Lemon: That is a very great reminder. When I measured the other day it was at night and I was WAY bloated. I am going to try and remember to measure in the morning. I haven't tried on my 14s as I know I won't fit them until under 220, that has always been where I get into them. I don't want to set myself up for failure. I am already at a stall and I bet it is from stress. Not sure what I can do other than to just keep chugging along. Some days I feel so good thinking I have come so far and other days I want to cry when I look in the mirror...LOL Oh woe is me, right? I figure I let all this weight creep on my for over 15 years, so it may take some time to get off of me. I hope you are feeling better. I know chronic pain and it can be so terrible when you are in pain every day!

Uber: Your trip sounds amaze balls!!!! What is French food like? Is it more carby? I will try on the 14s when I get under 220 because that always seems to be the lucky number. I am at a stall right now and I am guessing it is from stress. I haven't been eating very much due to my stomach issues so that could be another reason. Our bodies are SO weird. They can drop 5 pounds over night and stall for 14 days. I need to go back to weighing weekly or every other week. It is difficult when you see the SAME number over and OVER!

Diane: I am sorry you are having scale issues. I am complaining about a couple weeks and you have been having the same issue for more time, you are very strong through you always seem to hang in there and take a very positive approach which I admire. I get into these moods some days because of a dang number. I know in my head I should not let it get to me but it usually does. I also know that it is not a race and it will eventually come off, but it is difficult to just accept it. I am working through trying to rid the negativity because I really like the positive side of life!

Toasted: I don't know what to do. I am at a loss. I haven't been eating much due to my stomach issues. I cannot eat a whole lot of foods until it dies down. I just think the stress finally got to me and my body is rebelling. I have been in a really negative mood and I need to get out of it. So I looked at a bunch of positive memes today...LOL I know silly but that is what I tend to do. I am blessed that my weight is staying the same and it is not going up. Happy late Birthday....I meant to wish you one for awhile and I was spacing. I hope you had a fantastic birthday!!!!

Windy: Welcome!!!

So I have decided to start working back on my house. I need to do something other get into a depression and lay in bed. We are having our cabinets resurfaced because it is less than a forth of what it would cost to have new cabinets and they come out looking brand new. We are also having cabinet organizers put in. I found a quartz place that will install it in the price. And I am going to do the backsplash. So I need to get started in the front room. I am painting a light grey throughout the house. So I have many projects that need to get finished along with laying the floor downstairs. I am hoping this is a good outlet for everything that is going on.

Happy Thursday!

Windy: some days are like that w feeling starving and other days you can go hours without! Like now, I’m baking monkey bread. I’m hopeful most will go the freezer for periodic morning warmups w eggs. And let me tell you- I miss the smell of my house as I bake. This will be a life long adjustment because I love my baked items.

Jen: oh how fun! What color quartz? Are your counters that too? Or are you timing the back? I hate my kitchen, I only like the things I make in it. Maybe this will help heal your spirit. You know, you probably are still dealing w the worry and fear of what happened to DH and I’m sure that can fill you with horrid worry about the what if’s. Can I offer something for you since all these relatives are there - plan a quick weekend away for just the two of you. You have the people to help w the kids - find something easy to get to and keep it low key and just enjoy each other’s company. If it’s the ocean (since your a coaster) or a small cabin in the woods - surprise him and sometimes that extra planning is exciting and can pull you out of the duldrums. You don’t have to spend a lot but the time together will be so nice for each of you.

Am: baking! I missed it and my house smells like yeast and cinnamon and just like a warm hug. Yes I’ll partake but I’m going to try and be mindful. And my freezer will be happy too! I need to clean the large one and maybe making things once it’s cleaned out would be good. From meals to treats. Who knows. I’m always on the search for good low calorie freezer meals. However a lot I can find are pasta based. Any ideas out there are good!

Suns out and sky is getting horribly dark. Ick snow. I hope it just stays as rain.

Alrighty I’ve yet to break the fast here’s to a good day!

252.4

Sakai: So nice to be able to walk outside, but the sun can be tough on you! I really watch it with my face in particular. I have a fishing hat that I wear when I go hiking or do yard work. It has a huge brim on it, but looks more like a baseball hat. Love it. Oh, and I'm with you on ordering stuff. I do it occasionally, but it isn't my favorite thing.

Uber: Yeah, I get it on the health issues when you gain weight. I really believe that the struggle I had with plantar fasciitis came from regaining weight. Then, when you start having the other issues, it is even worse. My blood results were good, so happy with that.

Lemon: Ugh on that weather. It is very windy for us today and there is a possibility of snow tomorrow. But then it is also supposed to clear out. I hope so!! You just can't get too anxious with putting out flowers, I think. Just asking for problems!!

Windy: Yep, I think you'll enjoy this group. Glad you're posting here. Congrats on the weight loss! It is so good to see numbers going down. Makes for a happy day!

Jenni: Sounds like you have some good ideas for your house. That will brighten things up! I am not a great person for remodeling. I don't really know what I want most of the time! Looks like you have some work ahead of you!!

As for me, the scale showed a lower number today. I am really seeing a trend here. Mondays aren't awful, but then Tuesday and Wednesday usually go up. I, like Sakai, seem to have something happening on the weekends that causes a change. I wonder if mine is more that I really don't drink as much water on the weekend as I do during the week. Then, Monday hits and I go back to drinking lots of water. Hmmm. Might need to adjust that.

Went to Body Pump this morning and I had plans of going hiking this afternoon, but it is super windy. And, it might be raining by then. So, we'll see...

Jen- It's always nice to keep busy. When I was deeply depressed, keeping myself busy not only meant I was active, but it kept my mind from drifting to what was upsetting me. I'd clean, read, write, do my crafts, walk...anything. And nice fresh cabinets are something to look forward to.

Lemon- I'm unsure if the meal you're planning is too heavy, I'm not certain on what diet you're doing, or if you're calorie counting. If your calories allow it, then I'm sure it's fine. ^.^ I love plants too. Sadly I have a bit of a brown thumb. Sometimes I have great success, sometimes things just wither and die in front of me. I'm getting a fruit tree this week. It'll be my 4th one, my 2 peaches and 1 lemon tree turned to dead sticks within a year of planting them. I've bad luck with trees, I guess. Or maybe just fruit trees. I'm aiming for an Apricot tree this time, maybe a cherry. I grew up with a peach, 2 apricot and a green apple tree in my backyard. The peach, in particular, was towering! growing more peaches than we could possibly eat. We were giving them away to neighbors, friends, even the garbage men! they would climb on the top of their truck and reach the almost top ones. I really miss that part of my childhood and it sucks that I can't get a tree to establish and live.

Windy- It's great when the water drops away. Not only on the scale but the puffy feeling goes away and I find that I ache a little less too. I too was starving my first two days on Low carb, but it quickly went away and now I'm almost never hungry.

As for me...I've a bad day in both mood and food.
I'm WAY over my carb limit for the day. My man got a wild hair and decided he wanted to make breakfast and dinner. I normally fast for dinner, but he was so proud of his creation I couldn't say no to it. Work was blah and I'm in an irritable mood. My carb count was somewhere in the 40 gram range. My goal is 17..with 20 still a safe zone. Alas, I guess this is a carb up day for me.

TMI on the irritability I've noticed it happening more and more and I know Keto can do that, But I'm also due for my Birth control implant to be replaced, so I wonder if the switch back to my normal hormones is causing it.
I've an appointment next week for the dreaded pap and to talk about my options for new birth control. Seems some insurance companies are not wanting to cover the implant anymore, which sucks because I really like it. Hopefully that's not the case with mine and I can just get a new one right away.

Slashnl - wow you posted right before me LOL
I cover myself in sunscreen if I know I'll be out more than 10 minutes. I burn super easy. And Temps are already in the 100's in my neck of the woods. So I'll be avoiding going out past 9 am if I can help it. Due to my hiccup in carbs today, I feel this week is going to be a bust for me when it comes to weight loss. Not as big as a drop as last week. I was hoping to get out of the 270's I was 271 yesterday, but went up to 272 today and then this hiccup. I'm going to try and be super good over the weekend and see if I can skip that monday/tuesday regain and stall

Hey all. Busy and still kind of moody, but will return in time to my old self. Have been going home early and yesterday took a nice long nap, which helped the mood and headache quite a bit. I'll live. I'll likely eventually feel up to telling the whole story about my friend. Not yet.

