Sebastian's STRONG and SVELTE Under the Sea September W.I.S.H. Weight Loss Challenge - All Welcome!

[ThistleMae]

Sorry to have joined this wonderful thread, then go MIA. Last week was super busy preparing for vacation and working overtime. This week has been lovely, enjoying our extended family at the shore.

I've been pretty consistent sticking with my 26 points and exercising 40 minutes every other day. We're at our condo, so I've been cooking all our meals. Last night, we ate out and I'm not sure how many points the broiled crab cake was ( don't have a WW app and left my book at home).

I'm lucky I don't have food pushers around me. My family is supportive of my desire to eat healthy. My biggest problem is portion sizes. My hubby is 6'4" and can eat almost anything in large quantities without gaining. At 5' , weight gain shows up quickly on me!

Yeah.....that makes it harder for you. But you did great with all your cooking and being mindful when you ate out.

 

[ThistleMae]

I'm glad that you at least had fun at Disneyland - sorry to hear that Disney gave you something to remember it by But the good news is that once you get back on track that you will bounce back in no time and get the weight off immediately. Your 4 pound goal is for sure going to be easy to beat. You got this!



Losing 80 pounds is a milestone and I am so excited for you to lose that last remaining 10. You can do it!



Yes. Yes x10000000 on this one. I'm 5'2" and experience this one -- gaining 5 pounds can make you look like you've gained at least twice that. My husband can eat more points than me and typically eats larger portions, which is so hard some times because I'd love to have an extra 10 points when we're eating out and he gets to have a dessert and I'm staring at it longingly from across the table and scowling at him for enjoying it. Then I have to remember that I am in this position because I've had too many desserts and now is not the time to be angry or petty. Hubs is him and I am me - we are different and I cannot compare.




I'm in the midst of encountering this right now and it's extremely frustrating. My birthday is a week from tomorrow and I planned on one cheat meal at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland to celebrate not only my birthday but also the hard work I've done through this "Betterment of Me" adventure. My mother-in-law and I share the same birthday (so when they say a man marries a woman like his mother... my husband wins the prize for that), which means we now have TWO birthdays to celebrate and it's a family meal at Carthay Circle because she wants to celebrate at Disneyland. I informed her that there isn't much for me to eat there, as the portions are huge and I am on WW, but I am forced to go and participate. I think I've settled on asking for the Salmon entree without the sauce and seeing if I can get some steamed veggies or a side salad to help "fill me up" as the sides are very high in calories (anyone want to try to point a serving of Jasmine Rice?). I figure a sauceless salmon will be the healthiest option and maybe they can make it super bland so I don't rack up the points? I told my husband that I'd rather go to the salad place at the back of California Adventure and eat that for 4 points and sit at dinner not eating anything but he got mad at me. I still don't know what to do and it's becoming a huge stresser. I don't want to eat too many large/rich meals because of my fantastic progress... so how do I do this properly without hurting myself or offending my MIL and my husband's family?

 

[ThistleMae]

Restaurants are always hard. The last time I went out with friends, agonizing over the menu....trying to find something, anything, I could eat was frustrating. I managed to ask for plain fish with a side of broccoli. It was a tasteless dish. What upsets me the most is that my meals at home are much more tasty and healthy. But when I go out...I pay a big price for something less than satisfying. But....the point is that I ate lunch with friends, which was nice. I guess sometimes you have to suffer for a higher purpose.

 

[ThistleMae]

So I had a WOOHOO WEDNESDAY yesterday that I wanted to share -- not a huge milestone but something that made me super happy.

I went to Victoria's Secret yesterday to see if any of the yoga pants and relaxing shirts were on sale since the merchandise at most stores is switching from summer to fall. We're still in summer here in Southern California - it was 110 yesterday near Disneyland with random rain showers (Florida can have its weather back!) On a whim I decided to try on the medium-sized shirt and yoga pants from their Pink line, and sure enough... THEY FIT. I had a hunch they would since my size large pants and shirts were starting to feel a bit 'big' -- I bought those before my trip to Europe this summer and lost an additional 16 pounds since I bought them.

Small victory - Victoria Secret Pink is their "Trend" line. Fitting into a size medium just made me so happy because it shows the progress that I've made.


Nordstrom is having a huge clearance sale in-store right now and I am heading over there this weekend to see if I can snag anything to fill-in since I'm now at the point where clothing is too big. From sleep shirts to dresses and pants to skirts, I'm in an awkward place where my clothing is too big but I'm only half-way to my goal. Oh darn. To the mall I go on Saturday!

Wow! Good for you! I love the pink line. I don't have a store anywhere near me but when I travel I always stop in. Fantastic that you can fit into a smaller size...I think this is a huge milestone! Don't sell yourself short.

