Day 13 USA (Illinois – far from the tornado damage, thank the Lord) NFD

Just home from Silver Sneakers where a plate of Christmas cookies was brought to thank us for taking care of our eldest exercise partner, John, who is 93. His DIL baked. I brought home several selections to share with DH, and he proceeded to EAT THEM ALL! I had asked him to save me one little caramel in a small round pretzel. Obviously, I need to hide things from him if I want something. So, I guess I wasn’t supposed to indulge in that sweet today. Made homemade cream of mushroom soup that was delicious for lunch.

@stitchincarol – you are so funny! Since when is some item fully elusive at a smorgasbord of food?! Go figure. “Quick on, quick off” does seem to be my mantra when there is an overnight gain. Here’s to your quick off regimen.

@northgeorgia – sure do hope your ear infection heals up quickly.

Onward and downward.

Day 14 – Lake District UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Finally got round to nailing a MOAM walk yesterday, not done one for a while, rapid walk up the village and continued up the long hill to the top, certainly breathing heavily when I got to the top! By the time I was back home, only 20 minutes or so round trip, felt really good, clear head and wide awake!

Sounds like todays going to be a Christmas supermarket shop, then all we need next week will be fresh veg etc! Good news is (skip this bit non fishy persons) the store we’re heading off to has recently opened a SUSHI bar … treat time for me!

Take care all

Day 14 UK NFD

Very happy to have nailed a straightforward <500 cals FD- no cheating or guessing and I feel better this morning for it

🍤what a dull world it would be if we all liked the same things @funshipfreddie

Aiming for a decent controlled day , out for lunch tomorrow 🌲

Day 14 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

I had a good solid FD yesterday, went to bed a little hungry but slept really well and woke feeling refreshed. Now aiming for a couple of days of controlled healthy food choices before next FD on Thursday. Meals planned in advance, that always helps, and will stay dry till Fri.

@daffodil2010 glad you got reassurance from your consultant, health worries are so distracting. Enjoy your family celebrations. I expect more of the old gang will be back here in January.

Determined to have a good week, sticking to my resolve will reduce the risk of too big a silly season gain 😉

Have a great day all.

Day 14 – 16:8

Successful FD 500 yesterday- the first true 500 day I have managed in December. Bit the bullet and got on the scale and was relieved to see a 1lb drop since November. I’ll gladly take it.

I am at that in between stage where I’m looking ok, and comparatively (to mid-summer weight) quite good. But still a good 10lb above goal. This is the ‘danger Will Robinson’ stage for me because I find it way to easy to just say ‘You have done so well, just have what you want today’. Motivation is difficult and different now, I need to keep firmly planted in my fore-brain that health-wise I think I should drop the last 10. And keep eating my veggies!

We have a planned trip to see my father and Chicago area family in early April (if Covid allows). It would be lovely to have met my goal by then. So I need to beat that onto my brain as well. In Chicago we will see my naturally slim sister, and while I’m happy to say she has never done or said anything to compare our body differences, I am always aware of it in her presence.

@funshipfreddie Thank You!! As another who does not eat shellfish (the smell is what affects me for any and all seafood) I get a lot of judgmental comments and looks so your response has now been appropriated. I’ve never understood why others get so interested, agitated, and frustrated by my eating preferences (and egg allergy). I understand that I limit others by avoiding seafood restaurants (as the smell is my problem) but I can always find an entree and enjoy a meal anywhere else. I avoid the subject when possible, and certainly don’t bring it up myself, so am always confused by the intense scrutiny what I eat engenders.

It looks like our ten person pocket-list worked dang well for many yesterday, kudos to us all!

@stitchincarol and @songbirdme I am also familiar with that elusive search for something to hit the tastebuds just right – leading to indiscriminate snacking. Like an itch that wants to be scratched but is better off left alone.

Got to run now, I hope everyone has a good day.

