Saturday, August 24, 2019

My morning weight was 143.0. That's up almost two pounds since I left for the beach.

I did not eat great while I was gone. It was very hard for me to be in a beach house with tons of food purchased and prepared by friends who were "vacation-eating." Our host who loves to treat people with great food, especially sweets and carbs, was in high meal-prep gear. The good news is that the food was really delicious.

And now I'm back home and back to my cleansing diet. Basically, it's high protein, low carb, low fat with a big emphasis on veggies. And come September, it's back to yoga class, too. My current goal is to get back to 135 or lower before I leave for France in October. I'm so ready to shed this year's travel weight.

Dave - I opened your Rozark Hills coffee this morning. I see why you love it so much--it's delicious. Thank you for this morning's veggies. To Michelle! Notre belle!

DianeO - what wonderful B.C. adventures you're having. Your pix are beautiful. Thank you so much for posting them! Vancouver is such a gorgeous city with so many lovely aspects and vibes. BTW, I admire tremendously your eating style while you travel.

Liz - I think of you so much as you're navigating this upcoming transition with Paul. Hugs, big hugs to you. This is tough, but this too shall pass.

BB - I support ALL your life transition plans. Those decisions and the planning process aren't easy. And coming from a woman who's more than twice your age, it seems that life's transitions never seem to end.

Cecile - You've made a gorgeous veggie garden this summer. I'm so very proud of you. I also appreciate the New Beginnings issues you're struggling with these days. I am, too.

Shirl - you'll be here in the States very soon. Big adventures await you. Sure wish you were coming closer to where I live.

Devon - you're offering us important insights about treats, challenges, and self-love. Thank you and everyone else for chiming in. I have miles to go on these fronts. BTW, I think I must be very "male" in the way I approach these things, i.e., trying to get rid of symptoms without identifying and addressing the underlying causes. Hmmm ....

Diane S - Your intelligence, good sense, and avoidance of life's drama-llama comfort me tremendously. I'm also tickled for you that you backed away from "the dreaded ledge." :)

DD - welcome home. Your Ireland trip sounds absolutely magnificent! I'm so sorry about your son's job disappearing. That was such a weird situation! I hope he lands an even better job soon.

Bonnie150 - I liked your thoughts about your inner child. Not sure where mine is these days. I have been writing a lot lately about my childhood, which from here seems like I sort of skipped it, given our nuclear family's drama and stress during those years. It usually felt like my parents had greater burdens than mine, and it was my job not to add any more weight to theirs. I definitely overate as a child (from age 7) to sedate my anxieties. I continue to struggle against that habit.

Paula, I know you're out there reading this. I am so happy for you about the new life you're building with that precious man. There's absolutely nothing more delicious than new love! You're lucky ducks.

In closing, it's raining here this morning, so no mowing today. But it'll be a good day for weeding when/if the rain stops.

Today's theme: It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life ... for me!

19,233 steps yesterday ! When I saw that, the compulsion to get 767 more steps was real. Reason prevailed, and I thought about the stairs and steep incline walking home for dinner and relaxed into my accomplishment. The first photo is Granville Island, walking back to DD's condo after dinner. The second is a flowering bush I MUST know the name of! This cluster of flowers is on one stem. DD, her DH and I are going for a hike at Quarry Rock in North Vancouver. We'll come back and I'll shower and pack for my red eye home. This has been a fabulous ten days, and I appreciate your indulgence with my travelogue. I am curious about what my weight will be Monday morning. I suspect I'm down a few pounds.

Diane, that's a "lacecap hydrangea." Here's a link. They come in several color combinations -- blue, pink, white, white/blue, etc.

And I know that walking/biking trail very well. :) Love that spot.

Down a FEW pounds on Monday...You THINK....?!!!!

You have spent your vacation time well and truly enjoying all that was offered. Thank you for sharing. I love these pictures!!!! And to think- you get to bring back all of those moments- A new you emerges (as it does in all of us every new day). You are beautiful!

The bush is a Hydrangea. The variety is lace cap.

Edit: Oops! Didn't notice Ann had already answered the bush question. Sorry!

Don't be sorry! I love it when you agree with me. :)

Welcome back and good luck on your reset. I think having something to look forward to as a goal helps in staying on course. I seem to lack that right now. And I guess I am sort of feeding the inner me whatever that is. I know I do eat carby stuff to feel good. I do enjoy it while eating, then hate myself for doing it, then want more to feel better. A long-ago learned behavior which I seem to be able to curb when feeling generally optimistic but not right now. Though it isn't nearly as bad as it used to be thanks to VSG.

The weather is gorgeous today - I need to do a couple of loads of laundry at SIL's (washer is too leaky to use at all now - new one arriving Friday). SIL, DH and I are going out for an early dinner at a Greek restaurant.

Have a safe Saturday!

Thanks, Liz. Yes, goals are good for me, too. This morning I did a little journaling about that very subject. And I came up with an exercise of listing my:

Gifts, e.g., I'm healthy
Other resources, e.g., I have good doctors
Activities I enjoy, e.g., I enjoy writing
(And finally) some current goals, e.g., Become more grateful

Doing that little exercise perked me up -- quite a bit, actually. :)

Good morning! Switching gears from vacation mode to family mode. Tomorrow is a celebration of life for my sil. Bil (brother who was placed for adoption) and his wife have arrived from Texas. We'll all be having dinner together this afternoon. Looking forward to gathering, celebrating my sil, but also know We have to turn and face our sorrow. My sil s husband choses not to attend, but told his adult daughter that if it would be good for her, to plan it. So here we are...

School starts for teachers on Monday. I've read some emails, but that's it. Years ago, during a protracted contract negotiation, we did work to rule. We met in the parking lot before school, walked in together at the contractual beginning of the day, and again met in the front of the building at the end of our contract day and walked out together. Everyone took lunch. The special ed director actually authorized sub time for sped teachers because it was apparent if we only worked our contract hours, we legitimately could not complete our special education paperwork! It was difficult to start after school meetings by saying, teacher's contract day ends at 3:15pm, so the meeting must end at this time. If we need more time, we will schedule another meeting. But what I learned was I had been working too damn hard. Everyone survived work to rule, my students were okay... So now I leave by 4pm most days, and have some balance I didn't before. I don't go in during summer or winter break. I take my lunch. I work hard when I'm there, am judicious about what I volunteer for (things that are my passion), and guard my down time. So anyhow, here comes Monday! Teaching is one career where it feels like you get a new job every year!

Thinking about eating, treats, and the needs of the inner child. Reminded me of advice I read, asking yourself, "What am I really hungry for?" Sometimes what I really want is a break from what I'm doing, some sleep, or harder things to just go and get like comfort, validation, appreciation, affection... planning helps, making sure there are things in my life like great books, flowers, time to rest, coffee and chai milk with steamed milk, theater tickets, music, social outings... things that I am hungry for that keep me full so I don't need food as much as I used to...clearly I don't always keep myself full of the good things or I wouldn't have succumbed to cravings and have regain..it's a good reminder to me that my inner child is going to be asking for attention when I'm back at school. Time to think more deeply about what I'm really hungry for, and how to feed myself those treats instead of the easy, but less satisfying carp food.

What great stuff, DD -- about your "work to rule" response (so impressed by that kind of self-care) and "What am I really hungry for?" I'm going to incorporate that question into my mindfulness efforts today. And I just put that question on my Daily To-Dos list.