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

@theslightedgeforever oh my goodness I love your wedding story! I've seen stats that the less you spend on the wedding, the more likely you are to stay together. You two must take the cake on that! If it were just up to me I'd just run away and elope, but he doesn't want to offend people so we're doing a family party. My goal is to spend around $3,000 total which is 1/10 of the national average but I think I can pull it off!

@joannadavison Sounds like you have quite the busy schedule, enjoy the rest of your holiday break! I also love contacts for physical activity, I hope you'll like yours as well!

@TeresaW1020 Running off to Savannah sounds like a dream! I'd love to elope...but he doesn't want to offend people so we're having a family party *sigh* I haven't stepped on a scale since vacation, good for you for staying accountable!

I had a complete anxiety attack last night. Grad school and wedding planning and work are a lot of things to juggle and I'm supposed to do my qualifying exam this summer, ahh! I'm just feeling completely overwhelmed with it all and behind on assignments from my vacation. I know it will all sort itself out and I need to take it one day at a time, but holy buckets this is gearing up to be a busy year.

@joannadavison So now you know what not to do next Christmas season. You don't want to be in February 2021 almost March climbing out of a hole. That's what I was doing with vacation weight and my kid's winter break each year. I'd finally get out of the hole and then fall right back in. Sounds like you are doing good planning your time in the gym with your busy schedule and looking to see how you can cut carbs a bit more. I spent most of the year climbing instead of enjoying. Interesting you said blob of jelly. I thought you would have said jam. Oh wait, do you mean jello? I love chic-lit. That's the kind of books I read normally when I'm not reading bookclub books. Life has it's own drama so I just want to escape. Next time you pick up that book notice the name. I'd like to read that. The Crown is on my list.

@teresaw1020 Questions are like the archeologists tools. They uncover the answers you've been searching for to the treasure of weight loss. Yes to all of your questions. I know that my carbs aren't going to be perfect if I don't know exactly what I'm eating, how it was prepared, etc. That's why I look it up on MFP. Choose a similar restaurant if I can't find mine or it's not listed on their website. Or if I'm out a friend's gathering I'll just use 'homemade' and then I always pick the calorie count that's in the middle and then log that. I'm looking for balance and accountability. Not tracking gives us an excuse to eat more. Our brain is always working to keep us at the weight we are. It loves the start/stops that we do. Because we end up going nowhere. I've been like Moses wandering around in the desert. I'm ready for the promised land.

@mswatson0777 So in this stressful year ahead, healthy eating and exercise top the list each day. It's so easy to say I'll start eating healthily when X is over. There's always going to be X in our life. Having a strong body will help us through those times a lot easier. So if the data is true about spending less on weddings then dh and I should stay together til death do us part (hopefully). We spent gas money and license fee. lol Not even new clothes. Ha I just had a memory come to me. I was wearing a fuschia top and a white skirt with flowers. In the midst of the flower fight, he says you have flowers on your skirt. Hold those during the ceremony. May you have a beautiful wedding with everything that makes it special to you.

@its_cleo Yaaay for you with another good day of calories. You're starting to make some good habits. One glass with each meal sounds ideal. Now for my reality.....lol.....I do drink a mug which is 1 1/2 glasses of water with my dinner unless I'm out at a restaurant. I always drink hot tea with my breakfast. I like the caffeine fix first thing in the morning. Sometimes I don't have lunch. Probably 3-4 times a week. My current plan is water with dinner and then drink one when I'm cooking dinner. That has been hit and miss. So I'll still work on it. I've always got a plan but executing said plan seems to be my nemisis. It seems so easy on paper.

Red Day- Stayed OP 98/100 carbs Exercise- 40 min walking

Tomorrow my friend's are throwing me a bday party. I have the menu and will pre-plan so I can fit everything in that I want to eat. Instead of a cake, I opted for whoopie pies. I will do my exercise in the morning to make sure it gets done.

@mswatson0777, yes just keep swimming! You can only take it one day at a time and try not to focus on it as a whole, which can be so overwhelming. Take is one chunk at a time and have fun with it! This time in your life will never happen again so embrace the chaos and breathe.

@its_cleo, thank you! It helps to be able to talk about my mom moving in because it is a huge change to my consistent and happy life. I do think it will be good, but I also know that I will miss what I have now. Glad that you are doing well with your calories and that the exercises from your physio aren’t so tedious for you to do.

