Day 13 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD

The birthday dinner was absolutely lovely, the weekend was lovely, food wasn’t too out of control (although, let’s be honest, it was a birthday feast, LOL), and I’m entirely out of steam (it’s 9:45) and headed to bed. I’ll be out the door by 8 or 9 in the morning because we have a funeral, DH to preach and me to play.

The fun never stops, LOL!

@excelsior12309 I’ll gladly give a full birthday dinner report, but right now I’m too tired to think. I look forward to sharing the details, however!

Day 15 NZ FD 69.5kg 🏃🏼‍♀️

The day is nearly over here. I had lambs liver for dinner with vegetables . I’m hoping the Omega-3s and iron will be good… My whole hand is twice as bad as I thought it was going to be ☹️ I have my first appt with the physio tomorrow and so the rehab road starts……

Have a good day esp those on the Monday FD💪

Day 14 UK FD

Right reset button pressed ! Was very happy with weight on Thursday after getting back from hols and then seem to have lost the plot over the weekend So I’m not getting on the scales until Friday and in the meantime getting back to normal 2 FDs , eat sensibly the othe days and up my exercise – back to basics !!

Pocket List – Day 14 🥑
@merry🍎
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@penz
@brightonbelle

Day 14 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 240 lbs. My plan is to have four FD500s through Thursday 🙂 We shall see!! I’m excited to jump on the wagon again 🙂

Pocket List – Day 14 🥑
@merry🍎
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@penz
@brightonbelle

Day 14 UK FD

This is my busiest week of the year in the run up to conference, plus really behind and slightly chaotic with all other project stuff. Partly bc illness over summer, partly bc time out for DD’s support. I’m going to put my head down and plough through this week then come up for air, but post daily.

I forgot to weigh myself this morning but expect to be up ff weekend of relaxed NFDs -no going wild but I didn’t count calories and enjoyed mindful indulgence. This week I’m going to have 2 old fashioned FDs and 3 FD800/CD ahead of a more relaxed weekend. Last Friday I reminded myself how simple it is to stick to a 500 calorie FD when I commit and don’t let myself waiver. So I can obviously do it again today!

I’ve had a couple of urgent meetings thus far and am online training this evening so need to have supper by 6pm. Depending on project work it’ll either be supermarket ‘fresh’ minestrone soup and a defrosted dahl or soup & stir-fried tofu/veggies. I’ve had over a litre of fizzy water/electrolytes plus decaf black coffee and marmite tea: I’ve got this.

Okay, cracking on with reading/responding to meeting papers, prepping for tonight’s training and picking up most urgent emails. Then if time, listing outstanding actions in my notebook for prioritise/schedule when next at desk.

@northgeorgia @flourbaby @brightonbelle i can hear your resolve from here – good luck with your week, you’ve got this!

@stitchincarol looking forward to details of your fabulous feast 🙂

Pocket List – Day 14 🥑
@merry🍎
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@penz
@brightonbelle

Day 14 – NE England – IF 16:8 – DTF

Quick check in before bed. It has been a good day, lovely sunny, crisp, cold weather.
Eating has been controlled and step count is high!

@missybear great news with the jeans, I’ve had to buy a new belt for mine! Annoying that I bought them last year, hardly wore them and now far too big.

Day 15 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

Successful FD yesterday, I was a little bit hungry at times and got very cold towards the end of the day but I slept well and I’m now delaying breakfast for as long as possible.

@molij if you’re up to reading forum posts, hope all went well with your operation yesterday. Wishing you a speedy recovery 🤗

@iona72 looking forward to a winter of slack and baggy clothes 😉

@northgeorgia good to see your enthusiasm to get back on the wagon but remember you have been ill, listen to your body and ease up if you need to, straight back into 5:2 with 4 days of 500FDs is ambitious, take care 🤗

Keep on keeping on everyone.

