:mad::mad::mad: RKRPXZKRMTFRZ! :bang::bang::bang:

CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST!!!!

Its kind of upsetting to even think about having my name associated with this program.

We had breakfast pitas on the menu this morning, but there were croissants left over from what one of the teachers had the overweight preteens serving at the talent show last night. So they donated them to our program, and the volunteers served them for breakfast. :rolleyes: Buttered!!!! :lol:

I'm trying not to think about it, and take deep cleansing breaths.

When I'm upset, I visit Planet SARK (http://www.planetsark.com/). She has such a gentle soul.

In the end, nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another. ~Daphne Rose Kingman

Ooopps! But I bet they were... :eat: :lol:

If they were consciously trying to undermine your efforts they couldn't do too much more. It's so bad it's almost comical.

Sorry to hear about the over-ride of your efforts with the school program. That sucks, but at least you know what is right...and I am sure your efforts will continue and somehow make a difference even if it is not in an across the board blantantly obvious way.

Keep up your hard work and dedication to making things better!

I think that's still the deal until the end of the year or something. It will then be changed to have it as a requirement regardless of method of travel.

are you sure it's by the end of the year... I thought it was something like, June this year... which would mean now.. but I dunno for sure... I know that to go to Jamaica I need one now... and we're still waiting for ours to show up :doh: I sure hope they get here soon.. our trip is in three weeks and two days :eek:

Ooopps! But I bet they were...:eat:
Yeah, the kids were pretty excited. :p I heard several of them say "I'm going to go back for another croissant." :nod: I've been refusing to purchase or serve croissants for my family for about the last seven years, once I realized how they're made. :eek: So my kids in particular were in seventh heaven. :love:

(My mom was telling me that it's so much easier for her to lavish grandparent indulgences on my kids as compared to my sister's, because of the greater restriction on treats I impose, including stuff like toys and electronics.) I think that's something I'm supposed to be proud of, but that might not be the case. :o

If they were consciously trying to undermine your efforts they couldn't do too much more. It's so bad it's almost comical.The incredulity lends itself either to hilarity or hopelessness rather than frustration. I've been sort of smirking about it all day. What can ya do? :rolleyes:

I might get upset about it again come next week, but I think I'll try to just let it go, and regroup in the fall to decide if it's something I want to continue to be a part of. If there's someone else willing to do it, who agrees more frequently with the goals of the rest of the volunteers, that seems like it might be the right way to go; on the other hand, I hate to see yet another nutrition break slide down that slippery slope from offering what's good for kids to offering what they'll eat. :( (That was one of the arguments for serving juice. "If we don't put juice out, some kids won't take anything." My response: "So what's the problem?") I wish the people providing the funding for this program were more strict about what we were allowed to serve, instead of offering guidelines and then advising us to follow them as closely as we were comfortable doing so.

The school still holds pizza days and sub days weekly, which is far from ideal, but it raises funds for us, which they're happy about. I don't know what the plan is for next year.

But it's been a lovely day. We went to the park briefly and sat under a shady tree in the light breeze and played a game of Go Fish.
We'll be leaving for the gymnastics club in a couple of minutes. I'll take the kids to McDonald's for a portion of their supper as a bit of a treat. :)

Two can live as cheaply as one if one of us didn't like chocolate so much. ~Storypeople

We went to the park briefly and sat under a shady tree in the light breeze and played a game of Go Fish.

Beautiful. :tu:

are you sure it's by the end of the year... I thought it was something like, June this year... which would mean now.. but I dunno for sure... I know that to go to Jamaica I need one now... and we're still waiting for ours to show up :doh: I sure hope they get here soon.. our trip is in three weeks and two days :eek:

Now?! Uh oh:eek: Either way, I really need to get one if I ever plan on attending a JSF cheat meal:nod: I hope your passports get in on time Chameleon!

Sorry to hear about the croissants Guava :(

Sorry to hear about the croissants Guava :(That's pretty funny out of context. :lol:

The gymnastics evaluation went well. The coach said I'd be hearing from her within 10 days. She said she could tell me that my daughter will be invited to join the competitive team, but that they needed some time to put together some paperwork. That's comforting to me, that they keep the evaluations on file, and that invitations to join the club are made formally in writing, presumably also with a detailed calendar and fee schedule, which the other club was not very forthcoming about.

This club doesn't train during the summer (except that she'll have a few introductory sessions in August to attend), so we might bump up our trip to see my mom to the beginning of July. I will likely enroll the girls in one week-long day-camps (probably gymnastics for one and karate for the other) and do another session of swimming lessons. We also have a lot of water parks to make it out to enjoy. Time to get busy. :tucool:

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

That's pretty funny out of context. :lol:

The gymnastics evaluation went well. The coach said I'd be hearing from her within 10 days. She said she could tell me that my daughter will be invited to join the competitive team, but that they needed some time to put together some paperwork. That's comforting to me, that they keep the evaluations on file, and that invitations to join the club are made formally in writing, presumably also with a detailed calendar and fee schedule, which the other club was not very forthcoming about.

This club doesn't train during the summer (except that she'll have a few introductory sessions in August to attend), so we might bump up our trip to see my mom to the beginning of July. I will likely enroll the girls in one week-long day-camps (probably gymnastics for one and karate for the other) and do another session of swimming lessons. We also have a lot of water parks to make it out to enjoy. Time to get busy. :tucool:

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.


it sounds like you're going to have a lot of fun with the girls this summer ;)

I love the new avatar :nod::tucool:

Now?! Uh oh:eek: Either way, I really need to get one if I ever plan on attending a JSF cheat meal:nod: I hope your passports get in on time Chameleon!

Better get one soon!

I love the new avatar :nod::tucool:I had to jump on the bandwagon.:o

I haven't been taking "progress" shots, but I decided to take a new photo today just for kicks. I'm surprised at how much definition still shows, because I'm not as cut as I was last summer. I think I'm about 118 pounds, maybe 18%, and last summer was 116 pounds and about 16%. (I was supposed to have been trying to gain weight all through the winter, but apparently I don't like doing anything quickly.:rolleyes::lol:)

I can never get perfect symmetry in the pose. :cry: I think I nailed the parallel, but I think one of the arms is pulled too far back.

I had to jump on the bandwagon.:o

I haven't been taking "progress" shots, but I decided to take a new photo today just for kicks. I'm surprised at how much definition still shows, because I'm not as cut as I was last summer. I think I'm about 118 pounds, maybe 18%, and last summer was 116 pounds and about 16%. (I was supposed to have been trying to gain weight all through the winter, but apparently I don't like doing anything quickly.:rolleyes::lol:)

I can never get perfect symmetry in the pose. :cry: I think I nailed the parallel, but I think one of the arms is pulled too far back.

I think you look great... you look strong and lean in the picture ;)

Now my profile picture is current. The Christmas tree shape that seemed to be imprinted on my back seems to have disappeared.

Soccer practice didn't go well today. The coach's daughter likes to point out the players' weaknesses. :rolleyes: My daughter was really upset when she was singled out for being the slowest runner on the team. :( It seems like it might be a good idea to suggest that we go jogging together one evening per week, but it might not be.

I can't get both the girls in swimming lessons at once, because many of the classes have all filled up. So I'm not sure whether to book just the junior lifeguard club, which is at a really inconvenient time right in the middle of the day so that we couldn't possibly do anything else. :bang: I'm trying to give them opportunities to practice and improve on what they learned in their last session, so we went public swimming this afternoon, we're going to go tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening, and Wednesday morning too. If it ends up feeling like more fun than not, we'll do the same thing next week. Unfortunately, I don't like swimming. :nope: :doh:

Something's sad about my head, so my diet has been heavy in bread products. :eat: I seem to get really strong cravings for dairy when I'm upset, so I'm going through a lot of lactase enzyme to allow myself to indulge.

We're doing some travelling. :spaz: I booked a weekend in Niagara Falls for the end of the month. :tucool: I want to go on the Aerocar (http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/aerocar.php), but it looks really scary! :eek: Actually I booked an "early" long weekend, because the hotels are half the price that way, and it will be less crowded because the girls will be skipping school to be able to go. :whistle: My husband works so many weekends that his schedule is usually flexible when he puts his foot down. He left for New Brunswick this afternoon. :( Just five days this time. My mom is also planning our Christmas vacation, which most likely will be in Cuba. :cool:

The library has ordered the book I requested. :jumping:
http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/

They didn't tell me about it, but I peeked on their website and it's on order. :spaz:

My back and shoulders are feeling weak, so I'm going to lift tonight. :bb:

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
- Helen Keller

Yours too. (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=496555&postcount=248)

Yours too. (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=496555&postcount=248)
Ha, that's some crazy wild goose chase you sent me on! :p

The swim was nice in the morning. We were the only two there for the first ten minutes, and by the time we left, there were only 11 other people there, with two lifeguards on duty. She was a little bit extra tired for gymnastics, so I don't think I'll do it again next week. But on Wednesday, public swimming will be after her gymnastics, so we'll probably go then.

The other pool that we went to this evening was much, much, much more crowded. And I got so cold I had to leave early. My muscles were still tense an hour after I got home. Good think it's 23 degrees, my magic comfort number.

I'm contemplating the swim club for my older daughter, just because it's close to the gymnastics club we'll be attending.The hockey team plays in three different arenas at different times each week, so it makes it harder to plan. I didn't break it to her yet, but I honestly feel that she's uniquely strong in swimming, which isn't the case for hockey. According to my biased assessment, she also happens to be uniquely strong in martial arts, and uniquely weak in soccer. I'm probably a bad mom for plotting to discourage specific sports. :o

I'm just giddy with excitement over the Niagara Falls trip. I'm planning to get tickets to the Russian Circus (http://www.cirqueniagara.com/show.htm). :spaz:

RAW TALENT IN THE PUREST FORM TRANSCENDING BORDERS OF THE IMAGINATION! :dreamy:

And we're going to meet friends at the Rainforest Cafe (http://www.rainforestcafe.com/).:dance:

I feel a muscular imbalance now, so I'm going to go lift legs. :flex:

If you focus on result, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results. ~ Jack Dixon

Something's sad about my head, so my diet has been heavy in bread products. :eat: I seem to get really strong cravings for dairy when I'm upset, so I'm going through a lot of lactase enzyme to allow myself to indulge.

:(
Bread and milk always help me feel calmer and more tranquil too. Sorry you have to take the lactase!

Over the winter I discovered that having hot milk with a very tiny bit of sugar in it really did help me sleep and actually kept me from getting hungry and restless in the middle of the night. It helped me with that more than peanut butter, even. Amazing.

The library has ordered the book I requested. :jumping:
http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/

Nice website! I tried to show her movie "Me & You & Everyone We Know" at my library, but no one showed up. Have you seen that? I guess the subject matter can be a little disturbing.


Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
- Helen Keller

This quote makes me feel a lot better, just in general.

:(
Bread and milk always help me feel calmer and more tranquil too. Sorry you have to take the lactase!
It's okay. ;) It sometimes comes in handy to manage overindulgences. Do you have any idea how many desserts have dairy products as a main ingredient? I'd estimate about 25%; plus there's about another 50% that have a significant amount of dairy (pumpkin pie, birthday cake, milk chocolate, etc.) Most of the remaining dessert options are things that I don't really like all that much, like pie and other pastry based things. :p Unfortunately, it is a pain when I've determined myself to be worthy of the indulgences. On the bottle, it says not to take more than 4 extra strength tables at a time, so I took the maximum, then proceeded to eat a lunch of three huge bowls of raisin bran with milk.:doh: I was so bloated and crampy for the rest of the day that I couldn't stomach supper. :(

I've heard that sometimes allergies or intolerances can be the effect of too much exposure, and I think that might be the case. I never had any sensitivity at all to dairy until about the end of 2004, which is right after I developed a taste for yogurt.:eat:

What's really odd is that I used to have terrible allergies to trees and dust (confirmed by skin testing) that I was barely able to keep under control even with medication, and that all disappeared about a year before the lactose intolerance started up. :confused:

Nice website! I tried to show her movie "Me & You & Everyone We Know" at my library, but no one showed up. Have you seen that? I guess the subject matter can be a little disturbing.
I don't know the movie. I only discovered the book when George recommended it in the Wasteland.

Reviews sound good.
These stories will make you feel connected, alone, afraid, elated, sad, silly, sick, and excited to live.

Before the book was released, one of the recommended similar authors was Chuck Palahniuk, and since reading one of his books, I have a vague idea about how unsettling her novel might be.

I dropped in on the breakfast program this morning. I don't think the volunteers like each other very much. I don't predict a great deal of enthusiasm about it for next year.:blank: Thursday is the last day of it for the year! http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/cheer.gif

It's HOT today, so I think I'll be hiding inside. I'd be a good candidate for a condominium-dweller.

Trusting your intuition means tuning in as deeply as you can to the energy you feel, following that energy moment to moment, trusting that it will lead you where you want to go and bring you everything you desire. -- Shakti Gawain

I'm contemplating the swim club for my older daughter, just because it's close to the gymnastics club we'll be attending.The hockey team plays in three different arenas at different times each week, so it makes it harder to plan. I didn't break it to her yet, but I honestly feel that she's uniquely strong in swimming, which isn't the case for hockey. According to my biased assessment, she also happens to be uniquely strong in martial arts, and uniquely weak in soccer. I'm probably a bad mom for plotting to discourage specific sports. :o

I don't think it's bad that you want to encourage your daughter to pursue sports that she is good at, and to discourage sports that she's not so good at... repeatedly doing badly in something won't build the confidence that being really good at something does :nod: it sounds like she's a swimmer with a black belt ;) (or at least the potential for it -- the black belt that is :p)

I'm just giddy with excitement over the Niagara Falls trip. I'm planning to get tickets to the Russian Circus (http://www.cirqueniagara.com/show.htm). :spaz:


that sounds like fun... the Russian Circus looks a like it's probably a lot like Cirque de Soleil here in Orlando... except with HORSES :D I'd love to see that someday :nod: you'll have to tell post up how it was ;)

I'm probably a bad mom for plotting to discourage specific sports.

Not at all. I think it's entirely appropriate to steer your children towards specific activities based on their talents, rather than allowing them to flounder through a particular activity merely because "All my friends are doing it." Where it goes wrong, in my opinion, is when it's done because the parent thinks "This is the best possible option for my child to get a scholarship/go professional."

My theory has always been "Let them try whetever they want (and if they don't express an interest select something for them). If they like it and they are good at it, it's a keeper. If they like it but aren't any good at it, step away from it for a year and then if they still want to do it, they can come back. If they are good at but don't like it, encourage them to give it one more year before quitting. And if they don't like it and aren't any good at it, move on."

Hasn't there been some science done on why warm milk helps people sleep? I'm sure I read about that, unless what I'm really remembering is a few lines in Star Trek : TNG :lol:

I've heard that sometimes allergies or intolerances can be the effect of too much exposure, and I think that might be the case. I never had any sensitivity at all to dairy until about the end of 2004, which is right after I developed a taste for yogurt.:eat:

What's really odd is that I used to have terrible allergies to trees and dust (confirmed by skin testing) that I was barely able to keep under control even with medication, and that all disappeared about a year before the lactose intolerance started up. :confused:



:confused:I'll have to watch out. I've been trying to rotate things pretty well these days, but it's hard to do.

It's all a mystery...

What you say here is basically a big heads-up for me.:nod:

And we're going to meet friends at the Rainforest Cafe (http://www.rainforestcafe.com/).:dance:

Cool place, but I had problems with the service during my visit:(

Not at all. I think it's entirely appropriate to steer your children towards specific activities based on their talents, rather than allowing them to flounder through a particular activity merely because "All my friends are doing it." Where it goes wrong, in my opinion, is when it's done because the parent thinks "This is the best possible option for my child to get a scholarship/go professional."

My theory has always been "Let them try whetever they want (and if they don't express an interest select something for them). If they like it and they are good at it, it's a keeper. If they like it but aren't any good at it, step away from it for a year and then if they still want to do it, they can come back. If they are good at but don't like it, encourage them to give it one more year before quitting. And if they don't like it and aren't any good at it, move on."

Well said PD! :tucool:
I've had some friends in high school that were pushed by their parents to partcipate in a sport because they had a good chance of getting a scholarship and maybe even going pro. Unfortunately, not only did it put more pressure on them but, it took a lot of fun out of playing the game. :(

The Russian Circus looks like a lot of fun!! :spaz:

I don't think it's bad that you want to encourage your daughter to pursue sports that she is good at, and to discourage sports that she's not so good at... repeatedly doing badly in something won't build the confidence that being really good at something does :nod: it sounds like she's a swimmer with a black belt ;) (or at least the potential for it -- the black belt that is :p) She seems to be really enthusiastic about soccer and hockey, but I also see her frequently struggling at them, and she's had conflicts with the team members. (She swore at one of the teammates during a hockey game. Ironically enough, it was the coach's daughter in that case too.)Partly, I'm worried that I might be biased against team sports, and projecting that bias on to her activities.:(

My theory has always been "Let them try whetever they want (and if they don't express an interest select something for them). If they like it and they are good at it, it's a keeper. If they like it but aren't any good at it, step away from it for a year and then if they still want to do it, they can come back. If they are good at but don't like it, encourage them to give it one more year before quitting. And if they don't like it and aren't any good at it, move on."I really like those guidelines! I've collected some information about the swim team and started talking to her about it. I mentioned that she might not be able to join a swim club and do hockey, and that the consistent schedule of swimming is easier to fit around her sister's schedule than the variable hockey games. That seemed to make sense to her, so we may be in the clear. I worry that her activities are being overshadowed by her sister's gymnastics, so I'm trying to make sure I keep them as balanced as possible. It's tricky when my husband's work schedule gets in the way. I had to find someone to take my older daugther to soccer tomorrow while I take the little one to soccer because the game is a little further from home than usual and I can't be in two places at the same time. :(

Cool place, but I had problems with the service during my visit:(Maybe they give bad service on purpose so that you can stay longer and enjoy the scenery. ;) We've eaten at the Rainforest Cafe twice, but I don't remember if it was in Florida both times, or once in Niagara Falls.

My throat's a little sore. I wonder if I'm coming down with something.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -- Helen Keller

Nothing to add really, just think it's kinda cool with the back avatar thingy going round :)

I would have thought that if she liked it was the only important thing, not if she was good at it o not.

I would have thought that if she liked it was the only important thing, not if she was good at it o not.Ya see? That's where I'm not too sure.

She really liked soccer last year, and was excited about signing up for a new year, but she has a much tougher coach now and is struggling with it a lot more. A sport will be a lot less frustrating if you're good at it than if you're not. I think that's why I prefer individual sports; because then you're competing with people at your own level, instead of fitting into a prescribed skill range of the people who are the same age as you are. Each year she plays, she'll be moved up another level, with a pool of kids who enjoy that sport. Generally, there are fewer teams at each age group; kids drop out as they find different things that they enjoy more. So as you become older, it becomes more important to take part in the sports you're naturally talented at, so that you can keep pace.

