Happy New Year January thread

nationalparker · 01-09-2011, 08:45 AM

Good day - another cold one (for me, not to you, Ashley! ha!) It's warmed up to 7 now. Yay - (there's sarcasm in there, trust me)! I'm SO not a cold-weather person, but decided to start off the morning with a good breakfast, a log in the fire and checking in here before journaling and getting going either on the treadmill or with a pilates dvd. Susan - I know what you mean about having 101 other things to do other than exercise. I need to make it as important as my shower or brushing teeth. Used to be there, but not yet this go-round.

Got a TON done yesterday - all except the 3-mile walk! Did a very complete healthy shopping expedition to two stores and now just need chicken, ripe bananas and apples, which i'll get after the ww meeting. I'm EXCITED to get started officially. I've been doing good about 90% of the meals this week, so I'm pleased with that. And am down 4 pounds from when I returned from the trip. Not fat, obviously, but still shocking to see.

Talked to DH (first time to write that - sounds funny) so might just say "my guy" yesterday on phone - he's working 12-hour day shift now and I guess my goal to get to WW got him thinking. He's like, "I know what I need to do," and I cut him off, saying, "NO ONE knows what they need to do more than me, but I need more than that knowledge!!" But then he continued (sorry honey), and said, but while we've talked about getting going on a healthier life, we've never really DONE it for more than a few days, so he's going to fully commit to this, too. He's very opposite of me - if there's a sweet around, he cannot leave it alone. I like to see how long I can make something last - so I like to have a very small portion every other day or something. So I'm hiding his xmas choc and will put small serving in his lunch now and then to enjoy - or pull out after dinner. I said I"m not the food cop, but maybe this isn't a bad idea. Better than hiim not having any and then stopping at a gas station for a king size bar. We were both in decent shape when we met - and have each put on some serious weight ... me about 25 pounds and him, probably 35. I need to commit the time to prepping the meals and snacks in advance. I don't buy the frozen meals or weight-loss bars or products - well, i like that lean cuisine potstickers and buy that once/month - so need to wisely use my time and marketing.

He said several times that the dinner I made last night looked great and was great. So that's good - he IS on board

I did a chopped lettuceless salad - red and yellow peppers, cukes, onions, carrots, some leftover peas, and light dressing, turkey burgers (his with, mine w/o bun) and vegetarian beans. I packed him up a good healthy lunch - seemed BIG but not too many calories when you add it up - so I hope he stays satisfied. He's gone 14 hours when he's working. I'd like to add in something for him to have for the drive home so he's not apt to munch on the last hour or so.

Sorry - this turned into a journal entry!

Mirj · 01-09-2011, 08:52 AM

Oh boy, does man plan and God laugh! Just as I was really getting into the whole eating well thingy and walking tons, boom, I fell on my coccyx. Now I have a crack in my tushy, aside from the obvious one!

My walking to and from work has been curtailed, and I haven't been in the gym since Tuesday! I'm going to have to make up some serious kilometrage if I want to get my monthly average of 168 kms in there.

On top of that, Friday/Saturday was our Shabbat, so I didn't hold back at the table, the food was was too yummy. I think I'm going to have to stick to whole grains and lots of veggies this week.

What do you all do to get back on the wagon?

Oh, and BTW, I've done my 20 newbie days, I get to have a signature!

Zumbachica · 01-09-2011, 10:50 AM

Hello all...Mirj I fell on my cockey butt also......blech....went to a party yesterday and let loose although I had every intention of being smart...it was all too much for me...the bread on the table, the polenta with my salmon, the birthday cake...horrible how one day can wipe out a week's worth of efforts.

So to answer your question Mirj, when I fall off the wagon I just get back on..try and up my water intake the day after a "binge"...and promise myself Ill do better next time I"m in a situation like that. The other option is to keep eating...I've done that also...not good.

KittehMomma · 01-09-2011, 12:45 PM

It's snowing!!! Looks like we've got about a quarter inch. Just enough to make the roads slick. (Hey, it doesn't snow in the Jet City often, or much, so even small amounts are noteworthy. And potentially dangerous as it melts and freezes and melts and freezes...)

