Autumn continues in the Deep Dark Dilemmatic Diet Forest, as does the Challenge o' Hago the Halloween Hut (e.g., Hag o' the Halloween Diet Hut).

Now cometh this morn the ceremony o' the golden scale o' dietary justice 'n for the third, we think, week in a row, the thing registered 126 pounds, no decimals. This bein' pleasin' to the group, all went shoppin' 'n bought an analog scale that ONLY registers round numbers and compulsively held a second ceremony and it also said 126 so we are convinced we weigh 126. Wazoooo.

Since we o' the Hago Halloween Diet 'n Fitness Challenge Brigade wisheth to maintain that number for the next two weeks before really beginnin' to lose again, we are one happy scary Halloween diet challenge brigade.

Scary Suzie the Streaker, aka the Goal Ghoul, who led last week's 1500 or less streak has put out a plea to Hago to be in charge o' this maintenance section of Am's Autumn Challenge ('n Hago's Challenge, t'is all one 'cause we have ten THOUSAND diet 'n fitness personalities so we never know who is doin' what).

Hago has appointed Suzie the Streak Maintenance Monitor 'n Suzie put out the call for all to participate in the fun streak challenge: 14 days, startin' this verra day o' eatin' at 1595 calories or less PLUS one hour daily of exercise (any kind and broken into however many segments work out for that day, roughly aiming for three weekly weight workouts, daily cardio of some length, including walks ... walks are exercise, anyone who doth not think so should get over it :D ... and/or any other mind/body or whatever that comes to mind, we will return to yoga when we feel ready, Suzie says).

Book 2 of the journal "Hago the Halloween Hut Diet 'n Fitness Challenge to Reach and/or Maintain 120 Pounds by or On October 26" commences NOW. The previous manuscript has been air dried (written in magickal harvest ink) 'n bound 'n sent to the printer fer publication 'n distribution in the appointed coverage area.

This opening chapter o' Book 2 was shamelessly crossposted in the blog section by that plagarist Amarantha.

:harvest:

Hi Am,
OHH I see you have started book 2. I was very happy to hear the Golden Scale was kind again this Sunday! You should be very proud of your self!!! PAT on the back lady :koala::koala:!!!! keep up the great work! Which I know you will!
Have a great Monday!!!....Hugs, Millie

Woo I can't even imagine being 126, great work! I guess eventually I'll see similar numbers if I work as hard as you do :D

126 is a great number. Congratulations to you and best of luck to you on the 'maintaining' until you decide to go lower.

Greetings to all the denizons of that Magickal Realm.

WOW! Look at you at 126!! I know how hard you've worked at this, congratulations!

:congrats:
Congratulations on your maintain, Am! A lot of work went into your success!

Huzzah 'n thanks be to Millie, JoJo, Aria 'n Seaweed (hey, good to see thee cruisin' these waters again, friend)! Yea, Am be verra happy with her little round number, long may it wave!

Scary Suzie Goal Ghoul, Streak Monitor for the Two Week 1595 or less cal, 60 Minute or More X Streak, is pleased to present THE LIST, laboriously typed on Suzie's scary old typewriter (remember typewriters?) that she recently purchased in Ye Olde Scary Diet Halloween Village Antique Shoppe.

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk :check:
Day 2, TBD, TBD
Day 3, TBD, TBD
Day 4, TBD, TBD
Day 5, TBD, TBD
Day 6 TBD, TBD
Day 7, TBD, TBD
Day 8, TBD, TBD
Day 9, TBD, TBD
Day 10, TBD, TBD
Day 11, TBD, TBD
Day 12, TBD, TBD
Day 13, TBD, TBD
Day 14, TBD, TBD

Okay, but does this typewriter have a power cord? For many years, I lusted in my heart for an IBM Selectric. . . having typed a few term papers on my mothers manual, with my strips of white out, (pre bottle, when you took the strip and stuck it between the key and the paper, and kept hitting the key until the offending letter was blocked out).

Does Am's dog walk with Scary Suzie? How is the Carnivorous Canine?

The only power in the Deep Dark Diet Dilemmatic Forest be the power of magick and determination inside all the hearts o' the mighty denizens, Eljay! No electricity need! :wave: Re Little Queen, she doth not like Scary Suzie who will only give her healthy doggie treats rather than the bad stuff the queen lusteth for! :rofl:

Okay, but does this typewriter have a power cord? For many years, I lusted in my heart for an IBM Selectric. . . having typed a few term papers on my mothers manual, with my strips of white out, (pre bottle, when you took the strip and stuck it between the key and the paper, and kept hitting the key until the offending letter was blocked out).

Does Am's dog walk with Scary Suzie? How is the Carnivorous Canine?

Hago saith that Diet Maiden Am should NOT still be here in the forest as she should be boardin' the virtual ferry fer the Black Lagoon (aka 10 hours or so of deadline work, even though Am does it from the home office these days, might as well be in the Black Lagoon).

However, Diet Maiden Am is just droppin' in to say that she is mightily determined this day to do the STREAK STUFF 'O SCARY SUZIE 'n STAY STRONG HOWEVER LONG!

So wazoooo, wazoooo ... let the POWER flow from Magickal Hago to Am's strong spirit!

We soldier on, despite our inclination to go back to bed with some ice cream (happily there IS no ice cream in the Hut these days, only blueberry kefir, which is not quite the same thing). :cheer2:

Hi Am,
I sure hope you had a good day at the Black lagoon!
Your calories were great yesterday, right on the money honey,Lol!

I sure belive that Diet Maiden Am is determined this week!So keep that sreak going!!! You are going for the GOLD!!!
Have a great Tuesday!!!...Hugs, Millie

Yea, Millie, Am is ONE determined diet maiden this week 'n consequently the Black Lagoon day is over with no bad calorie overage and no plan to break the streak so Am is here to do her little report! Thanks fer the visit, lass!

Hi Am,
I sure hope you had a good day at the Black lagoon!
Your calories were great yesterday, right on the money honey,Lol!

I sure belive that Diet Maiden Am is determined this week!So keep that sreak going!!! You are going for the GOLD!!!
Have a great Tuesday!!!...Hugs, Millie

This bein' the list o' Scary Suzie Goal Ghoul, Streak Monitor for the Two Week 1595 or less cal, 60 Minute or More X Streak, with Suzie's comment that the odd magickal coincidence o' hitting exactly 1590 for the first two days o' this streak proves ... well, we don't know what it proves, actually, but there it is! (Doth not this scary list look like a ghostly scarecrow with arms outstretched on Halloween? :ghost: )

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk :check:
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk :check:
Day 3, TBD, TBD
Day 4, TBD; TBD
Day 5, TBD; TBD
Day 6 TBD; TBD
Day 7, TBD; TBD
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

:harvest:

Suzie must be scary - the streak continues! Congratulations on hours in the black lagoon without mishap!

Yea, Suzie IS a little scary. She's beggin' Hago to teach her magickal spells :whip: that'll help keep all these Diet Maidens in line! We are thinkin' Suzie needs to chill a little 'n do some yoga! :rofl: Thanks fer the visit, Eljay! :wave: Suzie must be scary - the streak continues! Congratulations on hours in the black lagoon without mishap!

Hago the Halloween Hut has SO much time on her hands these days, what with Suzie the Goal Ghoul leadin' THE SCARY STREAK activities o' the Halloween challenge o' Amarantha, that she was chattin' away with a fellow Diet Wise Woman this mornin' over the scary back fence o' the scary diet 'n fitness forest 'n they got to disagreein' in a friendly way 'bout the usefulness o' the instrument known as THE GOLDEN SCALE O' DIETARY JUSTICE.

Hago went right inside 'n fired off a missive to the Diet Times o' London on the subject (e.g., she posted somethin' on another forum that amounted to a rant defendin' the scale). She'd like to cross postie that here if no one minds (or even if they do :rofl: ), so's she can have it in her main journal (this IS the main journal fer Am these days) for her future edification should she need to remind herself o' some basic things she believes. So ...