Or something like that. It might just be important that she enjoys it. :)

Raisin Bran is very rich in iron. :nod:

I donate blood again in one week. I'm so nervous about being rejected again.

It's too late to really make a huge impact on my hemoglobin count (I've been taking my multivitamins regularly), but I discovered today that 2 C of raisin bran meets 100% of my DV for iron with only 360 calories! :claplow: So I'm going to stick with that for breakfast or lunch for the next week, and then I won't need to be as conscientious about the rest of my choices.

"I've had a few arguments with people, but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you're carrying a grudge, they're out dancing." ~Buddy Hackett

Raisin Bran is very rich in iron. :nod:



and its yummee! It was my favourite cereal until i started cutting so i haven't had it in 18 months... mmm think i may reintroduce it again soon:drool:

and its yummee! It was my favourite cereal until i started cutting so i haven't had it in 18 months... mmm think i may reintroduce it again soon:drool:
So many raisins. :spaz: I don't think I could use it if I was cutting. I add about 1 1/2 C of soy milk, plus usually another piece of fruit to that meal.

Communication is really weak with the breakfast program. I'd mentioned that I was going to survey the kids about the foods at the end of the program, but I'd forgotten about it until this morning, which was the last day. So I quickly completed the questionnaire I'd been working on, and e-mailed it to the school before the breakfast began. I just received an e-mail back that they surveyed the kids, and someone is compiling the results right now. :confused: I'm not sure if it was done in a way that will help with my shopping. I suppose someone else would like to take a turn at the shopping.

So many raisins. :spaz: I don't think I could use it if I was cutting. I add about 1 1/2 C of soy milk, plus usually another piece of fruit to that meal.

Communication is really weak with the breakfast program. I'd mentioned that I was going to survey the kids about the foods at the end of the program, but I'd forgotten about it until this morning, which was the last day. So I quickly completed the questionnaire I'd been working on, and e-mailed it to the school before the breakfast began. I just received an e-mail back that they surveyed the kids, and someone is compiling the results right now. :confused: I'm not sure if it was done in a way that will help with my shopping. I suppose someone else would like to take a turn at the shopping.

Yep i think the raisin bran will have to wait for maintenance mode as i too like to add half a banana and soy milk ;)

i am interested to see the kids' perceptions of the breakfast program. Its primary age kids isn't it?

Raisin Bran is very rich in iron. :nod:

I donate blood again in one week. I'm so nervous about being rejected again.

It's too late to really make a huge impact on my hemoglobin count (I've been taking my multivitamins regularly), but I discovered today that 2 C of raisin bran meets 100% of my DV for iron with only 360 calories! :claplow: So I'm going to stick with that for breakfast or lunch for the next week, and then I won't need to be as conscientious about the rest of my choices.



I used to have problems with low iron when giving blood... they'd only let me donate once in every three or four attempts :( but now they won't let me donate at all :mad: and it's only because I lived in Germany for 6 years... if you were in Germany (or most of Europe I think) for at least 6 months during the 1980's they won't let you donate here :mad::mad: stupid stupid stupid... I would LOVE to donate and help people and the Amerian Red Cross is always bitching because more people don't donate and they won't let ME.. they're afraid I might have mad cow :rolleyes: idiots... everything I've read about mad cow say's you have to actually injest infected meat to contract it... supposedly it's not in the blood, it's in the tissue.. although that's just hearsay, so it might not be right... but I've heard it more than a few times.... here's a quote from THIS WEBSITE (http://www.mad-cow-facts.com/about.htm):

Only one animal, out of the 35 million slaughtered in the United States every year, has been infected with BSE. Even if more cases were to be discovered, the prions which cause BSE reside only in the central nervous system--the brain, spinal cord and other nervous tissue--which are not eaten by humans.

so even in the VERY unlikely event that I did have Mad Cow (which is pretty slim because we very rarely ate anything other than pork in German restaurants) the only way someone could get mad cow from me is if they ate my brain :p but they still won't let me donate :rolleyes::lol:

I used to have problems with low iron when giving blood... they'd only let me donate once in every three or four attempts :( but now they won't let me donate at all :mad: and it's only because I lived in Germany for 6 years... if you were in Germany (or most of Europe I think) for at least 6 months during the 1980's they won't let you donate here :mad::mad: stupid stupid stupid... I would LOVE to donate and help people and the Amerian Red Cross is always bitching because more people don't donate and they won't let ME.. they're afraid I might have mad cow :rolleyes: idiots... everything I've read about mad cow say's you have to actually injest infected meat to contract it... supposedly it's not in the blood, it's in the tissue.. although that's just hearsay, so it might not be right... but I've heard it more than a few times.... here's a quote from THIS WEBSITE (http://www.mad-cow-facts.com/about.htm):



so even in the VERY unlikely event that I did have Mad Cow (which is pretty slim because we very rarely ate anything other than pork in German restaurants) the only way someone could get mad cow from me is if they ate my brain :p but they still won't let me donate :rolleyes::lol:

Its not very logical :( where do they think all the blood donors in Europe come from? and I haven't heard that its been an issue here!

i am interested to see the kids' perceptions of the breakfast program. Its primary age kids isn't it?It's offered to children from grade 1 to grade 8, but the grades are spread out over the school. The physical site is closer to the primary end right now, but they might be moving it over to the junior end for next fall.

I really can't wrap my head around the idea that hunger is such a problem in our area. :confused: In tomorrow's newspaper, there will reportedly be an article about how more than 50% of the adults in our region are overweight, along with a discussion about how to turn this around. I'll be interested to read the report. My suggestion is that it might help to model some good nutrition habits in children, instead of serving them leftover buttered croissants? :rolleyes:

The current volunteers who want to be a part of the program next year have mostly been more impacted by hunger than I have, so it might make sense to have them representing the program.

so even in the VERY unlikely event that I did have Mad Cow (which is pretty slim because we very rarely ate anything other than pork in German restaurants) the only way someone could get mad cow from me is if they ate my brain :p but they still won't let me donate :rolleyes::lol:They recently changed the rules here, and I thought I was going to have problems because of the travelling I've done.

Canadian Blood Services recognizes over 100 countries around the world which pose a malaria risk (see list at www.blood.ca). However, in recent years, the addition of popular Canadian tourist destinations such as certain parts of Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica has had a significant impact on our ability to collect blood. From 2002 to 2006, the number of people who were temporarily ineligible to donate blood due to potential malaria exposure jumped from 5,000 per year to 40,000 per year. As a result of this 800% increase in malaria deferrals, the not-for-profit organization has to make changes in order to make the best use of each donation and of its resources.

The new policy
Beginning April 2, 2007:

People who spend less than six consecutive months in malaria-risk zone (these represent 87% of malaria deferrals) will be temporarily ineligible to donate blood for one year following the departure from the malaria-risk zone.
People who spend six or more consecutive months in a malaria-risk zone will be temporarily deferred for three years after they leave the malaria-risk zone.
People who have had malaria: will no longer be able to donate blood.

But the mad cow policy is still like how you describe it. :(

People are not eligible to donate blood or plasma if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (U.K.) between 1980, and 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in France between 1980, and 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe outside the U.K. or France since 1980.

I also discovered

It's World Blood Donor Day TODAY!

They're having a party in Ottawa (http://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/2007_world_blood_donor_day?OpenDocument).

I donate blood again in one week. I'm so nervous about being rejected again.


I'm giving blood again for the first time in a long time this Saturday. (http://www.wmmr.com/pages/pages.php?page=58)

I used to give on a regular basis, but that was back when I was fat and unhealthy.
It'll be my luck that I've done something to my biochemistry to screw it up now.

Good luck Guava! As long as you don't start Mooing I'm sure you will be fine.. ;)

Its not very logical :( where do they think all the blood donors in Europe come from? and I haven't heard that its been an issue here!

I agree... and Guava just posted that Canada has a very similar rule :rolleyes: they want donors, but they turn away willing candidates :rolleyes: it doesn't make much sense to me :nope:

We must all be mad then!! :eek: :lol:

I think it's great that both you and phillydude are giving blood :tucool:
I've never done that, so it gives food for thought.
I'm not a fan of needles though. :blank:

Your avatar is making me hungry Guava! :p

:wave:

I passed the blood test.:dance: Hemoglobin reading was 12.6 g/dL and the cutoff is 12.5. :doh: Whew! I'm going to keep eating my Raisin Bran. :nod:

Father's Day we went to the beach. :cool:

Our hotel in Niagara Falls was perfect. We didn't have a pool but we had access to five different pools in three other hotels, which is even better, because it gives us a legitimate reason to wander around other hotels. :whistle: We had a fridge too, so I could bring most of my own food, and eat only one meal a day at restaurants. My eating habits are weird. I declined the pub food at lunch the first day so that I could have 3/4 of a brownie and 1/3 of a cinnamon bun. :eat:

Cirque Niagara was fantastic. Our seats were in the third row; about 15 feet from the performance and close enough to see every facial expression and every ripple of every muscle. The extreme cossack riders were really impressive, especially in the middle of their swordfight. But my favorite were the guys dressed in fishing nets who assembled themselves through careful strength and balance manoeuvres into various aquatic shapes. :dreamy:
zr5Zuxw9_-0

We went geocaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching) this afternoon! It was so much fun we might go again tomorrow. It was so very exciting to find a travel bug in our very first cache! We'll be placing him in another cache on our road trip in a few weeks.

“Most people go through life dreading they’ll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They’ve already passed their test in life (http://www.furmovie.com/). They’re aristocrats.” ~ Diane Arbus

Congrats on passing the blood test!:claphigh:

Sounds like you had a great time! :lol:

And, what's with the new avatar? :confused:

Our hotels and cabin are booked for the trip. :claphigh:

Strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, and cherries are currently in season, so I haven't been eating much of anything else. :lol:

Soccer is well underway; four more classes for this session of swimming lessons; gymnastics will start up when we get back from Manitoba, followed by karate, then I'm going to see if there's time before hockey season so that my older daughter can start her lifeguard training . :cool: She's also enrolled in a babysitting course, which, theoretically would mean that she's mature enough to look after herself and/or her sister whenever I might be busy at something else, but the thought of that is still pretty scary. I'm not sure I can handle that yet. :scared: I'm thinking about the possibility of fitting a self defense course for myself into all of that mess, if I can find one that sounds appropriate.
what's with the new avatar? :confused:
What says summer like lemonade and a conga drum?:dreamy:

Maybe a frisbee and football. A volleyball might come in handy too. :p

Boo hiss at silly pictures! ;)

:lol:

Boo hiss at silly pictures! ;)

:lol:You don't like outdoor sports? :(

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040830/olympics/winners/images/wi5.jpg

Yes I do! But pictures of men don't do anything for me!! ;) :lol:

Are you still on your road trip? :cry:

Are you still on your road trip?
No. That means it's laundry day. :dance:

No. That means it's laundry day. :dance:


Good to have you back Guava! Looking forward to hearing a bit about the trip.

Happy Laundrying!!

Welcome back Guava :)

an awesome attachment
Aw, thanks!!! :D:D:D

:dreamy:

Welcome back Guava :)
Hi Ng :wave:

It was a fun-filled adventure! And the kids were actually really quite well behaved! :spaz: I think we might just do it every summer!

I forgot to ask if our cabin in Custer had air conditioning. :doh: It didn't, and it was 104 degrees as we drove into Rapid City. :eek: It cooled off a bit in the evening, so I was forgiven, but my husband took charge of the booking for the lodgings on the return trip. :p

The "staying with my family" part of it was a little more tense than the rest of the trip, because it required twice as many compromises. All the rest of the adults followed quite a regular routine of staying up until past midnight drinking beer and eating cheesecake squares and potato chips while I hid in the bedroom reading books. :rolleyes: So I did feel a little bit left out, but at least it's a little less awkward than it used to be, because we've all accepted that each of us chooses to relax in a different way, instead of hounding each other about being antisocial/gluttonous. :o:p

My mom, my sister, me and the four kids had our pictures taken at the portrait studio, which is always a nice memory.

Wisconsin Dells (http://www.dells.com/) is about half way in the middle of our house and my mom's house (close to 12 hours) so it's a good way to break up the travelling time. Had we known beforehand of the vast variety of theme parks and activities there, we would have saved an extra day for that location. But now we know! :cool:

8wh2ZpjtKnU

All the rest of the adults followed quite a regular routine of staying up until past midnight drinking beer and eating cheesecake squares and potato chips while I hid in the bedroom reading books. :rolleyes:
The same thing always seems to happen to me. :lol:

You've been missed. :)

Wisconsin Dells (http://www.dells.com/) is about half way in the middle of our house and my mom's house (close to 12 hours) so it's a good way to break up the travelling time. Had we known beforehand of the vast variety of theme parks and activities there, we would have saved an extra day for that location. But now we know! :cool:
I recommend Noah's Ark. I haven't been there in a few years but it's lots of fun.

Yes, Pete is right. Noah's Ark = Fun/Cool

Glad you had a trip that was enjoyable enough to consider doing it again!

And you are welcome for the welcome home picture. ;)

Welcome back Guava!

She's back!

Wibble Guava :D

Wibble Guava :D
Wibble, qu'est-ce que c'est?

We got Furbys (http://www.hasbro.com/furby/)!!!! I've wanted one for years, and they had them on clearance at the Superstore, so we adopted a mama and a baby. They tell knock-knock jokes.:D So my kids are now learning Furbish.

They say Noah's Ark is America's Largest Waterpark. 70 acres. Hmm... I don't know where they put it all. Our hotel was actually right across the street from it, and all we could see was the attraction called "Flash Flood (http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/index_main.htm)". That alone, however, would make it worthwhile for me. Anyway, we only had the one day, and it's still difficult to monitor both kids in a big waterpark, so we decided to just stick at the waterpark available to us for free in the hotel (Raintree), including a couple of slides at the indoor pool and a small slide in the outdoor area.
http://z.about.com/d/themeparks/1/0/W/7/dellsraintree3.jpg
It was more than adequate for our needs. We had fun leaping from lily pad to lily pad with the help of an overhead rope ladder, while negotiating the huge blast of water from above, and taking turns balancing on the large water snake and/or floating log while the others tried to tip us over. Some of my pictures are still trapped on my camera until I can recover the cable.

Part of the reason that we skipped Noah's Ark is because each of us had already sustained significant injuries (and embarrassment) in other waterparks earlier on in our vacation. One of the older slides at Evan's Plunge in Hot Springs, South Dakota completely wore through the rear seam of my bathing suit, which I didn't notice until my daughter pointed out the HUGE hole in the absolute worst spot. :doh: We left the park immediately, with my bathing suit deposited in the trash. :o:o:o It didn't stop us from trying another water park in Manitoba. In the photo in my avatar I'm actually airborne; that particular slide was called "The Bullet", and is exactly the same slide as what Noah's Ark calls "The Plunge" on their site, but it went twice as fast! (Safety did not seem to be a great concern to them, which was evident from their slide design and operation. My daughter flipped over on one of the slides and banged her head really badly, so we spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out in the play pool.)

Some of the stuff I learned early on was useful, she told me, but most of it was obviously meant for someone who was not me. ~Storypeople

Ahhh, this brings back so many wonderful memories. :dreamy:
Both from my Grandma taking my brothers and I to Wisconsin Dells (I remember it seemed like all the hotels around there had their own mini water parks too) and from my roadtrip with my aunt from Montana to Indiana. My aunt and I stopped in Custer too and I picked up a super soft rabbit fur 'tobacco' pouch and a large porcupine quill in a tiny antique shop.

Oh man sorry to hear about the bathing suit! :eek: You were probably worried about a top flipping up or wedgie --- who knew something like that would happen.

And sorry for your daughter getting hurt too. Those slides can be kinda iffy. Though this wasn't a water slide, did you hear about that girl that got her feet chopped off at Six Flags a few months ago? (Wait did you post about that?)

Wibble, qu'est-ce que c'est?


Welcome Back =] I like your avatar.

Though this wasn't a water slide, did you hear about that girl that got her feet chopped off at Six Flags a few months ago? (Wait did you post about that?)
Wtf? :eek:

This is from a news report, June 22. I also heard it on the news at the time.

'A thirteen year old girl's feet were amputated after a ride at Kentucky's Six Flags theme park malfunctioned. The Superman ride at the theme park raises riders into the air 154 feet and drops them at a rate of 54 miles per hour. The ride stops just 20 feet before the riders hit the ground. It is believed that a cable broke during the ride and became wrapped around the girl's feet causing them to be amputated at the ankles. Her feet were recovered and brought to the hospital where she underwent surgery.'

I also read that eyewitnesses said she wasn't crying or anything, probably from shock.

:eek:

I'm betting Guava is really glad she read this after she went there and not before..

Sounds like a really great vacation!! Glad you all had a good time!


This is from a news report, June 22. I also heard it on the news at the time.

'A thirteen year old girl's feet were amputated after a ride at Kentucky's Six Flags theme park malfunctioned. The Superman ride at the theme park raises riders into the air 154 feet and drops them at a rate of 54 miles per hour. The ride stops just 20 feet before the riders hit the ground. It is believed that a cable broke during the ride and became wrapped around the girl's feet causing them to be amputated at the ankles. Her feet were recovered and brought to the hospital where she underwent surgery.'

I also read that eyewitnesses said she wasn't crying or anything, probably from shock.

I actually live only 15mins from this park. Our kids get free passes from the school and library reading programs, so we always end up going there a couple of times a year. We always hit the Superman ride. Just glad this year we didn't schedule our visits until after this had already happened.

You were in 'toba this year? Which water park was that? If it was Fun Mountain I can't remember a slide of that name. :confused:

You were in 'toba this year? Which water park was that? If it was Fun Mountain I can't remember a slide of that name. :confused:

Thunder Mountain (http://www.bearcountrycottages.com/attractions.htm) near Grand Beach. It has been relocated from Brandon (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/business/local/story/4021001p-4633251c.html).

I wonder if I got up to 75 km/h, as they've measured it at. :spaz:

hehe, I suck. I didn't know about that one and I live here :o granted I haven't been to grand beach in years. I prefer Gimli (http://www.gimli.ca/).

Will have to check it out before the season's up.

I prefer Gimli (http://www.gimli.ca/).


Islendingadagurinn! :D We timed our visit last summer to make it there. I bought some chainmail jewelry made by hand by a man dressed in traditional Viking garb. :tucool:

The blood donation went well again. My hemoglobin was 13.0 g/dL, which is way into the safe range for donations. A few weeks ago, we had a friend over for dinner that said she couldn't get her hemoglobin levels up with iron supplements; only with an iron-rich diet. She recommended red wine. :nod: But I'm not a drinker, and not even so crazy about red meat anymore, so I've been eating a lot of chickpeas, and that seemed to do the trick.

