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

[Treysar]

Yesterday's qotd: 3 good things
1. I'm a good mom and wife.
2. When I am struggling emotionally, I go out of my way to fix it. I try very hard to get out of "the pits" when I fall in.
3. I'm a good listener

Today's qotd:
I track everything I eat through my fitness pal, but when I was losing weight I didn't. I followed a Low carb diet that didn't require tracking. Now that I'm nearing goal weight I'm tracking because I'm introducing some carbs back in.

I eat whenever I am hungry. I try to stick to an every few hours schedule, so I'll eat breakfast/snack/tea or soda, lunch/snack/tea or soda etc. so I have eating to to do every few hours. I like to eat, so I like knowing I have food to look forward to.
I do not eat sugar when I'm in weight loss mode. I don't even eat fruit. Now that I am maintaining, I will eat fruit.

Once a week I eat only protein all day long. Eggs, meat, a ton of water. Not even vegetables. I make sure to eat oat bran once a day or I'll get constipated.

On weekends, I relax. That doesn't mean I pig out, I just allow myself things like a big diner Cobb salad with regular dressing, or a big omelette with cheese and bacon.

I was never a fan of the idea of a low carb diet, but it has become apparent to me that my body actually hurts when I overeat carbs and sugar. Because I'm addictive person, it's better for me to avoid them all together.

 

[courtneybeth]

What is your eating plan for this month, and what are some of your favorite healthy things to eat? Do you track everything you eat? Do you eat only at certain times or whenever you feel hungry? Do you cut out soda or candy or baked goods? Do you just wing the diet and hope the exercise will counter it? Do you cut yourself off at a certain time of day? Tell us how you diet!

Tracking is a godsend because you know what you're eating and how much you should eat. Having MFP or WW just helps you get an idea of portion size and what/when you should eat.

As for what goes into my mouth... the easiest way to not binge on sweets is: not to buy them! We make it a plan to only keep healthy things in reach.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Thanks, @pjlla and @dsnyfn1022 for your kind words about my dad. He is making small steps in the right direction

QOTD for January 4, 2016

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Reflection. How many of us have seen ourselves in a mirror, or in a picture, and not recognized the person looking back at us? Maybe that's what inspired your weight loss journey. Or maybe you have been on this journey but don't feel you see the results that you should when you look in the mirror. It can be so discouraging when your reflection doesn't show who or how you feel inside.

Today, take a look at yourself and instead of seeing flaws or trouble areas in the mirror, tell us 3-5 POSITIVE things about you.. Maybe you've been so discouraged that you carry your weight around your middle that you've completely missed the amazing transformation in your arms. Maybe you have gorgeous eyes or beautiful hair. Or, maybe your positives are what the mirror can't show - maybe you're an amazing painter or singer or friend. Take today to show the world - and yourself - who you are beyond your reflection.​

I get so focused on the negatives some times. But there are a few things I am proud of.
1) My arms. They are strong and toned. Although I am self conscious about my legs, and avoid shorts for that reason, I am happy to wear tank tops and feel like they are the part of me I can "show off" so to speak. I also enjoy that when my family gets together and people need tough jars opened, they come to me, not the guys to get them open
2) My optimism. I am an eternal optimist. It drives some people nuts. Maybe it is the former therapist in me, but I can walk through a lot of things people are unhappy about, and while acknowledging the problem, help them either find ways to turn it around, learn from it, or realize it is not as bad as they are making it out to be.
3) My eyes. They are a bright blue gray color, with a golden circle around them. They are the feature of my face, that if I just highlight a little with makeup, I can go from totally blah to looking pretty decent fast That is one goal of mine this year, to try to put a bit more effort into my everyday appearance.

QOTD for Tuesday, January 5, 2016

We've all heard that 80% (or similar) of weight loss happens in the kitchen. Well, that's because your diet has the biggest impact on your results! You can run for hours every day but it doesn't matter if you then eat 3,000 calories of chocolate & cake every night.

What is your eating plan for this month, and what are some of your favorite healthy things to eat? Do you track everything you eat? Do you eat only at certain times or whenever you feel hungry? Do you cut out soda or candy or baked goods? Do you just wing the diet and hope the exercise will counter it? Do you cut yourself off at a certain time of day? Tell us how you diet!​

The first part is so me. I truly enjoy exercise. But it also is a major excuse for me to think I can eat everything under the sun. Oh, I ran 6 miles today. I think I will have a large Italian sub for lunch, a big burger for dinner and a huge brownie sundae for dessert. Um, that math does not work!

I have returned to My Fitness Pal for tracking. I have it set to lose 1.5 pounds a week. I will track everything I eat and drink. I do not cut anything out completely, but I watch all my portion sizes. For instance, after the gym today I had a cup of fat free plain greek yogurt to which I added 16 dark chocolate chips (1 serving). I do not cut starchy carbs out, but I limit those portions. My lunch and dinner plates will be about 50% veggies, 30% protein, and 20% starchier carbs like whole grain pasta or rice. My dinner last night was a huge plate of zucchini noodles, 1/4 cup jasmine rice, 1/2 cup green beans, and 3 asian turkey meatballs. It was delicious and satisfying. I also will go back to more carefully watching my water intake. I will eat three servings of fruit a day, mostly citrus and berries, because that what I like.

I do have a daily treat when I stay on plan. That can vary from a small serving of ice cream, a frozen yogurt bar, or a cookie or two. My kids just did a cookie fundraiser, so I have a ton of frozen cookie dough, which is pre-portioned blocks of dough. That lets me make just a few cookies at a time, so I don't lose control.

I don't drink soda at all. Just don't like it. The one drink I need to watch out for is wine But while I am working hard at getting closer to my goal weight I am going to a no wine during the week, and no more than two glasses on Friday and Saturdays.

My favorite healthy things to eat. I love plain greek yogurt. People think I am crazy, they find it tasteless, but I love it. I like hard boiled eggs as a quick snack, as well as cheese sticks. I like grapefruit, berries and love clementines. I like pepper strips with hummus. I also love cooking, so I like to take dishes and find ways to lighten them up.

As for my goal, I got my scale working, and it wasn't pretty. I gained three pounds in the last three weeks or so with all the holidays and then stress and fast food eating, plus no exercise when my dad got so sick. So, I am at 137. Prior to having a working scale I said 6 pounds, and I think I will stick with it. I'd like to say 7 to get back to 130, but I think 1.5 pounds a week is a reasonable and achievable goal, so I will go with it. I am going to weigh in on Fridays.

 

[jaelless]

Posting this from my phone so the QOTD is up at a reasonable time today, haha. I'll be back soon to catch up for real (I know I said that yesterday - I'm sorry! Etsy took SO much more time than I anticipated!)