Yesterday I tried out a new Wii game--Just Dance. Fun, fun fun! And I worked up a real sweat with just three dances. I ate to plan, despite being a homebody all day. Have to go out today, but I will plan my food around that, and today's the day to prep food portions for the workweek. The pantry cleaning and re-org is almost done. I want to take a photo--is that weird or what? But I want to remember how beautiful it is.

I'm up a pound, but I had a big lettuce salad last night, and that seems to make me gain a bit of weight the next day--probably water retention. I also did an experiment with my scale. I weighed myself when it was cold, then warmed it up with a space heather and weighed myself again. I gained a half pound just by warming it up! Well, the delta is what I'm interested in at this point, more than the absolute, so as long as I weigh myself the same time each morning, the scale with be about the same temperature.

Teh kittehs were under the weather yesterday from their shots, but have recovered now, just in time to complain about the weather I ordered up for today.

NationalP--I'm like your husband; if sweets are around, I will eat them. I would love to have someone be my sweets banker and dole them out to me. I wouldn't feel like that person was the food police at all.

Mirj--What kinds of yummy foods do you eat for Shabbat? Sorry you can't do your usual exercises. I've bruised my tailbone and that was bad enough.

I'm sure chatty today--must have gotten enough sleep. Well, there's work to be done, and it won't do itself, so I'd better get moving. Have a great day, all.

Mirj · 01-09-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nationalparker

We were both in decent shape when we met - and have each put on some serious weight ... me about 25 pounds and him, probably 35.

Oh boy, do I know this scenario! Both my husband and I lost weight after we got divorced, and were both looking pretty fine when we started dating. We both love to cook, and to eat, and to eat out, and by the time we got married 11 months after our first date we were a bit heftier, and got even heftier once we settled into the marriage. Step-kids make you gain weight, did you know that?

Two months ago he got a new job and had to return the company car to the old job. We decided not to get a car right away and he bought himself a bike. He's biking back and forth to work, 45 minutes each way, and the pounds are just coming off. He's starting to look like the yummy guy I first fell in love with 6 1/2 years ago. Now I have to work hard so he doesn't leave me behind in the dust!

Jealousy and a competitive nature can work wonders on a weight loss plan!

Mirj · 01-09-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittehMomma

Mirj--What kinds of yummy foods do you eat for Shabbat? Sorry you can't do your usual exercises. I've bruised my tailbone and that was bad enough.

I've mentioned before that we basically put on a Thanksgiving-like meal each Friday night, and another one for Saturday lunch. A normal menu for Friday night would be:

Home-made challah
Chicken soup with matzah balls
Roast chicken
Roast beef
Roast potatoes
Roasted vegetables like carrots, leeks, fennel, onions and whole heads of garlic (the cloves are amazing spread on the challah)
Green veggies like broccoli, leek and braised zucchini
Dessert is always something special, like pavlova or halvah parfait

I try to be good, eat mostly the veggies, but it's really hard, and my husband's roast potatoes are really worth dying for!

patchworkpenguin · 01-09-2011, 01:53 PM

NP, My Hubby used to do the 12 hr shift and that was hard. Good job on the 4 lbs. I would love to have someone else be in charge of my sweets. I ask Hubby to hide my 'treats' but I can usually find them. I just can't seem to leave them alone either.

Mirj, I usually start a new 'wagon ride' with a little fast. Generally, I've binged on something and like to wait until I'm hungery again, to 'reset' myself so to speak. Wow, your Shabbat meals sound amazing!

Kitteh, Intereseting experiment with the scale. Mine is pretty good about giving me the same weight no matter what I do to it. How many kittys do you have? what kind?

nationalparker · 01-09-2011, 03:20 PM

Back from WW rejoining. Mobbed. The new program points plus values seem much higher at first glance, but the points they allot you are much more, as well. Feel proud that I finally took the first step to gaining control. Missed a call from my guy while in there, so when I called him back and said I was at the meeting and the explanatory session afterward, he's like "oh" ... all of a sudden and this might just be me, but it seems like he's a bit more reserved on it today. I dunno. It got into my head. I cut that conversation short.

Dinner will be veggies and chicken panini (homemade) with some hummus, sauteed peppers and onions and a bit of sharp cheese for flavor. Will work to prep food for the week as well - cooking up some rice, etc. What else does anyone do to prep food?

