Kicking *kitten* In Our Twenties - April Challenge!!

Hey folks... An thanks for the "welcome back" Aly! I know I've been hot and cold on here a little. Life's just been hectic and I have struggled with finding the motivation to write on here because I tend to just end up venting and being a major Debbie Downer. I really don't want to be coming on here just to moan and complain about my problems and so I've been somewhat absentee until I could get them figured out. I'm far from "sorted" with most of my life problems, but I feel like things are at the very least becoming manageable, so I am back in moderation for the time being.

Allllways hanging around MFP though, as most of you know, so drop me a line on my profile or in a PM if you ever have a question, need support, or just want to say hi. That goes for everyone :bigsmile:

Guam - Girl, it sounds like you need a BREAK. I can totally understand how suffocating and overwhelming it can be to feel like you have zero options. Even the smallest set-back can end up feeling like a massive rift in your life when nothing seems to be "turning up Bethany". This is how I've been feeling as well the last month or two. It's so hard to pick yourself up when you feel constantly beat down, and falling out of routine makes it that much more difficult to feel like you can regain some control and get back to feeling good about life again. I wish I had "the right stuff" in this regard - I struggle a lot with feeling helpless and out of control in life, generally, myself - and could give you some awesome advice but the best I can do is try to be a support system and tell you that I really do understand how demoralizing it can be and how hopeless one can feel under those circumstances. I really hope you can find some peace in those parts of your life that you can still control, find happiness in the small moments in your day that make you truly grateful (like motherhood, fitness, making good choices for you when you can, and taking time to appreciate the journey), and eventually find some workable solutions to your living and employment dilemmas. We all just have to do the best we can with the card's we're dealt. You're working hard, you're a great mother, and when you can find the energy and time you work hard at being good to yourself. You should be really proud of that - hold your head high, lady We're all here for you <<hugs>>

Aly - Sounds like you had an incredible trip! Only 1.2lbs up is GREAT for a holiday as wicked as yours. Despite the event, I'm sure you ate and drank like anyone would on vacation, so that gain is totally insignificant in the grand scheme. You'll be back down to the 160s in no time! When do we get to see these pics, anyway?!? Don't hold back from us now!

Spell - Thanks! I'd love some healthified Indian recipes! Anything with eggplant would be amazing ... Either veg or meat dishes are preferred. I don't really eat bread, rice or anything too carb-heavy so those kinds of dishes are out for me. I also don't eat potatoes. I have been known to order/make Aloo Gobi from time to time, but I may as well try to steer clear to keep myself feeling balanced and in control with my carbs.... No sense making things harder than they need to be! Whatever you send will be happily received, though. I love new recipes and especially love trying new flavours and cuisines I'm not entirely comfortable with, just yet. Korean and Mexican I've got down to an art form. Indian is still a little rusty for me :laugh: But I'm learning!

Shannon - Thanks so much for such kind words :blushing: It's nice to see that people are still inspired by my progress and happy to read my long, blathering posts (you'd be amazed at how much MORE I used to post on these groups... :noway: these ladies can attest. I was an MFP-addict!). Don't you fret though - this group won't be going anywhere if I have my way! I love it here and while I've been maintaining now for a few months, I still get so much out of my friendships on MFP, including all of those I've forged in this group, and the new friendships I am building each and every month. No chance I'm giving that up! Great marriage/wedding advice, BTW - I HOPE CAIT WAS LISTENING TOO *ahem* :laugh:

Speaking of weddings.... Can you ladies believe I've never been to one? hah! This summer is my VERY FIRST wedding. Tyler's co-worker and close friend is getting married the weekend before the Warrior Dash. I've always managed to avoid weddings because I felt really uncomfortable and unattractive in tight or revealing clothing. I never wore dresses and I hated getting dressed up. I am SO excited for this occasion though, and for Ty to show me off to all his work friends :blushing: Who, apparently, think I'm a total babe. Will be a great opportunity to get these arms and shoulders totally RIPPED and then wear a fun cocktail dress to show them off. Can't wait! I think I may go down to the States to find something fun to wear... Should be a great shopping trip!

Eeek Work is quickly approaching. Working again Thurs/Fri/Sat 9pm-3am at my sketchy, dangerous awful job. Three more weeks and then HOME FREE! May 1st :drinker: And that just so happens to be the day Tyler officially takes possession of his apartment in Hamilton. Will definitely be a HUGE celebration on May 2nd :bigsmile: Lots of great life changes, that's for sure. Still mega stressed about not having a job after this one, but I am holding out hope that I'll find something soon... Eventually, something's gotta turn up. In the meantime I'm taking control of my fitness and my life and refusing to be a slave to carbs, calories, or this awful foot injury. LIFE GOES ON!