QOTD for Tuesday, January 5, 2016

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Chien-Po is really coming at this the right way! It doesn't matter what you wear (LuLuLemon or Fabletics or Champion or Nike or Walmart - the clothes aren't doing the work!!) or what you look like (short, tall, blonde, redhead, 10lbs to go, 100lbs to go... Whatever!) - IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU COOK LIKE!

We've all heard that 80% (or similar) of weight loss happens in the kitchen. Well, that's because your diet has the biggest impact on your results! You can run for hours every day but it doesn't matter if you then eat 3,000 calories of chocolate & cake every night.

Did you know "low-fat" items are not the "healthiest", because they have been so over-processed to get to "low-fat" stage that they've lost the majority of the nutrients that make them healthy? A lot of "low-calorie" options are the same way - don't just grab a box because it says 100 calorie on the front! That chart on the back is what's important.

There are so many food theories out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Atkins, South Beach, Slimfast, NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, Paleo, Vegetarian, Low-Cal, Low-Carb, Low-Fat... There are so many more that it will make your head spin. It's enough to make you throw in the towel and pick up the spoon, for sure. The most recommended macronutrient breakdown for "healthy eating" is 50% protein - 30% carbs - 20% fat. Does anyone here follow that breakdown in their diet?

No matter how you diet - tracking macros, low-carb, no sugar, vegetarian, etc. - the most important factor is common sense.

What is your eating plan for this month, and what are some of your favorite healthy things to eat? Do you track everything you eat? Do you eat only at certain times or whenever you feel hungry? Do you cut out soda or candy or baked goods? Do you just wing the diet and hope the exercise will counter it? Do you cut yourself off at a certain time of day? Tell us how you diet!​

I don't really have an eating plan. Just a goal to eat more healthy and make less sweets. I don't like the word diet, it makes me hungry LOL I can't think of a favorite healthy thing to eat. I've gotten into munching on grapes a work if that counts.

 

[flvy]

I don't really have an eating plan. Just a goal to eat more healthy and make less sweets. I don't like the word diet, it makes me hungry LOL I can't think of a favorite healthy thing to eat. I've gotten into munching on grapes a work if that counts.

I get twitchy when people say they're on a diet. It just makes me think of something temporary and that they'll eventually jump off the wagon rather than maintain. Sadly I think that happens more often than not when people are so into diets. Change your life not your food for a few months.

 

[Treysar]

I want to share an easy healthy recipe that I tried today.
ham and cheese egg cups
I lined the bottom of 12 muffin cups with slices of deli ham. (About 1/2 slice each cup) I sprinkled some cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeño in each cup. Then I mixed 6 eggs and a cup of egg beaters together and filled each cup 3/4. Baked at 375 for 17 minutes.

They are around 75 calories each and very filling. Great for breakfast or at 3pm when you are feeling "snacky". You can even add other stuff, onions, etc.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

I went for a very cold and windy 3.8K walk today. My ankle keeps locking up today. No pain no gain

11.2k/60k

 

[Tigerlulu]

I want to share an easy healthy recipe that I tried today.
ham and cheese egg cups
I lined the bottom of 12 muffin cups with slices of deli ham. (About 1/2 slice each cup) I sprinkled some cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeño in each cup. Then I mixed 6 eggs and a cup of egg beaters together and filled each cup 3/4. Baked at 375 for 17 minutes.

They are around 75 calories each and very filling. Great for breakfast or at 3pm when you are feeling "snacky". You can even add other stuff, onions, etc.

I do these from time to time. I freeze them two at a time--makes a great quick breakfast! I've done avocado, spinach and tomatoes in them also. I've also done them with egg beaters. Yummy!

 

[JacknSally]

Let's do this!!

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.

Hello, and welcome!! So excited to have you along for this ride! I know it's only Tuesday, but how are you doing so far on your goals for the week?

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".

Not only do you have a goal, but you know what might prevent you from getting to your goal, and that's huge! How are you doing with your goal this week?

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!!).

You are going to DISNEY TODAY!!!!!!!!!! YAYYYY!!!!! Can't wait to hear how the race goes! Your goals for the month look amazing and I KNOW you'll achieve them, easy-peasy. Are you doing an enrichment activity beyond the race this month?

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.

WELCOME! I'm so glad you found us here! I'm excited to get to know you better this month. How are you doing on your goal so far?

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 love all of this, Molli!! What does your 8 weight program entail? What HIIT exercises are you doing? I have a 60-day at home HIIT program to follow but I get so overwhelmed by not being able to do the exercises well or as long as the program says to that I get discouraged by it. Are you following a program or do you just have some exercises that you perform?

120 workouts and the gym fees get reimbursed!! What an amazing incentive! That would definitely inspire me to get to the gym more often. I wish more companies did things like that! I also LOVE your photo challenge - you will be amazed at how your photography changes over a year of practicing and learning. I hope you'll share your progress with us along the way!

OK, I'm back-- finally had time to sit down and catch up, so welcome to my novel of a post!

Intro: Hi all! I'm Patricia. I'm here because I saw pictures of myself in my best friend's wedding and couldn't believe who I was looking at. Quite a wake up call for me. I realized I had gained somewhere between 20-25 pounds in year and that was just ridiculous and out of control! So DH made a deal with me-- get back to the weight I was when we got married 1.5 years ago, and he would book us at the Grand Floridian for a weekend. (Side note: We live 3 hours south of the mouse, go once a month and RARELY stay onsite, so this is a big deal for me! haha!) Also, I tried and failed at WW last Fall, probably because I was doing the online thing alone and DH was still eating all the junk food. Thankfully, he is committed to a healthy lifestyle now, so now that I found the WISH board, and DH is on board, I'm ready to do this!


Plan: I am treating myself like a child on this.... I went out and bought a dry erase board calendar with cute magnets to place on the days when I get on the elliptical. Also, DH and I signed up for Blue Apron to start cooking at home and stop going out. AND we decided to let my dry erase calendar double as our meal planning calendar. So basically, I am hoping my neurotic planning will keep me on track to not go out to eat!

OK, can your DH talk to my DH? Haha. I need an offer like that! Talk about a dangling carrot! I'm jealous of your once a month trips, I have to say. I would be there ALLL THE TIME - even with a 3 hour drive, LOL. You can SO do this. Your goals are totally achievable and you have a great plan in place to help you get there. I love your calendar idea! I'm doing something similar, as soon as I find a calendar I like, I'm going to use stickers to mark every day I get my 30 minutes of walking in.

Is it too late for me to join?

NEVER!! Welcome!! Jump into the conversation and QOTD's whenever you can - we're happy to have you along for the ride!

