Serial Starters

We do indeed have cloudy weather today, Lana. The sun keeps trying to break through but isn’t having much success.

Saturday...trying to make headway on my to-do list for Christmas while also free mid game time for a quick trip to the gym before it closes at 6:00. May try to tackle Christmas cards (yes, we still send them!), some online shopping....

Annmarie, I use the MFP app exclusively. I love it for tracking but it does make responding to these posts challenging!

Sara, I’m always amazed and impressed by how organized you are! Inspiring....

Waves to all. Will try to check in later.

Tess

This is why I get frustrated and give up so easy. I weighed myself 4 days ago, I was up 6lbs... expected... weigh myself yesterday, down 4lbs.... doubtful...I bought a pair of jeans, purposefully 2 sizes bigger, I know they'll shrink...the pants that are smaller, fit better! I just don't get it...I have not been eating well at all, I don't believe I lost weight... and, jeans are the worst thing to have to buy! I have 1 pair that fit great.... they don't make them, anymore! Blah...sorry for the rant...

Good to see everyone! Welcome back Ammey! Always welcome to come back! Welcome new people! Yer always welcome, as well...

Sara- mold... not good... and, it wasn't noticed when dishwasher was replaced.... goodness... hope you can get it taken care of, soon

Sara, good luck with the mold issue! I’m impressed you can get someone to look at it on a Sunday.

Saturday’s dreariness has made way for a gloriously sunny Sunday with a crisp coldness to the air. Made my long Sunday walk that much more enjoyable.

Hope to tackle some of my Christmas to-do list today, along with laundry. What’s everyone else up to today?

BBL

Tess

Hi Everybody~~
It's a sunny Sunday here---so pretty out.

Sara - I just saw two of the Cabana Boys (you know, the two really OCD ones) heading over to your place with bags of cleaning supplies and spray bleach, and some sort of whip or riding crop, which I'm assuming is for your maintenance men.
You and Miss Tillie should hide!

Lana

nhofffman- welcome... lots of support, here... love yer pic... we're all animal lovers here... come as much as you want...

I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DISCONNECT FACEBOOK. Now I have an excuse to avoid working for a few minutes a day...

Sara - I can't figure out how you're so good at meal prep. I need to take lessons from you. That pork fried rice sounded amazing! Sorry to hear that you're having the mold issues; that's definitely a bit scary.

Dawn - Thanks for the re-welcome! And congrats on the smaller size of jeans

Tried to exercise this morning with my fiancee and my knee hurt after just a short amount of walking/squats, so I had to stop. I'm pretty discouraged. Hopefully this will get better with time as I lose weight.

Starting weight from Monday: 180.8
Today's weight: 175.6

How am I down over five pounds already? Maybe it's a fluke. I can't remember what I said last time for my goal weight, but I'd be happy with anything under 145. Long-term goal is probably 135.

Ammey - congrats on WL!!! just take it easy on the knee. i started in on a walking routine and basically over did it. my knee is just now getting back to where there is no pain when i use it. i still cant do squats or deep lunges but i will work into those slowly.

sara - mold - yuck! i had to move out of a house due to mold. with current house - had to replace lots of drywall and had the place "fogged" with mold spore killing stuff. used it because the "fog" could get in and kill mold where we couldn't reach or see it. the fogger was rented from Home Depot. we bought the chemical there too. made a huge difference. make sure the three stooges don't just wash surfaces with bleach and say "there ya go" because if there are any spores embedded or on the back of the drywall, it will just come back with a vengeance. they may have to replace some drywall.

Lana - i did think it was odd that doctor had me start on high dose and then lower but it does seem to be starting to kick in. i actually have some motivation to do some things. before, most days i only want to stay in bed, sleep away the day. this weekend i helped install windows in the 2 story unattached garage, planted over 150 bulbs (i bought them in Oct and then forgot about them till this weekend!), bathed the dog, got all my errands run, got almost all wrapping done, and created a wall tree. i am making a wall tree this year instead of a traditional Christmas tree because of the cat. it actually turned out better than i had anticipated. i still have to decorate it, but i did get lights on it.

Annie - great to hear about the work on the house & its stuff that you dont have to pay for! How close to closing date are you? and give yourself time with your cat. we lost our oldest cat 2 years ago yesterday. i still cried about it yesterday.

