Quiet around here the past few days... Just a quick check-in for me.

I didn't actually accomplish any of yesterday's goals, but it was a "shoot for the stars, don't be disappointed by landing on the moon" scenario, so I'm pretty okay with it. Except #5. I think I probably did #5, but it isn't a particularly quantifiable goal, so it's hard to say.

I weighed this morning. Up to 147. I'm even sort of okay with that, partially because I now have a goal to work toward. Gotta say - I kinda like working toward goals, even though I would also sort of like the weight control issue to sink into the background. However, at least I won't be surprised by "middle age weight creep." I am going to try and hit my goals for today, though.

Goals.
1 - Two sets of body weight exercises.
2 - 22K steps (make up for yesterday's 2K deficit)
3 - Finish the first four things on my to-do list for work. (Two of those things are different)
4 - Increase mindfulness in general.
5 - Create a weight/fat percentage log and weigh and measure regularly, starting with tomorrow morning.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Laurie: Glad that you are in a better head space now. I like your goals and think that you should give yourself some credit, even if you don't meet them every day. You've done some wonderful things in the past year, and you should be proud. Now you have a little bit of a weight goal, too, so something to strive for!!

As for me, just plugging through the day. I am so anxious to be done with the next few days! It has been a long time since I've had a vacation, so it is definitely time! My heel was really sore last night, but I think that hunting will be fine. My boots are really fitted well, so they will actually provide more support and will probably make it better.

I hope that those who are not posting right now are doing well. You are missed!!

Good morning!

Diane - The countdown to vacation is ON! Glad that you are taking care of the foot with proper footwear and support, but really hope the flare-up goes away quickly. You deserve some time to get your relaxation on!

Still not hitting goals, and didn't even make even real effort to get my run in this morning. But I'm not out of control yet. I will, however, try to be far more focused in doing those things I KNOW I need to do to be successful.

Goals -
1 - First five things on my to-do list at work. Actively discourage people from talking to me so I can do that. (That tends to be the biggest problem -- people coming into my office to chat. Don't they have work to do?)
2 - 25K steps, whether running or walking. Gonna have to move briskly to accomplish it.
3 - Weigh in the morning.
4 - Create weight and fat percentage charts for October and November.
5 - Get my clothes/gym bag organized so that I am getting my work-out in during the morning again.
6 - Get to bed at a decent time.
7 - Three sets of body weight exercises.

And I echo what Diane said. I do miss hearing the voices of the fantastic people who have posted here regularly, but haven't been posting in the last week or two. Hope things are going well for y'all.

Hello! Can I join you all? I’ve been in the decade loss threads but they have gotten quiet and/or the others have a bit more success than myself in moving down the scale then I do. I was on the site last summer/fall and then w/winter and stress my weight went up and I fell away. So I’ve been back at actively loosing again and hope this time to especially stick through the winter. And I seem to do well w/like minded people in this journey (or fight - depends on the day 😊).

I met slash last year on here - good to see your doing well and getting ready for your hunting season.

Myself: I’m a SAHM and I tend to eat when my kids do and mindless eat. Which isn’t great and I enjoy baking (ok I’m a mean cookie baker) so I tend to sample. I had started this new attack of weight with calorie counting and limited exercise. I have now added in IF which seems to be going fairly well for me which I’m surprised with. The benefits in the last few weeks - my belly area isn’t as puffy and fluffy. My measurements are down as well. I’ll take what I can get with each little thing that indicates I’m loosing weight. My scale is a slow mover and I tend to do poorly around TOM -but I find who doesn’t?!

So if you don’t mind me joining in and helping cheer you all along and giving me encouragement to keep this going, I’d appreciate it!

Lemonthyme!!! So glad to see you again!! I actually had seen your name over on the decades thread and wondered how things were going for you. That's awesome that you're posting here. While I do like the idea of the decades threads, they can be discouraging if you aren't moving along as fast as others, and then you have buddies who leave you behind! Ha! I am working on a regain, too. I was doing really well, and then had an injury that kind of took over and I've struggled getting back on track. As I recall, you were big into gardening? Is that right? I guess that is probably coming to an end with fall in the air. Anyway, welcome! Laurie Dawn has lost a lot of weight but continues to post here and offers lots of encouragement and insight.

