At Goal & Successfully Maintaining. So Why Am I Doing This All Over Again?
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If I could do a back flip in honor of you I would. I guess I will have to settle for a summersault. Congrats!3
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That just doesn't seem right!
I haven't even been as active as prior years - and it sure seems like more than 4 years of great advice and inspiration - and perspiration.
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So cool! Happy MFPiversary!2
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Greetings, everyone. I've been reading along since I (re) activated September 1, and have really benefited from both the information and the perspectives shared here. I am 68 with a big goal (my only child's wedding is next October; I counted down from 55 weeks.) I have lost an average of 2.3 pounds a week. As I end my 7th week, I wanted to share what has been most helpful.
iWatch on my wrist every damn day; every two weeks the goals increase a bit.
Pre-plan my week's food. I may change what I prefer to eat, or have something come up (lunch out) but I have a baseline map and have declared my intentions. Also, I altered my meals to reflect 4 smaller portions within my 8-hour window, with a trailing Snackies for the evening. I aim for 50 grams a day of carbs and 80-100 grams of protein.
Pre-plan my exercise and activities to make the iWatch happy. I have increased my daily steps from my initial goal of 5000, and this week I just bumped it to 8000.
Geared up for getting serious about this. I went to a walking/running shoe store and was assessed and fitted, including arch support inserts.
Rewards for achieving intermittent goals: a lightweight bag (convertible to backpack) for $55 from Cotopaxi; a massage
In addition to saying "Hello" to new routines, making sure to say "Goodbye" to old ones: building a visible donation pile of clothes that no longer fit me, and never will again
Cleaning out my refrigerator, freezer, and pantry and replacing with better alternatives.
Regarding those alternatives, rising to the challenge of finding those substitutions.
This is where I tell you, Spring, what an inspiration you've been in that regard! Today I discovered that when I have a sweet tooth (rare anymore, but still) that actually, all I really want is 2-3 spoonfuls of a taste. For example: 2 tablespoons of 0 sugar Dream Whip with a gram or two of Jello sugar free instant pudding mix, shaken through a strainer (like confectioners sugar, hah!) is perfect.
Anyway, thanks so much for this great thread!9 -
@momzilla11 Couldn't agree more about this thread, and wanted to say, you sound like you are doing really well at this! Oh, and see Q below!
@springlering62 been meaning to ask if yours and/or BL watch is misbehaving since an update a couple weeks back. Mines goofy as crap, either waaayyy over or waaayyy under, plus misreads that I'm doing something when I am not and opposite. Suspiciously started about when the 8 came out, now that I think of it, go figure.0 -
@momzilla11
Were we separated at birth? Yes, yes, yes!!!!! to everything you said. The shoes, the watch, preplanning, all of it!
What a great job you’re doing! I predict you’ll be looking great by wedding time, and hopefully feeling like a million bucks shedding the weight beforehand, too. For me, joint pain, GERD, gone or improved with loss.
@Sparkuvu i have not checked BL’s diary. He’s an adult man and has to cope while I’m gone. He’s been sending me pics of him taking the dog for walks at new places (ahem, Pokémon events. He’s a Level 45 for those of who can appreciate the dedication that took. 😱) He’s also kept his exercise schedule up because I can’t reach him when he’s in a class, so I think he’s fine.
Our daughter over here in Germany is also on MFP, but follows it very very loosely. She claims I’m bad for her because of the baked goods I’m downing, but I log them faithfully and am at or slightly under goal. I’m cutting back the slow drip of snacks while here to make room for the baked goods and so far it’s working well. I haven’t cut loose, although the temptation is darned sure there. (Looking at you, chocolate dipped hazelnut paste filled gingerbread slices.)
It’s been interesting watching her watch me on her home turf. I weigh and record everything, even coffee so she’s picking up on it. I doubt she’ll ever be an OCD weigher and logger like me, but she’s absorbing. It’s sure hard to cook and weigh, though, when your kitchen is the size of a 1960’s suburban closet. My hat is off to any European or New Yorker or Londoner with a tiny kitchen. It’s much harder work keeping that clean and functioning than a “regular” kitchen.5 -
Good morning! Having slept since I wrote, my note above, I woke up realizing what important stuff I'd omitted.
