Sunday, November 11

[gitfiddle]

Good morning, troops!

What's your plan for today? I'm processing some family portraits that I took a couple of weeks ago, so that's all I'm focused on. It's gray and dull today, but the warm foliage colors I can see outside my window are still lovely.

I lucked out at the party I went to yesterday. There was a huge pot of hot wings and another huge pot of sausages. There was also a huge tray of bean dip and I indulged in a handful of corn chips. Could have used celery, but it didn't occur to me until later. (forehead slap)

[Mitra]

Hello, Carol. This morning I went to the Remembrance Day ceremonies. The monument for my town happens to be in my church's parish, so we have a procession up to join the veterans and current members of the various forces for a two minute silence, a short ceremony and lots of laying of poppy wreaths. The rain just about held off.

I hadn't made plans for lunch, so we ate some chorizo, which I'd bought at yesterday's farmers market - made by the stallholders, and with all "real" ingredients, with some cheese and olives. Dinner will be chicken with tarragon sauce and probably spinach.

While I was looking something up in Staying Power yesterday, I came across a paragraph that ties in with some of the recent addiction discussions. It's in a comparison of PP with Carbohydrate Addicts:
The Hellers' diet is an extremely low carb diet during most of the day, then it encourages high-carb/high-fat/high-food intake for an hour a day in the Reward Meal. In the long run, we do not feel that it is a means to recover from an addiction, cure insulin-resistance problems, or achieve long-term weight control. We advocate a less stringent approach, but one that is constant all day long, all week long, until the body heals its metabolism and recovers its insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, normalises lipids and blood sugar, and so on. Then we let people indulge in short vacations from their maintenance diet for their mental/psychological well-being. To our way of thinking, the reward should be a leaner, healthier body, not a bowl of Rocky Road.

I think it's important not to be daunted by the, "constant all day long, all week long ..." but also to take into account the "less stringent approach." PP isn't zero carb, it's not "as low as you can go." There's plenty of room for good tastes and variety, and sticking with it consistently really does change things. When I first started, I had several weeks of pizza fantasies, but recently, when I dropped my carbs back down to intervention levels to address a few pounds that had crept on, I had no carby thoughts or cravings at all. Not one. Obviously something has changed in the time I've been doing this! It really does work :).

I hope your weekend is going well :).

[Gaelen]

Mitra, what an appropriate paragraph. I really DO have to pick up Staying Power...it was just one of those 'wish list' items that lost its priority status when life intervened. :)

My plan for today is to keep my fingers crossed for a continued sunny afternoon. I was asked by a Sunline camper owners group to submit some pictures of my little camper for their calendar--it's kind of rare, only 10-15 made for about four years, and not many are on the road anymore. So yesterday I washed the bedding and the floor and steam-pressed the curtains so that I could take some pretty 'Camper Beautiful' style shots today. I would really like the afternoon bright overhead light, though, to keep shadows to a minimum. I should have the light I want in about an hour.

I brought home all kinds of nuts (pecans and pistachios) from the farmer's market yesterday, a cornish game hen from the organic poultry farm (in the crock pot roasting right now) and some organic ground turkey that I want to use to make a mushroom and turkey meatloaf for this week. And I picked up some portobella mushrooms to stuff with the ground nuts for lunches.

So that's my current plan...fingers crossed.

[gitfiddle]

To our way of thinking, the reward should be a leaner, healthier body, not a bowl of Rocky Road.
Well, speaking as an addict, the "reward" meal wouldn't work for me at all! I agree with you, Janet, that dropping the carbs down to an optimal level makes the cravings go away. When I do have a meal that is too high, I know it right away by the restless, munchy feeling I get. I have to be on my guard until it goes away. I can just imagine if I had a plate of carbs daily!

I've got my photos posted (unlisted) and the rest of the day to myself. I'm not very happy with them, but they're the best I could accomplish with a wiggly two-year-old and strong afternoon light. I got a call from an out-of-town friend who wants to get together next weekend to do some singing, so it behooves me to get a little practice in!

Gaelen, as I recall, you're a teardrop fancier! We just came across plans for building one. I love them, but they're not practical for me. I have a friend who built his own (extra wide) and sets up a tent for privacy. It's darling, but I just can't get past the idea of putting my feet into bed after walking about outside. Cooking in the rain doesn't sound good either! I keep going back to my little pop-up camper. It has issues, but it holds more "stuff". I've been on the lookout for a "Scotty" type camper for a few years, but they're scarce!

Before I can sit back, I need to put a breakfast meatloaf into the oven for the work week.

[Karole]

Hello, all. Have been busy with company this weekend and so I haven't taken the time to write anything, tho I did read a bit each day.

It is gorgeous here today and I went for a walk this morning and this p.m. I worked with a young horse doing ground work. His name is Hillbilly and he is still basically a baby. A large baby that is.

