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

@trooworld, yeah I hear you about feeling restless. Your dinner sounds great! Let me know if you make the breadsticks and how they turned out. I have heard of 2 ingredient dough but never tried it.

@theslightedgeforever, I did NOT have a blue dot yesterday. We got pizza from our favorite Italian place and I had two glasses of wine. It was worth it! I will have a blue dot today. Yeah, I heard that life is supposed to resume here too, and I have some very mixed feelings about it. My mom is doing well. She doesn’t like being on lockdown but she has a nice room and is happily writing her life story on her laptop.

@nighthazel01, storms have been intense lately, but it is that time of year. I agree that it’s getting old being stuck at home all day. Looks like we might all be out and about soon though.

@cbabie, Ugghhh a little early to be in the ’90s isn’t it? We will soon have those temps too and I’m already dreading the heat. I don’t know if I want to remember this time in my life.

@its_cleo, wow six more weeks is a long time but if it keeps you all safe then that is what you have to do. My state has decided to through caution to the wind and see what happens.

@mswatson0777, Yayyy!! I am glad to read this and see that you are taking some pressure off yourself. You are so dedicated to everything you do and that is great but taking time just to chill is also very important for your wellbeing. Keep it up!

Good morning! Well, I am feeling confused as to why my state has started lifting its shutdown this week when we rank 12th in the nation. I sure hope that our leaders know what they are doing. I do know that my little family will NOT be among the first to go out to eat or to the movies anytime soon. I sure on Thursday my staff will have lots of discussion on when and how we should start reopening the church. Right now, that is not recommended, which is a good thing. I really want life to resume but since I have been living in this crazy lockdown now for so long that it seems normal, I admit to feeling scared about returning to life as it was. Ugghhh! I’m going to work out now and destress.

@trooworld I'd like the recipe please for the pasta Fagioli please. I want to send it to my dd. I bought her an Instant Pot and she's just starting to use it. Good for you on your water. I had a good water day too.

@teresaw1020 What a great thing to have your mom's memories on paper. So try again today for the blue dot day. So moving forward how do you get a blue dot AND have the pizza and wine? I was looking at the map for your state and you all seem to have larger red dots than alot of places and I was thinking OMG they want to open? I hope people will be smart and still try to minimize the damage.

@mswatson0777 I'm finding this situation alot like grief. It comes in stages. Sometimes I think I move backwards and repeat a stage. Sometimes it comes out of the blue when I think I have a handle on it. Yaaay for some nice movement. Great list of joyful things.

@cbabie At least you are on a bus......some people are just sitting on the couch. So make today a treadmill day. What I remember about Jiffy Pop is I was the youngest child and barely got any cause of my brother and sister. lol I just fell in love with raw sliced butternut squash.

@its_cleo I use the app TVTime to keep track of all the shows I want to watch and all the shows I'm currently watching. I'll never get through the list. I'd like to do a nice digital scrapbook but haven't found one I like yet for my photos. Past two years the family and I took historical trips up the East Coast. I'd like to make it pretty with stickers and such and then share them with the kids. I agree I think the most important thing is that the medical system holds up. I don't want to go in with a heart attack and can't be looked after because there are so many corona patients they are all in the hallways. I loved a meme I saw that said you don't stop taking antibiotics just because you start to feel better.


Calories- went over (decided why not make homemade donuts-darn FB) 1840/1467 Exercise- 41 min cardio

April goals- drinking 4.5 glasses of water Decluttering- Burn 200 calories of exercise

@trooworld Good news is we carved out a plan to keep my graduation date the same, so honestly it's a win-win. How are your April goals going?

@TeresaW1020 Absolutely, you can still stay safe even when others are going out! I'm glad you're feeling better today.

@theslightedgeforever Homemade doughnuts sound delicious, I'm jealous! And I like your comparison to grief. I am mourning what my summer was supposed to be, while trying to embrace the joy of what it is.

@its_cleo I hope it's just 6 more weeks. We're already starting to contingency plan for if classes aren't able to be back on campus for fall. I sincerely hope it doesn't last that long, I would feel awful for our poor incoming freshmen.

@cbabie Every other day isn't bad at all! Are you able to get some stretching or meditation in to help with the job stress? It could be a way to add in more joyful movement.

