Crackers - is it really a week since I last posted? Naughty me. Especially after telling NEW8 to join us more!!

NEW8 - you would love my basement as it currently looks more like a green grocers. We have boxes of apples on every shelf, along with onions, potatoes galore, pumpkins, leeks, tomatoes, cabbages of every type and colour, beetroots, lettuce, carrots, fennel... most are in crates of soil as my husband just lifts it all out of the vegetable garden into our unheated basement for the winter, now the snow has arrived... Your comments on Christmas had me in a panic as I started thinking of the many letters I have to compose to enclose with my Christmas cards. As usual I'm all organised with Christmas gifts for my many nephews who also have birthdays coming up but have done next to nothing about my own daughter whose birthday falls on the 23rd December. Plus she wants a reunion party with her friends and I do want it all to be just perfect for the 2 weeks she's home.

Well I've just been exceedingly busy this past week schlipkrapfen making (very amusing LMV the quiz!) just to get back on track after being away. Plus preparing the garden for hibernation. I too Bracken had a visit to the dentist - not too happy about that; a crown I've paid an arm and a leg for needs a root filling. Job half done. I have a very nice, understanding dentist and he's retiring in the spring so although I wasn't in pain (yet) I wanted it done by him.

BM - your news I shall just second everyone else's thoughts rather than repeat their comments and hope now you know what's wrong it brings a bit of closure for you. And I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on with the dreaded Shred!!

PB - Are you in France yet? And have you found our Shredding thread yet? If you look on the newsfeed and go back 3 pages you will see where LMV set it up '30 day shred and Nordic walking'. It's a shame once you belong to a group our threads don't link up automatically and that you have to post once for it to be listed as 'your topics'. Your last rant was most interesting, it's good to hear the other side of a point of view. I think you should go into politics! And although I'm sure you don't need me to point out your current struggles over the past weeks with the diet are all linked with the stress of work. You need to channel that stress into something else maybe into kick boxing! Or just more rants if it helps amongst the Crackers! But please don't let it stop your brilliant progress.

LMV - well I tried a fasting day, was amazed at how easy it was, wasn't expecting that. Nor did I believe for a moment that I would wake up not starving hungry but I was fine. In fact I was better than fine, I felt brilliant can't put it into adequate words!! Being only 2lbs from target I'm just going to do it one day a week because like you mentioned I'm seeing it as a maintenance tool because I do over eat at weekends! But the scales on this occasion read the same going into the weekend as they did coming out of it wow! So I shall be eating ice-cream this weekend.

Be good Crackers!

Hi all, a quick pop in as I have just written on the shred site and have to go out now....I know I have sponsored previously but could you please tell me if it was "justgiving" that was used. I have just had an email from them and although OH and I want to give a donation to the Philipines I am unsure if this was the safe site I used previously. Many thanks.
Wishing you all a fab weekend, love BM x

Lol! LMV. You are so right.....the "cushions" are hidden away in the depth of the wardrobe. Lurking behind many items of clothing I have bought and have yet to take the labels off!! I am in the middle of another scarf now, just not quite sure which Christmas it will be ready for! I do have the new bamboo needles (supposed to be good for arthritis sufferers), wool and pattern ready to start a blanket too. (will post the item number for you to check out). I seem to flit from one thing to another but have yet to find my niche. Maybe I never will, but I am having fun trying! Sounds like you had a fab time at the Abba/Bee gees night, I saw the Mamma Mia film in similar circumstances and although I disliked the film I had a great time! Thank you for the sponsor info, you are right it is truly awful what has happened. I have been through several hurricanes in Florida and OH was in a hotel on New Orleans ocean front when Katrina hit, (I had been there just previously), so I can really appreciate the feelings of helplessness. Unfortunately the people here had very little to begin with and now have even less. I will use the website again and send a donation, so thanks for that.
It is already Sunday here so I have today left, then I shred!
Am off to bed now for 3 hours, have my alarm set to get back up to watch the Wales match!
Have a good Sunday crackers! Love BM x x

