A YOU Worth Fighting For | January 2016 Weight Loss & Better Living Challenge

[DisPup75]

I am inherently lazy so I will need some super motivation to get off my butt and get those steps in!

Me too! I love my Fitbit because it tells me EXACTLY how lazy I am if I give in to my inner sloth monster.

Part 1 Jan goal:
lose 4 lbs and post an NSV with each check in.

I would love to lose just 4 lbs this month because that would get me under 200! I've been flirting with getting there since thanksgiving but the holidays prevented me from losing a lot of weight. I'm very happy with the outcome but now that January is here I'm ready to see some major headway. Also, I love NSVs because they keep me mentally healthy during this journey.

Plan- I will be following WW for another month. I also have a training plan that I started last week for running. It's actually a 5k intermediate Hal Higdon plan but it bumps up the mileage quite a bit so I'm thinking that increasing my workouts by quite a bit will really bump up the weight loss.

Speed bumps- hunger. Ever since I started this new WW plan with smart points I've been starving. So I'm going to have to find new ways to attack the hunger because the late night snacks are killer.

Goals for 2016:

I have a couple. I would like to reach my initial goal weight of 170 by October. That's 35 lbs in between now and then which I definitely think is doable. I say this is my initial goal weight because I'm not sure where exactly I want to land on the scale. I just want a sustainable weight so that might be more or less.

I would also like to read 50 books this year. I love reading and writing and I like to think of myself as a binge reader. So I'll read like 5 books in 2 weeks and then stop reading for a period of time. But I love reading and want to do it more consistently. So 50 books this year for me!

Four pounds it TOTALLY doable. And seeing that scale change to a 199 number is the greatest feeling ever! We will cheer you on the whole way!

Question - what are some of your favorite/go-to healthy SNACKS? I can find healthy meals all day but snacks always elude me. We don't like nuts which seems to cancel out 95% of the snack ideas I've found online, haha.

I'm actually trying to eat bigger meals (and a LOT) more protein in an attempt to avoid snacks. That said, my favorite healthy snacks are clementines, apples, pears, and part-skim string cheese. I'm a huge fan of guacamole (frankly I live for guacamole), hummus, and salsa but I still prefer chips as dippers so I've mainly been avoiding these until I can convince myself that it is OK to just have veggie dippers. If I need something "snackier" I usually go for popcorn (I oil pop and add salt and Parmesan cheese but try to avoid additional butter, OK in terms of calories and points if I remember moderation) or either Kind or Kashi bars (fine calorically but their new SmartPoint cost makes me want to cry).

My name is Sabrina and this my first time joining a W.I.S.H forum. Since returning home from Disney back in September I quit exercising and eating healthier. Enough is enough and today I am getting back on the right track. Before September while I was getting ready for Disney I was using MFP and riding my stationary bike 45 minutes at least 4 times per week.

Today I stepped on the scale and weighed 210 pounds. That was hard to type. From this point on that number is only allowed to get smaller!

Part 1
Goal - Lose 8 pounds. I really want to get back under the 200.
Plan - Use MFP, exercise 3x weekly, increase water intake, make better choices.

Part 2
Goal - goal weight 180, that could change.
Lose weight! Get healthy! Stay committed!

You can sign me up to do April! I'm gonna man up and volunteer.

Welcome! Woohoo on facing the scale!! It gets better from here.

Hello, I'm Megan, and I'm super excited to join you all for this month's challenge! I've done the challenge for the past few months, and they have been great! I am 26 years old and live in Wisconsin, very close to Minneapolis/St Paul.

Part 1: My goal this month is to lose 5 pounds. I plan on doing this by increasing my physical activity consistently, not drinking any soda, and decreasing the amount of sweets I eat. My big speed bump is that it is cold outside and I don't like the cold!

Part 2: My weight-loss goal for the year is to get down to a size 16. My other goals include decluttering my life in general, saving money, and keeping my apartment clean (it has a tendency to get out of hand quickly).

Great goals! Decluttering and cleaning count as physical activity in my book!

Part 1: Goal for the month

• MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN!
• I'm used to losing, so it seems weird to just see the number on the scale not move. As long as I am between 148-150 I will consider that as 100% of my goal. If I am +1 or -1 of that number or more, I'll be at 0% of my goal.

Part 2: Goal for the Year

• I have copious amounts of free time, so my goal is to cook 1 meal per week and try something new. I burn water, so this really will get me out of my comfort zone.

I'm on the quest to find two dresses this weekend: Graduation and Victoria and Albert's. I know I still have five months to go, but ... it's time!

The secret to boiling water without burning it is to put the burner at just slightly under high heat.

SAME. OMG SAME. Have you figured out what style/type of dress you want to wear for your V&A reservation? I am going on the search for ballgowns starting tomorrow. After I did my wardrobe replacement at Nordstrom, I was gifted with $330 in rewards credits, going to be used for the graduation dress and now the V&A dress too

It's the finest dining restaurant in all of WDW. I've seen fancy cocktail dresses to more dressy attire. B wants to go in a fancy suit and I'm thinking some sort of floor length formal gown will suffice. Nothing like Belle or Ariel wears on a daily basis, but something pretty you'd wear to a formal event. To me the place seems too elegant to show any leg.

I'm really not sure. Our current reservation is unfortunately the 5:15 seating on our arrival day which means the dress has to be OK in a carry-on I'm hoping to change it to the later seating (and preferably later in the week) but assuming this is the one that sticks, we are looking at an all daylight dinner after an early morning flight (that will not be delayed!!!) and at least a few hours in a theme park. I've got a decent shot at hitting a healthy weight but no chance of goal before April (sadly my frame is one that really needs to be in the lower half of BMI) so this may be a wear one time dress rather than an investment piece.

I'm also OK with a bit of leg. I don't look good in floor length unless the skirt has some width and a full-skirted ball gown just seems way overdone, even for V&A. I also don't want to look mother-of-the-brideish so tea/ankle length is probably out. At the moment, I'm thinking this may be the occasion to channel my inner Betty Draper and go vintage cocktail, which would work for DH because he could wear his favorite suit rather than his hated fancy suit or his really hated tux.

I really wish I could try stuff on now but I've got no idea what size I'll be and my actual shape seems to be changing every day so I don't even know what style will be right for me. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure that 5 of the already lost pounds are from my hips, 3 from my stomach, and the remaining 15 from my boobs. LOL.