@theslightedgeforever, yesss I want the promised land too!! And that means being obedient by doing the work that is required to get there. I’m over 2 lbs this week and I know it’s because I way overate because I didn’t track it. I hope you have a wonderful time with your friends at your party! Good choice on the whoopie pies!

Good morning! Well, today is a busy day for me because I leave this afternoon for a two day women’s event that is being put on by my favorite Bible study teacher, Kelly Minter. Ten of us from ladies Bible study are going together and we will stay the night since the conference is an hour away and ends late this evening and starts back up early tomorrow. Plus, we are all excited to just getaway for the weekend and hang out together. It does mean eating out tonight and two times tomorrow, but I’m determined to be careful and no matter what to track it all the best I can. I’ll be back on Sunday!

Good day all. Been awhile. Was going good was down to 153.6. Had a bad week back up to 156. Need to get my head in the game and stay in the game. Having trouble finding the time for the treadmill and weights. Have the winter blues I think. Hockey is done for us now so that opens up a bit more time. Just need to commit more. In beginning of feb for serious for just over a week and that is when my weight finally dropped. Still can’t believe I am sitting here at 156 when in June I was 143. Sure doesn’t take long to fall apart. Lol. Goal today is 30 day squat and arm challenge. Will hit the treadmill tom with some weights.

Hi all, been having fun reading about all of the weddings. My sisters(a year before us) & ours were both relatively small. Mine was bigger because dh has a ton of relatives, lol. We both made our dresses & the bridemaid dresses. Looking back on it, I kinda think why did I think that looked good?--it was early 70's, casual hippy days. But we have been married almost 46 & 47 years so guess we did something right, lol. Our oldest dd got married in a log cabin church in the mountains of Georgia. I think a barn wedding will be very pretty!

@TeresaW1020 Good luck with your eating at the conference & have fun with the girls. Just keep trying to be mindful when eating.

@mswatson0777 Glad you are feeling better, you are really burning some calories!! This has been a kinda blah week for me, too, haven't felt motivated.

@renaegry Just keep at it, it will come off again. I think I would have winter blues, too, if our weather was as cold as yours. I remember your post about super cold, & I whine when it is about 20, lol.

@trooworld How is the tracking going? I am pretty good at tracking, just not so good at staying in the limits.

@theslightedgeforever Great job resisting the extra food at the party! & glad you had a good time.

Not sure what is wrong with me this week, been feeling very lazy!! I am in a step challenge on here & falling short of my goal of 10,500 steps most days. Think I am tired of the cold weather, too, but it is almost March which will help that. My oldest dd is 43 today!! Had our Income Tax appt yesterday & went back to the CPA that we used to use even though it was a 2 hr drive. We always questioned if the one we used the first year we lived here had done them right & our guy thinks they were wrong & we will be able to do an amended return & get some of the overpayment back. Yay! I hope he is right! That's one thing I hate about relocating---finding Professionals (Drs, tax people, etc) that you can trust. I am very happy with the new dentist, tho.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! Have gs's last basketball game tonight until they have a tournament. It is fun watching 10 year olds play.

@TeresaW1020 declutter fail- I went out with my cousin & our daughters instead. Much more fun - so I'll have to declutter bit by bit and leave big stuff until next school holiday. I hate that too- can put 1/2 stone on in a week but loose it 1lb/a week! How does that happen??? So not fair.
Enjoy the bible study weekend.

@mswatson0777 I hear you on wedding costs! DH & I married fairly young compared to most of my peers- engaged at 19 & married at 22 but still together despite the doubters. We didn't spend a fortune either. I know ppl who are divorced & still paying the wedding bills. Some cost more than the mortgage on our 1st house!! I don't get it! A friend who remarried recently had a Hog Roast plus some vegetarian options. That was brilliant- sort of BBQ but organised by outside caterer. Wedding planning is stressful no matter how big or small as you want your day to be perfect. Just keep taking things one step at a time.

@its_cleo lol @ the cat doesn't like the cream!! We have 2 cats a bit like that!! Charlie is a total cheeky teenage boy & Molly is a little diva! Hope these exercises helping.

