@trooworld - It's good to see you back on here. I missed your morning posts. I hope you enjoy your work at home day.

@txcritter69 - I'm glad your husband found the new truck. I think my husband finally found one too. We will be going to look at it again today and make the final decision.

@TeresaW2024 - Joe's invite is beautiful.

@19shmoo69 - I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad you're not hurt. I hope you're able to get the repairs done so you can use it for work.

@bobboyardee - Thanks, Stay strong. You've got this. I hope you beat your last streak.

@vegan4lyfe2012 - I said prayers for Oliver. It's heart breaking to think about what you're all going through. My grandson is around the same age. It's just so scary.

💪Mission Slimpossible Strong!💪

Yesterday was successful, but the computer was off and I was already upstairs when I remembered to log in, so I scrapped it.

today is day 5! I am done eating dinner for the night.

I played a show and it was great! really tired, GOODNIGHT

Weigh In Day: Saturday

PW: 130.9

CW: 131.3

Maintenance range 127-133

@TeresaW2024 It is frustrating ! Ooh, that is super frustrating and not what you need right now, am I right? I hope you got that resolved and the other thing. Thank you, me too! Thanks! How is Maggie doing without Joe? Does she seem to notice? I hope you had fun at the bestie's house for pizza.

@DrewsAnna Sounds like fun stuff . I hope you can get back to tracking.

@Veta2018 Thank you ! I'm glad to be back! I hope you are well.

@Katmary71 Congrats on the new car ! CRVs are super cute. What color is it? I'm glad the kitties are doing well.

@bobboyardee Way to go ! And congrats on the show!

@baodell17724 Congrats on the loss , you are doing awesome! That's great you got all that stuff on a "super-savings" and I really like the individual pack thinking. I love the baked chips, they are a good sub for the real thing. Congrats on the new laptop!

Hi all. I enjoyed my work-from-home day yesterday: I made a large cut-out of a cartoon pet rock for a pet rock-making workshop I am hosting for the students this next week in celebration of Earth Science Week. It should be fun! I have no idea if they will want to do it, but I guess we'll see. I also went to the gym. Today will be busy: the gym, coffee, then I am participating in a research study about athletic clothing, and then we are going to a pug Halloween party. It should be a fun day! Below is a picture of my most recent painting, it will be in a show at the end of the month. The theme of the show is "anthropomorphic."

Water intake yesterday: 48 oz

Count your steps/activity with us: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-c4S-GIz9asx1ghzcAnNdyEH1LkXL670f-2mZ4AFUqk/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Starts on Sunday!

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Have you found a way to enjoy a favorite food in a lighter or healthier version? Favorite food is/was bread. With a really good bread, fresh out of the oven, I could easily eat 1/2 the loaf in one sitting. So, no bread in the house. Sometimes I make bread for a special occasion (like Thanksgiving) when I can bring it to the hostess and leave it behind. I do the same thing with pies. So I still get to enjoy the "it" food, but it's not in the house and I'll get only the one serving.

@laurelfit57 - Weigh in due! Last post I see from you was October 3rd. Is everything OK?

@laurelfit57 - I put you in with same weight as last week.

hope everyone is having a great weekend! I’m finishing up homework for this week today. Tomorrow since it’s a holiday and a day off from work I’m planning on taking the day to clean, organize, and food prep at least that is the goal. Then maybe get a head start on the next school week assignments but we are getting a nor’easter today so my plans may change. What are your plans?

@TeresaW2024 Aww . Dogs are sensitive creatures. Thank you! HAHAHA I love that thought about my painting! I'm glad you had a good time with your BFF. Good job putting in the effort to listen to your hunger cues!

@Digger61 Congrats on the loss !

@laurelfit57 I'm sorry about your mom . Sending positive thoughts your way.

@Cornanda Thank you ! Oh, the costume we got Violet would have been so appropriate (devil)! She was TERRIBLE. We were going to put the costumes on once we got there, but they were too overstimulated, at least Violet. I will try to put on the costumes today and take pics.

@gemwolf110 Good luck with all you need to do . I hope the weather isn't too bad.

@vegan4lyfe2012 We finished BRING HER BACK . It was a great movie, VERY creepy! We did like it better than Talk to Me, which we also liked.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Have you found a way to enjoy a favorite food in a lighter or healthier version?
Yes! I love making pizza lightened up: I use lavash bread, or pita bread, and make pizza that way. It comes out good and scratches the itch for pizza!

