Good morning (although it's a little after noon here), friends! I didn't get a chance to get on here yesterday, so I have a bit of catching up to do!
I have been hosting parties but they are strange. It is usually as a holiday such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have been cooking at my house and transporting the food to my in laws house. By the time I have cooked, cleaned up, packed up, traveled, unpacked, reheated, cleaned up, repacked the food, cleaned up, traveled and then unpack I am usually too tired to eat. This has now changed since my mother in law died last month. My dh saw his sister this morning and she asked about Easter. He thinks she was trying to get me to cook. He is against me taking over all the holidays especially since his sisters do very little. Luckily last night we decided to go out with my sister and my mother for Easter.
It's good that you decided to go out for Easter ... much less stressful than dealing with the chaos of hosting!
I think hubs and I have managed to overcome this obstacle because we'll eat before we go to a party because we never know what food will be served. We grab a diet soda or a water and just mingle with people - they aren't aware enough to notice we don't touch food. If there's a dessert present we mention an 'allergy' and have to pass. Luckily my nut allergy works in this scenario.
I'm so impressed that you have a strategy that works for you - that's awesome!
And avoiding desserts is definitely the one good thing about having a nut allergy (although it wouldn't help you at my house ... we do nut free because my brother has a nut allergy - but don't worry, if you come to my house I won't make you eat dessert!).
I wore this outfit last weekend when I got my PR in Washington DC.
I like wearing shirts with funny sayings.
I love that outfit!!! Funny sayings are awesome for running shirts ... I wish I wasn't too embarrassed to do that!
It's been a great past 24 hours.
Last night we ended up trying a new place called "Pizza Ranch". Fun place for the kids, but a pizza buffet with an ice cream machine and dessert pizzas wasn't ideal for me. Ended up eating a big salad and had 3 thin crust slices and stayed under 1500 calories for the day.
When we got home I ran on the treadmill. I was thinking I was going to try two miles again, but once I got to two, I wanted to see if I could keep going and do my first 5K. Nailed it! Not only did I get to 3.11 miles, I ended up going 3.5 miles and I kept the same speed the whole run (15 min miles - nothing to write home about, but for me it's a good start).
And to top it off, my weigh in this morning was a good one. I've officially lost 40 lbs. When I started back in January, my goal was to be at -40 around April 5th, so I'm ahead of the game.
So, my official weight check for the week puts me at 9 lbs down and my goal was 14 lbs this month. I'm at 64% toward my goal.
That is definitely a WooHoo Friday/Saturday! '
I'm so incredibly happy for you - you're doing an awesome job. I hope you're doing something special to celebrate being down 40 lbs earlier than expected!
All of those techniques really help, but honestly, sometimes it is STILL really hard. But I've also learned that some things, as LOVELY as they look, just AREN'T worth the calories! Store bought cakes and pies.... not so much. Ice cream.... nothing special. Chips and dip... again, nothing special. Tortilla chips and salsa.... I can have that any time. Most basic white carbs (mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, etc).... nothing exciting there.
If I am going to splurge at a party or holiday, I want it to be SPECIAL.... like the lemon meringue pie that my aunt makes just once or twice a year (usually Thanksgiving, sometimes Easter too!). She knows I LOVE it and I truly savor every bite.... and sometimes I have TWO slices if there is any left! SO WORTH EVERY SINGLE CALORIE!
It's awesome that you have strategies to deal with parties and you've found a way to make parties and events work for you!
But everyone has things that tempt them ... but I love your attitude - if you're going to eat it, it better be worth the calories!
GOOD NEWS.... the scale FINALLY made a move in the right direction! I am feeling a huge sense of RELIEF! Now to keep it moving!! I just bought a dress for DS's graduation in June and while it looked pretty good yesterday when I tried it on at the consignment store (I was having a "fat" day plus I had a full bladder), it is BELTED!
