myra - I can totally relate to "get out the duct tape and it'll be a good day". I had a very low cal dinner (after fries at lunch!), so I will be heading upstairs to brush my teeth shortly so I can be good!

Myra, I love the pilates DVD, it helps me remember moves to do. Basic is good and my instructor liked it too. She had just bought something similar at 5 Below, but it had index cards instead of the book. She liked that it showed all the muscles each move worked on. I should have done a Pilates workout this weekend but got so caught up with the cards and thanks for the compliments.

My sweet hubby was in the south end of town today so picked up more paper for me. I had him get 100 sheets, no chance of running out and the extra will go into my stash.
The new class was fun and the trainer was so cute. She kept checking on me to make sure I was ok and able to get thru the workout. I don't think she has any idea of my workout schedule. We did lots of squats, push ups, step ups, jumping jacks, sit ups, high skips forward and back, and clean and jerks with 8 pound weights. Hopefully next time she will trust us to use the weight bar for the last one, lol. Looks like Tracy and I will keep going to this class. The trainer said it is different every time, so no burn out anticipated. Dinner was baked cod coated with peach jam and topped with crushed hint of lime tortilla chips (cuz that was what was in the freezer, lol) it was quite tasty.

See you all soon

Patti

Good evening.

Vikki, great to see your smiling face again!

Jeanette, you're so right about our need to fund what works for each of our bodies. It's a grand and worthy experiment.

Patti and Diane, I thought I was the only person who didn't care for the taste of stevia. I honestly thing the foofaraw about artificial weeteners of the post-saccharine era is overblown and I am not giving up my Diet Coke or Light & Fit yogurt, though I do intend to use plain nonfat yogurt more often.

Tired here. My friend is doing well, considering, and I didn't run into any jerks from where I used to work (got there before after-work visitors). I will be attending the funeral tomorrow -- pretty sure they won't let people leave work to go (which I consider nuts and one of the many reasons I left).

Doc was very pleased with my progress. For the first time since the surgery two months ago, I don't have to go back next week -- two weeks will do it. And I'm down to a single bandaid for that time. Whee! This woman has transformed my body and we'll finish the revisions and tweaks in the next few months.

Doc also suggested that because I had some time to kill before calling hours, I might want to check out a cool boutique having a great sale. Interior design (got two pillows), flowers (sniffed but bought none of those) and clothing. Can you say 75% off????? Got insane bargains -- trenchcoat-style jacket for $12? Nice all-season pants for $18? Cute flannel plaid tunics for $9? YES!!!!! Bought one full-price item a hot pink silk-look swing jacket. I will wear it to the next Pops concert (Pink Martini needs a pink jacket, right?) and it's a classic piece I will have forever.

I admit I love clothes. As a kid my stuff came from the Chubette department ("You'll wear whatever fits, and you will like it.") So when I was a young adult and they started making more fashionable plus-size clothes I was ecstatic. Currently rethinking/reworking/weeding out my wardrobe (again & still). Sometime this year I will hit Nordstrom in Chicago, armed with gift cards I've earned and let a personal shopper play paper dolls with me to figure out what works best now. Again, it's all an experiment!

Hugs to all. See you tomorrow, friends.

Cindy: Wonderful workouts that are fitting in so regularly with an already busy lifestyle!
Diane: Your achievements towards your goals are continuing despite what the scale shows.
Bert: Finding ways to keep active while you heal can be challenging. Love your dedication!
Myra: Sharing your optimism for a new day and a new month. Thanks for just being you.
Janet: Glad that your healing continues nicely and that you enjoyed the nice fashion finds!
Vikki: Well done on meeting your goals. Those headaches are not fun, so please take care!
Karla: Sounds like a busy week to start off for you. It's neat that we share a middle name.
Patti: The invitations are works of art... congratulations! You're amazing with the inches loss!
Jeanette: Your energy levels sound pretty high, which is such a wonderful blessing for you!

When we are making sustainable lifestyle choices in what we consume and keeping active, our rewards are immeasurable. With this support, we can all improve those choices one at a time.

