July 20 Sign In
Mrs_Hoffer
Posts: 5,194 Member
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes?
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day?
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank?
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day?
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank?
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Replies
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A couple weeks ago, I was running down the road, minding my own business. I could hear a pick-up coming up behind me, slowing down, and then stopping. Of course my first thought was "oh no, what is going on."
But.....the guy rolls down his window and says "if you keep this up, the wind is going to blow you away. How much weight have you lost?"
Me: completely flabbergasted muttering unintelligibly "duh, blerb glab glub"
Guy: Really, how much weight have you lost
Me: About 30 pounds
Guy: That's amazing. I really admire people like you who start running and stick with it and lose weight. That's some serious respect right there. Good for you."
Drives away
Me: duh blerb glab glub what????????
Me also: running the rest of the way a little taller and a little faster and REALLY psyched up.
Even though I thanked him and told him I really appreciated it, he will never know how much that meant to me. Because that stupid voice had just been saying in my head "no one - NOT ONE PERSON - has said anything about you losing weight or looking better. Not your daughters. Not your co-workers. NOBODY. You are always going to look fat you fat toad."
This guy is a farmer who lives about 2 miles up the road. I still don't know his name. I know I wouldn't recognize him unless he's in his truck. But his kind words meant the world to me.
My daughter told me recently that she stepped out of her comfort zone and wore a cute but really bright outfit to the store. She's overweight and was nervous about wearing it. She walked into the store and a clerk took one look at her and said "oh my gosh you are adorable!" It made my daughter's day and gave her confidence to walk through that store without feeling self-conscious.
Do you have a story to share about being encouraged by someone? Please share. But the real challenge for today - or the coming few days....is to be an encourager to someone else. Might be a stranger. Might be someone you work with. Go out of your comfort zone and encourage someone you don't know or maybe don't even like! And then report back. I realize this isn't exactly a weight loss/healthy living challenge. But our mental health is definitely part of this picture. And it's good to give encouragement as well as receive it. Good luck you fabulous UAC'ers!!!!!12 -
This is such a wonderful idea Diane, and I agree 100%. We may never know if the person that we are encouraging is having a really bad day, or has very low self esteem, or worse! So many people today walk around afraid to smile or make eye contact with anyone! It's amazing to me. (Or they have their heads buried in their phones!) Your story about the farmer stopping you to tell you that he has serious respect for you is so cool!
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I have a few min now to respond to the prompt of the day, so I'm going to do that as I suspect my check in tonight will need to be brief.
@biketheworld - I adore this story. Like, seriously. ❤️ I think you are doing amazing, and you yourself offer great encouragement. I wasn't even going to sign up for July until you messaged me! So thank YOU for the encouragement you gave me ❤️.
Also, I can so relate.
I've spent most of the past two years struggling with "is all of this effort even making a difference?" because people in my inner circle flat out did not even acknowledge when I hit my 50lbs mark earlier in the year. I've found most people close to me won't comment on my weight loss, and if I bring up feeling like I'm not making progress I get a really lack luster "oh, yeah you're doing pretty good I guess." The people who are most supportive and complimentary of my efforts are those "friends" I've made at the gym and this fine group of people. It took me way too long to realize that the lack of support from my inner circle was not a reflection of my efforts, but a reflection of how they felt about themselves. If they admit I'm losing weight and I have a similar life style to theirs, that means they have to admit it's possible for them too and they prefer the excuses. This probably sounds harsh, but you get what I'm saying hopefully. So my encouragement was less of an external force, and more of an internal realization.
PLUS... a couple of months back I found this before picture, and yeah. I've made some progress. LOL. I posted this to the before and after face thread yesterday. Might as well post it here 🤷🏻♀️
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Today's topic is a bit weird for me. I think it's important, and something I try to do for others more often.
For me, I am not fishing for compliments or feedback at all. I'm just trying to better myself and for the most part don't care one tiny bit about what others think of me, at all. Whether it's when I'm healthy or otherwise for that matter.
In fact, when I started losing weight in 2014 I didn't even tell anyone other than my wife that I was even starting to diet (she got to know because of the health concerns). Then when I started running, I had already completed my first 2 events, a 10k and then a 5k before anyone other than my wife knew I had even done them. It was my dad who found out when Facebook asked him if he knew my familiar face from a race photo shared by a person who was running right next to me at the 10k event in their race photo.
It was the same thing again this year. I simply started doing it all for myself. Nobody else has asked me if I have been doing anything different yet, and the only one who knows I started running again is my sister-in-law because my wife mentioned how I was out on a run to her in casual conversation. Outside of that, no feedback at all. And I'm quite happy with that because I get all awkward and squishy weird uncomfortable feeling when people compliment me for whatever reason and just like to say thanks and move the conversation along. I would rather talk about anything else, except perhaps training methods, things like that (I can talk for hours about the "how" of things).
