tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90253427654839320282024-03-13T06:35:21.021-07:00The Late Blooming BoomerPat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-78294514665769145922014-05-25T16:33:00.003-07:002014-05-25T18:40:24.952-07:00MY BOOK BLOG TOUR IS HERE, FINALLY<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">I don’t know
why I have a problem following orders or rules of law…never actually served
time but I attribute that little fact to my overworked, chain-smoking guardian
angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when I volunteer for
something, I take forever to actually get around to doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like doing this book blog tour with Allen
Eskens, an exciting new voice in the world of mystery fiction. Allen is the author
of the much-awaited <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Life We Bury</b>.
Fortunately Eskins doesn’t seem to be like me. He’s a pro at everything he
attempts, from graduating with a degree in journalism of the U of M, to getting
his juris doctorate from Hamline University. Visit him at </span><a href="http://www.alleneskens.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">www.alleneskens.com</span></a><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">With this
particular tour authors are asked to answer the following questions…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">What am I working on?</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Currently I am working very, very slowly on two projects. One is the
second book in the Buffet Betty series (Murder by Chance was the debut
novel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also finishing up a YA
novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my day-to day-life I no longer
walk, but shuffle along in house slippers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My brain appears to be doing the same. If someone could invent a walker
for the brain to speed it up, I’d buy it in a minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">How does my work differ from others of
its genre?</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"> I don’t
know that it does…except perhaps my humor is a bit twisted and dark, sort of
like the author herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">Why do I write what I do?</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I seem to only write when I like an idea...no matter what the genre. I
have written mainstream fiction, children’s, young adult, romance, poetry and
mysteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">How does your writing process work?</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I am producing I try to write 1000 words a day but will not quit
until I have 800 words. I may take breaks, watch a rerun of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Big Bang Theory</i>, etc., but I try to
reach my word count by noon. That way I can live the afternoon and evening as a
guilt-free normal person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If you a
writer, unless you have written for the day, you always, always feel guilty.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><b>What authors have I tagged to follow
me? </b>Lovely authors who sent lovely pictures, not realizing I could never figure out how to insert them into this blog..so make sure you go to their website to see their smiling and appealing faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">JOEL ARNOLD’S </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">writing has appeared in dozens of publications,
ranging from <b>Weird Tales</b> and <b>American Road Magazine</b> to
the anthologies <b>Resort to Murder</b> and <b>Shivers VII</b>.
He's received a Minnesota Artists Initiative Grant, the <i>Speculative
Literature Foundation's</i> Gulliver Travel & Research Grant, and his
young adult historical novel <b>Ox Cart Angel</b> received a Midwest
Book Award in 2012. He also makes a mean coffee cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catch him at <a href="http://authorjoelarnold.blogspot.com/">http://authorjoelarnold.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">TODD JAY</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">has
enjoyed a career creating comedy in a variety of venues including Theater,
Improvisation, Stand Up and Writing. He has performed in theaters, cabarets and
comedy clubs nationwide appearing with notables such as Judy Tenuta and Lily
Tomlin. He was in the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beautiful
Girls</i> from Miramax Films (but don't blink too much). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dead End Boss</b> is his first novel. Check him out at </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://toddjay.com/">http://toddjay.com</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">SHEYNA GALYAN</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"> is the author of the Rabbi David Cohen
suspense series, set in the Twin Cities. She holds graduate degrees in
counseling psychology and education. Sheyna has worked as a counselor,
consultant, lecturer, journalist, and Jewish educator. Fascinated by the
intersection of tradition and technology, her favorite questions are Why? and
Why not? She lives with her husband and children in the Twin Cities, where she
is at work on the next Rabbi David Cohen novel. Find out more about her and her
books at </span><u style="text-underline: #0950C4;"><span style="color: #0950c4; font-family: Arial;">http://booksandbeliefs.blogspot.com</span></u><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">MARILYN VICTOR </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">has been an animal lover since she could walk and was thrilled to be
able to pair that love with her love of mysteries to co-author <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Death Roll</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Killer Instinct</b>. Right now she is obsessed with creating a butterfly
garden in her backyard to attract monarch butterflies. She has already rescued
three caterpillars and is looking forward to watching them change into
beautiful butterflies. She’s wondering if her next book should revolve around
butterflies. Visit her and her view from her backyard at <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://mjvictor.blogspot.com/">http://mjvictor.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-75082006077060907592014-05-22T16:04:00.003-07:002014-05-22T16:04:29.971-07:00TAG! You're it!!!<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I am on a blog tour...which means an author lists my bio pic on his blog and then the next week I choose three other authors to put on my blog...but I forgot one thing...even as a kid I was never a team player, never chosen to play on a tea</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">m, and basically was the clumsy introvert fat kid who sat in the corner reading...Sorry Allen Eskens..you are a great mystery writer and deserve a better person to tag..so please, everyone..share his blog for me..he's fun and I will lose a bit of this coat of shame I seem to carry around with me everywhere!<br /><br /><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fallen-eskens.blogspot.com%2F&h=TAQEd0fc5&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://allen-eskens.blogspot.com/</a></span>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-76525603454295013752013-11-20T06:12:00.001-08:002013-12-10T07:16:51.110-08:00A TALE OF TWO AGENTS<div class="MsoNormal">
A year or so ago, clicking on the desktop folder that housed
my manuscript THE WITCHES OF DORKDOM
released a few personal demons I was still battling. The book itself was
finished, but the disappointing attempts at getting the book published, and
then failing utterly, was not yet laid to rest. I was still choking and sputtering about the “what could have
been” in my life.</div>
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Great expectations, when not met, will do you in…but
mediocre expectations when not met destroy you even quicker.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I originally wrote the tweener’s novel (age 10 and up) in
2006, over 6 years ago. I asked a friend to read it, now a New York Times bestselling author, to
read it. Not only did this author read my unpublished tome but suggested it to
their own personal agent, something he rarely did. I was thrilled, humbled and
speechless to the point of immobility. All I could do was to sit around and
wait for his agent’s response.</div>
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It would surely be positive, wouldn’t it? After all, this
was of the agencies bestselling clients who praised my work. The agency was
bound to say yes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I began to daydream, and soon fantasies of success enveloped
my every day. To be honest, daydreaming is something I never allow myself to
do, to feel good about my future. I am usually consumed on a daily basis by the
failures of my past. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Color me doom and gloom because any fantasy of mine is
likely a nightmare of the inevitable personal destruction. And I have a <i>lifetime of observation</i> to prove it (as
Abed so wisely pointed out about himself on the television show <i>Community</i>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, thinking about the possibility of being successful was
new to me. Although I do well in corporate comedy, I don’t actually work a
lot…usually my agent has to track me down and ask me a few times if I’d like to
do a show. I either have my head in the clouds, in a book, or sometimes, up my
ass. But if THE WITCHES OF DORKDOM sold to a major publisher, I could finally
pay off my car and be debt-free. It took me to my mid-forties to pay off my
student loans. Why not be able to pay off a car in my late fifties? Wait a
minute! Maybe it would even sell to the movies! (By the way, this thinking
positive thing is very addictive and likely dangerous). Or maybe I could prove
everyone single person who had said I had no talent or told me “to be quiet and
not talk about my writing” even at family events, was wrong. Maybe I would
finally look good in their eye. Maybe I would …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How naïve I was. Most authors are. It’s why we writers are
able to write stories in the first place. We unconditionally believe in happy
endings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around a year after I submitted it (it took that long for
the agent to finally tell me her agency was not going to sign me) I felt like I
had been hit by a truck. Supposedly, it took that long because the agent was
dealing with business issues, reduced staff, etc. My manuscript was at the end
of a long list of To Do’s. But the real reason, in my opinion, I was dropped? I
was asked if I would change it to third person in case a publisher asked for
that to be done. Foolishly, I said no.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote it in First Person for a reason. I couldn’t see it in another voiced than the
one it is and I had all these books planned. I know realize how pathetic that
made me look. Here I was, an unknown writer saying no to a suggestion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had it to do all over again, I would have said yes, and
prayed that the publisher would even think to ask something so stupid. And if
they did, I would have rewritten in third person until I was so famous I could
tell publishers everywhere to go do to themselves what many couples do for
pleasure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I didn’t say yes, I said no. The relationship with the
agency ended and that was that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But my pity party doesn’t end there. Almost immediately I
signed with a very large New York agency. I was assigned a young agent, around
23 or so I think by the sound of her voice who called me and thanked me for
writing such a ‘brilliant book’. She said they never get ‘books like the one
you sent.’ I truly believe she was convinced that the book would be snapped up
almost immediately, maybe even go into auction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually, it didn't go anywhere except to a few publishers.