Day 15 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 238 lbs. Thursday may or may not be a FD. A business lunch meeting might be happening that day. Still plan on today and tomorrow being FDs though.

Pocket list – day 15
@excelsior12309
@northgeorgia

Day 15 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD

I’m just under 160 this morning after four NFDs, proof I didn’t go too nuts since my last WF, and I’m pleased. Looking ahead, DH and I both have a conference on Thursday and Friday, for which we’ll leave after choir on Wednesday; there’s no way I can be strong enough to WF on Thursday, so I either have to be content with one this week, or I have to do two days in a row. I’ve done that before–once–but the idea is daunting. I’ll spend my driving time between lessons today psyching myself up.

Okay, birthday dinner report. The appetizer was bacon brushed with maple syrup, cut in half, then wrapped around halves of brussels sprouts and roasted until tender. We went back and forth as to whether it was truly lovely, decided it was very nice, but not necessarily worth repeating. The soup course was a puree of sweet potato, carrots, and parsnips, someonion, chicken broth, and a bit of cream. I’d thought it would be glorious, but it was simply…not. We added more salt, more chicken flavoring, vinegar (several times) and finally decided it was as good as it was going to get. The elder son actually loved it, so I sent him home with the leftovers.

My plan was to serve the plated salad simlutaneously with the main course, but both sons overrode me, and said, no, let’s just slow down, eat the salad, then cook the pork chops. So the salad. It was GLORIOUS. Here’s the recipe: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/berry-beet-salad/ I used canned beets, and we all adored it, and will keep it in our permanent rotation. It strikes me as a perfect Christmas salad for you southern hemisphere people, because the colors are so gorgeous, and the fruits are in season for you. The only changes I made were that I used canola oil rather than the walnut oil (didn’t have any and DS28 is perhaps allergic to walnuts besides) and didn’t add feta because none of us wanted any–we were all getting full, LOL!

Then DS cooked the pork chops and they were perfect. I had bought bone-in, which I’m sure adds to the flavor. https://bakeatmidnite.com/blackberry-pork-chops/ I ate only half of my chop, and the leftovers yesterday were equally excellent.

I made the caramelized onion pasta, using a GF ravioli I happened across at Trader Joe’s, and it was really yummy; I’ll do the caramelized onion sauce again: https://iamhomesteader.com/caramelized-onion-pasta/ With little butter/oil and only a cup of cream between the four of us, it was even not decadent.

Green beans rounded out the plate.

Then, dessert. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/apricot-almond-layer-cake-231811 I made the apricot compote and the candied almonds on Friday, and baked the macaroon layers (what they call them, but I think it’s actually macaron layers) on Saturday, then it was a five minute job on Sunday to whip the cream and assemble the whole thing. Gorgeous. Yummy. And surprisingly good, possibly even better despite being a bit soggy, on Monday. A perfect dinner party dessert because most can be done ahead of time, and there’s little time that’s required on the day of the dinner.

The boys arrived just after three; we started with appetizers at 5:30 and were done with dessert around 8:30.

And best of all, while I certainly had wine with dinner, I introduced a mocktail I’d discovered to everyone, and DS33 and I both loved it and had two: 8 ounces juice (I had tangerine juice on hand for it), 4 ounces Owen’s ginger beer (I specify the brand because there’s a distinct “evergreen” flavor to it that I find intriguing and delightful), and 2 ounces lime juice, all served over ice. Total: 160 calories. I happily sipped away on my two over the course of two hours, never missing the alcohol.

And that’s my report. You didn’t expect me to sum it up in four sentences, did you??? 🤣🤣🤣

@brightonbelle Yeah, I read that @marsbar post…what even is a “wind-up merchant”??

@molij I look forward to hearing your report when you’re able, and pray the surgery went very well!

@merryapple My heart aches for how frustrated you must be with your bum hand. Is it still painful, or is it primarily an issue of being useless for the time being?

