Hi October (2013) Newbs,

Down another 0.8 lbs today - I'll take it! OMG I wish I was off for the holidays already. Have to work Monday and Tuesday before I get my break. I have a very busy weekend of getting my lash clients ready for the holidays and family/friend visits. It will be fun but I'm ready for a holiday!!!

Slip - hope you enjoyed your beers! You deserved them. I received some very nice and large craft beers from a client today. I'll save them for a special occasion.

Hi to you as well Hawaii. Sorry you haven't been able to get your exercise. I have only been walking these days. I have a Jawbone Up activity tracker and I make sure I get at least 10k steps in. It helps that the weather has been tolerable enough to get my dog out walking with me. I can't wait until Spring when I can run outside again. I have also found a gym somewhat close by with a very low monthly fee so maybe I'll join in the new year to use the treadmill.

Hi to Jenny and Liana. Missing Kookysuki, Kawaii, Luccilove and Hiker.

Stephascope - great loss! Sounds like you are doing really well with your steps.

Liana - looks like things are falling more I to place for you. How cold is it at night during your walking patrol?

Hawaii - I hope your feeling better:hug:

Slip - my kids finished yesterday, early dismissal :) that is hard going right to the 23rd. Doesn't leave a lot of time to get ready. My kids are are with my parents at my house tonight and then going with them to Toronto till Tuesday:Da mini holiday for me.

This was the week last year I gIned 7lbs. Having maintained this year I'm doing way better but I did a lot of phase 1 eating to accommodate the sugar. Lol sugar is the devil sugar is the devel baked goods are the devil

Have a good weekend. Off to run this morning

Hey there; I don't know about you but I'm very annoyed with this ad on here as if I just touch it, it comes on my page and kicks me off of here and I just lost everything I wrote. It has done this for awhile. They need to fix something I think.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm happy to hear how well you are doing Steph and I agree with looking forward to getting back outside for runs. I miss it too. I hope it works out for you to join the gym.

Jenny; Good for you in maintaining. You have done wonderful and there is no comparison to where you are now and to where you were last year. Isn't it great to look back and see the positive change?

Slip; I was thinking the same way in how much I've changed in my eating. So, even if I have a cheat meal or have struggled a bit and am at the top of my range. I am still eating less, eating healthier and doing so much better than before IP.

I am feeling better this morning so hoping to get some exercise today cause I sure need it. I crave it. My head seems to be better. Have a great day everyone and pat yourselves on the back for all the hard work you've done and continue to do.

Hi Girlies,

So, I had a nice sleep-in this morning. TOM is kicking my behind! Heading to my cousin's for 4:30, big family/friend shindig. But right now, I am veggin in my Xmas jammies.

Still at the top of my range this morning, but not over.

Steph, I finish work on Tuesday too. :yay: for you losing during the holidays! Thinking about getting a fit bit to get myself moving some more.

Jenny, I hope you have a wonderful time with your DH at his work party. You must feel great getting dressed up this year.

Hawaii, wish I was a little lower in my range, so I could enjoy the treats of the holidays a little more. Seems weird that the scale is reacting so sharply, but part of it must be TOM. It is what it is. Frustrating but partially helpful. At the work party, I had the two beers, but everyone else ate the most disgusting food! French fries with nacho fixings on top, fried pickles, wings and sweet potato fries. Did not appeal to me at all.

Part of me keeps remembering my coaches advice about vacation. She said it is one week during the year. The key is to make sure it stays one week, not a lifetime. I kind of feel that way about Christmas and the NY. But as you know, I tend to be a rule follower and my scream weight has been a defining line for me. Ergo, my angst today. Ugh.

Not sure what my issue is but yesterday I was 134 and today 136.8! I had been steadily going down from my higher gluten bloat - and now this - of course right before my challenge weigh in tomorrow. Maybe it is an anomaly and I will be back to 134 tomorrow morning. I am feeling frustrated and not sure what to blame it on although (WARNING TMI!!) I am a bit bound up. Perhaps that will clear soon and I will feel a bit less sluggish.
So, I hear ya, anyone having a tough time right now.
Haircut Monday and possibly Aquacize if I can fit it in. DH wants to go for a swim as he has been feeling the lack of exercise due to crap weather. Mom & dad have a doc apptmt as well so we may meet up with them. It's results of the tests on mom...
BTW here's an interesting site if you want to test your memory and cognition skills and see what percentile you are for your age, gender, and general health. https://cogniciti.com/
Don't try it if you are feeling particularly stressed, lol.