 

[ANforever1030]

QOTD - September 10​

Food pushers!!! I seem to have them everywhere.... Do you? What are your strategies for dealing with them and their delicious or not-so delicious offerings?

I'm fortunate that my DW2B is also working to lose weight prior to the big day so I usually don't get any push back from her, but at work they regularly bring in donuts or other carb filled foods and they'll give me grief about it if I don't have any. I usually have been drinking water or already eaten so I just let them know I'm not hungry.

 

[ANforever1030]

Restaurants are always hard. The last time I went out with friends, agonizing over the menu....trying to find something, anything, I could eat was frustrating. I managed to ask for plain fish with a side of broccoli. It was a tasteless dish. What upsets me the most is that my meals at home are much more tasty and healthy. But when I go out...I pay a big price for something less than satisfying. But....the point is that I ate lunch with friends, which was nice. I guess sometimes you have to suffer for a higher purpose.

Sometimes, but not always. If any of you are ever in the Denver airport for a layover and happen to be in terminal B or terminal C there is a fantastic fast casual option called mod market. It is all farm-to-table and responsibly raised, and they break down all the fats/carbs/proteins and even fibers right on the menu. It is also quite delicious. They have several locations in Denver and two new locations in Texas (not sure where) as well.

Unfortunately many restaurants though do simply cater to, and even contribute to, the way Americans eat: large portions and high carbs.

 

[Tara&Mike]

I'm glad that you at least had fun at Disneyland - sorry to hear that Disney gave you something to remember it by But the good news is that once you get back on track that you will bounce back in no time and get the weight off immediately. Your 4 pound goal is for sure going to be easy to beat. You got this!



Losing 80 pounds is a milestone and I am so excited for you to lose that last remaining 10. You can do it!



Yes. Yes x10000000 on this one. I'm 5'2" and experience this one -- gaining 5 pounds can make you look like you've gained at least twice that. My husband can eat more points than me and typically eats larger portions, which is so hard some times because I'd love to have an extra 10 points when we're eating out and he gets to have a dessert and I'm staring at it longingly from across the table and scowling at him for enjoying it. Then I have to remember that I am in this position because I've had too many desserts and now is not the time to be angry or petty. Hubs is him and I am me - we are different and I cannot compare.




I'm in the midst of encountering this right now and it's extremely frustrating. My birthday is a week from tomorrow and I planned on one cheat meal at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland to celebrate not only my birthday but also the hard work I've done through this "Betterment of Me" adventure. My mother-in-law and I share the same birthday (so when they say a man marries a woman like his mother... my husband wins the prize for that), which means we now have TWO birthdays to celebrate and it's a family meal at Carthay Circle because she wants to celebrate at Disneyland. I informed her that there isn't much for me to eat there, as the portions are huge and I am on WW, but I am forced to go and participate. I think I've settled on asking for the Salmon entree without the sauce and seeing if I can get some steamed veggies or a side salad to help "fill me up" as the sides are very high in calories (anyone want to try to point a serving of Jasmine Rice?). I figure a sauceless salmon will be the healthiest option and maybe they can make it super bland so I don't rack up the points? I told my husband that I'd rather go to the salad place at the back of California Adventure and eat that for 4 points and sit at dinner not eating anything but he got mad at me. I still don't know what to do and it's becoming a huge stresser. I don't want to eat too many large/rich meals because of my fantastic progress... so how do I do this properly without hurting myself or offending my MIL and my husband's family?

If I were you, I'd go with your plan of getting the plain salmon, with a veggie side. That way you're a part of the celebration and still on your plan. I know exactly how you feel with this struggle though, being a part of a large family it seems like there is a birthday to celebrate every few weeks, and how does everyone want to celebrate? With food of course! It really can be challenging, but I think you have it figured out!

 

[Tara&Mike]

QOTD - September 10​

Food pushers!!! I seem to have them everywhere.... Do you? What are your strategies for dealing with them and their delicious or not-so delicious offerings?

There are a few food pushers in my family, including my mother and my MIL. They both know that my husband and I are watching our weight, but both act sad when we refuse dessert or sides with dinner. I just keep it short and sweet: as soon as the dessert comes out, I just say "No, thank you," then help myself to tea or a glass of water to drink while others are enjoying dessert.
Don't get me wrong, my husband and I still enjoy desserts from time to time, but we plan for it ahead of time. This weekend for example, we are making homemade cookie ice-cream sandwiches. I already figured out the nutrition info in Myfitnesspal, and we will make sure to save calories for it. Having a treat to look forward to at the end of the week is nice, and I won't feel guilty for eating it because I've planned for it and it's within my calorie goal!

