Women 200lb+, Let's Keep It Moving This March!!!

67 years old, Height: 5'6"
SW: 266 lbs
3/1: 261.8 lbs
3/15: 260.4
3/17: 260
3/18: 259.6
CW: 259.2

GW: Onderland 1st, maintain for a few weeks then 150 lbs.
March Goal weight get to 255

March Weekly Goals are:
2. Continue to Improve my weekday breakfasts Yes!
3. Log weight, food and exercise and eat under calorie goal. Yes!
4. Get closer to the mid 250s this means my highs and lows get and stay below 260 very slowly
5. Get some exercise and up NEAT at least 6 days a week. got in 2 small walks so far
6. Make healthy foods at home.Yes!
7. Get enough sleep and improve water intake.Yes!
8. Check out this thread daily.Yes!

@AlexandraFindsHerself I hope the house works out. I miss the Y and Aquafit too.

@nels5850 glad you found a work around. I have an additional APP I use too since my weight varies so much. I enter my weight in daily and I can see it in graph mode and see the downward trend. Great Friday weigh-in

@Cupcake Crusoe I will do another check in today with you since I had a tiny by significant loss. You are so close to your weekly goal. I like how you are tracking macros. Enjoy your movie night!

@RavenStCloud It was nice to see your post. Thanks for the information on Korea. If we had been testing more that may have been our future. It sounds like you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Take care and stay safe.

Today I made a small milestone. I finally used MFPs check-in after about 2 years. I only log losses on MFP since I vary so much and I weigh daily. I am finally lighter than I was in 2018 by .4 lbs. I think like @nels5850 I feel this group is part of my progress. I was struggling until I found it.

I moderated an active group on here for quite a while but most had stopped posting after a good run. It had been a successful thread and I think making it a group killed it slowly. I missed the support. It was for those older who had a significant amount to lose. There are some added issues once you get over a certain age. I tried to find a group or thread on MFP to give me the same support. It wasn’t until the fall that I found this thread. I was really struggling then and didn’t post as much. But in January I rejoined and tried to really post at least once a week despite being so busy. I actually turned it around just before Christmas as my weight chart shows me now. Late December I was reading posts on this thread but had been too busy earlier in the month to join in.



The other thing is that my highs are much lower as well. I am not popping up a few pounds after a loss like I was before. You can see that my loss is actually getting steeper in the past month. March is my birthday month but I agree this has been a hard month. However all of this actually started at the beginning of the year and is only now hitting most of us to differing degrees. However I think due to my birthday I refused to give in to March being so bad. I am trying to take advantage of the time I have. I am playing a little too much free cell but I am doing a few things each day to be happy about. We used to have a Friday breakfast treat so since I was doing so well with my weekday breakfasts I went and got it for me and my daughter. It was all drive thru take out and I took appropriate precautions. It was so nice just being out of the house. We have taken a few walks but they have been after dinner.

It really is beautiful here in Seattle now and people are getting outside and enjoying it.

Okay this is for you @BrownSugar174 and any other pandemic times readers.

This is what I am reading now.

Keri

I have to admit, I derive a certain pleasure in knowing that in these chaotic and anxious times, I at least have control over what I put in my mouth.

And I am still losing. More recomping than losing pounds at this point, but I know I'll have another lurch downward again.

Height: 5'7"
Highest Weight: 254
End of December Weight: 246.7
End of January Weight: 244.7
End of Feb. Weight: 242.2
3/7: 241.5 (-0.7)
3/14: 241.2 (-0.3)
3/21: 238.3 (-3.1)
End of March Goal Weight: 237
Final GW: 165 (then reevaluate)

My appetite continues to be affected by the uncertainty of everything right now. I just started my period yesterday and still feel a bit bloated, but my weight plummeted by over 3 lbs in the past week. I'm trying to stay healthy and eat well, drink Emergen-C daily, and get long walks in with my pup still. That was a bit tougher the past couple of days with the heavy spring snow storm we got.

It has been a challenging week - for everyone. Just have to focus on "baby steps". I keep thinking about that movie "What About Bob" with Bill Murray. Good for a laugh and I kind of feel like him now whenever I leave the house, which isn't too often!

I am supposed to return to work this coming Monday, but with how quickly everything changes, I imagine that we could be under a shelter in place order by then, or end up getting sent home early again on Monday like we did this past Monday, which kind of feels like a lifetime ago at this point.

Anyway, I'm rambling. My brain is having a difficult time focusing lately. I hope all of you continue to stay safe and healthy out there! We will get through this!!

I'm doing well. Period is on its last few days so while my weight is bouncing around, it's bouncing in a largely downward direction. Probably will be down another pound by the end of it all. I keep in touch with my loved ones by phone, and they're all okay, and enjoy reading and videogaming, and am just eating to plan easy and responsible. It helps that I've shrunk my stomach and am on meds that make food uninteresting.