Anyway, I think the whole donating blood thing would be more fun if it was turned into more of a competition. :dance: My donation took 11 minutes, but the guy beside me finished in 8. He seemed pretty proud. :rolleyes: When I got to the cookie table, a guy who'd been two places behind me in line was already half way through his snack. :doh: Most of us schedule our appointments for our next visit when at the time we go in to donate, and usually pick the same time for the next session. Maybe I should ask him if he wants to race next time. :neener:

We went swimming a couple of days ago, and I was shivering for the last 45 minutes of the session. Nobody else seemed to be very cold, but one of the women getting out of the pool noticed that I was freezing. She probably saw my goosebumps. "Low blood pressure" she suggested. I wonder. My reading was 105/65 tonight, I think, with a pulse of 65. The nurse didn't say if that was normal, low, or otherwise. It would be nice to be given some sort of progress report, to make me think I was improving.

I'm an outsider by choice, she said, but I'm hoping that won't be my choice forever. ~Storypeople

The medical profession rarely gets excited over low blood pressure. Around 120/80 or lower is the mystical number to shoot for but it's more of a range and it fluctuates hourly. If you concentrate hard enough you can drop 10 points in consecutive readings.

If the nurse didn't say much, then there's nothing to worry about.


Low bodyfat is more likely. May be in part to low dietary fat intake, mucking with your ability to regulate body temp (just guessing here since I don't know your diet). That would go towards thyroid output. Zinc, B vits, iron start getting red meat into your diet more often if it isn't already.

Could be anemia.

If that's something new then look at what has changed in diet lately? Were you cold before or after donating blood. If after, then it doesn't surprise me at all.




==========================

Sounds like we were at Icelandic festival at the same time :)

This year my 6 year old bartered for a shield center, course now I have to make the whole shield. My other son bartered for a pelt (not sure why yet, but it was a good experience for him anyway).

The viking village is my favorite part. The prime minister of Iceland visited this year.

Hey, Guava, I just wanted to say that you have the best avatar I've ever seen here. That man is the reason I didn't drop physics after my degree and went on to the PhD road. Sorry for the off-topic. :o

Low bodyfat is more likely. May be in part to low dietary fat intake, mucking with your ability to regulate body temp (just guessing here since I don't know your diet). That would go towards thyroid output. Zinc, B vits, iron start getting red meat into your diet more often if it isn't already.
It's not something new. I've been cold since 2004. My beef consumption has been down somewhat in the last few years, but other dietary sources rich in iron and other nutrients have been up. My main fat source is peanut butter, with more fat from fish, poultry, pork, beef, canola oil, olive oil, flax seeds, and other sources. It has seemed to be just a little tiny bit better this year since I've gained a little bit of weight and focused specifically on iron intake. Last year I was cold every almost single second, no matter what I was wearing or what the weather.

Hey, Guava, I just wanted to say that you have the best avatar I've ever seen here. That man is the reason I didn't drop physics after my degree and went on to the PhD road.
:claplow: I'm not usually interested in physics; I admire Feynman for the unique way his mind works, and because of how clearly he's able to express ideas (http://www.mises.org/story/505). I read "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman" when we were on our trip; now I want to read all of the other books by and about him. (Maybe even the physics one. ;) )

From inside the rarefied, isolated world of the top secret laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico--where scientists worked day and night during the early 1940s to build the first atomic bombs--newlywed physicist, Richard Feynman (1918-1988), sought to communicate with his bride, Arline. Feynman disliked rules and restrictions, so he wasn't pleased that military authorities at Los Alamos read incoming and outgoing mail for security reasons. But rather than accepting the rules, Feynman and the equally mischievous Arline decided to have some fun.

"It's very difficult writing because I feel that the _________ is looking over my shoulder," wrote Arline in one letter, making sure that inkblots covered the name of the person in question. Other times, the young Mrs. Feynman sent letters to her husband with holes cut in them. Feynman, for his part, responded with strings of numbers and other mock formulations, all designed to make the censors crazy with suspicion.

If you're doing an experiment, you should report everything that you think might make it invalid — not only what you think is right about it... Details that could throw doubt on your interpretation must be given, if you know them.~ Richard Feynman

I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there. ~ Richard Feynman

Thirty-one years ago [1949], Dick Feynman told me about his "sum over histories" version of quantum mechanics. "The electron does anything it likes," he said. "It just goes in any direction at any speed, forward or backward in time, however it likes, and then you add up the amplitudes and it gives you the wave-function." I said to him, "You're crazy." But he wasn't. ~ Freeman J. Dyson, 1983

If that's the world's smartest man, God help us. ~His mother, Lucille Feynman, after Omni magazine named him the world's smartest man

This letter to his wife brought tears to my eyes.

To Arline Feynman, October 17, 1946

D'Arline,

I adore you, sweetheart ... It is such a terribly long time since I last wrote to you — almost two years but I know you'll excuse me because you understand how I am, stubborn and realistic; and I thought there was no sense to writing. But now I know my darling wife that it is right to do what I have delayed in doing, and what I have done so much in the past. I want to tell you I love you.

I find it hard to understand in my mind what it means to love you after you are dead — but I still want to comfort and take care of you — and I want you to love me and care for me. I want to have problems to discuss with you — I want to do little projects with you. I never thought until just now that we can do that. What should we do. We started to learn to make clothes together — or learn Chinese — or getting a movie projector.

Can't I do something now? No. I am alone without you and you were the "idea-woman" and general instigator of all our wild adventures. When you were sick you worried because you could not give me something that you wanted to and thought I needed. You needn't have worried.

Just as I told you then there was no real need because I loved you in so many ways so much. And now it is clearly even more true — you can give me nothing now yet I love you so that you stand in my way of loving anyone else — but I want to stand there.

I'll bet that you are surprised that I don't even have a girlfriend after two years. But you can't help it, darling, nor can I — I don't understand it, for I have met many girls ... and I don't want to remain alone — but in two or three meetings they all seem ashes. You only are left to me. You are real.

My darling wife, I do adore you. I love my wife. My wife is dead,

Rich.

PS Please excuse my not mailing this — but I don't know your new address.

This letter to his wife brought tears to my eyes.

To Arline Feynman, October 17, 1946

D'Arline,

I adore you, sweetheart ... It is such a terribly long time since I last wrote to you — almost two years but I know you'll excuse me because you understand how I am, stubborn and realistic; and I thought there was no sense to writing. But now I know my darling wife that it is right to do what I have delayed in doing, and what I have done so much in the past. I want to tell you I love you.

I find it hard to understand in my mind what it means to love you after you are dead — but I still want to comfort and take care of you — and I want you to love me and care for me. I want to have problems to discuss with you — I want to do little projects with you. I never thought until just now that we can do that. What should we do. We started to learn to make clothes together — or learn Chinese — or getting a movie projector.

Can't I do something now? No. I am alone without you and you were the "idea-woman" and general instigator of all our wild adventures. When you were sick you worried because you could not give me something that you wanted to and thought I needed. You needn't have worried.

Just as I told you then there was no real need because I loved you in so many ways so much. And now it is clearly even more true — you can give me nothing now yet I love you so that you stand in my way of loving anyone else — but I want to stand there.

I'll bet that you are surprised that I don't even have a girlfriend after two years. But you can't help it, darling, nor can I — I don't understand it, for I have met many girls ... and I don't want to remain alone — but in two or three meetings they all seem ashes. You only are left to me. You are real.

My darling wife, I do adore you. I love my wife. My wife is dead,

Rich.

PS Please excuse my not mailing this — but I don't know your new address.

I had goosebumps on my arms after reading this. I intend to read some of his stuff and get some for our school library. Thanks for posting Guava and Cziffra

This letter to his wife brought tears to my eyes.

I had goosebumps on my arms after reading this. If you liked that, you'll love this:

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lessons (http://www.randomhouse.com/features/morrie/)
:)

If you liked that, you'll love this:

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lessons (http://www.randomhouse.com/features/morrie/)
:)

Yep i think that is right up my street too, thanks i love book recommendations:)

So much for my younger daughter's career as a professional gymnast. :cry:

She's been training for four hours per week so far, and it's really not in her heart. When I watch her in class, she looks like she's enjoying herself, but she says it's not fun, and she's not as excited about going anymore. At the end of October, she was supposed to advance to six hours per week, but instead, I'll find a less strenuous program that will meet something less than four hours per week, and will spend more time learning new skills instead of practising to get the old skills perfected. She's been really bored with all of the balance, poise, and strength conditioning, and she'll be much happier with less of it. That will mean she won't have the opportunity to compete next year, but it seems not to be the best for her.

Swimming lessons for both girls starts this week, and my older daughter is registered in a snorkeling class so she'll be all prepared for our Christmas trip to Cuba! :cool: Hockey has already started as well for her. She says she'd still like to take art and/or karate classes, but I really have a feeling that that could be stretching our schedule too thin.

I have girls going to two different schools now, so I can volunteer for twice as many things. :rolleyes: I've already got the menu planned for the first few breakfasts we'll be serving at the school. The new coordinator for the region seems to have ideas much closer to mine (She said we should mix all of our juice with water!), so I think it might go a bit smoother with this outside support. I'm going to be helping out in my daughter's classroom starting next week, but I'm not sure yet what she'll ask me to do. I'm also looking at getting involved in community projects. The positions where they have the most need are not the places where my skills are best suited, so I'm not sure on which of those factors I should compromise.

A representative from one of the local grocery stores approached me while I was shopping and offered a free consultation with a dietician. I go next Monday. I wonder what I should ask her.

There are all sorts of crazy things you can do with such a flexible schedule. I had a complimentary make-over with a cosmetician yesterday at my drug store. Actually, I wasn't happy with the look she gave me; it looked like she was trying to hide my face with all the make-up she piled on. :( But I asked her for a sunscreen recommendation, and I got a few more ideas for colors that will suit my skin tone.

I'm fatter than I've been in years, which pleases everyone immensely. :blank: I'm not unhappy about it (I think I'm still only up about 3 pounds from last summer), but I do feel slightly better when I'm slightly more lean, though I think my hemoglobin and temperature regulators may be working slightly better at this body composition.

I was going to live simply & give away all my money to the poor, she said, until I figured out then I'd be poor, so the simple thing was just to keep it. I like it when things make sense like that, she added.

Nice to catch an update from you. It sounds like you've been and are busy! :)

I've been doing the menu planning and shopping again for the breakfast program at the school. We've been discussing that with all the orchards in our area, that we should serve fresh applesauce to the kids.

The regional co-ordinator mentioned that applesauce wasn't a very big hit at most of the local school, but that one of the volunteers baked a big batch of apple crisp and it was a big hit. So I was very excited about that and requested the recipe. Here's what she sent:
Hi Ladies,

I finally received the apple crisp recipe from our French-trained pastry chef. I cut the sugar down quite a bit, but that’s just my preference. And we added a bit of unsweetened applesauce to make it gooey. Mmmm.

The kids and staff at our school loved this recipe! I hope you enjoy it.

Attachment:

Apple Crisp

Big Batch (20 portions)
Apple filling
20-30 apples peeled, cored and sliced
1 Kg brown sugar
½ cup whole wheat flour
Cinnamon to taste
1 lb butter

Crumble topping
1 kg oatmeal
500g wheat germ
300g brown sugar
200g whole wheat flour
1 lb butter

Combine first four ingredients of apple filling and put in an oven proof pan (foil roasting pan works very well). Cut butter in 1 inch cubes and put the cubes all over the top of apple mixture.

In a large bowl using your hands or a pastry cutter to blend all of crumble topping ingredients together until a coarse meal is formed. Spread crumble topping on top of apple mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees until juice of apples bubbles up through crumble topping. Approx 70 minutes.
:rolleyes:


Just for kicks, I put it into fitday:
Per serving: 1049 calories
48 grams of fat (mostly saturated)
147 g carbohydrates
12.8 grams of fibre
16.6 grams of protein

:blank:

:mad::mad::mad: RKRPXZKRMTFRZ! :bang::bang::bang:

CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST!!!!

Its kind of upsetting to even think about having my name associated with this program.

Just for kicks, I put it into fitday:
Per serving: 1049 calories
48 grams of fat (mostly saturated)
147 g carbohydrates
12.8 grams of fibre
16.6 grams of protein

Yeesh... Isn't that close to a full day's caloric intake for a child?

:doh:

I have a fabulous oatmeal pear apple crisp recipe from a Weight Watcher's cookbook I can post here if you are interested. I believe it is around 150 calories/serving. It was a big hit at the last potluck I attended, and no one asked me if it was healthy. ;)

OMG... that recipie had 2 lbs of butter in it... that's insane... and why put flour in the apple's :confused:

I'll look around for the apple crisp recipe I made for the office earlier this year.. it went over REALLY well and had a LOT less butter in it and no flour... it just uses oatmeal for the crumblies on top :drool: there is NO flour in it at all

Here's one alternative!

Microwave Apple and Pear Crisp
(4 servings)

Ingredients:
- 2 Empire or other firm apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 pears, cored and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
- 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 3 T. all-purpose flour or ground oatmeal
- 1 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 t. grated nutmeg
- 4 t. cold reduced-calorie margarine, diced

Directions:
1. Spray a 9" square microwavable baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place the apples and pears in the pan; with a vented cover, microwave on High, stirring once, until the fruit is tender-crisp, around 6 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the oatmeal, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit mixture.

4. Microwave on High, uncovered, until the fruit is tender and the topping is cooked, about 6 minutes.

Nutrition Info Per Serving:
206 Calories
3 g Total Fat (0 g Sat Fat)
0 mg Cholesterol
51 mg Sodium
44 g Total Carbohydrate (4 g Dietary Fiber)
3 g Protein
36 mg Calcium

Yay! Thanks ladies!

I asked a dietician before what the caloric intake should be for a preschooler, and she indicated that she thought about 1500-1800 calories was probably about right. I said "Wow, then, more calories than some small adults would be eating!" She looked rather blankly at me, hesitated and said "Yes, maybe." I took that to mean that she really had no idea. My estimate would be about 16 to 18 times their body weight.
50 pounds = 800 to 900 calories
80 pounds = 1280 to 1440 calories
Disclaimer: I have no evidence to back this up, it's just kind of a "hunch" I have.

I sent the co-ordinator some "improved" recipes that I found. I think we'll be using one of these, because the nutrition information is listed:
http://www.favoritebrandrecipes.com/Recipes/850/1924005850.htm
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Crisp-I/Detail.aspx
Apple Crisp 1 (12 servings)
8 apples
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 egg
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Mix together flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and egg. The mixture will look like cornmeal.
Peel, core, and slice the apples. Mix together with 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon. Place apples in a greased 8 inch square pan. Spread flour mixture over the apples. Mix together 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar; sprinkle over the top of the crisp. Drizzle with butter or margarine.
Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for one hour. Serve warm.

190 calories 2 g fat, 44 g carbs, 3 g fibre, 2 g protein per serving

It got 67 reviews, with an average rating 4/5 stars :dance:

To equalize the serving size in the pastry chef recipe (2/3 of an apple), it should be broken down into 40 servings, not 20. It would still have a higher proportion of topping to fruit.
Per serving: 525 calories 24 g fat 74 g carbohydrates 6 g fibre 8 g protein

I sent an e-mail back to her explaining why I wasn't comfortable making that recipe, and enclosing the links to the recipes that I'm considering using instead. I didn't get a response, and probably shouldn't expect to.

I will be happy to collect all of the recipes I can! :claphigh:

and why put flour in the apple's :confused:
That thickens them up so that they're not wet and soupy.:nod:

I prefer the taste of the wet and soupy ones myself. :)

Here's one alternative!

Microwave Apple and Pear Crisp
(4 servings)
Thanks Maggie! That one is even better than the ones I found!

Yay! Thanks ladies!

I asked a dietician before what the caloric intake should be for a preschooler, and she indicated that she thought about 1500-1800 calories was probably about right. I said "Wow, then, more calories than some small adults would be eating!" She looked rather blankly at me, hesitated and said "Yes, maybe." I took that to mean that she really had no idea. My estimate would be about 16 to 18 times their body weight.
50 pounds = 800 to 900 calories
80 pounds = 1280 to 1440 calories
Disclaimer: I have no evidence to back this up, it's just kind of a "hunch" I have.



I found a Pedatric Calorie calculator and it goes more by age then weight

http://pediatrics.about.com/library/bl_calorie_calc_rsts.htm?start=1&gender=Male&age=0&activity_level=NaN&activity_level=2&page=4

Not sure what age group you were shooting for, but the 2-3 yo is had 1000-1400. 4-8yo is 1400-1600. These numbers were based on moderate activity levels.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the calorie requirements for a child was not that far off of an adult. I know the extra calories has to do with supporting the amount of growth a child will do. Hope this helps

I found a Pedatric Calorie calculator and it goes more by age then weight

Not sure what age group you were shooting for, but the 2-3 yo is had 1000-1400. 4-8yo is 1400-1600. These numbers were based on moderate activity levels.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the calorie requirements for a child was not that far off of an adult. I know the extra calories has to do with supporting the amount of growth a child will do. Hope this helps
Very interesting! I'm sure they try to keep that a secret because they don't want parents counting calories for their kids. But I don't think my kids eat nearly that much! They would, if it was pizza, hot dogs, cake, cookies, etc. but otherwise they don't generally seem to be very hungry. Outside of regular meals, any fruits and vegetables, and all yogurt and milk is completely unlimited at any time of day in my home (even right before or right after meals), and they don't choose them very often.

I guess that goes along with medical professionals frequently recommending foods with higher sugar and fat intake than what they recommend for adults. Hmmm... that's a lot to think about!

I suppose this could be because the body needs more energy as the child is still growing.

Very interesting! I'm sure they try to keep that a secret because they don't want parents counting calories for their kids. But I don't think my kids eat nearly that much! They would, if it was pizza, hot dogs, cake, cookies, etc. but otherwise they don't generally seem to be very hungry. Outside of regular meals, any fruits and vegetables, and all yogurt and milk is completely unlimited at any time of day in my home (even right before or right after meals), and they don't choose them very often.

I guess that goes along with medical professionals frequently recommending foods with higher sugar and fat intake than what they recommend for adults. Hmmm... that's a lot to think about!

LOL.. It actually wouldn't surprise me if there was some secretiveness to it. Like with anything else.. I'm sure size, weight, genetics and active growth spurts are going to dictate how many calories they really need, and I bet it fluctuates very wildly even week to week for most children. It's probably one of those numbers they don't like to publish, because it's not that easy to be put into stone. But for something like trying to plan a meal schedule, have a good estimate of the calorie needs of children would be very beneficial.