I have a crazy busy week to get through (for those of you who remember my quarterly “Leaguer” obligations, I’m working on that again) and it won’t be much better next week, but then I think–HOPE–it settles down to something steady. In the meantime, I’m going to do my absolute best to talk myself into being excited to do a WF from Monday night to Thursday morning…perhaps I’ll hold out a Starbuck’s latte as the Thursday morning reward for following through, LOL! That would be a gentle way to break the fast.

Must get going. Have a grand one, everyone!

Pocket list – day 15
@excelsior12309
@northgeorgia
@ccco
@stitchincarol WFD

2nd Post – Day 15

@stitchincarol – I think our posts over-lapped – wind-up merchant (plural wind-up merchants). (UK, colloquial) One who enjoys winding others up in the sense of making fun of them or playing practical jokes.
Maybe the post was intended for another thread..? 🤔

Day 15 – NE England – NFD- DTF

I have been thinking all day that it’s Monday, but it’s not!! October is whizzing by, winter looming -urgh.
I have done ok with eating today, I had breakfast which is unusual for me but felt quite hungry and had a busy morning out, so figured it was better to eat something sensible at home rather than be tempted whilst out.
Scales were the same this morning, hopefully by the end of the week I will see some progress.

@michelinme sounds very hectic hope you get the batch cooking done, its very satisfying isn’t it!

@funshipfreddie my day feels like a blur too.

@excelsior12309 some days it’s difficult to get as much walking as I would like. I am hoping for a good day tomorrow but some rain is forecast.

@stitchincarol great report, thanks.

Day 16, NFD, Aus

How did I miss yesterday?

Yum! That berry/beet salad looks lovely, @stitchincarol, and I think I’m going to give that caramelised onion pasta dish a go. We were going to have a salad with dinner tonight only to discover we were out of lettuce. So instead, I’ve pulled some silverbeet from our garden, and will toss that (shredded, raw) with walnuts, feta, and ribbons of beet. No need for any dressing because the feta and beetroot will moosh together to form a dressing of sorts.

Oooh, what home project are you going to tackle, @funshipfreddie?

I’m 7 steps off my 10 000 so I better do a few laps of the kitchen!

Day 16 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 NFD

Things didn’t go smoothly yesterday. It began badly when DH’s injection pen for daily medication broke and it was a frustrating lengthy process to get it replaced. Then banking issues. Then we discovered the newly purchased cooler case for transporting medication wasn’t maintaining temperature so a rush to get that sorted before our trip. So…..confession time…..DH and I shared a bottle of wine last night. Oh well, that’s life! More life admin stuff to deal with today but I have promised myself there will be no more wine before the weekend.

Have a good day all. Onwards…..

Day 16 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 236 lbs. @stitchincarol Happy belated birthday! I would go back and read that delicious menu, but I might start salivating, and that’s probably not good on my 3rd FD 🙂

I think I should be able to pull off another FD500 today and tomorrow.

Pocket list – day 16
@flourbaby
@northgeorgia

USA. Day 16. FD

I definitely am adding mindful eating to my eating plan. I have been reading about it and it makes sense. I lost weight recently and due to recent stress, I gained it back and then some. 👎

Pocket list – day 16
@flourbaby
@northgeorgia
@ccco

@excelsior12309, I have the same problem with a few foods. Once I start, I can’t stop. Usually, that happens between the hours of 3 o’clock ad 6 o’clock. I call these my witching hours.

@missybear, it certainly seems like you had quite a day yesterday! Your vacation seems to be in the nick of time. Sounds like you badly need it.

@funshipfreddie, I truly understand what you said about being retired. I keep a large calendar in my kitchen to keep me straight. That works most of the time, except when there is a weekday holiday. The missing day (because everyone is home) makes me feel like every day is one day off!

I hope everyone is having a great day! 👍🏻

Day 16 UK FD800

Chucking in an extra FD800 to keep me going – and bc I didn’t have / make time to eat earlier. A FULL day, but with lovely zoom chat with young friend and a couple of hours teatime visit /catch up with an old friend too – reaffirming the importance of balance in my life.

