VIP LOUNGE! Welcome to the 2025 Winter 5% Challenge!
Ceriusly1
Posts: 6,455 Member
Welcome to the VIP Lounge! We are so glad you have made the choice to join us! This is where you get your questions answered, share feedback, and get to know your fellow challengers.
Please don't be shy! Let's make this a noisy, happy place to be!
Please do all chatting here! Have fun, ask questions, and get acquainted!
Helpful Hint! Please read the first post on all the topics. That is how you will learn how the challenge works and how best to navigate the page.
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Welcome members! A part of our success is members helping members as well as leaders helping. We have a very strong base of experienced members. Ask any questions. The only foolish question is the 1 not asked.
Read each other's posts as you have time and comment on any you wish to. We are a positive bunch with much wisdom.
It is not mandatory to post here, but a great place, resource and to catch up with other. We also love memes, jokes etc.
Happy to have you with us.3 -
👋 Welcome to the 2025 Winter 5% Challenge 👋!!
A **NEW YEAR** is when many of us try to 'get back to basics' so that we can all continue along our healthy lifestyle journey ~ or, if you are like me ~ get back to BASICS!! No matter where you are in your journey, please remember that you are writing YOUR STORY! Together with several hundred of your 'MFP Friends' ~ WE CAN DO THIS!!
I, for one, need to ensure that I get back to basics. I have been on this journey for years and I've enjoyed many successes and, for various reasons - just as many set-backs. BUT - I do know that I am better at supporting family and friends when I am healthy and fit. My last physical indicated that I need to lower my cholesterol or I will be headed toward medicines to help manage that. I know that as I get older, elevated cholesterol is something that I may need to be aware of, but I also know that if I eat better and live my life more mindfully, I can/should be able to avoid cholesterol-reducing medicines, so ~ with the help of many of my 5% Challenge friends, I plan to try to prioritize me and my health. If I do that, I can also be healthier and more fit to be able to take care of my husband who is dealing with health issues and I can be there for my daughter and support her as she navigates herself through life's ups and downs.
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⁉️ Please ensure that you come here often and as Ceri (Ceriusly1) said, please get acquainted with your fellow 2025 Community Challengers and make sure that if you have a question and/or concern, you voice those here. Many seasoned Challengers have the information and can answer questions ~ if not, the Overall Challenge Leaders can be contacted to weigh-in on a question and/or problem. ⁉️Please do all chatting here! Have fun, ask questions, and get acquainted!
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ℹ️ As Diane (Dianedoessmiles1) states, this is a place where you can come to seek answers to questions and/or just to get support. It is **NOT** mandatory to post her and/or to chat, however, I've found that the more you put into these Challenges (by participating regularly) the more you will benefit. AND ~ as a bonus, please share things that are uniquely you ~ stories about you and/or your family, posts about a new 'adventure' that you have gone on or share a favorite 'winter activity' that you and your family bring back every year and has become a part of a tradition that you follow ... and - yes, share any fun pictures of you and/or your loved ones!! ℹ️Dianedoessmiles1 wrote: »Welcome members! A part of our success is members helping members as well as leaders helping. We have a very strong base of experienced members. Ask any questions. The only foolish question is the 1 not asked.
Read each other's posts as you have time and comment on any you wish to. We are a positive bunch with much wisdom.
It is not mandatory to post here, but a great place, resource and to catch up with other. We also love memes, jokes etc.
Happy to have you with us.
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happy saturday, everyone!2
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I see we most like building snowmen and @Dianedoessmiles1 im glad you remember when the snow was deeper than nowadays
My mum, myself and my brother3 -
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Hi everyone,
Saturday has been good. Rose early and got all my planned jobs done before driving to Anne’s.
I was disappointed with my Fall progress but I guess weight loss depends on and I’ve had a SEE food spell recently. This must stop.1 -
Good evening. Looking forward to the winter challenge1
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@nansbones7708, what wonderful photos! I'm sure you treasure them. Kids aren't much different today; shorts and boots in the snow.
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@nansbones7708 It sure has changed on the amount of snow we get!! I wish we did get more though.
For those who were on the Fall VIP chat I took a mini vacation before today. It was great on the beach with 3 other friends. We had a grand time. I am READY TO GOOOO for the 2025 Winter 5% Challenge!!
We want if you can, in time (we have the time during the break of 3 plus weeks before joining our individual teams) to look at 2025 Winter 5% Challenge Healthy Habits Theme: Visions Of Self-Care!
Reading it over is motivating for myself to look towards my self care.