To your point, Spring, a kitchen scale is everything! It's our truest friend on this journey, speaking the truth we need to hear that only it can tell us. Logging calories in - yes, that's good - but ACCURATELY logging those calories in is where the magic happens.
As for calories out: well, all we know is that those numbers are mostly likely on the high side. So I pay most attention to steps, and minutes of exercise. Those are metrics unique to me, and ones I can track and compare.
That said, because I have never sought or enjoyed exercise, I've had to get creative.
I walk my dog along a what is normally a very crowded (visitors as well as locals) street of about 20 blocks of boutiques,pubs, bistros, cafes, pizza joints, bakeries, hand made ice cream, French pastries, bagels etc BUT we do this in the early morning hours before anything is open...it's an interesting peek at another side of all this activity with deliveries, sidewalk washing, window displays changing, etc). Then, if I need more steps in the evening to hit my goal, I'll take another walk at dusk when the lights are just twinkling on.
I've taken an introductory pickleball class and joined a community center ($11 a month) where I can play it on a drop-in basis, And I walk the 1.5 miles to get there and back. This game has a tradition of being welcoming to newcomers and inclusive for varying abilities.
I walk to the grocery store (3 within walking distance), and more frequently. Saturday mornings I take the streetcar to the farmer's market early, so I can chat with the vendors, sample things I won't buy
But the most important one, for me, has been to find a gym and trainer to help me learn what I can do independently, either at the gym or at home, to build functional fitness and improve my (terrible) balance and flexibility. These sessions, along with my shoes, is where I spend the money. It has added another layer of both weekly structure and accountability. And I've avoided what I dread: classes, groups, mirrors.
I've asked to have those "wrinkly but ropey" arms, hah! What I really want is to be able to give my son a wedding gift of knowing that his old mom is still in the game, improving and not declining - stronger, healthier, and more fit than ever!
Last, I wanted to add some context for anyone reading this who thinks I'm sailing through an easy time of it.
My right knee has had no cartilege/miniscus for 50 years, bone-on-bone since I was 18. Painful, stiff, squawky when provoked, swelling alleviated somewhat by alternating icing/heat at night. But mostly aches throughout the night.
A car accident 49 years ago left me with neck issues; stiff on a good day.
I've had "frozen shoulder" twice, almost 2 years each time. If you you don't know what this is, pray you never do.
My arthritis has progressed to the point where I've had to put down my knitting needles recently. Although, really, I should be using that time to move anyway.
My metabolism is sloth-like, since menopause. I have a very small frame at 5'5" and after three difference sustained periods of intense stress and trauma, I carry my weight in my abdomen, and not well. It's embarrassing to walk in to the gym.
I have no close friends nearby to join me in this project of mine, but that also means I am free of any drag effect from others who lack my focus and goals.
I'll leave you with one more "Spring" truism, because I experienced it for the first time this morning: swoops happen! Hoping for a 1-pound loss for my mid-week weigh-in, and instead saw a 3.8 loss. So, you just never know when all your effort will pay off on the scale. Or in life, really.
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@springlering62 Didn't know you were gone, but was asking about Apple watch, if yours and BL are acting goofy since the last update.
@momzilla11 more good stuff! WTG!0 -
@Sparkuvu here but six hours (I think) earlier than usual.
The only odd thing I’ve noticed is I seem to have to work harder to advance my move rings, but I figured that was due to traveling somehow or not getting the housework etc steps in. I’ve been extremely active walking and biking, so I thought was a little odd. Been like that all week. Is that what you mean?
@momzilla11 the more you open your mouth, the more alike we are. We live in a touristy historical town, and I take the High Anxiety Dog to the Square early early, so he doesn’t eat any tourists. I enjoy getting out early and greeting the city workers as they do their thing. I get to walk to workouts, too. I never realized what a luxury walkability is.
