HAPPY MONDAY!
It's a holiday here in Canada, so things are pretty quiet. I've been thinking. And looking at the team list and stuff. It is odd knowing bits and pieces about various team members - I know where a few are from, which have kids (young or older, grands, four legged), a tiny bit about your style from your writing and what news you share, what some of you love to do for exercise, but in general not a lot. At the same time, I think we know something about our various styles of commitment, how and when we connect, and of course we all know what we're trying to do here. It's interesting. You're a cool bunch of people!

My goals for the week:
20 minutes per day on my recording project
60 minutes per day of intentional exercise (including stretching, etc.)
LOG all my food and stick to plan better (have been slacking lately...)
no alcohol

I hope this will get me one more pound closer to final goal, but that is less important than getting my muscular mojo back. I have been slacking off on more than logging - and I miss that awesome feeling of strength and tone in the muscles that I get from my daily exercise. I am over the stupid cold, it is time to get back going.

Speaking of knowing where some people are from - I'm going to be in North Carolina for a few days (June 1-5). @micki48 ? Where in NC are you? Anyone else down there? It would be a riot to meet up. I'll be in Matthews (near Charlotte) visiting my amazing mama.

Connie7355 wrote: »

@mari_moulin Mari, after reading your post yesterday, I wondered if your doctor might have put you on some medicine before or after your surgery. I had cervical back surgery in 2017 and they put me on Gabapentin. After I went on it I was hungry all the time and gained almost 30 lbs. in just a few months. I am just now getting back down to where I was before I went on it. Just thought I'd share that with you...it might be something to think about. Wishing you good luck and hope you have a great day!!

Thanks for mentioning this. I’m going to see my surgeon tomorrow and will ask about the meds I’ve been out on. At the moment I’m no longer taking the hardcore stuff just in paracetamol. Thanks for the info. I would have never thought of this possibility.

Monday Movement plan: WALK! And housework! Moving cold weather clothes from upstairs bedroom to basement, bringing pool and patio stuff outside from basement. Wish I had a way to count every flight of stairs. Clipped on pedometer, plan to get 8k steps in one way or the other.

Today's other goal: 64oz water and PT exercises

Username: reflectionofme
Weigh in day: Monday
PW: 141.9
CW: 139.3

@jugar

Speaking of knowing where some people are from - I'm going to be in North Carolina for a few days (June 1-5). @micki48 ? Where in NC are you? Anyone else down there? It would be a riot to meet up. I'll be in Matthews (near Charlotte) visiting my amazing mama.

I am in Greensboro. About an hour and a half from Charlotte. Are you driving or flying in to Charlotte? Let me know. I’d love it if we could figure a way to meet up.

micki48 wrote: »

Steps Sunday 8,150

Do you have your steps for Saturday? I have all the days except that one. Thanks! And I'll send you a message on MFP to see if we can find a way to meet up.

Terytha wrote: »

Dinner failed... I'm really bad at cooking, and honestly this is the biggest barrier I have to eating better. But I don't know how to be better.

And I hate throwing out food.

@Terytha....What about eating salads? They are easy to fix and don't require cooking.

evangsimmons170 wrote: »

Terytha wrote: »

Dinner failed... I'm really bad at cooking, and honestly this is the biggest barrier I have to eating better. But I don't know how to be better.

And I hate throwing out food.

@Terytha....What about eating salads? They are easy to fix and don't require cooking.

I just really hate salad honestly. I like caesar salads well enough but those are pretty high calorie and not the least bit filling so it feels like a waste.

The other half of my problem, I should clarify, is that both myself and my husband are incredibly picky eaters.

Perla4686 wrote: »

Uh, I'm really struggling right now. I was away for the weekend and had no control over food. Ate a lot of bread and biscuits. I find once I fall off the wagon, I cannot get back in the zone. I commited myself on Sunday but crashed around 4 o'clock on a load of rubbish. Same today, good breakfast and lunch and then an enormous binge on crisps etc.
I find it near impossible to get back on track
Last time took me three weeks to get my motivation back so I'm really stressing now...
Can anyone drag me out of the mud?

I can relate to this. I've done this for years. Just recently have I allowed myself to have days where I eat what I want and then get back on track the next day. This past weekend we were gone all 3 days. I had no choice but to eat out all 3 meals all 3 days. I got what I wanted but I tried not to eat it all and I stopped when I was satisfied. I didn't wait till I got full. I've been in this cycle for years and I have no good advice lol sorry! I just finally got tired of the cycle but that doesn't mean I've figured out how, I just had a successful weekend. That's all. But I'm focusing on that and not the negative! We are here for you. Don't give up on yourself. Keep going and show yourself some grace!

Perla4686 wrote: »

Uh, I'm really struggling right now. I was away for the weekend and had no control over food. Ate a lot of bread and biscuits. I find once I fall off the wagon, I cannot get back in the zone. I commited myself on Sunday but crashed around 4 o'clock on a load of rubbish. Same today, good breakfast and lunch and then an enormous binge on crisps etc.
I find it near impossible to get back on track
Last time took me three weeks to get my motivation back so I'm really stressing now...
Can anyone drag me out of the mud?

I am exactly the same. Weekends always derail me and I spend my whole week trying to repair the damage I did. Last weekend became a whole week with a 10 lb gain and every morning since Sunday I say “ok I’m getting back on it today” and by the evening time I’m way over calories. But, I am sticking to IF so that’s one positive change for me. What I’m doing this week is focusing on small changes rather than getting back on it all the way. Maybe you can try that? Focus on one small change each day. Maybe as long as you get all your water in it’s a win for the day. Or do at least 30 active minutes or at least a certain number of steps, then the next day keep that going but add something else until you are all the way back on your game? For me so far I’ve got my IF back on track and my water back on track. Snacking still isn’t where it needs to be. Still working on that and then gonna work on moving more.

@jugar
@bfitb440n2022
@mari_moulin
Thanks so much for your encouraging messages. I'm trying again today, hopefully this will be my day.
I will try to drink more water, I never really drink enough.
Also, I've never done IF. Can someone enlighten me why/how this might be helpful? I cannot fathom fasting and would imagine I will binge in the alloted eating hours. Am I missing something?

5/20
Steps 10803

Perla4686 wrote: »

Also, I've never done IF. Can someone enlighten me why/how this might be helpful? I cannot fathom fasting and would imagine I will binge in the alloted eating hours. Am I missing something?

There are different types of Intermittent Fasting. I do 16:8 usually try 18:6 some days but mostly 16:8. Here are a few images to give you an idea of what IF is.

Also you can try this link.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-guide

I finally managed to link up my fitbit to the MFP ... once I get home I will see what that does to "bouncing running totals" and see what happens for exercise crossover etc. I am a bit confused about "only report exercise on MFP but state start time" bit that in the linking instructions. When I am on the stationary bike, I no longer get the fitbit to register "active minutes/psudo-steps"? or do I still wear it in such a way that it registers, but not actually enter anything under fitbit "exercise" that I am entering in the MFP exercise log? (this is not a wrist-band-HRM style, but an older Zip clip on model)