AHHHHH YOU HAVE SPENT THE ENTIRE YEAR IN ONEDERLAND!!! WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING!!!

Congratulations to you on your new job, and best wishes to you on Monday!! Are you excited?? Nervous?

Your V&A predicament is so funny! I can see my DH doing the same thing. The food is so good, though (so I've heard, never eaten there myself!) - surely he can give you a couple of hours full of yummy food. Tell him he can ride his favorite a 2nd time if he clears his plate without whining.

I hadn't thought about The entire year in Onderland. Yay!!!!

I've started edging into V&A with DH by telling him I was looking for reservations. He immediately started protesting. I think the exact words were "I'm not wearing a suit at a theme park. If you really need another tasting menu, why can't we just go back to one of the 97 restaurants here that have one?". He always enjoys the places once we are there so it will be fine. I'm just going to wait a bit longer to tell him that looking for reservations actually means I'm looking for better reservations. Which he should already know since we've been married for nine million years.

Oh, totally excited about starting new job! The terror will set in tomorrow afternoon. Not looking forward to the alarm though!! I've liked my month off!!!

Hey, friends! We survived Walmart & Kroger with only a few scrapes and bruises, haha. I picked up some popcorn, grapes, apples, and bananas to snack on... I'll make up some almond butter this weekend, hardboil a few eggs for the week, and mix up some tuna, too, for lunches. Since I'm home all day at the moment, I had to tweak my shopping a little - I don't have to think in terms of "will this fit in my lunchbox", "can I eat this at my desk without making a mess or a ton of noise", "I won't be able to heat this up", "I need to keep this refrigerated until I eat it", etc. - which I didn't even think about until we were in the store! I also need to re-learn that it's ok to snack throughout the day - I've fallen back into old bad habits of NOT eating all day and then gorging at dinner time. January definitely won't be an easy month for me and my weight loss, but I'm ready!

This weekend I need to make a point to go through MFP and log all of my food. For today I'm just picking things that are loaded already so I can have something on the books - for example, we had a serving of DFIL's home made lasagna for lunch, but I'm not sure exactly what was in it, so I went through all of the "lasagna" that is already loaded into MFP and picked one that seemed reasonable. Not at all accurate, I know, but better than nothing, and I need to train myself to stop and log my foods again - I've been out of that habit for months now.

I think logging a reasonable one is great! I think the habit of tracking and the way it increases awareness of what you are eating gets you much of the way there. Obviously, the more accurate you can be the better, but reasonable is tons better than I don't know so I'm just going to pretend I didn't eat it (or that the lasagna with 3 pounds of cheese was really equivalent to the lean cuisine frozen lasagne).

My goal for now: Weight loss. I don't care as long as the number is going down. I'm building muscle along the way (seriously when did my calves become rocks?) so the weight loss number might not be as high but the body change will be. I'd like to lose some inches and start to notice a real difference in my pants by the end of the month.

Speed bumps: Honestly my head is in it, so the weather. January in Mass is cold and icy and there is snow/slush around. I have to keep it from killing my motivation to train because I like to train outside.

My Goal for the year: Um... get through it. I'm one of those awful people that don't think far into the future. I have race goals. I want to run the three 10k races that I failed last year and a few other half marathons and a 10 miler. I want a promotion at work, and I just kind of want to live happy and healthy. Every single day doesn't need to be amazing that's not realistic but I want to look back and think that it was a good year.



Phew that was not my plan. I'm now intimidated though*. I need to come up with some amazing stuff now to motivate and support!

*Edited because I don't know my months...

Getting through the year is a perfect goal!

Hi everyone! I'm in again for January, after totally failing to keep up here in December.

I'm looking into some diet changes for the new year - namely, trying a little lower carb here and there. Cutting them out completely doesn't work, but I tend to lean on sandwiches, pasta, etc. for cheap and easy food when I know I need more veggies, protein, and other deliciousness in my life!

I'm also starting Couch to 5k for like the third time. I'm on week 4 currently (I think - my schedule got super off over the holidays) and am actually enjoying it. Not totally sure I'll run any races, but it's a good and quick workout that is pretty simple. The rest of the time I do a lot of walking

I'm still tracking on Loseit, which is a great help as well.

In general, I would love to eventually be in the 120 lb range - I'm only 5'2", so that would be a pretty healthy weight for me I believe. I'm currently at 144, so I definitely have a bit to go! I'm interested in doing this for my health (got told my cholesterol was super high recently, so that's an issue in addition to family history of diabetes, etc.) and also so that I look better in pictures I would love to get my husband involved, but he tends to talk about losing weight and is not as great at followthrough. I love him just the same, though!

On with the goals:

Part 1: Goal for the month

I'm going to start the year off easy - 2 lb is my goal. We've got a Disney trip at the very end of the month (literally the last weekend) where we're eating at Cape May Also, I'm not actually sure I'll have a scale at Disney, so I may have to weigh in before/after. I'm hopeful that my new eating efforts and exercise will result in more lost, but I don't want to push too hard and end up giving up. Any progress is good progress!

Part 2: Goal for the Year

• I don't really have one so far - I mostly just want to enjoy a year of staying in the same place and not having a wedding and a move to plan My husband and I got married in July and moved to a different state (and moved in together for the first time) in August - so I'm still so happy to not be that frantic I'd love to cook a new recipe a week, but I think that might be a stretch once work starts up again. I'll think on a year-long goal

Welcome back!

 

[JacknSally]

My goal for now: Weight loss. I don't care as long as the number is going down. I'm building muscle along the way (seriously when did my calves become rocks?) so the weight loss number might not be as high but the body change will be. I'd like to lose some inches and start to notice a real difference in my pants by the end of the month.

Speed bumps: Honestly my head is in it, so the weather. January in Mass is cold and icy and there is snow/slush around. I have to keep it from killing my motivation to train because I like to train outside.

My Goal for the year: Um... get through it. I'm one of those awful people that don't think far into the future. I have race goals. I want to run the three 10k races that I failed last year and a few other half marathons and a 10 miler. I want a promotion at work, and I just kind of want to live happy and healthy. Every single day doesn't need to be amazing that's not realistic but I want to look back and think that it was a good year.



Phew that was not my plan. I'm now intimidated though*. I need to come up with some amazing stuff now to motivate and support!

*Edited because I don't know my months...

