Blondie's November Journal

[blondie]

:lol: How's that for a catchy title? I'm participating in Mike's Holiday Excursion so I'll be posting my daily menus over there, but just wanted to open this thread to help me monitor my progress and keep in touch with other members who would like to offer comments or suggestions along the way.

My last weight was 240, so that's my starting weight.

My exercise goal for this month is to exercise every weekday --there are 22 weekdays in November. I will be recording my daily intake and exercise in the Holiday Excursion thread.

[f1jim]

Your chart tells us you are doing something right!!!!
Continued success in Mikes challenge.
f1jim

[blondie]

Thanks, Jim! I have been working on making my diet more MWL legal, as I have begun to see a big slow-down of my weight loss on regular plan. My mind, however, says "oh it's diet time, that means I'm being deprived and I need to start craving white flour junk." (which is in plentiful supply at my house because my DH still eats SAD. )

[lmggallagher]

Happy November! I am doing good today. Not exactly on published meal plan for the excursion, but definitely MWL. Hope you're on track too. I think weekends are just hard for both of us so far!

[blondie]

HI Michelle, I've had a good day, but no exercise yet -- on my way to do a Walk Away the Pounds video in a few minutes.

For breakfast I added some pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to my oatmeal and that was good! For lunch went out to eat at the local cafe with DH, and had salad and baked potato with fat free dressing from home. My dinner was leftover potato cauliflower soup.

[blondie]

This was a handout for one of my classes this week -- These principles sure fit in with the positive changes I am looking for in myself -- makes me want to look for this book the next time I'm in the library:

Covey, Stephen R. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989.

Key Points from Covey
Habit 1: Be proactive.
I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind.
I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school's mission and vision.
Habit 3: Put first things first.
I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and achieve my goals. I am disciplined and organized.
Habit 4: Think win-win.
I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others' emotional bank accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
I listen to other people's ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
Habit 6: Synergize.
I value other people's strengths and learn from them. I work well in groups, even with people who are different from me. I seek out other people's ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than any one of us can alone. I am humble.
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw.
I take care of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I take time to find meaningful ways to help others

[blondie]

My baby girl is coming home from college for a weekend visit tomorrow, so today I plan to get caught up on my schoolwork, so I don't have to do it this weekend while she is home. I also will do some cleaning at her end of the house, like dusting her bedroom and cleaning the bathroom. Would like to have some special meals while she is home, but special to her and DH means SAD food, so IDK what I will eat. Maybe out to our favorite Chinese restaurant, where SAD eaters can have buffet and I can get steamed veggies and rice?

[toadfood]

Blondie, you're doing great! Your exercise goal is inspiring me.

I think the Chinese restaurant sounds like a great idea -- you can get what you need, and no one else feels deprived.

[f1jim]

I like the Chinese restaurant idea too. I have a couple of local restaurants that are my go to places when social needs require a dinner out. I can get pretty close to perfect and they can SAD away.
f1jim

[lmggallagher]

WOW

FOUR POUNDS

WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN U R

NO MORE PLATEAU FOR U

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY

[blondie]

:-D WOW

FOUR POUNDS

WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN U R

NO MORE PLATEAU FOR U

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY

Thank you!! It sure does feel good to have the scale moving down again -- I think I only lost 3 lbs. during the month of Sept and 4 during October so I'm encouraged that closer adherence to MWL seems to be working for me.

[carollynne]

Congrats on the wt loss, I love seeing your chart too! You are doing it up big. Never let up either!!

[kittyadventures]

HI Blonie I came by to say congrats on your weight loss too. And have a fun time with your daughter.
I love visiting with my girls. They are done with college and so we only see them occasionally but it is always a sweet lovely time.

[blondie]

Thanks Toadfood, Jim, Michelle, Kitty, and Carollyne for stopping by! The Chinese restaurant meal was good, even though the waitress forgot to order my meal since they were busy and everyone else was having buffet. She walked by several times and smiled as I sat there with no food and everyone else at my table eating, but didn't remember until I asked her if my food would be out soon. Just goes to show that people (even waitresses!) don't pay as much attention to what I am eating as I think they do. (Last week-end I fasted for 24 hours and my husband didn't notice it until I mentioned it to him when my fast was almost over.)

I think the white rice must have triggered cravings for me because I was really white-knuckling it last night. I ended up having a 3rd fruit yesterday, but it could have ended up being alot worse, so I'm thankful for my chamomile tea for saving the day! Very happy with 4 lb. weight loss this week, I can see the little blip on my weight chart taking a slight dive, I hope that line continues to move downward at the new angle!

Have had a wonderful visit with DD this week-end. She will be going back to Mizzou this afternoon, so I will have to be careful to have plenty of on-plan food to keep me from feeding my sadness after she leaves.

[Dissolution]

Way to stay strong! Chinese buffet would have been very tempting for me to trick myself into thinking much of the food on it was on plan.

Isn't it funny, what we consider to be guilty pleasures now? When if we had indulged in these guilty pleasures more in our previous lives, we would have been much better off.