Tag Archives: Weight Loss

November 30, 2025 · 12:50 am

Losing the Lard November Report

Sharp_Requirement803-Reddit

It’s the end of November, just after Thanksgiving with little time before Christmas, but I promised that I would report my progress each month on my efforts to lose the lard and get healthier.

The short report is that I have now lost 84 pounds – 29 of them since I moved to Thailand. There is about 77 inches less of me now. I think my goal is to lose around 6 more pounds. I want to see how I feel at that weight and then will make a decision as to whether to lose more or go to maintenance.

The thing that has helped the most since I moved to Thailand in April is that Brian and I eat two meals a day. Our heaviest meal is breakfast after working out at the gym. We treat ourselves to a chocolate drink or an iced coffee many afternoons a week. We eat pretty lightly at dinner. I’m not worrying so much about eating low carb these days. The food in Thailand is almost all full of carbs. Even if you’re trying to watch carbs it’s difficult. I’m controlling my portions. We order a meal that serves one. I eat 1/3 of that and Brian eats the rest. We may have a side of some fruit or a small portion of pistachio nuts with that.

I’m taking supplements to help my digestion. I let Chia Seeds sit in a full glass of water for at least 10 minutes in the morning and then drink it down. I take a tablespoon of olive oil. Before dinner I drink 1/3 of a bottle of probiotic liquid. Before bed I take a probiotic pill. This combination has been truly wonderful for me. This has solved digestion problems here, but it also has made me more regular than I have been in my entire life.

I’m exercising every day. I will never be an exercise enthusiast, but I realize how important it is to my health now. I walk a mile on the treadmill every morning, 7 days a week. I used to hold on to the bars on the treadmill for dear life because my sense of balance was impaired by my surgery in February. Now I can walk not holding on at all. I still have to correct at times, but basically am comfortable so that I can now increase my speed a bit as well as the incline percentage.

I do either yoga stretching or exercises for my arms with water bottles on alternate days for half an hour. I also do some daily balance exercises I found on the net, plus dance daily for several minutes to some really great music on my computer.

Problem areas:

  • My belly will be the last to go. I’m trying to include belly exercises, but I’m also reading that some of these may actually make my problem worse. Encouraging, right?
  • My sense of balance is controlled by my inner ear and my brain. My balance and hearing were both impacted by either the anesthesia or the fact that my heart stopped twice on Feb. 11th and had surgeries to install a temporary, then permanent, pacemaker. I am now wearing hearing aids. I’m adapting to wearing them, while re-training my brain and body is a slow process.

Otherwise, I’m feeling better. I have more energy. I’m feeling more sure on my feet. Brian says I’m stumbling less over the very uneven sidewalks and streets here now. My blood pressure has improved to the point I’m on half the dosage I started on back in April. I haven’t been sick in the 7 months I have been here. Soon, I hope, I can shop for jeans that fit and a few new tops.

Onward and downward – I hope!

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October 26, 2025 · 2:17 am

“Take Less of Me….”

“Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh”~ “All of Me” by John Legend

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This is a selfie taken just a few minutes ago. I’m going ahead and providing a progress report on my efforts to lose my lard for the end of October 2025.

This is my husband and me at “Lunch Bunch” at The Pizza Barn in Arkansas about a year and a half ago. At my heaviest (two years or more ago) I weighed 205.

As of today, I’ve lost 80 pounds and 85 inches. I still have about 10 lbs or so to go, but I can finally see the end goal and believe I can actually reach it.

I feel better now, since I’m finally in the normal, healthy range of the BMI chart for my height. I’ll make the final decision on where I want to maintain and concentrate more on fitness after I lose the next 10 lbs.

I don’t know if you can tell a difference or not. I can tell you I’ve had to alter the waist in my jeans 4 times now since I moved to Thailand in April. I will celebrate, getting two pairs of jeans that FIT when I reach my goal weight.

It’s funny. Although I’m pleased about the weight and inches loss, I’m wondering from time to time whether it’s better to have smooth skin filled out by fat or to be thinner with lots of excess skin and lots of wrinkles. I think of myself now as a Shar-Pei type of person…

Reddit

I will just concentrate on meeting my weight goal while continuing to exercise to increase my strength and stamina, plus regain my sense of balance since I lost it after being in the hospital in February. I’m walking a mile each day on the treadmill at the gym. I also do a session of yoga stretches one day and dance to really bouncy music with water bottles in my hands as weights with which I do exercises for my arms on the next day. My son, Brian, and I also try to walk to places that are close to the condo to get more exercise in.

It would be nice to meet my goal by the end of 2025. I’m not in any huge hurry. I’m trying to eat healthy things, enjoying trying Thai cuisine as well as eating “Western style” low carb meals. We’re eating breakfast and dinner each day, and I have an iced coffee mid afternoon. No snacks. I’m drinking lots and lots of water until I feel my eyeballs are floating. All this is working together to undo some of the damage I had before I moved here. I want to be healthy to be able to enjoy exploring this fascinating country!

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September 30, 2025 · 12:48 am

“Losing the Lard” Progress Report

Noemar – @noemardau.bsky.social

I absolutely LOVE this mug. No words are needed. One look and you react.

The progress report for September 2025 is encouraging, though slow, as usual. My “Losing the Lard” project started a couple of years ago. I have hit every snag, bump in the road, pothole, plateau and stagnation possible during that time. I have become a master of making excuses for what went wrong.

Dying twice February 11th in the hospital in Arkansas, having to have a temporary, then permanent pacemaker installed, then moving to Thailand and having a baseline assessment doctor totally concerned about my sky-high blood pressure – with orders to take a medication, lose weight and exercise – finally ended that. No more excuses. I needed to quit opening my mouth, start seriously moving my body, and embrace the fact that I have been given a second chance.

