Debbie Cousins's Journal, 06 Oct 22

Enjoy your walk. 

Was surprised to hear you say you keep your thermostat at 69 year round unless you decide to change it a little temporarily. Our electric bills in the summer are so high that we dare not turn our thermostat down lower than 81. I don't know exactly off the top of my head because we get water, sewer, trash, and electric bill together but together in the summer it runs over $800. a month, and we just have a regular city size lot and house. My husband said I "should" shower twice a week so I try to keep it to that using wet wipes although he doesn't. Part of the time I pee in a plastic jar then fill it with 9/10 water and put it on the flowers to save flushing. He flushes every time he pees (and demands I do) and with old men that is very often. He also leaves the water running when he brushes his teeth, etc. This is not an "equal opportunity" household. We are only allowed to water our yard twice a week on certain days for 8 minutes but he sets the system for whatever he wants for early in the morning so they won't see. We will get fined eventually but he says he doesn't care if he goes to jail. Yesterday morning early he almost ended up in the hospital again because he wasn't taking enough diuretic, and couldn't breathe. He forgets and won't let me monitor it.  

Have you tried a stationary bike? 

It may not hurt your knee so much. It’s sometimes good for knees. 

When I'm not losing it's time to check my caloric intake and adjust. always seems impossible at first and then not a big deal at all. Hope this helps :-) 

You’re doing great for sure!:) 💪👍 

my weight fluctuates a lot throughout the week - water weight is a real thing! as long as i'm trending downward overall for the month i'm happy, don't be too hard in yourself!! 

Dear chia-nuts-cold brew, thank you for your advice. Here in the San Fernando Valley, it is hotter than most of L.A. Yes, I use a square fan blocked in, upstairs in a window blowing out and a window open in the master bedroom across the house plus a sliding door downstairs as soon as it is cooler outside than inside. We also have insulated drapes and shades, but no whole house fan in the attic. Unfortunately, my husband's computer is upstairs where it is hotter, and his TV room used to be part of the garage and is not insulated so he demands the ac to be on constantly and sometimes I freeze. Strangely enough, when he goes to bed he gets cold and can't handle even the window in the bedroom open most of the time and turns the fan in the other bedroom off. There is no reasoning with him. For the last 2 1/2 months, I have been sleeping downstairs on the couch since he locked me out of the bedroom and threatened me (after 61 years of marriage) and I keep the windows in the living room next to me open all night. I must admit I am afraid to leave the sliding glass door open after about 10 pm when I am downstairs by myself but have when the days were over 100. Since August I am just glad to have a place to sleep since he was trying to kick me out. The Lord is protecting me as he deteriorates and only He knows what our future holds. We do not qualify for Medi-Cal and he isn't ready for some type of "home" anyway. I am like a helicopter in a holding pattern. By the way, our furnace, cooking, and dryer are gas which is still reasonable here. Isn't it wonderful we won't freeze this winter like some people especially in Europe may? 

I retain water once a week or so. The scale will be up 2lbs and then it comes off after a few days. I can tell immediately when I look at my feet and don't see tendons. It is normal to fluctuate depending on your sodium and water intake. Just make sure you don't retain too much or too long. That could indicate a health problem.