 

[scdak]

I've been MIA for a little while, I have been studying for a class I had to take for work and then spent 1 1/2 days taking it.........sitting in a class is a killer when I am used to being up and moving for 10,000 steps a day! Needless to say yesterday I never did finish my steps but I am working on it now (exercise bike) so I should make it for today. I have to work tomorrow but then I have 2 days off - time I plan on spending getting as much packed for my upcoming as I can...........GULP that I leave for in 12 days, and I work 12 hour days for 1/2 of that time! YIKES, I guess I have to get my rear in gear! BUT on a happy note- other then the travel days for me to and from Orlando I will meet my Fitbit goal every day! Now that I have read about everyone's lunch plans I need to think about mine for tomorrow!

 

[SarahDisney]

Unrelated, I decided on a whim to sign up for a 10K this weekend! I haven't run any official 5K races (although I routinely run that distance as part of my normal workout). My DH, MIL and one of my BIL were planning on running this race and spectating for an hour sucks! So I was like "Okay, I guess I'll sign up too..." So I'll be focusing on surviving an hour and a half of exercise on Sunday. The bonus is that right now in KC the weather is projected to be in the 50s and 60s that morning and the course is pretty flat.

Running is definitely better than spectating! Have a great time and good luck!

 

[DisPup75]

They are mission extra thin yellow corn tortillas. They are 40 calories each (recommended serving is 3 at 120 calories total). I usually just have two, but I pile them with a lot of protein and veggies. If I've done a particularly long workout, I will eat all three. They don't have a ton of nutritional value, so for me, its more that I love tacos, so I am eating two to feel like I'm getting something I really want but the focus is really on the fillings.

Definitely going to check those out!

Fortunately I don't have a ton of food pushers. My biggest problem is my husband. He is a big night eater. He will bring out snacks at 9-9:30 every night. He is not pushing them toward me at all, but he has them right there in front of both of us, and some nights its hard to resist. I have been good about not indulging lately. Some nights I will go get a healthy option if I feel I am truly hungry, for instance if he is eating pretzels and hummus I will get some pepper strips or celery (I always keep these cut and ready in the fridge) and eat that. Other nights I look at my MFP app and see that I am at my calorie limit or close for the day and use that as motivation to resist. It is a struggle some nights though.

You've got a great plan going there! My husband is generaally very supportive but we have such different nutritional needs. It can be hard to watch him snack. I like the idea of having a healthier but similar alternative ready to go!

I'm so lucky to have a sweetheart that is watching his weight also. He has lost all of his weight at this point and is trying to maintain but he wants to continue to eat healthy, so that is a huge plus! He can eat more than I can but he tries to eat the same things with larger portions to make up the calories he needs to maintain. Sometimes he doesn't eat enough and is still losing a pound or two. That makes me jealous because some days I'm the same weight and he has lost without even trying. I've increased my calories since I started working out because I feel I was not eating enough. It doesn't take much to get those numbers up! I'm slowly working toward imagining what my food day will look like when I reach a maintenance amount of calories. I can never go back to how I was eating before so I'm starting to shift gears and develop a mindset that knows what I can eat in my food groups and what size portions I can have. I still have 10 pounds to lose to reach my goal weight and while that doesn't seem like much, it still is as challenging as when I had to lose 80. God Bless all of you for being here to support and encourage!

You are doing such an impressive job! 80 pounds is so wonderful! But in so many ways it seems like the last pound is ten times harder than the first pound. We will be here cheering you on the rest of the way!

Sorry to have joined this wonderful thread, then go MIA. Last week was super busy preparing for vacation and working overtime. This week has been lovely, enjoying our extended family at the shore.

I've been pretty consistent sticking with my 26 points and exercising 40 minutes every other day. We're at our condo, so I've been cooking all our meals. Last night, we ate out and I'm not sure how many points the broiled crab cake was ( don't have a WW app and left my book at home).

I'm lucky I don't have food pushers around me. My family is supportive of my desire to eat healthy. My biggest problem is portion sizes. My hubby is 6'4" and can eat almost anything in large quantities without gaining. At 5' , weight gain shows up quickly on me!

I hope you had a lovely relaxing week at the shore! It sounds great!!

Good morning all. Who else started their morning with a donut? Thankfully, it was just a mini-donut, and I followed it up with cottage cheese and homemade granola. But now I have to be extra careful today if I want a good weigh-in tomorrow. I'm planning on a veggie burger for lunch, and I'll just have to make sure not to eat too much at dinner. The donut was not my best idea, but I think I can still redeem my day!

No donut but there may have been a mini chocolate croissant with my morning tea.

