While we wait to weigh anchor please take a moment to introduce yourself and let us know what you would like to discover on this voyage.
Hey all.... honestly.... I've introduced myself a million times! So bullet points this time....
*Pamela, age 52 (but in my mind I'm only 30!!!!)
*Mom of 2 adult college students (DD in her Sr. year and DS in his freshman year)
*Married 25 years next May
*Living in rural New Hampshire (New England, northeastern US for those not familiar).
*Lost my weight (this time around) with Weight Watchers (total of 86 pounds).... lost 40 in 2003 and managed to regain about half in late 2004 but maintained there for a while.... then hit it HARD starting 1/2/2008 and got to goal in 2009 and haven't looked back.
*I now work for WW as a Leader and a 24/7 expert chat coach. And believe it or not, even with that history, I still have things to discover along the way here!
What I'm hoping to discover (or re-discover, depending on how you think about it), a desire to exercise.... especially in the winter when I cannot use mowing the lawn or gardening or outdoor hiking as an exercise. That has been the part of this journey that I have fallen away from the most.
I do NOT plan to participate in the progress reports here this month. I will stick with the group and answer the QOTD and the reply to the chatter... but I am terrible at remembering to report in and as such I am skipping just that small portion of the month. That doesn't mean that I will not be "woohooing" if I lose the vacation pounds I'm still dragging around!
AHOY!
I'm really looking forward to this month. While our Disney trip last week was on the less-than-magical side, taking a full week away from the shop and DH's jobs and most stress did SO much good. I was able to finish all open orders before we left, so I came home with nothing that HAD to be done right away. With coming home on Wednesday, but DH and I both taking off the full week, we were able to really get some sleep and get on a more regular schedule. Yesterday was DH's first day back at his day job, and today is his first day back at both jobs, so I'm hoping we can keep it up. We also came home to a bare pantry, so we were able to reset completely there, too. We hit the grocery store this weekend and Sunday was spent putting together some DIY lunchables, making protein smoothies, hard boiling eggs, making egg muffins, etc. I'm determined to make this stick!
We're going back to Disney on November 30, and literally coming home two days later. I'm so excited. I haven't seen the Christmas decorations in person since 1998 (I was 9!) and DH has never seen them. I can't think of a better way to bring in the holiday season. We're doing the dessert party for the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM show at Hollywood Studios (really, who do they put in charge of naming this stuff now? Disney, hire me.)
Long Term Goal: Be down 60lbs, or be in size 10 clothing - whichever comes first.
This has been my goal for years now, and I really want to make it happen. I put my goal this way because I think a size 10 is where I would feel most comfortable - I truly can't imagine myself being any smaller than that. I think the 160's (so a 60lb loss) would put me in that size range, but I'm not 100% sure, as it's been so long since I was either number. At 199 I was a 14, so it's possible I could hit size 10 before I enter the 160's.
Shorter Term Goal: Be down 40lbs by April 22, 2017.
This puts me 10lbs below wedding weight, and in a good place physically going into MOH's May wedding. I've given myself the April 22 goal date because Dapper Day weekend is April 29 & 30, and I'm going to move forward as if we're going that weekend. I'd rather get to April and not be able to go but still be down some weight, rather than wait until I know for sure whether or not we can go and have to scramble or settle. Aiming for April 22 gives me a week to make any alterations to clothing if I need to. I know it will require a lot of dedication and pushing to come down 40lbs in just under 6 months, and honestly I am nervous that I'm setting myself up for failure, especially with winter approaching.
November Goal: Be down 7lbs by November 30, 2016.
I'm starting November with a weigh-in of 220.4lbs - up 1lb from when we left for Disney a week and a half ago, but considering all the yummy food I've eaten in the last 2 weeks, I'll take it! 7lbs seems like a lot, so I'm hoping I'm not biting off more than I can chew. A loss of 7lbs this month keeps me on track to lose 40 by April 22. After seeing our photos from last week's trip, I'll be happy for any weight loss at this point!
Plan: Low-carb/high-protein, more water, add in some cardio, TRACK!