MaryLynn

Good Morning Dear Friends-
Karla- safe travels and enjoy time with Dad.
Janet- love the idea of a personal shopper later in the year- nice treat
Patti- great job on shrinking.... that is a great NSV
Diane- sorry the munchie monster bit you yesterday- today is a new day.
MaryLynn- the quote was lovely
Lisa- french fries for lunch was a better choice than dinner when our metabolism slows for the day. Good job on lower cal dinner
Myra- you made me chuckle at duct tape comment
Jeanette- 2 is a wonderful age.... enjoy Alanna. I'm halfway thru book 2 not as good as the first and the print quality is awful. I think that might be skewing the experience of the read. Very distracting.
Need to run- woke with a headache. Work is fine and really itching to finishing reading these books so I can get back to writing for me. That is my true passion.
Enjoy the day.
Cindy

Good morning all, and happy groundhog’s day!
Lisa- i agree with your frustrations. slowing metabolism stinks, and i just can’t log for the rest of my life either. the duct tape didn’t work, but it could have been much worse, so i’ll take it!

Jeanette- thanks for your well-wishes. unfortunately, i don't respond well to medications. In March (for insurance reasons) i will try yet another one.... it will be the 4th med try this past 9 months. I have considered ECT in the past, but i really don't have the social support to go forward with something that drastic. Running and clean eating have always been the best strategies for me, but without the running, the clean eating is so very difficult to maintain. i hope to begin running again soon, but i've been saying that for months now. it will all work out in the end.

Patti- thanks for the feedback on the pilates dvd. i can’t do all the exercises yet, but i’m working hard on my form on the ones i can attempt. my triceps are sore, which is always a good thing congrats on your inches lost (in my opinion that’s better than a scale loss)

Diane- thanks for the info about recipe importer! i’m not technically savvy, so i have avoided entering recipes, but i’ll try your trick! I have heard lots of people not liking stevia. i find that some brands have less aftertaste than others. i’m not sure what type they put in Oikos.

Janet- YAY for dr being happy with you…. and You being happy with your Dr. I don’t share your love for clothes, but my husband wishes i did, lol. he’s always trying to dress me up!

MaryLynn- I second your sentiments about this wonderful group of ladies. i think we hit the jackpot

Karla- no problem with having your back it’s all good! congrats on the scale playing nice, you busy lady, you!

Cindy- glad i could make you chuckle. laughter is the best medicine!

waving hello to everyone else! Dennis and I have a long overdue appointment with a lawyer this morning to get our will documented. (and perhaps establish a trust, not sure if it’s needed with such a small estate)

myra - we were both posting at the same time! sorry the duct tape did not work! good luck with the lawyer...any time hubby and i start that convo, the first topic is where our kids (14,12, 10) would go and we devolve into "not YOUR parents" discussion. Also, I was reading back through posts: sorry to hear about your depression and struggle to find the right meds. ((myra))

cindy - thanks for the link to the article. It is really interesting how our bodies adjust to more exercise or less eating...too bad we can't get it to sync up with more eating!!

patti - that article about "it does not matter what diet" is a reinforcement of "the best exercise is the one you do" + "the best diet is the one you stick to". So much time is spent on the MFP message board about most effective diet or exercise...

Happy Tuesday Ladies! Groundhog day - I read that one of the Canadian groundhogs died a few days ago...poor thing ... hope that doesn't bode poorly for those still experiencing severe winter weather here! It is somewhat cooler here than recent past, with a slight wind, but that makes it ideal for a long walk or hike to "warm up". We love keeping active outside every day.

Karla, I'm so pleased for you. The consistency is paying dividends on the scale this week, which is always an encouragement. Have a wonderful time with family and at your reunion. Enjoying every opportunity to build relationships with those you love is part of a healthy life. It will be neat to hear your comments and stories when you return later this week. Travel safe!

Cindy, we share a passion for the written word and I applaud your efforts. To follow your passion takes more commitment than folks may realize, as you are putting a part of you into each new work. As you read others writing - especially so many in such a short time - and make a judgement on them presents such a different challenge. Good of you to agree to it. Hoping your headache clears up quickly, so that you are able to accomplish your activities too.

Bert, I always check the weather locally in the morning to plan my days activities as well. At least you can get to walk at the mall, as long as you're careful moving around in the wetness to get inside! I can sure understand your concern. Great idea to take and log measurements. Personally, I believe that they are an accurate record of real progress towards a leaner body.

Myra, congratulations on not allowing your struggle with depression to define nor derail you! While the frustration with finding your way through such a valley is significant, you remain so positive and continue to embrace the next moment and keep moving forward. It is important to document matters for our estate regardless of size and you remind me this is something we need to attend to as well. Hope you are able to get back to your favorite running really soon.

