Motivationa Thread With A Lot Of Cool People 8/11-8/17
 

Here we are for another week, hopefully with a full house again! Who's ready? I'm diving in.

I need to log consistently. I've been pretty complacent and seem to have been happy with a maintain for the past several weeks. I need to get at it again with some oomph in my purpose. I need to get back on track with eating better. Have 2 or 3 things I'm going to test run for the new hobby/business this week, so I'll have to work around that.

Aimee, nice to see you back!

I'm not one of the cool kids, but I'll join in.

health
1) Lose 2 pounds (starting at 205.4:eek:)
2) Workout 4 times

other
3) Write 2 policies (not likely, but I'll try)
4) Work at property twice

I don't know what I originally had posted here. I went to copy my goals today to post my Monday report and

Good morning. I'm jumping into the pool at the deep end. We had such a beautiful week end but they are calling for rain later today. I am getting a walk in before the weather turns nasty. Can you see my determination to get this done? A pound a week by New Years day is 20 pounds and I will do my best to succeed.


My goals
Drink 6 glasses of water
Eat more vegetables and fruit
Exercise at least 10 minutes a day
Work on the sewing room 1 hour a day

This week is a planning week for me. I know some of these are not goals, but it is a check list for me to mark off as done. My life is so different than it was in June and I am still getting used to it.

Things that came naturally last week but I need to watch:Goals:Checklist:

Jenai: I'm here and ready to get back at it!! I don't know if I'm a cool kid but I'll pretend :D Sometimes we all get a little complacent, but you'll find whatever you need to 'flip your switch' and put it back on the oomph-track when you're ready. What's your business/hobby??

Mike: I'm with Mern, I bet you get two policies done ;)

Libby: Love the determination and I hope you have a beautiful walk!!!! I'm actually right there with you, hoping to lose 20 lbs. by Xmas, so I think we're on a very similar track!

Annette: I love writing down life-goals along with my weight loss goals like you do, and I will be doing that next week once I finish my "easing in" process. Looks like you're really on top of your life-changing process! You should be proud of yourself.

Mern: Nice goals and meal plan! Look at you go. I saw your comment from last week; I have no idea what the birth control (or lack thereof) will do for my weight loss either, but I've heard that birth control pills can cause you to "hold on" to weight more easily, and so maybe it is giving me a nice little early boost. I'll take it, and I'll see how I feel over the next few months. I'd been on birth control since I was 13, so I don't even really know what I'm like when I'm hormonal ;) DH and I aren't TRYING for a little bundle, but we're not NOT trying either (we like to say we've 'pulled the goalie') so we'll see what happens. My doctor told me fairly straightforwardly that since I had been on birth control for so long, it'll likely take my body a few months to even start cycling up normally again, so who knows what may happen?

As for me:

Speaking of DH, today is our one-year wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!!!! We have a quiet and snuggly day planned (we've got thunderstorms all over today and are also tight on money this month) and I'm looking forward to just being with him. I'm planning on a light breakfast and lunch, and he's making a non-diet dinner (chicken fettuccine alfredo with Italian Bread, salad, champagne and a dessert too), but I am going to ENJOY it and celebrate us!

I weighed in this morning and am down to 180.4, which officially puts me at -4.4 lbs. since last Monday. It seems like a lot, but I think it is water weight, which I always lose very quickly whenever I start up a program. It's GREAT and I'm happy to see the number, but I am tempering my woo-hoo to a little smile and a let's-see-what-happens! I did get to the gym on Sunday (but I did not do my strength training), so I got my 3x cardio done last week and will make it a goal again this week. My arm is feeling much better today. I am not going to log this week, but I plan on starting to log next week. The mindful eating seems to be enough for now.

Weekly goals:

1) Weigh in on M and F: M: 180.4
2) At least 64 oz. water daily
3) 3x cardio (35-45 minutes each session)
4) 1x strength training DVD
5) Eat mindfully, not distractedly
6) Enjoy my anniversary!!!!
7) Get syllabi finished and work on September plans (i.e. field trip, permits, etc.) <--- this is a work-related goal

Talk with you all soon!

~Terri

Thank you for the ecouragement, Terri.

I hope everyone will forgive me if I don't give out tons of encouragement right now. It will come in the future, but for now, I need to concentrate on me. At least until it becomes my way of life.

Note: I finally felt like I contributed this morning. I picked up a load of plastics to take to the recycle station. Looks like it will take me several trips to get it done, but it's free.

Hi everyone :) I'm still here but still not feeling chatty.

Mern - Thanks for checking in on me buddy! ;)

Libby - I like your 20 lbs by Christmas goal. Very practical and doable!

Terri - Happy anniversary!

Jenai - What are you testing out this week? Did you get the business cards yet?

Later fitday friends :)

Forgot to wish you a happy anniversary, Terri.

What hot and humid weather we are having. I decided to get some physical
house work done instead of going for a walk. Food wise I am doing OK but
supper time will be the big test.

Terri, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and many more. We celebrated our 40th this year and I am so glad I got a keeper. Enjoy your dinner tonight. I wish my husband would cook once in a while but he does all the outside work so I don't complain.

Welcome Rainbow and Annette. This is a good place to get and give support.

