01/05/19, Saturday

1. Within Range: one pound above
2. General Wellbeing: 8 on SS
3. 10,000+ Steps: 9644
4. Fitness: mall therapy
5. Self-Care: increase water intake and decrease wine
6. Play/Leisure: reading, knitting
7. Intentions: Manifest daily fitness goals.

Liz, sometimes it takes a different perspective to see a solution. Your open mind is a strong asset. Linda Tellington-Jones trademarked the Tellington Touch, a way to soothe and bond with your dog using a variety of strokes (small circles, zig zag, backs of fingers, inch worm etc.). Her book, Getting In TTouch With Your Dog is an excellent resource. Based on my Reiki experience, I've got to believe that Paul's intention to relax and soothe Justice, including sharing positive energy will deescalate and calm DH as well. Having DH monitor how calm & relaxed Justice is may increase his ability to self regulate, or at least project what he is experiencing onto Justice and then soothing her will soothe him. You might also look into finding a certified Service Dog trainer who could help you identify and train for the behaviors/alerts you might have Justice perform on Paul's behalf ( i.e. alerting if Paul tries to leave the house, responding in a predetermined way if Paul becomes agitated ).

Weight: 133.8
Macros: Calories - 1,480, Carbs - 120, Fats - 45, Protein - 110, Fiber - 24
Sleep hours: 6
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 4
Water glasses: 2
Exercise: 11K steps
Meditation: Yes

DianeO, what brilliant suggestions for Liz's utilization of Justice as the service dog he indeed is! This group knocks me out. Each of you does. :)

Yesterday was another excellent time in NOLA, starting with an early morning walk in the park, then some reading and writing, a noontime "spicy" 75-minute yoga class, met some neighbors, did some grocery and wine shopping, then more reading/writing/Netflix watching, phone conversations with friends who are headed to NOLA soon, and I was pooped! I was in bed before 7 and asleep before 8. I think all the travel and moving and being-here excitement caught up with me. Unfortunately, that means I woke up (and weighed) shortly after 2 this morning.

It's going to be another beautiful, sunny, crisp day here. My good friend is picking me up at 6:30 this morning to go down to the French Quarter to get tickets to an antique sale at a very special home furnishings sale. An antique dealer who died without heirs or a will left a beautifully furnished, gorgeous home that's being handled by his old company. We'll also make our weekly trip to the Farmers Market for fresh veggies and fresh fish. These people are serious about the quality and freshness of their food!

This afternoon I'll do some more errands, a little makeup shopping, and visit the Loyola University library. Not sure what's on the agenda for tonight. I'm ready for some music!

Today's reprised theme: Be here now.

;)

Diane O.-very interesting on Paul trying to help Justice but perhaps helping himself (I think that's what you're saying?!)

Ann-what a fun day you have planned! I need photos and detailed reports.

Where am I with food? I feel kind of stuck in pregnancy. But fairly confident that it won't undo everything. I've gained about 8lbs. in almost 20 weeks--less than I did last time. Granted, I still had about 10lbs. left to lose from last pregnancy, but when you consider I started that pregnancy 10lbs. leaner (after having dieted and worked out my way down from 165), I was essentially "even" at my body's set point. And I guess I kind of expect to repeat that experience. I'm surrounded by so many positive, exciting resolutions right now that I kind of feel stuck and unable to do much. I can (and will!) eat healthier and maybe even move more. But I also know in the grand scheme of things, this is a very short time.

I had been toying with the idea of trying Whole30, but I've decided against it for now. I don't think it's unhealthy for pregnancy, in fact, any good "diet" should be perfectly acceptable for pregnancy!! I'm actually just as interested in it for its health/elimination aspects as for the wholeness/weight loss aspects. But I think the meal prepping would take a lot of energy and if I didn't do it all, I'd either be stuck a) not eating when hungry or b) going off plan.

Yesterday evening's dinner plans with friends cancelled. These are some very good friends, but I'm pretty frustrated. We've been trying all month to get-together and give their kids Christmas gifts. I know everyone is busy, but at some point maybe friendships become too much work? The mom stays home with the kids who are both now in school (off for break currently) and often cannot return my text messages because she was "busy". I have some agitation over that because I have a baby, take her to daycare, work, am pregnant and tired, etc. yet seem to find time!! I guess at the end of the day I feel like good relationships are the ones that are reciprocated, and I want to focus more on those in 2019!

Trying to "flow" more today. DH and I want to go to a Beatles Symphony thing but the tickets were pretty scarce, so I think we're going to wait and see if anyone turns in their tickets tonight, and if not, catch a movie instead. Assuming I can stay up late enough!! Hopefully tree-undoing during Becca's naptime.

