Paleo Pals - Health, Weight Loss & Support

TwoHobbies

Pebbles, that's so sweet of your office mates. I love it! I am just stunned by your actual office. Everyone is going to open concept. I so miss having an office, or even the cubes were better, instead of sitting at a long row of computers.

The wrapping thing. Yes I always start out wanting to look like Martha Stewart did my gifts, I can wrap a box pretty well, so boxes get wrapped in paper with a bow, but maybe not with an added sprig of rosemary or a homemade tag. Everything else goes in a gift bag, the greatest invention ever.

Vamp, enjoy your time off and whatever the next phase of life brings.

This week I went a little more Vegas than usual. We had the holiday pot luck at work and I did pretty well. The main dish was BBQ, and then supplemented with plenty of other food. I had brisket and salad and fruit to fill up my plate. Skipped all desserts but did have a couple spoons of taco dip and 5 tortilla chips, one homemade taquito, and a diet soda. A friend took me to lunch and I ate a burger with about half the bun and sweet potato fries. Took my son for Mexican food - pretty much total Vegas there. Christmas eve with my extended family is pizza and chicken wings. I will take a take a salad and eat the wings and again, skip dessert.

I have 11 days off from work so my goal is to work on my fitness that I lost after this sickness, and get back to eating "at-home Paleo" instead of trying to do Paleo outside the home. I had lost 4 pounds last month but I've been averaging up about 2.5-3 lbs this week. I hope to be able to stay at the lower weight after all the holiday indiscretions, but we will see where I land.

InnaB2018

I’ve been in Vegas so long now, I forgot the way back. Oh, well, will start anew after the holidays...

JKL2017

We'll be leaving very early to join our granddaughters tomorrow morning (5 year olds who still believe in Santa get up very early!) so I am here a day early wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. It is wonderful to be part of such a supportive, understanding group. Hope you have an amazing holiday and that 2019 brings health and happiness to all.

Egads007

December 24, 2018

Mrs. Claus,

North Pole

HOH OHO

Dear Mrs. Claus,

I'm sending you my Christmas list with hopes that my wish list items just might become a reality this year. I've written to your Husband for many years asking for the same things, only to be disappointed every time. As a woman I figure you may just understand where I'm coming from, and take pity.....besides I'm assuming you have a lot of pull with the 'Big Guy'. My needs are simple...

1. A self cleaning kitchen. I've got a self cleaning oven, but it doesn't quite cut it. Pressing a button that will make my kitchen instantly sparkle would give me such joy! A dishwasher that put the clean dishes away would be a nice touch too...but not a necessity.

2. Permanently clean clothing (might as well keep my wants in the same genre). Over the last 35 years I figure I've done at least 7650 loads of laundry, and to be perfectly honest, I think I've paid my dues.

3. A front parking spot at the grocery store....for a year. I've walked as many miles into the store as I've done loads of laundry, maybe more. I think I've been good enough not to have to jockey for a spot 40 miles from the doorway in pouring rain....and besides I'm sick of my hair looking like Albert Einstein's after such an event. It scares the cashiers and I really don't think it gets me the best cuts in the meat department.

4. I'll gladly give up number 1-3 on my list, do without it all happily....if your DH could bring the world The Cure. We really could use it.

Please know that I eat all my broccoli, never get mouthy with my mother (anymore) and do my best not to flip people off in traffic (anymore). I do my best every day and would greatly appreciate any word you can put in with your DH. Please remind him of the myriad of work you do....while he has but one night a year to work.... with the help of 900 elves, that you have to cook and pick up after. While you're at it....put that self cleaning kitchen on your list, I'm convinced you deserve one too!

Love Egads007

P.S. How do I get reindeer scuff marks off my floor?

T'was the Night Before Christmas, and all through the Cave, not a carb was stirring, until they awake...

The cookies were waiting, wrapped up on a plate, with the hopes that a Cave Chick would Vegas their fate....

So on KSuze, on Inna, on JKL & Vampriella...on TwoH, on Pebbles, on Sassy, on JunieBee & Jadejo...