Happy Wednesday All! I'm still on the joy train today. I woke up originally planning on a full workout, but my body felt sore and stiff from yesterday so I chose joyful yoga instead and I'll do some puppy walks later. I ended up being really active yesterday with the good weather so I'm glad I took today as a more restful day. It's supposed to be beautiful weather again today so I'm going to try to spend as much time outdoors as possible!

Quick check in.
Awesome day today. Over 20k steps. 93 active minutes. 2600 calories burned.

@cbabie Did you take a walk with your GGD?How about stand sometimes while you are on the phone and do calf raises? Hands free phone for a bit could buy you a little time to just walk around the room while you are on the phone or is it a corded phone. Can't imagine a corded phone. I will be granny and always color, although I remember the year I visited in 1994 when she didn't for some reason) You have nice gray hair. I will have the creamy yucky looking kind. Forever Young song is running through my mind. What was I thinking about homemade donuts? I'm thinking I've been shut in for almost 8 weeks now and don't have my usually goody snacks that I can eat and use portion control over so I'm making my own with the supplies I have at home. I usually bake once a week but lately it's been about 3 times a week.

@reneagry Hooray for your awesome day you had. Keep up the good work and maybe it will be contagious and spread to me.

Calories-Went over 1677-1500 Exercise 31 minutes cardio

April goals-Drink 4.5 glasses of water Decluttering Burn 200 cals through exercise

We had quite a bit of snow two days ago, since then it's been raining and cold. Still made it out for my walk, but I can't take much more of this cold, I need a real spring, with sunshine. It's hard to write because every day's the same. I'm eating more because I'm home, but I try to limit my portions and snacking, I wasn't successful yesterday at this. I did get my walks in.

@trooworld, thanks for the link to the 2-ingredient dough! I have pinned it and several other recipes from that website.

@theslightedgeforever, I didn’t know there was a Deadwood movie! I did show my DH the trailer for Deadwood and then remembered that the main dude sure loves a good cuss word! I haven’t started Justified yet but probably will tonight. I will have to get some root spray if my girl doesn’t reopen for my May appointment.

@mswatson0777, So glad that your good mood continues. I wish my dog liked to go on walks. She likes it until a truck or something scary comes by and then it is a major pull to get back to the house. She is a chicken outside and a fierce guard dog from her front of the window perch.

@cbabie, good job on finding another treat that isn’t peanut butter. I love Light & Fit Greek yogurt. All the flavors are delicious.

@RetiredAndLovingIt, good idea not to push your allergies by going outside right now. We are finally at the end of our pollen season so we can now start to enjoy going out and sitting on the patio. Which I better enjoy because it will be in the 90s before we know it here.

@nighthazel01, I hope that your spring comes soon and that you will be able to get out and enjoy some nice weather.

Good morning! Well, I’m sure you have heard that Georgia is opening up today. It’s all over the news and there is strong opinion on both sides. I’m just praying that opening up business now doesn’t have bad consequences and sets us back in our recovery. At my staff meeting yesterday we started talking about when we should reopen the church. Right now, we are looking at the end of May. We will only have one church service and stream live on FB. We will not have Sunday school, children’s church, or even nursery to start with. Our hope that is by summer we can start adding in more and by fall be back to our Wednesday nights. I’m excited and of course a little nervous. OK, I’m off to work out and then do some housework.

Hi all..dreary day today & haven't gotten much done. Dh trying to see what pumpkin seeds he should order, so was looking for flower plants or seeds also.

@mswatson0777 Too bad for being so stressed yesterday,,you seemed to be doing pretty well with the happy thoughts. Chocolate is a definite need right now for me. Good job trying low carb. I don't think I would do well on it at all.

@TeresaW1020 I did see about Georgia opening up so much. Made me glad dd is not still in Alpharetta, lol. Interesting about church, I have wondered how ours will open up. It is a big church, but I can't see socially distancing being possible.

Iowa will be opening soon, too, from what the Governor said today. Starting Monday, they can start doing some surgeries with more restrictions lifting on May 1. I don't think we are ready for it, we had the highest case & death report today. Of course, their reasoning is because they are testing more. I don't think we have had the 14 day decline that was supposed to be the bench mark either. I especially don't like it when she says about opening up, but the most vulnerable (older) will still have to stay inside. I want my freedom, too, if everyone else has it, lol.

