LOL@ Judy! Yup, I thought so! Actually, like Peg, I don't have a huge amount of free time for vegging, but perhaps that is because I do everything rather slowly and deliberately.

Peg, I hope you are ok after that fall. I was thinking that when the parents ask the kids what happened at camp, your fall may be the first thing they mention, in spite of all the other experiences they had Glad you survived and crossing fingers for you to make it to Monday. (Maybe it's time for a recycled sermon )

Finally got groceries, today--it's my least favorite chore. But I have chicken breasts slow cooking, veggies cut and ready, and still actually have a good attitude. You know, I think the switch flipped, and for whatever reason, I'm grateful. I hope the "Switch Fairy" finds you, too, Peg, and anyone else out there struggling.

Here's the amazement of the year: Today, out of the blue, Dad said he was proud of me, just in general proud of me. I don't remember his ever saying that before except in the context of some "accomplishment" or other where that was the expected response. As Peg would say, I'm processing.

Have a good evening, friends.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Yup! I finally gave up trying to write and did just that, Brenda! I kept falling asleep at the computer! I went in to the living room and took a power nap, and now am back at the rest of the stuff.

You give me real hope that I may be able to find enough things to do that really excite me after I retire this year. DH drew out a possible plan for our trip west on the Boston Globe's weather map tonight. It was exciting to plan for that trip. We will leave in November and be gone until April 2006. Don't worry, I'm taking my laptop. I'll learn how to use it while traveling before we go!

Well, back to the grind.
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

Peg, in spite of some ups and downs, the last few years have been the best of my life. You will find your way, and whole new adventures will open for you. The best part is that you can take them at your own pace and/or you can give yourself permission to say "no." That's a biggie.

Oh, planning that trip sounds wonderful! Thinking about it brings me lots of joy for you. It will be such fun getting your reports--"On The Road With Peg."

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Peg, congrats for figuring out that you didn't need to reinvent the wheel for tomorrow's sermon. I hope the soreness from the fall is minimal. I hate to say it, but Brenda is probably right--- the kids will recall the fall first.

Bren-- I need my switch fairy to drop in. I did some real tracking today, and it was ugly...... 2000 calories and 40 carbs. I know from experience that to lose I need to keep the carbs at about that level and get the calories down to about 1400. Looks like it's time to go back and review some old eating plans. This is one time that I wish I had a full program on my computer, and not just Fitday. I need to go back further than a year to see what I was doing.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Holy Crap!!! DS just sent me his list of people that he wants invited to his rehearsal dinner..... 92 people! I'm thinking we need to wind that down by about 50% --- especially with the restaurants and liqour tab that he is considering. Why don't they just elope?

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

>> 92 people!<< Judy! I'd swoon! I thought it was just the wedding party and the immediate family that attended a rehearsal dinner? Time to start putting out travel brochures for Reno!

I weighed 142 today - considering I was pushing 145 when I started re-induction, that's okay. I went overboard wth the bacon Friday, which didn't knock me out of ketosis, but probably provided enough fat that my body didn't need to burn it's own fat. I am eating rather a lot of the toasted soynuts - I enjoy the fingerfood and crunch, and I've quite gotten used to the taste.

I'm having an off plan meal today, which will slow the progress. Friends invited me to dinner and asked me to bring a dessert specialty they really favor (my linzertorte). I ate quite LC yesterday and plan to be very Spartan for a few days after to quell the cravings again. That's my plan.

Sis and I went to see Finding Neverland with Kate Winslow and Johnny Depp last night. The ladies next to us were eating Red Vines licorice and offered us some. "oh, no... I've got my green beans and soynuts right here... but thanks" . Then, the movie was so engrossing that I didn't eat anything. The audience really liked the movie and clapped at the end - how often do you see that? More surprising - no one got up to leave as the credits started to roll. It wasn't until midway through the credits that folks started getting up to leave. I'm one of those people who tends to stay all the way until the screen goes blank... and there were still almost a dozen people in there with me at the end last night. I'd heard it was a slow movie, but I didn't think so at all - rather, it's a quiet movie. The story comes together with great imagination and attention to detail - very charming, IMO.

Peg, what places are you planning to seeing along the way to SoCal next winter? Will you be driving through the Rockies in winter or are you going along the southern route?

