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

@trooworld Yes, still getting a paycheck is a good thing. You'll have lots of free time to exercise and get on the bike. I'm going to make your vegetarian lentil chili on Thursday. Sounds so yummy. Plus some cornbread with it.

@teresaw1020 I think my mindset change has been the biggest thing this year. Just the feeling you get from thinking it's OK versus I'm cheating. Cheating usually means something morally bad. Then we start to beat ourselves up; on the other hand just staying within food boundaries makes you feel good. I read a line in a book the other day.....People think it's motivation that leads to success but really it's success that leads to motivation. So I'm starting to find success in the little things. It builds an I can do this mindset. The trick is to remember it's not a free day. You still have to stay within the boundaries for the day. Plus I watch my calories and keep those in range too for the most part. I love getting new gym equipment. Now actually using it is a different story.......I'll get there. I still have a Bosu ball that I haven't used. I bought it in 2012.

@mswatson0777 I have know I idea what my range will be at the end of this journey. I don't want to look old and haggard. But I would like to get my nice cheekbones back. I haven't seen those in YEARS. I'll get bigger eyes too. Cause now the chubby cheeks make them smaller. The bad thing will be my nose will appear larger on my smaller face. lol Oh well, can't have everything. In the holiday season of hustle and bustle I think find moments where YOU control it and do little special things for yourself even if it's just 10 min. We all are the masters of our own time but guilt, duty, etc make us do things and then get stressed out about them. Would it be easier next year if they came to you?

@retiredandlovingit I gave up years ago trying to get in "enough" protein. I'm still losing weight. I don't really like protein powders nor smoothies. I tried that. So I just switched my focus. One day I might come to a place where my body says I need more protein and I'll figure it out then. I like your thoughts regarding neutral foods-no good or bad. yes we ate too much or we didn't. I have lots of "theories" that didn't work out well. lol So the past is the past and just start over today and exercise. A downward trend is a good thing. I use Happy Scale app. I don't know if it's compatible with your phone or not. I weigh daily and enter it and it shows the trend line in red or green. I'm happy to say I've been in the green for almost 5 months now. Glasses: I fall into the category of only need glasses for distance but then I need readers but I won't get bifocals as I don't want to wear glasses all the time. lol

So to keep in tradition with the other members of this group falling.....I fell out of bed this morning. The alarm went off, I flipped over like I always do but this time I met air. Luckily nothing was broken except I cracked my Versa fitbit. I landed on my knees so they are bruised and sore. Plus my back hurt. I knocked over a cup of water so my hubby says from his side of the bed, You okay? I answer, I don't know. It was pitch black and I'm on the floor in a puddle of water. lol Good news was the cup didn't break. So I didn't cut myself on top of everything else.
It was supposed to be a step aerobic day but knees were hurting so I gave that up and just did some weights and walking. Yaaay. Old slightedge would have used it as an excuse to not exercise.

Low Yellow Day- Stayed OP 145/150 carbs Weights 17 min Walking 23 min

December goals: Step class and strength training 2 times a week. 4.5 glasses of water.

@mswatson0777, I'm not sure how you get time for yourself and enjoy the holidays when you are traveling and having to spend it with family. I think for many people you just have to do the best you can and know that the New Year is coming.

@retiredandlovingit, my DH was the same about getting glasses after his cataracts and I'm just like you and think that not having to wear glasses would be awesome! Yikes, Peanut M & M's couldn't live in my house or they would all be in my belly!

@theslightedgeforever,People think it's motivation that leads to success but really it's success that leads to motivation. Truth!! I'm thinking of my exercise and how it was so hard for me to get started on being consistent but once I started seeing results, I'm now much more motivated to do my workouts. I just Googled Bosu ball and that looks like I would break my leg! See below to what I'm going to do about my eating.

@trooworld, well I certainly hope that all your Christmas money doesn't have to fix up damages that you didn't create! But if you do, I know that you can get creative and make the most out of Christmas and enjoy the time off from work and hanging out with your DH. But I really hope you get to go shopping!

Good morning! So, the movie Frozen 2 was super cute and we all enjoyed it. Dinner at Cracker Barrel was fun and even with what I ate and having popcorn at the movies I was shocked that my weight was down a pound this morning.