Well, now, I'm gonna play Devil's Advocate a little on behalf o' Demon Scale :laugh: but PLEASE realize this is my opinion and also read what I'm really tryin' to say and I know we are all pals here so I can trust that everyone knows this is just my opinion and that ye don't care a whit anyhoo, 'cause we are all different in our thoughts, SO NOT SEEKIN' COMMENTS, IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL SENSE. :rose: :)

I'm a huge scale fan and will be always as the scale has enabled me to get to where I want to be weight wise. The data from my scales has been invaluable in this journey.

Scales don't really lie, in my opinion; modern scales are weirdly accurate and the data we get from them is accurate.

BUT, it's just data, and it's just ONE kind of data and one measure of success, which is, was the body successful over a given period in showing a lower number on the scale, which given a long weight loss journey such as I had, that's important.

HOWEVER, here's the thing. The scale can show, as ye know, not only water weight and how much salt ye had in that Chinese restaurant, it can show good stuff like ye've been exercising and adding muscle.

Adding muscle is GOOD, even if it weighs more. It make one feel better, makes one look (and actually be) smaller in one's jeans (hurray!) and makes it possible to lift children, groceries and recalcitrant dogs more easily.

AND (I know ye guys know this), OVER TIME, more muscle WILL add up to a LOWER number on the scale 'cause muscle burns extra calories so over time, ye are just gonna lose weight and keep it off if that be a desire of yours, such as it was (and is) for me.

Muscle helps keep the body and mind young. Ye can put 90 year old people on a resistance training program and watch 'em perk up, go for walks and start ooglin' members o' the opposite gender (or whatever gender they oogled when they were young things).

So, it's important in a weight loss journey to keep all that in mind and also to take measurements. If ye show inch losses but no change or a small increase on the scale, that's a sign you are adding muscle. Ye don't need to pay huge fees to get your bodyfat tested, trust me, that's a good set of data you can go by.

So that's one thing about the scale. Here's another ... again, it doesn't lie, it can accurately tell ye when ye might want to tweak maybe 100 cals or so off your week if ye are plateauing or gaining (and NOT as noted losing inches ... if you are losing inches, you maybe need to ADD calories). That's why I religiously hop on once a week and log every single pound and bite I eat into my Fitday PC software and have for years. Over time I've come to see that (gasp) WHAT I DO OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS HAS A VAST IMPACT ON WHAT THE SCALE TELLS ME.

Does that make me upset or impatient with the scale?

Really, it doesn't, although I sometimes threaten to turn it into a lamp.

I know this is a LONG journey I have embarked on. If I had never subjected self to the scale's embrace (or kick in the b*tt) I would still be where I was and ye know what, that wasn't a good place.

So I'm not afeard o' the scale BUT I KNOW IT TO BE JUST ONE TOOL IN MY ARSENAL AND ONE I NEED BUT I DO NOT GIVE IT POWER OVER ME. IT IS JUST A DATA GENERATOR AND DATA IS ONLY USEFUL OVER TIME.

Amen. Sorry for the long scale defending rant.

I LOVE my new analog scale, btw, ROUND numbers. How novel! Who would have thunk it!"

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_5_140.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
Loved the scale story, I am so with you on the scale. So go ahead a rant all you want it will just give me more to read .
This may sound silly but one day when I got on the sacle it had no loss and I knew I should have, I looked down at the scale and called it a bad name and said I WILL SHOW YOUR BUTT!!!!! The next time I stepped up on it I had a 3 pound lose and said see I told you,lol! I am sure glad no one was listening outside the door,lollol.

Have a Great day!! You are on a great streak!....Hugs, Millie

:rofl: Millie! Scales do respond when you talk tough to 'em! It's a known fact! :)

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_5_140.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
Loved the scale story, I am so with you on the scale. So go ahead a rant all you want it will just give me more to read .
This may sound silly but one day when I got on the sacle it had no loss and I knew I should have, I looked down at the scale and called it a bad name and said I WILL SHOW YOUR BUTT!!!!! The next time I stepped up on it I had a 3 pound lose and said see I told you,lol! I am sure glad no one was listening outside the door,lollol.

Have a Great day!! You are on a great streak!....Hugs, Millie

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_132.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_4_20.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
I do belive you are very right about the scales, I think they listen also !!!!
...Hugs, Millie

Millie, I love your animated smilies! They are so cute. :wave:

This bein' the list o' Scary Suzie Goal Ghoul, Streak Monitor for the Two Week 1595 or less cal, 60 Minute or More X Streak, and yea it does look like a scary scarecrow in the midnight cornfield with arms outstretched ...

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk :check:
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk :check:
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk :check:
Day 4, TBD; TBD
Day 5, TBD; TBD
Day 6 TBD; TBD
Day 7, TBD; TBD
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

G'morning diet maidens! I also, need my scale, both good and bad, to focus my energy. When I don't use it, I have a tendency to "drift", and take an extra half scoop of whatever, instead of measuring, or amble instead of stride when I walk the mutts. I just got a digital scale, and I am dealing with the exactness of it all.

Yea, Eljay, me also re needing exact data and exact adherence to what I should be eating or burning off, although I really do enjoy the round numbers on my new scale (but haven't yet ruled out going back to the decimels :) ). But I need consistent data regularly gathered. Keeps me honest! :wave:

G'morning diet maidens! I also, need my scale, both good and bad, to focus my energy. When I don't use it, I have a tendency to "drift", and take an extra half scoop of whatever, instead of measuring, or amble instead of stride when I walk the mutts. I just got a digital scale, and I am dealing with the exactness of it all.

The Scary Suzie Goal Ghoul List o' the Two Week Scary Suzie Streak o' 1595 or Less Cal, 60 Minutes or More X Streak continueth apace!

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, TBD; TBD
Day 6 TBD; TBD
Day 7, TBD; TBD
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

:check:

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_125.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
You are doing really great with those calories! You sure are on a great Streak!!!!
Keep rolling and rolling.
Hope you had a good day today.

Daisy is a sore pup tonight, she cried all the way home, poor baby!
Have a great Thursday!...Hugs, Millie

Poor Daisy, but dinna worrit, lass, she'll forget all 'bout it after some rest. My girl woke up ready to jump around and play, which scared me to death, but it was hard to keep her quiet.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_125.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
You are doing really great with those calories! You sure are on a great Streak!!!!
Keep rolling and rolling.
Hope you had a good day today.

Daisy is a sore pup tonight, she cried all the way home, poor baby!
Have a great Thursday!...Hugs, Millie

Hago 'n the Diet Maidens are in and out in the neighborhood walkin' early today as they plan a trip to the Black Lagoon. :cruise: Suzie the Goal Ghoul is stayin' in the hut makin' plans for the streak day 'n gazin' into the Crystal Ball to make sure everyone's future holds ABSOLUTE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STREAK LAWS, as if not, she's plannin' on rattin' 'em out to the Calorie Police before they even get on Black Lagoon Ferry 'cause if they are locked up :lapd: in Calorie Gaol fer the day, they can't get into mischief.

So far, the Crystal Ball is only predictin' good behavior on everyone's part, but Suzie is NOT takin' chances.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_32_7.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
You just crack me up at times when I read your journal!!! You are such a great writer and a good streaker!
Hope you had a good day ay the Black Lagoon!
Happy to see you are watching that Crystal Ball and everything is looking good! You know I like that Crystal Ball of yours!
Have a GREAT Friday!!....Hugs, Millie

Hiya Am,

Just stopping in to Say *Hi* & Thanks for visiting my Journal a while back, Sorry it took me awhile to get to your Journal.

Hope u have a Happy Friday!!!!!

Cathy

Hope scary Suzie kept those maidens in line (for maidens are a little tough to keep in line!). Your scarecrow is looking a little hunchbacked. . .

:rofl: That's his outstretched arms, Eljay! :laugh: Anyhow, I think he is a she as he has a dress on.

