Well .... I had a pig out on cheese, pate and bread for lunch/dinner so I suspect a problem. But I did meet Margaret Atwood just now. Not one of my goals but fun!

Yes Marney tell all!

gaylebodine wrote: »

gmabethof3 wrote: »

Not doing too great with the goal that I have set, I know that I sent it way too high. but I have been loosing a little each week, so I am pretty happy with that. I do enjoy the group, and hope that you will have another one. I do know not to set such a high goal...LOL

Beth, we've been doing these challenges for a while, I can not see myself stopping any time soon. This current challenge ends on September 4th and the next challenge will go for 9 weeks, from September 4th through November 6th. The last challenge of the year before we hit the 8 holiday season challenge: November 6th until January 1st. I guess I should start numbering these challenges so it's easier to keep track.

Gayle,

Glad that you will keep these going, and I promise not to make such a not so realistic goal..LOL

I am really excited about these challenges, and I am not sure , but really excited about the one November 6 thru January 1st. I guess I like challenging myself through the holidays. I TRY to watch my weight through those times, because of so many tempting treats.

I know that this challenge ends September 4, but I will be out of town, leaving early on the 3rd. If I weigh on the 2nd, can I just go ahead and put this in the challenge?

So far, so good. I've been weighing every morning and staying in the 129-131 range. I have no idea how many calories I'm eating each day. I do measure out servings of most things, it also helps DH keep on track with his logging.

I was happy with getting to size 10 jeans and allowed myself to get a couple more pairs. But then they were looking baggy... I got a size 8 and it fit. I've been wearing the GVanderbilt jeans at Costco for 14.99. Getting two pair every time I went down a size. I was wearing 18 when I started. Nothing has changed but I guess my body is still adjusting.

I'm keeping up with an hour minimum of activity everyday and am heading off to the treadmill when I finish this note

I'm realizing that it's not about self denial and self discipline but rather being smart about when and what you eat.

I'm not all that sure I could be as self disciplined as I am without the medical issues, that tends to change your habits in a hurry. But even with the medical issues hanging over my head, I still had to go through the withdrawal for lack of a better word. I would buy say ice cream and after a couple of bites be in pain from hell and then 2 months later do it all over again as I forgot about the pain. It took a handful of times of being curled up on the floor with a gall bladder attack from hell before I finally got it through my head. The emotional connection is no longer there for me, I finally managed to break that...but it was just as hard as quitting smoking. I don't think I am emotionally addicted to any one food anymore. I do still on occasion make bad choices, but it isn't a constant anymore. Honestly, that is half the battle...

drags59 wrote: »

I'm realizing that it's not about self denial and self discipline but rather being smart about when and what you eat.

@drags59 Cheryl, if you get that, you've got it ALL! Eating in the moment, smart choices, good planning! That is what will keep you on a down-scale track.

@gmabethof3 Beth, you are doing great! You will notice the Y the next time you measure inches. Also, when you first start to exercise, you may retain some water/glycogen weight. So you next loss might be larger.

@dasher602014 How exciting! Yes, what is she like?

@gaylebodine LOL, we definitely aren't "rigid" around here. Life can be too much fun to ignore some alternate routes. I love our non-competitive challenges.

@Cclill Have fun at the reunion.

@MapDancer You are doing so well at maintenance. Seemed to be a fairly easy transition for you. Smart to keep measuring. I know portion control has always been a downfall for me.

@maryschwartzroby Mary, are you out there?

As for me. I'm at 148. Still haven't recovered from the drinking and fair food last weekend. This weekend are two more chamber music concerts (one was last night). A little more civilized. Wine instead of beer. I can pack my dinners, too.

I have done well with my challenge and now leave a bite almost every meal. Is easier for me to have one goal at a time.

You probably all know my favorite saying. I made it up as wallpaper for my computers and my phone to remind me that I have to make the right choices (like Cheryl said):

Hi all,
I will step on the scale tomorrow morning but despite being all over the place with friends, B&B and hotels, my clothes still fit so I might be OK. Glad to be home where I have better control.