My sister recently told me about www.fitnessblender.com. They have free exercise videos from low impact - yoga and everything in-between. I have tried a few of their videos and they are pretty good. Thought I would share

I'll definitely have to check this out! I've been wanting to start doing some yoga so this could really help. Thanks for the tip!

Very quick intro then back to read. I'm Buffy, I'm a moderator here on the DIS. I'm married to my wonderful DH going on 23 years. We have 4 kids, 1 in college, 2 in high school and one in elementary. I'm a never at home mom because of the above children.
I started running in 2009 to keep up with the kids who are all runners, but I was/am super slow! I'm hoping more weight loss will help improve that.
I've been a WISH member for 5 years? Maybe 6? But life has a way of derailing things and I had to let go of the DIS for a bit.

But I am back, and hopefully here to stay.

Short term goal: lose 5 pounds and run 90 miles this month.
Long term goal: feel comfy in clothes (not putting a number down) yet and cut my half marathon time down to 3:15

Welcome, and welcome BACK! I'm looking forward to getting to know you better this year!

HI I'm new. I'm Ashley, 34 5'4" and 218 lbs. I'd like to get more exercise and eat regular meals (even if it's a TV dinner) instead of skipping lunch and gorging myself at dinner.

My goal for this week is to work out using fitstar and work out videos on YouTube three days this week even if it's only for ten minutes.

HI, ASHLEY!! You can totally do this! Have you thought about meal-planning or even just making up a week's worth of grab & go snacks to help keep you on track?

@SarahDisney @BernardandMissBianca I grew up on the south shore so I spent lots of time in and around the Newton/Cambridge area. MA clearly produces some great people.

@pjlla My parents lived over on Breakneck Road off of old rt 15. There is a recycling center at the end of Breakneck. They moved to Maine last year though. I loved the house it was on a cute little pond. I graduated in 06 I think (I literally never get the year right) they built a new school so I was the first class that did all 4 years in it.

@RutgersAlum I did that my whole run. Only I wish I had gloves, why am I sweating so much, wow my ears are cold, ugh go away sun.


I also just realized I should do ADRs for April. I'm running some kind of Dark Side something I just haven't figured out if it'll be the challenge or just the half. I need to make up for my canceled ADRs at Kona and Sanaa from November. Basically I'll be running April, and I'll be eating crap in Disney haha. ETA: I managed to score a 9:25 PM reservation at California Grill. Here's to fireworks from the Contemporary!

OK, feeling left out of the New England love! Haha, I have never and probably will never live in the north, but I HAVE been to Boston! I played in the First Annual National School Scrabble Championship when I was in 8th grade and it took place in Boston! Haha. Plus, my DSIL and DBIL live in Boston now and have invited us up sometime this year (super out of the blue... DH and I have been together for 4 years and we've all been at the same various family functions together over that span, and they have still never spoken to me, even when they are standing 6 inches from me), so I might be in you guys' neck of the woods later on!

JEALOUS of your Cali Grill ressie! Hope you get an amazing seat!!

Morning my friends! Just finished my coffee about to grab some breakfast and do my first workout of my eight week program I'm starting today. I must've admit I am not looking forward to giving up the grazing and junkfood of the holidays, but I know overall I will feel better I just need to get through the detox! Pixie dust to anyone who is detoxing with me

You can do this! You are going to feel SO AMAZING - the hard part is just getting started!!

Day one for me! Starting with a long walk...and NO Diet Coke!

You got this! You will feel SO GOOD when you get past your Diet Coke drinking - trust me. I gave up Dr. Pepper and Mtn. Dew and now when I try to drink them they just don't taste right - and the carbonation actually makes my throat hurt! Haha.

I'm about to head to work. I choked down some breakfast (three meals a day is aweful for me) and am sitting drinking coffee in zombie mode with fruit for lunch.

My legs are not happy about those miles yesterday. I'm not excited to have to go stand for 8.5 hours.

I'm pretty much settled on CSR for my April race vaca, and so excited for my California Grill reservation!!! I want those fireworks over dessert! Any of you guys stay at CSR? There's no conventions going on and people have been saying its pretty laid back.

Y'all are seriously making me want to plan a Disney trip like no one's business right now. UGH! We have one day tickets burning a whole in my MDE account because we had planned to go down for Osborne Lights and never got to... I've never stayed at CSR but I have heard amazing things about it! I'm of the mindset that ANY hotel at Disney is amazing, though!

I eased into it today with a 13 minute exercise video and am planning eating a TV dinner for lunch. I know it's not the healthiest choice but it's better than skipping lunch.

That is so true! And there are definitely some frozen dinners that aren't as bad as others!

Is it too late to join? I just got back from Disney and need some help! For the first time ever, my weight made Disney difficult. If it's not too late, I'd like to set a goal of 7lbs.

Myfitnesspal name is the same as here, jayna22.
Thanks!!

NO! It's never too late!! WELCOME! You can TOTALLY nail that 7lbs this month! Do you have any plans for getting there?

Hi Gang, I haven't had time to ready pages 2-8 yet but I realized I didn't add goals so here they are

Edit to add goals for the month! I will drink at least 64 oz of water per day (challenge comes on the weekends!) and I will track all foods ate for the month via my daily plate and my WW journal .. I am putting myself down for a loss of 4 lbs.. Thanks Michelle

and also caught my hubs eating salad today for lunch (it had buffalo chicken in it for protein) I was amazed, happy and proud of him!!

LOVE your goals!! You got this!!

Hey guys!
Just checking in quickly since I have 10 minutes.
In the next 27 hours I have 2 job interviews and a flight to Florida. It's going to be craziness. The good news is, I'll be too busy to snack much. The bad news is ... that also means I may be too busy to exercise much! I know I'll get some walking in today and tomorrow (and I already got a run in earlier today), plus walking & running while I'm at Disney, but I'm hoping that I can get a short Pilates video in at some point tomorrow, just so that I'm not all-walk/run all-the-time for the next week. So that means crazy packing tonight ... but I WILL find a way to make it work.

Also - thanks to everyone who has been adding me on MFP! It's so great seeing so many DIS people on there and I'm looking forward to cheering everyone on as we work towards our goals!!

How did your interviews go?! Good luck and PIXIE DUST to you in your race, and SOAK UP that Florida warmth and sunshine and DISNEY MAGIC!!


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OK, I'm caught up 'til yesterday's QOTD! Now to catch up on the last 24 hours! Haha

 

[JacknSally]

I am in for this month. But it is probably going to be a rough one for me to keep up with posting so bear with me. Christmas day my dad took a fall and a cascade of bad health events occurred. Long story short he is still in the ICU and likely will be for a few more weeks at least. He is in a medically induced coma on a ventilator. Not the Christmas break anyone had planned. Long drives (2 hrs) to and from the hospital left little time for home cooked meals or any exercise.

