A 2-second check-in, with hopes to come back for a longer check-in this afternoon.

SO SO SO excited to see Toasted and Lilion back, and super glad that Diane is back from hunting as well. I have so much to say to y'all, but I am off to a meeting and work has been crazy and super demanding and I realized that if I put it off until I have the two absolute must-do work things done, I would miss my afternoon walk (after missing my lunch and morning walks because of being glued to my desk), and I know y'all would understand if I had to do something short right now.

What were you hunting Diane? My husband is a hunter, but not me. No moral objection; I'll happily eat whatever he shoots, but I'm just too afraid I'd only injure something and then it would suffer. It's currently turkey and deer season here, for archery at least. I feel so bad for hubby because he was supposed to be off work to hunt this week and instead he's home on crutches. Even if he could shoot the bow, which he can't because of the wrist and elbow injury, he couldn't get the animal out.

Kind of stinks that the one deer he got was with his truck - and unsalvageable at that.

I’m finally getting my water in, fell behind on the calorie counting and entering to see where I am at. I think I’ll make the dinner for my family and just eat the meat and make myself a large salad. I like the other sides however they are starchier and tonight I just don’t need that.

This whole new job worry has been eating at me all day. I can understand a wage reduction if you don’t do your job well or your work record with time there is spotty. I don’t get that they can just reduce the amount of take home under a guise of you’ll make more but haven’t factored taxes in as part of that (as new incentive will be taxed as bonuses which are at a 25% rate) nor what the final incentive is so an employee can’t 100% guess how this affects them. So much for being truthful either when telling them they want the same income coming in for everyone as now. I’m now a bundle of knots in all the wrong places. The good news is I haven’t scarfed down a huge amount of sweets. In fact I haven’t eaten tons just 2 string cheese and 2 nutbread slices. So I guess if I can get though stress today w/o my usual MO I’m doing better then I would think.

Sorry for being stressed and writing of such which isn’t totally weight related in any form - just what my food intake could be. But it helps me get my frustration out to the universe and might allow me to think on it differently.

Anyone else having a better day? Anyone find good spots as their day went on? We’re to have wicked winds by tomorrow - plus rain. Guess the crappy portion of start to winter is saying hello and I’m sure with the strong winds will find the trees stripped of the leaves that remain. Sadness, I’m not ready for cold and dead looking everything.

Today turned into a crappy day. Maybe my scale will be nice to me tomorrow.

Hope everyone is well.

Seriously my non-dieting over the weekend was not helpful. I did hop on the scale last night of course after dinner and 50oz water and I know I can slay off a few of those pounds because of overnight digestion. However I skipped the scale this morning. I ate well yesterday and I made sure to get my water in but darn it I just didn’t want to face that I’m probably right back where I was about 2 weeks ago.

This is where I was fighting with myself last year - it’s getting colder out and I’d rather snuggle into my house having whatever comfort food strikes my fancy and warms my heart/belly. So I think this will be my week of trying to right the ship if you will. I know I’m liking the weight loss results I see, I know I loathe the 230s (oh do I, but getting out of it will be a big battle) but I also know if I am strict about calories and movement then my scale will move down. However I find I’m wavering - I see a lot on here who are fully committed and just work the pounds off with what seems like they hold that magic focus to do so. I find I must have short term excitement/bursts and then float and flit along and struggle with this especially when I loose and regain the same darn pounds OVER AND OVER AGAIN! So if any of you can share what the magic is to just keep on the loosing path I’m all eyes to read today. Today I will officially say I’m lost - or on the worlds worst roundabout not knowing my exit to hop on or off. 😊

I will try to get that walk in once the bus grabs the kids. It’s suppose to be uber windy today here so maybe I’ll be blown around the sidewalk and get it in quicker. Who knows, just as long as the rain holds off while I’m doing this.

My mini goals for the day:
1. Get my piddley walk in.
2. Push water all day long
3. Eat within my calories
4. Find happiness in my day simple is good

So there you have it. I am in the need of focus and redirection and commitment to my scale. I do hope you all have a wonderful day ahead and scales that are kind to you. Off to go give it a swift kick in the fanny and find where I can do this.