Things I bought at the grocery store I'm excited about

salad! sounds really good and I also bought a Panera tangerine honey dressing. I'm thinking of putting the salad, dressing, feta cheese, dried cranberries, tangerines, and pistachios together. Maybe chicken if a whole meal. My concern is I have trouble eating lettuce (which is why I steered clear of a similar "package" that consisted of spinach). Anyone heard of a pill that helps with digestion of fodmaps? I do take a probiiotic but that's all.

Vegetable tray just for myself! It was on sale! (leftover from New Year's?). Fresh veg has been sounding really good. And for $4 I figured it pays for itself since it has grape tomatoes, broccoli, etc. that I can use elsewhere

Philly cream cheese had "dippers" in the flavor of buffalo chicken. I'm guessing it's like buffalo chicken dip you see at superbowl parties? Anyway, buffalo is a huge craving flavor of mine, so I thought I'd get that for the celery in the veg tray. Yummmmmmm

Kiwi and blackberries. Kiwi just sounds so happy and tropical :) Unfortunately I cannot eat fresh pineapple as I'm allergic. But I may pair with canned pineapple. Or just the blackberries.

I bought some "French style" yogurt. I'm intrigued. I really want to like yogurt. But I hate it. I waste so much money. But maybe if I go back to the basic yogurt?

head of cauliflower. I thought potentially roasting it with curry spices mmm. Or a creamy cauliflower soup for lunches (or to go with that salad?! How good does that sound?!). Or I even have this idea in my head of something cauliflower with pomegranate arils. I must've seen that somewhere!

Actually most of the food I bought was pretty healthy. I've been doing much more snacking recently, so I did splurge on those, but I figured it can't get worse than what I've been doing. I picked up some of those "P3" snack packs that have like the meat and cheese and nuts, and also some luna bars.

BB, all your food ideas so delicious! I'm excited about food right now, too, so please keep fantasizing, planning, and typing about your food ideas.

:)

Diane O, Thank you for the great suggestions. Justice truly was calming DH down while DH was working on keeping Justice calm and comfortable during our travels. I am definitely going to look into some training for him. DH was incredibly edgy when we got to our place here though. He couldn't lay down to nap and kept pacing. I was able to get him to sit in front of the TV while I made dinner and gave him a ****tail, then a glass of wine with dinner. That calmed him down and he was pretty easy-going until an early bedtime. Maybe a small amount of alcohol is a solution sometimes!?!?

I have installed an alarm on the outside door DH would go out of and locked our bedroom door last night. I don't think he would be able to figure out how to unlock it, but we will see.

Oh, and I renewed Justice' license at home before we left as they are timed with the rabies vaccine. He was almost 001 but one of the office people had reserved that. But somehow I like the alliteration of the 2's!

Weight? 177.6 waiting for this to start dropping with all my exercise and moderate eating. Grr.

How did I ever get up at 5:30 in my past life for work? I had to get up at 6 for a hike this morning and leave at 6:30 and you would have thought I'd never been dragged out of bed at that ungodly hour...

But the hike was great if not freezing! (48* and no sun. Freezing for here!) Now I'm under my electric throw, which was the best Christmas prezzie I bought for myself this year. It lets Ferg have his open door to the backyard and I stay warm without turning the heat on to heat the great outdoors. Highly recommend! It's from Sunbeam. Got it on Amazon.

Speaking of shopping, I got a bit carried away last night internet shopping. This cruise is on the fancy side and jeans nor shorts (not that I wear shorts, but I live in jeans daily) are not allowed after 6pm. I don't have non-jean pants that fit, so I've been trying to remedy that. My smoking credit card is testament to my efforts...

Now I've got to walk Fergie so I can get home and showered for my friends lunch. Busy bee!

Happy Saturday!

Ah yes, the luxe cruise "no jeans after 6pm" rule. ;)

A whole rod in my overladen closet is devoted to Ann's Cruise Clothes. They're certainly not part of my everyday wardrobe.

BTW, because I didn't pack a ball gown for this shake-down, two-week jaunt down to NOLA, I'm missing out tonight on attending a first night of Mardi Gras season ball. Jeez! Who knew Mardi Gras season started on "Twelfth Night" (12 nights after Christmas)!

When I return from my cataract surgery trip home I'll bring back some of those fancy-dress cruise clothes, as well as Mardi Gras-suitable costumery.

God save me from cruisewear! I was looking on a forum and all these ladies were discussing their black flowy pants and sparkly tops for formal night. No thanks, I'm good.

PS, I think I could get dolled up for a Mardi Gras ball. It's forced cruisewear I object to! Maybe you'll send us a pic of you at a ball. You could cut your head off in the shot to preserve anonymity!

I once went on a cruise with my best friend and they put us at a table with various unattached people because we were not a "couple". One guy showed up at formal night wearing a bowling shirt - complete with name. It was black and white so I guess he thought that counted as formal!