@theslightedgeforever jelly in UK as in jello as in US. I don't know what's worse having such a manic week off or snoozing in/on bed reading chilling for the week. I don't feel like I've had a break in some respects but at least I've had almost 2 hours lie in- until tomorrow as youngest catching a train 06:50!!
The Crown is on Netflix here- is it out in USA?
What exactly are Whoopie Pies? Enjoy party.

@trooworld 1lb gone for me. Slow but sure. Hoping some improvemed changes can give that weight loss a boost.

@renaergy you're totally right it doesn't take long to do damage. Keep going- you've been there before you can do it again.

@RetiredAndLovingIt moving house & changing contacts can be hard. We eventually moved to the new dentist that set up in our village. BUT after a few years I got fed up of not being able to get emergency appt- the 3rd time I could barely talk as tooth cutting tongue- contacted the "out of hours" & ended up with appt the next morning at a different surgery but with our old dentist- moved whole family that day. We still use an Insurance Broker from where we used to live 20+ years ago.

Had such plans for today but went out with my coysin & niece instead.
Youngest is off to an "Influencer Conference Day" with 3 other young people from our area & 3 church youth leaders. They are putting ideas forward for the National Youth Assembly weekend for our church in Oct/Nov. Have to be at train station at 06:35 roughly a 4 hour journey each way. I'm going scrapbooking with my BFF Craft friends- will sort out some old papers for disposal then. At least it's a start on the craft decluttering!

@renaegry yep it is getting warmer here too. Colleague of mine just went skiing in Alberta. Not sure where.

@theslightedgeforever you should count the water in your tea…or maybe not since that would still be under what is a good daily allowance. ..great job at the party! Events like that are super hard

@trooworld your wedding sounds nice. I had El Pollo Loco when I was in Costa Rica…enjoy the bubble bath.

@mswatson777 barn sounds nice. Friend of mine got married at a relative’s property they built like a big wooden dais thing like a barn but open concept. Her brother and father are professional carpenters so it was no problem for them.

@RetiredandLovingIt that’s interesting about the Fresh thing. I keep getting coupons for them in my mailbox and Ive been tempted. Think I’ll skip it.

Here is my wedding story- my parents got divorced. My dad married my step-m when I was 15. I was a bridesmaid and let me tell you at 15 I was surly, sarcastic, and full on TEEN. I bought tshirts with terrible slogans to bug my dad. Like terrible. I bought a shirt with a picture of Charles Manson on it lol. I also HATED dresses. So for this wedding I had to wear this awful bright pink poofy dress. I hated it. So halfway through the wedding it (had crinoline in it) I went to the bathroom with a pair of scissors and cut out all the inside crinoline and lining trying to make it less poofy lol. My dad didn’t realize until after the wedding. My aunt took me and my brothers to her place and we ordered pizza and watched tv. That was the best part of the wedding to me!

Well I’ve done ok this week with calories. My weight is down which is natural as last week it really spiked up bc of the pizza. So I wouldn’t say I lost weight but it went back to normal.

Been exercising but yesterday and today kind of a slog. I like to run but I am just terrible at it. I keep trying to increase and I just can’t do it. It was starting to make me feel bad and stressed. So I need to rejig and try something different. So Im going to try 2x a week for 20 mins and that is run/walk intervals. So each run is actually like 10 minute running and 10 minute walking.

Also and this is maybe TMI- my period is over a week late which is unusual. I guess I’m perimenopausal but it has been pretty regular for the last 6 to 8 months. Like it got weird quite a long time ago, then settled into a new normal for a long time and now this is unusual to be this late again. Not a big deal except its screwing up my workout planning. Ran for 10 mins today and thought I was going to be sick from cramps. It got better once I got home.

Also my computer is not working well so I’m working on a 13 year old Sony laptop. Ironic that it is functioning better than my ‘new’ laptop which is 3 yrs old. I ordered a new battery for it so hopefully that will fix it.

It is a beautiful sunny day here. Tomorrow I’m going with friends to a pub. I need to come up with a plan.

@renaegry I hope things get better for you and that you can get back into your normal workout routine. I find it hard restarting after my bout with bronchitis. Lots of little stops and starts here that are not helping me. Tomorrow is another day to beat it. We'll get there.