That said however, I recall running sprint intervals at a local high school track one weekend a few years back, and as I was getting ready to leave some young lady who was also running around the track that day just casually mentioned, "Great job, you really killed it out there". I was really taken by surprise since a big old hairy lug like myself lumbering around the track at my fastest speed which is competitive only to snails and turtles is certainly not something you expect to gain a compliment. And it made my freaking morning. Since then I occasionally have another walker or runner passing the other way while I'm out who will comment something as simple as "Good job" and it never fails to cheer me up, even if just a bit.
Since I don't really respond as much to that sort of stuff as most people, it makes me wonder just how great it must make everyone else feel. I mean, if it makes me feel even a bit better, it probably sends most people into a blissful freaking orbit! That's freaking awesome!
It takes a lot of hard work to get out there and push your body out of unhealth and into health, and if this sort of feedback can motivate me through the rest of a run, I can only imagine how motivating it must be for others. I can't wait to motivate someone now!
Oh, and @mshawski holy *kitten* I had to look closer to believe that was not two completely different people! But I can still see the same features! Congrats, that is awesome!
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@mshawski Maryann! This is a fantastic before/after! You've worked very hard and come such a long way. HUGE kudos to you, woman! You're doing a great job!! I think what you said about others is often very true.... people don't want to recognize you and your loss because it means that they have to take a hard look at themselves.... 4
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July 19
Almost all yeses, but had an extra meal which made me over, but not much.
July 20
Yes to all questions.
Pass days : over
I'll read all today's post when I'm in a more quite place.
Goodnight 💜💛4 -
@mshawski 🧐 Wow I agree with @WhatMeRunning It is hard to believe that it is the same person. Amazing result.
@biketheworld I liked the story so much. And the way you presented it. You made me laugh 😂The good news is that there are still nice people around 😊
3xyes day. Epic for upper body ☺️
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July 20
✅ - Exercise 20+ Minutes (140 minutes)
✅ - Calories within budget (749 under, ate back 321 exercise calories)
✅ - Tracked every detail I consumed (yes)
0 Pass Days Used
Personal Challenges Met: 15/20 days (2nd, 4th, 5th, 11th, 15th)
✅ - Net Carbs 30g or less (26g)
✅ - Protein 180g or more (208g)
✅ - 5+ Fruits/Veggies (5)
✅ - Workouts Completed (3)- Morning Walk - 48 minutes Hills (2.56 miles, 437 feet elevation gain)
- Afternoon Walk - 61 minutes (3.29 miles)
- Strength - 31 minutes Upper Body A (DB Bench Press, Lat Pull-Downs, Palloff Press)
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I agree with the others. Unexpected encouragement does lift the spirits.
I was sitting writing at my desk yesterday morning when DH brought me a coffee. I stopped writing to chat with him, and out of the blue he mentioned that he had seen me doing my yoga earlier and was impressed at my balance. I was ridiculously pleased that the dear man had noticed. I’ve been working on my flexibility and balance for a couple of weeks now.
✅ - Exercise 20+ Minutes
✅ - Calories within budget
✅ - Tracked everything
1️⃣ Pass Days Remaining7 -
20/07/2021
Exercise – yes – bike ride this morning, too hot for cardio but did some walking.
Tracked – yes
Calories – yes.
@mshawski – Gosh, you have transformed yourself – well done!
@biketheworld thanks for the subject and the great story. I will look for opportunities to encourage someone. Mind you, I’m not going out much at the moment so I won’t be seeing many people.
Not quite on the subject of encouragement but on the topic of mental health, I’ve noticed this:
In the first few days/months after my son died, I had some surprising encounters with people and neighbours who I hardly knew who were really kind to me, and yet several of my friends did not get in touch at all. And a few weeks ago, when I was visiting my son’s grave, I met an elderly man who was also visiting a grave – his daughter who had died 10 years ago – and we exchanged meaningful words. He didn’t know me at all but he saw I was upset and asked twice “are you alright?”. Strangers have been so kind.
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✅✅✅5
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@biketheworld What a great story, thanks for sharing!
@mshawski Incredible progress photos! It really pays to look back at old pictures sometimes, our minds don't always see us the way we really are now.