Since Thai food has LOTS and LOTS of carbs, my low-carb plan has been a challenge. “Western food” as it’s known here, is much more what I would like to eat, but it’s a lot more expensive. So I have changed to eating two meals daily – breakfast and dinner – with an iced coffee or chocolate in the afternoons, and sharing dinner with my son – with him eating 2/3 of whatever we get an me eating 1/3. We are eating chicken, pork, rarely beef, bacon, salad stuff, fruit, eggs, nuts, and some veggies. We are drinking mushroom tea with some beef bone broth mixed in each morning.

I moved to Thailand in April. Since the assessment by the doctor, I have lost 23 pounds. I am walking on the treadmill daily at the gym, doing yoga stretches, and dancing to music with water bottles for weights daily, plus regular walking.

PROGRESS TO DATE – I’ve lost 78 pounds total since my heaviest, and there are 74-3/4 inches less of me than at my heaviest. I’m undecided whether I want to lose 10 or 15 pounds at this point. I want to be in the middle of the ‘healthy weight’ section of the chart. I want to feel stronger, more flexible, and handle the uneven streets and sidewalks here in Thailand with more agility. I need to improve the balance issue I’ve had since being in the hospital. I’m working on that at the gym by not holding on to the handlebars of the treadmill, forcing my brain and my body to keep correcting to not fall on my head. It’s amazing to me how much more trouble I have staying balanced when the video on the screen in front of me is following a really curvy path and going in and out of dark places…

It’s good to be able to finally see reaching my goal in the relatively near future. Working toward my goal makes me feel that I am doing something good for myself.

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September 19, 2025 · 10:14 pm

Happy Milestone

Harvey is behind the couch. The fat lady on the right end of the couch is me in May of 2013, according to the date stamp.

This was taken about a year ago when we still lived in Arkansas. I had lost weight; but as you can see, I needed to close my mouth and move a LOT to get things more under control.

I don’t know if you can tell any difference here. It’s hard for me to take a selfie.

Here’s a view from the side.

And here I am, looking at you.

The milestone is that I’m under 130 pounds today for the first time in years. When I saw the scales, I measured twice to make sure, then decided to go ahead and do measurements for the month, since I won’t change that much in 10 days.

I’m down 73 pounds from my heaviest weight and there is 74-1/2 inches less of me now than at that time.

I’m still trying to watch my carbs, but we are limited here because of several factors –

  • Brian is trying to work full time plus take care of his dad in the nursing home plus take care of his mom. He likes ordering food and having it delivered rather than our cooking together or me cooking at his place.
  • Choices for delivery are limited as to how far away they are and whether they participate in Grab Delivery. Also, Thai food is not low carb. We can GET low carb, but it’s more expensive and usually the food here is spicy.

I have decided not to worry so much about how many carbs I’m eating, but limiting my meals and my portions. We eat breakfast and dinner. Sometimes I get an iced coffee mid-afternoon. We share our order for meals, with me eating 1/3 and Brian eating 2/3.

I’m walking at the gym most every morning. I’m concentrating on balance by not holding on to the bars of the treadmill, but the main thing is the moving every day. I’m doing long sessions of old lady yoga stretches, breathing into the stretches so I feel really loose by the end of my practice. I’m putting on headphones and bopping to dance music on my computer while holding a water bottle in each hand, doing exercises for my arms and back.

I am finally able to see a new beginning sometime soon where I stop the concentrating on losing weight and start concentrating maintenance and on getting more fit. I figure that 10 or 15 more pounds will get me where I will feel the healthiest.

I am having difficulty REALIZING that my weight is down, even though I just had to take in my jeans again. I want to wait and get jeans that FIT when I reach my final goal. I got some sweatshirts recently, and Brian had to insist I not get the one I had in my hand. I was used to having to go really large to cover my bulk. I went down two sizes and they are still quite roomy over another shirt!

I am trying to make the most of my second chance at life by listening to my body, trying to get as fit as I can, and showing discipline in my eating. 😜

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September 10, 2025 · 10:44 pm

This ‘n That – 8-11-2025

These are the newest sketches/paintings from my art alcove.

Brian and I will go out for errands soon and then I’ll probably have the afternoon to myself. I plan to do a combination of watching a favorite movie (!) and starting some sketches.

My weather app says, “Rainy conditions will continue all day.” Right now the sun is shining, so I’m taking a chance and my drying rack is out on my balcony. It won’t be the end of the world if it all gets rained on while we’re out.

I felt better today, so I went to the gym and walked my mile NOT touching the handlebars, concentrating on not losing my balance. My ARMS got a bit tired, so I kept changing up whether I swung them down at my sides, up by my waist, or up higher with my fingers closed. Worked pretty well.

I spent much of yesterday afternoon taking in my two pairs of jeans and two pairs of cut-off-exercise jeans. I’m trying to make these last until I get to the weight I want to maintain. THEN I’ll splurge and buy a couple of pairs of jeans that fit well, encouraging me to maintain my weight. The exercise cut-offs don’t matter as long as they stay on. 🤣

Oddly enough, on my list of things I would like to get when we can get to it is a couple of sweatshirts – one to wear, if needed, and one to be in the wash while I use the other. We often go places where we need to wait a long time and they keep the a/c on “KILL.” I get chilled, then downright uncomfortable. I’m taking a suggestion from Brian, who carries a sweatshirt in his carrier for these situations. My light hoodie and jean jacket just aren’t enough.

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September 9, 2025 · 1:50 am

Drama

Freepik

While Brian and I were walking yesterday, I suddenly felt woozy. I held onto a pole by the side of the street and slid down to sit on the curb. When I felt better, I stood up, and Brian insisted I stand for several minutes and breathe. Turns out he was right because I got woozy again and sat back down. After a minute or two I tried it again and suddenly Brian was telling me to sit down carefully. Apparently, he saw something wonky was going on and caught me as I fainted! I wasn’t hurt and was able to continue the walk after another minute or two.

When we got over the immediate emergency of my husband’s stroke, hospital stay, and placement in the nursing home, we made an appointment for me to get a baseline on my health. It showed SUPER high blood pressure, to the point that the doctor prescribed a combination drug on the spot and got me right on it. Happily, it did the trick and my numbers have come down out of the stroke range.

