Thank you.
Today, got several tasks done on the long road to cleaning up the place. We just got our last kid out of the house 3 weeks ago. He had kind of a destructive nature to him. It is nice to come home and the yard, garage and MY TOOLS are all where I left them. I am resolved to clean up one thing at a time and slowly go thru the house and get things fixed up. DW has been enjoying her lack of workload. The laundry is a much smaller duty than before. The kitchen is staying pretty clean. With my LCWOE there aren't much dishes.
Now trying to get her motivated to get some things done. Get home from work and don't see too many signs of forward progress. So far being very patient. Been patient for 23 years, I guess I can give many more to get the urge to clean up our act. She is still getting used to having "her baby" gone. It is tough trying to cut that cord. Don't think it is cut yet. Just stretched really long. He still calls her at least every night. Oh, he's up in Reno, NV at Job Corps. He's 20.
Well, that was quite a ramble. Hmmm.

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Tom

WELLLLLLLLLLL.............. nothing like an "empty nest". I'd say, expect some mild stretching of the cord for a while..... If you visit my journal, you will see that DD1, which recently married...... still comes home and raids the kitchen, etc. frequently. I find it "somewhat" comforting.... call me "maturnal"! Still have three more kiddos to go to empty the nest, and somehow....... I think it will be a sad day too. Be patient.... it is an adjustment for both of you!

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So much for empty nest. My teenage (15) GS has been over every weekend since my DS left. He has been helping me clean up. Today, totally emptied the garage. All of my tools boxes & "stuff" are outside under the canopy. I'm going to spend this week going thru it all. Organizing, and finding out what has been broken or lost and needs to be replaced.

Was good for dinner tonight. Took GS to the Taco shop. He loves their burritos. I got them to make the usual burrito they make me on a plate with lettuce this time. It kept me from either throwing away the tortilla or breaking down and eating it.

I'm starting to notice in the supermarkets that the "LC" fad is slowing down. That's great. We can be less distracted by all these "low carb" foods that are high in everything else and cause us not to reach our goals. Seems like it was easier and more productive to do LC when all those things weren't there and you just had to follow the book. Meat, cheese, veggies, some mayo, some butter. Oh and lots and lots of water. Those low carb sweeteners are still calories. It didn't seem to be much of a problem in my early stages. Now that I'm within the last 30 lbs of goal all calories count LC or not. Well got to go prep my lunch stuff for tomorrow. Another key, Planning. I seem to spend alot of time thinking or planning out my activities around FOOD.
Well, enough for tonight.

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Tom

Another day done. Slow at work. Had a great work out at the gym. Ate a lite dinner. Got a disturbing email from mother (she lives in Hartford,CT). Have to call her doctor tomorrow to talk. She is 68 years old and it may be time to start facing reality. Issues are coming up. Oh well, not much to say tonight.

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Tom

Tom...hope everything goes alright with your mom. My mother is 78 and this has been a miserable year for her.

I am keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that everything will be fine.

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Thanks for all the positive thoughts. Must've helped. Had a nice talk with the doc. Wasn't nearly that bad. Sometime mothers can be overdramatic. I think it will be either surgury or some radiation therapy. It did get us to bring those thoughts of preparing things such as living will, will and visits up to the front.
Went on a mission to find the Shirataki noodles tonight. No luck on my side of town. Going to have to go over to Chinatown (every large city has one). Pretty sure I'll find them there. So far kept eating very to the book. Looking to do dinner in a few. Probably meat, cheese & salad as usual.

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Tom

Another day in the life of a fool.
Had a good at work. Good interactions with my team.
DW was extremely successful at finding cheaper auto insurance thru AARP. Will save us about $1000 a year. Did find out that an accident the DS had last year has been charged against me instead of him in the insurance records. Both of us are Thomas. So some *&^% clerk screwed it up. Easy fix. Just wish we didn't have to.
Had really good gym night tonight. Tomorrow will start back doing more cardio 1st thing in the am before work. 4am wakup :( Got to iburn more calories.
Well enough for tonight.

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Tom

Missed posting last night.
I'm in some kind of strange mood this am. Had a great cardio this am. But... Already "went off" on somebody on one of my other boards. Trying to play hermit today and not PO my team. As far as this forum. Not really sure if this is the right place for me. Many of my exercise and dieting issues don't seem to mesh with the mainstream here. Maybe give it more time. More patience required.
I may leave work early today and spend extra time at the gym. Might help clear my head some.

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Tom

Feeling much more positive today. Had a great weekend. Got lots of the garage sorted. Whew! Still enjoying that where I put things is where I find them now. Ahh, empty nest! Rewarded myself with late birthday presents. We went to Fry's and got me a stereo for my gym/computer room. Friday picked up Shirataki Noodles on the way home. VERY GOOD. Got to watch portion size in the future. Those things creep up on you about 1 hour after you eat, swelling up and giving you the "full" feeling. Saturday finished off the last of my last Atkins Pancake mix and some almond butter. Mmmm, been craving pancakes for 2 weeks. Oh, did a small turkey in the Ronco. I love that thing. My wife hates when I say "Set it and Forget it." This morning did my cardio and this afternoon is gym day. I've got to stay on the straight and narrow. My weight is staying at 213~215. I do notice that my energy level is up. Also I'm seeing increases in muscle mass. My thighs/glutes are getting huge and hard as rocks. Not helping the waist much yet. I'm hoping that I will do what I've done in the past and do a large WOOSH! My biggest challenge lately has been regularity. Only "visiting" the reading room once every 2 days. Seems like the body is used to processing much larger quantities of food. Got to train it to pick up the pace.

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Tom

Hiya Tom...what kinda routine are you doing for your legs??

Hi Fran! I do cardio each morning, 6min bike, 6min rowing machine, 20min eliptical. Then 3 days per week do my workout. Forlegs there I do 30min bike, 2-15 rep sets of leg extension, leg curl, hips in & out leg presses, then finish with 33 minutes eliptical. Legs are the biggest muscle group for burning calories. I'm on the bike right now using my pocket pc.

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Tom

Hah!! I can barely type sitting still!! Sounds like an awesome workout...and you've got some incredible motivation too. :great:

Trust me, it is funny sight. Wearing reading glasses, typing with a stylus, and sweating everywhere; I have to hold the pc my glasses & the stylus with one hand while Iwipe sweat off with a towel. On the eliptical right now.

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Tom

Another day. Boy do I feel pooped today. I'm glad this is an off day for the gym. My cardio this am kicked my butt. I was sure happy with the scale though. 210 today from 215 last week. YAY! Maybe I'm finally off my plateau. My clothes were really loose this morning. I'm not going to try my smaller size stuff again until I get below 205. I'm not hungry today just weak. Trying to hold on, 1 more hour, until lunch.

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Tom