I'm in the midst of encountering this right now and it's extremely frustrating. My birthday is a week from tomorrow and I planned on one cheat meal at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland to celebrate not only my birthday but also the hard work I've done through this "Betterment of Me" adventure. My mother-in-law and I share the same birthday (so when they say a man marries a woman like his mother... my husband wins the prize for that), which means we now have TWO birthdays to celebrate and it's a family meal at Carthay Circle because she wants to celebrate at Disneyland. I informed her that there isn't much for me to eat there, as the portions are huge and I am on WW, but I am forced to go and participate. I think I've settled on asking for the Salmon entree without the sauce and seeing if I can get some steamed veggies or a side salad to help "fill me up" as the sides are very high in calories (anyone want to try to point a serving of Jasmine Rice?). I figure a sauceless salmon will be the healthiest option and maybe they can make it super bland so I don't rack up the points? I told my husband that I'd rather go to the salad place at the back of California Adventure and eat that for 4 points and sit at dinner not eating anything but he got mad at me. I still don't know what to do and it's becoming a huge stresser. I don't want to eat too many large/rich meals because of my fantastic progress... so how do I do this properly without hurting myself or offending my MIL and my husband's family?

That's rough! I hope you don't give up your Blue Bayou plan to make the points work. I so look forward to my planned indulgences and I don't like changing them. Plus I just love the Blue Bayou.

I think you are really smart to be planning this ahead. You are making incredible progress! I think the plain salmon is a good idea. Looking at the menu, I might also go for the chicken satay from the appetizer menu along with a salad with a side of olive oil/vinegar instead of the regular dressing. I'm also perfectly willing to order off of the children's menu at just about any Disney restaurant.

This is probably a little wrong but I sometimes ask restaurants to make sure that my meals are totally gluten, soy, and dairy free if I want a really light meal. I know if I do that they won't put on any hidden sauces or three ladles of butter and it usually gives me a chance to explain what I really want - a piece of fish or steak or whatever grilled with nothing but salt, pepper, lemon, and a little bit of olive oil - and it is usually more flavorful than if I just ask them to leave off sauce from a regular menu item. If I do go that route, I honor it completely and won't cheat with even a small piece of bread or a bite or two of whatever carb-filled wonder my husband is eating.

Finally, there is always my grandma's restaurant eating plan - regular order but only five bites of each item on the plate (plus as many plain vegetables as she wanted). She was very successful on the original WW points plan and used to count points for Restaurant meals at 1 point for every 2 bites (I think she just assumed that all bites averaged out to 25 calories a piece except for dessert which she calculates at 50 calories a bite).

So I had a WOOHOO WEDNESDAY yesterday that I wanted to share -- not a huge milestone but something that made me super happy.

I went to Victoria's Secret yesterday to see if any of the yoga pants and relaxing shirts were on sale since the merchandise at most stores is switching from summer to fall. We're still in summer here in Southern California - it was 110 yesterday near Disneyland with random rain showers (Florida can have its weather back!) On a whim I decided to try on the medium-sized shirt and yoga pants from their Pink line, and sure enough... THEY FIT. I had a hunch they would since my size large pants and shirts were starting to feel a bit 'big' -- I bought those before my trip to Europe this summer and lost an additional 16 pounds since I bought them.

Small victory - Victoria Secret Pink is their "Trend" line. Fitting into a size medium just made me so happy because it shows the progress that I've made.


Nordstrom is having a huge clearance sale in-store right now and I am heading over there this weekend to see if I can snag anything to fill-in since I'm now at the point where clothing is too big. From sleep shirts to dresses and pants to skirts, I'm in an awkward place where my clothing is too big but I'm only half-way to my goal. Oh darn. To the mall I go on Saturday!

Woohoo!

Yep! Not so much at work, although yes at home from my family. If it is at work then I'll usually take something just to get them to stop and then I throw it away. It's super wasteful but sometimes if I take a cupcake and then smash it and toss it I feel the "satisfaction" of having taken it like everyone else but then I don't have to eat it. Sometimes that's just easier than telling someone I'm watching what I'm eating. At home, I just stick to my guns and tell them to back off (in a much nice tone) lol

I like the idea of smashing cupcakes!

Unrelated, I decided on a whim to sign up for a 10K this weekend! I haven't run any official 5K races (although I routinely run that distance as part of my normal workout). My DH, MIL and one of my BIL were planning on running this race and spectating for an hour sucks! So I was like "Okay, I guess I'll sign up too..." So I'll be focusing on surviving an hour and a half of exercise on Sunday. The bonus is that right now in KC the weather is projected to be in the 50s and 60s that morning and the course is pretty flat.

You can do it!

