[Sarah1466]

hello supportive people who I need in my life!
I've missed everyone!

So....very long story shorter, had welcomed BF back into house in June, gave him 6 months to show some improved behaviors. That, unfortunately, didn't happen. Had to let him go for good. Did so on December 27th. UG! So....spent the week putting most of his stuff into storage in our attached shed area (we call it the mudroom). The kids were with their father during this time. Then had to tell the kids on January 1st that BF no longer with us and give them a general idea as to why (we have lived together, all of us, for 4 years).

Then, had to start kids back to school and take on all the responsibility which was once shared with BF. So.....it has been rocky, to say the least. The wonderful thing is that my darling son has been helping to make dinner and feed the dogs and really stepping up responsibility wise....hope that is a long term change! I am feeling overwhelmed. So....on top of that, I was about 9 days late, and my chest was SO TENDER! So, I was really worried.....as you can imagine! Luckily, it was just stress. And....we have continued issues with school and my darling daughter, who is autistic. The school is STILL not doing their part. That is a really long story. So, I am having to compose e-mails to principals and teachers (which takes some thought)...during the evening when I should be doing other things. I just feel as if I am being pulled in extremely many directions.

Despite all that....I have managed to lose 4.6 pounds so far this month.....gotta love it when you just start on plan after being gone awhile! I do realize that is water weight, but I am happy to have it gone! I hope everyone is doing well.
Leeney, you lost weight during the holidays? Are you going to blow away in a stiff wind??? Way to go!!
Monica, you have maintained for the most part, Way to go! I have often kept you and your dogs and that whole situation in my prayers.
Hi Kat! How have all your travels been?? Is work any less stressful? Hope your family is well.

I'm glad to be back with my sisters! I will attempt to read threads and get all caught up, but the next 2 days of work are pretty slammed. If I don't finish it all....I'm glad to be here moving forward with you again!
Sare

[Leeney]

Sare, hoping that your life is on a more even keel now. Those can be difficult times. So you're off to a flying start in the New Year. Hooray for you!

My heart goes out to you in dealing with Ruby's school situation. It can be difficult and frustrating. If there is any way that I can give you any guidance (having worked in Spec. Ed. for most of my career) please pm me and let me know.

[Sarah1466]

Thanks Leeney. I am having a noon telephone conversation with the Autism Consultant today. And, I spoke with the teacher where the latest incident happened yesterday for about an hour. Things are "ok" it is just that when you aren't there, and you have a fairly unreliable reporter of information, you really rely on the adults at school. I'm not always sure I can rely on them.

Ruby has a bad habit of pulling out her hair and chewing on it. Do you have any experience with this? She did a real number on herself lately, and every time I look at her it makes me want to cry. She has essentially no bangs left at all, and was pulling on her eyelashes yesterday too. She looks like she has male-pattern baldness! We have an appointment with the developmental clinic on the 16th. I'm wondering if hormones are playing a negative effect on her...as she is now 11 1/2.....She has a "milder form" of PICA, for lack of a better term.....she does not swallow anything that she puts into her mouth, but I would say 98% of the time she has a non-food item in her mouth (penny, lego, hair, eraser, fibers from a towel or sweater...etcetera). It is remarkable that she isn't sick more often! Thanks be to God for giving her a strong immune system!

On a personal note, had a tiny backslide yesterday night....3 oreos, 1/2 cup of carbsmart vanilla icecream, 1T peanut butter, and the rest of the puppy-paws chex mix (about 3/4 cup?). Scale up .4 this morning. I'm not sweating it though. Just right back on track this morning.

[MonicaC]

Hi Sarah, wow, you are one busy lady. I admire your resilience and that with all this going on you even lost some weight. That's incredible. Thanks for sharing what is going on with you. The tide will turn in your way if you keep plugging away.
Good luck with Ruby's health. Extra love and light your way.

[Sarah1466]

Thanks Monica! So, I went out to dinner on Saturday, which, even if you plan and pick beforehand, I find I still end up having hidden ingredients! GGGRRR! That's ok. It was one meal, and it was delicious, and I got right back on track. Phone call comes today, as the lady was home with her own sick girls on Friday. The meeting isn't until Wednesday, so I'm ok with that. Hope everyone has a good week.

[MonicaC]

Hi Sarah, just found a website called earth clinic so its www.earthclinic.com and there are natural treatments for a whole list of stuff. One topic they cover is autism. I know what you mean about eating out. It is fun and remember it stays at one meal is the trick. What do you eat the next meal after a dinner out? Always interested in how you bring yourself back to plan after a meal out. Any tips? Love and Light.

[karolinakat]

Sarah1466, on 05 January 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

Hi Kat! How have all your travels been?? Is work any less stressful? Hope your family is well.

Welcome back Sare. After mom's horse scare, everyone seems to be ok for now, thanks for asking. Work still sucks but I'm handling it better, and I'm moving in 2 weeks so lots to do. Sounds like your life is overly full. I'm impressed you are keeping it together and have lost weight. WTG! We missed you, glad you are back!
Kat

[Sarah1466]

So, good eating day everyone! Yesterday was on track! YIPPEE! The thing I find most of all is that I am tired! 6AM to 11PM is just a long time to be moving essentially non-stop. I don't have a lot to report, but hoping for another strong day today! Thinking of everyone always.

