Gran - you sound happy from your GD visit and had fun.

Over Labor Day weekend we had several relaxed days and are keeping a watch on the lava flow headed towards cutting off a highway near my son. No evacuation is needed yet. My son loves the outdoors, camping etc and he is strong on survival skills. He will not be stressed, so I am not going to be stressed. I was worrying because of the possibilities of evacuation and we will not be here to help him while on vacation. But the flow is so slow, my dh assures me that it would not get there in 2 months time if it does at all. It could pool and spread out, slow down even more, head to the ocean. If the road is cut off, they will build a bridge over the new flow or make a new road, which would take months. My son has friends he can stay with on their property, and the county will probably put up a tent city for the evacuees. Geesh, after hurricane Iselle and we are repairing his roof from the albezias falling there, I didn't imagine a lava flow coming through a rift crack!

I am very encouraged by my managing my feelings without food. This month I plan to really stay on it, feel what I am feeling, let go of the stress, avoid cheating cuz I am aiming for my goal now.

Thanks for being here - sending hugs. Smiles

Granmanana,

Thanks for starting this new month. Sounds like you had a great holiday week-end.

Wanda, The fitbit is really a great little tool, keeps you motivated.

Smilesback, Please keep us posted on your sons housing conditions. I truly hope like your hubby said, there is nothing to worry about. But you know 'Us Moms', that's what we do - worry.

Your outlook on taking care of yourself is really encouraging to the rest of us.

Happy Trails,

Claudine

Smiles: We will be sending good thoughts that the lava flow doesn't impact your son. It is strange though. You are the only person i know whom i will probably ever say that to. Lava isnt a big concern in the midwest.

I have been having a wonderful week in Quebec City. I have walked every inch of the old city, and some inches several times. Took a bus out to Montmorency Falls today and walked a little in the woods. Was nice to have different scenery. Walked down the 487 steps from top to bottom of the falls, but took the tram back up. I like exercise, but I'm not suicidal.:laugh:

Found a boutique where i loved the clothes, but I don't want to spend a lot on clothes that will hopefully be too small. I'm too practical to buy clothes smaller "in hopes of" wearing someday.

The food has been spectacular, but I've had enough. Am going to just walk awhile tonight and pick up a sandwich and maybe a sweet. I have a bottle of apple/blueberry cidre to go with it.

I leave tomorrow and back to work on Wednesday. For some reason at last Wednesday's check-in, i said I couldn't weigh in this week. I don't know any reason why I can't. I know I must have gained. We'll see how much.

I too loved my fitbit but can no longer wear it because I keep breaking out in a painful itchy rash. Fitbit has offered to exchange it for the one that clips on but I am still waiting for the shipping details. It broke my heart to give it up. I loved the convenience of wearing it on my wrist. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. I really miss it. I am trying to get some walking in but I liked having the steps counted.

Such interesting Sept chat!

Fingers crossed for a safe result regarding the Lava flow........

I loved Quebec City and yes, a good memory of the city would have to be the food.......

I don't have a fitbit...have used my phone to track my running and walking along with a pedometer.....but found the phone to be inaccurate so just using pedometer now....I know how far most of my routes are more or less....and I think I have got past thinking that if my walk /run wasn't monitored somewhere it didn't count! Of course my body knows what exercise I have done...or haven't done even if my phone doesn't! :bigsmile:

So here's my "thing" for September, better late than never as it is already the 11th.

I have pinpointed two things which may be hampering my progress. Too many snacks and not drinking enough water. Hoping to have found a strategy to rectify this. From my living room there are two doors to the rest of my house. The one I usually use takes me through the kitchen...to the loo or to the bedrooms or office.........the other door avoids the kitchen. I need to programme myself not to go everywhere via the kitchen which I have been doing for years and years........it is too easy to pick up a snack, biscuit, something from the fridge...........so a new route round the house would help with that! And if I accidentally do go into the kitchen, I intend to grab a glass of water instead of a piece of cake, cheese or a cracker ....... and as I will be drinking so much water I will get more exercise going to the bathroom every five minutes...but not through the kitchen! :bigsmile:

So there we are....... all sorted!!! :ohwell: :bigsmile:

Jean

Hi Everyone: just realized it is almost the middle of the month and I haven't popped in! I have been on MFP but just not over much to the Boards! Glad to read about how you are all doing. I've been a little anxious lately regarding Mum's use of her 'occasional and as needed Meds' - I don't always know when she is taking them! After meeting with the pharmacist, he is so patient, I realize she is not overdoing it, and they do watch for overuse and would red flag and let me know. I guess this had been weighing on my mind more then I realized! I take Mum to see her GP next week so I will mention it to him and he also can reinforce her usage. Phew, again I feel much better! Yes, she is 94 and lives with us and quote "tries not to be a bother" as she says, but I didn't realize that she had been using her fast acting puffers as much as she was.