Debbie, What's got you down? I hope you feel better soon. I can always count on you and I hope I can help you too.

Mern, Your baby steps are turning into big strides. You go girl.

Mike, Nice goals. We built our house in the country 32 years ago and love it out here away from the noise and congestion of the city.

Jenai, What are you testing this week? I hope it has chocolate. He He

Let's make it a good week.

Just to let everyone who asked know...my daughter and I are in the process of starting a home bakery. We're already approved by the state and both have our food handler's cards. I just got my packaging supplies I ordered on Saturday, and our business cards will be here today or tomorrow. I don't think it will be a problem with my weight loss because when the things I bake are earmarked for sale, I won't eat them.

We're going to make several kinds of cookies, sweet breads, muffins, bars, and sheet items (like mock toffee and graham pralines). I've got some great recipes. My chocolate chip cookies are always the first thing gone at parties and get-togethers. I've always been a good baker, and one night I had a dream that I was doing this as a business, then I discovered that it would not be difficult to do. Minimal start up costs, and if we make any money, it will be a nice extra. Also, Sara will learn all about starting and running a business and working for money. I'm really excited about it and I'm looking for ways to promote. I'm going to give my MIL several things to take to the school where she works so all the teachers can taste-test, and I'm going to be donating throughout the year to the bake sales for the 6th grade that Sara was in last year. We'll do those types of things until we start getting some orders in and then it will be a lot of word of mouth (hopefully the people who buy stuff will share with friends and family).

That was a really long explanation of what we're doing. So the testing is trying out some new recipes and tasting them. I'll taste some, but I'll keep it in check and let my family do most of the tasting.

Terri, Happy Anniversary!!! So happy for you. Enjoy your day. And congrats on the 4 lbs gone, even if it is water, it's still gone.

And as far as all of you...You all ARE cool in my book. I think we have a great group of people here who are always supportive, motivating and never critical or negative. That makes you all cool in my opinion, and I just wanted you all know that I think so!

It's been a good day. If I keep this up I should lose this week.


My goals
Drink 6 glasses of water: Yes
Eat more vegetables and fruit: Yes
Exercise at least 10 minutes a day: Yes
Work on the sewing room 1 hour a day: Yes

Belated happy first wedding anniversary, Terri! :)

I very quickly just skimmed the posts and will try to catch up tomorrow.

Did not do well foodwise today, but I got in a ton of very tiring "exercise" by spending the day dejunking my house--reaching, stretching, climbing up, climbing down, bending, stooping, packing, carrying, all day long. Also got in probably a 80 or more ounces of water.

Will try to catch up with you all tomorrow.

Catching up tonight because I am off for a blood test in the morning. Fasting 10 hours.

Water intake was wonderful, but with this heat that was easy. My ice melted within minutes after I put it in the jug. Which reminds me, I need to fill my jug tonight because my husband wants to fill his 3 gallon jug.

Sodium intake was still within the safe range. I went a little higher today, but still came in under 1300 mg.


I walked this morning, but I already reported that. I didn't need to rest at the halfway point, but I did, just so I could pray in private.
I made a good start on planning meals. The rotation is fish, chicken, beef, pork. Spice rotation is Asian, Italian, German (love my caraway), Spanish, British.
I made myself a bowl of hummus and we had Ginger Salmon for Dinner tonight.
I have seven breakfast choices from very low carb to high carb. All are similar in Calories, but all are not the same on the food guide. Good thing I am following a range, rather than staying under a certain amount.
Lunches are mostly leftovers. Rice and chicken again tomorrow. Someone didn't eat dinner the other night.

I took my weight and measure, even if it was with a 165 foot measuring tape.
I made a start at Awana planning. I wish I had three computer screens.

Time to feed the animals and go to bed.

Hi everyone,

Just a quick stop by to "hi"!

I have an exciting few weeks coming up!
At the end of next week I start a 2 week vacation!! Yayyyyyyyyyyy me!
Back to work for 4 days and THEN on Sept 12 I am headed to New Orleans to see a friend and play in a weekend Scrabble tournament!! ( I am soooooooo excited)

I have never flown before, I am not scared of flying (so far) but I am very concerned about fitting in the seat!! (It's Air Canada down and back, so they won't force me to purchase 2 seats-thank heavens, cause I couldn't afford it)

I am making a concentrated effort (and pretty unrealistic, but doable, to hit 270 before I go) so 20 lbs in exactly 1 month!

It will make the journey more comfortable, whatever amount I lose, but I am aiming for 20

Back to logging food and back to the gym!

Good morning, everyone. I was sort of surprised but sort of not surprised this morning when I got on my scale and it scowled at me that I'm up 1.6 lbs. since yesterday. I didn't eat a large volume of food yesterday, but I made very poor choices. I skipped breakfast and my morning protein snack. I ate two large slices of pepperoni pizza and two breadsticks for lunch but that was all I ate from the time I awoke until dinner; and then I ate a grilled ham and cheese on low carb bread, a thick slice of lowER carb zucchini bread, and a lifestyle legal flaxmeal muffin that's only around 1.7g net carbs. So it was a day of a low volume of food, high carb (from all the breads), high fat, and low protein--the exact opposite of my goals. I thought (hoped) the amount of informal exercise I did de-junking and reorganizing my house all day (akin to packing and carrying heavy boxes for moving, plus drinking like 80 oz. of ice water, would counteract the pizza, but the amount of sodium and fat combined with maybe some added water retention from overusing my leg muscles bending, stooping and climbing up and down were counter-productive. My legs are very stiff and tight-feeling today, so I'm sure that's water retention. Well, I'll do my very best today and see what tomorrow brings.