Thanks fer the visits also 'o Catnas 'n Millie whilst ol' Hago slept in 'n recovered from the Black Lagoon, which is always best forgotten when we are not there! :laugh: Huzzah!

Scary Suzie, the Goal Ghoul, had a spooky day yesterday but squeaked by without sendin' anyone to Calorie Jail :lapd: or castin' any punitive spells turnin' diet maidens into toads for violatin' the Streak Laws. :whip:

She continueth her new tradition o' constructin' her LIST in the shape o' a SCARECROW so's it will SCARE away all the BAD FOOD CROWLIKE THOUGHTS!

The Scarecrow is FEMALE and wearing a blue skirt with a broad brimmed hat covering its head so the BAD FOOD CROWS will be even more a'feared since a face on this nemesis is not visible.

BAD FOOD CROWS, BEWARE! Suzie is on the job! The streak is all, believe in the streak, the streak rules.

Break the streak, diet maidens, and ye shall suffer the toadlike consquences :whip: X-( ... oh, and do have a nice day!

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 TBD; TBD
Day 7, TBD; TBD
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

"Ye shall harvest what ye reap," saith Suzie the Goal Ghoul. "Be good to the streak 'n the streak will be good to ye!" :harvest:

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_145.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
Happy to hear you have recovered from the Black Lagoon! I am sure glad you squeaked by yesterday! Hey I say that's what counts as long as you did!
At least the calories police stayed away. You are dooing so GREAT!!! keep rolling and jumping for you.

Have a GREAT Saturday!!...Hugs, Millie
P.S. For some reason I can not get diet talk to work right, not sure if it is my computer or the site. It took me forever to click on your journal, When I do my journal It only gives me the pages from last month, oh well.

I like your scarecrow, Amarantha!

Hooray for the streak. Go, girl!

Thanks fer the visits JoJo 'n Millie! Glad ye like my scarecrow, JoJo! He is my friend! :laugh: Millie, hope your computer is workin' better. I was just comin' to see thee.

Will be back with the scarecrow report tomorrow, long day off, went shopping, had sundae, not so high in cals, though. Roundin' up dog from outside at present, that can take awhile.

Comes the dawn ferry to the Black Lagoon, Hago the Halloween Hut (thankful that all the Halloween Hut Diet 'n Fitness Challenge Participants are being occupied with Suzie's Streak lately so Hago can get some loverly autumn days to herself) will be on said boat :cruise: 'n driftin' off for a solitary trip to that scary lagoon where nonvirtual paychecks must be compensated for by nonvirtual givin' attention to renderin' to nonvirtual Caesar what is Caesar's before the REAL work o' Hago (diet management, fitness, pet love and various travels outside the confines o' her actual physical body and the physical brain that directs said physicality as it traverses the territory Hago inhabiteth between reality and fantasy where only one constant rules: AMARANTHA WILL CONTINUE HER HEALTH, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND FITNESS JOURNEY UNTIL TIME STANDS STILL AND EVEN BEYOND AND WILL NEVER GIVE IT UP).

Scary Suzie, the Goal Ghoul, who is runnin' the Goal Ghoul streak o' eatin' in the 1500s or less and one hour or more of exercise (INCLUDING WALKIN' ... GET A GRIP, WORLD, WALKIN' IS EXERCISE, AM JUST BOUGHT FAMED RUNNIN' GURU JEFF GALLOWAY'S BOOK ON EXERCISE WALKING AND IS ENJOYIN' IT MIGHTILY BUT A FRIEND QUESTIONED YESTERDAY IF WALKING IS EXERCISE ... YES, IT IS AND IT IS GOOD EXERCISE AND CAN BE USED AEROBICALLY AND IN VARIOUS OTHER WAYS AS WELL AND IS THE OLDEST FORM OF EXERCISE KNOWN, PLUS IT CAN BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES, SUCH AS WEIGHT LIFTING, YOGA, JOGGING, RUNNING, DANCE, ETC., TO NAME BUT A FEW, TO INCREASE ITS EXERCISE BENEFIT AND ADD VARIETY, PLUS IT ENHANCES SPIRITUALITY AND PEACE OF MIND SO GET OER IT MY FRIEND :laugh: AND TAKE A WALK. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THIS COMMERCIAL RANT BREAK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU AS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE HAGO HALLOWEEN NETWORK HHN) is in charge.


Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, TBD; TBD
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

:harvest:

Hi Am,
I see your streak is still going strong! Which is a great thing.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_33_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hey when I lost weight the last time I did a lot of walking on some days and rode my bike on other days. That is really good calorie burner and good for the heart, so I agree with you there. I later would carry 1 or 2 pound weights with me at times after I had lost a good chunck!
Hope you are having a good Saturday and have a great Sunday!!......Hugs,
millie

Hi, Millie! I really do love walking and I also like to mix it up with jogging and even tonight a little running, plus I like you like hand weights and I also have a weighted vest that I was using earlier this year but now feel I need to wait a bit on for various reasons, one being that I can't lower the weight in the vest as the little weights are too hard to get back in so I just leave them. :laugh:

I have a small set of "Heavyhands" weights for walking and aerobics. They still sell these in some stores and online, but the product dates back to the 1980s or so. They are specially designed handles with little weighted heads that you can put on to increase or decrease the weights. I have a set of red ones and a set of black ones. I love them, have had them a few years, mine are NOT from the 1980s :laugh:. They also have revived these and marketed them in sets with the Firm DVD workouts like they are some new invention but they are the exact Heavyhands weights from the 1980s, probably just licensed to the Firm from the same manufacturer, but I don't know for sure.

I certainly can go on about workouts, can't I? See ya!


Hi Am,
I see your streak is still going strong! Which is a great thing.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_33_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hey when I lost weight the last time I did a lot of walking on some days and rode my bike on other days. That is really good calorie burner and good for the heart, so I agree with you there. I later would carry 1 or 2 pound weights with me at times after I had lost a good chunck!
Hope you are having a good Saturday and have a great Sunday!!......Hugs,
millie

Without further ado, the last streak o' the week, so Scarecrow speak (or somethin' ... mine writin' skills be laggin' ... which be a problem when one writes for a livin' :laugh: ... so anyhow, the streak goes on ...

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, TBD; TBD
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

:harvest:

At a slightly earlier than usual Ceremony o' the Golden Scale this fine morn' in the Deep Dark Diet Dilemmatic Forest, home o' Hago o' the Halloween Hut, who leadeth the Hago the Halloween Challenge Diet 'n Fitness Challenge this BEAUTIFUL DIET AUTUMN SEASON, a DIET MIRACLE OCCURRED (yes, it did, I would not lie, verily t'was a miracle): HAGO THE HALLOWEEN HUT 'N ALL THE CHALLENGERS STEPPED ONE BY ONE ON THE GOLDEN SCALE O' DIETARY JUSTICE ... THE NEW ONE WITHOUT DECIMELS ... AND THE SCALE VOUCHSAFED TO THEM THE ROUND NUMBER 125 (WHICH MEANETH PROBABLY THEY'VE LOST A FEW DECIMEL PLACES BUT SINCE WE ARE NOW ROUNDIN' OUR DATA REPORTS, WE HAVE LOST A POUND ... NO APPLAUSE PLEASE, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTAININ' BUT WE ARE NOT COMPLAININ' ).

Takin' day off when we should be a'workin' in the Black Lagoon. Brains need a rest. Film at 11.

:harvest:

I remember HeavyHands, think they are pretty cool, I had a pair of red ones. Congrats on the streak. Keep on keeping on.

Congratulations to all the happy folk in the DDD Forest on the 1 lb. down. Let's all keep on keeping on.