BC, that is so wonderful about your father's spontaneous compliment! It must have been an amazing moment.

Donna, LB, and Ilse - I hope you are all having a terrific weekend!

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Holy Moly, Judy! I'm with TB--I always thought the rehersal dinner was for the wedding party (those in the rehersal, no?)and immed family. Time to get out the old Emily Post and give DS a wake-up call, IMO. The reception is for those invited to the wedding, and anyone else DS wants to provide a party for should be on his own dime. LOL!

Judy, you are a very determined person. I know you'll find the switch and get back in the groove. The tendency to slide is ever so subtle and seductive, and can happen so slowly we don't know where those calories come from......just ask me! But you are aware, and you can do it. In your best teacher voice, you tell that switch fairy to straigten up and fly right--right over to you.

TB, Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors, so I'm looking forward to seeing Neverland, probably when it hits the video market. Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like your induction is going well and everything is under control. Wonderful.

TB, Dad's compliment left me quite shaken. We are so different and have always had such a tentative relationship. Families!

Want to know how to drive your dogs crazy? Work on repairing your doorbell, teehee.

Hope you all are doing well!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Okay, who was it out there that laughed at me when I said spring was coming....come on lets see hands! I have just come in from spending over two hours raking leaves and just generally cleaning up my front yard. It was so exciting to clean up the leaves in the flower beds and see what's already growing. I have lilies, snapdragons, grape hyacinth, lambs ear and all kinds of other things just popping up. Our weather has just been gorgeous. That's the thing about where I live....it can be freezing one day and really hot the next and bamb...spring is here. We got the trees pruned just in time, they were just about ready to blossom. Poor apricot tree looks like a cactus now. Hubby didn't leave any branches. That's okay....it grow like a weed but the apricots are just tiny, can't do anything with them. I only leave the tree for shade and cause my cats like to hide in it. Not too spoiled.

Judy...I'm sure it's only supposed to be the wedding party at the rehersal dinner. We had to pay for my son's when he got married and found it was cheaper to take them to a chinese smorg dinner. We got a back room so they could say their speeches and it was quieter. I think we got off lucky as far as liquor goes cause we all had to leave early to decorate the hall for the wedding the next day. If he wants to invite all his friends, he should pay for them.

I think I've finally figured out why my weight is going up and down all the time. I'm not eating enough veggies. I do have salad every day, but after working all day and then hubby goes out in the evening a lot for meetings, I just make a fast dinner and it's not always a lot of fresh veggies. So, I'm going to fix that. I shopped today ( not my favorite job either), and picked up lots of fresh veggies. Asparagus is going way down in price now so I loaded up on that and I'm going to start freezing it so I have lots for winter. That's one veggie we can't buy frozen in BC and I have no idea why.

BC...it's so nice that your Dad said he was proud of you. I'm sure he thought it lots, just didn't say it. I bet it really made you feel good.

Last night we went to an Elvis impersonator show. Didn't get home until almost 3 a.m. (and yes, I wasn't really walking very straight lol). What a show!! I swear, if you closed your eyes, you would never know it wasn't the real thing. He sang from 8 until almost 1 a.m. Really worth the $15 to see him. The next show that's happening is a Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn impersonators. After that is Buddy Holly...that one I'm sure not going to miss. Our little Legion is really bringing in the entertainment. For a little dinky town, we do pretty good.

Well, better get busy and get the ribs ready for the oven. This day has just flown. Back to work again tomorrow. (wow, can hardly wait) Hope everyone had a good weekend.

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!

I'm glad to know that you guys agree with me. My initial calculations on the number for the rehearsal dinner was max. 50. There are 5 attendants for each and then some random family members. When he sent the list this morning and had 90 people on it and then said that he was sure that we would probably end up with 100 by the time some others were added in, I nearly choked. My fairly conservative guess is that it will be about $50 per person. That's one outrageous dinner. Geez, what happened to small simple weddings. Heck, I bet Peg's cost for going to her DS's wedding in Japan last year wasn't too far away from that price. All this is from the kid that's pinching every penny so that he can buy a house. The cost of this dinner would be a nice contribution toward a down payment. I think you can pretty well bet that the number will be sliced and diced before the final plan is determined.

