TGIF, October 30: Choices!

[gitfiddle]

We are a product of the choices we make, not the circumstances that we face.
Roger Crawford
You're making good choices as we go into Halloween! :) Now that we're wrapping up the month, can you look back and see progress? Did the challenge make a difference? Just being among like-minded people makes a difference for me. (...also the fact that my frugal DH bought dollar-store candy for the neighborhood kids...I wouldn't eat it on a bet!)

Breakfast will be a protein shake. Lunch is more roast beef :p. Dinner will be chicken breasts and asparagus with provolone.

Check in--and have a great day!

[Spruce Goose]

I didn't do so well with the challenge. I mean I did the basics, recalculated my protein numbers and followed the plan (except the planned cheat for my anniversary) but I'd set meditating each day as one of my goals. The month got rough and meditating got chucked by the wayside.

My plan is still largely on cruise control. I'm keeping my carbs in check and watching my portions so I'm in a position to lose some weight, however I'm not really trying that hard. My motivation issues go beyond low-carb. Perhaps my funk is just related to the shorter days which have been very overcast lately. Give me some sun!

Last year for Halloween instead of giving out candy we out Play Doh (http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=341A3941-19B9-F369-D91C-0773F36BE413&product_id=24914&src=endeca). Some kids were "meh" but some of them were super excited. It's like $4 for 20 of those containers and we gave the leftovers to our daycare so the kids would have something to play with.

B: Sausage/eggs w/ cheese
L: Atkins shake, carbmaster yogurt & string cheese
D: Chicken wings & loaded broccoli

[gitfiddle]

Last year for Halloween instead of giving out candy we out Play Doh (http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=341A3941-19B9-F369-D91C-0773F36BE413&product_id=24914&src=endeca). I like that idea.
I think you're going to have to make your own sun, Goose. Did you get some benefit from the meditation while you did it?

[Tyrone Bill]

I have seen progress(which will be backed up on Monday my scheduled weigh-in day) and I feel it is because of the challenge. I to do better in an atmosphere where the people around me have like goals and struggles.

I had a good day, yesterday. Everything went according to plan. I can't think of a single cheating event since my June 1st start-up. Seems to be easier this second time around or I'm more determined not sure which.

My massage yesterday helped a lot, really loosened up the muscles of my lower back, hips and legs.

We had lots of Trick or Treaters last night. I mostly enjoy seeing the homemade costumes. Brings back memories of when I was a child. We didn't have the money for store bought costumes so we improvised. The best costume I ever came up with was a flannel shirt, bib overalls, straw hat, a red hankerchief, some straw and a painted face. All the good makings of a scarecrow.

Today will be a busy day...payday. We'll be off paying bills, and grocery shopping. After everything is put away, I'll drop Doy off at the mall to finish up her Christmas shopping while I go to the VA Hospital and visit the inpatients. I try to do this at least once a month.


Breakfast- 1/2c cottage cheese, 7 breakfast sausage links, 47gms strawberries. 2c green tea.
40gms protein, 9gms carbs

Lunch- Salad, (2c roughly chopped romaine; 1/2 med avocado, cubed; 1/4c cubed cucumber; 1/8c chopped onion; 1 boiled egg, quartered lengthwise; 1 slice crumbled bacon; 5ozs shredded chicken breast; 2T bleu cheese dressing. 2c green tea. 43gms protein, 9gms carbs

Supper- 6oz grilled sirloin pork chop, 10 grilled asparagus spears, 1/2 med grilled peach, 2c green tea.
42gms protein, 8gms carbs.

[gitfiddle]

You had your trick-or-treaters early! Ours are coming tomorrow night.

My breakfast turned into sausage because I didn't have time to make a shake. Dinner was a spinach salad with bacon and hard boiled egg and olives. The boys got the chicken dressed in asparagus and draped with provolone. I'll have leftovers tomorrow. ;)

I'm missing a few people here today! Where are you? :)

Don't forget to check out the November Challenge sticky, too!

[Artista]

This month's challenge went well. Although I did have a bit of non-plan treats for our anniversary dinner out, I was on plan the rest of the time. I only lost 6 pounds this month but I'll take them. (That seems to be about average as it's the same amount I lost last month.)

Today breakfast was a cheese omelet, lunch was a protein shake and dinner was steak, asparagus and salad. Will probably have some blueberries and cream.

Kathee

[Spruce Goose]

I think you're going to have to make your own sun, Goose. Did you get some benefit from the meditation while you did it?
I'm not sure what it is but I'm not terribly perceptive. I didn't notice a lot from the meditation but that might not mean much. Most people say they feel so much better when they lose a bunch of weight, yet I don't feel any different or notice anything. Oh, except I think I get cold easier (it's either the insulation or I'm just getting old).

I think I'd benefit most from meditation right after I got home from work. It'd be a nice transition. However, that won't happen unless I do it before I open the garage door. My son starts going crazy when he hears the door as he knows I'm home. And after all day my wife is ready for me to distract him for a while :)

B: Sausage/eggs w/ cheese
L: Atkins shake, carbmaster yogurt & string cheese
D: Chicken wings & loaded broccoli
Ate as planned.

[gitfiddle]

I think I'd benefit most from meditation right after I got home from work. It'd be a nice transition. However, that won't happen unless I do it before I open the garage door.After a hard day at work, I sometimes just sit in my car for a few minutes and lean back with my eyes closed to gather my thoughts before leaving the parking lot. It has the same effect. Of course, I don't drive home through kamikaze traffic that would wind me all up again. :)

I also noticed that I feel the cold more since I lost weight. It might be insulation or maybe metabolism?

[bpm]

by Carol I also noticed that I feel the cold more since I lost weight. It might be insulation or maybe metabolism?
[/QUOTE]

A little trick I have learned from Dr Weil is that of "breathwork". After years of being sensitive to cold esp after losing weight, I stumbled upon this protocol.
It works.
He may still have it on his website. If not, I will summarize it in a post.


Monty

update- amazon has an audio program by andrew weil listed on their site for $12.52