I realized after reading Gains comment that I was being completely unfair to myself in making comparisons of my life to a television show. Talk about impossible standards for oneself! And I realized that I *DO* have passions in life that bring me joy. They are not all-consuming of my time, which is fine for now. Little slices of joy.
At my first real, full-time job, I worked with a much older man (in his 50s to my 22 yrs old) who was kind of who we all aspired to be, because his life seemed so different - although I'm not sure any of us really knew what his life was like, as he was an intensely private person. He spoke & read 3 or 4 languages fluently, unmarried, and baked as one of his hobbies. Often he would bring in one of his masterpiece desserts that he made over the weekend. I gained 30 pounds at this job, and lost 25 of it by the time I left.
I don't think anything food related would be a good passion for me because of the issues I have with food. So I'll just enjoy the fruits of others' passion in cooking and baking -- maybe 
since I'm sticking with the low-carb eating - because if I want to keep the weight off, that's what I have to do like 95% of the time, really. That's my reality.
I took a little break.
Monday was insane. I have 2 co-workers dealing with their own crap at work that was causing me to be very anxious and aggitated just listening to them. One lady was dealing with a lost cell phone for a whole day. The other associate attorney would NOT stop TALKING about a problem on a file. STOP TALKING AND DO SOMETHING. All the talking isn't going to get anything done. That was Monday. I was a wreck by the end of the day.
Tuesday was awful. I was dealing with some physical problems that put me 10 steps behind the whole day.
Today was somewhat bearable. Everyone trying to finish up things before next week when the holiday is causing people to make mistakes. So instead of getting 1 final, corrrect, approved statement, I'm getting 3 or 4 statements, each one having to be corrected and sent back for approval, and then they're still wrong, so they have to be corrected and sent back for approval, and then they're still wrong... That was essentially my day in a nutshell.
The only thing I have to look forward to these days is coming home and watching Great British Baking Show and riding my bike after dinner. That show has me totally rethinking my low carb approach. I don't know if results are worth it. Oh how I wish I had a passion in life like these contestants....
Progress as of today: 56 lbs lost so far, only -6 lbs to go!
If you followed me around for a week and video taped it all, you would have plenty of footage to fill 1/2 hour of TV.
Depending on the clips chosen, I could be portrayed as having the best life ever (dirt biking in the pristine mountains / woods, kayaking, camping with the family, playing recreational softball, etc).
Or I could be portrayed as having the most boring life ever (working extended hours several days per week just sitting in front of the computer, chugging energy drinks and stuffing donuts in my face just to make the work bearable, driving for hours on end for work appointments, struggling with weight issues for decades).
Lately i find exercise easier after a full meal and after i have digested somewhat...it seems my bike/jog is done better that way rather than coming back for a big meal afterwards.
Soon the weekend will be here...soon we'll all have Wednesday off :)
You know, it didn't even really hit me that we have Wednesday off until I read your comment. I don't know that it's still hit me yet... I'll probably show up at work by mistake!
Yesterday went pretty well. Had chocolate chips after dinner, but I do get to relax on Saturdays. I was sorely tempted to have ice cream with those chips - or instead of those chips - but then I figured the chips would be enough. They weren't though, and I ended up having a cup of decaf coffee with the chocolate creamer.
So far, so good today, I think. I've been busy this morning, but now it's time for me to go out to do the yard work that I set for myself... and I'd rather not. It's breaking up or chopping up twigs and branches. Bleah. Mosquitos are starting to get pretty bad, so I might start up the fire pit, to burn what I chop up and then the rest of it can go out by the curbside for city pick-up.
I plan on writing more today, but I'd better get started on the project, as I've run out of excuses... er, chores, to do before starting. And then, of course, I had to have lunch first, right? ;-)
AFTERNOON EDIT: Mission accomplished - and then some! - with my backyard yardwork. I couldn't get the fire pit started, so I ended up chopping up huge branches that have fallen during storms, some from this year, some from even last year! This was very hard work, to take an axe and chop these **'s up into logs (seriously) that yardwaste pick-up will accept.
The stupid town I live in has a million and one rules & ordinances to follow. Apparently, they don't pick up branches. You have to trim them, and bundle them with special twine, and the bundles must be only so thick and so heavy. Well, screw that and screw them. I chopped up these branches into log sizes that will fit in my "yard waste" can. So every week, my yardwaste can is going to the curb until I'm out of logs.
