Motivation, Success and Frustration Sharing!

Hey girlies! Hello from France!
I've been losing weight like crazy this past week, have never seen myself so skinny. My new area is super hilly, been hyking and walking all the time, plus don't have all my kitchen stuff yet, so my weekly average calories are 1000kcal
Need to fix it up as I don't want to end up in a binge. Don't have a scale and don't know if I should bother buying, cause moving again in 3,5months, but the measuring tape says -2cm everywhere.

Surprised to see such silence here! Come back people!

Have a healthy, fit and delicious week everyone

The food was totally worth it. I LOVE sausage, I grew up on it. my parents made it from scratch. I don't keep any in the house or I'll eat the whole pack, like I used to so sometimes I get the cheddar jalapeno but with chicken, not too many calories for that. So it's Tuesday & I'm almost recovered from the weekend, yes it takes me this long. I was so tired out like I went on a long trip. Went to bed at 10 last nite & woke up at 8 today. Went for almost an hour walk with dogs. Getting ready to go to gym, rowing machine & weights & pool. I so miss my HIIT class, wasn't able to go since last Thursday, tonight I go to my church group so I'm back to it tomorrow.I'm going to eat dinner at home 30min before I leave so I won't want any chili Verde, beans,rice & home made tortillas or any dessert, we eat before our meeting. Hubby grilling boneless/skinless chicken thighs today, his will have bone in it.They're SO good! I could eat them all week either cut them up & put in salad, or with lots of veggies or open faced bread with lite mayo. We marinade them in teriyaki then put a little of the Carolina BBQ sauce on them when almost done. I haven't lost any wt scale wise, but the shorts I wear are too big! yay. After gym we're going to Costco, almost out of yogurt & Kirkland is my favorite.
Last week I "tried" to make the protein fluff a few times I read about but it didn't come out too well so I gave up but last nite I made my usual smoothie...almond milk,yogurt, protein powder,frozen mixed fruit but I put some of the xamtham gum I bought for the fluff & it came out like the fluff & tasted great, & very filling ,low cal. I got some banana/caramel protein powder from my sis in law who uses & sells Herbalife so I'm going to be making that more often. Anyone else make protein fluff on here?

@Evamutt homemade sausage sounds amazing! How was the gym last night? I've never made protein fluff but it sounds odd

So I've been a basket case for the last week over this housing stuff. I'm stressed and I'm not sleeping. It's a big decision! We found a house we LOVE. Downside, it borders a busy road so even though it has a giant privacy fence you can hear the traffic. I think I could live with it, but I'm concerned about resale. I know the only reason this house is in our price range is because of location, but seriously the house is gorgeous and I could walk to work every day. What do you ladies think?

@jdelaroy - welcome back, we've missed you! I've not been around this thread much myself recently - serious issues around motivation and lack of sleep (oh the joys of a toddler that can come into our room now when he wakes up in the night!). Anyway, good to have you back

@Rachel0778 - much of what Jen says about the house purchase. Plus - is it an investment or do you see it as your long term home? Does the noise of the road bother you that much - are you buying with your other half and will it bother them? I grew up with traffic noise so think I would be ok with it - but my husband has never had to and would pretty much rule a house out on that alone. What time of day did you view it? Go back at rush hour to see how loud it is then - could you live with that every day? Ultimately if you really love it, I would buy it - but make sure you aren't jumping in to something you will regret!

As I said, some serious motivation issues going on here - but I'm back in the new Hogwarts Challenge and that is helping me to get back on the horse a bit. We had a really nice week off - now for the work slog to the end of November when we have a long weekend away for our 10th wedding anniversary! Not much else to report - just battling through the week on too much work and too little sleep

I've learned not to look back... I tend to leave the past in the past, but once in a while it's healthy too remember just how far we've come.

I was always the "fat" kid, never into sports or athletics, hated gym class, always self-conscious. As a young adult I learned to love myself and gained a ton of confidence, but always secretly envied those skinny fit girls. One day lightening struck... I told myself I didn't have to just wish for what "those fit people" had, that I could have it too. In that moment I changed everything about myself.

A little more than 6 years ago I was close to 190 LBs and had never truly exercised or even thought about what I was eating or how much I was eating. I took my first class... sculpting. Using the 3 LB hand weights and going slow as molasses I was exhausted within minutes and was sore for days. But I was immediately addicted. I began to research foods and nutrition. I began to exercise every day. I fell in love with Zumba. I started logging and tracking my food and calories. I did hours of research on nutrition, exercise and the human body. I joined a couple of different gyms and started taking any and every class I could find.