As a former heavy girl I NEVER got back into the habit of wearing belts.... I don't even OWN a belt! So this is really a stretch for me!! I need to be AT or BELOW my personal goal number (remember, that is 2 pounds lower than my WW number) in order to REALLY feel comfortable in this dress..... so I need to lose about another 2 pounds or more and KEEP it off until June 11 !! I know, I know.... that sounds ridiculously easy to most of you.... but honestly, I will have to work at it!! It is a constant battle between where my body seems to be comfortable and the 5-7 pounds LOWER than that that I want to stay at!!
Yay for the scale finally moving in the right direction!
It will definitely be a process to get to where you want to be to wear that dress, but I know you can put in the hard work and get (and stay) there!
I lost 1 lb this week which puts me at 77% to goal for the month! I have 1.5 left to lose and we have 2 weeks so hopefully that should be no sweat! Last week I did a great job with my points and while I ate some of my fit points this week I feel like it was a great week with a lifestyle I could easily maintain. I feel like I got in the groove! So yay!
Awesome!! It's always amazing when you have a week that feels great and gives you great results on the scale. You're doing amazing!
Checking in briefly - will try to read what I missed later today. I lost 0.6lbs this week, which puts me at a6.5lb loss for the month and at 65% of my goal of 10lbs.
Yay! You're making awesome progress!
Checking in for the week. I am at 80% of my goal. Lost 4/5 lbs. Hopefully I can get over 100% for the month! Have a good weekend everyone!!
You're making awesome progress - I think you'll make it to your goal this month. Yay!
Also! Major NSV today. I'm wearing a zip up sweatshirt that I've had for almost 10 years. I got it when I lost a bunch of weight in junior high.
Awesome! It's always fun when old clothing starts to fit again!
Popping in for what seems to be my bi-weekly 'hi' and 'bye'. I'm sorry to be such a non-participatory flake. Things have unfortunately not become less stressful in my world. Final estimates came in on the costs to fix my flooded house and let's just say I'm really glad my WDW trip next month is already fully paid, including gift cards for all of our meals and shopping money, so no options other than Disney for the money. We are going to take advantage of the destruction and redo both the kitchen and the basement. That will be great but it wasn't supposed to happen for a few years. So sadly the upcoming trip is going to be the last vacation for a while - the December trip to the islands is definitely not happening and I'm not going to make it back to Europe in 2017. In other news, my poor old cat is deteriorating quickly. Her kidney disease is now advanced to stage four and she has gone completely blind. She is comfortable, happy, and gets around quite well if she sticks to the master bedroom but I know our time together is drawing short.
Also, this cat is my one true love and I can't really handle this.
Definitely sounds like it's been rough for you lately
. I hope things turn around soon!
The diet.... oh the poor, poor diet. I've got a V&A reservation in less than six weeks and a gorgeous dress hanging in my closet that I can't zip and can't really afford to replace because of my first world house and cat problems. I could cancel the reservation and probably should but I don't really see that happening since it's already paid for. I do well with my eating for a few days, learn about some fresh new disaster, and then comfort myself with more than a few extra calories. I just don't know how to make it stop. I'm so stressed out that one of my eyes is twitching constantly and I don't think eat right and exercise pressure is helping. On the other hand, neither are ding dongs. I need to win the lottery and use the proceeds to hire a personal chef to present me with something healthy every three hours. The good news is that I'm not gaining weight, I'm just not losing. And it's my own fault <insert emoji for banging had against a wall>.
I think we all need that personal chef sometimes. The important thing is that you're not gaining, and you just have to find a way to work extra hard to make this work. I know you can lose the weight if you work hard at it ... but of course, the working hard part is what's so difficult. Just keeping trying and hopefully it will start to stick, even in the stressful times. The fact that you keep trying despite the stress is an amazing thing.
