Motivation, Success and Frustration Sharing!

@wishfuljune My work swap cookies got me too...they are dangerous!

@gemwolf110 That sounds exhausting! I hope a position opens up for you and all that extra hard work pays off

@Bobbie48421 Welcome!

Yesterday was rough....I got home and literally curled into bed and didn't move for the rest of the night. My director is luckily out today so I can take a breath, and then I don't have to come back to work until January 3rd! I might be a bit MIA during that time since we're visiting relatives in other states but I'll check in from time to time and be back swinging in the new year.

The secret to waking up naturally at 5am is to go to bed at 8pm. No joke, I often go to bed before my Grandma's bedtime. I did it again this morning and did some rejuvenating yoga to get me in a better headspace to make it through today. Happy Wednesday everyone!

Good morning. I missed everyone. I was sick all weekend into Tuesday. Finally started feeling better yesterday. I am still looking for the Christmas spirit, I feel like I am trying to find it, but it is being very elusive. I have 18 people that are going to be at my house for Christmas. This is my first year hosting. Holy crap am I nervous. I don't even know where everyone is going to sit. We might be eating on the floor, but it will be great either way. I am also not very excited for my birthday. It feels like it is just going to be another day. No one in my family has asked what I am going to do, so I think it is going to pass quietly by.

@wishfuljune I am a Christmas Eve baby. My birthday tends to get overlooked by most my friends and extended family. Completely understandable. My immediate family has always been really good about making sure to remember. I think everyone is just having an off year. Oh well, I know they love me, so not too worried. Just feeling sorry for myself.

Hi everyone! I am dyyyying at work today... and I still have to be here tomorrow too! Talk about dead!! And the cookies and goodies around here are going down the hatch a little too often! (no self control)!

Jane! Fuzzy peaches are candies! They are round shape, kind of flat, but plump and they taste like peaches, with a dusting of granulated sugar (a bit sour) on the outside. I seriously LOVE them. Glad to hear the birthdays are over and fun was had by all! Now to focus on Christmas, which will be so fun with little Alistair. This age it's so magical for them!

June - I love going to the movies! I wish I could go every week, but getting a babysitter that many times is out of the question, there would be mutiny at home! LOL. Enjoy your trip, have safe travels!

Gem - good job at work, you are doing great. And have a merry christmas with your pups!

Rachel - You are so awesome, getting up early and getting your work outs in! Massive kudos to you! I pressed the snooze button this am, just could not get up at 5:15!! GAH! I just realized at this moment, I think it's because I'm eating crappy right now, so that makes me more sluggish and tired! (duh!!). Enjoy your time away from the office and safe travels to all those different states you are hitting for the holidays!

Nichole - I'm so sorry to hear Jenna had that accident, but thank goodness she came away nearly unscathed. What a year for you, it's been so many awful things after another. that is probably the reason that you and your hubs are having some problems. So just hang in there, things are going to get better, and then things will smooth out with him too. It's got to be all the stress of the year, it would affect anyone. Try to get to some yoga classes and just have patience with each other. As I like to say fake it til you make it (like pretend to be nice to him until you feel like actually being nice and loving!)

Shy - glad to hear the FIL is out of the ICU, that is a big relief! Poor MIL, thankfully you guys are there to help her and keep her spirits up. Have fun on the bar hop! I WISH I lived closer to you! LOL! also, what the heck - a cheese raffle ???!!! I think I may have been from Wisconsin in my past life! or we were separated at birth... one or the other. LOL!

Jen - Hopefully you will get dusted with that magical spirit of Christmas in the next few days and feel more excited about it. It would suck having your birthday on Christmas, so I hope that everyone acknowledges that when they are at your house! If they don't, I think you should get everyone's attention during dinner and say "I'd like to make a toast - to me! Happy birthday to me, everyone!" And don't be nervous about hosting, my advice is to be happy (even if shizzle is going sideways)!! If the host is a stressed out madwoman, it puts everyone on edge. But if you are relaxed (or pretending to be relaxed), everyone enjoys themselves more. Also, delegate things! Just say to people can you please mash the potatoes for me? or get everyone a drink or put this/that on the table, carve the turkey... whatever! Just give people jobs! And if anyone gives you attitude, tell them they are on dish duty! Also, people will sit on the couches with their plates or whatever, so don't worry. You could ask a few people if they had some extra folding chairs they could bring. Good luck!! And happy birthday!!

Well, I've been having a good week. Drinking far too much rum and eggnog (it only comes around once a year so I dive in!). We are going to another party tonight. My brother is coming with his family from San Francisco tomorrow for a week, so we will be busy ice skating/skiing, snowshoeing, etc etc... I probably won't have time to check in too much over the next week.

I want to wish you ladies a very Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for the friendship, motivation, and encouragement. I really appreciate you guys so much. It's been a bit of a wild year for some of us with family members passing, changing job situations, and general ups and downs of life (and weight!). But we all pushed through and we all have been there for each other. Let's be thankful for our health and make a commitment to succeed in 2017 again.

