Skinny for the Holidays!

[privatediva]

I am having a BAB this morning. I already had the steak thawed for a CD because I had nearly 90 carbs yesterday. I didn't have a gain from the carbs, but steak and eggs sounded good, so I cooked it anyway. I'm making Amy some biscuits and gravy when she gets up (probably not real soon...some friends took her out last night for a 'goodbye' so I expect she'll sleep in), and the big breakfast will be good so I don't think about what I'm doing. I have rehearsal this afternoon/evening at the school and survived the night of fumes and pollen by taping the bathroom door shut and sleeping with an ion generator about 10 inches from my face We are supposed to get a freeze Wednesday night...everybody else will complain that it's cold. I'll be the one saying, "YESSSSSsssssssssssssss"

[Dogsrule]

Originally Posted by privatediva

... EOD is very specialized. They do a lot of details in the states and over the world outside of combat zones as well as in theater. They are often called in to protect the President or other important folks. So...the job will be exciting and will be active and service...and those are the things she has been looking for since she was 3 years old. I got her a toy badge, ID and gun...she used to knock on our bedroom door, in an isosceles pistol shooting stance, and in her biggest 3 year old voice say, "Officer Amy, DEA, open the door or I'll shoot off the lock!"

Um...she is one of a kind There is a big pool of opportunity for EOD after-service jobs...everything from private protective services to building demolition and pyrotechnics!

Thanks for taking the time to share about Amy. She sounds like she's very different from you and you've embraced it and let her become the person she wants to be! It's exciting to see someone expand, try new things that they feel drawn to, and take on new challenges.

And I don't mean drawn to those chocolate chip cookies which results in an expanded waistline!

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by privatediva

I am having a BAB this morning. I already had the steak thawed for a CD because I had nearly 90 carbs yesterday. I didn't have a gain from the carbs, but steak and eggs sounded good, so I cooked it anyway. I'm making Amy some biscuits and gravy when she gets up (probably not real soon...some friends took her out last night for a 'goodbye' so I expect she'll sleep in), and the big breakfast will be good so I don't think about what I'm doing. I have rehearsal this afternoon/evening at the school and survived the night of fumes and pollen by taping the bathroom door shut and sleeping with an ion generator about 10 inches from my face We are supposed to get a freeze Wednesday night...everybody else will complain that it's cold. I'll be the one saying, "YESSSSSsssssssssssssss"

Yeah for no gain!!! You're doing so great!!
I love steak day too.

[privatediva]

hi Dana,

She's different from me in some ways, and very much like me in others. My three kids are as different from each other as night and day. That's been the fun of it, really, for me. Watching them decide what to pursue has been amazing. Who could have predicted that two Conservatory students (my husband and I) would marry, decide to go into the fast food industry, and produce a chef, a soldier, and a ballerina? Kinda weird!

[CherylB]

Hey, Terri! Just checking out your thread after you pointed it out to me. It'll take me some time to get caught up but I look forward to sharing this journey with you! (As well as this 3rd round!)

[TerriMM]

Hey Cheryl,
Great to see you! Nice job getting your siggy updated. I know when I do mine I feel like a fresh new start. Here we go!

[laylabean]

i know we all have them, but what a day! so i didn't get up and exercise, was too tired. seems when i do the hcg i sleep really really deep and have issues in the am, and its not because i don't sleep!

anyhow, ended up outside all day...which is common with my work. anyways, it was ok temps (around zero degrees celsius) and it started to snow. i got soaked lol, everything got muddy including me arg!!

so, im going to work out tonight but i had quite a energy drain day. think i will limit to 30-40 minutes pilates...also am typing it to make sure it happens

i had no problem staying on plan today, just ended up wet and cold so...pilates and sauna for me planning on p2 chili for dinner, had a fine eating day, as usual added 2 coffee's this am (with 10% cream and stevia, apple and breadstick, curry cottage cheese for lunch). i do need to get some water into me though, today was a bad water day.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by laylabean

i know we all have them, but what a day! so i didn't get up and exercise, was too tired. seems when i do the hcg i sleep really really deep and have issues in the am, and its not because i don't sleep!

anyhow, ended up outside all day...which is common with my work. anyways, it was ok temps (around zero degrees celsius) and it started to snow. i got soaked lol, everything got muddy including me arg!!

so, im going to work out tonight but i had quite a energy drain day. think i will limit to 30-40 minutes pilates...also am typing it to make sure it happens

i had no problem staying on plan today, just ended up wet and cold so...pilates and sauna for me planning on p2 chili for dinner, had a fine eating day, as usual added 2 coffee's this am (with 10% cream and stevia, apple and breadstick, curry cottage cheese for lunch). i do need to get some water into me though, today was a bad water day.