Up to those cookies and eat without guilt, Vegas is waiting, might as well push it to the hilt...

Healthy eating is coming, so go have a ball, we'll dash away, dash away, most carbs till Fall....

So eat with a flourish for only one night....Merry Christmas to y'all and to y'all a good night!

)))

Yeah, I'm no Shakespeare!

Happy Holidays to my dear friends....wishing you the best of the season, much love to you and yours!!

InnaB2018

Egads, love you to pieces! Merry Christmas

PebblesV

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AWESOME AND AMAZING PALEO PALS GROUP!!!

Egads - Wow! Love love love the poem. And thank you for letting us all have our moment in Vegas.

I’m cracking up at reindeer scuff marks off the floor! Plus can you also ask Mrs. Claus to remind Santa to wipe his shoes too? I mean he’s coming from the chimney and all, that’s kind of dirty. Oh please pass along that in Asian households he has to take the shoes off.

InnaB2018 - LOLOLOL... maybe 2019 will light the way?

Vampeyes - congrats on your new chapter of free time and doing what you want! I must admit, with my chapter of going back to work full time, I’m pretty envious of yours. Enjoy for us both pls!

JKL - What a great photo! Enjoy the holidays!

TwoHobbies - thank you! I know I’m lucky to still have an office in today’s day and age of open workspaces. In my prior company a new CEO came in and converted most offices to open work areas... except that he doubled the size of his own very private office. Hmmm...

And amazing on the weight loss! Go you!

Some holiday pics...

InnaB2018

I wonder what did Domino want for Christmas?

PebblesV

LOL I think extra treats, cuddling and a squeaky ball. I think she’s dreaming of them now.

vampeyes

TwoHobbies

Merry Christmas, all! I am up waiting for the family to wake up, Despite a late night Christmas Eve with my extended family, my body clock still got up at 5:19 to go to the work I dont have to go to, so i made coffee and turned on the Christmas lights in the dark.

Loved your letter and poem, Egads, and I did have two homemade chocolate chip cookies as you ordered! I dont miss store bought cookies, but Damn, those were good.

Adorable picture of your granddaughter, JKL. Those curls! And adorable Domino got to talk to Santa!

Egads007

Good Afternoon Cave Chicks!!

Hoping all your celebrations were merry and bright! Any Christmas stories to report?? I'm finding myself worse for the wear but pleased with how the last few days turned out. Barring a rather dry Christmas goose (overestimated the cooking time damn it!), but thankfully sprung back with the gravy, I can't complain. The tamarind duck was awesome and my sidescame together. The BEST news is that my asshat of a BIL was well behaved!!…..engaged socially, even jovial…..nice surprise. I'm hoping this continues…holidays are SO much better when family comes together…… has some fun while breaking Paleo bread.The Paleo figgy pudding was worth the fuss and would do again in a heartbeat. I served it in a puddle of crème anglaise, hard sauce and accompanied with an ice cream filled sugar glass bowl. This funky bowl was easier to make than I thought (made 8 no probs) and looks pretty cool........check it out….I like to think of it as "Charles Dickens meets a fireball"……

Here's a link on how to make them….the possibilities are endless….JUST DON'T eat them ))) White sugar is necessary, so for me it's simply a vessel that can hold all sorts of dessert treats.....

So on to business…..

TWOH – My vote is for the gift bags too…..makes life worth living at this time of year! When you described how you made a coffee and grabbed your cookie, tree lit in the dark, I did the same….thank you, it was such a relaxing & quiet moment……..so glad you posted it!Hoping your recovery is gaining speed and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt you'll be pulling it all together in short time! Enjoy the heck out of these 11 days…..you especially deserve it considering the stress your job causes. Any news on the job search front?

JKL – Lordy your DGD is absolutely beautiful…..I'm still marvelling at her hair and would give up a limb to have the same….she really is a Christmas Princess….gorgeous pic!!! Can't wait to hear about all the holiday doings with the grandkids….they always make this time of year THAT much better!!

