January 11-17, 2023

SarahMaxx

LW: 131.4
TW: 130.8

The weigh-in gods are being good to me. Today's weight matches Monday's, but yesterday's matched last week's weigh in. So I rock and roll on. I am surprised to not be up today because I exceeded my kcal goal, including the extra's for activity. So I was prepared to be even higher than last week. Perhaps our efforts to eat more fruits and vegetables is paying off.

Kelly, you are doing awesome. Making your steps and rings goals despite work, weather, trips, holidays, sickness, kids' sports--way to go! And Lois, I hear some of the old Lois coming back! So glad that your leg and foot are finally coming along.

And thanks ladies for letting me know that all hubbies are pains sometimes. Mine has actually been a little less grumpy for the past few days, which I attribute to the fact that his chest cold is finally clearing up.

Oops--just realized that I have something I have to attend to NOW, so I'll be back to finish in a short while.

SarahMaxx

Back again. Sheesh, I know you're very happy to have your trainer back. Like you, when it comes to weights, I do much more and much better if someone else is telling me what to do and watching me do it. Also, I hope your west coast kids are not being severely affected by the rainstorms. I think of them every time I hear reports on the news. I hate to say that I can only take news in small doses these days, as everything being reported seems frightening.

I have been less than good with doing weights on my own, but I'm managing to get in my 10K steps almost every day. I learned a few days ago that the entire mall is closing down on March 31, but I have been walking there for the past few days. The sales in Macy's are drawing people, so it's not so empty yet. But once Macy's closes on March 23, I'm sure it will be a ghost town and perhaps not a place I'll feel comfortable going to alone. I reached out to my old walking buddy last night to see if she's interested in getting in a few walks between now and March 23rd.

As I mentioned before, the closing of the mall makes me really sad. I started walking there in the evenings after work when I bought my first Bodybugg in January 2010, and I credit that place with a lot of my success in adopting a healthier lifestyle and losing from 156 to 122 that first year. That and the team challenges in our original SNS team on the Bodybugg website. And although I'm 9 pounds heavier now, I think given that I'm also 13 years older, I'm doing pretty good. Plus, I met some great people walking at that mall. But as my friend William says, "Change is constant. Change is good." And as my friend Christine has reminded me twice in the past week, "Life just happens." So I have to remember both and keep doing the best I can. You gals can help me make sure I do.

So my goal for this week is to move regularly and keep focusing on eating healthier. I also plan to focus more on weighing and entering food. I usually enter yesterday's food from lunchtime to bedtime when I enter today's breakfast. And I wonder if I'm remembering everything and remembering it correctly.

Here are my 7-day averages for last week. I'm actually quite happy with these:

Steps = 11,031
Stairs = 13 floors (will also miss the 30-step stairs in the mall)
Kcals burned = 1,816

It was great to have several posts to read this morning, and I hope everyone can check in again a few times this week. Maybe we think about some short and long-term goals for 2023?

GaGasheesh

LW: 134.6
TW: 134.4

Ever so slowly, lol!

Sarah, wow, congratulations! You're so close to the lower decade number, lol. Whether it's more fruits and veggies or logging with an extra allowance for errors, it's all working. So just keep up the great work.

And husbands . . yeah. Mine isn't often grumpy, but he can be so annoying! He's constantly going around turning off lights and other things. He says it's not to reduce electrical bill but because he cares about climate change for our grandkids. Well, that's sweet, but the other day I was watching an early morning news show (he wasn't up yet) and I paused the tv while I went to get dressed (trying to be considerate of his still sleeping), and he went in and turned off all the lights and the tv! I never got to see the rest of the program because I just paused it but didn't record it to the DVR. Argh! This has happened before with so many things . . turning off a burner I have on simmer, etc, etc. He puts my things away when I'm not done using it, even though he never puts his shoes away that he constantly leaves in the hall where I can trip over them. He never puts them away as I have kindly asked that he do because "they're close to the bench" so he can sit down to put them on. He won't even put them under the bench! I'm constantly kicking them under as I go by . . sometimes with way too much force, lol!!