Debbie, we care about you and realize there are times when self must come first. You have certainly done more than your share of chattiness of support since you joined us.

Libby, I'm proud of you! You surely are determined to make this a great week and with those goals I'm sure you will. As soon as I'm done posting here I'm going to exercise and won't come back here until it's done. Boy, oh boy! Won't that be cool to be 20 lbs. lighter by New Year's Day! Thanks for your encouragement on my goals as well!

Bea, hi! Sounds like a wonderful few weeks coming up! Enjoy! I love Scrabble but just play the genius on the computer. I seldom win, but enjoy the challenge and try to remember the new words the computer plays. Wishing you a comfortable flight. Great that you're returning to logging and to the gym. Big cyberhugs and best wishes.

Annette, we have city water but also have a water softening system that uses salt. The salt used is supposed to be flushed out of the pipes when the system cycles on and off daily. If there's salt in our water, that means there's something wrong with our appliance and we have to call a repairman out to service it. Is that the same with your well water softening system?
Your protein goals for the family are awesome--very sensible for anyone no matter what kind of diet they follow (except vegetarian, of course. LOL) Hey, smart thinking to add a check list. So sorry you expect the stress management classes will cause you added stress. Hopefully, you will be nicely surprised that they help. Perfectly OK to concentrate on yourself right now--you don't know how much just posting your own stuff helps others. We learn from each other indirectly, too. Kudos on the recycling. My DH and I are big on helping save the earth that way. We recycle more than we toss in the trash. When will you have the results of your fasting blood test? My doctor has a new gadget that gives instant reading of fasting glucose AND A1C over 3 months--I love that! But the rest of my test results don't come in until the next day, except for my Vitamin D test which for some reason takes two days. Best wishes on all your upcoming tests. Stopping to pray during your walk was awesome, too. :) Wow, I so admire your food rotation!

Terri, best wishes to you and DH for health and happiness--in whatever form and lifestyle that comes. Hey, you eat whatever you want for an anniversary dinner--and what a romantic dinner celebrating the two of you! You know what I always say, water weight looks the same as fat weight on most people. Kudos on losing 4.4 lbs. in one week--still takes a lot of work and you did it with minimal use of your arms! Hey, if mindful eating worked for me I wouldn't log, either. Good for you! :) Awesome goals!

Jenai, oh, a home bakery is more than I thought--such a wide variety of baked goods! My dad was an excellent baker but his specialty was yeast breads--worked for a large bakery before World War II; served as a baker during the war; worked for a railroad afterwards but continued to bake bread, doughnuts and yeast rolls for our family when I was growing up. To this day, my favorite aroma in the whole world is the smell of fresh baked yeast bread and rolls. :) Wishing you and DD much success! I have faith in you that you can do the home bakery and still do great in your weight loss goals. :) I totally agree with you on what a great group we have.

Today's menu:

Breakfast: dairy blend yogurt substitute with flaxmeal

Lunch: zero cholesterol egg, spinach, and deli turkey omelet

Snack: protein shake

Dinner: salmon and low carb pasta casserole that I planned but didn't make yesterday, sauteed green beans, slice tomatoes if I have enough carb allowance left

Evening snack: celery with low fat cream cheese, another protein shake.

Congrats Terri!

health
1) Lose 2 pounds (starting at 205.4:eek:)204.8
2) Workout 4 times yes

other
3) Write 2 policies (not likely, but I'll try) 0
4) Work at property twice no

Monday report:
Log all my food NO
Achieve all my nutritional goals for my eating lifestyle NO
Exercise 5 days, working up to 22.5 minutes aerobic walking per session: More than equivalent in heavy housework
64 oz. water: Yes

I did it--increased my exercise today to 19 minutes which is the equivalent of 1.27 miles of brisk aerobic walking. :)

Mike, look at you down on the scale ALREADY! Way to go on the exercise! :)

Thanks Mern. I just have to make sure I end the week down.;)

Hello Everyone.

Well, I have not logged in the past 4 days and I have learned one thing for sure. I need to log. It is soooo easy to justify that extra snack or a handful of something when its not being tracked. I am afraid to get on the scale because I will be so mad at myself if I gained back the weight I lost last week. I have just started - is it supposed to be this hard this early? At least I have been pretty good about exercising. 5 of 7 days last week. I feel pretty good about that and I was up to 16 minutes today.

Seems like everyone is doing pretty well. I don't know you all yet, but it is nice to read about your personal goals and successes too.

Jenai - How exciting to start your own business. Just reading about it makes me want a cupcake though! lol - I do love the food porn channel! ;)

So my goals for the week... I am going to keep it really simple: log everyday & exercise everyday.

:cool: Lili

Hi Lili and welcome. Good job on the exercise this week.

I had another episode with foot pain this morning. Fortunately it didn't last long but I was worried it would come back. My calories were on track and so was my water intake so I am still on track. I just need to be good this evening.