Yesterday was a really good day, eating wise. The chocolate is still a thing but I'm not going to beat myself up over it at all. I need to start back tracking what I'm eating, though, as I started to get in my head because I *felt* like I was eating all day long - but since everything was high protein and low carb, I logically know I'll be eating more frequently throughout the day... it's just a matter of not psyching myself out and trying to prevent myself from eating just because I *feel* like I'm eating all the time. I enjoy the numbers game of tracking once I get back into the habit of it. It's just a matter of doing it.
I need to find some fun dance-style exercise videos on YouTube. I used to dance a lot when I was more involved with theatre, and I've always enjoyed it. I'm hoping doing it that way rather than forcing myself to make mindnumbing laps around the block or chaining myself to the treadmill will make me more likely to actually do cardio often and consistently. The weather is supposedly to fall to the 70's this week after record high 90-degree temps the last few weeks, so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping that with the cooler temps, I can get DH and myself out the door for at least one mile walk in the mornings before he goes to work.
Obstacles: Me!
I don't think Thanksgiving will pose a big issue. It's just one day out of 30 days, and in thinking over the dishes we usually have at our families', there's nothing horrifically terrible. I'll need to watch my dressing and yam intake, but for the most part it's lots and lots of turkey. Perfect lean protein! Disney will be a couple of "free" days but since the amount of walking we'll be doing usually combats that, and after a month of eating better I don't think I'll be able to stomach as much junk, I'm not too worried about those 3 days.
Arrr, mateys! Let's swash some buckles!
WOW!! A SOLID plan!!! This is exactly what we were talking about in our meeting last week..... A WISH WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A DREAM!! This is impressive with some great shorter term goals along the way!
Ahoy Mateys!
I be lookin' ahead to joinin' ye fine vessel. May our stops be jolly 'n fruitful.
(
http://postlikeapirate.com/)
I thought a lot about what I want my goals to be for this November over my lunch break. Since November is such a wonderful time of abundance- I try not to eliminate anything over this season.
Instead- I add healthy items into my life instead.
I would like to eat 3 cups of greens, 3 cups of colored fruits/veggies and 3 cups of sulfur veggies a day...at least 80% of the week, which gives me at least one free day.
(This is from Terry Whals' Autoimmune Protocol. She has put her MS in remission. I have a couple of autoimmune conditions that I would like to heal a bit)
I'd also like to eat or drink ferments daily. I've tried to make this a habit before, but so far have not been successful.
Have you ever read "Curing the Incurable"? It is a book about curing allegedly "incurable" autoimmune diseases. Love your colorful graphics!
Hi everyone! I am Magdalene and as I said earlier, I will jump ship onto the Disney Fantasy later this month. But I am determined to make the time until then count. My vacation in total will be 3.5 weeks long and I definitely cannot allow myself to go totally off the charted course if I do not want to have a total shipwreck on the scale afterwards. I always find it easier to at least try to keep up a routine during vacation if I had a routine before. So, the first part of November will be used for exactly that: keeping up tracking, eating healthy and exercising. Last month I had an exercise goal and I will stick with that. I made myself an exercise schedule (put it all into my phone calendar including daily reminders) and intend to keep to it. 100% will be doing all the scheduled exercises up until I leave for vacation. Any additional exercise after I have left will be added as bonus percentage.
Big obstacle for the month is my birthday next Sunday. I will be visiting my sister in Berlin for a long weekend and we have a lot of celebratory things planned, including a high tea at a fancy hotel! But the good thing is that I got my sister and her husband into running now as well and I am already looking forward to go running with them on the former airfield of the airport Tempelhof (one of the three airports used for the Berlin airlift during the Cold War when all the roads into West Berlin were closed by the Soviets and West Berlin had to get all its supplies via air).
WOW.... us U.S. folks are ENVIOUS of that long vacation! Many people have to work here for a company for YEARS before getting that much vacation time!! And that airfield run.... I love history and I'm so envious!
Ahoy, mateys! I'm Shantelle and I've been wanting to sign up for a challenge for a while but I am IN this month. Thinking about goals sure is hard though! Sooo here's what I've got:
1. No fast food - we're doing no-spend November so this should coincide (and go well) anyway!
2. Do a 2.5m walk-run 4x/week and, when possible, a shorter walk the other 3 days (though we had to skip tonight due to a sick husband
)
3. Yoga 1x/week
4. Meet my water goal (at least 64 oz/day)
I'm know this is attainable so I'm hoping to overcome my biggest obstacle: ME!