Restaurants are always hard. The last time I went out with friends, agonizing over the menu....trying to find something, anything, I could eat was frustrating. I managed to ask for plain fish with a side of broccoli. It was a tasteless dish. What upsets me the most is that my meals at home are much more tasty and healthy. But when I go out...I pay a big price for something less than satisfying. But....the point is that I ate lunch with friends, which was nice. I guess sometimes you have to suffer for a higher purpose.

Love your takeaway!

I'm fortunate that my DW2B is also working to lose weight prior to the big day so I usually don't get any push back from her, but at work they regularly bring in donuts or other carb filled foods and they'll give me grief about it if I don't have any. I usually have been drinking water or already eaten so I just let them know I'm not hungry.

What is with work places and carbs?

There are a few food pushers in my family, including my mother and my MIL. They both know that my husband and I are watching our weight, but both act sad when we refuse dessert or sides with dinner. I just keep it short and sweet: as soon as the dessert comes out, I just say "No, thank you," then help myself to tea or a glass of water to drink while others are enjoying dessert.
Don't get me wrong, my husband and I still enjoy desserts from time to time, but we plan for it ahead of time. This weekend for example, we are making homemade cookie ice-cream sandwiches. I already figured out the nutrition info in Myfitnesspal, and we will make sure to save calories for it. Having a treat to look forward to at the end of the week is nice, and I won't feel guilty for eating it because I've planned for it and it's within my calorie goal!

Great planning!

I've been MIA for a little while, I have been studying for a class I had to take for work and then spent 1 1/2 days taking it.........sitting in a class is a killer when I am used to being up and moving for 10,000 steps a day! Needless to say yesterday I never did finish my steps but I am working on it now (exercise bike) so I should make it for today. I have to work tomorrow but then I have 2 days off - time I plan on spending getting as much packed for my upcoming as I can...........GULP that I leave for in 12 days, and I work 12 hour days for 1/2 of that time! YIKES, I guess I have to get my rear in gear! BUT on a happy note- other then the travel days for me to and from Orlando I will meet my Fitbit goal every day! Now that I have read about everyone's lunch plans I need to think about mine for tomorrow!

Glad all is going well!

 

[lisah0711]

Also, I hope the new thyroid pills I am taking will help me get a grip on my weight issues. I am due for a blood test next week, will be interesting what the doctor says. I have been taking the pills for 6 weeks now and I can see that they have a positive effect. I feel far more energetic in my daily life, I no longer have cold hand and feet anymore, my skin is better. So, I think, I really had a problem that is being taken care of. Let's hope it will also help with losing weight!

Welcome back, Magdalene! Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation and are ready to get back in the healthy living groove.

I'm slowly working toward imagining what my food day will look like when I reach a maintenance amount of calories. I can never go back to how I was eating before so I'm starting to shift gears and develop a mindset that knows what I can eat in my food groups and what size portions I can have. I still have 10 pounds to lose to reach my goal weight and while that doesn't seem like much, it still is as challenging as when I had to lose 80. God Bless all of you for being here to support and encourage!

It is exciting to have that goal weight in your sights! And it is obvious that your mindset is making those changes that you really have to have to make this work long term.


Hope the icing helps your knee to feel better soon, @SarahDisney

I'm in the midst of encountering this right now and it's extremely frustrating. My birthday is a week from tomorrow and I planned on one cheat meal at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland to celebrate not only my birthday but also the hard work I've done through this "Betterment of Me" adventure. My mother-in-law and I share the same birthday (so when they say a man marries a woman like his mother... my husband wins the prize for that), which means we now have TWO birthdays to celebrate and it's a family meal at Carthay Circle because she wants to celebrate at Disneyland. I informed her that there isn't much for me to eat there, as the portions are huge and I am on WW, but I am forced to go and participate. I think I've settled on asking for the Salmon entree without the sauce and seeing if I can get some steamed veggies or a side salad to help "fill me up" as the sides are very high in calories (anyone want to try to point a serving of Jasmine Rice?). I figure a sauceless salmon will be the healthiest option and maybe they can make it super bland so I don't rack up the points? I told my husband that I'd rather go to the salad place at the back of California Adventure and eat that for 4 points and sit at dinner not eating anything but he got mad at me. I still don't know what to do and it's becoming a huge stresser. I don't want to eat too many large/rich meals because of my fantastic progress... so how do I do this properly without hurting myself or offending my MIL and my husband's family?

I think you've come up with an excellent plan for your birthday celebrations. If you stretch the celebration out a week or two then you also do your choice of Blue Bayou. I have to confess that I am not so secretly looking forward to my turn at being the grande dame of the family because I am really going to make the most of it.