Hi Lili. I agree that logging makes all the difference. I am sure that I go way over my allowances if I don't mark things down, but when I am watching, I have trouble making it to my minimum.

I wasn't planning on walking today because I went for a blood test and then a chest x-ray. Because of the time I came home in between and decided to print up copies of the records I am trying to sort out for planning my season of youth activities. Little did I know that I would have to print each page individually. All twenty-two pages. Instead of doing the intelligent thing and taking my laptop down the hall, I went back and forth twenty-four times. Two pages got stuck int he printer and had to be redone.

While I was waiting in x-ray, I was people watching, like I usually do. A young mom was walking with her baby and patting him on the back. As I looked at this huge baby boy, I realized that it has been six weeks today since my heart attack. That means I can go back to almost normal. I am allowed to lift 20 lbs, the size of the baby, and I can mow the lawn again.

So, I am going to try it tomorrow morning. Not the whole lawn, but part of it.

Struggling with water today. Partly because it is a bit of a cooler day, but partly because I forgot to fill my water bottle.

Mike, it looks like you want it bad enough to end the week down on the scale.

Lili, many of us here don't do well without logging. We welcome you and anyone here who has lost his/her way to take baby steps in working up to a new healthful lifestyle. Don't make it a weight loss diet and then go back to eating the way you used to--you'll just gain it all back. Set your calories at achievable levels and don't go below 1200 calories without your doctor's permission. Personally, I lose better at between 1400 and 1600 calories per day--that's something we all have to figure out for ourselves. There's no "one size fits all" diet. Most experts agree that we need days off exercise to allow our muscles to repair themselves. My doctor recommends exercising just five days a week. Way to go on your 16 minutes exercise. I'm restarted last week after first having joined this group in 2011 and I've worked my way back up to 19 minutes with an ultimate goal of 30 minutes per day of aerobic walking--equivalent of 2 miles on my DVD.

Libby, great day for you today. I hope your foot pain stays gone! Stay strong this evening!

Annette, I was amused by your printing story. Sorry 'bout your pages getting stuck in the printer, but you burned calories walking back and forth! :) You've made real progress since your heart attack. Wow, I'm surprised you are already allowed to lift 20 lbs.--but I know things are different nowadays. They used to keep heart attack patient bedridden for the longest time and know now that it's exercise that helps one heal. Best wishes on the transition back to normal life. Best wishes on the water.

It's been a good day. If I keep this up I should lose this week. So far so good.


My goals
Drink 6 glasses of water: Yes, Yes
Eat more vegetables and fruit: Yes, Yes
Exercise at least 10 minutes a day: Yes, Yes
Work on the sewing room 1 hour a day: Yes, Yes

Hi all! I'm still here and still trying to shake this dark cloud. I think what's got me so down is this 'all or nothing' thing. I suspect I'm not alone with the 'all or nothing' attitude?

When I'm at work, the kids are in school and activities, I live by the clock and calendar. It's tough because it's so busy, but in a way it makes it easier for me to plan meals and exercise. It would probably explain why I gain weight every single summer when that schedule is all over the place and often times unpredictable. This year it was compounded with the shoulder injury I suffered in the spring which derailed my exercise plan...then the all or nothing attitude kicked in. I promised myself that this summer I would be at my goal weight and be learning how to maintain throughout the summer. Well I never hit my goal weight and I've gained back most of what I lost. I look forward to the warmer months, living in a country where many of the months are cold and rather than enjoy my summer, I've spent most of it with this dark cloud hanging over me. I'm trying to remind myself on a daily basis that doing something is better than doing nothing. Isn't it funny...if I promised something to my children I would follow through. I would never promise them something and then let them down! Why can't I do that for myself? I know I'm worth it....I know I deserve it. I need to remember that I also need to take care of me and my wants, not just my family.

This morning I got in a good 40 minute sweat session which makes me feel good. I'm going to try to remember that even if I can only manage a 10 minute workout, then that is better than doing nothing. It really is all about the exercise for me...my diet has always been pretty good as I can't eat prepackaged food (I have Crohn's Disease)...however my portion sizes of healthy stuff could be scaled down. It's funny, when I have all my ducks in a row and I'm doing well, everything is so clear and it doesn't even seem hard to stick to my personal plan. But then I hit a period like this and it's all foggy and for the life of me I can't imagine it feeling easy again.

Side note...we have company coming tomorrow which will make any and all efforts so hard!! 11 people will be staying with us from Thursday to Tuesday....not much of a summer holiday for me when I'll be running a bed and breakfast!! :cool: Then Tuesday, after everyone leaves, we head out of town for a family vacation until Friday. Being out of town means hotels and restaurants....makes eating well challenging...not impossible but certainly challenging.

K...this post is waaaaay long! Haha!!! All that to say, here is what I'm planning to do for the next few weeks until I'm once again living by the clock and calendar. I'm going to keep a food diary (no calorie counting) and do my best to follow the portion sizes in the 21 Day Fix program. I'm also going to exercise as often as my schedule allows, but not wear my heart rate monitor so I'm not focused on the number of calories burned. I'm also going to stay off the scale until I feel more comfortable in my clothes again. Seeing the numbers will only serve to remind me how close I am to being back to my starting weight.

