Sunday, December 6, 2009

DECEMBER 6, 2009 - MY BIRTHDAY WITH HARPIST PETER BALL


For my birthday, my husband took me to a concert given by Patrick Ball, world renowned Celtic Harpist and Storyteller at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle Illinois. It was in a small, intimate room, with only around 80 people or so.

I had the chance to speak to him after his show, and he allowed me to play his wire strung harp. I play harp, but I've never played a wire strung harp - only regular nylon strings like on regular pedal harps and folk harps.

With the wire strung, you have to play it with your fingernails. It was quite a challenge, and I did not do a very good job, I'm afraid.

Patrick Ball was phenomenal! I got one of his CDs. It was also phenomenal! I'll be sure to see him again when he returns to the area.

DECEMBER 6, 2009 - A BITTERSWEET BIRTHDAY TO ME



Emily, age 17, in 1996                       Me, age 23, in 1981  

This is a post that I put on the Atkins Community Forum on my birthday:

I have not been able to be on the Atkins Forum a lot lately, and I wanted to explain why to some of you who have been missing me.

A couple of months ago, my husband and I expanded our business, and I have had to devote a significant amount of time getting things set up. It will probably not let up for several more months. I had hoped it would not take as much time as it has been taking, but I guess it is what it is. I hoped that I would only have to cut down a little on my “Forum Time”, but I am finding that I have little if any time to get here with any regularity.

I just want to say that I really miss being here every day and I think about everyone here all the time. I am looking forward to the time that I can be here more often.

I started Atkins on March 15, 2009, and I really feel like this Forum has become my lifeline in very many ways. I have made good friends, and have received so much help in my slow weight loss. I have also felt privileged to be able to extend help to others that have shared my struggles.

Before I go off again, maybe not to be seen for several days, I wanted to share a few personal things with you.

First of all, today is my birthday. I am 54 years old, and I feel great and healthy and slim. So it is a good day.

On the other hand, I have not been having a good holiday season, generally speaking. This year is the 13th Christmas that I have been apart from my dear daughter Emily Rebecca, who was killed on the 4th of July in 1997 in an automobile accident at the age of 18. She had just graduated high school three week before. She was practically perfect in every way, beautiful, giving and sweet natured, and we had an uncommonly close relationship.

I have not talked about Emily on this Forum for many reasons, but mainly because I still struggle so with her loss, and don’t like to bring it up and burden people with the knowledge of that struggle.

My husband and I also struggle with the loss of our 26 year old son, Joe, who died in an accident in 1991. He was my husband’s son and my stepson.

I have also had two babies die in the womb, one in 1976 and another, shortly after my daughter’s death, in 1998.

I also have terminal disease in my family. My grandfather and mother both died young, at 59 and 62 of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. My chances and the chances of my four biological sisters, of contracting this disease are 1 in 2, and if I do get it, it will be in the next few years.

At this point, you may be wondering why I am being such a downer today! I guess it is because I so often feel like an outsider with secrets that are uncomfortable to share, and only the people closest to me know all about me. But I have come to know and love so many people here that I decided to “come clean” and tell you more about myself.

Although I am having a tough time at the moment, and for these past few weeks, I generally try to be upbeat and happy in my daily life, and take great pleasure in my surviving son and my two beautiful grandchildren. I enjoy eating well, being healthy for as long as I can, and my life with my dear husband is good.

So, all that being said, I feel like a weight has been lifted now that I don’t have to pretend that all is always well! Thanks for listening, and I’ll be here as often as I can!

DECEMBER 6, 2009 - WEEK 38 RESULTS

This week I lost 4.4 pounds.
Beginning weight – 143.0 pounds
Ending weight – 138.6 pounds

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1670 Calories
121.2g Fat (65.3%)
113.1g Protein
31.7g Carbs
17g Fiber
14.7g net carbs, of which 6.3g came from veggies

I’m sure that I lost because I was getting rid of the Thanksgiving weight from last week.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

NOVEMBER 29, 2009 - WEEK 37 RESULTS - THANKSGIVING

This week I gained 2.6 pounds.

