Day 17 – Rural Nebraska, USA – CD

Our celebration day yesterday of DS31’s birthday was delightful, with yummy biscuits and gravy for brunch, a good visit with grandma, and a lovely dinner…but mostly, of course, the company of our two sons for the whole day. I ate far too much–not surprisingly, given all that was prepared–and am looking forward to leftovers today.

@i-hate-lettuce What an exotic-sounding vacation; it sounds absolutely perfect! I am in total awe that you still do FDs while on the ship; so very impressive!!

@brightonbelle Well, when a country is the size of England, I can understand that 250 feels like a major undertaking…but, yeah, that seems delightfully short to me, given DD lives 642 miles away. 😢 Have a grand time visiting your folks and friends!

@at I was stumped what Milo was, and think it must be what is Nestle Quick here–a chocolate powder you add to milk, right? Yup, I had that as a kid, too! And, for the record, milo is still grown here in Nebraska, although not as much as when I moved here in 1986.

@goal10kg DS26 pointed out to me several years ago that lowfat-anything generally has more carbs, so I’ve abandoned low fat options as you did. It’s still surprising that lowfat hummus (I thought you’d be as entertained by the American spelling as I was by the British spelling) has more calories that the full-fat version!

I ran out of time on Saturday to get any painting done on that cupboard under the stairs, so that’s on my agenda today, and then a meeting tonight. Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 17 USA (Illinois) NFD

Yesterday’s FD was just perfect – scale goes down 2-3 pounds after one. This is what maintenance is all about for me. DH a bit better with hopes of his coming home tomorrow. Some talk has been him needing physical therapy to regain strength, and possibly in a rehab place, but hope to find out more today. I have a 1 p.m. P.E.O. meeting, will go to the hospital, then Choral Society tonight. I just have too many irons in the fire some days!

@at – talk of soups makes so much sense as we move into fall. But honestly courgette & lemon sounds most interesting!

@brightonbelle – have a terrific trip!

@goal10kg – like @stitchincarol said, I almost never choose low-fat anything as they have to add sugar to make it palatable. My grocery offers lots of seasoned hummus choices that I do enjoy.

@stitchincarol – am I glad I don’t really like biscuits and gravy? Probably due to the calories, but so glad you enjoyed the b’day celebration with DS.

@mariaelena – yes, basements are in every house here in NW Illinois, mostly to keep the upstairs warmer. How fun you had one with a former speakeasy! Freeport IL’s Historical Society mansion has what they are certain was a stop of the Underground Railway in the basement.

Onward and downward.

Day 17 Ohio, US — MFD
Days 15 and 16 — NFD

Saturday saw another food reaction, this time to some Truvia. I hadn’t had any for a couple of weeks and thought that it was a safe food. Well I was incorrect. With the result that I ate a lot of toast and jam to help “balance” the system. So it looks as though more Truvia isn’t in my future.
Yesterday was super busy — church in the morning, the two hour reading group meeting in the afternoon, and a very long telephone conversation in the evening.
Today the fasting has gone well, I got the full amount of exercise in, even though it’s been fairly chilly.

@maui Better than the alternative!

@songbirdme Hope you DH is able to come home tomorrow! With any luck, he’ll be able to stay at home and have appointments for PT.

@mariaelena In northwestern Ohio where I used to live, most houses had finished basements, though for the life of me, I don’t know why. That area was once a huge swamp, so people had to have sump pumps running 24/7 in order to keep their basements dry. Whenever the power went out, the basements flooded and that was the occasion for new carpeting and maybe new panelling for their finished basements. It seems that such a set-up was the local redecorators’ dream come true!

@stitchincarol Sounds like you had fabulous family celebration!

