Marching Our Way to a Healthy Lifestyle ~ March 2016 WISH Challenge

[SarahDisney]

After trying on every shoe in the store (top part of pic), I ended up choosing these beauties for my next pair of running shoes.

Asics Gel Kayano 22. The orange laces aren't standard - I needed longer laces and that's all that was in stock. It provides charm

Yay!!
I ran in Asics for a while (I'm wearing something else right now, but will probably go back to Asics for my next pair). They're awesome!

 

[SarahDisney]

Question of the Day – Tuesday, March 22nd:

At over 54 feet long (and 18 feet tall), Mack is the largest vehicle in the parade. Mack’s design features a 3D display that creates exceptional depth of image.

In addition to being technologically advanced and visually amazing, Mack serves as Lightning McQueen’s biggest support system – someone without whom Lightning would not be able to get from race to race.

Since we’ve already discussed supporting others over the course of the month, let’s talk about the awesome support system we all have here on this thread. One of the amazing things about having these challenges every month is that is allows an awesome group of people to get together, share our successes and missteps, and help support each other as much as we can. We also share information, recipes, and tips, and I know that I, personally, have learned a lot from many members of these threads.

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?​

 

[SarahDisney]

Good morning, all! Just checking in quickly to answer the QOTD before I head out for my morning run.
I figure ... I make up these questions, I should probably answer them, right? (I usually do answer them, just ... really late in the day. I'm trying something new today and answering early)

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?

I've gotten some good meal planning and recipe tips on here, all of which have been great, but I think the one things that has helped me the most is learning that everyone else struggles.
We've all seen the success stories of people who got it all right on the first try (or at least didn't talk about when things went wrong). For me, I fail more than I succeed in many things, including trying to be healthier, and sometimes I feel like I'm the only one. Coming on here and reading about the difficulties that others are encountering, and how they can still be successful, makes me feel a little better about failing sometimes.
I know that sounds a little negative ... but it's the truth. It makes me feel better to know that we all fail sometimes, because then I know that I can pick myself up and try again like so many other people here have.

As for tips ... I don't remember if I've said this before, but I'm a big believer in do what's right for you. We can all share what has worked for us, but it's up to each individual person to figure out what's best for them - and don't ever let anyone pressure you into doing it their way. The best way to make these habits stick is to find the way that works for you, even if that's radically different from all of the advice that you've been given.

Okay, off to get ready for my run. Have a great day, everyone!

 

[pjlla]

Hi friends!! I had a bunch of quotes ready to reply to last night, but between my evening shift last night plus DWTS and then getting out the door for work this morning, those replies are not going to be happening.... not today at least! Look for me to (hopefully) return tomorrow with time to chat! I've got just 10 minutes left now and will try to answer the QOTD before I must dash....................P

 

[pjlla]

Question of the Day – Tuesday, March 22nd:


At over 54 feet long (and 18 feet tall), Mack is the largest vehicle in the parade. Mack’s design features a 3D display that creates exceptional depth of image.

In addition to being technologically advanced and visually amazing, Mack serves as Lightning McQueen’s biggest support system – someone without whom Lightning would not be able to get from race to race.

Since we’ve already discussed supporting others over the course of the month, let’s talk about the awesome support system we all have here on this thread. One of the amazing things about having these challenges every month is that is allows an awesome group of people to get together, share our successes and missteps, and help support each other as much as we can. We also share information, recipes, and tips, and I know that I, personally, have learned a lot from many members of these threads.

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?​

For me, it is just the actual act of PARTICIPATING that helps! When I was doing WW online and did not go to meetings and got NO support here at home (kids were young and DH was not even CONTEMPLATING a healthier lifestyle), this group SAVED ME! This was my DAILY support group....my WW friends and leaders all rolled into one! My cheerleaders, my consolers, my friends... you name it!

I have learned that when I find myself NOT participating, not finding the time to at least pop on and report in, those are the times that my eating is probably not what is should be .... they go hand in hand!

No great tip today other than NEVER GIVE UP!! We used to tell each other that (here in these groups) all the time! And as BASIC as it is, it bears repeating!! Never, Ever, EVER give up!.................P

 

[Oneanne]

My current favorite pair of shoes to walk in... I really like the new generation of Nikes, that are ultra-light yet have just enough support.