Kelly, it's fantastic that you were able to keep up the 10K and Apple Watch goals even while on a hockey trip. I'm impressed with that, especially because I rarely pay much attention while on vacation! Good job.

Lois, I'm so happy that your foot and leg are finally making progress. I think I might have mentioned that I found some non-impact workouts on YouTube when my foot was broken. I was surprised at how effective they were at getting my heart rate up! You might want to check them out when you're ready to add to PT moves.

Well, the bar fridge is still ongoing . . we finally got the old one out (it was a built-in), new one ordered, but we couldn't find one in the correct size that can have the cabinet panel we had in the door. The interior designer in me is frustrated with that, but who can explain the way appliance manufacturers make these decisions? I always call it "the world of men" because it's something we came across often in design . . nothing ever fits and there is always every imaginable difference when replacing things.
We're also in the process of replacing logs in our gas fireplace . . same issues. Next on the list is replacing a couple of under cabinet lights . . and of course everything is different with those also. Sometimes I think it would be easier to move! Our house is just getting to be "that age".

We went to the theater last night, and when we came out it was snowing really hard. It took an hour to get home from downtown Salt Lake City, and we don't live that far away. We've been really pounded with storms this winter, as has our son in northern Cali. His area hasn't been hit as hard as further north, but it still has gotten crazy wind and rain.

My goal is to drink more water! I don't get nearly as much as Kelly! Second goal is to watch intake for a birthday party we're attending at a bowling alley tomorrow night. I don't think I can work out more, but I might be able to add more intensity.

wiredkell

Sarah - Any idea what the plan is for the mall after it's closed? Will they tear it down or will it just sit vacant? We went to the States for a trip in the Summer and came across a fully vacant mall. It looked pretty new and couldn't believe it was open, but absolutely no stores were in there. It was super creepy so we didn't get far inside before we left. Crazy to think they built that for basically nothing.

Sheesh - I've been meaning to tell you how impressive it is that your Son and his team were the ones that created the emergency calling from the iPhone 14 without service. Very cool.

SarahMaxx

I'm reading posts while on hold once again with the Wellcare (prescription coverage) folks in India! Oh my gosh. One hand does not know what the other is doing over there. Someone called me Monday to say that my check still had not arrived. Today, I found out the check went through the bank on Monday, no less. This call was to make sure it was Wellcare that cashed it. It was. In the meantime, I paid two months online by credit card just in case the check was lost in the mail and to stop the daily calls. No one seems to know how they handle reimbursement for overpayments. For the moment, I am just going to be thankful that the check got into the right hands. Remember my two checks several years ago that were stolen from the mail and deposited by whoever took them?

Anyway, to answer your question, Kelly, the mall will be torn down in 2024. There are plans for mixed use on that very valuable piece of property. There will some homes and some businesses. I'm sure that is what will bring in more tax dollars to the city.

And Sheesh, I somehow missed the iphone info or read it and now can't remember. The last would not surprise me! Your hubby comments made me chuckle. I guess we all deal with something with our other halves. I wish my hubby would turn out lights. Mine leaves them on wherever he goes in the house, including the multiple lights that turn on using one switch down in the basement. I have actually put up two signs in the stairwell that say "Lights?" Does not one bit of good! LOL

wiredkell

LW: 154.2
TW: 155.9

As expected.

SarahMaxx

Kelly, we are bound to have to some upward movement along with the downward movement. I swing in a 2-3 pound arc, and just keep trying to get low end a little lower. You are doing great. Keep going.