Yesterday morning, I rounded the corner to the breakfast room and there they sat, Margaret Atwood and her partner, Graeme Gibson. We saw the same play so she asked me what I thought. Now, I have seen her interviewed more than once and she can be really sharpish if she thinks people aren't thinking. And, I am an English major, although, since we weren't introduced, she might have believed I did not know that I knew who she was, yeah right! And I am not a morning person but .... I took a big breath, and said I liked it and there were some things I liked and some I did not like. Of course, she wanted to know what I did not like. I think I sounded intelligent since the conversation continued for awhile. I wish I had had a chance to talk to Graeme Gibson because honestly, his books are more often open in our family, than hers! She looks amazing. Her hair has gone from blonde to white/grey and she doesn't look her age at all. Very pleasant if brief meeting and if I sounded stupid, she doesn't know my name!

Back to reality now.

M

dasher602014 wrote: »

Hi all,
I will step on the scale tomorrow morning but despite being all over the place with friends, B&B and hotels, my clothes still fit so I might be OK. Glad to be home where I have better control.

Yesterday morning, I rounded the corner to the breakfast room and there they sat, Margaret Atwood and her partner, Graeme Gibson. We saw the same play so she asked me what I thought. Now, I have seen her interviewed more than once and she can be really sharpish if she thinks people aren't thinking. And, I am an English major, although, since we weren't introduced, she might have believed I did not know that I knew who she was, yeah right! And I am not a morning person but .... I took a big breath, and said I liked it and there were some things I liked and some I did not like. Of course, she wanted to know what I did not like. I think I sounded intelligent since the conversation continued for awhile. I wish I had had a chance to talk to Graeme Gibson because honestly, his books are more often open in our family, than hers! She looks amazing. Her hair has gone from blonde to white/grey and she doesn't look her age at all. Very pleasant if brief meeting and if I sounded stupid, she doesn't know my name!

Back to reality now.

M

gaylebodine wrote: »

Marney, thanks for telling us about your Atwood/Gibson meeting! I have not read Graeme Gibson but I see that he has a bunch of books on Amazon. Which do you recommend (first). I didn't know you were an English major!

Graeme Gibson writes novels as well as birds and beast guides. The "Bedside" books. My brother has the "Bedside Book of Birds" open often. As far as novels, I remember "Perpetual Motion" but I have to admit that most Canadian books of the time were full of angst and I think Gibson was no exception to the rule. Try your library first! Both Gibson and Atwood are a bit too much work for me now. I tend to read less high brow and put in a 'good' literature book only now and again. And both Atwood and Gibson are left leaning political activists and environmentalist and they show it in everything they write.

Yes, I studied English at University and I was lucky enough to take a course by Northrup Frye and Jay McPherson, two of the guiding lights for Margaret Atwood. Northrup Frye was a sweet, sweet man and such a towering intellect. He was a United Church minister who opened his lecture series with the statement that there are four great religions of the world: Christianity, Judaism, Islamic and Marxism and the lectures got more interesting from there. If you want some good reading "An Educated Imagination" is a very, very short book which details what he thought was the most important learning/reading that everyone needs. (He made no distinction between Arts and Science, since he viewed an educated imagination necessary for all creative work in any field.) He is very readable but only wrote non fiction, so high brow. His book about the bible as myth (he was discussing it only in terms of its structure, not it content, a distinction that, as a minister, he was always defining and defending, is still readable and fascinating.

Tomorrow back to food and trying to keep mice out of my basement. But it was good to think of the 'good old days'! I have had my 'culture' at Stratford now and it should hold me for a few years!

M

Challenge Goal: 245

July 3 - 260.4
July 10 - 259.2
July 17 - 258.4
July 24 - 253.4
July 31 - 255.2
Aug 7 - 255.2

Yes, it is a win when you manage through stress. A major win, indeed.

Gayle, I was remembering the struggle to reach onderland. Now more than 25lbs later, you are just motoring along. And with all your work, and with all my lack of focus and travel, we weigh the same now. You are now an honourary mini!

I am still experimenting with Atkins per husband's doctors advice to him. I will have company starting on Monday. Hurray! Hopefully, two of us together will make it easier.