When it was rejected by 5 or 6 of the top publishers my agent, who was younger
than many of my shoes, immediately dropped it and refused to send it smaller
publishers, or even to the other larger ones. In my opinion, she was more
devastated than I was. If I remember correctly. I had to console her on the
phone after each rejection…or that may be just the memory this aging brain has
created. All I know is that I didn't feel consoled, at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I received an email stating she felt it wouldn't be
worth it to continue to try to sell the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never heard from the young
“agent” again until a few years later when out the blue, I received what
I was assumed was a mass emailing to all of her email contacts in her online
address book, informing anyone who might be interested that she was now working
as a freelance editor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wasn't interested, at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, I didn't know what to do. So I did what I normally do, nothing. And yes,
I know now that even a mistake is better than no action. Just like I know that
it would have been better to say yes to the third person rewrite. And I should
have knocked on every door out there. Instead, I put the folder into another
folder on my computer and didn’t look at the manuscript again. I didn't want to
self-publish it, not this book. Not after all the hopes and dreams I had had
for it. Now self-publishing has been very good to me, especially my book
HOTDISH TO DIE FOR, but, like a lot of authors, I wanted the big guns behind
me. Maybe if for nothing else than the bragging rights that come along with
saying, “Why yes, I've been published.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And finally, years later, I am publishing the book on my
own. With the help of Marilyn Victor who did the incredible cover illustration
on THE WITCHES OF DORKDOM, and Donna Seline, who formatted the book, THE
WITCHES OF DORKDOM is now for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in one
book store in the United States, actually the best bookstore in the entire world,
Once Upon A Crime in Minneapolis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe it’s because of my pesky brain tumor that was
discovered this spring, or that the fact that I survived a mild stroke, that I
have this urgency for this book to be out there is the universe, not just
sitting in a file on the computer. I want this sweet and funny story .to be a
legacy of sorts. It really is a good book,
and would make a terrific gift (insert smiley face here)…but by getting
it out there it allows me to not only bury my past, but to begin to believe again
in possibilities and happy endings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to let it be the book it was meant to be, a pretty
darn good tale that will entertain and daughters, sisters, nieces, mothers and
grandmothers…something I have been trying to do all my life.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I published “The Witches of Dorkdom” under the pen name Nora England, a
combination of my grandmothers’ names. If I can’t make me almost famous, maybe
I can make them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in case you're interested.....</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Dorkdom-Nora-England-ebook/dp/B00GR58DQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1384956464&sr=1-1&keywords=THE+WITCHES+OF+DORKDOM">The Witches of Dorkdom Kindle Version</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://ww.amazon.com/Witches-Dorkdom-Nora-England/dp/096763444X/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=">The Witches of Dorkdom paperback</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-witches-of-dorkdom?store=nookstore&keyword=the+witches+of+dorkdom">The Witches of Dorkdom Nook Version</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-48256992161859834152013-06-15T06:43:00.002-07:002013-06-15T06:43:49.923-07:00My Stroke of Luck<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A bad heart, a stroke, and a brain tumor walk into a
…..the beginning of a really bad joke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You betcha, especially when it happens to you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve had mild congestive heart failure for quite a
few years. It was a direct result of my sleep apnea, which in my case, was a result
of my weight. A friend’s husband however, who is as slim as a Jim, has sleep apnea
as well. But, I am a gambler and I always go with the odds. Odds are, being morbidly
obese <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is at the root of all my evils.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As many of you know, I’ve <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>struggled with weight for most of my life. It’s
amazing how someone can be totally aware of a situation, yet bathe themselves
in the river of denial at the same time. Unlike many of my fellow chubbettes,
who rage against anyone who brings their weight up including their doctors, I
agree when my critics. Yes it is bad, I mumble as I start to drown in guilt and
shame. And then, like any good backslidden, former Fundamentalist Christian, I
trudge home, feeling worthless as I beat myself up with a Krispy Kreme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But to me, there was a silver lining of sorts, to having
CHF. It meant I would probably die quickly from a heart attack. Here one minute
and gone the next, sort of like a bad sitcom on NBC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had no idea a bad ticker could lead to a stroke,
which was the biggest fear of my life. Like most fat girls, all I had was my
brain – take that away and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no one will
invite me to the prom and no one will want to hold my hand, kiss me, and no one
will especially want to....wait a minute, I don’t have to worry that anymore. I
keep forgetting. Twenty-eight years ago I married a gorgeous man who is madly
in love with me to this day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I should
stop complaining about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my high school woes
and get right to the point. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On May 9<sup>th</sup> I suffered a mild stroke. A
pain shot into my head, clinching it tightly and then disappeared. Then it did
it again. The vision on my left side was also gone. Suddenly, the world became
pixilated. Did I call the ambulance like I should have? Of course not, because
I could see out of my right eye enough to Google Web MD. According to my
virtual doctor, I suffered a stroke on the right side of my brain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After lecturing me on calling an ambulance immediately,
my real doctor verified the stroke with an MRI. She also verified, something else,
something I expecting. She discovered a brain tumor, benign. It is a slow
growing meningioma that is attached to the membrane that covers the brain. But,
even though it is benign, there is only so much room up there. If it keeps
growing, it will have to be removed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So here I am, at what
should be the happiest time in my life; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my first novel, Murder by Chance, published by
a wonderful publisher (Forty Press) , <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>basking in the glow of extraordinary reviews
from strangers, relived to know that Forty Press wants another Betty Chance
book, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and well, now this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have to admit, the
totality of it all stopped me in my tracks for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always been used to struggling against
the odds, but this seemed monumental even to me. But then, as happens in life,
I adjusted to my new reality, and started to count my blessings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t die of a heart
attack. My stroke was mild, and on the right side. None of my motor skills were
affected. My vision has mostly returned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although it was the right side, my
creativity seems fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The brain tumor
is benign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I may out live the slow
growing thing anyway. I’ve managed to get Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein out of
my mind, and realize modern brain surgery is state of the art. There are even surgeries
being performed by a virtual scalpel on an outpatient basis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But more than anything,
I am grateful I am still alive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
my stroke, I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>normally wallowed in suicidal
thoughts and depression, only emerging to make other people laugh or take care
