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

Hi everyone! I weighed in this morning and maintained again. This is okay with me considering I had pizza for dinner last night.

@Shexio I love your fluffy pup! I'm from CA, originally from the midwest.

@RetiredAndLovingIt I need to up my water intake too. It is very stressful about his job and he's so stubborn! I messaged Joanna the other day and she's doing okay, just been busy I think. I'm sorry you have to miss GD's 11th birthday. That's great you were able to do a video call though!

@cbabie I hope DGGD's fever goes away and she does NOT have to go to the doctor's! No, men do not think like us!

@its_cleo Yes!

@TeresaW1020 Thank you! Your husband told you that you need to get rid of shoes? Man, he is crazy!!! I want to join your group, but that link doesn't work. Can you help?

COMMITTED.
March goal: track 1 meal a day, go for a walk 1 time a week

@trooworld - I would be happy with maintaining right now, especially with pizza! You're doing something right

@renaegry - The drinks sound good, I like trying different things, but nothing too sweet. I like my whisky from time to time.


@theslightedgeforever I like the raw butternut idea.

@Shexio Warm liquids help with the snacking. I heat water in a coffee cup to drink, I prefer most of the time to cold water, unless it's really hot outside

@its_cleo I started watching Mad Men on Netflix, I'd never watched before, I have to admit I'm kinda hooked. It's a good way to pass the time. I admire your commitment to exercise, you always seem to find a way to make it work.

@cbabie - Hopes she's feeling better soon.

Rainy and dreary here. I've spent the day cleaning and watching a movie on Netflix. We got a new washing machine because ours complete died, so DH decided to remodel the laundry room because he never liked how the cabinets and shelving was originally done. I feel this could have waited, but he likes having projects to do. If it dries up later, I'm planning on going for a walk.

@teresaw1020 I'd love to join your team but I also belong to two other groups for accountability and just no time to post personals there too. I'll be there with you all in spirit though. You sound like you made a nice healthy dinner. We used messenger for our virtual bookgroup but then I've also used zoom for a potluck gathering and tomorrow I will use Snapchat for a friends gathering. Did you start the 20 seconds challenge again today? I need to put a sticky note on my computer to remind myself of that.

@Shexio Good idea about the stepping in place during a conference call. I have a friend who walks everytime she gets a phone call. I don't get phone calls anymore. I could do that with voice messages though. I'm from IL but I had 3 kids go to college in Iowa. One still lives there in Des Moines area. Iowans are the nicest people I think.

@mswatson0777 So who does the cooking in your new married life? Or do you share it? I was wondering if you had any good healthy recipes lately.

@trooworld The lasagna was really good. I liked it. A bit time consuming so I wouldn't make it all the time but I think twice a quarter maybe? I think it would be good with a bechamel sauce too. I think I'll try that next time. Thanks for giving me the recipe. Just hose your dh down before he walks back in the door. We live in very scary times right now. I worry about both my kids cause they are in the medical field. But then I remind myself at least they still have a job.

@retiredandlovingit That's good you are not feeling like snacks. That helps with the calories. Yaaaay on losing a few pounds. That's why we're here. That and to get healthy and learn new habits. I saw that girl scout cookies can be ordered online now. Does your dd have a site? I was thinking I could order some from her and send them to my kids.

@cbabie I hope your dggd (for some reason I think of diggety-dog when I type that. lol) is feeling better. Have you returned to the treadmill yet? Remember it doesn't have to be in 30 min chunks of time for it to count. Get on there for 5 if that's all you have at the moment and then later you can find another 5. It all adds up.

@theslightedgeforever I watched Mud with Matthew McConaughey, it was a random choice on Amazon Prime. It was good. I watched Hacksaw Ridge awhile ago, also very good, and similar to the movie and book Unbroken. My family is starting to settle into a new routine, which helps, thanks for asking. My kids classes keep them busy, many of the professors haven't figured out how to run their online classes, so some of their classes have been difficult. My eating habits have improved, I'm not snacking as much, but I'm still overloading on carbs, pasta is an easy go to choice when I can't get to the store.

I walked around my house yesterday, because the weather outside was so blah. Hopefully today I get out for a real walk. I might even tackle cleaning out my computer room, there are so many papers to go through and shred, it would make for a great quarantine project.