@its_cleo At least your weight is down or normal as you say but still down. It could have stayed up and you added to it. Give yourself the credit. Did you figure out a pub plan? If I counted the water in my tea I would hit the daily allowance as a I have 2 mugs in the a.m. and 2 in the afternoon for a total of 6 cups. But I won't count it because caffeine is dehydrating. I don't like the taste of herbal teas. I could count those but I won't drink them. So....pure or fruit infused water it is. Just need to do it. I've been better this week than last though. So I'm heading in the right direction. I was imagining you as a surly, sarcastic teen. Nobody likes crinoline I don't think. Well, I guess your step-mom did. This is my longest time ever between periods. I haven't had one since end of November. I had the PMS just still waiting for Granny Flo. I'd like for her to take about 7 lbs home with her too when she leaves again. lol Then I could get back to my new normal. I liked it.

So in my 100 day book some good stuff I was reading.....

No person loses weight and keeps it off by giving up control of their choices.
The end goal is not the strategy
Your strategy not your desire will determine success
Every choice you make sets a precedence for the next time you are in that situation.
Successful weight loss is more about adding new and better things to your life than taking things away.

Guise, Stephen. Mini Habits for Weight Loss:

Green Day- Went over 393/238 Exercise- walked 68 minutes

February goal- Drink 3 glasses of water

So with perimenopause did you guys get symptoms even though you didn't get your period for long times? I think that's what is driving me crazy.

I feel better today. Weight is down the lowest it's been since Dec 1. YAY. Happy with that.

Pub plan- late lunch at home. Take a sandwich with me in case I get hungry (I never tend to eat when we go, I just drink lol. But I make sure I have a good meal before). Set a drink limit. If I don't snack today it should be within my calories. It's actually like a whiskey pub and they have whiskey flights (samplers). Whiskey is less calories than beer but it's super expensive. I'll stick with beer .

@theslightedgeforever ah so your struggles make sense now with the caffeine. I have coffee every afternoon and I always struggled to drink water after. Because it is liquid going into your system...I just found it hard to drink a lot of water on top of it. I've gotten better but only bc I was really aware of it. But I only have 2 or 3 coffees a day. Ideally 2.

@TeresaW1020 I'm glad you had fun! It's nice to get away for a girls weekend.

Third sunny day in a row here! I'm doing the stairs later before meeting my friends.

On the down side my biceps tendonitis is still a prob. I tried some movements yesterday with 1 lb and couldn't do it pain free. Frustrating. I told my trainer we should just forget about my arms because it will never heal and just focus on my legs- I said my legs are the money makers lol

@teresaw1020 Time to make a U-turn on the road and get back to it. You worked really hard to get into some smaller clothes and you don't want to have to return to bigger clothes. I always gain in my boob area first and I could tell a couple of shirts was tighter. I enjoyed having loose clothing as a sign of my success. I'm glad you enjoyed your conference and feel refreshed and renewed.

@its_cleo I have PMS symptoms of eating salty and chocolate items, and mood swings. So I'm just trying to roll with it because there's not much I can do about it at this point. Woohoo on the scale. That must have been so satisfying. Your plan is working. You are making some new habits. Sorry about the biceps. It's tough when our bodies don't do what we want.

@trooworld I think all of us needs work on our strategy. I need to list exactly what I was doing from August to January and start doing that again each day. I'm probably following about 80% of it but I need 95% effort. Skating sounds like so much fun. Although it's been awhile for me too but I think it could be relearned. I might be hugging the walls and surely I'm due for some karma with my actions taking hubby to the skating rink the first time. Your meals look good this week.

@nighthazel01 Good news is that you aren't gaining. So give it a couple of more weeks and if you are still at a standstill, figure out what to shake up? The hardest thing for me when I had college-aged kids was the shift from parent to guidance counselor. Did I mention I'm a control freak? Well that certainly goes out the window.

More good wisdom from my book.....Mini Habits for Weight Loss by Stephen Guise

Why is it that a person will sit down to watch a one-minute YouTube video without thinking about it, but not run in place for one minute because “it’s not a full workout?”

The primary goal is not weight loss but behavior change. Behavior change is the lever of weight loss. It makes it easier.

To succeed with weight loss, you must change into the type of person who weighs less. If you do that, results will follow.

