Yes, I'm sure Daisy has totally lost it. All that dieting and exercising has affected her brain.

It has been suggested that in order to achieve my ideal body that I should create a Power Label that gets me excited about exercising and eating well.

Too many people unconsciously label themselves in ways that make them feel bad: over the hill, overeater, couch potatoe, sugarholic, fat slob, hopeless loser. The human brain is such a powerful instrument that you will eventually become whatever you label yourself. The more you use these negative labels the more you begin to see yourself in that light.


I have a real name, that real people know me by....(just ask Floozie!) I have a blog name that most of you know me by.... ( aka : Daisy) so now I'm proposing a new name for my diet persona.....(Willow)

I love this picture....Willow denotes some one thin and sleek. My favorite tree is the weeping willow. Willows have roots systems that can run for blocks (so they are firmly planted). Willows are welcoming and comforting. They are beautiful and graceful also. All of these are traits I aspire to so in my mind I'm Willow.

Willow Wonders: I wonder how many of you think that this is silly?

Quote of the Day: " One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." - Helen Keller, American Writer and social reformer

Mood: Feeling skinnier today....is there some method in the madness?

The exercise for the day is to picture yourself thin. What activity will you enjoy more when you are leaner?

This is a picture of me and my future grandchildren.

I want to be alive and well, to run after them, tickle, hug, and love on 'em. I want to be a part of their life and see them grow and thrive.

I want them to have their own memories of me.....as one cool Diva!

I hate reclaiming lost ground.

You work so hard to lose the weight and then in an insane pity party gain 5 pounds back. Yep, there it is.....5 minutes in the mouth, 5 hours in the stomach, forever on your hips!

This week I'm reclaiming what was mine! Yes, I do read your comments about not weighing so frequently but honestly I can gain weight in an instant....some times if I thing about it I can pack on the pounds. I have to know which direction the scale is going.

I don't know how to do it any other way. I really have to be obcessive complusive about taking care of me if this is going to work. Me, me, me......sounds like I'm an opera singer!

Oh well, it's time to go storm the beaches and take back what was mine! Charge!

Just finished the 3rd day of carb cycling and I'm happy to announce I've reclaimed those pounds. Today is high carbs so I'm so ready for some whole wheat waffels this morning

Daisy Dilemma: Wow, focus girl....focus!

Quote of the Day: "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - source unknown

Mood: determined

This is me today......chasing contentment!

Buzzing here and there, always looking, trying to see if there is something better around the next bend.

The scale is going in the right direction again. Some of it is probably fluid but it still goes in the loss category. I'm still reclaiming lost ground from blowing it earlier this week.

Loved the high carbs yesterday! Even the low carbs are better than what I've been doing. This morning I'm having yogart, and apple and 3 Tbs. of chopped nuts. It sounds so much better than eggwhites and green beans!

My neighbor Beckie gave us some home grown tomatoes yesterday. Wow, are they ever good. Our tomatoes are still green and need to be staked badly. (Sounds like a week-end project to me) . We will be having more company this weekend so more cooking (sigh).

Daisy Dilemma: Why do I use the scale to measure my self-worth?

Quote of the Day: "Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who believed that something inside of them was superior to circumstance." - Bruce Barton, American advertising executive, writer , and congressman.

Mood: Tired, hot, overwhelmed

Ok, I'm obcessive about watching the scale. I know I shouldn't , but the facts are I do watch the scale. This is me every morning......Most time threatening the scale, many times begging, pleading and bargaining with it. (Not that it helps).

Ok, if I'm not in love then I'm in serious like! As previously mentioned , ( to all 3 of you) I already fell off the diet horse (fortunately I landed on the most padded part of my body....no, not my head Floozie!). Other than having a bruise ego and gaining back some of my hard fought poundage there was little damage. It did give me a chance to look over what I'm doing and what went wrong.

I liked the quick weight loss of the first week (10 pounds!) It gave me great incentive to continue but also false expectations that the rest of the weight would just fall off.

