Swing Arms When Walking

Hey,
xxx.x this am. Ankles and knee still a little swollen. throat still sore.

Bkfst: cereal
Lunch: 1/2 ckn breast & apple
Dinner: Brunswick stew
Snack: 2 ww Eng Muffins w/jelly

Haven't done my exercises yet but I will.

Love B.





Swinging arms really works not matter how slow you walk
Love S


Hey,
xxx.x this am. I mean pm. It's hot as hell here. 91 yesterday and 96 today. Will be same throughout the week. I'm not sleeping well even with the fan directly on me. No one has a/c here because this is very unusual. Breaking records everywhere.

I'm breaking them too. I think it's your stew. When I eat the other meals I'm hungry about 2-3 hours later and that's when I have a snack of toast or bagel or something. For some reason your stew satisfies me. Sometimes I'll have a bowl of cereal but that's all.

Going to take a shower now.

Love B.



Eating 4 or 5 times a day is better than eating 2 or 3.
The Brunswick Stew is the easiest soup I make. It is in my first cookbook.
It's just dumping a bunch of canned veggies and shredding a cooked chicken breast.

Keep up the good work.
Love S



Hey,
xxx.x this am.

Bkfst: Yogurt
Lunch: turkey, soy cheese, ff mayo, lettuce, sandwich
dinner: Your stew (good)
Snack: cereal

Person coming from garden club at 9:30 this am (like now). I'll talk to you tomorrow am.

Love B.


Hey,
xxx.x this a.m Thanks for not waking me up. Having trouble sleeping in this heat. Going to PA today.
Love B.



Take plenty of water and healthy food to get you passed that wicked Burger King.
Those things are Big Killers of a diet.

Love S



xxx.x today.
I made it passed the Burger King Lounge.
Cutting grass today.

Love B.


Yaaaaaaa Good going.

On your way again

Hey,
xx.x this am. I'm on a roll. It's been terribly hot here and I haven't been doing much except my walking and a few exercises. Just sitting on the sofa, reading and computering. But I've been bming, drinking water, and eating only a little and the stew really satisfies my appetite.

Have to cut grass today tho and for some reason I never lose much weight when I do. I drink extra water but I seem to keep it.

Oh well.

Love B.



You onyl keep what your body needs.
Keep it up
Love S



About the box. Do you really want to use it again? It leaked inside the wrap (but not outside of the cardboard thankfully) and everything was leaky and soggy inside. I don't think you should use it again or just stop sending. I think I'll make your brunswick stew and eat it forever. For some reason it's doing the trick for me.
B


The Brunswick stew is the easiest of all the soups that I make. The recipe is in my first cookbook.
It is just dumping cans of veggies plus shredding a cooked chicken breast.
S


xxx.x ! ! ! I can't believe it. It's just rolling off. Like it was when I started. I'm so excited.

Bkfst yogurt
Lunch: pjb
Din: your stew
Snack: protein bar

Love B.



Yaaaaaaaa!!!
Are you swinging your arms? :)
Love S


As we speak !!! :)
B


I am proud of myself too.
I haven't missed a day of walking/arm swinging since I started
S


Good. I only walk 3 times a week. Exercises the other 3 days and rest on Sunday. Plus yard work.

Love B.


xxx.x ! ! ! No bm yesterday. Garden club business today at 10:00 so I can't talk.
Talk tomorrow.

Love B.


YAAAAAAAA! You are back to what you were before you went to C's
I hope you are eating enough food.
You have to eat enough to keep you metabolism burning
Love S


I think I am. I'm eating when I get even a twinge of hunger. Going to be in the 90s here today. I'm going to work in garage this am and then do nothing the rest of the day. WITH THE FAN ON.
B


It's a shame we don't live closer to each other
S



Yes but I couldn't stand your heat and you couldn't stand the rain here. You should come up for a visit tho.
B.


OK OK. You don't have to come uip for a visit.

Signing off now

Love B.


I wasn't ignoring you, I was busy archiving the weight loss

24 th week u gained 1 (trip to C's)
25 th week u gained 1.4 (Ccheeseburger in pa )
26 th week u lost 2 (doing walking/legliftss/wall push backs)

You are on your way again
Love S

Back From New York

I'm baaaaack,I had fun, did you?

Got back really late last night, so I was basically packing your cooler while half asleep this morning, then went right back to bed when R took it to ups. It should be there Friday at the latest.

The below list may or may not be complete. I thought I put in a Thanksgiving dinner but didn't see it in Randy's list (he writes while I pack, then I type up his list & include in cooler). Now that I am awake, I can't find his list anywhere.

Did you get the package of dry goods with the green stuff?

News Flash!!!!! Do not EVER take Beano. I took it before my flight to avoid problems on the long plane ride...didn't sh... for a complete week. Usually I gain 10 lbs on my "New York Eat 'till I Bust" trip, but I'm sure it was more this year. Will never take that again/

Love S


Hey,
Are you there? Did you have a wonderful time in NYC? Gain lots??????

I gained 2 lbs. Most of it was on the trip back (eating to keep awake) and after I got back. I was very depressed and have been comforting myself with food.

xxx.x this am.

I'm feeling better now and will get back on the routine.

Can we change the time we talk? To 6:00 pm????? I'm almost always home at that time and it's just befofre you go to bed right??? I'd still weigh in the am when I get up and report that weight to you and what I had to eat that day.

Can we try that time for a while and see how it does? I'll sign on at 6:00 pm tonight to see if you're there.

Signing off now.

Love B.



6 your time is ok for me. See you tonight then.

It looks like you've hit a plateau. It's time you start exercising for real...not just walking. You will not make it if you don't

Am going to the grocery store to weigh myself. Then I will be dieting and exercising along with you until I get off my 'trip' weight'

Love S



Hey,
I'm not better emotionally. Really lonely. while the visit wit C was good, I'm really missing the girls and my friends in Calif. I went riding all day yesterday to de-depress and felt better this am but not now. I'm going to S this afternoon and into the night. So I won't be here at 6:00 pm for our first chat. You can call me on my cell phone if I get coverage over there.

I haven't hit a plateau, I'm really not eating well. I can't start exercising for real. I discovered at C's that the damn doc didn't fix my knee. I walked 2 miles, some down hill, with C and it's hurting again. I'm so mad at him I could sue or kill. I'm going back to the doc in PA that I really liked first but I chose the one in F because it was more convenient and he had done a friend's knee.

There's plenty to do around the yard and house for work and fun but I just don't feel like doing it. Haven't been like this in years. It's ironic - I get rid of Mom and now I'm lonely.

OK. I'm gone now. Call me if you want. I'm really in a bad mood tho'.

Love B.



go figure on the loneliness

don't know what to suggest then

S


Hey
I'm here. Didn't go to S. went to PA, had a cheeseburger and came home.

B


You are setting yourself up for more depression
S


Thanks for those encouraging words.
B


I am exhausted
S


OK. Just tell me you love me.

Love B.


I love you. I'll do better tomorrow
Love S


Hey,
Thanks. I'M DOING BETTER TODAY. When you said I was setting myself up for more depression I started tthinking about what I had eaten in the last several days. 6 Bit O Honey bars on the way back from C's over 2 days and then 6 (yes 6) more on Monday. Tuesday was the day I was the most depressed. It's amazing ! ! ! I was questioning everything ! ! ! this little hick town, did I want to live here, I needed a companion, etc, etc, etc. Although I did have a cheeseburger yesterday, I did not have any candy and today I feel much better. Will lots of sugar do that to you?

I have discovered that raisin bran cereal works better for me than prunes. I have had a bm everyday since 3 July, my first day at C's. As soon as I got back here I bought some. I either eat it for bkfst or as a night time snack before bed.

I'll see you tonight at 6:00.

Love B.


Yes, sugar can do that to you. It can really screw up your moods. Also you might me craving sweets for a week now.

Sorry, but my sleep pattern is really screwed up. I slept like a rock in NY. But I was doing a lot of walking in sunshine and had a set routine each night after a show. Sunshine does wonders for your metabolisim and sleep patterns. So I'm going to start doing that at home.

How is your knee? You know you can do upper body exercises as we discussed before.
See you tonight at 6 your time.

Love S


Hey
xxx today. Back to my old self today. Having meatloaf tonight.

Love B.



Well, that is good to hear.

Are you going to do upper body workouts? Whatever happened to the soup can shopping bag lifting?

Can we switch to 4:30 your time?

Going back to bed...existing on almost no sleep..

Love S



xxx this am. Hot here. I'm having a salad tonight.

The box just came. I'll wait to open until after we've finished. It's almost like xmas. Wonder what's inside this time?

Love B.


Whoa. Everything was thawed in this box. A few had ice crystals and all were cold but all were thawed. I just threw it all in the freezer. It will be OK I'm sure. This is about the last box anyway right? This box will take me down below 200.

Thanks,
Love B.



Yes, everything should be fine. I've got about 3 more months frozen. I wanted to get you to at least 160. That cooler is smaller, so there may not have been enough frozen mass to make the whole trip frozen. There should be about exactly 30 dalys of food for one.

Are you doing the upper body exercises?

You're back to not telling me anything about food, water, exercise, tea, etc. ecept weight.

Ok back to 9:30 your time

At least I know I will be awake at 12:30 my time :)) or should be

If you call and hang up after 2 rings, then I know I will be online at least within 3 min.

Love S



Yes I got the green stuff. Thank you very much. I'm going to use it for extra necessities & luxuries.

xxx.x this am. Can't understand it.

Bkfst: 1/2 pbj sandwich, coffee
Lunch: turkey, soy cheese, ff mayo sandwich.
Dinner: shrimp kabobs, brown rice. very good.
Snacks: cereal & yogurt
10 glasses water, 1 bm

I'm cutting the grass today so the exercise should do me good.

I did exercises this am:
10 leg lifts each leg
20 sit ups
10 wall push ups

I'll add to that every week.

Love B.



OK. I may be a little late some mornings when I walk with cat.



GOOOOOOD
Just keep focused and you'll get thru this

Just call lme and let it ring twice and then hang up
it will not cost you anything
if it rings 4 times i will pick up
that way we won't keep missing ea other

Love S
This time works best for m


xxx.4 this am. Shit or no shit yesterday I mean. Also, I slipped cutting grass and my knee and ankles are swollen. I have a sore throat. taking some Nyquil and excedrin and going back to bed.

