๐Ÿ November 2023 Challenge ๐Ÿ

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  • Day 18 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD

    I don’t know what happened yesterday. I got home from having lunch around 2 pm, & I suddenly felt really awful. Not like I’d been poisoned exactly, & I’ll spare you the details. But I finished up slumped on the sofa with the cat for the entire afternoon ๐Ÿฅด๏ธ I tried to look on the bright side, & told myself it could turn into an unscheduled FD. Which would be a minor miracle, because I’ve never had one of those. But by dinner time I was back to normal & ravenous. Drat.

    @stitchincarol – ‘Lucky us’? Sounds good to me! But, ‘hunger is a lovely thing’?! Nope, not buying that ๐Ÿคฃ

    @merryapple – your house sounds fascinating. 106 years old? And 5 spinning wheels?! Those alone must take up an entire room? A large one too. No, no cowboy hat yet. And I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything made from satin. I think I could pull it off though ๐Ÿ•บ

    @flourbaby – it’s interesting how we’re all tempted by different things. Swerving the biscuit aisle is never a problem for me; I never even think of buying them. Yet when I was a kid I think I made a beeline for the biscuit tin as soon as I got home from school every day. Sweets are another story though. As @northgeorgia mentioned – sugar ๐Ÿ˜ณ I think the only time I haven’t struggled with that is when I was following LCHF.

    Weekly musings from Michael Mosley:-
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12764107/DR-MICHAEL-MOSLEY-bad-gut-bacteria-make-mean-aggressive.html

    Have a good weekend everyone ๐ŸŒค ๐ŸŒˆ

    Day 18 – Ireland – CD๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    @funshipfreddie it sounds like you have an intolerance to something you ateโ€ฆ itโ€™s worth thinking back to what you had at lunch to watch out for it next timeโ€ฆ mind youโ€ฆ I do know someone who had a full blown anaphylactic episode after a sandwich he ate once and it never happened again โ€ฆ the thinking was that he reacted to the specific mix (proportions wise) of ingredients on that particular day.

    Great to have you back @stitchincarolโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ’•
    @merryapple I had to look up Churchโ€™s shoes โ€ฆ I had never heard of them. Wowโ€ฆ some fabulous style! Iโ€™m a shoes lover anyway but when I was on steroids for many many years I gave up buying nice clothes but shoes – no, no, noโ€ฆ as you say it doesnโ€™t matter what weight you are shoes will always fit ๐Ÿ˜€ I could not tell you how many pairs I have ๐Ÿ™ˆ storage is an issue! Thankfully I swap my clothes around winter/summer so every year itโ€™s like new pieces ๐Ÿ˜‚ since the pandemic Iโ€™ve cut down on buying clothes /shoes and have set myself the challenge to wear or donate. ๐Ÿ‘

    Out last night – fun night with some dancingโ€ฆ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿป I realised Iโ€™m getting more creaky when I crouch to the floor and get back up again๐Ÿ˜‚
    Have a great Saturday all!
    ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 18 – USA/GA – NFD

    Weigh-in: 226 lbs. Down a bit from yesterday (yay)… Planning on tomorrow being a WFD. Hoping to celebrate my sister’s-in-law birthday tonight (it’s Monday). I’m also making a homemade pot of turkey/beef/bean chili. So any eating period that opens up between FDs and Thanksgiving should be less damaging ๐Ÿ™‚

    Day 19 NZ NFD 82.2kg

    12 days to go and 800gm to go to lose my monthly kg๐Ÿ˜ฌI have been eating well – bangers and mash last night so my weight is OK.
    @jaifaim Everytime Iโ€™m in the UK I seem to come back with a pair of Churchโ€™s!โ˜บ๏ธI also know my size and have occasionally bought them cheaply on eBay. They donโ€™t have any arch support which I love. In 2019 I was in Shanghai with one pair of good Scandinavian walking shoes that had massive hard lumps in the insoles masquerading as arch supports. I woke up with plantar fasciitis and couldnโ€™t walk. Since then I cannot wear shoes with arch supports for any length of time. I have tried to replace the insoles but they are always poor quality, donโ€™t fit well and wear out quicklyโ€ฆ so I stick to my Churchโ€™s!! You are only meant to wear leather shoes for one day at a time and let them dry out so I have fun rotating through them!! Itโ€™s also worth resoling them – slow fashion!
    Your anaphylactic friend is very lucky to have not come across the same allogen. If it hasnโ€™t happened again it sounds like itโ€™s not a regular sandwich ingredient but something odd and accidental that was added to it????
    @funshipfreddie And then thereโ€™s the furniture, a mixture of mainly Georgian and Art Deco and the two walls of booksโ€ฆ I have to really think about what I keep and what goes because itโ€™s an eclectic and interesting mix that has given us great pleasure over the yearsโ€ฆ Iโ€™m not downsizing just doing a rather tough spring clean to find out whatโ€™s hidden away and what I canโ€™t live without, which turns out to be quite a lot!!!
    Microbiomes are fascinating. Approx half of gut bacteria is genetic and the other half environmental. The variation reduces as you get older. Very obese children have very different bacteria in their gut compared to thin kids, prem babies are different to term babies etc. All these reasons contribute to my dislike of industrialised foodsโ€ฆ
    @northgeorgia That sounds delicious. Wish I could come over!!

    Have a great Sunday everyone!

    Day 19 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – FD ๐Ÿ˜ž

    @jaifaim – I really don’t think that was a food intolerance the other day. I know exactly what I ate, because it was the same thing I have at lunchtime almost every day – poached eggs, toast & avo. And a couple of cappuccinos. I did go to a different place though; a place I’ve been to before, but not since last year.

    @merryapple – when you mentioned ‘Church’s shoes’ the other day, I read it as shoes you wore to go to church, duh? I’m not a fan of clutter. Although I understand that one person’s clutter can be another’s treasure. Living in a small cabin for a good part of 15 years showed me just how little I needed. And returning home every 7 or 8 months, it was odd to see all the ‘stuff’ I’d accumulated at home, & to realise I’d forgotten I even had 90% of it.

    From today’s UK Mail – Scientists on the brink of a cure for heart disease:-
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12765345/Scientists-brink-cure-heart-disease-drugs-ALTER-DNA-Just-one-exciting-findings-cardiac-conference-taking-fight-worlds-biggest-killer.html

    @northgeorgia – putting you on the list. I need all the help I can get today ๐Ÿ’ช

    Happy S๐ŸŒžnday!