Okay, sorta caught up on your posts. I should have logged and tracked yesterday as I took the day “ off “ from the more nutrient dense foods and focused on less nutrient dense choices. 😉

Sounds better that way don’t it? And it’s actually true. So I ended my day with a more than satisfying caramel Sunday. Oh the delight. And I made chocolate chip
Cookies, which I can have one a day if I do choose to.

My biggest downfall is being bored and not having a to do list, so I made a to do list! 📝

Anyone from the southern US? Or just me?

Yesterday we walked about 18,000 steps. I still Over indulged. Steps and activity do nothing of your food ain’t in line. I made my meal plan for the week. I’ll try to take a pic of it. Next goal is to log it al into MFP today.
— then, I literally have no excuse not to follow it.

Okay, off to walking today again. Temps ate mid-60’s. Super Excited about that.

@trooworld pizza yummmmm!!!! my hubby and I have Pizza Sunday every week. We’ve made it our Sunday night thing, which makes it SO much easier for me to just have 2 slices and be done. Also, I know how much calories to allow for the other meals.

@renaegry I always seem to post after you lol.

@Shexio that is awesome- buying the cookies. I bet the girl scouts love that. ….I think Teresa is from Georgia but don’t quote me on that.

@RetiredandLovingIt maybe they can do the GS cookies later in the year? Like the fall?

@cbabie I’m so glad you got some sleep!

@nighthazel01 I love shredding papers. I don’t know why. I bought a shredder from a neighbor last year and I have like way too many old papers, so I’ve slowly been shredding them. I just find it satisfying lol. …yeah Madmen. Yeah I’ve seen the whole thing. I like it, it’s a little bit slow but I mostly enjoyed it. The last couple of seasons dragged a little bit

@theslightedgeforever yeah I like me some Timothy Olyphant lol. I don’t think he has done much else after Justified. I’m on season 5 I think. I haven’t seen the last season yet. ….I think the thing with guilt/shame- I mean if you have over indulged with something, then all that can be done is to try to learn and do better for next time. Getting bogged down in shame and guilt after the fact isn’t always helpful. Maybe that’s what the book means? …..I like the list of delay items. I do that a lot- try to delay things.

@trooworld I found the group a little confusing at first too, but once you get the hang of it it’s good.
Well I just finished week 2 of the big shut down. Week 1 was pretty bad in terms of exercise, food etc. Week 2 was a little better. Starting week 3 today and hoping to be better still.
I went and did my stairs/hill routine today. It was pouring rain, but that meant there wasn’t a lot of people out. This afternoon I’m also going to try to do a strength workout although the stairs kind of kicked my butt.

On track for calories today.

I’m trying to think this will last until the end of April. I hope it’s better here after that.

I hope everyone takes care.

@its_cleo : great job with the steps! Good luck on the nutrition.

CoronaV-a Quarantine (CV19Q) Week 3 Day 1 starts for me tomorrow also. Yeah, the hardest part (like any other thing) has been sticking to the nutrition lol

Morning everyone! Yesterday was better as far as food goes, but I was in pain most of the day with arthritis issues in my lower back. I did get out and go for a walk in the morning though.

@cbabie Oh that's great news about DGGD! re: the bad book...I would probably not read another book by that author either lol!

@RetiredAndLovingIt Oh tornados are so scary! Stay safe. Pizza is yummy at any time of the day lol. Yes, Costcos are always busy but I bet especially busy now.

@Shexio Yes, I like the way you put that! Caramel...that's one of my favorite things in life. That's good that you always have pizza on Sunday: you can count it in on a certain day/arrange your calories around it. I love your planner for the week! It's so cute and functional.

@renaegry Hello!

@its_cleo I, too, am getting adjusted to this shutdown. I admire you, doing the stairs in the pouring rain!

@TeresaW1020 Nope! When you are counting points, it adds up very, very quickly! I'm glad your church is adjusting to online worship, that's great!

COMMITTED.
March goal: track 1 meal a day, go for a walk 1 time a week

@Shexio I love that planner with the frame. Is it heavy though? Or do you normally have it on the wall.

@TeresaW1020 I’m so glad that zoom is working out for you. Yeah a month. I feel kind of depressed today, trying to shake out of it.

@trooworld sorry about your back! I hope it eases up with some rest.