I have a pork shoulder in the crockpot with onion, black pepper, and a bottle of hard cider, to stew down to pulled pork. It will make a sizeable amount, but it freezes and rewarms well.

**Height 5' 4"
SW: 216.8 (10/10/2019)
CW 3/1: 194.6
3/6: 194.6 (0 month)
3/13: 195.4 (+0.8 month)
3/20: 195.2 (+0.6 month)
March GW: 190
GW: 150
Feb Goals: Cardio/elliptical 3/week (1)
Strength and Yoga 3/week (0/0)
Water 8c/day (6)

Forgot to post check in yesterday. Hair down for the week but still up overall for the month. At this rate I'm just hoping to end where I began the month. Stress, salty food, inflammation etc are dog piling on here just like with so many others. I've not been able to read back but hope all are doing well. Hugs to all and stay safe.

@RavenStCloud - thank you for being the voice of experience. It's good to hear from people living in countries that are starting to turn a corner. An old friend of mine lives in Hong Kong and hearing from him is like talking to someone living a month in the future. So thank you for the encouragement.

@RavenStCloud, I'm glad things seem to be looking up. Hopefully we will be in the same boat soon.

@WynterDreaming, I need to order some weights, but I am also struggling with the money part. Right now I keep thinking is it a necessity or just a want? And that usually stops me, but my health is important and I need to remember that.

@MyBeth1, what a great way to look at it. It is very easy to get sucked into a negative mindset right now.

@changeforeverlj, sending hugs. I am sure it is hard to not be able to see your mom. But I love the mindset, this is something we can control and I need to say that to myself, too.

@sharpdust, you got this. I also slipped this last week and basically gave into every craving that I had, but I told myself to control it today and I went out for a walk with my boyfriend and stepkids. It really helped to be outside (and we were social distancing!)

@bluffgirl67, checking youtube is a great idea. I have skimmed it, but not too heavily. Sending you hugs, these are stressful times.

@CupcakeCrusoe, look at you go. Great work, still a loss even if you did not meet all your goals like you wanted.

@KeriA, I bet keeping data helps, I have considering doing that so I do not get discouraged with my once a week weigh-in. Also, that's a great accomplishment, go you!

@Curvybaja55, great loss! And that sounds like some solid advice, I need to work on limiting my screen time.

@pamiede, you look great! What an accomplishment you have done, such an inspiration.

@Tarzan37, focusing on baby steps is a good idea, I keep looking so far ahead and getting discouraged with what is out of my control. I am also about to start my period and feel so bloated, my cravings were out of control and I gave into most of them unfortunately. I hope your appetite gets back to normal soon.

@shorepine, I have also been stress eating and avoiding the scale. I know eventually I will just need to do it.

@aliciap0116, I hope it is a smooth transition with your step-daughter home, and no illnesses pop up. I have started her podcast, like I mentioned, and it is great!

@bluffgirl67, this month has been hard. We have all done the best we can and can always refocus and do what we need to do to reach our goals. I've missed seeing your posts!

@speyerj, amazing! Also, great job on running 7 miles. I'll be honest, I do not think I have ever fully ran a mile.

I’ve been reading, but unable to respond due to my turbulent schedule. The work plan for our department has changed no less than four times in the last week. Resulting in my working 12-hour days at the beginning of the week, with my days starting even earlier due to the altered train schedules for transit into the city. I’ve got my own little frustrations detailed below. But somehow at the end of the week everything worked out for me. Still trying to figure out what might have made the difference, or if it was just a whoosh I was waiting for…

Height: 5' 6"
SW (09/08/2019): 239.2 lbs
March SW (3/1/20): 179.4 lbs
3/8/2020: 180.2 lbs
3/15/2020: 180.0
3/22/2020: 175.2
March GW: 173 lbs
GW: 150 lbs (then reconsider)

My goals for March are:

• Cardio for 45-60 min, 5-6 times a week, 2-3 of the sessions Couch-to-10K workouts, with a long run on the weekend. Cross training on the off-days – no cross-training, of course. And I did not get to do anything on Monday or Tuesday, primarily due to work scheduling and not having an open trail when I finally got home. I did the minimum I wanted, 5 workouts, with 2 of the sessions couch to 10K plus a weekend long run. My goal was to run 7 miles for the long run, I ended up running 7.5 miles.
• Increase walking distance to 10 miles for one workout a week – I will do this today, and I want to go to a trail nearby to mix up my experiences a bit. It’s a loop trail just a bit over 5 miles, and quite hilly. Was thinking about doing the loop in one direction, then reversing to go in the other direction.
• Core exercises at least 3 times a week. Also need to add other weight training for legs, upper body. – It was honestly way too difficult to try to get it all in this week. My parents had their birthdays this past week (on the same day), and I was calling them very late in the day to wish them happy birthdays, and falling asleep on the phone with both. I might have been able to on Friday, but after going to all the stores to find things and then working out a plan to put it all away my energy level was shot.
• Lose three inches in my measurements – I just made it! 3 inches down. It felt early to me, but it really has been four weeks!
• Continue to drink water – Check, even on the days I was home!
• Take better care of my skin in hopes it will start to regain its shape. Hoping faithfulness here will be rewarded in the long run. I continue to be terrible at this.