OK - The calf thing! No matter how much weight I put on, my calves have been rocks since I did marching band/color guard in high school. Do you find it absolutely impossible to find boots?! You might not wear boots, so maybe not, haha. But I have the hardest time finding boots that will go over my calves. Thankfully Payless has started carrying some wide width/wide calf boots that aren't bad at all, but man, for a while there it was slim pickings, and I am all about boots in the fall/winter.

Tonight's run was... a good learning experience.

Apparently you have to replace sports bras when you lose weight too. Otherwise.. ouch!

Oh, no!! I'm sorry! That sounds incredibly unpleasant - and now you have to go bra shopping again on top of it!

Hi everyone! I'm in again for January, after totally failing to keep up here in December.

I'm looking into some diet changes for the new year - namely, trying a little lower carb here and there. Cutting them out completely doesn't work, but I tend to lean on sandwiches, pasta, etc. for cheap and easy food when I know I need more veggies, protein, and other deliciousness in my life!

I'm also starting Couch to 5k for like the third time. I'm on week 4 currently (I think - my schedule got super off over the holidays) and am actually enjoying it. Not totally sure I'll run any races, but it's a good and quick workout that is pretty simple. The rest of the time I do a lot of walking

I'm still tracking on Loseit, which is a great help as well.

In general, I would love to eventually be in the 120 lb range - I'm only 5'2", so that would be a pretty healthy weight for me I believe. I'm currently at 144, so I definitely have a bit to go! I'm interested in doing this for my health (got told my cholesterol was super high recently, so that's an issue in addition to family history of diabetes, etc.) and also so that I look better in pictures I would love to get my husband involved, but he tends to talk about losing weight and is not as great at followthrough. I love him just the same, though!

On with the goals:

Part 1: Goal for the month

I'm going to start the year off easy - 2 lb is my goal. We've got a Disney trip at the very end of the month (literally the last weekend) where we're eating at Cape May Also, I'm not actually sure I'll have a scale at Disney, so I may have to weigh in before/after. I'm hopeful that my new eating efforts and exercise will result in more lost, but I don't want to push too hard and end up giving up. Any progress is good progress!

Part 2: Goal for the Year

• I don't really have one so far - I mostly just want to enjoy a year of staying in the same place and not having a wedding and a move to plan My husband and I got married in July and moved to a different state (and moved in together for the first time) in August - so I'm still so happy to not be that frantic I'd love to cook a new recipe a week, but I think that might be a stretch once work starts up again. I'll think on a year-long goal

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!! Good luck to you on your goals this month - they are completely achievable and I am looking forward to cheering you on the whole way! Love the C25K program - I've tried it a couple of times but both times it almost killed me, haha - but I love the concept. Were you a walker/runner beforehand? I'm hoping that if I spend this month walking regularly, I can start C25K in February and have more success with it.

I have a special weight loss charm bracelet that I've been updating as my journey progresses. I don't wear it (it is really pretty hideous) but it usually lives in my bag. If I'm having an eating attack and I remember it, taking it out almost immediately gets me back on track. The bracelet itself is a child's ID bracelet with my starting weight and date engraved on the name plate. The "charms" are laser engraved pet tags that I've been special ordering off of an Internet site for milestones (5 pounds lost, 5%, moving to overweight BMI, Onederland, etc.). I have the guy engrave the event on the front (stars for weight milestones and ovals for other things) and the new weight/date on the back I just realized that it is time to order 10%!! I'd take a photo but I'm at my parent's cabin and it is unfortunately at home.

I would LOVE to see pictures when you get home! It sounds so cute, honestly! I LOVE this idea!

I'm actually trying to eat bigger meals (and a LOT) more protein in an attempt to avoid snacks. That said, my favorite healthy snacks are clementines, apples, pears, and part-skim string cheese. I'm a huge fan of guacamole (frankly I live for guacamole), hummus, and salsa but I still prefer chips as dippers so I've mainly been avoiding these until I can convince myself that it is OK to just have veggie dippers. If I need something "snackier" I usually go for popcorn (I oil pop and add salt and Parmesan cheese but try to avoid additional butter, OK in terms of calories and points if I remember moderation) or either Kind or Kashi bars (fine calorically but their new SmartPoint cost makes me want to cry).

I love, love, love protein, but I found that, for me at least, I get hungry more often when my diet is heavily protein. ALSO, I recommend some sort of fiber supplement, at least in the beginning, if you're increasing your protein intake pretty substantially.

I'm really not sure. Our current reservation is unfortunately the 5:15 seating on our arrival day which means the dress has to be OK in a carry-on I'm hoping to change it to the later seating (and preferably later in the week) but assuming this is the one that sticks, we are looking at an all daylight dinner after an early morning flight (that will not be delayed!!!) and at least a few hours in a theme park. I've got a decent shot at hitting a healthy weight but no chance of goal before April (sadly my frame is one that really needs to be in the lower half of BMI) so this may be a wear one time dress rather than an investment piece.

I'm also OK with a bit of leg. I don't look good in floor length unless the skirt has some width and a full-skirted ball gown just seems way overdone, even for V&A. I also don't want to look mother-of-the-brideish so tea/ankle length is probably out. At the moment, I'm thinking this may be the occasion to channel my inner Betty Draper and go vintage cocktail, which would work for DH because he could wear his favorite suit rather than his hated fancy suit or his really hated tux.

I really wish I could try stuff on now but I've got no idea what size I'll be and my actual shape seems to be changing every day so I don't even know what style will be right for me. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure that 5 of the already lost pounds are from my hips, 3 from my stomach, and the remaining 15 from my boobs. LOL.

Look at ModCloth.com! I love their dresses so much. Also, I usually have good luck finding things on JCPenney's website (not in their store, but that's because the stores here are actually pretty awful) and at New York and Co. A lot of places will have dressy things on sale right now since New Year's is over!

I've started edging into V&A with DH by telling him I was looking for reservations. He immediately started protesting. I think the exact words were "I'm not wearing a suit at a theme park. If you really need another tasting menu, why can't we just go back to one of the 97 restaurants here that have one?". He always enjoys the places once we are there so it will be fine. I'm just going to wait a bit longer to tell him that looking for reservations actually means I'm looking for better reservations. Which he should already know since we've been married for nine million years.

And it's not a lie, because you ARE looking for reservations! ...he just doesn't know you already have one, too Does V&A require a jacket, or could he get away with dress pants and a vest/tie? That's my DH's "fancy dress" of choice. He didn't even wear a jacket in the wedding (at my insistence, much to the dismay and strong, LOUD, disapproval of my DMIL... but we wanted a more casual atmosphere! We got married under a tree for goodness sake!)