Good luck everyone!
Welcome aboard! Glad to have a new face!
Pirates was Walt's last project in a long line of great accomplishments in his life. Do you have any great accomplishments that you are working towards? A while back the big thing was bucket lists, do you have one? and if so would you mind sharing somethings on it? Is where you are at in your lifestyle change affecting those things for better or worse?
Well.... honestly my greatest achievements/accomplishments are raising two outstanding kids! They are bright (got that from DH), and HAPPY and well-adjusted (as much as anyone can be in this day and age), and hardworking, loving, thoughtful... obviously as a Mom I could go on and on.... but I'll spare you!
My SECOND greatest achievement would definitely be KEEPING OFF THE WEIGHT for over 7 years. I am PROUD to say that I am NOT TYPICAL and I plan to stay that way! I specifically say "keeping the weight off" rather than losing the weight because I lost it more than once (1979, 1985, 1991, 1994, 2003 most specifically).... but it was maintaining the loss that was the biggest accomplishment.
Bucket list.... yup.... got one. I currently have a "60 before 60" bucket list that includes AT LEAST the top three travel dreams I've had.... Austria, Paris, and South Dakota (specific reason). While I would LOVE to just travel, travel, travel, I married a "homebody" and with two college tuitions still being paid, the funds are lacking. But I have a PLAN!!!!! (Europe fall 2017 with DD... but ssshh... we haven't told DH yet!)
My lifestyle/weight loss DEFINITELY positively impacts my bucket list.... I am so much more willing to get out there and GO places and DO things!!
I guess the biggest things I am working towards is getting back to my pre-pregnancy (if you can still call it that. She is 9) from my daughter. It has been a long battle of gain some lose some gain a little bit more lose that and gain more again. I am doing better this time. This is the most I have lost and though I have not been great with it I am not gaining.
Other then this I would say trying to be a good mom and wife while working full time. I don't always feel like I am doing a good job at either. It is the times that I feel other parents have it all together and I feel like I am sinking. I guess I have been feeling like this lately. I more in less need to get out of my head.
I have never made a bucket list. I am pretty boring. I love zoos and would love to make to more. Unfortunately my husband hates them. I will make it to the San Diego zoo. I have wanted to go since I was little. I also want to go to
Disneyland. Another place my husband does not want to go. I will make him at some point. He never wanted to go to WDW either. It took my dad taking us for him to go. The minute we stepped on Main Street he said we would be back. We have now gone 4 times in about 4 years. I have always wanted to go to Italy too but my fears hold me back from this one.
+++++++++
Well, I did a lot of sitting around today. I should have taking my daughter for a walk since she only had pink eye but I decided to catch up on TV. I am glad my daughter was home today. I got an automated phone call from her school today. They had to do a reverse lock down today. The was a huge house fire not far from the school and they had ammunition that got heated up and started going off. This happened at the time my daughter would be at lunch and the 3rd grades were outside at recess (it was 76 here today). She would have been in the middle of the commotion and I know she would been scared. I am glad I kept her home.
Tonight I am watching the World Series and it is not going good. At one time my Cleveland Indians were losing 7-0. That was at the 3rd. We are now in the 8th inning and we are still losing 7-2. It is stressing me out. I have been eating to stay awake and because of the stress. At least I have need eating veggies with dip but not that much dip. It looks like we will play the 7th and final game tomorrow. It will be a must win.
I was also told about an adult hip hop class I can take at the place my daughter is taking dance. I am thinking of taking it. It will all depend on if we can afford it and if I get over the rear of being on stage in front of a huge audience. We will see.
Glad your DD was home safe with you! I'm sure that the school did everything possible to be sure the kiddos were calm and safe, but as a Mom I know there is NOTHING like having them within arms reach!
Why are you afraid of Italy???