 

[Oneanne]

Question of the Day – Tuesday, March 22nd:

At over 54 feet long (and 18 feet tall), Mack is the largest vehicle in the parade. Mack’s design features a 3D display that creates exceptional depth of image.

In addition to being technologically advanced and visually amazing, Mack serves as Lightning McQueen’s biggest support system – someone without whom Lightning would not be able to get from race to race.

Since we’ve already discussed supporting others over the course of the month, let’s talk about the awesome support system we all have here on this thread. One of the amazing things about having these challenges every month is that is allows an awesome group of people to get together, share our successes and missteps, and help support each other as much as we can. We also share information, recipes, and tips, and I know that I, personally, have learned a lot from many members of these threads.

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?​

The one thing I've learned or that has helped me... sharing makes a huge difference, talking about things and listening to others with similar struggles really helps to keep things in perspective and checking in daily helps to keep moving along the path.

 

[courtneybeth]

I ran in Asics for a while (I'm wearing something else right now, but will probably go back to Asics for my next pair). They're awesome!

I had Asics for my first pair of running shoes and LOVED them. Felt like I was running on a fluffy cloud and they were amazing. I somehow ended up in an Adidas Supernova Boost 8 and the shoe was terrible. I'm not sure why I went with a shoe from a company most known for manufacturing ugly track suits... but I managed to get about six months and 300 miles out of them before they blew out on mile 6 of my last half marathon. The Asics are size 7.5 wide, which is interesting because my Adidas were 8 normal. I think the guy selling me my shoe at the store tried to compensate for the wide foot by going up a size. The Adidas shoes have never fit me properly

We can all share what has worked for us, but it's up to each individual person to figure out what's best for them - and don't ever let anyone pressure you into doing it their way. The best way to make these habits stick is to find the way that works for you, even if that's radically different from all of the advice that you've been given.

THIS. THIS SO MUCH. We all do what works for us and thankfully no one has ever said "YOU MUST DO IT THIS WAY OR ELSE!!" I love our little thread of positivity and pixie dust!

Look for me to (hopefully) return tomorrow with time to chat!

I hope it's sooner. Your posts are always filled with love and encouragement

My current favorite pair of shoes to walk in... I really like the new generation of Nikes, that are ultra-light yet have just enough support.

The color is gorgeous. Would look great as part of a RunDisney costume

checking in daily helps to keep moving along the path.

This too! I feel like every day checking into the thread is part of my routine. It keeps me on it and held accountable.

 

[courtneybeth]

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?

I think it may have been @DisPup75 or @pjlla that I got this from.... LOG EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH - no matter if it's good or bad. This allows us to watch for trends and really see where the hidden calories are not hiding. Having a little something here or there may not seem bad but adding it up over the course of a day can showcase just how bad it really is for you if you've over indulged.

This is the one tip or trick that I think everyone could and should implement into their weight loss and life style change journey. It really showed me just how much I needed to change my eating habits and I will always use it going forward.



Side note: Mac Truck in the Paint the Night parade is impressive in both size and decoration. He looks so much bigger around the tiny scale of the main street buildings and how they drive him through the streets is just amazing. I love him

 

[piglet1979]

Question of the Day – Tuesday, March 22nd:

At over 54 feet long (and 18 feet tall), Mack is the largest vehicle in the parade. Mack’s design features a 3D display that creates exceptional depth of image.

In addition to being technologically advanced and visually amazing, Mack serves as Lightning McQueen’s biggest support system – someone without whom Lightning would not be able to get from race to race.

Since we’ve already discussed supporting others over the course of the month, let’s talk about the awesome support system we all have here on this thread. One of the amazing things about having these challenges every month is that is allows an awesome group of people to get together, share our successes and missteps, and help support each other as much as we can. We also share information, recipes, and tips, and I know that I, personally, have learned a lot from many members of these threads.

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?​

One thing that I learned is it is ok to have an off day. The next day is a new day. Also have a support system helps to keep going.

 

[Mrslissaaa]

MARCHING OUR WAY TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
March 2016 WISH Challenge

Hello and to this month’s WISH Challenge.​

I’m Sarah (also occasionally known as @SarahDisney), and I’ll be your hostess for this month’s challenge. I hope you’ll all join us as we March our way to a healthier lifestyle, using Disney Parades as our guide!​

Congrats to everyone who joined us for the February challenge. I know we all appreciate Wall-E, Eve, and @courtneybeth ’s leadership, and I hope everyone who participated enjoyed that challenge! But February is over, and now it’s time to MARCH into a new month.