My stats are bound to be less than average this week. I started having post-nasal drainage night before last and woke up feeling less than my normal self yesterday. I took my temperature and it was 98.6, which is a little higher than normal for me, but not enough to concern myself with. Since we always wear N95's, stay 6 feet apart and are in a large, high ceiling room with ceiling fans, I decided to go ahead to my bone builders class. I really didn't want to miss it since it has already been postponed for 2 weeks for facility repairs. I made it though that, but realized that I was beginning to feel worse as the day went on, so I drove myself up to the county health department for a PCR test. I haven't heard back yet, but I'm feeling much better today, so I expect it will be negative. (And hubby just called up the stairs to say that he expects they would call quickly if it's positive.) However, I had nothing in the tank for walking yesterday, and in fact, I put my fitbit on the charger so I didn't even get normal walking around the house steps counted.

I am going to do my best to muster a little more activity today without overdoing it. Funny how covid has changed us. In the past, we didn't worry about colds. Now, we have to be concerned. Even though we avoid crowds and have worn masks every time we've been outside the house since New Years, there's that small chance that somewhere along the way . . . So this weigh-in week is not going as I would have planned, but I can't control everything. A positive thing is that our efforts to eat mostly a Mediterranean diet seem to be paying off, as hubby's glucose levels are already showing improvement.

Lastchancelj

Sarah - at my office biometrics testing last week, several of my co-workers started taking the Red Rice Yeast tablets over the past year or two and ALL of them have reported improved cholesterol and glucose readings. Our friend, who is also a physician says he recommends the Red Yeast Tablets to patients who are resistant to take the statins and he's also seen some improvement. We just ordered some from Costco and are starting to take them. I have to schedule my physical with my doc in March/April (too many physical therapy and other appts until then). I'm hoping to see improvement in my triglycerides on the next panel.

Survived PT Tues, Thurs and Today. Today I got to step over small hurdles!!! OMG that was so dang challenging!!! I had to use a stick to balance. I've got quite a ways to go. He also said I can use my hurdles at home along the kitchen counter. I just might bring them downstairs. I also did some other stuff, anyway he wiped me out but I had a busy day at work, so no time to rest. I will probably be crashing early tonight.

Sarah - and you're so right about COVID and the way we think and act about coughs and sneezes now.

Hubby and I began having serious discussions about menus and food plans. We ordered the Factor meals again for this week. But I've also ordered bags of salad and fresh veggies and fruits for snacking. Just a couple of a few items. I joined the "Boost" at Kroger so now I can have free next day delivery. So instead of paying $10 plus tip for delivery, it will just be the tip if I can wait a day. In the Factor order I also ordered extra sides of proteins - a couple of chicken breasts for hubby and a couple of steaks for me. We plan to dice them up and toss them in our salads for lunches. Hopefully that will rein in our Door Dash usage as well as improve our veggie consumption.

Hubby and our handy guy Gerardo got the lights and front yard decorations down last weekend. With it also being my daughter's last weekend home, we were not home much after that so I still need to take down the christmas tree and villages. My friend who has been helping me keep my house clean and livable, took down the garlands and chachki's that were up high last night. We'll be focusing on packing it all away tomorrow and hopefully rest some on Sunday. Hubby and I both have therapy 3/week next week and for the next couple of weeks. It hurts so good and exhausts us both.

SarahMaxx

I continued to feel not so bad yesterday, so imagine my surprise when I got my results back saying COVID-19 detected! I keep trying to figure out how and where I may have encountered this mean bug, but can think of nothing other than a friend whose spouse has been sick and who stopped me during my walk to give me a late Christmas gift. Both of us were wearing masks, but this new iteration also survives on surfaces for a time.

I truly felt 98% sure it was going to be negative and that it was just my version of the cold hubby has battled for the past couple of weeks, or else I would not have attended my class. I hope the fact I put on my N95 before I left my car and that the runny nose and sneezing had not yet started will be enough to keep anyone there from getting it. You know, you almost feel like you have something shameful. I don't feel that way about others, but yet I hate letting folks know that, yep--I was eligible, too.

By last night, I was getting typical cold symptoms, i.e., runny nose, watery eyes, a few aches. Still no fever, and although my throat was a little sore yesterday morning, that passed and today it's okay. I'm so grateful because one of my coworkers became seriously ill for a few days just prior to Christmas.

