Good morning everybody. I wanted to share the video from the Tough Mudder Chicago.
youtube.com/watch?v=hK3jA60W-fYhttp://

Heron, your macros from Christin seem like the perfect CN to me. I'm still in my not tracking not weighing experiment so have no clue what I hit this time, but basically followed your plan (I love the pre-dessert dessert idea). Skipped the cereal with the CarbShock/whey, just had the shake as spike 1. Made risotto with grilled shrimp as dinner, two cookies as pre-dessert and a cupcake with ice cream as final. Was a decent stay at home Carb Nite we often go out on CN, but I liked having one fully at home.

Did she say why no bread with dinner? iS this to keep from filling you up too much?

Gardened all weekend. Both at home and at Moms. Veggie garden in. Needs mulch but pretty much have everything planted.

I have not gotten into tracking anything with CN... In fact, my goal is to not track as I can become a little obsessed with things like that. I have been weighing and losing so that's good enough for me!! Actually, I had lost 12 lbs. prior to CN (eating whole 30 and 2-a-day, at least, workouts) and nobody noticed, really. The 9 lbs I have lost with CN are NOTICEABLE, my body comp. is changing (and I'm just walking and lifting some!!). I love that I don't feel deprived, there is no wagon to fall off of!! I will eat ULC this week, but Emery's party is this weekend and I'll have my CN then! Thus far, my post CN weight has only been up a lb. or 2 and comes off immediately.

As I expected, I have a much harder time getting my water in when I'm not at work. I find myself chugging 3 cups in the am and 3 in the pm with little in between... When I am at work I drink all day long.

Thanks for the Gretchen Rubin suggestion... I'm always looking for podcasts and have now (in like 4 days) listened to all of hers... so many good tips!! I love if it takes less than a minute do it immediately!! Normally I try on 3-4 outfits Sunday mornings (never know what's going to fit!!), I tend to just chuck them on the bed as they are voted off the island... Yesterday, I put them back on the hanger... IT TAKES LESS THAN A MINUTE!!!

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!!! BRING ON THE SUMMER BREAK!!!!!!!

Hey everybody. Back at work today after being off all last week. Well, I got in the building and was able to log onto my computer, so guess that means I still have a job.

Better sleep last night. I got off the computer around 8:00 and went upstairs to get ready for bed (just have my phone upstairs, no iPad). Probably feel asleep around 8;30ish and woke up one time around 1:30 but fell right back to sleep and woke up to the alarm going off at 4:15. So Kim, how is that sleep amount?

Still not eating properly or drinking water regularly. Still struggling with some things mentally but feeling a bit better than last week. Thanks to Carol, Kim, Kris, Angela and John for the notes (and for reading my long winded messages) . I'm still around and not giving up. Believe me, I have had my moments where I just want to shut down all of my online accounts and disappear. I truly do value the support of everyone here and would definitely miss you all. I told Carol that the way I felt last week, I was ready to cancel Vegas completely as there is no way I could do it. Well, I haven't cancelled and I have no plans to. I want to be able to say that I did it, even if I have to skip obstacles.

Kevin, I've never had an energy drink and have no plans to. Too much sugar concentration for me. I get enough sugar from the bad food that I've been eating.

Hope everybody has a good day.

Oh and yes Carol...it was really easy to wipe the iMac. Just be sure to follow the steps here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065 (deauthorizing on itunes, signing off Find my iMac and signing out of iCloud first) . Skip them and no one will ever be able to set up a new icloud account or really use the device. If you are recycling (which was original plan) probably no big deal. However, we had a last minute change of plans with Kiddo taking it. So I followed the directions to log off everything and then erase and reinstall the iOS. At this point everyone is happy.

Did spend an hour or two with Mom on a laundry list of "issues". She is having some trouble with the new iOS. Many around the scroll bars at far right that appear and disappear. And the change from iphotos to Photos which have different menu and on screen options. She doesn't do well with computer change. But I'll cut her some slack, she's almost 80.

Hi Kim, I had slight difficulties hitting 250g of carbs on my carb nites which is a shocker to me. Before Christin my carb nites were out of control. But somehow if you time the spikes you are less inclined to eat more (at least for me). Next carb nite I'm switching to denser treats. As for the bread, yes it's so not to fill me up and she wants cleaner carbs with my meal. But "junkier" stuff for my spikes. But so far I love my carb nite plan. I learn that if I know we are going to eat out, some planning needs to go in to ensure I have those timed spikes.

I am horrible with technology Arturo just sighs.

Jen, stay in the fight and I totally agree with Kim get sleep situated first. What have you tried for sleep aid? But yeah even just walking will help, especially in the sun, it'll help improve your mood. And definitely don't give up on Vegas tough mudder! I look forward to seeing you there you know, moodiness/ feeling the blues can be a sign of hormone imbalance, especially if there is a change in diet. I was just reading an article on an ex navy seal's guy 3 tips to build resilient and courage. 1) Let go of excuses 2) learn to control your breathing 3) write it down. The article explains it in depth . https://www.yahoo.com/health/3-tips-for-building-courage-and-resilience-from-a-120706837103.html

John, I think you might be interested in Eric Grieten's book or you probably heard of him he sounds like a remarkable human being.
after returning from Iraq in 2007, Eric donated his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Missouri that challenges veterans to serve and inspire in communities across America. He help veteran by giving them a purpose which from what I've read is one of the biggest issue facing them when they transition back to civilian life. Check out this article, http://www.forbes.com/sites/howardhusock/2015/02/26/a-navy-seals-ptsd-rx-the-great-books/
He gave an interview to BBC about how inadequate the VA is in treating PTSD and how a lot of countries in Europe and Britain PTSD is an "American thing" OMFG in this day and age there is still a stigma on PTSD?!!! Can these white coats not see the pain and suffering in soldiers, veterans, abuse victims?! Those people must be so detach from the real world.