of them. Now suddenly, I realize I do want to live. Suicide is not even an
option or a want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time in
years, I actually wake up happy with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yesterday a store clerk called <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>me
a ray of sunshine. Do you know how many times that has happened to me
before?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, like never.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, because I am on
such an upswing, in what could be considered a bad time, I decided to blog
about what I will be struggling against, and hopefully conquering over the next
few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading other people’s blogs
and books, have helped me so much during this time. I am hoping to do the same
for others who might be facing what I am facing… bad heart, recovery after a
stroke, a brain tumor that has to be checked every six months, and maybe the
hardest of it all, losing the 85 pounds because I promised my doctor I would. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel free to share this post, and
others, with someone you know who might be dealing with any of these issues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I won’t be blogging
every day. Just a couple of times a week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a while I will writing about some of the
procedures I’ve had to endure, like having an MRI and then having a camera meander
down the inside of my throat into the cavities of my heart while I was still
conscious. Or I will be writing about writing, and tackling creative projects
against all odds. And, as per my nature, all of my reporting will undoubtedly have
my rather twisted and screwy perspective on things…but hey, that’s one of the
good things about having a stroke. Like Sophia, from Golden Girls, I get to
play the stroke card. No matter what I say, or write, you can’t hold it against
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I had a stroke. I don’t
know what I am saying, or writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-76167752537936323992012-12-18T11:49:00.000-08:002012-12-18T11:49:34.689-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Next Big Thing</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">My good
friend <a href="http://www.loisgreiman.com/">Lois Greiman</a> asked me a few
questions about the Next Big Thing in my life. It's a popular interview going around the blogoshere with authors. It's kind of like a promotional pyramid scheme for authors. It's fun, and basically, we're hoping to entice you to buy our books. So here goes.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is the Working Title of Your Book?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Murder by Chance (actually that’s the title. I am currently not working on a
project I’d like to announce. But the publication of my next novel is a big
deal, to me.) </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where
did the idea come from?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For several years I worked as an entertainer
on tour busses heading to casinos in Minnesota and Wisconsin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Approximately thirty minutes before the bus
arrived at its destination, the tour host would introduce me. I’d stand up at
the front of the bus, microphone in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d do my stand-up comedy routine until we arrived at the casino.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truthfully, they were some of my best
shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comedy is meant to be intimate
and the smaller the room, the better the performance. You can’t get too much
closer to an audience than being in an interior of a bus. On the way to the
casino, everyone was in a great mood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happy, chatty, hopeful, all of them convinced they would hit the
jackpot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way back, not so much.
The mood was much different and as an entertainer you learned to sit at the
back of the bus, hidden behind a newspaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although some folks did come out a winner, most did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, time and again I’d see the same people
riding the bus, hoping to make their dreams come true. I too am a gambler and
usually lost most of my comedy salary at whatever casino we landed at. Still, I
look back at those days as some of the best days of my life. And because I
always thought it would be fun to be a tour host, I eventually became one via
my book. My main character is Betty Chance, whose husband left her for an
older, fatter woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s broke,
unemployed but a strong believer in Oprah’s “do what you love and the money
will follow” philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Betty
loves to both gamble and eat, she opens not only a tour business that
specializes in casino junkets, but reviews casino buffets on her blog.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
genre best defines this book?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
This is a traditional mystery with a touch of culinary mystery to spice it up.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Which
Actors would play roles?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Cathy Bates, Camryn Manheim, or Octavia Spencer as Betty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the role of the mind reader/ casino
entertainer Boris? I’d choose Daniel Craig. Of course the character looks
nothing like Daniel Craig or even remotely acts like him. That casting and it’s
subsequent fantasy casting couch is just for me and me alone. Sigh.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What is a one-sentence synopsis
of the book? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Know
what? I haven’t even thought about how to condense it…so I won’t. But it’s
about being left in your fifties, reclaiming yourself, the importance of
friendship, gambling,losses, murder, and of course, all-you-can eat buffets. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Will it be self-published or
represented by a traditional agent?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
It is being published by Forty Press. I submitted to them directly, via a
recommendation that I do so by Once Upon A Crime’s Pat Frovarp.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How long did it take to write the
first draft?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Probably around a year.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Who or what inspired writing the
book?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> I have no
idea why I keep on writing books that until now did now sell. I have had very
little success commercially, a few short stories here and there. Oh, and
HOTDISH TO DIE FOR which has sold a remarkable 25,000 copies…pretty good for a
self-published collection of short stories. I earned way more with comedy than
I ever did with writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And according
to my husband, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have earned way a
regular, 9 to 5 job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, being a writer
is just what I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s in my DNA, and
though I have fought it all my life by not doing it, the urge to scribble pops
up every now and then. It’s kind of like this creative virus that lives on its
own, saying “look at me” every once in a while.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Side Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I couldn’t convince any of my friends to do <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Next Big Thing</b> interview, not one. Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out they’ve already been asked by
other writers to do it, and most of them did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, I was the last girl to be invited to the prom. Still, you
may want to read their entertaining blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne Frasier Aka Theresa Weir’s <a href="http://monkeywithapen.blogspot.com/">Monkey with A Pen</a>, Marilyn
Victor’s <a href="http://mjvictor.blogspot.com/">Backyard Views</a>, <a href="http://www.sujatamassey.com/blog/">Sujata Massey</a>’s blog, and Barbara
Lindquist Schlichting’s <a href="http://bschlichting.blogspot.com/">First Lady
Blog</a></span></div>
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Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-41344022421049028612012-10-03T11:40:00.002-07:002012-10-03T11:40:10.565-07:00Ten months later....and?????<br />
<br />
Yep, I have pulled an Oprah and have gained much of my weight back. The exact gain? I have no idea..the last time I weighed it was 20 pounds. That was a few weeks ago. Am I fasting again? No, but as always I am struggling with my weight. I wake up every morning vowing to be count calories, count carbs, exercise, locate Josh Holloway and ask why he is not in every movie that is made because frankly, he should be.<br />