Here's what Ceri wrote:
New Beginnings, New Year, Bright, Shiny New YOU! This Winter, we are trying something different. Before we reveal the 8 Weekly Healthy Habits, we encourage you to pick ONE Healthy Habit you struggle with and make it your daily focus for the 8 weeks of this challenge. It’s your choice, but try to make it something in an area where you want to see change. The Scoring will be consistent throughout the 8 weeks. 10 points if you do it, 0 points if you don’t.
There's a wheel you can look at and use to help you
Here's the link to the feed: Again, we have time to think it over on what do you want for the 8 weeks to pick for your healthy habit.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10928577/2025-winter-5-challenge-healthy-habits-theme-visions-of-self-care#latest2 -
@Dianedoessmiles1 my healthy habit needs to be no procrastinating. Make a timetable and get out of the comfy seat after breakfast. If I don’t get a job done I stress because I failed, then I binge because I’m stressed, then binge/stress rotates and my clothes shrink.
I’m looking to Santa to bring me the human equivalent of wd40 lubricant for my creaky hips, any ideas anyone1 -
Cross posting for those who have not yet made it here.
Insight Timer Quote:
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.—Seneca
Daily Insight:
An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.—Lao Tzu
I AM: I create my own definition of success.
Action for Happiness:
Do something helpful for a friend or family member.
Fitness Quote:
When you want to Give Up Remember Why You Started.
Fun Fact:
PRETEND TO BE A TIME TRAVELER DAY
Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on December 8th encourages us to step from our Tardis or flip open our Omni while wearing clothes from the past. At the same time, we should act appropriately confused by certain technology.
#PretendToBeATimeTravelerDay
Time travel has captured our imaginations for generations. Science and authors keep coming back to the topic again and again, so it should be no surprise there would be a day to pretend to be a time traveler. The original blog post that got the day rolling can be found here. For more resources on how to be a time travel or at least act like one, we can explore the wide array of television and movies produced over the decades.
For example, the original Doctor Who produced 26 seasons. Some might say that might be plenty of resource material right there. Let's not stop, though. We've made a list and some of them might surprise you.
Television
Doctor Who
Quantum Leap
Outlander
Voyagers!
The Time Tunnel
Tru Calling
Continuum
11.22.63
Fringe
Books
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Movies
Groundhog Day
Back to the Future
The Terminator
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Midnight in Paris
Edge of Tomorrow
About Time
Peggy Sue Got Married
HOW TO OBSERVE PRETEND TO BE A TIME TRAVELER DAY
Act like a time traveler. Choose your time period and decide whether you are traveling to the past or the future. Be overly shocked when someone says, "I'd kill for a double mocha latte right now," or "That car is the bomb." Misuse technology. When someone offers you earbuds to listen to a new song, sniff them to see if they smell good.
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I really like our winter theme. Good job. Have a wonderful Sunday
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@nansbones7708 Do you write down what it is you'd like to accomplish for the day? Do you know why you get upset if you can't do them? I used to do that, but my body isn't 15 any more or even 50 LOL or even 60. I can't accomplish what my mind often says I can do. Now my list is much shorter, and I am happier.
Today I woke up HAPPILY to THIS!
We got 3 or 4"s which is nice. It'll be gone fast enough. It seems they say the Northeastern part of the US (I am in Maine) is accelerating with global warming more than the rest of the US. I am not sure if that's the local weatherman who LOVE to embellish ideas or if its real. I DO know we hardly ever get snow up to my waist now. Back 15 years ago we'd start with snow in Nov, and it'd not leave til mid April. Now? Often no snow in the Greater Portland area until Dec and we do see the ground at times now throughout the winter. AARRGGHHH I ADORE WINTAH!
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@Dianedoessmiles1 my body leaves the 60’s in a few weeks but my mind is way behind it.
I’m struggling with the “but I used to coulds”
I plan to go to the moon and back in a day like I once did but these days I get to the launch pad and need a break! That’s what frustrates me. My whirlwind days are gone and I’m not ready. Plus the fact that I’m Anne’s taxi for any outings and appointments so I think I need to cram in everything into the days I can call mine. I just need to organise myself and be realistic with time frames. I’ll get there
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@nansbones7708 My stretch class has something for us to do every morning before getting out of bed. Lay straight in bed , bend your knees, put your palms up and simply tap your knees together 100 times or more. It produces lubricant for your joints and makes it easier to get up. I thought she was full of hooey but I can tell when I don't tap my knees and get the fluid moving.
