@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

Hello! I have been bad with the diet for several days. On Friday we had the school classroom parties. I helped in K and ate about 10 orange oreos. That night my son's band was playing and I drank 3 Mike's lemonades. I had them so spaced out over about 4 hours that I didn't even get a buzz, so all those calories for nothing. After the concert, we went to a pizza place that serves slices from a gian 28" pizza. I had a slice, at 11PM, that was about 4 times the size of my hand, with pepperoni. On Monday, my husband had a colonoscopy at McGuire so I had the day off. I decided to break my wine prohibition that night, but in order to not mess up my sleep, I took a muscle relaxant on top of 2 glasses of wine. Not a good idea, I know, but I was not up for 2 or 3 hours that night. I did not get to exercise that day because we left at 6:30 AM to get to the hospital. At school yesterday there was a big bowl of candy corn and pumpkins and I snacked liberally, plus a friend gave me 2 more orange oreos which I ate. This Friday is the new monthly birthday treats day (first Fri of every month), plus I'm sure everyone will dump all their extra candy in the staff room. I hope that after all the oreos and candy corn, I can get myself under control. The wine bottle is not empty though...

I'm glad that you got to make your list. It definitely helps to have a visual reminder like that. I think we get more done that way, even if it doesn't all get done. For me, I also feel like it's a good reminder without being it being naggy or negative. I hope you were able to catch up on some rest after your 3 AM callback, and that you didn't get any more of those in the past week! I had one day a week or so ago where I slept all night and and my alarm actually woke me up. I felt so rested, it was amazing. I would love to feel that way every day instead of tired all the time! I can't figure out what I did differently. I don't know how you operate on so little sleep! You amaze me all the time!

Your bike excursion sounds nice! I will have to tell my son about the bike share program! He has been sick for about 2 weeks and is just getting better. He missed 4 days of classes last week, so I'm worried about him catching up. Once he feels better, he might like to do some biking .I hope that when I pick him up for Thanksgiving on the day before, that I have time to take a hike down there somewhere with him, like we did last year. We are meeting his new gf who is coming up to have dinner with us. She is staying at my older son's house, where we will have the dinner.

Have a great week! I hope you get plenty of rest and are able to stick to your list!! I will try to get myself back under control with the eating!

As usual, it seems like we go through the same ups abd downs, sometimes at the same time! It was a pretty lax week for me too, with cookies and candy- and wine. I didn't even make an attempt to stick with my list, then things went downhill from the start. Candy everywhere of course, and I bought thoise chocolate/caramel truffle balls, individually wrapped. They were on sale! At least they are wrapped so it slows me down from eating a handful, Still- a lot of sugar. We went to a ukele concert at church, and more cookies.

Plus - Rachael had an infection from a scrape on her leg that turned into cellulitis.To make it even more stressful, I had to wait 2 days for a doctor appt until the 1st of November since medicaid started a new program of management - beginning the first of the month. I just kept watching it over the 2 days in case I thought it was really getting bad enough that we needed to go to the ER and just pay the bill; I hate making that judgement call, but the doctor prescribed 2 oral antibiotics and said it should get a lot better in a few days. She is with her Dad now for the weekend.and he is usually responsible with stuff like this. That worry made me eat and drink from stress. I know what you mean about the pizza. If one of those slices were in front of me, I would have definitely had some.

It ca't be any fun for you navigating through McGuire with your husband's issues either. I remember you shared what a nightmare healthcare has been for him with veteran's disability. I am so sorry, it is shameful for us as a country and I don't see it getting better.

I can sympathasize with your sleep problems too. Working odd shifts and sleeping weird times just makes it harder, but I rarely get what would be called a good night's sleep. Some nights when I'm off- it is still lying awake even when I am tired, I wish there was a magic formula. I know.. getting up and still feeling tired all day. I do find that melatonin, a half dose of what is recommended helps me at least fall alseep faster.

I hope your son gets better soon and is able to catch up on classes before the break. Fiance and I went on a hike in the woods near a dairy farm in Amelia for my Thursday "treat " time before the work week-end. If we can do something that is a change of scenery for a few hours, preferably outdoors, it helps my mental outlook a lot-- kind of like your time with your animals I think. It was a warm Fall afternoon and a nice break from the stress. I am also going to really really try to get back on track this week-end with salads and not too much candy. Hang in there my friend, we can both do better this week.