Today its supposed to get up in the low 60s. IN DECEMBER???!!! Not that I am complaining, mind you! this weekend was gorgeous! (and i was able to get bulbs planted!)

Woke up way before alarm was to go off. Laid there for what seemed like forever, waiting for the alarm. I gave up and just got up and started getting ready for work & got here early. Now I want to take a nap!

And.. soooo... it begins... ugh...a lovely client brought in homemade Christmas cookies...I stared them down, as I shoved my Belvita cookies in my mouth...mmmm... delicious...I will admit, after forcing myself to eat my can of Minestrone, I ate 1 bite size Reeses PB cup... trying to pretend the rest isn't there... if they are still there tomorrow, I have every hope that those not here today, will devour them for me..
Back to work.. have a great day!

Arnie: have you tried the gingerbread Belvita?? Omg delicious!!

With the holidays here I set out a dress that I have owned for years, never worn but used to fit into, and made it thee dress that I’m going to wear to my SO Christmas party in January. So I have roughly a tad over a month to drop a few lbs to fit into it. I recently stumbled across an amazing fitness group on YouTube that has monthly workout programs set up for free, so I’m following along with that this month. Also working on cutting back on caffeine, which being a mother to two preteens and a 5 month old baby boy, I desperately feel like I need. Also working on upping my water intake.

Sara - Also jealous of your no-salt habits. I crave salty foods more than anyone else you've probably ever met. I will work on doing some meal prep soon. Maybe this weekend I can try it! As far as the nice weigh in, I've just been actually dieting instead of doing whatever I want. I guess it's working.

Kristina - At least Monday is nearly over and tomorrow's another day and another start. Great job on the walking!

Kathryn - Amazing job on all of those errands! Way to be a rockstar. You may have to share a photo of your wall tree - we have four pets and the idea sounds tempting (although we already have one up for this year, but it's always good to get ideas for the future)!

nhoffman - I agree with Dawn; that sounds like an awesome goal! I have faith in you!

Today we booked the venue for our wedding ceremony in March. Since we're having such a short engagement, I think I'm much more stressed than the average person. BUT I'm very excited about the venue and I absolutely fell in love with it when I walked around today. I'll post a photo at the bottom because I'm just too excited not to share.

QOTD: What are we focusing on this week?
AOTD: Keeping busy! As usual. Trying to get closer to 10,000 steps a day, which is hard when I have an office/desk job. But I'll be running more errands, and that should help.

Highest weight: 183
Starting weight: 180.8
Today's weight: 176.2
WEDDING GOAL: 150.0 (I decided that for now, that's what I'll use!)

It's actually the Minneapolis City Hall! Just a few blocks from where I work. We're renting it out for a Saturday morning ceremony. Again, I'M SO EXCITED. My fiance is absolutely exhausted with my level of excitement. (and corresponding level of stress)

Late night thoughts - you know those chips they give people in AA and other such groups? Like the 30 day/90 day/etc. I think they should have them for us serial starters too. It's my diet attempt number.... 284948?! But I just finished day 8.

Tuesday

Hallelujah! I think everyone in my house is feeling better. I wouldn't say we are well yet, but we're on the mend.

AOTD: Cutting out pop/sweets and tracking. I think I just need to focus on that.

I think I'm starting Week #5 of PT and although I don't think it's hurting anything, I'm not sure it's really helping. I feel like I'm going broke with all of these co-pays - and right at the holidays and with our big move coming up! Argh!

Thanks for all of the well-wishes on the house! We close January 10th, so just over 5 weeks from today. We packed a lot and now have had to back off because we still need to live. I think no matter what you do, it's always a mad rush at the end. Still hoping to go through some more stuff and donate/throw.

Trying to tell myself I WILL face the scale this weekend and go from there.

Baked three different types of Christmas cookies and put them in the freezer. Trying to keep myself and family out of them.

Cold, snowy, and windy here today. Winter has finally found us. (It was 50 degrees yesterday afternoon and dropped to 18 overnight.) Brrr.

Ammey - that looks like a great place for a wedding!

Sara - sorry to hear about your mold problems. I hope they get resolved quickly.

Dawn - hang tough! We can resist those treats!

Make it a great day, ladies!

Annie