Bkfst: yogurt & fruit
Lunch: 1 1/2 pbj
Dinner: rest of shsrimp kabobs w/extra shrimp
Snack: 2 pieces of cin toasts

Not enough water. Forgot to eat cereal yesterday. No bm. I'm eating cereal now and will go back to bed.

No I don't swing my arms. Our walk is a very very slow amble. Kathleen is much heavier han I am and has pulmonary problems. I go with her just to be with a friend and visit and talk. Maybe I'll start walking a brisk mile after I get home if my knee will allow it. My stomach and shoulders hurt from the exercises yesterday. I'll have to add some arm exercises because the pushups works my shoulders not my arms.

Bye for today.
Love B.

leaving for New York

Hey,
xxx this am. Had a good yesterday. Went to PA for garden tour and movie. Saw the Proposal with Sandra Bullock. Light & funny.

Doing garden club business today and tomorrow. But I'll be here to check in on Monday. I'll be in PA on Tuesday, leaving early so I won't check in that day and then on Wednesday I leave early, early for C'. Going to drive down and try to make it in 2 days.

Love B.



Sorry, didn't sleep well last night and dozed off while waiting for you to come online.

I mailed a box with the money in it. I didn't know you were leaving wednsday for C's. Can you make an arrangement with your neighbor to take it in?

Be sure to take plenty of juicy prunes and the remainder of my frozen GFG dinners please.

Love S



Hey
xxx this am again. No bm yesterday and not enough water. I ate prunes last night and will this am.

I'll stop my mail & paper while I'm gone. the PO will hold it. Thanks.

For some reason I'm really craving sweets terribly lately. Yesterday and today. It's been a long time since I felt like I HAD to have them. Last night I ate 6 pieces of cin bread (120 cal ea slice, 2 g fat each slice) instead of dinner. It was the only slightly sweet thing I had in the house. If I hadn't had that I would have gone to the store and gotten god knows what.

Maybe that eased my pain somewhat. I started to call you last night but it was 7:30 and I figured it was too late your time.

Oh well.

Love B.



The longer you are eating healthy, the easier it is to keep eating healthy.
Eating the stuff at the gardening conventions (enough to gain 6 lbs) reminds your body of things you used to eat and it wants them NOW.
You did the right thing.

I get back from NYC late in 2 weeks on July 13. I will mail the next cooler on the 14 to arrive by the 17th.

Have fun at C's

Be sure to take those prunes with you

Love S

Fat Free Salad Dressings

Hey
Hope you're there.

xxx.x this am. But I had already had breakfast and I had only one bm since Thursday.

The food at the convention was not buffet but sit down and we had to eat what we were served unless we had health dietary needs.
I did the best I could. Eating only 1/2 a sandwich for lunch, no dessert, no potatoes, etc.

I had guests last night and they cooked me breakfast this am (french toast with cooked apples on top) but last night I stocked up on vegies and I'm going to have salads and vegies and a hunk of meat (roasted ckn) for a few days to get back on track.

I'm also going to exercise (yoga & weights) every day.

I'm so excited to begin living my life without mom that I'm not even down about the weight gain. I know that I'll be OK and get back on track.

Don't send anymore food until I tell you. I'm going to concentrate on salads & shrimp and chicken for a while and then I'll finish up what I have in the freezer. I'll let you know when I need some more.

Love B.


ok on the food
I'm glad you're still up beat.
What are you using for weights?
How many more of those garden conventions do you have to go to...they aren't worth gaining 6 lbs!!!!
You need a refresher course. Read the first 6 pages of my cookbooks.
FF salad dressings CAN TASTE GREAT!!!

If I get you a Malibu Pilattes Chair would you use it?

Love S


OK to the refresher course. I'm going to try your ff blue cheese dressing and a caesar dressing.

No to the chair. I don't have room. I have the "body for life" book and I'm going to do those exercises for specific muscles with cans of soup at first then 2 lb and then 5 lb hand weights. I'm really grossly out of shape so I'm going to take it slow with the weights.

I love yoga and I'm going to learn to meditate. My morning schedule will be something like this:

Wake up (at whatevwer time I awake) & eat piece of fruit.
1. write 3 pgs (per "the artist's way" book to stimulate your inner creative being)
2. Meditate
3. Do yoga or weight exercises
4. walk or cut grass or work in yard.
then do whatever the day brings.

It's wonderful. I have no commitments, I'm going to plan my days around my morning schedule and I can do whatever I want.

YAH ! ! ! !

Love B.


After you are ok with the single soup cans, you can put 2 in 2 each plastic grocery bags (1 bag for each hand) then increase the can size.
The chair is not a chair. it is the size of a fat stool. It is just a very easy way to work out.

I have to mail the next cooler of food on 6/30 because I leave for NY for 2 weeks and i'm not taking my laptop.
Love S

I just went on line to see the chair. But it's still too much like work. I want to incorporate as much yoga & ballet into my work out so I'll enjoy it and want to do it.

OK on 6/30 mailing. That should be about right. Should I send the cooler back to you with all the containers that I've been saving? Will R be at the house?
B.



No on the cooler. That is for your trips to PA. This is a new cooler and you can return this one with the containers.
You will be receiving it on July 2 or 3.

I will call you 9:30 your time each morning. You will not be able to call me, as I will be turning off my phone when I go into theaters, restaurants, museums etc.Enjoy your new freedom.

Love S




B
I have/had an appt at 11:30
She's not here yet so I may miss or chat today
Are you out if Acia Berry?

Love S


No. I just refilled all my pill boxes and I have enough for another 30 days of acia berry. I have lots of detox because I was getting that myself until I discovered they were charging me 83 a month.

B.


She called and will be here in 20 min so I will be here 'til then
Love S


Hey, xxx.x this am. bm yesterday. salad last night. cut grass yesterday also.

I'm back in the groove.

Love B.


Hi,

My concern is with you 'not liking' certain things that are fat free.
Anytime there is something that you want to eat and don't know how to get the fat out, email me.

Saying that you don't like leafy veggies is not a good answer for someone on a diet. Learn to like them...by trying different ways to eat them.

Filling up on Lean Meats and Veggies is a BIG PART of
keeping your stomach satisfied,
metabolism fired up, and
exercises melting the pounds off. :~)

Tomorrow I will send a list of the best veggies to eat on a diet.

I sent you steak burgers that have every bit of fat removed from the steak before I ground it. So no more visits to Burger King.

The broths & stocks I send to make gravies with a cornstarch slurry, have almost zero fat. You can use that gravy on veggies too. I really love steamed cauliflower drizzled and tossed with Liquid Butter Buds (made liquid w hot water).

Check my cookbooks. The first few pages explain that I never use any single FF product alone. Use 2 or 3 together. Each one brings a different taste or mouth feel to the entire end result. Adding ff mayo to ff italian dressing makes it more creamy, throw in a bit of butter buds (made liquid first with hot water) finishes it off.

You have to make the effort to make ff products taste decent.

Making FF Mayo taste good:
Whisk in a few tablespoons of the juices of a jar ob Roasted Pickled Red Bell Peppers.

Creamy Italian Dressing
2 T FF Italian dressing
1 T FF Mayo1 T
juice from Roasted Bell Peppers
opt: garlic pdr, onion pdr, chives, liquid butter buds.

Blue Cheese Dressing
2 T FF Italian dressing
1 T FF Mayo
1/2 t blue cheese crumbles(I keep these in a little plastic baggie in the freezer)

Ceasar Dressing
2 T FF Italian dressing
1 t grated Parmesan (again from a baggie in the freezer)
1 t Balsamic vinegar ( or you can sub red wine vinegar)

Baked potatoe topping:
FF sour cream
Butter Buds (made liquid w hot water)
Lemon Juice
green onions, minced

When you don't like something fat free, ask me how to fix it. If I don't already know the answer, I most likely can knock out a recipe pretty quickly. :~)

Love S


Hey,
xxx this am. Good bm yesterday, plenty of water, good walk. Going good again...thank you for not getting mad about the weight gain at the convention.

Love B.


Good on
Being upset with you for a convention you had to go to is unproductive. Focus has to be on moving forward.

But I bet yu didn't take any prunes with you :~)

Did you get the salad dressing recipes?

S


Yes, they sound good.
xxx.o this am. No bm yesterday. Prunes this am.

Rearranged all the bedrooms yesterday. I have my own separate studio and exercise room ! ! ! Went thru all my exercise & yoga books & tapes yesterday and found a wonderful New York City Ballet workout tape. I'm going to do that 3 times a week.

Rained yesterday and also today Thank god. we sure needed it. Done enough work this week. I think I'll take a little day trip to a pond place in A, 2 hrs away.

Love B.


Have you stopped going out for breakfast? drinking lawuadasa? read the first 6 pages of my books?
amount of water?
any starches?
what was for breakfast, lunch, dinner?
what is for breakfast, lunch, dinner?

Love S



Yes, no restaurant bkfsts anymore. Can't afford it. What the hell is lawaudasa?

Probably not enough water yesterday. I got busy.

Yesterday bkfst was yogurt & fruit, lunch pbj dinner salad with ckn & watered down dressing. I did have a terrible night and got up about 3 and had some toast and milk to try to get to sleep. I'm finding that if I take any kind of pain pill (tylenol, ibuprofin, aleve, etc) it's like I've had a shot of caffeine and I'm twitching for hours. Oh well.

Tonight I'll have another salad. Getting ff dressing today. Having my yogurt w/fruit this am.

B.



Liquadas are just fruit smoothies
Are you going to C's next weekend?

Contrary to popular belief, you are not charged per word in your email messages :~)

See you tomorrow

Love S


I don't know. I made the mistake of telling her I was thinking about it but I'm having second thoughts. I need to see how my money is going to go without Mom's money.

I do have some coming from you for mom ($xxx for May and 1/2 that for Jun) but I need to get some work done on the car and a few things to the rental house and my house.

No, I'm not having liquidas. I like my yogurt & chunky fruit in the am. In the winter I like my oatmeal and fruit.

B.


OK $$$ point taken. I forgot I'm not sending you a box next week. I'll send it tomorrow :~)
Love S


The box or the $.
I don't have to have either. I've been putting off the car for months. Not big deal.

B.


I will mail the money tomorrow.

Love S.

Going Green in Your Kitchen

This is off the subject of losing weight, but wanted to send it to you.

Beside recycling, which I know you are doing, here are some ideas to help you go 'green' in your kitchen. I hope we get a lot of suggestions to this one.