Yuck, what a miserable day wish I had a warm hug for you! Maybe throw your workout clothes in the dryer so they'll be nice and welcoming for you.

Today is no workout day, but I did Power Walk. My walking buddy is in the office the next couple days so plan to take advantage.

The tummy is still a little iffy from the Apple Sauce. Eating clean, drinking like a fish and hopefully the inflammation and gain will be gone tomorrow.

Wishing you a warm and cozy night!

[CherylB]

Okay, I'm all caught up now! That was a lot of reading! A month in Jamaica? You poor baby! I am so envious I look like a leprechaun right now. Deb, that was a great post on Amy. If anyone says we aren't born the way we are, I beg to differ! There's too much evidence to the contrary. I hope Amy has the best of times in the Army.

Terri, you weren't kidding when you said you were a slow loser! Did you start this journey at 137.8? You have the patience of a saint! Keep on keepin' on, girlfriend!

It does feel good to update my siggy, but the real energy jolt comes from adding my ticker and getting to change it nearly every day! I will add it tomorrow after I see what my post-load weight is. I'm going to just have it show where I'm at and where goal is, rather than showing my original starting weight. It's time for a fresh look at things!

I hope everyone has a lovely evening. Deb, glad your hubby sealed the tub and hope it actually works! Also hope the air has cleared.

[beachagain]

Originally Posted by privatediva

ooo ahhh...I just heard the most amazing clarinet solo ever in a symphony concert a couple weeks ago. The Pines of Rome by Respighi has a haunting (and terribly difficult) clarinet solo. It's such a rich and wonderful instrument. I especially love the bottom octave of the B flat instrument.

I agree...the clarinet does have a haunting quality and I love it...
she is at guitar lessons tonight and I'm sitting at a starbucks listening to Louie Armstrong and other jazz-y stuff they're playing...pretty cool actually

so happy you are doing so well Deb...no gain!! awesome!

Layla...I sleep too...can't hardly keep my eyes open with hcg

I was thinking of doing another round after halloween
I remember someone (I think Deb)talking about set points and sometimes these weights not cooperating with our bodies...maybe it was when Terri was having a difficult time stablizing... and I think we discussed if losing more would help that new set point because it might not be the one our body likes...**sigh**
I'm doing okay...but since going into P4...I'm not as stable as I was and I'm not really doing anything different. I don't want to keep losing the same pounds I keep regaining, so I think if I do my best to stay around my window (140 - 142), maybe doing another round and going to a lower weight will help
the first round, I lost a bunch...kept it off, but I wasn't happy and wanted to lose the other 10 pounds...the last few rounds...I keep losing the same 10 ...so maybe, I need to weigh less
just a thought

[privatediva]

ARMSTRONG??? forreal???? We may be sisters, Cristen! I go back a long way (college sweethearts) with a man who wrote Louis Armstrong's biography.

I may do a short round with my DH around New Year's. I don't need to lose more and I like how I look now, but realize that I could easily weigh as much as ten to fifteen lbs less than I do now and still be perfectly healthy. So I might just see. I weighed about that when I got married. So I could try for buttoning my wedding dress. So I might do another round. Might not

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Terri, you weren't kidding when you said you were a slow loser! Did you start this journey at 137.8? You have the patience of a saint! Keep on keepin' on, girlfriend!

It does feel good to update my siggy, but the real energy jolt comes from adding my ticker and getting to change it nearly every day! I will add it tomorrow after I see what my post-load weight is. I'm going to just have it show where I'm at and where goal is, rather than showing my original starting weight. It's time for a fresh look at things!

I hope everyone has a lovely evening. Deb, glad your hubby sealed the tub and hope it actually works! Also hope the air has cleared.

Don't I know it! LDW was 126.3. I was going to stop there but I just couldn't stabilize on P3. This time I'm going to do it!

Originally Posted by beachagain

I was thinking of doing another round after halloween
I remember someone (I think Deb)talking about set points and sometimes these weights not cooperating with our bodies...maybe it was when Terri was having a difficult time stablizing... and I think we discussed if losing more would help that new set point because it might not be the one our body likes...**sigh**
I'm doing okay...but since going into P4...I'm not as stable as I was and I'm not really doing anything different. I don't want to keep losing the same pounds I keep regaining, so I think if I do my best to stay around my window (140 - 142), maybe doing another round and going to a lower weight will help
the first round, I lost a bunch...kept it off, but I wasn't happy and wanted to lose the other 10 pounds...the last few rounds...I keep losing the same 10 ...so maybe, I need to weigh less
just a thought

I'm hoping the same the Cristen. I think maybe the reason I had such a hard time stabilizing is 129 was a set weight for me. So I'm going to try for closer to 120 and see if that helps.