Hey guys,

It's Day 7 of my Whole 30 or what I should more accurately now call- Day 7 of strictly whole, unprocessed foods, no grains or pseudograins, no added sugars, honeys, syrups or natural or artificial sweeteners. I must qualify it this way because I have inadvertently have beans and peas, neither of which is allowed but I consider them whole foods so oh well. It's going okay. I don't really miss sugar at all, though my stomach has been acting up so I would love some bread to settle it.

I gave up on exercise for most of last year because I have a highly irritable/sensitive stomach that flared up quite a bit from high intensity exercise or ab work etc. But I've been a lot better this year but after yesterday's run and today's weights, my tum hasn't been best pleased. I'm hoping it's cramps relating to the end of TOM or the leafy greens I had on Sunday which never sit well with my digestion. Please pray with me that it's not exercise making me unwell again.



Lillion: I'm so sorry to hear about your friend and your dog and all the turmoil going on for you right now. More than enough reason to be stressed and low. Please look after yourself with some self-care and TLC- mental health is just as important as physical health. Yay the scale victory of seeing a number you hadn't seen in a while. Sending you ALL the hugs!!!

lemonthyme: I'm sending you ALL the hugs as well!! That's terrible about your husband's pay being cut plus the general other winter woes. I'm a stress eater as well so I understand how real the struggle is. Please don't apologize for needing a space to vent. This is more than just a weightloss space and besides, unfortunately, life and emotions and stress have a lot to do with weight gain and diet and fitness. But even if they didn't, we still wouldn't mind if you needed to vent to us. The underhandedness of how they're reducing your husband's pay sticks in my craw too and I'm a distant observer. It all seems very unfair. Re: magical words of wisdom to break a plateau, I have none really. I've been everywhere within the same 20lbs for 5 years. I think sometimes when everything feels like it's going to pot, I like to stay in a holding pattern for a few weeks/months and try to maintain without restricting but still counting calories and weighing in, and then pull on my big girl pants and push for another 5-10 lbs and then rinse and repeat. I too was in the 230s for a LOOOOOOONNNNGGG time. My body LOVED 235 but then I whooshed my way through the 220s so sometimes if you can push your way through that plateau your body likes. When I was ready, I got out of the 230s by doing mini challenges on 3FC to be honest. There was something called the 5-lb challenge, I don't know if it's still there, but I did a few of those and gave myself a 21-day challenge of eating super cleanly (and admittedly restrictedly- probably maybe 1200-1300 cals a day plus cardio DVDs) and then once I was in the 220s I went back to my normal 1500-way of eating. I'm not saying my way if the right way because I probably wouldn't do that now, but that's how I broke out of that face. This probably hasn't been very coherent but hopefully it's a bit helpful. Sending you hugs and prayers of strength for the day.

Diane: I'm glad you were able to reflect and regroup during your time away so you can come back swinging. I've been reading a thriller about a hunting group and so not hearing from you has lowkey been freaking me out. It sucks when we look back and see all the missed opportunities to have made progress but then every coming day is a new opportunity to do better. Besides, you're pretty much an exercise rockstar that's half the puzzle done!

Laurie: Hey!!! Hope your meeting went well. Hear from you soon!


I only accomplished half of yesterday's goals (hitting 10k steps, waking up to exercise this morning and completing the top 3 goals on my to do list). I'm still struggling staying under calories. My eating is super "clean" but there's just a little too many calories of it so I guess I need to tighten up. Today's meals are already logged and it's going to be over, but I'm going to work on tomorrow's in advance so I have a better outcome.Also, I weighed this morning and the scale was down 2.5 lbs from 5 days ago so back into the late 170s so the trend is positive if I can get my act together. Hoping you guys are having a great day.

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
1.) Accomplish Top 3 goals on To Do list
2.) Reach 5000 steps
3.) Drink planned water intake
4.) Go to bed before 11.30pm
5.) Wake up early to go running (or other cardio if it rains)

Laurie: Yep, we'll take the 2-second check in. I totally get that! Hope your work gets caught up!!