As luck would have it, the batteries in my scale went this morning when I went to weigh myself, so I am not quite sure how much damage all the fast foods and lack of exercise did. But I think am going to go for 6 pounds this months, prior to all this I would have said I had 10 to lose, so I think 1.5 pounds a week for 6 pounds total is a decent goal.

I am training for the Glass Slipper Challenge next month, which means this is my peak training month pre race. I am doing the 5k, 10k and half marathon. It sounds like a good set up for weight loss this month, but the stress of everything going on with my dad will likely play a role. Also, with lots of exercise, my appetite goes a little crazy sometimes. This is my third time doing the GSC.

Quick introduction, I have been doing these challenges since September. I have had a pattern of losing at the beginning of every month, then regaining the second half of each month. I first started my weight loss journey 6 years ago. I had gained far too much weight with my two pregnancies, and had gone into the first slightly overweight. I lost 40+ pounds from my postpartum high, (not entirely sure how high it got). This spring I had a fairly minor surgery with a major set of recovery period restrictions. I could not exercise at all and I regained 10 pounds. By the end of the summer, 3 months after I was able to exercise again, I still had the 10 pounds, which is when I started joining this and the exercise minutes challenges.

I struggle with my ideal weight number, as I think I am pretty muscular and the scale isn't my friend People think I am a little nutty for being upset with my weight, based on my appearance, but they don't know the number on the scale. I am less than 5 pounds from being in the overweight range. My doctor agrees with me that maintaining closer to the middle of my healthy weight range would be a healthier choice. Particularly based on a strong family history of weight related health problems like diabetes and heart disease. I am 5'3" which means my healthy weight range is 107-141, so 124 would be the middle. I am hoping to get to at least 128. I will see how I feel when I get there, but I may well decide that is good enough.

Once I get new batteries for my scale I will weigh myself and finalize my goal, but I am thinking 6 pounds as of now.

SO sorry to hear about your Christmas break! Best wishes and pixie dust heading your way that 2016 turns up for you, and soon!!

This question feels like it's about me - saw myself in a picture at a friend's wedding and knew something had to change!

I looked in the mirror and today I saw a woman who is accomplished, who is happy, and who looks pretty awesome in her outfit today. I think this was one of the first times that I have looked in the mirror and felt positive about my reflection. My hair may be a mess due to the wind and there's no make up on, but eh, it's Monday!

LOVE these positives!!!

I don't even look in the mirror anymore. I am so far from "me" that I can't even look at myself. I have never been this big in my life and never thought I would be this big.

This makes me sad to hear, as I fully believe that even at our worst we can find some good if we try - but just remember this feeling and this moment and hopefully you will be able to turn that corner and never feel like that again!

Evening all! Dinner is in the crockpot ready to go when DS gets home and I have taken the remainder of this week off from school!! They need me to proctor standardized tests every day next week and into the week after that and since DD goes back to school on the 17th, if I don't take time off this week we won't really have any more time to spend together (FIRST robotics kick off is next weekend, so that part of life will be SUPER busy for the next 6 weeks!). So other than my WW meeting tomorrow night, I am FREE! I know I shouldn't be so excited about it since we JUST returned from our holiday break, but the holiday break was so busy with family visiting and such I didn't really feel like I got a huge break. Plus DD has been working night and day trying to finish up a paper that she has been working on for MONTHS and it was finally submitted today, so she can take a deep breath and relax as well!!

Roasted cauliflower corn chowder for meatless Monday along with a wedge of cheese (for DH, DD, and DS) and sliced apple on the side for everyone. Thanking the September "ME" that made it and froze it for just such a night!

If you all are fans, don't forget that the newest season of Biggest Loser starts tonight! And if you are a fan of those types of reality shows, ABC has a new one starting Thursday called "My Diet is Better than Yours".

I'll BBL tonight or in the morning!................P

SO glad you are able to take this week for you and your family!

I love seeing the transformations on BL, but I have read so much of what they have to do "behind the scenes" to get those "amazing" results that I don't really watch in anymore on principle, haha. So little of it is about living a healthy lifestyle and so much more about doing whatever it takes to lose as much as possible as quickly as possible so you don't look bad on TV and hopefully win money. I might watch this season, though, as I have lots of TV time in my days right now! LOL

Thank you for letting me join!!

Introduction..I am 45 years old and weigh more than I ever have. Ten years ago I lost 110lbs using weight watchers and DIS challenges. Then I gained it all back. 4 years ago I lost 60lbs and gained it all back while my dad was being treated for and subsequently died of cancer.

Fast forward to today. I spent the weekend at Disney and for the first time ever, my feet, knees and back were killing me! I don't want to have that when I go back. I joined this challenge and a couple on myfitnesspal.

The doc has given me an interesting diet, telling me to eat the calories I would need to maintain my ideal weight. He may also prescribe a new medication, Contrave. We will see!

As far as reflections go, I'm another person who does not look in the mirror if I can avoid it. I do take a lot of selfies because I can position my face so it doesn't look so bad. Out of sight, out of mind I guess!

Thanks again! I'm looking forward to following this thread!

Haha, I will fully admit that I am that way about selfies, too! I don't like having my picture taken because most other people won't tweak the camera the way it needs to be to get the best results, but I can hold my phone wherever I need to to make me look like a rockstar! Happy to have you along with us!

Just popping in to say 'hi' and answer the QOTD. I'm another that feels this question could have been about me. It wasn't the mirror so much for me but a reflection in a window. I seriously thought "wow that woman needs to take better care of herself" and then almost fell over.

But positives! I love positives! I'm totally with @pjlla on the hair. I used to have GREAT hair but the gray strands makes it merely good these days. I've got nice eyes and skin that improves every day that I eat right. I'm funny, I'm smart, I'm kind, and I'm a really good cook. Finally, at least while the weight lasts, I've got a great rack!

I totally LOL'ed at your response! I love your humor! Haha

Yikes, so much to catch up on - great, active thread.

I gained almost 2 pounds the last 2 weeks of December, my first gain since starting these challenges 3 months ago. I'm back to tracking and getting to the gym 3 times weekly and will get to my goal of 4pounds this month. (I've been averaging a pound a week loss these 3 months).

YOU SO WILL GET TO 4LBS THIS MONTH!!

