For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Good morning to you.
It is SNOWING here as I key...I am looking out the window from time to time at it coming down...so BEAUTIFUL...we have got a white cover on the ground. I got an early call from a friend that church was canceled this morning. I'm still not feeling well, so will rest more today. Still taking meds.
Got on the scale this morning and am still at 141.8, same as yesterday's morning, so I maintained yesterday, Christmas Day, to today. Yesterday, it was all about 'mindful indulgences'. I did allow myself (had to 'tell myself it was okay') to have some candy out of the box of Russell Stover pecan delight candy Hubby gave me for Christmas but 'only just so much', and kept that within allowed calories for the day, which total calories ended up being an estimated 1500 calories for the day. Then last nite I felt hungry but didn't give in.
This morning's breakfast is 'baked' cinnamon apple pieces (cooked in the microwave a few minutes) and coffee. I've been having fruit with coffee for breakfast over the past few days instead of the usual turkey sausage and grits with coffee.
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Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
Progress as of today: 63.2 lbs lost so far, only 1.8 lbs to go!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hubby and I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS from our house to yours!
Sitting by the fireside this morning and it is chilly outside. We are under a WINTER STORMWATCH for SNOW!!!!! 
1-3 inches tonite and 3-5 tomorrow on Sunday!!! YAYYYYY!!! Unusual for this time of year...usually we 'might' get a little light snow in February or either ice during that month.
My weigh-in this morning shows I'm down EVEN MORE...141.8 now. (Down almost 4 in a week!) Only 1.8 away from GOALWEIGHT! YAYYYYYYYY!!!
We're not expecting any company today although yesterday afternoon, a couple from a church we visited off/on for about a year while we were away from our church that we went back to last month came over and visited a while with us. The Hubby used to work with my Hubby.
As for me, I'm still doing about the same as I was yesterday. Needing to wash my hair but thinking twice about it. Don't want to get worse. Getting ready to soon take my meds. Hope you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas Day! Love ya!
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Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
It is sunny and chilly here this morning. Hubby is at work today. I surprised him yesterday when he came home...While he was at work, I cooked him his fav...in a large roasting pan I cooked baked ham with 'ham-rice' cooked in with it for him. He was SO HAPPY over it. I told him it was ALL HIS. (I don't eat pork.) He decided he wanted to take 2 plates to elderly sick neighbor-friends and so we loaded the plates up and off he went to their home. They are a husband-wife couple and the husband had mentioned to me yesterday morning over the phone that he'd like some ham, which I told Hubby. Hubby is feeling better. As for me, I'm still not feeling too well. Done took my meds this morning... maybe that will help.
My weigh-in this morning shows I'm down EVEN MORE...142.0 now. Only 2 pounds away from GOALWEIGHT! YAYYYYYYYY!!! Clothes are fitting LOOSE.
Hope you're feeling well.
Evening Update: Family/friends call early today to say they are coming over at a certain time, so you, not feeling well and they know it, prepare for their arrival by cooking supper for them when you are definitely not up to it. Exhausted, you wait. One calls...'going to be late but still coming'. The other ones don't show up or call. Exhausted and having cleaned and cooked while definitely not up to it, and keeping on looking out the window for their vechicle arrival, you get another call...'going to be even later but still coming'...it's nitetime and you're so tired and weak and not feeling well, you're MAD! Hubby, who helped me cook and clean tries to calm me...all I want is to go to BED!!!! 
Finally, after hours of this, and Hubby and I agreeing that instead of their coming over here, we'll bring their gifts over to their home after they call and say it is convenient after their family who called them and said they wanted to visit them tonite and they said yes, leaves, I've changed clothes and have on my PJ's as I key! I don't think that I should get out in the dark and the cold, hoarse, weak, exhausted, and ANGRY! Errrrr! PS...did I say I'm VERY TIRED????? 
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Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
I'm trying to stay cheerful while getting over this sinusitis. My plan, which I had to cancel was to invite a group of friends over here for a Christmas party (re: the picture above). I stayed on the sofa most of yesterday in front of the fireplace with the fire going, in pain, coughing, and having lots and lots of sweats and cold chills...I was not even able to go to midweek church service last nite and play the piano, which I LOVE to do and it was the last opportunity to play Christmas Carols in church before Christmas this year...