Susan, I agree with the carb nite changing body comp. it's pretty amazing and I love that 1min rule!

Carol: Palm Springs is nice! We live in San Francisco Bay Area where Kiefer and Alex lives there is a "heat wave" warning which for my area meant the mid 80s lol

Thanks Heron, will definitely try that. Will need to this week! I remember somewhere reading about a mix of lemon and or lime juice with himalayan or other colored salt and water as a booster of sorts to take in the morning. May have to do some reading.

http://www.strengthsensei.com/start-the-day-right-lime-salt-water/

Thanks Kim & Heron.

Flight reservations for Vegas final now. I guess I am truly committed now.

Kris... I figure I have lost 40 lbs so far. I know I have lost 4-5 pants sizes, along with 2 sizes everywhere else. I just keep walking and drinking water lol

Good photo on the soda. I love my diet coke but now I split one with mark once a week and do water the rest of the time. I know if I want to lose and get fit n healthy that I can't drink it. For me, diet coke leads to poor food choices.

The infographic forgot your digestive system! Funny discussion since I drank not quite 500ml of diet coke today and I was having my own "everybody out moment" within 2 hrs. But I have been 2L + (64oz for y'all lol) everyday this month. I find this amount is perfectly doable without being too much most days but I need to think about it to make it so!

Angela, Yes to the digestive system. I am noticing a difference since I cut back. Water is probably helping too. Here ya on the "everybody out moment"

I am hitting the uncomfortable place where I am fighting the desire for the old stuff. I felt like I was crazy yesterday. Great morning and then I get ready to walk out the door, the dog is going crazy and I see two trucks planted in front of my house. There were a handful of guys congregating on my front lawn and another three taking wheel barrels of stuff across my lawn. My neighbors are having a patio put in. They have unloaded all their stuff at the end of my driveway so I can't pull out (the neighbors front was all clear). Here is where my crazy came out. I go outside and walk up to the party on my lawn and ask if they realize they are at the wrong house. They say they are doing work at my neighbors. I say "Well then...get the hell off my lawn and driveway" They say it will only be a few and I say, "NOW!" ... For the most part, that is not me. I feel bad that I handled it like that. Last night I was pacing all night, feeling anxious. It will pass, but boy I hate this feeling.

Thanks Kim! That's what I was thinking when I charged out there. The delivery side of it was weird for me. I am rather vocal, but it was like I was insane with uncontrollable rage. To the point I was shaking after. I am kind of laughing now at thinking of the look they gave me as I bounded off the steps, but I will not let it bother me. I know some of it is due to my history. I have this thing about personal space and I hate people walking around my home who were not invited. Heck, last week I had an issue with some strange guy coming up to me in a parking lot. Who does that at night??? Probably sound paranoid, but it is a thing I hate. I promise to keep being strong. Being passive and nice is what got me in trouble in the past and on one level fueled this weight gain. Thanks again Kim!

Today has gone great! Lots of water with only a couple of small glasses of Diet Coke. Ate clean too. Cutting down on the fruit is doing something. I am still not craving sugar, but feel less bloated. Think I will go for a run later. It is a beautiful day, hot, but lovely:)

Thanks Heron! I hear ya. My hormones have been out of whack. I felt better yesterday and even better today. The hot flashes have been awful for the last week. I am trying to read more about it. Think that it has also contributed to this trunk weight. I never had belly weight before. Although I felt like I was sleeping better, the boyfriend says I am tossing and turning all night and talking in my sleep about either being hot or cold. Maybe that is part of the reason I have been in a brain fog. I have been experimenting with "lower" carbs. Problem is I go to extremes. I cut them out and then the next day I eat a bunch. That up/down thing probably plays a part. Was also having what I can only explain as the feeling of shin splints throughout my body (bones and joints). I blame that on hormones too, as I would have it monthly before. That is non-existent today. Yay!

Went for a run last night. It felt good. No pain in my knee during. Went for a short walk this morning. Bring on the day!!!

Have a great day all. Weekend is almost here:)

Kris,

If I eat very much in the way of carbs or junk food I find that I have severe hot flashes. I don't have much of a cycle anymore but the first two days I have a non stop heat wave! I also tend to gain in the belly area and bloat easily. I have found that clean eating and nothing but water has helped immensely. Not only for hot flashes but for the belly as well. I have also found that wild yam cream helps. I also switched all my clothes to cotton and bought the wicking shirts. I do get that joint pain, especially in my hips... Which mark can attest to. I usually have some due to all my daily walking but at that time it is worse and I can feel it in my knees and shins. But I am finding that a double dose daily of osteo biflex helps immensely.