Behavior change always trumps weight change. Those who think they need results in order to motivate themselves to action have it backwards. The true formula to success is to take consistent action. Consistency creates habits, brings you results and motivates you to continue.


Yellow Day-164/164 Exercise 39 minutes walking

February goal-Drink 3 glasses of water

@renaegry I feel you on those winter blues, I can't wait until it get warmer out and I can start to move outside again!

@trooworld It's truly amazing how stress stores in different areas of our body. I get stomach aches when I'm stressed. I hope the stretching helped!

@joannadavison I can't imagine still paying for a wedding after I divorced someone, how awful! And cheers to you and your spouse proving those doubters wrong! I hope you enjoy your surprise day off and everyone stays safe!

@RetiredandLovingIt I think it's fantastic you made your own dress! If I had any skills whatsoever I would love to do that because it makes it all the more special! And I'm with you on the cold weather making it hard to get steps in. It was finally above 20 degrees so I got to go out for a dog walk this morning! (20 degrees is my cutoff temperature lol).

@theslightedgeforever I'm so sorry the hostess was such a food pusher, what a bummer. We're all adults and we should fuel our bodies how we please! And I think your wedding photo idea is hilarious! I'll probably already be wearing a knee length dress so not much hiking needed!

@nighthazel01 4am is an atrocious time, I'm so sorry! I hope you're able to reduce hours and find time for self care.

@its_cleo Congrats on the weightloss! And it sounds like you have a great plan for the pub. I typically don't get food when I go out drinking either since I'm not a big fan of bar food. I much prefer going with a full stomach to make sure I don't get too tipsy! And I got a laugh out of your surly teen story because that was me too! My parents divorced around the same time and I was SUCH a brat for awhile! Good thing we grow out of all of that!

@TeresaW1020 So glad you had fun at the conference! I have a hard time sleeping at hotels too. I have a hard time sleeping when I have the bed to myself. I'm sure that water weight will be off in no time.

This weekend was rough. I am completely overwhelmed with schoolwork and I feel like I'm not getting time to myself to decompress and I'm just letting everyone down because I either have to cancel plans or not make plans because my schedule is completely overloaded. I have so many wonderful people in my life, but I just don't have time for them all right now! My partner was being fabulous and doing stuff around the house and cooked me dinner, and I barely had any energy for him. This is the part of grad school that I hate, because I feel like I'm neglecting everyone in my life. I also neglected my self care and ate like crap so I of course feel like crap too. Oh well, today is a new day and this week is a new week. I WILL get through this chapter of my life!

@its_cleo, yes, I would get all the symptoms that I was about to start but I wouldn’t. Then there were the months that I would have super heavy periods. I went 11 months without a period and was super excited that I was almost through it. Only to have my period start on the 12 month and continue for another 6 months. Perimenopause is frustrating but it’s part of being a woman, so you just have to roll with it.

@trooworld, I was just talking to some ladies this weekend about the good old days of roller rink skating. That is where a boy held my hand for the first time. Glad your back is feeling better. I love opera music!

@theslightedgeforever, good stuff from your Mini Habits book! I totally believe all that you wrote. Once I get my mom settled I’m going to get that book and the Beck one too! And yes I’m making a U-turn. I am NOT going back to bigger clothes!! That just can’t happen!

@joannadavison, you will get in that dress and those jeans again! I believe in you! I also loved when an unexpected snow day happened, and I could stay home. That has happened I think twice in the last 15 years due to living in the south.

@mswatson0777, hang in there girl!! I know it’s super hard right now, but you have to find ways for self-care and to relax and at least breathe. I’m glad that your fiancé is so supportive of you. He’s a keeper!

Good morning! The scale was down a little more today so that made me happy. I’ve decided to stop doing the 80 Day Obsession workouts because they are an hour long and with my mom coming I don’t want to commit that much time right now. I will for sure go back to it at a later date. So right now, I’m doing one now called Morning Meltdown and the workouts are only 30 minutes. And on days when I can devote more time, I will walk on my treadmill as well. Today, I have to go grocery shopping and do some housework. Have a good day!

