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Post by cathygeha on Mar 15, 2024 8:14:30 GMT
This challenge was created fifteen years ago by a few Weight Watchers members.
We are committed to making positive and permanent lifestyle changes.
Success isn’t always measured at the scale.
Each day, think about the positive actions that you made the day before and identify the challenges you are working on.
Anyone with a positive commitment to the program can join.
If you are the first one to post each week, please copy, paste and get us started.
If you choose, pose the Question of the Day (QOTD) that solicits constructive ideas for following the plan.
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Post by cathygeha on Mar 15, 2024 8:34:40 GMT
I am finding that the internet being iffy and the pandemic fears of covid-19 reduced that I am less interested in checking in online with all the groups that kept me going during the pandemic. I also am seeing a bit of up-creep on the scale so...need to figure that out, too. Do not want to regain it all and know what has to happen to prevent that.
I spent time with two friends yesterday. The one that had surgery a few months ago is still tired. She has radiation treatment coming up the end of the month and I expect that will make her even more tired. Two of us left when the other was falling asleep while playing cards and we went for a walk in Batroun then had a nonfat sugar-free caramel latte in Chekka before heading home. We will probably do something next week - all three together - on Thursday.
I still need to come up with a dish to take to the potluck on the 19th. Might take an appetizer with a green dip and some vegetables. Perhaps a guacamole or pea dip and then all green or orange, green, and white vegetables to dip.
SALLY: I envy you the traveling you are doing - but not the traveler's revenge! My sister is traveling with her son in Costa Rica for a week and having a great time. I have always wanted to go to Ireland. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it. I need to think about taxes, too!
CAROL: I am more of a morning person than not. I usually leave the curtain and window open and the sun comes over the mountains into the room when I do that. If I want to sleep in a bit, I will close the window and curtains but that doesn't always do the trick. I try to go to bed earlier BUT if I have a good book to read...it doesn't usually happen. Simplifying is a good word for this year.
BOOKS:
* Don't Let Her Go by Willow Rose: a rather weird book about a woman who will be the lead in a new series. She is a homicide detective, married, mother of three, cancer survivor, molested-raped by a co-worker in the past, and decides to come out as lesbian and shaves her head in the first chapter of the book. Her family starts acting up, she has a case with kidnapping and murder and someone on the police force is the serial killer with more than killing that he has been doing as crimes. Not my favorite but might give the second book a chance to see if it improves...maybe * Awakening by Elexis Bell is book one in the Regonia Chronicles. This is a sci-fi story with the earthlings having destroyed the planet and set up on asteroids or something in space. There are two alien Regonians being mistreated, human scientists doing experiments, humans who are doing this and that on the area they live, and humans that sympathize with the aliens that have been mistreated and lied to...the book ends on the arrest of some of the evil scientists and the two aliens (Warrior King and Queen) hoping to reestablish their planet and bring their people home. Not sure if the humans will be involved or have a spinoff of their own - this was iffy and I might or might not read a second book
* The Bones in the Orchard by Patricia Rice is book three in the Graveside Pryory Mystery series and excellent as all of her books are. I will finish it today and write the review. The premise is that a Pryory-estate was in herited by an American Captain who arrives with his trusted friend and soon to be estate manager. The estate is in shambles and money is tight as the trustee-bank wants them out and to claim it for themselves. The first book introduces the captain and the woman he will end up with as well as the friends of both that will also have a love interest and then there is a nephew with interesting quirks for a young boy. There is a murder in this and the second book and now also in the third. The second book has a woman who would like to cook more than anything else and a man who is horse-mad and wants to establish a horse business falling for one another. The third is about a Frenchman who left as his and his brother's life were in danger due to their being nobles in the wrong time. Henri and the preacher's daughter will fall for one another but at this point in the story the preacher has just been murdered. It is well written as all of Rice's books are and I look forward to spending time with the fun characters this afternoon.
Not sure what is up after this.
Lunch today will probably be a lentil-chard-potato soup with onions, fresh garlic and lemon added to the pot when all is ready to be eaten.
