NON WW & WW NEWBIES, OUR NEW LIFE, THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL

I am just starting back after leaving WW last year.Done nothing but gain since then am at a high weight and need to start loosing.Gave Keto and intermitant fasting a try but failed.Just turned 65 ,overweight diabetic and sedentary.The trifecta of failing I feel.Trying to come to terms with retirement and a new home.I feel like this is my last try.Started today to see what normal calorie intake for me is.Then April first I will pick a plan.

@trooworld yeah I definitely think a dedicated space would help. And yeah you're right- I definitely need protein in the afternoon. I need to find ways to fit more in. I do eat greek yogurt which has high protein as a snack, and that helps.

Enjoy your picnic and art galleries. I really like going to art galleries. We have one here that is pretty good.

@gemwolf110 glad ww is starting out okay. I found it really helped me with portion control. Glad your pups are doing well!

@smith1420ABC987NAN welcome! Coming here is a good start. I think having small goals to start with is good. I have diabetes in my family, sorry you have to struggle with it.

@cbabie black light easter egg sounds cool! I bet kids would love that!

@TeresaW1020 yeah my dad would hide eggs around the house for us. But always chocolate ones, never real ones. It was still fun.

@TrishasTime I drink diet coke sometimes too. Stay on the healing path! Are you able to drive with your wrist injured? I think even an automatic would be challenging...

Successes- I have been under cals every day since Tuesday. Today I went to the gym, did some core stuff, some arm stuff, then when outside and did the stairs 4x(100 stairs). I am pooped lol.

Here are my exercise goals for the upcoming week. Not sure I will make it or not. I'm thinking of trying to post goals/successes here more regularly to help me.

Sun- run (It's really more like run/walk)
Mon- stairs (4x100, plus maybe a hill if the ice is melted. My goal is to get to 5 sets for the stairs and hill, but the hill has been covered in ice)
Tues- gym w/trainer
Wed off
Thurs- run + gym w/trainer
Fri- core work and legs (strength training)
Sat- run and arms (strength training).

@trooworld Some pretty awesome choices you are making lately. Retirement party food choices. Choices to get up and walk even though you wanted to walk a bit more. Something is always better than nothing. I love picnics.

@gemwolf110 You'll find the right fit one day. Just keep searching. One of our recent lessons in the 100 day challenge was Expectation Square. It said to draw a small square for each area of your life. That is how you wish that area of your life SHOULD be. Then draw another square around it and widen it. Write down ways you could widen your expectations and allow other options. Do this with several other areas that frustrate you in life. With each larger square you draw, ask the question, “ Could it be like this and still be okay? ” Write some notes about your insights. So think about this when searching for a WW meeting and church. That's great progress not eating the junk during Visitor time. I eat popcorn and choc the week before. Sorry about the dress.

@its_cleo The author of the first 100 day challenge has a new book out called 100 More Days to Weight Loss. So I'm doing that next. Then I'll do a different book for the last 100 days. I'm thinking of doing The 100 day Self Discovery Journal. That leaves me 65 days through the year for maintenance. My goal is to lose at least 30 lbs in 2019 and maintain them. 10+10+10 Your exercise plan looks good.

@TrishasTime I use the moonshine in addition to water. I'm still trying to drink pure plain water because I think that's really the best. I don't need all that Stevia in my body. But it helps the medicine go down as the song says. Night Circus is about 2 magicians that train a student for a challenge/duel. Then other characters come into it. Technically I guess the 2 students are wizards. But the scenery and props will be amazing if they do it right.

@TeresaW1020 Your Mother's Day Plans sound wonderful. When your husband asked you about dropping something from your life, I would have made a joke saying, you're just lucky it's not you right now. lol
Keep working on those 100 day assignments and your IF. I've figured out I'm in an official slump. The trick is to figure out when I'm heading into a slump. Easier to climb out if you're up by the ledge and not down at the bottom. Tomorrow is 90 day weigh in and then just one more weigh in. I feel I need a Tshirt to wear just for getting through these 100 days. I think the fun part of Easter eggs was dying the eggs the night before and then bringing them to the church. I have good memories of dying eggs. Then the adults could hide them. Spread the work around.



If my mom were here, I'd have her make me one. I wonder if Amazon sells them. lol That's more my speed.

@cbabie The problem with detoxing I think is that if you don't stick with the current program you'll have to detox all over again and go through those symptoms all over again. I agree with you on the stress/sugar. I like PB/choc ice cream. That's my favorite Baskin Robbin flavor. But I've switched to the sugar free type. Every once in a while I'll have me a scoop of the good stuff. I've just learned to eat a small scoop in a cup.