Inna (godda davida) -Love you to pieces right back darling!!! Did you make another one of those amazing turkey dinners? Your family lucked out with you in the kitchen! How are the AIs treating you? I'm staring Jan 3^rd with Femara…..should be interesting and looking forward to comparing notes….and complaints )))))

Pebbles (Flintstone) – LOVE the pics of Domino…..he's just too cute! (I still want to know his secret for sleeping off the edge of a chair). Your tree and home look absolutely dreamy….perfect Christmas setting. I hear ya' on taking off the shoes….we have hardwood flooring throughout the house and I'm a 'take your shoes off' nazi….maybe I have Asian blood? ))) We'll find out soon, I have my DNA kit ready to go…..I'm hoping to find out I have Neanderthal genes….and the way I yell at folks to take off shoes makes me think my results will def show it )))

Well kids, the party is almost over and time to jump back on the wagon quickly approaches. I didn't think I was overindulging, but the scale tells me otherwise. I'm up 1.5 lbs *scream*….probably from all the taste testing I've done….yeah and the figgy pudding dessert didn't help…….

I'm SO looking forward to a fantastic Cavie New Year with y'all…..2019 promises to be a healthy one in the Cave Community (tons of info, support & funto come) and I couldn't pick a better group to share a lifestyle with. For now, we'll all enjoy…..Jan. 1^st, well, our asses are grasses! )))) Cheers until then!! Backatcha' before the New Year!!

Ksuze, JunieBee……where for art thou??

TwoHobbies

Egads, those red sugar bowls are cool - look kind of like a jelly fish. I just realized I have no idea what figgy pudding is. Funny how everyone has different Christmas traditions. I am grieving over my lack of panettone this year. I had intended to get one at Trader Joe's and they let me down by having only chocolate chip panettone - no no, I don't like the chocolate version!!!!! I'm toying with the idea of going to the Italian bakery today, but reminding myself I wanted to get back on the wagon.

Overall I did not do bad this holiday. I ate a lot of chicken, salad, brussell sprouts and butternut squash. I did make white potatoes and ate those, and four Christmas cookies total. I intended to get back on the wagon completely yesterday. I started off well with bacon and eggs for breakfast, had shish kebob and salad for late lunch/early dinner. I hoped to not eat much after that but I was sent home with Christmas cookies, and well, you know what happened by 8 pm. Today I will do better unless the cookies totally got me and I have to check into rehab.

I did get back on the exercise wagon. Christmas Day I did planks and squats and upper body weights. Yesterday I did a walk around the lake and one with my son and the dog, 62 minutes total. Plus I did a couple of intervals of running in there. Oh that was hard, but I know its supposed to be the quickest way to gain fitness. Overall I see improvement over the last few weeks, so that's good.

Egads007

TwoH - omg....yes panettone....so gooooood! Try this:

https://www.gnom-gnom.com/gluten-free-keto-panettone/

Yes I thought the bowls looked like jellyfish too...especially when turned sideways! I'm going for a square or rectangle shape next.

You're on a GREAT path with the exercise...I'm taking the week off from the gym....which I do every few months. It's hard going back but 'shakes up' the body and breaks muscle memory...makes for a stronger build...and you'll probably notice this.

LOL@ 8pm cookie demolition....no worries, it's good for the soul on occasions! I'm thinking you'll be leading the pack by Jan 1st, cookies or not...high 5s to your awesome return to health!

ETA- figgy pudding is a traditional British steamed fig based cake/bread(very moist) spiced with ginger/cinnamon/cloves etc . Unlike Christmas cake it's smooth and served warm Really rich and much adored in Brit homes, hence the words in the Christmas carol 'We wish you a Merry Christmas':

“So bring us some figgy pudding, bring us some figgy pudding and bring it right here. We won't go until we get some..."