This is a pretty timely question for me. My personality is such where I get fixated on certain goals or tasks and I'm "all in" until I complete them. The week when football ends is always one of the toughest for me, because I spend so much time working on it and all of the sudden it stops - and I don't know what to fixate on after. Last year we played until Thanksgiving and my family had our Disney trip in December, then it was all about weight loss for the months after... then the running started and I hit the 5k goal, the 10k goal, then it was the 1/2 marathon goal. I've been wrapped up with something over the last 16 months and right now I got nothing. I need something - a new bucket list task or some sort of goal to work for now... I just don't know what that is yet.
I ended up running last night for the first time in 16 days. I thought I was doing ok, but my run tracker thought otherwise. I felt like I was going much faster than I was. Not a big deal, it will take a little bit of time to get back into it. The scale seemed to think running was a good thing - dropped a few lb's on this morning's weigh-in.
I am RIGHT THERE with you on getting fixated! I think that has had some part in why it took me so many attempts to keep the weight off! The "goal" date (wedding day, vacation, etc) that I always lost weight for would come and go and I would have absolutely NO PLAN on how to keep going with my weight loss/weight maintenance after the event! So yes, add a new goal!!!
Today's Question: How do you use music in your day? Do you find listening to music motivating? Or maybe relaxing?
And one for fun: Do you have a guilty pleasure song that you like to play when no one is around? Care to share what it is?
I'm not big into music.... I did like to listen when I was a runner and I still get pumped up when I hear songs from my running playlists. But I can tend to get to "into my own brain" if given the chance so podcasts work better for me most of the time (when I'm doing rather mindless things like walking, running, or driving). I mostly listen to NPR shows. If I listen to Disney podcasts I just end up sad that I don't have a trip planned. I do often listen to music when my mind is otherwise occupied, like when I'm cooking.
No particular guilty pleasure..... but I will listen to pretty much ANY Disney music at the drop of a hat.... theme park songs, ride songs, movie songs.... and I sing along, loud and proud!
Elizabeth Swann- The governor's daughter. She has always dreamed of pirates and adventure despite her father's disapproval. He is determined to keep her a proper lady. Elizabeth keeps a pirate medallion hidden away, a small sign of the life she longs for.
Well..... I do keep a few jars of foreign currency on my dresser.... a small sign of the life of travel that I long for. Since DH is a bit "disapproving", at the moment is is more a dream than a plan.... but I'm working on it!!
William Turner- Orphaned at a young age, Will seems to always do what he is told. He was taken in by a blacksmith and takes pride in everything he does. Even when he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He obviously has a crush on Elizabeth but is a gentleman. He knows that she is "above" him and so would never act upon it.
I am a HUGE rule follower! Don't ever try to play a boardgame with me and cheat.... I will go nutty! My rule-following tendencies have served me well with regards to my weight loss. I do have certain RULES for myself that help keep my life and weight maintenance journey ON TRACK. For example.... I never, ever indulge in the office chocolates at work. I just KNOW that having one would give me permission to have another... and another... and another. So my personal rule is NONE... not ever... for no reason.
Jack Sparrow (there should be a captain in there somewhere)- A free spirited pirate. He does whatever he wants whenever he wants. Jack is always getting into trouble but somehow manages to get away. Despite his selfish ways he does manage to do the right thing when it counts.
Free spirit..... not a lot of that in me. I was brought up that there are rules to be followed and unfortunately some of those "rules" kept me from being more adventurous in my life at a time when that would have been great. I was taught to get an education, a job, a home, and a spouse. No time for "finding myself" or "having adventures" or being a "little irresponsible". You didn't just go someplace because it sounds like fun.... because that costs money and that isn't responsible. But I'm learning that LIFE IS SHORT and it is finally time to start having those adventures!!
Expand the quote to see all of my answers.
Are you still searching for the answer to a healthier you? For those of you that have found it what was your final piece of Aztec gold? Any advice that you would give to others that are still looking?
I'm definitely still searching for a healthier me! Kombucha.... worth the sugar or just hype? Kale smoothies.... yummy or just "green"?
I definitely have advice to offer when asked.... but sometimes I'm afraid to scare people away. That being said.... I tell my WW members that if they could just spend ONE DAY at their healthy goal weight, they would definitely NEVER give up. Life at goal weight is beyond wonderful.... even on the crappy days!