OK, Its Saturday , technocally Sunday at 1:30 AM, at work. I did eat a healthy veggie wrap and a salad, but I also ate a dixie Coffee cup size.. cup full of m&ms and potato chips. I did not know they made pumpkin spice m&ms. Sigh. But on the bright side, I did exercise both yesterday and today. And I drank water. Hope your week-end is going great. I'l catch back up with you next week. Who invented pumpkin spice m&m.s anyway?

Hello! I never heard of pumpkin M&Ms! I would love those. Luckily I haven't seen them anywhere! My husband's birthday was yesterday. We are having a party in 2 weeks because it is a milestone birthday, but last night I made him a pan of brownies and we ate the whole thing. I had no wheat flour around (partly so I won't bake!) but we had almond and coconut flour that he bought one time and never used, so I used a mix of those and it was actually really delicious. I am up a couple of pounds from my Halloween weekend badness, and haven't dropped those back off again. I haven't gotten on the scale yet this morning, but I'm thinking that eating a half pan of brownies is unlikely to make my weight go down.

How is Rachael's leg? I hope it is healing well! I can't remember if I told you about my mom's issues in the summer and fall, but I have little faith in doctors these days.

Your hike in Amelia sounds great! I had been trying to go on Thursdays after work to a state park near me, and got there most weeks, but that is over with for now with the time change. I don't seem to have time on weekends, but maybe I will squeeze a few weekend daytime hikes in before it's too cold..

I am off today because our county uses the schools as polling places. I have my annual gyn appointment scheduled for later this morning, yay. I didn't get to it this summer. It's in Fredbg, so I will get a little shopping done downtown while I'm there. There is a vinegar and oil store where you can taste flavored vinegars. I'm going to go do that for fun. I have some already but I like it for salad dressing so maybe I'll get one more. There is also a little market there and they carry local meats. I want to get some rabbit if they have it. I got it there for the first time last year and made some stew that I liked, but haven't been back to get more. And my last stop is a used book store that has a bindery. My son has one of my dad's old books that has lost the spine cover and he wants to get it rebound, so I'm going to drop it off for an estimate. Tonight is yoga night, so I'll hit that on my way home. So, after the doctor, I should have a good day!

I hope your week is going well, and that the treasts at work will be more scarce for both of us for a little while, now that Halloween is past!

Hi there, If you have to have a gyn check up you might as well add some fun. I have spent a few week-ends in F'berg when I was doing Kindermusik trainings for the preschools and it is full of funlittle spots like you describe. I also like the battlefields where you can still see the ramparts from the Civil War along the roads- they look like grassy hills now. I was surlrosed at the lines at my voting school today. The school was open, I think some close and some don't. It is good when more people participate so no complaints. I hope you got it all done, and had a good yoga class. We didn't go to the gym/pool tonight just because the weather was cold and rainy. Rachael and I did a Richard simmons workout- she loves that music.

There is still candy around my work, and this week is Radiology Tech Week and there is a meal or cake or pizza every day. I have been doing better at home though There is more control there and I'm not up all night snacking like I am at work.. I can't fault you for the brownies, the flours sound a little healthy anyway - can't say what else was added, sugar, chocolate - the Good Stuff! Birthdays are for celebrating. Rachael's leg is better and thankfully she is taking the antibiotic with yogurt with no problem. You did mention your Mom's problems- it is so hard when you family is suffering. I know what you mean about doctors too, I try to do my own research sbout most things and only go when I need something, like lab work to look at myself, or rarely a medicine.

I'm working tonight and off Friday evening, a change for someone else. But I'm done snacking for this shift. And that's that. I'll be back Thursday 11-7. I'll check on you then.

Today is the one year anniversary of this thread! I knew it was in Nov so I've been watching the date. I've been so glad to have you and this forum to share all my ups and downs!!

My gyn appointment went reallly quickly, so I was able to get to the fun stuff. I did not find rabbit, but I got some raspberry vinegar that is delicious. I was doing well with making salads for lunch for a while, but not the last 2 weeks. Now that I have something new to make tasty dressing with, hopefully I'll have more salads next week. I did not go to yoga after all. I went to the Y in Fredericksburg because I had seen a spa in the women's locker room and wanted to try it out. I like that it was in the locker room ,so very private and no men, but it did not have good neck and shoulder level jets like the hot tub at my Y, and it was too hot. I barely made it 10 minutes. I'm glad I satisfied my curiousity, and even more glad that my local Y has what helps me more! I have always liked Richard Simmons. I think he did a lot of good things for people.