The German town I’m visiting for the next few weeks has a very high bicycle usage %, with separate bike lanes and traffic signals just for bikes, and literally hundreds of bike/walk only paths, too. I kind of wish American city planners could be dumped here with a bike, and told to fend for themselves so they could take in how easy and convenient transportation is here.m and how it ought to be done.7 -
Bike path paralleling vehicle road. Red brick is for bikes and e-scooters, dark is for pedestrians. There’s bike paths on both sides of the roads so bikes can go in same direction of travel for vehicles and bike signals at every intersection. Cars have to wait for bike signals.
Typical bike/walking only path, between homes. There’s access to extensive path network every couple hundred feet or so.14 -
@springlering62 Yes, the rings, and its either doing quite some over or its under counting, not to mention counting odd things.
We are getting lots of trails around our town, but so far not close enough for me to get on without driving.0 -
@Sparkuvu have you accidentally added or removed the Apple Watch negative calorie adjustment? Disconnected it from steps? Did you change your activity level lately- adding or removing a workout? Have you taken up anything with a lot of wrist motion lately?
I was greeted here in Germany with a pile of yarn and a needle and instructions to “make me a blanket”. I habitually wear my watch on my right hand even though I’m right handed. The rocking wrist motion of a right handed crocheter sometimes gets interpreted as steps, so I can pick up several thousand extra steps a day while crocheting.
Or when I occasionally get buck wild and scrub the floors by hand, or sandpaper something, same thing happens.5 -
We had family photos made while visiting our eldest in CA a couple of weeks ago. We asked for a few of the two of us.
BL texted me yesterday he’s now down to 220.
That’s a milestone, in a weirdly mental kind of way. I was always terrified I would weigh more than my husband, like my mom did. He just now passed my starting weight from four years ago.
I was staggered when I saw this photo. Even now, it doesn’t always “click” that, girl, you’ve lost a lotta weight! and doesn’t he look awesome, too?!!!!!
That’s my handsome BL of 37 years. I had to pull out the calculator to figure it, lol.
He is crazy motivated now. He plateaued for months but kept doggedly at it because he could still see size, face diminishing, and now the scale weight is coming off again, too.23 -
springlering62 wrote: »
We had family photos made while visiting our eldest in CA a couple of weeks ago. We asked for a few of the two of us.
BL texted me yesterday he’s now down to 220.
That’s a milestone, in a weirdly mental kind of way. I was always terrified I would weigh more than my husband, like my mom did. He just now passed my starting weight from four years ago.
I was staggered when I saw this photo. Even now, it doesn’t always “click” that, girl, you’ve lost a lotta weight! and doesn’t he look awesome, too?!!!!!
That’s my handsome BL of 37 years. I had to pull out the calculator to figure it, lol.
He is crazy motivated now. He plateaued for months but kept doggedly at it because he could still see size, face diminishing, and now the scale weight is coming off again, too.
What a fabulous picture of you two!! I am a big fan of that red dress. Congrats to him on hitting that milestone. 🎉
I had the same fear for a long time, same experience with my parents. At one point my hubs and I were within ten pounds of each other despite him being five inches taller with broad shoulders. Now we’re separated by over 50 lbs due to my weight loss and his muscle gain. More importantly, we’re both healthy.6 -
Aww, you two are so cute 🥰1
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So much to love about that picture!1
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Great picture. Love the dress. Super cute!0
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Great picture!!
Re weighing more than your husband.
That was the main motivator for me to lose weight. Why specifically? Well, we have a canoe and enjoy going out with friends on the nearby lakes. Nothing hard core, just some gentle paddling and watching wildlife (we went on a big river a few years ago and that was a completely different experience!). It's usually easier to navigate a canoe when the person who weighs more sits in the stern (back). When we paddled with friends, the male partners always sat in the back. But not my husband and me, because I weighed more than him 😭. So my goal was to weigh less than my husband so I could be in the front like the other wives haha. And I made it!