@smith1420ABC987NAN Welcome to the group. My mom was a Smith. Well, you know two plans that won't work for you. So now to find a plan that does. Scroll up and read my post to gemwolf about the expectation square. You first pick a plan that would be your ideal/perfect plan and then you have to widen the plan to make it Smith's plan. If you are following someone else's rules, it's so much harder to follow. Make up your own. My plan is to eat as much as I can get away with and exercise as little as I can get away with and still lose weight and stay healthy. So I'm figuring that out. The good thing is that I track all my food everyday and my exercise so I know exactly how much I did. Jan/Feb was great. March, not so much. So I have to go back tomorrow and figure out why so I know what to shoot at for April. My food goals are eat what I want just smaller portions. It was working for 70 days. Now the tweaking begins. We'll be here to help you figure it out.

So did nothing but stayed within food boundaries. I remember the days when that used to be the hardest thing for me so that's progress. But no sticker. Coming up on the last 10 days of this challenge. Big sticker days are in my forecast.

@its_cleo I love Greek yogurt. I love going to art galleries, too. I don't go to enough of them! Congrats on your successes, those are marvelous! And great goals, girl!

@TrishasTime I don't think I will go to the doctor because I know what it is and I know what he will say: he will say, "It would help if you lose weight." And it is definitely plantar fasciitis because I've had it before and it feels exactly the same. The last time I had it, it took about a year to go away. 6.5K is incredible considering your situation!

@theslightedgeforever Yes, I'm trying. I love picnics, too. We don't go on enough of them. You do need that t-shirt! lol You deserve it!!! You've done great.

Hello all. I had a great time at our picnic. The sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky. It was a little chilly, but I had a jacket. We ate our food and laid down on a blanket and just relaxed for a bit and then came home and took a nap. Then we drank coffee out on the patio and read a book. It was really really nice. Today, I'm going for Thai food with a good friend and then she wants to shop for shoes. I'm not buying anything, but window shopping. I love Thai food and haven't decided if I'm going to splurge or get fresh spring rolls and chicken satay skewers. I'll probably end up splurging, I'm in the mood for pad thai.

EMPOWERED.

I'm not sure I'm doing this right, but here goes...
Kindof cool I found this on MFP. I just switched from WW to here. I'm going to miss some of the friends I made on Connect, but I have to do what's best for me to get healthy.

Good morning!

@cbabie, how’s your 30 day challenge going? I hope you are starting to feel better! I agree that praying for the stress in your life to calm down is probably more important than watching how much sugar you eat. Both are contributors to us not losing weight. I will be praying for you too!! A black light Easter egg hunt sounds fun!!

@smith1420AB, welcome to the group!! The key is to never give up and keep trying to find what will work for you! How long did you do IF and Keto? I’ve been doing IF for about 6 weeks and in the beginning stages of reading more and more about Keto. Have you read any of Dr. Jason’s Fung books. He has one, especially for diabetics. I’m planning to by my mom a copy and try to get her with her type two diabetes.

@gemwolf110, I’m glad you are finding Freestyle more manageable for you. What WW did for me was to really get me to focus on vegetables. I always ate a decent amount but now I just love them and trying new things is fun too! Glad your doggies are all doing well and hopefully, big boy will get the cast off and be good as new.

@trooworld, your weekend sounded great!! I love strolling through art galleries and wishing I had a drop of artistic talent. That honey lime fruit salad is one of my favorites too!!

@its_cleo, you have some great goals for this week. I’m really going to try to focus on upping my exercise too. It just makes me feel so much better.

@TrishasTime, I was watching my sodium on MFP for a few months but now I don’t care as much since starting intermittent fasting and learning that excess sugar makes the body retain water and sodium. So, I’m really working on watching the sugar, which reminds me that I need to go change my macros on MFP since they only allow so many. That is great that you can drive yourself around! I would go crazy if I had to stay cooped up for very long. How did the doctor's appointment go? Can you walk? Did the stitches come out?

@theslightedgeforever, NO you can’t be in a slump! You are my inspiration!! That T-shirt is adorable. Yeah, I can’t believe our first 100 days is almost over. I’ve lost 6.5 as of this morning. Hoping to finish the next 10 days strong!

Feisty_Cheese, welcome! What made you switch from WW to MFP? This is a good forum to find friends. I love this group and I’m in a challenge group that is really friendly.


Whew!!! Y'all I have got to start coming on here more often so I don't spend half my morning typing before I even get to work! I have another crazy busy week! So far I have 17 confirmed ladies who can come to the baby shower. My little mama is about to pop and I'm praying that she holds out until after this shower on Saturday. She always delivers early and her husband said he is worried she won't last the week!