    Pocket List – Day 19 ๐Ÿฅš
    @funshipfreddie
    @northgeorgia

    Day 19 – USA/GA – FD

    Weigh-in: 227 lbs. Go away. Today’s WFD should help ๐Ÿ™‚

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 19 ๐Ÿฅš
    @funshipfreddie
    @northgeorgia

    Day 19 – Ireland – NFD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    @funshipfreddie Iโ€™m glad to hear that ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ and itโ€™s great that you were ok soon after.
    All go here todayโ€ฆ but checking into keep up the habit and see who is doing what I.e. Sunday fastingโ€ฆ
    Bravo @funshipfreddie and @northgeorgia ๐Ÿ’ช
    Going to switch off now and have a relaxing evening.

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 20 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD 71.0 kg

    That was a quiet weekend on here? I for one was very well-behaved; well, yesterday anyway. Goes without saying on an FD. Planning another one for tomorrow. My scales seem to be stuck at 71 kg. Maybe I need to give them a shake, put in a new battery, or sling them against a wall. Whatever does the trick ๐Ÿคช

    I see Netflix is showing the final season of The Crown. Anyone started watching it yet?

    Hoping our absent friends are okay & just busy with work &/or family obligations. Or binge-watching The Crown ๐Ÿค”

    Exactly 6 weeks (12 FDs?) til 2024. Just sayin’…

    RESOLVE to the Monday fasters – if there are any…? ๐Ÿ‘€ ๐ŸŽฏ

    Day 20 – Ireland – CD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    Hello all, another week where lunches and dinners out will figure.
    So FDs on Tuesday and Thursday this week.
    I do hope everyone is ok as we roll into the last third of November

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 20, London, UK, NFD,

    Morning all, no fasting this weekend, I just didn’t feel like it, and that’s ok, providing I ‘feel’ like it at least 2 FDs this week at work. It’s so much easier to fast at work, so I’m feeling confident!

    @merryapple, when I sold my flat and moved in with my mum๐Ÿฅฐ, I had to put everything into a storage unit, at a cost of ยฃ300+/month, every time I visit to grab, winter clothes or find the perfect pair of shoes (don’t ask!!! I could probably open my own shoe shop if I thought I had too many……………… which of course, I don’t!!๐Ÿ˜‚) I think of all of the things I could/should get rid of, or could have REPLACED with the ยฃ300/month I’ve spent over the last 2 years!!! Convincing myself they’re just ‘things’ is the hard part, I’m a true sentimentalist!!! Maybe you could use the “If I had to pay extortionate fees for a storage unit, what would I keep” game, to help with downsizing!!

    @funshipfreddie, I also went down the shoes to wear to Church rather than shoes made by Church’s route๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜‚, thanks for the 6 week reminder ………… Not!!!๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ˜ฒ

    @northgeorgia, baby steps will still get you to your destination!!!

    Ok, back to work๐Ÿ˜ฑ

    โ€œSuccess is not the absence of failure; itโ€™s the persistence through failure.โ€
    โ€” Aisha Tylor

    Keep the faith folks

    Day 20-No. VA USA-FD

    Hello, fellow fasters! Today is a fast day; weight is slooowwly coming down, I weigh every morning, and I can see the trend, but it is ounces per day, rather than pounds. I expect that is how it came on, also.
    Cold weather, leaves fallen everywhere, getting ready for Thanksgiving. This is a nice time of year.
    I agree with @funshipfreddie that occasionally, the scales need a good shake….

    Day 20 – USA/GA – FD

    Weigh-in: 223 lbs. Today, I’m planning on a FD500, and it will unfortunately be my last FD of the week with Thanksgiving coming up. Still, if successful, I’ll have in my two days this week (finally!!) and be back on track through this rocky holiday period and into 2024.

    Pocket list – day 20
    @northgeorgia

    2nd Post – Day 20

    Pocket List – Day 20 ๐Ÿ„
    @excelsior12309
    @northgeorgia

    Day 20 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

    Okay, I have a new acronym for us: PLLDS–“Post long-list-day smugness”!!! I was up on Saturday morning in time to do some additional tidying–that’s after an amazing amount of tidying and cleaning and productiveness on Friday–as well as get our pork tenderloin for supper into its marinade, then was out the door by 8:10 to drive to my meeting 40 minutes away, then the meeting was finished more than three hours early (when does THAT happen?), which gave me time to–you get the idea. The point is that I never stopped moving and accomplishing, and while many of you seem to think that’s what I do every day, nothing could be further from the truth. When I’m not forced to be productive, I’m right where I am at this moment: at my end of the sofa with my laptop in front of me. The busy three day stretch, starting Friday morning, ended with dinner out in Omaha with four of our dear friends–the other two couldn’t make it–after a lovely two hour performance of much of Handel’s Messiah.

    But now the desserts I’ve indulged in have caught up with me (I made them for after church on Sunday, which is why the leftovers came home with us), and the scale is once again ugly. I’ll send the pan of sweets over to church with DH where it can be served at tomorrow’s blood drive, so at least it won’t be around to tempt me further.

    Today’s plan? Leftovers. No more than the 1500 I always have in mind, and perhaps closer to 1200.

    @merryapple Yup, balancing “keeping the treasures because they’re treasures” and “ditching the treasures because they aren’t actually treasures” is the ongoing challenge in my life. One of the many things I accomplished over the last few days was to put away all my warm-weather clothes and pull out all the cold weather stuff, and try on the pants and only keep out those that are big enough to fit this enlarged body. In the process, I got rid of a dozen tops I’d been keeping as “cool tops” but hadn’t worn in at least five years. Sometimes it takes those five years to talk myself into decisions, you know?

    @jaifaim and @merryapple I have foot challenges (had surgery years ago to insert a steel plate in each big toe “knuckle” that prevents any real bend there), so my love has been costume jewelry for the exact same reason: no matter my weight, the fun necklaces still fit! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

    @jaifaim Your night of dancing sounds fabulous!

    @funshipfreddie So odd about how sick you got on Friday, but so glad it went as fast as it came!

    @excelsior12309 Here’s a way to look at your sloooow progress: it IS progress. I’m so envious of your mojo that you’re accomplishing an actual loss! There. Feel better about your sloooow progress?

    Which is not to say I’m discouraged, because I’m fine. What I ate over the weekend was only slightly more than seems “reasonable,” and that’s our instruction, right? The problem is that “reasonable” is such a loose description, and what was reasonable even five years ago is now “unreasonable.” I’m working on it. It’s a slow process, but I’m working on it.

    Okay, I have actual things to do on this laptop, and I haven’t even made my pot of coffee yet, LOL! Have a grand one, everyone!