Bought some mangos and a pineapple at Aldi's to dehydrate. :D Looking forward to trying those out.

Food...eh. Mood is a diet killer.

Exercise? Nah. :( Work has been so busy and I've been so tired and crabby. But I'll live.

And on that note, I'll get back to work now. Sorry to be Debbie Downer, just wanted to stop in.

:wave:

Hello everyone, a newbie regainer here. Hope to join in and get to know everyone :wave:

Azzi: welcome! You’ve come to a good group post away!

Lil: I’m sorry look to the sun to warm your nose and smile if you see green outside somewhere because all I see is brown and a blizzard or ice storm (NOAA SAYS New track) to come!

Sakai: when you are buying your trees are they specific to your growing zone? Most places guarantee trees for 1 year from purchase. You dig up and take receipt and dead tree back to them. Some things we have been told: baby the hades out of them the first two years. At my house I’ve done hardwoods, arborvitaes and tons of flowering bushes. In my frozen neck of the woods it’s this:

Big hole dug PLACE root ball loosened a bit (Ie give it a few knocks w your palm to loosen) place in hole, water and back fill in.

Get root stimulator - usually sold at good nurseries follow directions for your specific tree it’s usually mixed w water

Water weekly: take a 5 gal pail and pour directly down and at the base of trunk. This way you are forcing the roots to dive down for water not horizontally out if you just flood the area w a hose/sprinkler willy nilly which keep roots at top soil level and not going deep

Keep watering once weekly until first frost same bucket method. Unless of course your in drought get nursery instructions I know I’m only little old zone 4!

Root stimulate once a month. We would do one 5 gal pail with the stimulator/water mix and do the dump at trunk base.

If you buy your treees at a big box you can still ask questions of the nursery folk at a reliable and good nursery. I hit mine up all the time if I’m perplexed. Of course I have bought from them too but big box at end of season always has wonderful prices on bushes.

Beware of mulching base sometimes you choke off the eye in doing so.

Do not plant the eye below the dirt line unless specifically told so.

Ok that’s enough of lemons suggestions on tree planting. I’ve only planted fruit trees w my MIL and she would not follow my suggestions, rain was good enough and said trees all stressed and died. Just saying - hit up the nursery for their suggestions.

Diane: I got to thinking about it. Without being tmi how is the poo schedule weekly vs weekend? Yes serious! That might be your culprit. Maybe track your trips daily and see if that corresponds with the increase on certain days as weekend food may be dragging you up on full digestion/gas/bulk. I know I see swings when I travel - good old travel bowel becomes super shy and that’s usually on the weekends.

Am: now we may have ice storm and some snow. If I loose my power in this temp I will be one crabby butt camper! I will be posting this weekend as I’ll be home cleaning - my absolutely least favorite job.

In regards to my suggested birthday meal and my diet - I’ll be mindful in my servings - but in general does that menu sound heavy for anyone not dieting?

Otherwise monkey bread is in freezer. The piece I had was good but I filled up quick with the egg I had it with. Nothing makes a house smell better than baking bread and butter and cinnamon.

Who knows on weight. I’m drinking water earlier as I swear I drank too much before bed. So I’m trying to get the bulk done during the day. Will see. But sometimes it’s fun to guess what I’ll be he next morning which has been totally off! And I’m not walking so it will all be slow to go.

Alright - I’m off to hang up laundry and fold the last load. Have not gotten to the kimono yet. That will be in a bit here, but I look forward to it.

242

Azzi Welcome to the group! You've come to the right place!

Lil Sorry you've been feeling blah! Headaches are the very worst! I get migraines and whenever I get a headache I become totally unproductive!

Jen The best meal I had in France was when I was in the south, near the Mediterranean. We were sitting on an outside terrace, and I heard a girl at the table next to me order something called une seiche. I knew it was seafood but I didn't know what kind-- it sort of looked like some kind of octopus-- anyway, both me and my daughter decided to try it because it smelled so good! And it was DELICIOUS!!! I looked it up later, and it was cuttlefish, which I've never had betore, but it did look like octopus or something. We stayed in airbnbs so we were able to buy/cook food-- it was mostly a lot of bread, cheese, and yogurt! And we went out for one fancy meal in Paris! The food was delicious, but honestly reminded me of the type of food we eat in California-- Asian-fusion, pretty light, delicious! We did not eat any upscale French food because I didn't think my son would like it so I didn't want to waste our money. He ate a lot of hamburgers, LOL.

Lemon So, funny story, we have a pool at home and I really love that pool, and I live in Southern California, so it's a warm climate, but we pretty much only use the pool during the summer months because it's not warm/sunny enough here most of the time to keep the pool warm (I live near the coast, so we get fog and it's really mild, like in the 60s and 70s most of the time.) The pool has a heater, but the cost of keeping the pool heated all the time is absolutely astronomical! The only way to do it is with solar, which is expensive to install. In short, even with a pool in my backyard, it's still cheaper to join the gym than it is to use the one we have! That being said, we do really enjoy it in the summer, and it's the best way to cool off when it gets hot here because we don't have AC.

Diane Great to hear that your bloodwork is normal! That is very reassuring! And I'm sure the scale is going to move down for you soon! It's so frustrating to sit at the low end of a decade, but it feels so great to get there! I'm currently frozen at 242 but I'm super eager to see the 230s... where I fall off is EXERCISE! I'm just so lazy! But my son just dropped out of a basketball program that I had to pay for monthly, and I think I'm going use that $ to finally bite the bullet and join the gym!

Sakai I burn really easily too! And I live in California. I try to put sunscreen on my face right after I wash it every morning! We're still nice and cool right now, but I detest hot weather!

So, me. All is well, I'm sitting at 242 but really want to see the 230s soon! I have an essay to write on a boring topic and am waiting to hear back from my editor to see what she thought about the latest draft of my new book so I'm sort of unproductive and procrastinating! Think I'm going to take a crack at the essay, wash my car and maybe sign up for the gym!

Have a great day everyone!

Urber: I'm Next door in Arizona. I sometimes hate the heat when it gets over 100. (Which starts right about now this year) But I favor it more than the cold. Once the temp drops below freezing, I get downright angry. Being cold makes me vicious, it's weird. I always joke that I need two homes, One up North where it's cool and green in the summer and one here, where it's dry and mild for the winter. LOL I need to live in a place that's perpetually Arizona October.

Lemon: Thank you for all the tips! I'll be using them for sure! I live about 3 miles from my childhood home so I know these trees grow here. I just struggle to keep them alive. I live in zone 8b. I think my biggest problem is that it's VERY hot and dry this time of year until the monsoon hits, so I'm worried the plant isn't getting enough water, so I water almost every day. My Iris and roses seem to do well, but not so much with trees. I often feared I must be drowning them, or perhaps not watering them enough. I figured if the top inch or two of soil is dry, then I need to water it. perhaps weekly waterings of lots of water as you suggested would be better, or perhaps bi-weekly until the rains move in.
I'll keep you posted ^.^

Welcome Azzi!

The scale didn't move...for which after the bad carb day yesterday, I am thankful. Not looking forward to work today, but at least it's my Friday! Woot!

223.2
99oz wAter
Walked (YES walked!) 20 mins

Morning all!

Sakai: check out this link az also has other tree planting sources online. And it may be as simple as getting your tree in when it’s not as stressful a time for it. Hope it helps! I’m jealous that you can have such abilities to have so many fruit trees. I was looking through what’s common to your area. I guess I always had in my mind that you had more scrubby type trees like olive or sage and lots of cacti but it looks like you have a nice amount of offerings. If it were me I’d go pick a nurseries brain or your parents since they have had luck for years. But trees in general need to be babied for a while.

Uber: a pool and no air? I’d think a/c would be commonplace but maybe your close to the ocean or mountains where it’s cooler? It’s like when I travel and places don’t have screens on their windows. Do they not have bugs? I’d have bugs and bats in my house if that were the trend! I bet with cool pool water you’d get over the shock on jumping in and find it warm enough to swim. Plus the colder water I think burns a bit more :) or maybe get into it before the sun goes down where it’s been heated throughout the day?

Lil: sounds like your world is bumpy right now. Take a moment just for you.

