Second Cycle: Day 3/17 Creatures of Habit, the "Waddle" & Gravity

Twelve pounds ago, I approached this diet with commitment and, as evidenced by these entries, some degree of humor. Ok, ok - a large degree of humor! From that dreadful hot water/lemon ritual to the introduction of green tea into my routine, I've certainly found enough to kvetch about! (And let's not forget that nightly conga line with my two furry little roommates!)  On Friday, I began Cycle 2 ("Accelerate"), which begins the process of adding some carbs back into the menu. Wait...what?! I was really comfortable with my cycle 1 menu: protein, cleansing veggies, low-fat ("active culture") cottage cheese and no-fat, low-sugar yogurt. For 17 days, I cursed the carbs! I shoved away the sugars! I banished BAGELS, for the love of God! And now, I have to begin to reverse the curse and bring those little devils back? (sigh) Okay.......talk about screwing up a good routine...

Yes, it's true; while I may not be Monk, I clearly have potential. I am a true creature of habit. After all, I suppose that's contributed to how I got to this point to begin with: habit. I smoked. A bad habit. I quit smoking. A big victory.  I sucked on wild cherry throat drops for several months as a substitute. Obviously I quit the smoking, but not the habit.  And then ... my friends - the carb army - moved into my house and onto my hips and my thighs and my stomach and my ... well, you get the picture. The point is - I love a good routine and the first cycle of The 17 Day Diet gave me a great one. And now, Dr. Mike wants me to alternate days on cycles 1 and 2. What he's really saying is that he wants me to think. At 4:30 AM - the time I'm now going to have to get up every morning to fit thinking into my new routine. Yikes! This has disaster written all over it! Friday morning, Day 1 on cycle 2. I rose from my bed and bolted down the dreaded hot lemon water. I ate 2 Eggbeater eggs, 1 4 oz serving of yogurt and a cup of green tea. I packed a plum in my cooler (along with 2 20-ounce bottles of Smart water) for consumption at the office with my coffee. Not too bad. Had my usual big salad with loads of protein and a 4 oz serving of Breakstone's Live and Active low fat cottage cheese - and a cup of green tea for lunch. Hey ... that seems like a lot of food. No worries - dinner came and I screwed it all up. No "natural starch". I ate my usual cycle 1 dinner. Ah, well.  There's always tomorrow, I thought. A quasi-work day. Up at 6. Eggbeaters, green tea, fruit. (Hot lemon water goes without saying.) Copied the food list and meal plans for cycle 2. Made three branch visits. Went grocery shopping...for 90 minutes (reading the fine print on those labels takes time, my friends!) ... at 2 stores. Put stuff in my cart I thought I'd never see again: potatoes, Cream of Wheat, BEEF! Joyous! Got home at 1:15 - starving! I can now appreciate that segment of Dr. Mike's book that says we should avoid getting so hungry we could "eat the lining out of an empty Spam can"! Seriously. The cats' dry food began to take on gourmet properties. I opened a can of tuna to add to my salad. I heard a wee cry behind me. Phoebe and Annie heard the can opener and responded to it immediately. Side by side they sat, their faces looking like those "Precious Moments" figures - in stereo! My stomach let out a very loud growl and they were happy to settle for a saucer - each - of tuna "juice"... then went to stand guard over their kibble. They could sense danger. Later, as I was putting away my groceries, I reflected on this whole cycle 2 business. The food options and menu choices on cycle 1 leave no room for hunger. You're truly almost always full (unless you do something as stupid as I did and wait too long between feedings!). I lost 12 pounds. Nice, but nowhere near "goal". Cycle 2 adds carbs...how will that contribute to continued weight loss? BUT, I know people who've lost a total of 25 pounds following the book, following the cycles (and without exercise, but we'll talk about that later!). I decided that I don't necessarily need to understand it. I just need to do it. And so, cycle 2 begins. Tonight's menu: steak on the grill - with steamed vegetables and green tea, of course!