    Day 21 NFD 82kg NZ

    I did a FD yโ€™day. Thatโ€™s a 200gm loss for this month and one more weekly weigh-in to goโ€ฆ Hmmm I need ๐Ÿคand a big wooshโ€ฆ
    My two Californian friends were here at the end of their NZ holiday. I had a whirlwind tidy up and cook up for them. It is the first time any friends have visited from my Oakland days in the 80s. I have been back there every 5-10 years and kept the connections going so was delighted to see them here but it just wasnโ€™t long enough!!
    @flourbaby I thought you would know Churchโ€™s shoes being a Londoner! Maybe theyโ€™re not your style? I have two friends with storage units. Itโ€™s fine at the beginning but then it becomes a trap and takes such a lot of effort to reduce the contents. Itโ€™s difficult enough with a houseโ€ฆ
    @excelsior12309 Iโ€™m imagining all those beautiful red and golden coloured trees and the crisp air. Gorgeous!
    @funshipfreddie I know what youโ€™re saying about not needing much to live but Iโ€™m not quite at that stage where the television replaces every other activity in my life. I know thatโ€™s going to happen in 20+ years if I make it that far!
    @jaifaim Keep that check in going! I wonder where the others are?

    Steely Resolve!!

    Day 21 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – FD

    Well, that was a measly-looking pocket list for a Monday?! Even counting @merryapple, only 3 fasters? Maybe we can do better for Tuesday.. ๐Ÿค”

    @stitchincarol – you’re digging out the winter woollies, & we’re packing them away! The temperature reached a balmy 24C yesterday, & I wore shorts for the first time this spring. There’s even a heatwave in Durban; it was 30 C this morning – at 8 am! I’m so glad I moved ๐Ÿฅต๏ธ

    @merryapple – imagine what TVs will look like in 20 years? There were virtually no flat-screens 20 years ago. We’ll probably have holograms floating around the room ๐Ÿ“บ That big whoosh is coming, I’m sure ๐ŸŽฏ

    Hop on the list, fellow-5:2-ers, we can eat tomorrow ๐Ÿ˜œ

    Pocket List – Day 21 ๐Ÿ‡
    @funshipfreddie

    Day 21 – Ireland – FD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    Hello all! Good to be here and am focussed for the end of the month even with events..
    @merryapple yesโ€ฆchecking in is so important for me and keeps me in the zone. Even if sometimes I donโ€™t have much to sayโ€ฆ funny, most mornings I donโ€™t.. Iโ€™m a morning person just not a super chatty morning personโ€ฆ so it is a good task for me to push myself to post first thing. Today instead I took the bike out so now Iโ€™m here. ๐ŸŽฏ
    Isnโ€™t it great to able to pick up with old friends just like thatโ€ฆ but youโ€™re right itโ€™s never long enough is it. I have a friend coming from San Diego today and I cannot wait to see her โ™ฅ๏ธโ™ฅ๏ธโ™ฅ๏ธ she will be in Ireland for 10 days and about half that time with me – when I am not with mum. ๐Ÿ˜

    @stitchincarol you are doing great! You are here! Isnโ€™t that what countsโ€ฆ so sorry to hear about your foot issuesโ€ฆ I wonder does that affect your balance at all? Maybe not as the toe is maybe even stronger now?

    Well done @funshipfreddie @northgeorgia and @merryapple on the Monday fast. I must FD today before my pal arrives.

    @excelsior12309 you sound so focussed – and slowly slowly is the best way to do itโ€ฆ bravo โญ๏ธ

    I agree @flourbaby so much easier to fast at work โ€ฆ even though we have fantastic food hereโ€ฆ andโ€ฆ inspired by all the chat about holding on to stuff I donated a bag of clothes yesterdayโ€ฆ will keep clearing as much as I can..
    I find it hard to let stuff go.. but along with the lbs the clothes can goโ€ฆ.

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 21 ๐Ÿ‡
    @funshipfreddie
    @jaifaim

    Day 21, London, UK, FD

    Yes, @funshipfreddie, we can do better today โ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ.I hope weโ€™re 3 and counting!!!!๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ

    @excelsior12309, weight slooowwly coming down is still weight slooowwly coming down!!! Iโ€™ll take it whichever way I can get it!!!

    I love Autumn, if only for the colours that never cease to amaze me, I saw a gold tree on Sunday!!! No joke, I stopped in my tracks because the sun hit it just right and it wasnโ€™t yellow, or orange or any kind of combination of colours it was a shining GOLD tree surrounded by lots of snap happy folksโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ like me, not that my pic does it justice๐Ÿ˜ž!!!

    @merryapple, no, never heard of Churchโ€™s shoes, definitely my style, perhaps not my budget!!๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ I have a thing for Fly London shoes at the moment, a bit quirky, but most styles offer me the height I (desperately) need in a wedge which wonโ€™t cripple me!! Awaiting delivery of my Fly Yoza mousse in black from the Black Friday sales!!!

    Today feels like a soup day, so, soup for lunch and soup for dinner, hopefully the lentils this evening will be enough protein to satisfy me, otherwise Iโ€™ll have an early night!

    Weโ€™re a little light on challengers this month, I hope everyone is ok, just resetting ready for the nightmare December challenge. Iโ€™m glad Iโ€™m not American (I feel for you guys), 2 challenging months in a row would be trouble as I can develop a bad habit in the blink of an eye, good habits take AGES to stick!!! No doubt the January challenge will start off with lots of participants holding fast to their resolutions!!!!

    @jaifaim, I wish I had discarded my larger clothes when I disposed of the extra lbs!!! That way the slow regain would have been more noticeable ……………….. I definitely wouldn’t leave the house naked, so there would have been no option but to fast my way into the clothes I had!!! Lesson learnt!๐Ÿค”

    โ€œMost of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.โ€
    โ€” Dale Carnegie

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 21 ๐Ÿ‡
    @funshipfreddie
    @jaifaim
    @flourbaby

    Day 21 – USA/GA – OMAD

    Weigh-in: 222 lbs. Today’s weather is supposed to be really rotten. There were tornadoes in Mississippi last night; same system is coming here, but I’m hoping not quite as severe. Because of that, there will be little temptation to go out for a drive in the pouring rain for food at lunchtime. I can’t believe I’m happy with 222 lbs, which has been my lowest weight so far this month. A few months ago, that was a weigh-in after several days of no fasting. Anyway, baby steps back down.

    Day 21 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD

    Yesterday was decent, although probably higher in calories than intended; it’s only this morning, typing that sentence, that I realize I’ve gotten casual about using MFP, so I’ll get back into that routine.