 

[j2thomason]

Count me in! I just happened upon this thread and really need the encouragement from my Disboards family! I need to drop about 40 pounds, but will be happy with any weight loss. I need to expertise more, too. I hope joining this group will encourage me and help keep me accountable.

My goal for this week is to excercise at least three times and make a few healthier food choices. I know I have some food challenges this week at work and a family birthday celebration. I'm not sure how often I will be able to post, but I will be following along!

I am jsthomason on my fitness pal.

 

[Treysar]

QOTD for January 1, 2016!

Part 1 - What is your goal just for this month? How will you accomplish that? What speed bumps lie in your path this month?

My goal this month is to go to go to the gym 3x a week. I don't have a # goal because I find that I get obsessed about it and then if I fail, I give up. I learned this about myself this year and it has been so helpful to me!
Speed bump is getting there while the kids are at school and still getting to work and getting stuff done around the house. I need better time management skills.

Part 2 - What is your goal for the entire year?
To learn how to maintain weight loss instead of going up and down. It seems that losing isn't as hard for me as keeping a healthy
Lifestyle after I hit "goal weight".

 

[Treysar]

OK,
Question - what are some of your favorite/go-to healthy SNACKS? I can find healthy meals all day but snacks always elude me. We don't like nuts which seems to cancel out 95% of the snack ideas I've found online, haha.

If I survive our shopping endeavor, I'll be back afterward to catch up on the chatter and check out everyone's January goals!

My snacks are Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, rolled up cold cuts, gum, tea, diet soda, cheese sticks and beef jerky.

 

[courtneybeth]

Do you have a good luck charm (object or person or pet) to help you on your journey?

My husband (who is in my avatar). He is really my biggest cheerleader.

 

[flvy]

OK - The calf thing! No matter how much weight I put on, my calves have been rocks since I did marching band/color guard in high school. Do you find it absolutely impossible to find boots?! You might not wear boots, so maybe not, haha. But I have the hardest time finding boots that will go over my calves. Thankfully Payless has started carrying some wide width/wide calf boots that aren't bad at all, but man, for a while there it was slim pickings, and I am all about boots in the fall/winter.

I gave up on boots and do a lot of ankle booties now. I basically live in sneakers though because I'm boring and really only do work/running. I have flats and lots of sandals for the summer. My winter footwear is woeful.

When were we asked about snacks?! How did I miss that? I'm am the world's most boring snaker because I like veggies. I'll snack on a handful of green beans or baby carrots. My boyfriend actually gets mad when he comes over because I don't have typical snack foods. I'm also not a huge snacker which aided in me gaining. That one huge meal at the end of the day aided in packing the pounds on.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Lots of good conversations I saw in a quick lurk and skim. I'll have to come back later this evening and catch up on reading. Meanwhile I have laundry hang up to do, dishes, meal planning and grocery shopping, Christmas take down etc. I'll be ready to do some Wii Just Dance when my 12 year old daughter gets up to it later.

 

[JacknSally]

I gave up on boots and do a lot of ankle booties now. I basically live in sneakers though because I'm boring and really only do work/running. I have flats and lots of sandals for the summer. My winter footwear is woeful.

When were we asked about snacks?! How did I miss that? I'm am the world's most boring snaker because I like veggies. I'll snack on a handful of green beans or baby carrots. My boyfriend actually gets mad when he comes over because I don't have typical snack foods. I'm also not a huge snacker which aided in me gaining. That one huge meal at the end of the day aided in packing the pounds on.

Haha, it wasn't an official question, no worries! I had to grocery shop yesterday but never know what to get for snacks, so I thought I'd poll the audience!

 

[Treysar]

I gave up on boots and do a lot of ankle booties now. I basically live in sneakers though because I'm boring and really only do work/running. I have flats and lots of sandals for the summer. My winter footwear is woeful.

When were we asked about snacks?! How did I miss that? I'm am the world's most boring snaker because I like veggies. I'll snack on a handful of green beans or baby carrots. My boyfriend actually gets mad when he comes over because I don't have typical snack foods. I'm also not a huge snacker which aided in me gaining. That one huge meal at the end of the day aided in packing the pounds on.

Omg, I played roller hockey and rollerbladed a lot when I was younger and I favored one leg...so I have one giant calf and one normal sized one. Lol. It's so weird looking!

 

[Treysar]

QOTW - January 2 & 3, 2016
Do you have a good luck charm (object or person or pet) to help you on your journey?​

I would say my kids are good luck charms, but they are what motivated me to lose weight. In 2013 my doctor told me I was obese and that once you are in that bracket, your life expectancy is shorter. I have twins with autism who may never be independent, so I HAVE to live long! Right around that time my cousin died of a heart attack at 45 years old. He had 2 young kids. I started to think very differently about taking care of myself after that. It's not like those things make it it easy. They don't. It's a struggle every day. Being a food addict is hard, because with other addictions you can never drink, or use again, but with food you HAVE TO eat. Moderation is so incredibly difficult for me.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Marking my place. I'll be back later!!! I need to read through, but hate reading the DIS on my computer.

 

[araes2102]

QOTW - January 2 & 3, 2016

View attachment 142644
Cri-Kee was included in the movie Mulan because in China, crickets are considered "good luck".

Do you have a good luck charm (object or person or pet) to help you on your journey?​

No, I don't really have a good luck charm. But I think my new Fitbit will be a great asset and motivator! I have a Bodymedia armband which I always used before and LOVED. I only switched because I hated paying the monthly fee for Bodymedia.

 

[araes2102]

I would say my kids are good luck charms, but they are what motivated me to lose weight. In 2013 my doctor told me I was obese and that once you are in that bracket, your life expectancy is shorter. I have twins with autism who may never be independent, so I HAVE to live long! Right around that time my cousin died of a heart attack at 45 years old. He had 2 young kids. I started to think very differently about taking care of myself after that. It's not like those things make it it easy. They don't. It's a struggle every day. Being a food addict is hard, because with other addictions you can never drink, or use again, but with food you HAVE TO eat. Moderation is so incredibly difficult for me.