Laurie: Had to laugh at your goals, showing the frustration with people who chat. We have someone where I work who is just a delight. She works nearby my desk and there are people in and out of her office all day, just chatting. She's too nice to tell them to leave, but I know she gets frustrated. Anyway, glad to see your goal list!

For me, I'm just trying to hold on to my attitude for today and tomorrow. I need to get away from work so much!!! I'm hoping for a major regroup with my week off. I need to make it happen. I've been hanging on ok, but I need to get that discipline back and really stay on the food plan. Workouts are always easier for me, but I need to make sure it all fits together.

Yep it’s me! And my gardening - let’s just say I’m the lady w the plant death thumb this year. But I still got canning done (MILs tomatoes) for salsa and went to orchards for my blueberries and apples. I’m keeping my eyes open for pears yet at the grocery to can as I like my fruits in the cold months.

Oh the gain and loss and gain again can be a vicious cycle for me and I finally said to heck with it I’ll be traveling twice next year I’d like to be able to walk without many issues and not worry about the chub rub on my thighs when I walk and I’d like to fit into an airplane seat w some extra room if there is ever any anymore. and I’d like to feel good about myself. So the more focused outlook right now. Fall and winter are awfully hard for me - it’s dang cold here then, I don’t like to go out in the cold or dark, I like to eat my comfort foods and bake - you see where this is going and why I’m looking for support to encourage me. Oh - and my DH still believes showing his love in part is with food😊. So hopefully I will do better - the constant chatter is a help for me and a place to bounce ideas or frustration.

Alas - that is what’s up for me. Trying to work my way down the scale a little at a time. I hope y’all can help me and I’ll try and help you all.

232.4

Today I awoke and that same flabby tum bit I’ve been known to grab before I get out of bed is reducing. And today I feel thinner. I know I’m not terribly in great shape as my clothes still feel the same but when I viewed myself in the mirror I didn’t look as lumpy so I will take that feeling and go with it.

Have one kids costume to finish up this week. I have to spray paint a rocket pack. And let it air out so it’s not too stinky by Halloween night. And my house is always on my list to get cleaned. I never get it completely done now does it last w/ my family!

Once kids in the bus I’ll go for my quick walk. I had taken my iPod the other days walk and it turned off so I didn’t have what my steps were so I’ll try again today - more just so I have an idea of the ground I’m covering.

Hope everyone is well!

Good morning!

LemonThyme - So glad you've joined us! I'm not a particularly talented baker, but my husband (who is less than impressed with my culinary talents in general) decided that my chocolate chip cookies are good, so I go in spurts of baking them. And I sample cookie dough. I've developed a strategy where I am not allowed to have any dough until all of the cookies are in the oven, then I scrape the bowl. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, I don't have the discipline to do it. I LOVE that you're noticing and appreciating the positive changes, though. No matter where I am on the scale (and I have been as low at 140 and as high as 278 in the last few years), I can find things to love and things to criticize. Your determination to embrace the positive feelings is something I need to adopt as well.

Diane - You are exactly on point. I need to recommit. Recharge. Reenergize. Regroup. I am really glad you're getting a chance to (hopefully) chill and focus on what you need to make this happen. And I know that food is the most critical element to weigh loss/control, but I am becoming more and more convinced that consistent exercise is more important for just general life goals. I feel better when I'm consistently exercising. My depression is much better controlled. My ability to get things done is significantly enhanced. This pervasive idea that the primary purpose of exercise is weight loss has not been my experience. The food is important too, of course, but I love how consistent you are with the exercise.

I did something important, but risky, yesterday, and allowed myself to be consumed with anxiety about it. The anxiety led to a series of bad eating choices during the workday (fortunately rare for me, as my bad eating choices generally happen at home in the evening), and I felt physically ill by the time I got home--nauseated, raging headache, and low-energy. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening (custody days for my stepsons), we do work-out videos as a family, and my misery was both profound and self-inflicted. My husband geared up the yoga/Pilates combo video, and I determined to power through it, as the habit will die if I don't support it. As I burned through the excess calories, I started to feel better. I ate very little for dinner, as I was more nauseated than hungry still, and went for an after-dinner walk, and then felt much better.