Lilion: We were elk hunting. We usually aren't able to get a deer license every year, so this is the year we didn't get it. (So this is the year we saw lots of deer...) I've never been turkey hunting, but I see a few of them up where we hunt elk!

Lemonthyme: I agree with Toastedsmoke. You never have to apologize for talking about non-weight issues! In my mind, even if they aren't directly related to weight loss, all events in our lives somehow affect how we eat and how we exercise. I have to watch it when I'm stressed out because then I just want comfort food! And winter does lend itself to heavier meals and warm comfort food! I try to have soups often, but I try to stay away from the heavier, creamy ones. Hang in there! I know financial worries are so tough. I can't stand it when companies try to be sneaky about making things worse for employees. Totally not fair, but not a lot you can do about it!

Toasted: Day 7!! You've made it a week now. Sometimes you have to tweak a diet plan and make it right for you. Sounds like you have that figured out very well. I hope that exercise isn't the reason for your stomach pain! That's awful!!

For me, I had a good day yesterday with staying on plan. I am trying to take it day by day so that I don't look back at what I did wrong for all those months and gained the weight. So, yesterday was good. Today is starting well since I was able to lift some weights at the gym this morning. I hope to go to the gym after work to do a little running. I don't know how much I'll be doing, but I need to get back to it. It hasn't been that long, so I think I'll be ok. Tomorrow is spin. I found out that they are painting the room where we have Body Pump and Body Flow, so I'll have to change up those days a little. No problem! I didn't really want to go to Body Flow anyway.......

I've logged my food through lunch, and it looks good. I'm having chili tonight, so that works well with calories. I make it myself, so it is fairly healthy. All I need to do is heat it up, so there should be no reason not to go to the gym and run. Oh, and I'm also weighing myself daily for now. Loving the scale today as I dropped 1 1/2 pounds. I know that part of it is just getting back to being on track, and getting over the weekend bloat. But, hey, I love the little burst of weight loss. I'm hoping that I can make some good progress this week so I can have a better number showing on my ticker on Monday. I only change it on Mondays.

So happy to see some activity here! It really helps to hear from everyone!

I think I have issues today - I start something and then walk away from it - I haven't completed much of anything today but the huge laundry pile. Goodness - what a mess. I am working on a project for a private school and since all the information was done willy nilly to begin with it's kind of a mess and today of all days I can't make sense of it. So it's probably best to walk away from it less I make a further mess.

Maybe I should eat something! So far on task for water and calories - yeah! The body is finally working today as it should. Even better so maybe I will feel strong enough in spirit to jump on my scale.

I didn't get my walk in the wind is mighty strong as has been the on/off rain - usually it's raining when I have that free moment. I am not a fan of impending winter - only through Christmas and then we can segue to spring.

I am trying to see positives in things today after yesterdays craziness. I have managed a few items. In fact - I even brought in my geraniums that I will winter over dehydrating in the basement until I plant them back up in Feb or so and stick under the lights. Ok - so 2 things done today! And strangely my geraniums, though drying out, make me smile - (spring thoughts anyone?).

Ok - so don't forget this friday - plan to give yourself a body positive shout out so keep tabs on what your's is doing. I think it's neat to see all the places we see achievements or new shapes taking place (well not me this week - but you all can!).

diane: Glad you are finding the daily weighing makes you feel good. Those weekends away are always my killer - too often I fall off the diet wagon. Enjoy the chili - I made some two weeks ago and it's always nice to have as it cools down outside. I have been making mainly the clear broth soups loaded with veggies and meat. I have one creamy potato recipe - but haven't made that yet this season - missing most of the ingredients when I think to make it.

toasted: calories - I am trying to keep them at 1275-1350 depending on the day and not counting this last weekend. I keep seeing articles on these women that have done low calorie so long and then find if they do 2000 calories a day they look better - however I haven't seen all the article to know if they really upped their activity. I'd have to think they go hand in hand! Maybe one day I will bid adieu to the 30s. That's my hope before the year leaves us behind. It can take those pounds with it.

Ok - off to listen to doris day songs - I have no clue why I have them in my iTunes - however you can never be blue listening to her - simpler time I guess, plus I always envied her flair of dressing in movies like pillow talk - nope - my body will never look like that in clothes - but growing up I always thought it could! (yes, I am a purveyor of old movies even when in high school AMC was right up my alley).