Yesterday, I ran into someone I haven't seen in awhile. I was comparing yogurt labels (I'm almost sorry I bought a Kindle. I seem to be doing all my reading in the grocery store these days - and don't mean tabloids at the checkouts!). After the initial greeting, she peered at me for a minute and said, "You've lost weight!" "Yes," I said. "Twelve pounds." "Great! I can really see it in your face!"  We exchanged a few more pleasantries and parted company. After the aforementioned luncheon episode, I went into my bathroom and looked in the mirror. She was right. My face is thinner. But ... what is that thing that's beginning to droop down from my chin?  It looks like that droopy thing that hangs down below a turkey's beak...the thing my grandmother used to call a "waddle". And it's got wrinkles! Hey.........how is this fair? I knew it - it's all the poultry I've been eating. When I was in my 30's, I lost quite a bit of weight and my ugly double-chin just went away...completely; it didn't leave any sagging reminders of its former presence! Now that I'm older, that no longer happens? Is the gravity fairy going to do some sort of top-down visit? If this happens to my chin, I don't want to think about what's going to happen to "the girls" (and I'm not talking about the cats!).  Yes, yes ... I know all about "exercise", but to be truthful, I don't think they can latch onto weights and do any kind of meaningful crunches. Or lifts; really - if they could do 'lifts' on their own, I wouldn't need the weights, would I? I took a deep breath. Maybe I don't need to worry about them right now. Maybe I can give that a rest for a minute and focus on the waddle. They sell chin straps, don't they?

Oh - I should mention that I led a few of you to believe that I'd focus on the Wii in this installment. Well, I would have, but I've got some other writing to do and I've finally gotten my focus back for that, so the Wii went by the wayside for this particular weekend. Its life was spared.

As for my own exercise? Well, while it's still not quite what it should be, I figure that quick-walking while pushing that HUGE grocery cart of carbs through the aisles of two different stores should count for something, right?

Right....................................!!!!

Day 12/17: The Tale of the Traveling Scale & Wii Fit Plus (?) For Dummies

I've been taking considerable heat about the lack of prompt updates; I am truly sorry. I'm also flattered that people are looking for them! Life outside the blog, however, has been more than a little crazy. The good news is that none of the lunacy is diet-related.......well not much of it is, anyway!

Let's talk about "Traveling Scales" for a moment, shall we? So, I found this morning that the outcome of a weekly weigh-in seems to depend upon the scale being placed in exactly the same spot it was placed the previous week. This was discovered in a fairly frantic attempt to compare this week's weight with the weight stored last week. While my current weight didn't change with each attempt, the stored weight did - at one point suggesting that I weighed 100 pounds more last Saturday morning than I did this morning. Doubtful - despite the fact that I consumed what I'm certain were several bushels of "cleansing vegetables". I finally moved the scale several millimeters to the left and pressed the lower right-hand corner. Eureka! Last week's weight flashed in the window. I stepped on the scale (after removing my earrings, of course!)...down 2.6 pounds. Total weight loss: 9.6 pounds in 12 days! Happiness!  My two Ragdolls, Annie and Phoebe, have become quite interested in the scale, I must report. I turned around to return it to its storage space and found Annie sprawled across it - bathing. Phoebe was seated to one side, obviously waiting her turn. Nice to know that they're supportive!

I've decided not to trust the scale to "remember" my week-to-week weight. I've got a lovely, lined pad of paper hidden away in a drawer. I'm recording the statistics manually. Somehow, I think it will be far more accurate. I'm also finding a permanent home for that scale. If it's so picky about where I keep it, I guess I'd better get with the program! As they say in real estate:  location, location, location! Ok - enough of that foolishness. Let's move onto something completely foolhardy: the Wii Fit Plus.

I was afraid that I might run out of material before I reached my goal weight and that may indeed happen. I mean, really; I've actually developed a taste for green tea - as long as it's flavored with some sort of citrus - and sweetened with my beloved Sweet'n'Low. Who knew?!  I'm still not thrilled with the whole cup of hot water/half a lemon  - FIRST thing in the morning; I complain every single time I have to knock it back! I suspect that this will always be the case.  I mean, when your throat closes up on you, there really isn't much to like, is there? Sooo, before I digress too much, let's get back on topic: blog material. And the topic: exercise. THAT should give me enough fodder for a couple of years!