This challenge officially starts on March 1st, but if you find us later in the month, we’re still happy to have you join!

Our returning faces know the drill, but for those of you who are new to the WISH Challenge, here’s a short overview of what we’re all about:

WISH stands for “We’re Inspired to Stay Healthy,” and that’s what we’re all about – living a healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re trying to lose some weight, trying to maintain your current weight, or trying to introduce some new healthy habits into your life (or stick to healthy habits you’ve already introduced), we’re here to help and support you.

All you have to do is pick a goal for the month, and report in once a week to let us know how you’re doing. We’ll also have questions of the day, WooHoo Wednesdays, and weekly challenges … and we’re always here to chat, support you when you need some help, and celebrate with you when you’re doing awesome! We’ll have questions of the day to talk about, weekly challenges, and some other fun things going on … but all of that is optional. The only mandatory thing is committing to a healthy lifestyle, and letting us help you along the way!

Some extra details:
Reporting In: Progress updates will be posted every Monday (3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28), as well as a final progress report after the month ends . To be included in the progress update, all you have to do is report your percentage towards your goal, either here on the thread or via private message (just click my name and click “Start Conversation”). For example, if your goal is to lose 4 lbs and you’ve lost 2, just let me know somehow that you’re at 50%, and I’ll include you in the progress report. Many people here weigh-in over the weekend, but if you weigh-in during the week, that’s fine – use your normal weigh-in or reporting day (because not everyone tracks weight as their goal), and I’ll just include it on the next progress update. If you have any questions, feel free to ask – we’re a friendly group and people are always happy to answer your questions.

Question of the Day: Each day Monday through Thursday we’ll have a question of the day posted to spark a discussion and hopefully help you in your healthy journey. Questions can range from sharing your goals to questions intended to make you reflect on your journey and what it means to you. Feel free to answer all of the questions or just the ones that appeal to you most – participation in the QOTDs is totally optional, but we’re happy to read anything you have to say. We’ll also have “Wildcard Weekend” starting on Fridays, which is a random topic of discussion for the weekend … could be health-related, could be Disney … you won’t know until you see it! On Sunday afternoons we’ll have “Summing it Up Sunday,” a way to reflect on our week and reinforce the lessons we’ve learned over the past 7 days.

Weekly Challenges: We’re also introducing something new this month – weekly challenges! Every Friday I’ll post a challenge, and you’ll have until the following Thursday to answer the challenge. Challenges are about sharing with your fellow participants and bringing everyone closer to your favorite parts of living a healthy lifestyle. Challenges will hopefully allow us to share what we are most passionate about and introduce that to our friends in a way that helps them live a healthier lifestyle.

Please, pull up a chair, say hi, and join us for this month's challenge! We hope to have a great time working together to reach our goals!

​

I'm a bit late for March but I just found it. Will there be one in April? If so how do I join? I'm going a cruise in December and I want to be able to getting into some cute Disney Bounding clothes.

 

[JacknSally]

I'm a bit late for March but I just found it. Will there be one in April? If so how do I join? I'm going a cruise in December and I want to be able to getting into some cute Disney Bounding clothes.

I think @pjlla is hosting our April thread. It hasn't been created yet but links will be posted here once it is! Feel free to join us for the rest of March if you'd like! Looking forward to getting to know you and help you on your journey!

 

[courtneybeth]

I'm a bit late for March but I just found it. Will there be one in April?

You're never too late to join us!

And yes, there will be. It should be up around March 31st.

 

[Flossbolna]

I love the Paint the Night pictures!! I have never been a parade person. The only parade that I really ever loved was the Boo to You parade at MNSSHP. I actually truly hated the Main Street Electrical Parade, the music drove me crazy. And it kept following me around. I planned a trip to a different park and what is going on there. MSEP... I was very not excited about PtN before our trip, but my boyfriend loves parades. So, we watched it. And then watched it a second time and a third time and then decided to not go over to DCA for World of Color, but instead see the parade a fourth time - and the spectacular fireworks...

