March Featherweight Chat
 

Hello lovely feathers!


"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude" (Karl Barth)

Let's make it a fantastic month!!!!

~~~
I'm in a friend's wedding on 3/29 and the temptation is to go on some crazy crash diet to get skinny, but I've learned from my past history, a surefire way for me to GAIN weigh is to try to LOSE weight. My resolution is No crazy crash diets!!! Sticking to the 5 point plan (no eating after 8PM, water, yoga, focus on fruit and veg, and cardio for my mind) Goal is to be a comfortable 145 for the wedding (weighed in at 149.8 this morning).

My affirmation - I am so grateful to weigh a comfortable 145 ON Sunday, March 29. I'm so glad to be able to celebrate with L and her soon-to-be husband.

Thanks for setting up the chat thread, Alexis! Love your plan and affirmation. Congrats on the 140s! :broc:

I'm planning a big party for later this year. It involves renting a condo and people flying in from around the country, and so I'm nervous, especially since I've never rented a condo before. So my affirmation is:

I do not control the universe. I will relax into God's loving care, and trust that all will turn out the best way possible. I trust myself and I trust God. Not necessarily in that order. :D

HW ~ TOO COOL!!! What's the party for??? How exciting :) (And such a fantastic affirmation, too)

Hunger, that almost sounds like what my family is planning. In June, they've rented out an space in PA for a big reunion. When I say big, I mean BIG! My dad has 8 brothers, 4 sisters, plus spouses and children, and it comes to around 90 people, more if the grandchildren bring their significant others.

Fortunately, I'm not part of the planning committee. :)

However, I do have midterms and several major projects due for my classes this month. I'm training to be an Infant/Toddler Teacher and have about five observations planned in the coming weeks.

Alexis, I might borrow your plan. It's very similar to what I'm trying to do, although I've lost the yoga time recently. But I've been running and I can feel the difference in my core.

crunchy mama ~ The reunion sounds like so much fun!!!!! Big, but fun. And man, that's a lot of panel observations. Sometimes I forget how important yoga can be. It doesn't seem like it takes a lot of effort, but the mental benefits can be huge. I miss running, too! Haven't done it in awhile and it may be time to get back in there.

Werks ~ I love your quote from the weigh in thread "Setting a goal is half the battle" because it really is...

~~~
In the city today for work. It can be a hassle getting in, but once I'm in, I really love it. The work is "formidable" but exciting.

Finally made it back to the gym yesterday, although I did exactly nothing (really just met my friend there) peddled on a stationary bike for a few minutes, but that was it. The last two times I went there in January and February, I got sick immediately afterwards... Not sure if it was just in my head or what, but I planned on staying away for cold/flu season at least.

Spoke to my little sister last night and she got the first official invite to my guy cousin's wedding in Michigan this August!!! Excited to see my sis and the rest of the family out there. She lives in Nashville and we normally only see her at Christmas.

About to dive into another project (self imposed deadline this Friday) so no idea what will happen time-wise. My partner seemed to like the last project, which is encouraging.

Hoping to reward myself with a House of Cards marathon after I turn it in...

Have a fantastic day, feather friends!

I have to catch up on House of Cards. My husband and I are about halfway through Season 2, but his work schedule doesn't really allow for much TV marathons.

Alexis, I get what you mean about the sickness and the gym. It's a benefit to owning a treadmill. If I get sick, I know it came from my husband-- or my niece who goes to preschool.

Alexis - Thanks for the kind words. :) The party is for our precious grandbaby's first birthday. He was born a couple of months early, but is perfectly fine now, and great cause for celebration! :carrot: :broc: :cb:

Congrats on making it back to the gym! And totally understandable about avoiding something that made you sick. We're definitely wired to do that.

Nice news about your sister. Re the "House of Cards" marathon: I thought you meant you were going to run one! That would be quite the production if there was an actual marathon by that name, lol. :D

CrunchyMama - Infant/Toddler teacher - so fun! I went down that same road, and was always delighted because kids are forever doing/saying something fresh and funny. :) Good luck on your observations, midterms and projects!