I know we all have our challenges. If I’m keeping an internal gratitude journal, the first thing I’m grateful for is that I am still employed with a ton of work to do, whether I need to go into the city to do it or I’m doing it from home. There are times with my job that I need to actually perform in person. Our department mandate currently is to work from home to the greatest extent possible. But our team needs to train new nurses the first week of April, and I volunteered. One of the other instructors in my department is 71 and also has a condition which puts him at high risk. Another one has a four-month-old infant at home. Also, even if I am no longer involved with direct patient care, I am still a nurse. The least I can do is be there for the trainees, so they can be there for you if you need them.

Second, one side effect of being busy is that I have a fully accrued vacation and personal time bank – 9 weeks. (Plus more than 9 weeks of accrued extended leave time which is not “mine” but only to be used if I had to go out on FMLA.) And failing both of those two things, my employer does have a fund for employee assistance if needed.

Hopefully for those of you who need it financial assistance is on the way. Here in the US, apply for unemployment if you are eligible! And try speaking to the companies you make payments to, a lot are sympathetic and they are helping by waiving minimum payments. and fees. Don’t assume that they’ll do it as a blanket exception, you need to call and state your case.

And try to shop locally when you can. I fear a lot of small businesses will be closing, especially if this national quarantine goes on for a protracted period.

I wish that everything above meant I was anxiety-free. On Friday I spent almost $240 on groceries just for me. Maybe only $225 if I subtract the plant I bought at Trader Joe’s and some aloe vera gel to make my own hand sanitizer. I was nearly sick to my stomach with all that I bought, and everything I picked up I had to remind myself it wouldn’t be the last time I’d ever see it in the store. But I truly worried about meat. The meat cases were empty. Generally the worst indicator for me is when I see something that’s not being restocked even though other things are. Very little meat last Sunday, then very little to no meat on Friday has me very worried. I’m glad I know of and enjoy good meatless options. The only other thing to mention about my shopping is that it did happen to coincide with planned meal prep activity. I wasn’t out of prepped meals in my freezer, but I had already planned for a few weekends of meal prepping to restock.

I think @aliciap0116 had mentioned Phit-n-Phat, and when I work from home I play her podcasts through my speakers so I have a bunch of inspiration on my mind. Specifically about her 24-hour plan. In her quest to fix everyone’s mind about weight loss, one of her basics is making a 24-hour plan and sticking to it. Essentially, she doesn’t care what you put on your 24-hour plan, what she cares about it that you stick to it. It is about developing the skill and habit of keeping the promises you make to yourself. So, someone just starting might make a plan that they’re going to go to lunch at McDonald’s each day to get a supersized meal, and she would be fine with it as long as you put it on the plan then actually follow-through and eat it. Then when you are used to following the plan she wants you to challenge yourself, even if in a small way, and put it on the plan. So maybe when you’re ready to level up you don’t supersize your meals. Eventually, you get to the point where you’re not going to McDonald’s anymore.

I’ve been reading and I’ve noted that many have scaled back for now. And I can understand completely how that can happen, because losing weight is hard work and it does take a lot of emotional and physical resources. For those who are looking to maintain, my wish for you is that you keep to the habit of making plans. A realistic plan that you can successfully follow. Even a plan to stay at maintenance is a plan.

Personally, I know I can only go forward at this point. Whatever it takes. If I had to stick to a maintenance plan, I would. But I have quit on myself too many times in the past, and there are only so many times I can ask myself to do this, mentally and physically.

I hope everyone continues to be well!

Good Evening All,

I’ve been looking at all the comments, just haven’t been too engaged in the conversation... honestly, my minds been all over the place. But, welcome to everyone who’s just recently joined the group. I hope everyone has been finding a way to cope with the stress and anxiety. I’ve been refocusing on my goals and have upped my exercise routine and I’m getting more comfortable eating healthy choices within my calorie goals. Other than that, I’ve been at home waiting for our “new normal” to come around.