As to the QOTD:

The previous replies have already covered a lot of things that I totally agree with, but the one thing that was kind of a revelation to me that I learned from this thread is meal planning. I remember how I thought the other people on this thread were a bit over the top when I first heard that some were actually drawing up weekly meal plans. But @pjlla kept talking about what a great tool it is to actually plan out your meals. And then last year I finally gave it a try. And it is so fantastic! It eliminates so much stress from my daily life because I know what I am going to eat, that it is on plan, that I don't have to go shopping before I get home trying to figure out what to buy (while I am hungry...). I often can't really buy everything for the whole week, but I try to come by with one big shopping excursion on Saturday. However, one needs to be disciplined and take the time to draw up the plan... Last weekend in Berlin I found something that hopefully will help me with this:



It is a notepad for meal planning!! The title says: This week on the table and then there are the different days of the week. The package had a little sticker saying: It can't be cake for dinner every day! I am very excited about my meal planning stationary! I hope having something cute will help my motivation. As well as the thought that I specifically bought this for a reason.

I also keep all my old meal plans and use them as inspiration for what to make in the next week. I find that often there are recipes that I make a lot for a while and then forget about them. So, looking at old meal plans helps.

On to some replies:

I have learned that when I find myself NOT participating, not finding the time to at least pop on and report in, those are the times that my eating is probably not what is should be .... they go hand in hand![/QUOTE

Oh, YES!!! That is exactly what is happening to me right now...

View attachment 157634
My current favorite pair of shoes to walk in... I really like the new generation of Nikes, that are ultra-light yet have just enough support.

Those shoes look great!

I'm not sure why I went with a shoe from a company most known for manufacturing ugly track suits...

Don't say nasty things about Adidas! They are our local pride!!! Yes, Adidas and Puma are both in a small town about 30 minutes drive from here. They were actually founded by two brothers who originally owned a sport shoe company together and then fell out and founded competing businesses.

But I have never found an Adidas shoe that fit me, so I do understand your issues. I wish I could get wide shoes here in Germany, but somehow the German shoe market still believes that all feet are equal when it comes to width. And my feet definitely are less equal than others...

I'm a bit late for March but I just found it. Will there be one in April? If so how do I join? I'm going a cruise in December and I want to be able to getting into some cute Disney Bounding clothes.

We are happy to have you! And you join by posting here, it is that easy! Where are you cruising and with which line? I have become a big cruise fan since my first one in 2013. So far, I have only cruised with Disney, but I am keeping a close eye on the cruises Princess and NCL are offering in Europe (I live in Germany, so far more convenient to sail out of Rome than out of Port Canaveral for me).

 

[dsnyfn1022]

I'm here! Goodness gracious. I don't even know if I posted my weigh in for the weekend. I honestly can't remember.

I officially signed up for the FroYo run! I'm a nutty planner person and already have my training calendars planned out for like the rest of the year and I saw that that weekend I was actually supposed to run 7 miles for my long run. So 10k it is! I looked at the race course and it should be moderate but not terrible. I wanted to get another 10k under my belt before the challenge in September.

I'm so sorry that I've been absent you guys! This week things have quieted down again. I still haven't heard about that job but we're getting close to the end of the month and I know they were wanting to have a decision made by then at the very least. So hopefully starting tomorrow I'll be a good little disboarder and be back

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?

This thread has helped me realize a couple things. A) You're not alone. No matter what weird/crazy/quirky thing you do, there's someone else out there who does it too (ahem...weighing naked first thing in the morning). And there are peopel here to support you in all your weird crazy quirkiness. B) This journey is never over. It's so great to have seasoned WISH people who have been living this lifestyle for a while now to help those of us who are still new to it along. I love the variety and that we aren't all in the same place in our journey.

My tip is that you can't just focus on how you look on the outside but how you feel on the inside too. Everyone knows it's as much of a mental game as it is a physical one. But for me, I have had a healthier outlook of "Okay, this weekend I ate like crap so I probably won't lose any weight. But that doesn't mean that this week is a wash and I can eat whatever I want. And I'm not less of a person because I chose to eat 10 tons of queso." It's all about recognizing that you're a human!

 

[ski_mom]

Two years is a long time to train and it can definitely be done!

There's great programs for your phone that will get you trained and ready for various lengths of race. Active.com has a great Couch25k app - where it takes a non-runner to a runner of a 5K in 9 weeks. Then you can graduate to Bridge to 10K and then off to the half marathon program. I believe all are sold as a package deal on the app store and worth the investment because it'll come on as a 'voice' over your normal music when used to say "RUN NOW" or "WALK NOW."

