Happy Monday everyone!

Today is THE day, I'm going back to WW (after a month on Ideal Protein) I'm very happy about it !!

Have a great day

Marilyn

Hey friends! Hope everyone is doing great. I am on plan this week, haven't dipped into my WP yet but probably will at the end of the week. I have a lot going on, and with still only having one car, we are having to coordinate every little move. Both my kids have colds, hopefully we won't get sick too. Eating lots of oranges this week for vitamin c!

smashlers: I totally know where you are coming from. I have never been a patient person, and I think that's the main reason I haven't been successful on weight loss in the past. This time I am looking at it as a lesson in patience. It seems to be working so far. I just try to put it out of my mind when I get discouraged. No special tricks, just mind over matter I guess.

SoMuchFattutitude: Glad to hear your brother's surgery went well. Great job on continuing your training. I am having a hard time just going for a walk during this cold snap.

I have been extremely inactive the last few weeks. I finally buckled down and came up with an exercise plan. It starts out very slowly (just yoga in the morning this week), but as I said above I need to work on patience. Too often I try to do everything at once, which is a recipe for failure for me. Looking forward to slowly getting more active and earning those APs.

Fokeeps I am gonna take a page from your book and re-start my exercise regiment.... s-l-o-w-l-y. And you're totally right. It is ALL a lesson in patience. That is good stuff. Word of the year, that and perseverance.

somuchfattitude Its like, as if trying to dump a bunch of weight wasn't hard enough, our heads seem to get in the way. I need to practice meditation or something.

Anybody into meditation out there? I need to find a happy place in my head outside of the "lose a bunch of weight" zone.

smashlers: I've been meditating for years. Unfortunately, I don't make it a priority like I should, so it doesn't happen every day. If I were an early riser I could do it before the kids get up, but I'm not, so I find it difficult to carve out a spot in the day to meditate. For me it's very spiritual. It's also a good way to practice mindfulness, which can help you in many areas of your life and is something we are severely lacking nowadays with all our multitasking and immediate gratifications.

I don't know if you got the Success Handbook from WW, but in her chapter about exercise she talks about taking it slowly, and after coming up with a plan, to not even exercise the first week. Just get dressed for whatever activity you planned, at the time you planned it, and that's it for the first week. For some reason I really like that idea, and so that's why I set up a schedule for myself that starts slow and gradually adds more activity.

One of my aunts has decided to stop all treatment (stage 4 cervical cancer for many years). And she asked some of us to come visit with her while she was still somewhat mobile.

So I took Friday-Monday and went to Houston. We saw the Picasso exhibit, spent time at the Rothko chapel, argued about books, played lots of music.

I'm up 2 pounds and some change. I didn't track, and ate mostly reasonably. I paid attention to when I was hungry and stopped when I was full. So I will chalk it up to stress and salt and cheese and taco stands, and I will carry on from here.

But I wouldn't change it for anything.

I'm draggin ya'll. My bestfriend and I went and saw Maroon 5, Neon Trees and Owl City last night. The best part? I stayed 100% on plan! I even did my training BEFORE we went! I would have once upon a time used my evening as an excuse to do whatever I wanted, but this time I got my 10mile bike and 2 mile run in before I left, pre-planned my sushi dinner and didn't drink at all at the concert. My bff even bought me a beer and I turned it down and made her double fist. VERY proud of myself!

Also, my brother's pathology report came back and he does NOT have cancer. Phew!
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forkeeps - Omg - it has NOT been easy. I rode 16 miles last weekend and my bike computer kept reading that it was 41 degrees. It took a solid 2 days for my toes to thaw out. LOL! But yes, I 100% agree with what you've read regarding slowing building into a routine. Start slow so it's a commitment you make and ultimately end up keeping. Most people dive so hard in head first that they burn out in a couple of weeks. I started exercising almost three years ago and then last year started doing races and then this year I'm training to place. When I first started exercising it was literally going to yoga once a week and walking more. Had I started out training like I do now there's NO way I would have stuck with. Hel| there are still days where I have to make myself go to the gym. And despite training my plan starts slow and builds up so my body adjusts correctly. Seriously - the first time someone mentioned a triathlon I thought they were insane and borderline stupid. Now I get it. LOL Be patient with yourself!

smashlers - Oh God, I wish I could meditate. I can't for some reason. I can't take myself out of my own head. I even did a yoga/meditation class for a couple of years but couldn't "chill out." lol I think i'm just too high strung.

Jilu - No words, just

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B: Smoothie -8pt
S:Greek Yogurt w/ granola and raspberries-5pt
L: Bulgar w/ bbq chicken -7pt
S: carrots -0pts
D: Jason's Deli - Lite Club Sandwich w/ steamed veggies - 13pts

33/34

Well, today I actually had a loss. So down 2 lbs for the month. Makes me feel like maybe March isn't a "lost" month after all. Won't meet my monthly goal but hey, a loss is better than a gain, right? I feel like I am back on the right track.

The weather here is supposed to be beautiful here on Saturday so I plan to spend some quality time working in the garden prepping for planting. Hauling bags of dirt, building garden boxes and cutting down a tree will count at APs right?

Jilu - I am so sorry. Sending T&P your way.

SoMuchFattitude - Great news about your brother's test results. It must be a big load off your mind.

Hi y'all! Been MIA lately. I gave up internet for this whole holy week and now I am back. Before anything else happy easter to all you beautiful ladies tomorrow! Enjoy!

Finally after 5 months of fluctuating weight in the 180's I am finally in the 170s! Yay!! 179.4 to be exact. That was a long journey to reach this 170s. Next goal 160s! I hope it wont take forever like when I was stuck in the 180s. Buuuttt!! I think next week I might see 180s one last time because I will be heading to california for 1 week to meet up with family and the following week will be off to Miami to visit my sister. And this only means one thing... FOOD and festivities. I hope I wont get tempted and loose track. But its hard to track when I'm on vacation because its hard to plan ahead. But I will try really hard to choose what food is best even though I wont have time to track. So good luck to me. And oh yeah one of my co-worker asked me to be her bridesmaid. Her wedding will in June. So I have 2 months to be all sexy hahahah. Just kidding

somuchfattitude So happy to hear about you brothers path report. Thank God its not cancer. Alleluia praise the Lord!

portharygurl welcome! Yes its a journey to lose weight and its hard. But be patient and dont give up. There will ups and downs along the way and if you do loose track and giveup just think that there is tomorrow, a new day and start again. And start again with great motivation. And we are all here for one another so dont hestitate to ask for opinons and help. So welcome!!

jilu sorry to hear about your aunt. Sending my hugs to you.

Rest of y'all have a great weekend. March is almost over (1 more day) and April is around the corner. Good luck to us all and hopefull April will be good to us