Thursday August 9

You're welcome, Bonnie. I'm on a bit of a tear today. I get pretty intense sometimes, especially when I feel the need for change. And I got home from Pittsburgh feeling a GREAT need for change.

I am having a bit of difficulty finding the words to express how succinctly Leo Babauta's words address my inner dialogues. I think it's simply best to put it this way: Damn! It's like he could see what is inside of me and is talking directly to me.

Neural pathways... I have some that need some building.

Thank you SO much for bringing this information to us.

God, I love the honest, deep level support we have here. As a group we are so far beyond "back to basics", macros, protein, hydration and caloric strategies. You all support the whole me. You remind me of the good within when I can't see it for myself.

Thank you!!!!!

Isn't that one simple advice / tip just amazing? How to build neural pathways to create new habits. Gee. Who knew.

Actually, I knew about neural pathways. But somehow, today, that simple instruction helped me put into perspective some issues I've struggled with lately -- procrastination, intention, mindfulness, and more.

(blush) ... Today, I signed up for his Sea Change course. It's $15/month (cancelable at any time), with tons of readings, exercises, message boards, etc. I'm going to try it out. If it starts to feel culty, I'll leave (don't like those vibes). But I'm willing to consider that that someone in his mid-forties could teach me something I don't know yet and really need to know. After all, my doctor and my shrink are each 45 years old. :)

A couple of weeks ago we had lunch with our Alzheimer's support group. A couple of new widows (former caretakers) were there. Your theme "Starting over is part of life. I can resist it or embrace it." made me think of them. Both seem to be embracing their lives and finding new meaningful things to do. You, Paula, and these women are very inspiring for me.

Hehehehe! I must have done too much deep thinking yesterday. I ended up with a mild headache in the afternoon. I took some ibuprofen and ended up napping for just over an hour. Guess I needed it!

I am "thought" out, sort of. I am very pleased by my take aways on the JDI/JFDI discussion. I understand and honor the differing interpretations of JDI. I guess there is something about the phrase that superficially reminds me of employing willpower in a mindless, brutish way. Many of you have a much more thoughtful interpretation to JDI.

BTW, I did not realize men don't like funny women. I am very fond of witty, quick thinking, intelligent women. Funny - odd though, is a different story. Yesterday there was a woman smoking, drinking a beer, humming/singing and dancing in the parking lot wearing very short shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top. Her hair was unkempt, she was desperately thin and more than anything I wanted to get in the car and lock the door. That kind of funny is icky to me.

Back to JDI.... the conversation yesterday and this morning has me thinking that one strategy that I need to utilize is making a list of the positives AND (perceived) negatives of getting back on the weight loss trajectory. While I do not need to JDI (also lovingly referred to as "**** or get off the pot" in my family), I do need to look at what is holding me back from doing what I need to do to feel healthy and good in my wrapping.

I think this might put into perspective my position on this leg of my journey: The food plan is basic grade school math. Understanding how to NAVIGATE the food plan over time and our ever evolving lives is like discovering the Theory of Relativity.

Greetings Thursday Thoughtful Ones

149 today. One pound of dog show weight gone. Wish my extra 20 was all dog show weight but its made up of nuts, cheese, crackers and wine.

DH is off to the eye doctor again for a detailed retinal photo or something. I am glad they are getting into his eye issues and still hopeful that its just changing prescription needs. He put a new lock on our front door that is digital rather than using a key. It came with a tag with the product code that is needed to program it. The code numbers are printed so tiny that he can't read it and I could barely read it - going to have to get a bright light and magnifier. Its so ridiculous that manufacturers make stuff that is so non user friendly.

I am off for my annual physical later today. Gets me out of a boring board meeting that doesn't need me anyway. I mainly analyze the financials and I can look at them later.

Had a girls night out last night due to a friend returning for a visit. Went to a local brew pub. But they have zero wine and I don't drink beer. But great fried calamari. I didn't stay long but it was fun. Learned a whole lot of studio gossip I didn't know about. Now if only that place had something to sit on besides bar stools. Hurts my old back.

