Good Morning to All;

Well a long weekend has now passed and were we good to our bodies?? Well, Sunday we had Josh, Jen and their several friends over for the day and into the night. Lots of good talk, lots of beer and wine and indeed the famous Venezia pizzas from Erin. I succumbed to three pieces but did not indulge in the chocolate thereafter. So I was pleased that I still had some where with all to say no.

In spite of that, weight loss is on track without a great deal of effort. It probably helps that I spent about 15 hours doing all sorts of garden work, the most exhausting is the trimming throughout. The good news is that I enjoy the work and it allows me to cleanse my mind doing mindless stuff-no t.v., no computer, which can at times be very uninspiring.

There has been a recent study done in the U.S., where obesity and stress are directly linked in many of us. There is a trigger in our brain that actually accelerates the development of fat, when stressed. Having said that, it therefore also suggests that we need to know what stresses us and look to deal with it as the fat will otherwise come. I for one need to try harder to recognize my stress symptoms and not use food and yes, drink to soothe me.

I am also driven by a need to feel good about seeing myself in pictures-I am genuinely offended by my fat pictures and vanity is a good driver to make this weight loss effort successful. The health results become much more obvious, as my knee joints are joyfully acknowledging, but the self esteem that comes with an improved body can not be ignored.

So don't let your guard down during the dog days of summer. Enjoy the great outdoors and watch what you put in your mouth. This is my conversation to the mirror!

Birgie, my thoughts are with you as you prepare for the operation. Let's all help ourselves in the coming months, but Birgie I'm there to help as best I can.

Ham