Unfortunately my husband had some health issues which saw him drop some weight so now I have a choice to make.....lose some more pounds myself? Or fatten him up? We've found the cause of his weightloss so right now the goal is for him to gain. Phew! I thought the pressure was on me haha. Just to be clear, my husband is 5'8" and is very small framed. I am 5'5" and am built solidly, like a tank. There's not much wiggle room for me to weigh less than him!!15 -
Nice Picture1
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Lovely photo, just one weird question I probably shouldn’t ask…😂
Your ankle tattoo (if that’s what it is?) all I can see is Fred Flintstone but I’m fairly sure that’s not what it is!0 -
springlering62 wrote: »
I LOVE this photo of you two! Your BL has such a kind face. And love your sense of style.
Signed,
Recent Owner of Two Pairs of Yoga Democracy Leggings Which Are Entirely Your Fault3 -
Took me a few to 'find Fred' but all of a sudden I spotted him, lol.0
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Got home from a month overseas with a family member. BL met me at the airport, I couldn’t believe it. He had melted away from the last time I’d seen him!
(Me? After four weeks of traditional coffee and cake in the afternoon, and unlimited bakery visits, well, I’d had the opposite experience, LOL. No worries. I know what to do. Back to plan!!!)
We immediately followed this with a week on the West coast, where I caught him in our daughter’s kitchen, sheepishly punching a hole in his new belt to keep his pants up. His newest Levis are baggy already, but he still insists on wearing his XXL pants to tai chi., even though I bought him smaller pants. I’m just waiting for the “fall out” when they fall down, before I take matters into my own hands, clear his closet myself (that’s gonna be a fight…) and buy him the M he probably needs now.
After spending weeks with family, the two of us had a surprisingly laid back thanksgiving dinner- a whopping 430 calories. Roast turkey tenderloin, green beans, scoop of mashed potatoes, and a shared serving of frozen mac and cheese, leftover mom-love from when our daughter visited.
BL’s true thanksgiving love is sweet baby gherkins and he looks forward to them like crazy. He had bought himself a whole jar, and was happily munching away. I don’t care for them. But I pulled the jar away and was fixing to get one for myself, when I read the label out of habit (Yay, habits!!!) and started laughing.
“What are you laughing at? Pickles are zero calories”, he asked suspiciously.
“Not these, they’re 40 calories for two.”
“No way. They’re pickles”.
“High fructose corn syrup is the second ingredient.”
“Lemme see that jar!”
Oh the utter disappointment on his face!!! I really felt sorry for him. Even though it was Thanksgiving, he put the jar away.
I’d even made @Noreenmarie1234 ‘s pumpkin pudding for dessert (love that stuff!) and he passed, because he’d eaten so many pickles.
He’s very serious about this whole weight loss thing. Good man!12 -
springlering62 wrote: »Oh the utter disappointment on his face!!! I really felt sorry for him. Even though it was Thanksgiving, he put the jar away.
I’d even made @Noreenmarie1234 ‘s pumpkin pudding for dessert (love that stuff!) and he passed, because he’d eaten so many pickles.
He’s very serious about this whole weight loss thing. Good man!
Excellent use of the willpower muscle!
And I think I need that pumpkin pudding in my life....0 -
“My Version” of @Noreenmarie1234 ’s Pumpkin Pudding
2 servings fat free Greek Yogurt (340gr)
1 four-serving box sugar free vanilla pudding
1/2 to 1 cup cold water
Can of pumpkin purée
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Cinnamon to taste
I add a couple of the frozen Dorot ginger cubes, thawed, available at Trader Joe’s.
Whip well, and refrigerate til pudding-firn.
Makes 4 servings. Awesome with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkle of honey-ginger crystals.
Tastes like a pumpkin pie without the crust.
If you have an ice cream maker, makes great ice cream, esp if you can mix in a crumbled graham cracker.
