Hi gals.
Nic---Bon Voyage! You are probably having that day before the trip I hate---checking and re-checking lists and making sure we have everything we need.
But then, you're off! Love it when the plane sets down in a new place, you collect your luggage and the vacation has finally begun. All the work and planning behind, all the great experiences ahead. Looking forward to hearing every detail you have time to share.
Jaz---UGH on the bad instructor. Not much you can do about that except just get through it, as you said. Remember, you'll still get your degree even if you have a B or two, and no one will know the difference. Still have to say, I hate this kind of teacher. Being vague translates to being lazy to this former teacher. No other reason for it. Students deserve clarity and good direction---not someone who holds your hand thru it, but someone who is clear in the objectives. Yeah, that takes some work, which is what she's getting paid for. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Did you get my video recs this time? Do not take lightly, LOL, you'll thank me after you've watched them, or at least one of them I think for sure.
Sounds like the rest of us, you've renewed your spirit and commitment to your woe. That's what I love about this place, we pass on each others' energy. We may slip and slide for awhile, but we all pull each other back.
Reminds me of one of my fave Maya Angelou quotes: "...and still I rise." She of course had much more serious things to "rise back up" against, but still, I like the quote because it says no matter how much we may have fallen back, or disappointed ourselves, we are very capable of rising again. Seen that all over this thread lately. It's a very good thing.
Trigger---Yeah, totally get you on the charting thing. Was going to start mine today, but got other things done instead. Tomorrow will be soon enough. Thing is, for you, you eat in a much smaller variety spectrum than some of us, so you'll have those numbers down in no time. You keep it simple, and it will be very doable to add it up in your head.
Are you still doggone hungry, or is it easing up a bit? Girl, if you could quit smoking after all those years, you can get used to anything! Just keep on keepin' on day after day and remember that it might take your body awhile to adjust to the new plan. It might want to hang on to those pounds for awhile as is it is often wont to do. Don't give up! You are in "rising again" mode and it's a beautiful thing---for your health, for your comfort and for your vanity.
Lori---I love a good balsamic dressing and nothing is better than homemade. One caveat, Balsamic vinegar can be higher in carbs/surgars, and the more expensive it gets seems the more likely that's true.
Do you have a Trader Joe's anywhere near---even if it's a bit of a drive, but you can stock up? I think their Balsamic Vinegar is VERY good and only 3 carbs a tablespoon.
But even if you can't find it that low, remember that if you are tossing a salad properly, you don't need a ton of dressing. So many people just pour it over the top, eat all the goopy dressing parts first, and then find themselves with half a dry salad. I like to toss with my hands. Put on the least amount of dressing to begin with and toss and fold leaves, then taste. If you need a drizzle more, add it in.
My recipe for Balsamic vinegar dressing is so easy to make, and by the way, you can sub any vinegar in it. I particularly like red wine vinegar as an alternative. You can also make a nice size batch all at once and have it on hand.
I don't do measurements as I've made my dressings for so long, do it to taste and eye. But I'll do the best I can here.
--Olive oil and balsamic vinegar: I usually do 60/40 in favor of the olive oil. Some like more vinegar than oil or visa versa. This works for me, so do it to your taste.
---Garlic Cloves. Yeah, NO garlic salt or powder. They are not fresh and you can really taste the difference. Again according to taste, I usually put a medium sized garlic segment in my garlic press, and that does it for me.
---Crushed dried basil. This can absolutely come out of a spice jar, and in fact is much better and easier to work w/that way unless you harvest fresh basil and dry it. Let's assume a spice jar of dried basil.
I put a small mound in my hand. Don't assume because it's dried it has no more flavor to release. Take your thumb and grind on it in your palm of basil, breaks up the pieces and releases all kinds of flavor. I do this twice, or two mounds of basil.
---Then, just salt and pepper to taste. I go really easy on the salt, but I'm a pepper pom pom girl and use plenty of crushed pepper.
---All that's left is to shake it up, and again, TOSS IT WELL. Start w/less, add only if you need to. Prevents soggy bottom of the salad bowl, saves on calories from the oil and let's the flavor of the rest of the ingredients come thru.
I also have a very good LC French and LC Thousand Island homemade dressing, if you're interested. I love to use blue cheese crumbles over the LC French, and I love a good LC Thousand island on a shrimp and hard boiled egg salad. YUMMERS.
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WOWZA gals, did I ever have a productive day!!! LOL, I'm all but putting together a laurel wreath to wear on my head.
I have been putting off writing some challenging new business e-mail inquiries. They take so much time and thought and choosing just the right links to my work for each potential client, as well as finding the right voice to address each of them with. They are all so different.
I have had a list of 4 I know and know me, that I've been meaning to do for weeks. Well, just sat my butt down early this AM, wrote all four, and sent them out. Took all morning and into the afternoon, but it's done. Still have others to write, but feel so good about doing four, I'll take a week before I worry about more unless something hits me over the head.
All you can do is try, and when you know you've put the time and effort into trying hard and at the best of your ability, there is a peace to it. Already got one excellent response saying not now, but please contact us in early fall, complete with a "don't forget."
Still have a list, and I'll get after it. But I think we're in the dog days of summer, business is slow, everyone's on vacation, so having put this huge effort in today, I think I will leave it till early fall to pursue more. And Lord knows I've got plenty else to do.
After all that, I helped hubby carry down a S-load of stuff from the attic. His knee is much better, and so is my wrist. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT, but that attic is 60% cleared. I used to go up there and just want to cry. Hubby has done an amazing job.
LOL, he really doesn't want those college hunks around and he doesn't want to pay them to do what he sees as his work. But, we still have the basement to go, so we'll see. Plus some stuff is just too big for us to deal with. But he is determine that we pay for as little of that truck as is possible! I'm all over that as long as he isn't straining his knee.
EXCELLENT 2nd day on my re-start. Have had two protein shakes. One with cold pressed coffee and Vanilla whey protein, and the second mid afternoon, with the Vanilla Whey protein, Hanson's organic black cherry diet soda and cream. OMG, seriously, both are like having ice cream to me, in liquid form.
Dinner will be 2 burgers w/cheese, heirloom tomato slice---my God they're so good now I'm going to enjoy them, and slim onion slice. NO LC bread, trying to put that aside for awhile. Might do a half cup of Trader Joe's sweet potato fries and still come in at around 1500 cals and 25 to 30 NCs. If I'm going to count calories, I'm going to take advantage of high nutrient carbs that I can afford occasionally.
So anyway, yesterday sucked, today was a whole different thing. We need to remember that nothing ever stays the same, even overnight.
Last edited by Blue52 : Tue, Jul-31-18 at 19:04.
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