I think OK is opening up also. I think dd will still be a little cautious, at least I hope so.

Well, not much more, guess the treadmilll is calling, lol.

@theslightedgeforever, yesterday I did a killer booty workout, tracked my food and only went over by 3 points, and fasted for 19 hours. We haven’t started Justified yet. There seems to be this whole NFL thing going on that my DH has been glued to his TV in the office watching. I’ve been watching season six of the Great British Baking Show. Maybe tonight!

@RetiredAndLovingIt, I think all the states that can need to slowly start reopening. The whole point of the shutdown was so that we wouldn’t overload the hospitals. It was not so that no one would get the virus. I think the country has forgotten that point. We talked at the staff meeting about encouraging our seniors not to come to church, but it does need to be their choice. My mom, who has many health issues will probably stay home longer but there is NO way I can keep my DH out of church. He is chomping at the bit to get back to his church life. I have repeatedly informed him that he can’t be a greeter at the front door. Although, I still don’t think he believes that I’m serious!

@mswatson0777, I was wondering how the low-carb was working for you. I went off too because it wasn’t sustainable for me. Sometimes us girls just need some chocolate and bread! Hang in there!

Good morning! I woke up so sore from yesterday’s workout that it hurts to sit! A new program from Beachbody started yesterday called Barre Blend. It’s supposed to be low impact but high energy and guaranteed to give me amazing results. I’m going to try out the sample workout this morning and if I like it. Right now I’ve been doing my own hybrid calendar of BOD programs and the treadmill. Mom and I talked yesterday about how we have got to get serious about our weight loss. Summer is coming, church will be resuming, and I NEED to fit into my clothes that aren’t made of stretch material. I have got to get serious and consistent or I’m going to feel like a complete failure and I don’t want that! I would much rather have my friends see me and notice that I've lost weight instead of whispering how I sure let myself go during the quarantine.

Hey all,
Sorry I’ve been MIA, just a busy week at work, probably will be busy the next couple.

@trooworld man I love bacon and pineapple on pizza! Yikes on feeling sick. Sometimes I feel like I take chances on food, but so far it’s been ok. It’s not that I want to, but living alone it’s hard to eat everything lol.

@cbabie glad the weather is better. I think an actual walk is better than the treadmill.

@TeresaW1020 lol about your husband wanting to be a greeter at the door. Yeah that is probably a high risk position! Summer coming can be good motivation. I always have a hard time switching from winter clothes to lighter summer clothes. It’s always hard the first few times I go out without a jacket. …I think opening the church end of Mary is a good timeline. It gives you time to plan and also you can see how things go in the state.

@mswatson0777 I couldn’t do low carb either. I don’t try any particular type of diet. I try to eat a certain amount of protein, and fats, and the rest carbs but I’m not fanatical about it. It’s based on what makes me feel good.

@retiredandlovingit I’m another big fan of Greek yogurt with some fruit and a bit of honey. Sometimes I will also put in almonds, or granola if I have some. I just find I can’t eat it all the time, something about the dairy.

Calories- this week I’m over, but only by a little bit. Today is the last day of my week so we’ll see how I do.
Exercising- I have to check but I did over 10 hours of exercise this week, all different things. One disappointment-

I had a set back with my achilles tendon. I went on a walk and the route was hilly and it was just too much. That was Wed and today was the first day it wasn’t sore. So I’ve decided to stop jogging for a few days- a week? Not sure how long. I can still do the stairs. Just no jogging, no walking up or down hills.

It’s ok, this has happened to me before with my Achilles =. It has always been vulnerable and that’s why I can never jog more than 3-4 km at a time. Eventually it always acts up.

Que sera. So I will start trying to do some longer walks, the challenge will be finding enough flat routes.
Work is busy, just some deadlines coming up with the client I have.

I connected with my hiking club yesterday over zoom, it was nice to see them. The weather here is beautiful today but I tend to stay low over the weekends and go out more on Mon when there is less people.

