02/20/19, Wednesday

Diane, I like your self talk. Instead of getting angry, you release compassionate energy into the universe. My 23 year old son tells me he does self talk driving when someone cuts him off. He says to himself, I don't know what's going on with them, maybe they have an emergency, maybe the just lost their job... then my son can carry on without getting cranked up. I'm trying to learn his Zen.

Greetings Buddies

156 today. We ate the last of the pizza last night. Half a slice plus sweet red pepper. I actually did some "adult" stuff by going to the big discount grocery store and buying many cans of DH favorite chili. Its about half the price there. Also got stuff for a few dinners so I can avoid the store for a few days. This was after spending an afternoon by the fire playing scrabble. It struck me that my scrabble friends, who are my age or older, are all in a peaceful satisfied place in life - engaged but not obsessed. I am trying to be like them.

Liz I am glad you are checking into facilities for your DH. Sounds like its time. So sorry the adult day care didn't work yesterday and you missed the beach. I had to locate such a place for an elderly client who had no family except for a sister who was a nun in another city. The memory care unit was quite nice. Hoping DH is more calm today.

So we are all reading the Keto book eh? Sounds a lot like the atkins diet and we have all those books. Anyone ever compared them? I think I will flip though the atkins as DH was big on that for awhile and has a collection. He is off getting a blood draw as he had low red count for awhile after the surgery and took big iron pills.

Gallery duty today. Not at the fresh fudge place but the other one - dangerously close to the cup cake shop which I conveniently forget about. It will be slow but I have a lot of finance chores to do.

Yep DianeO, good point about not getting upset while having to wait for someone else's emergency. It does no good and raises blood pressure. Ditto to Diamond whose son does the same in driving. Gotta remember that one.

Dang, I meant to get some bacon bits while at the big store. I always forget something. This is the store I used to hate going to in my fat days because it tired me and I had to haul so much food that I treated myself with a glazed donut or two. Then one day I saw a big black fly in the donut case. Always remind myself of that when I see those donuts.

Well time to get organized for the day. Gee its only 10:15. Nothing like starting early. Take care all you snowed in ones. Diane S

I hope the book is helpful in some way to everyone that bought it otherwise I'll feel terrible!! I actually like the first half a lot more than the second half of recipes, but I rarely do recipe cooking for just myself (too much work!). Though I've enjoyed the Caesar dressing recipe.

Weight 172.4 Happy

Matcha Chia Seed N'Oatmeal was a fail. Blech. The taste was the expected yard clippings and the texture was like slimy quinoa kernels (I also hate quinoa). I tried mixing in some cacao powder and still blech. So I made eggs instead with butter, leftover cut up asparagus and goat cheese. The opposite of blech!! Delish.

Today is a trainer and Pilates day. It's cool and cloudy again, but more sun after tomorrow...

Yeah - the eggs sound much better to me! Yum with asparagus and goat cheese!

183.4

I can tell I have some water weight, though

Liz-I'm with DD--that just sucks. I can't imagine how frustrating and sad and lonely that is for you to deal with. Please keep reaching out. I know you're spending so much energy taking care of DH--but please don't forget to take care of yourself and please try not to feel guilty about it.

Re Keto. I'm with Diane--isn't it Atkins? I sincerely hope it works for my friends, and especially hope thta it'll help you focus on protein eating that fills up our sleeves. So maybe it'll work better for us than my friends. But my friends who are making cheese chips with bacon and literally eating sticks of butter--it worries me!! My parents did Atkins back in late 90s and it worked quickly for awhile until a carb passed their lips. Maybe keto is more liberal in carb consumption?

But who am I to say, my eating has been complete **** And I mean it. I can't believe I have the gall to pretend to be shocked by my weight!!! In all honesty, I should probably be 20lbs. higher. I ate---wait for it--a monte cristo sandwich for lunch. Right hand to God, I ate wayyyyyy better at 277lbs. than I am right now. I know I need to change it. Maybe even for the health of my baby. But I seem to be getting away with it and that causes complacency.

I'm having a yin and yang kind of day. I feel so incredibly grateful for this point in life right now. DH got a job that he feels confident in and it's here in my hometown Okc!! (confident but not comfortable like a decade at his old job...hoping that will come). I have one gem of a baby and another on the way when not long ago I thought DH might not ever agree to more children. My stepkids like me! But it almost feels scary to have everything going so well--anyone else ever feel that way? So for right now I'm going to try to praise the heck out of it. Because I'm very very thankful.

And as if to emphasize those feelings, DH heard today that his old company is having yet another deep round of cuts=layoffs. It makes me sick. We loved this company, for what it meant to us personally and our city. And we have so many friends still there and I imagine it will affect many of them. I hurt for them, having so recently been in that position. I wonder how many friends we will lose because they move away for other jobs. Trying to stay in the moment and appreciate the now.

In the sense that it's low carb, yes, but she takes a whole foods approach rather than recommending bacon, cheeseburgers and sticks of butter! Lots of low carb veggies, healthy fats, fish, chicken. Pretty much the way I ate to lose post-surgery, but with a bit more fat leeway. The way you describe is why I have not had good thoughts about Keto in the past...

For me, the book reinforced a few things I knew, one of them being if I eat sugar/processed carbs, my body will use those instead of burning fat. And if I burn up all the glucose I have stored or just ate, instead of turning to fat for energy, my body will insist it needs more carbs by becoming hangry and/or shaky and lightheaded. If I lower the carbs, suddenly it occurs to my body that we have lots of stored energy it could access :) I suspect the level of carbs it takes for each person's body to turn to fat burning differs. I think I have to go pretty low.

Cecily, I agree I was not too excited about the recipes. In books like these, I'm more after the info, and I consider it a bonus if I find one or two recipes I add to my rotation.

I would add that Aitkins was the only eating plan that ever gave me a significant weight loss. And I too gained it all back and more. WLS is the only thing that has ever worked for me. Without my sleeve, I'm sure I would be morbidly obese again. My sleeve takes what was impossible and allows it to be possible. So grateful this intervention exists. In June, my sleeve will be 7 years old. I should throw it a (low carb) birthday party!!! :)

Good Morning All, Sorry I didnt make it here yesterday. Had a productive day - in between my breaks I scrubbed half the laundry walls, skirts and doors. After my appointment I went and bought lots of baskets and tubs - pulled the laundry cupboard apart and organised it all. See attached picture - everything has a place now. The dogs coats are all washed and drying on the clothes line. They will go away once dry. Feel like I achieved a good amount. Didnt eat dinner till 8pm

Today I just have work and an apt to have a pedicure - which will be nice. Trying a new place

Diane O - Sorry your lawyer got called away- hopefully Friday brings you the start of final closure.

Liz- my heart breaks for you. I wish there was something I could say to make it easier. You have a heavy load. It much be super hard to see him going downhill so fast. Huge Hugs x

Diamond D - Enjoy your snow day :) Your quick frittata sounds yum

Steph - Thanks for sharing Bonnies article - I just read it and so much hit close to home.

Diane S - Have a good day at the gallery and strength being sent to avoid the donuts :)

Cec - you are doing so well. Your description of the Matcha Chia Seed N'Oatmeal made me laugh out loud. I too have bought the book and am reading it each day. It looks good so far and will definately give it a go.

BB- Sad about the lay offs at DHs old firm. Always hard on families and peoples well being. Thinking of them

Well I best go make another cuppa and start my day. Bit slow this am as I took strong painkillers last night - detest TTOM and all she brings UGGGG

Have a great day/evening all

Sunshine from Australia

Shirley

Looks lovely!! Want to come do mine??