Unrelated, I decided on a whim to sign up for a 10K this weekend! I haven't run any official 5K races (although I routinely run that distance as part of my normal workout). My DH, MIL and one of my BIL were planning on running this race and spectating for an hour sucks! So I was like "Okay, I guess I'll sign up too..." So I'll be focusing on surviving an hour and a half of exercise on Sunday. The bonus is that right now in KC the weather is projected to be in the 50s and 60s that morning and the course is pretty flat.

Have a great race! Isn't it exciting to be in such good physical shape that you can decide to do a 6.2 mile race without training for weeks!

Any WW meetings members here? It was a big week for WW and a big shift in the program emphasis. I think it is a good change because they are helping members to work through the behavioral changes that we really need to make that healthy lifestyle stick.

Down .8 this week which brings my total to 3.2/5 or 64%

 

[ThistleMae]

There are a few food pushers in my family, including my mother and my MIL. They both know that my husband and I are watching our weight, but both act sad when we refuse dessert or sides with dinner. I just keep it short and sweet: as soon as the dessert comes out, I just say "No, thank you," then help myself to tea or a glass of water to drink while others are enjoying dessert.
Don't get me wrong, my husband and I still enjoy desserts from time to time, but we plan for it ahead of time. This weekend for example, we are making homemade cookie ice-cream sandwiches. I already figured out the nutrition info in Myfitnesspal, and we will make sure to save calories for it. Having a treat to look forward to at the end of the week is nice, and I won't feel guilty for eating it because I've planned for it and it's within my calorie goal!

That is a great way to plan for treats! I imagine this will be a part of my lifelong practice. I am a sweets addict for sure....and with the Holidays coming up it's hard to give up some of my favorites. I did make a crustless pumpkin pie last year for Thanksgiving. I used stevia for sweetener and egg beaters. It was good, people liked it. I try and alter recipes as much as I can but some things are just going to be totally decadent. But...if you do a planned dessert, it will keep you on track. You are doing an amazing job! Enjoy your cookie ice-cream sandwiches!

 

[ThistleMae]

Happy Friday Everyone! I don't weigh in until Monday...but I'll try and adjust next week so I can report with the rest of you. It's raining today, very dreary. I have a gym workout today, which I don't think about until I get there, that way I stay in the moment and not anticipate the feelings of not wanting to go. The good thing about today is that tonight I go to my daughters and we are planning our "attack" for our upcoming FP+. We are arriving a day apart so my FP+ times will be before hers. And....she and her family do some different rides than me and my sweetheart. We will also talk about out last meal we have to plan. Our reservations are mainly done but she wants to do a lunch on our last day so we will discuss and plan that. Anytime we talk about our Disney vacation....it lifts my spirits. Super excited to have a Disney planning session! I do have to bring a meal for myself....she is having Friday night pizza and I am not doing pizza, so I do have to plan something for myself. I could make one of my flatbread pizza's that way we are all eating pizza! Anyway....everyone have a fantastic weekend. Stay strong!

 

[JacknSally]

You go girl! I see the difference. Isn't it amazing when you see the before and during photos? It's all over your body, from your face to your arms, and through your tummy and legs. Congrats. You'll be below 200 this week for sure!

Thank you! No Onederland this week, unfortunately. I was afraid of this. In October 2013, the place where I was working did a Biggest Loser competition, and I managed to go from 209 to 201, but could never fall below that. It's like there's this invisible fence separating me from 201 and 199, and now I'm back at it. I can not for the life of me figure out how to get on the other side of that number. Ugh.

You look great! When is the wedding?

Thank you!! It's October 24 - very, very, very, VERY, VERY, VERY quickly approaching.

Hello everyone!! I am checking back in after my long absence. And I really missed you.

My vacation (3.5 weeks in California, including a week at Disneyland) was amazing - and for the first two weeks I felt like I was doing very well, I even managed to continue my exercise routine. But then things got worse. I came back with a nice souvenir of 5 pounds... Well, the first week back home battling jet lag, a migraine and the monthly visitor all at once definitely did not have a positive effect either. But now I am back on track, at least I hope so!

So, I am signing up with a September goal of losing 4 pounds. Quite ambitious for me. But I feel that I need an ambitious goal to keep me motivated.

Also, I hope the new thyroid pills I am taking will help me get a grip on my weight issues. I am due for a blood test next week, will be interesting what the doctor says. I have been taking the pills for 6 weeks now and I can see that they have a positive effect. I feel far more energetic in my daily life, I no longer have cold hand and feet anymore, my skin is better. So, I think, I really had a problem that is being taken care of. Let's hope it will also help with losing weight!