Hi all. The gym was good. I noticed later in the day that I have developed muscles I can feel in my shoulders/upper chest. At first, I thought something was wrong, but then I realized it was just muscle! LOL We took the pugs to the pug Halloween party, but Violet was such a jerk (at first, she was okay, but I think she got overstimulated; she started lunging and barking at other dogs), so we had to go after about 20 minutes. I got some reading time in: I am reading The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. It is a historical fiction novel about the fictional events surrounding a real historical text: the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated manuscripts. It's very interesting so far, and I would recommend it. This morning, we are going to the gym, and then to the zoo to walk around. I am bringing my camera, so I will try to get some good pictures to share. I hope to do some crafting at some point.

Water intake yesterday: 32 oz

Count your steps/activity with us: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-c4S-GIz9asx1ghzcAnNdyEH1LkXL670f-2mZ4AFUqk/edit?gid=0#gid=0

@laurelfit57 Oh my goodness , I am so sorry to read about your sweet mom! You are both in my prayers. 🙏

@Cornanda Thank you ! I feel sorry for Maggie because the house is so quiet these days, so she just sits and looks out the window, waiting for something to bark her head off at. I could order more from Amazon, so she has something to do. Just for her sake, of course! 😉

@trooworld That is fantastic that you are developing new muscles you can feel . It's too bad that Violet didn’t want to behave and play nicely. That book does sound interesting! I was just telling my sister that I need to get back to reading actual books and stop doing so much social media scrolling. 

Good morning! The weather has become drier and now my bloody nose has returned with a vengeance. I am stressed that it will happen in church today, so I plan to sit at the end in case I have to rush out. I may look into getting a humidifier to help. 🙄 I also have a Refocu meeting today and was actually looking forward to being in person with the team, but NO, they are doing it on Zoom today. Are you kidding me! 😣 Oh well, it is. Have a good day! 🙂

@baodell17724 I grew up on Diet soda as my parents drank it, we’re all diabetic I’m sure it contributed (have other health stuff too so can’t pinpoint the cause). You’re good not getting into your laptop before Christmas! I’m boring with my Amazon Prime I bought Churu treats and lotion. Congratulations on over 90lbs lost!

@trooworld Haha love you discovering new muscles and wondering what it was! I did that with my sternum bone when I was at goal weight I was worried about the bump at the end. Oh no poor Violet! It’s so upsetting when they’re overwhelmed like that. The overstimulation is real hard we have a lot of cats that are having a tough time with so many of us at Petco, with all the foster parents and animals plus Petco shoppers it’s real challenging. Your book sounds interesting I haven’t heard of that manuscript. Have a great time at the gym and zoo looking forward to your pics! LOL I went and looked at painting again after Teresa said it looks like “can’t you see I’m reading?” and it looks like my mom now! Also has me thinking “I’m not sitting here bored I’m reading so stop talking to me!” I really like it I can’t wait to hear what people think of it. My car’s light gray, I love it so far!

DISCUSSION QUESTION: HAVE YOU FOUND A WAY TO ENJOY A FAVORITE FOOD IN A LIGHTER OR HEALTHIER VERSION? Yes I do pizza with a Mission Carb tortilla and for pasta I Zoodle or just put it over veggies instead of pasta and enjoy it.

@gemwolf110 You’re doing some awesome time management spending the day off getting all the cleaning and food prep and homework done! That would be great if you could put a dent in this week’s homework too. I’m planning to clean and garden today and tomorrow, I have a bunch of seedlings to go in and brought home plants from one of my rented beds at the community garden as I want to pick a better spot.

@laurelfit57 I’m so sorry to hear about your mom, I hope she’s able to recover from this last stroke. Sending up prayers to you and your family.

@micaroo4 Love leaving the bread behind I try to do that with desserts. That’s great you’re still loving your CRV! I’m very happy with my car, being able to take a cat carrier out of the back not having to strain my back to do it is wonderful. My Mom has a 2016 and it’s super bumpy, she went in it with me and was saying the stuff she wishes she had like how the seats are better. The challenge sounds fun I want to do this one! I hope the flu shot symptoms are going away, it’s so frustrating to feel awful after them.

@TeresaW2024 You’re one of the people who made me reconsider a CRV! My Mom has a 2016 and it’s super bumpy, mine is bumpier than my last car but I love everything else about it so I seriously AM going to step up core exercises. Poor Maggie, that’s so sad she was looking for her dad. We forget how much they mourn and miss loved ones too. Pizza night sounds like a blast glad you had fun! A day with the grand-nieces sounds wonderful.

@bobboyardee Congrats on day 5 not eating after dinner! What is helping you the most to not give in and snack?