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springlering62 wrote: »“My Version” of @Noreenmarie1234 ’s Pumpkin Pudding
2 servings fat free Greek Yogurt (340gr)
1 four-serving box sugar free vanilla pudding
1/2 to 1 cup cold water
Can of pumpkin purée
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Cinnamon to taste
I add a couple of the frozen Dorot ginger cubes, thawed, available at Trader Joe’s.
Whip well, and refrigerate til pudding-firn.
Makes 4 servings. Awesome with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkle of honey-ginger crystals.
Tastes like a pumpkin pie without the crust.
If you have an ice cream maker, makes great ice cream, esp if you can mix in a crumbled graham cracker.
HAHA, he sure missed out! I bet he would get hooked like us. I eat the entire bowl, sometimes 2 almost every night and have been for the past.... 10 years now I think 😅. I honestly never get sick of it because I always switch up the SF pudding flavors (pistachio, vanilla, white chocolate, butterscotch, chocolate, cheesecake, and banana cream).1 -
springlering62 wrote: »“My Version” of @Noreenmarie1234 ’s Pumpkin Pudding
2 servings fat free Greek Yogurt (340gr)
1 four-serving box sugar free vanilla pudding
1/2 to 1 cup cold water
Can of pumpkin purée
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Cinnamon to taste
I add a couple of the frozen Dorot ginger cubes, thawed, available at Trader Joe’s.
Whip well, and refrigerate til pudding-firn.
Makes 4 servings. Awesome with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkle of honey-ginger crystals.
Tastes like a pumpkin pie without the crust.
If you have an ice cream maker, makes great ice cream, esp if you can mix in a crumbled graham cracker.
Thank you!!
An ice cream maker just happens to be one of the very few kitchen appliances I own.0 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »springlering62 wrote: »“My Version” of @Noreenmarie1234 ’s Pumpkin Pudding
2 servings fat free Greek Yogurt (340gr)
1 four-serving box sugar free vanilla pudding
1/2 to 1 cup cold water
Can of pumpkin purée
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Cinnamon to taste
I add a couple of the frozen Dorot ginger cubes, thawed, available at Trader Joe’s.
Whip well, and refrigerate til pudding-firn.
Makes 4 servings. Awesome with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkle of honey-ginger crystals.
Tastes like a pumpkin pie without the crust.
If you have an ice cream maker, makes great ice cream, esp if you can mix in a crumbled graham cracker.
HAHA, he sure missed out! I bet he would get hooked like us. I eat the entire bowl, sometimes 2 almost every night and have been for the past.... 10 years now I think 😅. I honestly never get sick of it because I always switch up the SF pudding flavors (pistachio, vanilla, white chocolate, butterscotch, chocolate, cheesecake, and banana cream).
You forgot lemon. Lemon sugar free pudding whipped with Greek yogurt and some ice water, a spritz of canned whipped cream, and some lemon crystals is the bomb.
If you haven’t discovered honey crystals, they pack a lot of flavor at 15 calories a tsp (3gr).
They are dried honey “globules” mixed with dried lemon or ginger. I like the Victoria Taylor brand, but Amazon sells them, and for some reason, my local Indian market sells the lemon ones.
Another great topping I discovered recently is Dr Oetker’s Vanilla Bourbon sugar. It’s an infused (?) sugar with flecks of vanilla been. A small sprinkle of that on top of vanilla/yogurt pudding with a spritz of canned whipped cream tastes like crème brûlée, which is one of my all time favorite foods.5 -
@springlering62 ~ saw a fab looking plate protein pancakes you recently posted elsewhere. maybe you've posted recipe here, but, would you please repost pic and recipe here? my inner 2 yr old child's eyeballs clapped! lol1
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Spring, you da woman. ❤️LifeChangz wrote: »@springlering62 ~ saw a fab looking plate protein pancakes you recently posted elsewhere. maybe you've posted recipe here, but, would you please repost pic and recipe here? my inner 2 yr old child's eyeballs clapped! lol
Or maybe post in Recipes, link here?
More than just maintainers would like that, I'd bet!1
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