Yesterday, I finally pulled the trigger and gave up the cream in my coffee. It's actually not that bad and I'm fairly confident that I will get used to it. I put a tiny sprinkle of pink salt and a dash of cinnamon in it to cut the bitter. Probably doesn't help that I drink French roast which is one of the strongest coffees. Might have to find a lighter roast. When I break my fast, I will have one deliouse cup full of yummy cream and use it as a reward for a job well done! Today is 39 days of doing IF and I feel great! I wish the scale would move more but my engery level is awesome.

Thanks everyone for the welcome.I do not know how to answer comments individually..Sort of flying by the seat of my pants.I appreciate ideas and comments.To answer Teresa,I somewhat followed keto for 2 ys then 6 months fasting.The good thing about keto is you do get less hungry making it easier to fast.The bad thing you really cant cheat and loose no /lo carb gets old. I think for me "theslightedge" mentioned make my own plan and make it work.I will give it a go,being retired and relocated hard to want it.Thanks again for the advice.

@smith I think making your own plan sounds good. There's a lot of us to respond to individually- don't worry about it. But if you write the person's name with an @ in front it highlights it.

@trooworld , it sounds like you had a nice picnic, and a nice lunch. The ball for your foot- those things can work. It is sort of like a massage on a knot- so it can be painful but should help in the long run. And with the ball you control the pressure. Lacrosse balls can also be used, but they’re harder. I have foot pain sometimes, and when I’ve tried with the ball it really helps. I’m a wimp though, so I always wait until it’s really bad before using the ball lol. > Take care of your cold, that sucks.


@TrishasTime - good luck at the surgeon’s! No, I don’t know anyone that plays baseball. I just get really into it. I have two teams I follow- Blue Jays and then Dodgers. My friends get tired of me talking about it, so I will stop, but it was the opening weekend so I was pretty excited. As a Canadian I should like hockey I guess but it bores me to tears.

Only thing with watching baseball- it’s a lot of sitting lol. So not good in that sense.

I do Leslie Sansone during the day when I work from home- I love it! But only 5 or 10 minutes every couple of hours. It’s like my get moving break.

I did go running Sunday- it was snowing but not too bad. Today I went to the gym and did some core work, just 30 mins. My gym is having a 30 day challenge, where you have to try to go to the gym 30 mins a day. Every day you go they give out stickers. And at the end, if you do it, you win 30 min massage, or 30 minute pilate session with a pilates instructor. I’m not really into either prize, but I’m just doing it for fun.

@Feisty_Cheese welcome!

@theslightedgeforever forever- ah I see. I made shirts once in university and enjoyed it. But yeah it seems like a lot of work now lol. But HUGE congrats on getting thru the 100 day challenge!

@TeresaW1020 – wow good for you on giving up the cream! That’s a big step to me. And you’re right about veggies- the more I eat the more I crave them. It sounds like the baby shower will be a big success- 17 is a good turnout.

I’m good overall, my life is boring lol. I should have some free time later in April so I’m planning on doing some shopping for my apt. Last fall I bought a new sofa and loveseat but I don’t like the colour. So I want to get a throw or a cotton blanket or something that will look good over them. I’ve very fussy so it will take me a while to find something like that.

Cals- on target but barely.
Ex- on target.
Tomorrow- I see my trainer.

@fiesty_cheese Welcome to the group. Tell us which areas you struggle with the most? What has kept you from getting to your goal?

@teresaw1020 I'm trying to get out of my slump. It's being replaced with the flu. Thanks to dh. I had this big plan to start exercising hard in April. April Fools! lol Okay, so maybe the second week of April. I need more work on my veggies. That's great on your energy levels.

@trooworld I love fruit salad. I haven't done that in a while. Probably since I became pre-diabetic. I used to love to eat that for breakfast or I would make me a kiwi-pineapple smoothie. Then figured out I was just eating a bunch of carbs and no protein. I should get back to that and add me in a yogurt or something. Thanks for reminding me.

@smith1420ABCNan Most people come on here and just read the thread anyway. So even if you don't do a "proper" comment, it's okay. No right or wrong here. I think I started out just doing comments like this:

fiesty- comment
teresaw-comment
trooworld-comment

Eventually that led to me typing out their full username with an @ in front of it. Usually the system helps you if you just start typing in some of the letters and it will pop up. After awhile you get to know the names of everyone. It's just you and I that have super long usernames. lol My system prompt isn't working and I had to do yours by memory at the end.