@RetiredandLovingit I hope you enjoy your walk. I’m going to get a walk in also, but it’s kind of rainy here.
Well it seems like a lot of us are on week 3. I’m feeling sorry for myself today! I did my stair routine yesterday but my Achilles was really sore and by the end it was pretty painful. I’ve had probs with my Achille in the past, but not for a few years. It has been sore off and on for a couple months, but it just got worse.

So. I don’t know. This morning it was painful to walk, I tried some very light cardio videos, but basically anything that required lifting my foot had to be pretty gentle. I did some stretches and it’s slightly better.

I’m hoping I can nurse it back but I don’t know. The jogging/stairs I do really helps my sanity so I will be sorry to lose it. I can still walk though.

Bicep tendonitis also still hasn’t healed lol.

Getting old sucks!

On the positive side I was on track for calories yesterday. Trying to hang in today. Will go for a walk this aft and maybe get some of my taxes done and call it a day.

If I missed someone, I’m sorry and hello 👋 I hope this finds you happy and blessed with good health today.

@TeresaW1020 :
My heart dropped also. Doubtful I’ll get to see my family. It’s been 6 months. Our pastor is doing good too with online sermons.

@trooworld : today I’m back to high nutrient dense foods. Do you do any back strengthening exercise moves during your week to help your lower back? Thanks for liking my planner.

@RetiredAndLovingIt : be careful outside and enjoy. CNN lastnight was recommending face masks for all 😷. Feel free to make the planner. It was easy, you probably have a large picture frame with glass laying in a closet.


My “stay at home thoughts, week 3 Day 1 : I just hate missing 🐣 easter with my family. We were supposed to go home (14hr drive) for Thanksgiving- but they had a blizzard. We couldn’t for Christmas....and had hoped easter but...nope. feeling down about that. Cloudy here.... that doesn’t help.


@Its_cleo it’s a normal picture frame (11x13). I sit it on my kitchen countertop. You could hang it. You also could just get a plastic frame. I just reused one I had on hand. I feel a little down today also.... the 30 days...the estimated death numbers. Uggh. No rainbows 🌈 from the news.
— can you do yoga for a workout? Look up Jessica smith walking series on you tube.

@mseatson0777 it is a little crazy that people are walking. Shows you how much extra time we spendy doing shopping and other things.

Worked out today. ✅
Meals in MFP for today and Tuesday. 💪
On track also! I wanted to cheer but, I designed supper to have a 1/2 thick protein shake...super excited about that rn. So I’m patiently waiting! I want weight loss abs that’s how you do it. You don’t do it by telling yourself a lie that “it won’t matter!” Every bite matters! Maybe that’s my mantra for the week.
It matters.
All of it.

Have a good Monday!

@nighthazel01 Hooray for your improved eating habits. Just as I was talking about...every little bit helps. Plus it's gradual so not such a shock to the body that it becomes normal.

@trooworld On that list I shared I think distraction yes, but also the attitude you go into it with. In the next part he talks about two kinds of thinking. All from Mini Habits for Weight Loss by Stephen Guise Yaaay for a walk.

Good: “Those cookies look delicious and I want one. I know they’re weight-gaining, so I’ll go through two mini challenges and take it from there.”

Bad: “Those cookies look delicious and I want one. Ugh. But I can’t have one now! I shouldn’t! I really want to lose this weight, but they look so good! I have to do something now! What strategies could I try to prevent myself from eating this?”

Bad thought: “I’m going to do this mini challenge in order to defeat this craving.”

He really stresses this point. The more you resist, the more resistance you will feel resistance.

@cbabie Yaaay for some good sleep. Sleep for you is more important than treadmill right now. So now that she's better you can try to start again on a new routine.

@retiredandlovingit Yaaay for treadmill walking. I have a carton of Whoppers that will remain unopened until May 1. I've made it through a month and a half I think now. My friend in TN had a tornado and now they are without power and internet. I'm like how do you get through stay at home orders with nothing. Books on Kindle......hopefully she has a good charge on it.

@shexio Great idea on the GS cookies. I like to buy two boxes of thin mints and stick them in my freezer and they have to last until the following year. Which they usually do unless dh gets into my stash. I always tell him we ration those. Go get other cookies if you want cookies but not those. Love your visual in the picture frame. @teresaw1020 and I are visual people. We love our spreadsheets. Color coded even better.