Do I sound PO'ed? I am a little. I have to watch myself when I do these sorts of chores because I become very resentful that my husband can't do this **** any more. I suppose my son could have done it, and he would have, had I asked, but I wanted it done my way (so that the logs will fit in the can)-- PLUS I don't know that it is fair to ask anyone to do a chore that I want/need done - especially one that leaves huge blisters on one's hands.
So I took out all of my grief, sadness, anger, frustration, resentfulness -- negative feelings & thoughts - you name it! -- out on those branches. I feel a lot better now, and I got something accomplished. I did not intend to do all of the branches, but here we are -- and this is a good thing.
Now I'm sore and hungry -- even though I had a snack. Dinner can't come soon enough for me!
EVENING EDIT: In honor of all the hamburger talk on diet entries today, for dinner, I had a hamburger! My husband grilled out and I had a hard time choosing between a hamburger or a fat hot dog -- because to be honest with you, I wanted both -- but then I thought of my fellow DD'ers having burgers lately, so that's what I went with. It was a good choice!
Progress as of today: 56 lbs lost so far, only -6 lbs to go!
Your great idea of coffee as a dessert is classic – love it! Yesterday I had a big serving of ice cream – wasn’t even hungry…lead to bad eating the rest of the night – should have went outside and taken a walk but chose to take it easy…perhaps taking it easy is not the worst thing in the world on a Sunday night…tho easy to me is seriously easy since I have no kids to take care of, no dogs to walk, nothing much to clean…easy to me is VERY easy !
Wow you certainly did some hard manual labor yesterday! Good stuff I tell ya! I sorta wish I was down by you doing some chopping alongside ya! I actually think that your son should help you, J donk! I think you are hurting yourself making yourself do it on your own when you can get a second hand of help alongside you….it only makes sense….also it’ll get done faster. Why don’t you buy work gloves to prevent blisters! They sell special heavy duty types…
Lately, I’m SOOOOOO enjoying the taste of beef burgers…!!!!!!!! I had these small ones, just around 1.5” or so….perfect size in place of an egg (slightly more cals though) so I don’t have to waste all the burgers I made…I even eat them in a wrap for breakfast over the weekend. Very satisfying taste. It was a good brand of beef.
I could just tell that today was going to be a higher number - and no amount of visualization was going to help. Just feeling more bloated - probably hormonal related and then the extra food yesterday. I'm not freaking out about this. Again, all part of maintenance.
I just finished up a challenge on Facebook - through my FB friend who sells Advocare products. I lost 3 pounds over Spring - yay! (Had Summer come a week sooner, it would have been more, LOL...) I know that I have said that I'm really maintaining -- and this is true -- but I would like to have my set-point maintenance number -- AND the maintenance range (i.e. +/- 2pounds) remain solely in the 120s. Wanna kiss those 130s good-bye.
This weekend promises to have beautiful weather -- hang in there, Bear, it's coming your way soon! Today is starting out just lovely, so I'm about to leave for a walk and contemplate my strategy for handling Fridays so that I have, hopefully, more successful weigh-ins on Saturdays. I'm actually thinking about incorporating Maria's strategy of a fudgcicle or yogurt pop, perhaps. But Happy had a very good suggestion of some kind of non-food reward to look forward to on Fridays to keep me on track. This shall be a topic for future discussion & research.
Progress as of today: 56 lbs lost so far, only -6 lbs to go!
I think your goal to lose is good. it's so much easier to maintain a lower weight in this season with more walking and better weather for outdoor activity. you can def pull it off.
i also like happy's idea for non food rewards...another good idea for myself, too.
Logging in from work on my phone because I am SO hungry... just trying to keep myself from going off the deep end. I'm not so sure if it's true hunger or just work anxiety... Difficult day.
EVENING EDIT: It was kind of an eating day today. I split my lunch into 2 smaller meals so that I had half for lunch - after my walk - and then the other half for afternoon snack -- tea hour at around 3:30p if you will. The snack was all vegetables. The lunch was vegetables and a sausage.
It would have been better if I had been able to limit myself to just 1 lunch (LOL), but I thought that dinner was going to be breakfast, which never seems to hold me, so I thought having more vegetables would be fine. Turns out I had broiled bbq chicken and salad.
So I'm not really sure how weigh-in will go tomorrow... probably not too well, LOL. The problem with a Saturday morning weigh-in is that it is REALLY HARD to hold out on Fridays. Usually by Friday, I'm done low-carbing, I'm done limiting. I want to come home and eat and have a sweet. But that's what Saturday's are for.