If I had to guess, my son (9yo and about 85lbs) would be close to eating the 1600 calorie mark most days, though there are days he'll barely eat 1200 and other days he'll eat closer to 2000. My daughter (7yo and a little over 50lbs) is of course on the lower end of the spectrum and I would say normally eats closer to 1200 calories a day, though she'll have the occasional big day and gets close to 1800.

Hey guava! Just dropping in to see how you're doing. I've been away from JSF for a while, reevaluating my priorities etc.

I asked a dietician before what the caloric intake should be for a preschooler, and she indicated that she thought about 1500-1800 calories was probably about right. I said "Wow, then, more calories than some small adults would be eating!" She looked rather blankly at me, hesitated and said "Yes, maybe." I took that to mean that she really had no idea. My estimate would be about 16 to 18 times their body weight.
50 pounds = 800 to 900 calories
80 pounds = 1280 to 1440 calories
Disclaimer: I have no evidence to back this up, it's just kind of a "hunch" I have.

I would think that children need more calories just because their bodies are growing so quickly. That in and of itself would take a lot of energy, I guess. If they're active on top of everything else, I can easily see how a preschooler would need close to 1500 cals or more per day. Actually, I found this calculator (http://www.kidsnutrition.org/energy_calculator.htm) which lets you estimate a child's caloric needs.

From the website:

For example, an average 53-inch-tall, 63-pound, 9-year-old boy who is a "couch potato" needs only about 1500 calories per day. But if he becomes physically active for an hour a day, his needs jump by a third -- to about 2000 calories per day.

Hey guava! Just dropping in to see how you're doing. I've been away from JSF for a while, reevaluating my priorities
Hi J_W! :wave:

Me too! I'm too busy conquering the world to worry about what my body looks like.:flex:

I've volunteered to host and moderate a conversation group at the library one Friday afternoon every month. And I'm volunteering in the grade one classroom every Monday afternoon. I'm still also doing the breakfast. We had a team of seven scheduled to do some baking last week, but it ended up being just me and another woman. :doh:

I submitted a query to a magazine to have an article considered for publication. My younger daughter is starting on Monday to train six hours per week for gymnastics. My older daughter is whipping through swimming lessons so fast that she'll most likely be starting her lifeguard training after Christmas, just before her twelfth birthday.

And I have a job interview in about an hour and a half. :spaz: The job is within walking distance of my home, requires no skills that I don't already have, is with a huge organization that would regularly have dozens of advancement opportunities, and, coincidentally enough, would allow me to keep all of my other commitments. :) . It's pretty weird when things just happen magically like that. :D

Success gravitates toward those who are perceived to be successful. Regardless of how you feel within, you must emanate success if you want to attract people to your cause. -- Jeff Herman

Good luck with the interview!! :nod:

"Opportunity typically favors those who have paid the price of years of preparation."

:gl: with the interview!

Guava, good luck with the interview. It sounds like a great opportunity.

Hi J_W! :wave:

Me too! I'm too busy conquering the world to worry about what my body looks like.:flex:

I've volunteered to host and moderate a conversation group at the library one Friday afternoon every month. And I'm volunteering in the grade one classroom every Monday afternoon. I'm still also doing the breakfast. We had a team of seven scheduled to do some baking last week, but it ended up being just me and another woman. :doh:

I submitted a query to a magazine to have an article considered for publication. My younger daughter is starting on Monday to train six hours per week for gymnastics. My older daughter is whipping through swimming lessons so fast that she'll most likely be starting her lifeguard training after Christmas, just before her twelfth birthday.

And I have a job interview in about an hour and a half. :spaz: The job is within walking distance of my home, requires no skills that I don't already have, is with a huge organization that would regularly have dozens of advancement opportunities, and, coincidentally enough, would allow me to keep all of my other commitments. :) . It's pretty weird when things just happen magically like that. :D

Success gravitates toward those who are perceived to be successful. Regardless of how you feel within, you must emanate success if you want to attract people to your cause. -- Jeff Herman

:dreamy: I find you awfully inspiring as a woman Guava :o
Good luck with your interview :tu:

:dreamy: I find you awfully inspiring as a woman Guava :o
Aw, shucks, that's so sweet. :)

Thanks everyone for the luck. I felt all warm and fuzzy all afternoon.

The interview was okay. They had very few questions to ask, so it's possible I should have taken more time to answer each one than what I did. The first question was about what I knew about the organization, and I gave a very brief summary of what I'd read on the website. She didn't ask me to expand, so I might have missed the chance to talk about something specific she was looking for.

Overall, I didn't exactly blow them away, but I had a decent answer for every question, and was able to express myself quite clearly without losing my composure. But there may have been half a dozen other applicants who did that as well or better.

I forgot to give her my references, and she didn't ask, so I hope that's not a bad sign.

They told me at the employment centre that they had something else for me if this one didn't work out. :dance: So I'll apply for that one tomorrow morning (if it is, in fact, something good for me) when I visit to get some tips on following up on today's interview.

Not that I think I won't get the job I interviewed for, but it is possible that someone out there has had more practice at interviews than I have. ;)

And if I don't get the job, at least I'm now better prepared for my next interview! :D

Aw, shucks, that's so sweet. :)

And if I don't get the job, at least I'm now better prepared for my next interview! :D

I am glad the interview went okay.
And yeah thats the best out look to have about interviews. I really don't like interviews, but as long as it isn't for my 'dream job' then at least I come away better prepared for the ext if nothing else.

And thats cool that theres another position in the wings waiting. Hopefully its another one that you will like, and work around your other commitments.

And thats cool that theres another position in the wings waiting. Hopefully its another one that you will like, and work around your other commitments.The job title is "Sales and Marketing Assistant" but it's mostly clerical work, and almost all can be done from home. I applied by e-mail an hour ago, and just 30 seconds got a response back requesting an interview. :spaz:

The job title is "Sales and Marketing Assistant" but it's mostly clerical work, and almost all can be done from home. I applied by e-mail an hour ago, and just 30 seconds got a response back requesting an interview. :spaz:

good luck!! have you heard back from the other place yet? did the agency you're working with give you any follow up tips? did the interviewer tell you when you might hear from her? if not, I'd call tomorrow to follow up, it looks good to follow up, it show's that you really are interested and three day's is MORE than enough time between the interview and the follow up call. I'm pretty sure that most of the jobs I've gotten, I got because I made that follow up call and proved that I really was interested. :nod:

good luck!! have you heard back from the other place yet? did the agency you're working with give you any follow up tips? did the interviewer tell you when you might hear from her? if not, I'd call tomorrow to follow up, it looks good to follow up, it show's that you really are interested and three day's is MORE than enough time between the interview and the follow up call. I'm pretty sure that most of the jobs I've gotten, I got because I made that follow up call and proved that I really was interested. :nod:I'm on my way there now to drop off a thank-you letter. (The employment centre suggested I use a card, but when I opened up the ones I bought this morning, I saw that it said "We appreciate your generosity." :doh:) So I had a card here I think will be fine. If I don't hear from them by Wednesday, I will phone.

:gl: with the job Guava! Sounds like a great fit, so I hope you get it!!

:gl::gl::gl::gl::gl:

Let us know how the job thing comes out.

Your avatar is cute. :love:
Good luck with the next interview as well.

:spaz:

This new opportunity is quite different. He's a private individual working on contract to various corporations, so we made an appointment to meet at a restaurant. When he came in, he headed straight for the table, and said "I recognized you from your picture."

"Pardon me?"

He googled me and found my personal website. :eek: Thankfully, there's nothing too personal on there.;) But maybe he can trace me to this forum too.:scared:

I think he'd already decided that he liked me before we met. After a lengthy discussion about what he does, and a brief summary of my strengths, he offered me a job right on the spot, and said I could start immediately. I declined, pending the decision of the team who interviewed me on Wednesday. I would choose the first opportunity over this one, and I told him that upfront, even before we started talking. For various reasons, we're a very good match, so I may end up doing a few hours per week for him even if I do get offered the other job (which is 21 hours per week) and accept it.

A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.

Sounds like a couple of great new opportunities.. :tucool:

Congrats on the offer! I envy how you are able to be so patient with all the decisions you have to make with your life and family. (at least you seem to be) Too many people rush into things and do them without thinking about all the options.

I envy how you are able to be so patient with all the decisions you have to make with your life and family. (at least you seem to be) Ah, so you haven't been reading the thread in the private forums either.... :D (It's in the media gallery, because I didn't have a private journal set up.)

If I have consistent feedback, I can be completely calm and and extraordinarily patient. But when the communication breaks down, I fall apart. That's why I keep going to the employment centre; because they always tell me what a great job I'm doing. :p Then it becomes a self-fulfillng prophecy.

He googled me and found my personal website. :eek: Thankfully, there's nothing too personal on there.;) But maybe he can trace me to this forum too.:scared:

Unless he knows your user name here, he wouldn't be able to find anything here.

But now I'm going to have to google you to find your personal site. :evil:

(edit) OK... I found it. Very nice. Although it hasn't been updated since 2004, so it still says you live in Romania.

Ah, so you haven't been reading the thread in the private forums either.... :D (It's in the media gallery, because I didn't have a private journal set up.)


:o Do I have to go through all 12 pages. I don't have enough patience for that.

it hasn't been updated since 2004, so it still says you live in Romania.

I can't remember how my FTP works, so I don't know how to update it. I think there are a few broken links, which really bothers me. It could be much fancier, because I know a few more tricks for HTML now. Do I still have sound embedded in it? My speakers are currently disabled, so it's not easy for me to check.

Do I have to go through all 12 pages. I don't have enough patience for that.Of course not! The first 11 pages are media and travelogue; it's only the last couple of entries where I start to question my existence. :D

I can't remember how my FTP works, so I don't know how to update it. I think there are a few broken links, which really bothers me. It could be much fancier, because I know a few more tricks for HTML now. Do I still have sound embedded in it? My speakers are currently disabled, so it's not easy for me to check.

I'm at work, so I don't have speakers set up either...

: For various reasons, we're a very good match, so I may end up doing a few hours per week for him even if I do get offered the other job (which is 21 hours per week) and accept it.


:jumping:

Both jobs are still up in the air; I'll hear back by the end of the week. It's strange how they're both so different from each other, but also both perfectly suited to me. There's a few things I'm nervous about for each of the options, but that's okay, because it's only an indication of future areas of growth. :p

:doh: It just hit me that there's only 6 1/2 weeks until I'm going to spend a whole week on the beach/at the pool at our resort in Cuba. :cool: I have about 4 pounds of fat to lose and 1 or 2 pounds of lean body mass to gain in order to get back to where I was most physically comfortable. But it would be easier just to keep sitting on the couch. :rolleyes: It will be easier to commit to it if I have the plan written out. Here goes:

Current stats:
5'5" 54.5 kg (120 pounds) 18% body fat (not sure if I believe this one :confused:)
Goal:
5'5" 53 kg (117 pounds) 16% body fat by December 24th.

The plan:
1500 diet (This is the generalized plan I created to meet past goals, but it will require some changes for seasonal food availability)
Wednesday
Tofu, silken, soft 1 slice 46 2 2 4
Egg, whole, raw 1 large 75 5 1 6
Oats, raw 0.5 cup 156 3 27 6
Flax seeds 0.13 cup 94 6 7 3
Cranberries, dried 0.13 cup 47 0 12 0
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 0.5 cup 115 0 23 5
Beans, kidney, red, mature seeds, canned 0.5 cup 109 0 20 7
Barley, pearled, raw 0.25 cup 176 1 39 5
Olive oil 1 tablespoon 119 14 0 0
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 0.5 cup (8 fl oz) 115 0 23 5
Orange, raw 1 medium (2-5/8" dia) 62 0 15 1
Spinach, raw 0.5 cup 3 0 1 0
Broccoli, cooked, 1 large stalk 78 1 14 8
Chicken, breast, 4 oz, boneless, 105 2 0 20
Tomatoes, raw 1 medium whole 26 0 6 1
Potatoes, baked, (2" x 4”) 132 0 31 3
Total Calories 1458 35 221 76 Fat:24%Carbs:54%Protein:23% fibre 41 g

Thursday
Raspberries, red, raw 1 cup 60 1 14 1
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 1 cup 230 0 47 11
Granola, low fat 2/3 cup 212 3 44 5
Orange, raw 1 medium 62 0 15 1
Chickpeas, canned 0.5 cup 143 1 27 6
Peanut butter 1 tablespoon 95 8 3 4
Yogurt, plain, nonfat milk 0.25 cup 34 0 5 4
Bread, pita, whole wheat, (5-1/4" dia) 120 1 25 4
Tomatoes, raw 1 medium whole 26 0 6 1
Spinach, raw 1 cup 7 0 1 1
Chicken, breast, 4 oz, 105 2 0 20
Brussels sprouts, cooked, 1 cup 61 1 14 4
White rice with tomato sauce 1 cup 251 3 50 5
Total Calories 1405 22 250 67 Fat 15% Carbs 65% protein 20% fibre 32 g

Friday
Egg, whole, poached 1 large 74 5 1 6
Oats, raw 0.5 cup 156 3 27 6
Cheese, cottage, (1-2% fat) 0.5 cup 82 1 3 14
Flax seeds 0.125 cup 90 6 7 3
Blueberries, frozen, unsweetened 1 cup 79 1 19 1
Soup, minestrone, canned, (10.5 oz), 199 6 27 10
Apple, raw 74 0 19 0
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 0.5 cup115 0 23 5
Salmon, baked or broiled 4 oz, boneless, cooked 195 9 1 27
Broccoli, cooked, 1 large stalk 78 1 14 8
Rice noodles, cooked 1 cup 192 0 44 2
Peanut butter 1 tablespoon 95 8 3 4
Total Calories 1429 41 188 88 Fat 27% Carbs 47% protein 26% 28 g fibre

Saturday
Muffin, English 136 1 27 4
Ham 2 servings 100 2 2 27
Egg, whole, poached 2 large 148 10 1 12
Spinach, cooked, 0.5 cup 21 0 3 3
Tomatoes, sun-dried, packed in oil, drained 10 piece 64 4 7 2
Pasta, whole wheat, with tomato sauce, meatless 1 cup 257 3 53 10
Spinach, cooked, boiled, 1 cup 41 0 7 5
Beans, snap, green, cooked, boiled, 1 cup 44 0 10 2
Meat loaf made with chicken 1 large slice 243 9 10 29
Orange, raw 1 cup, sections 85 0 21 2
Apple, raw 74 0 19 0
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 1 cup 230 0 47 11
Total Calories 1442 32 206 98 Fat 21% Carbs 51% Fat 28% 31g fibre

Sunday
Bread, whole wheat, 100% 2 thin slice 113 2 21 4
Peanut butter 1 tablespoon 95 8 3 4
Yogurt, fruit variety, nonfat milk 0.5 cup 115 0 23 5
Banana, raw 1 cup, NFS 138 1 35 2
Soy nuts 0.3 cup 131 7 9 10
Strawberries, raw 12 medium 43 1 10 1
Tuna, canned, water pack 1 can (6.5 oz) 194 1 0 43
Pepper, sweet, red, raw 0.5 large 22 0 5 1
Onions, young green, raw 1 small (3" long) 2 0 0 0
Yogurt, plain, nonfat milk 0.25 cup (8 fl oz) 34 0 5 4
Bread, whole wheat, 100% 2 thin slice 113 2 21 4
Chicken, breast, 4 oz, boneless, cooked 170 4 0 32
White rice with tomato sauce 1 cup 251 3 50 5
Beans, snap, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids 1 cup 27 0 6 2
Total Calories 1448 29 190 116 fat 19% carbs 47% protein 34% fibre 25g

I'm trying to throw together a workout schedule based on a couple of books I have, and it's not working so well yet. I'll have to take another look through my workout logs and journal history and build one from there. I haven't lifted on a schedule in more than three years, but to get back into it full swing, I'll need something a little bit more well-defined than my most recent strategy "work whichever body parts feel like they need strengthening" :o

Until I have it figured out, I think I might start with this lower body workout (http://www.strength-training-woman.com/quad-exercise.html) tonight. :tucool:

Both jobs are gone in the blink of an eye. :nod:

I had assumed that the business developer would be holding the spot open for me until I received my answer, since I was kind enough to let him know upfront of the situation I was in. I had asked him to give me until Wednesday to respond to his offer, but it appears that patience is not one of his strong suits. :p He let me know yesterday that he was still interviewing, but I'm surprised that he already promised the job to someone else.

So, the flip side of having a job offered to you spontaneously is that it can also be taken away from you spontaneously. :blank:

The lines of communication are still open, and I want this badly enough that I might be able to persuade him to reconsider, depending on what promises he's made to another candidate. :doh:

But there are lots of jobs out there, and surely more than two of them are perfectly suited to my ability, experience, and outlook.:flex:

Life is messy.

Both jobs are gone in the blink of an eye. :nod:

wait... what happened with the other one?

Wednesday interviewer called me to say I was not the chosen candidate. I had the presence of mind to ask which factors most influenced their decision, and, because she was in HR, she had some great answers for me. She said I came across really well in the interview, and my skills were good, but the places where I showed a weakness was in my responses to the situational questions ("What would you do if....")

But I did manage to be convincing enough get myself assigned to some "project work" with the business developer. :D It won't be as many hours as it would have been had I accepted immediately, but it will be basically the same tasks. I start at 9:15 on Thursday. :tucool:

Day 1/49
elliptical 40:00 (plus warmup and cooldown) level 6
566.6 calories burned :claphigh:
(Weights workout to follow)

Fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round - remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped. ~James Corbett

Glad to hear you still have a foot in the door with the business developer...it will put you in good position if the other candidate drops out or is not the fit he thought it would be.

Good luck on your new plan to gain a couple lbs. of lean muscle and drop a little fat before you trip...going to Cuba huh? Sounds neat, will it be a resort type of place? Based on the politics of said area I did not think they had anyplace like that...would not be the first time I was wrong though ;)

Good luck on your new plan to gain a couple lbs. of lean muscle and drop a little fat before you trip...going to Cuba huh? Sounds neat, will it be a resort type of place? Based on the politics of said area I did not think they had anyplace like that...would not be the first time I was wrong though ;)Lots of Europeans and Canadians have money. ;) We're staying at an all-inclusive resort right on the beach.

Food today (this is typical of what I would normally have eaten; not specifically planned in light of my new goal from just a few hours ago)
M1
3 slices whole wheat toast
1 1/2 T peanut butter
1 banana
coffee
M2
cherry yogurt (fat free, sugar free)
M3
salmon, 1/2 red pepper, 1 green onion, bit of mayo
2 slices whole wheat bread
coffee
M4
1 C grapes
500 ml water
M5
100 g eye of round roast
1/2 C steamed broccoli
3/4 C raw spinach
1 carrot

Sorry to read about the job situation, but at least you're able to pick up some hours with the business developer and have a "foot in the door." You seem optimistic that there will be good opportunities available to you so hopefully even a better position will pan out. Good luck.