Egads007

I would have done the same )))))))))))))

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/4794934/boy-calls-911-snow-pants-christmas/amp/

Vamp did you give one of the twins snow pants?? )

ksusan

Hi, peeps. Between vacation and hosting family for Christmas, I've been moderately off-diet and low on exercise. Back on track today. I'm going to do low sugar, low grain through January labs and PCP appointment, after which I'll decide what to do for January-March. I'm still aiming for a BMI of 30, which is in sight but difficult to hit. Maybe the systems shock of cookies and bread will shake things up.

Here's a few vegetarians I met on vacation:

And a few meat-eaters:

Egads007

Oh.Em.Gee Ksuze….I'm pea green here!!! Where the heck did you get to on vakay?? Looks like paradise!!!! Btw....that turtle doesn't look low carb )))))))))))

vampeyes

Egads, your desert looks fabulous. I think you missed your calling as a fancy schmancy chef. Your bil is not deserving of something so beautiful - send me his next time. 😁 Glad he behaved!

Christmas is over and thank God for that! I barely survived my mils yesterday, thank you Egads for putting up with my angry texts. I don't like to be on the phone when visiting, but OMG it was so boring I had to do it and she had us come extra early. 😟

Today I am back on track with healthy eating. I feel so awful from all the bad food I ingested. Sadly tomorrow we will be going out for dinner. I need a full month of just staying home and eating good. Oh well, not going to stress it and just do the best I can.

Police calling for snowpants!!! My boys would be in big trouble for wasting their time! Nope, no snowpants or any clothing allowed as gifts for the kiddos as per their dad. Right from day one he said no clothes, I think he may be traumatized from his childhood. 🤣😂

Have a good night ya'll.

Egads007

TWO CENT FRIDAY......'cause we had enough food )))

Most of us Cavies, found ourselves knee deep in tempting choices this season…..and many including myself, took a header off the healthy eating wagon. When seasonal celebrations hit, they tend to hit hard by waving all sorts of goodies in our face……sugars and carbs rule the day at this time of year. While I didn't cheat with non-compliant foods I sure as heck ate more than my fair share of all that Paleo/keto baking I did over the last few weeks. Like a few of you I found myself sitting in a pile of dust behind the wagon on December 26th.....

There seems to be a point when we just let ourselves throw caution to the wind and let go. My theory is that others eating scads of goodies around us, advertising, stress of the season all add up to us feeling 'deprived'….that somehow we deserve many treats. So we indulge……lather, rinse, repeat.

As our lovely Vampriella so aptly put it, we usually end up feeling kinda' gross after a bit. My tummy is waging war right now and I have to say I'm feeling a little woozy from it all. Then came the guilt….the feeling that I'd blown close to 4 years of Paleo/Primal living out the window like so much trash.

Bullpuckies I say!! Bullpuckies! (whatever bullpuckies are….I just like saying the word ) Did I deserve to overstuff with carb laden food…no. I didn't rescue an old lady from a burning building, nor did win a nobel peace prize for an upside down Christmas tree. I did, however, convince myself that a certain time of year gave me a get out of jail free card for carbohydrates. Yup, that celebration meant that I had a right to batter my bloodstream with constant insulin rushes. How much sense does that make??? What I didn't do was blow a healthy body into smithereens.

Good health takes time to make, and thankfully longer than just a few days of bad eating to reverse the good I've done. Eating patterns over time is what counts….90%, 80/20, even 50% puts any of us ahead of the pack. This is what I keep in mind.My body quickly lets me know it's time to pull on the reins and jump back on the wagon…..feeling SO much better very quickly.

As for the guilt, nope. My mother always said "guilt is the most useless emotion" and she's right. Feeling guilty causes stress. Very wise words from our Vampriella – "Oh well, not going to stress it and just do the best I can" is the BEST way to think before and after indulging. Battering myself for eating too many Paleo gingerbread men may only make the struggle to reconnect harder……

I'm choosing to concentrate on the GOOD I did during the holidays….such as using/eating compliant foods….too much of it, but compliant all the same. The days that I ate within reason and in a healthy manner ARE achievements. The only price I will pay is how my gut or scale is reacts, so there is no need to add my spiritual health into the mix. There ARE positives to my Christmas season....I might have fallen off the carb wagon but I didn't let go...