I like the eating every 3 hours to keep my metabolism up.

I can tolerate exercise but haven't gotten to where I can look forward to it yet.

I like drinking water or Crystal Light.

The trouble was no salt, no taste, same , same, same. I like chicken, turkey, tuna but need something to make it tasty. There was nothing to look forward to.

So I've changed my eating plan again. This one is Carb-cycling that helps melt off fat. (Throw me in that Briar Patch!) You alternate between low carbs one day, high carbs the next!

Yesterday was the low carbs......it wasn't bad at all compared to what I had been eating.

Today is high carbs.....yummy, yummy, yummy! I had whole grain waffles for breakfast with a cup of fruit and 1 and half Tablespoons of real maple syrup. (Ok, so maybe I am on a sugar buzz...I loved it! It was legalized cheating!! How great is that?

Best news of all.....down 2 pounds this AM ( yes, it was 2 pounds that I had already lost but I still claimed it!!!)

This grrrl is going to work with a smile on her face today. PB and J sandwich for lunch....heaven!

Ok, I see your head shaking and that finger pointing.....lets give it a shot ok?

Got to go! Leslie is waiting for our walk. Carbs are my new best friend! (Sigh of contentment!)

Daisy Dilemma: Will this actually work?

Quote of the Day: " It is as hard to see one's self as to look backward without turning around"- Henry David Thoreau

Mood: Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Back on the straight and narrow path again. You know the one I'm talking about. The one that leads to One- der Land. ( The land where no one weighs 200 pounds!)

Seems like I've been wanting to visit there for a long time. My passport is valid and it looks like my mode of transportation (diet and exercise) will actually get me there this time. In the past there was always some major problem that kept me from my destination. This time I'm sure I'll get there (I just hope there aren't a great many detours or derailing to hinder my progress.)

I've written some postcards to my dear friends "Ben and Jerry" explaining why I won't be coming back to visit. Hope they understand. I must say" Sara Lee and Little Debbie" were angry at me for leaving (hmmm....and they say that no body doesn't like Sara Lee!"

I really want to run the whole way there but I'm told it's not practical and that the road is long and dangerous filled with road blocks and hazards. So I guess it's one foot in front of the other...slow and steady as she goes. At least it's step in the right direction.

They say, "If you fall off a horse, get right back on!"

Who knew that mounting the horse would be so difficult? Once you've hit the ground it's much harder to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and say, "Whoo hoo, that was fun, let try it again!"

I got off track Monday night....alright I told myself. " Get back on that horse! " But the horse wouldn't bend down and there was no ladder to boost myself up.

I had to say "goodbye" to my friends that have been here working at the mission for the last few days and it was really hard to see them leave. We have so many containers coming up in the next few weeks and so little help to fill them that it is easy to be overwhelmed.

So.....I went back to emotional eating. It was comforting and familiar. It embraced me as a long lost lover. It soothed me and promised always to be there no matter what. It was sweet and momentarily made me feel better. That was last night in cover of darkness.

It's morning now, the sun is out and the scale is moving in the wrong direction.

Ahhh yes, I remember now. Guilt: The gift that keeps on giving!

But yet......there's another voice going off in my head too that says:

Relax. You're not being graded, and you're not in a race. If you fall off the horse just get right back on. It's not productive to beat yourself up for the missed opportunities or to bemoan the lack of self- discipline. It is, what it is....a lapse. Just start again with energy and a renewed sense of purpose, and use the fresh start to get some new ideas about what's important to you and how to achieve your goals.

What's in your way right now? What can you do today that will improve your life? What are the hot issues for this week?

So here I am. Back on the horse.

PARIS - The craziest Tour de France in memory ended Sunday the same way the last seven had: with an American wearing the yellow jersey, this time with a Landis instead of a Lance.

After stunning feats of willpower and woeful cracks of concentration, Floyd Landis' arthritic hip held up and he held on for the ceremonial ride over the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees.