Pocket list – Day 17 🥦🥕🥑🍄🌶🥬🥦
@jaifaim
@linda.b
@gardenlily
@at
@goal10kg
@mariaelena
@matpi

Day 18 – Ireland – FD 🚫 🚶🏽‍♀️✅

Awww @brightonbelle I know that feeling so well but all you can do is go with it. Enjoy the break and make as good choices as you can. Those are precious moments with family so time enough to get back on the fasting horse when you are back 👍

@i-hate-lettuce Enjoy! @funshipfreddie I didn’t understand the attraction of the casino on my cruise but it did seem to be a big draw to many…

@amiya I am one of those people who suffer with headaches more often than not… so you have my sympathy ❤️‍🩹 I often wake with one but they are not quite migraines… sinus, diet etc all seem to contribute… I’m trying to identify the triggers but it’s hard… no doubt stress & fatigue is also one.
Outdoor Exercise is a huge help 👍
@linda.b well done on your fun day… you’re ahead of me so you inspired me 👏 until I lost track a little later in the day…

Thank you all for the birthday wishes… 🎈♥️

Not a great FD yesterday 😖 so going again today 🙏

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Pocket list day 18 🙏
@jaifaim

Day 18 – USA/GA – OMAD

Weigh-in: 218 lbs. Yuck. I misbehaved again. Must do OMAD today. Will catch up later!

Day 18 – USA – CD

Day 18 – 16:8

Happy to say my weight is down a couple of pounds to 126.2 so I’m again centered firmly in my maintenance range. Thank you 5:2. I have to assume the weight training I continue to do is a positive factor as well. I am strict about 2X a week strength training sessions, and occasionally a third. But I often feel taxed and tired for too long when I try to do 3 a week, so that is very much occasionally.

The weather turned on a dime from the high 80’s high we’ve been experiencing to a mid 60’s high and I’m enjoying it. Predicted to return to the warmer weather by week end.

Two out of three of the Oreo kittens have regularly returned to our yard and I’m so happy to see them thriving. We set up the kitty sanctuary in our garage again, but I don’t think they are using it yet.

@funshipfreddie I have never been one for gambling, but I did in college run the craps table a few times for some charity gambling events. I enjoyed it on that side of the table – the excitement but without the risk. 😀

Gotta run, so wishing everyone the best!

Day18 USA/HI NFD 16:8
Here

Day 18 Ohio, US — NFD

Just a quick check in: there was class at mid-day, an acupuncture treatment in mid-afternoon and a two-and-a-half hour class that just got over. So pretty wiped right now. Eating has kept on track, but will probably have a snack, since there wasn’t time for a regular meal this evening. So I guess that I hope the equation 1 snack + 1 snack = 1 meal works out.

Day 19 – Ireland – CD 🚫 🚶🏽‍♀️✅

I had a great FD yesterday 👍 hooray! First good one in four months really …

Thank you @songbirdme 🎈 I am sending good thoughts for your DH 🙏 and see the great news he is home with you.
@matpi -take care 💕
@michelinme – like you I’m resisting …. It’s hard but with it… ✅

@stitchincarol it’s getting colder here too and so wet and rainy today…. Still must get out 🚶🏽‍♀️- it’s keeping me sane 😊

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 19 – South Africa – NFD 🚫🍷

@jaifaim – congrats on acing your FD! Me too! 😃 Aiming for another one tomorrow.

@songbirdme – Mr. @songbirdme me is home at last! Great news! 👏

@mariaelena – I can imagine you enjoyed running the charity craps table. Dice has never really taken off in South Africa; few casinos here have a table. Nor in the UK,, from what I remember, But I thoroughly enjoyed the 30 years I spent working in casinos, & it never actually felt like work to me.

@songbirdme – some casinos can be grim places, land-based anyway. Cruise ship casinos are completely different. It’s a different crowd every cruise. People are on vacation & will have usually budgeted for their gambling money, It’s pure entertainment for them & any winnings will be a bonus.