The pool will be closed during Xmas break.😢 I am going to have to step out of the box and exercise around my husband. He does not exercise and is a downer. He is also very critical. It's why I exercise outside the house.1 -
@SweetPeasMom55 - I totally get it about not loving to exercise around your hubby. I am the same. But it's our job to set the good example, right?
-Mica
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Good Morning VIP Friends:
I hope you are all doing well this morning. Today is Monday and it is going to be a rough day. My Fibromyalgia is acting up with some parenthesia going on with my face today. I am also exhausted due to the Fibro and well I have to work a 10.5 hour day today and it happens to be our busiest day of the week. I am hoping I can make it through the day at work today. I am going to try and do what I can. We will see if it works. I am really trying. I went to the doctor this morning because of it and she put me on a med to help but it could also make me sleepy. Which means I cannot take it and work. So I guess I don't get to take it. I need to work.
@Dianedoessmiles1 - I am here now. Thanks for posting in the other chat that this one was now open. I was waiting for it to open. Since you also deal with Fibro any ideas on how I can work with a home remedy for this and not get so tired I cannot work.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful Monday.
Tabatha0 -
Insight Timer Quote:
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking out new landscapes but in having new eyes.—Marcel Proust
Daily Insight:
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.—Bertrand Russell
I AM:
I am willing to work hard in order to get what I desire the most.
Action for Happiness:
Notice when you’re hard on yourself or others and be kind instead.
Fitness Quote:
Exercise not only changes your body. It changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL PASTRY DAY
National Pastry Day celebrates one of the world's most favored baked goods. On December 9th, visit your local bakery and pick up one or two of your favorite kinds.
#NationalPastryDay
The pastry is a name given to a large variety of baked goods which are made with ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Pastry dough is rolled out thinly and then used as a base for different baked products. A few of the more common bakery items include pies, tarts, quiches, and pasties. Bakers create both savory and sweet dishes from the doughs they create. Additionally, they continue to develop new and delicious creations all the time!
• Pastries can be traced as far back as the ancient Mediterranean where they had almost paper-thin, multilayered baklava and Phyllo dough.
• Pastry-making began in Northern Europe after the Crusaders brought it back from the Mediterranean.
• French and Italian Renaissance chefs eventually perfected the puff and choux pastries while 17th and 18th-century chefs brought new recipes to the table. Included in the innovative recipes were Napoleons, cream puffs, and eclairs.
Culinary historians often consider French pastry chef Antonin Careme (1784 – 1833) to have been the original great master of pastry making in modern times.
Many different types of pastry deliver baked goods that make our mouths water. Most of them fall into one of the following categories:
• Shortcrust pastry – simplest and most common.
• Sweetcrust pastry – similar to the shortcrust but sweeter.
• Flaky pastry – simple pastry that expands when cooked.
• Puff pastry – has many layers that cause it to puff when baked.
• Choux pastry – very light pastry that is often filled with cream or other fillings.
• Phyllo pastry – paper-thin pastry dough that is used in many layers.
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Good evening all, happy Monday night. Today Don and I put together a 2 drawer file cabinet and we did it without arguing or even getting upset. It was a first. LOL. I got most of my Christmas packages sent, waiting for 3 more to be delivered then I will send out. Got my Christmas cards all done. So I am ready to relax and enjoy the Holidays. No rain where where we live in Texas and we could use some. Saturday I got notice that completed 80% of my walk: Rovaniemi
Congratulations, Joyce
You have completed 80% of the Rovaniemi Virtual Challenge. Received a post from Santa Village
Then Sunday, got my completion notice and copy of medal
Have a good rest of the evening. Hugs and blessings
My mantra for today is:
Life is a mystery and face each challenge with strength of mind and heart for faith in my God carries me through4 -
@Tabatha_Cain I have fibromyalgia. I am unable to take pharmaceuticals as I have major side effects. I take a low dose capsule of Tumeric. I was on it a few months before I noticed I was having less flares. If you have any issues with your kidneys do not take Tumeric. Always check with your doctor first before taking anything otc.
I am a very positive thinking person. When my pain is off the chart I list out load what I'm thankful for. Some days it's just I'm still alive, and my family needs me I got this.
@micaroo4 You're so right. Hubby is a Debbie downer and I have goals. Thanks for the encouragement!1 -
@nansbones7708, I guess being chronically ill, I've been forced to make that acceptance. Hopefully, you'll reach that point without it being depressing. Giving yourself permission to have some down time. Are you doing crocheting? I do not run to food to an excess now, but I gave myself permission also not to do that.
