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

@its_cleo, wow that is some serious weights for doing deadlifts! I was impressed with myself that I could do it with 12 lb dumbells and think I might up it to 15 lbs. As for your calories being up and feeling so hungry what are your macros like? I see where you eat a lot of well balanced foods. You will figure it out!

@theslightedgeforever, happy birthday!! I’m glad that you enjoyed your day. My birthday is in three weeks and I’m trying to decide what I want most. My mom is making me a cake when I go to pick her up at the end of the month, so I can get that craving out of my system.

@joannadavison, I hear you about craving chocolate. I had gotten in the habit of eating a couple of squares of dark chocolate in the afternoon with my coffee and two weeks ago I stopped by it. I had terrible cravings the first week, but this week has been much better. Now I just enjoy my coffee and some days I might have a few pecans. So, you do need to find a substitute for the chocolate that will work for you.

Good morning! The sun is out today, and I am thrilled to have a small break from all the rain we keep getting. DH and I are going out today to run some errands so having good weather is a bonus. Yesterday the rest of my mom’s furniture arrived for her new room. I sent her some pics and she is excited to move here and fix up her room. I am too but I’m also mindful that in two short weeks DH and I will have to share our space with another person, and we haven’t had to do that in over 10 years. OK, I’m off to workout and get this day started!

@its_cleo I think of processed food as anything that comes in a can, box, package, container. Obviously eggs come in a container but I don't mean those. Something that comes from a factory where they add ingredients, chemicals to the food. I think US is the worst for this. I don't about Canada. I read a book about a lady who had to go to UK for two years on a work assignment and when she got there she first thought, I'm going to starve because they didn't carry all her favorite "diet things". Then she ended up losing weight by eating real food. She was shocked. She said it takes more time food prep wise. I don't know. Let's ask Joanna. I think hormones is the reason you want to eat everything. Well no, because I'm assuming you had a period in the last 3 months. Are you doing more exercise than you were doing back then? So your body needs more energy?

@teresaw1020 I've still not got my bday gift from my hubby cause I can't decide. I can hear my mom say Then you don't need anything. I told him to keep this gift on pause til I decide. When my mil moved in with me 4 years ago, the beginning was the hardest til everyone got their routines established. But it was the best decision we could have made.

@trooworld Push back harder. You are a warrior. Enjoy your time. I'd be wanting to hurry home because of the warmer temps there.

@joannadavison When you go to the states, look around a grocery store and see if US has more processed foods than the UK does. (go read my post to its_cleo) That's a good way to not eat Lindt balls is to associate it with that. lol That's why I like the Lindt balls because one is enough to satisfy me. I won't go scrounging around for more. Now as I'm learning through my reading, what we tell ourselves is very important in this journey. You tell yourself, I can't just break off one square. Remember you said you were working on re-educating your brain? So start with the lesson of I can break off one square and eat it. Or you start with two squares and then later if you want to take it down to one. Whatever is the minimum amount that satisfies the craving and still keeps you in control. Yaaay on your workouts. You still have that little black dress to get into.

Red Day- Stayed OP 95/100 carbs Exercise-30 min walk

February goals- Drink 3 glasses of water.

@cbabie You'll get there. You just have to keep tweaking. Putting yourself first. Setting boundaries. Life waits for no man or woman as they say.

Yellow Day-Stayed OP 159/164 Exercise-rest day

February goal- Drink 3 glasses of water

@its_cleo & @theslightedgeforever from what I can gather we do have less processed food here. It depends where you shop. We have supermarkets like "Iceland" & "Farm Stores" where everything is cheap, processed, packaged meals & usually frozen. The more mainstream supermarket chains sell both. My Mum tends to buy processed meals for one, her excuse is there's just her but we had a lot of kids processed food. I loved baking so when we married I cooked most meals from scratch & DH got into it too. We might buy some processed sauces or seasoning ready made or packet foods when we go caravan/self-catering but generally we cook from scratch. My sis & other US friends who'ved lived in UK say much more processed in USA.

