Friday 30th January 2004

evening ladies. In keeping with the week of challenges at the office, today's was free breakfast from McDonalds. I declined and can't say I felt like I missed anything. I'm sure it helped that I was eating my breakfast as they came around to take orders.

Does getting in and out of my car count as exercise? I mean I have to flex and stretch muscles and get in awkward positions kinda like yoga. Okay that might be stretching it a bit.

Really just status quo here which is a good place for me to be.

Bliss .... do they have tanning beds at the new gym you are trying out? That might help ya with the winter icks!

Nancy ... like your plateau earlier this year, I'm sure you'll break it all in due time. You seem to go in cycles like that. As for the apetite with the iron supplements ... my appetite increased when I was anemic regardless of if I was taking supplements at the time. It might be that rather than the iron. Your body might be saying "Hey give me some stuff to help build this back up!"

to those who are finding it difficult to stay OP the entire day. Strive for just a bit better tomorrow and the next. Soon, you'll have it down!

Time to head south ...

BSQ

Hello everyone. I just got the retreatants settled in so wanted to say good night to my BEST friends.

Dinner was OP. There was a tuna/noodle thing which I didn't much feel like eating anyway. So I had tuna salad, broccoli, zucchini, lettuce/tomato, soup, and a brownie (homemade). There were various breads out to have with the tuna, but since I did that big cheeseburger at lunch I skipped the bread for dinner.

Tonight I'll just have a cup of Lemon Zinger before I go to sleep.

Tomorrow morning I'll I"m not going to get my hopes up.

Probably the next few days are going to be busy with the retreat activities and othe stuff so I may be a little scarce. But I'll try at least to stop in and say hello.

Val--Go Patriots!!!

Blessings.
Marlene

Hi everyone,

DH and DS are spending the night with FIL so I am home alone and although I obviously am not glad for the reason they are gone (other than knowing that they are with FIL and supporting MIL), I am once again enjoying quiet time. Already had long telephone conversations with sister and dear GF. My sister and I spent a lot of time talking about SBD and Oprah's show today--also health related--a doctor was there showing real organ and body parts and the difference between the appearance of healthy ones and unhealthy ones. What an eye opener!

Along the lines of BSQ's sentiment regarding if you can't stay perfectly OP--

What have I done good for myself today?

Threw away a 1/2 gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream that was 2/3 full this morning. I knew if I didn't do that I'd eat the whole thing (or close to it) while I was alone tonight. Don't know why I bought it to begin with, but I am proud that I had the discipline to get rid of it before more damage was done.

Learned a new meditation technique (and practiced it) from watching Dr. Dean Ornish on Oprah.

Wore a closer fitting shorter top with my jeans to work instead of a frumpy loose top like I was leaning towards.

Random thoughts again a la BSQ:

My doctor recommends full spectrum flourescent office lighting for SAD.

I love sharing desserts so you only get small tastes.

Snow is no fun for walking or anything else when it gets old and gray.

Okay, that's it, brain has disengaged. Sending greetings to you all, but also: Thinking of Surferbabe and hoping for a wonderful outcome. Sending bright, sunshiny hugs to Bliss. Sending special hugs to Bookfairy--you are still a pampered princess and you are grieving as well, it's okay to wear jammies (and it feels good to hug you when you have your jammies on ) and it's fine to eat what you need. (Remember to eat your protein at all meals.)

Love you all ,
Shirley

Hello.....

I'm hiding in my bed with cold toes. I've ended up with a urinary tract infection today and I am not a happy camper. I was in meetings all afternoon and could feel it coming on. Whine...fuss....it hurts!!! I had planned on exercising after work, but no way with this. I have a few Cipro left over, so I've started that. Hopefully I'll feel well enough to go exercise tomorrow.

I think I am obsessed with food.....and it's everywhere!!! I feel like it's a battle everytime I have to face a choice. I did fine with lots of temptations yesterday. Then, we didn't get dinner until after DS's orchestra concert. He wanted to go to a diner; it was already 8:30 and I was starved and I ordered a burger and fries. And I ate most of it. Today I was great OP, then DH make turkey tacos for dinner. I thought I would take the meat out and make a turkey salad, but then I ended up eating two of them....and now I want dessert. Actually, I've been thinking about the frozen ice cream, chocolate, and liquer drink that Nancy told us about on chat. Go away !!!! I need to find something sweet in my kitchen that is OP or I'm going to cave...dinnertimes and after dinner are my hardest time. Any ideas, guys? [Shelly, I have one of those tubs of cookie dough from Sam's Club, too. My theory in buying it was that the kids can make exactly the number of cookies they want, but I found myself tasting the dough with a spoon the other night when my daughter was baking some of them......Aargh!!!)

Melissa for you and DH!!!!

Shelly and Sister Katie: so glad your tests went well!!

~Pat

Well the rest of the day was a washout, so I'll just forget it.

Shelly you are right, the LT stands for Little Timmy, a name the poor guy picked up after I had two martinis at BEST camp last summer. He's a true sweetie, but he lets me do stuff for him, so as I developed some shall-we-say "aftereffects" from my double beverage, I started saying silly things (and yes, I do remember, but I won't stray that far off topic!) Anyway now he's a Big Timmy because he is starting to take charge of his own life. He just turned 64 so we were lucky this kicked in before Social Security!! (but he still has to get a job...)

Becky, you have a good point there! It DOES feel good to resist temptation, once the temptation has passed. Sometimes I find myself almost dragging it back so I can give in to it. Am I crazy or what? STuck in my bad ways, for sure. But I had a glimmer of "maybe I don't want the chocolate after all" and that was way cool for me!

Lots of prayers and for Surferbabe. She will be in my thoughts, and I'm sending white light for healing and good news.

Desk

Have I told you lately that I you guys.

You made me laugh Pat. That evil cookie dough is horrible. I am going to insist that it be the last tub. They will have to make a choice its me or the cookie dough.

Marl - love the lemon zinger tea. I love all types of tea.

I saw this on eating bison: http://www.bigwoodsbison.com/

I am wondering if maybe I might try some bison.

I was op for lunch and dinner. I also went to curves 3 days in a row. Can't stop me now.

I also felt up to cleaning since my sister is coming to town for DDs birthday party. I don't even plan on being OP tomorrow, but I will workout. Wow I had some terrible es while cleaning today. Just another good reason for me staying away from house work.

Wish me luck ladies. I am going to try and go back to work on Monday. Hopefully I won't be too stressed out and be able to make it two other days next week.

Shirley - I am glad you are keeping yourself occupied on your night alone. You are right the snow is black and gray now. More expected on Monday night into Tuesday.

What is up with BEST camp. That sounds like a hoot.