@its_cleo I have 9 days to go to finish the 100 day challenge. I have tried this challenge 2-3 other times and never made it all the way through. I can see the finish line. Although I feel like a senior in highschool and it's almost June and I've got senioritis. So I'm working on that too. Next time on your positive actions I'd like to see Cals-on target. No but barely. That leaves a negative impression. Kind of dilutes your effort. You made your target. You stayed at or under your boundary, right? Own it. Celebrate it. Positive vibes.

@trishastime You just can't get a break in life right now. Sorry about your GD. Although I guess really life is just one set of events that are thrown at us and it's up to us to see how we react to them. That's great that you are getting better. 79 calories is nothing. You did well.


So I did some comfort eating of my own. Although I went over by almost 200 calories. I just lowered my calorie goal on some of my days by 60-80 calories. I met my exercise goal which is only 10 min when I'm sick. water goal not met. Journal done. no sticker just an X

@theslightedgeforever I don't know if I was struggling so much doing WW, more just getting complacent and spending to much time comparing myself to others on Connect. Now I'm trying to focus on me and what I need to do instead of what everyone else is doing. Hope that makes sense. Have a wonderful day.

@smith yeah one day at a time as they say. How did you come up with the number 1200? One thing that's important is not to over or underestimate the calories we need. Sometimes people aim too high, sometimes people aim too low. It can be hard not find the sweet spot, that is manageable and healthy. I eat around 1500-1700. I think MFP calculates my base at 1350, which is slightly low. Without exercise I should be at about 1450 base.

@Feisty_Cheese a lot of us tried WW and then tried something different for various reasons. I think different things can work with consistency. I like MFP bc of its precision.

@trooworld yeah I'm supposed to use the lacrosse ball on my thighs, like lie on it. It's crazy painful, but it does help. I only do it though when I'm agony from sitting too much lol. It's like which pain is worse? Man sore throat sucks. My dad always told me gargle with warm salt water. It can help. Or just lozenges. Take care, I hope it passes soon.

@theslightedgeforever lol senioritis. I get it. Good luck with the finish line! I hope you;re not getting the flu!

@TrishasTime glad the ortho went well. Can you get some help with your hair? I'm so sorry about your GD. Take gentle care, and don't be too hard on yourself about food. It is a tough time. My thoughts are with you and your family.

I was in the office today and then with my trainer. I ate over calories by about 50. I couldnt help it- I had good meals and snacks, but I was just too hungry in the afternoon. At the gym I did deadlifts and lunges.

Tomorrow I am in the office too. Normally I wouldn't exercise on Wed, but I joined this 30 day challenge at my gym. So depending on how I feel I will do some stairs and then go to the gym and do 30 mins on the treadmill. (The gym is a block away from the stairs).

I'm trying to finish a project before I have a week off. I feel a bit burnt out. I have this week and next week to bang it out.

@trooworld I see you’re sick too. All I’ve done is comfort eat today but at least I held it to the minimum and didn’t go overboard.

@Feisty_Cheese I like your profile pic. Your response made perfect sense. My eating plan is the slow boat to China plan compared to others but it’s working for me. I have lots of friends that keep pushing keto on me and I’m like No I’m good. I know myself. I’ve been doing this a LONG time. But just figuring out what works best for me.

@smith1420ABC987NAN Yesterday I got part of your username wrong from memory. Forgot the 987. Lol. Is 1200 cals too low for you? I don’t know your weight nor exercise program. I don’t think I could ever eat at 1200. But you get another day to try again. That’s the beauty of this journey.

@its_cleo. 50 cals over isn’t bad. Maybe you needed a bit more because of the extra exercise you are doing. Was it all nutritious food? Anything you could tweak next time?

@gemwolf110 🙋🏻‍♀️ I Love spring. Walking outdoor and looking at all the flowers. Nice Fitbit stats.

@TrishasTime So sorry to hear about your granddad. Wow 81 years. That’s so impressive. At least your Nanna will have an easier time. I caught my husband’s nasty cold. Thus the comfort eating.

So I stayed within food boundaries. Did 10 min of walking. Water goal not met but journal done. Little sticker day. Hopefully I’ll be better tomorrow. I’m supposed to go to a friends house for breakfast. One of our friends that moved away is in town for a short time. So I’d like to see her. it’s a planned rest day for exercise. I’ll just stock up on meds

Good morning!!

@trooworld, glad to read that you are starting to feel better and able to go into work. Be careful that you don't have a relapse from doing too much!