@cbabie you can only do what you can do. Being mindful by trying is a good start. "Draw a Circle" sounds interesting. Does your group normally fast or give something up for lent? We do pancakes on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday but as group meets on a Monday we also do them then.

@its_cleo ah! The stairmaster! 5 mins on that thing kills me after almost an hour of HIT. One of my exercises is using a bench as a step & stepping up & over or step ups. That's a killer but great for glutes. If I ever loose this fat I'll be so toned underneath!!!!! I seriously hope! 🤣🤣🤣

Had a challenging day today- so much packed in it. So glad it's the weekend. Off to bed early with my kindle. We have a week's school holiday now. I seriously need it!

@TeresaW1020 I’m glad you had such a great night. Pizza and beer would be perfect for me. I’m almost the same- I had 2 beers last night, so lots of water today!

@joannadavison I’m sure you’re very toned! Yeah those exercises kill. One reason I like the stairs is because I can do it outside, and it’s easier somehow outside. I tried a stairmaster a couple times and the resistance can be harder than actual stairs for sure.

Last night I went for a hike with friends. We did 10 km. It was cold but very nice crisp evening, we walked along the lakeshore and the frozen water was cool. At one point the ice was rising and falling because of the waves underneath. I’ve never seen that before. I guess because it wasn’t very thick.

Then we went to a place that is like fake German for beer and sausages….I really wanted to eat but I just had two drinks and came home. I'm really on track with my goal to drink less this month and I feel good about that,

I think I mentioned I’m a klutz. Last night before I went out I had dinner. I weighed everything out on my plate, had it perfect, put it in the microwave and warmed it up. Took it out from the microwave and out it on the counter or so I though and instead dropped it and the plate shattered, food everywhere lol. It was a pork stirfry. What a mess!

Speaking of food, here’s my favourite breakfast I’ve been loving this week- scrambled eggs with some avocado and cheese, and then a bit of salsa. Sooo good.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

@its_cleo Definitely processed on the bread and crackers, the rice and pasta are probably debatable. I just got to that part in the book. Debatable.....I think the premise is non processed is does it grow in the ground or walk around on legs,swim, etc. I never had PMS as a teenager but middle age comes and BAM there it is. I can always tell when my food diary has popcorn and chocolate listed in it. I didn't notice the connection for a long time. HA on the Tim Horton's review.

@joannadavison I do know that US companies will put more chemical and not so good for you ingredients into our food but when they import to you, it's suddenly missing. That's because your country has a better FDA system that bans certain ingredients where ours doesn't really care. As long as people are making money, to heck with illness and disease seems to be the motto here. I used to follow a blog fooducated on this subject. I loved the if I ever loose this fat I'll be so toned underneath. lol What are you reading right now? I just finished my bookclub book The Gown. About Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress. Fiction book about a couple of ladies who did the embroidery work on it.

@theslightedgeforever thanks for the info on processed foods. I don't think about it much. But actually I've been trying to eat more beans, so I guess maybe it's better to get my carbs from beans than things like bread. You're so knowledgeable about food and nutrition. it's one area where I'm not maybe bc I find it confusing and contradictory. I love learning how the body works though, like different muscles. And now bc of the issues I've had I'm really interested in learning more about joints.

@nighthazel01 I'm glad your MIL is ok. Family drama sucks, there's always lots of dysfunction in my family. I stay away lol.

hey @cbabie I'm glad your granddaughter is getting better but I'm sure that was very stressful. Yeah the phases- I feel like I'm ready for menopause lol. It can come anytime.

@trooworld you deserve some time to relax after your trip. And it sounds like you handled it really well.

@RetiredAndLovingIt what on earth is pickleball? I've never heard of it.

@TeresaW1020 - Hi just thinking of you. Hope your dinner with your friends went well.

Well I blew it yesterday big time. For some reason just decided to order a pizza. So like a zillion calories. And I don't know why- I don't even really like it anymore, like the pizza I make myself is better and healthier. So it's very rare now but it's almost like the idea of it I just can't give up. It's like Chinese food- every once in a while I want it even though when I get it it's kind of disappointing.

But onward and upward as they say.