Libby - Thanks so much for checking in on me :) I hope that foot pain stays away!!! This morning when I was working out, I felt my shoulder so I had to switch to a different exercise. That was scary to feel that again!! It's no fun living in pain....I know! Take care of that foot! :)

Mern - Great job increasing your exercise duration to 19 minutes! Do you have a time goal in mind?

Mike - Great job on the health goals this week! You've already got in your 4 workouts and your down on the scale! Keep it up!

Terri and Jenai - Hello! Where art thou?

Bea - Good to see you! Sounds like an awesome trip you've got planned! Be sure to check back in and let us know all the fun you had in New Orleans!

Lili - I love that daily exercise is one of your goals! I'm a firm believer in daily exercise as well! I think it's not only good for the body but good for the mind. As far as it feeling hard already...well in my experience it comes in waves. Some weeks feel easier than others. You just have to dig in and keep pushing forward. Glad you're posting here!

Annette - I haven't yet said hello...so hello! I can't believe you can go back to regular activities only 6 weeks post heart attack!

Off to the grocery store to stock up for my house guests. Hope they all don't mind eating egg white omelettes, lean grilled chicken and salad for 5 days!?!?! Maybe this bed and breakfast can be a health retreat!! LOL! Do you think they'd mind if I got everyone up at the ass crack of dawn for a little bootcamp workout!!! Hahaha! I could have some fun with this! :p

K, after that enormous post...I guess you could say I'm feeling chatty again?!!?! ;)

Annette: No worries. We're here to support each other through whatever needs there are, whether it be chatting about life, tough love through hard times, or just to read how others are doing while we focus on ourselves. What goes around comes around! I'm really happy to watch your progress! Thanks for the anniversary wishes! Sounds like you had a good start to your week!

Debbie: Thanks for the anniversary wishes! The 'all or nothing' attitude is something that I've battled with, it comes and goes. Right now I'm not dealing with it, but I am sure I will as soon as I hit my first rough plateau. Then it seems to sink in and I'm thinking about it all the time and worrying about every bite and it can be very distracting and debilitating. You will get through it. Your attitude is good (10 minutes is better than nothing, 20 minutes is better than 10 minutes, etc.). Holy moly, 11 people is tough! You must be superwoman!!

Libby: Happy belated 40th!! Wow! Thanks for the wishes, and haha, it's funny how everyone seems to dole out tasks differently. I do most of the cooking when we're both working, but right now I'm the only one working and DH is on the market, so as a result, he's doing most of the cooking because he has the time. He usually cooks for special occassions or when we have guests because he's simply better at it than me (I'll catch up one of these days!) It'll go back to our normal routine sure enough. He does any outside work we have and most of the day-to-day tidying up (except dishes) so I'll take it.

Jenai: GASP! What a cool thing for the home bakery and I wish you the best of luck with it!!!!! If you figure out how to ship things I will order something from you :D Thanks very much for the anniversary wishes!

Mern: Thanks for the anniversary wishes! I'm sure your legs are just holding water too from all the extra work. Pizza is the total devil for me, the effects always seem to last for days. It'll all even out in the end - it's about averages, right? Nice job on the exercise increase!

Bea: Nice to see you!!!!! Sounds like you have SO MUCH FUN coming up! I will be rooting you on in your quest for the 20 lbs!

Mike: Thanks for the anniversary wishes, and woohoo for the scale moving in the right direction!

Lili: Good job on the exercise this week! It IS hard to start out because you're making a CHANGE, and change is always tough to get off the ground. A few sensible goals is all you need, and you'll get there. You know what you need to do, so you just do it!

As for me:

Anniversary was GREAT GREAT GREAT!!! We ended up checking the mail and got a gift card from my parents that could be used at a bunch of different restaurants, so we chose to go to a seafood place (Bonefish Grill) and use it there rather than cooking the alfredo. Bonefish has a "fresh fish" concept, even all the way out here in the midwest without an ocean for thousands of miles. We're close-ish to Chicago though, so I'm wondering if they can ship it in from there, or what they do. Anyway, the food was GREAT! We did have both an appetizer and our entrees; the appetizer was 'Bang Bang' shrimp (delicious) and then I had grilled sea scallop and grilled shrimp, couscous, and fresh zucchini and sundried tomatoes for my entree. The fresh veggies were VERY good, I ended up eating DH's veggies too because he doesn't like zucchini. We then came home and ate some of the frozen top of our wedding cake for dessert :) I only had one slice, though!

Oh, I also had a ton of wine and got drunk for like the first time in five years, so I'm sure the liquid calories added up. It was fun though, hubby and I went through a bunch of pictures from the wedding that our guests took with disposable cameras (we left cameras out on the tables and told them to have fun), and we found some we'd never even seen before. We were giggling at ourselves, but then we came across this one:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...04568254_o.jpg

How cute are we??? I don't even remember this being taken.

On Tuesday I went into work and got my most difficult syllabus/schedule out of the way. The plan is to go in this afternoon and get the other two done (two sections of the same class, Intro to Psychology) and then I can work on getting my online content up! We have guests coming on Friday and then next week is a bunch of new faculty orientation (dinners, lunches, meetings) so I REALLY need to get the schedules, syllabi and online content done between today and tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I can do it, but it'll be busy!

