Wednesday, 11/20/2019

Weight: 141.0
Veggies/Fruits: 4
Macronutrients: ? (Went to an Asian dinner party last night; did well, but haven't had time to figure it all out)
Sleep: 8'02" ... wowzah, and without sleep aids! And I feel the difference this morning!
Exercise: 5,435 steps, 0 active minutes (explained by four hours of driving yesterday)

Quick fly-by this morning. I have so very much to get done today.

Liz, I just realized your "piriformis syndrome?" question was addressed to me. Nope, that's not it; I don't have that kind of pain all the way to the foot. In fact, I just looked it up ... my issue is with the SAPHENOUS NERVE. Here's a picture. That spot on the outside of my hip bone and the curving down around the inside of my knee are EXACTLY the places where my pain has been. But one, simple exercise my chiropractor now has me doing (2-4 times a day) is already helping in less than 48 hours. Honestly, that guy has a great reputation around here, even with the local doctors.

Yesterday's therapy session was helpful to me in many ways, but notably to develop some ways to manage stress during the upcoming family Thanksgiving out-of-town trip and my big adventure trip. As wonderful as these events can be, they're also hyper-stressful. For me, that means I have greater inclinations to reach for the feel-good drugs--sugar and other carbs that then make me crave more sugar and more carbs. I came away with some simple tools (mostly involving finding ways to move away from stressors and chill out for a while) that I'll be trying out. A lot of what my therapist had me focus on was recognizing I'm feeling stressed BEFORE I get to the gimme-those-carbs point. I guess that's a form of early intervention. Anyway, thought I'd share that. In my case, the answer "What am I really hungry for?" is often not food, but simply a little peace and quiet. Every once in a while, even we extroverts need some alone time.

Yes, it's great to have Cecily back, to hear from BB, and everyone else. DianeO, Bonnie150, Dave, anybody else ... what's going on where y'all are?

And for those grieving the loss of loved ones, this song was posted today on a widow's group I belong to. It seems appropriate during this holiday season to acknowledge honestly the feelings and stresses that bereavement creates: Something You Get Through

Hmmm... "recognizing I'm feeling stressed BEFORE I get to the gimme-those-carbs point". I guess one has to have a successful way of destressing at that point. I'll need to think about that...

We are at the pool in the sunshine! It is burgers by the pool day (I eat 1/2 with no bun, so not bad). Friends from home arrive for a couple of days at some point today. It is good to be busy!

DS is having dinner with DH. I am anxious to have an update on how he is.

Have a winsome Wednesday!

Greetings Great Ones

Well the 17th was my TEN YEAR anniversary of vsg. I so do not regret it and am grateful for its benefits. Yeah the past 3 years have been regain but I am still down 75% of excess weight. I am older but overall healthier. Yay me. Think I will email Dr. Cirangle who may be retired by now.

Liz, burgers by the pool sounds great. I guess I could drive through burger king and go to the indoor pool at the health club but it just wouldn't be the same. So enjoy the atmosphere. Hope you get a good report on DH.

Yep Ann, holidays with family can be so stressful even with fun nice families. We usually spend thanksgiving with friends but they are going on a winter cruise so we are doing it early. So DH and I will be on our own. The casino has a nice thanksgiving plate dinner so maybe we will go there. I am keeping it secret that we don't have plans as I don't want any "pity" invitations.

Yep Peps, this book really does have a recipe that calls for "grass fed pork shoulder". I think its an editorial problem. But I am not doing this diet as it says no caffeine. Forget it.

Its a sunny but somewhat windy fall day. I have a board meeting and a few errands but hope to get to the pool. (sans burger). Not much else here. Cheers. Diane S

Ten years! Wow! I'm so happy for your improved health, Diane. I'm only halfway there. Let's see how I'm doing / feeling in five more years. :)

And thank you again, again, again, for creating this group. It's so precious to me.

Yesterday we went 30 miles away to closest pain management clinic for DW s appointment. Then to grocery store before returning to our neck of the woods. I have been making some end grain cutting boards to sell online. May try to sell to a store locally. I covered them with shrink wrap this morning. Most of them are walnut. One is cherry and walnut. They turned out well. I even made the finish that I conditioned them with. So my knee has improved to let me do that much.

Lunch was half a chicken sandwich from Popeyes. Good chicken sandwich.

I had to pick up Adalyn from school. She was bitting other kids and her teacher. Rough day for her. She didn't stay here long. Went home for early nap.

The song touched me. Willie is one of my favorites.

I too have been thinking of Shell lately. The owls are hooting. She said it made her happy to think of me hooting back.

Thank you, David.

I'm glad you continue to feel better and more productive as your knee recovers.

We really need to figure out how far apart we are from each other. If it's a day trip I'd like to drive down to visit in the spring.

Ann

We are about 70 miles from you. We are too close to not meet IRL.

Did not have the courage to weigh today.

I was reading and Diane S. you caught my attention with you 10 years surgiversary!!! Hell yeah!! That's so amazing.

I'm following you up with 10 years in May. (Am I the second "oldest" on here?). It actually just occurred to me last night when I was on campus and I was recalling that it's coming up on 10 year graduation from college, surgiversary, losing my granddad.

My gosh how time flies. I feel like for now I will forever be grateful for what VSG has given me.

Someone ?Ann? mentioned gimme carbs when you're stressed. Totally me. Sugar, specifically. I haven't been getting much sleep. Both girls are sick. Poor Charlotte has such a bad cough and congestion that she's constantly waking herself up. I don't think it was this bad in the newborn days for either girl. I feel like I'm not getting much sleep even though a good 4-5 hours can pass between feeds. I think it's a combination of having to retrieve a binky to calm her back to sleep and sleeping half-awake worried about her wheeze. Aaaanyway, in the middle of getting up to give her a bottle, I broke into some peppermint bark. I thought I had self-control. Not any more.

Trying to stay positive and cheerful but my humor is a little low today. I hate the feeling of just surviving. I've been so hungry (sleep deprivation?) and so ate an ENTIRE McDouble for lunch and then the other half of Becca's chick fil a nuggest and fries. I try to find some acceptable excuses in it. Like "oh my, that Mcdouble was only 380 calories" in order to keep myself from really going off the deep end. But it's bad. And I know I'm feeding the beast. But I'm just surviving. Ugh.

Taking care of little children, is hands down the hardest thing I've ever done. I love my children with every fiber of my heart and soul, and would die for them, truly, if I had to, but it was still.so.hard. And yet, the most meaningful thing I've ever done. And what you invest of yourself now, will come back in spades as your girls grow into competent women. But while you're in the trenches with a baby and a toddler... It's not surprising that you're feeling the way you do. But what you're doing really, really matters.