Day 15 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@songbirdme – escargot?!! No. No no no no, and…no again. I’d rather jump out of a plane with a dodgy parachute 😱

Wishing RESOLVE to today’s fasters 🎯

Happy Hump Day! 🐫 🐪

Day 15 – Lake District UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

@at – Scout Scar, yes we regularly amble around that area, on a clear day the views across the Lyth valley and towards the Langdales are pretty impressive. Shame about the misty weather the last few days.

@daffodil2010 – Maryport, on the coast up in the NW corner, land of the ‘Marras and Morts’ (hope you meet up with some of the older generation who speak the dialect, especially around Aspatria 😉 You’re handy for two particularly nice areas, Bassenthwaite and Derwent Water, also three other even nicer areas in my opinion, Lowes Water, Crummock Water and Buttermere.
Take your walking boots and fingers crossed for nice weather for you. Cold and crispy with some sunshine would be spectacular.

Off out into town…again!

Take care all

Day 15 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 215 lbs (almost 214). ZBC today, and then our lunch group will exchange presents, probably at Olive Garden. I’ll do a FD tomorrow.

Good luck to all today!

Day 15 – FD 500

@brightonbelle – wow I did not even know there was a current Lost in Space show! In college, we used to gather in the TV room above our school cafeteria and watch Lost in Space reruns. I’ve been using that phrase for decades 😂

@i-hate-lettuce every time I see your header, I think if Eliza Bennett and how they had to change their vacation plans because they did not have enough time to visit the Lake District. I think I’ll take it as a sign I need to pull out my Austen and do a reread. It has probably been a decade or more since I did.

@Dafodil2010 I think that meal would have been too much for me. I did once go to a dinner party where they served salmon as a main course. But I had an odd trick that got me through it. I had surgery as a young adult that left my tastebuds on 1/2 my tongue disconnected. Now this is not generally a problem, eating slowly and chewing food gives me the impression that I have a full taste all through the mouth (I imagine it is partly a trick of my brain as well.). So that night I cut the salmon into tiny pieces I could pop onto the non-tasting part of my mouth and swallow rapidly before the smell hit me. I didn’t eat much, but enough to not be noticeable.

@at sounds like you are having a quite successful week with your eating. That is certainly something this time of year!

@songbirdme I lived some of my childhood in Chicago, and after we were married my husband and I lived there for several years. I’m an avid photographer (abstract and architecture not portraits) so I’m looking forward to wandering. It is a great city to photograph. Mostly, tho, since we are highly cautious about pandemic precautions anyway, and my 90 yr old father is the focus of our visit and we will be extra cautious with his health risks, we have limited plans. Just being able to see my papa after 2 1/2 years will be enough for me – even if we all need to be masked (hoping not, but expecting we will). I do know that Chicago Stuffed Pizza, proper Chicago hot dogs, Tandoori Chicken with naan, Gyros, and other foods I associate with the city or know good restaurants for will be consumed as takeout. 😀

@funshipfeeddie escargot vs jumping out a plane … still considering that one 😂😂😂

@stitchincarol I’m still a tad envious of the knitting. What a marvelous thing to be able to do!

@missybear Life stress will throw us off course – my sympathies. Don’t be too hard on yourself and we will have your back tomorrow!

Looks like I’m the 1st (only?) on pocket list today.

Pocket list Day 15⛄️
@mariaelena

Day 15 USA (Illinois) NFD

Going to break my fast shortly. Silver Sneakers teacher wasn’t feeling well, so no class, just did my groceries in town. Also my local farm store still had bird suet cakes on sale, so loaded up on them too. Funny thing: that store still had a few fall-planting bulbs (tulips, etc.) in a far case. We are having a record-setting heat wave today – due to be 65′ F. (18.3 C.) today, and the ground still isn’t frozen. Would I plant more bulbs? No, but fun to think about.

FD went fine yesterday except I did add a little popcorn at the theater last night. Our historian/commentators showed “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” We love their presentations of tidbits about the films and audience participation. Found out the writer of that and many Chicagoland “based” comedies went to my sister high school! I didn’t know him – he was just a couple years younger.