So, new procedures for me, I suppose. When I do something risky, I need to recognize that it will produce anxiety, and I need to prepare myself for it. When I was captured by the anxiety, I knew I could do meditation or some other mindfulness exercise while I walked to calm the anxiety and make it manageable, but by the time I realized how anxious I was, I no longer had the discipline to use these techniques. So I ate cookies and candy that other people had brought to work and made available. If I had recognized the likelihood of anxiety and had used a technique at the start of the anxiety, I think my outcome would have been better. I did, however, get most of yesterday's goals done. I got 26K steps, weighed this morning, got to bed early, and did two of my three sets of body weight exercises. I was not as productive at work as I needed to be (again - anxiety issue), and did not organize my clothes/gym bag (sickness brought on by bad choices in reaction to anxiety). But it was a learning day, so I am going to consider it progress.

Goals.
1 - 20K steps
2 - Three sets of bodyweight exercises.
3 - Run in the morning.
4 - Weigh / do fat percentage measurement in the morning and record on my new charts.
5 - Laser focus at work to make up for yesterday's slackness. (I am going to try keeping my headphones in and pretending I can't hear people who try to interrupt me. =)

Hope everyone has a fantastic day! Almost the weekend, baby!

Laurie: I think husbands have things they remember from their past years and when you introduce something new they are always comparing to something from the past. In fact my DH this past weekend was doing that and I about gave him a hit! His mom who is neither a baker or cook made banana bread and here is my DH evaluating - who’s is better crap. Like any other recipe we have our favorites mine happens to be my dads recipe. My MILs was drier than dry and I like a moist bread. Alas, it’s always something to learn to work with.

I’m sorry anxiety and worry got the best of you. Do you have time in your work day when those feelings come up to quickly go take a walk? Does music help to relax or distract? Maybe finding a different outlet for this. Even grabbing a cup of tea or starring out your window and clearing your mind. I have also been reading on depression as DH suffers from SAD - one thing I keep reading is that there is a gut link to depression. Adding pro and pre biotics to your diet seems to help heal the brain and inflammation - do some reading on such if you are open to supplements and aiding the body w natural helpers.

Diane: I hope your hunting trip goes well. I seem to recall you enjoy the walking and time spent w DH. Have safe travels and a safe hunting experience. We’ll be starting that the week before thanksgiving here gun season that is. DH generally donates his if there is one in the freezer at his parents. I’m not a fan of venison.

HELLO ALL!

AM: worrying some in regards to one of my kids who’s gotten kind of quiet of
Late. Not sure if schoolwork is the struggle or the preteen social struggle. So I’m planning to focus on them this weekend breakfast out w mom and being my helper and close friend. We normally talk a lot but of late I’ve noticed a decline. I hope we can find a solution to this I don’t like seeing things like this. When I had my kids I remember seeing the statement of your heart walking around outside your body - oh how true!

I try to find something positive if I can about this journey each week. It’s hard but even the mundane or stupid - like I have space between my toes! Celebrate something. Maybe how your hair looks w/ a thinner face or how a top lies against your body differently or that fatty roll that has plagued you and now it’s a bit smaller when you grab it. Maybe we can make fridays a shout out to what made us happy about ourselves day? Think about it.

Ok off to get a kid off the bus and lunch ready for them. And then break my fast w something. I just had a piece of string cheese to begin. But I am uncertain what I’d like to eat this morning.

Happy afternoon all!

232.0

Slowly getting to the 220s -some days I wish it was quick to loose but maybe w/ the slower loss it will help the skin settle without the hang. Who knows how that will go. I’ll have to deal with it and just keep living life flab or not.

Today I’m off to get supplies to make raised garden beds as my soul is horrible of late for growing in. I have to do some final calculations and see what size of wood will work best and be most economical. Since I’ve got to buy dirt as well it gets a bit pricey but I’m tired of getting things in the garden and having in the end a mess w no produce. This last summer we had so much rain at critical times for growth, and I have so much sand just nothing did well except my
Marigold’s. Hah!

Weight wise I have been checking out how the outside package feels as in lumps/bumps and rolls that have been prominent are not as much. I have a mama belly that is FINALLY not as pronounced and hanging over quite as much. I think this weekend I’ll have DH take my photos so I can study myself. But I hope there is some noticeable difference besides he spaces between my toes!0

Happy weekend ahead all! Enjoy the fall weather (ok I’m inundated w fall here). Hope the scale continues to be kind to each of you. I’ll try to bop in this weekend to see what’s up. Happy weekend friends.