Yesterday's food was mindful but meh - DH made me an egg sandwich on flat-out wrap for breakfast (yum!) but I skipped lunch because I just forgot to eat. I was famished for dinner, and we need to go grocery shopping, so we ended up eating out. I got a chicken bowl at Chipotle, and although I skipped the sour cream and guac, I had both beans AND rice in it, and that always skyrockets the calories. Today I will make better choices. Oh, I need to get to the gym, too! Busy busy day! Wheeeee, off I go!

Weekly goals:

1) Weigh in on M and F: M: 180.4
2) At least 64 oz. water daily M: yes T: no
3) 3x cardio (35-45 minutes each session) M: no T: no
4) 1x strength training DVD M: no T: no
5) Eat mindfully, not distractedly M: anniversary T: yes, but could have made better choices
6) Enjoy my anniversary!!!! M: So much :)
7) Get syllabi finished and work on September plans (i.e. field trip, permits, etc.) <--- this is a work-related goal M: no T: one syllabus/schedule done

~Terri

OMG that picture is gigantic :eek: Sorry!

Terri, I saw your post but didn't have time to read it and have an errand to run. I'll be back later.


I have several food challenges ahead and at this point can promise only to try to do "controlled cheats" if I'm lacking in willpower:
--tomorrow breakfast and a matinee movie with a friend
--Saturday, August 23rd birthday party (my great-granddaughter will be a year old on the 22nd. :) Boy, that year went fast!
--August 24 is a family reunion picnic
--August 30 is a sit-down reunion dinner with college friends--I have no choice over the menu. I may just eat what I'm served so as not to draw attention to myself. It does surprise me, though, that all those friends are also 68 and no one inquired as to whether any of us have any dietary restrictions. I would have, but then again, I didn't volunteer to be on the reunion committee, either--so have no right to complain.

Well, I'm happy. Worked at it very hard yesterday and lost all but .2 lb. from my Monday major pizza cheat. That .2 could be fat regain because excess carbs are stored as fat.

Tuesday report:
--Log all my food NO, YES
--Achieve all my nutritional goals for my eating lifestyle NO,YES
--Exercise 5 days, working up to 22.5 minutes aerobic walking per session: More than equivalent in heavy housework, 19 minutes
64 oz. water: Yes, YES

Libby, you go girl! Congrats on two days full of yesses in your reports!

Debbie, my heart goes out to you. I know I'm a lot older than you, but you may have inherited too many remnant traits that were instilled in my generation of women due to having mothers who were stay at home moms unless they were widowed or divorced. I was taught to put husband and family first and to be what I call "last on the list" as far as deservedness. Most married, working mothers today work all day at work and then all night at home. From what I've read of your posts after work your life is almost all about taking care of your family. At 68, I'm getting better at taking care of myself and my wants, but I still have a way to go. I have no advice for you that you don't already know deep down but haven't been able to put into practice. Remember, though, that we are here to listen and not judge if you ever need to vent. Big hug to ya! Oh, if you said that in the past, I missed that you have Crohn's Disease. Do you find it hard to cook for the family AND yourself or can you cook pretty much one meal that is healthful for them and for you, too? I'm so lucky that with my cooking to manage my cholesterol and blood sugar without meds, my husband eats what I eat, but then he'll add a baked potato or other starchy veggie that he prepares himself. He's even starting to enjoy the Hungry Girl and Joseph's lower carb breads and buying less full carb bread for himself. :) Except for eggs, he holds down his cholesterol as I do. You are so right on the exercise. Now that is something I DID learn--to give myself credit for every bit of food control and exercise I achieve. Those 40 minutes of exercise are fantistic and admirable, but if you can only manage 10 minutes, then those ten minutes are just as fantastic and admirable. I sincerely mean that and believe it to be true. Never be ashamed to take baby steps, either. Best wishes on your "bed and breakfast guests from Thursday to Tuesday, followed by your family vacation. (OMG did I get a huge chuckle out of your health food and exercise boot camp bed and breakfast! :D) Just resolve to enjoy yourself and make it "controlled cheats" if you deviate from your healthful eating. Does your Crohn's Disease help keep your diet in check some, though--at least as far as food choices--maybe not so much with portion control? Ah, look at you! You are AWESOME--look at all that wisdom you possess deep down. I KNEW you knew it! :)
"I'm going to keep a food diary (no calorie counting) and do my best to follow the portion sizes in the 21 Day Fix program. I'm also going to exercise as often as my schedule allows, but not wear my heart rate monitor so I'm not focused on the number of calories burned. I'm also going to stay off the scale until I feel more comfortable in my clothes again. Seeing the numbers will only serve to remind me how close I am to being back to my starting weight." I see the image of you coming out of that fog getting clearer and clearer. My doc and I agreed on an ultimate goal of 30 minutes five days a week of vigorous exercise that includes both cardio and strength training. I detest exercise and aspire to no more than that. Maybe when I get out of the obesity range (right now still "morbidly obese") I'll have higher goals, but if not, doc said she'd be OK with my sticking to the 30 minutes.

Congrats Terri!!
Debbie yes you are Chatty Cathy...but we love it :)

I still think we're all doing good ...everyday is another day....losing and maintaining wt is a LIFETIME issue. So, hang in there buddies!!