@WhatMeRunning I really enjoyed your story about the running track, it reminds me of when I do ParkRun (or in my case, ParkWalkSlowerThanTheSnail), and how supportive everyone is. Our circuit isn't a loop, it's a 2.5km path, then you turn around and come back. So all the runners & faster people pass you on their way back, and they are full of little comments like "great job" and "keep it up"! It's a nice community, and I'd forgotten about that part of it since it's been a while since I participated.
I must admit that I haven't really had anyone comment on my weight loss either. I notice it myself, my sister sometimes comments because she knows how hard I'm working. The other day a colleague told me I looked great, and asked if I'd lost weight. I was kind of taken aback and didn't know what to say when she continued to ask me what I'd been doing (it's not like I took up running or anything!). But it made me think, I should have been proud of my efforts and actually spoken about it rather than clamming up and being embarrassed. I am working hard, and should be shouting that from the rooftop!
July 20th:
✅ Tracked all my calories
✅ Stayed under calorie goal
✅ Exercised more than 20 mins (played Beat Saber - would have played longer but had to wait for my sister to go home and that was all the time I had left before bed!)
6/20 days (started July 12th, so 6/9 days from when I started)
3 pass days used
Freggies: 1+5 - Added a raw carrot to eat alongside my turkey sandwich for lunch which was a nice little filler and an easy way to add an extra serve of veg!
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TwistedSassette wrote: »I should have been proud of my efforts and actually spoken about it rather than clamming up and being embarrassed. I am working hard, and should be shouting that from the rooftop!
I totally agree!!!!!
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When I'm out on my daily walks, I've made it a habit to smile at passers by, look them right in the eyes and say hi or hello! Most people just don't do that any more.
If I'm walking out on my country roads, I wave at every single car that drives by me. In both cases, probably 90-95% of the people say hi back, and people in the cars wave back (I think this one's closer to 99%!) But if I don't initiate it, most don't speak or wave.
Exercise ✔️ (took 3 walks while at work today totaling 60mins - we have very little work right now).
Calories ✔️
Tracking ✔️
PASSES USED: 4/3 (3Jul)(4Jul)(Jul8)(Jul14)
*Edited to add Freggies: 8 🍌 🥕🥒🥬🍎
✔️ Yoga/stretching (daily) I actually did my Yoga/stretching at 4:50am this morning BEFORE I left the house to drive in to work! It felt GOOD to get 'er done so early!!!!
😃 Strength training (M,W,F) 😃 Rest Day.
Personal Challenges Met: (13/20)
@lesdarts180 it's always refreshing when we run into those people that are genuinely kind and caring. I know you've been through a lot this year and am so glad that people have spoken up and let you know that they care.4 -
@mshawski - my gosh you’re gorgeous - those eyes! Thanks for posting.
@lesdarts180 - I know it’s been a rough year for you and I can’t begin to understand your pain. I’m so glad you’re getting some support, even if it’s from a stranger. That man understood what you’re going through.
@Mrs_Hoffer - I’ve noticed the same thing. I can meet people on the road biking or running and I always say “hi” but get an acknowledgment maybe 50% of the time. I don’t get it. However, if it’s an actual event, then the faster runners are always saying “good job” etc as they pass me.
Will report on my freggies later. But so far, today was excellent.5 -
Being an Encourager is something I believe in wholeheartedly. I love being people's personal cheerleader and have literally repurposed my highschool cheers 'n claps for almost 30 years now 🤣
Some may even say I need to tone it down...Exhibit A: I'm the person who will slow down during a half marathon to prod the guy along who stopped a kilometre from the finish line.
Exhibit B: I'm always that annoying chick in the aerobics class who shouts "Let's go!" and "We can do it!" at the instructor's beck and call.
Exhibit C: Alas, I'm also the person in the women's changeroom with an unsolicited "Sis...YES! That fits you so nicely!"
I MUST BE STOPPED 😭
But let someone say something about my weightloss (like my dental hygienist, who compared the stored pic from 2019 to me now) and I want to crawl away 🥺😅
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Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes?YES | Stretching (20) TOTAL: 20 min
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? YES |Base
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? YES |
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Personal Bonus: Did I meet my protein macro for the day (40%)? NO | 20%
Pass Days Used: (JUL19)7 -
@mshawsk. Good points what I have often found is that people who see us all the time don’t always notice the difference until it is huge. Keep up all your good work and kudos on 50!5
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I think I am on pass day #3 today was my birthday #58 so I was lucky two birthday cakes omg here I come spin bike!! I did walk today and did spin but it wasn’t enough oh well there’s tomorrow 😊4
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@mshawski
Wow I agree with everyone. I had to look at it again. It is hard to believe that it is the same person. You have done a wonderful job! This is evident of an amazing result.
@biketheworld thank you for the reminder to go out there and brighten someone's day with kind words.