Lately though, my numbers have been a bit TOO low, getting our attention. With this episode, Brian has written the doctor and included the name and dosage of my medication, plus a screen shot of my last several days of BP readings for her to look at. With my 20 lb weight loss and my daily exercising, it’s possible that we need to lessen the dose. Meanwhile, I didn’t take the med yesterday and only took a half pill today. We’re waiting to see what she advises.

Also, meanwhile, my friend Cathy suggested I get an oximeter to read and monitor the level of oxygen in my blood – also a good suggestion, since low blood oxygen was the reason the doctor in Arkansas insisted I go to the ER the day I saw him. This resulted in my ‘dying’ twice in one night and the installation of a temporary and then permanent pacemaker. Brian has just ordered an oximeter for me so I can keep track of that for the doc, too.

So, a bit of drama on the street, getting our attention. I’m fine today, not feeling woozy at all, BP in the normal range. Hopefully, this is a one-time incident.

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September 6, 2025 · 9:23 pm

Baby Steps

Flo

Pet Control HQ

I am finally walking on the treadmill with my hands swinging as I walk rather than holding onto the handlebars tightly for fear of losing my balance. I wasn’t at all sure that my brain and body could be retrained after the anesthesia from my surgery in February caused both hearing loss and loss of balance. Now I have hearing aids (!) and I am having success on regaining my sense of balance. I’m still walking slowly and really having to concentrate, but I am improving each day. 👍

Reddit

I’m making progress in my efforts for there to be less of me. Since I moved to Thailand and saw a doctor here in April for a baseline, I’ve lost 9.8 kilos or 21.6 pounds. All told, I’ve now lost 34.48 kilos or a bit over 76 pounds since my heaviest. There are 68 fewer inches of me. I can finally see a possible goal weight. I am now in the healthy weight range on the BMI charts for the first time since I started my efforts about two years ago.

Pixnio

Since I’ve been building my strength, can now hear with hearing aids, am improving my balance and mentally pushing myself a bit, I’ve started small ventures out on my own. Today I’ll take a walk to visit the Koi fish!

Baby steps to be sure, but progress!

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June 28, 2025 · 9:31 pm

“Take Less of Me…”

Willie Nelson – “Take All of Me…” – Wikipedia

“All of me
Why not take all of me?”

I love this song by Willie Nelson. I immediately started humming it when I was weighing and measuring for my end of the month reporting on my efforts to lose the lard – except I sang, “Less of me – Why not take less of me?”

I’m finally entering a phase where I can actually see what might be the end of my efforts to LOSE and the beginning of maintenance. I’ve been at this a LONG time and I had honestly begun to doubt my ability to actually achieve my goal.

As of today, I’ve lost almost 67 pounds and 60 inches since my heaviest. Even though Lynn, my much appreciated and much missed massage therapist did what she could to make me taller, it didn’t work. So I’ve continued to eat low carb and exercise more. I’m now finally within sight of my goal to be in the middle to lower end of the healthy range on a BMI chart and to continue my efforts to get more fit and flexible.

I talked to Brian this morning at breakfast. He has been helping and supporting me, but has lately been getting further and further from strict low carb, trying to introduce me to nice food here, plus just pamper me. We have agreed to be stricter about the low carb, and that instead of each of us getting half of whatever we order, I’ll get one-third and he’ll get two-thirds. I would LIKE to get to my goal weight by my next visit to the doctor – in about two months. Brian and I have agreed that I’ll aim to lose 1 kilo a week (or 2.2 pounds.)

I’m walking a mile on the treadmill at the gym each morning and I’m doing yoga stretches (now in the afternoon) as well as 3 new exercises to strengthen my back.

I hope there will be ‘less of me’ at the end of July!

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May 30, 2025 · 9:32 pm

A Bit of Progress 5-31-2025

Time

Since today is the end of May here in Chiang Mai, I’m doing my official accounting of my efforts to lose the lard.

I have a new set of digital scales from the one I had in the states, so I’m not sure of the accuracy, but I think weight is a relative thing, and that ALL signs of downward results should be celebrated loudly, with great enthusiasm. 🤣

I am now down 62 pounds from my heaviest, and have lost 51.75 inches.

We went to a clinic here a couple of weeks ago to get a baseline on me since our move to Thailand. It was showing a fairly alarming blood pressure and lesser concerning reading of high cholesterol, relatively speaking. I started a combination of two blood pressure meds, taking one-half pill for 6 days and then switching to a whole pill daily until I see her again on June 23rd. She advised me to lose the lard (imagine that!) eat low carb (we’re already doing that) and exercising (I’m walking the mile on the treadmill every morning, walking to places close to our building during the day, and doing yoga stretches at night). The scale is showing I’m down almost 4 pounds since the initial appointment, and I’m hoping to have a good amount down by the time I see her again, plus better blood pressure and improved numbers otherwise.

I go to a 2nd main place for hearing aids this morning. We found a good candidate at another place awhile back, but wanted to see what this second place offered before we make a decision.

In each place, I am asking that I go outside wearing the pair I think is the best so I can hear how they perform with lots of background noise. We will study, read a lot of reviews, and then decide what seems best to do.

I still find it amazing that I could hear normally before I was admitted to the hospital for my low blood oxygen, ending up with heart failure and a pacemaker, plus a significant loss of hearing when I was released. No one can find anything physically wrong, and I’m very grateful that hearing aids may help.

Onward and downward, I hope, becoming healthier as the days pass.

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May 22, 2025 · 5:50 am

Lovely Flowering Trees in Chiang Mai

There is one of these – a Red Frangipangi – though the one we see beside the gym is actually white with a yellow center. It’s simply gorgeous. Even the spent flowers on the ground are pretty, and I try not to step on them.