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing well! I’ve been going non stop. Working 2 jobs, going to Zumba or walking, my stepsister is having a baby girl soon and I’m helping my mom plan and decorate the baby shower. My best friend and Zumba, WW buddy is getting married and I’m a bridesmaid. She just picked out her dress so now it’s picking out the bridesmaid dresses, which I’m nervous about because of my size and the price tag hopefully it’s something I can wear again.

WW is going okay. And the furkids are doing great looking forward to spring so I can take them hiking and walking.

Been making lists of what I want to get done in my house and redesigning it eventually once I save up $$.

I won’t be able to catch up from where I left off. I had so much more success here than at WW.

Have a great day and I’ll check in soon!

Missy

@teresaw1020 I'm glad you are looking ahead and tweaking your plans as your new normal will begin soon. That's the whole premise of Mini Habits I think. Make your goals small enough to be successful and then on the days you can do more, do more. He says even on your worst days you should be able to complete your habit. If you aren't, then your goal is too big. Cut it down. Hooray on the scale being down. I'm still waiting. But action comes before results. Reminder to myself there. I remember as a child the church would rent out the skating rink. Ahhh, the couples skate. Two songs come to mind when I think of skating.....Double Dutch Bus and Another one Bites the Dust.

@trooworld So what have you done today to help you 'get there' Mine is a short list. I should have done this list the day before. lol 17 min walking. Ate a banana. Reduced my french toast from 3 to 2 pieces.

@mswatson0777 Woohoo on your scale. Maybe this will be contagious and I will catch it from you and Teresa.
Good job on mapping out a strategy to tackle these items. What's one self care item on your list?

@gemwolf110 The fact that you are still out there working it is wonderful. So many people just give up and then end up back where they started or farther behind. Your life sounds busy but so many exciting things happening. Pop in when you get a chance.

@joannadavison I have a foam roller but only dh uses it. It hurts me but isn't that the point? Yes, baby steps and mini habits are the way to go. I was reviewing my weight loss from August til January and most of it was a loss per week between 0.6-0.8 Not much really but it was consistent and little by little added up to big things. I need to work on my decluttering. Two months is down the drain but I have 10 months to really shine at it in 2020. Now I'm the one saying 3 years of 3 month cycles? Noooooooooooooo (I hope you mean in between time and not 90 days of Granny Flo) I was so happy my period finally started this week to basically it's just spotting. I was hoping for at least a 2 lb lost with this thing. I'm a bit bloaty and was happy. Okay, I guess I'll take a 1/2 lb. I really thought well this must be the beginning of the end. Body says nope sorry, just intermission......

So today was a do nothing day. I hate those days. I did really well until just a bit ago. Should have got on here and talked with you all instead of procrastinating.

Green Day- Went over 269/238 Walked 17 min

February goals-Drink 3 glasses of water

@TeresaW1020 Congrats! I hope WW works well for you! I tried out their newest program awhile ago, but it triggered my binging so I sadly had to step away. I really like their social media tools and interface though and I think they've changed the program since then? And not to sway you on Disney+, but they've got A TON of animal shows with National Geographic. It's seriously become my new love.

@trooworld Yoga is fabulous, I'm so glad it helped you to feel better and start getting some movement in. And I am a kid at heart so I love the cheesy, always happy in the end programming. Plus, it makes great background sound for when I'm doing mindless work.

@theslightedgeforever My primary self care has been not skipping my jiu jitsu class (even though my workload says I should). And I'm jealous of your do nothing day, that is honestly my DREAM right now. PJs+couch+disney+= very happy Watson!

@joannadavison A timer doesn't sound dumb at all! I would just have a hard time switching gears when it was time to stop since there's so much to do! Soya hot chocolate sounds so delicious!

@gemwolf110 Bridesmaid dresses are a tough one! I think (hope!) I don't have to be one again, but when I was in the past I just resigned myself to whatever the bride chose. Luckily I had some nice friends with good taste...cause I've seen some doozies.

Happy Wednesday! Three more workdays until the weekend! My Mom is coming down on Friday and we're spending the evening together to start doing some wedding planning so I'm really excited. And I've only got a week and a half left in my least favorite class so then I just get to drop down to 1 grad class + a full time job, which seems a lot more manageable than two has been! I know I have to go to the dentist after work today, so I woke up early to do some cardio kickboxing since I'll have to miss jits. I'm hoping to get some readings done. I was going to do some last night but I was so burned out I just crashed.