LW: 129.6
TW: 128.8

Hi, all. Sorry to be late this week. I did weigh before I showered yesterday, but driving to Bethesda every day for treatment and then to the mall there to walk puts a big hole in my in my day, adn I just didn't get online. I usually get home around 2:30, eat lunch, and then all it takes is checking email, returning messages, doing one or two chores, and puff--the day is gone. But Monday will mark my half-way point, and I'm really doing pretty good. I have a few aches and a little fatigue, but nothing major. I see the doctor on Thursdays, and she's pleased so far. Tomorrow, I have to go in a half hour early because they are doing another CT scan and they may make another mold of my body. The last 5 sessions will be targetted to the area where the lump was removed and so I'll be lying in a different position. Talk about precise. These folks are something else, and I'm so grateful.

Today I also had to start out early because we had sleet and freezing rain last night. Schools were delayed by 2 hours and so traffic was much heavier than it usually is when I head down. It was sleeting again when I came out, but I still went to the mall to walk. There's so many chemicals on the roads, I knew nothing would stick.

Day before yesterday, I got a call from my sister that is very worrying. As you know, her husband had 3 daughters with his wife who died, including the oldest one who died of complications of pneumonia right before Christmas. Well now the second oldest daughter's daughter, who she adopted when she was about 2 years old, is seriously ill. She began complaining about a back ache, and a CT scan found a large mass in her colon. She had an MRI yesterday, but I have not heard the results of that. I worry about my brother-in-law, who is getting on in years, and of course, is pretty worn out with caring for my sister. This stress is not good for him.

Hubby's back is giving him a fit, but we did finally get all the Christmas decorations put away yesterday. (Almost Valentines Day LOL) He said that next year, he is going to hire some young muscle to help with getting everything out and then everything put away again. We have heavy stuff to get down to the storage closets in the basement.

Sheesh, I'm on traditional Medicare with a Plan G supplement, but I don't think a gym is covered with either. I think Medicare Advantage Plans cover gyms, but not regular parts A&B. It's great that you do have that option. I think adding something different helps in many ways. For one, it helps alleviate boredom. I was getting in a rut with my class and treadmill walking. At least the mall that is near my treatment is not one that I would go to often, and so it's a new environment for me. And it's good news that your tests were normal. I hope all the lingering symptoms go away soon. And I agree--intake is key. When I think about how long I have to move to just burn off one cookie . . .

Lois, I am glad you had an enjoyable weekend at DL, but goodness girl--10 miles! As I said, Hubby's back is acting up and he could not bear the pain the other day after about two miles. I hope you at least rest your back and foot every mile or two. And I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your sister weekend.

Kelly, I hope that everyone in your family is doing better. You've also had a lot on your plate in the past few months, including work. I was thinking about your previous job location not long ago, and remembered those long commutes and that photo you shared of that vast snowy terrain.

Well, time to get busy again. Have a good week everyone. Oh, and before I go, here are my 7-day averages:
Steps = 10,083
Kcals burned = 1,746

So, I started this on Wednesday!

Great job Sheesh! and great goals.

For me - it's been a tough week. I usually see a reduction when we have a Disney excursion, but this round it's a 5lber week. My tummy has been in turmoil since before we left. I think I mentioned the Meloxicam was giving me diarrhea, so I had to stop taking it. I took Imodium while we traveled, and I stopped on Monday. But the diarrhea has continued. So I'm a bit housebound again. And Sheesh - you give me too much credit. I have not been active since coming back from Disneyland, except the sprints to the restroom. I am still logging my food. Not too far off base...this round I'm adding my coffee, which does put me over in my sugar count (I knew this before and just chose to stay under the number WITHOUT counting my sugar-laden coffee). If I take out my coffee, I'm well under my sugars. I'm still logging and plodding along. I have therapy tomorrow morning (had to cancel Tuesday due to uncontrollable bathroom urges). Praying this slows down to where I will be comfortable going tomorrow.

Our weather is warming up. We were 80 yesterday and will be 76 today. Cold mornings (49) and cooler evenings so I truly hope that my tummy can get under control. I can’t make it down the street without turning back. I walked across the street to visit with my neighbor and had to dart back home within 10 minutes. So I need to figure this out. But I only want to take Imodium when necessary.

Tummy is still in turmoil at times so PT was just the therapist working on my back and muscles, I will work on my exercises this afternoon. But I do feel a little bit better.

Sarah – so happy you’re already halfway through your treatments and that you’re continuing to go to the mall afterwards. Be careful in driving in your winter weather. My neighbor also has gym membership with her Medicare through Humana. Hoping it will be there in five years when I’m eligible. Hoping all goes well for your brother in law’s daughter. And I’m with your hubby in having someone help us lug the boxes in/out of storage. Ours is in a storage unit a few miles away.

