Today was not as easy to stay on track as I thought it would have been. Once again, I allowed myself to get too hungry and over-nibbled (as opposed to over eating, but I guess that is what it really was), and then struggled to get back on track. I have to learn to eat when I am hungry and to not delay my eating until DS is hungry and/or ready to come to the table. Ugh! I know better!

DW…thanks for the tea suggestion. I will get some of that tea. I read reviews that Yogi has a Carmel flavor people liked and would try that but so far no luck finding it in that flavor. Our water is terrible tasting in MN. In AZ too..but we have reverse osmosis and is great! We always had wonderful water in MN until we downsized and moved to suburb of St Paul. So many chemicals! So we use refrigerator filtered water and buy gallon jugs for our coffee and tea. 78-99cents per gallon. My DD uses a Brita pitcher which she fills and keeps in her frig. Brita water tastes good. I have considered buying one like hers for our coffee use but changing the filter often might cost same or more than the jugs we buy?? I should look at prices of the replacement filters.🤔

Paula…we all have compliant days and not as on track days…knowing you, you will be on track again sooner than later. This is for the long haul and we do th best we are able, one day at a time. I had two days no night time snacks and last night caved and had toast. Sometimes I just crave one piece about 9-10:00pm. 🙀

Shari, nice for your DH to enjoy a "back to school" party from the retirement vantage point. An outside option would be preferable for me too (and I don't even like the outdoors!).

Diane, I hope your hand continues to mend. Are you doing ok with daily tasks? It's amazing how much we need our hands for, actions that can be taken for granted until the hand is impaired. I recall this from my carpal tunnel surgery.

DW, How exciting to get to see your grandsons! How old are they?? No harm in taking a few precautions as you mentioned. Better safe than sorry, right?

I continue to drink flavored seltzer water every day in addition to coffee, green tea, and water. We used to have a Brita filter but the pitcher cracked, and we never replaced it. I think our water tastes really good, Pennsylvania mountain water, so we are fortunate.

Today was an improvement over yesterday but of course could have been better. It turned out to be a fairly lazy day for me. It was gray, dreary, and drizzling off and on all day, a welcome excuse for me to take it easy! But I did cook the evening meal, turkey burgers and a salad.

DW..wishing you safe travels! Glad you found a source of better tasting water, too!

Hi Everybody! Thank you for your travel wishes! We leave Friday or Saturday depending on what we decide to do about parking. We skyped with them tonight and I know that salmon is on the menu one evening! Prayers for everyone in the path of the storm and especially for your Goddaughter, Paula! She sounds like an amazing person! Today's eating went well as did the water consumption from the fridge. I also had another session of yoga. I always feel so good after yoga! Have a great evening!

Paula…I hear you about being hungrier!! I always seem to have a bigger appetite come fall…cooler temps and I have to fight those hunger urges every fall, lol. (Especially for apple pie etc.) I hope all is well with your loved ones in path of Ida!

Shari…I am in same boat….am almost back to my Jan 1st weight. Agree, it’s a good time for me to refocus, too! Wishing you success! I know you can do it!

Part of my re-focus is to get moving more. I have been working on getting my knee better so I can walk and exercise more. Walked a lot yesterday and had to re tape it today. Is swollen but not as painful which is a plus and a step in right direction. I had been with no tape and mostly pain free for 5-6 days, again going in right direction. When we get back to AZ my plan is to go back to the gym every day…and get on some machines there to strengthen my leg muscles which support that knee. In the meantime I have been doing stretching exercises which are recommended for this inflamed bursa and they seem to be helping and part of my success. I had about given up so it feels good to be doing something that helps and to have a plan.

DW…so great you are doing yoga! Stretching is so good for our bodies! Glad you are able to use your refrigerator water…very convenient!

My stitches were removed yesterday. It is healing well. Does not hurt to drive and handle steering wheel (which it did before surgery). No more triggering of finger. It was one week yesterday since surgery. So glad I had it done. Will be ready for golf when we get to AZ! Departing 4 weeks from yesterday!!

Hi Everybody! I will be jumping back on the 17DD the minute I get home from our trip. My hope is that the increased activity level will somewhat balance the increased eating. Paula, ongoing prayers for everyone impacted by the hurricane! I hope you don't get too much rain and am glad that you plan to stay home! Diane, so happy that your surgery was so successful and that your recovery has been so smooth! I will join you in the refocus to get moving more during vacation but especially when I get home. I need to figure out a new routine since the old one fell apart. Shari, not gaining is a BIG celebration and much progress can been made in 4 months!
Tomorrow is my 2 year retirement anniversary! I've been so grateful to be retired with everything that is going on with Covid. I retired the minute I was eligible for Medicare and will turn 67 while in Alaska. When I get back, we have a dog club picnic on 9/18 and then the work continues and picks up pace for out breed's national gathering that my club is hosting at the end of October. I will be training both of my dogs in preparation and will also be working on things for the club. I'd love to finally break the weight line that I haven't been able to cross all year....I inch up to it and then gain again, repeat, repeat, repeat. Increased activity and fresh motivation should help! Have a great evening!!