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Post by cathygeha on Mar 18, 2024 16:18:44 GMT
I am getting SO FRUSTRATED with the internet. Phone line is seldom working and filled with static if working at all. Internet is unpredictable and flickers more than it is constant. Talking to family is iffy at best. I am glad we don't have cable TV or I am sure that would also be an issue. We bought auto insurance today and the insurance salesman said that he doesn't have a drivers license and when www.loveandlemons.com/sweet-potato-salad-recipe/ mine expires in 2025 I won't either. It is...an interesting place to live! We bought the items needed for the potluck and I roasted the sweet potatoes and pumpkin seeds, made the salad dressing, packed things up, wait for the arugula to "dry" as it drains so I can pack it up, too. I will assemble it there. The recipe I am making is www.loveandlemons.com/sweet-potato-salad-recipe/ and the dressing seems lacking in something but perhaps others will figure out that it is fine or the ingredients will come together when in the dish together. I am tired for no good reason and am eager for the change tomorrow will bring. Hope all are doing well! |
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Post by starchild68 on Mar 18, 2024 19:31:10 GMT
Good Monday Afternoon! Cathy, I'm sorry about your phone & internet problems....very frustrating! Hope it improves, as it is hard to be out of touch with loved ones and just ordinary things! Is your potluck to celebrate Spring? That is coincidentally the day my retiree pals have chosen to celebrate my birthday (which isn't for a couple weeks, but too many folks will be out of town when it actually occurs).
I'm on my way to do grocery run for the week, but I promise I'll be back later to check in a little more....
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Post by jancan on Mar 19, 2024 3:38:57 GMT
Happy Turning the Page Monday.
Had an unexpected overnight visitor on Friday night so been very busy prepping food, washing sheets etc. Getting ready for the relatives that
come for a week's visit next Monday. This and the dog sitting have kept us on our toes. The dogs wake us up too early! I'm sleep deprived. One more week
till their masters come back from Africa. It's been such a busy month with all these things and appts for up-coming surgery that I have not had much time to
think of my own health goals. Sadly, I have gained a few pounds. Still tracking though! 300 days straight today.
Cathy: How frustrating to have your internet be spotty! Glad you got some time with friends. Yes, radiation does really zap the energy as I recall my dealings with it.
It didn't hurt though so that's good. Your salad sounds so good with those toasted pumpkin seeds. Yum.
Sending Hugs to all and will try to check in more often, at least this week.
Jan
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Post by Sallysw on Mar 20, 2024 15:35:25 GMT
Happy Spring Canners!
You certainly have a different experience than mine with everydayness Cathy- I always find your posts so interesting! Thank you for sharing!
Almost your bday Carol-good wishes! Any zumba in your life these days?
Hi Jan- you are busy with pooches and people- hope you are enjoying!
I am on pause for a week after a great Nora adventure.
Looking forward to this upcoming Ireland trip and also feel it is a less challenging trip than South America- which is just fine for now!
I have my annual blood work approaching -so I am making deals with the cholesterol gods re my results. It will be what it is!
I can certainly make healthier choices- an ongoing challenge for us all I think
Waves to Janet and Nat! More later
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Post by starchild68 on Mar 20, 2024 17:02:11 GMT
Good Wednesday noon, positive peeps 🐥🐥!
Janet - hope all is well with you! You've had some crazy weather and crazy legal issues in your part of the country...
Sally - GL with lab work etc. Enjoy your breather before the next adventure 🇮🇪! No Zumba for me lately, but I am enjoying tracking my walks on the AppleWatch.
Jan - that 300 days of tracking is awesome! I find that if I skip tracking for just 2 days, I get lazy and sadly, it is really hard to remember the details of everything consumed a couple of days back. Keeping up that daily habit is so helpful!
Cathy - hope all is well and you enjoyed the potluck lunch...your menu always sounds yummy!
I have to decide soon whether to sign up for Tap class and music lessons for Summer. Thinking I may want to pare down my schedule to allow for some outdoor fun and some extra effort clearing out junk from home and storage unit. Oh yeah, "simplify!"
Yes I DID:
--enjoy brunch with retiree pals...including blueberry pancakes (my weakness.....sigh.....)
--continue: working on Smart Driver course, online, about 2/3 done...and feeding of feral kitties..and yay, another neighbor has been putting some "soft moist" food out for them too, lucky kitties (I provide dry food and fresh water).
--indoor brisk walking yesterday...outside there were short bouts of wet snow which sticks to the lawn but at least is not piling up on the roads. Typical upside down March here, warm at the beginning, cold at the end, LOL!