This is called a Cannonball tree. So far, it’s only dropping gorgeous orange petals, but supposedly it grows large fruit that it can drop on your head as you walk under. (Just what I’d need, walking to the gym to try to get healthier….) 😜

Speaking of trying to get healthier, I had an appointment at a local clinic today to be assessed for how I am since the move from the states March 31st. We wanted to see where I am on blood pressure, blood sugar, thyroid, and pacemaker, see what their recommendations were, and then plan to follow up every 3 months.

We’ll get the results of the lab work via my email. Blood pressure was really high, so I am on a new combination medication that is supposed to bring that down. I’m starting today with half a pill, then going to a full pill after 6 days, taking that until my followup appointment in one month. I’m supposed to take and record my blood pressure twice a day from tonight until my next appointment.

Hopefully that will show a big improvement. I’m already doing the low carb diet, though we have been splurging too much. We’ll reign in that and be stricter on our adherence to that. We’re already exercising, with my walking a mile every morning on the treadmill, doing yoga stretches in the afternoon or evening, and walking doing errands in-between. Hopefully, losing some of my lard will be the result of this, as well.

We’ll take whatever recommendations they have after looking at my bloodwork. Hopefully, all this will result in a good improvement in a month’s time, so I’m glad we got to the clinic, found a problem and are working to improve it, and have a baseline now from which we hope to show good improvement, moving to once every 3 month appointments, once they find the medications and dosages are good.

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April 17, 2025 · 7:43 pm

Day 11 in Hospital

Today we have an appointment at the local visa place. We’ll then go to the bank, and then to the hospital.

We will talk about low carb with the therapist who feeds Harvey, plus the head nurse and the doctors who come to the room. It makes no sense to US to give him daily shots in the stomach to try to bring down his high blood sugar while feeding him a high carb diet both in the therapy feedings and the nutrient bags he’s still getting via the feeding tube.

We have seen the delirious behavior before in the states when he was drinking a bunch of chocolate milk and eating potato chips. This behavior wasn’t repeated at ALL once he agreed to quit cheating and we went to a strict low carb diet. Right after breakfast yesterday, he was out of it. He didn’t know we were there yesterday. He didn’t react to commands.

We have lots of details to handle outside the hospital and inside. We will try to do as much as possible on each of the areas.

Otherwise, the water festival is a thing of the past for another year. Workers were taking down the scaffolding used to protect the front of the huge mall Maya during the festival. I have truly never seen that many people in one place before. The Grabs are no longer having to detour around the area as much as possible to get people where they are going. There were still a huge number of people walking around, but that is the norm in Chiang Mai. I find it fascinating to see everyone, see what the people are wearing, where they are congregating, watch in amazement as the Grabs dart through the lanes of traffic as the motor scooters and motorbikes dart in and out, everyone seeming to know how to navigate, when they need to stay in there lane and when it’s okay to dart out. Only the motor scooters dart in and out. All others are very calm, taking every opportunity to change lanes when needed, but remarkably competent in getting where they are going.

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December 12, 2024 · 8:31 am

Thursday Thoughts 12-12-2024

Poshmark

I WANT this doggie.

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Pinterest – (Sorry I can’t read the signature. )

My day is starting off pretty nicely. My scales weren’t smirking at me quite so badly this morning, and it was satisfying to break into ‘new territory’ on the numbers. It gives me new motivation to lose the lard and move what is left. :0)

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The Home Depot

It’s 27 degrees F. right now, but it’s supposed to get up in the high 50s or low 60s this afternoon. Woo HOO! I’ll plan on using the opportunity to blow the leaves away from the front porch (buried now) and the sidewalks front and back.

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Inspira Health Network

It’s a good thing you can’t actually see or hear me right now. I’ve sneezed 47 times (more or less) in a row. And, at a certain point, I started saying bad words in between sneezes. I’ve gone through a bunch of kleenex (I should have bought stock in the company). I don’t have ‘allergies’ as such, but occasionally I’ll have a bout like this. It lasts so long and I sneeze so hard, my poor stomach muscles are sore for a day or so afterwards…

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My husband liked a new recipe so much lately that he asked if I would make it again. So right after lunch I’m going to put some chicken in the crock pot. The recipe is called, “Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon & Cheese (low carb & keto). It’s from Kasey Trenum.com. I’m going to make twice as much as I did the first time so we have some good leftovers.

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Bablands

I started a new piece in my art room yesterday. It will be challenging. I’m going to try to wood burn a “parrot in a jungle.” I have no idea how it will turn out, but I’ve been dreaming about it for several days now. I got the basic layout done yesterday and hope to get upstairs to work on it more today. :0)

Have a wonderful day.

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December 6, 2024 · 10:09 am

Character-Building Exercises

Indian Hills Signs – Vince, the Sign Guy

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I whine from time to time that my efforts to lose the lard and get stronger are frustrated.

I’m into a routine now.

I’m eating low carb and monitoring what I’m eating and drinking on MyFitnessPal.com. This is a wonderful site with a free part that allows you to (1) set your goals (2) plan what you’re going to eat and drink ahead of time BEFORE you mess up, and (3) chart your progress with exercising, measurements and weight logs.

Womens Health

In-between posts on the blog to you, I’m doing short sessions of exercises with 3-pound weights, several reps of lots of different moves – some to the beat of music videos of ladies doing ‘drumming exercises’- and then I go back and write another post. This takes the ‘curse’ off of things for me. I have the weights on my computer counter right next to me, so it’s easy to stop, do a session, and then get back to what I was doing. I end up doing 4 to 5 sessions daily.

The Indian Express

I try to get in a session of “old-lady-yoga-stretches” – 30 to 45 minutes – every afternoon. I do NOT fold myself up into a paper airplane shape and sail across the room. I’m concentrating on relaxing, stretching my poor, aching body as far as I can into each position and breathing into it. I’m making progress because I’m stretching farther and able to relax into it better than I could when I started. I’m getting more flexible, looser, and my balance is improving. I can relax – unless Monster Cat decides to jump onto my feet and bite them.

Getty Images – Health

If the weather permits, I try to take at least a couple of walks around our yard daily. At one point, I decided I would walk down and get our mail every day. Doesn’t sound like much, does it.