My current plan is to track all my food with my fitbit app and aim for a daily 750 calorie deficit. When I got my fitbit a year ago, the food database was very spotty, but they have redone it for Germany now and it is really great! Besides tracking food, I am trying to focus on eating more protein and less carbs. I really struggle with that, but I know that proteins help me feel full for longer.

Welcome back!! So glad to hear you enjoyed your vacay! 3.5 weeks in Cali sounds absolutely amazing. I really hope to get out there someday! I'm so happy that the new medication sounds like it's having a positive effect on you - that's wonderful! I know you'll be able to hit your 4lbs. You got this!

QOTD - September 10​

Food pushers!!! I seem to have them everywhere.... Do you? What are your strategies for dealing with them and their delicious or not-so delicious offerings?

Lol, unfortunately I am the food pusher in my house. Work is not an issue, but at home, it's much more difficult, especially with as crazy as things are right now. If I mention that I want to just go pick up something, DH2B does not even think about arguing, which gets kind of frustrating. I ask him all the time to please say no if I say I want to eat something we shouldn't be eating because we are out of time to goof off and absolutely have to stick to our diet, and he says he will, and then nothing. Which is why we've eaten junk for dinner every night this week. I think there's been 2 nights of Chick-fil-a, a night of Mexican, last night was Chili's... I feel so gross currently. I'm also frustrated with myself because I totally wrecked the awesome weight loss I had last week. I'm still down, but I definitely brought the losing to a screeching halt, and I was doing really well. Oh well, 3 weeks left in the month, so I can't give up yet.

__________________________________________

Morning, everyone! Sorry I've been MIA the last couple of days. This week has gotten really crazy and we've been running errands every evening after work, so I just haven't had a second to sign on. I have got to figure out a better schedule for everything I have to do, but at the same time, so much of it is crafts that can't be fit into a set time-frame. Ugh. On the bright side, we got the suits for DH2B and his groomsmen taken care of on Monday, so now the last big ABSOLUTELY-MUST-DO things are finding me a wedding band (and SOON! We're running out of time to get one ordered without an astronomical rush fee... But we had to get my engagement ring resized, which is taking longer than expected, and I can't look for a band without it) and making my bouquet... Which sounded like a wonderful plan a year ago when I started working on my bouquet. The goal was to have it done and out of the way so that it wasn't even on the radar right now. I'm making it out of fake flowers just because it was going to be cheaper and that way I could have it done super early and not have to worry about it... Well, 18 billion Michael's & Hobby Lobby trips later, and whooo knowssss how much money because everything I find in the store that I think will be perfect ends up not working out once I start trying to piece something together, I'm super tempted to just go to Costco the Thursday before and see what kind of fall arrangements they have. LOL. Ugh. Then there's still a ton of decor stuff to do, too. This is the list that never ends... Yes, it goes on and on, my friends...

Week 2 Weigh In - As of this morning, I was at 202.5, so an overall loss of 3lbs, putting me at 46% of my goal if my math is right? Someone feel free to check that. I'm not sure if my 9/4 weigh in or my 9/6 weigh in was the one put on the week 1 results list, but either way I think this will show a gain for week 2, which is unfortunately true, even if it's only 1lb between Monday and today. I'm definitely discouraged, but I know there's time to fix it. I have to figure out how to get on the other side of the 200-fence. Of course, not having weeks like this food-wise would be a FANTASTIC place to start.

Wedding shower #3 tomorrow with all the women on my mom's side of the family. Lots and lots of aunts, great-aunts, cousins, and Southern cousins... All of whom are family that we typically only see at family reunions every few years, now that everyone has gotten older and the ones who were closer to my age have all started families and moved around... When I was younger we'd see them all every year at Christmas, but that was 20 years ago or so)... Also lots of food and lots of anxiety, haha. It will definitely be nice to see everyone, it's just also going to be an afternoon of "I haven't seen you since you were this tall, tell me about the wedding, tell me about DH2B, tell me about your job" etc. etc. etc. I don't like having lots of attention on me so I'm feeling pretty anxious about it.

My best friend since high school moved back home this week!! He has been living in Nashville for the last couple of years, and he moved to Wisconsin about a month ago to start a new job, but didn't like it and is coming home to Memphis to stay with family while he looks for something else in the Nashville area. I'm so excited he'll be here again, but I won't really get to see him much before November because I just don't have the time. Ugh. Going to get a manicure with him after work today, though, so yay! Except I'm really awful at having my nails painted because I ALWAYS mess them up, so my nails usually aren't even painted for an hour. Takes me three hours to paint them myself haha but then it's all off again within 45 minutes. I've only ever had them "professionally" done twice, and once doesn't even count because it was the most awful thing I've ever experienced and it can't even be confused with a manicure. Haha. But I've got to have them done for the wedding and since I don't go have them done regularly, I have to find a place that does a good job, so he's agreed to go with me to test one out today.