Hello all. It has been only three days since I've been here but reading the posts it seems like ages. Nevertheless excellent to hear so much news and thankfully most of it is good. P.B. I'll add my congrats to your completing the swim challenge, done while you are maintaining that stressful job too. I admire your gusto in taking the chance for a date. MITM, your winter larder reminded me of a winter scene in The Wind and the Willows, and picturing all those lovely vegetables seemed so cozy. New82, glad that things are going well and congrats on making progress with the weight. LMV, I will confess that I am not a huge fan of musicals (possibly because I have had no training in music and play no instrument and have always thought of myself as lacking a proper ear for it. I believe I can't really sing. Some of this may go back to elementary school where we had a music teacher who came in once a week. She made us do sight singing alone and I had no idea what I was doing. I was usually told to mouth the words at the Christmas concert and remember one time being the only girl left at the school - a very small rural school- when the others were taken to a local competition. I have always envied people who can sing though.) but I absolutely loved the movie Momma Mia. I didn't get around to posting on your QOTW re being stranded and music but I think the M.M. album would definitely be my choice to keep my spirits up.
I can finally say that my winter preparation in the garden is finished, thanks in part to my younger sister who came to lend a hand on Saturday. I even managed to plant a few spring bulbs. By the time we finished though I was truly exhausted with all the raking, bending and lifting. I had not realized how many pots, mostly of hostas, I would be carting to the garage to overwinter. I had also walked Nellie on a good walk Saturday morning as I was to be away for the late afternoon and evening. One consequence was that for the first time I did not do my Nordic track. In the evening I went to a quite lavish gala at one of the local private golf clubs. It was in aid of a small charity begun by a local horse rider who after a visit to the Dominican Republic was inspired to raise money and bring a crew to build a small school in a very remote town. The charity now supports the school and some graduates who are in university and college as well as other health programs in the village. I think sometimes these small hands-on projects (a number of people go down to the village every year)can be better than huge projects that have problems with vast overhead costs. Sunday I felt as if all my recent exercise had caught up to me. I had been pushing myself on the Nordic track the previous few days too. So yesterday all I managed was a short ride on my horse. Today I realized that I needed three Nordic track sets to keep to my goal. I managed to do two although I still seem weary. I feel at least I am getting on track. It's frustrating to feel weary as I have been doing quite well at getting back to my best weight, only four pounds from it, and have been feeling better in my clothes recently. Must off and feed Nellie who is now fussing. Regards.

A better day today as I posted on the Shred thread. I was pleased that I started my walking before breakfast even though it was quite cold (2C). I am trying to tell myself ,however, that there will doubtless be a time this winter when 2C will seem almost tropical. I am thinking about strategies to use as it gets colder. I've decided that I will think of my walks in 10 minute segments. I can surely do 10 minutes at a time, and if need be I'll just have to do a number of these short walks. I really feel the cold and do not relish the bundling up, with extra layers, scarves and neck warmers- I'll even wear a balaclava because my face feels the cold so much. Today's walk though gave an unexpected delight. Just as we were nearly home, I was surprised to look up and see a great blue heron flying overhead. They are a magnificent bird, about three 3 feet when standing and a lovely grey/blue colour. However, it did make me feel some trepidation for it as they eat fish and frogs which I'm sure are all well dug in for the winter now. Here I am complaining about the cold already but BM, you are walking in 35C and humid- can't imagine doing that either but very impressed with you for doing it.
Cutting myself off now as I was interrupted by a longish phone call and must see to Nellie before bedtime.

Hi All
well I've posted on the shred thread for the first time having done level 1 once. I managed most of it but the early cardio was more difficult than the latter (weirdly) and I did stop a couple of times. I guess the time to move on to the next level is when I don't do that???? I thought I would be better given all of the swimming but it may be because I have a cold.