Proverbs 16:24
"Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body"
July 20, 2021
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes and ate more veggies
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes
Kitchen Closed? Yes
Going "nuts" with nuts today? Yes (16 days-free )
(I go "nuts" with nuts most times, trying to continue a good habit this month. Counting the number of "nuts" free days.)
Pass day 1/3 (this is for accountability to myself and my records).7 -
@biketheworld Great story, thanks for sharing!
@mshawski Amazing loss, Congrats!! 👏
Yes x 3 today. Hard to get back on track after my 3 day hiatus. They weren't binge days, so that's a plus, but they were "let loose" days. Today, I had to exercise like crazy to bring my calories under. That's okay; I was successful even if barely. Reminding myself that success is also measured by how quickly I get back on track.
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Happy Birthday @snowshoe0722
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@TwistedSassette i think we have all been there before sometimes I think we are surprised when people ask what we have done and compliment us on our progress. We also often times view it as being vain sometimes that’s how I have taken it but that’s not the case they are curious and it’s ok to share our stories. This is something I now do in an abbreviated manner keep up your great work don’t hold back share your success that might be the encouragement that they need to get moving.4
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Happy birthday @snowshoe072! 🤗🎉🎁
And thanks all. I’m happy with the progress I’ve made, and ready to make more. Also that picture is probably kinder to me than the reality of my appearance but I’ll take it. Lol. Thanks, selfies!6 -
I don’t feel comfortable receiving compliments about weight loss. I’d prefer people not comment on it because I feel like health is more important than weight. My mother always prioritized weight over health and greatly compromised her health in the process.
That being said, I get compliments on my physical fitness quite often and that pleases me more.
Exercise:✅
Tracked:✅
Under:✅6 -
July 20:
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes, a 45-minute walk.
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes! For the first time in several days.
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes.
Pass days: Let's just say I am way over. I have missed at least three more days of posting, and all of those would have been pass days.
@biketheworld: thank you for such an inspiring post today, and wow! What a compliment to you!
@mshawski: Wow to you as well! Your pictures really reveal how much you've accomplished.
@MaltedTea: Thank you for encouraging so many!
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Thank you @biketheworld and everyone else - I am enjoying the thought provoking morning posts. I have started to log in during my morning coffee and then think about the post at various times of the day.
@snowshoe072 - happy birthday 🎉🎈🎂!!!
@mshawski - you look fabulous and you do have fantastic eyes!
Tuesday, July 20
Tracking: Yes
Calories: under
Exercise: Yes, warm up stretch 10 min, core 10 min, indoor cycle 60 min, cool down ride 5 min, post ride stretch 15 min
It is so interesting reading everyone’s posts that I forgot to post my day.3 -
@biketheworld wow!! Thanks for that wonderful story of a stranger’s encouragement to you!
My report:
Lots of walking today. At least 43 minutes
Tracking was difficult but I feel confident in my results
Calories: under my limit5 -
Yes x 35
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Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes, husband and I went out for a long after dinner walk
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? You bet!
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Sure did
Love today's topic. So, I've found in the past I've always tried to hide that I was losing weight or attempting to make changes for myself, and this didn't serve me well. The reason was that I was always embarrassed that I had to do it in the first place.. I am a people pleaser by nature and either didn't want to acknowledge out loud I had things I wanted to work on or didn't want to inconvenience people with my choices (usually just go with the flow which means eating all the things, not looking after myself first, etc.)
This time around, it's a totally different ball game. Now of course I haven't seen most people I know, so I suspect when I do there will be a lot of surprise. But I also know there are people who won't say anything at all. I don't ultimately care either way - I can understand being on the other side and not feeling comfortable saying something (not knowing the why, etc.) However, if someone does mention it, like @TwistedSassette kind of alluded to, I am just going to own it... and be proud of what I've done!
I did have an experience earlier this summer at our summer RV park where I ran into a lady I barely know who hadn't seen me since last summer and she stopped dead in her tracks and went on and on for a while about how different I looked and how much progress I'd made. It does feel good and I've stopped taking it as a negative or something to feel shame for.
I also have this weird thing when people are talking to it about me where I share some level of detail but then get worried about what the reaction will be when they hear how much I've lost (like wow.. I didn't know she had that much to lose). But then I realize... I need to stop caring so much what people think! I'm happier when I'm not trying to sweep details under the rug and I just rock it. I'm ultimately going for 125 pounds. And yes, that means that when I get there, acknowledgement of that alludes to were I started. But who cares... the fact I overcame that is what matters!
Anyway, loved the topic and all the neat thoughts everyone shared about it!6 -
Yes, yes, and yes, another good day!6