And that's what's happening in my very boring wedding-centric world! Haha. How is everyone else this week!?

 

[pjlla]

Any WW meetings members here? It was a big week for WW and a big shift in the program emphasis. I think it is a good change because they are helping members to work through the behavioral changes that we really need to make that healthy lifestyle stick.

Down .8 this week which brings my total to 3.2/5 or 64%

First of all.... congrats on hitting 64% before the halfway mark in the month!!

Second.... SO GLAD to hear you say all that about the new WW emphasis. I KNOW it is for the best going forward, but my members only seemed to be able to focus on the fact that they had to change from the old green/white weight tracker to the new orange My Success Story tracker and it was a (drumroll for that nasty word)...........CHANGE! Gotta find a way next week to be sure that they are looking at this change in a positive light!

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

Morning all! Phew..... NO WORK today! While the $ is great, I could use the time at home today to get some stuff done.... especially since our record heat has broken and it is a cool rainy day here.

I wasn't delighted with this morning's weigh-in, so I'm holding out for another look-see tomorrow before I report in.

Off to do some cooking........ with my crazy schedule this week I wasn't able to do all of the cooking I had planned, so I've got spaghetti squash AND eggplant that need to be cooked TODAY! Plus I've got a friend doing the 21 Day Fix diet (not my idea, but I want to be supportive) so I told her I'd print some recipes for her.

TTYL.......................P

 

[dsnyfn1022]

Second.... SO GLAD to hear you say all that about the new WW emphasis. I KNOW it is for the best going forward, but my members only seemed to be able to focus on the fact that they had to change from the old green/white weight tracker to the new orange My Success Story tracker

Just curious...does this new style affect online users? I keep getting notifications about why we track and such and have been disregarding them. Probably a similar campaign just without the physical weight log.

 

[SarahDisney]

It's like there's this invisible fence separating me from 201 and 199, and now I'm back at it. I can not for the life of me figure out how to get on the other side of that number. Ugh.

I've had something similar (for me it's 135 - I can't get below 136, no matter how hard I try). All I can say is keep trying and it'll happen eventually!

---

Morning all! The good news here is that I weighed in two lbs lighter than last week, which not only erases last week's gain, but puts me down 1 lb for the month ... aka 33% of goal.
The bad news is that my knee is still bugging me ... icing yesterday just made it worse, Advil helps occasionally but not always, and I'm really at a loss for what to do. If it gets any worse I'll go to the doctor to get it checked out, but I really just don't have time! Until I figure this out, I'm a little limited in my exercise, so I'll have to be extra careful with my eating ... which really is never a bad thing.

 

[DisPup75]

Just checking in fast from the vet's office but will be back to chat later. Lots of drama here today. DH and DPup got attacked by bees this morning. . Everyone is going to be OK but we need to get something to help my poor itchy dog.

QOTD - September 11​

It's our second Friday check-in!! How is everyone doing with their goals and plans? Anything you are thinking of changing? Or are you just full steam ahead?

Finally, a quick nod of the head to the day. This isn't the place for my memories but blessings to all.

 

[JacknSally]

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Morning all! The good news here is that I weighed in two lbs lighter than last week, which not only erases last week's gain, but puts me down 1 lb for the month ... aka 33% of goal.
The bad news is that my knee is still bugging me ... icing yesterday just made it worse, Advil helps occasionally but not always, and I'm really at a loss for what to do. If it gets any worse I'll go to the doctor to get it checked out, but I really just don't have time! Until I figure this out, I'm a little limited in my exercise, so I'll have to be extra careful with my eating ... which really is never a bad thing.

YAYYYYY I knew you'd do it this week!! Congrats on the 33%! Sorry to hear about your knee, though. Have you tried Aleve? That sometimes helps me when Advil won't.

Just checking in fast from the vet's office but will be back to chat later. Lots of drama here today. DH and DPup got attacked by bees this morning. . Everyone is going to be OK but we need to get something to help my poor itchy dog.

QOTD - September 11​

It's our second Friday check-in!! How is everyone doing with their goals and plans? Anything you are thinking of changing? Or are you just full steam ahead?

Finally, a quick nod of the head to the day. This isn't the place for my memories but blessings to all.

I reserve the right to change my weigh in from today if a better number pops up tomorrow or Sunday LOL! Hope your DH and DPup are better ASAP! Poor puppy, he must be miserable. :-(

Thank you for a very appropriately worded and placed mention of the day. Allow me to second that