Congratulations, Am! :hop:

Huzzah 'n thanks be fer the visits o' Jump (glad to know someone else had Heavyhands, I've only known one other person who has them, they are so much fun. I have a thing about them :laugh: ), Ms. Aria :wave: 'n Ms. JoJo, who provided her journal readers with news of Joanne Lund, of whom I had never heard 'n I will get the book after payday! Wazoooo! I appreciate all of ye so much! 'N will soon be off to do my walk, which I have not yet done due to Non Working Sunday Sloth, the Movie! :wave:

Deep in the deepest part o' the Deep Dark Dilemmatic Diet Forest, the Inner Diet Circle o' Hago the Halloween Hut be meetin' as we typeth formulatin' some secret attitudes 'n plans fer the week to come. Now someone told us (that would be Am, Am, 'n Am included in "US" that we are secretive 'n that seemeth somewhat silly to describe a reporter/editor in nonvirtual Black Lagoonish life 'n spends a bazillion hours on diet sites spewin' forth fictional (gasp, did ye not know t'was fiction?) diet tales that nevertheless chronicle her every angst regardin' eatin', exercise, pets, depression, general blah 'n weltschmertz 'n the fact that her dog ate her weight bench (true, sort of), but some things ARE secret because they are hard to describe.

It IS, for instance, hard to describe the causal relationship between the Black Lagoon 'n the anxiety 'n depression it seems to generate in the innocent mind o' Diet Maiden Am, especially as she faces BLACK LAGOON MONDAY :help: ... that day above all others when the incursions o' the ANXIETY REACTIVE DIET DEMONS :lil: most threaten the Diet Equilibrium o' Diet Maiden Am.

So that part is secret but the Secretive Diet Dilemma Discussion Group meetin' currently in the forest (deepest, darkest part) be layin' plans for the banishment this MONDAY o' the ANXIETY REACTIVE DIET DEMONS (closely related to the family o' BINGE DEMONS :lil: residin' in Diet Town Village down the road from the forest.

Sadly the plans are secret, too! (That's 'cause Am doesn't really have a plan other than a hocus pocus focus focus on the STREAK o' SUZIE THE GOAL GHOUL who is listin' the names o' all participants in the two WEEK STREAK o' 1595 cals or less 'n one hour of exercise per day challenge now going on in conjunction with Am's Autumn challenge.

So, the secret? It's a get tough policy 'n the committee is secretly contactin' the officious Suzie Goal Ghoul (she's a tattle tale) 'n givin' her the cell number o' the Calorie Police so she can report any BLACK LAGOON MONDAY anxiety overeatin', which will closely be followed by incarceration in Calorie Jail until Tuesday. :lapd:

So all STREAKERS, beware! X-( The Calorie Police 'n their Military Arm the Exercise Adherence Special Forces :cheer2: are out in force for the first part o' the week, so don't even THINK 'bout breakin' that streak!

Such is the report on the plan for the week. Have a nice day! Please do join us in the Knitting Circle this evenin' where Suzie the Goal Ghoul is expected to give a lecture on the topic of knit 'n purl as a spiritual force in dieting. You won't want to miss this insightful discussion. See you there!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_32_7.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) YOU GO GIRLLLLLLL!!!!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_33_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_33.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) WOOOHOOOO !!!! A BIG CONGRATS!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!!
You must be very pround of your self and you SHOULD BE!!!! You are doing so great and I know the last 10 pounds are the worst to get off and you are doing!!!!!!
Keep rolling and jumping :laugh:!!!!!...Hugs,
Millie

Woo hoo, Millie! Thanks for droppin' in, 'n yea, them last pounds like to stick 'round 'n play games with Diet Maiden Am's Internal Weight Management Guru but she be a match fer 'em, never fear.

However, right now at 125, Am plans to maintain for awhile, even though the goal by the end of October is 120, 'n she's actually workin' now on the last five unless Suzie the Goal Ghoul decides she wants to shift the goal lower and we aren't goin' have any o' THAT as we liketh the ROUNDNESS o' the 120 and we seek the beautiful state o' LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE O' THAT (or a range of 120-125, more realistically) for many years 'n we KNOW that MAINTENANCE BE AS MUCH A WEIGHT MANAGEMENT BATTLE AS LOSS HAS BEEN, FOR WE HAVE BEEN IN MAINTENANCE STATES FOR PERIODS ALL DURING OUR JOURNEY (the body likes those balancing periods and we do, too). :wave:

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_32_7.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) YOU GO GIRLLLLLLL!!!!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_33_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_33.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) WOOOHOOOO !!!! A BIG CONGRATS!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!!
You must be very pround of your self and you SHOULD BE!!!! You are doing so great and I know the last 10 pounds are the worst to get off and you are doing!!!!!!
Keep rolling and jumping :laugh:!!!!!...Hugs,
Millie

Everyone in the DDDDF is off workin' already in the Black Lagoon but Suzie the Goal Ghoul stayed home in the hut to make sure there were no slackers around who might take the opportunity to mess up on the streak whilst the more responsible wage slaves o' the Halloween challenge population be off tryin' to bring home the diet bacon! Here is the scarecrow!

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, 1555; 15 min walk, 45 min jog/walk
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

Effort bears fruit!

:harvest: :harvest: :harvest: :harvest: :harvest:

Hi Am,
Wow I am so proud of you! I just hope I can do near as good as you have or come close to it!

I hear Maintenance can be hard also, not sure I will know how to do that if or when I get there. I only know how to lose and GAIN,lol. So I will sure need your help when I decide to do that.

I hope you had a good day today! I know Monday's are not your best day of the week,lol.
Have a greta Tuesday my friend!!!
....Hugs, Millie

Hi, Am:

Hope your day went reasonably well. And that SS kept things in order back home.

Hey!! Congrats on the pound down. Didn't see that before. Gosh, it takes a lot hard work to loose when you have come so friggin far. Really top stuff.

Hi Am! :wave:

Huzzah to JoJo, Millie, Jump 'n Ms. Aria!!! :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:

Diet Maiden Am, Suzie the Goal Ghoul, Hago the Halloween Hut 'n the Entity Known as "I" are grateful fer thy visits 'n kindly words this a.m. ... wazoooo, life be good 'n weight management be a lot o' fun, actually, so re the work it taketh (and it does, yea verily, t'is true, gotta kick some b*tt on a regular basis to get 'er done but that's ok 'cause Am has some pretty good b*tt kickin' boots available in her mental arsenal).

Sorry if any references to kickin' any part o' the anatomy be offensive to anyone, t'is symbolic kickin' only. :rofl:

Wazooo 'n quid pro quo. Methinks Scary Suzie wants to use the computer. There's only one in the hut, ye know.

Eeenie meenie, chile beanie, the Scarecrow is about to speak:*

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, 1555; 60 min walk, 20 min weights
Day 9, TBD; TBD
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

:*(Apologies to the Rocky 'n Bullwinkle Show from long, long ago, from which Plagarist Am stole the bulk o' that line 'n she hopeth Bullwinkle doth not send the Plagarist Police.) :harvest:

Hey Girl,
Hope you have had a good day. I am very tired I should have burned some calories today.

Am, You are doing so great with your streak, you are sure keeping those http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_34.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) cAlories steady!!! Good for you! I do so look up to you! You just keep rolling and jumping! You know with you I have to add the jumping also.
Keep that streak going!

I have not made it over to SP yet, I am running behind today.....Hugs, Millie

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_67.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
I forgot to tell you thank you for my gift today, how sweet!!!!
Hugs, Millie

I am crushed - you mean Hago, Suzie, even the Black Lagoon are. . .fiction!?! That there isn't a Grimm fairy tale pre industrial European Forest in the United States desert southwest? Or an ocean for the Lighthouse maidens? Okay. Fine. Give me a moment to pull myself together.

Sorry, I just got up, and my sense of humor hasn't clicked into place yet. :laugh: I like the way you identified the problem and attacked it. You've got Suzie as the world's scariest diet police and implemented a great plan. I think I need to get busy and implement my own plan for the six weeks before my cruise. If I keep things firmly grounded in reality, it might work. I'll have to think about it when I take my walk today (when I am accompanied by the golden wolf and her ladies in waiting, and my fierce bodyguard (cleverly disguised as a 9 year old swinging a wooden sword).