<br />
It's amazing that in my 60s I have come to the realization that - after living my entire life in obesity - that I just eat too much. As soon as the Atkins diet came in my life, in my 20s, I decided that calories didn't matter. That's what the book said. And somewhere, I must have read that I needed 3,000 calories to maintain my weight because I swear, that is what I have always thought I needed.<br />
<br />
Bottom line - according to My Plate, a $2.99 I downloaded for my iPad, I only need 2045 calories a day to maintain my weight as I live my totally sedentary lifestyle.<br />
<br />
2000 calories???? WTF???? That's nothing. A typical breakfast that I love to order contains 1200 calories...two eggs, sausage links, hashbrown, ketchup, buttered toast with jam, coffee with cream. Oh, and a bit of orange juice to fight off scurvy. (Have you ever met anyone that says "I suffer from scurvy?"). I ate this particular breakfast in Chicago diners for most of my twenties. It is still my favorite meal - and if you add biscuits and gravy, well I am in relocated Hillbilly Heaven. <br />
<br />
I rarely eat out anymore. My typical breakfast now is two sausage patties served with five egg whites. A total of 250 calories. One fifth of the calories I need if I want to loose 2 pounds a week. But I have always had a problem with food. When I look at a cake, I often wonder why they bother to cut it into slices? <br />
<br />Once again, I have no idea where I am going with this weight issue of mine. But, I want this blog to me more than weight because frankly, I am more than just what I weigh. (Although, for some reason, many people in my life have never gotten over my weight.)<br />
<br />
But if I want to stop stuffing myself, I have to find another alternative. Maybe I will just stuff my blog instead.Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-16128817488202725652012-01-14T10:20:00.000-08:002012-01-14T10:20:05.663-08:00Day After My Thirty Day FastWhen I stepped on the scale this morning, I weighed the same as yesterday. I lost 25.8 during my thirty day juice fast. I am completely, and utterly happy about it <div><br />
</div><div>Because I did a 60 day juice fast before, I had no idea if the weight would come off as quickly. During the first month of my last endeavor, I lost 28 pounds. The three pound difference this time around is barely noticeable.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I am also very happy that it is over. I have missed food, missed parts of my social life and for some reason this time around, I found I couldn't focus. During my 60 day fast, I was unbelievably prolific, writing four short stories, setting up a website, creating new avenues of marketing my work and managing to do a few performances. (Not so much for a twenty-year old, but I am in my early 60s). I think that I was just so freaked out that I wouldn't have food for what seemed an eternity, that I needed to find an outlet.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This time around, not so much. From day one, I realized 30 days isn't that long. After all I had gone without solid food for two months. In fact, ruminated about the end being just around the corner. So I shuffled my feet, and basically catnapped during these last 4 weeks. I am pretty sure, because of that, I will probably not do another extended fast for quite a while.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But I am going to keep juicing in my life. I believe what Joe Cross said about micronutrients. Mean Green will now be my cocktail of choice. And I may end up replacing juice for one meal a day, or two. Or I may end up doing a fast for five days or one day. But, actually right now I don't know. At the moment I am tired of rules and want to become the rebel that I was born to be. (Not too exciting. At my age being a rebel means refusing to renew your AARP membership,)</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, I am going to take a few days off from the blog. I need to process some things that have been going on in my life. Plus, I need to figure out exactly how much I have lost since my highest weight (I think it's 59.25 pounds) and what my new goal is gong to be. I will post all of that, plus what I actually weigh now in a few days. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I am off for a mini-vacation, having no performance commitments for the next few weeks. Last night's show was incredible. I actually had a partner for a quarter of my stand-up act. Just this sweet, intoxicated gentleman who decided to stand next to me while I performed. He was adorable in his cowboy hat and wide smile. At first I was kind of shocked when he came up to me, but since the crowd seemed to enjoy it I just went with it. What ever happened, happened. I wasn't worried at all and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I could tell he sincerely wanted to encourage me. He was like this tipsy Uncle who loved you unconditionally. It turned out to be one of the best performances of my career.</div><div><br />
</div><div>And right now, with my weight? I'm not worried about it either. I'm just going to flow with whatever comes my way. I doubt if there will be a drunken Uncle pointing out what foods to eat. But, the one thing I will remember is the one that I keep forgetting. Happiness is the sign that I'm doing something right. Sadness is the sign, that you are not.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thank you for reading my posts. This blog has been the reason I have stayed on track for the last 31 days.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 30: Day after my juice fast/back on solid foods/stayed the same/-25.8 Total Loss</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "Hope is the thing with feathers - that perches in the soul - and sings the tune without the words - and never stops - at all -" Emily Dickinson</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-8520239696787509772012-01-13T07:06:00.000-08:002012-01-13T07:06:14.700-08:00Day 30: Down -1.2/-25.8 total LAST DAY OF MY JUICE FAST!!!!<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Whoppie! I made my twenty-five pound lost goal. My next goal is to lose an additional 29 pounds and I will weigh what I did in the 80s. In fact, since I no longer have the 80s Big Hair look and the weight of the twelve tons of hairspray it took to achieve it, I will actually be a little smaller than the scale shows.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I have additional weight to lose, but not that much. In fact, if I lose the 29 pounds, I would be in the Overweight range on the BMI charts, not classified as obese, or morbidly obese as I was at my highest point. And for me, that's good enough for now. In fact, it will be fantastic.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">But the loss I have achieved so far has made my life so much easier. I carry all of my weight in my belly. At my highest, it was almost impossible to fit behind a steering wheel. I couldn't walk up more than one flight of stairs without panting. I couldn't walk around the block. I actually found size 4X's when I search my clothing this past week for Salvation Army donations. </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Now I can easily walk an hour on the treadmill. I bound up and down the stairs. By Spring, I will have to buy an entirely new wardrobe. And I won't have to do it at a plus-size clothing store. (But God Bless them for existing. Roamans, Catherines, and Lane Bryant understand that big girls do like style and color!)</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">In fact, the next addiction I may have to face might be a shopping addiction. I've never been a shopper, preferring to grab things at a yard sale, thrift store, or online. But, I've never been able to shop with ease, either. Every potential purchase was filled with anxiety. Will the garment fit? Will I have to move up a size? Will I look ridiculous? Can a heavy women wear this? And eventually, maybe I could get this in black?</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I think I'll go for that Betty White look in her show Hot In Cleveland -- comfortable, casual cotton pastel jogging suits with a hoodie , complete with lots of rhinestones and sparkly things. In fact, I've already ordered my BeDazller. But, that's just what us senior women learn to do. We decorate our bodies and finally admit, there's just no time to iron.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 30: Last day of only juice/Down 1.2 /-25.8 total Loss</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade." Rudyard Kipling</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-81922578362912472802012-01-12T14:31:00.000-08:002012-01-13T04:51:34.467-08:00Day 29: Up .2/-24.6 total/ Counting hours instead of days nowIt's forty hours until the stroke of midnight tomorrow evening, my final day of this 30 day juice fast. But, I won't be waiting breathlessly for the clock to strike while holding a family-sized bucket of KFC. Instead, I will be in a hotel bed, fast asleep.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>What do I plan to eat for my very first solid meal the following morning? Fresh fruit salad like I did on my last fast. </div><div><br />