@daffodil2010 – toothache?! Urrgh! I hope your hubby gets some relief today ✌

A new possible treatment for long-Covid symptoms-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11328891/Generic-drug-used-treat-alcohol-opioid-addiction-relieves-persistent-brain-fog-fatigue.html

Happy Hump Day! 🐫

Day 19 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 216 lbs. Weight trending a pound or two higher over last week. Anyway, staying the course and will do a FD tomorrow.

Day 19 – FD 800

Cold! We are not turning on the furnace as it is expected to warm up again starting tomorrow but I am so chilled this morning. I pulled out my sleeping cap (a knit cap that the elastic failed) last night lol. I didn’t have the foresight to bring out the winter blanket last night tho. My DH sleeps hot and doesn’t mind exiting the warmed bed for the cool air, but I hate that morning shock to the system. Happily I did remember to have my robe at hand, so when my alarm went off I pulled it under the covers with me to warm it up so it was close to toasty when I donned it.

Otherwise all is going fine here, busy but happy. Hot soup is definitely on the menu today. I think I’ll take advantage of the chill and go out for a walk this afternoon as well.

Finished a photo book of my papa’s army service memories – the original photos were 2 1/2 by 4 inches tiny, so the scans are being printed at a much larger size so that papa doesn’t need a magnifying glass to try to see them. I wish I could be there when he gets the book, but I’ll see him in December and we’ll go through it together then.

The cold day calls and lots to do, so sending well wishes.

Day 19 – UK Cambs – NFD
Quick post, all going well here – went out to lunch with the girls, ate sensibly (shared a cake 4ways for dessert). Only got a short walk in with dog as hair appt in morning so will grab dog and torch and head out after supper. Heavy rain tomorrow so declaring a ‘sewing day’ combined with FD, should be a doddle!
@songbirdme – so pleased to hear hubby is home and recuperating – good for you and good for him.
@MarieElena – your chilly morning routine reminds me of when we first married – trying to wrap the duvet round you when making a dash for the bathroom …
@daffodil2010 – hope DH has been able to see a dentist/doctor to get tooth sorted, a real pain.
Thinking positive thoughts for everyone on a FD today/

Day 18 – USA – FD

(Second post) Well, I surprised myself with a FD instead of a CD! First time I’ve had 2 FDs in one week in quite a long time. @songbirdme, happy your DH is at home and wishing for a speedy recovery!

Day 20 – South Africa – FD 🚫🍷

A very windy day here – 50 km/h, but otherwise warm & sunny, too nice to stay indoors anyway.

@i-hate-lettuce – enjoy Malta! 🏖️

@jaifaim – let’s make it another good one 💪

Pocket List – Day 20 🍏
@jaifaim
@funshipfreddie

Day 20 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 218 lbs. Just a heavily weighted week! Oh well… onwards we go…

Pocket List – Day 20 🍏
@jaifaim
@funshipfreddie
@linda.b
@northgeorgia

Day 20 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD

Okay, a report: Yesterday, I had a Whopper Jr. for lunch (no cheese, no mayo, heavy on the onion, lettuce and tomato…a favorite of mine, and SO crunchy! 🥰) with unsweetened iced tea: 300 calories. When I got home from errands, I finished the peach blueberry pie: no idea, but I suspect 600 calories. For supper, we had fried chicken (I had a thigh, a drumstick, a wing), a little bit of potato salad, and some cole slaw. (Yeah, I really, really overate.) And I had 15 oz milk. After choir rehearsal, DH and I shared the last of the ice cream (a rarity for me, but I couldn’t stop thinking of it). This morning? I wasn’t up an ounce. Not one.

❓❓❓

That much quantity of food–never mind the calories–would normally have had me up two or more pounds. It can’t be the milk, truly it can’t, but I’m sure thankful for that number. And after today’s WF, I’ll like the number even better, I’m sure.

The other thing is that I slept deeply all night, and slept late, so I again need to race out the door giving me no time to chat with any of you individually, even though there are several things that are niggling in the back of my brain that I wanted to say. Perhaps later.