:rofl: Well, actually, Eljay, quite nearby to where I live there IS a permanent, large and very popular permanent Renaissance faire facility that sits there deserted in the heat for eight months, being populated by various faux villagers, queens, etc., for three months in the early spring (also very hot, but t'is fun for us desert rats). That's 'bout it.

Hmmm, there ARE wonderful and quite scary storytelling traditions in the southwest, though, make the Europeans (apologies to them) look like pikers for scary. :D

Enjoy your walk. Mine is being done in spurts as it is raining, so I go out and come back in, go out and come back in.

See ya!

I am crushed - you mean Hago, Suzie, even the Black Lagoon are. . .fiction!?! That there isn't a Grimm fairy tale pre industrial European Forest in the United States desert southwest? Or an ocean for the Lighthouse maidens? Okay. Fine. Give me a moment to pull myself together.

Sorry, I just got up, and my sense of humor hasn't clicked into place yet. :laugh: I like the way you identified the problem and attacked it. You've got Suzie as the world's scariest diet police and implemented a great plan. I think I need to get busy and implement my own plan for the six weeks before my cruise. If I keep things firmly grounded in reality, it might work. I'll have to think about it when I take my walk today (when I am accompanied by the golden wolf and her ladies in waiting, and my fierce bodyguard (cleverly disguised as a 9 year old swinging a wooden sword).

Huzzah, Millie! Da nada! Ye are doin' great! Remember what Hillary Clinton (not saying anything about political views anyone should have, just liked her speech at the convention) quoted from a great lady last night: "... KEEP GOING!" ... you bet! Do it, Millie! Wazoooo!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_67.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
I forgot to tell you thank you for my gift today, how sweet!!!!
Hugs, Millie

Suzie is runnin' fer Halloween Challenge President! More details later ... "Eeenie meenie, chile beanie, the Scarecrow is about to speak!"

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, 1555; 60 min walk, 20 min weights
Day 9, 1550; 60 min walk
Day 10, TBD; TBD
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

hi pal...as usual you are doing great.. .down another pound i see... boy what a great job yo have done.. wow 122 lbs gone ..you amaze me.. you have lost half your body..
take care friend

Hah! I knew it! I'm not the only one on this site that has wandered through a Ren Faire in costume. . . (of course, I was dressed as Dr. Who, but that's a whole 'nother story, and a very long time ago). I just went to the Michigan Ren Fair last Saturday with the kid and spouse, but I was cleverly disguised as a chunky middle aged woman from twenty-first century Michigan.

How are things other than the damp walks? Did Scary Susie keep you honest?

Hi Am,
I see the streak is still going, THAT IS SO GREAT!!!!! You are just going to town!

You know today I was looking at your SP page now I remember you from when I was here before you where also on DT, I seen one of your avtars, then it hit me,lol. Well I am slow at times,lol.

I am running behind time today, as my son Bert moved in with me today.

Hope you have a great Thursday my friend!.....Hugs,
Millie

You are on it. Calories in, exercise, day in day out = 122 pound loss. It takes that certain mental shift where you just do it on a daily basis. You stumble but you do not quit, you are a tough cookie.

Thanks be to Lulu, Millie, Jump 'n Eljay fer all the nice visits 'n encouragin' words whilst Diet Maiden Am was slumberin' in the scary hut! :wave:

Jump, yea, it's gotta be daily consistency, calories in, calories out, that's what gets me through the week these days. I will take a rest day sometime when circumstances arise but find it works best to just stay consistent for as long as possible, hence, the STREAK! Wazoooo!

Lulu, :wave: thanks, pal. I think the other half o' my body transmongrified into Hago and she wants to keep it so there's NO possibility of a merger with Am anytime soon.

Millie, yea, I have finally merged the Amarantha screen name with everywhere I post 'cause I am gettin' too muddled to remember different names for different sites. :laugh:

Eljay, last time I went to the Ren faire was for work so I was cleverly disguised as your basic urban desert dwelling journalist. :laugh: Actually, no one wears costumes there except the actors and employees. It must be VERY hot to wear those costumes in the U.S. southwest. That's why they only do it for two months a year, I guess, the facility just sets there the rest of the time, which is a huge waste, IMO (I said three yesterday but looked at the sign, it's only two months ... February and March). Next year I'm going just to walk around and NOT work.

Yes, as previously reported Suzie is runnin' fer Halloween Challenge President! She likes the streak and wants it to continue and she is runnin' on a platform of MAINTENANCE for awhile longer, although Diet Maiden Am says SHE wants to reach the 120 mark (the final number) by October 26 and THEN she will maintain. But Hago says we all should at least maintain for awhile and say streakish as we are in steady state and we are usin' the nice round number GOLDEN SCALE O' DIETARY JUSTICE that was delivered a few weeks ago from Halloween Diet Challenge Central 'cause the decimels seem less and less relevant at this juncture to Diet Maiden Am 'n all the challengers.

More details later ... "Eeenie meenie, chile beanie, the Scarecrow is about to speak!" He has lost some of his scarecrow shape as he, like all of us, is undergoing a process of punctuated equilibrium as his species transmongrifies into something else ... we don't know what. Film at 11.

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, 1555; 60 min walk, 20 min weights
Day 9, 1550; 60 min walk
Day 10, 1515; 20 min weights, 20 min jog, 60 min walk
Day 11, TBD; TBD
Day 12, TBD; TBD
Day 13, TBD; TBD
Day 14, TBD; TBD

"And ye shall harvest what ye eat!" ~ Signed, Mysterious Dietary Justice Prophet :harvest: :beam:

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_10_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
I see you are still going strong! Keep rolling and jumping my friend!

I am so with you about using the same name, I was forgetting all the time, even when I wrote it down then I could not find it,lol. Of course I would lose my head if it was not stuck on,lollol!

Hope you had a great day and have a great Friday!...Hugs, Millie

Huzzah, Millie!!!! I'm rollin' 'n jumpin', lass, never fear! :rofl:

Hey, will be back with a double scarecrow report later or tomorrow, Diet Universe!

Dealin' with a variety of crisis situations and bakin' my sweet potatoe "fries" for a snack also. Yum. My favorite treat lately: sweet potato cut into "fries" (chunky ones), lightly spritzed with olive oil (sometimes I use safflower oil or expeller press canola, not the junky kind) and a little Mrs. Dash, baked in toaster oven, divided into four servings usually eat two servings as a snack or with a protein source).

End of recipe, food now! Wow! Zow!

Hmmm, due to some trials 'n tribulations this day in the Hat o' Hago the Halloween Challenge Hag, Diet Maiden Am be kind o' mentally pooped out but here's an interestin' thing, the STREAK GOES ON!

At any rate, the two day report o' Suzie the Goal Ghoul followeth.

Day 1, 1590; 60 min walk
Day 2, 1590;15 min weights, 15 min jog, 30 min jog/walk
Day 3, 1585; 15 min jog/walk, 45 min walk
Day 4, 1595; 15 min weights, 45 min walk
Day 5, 1595; 60 min walk
Day 6, 1475; 120 min walk
Day 7, 1520; 30 min walk, 60 min jog/walk (little running, too)
Day 8, 1555; 60 min walk, 20 min weights
Day 9, 1550; 60 min walk
Day 10, 1515; 20 min weights, 20 min jog, 60 min walk
Day 11, 1510; 60 min jog/walk, 20 min walk
Day 12, 1385; 40 min walk, 20 min weights
SATURDAY, TBD; TBD

Suzie got the list scr*wed up, seems to be missing a day but did do 13, not messin' with it, going to start a new streak on Sunday anyhoo, so Saturday is the final day of this one!

Hi Am,
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_150.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Sorry to hear you are pooped from everything that is going on!!! Hope things get better for you soon. I don't want my friend mentally pooped.

You are JUST SO GREAT at sticking with your streak or what ever you do on this http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_67.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) journay!!!!!
Wow you are so great with your work outs that you have now got me going, which I did need a little kick in the butt to get going, so reading yours got to me,lol.