"I kept fighting, never stopped believing," Landis said after leaving the winner's podium with his daughter, Ryan.

But plenty of race fans surely had their doubts, especially after his wild ride in the Alps last week.

So astounding was the turnaround that race director Jean-Marie Leblanc, who has overseen this event 18 years, called it "the best performance in the modern history of the Tour."

The comeback was read by many as a master stroke, instantly enshrining Landis in cycling's pantheon alongside greats like five-time Tour champion Eddy Merckx of Belgium for his show of both human frailty and superhuman courage in the span of 24 hours.

As things stand now, he hopes to ride again. It all depends on how he fares after hip replacement surgery this fall to ease pain in the arthritic joint still aching from a 2003 crash during a training ride.

"I'm proud and happy for Floyd," said Armstrong, who watched the finish on TV from a hotel room near the Champs-Elysees. "He proved he was the strongest, everybody wrote him off."

President Bush telephoned Landis with his congratulations.

"You embody great courage. Everybody's proud of you. You showed amazing strength and character," said Bush, who also invited the winner and his family to the White House.

Landis becomes the third American to win the world's most prestigious bike race, behind Armstrong and three-time winner Greg LeMond.

Landis learned discipline at an early age.

His devout Mennonite parents, Paul and Arlene, shunned organized sports and were all about hard work. That, in turn, was passed onto their six children. Landis didn't have much idle time, helping his dad at the car wash, fixing washing machines and mowing the lawn.

Though the family had a car and electricity in the house, they adhered to a simple life with no television or radio.

As he grew up, Landis wanted something more - and biking provided the escape.

"Riding my bike wasn't the problem, it was just that I got obsessed with it," Landis recalled during an interview with The Associated Press last week. "I don't blame them for thinking that it was absurd that you want to ride your bike that much."

Landis now lives in Murrieta, Calif., with his wife, Amber, and daughter.

Quote of the Day: "Knowing is not enough; We must Apply. Willing is not enough; We must Do." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German poet, novelist, and playwright.)

Daisy Dilemma: I'm having trouble staying the course with my eating. This guy won the Tour de France with an arthritic hip and in constant pain! What an inspiration! Gives me hope that the impossible starts with baby steps.

Mood: irritable and cranky and lonesome!

This is my friend Leslie. Leslie Sansone of Walk away the Pounds. Leslie and I have been walking in my living room every morning.

We have the one mile, two mile, and three mile walk. We used hand weights to pump up the intensity.

I have been doing the two miles for a little over a week. Every now and then I put in the three mile walk. I've never finished it yet but I am getting farther into it.

Leslie is always ready to walk no matter what the weather is like outside. It beats a treadmill!

Fitness trainer Leslie Sansone created a video centered on the idea of "in-home walking" in order to make exercise accessible to everyone. By removing the usual barriers to a regular workout, such as cost, schedule and lack of comfort around strangers, Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds videos have encouraged millions of people.

"One of the biggest gifts God gave us was this gorgeous feeling of not only empowerment, but also the coping and peace that exercise brings us," she says. "And no drug, no pill, nothing takes the place of what our natural body produces when we are in motion, because God's design for muscle and bone is for them to be active. We're meant to be spiritual and physical beings, and when we're in motion we are happier, healthier, more creative, and smarter."

I bought the tapes years ago and of course.....never used them. I'm still waiting for the endorphins to kick in ......but at least I have a walking buddy.

I fell off the wagon today....actually I think I was pushed! Regardless , I blew my eating plan and now I'm beating myself up.

We have had a work team here from Savannah since Thursday so tonight Mr. Wonderful invitied them to our cottage in the country for dinner.

I ended up feeding 16 people in our small house. The weather was lovely so many ate outside on the picnic table, some ate on the porch and other ate inside. I served "finger food " and allowed people to graze. They all seemed to love it and it was a great success. Bad news was I loved it too and grazed right along with the crowd. It's not that I didn't know better I just decided that the food was ready and in front of my face and the food that I should be eating wasn't.