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 20 Ohio, US — MFD
Day 19 — NFD

The last few days have become something of a blur. My regular routine certainly has been blown to smithereens. In fact, I feel that in typical Alice-fashion, I’ve been running as fast as I can just to stay in the same place. Whew! Apart from that, the fasting has gone well today. I guess that I’ve just been too busy to worry much about eating.

@stitchincarol Sometimes I think that our bodies go into equilibrium mode — they want to maintain the status quo, no matter what we seem to be doing with respect to food. That may be the reason for your stable weight for the last day or so, and it’s also what I tell myself is the cause for those pesky plateaus.

@ihatelettuce What a terrific holiday! As the temperatures hover at night here near freezing, the Med seems like a fairy-land.

@northgeorgia I can empathize with heavily weighted weeks!

Sorry will have to get back to it — I just remembered a task that needs to be done in the next half-hour! Argggggh.

Pocket List – Day 20
@jaifaim
@funshipfreddie
@linda.b
@northgeorgia
@i-hate-lettuce
@stitchincarol
@matpi

Day 21 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Good week so far food wise. Now the weekend awaits.

Thanks all for kind thoughts on DH’s toothache…oh my gosh it’s a bad one. He got to see an emergency dentist Wednesday evening, who told him that the infection and inflammation was so bad that he could not do anything until the infection was gone. The whole side of his face was swollen, like something out of a cartoon 😨
The infection has even got into the bones of his jaw…….so he is on super strong antibiotics for a week and then probably extraction after that.

He can only eat soup so we have had chicken soup for dinner the past couple of nights, and it’s been lovely and comforting.

@songbirdme, hope your DH is recovering. Prayers for him. Strange infection after a root canal 😱

@i-hate-lettuce, your cruise sounds fun. And we have booked a week in Malta for our 20th anniversary next March, never been, so looking forward to it.

Wishing you all a good weekend. We have Dads 86th birthday party on Sunday so a big day to celebrate with the main man. 😍

Day 21 – Friday – Gold Coast Queensland Australia – (NFD) 🎈🎆🎇🧨✨🧨🎇🎆🎈🎈🎈

It’s 8.30 pm and I’m very tired and ready to turn off…

Have a lovely weekend everyone….

cheerie dearies

Thought: Fun fact: apples are 75% water and 100% not chocolate. 🍏

Day 21 – Rural Nebraska, USA – CD

Yesterday’s WF went fine, and I even got home from lessons by 5:30 (which is way early from the usual 7pm or so) but I didn’t lose my RESOLVE and stuck to water. I’ve been having some strong self-talk about sticking to goals, and behaving well, and think I’m perhaps making some progress. Today I’m choosing to be AF, and the food I’m preparing will be moderate both in calories and quantity, so I’m hopeful tomorrow morning’s weigh-in will be similar to this morning’s 150.0.

This week has been a blur–like yours, @matpi–with nothing dramatic, just busy-ness, and I’m thankful to be at Friday, the day that’s all mine, with no commitments at all. I still have lots of things on the to-do list, but having the day all to myself is a welcome change.

@mariaelena I’ll bet you’re thrilled with that photo book for your papa, and especially that the magic of digital allows the photos to be a more comfortable size for him to see; well done!

@gardenlily I’ve done next to nothing on my sewing machine for months, sitting instead with knitting needles, but I’m starting to feel the pull to head back in there and make progress on the four quilts I have in progress. What did you sew on?

@songbirdme I love that you have a 3.5lb loss as the silver lining to DH’s illness. Is he gaining strength? And my mom was like yours in using up everything and not wasting anything…I’m seldom so completely disciplined, so that’s the source of my delight, LOL.

@metatauta Well done on a second FD this week! So do you say “m’ TAtuh OOtuh”? That’s what I’ve settled on, and if I’m wrong I need to know quickly so it doesn’t stay in my brain, LOL! I initially tried starting with “meh-tuh…something” but could never figure out what the “something” would be.