Toasted: have you looked at other meal ideas? I had roasted sweet potatoes, green beans and chicken apple sausage that I placed on top of roasting sweet potatoes. This morning I will have my egg and string cheese and DH bought bananas so I may have 1/2 of one. I can’t recall - do you have cheese offerings or is it all shipped in from Europe for you? I hope your diet mojo comes back for you as your always a pep of happy in posting!

Hello all!

AM: I have a sick young one. All of a sudden they spiked a high fever 102.9 and the ibuprofen knocked it back to 99 for an hour and it went right back up to 103 by two hours. DH took to urgent last night. They think it’s just a virus they are seeing lots of but not flu. And of course because the clinic was busy they had to wait and after heaving while waiting the temp dropped back down. Hey - as I told DH I’m not going to play around w flu having lost family members in the flu pandemic way long ago - not something to mess with.

Weight and diet - well I came in on calories even w monkey bread sampling. And after dinner I decided to walk as much as I could before my shoulder hurt. Yep - my problem has been if I walk the hanging of the arm irritates the shoulder and it starts to burn. So I made an attempt and went as far as I could then came upstairs and sat a the heating pad and took my aleve and it began to settle again. I should probably be walking right now instead of sitting here w my coffee.

I think to feelr eary for spring I’ll paint my toes today. Hey have been sans polish for a couple of months and painted tootsies make me happy. I will choose one of the fun spring colors. Surprisingly I have a lavender that looks nice next to my paley skin!

So between caring for my little I will try to sew today. Or at least cut the fabric out. I look forward to smaller numbers and not adding on to the patterns. And I will also try to be mindful of my food intake. And try to get a walk in.

I’ll pop in later today - my best to you all for a lovely Friday and a great weekend. All of you with warm weather and green spaces think of me digging out of more snow and ice! Drat that stuff can just leave NOW.

:broc:

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!!

It is a cloudy day here in Austin, TX, and looks like lots of rain is coming! YAY!!!

Azzi - welcome! I just joined this group this week and already can tell I'm in the right place!

Lemon - sorry your kiddo is not feeling well. I hope your lavender toes are great! I think your birthday meal sounds delish but I'm a sucker for carrot cake. I cannot wrap my head around the thought that you do not like icing. I'd rather eat the icing and forget the cake - we can party together and share! LOL

Diane - YAY for a scale move! That always feels good! You sound way more active than me. I need to funnel your energy and get off my rear.

Lil - I hope you are feeling higher spritis today. Being hurt is not easy to get through.

Jen - I hope you are surviving your family visit and your hubby is ok. It is exciting that you are doing some house updates. I painted my cabinets last year and then painted an accent wall in my kitchen a few weeks ago and I love it. It feels so different and awesome now! I still have a wall to paint that spans from my kitchen to my living room but i'm procrastinating. It will be a long ordeal so I'll probably do it on Sunday.

Toasted - I hope you have an amazing time in Bali - looking forward to hearing all about it. I'm living vicariously through you right now!

Uber - did you find a gym? What type of book are you writing? I have a book in my head that I've started making an outline for but I don't know the first thing about how to do it. I'm figuring it out along the way. It is a snarky self help book and it will be fun to write once I get my thoughts all organized. I cannot imagine not having an A/C in my house. From June to sometimes October we have triple digit temps and I'd just melt into nothing! Whew!

Sakai - my family LOVE Ren Faires. We have three within day trip distance from our house that we enjoy. We went in March to the Sherwood Faire about 30 minutes from our home and it was marvelous. I get a henna tattoo every time and love the great food and entertainment. I haven't worn my dress/costume in a while but I love it. My husband won it in a chess match about 10 years ago - it was crazy! The shop owner definitely underestimated my geek husband's chess skills LOL

As for me - things are good. I made some delicious stuffed bell peppers for dinner last night and am having leftovers for lunch today. I made lots of taco meat for the peppers so I'll use that leftover meat to make a frittata for dinner tonight. YUM! Can't wait to eat it!

The scale was down again today - that makes me feel good and helps motivate me to stay on plan. I did have an issue last night with being super restless and had trouble sleeping. I got up and drank some pickle juice and it seemed to help.

I had a huge NSV today - my boss brought in sausage biscuits and my co-worker brought in a beautiful array of donuts and I walked past them and didn't even eat a bite! I did stop and inhale the delicious smells but was able to resist and eat the breakfast I brought for myself. I'm proud of myself!! :carrot:

I'm driving to Waco for a wedding tomorrow and I'm a little nervous about the meal and cake but I'll take some snacks in case the food isn't on plan. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! It may be Monday before I can check in again. I'm so thankful to have found you all!

:carrot:241.1:carrot:

Windy The book I just finished is a novel-- historical fiction-- I write both fiction and non-fiction. I started writing almost 18 years ago, and have published 8 books so far. I'm lucky enough to make my living through writing which seems pretty much amazing to me-- I worked a "day job" through the first 4 books until I was able to go full-time! But writing is the best, even if not to make money. You should totally do your book! And congrats on the pass up the sausage-biscuit NSV!!! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

Lemon
Ha! I know to a northerner like you it probably seems like the pool would be warm enough but honestly, you can't swim in it except in the hot season! Where I live is right on the ocean and people imagine hot, but mostly it's kind of cool and breezy with a lot of fog. The sun heats the pool well enough to swim mid-July through Sept or October (our hot season is the fall.) And it does get awful and hot sometimes when it would be nice to have AC, but you can do without it. I'm so sorry your kid is sick!! My son got the flu earlier this year and was sick for two weeks and ended up with pneumonia! Scary!

Sakai Arizona is sooooo beautiful! At one point a couple of years ago, I thought my husband was going to be transferred there and I was so excited. That being said, I do hate the heat, even when it's dry heat! I live near the ocean so it's pretty mild most of the time. But if I had to move to Arizona, I'd be happy!

Jen I missed that you are doing something to your house? What are you doing? It feels so terrific to spruce up the house-- it's one of my favorite things to dream about!

Diane Woot! Woot! The scale is moving in the right direction! Interesting that you have a pattern of weight loss... I bet it has something to do with retaining water. For me, the more I sit, the more I retain, so when I'm working a lot I retain more. I wonder if you shed water over the weekend, and then start to retain when you go back to work? For a while, I was on a diuretic for blood pressure and boy did I like that-- I never got puffy! But, I'm off it now, and off course, I'd rather be puffy from time to time than have high blood pressure, LOL. But it did show me pretty dramatically how much of weight bounce is water. While I was taking it, my weight never bounced!

Toasted Are you in Bali or just in the frenzy of getting ready? Either way, I hope it goes well!

So, I sashayed out of the house in my new 14(plus) jeans and I ended up feeling happy that I bought a new pair of jeans that fit. I'm still wearing my size 22 jeans around, and they don't actually fall off, but they sure do bag. I've still got a long way to go, but now I feel sort of "normal fat" if there is such a thing, instead of "definitely the fattest person in the room" kind of fat. I'm vowing not to spend another cent on clothes, but it was a real boost to my ego to go out feeling cute! About to call the gym!

251.2

Sakai: Yeah, I think you are struggling on the scale because you are near a new decade! :) I always feel like if you get to the "2" of a decade, your body says, "There, close enough!" Or at least it seems that way. My parents were just in Phoenix area for a few days. I was surprised at how warm it was there already. I don't mind our heat here. We see 100's in the middle of summer, but I can live with that. Not a fan of winter at all!!

Lilion: Hope you get back to feeling like yourself again soon. So glad you continue to post anyway! At least we know you're still around!!

Azzi: Welcome! I also think you picked a great group here!! Looking forward to hearing more about you! There is a lot of support with this group.

Lemon: Yeah, I've thought about that TMI issue too. I do think things slow down just a little bit over the weekend in that area, so it might be something that I need to use some benefiber or something. So how did the toes turn out? I just did mine in a turquoise blue to try and brighten up a little bit!

Windy: Good job on avoiding the food pitfalls at work!! Your stuffed peppers sound so good!! Also good to hear about your weight loss! That always helps the mood!! Good luck at the wedding. That would be tough for me. I have no problem with getting exercise and workouts, but food can trip me up so easily.

Uber: WOW! Look at you go! You are almost to those 230's! That is so awesome. You enjoy those new jeans, another great thing! It is amazing how that feels when you can go to a lower size! Thanks for your thoughts on the water issue. I kind of wondered that too. Losing water over the weekend, and then having it come back during the week. I don't know!

Hopefully I got everyone!!