Over the past several years I never lost my motivation... I simply don't ask where it comes from. It just IS and I go with that. The fire that was lit inside of me just keeps growing and growing. Even through my mothers sickness and ultimate passing I still danced. In fact, it kept me sane.

Current day - I am a master licensed nutritionist. I've earned my second rank in Muay Thai. I lift heavy weights every day and get my cardio on every damn day. I do yoga here and there to stay flexible. I am currently in competition prep for my first body building show (bikini division). I turn 49 this year and feel like I'm in my 20s. In my circle of friends I am the "fit" girl, the gym junkie, the personal trainer... You know how sometimes you walk into a gym and see a woman lifting weights who is all jacked up, and you have to look twice? Now when people walk into a gym they look at me that way... and I love it.

What a journey! It can be done. Learn to love and to trust yourself. Don't compare yourself to others. Find something that works for you and keep doing it. When it doesn't work anymore, find something new. Pay attention to the silly cliché's... they speak volumes. Like "When you don't feel like doing something the most is when you make your greatest accomplishments" Truth! "Visualize what you want to become" Truth! "Pain is weakness leaving the body" Truth!

Never give up.

Other than life stresses, I am feeling good today. My daughter started her second year of preschool yesterday so it is early mornings. I have been mixing my meals up and creatong different recipes with lots of veggies. I honestly love eating this way, and always have. I fond it inconvenient however as I need more time to plan my meals out and cook. I think that has been my problem for years, laziness. I am down another .5lbs this week. The only tjing holding me back is not exercising. I need to start a home plan.

Hope everyone is safe during these extreme weather conditions in Florida and Texas. I live in the midwest USA, but my husband drove down to florida to help his family prepare.

Hello!

Welcome back @jdelaroy @janetay01 and @clicketykeys I'm so glad you guys are all back! I've missed you.

I'm sorry about Alister's sleep issues Jane! Jen, that sucks that you've had some health issues! I'm glad you were finally able to get back to the gym! Those pounds will come off again! Clickety, I hope you catch up with school soon! And keep your hand out of the munchies jar! Lol.

It's been a good few days so far! I've started to step down off my psychiatric medications so that the DH and I can start trying to have children soon(plus it's been YEARS since I've been off them and I want to see if anything has changed). Have been having great days at work. October 1st will be six months on the job! WTH? Where has the time gone!? Lol. But I haven't had a single issue with my drawer in months and I'm starting to put referrals in for products I have recommended to customers and things so hopefully, I'll start to hit my sales threshold soon too and that's pretty much free money!

But I have noticed a withdrawal symptom from the meds. I am incredibly drowsy. Lol. I'll push through. A few of the women on one of the other boards I follow suggested meditating a few months ago and I have started using an app/website called Calm. It has all sorts of guided meditations and things and that has really really been helping me to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and things. I'm really really enjoying it! Give it a try if you feel so inclined!

Anyway, have a great day everyone!

Hi Ladies!

Sorry I'm still MIA. This house buying stuff is horribly stressful. I haven't binge ate, but it's been close. I'm also not sleeping and running a low grade stress fever so that's fun.

We put in an offer and they accepted so now we're just waiting on their signatures. Wish me luck!

@gympricess1234 sorry you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. Happy almost birthday!

@HGSmith0920 Reducing meds is rough, keep us posted on how you're doing with that transition

@clicketykeys I can't even imagine how much work is on your plate, I hope the term is going well!

@cayladebra I use Sunday as a prep day and set everything up for the whole week. Maybe finding a day that works as prep time will help?

@jdelaroy Glad to have you back! Sorry skating was cancelled and replaced with not ideal food choices. I hope your weekend went well! The housing market here is booming so it makes sense to lock something in. I really like the house and location so it'll definitely be a long term place if we get it.

Welcome @cushman5279 !

@janetay01 It's definitely a long term home, it's close to my work so I can walk it. We put an offer in so we'll see how it goes! The second time we went back to it the noise was much more manageable (and it was during rush hour!). Congrats on 10 years together. You deserve a long weekend away!

Hey! So today got put on antibiotics for 8 days, cause woke up with 2 pink, swollen and glued together eyes, 1 half deaf ear and loudest cough ever. Spent my birthday in bed mostly, but didn't even feel sad about it. Last week I went out 4 nights and went to 3 trips, had the time of my life but completely ignored the signs of my body and this is the price I pay. So everyone, be kind to your bodies, I felt really bad today for my poor eyes literally looking like I'm a vampire.

With being ill, haven't been very hungry, and haven't worked out still. Also wifi is not working, so I haven't tracked anything for 4 days already! This will need fixing soon or I will have to d it old school way online and on paper. Miss my app
Hope everyone is healthier and feeling better than me!

