LT thanks that makes sense now. I also appreciate your taking the time to share. Also it is nice to be back to the current starting point.

Great idea that adult care facility has.. I belong to the Y not so much odd people as they carve out space for older or "shy" people as a way to increase confidence and attendance. So I have been pretty lucky. I did belong to a gym that catered to the pretty and fit which had the "posers" and "grunters"

Pat: Well its a good help considering I am about an hour from a larger city in either direction, the rest are all small farm communities. So it's a nicer benefit to have something I can drive too relatively easy. What about the area you live/are from? I know Mam always is interested in where people hail from. Do you have a family? We talk all kinds of things here - not just the dreaded weight/scale.

AM: Tonight it's fat omelet night - I make an omelet for us three and load it with mainly veggies and some cheese. Sometimes a bit of canadian bacon. It gets the fat name because I load it so much it's mighty fat. My kids like tomatoes and peppers as do I and it's a good dinner on nights we are on the run.

I long for the 220s now that I had that Christmas hiccup of weight gain. My jeans are a bit swimmy today. Frankly, I like that happening, it emphasizes that I am doing something right somewhere along the way.

I am trying to get my LOs gifts made for his bday. I have it 1/2 completed. And here you thought Christmas was over and you wouldn't have to hear my crafting tales!

See you all tomorrow with your weigh-ins! Lets loose 5 lbs each - so for that it would be maybe 15-20lbs total from everyone. Just think, that's one 5# bag of flour you have off your bod. Go VIOLETS go!

SW: 232.4
M-GW: 227.4

There are my challenge numbers. YEAH. LET'S DO THIS!

Wishing you all a fine morning. I have a repair guy coming to look at my HVAC. The upstairs is always about 5° cooler since we had the furnace replaced and the ducts cleaned. So perhaps it's a balance issue because you trust they put the right size furnace in the house for the job, right?

I am pleased, my weight is continuing to go down. YEAH. It's always an added happiness to see that happen. I am in good spirits so that's a good help too. I was laying in bed this am, I used to be able to grab onto my belly and flop it back and forth. Now it's tightened enough when laying I can't do that really at all. Yes, when I am standing it's still there, but not as much

Happy day to you all - I look forward to cheering you all on with loss!

Hey - just had a thought - my Mini goal weight is in the 220s! WOOT. I haven't been there in such a long time. Will any of you be going into a weight you haven't been for such a time? I do have the wedding ring on - actually now for a few hours, not uncomfortable at all. I am not resizing it, I didn't want to when I was heavier and I actually like it when it spins. That's my goal, if it spins too much then I will think about it. But for now, the old friend is back.

Pat: I use a food scale often and it is usually eye opening for me! Some things I grossly overestimate and somethings I way underestimate. It’s good for me to see it often! I’m with you on reframing how I cope. Hardest thing ever. I had a rough day yesterday and not being able to turn to food was challenging, as dumb as that sounds.

LT: I do mostly families. It’s a hobby for me, so most of my pics are of my own kids but I do it for friends too. Only my oldest is old enough for school - Kindergarten - so my life wouldn’t be much different if she went, other than having to pack up the others to drop her off and pick her up which sounds like a nightmare to me!! LOL WOOHOO on no cavities!! Hate the dentist. WTG on the loss!!!

AM: Looking forward to the challenge!!! I’m at 206 right now and dyyyyying to get to ONEderland! IT would be the first time since I was 16, no joke.

We have a cleaning company coming to tell us what it would cost to use them. I’ve been dragging my feet on getting some help for ages, and I don’t know that I think we will actually do it because we def don’t have money free flowing - but we’ll see what the cost is. I’ve been more motivated to stay with my WOE (way of eating) lately and I am SO GRATEFUL. It’s hard when every day feels like a struggle, ya know? I’m mainly no grains/no sugar with a second goal of low carb high fat (which naturally happens with no grains no sugar).

Did a ‘body project’ youtube workout this morning. It was a good one! So thankful for the silly youtube workouts - makes it doable for me. My kids are supposed to be having rest time but are instead fighting and carrying on - off I go to intervene.


CHALLENGE:
START WEIGHT 206.4
GOAL WEIGHT: 201.4

Picture: I am in the market for a new DSLR, what are you using? I have a BFA so I am not perplexed by and only use AF on cameras if that helps. I have been looking at a Nikon. When I last bought an SLR was when digital was taking off and I didn't want piddly small on the DPI front. Fast forward to first child, still didn't want to invest in older technology (I think MP was at 7) and thought I'd wait until it increased considerably. Now, I am looking. Feel free to give me some input.

Weight - that must be a good feeling to be so close the 190s! You can do this. Lets take off those crazy 5 lbs and hit the next decade together. So far so good yet today. Still need to get my water in, I have been mooching my coffee as it's in a thermal cup and it's snowing out. Warmth takes the cake right now.

Hey all...
My start weight yesterday was 251.5. It would be awesome to be back into the 240's at the end of the challenge.

So a little about myself 53 been married to DH for 29 years this April. I have a stepdaughter and step grandson.. Live in northern NY have all my life. rural but not as rural as LT.
Have always been heavy and never remember a time when losing weight wasn't a goal. How exhausting.

SO yes the looking at labels and the scale are hugely eye opening. WTH ?? Boy your eyes are bigger than your stomach has a new meaning.

Really taking the time slowing down and thinking about what you are putting in your mouth. That is the trick. Someone mentioned it is the small changes that add up.

PF- nice hobby /gift.. it is nice to have that talent and share it with others. I have a cleaning lady and it is such a help... Yes there is the cost but it gives me time to other stuff.

LT How did you make out with the HVAC? and WTG on the scale!

Heading to the day!

Pat: You have to remember Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was our weight. Mine is an accumulation of post-pregnancy, job loss, job change, fire, miscarriages, depression in loved ones etc. It adds up over time, at least for me, I ate my way through them. Ok, who am I kidding. I really didn't care what I was putting in my mouth, I ate, didn't look at calories. So it will come off, it may not be immediate, but yours will start to shift with the small changes you are making. Its amazing when you stop and look at numbers. I know I just think restaurants are being helpful and providing the right size. HAHAHAH. All you have to do is stop and look at the calories posted to make a U-turn and walk right out.

Good for you for taking a look at what is going in. It's hard and then you scratch your head and say I could have been doing things so differently. Ah, it's life.

Les: Where did you go? How's the loss?

Picture: How did the cleaning gal work out?

Hello Violets!

AM: Well, scale moved a bit more. I aim to get to the gym tonight and cycle. Last night I went to bed at 730. Of course LO had me up at 330 that morning, and I just stayed up. Alas, tonight will be a bit of cycling.

The HVAC turned out just fine. Normal maintenance and he clicked the blower up a notch and surprisingly the house is warmer. Now why leave it at the lowest setting in the upper midwest? Who knows. But he said all parts look good and furnace is running well.

Do we need to start a new thread? We have gone over 500 posts. Don't want to loose you all you have all been a help on this crazy journey!

I looked - 500 is where they lock threads. So in preparation, here is the new link to the new thread:

Shrinking Violets #2

And what are these photos about? What have they provided? It'd be great, if yes. As I liked it a lot! And I do not want to change it into any other!