Sounds like your family reunion is going to be epic! Seems I have it easier than I thought, comparatively speaking. ;)

Glad to hear you like the plan. It's sweet and simple, which is how I like my plans, in general. :coffee:

I'm practicising minimalism this year ready for the new house so been busy donating, selling, clearing everything that isn't going to be moved into the new place. I'm not buying any clothes for the whole year - that has been tough but eyeopening for me! I'm going for a scandinavian meets new york apartment style of modern open space and indoor plants. I've nicknamed the build '50 shades of grey' as that's the colour pallette haha :D

New favourite Shellac Colour - I get shellac done every 3 weeks, it's my little luxury. HOT POP PINK. This is fab ladies.http://www.gel-nails.com/images/detailed/6/hotpop.png

Last few sessions:
Now: hot pop pink http://www.gel-nails.com/images/detailed/6/hotpop.png
early feb: midnight swim http://www.gel-nails.com/images/deta...Swim-Color.jpg
mid jan: crimson sash http://www.beautycolor.co.uk/373-lar...ction-73ml.jpg
early jan: nude knickers http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server23...0.1280.JPG?c=2

I feel we need some kind of beauty or clothes thread within feathers...

Oooooh, Oneten - Love those colors! I wanted to try gel awhile back, but it kinda made me feel... claustrophobic? Not being able to take it off myself.

Agree on the beauty/clothes thread! I feel like when I start to take better care of myself weight-wise, I take more notice of my clothes, etc.

Werks ~ That IS cause for celebration!!! So exciting!!!

crunchymama I'm hoping to marathon the last few episodes w my friend on Friday!!! Hurray!!! I have a treadmill, too, but strange to say, I like the social aspect of the gym. It's good to get out of the house for things that aren't work related.

~~~

Just made two trays of lasagna for the recently bereaved family in my church (one to keep to make sure it was OK, and one to give assuming that the other one is OK). I have never made lasagna before and was like "ooooh, look what I just done!"

I may have gotten carried away and eaten more than is good for me... Oh, well...

ARRRGH!!!! I'm fasting from Facebook for Lent and it's reeeeally hard!!!! So instead I come in here.

Obviously you do not have a problem with "Out with the old, in with the new!" I watch that "Hoarders" show, and they would have a hissy fit rather than part with the slightest thing, at least until they get better.

Your design choices sound just like something I would choose. I'm also a minimalist to some extent, and get rid of what I can, for one thing because a clearer space is easier to clean! I do have some relatives, though, that I've heard get rid of EVERYTHING, to the nth degree, and I'm definitely not into that. The sentimental side can outweigh the "clear the space!" side. :D

Those colors are scrumptious! :carrot:

Your first time making lasagne! What all did you put in it? There are so many possible variations... And that's really nice of you to do that, btw. What a blessing!

Lol that is so cute

OMG I love those hoarder shows. I saw a British episode once where a guy (and the poor psychologist they hired - he was wearing a suit lol) had to literally wiggle through on their bellies through the gap between the junk and the TOP OF THE DOOR FRAME.

Here's a pic of the guy - keep in mind, this is the TOP of the door frame.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...32_634x379.jpg

Bless his heart! Thanks for posting that. You know, even though I do get rid of as many things as possible, I sometimes feel like I'm THIS CLOSE to becoming a hoarder.

BECAUSE...life is so daily. The mail keeps coming and the dishes keep piling up and the clothes keep piling up and, ahem, LIFE keeps happening, and blah blah blah. The hoarders just say, "You know what? Forget it!" I do not find their situation difficult to believe at all.

At the same time - I could not live like that, mostly because there would be BUGS and filth. Although I wonder if some, like the ones that don't hoard garbage, but just like collectibles, don't have bugs and filth, just...stuff. :?:

I'm the opposite of a hoarder. My opinion is "Do we need it? No. Get rid of it." I do keep boxes for donating clothes and toys that my son has outgrown; some is put in storage for future baby use. But I am all about not keeping the stuff and the clutter.

I think it's because my grandmother saved a great deal of stuff and my mother didn't. So growing up, I watched my mother get rid of anything that wasn't needed. Some things she might keep for a while, but if she didn't use it within a certain time frame, it was gone. Meanwhile, my grandmother was collecting magazines from 60+ years ago because she might use the recipes in it one day.

It's interesting because my husband likes to keep things. And my in-laws like to buy things. Their grandchildren got so many gifts this year, so of them completely age inappropriate. And there's me, telling my son that we have to put some of the presents away until he's older. And later my husband asked why I did that. Really? Who bought the two-year-old with a perchance for throwing things a LeapPad when Mama said that she would buy him one for his third birthday if he learned to treat his toys with respect?

Sorry for ranting.

But it made me feel bad.

I've been meaning to learn how to cook (as in "just do it") for awhile now (was on my new year's list of goals...) Figured it was as good a time as any. I can understand how people think that it's therapeutic: for the entire time I was cooking, that was the only thing I was thinking about. Felt like everything else just melted away.

I just put ground beef, sauce, noodles, and cheese. Didn't know if anyone had allergies/aversions/particularities, so I wanted to keep it simple. Eh. We'll see how it goes.

I hear that.. I definitely have those "hoarding" tendencies, but then I'll go through periods when I just want to get rid of everything... It's tough to find a good balance.

Dang, man! That's extreme. Like when someone is literally building a wall between themselves and the rest of the world.