@i-hate-lettuce Years ago, a friend of mine had gotten to a skinny weight doing WW and then went skiing with some friends; when they got home, she was astonished that, even having eaten 3-4 times as much as she was eating on WW, she hadn’t gained a thing and guessed it was all the physical activity of skiing that burned off the calories. Given that you’re even still fasting while on vacation, and dancing the nights away, I’m thinking you might end up having lost weight by the time your cruise is over!

@matpi What I’ve concluded explains not gaining an ounce is that I really did eat as little as I’d THOUGHT I did on Sunday/Monday, and my body was simply slow to reflect that, and chose to do it on Wednesday so that the scale astonished me on Thursday. At any rate, I’m down a full 6+ lbs this week! Which, let me hasten to say, is not worthy of congratulations, because I should never have been at that hideous weight to begin with!! 🤣😂

@jaifaim How exciting to be down 2 pounds! And I offer you both my deepest apologies on the temptation I gave you in talking about my lunch, and my dramatic congratulations that you stuck to two hard boiled eggs! That’s true RESOLVE and worth of celebration!

@daffodil2010 Oh, my gosh, your poor husband!! So glad there are antibiotics strong enough to help him, and I hope he’s much better quickly! Have fun celebrating your dad’s 86th!

@funshipfreddie You are the example to all of us on how to treat food: as a tool our body needs, not as an indulgence our brain demands. So thank you for working so hard at maintenance and being that example for us.

I got the finish coat on the closet on Wednesday, so today I’ll vacuum the carpet remnants that were in there, replace them, and then put stuff back into the closet. It’s also time to put away shorts and capris and pull out the long pants. Sadly, having gained ten-twelve pounds, I’m again at the stage of struggling to find what fits and what is a bit too tight. SIGH. I was supposed to be 132 or lower by now; I need to remember this discouragement when I next want to eat with abandon! 💪

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 21 – UK Cam – NFD
Yesterday’s FD went really well, with the wet weather (and it really chucked it down) I was able to hide in the sewing room and spend most of the daylight hours cutting out bags for presents – trying 2 different (new to me) patterns and using up a load of denim scraps (jeans from charity shop). That kept me focussed and I managed to get a whole day in under 500. Disappointed this morning to weigh-in at 142 (again) but perhaps it will drop off over the weekend (some hope!)

@stitchincarol – I have 2 Janome machines, the older one is my favourite as it has adjustable foot pressure which is great for sewing thick layers but the newer one has really fancy stitches and is so quiet compared with the other one. Spent a lazy 20 min this after chasing fluff-bunnies around the innards of my old machine – mini service much overdue!
@Daffodil2020 – your DH’s toothache sound horrendous – poor thing. Hope the medication does the trick. And not much fun for you either but I guess it’s a way to keep control of eating, all that soup!
@Ihatelettuce – I love Malta, visited a couple of time quite some time ago – we loved the buses that meander about the island. Everyone seemed so friendly. Enjoy yourself.

Right, got to get ready for video chat with DS in NZ and all the family – wish we could fly out to see them but DH not up to it, yet.
Have a safe weekend, everyone, and enjoy your food, sensibly!

Day 22 – South Africa – NFD 🚫🍷

Three weeks AF! Yay me 😃

@stitchincarol – thanks for your kind words; although I must admit – most of the time maintenance doesn’t really feel like hard work if I stick to my routine.

@mariaelena – so sorry you can’t make your reunion?! Re those fluctuations – they can drive you nuts. I mostly avoid them by only weighing myself the morning after a FD. So the biggest fluctuation I see is usually +/- 200g. I think I imagined quitting drinking was going to be a silver bullet as far as my weight is concerned, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Maybe next month.🙄 I really need to start using MFP every day. The last few months I’ve only been using it on FDs.

Have a great weekend everyone 🌤️ 🌈