I have been better with treats this week. There has not been a lot at school, so I've been slowly trying to get back off the 2 pounds I put on with one weekend of Halloween eating. I was on a good trend before that. I do already have my drinking planned for tonight though, and probably a pizza for dinner, so I will undo a lot of that again.

I'm glad Rachael is doing well!

I'm really glad you have Friday night off! I will raise my glass to you while I am having my drinks! Enjoy!

wELL, hAPPY aNNIVERSARY! Oh, let me change the caps. I had no idea it was a year, but I was thinking we had been through a whole school year with messages about that topic. It is nice to open up the computer and see a note from you- and it can be up or down- because that is how life is. It is good to have a listening ear that is understanding and you can be yourself.

I was hopign your F'berg trip would go well. How far is that to drive for you? It's about an hour from Midlothian but mostly it is a breeze through going to parts farther north on 95 for me these days. I also like flavored vinegars and I hear it is good for regulating blood sugar. Unless you ate too many donuts which were on the counter at work tonight. Good for you that you have the exercise therapy you need at the Y. I love hot tubs but the one at our club doesn't have strong jets. I just turn up the heat in the shower. And it is Cold! I will have something warm when I get off from work. Probably a glass of wine which is somehow warming to my soul.

Enjoy your drinks and treats this week-end and I'll smile thinking about your second glass, or whatever. Veterans Day and Marathon too here tomorrow. My appreciation to your husband for his service to our country. I pray he gets the health care he deserves and needs.

Hello,

My trip to Fred went well. It is about 45 min for me, but an easy drive with no traffic until I get to Fbg itself. It was rainy but I had a nice time walking around downtown to my 3 stops. I ended up getting a raspberry vinegar that is delicious.

On Friday I had pizza and vodka, but I ate well the rest of the weekend and had moderate wine. I have been having trouble with my stomach for about a month. It started getting upset just in the mornings after I ate, and I thought maybe it was from exercising soon after I ate (even though I have been doing that all along), but it got to be after more meals throughout the day. On Sunday it was upset when I got up and bothered me all day. I am not sure what is going on. I wanted to go see somebody Wed or Fri next week when I am off. My doctor (who is actually a PA) is booked Wed and off Fri, but I'm on her list if somebody cancels Wed. As a backup, I have an appt on Fri with a doc in her office. Yesterday it was more like bloated than upset, but still something is not normal. Anyway, I lost a pound from not eating much on Sunday! I was going to not eat anything all day and see if that calmed things down, but I don't seem to be able to not eat! I like my food too much! I did miss my swimming day (Monday) so no hot tub this week :(

School is going well. I have eaten some treats but nothing too crazy. My son has gotten caught up on schoolwork (he says) from when he was sick. My husband's birthday was last week. It was a milestone birthday, so we are having a small party on Saturday. Just going to dinner at the Indian place we always go to. Both boys are coming, one of their gfs, and he doesn't know (but may suspect) that his brother, sister, and their spouses are coming from NC.

How are things on your end?

Gee, stomach trouble is no fun. I hope you get to see your practitioner soon.. but you know she / he will prob order a bunch of tests-- also no fun. Symptoms sound similar to IBS Have you had that before? Maybe a virus or maybe it will go away - Fingers crossed. I have definitely not lost a pound and it doesn't seem like I overdid it this week. However, I didn't follow a list, crazy work shifts again.

I did make a big pot of toaoto sauce with fresh tomatoes and the last of my herbs. i also made another batch of lemon/mint jam. It is really tart and not that hard to make. I don't think I ever had that before I made it, but it tastes like a big burst of lemon slightly sweet. More Christmas gifts ready!

Surprises are so great for birthdays. I know you will have a lovely evening at your fav restaurant and you told me they treat you extra special. It will be wonderful for his family to be there too - that's the main thing. I am back at work tonight 11-7 and of cpurse the week-end. Candy is mostly gone from around here so that is good. Have a happy Friday end of the week at school.

I'm feeling down tonight. This morning I was hungry but just could not bring myself to put anything in my stomach. At lunchtime I ate one Wasa cracker. My stomach bothered me less with little to no food in it, but by 3 I had a headache from being hungry so I ate a mini Payday bar (there being no shortage of candy at work!). On the way home my headache got worse so I ate a banana, and within a half hour my stomach felt worse. I still have a headache so I'm now eating a piece of bread and drinking tea, sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself. I am going to find something to watch on netflix and do nothing all night.