This would definitely be a wake up call! This is what mu husband always comes back to... he doesn't want to die of a heart attack. I guess I have never really been faced with this and have been relatively healthy outside of my weight but I know this could happen at anytime, no warning so I really need to make these changes now! I agree with you... learning how to have a different relationship with food (instead of cutting them out completely like other substances) is the hardest part!

 

[flvy]

Good morning, beautiful people! Welcome to our first QOTW for 2016! Since weekends are usually so busy for everyone, I'll just post one (fun!) question on Saturdays that will count for both Saturday and Sunday - but by all means, feel free to chat away all weekend long!

QOTW - January 2 & 3, 2016

View attachment 142644
Cri-Kee was included in the movie Mulan because in China, crickets are considered "good luck".

Do you have a good luck charm (object or person or pet) to help you on your journey?​

I don't have any kind of good luck, I'm pretty much all bad luck. However I have a friend that's very into mystical things and on a whim she got me a fossilized deer bone as part of my Christmas gift. Turns out it ends up aiding in a few key things for me (releasing mental obsessions) and running (Normalises cell metabolism, energy output, heartbeat and fortifies the heart). I'm also trying to start visualizing more when I run and I think a deer is great for visualization. So I stuck it in my running pouch and it lives there now. I guess it all sounds silly, but I swear my runs have been better.

Omg, I played roller hockey and rollerbladed a lot when I was younger and I favored one leg...so I have one giant calf and one normal sized one. Lol. It's so weird looking!

I'm sure it's something only you really notice. Though I enjoy that it gave me a fun hulk/Popeye mental visual haha.

 

[SarahDisney]

Okay, so ... it's January 3rd and I'm already really far behind. So rather than do replies, I'm just going to answer the QOTDs. And not think about how far behind I will be after a week in Orlando (we leave Tuesday afternoon! Ahh!!).

Part 1 - What is your goal just for this month? How will you accomplish that? What speed bumps lie in your path this month?
Part 2 - What is your goal for the entire year?

Part 1 - January 2016
Goal: Lose 3 pounds. I want to get to that elusive 140 mark!

Plan:
1 - Track my meals and snacks on MFP when I am home and able to do so. I know I can't always get on the computer (or phone), and I know it's harder to track when I eat out, so I won't beat myself up when I can't track, but I want to track as much as I can.
2 - Make conscious eating decisions - think about what I will eat before eating instead of just grabbing something.
3 - Find an exercise routine that works. Whether that's restarting my December plan or finding a new exercise plan that works better for me.

Speed Bumps:
1 - Disney trip! Of all the speed bumps to have, it's not a bad one. But still ... I'll be exercising less and not eating quite as well as I like to at home.
2 - Indecisiveness. I don't like to make decisions. That includes deciding what to eat. So it's a lot easier to grab whatever's closest than to decide what to grab, so I need to work on learning to make decisions.

Part 2 - 2016 Goals
I have decided that 2016 will be the year of Sarah. Here's what I've got so far towards that goal:
1 - One "enrichment" opportunity each month - whether it's a networking event, a lecture, a class, volunteering, or a social event - something to make me a better Sarah
2 - For every month that I'm unemployed, find a new way to bring in some money - whether its going back to doing graphic design (which I had mostly stopped because I'm not very good and I wasn't enjoying it), trying to find a part-time job, taking online surveys for money, or something I haven't thought of yet
3 - (If I decide to keep running, which is a question mark) A race every other month - January is already taken care of, so that leaves March, May, July (which I may skip because of the weather ... I'm not great with heat), September, and November

I'm still working on this, so I reserve the right to add to the above list.

Do you have a good luck charm (object or person or pet) to help you on your journey?​

Hmm... not so much. But that's something to think about. Maybe I'll get myself some sort of good luck charm at Disney - something to make me remember why I'm doing this and that if I'm willing to put in the work, I WILL be successful.

So ... that's my quick check-in for the day. Hopefully I'll have a little time to chat before I leave on Tuesday, but we'll see.

 

[4Mickeys]

Hi all, I stumbled across this thread last night and it sounds great.

A little about myself I am Australian, solo mum turning 43 on January 20 eeek! I have 3 fantastic kids DS 15, DS11 and DD 11. I work full time graduated university 3 years ago and am an Occupational Therapist. I have struggled with my weight for about the past 10 years. In my younger years was super slim ate what I wanted and never exercised (didn't need to and was not a huge fan of it lol). I lost baby weight with some effort but then my partner left us and self-esteem plummeted, anxiety and self-doubt kicked in, add to that mummy guilt and somewhere along the way I started eating my feelings - especially on the couch after the kids were in bed and I was all alone. I did manage to lose 5kg (sorry we do kg's in Australia) before our trip to Disneyland in 2014 - that was a huge turning point for me emotionally don't get me wrong I still struggle some days but DL really worked its magic and saved me. Since then I have put on over 10 kg and am in the Obese BMI range. Why is it that when you look in the mirror you don't see how big you really are getting? But I saw photos of myself in early December taken at my twins primary school graduation and just wanted to cry. So here I am to join in with you guys this year and get healthier.

My January Goal - to spend 30 minutes 5 out of 7 days doing something active with my kids e.g. wii dance, basketball, soccer, kayaking etc. Aussie kids are on their summer break at the moment and we have about 3 weeks left. Today we had fun throwing water balloons at each other but that only lasted about 15 minutes.

Plan - tell my kids my goal and then the twins will help by asking me to play - they do it already but I usually have an excuse. DS 15 won't be any help with that we will have to drag him out too - he's a gaming/couch potato if left to his own choice.

Speed Bumps - ME! I have really been struggling with energy levels since being on holidays and needed a nap each day, my iron levels get low at times and I have this week started taking an iron supplement - so hopefully that will help.

2016 Goals:

To lose weight - I have really picked a number as yet as that just seems overwhelming - I guess I would be happy if I could drop 2 dress sizes.
To be kinder to myself - my friends think I am amazing and do tell me but after everything I have been through I really have trouble believing in myself.
Spend time with my amazing kids - they are growing up so fast.

 

[pjlla]

Now that we’ve gotten all of the "rules" and formalities out of the way…



Grab your spot and take a minute or two to introduce yourself. Take the rest of the week to think of your goals for the month. I’ll be back on the FIRST DAY OF 2016 to post our very first QOTD and get those goals from you!

Don't forget to give your final reports over in the December 2015 thread, too! THANK YOU @pjlla SO MUCH for being such an AMAZING host once again!!
​

First of all...you are welcome! As usual it was MY PLEASURE to help keep us all on track!

