KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON ~~~~~~~JULY

[Parisfox]

Good morning....not much time. Laundry awaits me....than grocery shopping, come home....vacuum pack the meat, clean and dust.
I HATE DUSTING!!

back, Samantha and Lizzie!!

I'd better get a move on. Too much to do today. The days are way too short after one retires.

"Hi" to anyone who checks in today. See ya...

[sweetie_pie]

Welcome back Lizzie! Glad to hear you made the trip safe & sound.. and dropped a few pounds in the process Good job!

I just came here for a break - I'm packing up our basement. It's full of junk, storage, junk, etc. It's unfinished & we are going to make it into living space, bathroom, etc, so it all has to be cleared out. I was grumbling to myself when I got here, but you are so upbeat, & look at all the work you have to do! Now, I'm going to head back down there with a smile on my face

[vli1127]

Welcome home Lizzie and Sam.

Lizzie, it must have been all of that physical labor that goes along with moving that helped with the weight loss, that and keeping your eating in check.

Sam, oh Sam. (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Sam)))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))))) big ole' hug to you. Keep your chin up, this too shall pass.

[vli1127]

I lost at TOPS tonight, down 2.25 lbs. I am still in KOPS leeway of my goal of 170. I am allowed to go 7 lbs under.

I went to a local grocery store today and they have a separate health food section. Today, they were offering 10% off anything that could fill a paper sack. I got some chocolate whey protein powder, Bob's Mill Flax meal in the bigger bag, PB2 (powdered peanut butter) LINDA note!!!, Chia seeds LINDA note!!!! almond milk, and plain yogurt.


In the regular part of store I bought buffalo meat patties 16oz for almost $6 ( I won't be buying those too often) and in the clearance cart, two bags of Uncle Bud's Deep Fried Peanuts (hot), you can eat the shell. They are good. I also bought some Kale, never have had it before. It was a starred vegetable in the 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden.

[sweetie_pie]

Vicki, COngrats on your loss! & in staying in KOPS


Sorry gals, I'm arriving here right out of steam again. Just exhausted. It's 11:30, and I'm just sitting down for some 'me' time.. and it's time for bed! I hate that! I spent the day cleaning out the basement, & selling a lot of stuff online. People were coming & going from my house all day, handing me cash & leaving with junk. It was wonderfuL! But I know the old man next door was wondering what was going on, lol.

I'm still the same this morning. Tomorrow I need to kick things in gear & get back to the water. The iron supplements I"m taking are making me so constipated, so I really need to get my water in each day.


Night everybody!

PS --- Linda, Lei, Liz, Sam... Missing everybody!

[vli1127]

Good morning all. We had a good rain last night and today is starting off cool, around 60. But, I think we are to warm up and get nice and hot and humid for a couple of days. I guess the AC will be turned back on maybe.

Steph Metamucil daily could help with your constipation issue. That and the water and exercise.

I was reading back in our June thread for chia stuff and saw that we had had a person named Fluffy posting. Fluffy are you there lurking?????

Linda I am going to get into the cha, cha, chia now LOL. I found a great looking, potentially addicting binge item: Bette's Chocolate Chia Coconut Bars. I am going to make them later today. I bet I could freeze them, out of site, out of mind you know. And, use them only for the occasional treat.

(((((((((((((((((((((((Judy, Sam, Lei, Liz, Yvonne and Lizzie)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I hope I didn't miss anyone.

[cdn_gal]

Geesh, time goes by so fast sometimes!
Nothing really new to report, but thought I'd better check in..
Never got to take any pics fishing a couple days ago, it was so rough and cold out there that we only stayed for about an hour.. Did however, catch a nice ling cod though!! Oh yeah, and a few crabs...

Went to dinner last night with 2 girls from the boards here, (Chippy, Neecy) and had a wonderful time!! Both were very adoreable, and very easy to talk too.. Hopefully we will get to do it again sometime soon..



*left to right* Chippy, me and Neecy

I was good at dinner last night too! I had 2 coffee's w/cream, caesar salad w/shrimp... Food wasn't so great, but the company was worth it!!

[Parisfox]

Good morning....

Just a quick check-in. I have out-of-town company for dinner tonight. We are going out as they will be in town for just a few hours.

Here's Today's Meditation.

"Hi" to anyone who checks in today. See ya all tomorrow!! Have a good day.