Hi friends,
Sorry I have been MIA - I have been reading posts and liking them when I have a chance
Things have been pretty busy with work, and kids and I to honest I have just been struggling a bit feeling sick with a cold of some kind - yesterday I had a killer headache that wouldn't go away and by last night it bought me to tears and just hohum in general about my health and the lack of progress made this year. I have tried a couple of times to post but my computer didn't cooperate each time and it just got too hard
I also kind of took this as a sign as I have been struggling a bit to come up with my goal for the month. So I will jump back in where we are now.
Goals for the month
1. To continue with trying to minimise the really junky take-out foods - so that's 48 times left in the month I need to make good choices.
2. To restart some activity 2 times per week - hopefully this will look like 1 day walking and 1 day paddling.
I think this question sums up much of what I already said - I am still searching for the answer to a healthier me ... Some days I just feel as far away from it as ever and that is scary - I went to buy some shirts for work today and its just heart crushing - I bought a size 20 top and an XL top and that's Aussie sizing - I just looked up a size conversion between here and the US and apparently that is equivalent to a US size 16
. I feel like I have been making a half a step forward and 3 backwards all year. The trouble is I know the secret is mainly down to ME and my choices and effort - so no matter how much I say I want it I clearly haven't really wanted it bad enough yet to have made enough of a change to see results.
Thanks for listening
Oh and I just wanted to say to
@HappyGrape - if that is the new 'Park' dress you bought - its soooo cute love it and love that pic - thanks for sharing
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KEEP searching.... never give up.... and remember that we are always here to "listen"!!
QOTD - well, I haven't found the magic yet, so I guess I'm still searching! This week has been both ends of the spectrum, food wise. TTotM really throws a wrench in my plans. Plus DH's schedule doesn't help. We did great toward the beginning of the week, but once we started running out of the healthy prepared meals toward the end of the week, our eating got way off. Too much fast food. Ugh. Have to find a way to keep costs low but get enough food for the both of us to make it through at least a whole week, if not two. I'm not sure what to do there. :-( it's really discouraging how much money we spent at the grocery store last weekend and how far it got us (not even a full week)...
I ordered my dapper day dress today so I can use it as a visual. Disneylands dapper day is this weekend and my Instagram feed has been full of amazing costumes, and I'm so so jealous. Also, the weather here is getting much better, so I was able to wear a cute new sweatshirt this morning finally. I took this photo in it, which I love because it makes me look NOT-220 pounds, but I also hate it because I know it's a lie, haha.
This is the problem my DH and I run into. Do we eat healthy, or do we keep it affordable? Especially with our diets being more protein-heavy, we spend $100+ a week on groceries - usually closer to $150. We can't afford it. We skipped grapes today at the grocery store because the smallest bag of non-organic grapes were $7.50, and that's just so much for GRAPES. Our grocery stores are SO expensive, and coupons only cover the cheap processed junk food. It's not like we shop at Whole Foods, either - I'm talking Kroger here, y'all. We unfortunately don't live somewhere that we could grow our own produce to help alleviate that cost, and because of that, and because of the fact that the majority of people here are on food stamps and just care about eating, not really eating healthy, our grocery stores jack up the prices of everything even remotely not-junky. It is so, so hard to do here.
I combined your two posts.... hope that is okay. It sounds like you answer your own question to some degree.... you did GREAT at the start of the week when you had the healthy stuff ready to go.... but fell away as the week went by and the healthy stuff started to run out.
I'll make a few suggestions and then I'll step off my soapbox (btw, I know where you are coming from... I definitely am always caught between "affordable" and "healthy/diet appropriate").....
eat seasonally. Right now that would be apples, winter squashes, broccoli, cauliflower, and coming up soon citrus fruits. Maybe it doesn't all grow local to you, but it is all in season somewhere in the U.S. and will be more affordable than the stuff coming from South America. The exception to that is BANANAS.... they are always in season and affordable (although possibly too many carbs for you).
Frozen fruit.... I eat berries almost daily, but most of the year they are frozen, not fresh.
Make life easier by keeping the meals (and meal planning) simple and by cooking more than one meal at a time. When I make soup, I make a double or triple batch. It only takes a wee bit longer than making a single batch. The freezer is my friend! When I roast veggies I roast enough for dinner and to add to a sandwich or to have for lunch the next day. When I hardboil eggs I do a dozen at a time. When I peel/cut carrots or celery for snacking I do the whole bag at once. When I make quinoa I usually make a double batch.