Good morning!

Diane - Vacation time awaits! I can't wait to hear about it when you get back. The Rocky Mountains in October. Crisp, cold, breathtakingly beautiful.

LemonThyme - I love the energy you bring here! I am down for the Friday shout-outs to ourselves. I hope that you're able to avoid the excess and loose skin as you lose. =) Progress is progress, though, as I try to remind myself. Glad you're headed down the scale. Thank you for your thoughts on my anxiety/depression issues. I do manage to take walks throughout the day, and the exercise and sunlight are helpful. I hadn't heard about the gut link to depression, but interestingly enough, I have started to regularly take both prebiotics and probiotics. Maybe they'll have a long-term positive impact on the depression thing? And I had to laugh about your MIL's recipe fails. My husband actually has no respect for his mother's cooking skills. I am forever doomed to be compared to his own cooking skills, and since he is more in tune with what he likes than I am, I shall never be successful, I'm afraid. =)

SHOUT OUT TO WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY - I am resilient. I struggle and fall, but I don't stay down. I am fighting off depression right now, but I am not going to stop fighting just because it happens to be really hard at the moment.

I used food twice yesterday to ease anxiety and cope with sadness. No good reason for either of them, but the brain does not always require a good reason, and my physiology is not my fault. It is not even my "fault" that I don't always make the best choices to cope with my medical issue. Perversely, the depression makes it hard to make good decisions about treating the depression.

I'm struggling even more today, so I am going to scale back my goals to just a few.

Goals.
1 - 12K steps.
2 - Two sets of body weight exercises before 5.
3 - Do five minutes of meditation to focus my mind and get back to work.
4 - Choose better options for dealing with sadness than food, which only leads to negative feedback loops and more depression. (If food were an effective treatment for depression, this would not be on my goals. I'd rather be fat than catatonic. But eating makes me feel worse, not better, after it temporarily quells the anxiety. There's gotta be a better way.)

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

My own shoutout: I am feeling less like the Venus of wilendorf - those extra places to grab are getting a bit less and if I look less like a horrible Stone Age statuette I’m all for!

I was bad today and grabbed some cookies while shopping as we were having a car picnic when we met DH to grab the garden items thereafter. I had packed some lunches and took with but we stopped at the grocery and what I thought would be a bit cheaper were not and the cookies were a treat but I had a bit too good of time! Oh well. I’ve been good this week up until now - I guess we can all have a bit of a wobble.

I got the Halloween candy today too. I’ll keep the bags sealed and only open them that night that way it will keep me Honest and I need to hide them from the kids and DH. Since we live in a small town we see about most of the kids so I’ve got a good assortment.

Otherwise the IF seems to help me out or at least help Keep moving the scale in a downward motion. I’m sure tomorrow it will not be w today’s cookies. However I plan on salad and chicken for myself tonight the rest will have a pasta. I try not to make multiple meals however I need to stay away from the pasta. Tomorrow am I have a date w/my girl and we’re going to breakfast. She got talking a bit more and that’s a help. You always wonder what goes through their noggins and I think sometimes as a parent we worry extra then even what they have thought of. Mountains out of molehills for me I guess! But we’ll go have breakfast and spend some Mom time together.

Ok I hope everyone is doing well. Oh and my 2nd self shout out: im sleeping more often themrough the night! Maybe it meets up w/weight loss or maybe not but I’m glad sleep is returning.

231.8

My goodness did I ever say my body does not like to leave the 230s?! A bit today, a bit yesterday it’s a weekend and weekends are hard for me.

I sit here watching a dvr of the great British baking show. All these sweets and breads in front of my face. Haha! Things look so good as they make them, I’m watching the hosts teach their items and learning a few things to maybe try the next time I bake. Which will be next week, as we travel to visit family again and perhaps help and visit w corn harvest.

I got my new batteries in the scale - no more bouncing as a number lands. Yeah! And 231.8 I haven’t seen since when last July when I tried this last? Oh I’m hopeful for the 220s next week. I can do this.