Veggies cut in small 'chunks' cook faster than whole ones. And they cook quicker when covered. But never cover asparagus or green beans or other veggies you want to stay nice & green.

I use my toaster oven 100 times more than my regular oven. When I do use the 'big' one, I'll usually throw in a few cleaned potatoes to bake along with whatever I'm cooking, to eat later in the week.

When roasting a chicken, I always bake 2. There are just soooo many ways to use it later in the week.

When making soups, I always make a BIG pot and freeze leftover soup in single serving plastic containers, collected over the years from delies.

I very rarely use plastic wrap. Instead, I'll use an empty bread bag, vegetable bag (that you put fresh veggies in at the store to get them to the checkout, or other plastic bags, at least once if not more. Example: take the 1/2 onion (or lemon or tomato, bleu cheese, etc) and place cut side down in the end, twist tight, fold ends of bag back down over the item again, twist tight again. This keeps the air out and the smell in. I store the empty bags pushed into paper towel cores.

I only use paper towels for really yucky messes or cleaning up something dropped on the floor. Soapy Dishrags for counters and stove tops.

Take 'green bags', cloth bags and used shopping bags to the grocery store.

I use old plastic bags from stores (from when I had forgotten my 'green' bags...bad on me), doubled bagged hanging from hooks on a top drawer, for yucky or spoilable garbage which I empty nightly. This way my regualr non-stinky garbage can doesn't have to be emptied just because it stinks...I can wait until it is full

Cloth napkins!! Each member of the family has a special napkin ring to identify his/her napkin until laundry day. We use washcloths when not entertaining.

I cut open old brown paper grocery bags (again from when I forgot my 'green' bags) and use the 'in' sides of them when I need to drain fried foods or washed foods.

Only use dishwasher for FULL loads and let them air dry.

And I think we all know the best way to wash dishes to save water is the soapy water sink and clear water sink(or basin) when we have a lot to wash...NEVER washing under running water. But when you only have 3 or 4 items, scrub them with a soapy scrubby, then place in the sink. Then use the water you are using to rinse one item over the other items. So that when the second item is to be rinsed, it is hardly soapy at all, and so on down the line.

Any more suggestions?

I have just now let this address out to a group belonging to Betty Crocker. I hope I can help more people lose weight.

Love S

Garden Convention

Hey,
xxx.x this am. Down but not enough. bm yesterday, salad last might. Cutting grass today. Will drink double the water today.

Love B.


It may be time to change up your diet a bit. For 1 week, exclude all whites and starches from your diet. Not in the quantity of food. Remember you have to eat enough and often to keep your metabolism fired up.
Love S


Hey,
xxx this am. It's got to be the pbj sandwich at noon. OK. I'll cut out all whites and have just vegies, fruit & meat.

Love B.



Also try the 1 T ACV in 16 oz water 3 times a day.
Love S



Hey,
xxx.x this am. I tried to not eat anything yesterday and drank lots of water. The vinegar is awful. I think I'll try vinegar with vegies like cukes & beets instead of water.

I was starving by last night and I did eat dinner. Rest of your ham & scalloped pot. It was very good.

Yes I can go a week or more without starcjes pr anything white. I'll start today.

I was really down last night. This is such a head thing. I have to start thinking of myself as a thin, healthy eater instead of a deprived dieter. when Mom leaves I'm going to paste signs all over the house to myself to think thin, eat healthy, nibble at food, drink lots of water, etc.
as well as encouraging signs to keep me upbeat and thinking right.

I don't like to let mom on to much of my thinking. She's such a negative force.

Only 2 more days ! ! ! I'm taking her to the airport and then will be at the Gardening convention until the 22nd.

Wow, your sleep problem is awful. I've had that problem for a few days only, not for as long as you've been having it. Are you taking naps? I guess you can't think of anything that's causing it or else you could fix it. It must be driving you crazy.

Love B.


Don't go without food unless you are doing a juice fast.

Remember to take a little bottle of FF dressing with you and lots of veggies to much on.
You can do this. When ordering dinner, substitue an extra veggie for the starch...all restaurants will do this now. And ask for all sauces to be on the side.
Love S.


Hey
xxx this a.m. Wow, amazing, you're a genius. Looks like I'm back on track again. I leave early tomorrow, so I won't be chatting until I get back.

I don't want to take a cooler with me and I don't like FF dressing. I'll have salads with the dressings on the side and drink plenty of water.

Love B.



Check my books. The first few pages explain that I never use any single FF product alone. Use 2 or 3 together. Each one brings a different taste or mouth feel to the entire end result. Adding ff mayo to ff italian dressing makes it more creamy, throw in a bit of butter buds (made liquid first) finishes it off. You have to make the effort to make ff products taste decent.

See you when you get back.
Love S

Happy Birthday

Hey,
xxx.. this am. Don't know why. Yesterday I had yogurt & fruit for bkfst, pbj for lunch & left over beef stew & small salad for din with yogurt later.

Must be water. 90 degrees yesterday with no a/c. Today is supposed to be cooler. Doing work at other house at 9:00 this am.
B



Cutting grass today too so I'll get my exercise in.
The note on ACV was interesting. I don't have high blood press or chol but I might try it.

Love B.


Be sure to drink plenty of water too
what's for dinner?
Love S

Your leftover thanksgiving dinner
B


Well, luckily for you that's the end of the improperly packaged tksgiving dinners :`)
Last time I made TG dinner, I packed each item separately. Should be MUCH better. I told you it would be a learning experience :~)
I've tapered off cooking for awhile. We are eating up all the things you said you don't like , to clean out my freezer. We're having Morroccan veggies tonight. We had hummus and pita bread for lunch.
We eat the lazagna when we get cravings for pizza.
You do need to eat more fresh or frozen veggies
Love S


I'll have to look up my blood type. xxx.x this am. I thought with all the exercise yesterday, this am I'd be down further. I did drink lots of water tho and small bm.

You're right, I don't eat enough vegies. I'm trying tho. I don't feel like working in yard today. I may run away from home today. Leaving soon. Only 10 more days til I'm free ! ! ! ! !
Love B.



You're going to have to sing, sing, sing afte mom leaves in order to get over the guilt you will feel for 'abandoning her'. It takes more than just her not being there with you for you to reall feel free of her.
Love S

HEYYYY
xx.x this am ! ! ! Big bm yesterday & salad last night for dinner. However, I'll probably now bounce up and down a few times before I finally settle on xxx.

Yippee.

More yard work today. Spaghetti for dinner.
B


YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
Hopefully whole wheat, right?
Love S



Yes. and re your prior e=mail yesterday. I don't feel guilty at all about Mom. I did at first but I did everything I could and she has just about given up doing anything or wanting to do anything and I think she realizes it's time to do this. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself :).
B


Great for you. It took me at least 2 years of singing to not feel guilty for not going home or calling. And it wasn't really until she started acusing me of breaking into her house and eating cereal that I totally gave up on her.

Love S


You know I'm convinced that was one of the first signs of dementia. I read a book that said that's a sign. And when she was in Alameda with me, she thought someone had broken in a few times and taken things.
signing off
B

No matter. We are OK. Signing off.

Love B.



Well,
xxx.x today. I have to admit I had a fast food burger for lunch & now I don't feel so hot. Maybe my body is not used to all that grease. Going back to bed, unless I throw up first
B


Hey,
xxx.x today. I guess I've got to stay away form fast food burgers. I'm running away from home again today. Talk to you tomorrow.
B

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, Happy Birthday to you, You ran away to soooon, Happy Birthday to you.
I didn't have a chance to answer wish you HBD before you ran away.
Take plenty of water and veggies
Love S

Apple Cider Vinegar

Hey,
Sorry I missed this morning. I overslept and we walked later than usual.

xxx this am. That's OK. I'm on it. Beef stew was good. Mom even ate some.

Love B.


xxx again today. Small bm yesterday. Hot as h here. In the low 80s. That's hot for us. No A/C. Supposed to get down to the 70s this weekend thank god.

Love B.


Did you know that runnig for 10 min is better for your heart than walking briskly for 30?

Love S


No. I'd rather cut grass for 20 min. :)
B


What's for dinner?
S

Last night I had 3/4 of a chicken breast, 1 ear of corn (no butter or salt) and cantelope & strawberries. I think tonight I'm having a salad. Mom will eat the leftover ckn. It's too hot to even heat something on the stove.
B



xxx.x this am. Don't know why. Yesterday I had yogurt & fruit for bkfst, pbj for lunch & left over beef stew & small salad for din with yogurt later.

Must be water. 90 degrees yesterday with no a/c. Today is supposed to be cooler. Doing work at other house at 9:00 this am. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Love B.


Be sure to drink plenty of water too
what's for dinner?
Love S



B
Does the below sound familuar??
After doing much research on home remedies for high blood pressure, weight, low energy problems, I decided to go that route first. I found STRENUOUS aerobic exercise, daily, to be the only thing to reliably make a difference, but it was exhausting. (Simple walking, gardening or cycling wasn't enough...) After reading the thousands of posts on Apple Cider Vinegar ( ACV) I gave it a try. I started puttig 1 teaspoon of ACV in 8 oz of water, 3 times a day. WOW! I feel so much better now. Thank all you folks that posted! My guess is, that I wasn't producing enough stomach acid to process the nutrients I was taking in, properly. (Stress and adrenaline will shut down digestion, and digestive juices. This could also just be a natural aging affect or an inherited trait, too.) Anyway, I think the ACV added just enough acid to digest my food properly and especially make use of the magnesium/calcium and potassium I was taking.(The holy triumvirate of blood pressure.) This is my guess... Thank you all for posting your reviews. They were most helpful.



xxx.x this am. Huge BM yesterday. I was just full of shit.

Cutting grass today so I'll get my exercise in.

The note on ACV was interesting. I don't have high blood press or chol but I might try it.

Love B.

Broccoli Salad Anyone? D??

Are you there?
Have you used your new veggie slicer yet. Time for a Salad Bar Party?
Love S


xxx.x for today and yesterday. No bm. Out of my regular routine with D here. Maybe I'll take exlax today.
Signing off now. We are going to the beach.
Love, B


Hate to see you taking exlax so much. Prunes are more natural. We need to get your system working for itself...not relying on drugs.
What's for dinner tonight?