One more thing - a few years ago I heard of this thing where you pick a word for the year. 2 years ago mine was "minimalism" (that one stuck but that's besides the point)!. This year mine was "care." (was going for self care, caring for friends and families etc). I'm thinking about my word for 2017. (tossing around focus, health or balance). You can pick any word - spirituality, fun, love... and let it guide you through the year. it's just a word that you can think of to motivate yourself when you need it, to guide you through decisions big and small, and things like that. So I wonder if anyone else wants to pick a word with me? We can think about it and let everyone know their word the first few days of January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! xo

@tessadiane92 welcome to the group. Please fell free to add me as a friend That goes for all newbies. I haven't checked in as much as I usually do as life has been getting in the way. But 2017 is just around the corner.

Joy. Thanks for the advise for me and hubby. I will definitely take it. I am also thinking of my word. That is a great idea. Enjoy your week with your brother. My sister took my mom to see my niece in North Carolina for Christmas. I will be with my Aunt on Christmas Eve. And then with hubbies family on Christmas Day. Trying to stay as normal as possible.

I'm also with Joy. Thank you to all of my friends here it has been a hell of a year and all of you have helped keep me focused and for the most part on track. Thanks again and wishing all of you a safe and Happy Holiday season.

We made it through Christmas! So the last week, I ate what I wanted, rarely did any exercise and just didn't care. I knew it was going to be a rough week. I did manage to avoid a lot of the "treats", I still indulged, but I didn't go super crazy like I did in the past. I enjoyed Christmas at my house. I feel like it went really well, and was great to spend time with family. I didn't finish shopping until Christmas Eve afternoon, wrapping in the evening. Over all of that, it says I am up about 2 pounds. I am not worried. For all I know it could be water weight (I am dreaming) It will hopefully, fall off pretty fast. I am ready to log, and exercise my way into 2017. I have a bet to win.

I love you guys, thank you for the support, and the ear!

@bluepoppies777 I love the idea of a word for the new year and I am thinking about it. I think I have it, but I want to sit on it for a day or two.

@wishfuljulia I had a great birthday. The BF took me and the kids out the night before for dinner at Casa Bonita (you can google it), then him and I had breakfast out. He made me my favorite kind of cake, bought my favorite ice cream. I made lasagna for dinner. I indulged and enjoyed myself. I even had hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. ( I drink about 3 times a year) My youngest made me birthday pictures. My oldest made me a shawl (her first crochet project), the BF is taking me away in January for a weekend. So excited! I am one lucky lady.

Hello to anyone who is checking the thread this week! Just checking in! Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas! Jen, so glad to hear you enjoyed your birthday and Christmas went well. Welcome to all newbies, please add me! I made it to the gym this morning for cardio session. I have got to get rid of all the goodies this week, going to make up plates and take them to my friends who have company! Still thinking about my word for the year, it's between health and balance. I also saw that someone else is going to make monthly goals, which I like that idea! So January my goal is the same as hers: portion control and resisting temptation!

@kiahcox96 Welcome to the thread. I find having a great group of friends to talk to (Here) is helpful, forgiving myself for days where things don't go as planned, setting small, realistic goals, knowing that even if I haven't made the goal, it doesn't mean I can't keep striving towards it, planning ahead, and looking at improving my overall health rather than just weight loss have helped tremendously.

Glad this holiday season is almost over! It has been crazy busy, and I miss seeing all of your guys' lovely faces around here. Yesterday was a weird day. I ended up finding out someone close to me had been lying to me for a few months. This hurt tremendously, made me feel stupid and naive. I was pissed as all heck when I found out, took me about two hours to calm down, and really think about it. We talked about it, and hopefully it won't happen again. I bring this up, because I was proud, that I didn't completely lose it, I am okay with the way I feel about this, I am okay with giving this person a second chance, and I didn't go crazy eating everything in sight. Instead, I skipped lunch (Wasn't hungry) had a reasonable (not great dinner). Then the BF and I decided to play a new video game he got for Christmas. He brought out the Chunky Monkey Ice cream (my all time favorite) Over two hours of video gaming, we ended up eating almost 2 pints of ice cream. Oh my! It put me a little over maintenance for the day. (80 calories) I am not upset over this at all. It was delicious, I had some much needed bonding time with the BF and just enjoyed myself. I also didn't feel like I was eating it because I was upset. I actually gave myself time and space to process how I felt yesterday, and was okay with it before the ice cream came out.

Best part I weighed myself, and I am down 2 pounds from 2 weeks ago. Lost my Christmas bloat, and then some. 3 more days until the bet with the BF is over. He is going to owe me a date night! On top of my weekend away.

Looks like I won't have reached my goal for the end of year, but pretty darn close and there is no truth to the stupid people who said I was going to weigh my lightest for the year right before the holiday season.

Now to get back to the gym! I sure miss it.