Mirj - your dinners sound yummy - esp the roasted potatoes - of all on the list, that's what I landed on first - any ideas why I'm here?

angelskeep · 01-09-2011, 06:46 PM

Nationalp-it's warm here like it's warm there. NOT!! You just keep right on with your WW whether he goes along for the ride or not. Make sure the focus is YOU.

Mirj-Your Shabbat meals sound like our all the time meals used to be...big and yummy. Once a week is porlly not fatal if you are able to control your portion size. Have you thought about bicycle riding while your tailbone recovers? Not sure if it would work or if the injury is right where your tailbone hits the seat.

Kitteh-you make me tired just reading about all the stuff you do. You seem really busy all the time between housework and exercising and herding teh kittehs. And that tiny bit of snow is a lot worser than a couple of inches...the black ice thing. Be careful if you have to go out! Did you get your new computer yet?

I am perfectly on plan with food today, but it just so stinkin' cold that I didn't feel like going outside to walk. Either it will be a day off or I will WATP this evening. I'm supposed to be giving myself two days off of exercise each week, but last week I took only one. And did the 5-mile hike yesterday, so a rest is prolly not bad for today. I'm rewally hoping that when I finally get on the scales for the challenge on another thread, on Valentine's Day, that I am down below 190.

Barb

patchworkpenguin · 01-09-2011, 09:20 PM

Its snowing! Just a dusting really, but any snow is rare here. The dentist called to say tomorrow's appointment to get my permanent crown was cancelled. Hubby is supposed to have a colonoscopy on Tues so we are wondering about that. I went to 3 Targets to see if they had the Firm workouts for 2 for $10 but they had everything but the Firms. I also went to Kohl's to get some jeans and ended up with jeans, 2 pairs of workout capris, 3 turtlenecks, and one cardigan. Afterwards we stopped at Krogers for provisions, LOL, in case we get snowed in. I'm doing laundry just in case the power goes out.

NP, good job on joining WW. I've heard good things about the Points Plus program. I don't like to plan ahead especially with food. I tend to wait until a few hours beforehand and see what I want. I go through 'gourmet' phases but generally stick to 'easy to fix meals' like meatloaf, chicken, and casseroles.

Barb, congrats being on plan!

Mirj · 01-10-2011, 06:37 AM

Wow, I am so not envious of you all with the cold weather. I find that I go into hibernation when it gets cold, and if I had to deal with freezing or below freezing weather I would just not move at all and huddle in front of the TV with a bottomless mug of hot cocoa! Those of you that actually manage to exercise in the outdoors, wow!

Ashley -- sometimes it's better to stay away from the scale if you know you aren't going to like the numbers. I'm kinda anal about tracking my ups and downs (can we say more ups?), but if I know that I've had some kind of major party or food fest the day/night before, I just stay away from the scale till I feel that my body has recovered and that the number won't freak me out entirely. It must be a great feeling having looser-fitting pants, but your loose underwear comment made me smile.

Legal Eagle -- welcome to the group. Is there some kind of exercise you can do that won't get your back out of whack? What about cycling, indoor or out?

Kitteh -- we keep thinking about buying a Wii, and now that you mentioned there's that dance program, it makes me want to buy one all the more. Problem is that they're really expensive here, and with so many kids to feed at our house we need to spend the money on food rather than what everyone else would consider a luxury for me. Maybe next time I'm in the States (end of May, I think) I'll look for one in duty free. Do you have any models and games you can recommend?

np -- once your husband sees how wonderfully thin and healthy you're getting he'll want to join you as well. That's what really did it for me. My husband switched jobs and we had to return the car to his old employer. He opted not to take a company car at his new job and bought a bike instead. 45 minutes each way and he's losing his pauch, getting a bit ripped, actually. I kept looking at his newly defined body and my pudgy, splodgy body, and competitive me just got kick-started into joining 3FC and into the whole "eat less, move more" thingy. You'll see, you'll be the impetus for him to get back in shape as well. Show him what's what! And stay away from my husband's potatoes!

angelskeep -- my whole issue is portion control. My mother always used to say that my eyes were bigger than my stomach. No more! Now I have the stomach to match! I know that if I want to get healthier I need to stay away from certain foods, not eat less of them.