Next up.... quick intro..... (copied from last April's intro.... cause I'm lazy like that!)....

Hey all! I will try to be brief with my intro since I feel like most of you have heard it far too many times!!

I am a XX year old (number is just too big to see IRL!! ) wife and Mom of two.... 20.5 y/o DD Junior in college and an almost 18-y/o DS, Senior in HS. I still consider myself a part time stay-at-home Mom because I work per diem as a substitute teacher, so I am still home when my DS is home (but to be honest, I work almost full time at school). I also work one night a week as a Weight Watcher Leader. I lost 86 pounds on Weight Watchers between 01/02/2008 and sometime in 2009. I had been up and down and all around with my weight in my life.... but sadly more UP than DOWN, especially after marriage and two pregnancies. The motivation for this particular time was a WDW trip in April 2008. I had lost some weight before our 2004 trip, but put about half of it back on in the years that followed. I was absolutely DETERMINED not to return to Disney heavier than I had been on the previous trip.... so I put my nose to the grindstone and hit the treadmill HARD and watched every single bite, calorie, Point, and crumb and lost enough to return to Disney about 5 pounds lighter than I had been on our previous trip.... but what was the big difference you ask? What kept me GOING on my journey this time? I had a PLAN! I knew that when I had lost weight for our 2004 trip, the ONLY thing in my mind the entire time was losing for the trip.... and when we came back I had NO PLAN in mind for how to KEEP GOING.... so "one more day" of vacation-style eating and not tracking turned into "one more week" and "one more month" and "I'll start back next Monday" and "I'll start back at the beginning of next month" etc, etc, etc.

So I had a plan. I knew we were returning from our Disney vacation on a Saturday.... so I told myself that SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST was BACK ON PLAN.... no excuses, no whining, no more vacation-style eating. I made sure that there were some healthy choices available in the fridge for when we returned. I weighed in immediately, took the bad news in stride (after all, they were DISNEY pounds ) and got BACK ON TRACK.... weighing and measuring foods, tracking, exercise, etc. And I haven't looked back since!!!

I'm not saying I haven't had some struggles.... I'll be the FIRST to tell you that menopause hits the metabolism HARD! And I absolutely abhore exercise in nearly any and every form, so every step walked, every mile logged, is a struggle.... sometimes I overcome the struggle, sometimes the struggle wins and I get lazy. Sometimes I am sick and tired of thinking about food.... should I eat it? Can I eat it? If I eat it, how many PPV is it? How many pounds will I gain? Is it healthy? But EVERY SINGLE MOMENT spent in my healthier, slimmer, stronger at-goal-weight body is worth it!!

And to add something new..... these challenges have helped me MORE than you could EVER KNOW! The friends I've made, the folks I've chatted with, cried with, laughed with, and celebrated with (mostly all virtually, of course) mean a GREAT DEAL to me!

Jumping in with my own intro:

Hi, everyone! I'm Megan, and I'll be our host for January 2016. I joined these challenges last summer in preparation for my wedding and honeymoon in October 2015, and between the motivation, support, and accountability in these challenges and a low-carb/high-protein diet, I successfully lost 30-lbs - finally putting myself back under the 200-lb mark for the first time in 3 years.

However, since we've been home and life has calmed down, I've spent the last 2 months in a pretty bad funk and have fallen into a rough routine of staying up until 2 or 3am every night, sleeping until 12:30pm or later every day (I left a bad job the week of my wedding and have yet to find a replacement), and eating everything I want whenever I want. As a result, I've regained half of the weight that I spent MONTHS fighting to lose.

Well, NO MORE. 2016 is going to be the year that I STOP just telling myself things are going to change, and actually CHANGE THEM. I am THE BEST at coming up with excuses and reasons why I can't work out today, or why it's ok to have this treat or this cheat meal, etc. But I can't do that anymore. I've got some pretty big plans for this year. I'm trying to launch an Etsy business from my home, and a year from today, I want to be around 160-lbs, which means losing approximately 55-lbs. Given my height, that still puts me technically "overweight", but it's a weight that I'm comfortable with, and that's what matters most to me.

But it's not just that I want to lose 55-lbs. I want and need to make the lifestyle changes to keep it off so that I don't find myself in this position again. I'm not 100% sure how to go about things, but I know I need to get better about meal planning and portion control and grocery shopping. @pjlla and anyone else who does Weight Watchers, I'd be interested in talking to you a little about the program, as I think I want to try my hand at it. I need to change my frame of mind about food, and stop being afraid of certain foods - like CARBS!, and to incorporate them wisely instead. I'm also going to sign up for MyFitnessPal (I've been using LoseIt but everyone else uses MFP and I think the accountability is an important part of it) so let me know if you'd like to link up!

I'm excited to start out this year with the people I've gotten to know over the last few months, and to meet more new friends as we progress. Can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for all of us!

I'd be HAPPY to talk WW with you! Let me know what you want to know. But let me say up front, I think that the BIGGEST PERK about WW is that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is off limits! Sure, some things take a bigger bite out of your SmartPoints "budget" than other things..... but if you really want it, you can find a way to fit it in! Unlike an Atkins-style diet where certain things are COMPLETELY off limits and thus make them much more enticing... plus it teaches you ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about portion control! WW says "you want chocolate? Sure! Weigh it, measure it, track it, eat it, enjoy it, done!" While I think that there are many great HEALTHY things about other diets (I think limiting white flour, white sugar carbs is super healthy), I think that in terms of a LIFESTYLE CHANGE, low carb is tough, as it Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, Whole30, 21 Day Fix (is that really a LIFESTYLE change if you only have to do it for 21 days????).

That being said, WW isn't going to give you "Biggest Loser" style results. And most people, especially come January, want QUICK AND EASY. But you know what.... nothing worth having is quick and easy!! I tell my WW members in my meetings....."if I could give you one wish, it would be to live in your goal weight body for one day. Once you see how WONDERFUL life can be at goal, it would definitely make you realize that every healthier food choice and every minute of exercise is SO WORTH IT!!"

Ok, I added all the my fitness pal people as friends. I just got a Fitbit and I'm excited about it, still trying to figure it out.

I'm a carb addict too. I followed a diet called "dukan", which was low carb, to lose most of my weight. It is the stabilization part that is very hard for me. I can lose and I can gain, but I have a hard time just "being". It's my biggest challenge. So far imhVe stayed the same for 5 months, variance of about 5 pounds. I'd like to keep,that or maybe lose 10 more, but mostly stay the same and focus on exercising.