Believe it or not peeps, we've moved ourselves to a new place this year. Our efforts, mental and physical, have left their healthy imprints. So if you're sweating the cookies, please join me in a rousing cheer of BULLPUCKIES!!!. We ate it, it's done and the wagon wheels are still intact….right along with our determination to dust off and carry on. We'll deal with Easter in good time….for now it's back to the 'better way'…together!

What say you? Dealing fine? Feeling guilt pangs?

A splendiferous day to y'all!

PebblesV

Hi Egads and paleo pals! First up those sugar fire ball thingies - AMAZING. And the thought of tamardind duck - YUM. Egads you are restaurant chef quality! I'm so impressed.

And Ksusan love the pics! The turtle pic makes me think of slow and steady is the pace

So I kind of hung on to the wagon but was not totally in it for the holidays lol. I broke my “no red meat" streak of 4 months by indulging in a “luchin" (pork balls) soup my mom made that's always been a favorite and was delicious. I did not add noodles to the soup but let myself have 3 pork balls. My sister had to call out to me that it's high in MSG which was frankly annoying because (1) I've lost 28 lbs since the diagnosis and have gotten my BMI down to 28 (goal is 25 BMI) and (2) she's much more overweight than me, same height and at least 40 lbs heavier. And she helped herself to 7 pork balls! So a bit uncalled for I think to call me out for eating 3 when I've been super strict for 4 months straight.

Anyways, there was probably some sugar in that soup too but I enjoyed it. And I was super good at a fancy Christmas dinner out with my family at a steakhouse where I had fish and seafood and no steak and did not have any of the amazing looking butter cake that everyone partook in (including my sis of course!). Oh but I could smell that butter take and it smelled delicious. I'm still thinking of it!

Proud of myself now for resisting the butter cake. Feel a little guilty for breaking the no red meat streak but that soup was delicious and I think everything in moderation is OK? I still ate it in moderation, along with some mashed potatoes which my husband had to call out to me have butter in them. But goodness I took maybe 3 bites!

I'm not sure if my family is being supportive by calling these things out to me because they know I've revamped my eating habits, or if I have a right to be a little annoyed when they do. I mean I've lost 28 lbs in 4 months and when I allowed myself a little bit of meatballs and mashed potatoes over the holiday it was still in moderation! I frankly didn't feel guilty about it until they made comments.

So my two cent Friday question is how strict do we have to be? Isn't a little indulgence good sometimes? My friend's aunt beat breast cancer holistically and still ate red meat, just organic and before 2pm. Why should I be kicking myself over having a little bit this holiday?

InnaB2018

Egads, I dreamed about your sugar bowls! They are real and they are spectacular! 🤪🤪🤪

I did fall of the wagon of healthy eating so hard, i’ll have to scrape myself off the ground come January, but at least I stuck with the daily exercises. Lymphedema is driving me crazy, peeps. So I felt I deserved:

Chocolate macaroons (yumm)

Carrot cake (delicious)

Soft nougat (aww, those childhood memories)

Christmas cookies (courtesy of my daughter’s boyfriend’s parents)

And I see homemade chocolate truffles for the New Year in my crystal ball.

Pigging out, yeah, baby!

But come January 2, I am a new person, I promise

InnaB2018

Our non-denominational New Year’s tree. If you look really close you can see the Buddha ornament just above the cat

PebblesV

InnaB I love that non-denominational tree and Buddha ornament! Here's ours!

TwoHobbies - kudos on getting back on the exercise wagon! That's next for me. I started with one day doing more free weights and 3 days later I'm still sore from it lol. Need to make it a regular thing so I'm not sore the one time I do it.

Ksusan - love the National Geographic like pics from your vacation.

Vampeyes - we are with family this weekend and eating out every night! I agree re: need time to eat healthy for a month. But going out it so nice too...