Enjoy your afternoons and evenings. I am off to make sense of mine!

Doing it again, I'm afraid. My workday is almost over, and I am neither getting in walks nor decent check-ins. This is not okay, given that I get here an hour early, don't take a lunch (other than a walk), and have been working late AND taking work home.

Still excited to skim everyone else's entries, and I look forward to spending time reading them more thoroughly. I especially love that Toasted is back and posting. I have missed your wisdom and your humor much! And glad that Diane is back from hunting. And that LemonThyme has become such an integral part of our group. And that Lilion is posting regularly. So much to say to all of you!
I did get Kefir. I don't love it, but am hoping there's something to the gut bacteria/depression alleviation connection. Thank you guys for the suggestion and the directions!

Gonna figure out this work thing so I'm not completely burning out and only getting paid a government salary for doing it. But not today. Nose back to the grindstone.

233.6

Heavy mcheavy here who can’t shake the 230s once again. Ugh. I keep seeing people breeze through numbers and leave them behind. These last few weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me with the regain and time to loose and all. I can blame lots of things but I guess in the end it’s me watching what goes in and make sure I move. And I’m a fall eater of all things warm and comforty. The good news I did make it through the other day without stress eating. That was a huge accomplishment for me. Usually I’d be gnoshing on all things sweet as I worried away.

Laurie: yep kefir like any fermented product is an acquired taste. You can also get strong probiotics from sauerkraut or kimchi if you prefer that taste and texture. I’d choose to stick w the kefir. From what I read really most fermented is a help. Otherwise I have been fond of taking the Jarrow capsules vs the food stuff and it’s suppose to be just as good.

Vlad: sourdough bread is actually one of the better breads as it’s slower to digest and has the better things - again I think w/ the sour portion but I could be wrong. Hope the wood stacking is over for you. I have to get outside today and start pulling out the flowerbeds as today is a non rain day and by Friday SNOW. so I need to get crackalackin.

Diane: how was the chili and the run? Now if I recall all your kids are out of the house or does one son still live and hike w/you?

Toasted: how goes it? Should I send you the snow as to avoid it myself? How did your goal list go yesterday? I missed getting my walk in but the winds have moved on. Dug out winter coats last night - defeating!

Lil: hope your friends dX isn’t what she was expecting/thinking. That’s a horrible journey I’d suspect. Make her a goodie basket to pamper herself if she can handle a good soak in the tub - or lotions and potions to smell nice and a cute robe to snuggle in. I’m sorry - cancer dX and dealing with it can challenge even the strongest. I send good thoughts for all.

Ok ladies - I’m off to deal with the bus loading and then gallop through my walk and hope it see some more scAle movement tomorrow. I’m disappointed but will deal with it as per usual. I have my bday soon, I have travels again next weekend and they can become nonsense challenges. Maybe I’ll have DH make me a fruit topped cake/cookie? It’s limiting - his baking skills.

Have a good start. I didn’t proofread today as I’m sprinting out for the bus in a minute. Sorry for inaccuracies.

PS: just got back from my quick walk. I found for a NSV: my winter coat is a longer one and I found I HAVE LOTSA ROOM THROUGH THE HIPS! Yeah! Now granted it’s just a matter of feeling from where I was last end of winter until now.

I will work on this quilt for a bit until it warms up a bit more and then go out and start pulling the flower beds on out.

Oh today’s vent: as a parent do you have limits on when your girls begin using makeup? I do but I’m finding I’m not the norm in this town. I’m at the bus stop and again my neighbors girl comes trodding across the street to the stop. She’s in 3rd grade. I noticed this last year when she was in 2nd - here she comes with a full face - base, lipstain, shadow, liner and mascara. All put on by a skilled someone (mama I guess) as it was and is always in the right area and done fairly well. She also has highlighted hair. She’s not yet 8. ��

Ok I’ll take my old fashioned fuddy duddy ideas of keeping kids as kids when they are that age and get on with my day.