In 2013 my doctor told me I was obese. It took almost 3 years to lose this weight. I'm now considered "normal" BMI. I am so afraid of falling back into old habits, so hav g accountability here will be good for me.


Thank you for being so welcoming!

So glad to have you along!

Hi Gang I am back for another go round in 2016.. I am currently doing (meaning I have the tools) weight watchers but I haven't really looked at the new program.. I am hoping to get my hubs to join with me - meaning him to sign up and come to the meetings which would be awesomesauce! (he got border line diabetic at his dr. appt a few weeks ago and I already told him I was NOT buy soda any longer for the house) I have a hard time with portion control so I will be working on that this year.. For Chistmas I got a fancy WW scale that does weight, BMI and stuff I hope to see all the numbers moving downward throughout this month!

About me : I am 5 feet weigh about 175 have dark hair with a smattering of grey and brown eyes - I don't like exercise altho I have joined Zumba in the past and enjoyed it but I think the teacher I like no longer does it.. I have a DD who is 22 and lives with her dad in the next town over from me, my DS is 19 and splits his time between both houses, I have a cat - Hunny girl who is a total lovebug and I have a Hubs who really is too good to me.. I live in Maine and yesterday we finally got our first snow of season - I hate winter!!! wrong state to live in I know but oh well this is where I've lived all my life and once upon a dream I said when DS finally graduated HS I was moving to FL but alas here I still am.. I have a paper pusher type of job that suits me just fine, been here for 16 Yrs just last week.. JOB = pays the bills and fun stuff, no career for me, no title just a plain ole job....

I will not be back till Jan 4th with my weigh in as I have no home computer and can only be on here at my lunchtime break (unless its really dead at work) Mon thru Fridays.. Wishing you all safe and happy New Year!!! Michelle

Hey friend! Glad you are back with us this month!! We got our first snow last week too.... yuck!

Okay, finally, I got a chance to sit down and write an introduction...

Hi, I'm Sarah! I've been doing these challenges on and off for a little while, so some of you may know me already, but here's an introduction for those of you who do not.
I'm 29 years old and live with my parents (and siblings) in good old NYC. I'm currently (mostly) unemployed, but I'm hopeful that a great opportunity will come around soon. I've always been a little overweight, but about 5-6 years ago I made it to within 10 lbs of my goal weight. Then life got in my way, and when I was under a lot of stress and not doing well, and I ended up putting on 25 pounds. I've lost some of that, but not enough of it. I'm currently at the high end of normal on the BMI scale, but my goal is to make it to the middle of the normal range so that I don't have to worry about my weight fluctuating a bit.
I always say that I don't eat like a human being ... but that's only at meals. Not at meals I eat everything in sight. The more fattening, the better. I do like fruit, but I'll often reach for junk instead because fruit is a hassle (I mean, open the the fridge? Who wants to do that!). So one area that I know I need to improve is filling myself up more at meals so that I'm less prone to snack, and making better snack choices when I do need a boost between meals.
For the past 2 years or so I've been a runner, and I'm doing 2 runDisney races (a 5K and a 10K) in January. After that ... I'm not sure if I'm planning to keep up the running or change my exercise plan. It's gonna be an interesting month.

Also ... since MFP seems to be the popular tracking site on here, I logged into my account today for the first time in years. I've been using SparkPeople for my tracking because it's where I have all of my favorite foods saved, but I'm willing to give MFP another try. Still trying to figure out how to get it to automatically import my runs from my Garmin account (I have them connected, but today's run didn't transfer ... I don't know if that's because I ran before I connected the accounts, so I'll have to see what happens with my next run).
My MFP username is SarahLovesTink. No idea where that one came from (not that I don't love me some Tinker Bell, it's just pretty random).

So happy to see you are with us again! Can't wait to hear about the January races!

I would like to give this challenge a try. I’m Geraldine. I’m 48, work part-time, have two kids ages 8 and 11 and DH. I spend a lot of time in my car transporting kids all around/cross town and my job is also mostly sitting (and stressful at times). I used to exercise and eat well and care about my weight but over the last 6 years or so I have put on a lot of weight and rarely exercise and mostly didn’t care. I’d like to lose 80 pounds but really at this point anything I can lose will be a big health benefit. I’d like to have some weight off before my next physical in May. I try but quickly get overwhelmed. I’d like to see if setting a small goal that I can focus on instead of a big goal that seems impossible and overwhelming can help. I’d also like to see if having some peeps to check in with helps me. In the past I have tried Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers with varying degrees of success. At two different points in my life I lost a lot of weight doing low carb and lots of exercise. When I was exercising a lot I had a gym membership but I no longer have a membership and can’t seem to identify a gym that I think is convenient enough to get to regularly and that doesn’t cost a fortune. If I am successful during 2016 this would be the third big weight loss in my life. I’d of course love to lose the weight and keep it off once and for all. For now, for January, my goal will be to lose 5 pounds. I’d also like to use January to try to identify the best exercise type/location that will work for me and my crazy schedule. I will hopefully use exercise as a means to lose the weight but for this month I’d like to just track the pound loss and see how it goes.

I have never used My Fitness Pal but will try to set it up so I can join in on that tracking.

WELCOME, WELCOME! So glad to have a new face with us!

I'm in!!! Between the new job and studying I'm not sure that I will be a much more active participant than I was in November and December, but I'll do my best and I always LOVE reading all of the posts.

I'm Maggie, I'm 42, and I've been participating in these challenges since July. I thought about starting many diets over the years, joined several programs, and never really got started. I've been watching my weight creep up about 4-5 pounds a year for 20 years until one day I woke up and saw 219 on the scale and just had enough. As of this morning, I'm down 22 pounds since June 15, with a final goal of losing somewhere between 60 and 80 pounds (a wide range yes but I don't yet know the balance between vanity and livability). WW and my FitBit are my current tools of choice.

I'm still thinking about goals for January but number one will be really giving the new WW program a chance so I can make a decision about whether to keep it or go back to MFP when my current subscription runs in mid-February. For the WW goal, I'm thinking of going after the whole enchilada: 10 pounds. I'm glad I still have a day to decide!

Also, I officially volunteer to host May! I'm pretty certain that I forgot to post our final October results (I'm sorry!) but I blame vacation planning stress. And old age! By May, I'll finally have had my Disney fix and motivated to get back on plan!