To hold her accountable, sign up for some local 5K fun runs. This way she can see if she likes running and can handle the mental and physical aspects before signing up for a Disney race. A Rock n Roll Half Marathon would be good a year from now because they're a bit more lenient on time and how they handle 'slow runners' -- sag wagons take you further up the course and not off the course like for Disney. You can even do a 5K and half back to back to see if a "challenge' is something that can be accomplished.


Disney races are expensive. Disney races are NOT for everyone - nor should they be considered lightly. They're a high demand product and unfortunately people who have no business signing up for them DO sign up and take away a spot from a qualified runner who got shut out.

With hard work and dedication, a 2 year training program can definitely make this happen!!!

I agree with @courtneybeth - it can definitely be done in that time frame.

I'd say start with a 5K. Have her sign up for a 5K in 2-3 months, and if she does okay with that, she can move on to a 10K program, and then a Half Marathon program.
Doing a 10K before the half is also a good idea for Disney, because it will give her an opportunity to submit a proof of time for a better start corral (the way runDisney half marathons work are that you can submit a 10K (or longer) proof of time, and the better your proof of time is, the earlier you start the race).

Basically ... she just has to start and see what works for her.

Thank you both very much. I'll show her these messages and let her go from there. She's 19 now and past the point of me planning her life our for her (as much as I'd like to sometimes lol)!

I will say I didn't know that they had the time limits on the Disney races though. Over time, she and her friends will be able to figure out if they will be able to cut it. If not, they could always do another series like you suggested or not start with the 1/2. I'm really not sure why they picked such a big race anyway, but they are much more ambitious than me !

_______

As far as weight loss goes, this has been the worst week for me since I started . I'm not sure what's wrong with me... After my weigh in last Wednesday, it's basically been a free-for-all. If there's one good thing, it's not as much of one as it would have been in the past. I got on the scale this morning and by some miracle, I was at the same point I was last Wednesday, but I messed it up again at lunch today. I made a yummy dip for our trivia night we went to this weekend and decided that it just couldn't sit in the refrigerator any longer, so I ate it and a bunch of nacho chips. Why do I do this to myself?? But, I'm going to try to get back on track tonight. And plan for a better week next week.

 

[ski_mom]

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?

I have learned that every day is a new day - I really need to tell myself that right now. I also like how we to the monthly goal on here. Even if you have a bad week, hopefully at least sometime throughout the month, the percentage toward the monthly goal will grow. To me it shows that you may not have a perfect week every week, but even it you've achieved a little of your goal, you're in a better position than you were at the beginning of the month.

My tip to share is something I heard a long time ago: If you look at your life - in this case weight / fitness / whatever you're trying to improve - one year from now, you are not going to be in the exact same place, you'll either be better or worse off than you were a year ago. It's what you do with that year that will determine it.

 

[SarahDisney]

For me, it is just the actual act of PARTICIPATING that helps! When I was doing WW online and did not go to meetings and got NO support here at home (kids were young and DH was not even CONTEMPLATING a healthier lifestyle), this group SAVED ME! This was my DAILY support group....my WW friends and leaders all rolled into one! My cheerleaders, my consolers, my friends... you name it!

I have learned that when I find myself NOT participating, not finding the time to at least pop on and report in, those are the times that my eating is probably not what is should be .... they go hand in hand!

I love this thought. We're such an awesome group, and sometimes just showing up and posting keeps you on track!

No great tip today other than NEVER GIVE UP!! We used to tell each other that (here in these groups) all the time! And as BASIC as it is, it bears repeating!! Never, Ever, EVER give up!.................P

This is the best tip - always important to remember!

View attachment 157634
My current favorite pair of shoes to walk in... I really like the new generation of Nikes, that are ultra-light yet have just enough support.

I love them! Super cute!

The one thing I've learned or that has helped me... sharing makes a huge difference, talking about things and listening to others with similar struggles really helps to keep things in perspective and checking in daily helps to keep moving along the path.

Thanks for sharing this - it's great to hear that being able to check in here and share your struggles with us has helped you!