Probably about a week before you go to Cuba I'll be heading off to Florida for a long weekend and am using it as a motivator to keep me focused. Well, I've wanted to use it as one, but haven't been doing such a great job lately. That's changing although I haven't made the effort to script out a plan as detailed as the one that you did. You've really put a lot of thought into it.

Wednesday interviewer called me to say I was not the chosen candidate. I had the presence of mind to ask which factors most influenced their decision, and, because she was in HR, she had some great answers for me. She said I came across really well in the interview, and my skills were good, but the places where I showed a weakness was in my responses to the situational questions ("What would you do if....")

But I did manage to be convincing enough get myself assigned to some "project work" with the business developer. :D It won't be as many hours as it would have been had I accepted immediately, but it will be basically the same tasks. I start at 9:15 on Thursday. :tucool:
[/I]

That's great feedback, guava. Nice to have something to work on. Congratulations!

Sorry to read about the job situation, but at least you're able to pick up some hours with the business developer and have a "foot in the door." You seem optimistic that there will be good opportunities available to you so hopefully even a better position will pan out. Good luck.I try to ALWAYS stay optimistic. The business developer is a bit of a "chareacter" so I hope that doesn't turn into a nightmare. :scared:
That's great feedback, guava. Nice to have something to work on. Congratulations!It was fantastic feedback! I was so glad that I asked! I don't know if that means I need to practice my answers better, or that the job just didn't suit my behavioral style. The way she offered the feedback made me think that she was pleased with my overall impression, and would have been happy to hire me, but that this position just wasn't quite right for me. So that could be true. If something came up with a slightly different task focus, or different clients and colleagues, she might keep me in mind.

Probably about a week before you go to Cuba I'll be heading off to Florida for a long weekend and am using it as a motivator to keep me focused. Well, I've wanted to use it as one, but haven't been doing such a great job lately. That's changing although I haven't made the effort to script out a plan as detailed as the one that you did. You've really put a lot of thought into it.I'm already realizing that the plan I laid out isn't going to be perfectly effective. :doh:

Workout last night was awful. :cry: But wonderful. :evil:

Squats
20, 20, 8 (failure!)
Lunges
12 L, 12 R, 12 R, 12 L, 2 R (failure!)
side leg lift, reverse leg lift
20 L, 20 R, 20 L 20 R
glute bridge
20, 20 L, 20 R, 20
crunches, reverse crunches, leg lift (between bridge sets)

It's not the failure that was bad, but the embarrassingly low weight I had to use. :o My legs/hips were making terrible crunching noises that were quite frightening.

So I think for at least the first week, I'm going to stick with a full-body routine, likely going to do it circuit style.

I do the workout right before bed, without any PWO nutrition. So I'm not sure how much it helps with hypertrophy, but I sure do sleep well.

My cardio high lasted six hours yesterday. :spaz:

Wednesday:
elliptical
30:00 level 7/6 (including warmup, cooldown lvl 1) 5.0 km (or miles? :confused:)
318 calories burned

This cardio high lasted only 3 hours. :(
M1
2 omega 3 eggs
1 C raw spinach
LARGE slice of ham (100g ?)
M2
cherry yogurt (fat free, sugar free)
pink lady apple :drool:
M3
50 g eye of round roast
5 small tomatoes
M4 (not yet eaten)
beef vegetable soup with barley
M5 (not yet eaten)
grapes, yogurt, cereal

Day 1:
5'5" 54.5 kg (120 pounds) 18% body fat

Day 2:
53.1 kg (117 pounds) 17.3% body fat :confused:

Goal:
5'5" 53 kg (117 pounds) 16% body fat by December 24th.

Weight is probably accurate, because Day 1's weight was after lunch, and Day 2's weight was first thing after cardio on an empty stomach. I think a better strategy than a 6 1/2 week gradual cut is a forty day bulk, then nine days of cutting. :cool:

1500 calories will be way too low, so I'm going to need to add a bunch of foods into my meal plan.

I could write detailed comments, but after those pictures I only need:
:drool:

I think your new plan with the bulk and then the cut would be good... you're so lean right now you really don't need to cut :nod: you look great by the way :tucool:

I think your new plan with the bulk and then the cut would be good... you're so lean right now you really don't need to cut :nod: you look great by the way :tucool:It makes a lot more sense. :nod: I don't really want to be any smaller. I've been keeping my calories reasonable for the last several months, just letting my exercise slide. Just getting the exercise back into schedule should be all I need to get back to my target point. I'm not really sure about what a good calorie amount is, but probably just over 2000 will be enough to bulk, depending on how much cardio I do, and just under 1550 to cut. (I'm not sure I'll be accurately tracking the numbers, but it's nice to have an estimated target.) I wish I could chop off the top of my body and leave it unchanged, and just work on the fat in the bottom part of my body. :blank:

Meals as planned, but I'm still hungry (2 Cups of soup was only 200 calories :()

Tonight's weights (I'm not trying to kill myself, but if I don't work out regularly, it won't remain a habit) So, just a short one:
bench press 2 x 15
bent over row 2 x 15
pull-ups 3 x 3
dumbbell curls 3 x 8
side laterals 2 x 8
It wasn't that much fun, but I'm glad to have done it. :nod:

I'm not sure what to do with the frozen organic edamame I bought. Epicurius suggests Edamame Ice Cream (http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=frozen%20edamame). :nope: I might do this (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/103832) or a variation on this (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/239266) or, more likely this bean salad (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/237666).

I also picked up some organic kale at Whole Foods on Sunday. I'm afraid to look at it to see if it's still edible. :scared: Really have no idea what to do with this either. Maybe a winter vegetable hash (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Winter-Vegetable-Hash/Detail.aspx), because I also have an acorn squash. Probably I'll mix it in with some pasta like this (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Pepper-Pasta-Toss-with-Kale/Detail.aspx). I could probably even freeze it.

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win. ~ Roger Bannister

Hi Guava, thanks for linking to the site of John Stutz in my journal. I just had a look at some of the hundreds of pics there and find them super motivational and inspiring!!! :tu:

I like your bulking idea. As for the edamame, my cooking textbook says you can steam them in the pod, chill and then pop open to eat out of hand as a snack. That's probably what I would do since it seems the least labor intensive. :o

Also, some guy said this to me today: "I love walnuts -- put them in my oatmeal every morning. They're a superfood, I think"
And I immediately thought of you. :lol:

Hi Guava, thanks for linking to the site of John Stutz in my journal. I just had a look at some of the hundreds of pics there and find them super motivational and inspiring!!! :tu:He photographs the most beautiful fitness models. :dreamy: His photos are able to capture their beauty and strength at the same time, while showing just the right amount of detail and intrigue. He seems to really dislike faces, however. :confused:
http://www.johnstutz.com/images/galleries/fit_girls/jodi_miller/Jodi_Miller-A181-med.jpg
http://www.johnstutz.com/images/galleries/fit_boys/ryan_murakoshi/Ryan_Murakoshi-A032-med.jpg

I like your bulking idea. As for the edamame, my cooking textbook says you can steam them in the pod, chill and then pop open to eat out of hand as a snack. That's probably what I would do since it seems the least labor intensive. :o

Also, some guy said this to me today: "I love walnuts -- put them in my oatmeal every morning. They're a superfood, I think"
And I immediately thought of you. :lol:The picture of my edamame doesn't have any shells on them, so it might be even easier than that. They just look like they'd be really bland.

Wednesday, I guess the reason I was hungry was because I forgot to have the cereal with meal 5. :doh: Added meal 6, about 10 almonds and some Life cereal.

Thursday
M1
large ham steak, 2 omega 3 eggs, 1 c raw spinach
M2
1 orange, about 85 g whole wheat rotini, 4 small tomatoes cooked with garlic and 1/2 bunch kale, 10 olives with pimento
M3
4 slices whole wheat bread, 1 1/2 T peanut butter, 1 banana
M4
vanilla yogurt (fat free, sugar free)

Hungry now. Not sure what to eat.

No workout today; not sure what I feel like doing. Yesterday's weight workout was earlier in the evening to allow for PWO nutrition. I won't be doing that again, because I didn't sleep very well. I was shivering for about 90 minutes after I hit the pillow, and couldn't sleep until I added a second sweater under my sheet, quilt, and comforter. :rolleyes: Workouts immediately before bed increase my circulation enough to keep me warm for the night.

First day on the job. Wow, I'm going to learn a lot. :eek: I might find that ten hours per week is enough, but I'm going to keep looking for more work just in case something perfect comes up. There's a "marketing analyst" position listed which sounds intriguing ("Conduct surveys and analyze data on the buying habits and preferences of wholesale and retail consumers") but it's full time, and I wouldn't be as attractively compensated. (Plus, I got a cell phone today, and he's getting me a Blackberry next week. :spaz: But I think that means he's expecting me to make and take calls. :scared: :lol:)

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you." ~William James

I also picked up some organic kale at Whole Foods on Sunday. I'm afraid to look at it to see if it's still edible. :scared: Really have no idea what to do with this either. Maybe a winter vegetable hash (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Winter-Vegetable-Hash/Detail.aspx), because I also have an acorn squash. Probably I'll mix it in with some pasta like this (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Pepper-Pasta-Toss-with-Kale/Detail.aspx). I could probably even freeze it.


I just steam it and drizzle with olive oil as a side dish.

I just steam it and drizzle with olive oil as a side dish.I cooked it with my tomatoes as a pasta topping, and the flavor was somewhat unpleasant. It tasted slightly bitter like Swiss Chard (but not quite as strong). I'm going to use it up tomorrow the same way, but with this stuff (http://www.bende.com/ecommerce/shopdetails.cfm?p=279&cat=12) mixed in.
http://www.bende.com/ecommerce/pictures/2/2914-1.jpg

Or I could make it into a portuguese soup (http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-23,GGLG:en&q=kale+soup), which seems to be very popular. I picked up some turkey kielbasa last night for my daughter, but I could steal it from her. Shhhh.

I actually like kale. One of the few greens I actually like cooked. Arugula, however, I hate.

He photographs the most beautiful fitness models. :dreamy: His photos are able to capture their beauty and strength at the same time, while showing just the right amount of detail and intrigue. He seems to really dislike faces, however. :confused:


"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you." ~William James

omg, the shoulders of that woman :drool: I don't know where my obsession with shoulders comes from?! good thing it's shoulder workout tonight, after seeing that pic I'm going to kick their ass :bb:


btw, love that quote....

Kitty, you're not alone with your shoulder obsession. I am determined to sculpt mine to perfection :D.

Guava, I tried out quinoa for the first time today after reading one of your posts about it. It is delish! I'm going to make it a staple in my diet.

What I like with those 2 pics, is that both of them have 'long muscles'. Muscles that are not so big and bunched up as you get with body builders.

I much prefer that look. :nod:

What I like with those 2 pics, is that both of them have 'long muscles'. Muscles that are not so big and bunched up as you get with body builders.

I much prefer that look. :nod:

I agree they both look quite 'natural' :nod: and very attractive :D

:eat:
I'm not sure what to do with the frozen organic edamame I bought. Epicurius suggests Edamame Ice Cream (http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=frozen%20edamame). :nope: I might do this (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/103832) or a variation on this (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/239266) or, more likely this bean salad (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/237666).


I throw edemame in all kinds of stuff. Brown rice and veggies especially. Also, if I am in a pinch and have to eat a lean cuisine type meal, I add a handful to boost the veggie content. I have even added them to scrambled eggs. I liken them to Lima beans.

I use edamame in my Thai pumpkin and chicken curry.

Ingredients:
7 oz chicken breast
2 cups pak-choi, chopped
1/2 cup shelled edamame
2 cups pumpkin (e.g. Hokkaido)
20 g creamed coconut + 1 cup of hot water OR 3/4 cup of light coconut milk
1 tbsp red curry paste (or less)
1/2 tbsp canola oil

Dice the pumpkin and cook it in boiling water until it's no longer rock solid, but make sure not to overcook it. Dice the chicken and fry it in canola oil. Add the pumpkin and curry paste. Dissolve the coconut in water and add it in (or add the coconut milk). Add edamame. Lastly, add the pak-choi. Let it simmer for about five to seven minutes.

Makes 3 servings.

Hey Guava - saw this and was not sure if it was one you had seen before, I know you have had some conversations revolving around the Dove campaign here on JSF. You also have two daughters as well that you seem to do a great job with so I thought you might like to see it if you have not already?

Li3mg1GrKe0

Well since the embed did not work give the actual link a try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li3mg1GrKe0

Well since the embed did not work give the actual link a try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li3mg1GrKe0

wow... thanks for posting that... I know that while I cared how I looked in school my focus wasn't so much on how I looked.... a bit too much importance was placed on what you wore... but no one really talked about weight that way when I was in school... we really do seem to be a weight obsesed culture these day's with almost no emphasis on health, which is really bad

wow... thanks for posting that... I know that while I cared how I looked in school my focus wasn't so much on how I looked.... a bit too much importance was placed on what you wore... but no one really talked about weight that way when I was in school... we really do seem to be a weight obsesed culture these day's with almost no emphasis on health, which is really bad

Yes, my wife sent that to me. On a related note as we begin considering a family it is a bit intimidating to think that I may (will) have daughters with those struggles...I am up for the challenge!

I use edamame in my Thai pumpkin and chicken curry.

Ingredients:
7 oz chicken breast
2 cups pak-choi, chopped
1/2 cup shelled edamame
2 cups pumpkin (e.g. Hokkaido)
20 g creamed coconut + 1 cup of hot water OR 3/4 cup of light coconut milk
1 tbsp red curry paste (or less)
1/2 tbsp canola oil

Dice the pumpkin and cook it in boiling water until it's no longer rock solid, but make sure not to overcook it. Dice the chicken and fry it in canola oil. Add the pumpkin and curry paste. Dissolve the coconut in water and add it in (or add the coconut milk). Add edamame. Lastly, add the pak-choi. Let it simmer for about five to seven minutes.

Makes 3 servings.Ooh, yay! You win! :bow:

Hey Guava - saw this and was not sure if it was one you had seen before, I know you have had some conversations revolving around the Dove campaign here on JSF. You also have two daughters as well that you seem to do a great job with so I thought you might like to see it if you have not already?
I love what Dove is doing. That young woman at the end of that clip is such a beautiful person. I'm lucky my kids are not terribly image oriented. My older daughter is able to find it amusing and laugh about it when she's mistaken for a boy. :doh:

Is what ends up in our shopping cart indicative of some kind of nutritional shortage? Here's what I came home with. Oh my, that Puttanesca is fantastic! :drool: The reason why the dish gained such a name is debated, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puttanesca) but I think it must be because it's so sinful and decadent. :evil:

All this focus on food is making me hungry.

All this focus on food is making me hungry.
Hunger is good. :nod:

M1
4 slices whole wheat bread
2 T peanut butter
1 banana
M2
whole wheat penne puttanesca with kale
M3
3 open-faced eye of round roast sandwich with whole grain bread
M4
We've been invited to celebrate Diwali with my daughter's classmate. :jumping:

One of the biggest festivals of Hindus, Deepawali or Diwali in India is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and happiness. :D :D :D This festival is celebrated for five continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali or as 'Festival of Lights'. Fireworks are always associated with this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, candles all around their house. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Diwali gifts are exchanged among all near and dear ones.

My older daughter is taking a unit in "self esteem" as part of her health lessons. She was paired up for an exercise where they told each other what they liked about each other and what they liked about themselves. :dreamy:

I've always said that one night, I'm going to find myself in some field somewhere, I'm standing on grass, and it's raining, and I'm with the person I love, and I know I'm at the very point I've been dreaming of getting to. ~ Drew Barrymore

Diwali was fun. They sure know how to throw a good party. :spaz:

M5 -leftovers from daughter's plate
basmati rice, spicy peas and mushrooms, curried chickpeas, tomato yogurt chicken

Today
10 minutes elliptical

M1
four slices multigrain bread
2 T peanut butter
1 banana
M2
penne puttanesca (tomatoes, olives, capers) with kale
eye of round roast
M3
1 pear
1 slice banana bread
M4
T-bone steak (I didn't want this, but I was too lazy to cook, so I ate what my husband made. *Sigh.*)
broccoli
M5 (not yet eaten)
85% dark chocolate (gift)
grapes

Weights workout (not yet completed)
Something like this:
A1: Back squat 2 x 10
A2: Bench press 2 x 10

B1: Dumbbell alternating lunge 2 x 10
B2: Chest-supported row 2 x 10
B3: Incline leg raise 2 x 10

C1: Dumbbell split squat 2 x 10
C2: Push-up 2 x 10

D1: wall slides or sissy squats 2 x 10
D2: Hanging knee/leg raise 2 x 10

“Life is very interesting... in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths.” ~ Drew Barrymore

I only got about half of that workout done.

Nutrition was not good Sunday, but it's because I didn't plan well for it.
M1
4 slices bread, peanut butter, banana
M2 (stuck at a birthday party)
1 slice pepperoni pizza with half of the cheese and pepperoni pulled off.
M3
2 slices pumpernickel rye bread
M4
roasted chicken breast, broccoli
romaine lettuce, tomato, green onion, tomato dressing
M5
chocolate mint candy

10 pushups

Today, I didn't plan well for meals either. :bang: I was out of the house from 10am to 7:30pm, which is unusual for me, and I hadn't prepared adequately. :spank: I also hate wasting food, so my daughter knows to give me what she won't eat.
M1
4 slices bread, peanut butter, banana
M2
penne puttanesca with chicken
apple
yogurt
granola bar (daughter wouldn't eat)
M3
yogurt
1/2 apple (daughter wouldn't eat)
Luna bar
M4
chicken leg (daughter wouldn't eat)
Cinnamon shredded wheat

I think I must be coming down with something. My glands are swollen and it hurts to swallow.

Work is going really well. :D

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."~ Abraham Maslow

I only got about half of that workout done.

Nutrition was not good Sunday, but it's because I didn't plan well for it.
M1
4 slices bread, peanut butter, banana
M2 (stuck at a birthday party)
1 slice pepperoni pizza with half of the cheese and pepperoni pulled off.
M3
2 slices pumpernickel rye bread
M4
roasted chicken breast, broccoli
romaine lettuce, tomato, green onion, tomato dressing
M5
chocolate mint candy

10 pushups

Today, I didn't plan well for meals either. :bang: I was out of the house from 10am to 7:30pm, which is unusual for me, and I hadn't prepared adequately. :spank: I also hate wasting food, so my daughter knows to give me what she won't eat.
M1
4 slices bread, peanut butter, banana
M2
penne puttanesca with chicken
apple
yogurt
granola bar (daughter wouldn't eat)
M3
yogurt
1/2 apple (daughter wouldn't eat)
Luna bar
M4
chicken leg (daughter wouldn't eat)
Cinnamon shredded wheat

I think I must be coming down with something. My glands are swollen and it hurts to swallow.