~~~

Snowed a bunch this morning. Took my time coming in to work. Saw a bunch of cars spun out on my street, then spun out myself. Was driving my mom's car (a Scion), so I went home and got my car (a Volvo). Finally made it in (took one of the leftover trays of lasagna).


Going to see this movie later tonight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTQ2VTf5vWc

Bringing tissues, oh my word...


Happy feather day, friends!

CM - never apologise for ranting. We care and it makes you feel better :)

Haha if you're seeing it now, we can hope to get it by Christmas in Australia :D

Oneten - lol - It was a 3 day limited engagement. I'm pretty sure the entire movie is on youtube. Kind of an amazing story about a pastor who takes in unwanted babies, most of them with disabilities. I'm usually a huge skeptic and not much of a crier, usually, but this one had me bawling within the first minute...

~~~
Fasted yesterday, leading to a drop on the scale today thank goodness. Trying to keep up the motivation.

Ordered shoes for the wedding, too. Exciiiited!!!

Starting from the end: SUCH great rules. That's what Mamas are for! That is a sophisticated solution, and that's how kids learn to be more mature. I totally agree with you! You did not take the EASY road, you took the right road. ;)

Even though I try to get rid of as much as possible, I'm also somewhat of a cheapskate. So, if I think there's a, let's say 50-50 chance I might use something again, I'll keep it. It is a bit of a thrill to dig it out and say "This would be perfect!" Probably shoulda just pitched it five years ago and bought a new one. But I'm a hippie-dippie-skippy sort of reduce/recycle/re-use kind of person. :D

So glad you're alright! Had an accident one time, slipping and sliding on ice. The grocery store where I was picking up my groceries had not salted the road in front of their store where you drove up to get your groceries. The cop who showed up did not give me a ticket, because he did the very same thing!

Alexis, you'd better bring two boxes! I cried throughout the video. How terrible, but how beautiful that people care so much, and take care of these precious children. :hug:

Congrats on the drop!! :broc: And so exciting about ordering the shoes. I sent out an email of inquiry on a condo to rent, but haven't heard back yet. I freak out renting a car, buying every kind of insurance offered. I can't imagine what I'm going to do renting a house. :?:

So, I cheated a little. I have a women's retreat at the end of May and one night, we get dressed up and are served by the volunteers at the retreat and then there is a show afterwards.

I decided that I wanted to do a Stitch Fix for my final goal (140), but I also wanted to have a really nice dress or top for my retreat. But Stitch Fix can get backed up for weeks and I wanted to get it on time.

So I ordered it last night. It's scheduled for May 15, two weeks before my retreat. The sizes should still line up, but I keep telling myself that I better stay on track and lose the weight before May!

It's about 10 weeks away and if I continue losing 1-2 lbs a week, I should be there by then. But it still felt like cheating, a little.

Interesting! But I have two questions: What is "StitchFix," and how is that cheating? :?:

Hunger, Stitch Fix is a website where you fill out a style profile and then you can schedule a "fix". A stylist goes through and picks out five pieces, tops, dresses, jeans, accessories, whatever you have set your profile for. The five pieces are mailed to you and you can try on the pieces and decide which ones to keep and what to send back. The company pays for all the shipping. It costs $25 per fix and the $25 goes towards whatever you decide to keep.

The pieces are a bit higher end so they feel like going to Macy's for me, but I'm horrible at shopping for myself. I need other people to do it for me.
This goes to their FAQ: https://www.stitchfix.com/faq
And if anyone signs up and uses my code, I get $25 credit: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3756710

And it feels like cheating because I didn't actually hit my goal weight, I'm anticipating hitting my goal weight by May 15th. Like eating that piece of cake before exercising.