I thank those of you who have left me a message to help me feel in touch and better.
Anyway, I got on the scale this morning and it read '143.0'. 
Only 3 pounds from goalweight. It's not from not eating enough yesterday, which I think I had about 1800 cals. I am having a mug of coffee this morning as I key to you. Maybe I should have taken Mom's Christmas present (an 11-diamond ring) to her early at the nursing home, as I suggested to Hubby before I started having a lot of symptoms with this, cause I sure don't want her to chance getting it. He told me no, to wait til Christmas Day or she'd feel like she didn't get anything on Christmas Day. Soooo...I've got to start getting better!
'This, too, shall pass'....
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Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
It is cloudy and chilly here this morning. Hubby has gone to work. He is slowly feeling better. As for me, I'm not feeling too good at all. Done took my meds, (antibiotic, probiotic, sinus symptoms reliever) maybe that will help. After he left for work, I got on the sofa nearby the fireplace that had a fire going in it and fell back asleep for a little while.
My weigh-in this morning shows I'm down a little...144.4 now. I was SO HUNGRY last nite. I almost gave in to a food binge. I kept trying to get it off my mind. I was wanting to get into some sweets my friend gave me for my Christmas present from her. She gave me a lot of sweets for Christmas. I already got into a small bar of fruitcake she gave me over the past few days, but counted it with my calories each day and did my best to 'ration' it. I'm okay with 144.4 today. My goal has been to stay under 147.0 during the holiday season. Christmas is coming up very soon. We always take our tree down early (usually Christmas nite). I am to cook Christmas dinner Friday, Christmas Eve. Daughter will probably come over Christmas Eve nite and open her gifts, as she and I always have (we don't wait til Christmas Day). With Hubby and me being under the weather, I don't expect any company on Christmas Day as our friends know he's been very sick. But, then again, he is getting better, so...perhaps...??? I feel so bad right now that I don't even care at all for company coming over. When you're in pain, you don't feel up to entertaining. I'll do good to get the cooking the meal done. Also, I plan on visiting Mom on Christmas Day, Lord willing and take her gift to her, if not before. Hubby keeps telling me to wait til Christmas Day to give it to her. If I do, I'll take her a plate of Christmas dinner, too.
Hope you're feeling well.
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Hope you're having a nice day!
Love, Maria
Actually Esselstyn and McDougall don't allow any meat or dairy whatsoever, so the chicken would be out--period--so no chicken fat. Also no oils, even the highly touted/marketed "healthy fat" olive oil.
It's a pretty strict way of eating. No animal products at all. No avocados or nuts, though a small amt of nuts is okay if you have no known heart disease. I'll put up an explanation on "ModerationKills" that explains how one gets over the no fat thing. Mind you I'm not in the throes of this plan as yet, so I'm not speaking from personal experience--yet:-)
Have a good one!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
Hubby is slowly getting better. So am I. We're both still taking antibiotics.
I've been having a mug of coffee tonite.
The Christmas shopping is done. Gifts have been bagged/wrapped and some have been given. I visited Mom this afternoon, who had been in bed all day, refusing to get up but she had just finished putting makeup on and looked really pretty. I stayed with her a good long while. She told me my Sister, her Hubby, Sister's Daughter (Mom's Granddaughter) and Sister's Granddaughter (Mom's only Great-Gran) visited her this morning and brought her Christmas gifts and Mom gave them theirs (that I'd shopped for and Mom and I had bagged the gifts together). Mom appeared happy. Said her Great Granddaughter was especially pleased with her gift (a musical, light-up butterfly that plays a song when the butterfly is pressed and plays 18 different tunes) and wouldn't let anyone hold it but herself, hehehe~! I was happy about this cause I picked it out!
On the dietfront, I'm having to be especially careful cause well-meaning friends are giving me SWEETS for Christmas gifts. I keep reminding myself that it is NOT WORTH THE TASTE for a few minutes of enjoying those sweets to let go where I'm at sizewise, wearing size 8's, which I've done before in the past and fluffed back up....not again! Moderation!
Hope you're having a blessed day!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
It is a beautiful, sunny Sunday here in S.C.
Just got back a little while ago from church and visiting Mom (who was doing well). Took her bananas and sat with her a while in the dining room where she and her friends were having their lunch.