I'm sure my "dietary indiscretions" have caused me to lose some ground but I'm not quitting. Tomorrow is another day and I have called for a "do-over". They say confession is good for the soul so there......I've admitted it. Now back to our regularly scheduled program already in progress.

I did my two mile walk this morning with Leslie. Guess I'll try the three mile in the morning. I feel like I let myself down tonight but enough self inflicted wounds for now. I will make tomorrow a better day. I will follow my dietary rules. I will make it work!

Daisy Dilemma: Would I jump into a pool of sharks? Why am I so gullible?

Quote of the Day: "The future depends on what we do in the present." Mahatma Gandhi

Mood: feeling sad and stupid.

Ok, maybe complaining does help. Yes, I know I've moaned and groaned and worn sack cloth and ashes throughout this dieting adventure.

Yes, I'm entirely aware much to my dismay that exercising does seem to help. (grumble, grumble, complain, complain!) Oh Drat! Who knew? I thought it was just a vicious rumor!

I've lost 13 pounds in three weeks and ultimately 20 pounds since I started this dieting adventure in January. (Ok, so there has been some rather long lengthy detours but it's still progres.)

This is the part of this eating plan that starts getting tricky for me. I've had some measure of success and people are starting to ask me if I cut my hair or have new glasses. (Usually I have to lose at least 25 pounds before anyone notices.....except Mr. Wonderful who tells me that my ear lobes are looking way thinner!)

This is the part where my resolve starts to get thinner and my motivation starts to wan. This is the part where all the veggies and green things take on a life of their own and I begin to feel that I may never reach the goal so why bother. This is the part that I dream that I am huge hungry rabbit locked out of Farmer MacGregors garden and forced to look at the object of my desire only inches away but still unobtainable. (I'm sure there is deep psychological trauma there that I will chose to ignore, thank you very much)

But there may be hope yet....a carrot on a stick has been offered by Melli ( the dieting goddess of exercise and the stationery bike!) Melli is my hero having already lost over 40 pounds and highly motivated to reach her goal. She has offered to meet with me in a celebration lunch if I take on the challenge of losing 20 more pounds! ( Are you sure you wouldn't take a kidney instead? )

I'm thrilled, I'm honored, I'm terrified relunctant to say yes as I don't want to add one more disappointment challenge to my life. I hate disappointing anyone and given my track record in the past....I'm a long shot on the horse race of life!

Daisy Dilemma: Long shots have big pay offs right?

Quote of the Day: "Vision: the art of seeing things invisible." Jonathan Swift

Mood: I'm betting on me! Melli, it's a deal!

The exercise for the day is to picture yourself thin. What activity will you enjoy more when you are leaner?


I chose shopping with friends. I currently hate to try on clothes with friends as nothing ever really looks good on me and it is hard for my friends to try to be encouraging. They try hard to make suggestions but I get offended easily as I know I don't look good and the clothing isn't becoming to an already plus size figure. The worst part is that everything they try on looks nice. Shopping with skinny people is the absolute pits. So for the most part I go by myself.

Daisy Dilemma: When I reach my goal weight will I become a clothes horse?

Quote of the Day: "A mistake is simply another way of doing things." Katharine Graham

Mood: I can almost see it!

This used to be my motto....but not anymore. There's nothing fast about this diet. Seems like I'm cooking more and more as I eat 5 to 6 meals a day.

Just going to work requires three meals. It looks like I'm going on a picnic by myself!

I do try to cook "ahead" when I am at home. This week I won't be home much so it's "take it with you time!"

I've exercised every morning now.

Wish I could say it was a fun experience. It's still not fun and is a major chore. How long do you have to do something till it becomes a habit?