I like this quote :)

I've been on a diet for 2weeks
and all I've lost is fourteen days!!!

:D

Terri - What a sweet pic of you and your husband!! You are both radiating joy in your smiles....or was that too much champagne on your wedding day ;) You both look too cute....two little baby faces! :p

Mern - It is tough being a parent today. When I was a kid, my mother did work. She took care of the four kids that lived across from us...but she was able to tote us along with her. Also, back in the day, most often she just opened up the door and told us to go out and play and come back when we were hungry. Don't get me wrong! Those days of endless adventure were pure magic when I was a kid. Sadly today, our children are deprived of that adventure. In our current society, often times mothers work outside of the home and children are kept by our sides....no running off to play (at least not until they are older...my kids are only 6 & 8)...it's too dangerous. This takes up a lot time outside of work....ensuring my kids are doing something fun instead of just sitting in front of the tv. Having Crohn's does keep me on a shorter leash as far as food goes. I can have some indulgences, but I keep it mostly to when we go out to a restaurant. At home, I prepare everything from scratch. Lucky for me I married the world's pickiest man and together we created the word's two pickiest kids! LOL! :D Often I cook 2-3 meals every night...sometimes even 4! I always do my best to prepare things ahead and keep them in the freezer...that has helped a lot! Poor me eh!!?! Haha! Just joking :p Aiming for 30 minutes of exercise a day is great! I'm sure it will feel easier as your weight comes down.

Becca - Love that quote! And you're so right...this is a lifetime thing not a quick fix. I was so darn close to the maintaining part! Grrr! I'll get there again and finally learn how to maintain!

Mern, I hope to amuse. I am a writer and always looking to grab the attention of my readers. Not that I'm spinning a story here because this is all too real, but...my friends say I'm funny. You could say that my writing is a form of therapy.
I read your comments to Debbie, and I have to say that even at 54, I got caught up in that SAHM mentality. I was partially raised by my grandmother, and then I married an older man. Although I did go to work back in 1989, when the twins were only 3, I was expected to put in a full day at the farm and then come home and cook, clean, help with homework, coordinate and sometimes lead extra-curricular activities for five children, and somehow fall into bed sexy. It didn't work. I quit being sexy a long time ago. Oh yeah, the other things I kept, until now, when a heart attack told me that I can't keep up this pace. Now I need to concentrate on what makes me happy. I realize that I have to work on the farm sometimes, but now I buy paper plates to eat off of during those times. This is part of my reason to plan fall. What do I keep, and what has to go.
Debbie, I have been following the rules, almost by the book, since they handed me my reading material the day after I had the stent inserted. Four slip ups: grocery shopping before 3 weeks, lifting my new grandson when he weighs 12 lbs and I am only allowed to lift 5 lbs, and that stupid box of Chapman's Ice Cream Sandwiches. They're gone now.
I fully understand food planning. I have been blessed with food allergies, and a family with food allergies. This is what makes my new lifestyle so challenging. Doctors make suggestions, but I have to be able to live with it. When I have family visiting, it is a challenge cooking for all the needs. Right now, I have a basket of strawberries on my table. If my granddaughter shows up, I need to remove them. Perhaps to outside.
Oh, and glad your chatty again, so I can get to know you.
As for my day—
Mowing the lawn is out. It looks like a jungle out there, but it was raining most of the night and it is wet out there right now. Next warm day is forecast for Sunday, so Monday I break out the mower. I didn't walk in the rain this morning, but I have dishes to catch up on. I wish I had a dishwasher, but I guess this helps with my hand eye coordination. Bummer, I just realized that I am allowed to vacuum. Guess those get-well cards have run out of steam.
I got my water in last night, but it woke me up at 1 am and 4 am. Oh wait, that was my husband at 1 am. He woke me up to ask me if I drove anyone to the farm to take stuff out of the freezer. That would be "NO."
As I mentioned, no more Chapman's anything is allowed in the house if I can't stop at one. Sodium was still good if carbs and calories weren't.
Roast beef tonight. I cooked it yesterday so I can slice it into nice thin slices today. I can also make low fat gravy by taking all the fat off the top of the drippings and adding vegetable broth that I have in the freezer. I'll do a pan of roasted vegetables to go with it.
Things left on my checklist:

No plans are ever concrete at my house. I had plans for breakfast and a matinee movie tomorrow, but my friend is expecting a package delivery requiring her signature, so we rescheduled for Friday. The breakfast is at a regional, casual restaurant chain and no one would get offended if I tote along a low carb flaxmeal muffin to keep from caving to pancakes or French toast. I know they have turkey sausage, so that's better than pork sausage or bacon. I'm hoping they have zero cholesterol egg blend--if not, I'll go ahead and enjoy two regular eggs and try to go as low as possible on cholesterol intake for the rest of the day.

As soon as I'm done posting this I'm going to exercise and then I will have earned tomorrow off. I usually take off exercise Thursdays and Sundays.