ESCARGOT has brought up some interesting conversations! We had to be convinced to try them ourselves as newlyweds in Germany (American Army stint) – almost left the country without trying, but we instantly loved them. You just forget it’s a slimy little snail and enjoy the garlic butter taste.

@mariaelena – you will have a terrific Chicago time despite any weather. Truly a terrific city to photograph and eat at. Truly it will be wonderful to see your papa. Yes, COVID is nothing to sneeze at.

@at – I am also behind on Christmas card writing, but pretty much up to date on presents at least!

Onward and downward.

@

Day 16 – Ireland 🇮🇪 -NFD

Thanks so much @i-hate-lettuce and @at for your tips on places to visit and see on our UK trip at Xmas. Will defo bring the walking boots and sticks with us. So excited….I haven’t left Irish shores since February 2020 so despite Omicron U cannot wait to go somewhere different!!

Waiting to be called for my booster though, as I got the one shot Jaansen one in May I would say my vaccine has dwindled, but funny, this time I am not so worried and don’t even care! Yes, I want my booster but if not called I won’t be queuing for hours in a cold walk-in vaccine centre.

@maria-elena, that was a good trick with the salmon and the non taste bud side of your mouth…..for me, I had to use the baked sweet potato to hide the taste of the bloody venison and to this day I cannot stomach a baked sweet potato.

Have a great day everyone.

Day 16 – USA/GA – WFD

Weigh-in: 216 lbs. Looking forward to a good FD today. Trending a couple of pounds lighter over last week. Got to run. Good luck everyone!

Pocket List – Day 16 🍓
@i-hate-lettuce
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia

Day 16 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

Joining the pocket list for company 🙂

Pocket List – Day 16 🍓
@i-hate-lettuce
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@brightonbelle
@missybear

Day 16 – 16:8

Homemade veggie soup yesterday on my fast 500 day. I was hungry by evening and wanted to snack but leant into the feeling of pride I felt for controlling that, and reminded myself I would not need to fast again this week and felt very good when that passed.

Since August I’ve been regularly dropping 4-6 lb a month – but decided I would aim for 0-2 lb in December, 😀 because December 😀, and my mid month weigh in has me a 1lb down so I’m doing good. Other stuff besides eating has been out of whack this month, so it is very helpful to see something go right.

@brightonbelle are you a fan of the Netflix Lost in Space? Do you recommend it?

@funshipfreddie You keep me smiling with the seafood commentary replies! I am with you! (And like many have commented I am so glad we all don’t agree, it would be quite a boring world without different opinions and tastes 😀)

@at I have to ask about Italian Apple cake. It sounds intriguing and like a treat my DH could get behind.

@basyjames I have a friend that has a similar onion response. She finds it difficult to order something in restaurants as onions seem to be in everything mostly visibly. When going out with her in the group we mostly chose places with a buffet bar.

@songbirdme I found living in Chicago a bit too frenetic for me, but I think it is a wonderful travel destination. A theater and museum junky, with an intense interest in architecture, and a special love for breezes coming in from over a large body of water? A very happy place for me. Re: theater popcorn (YUM) I have a trick to share. Popping at home in coconut oil (the cheaper flavour less kind) instead of butter results somehow in theater popcorn taste. It is so good, I don’t need to add extra butter over the top.

@stitchincarol how were the pine berries? Never heard of them before. And, yes, the pop onto the right side of my mouth and swallow trick has been an unexpected useful tool- particularly helpful for swallowing pills.

Ok, the day awaits and I seem to have an anxious cat this morning so I’m going to start with a long grooming session with him. Benefits to both of us with waves of love and calm feelings, not to mention 🤞 less hair balls 😂

Be well everyone

Day 16 – Ireland – CD

Hi all, I hope you are well… I’ve been keeping a low profile trying to get back into the zone after last weekend.