Egads - forgot to mention Domino is a little girl pup, not boy. And pls keep us posted on the DNA kit results! I'm convinced we have European genes because I have freckles and big eyes / eyelids and black/brownish wavy hair vs jet black and straight. Plus my sister and I and cousins all married tall American men. It's not like we try to have a type but when you line up the family pics it's pretty funny to see that trend. Used to be a lot of French in Thailand and my sis and cousins and I are convinced someone “slipped” lol..

And thank you again for this awesome thread! Looking forward to more check ins and recipes and workout tips in the new year. Hope you are settling in well to the new place! Post some pics

Here's my husband and me with our non-denominational tree in the background.

And the pups! Girl Domino and boy Tucker.

TwoHobbies

Pretty trees, Pebbles and Inna. My tree the last few years has been winter themed. I joke I don't have to take it down so soon after Christmas, this way. But really it just was a theme around a favorite ornament.

Ksusan you will have to fill us in on your vacation. I am imagining Galapagos when I see the pictures.

Pebbles, I don't think three pork balls and mashed potatoes is anything to feel guilty about. I have to admit though, I am struggling a bit to end the sweet eating, and wish I hadn't started at all. Ijust had a Ghiradelli peppermint bark. They were half off at Target yesterday! I got home from a walk around the lake in the cold and I am so much more hungry after I started exercising again that my resistance is low.

I am making a Paleo chili this evening. Yesterday evening my husband made a casserole with the frozen cauliflower "rice", egg, cheese and shrimp. It was so good I wish I had paid more attention when he made it and written down the recipe. I ate that with my roasted broccoli and carrots, so maybe that made up for the peppermint bark today.

ksusan

Hi, Peeps. Yup, Galapagos and Quito. Not a physically easy trip (long flights, altitude, compression garments, buses, restricted rest room access, big rocks, yaw and pitch), but fascinating!

I've decided I'm not up for walking 2019 miles in 2019, but I could do an ersatz Camino walk of 500 miles, using a guidebook to plot my course. I'm not going to replicate the actual speed and quality of the Camino Francés (which is an average of 15 miles a day and sometimes rough). I won't wear hiking boots or carry a loaded pack to work or on the treadmill at this stage of preparation. Maybe later.

Egads007

Happy Almost New Year Cave Chickeroos!!

Well kids, we're almost ready to flip the boring bank calendar over to a shiny new year….I can't believe how fast 2018 has whipped by. This has been a pretty decent year for me….a few ups and downs, but my health remains good….can't ask for more than that can ya?

I haven't forgot to tell y'all what I got for Christmas….one of the very best gifts I've ever received….YOU! I'm fully aware that this will might come off emotionally corny/sappy, but it's the truth and I need to write it….

Our group has made me smile, bust a gut laughing, proud, worried, happy, sad and once even tear up. I found friends here….all very different and unique personalities, yet we come together to create something special. It's kinda' like a BLT….who would have thought that pairing bacon, lettuce and a slice of tomato would create such a phenomenal taste?? THAT is us…the pefect BLT….breadless, mind you, but harmonious. You need to know that along with your awesome friendship and support...that all of you have given me back something I'd lost. I used to write a lot. Cancer for me included a nasty SE of writers block. I haven't really been able to write for the last 5 years. I seriously mourned the loss of my favorite past time. Our Cave has allowed me to start stretching my writing muscles again….even if it is my silly ramblings about magnesium or squats….I'm finding my mojo once again, and all because of you. I'll be forever grateful, so, *clears throat, wipes eyes*, a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Enough of my sappy blethering! On to business…………….