@FushiaKat Thanks for the advice! I’d left the Feliway diffuser unplugged after vacuuming so that was part of the problem. One of the perks of all the fosters going to Petco is they’re awesome for advice so I’ve been asking a lot of questions. I think from your feedback and theirs I’m probably lucky they’re doing so well with Bandit and things will calm down in time. I haven’t ever used a spray bottle with them I may try that. They’re doing it at night when I’m trying to sleep so it’s been frustrating! There is an interesting difference in girls and boys. Looking forward to seeing your Halloween room I bet that’s going to be cool!

@vegan4lyfe2012 It’s always tempting to run out and buy everything recommended to stop cramping (or any condition) but trying one or two at a time is worthwhile. I’m thinking similar to Micaroo about checking your vitamin levels, one thing that can happen with too much of the B vitamins is nerve pain (same with too little). If you have time try taking an Epsom salt bath before bed (magnesium use about 2 cups which is a lot), my leg and feet muscles are constantly spasming and twitching and that tends to calm it down enough that it’s easier to fall asleep and I’m less likely to wake up from it. I haven’t tried Magnesium Glycinate but it sound like a great one to try out (functional practitioner when I was first injured recommended Magnesium Malate for spasms back in the 90s).

@DrewsAnna Glad you’re doing so well with your habits that’s great! Hope that cold stays away, get that veggie soup going and you can add some fiber to it AND fight the cold. J

Hi friends! Yesterday’s adoption event was tough, I took the foster that’s left from the last group and one of the new ones, they were doing well together at home and at first were cuddling with each other but when a couple was looking at them Bandit attacked Dickens. They felt bad for Dickens and she held him briefly but he was too upset, we temporarily had him in a different cage but he was too upset so I took him home (didn’t want them in the same carrier either). He was complaining the whole way home, “my poor boy” “MEOOOW” “YOU DIDN”T DESERVE THAT AT ALL” “MEEEEOW!” “YOU WERE BEING SO GOOD” “MEEEEOW”, haha! The couple was looking for a black or tuxedo cat and adopted a different one. The setup there is tough, the cages are stacked and it’s in a “U” and there’s so many foster parents there it’s hard to get around people and the cats are stressed. The dog training spot’s near us too so the dog barking terrifies them on top of being in a strange place. One pro was having the carrier at waist-level to get in and out of my CRV is AWESOME! I’m going to breakfast with neighbors soon and have gardening and cleaning to do, we have a big storm coming in this week and I have a bunch of plants on the side of the house from the community garden bed I’m not renewing (location is too shady). Have a great Sunday everyone!

@laurelfit57 - sorry to hear about your Mom, sending hugs your way

@DrewsAnna - happy birthday season!

@Katmary71 - the most helpful thing has been the nightly check in posts here!

On that topic, the streak has ended! Yesterday I decided I wanted to spend less time on the computer so I shut it down earlier in the day. Then I had a late dinner and there was "accidentally too much food" so I kind of ate extra "not to waste it" - that kind of felt like "Mistake #1" - so then I felt like I "might as well eat a little extra". And then I remembered I didn't check in so dinner wasn't over. So I ate. Wouldn't really categorize it as a bad binge, but just extra after dinner. I am not beating myself up, and I am resetting my day count to stay accountable.

Lessons learned:

1: Momentum works both ways. The more weight I lose, the easier it is to stay on the streak. The more slack I give myself, the easier it is to eat more and more.

2: The $100 ante is silly, but it really makes me feel like I have to spend a ton of money for a small snack. It brings perspective to the question "How important is it for you to eat?"

3: The post-dinner eating didn't start last night. It started last week with having a packed schedule and no scheduled down time. Then it continued Friday night when I didn't check in after dinner because "There's no way I'm going to eat so no need to check in". And there was practically 0 journaling done this past week.

4: @vegan4lyfe2012 challenged me to feel my anger and communicate it. I did, but then I went back into "survival auto-pilot". I have been conditioned from my traumatic childhood to feel like nobody cares about me, nobody will help me, I have to do everything by myself - so feelings of anger, frustration, sadness, exhaustion, overwhelm - they all seem "pointless" because "it won't make any difference if you feel angry, nothing will change" BUT it WILL make a difference because if I don't feel the feelings, they are going to come out one way or another.

I think I want to try journaling every day, just to make some space for myself to feel. I like paper journaling, but right now I think I have so much "emotional dumping" I need to do - I might just need to speed type on the computer for a bit. I guess I don't want to journal because my feelings are overwhelming and I don't want to feel them. So I guess that's a sign that we are in the danger zone if I'm too overwhelmed to feel.

Maybe hitting the punching bag would be a good thing to do today.

Thank you for listening!