As for me, I had a good weigh in today, so that was nice. I'm going to do a little bit of experimenting this weekend. I need to try to keep my water drinking up. I do fairly well on Saturday, but awful on Sunday. So, we'll see how that goes. I'd really like to get to the 240's.

I went to Spin this morning. It was a great workout. I almost didn't go, but talked myself back into it. I think that's why it was so good... I felt happy that I made the right choice. Spin and upper body weights tomorrow. AND, the weather looks great for Sunday, so hopefully a hike!

Okay...Happy Friday the 13th. Feels like one.

The day was okay. I seem to finally have gotten enough sleep. Had a relatively easy morning. Then at lunch I see my clerical being escorted out! Because they do that when they fire you here, escort you to your car like a criminal. Not only a co-worker, but a hunting buddy to my husband, dog and cat sitter for my pets, and my friend! Two little kids at home - single mom - and a damn good clerk! No idea why - they've been nit-picking her for a couple months now - writing her up for nonsense they'd usually ignore. I'm shocked and sad and taking her out drinking tonight.

So, this week is officially a bust. I'll try again starting this weekend sometime. TTFN

:wave:

Lil: I am sorry to hear that. I hope you two have a good visit over drinks! I hate weeks that are all full of crappy. May you find sunshine in your days soon. And - to make you laugh, I could send you the snow and ice I am to get. Bruhahaha. :belly: Who came up with these goofy icons? I used that one because I couldn't find a wizard - so enjoy the crazy bellydancer!

diane: Keep a journal or note in your phone on your tmi info and your water intake as well. You may start to see a correlation to why your weight is not moving. Also make note what weekend foods trip you up (mines pizza, beer or soda - yeah DH "making" dinner :D). You may find part of your answer there. Good luck!

windy: Haven't gotten them painted yet. The day is half over and I started doing some serious organizing and then left it. Oops I know DH will grumble when he sees my mess.

uber: Get yourself a wet suit! You'll be fine! OF course watching all the RHOBH and their wearing of latex garments, that should work too. hahaha. Seriously, I do hope you find a good gym that nobody gives each other the side eye. It makes it hard to want to keep going. I just found when I would go to go on certain days to avoid the constant side eye ladies. Who needs their judgment. Yeah for the 14s! I am wearing a skinny lane bryant 18 and it's baggy between butt and knees. WOOT. I will take that!

Hello all!

I haven't sew or cut out yet today. My little is feeling horrid and is sneezing like the sinuses are part of a faucet. I am chief kleenex grabber and wiper today. As I said above - I pulled out to organize and got a 1/4 of it done. The rest is sitting on my laundry room floor - the game closet. It's been a bane of my thoughts for the last 3 years and now I am finally doing something with it. We had to have restoration work done and the workers modified the closet to what they wanted not what we wanted. GRRR - you tell me how a 41" deep closet that's floor begins 38" off the real floor is practical? Maybe for shoving crap in and not accessing. Who knows but it drives me nutty! I'm not super short but even at 38" high there is only so much to my reach.

I am starting to make my plant list. I have some new ideas I am researching. That's also taken some of my day. I WANT SPRING.

And diet - not good. It's a comfort food type of day and a lot of coffee for some odd reason. The old gal is achey today (yeah blizzard front moving in) and the warm stuff seems to help). The shoulder is a bit better so maybe this evening I will go walk again. Hey. 20 mins is better than no minutes.

I'll pop in this weekend since the weather will be wicked or a crap shoot - and I will be staying in - CLEANING and organizing. I will also be trying to avoid and I will post.

Happy Friday to you all!

221.2
All coffee yesterday :p
No walk

I’ll take that number it showed up twice and the third was a bit higher. I’m using the above for today even if it’s wrong. No more complaining.

I can’t sleep due to shoulder and cake down to the world news of the day and to whiteout conditions. Yes white! Lots of crappy white! The wind is high and strong, the snow flying we are to get up to 12” today. Tomorrow we have a separate warning that says another 12” all I have to say is it’s almost May for crying out loud. And really 12-24” of snow NO THANKS. I do hope it will melt quickly but at the same time looking ahead in the next two weeks we still are marked for more snow.

Today will find my family snuggled into the house. I will work on my organizing of one closet. I have determined my DH has to help me build some new shelves to make the space practical and somewhat useable but that will have to wait to build - no supplies for that portion but I have my containers and I can get those ready. I also have to help the oldest begin cleaning their room. They may be a double digit but still achieving a really clean bedroom is not yet in the cards. I will have to go give direction and we’ll do it in bursts to not feel overwhelmed.

As for my diet. I’m out of salad greens I only have some cauliflower and kohlrabi and I’ll try to bulk up on that during the day. I have an idea to make a good soup for this evening. I’d do the slow cooker but I still like a soup on the stove a lot better. Maybe it’s the aroma or the spitting if its on too high, I’m not sure but that’s on tap. Maybe I’ll make some sort of breadstick or no knead bread. I’ve got a lot of whole wheat flour so maybe I can find something that becomes a bit more diet friendly with using such.

Happy day all. Maybe you all are around - if so pop on in. I’m snowbound with a bug to get going outside. I wish I had such a bug to do the diet and moreso exercise. Alas it hasn’t quite gotten me like that. I’ll keep trying and see what I can achieve.

Happy weekend all! :broc: :broc:

Backs again: so I figured out my lunch. I’m going to try an apple kohlrabi salad (slaw like but w sticks) the recipe I saw had oil and salt. I’ll avoid those two as I don’t like to disguise my fresh. I don’t know it sounds like it might be good and I have both.

Snow has taken a break according to weather it will begin to fall later this morn. Who wants the snow? I’ll send it to you - no questions asked!

And can I ask - what do you all pay for a haircut and style? My small town gals are anywhere from $14-28. I looked at my larger cities in that hour commute and those start at $45. Sorry but that’s kind of high just for a cut in a rural area I think. Just wondering as I’m on the search again. I just can’t have my waves flat ironed one more time because thats what she wants to do to “change” me up. If I wanted to look like a drowned rat I can do that - but I embrace the wave.

Hi everyone!

I used to post on the daily weight loss thread but felt a bit embarrassed as I was gaining and losing the same few lbs!
I haven't weighed myself for a few days now as am too frightened to see the number!

Safe to say I am well above 209 lbs now (my weight in january). I'm 5'7 and want to be 160 lbs. This really bums me out you know? I have been 'losing weight' since I was 18 years old! I'm plagued by regret. If I had just lost a measly 2lbs a month I would have been at my goal literally YEARS ago. I am DECIDING to spend my youth fat? Why? Why don't I feel like I deserve a good life? Why don't I value myself? Why do I stuff myself with cheap junk that I know won't do anything but make me fatter?

Vagabond: welcome! I think we all have the wouldas-couldas. Just remember you are doing something about it now. I can attest to the wouldas as I should have hit my goal multiple years in a row and I’ve never got out of the 200s to make that true. Just keep working as best you can.

Hello all!

Whiteout again here. It had stopped for a few hours the plows were out as were my DH. I’m not getting my stuff completely done but I’m working towards it. It hasn’t been fast today. In fact it stinks.

I did try my weird salad combo. It was ok and very filling for the moment. Will see how long I can go between a snack or my dinner. Whomever knows. I haven’t decided on my soup but I’m leaning towards a beef veg one. Sounds good for such a late April blustery icky day. And for bread I may do popovers but that hasn’t been sorted out either.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Hello everyone,

This morning the scale said 306, which was a pleasant surprise as I woke up with a 'heavy' feeling (it makes sense in my head!). I've had a few days off work which helps because I can rest and take things easy - work is stressful and it's easy to forget what you're eating. Back at it on Monday, so I think that will be the big challenge.

250.8

Lilion: Ugh. What a day for you. Hopefully the weekend will cleanse all of the bad stuff and next week can be better.

Lemon: Dang. That's some nasty weather. Sorry you have to go through that. We had a very cold Friday, but so far, no rain/snow. Tomorrow is supposed to be really, really nice. I hope so!!! Hope it clears out for you soon.

Vagabond: Welcome!!! We all know about regaining and relosing, so feel free to jump in and post! Looking forward to getting to know you.

Azzi: Glad you had a good weigh in! That's awesome!!!!