[lovinglife50]

Hi all - my day off today so I decided as I sit all day at work the three days I am off I need to do some decent exercise. So I got up and started walking - it is about 90 here, not too humid as we are on the bay and the breeze is delightful. I started heading towards the bridge (the Ringling bridge from downtown Sarasota into Lido Key Beach). I thought I would just do the bridge which is about 3-4 miles round trip and it was very hot - then I just kept walking and walking and ended up walking to the beach which is about 7 miles roundtrip. I am so pleased as going back to Jan - I would never have been able to make it that far especially in the heat. I did stop at St. Armands and have a cool glass of water - aaah! I also noticed that there is a meditation garden - it is so pretty and relaxing and peaceful - so I stopped and said a prayer.

I am determined to get this weight off once and for all and stepping up the exercise just has to be the way to do it. I never wanted my exercise to be the basis for whatever I weighed but I know I need to do it just to get back to where I started in the 130's - just about 20lbs to go but they seem to be the hardest.

Anyway Sam - I have to tell you you remind me so much of Chloe - she has been so attached to an old flame of hers - she liked him from the age of 14 and she has dated since but still really compared everyone to him. He ran hot and cold, he would be hot one minute (especially when she was off doing her own thing and not thinking about him), and cold the next when she would start to respond to him. Now Chloe is almost 20 and Mike is 22 TODAY. SO around 4-5 months ago Chloe was dating someone - but he felt a lot more for her than she did for him. She had not heard anything from Mike in ages - all of a sudden he pops up again and starting texting her. Kind of cool to begin with and then after a while he became quite open with his feelings for her. He told her that he had always cared for her but knowing she would be in Florida and he was in CT he wanted her to just go and do her college thing and see what happened. He in the meantime was going through some difficult times with drugs and did not want her a part of it -thankfully. Well now he is two years clean, they are both madly in love and all seems to be quite the fairy tale. They cannot get enough of each other. She has been up there three times in the last few months and is spending 6 weeks there now. All I am trying to say is - do not give up hope, BUT get on with your life. Don't play games but just move on - if it is going to happen and he cares he WILL come after you. Check out the movie "he is just not that into you", it has a lot of hard truths in it - we women read something in all of it, except what is right in front of our eyes, if he is not calling you and pursuing he - well he is just not that into you - TODAY, but who knows once you move on, he may realize he misses you and wants you in his life.

Anyway - I am enjoying life - loving my food plan, Chloe has been doing it also and is losing losing losing but not as fast as she wants to - but has not even had the desire to cheat since she started. Plus with her boyfriend he does not drink either which makes it all so much easier for her.

We just have to keep on keeping on - no matter what - whatever our plan is - if we look at it over a month's time and we are DOWN, then we are on the right path, if we up UP, then maybe we need to tweak it, if we keep going up, we need to FACE THE DARN MUSIC and GET HONEST. Do we want to get healthy, have a body we feel good it - that means whatever size fits YOU. Or do we just want our cake and eat it to - cos folks it just does not work.

Now I will shut up and leave y'all to your day. I hope and pray it is a good one for you. After all the deaths lately - I cannot help but make each moment count and food does not fit in. I do not really care what is taste's like - if it is good for me then that is what counts. As I have said before it's not my lover, my entertainment, my comforter, my friend. It is simply fuel for my body, and I have to keep it simple.

Have a super day for it is all we have.

Yvonne

[Parisfox]

Yvonne...That's GREAT advice.

[slimlizzie]

Goodmorning Ladies... It is kinda quiet in here..where is everyone?

Just a quick check in before I start to unpack more boxes. I plan on having a large moving in garage sale by the first of August!!

I have got to get on plan I am so tired..I know it is from to many carbs. I need my energy back. So today is the day I guess..

Have a good day

[vli1127]

Lizzie, now the fun begins, unpacking. ARGH

Lei, great pic of you and friends.

Yea, where is everyone????? Must be summer.

[Parisfox]

Good morning....

My weight was the same this morning as yesterday, however, since I was a little off plan due to being out of town again all day yesterday, I'm happy. We didn't get back home until 12:30am and I was wired from drinking "regular" coffee so I read until 2:00am and then went to bed and slept until 9:00am. I had a small pork steak for lunch and a bacon cheeseburger for dinner and ate the bun since I knew that would be it for the day/night....and knew I wouldn't get home until at least midnight. Hopefully, it won't bounce UP tomorrow, but if it does....it does. Today will be on plan. Shake for lunch and either chicken or a steak for dinner....probably the steak tonight and the chicken tomorrow....I have both thawed.