Hey guys, how's it going? Day 8 on Whole30 still going strong. So yesterday still wasn't great on the goals. I accomplished none of the top 3 ones (work to do list, getting in water NOR getting in 5000 steps), I was just bushed. I did however sleep before 11.30am and I was up to exercise this morning. I couldn't make myself go run. The weather was fair and by that I mean hot, sunny and humid early in the AM, but then I remembered how hard Monday was and I was like "not in the mood, bruv" and so instead I did a cardio workout at home. I'm a cardioholic. The jumping and flailing about makes me so happy. I wish I could do that all the time. Yesterday I did weights and it was such a drag, but I'll keep on because it's good for me. It's not like I especially adore contorting my mouth into flossing shapes or for that matter getting out of bed and coming to work everyday but yet I do it because I need to. I weighed in this morning and I'd gained a pound from yesterday (see how daily weighing can mess with your head!) but I'm a little sore from the past couple of days working out hard for the first time in a bit, so I could be retaining water from that. Hopefully.

Diane: Heyy!! Yay an on plan day, yesterday! You seem to have your workout schedule pretty organized and even pulling two-a-days. I'm new to daily weighing as well. Well not new-new, new to doing it right now. It was lovely yesterday but not so lovely today but I know that's how it goes with the ups and downs of daily weighing. I hope the scale continues to trend down for you!

lemonthyme: I have total faith that you'll outstubborn your body and bid buh-bye to the evil 230s soon! You have an amazing attitude and resilience that tells me you'll win, just keep plugging away. Please practice all the self-care you need from Doris Day music to beautiful flowers to thinking and doing things that make you happy! The news you got was kind of a blow and with the change in season, it's enough to make anyone feel off-kilter. I've noted Friday's BoPoSo (Body Positive Shout Out) rule and will start thinking of something towards it. I'm pretty hot right now (88F and 70% humidity so it feels like 100F) and my office is in power saving mode so dinky little fans blowing the hot, humid air in the offices and no air conditioning allowed so I would take a little snow right now. I love birthdays- I totally believe in making a big deal of them, when is yours? It sounds like you have a lot coming up in the next few weeks. Sending prayers for strength your way.

Laurie: Sending hugs and prayers of strength your way. Hopefully things lighten up a bit for you soon. Or you get a huge raise! Take care of yourself, okay? Even though things are busy?


Okay guys, I've got to get back to work. I've filled my morning and early afternoon with busy work that isn't really meeting any targets (email responses and research) and now it's 2pm and I've not accomplished any of the major deadline-y things I need to have accomplished. So nose back to the grindstone now. Wishing all of you a wonderful day!

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
1.) Get to 8000 steps
2.) Finalize 5 scripts
3.) Eat under 1600 calories
4.) Get to bed before 11.30pm
5.) Wake up early to go running tomorrow. (or some other home workout if it rains)

Went for my quickie walk and then did an hour of pulling flowerbeds and gardens. And collecting nasturtium seeds for next year. I’ve been collecting seeds since August on those that are done and see if I can get any of them to start next year. I’ll try and see what and how it works.

The extra movement is good and I plan not to eat those extra calories gained as best I can and keep it to my normal daily level. Give or take it gave me an extra 100 calories to play with. I’ll ignore.

Toasted: oh cripes - you can keep the humidity. No thanks as we just came through that season and heat and humidity are low low on my list. Sorry you have to deal with such! What’s one of the most beautiful things in nature near where you live? Mine is rolling hills and wide vistas when on top of them. Right now loaded with color as the trees loose their leaves. I’m not ready for everything to be drab and brown however it makes me enjoy the colors come warmer months.

Happy day all. I’m burning calories and trying to be smart about today. Maybe just maybe 229 will be sooner than not? I know I know been in these numbers too long but I’m striving this week to kick it in the butt. Off to get ready for the rest of the day. Quilt top is now finished less pictures. What to do next?