And I think it wise to keep my weigh day as it is, to keep me from going off the deep end at work with food on Friday, e.g. title company goodies, etc.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
Instead I had raw vegetables w/ranch dressing. Ran out of ranch dressing before I ate all of the vegetables, so then I drank water. Finished the raw veggies in the afternoon :-)
So I love it when the attorney isn't in the office because it's quieter, but I hate it because the letters don't get written.
I could try to write drafts for him (or even for myself, just to feel better that there's a letter in the file), but I'm not sure that's the correct thing to do.
At least I now know it's not just me. Thank you for the words of encouragement. Hang in there!
I love Fridays, but it brings unique challenges both at work and home. Believe it or not, Fridays are usually the most stressful days at work -- next to Mondays -- because of everyone (including myself) trying to get things sent out or tied up before the weekend.
So I need a 2-pronged method of attack: at work and at home.
I shall contemplate that this weekend.
Today -- I did better! I did not give up on myself this week, but made a conscious effort to do better at dinner, and I'm happy to say that I did it. I had a can of lime seltzer water, poured into a glass with ice, and then some lime wedges. I drank throughout dinner. I finished dinner and wanted chocolate chips, but I still had some water to finish, so instead, I finished my water, and now -- skipping the chips -- I'm enjoying a cup of decaf coffee with creamer.
For the first day of summer, it was cold, wet, and windy. I needed a fleece jacket outside. It is raining again, and my husband is in the basement where the exercise bikes are, so no added workout tonight. I'm OK with that, as I have already reached my step goal (thank you, Fitbit!) -- so even if my numbers are a little lower today, that's OK. Sometimes life happens.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
for the muscle cramps...i'm going to try weekly soaks in my tub with Epsom salts...i fully recommend it to you...20 min they say.
i think mine wouldn't even start at 10000...i don't have a fitbit yet.
First -- not in the best of moods tonight so bear with me...
Woke up this morning and my upper lip was very swollen, even though I took steps last night to drain and draw out the blister that had formed. Right now, the swelling isn't as bad as it was this morning. But I'm definitely fighting something --- I think this might be related to hormones. I should know in the next few days.
My daughter left for Denver (to meet up with the boyfriend) Monday, but tonight she has left for Switzerland via Iceland. So she's on her way to Iceland for a one-hour layover and then off to Switzerland. I have to say, it would be so nice to be away from everything right now, but that wouldn't fix what's broken here.
Felt a little out of control at dinner, which was just sandwiches, but I also finished up the grilled eggplant from Sunday and then ate ALL of the green beans. I also felt myself gulping down my food -- that is, swallowing just a little too soon before I should have. The whole point of the drinking-water-during-dinner challenge is to get me to slow down, not have seconds, and prolong the dinner hour. Tonight it didn't work.
So like I said last night, Tomorrow I will do better.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
FEEL BETTER. seems things are going around.
I thought I would have more time to write this morning, but then saw a bill that has to get paid ASAP, so that took up about half of the time I had to write. Then, of course, I had to comment on entries :-)
Pretty much doing the same thing, although last night, instead of having chocolate chips, I ran the new exercise bike (the one with real resistance) for about 30 minutes. I have a series on Netflix to watch now as an incentive to exercise in the evening.... although I'm not sure that watching Great British Baking Show is the best thing for someone limiting her carbs and sweets, LOL...
EVENING EDIT: Pork chop dinner is sitting a little heavy with me this evening, so I think I will opt for a walk rather than riding my bike and watching the British Baking Show (GBBS).
I had seltzer water with dinner -- what I like about that is that it's 12 ounces whether I drink it during dinner (which is the goal) or after. Hmm... Come to think of it, that's not really productive because then I don't drink as much during dinner to fill me up -- which was the intention of the challenge to begin with. OK, I'll do better tomorrow.
In fact, it is rather a fail, because I had small seconds on the green salad (which isn't too bad except that there's salad dressing and some croutons. Oof!).
I think my immune system is fighting something off. My lip is tingly -- cold sore? Ugh, I hope not... And now, my throat is feeling kind of tingly, but not enough to be called sore. So I may be fighting a bug or this may be hormonal-related. Hoping for the best!
OK, now off for my walk!