    Our boys have no desire to do Thanksgiving after their shift on Thursday–multiple hours serving Thanksgiving dinners at the country club makes them more interested in going off to be all alone to wind down–so we’re doing our Thanksgiving on Sunday instead. I toyed with inviting friends over and cooking a true feast, but decided it would be lovely to have the day all to ourselves, and DH was completely on board with that plan. So we’ll have a small turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy (to which I’m indifferent, but DH adores), and Brussels sprouts. Even with the oyster appetizer I’m doing and the cherry pie for dessert, it’s a tiny, tiny Thanksgiving dinner, which suits both of us just fine. Sunday will be focused on making all our beloved dishes gluten free; I have the recipes, so we’ll see if the authors of them know what they’re doing and saying when they say we won’t be able to tell the difference. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคž

    @funshipfreddie Oh, that is indeed toasty for only 8am, and this early in your summer season? Ugh, eh? Do you still have friends who live there?

    @merryapple Oh, how fun to have friends visit you from so many years ago!

    @jaifaim And you too have a California friend coming this week…makes me want my California family to come visit; you can be sure I’d cook like a crazy woman if they showed up! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ No, the foot issues are gone; the surgeries were 10 and 8 years ago, and they scraped off all the build up from the arthritis (calcium, maybe? I’ve forgotten), and then screwed in the metal plate so that the joint could no longer bend; that way the pain is gone and the enlarged joint doesn’t come back. Back in the day, the pain was excrutiating, but now there are no problems at all. Well, except that I can no longer wear lovely high heels, but have to settle for sedate pumps with tiny heels that barely count at all! ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

    @flourbaby I went to check out Fly shoes…they are also outside my budget, and probably not my style, but they made me smile to think of you in them! And you made a good point about why it’s good to ditch the clothes that are too big; that may persuade me to do so this time, when I finally get back down again…after dealing with the November-December back-to-back holidays challenge unique to Americans; thanks for the sympathy!

    @northgeorgia Yeah, it fascinates how your and my journeys are so similar, and have been for a long time now. One of us has to break this horrid pattern!

    Well, mouse #4 just got caught–like JUST, as I was typing. There’s no way to know, but I have a sense that there’s still one more in the house. We’ll see, but it’s lovely to know there are four gone!!! The big question is how long did we have them before we even realized? YUCK.

    Have a grand one, everyone!

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 21 ๐Ÿ‡
    @funshipfreddie
    @jaifaim
    @flourbaby
    @stitchincarol WFD

    Day 22 NFD NZ 81.6kg

    Only .4kg to go now to reach my monthly goal. FD tomorrow and 9 days left. Steely resolve is required!
    @flourbaby Your favourite shoes are sold here in Auckland and they are one of my friends favourite shoes! Too high heels for me but I like looking! I hope your weight is sloowly coming down too. I love reading your chatty posts!
    @jaifaim Itโ€™s so nice to have old friends to stay. When you meet up after a big gap in time and realise that you still like them itโ€™s such a pleasure! โ˜บ๏ธ
    @northgeorgia Well done! Thatโ€™s an auspicious number -three twos in a row!
    @funshipfreddie Iโ€™m trying hard to hit the bullโ€™s-eye! Billy made two works made using holograms back in the early 70s using photographs. Itโ€™s scary to think we might have television characters walking through our living rooms. If you watch crime and punishment movies you could have a dastardly crook lurking in the cornerโ€ฆ I wouldnโ€™t mind having a room full of Emperor penguins but Iโ€™m sure Boo-Boo wouldnโ€™t like lions and tigers even if the programme is narrated by David Attenborough!! On that note our scientists in Antarctica are telling us the ozone hole is getting larger. Itโ€™s more than CFCs in play now. The consequence is more UV light coming through the atmosphereโ€ฆ
    @stitchincarol Youโ€™re doing well knocking off your house mouses – hice mice doesnโ€™t quite work unless youโ€™ve got a dreadful accent! Yum! Cherry pie!!! Lovely to have your immediate family gathered around.

    Steely resolve and NO seconds, like the Queen!!!!

    Day 22 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD 71.0 kg

    @stitchincarol – thanks for that graphic description of your Thanksgiving dinner; on a FD?! I was almost salivating over my keyboard. And that was before I’d even gotten to the cherry pie ๐Ÿ˜ณ Luckily it was 5:45 pm when I read it; just 15 minutes before I could tuck into my apple ๐Ÿ˜… Yes, I still have friends in Durban. The climate is so different there, even though it’s only about 1000 km away. You sort of get used to it, and air-con makes it tolerable. Officially it’s not even summer yet, but I heard the temperature inland is reaching 40 C in some areas ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

    @jaifaim – I didn’t fast Monday, but I did Sun/Tues. Next one Friday, I think.

    @flourbaby – ‘two challenging months’. That made me think. I mean, we create our own problems. Traditionally Christmas was supposed to be a day or two. And Thanksgiving is supposed to be one day, I imagine. But we go overboard with the excess. ‘Black Friday’ seems to be a month long now too. It’s madness. We need to go back to basics. Humbug ๐Ÿคฃ

    @merryapple – Boo Boo would not be thrilled about lions & tigers roaming around the room, but she’d love a few squirrels, birds & chipmunks, even if they were holograms. She already spends way too much time watching cat videos on YouTube. At least she doesn’t try to get inside the TV anymore ๐Ÿฟ

    Happy Hump Day! ๐Ÿซ

    Day 22 – Ireland – CD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    Good morning! I had a good FD and will be as focussed as possible over the coming days and weekend. @merryapple and @stitchincarol yes itโ€™s so great to have her home for a little while.. it will fly๐Ÿ’• I was going to say sheโ€™s actually not Californian but she really is โ€ฆ as has lived there since her twenties and is more Californian now than Irish ๐Ÿ˜‚ we donโ€™t get to see her that much so the weekend will be a lot of fun when a few of us get together๐Ÿคฉ

    @flourbaby I have one pair of FLY London shoes.. summer sandals like the old style toe in sandals with cut out detailโ€ฆ and I love them. Have had them years and perfect for Irish summer and a gorgeous bright red. โ™ฅ๏ธ enjoy yours when you get them! As we say here: Wear Well. ๐Ÿ˜

    @stitchincarol your Thanksgiving dinner sounds perfect and Iโ€™ll be interested to hear how the gluten free options go down. To all the other ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ gangโ€ฆ enjoy the prep and the day.

    Hi everyone elseโ€ฆ so very few of us this month bit Iโ€™m sure others are there but not checking in.. ๐Ÿ‘‹.

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 22, London, UK, NFD,

    Yesterdayโ€™s FD was ok-ish. A few peanuts fell into my mouth!! I have no credible excuse except โ€˜they were thereโ€™!!๐Ÿคฃ Anyway, todays NFD will be controlled, I have a prawn salad with avocado and a garlicky yoghurt dressing for my OMAD which should balance out the peanut episode!!๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ

    The thing I need to focus on is EXERCISE, Iโ€™ve decided to walk at least 30mins per day even though I promised I would reacquaint myself with Leslie Sansone and do some Walk, Walk, Walking at home! Itโ€™s now Day 22 and Iโ€™ve only done a 45 minute โ€˜Walk at Homeโ€™ once, which I enjoyed EXCEPT โ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ Leslie kept telling me how important that 1st meal of the day was, โ€˜After all it breaks your fast and gives you energy for your productive dayโ€™๐Ÿ˜ฒ๐Ÿ˜ฒ Ohhhh, Leslie!!!!๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคจ๐Ÿ˜ž Stick to the exercise!!!

