Lentils?

I'm supposed to include lentils in my meals. I had to google them just to know what they look like! I bought a few packages last week. They are still in their packages this week. They are just not that enticing to me.

Otherwise my group and I are on week 3. My jeans are now comfortable again. Thank goodness. Progress!

Transitioning my body ...

I've been blogless for a few weeks partly because Bryan was home until Jan. 11th, and then I started a "lifestyle" program, called Transitions Lifestyle System. This is a program that a good friend of mine took late last spring with great results. It seems to me that others I've observed who have been on other programs (both diet and exercise) haven't achieved the results that my friend has. Plus my friend continues to eat normal foods, drink wine and enjoy life! Almost sounds too good to be true but thought I'd try it. I don't actually want to lose much weight but want to lose fat in specific areas. I also want to learn more about food, food pairings, what's best, what's not - something I've never really paid attention to. A lot of the info out there seems so conflicting, and, as most of you know I'm not much of a food person! So I am learning about food and how our bodies react, and what are our best choices.

The first meeting was interesting. Our measurements, weight and body fat %'s were recorded. Photos were also taken so we can compare our before and after in 12 weeks. We were all pumped and ready to get our week one orders!

With lots of enthusiasm I started week one, which was a cleansing week. UGH! Just veggies and fruit and some supplements for a week. I had NO energy. On the 6th day I added chicken to my meals and on the 7th day felt much better. There was a mixed bag of reviews at our 2nd meeting. One couple loved the 1st week (keeners!) and a few were like me. Just starting week 2 where we can now choose from a much larger menu of food items, no grains yet. There are some restrictions on the foods that we select.

I'll "weigh in" on how its going over the next 11 weeks.

Amazing sunset tonight

A beautiful, mild day today with the perfect sunset through the trees:

Merry Christmas

Scenes from our annual Manhattan visit on Christmas Eve:

Most famous Christmas tree! I see I caught the zamboni too!

Saks on 5th Ave.

We had a good visit but overall not as crowded as past years. A waiter mentioned that tourism was way down this Christmas and they were suffering. Hopefully this recession will not last long.

Merry Christmas to all!

Tree & Snow

Quick updates ...

Tree ... when I suggested to Don that we just get a small Christmas tree this year, he came back with the tallest tree we've ever had. It's at least 11 feet. We love it! Now all we need is Santa's visit to fill in the bottom.
Snow ... definitely a white Christmas is in store for us. This snowstorm couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time. We may get some rain before the 25th but for now its hard to believe this could all be gone in just a few days.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ...

Why I so rarely post photos of Carolyn ...

This is my beautiful daughter at her piano recital on Sunday. (At least we think its her.)

Our choice

I like this. Makes it all seem so simple:

"As a body in a world, here is our choice: we can be more loving or less loving. That's it. We can relax as the entire moment's show of love's swirl, feeling open as all - a vicious rainstorm, tweeting birds, our lover's lips, a sense of worthlessness - or we can close to some aspect of experience, pulling away as if we were separate." - David Deida

I took it from Kelly's blog. Thanks Kelly!