Tia -- glad to see that spring is making its way to you. We have stuff trying to pop out all over. In the next week or so we will live through our green fog period. The pine trees and the oaks put off so much pollen that everything is completely covered in green dust. The poor people with spring allergies will be miserable.

BC -- Way cool that your dad said something. Accept it and don't spend too much time analyzing it. His old shell may be starting to crack........... he may be realizing that he better make up for the times when he was not so easy to get along with. What is it they say -- be good to your kids, they're the ones that choose your nursing home??

Teel -- It's funny how we seem to run the up and down course in about the same cycles. I was 142 this morning, too. I think the fairy is messing with my switch. If she keeps fooling around, she'll have it back on go pretty soon.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Hi All!

I survived the weekend! Barely! By the time I got home last night I was so full of talking and people that I couldn't put another coherent thought together! (the Introvert in me was taking cover! ) Poor DH. He wanted to know how the day went, how I felt, what I said (the Extrovert in him!:jumpgreen ). All I could say was, "I can't talk now, I'm talked out." But, we had a good talk this morning at bkfst .

THE SWITCH IS DEFINITELY ON! :eyes: I got up with DH this morning to exercise. I've been studying DANDR for a week, and started induction this morning too. We have some veggies in the house, but it runs to lettuces. So, I'm going to Trader Joes today to see what I can get that will tempt me. I have to think about lunches and dinners out this week. I can pack my lunch. I can even pack my dinner if I am really organized. The bad news is that I weighed 185 this morning. Well.....I knew it was going to be bad. But, I'm not discouraged! It will start going down pretty quickly, I think. I'm hoping that I can break that 175 stall that I've had going on for more than a year. I'm heading for DH's reunion in May remember?

Tia: Spring. Sigh. We still have lots of snow on the ground, but there is a feeling of Spring in the air, that's for sure. We will be getting snow twice this week, but it is turning wet and heavy. The temp yesterday went up to 40 and is supposed to be up there today too. We won't see growing things until the last of April if we are lucky. I DO envy you.

TB: You are doing so well! Congratulations. I'm joining you. See ya in "induction." (teehee) We're going to Southern route to SoCa starting in November. I've not seen much of the South. We'll drive stright South to Charleston, and then to New Orleans then North to Dallas, then pretty much West.

Judy: I agree with everyone. No more than the wedding party (and family members you decide on) at the rehearsal dinner. I also wouldn't provide an open bar. Wine at the table. Mixed drinks they can pay for themselves. Also, your DS needs to pay for anyone beyond the wedding party (like friends). Just my opinion.

It is SO wonderful to open this thread and find so many posts! Brenda, so wonderful to read your posts. You are a wise woman. So glad that your Dad is beginning to notice that. I really understand your surprise and your suspicion of it. And, I agree, FAMILIES!!

When we go out for the reunion (SoCa), three of our kids want to visit. We are staying at the beach in a time share. They happen to all be daughters and all want our undisturbed (by each other) attention. As it is turning out, the reunion is going to be a little island of time squeezed between our children. Add to that, the fact the two of the daughters are steps (my steps) and one of them is mine, and it makes it a very interesting dynamic! DH's daughters do not speak to each other (15 years now)....and my daughter would rather not share time with me with anyone including DH! Sheeeeesh! When we have a limited time, it seems overwhelming. Once we are out there (to live for six months) it will be better. Oh, and we have a DS (my step) out there who we haven't heard from yet. Of course there are always the grandkids who haven't been put into the mix yet. Oy!

Well, I'm off to fit 430 home things into limited hours.

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

>>So, I'm going to Trader Joes today to see what I can get that will tempt me.<<

Peg, I particularly like Trader Joes' Sliced Yogurt Cheese. The thing that sets it apart is that it melts so nicely! The slices are quite thin and the melted cheese on top of veggies is like a lovely cheese sauce. I usually nuke some veggie like zucchini or brocolli, then lay 1 or 2 slices of the cheese over it and nuke again for 15 seconds to melt the cheese. They sell their yogurt cheese in bricks, too, but the slices are so handy!

Donna, that is so sweet of you to keep the apricot tree for your cat! My friend has an old apricot tree that also produces small fruits with brown marks. She makes a killer chutney with the fruit. I wonder if apricots are too high carb to make a good LC chutney even if processed with alternative sweetners?