But I am practicing what we call, "the Joe C. theory of recovery." A number of years ago, our friend Joe was trying to help a guy who was stuggling with a lot of personal and health problems. We asked him one day what he had recommended that day, and he said "I told him to go to the tanning parlor." When we asked why on earth, he replied, "If you look better, you might feel better!" (And it got this person out of his house.) So since I can't get out of the house, I showered, dried my hair, put on some decent but comfortable clothes, and also put on a little lipstick and mascara. Let's see how this works!

Lois, keep me informed about the red yeast. As you know, I'm one of those "no statins" folks. When I had that MRI that detects narrowing or blocking of arteries a couple of years ago, I got the perfect zero score. My doc says we will redo the test in about 3 years and if it's still zero, we'll continue to stay away from statins, but if it's not, we'll need to discuss. So I'm hoping that the dietary changes hubby is making will help me get that score again. Glad to hear that you're making progress with the PT. You are sounding so much more like the old Lois who made menus, and grilled, and hiked, and kept egging us all on!

And now, I'm going to have some lunch and settle down to read for a while.

Lastchancelj

Oh no Sarah!! Hoping you stick with just the runny nose and a few aches. And I hope no one else contracts its. My doc recommend Vit D3 and Zinc when we had Covid, plus the usual cold stuff. My sister in San Diego caught Covid a couple of weeks ago. Because of her health and medications, she cannot take the vaccine. She's been careful and does not know where she caught it. Well, like me, she has poor lungs from growing up with smokers and 2nd hand smoke. She now has pneumonia. She's doing well with her antibiotics and hopefully will be doing better in the next couple of days. That crud is still around.

OK...I'm going to ask you ladies first - I bought my sis the Garmin Venu SQ for Christmas/bday. She doesn't like it (she's coming from another brand - not fitbit) and it doesn't work the same and I'm unable to convince her to try it out and give it a chance. She says the font is too small on the calendar and notifications. Yes, it is small, but with my glasses, I'm actually able to read it (I bought an extra of the same model so that I could walk her through exactly - yep I'm that sister). Anyhow, if anyone is interested in this watch, $100 brand new (retails for $199). I can ship mine or have her ship hers to you. I actually like it and I've been wearing the Fenix 6s. It's lighter. Doesn't do as many stats, but I'm not doing the training where I need all of the other stats at the moment. I'll save my Fenix for when I start back to hiking and training again. It's a pretty orchid band and square facing. Let me know if you or anyone you know may be interested https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/707174/pn/010-02427-02

We spent the weekend putting away Christmas. With everything high down, I was able to put away most of the villages (yes we had 4 or 5 of them). I still have Disney village to put away. After that is to remove the decorations from the tree and get that packed up. It's going to takes up a minute to get it all put away. We're ok with that.

Saturday, since I woke up too late to order breakfast delivery and Starbucks was out of my peppermint mocha, I cooked up two pounds of bacon and 2 packages of sausages for us to eat this week. Hubby prefers to snack on that than the cookies and stuff. For dinner (and we'll have it again tonight) I cooked up one of the small lasagna trays we made. We will get a few meals out of that.

I had a rough sleeping night last night, so I slept too long this morning. I ordered Starbucks (super Yay they had peppermint mocha) for breakfast and did not eat the cooked bacon or make my own eggs. Tomorrow. I had quite a bit to do before an earlier meeting and I can't take my meds on an empty stomach.

Oh and I forgot to tell you, we woke up to a frosty back yard. According to the camera it was there sometime after 2am and went away about 740am. So it's chilly here for us. It's been raining all morning and now it's 53.

OK. report is done. Back to work. I have therapy T, Th & Fri this week.

wiredkell

Oh no Sarah! I hope that it has stayed mild for you and that your hubby managed to avoid it. Hopefully with the vaccines that you've had, it has just stayed like a cold. Big virtual hugs!