Exercise is against my religion....I'm a devout loafer! I didn't get the name Lazy Daisy because I'm a ball of energy! The only thing I can say is that I must be getting more endurance as it's not the religious experienec it once was...(Catch me Jesus, here I come!)

I wish I was more like Melli ( Congrats on the 40 plus pounds, you look lucious girl!) or Flip Flop Floozie who's lost over 30 inches! (Woo Hoo Girl!). They are all motivated and success stories.

I even hate to mention that I'm trying to lose weight as I've tried and failed so often. I really hate to see "the Look" on the faces that seem to say, "It's about time big girl!" or the strained look that says, "Just setting yourself up for failure again, eh?"

Daisy Dilemma: My personality is that I start off great...I just never go the distance to the goal. Will this time be different or will I lose heart and give up?

Quote of the the Day: "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

Mood: pleased but fearful

"A knowledge of the path cannot be substituted for putting one foot in front of the other."
(M. C. Richards)Isn't it nice to have friends that can doctor up pictures for you? Now if they could just make me look skinnier!

Oh well, back to walking with Leslie....sigh! At least she's always excited to see me!

" Two to the left,two to the right!
Stand up, sit down ,exercises bites, bites , bites!"

The average person has about 10,000 taste buds and they're replaced every 2 weeks or so. But as a person ages, some of those taste cells don't get replaced. An older person may only have 5,000 working taste buds. That's why certain foods may taste stronger to kids than they do to adults. Smoking also can reduce the number of taste buds a person has.

I think I've killed off my taste buds! Normal food is too salty now...Lets not even talk about potato chips! Going out to eat is a chore as the food doesn't taste very good to me anymore. I really hate to spend money on food I'm not enjoying.

Or else as the picture so graphically explains....My taste buds are being re-educated! I've never had an "educated palate" before!

Daisy Dilemma: This is definitely going to make eating out much more difficult.

Mood: Nothing looks appealing anymore!

As if exercising wasn't a jolt to my body I've just found out that sleep deprivation can cause you to gain weight too. Shoot now they tell me !! (after 25 years on the night shift!) Lack of sleep affects your levels of leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full, as well as slowing down your metabolism.

According to Jeorge Cruise ( 8 minutes in the morning) There are 3 major reasons for exercising in the morning.

• boost your metabolism
• lets you maintain consistency
• allows you to enjoy your weight loss journey

Morning is the only time of day that most people can control...."as the day goes on, people pull out the bow and arrows and hunt for excuses not to exercise-like having to work a bit later,run errands, or go out with friend."

A study in Indiana University suggests that morning workouts reduce blood pressure. In fact, morning exercisers experienced an 8 point drop in systolic pressure ( top number) that lasted 11 hours. Their diastolic pressure (bottom number) dropped 6 points for up to 4 hours after exercise. Evening exercisers showed no significant reductions.

Leslie and I (Walk away the pounds) did our 2 mile high calorie burn walk this morning and I didn't die! It wasn't easy but I must be getting better as I recovered quicker.

Daisy Dilemma: Will I have to change my name to "Upsy Daisy"? Still waiting for the endorphins to kick in.....are you sure they are out there?

Quote of the Day: "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiam," Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mood: Sleep? (rah!) Exercise? (raw!)

Inspiration taken from Jorge Cruise's Book "8 minutes in the morning"

For many years, Randy Leamer had unsuccessfully tried to lose weight. But then one day, he became very motivated. Within a year, he lost more than 103 pounds. How did he do it? Where did he find the motivation?

Randy had what I call a Passion Reason. His 5-year-old daught was in serious need of a kidney transplant, and Randy was the only match. But he was so obese that doctors didn't want to perform the surgery; it was too risky. So without hesitation, Randy started eating properly and exercising daily. For the next 11 months , he never complained and never missed a workout. Once he lost the weight, he was able to donate his kidney and save his daughter's life. He has kept the weight off ever since.