Pebbles (Flinstone) – Let's just get one thing straight…….if ALL you've had is 3 pork balls in 4 months, I'd say that's more than moderation…..I'd call that torture )))))) Besides, while pork is considered 'red meat', in actual fact in falls somewhere between chicken and beef, so it' the lesser of the 'evils'…..I choose to all it the pink meat ))

Your sister….well darlin', IMHO she sounds a lil' jealous of your awesome weight loss & your mindful healthy efforts, eg: removing the noodles (yay you btw!!). Pointing out the MSG seems pretty much inappropriate….and kinda sorta petty. It was a family Christmas celebration afterall….not to mention she was sitting there eating it too! Doesn't make much sense does it? I say this because I have a sister that does the same type of thing at the dinner table (she's super any other time). She is 70-80 lbs overweight. I also have overweight friends that either try to ruin my 'food enjoyment' by pointing out the unnecessary or tempt me into joining them in bad eating habits. Frustrating, but over the years I've learned to let it roll and simply know it is coming from their sad/frustrated feelings about their situation. When it gets really annoying, and if I were you, I'd have taken a 4^th pork ball and threw it at her forehead shouting "OMG theres MSG in this?!!?!? Here, you eat it!" )))))))

You wrote:So my two cent Friday question is how strict do we have to be? Isn't a little indulgence good sometimes? My friend's aunt beat breast cancer holistically and still ate red meat, just organic and before 2pm. Why should I be kicking myself over having a little bit this holiday?

ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with a little indulgence from time to time…..the problem comes roaring onto the scene when we turn indulgence into a daily ritual. Indulgence, while maybe not good for bodily functions (depending on what is consumed), it certainly is good for the soul. Why even bother indulging if it causes stress? Eat that pork ball with gusto and guilt free….in my paleo/primal world pork isn't even an indulgence )) Cover it with dark chocolate and serve with a glass of merlot….now you're talkin!!

One question for you Pebbs….what is it about red meat that you have a prob with? Enquiring minds (and slow witted minds like mine )) need to know.

What a gorgeous couple you and your Hubs make! You're a doll…..literally! How tall are you?I would kill for a small stature like yours!! Unless, of course, your Hubs is 7 feet tall ))))

My deepest apologies to Domino….I probably missed 1000 of your references to her being female all this time…..No one ever accused me of being a beacon of brightness ))) Give HER a big hug for me please….and treat.

Inna (godda davida) – LOVE the non-denomination tree….but I can't pick out the buddha….I can't even see the cat!! Am I old? (yes I know) Am I blind? Where is the buddha???:)))) No worries sweetie….I have a big spatula to scrape your cheatin' butt off the floor. We're also hooking the wagon up and swinging by to pick you up after NYE ))) As I said before, come Jan 2^nd (Jan 1^st to recover), our asses are grasses!

TwoH – That peppermint bark made me drool!!….I have enough time to whip up a batch for tonight's celebration (dark choc)….I'll call it TwoH's Peppermint Power ) The chili sounds delish and might make the agenda tommorow….great way to kick off a clean year! I love the fact that you 'theme' your tree. I do the same, but with colours (this year is gold & silver, last red and white etc, once even purple and green…yeah I'm weird) and hence why I have 47,000 Christmas balls, my Cavedude says I could start a retail outlet )))) Maybe I should open a store….Egad's Xmas Décor & Jerky )))

KSuze – When I saw your awesome pics the Galapagos came to mind….is the pic of the beautiful feathered friend one of Mr. Darwin's finches? Did you do any hiking on Pichincha? Man oh man….I'm pea green! I keep showing my Cavedude your pics and saying "wouldn't that me awesome to see in 3D???"As for hike prep….a young thing in my gym had climbed Everest once and decided it wasn't enough. To train for trek two she loaded up with a 200lb backpack and did her cardio and lifting with it on…..putting us all to shame.I get bent out of shape if my water bottle is too full ))))) Your 500 mile planned hike is very inspiring….I have no doubt you'll get it done…..and what a place to hike! As I said when you first posted about it, it's one of my bucket list items.

Ok Peeps, fasten those seatbelts, 2019 is almost upon us, hollering about holiday carbs and circling the wagon train. Let's raise our clubs for a big cheer and look toward the 2019 fun, friendship and support all of us do so well!

Happy New Year wishes from my Cavedude, Cavecub and myself…..with much love to you and yours. Party Vegas but party safe peeps! Love ya'll!

TwoHobbies

BTW, Egads, I forgot to say I copied off the Paleo pannettone recipe to save. I decided to try to let the craving go by the wayside, but for sure I will try those next Christmas, or if I find the craving popping up beforehand.