Well, we live on top of a ridge line in Arkansas. Our driveway is 650+ feet from the house down to the road that runs in front of our property. It is graveled and STEEP. I tried to do this, but almost fell on my head several times trying to walk down, and then, even stopping several times to bend over and try to catch my breath, it felt like Mt. Everest to this old lady. Once was enough.

Now I walk out to our shop, around it, past our old veggie garden area, back to the house, around it, and do the round again. If the weather is nice, I put my gardening gloves on and carry my pruning shears so I can stop and cut something down while I’m out. (The woods are continually trying to recapture the land we took when we built our home 37 years ago now.)

Deviant Art

Finally, just for giggles, my husband helped me get our old Wii Fit to work again after several years. I stopped using it years ago due to my general laziness and it’s predilection for snark when I got on to measure my weight and when I tried to do the activities. I’m ignoring that and talking back to it now. :0)

I whine because even with watching what I eat like a hawk and pushing myself to move the lard daily, I’m having trouble meeting my current interim goal. I just bobble with 2 to 3 pounds over and over rather than actually meeting my goal and being able to set a new one. It’s aggravating, to say the least.

I guess it’s also character-building, because I AM sticking to my eating and exercise plan and I WILL – EVENTUALLY – reach this interim goal of 45 pounds off from my heaviest. Right now the result is 44 pounds down and almost 44 inches less. I. AM. DETERMINED.

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November 20, 2024 · 10:05 am

Wednesday 11-20-2024

americasbestpics.com

Other than not “waking up rich,” I’m doing pretty well this morning.

THE DAY’S PROJECTS –

THING ONE – I’m going to move warm weather clothes and shoes OUT of my closet upstairs and move cold weather clothes and shoes IN. This is a bit more work than it sounds. Because I’m finally being moderately successful in losing my lard, I have several sizes of clothes. I’ll need to gather warm weather clothes that are now too large for me to wear to give to the Veterans Thrift Store the next time we go. I’ll need to try on old cold weather clothes to see what is wearable and what isn’t.

THING TWO – I cook in batches, trying to be sure there is enough for at least two meals for my husband and me, and more, if possible. This results in a lot of storage and labeling of lots of individual meals in the freezer for us. My collection of plastic containers is stained with tomato-y stains. I’ve done everything, including sand blasting (just kidding) to get the stains out, but to no avail. Some of the tops are splitting. I finally ordered two groups of containers – one round, one square with lids that MAY arrive today. If they do, I’ll do a reorganization of at least two large pull-out drawers in my kitchen. Having new, unstained containers may not seem like a big thing to YOU, but it’ll be a real gift to me. Out with the old – in with the new! :0)

EXERCISING AND LOSING THE LARD –

India Times

I’m definitely starting to feel stronger and looser with my exercises. I’m using weights to gain upper body strength. I stop between blog posts, between emails, etc., to do a set of exercises with the 3-pound weights, and then go back to what I was doing. The fact that I don’t have to designate a time to do these results in SEVERAL sessions each day with the weights – some with videos with music – so I can bop along with ladies doing other stuff – all of us keeping time with the beat.

In the afternoon I do a good half hour of old lady stretches with yoga. I’m able to stretch farther and hold the poses longer than before. I still can’t fold myself into a paper airplane, like real yoga people do, but it’s good for an old lady like me. It’s making me more flexible, eases any pain I have, and having a strong core will keep me able to do what I would like for as long as possible.

Finally, when Mother Nature is smiling on us, I walk out to our shop and then around the yard, usually with a pruner and gloves so I can snip things as I go. I’m still on baby steps on walking, since walking a bunch tends to make my hips hurt until I sit a second, but I’m improving. My ‘kind-of-smart’ watch keeps track of steps and reminds me it’s time to exercise or drink another glass of water. Did I tell you my eyeballs are floating by the end of the day?

NEW FIND – I found a new social media site two days ago. It’s called “Blue Sky.” So far, I’ve found some interesting people. I’m reading a lot, following the people who interest me, chatting with some. It’s fun. You might like it, too.

LINDA’S CRAFTINESS – Hand-wood-burned and painted one-of-a-kind wood slice Christmas ornament. I will personalize it for you with the year and a name on the back to create a cherished keepsake at no extra charge. $14.00 with Free Shipping. See this and other Christmas offerings on HandmadeHavenbyLinda on Etsy.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

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October 15, 2024 · 10:20 am

Tuesday 10-15-2024

Ayse Cakan-Pinterest

Good morning! I’m having a slow start getting to my blog this morning. I had a note on the chat program from our son, asking me to open a PDF file. It’s from the IRS, saying he owes them money. Since our son lives across the world from us, I wrote the check, signed the form and will mail everything later today or tomorrow. Our son pays us back right away, so it isn’t a big problem.

I started a new account on Facebook two days ago because I wanted to read a new blog there. Someone hacked my account years ago and Facebook wouldn’t help me, so I closed my account. I started looking at things there, joined a few local groups, tried to find some of my old friends, commented on a few posts, etc.

I received a notice in my email later from Facebook saying my account was suspended because I hadn’t followed their rules. They didn’t point to anything, so I have no clue. I appealed the decision, saying if they would let me know what I had done, I would make every effort not to repeat it. I haven’t heard anything since, and I’m still suspended, so you MAY be reading the words of a ‘terrorist,’ though, from what I’ve read elsewhere, Facebook allows THAT…

Montgomery Child Care Association

We don’t have anything scheduled today. I’m hoping that things will be quiet around here. I’m working on a couple of signs in my art room, have ideas for two more, and am getting supplies gathered to try to paint some new stationery and/or note cards.

Freepik

I’ve been trying to walk more, to add to my weights videos and my yoga stretching. I ordered a competitor of the Fitbit watch. I don’t need the brand name and all I really want is for it to track my steps so that I can keep track and try to increase it each time. I should get it Thursday, I think.