I bought 2 pair of walking shoes: Nike Air and Reebok Gravity. I was thinking that the "gravity" piece was particularly appropriate, given my age - and what will most likely impact my body when the fat cells are no longer there to hold up the skin. (Ahem....dangerously close to digressing yet again........) ANYway...the shoes will be great when it warms up - which wasn't today. What to do until then?  I broke down and bought a Wii Fit Plus.  Now, I'm obviously still sensitive about my weight - even though I'm actively dealing with it - because my first thought was, "What's with the PLUS?" Is there an extra large balancing board to accommodate those of us who might break the regular one? On the top of the box was a very large, neon green sticker that read: "Maximum weight for balance board: 330 pounds." But wouldn't someone weighing 330 pounds actually BENEFIT from the Wii Fit Plus? Apparently not; it won't Fit them (sorry - it was there, I had to use it).  Confident that I was well under the weight limits for Wii Fit, I opened the box. Four wheels fell out. I wasn't sure what to make of them and then it hit me: shock absorbers. Very nice. Despite my disgust, I stuck them on. Why tempt fate, after all? Then, in a complete departure from my usual routine, I decided to read the pamphlet. Bad move. They have warnings. If you know me at all, you'll appreciate just what kind of reaction I had to THESE:  "Consult a physician if you have any of the following conditions:

• heart problems (ME: "It's beating. No problem...NEXT")
• high blood pressure (ME: "After the 'PLUS' episode - AND finding these warnings in the booklet, I would HAVE to say 'yes'... but isn't this diet supposed to bring THAT down? Moving on........")
• respiratory problems (ME: "Still breathing...keep going..........")
• joint problems (Let's skip the obvious drug reference for now. ME: "I have the knees of an 80 year old woman. They hurt when I picture myself exercising. You've got to start somewhere.......I'll get a brace...or two....NEXT!"
• have difficulty exercising (ME: "Really? If I found exercise easy, would I be in this shape? Doubtful.")

Now, it would seem to me that the folks over at Wii are looking to Wii-d out everyone but Olympic-qualifying athletes. I looked at the box. Drat! I was right. That chick doing the yoga pose? Please! Maybe 100 pounds. The older man simulating Eddie the Eagle (ski jumper)? 150-165 TOPS! And, finally - my personal favorite: the woman all in white, holding what appear to be rope-connected weights, grinning like she won the lottery while punching the air. I don't think her weight registers on the balancing board. Really.

I do have one question, however: when did Don Rickles become the spokesperson for Wii Fit Plus? And...is there a weight scale division of Wii with which we're not familiar? Forced to input our vital statistics, Wii Fit promises to track our training progress, our lean body mass, our fitness levels. Lovely. Remember the talking scale from the last entry? Exactly!  I think the Wii people use the talking scale as a sort of entry-level ego deflation system - something to prepare us for the true insults to come. After entering my stats, I was greeted with, "Hi, fatty!" by a decidedly Rickles-like trainer. Wait - what?  "Hi, Fatty!"? While I hardly expected to hear, "Hello, Skinny! Why on EARTH are YOU here? Go on with you - eat some chocolate!", "Hi, Fatty" seemed a bit harsh. I've seen those Mario characters on the other Wii games, you know. They're hardly buff. Seems like the Wii people would be a bit more sensitive, given that. Apparently not. Fine. If that's the way you want to play - have at it!

Tomorrow, I'll duck tape each of my knees to hold them in place. I'll put on some Spanx to avoid senseless hip-shifting injury in the hula-hoop exercise. When attempting the ski jump/balance exercise, I'll strap my chin in place to make myself more aerodynamic. I'll bind my bust with an Ace bandage to avoid black eyes while "running track".

....but beware, Mr. Rickles; I have a mute button...........and I'm not afraid to use it!

Day(s) 5,6 & 7/17: Dieting Can be Ordinary, the Grill AND The Tale of the Scale

I fired up Facebook this morning and found a post from my aunt asking about the blog entries for days 5 and 6. It struck me that, although monumental when it first begins, dieting is - or can be - fairly mundane. Which is, I suppose, a good thing. When we stop thinking about it, it must mean that it's become a bit more natural; that it's worked itself into the daily routine and, by extension, has a better chance of sticking.

That said, the past couple of days have not been without their moments. For example, inspired by the blue sky and sunshine, I totally forgot about this pulled muscle thing in my lower abdomen and decided to clean my grill. So, armed with Brillo soap pads, hot water and a ton of paper towel, I jerked and dragged the thing out of what was left of a snowbank and prepared to do battle with the grilling surface. I scrubbed and scrubbed, then hoisted this cast iron/ceramic/whatever thing out of the body of the grill and hauled it across the driveway to apply the hose. Hmmm; not quite clean enough. Hefted it up, hauled it back across the driveway to the yard and scrubbed some more.  Back to the hose we staggered to do another "jet rinse". It was a sort of a reversal of the weight-lifting routine, "the clean and jerk".  Then, I went shopping for a grill cover, more water (turns out, it is "smart" as my ankles have gone back to a normal circumference now!), eggs and more vegetables. Now, let me say this about all these green vegetables: my digestion recognizes the loss of other colors and it misses them - keenly and regularly. The 96% lean ground sirloin I ate for dinner didn't make a bit of difference, I'm sorry to tell you. I'm looking forward to the return of dairy and some sort of grain........