Hang in there, my friends. WE CAN DO THIS!! We just need to make up our minds to do it, then stick to it. Somedays, that's easier said than done....but if we keep on keepin' on, it WILL happen.

Have a great day....WCBL if I can....or See ya tomorrow!!

P.S. Here's Today's Meditation.

.

[DENMW]

Hi everyone, quick checkin from work. Lei, thanks for the pic and you look fabulous dahling!!!!! You must be at goal now right?

Sorry I've been MIA. MIA = not doing well. I've had a bad couple of days. It started out just a little off plan and then yesterday it went into a full binge. I'm totally disgusted.

Welcome back Sam & Lizzie and hi to Vicki, Judy, Yvonne, Steph.

That's all I can muster up right now.

[sweetie_pie]

I'm MIA too. And for the same reasons.

Double Ugh.

Before Sunday night, I need to have a PLAN. A real, solid, do-able plan.
The trouble is, I'm living in a house that is not adequate for us, plus we are doing renovations while we live here, everything is a mess, impossible to organize, so my whole brain feels disorganized! And I can't be on tp of my eating when my life is in such chaos.

I signed DS up for Football camp yesterday, and he goes every day next week (all day!!!). This is my vacation !! So, I'm determining to get my house/life/eating/everything else in order next week. No more wallowing. I can't take it anymore.

OK, got that off my chest. Thinking of you Linda -- can we do this together?

Heading to bed. to everyone

[sweetie_pie]

Sam, if you're there - I need some medical advice! I will PM you!

[DENMW]

Originally Posted by sweetie_pie

I'm MIA too. And for the same reasons.


OK, got that off my chest. Thinking of you Linda -- can we do this together?

Heading to bed. to everyone

Absolutely we can an WILL do it.!!!!! What's that saying that says "Today's the first day of the rest of your life. No looking back either. We start now.

I'm also taking on something BIG for me. Remeber guys how I suffered with hives until they found this medication that I'm on which has kept them to a minimum. The problem is that is has made my appetite go out of control. The doctor told me this is the medicine so I went to him on Wednesday and asked him if I can wean off. He is letting me go down but not off and see him in two months. I started going down two days ago and it did seem like my itching got a bit worse. I hope it was just a fluke I also developed ringing in my ears which he said is NOT from the medication and is sending me to a hearing specialist. Anyway, I say all that to tell you that Yvonne sent me a long article about someone who went through the same thing and come to find out it was due to aspartame. She even had the ringing in her ears and was diagnosed with hives and rheumatoid arthritis. I've also started having joint pains. Hmmmm, could it be. All her symptons are entirely gone since stopping. So, I figured it's worth a try. I switched to Stevia some time ago and really love it, however, I continue to drink diet soda and have EAS carb control shakes daily with Splenda. So, the only sweetener I'll have is Stevia and will use only Jay Robb's protein powder. The only problem is that JR's PP doesn't come premixed which is very handy. Also, if I get a real craving for diet soda, there's always the Zevia which is sweetened with stevia. I'll only have that if I'm REALLY craving a diet soda though. So, we'll see what happens. It's worth a try. Right now I'm drinking some iced yerba matte tea with stevia. Don't ask me what the benefits of Yerba Matte are cuz I forgot. I know it's good though. Sam, ? I know you can fill us in. I found a jar of Yerba matte unsweetened powder for #3.99 for 180 servings regularly $10.99. You add 1/4 tsp to 8 oz. water. I actually add a heaping 1/4 tsp. to 16 oz. and 1 stevia and it is really good.

Off to look up some things. and to everyone.

[Parisfox]

Good morning....almost afternoon.

It's overcast and cooler than normal here right now. 73* at 11:00AM in July is great!! Fact is, I'm heading out to my swing with a book and a cuppa in a few minutes. It's so nice out.

Linda....Don't believe everything a doctor tells you about medicine. Most of them don't know that much about meds. I have tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and it was from taking an antihistamine (diphenhydramine) for an extended period of time. Google (name of med and tinnitus) e.g., diphenhydramine and tinnitus and see what you get.

Or...here are a couple of websites that might have what you are looking for:

DailyMed: About DailyMed

MedlinePlus: Medicines


Gotta run....See ya all later.....