@Tabatha_Cain, How did the day go? Fibro is an adjustment for sure!!! This will seem counterproductive, but with fibro my flares are so much worse, when I do not do stretches on a regular basis and more when it's in flare. I also use biofreeze (anything such as this icy hot, and so much more that relaxes the muscles) have you tried any antidepressants that also help with pain such as cymbalta? Do you have any areas that are ALWAYS painful no matter what you do? Does Ice or heat help them? I sleep with a heating pad around my neck. That helps me so much. GARLIC IS MY ALWAYS CURE even if it's NOT it is! LOL
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@Tabatha_Cain @Dianedoessmiles1 Have to agree with Diane the slow stretching has been incredibly beneficial.0
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Insight Timer Quote:
As soon as we wish to be happier, we are no longer happy.—Walter Landor
Daily Insight:
If you tell truth, you don’t have to remember anything.—Mark Twain
I AM:
I can create the life I have envisioned.
Action for Happiness:
Listen wholeheartedly to others without judging them.
Fitness Quote:
Fitness is not about being better than someone else..,it’s about being better than you used to be.
Fun Fact:
National Lager Day on December 10th raises a glass to the third most popular beverage after water and tea. While lager is typically characterized as a light, summer beer we believe that every season deserves to be celebrated with a few of your favorite things.
#NationalLagerDay
Lagers are distinguished from other beers by using a cold-conditioning process. The types of yeast used are referred to as "bottom-fermenting" yeast or yeast that can develop at colder temperatures. Before the advent of refrigeration, brewers perfected this process in cellars dug into the ground and filled with ice. Those who taste the delicious results described the lager as "crisp" and "refreshing." It is no wonder that this method caught on and produced a wide variety of brews synonymous with regional and national brands.
With so many choices from pale, amber or dark, not to mention the many craft varieties there is are endless possibilities for your enjoyment. So, grab some friends and celebrate this midwinter season with the taste of Summer.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL LAGER DAY
National Lager Day offers a variety of ways to celebrate. You can start by ordering a flight to discover delicious new lagers. While you do that, invite a few friends to join you. We know that's one of the best ways to Celebrate Every Day!
• At home, you can explore homebrew lagers.
• Learn about the brewing process firsthand by taking a tour of a local brewery. The brewmasters invest a lot of time in getting their lagers just right and take a lot of pride in their craft.
• Do some reading. We suggest the Little Book of Lager: A guide to the world's most popular style of beer by Melissa Cole or A Brief History of Lager: 500 Years of the World's Favourite Beer by Mark Dredge.
• Bake some homemade beer bread. Try this Veggie Beer Bread recipe and enjoy it with your favorite lager.
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Good Morning and happy Tuesday. Not much is new here. My devotional was interesting. A student asked a guru what to do when fearful and his answer was "just do the next thing." I found that interesting. It means to focus attention on embodying your own spiritual power. Take the easy way, the path of least resistance, walk through the open door. It was interesting. I am thinking on it.
A Nigerian proverb teaches: The snail has no hands, The snail has no feet, Gently the snail climbs the tree.
Have a great day, hugs and blessings from Amarillo TX which is at a cool 38 degrees.🥶0 -
I have been hit with waves of nausea the last few days. I gave up soda 3 years ago. I had one this morning not sure if it helped or switched the nausea to burning in my stomach.
@Kurtize I really like the thought "just do the next thing."
Work was busy as they are calling for snow. Hubby asked if I am swimming tomorrow. Of course!! it's not snowing till later. Have to go when I can!0 -
@SweetPeasMom55 @Tabatha_Cain it took me a bit to realize stretching is more than just casual stretching. Rather intentional and targeted to the areas that hurt me the most. I did chair/sit down yoga ones a lot at first. These helped me to become very in tune with my body. In turn that helped me to be able which muscles were so tight it was causing more of my body to hurt, often feeling like the muscles were on fire!! Or like if I tried to walk, stand longer, I'd not recover. Once I was able to say, "oh it's the lower back on the left side" (LOL that's not unusual!) and realized 2 of the sit down yoga moves for me worked the best and at ONCE relieves them now. Tabatha it really does work. It just takes time to see what your body will respond to but it's so worth it.
@Kurtize, taking the next step can be hard, but it's often rewarding. Look at ALL you do now!! You are such an example of though afraid at times you still take new things on!! WTG hon!!