Included in my shopping excursion was also a bathroom scale. Nope, didn't have one. Yup - ultimate denial. Oh, I weighed myself periodically, but I refused to bring one of those dreadful things into my own home...I'd simply content myself with weighing in at a friend's house and leaving the grim and terrible truth behind.  This time, however, I decided that if I was going to go through all the hot water/lemon agony, I was going to be able to gauge my progress.

To the Biddeford Wal-Mart I drove, grim determination etched on my face. I found a parking space close to the door; I took it as sign that this was meant to be.  I dodged two trucks and a fast-moving Camaro with a flat black paint job and a pulsing bass line you could hear in Portsmouth, NH and soon was pushing my cart toward the "Lawn and Garden" department. Minutes later, I was wheeling back toward the main store, grill cover keeping company in my cart with a veggie grilling basket and several disposable grill surfaces. I have no desire to repeat that scrubbing/jet blast routine again and these should definitely help with that goal!

I glanced through my shopping list: Kitty litter, beef roast, vegetables in steamer bags, eggs, bathroom scale. 

I resolutely pushed the cart toward the back of the store, passing under the sign that showed "Home Improvement" to be on the right. I took a left...toward the groceries. Not an unfamiliar choice. Fifteen minutes later, I'd worked through all the items on my list...save one: the BATHROOM SCALE.  There was nothing for it...off to Home Improvement/Bath I headed. With footsteps dragging, I approached the scale aisle - only to be confronted with the impact of digital technology on that particular industry. Yes, yes, - I  already knew that they displayed weight in LCD format. What I wasn't prepared for were scales that did the following: calculated my body fat, my hydration levels and my lean body mass. I felt safe in assuming that these models - which sell for close to $80 each - would be able to give me my weight, if there was enough time left on the battery to do so! Then there were those scales that spoke; presumably designed for those that could not yet see the LCD window. According to the packaging, in addition to articulating one's weight, it also offered affirmations when a weight loss was realized and encouragement when a plateau had been hit and weight remained the same. There was a light show involved as well: with the affirmation, there was a green light and with a plateau, the light shone yellow. The packaging was strangely evasive about what happened with a recorded weight gain, however. Oh, it told about a red light that would come on in that situation, but it was silent about any comment the scale might make. I could just imagine: "Don't look at me; I didn't eat the cheesecake!" I couldn't bring myself to even consider that model; the last thing I need is a scale with an attitude. I allowed my mind to wander for a moment and conjured frightening images of the kinds of things that a scale like this would actually say to me:

• "Nice dimples; though I've never seen them in thighs, before!"
• "No, I don't think removing your earrings would make a difference!"
• "Give me a minute to catch my breath and then you can try again!"

And, of course, the inevitable weigh-ins when there were no discernable words - just harsh screaming...

Needless to say, I passed - quickly.  The one I chose had no voice - thankfully - but it does have a brain. It will remember my weight, from weigh-in to weigh-in and will show it to me, silently - along with the difference between the last and current weigh-ins. All for $17.98. Excellent! Or...as excellent as this sort of purchase would ever be! I slipped the scale into my cart, right between the Smart water and the kitty litter, and made my way to the check-outs.

Once home, I put away my purchases before coming face-to-cardboard with my nemesis - lying all alone on my kitchen counter. With shaking hands and a shuddering breath, I unpacked it, removed the little tab that would allow the battery to begin operating and headed to my room. There, without ....er....my earrings...I stepped upon the gleaming white plastic and chrome beast - and waited...and waited. Finally, the number I'd been so dreading appeared in the window. Wait. Let's try this again.............stepped off, waited for the window to clear, stepped back up again. I waited. Again. Huh! The number was the same as the last time. Ok....they say three's the charm, so let's try this again!  Step off, step on (sort of like the Karate Kid without the wax part); wait ... there it is - AGAIN ... same number! I stepped off for the final time, put my ....earrings back on and returned the scale to its new home.  While our relationship might have started off a bit on the rocky side, I think it just might work out between us after all..................(wait for it)................