Work is going really well. :D

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."~ Abraham Maslow

Hi Guava,

You are right about Diwali! There are many people from India where I work, I having only been there for about six months, and not having been exposed to their culture, I was pleasantly surprised! I think I was most impressed by the beautiful colored rice mats made in celebration. A colleague was also saying that their light displays rivaled the most ardent 'Clark Griswold' and that New Dehli could probably be seen from a satellite image. The Tandoori chicken was wonderful.:drool:

Oh yeah, the main reason I replied... ever spread some applesauce on your peanut butter and banana sandwich? Now that's livin'!!!!:drool:

I'm with Paul... your thread makes me hungry!

It's bad that you are feeling ill, but good that your job is going so well! Focus on that piece of great news! :jumping:

I made an expensive mistake. :doh:

I've decided to withdraw my daughter from the competitive gymnastics program that she's been telling me since the middle of the trial period that she didn't want to be in. :bang:

Sometimes you just can't tell when to give that extra push, and when it's best to leave well enough alone. :( She loves gymnastics so much, is so good at it, and looked like she was having so much fun that I wanted her to give it everything she had. But I didn't realize how incredibly stressful it was for her.

She left her hair scrunchie at home this afternoon and ended up having a breakdown before class about it. She was so upset (cried for 20 minutes at the gym) that I had to take her home. On the way home I asked myself "Would it be so bad if she never went back again?" and the answer is no.

The coaches kept suggesting a class called "fundamentals" as an option to the precompetitive stream, but, in my eyes, they were nearly indistinguishable, except for the fundamentals class being 2 hours per session twice a week instead of 3 hours twice a week. It seemed that the precompetitive would be at least as good a fit, provide better discipline, and offer so many more opportunities.

As part of the contract, I have to pay up till the end of November, whether she attends any more classes or not. So I'm not sure whether I should convince to participate in those last four classes, or whether it wouldn't be any advantage. (Or whether they would allow me to use that as a credit for 24 hours of gymnastics, or at least 4 additional classes of our choice.) I don't think fundamentals will suit her well, given the failure of this program. She seems excited about trampoline, for which they do have a specialized class (1 hour, and possibly 1.5 hour) so that would probably be a closer fit.

It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling. ~Robert M. Pirsig

Well... Look at it this way. If you've already paid then it doesn't matter whether she attends or not. Do what is best for her and you. If you had the option to get the money back then that's different. But if you don't, then attending or not makes no difference. :)

Well... Look at it this way. If you've already paid then it doesn't matter whether she attends or not. Do what is best for her and you. If you had the option to get the money back then that's different. But if you don't, then attending or not makes no difference. :)I have severe "issues" with money, so it's difficult. I'm doing a cost benefit analysis.

Since she has the opportunity to take the next four gymnastics classes for free, does it provide benefit for her to attend, and maybe have fun, or get some exercise, or learn the importance of commitment, or something like that, or does it provide more benefit to free her schedule for more relaxing things? It's a tough call.

I haven't yet officially withdrawn her from the class, because at that point she might become unwelcome, and then I don't even have the option any more. :p

I have severe "issues" with money, so it's difficult. I'm doing a cost benefit analysis.

Since she has the opportunity to take the next four gymnastics classes for free, does it provide benefit for her to attend, and maybe have fun, or get some exercise, or learn the importance of commitment, or something like that, or does it provide more benefit to free her schedule for more relaxing things? It's a tough call.

I haven't yet officially withdrawn her from the class, because at that point she might become unwelcome, and then I don't even have the option any more. :p

If there are only four classes left, I'd say to encourage her to stick it out. Make sure she realizes that she needs to finish the classes, not because you are forcing her to, but because she also made the commitment.

If there are only four classes left, I'd say to encourage her to stick it out. Make sure she realizes that she needs to finish the classes, not because you are forcing her to, but because she also made the commitment.There are four classes left in the month, and by my contract I'm allowed to withdraw her at any point of the year, but must pay until the end of the month of that occurrence.

So, I have to pay for the next four classes no matter when she officially withdraws.

I am allowing her to break the "commitment" because she told me from the start that she didn't want to be in the class, and I pressed the issue, thinking it was just jitters, and enrolling her regardless because she LOOKED like she was enjoying herself and having so much fun.:o

My hamstrings are sore from deadlifts, my quads are sore from squats, and my abs are sore from coughing. :blank:

We were fortunate enough again last night to be part of a theatre audience for which the play was adjudicated. :dance: I was pretty embarrassed about my cough, and was popping lozenges every 20 minutes throughout the evening, but it was a great play, and it was fascinating to hear the comments afterwards.

My daughter's been home from school since Tuesday, so I took her to the doctor yesterday. The doctor prescribed a steroid nasal spray (http://www.drugs.com/pdr/nasonex.html)to treat the post-nasal drip that was causing her cough and sore throat, but now that I look at the patient information, that's not it's intended use. :confused:

The Santa Claus Parade is today, but I'm really not ready to think about Christmas until December.

It's cold out there.http://www.denvergrs.org/forums/images/smilies/snowman.gif


Either you run the day or the day runs you. ~Jim Rohn

I get berated if I speak of Christmas before Thanksgiving has arrived.
It was always miserable for us when I was a kid so I'm reliving it as an adult :D

I cant believe next week is Thanksgiving!

That little snowman is so cute.
Not looking forward to the hectic shopping?

I get berated if I speak of Christmas before Thanksgiving has arrived.
It was always miserable for us when I was a kid so I'm reliving it as an adult :D

Not looking forward to the hectic shopping?
Hi Naturegirl! :wave: You just had to bring your avatar in here, didn't you? :spank:

I'm not sure it's the shopping specifically that's uncomfortable. I just feel that a long drawn-out ritual is less satisfying than a short burst of exhiliration and delight. Christmas day has transitioned into the Christmas season and marketing campaigns go on for months, making The Grand Event seem a little bit less significant and wondrous in comparison....

Some kind of sporting event is going on on tv today, so I'm chilling out with the kids while my husband's off with the guys. Tomorrow, I'll be feeling better, but today I'm sticking to comfort foods (he made a big pot of chili! :)), and resting, as I can barely get up off the couch.

http://www.indotekken.com/forum/images/smilies/070624/bolakbalik.gif

Planned diet and exercise for today

M1
coffee, chili
M2
chili, coffee
M3
coffee, apple
M4
oatmeal, decaf
M5
tea, chili, toast

Pullups
set 1 3
set 2 3
set 3 3
pushups
set 1 20
set 2 20

Separated by a couple of hours each. ;)

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus." ~Oprah Winfrey

You just had to bring your food in here, didn't you?
:spank:

Good idea! I might have to do some holiday baking next weekend.

Click here:
http://static.flickr.com/49/147021850_e08da1364f.jpg (http://28cooks.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html)

Here:
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/images/sweet/biscuitsnoisette.jpg (http://chocolateandzucchini.com/gallery.php?group=0)
Then here:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/images/beautyshots/r42526fp.jpg (http://www.bettycrocker.com/baking/seasonal-recipes/)
Here:
http://www.gaylea.com/recipepics/18.jpg (http://www.gaylea.com/recipes/action/category/cat_id/5)
Here:
http://www.kraftcanada.com/NR/rdonlyres/5ACC8E52-69E5-4C47-9BF8-5AE645AA2FB5/0/Article_FabulousHolidayFeast_EN.jpg (http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/HolidayHowToCentre/CelebrationMenus/FabulousHolidayFeast.htm)

:eat::spaz::dreamy:

:spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank:: spank:

Looks delicious. Nice pullups :tucool:

Hi Naturegirl! :wave: You just had to bring your avatar in here, didn't you? :spank:

I was waiting for someone to bring that up. Now if we can only get something done about Big_D's shorts.

Looks delicious. Nice pullups :tucool:
Thanks!

I thought I would lose those pullups, having gone so long without them. But they're going okay. I don't know what I was up to before, but I can see getting to 3x6 (or 6x3) by the end of the year. :claphigh:

So, this is what's done

Pullups 4, 4
M1, M2, M3, switched M4 to breakfast pita, yogurt, and fresh raspberries
2 loads of laundry
emptied dishwasher, hand washed dishes
20 pushups

Not great, but not too bad for a sick day!

Making fusilli lunghi bucati (http://www.lamolisana.it/pages/schedaProdotto_it.jsp?idpasta=113&idfamiglia=2) for the girls. It's my favorite pasta because it has so much personality. I'm not sure if it has a name in English or not.

Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

I was waiting for someone to bring that up. Now if we can only get something done about Big_D's shorts.
The shorts are okay, it's just the lighting that adds a somewhat jarring highlight to the whole composition. He just needs some photoshop lessons from Naturegirl. :nod:

The shorts are okay, it's just the lighting that adds a somewhat jarring highlight to the whole composition. He just needs some photoshop lessons from Naturegirl. :nod:
It could be intended to highlight the name. :lol:

Fixed it for you.

But it's so sparkly :dreamy:

I guess I'm weird then, after Halloween I start thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and when Christmas is over I'm all sad.

All this baking you're going to be doing sounds fun. The only thing I ever make and am good at is apple oatmeal crunch (a cobblar basically.) If i want to stay on track with my diet I'll have to relegate myself to lighting various bake scented candles. Did you know they have fresh bread scented ones? :eek:

What's your favorite holiday type meal?

Yesterday's targets met. Last meal changed to three bowls of Raisin Bran with light soy milk. Close enough.:p

Cough is worse today, but not feeling as lazy. I should take something for it, but I'm not sure what.
All this baking you're going to be doing sounds fun. The only thing I ever make and am good at is apple oatmeal crunch (a cobblar basically.) If i want to stay on track with my diet I'll have to relegate myself to lighting various bake scented candles. Did you know they have fresh bread scented ones? :eek:

What's your favorite holiday type meal?I used to do a lot of baking, but I hardly do any now.

Last year, I made a lot of gingerbread, like this one (http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/christmas/r/gingerbreadcake.htm). I have a bunch of specialty bakeware, so I can make all sorts of cute stuff like this:
http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/85/55/23045585.jpg

I got a snowflake pan something like this just a couple of weeks ago, so I'm looking forward to making something in it. The gingerbread would work well.
http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/pans/nordic/54848.jpg

I'd like to try a plum pudding, or a pound cake with rum sauce this year, but I'm sure no one else in the family would appreciate it, so I'm probably best to stick to the local cafes who serve single servings near this time of year.

We burned "chocolate chip cookie" and "snickerdoodle" candles last year, and I keep my van scented with "carrot cake", but sometimes the sweetness is too much, so I'm going to alternate with "pine" this year. Every year I ask for Pampered Chef coffee, which has such a great smell for the holidays (cinnamon and nut)

I do various kinds of spiced nuts as well. A lot of them are too sugary, but I have a recipe that includes orange juice and cayenne pepper, which is quite nice.

As for complete meals, I really, really like stuffing, which leads to a meal with turkey, broccoli and/or brussels sprouts, and recently I've also been making a cranberry sauce from scratch. (I don't care for the mashed potatoes and gravy, so that's the complete meal; because of the proportions I eat it in, it's a completely on-track meal. :D)Because I'm Ukranian/Polish, pierogi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi)and holopchi (http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/POLAND-ROOTS/2003-02/1046296052) are essential with our Christmas meal. (My huband even requested I add kutya (http://www.recipezaar.com/77525) a couple of years back, so I did it the once, but the cooking time was quite unpredictable.)

"Christmas Morning Wifesaver" was always another great meal hit (A casserole of bread, ham, eggs, milk, and cheese) but now that I'm lactose intolerant, I've quit making it.

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

OMG, look at all the yummy pastries and sweets!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :drool::drool::drool:

like every year, christmas and the few weeks beforehand are going to be tough for a sweet tooth like me :blank:

your journal is bad for my discipline, Guava!!! Happy is right with his comments :nod:

Thank you! :dreamy:

your journal is bad for my discipline, Guava!!! Happy is right with his comments :nod:Maybe it needs a new title

Everything in Abundance!!!!:D:eat:

Would that help?

Today's food:

5 slices whole wheat bread
1 English muffin
3 T peanut butter
3 bananas
1/2 apple
whole lotta coffee
:o:o:o

:drool:

Added a bit of chicken breast, some stuffing, and a generous portion of frozen vegetables as my last meal yesterday.

Then I moved a lot of weight. :bb::flex::D

Lifts were up by about 25% in weight, and still managed all ten reps, even though I can't shake this cough, so I think I'm in pretty good shape to meet my targets. :claplow:

M1
3 slices whole wheat bread
1 1/2 T peanut butter
banana
M2
can of salmon
1/3 C Biobest yogurt
carton of cherry tomatoes

I should be on meal 3 by now, but I had to work through lunch. :spank:

He said he wants to see me "more aggressive" so I might have to move my workouts to immediately before I meet with him. :p Changes my brain chemistry to make me feel invincible.

"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."~ Og Mandino

My husband won the parking spot. :claphigh:

He pledged the highest amount of the employees in his building to our charity of choice (We picked Kids Help Phone) so he was awarded the choice spot right beside the VP. Now he says we need a new car, because he doesn't want his Sunfire next to the BMW. :rolleyes:

My cough is actually getting worse. :(

M1
half grapefruit, 1/3 C granola, 1/2 C yogurt
M2
2 1/2 C chili
M3
1/3 pommelo
M4
1/2 C oatmeal, 1/2 C yogurt
M5
2 http://www.bulkfoods.com/pictures/2090_mint_pattie.jpg

Still hungry. Gee, wonder why. :doh:

I need more tea. :cry:

"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth." --Evan Esar

I really did not feel like working out yesterday, but after all this talk in the ladies' journals about how we never feel worse after getting out of the gym, I had to give it a try. I still have intermitment fever/chills and sensitivities, and slightly swollen glands, so I eliminated compound movements, and I worked the body parts that are least sore.

:D

I did feel quite a lot better afterwards. It wasn't a huge workout, but enough the get the blood circulating.
One warmup set, and one working set for each, plus two additional sets on the curls.
side lateral raise
bent over lateral raise
bent over kickbacks
dumbbell curls
tricep extensions

Anyone who's a fan of John Stutz, whose images I posted a few posts up, should sign up for his e-newsletter. He sent some image editing tips in with the most recent one. Here are the images they refer to:
http://www.johnstutz.com/image.asp?special,post_processing,1

(Frankly, I think he could have done more, but maybe he just chose a poor example. His original unedited images are so precise that there's really little room for improvement)

That which we persist in doing becomes easier - not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do has increased. ~ Emerson

I really did not feel like working out yesterday, but after all this talk in the ladies' journals about how we never feel worse after getting out of the gym, I had to give it a try.

Anyone who's a fan of John Stutz, whose images I posted a few posts up, should sign up for his e-newsletter. He sent some image editing tips in with the most recent one. Here are the images they refer to:
http://www.johnstutz.com/image.asp?special,post_processing,1



:eek: John Stutz has a newsletter!!! *quickly goes to website to subscribe*

thanks for reminding me of the good feeling after the gym....I'm so tired today, just drank two cups of coffee and am heading off in 5 mins. it seemed difficult a minute ago but not anymore! btw, there are cases when you can drop gym, you know! I think being sick with fever and chills is definitely a valid reason for skipping a workout ;)

btw, there are cases when you can drop gym, you know! I think being sick with fever and chills is definitely a valid reason for skipping a workout ;)Normally, that would be a good thing. But you should never skip something that would make you feel better if you hadn't skipped it. (I had to try it and see. If it was awful, I would have stopped.) I'm really not into experiencing pain or discomfort to reach a goal. Really, if it's not all good, I'm going to find something else to do instead, that's more fun, and more satisfying. :p

I've been really, really high in carbs this week (lower in protein than targets, and about the same or slightly lower in fats). That's one thing I do give myself a lot of latitude with. When I need sugar, I need sugar, or I just get really, really miserable. :(:(:(

"Having the energy to pursue our passions will always come if that's our wish. Most of who we are, what we do, and where we are going relates to our attitude. Being tired, bored, scared, or unhappy are decisions, nothing more. Coming to grips with this reality has the potential for changing every aspect of what remains of our lives." ~ Author Unknown

I'm eating chocolate... :drool:

I'm eating chocolate... :drool:
:claphigh:

Good for you!

:lol:

I made the gingerbread cake!
1 C applesauce
1/4 C mollasses
1/4 C corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 C brown sugar
4 egg whites
1/3 C canola oil
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

I ate almost a third of it. :doh: But I'm not eating much else.

Women who have PMS should be excused from all colds and flus.

I feel sick.. :(

Hi Guava :)

Green bad, Blue good.
Go Blue!
(just had to add).

Hi Guava :)

Green bad, Blue good.
Go Blue!
(just had to add).
Gordo! :wave: Someone else who's not celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend!

Something's going on this weekend too, huh? (I guess that means I'll get another batch of chili. :spaz: :lol:)

Go Blue!!!!!

(Actually, I don't even know who Green is. :o :doh:)

We have a buddy (another Winnipeg guy) who's staying at a hotel in Toronto for all of the festivities, even though he only lives about an hour away. He stayed in Winnipeg for the semi-final too. :nod:

I think yesterday's calories actually came in a little low. I felt so overindulgent about the gingerbread, I went way low on everything else. I was going to check it in fitday, but it wouldn't prove much anyway, so I don't think I will. :neener:
M1
1 C raisin bran
1/2 C soy milk
1/2 C yogurt
M2
2 eggs, 2 egg whites
1 C broccoli
about 60-80g ham
M3
about 1/3 gingerbread cake
12 baby carrots
M4
1/2 C yellow melon
1/2 C sweet potato

Workout last night with dumbbells:
sumo squats 2 x 20 (no weight)
wide stance squats 2x10
one arm bench press on stability ball (I'm not sure if this is working the right thing (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=40176)) 2x10
Swiss ball crunches 2x12
pushups 2x15
one arm bent over row 2x10
wall slide 2x12
sissy squat 2x12
lying leg raise 2x12

Weights are still going up a bit, slowly. My quads still feel really weak, and especially limited by my knees (I'm always weak in squats in comparison tables, but leg extensions and leg curls aren't so bad) I think adding in the unweighted sumos will be a big help for me. :tu: I've never liked compound movements very much, because, as well as muscular fatigue, they create cardiovascular fatigue, and the combination is sometimes overwhelming. Felt a tiny bit nauseous about 3/4 of the way through this workout, likely due to the ab work, but I slowed down and kept pushing through, and it didn't last.