I saw a physio last week and he gave me some simple exercises for my wrist and my back bc I've been having some low back pain. So I'm trying to keep at that. Tendonitis is still there, I read it takes like 3 months to heal. I'm like 1 month in.

In other news, I think I'm close to booking my trip to Iceland. I think I'm going to do a tour, which I'm not a huge fan of but the alternative is renting a car and I just don't want to drive there. I would like to go for two weeks and do both Greenland and Iceland, but I'm afraid to leave my cat alone for that long- someone will feed her but she's never been alone without me and Griffin before. So I will do around 10 days. I just have to do my taxes this month and then I'll book it. I'm hoping June, but maybe August.

I’ve been on WW on and off through the years. I know it works but I know I am done paying for the help. That’s why I like MF cause I get the support just as well. I look forward to the sharing my ups and getting help on my downs. If anyone on here is interested in sending a friend request, that would be awesome. I decided to being more active on here will make me more accountable to my friends and make the weight loss journey exciting. Cheers to a new week starting tomorrow and I look forward to hearing from everyone.

@trooworld The initial gain was the prednisone I think from what other people who have taken it tell me. I thought I would have to take it long term to do that but they said no. But it is what it is. But it's messing with my mind. So I'm trying to get that back on straight again.

@cbabie The book was good. So good for you for trying new things. While it's hard and uncomfortable sometimes the I can't becomes I can.

@nighthazel01 Sorry about your mil. Been there done that. I have to take mine to the dr tomorrow for the 6 month foot and leg check for diabetics. It's just so hard getting her in and out of the car....Alzheimers... Last week she tried to sit down in the seat with her chest instead of her bum. She's too heavy to just lift right up. She couldn't figure out how to get up on her own. So we try again tomorrow. Back to the drawing board for you too. One day we'll get to the place where there is no emotional eating.

@its_cleo Yes, beans is better than bread. I read alot but just having knowledge without putting it into practice is worthless sometimes, lol It is contradictory. I'm reading a book about that point right now. Plus it's an individual thing. Keto will help people lose weight but not me because I wouldn't stick to it. Low carb diets do let people lose weight but I wouldn't stick to that either. But I can lose weight with med-high carb. People get confused by that because it's not what we are taught. So you just have to find your niche. Plus people can lose weight with chemo but it's not necessarily good for you. Weight loss shouldn't be our ultimate standard. Good health.....that's the golden ticket. I have a book I haven't started yet which is How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger. He has a great podcast I like to listen to so I can learn more. I think the joint thing is inflammation. What foods cause you inflammation? I would start with that. Your trip sounds fun. My dd would love that. She's trying to get me to go on a London/Scotland trip.

@mswatson0777 Welcome back! I didn't realize your partner was going with you. Woohoo Congratulations. So romantic. I'm glad you enjoyed all the facets of the cruise.

@Tattoomama4440 Welcome to the group! Counting is counting no matter where you do it I think. I'm currently counting carbs and doing a carb cycling program. (med-high) One day at a time. I'm happy to exchange support.

@kickboxerKRS Welcome to the group! You're headed towards the finish line.

So as I mentioned before this past week has got my head not screwed on right. On my daily weight app, that sudden gain after I took the prednisone (did I mention 6 lbs) put me into a red WARNING range after being in the green range for 6 months. So I have to go back and practice all the things I learned in my Beck Diet Solution book about my thinking. It's all in the thinking. Diet/meal plans come and go. You can lose weight on any of them. The thinking kept me in the green for so long. The most important thought I had was if it wasn't planned I didn't eat it that day but would have it the next day if I wanted to. Last couple of days has been Oh that sounds good. Along with the destructive thought of "I'm already over so what's a few more". The correct response is just because I accidentally dropped an egg on the floor doesn't mean I need to go and throw the others and break those too. So I will conquer this and get back into my green zone. I'm trying to see the lesson learned from this other than DON'T TAKE PREDNISONE. lol Food was almost spot on during that time. I tracked each day so I know what I ate. I didn't do my usual walking during that time. Maybe the lesson learned here is that there will be times that I can't control everything. But starting when I wake up I can try.