You must find your own Passionate Reason by creating a Power List. Write down the three most important things in your life- then ask yourself what will you gain by losing weight? Your answers will help you create Passion Reasons. Review your passion reason every day."

My Power List: Know what you will gain

1. Good Health and increased engery.
p.r. : Being able to race after my grandchildren
p.r. : ability to be more adventurous


2. Being able to keep up with Mr. Wonderful
p.r. : being able to go on mission trips together
p.r.: putting more fun in our marriage


3. Putting the Wow Factor back in my life.
p.r.: being able to buy cute clothes
p.r.: being able to feel good in my body and about my body.
p.r.: fitting comfortably in chairs with arms.

Leslie and I decided to try the 3 mile walk this morning. She finished I didn't.....I looked just like these ladies. I believe in challenging myself but guess it was a little too much for now.

By the way.....no endorphins kicked in (heart failure maybe, but definitely no endorphins.) My prayer life increased also.....(Oh Sweet Jesus here I come!) So it wasn't without some excitement.

Guess I need to get used to the 2 mile walk before bumming up the length and intensity.

The scale is finally moving this week.....down by 3 pounds! Yes, I know its not good to weigh every day but when your OCD you want to see results.

I hate being obcessive about this but I don't do moderation. I'm a passionate person. I'm either all in or not at all ( Good thing I'm not a poker player I'd either fold or go "all in "every time!)

Quote of the Day: "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it,or work around it." Michael Jordan

Daisy Dilemma: Exercising is working ....Drat!

Mood: Not looking back

Two Left, Two Right......pant, pant, pant.

Ok, I'm exercizing but it doesn't mean I like it!

Sunday: 45 minutes on the stationary bike. Thought my butt was numb for life. Now I know why bikers have buns of steel. I can't imagine riding a bike for days in the mountains. Thought I would have to get Charlie to help me off. My legs felt like wobbly rubber bands when I finished.

Monday: Walked two miles with Leslie Sansone and never left my living room. I managed to work up a sweat and I can feel it in my lower body muscles. Also added Jeorge Cruise "8 minutes in the morning" I was sure there should have been a greasy spot on the floor from all the fat falling off me (there wasn't).

Tuesday: Dragged my body into the living room to walk with Leslie. She seemed a lot more enthusiastic about the two mile walk than I was. We both finished in 30 minutes.....still waiting for endorphins to kick in. Jeorge and I did Day 2 new muscle group "8 minutes in the morning" (personally thought my arms would fall off.....they didn't) It's not 8:15 in the morning I've exercised, showered, dressed , eaten, packed my lunch and snacks and off for a full day at work. Still waiting for endorphins to show up>

Daisy Dilemma: When does the endorphins kick in? Does it ever get easier?

Mood: hot, hot, hot

Just got the go ahead. I can officially post it. I'm finally going to be a grandmother!

Woo Hoo.....happy dance time! (I wonder how many calories that will burn off?) I actually was told in May and asked not to post it for a while. I guess the new mommy had no idea how hard that is for old mommies not to tell.

So the diet and exercise takes on a new dimension. I want to be able to play with my grandbabies and be able to hop on a jet and be there at a moment's notice.

I want to whisk them away every summer for some DIVA and Poppa time. Yes, it's offical! There will be no grannies here only Diva dearest! After all with all the weight I'll be losing I definitely will be a Diva.

I've already told Mr. Wonderful I intend to become a clothes horse too! So I figure......hot body, hot clothes, dye my hair....definitely Diva time.

The blessed event is expected late January of o7. All the more reason to kick this diet into gear. Watch my dust! Go granny Diva Go!

Yep, that's me.

Eleven pounds thinner, 14 less inches yet still bigger than life! I look like a white redneck budda!

Oh Well, there has to be "before" pictures so the "after" pictures look that much better.

Week three begins:

Plan for the week: Start exercising!

Drink 100 ounces of water ! Get all my meals in ! Keep a positive attitude!