I'm excited for this month's eating plan. I touched on it before but we signed up for Blue Apron. All the meals they will send us to cook are supposed to be 500-700 calories. And DH and I will be learning to cook new stuff together! This is a major change since we go out ALL THE TIME! Not only is that super unhealthy, but one month I totaled how much we spent going out to eat and I about passed out. There are so many other fun things I can think of to do with that money!

This is so me! My cooking-at-home kick lately is not as much because of health as it is because of money - our bank account statement is basically a ridiculous "who's who" of surrounding restaurants.

Morning all! I rose an hour earlier than needed this morning...... I misunderstood DS when he said he needed to be at school an hour early on Wednesday and thought he meant today. So I set my alarm as back-up (he sometimes forgets) and after I knocked and woke him at 6 am I went downstairs to make coffee.... and he came down to tell me he had another hour to sleep. He was NOT happy with me. I went back to bed and watched the rest of BL (I fell asleep last night about halfway through). NBD for me to get up, since my alarm goes off at 5:30 most work days anyhow..... but frustrating I could have slept in a bit more.

DD has learned to make over-easy eggs, so she made breakfast! I haven't had a real whole egg in a while (just eat egg whites the majority of the time), so it was a nice treat! Had a small low carb pita pocket with some PB2 and a half banana on the side. Since I ate later than usual this should last me until lunch.

Time to get prepped and ready for my first WW meeting of the year! I'm excited to get people started on this new healthy journey! Fingers crossed that I have a record number of newbies and ALL of my "regulars" and "not-so-regulars" back in the chairs as well!

I'll be back later to answer the QOTD!..............P

Oh, man. As someone who does NOT like to get up early, I TOTALLY sympathize with your son! Hahaha. Hopefully it didn't make him a grump for the rest of the day!

I am using MFP to track everything I eat and they have the nutritional breakdown on there.I am trying not over think things or be my usual OCD with this. That what does me in is over thinking everything. Aiming for balance but not going to concentrate on that right now. Aiming to end up at or under my calorie for the day. Still trying to find things that are satisfying that is good for me.

That is definitely a solid plan of attack!

For today's question, I shared earlier then I started an eight week program through my cousin's fitness blog company, and was reviewing their sample nutrition and menu. It reminds me of body for life if anyone has done that or heard of that, remember that from several years ago? It's more of a balance of ratio of proteins/carbs/fat. Three meals and two light snacks throughout the day. I think the snacks will be helpful because I hit a wall late afternoon usually. I am not going to strictly follow their regimented food plan, because that usually backfires for me. I'm using their examples as a guideline and modify with what I like and what I have here on hand. I am also counting and tracking on my fitness pal and think I have added everyone so far from this group.

I love this! While I don't practice it myself (I know, I know) I really believe in the PCF ratios and three meals + light snacks. When I had a desk job, I had it broken down to eat at specific times every day, usually 2.5 hours apart. I found myself getting hungry with an hour or 30 minutes to go, though, and spending that time thinking about food and watching the minutes pass. I'm going to try a less structured regimen this time and just eat when I'm hungry, and see how that works out for me.

Well.... it should come as no surprise that my eating plan for this month.... and for the foreseeable future is WW (formerly Points, then PointsPlus, now SmartPoints). Some of my favorite HEALTHY things to eat OP..... egg whites (LOTS of bulk for very few Points), lots and lots and lots of fruits and veggies (truly.... I love so many of them), light cheese (light Baby Bel, or Laughing Cow or WW cheese sticks).... so few Points, so much protein and some calcium to boot, organic fat-free plain greek yogurt with berries (we eat a LOT of this in my house), oatmeal (old-fashioned and steel cut), hummus (my new favorite flavor is caramelized onion), smoothies (made with almond milk, fruit and greens).

Yes, I do track everything I eat the majority of the time (I usually fall away from this on vacations). I do NOT always eat when I feel hungry. I have gotten used to feeling hungry at times and have unfortunately come to find it an agreeable feeling..... but HANGRY is another thing! I eat three meals a day and don't always snack between meals..... it depends on how large the previous meal was and whether or not have time and the proper choices available.

I gave up Diet Coke (and other diet sodas) about 2 years into this journey. It is truly a TERRIBLE thing for your health. DH had a terrible addiction......... but he has finally found success in giving it up cold turkey. He hasn't had even a SIP of it in nearly a year!! I've never been one to have much in the way of candy or baked goods in the house (unless they were snacks for the kids) and now I don't even keep those around much. None of us should be consuming them and to be honest, DS doesn't even have much interest. He is the type to let a package of peanut butter Oreos go stale because he keeps forgetting they are there!

I do NOT just "wing it". I did that for enough years of my life and all it got me was nearly 90 pounds overweight! And even when I was running consistently and regularly a few years ago, I didn't count on the exercise to combat a bad diet..... I saw it as a BONUS to help with a GOOD diet!

I keep trying to train myself to not eat after 7pm..... but it doesn't always work. For now I aim for 8pm..... but I KNOW that I would be better off not eating after 6 or 7 pm if possible.

Overall I stick with the basics...... I use a healthy eating plan (WW), I weigh/measure/track the majority of what I eat every day, I stick with healthy REAL WHOLE foods (very little packaged and processed foods) that I cook at home. I try to have a good balance of macronutrients, but I know that being a product of the 80's "fat-free" food revolution has made me VERY fat phobic and as such that is probably the one food category I need to eat MORE of. I try not to eliminate any one particular category of foods (fats, carbs, sugars) because I think that sets you up for cravings..... but I do watch the carbs/sugars pretty carefully.

Love your approach, and how well you know yourself! One of my favorite ways to "add fat" to my diet, other than sticking with things like whole milk and cheeses and the like, is adding coconut oil to things. I know it's super trendy right now, but it's really hard to notice in most foods, and the list of positives that go along with it is long. I don't do peanut butter but I do make homemade almond butter and all I do is throw almonds and coconut oil in the food processor and let it go until it's buttery! It's SO GOOD with grape jelly!

The shop looks great though! I will be getting that mickey etched glass. My cabinet that has my wine glasses has my Disney stuff on the first two levels so it's perfect!

Health foods are crap for you but they're big business. That's the reason why I cook with real butter and olive oil. Yes it's higher in calorie content, but I don't count it (unless I go crazy or add some to something like couscous after the fact) if I'm just lubing up a pan because I'm using 25 calories worth. Honesty in moderation olive oil is just so good for you I feel bad for people that don't take advantage. Part of that is also that I eat as natural as possible. I like to cook, so prepackaged food just isn't really a thing for me. The low whatever fake butters and sprays freak me out a little bit.