Oh -I don’t update my tickers but once a week usually unless of course I’m super excited to have moved downward. So there may be bit of discrepancy. I don’t have time to putz with it often and I like those tickers art better than the ones here on the site (a bit outdated if you will).😊

As I watch this show and type I just wonder why the world is so fast and crazy and then you look at the simplicity of baking or being creative in the kitchen and you say where have we lost the simple time for this type of pleasure? I’m not super fab but always trying to learn or try something new. Don’t get me wrong I’ve got my stable of favs. But I watch this and in general when people are in the kitchen there always seems to be a smile that hatches. (This dissipates at cleanup and dish time I’m sure!).

Alas - will try to keep the scale at this level all weekend and not to go upwards. If it happens it happens but I’ll try not too.

Ok off to finish my coffee and show and then to wrap some gifts for others birthdays. Look at a Christmas and travel list as we’ll be doing traveling in the new year and just getting things purchased each payday so not all at once. And maybe get a walk in between the rain clouds.

Enjoy your weekends! May your scales be kind.

My laptop died and acquiring a replacement wasn't as simple as it might have been. And even though all my files were backed up on my external drive my bookmarks weren't so that's been a process too...

But I'm back and I really want to get back in the semi-regular posting habit.

I have to say coming to this group is super good for me and I'm glad to see Diane and Laurie and Lilion still here. Welcome to LemonThyme too!

Even though I've been tracking my food in MFP over the last 3 months I haven't really been counting calories. I haven't been eating EVERYTHING like I used to but I order what I want when I go out to dinner and if I feel like stopping for an ice cream I get one (but not a whole pint!). So for three months I've eaten like I think I'll probably eat for the rest of my life and I HAVEN'T gained any weight. I haven't lost any, but I haven't really been trying to lose. I've just been comfortably coasting and I haven't gained any weight. This is huge new for me. We all know how easy and fast weight comes back so not gaining is a biggie. And I haven't been feeling deprived or stressed about eating at all. Which makes me think I can really maybe do this forever.

However, I really want to lose 50 more pounds. So it's back to counting and not having those ice creams.

The other thing different this time is I've traded out my Fitbit for a Motiv Ring. The ring focuses on active minutes rather than footsteps. It tracks footsteps (and I've found it accurate but others have not). I like the active minutes idea since it counts things like stacking firewood. Not many footsteps involved in moving a cord of wood but there's a lot of lifting and bending. The Motiv tracks that. So I feel like I'm getting "credit" the Fitbit denied me. It's all mind games but part of losing weight and keeping it off definitely takes mind games....

50 pounds here I come! Or there you go! or something like that....

Hello Vlad! Oh that darn ice cream - it’s such a foul temptor! I’m in the dairy state so I know it’s call quite well. The good thing is summers over and my want for cold deliciousness goes down so maybe you will have the same luck since you are in the NE. 50lbs sounds doable - overwhelming - but doable! Some
Days those large numbers seem so daunting. I’ve been trying to focus on those smaller numbers and then I feel I can breathe some.

Diane: enjoy the hunt! Are you making stews and soups or cooking over open fire?

Laurie: hope everything is starting to settle back down for you. Yes there is a doctor who believes a lot of depression stems from the gut and inflammation helps fuel it. I can see where that sounds like a good link up. She tends to treat her patients with the probiotics first instead of the ssris or other meds. I’ve been reading on this because of my DH. I find it interesting they are doing more with probiotics for studies and also finding that traditional areas for them ie yogurt have stability issues for long term. That said maybe take a dive into looking up some info on. I actually find my DH is in better spirits without being on his meds (doctor weaned him off) which intrigues me as well - he easily laughs once again - I missed that. On the meds, it was more forced if it happened at all.

Hello all!

My afternoon is progressing. Still raining and cold out so loafing about a bit today. I have laundry to begin - I had waited until DH remedied the toilet problem (shared space) before getting that underway.

Do any of you lift weights? I have access to a universal machine at my little gym. Is there anything you’d recommend for the upper body? I’m thinking to add a few more items to what I do. Maybe the bat wings will tone up if weight goes.

TOM found me - so not only a weekend, but that to fight through again. Last time I didn’t count and I ate. Not so wise and hope I can stick with calories this time. Here’s to hoping I can stay strong and avoid sugars and chocolate that so calls my name then. AND I CAN MOVE INTO A NEW DECADE. Maybe if I shouted it it will come true?

Afternoon all - I’m off to launder and clean.