Terri, thanks for your encouragement, as always. You're right, pizza is a devil for me, too. Isn't there supposed to be an angel sitting on my other shoulder telling me to not eat that lucious triangle of pizza? She's never there! Yeah, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. LOL OMG, what a perfect anniversary celebration you two had! Your anniversary dinner sounded wonderful and really healthful, too. You gotta have cake and wine for your first anniversary. The photo of you and DH is absolutely awesome--you both are so photogenic and look so happy! How romantic to spend time looking at the wedding photos others took with the disposable cameras! That's great that you got the most difficult syllabus/schedule out of the way. Best wishes on the rest so you can enjoy the new faculty orientation. I love Chipotle, too, but luckily rice and beans don't entice me. (If they did, I'd probably cave, too.) At Chipotle I have the chicken, fajita veggies, salsa, cheese, and ranch dressing over lettuce. So glad you gave yourself credit for your mindful eating Tuesday and for getting the teaching work done. :)

Becca, thanks for your wonderful encouragement to our group and for reminding us that losing and maintaining is a lifetime issue! I think too often people go on a weight loss diet, reach goal, then go back to eating the same old detrimental way--and then blame their weight loss plan for not being a good one. It has to be a lifestyle change with weight loss as a bonus. :) I got a good chuckle out of the quote--"...all I've lost is fourteen days.." LOL

Debbie, you are right--it's a different world today. My Mom didn't drive and just sent us out to play and we did have many adventures-safe ones and our mother always knew where we were. We had a TV but there were children's shows on only in the morning for preschoolers and the most violent Saturday morning cartoons were the antics of Tom and Jerry, Daffy Duck, and the chipmunks Chip and Dale. We didn't have the mind-numbing temptations of spending all day on computers and video games or the parental worries of Internet child predators. Oh, I don't think I could cook all those different meals like you do, but kudos to you for the good thinking of preparing and freezing stuff ahead of time when possible. Every little bit helps. You're such a smart and loving lady! Your family is so lucky to have you. Best wishes for your life getting simpler with more time for YOU. :)

Annette, you do indeed have the gift of entertainment through writing. :) Wow, you had really strenuous expectations, too, with all the work you did from the time you got up until the time you went to bed, plus responsibilities of looking after children. Good for you for working on ways to make your life easier now, especially in view of your recent heart attack. I hope you will continue to try to find ways to make life easier--not just because of the heart attack, but because you EARNED it. I snorted with laughter reading that your hand dishwasing perhaps helps with your hand-eye coordination. LOL! OMG, I'd be furious if my DH woke me up at 1AM just to ask me a question. I had roast beef for lunch today but it was from the deli so higher sodium content than I should have. There is a butcher shop down the street that makes in-house roast beef with very low sodium--just a sprinkling on top, but last time I had it, for the first time ever, it was very fatty, so I hesitate to go back. With what do you thicken your low fat gravy? Best wishes on your checklist. Coincidence-- I found my exercise stretch band under my computer cart this morning. I may have laid it on the computer desk, but I am not the one who threw it on the floor--I suspect my 10 year old grandson did that when he used my computer. I'm formulating another reminder lecture on Grandma's bad back and not causing her more work and the pain of bending over.

I wish. I'm way up today.

hey
 

I'm late to the party but at least I'm here lol.

I am working out more consistently now than I have in the last couple of months. (Went through a divorce and moved in with the new girlfriend, welcome to the life of law enforcement right?) Anyways...I am doing Insanity (for the 2nd time) and getting in the weight room at work daily for a full body workout.

SUNDAY--Insanity Fit Test
Monday--Plyometric Cardio
Tuesday--REST
Wednesday(today)--Insanity Cardio&Resistance

I also try to get a couple of runs and body weight exercises in during the week to up my endurance. Focusing mainly on losing 15-20 pounds right now and toning up a little.

health
1) Lose 2 pounds (starting at 205.4:eek:)204.8, 206.4:eek:
2) Workout 4 times yes, no

other
3) Write 2 policies (not likely, but I'll try) 0, 0, 1
4) Work at property twice no, no

Welcome Ky! Glad you took my suggestion and joined us! I did Insanity two years ago. I loved it!!! I should really dust it off and do it again. The only kicker was that it killed my feet for some reason. I have no problem running or jump rope, but for some reason plyometric type exercises kill my feet!

Mern - Thank you for such lovely words :o

Annette - I'm so glad we don't have food allergies! I can't imagine adding into the mix! :rolleyes:

I must run....and stay off the computer for the remainder of the day. I have so much to do before my guests arrive tomorrow! :eek: Be good all and I'll check back in tomorrow ;)

UGH, DH just told me he's going to get himself ice cream from a local ice cream parlor. Even the no sugar added ice cream is way too high carb for me. I'm JEALOUS but I'm determined to finish out the day on track--I worked too hard to blow it now.

Mike, it's all about averages. Do you know why your weight is up today? Salty stuff or maybe even retaining water from too vigorous a workout? 1.6 lbs. was how much I was up from eating pizza one day--but I lost 1.4 of it by the next day. Congrats on the policy! :)

RunKyRun, welcome! Glad you joined us! Best wishes in your new lifestyle and on your intense exercise. :)

Debbie, OMG, honey, you are so welcome for and deserving of whatever kind words you get. You are always so supportive of us. Wishing you an enjoyable "health food and exercise boot camp B&B." LOL Have fun--remove one egg yolk and replace it with a white in some dish for your guests. They'll never know. Go ahead--I dare ya! :D