Had my MIL down for dinner on Sunday as she did have a rough week at her new indep retirement residence. She thinks the reality set in about another stage in her life, giving up the house, etc.; but she is back to her old, busy self this week! Aquafit on Monday, a massage on Tuesday, getting her hair done on Wed and bridge on Friday - she is 92yo and a going concern!

I am very much looking forward to this weekend as DH and I are going to Niagara on the Lake (NOTL) for Saturday and Sunday. It is in the wine region of southern Ontario and just down the road from Niagara Falls! No, we rarely go to Niagara Falls, only when we take visitors to Canada :laugh: NOTL is a beautiful little town, with shops, the Shaw theatre and many gourmet restaurants! Yep, there is that food and wine again, calling to me :drinker: We go every September! Now here's the proof the DH and I are "odd ducks" - when we go we do not go to the theatre and we don't go on the wine tours, both of which are the main reasons tourists from all over come to NOTL (we do pop into a few small vineyards to pick up a bottle or 2 though :blushing: ). We support an owl rescue and rehab foundation that takes in injured owls and rehabs them to release back into the wild. They keep and care for those that do not recover enough to be able to survive back in their habitat. 3 continuous weekend in September, they have open house to invited supporters to tour the facilities and see the owls! As their goal is for the owls to return to the wild they do not want them to become used to humans so the facility is not open to the public and only open those few weekends in September and you have a specific time to visit so they control the number of people. It was started by 1 single lady back in the 1950's, it is an amazing story! This facility is out in the country but about 20 minute drive from NOTL. hence, that is how we started many years ago to stay at NOTL.

We will be staying at a lovely B & B. NOTL has 5 star hotels and the B&B range from economy to 5 star - we took a pass on the $300+ / night B & B! :laugh: :laugh: But ours is a very nice mid range, we had been there before and the gourmet breakfasts are amazing - uh,oh, danger signs! Yep, controlling my eating is going to be a challenge, not to mention the wine! Wish me luck!

Well, off to get Mum up, enjoy your week everyone, cheers, Marian

Jean -- absolutely love your strategy about water and snacks. It is bound to work. Isn't funny how much we are all creatures of habit.

Marian -- I love the owl thing. How wonderful. I think they are absolutely beautiful. Think I mentioned a couple weeks ago that during my walk in the woods I was enjoying the "who cooks for you?" sound of a barred owl. I also love Niagara on the Lake and have been there many times. Ihave attended the Shaw Festival a couple of times, too. The wineries aren't bad either, but your vacation sounds wonderful!

DreamOn -- you are going through a lot of changes and stress. Remember, good stress is just as hard on us as bad stress. Exercise can help. Maybe a stroll on the beach. Great way to unwind. Don't forget to make some friends, too. Moving tends to isolate us and friends can be such stress relievers. Glad you are here. You can do this!

This week has not been a good one for me on this journey. :frown: Although my calories have been within range, I feel like I need a break from this for a few days. I recognize that I need to get back on track, I am just having problems getting myself into that mindset this week for some reason. I am still exercising, and will continue to do that, but somehow I need to get back into the proper frame of mind. I am not sure today will be any better, but am trying to focus on what I need to do... We will see how it goes.:huh:

JB: It happens to all of us. I try to exercise every day for at least 60 minutes and usually longer, but I will suddenly just realize I need a day off. It has happened with the food, too. My philosophy is not to feel guilty, but just to try to stay within maintenance level. We lose so much at first, but it gets harder as we carry around less weight. It all seems to hit about the same time that we are losing some enthusiasm, too. I also have found that sometimes when I feel like that, I am actually coming down with something. So take it easy, not give up, but allow yourself some leeway.

JB...hang on in there and get back on track when you feel able....... don't give up on us! :flowerforyou:

Jean

Grandchildren stories are so uplifting. They have a knack to make us smile.

I have a confession...I have been pigging out for two days at a family party weekend...... I dare not get weighed and will be back on track tomorrow......not optimistic for Wednesday - but had a wonderful weekend ...... :bigsmile:

Jean

Confession here as well - I have relaxed too much now that I can fit into all my very small clothes, although I still want to lose more "fat". I have been drinking more wine - my biggest failing - and need to jump off the slippery slope. After not having any for about 4 months, I started have a glass or three twice a week. I know not a lot really but it does inhibit my weight loss, which is why my scales are staying the same.

So have decided not to have any until my birthday next month. I seem to be an all or nothing person with wine, and am totally unable to have just one glass. Everything else - food and exercise is great - so there is no point in working so hard and not getting the results I want just for the sake of a few glasses of wine!!

There -confession done.

(photo credit: Inspiration For Mind Body)

Here's an image of a very smart girl's school science project to show the amount of hidden sugars in various drinks. If only all of our kids knew that high sugar intake is a contributing factor to weight gain and a host of health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Sure hope she got an A – she deserves it!

(Sorry...couldn't figure out how to make the photo smaller, but to see the whole thing... right click on the photo and open in a new window)

Love the sugar/drink display! Wow. Really brings it home.

AAARrrgggghhhh....