You asked me once for a certain broccoli salad. Is this the one?
4 stalks broccli, steamed aldente, chopped
1/2 red onion, minced
1/3 c raisins2 gr onions, sl

1/2 c FF mayo combine these & toss w above
1 T white vinegar
1 T juice from jar of roasted red bell peppers
s & p
sweet opt: add splenda to taste
opt: 1 T bacon bits OR sunflower seeds...NOT BOTH

Love S


Hey,
xxx.x this am. Had big bm yesterday. Going to rain forest today.

I love having D visit but it's keeping me from working in the yard which I also love and is good exercise.

D goes home on Monday. We may go to BC where her sister lives tomorrow so I won't be writing. we'll spend the night there and I'll take her down to S from BC on Monday am.

Love B.



ok great!!
you finally broke the xxx barrier.
See you Monday then
Sam



xxx.x this am.



WOW!!! SOOOOOOO informative!
S


Sorry. I've been on the phone with L for 45 min. She always hates it when I make noises about hanging up first so I hung on and talked and wrote that un informative e-mail.

I took a water pill last night and peed all night. I was trying to combat the 9 hr drive to and from the airport with D yesterday. Always makes me retain water. I may gain some water back today.

Doing good.

Love B.



Well you're down 28 lbs. Was that the broccoli recipe you wanted? How do you like the veggie slicer?
What's for dinner?
I need to know how many dinners you have left.
Love S



I have a broccoli recipe and it's almost like that one. Broccoli, cauliflower, red peppers, bacon bits, and dressing is just ff mayo, vinegar and splenda. Very good.

No I haven't used the vegie slicer. D and I ate a lot of salads when she was here but I don't have much counter space and it's easier with 2 people to just do things by hand. Is that a good enough excuse? I'm just not a gadget person.

We're having beef stew tonight. I have about 14 dinners left. That's counting 4 dinners for the alfredo sauce (which I know I'll love) and 2 for the steak spinach pinwheels. DON"T SEND ANY MORE FOOD UNTIL I ASK YOU TO PLEASE> I'll let you know when I get down to a few days worth.
Love B


OK
That's about what I figured, but couldn't be sure 'cause you kept forgetting to tell me what you ate and I couldn't cross them off my 'sent' list.

I wasn't planning on sending anything until June 16 to arrive June 18. The new things next time will be the Hawiian chicken I forgot last time, Shrimp Kabobs and baked Chimichangas
But I'll wait 'til you tell me you have only 5 left.
Love S

25 ! ! ! ! ! !

SHIT ! ! ! xxx.x this am.

How can that be? I worked my ass off yesterday planting about 150 dahlias for garden club. Drank water, ate right, had stuffed peppers for dinner (not my favorite). No bm tho but that shouldn't make that much difference.

So discouraging.

I can't be here at 9:30. I have an apt with a contractor to look at residing my rental. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Love B


You'll be back down tomorrow...I can almost guarantee.
S


You're right. xxx.x this am. Not down as much as I'd like. How do you know these things.
I have another garden club commitment today so I won't be here at 9:30. This is the last one for a while thank heavens.

Had a big salad for dinner last nght. Took some more exlax last night and had a little run this am. Now I'll be poo pooing on myself while at the farmer's market selling garden club plants.

See you tomorrow am at 9:30 difinitely.

Love B.

I've got your weight loss track record for the last 17 weeks so I can look at the patterns in your eating with the patterns in your weight loss
Love S



xxx.x this am. Not as low into the xxx numbers as I wold like but it is xxx by Sunday. I think the problem has been that as I've been more active I've not been eating the snacks throughout the day. Maybe my metabolism is not burning as highly. Hard to eat while you're planting dahlias or at a farmer's market selling stuff. Maybe the increased exercise will make up for it. I'm really enjoying my freedom from Mom. Can't wait to put her on that plane. Love B.



I bet!!! Well, at least you hit xxx. I don't know how you work so long. I only last about 1 1/2 hr.
You lost 1.5 lb since last Sunday. That seems to be your average. And remember you went to PA with no food last week.Love S


Tell me about it. We worked 3 hard hours on those damn dahlias and I slept almost all day Friday and still slept well Fri nite. Gardening work is going to get me back in shape. It works all of you. Baack, shoulders, arms, legs.

See you tomorrow. Tonight is hamb steak & corn.
B



Well I blew it last night - - or rather early this morning. Couldn't sleep so about 3:30 am I got up to have a glass of milk and also had 4 pieces of mom's cinnamon swirl bread. I only wanted 2 but before I knew it i had 4. So today I'm back to xxx. No BM yesterday either.

I'm so sorry. Not only have I let myself down I've let you down. I checked the package this morning and each slice has 2 g of fat and 120 cal.

Don't know what gets into me sometimes. It's like I've had gallons of caffiene. By 3:00 am I was frantic. But it wasn't worth going bck up to xxx.

I'm going back to bed soon so you better answer quickly.

Love B


Believe it or not the BMs are more important than the extra 2 pieces of bread. Did you eat prunes with the bread and a big glass of water????? So, now you have to exercise, remember??? What exercise do you have in mind?

I finally gave in a year ago and have to take a melatonin pill and a tylenol pm before bed or I am up at 2:30 every night. The Dr says it is because of menapause. I finally reached the breaking point on these hot flashes too. Have you heard of bioidenticals? I've been researching them for menapause treatment and went to a doctor that knows about them. They do a really thorough blood work up and salava work up and you take the medicine by cream on the inside of the your arms. It's not working yet but he says it will take at least a month once he gets the dosage 'identical' to what my body used to make. I can hardly wait.
Love S



back to xxx.x this am. I cut grass yesterday and had a small bm. Tomorrow I have to leave here at 6:00 am to pick up a friend from S airport so I won't report. She'll be here for a week but I'll try to report each day after tomorrow.

Had the pork chop & cabbage last night. Port chop very tender - - don't like cabbage. :)

It's raining this morning. Going back to bed to enjoy it.

Love B.



You have lost 25.9 lbs. Just think about that the next time you get down.
Congratssssssss!!!!!!!!!!
Love S



xxx.x this am. Not as low into the xxx numbers as I would like but it is xxx by Sunday. I think the problem has been that as I've been more active I've not been eating the snacks throughout the day. Maybe my metabolism is not burning as highly. Hard to eat while you're planting dahlias or at a farmer's market selling stuff. Maybe the increased exercise will make up for it. I'm really enjoying my freedom from Mom. Can't wait to put her on that plane. Love B.

Cutting Grass

Hey,
xxx.x ! ! ! ! CAN'T believe it. I cut the yard yesterday and drank lots of water but for lunch I just grabbed some crackers that were full of fat ! ! !
Love B


Fantastic!!!!!!! How's the Knee? What's for dinner tonight, last night?
S


The knee is good for everything except bending and putting weight on it.

Last nite was 1/2 ckn breast no skin & yogurt. Tonight will be your ckn, mashed pot & peas.

No BM yesterday. Having prunes & yogurt for bkfst.

See you.

Love B.



Maybe you should start a grass cutting business. Every time you cut yours you lose a lb.

Love S


Have made a deal with the neighbor, I cut her grass and she lets me use her big garbage bin.

Signing off now. B

Garden Club Convention

Hey,
xxx.x this am. Yea Yea. BM yesterday and lots of water. PBJ for dinner. I have 1/2 ckn breast left over from the ckn florentine which I'm going to use in a salad tonight for dinner.

I'm going to a garden club convention in S on the 18. I'm the president for F. I'll be locked in the hotel from 7:30 to 9:00 each day. I'll do the best I can and take some celery and carrots and drink lots of water. It's Jun 18-21. K made arrangements for Mom to leave S on the 18th.

Love B.



That's good. You'll probable reach xxx by Sunday
Sounds like fun. Will there be a mini fridge in the room for FF yogurt and stuff?
Be sure to take a bottle of your favorite FF salad dressing. I'm sure they'll have plenty of salads for all the ladies. It would be a good time to order fish, being you don't like to eat cook it at home.

Keep Focusssssss!!!

How did a newbee like yourself get to be Pres of the Garden Club so soon?
Love S



They saw the letters S U C K E R written on my forehead.

Seriously, they asked (beause no one volunteered) and I said yes. I figured it was a good way to meet people.

Speaking of garden club, I have to be at the all day plant sale today at 8:00 am.

today's weight xxx.x ! ! ! ! ! ! Can't believe it. How did you know it would be that. Small bm yesterday.

Bye
Love B.



You are too close to the problem. I'm down here far away, looking at the big picture. I can almost tell by your past ups & downs how much you'll lose after an 'up'.

So you keep losing and I'll keep analyzing--I think both of those words are spelled wrong :~)

You are forgetting to tell me about your exercises, food intake, etc.

Love s

Don't eat old food

Hey,
xxx.x this am. No special things happening after today (trip to PA) so maybe I can focus on losing and eating and drinnking water, etc, etc. bm yesterday.
Love
B


What did you eat when you went out to dinner with mom?
Tell me what you are eating, exercising, water, bm ??????
Love
S


We didn't go out to eat dinner. On Mother's day she wanted a Dairy Queen blizzard and when we got home I had a PBJ sandwich for dinner.

Yesterday I had cereal for bkfst w/prunes, lunch was yogurt w/prunes, dinner was caesar ckn salad w/dressing on side. We were invited out to eat at last minute. The salad was the only thing I could eat. I knew it wouldn't last me the night and when I got home I had two pieces of ww toast dry and a cup of tea.
Love
B

McDonald's Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken contains 410 calories and 24 grams of fat, while their Quarter Pounder has the same number of calories, and even less fat. And that's nothing compared to the classic Chicken Caesar salad recipes you'll find at local restaurants and chains, which contain approximately 1,100 calories and 96 grams of fat.

Just thought you needed to know.


I think you're doing great, even if you go up & down. In the long run, it's down and will keep going down. You didn't gain this weight quickly, it's going to take time and LOTS of willpower, and you've already shown you have what it takes to lose.

Did you check the overall chart I sent? I shows that after you have a very small loss, the next week shows a 2 to 3 lb loss. Did you try dropping the rice in boiling broth??
Love
S


No. When I had the swiss steak I just used the sauce with it.
B


Well, I tried it the other night with a pack of rice I had frozen for you and it was GREAT.

You need to buy a small bottle of FF dressing to take with you when you have to go out to dinner.
Or if you have the dressing on the side, like you did (GREAT), just dip your fork into the dressing and then plunge it into the salad. It's just about the right amount. Who did you go with?
Is mom in the home in PA
Love
S


Yes, that's what I did. Just used my fork in the dressing. My friend D from SF changed her date of her visit up here so I delayed Mom's stay at the home until the 20th. Just knowing the end is in sight gives me strength and patience.