I love what you said there (my bolding)..... and that is the problem for many folks..... they want to get to their VANITY weight (high school weight anyone??) and don't think about whether or not it is LIVABLE! I hit my vanity weight once.... for one day. And I can tell you RIGHT NOW that life would be DIFFICULT if I had to stay there. I am content to stay 5 pounds over that weight the majority of the time. I'm not a VS supermodel and life isn't significantly better or worse with those 5 pounds here.... but LIVING and EATING and keeping it REAL is much easier!!

Hi everyone, @courtney_beth here. I bet you can guess what my name is?

I joined these challenges for accountability in Q3 of 2015 and am going to stick with it through all of 2016. I'll be your host for February and, once again, @JacknSally will leave big shoes to fill when this fabulous month is up! I've lost more than 65 pounds this past year and actually achieved goal weight on December 18, 2015. It was also the week I concluded my MBA program and went to Disney World... so a lot of changes have been taking place for me in the last couple of weeks.

My goal right now is to learn how to eat and maintain my weight. My goal is to stay around 150, so +/- about 2 pounds. If I can stay within the 148-150 range, then I'll consider myself at 100% of goal.

This will be especially challenging as I am beginning the first of 21 half marathons planned for 2016 this month. No, that is not a typo... I signed up for Rock n Roll's Global Tour Pass and I'll be traveling the country this year running in the USA and Canada... and maybe Mexico and Dublin should the opportunity present itself and my budget allows for some wiggle room. So I'm sure training, running and increased metabolism will tweak my progress.

My reason for all of this? I attended the wedding of an MBA classmate in June 2014, saw myself in pictures... and didn't recognize myself. Who was that fat woman next to that beautiful woman in the white gown? It was me! Yikes! So I made a goal that I didn't want to be fat at my graduation ceremony in May... so here I am. At goal weight, 5 months until graduation and I did it

I look forward to sharing in your stories and journey through this month. We are all going to rise up to the challenge and defeat our inner demons, or as appropriately themed, THE HUNS.

So delighted to read your success story!! And WOWZA on those runs! If you come to New England, let me know!!

@courtneybeth I am so excited to cheer you on this year with those RnR races! I've been so happy to see the last stage of your weight loss goal and I cannot wait to see what amazing things you accomplish this year!

Annnd in pure me fashion I didn't do an introduction because I'm bad with them.

I'm Amber. I'm not as alt as my avatar suggests though I do have tattoos. I guess I get to classify myself as a runner now seeing as it's this thing I do. So far this year I'll be doing the Tinkerbell Half, and Dark Side Half (maybe challenge), and lots of local halfs and 10k races though I only have a few planned now. I'm a mommy to two trouble maker bunnies who are super adorable though I'm pretty sure one is plotting to over throw me as leader of the house. I have a bit of weight to lose anywhere from 60-80 lbs if I'm honest with myself. I'm sick and tired of having yoyo weight loss of the same 60 lbs because I've never lost it in a safe sustainable way.

In the past month or so I've taken a long hard look at myself and the person I currently am vs the person who I want to be. I've come to realize that I can't be doing this for anyone else, or in competition with anyone else. At 28 I just want to be a better and happier me and honestly realizing I'm worth it. Which is why I have my WISH journal so I can post my training and thoughts like how much I hate the first mile of any run.

Aside from a 10 lb drop I really want to be able to be as consistent with my training as possible in the weather that I'm sure will show up (yay northeast) and really be accountable for my food intake.

Good job looking inward..... that can be SO HARD. But what is it about a NEW YEAR that makes us want to reflect like this?? Remind me where in the northeast you are located? I'm in New Hampshire.

***************************

Trying to catch up here, but realizing that just catching up to page 2 has taken an hour (had to dash back and forth to the kitchen and laundry room). YIKES! ....................P

 

[ohMom]

good sunday morning! finally a moment at the keyboard, i'm behind pardon the long post

I'm Molli, been on the WISH boards for almost as long as it's existed! love it here! I inintally lost 25 lbs thought WW on my own and half-marathon training. About 5 years ago I got really sick, and through high cortisol (natural steroids) and 5 surgeries, I gained about 55 lbs. I have lost 30ish over the past couple years, but am stalled at 20 lbs left to go. I keep gaining and losing the same 10 lbs. well, this is the year to break that cycle!! i'm motived to hit my goal for it would mean lowering our health insurance premium by putting me at a normal BMI, getting back into my cute Disney t-shirts that are still too small, and just feeling better not carring around this extra weight. I have muscle damage from Cushing's disease and so I know my body would thank me for dropping the weight. I am on permanent steroid replacement as I had my adrenal glands removed, which makes it difficult but not impossible. sometimes I go MIA and I apologize, but my health knocks me down when I overdo it

Part 1 - January 2016 Goal: Lose 20 lbs


Plan:
- starting tomorrow I'm enrolled in an 8 week New Year New You program through my cousin's fitness blog. I paid money to join, so that will keep my on it, i'm hoping!
- continue HIIT (high intensity interval workouts) as much as humanly possible, I think they are working
- MFP, MFP, MFP.....overcoming my mental hurdle on consistent food journaling
- cut back on white sugar and white flour (I really don't eat much bread now)

Speed Bumps:
- two long weekends vaca, one in Jan and one in Feb; Vegas trip in May

Part 2 - 2016 Goals
- encourage by example and joining in with DH to complete his 120 workouts at the gym through work to get his gym fees reimbursed
- with my daughter and mom, we are committed to one picture every day of 2016 to better learn how to operate our cameras and photo editing software. I think this will be fun to see at the end of the year
- paint and redecorate a spare bedroom into an office for DH


I don't really have a good luck charm, I used to have small "WISH" metal trinket I kept in plain sight in my kitchen...need to find that and dust it off! I also wear a fitbit to motivate me, and my dog motivates me to get those walks and steps in. i'm in central Ohio so it's going to get less appealing as the snow approaches

to all our newcomers and re-joiners!!!

 

[flvy]

@pjlla I'm in central MA so not far off from NH at all. I really can't complain about this winter so far. Even now with it cold it's still pretty nice out!

@ohMom HIIT training is just about the best most awesome type of work out you can do as far as weight loss goes. I love your picture goal! Make sure to share the ones you love. I'm so interested in photography, and I love interesting/beautiful pictures.