Catching up again

[Guest guest]

Between computer woes (USB card installation gone bad) and bouncing email addresses (3 of the 5 I use on groups) I'm almost 2 weeks behind in reading emails again.

Welcome to all the new members. I hope you find some info that can help you on your journey to better health, and loads of friends who can share in your miseries as well as cheer on your victories over the scale.

As for myself, well, Thanksgiving and then holiday treats Ed would bring home from work derailed all my good intentions for little while there, and a few pounds found their way back on my expansive derriere, but as of this morning I lost all but 2 of them again. At least Ed has promised not to bring any more goodies home, no matter WHO made them, and the only snacks around here that I have access to are healthy ones - sugar free, whole wheat banana bread, oil-free hummus and whole grain crackers, plenty of fruit, and a variety of decaf teas.

One good thing that happened was that I stuck to my dinner menus, no matter how badly I did during the day or after dinner. It really helps to make those out and shop for them ahead of time so there's no excuse to go off-plan for at least the main meal of the day. Right now mine are made out through mid-January and shopped for through Jan 7th. Yeah, I've got a touch of OCD.

Exercise has been a thorn in my side. Well, a pain in my toe and hip, at least. The in-grown toenail had been snipped by the foot doc and now grown out a bit, but my asthma was acting up again (Still is, actually). Any excuse not to sweat, right? But Sunday it was back to the grind again, first with a 1-mile video and yesterday ' Broadway Blast-Off. Today I let my hip take a rest and just did a few miles on the exercycle and some yoga. When I see the doc in January to discuss my thyroid dosage I better talk to him about this sciatica and hip arthritis again. Every time I'm off exercise for a week or more, when I return the hip hurts worse than ever. I know Jane Fonda made the phrase "Feel the burn" popular, but I think even Jane would think twice if she had to work through this burning pain!

Getting all my water in has also been a problem. Ed's been taking extra vacation days the past few weeks (and will continue to do so until the end of the year), because if he doesn't use them he looses them. When he's off, we start out early and don't get home until late. With no clean or safe public restrooms around here I not only don't take my water pill but also drink the bare minimum until we're in for the day. On top of that we've been eating some salty foods, so some mornings my fingers and toes looked like little sausages, they get so bloated! That accounts for some of the weight gain too, I'm sure. He's off again the next 2 days, so I know I won't be caught up with emails before vanishing again.

So, of the few messages I *did* peek at already, let me offer my condolences to , for not getting through the last round of interviews; offer congratulations to Amy for hitting the 230's, a number I haven't seen in almost 25 years myself; and , I'm not only saying my prayers but crossing my fingers & toes that the testing goes well for you. The rest of you I'll catch up with as soon as I can.

Keep the faith, drink your water, stay on your food plans - and make your holiday plans NOW, keep sweatin', keep journalling, and keep coming back!

Sue in NJ"Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice." ~Dave Barry