Expectations: Lose at least 2 pounds this week

Daisy Dilemma: I have a work crew coming from Savannah on Thursday through Tuesday. They are from our home church so much socialization will be required. Can I socialize and still stay in my dietary restrictions?

Mood: More determined this week.

Take a look at some angry looking food. All they need is leather jackets and they would be real bad food dudes.

Today we celebrated my friends birthday by going to chick-fil-a. I had the chargrilled salad but ended up eating it without dressing. The low fat dressings aren't low sugar or sodium. It was pretty tasteless but I'm getting used to it.

5 days into 2nd week of diet and still have only lost one pound. I decided to take my own advice and so checked my measurements. I've lost two more inches! (I'll take that!)

I must say for all my complaining I am starting to find a few tricks that really help. Either I've killed my taste buds or am starting to get used to foods without salt. (I didn't say I enjoyed it though!) I haven't felt the desire to cheat and am hoping the longer I stay away from my trigger foods the less appealing they will be.

Diasy Dilemma: Is it wrong to visualize your safe place as the center of an Bundt cake? Surrounded by warm soft springy cake with whiffs of cinnamon, ginger and vanilla?

Mood: Amazingly upbeat!

Four days into week two of "the diet" and only one pound down. I still look like the fish on the left!

I'm hoping I'm premenstral and just not overly hormonal. If not the spines on the fish should be a warning to those around me.

I've eaten so much fish this week it's a wonder I haven't sprouted gills.

I used to reward myself with food. Now sugar free jello is treat!

Tommorrow is lunch with the girls. Do I take my lunch or just try to order discreetly?


Mr. Wonderful had my engagement ring reset. The prongs were worn out and some were broken. I was really afraid I would lose my diamond. It's back and now it looks so much better.....all bright and shiny!

He also had my favorite necklace repaired. It's a heart with ruby chips and diamond chips around it.
Their are 3 little rubbies missing ......Mr. Wonderful asked me if I wanted them replaced . I told him no as three parts of my heart are with our kids.

These are two of my best pieces of jewlery and the two I love the most. What a wonderful surprise to get them repaired so I can enjoy them. Life is good.

Daisy Dilemma: Do I get discouraged because the weight isn't coming off?

Mood: hot and tired

If there is no wind, row." � Latin Proverb "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." � Milton Berle, comic "Things come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle - Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President Making your own opportunities Wow! Three for one! If you see a common theme between the three, it's no accident. It's up to you to make sure your goals come to pass. If there are things standing in your way, waiting for someone to take care of those obstacles will result in a long wait. When things aren't going your way, change generally starts with you. Why sit around hoping for big things to happen, when you can take control and force the issue? Don't settle for the leftovers in life. Take a seat at the head table and order up a five-course dinner of everything it has to offer. No invitation necessary.

Isn't it amazing what you start to look forward too?

Sherri from Roses in my heart...sent me treats that are sugar free, fat free from Starbucks! I'm so excited as Barnes and Noble is one of our favorite "date places" and it just wouldn't be the same without some overpriced coffee to sip while enjoying browsing the books!

..go to your nearest Starbucks and order one of these:

- grande carmel macchiato with no fat milk and sugar free vanilla syrup (it uses splenda)...yum!
OR
- grande sugar free vanilla or sugar free hazelnut latte with no fat milk

you can have either of these iced too (also their light fraps are really good...especially the mocha ones and they have no sugar and are low fat)

Daisy Dilemma: Can I buy a book too?

Mood: Diligent

New Week......new goals

Ok, last week was impressive!

10 pounds , 12 inches......in 6 days . Now I'm totally spoiled and want to see the scale go down on a a daily basis and of course it isn't happening.

I want instant gratification! In this day of instant mashed potatoes, microwave foods it's hard to keep on keeping on. I used to reward myself with food.....now it's watching the scale go down.