It's definitely spring here - the fruit trees are finishing the blossom season, and most things are just beginning to leaf out. I had my first California poppy blossom this week, which is ~way~ early. The freesias are blooming freely and the grape hyacynth is really getting going. Our annual rainfall is about 170 percent of normal, but we've had brilliantly sunny days in between storms, so everything should grow like gang busters this year.

Judy, it is curious that we tend to drift in the same weight control track - though you are usually a pound or two lower that I am. I wonder if we share a common ancestor? If so, I wish I'd inherited the "busy" gene, too!

I kept the non-LC eating at my friend's to a minimum last night. But, she used breadcrumbs on the fish, insisted I try her butternut squash (I had about a TBS), and I ate just a sliver of the linzertorte. Still think it probably knocked me out of ketosis, so I'm gonna try to push water and eat lots of raw veggies today.

:butterfly LOL, BC! The Switch Fairy! She seems to be flitting around quite a bit!
Let's all give her a big ol' round of applause! Clap if you believe in fairies! <- notice the sneaky reference to Finding Neverland? :silly:

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Ok Teel, I was down to 141 this morning.......... Let's keep moving. I want to see that 135, too.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Hi everyone! It's been a week since I joined the group and I'm excited to report a 2 pound loss! I have made up my mind that I will only weigh once a week. Otherwise the ups and downs are just too discouraging. My eating wasn't squeaky clean but overall passable. I have been tracking everything on fitday and it really helps. Otherwise I think I really "underestimate" the number of carbs that I have eaten.

The past two days were beautiful here but this morning we woke up to the cold weather again. I will sure be glad when springtime hits Indiana! My DH and I are going to the NASCAR race in Bristol the first weekend in April. I sure hope the weather is nice there!

Everyone keep up the good work and press on! We MUST succeed!

248/200/160

__________________
ladybug24
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on ..." Phil 3:12

I have no idea what is happening here, but this morning I was up to 154. I haven't been that high in a year, and I'm not eating off plan. I'm wondering if it's muscle gain seeing as I've been outside raking and working in the yard and also doing more walking. Pretty scary to see the scale inching upwards every day and knowing you aren't cheating. I'll have to watch it pretty carefully this week.
I'm almost finished my poncho. Did all the fringe last night and now I have to figure out how to add a few rows around the neck so it doesn't fall off my grandaughters shoulders. She's so tiny for 5. I thought I might just crochet a long piece and then I could sew it on as a kind of collar. We'll see how it works.
I'm wondering what's up with my son. He has called me every day this week after giving me a talking to that I didn't call him enough. Let's see...he works graveyard and there are 3 little kids in the house that need his attention all day while his wife works. I really didn't think he needed me bothering him too unless it was an emergency. Things got pretty cold between us. I try my darndest not to be an "interfering mother in law", but sometimes it's just so hard not to say something. My daughter in law can really get on my nerves. She's just not the mothering kind and it hurts to see the kids ignored. She was burned very badly when she was little and since then her parents spoiled her terribly. So, she's used to getting her own way and having lots of attention. I refuse to give in to her...she gets treated the same as everyone else. She had three babies when she wasn't supposed to have any because her skin won't stretch. They had to be born premature and were all just 4 pounds. They all have colds constantly and breathing problems because they were preemies. Now that she's not having any more babies she is gaining weight like crazy. She's bigger than she was when she was pregnant...so why couldn't she carry to full term and have healthy babies? See how frustrated I get? I don't dare say anything or I won't get to see my grandkids. They only live across the street from her parents, so they get to see them all the time. Anyway, my son has been calling me every day just for little things, so I'm wondering if he got my message the last time he called and I told him it would be nice to hear from him more often. We'll see. We never stop worrying about our kids no matter how old they get do we?

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Boy, if's that not an understatement, I never heard one!

True confession time............ I went to my local HFS/LC headquarters yesterday. They had several boxes of Atkins Endulge bars on sale for $ .25 each. So, even if I had never eaten one, I bought eight...... Last night I opened one of them up and ate a little portion. It was just too good. Today I went back and got 10 more. That's 18 bars for less than $5.00. I left the one that was open out, and put the rest in the freezer. That's way way cheeper than the Russel Stover stuff that I buy to keep the chocolate monster at bay.

Ok, I've told my dirty little secret.................. :crying:

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!