My eating plan is calories in vs calories out. At the end of the day that's how you lose weight. Right now I'm tracking, and I've mentioned my issues with that before because with me it can dip into being too big of a focus if I let it. So far so good though. I am trying to force myself to eat normal meals though. I gain weight because I tend to eat one huge meal a day when I get home from work and then go to bed. My metabolism hates me for it. So I'm trying to do the breakfast lunch and dinner with snacks thing. Trying. Kind of failing, but still eating more well rounded than before. I've been paying more attention to portions as well.

I don't actually like a lot of "junk" food I didn't grow up eating it (because if it showed up in my house my family would eat it in ten seconds) so I've never had to give up soda, or sweets. I do like salty foods, but I can do pickles rather than chips. Running has made me more aware of things missing in my diet like iron and calcium. I don't like cow stuff so eating beef or drinking chocolate milk after a run is a struggle. I know I know boo hoo to me. I also live alone so I control what foods are and aren't in my house. If I don't buy it I can't eat it.

Thank you, thank you! I love love making things, so I'm really hoping it takes off. It went live at 9CST last night and I spent the next 4 hours checking all the stats on Facebook and Etsy... I'm about to start just begging people to buy things, LOL. I'm going to add a bunch of decals today and tomorrow, and some more Disney things. I'm trying to figure out the balance between having enough listings that people get a good idea of what I can do and then hopefully buy things or request custom things, but also not list (and pay for listing) a billion different options that no one will look at.

You and I have the same plan, it sounds like! Common sense and constant vigilance! We, too, use real butter, olive oil, whole milk, etc. We use real sugar, too. There's just so much out there that your body wasn't designed to process, and just because it says "healthy" doesn't mean it is!

Have you tried chocolate almond milk instead of chocolate "cow" milk? I love love love love almond (and almond + coconut) milk. I use vanilla in cereal and baking, but chocolate to drink. Just an alternative option!

I watched a doc on Netflix called Fed Up and it talks about how bad low-fat alternatives are for you because low-fat stuff tastes gross unless the pump it full of sugar. So while the fat content is low, the sugar content is high! And they argue that's what's causing obesity in America. Because exercise trends are growing and low-fat/low-cal options are growing, but so is obesity. It was a very eye-opening documentary and it's opened my eyes to try and make some healthier choices. As a result, I never buy low-fat/fat free choices. It means that I don't get as many points to "spend" on those types of food (like cheese. A 1/4 c of shredded cheddar is 4 points but someone could have the same amount of fat free for 2). But I figure that it's healthier to eat the full fat/low sugar option and eat less of it because I really should be eating protein, healthy fats, fruits, and veggies anyway. So my eating plan this month is to follow WW as I've been doing. I've struggled to correct the sweet tooth and it's something I'll probably just always have. I track almost everything, except ketchup. I refuse to track ketchup! But I rarely drink any soda (not even diet). It's all about the balance and that's the struggle!

_____

Phew! All caught up. Yesterday was a 5 mile run which was my longest. It was a nice and slow pace on the treadmill. I'm pretty sore today! I'm not sure if it's the time of year or what but I'm starting to think I have exercise-induced asthma. I cough and wheeze towards the end of any intense workout and then am wheezy afterward for quite some time. I'm not sure if that's normal or something that I should actually check into.

I think I'm going to go look up this documentary when I get done here. It sounds like it just reinforces my own beliefs - haha - BUT I am trying to be as informed about as many different "theories" out there as possible.

I cough and wheeze when I work out, too... I always just chalked it up to my being fat and lazy and out of shape it never occurred to me that it might be something to be concerned about!

Yesterday's qotd: 3 good things
1. I'm a good mom and wife.
2. When I am struggling emotionally, I go out of my way to fix it. I try very hard to get out of "the pits" when I fall in.
3. I'm a good listener

Today's qotd:
I track everything I eat through my fitness pal, but when I was losing weight I didn't. I followed a Low carb diet that didn't require tracking. Now that I'm nearing goal weight I'm tracking because I'm introducing some carbs back in.

I eat whenever I am hungry. I try to stick to an every few hours schedule, so I'll eat breakfast/snack/tea or soda, lunch/snack/tea or soda etc. so I have eating to to do every few hours. I like to eat, so I like knowing I have food to look forward to.
I do not eat sugar when I'm in weight loss mode. I don't even eat fruit. Now that I am maintaining, I will eat fruit.

Once a week I eat only protein all day long. Eggs, meat, a ton of water. Not even vegetables. I make sure to eat oat bran once a day or I'll get constipated.

On weekends, I relax. That doesn't mean I pig out, I just allow myself things like a big diner Cobb salad with regular dressing, or a big omelette with cheese and bacon.

I was never a fan of the idea of a low carb diet, but it has become apparent to me that my body actually hurts when I overeat carbs and sugar. Because I'm addictive person, it's better for me to avoid them all together.

So glad you have found a plan that works for you and that is sustainable for you! That is SO MUCH of the struggle!

Tracking is a godsend because you know what you're eating and how much you should eat. Having MFP or WW just helps you get an idea of portion size and what/when you should eat.

As for what goes into my mouth... the easiest way to not binge on sweets is: not to buy them! We make it a plan to only keep healthy things in reach.

This is my thinking, too! But we unfortunately have a gas station just a block away and a DH who needs absolutely NO begging to go get sweets when there's a craving

I get so focused on the negatives some times. But there are a few things I am proud of.
1) My arms. They are strong and toned. Although I am self conscious about my legs, and avoid shorts for that reason, I am happy to wear tank tops and feel like they are the part of me I can "show off" so to speak. I also enjoy that when my family gets together and people need tough jars opened, they come to me, not the guys to get them open
2) My optimism. I am an eternal optimist. It drives some people nuts. Maybe it is the former therapist in me, but I can walk through a lot of things people are unhappy about, and while acknowledging the problem, help them either find ways to turn it around, learn from it, or realize it is not as bad as they are making it out to be.
3) My eyes. They are a bright blue gray color, with a golden circle around them. They are the feature of my face, that if I just highlight a little with makeup, I can go from totally blah to looking pretty decent fast That is one goal of mine this year, to try to put a bit more effort into my everyday appearance.



The first part is so me. I truly enjoy exercise. But it also is a major excuse for me to think I can eat everything under the sun. Oh, I ran 6 miles today. I think I will have a large Italian sub for lunch, a big burger for dinner and a huge brownie sundae for dessert. Um, that math does not work!