[Sarah1466]

so, after my first day of "gaining" granted it was only .2 yesterday, I lost 1.8 today! Yippee! Total loss so far is 10.4! YIPPEE! I still have about 13 pounds to go, but I couldn't be happier! Gotta love those first few weeks really being back on plan after being off and gaining 23 pounds!

[Illinoispainter]

Sarah1466, on 13 January 2012 - 02:20 PM, said:

so, after my first day of "gaining" granted it was only .2 yesterday, I lost 1.8 today! Yippee! Total loss so far is 10.4! YIPPEE! I still have about 13 pounds to go, but I couldn't be happier! Gotta love those first few weeks really being back on plan after being off and gaining 23 pounds!

Way to go, Sarah! Keep up the good work!
Linda

[Leeney]

You rock girlfriend!

[karolinakat]

Sarah1466, on 13 January 2012 - 02:20 PM, said:

so, after my first day of "gaining" granted it was only .2 yesterday, I lost 1.8 today! Yippee! Total loss so far is 10.4! YIPPEE! I still have about 13 pounds to go, but I couldn't be happier! Gotta love those first few weeks really being back on plan after being off and gaining 23 pounds!

Keep it up

[Sarah1466]

hi everyone. So.....seemed like I got off track somehow. I think it was friendly's that did it. But it didn't really catch up to me for a day.....well...wait, could have been the popcorn on Saturday night, which resulted in a stable scale (which I think was wrong)...then Friendly's on monday with the kids....which I didn't think I did bad at, but it resulted in a 1.4 increase! WTH?? I didn't even weigh on Tuesday, waited until Wednesday....after a good day on Tuesday. So, was pissed. Don't you hate when that happens? So, today was down .8...but still .6 off where I was on Sunday.....dang! Stupid LIFE! I hate feeling hungry, but then getting on the scale and seeing no movement. Really frustrating, especially when you are doing everything right.

Anyway....my goal is to be under 170 SOLID by the end of the month....which is 3.6 pounds. Can it be done? That is yet to be seen. Then, I would be within striking distance of my goal, which is around 155-159.....just want to be UNDER 160!

[Leeney]

You can do this, Sare. Don't let the scale god run your life. Remember that this is a change in lifestyle...that is if you don't want to keep bouncing around...and that takes time and involves setbacks. The trick is not to let the setbacks actually set us back.

I had a day on Wed. when I went totally off my program. I ate fruit the next day just to give my digestive tract a rest, and I'm fine now. Back to eating normally...for me.

[Sparticles]

Sarah1466, on 20 January 2012 - 12:22 AM, said:

then Friendly's on monday with the kids....which I didn't think I did bad at, but it resulted in a 1.4 increase! WTH??

Now you see why it's so important to avoid that sodium in foods not prepared by yourself?

I've been sick with a cold (No fever so can't call it a flu. Besides, I had a flu shot in October) and had no energy to even stay out of bed long enough to make dinner, so relied on hubby or the kid to prepare meals for themselves and ate a lot of toast that first week when nothing else would go down. One day hubby made some kind of casserole thing and I was able to get about a cup and a half of it down before giving up because my throat and mouth were just burning with the sodium. He must have used some canned soup or something to make this thing - I never asked and don't really want to know. The next morning I was so bloated and hopped on the scale. Now, I'm sure the handful of tissues I was holding didn't weight all that much, but the scale was UP 5 pounds from a few days before. I was so careful from then on and even dragged my achy bones out of bed and put on a pot of pea soup to simmer all afternoon and had that with my toast for the next few days while hubby and son splurged on frozen pizza, sub sandwiches, and all the other goodies I no longer allow in this house.

They have mixed feelings about me feeling a lot better and able to cook again.

[Sarah1466]

Sparticles: With all that toast and yucky feeling, you should have been down, huh! How frustrating for you!

I think another RUT for me is daily scale watching. It doesn't do me any good. I am of a divided mindset.....1. Get on the scale daily, it will keep you doing what you need to do. 2. don't get on the scale daily, your body has natural rhythms, and even best case scenario will have fluctuations that can't be explained.

So....I'm not sure which camp to end up in. I am thinking once I get to maintain mode, it will be NOT everyday. But, who knows....normally if I am not weighing everyday it means I am messing up and don't want to know or be accountable for it. Hehehe! But, when doing seemingly everything right, (friendly's outing aside).....and it bounces up...significantly....that is REALLY discouraging...and makes me have a bad start to my morning.

I do have another, ahem, problem too.....and normally I had been having a visit from the WOOSH fairy in the morning first thing.....that seems to have moved to mid-morning....I know it doesn't make that significant a difference....but, I feel lighter after that....and I am sure SOMETHING would be reflected.

I think I am concentrating too much on the Minute...(tiny).....not the big picture. what is 1 pound in the grand scheme of things? Still working this out.

Happy Monday

[Leeney]

Sare, I do just the opposite. If I am in losing mode I might only weigh weekly or even monthly. but being on maintenance I weigh in every day. Weighing in periodically while losing helps avoid those ups and downs we all experience. On maintenance, checking in daily lets me make course corrections as they come up and not let things get out of hand. Having said all that, you have to find what works best for you.

Just keep swimming!

[Sarah1466]

HI Everyone.
Leeney...I'm not going to weigh in daily....I am going to try just doing Monday morning. Let's see how that works.
Also, I had three not so great evenings, so I am going to try and finish the month strong.

sare