I also cleaned my oven this morning as we are having a lot of company over Thanksgiving and I am trying to do one big project each day so I will have things is good order for that time. Glad the oven is done, I always dread that job . I don't know what I will tackle tomorrow, I'm going to let it be a surprise, then I won't be thinking about having to do it.

Gaelen, I hope you get the light you need for your photos, and that your pictures come out real well for the calendar.

Mitra, I tried the Carbohydrate addicts diet years ago and I lost about 7 lbs on it, but I don't think it was a good way to go at all. I seemed to try to stuff myself with everything I could think of when I was eating that one hour. I just don't think that approach teaches people anything at all.

Carol, what is a teardrop anyway. Your comments on it were intrigueing and made me curious as to what you are referring to.

[Mitra]

Mitra, I tried the Carbohydrate addicts diet years ago and I lost about 7 lbs on it, but I don't think it was a good way to go at all. I seemed to try to stuff myself with everything I could think of when I was eating that one hour. I just don't think that approach teaches people anything at all.
I've never tried any diet other than PP, but I'd think that the "free meal" approach would only work with people who didn't have that much of a physiological or psychological reaction to carbs. For myself, I do better with a more uniform distribution most of the time. A free meal might work occasionally, but not every day. For those with more severe insulin or other chemical/hormonal/emotional issues it just sounds like a way to perpetuate them. PP as written worked for me. For others, additional stages or support systems might be necessary (additional supplements/hormones/drugs, counselling, or whatever), but I think that regulated eating needs to be a part of the healing, and particularly regulated carbohydrate intake.

[Karole]

The very first inkling I had about carbs was when I read Sugar Busters. I didn't try it, but it did make me think a bit about things. Then I came across the Carb addicts book and did try that as I mentioned earlier. Shortly after that my son told me about PP and there was so much info and science behind it (plus this wonderful board ) that I never wanted to try anything else. It just works !!

[Gaelen]

I also did Carb Addicts, for a year or so in the early 90s. It 'sort of' worked for the relationship I was in at the time, where once a day (usually dinner) we had to entertain clients at trade shows or who were in town. So I would be very strict during the day, and then at dinner, splurge-eat whatever was available. It did seem to work, but not to the extent that I didn't want carbs or felt that I had any more self control or had my morning hypoglycemia under control. On PP, I actually honestly CAN eat 'just one' of many foods which I would formerly eat right to the bottom of the bag. And there's no question my bloodwork and hypoglycemia are better.

The saddest thing is maybe that the reason I was on Carb Addicts was to maintain my 155 lb. weight...and that during that time, I still always thought I was fat. Today, I can't even wear those clothes...and the last time I could was right before my cancer diagnosis. Talk about 'dying to be thin.' :rolleyes:

Karole, 'teardrops' are small, very lightweight camping trailers. You can buy them pre-built, but many plans were made in the '40s for building them yourself, and that construction revival is in full force today. They were designed in the mid-40s to make camping accessible again to people who didn't have the cash for big motor homes (Airstreams) or huge tow vehicles, but who didn't want to be in a tent. I tent-camped for years, but after the cancer diagnosis, tent camping just really didn't seem possible. I saw teardrops one day during a chemo infusion and promised myself that if I beat cancer, even for a few months, I was going to have a tear and go camping. Sort of like guys having a mid-life crisis buy themselves a Corvette. ;)

For a better sense of what they're like, go to ebay and search for 'teardrop trailers.' You'll see plans, and actual tears (production and homebuilt) for sale.

Or you can check out this website: Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers (http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/index.php) forum, which is a rowdy collection of teardrop builders, people who've purchased tears, people who build or buy their own tiny travel trailers (anything under 16ft long qualifies), and people who are into the vintage models of TTTs and teardrops. These trailers are usually hard-sided, and most weigh well under 750 lbs to tow. What I especially like about them is that one person (like a five foot tall woman...like, um, me!) can handle one by herself...and setting up camp is literally pulling into a spot and opening the door.

Early this summer I bought a 1980 Sunspot that I found locally quite by accident...of which I did NOT get good photos today (but I have some posted in my blog...link in my signature.) It qualifies as 'vintage' because it was made over 25 years ago, and Sunspots had a very short production run. It has been about 3/4ths restored, but I need to rebuild the back kitchen area and rewire it.

It's like a teardrop because it's just under 5 feet wide and 10 1/2 feet long, but unlike conventional tears, the back doors open like barn doors (so I have to have a canopy roof over my kitchen...no worries, I have a sun shelter for that until I can restore the original canopies.) Generally you can't stand up in a tear, but the Sunspot is actually tall enough (and I'm short enough) that I can stand up in it (with my head bent) and get dressed inside. Original Sunspots were designed with two facing banquettes (like diner seating) with a table in the middle, and you folded the table down and the banquettes out to sleep at night--so during the day, you weren't getting your bed dirty. The diner seats and table were taken out by the previous owner, so I put in a cot with a featherbed cushion that serves as a couch during the day and which I make up into a bed at night. I also added a folding table that collapses at night, storage underneath the cot, and some removeable nylon hanging shelves for my galley.