Hope you have a GREAT Saturday!!...Hugs, Millie

Hi, Am:

It's good to just keep on keeping on, especially when we are mentally pooped. I know the feeling, too, but keeping on is the right solution.

Good for you, my friend, good for you!

Huzzah 'n MUCH THANKS FOR THE VISITS 'N SUPPORT from friends JoJo 'n Millie! Wazoooo! Diet Maiden Am 'n Hago (Suzie is still asleep) are up EARLY 'n headin' fer the walk/jog professional (that would be Am's crazy neighborhood at the moment, no real track 'round here except the school, which is locked 'n Am would not go in there anyhow at 4:30 a.m.) Hago-certified track early, early, early!

A NEW SECRET VOW HATH BEEN PROMULGATED IN AMARANTH'S FEVERED BROW HAVIN' TO DO WITH CONTINUIN' ON WITH LIFE, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, FITNESS 'N HEALTH IN GENERAL DESPITE ANY 'N ALL TOMATOES :tomato: THAT LIFE MAY THROW IN THE INTREPID DIET MAIDEN'S PATH! Film at 11! :cheer2:

Hi Am! :wave:
Thanks for visiting my journal this morning, and wishing you a great day!

Huzzah, Aria! :wave: Thanks fer the visit 'n talk to ye soon. I have been not so good with the declutterin' these days but am about to do MAJOR reclutterin' soon! :cheer:

Hi Am! :wave:
Thanks for visiting my journal this morning, and wishing you a great day!

This is a "little" :rofl: :laugh: :D cross postie, actually, from a land far far away and Am wisheth to just document it here as this is actually serving as her main journal fer the nonce. This is LONG and is posted for no particular reason (no need for anyone to feel they have to comment as t'is just a rant or more nicely put, a muse, that Am or "I" might wish to have available here for her reference of what in the world she was thinkin' on that Saturday afternoon, by the "Entity Known as I" ... sometimes shopping trips can be interesting when one is a perpetual weight management participant ...)

WARNING, I AM SAD AND LONELY TODAY AND IT IS MY DAY OFF AND MY ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO TYPING ON FORUMS IS TO START TYPING MY COPY FOR THE PAPER, SO I AM SURE YE WILL FORGIVE ME IF I CHOOSE TO TYPE A LONG FOOD RANT HERE INSTEAD OF WORK!

Ok, food rant: Did do the Sprouts run and had some food discussion in mind!

One thing is that I am sticking to my beloved milk addiction but have once again succeeded in dropping to fat free (as long as it's the "plus" tasting kind) in order to save calories (2 percent is healthier for my blood sugar but I've been drinking the fat free for a day now and it's been going well, this frees up other fat calories for omega 3 and different things I am trying).

Another thought is a citation in either Clean Eating or some other mag about saturated fat and health that bears out my own theories and those of people I consult about this topic (which I won't share as they are controversial). But anyhow, I am happy with the milk switch as the calorie saving is considerable and my blood sugar is just fine.

Finally, I did find quite a variety of Sprouts branded bakery items that, although they aren't whole grain, have only a few ingredients and NO HFCS! Woo hoo! I bought the hot dog buns as secretly I have been consumed with wanting hot dogs for a week and have been working on a version that is lower in cals and all the bad stuff than the convenience store kind I've been stress buying. Having already discovered that in-house store bakeries do not generally use HFCS (and discussions with the bakery departments in a few of the stores bear out that they do use the recipe provided on the label), I have to conclude that the lower calorie content of these kinds of "hot dog" buns as opposed to the commercial big name brands that DO have HFCS (ALL OVER THE FREAKIN' SHELF) is due to no HFCS.

So anyhow, I found Jennie-O turkey franks that are 70 calories, slightly lower in sodium than their beefy counterparts (they are smaller in size, too, which is a good thing as everything we eat these days is SO over the top in size as say compared to the 1980s or whenever we started bloating the food chain with HFCS) and taste just like hot dogs. I placed a turkey frank in the microwave for a sec and ate it on a Sprouts 80 calorie bun (same size as the Ball Bark commercial bun that has HFCS and 120 calories plus a zillion chemical additives) and ate that and voila, no more hot dog craving for today anyhow.

Apologies to the vegetarians but the same principle would apply to tofu dogs, which are actually quite good also.

More Sprouts talk: I am afraid if I buy and eat one more Dee's Mighty Muffin, I will go insane so I skipped these on this trip. But will doubtless go back to them sometime. They are "flourless" (not really, but anyhow they are whole grain), vastly big and delicious and range from 110 to 150 calories depending on variety. The rant is they won't deliver these to any other outlet beyond where this Sprouts is located (quite a drive from me, actually, although I go often as the regular grocery just can't compare in price, variety and healthier options).

Final Sprouts rant: Every single time I go there I have to have a Bolthouse Farms Chai Soy Protein Drink. Again, as I have ranted before, the small Bolthouse Farms bottle lists nutritional info as 160 for a serving and, folks, DO THEY REALLY EXPECT ME TO DRINK A HALF A BOTTLE IN THE CAR AND STOP AND BRING THE SECOND HALF HOME FOR A FUTURE SNACK?

Sheesh, so my rant is could the food manufacturers stop trying to fool us and give us realistic information.

Although, actually, I did go shopping there with an older friend a few weeks ago who had never had soy of any kind so we bought two bottles of the chai and she only drank half (I drank the whole thing as always, sheesh) and we went to another store and shopped and when we came back to the car she started to drink the Bolthouse, which had been sitting there without refrigeration in the Arizona sun.

I stopped her, but I guess it proves that some people really CAN drink only half of a small bottle of Bolthouse Chai Protein Drink (aka Nirvana in a plastic bottle).:hijacked:

Hi Am,
I really enjoyed reading your rant. I thought it was a good read!
Glad your turkey dog turned out good. I also miss a hot dog once in a while, Guess I will have to check that out!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_67.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS)
Hope you are feeling less pooped today!
I am hoping others stop throwing tomatoes in your path! I don't want to have to send my terminator after them,lol!!

Hope you have a great Sunday!...Hugs,
Millie

Finding no HFC in the states in the US is next to impossible. That stuff is just nasty. Trust yourself and your own intuition. I take a lot of what you say and mull it in my head because I look at your results. I think I will make the switch in my milk, damn good idea.

Thanks, Millie 'n Jump fer the visits!!! :wave: Jump, I am still eating full fat cheese, though, had some Havarti tonight; I will only cut fat where the taste and the way it makes me feel are acceptible. Re HFCS, yes, the stuff is really evil. A few years ago, the bread manufacturers took it out of a lot of products and then they sneakily added it right back in. This DESPITE widespread sentiment among consumers that they really don't want the HFCS in there (except they keep buying and eating it and gaining weight on it). I wish they'd stop.

Ok, Hago's brain is a little bit back to normal after a weird mental day in the DDDDF (Deep Dark Diet Dilemmatic Forest) 'n boxin' shadows 'n what not in her head. The happy thing is that on this last day o' the Suzie Streak, no overage occurred 'n calories were 1590, exercise 80 min jog/walk, 20 min walk !!!

Now comes the ceremony o' the golden scale and Suzie, who has decided not to run for president, is writing a book on THE STREAK DIET. Diet Maiden Am hath agreed to test run it for the next chunk o' this Halloweeny journey and it will be chronicled on this same diettalky journal unless Am gets tired of it! Maintenance is probably still going to be the goal for awhile, although 120 is still ULTRA GOAL, but Am's body needs equilibrium or the progress will be lost, we just know this instinctively, we cannot explain how we know it :) Film at 11.

Chapter 1: Maintenance. Instructions, follow the Streak Diet (at least one hour of exercise and no more than 1599 calories each day) until further notice. No high days (for awhile, they are coming).