Lisa, the downward movement on the scale is impressive, in light of all the muscle you continue to add to your body with your activities. Wisdom and sustainability along this journey to leaner and fitter forms means we all need rest days. Enjoy the lifting and yoga! Today is lifting for me and cardio following that. The spelt (pasta?) sounds interesting and will have to look into that a bit more, although a current favorite for me is Red Thai rice (yum).

Patti, your commitment to quality time spent with your Mom is wonderful! Combining your dedication to getting to the gym, creating the invitations and all the numerous other ways you are nurturing those you love takes incredible dedication and passion. That is what love looks like in action and you set such an example for me. I always enjoy reading about your day!

Well, enough for now and on with my day here too. Some cauliflower is steaming to make a sauce recipe that I ran across online recently. Will see how that works out later for dinner perhaps. Meanwhile, the weight bench is calling me!

Enjoy every moment as if it were your last, friends!

MaryLynn

Good morning all! It is a bright sunshiny day here in western Oregon. We hardly had a winter this year but I believe the ground hog's prediction of an early spring with the way all the flowers seem to think it is already here.

One small note; I noticed a few of you referring to Stevia as an artificial sweetener. Stevia is a plant, like sugar cane is a plant. Years ago I actually tried using the leaves themselves (that was the original form it was sold in). It definitely has a bad aftertaste and I'm sure they've processed it to death by now, but it is a more natural alternative than artificial sweeteners.

Today I teach at the studio; two ballet classes. One is little girls around 8 years old, and the other is an adult class. We are preparing for our spring recital and I am in the process of choreographing their dances. The theme is "Circus" and my littles are trick ponies and my adults are glow sticks. This is my favorite part; coming up with the dances and watching them come together. It has been hard teaching in the evenings because my energy is usually gone by then but I feel like I am getting better and it isn't quite as hard.

Well, I am off to get things done today; might even do our taxes!
Hope you all have a good day in whatever you are up to

Grace and Peace to you
Jeanette

Jeannette - that teaching sounds so fun. And you get to be creative through choreography! Omg, taxes! I just bought some software to start that!

Bert - great job on your steps! Do you still have short hair like your picture? Short hair is relatively new to me and I sure miss ponytails!

MaryLynn - because I am eating at a deficit, I don't think I am really building much muscle. I think it's important to strength train while diet to maintain muscle and increase the likelihood that pounds lost are actually fat. Hope you had a good lifting session!

Patti - hi!

Hope everyone is enjoying their day! Lisa

Hello all. Today was a good day. I did a "Nike Fit" workout at the gym this morning. The one I chose had a lot of core muscle work, which I desperately need! (As evidenced by the fact that I couldn't do some of the exercises.) I was working hard and sweating quite a bit. I'm not sure how to log that - I logged it as "calisthenics – vigorous effort” for 25 of the 30 minutes it took – because the last 5 was stretching. I need to do something like that at least twice a week and not take the lazy way out of climbing on the elliptical and watching the TV for 30 minutes. Patti, I REALLY envy you your classes!

I’ve also stayed within my calories for the day, as long as I stick to the dinner I have planned. I had a very light lunch today but didn’t get all that hungry midafternoon. I had a yogurt, pineapple and then two clementines a little later. I planned a snack for when I got home – popcorn, so filling AND fiber for minimal calories.

Lisa, with all the weight training you do I’m sure you are maintaining or building muscle. Your profile pic shows such definition! I can’t remember, but think you said you are near your goal weight?

Bert, sounds like you are really improving! You have many more steps than I for today. (Those exercises don’t get me the steps that the elliptical does!)

Cindy, I’ve tried the honey flavored yogurt and don’t care for it, so I’ve never tried just adding honey to plain yogurt. Sounds like you aren’t keen on yogurt to begin with – I’ve discovered that I love Greek yogurt, fruit flavored or vanilla, or plain if I add my own fruit. Good luck to you on your reading project – I simply can’t make myself finish something that I’m not enjoying. There are too many good books out there.

Jeanette, I did not know that Stevia was a plant-based sweetener. I just assumed it was another artificial sweetener. Thank you.

MaryLynn, I so envy you your time to be active outside all day. My time will come, but I want it NOW!

Myra, give the recipe “fake-out” importer a try. I was impressed with how much easier it was than the way they have you manually enter a recipe. I guess they don’t think people use anything other than online recipes these days. I will admit that I like many recipes from SkinnyTaste, but I also have old classics that I have lightened up, and lots of cookbooks that I cook out of.