We went out to dinner with a friend F who then took us to an Indian basket weaving group. I think I'm going to take lessons from them to learn to weave a basket.
B



I can send you palm fronds from Florida if you need some :~)
I'm going to check on Sloopy, & see if I can bring him home.
Love S


Cute. Hope he's OK.
B


I was serious. I've got tons of fronds in my yard. I'm leaving now to pick him up. Won't know anything until tests come back.
Love S

NEXT DAY


Well I've done it again. Damn it. How could I be so stupid????????????

I had some old cereal I had in the cabinet for breakfast. It was left over from A if you can believe that. It was all taped shut but I used to eat is because it has a lot of fiber in it. Thought it might help with the bms. It tasted so good I had another bowl for dinner - - a big one. I had a pbj for lunch and all my water. I did not have a bm.

This morning weight was xxx.x ! ! ! ! ! I checked the cereal and it has 7 g of fat ! ! ! So I had a shit load of fat yesterday. I'm so disgusted.

I'm taking extra prunes this am.

I'm sorry. I really wanted to do good this week.

Love, B



It is only Wednesday...don't give up
Love S



Thank you for being so understanding. I bet you're gritting your teeth at R.
Love
B



Well # 1, you should not be eating ANYTHING that OLD.
#2, Now Go Eat 6 Prunes and your Acia Berry and Acua Berry Detox
#3, Do not eat ANY pasta, rice, bread, potatoes today and drink PLENTY of water. Fill up on raw veggies.
#4, Eat dinner for lunch and then nothing but raw veggies 'til sleep. Call it a partial 'fast' day.

If you never punish yourself for being stupid or weak---your words, not mine, but I agree :~), you WILL KEEP GIVING IN !!!!!
So be a good girl today, sing, drink, exercise and just think that I am right behind you everytime you put something in your mouth!!!

Do you have a Juicer???

Sloopy does not have stones, but we have to wait 5 days to find out if he has cistitus or a urinary infection.

Love S



OK OK.

No I don't have a juicer nor do I want one. :)

B


OK OK OK
Just stay focused :~)
Going to have a banana sandwich...1 piece of whole grain bread, 1 tsp of reduced fat pb, 1 t ff mayo, 1 banana placed cornerwise and folded up like we used to eat hotdogs when we were young before we learned about hotdog buns
see you tomorrow
Love S

Mothers' Day ride to the vet

Hi S
xxx.x No bm yesterday in spite of p & d (prunes & detox). Neighbor just called. Mom is wandering around in her yard. I'm going to get her. I'll be on line at 10:30 if you want to talk.
B


Well at least you are almost back down to what you were last Sunday.

I don't understand how 1 cheese burger and ff can do you so much damage up to 3 days later. It's like your body is grabbing onto the food and storing it like it is not going to eat for a month. Maybe after you eat something bad like that you should eat constantly things that are good for you... low low cal veggies and very complex carbs w a little protien ...celery, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain toast.

You are forgetting to tell me what you've been eating and what's for din din tonight
Love S


Sorry. Last night I was going to have the swiss steak but I had a ff yogurt and a ww bagel with milk. I'll have the steak tonight with mashed pot. I just can't face anymore brown rice.

Mom was sitting on a neighbors bench in their side yard saying she was going to work. When I went to get her she said she had already had breakfast and had packed her lunch. Not so. this is scary. Haven't heard from K as to my e-mail about things to do to get her admitted somewhere. I guess he's gathering info befoe he answers.

I think my spike was due to stress more than the cheeseburger & ff. I stopped taking my "happy" pills about 2 months back also and I probably shouldn't have. I was feeling so good back then I thought I didn't need them. WRONG ! ! ! So I'm back on them now.

Now mom is sitting in her chair just looking out the window. Can't tell if this is an act or her dementia. I have to cut the grass today so she can sit and stew if she wants to.

Love B.



There should be plenty of Swiss Steak sauce to make the brown rice palatable.

You definitely need the complex carbs right now. Didn't I send you some packets of plain wild rice to mix in with the brown rice?

Love S


Yes. But right now I need the comfort of ff mashed potatoes to satisfy me without going to the sweets. I'll try both the rice. Or I'll make new rice. For some reason frozen rice reheated is dry & tough even tho I add plenty of sauce.
B


I found a new way to fix the rice now, so it may be different in the next batch. The Salisbury steak (the one with brown gravy) would be better with mashed potatoes. Maybe you could thaw it and have the red Swiss steak with rice tomorrow??? I just can't see the red sauce being that good on m pots.

I just made 11 Baked Chimicanga dinners with brown rice with a packet of smokey black bean salsa to mix in with the rice. Hop you like it.

I'm making Sweet & Sour Meatballs tonight.

Love S


Maybe you're right. The chimichangas sound great.
At some point, you've got to stop cooking for me. I'm thinking about easy ff recipes I can cook for myself. I'm browsing your cookbooks.
B


YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I'll get you cooking yet.! And you always know exactly what's in your food!
Love S



xxx.x this am. BM yesterday. Thought I'd lose more but I'll take 1/2 lb. Mom and I getting ready to go to bkfst. Don't worry. I'm having my oatmeal.

I gave her $40 in a card from you and added a note that we should go out to dinner. We'll go somewhere in S.

See you later.

I can be more dependable next week in my e-mails.

Love B.



Well at least you lost .x lbs from last week. I was afraid I would have to chalk up a gain for the week.
After mom leaves, we're going to have to stick to the rule of you loosing at least 1 lb a week.
From observing the overall chart, you'll be down almost 3 lb next week....DON't BLOW IT !!!!!

Love S


Well, I'm back up to xxx. It's got to be water and s ! ! ! Took mama riding all day yesterday and had no bm. My ankles are swollen for the first time in weeks. I'll take a water pill today. I had my prunes and the detox yesterday but no results.

I have to go to PA tomorrow to get my hair cut but that's all. I'm so sick of my weight going up and down. I guess you are too.

Sat nite I had your swiss steak with the rice. It was good. Last nite I had a pbj sandwich. I'm having the chicken florentine tonight.

I'm very discouraged.

Love B


Just got back from the vet...my cat had bloody urine. The vet said whatever it is, it's obvious that training him to use the people toilet, has let me catch it at the beginning instead of waiting to notice him feeling sick or not eating.

I don't know what it is. You should be doing better now that you've made the decision to put mom in the home permanetly. Are you drinking enough water? Eating prunes? You've stopped telling me everything you are eating. Are you keeping your list? PLEASE don't get discouraged.

I tried dropping the rice in boiling stock, worked great. R said he loved it and he didn't even know it had been frozen before.

Complex carbohydrates make your body work twice as hard to digest, keep you fuller longer and you don't get the peak and then the crash. Are you eating a raw piece of veggie after every meal?

Love S

Future Aerobics Insstructor :~)

OK
How about an aerobics trainer when you get down to 140 :~)
Love
S


Yeah. Wouldn't that be something? There's a little one horse health club here. Maybe that would work out.

I'm doing wall pushups and seated sit ups. Drawing my stomach in as much as possible and holding it for 30 seconds. Works my lower abs where most of my fat is. I can tell because it hurts in the am. I'm creeping up on really working out.

Love B.


YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Finallyyyyyyyyyy!
You'll be amazed how much that little bit of exercise will help...not only your weight loss but your attitude as well.

Love S


Hey,
Can't find the box with the Serenity pills in it. The only thing I can figure is that I threw them out with the box. Can't see how I missed them but I did.

Gone all day from 9:30 to 6:00 with Mom looking into hearing aids. I have to confess I broke bad and had a cheeseburger and ff. Check my record. First one I've had in a long time. It eased a craving. I'll be OK now for a while.

Had the rest of your vegie soup last night.

Love, B.


Hope it doesn't show up in your weight tomorrow.
Love S




xxx.x this am. Yes I know I'm paying for the cheeseburger & ff yesterday. I ate the prunes yesterday and again this am.

Was that you that just called & let it ring 3 times?
B


yep that was me and yep you're paying...10 extra sit ups 10 extra wall pushes...ok? :~)

Love
S


OK. I have a 10:30 apt w/the surgery doc today. Nothing new here; you?
B

No, I'm good here. Please Please focus the rest of the week
Love S



I will. Love you and thanks.
B


Be sure to keep the old pants and pictures of you at your largest so you can show your future aerobics students that IT CAN BE DONE !!!!! :~))))

Love S

GOOD DECISION

Hey,
Send me the grapefruit idea again. Can't find the previous e-mail. I got the grapefruit in PA today.

I've made the decision today, to send mom to the nursing home for good. I'm mad all the time. I'm thinking June or July at the latest. K will have to make the arrangements at the Hermitage. He's on a trip with W now but as soon as they come back I'll talk to him. Not sure how I'll do w/o the extra money but I'll get a job around here.

YIPPEE ! ! !

Love, B.


Here's the grapefruit email from before...

You ARE doing good. Don't let a set back knock you off your positive attitude.Just keep singing and s.... If you are taking the detox stuff and prunes you should be s.... your guts out..Sometimes changing your whole diet for a day or 2, can do well to wake up your metabolism.

Next time you are in PA get a bag of ruby red grapefruit. Then, EVERY time you eat ANYTHING(including carrots or celery), eat a quarter of a grapefruit. And try to eat every
2 1/2 hr.

Try not to eat any pasta, bread or starchy type carbs those 2 days too.

Now I'll go read today's report

Love
S



xxx.x today. I was sure with all the stress yesterday It would be up. Who can understand this. Everything is fitting looser. I'm down a size in pants and bra. YIPPEE ! ! !

Just got a congratualtory e-mail from L about Mom going to home for good. I expect one from Chris when she gets to work. That makes me feel good about the decision.
Love
B.


B
You don't know how many times I've said to R, "I just wish she wouldn't have to keep mom with her...it's just ruining her life." So, I'm with you on that, all the way.

The other statement I've made to him a MILLION TIMES, "I don't EVER want to be that old and in that condition and have to have someone take care of me."

Is there anything you can do on you computer at home?

Congrats on the weight...I told you singing our song would help with the stress at least with the weight loss.
Love
S


Thanks. What do you mean "Is there anything you can do on your computer at home?
B


Job wise to make an income
S


Oh. I haven't explored that. Everyonce in a while there will be a job here - dishwasher, waitress at a restaurant. Desk clerk at a motel. I'll cross that path when I come to it. With this extra money coming in it's been hard to tighten my belt. I've bought $500 worth of trees for the yard, other bushes & mulch, a new mattress for my bed, etc, etc. I really don't want to work but I'll see how I do and then make a decision.