    @stitchincarol, Thanksgiving dinner sounds fab!! No need to have the table groaning under a mountain of food!!! Itโ€™s easier without guests, I never want guests to feel underfed๐Ÿ˜, but I also need to not put them under pressure to sample everything & eat like lumberjacks!!!!

    @jaifaim, half your time with your friend and half with your mum โ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ..perfection!!!๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿฅฐ

    @funshipfreddie & @merryapple technology is progressing soooo quickly I fear being left behind, truly scared!!! I remember a task to be innovative and inventive during the early days of my engineering degree many moons ago, when we came up with, amongst lots of nonsense, an all in one toothbrush/toothpaste tube combo (๐Ÿคญ), โ€˜Baby Velcroโ€™ where you could have Velcro pads on the wall and on baby clothing so you could stick them on the wall for vacuuming (or just peace & quiet!) etc๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ and my favouriteโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ the hand phone, a speaker inserted in your thumb and a microphone in your pinkie finger. With technology moving as quickly as it is, THIS is not far off, I saw a watch advert recently where you can tap thumb to index finger to do all sorts!!!! Donโ€™t get me started on AI either๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ!!!

    Keep the faith folks, persistence is key!!!

    Success is what comes after you stop making excusesโ€. ~ Luis Galarza

    Day 22 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

    I continue to be perplexed why I can do a WF with almost no challenges, but NFDs are awful, awful, awful. It’s in my mind, I’m sure, but I have yet to unlock the key to why I do so badly on NFDs. At least the WFs are “saving me,” more or less, even if they aren’t accomplishing the weight loss I mean them to do.

    @merryapple I KNOW you can lose that last big of weight yet in November; steely resolve, indeed!

    @funshipfreddie Okay, now, 40C gets my attention. That is indeed roasting and miserable. Poor Durban.

    @jaifaim I was wondering how you wound up with a friend in San Diego, and now it makes sense that she STARTED in Ireland. I’ll bet her accent charmed everyone when she arrived in California!

    @flourbaby This got my attention: “prawn salad with avocado and a garlicky yoghurt dressing.” Do you have a recipe to share????

    You all made me smile and chuckle at your various responses to my mention of our Thanksgiving Day dinner. Sorry, but I can’t resist: what’s missing is homemade cranberry sauce, Nebraska corn (friends give us a couple dozen ears during the summer and I cut it off, cook it a bit, freeze it in bags, and it’s better than any corn you’ve ever had), green bean casserole (complete with cream of mushroom soup and fried onions, two things I never cook with except on Thanksgiving), sweet potatoes in orange shells, homemade dinner rolls, also a homemade pumpkin pie, a homemade peach pie (I don’t buy anything already made, but make it all from scratch), and a pie made by DS27 because he doesn’t like cooked fruit. And, often, for breakfast, I make fresh apple buns and serve fresh squeezed orange juice, saving the orange shells for the sweet potatoes; otherwise, we just enjoy the juice with nothing else. Oh, and I have a lovely little dish, just big enough to hold perhaps 18 olives lined up side by side, and that’s out for an “appetizer.” ๐Ÿ˜‡๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿฅฐ

    There. Now THAT’S a true Thanksgiving feast, and you can truly gasp and salivate and react, LOL! See how much I’ve restrained myself that I’ve never described our Thanksgiving dinner? And, honestly, after every Thanksgiving of my life always having a huge number of dishes, it feels a bit pathetic to have so little–it feels like NOT Thanksgiving. But that’s just in the planning of it; I think the reality will be perfectly fine and lovely.

    But I truly must quit my chatter; much to do today. Have a grand one, everyone!

    Day 22 – USA/GA – NFD

    Weigh-in: 224 lbs. I’ll catch up with everyone soon. Thanksgiving cooking happening today and tomorrow ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Day 23 NZ FD Thanksgiving Day 81.1kg

    I donโ€™t know where to start – with a big woosh or having a FD on Thanksgiving???!
    Iโ€™m going to make a pumpkin pie with a crushed ginger biscuit base. Does that make it a pumpkin cheesecake?!
    I think my woosh came about because Iโ€™m eating sourdough and porridge or muesli for breakfast and a wrap for lunch – ie carbs in the first part of the day for energy then protein at dinner for repair – a lamb leg steak on top of a baby spinach salad dressed with a wee bit of nice quality olive oilโ€ฆ
    Thatโ€™s this week anyway!!!
    @stitchincarol Yum! I love the way families have must have traditional foods once a year for holidays. I remember my mother making orange sauce rather than brandy sauce to go with the Xmas pud one year and she was howled down. There was nothing wrong with it, it just wasnโ€™t right! Iโ€™ll have to wait for Christmas to attend my next laden tableโค๏ธ
    @flourbaby When William Gibson wrote Neuromancer and coined terms like cyberspace, jacking in, netsurfing, neural implants and the matrix it was speculative at the time but did mostly come true! Your version – Velcroing babies to a wall doesnโ€™t quite have the farsightedness, more a convenience!! I do like your hang-loose finger phone!!
    @funshipfreddie There will be lots of Westies that would go mad for hologram squirrels. I doubt that their owners would cope๐Ÿ˜„
    @jaifaim I hope your woosh is on the way!
    @at Are you there? We love having your commentary. Please do just stay in touch!

    Have a happy Thanksgiving Day!!

    Day 23 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD – ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Happy Thanksgiving! ๐Ÿฆƒ ๐Ÿฅง

    Feels like it should be a FD today, but I’m going to the local golf club for lunch. I will NOT be playing golf though ๐Ÿ˜… Golf & fishing – two ‘sports’ that baffle me. So it’ll have to be another Friday FD.

    It’s a glorious spring day, so I’m off to rack up some steps before lunch ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐ŸŒค

    Pocket List – Day 23 ๐Ÿ’
    @merry๐ŸŽ

    Day 23, London, UK, FD

    Itโ€™s a quick one from me today, busy, busy getting some work done!!

    Iโ€™ll keep you company through your jaw dropping Thanksgiving FD @merryapple. I expect that whoosh is giving you some serious fasting power!!!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ Would this be similar to me fasting on Xmas day๐Ÿ˜ง or Easter Sunday???๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜‹

    @funshipfreddie, Iโ€™m with you on the golf and fishing thing, @at wonโ€™t be happy, but Iโ€™m throwing cricket in that particular hat too!!!๐Ÿฅฑ๐Ÿฅฑ๐Ÿฅฑ

    Have a great Day of Thanksgiving ๐Ÿฆƒ!!