Speaking of my diet. I have been thinking about this for a while and going back and forth on what I want to do in the New Year. Keto isn't working for me. I can't stick to it strict enough and being thrown in and out of ketosis isn't helping me lose weight and in fact, I'm up 5 lbs since the first of November. I've tried to blame the weight gain on the new workout schedule that I'm doing, which might play a small part in it but that isn't the only reason. Then there is my DH who finally admitted that he hates Keto and all the high-fat dinners that I make. He misses my chili! So, I've been reading about carb cycling, Mediterranean, Paleo, etc. and the truth is that I don't want to do any of those. I want to just eat regular healthy foods with an occasional indulgence thrown in, like dinner out or a church potluck. So, I'm going to stop trying to fit myself into a certain "diet" and go back to the basics. That means I'm going to focus on my intermittent fasting, which I love and believe in. I'm going to start tracking my calories and not focus so much on the macros. I'm going to make sure to drink my water, exercise, and use common sense. I feel at peace with this decision and it will take a bit of time to switch my mind off that all carbs are the devil, but I'm already looking forward to eating an apple with some peanut butter!

@its_cleo I didn't think to check MFP recipes 😜

@renaergy take care of yoursef.

@theslightedgeforever I'm kind of experimenting with food to get more protein. Miserable fail today but I'm not stressing. Too much else going on next 4 days. I'm just trying. Ouch! Hope you're OK.

@trooworld yup- busy sorting at work this morning & more tomorrow. Hope you get sorted soon.

@TeresaW1020 I'm not bringing any homework home. I have marking I could catch up on but not working my holidays. I've brought about 1.5 hours admin home tonight & I'll need to do my normal weekly planning but that is it. If not done by 12:45 tomorrow it can wait! Sounds like good night out! Enjoy.

@mswatson0777 since DH left teaching he works during festive period (although off Christmas Day, 26th & New Years Day). I'm planning on getting to gym with youngest (eldest can go to hers) and maybe baking in new kitchen. My nephew arrives from Luxembourg tomorrow so we want to spend as much time with him as possible. Big hugs. We've got DH's Dad's funeral on Friday. I am dreading it. We've been so busy & stressed with the house improvements and work, I've personally not thought about it too deep. It was about this time 12 years ago we began to realise my Dad was unlikely to recover (he died 13th Jan- 12 years) and the list of how things went is all too similar. Big hugs to you, it's never easy. Every year I feel like he should still be here. We made a point of changing our routine the 1st year. This year, by chance, we're changing again with my cousin & her kids being here.

@RetiredAndLovingIt The grammes of protein aren't that high it's more % of macros. The protein makes you feel fuller for longer. I'm tempted to try it in overnight oats- not sure I want chocolate flavour!

One half day left with 2 Y11 lessons (Sophomore- we only go up to 16 years at my school). I love this class. They were hard work last year but we have a good laugh now & I rarely have to reprimand.
My nephew arrives tomorrow morning. DH & my cousin picking him up- local airport this time.
I'm going straight to meet them after work & we're surprising my niece- she's singing in school nativity play. (Never done it before as lived in countries which have secular only schools- religion being taught at home only). Then in the evening we're all going to my girls' school for the Advent Concert. Youngest moved up to senior choir & just join Jnr Orchestra with her cello!!!!!
Friday is FiL's funeral. DH been pushed out by older sister so we've not been involved. We do know he's being piped in to church (bagpipes- not Scottish but have links), his Choral Society offered & are now singing from The Messiah & the Parachute Regt Association contacted MiL about providing flag for coffin, Guard of Honour with standard bearers & trumpeter for the Last Post! So it will certainly be a sight to see!

@trooworld Good words of wisdom to mswatson. Put it on the calendar. That's how to get things done.

@mswatson0777 When my parents were alive and I used to visit them I would take walks twice a day. Had no problem getting in 10000 steps daily. lol I like alone time and so do they. Part of it was thinking I don't see them that often so I should spend every minute I can with them, but then I really need to decompress too. I was much happier (I'm sure they were too. lol) when I would say right after breakfast, OK I'm going for my walk. Sometimes I would even sit in my room reading or checking emails for a bit before I went out and joined them in the mornings. Sorry about your car. Grief comes out of nowhere. I stood in a store sobbing because I picked up a picture in a Home Goods store. It reminded me of my mom. I was taught to be stoic in public. Important thing is to find other avenues to relieve stress other than eating.

Hi all--

@itscleo Lol about being old at 43!! Glad you are getting some exercise in, but too bad about having to work the weekend. But probably thankful for working & having a job.

@cbabie Hope things will settle down for you in 2020.

@theslightedgeforever Even though I ate the M&M's, I did log every one in my food log. Somedays over, some not. Yes, I did do the treadmill for 30 minutes, over 14,000 steps for the day with my other activity.

@mswatson0777 Glad your plans have changed a little & will be more relaxing for you. Wow, you are getting a lot of exercise in.

@trooworld Have fun at your work Christmas parties. That is one thing my work never had.

@joannadavison Hope you have a little time to yourself to relax. Dd is a teacher, some weeks are packed.