I find it very difficult to eat every two or 3 hours. When I go to work I look like I'm carrying a picnic basket full of goodies just to get me through the 3 meals I need to eat. I should be eating 6 meals.....I'm having difficulty getting 5 meals in.

I adore grilled chicken but should probably be eating more fish.

I have noticed that I'm able to do with much less salt which is a good thing.

I need to start adding exercise to my rountine (Sigh) I hate exercising.

I keep waiting for the endorphins to kick in.......soon now, please, oh please.

It takes a long time to process all the fresh foods and have them available.

Daisy Dilemma: This isn't easy and it isn't fun!!!

Mood: Mrs. Cranky pants!

Ahh....day 6 has arrived and I have not done bodily harm to anyone around the Daisy Patch!

The scale was my friend today and says I'm down another pound.

10 pounds in 6 days! Whooo Hoo!!!!

I'm a happy camper. My clothes are fitting much better (haven't lost a size as I was on the last bit of stretch at the seam of my clothing and was determined I wasn't going any higher!)

My sister had the stomach banding and is up to 3 tablespoons of oatmeal now! So, now whenever I complain and whine (Yes, I'm aware that I am very good at it thank you very much!) I think about what she's eating.

After Day 6 the list increases as to what I can eat so it won't always be Greens!

I'm a grilled chicken tenders fan!

Thanks for suggestions and hints. I will try them all.

Mr. Wonderful is thrilled and being very supportive.

I'm getting adjusted to no salt and adding spices for flavor.

So for all my whining I did lose 12 inches this week.

Daisy Dilemma: Is it wrong to be excited but still miserable that you have so far to go? At least I have the same measurements of the refrigerator now!


Mood: Jubilant!

I've made an amazing discovery.

It was an Eureka momment!

All of a sudden there was great clarity.

It was truly a "light bulb" Aha! experience.

All of these years I've been mistaken.

I've never seen food as nothing more than "fuel".

Eating for me has always been an experience.

Textures, taste, presentation, smells and comfort.

Food was a crutch....a socially acceptable way of masking pain.

A chocolate chip cookie can't be your best friend,

but it is a substitute when you are lonely.

That snack eaten at your desk won't make your workload managable,

but it does momentarily make your job a little stressful.

Zoning out in front of the TV mindlessly eating chips,

Won't make your bills go away.

When did I begin to connect food with warmth, acceptance, love and nurture?

Was it ingrained in the womb?

Food is a poor substitute for life.

Food is fuel. Gas for the engine. Wood for the fire.

It's time I threw that "pacifier" away and really started living.

This is me doing a "happy dance!" Day 4 of the 6 Day Body Make Over.

I lost another pound for a total of 9 pounds in four days.

How incredible is that?

I'm still not skinny or even pleasantly plum.

Still hate fish and dream of chocolate.

I can hang in there though!

Daisy Dilemma: Will fish be my new best friend? I'm already carping! Should I be looking at food as fuel instead of a friend?

Mood: looking at food in a new way

In my ever increasing desire to make this new eating plan work I attempted to poach some cod tonight. It had mushrooms, onions, celery and tomatoes with dill, lemon juice and pepper. The receipe sounded good so I thought I'd give it a shot.

I am not a fish eater. I do like shrimp, tuna, and salmon.

However, I like my fish batter dipped and fried. I like mayo, pickle relish, hardboiled eggs, and apples in my tuna and I like my salmon in patties with either bread or crackers and egg to keep them together. In short if it's not breaded I am so Not There.

So will you be surprised to hear I really didn't like the cod. Mr. Wonderful wolfed it down though!

So far most everything has been tasteless. I eat because I'm supposed to but there is very little enjoyment in the pursuit. I'll keep trying new receipes though....one day I may find one that taste like "more".

Daisy Dilemma: If you are losing weight, do you have any right to complain?

Mood: Tired and hot

After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery.

I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed . "Lord, it's up to you, if you want meto have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery."

And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so Good!"

Thanks to my good friend Flip Flop Floosie!