I have returned to My Fitness Pal for tracking. I have it set to lose 1.5 pounds a week. I will track everything I eat and drink. I do not cut anything out completely, but I watch all my portion sizes. For instance, after the gym today I had a cup of fat free plain greek yogurt to which I added 16 dark chocolate chips (1 serving). I do not cut starchy carbs out, but I limit those portions. My lunch and dinner plates will be about 50% veggies, 30% protein, and 20% starchier carbs like whole grain pasta or rice. My dinner last night was a huge plate of zucchini noodles, 1/4 cup jasmine rice, 1/2 cup green beans, and 3 asian turkey meatballs. It was delicious and satisfying. I also will go back to more carefully watching my water intake. I will eat three servings of fruit a day, mostly citrus and berries, because that what I like.

I do have a daily treat when I stay on plan. That can vary from a small serving of ice cream, a frozen yogurt bar, or a cookie or two. My kids just did a cookie fundraiser, so I have a ton of frozen cookie dough, which is pre-portioned blocks of dough. That lets me make just a few cookies at a time, so I don't lose control.

I don't drink soda at all. Just don't like it. The one drink I need to watch out for is wine But while I am working hard at getting closer to my goal weight I am going to a no wine during the week, and no more than two glasses on Friday and Saturdays.

My favorite healthy things to eat. I love plain greek yogurt. People think I am crazy, they find it tasteless, but I love it. I like hard boiled eggs as a quick snack, as well as cheese sticks. I like grapefruit, berries and love clementines. I like pepper strips with hummus. I also love cooking, so I like to take dishes and find ways to lighten them up.

As for my goal, I got my scale working, and it wasn't pretty. I gained three pounds in the last three weeks or so with all the holidays and then stress and fast food eating, plus no exercise when my dad got so sick. So, I am at 137. Prior to having a working scale I said 6 pounds, and I think I will stick with it. I'd like to say 7 to get back to 130, but I think 1.5 pounds a week is a reasonable and achievable goal, so I will go with it. I am going to weigh in on Fridays.

You are doing an amazing job! It sounds like you have a great method and a great head on your shoulders - all of the equipment you need for success on this journey!

I don't really have an eating plan. Just a goal to eat more healthy and make less sweets. I don't like the word diet, it makes me hungry LOL I can't think of a favorite healthy thing to eat. I've gotten into munching on grapes a work if that counts.

Sorry, I didn't mean "diet" the way we typically think of it - usually a quick-fix plan to follow to get fast results that don't last. I meant it in a more general sense, just as "the food that goes into your body".

I get twitchy when people say they're on a diet. It just makes me think of something temporary and that they'll eventually jump off the wagon rather than maintain. Sadly I think that happens more often than not when people are so into diets. Change your life not your food for a few months.

Yes, sorry, I guess I should've found a better word to use. I didn't mean it as "what quick fix are you using this month".

I want to share an easy healthy recipe that I tried today.
ham and cheese egg cups
I lined the bottom of 12 muffin cups with slices of deli ham. (About 1/2 slice each cup) I sprinkled some cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeño in each cup. Then I mixed 6 eggs and a cup of egg beaters together and filled each cup 3/4. Baked at 375 for 17 minutes.

They are around 75 calories each and very filling. Great for breakfast or at 3pm when you are feeling "snacky". You can even add other stuff, onions, etc.

I LOVE EGG MUFFINS! Haha, I made up some with some onion and cheese and ground turkey, and they were so good, and they refrigerate and reheat so easily!

I went for a very cold and windy 3.8K walk today. My ankle keeps locking up today. No pain no gain

11.2k/60k

You are making such amazing progress on your goal! 1/6 of the way there and only on day 5!!!

----------

Looks like i am all caught up here for the time being!! Off to make up some almond butter and tuna fish, I think, and probably to check out that documentary on Netflix. Can't wait to chat with everyone!

 

[courtneybeth]

I'm not sure what it is about rainy days, but don't they make you feel down and depressed?

I feel like I've turned into an Eeyore today. Just a lot of little things bothering me and getting under my skin. Trying my best to power through.

 

[jaelless]

JacknSally that almond butter and tuna fish sounds like quite an unusual combination LOL just teasing. I love the idea of homemade almond butter. hmmmm wonder if I could make homemade nutella. My daughter loves that stuff. Tonight I am making something I think is healthy. I got some crab meat which I shred up and then mix in coleslaw type cabbage and carrots.. Usually I use store bought dressing to flavor it but tonight going to go look for a homemade type of coleslaw dressing. I think those usually involve vinegar so that will allow me to use my apple cider vinegar (ACV) which is supposed to be very healthy for the body. I roam about on Pinterest a lot and the benefits of ACV show up quite often. Any body have any experience with it?

 

[JacknSally]

JacknSally that almond butter and tuna fish sounds like quite an unusual combination LOL just teasing. I love the idea of homemade almond butter. hmmmm wonder if I could make homemade nutella. My daughter loves that stuff. Tonight I am making something I think is healthy. I got some crab meat which I shred up and then mix in coleslaw type cabbage and carrots.. Usually I use store bought dressing to flavor it but tonight going to go look for a homemade type of coleslaw dressing. I think those usually involve vinegar so that will allow me to use my apple cider vinegar (ACV) which is supposed to be very healthy for the body. I roam about on Pinterest a lot and the benefits of ACV show up quite often. Any body have any experience with it?

AHHHH haha no those are two very separate dishes!! LOL. I have heard a lot of good about ACV but never tried it personally - sorry I can't give any firsthand advice! I love crab meat but you have to be sure to eat the real stuff and not imitation, which always makes me grocery bill jump up pretty quickly, haha, so it is pretty rare in my house. I love it, though!

 

[jaelless]

I get twitchy when people say they're on a diet. It just makes me think of something temporary and that they'll eventually jump off the wagon rather than maintain. Sadly I think that happens more often than not when people are so into diets. Change your life not your food for a few months.

Any time I think of dieting I get into mindset of what I can't have, which of course makes me what it right then. You are totally right in that it needs to be a lifestyle change in order for it to really last. Which is tough to do quickly. I have spent 10+ years with my current unhealthy lifestyle. Making change will take some work. In long run it will be worth it though.

I'm not sure what it is about rainy days, but don't they make you feel down and depressed?

I feel like I've turned into an Eeyore today. Just a lot of little things bothering me and getting under my skin. Trying my best to power through.

I like the rain when it is not cold. Storms in particular are fun, well as long as I can enjoy them from inside LOL I love Eeyore. No matter what he keeps plodding along. I hope your day gets better.

 

[flvy]

Any time I think of dieting I get into mindset of what I can't have, which of course makes me what it right then. You are totally right in that it needs to be a lifestyle change in order for it to really last. Which is tough to do quickly. I have spent 10+ years with my current unhealthy lifestyle. Making change will take some work. In long run it will be worth it though.