@Sweetpeasmom55, I hope you feel better soon!! UGH I get that all the time, the feeling of nausea it seems to be never ending. I figure it's the many meds I am on. But those meds are keeping me alive the alternative LOL isn't attractive! I used to be a Pepsi addict!! I quit years ago. Three years after I did quit, I decided to have one. I at ONCE SPIT IT OUT OF MY MOUTH!! Tasted so NASTY!! Now I do like non colas. We got snow on Saturday night into Sunday AM and again last night. Big storm on the way up here, but BLLLAHHHH WAHHHHH it's going to suddenly hop up into the 50s! Its MAINE it should never be in the 40s let alone in the 50s!! AND it'll pour out we are under a possible flood advisory. HUH? If it was to be all snow we'd have a foot to 2 feet. Oh, I'd like that! I ADORE snow, do you? Nice on swimming!!!0 -
I am looking forward to the Winter Challenge. I didn't put much effort into the last challenge, especially the last half. I really want to change my behavior. I've been pouting because I'm tired a lot. I have a doctor's appointment in January, so I'll get bloodwork done then and see if anything is going on. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma this past year. I finished chemo in August, so I really shouldn't still be tired from that.
I just need to be disciplined about eating right and exercising. I've been losing and gaining the same 20 pounds for a couple of years. It's time for some real change in my life.0 -
Insight Timer Quote:
Intuition is the whisper of the soul.—Jiddu Krishnamurti
Daily Insight:
Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.—Viktor E. Frankl
I AM:
I choose to be happy regardless of what’s happening in my life.
Action for Happiness:
Buy an extra item and donate it to a local food bank.
Fitness Quote:
Embrace and love your body! It is the most amazing thing you will ever own!
Fun Fact:
NATIONAL STRETCHING DAY | December 11
On December 11, National Stretching Day is dedicated to educating people on the numerous benefits that come with practitioner assisted-stretching.
#NationalStretchingDay
Flexibility is one of the most significant components to leading a healthy lifestyle. When most think about stretching, it is in relation to one or two stand-by stretches that are held for a few seconds and released. However, this isn’t the most efficient form of stretching.
There is a way to stretch that can make you feel a difference. On National Stretching Day, we are bringing awareness to why incorporating practitioner assisted-stretching into your everyday routine will make your movements more efficient. In fact, your stretching movements will be more effortless and pain-free on a daily basis.
Importance of Stretching
Why is stretching important? Stretching improves our lifestyle and helps us live a better life. When we stretch daily, we increase our mobility and keep our muscles flexible and strong. Due to sedentary lifestyles of growing older or over stressed muscles, people develop excessive resting muscle tone causing everyday movement to be difficult, cumbersome, or painful. Our independence becomes compromised, partially due to a greater inability to move.
Daily stretching exercises or getting regularly stretched by a certified practitioner will keep joints moving efficiently as we age. This will keep our body healthy. A few additional key benefits to stretching:
• Relieves stiffness and soreness in your joints.
• Increases and maintains your active range of motion.
• Improves circulation and blood flow.
• Mitigates muscle imbalances that can lead to poor posture. Strengthening and stretching specific muscle groups can assist in promoting proper alignment.
• Re-establishes a more ideal resting muscle tone and optimal muscle extensibility making movement easier and more efficient.
• Supports injury prevention, enhances athletic skills and improves your ability to do daily activities.
• Helps with stress reduction, calming the mind and decreasing tension headaches.
• It makes you feel lighter and younger.
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Good Morning VIP friends:
I hope you are all doing well this morning. Today is Wednesday and I am hoping it will be a day like yesterday. It was busy enough that the day went by quickly rather than dragging on. I am working overtime again today. So another 10 hour day. I am going to get used to this and keep going it as often as I can. I need to make more money right now to pay down debt.
@Kurtize - That is awesome you were able to put together a filing cabinet without arguing. That is a good step. Way to go on getting your Christmas packages out in the mail. That is good. I don't even have my Christmas cards in the mail yet. I don't want to skip this year either. I will have to get them out tomorrow at the latest.
@SweetPeasMom55 - I will definitely check with my doctor to see about adding Tumeric to my list of meds to see if that will help. I am also looking into Vitamin B12. Same here on the pain. Some days it is all I can do to get out of bed.
@Dianedoessmiles1 - I did try Cymbalta. I was on it for 4 months and it was still making it so hard to stay awake during the day and I was taking it twice a day. I sleep with my heated mattress pad on all night long. So yeah I do sleep with a heating pad on every night. My pain is mostly managed to bearable. The exhaustion that randomly hits is hard or the nerve pain is sometimes so bad I cannot have anything touch me. Every couple of weeks I feel like I need to sleep a whole day just to recover. I really wish something would improve.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.
Tabatha0