Two good FDs had this week. A lunch out yesterday and hopefully a good CD today… all feels like I’m back on track.

Sorry no time to read posts but will catch up tomorrow.

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 17 – Lake district UK – NFD

Good morning everyone

Have to be quick this morning, power going off soon, routine work clearing power lines!
An excuse for Mrs IHL to take her out to the homeware shops …. 🙁

However a bit brighter here this morning so if nothing else we’ll also head for a walk as well. Where’s the month gone, all the Christmas plans still in the air? Will we get visitors or not? Our friends/neighbours are planning a round of parties in case none of us get visitors, we’ll just visit each other 😉

Take care all

Day 17 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 213 lbs. No ZBC this morning; I’m buying breakfast for the staff and woke up early to bake some hash rounds (so I had to test for doneness)! This makes twice I hit 213 this week. Yay! Still not back at the record 211/212 levels, but approaching it. I’ll probably hit it right when I hit it last time, right before the actual holiday — then the bump upwards!

It’s interesting to compare the charts last year to this year. Last year, weight loss was quick but starting to seriously slow down. The post-Thanksgiving bump was hardly noticeable and a 2 lb weight loss continued into early December, then plateaued through mid-January. This year, weight loss has picked up again. The post-Thanksgiving bump was very noticeable, with a 9 lb swing (3 lb 10-day average uptick) until early December, to a 6 lb drop (2 lb 10-day average fall) downward to today.

All of that to say, I’m OK if it’s a maintenance month, but I’ll still have to work at it to make it so. January will be a lot easier!

Enjoy the season but be sensible when not celebrating with others!

Day 17 USA (Illinois) NFD

Yesterday became a MFD, and I am happy with the scale this morning. Been pretty busy with stuff around the house, so not eating much. Our gym has power again this morning (high winds wrecked havoc with power lines all over our area) so will have Silver Sneakers shortly. I’m hungry, but will make it a ZBC day and wait for lunch.

@northgeorgia – hash rounds sound delicious. Will have to google that item. Your devotion to our WOL is really working for you. Maintenance month for December is just fine.

@brightonbelle – I’m with you about most Sci-Fi (books, TV, movies) as well. I have occasionally liked some of it, but not really a fan. My DH read all the books growing up. His most interesting observation is that NONE of the writers could see the Internet coming. How it has changed our lives!

@daffodil2010 – what a weekend for your whole family! I think it is so exciting that you will host such important people from your DH’s genetic history. Enjoy the prosecco and all!

@basyjames – your ominous prediction about our healthcare crisis is so prescient. We see it all over – small towns and big cities. And how many businesses have suffered as well? Is this all portending even worse situations and catastrophes? Can be so unsettling.

Onward and downward.

Day 17 – 16:8

Life keeps moving. As the cold weather comes and goes here, we succumbed to the feline overlords and have cracked the garage door so old friends and the newer kittens (well, now small cat size) have somewhere warmer, out of wind and rain, and safe to retreat. There are coyotes in the area, so it is indeed a small crack, we are considering more permanent options. But watching the three brothers play when I head to the garage to do laundry is a treat. They are all black and white, difficult to distinguish from one another, and we call them the “cookies” (reference to Oreo cookies). Their youthful joy and curiosity is a marvel to behold.

We have some homemade shelters in the yard, with a heating pad in bottom, but we think we will reorganize the garage and bring those inside for cookies and two neighborhood felines that have made our residence their home base. We both wish we could rescue them all, or wish the local rescue groups were not so overwhelmed and could take them. But, they are fed well and safer than so many ferals. I’ll take that.

@brightonbelle and @songbirdme DH and I are big time Sci-fi readers, but I do not enjoy movie:TV ‘action sequences’ or violence. So sometimes DH watches a movie and if the themes/premise is good, we do a special short watch where he uses the FF button to skip those. (I have always been like this, as a child I would not even watch looney tunes cartoons because I thought they were boring and mean.) As for the internet I recall one and only one such book that predicted it, and wow, nailed it. Friday, by Robert Heinlein Note, I can not recommend the book tho, the level of misogyny is simply ghastly.