Originally Posted by privatediva

I may do a short round with my DH around New Year's. I don't need to lose more and I like how I look now, but realize that I could easily weigh as much as ten to fifteen lbs less than I do now and still be perfectly healthy. So I might just see. I weighed about that when I got married. So I could try for buttoning my wedding dress. So I might do another round. Might not

Wouldn't that be wonderful Deb! How's your bathroom smells and allergies tonight?

[laylabean]

i want to read but im exhausted and off to bed...will have to catch up tomorrow! i did throw my workout clothes in the dryer though terri, what a good idea! i ended up doing 50 minutes of pilates (i had started) and had an egg and an apple afterwards.

so, i climbed in the sauna and noticed i was breathing so so shallow and fast. was NOT from my workout, but my stressful day. as my back to everyone who is a terrific support to me...remember to breathe! i slowed down my breathing, took a couple good belly breaths and stretched out my neck. i feel a thousand times better. i don't know about everyone else but my mind just races at times and i need to put effort into just clearing out all the junk and busy thoughts.

i know its a little silly but i just wanted to remind all of us, me included, to take a few cleansing breaths and a few minutes to relax

see you all in the am. wishing everyone a wonderful evening.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by laylabean

i want to read but im exhausted and off to bed...will have to catch up tomorrow! i did throw my workout clothes in the dryer though terri, what a good idea! i ended up doing 50 minutes of pilates (i had started) and had an egg and an apple afterwards.

so, i climbed in the sauna and noticed i was breathing so so shallow and fast. was NOT from my workout, but my stressful day. as my back to everyone who is a terrific support to me...remember to breathe! i slowed down my breathing, took a couple good belly breaths and stretched out my neck. i feel a thousand times better. i don't know about everyone else but my mind just races at times and i need to put effort into just clearing out all the junk and busy thoughts.

i know its a little silly but i just wanted to remind all of us, me included, to take a few cleansing breaths and a few minutes to relax

see you all in the am. wishing everyone a wonderful evening.

Sweet Dreams Girl! I can sure use the reminder to relax. I'm a serial multi-tasker

[privatediva]

The tub smell is better. We still have to paint it before we can use it/test it to see if it is really fixed. David hasn't found the right paint yet. I think we have to paint it before we can use it...and then I guess we'll find out if the repair is enough.

I am a little better today, with regard to the allergies. I may be much better in a couple of days. It is supposed to freeze Wednesday night. That should help some.

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by laylabean

i want to read but im exhausted and off to bed...will have to catch up tomorrow! i did throw my workout clothes in the dryer though terri, what a good idea! i ended up doing 50 minutes of pilates (i had started) and had an egg and an apple afterwards.

so, i climbed in the sauna and noticed i was breathing so so shallow and fast. was NOT from my workout, but my stressful day. as my back to everyone who is a terrific support to me...remember to breathe! i slowed down my breathing, took a couple good belly breaths and stretched out my neck. i feel a thousand times better. i don't know about everyone else but my mind just races at times and i need to put effort into just clearing out all the junk and busy thoughts.

i know its a little silly but i just wanted to remind all of us, me included, to take a few cleansing breaths and a few minutes to relax

see you all in the am. wishing everyone a wonderful evening.

Not silly at all! I am the same way. Sometimes I literally have to remind myself to breathe. I'm going to really work on that.

Deb, I feel bad now in hindsight, posting my hot tub pics! I hope you get to use yours again very soon. If you need to replace it, get a jetted tub! My sister has one and they absolutely love it.

[beachagain]

Originally Posted by privatediva

ARMSTRONG??? forreal???? We may be sisters, Cristen! I go back a long way (college sweethearts) with a man who wrote Louis Armstrong's biography.

I may do a short round with my DH around New Year's. I don't need to lose more and I like how I look now, but realize that I could easily weigh as much as ten to fifteen lbs less than I do now and still be perfectly healthy. So I might just see. I weighed about that when I got married. So I could try for buttoning my wedding dress. So I might do another round. Might not

ah...sista's...very nice!!
I Love ole Satchmo I remember listening to him when I was little and I also remember when he died
...then again, I remember when Jim Croce, Elvis died too...and I remember when the US walked on the moon (but just barely) ...darn, I'm old!
Was the college sweetheart an historian, or a writer (I suppose a little of both, right?) sounds really exciting at any rate.