Lemonthyme: So, tell me what you are doing with your geraniums. I know that there is a way to kind of keep them dormant and then they will come back in the spring, but I really don't know how. I have a couple I would like to try to have back next spring. Oh, and my daughter still lives at home, but my son is in the same town, living with a roommate as he goes to college. They are both grown, with just a little dependence on us! Also, replying to your question on makeup for young girls, that is insane!! Why would you have an 8 year old wearing much for makeup, if at all?? I think that's crazy. I am pretty sure I didn't let my daughter have makeup until middle school, and then it wasn't a lot. But, I'm mean. Last thing... I struggled with 230's too. I was in the 220's for a while, then went back up into the 230's and then all **** broke loose... Hang in there!

Toasted: Hope you have a better day with goals. We just have to keep trying! I think you probably are retaining a little water, if you are sore. Hope you have a better afternoon for accomplishing things!!

Laurie: Dang work!!! I'm with Toasted, hoping that you are still taking care of yourself! It can really wear you down to keep working so hard and not make the progress you want to make.

For me, I did go running last night. It was not fun and it didn't go well. But, I did some and I'm sure next time will be better. I just have to get back in the groove. However, I didn't go to the gym this morning. It was going to be spin class, but I was so sore from yesterday's weights along with the fact I seem to be getting a little bit of a cold going, so I decided not to go. I'm ok with that. I'll go back to the weights tomorrow and hope I can work out some of this soreness. It mostly hurts in my legs and abs. Ugh!

Slash: geraniums that I winter over are not the true geraniums - but the normal ones you can find every spring at the plant centers traditional - big head red ones (or whatever color strikes your fancy) and their true name escape me. However what I do - pull them out of the planter before frost, be careful of the roots and I throw them in an empty 5gal pail and set in the garage for a week or two. They tend to dry out some and the leaves dry. And then I follow these directions in the video. Upside down is your friend.

https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/o...ter-geraniums/

I store my box in my basement on a shelf (mines unfinished and I don’t put it by the furnace or windows). In late winter feb or so - I rehydrate by soaking in lukewarm water for about an hour and then trim off crispy brown and pot up and stick under the lights. It takes a few weeks for them to wake up but they did well w/last years bunch. And I think I started mine late March but decided to move it up this year so they’ll be bigger and maybe flowering.

Hope this helps your thoughts on. Check your zone to see what they say. But it’s a good way to save some money and have a larger plant.

Love, love, love you guys and MISS spending more time reading thoroughly and responding more. But I opened this to at least check in and got a call asking me to do ANOTHER project. You're right, Toasted. I need me a raise!

I am going to work through the most urgent things, hopefully get in some walking, and try to get back here before end of day. Not likely to happen, but I am so excited to see good things happening and this thread as active as it is. Things have to level out soon, or I need to have a conversation with someone about the overload and its possible consequences.

Laurie: sorry work has it’s evil clutches on you. Sounds like your workload is nuts and why dumb employers ever notice such - you can only squeeze so much blood out of a turnip and then you end up hating anything and everything - at least for a moment. Been there w/said turnip bosses. And most were and are inept and shouldn’t be in their position. I do hope you find some reprieve from it all and the world gets more relaxed for you.

Diane: I know- right that makeup on a kid that young is foolish. The sad thing is she’s not the only one. Kids with dyed ombré hair in 3rd grade, high heels, cheeky shorts etc. can these kids just be kids?! My girl Has always dealt with size and just dressing that is a challenge to make her look age appropriate w/juniors clothing. It’s harder than heck - but I’ve been managing all along to keep her looking her age. Did the geranium link help?

Hello all!

AM: I didn’t get all my water in today so tomorrow’s weigh in is sketchy. I just hadn’t the heart to down more liquid. I had breakfast for dinner - our go to wed night meal except it was scrambled eggs omelet style and not my fatty omelet (I call it that because it’s fat and full of tomatoes,peppers, Canadian bacon and some diet friendly string cheese). The kids and I do that and then run to church for their weekly class. Calorie wise I’m beyond good and did not eat back what I worked off. YEAH.

Will see what the old scale says tomorrow. Sometimes yard work in the end makes me go on up. Will see.

According to my app I should have been 229 today. Missed that one I did. Hopefully soon enough.

Hope everyone is well and doing fine. Why is going down the scale such a pain in the butt?

See you all tomorrow. I aim for good news.