@rachelbachel32 - having been through the whole wedding planning game, my advice would be to cut yourself some slack, chill out until you get there and enjoy it! There is plenty of time after the honeymoon - your dress fits so as long as you don't go mad, you will be fine, you'll look amazing and you will have a blast of a time. So don't be too hard on yourself girl!!

@gymprincess1234 - take it easy and get well.

Jen - I've been eating pretty much as I want for a while now. Really, really, really have to get myself back on track. Well done on skating and gym . You are very right about the sleep challenges - I am going to have to get strict with him and just walk him back to his room every time it happens. Problem is, it's gone on a while now and he's got into habits and we've got tired! So we both need to find the will to do this and deal with the mega tantrums that will follow

@Rachel0778 - hooray for house offers being accepted. Hope it all goes well!

@HGSmith0920 - good for you dropping the meds down. And good luck with trying for a child. Don't put too much stress on it happening and hopefully you will be giving us exciting news soon!

@clicketykeys - hope things are calming down for you a bit.

@cayladebra - second year of pre-school, how scary. My little boy will be 3 in December and will move up to pre-school shortly after that - next step is big school, it's going too fast!!

So, sleep deprivation still rules in my world and as above, going to have to get a bit stricter with him. He climbed into bed with us at 4am today and I just didn't have the will for the debate. But he takes up so much room for such a small person!! Other than that, ok - just working and looking into gym memberships in my area - need something to kick me back into the groove. Hope today treats you all well and that people in the Florida areas are keeping safe.

Thank you ladies!

Got my eyes back today, still got the cold and ear infection, but I'm spending the whole week in bed, so should be fine soon.
Fixed internet, so now can track food again! Yey!

@evamutt You already do so much work with your volunteer work, no wonder you are tired. I wonder if you could find a part time job at a pet store like Petsmart or something like that.

@gymprincess1234 Woo hoo for eyesight, internet and a weeks worth of rest! Feel better and hang in there.

@Rachel0778 House buying sucks! There is no getting around it. Once you are done though, you usually find it was worth it. Hang strong, you can do this.

I am still having a hard time getting motivated. Everyday I say I am going to do this, and I don't. I am going to try to do the restricted eating times. See if that will help. ::Shrug::: worth a shot anyways.

I decided not to go back to work. I really,really didn't want to, So I asked all my 4 adult kids if they can help if we really need it & they said yes. Actually, our oldest son, in Texas helps when ever I ask, I just hate to ask. Anyway, I feel relieved. Today was a good day at dog park. Wasn't too hot!There was a new dog there. A 6mo old boxer puppy, so cute. Just had lunch & going to make dinner before I go help my friend bathe her dogs & clean out her litter boxes, then HIIT class again tonight. that's my day today. Tomorrow is when I pick up one of my grand dtrs from pre school at 11 till 4 (every thursday) I usually take her over her cousin, Liams at 2 when he gets home from kindergarten so it's been going pretty well.Have a good day everyone

How frustrating HGSmith, I will certainly pray for you, what a sweet DH you have. Try not to project how it will be tomorrow, it ruins your today, only God knows how things will turn out & some things you can't do anything about. Listen to some good music or something you enjoy in traffic. I do know how awful it is feeling overwhelmed & being disappointed. Asking God for speedy recovery & being surprised by a great week end

@HGSmith0920 I hope you feel better quickly and can enjoy your time off!

@Rachel0778 I'm glad that the stress of home buying is being relieved and that decisions have been made! Exercise always helps my mood when I'm crabby too, but of course it's always so hard to get yourself to the gym when you're in a bad mood! And it's funny, I tell my FI that he looks so hot when he's cleaning.

I skipped the gym the last 3 days, but I plan to get myself there tomorrow and Saturday. That'll make 3 days this week, which I guess is a step up from the last 2 weeks. When we haven't been in meetings with wedding people (travel agent, event coordinator, etc.), I've been sleeping a lot. I'm not feeling stressed about the wedding, but I think I've been focused on planning all of that, plus work, volunteering, and going to the gym that I've really worn myself out. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself for not feeling up to doing it all! And I'm officially down 29 lbs, weighing in at 168.6 lbs. I am so proud of myself!

I am getting my hair done tonight, and I'm really excited. I almost never treat myself to professional hair coloring. I generally buy box dye and go to Great Clips to get my ends trimmed. I found an awesome deal on Groupon, so it's all paid for (except the tip), which is even better. I'm looking forward to relaxing while that gets done.