Going back to PA today for Mom's hearing aid and glasses.

bye.
Love B.



How about an arobecs trainer when you get down to 140 :~)

Did you find those Serenity Pills yet?

Love S

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Good Morning. xxx.x this am. Not as much as I'd like but OK. Had the Christmas bird last night. Went walking this am. About 1/2 mile. Going faster than I did when I cut the grass but still about 1/3 as fast as I usually walk.

I'm going to PA today for my therapist visit, mom staying home. I'll take my sandwich and water with me.

Love B.

Hey,
Are you there? We'll go to breakfast and I'll chat with you at 9:30
Love B



Well, it's the right direction too. And the exercising will really start helping, so keep it up.
Sorry I was on line, but not in my mailbox. My computer doesn't say anything when a new email comes in.

When in PA, pick up some ruby red grapefruit (see previous email) and try not to eat pasta or bread on the 2 days you do the grapefruit flush.

Sometimes your body get used to a diet and needs a shake up.

Please, please, please, take extras of everything on your trip to PA. Remember to get weighed at the Dr.'s to check your scales. You don't have to undress, just weigh at home with the same things on tomorrow after eating and drinking the same amount...then undress and weigh again.
Love
S


Hey,
OK I'll add grapefruite to my list. I think I hurt my knee this am. I'm icing it now.

I think I still have the box the slicer came in. I'll check it for the serenity stuff. Just had a big blow up with mom. She lied to me about changing her pull up (diaper) and I could smell her in the car. When I confronted her she laughed. Then I blew up and she laughed some more.

I DONT CARE, I DONT CARE TA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA.

ETC, ETC.

Love B.



Well it's obvious she doesn't care what you think anymore. Maybe you could guilt her with what other people think of her smell...oooooooor, the next time she wants to go to breakfast, tell her you won't take her if she smells.

Any way, you are a better person than I. Just keep singing

I'm wondering if you are the type of dieter that can't deal with carbs.
Maybe we should try a couple of no carb days, just lean meats and fruits.
What do you think?
Love
S



I'd like to do like I've been doing and have a balanced diet more or less. This is something I can live with over the long term. I'll get some grapefruit today. I'll calm down over the drive to PA. Parts of it is so beautiful. It's raining so there will be mist hanging in the mountains.

See you tomorrow.

Love, B.

Stress Levels...keep focused...keep the list

Hey,
Today is xxx.x. Just a little reduction. Going to work all day in the yard so should be a good reduction today. Got to go now. Mom has doc apt at 9:30.

Back fm doc. Mom off Lipitor (was causing confusion more) and will get on an appetite suppressant. Let's talk earlier. How about 8:30 my time ?
Love, B.


OK 8:30 your time if fine with me.

That's great, but I can tell you are not using your 'list' if you forget to 'chat with s' until 12:30 your time.
The List is to help you keep FOCUSSSSSS!!

But, again, GREATTTTT GOINGGGGGG !!!!! I know how difficult this is.
But I think talking with me each day will make it easier.
How do you like the idea of a Salad Bar Party?
Love S


Hey,
The Salad Bar Party sounds great. I'll see if the girls want to do it.
I had 2 nights of the your artichoke pasta sauce, 1 night of roasted chicken from deli...no skin, 1 night of your prime rib, tonight I'm having one of your Christmas Birds.

Love
B

Hi B,
We're going airboating today, so I won't be here to chat today. I'm figuring you'll be xxx.x today. E-mail me anyway so I'll check when we get home.
Ok, your leg is better now, so 45 min working in the yar and 15 min of exercise sitting down or laying on the bed...you promised
Love
S


Hey,
You're right xxx.x. This is amazing to me. I'm doing the exact same things as earlier, but the last few days I'm losing .5 lb each day. My attitude toward Mom is better, her attitude toward me is better...maybe my stress level is lower???

Ok, situps and leg lifts from the bed for 15 min. I still can't put any weight on the knee while it is bent. I'll go back to bed right now and do 15 min of exercise. Anything to keep this cycle of .5 lb a day going.
Love
B



It could be your stress level is lower. Are you singing our song???
Air boat ride was fun. It's the only boat I can go on now with my back...gliding over the swamp is much easier than beating into the wind and waves.
Ok, let's get back to our full reporting schedule at 8:30 your time.
Weight?
bm yes or no?
how long yard work?
how long exercise...what kind?
what was for dinner...what is for dinner?
Stress w mom or not...how much?
Did you cheat?
Did you do anything fun?
This way, I can keep track for you, so when I send the overall monthly analysis report, we know what caused what... where you did great and maybe where you lost focus.
I'd like to say it will get easier, but I happen to know from experience it won't. Focussing on the positive and chatting with me will make it better though. When do you think you'll reach xxx?
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Love, S


F!!!!!!

xxx.x this am.

No bm yesterday and not much exercise. Just situps & leg lifts. rained all day. Went to PA to hear barbershop quartet. For some reason I was stressed out at Mom. Tried to discover the reason when I realized I was in my mad mode again but couldn't remember one specific thing. She was in her push the buttons mode.

Thought I was doing so good in the stress area too. Yes, I've been singing the song. and yes it does help.

Didn't eat much yesterday either so metabolism was slower maybe. Had breakfast (oatmeal at restaurant) around 11, then munched on carrots at about 4:30 on the way back from PA, then dinner at 7:30. Had your vegie soup w/toasted cheese sandwich. I've found a soy cheese with 2 g fat per slice. Pretty good too.

Will probably have the Christmas Bird tonight. It's been thawed for 2 days.

Love, B.



You ARE doing good. Don't let a set back knock you off your positive attitude.
Just keep singing and s.... If you are taking the detox stuff and prunes you should be s.... your guts out..
Sometimes changing your whole diet for a day or 2, can do well to wake up your metabolism. Next time you are in PA get a bag of ruby red grapefruit. Then, EVERY time you eat ANYTHING(including carrots or celery), eat a quarter of a grapefruit. And try to eat every 2 1/2 hr. Try not to eat any pasta, bread or starchy type carbs those 2 days too.

Congrats on the leg lifts and sit ups. Thanks for keeping your promise.
I was on the computer but I didn't come back to my mail box 'til just now.
Love,
S



Just had a big bm. Tomorrow should be down again. I am eating the prunes & detox. However, what do you mean by the serenity stuff? I have "acai burn" and "acai detox" but nothing labeled serenity.

I have a bunch of exercise plans in my files. I'm going to look at them and figure out more that I can do on the bed or standing or sitting. I can do some wall pushups, situps, leg lifts, weights for upper body. I'm going to start walking 1 mile a day on Monday with my friend. See how I do. Should be OK because I've cut the back yard and that's should equal about a mile.

Love, B.



Serenity is the little lavender labeled bottle that I put inside the box with the veggie slicer. It helps you relax and deal with mom.
It's all natural and it acts like the oil in "water off a ducks' back" in agrivating situations...which mom is probably the worst agrivating situation you'll ever come up on.
Love,
S

Keeping Focussed is Important

Hey,
Sorry I'm late, but I forgot 'till now. xxx today. Maybe my scales weren't wrong yesterday. Yipeeee
Love B


That's great, but I can tell you are not using your 'list' if you forget to 'chat with sister' until 12:30 your time instead of our agreed upon time of 9:30.

Keep FOCUSSSSSS!!

But, again, GREATTTTT GOINGGGGGG !!!!! I know how difficult this is.
But I think talking with me each day will make it easier.

How do you like the idea of a Salad Bar Party for the ladies? Anything to keep you from going out to restaurants this early in the game until you learn what to order and what to avoid.

Love S

Salad Bar Party

Well folks,
My sister and I have been talking on the phone while she struggled to get her computer back online. But that hasn't helped you, so I'll post my first email to her here, and then later try to remember my tips for her over the last week and post them.

Salad Bar Party for the Ladies

NO BACON BITS... NO AVOCADO... NO NUTS... NO CHEESE

The host supplies 1 bottle of FF salad dressing,
the lettuce base (NO ICEBURG please, or at least not much),
tomato chunks
diced red onion
1 hardboiled egg
(Yes, only 1 for all 4...slice and top each persons' salad individually).

Ideas for the lettuce base:
Romain, red leaf, bibb, spinach, arugula, radicchio, endive, red cabbage, etc. or buy a bag or 2 of mixed spring greens.

Each guest brings a bottle of FF dressing(a different kind each party, so everyone gets to try new ones each time...and yes you take home the one you bring unless someone wants to trade.)
+ 4 various salad ingredients.

For the guest ingredients, you'll have to co-ordinate so there are no duplicates. They can prepare them at home or it's more fun to bring whole and prepare around the table sipping Green Tea... not wine, (and someone I know has a new slicer-dicer perfect for this).

Each person builds their own salad and any leftovers get divided into doggie bags. So bring plenty of glad sandwich bags so you can put each leftover ingredient in 4 separate bags (if there are 4 of you). If you put all ingredients in just 4 doggie bags, it would get all limp and only last about a day...each ingredient in separate bags lets you build a nice fresh salad for days.

Variious Ideas:
Fresh:
cucumbers, shredded carrots, sl mushrooms,
bell peppers, green onions, thin sl radishes, asparagus
zuccini or summer squash, alfalfa sprouts,
diced apple, pears, raisins, dried cranberries, grapes (halved)

Canned:
Chick Peas,red, white or black beans,(be sure to drain & rinse well),
sl pickled beets, mandarin orange sections, baby corn,
hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, green or white asparagus,
dried sundried tomatoes (not from oil packed),
bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, roasted red bell peppers

Optional fruit salad part of the salad bar:
FF cottage cheese, FF yogurt, mandarin orange sections,
apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple

Try to have a variety of FF Dressings...FF Italian,
Kraft FF Ranch Peppercorn, FF Blue Cheese,
FF Thousand Island, FF Asian Ginger etc.
The choices out there now are almost unlimited.
This way you all get to taste 4 new kinds of dressing each month
to see what you like, but only have to buy 1 bottle.
OR
You can make your own FF French Dijon Dressing by using any
ordinary French dressing recipe and substituting the
oo (olive oil or oil) with a FF mayo/pepper juice & water mixture
for the of oil
i.e... 1/2 c oil would be...
1/4 c FF mayo,
1 T juice from jar of roasted red bell peppers
2 T water
whisked together. Chill

Love S

15 Bean Soup in a bag

Hi Folks,
Well my sister's kids and grand kids have all left her. Her knee is still swollen like a mellon, she's gained 4 lbs (mostly water I'm sure, as she tells me she's been really good on eating), and now her grand kids have done something to her computer so she can't get onto the internet.