Today’s omad supper is pretty similar to yesterday’s bc that’s what I had in to eat up. Next veg box has arrived so i’m feeling the pressure! Corn on the cob, stir fry enlivened by cauliflower along with the tofu/pakchoi/mushroom/leek of yesterday, and more apple/plum compote with vanilla soya yoghurt.

I’m beginning to wonder how on earth i’m going to fit it all in by the conference deadline xc perhaps by working tomorrow night? Esp as I’ve got a haircut booked int he morning right up in the city at Leather Lane! But since these are like gold dust – and in the interests of balance – I’m not cancelling. I’d rather work late and make sure it’s all done, then chill and recover on Friday. I’ll get there – then enjoy visiting with DD next week and a silent retreat the following week 🙂

onwards! Lovely to skim read everyone’s posts – @northgeorgia I see you are down by 4lbs this week, go you! Hold strong lovely people, we’ve got this!

Pocket list – day 16
@flourbaby
@northgeorgia
@ccco
@stitchincarol WFD#2 or FD500
@michelinme FD800

Day 17 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

I was not on my best behaviour yesterday. The line-dancing got cancelled at the last minute, due to maintenance/painting going on in the residents’ lounge. So I went on a bit of a shopping spree – mostly at the mosaic shop – & then had poached eggs with two enormous slices of ciabatta, smothered in mushroom sauce. And things sort of went down-hill from there food-wise. Today’s FD will be a good one 💪

@penz – I made a couple more coasters last night. You can’t have too many coasters 😅 I just finished grouting them.

@flourbaby – you’re right, I’ll be mosaicking anything that’s not moving. Boo Boo had better watch out! 😅 I couldn’t open that link either without subscribing; but thank you!

@excelsior12309 – there’s nothing in our rules that says you can’t transform your front door into a work of art, & I do love a challenge. But Judge Judy might disagree. Watch this space! 😃

@ccco – I’m not crazy about those mid-week holidays either. They are a bit disorientating, & living in a seaside town just means there’ll be day-visitors everywhere. Even when I was working, public holidays & weekends just meant more work because I was in the leisure industry.

@stitchincarol – I’m going to leave the pot at the studio for now. I’m busy with coasters for the bedrooms & then I might work on an owl.
Here’s one Natalie – mosaic teacher – has in her garden, + a couple of mushrooms she’s made. Enjoy the conference!
https://imgur.com/a/oTKdT5X

Stronger Together 🎯 💪

“Food is so overrated” ~ @northgeorgia

Pocket List – Day 17 🍒
@penz
@merry🍎
@funshipfreddie
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia

Day 17, London, UK, FD800,

I had good night’s sleep last night, Bo-Bo was sleeping ON my feet and he didn’t do his usual 3 a.m. wake-up call!!

If it was me @missybear it would have been wine vs tantrum vs murder!!! You made the right choice!!🤗🤗🤗

I’m certainly getting there @stitchincarol,💪🏼 I found some time to get a FD800 menu sorted out and I really don’t have to think too much now, so at least that’s one thing off my plate!🙏🏼

@northgeorgia, stay focussed, the results are fantastic & should motivate you to ignore whatever invitation, treat, temptations comes your way!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

@funshipfreddie, please, Please, PLEASE mosaic the front door ……………………………………. then send us a picture of Judge Judy ‘s exploding head!!!!

You retirees are making me jealous, I can’t wait to be disorientated by forgetting exactly what day of the week it is!!😳😜🤣

Ok, work awaits!😭

Stay strong folks!💪🏼

Pocket List – Day 17 🍒
@penz
@merry🍎
@funshipfreddie
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@brightonbelle
@flourbaby FD800

“Some people spend their entire lives waiting for the time to be right to make an improvement.” – James Clear

Day 17 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 235 lbs. @stitchincarol Oops! That’s what I get for doing a quick 30 second skim for a right-before-I’m-out-the-door post! Happy birthday to THEM 🙂

One final FD500 today before Friday and the weekend. I do have some business lunches the next few weeks, but I feel more in control!