    โ€œI have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” โ€“ Audre Lorde

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 23 ๐Ÿ’
    @merry๐ŸŽ
    @flourbaby

    Day 23 – Ireland – FD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ

    Hello, posting but havenโ€™t read etcโ€ฆ very busy here with work and with mum too so will check in later.

    Power to the fasters ๐Ÿ’ช

    Oh and happy Thanksgiving ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 23 – USA/GA – NFD, obviously

    Weigh-in: 225. It’ll be a scary weigh-in on Sunday LOL OK, happy Thanksgiving fellow Americans…

    Day 23 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD: It’s Thanksgiving!

    Yesterday was a day to celebrate as far as restrained and behaved eating: depending on how much turkey noodle soup I had for lunch and how many calories it is, and on how many calories in the baguette I was given, and how much of it I ate, I believe I was somewhere between 1500 and 1600–and perhaps below 1500 if the damage on the soup and baguette was not as I as I estimated. And I hit 10K steps, which means my total calorie expenditure for the day was far above the 1500 I always assume I’ll burn (yesterday was close to 2,000), so even if I went over my 1500 goal, I still burned all I ate.

    Today? Well, this may be a different story, LOL! I haven’t yet put recipes and servings into MFP, but plan to, and DH and I are planning to go for a walk at some point today (a first for us on Thanksgiving, but possible because our “feast” is so small), so that will help compensate.

    @merryapple Yup, a FD on Thanksgiving is definitely not the norm, LOL! Have you always celebrated Thanksgiving? Are you originally an American? Do ‘xplain!

    @funshipfreddie Enjoy your golf club lunch, and may your steps in the morning add up quickly!

    @flourbaby A busy day at work is the perfect way to sail through a FD!

    @jaifaim Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes even on your busy, busy day!

    @northgeorgia You and I had the same thought when we typed our header today!

    First thing I’m doing this morning is mixing up the pie dough and chilling it, so I’ll drink some coffee and then get up and go do that. Have a grand day, everyone!

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 23 ๐Ÿ’
    @merry๐ŸŽ
    @flourbaby
    @jaifaim

    Day 24 NZ NFD 80.5kg๐Ÿซข

    Possibly what made a difference is having two nights of simple Chinese style home cooked tofu dishes this weekโ€ฆ Iโ€™m a wee bit shocked!! It just goes to show variety is the spice of life.

    @stitchincarol I started school in Boston at the age of 5 – my father worked at Boston Universityโ€™s newly formed nephrology dept for 3 years before returning to NZ to open the renal unit at Wellington Hospital. I sat my Californian RN exams and worked in Oakland for 3 1/2 yrs. My DH lived in NYC for 30 years and held NZ and US passports. So we always celebrated Thanksgiving in honour of our American friends!

    I am doing a change of season clothing spring clean and spent yโ€™day trying on and dispatching the overly large sizes. I am never going to go back there because this WOL works for me. If only I had discovered it years ago! Well I did in 2018 but didnโ€™t keep it up. I also washed my winter jerseys to put away. Itโ€™s raining with a high of 18 today so I might be prematureโ€ฆ

    Remember thereโ€™s Thanksgiving Day then thereโ€™s the leftoversโ€ฆ Make a plan!!

    1 week to go! Steely Resolveโ€ฆ

    Day 24 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – FD ๐Ÿ‘€

    @merryapple – way to go! Whatever you’re doing – keep doing it! ๐ŸŽฏ

    @flourbaby – cricket?! I didn’t even think of that ๐Ÿคฃ Many S Africans are really passionate about it too. I was persuaded by a friend to go & watch her son & his school’s team playing a few years ago. Longest afternoon of my life. Every so often people would stand up & applaud, & I couldn’t figure out why, because it didn’t seem like anything had happened ๐Ÿ˜ด

    Check out Dolly Parton, at 77! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-12785615/Country-icon-Dolly-Parton-sends-crowd-wild-Dallas-performs-NFL-Thanksgiving-halftime-Commanders-Cowboys-game.html

    Happy Fri-yay! ๐Ÿน

    โ€œA little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best medicines and the best doctors.โ€ ~ Mark Twain

    Pocket List – Day 24 ๐Ÿฅฌ๏ธ
    @funshipfreddie

    Day 24, London, UK, NFD,

    Office breakfast today, Iโ€™ve a sausage sarnie on my desk, roll on 2pm, MY breakfast time!!!

    Yesterdayโ€™s FD was another ok-ish one, laziness is thwarting my efforts, I didnโ€™t plan well at the weekend so Iโ€™m using soups for FDs rather than the higher protein menuโ€™s I had started the month using. Looking forward to prepping & planning during my 2 weeks off at Xmas, going back to a 5 day week may keep me too busy to think๐Ÿ˜ข & out of the memory filled house, but itโ€™s bloominโ€™ exhausting!!!!๐Ÿฅฑ๐Ÿฅฑ๐Ÿฅฑ

    @funshipfreddie, no doubt your friend thought her son was the next โ€œinsert name of famous cricketer Iโ€™ve never heard of โ€ฆ. hereโ€๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

    Good grief, Dolly could be my mother (just!!), yet a visual comparison would have most people thinking the opposite!!!๐Ÿ™„๐Ÿ™„๐Ÿ˜‰

    I hope those who celebrated Thanksgiving arenโ€™t buried under those leftovers @merryapple!!! No doubt theyโ€™ll resurface soon๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ

    Keep the faith folks!!!

    โ€œDon’t wait. The time will never be just right.” -Napoleon Hill

    Day 24 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD, or perhaps OMAD

    Well, that was the most unusual Thanksgiving of my life…and it was purely delightful. Spent lots of time reading (when does the cook have time to read on Thanksgiving????) and kept the dishes washed as I went, and our dinner was delicious and we neither of us missed the traditional foods that weren’t there…I’ll look back on this day with fondness. A bit surprisingly, the scales are up a full two pounds; that surprises me because I didn’t actually eat all that much. What’s more, because I prefer a Thanksgiving dinner served somewhere between 3 and 4, or 5 in a pinch, but not at noon as so many in this area of the country choose, and not at a usual dinner time of 6 or 7 (and we ate at 4:10 yesterday), I was done eating by 5 and didn’t have another morsel until I went to bed. So why the two pounds? Who knows, but I truly ate reasonably yesterday (shockingly, given the day), so I’m not going to be troubled by the scale this morning.