@smith1420ABC987NAN, I agree that just doing Keto would get real old if I couldn’t have carbs in my life! And yes we have to find a plan that will work for us for our lifestyle.

@its_cleo, I love shopping for things for my house. We did a complete remodel and got rid of everything we owned when we first got our home so now it’s done and I miss going on the hunt for that perfect thing. Good luck on your hunt for the perfect throw!! I totally understand about burnt out with work projects. Do you have any fun plans for your week off?

@TrishasTime, sounds like the doctor’s appointment was a huge success and now you can get most of your life back. But I am so very sorry to hear about your grandad’s passing but 98 years old is a very long life! You know that emotional eating won’t help but you do need to be good to yourself and in ways that will be healing to your sadness and pain. (((hugs)))

@theslightedgeforever, Ohhh no you are sick too!! I’m sure glad we are all virtual friends because I don’t want to get sick!

@gemwolf110, I LOVE spring and I really wish it would fully arrive here in Georgia. It’s been unusually cold and rainy for what seems like forever. And pollen is so thick you don’t want to go outside even if is nice. Hopefully, we will get a least a week or two of perfect weather before the heat sets in. Where do you live?

@cbabie, hey girl!! Hope you are well and that your stress is easing up and that you're being good to yourself.

So, I lost another .8 lbs this week. That seems to be my magic number! You all know that I was sorta on the fence about if I should continue with WW now that I'm all about the intermittent lifestyle. But yesterday I had something really amazing happen to me. First, when I was in line one of the women who I think is so beautiful and maybe has 10 lbs she needs to lose came up and called me an inspiration. Me!! We talked for a few minutes about food choices and how hard losing weight is and that it's a lifetime process that doesn't ever end just because we will eventually reach our goal weights. Then I went to sit down and there was a card in my seat from a sweet woman who is a Lifetime member. She also said I was an inspiration and that she loves coming and hearing the stuff I have to say. Wow!! I was truly humbled by all this and I'm taking it as a sign that I'm not supposed to leave WW right now. I need them and maybe they need me too. Plus, if I hurry it up and reach my goal then WW will be free and I do love me some free!

OK, today I have to finish cleaning my house and getting ready for the baby shower on Saturday. I'm getting excited!!

GM everyone

@theslightedgeforever – How are you feeling now? Are you getting any better? Have you managed to stop comfort eating?

@trooworld – How did you go at work? Did you manage the whole day? Did hubby make your homemade soups for you?

@TeresaW2010 – Congratulation on your loss. What a lovely thing to be told you are an inspiration and not by just one person 😊. I think we often do not give ourselves credit for how much we contribute

@its_cleo – I find if I am home, rather than at work, I tend to shop more (online of course) as I absolutely am he the complete opposite to TeresaW – I HATE shopping where there are other people.. Good that you are giving yourlegs a break.

@cbabie – How are you?

So I lost 2.64 pounds – woohoo me. Update on work situation – My surgeon had to fill in a fitness for work certificate. He marked (no lifting). Our human resources asked Iif I was able to lift a pen (seriously in an email) and how was I able to open doors. My doors at work are auto open except the toilet and fire escape, Maybe she thought I lost the other hand??? My boss rang up and ranted about it. I just told him that the ortho had me fillin the patient form in frontof him, so obviously I can lift a pen (seriously – this OSH thing is getting extreme)

Off to the hairdresser to get my hair washed - that is not something I can do at the moment.

Day 21

@TeresaW1020 Thanks, I'm glad I'm feeling well enough to go! My throat is still sore but my energy level is up so that's good. I'll be careful! That's really cool what those ladies said to you and I agree, you ARE an inspiration! You have tried new things until you have found something that is working for you...you didn't give up! Go, Teresa!!!

@its_cleo I'm sure hoping so! Thanks. I do that same thing with calories sometimes. I don't know what the solution is? Getting a single is a win!

@TrishasTime Work went okay but my energy started to go downhill towards the end of the day. I did stay all day, though. I actually made the soups thanks to the quickness of my instant pot, I made chicken noodle in about 45 minutes (using a whole chicken) and beef barley with veggies. Hubby made some other meals. Congrats on the loss, well done! That's great that you can go back to work. I'm sorry you can't wash it yourself, that must drive you crazy!

@theslightedgeforever Me too, if I'm not eating, it's really rare. In fact, I think it's only happened a couple of times when I'm sick lol. I did make it through the whole day but I was losing steam by the end of the day. My throat is still sore today. How are you feeling today?

Hello all. I just have to hang in for one more day. That's what I keep telling myself. It's not that I feel super bad, but I just want to sleep and not deal with work.

EMPOWERED.