</div><div> I will be on the road tomorrow for a couple of days, doing my gig as a comedian at a holiday party for construction workers. The event is being held in a conference room in one of my favorite casinos, with one of my favorite buffets. (Translation: any casino/any buffet.) </div><div><br />
</div><div>But it's work and amazingly I have rules. I don't gamble where I perform. I also make it a rule not to eat at any venue where someone from the audience could see me beforehand. Entertainers talk about keeping up a "Wall" between you and the audience until the show is over. For me, it is more than that. It's all the shame I've felt as a fat girl when eating in public. I've felt shame if ate normally, as well. And as a teen, I was too embarrassed to order a salad. I worried that if I did, the waitress would figure out that I was fat. And when I would finally say screw it all and ordered whatever I wanted, eventually I'd drown in a tidal wave of guilt.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I think all that shame and guilt spurred on my compulsive eating. Today I found an old diary from 28 years ago. As always, I was bemoaning my weight on paper, trying another new diet and vowing to exercise it off. What is interesting to me is that what I weighed then is my goal weight now. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But looking back is easy. Planning for today and tomorrow takes work. Not only do I want to lose the extra weight, but I want to lose the shame attached to both being obese and having once been obese. Some of the most fantastic and beautiful people I have known and idolized were extra-large. And some of meanest were downright skinny. </div><div><br />
</div><div>What really counts for all of us is what is on the inside. I am working on improving that as well, although an hour of aerobics is a hell of a lot easier.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Day 29: Juicing like a timekeeper/Up .2/ -24.6 total</div><div><br />
</div><div>Quote for the day: "It's never to late to live happily ever after." Unknown.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-80830444225827684472012-01-11T16:56:00.000-08:002012-01-13T05:41:34.136-08:00Day 28: down .2/-24.8 total/ 2 more days!I use to belong to a weight support group where we announced our loss or gain after a weigh-in. If you stayed the same, the group would respond in unison, "At least it wasn't a gain."<br />
<br />
Being on this juice fast, I have to remind myself the same thing when I have a tiny loss. Losing weight on a JF, watching the pounds melt away quickly makes you spoiled. I remember on my 60 day juice fast that I lost two pounds over night. It was early on in the fast and I didn't realize the weight loss would slow down. I quickly calculated that, if I did the same every day for the rest of my fast, I'd lose 116 pounds in 58 days. I was actually disappointed the next day when I lost only 1.5 pounds.<br />
<br />
Disappointed at 1.5 pounds in one day? If I did that in a week on a regular diet, I'd be thrilled.<br />
<br />
My original 60 day fast ended up in a 40.5 weight loss. Know what? If I did that in a year on any other diet, I'd be excited. Was I disappointed that I didn't lose 116 pounds in 60 days? Of course not. In fact, I had forgotten about my misguided and over-the-top expectations until today.<br />
<br />
For me, I've found the best way for me to lose weight, or do anything, is to start out being grateful and stay that way. I originally had 100 pounds to lose when I started fasting, but I was thankful I wasn't facing 101 or even 401 pounds to lose. Why I never moved into the super-obese neighborhood is beyond my comprehension. I certainly tried. <br />
<br />
My arms and legs may be chubby, but I have all of them and they work well. I have a heart condition, but it is mild. And even at my age, my eyes must be perfect. They can see a piece of Toblerone within a one-mile radius.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 28: Living on juice/Down.4/Total loss 24.8/</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." Willie Nelson</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-91562201096868300092012-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:18:35.802-08:00Day 27: Down 1.2/ 24.6 Total loss/Don't Go In The Basement!If you do, you'll probably see me. Ever have one of those days when you want to avoid the world? It's one of those days for me. A hermit lifestyle always has always tempted me. In my fantasy, I'd live in the woods, weave my own cloth, grow my own food, and have 'No Trespassing Signs' posted every three feet. But, all of my plants die a quick death. If I did manage to make material from whatever, I would't know what to do with it. I can't even sew. My husband takes his shirts to the Sew What shop to have a button sewn on. I've never, ever spent a night alone in the country because I would be terrified. I can't even stay in a Marriott Hotel without shaking in my watched-too-many Oprah shows Ugh boots.<br />
<br />
It's just that the thought of being a herman calms me. It's sort of like a meditation. My mantra is that when it all gets too hard, I could get away from it all, forever. In three days, I will be able to get away from juice fasting for a while. That thought calms me when I get a bit too anxious about not having solid foods. But being on a juice fast is amazingly calming. Maybe it's because all those chemicals, preservatives, food coloring are not racing through my body. <br />
<br />
Or maybe it's because taking care of myself gives me a little peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2711204416457476000" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 25: Living on juice/Down 1.2/Total loss 24. 6/</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." J.K. Rowling </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #eee9dd; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666555; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px;"></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-27112044164574760002012-01-09T08:08:00.000-08:002012-01-11T16:11:28.402-08:00Day 26: Down - 2.4/Total Loss -23.4/ 4 DAYS LEFT TO JUICE!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Actually, it's four and half. Like before, I am going to enjoy not being on a fast. I like food a lot. I also like socializing with my friends. I love cooking and cruising the web for recipes. Some of them I will even try to replicate. I adore cooking shows. And I managed to do every single thing I love while juicing. The only thing I didn't do was eat. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">But, there is a lot I like about being on a juice fast. I've learned to love the taste of the juice. The once time a week or so, when I actually put something in my juice (a dash of Louisiana Hot Sauce) you'd think I was diving face first into a whipped cream cake. I like being in control and not having to worry about what I will be eating for the day. I won't be eating. I like the weight loss. And, I love the energy that comes from fasting. But most importantly, I love the results.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I am a betting woman. I visit Vegas annually, go to local casinos and have been to the track a few times. If a Vegas bookmaker would have given me a chance to bet on me when I started my first 60 days juice fast, I'd be rich right now. I would have placed $100 for 100 to 1 odds against me. Most of my friends would have as well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">But, for some reason, a juice fast connects with my body and spirit. It is the easiest weight loss I have ever achieved. Am I worried about once I get off the fast? You bet I am. But this time, I'd place a wager on me to win.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 26: Living on juice/Down .8/Total loss 23. 4/</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, I'm possible!" Audrey Hepburn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-86398082881908127802012-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:17:27.913-08:00Day 25: Down - 2.4/Total Loss -22.6/ Off The Rollercoaster<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Or at least it feels that way. 2.4 pounds is a heck of a lot of weight to lose in a single day. It well makes up for the last two days, where I gained. What I have learned with this plan is to stick with it and eventually it will be okay.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">My husband asked me today if the sweater I was wearing was new. Nope, I told him, it's ten year old. It's one of the many items I purchased thinking ,"It is so cute. I'll just lose enough weight to eventually fit into it." I literally have an entire closet filled with 'eventual' clothes. It's been fun to finally fit into a few of them. I feel like I must have been psychic when I predicted correctly I would be wearing them some day. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I just didn't know it would take me decades to do so. And in case you're wondering – yes, some of them are floral dresses with shoulder pads wider than a Green Bay Packer's. It's the look that any Sugarbaker would have been proud to carry off.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">(Gosh, I miss Designing Women. They should bring the show back and call it Designing Seniors.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 24: Living on juice/Down 2.4/Total loss 22.6</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: ""Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." Anonymous</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-15564005973760670512012-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:13:44.572-08:00Day 24: + .6/Total Loss -20.2/ Oh well.My weight has gone up, then down and then up again in the last three days. If you're new to a juice fast, this happens. I just have to hang in there. It's only seven days until I eat solid food again.<br />