Christmas Cantata (a program of Bible scriptures and Christmas songs describing the Christmas story of Jesus' Birth) was this morning. It was beautiful and I thank the Lord for helping us!
Hubby, who is still sick, stayed home and rested. I fixed him some chicken noodle soup after I came in.
Weighed this morning 144.6. Getting back to the 144.0 I recently was at.
Well, off to read some entries here before I have to get ready for tonite's evening church service in which the children will be having their Christmas program.
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Hope you're having a blessed Sunday!
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
It is a chilly morning here in S.C...30's...and RAINING...which I love! It gives me a good excuse to stay inside where it is warm and not feel like I absolutely 'HAVE' to run, run, run! However...there are '2' things on the agenda for today...one is go back to a store I shopped at yesterday here in town and get some more earrings...I bought a pair yesterday but when I took them out of the pack last nite to try them on, I lost a piece to them and didn't find it, so I will be going mainly to get another pair to replace that particular piece. (My ears have never been pierced, so they are not pierced earrings.) Second thing is I think I'll surprise Mom and get her a little something to cheer her up since she was so disappointed I didn't surprise her yesterday with a little shopping gift when I went back to her room after doing her shopping for her. (She didn't want a pantsuit that I offered to get for her and didn't seem to want anything before I left, so I didn't bring her back anything when I brought her Christmas list gifts to give her family and friends back to her later yesterday afternoon). So, something to cheer Mom is definitely on the list for item number 2.
Antibiotic is not agreeing with my stomach this morning...ugh...it'll get better....Christmas Cantata (the actual program, not practice) is tomorrow morning! I believe it will be beautiful. I am trusting the Lord about everything. The whole program is to bring praise to Jesus! It is the story of His Birth, beginning with the prophets foretelling the wonderful news and leading up to His Birth. There are lots of Bible scriptures and Christmas carols in the Christmas Cantata.
On the weightfront, I seem to have 'gained' according to this morning's weigh-in. 
My goal during this Christmas season is to ENJOY the festivities which includes social food gatherings and try to not go over 146.anything (stay under 147.0). 
I can allow this and still wear my 8's jeans comfortably (and they are NOT STRETCH). Not going to be a Scrooge, which includes not to myself enjoying eating delicious treats at parties, either, hahaha! Maybe next month I'll get back to the elusive 140.0 goalweight.
Evening update: Visited Mom this afternoon...she had just finished NOT EATING her lunch, except for the small desert and 1/2 carton of milk included in it. When I questioned her about it, and asked if she was still trying to lose weight, she told me she is just trying to "maintain" her weight she is at now. I laughed and confided and confessed to her that I, too, am doing the same thing! She was in the dining room, sitting up in her wheelchair at her table with her friends, who were also in wheelchairs. I gave her 2 pairs of earrings I bought for her, but she couldn't wear either pair cause her pierced ear holes have enlarged so very much. Only loops stay in her ears now. I also took her a baked sweet potato with a little sugar, cinnamon and margerine on it and a small bottle of caffeine-free diet pepsi. I took fingernail polish with me and she happily let me paint her fingernails red in celebration of Christmas season. She was relaxed and seemed content enough, with one of her 2 closest resident-friends sitting nearby her. Her favorite cna was there today, too, whom Mom really loves a lot. This cna told Mom in front of me that she's bought Mom a Christmas present she is going to bring to give to her. (That is a very special cna, I tell ya! ) Mom is usually happy when that cna (for later reference, 'L') is there taking care of her. Don't let me get started on the big difference in cna's and other medical professionals who love their patients and find it a JOY to take care of them and others who simply and only are in the business for money reasons. Anyway, when I finished painting Mom's nails, she was very happy with them.
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Hope you're having a nice day or evening.
Love, Maria
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends...
Hubby and I both went to the doctor yesterday, who put us both on antibiotics, Hubby for sinusitis and bronchitis, and me for sinusitis.
I have decided that the less I answer the phone, the happier I will be. Do I look like I've got 'sucker' written all over me??? Apparently to most of the callers, I do!
I spent 2 days crying off and on from a family member calling and upsetting me by saying awful stuff to me, then the following day calling and saying they had taken a lot of medicine for pain the previous nite when they called me and had no memory of calling and talking to me. (That's a way to be very cruel and then disown responsibility for their actions.)