Karla, congrats on the loss! Your determination is really showing through. I’m betting that your clothes are fitting better too, with all the core you’ve been building. Have a good trip this week!

Janet, I had to laugh at your excitement over finding the new boutique. I personally abhor shopping, especially for clothes. My work “wardrobe” consists 90% of the same jewel neck tee in short or long sleeves in about a dozen colors or else a simple tunic style sweater, the same pair of pants in four shades of grey and black (oooh, I threw in a brown pair this fall! Same style though), a couple of jackets or cardigans I can wear over top, and jewelry. Jewelry is about the only thing I enjoy shopping for, and I have oodles of costume jewelry.

Patti, your workout schedule is crazy! I remember when we first “met” you were painting houses for your son, and working such long hours at it. You are clearly channeling your workaholic tendencies into exercise! So glad you and Tracy hooked up as WOBs.

Suzi, your next RV trip sounds divine, just too short! I think you ought to double it .

Finally able to stop back. Sorry no personals, just too tired tonight, but rest assured I have read all you have written and can tell you that I really enjoy coming here each day to get a lift from each and every one of you. I absolutely love our new additions, seems like we have been friends for a long time already. Everyone is so motivating and kind as well as eloquent in their ruminations about the group. So I thank you all for being here!

Nice day with Mom. She had some chores for me to do. I am so glad she realizes there are certain things that she needs help with and saves them for when I visit. I love watching Downton with her and the other British shows we like. I think she enjoys the company and someone to kibitz with during the show. She misses my Dad terribly, even after over 6 years. But fortunately for her, she has always been very independent and doesn't mind being alone, just not all the time. If she was in better physical shape she would love to have a dog. She could easily care for a bitty lap dog but doesn't really care for the small dogs so will do without. TRX was brutal. Lower body with a bazillion squats. We did a lot of squats in last night's class so it felt even harder. After the warm up it wasn't so bad. When I started going to the gym I only went to Zumba and it was all I could do to get thru the class, now I consider it my easy day, lol. Funny how perspective changes. I don't know when exercise became fun for me, but I am glad it did. I seriously enjoy all my classes, even when they kick my behind.

Ok, going to kick back and relax and try to go to bed early for a change. Have shopping to do tomorrow and Blacklight Zumba tomorrow night. Fun stuff.
Patti

It's late but I can't sleep so thought I'd report in. It's been a busy couple days, but I've gotten a lot done - including tax crap! I have everying ready to take to CPA, just waiting on some 1099's. I got the farm books done and sent to CPA. Got some other medical paperwork done. Yesterday was dedicated to my youngest daughter, the one dealing with depression. She's making some headway and beginning to feel better. Whew! Now I feel like I can actually relax and enjoy this upcoming trip for Mardi Gras.

I'll try to get personals done tomorrow. I wanted to let you know I'm here and reading everything just haven't had a chance to join the conversation.

By he way, Diane, I'd love to lengthen that AZ trip, but have to be back home for an event on March 10.

Until tomorrow....

Suzi

good morning all -
just had my regular egg and toast breakfast this am...but I made my daughter a BLT (minus the T) for lunch, so I used a bit of bacon fat rather than butter...yummmmmm.

Cindy - congrats on the two day streak! here's cheering you on for 3! I don't really have a favorite workout...my passion is cross-training: balancing soccer, yoga, weights these days. Hopefully spin and running make it to the rotation soon!

Karla - glad you made it safely there. Sorry about your eye! Hopefully you have time to rest today, since you left early.

Suzi - I am so jealous on you tax progress! Great job! Glad your daughter is feeling better. That must be so scary!

Janet - You are so thoughtful for the people around you...((Janet)) good luck getting your quiet time!

Patti - great job making so much progress that Zumba is your easy day! We put emphasis on how exercise is going to make us look, but that fitness is VERY important for your long-term health. Glad you were able to spend time with and help your mom!

myra - easing into running with intervals is really smart. Have you ever tried foam rolling after running?

Dianne - unfortunately, my profile pic is a few years...and LOTS of pounds...ago. It is my goal to get back to the 140s, but I am currently 30 pounds away! I have done quite a bit of reading on the subject, and you really don't add muscle when you are eating at a deficit...but you can definitely lose muscle if you don't work 'em!

Bert - keep up those steps!!

hope everyone has a great wednesday!

- LISA