So here's my last letter to her:

The dry packet of "15 Bean Soup" I sent you in the last dry box, makes a fantastic soup whether you follow their directions or not. I just soak the beans overnight, drain, rinse, cover with 6 cups of water, simmer 2 1/2 hr, then add the flavor packet for the next 1/2 hr of cooking...

When you add the flavor packet, you can also dump a big can of ch tomatoes, w juice, and 1 big onion, diced into the pot for the remaining 30 minutes and you have another great soup.

I know you hate to cook, but this is SOOOOO simple... just soak, drain, simmer, dump, chop an onion and the stove does all the rest. And it is SOOOOO good and good for you.

If your big store in PA doesn't carry it and you like it, I'll send a packet in each dry box shipment. You can add other things also: carrots or other veggies that are just about to go bad

Love S

Here's a good link: Veggie Venture

Veggie Venture has great veggie recipes. Watch out though...some are not low fat or low calorie, but if you have questions on how to make them diet friendly just ask me.

A Veggie Venture

S

3 rd Cooler of Meals

Well, your third cooler is on its' way. It should arrive April 17. I enclosed a list of dinners, but as usual, some things got left out and some things were added. So here's the real list. This is the last of the Thanksgiving dinners that are not packed individually. I have another set of 8 with each part of the meal in it's own container so it isn't all mushed together.
Love S

Answer for 4 Bites

Hi Salad Man,

Have you ever had a great dinner in front of you and can't wait to dig in? That first bite tastes fantastic, so does the 2nd and 3rd. But after the 4th bite, even though it is still great food, it doesn't have that satisfying impact of those first few bites. But you go ahead and finish anyway, because it is still soooo good, thus adding way too much fat and calories to your 'slip up'.

Well, the "4 Bite" diet is based on that premise. If you are trying to lose weight and you've been so good, it seems like forever, but you're just craving that certain food or snack that is NOT on your diet plan, there is a way to satisfy that craving without demolishing your diet.

First drink a large glass of water, tea, etc. Then just savor "4 Bites" of whatever it is that you've been dieing to eat...and STOP!!! Put the rest away or better yet, only prepare 4 bites so you won't be tempted to eat more.

A word of caution...a bite is a bite is a bite!!! Cramming your mouth over-full is not ok and defeats the purpose. Take normal bites, slowly, so you can enjoy each to the fullest .

Now, 4 bites will not fill you up. Always have something else ready to eat that is good for you, so you can fill up on it.

If you are going to take these "4 Bites" in a restaurant, be sure of 3 things: Order plenty of healthy food along with the item you are craving; Drink plenty of water or tea while waiting for the food to arrive. Go with a friend that will take the item away from you after your "4 Bites" and put it in a doggy bag. This way you'll have it for the next time you are craving it.

Oh what we go through to lose those unwanted pounds. But remember...it's well worth it if it improves our overall health.

Anyone ever heard of the tootpaste diet? Any time you get a craving, you brush your teeth. It seems, people don't want to eat right after brushing, (Maybe they know it won't taste as good because of the lingering 'tootpaste taste'). It seems like swishing with mouthwash...the really strong stuff...would do the same and be easier on the gums.

So glad we are finally getting comments and questions. Be sure to send this blog address to all those you know that might need help losing weight.'
http://www.sistersets.blogspot.com/


S

Sending Frozen Meals Answer

Hi Skinny Soon,

I learned a lot from the meals I sent in the first cooler. I won't bore you with what was wrong, but here's how I do it in case someone wants to do the same.

I only cook things 3/4 the way, so heating them up doesn't end up overcooking them.

I bought a ga-zillion glad ziploc sandwich bags. I freeze the meat separately (sometimes in broth except for things like meatloaf which would get mushy), veggies separately, almost always in broth, gravy in it's own bag with directions to simmer on stove, stiring well (frozen gravy doesn't nuke well). I always squeeze out the airbefore zipping shut and laying flat in the freezer.

Mashed potatoes don't freeze well (the texture comes out wierd on the other end) so she makes fresh FF mashed pots when they are the only starch that would go well with that particular dinner. I'll give the recipe again at the bottom of this post.

If pasta is the perfect starch for the meal, she makes whole wheat pasta that she buys at the big grocery store in the city 1 hour away.

I make big batches of brown & wild rice and freeze in individual bags after it has sat overnight in the fridge. This helps keep the rice separate so it doesn't mush together.

When frozen, I pack the 2 or 3 bags that make a complete meal in a plastic grocery store bag, write the meal name on the bag in big magic marker and store in freezer.

As you might already have figured out, casserole dishes turn out really well.

Once a month I pack 30 meal bags in a very thick styrofoam cooler (including a list of all 30 meals), tape it shut, shrink wrap it VERY well and ship it UPS 3 days. As she lives out in the boonies, it just does make it in the 3 days, and everything is rock solid when it arrives. The shipping is $140 because it goes from Florida to the West Coast.

All she has to do is thaw a meal completely, and prepare according to directions I have given her. She hates to cook, so this keeps her out of restaurants and fast food joints. Except for breakfasts. She takes care of our mom, and mom wants to eat out every morning. She eats oatmeal before she goes, so she only has dry toast and fruit (when she doesn't give into the great smells of others' breakfasts). She has promised me though, that after her knee heals, and she can start working out in her yard, she will stop the restaurant breakfasts and make them each a Liquada for breakfast (recipe at end of post).

Fat Free Mashed Potatoes
Peel potatoes and cube, boil 'til well done, drain, mash with s & p and just a little skim milk.

Liquadas (I call them liquid ahhhhs :~) )
Basically they are just fruit milkshakes
Blenderize a banana, frozen fruit, real vanilla extract, splenda or Stevia, and either skim milk or FF yogurt(plain or vanilla or matching fruit flavor) & OJ, depending on the fruit you are using.

Some Salad Recipes

While my sister is recuperating from knee surgery and doesn't feel like e-mailing me (she doesn't like the computer much anyway) I'll give you guys some salad recipes.


Bean Salad Recipe
1 c FF Italian Dressing-------------------------- ----------------------------1 t ea salt p pepper----------------------------------------------------------
1/2 c splenda or use stevia to tastse--------------------------------------
16 oz can ea french green beans, tiny peas, tiny corn, drained----------
1/4 c roasted red bell peppers, ch-------------------------------------------
1 c celery, ch---------------------------------------------------------------
1 ea red onion, gr pepper, ch------------------------------------------------

Combine all, chill overnight, drain. Save dressing in case you need to add or pass when serving.



Veggie Toss
The dressing is FF or you can substitute FF Ranch
10 baby carrots, halved lengthwise drop in boiling water 1 min---------
1 c asparagus, 2" pcs--------------add for 2 min----------------------------
1 c snap peas, snipped----add 1 final min or 'till all are tender crisp drain, chill-
1 cucumber, halved lengthwise, sl thin---toss w cooled veggies above
6 c mixed greens on 4 plates, top w tossed veggies----------------------
For Dressing, blenderize the following and drizzle over-------------------1/4 c lf buttermilk-------------------------------------------------------------
1/4 c FF mayo----------------------------------------------------------------2 t cider vinegar or more as needed----------------------------------------1 t Dijon mustard-------------------------------------------------------------S & P---------------------------------------------------------------------------2 T ea....chives, dill, optional---------------------------------------------- Even if you can't find buttermilk labeled low fat, regular buttermilk only has 2 g per cup, so it already is low fat.

Wow is it ever difficult to post recipes on this blog...spaces don't seem to register...you have to put in dashes in order to skip spaces and/or go to the next line.----------------

Marinated Salad1/2 c splenda or to taste combine well-------------
1 t celery seed----------------------------------------------------------------
1 c white vinegar-------------------------------------------------------------
1/4 c water-------------------------------------------------------------------1 t salt
1/2 t black pepper------------------------------------------------------------
2 c cucumbers, halved, thinly sliced-----------------------------------------
1 onion, sl into thin rings then quartered----------------------------------
2 c carrots, thinly sliced ----------------------------------------------------
1/2 c celery, diced ------------------------------------------------------------

Combine, chill several hours or overnight. Drain

Hi Skinny Soon

Love the name.
I fix her meals that are both low fat and low cal. She is a true pasta lover, but when she does eat carbs, I have finally gotten her to only eat whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, whole grain brown rice (I have to fix it and send it to her...SHE HATES TO COOK), no sugar (she uses splenda or stevia).

She can't exercise until her knee operation heals, that's why the weight loss is only 16 lbs in 12 weeks.

Her girls are out visiting this week, so I have only heard from her once so far. I'll send out some recipes in the next post, to fill in until they leave and she comes back on line.

Love S

To those who have just joined.

If you have just joined, please read the very first blog in the archives named "Explanation"
It will go a long way let you know what you might find here. Right now I am helping my sister lose weight, later, after she suceeds, who knows what we will talk about. Whatever you guys want, I guess.

If you are trying to lose weight or know someone who is, read all the archived letters starting with the one in February. (I went back and tried to group them to make it easier) and/or send this blog address to them. There will be tips, recipes, motivating responses, tricks to kick-start your metabolism.

And yes, I do remind her quite often how important it is to have a daily bm, but I haven't totally convinced her yet. At least she is trying. I just have to keep her focused on all the tips I've given.

To date the weight loss is 16.2 lbs. She has a long way to go, but is really determined.



http://www.sistersets.blogspot.com/

The more imput we have the more we can help. Feel Free to ask questions, as I will try my best to answer them (not in a comment, but in the main stream blogg so all can use the tips, answers or recipes.

And I have just corrected the mistake I made from the beginning when I set up the blogg, that didn't allow anyone to comment until now. Hope it works.

S

Comments available now

Well, I was wondering why I was not getting any comments or questions.
DUHHHHHH! I never set it up for comments. That's changed now, well
as of tomorrow anyway. Sorry folks. I hope I haven't made anyone mad.
S

Dinner Out...or In

%&$&# ! ! ! ### this morning. I'm so disgusted I could vomit ! ! !