DW, Happy retirement anniversary! I retired 9 years ago, 3 years after my RA diagnosis. I found I couldn't do my job the way I could before RA due to the increased pain and fatigue. I took a considerable penalty on my pension, but I don't regret it at all. I so enjoy reading about your dog club activities. Thank you for sharing with us.

Shari, I am not familiar with Pahla B but will look her up online. The combination of consistency and good fiber intake makes sense to me. Keep us posted on how you do.

I had a very compliant day for me on my "modified" 17DD. I still allow myself an extra fruit or 2 if I think it will help keep me on track otherwise. I also still allow myself to have a Built bar as a reward if I get a sweet craving in the evening. So far so good. I am aiming for a good loss as I have an appointment with my family doctor next week. A friend of mine is doing WW and that still interests me too.

Woo Hoo Shari for you for not having cravings. That can make such a big difference in our successes. Nice to know that you have some relaxing time coming up.

Our area was hit pretty hard by the remnants of Ida, but not as bad as NY and NJ. Many roads in our area were closed due to flooding, downed trees, downed wires, etc. We did not lose electricity. There were power outages here and there but not nearly as bad as in some other areas. We did get tons of rain, ranging from 4 to 8 inches in one day, depending on the area.

I did ok today but did indulge in a small piece of homemade zucchini bread a little while ago. My friend gave it to us on Monday. I resisted until today. It was delicious, but I no longer feel a need or desire to have any more.

Shari…I checked out Pahla b on you tube. (Weight loss at 50+). She is a tiny ball of fire! I have enjoyed listening to her ideas and will listen to more and try some of them. I will use foods and ideas from 17dd (like green tea and yogurt) and some of the meal recipes and combine with some of her recipes. I have looked at calorie counting calculators before and may attempt to do an exact daily plan for eating set amount of calories and see if it helps me. I believe it will but I need to experiment with what I might eat that would fit the calorie range for me. Thanks for mentioning her..sometimes a fresh approach is inspiring!

Pahla recommends determining a personal calorie range for losing weight using an average based on 5 calculators she used. On the several calculators I used it came up with values of 1350 to 1550 calories total for the day. If I understand her correctly she limited herself to 1350 (she appears small boned petite) and lost a good deal of weight and now eats more calories than that as she is at goal and wants to maintain…although I have not yet heard how much or how long it took. I put in my current age, weight, sex, light to moderate exercise and goal date of Jan 1st in each calculator and the results all came out with 1350 as lowest….Pahla doesn’t recommend necessarily using lowest number as too hard to maintain…instead find lowest number you can maintain in the range of these calculators results. I think I got that right, lol. I may start with 1400 to 1500/day for a month and see what happens?? Then lower it if possible but not to point of being hungry! She also recommends eating foods you enjoy eating and that keep you satisfied. She has a chocolate protein shake for breakfast with added ingredients she blends into it.

My DD is doing something different which is working for her. She is not eating anything after 7:00 p.m., not eating breakfast…she has been studying diets and this is a suggested form of “intermittent fasting”. She is limiting refined carbs…eats exact same lunch at 11:30 every work day which is mostly all protein with lettuce (I call it weed) salad, then she has lean meat or seared tuna or sushi for dinner, again with salad and or plain veggies. No snacking. She just turned 50 and wanted to lose 10-12 lbs (tried 17dd as it worked for her at 40 but this time not) and is now losing weight. I don’t know her calories. She gave up wine at home, only has a glass when they eat out once a week and if entertaining. Also brisk walks 5 miles in morning every day. (This is not new exercise) Unlike me, she has never been heavy, never needing to lose more than about 10 lbs. usually just cutting carbs has worked for her but as I said she needed more this time.

Good luck Shari with Pahla b plan. I am going to start today with the no breakfast and no food after 7:00 pm….my weight is today only 1 lb less than my start weight last January 1st! I have to do something to kick start me. So I will 17dd plan on meal and snack foods allowed and try it combined with the interval intermittent fast overnight with an 11:30 breakfast. I already know a few days I will be off on my lunch as we are saying goodbyes to friends and family and it seems to always involve a lunch out, lol. But the no breakfast will be a start and I need to start somewhere!👍😍💪