Originally Posted by TerriMM

Don't I know it! LDW was 126.3. I was going to stop there but I just couldn't stabilize on P3. This time I'm going to do it!

I'm hoping the same the Cristen. I think maybe the reason I had such a hard time stabilizing is 129 was a set weight for me. So I'm going to try for closer to 120 and see if that helps.

to Deb...I am also happy at my current weight...
to terri and Deb...but I'm not sure my body is happy here I am wondering if I go lighter if it'll help me. I have not been this small for a long time, but I am no where near my pre-pregnancy weight (post college) and I definitely won't ever be that size 00 - 100 pound skinny girl again
I think another 10 pounds would be fine...it would certainly be a healthy weight and I'd be closer to a size 6...(I am an 8-10 now depending on the clothing) we'll see...I can do a short round and be done by Christmas...that would actually be rather nice

[TerriMM]

Yes I am happy with this weight as well. I haven't been this low for thirty years. I do remember the men walking on the moon! But I still don't fit into the few pieces of clothing I've saved all these years. For that reshaping, I'm going to need exercise and to keep the exercise from bumping me out of my weight range; I'm going to need a cushion. So that's what I'm going for now.

I'm down .80 today, so back on the road!

[privatediva]

The fellow who wrote the book on Armstrong is Terry Teachout. He is a biographer, playwright, drama, music and dance critic for WSJ and Commentary and a whole bunch of other stuff. The Armstrong book is "Pops"...and I *highly* recommend it. It is such an engrossing read. For me, like sitting down and listening to Terry tell me a story. He wrote biographies of H.L. Mencken and Balanchine as well, and is working on Duke Ellington. All of his writing is like that. So informative but also engaging storytelling.

Yay Terri! Good you're back on the road.

As for the great mystery of what we should all weigh... I need to be careful with that. I'm the one who wouldn't stop P2 until my BMI was in the "ideal" range, so there is some potential for significant pathology in my thinking But I do know that it wouldn't be detrimental to lose a little more. Although, I woke up still below LDW and every day that happens is like a little party...with sparklers and balloons and confetti flying all over the place.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by privatediva

As for the great mystery of what we should all weigh... I need to be careful with that. I'm the one who wouldn't stop P2 until my BMI was in the "ideal" range, so there is some potential for significant pathology in my thinking But I do know that it wouldn't be detrimental to lose a little more. Although, I woke up still below LDW and every day that happens is like a little party...with sparklers and balloons and confetti flying all over the place.

Deb,
What do you think has been the secret to your stabilization? Exercise, calories, food choices, combination, something else?

[privatediva]

I wish I knew, Terri...I just don't know though. I think the whole process just 'fit' my weight problem or something. I used prescription drops, followed my docs plan (with different veggies and fruits, no grain, and it was ok to have diet soda and SF jello) and then followed Simeon protocol in P3. I don't think it's the exercise as I have been inconsistent (though I'm always active). No special choices or combinations, besides avoiding wheat...I still haven't done that. I may have something at Thanksgiving, but I know it's going to upset my gut and I don't really miss it even a little bit with Carries muffins and my protein pancakes for those times when I feel the need for something "bready" If I believed in luck, I'd say I was lucky. I guess I'll just say that I feel really blessed not to have the hassle that some have had with stabilization. I was expecting it...but my body seems pretty happy where it is. I do think that maybe, if there was one thing I did "right" it was to go far enough below my most stubborn set point of 145 (and I would have been happy and looked fine at that weight) that my body isn't trying hard to get back to it.

[TerriMM]

Thanks Deb! I'm hoping getting well below that 129 set point will be a key for me. I did great the first time, but I also was less experimental with "muffins" and the like. I will obviously be more diligent this time. Thankfully I'll be in P4 by Thanksgiving, but I can get by with a lot of low carb stuff there too and make whatever treats I do have worth it.

As far as the calorie thing goes, beyond just getting back to normal eating, did you push the calories? I didn’t really the first time, although I have no trouble eating and didn’t hold back, but the second time I did and I didn’t really feel like I was doing myself a service. But I had a multitude of issues last P3.

Hope you and Carrie have a great time with your face to face!

[privatediva]

I did push in the beginning...in P3, to get up to 2000-2100...just really wanted to see what would/wouldn't happen. Eventually though, I decided to follow how I felt. Now I can eat 1600 one day, 2200 the next...feel good, feel satisfied etc, and the scale stays where it's supposed to. I am still weighing with trepidation and tracking calories, and trying to keep my fat/protein cals balanced (close to the same number of grams of these two each day, per Shelby) and as long as I do that, I've had as many as 90 carbs (maybe a ton more the other night when I had the wine and ice cream...no way to know, so I didn't even bother to try to count that) and not had a problem. I'm almost starting to think that I will one day be able to trust that "listening to my body" is a good idea. My body was the LAST thing I needed to be listening to for the last several years, but I'm feeling like some of the stuff that was broken/sick is better now.