Work continues to be very stressful at the moment - herding cats comes to mind...... glad to be home although I had a terrible fright yesterday on the way home for a break at lunch time (I was working till 8.00pm last night). Just driven on to the road leading to my house and wasn't (thankfully) going very fast when a tiny sausage dog ran out right under my wheels. No idea how I managed to miss it - stalled the car and sat there for a minute - a man was watching from his garden but did nothing and the chap whose dog it was wandered out - at which point the dog crossed the road again in front of me and he picked it up and went in doors - must have seen me sitting there my with my hands over my mouth but didn't bat an eye lid!!! Horrible.

Not sure I will manage the shred every day - tomorrow I have another late meeting so will probably come home for a break at some point in the day and try and do it then before going back to work. Not best pleased to find that none of the partners can attend the meeting so I'm going to be responsible on my own. Gee thanks guys - its only your business.

Hoping I will get a ride on Sunday then its the concert in the evening so rehearsing with the strings and the chamber organ (weird little instrument) in the afternoon.

Speak soon

PB

I do hope so MITM! I have just sneakily got on the scales this morning (I'm not due until tomorrow) and discovered that I've really lost next to nothing - I might just manage a pound tomorrow - but I had hoped to lose 2 and I've been really trying. Still, we all know that the weight can disappear really quickly and I need to check the measuring too.

The weight loss definitely does get harder at this time year - I'm hoping that I can keep it going for the 30 day shred and then relax over the Christmas holidays. One of the girls last night talked about the Xmas party and asked me if I was going to wear the same dress for that as the Hunt Ball. I realised that I had not thought about what to wear for the Xmas party - definitely not ball gown though - way over the top - although we are going to quite a posh hotel/restaurant. Some of the girls are hoping for footballers - but personally I wouldn't know one if bumped into him so I guess it won't bother me.

Ate far too much bread yesterday and must admit that for the first time I'm aware of feeling bloated after doing that - hopefully getting busy will help to sort it out.

Well must go now as have some washing to hang out and another load to put on. Its not going to do itself.

take care all

PB

Hello Crackers. I got in some exercise in the morning and then had a lovely afternoon with two of my neighbours/friends. We had been joking about their coming for The Reveal (as they call it on the home renovating shows and makeover shows). Both were very complimentary of how my floors had turned out and what a difference they made to the whole feel of the house. We shared the elderberry wine I had bought on the shower tour I mentioned earlier. I was a little worried as I know some people do not like fruit wines but this wine is quite dry and both seemed to have no trouble finishing their glasses. I am not very knowledgeable about wine really and do not drink a lot. It may seem like heresy but I dislike all white wines- I'll say they are wasted on me! Even I wonder how I can dismiss a complete category of something. However, I do like dry red wines. I think I often choose to eat my calories rather than drink them so would usually choose to have a dessert and not much wine. Recently I had a drink I have not had before, not sure why I've never run across it- LeJay Cassis. Oh dear, it certainly is something I could get used to as I absolutely love blackcurrants and it is so intense with the blackcurrant flavour. Of course, not dry at all. By the time my friends left, you could hardly see across the street for the blowing snow. Fortunately, one of them lives right next door and the other is directly across the street so they hadn't far to walk.
What are the Crackers views on Christmas decorating? I really dislike how early Christmas displays appear in our stores- very heavy by the end of October. I don't like to see much until after Remembrance Day. After that, in my house I do start to gradually get things out. I find I don't put out as many decorations as I once did but the things I put out I like to have for a goodly time or else it does not seem worth the work. The first thing I put up is my small Christmas village. I have just enough pieces to create a pretty scene on a bureau in the living room. It has a church, a bookstore, a schoolhouse with little people inside, and a home
and a pavilion. I have some figurines of carol singers, children building snowmen, horses and carriage going to the church, a family carrying a tree home on a sled and my favourite a mini-hunt scene with some hounds, riders jumping a stone wall, a few hounds, and a fox (always strategically set to suggest he will not get caught). I like the warm glow the lights inside the buildings give. The other thing I like to get out now is my Spode teapot and mugs with the Christmas tree design. A few years ago, I chanced upon a basic 8 piece setting set of made-in-England Spode (it has been made off shore since sometime in the nineties)
at a local consignment store and bought it for a ridiculously low price- the pieces were still in the original boxes and appeared never to have been used. I think part of its attraction is that I know its historical significance and my Grandmother really loved nice china so when I get out this china, I often think of my Grandmother who was a very dear person to me. I didn't really want to keep a setting of eight so I have given two of my sisters, who also like old china, pieces and now they are officially collecting. Today my youngest sister phoned me to say she had come upon the three tiered cake stand (made in England of course) in a consignment store and was quite thrilled to get it and very cheaply too. The only other place to buy the old pieces now is at antique stores or on-line but there the prices are really quite high. We all enjoy finding a piece in an unexpected place and just going on-line to get it would take the fun away.
Unexpected pleasures are particularly satisfying. This morning as I was coming out of the nearby grocery store, I was surprised to see the woman from whom I acquired Nellie, as she does not live in this area. She immediately gave me a hug, told me she had been thinking of me, and said she has been keen to see how Nellie has developed. I invited her to come over and am looking forward to that.
LMV, definitely agree with you that the iron is not a preferred present. Let frivolity thrive.
P.B. hang in there. This is a very hard time from now until Christmas so any progress is wonderful and just holding the line can be an achievement.
MITM, your 1/2 pound must show somewhere now that you are so near goal- perhaps it was where those abs you saw. Picture a half pound of butter, a not insignificant amount!
Regards all.