As for me, I had a really good weigh in today. Just hoping it sticks and I can work on getting out of the 250's. I went to spin this morning and did my upper body workout. I've been making sure I get water in today, and it is going well. Need to make sure I do it tomorrow too. I think that won't be a problem, since we should be going hiking.

240.0

Diane Ooooh, looks like you are headed out of a decade! What a great feeling!

Lemon I just can't get over ALL THAT SNOW. It must be so beautiful where you live and amazing seasons, but by mid-April, I'd be itching to see the last of it! As for the gym, I went for the tour and signed up. They told me that the prime time is mornings when the (probably skinny and snotty) moms come in, and I never like to exercise in the morning, so I'm hoping it will be fine.

Vagabond Welcome! And don't be hard on yourself. If it were so easy to just set your mind on it and do it we would have all done it long ago. What's important is that you are doing it now! This is a very supportive group!

Azzi Woot! Woot! on the good weigh in. You made me smile with the "feeling heavy in my head" comment. I'm so like that! I think I can predict based on how I "feel" whether I'm going to have a good weigh-in or not, LOL.

LilionI hope you are having a good weekend and it's making up for the bad week!

So, I did it. After thinking it over for several years I finally joined the gym. I'm really looking forward to lap swimming! I've always found that it's a great way for me to enjoy myself, feel terrific, and get into shape without too much pain! I did take a peek at the spinning room and am a bit intrigued after hearing Diane talk about it so much, but usually I'm a very solitary exerciser, so I will probably just stick with the pool for now.

I was pretty ecstatic to see 240.0 this morning, meaning I'm sure to see the 230s before long! So, I'm down 57 lbs since Jan of 2017! I'm finally leaving my "yo-yo zone" in the rearview mirror as I've never been in the 230s since the birth of my second child (she's 23 now!) except on my way down back in 2009. And I have to say that now I'm really starting to notice a ton of NSVs all of a sudden! Took my dog for a walk today-- we have a big hill at the end of our street that has always been a deterrent to me feeling like walking around my neighborhood, but today, I really didn't even notice the hill! Went to a local restaurant where the booth was so small that my belly pressed against the table, and tonight there was TONS of room, like I couldn't imagine that my stomach would have ever touched the table, much less pressed against it! It's really crazy because I know in my head that I'm still a big lady at 240, but to me it already feels like a huge difference!

Hope everyone is having a terrific weekend!

No w/i
33oz water
No walk but does helping clean a child’s room count ;)

Hello all from blizzard haven. It’s what, two weeks until May? And there is about 12” of snow out there with a full day of snow today?! UGH! I should be looking at my tulips and daffodils instead. It’s bad enough out there that even church is closed today. Churches don’t close for us - EVER!

I’m a tad frustrated. I got hit w a strong food craving yesterday. Hot dogs. What the heck?! So DH scrapped my soup idea because hot dogs sounded better to him and trekked our in the snow to get them. The good news was I didn’t snack on everything yesterday prior to the dogs. Isn’t it weird when the mind gets something to focus on it works hard on that? I haven’t had one of those in months!

Azzi: yeah for a scale that’s moving! It’s always a nice feeling to see when the number gets smaller. Do you have a family? Do you have hobbies? I tend to ask because if I micro focus on just diet it drives myself bonkers and it’s nice to find out a bit more on the other posters about who you are and I treat this as a coffee meetup with friends.

Uber: yeah for fantastic NSVs!!!!! :broc: for you! Just remember that’s what my hair looks like in the morning as I post! Haha. Yeah for pool membership. I’d love to if we lived in same area I’d challenge you to go with. And I wouldn’t give Sideeye. When I lapped swim there was an older lady every morning who’d bring in her milk jugs to do water aerobics in her lane at the end. She’d always have on her floral swim cap and her swim skirt. I’d like to do that when I was older. :)

Windy: how are you doing? It looks like a scale move for you was fantastic too. What are some of your hobbies?

Toasted: when do you leave? Will you be searching out markets in Bali or lounging by the beach when not at your conference? And a cruise? Is that one with family again? I know you aren’t happy with the body right now- but are you looking for some new travel pieces?

Lil: I hope you and DH are having a fantastic weekend! And have you any new crock pot ideas? I made a risotto in my Faux instapot the other night. I kept the chicken out and made that in the oven as I wanted it to not be shrunk to all get out. It was good even if it was rice based.

Diane: how was your hike? How many miles did you go? I’m on the quest to find a new stylist. My hair is atrocious. I think I have found a new salon to try and see if maybe someone has experience with wavy hair - I’m tired of mediocre timid cuts. Are you trying a new style yet to go with the silver?

Jen: did you abscound with DH and take some time for the two of you? How’s your sadness going? I have a feeling a lot of it lost-worry let down and all the adrenaline you were going on has settled and the body needs to repair. I do hope all is well. How is the kitchen going? Mine was designed by a single dude who made frozen pizzas. It is the dumbest design ever. Not enough workable counter space nor outlets. I do a lot of prepping on the dumb glass top stove. That’s how bad it is. On one wall it’s fridge, 16” counter, stove 14” counter. Yep that’s a lot! And then the island was never wired for outlets and it’s not useable often either because sadly we treat it as a dumping ground for dishes to be put away or people not putting any away. Ugh in my dream kitchen I’d have space and outlets and a nice view . . .

Laurie: how are you doing?

Sakai: what god of fruit trees are you eyeing up? I have some blueberry bushes hat I really need to hit with miracid but forget to yearly so they’ve not been too productive or grown large.

Hello all! I apologize if I have forgotten anyone and hello to anyone new!

Am: so yes - lots of snow, sick kids, messy house, feeling fat due to hot dogs, a scale that will probably never move - it’s a good day as I am avoiding said scale and I’m just going to wear my yoga pants and feel comfortable. Hah. Take that universe.

And I just looked out the window - it’s still falling! I best get dressed and go talk to my geraniums and see if it gives me the dose of spring I so need.

Today besides the cleaning w the child I hope to sew some. Yes I know I’ve been saying that for days but I’m getting in that crunch window that says get it done.

Alright I have babbled in long enough. May you all have a wonderful day. I’ll be the one dressed as a snowman! Added to say I went out today just in town and it looks like what it was - in December! Will someone send me their spring weather and warm up?

LemonSeriously? 12 inches of snow? You have gotta be kidding! I would be losing my mind right about now! As for craving hot dogs. Yum! Funny enough, I've totally been known to crave hot dogs every now and then even though normally it's not something eat a lot of. But salty, so probably good to skip the weigh in!

Just checking in for a few minutes to pass some time. Had a nice day today. Had a bunch of multi-color carrots. For dinner, I chopped them up, and boiled with salt, cayenne pepper, curry powder and olive oil. Turned out so delicious! When I was a kid I despised cooked carrots, but now I love them. Had to take my kid shopping for new clothes and new shoes today-- he's 13 and just busting through sizes. Am going to have to finish that stupid essay I've been procrastinating about by the end of tomorrow, so I better not check in again until I'm done. Scale still 240 this morning. I bet I'll sit here for a good long while... it's always like that when you are trying to get out of a decade.

No weigh in 33 oz water and no walk

Uber: well I think by now we have about 14” and frankly I was so over snow in January that this can just go. I was looking ahead at the weather and by middle of next week it will be high 60s. You tell me how this one works? Hah.

Yeah for getting the gym and finding out when all the sideeye girls are gone. I have a sibling like that. And sadly they use it with all of us siblings we all have different outside packages from their trim to heavy heavy. In my minds eye as long as you are moving and trying - you’re doing good. Enjoy that pool access I’d sure be happy to have access.

Morning all!

AM: I’m sure my hotdog eating and having made cookies my weight went up. Oh the weekends are the death of my diet. Let’s just say I feel this abacus has slid on up. And in theory the old TOM should be showing up here at some point. Maybe that’s part of my issue too.

With the snow I didn’t get to the grocery so what’s left is not stupendous. I think I’ll get my soup on today and maybe just do eggs the rest of the day. I am currently trying to get my fast in - again it can be hard especially when my kids are home and they want to know why I’m not eating.

So I’m alive, my world is white and cold and ugly the robins and other birds who just got back are looking like frozen chickens in my trees with white snow “fur” coats on. I had a mourning dove sitting on my porch cooing at me furiously the other day like open your door you old lady and let me in to warm my tail feathers. Ok speaking of tail feathers I’d better shake mine and get the day moving. I’ll stop in later to say hello again.