    @merryapple Yet another drop on the scale; well done! You’ve truly been all over the world in your life, haven’t you?

    @funshipfreddie I was watching that game and the half time show, and Dolly sounded really good–I wondered if she were lip syncing–but what really got my attention is how often she grabbed the “wall” behind her. She moved her feet very, very little, mostly stood in place and swung her arms, and when she did move, it wasn’t to “dance” but to walk back and forth–and grab that wall, as if she wanted the security for her balance. So, she did great (and to wear the same thing as the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders? WOWZA!!!) but she certainly betrayed her age with the details. Made me sad even as I was impressed.

    @flourbaby Two weeks off at Christmas?? Is that your choice, or does your whole office get that? I’m sure you’re looking forward to it!

    As to our Thanksgiving leftovers, I have about 2/3 of our turkey breast remaining, so it’s perfect for sandwiches, and a fair amount of mashed potatoes, but I’ll save those for Sunday so the boys can have some if they want. There are leftover Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts, but I’ll also save those for the same reason. The leftover gravy interests me not at all. The biggie is the cherry pie and there’s about 3/4 of that remaining. Not sure what I’ll do with it, especially since I’m baking a peach pie for Sunday, but I’m leaning toward freezing serving-size pieces of it.

    Today is a busy day, with what’s usually Thursday morning church work to do this morning, a Zoom call at 11:15 with my sisters, a Nebraska football game from 11 to 2, Thanksgiving decorations to put away, Christmas decorations to begin, and GF bread to make so I can cube it up and start the process of drying it for the dressing on Sunday. Good grief, LOL, but I do put a lot on my shoulders some days, don’t I? The decorations are not mandatory–everything else is–but they are what I care about the most, so we’ll see just how much gets done. It helps that I was awake at 6am, so that gives me more hours to get things done.

    Have a grand one, everyone!

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 24 ๐Ÿฅฌ๏ธ
    @funshipfreddie

    Day 24-No. VA USA- FD 800
    Had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with some family member and two young people who were away from family this holiday. It was fun! We had a “heritage ” turkey from a VA farm; very delicious. And someone brought a pumpkin pie. Hope you all had a good day, too!

    Day 24 – USA/GA – NFD

    Weigh-in: 226 lbs. My jeans that were fine a few months back are feeling tight and packed. Not a good sign. Anyway, Thanksgiving was nice but a little sad this year. I got to get back into the 210s and eventually find my way back to the 200s where I last dipped into that area a few times in 2022. Getting too close to 230 for my liking.

    2nd Post – Day 24

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 24 ๐Ÿฅฌ๏ธ
    @funshipfreddie
    @excelsior12309 FD800

    Day 24 – Ireland – CD ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœ… ๐ŸŒพ
    155,5lbs

    Hi all, it is a sad day in Ireland today with two incidents in Dublin yesterday which have affected most of us and our lovely capital which was attacked and looted by thugs following a shocking incident earlier in the day. They say they were demonstratingโ€ฆ they werenโ€™t.
    Our government need to crack down on people who have nothing better to do with their timeโ€ฆ

    But a hero has come out of this all. ๐Ÿฆธโ€โ™€๏ธ โญ๏ธ A wonderful man from Brazil and power to the fabulous strong women of the north inner city who always think community and justice first ๐Ÿ’ช

    Anyway.. Iโ€™m trying to work but am distractedโ€ฆ
    Glad to be back down towards maintenance.

    Onward and downward โฌ‡๏ธ
    We rise by lifting others ๐Ÿ’•

    Day 25 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD 71.2 kg

    Saturday morning PFDS & I’ve moved off my 71 kg plateau; but in the wrong direction ๐Ÿคช Another FD tomorrow, maybe…

    @jaifaim – I saw that?! And how ironic that an immigrant helped to save those children, after the thugs/rioters claimed to be protesting against immigrants?

    @stitchincarol – I wondered what Dolly was wearing on her feet, but you can’t see her shoes in the video. Probably ridiculously high heels, that someone even half her age wouldn’t normally wear. Maybe that would explain her reluctance to move much? And that was a peculiarly-shaped stage, it appears to be points of a star that she holds onto, where the stage becomes narrower at the sides.
    Here’s the YouTube clip for anyone who wants to see it:-
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFE6SNXoZuE

    Michael Mosley’s weekly column:-
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12788629/why-listening-favourite-tunes-good-painkiller.html

    Have a good weekend everyone ๐ŸŒค๐ŸŒˆ

    Day 25 – USA/GA – NFD

    Weigh-in: 228 lbs. Egads, things are getting out of control. Tomorrow will be a FD. I did manage to average out as the same weight as last week, though — so not bad for a Thanksgiving week. But I am worried. I find myself caring less and less. I think it must be another stage of grief, but I’m punishing my body for some reason. I need to reset my mind and get back to good choices on NFDs.

    Day 25 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

    I’m up another 0.2lbs this morning, which is more what I was expecting, and rather negates the surprise of the 2lb gain yesterday morning. It’s already noon and my lunch was just a sandwich (turkey, of course, LOL) without any of the other calories that could be tempting, so I’m on track for a well-behaved day.

    I’m slowly getting Christmas decorations out; the trees will be the last thing I do and probably not until next week. I’m about ready to start the GF bread I need for tomorrow’s stuffing, and I’m stopping occasionally to take a break and knit on the sleeves of a sweater I have in progress. Oh, and a football game is on the TV; I don’t care about it but it’s a lovely soundtrack to the day. In other words, it’s a glorious day.

    Which leads to my comment/question. I have often lost weight during December over the years, and that’s because much of my eating is because of boredom and lack of focus; because I so love the holiday season, and I’m busy doing things I love–even baking!–I tend not to eat as much and have lost weight fairly easily. So I’m focusing on making excellent food choices during this time that historically helps me lose weight. (Yeah, weird, I know.)

    Why do you eat? When is it toughest for you not to over-consume and when do you find it easier? Is there anything that almost guarantees you’ll over-eat?

    I think that kind of self-examinatino is very helpful–at least it is for me–so I thought I’d raise the question.

    @jaifaim I almost never watch any news, so had heard nothing, but I’m so sorry for the heartache you’re experiencing. But, I saw the good news that you’re really close to being back at your target weight!

    @northgeorgia I can hear the indifference you’re feeling, but don’t let it be what guides you. You DO care: I know you care, everyone else on here knows you care, and YOU know you care, way under all the pain and commotion that your days are this year. We’re all holding on to you as tightly as we can, and will help you stay on this wagon until you manage to be holding on all by yourself. ๐Ÿ’ž

    Okay, back to my to-do list!