.

[vli1127]

Just passing through. Steph hang in there.

Judy, you have cooler weather, than we should tomorrow maybe.

[sweetie_pie]

Hi gals,

Linda, I'm glad you are taking charge & doing your research. I know how frustrating that can be, but we really are our own best Dr! We can never let a Dr. brush aside our symptoms. We KNOW when something isn't right or adding up. Keep researching, & I'll pray that God guides you to an answer!

Weigh in day is tomorrow, and I know that I'm going to be up about 2 pounds. So, this is the week that I'm going to join TOPS. I have no idea where - or when - or how -- LOL -- but that is on the top of my list of things to do with my week off! I desperately need the accountability (and the friendly competition won't hurt )

Heading to bed. The weather here was muggy today, but it has cooled off perfectly. We've only had the air conditioning on 3 times this summer --- that's incredible for our area, and I'm loving it !

Blessings to all my wonderful LC friends. We will get through this, together.

[Parisfox]

Good morning.....DOWN a bit this morning, but still UP for the week.
I'm not getting enough water in...gotta work on that.
Will be on plan today. Shake for lunch. Chicken OR Pork Steak for dinner.

Weather is great, especially for this time of year. I don't even have my AC on.
It's almost 9:30am and it's just 73* out. High is supposed to be 82* which is at least 10* below normal. I'm lovin' it!!

Have a good day and "Work your plan and your plan will work."

See ya....

[DENMW]

Good morning everyone,
Judy, glad you are going down and hopefully your week will balance out.

Steph, I think TOPS is a great idea. Look what it did for Vicki. Accountability is a key for me too. Keep on.

to all the rest of you keepers. I started yesterday eliminating ALL artificial sweeteners except for Stevia. That means no more sugarfree relish or pickles and no more low carb ketchup (all have sucralose=splenda). I'll buy the unsweetened ketchup at the health food store and sweeten it with stevia. I'll do that with dill pickle relish too. I managed to make that change yesterday and also have no sugar. Today, I'm planning to control my portions. Have a great day, gotta run.

[Samantha42]

Linda-- I think it is so great that you are stopping the artificial sweeteners... it's been a lifesaver for me. I know it's something you probably grew very attached to (as me and nuts, cheese, AS, EAS shakes, Lindt), but once you de-hook you may have amazing, immediate results. I feel SO much better now that I'm not eating loads of cheese and nuts a day. And AS made me feel so awful. Let me know how it's going, and if your withdrawals have kicked in! How has the Zevia been affecting you? I liked it a lot but got afraid it was making me breakout and so I haven't had one in a month or so. There is still a 6pack sitting in my fridge... But I use the Truvia sweetener all the time now with no problems. I love it! I recommend that to everyone here! Linda, you can so get back into this, with the same passion as commitment as before. Though you may have gained some back, you are a true success story and you are SO CLOSE to goal!!!! You can do this!!

Steph-- Atkins. Start induction tomorrow. These are orders I got your candida PM... and all I can say as of now is, the best thing you can do if candida is truly a problem is eat lowcarb and simply. No AS. Maybe no cheeses/dairy. See how vinegar etc. affects you. That alone should be sufficient to see how your symptoms respond. If you were so horribly overgrowthed there are things like probiotics and candida anti-yeast cleanses and nystatin and diflucan (prescriptions). I took nystatin for a few months and really didn't notice a difference. It didn't do anything for me that a few weeks in ketosis couldn't do. The symptoms of candida overgrowth and insulin resistance/prediabetes/too much sugar eaten are so close they are almost indistinguishable. Why go treating zebra problems when it's most likely a horse? Haha sorry... that's the analogy always used in medicine. "If you hear hooves don't think it's a zebra"... think basic. Eat basic. Live basic.

Lizzie-- UGH PACKING and unpacking. What a pain!!!! When are you coming to visit me ?

Judy & Vicki

OKKK I was on call last night and feel like i'm on crack but i refuse to nap and ruin my entire weekend. Instead I'm going to bike to the beach and meet a friend there. I need some sun and exercise. I have been very on plan!! Lost weight on my call.. was 189.4 today and I normally gain on call AND I GOT my period so I'm pretty pretty content right now. I really wanted to be 180 by my birthday in 2 weeks... uhh... that's stretching it. Unless Aunt Flow brought 5 extra pounds of water weight I think 185 is more realistic.