Does shoveling count as exercise? I went out to shovel my deck off, it ended up only being 1/2 of it because 14” heavy snow is not easy to lift w a bum shoulder. I thought I needed to get the weight off. Our roof is snow and encased ice - and trees are just loaded with birds without nests. Big fat robins and all. I’m not a bird feeder but I ran around looking for dry product that would work and got that out there for them so they can have something until the grass is visible again. So back to my shoveling - wonder what that goes under? Yardwork?

Happy Monday all!!

Azzi - YAY for a good weigh in. I've had those days where I've felt heavy, too, and love when the scale contradicts my feeling!

Lemon - I don't think I've ever had kohlrabi but I have had apples on my salad and enjoy that. Apples and pecans are a good mix for a salad! Sorry about all the snow. I'm in central Texas and we do not get much snow. We had a freak snowstorm in December and I thought I was in the Twilight Zone. It was beautiful. For the haircut, I have a stylist at a local JC Penney and an "express cut" is $35 and a cut with a blowdry and style is $50 but if I want my hair cut and colored it is usually around $120. It is funny you mentioned hot dogs, I was craving one last week and had some with homemade chili. I just don't eat the bun. It was delish!

Diane - I'm excited to hear about your scale still moving in the right direction. That feels great!

Uber - I hope you enjoy your gym membership. I've kicked around joining one for a long time but recently one of my neighbors sold a nice Nordic Track treadmill, a weight bench, and some Bowflex select a weight dumbells all for $200. Basically I just built a gym at home...but I'd love to have the pool and I'd really love a sauna. I can totally relate to sitting in booths at restaurants - when I lost my weight at first that was a big eye-opening thing when the booth table didn't touch me. Great job!!

Vagabond - welcome to this group. I used to have those same self-talk feelings so I can completely relate. We are enough. We deserve to be healthy and at a weight that makes us feel good about ourselves. You can do it! We can all do it! We just have to get out of our heads and get out of our own way.

Toasted, Lil, Jen, Sakai - I hope you are all doing good!

As for me, things are good. I did great at the wedding this weekend. They served fajitas and salad so I just got some meat, veggies, and a salad and passed up the rice, beans, and tortillas. I also didn't eat any cake - that was the tough part! My scale was up a little this morning but I made some stir fry last night and the soy sauce has me retaining some water. It will be back off tomorrow.

My DH has been sick this weekend with some sinus congestion, coughing, and sneezing so I've felt like I was nursing a two year old back to health. I think he has a cold but you'd think he was on his last breath. So dramatic! When my 14 yr old isn't well, you'd never know it, but my husband? Yikes! So helpless! :dizzy:

Lemon, you asked about my hobbies - I love, love, love to read books. I like trial mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, some romance, pretty much all mysteries and fiction. I also like self-help books and cookbooks! I have a big collection of cookbooks. My favorites are the ones that churches and groups do for fundraisers. They usually have such great old family recipes. My 14 year old also loves to read so we are always in the middle of a book. I also am pretty creative and artsy so I doodle, paint, scrapbook, make cards, and enjoy making all things crafty. I have a couple of side businesses that keep me a little busy but I do get crafty whenever I can. I also work full-time at the Austin School District which really cuts into my play time LOL but I like electricity and toilet paper so I'll keep working for the paycheck.

Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week. I'm hoping we are all going to have great weeks and take some time to take care of ourselves! :wave:

Rough weekend for me ladies. Food wise not good at all, with hubbies family here there was a lot of bringing food in and going out. We usually do not go out what so ever!!!! That lead to extra cravings of gummy bears, ice cream, and home made cookies! I am not kicking myself for the first time. I am getting myself back up and starting again. My stomach is paying for it today. With whatever is going on with my tummy issues it does not like these kinds of foods. I wasn't able to get to my renovations I wanted to, but the house is clean! So I will make a plan to start on those.

I have a feeling this month may be a wash weight wise, but on a positive note I have not gained!

Lemon: You sound like you had the same hard time with food as me! Now my stomach is surely paying for it, but I am back on track. The sadness was not present this weekend, I think because I had so many people around me and we got out and went places. I think once I get to my renovations that my spirits will stay lifted, it will give me something to do and give me something to make beautiful! The kitchen is on hold for 5-6 weeks until the cabinet and countertop people come and do their thing. I will paint where I need to in there before they come. I am currently starting on our front room. I will take before and after pics, but for some reason it never lets me post pics on here!!!!

Uber: You are so awesome! 240 that is amazing you will be in the 230s before you know it!!!! What is your goal weight. Mine has been 160 but I don't know what my body is going to look like now at that weight. I have a sturdy frame with lots of muscle. I haven't been that low in SO long over 10 years. I know I want to be a size 8 as I was my most comfortable then.

Diane: You had a great weight in too! I am so happy for you, you deserve this with all of your perseverance!!!! I am so excited for you!!!!

Azzi: Welcome to the group, the ladies here are AMAZING!!!

Vegabond: Welcome!!! This is a great group.

Windy: I am so intrigued that you painted your own cabinets! Our cabinets are made of cheap material so I knew that just painting them would not work. I got quotes for refacing and replacing entire cabinets and new cabinets were 30,000-40,000! We have a pretty big kitchen so I was excited that someone could come in and reface them for under 10,000! But I researched a lot about painting them and that is a lot of work!!!!!!! Did you do backsplash too? If so, what kind?

Lil: I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Toasted: Hope you are doing well!!!!

Sakai: Hope you are doing well too!

Laurie: Thinking of you!!!!

This thread got extremely active, it is so nice!!!!

Have a great Monday!

252.0

Uber: Congrats on the new gym membership! I'll bet that you will love that pool! I've never been a great swimmer, but my daughter loves lap swimming. I think it is a great exercise, that's for sure. You'll probably pass right through the 230's!!

Lemon: Well, that's just wrong to have that much snow. Ugh!! We're getting the wind, but no snow. That's just crazy. Oh, and good luck with the new hair stylist. I think it is a good thing, to try someone new. I haven't done much with style yet. I'm really just trying to survive the color change. It isn't awful, but there is some damage to my hair. I'm not really adventurous with cuts, so I'm just getting trimmed up to get the damaged stuff off.

Windy: I'm into reading, too. I love a good detective novel or mysteries. Glad you survived the weekend with a sick man. Ha! Never a good thing! Hope he's feeling better.

Jenni: Good for you for not kicking yourself today. Sometimes these food weekends happen. Just getting back on track is all you need to do! I honestly think you deserve some credit for surviving all of this! If an off track weekend happens, well, so be it!!

As for me, we had some awesome weather this weekend, so I was able to go on a hike with my daughter. I was also trying to do some yard work, so I told her we would just do this one loop that I had hiked before. I didn't remember it being that long! Took way more time than I intended, but it was a good hike, just under 3 miles. I was feeling pretty tired and stiff last night, so I was concerned that I might have an increase in weight today, from Saturday's low. And, I did. I had an overall decrease last week, but it wasn't very much at all. But, the hike was worth it. I'm going to see if I have a drop over the next few days before I get too frustrated. I went to spin today, but tomorrow is a rest day for me. I need it!!

For food, I was ok on Saturday, and not quite as good on Sunday. It wasn't awful, just a little heavy on dinner. I'll try to be better this week, even with my daughter's birthday coming up on Wednesday.

Jen: with all the rush with family and the sort have you stopped to check and see if you might be expecting? just a thought with all the commotion going on at your house. Oh the cookies - yep those ALWAYS trip me up. Always. It sounds like you have had good visits with family and all - is DH getting stronger in his rehab? Does he have to go do cardio at the clinic and work w PT? Those charges are always so huge and ridiculous as you begin to see the bills as they divide out the time you work w them.

For your photos - the size is probably too big. Try resizing your photos before posting. You should be able to select the size but I seem to recall this site is mighty tight on server space for photos.

Windy: good for you on finding right things you could eat at a wedding. And your good avoiding cake - you never know - sometimes wedding cakes can be hit or miss. It sounds like you keep a busy house going. Good for you! So is Austin as quirky as it’s portrayed? It strikes me as an arty progressive town that people still wear their boots. I’d have to believe you have lots of food places as well - wasn’t top chef their one season?

Diane: we were cross posting! Yeah for a good hike! Send me good weather so tired of the snow! Haircuts - find something that you haven’t done in a long time! I’m half tempted to get mine pixied but still not 100% there it’s either that or a cleaned up lob with bangs but I may tire of those quickly and then I have to grow them back out. And that can be a chore!