Source Unknown

I’m on a bit of a plateau on my efforts to lose the lard since I started the protein shakes. I’m tweaking what I’m eating otherwise. I’ve read that eating too much protein can knock you out of ketosis, but I’ll keep doing this until my body has a chance to settle. It’s important that I increase the protein, so the tweaking and increasing movement will continue, hoping for the best.

The weather here has gotten so much cooler in the mornings and nights that not only have we turned off the a/c, but we wait to open the doors until closer to lunch time. What a welcome difference! Monster Cat is a bit ticked because she likes going out on the back porch. In the early evenings there are some bunnies running around and she fantasizes about catching them and eating them. Amber enjoys lying on the tiles right in the doorway to catch the nice breezes.

Our terrific tree guy wasn’t able to take the stray pup who has been visiting us. I didn’t see the pup yesterday, though, so I’m hopeful he’s moved on.

Hope your Tuesday is a fun one.

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October 13, 2024 · 9:23 am

Sunday 10-13-2024

Carol Larson-Pinterest

Today is supposed to be the last day of unusual heat for October. We’re due for a cold front tonight with much cooler temps tomorrow. HOOORAAAAY!

Meanwhile, we hired a wonderful tree guy who worked in the heat all day yesterday and will do it again today, trying to cut back trees or branches that look like they’ll dump into our driveway at the next severe weather or the coming snow and ice storms this winter.

We’ve maintained this ourselves for the almost 37 years we’ve been here, but we’re both too long in the tooth for chain-sawing and hauling branches to the side and dumping them off the edge of the driveway anymore.

He’s actually climbing the trees, lopping out the parts of them that cut off sunlight to the driveway, so we’ll have better melting of snow and ice.

He’s also going to clear out a bunch of the weed trees that are impeding our view across the back yard. He said that if he doesn’t finish today, he’ll be here after he finishes his regular work tomorrow. He is a really nice guy and takes what he’s doing seriously. We’re lucky to have found him. (As usual, the guy we found before him doesn’t have a working phone anymore.)

I finished these in the last couple of days and listed them in my Etsy shop.

I’ve started a couple more. My husband has been calmer and has been working on computer stuff, rather than what could be dangerous projects, so I’ve had more time to relax and play in my art room. It’s really great and I THINK that, plus music and reading are keeping me sane. :0)

I’ve tweaked my program for my health by

  • increasing my protein (I’m drinking a Premier Chocolate Protein Shake daily, plus eating some cottage cheese during the day),
  • taking the new med that is supposed to protect my kidney function, plus
  • continuing to increase drinking water daily and
  • losing more weight, plus
  • doing my weights videos and yoga stretching.

I’m having to really tweak my eating and drinking log on MyFitnessPal.com. I’ve decided to ignore the protein part of my macro since my doctor wants me to increase it, but I’m trying to watch everything else. I dropped some things I’ve been eating, substituted things, and moved other things around, but I was able to come up with a good combination for today. I love this website and would be lost without it.

I hope you’re doing well and having a fun weekend.

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October 5, 2024 · 8:34 am

Saturday 10-5-2024

horseshoe critters-Pinterest

I hope you’re having a nice day.

Ours should be quiet – always a good thing around here. We have no errands, other than driving down to get the mail at some point. Our weather is nice, and is supposed to be getting nicer on Monday, with cooler temperatures and no rain.

I had an extremely pleasant chat with our son yesterday. We use a site called, “Slack.” It’s wonderful that I can pretend he’s close, even though he’s across the world from us. It’s such a luxury to be able to leave pics and messages and know that he’ll see and respond very quickly. Yesterday we ‘typed’ to each other in real time, so we got to catch up on several things.

Indian Hills Signs – Vince, the Sign Guy

Happily, I lost a bit more of my lard this morning. I’m now down 42.4 pounds from my heaviest. I’ve found a combination that is working for me, resulting in slow, steady loss. I’m getting used to not snacking (I was particularly bad after dinner) and am drinking a glass of water if my stomach thinks my throat has been cut. I still have to push myself to exercise, but I actually feel better if I do…

Play Street Museum

I’m playing almost daily in my art room and feeling much happier as a result. I can concentrate on my latest project, getting lost in trying to create something. That makes me sleep a bit better, so it’s a win/win.

Freepik

Getting old is the pits, but it helps when you stay busy, doing things that make you smile. I’m lucky to have lots of hobbies. Before I know it, another day has whizzed past my head. :0)

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October 1, 2024 · 9:17 am

Celebration!

Calvary Baptist Church of North Lenoir County

Yes, I’m definitely in celebration mode this morning, “tooting my own horn”, dancing around the room, grinning from ear to ear, dancing with the animals, dancing with my husband (who was very encouraging). I FINALLY REACHED THE 40-POUNDS OFF INTERIM GOAL!!!!!

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WOO HOOOOOO! I’ve been trying to get to this goal for so long that I actually weighed myself several times before I really believed it. :0)

I hauled out my really old NutriSystem weight loss bears so that I could document the GREEN 40-pounds-off bear. (He has “40” embroidered on his chest.) I’ve lost track of how long ago it was that I earned him. The minute I quit eating the prepared NutriSystem meals, though, I began gaining it back. It just wasn’t sustainable for me.

Now I’m eating low carb, plus trying to cut down on salt, plus trying to drink more water, plus trying to exercise on a daily basis. This is something I can stick with and control, tweaking when necessary, reassessing goals as I go.

I’m a little past halfway now, I think to my ultimate goal- again assessing as I go. The overall plan now is to lose another 30 pounds or so and improving my blood work. I have now set my next 5-pound interim goal.

I will set my sights on the next NutriSystem Bear (50-pounds-off) when I reach the next goal.

Onward and Downward!

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August 23, 2024 · 9:53 am

Friday 8-23-2024

Gregorio Catarino – @gregcatarino1 on X

I absolutely LOVE this piece by Gregorio Catarino. It makes me happy and hopeful just to look at it.