<br />
I remember my last fast when I did sixty days. I didn't know what would happen when I bit into solid food for the first time. I suppose I was expecting heralding trumpets to begin as soon as I tasted the scrambled eggs. I assumed I would swoon in ecstasy as if Daniel Craig was sitting across my me, wearing nothing but a..wait, a minute. I will leave it at wearing nothing. <br />
<br />
But instead? Absolutely nothing happened, except I was chewing instead of eating. I didn't jump up and down in excitement. I didn't call all of my friends and scream, "My mouth is so full and happy!" I actually kind of lost interest in the dish very quickly.<br />
<br />
That really shocked me. Maybe my body was reminding me food is just food. It's me who attaches any emotion to it. And like anything, some emotions are good. But, some emotions are very destructive. Frankly, if I could choose, I'd rather it be a roller coaster concerning my weight loss, rather than a much scarier ride of emotions.<br />
<br />
Day 23: Living on juice/Up .6/total loss 20.2<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate comedian and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-87436532817089398322012-01-06T17:26:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:13:10.110-08:00Day 23 .8 pds lost/20.8 total/ Can't fit into an outfit properly!And this time it is because it is way, way too big. My trusty black velvet performance ensemble that has seen me through multiple sizes is no longer wearable. I have lost enough weight that the once tight elastic waistband now droops down on my hips. If I thought there was a chance I would become a rapper, I'd keep them. But, as far as I know, there is no interest in hip hop artists who show their grannie panties.<br />
<br />
I needed this boost today, as I do every day. The monotony of my diet is mind-numbing at times. And there is always temptation lurking around every corner. Everywhere I look these days, there seems to be food. Even at the library, someone next to me was quietly munching on a Snickers bar. If my addiction were alcohol, I'd avoid bars until I could handle being in one. Facing my addiction to food means confronting the issue everywhere. There is no escape. So basically, even morning when I wake up, I put on my imaginary suit of armor and 'woman-up' to face the world. <br />
<br />
After I finish this 30 day fast, I will own up to how much more I would like to lose, and how much I lost on both juice fasts. I feel bad that I haven't posted before and midway after pictures, but I am waiting until the end. When I fasted the first time, I found many YouTube videos of folks who followed Joe and Phil's example and were doing a 60 day fast. They uploaded daily, and I watched them every single day. For a change, I really believed them when they inevitably said, "If I can do this, anybody can this."<br />
<br />
And believe me when I say this : If I can do this fast two times, much less doing it once, anyone can do it. In fact, anyone can do almost anything.<br />
<br />
Day 22: still juicing/ .8 pds lost today/ 20.8 pds total<br />
<br />
Quote for the day: "All our dreams come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate entertainer and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-47809682453227146672012-01-05T15:23:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:12:16.907-08:00DAY 22: 1.2 Pds Lost/20 Total!!!/ Feeling GreatI am psyched that I hit the 20 pound weight loss. My mood is high, even though today was a stressful day filled with appointments. My glee may be because of a last minute comedy show offered to me for next Friday evening. The last night of my fast I will not be worrying about being able to stay on the plan until the stroke of midnight. Instead, I will be worrying about making people laugh. Trust me on this. Comedy is hard, but juicing is harder. <br />
<br />
I like doing these last minute shows. It's kind of like the entertainment committee couldn't make up their mind between paying for another cheese tray or hiring a comic. I don't feel as pressured to be funny, because I haven't had months to mull the upcoming show over. Many of my performance contracts are a year in advance. For a chronic worrier, that is hell.<br />
<br />
I think my worrying was one of the reasons I gained so much weight. I needed something to ease the anxiety I was always feeling. Even as a young child, I fretted and feared. I didn't need a horror story to scare me. I scared me. But one of the things that I have liked about this juice fasting is that I am not worried at all about my weight loss. I know it will happen. Just like I knew as a kid not to go into the basement.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 21: juicing with a smile/ Lost 1.2 /total loss 20 pds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">Quote for the day: "Sometimes you just need to take a nap and get over it." Maura Stuard, Age 8<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Corporate entertainer and author:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Silence of the Loons</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Resort To Murder</i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>Once Upon a Crime Anthology </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-58543340844596457112012-01-04T17:01:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:11:25.971-08:00Day 21: Zero weight Loss/Too blase' to care/18.8pds total lost<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I could have invented the phrase, "whatever". I often found myself shutting down emotionally while lifting up my hand in the air and muttering that term even before it became popular. Today my ultra-bored dismissal and wrist-waving concerns my plateau.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">There's nothing I can do about it. If I decide to beat up the person that is "doing it to me" then I would be beating up my own body. Complaining about it would take too much energy. And even I am tired of my blog at times, and its constant emphasis on my juice fast and the progress I have made. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">My juice fast ends in "two garbage days" from now. Garbage day is a big deal in this house. Our trash is picked up every Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. Twenty-five percent of the time, we forget to put it out. At 7:28 a.m., when we hear the rumble of the truck heading our way, one of us rushes outside and rolls the can down our long driveway, swearing the entire time. Our garbage men have seen me in my nightie more than the men I dated in college.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Afterwards,when we watch the truck pull away my spouse and I always exclaim, "Garbage day comes so quickly."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Right now, with this juicing, I need all the help I can get to make me think it will end soon. And "two garbage days" works for me.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 20: still living on juice/ stayed the same/total loss 18.8</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">Quote for the day: "Help Us Accept The Things The Salon Cannot Change" Naughty Betty, writer of greeting cards, etc.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-87481137686000164592012-01-03T17:23:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:08:37.600-08:00Day 20: 1 pd loss/18.8 pds total lost/ Laughing vs Eating<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Today I decided I needed to have fun, so I met with my friend Todd Jay, a buddy and a great comedian. Todd is single and lives in the swinging part of the city. Trust me, except for our friendship, he has little interest in being dragged to the suburbs to go to Costco. But going grocery shopping alone is getting more strenuous day by day, without being able to buy or taste any of the tantalizing products I see. Once again I brought a proxy eater, Todd. I graciously offered to buy him lunch, knowing full well it wouldn't cost over 3 bucks. It didn't. A humongous slice of pizza and a 20 oz coke came in at $2.77 cents. I sat there watching him eat, sipping on my juice that I smuggled into the store.