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
we sure like your comments :) thank you :)
i'm thinking to get a fitbit to count steps :)...new coworker in my room is having a good affect on me!!!
well, you like to bake, so i'm sure you aquire a LOT of good ideas :) watch what you like :)
Kind of like that movie "Julie/Julia" where the lady blogs about making every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook.
MY problem is that I would eat everything I made. One of the judges is this teeny, tiny lady -- and she's older so it's not like she has a superduper metabolism either. *sigh*
Maybe I shouldn't ask this...but you know me....I'm asking anyway...LOL...Have you tried the cake in a cup mixes?...There are also recipes online to do cake in a cup from scratch and from small amounts of boxed mixes...….life may just be too short to not have cake.....I'v e also seen some healthy recipes on the dr oz show.
i think these folks are sooooo immersed in what they do, that eating MIGHT come secondary to them...not sure...
Happy Father's Day to Gains -- if/when he checks in, and to any other male members that I'm not acquainted with yet.
This is the first Father's Day where I didn't have to mail out cards... My step-father died this year, and my father-in-law died last year. Grandpa (my mother's father) has been gone for about 10+ years...
Impossibly HOT and HUMID today in Chicagoland... I went out at 6am and it was already muggy, but not hot. The AC had kicked on before 9am, and when I went outside at around 11am, it was already brutal --- and it's going to get hotter!
My husband, God bless him, cooked on the grill for our main meal today. Daughter has to work 3p-10p, so we celebrated together early. Husband and I might go out later, but I'm so full right now, I can't even think about that.
So not much doing today, trying to keep all electricity usage down to a minimum. (I'm working off of my laptop's battery right now. I will charge it tonight when the rates are lower.) I do have a few errands to run, but then that's it.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
Here in NYC it's hot too! I'm glad to have went to the beach on the cooler day, actually, and not have gotten soaked with sweat today haha.
nice you all celebrated together early, i should really call my dad, maybe briefly tonight.
i'm glad you will have more time with you hubby today. and you are smart to watch your electrical usuage! my bill does not change ever as it's included with the rental fee, but otherwise i'd be in your boat and i'm sure watching things more carefully. when i keep my blinds closed, the temps usually stay so comfortable that i do not need the AC for the summer...just once in awhile, not 24/7 at all. right now it's off :) it doesn't even reach 80 in my apt with the blinds mostly closed.
I had anticipated a higher weigh-in and I was right. Something about very hot/humid weather brings out weight gain. Probably water retention... might be some bathroom issues going on too. Still within maintenance range and techically in a number range that I like to be in.
I decided to start the amino acid experiment today. We'll where I am in 90 days.
Today I had legal clinic in the morning. It's funny - clinic is the only time that we see each other, and yet, we've become very good friends.
This afternoon, I spent trying to repot my sister's avocado tree -- I've become its guardian now -- which also had a small oak tree growing in the same pot. NOT AS EASY AS I HAD THOUGHT OR HOPED IT WOULD BE. Very hard on my back. I can tell that I'm going to have problems later on, which is why I'm glad I did it today -- so that I have all day tomorrow to rest my back. We'll see how it goes. It was a traumatic experience for both trees.
EVENING EDIT: THE LEFTOVER GRADUATION CAKE IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
Legal clinic? the only time you see who? i can understand becoming good friends with people you see in moderation - just enough but not too much that it's so everyday that it wears on you....it sure wears on me to be in the same office as everyone day in and day out...i love my space :)
I wish the trees a good recovery from the replanting....and moreover i wish your back some rest :) i guess you mean it'll get rest bc you'll be sitting at work tomorrow?
that's so cool you have an avocado tree...you just reminded me that's one of the things i wanted to buy today at the supermarket...but perhaps i'll just eat saag in my wrap instead tomorrow morning and buy avocados after work haha. i welcome some oil to my wraps...whether it be avocado, butter, saag which is that indian spinach blend more like a paste or creamed spinach tho the one i bought recently i like better bc it seems it may only be oil in the stewed? spinach. ...otherwise, it's such a boring wrap just low carbs and protein and not satisfying to eat.
who ate the rest of the cake?
keep on with your maintenance, mine is going well but lately i know i have to watch it as i'm a bit over my maintenance number now.
i'm not sure what my mom says to her friend/friends of the family either, bc they sure act like they're totally uninterested in me as well....for that upcoming wedding, i plan to drive myself, stay a short period, leave early. i realize that these people are who they are, and there's just NO POINT anymore to even try with them.