Speaking of ‘happy’ and ‘hopeful,’ we talked to our son across the world last night on our conference call program. It was wonderful to see his FACE and be able to talk to him real time. There are 12 hours between us, half the year more with Daylight Savings Time, so we aren’t all functional at the same time on a regular basis. I’m STILL smiling and my heart is full after making him smile, and even laugh at one point. :0) He’s such a wonderful guy and I’m delighted that he is healthy and happy, doing what he wants to do. I’m also grateful that we’re close, that we communicate on a regular basis. It means the world to me.

3 and one/half bears

After at least a couple of weeks of yo-yo-ing results on the scales, I’ve FINALLY reached an interim goal of 35 pounds down from my worst this morning. (Actually, 36.4 pounds less of me today). I feel newly encouraged that I CAN do this if I just keep on keepin’ on. Next goal: 40 lbs off.

Amazon
Amazon

I ordered more blank wooden signs and pegs to attach to them yesterday. I’m researching some decorations to burn into them. Meanwhile, I’ll continue cleaning up one area each day up in my art room.

My husband checks to find the mug I gave him to use each morning. If it’s in the dishwasher, waiting to be washed, he pulls it out, rinses it, and uses it. I think he LIKES it. :0)

Happy Friday!

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April 11, 2024 · 8:55 am

Thursday Thoughts 4-11-2024

Phil Sledge – @Phil_Sledge on X

This photo makes me happy just looking at it. Just LOVE the happiness of this dog who loves his companion.

The sun came out and it’s supposed to be windy and 69 degrees F. this afternoon. I’ll take it! We have had a lot of rain the past two days. I’m not sure if I can walk in our yard without getting sucked down into the mire, but I’ll try it later to check on my veggie planters.

Pond5

I made it to a 5-pound increment on my efforts to lose the lard this morning! I have a long way to go, but setting and making it to interim goals helps me keep my focus. I now am down 25 pounds since my heaviest.

In another 5 pounds, I can show the whole blue bear.

I hope your Thursday is wonderful.

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February 7, 2024 · 9:16 am

Wednesday 2-7-2024

pexels-prasanthdas-ds

Today is a big day for us. I’m taking my husband for his first haircut in several weeks. Since he usually gets one every third week, he is really feeling ready to feel a bit more in control again. He continues to heal well, though his black and yellow bruising from his left shoulder down almost to his waist is still quite impressive. He is in MUCH less pain and is getting around by himself now.

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pexels-IngeWallumrod

Yesterday afternoon I did my yoga practice for the first time in quite awhile. Even though I was really stiff and sore, it felt good. Now that my husband is more steady, I’ll try to do this every day. It was fun to put a sparkly silver star on my desk calendar yesterday. :0)

istockphoto-Leslie Lauren-Leslie Achtymichuk

I’m down 18 pounds from my worst now. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to concentrate on getting MYSELF under better control now that our crisis has passed. With our weather being super nice in the afternoons, maybe I can take advantage of the unusual February weather and start walking around in our yard, as well as the yoga stretching.

I hope you’re doing well today.

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October 24, 2023 · 9:23 am

Exercise

Deborah Ann – Pinterest

I was SURE I was going to impress my scales this morning with another pound down, but NOOOOOOOO. I held at 13 off. Bah. Humbug. Since I’m being a ‘good girl,’ exercising, drinking water, watching what I’m eating, etc., I’m hopeful that SOON I’ll see some more progress.

0.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com

The rest of the week is supposed to be rainy here. We can use it. It started overnight, with light rain when my husband took Amber out for her last outing of the day. It’s not actually raining now, but is very overcast. I’ll take whatever we can get.

Since it’s rainy today, I’m going to try to get my office under control – paying bills, bookkeeping, filing, etc. (I know – ‘Be still, my heart.’ :0) )

Maybe I’ll get up to my art room.

I hope that YOU are having a fine day – calm if you need it, fun if you don’t.

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October 19, 2023 · 10:01 am

Better than Yesterday

taolife.com

As of this morning, I’m down 13.2 pounds. No parades, bands playing, confetti, or celebration, just a small smile that my efforts are paying off a bit.

shutterstock_News Medical

Both my dog and cat – but not my husband – came in to see what was going on with me just now. I’ve spent the last 20 minutes or so sneezing, over and over, saying some bad words – to be honest – as I sneeze AGAIN and have to blow my hose AGAIN. To my knowledge, I’m not allergic to anything. So what’s the DEAL? I just researched a bit, and the culprits may be tree pollen, grass, mold, and ragweed. Since we live on top of a ridge line surrounded by all of these, I don’t see a quick solution – although, since I started griping about my sneezing, it has stopped – just as suddenly as it started… (Almost sounds like something out of the old Twilight Zone TV series…)

I’ve been finding a lot of wonderful things to share with you from “X” (the former Twitter) lately. I’m finding artists, photographers, and funny and/or lovely people to follow. Some people consider ‘social media’ time-wasters. I’m only on X, and I am finding it a wonderful source of interesting people. Of course, each time I’m on, I find some of the opposite, too, so it’s a constant process of following, or UN-following people in order to find the ones who bring me joy. I’m enjoying it. :0)

Have a great Thursday!

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June 4, 2023 · 9:20 am

Foggy, Wet Sunday

Federico Bottos – Unsplash

It was a surprise to wake up with thick fog this morning. I looked out our bathroom window and almost couldn’t see ANYTHING! It’s clearing up fast now, but it was surreal.

We had quite a bit of rain yesterday afternoon, starting about 2:30 and raining off and on almost until we went to bed around midnight. It’s so wet I’ll wait to decide if I’ll try to finish weeding my garden today or not.

We’re going to go replenish supplies at some point, but that’s the only ‘plan’ we have for the day.

