While I'm here, I'll do my check in. Yesterday was a day of ups and downs. Ups because I got my fling challenge stuff listed. Ups (because I made an appointment with a trainer to get set up on the weight equipment at the Y, YAY, FINALLY!!!). Downs because I don't know what is going on with some nerve compression running down my legs, which has been going on for months but I thought would get better when I could swim again. I'm not sure if it's the sacroilliac joint (always a problem for people with active Adult Still's Disease), or piriformis muscles (they always HURT!) or just plain old sciatica. I saw my chiropractor last week, which helped a bit, but now when I sit down, I'll sometimes get this sharp stabbing pain in my hip and I have to immediately get up, or lie back, or twist sideways. I'm really really hoping this will go away as I lose more weight, but I suppose at some point I'm going to need to go back to the stupid neurologist who told me a few years ago that I had a slipped disc but I was too fat for him to fix it. Oh.... thanks. I was mortified. So the other "down" part was that I fell into an old eating habit--when I got back from the gym (I didn't go until late evening, so I got home around 9 p,m,), I was soooooo hungry for carbs. Jim had brought home some wheat thins and cheddar cheese, so I portioned out a serving (15 crackers, 1 ounce of cheese), ate it slowly, savoring it, enjoying it, feeling no guilt because it was a reasonable portion and fit my plan. Well that was it... next thing I knew, I was shoving my hand back into the cracker box, the whole time telling myself to STOP, then the devil on my shoulder saying, "one more won't hurt... or three more... geesh, you burned 800 calories in the pool, EAT UP!"

This is an ongoing problem for me. I'm so hungry after a long swim, and even being sleeved doesn't seem to make a difference. I think the problem is escalated because I have to take pain meds after a long swim for the joint pain, and so my give a *kitten* meter drops too and I make poor decisions. Sooooooo, part of my plan today is to work out a strategy for before and after the gym. Maybe a protein shake before and a protein bar after? Something I can regulate. Something easy so that I don't let the hunger blow up out of control. If anyone has any suggestions, please throw them at me!

Okay, there's my Sunday novel. Today I have a ladies craft day, and I'm in charge of the meal (baked haddock and seafood chowder), so I need to get my booty in gear, go to the fish market (one of the great benefits of living in Maine... fresh haddock and lobster... yum), gather my crafting materials, and head out the door. We're making "spirit dolls" today, for healing and wellness. OH! Nancy, I'd like to make one for you! What color is/how long is your hair??

I hope everyone has a fabulous Sunday, especially Zac who is probably lounging in a giant pool of steaming water right now. JEALOUS!!! When we're all skinny, let's have a hot springs MOBO MOTO retreat! Or even before then, LOL!

xoxox
K.

Yay, Cari, you made it! I'm so glad!

I don't know how to make a communal spreadsheet, but maybe I can just start a Fling thread for a weekly goal check in. Your and Kaliya's goals look great. I noticed a difference already this weekend; just having these as my "must do" made me prioritize and plan better.

As for the pain stuff, I've been dealing with crappy AOSD for ten years now, so I'm pretty used to it, but it pisses me off when it interferes with my fitness goals! I'm in the process of getting back on my immunosuppressants med cocktail after 3 months off (because of infected incisions from bariatric surgery), so things are definitely looking UP!

Hope everyone enjoys their relaxing Sunday night... BECAUSE TOMORROW WE WORK OUT. BWAHAHAHAHAAA! Sorry, I was channeling Jillian Michaels for a sec.
K.

Have a good day at work, Nancy! I started your doll, but she doesn't have a face or hair yet. I can't remember how to post a pic, so I'll change my profile pic to my own doll, made for me by my awesome artist friend Ariel. I love mine!!!