Wednesday, January 17th

I would love that, Diane!

Paula-HBD to your baby!

Weight: 183.6

Slow upward trend continues. Really hoping to keep 190 or below, but we'll see.

My stomach feels restricted, but from the inside. Like I need to take off a pair of tight pants but it isn't pants! It has been very cold here. 4o when I woke up this morning.

One cool thing I like about the instant pot is that you can saute stuff in the same pan. I think there are some crockpots that offer that same convenience but not mine. So last night I had chili from the "instant pot" except I did it on slow cooker mode. In the morning I browned my meat in the pot, added all my spices and cans, and set to slow cook. Boom. The only downside is I could not make as large a batch of chili in the instant pot. Was fine for yesterday and just the 3 of us (with leftovers to boot) but on those occasions when I make big batch chili, it'll have to go on stovetop or slowcooker.

Weight 162.8, calories 1735

A slow start to what will be a long day here. I have Pilates soon (was I really panicking about that just a week ago?), later going to an orientation for volunteering at the local senior center, and then I hustle over to my first oil painting class tonight! Poor Fergus will have a lot of alone time today, so we just took a nice walk and will squeeze in another this afternoon.

Yesterday's eating was much better without all the carbs in the house. I was still itching for them like any good addict would, but feel much more in control without them. If only the memory of that were stronger than the pull of those things in the grocery store...

I hope you all stay warm if you're in cold places and enjoy your warmth if you're in warm spots!

Paula, sending good thoughts your way for Ben and for your early starts

Greetings Wednesday Warriors

Well I try not to think of this journey and life as a war - rather a grand tour. But "Warrior" sounded good with "Wednesday".

Up a pound to 144.5 No Tesla walk for me yesterday. As mentioned, I was up all night and then slept in so the day was pretty much shot before it started. Dinner was hamburger and persian cucumbers. I am scaling back portions so DH won't get sick and it doesn't hurt me either. The extra pound may be to FTP (failure to poop) which seems to be epidemic in this house.

Devon, years ago my best friend and I decided the four food groups were:

Chocolate

Chips and crackers

Alcoholic beverages

Raw cookie dough

We once went to Costco and bought every sugary carb thing in the place and the checker commented "girl weekend?". So I hear ya on the C-aholic thing. Can't wait to read your thoughts.

Curses, today I made my coffee and horrors, the half and half had soured! I feel so deprived sitting here with skim milk cafe au last!

Hmm Shel, I am with you on the no ice pack thing. I can't stand the idea of applying ice during cold weather. My hand therapist says that the rules about ice vs heat should be just whatever feels good to you. I even have a pair of heated spa gloves for my hands. And Shel, I love that you go wild at the Mother Ship REI. I am the same way only at the health food store - looking for interesting things.

I so love hearing all the details of everyones lives. Ann, glad you are eating healthy things. I recall the midwestern tradition where everyone brings food to you under these cir****tances and most of it is tuna casserole with crunched up potato chips or green jello with fruit ****tail.

Paula, sorry your Dad has been sick. Wishing him the best. Also Ben. Happy BD to son who will be driving soon.

Rock that little baby Dave. Nothing more healing than Grandpa time.

Time for more inferior coffee. Diane S

P.S. I emailed Dr. Cirangle asking whether he had changed his view on use of Advil post vsg. He still thinks its fine. I used it yesterday for the aching hip and its what works for me. DS

Weight down .6, so that's a little something.

Ron sick as a dog. Got sent home from school yesterday. Stayed home today. Was supposed to call advice nurse. Hope he did. I'm thinking he has pneumonia. Interesting how we got sick same day, same symptoms. I seemed hit harder at first, but recovered much more quickly and other than having some residual congestion, I'm feeling pretty okay. Maybe a little drained, but okay.

Time...still working on being more efficient. I still often feel scattered when I have moments of unscheduled time throughout the day. Part of me wants to relax and rest, but the other part of me says that I must be productive. I also am still procrastinating on things which I find loathsome to tackle (PAPERWORK) and will often choose instead to work on one of my OWN dogs. I feel that both activities hold weight, but I can always rationalize that I need to trim dogs when I am not physically tired, so the paperwork can wait until later in the evening. Well, later in the evening comes and I am too tired mentally to tackle it. Boooooooooooo!

Funny how I have gone from a self avowed "volume eater" to an admitted complete "emotionally dysfunctional eater" in the past 3 years. Truth sucks, but at least it will help in the end.

Balance. Sure... would love some! Truly! It certainly is a struggle.

Well Devon, if you find the solution to the "I must do something useful" vs "I am tired and want to goof off" conundrum, please share. These are the themes of my life.

So sorry Ron is so sick. Do you think he has developed pneumonia? Nothing to mess around with. Peace brother! Diane S

Paula, 15 I was moving back from Africa and 2 years before I married. Hope better for him. Glad your dad is ok. Best to Ben with pain management. It is tricky sometimes to find therapeutic doses.

Liz the pics are beautiful. Wishing I was there. My thermometer said -1 the car said +2. Too Freezing cold either way.

Diane O. Making a race track for your puppy sounds wonderful. I loved to run the snow blower when I was in AK. I would even do the neighbors sometimes.

Diane S. Your coffee fixation is contagious. I am up to 3 cups a day. 22 oz cups. Shel, I think I would hike if I was back in Africa today. I never saw an REI there.

BB, the only thing I really used my instapot for was yogurt but I am really into yogurt. Now that I am in the Airstream the is not much room for yogurt making. So I just buy plain and mix my flavors.

Cecily, for me any ice cream products are things I can not do in moderation. I will get a cone when I travel but nothing comes home.

Momsy55, you are in my prayers too. Dealing with mental health issues are especially tough with kids.

Devon, flu i****ting hard around here and in FL where DS#2 lives. Hope that is not what you had. I hate diet plan commercials. They are such a gimmick to a demographic that truly needs help. What you said too Ann, well said, ditto.

Ann, I know we all have things going on, and I know we can not go through each other s struggles, burden and sorrows. But the fact that you acknowledge our struggles while in the throws of yours speaks worlds to me how you cope with adversity. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs.

Did not weight today. My plan is simple. Half. What I normally eat I am eating half. Before WLS I drank for pain control. 1000 calories a day. I am not taking in that amount but Alcohol for the first time in my life feels too important to me even for pain control. Maybe because it works too well with anxiety too. Bottom line it is calories I easily take in excess. And it slows the gut. I see pain management the end of the month. Alcohol is half for a while then I will half again until I stop. Ibuprofen gives good relief and it has no calories. I am taking more ibuprofen. (Diane S, I wonder if Dr C would approve of ibuprofen with bourbon chasers?)

Grand baby might be feeling better but DD#1 has it. I think DW is coming down with it. Maybe it will be short lasting. Wishing you all the best, David

PS someone told me the other day that babies produce pheromones that are anti depressants. (I have not found the research to back this up) I love the smell of a baby but now I view it as therapy.

I do not know what the deal is with my like button on my computer. Sometimes I have it others it is gone. It is never on my iPad and it is always on my phone but I rarely post on my phone.

Baby smell! Yes, I understand. I know that smell.

Before there is puppy breath, there is puppy smell. It comes the moment the first puppy is dry and begins to nurse. Ron does not notice it. I do. It is a fantastically base smell. It smells of milk and moisture and dog and magic.