Kelly – Great goals to set!! Good luck selling the house quickly.

Sheesh – I haven’t watched tv news regularly in about 20 years. But I am guilty of being on my phone at bedtime. And I fall asleep to a movie playing and using a sleep mask with Bluetooth every night. My current show is Me Before You. It’s a sad movie, but it’s not too loud and the voices just lull me to sleep.

Have a great weekend.

So nice to log in and have two new posts to read. Kelly, those goals are great, and I think that mine will be right on track with yours. I still aim for the 10K steps, although lately, there have been some days when I just couldn't get there. Last week I was able to go a little longer some days, so I averaged out around10K. And water is an issue for me too, because like you, I just don't get thirsty very often. And considering what happens to my BP when I'm dehydrated, I really need to set a goal for water intake and try to make it. And for me, logging my food is critical. If I don't, then I don't really think about what I'm eating, or probably more important, the size of my servings. So, I think for now, I'll aim for averaging 10K steps per day, logging food more accurately, and I think I'll start off with the goal of drinking a minimum of 56 ounces of water. Because radiation can cause arm tightness, I'm being asked to do arm stretches every day. And because I did not inherit arms that age very well, another goal for me is to work on arm strength and flexibility. With all my walking, my lower body is pretty strong.

Lois, I am so proud of you for continuing to log food. You've said how hard it is for you to get in that habit, and it sounds like with the exception of when you're at DL, you getting that done. I do hope that your belly woes improve. I hate to say this, but I started having lower belly discomfort again last night. I just don't think I can bear another round of Cipro and Metronidazole this soon, but I sent my PCP an email this morning, and she said if my belly is still tender in a couple of days, that's what I need to do! And she sent my CT scans and a referral over to my gastroenterologist, so I am going to call on Monday and try to set something up for the first week in March. My radiation treatment will be over February 24, if all goes well. Got the CT scan, some new markers, and a new body mold (they call it a "nest") done today, in addition to my treatment--which was number 10 of 21.

Kelly, I am sure your house will sell quickly. Based on the photos you shared, it's absolutely lovely. There's a lot we'd like to do to our house, which is 52 years old, but with all the house and medical expenses we've had, I think we will have to make a list and just do things in the order that they are bugging us or causing problems. Painting everything again is a no-brainer, and we are probably going to need some major work at the front door. I think all that digging last February caused some shifting out front. And of course, we have the landscaping that had to put off until this spring. But as time goes on, I put less importance on keeping in style and just want to be comfortable and not strap my budget too much.

Well, time to get moving. I have a cat giving me the "feed me" eye! Let's keep each other heading toward our goals. I do so appreciate the support and friendship here.

Sheesh, I think we were posting at the same time on Friday, because I saw Lois's and Kelly's post but not your longer one. I'm glad that bug you picked up in Mexico is finally resolving. And a lot of docs like for their patients to take Metamucil since getting enough fiber through diet is not that easy. I plan to start taking it again once I'm sure that my tummy is going to be okay.

You're right, Kelly, Kelsey is my sister's step-grandaughter, but since she's been married to my BIL for all of Kelsey's life, she's just "Nana" to her. Haven't heard yet what the MRI found. I'm almost afraid to call.

Sheesh, as far as I know, my Part B is just through Medicare itself. I was still working when I signed up, but the company with our contract at that time had a health insurance policy that charged by age. The company paid a set amount for each employee. If you were younger, it was a good deal, but for those of us who were older, it was incredibly expensive. Most of us signed up for Medicare B if eligible, and if not, shopped for a stand-alone policy. I think it pushed a couple of people into retirement. Then the contract changed hands and the last company who held my contract actually had good coverage, but by then I was using standard Medicare. I'm concerned, as is everyone, about how our medical coverage will change with this new adminstration. Don't get me started!

I think for all of us the key words (and goals) for 2025 are (1) movement, (2) water, (3) log. I know that one thing I need to do is use a recipe calculator to add some more foods to "My Foods" in my MFP diary. I do too much guessing and trying to choose something close to what I ate. And I also need to recheck the food labels of foods I eat frequently. It's disturbing that you'll see multiple entries for the same food, same brand, and not all of them have the same nutrition info. I do try to use my scale as much as possible.

Well, the day is growing short, and I feel like I've accomplished little, so I'm going to head off. Have fun watching the Superbowl. We are not football fans, but hubby will watch, and I'll probably watch some of it, too. But it's only 5 days now until pitchers and catchers report. (As Lois would say, Bwahaha! )

Sheesh - I am taking your advice. I've ordered some mirafiber gummies. I don't think I can tolerate the drink. The gummies I can cut up and swallow if they are atrocious (I do this with airborne lol).