Yellow Day- Over 230/164 Yikes! Exercise-walking 35 min

February goal- Drink 3 glasses of water

Welcome @Tattoomama4440

@theslightedgeforever Thank you! And I'm sure your gain is temporary and likely water weight retention caused by the drug. I wouldn't worry too much, just keep doing what you're doing!

@TeresaW1020 Thank you! It was a complete shock. We are pretty nontraditional and have been together for over seven years so I was floored! And your dinner sounds fabulous, I hope you have a great time with friends!

Happy Monday all! I'm officially back at work but finding it very hard to focus. I've still got a lingering cold from vacation so I'm staying home tonight and catching up on laundry (boo). Hopefully I can get back at the gym soon since I want to start tackling that holiday weight since I've got a dress to buy!

@RetiredandLovingit pickleball sounds fun. I used to really like badminton.

@Trooworld listening to an audiobook, colouring, with a spritzer sounds like heaven to me. It was a long weekend here too and I enjoyed it.

@mswatson0777 I’m glad you had a great cruise and congratulations! I’m happy for you.

@TeresaW1020 ziti, you know I’ve never had that. It’s pasta right? Sounds like you’ve been busy. The wine- ah, sometimes it’s hard. But if it was just a craving and you get back to it the next day it will be ok.

@theslightedgeforever prednisone does cause weight gain. I had a cat on it for a long time and he was overweight. But it’s the exact same drug they give to people so probably same affect. …good point about the chemo.

@Tattoomama4 welcome! Yeah I tried ww, but I didn’t want to pay for it and I always found on their plan I ended up eating much less cals like under 1200, it somehow never worked very well for me. It did teach me better portion control.

I’m doing well. Lots of exercise this week. Did some core today, and the stairs. Stairs were a bit slippery.
The physio exercises are starting to get to me. It’s not even exercise, just like- bend my wrist back, hold, 10x. Three times a day.

Back stretch. Hold. Build up to 10 minute hold. 5 x a day.

And then I’ve also been massaging my bicep and trying to work on it.

Everything is getting slightly better so it’s working it’s just all so slooooow and starting to get tedious. I see him Wednesday and will get the next step. I will probably see him for 4 weeks, it will probably end up being 6 lol.

Doing better with calories.

@mswatson0777, yesss to dress shopping!! Will you have a big or small wedding? Have you set a day?

@trooworld, my weight is up too so I feel your frustration. I actually woke up this morning and wondered if I should go back to Keto but that isn’t the answer. The answer is to track and stay in a calorie deficit on a consistent basis. We both know this! Now to do it, right? I’m driving down to Florida on Feb. 29th and will bring mom back home with me on March 1st. So it’s almost time!

@RetiredAndLovingIt, one of the reasons I like to have people over is that it forces me to do the deep cleaning that my house needs. Of course, moving in my clean freak mother is helping too! I’ve been trying to decide what my plan is too. I bounce back and forth on wanting freedom and thinking that I need structure with my eating. Super annoying if you ask me!

@its_cleo, yes Ziti is a pasta dish with Italian sausage, marinara and LOTS of cheese!! Very tasty and very calorie dense. My rings won’t budge on my fingers this morning. I need to go get some water! I can see where the exercises you are having to do can be tedious but it’s good that you are starting to see progress.

@theslightedgeforever, I will take you up on the reading guide as soon as I get the book. Going to wait until I get my mom settled so probably next month. I have got to get my head on straight and that little habit thing I was doing helped but it’s not been enough. Like I wrote above to RetiredAndLovingIt, I’m trying to find the balance of eating with freedom and needing the structure of a diet. Yes, I want to be skinny and eat my cake too!

Good morning! Everyone loved the Ziti and the strawberry shortcake I made for dessert. This was the couple I wrote about a while back who is having a son who will die shortly after he is born due to severe birth defects. She is due in a month, but they could induce her at any time. We talked about how we can help them with food and other support when they come home from the hospital. DH and I were glad that we could show them some love and give them a relaxing evening. Their son, Walker who is almost two was the best part of the night for me. I love that little boy!! In other news, today I will workout and drink a ton of water to try to flush out all the sodium that I ate last night. I have ladies Bible study tonight and I’m behind on my homework, so I need to do that too. Have a great day everyone!