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">After that we roamed the aisles, and Todd ate every sample that I demanded he eat. The best part of the day? When we walked by a sample lady who yelled at us, "Dried fruit and nuts?" After we stopped laughing, we almost answered "Why yes, we are." Todd is gay, I am aging and drying up, and frankly, we're both a little nuts. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It was fun being in a social situation where I controlled my eating. And I found I could focus on the other person, not on what was on my plate or what was being served next. Plus, I wasn't tempted to eat a single bite mainly because I was laughing too hard. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Maybe that's what we all need when any addiction starts. A good friend that makes you laugh, and will listen to you when you need to cry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 19: still living on juice/ .1 pound loss/total loss 18.8</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">Quote for the day: "It always seems impossible until it is done." Nelson Mandela<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-84220893576379170402012-01-02T15:36:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:07:45.671-08:00Day 19: Up 1/4 pd - Struggled today to stay on trackI seem to be okay now, but today was a struggle from the moment I woke up. Wanting to quit this 30 day juice fast had nothing to do with my weight gain. I'm wise enough to know that it just my body adjusting. Or Mrs. Feeley (my scale) teaching me a lesson in patience again.<br />
<br />
I just want to crunch something something besides chipped ice. Or I'd like to bite into something spongy like an Angel Food Cake. How great would that be? And the thing is, when I am not fasting and I can eat anything I want, I've never bought or made an Angel Food Cake on my own. Right now it's all I can think about.<br />
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I just want to stop being the good girl, following the rules and believing in what I have been told about juicing. Being a good girl is not easy for me. Except for being a semi-good wife, it's not something I am use to being. I have always been a rebel, needing to make up my own mind about every single thing. I set my own rules. And like the history of attempts to diet, that has rarely been successful and often filled with regrets. Yet, by now I know that I am just being me. <br />
<br />
Maybe that is why this plan is working for me. I decided to set me aside, and listen completely to someone else. I owe both Joe Cross and Phil Staples from Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead big time. I became such a fan of both men, that I allowed myself to actually listen for a change. I'd heard about juice fasting for a long time. We've owned a Champion juicer for 20 years and a Breville juicer for three. We used each about once a year. But I needed to watch someone achieve spectacular results from juicing. For me, seeing is believing. <br />
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And now amazingly, I believe in myself. Even on the rough days with a gain.<br />
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Day 18: juicing like a political independent/ .2 pound gain/ 17 .8 pounds lost<br />
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1219087863144057763" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">Quote for the day: "Before you quit, try." Ernest Hemingway.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span><br />
<div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #eee9dd; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666555; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px;"></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-44219287390961714082012-01-01T15:28:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:06:20.846-08:00Day 18: Down 1 1/4 - Total Loss 18 pds Tips for Staying on TrackHappy New Year!!!!!<br />
<br />
Nope, no new resolutions for me. I'm still dealing with last year's resolutions. Actually, I've accomplished quite a few of them. You know, the basic lose weight, exercise more, write everyday, be nicer - the same things I'd put on my list for this year, if I needed to. But by now, they're part of my daily life. Habit makes a habit. I'll leave perfection for the other person. I am just happy with doing something, after so many years of not doing anything.<br />
<br />
I wanted to share a few things I learned along the way when I am living on juice only.<br />
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1) I always strain my juice at least three times. I use a fine mess kitchen strainer. I like the taste a lot better, and I find it easier to swallow.<br />
2) I always sip it through a straw. It brings out the kid in me.<br />
3) I always serve it over ice or chilled. <br />
4) When my husband sits next to me, like in a movie or while watching TV, he is not allowed to eat. I told him if he doesn't want to follow my juicing rules, that's fine. He could find a new wife. Preferably a slim one, one who wouldn't be on a juice fast. And yes, we're still married.<br />
5) If something is uncomfortable, I stop. I turn off the TV if the food commercials are getting to me. I click off the internet if I've surfed for food porn long enough that I am beginning to salivate over a dried-looking casserole. I distance myself from social situations if not eating is becoming unbearable.<br />
6) I drink a variety of herbal teas, everything from blueberry to chai.<br />
7) If juicing becomes really unbearable, I stop whatever I am doing and do something else. Just that simple act of changing my focus will usually help to stop me from thinking about breaking the fast.<br />
8) And if all else fails, I will pick up a good book to read. Something like The Orchard by my friend Theresa Weir or a young adult novel like The Secret diary of Adrian Mole. Like using a straw, reading a YA novel brings out the kid in me. The same kid who thought everything was possible.<br />
9) When I am cleaning now, or putzing around the house, I wear a wireless headset that feeds off my computer. Instead of being bored while scrubbing and reaching for a snack, I listen to BBC 4 or an audio book from Audible.com. Nothing will make you feel more guilty about overeating than listening to The Hunger Games.<br />
10) Like Joe did in the movie, I constantly remind myself that I have had a minimum of 68, 985 meals in my lifetime, and skipping 90 of them won't make a difference. Wait a minute. I take that back. It will make a big difference. I will be happier, slimmer, healthier and proud of myself for being focused. Something that before seeing Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, I hadn't been in a long, long time.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 16: Totally juicing/ 1 1.4 pound gain / 18 pounds total loss</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "You aren't going to get the butt you want by sitting on the one you have." Unknown</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span></span>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-12190878631440577632011-12-31T16:10:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:05:07.209-08:00Day 17: Gained .4 pounds! And guess what? No big dealIt really isn't. During my previous JF I had several days when I gained weight, and many days when I platued. My body is just adjusting and for some reason decided to maintain some of the 84 ounces of juice I drink daily. The amount I consume is pretty darn close to a gallon of liquid, which weighs 8 pounds. I am just happy the scale didn't register more.<br />
<br />
I have not alway been this rational about a weight gain, especially while dieting. Normally, I'd take it as a sign that the diet isn't working. Especially if I'd been on it as long as say, 24 hours. Even a 2 ounce gain would move me to tears. I would start sputtering on the unfairness of life, why is it that other people can eat whatever they want, and yada, yada, yada.<br />
<br />
What happens when I am not on any sort of a weight loss program? I'd often be thrilled with only a 2 ounce gain when I'd finally found the courage to step on the scale. Or even if it were a three or four pound gain, I'd be relieved it wasn't more. In fact, I would be so relieved, I wouldn't bother to do anything about the weight gain. In fact, I'd usually celebrate by going out to eat.<br />
<br />
Maybe I am just too old now to create drama around my weight issues. Or maybe at this late age, I have finally grown up. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I am not freaking out over a couple of crummy ounces. They will be gone, soon enough. And the last time I checked my mailbox Playboy hadn't written, asking me to pose. Besides, tomorrow is not only a new day but a new year. It doesn't get better than that.<br />