Yes I CAN:
--schedule gentle stretching (sore shoulder, maybe from poor ergonomics while on computer or cello)
--continue daily decluttering and not beat myself up re: perfection
--continue evening meditation at bedtime instead of scrolling thru videos etc.
Be well!
Carol
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Post by cathygeha on Mar 21, 2024 7:27:43 GMT
Yes I can do better than the past few days and I will be back on track today
The potluck was delicious with 13 people bringing 13 different dishes to try. The salad I took was yummy and I would make it again, I think. The menu included: puff pastry spirals, cheese-beer spread, soda bread, crackers and chips, guacamole, vegetables for apps then seafood stew with more bread THEN the main course and salads with shepherd's pie, sweet potato salad, cocannon, cabbage salad, and more bread with a finale of guiness brownies and apple cake with irish coffee to close topped with whipped cream. OH MY! Next week there is a yeast baking event with or without easter theme. Need to decide what I will make.
The phone company employees striking is no doubt part of the problem with the internet and phone lines. Sometimes we have phone and sometimes not and sometimes static so loud you can't hear even if the line works. The internet is hit or miss with no rhyme or reason to when it is on or off.
As for books... * Who to Believe by Edwin Hill was told in parts with each part narrated by a different character and begins with a newspaper story of the death of a woman who co-owned a restaurant with her husband and the husband the main suspect. It moves on to parts told by: the SHRINK who talked to various people in the community, THE PATIENT: a financial planner that has a philandering husband and teenage son, THE COP: a male that is chief of police who is trying to solve the murder and has interesting relationships with some of the characters, THE BOYFRIEND: a recently out of the closet after leaving his wife and daughter to live with his boyfriend who is the shrink THE DAUGHTER: daughter of the boyfriend now living with his lover and the female minister of the village, THE MINISTER: mother, soon to be ex-wife, seems to have the professional and personal side and THE DOG: who wraps up and exposes who killed the first person mentioned in the newspaper (complex, complicated, pieces fit together slowly to reveal a rather sticky group of people hiding more than might be expected - definite twists and turns) * Silent Judgment by Zaire Crown: Set in Detroit with a big black, lethal, deaf enforcer that grew up in a cult but left, went to jail for twelve years, and works as a bodyguard in this story. There is a lot of violence, murder, crime, drugs, use of the "N" word, and mention of secret societies, conspiracy theories, etc. It wasn't an easy book to read though it was mentally stimulating to enter an arena I will never see in real life and made me wonder if such groups do exist in real time. I think there is another book with the same main character (his name is Silence). I did not "like" or really understand any of the characters and could not see myself in the story as any of them but...sometimes it isn't bad to stretch myself though I wonder if I will take on the next book or not * Little Witness by S.A. Dunphy - started it last night and could have kept reading but turned the light off at 1am. It is the first in a series about a detective inspector in Ireland, how she got the promotion, and the new team she will be in charge of. I can relate to these characters and am looking forward to seeing how this book goes and already have the second book in the series waiting to be read.
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Post by jancan on Mar 21, 2024 19:40:03 GMT
Happy Thursday Morning. Everyone here except Nat. Nat, we miss you! I know you're busy taking care of Dad and family. Sending time all to yourself. Wouldn't that be nice. Carol: Our Spring is pretty crazy too. Expecting rain/storm this weekend. I am with you on the continued decluttering. I have space for the things I need being taken up with stuff I don't use. Totally cleaned out the gift-wrapping boxes, bows, ribbon, etc. Just don't use it. Filled those totes with off season clothes. Almost time for shorts and tanks but not quite. Sweaters will go into the totes soon. You are so sweet to feed those kitties. I hope the elderly gentleman knows they are being cared for. It would for sure ease his mind. Cathy: What a feast! Your community sure knows how to throw a party. Yes, back on track now. Yes, we can. Sally: Ireland should be so beautiful. Have fun and kiss the Blarney stone. LOL Janet: Oops! I see you're MIA too.  Hope it's not ALL work related. Yes. I. Can. --get back on track and leave the peanut butter Easter candies alone. --continue to pull weeds and get my potting bench cleaned up. --plant some flower seeds. --take the doggies for a walk. Have a lovely day friends. Jan |
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Hope it's not ALL work related.