    Day 26 NZ NFD 80.7kg

    0n Friday I went to a memorial lecture at the Art History Dept for the husband of one of my close friends who died 5 yrs ago. His area of expertise was Nthern European art and the Hapsburg Tapestries. It was very touching to see how moved his students were about his guidance and scholarship. We then adjourned back to their house and had delicious food and drink.
    I spent some heavy duty time in the garden yโ€™day which I havenโ€™t done for some time.

    @jaifaim OMG I read the news on the BBC ap after I read your post. How awfulโ€ฆ and unsettling for you. Sadly social media has created a platform for some of the worst attributes of human nature to rise to the surface.

    @stitchincarol Great to hear you had such a lovely Thanksgiving Day.
    Iโ€™ve never been to Africaโ€ฆ
    I know what you mean about being busy over Christmas and New Year. However it was always the left overs after the big days that got at me – mince pies, Xmas pud and brandy butter, shortbread, ham etc etc!

    @northgeorgia If I can use my own experience as an example, the first year after my DH died I was having to deal with both his and my motherโ€˜s estates plus carrying on our timetable which was always set down a year in advance. It was the second year I crashed and I ate for comfort and put on a lot of weight very quickly. By the time I got to 93kg I thought Iโ€™ve got to reign myself in and start taking care of myself. I used my New Yearโ€™s resolutions as a motivator and I rejoined 5:2 last January. Donโ€™t be too hard on yourself but do recognise the effects of grief as youโ€™re doing. As your feelings of grief become more conscious you can experience them without so much psychic pain and begin to reduce trying to push them down with food. Another factor that comes into play is that no longer do you have a father to protect you, his son, so you have to step into your new adult role. I donโ€™t know if this is any help to you – Iโ€™m not a psychologist, these are my observations from the school of life and I didnโ€™t have any counselling as I felt my grief was personal and private. My heart goes out to you and Iโ€™m sending strength. Kia Kaha.

    @funshipfreddie In reference to your quote, my father used to say the best time to study is when youโ€™re a little cold and a little hungry!
    I did notice Dollyโ€™s not standing as straight as she might so I guess age is catching up.

    @excelsior12309 I assume a heritage turkey is one that actually got to run around a paddock?!

    Go well everyone!

    Day 26 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – FD

    @stitchincarol – I don’t think I over-consume. Which probably sounds a bit pompous; but I think it’d be a different story if my circumstances were different. Living with a family, maybe having to cook for other people, &/or going out to work. I imagine the biggest obstacle for most people is – other people. Living with people who don’t share the same goals, habits, lifestyle or aspirations, that can’t be easy. I tend to eat at the same times every day. But I do ‘pick’ sometimes, especially maybe the day after a FD, between lunch & dinner. If I’m getting a drink, then I’ll maybe peer into the fridge or cupboard & look for something to nibble on. But there’s never really anything there that’s going to do much damage ๐Ÿ˜‡

    @northgeorgia – ditto what Carol said. You do care; enough to still be here anyway. Just keep posting & keep trying, one day at a time..

    Pocket List – Day 26 ๐ŸŽฏ
    @funshipfreddie
    @northgeorgia

    โ€œWhen you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.โ€ โ€“ Thomas Jefferson

    Day 25-No. VA USA-NFD

    So nice to have a “long weekend” of Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun off work!. I am doing activities around the house that have been waiting for a while. Also, yesterday was an indulgent day, in which many starchy foods were consumed…by me…because I felt like it at the time…so now my weight was up 2 # from yesterday. Of course.

    @merryapple, a heritage turkey refers to an older breed, not much in commerce anymore. I believe these live trotting around the fields, in the fresh air. They really are more flavorful than the more standard ones we have always eaten in the past. But on Thanksgiving, many people enjoy the side dishes like stuffing and roasted vegetables more than the turkey!

    @northgeorgia, you will get there; right now, we need to wheel the wagon over to you to climb up.
    I am right behind you!

    Day 26 – USA/GA – FD

    Weigh-in: 228 lbs. Glad to have made it to a FD. Next one will be Wednesday (I have lunch meetings on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday …egads)!

    Thanks to everyone for the support. Yes, I guess I do care — I just need to find comfort in something other than food ๐Ÿ™‚ Having all of these leftover Thanksgiving cakes we made lying around doesn’t help, either. Got to take them to work haha

    I bought a couple of boxes of cereal this weekend (sale at 99 cents a box) — something I hadn’t done in a year or more. Had a small bowl yesterday morning, and within an hour or so, I felt horrible and it worsened throughout the morning. I ate some real food at lunch and that averted the troubles. I promptly gave those away to my niece and nephew. Temptation, quick delight, horrible consequence, and decisive action haha

    Anyway, I’m determined to run away from the 230 monster and head back into the arms of 210.

    Pocket List โ€“ Day 26 ๐ŸŽฏ
    @funshipfreddie
    @northgeorgia

    Day 27 FD NZ 81.2kg

    I had a friend for dinner last night. (Wasnโ€™t that the immortal last line in Silence of the Lambsโ€ฆ?) I had 1 small overripe banana so halved the recipe and made a wee banana cake. I added the baking powder with the flour but forgot the baking soda sitting mixed with milk and ready to go on the benchโ€ฆ The flavour was OK but the texture looked and felt like a discus or a cow pat! Not that Iโ€™ve eaten eitherโ€ฆ๐Ÿ˜ถ
    @excelsior12309 Lucky turkey! Great stuffing is like a deluxe sausage!๐Ÿ˜‹
    I hope all those who were keen at the beginning of the month but have fallen away will join us for December. It can take a bit to get going and itโ€™s well worth it in the end. And you get to do a reset month by month. Cheers!
    Iโ€™m off to take my Mini in for a warrant of fitness and I hope a clean c/- of the BMWorkshop.

    4 days – with two FDs for me – to go before November is up!
    Kia Kaha everyone! (Stay Strong)

    Pocket List
    @merry๐ŸŽ

    2nd post

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1j4AEl8Vu-1U1PiKnE0x8hRybmI3XK2qkIa9nLPTm2_A/edit#gid=0

    Hereโ€™s the December sheet for us all.
    Does anyone want to host December?๐Ÿ˜ƒ

    Day 27 โ€“ South Africa ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ – NFD 70.8 kg

    I finally got a mini-whoosh after my Fri/Sun FDs. I’m more or less back to where I was at the start of the month. One more November FD on Wednesday for me..

    @merryapple – what a coincidence? I’m also up & heading out early to put my Kia (no Kaha) in for its annual check-up. Thanks for the very festive-looking December spreadsheet ๐ŸŽ„

    Last few days of November. Have a good week everyone

    โ€œPeople often say that motivation doesnโ€™t last. Well, neither does bathing โ€“ thatโ€™s why we recommend it daily.โ€ ~ Zig Ziglar

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