The number was SEVEN POUNDS lower than the last time I went through this exercise - one week ago!

With renewed determination, I begin week two......................

Stay tuned................

Day 4/17: This Little Piggy OR ... the Great Bacon Debate

5:45 am - Hot water/lemon. I've got nothing here; I've exhausted my whining about this ritual. It happens. I gag. Uvula shudders and considers another disappearing act. It's over. We both move on with our days!

5:47 am - Start the microwave egg process. Yes, "start". Let me explain.  While walking along the aisles at Hannaford Bros one Saturday, I found this white, heavy-duty plastic thing that you use to microwave eggs. It's got two round, white compartments with a handle that sort of curves outward at the bottom. When you insert the eggs and close the cooker, it sort of looks like Jeff Goldblum in "The Fly". Really. I tried to find a picture, but struck out. You'll have to go with me on this. So - at 5:47 am, my mouth all puckered up from that damned hot water/lemon torture, I was leaning against my counter laughing hysterically. I've just re-read this. I think it's incredibly funny, but perhaps you had to be there. Finish the eggs. They're slightly less rubbery than the first time I tried using the dish. Score! Hot eggs. Oh - and green tea. BIG surprise!

9:30 am - Vanilla yogurt and Maine blueberries. Delicious. Loved it. Having it again tomorrow. Although, I must say that I fail to see the logic. Another diet rule: you can have vanilla yogurt. ONLY. I can ADD blueberries or strawberries, but I CANNOT buy Greek yogurt with those fruits already added. Who MAKES these rules?  MONK????

11:50 am - Baby spinach salad, tomatoes, bacon, grilled chicken - light balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Green tea (stunned, aren't you?). Sent my friend, Betty Dix, an email marked, "Yummm" and described my salad to her. Pretty soon, the Blackberry vibrated. Betty's response had arrived. It read:

"No bacon" 

Please! We can have pork, but no bacon? The remainder of my lunch was spent knocking tiny little bacon pieces off baby spinach leaves and bite-sized pieces of chicken before consuming them.  I abandoned the tomato; there just wasn't enough time left to cleanse those things! It's called a lunch HOUR for a reason, after all!

6:30 pm - Baked chicken breast with sweet yellow, orange and red peppers; steamed cauliflower seasoned with garlic. (Watch...I'm not supposed to eat colored peppers, either!). and.........green tea!

But let's rewind a bit. All the way back to lunch; to the bacon tragedy. "Bacon-gate", if you will. What's up wtih bacon? Is it from an undesirable part of the pig? Like the rump? How ironic. Mine's pretty much in the same boat at this stage of the game! Is it because..........(gasp!) it............smokes? 

Whatever the reason, there's one little piggy crying, "why me, me, me, me?" .....all the way to the dumpster!

Day 3/17: A Shocking Shower OR...Feathers....Really?

So, here's the deal: Despite all of my kvetching about hot water, lemon and the slow path being worn between my bedroom and my bathroom(s), the 17-day diet is great. Seriously. Even though there have been a few incidents that have given me pause. Let me share:

• the little girl standing next to me in a branch who leaned over to her mother and stage-whispered, "Mommy, I was standing near that lady and I could hear the ocean!"  Clearly a comment directed at the random sloshing that happens as a result of all the "Smart" water. Remember that point I made about how "Smart" water should be able to figure out a way not to settle in my ankles? Ditto to the sloshing.
• "Did someone just mow the lawn?"  Really...has anyone FOUND their lawn yet? We're barely into March. Doubtful. So, I'm going to go with that new scent I'm carrying around with me, "Eau de Green Tea".
• "Mommy," (remind me again why I like kids...) that lady has no uvula (sorry, couldn't resist using the word "uvula" again.......twice!)....
• Tonight in the shower, I discovered little pinfeathers on my legs. Yup....it's all the chicken I've been eating.......definitely. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Let's talk goals:

• No numbers. Seriously. The only number you'll get from me is pounds lost. Maybe. I'm a banker. The people I know are waaay too good at math. I'm just sayin'..........
• Trip to NYC with two very dear friends is coming up in June. There are three months between now and then. 12 weeks. 90 days. (See? Bankers are good at math!). If I've made enough progress to make it worthwhile, there just might be some new and fabulous clothing item in my suitcase for the train ride back! 

Sorry about the short blog entry this evening. I need to get to bed and rest up for the marathon "Pee-a-thon" to come later! 