@renaegry Glad to see you doing well with your movement. How is the calories/points/carbs? whatever do you follow. lol Here's to a warmer April for you.

@its_cleo I hate shredding papers. I'm not patient enough so I just burn them all. lol Timothy Olyphant is in the Santa Clarita Diet with Drew Barrymore on Netflix.

@teresaw1020 Getting used to this new normal for a while has been tough. I inherited the glass half empty genes so I think they are feeding us piecemeal info. it's just this month and then oh I think we need to do another 4 weeks. So I really have to get my act in gear or 2020 is going to be a bust. And I was doing so well for 6 months. I need to find that girl and get her back. The last 6 weeks haven't gone so well.

Yellow Day- Stayed OP 147/164 Exercise-Rest Day (haven't they all been that lately?)

March goals- Drink 3 glasses of water Declutter

@nighthazel01, how’s going for you working from home? That dinner that your DH made sounds yummy!

@theslightedgeforever, Yes, I totally agree that we need to get our act in gear!! You were doing amazing!! I was 2 lbs. from Onderland and now it’s over 10 lbs! We can’t undo everything we accomplished last year. I agree that we don’t get all the news at once. Never have and never will.

@Shexio, I’m sorry that you will not be able to see your family. Hmm, I don’t know about wearing masks for everyone. I just watched where they say that it gives people a false sense of security when they wear their mask and that most people touch their faces even more often and they don’t practice the right way to put them on and take them off.

@mswatson0777, it makes me crazy when dog walkers don’t clean up after their dogs!! We have a lot of dog walkers in my neighborhood and so far everyone seems to be keeping their distance. OK, you know how to get back on track and you will. I got back in the habit of buying a dark chocolate bar with the plan of only eating one square with my afternoon coffee but I started to abuse it. So yesterday, I didn’t buy anymore. I just can’t be trusted!!

@its_cleo, ohhh that sucks about your Achilles acting up! I know that exercise is so important to your mental health. Hang in there and take care of your body!

Good morning! We are expecting rain today and that is great news because the pollen is HEAVY and everything is covered in yellow. Yesterday, I went out early to do grocery shopping, so the store wasn’t very crowded. Walmart had a guy sanitizing carts and I take my own Clorox wipes so I felt good about touching stuff. Still very weird to see so many wearing masks and gloves. I hope that works but I have my doubts. I had wanted to go to Lowes and maybe pick up some new flowers for my pots but the parking lot was packed. NO social distancing happening there for sure. OK, I’m off to work out and figure out what I want to do today. Probably clean out my closet and get my spring/summer clothes ready. Time might feel like it’s stopped but the Georgia heat won’t.

@Shexio So sorry you're going to miss your family for Easter. I hope you can plan a wonderful summer event to see them when this is over. Or maybe a Skype Easter dinner in the meantime?

@theslightedgeforever I find that I have a finite amount of decisions and willpower in a day. So I have to decide at the beginning of the day what I'm going to eat and track it. That way, there's no temptation. Also, this list has been my favorite low carb options so far: https://www.delish.com/cooking/g4798/easy-keto-diet-dinner-recipes/?utm_campaign=arb_pin_del_d_g4798&utm_medium=cpm&utm_source=pinterest_arb&pp=1

@nighthazel That stuffed squash sounds fabulous! I hope you're able to get out and enjoy the day today too.

@trooworld Right?! I do too, but all these people who never walk their dogs are just intensely frustrating (also, I feel bad for their dogs. This experience has made me realize how many dogs NEVER get walks).

@TeresaW1020 I'm hoping to hit up the home improvement store too but I've been worried about crowds. Hopefully this weekend early in the morning will be calmer. I had good luck at the grocery store at 10am.

Happy Tuesday all! I started today off with a 30 minute workout and I plan on trying to walk the dogs again over lunch, although I'm concerned about how it will go after yesterday. I may have to start switching my schedule around a bit to avoid the bulk of the crowds. I'm also finally back in the swing of grad school work, which is fantastic. My rough draft of my 20 page final paper is finally starting to come together. I'd love to finish a first draft in the next week so I can finally transition to house projects. I'm so jealous of all the people who've had time to do house stuff, since my life is still filled with work and grad school so I haven't got a ton of extra time than I did before all this went down.