I think we should make all the flags in the parade out of long underwear, he said, because then only the really fun people will come. ~Storypeople

I feel sick.. :(
Have some peppermint tea. :nod:

http://www.theofficeexperts.com/forum/images/smilies/coffeecup.gif

Your smiley tea scares me! :scared:

I thought I'd signed up for a Food Handling "Course", but I think it's actually just a Food Handling "Exam". I got the manual last week; I started reading through it yesterday, and it's not much fun at all.

"You're about to start work, but you have diarrhea. What do you do?" :blank:

Some of the study questions are a bit trickier than that. I'm somewhat worried that I might actually fail the exam, so I'm thinking about backing out. :scared: A lot of the information seems to not be very practical, so it's not terribly exciting to study. (Do I really want to know what HPPA stands for, or to be able to give examples of bacteria which produce toxins?) I've been working on it for about three hours so far, and I'm almost through the book. I'd like to read it twice through again, and then take the test before I show up for the "exam" or whatever is going to happen at this session Wednesday night. (I guess I'd better check on that. If I over-study, I'd be pretty bored.)

The Organization who funds our breakfast program is providing this for free to any of us who'd like to attend, but it's completely voluntary.

Food Handling Certification (http://app.toronto.ca/foodhandler/pub/pubIndex.jsp)

Oh, wait, those questions are much easier than the ones in my manual.

Today
M1
2 slices white whole wheat bread (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-06-29-wonderbread_x.htm)
peanut butter
banana
small piece gingerbread
banana yogurt
M2
pumello
yogurt
small piece gingerbread
yellow melon
M3
whole wheat roll
eye of round roast
mache (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/25/HOG7H8T24O1.DTL)
http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2004/09/25_t/ho_produce_1_t.gif

This kind of thing puts me to...

:sleepy:

:(

I hate going to the doctor. I don't think there's anything wrong with me that won't go away on its own, but dammit it's taking a long time.:bang::mad:

Yesterday, took the girls tobogganning down the hill. Today, went to see Bee Movie, but I didn't like it that much (maybe only because I'd predecided I wasn't going to).

Tried to do my workout earlier this evening, but I was feeling a little nauseous again, so I slowed down, which didn't help, so I'm taking a break, having a better dinner. :( Hoping it will calm down and I can lift a little later, but pullups are on the menu, so that's gonna take some. :blank:

M1
toast, peanut butter, banana
M2
chili, pita, grapes
M3
chocolate cake
M4
English muffin, eye of round roast, spinach
yellow melon
pummelo

The future will be better tomorrow. ~ Dan Quayle

M1
1 C raisin bran
1/2 C soy milk
1/2 C yogurt
M2
2 eggs, 2 egg whites
1 C broccoli
about 60-80g ham
M3
about 1/3 gingerbread cake
12 baby carrots
M4
1/2 C yellow melon
1/2 C sweet potato\


M1
toast, peanut butter, banana
M2
chili, pita, grapes
M3
chocolate cake
M4
English muffin, eye of round roast, spinach
yellow melon
pummelo


you eat 4 meals a day and what are the calories of all those? looks so small amount.........

you eat 4 meals a day and what are the calories of all those? looks so small amount.........Ah, no... Just getting started....;)

I try to eat six meals a day, but it doesn't actually happen every time. :o

I'm about 120 pounds now, and currently trying to reduce my body fat percentage while not changing my overall weight. So I'm in a muscle-building phase, and trying for at least 2000 calories of clean food (:spank::spank::spank:), but really should be closer to 2200. When I cut, I'm most comfortable around 1500 to 1600; I think I posted that meal plan a couple of weeks back in this journal.

But I've been sick, so my meals been really hard to choke down, and I might be undereating and won't be able to build the muscle I want. :cry:

iSHxNnpiEv4

Today, went to see Bee Movie, but I didn't like it that much (maybe only because I'd predecided I wasn't going to).

I haven't talked to anyone who's seen that movie and thought it was any good. :blank:

But I've been sick, so my meals been really hard to choke down, and I might be undereating and won't be able to build the muscle I want. :cry:

What about bumping the calorie value of some of the foods so you can get more energy per meal (e.g. whole milk instead of soy)? :confused:

Hope you feel better. :o

What about bumping the calorie value of some of the foods so you can get more energy per meal (e.g. whole milk instead of soy)?Yeah, it's done. That's why there's chocolate cake instead of brown rice, green beans, and fish. :o

I think the energy itself is pretty close to in balance. I seem to have only about three different set points: 155 lbs, which is what happens when I eat whatever I want, 130 pounds, which is what happens when I eat mainly healthy foods with some treats, and 118/120 pounds when I keep a clear feeling in the back of my mind of how great it feels to be lean.

Most of my dietary fluctuations are in the quality of the foods rather than their total combined energy value, which probably affects how tired I feel, and how much weight I'm able to lift, which, ultimately then affects how much muscle I can build.

I'm supposed to be eating a whole lot of spinach again today, but it doesn't sound very appetizing. I know MannishBoy puts his through a blender with all sorts of weird stuff, which I'm half considering at this point: spinach, bluberries, yogurt, walnuts, and tofu. I could get 1/3 of the superfoods all in one meal. :dance:

I did get back up there and finish the workout. :flex: Sometimes you just have to get angry. :evil: What's really funny is that the workout seemed to short, so I added a bunch of volume to it, meaning I kinda got nearly two full workouts in. :doh:

Cough is still here. :blank:

When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up. ~ Les Brown

From today's update:

I've been struggling a bit with my diet as of late. I've been putting a lot of thought into why that is, and after I boiled away all the excuses it comes down to one thing: lack of mental toughness, and giving in to temptation.

Most of us fight a constant battle between the long-term benefits of eating to look and feel our best and the instant (but fleeting) gratification provided by junk food. There's nothing wrong with eating that stuff occasionally, but when I eat that kind of junk more than once a week I feel miserable.

I dont think I've ever completely shared this philosophy.

When I "struggle" with my diet (to the extent that it's not helping me meet my physical health and fitness goals), I don't consider myself to be weak. I recognize that beyond my physical fitness goals, strength goals, longevity goals, it's also a goal to take great joy in everything that fills my day. My priorities change, and sometimes eating tasty things, or joining in a cozy dinner, or treating myself to something amazing are more important than meeting my daily energy and nutrient needs. If I frequently felt bad after indulging, then I've shot myself in the foot twice; once for doing something off plan, and again for not having the good sense to have enjoyed it. :p

Maybe I'm lucky; that I have something other than guilt working to help me keep my intake and exercise to levels that can maintain a body shape and size that I'm satisfied with. (Call it mixed priorities, or lower expectations, if you will :p)

Though, if pain and anger can motivate me, then who am I to judge when it's guilt and misery that is motivating others?

“The first and most important point to remember is that eating should be a pleasure — do not eat purely for health, you won't live much longer, but it will feel like an eternity.” — Mark Porter

Gordo! :wave: Someone else who's not celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend!

Something's going on this weekend too, huh? (I guess that means I'll get another batch of chili. :spaz: :lol:)

Go Blue!!!!!

(Actually, I don't even know who Green is. :o :doh:)




:doh: Don't know who the Green ARE. Why MB's next door neighbors to the west of course (pull out a big map of Canada if unsure ;) ). It was a prairie game this year...completely understand that the rest of Canada probably didn't tune in :p

I'm still angry about being still being sick, so I'm sure to have another good workout. :evil::flex::bb:

Food - hah. Numbers probably look fine; choices not so much good.
Some people say they get a big part of their energy from steak; I think I get my power from chocolate. :p
It does seem that I eat, on average, four times a day :confused:

M1
breakfast pita
yogurt
grapes
M2
oats
apple
blueberries
2 squares dark chocolate
M3
chocolate cake
M4
eye of round roast
whole wheat roll
spinach
home-made oven roasted tomatoes

I found a theatre that plays fairly current movies for $2 on Tuesdays, so we're going to see American Gangster tonight. No popcorn for me. :nono:

"If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances." ~Julia Sorel

Well.. can you use this time when you are sick to catch up on reading, or things you've not had time to do before? :)

Man there is something going around, at home and the office too!
Get better soon :)

Oh and stuffing is one of my faves too :drool: And candied yams, pumpkin pie, macaroni and cheese, warm whole wheat rolls smothered in butter. Mmmm.

I misread my lifting log, so I ended up lunging a lot more than what I'd intended to do. :D

Well.. can you use this time when you are sick to catch up on reading, or things you've not had time to do before? :)I could, if I had anything I'd not had time to do. :D

It's not been anything debilitating; for short periods I've been a little foggy-headed, but on a day-to-day basis, not much is different, except that I haven't slept well in a couple of weeks, which, now that it's beyond its "irritatable" consequences, is moving on to a rather interesting aggressive streak. Unfortunately, it's been transferred to family members, instead of exclusively streamed towards lifting, but, the law works for there as well:

That which doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. ~Nietzsche

I haven't gotten paid for working yet, so I'm on strike. :mad:

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks Guava, reading your journal has taught me a lot, particularly when it comes to "balance". :tu:

Your juggling act humbles me and its always been very inspiring.

I very much agree with Loop.
I think you put the wrong smiley next to the extra lunges. ;)
Did you end up seeing American Gangster? Did you enjoy it?

LOL, Guava, you make me chuckle when you list chocolate cake as one of your meals :p

I think you put the wrong smiley next to the extra lunges. ;)Keep in mind that was after they were done! :cool: Now it's written down and I'll have to do that same thing next workout. :doh: :scared:

I haven't noticed a difference in my quads because my lower body is not lean enough yet to detect differences, but the triceps are popping out more and more all the time, even though they've only been worked indirectly. :claphigh:

Pull-ups seem to be giving my forearms a good workout; never noticed that before.

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks Guava, reading your journal has taught me a lot, particularly when it comes to "balance". :tu:Hi Lo0p. Join the party! :spaz:

Did you end up seeing American Gangster? Did you enjoy it?Yes, we saw American Gangster. My motivation was just because Denzel is so gosh darn cute as a bad guy. :dreamy: Training Day was one of the more entertaining movies I've seen, and I was expecting something similarly "in your face". Unfortunately, there were no mind games and power plays like that in this movie, just gratuitous physical violence. I thought Russel Crowe's character could have been developed a lot further as well. Besides maybe casting Ed Harris or Dennis Quaid instead, they could have exposed more of his colourful background they eluded to.

We saw Mr. Brooks (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mr_brooks/)the other day, and I also thought it was quite weak, other than Demi Moore, who was spectacular. One of the next ones we'll be watching is You Kill Me (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/you_kill_me/), which sounds like it should be pretty funny. We're also eventually going to get around to watching Sin City (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sin_city/), which has to be seen just to get the effect of the high key lighting and colourization. This would have been so much better on the big screen, but I don't always keep track of what movies are current, and this one slipped me by. (Quite likely because nothing but "Romantic Comedy" was interesting me at the time. :whistle:)

A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough. ~ John Christian Bovee

I was pretty bummed about American Gangster from what I have heard. I was looking forward to seeing it, but based on reviews from reputable sources (friends who share taste in movies) I relegated it to the "wait to rent" category. I think it went from the big ciniplex to the cheap $2 ticket theater in our town in a matter of 3 weeks. :(

Have you seen Transformers? We rented it on a whim after hearing it was good from a friend and since we had nothing else we wanted to see at the time. Ends up it is probably one of my favorite movies of the year. I rarely watch movies twice, let alone two times in a week, but I did with that one. It does a great job of keeping the comedy going almost entirely throughout all while avoiding being too cheesy. The AutoBots are actually really cool and I think it was well done, very entertaining.

I have not seen Transformers. For "Action" movies to be entertaining to me, they have to have a good psychological thriller element to them, so I'm not sure Transformers would work for me.

I'm probably going to take the kids to see Enchanted (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/enchanted/) this weekend. :) It's gotten great reviews so far.
CLdKwdGdZaI

I have not seen Transformers. For "Action" movies to be entertaining to me, they have to have a good psychological thriller element to them, so I'm not sure Transformers would work for me.

I'm probably going to take the kids to see Enchanted (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/enchanted/) this weekend. :) It's gotten great reviews so far.
CLdKwdGdZaI

Saw Enchanted last weekend with my wife's family (all girls except me and her step dad...majority rules). Actually was entertaining and not thoroughly boring as I thought. Had a sweet story interwoven and at the end...just kidding, I wont spoil it for ya. ;) I bet you and your girls will love it!

If you ever feel like seeing a FUNNY "action" movie (though I dont know if I would categorize it as that through and through) Transformers is it. Something your husband might ( :confused: ) enjoy and you would still get a kick out of. If you ever see it let us know what you think. :tu:

We took the kids to see Enchanted this weekend as well, and both the hubby and I really enjoyed it too. If you've seen a lot of the Disney animated movies, they had a bit of fun weaving in references to a lot of their older movies. Being a big Disney animated buff, I really got a kick out of coming up with the movies each scene was referencing.

M1
toast, peanut butter, banana
M2
grapefruit, yogurt, homemade low fat no-sugar-added granola, raisins
M3
homemade low fat no-sugar-added high fibre blueberry muffins, yogurt
M4
whole wheat pasta, oven roasted tomatoes, pasta sauce, spinach, olives
M5
apple

I called my boss and left a message with his voice mail. I said he must either be really busy for not being able to get back to me, or he must be really not busy and have nothing for me to do. Then I told him I'm ready to start work on the next phase as soon as he drops off my pay for the work I've already done.

I'm listening to Hinder and hoping I hear back from him before my mood changes. :scared:

I wonder if this is what he meant when he said he needed me to be more aggressive.

“The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That’s why I call it the torture routine. Because it’s like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain make me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure. And so when I am experiencing pain I’m in heaven. It’s great. People suggest this is masochistic. But they’re wrong. I like pain for a particular reason. I don’t like needle’s stuck in my arm. But I do like the pain that is necessary to be a champion.” - Arnold Schwarzenegger

I called my boss and left a message with his voice mail. I said he must either be really busy for not being able to get back to me, or he must be really not busy and have nothing for me to do. Then I told him I'm ready to start work on the next phase as soon as he drops off my pay for the work I've already done.


:bow:

:claplow:

Yeah, so either he's really busy, or he's ignoring me. :doh: I don't know what the next step is, but at least I have his fax machine, and I know where he lives. He owes me for 40 hours of work, beginning November 8th.

I haven't been this excited about lunch in weeks! :claphigh:

Wash and cut in half fresh never-frozen brussels sprouts. Chop half a sweet red pepper. Place a thawed salmon fillet in the middle of a shallow baking dish; surround with vegetables, douse with balsamic vinaigrette. Bake at 275 degrees about 30 minutes. Drizzle with sundried tomato and oregano dressing.

:drool::drool::drool:

Yeah, so either he's really busy, or he's ignoring me. :doh:

I'm getting a bad feeling about this... :(

Yeah, so either he's really busy, or he's ignoring me. :doh: I don't know what the next step is, but at least I have his fax machine, and I know where he lives. He owes me for 40 hours of work, beginning November 8th.

I haven't been this excited about lunch in weeks! :claphigh:

Wash and cut in half fresh never-frozen brussels sprouts. Chop half a sweet red pepper. Place a thawed salmon fillet in the middle of a shallow baking dish; surround with vegetables, douse with balsamic vinaigrette. Bake at 275 degrees about 30 minutes. Drizzle with sundried tomato and oregano dressing.

:drool::drool::drool:

Your lunch sounds and looks delicious.

Any word from your boss?

I'm getting a bad feeling about this... :(

Any word from your boss?

No word.

Should I drive by his house and dump a few packs of Jello into his pool?

No word.

Should I drive by his house and dump a few packs of Jello into his pool?

yEs! :spaz:

yEs! :spaz:
Did you see that movie "Deck the Halls"? Do you know the Danny Devito character in that movie? He's that guy!!! He even looks like him, has a gorgeous wife (who is a successful artist), and two wildly independent daughters.

XRjKYPS85TY

He's exciting to work for: creative, enterprising, and enthusiastic, but frustratingly impetuous and juvenile.

Of course, I'll have to look up his home telephone number, which won't be difficult, or drop by his house, which isn't far away, but the Jello idea somehow just seems more appropriate. :p

I'd say such a person won't like being reminded of responsabilities, or things they have to do. So, maybe you can be enthausiastic about future work you can do for him and talk about how much you enjoy working with him, but explain you need the money he owes you to be able to do that.

That might be a bit more subtle and by focusing on the positives, he might be able to be more responsable and get excited about the possibilites and pay you straight away.

It might not be how it 'should be done', but sometimes some people like this don't like to feel pressured and 'run away' when reminded of what they should do for others.. :nod:

Did you see that movie "Deck the Halls"? Do you know the Danny Devito character in that movie? He's that guy!!! He even looks like him, has a gorgeous wife (who is a successful artist), and two wildly independent daughters.

XRjKYPS85TY

He's exciting to work for: creative, enterprising, and enthusiastic, but frustratingly impetuous and juvenile.

Of course, I'll have to look up his home telephone number, which won't be difficult, or drop by his house, which isn't far away, but the Jello idea somehow just seems more appropriate. :p

I have not but now when I do I'll be thinking of you. At least one time. Even if it is briefly.

Most of the successful people I have met have had loathsome character flaws.

You are gonna need a lot of jello (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-50-3-Jell-O-Jello-Gelatin-Coupons-12-31-07_W0QQitemZ150183943372QQihZ005QQcategoryZ57742QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem).

I'd say such a person won't like being reminded of responsabilities, or things they have to do.
If I have to drop by his house, I'll probably bring him a carrot cake. :D He told me he likes carrot cake.

But really, it's an uncomfortable situation for me. I work well only under strong supervision and good structure; I am not a good babysitter and will not be happy if I'm continually chasing him and making sure he stays on task and keeps me informed.

I'm trying to avoid this confrontation as long as possible. It's going to take a lot of energy.

Most of the successful people I have met have had loathsome character flaws.

You are gonna need a lot of jello (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-50-3-Jell-O-Jello-Gelatin-Coupons-12-31-07_W0QQitemZ150183943372QQihZ005QQcategoryZ57742QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem).
He told me right from the start that people either like him or hate him. There are no shades of gray.

Jello!!!!!!!!

I work well only under strong supervision and good structure; I am not a good babysitter and will not be happy if I'm continually chasing him and making sure he stays on task and keeps me informed.
Well, then I'm afraid you are completely incompatible. I wouldn't work with him again if you can help it. :blank:

I don't know whether I should call his cell phone again, send another e-mail, find his home phone number and call that, or drop by his house. :confused:Well, then I'm afraid you are completely incompatible. I wouldn't work with him again if you can help it. :blank:Seeing it like that, hmmm... I can't quite completely agree.

It's true we're very different.
He's a talker, I'm a writer
He comes up with rough ideas, I refine them
He plans, I implement

So while it is extremely frustrating to work with him, it's also rewarding in a weird sort of way, because he can do things I can't, and I can do things he can't. It would be a relief not to work with him again, but it would be oddly disappointing as well.