<br />
Day 16: Totally juicing/ .4 pound gain / 16.6 total loss<br />
<br />
Quote for the day: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Anne Frasier's Deadly Treats </i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></span>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-50841489891144821192011-12-30T16:00:00.000-08:002012-01-11T00:02:58.944-08:00Day 16: Lost .6 -Total Loss of 17 pounds so far<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1077068001552265883" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">If you copy and paste the following link in your web browser - you will a photo and recipe of a dish I have been salivating over for two days ...</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Yep, that's what juice fasting reduces you to...a craving for roasted broccoli and baked sweet potato fries. I am noticing that, unlike the last fast, I am searching the web for healthy recipes. When I do allow myself to think about food, I think how nice it would be to have a steaming bowl of squash soup. Or a salad of spinach topped with fresh strawberries. When my latest order from Amazon arrived today - a Wilton Nonstick 6-cavity Donut pan for baking donuts, not frying them - I squealed in delight when the UPS driver handed the package to me. And tonight, after finishing the blog, I will start to collect recipes for making sugar-free, fat-free, baked donuts. Sure, they won't taste like the real thing, but they'll look like the real thing. And sometimes that's good enough.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">For instance, I'd love to have a big diamond ring, but I'd lose it. I lose everything (except weight for most of my life). There's not a day that goes by that I don't spend at least a half-hour looking for something. If I ever write a memoir, it will be titled "A Life Spent Looking for Car Keys", not very catchy but totally accurate. So instead of a massive diamond, I have an even bigger zirconia When I look at it, it makes me smile. I feel like the poor man's Elizabeth Taylor. But more important, I don't have to worry about it. I am sure I will have the same reaction to the baked donut. It may not be the real thing, but I won't have to worry about eating it. <br />
<br />
And for a compulsive overeater - stress free eating is better than anything fried.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Day 15: Still managing to juice fast but hanging on by a poorly painted fingernail: 17 pounds lost.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "We are constantly invited to be what we are..." Henry David Thoreau</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #eee9dd; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666555; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px;"></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-62565988733869568812011-12-29T16:40:00.000-08:002011-12-30T19:09:35.708-08:00Day 15: down another .4 Way to go me!The scale came though for me today. It showed a loss, releasing me from yesterday's plateau. Of course, I have no idea what it will not say tomorrow. But one thing I know, it will not say the same as when I started this second juice fast. Not even I could gain 16.4 pounds overnight.<br />
<br />
A close friend tried to offer me a friendly suggestion today about my fast. He suggested it wouldn't harm me if I had only one meal for New Year's Eve and immediately go back on the fast. Poor guy. For the next twenty minutes he had to listen to my diatribe on how I can't break this fast, even for one second. Not a grape, nor a raisin, nor a shred of lettuce will cross my lips. Why? Because I have done that all of my life. I am notorious for drifting off course, ending up worlds away from my original destination. In fact, I am convinced the diet industry teaches us it's okay to "break your diet" every once in while, just to keep us caught hopelessly in a cycle of gaining and dieting.<br />
<br />
Maybe some people could have a meal and immediately begin to juice again. Not me. More than likely, this is what would happen. I'd have the meal. Then I would ask the waiter to give me a box to take the small portion I hadn't scarfed down home. At home, I would say, "Well, this probably doesn't freeze well". The next thought would be, "You know a piece of buttered bread would go really good with this." Followed by, "Well, I could consider the entire evening one continuous meal. Maybe I could add a little..." etc., etc., etc.<br />
<br />
It's far easier to give up a New Year's Eve dinner then it would be to start the fast over again. I'd love to celebrate the holiday at a fancy restaurant. But instead, I will be sitting in my basement family room, watching DVDs with my husband, knowing I am taking care of myself. Which actually isn't a bad way to start the New Year.<br />
<br />
But next New Year's Eve? The sky's the limit. And that sky will probably be in Las Vegas. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1077068001552265883" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">Day 14: Still Juicing/16.4 pounds lost<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "If you want to feel rich, just count all the gifts you have that money can't buy."</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #eee9dd; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666555; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -2px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px;"></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-10770680015522658832011-12-28T11:57:00.000-08:002011-12-28T12:03:40.432-08:00Day 14: Zero weight loss today! Stalls Happen!Okay, it was bound to happen - a day when the scale didn't show me how wonderful I was becoming. Instead, Mrs. Feeley told me that my body needed to take a breather from the stress of losing weight. (Yes, I named my scale. Why? Because it's harder to hate someone or something that you've personalized. Mrs. Feeley was my favorite grade school teacher. She once told me I had beautiful brown cow eyes, right before sending me out to stand in the hallway for talking too much in class.) <br />
<br />
And because Mrs. Feeley is a digital scale, I didn't jump up and down on it in disgust. I didn't hold it in the air and shake it. I just accepted it as "No big deal". I am still going to continue juice fasting for two more weeks and two days. I am still going to be positive. And just like in school, I will forget what Mrs. Feeley said in a matter of minutes. I use to be intimidated by the scale and getting on it could depress me for an entire day. But now that I've named it, it doesn't bother me as much. It's become a person to me. And a person can disappoint, help, love or encourage you. But in the end, it is how you keep your end of the bargain with that person that counts. Right now I am fasting to lose weight. Eventually, Mrs. Feeley will have to agree.<br />
<br />
But if this stall lasts too long, I just may set an apple on top of her. Just in case.<br />
<br />
Day 14: Still Juicing/16 pounds lost<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quote for the day: "What if The Hokey Pokey Is All It Really is About?" Jimmy Buffet</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025342765483932028.post-8853677495130360642011-12-27T17:09:00.000-08:002011-12-27T17:09:03.992-08:00Day 13: Down .4 but sick of only having juiceActually, I think I am just simply tired. Two nights with little sleep leaves me wanting nothing more than a trip to the French bakery. Or brewing a thick cup of espresso (I am also off caffeine for the duration of the juice fast.) Before I started fasting I would often eat for energy when I was hungry. When exhausted, I would drift towards potato chips or french fries. I craved salt constantly. Even when I had it all day long. That alone could explain the quick weight loss in my first few days of having only juice made only from fresh fruits and juice. <div><br />
</div><div>I am sure, when I wake up in the morning, I will feel more alive and positive. We all have these bad days. But for now, I am going to spend the evening moping and whining. Not as exciting as wining and dining, but a whole lot less calories.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Day 13: living on juices/16 pounds lost</div><div><br />
</div><div>Quote for the day: "You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one."</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Pat Dennis</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Author</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish To Die For</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Hotdish Haiku</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Who Died In Here?</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>Stand-Up and Die</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and more</span></div><div><br />
</div><div><div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div></div>Pat Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407990931398580011noreply@blogger.com0