This diet was tested for two weeks by Diet Maiden Amarantha who still weighs 125 following the CEREMONY OF THE GOLDEN SCALE OF DIETARY JUSTICE this Sunday morn. This maintenance effect, using the "round number" scale is exactly the effect the STREAK DIET was created for and it works.

When an initiative to lose the last five pounds is decided upon by the Halloween Diet Challenge Committee begins, high days and exercise rest days will be included in the new plan. In the meantime, if deviations should occur from THE STREAK DIET, Suzie will be very mad X-( and probably report the offender to the Calorie Police :lapd: for re-education :whip: :keys:

There is nothing more to say, the scale said it all. "Maintenance is good, all hail maintenance!"

Minimizin' the blather for this new format of a week-to-week list as Suzie is gettin' more and more focused on publication o' THE STREAK DIET 'n hasn't a lot o' time fer lists, so here t'is, with tomorrow bein' the start o' the work week fer Diet Maiden Am 'n she already has the headache :aid: :laugh: ... finished eating for day, so no more to say! :D

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: Tbd, Tbd
Tuesday: Tbd, Tbd
Wednesday: Tbd, Tbd
Thursday: Tbd, Tbd
Friday: Tbd, Tbd
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

:cheer2:

Hi Am,
Great work on the Maintenance!!! That is always a good thing!!! Whish I could say that about me.

You are doing so good, and great on the exercise, you are so rolling and jumping!

Hope you have a better week at the Black Lagoon!!! So soldier on lady http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_10_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) !!!!
Have a http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_152.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) !!!!....Hugs, Millie

Thanks, Millie!! :wave: I get such a kick out of your colorful visits and animated smilies. Yea, we're soldierin' on :cheer2: here at Hago Halloween Headquarters, now the publishing house proudly presentin' THE STREAK DIET by Suzie Goal Ghoul, soon to be a major motion picture! Gak, I need to shut up and work! See ya! :rofl:

Hi, Am:

I must watch for that publication in our local bookstores. Thanx for pointing out that "The Streak Diet" has finally been published.

And a movie too? I can hardly wait.

:rofl:

Hi, Am:

I must watch for that publication in our local bookstores. Thanx for pointing out that "The Streak Diet" has finally been published.

And a movie too? I can hardly wait.

Suzie is facin' complexities in the publishin' world 'n aims to be factual 'n in brevity mode for awhile, so here's the listie! Oddly, that calorie number seems to crop up all the time. T'is strange how numbers seem to have this mystical power over the life o' a diet maiden. Hago is lookin' into it since she has time now that everyone in the DDDDF (Deep Dark Dilemmatic Diet Forest) is payin' attention to the successful Suzie the Goal Ghoul, upon the publication o' her best sellin' book, The Streak Diet!

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: 1590, 30 min weights, 20 min jog/walk, 10 min walk
Tuesday: Tbd, Tbd
Wednesday: Tbd, Tbd
Thursday: Tbd, Tbd
Friday: Tbd, Tbd
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

Hi Am, and thanks for visiting my new journal! :wave:

Da nada, Aria! Thank ye also fer the visit this fine September morn! :wave:

Hi Am, and thanks for visiting my new journal! :wave:

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_10_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS) Hi Am,
Stop by to see how you are doing, you are always doing good food wise and exercise, you are so on a roll oh and jumping!!! keep up the great work!
You do keep your calories right where you need them, GOOD for YOU!!!! So Soldier on my friend!!!
Have a Great Wednesday!!!...Hugs,
Millie

Am, I thought of you when I decorated my house yesterday for autumn. The summer and patriotic colors are gone. Autumn has arrived in my mind if not outside. Finally, I have found the drive and motivation to strive for daily consistency which will lead me back to my goal weight. I look forward to visiting you in the maintenance mode.

Hi, Am:

I dug out my Halloween T-shirt today, and will be wearing it again soon. I was thinking of you and Susie and all the denizens of the spooky forest where you live as I did it.

Remember that in spite of everything, life is actually pretty good. It really is.

Thanks be to visitors Millie, CJL 'n JoJo who dropped by the hut in Hago's absence! :wave:

Millie, thanks, I am soldierin' :cheer2: :) 'n the Calorie Police are roamin' the forest in search o' miscreants, so havin' no problems bein' a calorie saint right now :laugh: !!!

CJL: T'was so good to see thee back! Wishin' ye luck in your journey but ye don't need it 'cause ye have CONSISTENCY 'n that be, IMO, the key to it all! Wazoooo!

JoJo: :bghost: Happy Halloween Shirt Time! Wazoooo! I had one last year but can't find it, will have to buy another one. They aren't out in the stores here yet, no witchipoos either, I want a big stuffed witch for the Black Lagoon office desk to scare folks in my absence.

Keep remindin' me that life is good as sometimes I do forget, JoJo, but that's a fact that bears repeatin' 'cause yes it is! :harvest:

Hago went fer a little stroll in the dark this a.m. but has not yet done the real workout (or workouts, often more than one throughout the day). Walking counts as exercise in the forest here, but t'was a quiet stroll to enjoy the fact that autumn really HAS arrived here in the oven we call our part o' the world ... sometimes autumn doesn't REALLY come here, we just say it does :laugh: ... but t'is crisp this a.m. and Hago liked it! Not a lot o' joggin' goin' on during the walks this week so far, weights are the focus and just feelin' better all around mentally with quiet walks that still count as EXERCISE!!!! Again, world, walking is exercise :rofl: !!!

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: 1590, 30 min weights, 20 min jog/walk, 10 min walk
Tuesday: 1560, 60 min walk
Wednesday: Tbd, Tbd
Thursday: Tbd, Tbd
Friday: Tbd, Tbd
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

Halloween is getting closer, I always think your journal and halloween go together. It's okay to take a day off if you ever need one of those "mental health days".

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2008-10-01/Dietary-Fat-Health-Weight.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

An e-mail a friend sent me, you might find it interesting.

Hi Am, wishing you a great day! :)

Hi Am,
Oh happy to hear you are still keeping the calorie police away!! You are always a saint, they should know that by now!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_5_140.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS)
Thanks for the help today, I finally found it,lol. Guess I am slow.

Have a great evening and night tonight and a great Day tomorrow. Hey I changed things around a little, wanted to keep you on your toes,lol :laugh:!

....Hugs, Millie

Thanks be fer the visits o' friends whilst Hago was a'musin' 'n a' potterin' through the dark night o' tryin' not to sleep through Sarah Palin's address to the Republican convention (nothing against the lady, Hago wanted to hear the speech but missed it the first time it was broadcast due to work and then as they rebroadcast, Hago kept slippin' into sleep, which is a good thing normally but not when a speech is on that one wants to hear and one does not have a means to record it, but she digresseth, this be the howdy corner o' the journal! :wave:

Anyhow, JUMP, Suzie the Goal Ghoul Guru 'n author o' the Streak Diet says we who are followin' this new 'n popular weight management program (now in your local bookstore, comin' to a video store near YOU) cannot take a mental health day until possibly mid-September. X-( She says this is important but doth not explain further as she is working on her second book, The Turbostreak Diet, aka Streak on Steroids (that's a joke, Am is not advocating steroids so no one should get nervous). Thanks for the link. I am goin' there now to read ... also yea, Halloween be almost HERE! Wazoooo! No candy in the forest this year for Am, though.

MILLIE: Thanks, Am is rollin' 'n jumpin', now she needeth a nap! :rofl: (ROLLIN' on floor laughin' ...)

ARIA: Hi, hope Am did not talk thee into a stupor yesterday, Ms. Aria, when ye made an inquiry o' her opinion on somethin' :D ...

EDITED IN, JUMP: That was an interesting article. Thanks. I do believe in calories in, calories out, essentially, but there are other complexities. One of the complexities, at least in the U.S., that I'd add to that discussion is not just the simple processed carbs but HFCS, which I GUESS is a simple carb but it's white processed sugar on steroids for real and a calorie of HFCS is NOT just a calorie, it's a weight adding, disease causing time bomb and the whole freakin' food supply is saturated with this poison. It makes me FURIOUS! (I'll shut up now!)