I had Asics for my first pair of running shoes and LOVED them. Felt like I was running on a fluffy cloud and they were amazing. I somehow ended up in an Adidas Supernova Boost 8 and the shoe was terrible. I'm not sure why I went with a shoe from a company most known for manufacturing ugly track suits... but I managed to get about six months and 300 miles out of them before they blew out on mile 6 of my last half marathon. The Asics are size 7.5 wide, which is interesting because my Adidas were 8 normal. I think the guy selling me my shoe at the store tried to compensate for the wide foot by going up a size. The Adidas shoes have never fit me properly

Ugly track suits ...

I think it may have been @DisPup75 or @pjlla that I got this from.... LOG EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH - no matter if it's good or bad. This allows us to watch for trends and really see where the hidden calories are not hiding. Having a little something here or there may not seem bad but adding it up over the course of a day can showcase just how bad it really is for you if you've over indulged.

This is the one tip or trick that I think everyone could and should implement into their weight loss and life style change journey. It really showed me just how much I needed to change my eating habits and I will always use it going forward.

Thanks for mentioning this!
Personally, I've seen this mentioned a lot here on this thread. I still can't do it. I don't know why. I'll track the first handful of jelly beans, but once I get to the second handful, I won't do it ... even though I know that an extra 7-8 jelly beans won't necessarily kill my day.
So I'm glad you mentioned it ... it's a good reminder for me.

Side note: Mac Truck in the Paint the Night parade is impressive in both size and decoration. He looks so much bigger around the tiny scale of the main street buildings and how they drive him through the streets is just amazing. I love him

I watched a few minutes of a video and I really liked him. I can't wait to see him in person ... hopefully ... eventually ... maybe.
(Being an adult is the worst. I want to spend all of my money on a trip to Disneyland and not pay bills )

One thing that I learned is it is ok to have an off day. The next day is a new day. Also have a support system helps to keep going.

That is an awesome thing to remember - one off day doesn't mean your next day can't be awesome!

I'm a bit late for March but I just found it. Will there be one in April? If so how do I join? I'm going a cruise in December and I want to be able to getting into some cute Disney Bounding clothes.

You can still join us for the rest of March - we're always happy to have new people join!
There will be an April thread going up at some point next week. Hopefully there will be a link posted towards the end of the month.

The previous replies have already covered a lot of things that I totally agree with, but the one thing that was kind of a revelation to me that I learned from this thread is meal planning. I remember how I thought the other people on this thread were a bit over the top when I first heard that some were actually drawing up weekly meal plans. But @pjlla kept talking about what a great tool it is to actually plan out your meals. And then last year I finally gave it a try. And it is so fantastic! It eliminates so much stress from my daily life because I know what I am going to eat, that it is on plan, that I don't have to go shopping before I get home trying to figure out what to buy (while I am hungry...). I often can't really buy everything for the whole week, but I try to come by with one big shopping excursion on Saturday. However, one needs to be disciplined and take the time to draw up the plan... Last weekend in Berlin I found something that hopefully will help me with this:

Meal planning is definitely one of those things that you don't know how amazing it is until you try it!
And I really love that meal planning notepad - it's super cute!

I officially signed up for the FroYo run! I'm a nutty planner person and already have my training calendars planned out for like the rest of the year and I saw that that weekend I was actually supposed to run 7 miles for my long run. So 10k it is! I looked at the race course and it should be moderate but not terrible. I wanted to get another 10k under my belt before the challenge in September.

Yay for being officially signed up!! The FroYo will taste awesome after that race!

This thread has helped me realize a couple things. A) You're not alone. No matter what weird/crazy/quirky thing you do, there's someone else out there who does it too (ahem...weighing naked first thing in the morning). And there are peopel here to support you in all your weird crazy quirkiness. B) This journey is never over. It's so great to have seasoned WISH people who have been living this lifestyle for a while now to help those of us who are still new to it along. I love the variety and that we aren't all in the same place in our journey.

I love both of these so much!!

My tip is that you can't just focus on how you look on the outside but how you feel on the inside too. Everyone knows it's as much of a mental game as it is a physical one. But for me, I have had a healthier outlook of "Okay, this weekend I ate like crap so I probably won't lose any weight. But that doesn't mean that this week is a wash and I can eat whatever I want. And I'm not less of a person because I chose to eat 10 tons of queso." It's all about recognizing that you're a human!

This is such an important thing to remember - thank you for sharing! Sometimes it's hard to differentiate between "I did something that wasn't great" and "I as a person am not great" ... but it's a really important difference and we all need to remember that we're only human and will make some mistakes, but that doesn't stop us from being awesome!