Not much going on today, need to take gson to an appt this afternoon, so need to go do the treadmill first. Also grocery shopping will give me a few steps. Made a little Christmas candy yesterday, so need to be mindful around it. Do have the calories figured & will log all that I eat. Been eating at maintenance for about 6 weeks, have lost a little. Lowered my calories to what the maintenance will be for my goal weight. (actually 5# lower), so am going to try that for awhile.

Have a great day!

@cbabie Nice to see you on here. Think of us like an AA meeting. When you're having a bad day, you can always come for support to help you through. Any progress is progress. Always remember this too shall pass.

@trooworld Did you make good choices at the Christmas parties?

@mswatson0777 My mom's bday passed three days ago. She would have been 82. So cbabie and I know what that's like. I chuckled at the "be on my best behavior" line. I so get that. Getting together with family sometimes is like "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I wish family was loving and accepting of who we are and not who they wish we would be. I'm on the other end of that equation now with adult children. So I have room to grow too. That's great you have a plan B for your exercise. I just found a Christmas youtube video I'm going to try tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/I3TMBWd0ZUk

@retiredandlovingit My daughter told me the other day Mom, I'm getting old. She's 28. I said yeah, ok. lol I said wait til you hit my age then. Of course I couldn't help myself by saying age is a matter of mind. My kids probably don't understand half of what my little sayings are. Then they'll probably quote them to their children. Please God let them have children so i can have some grandchildren. lol Wow you did so great on your steps. Keep it up. Tracking and balance is the key. I have been flirting with buying Reese's cups for weeks now. you know my mantra, I can have it if I plan it. So I bought a package yesterday. I ate one cup today and I can have two more over the next 2 days. I ate it slowly and mindfully taking little bites to make it last longer until dh came up and sat next to me talking. Then it suddenly disappeared. i don't know if I was being unmindful or if he saw it sitting there and popped the last little bite into his mouth. All I know is that I went back to eat the last bit and it was gone. Tomorrow I will eat it all by myself. lol Just keep tweaking those calories and you'll eventually get there and it will be a breeze to stay there.

@joannadavison It's probably a good thing you are so busy to keep your mind off of tomorrow. I agree with someone here who said what a great send off. His life should be celebrated. How is your hubby? Hard to lose a parent.

High yellow day-Stayed OP 153/164 carbs Exercise-rest day

@trooworld So glad to hear the parties went well. Well, there's always next party to make better choices. That's the great thing about our journeys. We are only one meal away from getting back on track. So make some notes and try and figure out how to do better at next years Christmas party. Celebrate the fact that you did make good choices at the later party. You could have eaten at both but you didn't.

@teresaw1020 I hope you got all your stuff done because playtime is right around the corner. As always, make good choices.

Red Day-Stayed OP-100/100 grams. Did not do any joyful movement today. Ugh.

Have been working, doing ok with food. Have to work tomorrow. Should ease up after that.

I had someone look at my arm/wrist/shoulder. I guess my arm is so tense or something it's causing wrist pain, and my shoulder doeant move like it should either. He said it's 'gummy'

Not a major i jury or anything, but lots of soft tissue work is needed to release and acupuncture done too.....sitting working doesnt help!

Hooe you have a great weekend, lots of busyness I'm sure. Will try to post more in a few days. When my report is done.

@cbabie, glad you got your Fitbit back. I love mine but I can’t sleep with it on, so I don’t get the benefit of tracking my sleep. Which is probably a good thing because I already know that I don’t get near as much as I should be getting. The joys of menopause!

@its_cleo, ohhh my a gummy shoulder doesn’t sound good at all! Have you done acupuncture before? My right shoulder has been hurting a lot this past week. I think I favor that side when I’m doing planks. Did I mention that I really hate planks!

@theslightedgeforever, what!! I NEED your nagging! You can’t leave me! I guess I will just have to go back and read your past post when you are giving me some of that famous tough love of yours. I hope you have fun!

@trooworld, hope you have fun with your friends!

Hello everyone! It’s a cold and rainy day here and I glad that I have all my shopping done and don’t have to be out in the traffic and weather. This morning was my church’s Christmas potluck and that went really well. Of course, I ate more than I should, but I felt that it was my duty to sample all three of my friend’s French toast casseroles. I did skip lunch today and did an extra-long workout to help balance the food that I ate. Tomorrow, I should only have to work a couple of hours. I just need to print the bulletin for the 29th and put together the candles for our Christmas Eve service. I volunteered to work nursery for that service, which made my children's director very thankful. I can’t wait for Christmas to get here and then I can’t wait for Christmas to be over so I can pack up my house and get it back to looking normal. I ordered some ornament boxes from Amazon yesterday and have all these great plans to be super organized for next year!