Liana

Hi all,

Did great at my family party! Had a small bowl of soup and water/coffee. Came home and ate a very late dinner. Hopefully the scale will move down tomorrow or at least not up!

Liana, hope your scale is kind to you tomorrow. Also hoping for good results for your mom.

Hi everyone;

Slip; glad that you did so well, those up lbs will be gone I'm sure.

Liana; you've got this, but I hear you on not liking to see the up lbs as thats where I'm at right now.

So, I seem to start my day very well but it doesn't end as good. I think I get tired and old habits sneak in and it didn't help that I wasn't feeling good last week and so, no exercise. But, a new day so I plan to do some exercise and want to do P1 for the next three days, thats so doable. My big thing is not eating after supper, need to get back at drinking my herb tea again. I'm crocheting too so that keeps the hands and mind busy. Have a good day all!

Hawaii, same for me, good all day and then bam sugar starts calling to me. I had just as much fun at the party, and no guilt. I think it is the eating at home that bugs me, because I am afraid of falling into old habits.

Even the head of spark people said if you get a bit derailed over the next week be kind to yourself. Half of this is in our heads, because we had none of the treats last year and survived.

Tha scale did reward my choices by going down a pound. :yay:

Good for you, Slip. One pound validating your choices is great!!
Well.... still 136.8 so I guess another zero will go in my challenge chart *sigh*. This is a pound heavier than when I started the challenge. But of course feeling like crap physically doesn't help and I know that there is still residual stuff happening with my fibromyalgia for quite a while after I get glutened. Well, technically the brain knows but the mind is still pissed off, lol. Everything hurts to the touch today and I didn't sleep until after 4:30 - it was absolutely pouring down with rain and just above freezing here last night. 4C right now. I always used to like winter, but since we aren't getting winter I would seriously like to be a snowbird now. :sunny: :beach:

Liana

Some days are good, some are not. Crashed into some chocolate today. Next few days are going to be off program. Not going to go crazy,but I am going to try-to not worry about it.

Liana, sorry that the scale and your body are not cooperating. :(

Howdy, Slip. My chocolate stash has been moved to a secret place so DH doesn't know where it is, since he's the one with no chocowillpower, lol. I, on the other hand have been getting into crackers VERY EARLY in the morning when I can't sleep. That doesn't help...
Anyhow I was down .2 of a lb this morning so I'll take that as a small victory. Hi Jenny, Steph, and Hawaii! Everyone take care of yourself for the next few days as I know there are challenges ahead. I just stocked up on a huge load of books and TV series DVD's from the library as they will be closed for a bit over the holidays. Looking forward to jammies and reading sometime this week (between delivering Avon last minute customer orders, working nights, spending some more time with parents, and taking delivery of a huge box of coupon books as I start a temp clerking job for a promotions company). The fun never ends!
I'm keeping the Cabo vacay in my mind to motivate me for the next few weeks. Hopefully I will be back at my fighting weight by then.

Liana

Hi friends!

I had a "fun" meal last night so today was strict Phase 1. I always worry that I won't be able to stick to a full day of Phase 1 after a fun day so I'm happy I made it. I am going to try my darndest to maintain this holiday by not going overboard and getting some serious exercise in but no matter what - January 5 I'm back on track. I still have packing to do for our family visits in British Columbia so this is just a quick hello!

S.

Hi everyone!

Enjoy your time off Slip and don't panic, you know what to do when you are back on your regular schedule. No worries.

Liana; sounds like a nice time with books and movies. I am planning to read a couple books too.

Steph; Enjoy B.C! Thats where I'm originally from and miss it!

Its been a good start to my week. I got to zumba last night and had a good eating day. I want to go to the gym today. I hope you all have some nice time off and enjoy yourselves!

Hi ladies,

I posted on the maintainers thread - I have fallen of the maintainers wagon but am determined to get back on which I have to varying degrees of success each day. I know what to do and will do it and have tons of support here, at the gym, and in my running group. This time of year is brutal with the food. I'm thankfull I don't really drink or that would add another layer of challenge. DH work party was lots of fun and I did have a few drinks which then lead to more food.
On the whole I think I am doing better than last year and hope to do a bit better next year.

Hi all,

Made it through the all day party and got it out unscathed! None of the food looked good at all. Received a number of gifts this year, 3 coffee mugs! Smart kids that notice that their teacher is happier with a mug of coffee!!!

Vacation has begun! So happy :)

Girls, no worries, we've got this! Only indulge if it tastes great!