More on Advent Joy
plus, news from the weight loss front
Day late, dollar short
Yes, I realize I usually send out this newsletter on Mondays. In addition to entertaining you with tales of my health journey, I’ve been working on my own project. Do you remember when I said I started this Substack not only to document my weight loss - but also to procrastinate on my big passion project?
I’m not procrastinating anymore.
A book is coming!
I’ve spent the last year writing and especially re-writing a book. It’s not about weight loss or health. As you can very well guess from the look of my weight loss graph, I’m still trying to figure that out. It’s about an episode in my life which I’ve turned into a VERY short memoir. 36,000 words is not enough for a memoir - it should be at least 15,000 words longer. Unfortunately, I just don’t know if I can add that much more. Count on it being shorter than that.
I’ve been working with a developmental editor - someone who gives advice on plotting, pacing, characters and story development. I’m now on the second of three edits he advised me to do, all focusing on one objective. This is after two other rounds of editing! I’m going to hate this book by the time it is finished. But it will be the best it can be. Eventually I’ll just have to fling it out into the world.
More on Advent
I am celebrating Advent in style. The table is ready to welcome friends and family over for treats. Hopefully I’ll get it together, clean up the house, and invite some people over for supper!
I put out my Mom’s lace tablecloth, on top of a dark green cloth:
Later I laid the festive Christmas china - Winter Song by Lenox. I am furious that they discontinued my pattern. I looked up the dinner plate on Replacements.com - and almost swooned at the price.
The tree is still up in the attic, though. Sometime this week I’ll take it down and start putting it up. My goal is to have the lights up outside by Dec. 13, the feast of St. Lucia. She is celebrated in Sweden each year with lights. From Swedentips.se:
The Feast of St. Lucia, December 13, is perhaps the most cherished of all Swedish traditions. A celebration of the “bearer of light in the darkness,” it is marked by stunning candlelit processions of girls in white gowns wearing wreaths of candles in their hair. These days the candles are battery-powered, but the atmosphere is the same – filled with an uplifting spirit of fellowship and joy.
It’s the official start of the Christmas season in Sweden. See? I’m not being lazy with decorations - I’m internationally minded.
Update on my December food plan
Remember how I said I’d handle parties before Christmas Eve? I said “I will take fruit skewers as a dish to potlucks and parties. I will stick to approved foods.”
This past week was a little tough. I ate at Lizard’s Thicket (a local meat & three veggie country-cooking place) not once, but TWICE. There I couldn’t help myself and ate the bread I’d been avoiding. And I indulged in candied yams. So sweet.
I’m trying to remind myself: There will be two whole days of feasting! Indulgences like eggnog (yum) and hot chocolate are coming - in just 14 days, counting today. There will be sweet rolls on Christmas Day, along with sweet potato casserole!
It’s Time: This Week’s Numbers
Was I good enough to make up for the Lizard’s Thicket excess?
Results for Today:
Starting weight: December 2022 - 255 pounds (EEEK!)
Weight today: 206.4 pounds Almost 50 pounds, everyone!
Goal Weight: 144 pounds
Pictures:
The Weight Graphs:
Instant Analysis
Y’all, this past week I got back on track. I attribute it to COPIOUS amounts of water - so much that I was practically floating away. 40 to 60 ounces of water a day - that’s 5 to 7 1/2 glasses. That’s a lot of water.
Inspiration for the Week
Let’s all continue on toward our goals!
All for you
Dear readers, you are the reason I keep going. You are the reason I’m doing as well as I am in saying no to snacks and eating sensibly. I want to have good news for you each week. Thank you for following along on the journey! I’m so grateful to have you as readers.
Have a good week!
Well done Lady J!