@trooworld I can relate with the the 5am wakeup call. Half the time my cats wake me up at 5:30. It’s really a pain….gummy yeah I don’t know what he meant. I think just like he was trying to move my arm shoulder, and it was like moving through a swamp or something. He said something about the connective tissue? I don’t understand but when I see my regular trainer again I’ll ask him. At the end of the day, it’s just overuse/overworked muscles I think.

@theslightedgeforever- see above….I don’t really understand the explanation. But I had goals to do some soft tissue work to help it and now I’m really motivated, and I think I will have to cut down my computer and phone time, because that is really contributing to the problem. I’ve been trying to learn how to use my phone left handed lol. …and you don’t nag! You have so many good suggestions and approaches, it’s amazing. You could be a coach for someone. I hope you enjoy your time away and have a great xmas!

@joannadavison I’m the glad the funeral was meaningful.

@TeresaW1020 yeah planks are hard…it has taken me years to appreciate them…a lot of people will favour one side when exercising, just try to be mindful of it. That’s one reason why dumbbells are so good instead of barbells, it forces both sides to work.

I have done acupuncture before with this RMT. I like it better than massage. It actually hurts less. It’s not the traditional Eastern acupuncture, it’s kind of a mix- he does some massage and some acupuncture, and the acupuncture – they actually run an electric current through the needle. It is very mild, it feels funny but it doesn’t hurt. It stimulates the muscle somehow and helps it relax. It's like a shortcut instead of having him massage it. I find it really helpful. My arm is bruised a bit though. The massage part was crazy painful but I felt better after.

Lol at sampling all the casseroles. Well when duty calls what can you do?..It’s so funny you just want to pack up your house- so how quickly do you take the decorations down?

My work is FINALLY done and I’m so happy. Off for two weeks. Will probably indulge in too much xmas cheer, but some exercise too. Today I’m off to get some groceries, it will probably be a madhouse. Tomorrow gym in the am and friends in the pm.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

@joannadavison, glad to read that our DH is doing ok and that his work was kind to him with the days off. I’ve worked retail before so I know how hard it can be. The museum sounds fun!

@trooworld, bummer you had to get up so early but at least you didn’t have to go to work!

@its_cleo, I’m glad your arm feels better after your treatment. It sounds like a Tens Unit that I’ve done on my back. For awhile I was going to this chiropractor kinesiologist and he would hurt me so badly with his crazy massage methods, but my pain would be gone when I left his office. I had a total love/hate relationship with him. I put my Christmas up extra early this year so I think I’m more sick of it than usual. I will probably start tearing it down on Thursday or Friday. I plan to do a whole bunch of reorganization so it will take a few days. I hope you have a wonderful two weeks off from work!!

@theslightedgeforever, yes, I’m working on my goals for 2020! The one thing that I know for sure is that it’s going to be more about digging deep into why I do what I do and less about trying to find that magic “plan” that will give me what I want. I’ve been listening to Mel Robbins and just joined up for her free #BestDecadeEver course. She wrote the 5 Second Rule. I assume you have heard of her. What do you think?

Good morning! Finally, the rainy cold weather is gone and it’s a beautiful sunny day that is going up to 60 degrees. My kind of Christmas weather! I’m heading out in a few to get to Trader Joes as soon as they open their doors in the hopes of beating the traffic. My town gets crazy because people flood in from all the smaller towns to shop. Once back home I will do day 19 of 21 Day Fix and then this evening is our candlelight service at church. I volunteered to watch the littles in the nursery, so it won’t be as peaceful for me, but that is OK. I can’t wait for tomorrow!! Did I tell you all that hubby is taking me to see the movie Little Women tomorrow at noon? It’s the first of my Christmas presents! After the movie, we will come home and drink spiked coffee and open gifts. I am truly like a 5-year-old at Christmas and LOVE presents!! I wish you all a very happy day!

I have been brainwashed by the military. When I first saw this post I thought the WW stood for World War. My first thought was, "Man, are there even enough of these guys left to start a group?"

@trooworld @its_cleo @TeresaW1020 thanks re:funeral.
@its_cleo hope acupuncture + treatment helps. Shoulder pain awful.
@RCVP welcome

I thought I'd posted last night- clearly pressed wrong button!
I actually took time for myself- 7 weeks of sheer stress & challenge- I was totally selfish! DH was at work, youngest went to my Mam's (she lives literally around the corner)- she was making ready meals for her Gran (my Mam) & Grandma (DH's Mam) for Christmas. Eldest resting as felt ill.
I had session with trainer at gym, quick coffee shop lunch, then fingers & toes painted on Christmas offer & ultrasound &deep massage.
The 3 of us went to Christingle service at church then I started a downstairs deep clean!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS- I'm now watching/listening too a High Roman Catholic Mass on TV- I'm Methodist so a tad lesss formal. Singing lovely.
Have a fabulous day whatever you're up to.