Think outside the box.... lunch doesn't always have to look like a sandwich, chips, and a drink. Sometimes lunch is a 1/4 c of black beans topped with salsa plus a cheese stick and an apple. Dinner is sometimes a "snack plate" of a sliced hardboiled egg (or egg white), diced cheese (or a lowfat cheese stick), sliced apple, carrots or celery and hummus and a piece of low carb flatbread shmeared with PB2. If nicely plated (as opposed to eaten while standing staring into the fridge) it can be a nice meal. Eggs are great ANY TIME of day....meals, snacks, etc.
Don't be afraid to stick to some basic reasonably priced meals and repeat them often (assuming you like the meal).
UNIT PRICES.... check them on everything you buy and keep track so you KNOW when you find a good price.
Look around for cheaper alternatives to foods you like. We enjoy rotisserie chickens but not the price tag. We have found that the hot chickens at Costco are HUGE compared to the ones they sell at the local grocery store.... but I can also buy the local grocery store rotisserie chickens cold the next day for a lower price.... worth it to warm up myself! Apples by the bag instead of selected individually can save me anywhere from 9-15 cents/lb. Whole celery is easy to chop/wash for snacking pieces and then I have the base to regrow (yes, that actually works) and the leaves to make into vegetable stock..... plus it is cheaper than buying the precut/prewashed celery sticks. Popcorn popped in the microwave in a brown lunch bag is waaaaayyy cheaper than microwave popcorn packets.
Don't waste ANYTHING! If the apples haven't been eaten quickly enough, make applesauce. If the green beans got a little limp before you could cook/eat them, throw them into a stir-fry or save them to make vegetable stock. Other than burnt foods (yup.... I burned my oatmeal this morning
) we don't waste anything. If it is "food" we eat it, if it is "waste" (peels, cores) we either compost them, feed them to our worms, or make stock with it. If it is a small portion (not enough for a whole meal) it goes into the freezer or gets combined with other leftovers for brownbag lunch. Water is free.
YOU CAN DO THIS!! Yes, it is hard and YES there are times when I run out of "money" before I run out of "month". Fast food is nearly ALWAYS a worse choice ..... more unhealthy and more expensive.... even when eating off the dollar menu!
Stepping down now.... and offering
to you my friend!!
At the start of the movie Will seemly despises pirates. Now to save his love he needs to become one. So my question for you is: Looking back on your journey to a healthier you, is there something you're doing now that you never thought you would?
When I was running that was definitely one of those "NEVER IMAGINED" kind of things.... and becoming a WW leader is another! ME?? Stand up in front of people and TALK? About being a weight loss success story?? NO WAAYYYY!!
I'm going to also say running! I hated running with a passion in school. It made me miserable. And throughout the years I've tried to pick it back up again (always with a running partner) and still just hated it. Then 2 years ago I decided that I wanted to give it another shot. But I mostly ran by myself. And that's when I started to love it! I took it at my own pace, didn't care about timing or what place I was in. I just ran and pushed myself at a pace that I was comfortable with. That has helped me tremendously. In other words, I'm a runner that appreciates that it's a solitary sport and am rarely looking for someone to run with.___
So I'm trying to apply the WW mentality of "0 point" foods to MFP. Because I still feel that WW restricts me on too many things that I enjoy (like peanut butter!!!) but I'm not able to be successful on MFP for whatever reason and I think it's because I don't have that push to eat fruits and veggies. So, I've taken down my calorie goal to 1200 a day and then any fruits or veggies that would be 0 points on WW are not tracked. I'm going to see how a week at this goes. I'm so desperate to clean up my eating and lose some weight!
Hope this new "plan" works for you!!
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Hey all.... look at that! I'm nearly caught up!!! I was going to head out earlier today to vote and then run errands before my WW meeting tonight, but instead I am sitting here playing catch up! Oh well. I WILL vote... but probably on my way to my meeting.... mid-afternoon the lines shouldn't be too bad, right??
PHEW..... feels GOOD to be back in the swing of things with you all!!................P