When I retire, I might become one of those people that has three or four Christmas trees. I used to do wooden and Swedish straw ornaments with red and gold ribbon for years. I still have them all packed away. I fell in love with this Santa ornament, and switched my theme to match. I already had a log cabin ornament, a brown mukluk, an ice skate, polar bear, seal, a deer, snowy white owls. I purchased snowflake garland, snowflake and white snow dusted frosted acorn ornaments and I had a whole new silver and white winter theme.

ksusan

Wishing all of you a happy new year and anticipating the return of the sun! Thanks for posting your holiday tales and tree/pet photos, as well as for the reminders of moderation and getting back on task .

I'm up a few pounds and working my way back down. Now I get to prep this term's classes.

No Darwin's finches in that photo set--

• Galapagos tortoise
• Marine iguanas
• Violet-tailed sylph? (Aglaiocercus coelestis)
• Sally lightfoot crabs
• Brown pelican
• Galapagos penguins
• Galapagos sea lions

I haven't gotten to all of my Quito/Mindo bird IDs yet, but this one ought to be easy, even in silhouette!

TwoHobbies

I saw this article today about AGEs and breast cancer. AGEs are increased by the cooking process - browning meats , or even toasting breads, so they are higher in foods that are fried or grilled. It is safer to cook in liquid, at low heat, or for a short time, or marinated in lemon or vinegar. I had heard of them before, but this is reminding me how we cook seems to be important as well as what we choose to eat. So I've spent a n hour looking at marinade, stew and slow cooker recipes. There goes my pan-fried to a crisp bacon to the "vegas" category.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181228091653.htm

AGEs have also been implicated in heart disease and (I think) diabetes.

PebblesV

TwoHobbies - thx for sharing the article! Very insightful!

BTW I had to read my husband your post about eating a peppermint bark just before you were saying you needed to stop sweets because that's exactly what I would do. Solidarity!

Egads - I am SOooo glad to hear our little group that can has gotten you past your writer's block. I LOOK FORWARD to every detailed post from you. The advice, the fun, the silliness, the goodness and the way you make sure to address each of us and what we write - it makes this the most special thread. I'm pretty knee deep in the boards right now on threads helping me through rads or hormone therapy or the random puppy pics thread (you know me) but this is the one I see myself sticking with after active treatments are done and it's about maintaining the lifestyle and healthy habits as we all continue the good fight.

Re: red meat, first let me say I love red meat! I want to eat it! I was diagnosed in August so still recent for me and I decided to be super strict to avoid the foods listed here to avoid - except shellfish which didn't seem to have as much data on why it wasn't good. Honestly it's a bit self imposed and I will prob lift the super strictness soon, I was just being extra diligent these first few months post-dx. Here's the link:

https://foodforbreastcancer.com/amp/foods-to-avoid...

And I was cracking up at your advice to take a 4th pork ball and toss it at my sis! Wow your response was so helpful for me, especially knowing your sis is similar. Mine is also awesome in general and every other way outside those random digs. I feel a lot better knowing your POV and similar experiences and will just not let it bother me, and maybe indulge a little tonight! It's New Year'a after all!

Oh and I'm 5 ft and my husband is 6'1". When we were first dating he kept wearing this jacket he got from an event with a Waste Management logo on it and I had to tell him that since I only come up to his chest, all I saw was the Waste Management logo! After the second date he replaced that with a black leather jacket. Having discovered early on he reacts well when I complain, I married him.

(Oh and my Dad is 5'4" and my momo is 5' - couldn't I have been 5'2"? Is that too much to ask? But nope, I'm 5' exact - sigh. Makes this BMI thing really difficult - you have to weigh almost nothing to be at what they consider a normal BMI, so while I've lost 28 lbs I actually need to lose 18 more to get to normal BMI range... which I don't think I've been at since college!)

Anyways here are the pups with a Happy New Year pose!

Egads007

.....from Halifax, NS