Thanks. It stinks working full time. We have only been off 1 day and I have spent way too much having fun at the mall. I have managed to stay away from the other box of cookies. I went for a walk yesterday to make sure I got my steps and today after easter shopping u went to the rec. I am I jeans on a treadmill but I didn't have time to run home first. My sister is motivating me too. I am very competitive with her. She has been really over weight for a long time. She has now lost 30 pounds. I am proud of her but I can't let her be better then me. Unhealthy I know but it has pushed me to work out more.
Sometimes competition can be a great motivator!
I have been verythromycin determined since Thursday to get my workouts in. I had to get my easter shopping done or my kids would have nothing in their baskets. I didn't have time to run home and change and get to the rec after shopping so I am here now. I am in jeans on a treadmill but I am here. Reading the boards while I work is making this so much easier and makes it go faster. I got my steps in yesterday and really trying to get them today. It is too cold to be outside and walk today so I am really hoping to get them in before the closes.
Cold weather is not fun. I hope you got your steps in!
I just have to be kinder to myself and remember as a solo mum I need some recharge time
Yes. This. Taking time for yourself will make you a better mother, because if you take care of yourself, you will be less stressed and can take better care of your kids. It's awesome that you take such good care of your kids, but it's important to put yourself first sometimes!
Quick weekend check in. 4.5k today making this months total 45.9/60k =76% for this month. I am thinking I should have made it higher but didn't count my walking days which I should have. Will reach my goal by next Friday but will keep adding to it.
Awesome job! And it's never a bad thing to go above your goal!
The scale and I are not friends though! I have gained weight
- whilst I am doing better with breakfasts and I have added activity to my life. I still have a long way to go - I have fallen down with lunches lately, not being organised and having them ready to take to work with me and fallen into old habits there.
Everyone has rough points. You're moving in the right direction with breakfasts, and you know that you need to work on lunch, which is a good thing. Sometimes you just need to take things one step at a time and accept that things might not always go well.
Happy First Day of SPRING!! And to celebrate, we have snow in the forecast!
But not much.... I won't lament about it too long.
We're in the same situation - first day of spring snow, but nothing too bad.
Breakfast was consumed and my silly belly is STILL growling! I'm going to have ANOTHER serving of fruit to see if I can hold off the hungry horrors until lunch time. Breakfast was a tiny bit larger than usual, so no reason why I should still be hungry! Did NOT go with grits and greens as I mentioned as a possibility yesterday....just wasn't feeling the "savory" today. Instead had a huge portion of Hungry Girls "growing oatmeal".... LOVE that recipe! Stirred in a tablespoon of raw wheat bran and topped with just ONE finely diced dried apricot (they are 1 SP each!!) for something special.
Sounds like a yummy breakfast ... I hope the fruit was able to hold you over until lunch! Sometimes a piece of fruit at exactly the right time fixes everything!
Super frustrated by the number on the scale this weekend. It's the highest number I've seen since last summer. 0% for my reporting this week. UGH.
I'm sorry to hear this. I definitely get why you're frustrated ... but keep working hard and hopefully things will start moving in the right direction soon!
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So ... me.
After having my highest weigh-in in about two years last week, I'm down a drop this week, which is nice. And I've mostly been getting my exercise in. But I'm still eating too much. I start off great, but then I eat junk all afternoon. I really need to work on it.
I had a decent run this morning. I keep scheduling my long runs during the wrong time of the month (it's easier because of some other scheduling issues), but once I let myself take it easy a bit, I was able to have a really nice experience. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of my outfit because, well, mornings ... so I'll have to just make myself have another awesome run for this week's challenge.
The downside of my run is that it's cold out and my throat hurts from breathing cold air (I know I should cover my mouth when I run in the cold, but having something on my face bugs me). I may have some tea in a little bit to see if that helps, but if it doesn't ... it's gonna be a frustrating day.
Okay, I'll be back in a few with today's "Summing it Up Sunday"!
- Seems like we all could benefit from a group hug - it sure has been a rough month for many of us for all different reasons. I am grateful to be part of this group - I think it adds to whatever in person support people we have in our lives. 
prayers and good wishes for all those who need it this week for whatever your challenge may be.