Unfortunately, my timing could not have been worse this summer...I bought the Sunspot right before my father's funeral, and then spent the whole summer neck deep in a project at work (no vacation time available.) Just when things eased up a bit at work, the docs discovered I'd herniated a disc, so put moving the trailer off limits--it hurts too much to raise and lower the jack. But when my back isn't giving me fits, I can manage my little trailer (it weighs about 600 lbs empty and no more than 750 lbs loaded) all by myself, and can tow it with my little 4 cylinder pickup truck (stick shift) without having to fill up every 100 miles.

I'm decorating it in sunflower theme, with the base colors from the late 70s/early 80s 'harvest colors' -- remember gold, avocado, rust and brown? Since I could only go 'camping' for a couple days at a time in my sister's back field, it's at least been fun cleaning her up and finding things to stock the galley and the sleeping area, finding new curtains, etc.

Gitfiddle, do you know they're making NEW Scottys these days? Check out that ebay address, or google Serro Scotty to see what comes up. I know at least one guy is selling them on eBay. And there are people on the T&TTT forums who've built their own version of a Scotty, or a tear on steroids. There are a couple of styles; they call them 'standys'. Also...check out Dutchman's T@B trailers...you can stand up inside, cook inside (if you want, they also have an outdoor galley version), and they are basically just like tall teardrops, but a bit heavier.

(p.s....I keep a plastic shoebox under the cot...and my shoes come off sitting in the doorway and go right into the shoebox. Other teardroppers have a plastic shoebox under the doorstep for shoes, or hooks just inside the door where they hang up their shoes. No shoes in the bedding for me, either. ;) Teardroppers are very big on maximizing space, traveling light, and having a place for everything.

[Ottawa]

Total: 1232 IF: 22/2
Fat: 83
Carbs: 68 - 31 = 37 ECC
Fiber: 31
Protein: 92

A little short on my protein and there is another 150 cals for a SF chocolate bar that I just can't get into Fitday due to the SA conversion.
A 45 minute workout (about half Slow Burn).

[Anniesnan]

Hi All,

slept "in" yesterday - that was 8:30, which is 3 hours later than I usually get up, but doesn't seem like it should be:rolleyes:

Dh & I decided to use a meal "gift certificate" that our daughter had given us last Christmas before it expired. It was in the "city" so that meant much walking after we finally found a parking spot. It was a seafood place, but mostly fried. I got a trout BLT, which I didn't eat the bread to.

Then we went and found another parking spot - unbelievable:lol: down near Battery Park City. We walked and walked along the water - the wind was ripping, so by the time we were done, I was truly exhausted - definitely did my moving and shaking (from the cold) for the day.

We ended by driving to Atlantic City, where I spent 3 hours playing penny machines and came back $4.00 less that when I started:D.

As we didn't get to bed til after 3, this morning I really slept in (10:30)

spent the day going through paperwork - much needed. I still have more to do, but couldn't look at it anymore.
I also cleaned the oven - but that just involves pushing a couple of buttons.
Laundry, bathrooms,
wait, this was supposed to be a relaxing 3 day week-end:D

I'm going to go watch the lastest Amazing Race and do some more work on the crocheted sweater I'm making for grandchild to be:D.
I'm up to the hood:D

[gitfiddle]

Gitfiddle, do you know they're making NEW Scottys these days?
I did hear that. I have googled serro scotty and I found the forum but it seems as though everybody builds or rehabs their own. Several years ago I had my hands on a brand new Casita (midwest version, Skamp?) that looks like an odd-shaped egg. I could move it myself, as you can your teardrop. The seller changed his mind and I felt very bad. I went back to my pop-up. I have a friend who camps with a Scotty and can fit two people with hammered dulcimers in it. They also set up an e-z up awning and live outside most of the time. Storage is an issue for me. When I go to music festivals, I have a couple of guitars, other equipment, luggage, and sometimes a husband. I have faith that if my friend can fit two people and dulcimers, I can surely find a place for my guitars!
And there are people on the T&TTT forums who've built their own version of a Scotty, or a tear on steroids. There are a couple of styles; they call them 'standys'. Also...check out Dutchman's T@B trailers...I'll be checking! Thanks.

[Feelix]

I had a great day. I went to Birmingham Shopping at The Summit. (http://www.thesummitonline.com/birmingham/)

Now, I'm a small town girl that's not used to big time shopping. Saks Fifth Avenue was a trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $645 for a shirt... that was ugly....

I had fun though. It was amazing to watch all the Christmas Stuff out. My favorite holiday.


I also was emailed an old picture of myself ... When I was a size 9! I have made it my desktop. If I was there once, I can get back there again!

Have a wonderful day!

[Karole]

I checked out the website and looked at the teardrops and lo and behold I did see one at the trailride a few years back !! Just didn't know what I was looking at. It was shaped like a widget or midget and I thought it was so cute.