For bkfst I had my usual. For lunch I had a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with mustard, lettuce & tomato. For dinner I had chinese with 3 friends. While they ate fried rice, battered shrimp and sweet/sour chicken I had white rice and 2 vegetable dishes. One had hoisin sauce in it but I don't think that has much fat. The other vegie dish was clearly steamed with a clear sauce. Maybe the vegies with hoisin was wok fried and had some fat. I had at least 10 waters.

I think I had a big bm yesterday but it must have been the day before which helped to account for the ### weight. I'm eating prunes 2-3 in the am and pm every day.

This am I've had 4 prunes and my tea. Mom and I will go to bkfst and I'll havae dry toast and orange. Going to PA today to get drop Mom at the "home" and I'll take loads of carrots, water and my 1/2 pbj sandwich.

I'll either have the other xmas bird or the leftover speghetti tonight.

My friends and I have decided to do this chinese thing every once in a while. The next time I'll have just white rice and the vegie dish that was steamed. I'll check with the restaurant about how it was prepared. Or do you have an alternative? I guess I could have brought your teraki ckn. Or made my own stuff so I could be sure of what was in it.

I just realized I did not eat throughout the day like I usually do. I was bush all day running around town and had a contractor walk around the houses with me to get an estimate for residing.

I felt like I was being so good last night to give up the fattening stuff.
I don't even what to talk about this today.
I'm just so so disappointed.
Love, B.


I don't know what to say except please hang in there. I know it is difficult and I know your are dissapointed. And no you don't have to take my teriyaki chicken out to dinner...I don't think they would appreciate that.
If anything your body thinks you are starving it and is hanging on for dear life to everything you give it. That's the reason for eating every 2 to 3 hr. I'll have to get you a watch that dings every hour...one ding and you drink water, next ding you eat, next ding you exercise...ooops I said the "e" word.
It's a good idea to ask how their food is prepared, especially if you plan to eat there with your friends again. The rice probably had butter in it and they will not change that because they probably make 20 servings all at one time. You could take a packet of my brown rice and a packet of wild rice (heated up at home) and just say you'd like steamed veggies. Then you add the hoisin sauce, or sweet & sour sauce or or soy sauce (all are ok in small quantities) The trick is to avoid the sesame oil & peanut oil which gives Chinese food it's distinctive flavor...1 T of either is 6 g of fat and none of their stir-fried veggies will come without it. And remember, white rice is not too good for you even if it was plain.

But here's an even better idea. I'll send you 4 chinese dinners next time and you can have them over for dinner (I will not pack it the same way as last time because the rice dried out. In fact, I have 4 Hawaiian Chicken dinners already frozen I can send in the next cooler. I'd much rather do that. I could do something like that each month and they'd get a free meal. All you'd have to do is heat the sauce and chicken (each packet has 1 breast & plenty of sauce), warm up the brown rice. You could even buy a bag of frozen chinese veggies (or broccoli) and toss it in a steamer basket for a side dish. A dinner fit for a King. This early in the game ( I know it seems like it's NOT EARLY AT ALL), it's not fair to you to make you watch & smell what your friends can eat and you can't. And I could do a different 'foursum' meal each month. I have 4 Thanksgiving dinners (packed correctly this time) frozen also...no mashed potatoes but with baked sweet potatoes with coconut cranberries.

Do any of them need or want to lose weight? If not, those that don't could order take out and bring it to your house. What time does ma go to bed? Or you could plan it while she is in the home. Let me know if you want me to send 4 Hawiian Chicken Dinners
I am sending you more Acai Berry and also Acai Berry Detox. I also take a little pill called 'Serinity' and it may help you with ma. I'm also sending you a handy little veggie slicer to make it easier for you to make salads. You could have a Salad Bar Party. I've got some great ideas for that.
Love S


Wow! ! ! Thank you so much for being so understanding and thoughtful about the meals. Yes ! ! ! But only send 2 Hawaaian Ckn dinners. We bought 2 dinners and 2 vegie plates last time and we had tons left over. All are as big or bigger than me and do need to lose weight. They didn't eat much but maybe it's because they didn't want to pig out in front of each other. I don't know. But 2 dinners would be great. What we do is take them out to another friend's house who is unable to walk because of an injury. We are doing this until she gets her leg well.

Actually tho it wasn't hard to watch them eat the fattening stuff. I wasn't that fond of what they were eating except for the fried rice. But I didn't even mind missing the fried rice. I was so determined to do good. But somehow I blew it.
Love B.


OK, only 2 bags.
I'll send 2 bags of Hawaiian Chicken (each bag contains a breast half in LOTS of sauce ) & I'll make Guilt Free Fried Rice and send enough of that for 4. But you'll still need to steam a bag of frozen Chinese or Oriental veggies (or they may be labeled stir-fry veggies) and a bunch of frozen broccoli or broccoli & cauliflower mix. You can toss a small can of sliced mushrooms into some soy sauce (has no fat) and dump them on top of the broccoli before steaming.

After steaming the oriental veggies, toss them while hot with 2 teaspoons (notice I spelled that out) of sesame oil. The flavor is VERY strong and 2 t is only 4 grams of fat for all of 4 people.

Have each lady bring a bottle of some type of oriental sauce or ingredient...i.e. duck sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce ( have them check the fat content), cans or bottles of tiny baby corn (it has no fat), sl water chestnuts (has no fat), bean sprouts ( has no fat), edammame (it has little fat) to serve on the side or toss in with the veggies or broccoli or GFG fried rice.

Other ideas:
You could steam up a box of snow peas...toss with 1 T of hoisin sauce and a T of sesame seeds

I love this tiny side salad: 1/2 c White or Rice Wine Vinegar & 1/2 c water, 1 t sesame oil, cucumbers, green onions, thin sliced radishes, cherry tomatoes(halved or quartered). Chill 2 hr.
Love S


I can't tell you how much I apreciate you. I forgot to tell you that my surgery is here in F. It's very simple but apparently painful for several days after.
B

YEEESSSSSS Water Works

I drank about 12 glasses water yesterday. ### this am. Yea ! ! ! that's a new low. Now I just need to hold on to that. I'm going out to bkfst w/a friend. I've already had mine. I'll just have coffee and orange slices.
Love B

Great. Whatever works Just so you keep a good attitude.
I know how difficult it is even with a good atatitude. I try sending you some good vibes.
Love S

Ya see??? 12 glasses of water (96 oz = 6 lb of water) helped you lose a whole pound
Now don't go overboard and drink 24 glasses tomorrow in hopes of losing 2 lbs. :~)
What's for dinner tonight?
Love S

Stress & toxins = Weight Gain

### this am. I'm disgusted. I question the scales. I did everything I was supposed to yesterday except shit. I eat about 5 prunes a day and did yesterday (some in am and some in pm) . I'm just not eating enough to go every day. The day before yesterday the bm was very small.
I even feel lighter.
Had 1015 cal and 15 g fat yesterday. Had 2 ff hotdogs last night.
Signing off now. I'm really disgusted ! ! ! ! !
Tree guy is coming by at 10
B


You had the perfect excuse to tell ma you couldn't go to breakfastbecause the tree man was coming at 10:30Is it her or you who wants to go to the restaurant every morning?
Love S


Truth is that bkfst is the best meal she eats all day and I don't want to cook a big bkfst for her. When she isn't here, I don't go out.

Back off a little. In order not to disappoint you or myself, I only ate one slice of fr toast and an orange. I've calmed down a little now but last night and this morning I was just soooooo mad. Not any special thing, I'm just mad at her all the time.
Part of my problem is my reaction to Mom. I'm still trying to please her. I realize now that that's the way I've always been with men. Doing anything to please them, then resenting the hell out of them because I give in - - even something as simple as getting out of the bathroom when they want in.

My learning experience continues but I don't know if my health can stand it. Was seriously considering giving up and putting her in a home. I spent some time out in the yard this am and that helped. My knee is keeping me from doing things I need to do for myself like working in yard, walking in woods, walking on beach and right now my life seems to center around Mom and I resent the hell out of that.
Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.
Love, B.
P.S. ### is good dammit. I'll break ### this week and stay below that figure.


So Sing Sing Sing (remember to dance with your arms flapping over your head like a monkey also)...that can be your upper body exercise :~)
Learn it so you can hum it in front of her

Remember the last time you got this mad you gained & lost 3 lbs in a matter of days.So SING SING SING and DRINK DRINK DRINK h20 of course :~)
Liquada
1 banana
frozen strawberries
vanilla
splenda or stevia
skim milk blenderize

Love S


OK. But this (the restaurant) is our schedule now until I can get out into the yard and play. I'll start the smoothies after my knee heals.
Today ### I did everything right yesterday except control my anger at Mom. I guess 1/2 lb is not too bad considering how mad I was at her.
I did sing your song and you're right it helped but my problem is that she is right here and I see her when I finish the song and get all angry all over again.
I'm going to try to look at this as a job for which I'm paid and she is a person named H - not my mother.
I'll have either the speghetti squash tonight or the other stuffed ckn bird. The steak was good by the way.
We're going to the restaurant now. I've already eaten so I'll have my dry toast and orange. > > Love, B.


Did you ever get into meditation???
Also I forgot to tell you, when you have those angry days, be extra sure to drink LOTS of water. Stress creates toxins in your system and lots of water helps get rid of them so they do less damage.
That sounds like that will work.
Be sure to take a lunch break and several (coffee x'd out replace w green tea breaks) or you might get in trouble with the union. And you can report all harassing behavior from her to me.
Love S

Is it the toxins that cause the weight gain?
B

It's the toxins your body reacts to. I don't exactly understand all of it.
How are you feeling?
Love S


I worked out in the yard yesterday and I'm feeling great ! ! ! ! Did more than I thought I could and more than I have before. About a week ago I did a little bit and my knee killed me. Yesterday, two guys planted 7 trees and a few small nandinas and ferns. I just had to direct and walk around a bit but that usually kills my knee.

I don't believe in this but a friend in Calif is "doing" Reiki for me every night and I swear it's working. It's some kind of holistic medicine thing which involves concentrating on me and my injury.

Got a busy day today. Breakfast w/mom and a friend at 10:00. Mom's permanent at 11:30 while I go shopping and a contractor at 1:00 to inspect my houses and tell me how much to fix some siding that's rotted. Then I'm going to work in the yard some more - just easy small stuff. Isn't it funny how we turned out? You love to cook like mom and I love to work in yard like Dad.
Love B.