[CherylB]

Very encouraging thread today! I can't relate to all the talk about old-timey singers but I do remember when man walked on the moon (I was just a tike) and I remember where I was when Stevie Ray Vaughn died (Denver CO, in my dorm room at the Air Force base. I dropped to my knees, standing before the radio.)

Here's to everyone finding their own "sweet spot" weight and equilibrium that rivals Deb's!

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Very encouraging thread today! I can't relate to all the talk about old-timey singers but I do remember when man walked on the moon (I was just a tike) and I remember where I was when Stevie Ray Vaughn died (Denver CO, in my dorm room at the Air Force base. I dropped to my knees, standing before the radio.)

Here's to everyone finding their own "sweet spot" weight and equilibrium that rivals Deb's!

Woo Hoo Cheryl, here we come Deb!

[beachagain]

Originally Posted by privatediva

The fellow who wrote the book on Armstrong is Terry Teachout. He is a biographer, playwright, drama, music and dance critic for WSJ and Commentary and a whole bunch of other stuff. The Armstrong book is "Pops"...and I *highly* recommend it. It is such an engrossing read. For me, like sitting down and listening to Terry tell me a story. He wrote biographies of H.L. Mencken and Balanchine as well, and is working on Duke Ellington. All of his writing is like that. So informative but also engaging storytelling.

Yay Terri! Good you're back on the road.

As for the great mystery of what we should all weigh... I need to be careful with that. I'm the one who wouldn't stop P2 until my BMI was in the "ideal" range, so there is some potential for significant pathology in my thinking But I do know that it wouldn't be detrimental to lose a little more. Although, I woke up still below LDW and every day that happens is like a little party...with sparklers and balloons and confetti flying all over the place.

those would be interesting too...but I'd love to read a great bio on Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday...they were amazing women!

Originally Posted by CherylB

Very encouraging thread today! I can't relate to all the talk about old-timey singers but I do remember when man walked on the moon (I was just a tike) and I remember where I was when Stevie Ray Vaughn died (Denver CO, in my dorm room at the Air Force base. I dropped to my knees, standing before the radio.)

Here's to everyone finding their own "sweet spot" weight and equilibrium that rivals Deb's!

we live in the Denver area and my DH was at the Stevie concert on that tour he died on...he was crushed as well

[laylabean]

hey deb, cristen, cheryl, terri hope everyone had an amazing day!

deb; so hoping your allergies are better and that your tub is close to being ready. sounds like a lot happening at once!

i did my walk/run and 30 minutes reformer stretches. i haven't eaten yet so im going to have dinner, sauna, and hit bed.

tomorrow is an exercise day off for me, think my body could use a day of recovery.

see you in the morning!

[privatediva]

Tub is a no-go until we find the right paint. I guess we way have to order it. Argh.

Looking back to your 'cleansing breath' post, Layla... so funny...after three c-sections, relieving stress and tension is about the only good I got out of the Lamaze classes we took!

[verbqueen]

Just dropping by to wave hello to you holiday slim-sters!

I'm more excited about this holiday season than I've been in years, because it will be the first one in decades where I won't be avoiding the camera and wishing I could wear more festive party clothes!!

[CherylB]

Cristin, I was living in TX at that time so I felt a special impact when SRV died. What a waste! Such talent and passion.

I'm just popping in to say goodnight, ladies. It's after 10 here and I need to form some new habits that might actually help me to sleep. I have got to find ways to improve my biorhythm! (She said as she sipped on her last cup of 1/2 caf coffee.)

VQ, this is so exciting, the fact that you are at goal and heading into the holiday season! How wonderful this one will be for you. For ALL of us! I'm reaching goal by December, too. I have 44 VLCD's to lose 34 lbs. I can do this.

Layla, do you have your own toasty sauna or are you talking about the gym? I hope it's yours! What a great thing to own. I envisioned putting in a small outdoor sauna here when I bought this house but it never materialized. Funds caved in in a very big way.

Deb, isn't there some 911 kind of tub place you can call? The paint can't cost that much! Go get yourself some relaxation. You need it, plus it will be oh so warm, splashing around in there with your bubbles and little rubber ducky.

I'm so glad Terri directed me to this thread! Lots of lovely ladies here.