So how did Halloween go? Did you eat enough candy to make you sick? Did you stick with your plan? Did you even have a plan?

There are about eight weeks to Christmas and this is the season for Holiday Parties and usually weight gain. Now that one holiday is over, make a new plan for the next one. Let's see, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. One down, three to go.

So for November, are you going to say, "what the heck, the holidays are upon us!" And eat, eat, eat? Or are you going to say "Thanksgiving is just one day, and I will eat whatever I like on that day"? Or are you going to have one piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream after a sensible portion of turkey and stuffing and give thanks for all your blessings. You decide. Don't forget to plan something to do with all the leftovers. Maybe go so far as to not have any!

So, October stats for me. I did great with my goal to eat no Halloween candy. Not one piece. I went to a party and had a sandwich and one oatmeal raisin cookie. I really wanted some candy today though, but I passed. I took the left over candy and donated it to the senior center, better them eat it than me. So, there is no candy in my house now.

Weight 9/27 220.4
Weight 11/1 220

Loss for October .4

However, my weight was not steady for October. I had three weeks of gain, 1 lb, 1 lb, and 3.6 pounds. And two weeks of loss 2.8 pounds and 3.2 pounds. So in October I gained 5.6 pounds and lost 6 pounds.

I just really don't understand. I eat well, exercise, drink water, and gain. I eat well, exercise and drink water and I lose.

I can't control the number on the scale. But I can control what and how much I eat, when and how much I exercise, and how much water I drink.

Look at my beautiful lunch! It was just so pretty I had to take a photo. It is kale, spinach, purple cabbage, ham and onion, sauteed in a little olive oil, sprinkled with salt. It was fabulous! My body is loving me, it was so healthy.

How is your "diet" coming along? Are you stuffing yourself on free Halloween candy? Are you just eating too much? Are you getting the exercise your body needs?

I did an official WI yesterday and was down 2.8! Finally less than 220! Yippeee! I added an extra workout to my schedule, a small 15 minutes in the morning right after the kids go to school. I was really diligent about not eating sweets this week and I have still not eaten any Halloween candy!

What are you going to do on Halloween night? A plan will help you stay on top of your eating. No plan will get you eating everything in sight.

I have been quilting, really I have. Just not much. I am making these flower blocks (design by Mary Ellen Hopkins) slowly as I sew with friends. I have about 30 flowers done, and it takes four flowers to make a block. I think I need about 30 blocks, so it is slow going. I am going to put the blocks together on point with green sashing and red cornerstones. All the flowers are different material, with the flower center being red and the leaves green. The greens are used many times but the flowers will all be unique. These are such cute little blocks.

This is our quilting club that met last Tuesday night. There were about eight people there. We all love to quilt! The group was working on a project, but I was helping someone with a previous project, so I didn't get to sew.

We have been eating homemade bread for about two years, and I make it about once a week. I always use some whole wheat flour, and then add some oatmeal, rolled oats, wheat germ, flax seed, maltomeal, or some other whole grain product.

I have been experimenting in the kitchen. This week I made some bagels!


Then I made some more bagel dough and filled it with leftover steak, peppers and shredded cheese and made portable sandwiches.


And the outcome of the taste tests? Outstanding! The kids loved it! Begged for more! And that is a sure sign of success!

I had a great weekend, in spite of eating out five times in two days! Friday night we went to a friend's house for a lasagna dinner. I brought and ate a lot of salad. Declined Halloween candy for dessert. On Saturday, we attended a memorial service and potluck and skipped out on the potluck. Then we went to a harvest party and I was sure there would be veggies so I would be ok. No such luck. There were two pound steaks, baked potatoes, lots of pasta salads and desserts galore. I had a piece of a steak, some bean salad, and a few bites of dessert. Then we had an Oktoberfest party. I was sitting at a table with a nut bowl, but I switched with the veggie platter at another table! I ate a part of a bratwurst, some sauerkraut, some potatoes and no dessert. Sunday, we ate one of the steaks from the harvest party we took home for lunch along with quinoa and salad. Then a friend invited us over for dinner. It was moose soup, tea, and crackers. Whew!

Diet Challenge 2009

Do you realize that it is only a couple of months until Christmas? 13 weeks more or less.


Do you have a plan for this Holiday Season? Is it going to be like last year? Or are you going to make healthier decisions? Are you going to throw in the towel or go out with a bang?

We are already starting our round of holiday parties. This weekend we are going to a friend's house for dinner, a potluck memorial service, a Harvest party and an Octoberfest. Is this a recipe for disaster? Or is this a chance to make good choices and enjoy my friends?

Here is my plan. Bring a salad to dinner tonight (the hostess is serving lasagna) and eat lots of it. Eat lunch prior to the memorial service and not stay for the potluck. Go to the Harvest party and enjoy lots of garden vegetables and fresh beef. Eat one plate of food at the Octoberfest, and enjoy every bite. Stay away from desserts and nuts, and stick to drinking water.

I will have to let you know how it goes. At least with a plan, I have a map of what to do. Without a plan, I would just eat a bunch of stuff and say, oh well, so much for the healthy eating today. And I really don't want to do that. I want to be in control of the food, not let the food control me.

I have found a blog I really like. Lyn is very open and honest and is a great writer. Click here to read about a real person struggling just like the rest of us.

I have taken over Diet Challenge 2009 and will be the host until the end of the year and maybe start a new challenge in 2010!

How is everyone doing? Are you still in it for the long haul? Are you meeting your goals?

I have a spread sheet with charts and stuff to let me know how I am doing. I did a sheet makeover today and really looked at my numbers.

In 2008, I tracked for 41 weeks and I lost 39 % of the weeks and gained 58% of the weeks. There was one week with no change in weight. I lost a total of 22.8 pounds, an average of .57 pounds per week.


In 2009, I have tracked 38 weeks and I lost 59 % of the weeks, and gained 23% of the weeks. There were six weeks with no change in weight (no weigh in due to vacation and such). I have lost a total of 15.6 pounds, an average of .4 pounds per week. I have 14 weeks left in this year!

I have been feeling very discouraged and unmotivated (although that has not changed my actions!) and looking for something to get me going again mentally. I think this has done it. I am doing a great job! It doesn't get much better than losing 59% of the time!

So, if you are feeling discouraged, look back at your progress and celebrate your victories!

I would like to share two websites with you that have helped me. Check these sites out and let me know if they have motivated you too. PeerTrainer and Flylady.