Hello all!

AM: so I took pity on the birds. With all the snow these are the robins and like minded who just migrated home. Nests are scarce and food moreso. So I put out some trays of oatmeal and grapes and old cereal to help them out. I’d be like waif-ish if I had to sit on a branch covered in snow shivering until the melt begins and I could go find dirt again. I just read that WED we are to get another 5-8” and next week we’ll be in the 60s. I’m guessing we’ll be going winter to summer and no spring! I’m not gung ho for the immediate warm up - with that usually are the potential for tornados. Ick.

I’m kind of struggling today with thoughts and my journey and why I don’t like to micromanage my diet. If I do I do better but weighing and measuring and the like gets old. I’m currently grumbling in my head about such.

I should go out and shovel more off the deck less with the weight it collapses. I mean it’s not my favorite space (too small like my kitchen) designer by previous owners who kind of did it on the cheap. But I should baby what is out there because that snow is heavy.

I wish my dieting journey was easy and I knew how to just keep going well. Maybe it’s winter being so long, or stress in general or just tired of it all. Today is a grumbly hard day when I think about it. Ugh. Ok off to shovel and plant water. Maybe my weight will fall off!

I didn’t bother with anything this morn but I did get my water in yesterday.

I’m kind of crabby (I think). I’m tired and I’m just blah in mindsets with the diet. I’m not focused and I’m stuck. And with that comes a sour outlook today. I’ll keep this short so y’all don’t need this in your day.

Good luck with your melting! I’ll be quiet now.

Lemon - I feel you on the crabby thing. I felt super grumpy yesterday and hope that today is better! Maybe the snow is getting you down. It was sweet of you to put out food for the birds though! Such a thoughtful thing to do. What is going on with your shoulder? Shoulder and arm pain is no fun!! I can relate with the diet micromanaging - I am hard on myself sometimes and I question things. I used to keep a journal about feelings stuff and might need to do that again. You asked about Austin - YES, it is very quirky. There are the people that still love boots and jeans, and there are very hipster people, and there are TONS of homeless people, and there are even those people that ride their bikes naked through the park. There is one OLD, old man that is frequently seen riding his bike near my office in his flesh colored thong. So bizarre but definitely entertaining! There is never a shortage of weirdness in this city but I love it. We've lived here 11 years now and I can't imagine being anywhere else. There is also so much good food. So much food. Yes, there was a top chef winner that is here. I've not eaten at his popular food truck but I'm sure it is awesome!

Jen - I'll see if I can figure out how to put a picture in a message and show you my kitchen progress. I love it! I did not do a backsplash yet. I'm thinking about one of those peel and stick types that they have at Home Depot. My friend used one and it looks fantastic! Glad you have a clean house. I need to work on mine this week. We have friends coming over on Saturday night so I want it to look good.

I hope everyone else is good! I just dropped off my son and his class is going on a field trip to the McDonald Observatory for the next three days. It is about a 7 hour drive from Austin so he'll had plenty of time to nap on the charter bus and it looks like the weather will be perfect and clear for seeing the stars and hiking. They are staying at a ranch so there should be lots of things to explore. I hope he sends me some pictures!

I've eaten a lot of sodium in the past few days and have not lost any more weight but I'm going to do better today. I made some shrimp last night that was so good! I sauteed some spinach and garlic in butter and then added some heavy cream and a little milk and made a cream sauce. I seasoned the shrimp with blackened seasoning (it is salty and spicy!) and then cooked it in the simmering sauce and added a big handful of parmesan cheese. Oh my goodness, it was delicious! It was one of those meals where I wish I was eating bread because that sauce would have been amazing on some crusty french bread.

Looking forward to hearing from you all! My mantra for today is:
I eat only what I need.
I choose to eat low carb foods.
I choose to stay on track.

We can do this!

251.0

Lemon: Sorry you're having a grumbly sort of day. It does get tiring to have to work so hard to lose weight. I'm with you on that. I would bet that if your weather would improve, your mood would be better too!!

Windy: Yum! The shrimp dinner sounds very good. Oh and your story about the old man in the thong reminded me of a guy that used to live here. He wasn't old, maybe in his 40's or so, but he would walk around with just a speedo on. He was, of course, known as "Speedo Man".

As for me, I had a good drop on the scale. I was hoping it would. I really felt that I was a little puffy from the hike. Today is a rest day for me. I was looking forward to that! It was nice to get a little extra sleep. My coworker friend and I usually walk part way through the morning, but today is very windy. She wanted to walk the stairs "every hour on the hour". Hmm. I've done 2 sets with her. It is four floors, so pretty challenging. Not really good for rest day, but I wanted to join her.

Spin tomorrow. I'm doing well with food today, hoping to keep that going!!!

Diane: Thank you for the support. I know that off weekends or days happen and that is fine, I just cannot wrap my head around plateaus. I know mine is probably due to stress but it is just so difficult. I am really thinking about going back to have my husband hide the scale until the end of the month. I was just more content that way.

Lemon: Be crabby, we all have those days. I am actually right there with you. I am really thinking about having my hubby hide the scale until the end of the month. I am just over it! I am on BC and I am getting my periods so I don't think it could be that. I don't know if I have fully explained my stomach issues. It is way more than neasous feeling. I have IBS and have been able to control it since but I have these flares that happen and it is horrid. I cannot tolerate foods that well. I also have high inflammation markers so I had a friend tell me I need to go get scoped, she thinks I have Crohns or IBD or colitis. I won't know until I am referred and have additional tests.

Windy: I would love to see your pictures. I haven't been able to figure out how to resize them to post them on here.

Today has been a great water day I am almost at 80 ounces and its almost 1pm. I am trying to drink more water the next couple days to see if that helps the stomach issues or digestive issues or whatever issue I am having of sorts. My diet is really bland right now so it is getting very boring. I did have the splurge this weekend but had been on track. I just want to figure out what is going on and why my inflammation markers are still high.

Happy Tuesday ladies!

Well the day is ending with grilled cheese for dinner. Why? because I need to go the grocery and because I’ve no ideas and I asked DH to come up w something because TOM showed up on time this month and my energy level is in the toilet today.

I took the little to physical therapy and can you say they acted like a pistol? Holy cow no sitting still and wanting to do their own thing. It made for a very long hour. I usually don’t get too involved in controlling as I feel it’s the therapists place but when said child is way off or wasting time I pipe up. Otherwise I’m observing while there and learning what we need to do at home.

My weight actually wasn’t horrid but it’s still holding steady in the 223 area. Yuck. I just read an article on daily mail indicating winter stinks as a time to lose weight as we are programmed from our Neanderthal days to be in famine during the winter months. Well you can tell my nenderthal grandparents they can keep the readying for famine and leave me alone!

So I’m not weighing again until this is all done and I’ll try my best but I’m sure I’ll bake somewhere in these four days that always seem like an eternity. I have a huge love hate relationship with it all. Anywho - that’s it own whole lousy story.

Jen: oh no on the scope endeavors! I’ll be doing that once on the other side of 55 I think. Maybe they can give you a better answer with it all if it’s done. Do you have family history if it? Remember one autoimmune means you will usually have 3 or more. Isn’t that so totally fair? Heck no! I loathe self attacking bodies. Yes - I want to see your kitchen photos too!

Diane: look at your scale move! Yeah for someone challenging you to the stairs. I do umpteen in my day running down to water my plants, running up to get kids ready l, running down to the freezer - ie I get lots of stairs done in my day. In my world it doesn’t seem to matter on my scale! ;) but I hope yours shows success.

Windy: I had a laugh and your geezer in a thong! Maybe he likes people honking hello to him?! Or maybe the backside breeze? I can’t begin to imagine. Where I am I have Amish and just your normal run of the mill small town folk. Nothing quite as colorful as that. Yes you post your kitchen photos too!

Hello all!

AM: so yes I’m still grumbly. For many reasons I guess both diet and non diet related. The sun was out and melting that icky stuff but tomorrow we are to get 8” more! And then the next day it’s to be 60. I have said to my family well just be bypassing spring and moving right into summer! At least my garden should warm up quickly (I hope) and I can get it all in early May. Yes I do sometimes push it early but will try to be more self restrained this year.

