Hi everyone; Just checking in to say hi. I'm doing ok, I am having a glass of wine here and there with visiting lots and the odd sweet thing but mostly watching my calories and getting water in and keeping up with exercise. Its not about perfection but doing our best. And I will be back to my stricter eating next week. Have a good week everyone!

Good morning,

Let the cooking and cleaning begin! Amazing that it is NYE tomorrow and soon 2015 will begin. Seems like just yesterday, I started the Oct. Newbies 2013 thread. Time certainly does fly by.

Hawaii, glad that you are enjoying your holidays

After my journey off the deep end, I have had a spotless week. Weigh in tomorrow with what I hope are great results to give me incentive and motivation to keep going. I must banish the thoughts that I have been here before because I cannot do anything to change what I messed up.

Schenectady, we are all constant works in progress. I think that slips are always going to happen, we just have to figure out how to prevent it from turning into a slide. Try to use the crash as a way of providing data to prevent it from happening again.

Schenectady; Congrads on the good week. Yes, its time to move forward and focus on what you want to achieve on the days ahead. You are not alone in your struggle. But, now you can move forward and make the needed changes in your thinking with keeping the weight off. What I keep trying to tell myself daily is 'sugar is the devil' (a quote from my coach), I can't be an all or nothing person when it comes to eating as the Beck diet solution book says and I have to expect to see the scale move up and down but deal with the up lbs as soon as I can. And never give up. Coming to these boards is my support and I do it every day. You will do it! I'm so happy to see you trying again!! Good for you!

I agree Slip, we have to figure out what will prevent that slide. Its an ongoing thing. As long as we keep trying.

I hope everyone is well. I am at the top of my range and feeling bloated. So, am looking forward to a stricter eating schedule next week. Have a great day.

Happy New Year, my friends!

Last post on Determined in December. Sure has taken a lot of determination and effort to make it through the food and wine hurdles aka The Holidays!

Woke up to mid range on the scale. But with my Southern New Year's menu and wine, I am sure that it will be back up to the top tomorrow.

Maintenance is a real learning experience. Before IP-my eating was mindless, now my eating is mindful. Not always perfect, but I am always cognizant of what goes into my body. As I said earlier, I have found this stressful over the holidays. My other option would be to go back to the mindless eating which led to being 90 pounds overweight with high blood pressure. Makes me think of that quote- Choose your hard.

Maintaining is an effort, finding a balance is difficult, but the rewards are great: health, size 8 clothing, normal blood pressure and more energy. So bring it on 2015, I see myself continuing with the same focus. Posting with all of you and planning, flourishing in maintenance not floundering.

Hi All,

Only a few days left of my vacation. I'm looking forward to getting home and back on track with my eating. The weather has turned quite cold here so not much walking and outdoor activity going on. We don't have too much going on for tonight. It sounds like we've decided on roast beef for dinner. I'm relieved, as it seems pasta has been on the menu for too many meals this season.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. I'm looking forward to finishing my reboot and joining you all in maintenance early in 2015

Hugs to you all,

Steph

Hi all, hope things are going well. I have been working like crazy over these holidays and then when I'm up DH wants to head out for skiing or snowshoeing or just something outside. I think he's ADD - can't sit still for a minute, sometimes drives me nuts. He forgets that although he has been up for hours at 1 pm, I'm just wanting to sit with my first cup of coffee and wake up yet.
Anyhow, worked Monday night, slept til 12:30, got stuff together after breakfast/lunch for a snowshoe and then x-country Lantern ski. We decided to pack a supper since we wanted to be out there most of the afternoon & evening. DH couldn't find his keys (hadn't used them for several days) and we both COULD NOT find them anywhere. We spent a couple hours scouring all possible spots including pockets of sweatpants in the laundry and other weird places. MUCH muttering under the breath. Finally we decided to just go up to the ski area using my keys and worry about it all later. The delay meant we were too late to snowshoe, but at least had a nice dinner in the chalet by the wood stove (hot chili I had packed - and other yummy & 'allowed' stuff) then we took off for a 5k ski through the forest & bogs lit by oil lanterns along the trail. Those and the moonlight provided a lovely ambience. The club does another one in February so I hope we are skiing that one too. Lots of ski friends at the chalet after for donated goodies to share. Lucky for me almost all of it was NOT gluten free so all I had was a mini-bag of Lay's plain chips and 1 pc of chocolate candy.
On the drive home DH remembered where the keys might be... in the pocket of his work jacket that he had on while rotating a couple of the car tires. And, Yes!!! There they were. Breathing easier now.
Liana