:harvest:

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: 1590, 30 min weights, 20 min jog/walk, 10 min walk
Tuesday: 1560, 60 min walk
Wednesday: 1410, 60 min walk, 10 min weights
Thursday: Tbd, Tbd
Friday: Tbd, Tbd
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

Hi, Amarantha:

My Halloween shirt is from last year. It is a lovely Snoopy shirt that I got at Walgreens, but I only wore it a few times. I'm going to use it as an exercise shirt, in October it is absolutely too chilly to wear a T-shirt except while exercising.

Hope you find yours.

Have a great day!

JoJo, I got my now missing Halloween shirt last year at Walgreen's also (it's actually one of my favorite places). It was one of the ones marketed to winter visitors here and the like and it said, "THIS IS MY HALLOWEEN SHIRT!" :rofl:

Needless to say it is not too chilly in October here so I wear a lot o' those Walgreen T-shirts. :)

Hi, Amarantha:

My Halloween shirt is from last year. It is a lovely Snoopy shirt that I got at Walgreens, but I only wore it a few times. I'm going to use it as an exercise shirt, in October it is absolutely too chilly to wear a T-shirt except while exercising.

Hope you find yours.

Have a great day!

This is just an aside from Am or The Entity Known as I and is not in response to anyone or anything other than the central diet entity in my own head and hope t'is ok to post this here as it is a commentary on a little blip in the September issue of Health Magazine and is copyrighted material so am just commenting, not reproducing.

The blip is in the mag's "Diet Now" news watch section (p. 18) and it's likely online content as well but I have no URL. The head says "Fat and fit? Probably Not."

It talks about research at Harvard Medical School and Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital that challenges the "popular idea" that people can be overweight yet still fit. It says a study of 39,000 women showed those who were physically active yet classified as overweight or obese had risk factors for heart disease that were 54 percent higher for overweight and 87 percent in the obese category than active women who were not overweight or obese.

The "News Watch" item concluded that while "critical" for reducing risk of heart disease, exercise isn't enough and a healthy, low calorie diet that helps control weight is "essential."

I just wanted to put this in here for my reference as it tracks with my own experience over the past few years and with the conclusions of my health care providers regarding my own journey.

Calories, weight reduction, gotta love 'em!

:harvest: Wazoooo, Suzie the Goal Ghoul posted her list early today 'n Hago is mentally walkin' 'round the Halloweeny forest thinkin' chaotic thoughts (which she will soon sort out 'n bid adieu to woo hoo)!

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: 1590, 30 min weights, 20 min jog/walk, 10 min walk
Tuesday: 1560, 60 min walk
Wednesday: 1410, 60 min walk, 10 min weights
Thursday: 1420, 60 min walk
Friday: Tbd, Tbd
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

Checkity-check! :check:

This is just an aside from Am or The Entity Known as I and is not in response to anyone or anything other than the central diet entity in my own head and hope t'is ok to post this here as it is a commentary on a little blip in the September issue of Health Magazine and is copyrighted material so am just commenting, not reproducing.

The blip is in the mag's "Diet Now" news watch section (p. 18) and it's likely online content as well but I have no URL. The head says "Fat and fit? Probably Not."

It talks about research at Harvard Medical School and Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital that challenges the "popular idea" that people can be overweight yet still fit. It says a study of 39,000 women showed those who were physically active yet classified as overweight or obese had risk factors for heart disease that were 54 percent higher for overweight and 87 percent in the obese category than active women who were not overweight or obese.

The "News Watch" item concluded that while "critical" for reducing risk of heart disease, exercise isn't enough and a healthy, low calorie diet that helps control weight is "essential."

I just wanted to put this in here for my reference as it tracks with my own experience over the past few years and with the conclusions of my health care providers regarding my own journey.

Calories, weight reduction, gotta love 'em!

Am, I think we can even add to that: the wear and tear effect of extra weight on the spine, joints, etc.
Have a great day! :)

Yep, wear and tear on the emotional life as well, for me. I just feel better managing my weight and fitness. Huzzah! Thanks for droppin' in on this Friday morn! Woo hoo! :wave:

Toll on emotional life, absolutely!

To be healthy I think we must understand the relationship between physical, emotional and spiritual health. Given time, I think any type of stress will produce negative effects on the quality and longevity of life whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. I think if we want the best quality of life we must preserve our health. Enjoy the weekend Am.

Hi AM,
I see you are still going strong! Keep rolling you are doing so great!
Your calories sure look wonderful!

Have a great Saturday!.....Hugs, Millie

Thanks be to Aria, Millie 'n CJL fer their visits to the Deep Dark Dilemmatic Forest wherein Hago be currently residin' ... Suzie the Goal Ghoul hath gone to Hollywood to sign a film contract. Seems she's goin' to be the star o' the film version o' The Streak Diet, which she co-authored with a Diet Ghostwriter :ghost: who lives in Latuna Beach, Caloriefornia. Film at 11.

Wazoooo, streak broken for now, chaos reigns in the forest, attacked by Streakbreaker Ghouls, Hago is casting a magic spell for a better day tomorrow! Film at 11!

Sunday: 1590, 60 min walk
Monday: 1590, 30 min weights, 20 min jog/walk, 10 min walk
Tuesday: 1560, 60 min walk
Wednesday: 1410, 60 min walk, 10 min weights
Thursday: 1420, 60 min walk
Friday: DID TAKE THE DAY OFF FROM CALORIE LOGGING, DID 20 MIN WEIGHTS, WENT TO WORK :harvest:
Saturday: Tbd, Tbd

Checkity-check! :check:

You have done a heck of a job of keeping your 125 and not gaining. I think not a lot is mentioned in how hard it is to maintain a great weight loss. You really have beat the odds. You have a lot of discipline.

Tell Suzi, there are some great shops on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills to shop for the red carpet. With your determination and discipline you'll be out of the DDD Forest and back to streakin' through those autumn leaves.

Thanks be to Jump 'n CJL fer the early morn' visits 'n encouragement. Now that the streak be broken, Hago hath told Suzie she should pursue her career in Hollywood 'n write if she gets work. Hago is RE-takin' o'er the leadership o' the DDDD Forest as of midnight last night 'n her first order o' biz is to declare a NO FOOD LOGGING DAY (CALORIES will be logged as data, though) and NO REQUIRED EXERCISE WORKOUTS (unless somebody feels like exercisin', which they don't right now).

This just in from the DAPP (Diet Assorted People Press): "The PLATFORM AND FACT FINDIN' COMMITTEE FOR PART THREE O' THE HALLOWEEN DIET CHALLENGE IS MEETIN' AT HAGO HEADQUARTERS AND A PLAN AND SOME FACTS FOR SEPTEMBER ARE EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING THIS COMING WEEK'S CEREMONY O' THE GOLDEN SCALE! Meanwhile, Hago is absent from the forest and sources say she is having a issure regarding the mortgage on the Halloween Hut and needs to go talk to bankers in the Black Lagoon and that she may have to cast a spell :whip: on them to make them behave better and agree that Hago is correct in all her points (OF COURSE SHE IS!).

:harvest:

Hi Am,
I tell you, you crack me up at times with your great stories! You are so good at it.
Hope all works out good with the bankers, if not just go ahead and cast that spell!
I will agree with you, you are right on all points.

You did so great with your streak! I have been tiring to think of one to see if I can stick with a streak.

Hope you Havea great Sunday!....Hugs, Millie

Hi, Millie! :wave: Thanks for the visit! :wave: Hope you find a great "streak" you'll enjoy doin' ... it's a fun game!

Thanks be to those DT denizens who so kindly visited and supported Hago, Suzie 'n Diet Maiden Amarantha on this leg o' her autumn journey. Book Two be closed now 'n placed on the library shelves down in the Deep Dark Dilemmatic Forest Diet Library (Hago is the librarian there 'n keeps the archives tidy).