I have new neighbors- the scuttle but is they rang the doorbell and offered the former residents cash (lots) for the house. The former residents were not good neighbors but the amount of work being done on that house now and the grounds now is very annoying. Sun up to Sun down loud machinery and workers. It was a beautiful older (1920’s) home and the inside was mostly original pristine old fashioned style when the former former residents (friends) lived there so either the inside was trashed by the last residents or these folks have more money than taste. They pulled up the award winning garden in the backyard paved a significant portion and then installed a 9 foot wooden fence between their yards and the neighbors (us and the other side) so I’m probably just biased. But I sure hope they finish soon because man it would be nice to enjoy a peaceful morning without the noise. This morning it is a chainsaw for reasons unknown. Sigh. Our neighbor on the other side passed away last year and his house went on the market this week and I’m worried about what that will mean as well.

Sorry, just kvetching. I miss my friends who used to live there.

Well, much to do here. Hoping everyone has a quiet, safe and good day!

Day 18 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

Not a good start to the weekend. I opened a bottle of cherry Merlot last night, and well, not a lot left in there this morning. 🥴️ I need to get a grip! I think I’ll stay away from the scales until after Monday’s FD 🤦

@daffodil2010 – I hope your family get-together is all you hope it to be!

Have a lovely weekend everyone ⛅️ 🌈

Day 18 UK NFD

Ha ha @i-hate-lettuce I think that wrist problem is prevalent in our house too!

Cold but lovely blue sky here today off for a nice walk then meeting up for drinks food Have a good one all x

Day 18 – Rural Nebraska, USA – ???

@funshipfreddie Like you, I did not have a good start to the weekend yesterday. I actually did stupendously with the first batch of cookie dough, not nibbling even the tiniest amount, and nearly came to post in pride how well I’d done. But the second batch of cookies wasn’t as successful–although not bad!–and then the batch of fudge made me lose it. And the chips DH opened. And the bottle of wine I opened. This morning’s scale number is sufficiently ugly that I won’t give further details, LOL.

BUT I’m thrilled with a new product I tried last night: The Wand. You put it in your wine and it sucks up all the histamines and tannins, and you supposedly don’t get a headache. And I didn’t! That bad news is that the box says one is good for one 6oz glass, and at $2.50 each (I think…don’t actually remember), that’s not cheap. After the success last night I’m going to try again using just one wand for two glasses (which is my usual limit anyway). I’m thrilled to have an alternative to my regular does of two Excedrin!

@i-hate-lettuce Too funny about neighbors have bad wrists, LOL!

Half of me thinks I should just give up until January–and the other half of me is deeply thankful I’m trying at all! And, I keep reminding myself that although 143 is as common a sight as 139 is, 147 hasn’t shown up at all, let alone the 152 that was common in July, so I’m doing very well. So I’ll live life, fasting when I can, and enjoying life and food when I can’t.

Today is another crazy-busy day, but if I can accomplish all that’s on my list, I’ll be in a much more relaxed pace next week. Fingers crossed I find all the resolve needed to accomplish everything!

Have a grand one, all my forum friends!

Day 18 North Canton OH NFD

A rare weekend post from me and I am finally caught post on everyone’s posts. Glad to see you are all soldiering on – one day at a time, which is the ticket. I saw my doctor yesterday for my Annual Wellness Visit, and she is very happy with my weight, BMI and daily routine. I got some bloodwork done and I am curious to see what my cholesterol numbers are, fingers crossed that my LDL has dropped to normal. I am also scheduled for an echocardiogram, mammogram, and colonoscopy. Getting older is so much fun isn’t it!!! Not complaining though, it beats the alternative, and I am thankful.

This is the last weekend before Christmas. I still can’t believe that the year is almost ended. Enjoy and savor the moments and be safe