Hello all - its 7.30am and I'm sitting here thinking about having to go to work this morning. Can't say I'm looking forward to it - but hoping it will be a relatively quiet day. Its been nice having a few days off and I have started to relax a bit - but now need to get ready to go back to it until Christmas. Have a quiet week this week then stuff going on from Saturday (work Christmas party) onwards. Mum and Dad are still staying so a bit stressful especially as Mum's car broke down - but its fixed now. I think they may go home tomorrow but who knows.

Have bought a real Christmas tree (usually have fake one) and am hoping to get it set up today. Always enjoy the preparations for Christmas but rarely enjoy the day itself - never understood why. Am not doing much singing though except for Choir Christmas party next Monday evening.

speak soon

PB

MITM, great post - very instructive. The big takeaway for me was seeing the whole narrative of your last five days and how ultimately progress will come, albeit not without some real sweat equity. I so much understand the lapse to emotional eating and it must be very hard knowing your daughter is homesick. I liked how you tried on those clothes and it must be terrific that they fit perfectly (I tried on The Dress yesterday and was pleased to notice more ruching and less stretching- that's how I'll measure progress with it). I agree with your getting on the scale- it can be a hard thing to do but can also really define where you are at. And then to drop that pound after all that work- brilliant.
This time of the year seems to be a minefield of both the internal and external kind. I find Christmas season brings a lot of intense emotions, either good or bad that can send one reaching for food- and not celery, surprisingly! Then there are all the external cues which seem even more intense. Today at the grocery store I had picked up the few things I came for and as I was heading to the checkout, there was a new display set up right in the aisle of special Christmas chocolates. I will not describe them but just say they managed to appeal to my favourite tastes! This is how my mind works: I thought that since they were only a seasonal thing, perhaps I should buy them right then because they might be quickly sold out! I looked at them and considered picking up a packet for an occasional treat but decided I would give them a pass for the moment but will get some before Christmas.
I think I was able to pass them by because I had done my treadmill just before and really had no desire to eat.
Those of you who know the Beck book, The Diet Solution will recall I have referred to it quite often. However, I have not been re-reading it lately. However, yesterday I went on her web site (just put in Beck The Diet Solution if interested) and read a couple of her blogs and some of the tips of the day. What I really like about her is that she seems to know exactly how a person with weight issues thinks and gives good advice on how to deal with the attitudes that lead one to overeat.