food which may have shifted a bit to caffeine (maybe shopping too). My mother's was alcohol, which I hope to avoid, and I think I'm avoiding going too far with the caffeine and shopping.

OMG about the pipes - that is never easy to deal with!

Weight 162, calories 1693

I'm Pilatezing! I Pilates! I'm a Pilatezor! That doesn't work as well as maintenance or sailing, but I did it! The instructor was so nice and made sure as the only new person that I wasn't lost. The hour flew by and I didn't embarrass myself. And I actually liked it! This morning I am sore absolutely everywhere but my calves, hands, and feet... I'm going back next Wednesday. You all made me feel so much better with stories of walking out or wanting to walk out, but being trapped. Thank you for normalizing what I was feeling.

Liz, you walking group reminds me of my hiking group. We are all ages from 40s to 70s and have become the best of friends. It's great!

DianeO, sorry about your plumbing woes! That is a hard thing to wake up to. But congrats on the puppy progress!

Today I'm off to lunch with my friend and a walk with another friend later this afternoon. I opted out of another hard hike this morning, though it probably would have warmed up my sore muscles.

Good for you on the Pilates! I've never done it - maybe I should try?

It reminded me a little of yoga in the calmness of the instruction but it's laying on a mat holding positions with legs and arms held out in the air. Lots of stretching exercises, talk of spine lengthening and adominal tightening, etc. I didn't sweat at all so it's amazing I'm so sore today. I recommend it!

Diane O.-I'm so happy for your breakthroughs! I do agree there is probably a strong link between the way that addiction rewires the brain. That being said, I don't think that weight struggles are always a result of a food addiction.

Weight: 184.6 I think. Ugh. My stomach is slowing down.

I was a bit moody in the morning yesterday so I wasn't sure I could post and keep my promise to try and remain positive! Let's just say I decided to give DH space to miss me (I'm normally the one driving the phonecalls and texts, etc.) and all indications were that after 5 days...he doesn't miss me :( When he finally did call I was ecstatic! It was over the lunch hour so I thought "aha, he was just trying to be considerate and waiting to call until I took lunch." Turned out his call was somewhat accusatory because the house alarm was going off and he'd gotten a call from our security company :( I was a bit devastated. Turns out it was the housekeeper anyway. But in keeping to my promise, I want to highlight a blessing even though I didn't feel it initially yesterday. My husband is getting great quality time with his kids that he and they will probably (hopefully) remember for a lifetime. And though it saddens me that I'm not involved, it's very good for the ones I love. How do I know this? When I did get to talk to him, he proudly showed me a photo he bought from a dinner they had on the cruise. It was DH and his two kids and their smiles told the tale.

Not much else to report. My weight is worrying me a little. You hear those stories of women who gain 20lbs. in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Being so close to 200 frightens me. I know that I have overindulged during the holidays and I really need to stamp out that fire. But again with the upshot: my baby is healthy and I am so fortunate. It is very weird, though. I'll see some women who've only gained 8lbs and look hugely pregnant. And then eveyrone suspiciously eyes me like "are you actually pregnant?" I don't look very pregnant at all, and honestly it's not even like I've put on weight in my legs or arms either. And yet I'm passing those weight goals like a champ lol!

Greetings Busy People:

145.5 today. I am really hoping its salt and therefore fluid weight. I had DH leftover roast beef for dinner after the gallery meeting. No bread but I did eat a few pita chips. The beef was super salty and with cheese sticks earlier it was a salt fest.

I found out last night at the gallery meeting that I have been scheduled for two featured shows this year. Not sure I can do that but I need to decide fast. It takes so long for me to make enough stuff.

Liz, glad you are finding some new buddies in Florida. Thanks for reminding us that new friends can be made at any time of life.

Pilates! I tried that once at an introductory class. It was fine. But a big problem I have with exercise classes is that I hate showing up at precise times on a regular basis. I prefer to "free style" every day. Years ago when I was actually a sort of gym rat I used to go at 8 at night when the place was fairly empty and do my own thing. Now I am not comfortable being out at night much. So endless excuses. And yeah, hot yoga sounds terrible. We moved 1800 miles to escape the midwestern heat!

I need to figure out why I hate exercise so much and why I can't discipline myself to do what I need for my health. Hmmm, that "onion" needs to marinate for a bit.

Diane O, glad Atlas is having dry nights. And thanks for explaining about the addiction treatment program. It makes sense to treat various types together so that patients can benefit from common themes. Sorry for the plumbing stuff. Its always something when you own a home.

Well maybe I will have more to say later. Have a great day all. Diane S

Walking is great exercise - it is the only exercise my grandmother ever had and she lived to 101 (independently for the most part).

Yep, walking is indeed what I have done. I used to do miles per day. But I now have a disease in my feet (and hands) where there is scar tissue growing on the fascia tissue that makes my feet feel like little wires are running through them and cutting. But I guess I just need to suck it up and do what I can. Swimming pool walking is probably the best idea. Such a pain getting old!!