Let's review today's quote again:

Pain make me grow. Growing is what I want.

(Is that a typo, or is it supposed to be that way because that's how Arnold speaks?)
Most of the successful people I have met have had loathsome character flaws.Are there really any loathsome character flaws, or are there just characteristics that really rub you the wrong way? If you're exceptionally creative and have the ability to think out of the box, you can't be structured. If you're spontaneous and adventurous, you're also to some degree impatient and reckless. If you're patient, you're probably unexcitable. To be ambitious, one must be demanding. Nobody can be everything good all in one.

This message came into my inbox a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head:

When I'm having trouble with someone, it's a sure sign that person is exactly the gift I am needing in my life. Sometimes it takes me years to write the thank you note, though.~Author Unknown

This message came into my inbox a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head:

When I'm having trouble with someone, it's a sure sign that person is exactly the gift I am needing in my life. Sometimes it takes me years to write the thank you note, though.~Author Unknown

My initial response is that I want that person far away from me. *shrug*

My initial response is that I want that person far away from me. *shrug*Yeah, that's my initial response, but when I look deeper, I keep feeling that there's either something I want to learn from them, or something I want to teach them. I didn't really understand it until it happened a few times. :) Now I don't shy away from those situations as much. In fact, they come up a lot less often now because the issue has been previously resolved.

There are a few people I stay away from, but it's usually after I've made the choice not to be annoyed by them any more.

Fair enough. Just make sure the all the stress you feel when working with him is balanced out by the positives.

make sure the all the stress you feel when working with him is balanced out by the positives.I'm one of those people who needs to purposely build stress into my life just so that I have something to worry about, because if I don't, I make up stuff. :whistle:

Yesterday
M1
toast, peanut butter, banana
M2
pommelo, salmon, brussels sprouts, red pepper
M3
low fat no-sugar-added high fibre blueberry muffin, yogurt
M4
breaded pork chop, sweet potato, half a mandarin orange
M5
chili, bread

I was really hungry still after M4, so I added M5, but that might have been overkill. Afterwards, I felt incredibly bloated; possibly ate too much.

standing overhead dumbbell press 20x17.5, 9x25, 7x25
Romanian deadlift (dumbell) 20x25, 10x45, 10x45
hammer curl/dumbbell press 6x22.5, 5x22.5
SLDL (dumbell) 9x45, 8x45 (I'm going to lower the weight for better form/balance and switch these to one-legged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWLg7MrA9y4))
pull-up 3,2 :bang: Must do these first!!! (again, the forearm failure)
chin-up 3,3 (bonus, because I didn't get as many pullups done as I wanted)
leg curl (stability ball) 2x15
supermans 2x20, plus a 20 second "hold" time

Deadlift form is really tricky, but it's getting there. I've been watching youtube videos for tips, which are sometimes really awful. (Tip: they are not all experts at expertvillage!)

"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him."~Sidney Greenberg

Deadlift form is really tricky, but it's getting there. I've been watching youtube videos for tips, which are sometimes really awful. (Tip: they are not all experts at expertvillage!)


you know what they say... every village has an idiot. :nod:

There are a few people I stay away from.

It's OK... I still love you (from afar... but that's only because of the restraining order and that little border patrol incident).

:heart::dreamy::heart:

you know what they say... every village has an idiot. :nod::lol: Some have more than their share.

It's OK...Let me know if you decide not to go on that cruise. ;)

Nah, you're good entertainment. :cool:

I'm one of those people who needs to purposely build stress into my life just so that I have something to worry about, because if I don't, I make up stuff.
:eek:

:eek:
What? You don't do that?

:doh: Ideally, I should be solving something or creating something, but if I can't be doing that, then worrying about something is the next best thing. By some weird logic.

I used to constantly do activity books when I was a little girl.

http://www.pennypress.com/pics/FAN_Varietygroup_6_05.jpg

Kakuro (http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/puzzleclub/kakuro.php) was my favorite. I don't know how Sudoku managed to gain such crazy popularity, but not Kakuro.

I'm sure I worry about big things, and if those aren't there then I worry about little things.. but that's not a conscious choice I don't think. :confused:

I was going to join the December 100 Challenge, until I realized that I don't have quantifiable goals, and don't even really want to quantify my goals. As long as I can roughly meet these, I am successful.

1) feel happy :D
2) get stronger (i.e. lift heavier stuff) :bb:
3) eat vegetables :eat:

So I can't really gain or lose points for those things. :confused:

I have to watch my iron intake a little more closely, because I have an appointment to donate blood coming up soon, and my hemoglobin is always very near the cutoff.

Yesterday
M1 - toast, peanut butter, banana
M2 - big bowl of oatmeal, apple, yogurt
M3 - 2 cinnamon rolls (home baked by one of the librarians)
M4 - bowl of Shreddies with soy milk, pommelo
M5 - carrot
I think that was it. :o Low in protein, low in vegetables :spank:

Today
M1 - toast, peanut butter, banana
M2 - toast, chicken deli meat, romaine, tomato, bacon :eek:
M3 - planning to make pizza for the rest of them, but I don't eat cheese, so I'm not sure what I'll have. Probably will have broccoli, pineapple, chicken, and olives with tomato sauce on a whole wheat crust, with a spinach salad on the side

Think highly of yourself because the world takes you at your own estimate. ~ Author Unknown

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." ~Maya Angelou

I have to watch my iron intake a little more closely, because I have an appointment to donate blood coming up soon, and my hemoglobin is always very near the cutoff.


Steak Steak Steak :eat::eat::eat:

Steak Steak Steak

Seconded. I just wrote about my undying love for steak in my journal :D.

Steak Steak Steak :eat::eat::eat:

Seconded. I just wrote about my undying love for steak in my journal :D.
Steak is more of a summer food for our family.

But eye of round roast has been going on special quite a lot. I think I have two of them in the freezer.

My pay will be delivered as soon as possible. (unspecified) More work to come, I believe.

My pay will be delivered as soon as possible. (unspecified) More work to come, I believe.
:jumping:

:dance:

And so concludes the nourishment and conditioning part of the day.

Broccoli, chicken, olive, pineapple pizza was good. They had bacon pizza. :p

I've been fiddling with the workout until it feels smoothly integrated. These ended up being sets but not quite supersets, because there's a rest after each set. More like "mini-circuits"

1) body weight sumo squats 20, then hold for 20 sec
2) dumbbell alternating lunge10x17.5, 10x22.5, 10x22.5
3) crunch 15, 15

4) "bench" press 20x22.5, 10x30, 10x30 (on the floor. Interesting; it's called a "floor press (http://www.criticalbench.com/floor-press.htm)"):rolleyes:
5) one arm bent over row 20x22.5, 10x30, 10x30

6) leg lift 15, 15
7) wide stance squat 10x30, 10x30
8) pushup 15, 15

~5 minute rest

9) wall slide with stability ball (needs more air - too squishy) 15, 15
10) hanging leg raise 15, 15
11) split squat 10x25 right leg, 10x25 left leg

This workout is too long. I think I'll take the abs out and combine them with ____ so that I have my workout split into three sections, instead of the current two. Working abs every second day is what was giving me the nausea, now that I think back to what I remember happening in the past. 10 is my maximum rep target, so I really should bump all of those up for next workout. :cry: There's nothing between 30 and 35 either, unless I split the load so that the dumbbell is unbalanced (worked okay for 25/30, so it should be fine). Pushups were actually quite fun and easy after the floor press.

Interesting, I think I've broken through a lot of my strength records. :tucool: I think I quit lifting back in about March or so. I don't care enough right now to check back to confirm what I was doing at the time; I'm not even sure I recored it. I do feel a lot more strong and capable than when I was trying to build strength while maintaining a low body weight. Not that I'm really gaining significant amount of weight right now, but there's been a definite lack of hunger that I wasn't allowing myself before. Another possible explanation could be that the time off gave my muscles the rest they needed. Maybe having taken a break only a week long while continuing the same eating pattern I was at would have given me the same results back in March.

I'm glad things are going better for you. :cool:

Saw Enchanted last weekend with my wife's family (all girls except me and her step dad...majority rules). Actually was entertaining and not thoroughly boring as I thought. Had a sweet story interwoven and at the end...We saw this yesterday, and had a really special time. :) Basically, I sobbed through most of the scene in the park. :cry: :cry: :cry: where fantasy actually does become reality for a few moments of suspended disbelief, and throughout the part where true love's kiss doesn't do what it's supposed to do (or does it?).

If you've seen a lot of the Disney animated movies, they had a bit of fun weaving in references to a lot of their older movies. Being a big Disney animated buff, I really got a kick out of coming up with the movies each scene was referencing.I didn't catch any of that. But the cockroaches were a surprising feature. :eek:

Family skate - about 1 hour on the ice (slow pace)

M1
cereal, soy milk
M2
cereal, pomelo
M3
apple, cereal
M4
frozen mixed vegetables, chicken breast
M5
hot chocolate

overhead press 20x17.5, 9x25, 9x25
pull-up 5, 4
Stiff-legged deadlift 10x40, 9x40 (need better warm-up here)
chin-up 4, 3
bodyweight dips 20, 19
Romanian deadlift 10x40, 10x40 (need better form here)
hammer curl/press 3x25, 3x25
supermans 20, 20
shrugs 30x25 (could be much heavier, but I was too lazy to change the weight :o so I just did a lot of reps :cool:)
front raise 10x10 lateral raise 5x15

Nathaniel: Sire, do you... like yourself?
Prince Edward: What's not to like?
~ from Enchanted

Mr. Dynamic has not gotten back to me yet, and is not answering his phone. I have no concrete plan on how to collect my $600, but it will probably involve carrot cake. Maybe Jello too. :spaz:

I applied for two jobs this afternoon. One of them is very similar to what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks. No company name was listed; just a fax number. I hope it's not him. :rolleyes:

The other one is a part time government job which sounds really perfect.

:dance:

Things seem to be going well in the gym. :tu:

That's too bad about the continuing saga over the $$ that's owed you. What a PIA, especially when you're only trying to receive what's honestly due you. I think jello may need to be involved. Lots of it.

Good luck with the job interviews.

Things seem to be going well in the gym. :tu:

That's too bad about the continuing saga over the $$ that's owed you. What a PIA, especially when you're only trying to receive what's honestly due you. I think jello may need to be involved. Lots of it.

Good luck with the job interviews.
:D Heavy things are moving large distances. :flex:

The jobs aren't interviews; merely opportunities. I sent resumes and cover letters to each. However, I feel prepared for an interview, should one happen to come up. :cool: This time, I will be interviewing them instead of the other way around. :read: "Was this position previously filled, and why is it open now? What would be my most pressing tasks? Who will be my supervisor, and will he stop answering his phone when he gets overwhelmed?" :whistle:

(I did finally get through to his voicemail and left a polite message asking when my pay would arrive and whether he had any tasks lined up for me for the next few weeks. I didn't think it would have been right to tell him by message that I was currently seeking new opportunities with potential employers who will offer me more respect. :))

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Who will be my supervisor, and will he stop answering his phone when he gets overwhelmed?"

:lol:

Remember.. it's all worth it! ;) :D

Sorry to hear you're having trouble with your boss, guava. Having to work for someone who has little respect for you sucks. I used to work for someone who would have these wild mood swings and whenever you had to talk to her you would have no idea what to expect. It was a really draining experience and added more stress to my life than I was willing to endure at the time, so I quit. Sometimes you have to just remove "energy vampires" (http://www.oprah.com/health/omag/health_omag_200204_energy.jhtml) from your life. If there's not a very good reason to put up with people who make your life difficult, I figure it's best to avoid them. I don't really agree with the sentiment that you posted a few days ago, I guess.

P.S. Yeah, I linked to Oprah's website. So sue me. :p

Here's what fitday says today:
Cals Fat Carb Prot
Bread, whole wheat, 100% ( 4 regular slice ) 276 5 52 11
Peanut butter ( 1.5 tablespoon ) 142 12 5 6
Banana, raw ( 1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) ) 109 1 28 1

Apples, raw ( 1 medium ) 73 0 19 0
Yogurt, plain, nonfat milk ( 1 cup (8 fl oz) ) 137 0 19 14
Granola, homemade ( 0.3 cup ) 122 4 19 5

Bread, whole wheat, 100% ( 3 regular slice ) 207 4 39 8
Peanut butter ( 1.5 tablespoon ) 142 12 5 6
Banana, raw ( 1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) ) 109 1 28 1

Chicken, breast, ( 3 oz) 137 3 0 26
Spinach, raw ( 1 cup ) 7 0 1 1
Beef, round, top round ( 3 oz ) 112 3 0 19
Bread, whole wheat, 100% ( 2 regular slice ) 138 2 26 5

Tangelo, raw ( 0.7 cup, sections ) 81 0 20 2
Grapefruit, raw ( 0.7 cup ) 52 0 13 1
Pomelo not listed, so that's a close estimate

Total 1842 47 272 107 (about 25% each from fat and protein, about 50% from carbs)

Nutrient Units Intake RDA % RDA
Vitamin A mcg_RE 293 800 36.62
Vitamin D mcg 0 5 0
Vitamin E mg_ATE 14.02 8 175.19
Vitamin K mcg 126.7 65 194.92

Water-Soluble Vitamins
Nutrient Units Intake RDA % RDA
Vitamin C mg 184.29 60 307.15
Thiamin mg 1.81 1.1 164.97
Riboflavin mg 1.9 1.1 173.09
Vitamin B-6 mg 3.5 1.3 269.35
Vitamin B-12 mcg 4.23 2.4 176.07
Niacin mg 34.78 14 248.46
Folate mcg 406.18 400 101.54

Trace Minerals
Nutrient Units Intake RDA % RDA
Iron mg 15.55 15 103.69
Zinc mg 14.25 12 118.73
Selenium mcg 151.73 55 275.86
Copper mg 1.63 --- ---

Major Minerals
Nutrient Units Intake RDA % RDA
Calcium mg 869.23 1000 86.92
Phosphorus mg 1790.6 700 255.81
Magnesium mg 576.43 320 180.13
Sodium mg 2151.5 --- ---
Potassium mg 4097.4

(low in Vit A, D, and calcium. But I think my yogurt has some of that that doesn't show up in fitday)

I'm pretty happy to see that, because the diet is pretty typical of what I've been eating for the last few weeks. It's awfully close to my targets:
1) between 1700 and 2200 calories
2) at least 100% DV iron (103.6% whew!)
3) at least 25 g fibre (39 g!)
4) at least 100 g protein (107 g)
and I always aim for about 25% each from fat and protein, about 50% from carbs.

Legs tonight.:bb:

P.S. Yeah, I linked to Oprah's website. So sue me. :pOprah is an alpha kitty. I was just talking about them this morning. Meow! :D

If there's not a very good reason to put up with people who make your life difficult, I figure it's best to avoid them. I don't really agree with the sentiment that you posted a few days ago, I guess.You're right. It doesn't make sense to keep leaving myself open to people who make my life difficult. But I'm still glad to have had the opportunity to learn from it. I suppose the line I need to find is the one between "challenging" and "difficult". I have a hundred quotes for that one.

I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser,
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne'er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!
~Robert Browning (Along the Road)

It always amazes me how many grams of carbs you can have and still maintain a fabulous figure. It's probably somewhat less than that factoring in the fiber grams though correct? Anyway, that's what hard work will do for you :tu: And maybe some forgiving genes mixed in there.

I dont recall at this time you mentioning water retention issues, has that ever been a problem? I cannot believe I can gain and lose 8 lbs within a week just from the difference in carbohydrate ratios :eek: (there's that hydrate). It's almost like an allergic reaction or something.

I think I'm going to try and see my doctor today to get this cough examined. It seems to have been going on for about a month now. (I remember I wrote it in my journal, so I can check back to confirm. :dance:) The post-nasal drip is uncontrollable, and I even started to feel a bit of wheezing through my workout. I was about to end it early, until I considered that I'd have to be writing it down here. :whistle:It always amazes me how many grams of carbs you can have and still maintain a fabulous figure. It's probably somewhat less than that factoring in the fiber grams though correct? Anyway, that's what hard work will do for you :tu: And maybe some forgiving genes mixed in there.

I dont recall at this time you mentioning water retention issues, has that ever been a problem? I cannot believe I can gain and lose 8 lbs within a week just from the difference in carbohydrate ratios :eek: (there's that hydrate). It's almost like an allergic reaction or something.
Yeah, could be forgiving genes, but it seems to be as easy as calories in vs. calories out. I very rarely overeat or binge, have only two or three genuine "cheat" meals each year, and keep the carbs fairly low GI when possible. (Normally, I'd eat about three less slices of bread, but one or two more fruits, and two or three more vegetables.) Fitday doesn't quantify sugars, and fibre was 39 grams yesterday, which is fairly typical. I tend to really undereat (1400-1700 calories) when I'm busy, so the days that I eat a bit of chocolate or some cake balance out my intake to maintain my body weight. The macronutrient makeup has never affected my body composition; that's controlled by weight training only. I'm a mesomorph for sure, which might make a difference. My biggest issue with nutrition is keeping my serotonin elevated through moderate to high carbs to keep me from getting cranky and craving sugars.

Water retention is not an issue for me at all. My weight is ridiculously consistent.

That's the workout last night:
body weight sumo squats 20, then hold for 20 sec, 10
dumbbell alternating lunge 10x17.5, 10x22.5, 10x25

floor press 10x22.5, 10x30, 10x32.5
crunch 15, 15
one arm bent over row 10x22.5, 10x30, 10x32.5, 6x35

leg lift 15, 15
wide stance squat 8x35, 8x35
pushup 15, 15

sissy squats 15, 15
reverse crunch 15, 15
split squat 6x35 right leg, 6x35 left leg

Squats I still hate. They create more cardiovascular fatigue and knee strain than they do muscle building. I remember when I used to go to the gym and have trouble making it down the stairs afterwards. :evil: Would be nice to have access to a leg press machine again. :( I do have a leg curl apparatus, so I may move a portion of my workout over to the basement so I can add that in, instead of doing the whole thing in my room.

Everything you are against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you.

I think I must be coming down with something. My glands are swollen and it hurts to swallow.

Subtract two days, because I know the cough came before those other symptoms.

I'm ill too.. it's no fun is it? :bang:

I'm ill too.. it's no fun is it? :bang:I can overcome any obstacle. :neener:

The good news is, it's not pneumonia. :dance: She said "That's a long time to have a cough. Most people come in sooner." :doh: She told me to take the nasal spray that she prescribed for my daughter, and come back after a week if that doesn't clear it up.

I think I have eight days left of slight bulking, then nine days of cutting until vacation. :cool:

I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.
I will not buy a fruitcake before Christmas.