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“I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that’s where the little liar will stay until it apologizes.” ~ sent to me by my friend, Marsha.

iStock

I’m beginning to see a pattern that if MyFitnessPal.com says, “You’re not eating enough” I MIGHT actually be down a bit on the scale the next morning. I had made the calorie calculator happy the day before yesterday and gained half a pound. This is NOT what I’m trying to do, so carefully went a bit under that yesterday and got the half pound back off. I’ll keep playing with it. I know I’m eating healthy, and have lost 7 lbs so far. What I MAY be figuring out is that since I’m not as active as I used to be, the 1200 calories per day may be too much. I’ll research it.

The big push lately is to increase our fiber without increasing our sugar overmuch. My husband is a Type II diabetic, although he denies this, saying ‘he has a sugar problem.’ Anyway, I researched and found a list of some fiber-rich foods that I know he likes that we can add to our routine. We’ll just have to be careful with monitoring his sugar readings.

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Happy Sunday!

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May 6, 2023 · 9:56 am

Yo Yo

Pinterest

I was doing well on my ‘no-eating-between-meals‘, ‘no-extra-salt,’ plus ‘yoga-every-afternoon‘, but had a bad day yesterday. I felt like I was starving to death. I fell off and gained back two of the five I lost. UGH.

Today is a new day, though, so I’ll give myself a break and do better today. I’ve never been a runner, and these days my hips start yelling at me if I walk a lot, so I’ve been redoubling my efforts to practice my yoga each afternoon, doing lots of slow, careful stretches, breathing into each pose, relaxing as much as I can. This, combined with working in the yard, should make a reasonable amount of exercise.

Motivation Monday – Pinterest

Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, my scales will stop laughing so loudly.

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February 18, 2023 · 9:19 am

Saturday Morning 2-18-2023

Elephant News

I’ve lost almost 3-1/2 pounds this week. I have found that the ‘big test’ on whether I’m actually hungry or not is when I will eat raw carrots. I like carrots just fine, but I NEVER crave them. The fact that the scales are noticing my efforts is encouraging. So far this week each morning I weigh a bit less. I know this won’t happen every morning, but it’s nice to know it MIGHT. ONE DAY AT A TIME…

I don’t know how long my husband was on Microsoft Chat, but he was still going when I went to bed at 1am this morning. I’m trying to keep Amber quiet so he can get some good rest. The computer rebuild is ongoing. I’m not sure what the status is at this point.

We’re supposed to get to 56 degrees this afternoon. The sun is up there, shining its heart out. A happy-looking day.

My other half requested I make spaghetti today, so I have things together to make that happen later.

A calm, quiet day, I’m hoping.

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May 6, 2022 · 9:43 am

Fun Friday

b-burnham

Things are looking up here. Things are finally drying out a bit here. It’s overcast, but it’s supposed to be 71 this afternoon and the sun is supposed to make an appearance – at least a cameo.

We’ll leave in about an hour for Lunch Bunch and a couple of errands. I’m taking lettuce from our garden to share with everyone. I LOVE being able to do that. We had a ‘main meal salad’ with chicken I made from a keto recipe previously last night. My husband remarked how good it was. :0) Tonight I’m making “Sausage, Egg and Cheese Bake” by Suzanne Ryan, Simply Keto. I’ve lost almost 32 pounds now. I’ll measure at the end of this month, but I’m hoping there will be less of me from the exercising I’ve been doing. Today I’m doing half an hour of yoga stretches, plus an hour combination of my regular 3 short exercise videos, and the “1B Workout video.” (I’m doing my elliptical trainer and the workout video on alternate days)

We had a brief note from our son this morning. I always feel good when I’ve heard from him. He sounds very busy and happy – all you can ask for.

Our dog, Amber, just caused both my husband and I to jump straight up from our chairs by suddenly letting out a HUGE sneeze – one so hard she hit her chin on the floor. Good thing it’s carpeted. I guess she must be allergic to something. It certainly jump-started our hearts!

I hope your Friday is a fun one.

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February 18, 2022 · 9:30 am

2 of 3

The Economic Times

I was able to get and print 2 of the 3 things I need from our investment accounts this morning. As soon as I can get the third, we can bag up or tax stuff and take it to our CPA. I always feel so much better when my part of this is done for another year.

I have all appendages crossed that our weather cooperates with me so I can get my massage next week. We’re supposed to get rain Monday and Tuesday, with a possible ‘wintry mix’ Wednesday, just in time for my massage on Thursday. My body would really be grateful if we can keep that appointment.

I’m doing better with my yoga, though. I’m starting to loosen up again, although it will be awhile before I get back to where I was. Why do I have to prove to myself over and over again that this old woman really NEEDS these stretches? I could win a prize for ‘hardest head’ I think. I’m also doing better at keeping my mouth shut this week. I’ve lost 2.5 lbs and hope to continue this, earning gold stars on my calendar. :0)

We’ll leave for Lunch Bunch in about an hour. It was SOOOO good to finally have most of us there last week. I just got a text saying two of us won’t be there. :0( Hopefully, Kay will be there.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday.

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June 28, 2021 · 9:57 am

Baby Steps – In the Right Direction

MakeAGif.com

I accomplished my goal of losing 2 lbs. last week. I am almost to my goal of reaching the 30-pounds-off-from-my-heaviest weight landmark. I am happy that I’m making some progress toward my goal of losing my lard and getting as strong and flexible as I can.

I did my second yoga practice yesterday. My husband was encouraging, though he has no appreciation for how stiff, sore, and inflexible this old lady can get. He asked me if I were having an easier time of it. I had to tell him that SOME of the positions were a bit better, but some were more difficult, because I hadn’t been practicing as I should – that it would probably be at least Sunday of THIS week before I felt much difference. He is encouraging me – as HE stretches out for a nap in his chair – :0) – and that is good motivation, too.

I feel calm, happy that I am now on the way to being healthier, am practicing good eating habits and exercising. One day at a time. Baby steps – in the right direction.

taolife.com

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June 23, 2021 · 9:51 am

Diet Lesson for the Day

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I lost half a pound yesterday. Hooray?

My husband, who paid no attention whatsoever to what he ate – including a bagel slathered with French Onion and Chives Cream Cheese – lost a full pound. Arrgh!

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