I haven't seen "Yellow" in a while and I can already tell I'm healing and getting better. I did run into him at lunch 2 days ago and it was quite awkward. We barely spoke and when I left the lunch table he made eye contact with me and kinda smiled and waved. I could have gone over and said hi but instead I waved and walked away. i felt like i was giving him the cold shoulder and perhaps appeared socially awkward, but I dont care. As of now I am writing him off. If he doesn't like it, he can do something about it. It's not my job to console him while he is going through this rough time.


My Mom was hospitalized overnight on Thursday with neutropenic fevers, anemia & pneumonia. She was released yesterday which is semi-miraculous. Her usual hospital stays are 2+ weeks in length and are scary. This one was mild. I'm nervous for her, still. She's officially 75 pounds and emaciated. She coughs and coughs and walks like she is limping and holds her arms across her body like she's struggling. It's very sad for me to watch. She is only 60 and always was so youthful and outgoing and beautiful. I need this to turn around in order for me to regain my sanity.

That's all.

Love you guys!!!!

[vli1127]

Steph, too cool, another TOPS member. Do you see the Tops link here?

Sam, what a schedule. Good luck with reinduction. I am looking seriously at AS too. Truvia is good.

I am now a Major LCF Member, too cool. Must have happened when I hit 1000 HA.

My mower go stuck this morning after running over tree trunk. Only half is mowed ARGH Hauling that thing someplace is a pain in the rear end.

Linda, have you tried making your own ketchup?


Judy Midwest weather has been absolutely great this summer.

[Parisfox]

I fell off the wagon and am UP for the week. I know I CAN do this....I just have to DECIDE TO DO it. I WILL hang in there. I have decided to give up my nightly Hot Chocolate until cold weather and I'm working on increasing my water intake. That should help some.

Here's Today's Meditation. It's a REALLY good one.

Hugs, my friends. Sounds like we all need one.

[sweetie_pie]

Hey gals! Just popping in quick.. back in a bit to read up on what's been going on! Changed my avi - I'm not a fighter, the pic just cracks me up when I look at it. Maybe it could be symbolic of me kicking my fat to the curb?

Hope you are all doing well. It's been a busy week. Ian is at a church football daycamp all week, & loving it! And I am **LOVING** the extra time to myself! Cleaning, organizing, oh and I think I may fit in a pedicure tomorrow (shhhh--- don't tell my hubby! Poor guy is working his tail off with overtime right now)

Just wanted to send out a quick 'hi'. Will chat more in a bit

[vli1127]

Steph, I love the new pic, funny. Time to yourself is great.

Judy, did you find the wagon again LOL.

Linda, where are you?? Doing Ok?

Sam, hang in there, you and your grueling schedule.

Lei and Liz, HI

Lizzie, how is the unpacking and settling going??

I weighed in to TOPS with a 1.75 lb gain, but still in my leeway. I even felt thinner, oh well.

[Parisfox]

Good morning....just a quick check-in to see how you all are doing and to post the meditation.

Yesterday was an off-plan dinner after seeing a play with a group I belong to, but today will be an on-plan day!!

Onward and downward.

Congrats to those losing or maintaining, and HUGS to those who need one.

Here's Today's Meditation. Another really good one.

Work your plan, and your plan will work.

We don't plan to fail....but sometimes we fail to plan.......





.

[lovinglife50]

Just a quick hello from Linda and myself. She asked that I post to tell you all is ok but her internet is down. We had a great walk - about 6 miles or so, in the heat - maybe I pushed Linda a little too much - sorry Linda, hope you knee and ankle are ok. It was wonderfully inspiring to walk with such a good friend and to be in the company of such a grateful lady. We had a wonderful chat and enjoy the sun and water - God is so good and we are so blessed.
Have a wonderful day all.

[Parisfox]

Good morning....I was down 1.6 lbs this morning. I will be on plan again today.
Shake for lunch....meat (either pork steak or chicken) for dinner. Ice Tea and Water after my Decaf Coffee.

Gotta run....My friend in the hospital in Des Moines is getting out one of these days soon and needs a cheap suitcase to take her stuff back home to Phoenix. I'm going to Target and Walmart to see what I can find for her. Then I'm going to Des Moines tomorrow morning to visit her and leave her the suitcase and some books I have for her to read, so I might not make it here tomorrow morning....but I'll check in when I get home, unless it's too late.

See ya.....

.