Have a great Friday everyone - I'll post an update once I get up, weigh-in and have some oats in my tummy :happy:
Much love everyone

Morning folks and happy Monday! It's already 9am and no movement on the boards yet... Hrmmmmm :huh: Where is everyone?

My weekend was pretty good! No logging again this weekend but overall I feel that I made really good choices. I ate a lot and didn't get a chance to workout (apart from bartending), so I won't be surprised if I see a little gain, but all my food choices were really healthy and I feel good knowing that I can eat without binging when I don't log. It seems like it might actually be EASIER, since I don't stress and worry about logging things, or eat things secretively without logging them (which yes, I've totally been known to do). I only have to be accountable to me. So I just work hard at listening to my body and only eating when I"m hungry and it works out. Still a long way to go but it's working... I need to listen to my body more and my food diary way, way less. Eating just to meet my targets/use up cals is counter-productive and leaves me in a place where I can't even remember what feeling hungry is like. That's no good at all.

Weekend with the "in-laws" wasn't too bad... I definitely struggle with "family" stuff. I am not a family person at all, and apart from my parents and one cousin I really just don't have any fulfilling relationships with my relatives. Even my brother and I are mostly estranged. It's very hard for me to understand why family is so important to Tyler simply because I've never felt that way about my own "flesh and blood". When I see people trying to force relationships with relatives, despite differences in fundamental values and belief systems, causing huge rifts at social functions or just generally seeming dysfunctional and unsatisfying, it really makes me wonder. Don't we all, as adults, have the right to choose to surround ourselves with those people that are positive forces in our lives and that keep us happy? Why force friendships with relatives instead of making family of friends that you love, understand, and find comfort and support with? Just curious if anyone's got any insight on this.... It's not really important, just wondering what other peoples' experiences have been with both their own families and their in-laws.

Homemade turkey chili! :drinker: OK so my mom actually ended up making it before I woke up :grumble: So I didn't get to pick and choose the ingredients but here's what was thrown in to a HUGE pot. I figure it made at least 10 big bowls of chili (much of which was frozen or kept as leftovers) but I didn't measure it out, so I can't be certain. I'd say about 10- 2cup servings, give or take.

1lb ground lean turkey
3/4 cup bulgur wheat, dry
1- 10.5oz can beef broth (use low sodium if you can find it)
2 med onions, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 jalapenos, minced
4- 19oz cans of no-salt added beans - we used white kidney, red kidney, black beans and a meddley but you can add whatever you like - chick peas are great in chili! (We forgot to pre-soak and boil dry beans the night before - huge frustration but what can you do! sub 2-3 cups of dry beans instead if you like)
1- 48oz can no-salt added tomato juice
1- 28oz tin no-salt added diced tomatoes
2 chipotle peppers in adobo, diced
11/2 cups frozen or fresh corn
1 pkg low sodium chili seasoning (or make your own, for a much cleaner recipe)
additional ancho chili powder, cumin and whatever else you like, to taste
cilantro, sour cream, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, etc

Brown the meat in a very large stock pot. Heat beef broth for 3 mins in the microwave and add bulgur. Cover and let sit until the bulgur soaks up all the liquid. Drain meat well and add veggies. Cook until soft, about 5-7 mins, and then just toss everything else in. Once combined, place into a preheated oven and cook all day uncovered. Season to taste as you go. We cooked ours at 200C in the oven for about 5 hours and then on the stove for another hour or so, tasting and stirring and adding in some cilantro at the end. The oven is a great method for cooking chili because you really don't have to stir it much at all. Once or twice an hour and you are good to go.

Try to use as little salt/packaged seasoning as you can. My mother isn't quite as concerned with this as I am, so ours was still pretty heavy on the sodium and canned goods. Not the greatest, but beggers can't be choosers, I guess. It still turned out amazing!

OK well I better get my *kitten* in gear. Drs appt today - finally have a GP! - and then some groceries, job apps, and the gym. This ended up taking way more time than I expected :laugh: As usual! I get so carried away!

Kan- Welcome back :drinker: And congrats on your personal victories. Glad to have you back in the game!
Gonks - I love the last mile analogy and know exactly what you mean... Cresting that insurmountable hill and seeing the goal line ahead gives you that awesome sense of relief. You've still got more to do but you know you have the fuel in the tank to finish what you've started and you know without any doubt that you'll get there, in time. It's great because you can actually really just enjoy that last mile in and of itself.
Melissa - It's going! Thanks for asking It's definitely a different pace but it feels good to not worry. At first it was very stressful but I'm starting to really enjoy the break. I think I'll keep with it for a while and hopefully won't see too many gains. I know that it'll be easier once I get back to running and working out more - just need to find the time, energy and wait until my foot heals. Really looking forward to it!

Have a great Monday everyone!