“Food is SO overrated.”

Pocket List – Day 17 🍒
@penz
@merry🍎
@funshipfreddie
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@brightonbelle
@flourbaby FD800

Day 17 Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 FD

Yesterday was spent dealing with HMRC regarding my state pension contributions which have been lost! This morning I have been occupied making a complaint to HMRC so I have been far too distracted to even think about food. I will be so glad when this week is over, everything seems to be going wrong. Anyway I seem to be in good company for my FD today, thanks @funshipfreddie for putting me on the pocket list.

Pocket List – Day 17 🍒
@penz
@merry🍎
@funshipfreddie
@michelinme
@missybear
@northgeorgia
@brightonbelle
@flourbaby FD800
@excelsior12309 FD800

Day 17 Rural Nebraska NFD

The conference starts in ten minutes and I just read through all the posts, so I feel up to date. I wanted to report on my success yesterday: I lasted until 3:15, when some hunger and lots of brain fog and a general exhaustion made me realize I needed food. I ate some of the leftover pork chops, some leftover chicken fajita mix (less the tortilla) and estimated it was perhaps 250 calories, or even less. Then, amusingly, I was STUFFED. That lasted me the whole rest of the day, but I forgot the scale so have no idea what sort of magic number I hit this morning.

The conference includes a dinner at lunch time and DH and I are going to Alley Rose (in Kearney, look it up), so there will be no fasting today, but I’ve swerved the sweet rolls on offer with the coffee.

RESOLVE!

Day 17 – NE England DTF IF 16:8

I was very pleased this morning when the scale showed an all time low!! Not much further to go to hit my target, at which point I will re-assess if I’m going into maintenance mode or setting a new goal. I will seek the opinion of the coaches on my Programme. I’ve been very hungry today!!

Issues at home today with the central heating, its been quite stressful, why didn’t this happen before we had a new carpet fitted.

Off to bed soon to try and forget about it. Well done everyone who has Fasted today, onwards and downwards, we can do this!

Day 18 UK CD

I blew yesterday’s FD800 by eating a WHOLE PACKET of assorted mints! it was mindless, tired eating of the sort I’ve managed to swerve since climbing back on the waggon on 2 September. O well. I’d bought them in homage to my mother who would always buy me a ‘treat’ the weekend of the conference, and these were her favourites. My first conference weekend … I’m still going through all the ‘firsts’ since my mother died in January.

Notwithstanding the above – and despite my successful FD and FD800 earlier in the week and drinking lots of water- I’m still hitting 187lb / 85kg, and my fat suit has stayed the same size as last week. I need to hold on to the shrinking face and baggy clothes, and remember that something is happening EVEN if I can’t measure it. Because this WOL works. Dangerous times for motivation call for extra attention and mindful choices…

I got v little sleep last night as I ploughed through pre-conference things that normally I would have done days ago. it’s been a busy time and I’ve made a point of keeping balance in my weeks so I’m a bit behind, but nearly there. Looking forward to a speedy finish, long bath and early night ahead of the full on weekend. But it’ll be fun, encouraging and over by 5.30pm Sunday for another year!

Congrats all who’ve stuck to FDs, swerved temptation or climbed back on the waggon this week – hat tip to @northrgeorgia for your FOUR FD reset! @at @jaifaim I hope all’s well with you – do jump in when you’re ready, we miss you

Onwards and downwards. Holding on to those longterm goals, stepping over this pebble in the path.

Day 18 UK NFD

Weight holding steady but feel things are going well hoping to stay on track over the weekend

Thy menu looked great @stitchincarol Hope you enjoyed it

I wouldn’t worry too much about one minor blip @michelinme You are doing so well 💪