'night all!!

Day 2/17: Nocturnal Wanderings ....

Bleary-eyed and exhausted, I dragged myself from my warm bed (I actually had to extricate myself from between 2 equally bleary Ragdoll cats) and headed into the kitchen. Despite an odd shivering sensation in the back of my throat, I managed to choke down the required cup of hot water and 1/2 a lemon. Uvula settled back into place after only 15 minutes, so things are looking up in that department.  Good thing. Little sleep was experienced last night. Why, you ask? Just a little something I like to call, "The Green Tea Shuffle". "The Smart Water Samba". OR, that great disco dance number, "The 3 AM Hustle".  Four times during the night, I was awakened by the undeniable, physiological consequences of consuming 64 ounces of water (4 of which contained the pulp of 1/2 a lemon!) and three cups of green tea in a single day. I fail to understand how the dozen or so trips made throughout the day didn't quite preclude the dance mix that occurred at my house last night!  And, as predicted in yesterday's entry - I had company. A little conga line. Back and forth. Back and forth. "Let's head to the bath-ROOM! Let's head back to bed NOW!" Good times. Not. I'm also having a little trouble understanding how my ankles can be slightly swollen. Dr. Mike tells us that our ankles swell when we are dehydrated. The body is storing water in the event we don't consume the correct quantities of the stuff the next day.

Dehydrated. Seriously?

It's that damned Uvula. This is how she's getting her revenge for the hot water/lemon doses. Somehow, she's gotten connected to whatever brain cell controls this whole fluid thing. "Retain water," she coos. "she'll never stick with it. She's got 4 12-packs of Tab in the closet. She'll give up that Smart Water faster than you can say, 'carbonation'!"

Smart Water. Let's take a moment to look at that, shall we? I've seen no evidence of intelligent life in this visually appealing bottle.  And, if it's THAT smart, shouldn't it be able to figure out how to avoid my ankles? To work its magic in 32 ounces rather than 64? To make green tea taste better than lawn clippings? I'm just asking here.......... The bottle boasts that the water has been vapor-distilled to replicate nature's purest form of water - that found in clouds. I knew it! Aliens are involved. Ohhh - wait - it's a theme: aliens - green; tea - GREEN! I'm rambling, but you get the point, right?

Now...about that green tea........RATS! Must excuse myself..........off to the powder room...............

Day 1/17...The Case of the Disappearing Uvula & How Green Was My Tea....

Upon waking in the morning, squeeze 1/2 lemon into a cup of hot water. This will awaken your digestion. 

Yes, it certainly will - but not in a good way. "I like water," I reasoned. "I like lemon. How bad can it be?"  Pretty bad. You know that piece of tissue that hangs down in the back of your throat? The uvula? Mine disappeared for about thirty minutes. Shriveled right up and hid. Convinced that I had lost my mind, it apparently decided that it didn't want anything to do with this new ritual. I couldn't blame it. Fortunately, the cup of coffee that followed brought it back.

Two hard boiled eggs and one orange later, I fired up my first cup of green tea. Interesting thing, green tea. It is neither green nor does it taste like traditional tea. It really should be green, you know; it tastes like grass clippings!

Lunch brought chicken breasts and a huge salad. And grapes. (2nd serving of fruit - to be consumed before 2 pm) And, just in case I didn't enjoy my first cup of green tea, I had another chance: that seems to be the prevailing beverage on this particular weight loss plan! 

Dinner: Chicken breasts and steamed cauliflower with garlic. And if I can't have the fresh cauliflower quite yet, I will say thank GOD for those lovely people at Birdseye who've given us those nice little microwave steamer bags of veggies!!

Somewhere in all of this protein and green, I have to drink 64 ounces of water. As of this writing, I've got about 18 ounces left to get there. Can't imagine how I'm going to fit it in because......................you guessed it! I've also got to knock back one more cup of green tea before bed time.

I've figured out the exercise bit of this plan, though: it's the running back and forth to the bathroom.  And I have it on good authority that this is a "quick walk" that goes on throughout the night. Well, I'll have company. Everytime I get up, Annie and Phoebe get up...and come with me wherever it is that I need to go. Weight loss and "family togetherness" all in one plan........excellent!

So, off to brew my last cup of green tea for the day - and toast tomorrow: another day, another foray into the world of green tea, hot lemon water....and nocturnal bonding with "the girls".......................