SW:240
Starting March weight: 231.9
3/8: 229.8
3/15: 229.8
3/22: 226.6

I lost 3 lbs even though its that TOM so I’m interested to see if I lose anymore once the bloat goes away. Well, stay safe and sane everyone. Things will get better😊

So much change this month. Working from home last week and will find out tomorrow if this will be continuing. My gym is closed and the pool I swim at is also. Practically all the stores are as well. At least it's raining so it helps the mind think one should stay home. Managed to stock up over the past couple of weeks and are seeing lots of empty shelves and rationing in the markets, TP is now a commodity. Have to remind myself to drink - it's not a habit like when I go to work. Same with taking my supplements. That changes tomorrow; going to setup like a regular workday and set myself tasks. Fillup my container and take care of MY essentials first.

I'm down a pound this morning to 276, which means that since the beginning of the year I've lost 20 pounds. Not too shabby. I like nice round numbers like 20.

I have a lot of small tweaking around here to make the house ready for photos and for showing. I also drew up a rough kitchen plan for redo of the kitchen in my new house. I get a purposed baking counter area, FINALLY, and a good place to keep my stand mixer. Plus there's even an isolated bit of counter area in the far corner that, if I give it its own outlet, is an ideal place to stick a crockpot or the dehydrator while they work for hours, while not taking up my work space in the rest of the kitchen. (I would have loved to put the fridge in that corner, but the idiot who redid the electricity stuck the electrical panel there.)

I don't hurt as much as I thought I would after the mad scramble to clean things up yesterday. Normally my cleaning routine would have meant no scrambling, but it was TTOM last week and a lot of things like vacuuming and mopping didn't get done. So....not going to show the realtor the house with cat hair all over! I'm a little footsore today but I will do some good reading and fold all the laundry I washed yesterday, and I can do that sitting down.

Since I can't get to the gym, I'm going to start making it a point to do some bodyweight exercises every day. Laying down and holding your legs at a 45 degree angle works your core just fine.

Hi Everyone!

I didn't post my numbers on Friday. I didn't have the mental capacity to get on and post. My schedule and mind is way off track but I am working really hard to stick to it. I can't let this thing interfere with the work I have done.

Last week was a week of resisting to emotionally eat. I have pulmonary disease and I can't help but be worried. Fortunately, I still have a job and have been going into work, which has added a great deal of stress. I am so scared that I will catch this and it won't be good for me if I do. I worry about my son and him being alone at home. I can't home school him right now. And believe me he is not one to do his work without direction. I spent the entire day on Saturday hunting toilet paper down for gods sake because we were out. No chicken...so my meal prep is beef this week, which I know will not be the best but I have to make due.

Everyone is in my prayers and thoughts. Some of you are tackling this thing like champs! So very proud of all of you! Thank you to the health care workers and anyone on the front lines, you are in my prayers.

Like @aliciap0116 and @mmdeveau have said, the phit-n-phat podcast are a great resource. She is really focusing on the mental part of weight loss and that is what I need right now. Getting me out of my head and realizing, that part of this journey is to realize that *kitten* is going to happen. We must be there for ourselves.

I decided to get out of my funk...I am journaling all of my fears and frustrations and goals. It really has helped me get the anxiety out of my head. One of the podcasts that I listened to last week talks about KEEP, STOP, START. It relates to evaluating your day or week and what are you doing well...and KEEP that, what didn't work, STOP, and what I am going to START doing to help me with my weight loss journey. My journal will have one of these statements every week from now on.

I had made a goal to exercise at least 15 minutes a day and did ok for a week or so and then this anxiety poured in and I was making excuses not to do it. I had plenty of time to do it. I was almost crippled by the anxiety.

I took an hour walk yesterday and I felt so good afterwards. I have my workout room ready and waiting and it has been beautiful here. No more excuses!!

My food has been ok. I didn't resort to fast food or things I don't normally eat, but I have overate. Things I only normally eat once or twice a week as treats are happening everyday sometimes. I am hoping to start cutting back on that one day at a time.

I gained a pound. Not horrible in the scheme of things.

OW – 276.6 (Jan 2019)
2020 start weight – 252.2
January end weight - 247.0
February end weight - 240.2

Total loss for 2020 – 13 lbs.
Total loss since OW –37.4 lbs.

3/6 Goal 238.7 – actual - 239
3/13 Goal 237.2 – actual – 238.2
3/20 Goal 235.7 – actual – 239.2
3/27 Goal 234.2

March goal weight - 234.2

Non Scale goals
-Move more – commit to at least 15 minutes a day for 5 out of 7 days –changed this to 5 out of 7

-Limit alcohol intake - 7 days out 23 days - not what I wanted, but it is still cutting back. Used to have a cocktail almost every night with dinner.

-Work on reducing the bad fat – well this went out the window last week!

-Work on changing my negative thoughts to positive ones – work in progress. when I have anxiety it's really hard to practice this one.

Please take care!