Another one calls after the usual long period of not hearing for them and wants me to do something for them, which I oblige, then pulls a double with needing a lot more for me to do for them.
My Hubby usually NEVER answers the phone (unless his work calls) and if ANYONE calls just to 'talk' to him (that is not work-related), unless it's me when I'm not home, you should see the FACE he makes as he painstakingly takes the phone I hand to him to talk to them! He tells me repeatedly that "Maria, just because the phone rings doesn't mean you have to answer it!!!" when he sees me agonizing over call after call.
So...am I done yet? You might think? Yep. This is better than overeating, which I AM VERY TEMPTED TO DO!!! But! Guess what??? IT IS NOT FUN TO 'FLUFF UP'! (from overeating).
Okay...some good news...I 'think' I'm done with shopping for Christmas. Today I went to the nursing home and offered to take Mom Christmas shopping, thinking she'd be ecstatic! Instead, she laid there in bed telling me how very tired she felt and that just the thought of getting out of bed to go shopping (even though I'd be wheeling her around in her wheelchair) made her feel even more tired. So I volunteered to do her Christmas shopping for her which she was happy about. I spent about 3 hours getting her list done. Took the Christmas gifts back to her room and we bagged them together (easier than wrapping). She was very happy over everything I got but what was so SAD was when she asked did I get her anything??? I had asked her if she'd like a pantsuit before I left and she'd said no. She doesn't know she will be receiving a real 11-diamonds ring from Hubby and me but she knows she's getting something expensive and extra nice for Christmas, her only hints. So, I reminded her and she smiled again. She'd wanted some of the gifts for herself but resisted after oohing and ahhing over them. I'm glad the shopping is done. What a job!
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Hope you're having a nice day or evening.
Love, Maria
Sometime in the near future that guilt will dissapate!!! Don't ever let anyone dump their issues/anger in your lap, you are sure to feel the same way...Misery does love company sad but true
Good job on getting all the presents for your mom - you are an amzing daughter!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
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Hello, Friends!
I'm sitting here by the fireside this morning, keying to you. It is sunny but COLD outside (16F).
I want to say something this morning. This is the time of year when tempers easily flare. Don't get caught up in someone else's anger and don't become angry, yourself. Don't let the devil steal your joy. I am currently caught in between friends, trying to keep harmony and peace between them. It was not my choice. It's not like I stepped in intentionally to do this. I got caught in the middle by someone being inconsiderate and determined to have things their way. I didn't go through the proper channels as I should have when I tried to accomodate them. My excuse (everyone's got one, right?) is that I have become so accustomed to being the one in charge of many situations (including my Mom and her care, though this has nothing to do with her whatsoever) that I didn't even think to consult others in charge before making a decision to accomodate the person who was being inconsiderate. I didn't think of the possible effect on others in charge of a certain project. They became very angry, to say the least and it is ALL MY FAULT. I had to tell them that I didn't think to consult them before giving in to the person and letting them have their way. (The others in charge had put me in charge of the details of the project, though they are the ones over it.) I told them I was sorry and asked their forgiveness. Some of the work they had done had to be changed slightly to accomodate the person whom I gave in to having their way. Top it off, after they talked with the person, whom I agreed to let have their way,the person did not even act thankful and wanted things EVEN MORE their way. I ask for your prayers about this even though I can't put the details over the internet. Suffice to say, the devil will do anything he can come up with to try to take our joy if we let him. Also suffice to say that I've learned my lesson well about making sure I, myself, am considerate of others (especially those who are also in charge).
..Tonite will be the last Christmas Cantata practice after evening church service before this coming Sunday morning when we have the program.
Update: In making today's entry, I lost yesterday's entry. Please overlook that comments were made yesterday...they were to yesterday's entry.
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Hope you're having a blessed day or evening!
Love, Maria
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We're getting snow too. I hope you have a wonderful day Maria!
moogy on 12/26/2010:
I love the idea that you are living in a winter wonderland. You have done so well with your calories Maria. Well done you. Your breakfast sounds festive and good for you. Get well soon Maria. I am sorry church was cancelled in one way but glad that you can stay inside and keep warm. Hugs for you.:)
just42day on 12/27/2010:
Sorry church was cancelled but it's probably a good thing if travel would have been dangerous. Stay safe and warm! :)