Down another pound which is nice. I did a fat fast and dropped some weight and actually got myself into ketosis for the first time ever (where it actually showed on a ketostrips) while I have been following a low carb diet. Today I went to the gym and worked out. I had a piece of Dream Bread for energy, 1 net carb and when I got back from the gym, the ketostrips said trace. I was a bit disappointed thinking finally in ketosis. I will check tonight to see if it is in again. I had pork tenderloin last night. Maybe too much protein is all I can think happened. Very frustrating!

It is my birthday in a couple of weeks and am hoping as a gift to myself to be closer to 120.

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar097...0/115/126/.png

That sounds heavenly! Maybe I'll do it someday. :)

To me, rather than cheating, it sounds more like a down payment on something nice for yourself. Which you deserve, because you're putting so much work into it! The least we could do is get ourselves some nice clothes for these new bodies. ;)

Congrats on the pound, Blondi! :broc: What's "Dream Bread"?

Hi guys... sorry no personals tonight. Coming off an overwhelming weekend and then had a bear of a day on top. Planning on indulging in some planned retail therapy, and then trying to get some work done at home.

Love to all...

~Alexistrophic

Glad to "see" you, Alexis! You are a very productive person - hope you do take some time for yourself. :)

Awww, thanks HW! This shoppin' trip was kind of time for myself, too a bit... Sometimes just browsing the shelves, leisurely, with no deadline or goal in mind can be super therapeutic. Ended up buying one of those sonic face brushes (Olay ProX) and a hair keratin therapy treatment. Had a Bed Bath & Beyond 20% off coupon so it wasn't too bad at all. Then, managed to get home and be even MORE productive than planned. (hadn't even connected the two until now...) Hmmm, there may be something to this whole "self-care" idea. :rolleyes:

Also managed to sit down with a notebook and some Sharpies to scribble out my feelings. Definitely helped quell the urge to eat everything in sight. Kept cut off and got work done last night. Not too shabby....

Hoping to be as productive at work today.

Happy feather Tuesday, team!!!

Still managing to stay above water, which is good. Fasted breakfast yesterday, which came in handy after an impromptu invite to a friend's house for dinner. She served steak with mashed potatoes, carrots, and red wine cream sauce... Ah- MAZING!!!! Managed to eat my fill, keep cut off, and wake up a touch lighter this AM. Not too shabby...

Hoping everyone else is going strong!!! Stay in it, feather friends!!!

Alexis, I love just browsing. And so does my two-year-old! He regularly requests that we go to the mall so that he can walk around. And maybe ride the kiddie rides in the middle. He doesn't even need them to move; he's happy to sit on them and make his own sound effects. And it's calming for me because I'm not constantly telling him, "Don't touch!" like at my in-laws house.

I want a safe place for him. I hope we find a house soon.

Very happy-making news, Alexis. Love the journaling idea. :) I really don't get out to "personal" shop any more, but I should. A couple of atheletic shoe-shopping trips lately have reminded me of this. :D Something about strolling around listening to soothing music in a temperature-controlled environment takes away the cares and worries...

Blondi13 - happy early birthday! :carrot:

Alexis - love how you're adapting your approach to your life. A good example of how it can be done! ;)

CrunchyMama - they are SO easy to please when they're young! Those are the times when the big cardboard box gets more attention than the gift, lol.

Hope you find a happy haven soon! :)

Thanks, HW... Sometimes I manage to get to the paper before food.. sometimes the food wins. I just feel like I'm in the midst of an emotional upswell lately... It's constant work to keep on top of them. What kind of sneakers did you get?

~~~
Stayed up last night finishing a project. managed to knock out 6,000 words in 4 hours, after a full day (8AM-6PM) of work AND dinner with a friend after she got a flat tire - what WHAT!!! Me + Stacker2 Extra Strength Energy shots = Dream team... :P Dinner with another girlfriend tonight, turning in the project, then looking forward to sleeeeep! (Have to go into the city tomorrow, though, so not a full sleep. Oh well...)