OMG, so much interesting JFDI discussion. I feel like I should print it out and go at it with a yellow highlighter like I did in law school. To this day I best understand things if I do that.

Not sure I have a lot to offer except a sense of proportion. My former self would have had the following JDI list for the day:

1. loose 100 lbs
2. exersize for an hour
3. get a zillion projects done at work
4. redecorate the entire house and clean it all up
5. organize my entire office.

Well thats all pretty ridiculous and a set up for feeling like a failure. Vsg made it easy to lose weight in the early stages and its kind of becoming more background now. Plus it was easier for me being a retired person. So I always tell the newbies to establish good habits early while its easier as they serve you better later. I started sliding at about 5 years when I stopped tracking, began drinking wine and got more adventuresome on food (oh, one night of chips and dip won't hurt). I personally think I need to start taking little steps back to the habits that made me successful. So I am trying to park the car far away as I run errands since I can't seem to make myself go to the gym, eat cheese and jerky since I can't force myself to have protein drinks etc. Maybe I am deluding myself but instead of thinking "I can't go the rest of my life without cake" I think, well what CAN I do - eat a tiny piece, skip it today, walk the dog, get one file drawer cleaned out etc.

Speaking of file drawers I tossed a huge amount of old papers at the recycle yesterday and that felt good. More today. I have a huge amount of stuff from my mom's estate laying around and while I cant toss that yet, I can make room to have it out of sight by tossing old statements from accounts closed years ago and tons of other debris.

Thinking lots about Pep's thoughts on why we overeat. I know why I overate as a child and younger adult. The real question is why I have a hard time doing whats in the best interest of myself and my health today. Maybe thats where the JDI comes in. Not sure. I know my doctor today will give me the "exercise" lecture and find something I enjoy doing. (answer: I hate all exercise and enjoy none of it ). The real question is what can I tolerate and do routinely. I need to move more for reasons other than weight : bone and joint health, flexibility and all that old people stuff.

Well thats all the heavy stuff I have. Carbon get some ear plugs! Or make fried chicken. Can't believe the neighbors and the chickens were so rude as to make noise on a week night. A white noise machine might help.

BB hope your DH gets the job offer. Consulting might seem fun for him now but I bet its tiring in the long haul.

Dave I love hearing your Pop Pop stories. How lucky your grandkids are to have a good loving man in their lives in addition to their dads. So many kids don't get much of that.

We started watching a new series called "800 words". Last night. About a family moving to New Zealand to start over after death of the mom. Quirky and funny. Goes with Ann's theme of new beginnings.

And speaking of new beginnings, I begin my second cup of coffee. I am going to JUST DRINK IT. DianeS

Diane, you will LOVE the "building new neural pathways" section of my second long post of the day above. Fits right in with the advice to do something small NOW.

:)

Thank you again for building this place. xoxoxoxoxo

Hey Ann, its my pleasure and all of ours to have you all here. Who knew when this got started that it would end up being such a warm and intimate group. I thought it would be about weigh ins, protein recipes and clothes size. Sometimes you just have to start and you don't know where it will end but the journey is fascinating.

Keep on thinking my dears. DS

142.8 Just because I was curious- and it's the end of the summer- and I couldn't quite remember, I flipped through old posts to see when it was I first reconnected here. It was May 6th and I logged on at 161 #.

Thank you all for being here- you touch lives; you've touched mine.

JFDI? You bet I will, as I can, continue to read and post and share --It's a daily decision easy to make.

Hugs and smiles your way, today. Personally, I think I'm sure that this will be the best Thursday, August 9th, 2018 I will ever experience in my life. (There, of course, being just the one I do get to live.)

Wow, Bonnie! That's another 18 pounds in 3 months. That's what my monthly weight loss had slowed down to around Month 6 post-op. You have been bookin', girl!