I'm the same I never tell myself I can't have anything. If I want junk food I'll eat it in moderation and not daily. Like a square of chocolate, a small bag of chips, or something to that effect and just be good the remainder of the day. I have a coworker that constantly shoots herself in the foot with the term diet and telling herself she can't have things. And you're so right you can't undo bad habits overnight you have to chip away daily!

I'm not sure what it is about rainy days, but don't they make you feel down and depressed?

I feel like I've turned into an Eeyore today. Just a lot of little things bothering me and getting under my skin. Trying my best to power through.

Eeyore was always my favorite You have to go have a "miserable" run in the rain and play in the puddles. I also just realized that your going to be staying at Riverside in a Royal room. As it stands that is my most favorite lodging!! (see Disney talk it always helps)

Thank you, thank you! I love love making things, so I'm really hoping it takes off. It went live at 9CST last night and I spent the next 4 hours checking all the stats on Facebook and Etsy... I'm about to start just begging people to buy things, LOL. I'm going to add a bunch of decals today and tomorrow, and some more Disney things. I'm trying to figure out the balance between having enough listings that people get a good idea of what I can do and then hopefully buy things or request custom things, but also not list (and pay for listing) a billion different options that no one will look at.

You and I have the same plan, it sounds like! Common sense and constant vigilance! We, too, use real butter, olive oil, whole milk, etc. We use real sugar, too. There's just so much out there that your body wasn't designed to process, and just because it says "healthy" doesn't mean it is!

Have you tried chocolate almond milk instead of chocolate "cow" milk? I love love love love almond (and almond + coconut) milk. I use vanilla in cereal and baking, but chocolate to drink. Just an alternative option!

I cannot believe you caught up to every post! If I wasn't paying for two back to back trips right now I would have ordered right away. You're doing all the right stuff the orders will happen. Even if I love a shop if it's over 15 pages I'm out attention wise.

I was drinking soy milk, it just doesn't have the same nutritional value as the cow milk does. I'm a HUGE fan of flavored almond and soy milk. I just throw some frozen cherries into the chocolate milk and it helps, or I drank my coffee in it the other morning. I never thought I'd eat a bunch of stuff I dislike just for running.

 

[courtneybeth]

Thanks to the encouragement of @flvy and @jaelless, I opted to do a little retail therapy and I feel better. Hey @JacknSally - I look forward to receiving my 'catch all' dish soon

 

[5xdisneyfans]

I'm not sure what it is about rainy days, but don't they make you feel down and depressed?

I feel like I've turned into an Eeyore today. Just a lot of little things bothering me and getting under my skin. Trying my best to power through.

I am the same way on gloomy days. I just feel like going back to bed when it is like that out.

 

[flvy]

I need someone to forcefully take pasta away from me. Please and thank you.

 

[DisPup75]

Two days in to the new job and I'm SO TIRED. I got spoiled with my month off and mornings are really not my thing. Particularly when it is 16 degrees and windy. The good news is that my pants are all so big right now that there was plenty of room for my long underwear.

Still reading but just no time to respond to individual posts right now so I'm just going to stick with QOTD. But first, BIG CONGRATULATIONS to @JacknSally! E store looks great!!

Posting this from my phone so the QOTD is up at a reasonable time today, haha. I'll be back soon to catch up for real (I know I said that yesterday - I'm sorry! Etsy took SO much more time than I anticipated!)

QOTD for Tuesday, January 5, 2016

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Chien-Po is really coming at this the right way! It doesn't matter what you wear (LuLuLemon or Fabletics or Champion or Nike or Walmart - the clothes aren't doing the work!!) or what you look like (short, tall, blonde, redhead, 10lbs to go, 100lbs to go... Whatever!) - IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU COOK LIKE!

We've all heard that 80% (or similar) of weight loss happens in the kitchen. Well, that's because your diet has the biggest impact on your results! You can run for hours every day but it doesn't matter if you then eat 3,000 calories of chocolate & cake every night.

Did you know "low-fat" items are not the "healthiest", because they have been so over-processed to get to "low-fat" stage that they've lost the majority of the nutrients that make them healthy? A lot of "low-calorie" options are the same way - don't just grab a box because it says 100 calorie on the front! That chart on the back is what's important.

There are so many food theories out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Atkins, South Beach, Slimfast, NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, Paleo, Vegetarian, Low-Cal, Low-Carb, Low-Fat... There are so many more that it will make your head spin. It's enough to make you throw in the towel and pick up the spoon, for sure. The most recommended macronutrient breakdown for "healthy eating" is 50% protein - 30% carbs - 20% fat. Does anyone here follow that breakdown in their diet?

No matter how you diet - tracking macros, low-carb, no sugar, vegetarian, etc. - the most important factor is common sense.

What is your eating plan for this month, and what are some of your favorite healthy things to eat? Do you track everything you eat? Do you eat only at certain times or whenever you feel hungry? Do you cut out soda or candy or baked goods? Do you just wing the diet and hope the exercise will counter it? Do you cut yourself off at a certain time of day? Tell us how you diet!​

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a few years ago and feel much, much better when I follow an anti-inflammatory diet. I started with a Dr. Weil style Mediterranean diet after my diagnosis but eventually shifted to Dr. Perricone style because I find it easier to follow even though it is actually more restrictive. It involves lots of lean protein (fish, eggs, chicken breast, plain yogurt), healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, almonds), non-starchy vegetables, low glycemic fruits, and a serving or two a day of non-gluten grains. The super strict version of this actually fits in perfectly with the new WW program, which is great!! It also happens to get me pretty close to the 50/30/20 macronutrients breakdown and I am NEVER hungry.

The problem of course is that I start to feel better, add in a few more foods (I like gluten , dairy, red meat, and added sugar!), still feel OK, add a few more and so on until it all falls apart. You would think I would learn but I just don't. Or at least I haven't so far. I'm still not entirely a fan of the new WW program (I swear I'll write a full review one of these days) but I'm trying really hard to stick to the plan because I think it might limit my non-Perricone approved indulgences enough that I both lose weight and keep the pain under control. It's been a week since my detox, I'm eating small amounts of gluten every day, and so far I feel OK. I would rather live on bread and cheese but neither my joints nor my waistline care for that approach.

 

[DisPup75]

Thanks to the encouragement of @flvy and @jaelless, I opted to do a little retail therapy and I feel better. Hey @JacknSally - I look forward to receiving my 'catch all' dish soon

You are in sunny California! It isn't supposed to rain!! Seriously though, I hate the rain. I'm a California girl by birth and I get mopey if the sun disappears for more than a day. I deal with it by wearing ridiculous rain boots. My favorite pair features dancing cows.

I need someone to forcefully take pasta away from me. Please and thank you.

Step away from the pasta!!! I'd forcefully take it for myself but I don't want it.