As far as weight loss goes, this has been the worst week for me since I started . I'm not sure what's wrong with me... After my weigh in last Wednesday, it's basically been a free-for-all. If there's one good thing, it's not as much of one as it would have been in the past. I got on the scale this morning and by some miracle, I was at the same point I was last Wednesday, but I messed it up again at lunch today. I made a yummy dip for our trivia night we went to this weekend and decided that it just couldn't sit in the refrigerator any longer, so I ate it and a bunch of nacho chips. Why do I do this to myself?? But, I'm going to try to get back on track tonight. And plan for a better week next week.

You can (and will) get back on track! Just keep trying to figure out what''s going wrong and get things back on track a little bit at a time.

I have learned that every day is a new day - I really need to tell myself that right now. I also like how we to the monthly goal on here. Even if you have a bad week, hopefully at least sometime throughout the month, the percentage toward the monthly goal will grow. To me it shows that you may not have a perfect week every week, but even it you've achieved a little of your goal, you're in a better position than you were at the beginning of the month.

I love this. When I first started making monthly goals, it was usually 1 lb per weigh-in - so if I had 4 weigh-ins, my goal was 4 lbs. I've since changed that to one less pound ... so that if I have one bad week, it won't stop me from reaching my goal. One week can always be an anomaly, but you'll have a chance to make it up over the course of the month.

My tip to share is something I heard a long time ago: If you look at your life - in this case weight / fitness / whatever you're trying to improve - one year from now, you are not going to be in the exact same place, you'll either be better or worse off than you were a year ago. It's what you do with that year that will determine it.

Thank you for sharing this - so important to remember that only we can determine what next year will be like!

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Hey guys.
After my run this morning, I went into the city with my sister and my computer to get some work done ... but the wifi at the coffee shop wasn't working. That should have been a sign that today was not going to go well. We bought some jelly beans at the 99 cent store (which was the plan ... we like them as a running snack and we're almost out), and then I proceeded to eat about 3 handfuls between lunch and dinner.
I'm also feeling a little crappy because I had a bit of a fight with my mom ... thankfully we're all good now, but it feels like tonight is a night where I might eat my feelings a bit.

Oh well, tomorrow is a new day. It's a religious fast day for me, so at least I know I won't be eating too much all day long. My religious fast days generally start a little before sunrise and end when it gets dark out (I can't remember what time it ends tomorrow ... I think somewhere between 7 and 8), so my biggest challenge is to not overeat once I can eat again. Apparently I can sometimes 800-900 calories in between 8 pm and bedtime ... my goal for tomorrow is to be in the 500-600 calorie range. We'll see if I can do that.
I'll probably sleep in a little in the morning, so tomorrow's QOTD may be a little late - but feel free to start the WooHoos before I wake up!

 

[courtneybeth]

I officially signed up for the FroYo run! I'm a nutty planner person and already have my training calendars planned out for like the rest of the year and I saw that that weekend I was actually supposed to run 7 miles for my long run. So 10k it is! I looked at the race course and it should be moderate but not terrible. I wanted to get another 10k under my belt before the challenge in September.

YEAH! GET THAT SPOON MEDAL! I hope your course is flat and fast so you can get to that frozen yogurt quickly!

 

[4Mickeys]

What is one thing (or more) you have learned from participating in these threads that has truly helped you in your healthy journey?
Do you have a tip that you may not have shared yet that you want to share to help us on our journeys?

Loving everyone's thoughtful answers. I learnt about MFP which is helping give me insight into what I eat and the 'cost' of some of my choices - I mean I knew that I was off track but felt for the majority of the time I was eating fairly healthy - but this has helped me really see why those kg's just kept creeping up. As someone who has always been super cautious about the idea of internet chatting/social media I have learned that there are some wonderfully kind and supportive people out here. I have found it helps to have people to share with about trying to get healthier that are not in my immediate circle - you know how sometimes you tell those close to you that you are planning losing weight and then you feel that they are watching everything you eat or do?

(Being an adult is the worst. I want to spend all of my money on a trip to Disneyland and not pay bills )

too funny - I want to do this as well.

I am going to start off the Woohoo Wednesdays early - well its not really for me its already Wednesday night here.
I only have one more day of work and then I have 2 weeks off with the kids for Easter Break
I met with my daughter's math teacher this morning - and feel like we have a plan to help her improve (hopefully)