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Have you ever considered delving into low carb baking!? Do you like stevia / other natural sweeteners like erythritol and swerve? on sites (more like apps) like Pinterest, you can see there's completely delicious desserts that are low carb (but still have calories) ! i'm just saying it's something different for you to delve into but i doubt it would help with weight loss !!!! since food is food.
lol you can compare life to tv shows...i get sad when you think what you say doesn't seem to matter! what i mean is, you are allowed your views and standards for what you want in life. the man that was single - he had a lot, but he didn't have family to take care of!
He was private which i can relate to so much - and by being private he had more time to himself to delve into his own passions...i'm guessing he was less social????? also, perhaps he had a photographic memory or good memory for language? perhaps he grew up already knowing 2 lanuguages!? that's so interesting & useful to be fluent in so many languages! were they similar like english/spanish/italian/french? or drastically different ones???
When you are a more private person, it's def possible to have more time to delve into your own passions. This is a reminder to me: if i want to run, i best keep scheduling it at times instead of being social! lol.
if you want to - you can experiment like i said earlier with low carb recipes especially for treats. see if you like a chocolate low carb cake. i want to invite you to a group that i'm in on facebook ....it's also for fasting, but i don't do that...i just like what my friend posts in terms of food and desserts that are "LCHF" low carb high fat. she's an inspiration to me - like that man you spoke of she's VERY creative and passionate. very much more than myself. she inspires me. she's also pretty big on exercise.
i agree that if you like to eat your desserts, it's prob not the best for weightloss. you can def maybe delve into something a little new, for new knowledge. you can probably bake the same exact items as you do now, and switch out the sugar for the equivalent in swerve or another ingredient that is lower calories. if i were you, it's something i'd do right away - to not by sugar anymore and use a "healthy" substitute that doesn't cause gas or bloating! stevia doens't bloat. i don't think swerve or erythritol do either. but def research that.
these are only suggestions :-P
but perhaps you can "improve" your dessert recipes to make them better...better for your lifestyle?! and when you bake a cake for a family celebration, try the new version....i hope it turns out right the first time , lol!!! you never know with first attempts!
but back to your first sentence above: we all make comparisons and relate each others' entries and experiences to things...don't feel bad with your standards. having standards, on your part, is a good thing. you inspire me..to do better.
in terms of standards, i am wanting to improve my own - basically my ideals about cardio. and to make it more regular. my class ended this week. so i have once again an extra free night during the weekdays. but next week, that night is used on the 4th...and i agree it's awesome to have that day off :) and i'll use it like a vacation...and not worry about my "cardio standards" till next week is over :-) like you said - passions and joy are so important, though being obsessive can hurt us in the long run.
btw, you have lots of passions! fitness is huge. you bake. don't you crochet?? sewing?? you read! ... and i thought you garden??? and i know i didn't list everything. oh, you are passionate in helping others...then the church! volunteering! you do a lot.
I'm trying to remember my former co-worker. I know he was fluent in English (of course), French, and German, but I believe there was one more language that he was at least fluent enough to apply to translating legal texts (for the university law library - which cannot be an easy thing to do). I want to say it was Russian.
Thank you for the LCHF invite on FB! Somehow I ended up "joining" -- I can see why you like this page. I'm going to continue to follow this.
I haven't given much thought to getting seriously involved in LCHF or low carb cooking, since I have other family members' diets to consider at this time. However, there are a couple of things that I'd like to try to incorporate or try or master: spicy firm tofu and black bean brownies -- although the low-carb brownies posted on the FB page sound like they'd be more in line with what I'm trying to accomplish. (Beans have a LOT of carbs.)
I don't know that I really enjoy cooking. Frankly, because I work and my husband doesn't, I've gotten quite lazy in meal preparing because he does it. My husband enjoys cooking for the most part. Right now, I do not share that enthusiasm. However, at some point, I could see the possibility for me to develop this as an interest/hobby/passion. :-)
horn_of_plenty on 06/29/2018:
OMG - an 8hr plank! holy crap. he cannot also work....!
I think he's one of those "early retirement" dudes. The news story said he's 60. Dang, he's in good shape. But IDK about the amount of time that he devotes to this endeavor. I refer back to Gains' realtor friend (& and realtor's wife) who spends so much time at the gym.... That's a serious chunk of one's life!
horn_of_plenty on 06/29/2018:
lol - Do NOT go to work this coming Wednesday!
LOL - right?