Beginning weight – 140.4 pounds

Ending weight – 143.0 pounds


Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1658 Calories

122.4g Fat (66.4%)

108.1g Protein

31.2g Carbs

16g Fiber

15.2g net carbs, of which 6.8g came from veggies


Thanksgiving was a few days ago, so it's not surprising that I gained some weight. I did pretty good, but I did eat a few non-low-carb treats...

Sunday, November 22, 2009

NOVEMBER 22, 2009 - WEEK 36 RESULTS

This week I gained 0.4 pounds.

Beginning weight 140.0 pounds

Ending weight - 140.4 pounds


Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1668 Calories

121.1g Fat (65.3%)

103.1g Protein

41.4g Carbs

23.6g Fiber

17.8g net carbs, of which 8.7g came from veggies

Sunday, November 15, 2009

NOVEMBER 15, 2009 - WEEK 35 RESULTS

This week I lost 1.2 pounds

Beginning weight - 141.2

Ending weight - 140.0 pounds


Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:


1694 Calories

119.5g Fat (63.5%)

114.3g Protein

40.2g Carbs

23.3g Fiber

17g net carbs, of which 8g came from veggies

Sunday, November 8, 2009

NOVEMBER 8, 2009 - WEEK 34 RESULTS

This week I lost 0.8 pounds.
Beginning weight – 142.0 pounds
Ending weight – 141.2 pounds

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1586 Calories
115.3g Fat (65.4%)
108.3g Protein
28.8g Carbs
14.7g Fiber
14.1g net carbs, of which 10.2g came from veggies

Sunday, November 1, 2009

NOVEMBER 1, 2009 - WEEK 33 RESULTS

This week I gained 0.8 pounds.
Beginning weight – 141.2 pounds
Ending weight – 142.0 pounds

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1537 Calories
103.8g Fat (60.8%)
103.1g Protein
47.6g Carbs
23.7g Fiber
23.9g net carbs, of which 16.9g came from veggies

Sunday, October 25, 2009

OCTOBER 25, 2009 - WEEK 32 RESULTS

This week I gained 1.2 pounds.
Beginning weight – 141.0 pounds
Ending weight – 142.2 pounds

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1567 Calories
101.6g Fat (58.3%)
103.3g Protein
60g Carbs
27.7g Fiber
32.3g net carbs, of which 15.9g came from veggies

Sunday, October 18, 2009

OCTOBER 18, 2009 - WEEK 31 RESULTS

This week I lost 0.2 pounds.

Beginning weight – 141.2 pounds

Ending weight – 141.0 pounds


Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week
:

1499 Calories

100.2g Fat (60.2%)

100.4g Protein

48.7g Carbs

23.6g Fiber

25.2g net carbs, of which 17.3g came from veggies

Thursday, October 15, 2009

OCTOBER 15, 2009 - AND IN MY SPARE TIME...

A few weeks ago we were in the village next to ours, taking a walk, when we noticed that some of the houses had signs in the lawn that they had won an award in 2009 for beautification. I though how neat it was and wouldn't it be fun to have that honor.

A week later, someone knocked on our door and told us that our village has that program, too, and that our house had won one of the awards given out in 2009!

We are so delighted and honored! I had worked very hard this spring and summer, planting annuals and perennials, and hanging baskets and such. Tonight, we met with the other award winners and received our certificate and lawn sign from our mayor.

There are around 5,000 homes in our village, and only 63 were given the award this year.

But you know the most important part? I'm wearing size 6 slacks in this photo!

I have to admit that it was pretty sweet walking up in front of a crowd of people, knowing that I looked normal weight! In the past, I would have been embarrassed, wondering if people thought I looked fat. I know, I know! Everyone is not thinking about me and my weight!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

OCTOBER 11, 2009 - WEEK 30 RESULTS

This week I gained 0.4 pounds.

Beginning weight – 140.8 pounds

Ending weight – 141.2 pounds


Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1405 Calories

96.5g Fat (61.8%)

90.7g Protein

43.4g Carbs

19.3g Fiber

24.1g net carbs, of which 16.8g came from veggies