@teresaw1020 I hear you on the freedom and boundaries. I did get to have my cake and eat it too for 6 months. Just climbing out of the bog this time seems to be difficult. But I'm doing it one limb at a time. I'll be fine once I make my trendline go back into the green. It's all mental. So think about your fences(boundaries) Are they too close to your house? Are they set too low? So you feel deprived. Do you do the thing where you over eat one day so you feel you must really pull it back the next day to compensate. But that makes you want the extra food even more the following day so you overeat again. Vicious cycle. If you go back and look at your food diary can you spot patterns. Which meals do you go over? Which environments? Are you preplanning your day? Oh goodness on your friends. What a hard thing to have to go through. I'm glad you are there to support them.

@trooworld Look at you being all warrior princess and taking action. One day of action beats a month of thinking about our goals. Since we are not guaranteed tomorrow or really any moment past the one we are currently in that's all we have to deal with. That moment. When it's breaktime walk. When mealtime is done, track. Well done.

@mswatson0777 I'm a worrier by nature. Quarantine would really suck although I was just thinking how much fun I could have. As long as i had food and bathrooms. I bet Pinterest has good ideas for small inexpensive weddings. Just find the things that are very memorable for you and add those. Are you a write your own vows kind of person? Dh and I got married at the courthouse. We fought the entire way there because he wouldn't stop and get me flowers. I had just started a new job and so after the little ceremony I went in to work. But that was 32 years ago. It's not the wedding that's the most important but make it memorable. I think the reception is the most fun thing anyway. (didn't get one of those either, lol) If he were here writing this, he would say, see we saved a bunch of money and we're still married. I love lentil soup. You can get to 145 lbs. Just one lb at a time. I'm ready for a bunch of NSV again.

Yellow Day-Stayed OP 163/164 carbs. Did not exercise.

February goal-3 glasses of water. I'm getting half of this done but the other half evades me. Time to be a warrior princess and take action.

@trooworld, hey being up a pound isn’t bad at all!! I hear about wanting to relax but needing to get your housework done. I’m always trying to find that balance in my house. I am not really nervous about my mom moving in, but I do know that it will be an adjustment. She has only met my husband a couple of times over the last 15 years and now suddenly they are in the same house together. But they are both likable people and both are very passionate about talking about their faith so I think that will bond them. Plus, having an extra pair of hands helping me keep this house clean means a more relaxing time for me. Right?

@mswatson0777, I am also glad that I’ve been put in a position to be a true friend to this young couple, who are so much wiser than I was at their age. A small wedding sounds perfect! My husband and I ran off to a Savannah and had a small wedding and a wonderful week together. Make it what you want it to be!

@theslightedgeforever, so many questions!! Yes, it’s all mental! I looked back at my tracker and I didn’t track on Valentine’s Day when we went out to dinner and I didn’t track the dinner I had with my friends or the leftovers we ate yesterday. Why didn’t I track it? Was it too much work to figure it out? Lazy? Denial? Soooo many excuses! I should have given it my best guess so I would have at least taken ownership of it. My scale sure took ownership when I stepped on it with its brutal honesty. So, what to do now? Move on and start again. Tonight is a pizza and cake party with the kids at church and I have already tracked it so that I can know what the calories are and how much I can now eat for lunch. I HAVE to get out of my own bog too!

@joannadavison, just think how happy you will be once you declutter and organize your craft/study room! But I hear you that it can be a lot of work to get it done. Then once it’s done you have to keep up with it, so it doesn’t get out of control again. That is my constant battle with our home office space.

Good morning! Well, I woke up to my scale screaming at me to get it together!! I can’t believe how fast it can go up after a couple of days of overeating and how long it takes to get it to go down after eating perfectly. Very frustrating but it is what it is and like I wrote above I need to take ownership and track it all! Time to go workout and drink more water!