I’ll post bu lt just know I’m not really doing much until the weekend if at all. I sound like a falling off the horse type gal if you will! Though 219 looks good I have no clue when the hades I’ll ever get there. My meds are finally evened out. Ugh - just that I will need to get back into the swing of things!its just harder then heck to remain focused and happy when it all stalls on out.

Grumblecentral signing out!

My body is dumb
No w/I and I did drink water but can’t recall how much

And walking? Hahahahaha - NO

the good news - the snow warnings have about canceled it way down to 2” and less. I can deal with that as it’s to be close to 60 tomorrow. :D

The bad: who knows what my body is doing. Let’s just say completely dumb and get on with it. As for dieting I had an ice cream yesterday I didn’t need an ice cream but the child and I were on our way home from PT and it was either ice cream or I’d curl up in the drivers seat with the sun on my nose. Yes I was tired driving the distance yesterday.

What prolific thing to say? Not one darn thing!

I wish you all a good day my diet mojo is out the window. I’ll try to find my inner :broc: and get back to it. But today isn’t that day.

252.0

Jenni: Yeah, it might be that you should have him hide the scale. I think that sometimes you just need to have peace of mind, too. I keep getting on the scale because I too easily can go off track. Hopefully your digestive issues calm down soon!!

Lemon: Don't worry about what you post here. If it isn't time to buckle down, and be all positive about it, don't do it yet! Take the time to just back up a bit. Then, when you're ready, come back to hitting it hard. Life is hard, but adding the thrill of trying to lose weight sometimes makes it so tough!!

So, as you can see, I am back up again. While I don't think the stairs were a bad thing, I won't do that again on a rest day. We did it five times throughout the day, and it kept getting harder and harder to do. I felt really tired last night, really tired this morning, and spin was really hard today. I don't think it was a positive for me. I'm also just not feeling great today. So, it may be something else entirely. But no more doing anything extra on what is supposed to be my rest day. I am going to see how it goes today, but tomorrow might be a rest day too. I was really irritable this morning about it all, so I just need to say no sometimes. Food was on track yesterday, so I don't think it was that. We'll see how my weight trends for the rest of the week.

:dance::carrot::carrot:239:carrot::carrot::dance:d ance:

Diane four sets of stairs once an hour? That would be amazing, if you were up for it, but also, what a drag. Back when I was maintaining at a thin weight, I used to always walk up the stairs to my car garage at the end of the day (six long flights)It was just a small discipline that I later dropped, but it's amazing how stair walking gives you a workout! Happy that the scale moved in the right direction for you!

Jenni Maybe you should go back to your now and then weighing. It seemed like you were pretty happy with it and I was thinking about following you that way. Yesterday my weight bounced up almost two pounds and I was so cranky I didn't even come on here to post. It's insane how those tiny fluctuations can get inside our head. I bet if you put it away for a while your weight would just start to move on its own again.

Windy I love your stories about Austin! My niece went through there last year (she was riding her bike across the country) and she ended up determined to live there. It sounds like a fun place! And your son's trip sounds really wonderful!

Lemon You know, sometimes life just calls out for ice cream! I hope you enjoyed it!!!:D How far do you have to drive to take the little one to PT? That must be hard! And I'm SO HAPPY that you will finally see some cold weather. From my perch here in California it is impossible to imagine that it's still winter anywhere.:o

So, me, as you can see from my dancing carrots and sheep, I just dipped into a new decade! I'm really excited!!! My basic weight history is that I was in the 230s when I was in my early 30s and then just went up and up from there, lost 110 pounds once but when I gained it back I zipped straight back up to over 250 and have spent the last seven years yo-yoing up and down from a high of the 290s to a low of the 250s but never getting lower. SO FRUSTRATING!! So, to me the 230s is where I really start to feel like things are different for me!

Got ready to go to the gym for the first time last night and realized I'd lost my bathing cap, so today is the first day. I always HATE starting something new, but I know it will be better once I have a routine.

Hope ya'll have a great day!

Uber: dance and celebrate all you like with that new decade! Woot! And the snow - it’s still falling, melting as it hits the road but the big fluffy stuff clinging on for dear life. AND TOMORRROW it can all begin melting - I’m ok with that!

Diane: the stairs would have been a bit much for me especially if you had quick landings you were reaching! I get dizzy in doing them quickly because I generally look down as I climb and turning right back can be disorienting for me. Take a day to repair. Stairs are tough!

Hello all! Mid week must have caught up with all of you!

AM: I was watching the news and I had a laugh hearing that Mrs. Bush was drinking bourbon on her comfort care. I think we should all have the opportunity to do something like that on our way out! I think it’s great that the family shared that tidbit - I’m going to go out having a good time she probably said and thumb my nose at the medicine - give me my drink!. Why not?! Create good memories for all. Too many are sad affairs at the end and what’s better than saying we all toasted granny and she toasted back.

Anywho - the diet today was non existent. The TOM is still wonky and I think that means more to peri then meds. I want to eat but don’t, I am tired and crabby and want to eat some more. The good thing is my baking stuff is low and my pantry is in need of new things as all the things left excite me as much as - say, cleaning toilets. So I have been eating fruit today but even that is getting icky in taste to me. I’ll get to the grocery over the weekend and replenish.

I have not been successful in much this week. Just grumbling I’m afraid! I hope you all are doing well - pop in and shout out!

Just crawled in bed to distance myself from the kids (hah they can drive DH batty for an hour and a half!). Ok so as I’m reclining, I’m thinking - I hope to achieve these NSVs tomorrow:
1. Wake w a positive outlook
2. Smile at myself
3. Enjoy my day instead of just feeling blah (which I have been and it sucks!)

All doable, now here’s hoping I can achieve it all easily. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Morning!

Everyone must be busy w spring. Since I’m still snowbound, I’ll post today. ;)

I’m not dealing with weight again today. It is what it is. I’m trying to be mindful but during these four days I know I tend to have crazy food and mood swings. Once that ships off I’ll pay more attention to what I’m doing.

So happy day all - I hope for major melt today and for this white snow to go - far far away! That would be great I think!

Have a good day all!

Morning all!
So sorry for being silent, this week has been a bit hectic for me so i'll do without the personals for now and catch up with everyone again in the next post.
I had my pap done and my Dr. seemed stoked about the weight loss so far.
The downside is that my insurance may not cover my Birth control so I have to keep an alternative in mind. I don't really want to go back to pills but I will if I have too. I'm going to research the nuva ring a little bit, and perhaps the patch. Not doing the IUD or the shots, nope, nope.
My Man has started on Keto as well, full steam ahead this time. He's lost another 2 pounds, and I think it's starting to sink in that this plan is working. I think he's settled down a bit about the surgery, but I know he'll start freaking out again two or three days before it.
My weight loss this month has been 15 pounds, which I'm super happy for. I know next month won't be as grand a number, but I'm still pushing forward. I posted my results on FB which I never thought I would do. but I felt I needed to keep myself more accountable by letting those close to me know what's up. Everyone on my FB are family and friends from work/school. And have been extremely supportive thus far.

Good morning, all!

Lemon - I hope today is the day you feel back on track but feel free to be honest here - we all go through dips. Maybe once the snow all melts you'll be able to have some spring weather and it will perk you up again.

Diane - I hope you are feeling better. I am amazed at your stair routine the other day. I work on the 3rd floor of a building and I do take the stairs sometimes but they get me a little winded and huffy-puffy!

Jen - I like the idea of hiding the scale. I weigh every morning and my weight fluctuates so much!

Uber - CONGRATS on the new decade! that is great! I hope you enjoy your new gym.

Sakai - Don't you just love when the Dr is happy! 15lbs is huge! So awesome! I wish my DH would do this low carb with me - it would make my life so much easier.

As for me, I'm good. I took a day off work yesterday to paint my wall. It took about 12 hours start to finish with the cleaning, furniture moving and prep work and cleanup. It looks so good. I tried to upload a pic but I can't get it small enough. I may upload them to a page on my blog and post the page soon. I've not blogged in a while but I still have the page so I think that might work.

My son comes home from his trip today so I'm super excited to see him. 3 days away is too much for me! I miss him like crazy.

I've been staying on plan and I feel good. It was nice to take off yesterday and just focus on things that have been hanging over me. I'm having some friends over Saturday that have never been to my home and I didn't want them to come in and see paint swatches all over my walls! Now it is finished...whew!

I hope everyone has a great day!