BINGE ENDERS CHALLENGE - Sunday, September 2

Good morning. I would love to get both a run and a bike ride in today, but I made plans with a friend at noon to take our dogs to play and swim in the river. The forecast high is 88° today, and frankly, I’m tired of riding in the heat and humidity. I’ll get my run in soon before temps rise.

I had a very relaxing, though somewhat productive day yesterday. I started reading The Storyteller’s Secret and am thoroughly enjoying it. It was an August Kindle First book. I’m never eager to read a period piece, especially one set in another country, but I do usually enjoy it when I do. I highly recommend this book. It gives real eye-opening insight into the culture in India.

Jane, I love that you aspire to my level of activity. If I didn’t have the job I have, I would never be this active. Have you considered doing some strength training? I think you would really benefit from it. It would allow you some activity on the days you don’t walk. If you were to get a couple sets of dumbbells, I could Skype or FaceTime a mini session with you. This actually goes for anyone here, I’m more than happy to do it if anyone is interested.

Lori, you’ve definitely given me something to think about and possibly a new challenge: to maintain without tracking. I eat the same thing many days and as long as I continue to be mindful of portions and not add extra foods, I should be fine. Thank you! Perhaps I’ll add some guidelines and reinstate FIF. Something to mull over on my run.

Kathy, excellent weight loss while on vacation! Congratulations on your current low weight. Do you remember when you promised yourself a cashmere sweater for staying on plan several years ago? I’m wondering if that coincides with the 2013 low weight.

Nancy, hope you and DH are both ok.

Jan - I was literally JUST reading about The Storyteller’s Secret and debating whether to buy it. I opted for The Trail of Broken Wings, by the same author. Have you read that one? That’s a very kind offer about a Skype or FaceTime session with us. I have been MIA at the gym. I’ve just been supporting them. I knew my membership was up this summer and I went to the gym to check on that and to cancel. As it turns out, you have to cancel 30 day’s in advance of the next month’s payment, so I couldn’t just finish at the end of August. Since I’m paying through the end of September, I started working out again. It was easier to find time to get to the gym on vacation. I’ll see what happens over the next month and then decide what I want to do.

Nancy - Your trip sounded lovely and fun, as usual. I’m glad you had such a good time. If I have a healthy snack in the evening, it is usually fruit. I like frozen grapes or frozen cherries (slightly thawed). Being frozen slows me down and seems a bit like sherbet. Now, if you want suggestions about unhealthy snacks, I’ve got a million of those.

Kathy - What a great few weeks you’ve had! All that activity paid off, too. Congrats on your WL. It’s very motivating.

Lori - It’s hard to believe it’s back to school for the Fall already. DH was back to work on Friday, too, not very happily. I hope you have a smooth semester. Was there ever a replacement for the person who left whose work you had to pick up?

Jane - Sometimes,staying home is downright therapeutic. I’m glad you enjoyed the day. It’s also good to take a day off (or longer) of trying to reach some health goal. It gives you an opportunity to see that so many of your healthy habits are ingrained and just part of your day to day existence. I am endlessly fascinated with the science or physiology of weight loss, not that it is always obvious. For example, your big, overnight loss following your relaxing day at home. Things like that make me wonder what really was at play, which may only be partly explained by the food you ate. I generally suspect that less stress and the interplay of hormones has something to do with it, but who knows. It’s a gift, whatever the causes! BTW, I would love to see you, too!

Edesia, thanks for the shout out. This applies to Nancy too. I am jammed until October 6. I leave for Japan on October 11, and will be back towards the end of October. So, within those parameters, pretty much anything that is good for Nancy and you is good for me.

C89D5, every morsel tracked, 21 points, 2 rollovers, 5 water, 1231 calories, 10,049 steps

2 supermarkets, walked to visit friend in hospice and home, another walk later

I was only up .6 at official weigh in which surprised me. I guess the worst of binges can be reversed if we get right back on plan. Still, I’d rather not binge in the first place.

Fiber One has a new protein bar I learned about at meeting. It’s called Protein One and comes in chocoate chip and chocolate fudge. 2 points. 10 gm protein, 90 calories, 1 gm sugar, 4 gm fiber. I had one last night with half a cup of enlightened ice cream. Served the purpose.

I learned something new at the meeting. I didn’t realize I could sync my fitbit with WW tracker. It came about because I was discussing simply filling technique with one of our members who has been on it for years. She is allowed 28 weeklies which is more manageable than my 21. She suggested using activity points to supplement the 21. Sounds like a great idea for me on SFT days as it will ease up the non SFT points and should motivate me to get in even more exercise. Today will be my first day of trying. I couldn’t do it yesterday cause I already had a protein shake at the meeting and always have a slice of pizza of Saturdays. I’m excited to try it today.

Jan – celery and LC wouldn’t do it for me at that hour, but the baked apple, or even stewed apple, is a great option. Thanks. I bought some apples yesterday. Thanks for the book suggestion. I’ve ordered a sample. I’m reading The Racketeer by Grisham and enjoying it so far. Another book I haven’t tried yet but comes highly recommended is America’s First Daughter (Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter).

Jane – Good luck with Monday’s WI. Hoping your 1-1/2 sticks. Whether it does or not, you’re doing amazingly well. I hope you are extremely proud of yourself. BTW I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have osteopenia if that’s any help. It goes with the territory. I used to do weight bearing exercises and for some reason stopped. I am determined to get back to it. My weights are sitting on the coffee table in front of the TV so there is no excuse. Most any date in October would work for me with the exception of Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I saw Meghan’s eulogy and Lieberman’s. Obama and Bush on my agenda for today. I listened to Biden online. All very moving.

Kathy – I asked DGK how it’s going especially with room mate. She texted back “hate my room mate, she’s a real bitch” I asked if she can change. She wrote back “I’m just kidding I love her. She’s absolutely lovely and we get along great. We are very similar and we really have a lot of fun together”. Needless to say I had a knot in my stomach until the second text. Does your DD have a room mate? How will you be communicating? Email, phone, text?? Wishing her a fantastic experience in her new environment. Congrats of the new cycle and the 3 lb loss. I am also at a five year low weight. When I grow up, though, I want to be just like you re binges. Columbus is always my most challenging environment.

Lori – Hmmm. I never tried PB2. It’s on my shopping list. Keep ‘m coming. A whole month without tracking is amazing since you’re doing so well with the weight. I don’t think I’ll ever get there. The closest I could get is SFT just tracking the points but I’m not even there yet. My plan is to continue writing everything down on those days just in case I want to do a calorie count retroactively at some point as a reality check.