Sore tushy or not, I went back to the gym today and did a slow 5 km on the elliptical. I had twinges, but no real pain. I also did the 3 km walk into work. Most of my pain comes from sitting down, standing up and bending over, so walking is good, especially since I just downloaded Bruce Springsteen's ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY into my mp4 player. I'm so busy grooving to the Boss I don't even notice the walking! And even though I gained over a kilo over Shabbat, I'm already down 1/2 a kilo (that's over a pound)!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!
...

KittehMomma · 01-10-2011, 08:00 AM

Good Monday morning. I hope everyone had a good weekend.

My pantry is gorgeous. I really need to snap a shot before I mess it up again. Where did I put that camera? I ate well this weekend, and I am down one pound (which cancels out the one pound increase from yesterday's weighing

).

I bought a Magic Bullet, after hearing numerous family members raved bout theirs. And I must say, it whipped up my breakfast vitamin smoothie in very short order this morning. And takes up less room than the blender. I may have to try some of the recipes, since it is so easy to use and clean.

I exercised to the Wii both days this weekend, and this morning I look forward to a vigorous workout at the gym. Better type faster--it's almost time to leave.

Mirj--that menu sounds wonderful. I'd have trouble with just about everything on the list. I love roasted veggies, and roasted meats of all kinds. I don't know if there are different Wii models, but some of the games I have are Wii Fit Plus (exercises and fun games that are really exercises in disguise), Wii Sports Resort (lots of single and multi-player games--bowling, table tennis, swordfighting, fighter pilot, wakeboarding, plus lots more), and Just Dance 2 (you match the dance moves shown on the screen, and try to keep up the rhythm to get points--single or multi-player).

PPenguin--My kittehs are 'purebred'

alley cats from a shelter--the best kind. Sorry to hear about your snow. People who live in places that get a lot of snow don't realize how difficult it is to get even a little snow in places that aren't used to it--especially in places where the temperatures hover around freezing so you build up ice. It can shut a city down! Be careful out there.

Angelskeep--I don't remember posting about getting a new computer. I'll have to go back and see what I was saying.

Well, time to hit the gym. Have a great Monday, all.

Mirj · 01-10-2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittehMomma

PPenguin--My kittehs are 'purebred'

alley cats from a shelter--the best kind. Sorry to hear about your snow. People who live in places that get a lot of snow don't realize how difficult it is to get even a little snow in places that aren't used to it--especially in places where the temperatures hover around freezing so you build up ice. It can shut a city down! Be careful out there.

I can vouch for this! I lived for over 22 years in the Jerusalem area, and we would get snow every few years or so. We only needed a quarter inch or so for the road to Jerusalem to be shut down, schools to be closed and public transportation to totally disappear! Israelis can barely drive in the rain, let alone the snow, and just a few flakes would freak them all out.

patchworkpenguin · 01-10-2011, 10:00 AM

kitteh, we got April as an adult from the Human Soc. The vets think she was close to 2 at the time but we don't really know. She's half Lab/German Shepherd. Memphis doesn't even have a snow plow, but they did salt the streets beforehand.

Mirj I have to fight the instinct to just huddle on the couch in cold weather! I know in my head that if I get up and move around I'll be warmer, but being under a quilt just makes more sense. We put a heating pad under April's bed last night. She's not allowed on the furniture so we have a bed for her in each main room, but even so our floors get so cold.

Mirj · 01-10-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patchworkpenguin

Mirj I have to fight the instinct to just huddle on the couch in cold weather! I know in my head that if I get up and move around I'll be warmer, but being under a quilt just makes more sense. We put a heating pad under April's bed last night. She's not allowed on the furniture so we have a bed for her in each main room, but even so our floors get so cold.

My dog Shovav is a 16 year old mutt. He's got arthritis in his hind legs and spends most of his days sleeping. He can't get up the stair anymore and spends most of his time in the family room watching TV. He's got SDS (senile dog syndrome) so he also watches TV even when it's not on. I've padded his bed with an old quilted flannel jacket that used to belong to my brother (before he got transferred to Hawaii). I like the idea of the heating pad.

The weather outside may be warm for winter, but inside the house it's cold. Our houses are built to keep the heat OUT, not in.