@teresaw1020 That's great you got in a good workout and tracked your food. Look how close you were to your point goal. You are definitely getting back into the groove. I'm all about me not getting the virus versus overwhelming the medical system. But I do get your point. Here's a fun idea for your church ladies that want to get healthier before return. A quarantine challenge. You could do online teams and report in your weight once a week. Everyone agrees to pitch in $10 or whatever and then the team that wins the most weight loss once everyone is back to church gets to use that money and go out for a meal together after church at a restaurant in town. I was thinking the same thing. People will look at me and say well she didn't handle that well. We all handle it differently, some eat more, smoke more, drink more, yell and scream more, worry more etc. It all shows up in our bodies through wrinkles or fat.

@cbabie That's good that you are taking the baby for walks. Although now that it's hot..... You are still getting in some good movement and Vitamin D and fresh air. So as for that weight trend. Try stopping it in it's track and maintain for a few weeks versus gaining. That is progress. Then you can continue onto losing. That's what I'm trying to do. I've been steadily gaining since February. I have picked a meal and I'm going to continue eating the same three things for that meal for a while. Apple, kiwi, 3 laughing cow cheese triangles I do so much better with routine.

@trooworld Woohoo! on the weight loss. Funny thing about cauliflower is that while I don't like eating it raw or just cooked and boring. I love eating my cheesy cauliflower rice. I would even eat that for breakfast which is weird for me because breakfast means breakfast foods to me. I just shredded a head day before yesterday and packed it into one cup portions for my freezer so I can just pop them out and make it. Yes it was you that shared the Gina B videos. Remember the ABBA video? I did that one yesterday. That was a fast one. Come on, get back in there and exercise even for 15 min a day to keep up the habit. Soon you will be back to work and saying I don't have time to exercise.

@its_cleo Pineapple on pizza. But I love liver so there's that. One of my meals I like is plain greek yogurt with cut up apples and walnuts with some stevia. I like to layer it in a parfait glass. Sorry about the achilles. At least you have a plan B for the times it pops up to bother you. Your snacks sound good. I love brie cheese.

Another good day for me today.

Calories- Stayed OP 1492/1660 Exercise-39 min cardio and Bosu ball

April goals-Drink 4.5 glasses of water Decluttering Burn 200 calories via exercise

@its_cleo Those snacks sounds delicious. I'm glad you were able to connect with your hiking club and I hope you're able to get out a bit today since there will be less crowds

@trooworld Sorry your homemade pizza betrayed you but congrats on the loss! I also ran into a long line at the grocery store yesterday morning. I really need to start finding a new time to shop, but it feels like every time is a bad time

@TeresaW1020 Let me know how the pilates program goes. I loved BeachBody on Demand when I subscribed to it for a year. I debated picking it back up with quarantine but youtube has been filling the void.

@cbabie Hot weather in April, yuck! We've luckily had gorgeous weather since it's the only thing keeping me sane lately is going outside.

@theslightedgeforever I hope your carb cycling goes well. Sorry you haven't been able to find eggs still, it's crazy all these shortages that have been occurring!

@RetiredandLovingIt Iowa opening back up makes me nervous because my grandma lives there. She was social distancing before it was cool, but I'm afraid she's going to head right back to the gym as soon as it's open

My entire weekend was house projects and yard work (I hate both of them). And of course my SO and I got into a fight over getting a power washer...seriously. Honestly it was just a crappy weekend. We did get the power washer so we can finally clean our deck, fence, and shed (they're all overdue). We also fixed a couple of things in the house, I cleaned my car, and he cleaned the garage so we're making progress. It just feels like the list is never ending. I honestly never wanted to be a homeowner and this is why. Hopefully this week is better, I feel like I got no break, but when else am I going to get this stuff done other than quarantine? Cause I'm sure as heck not going to want to do it when quarantine is lifted.

@cbabie, we are going to get hot here too and I’m not looking forward to the heat. Especially since we missed the spring by being stuck indoors so much. I started tearing up yesterday watching our Facebook live and seeing all my friends on who was watching too. We all want to be back to our little red brick church so badly! Soon we hope. How about you? Does your church have plans to reopen anytime soon?

@trooworld, The WW recipe builder can be annoying for me. Sometimes I find it easier just to put into my tracker each item and do a good guestimate. Girl, 34 points for dinner! No wonder it was so tasty.

@its_cleo, that snack with the brie with honey sounds soooo good!! Too bad I have given up snacking. Now I might have to just make a whole plate and eat it as a meal. The pizza sounds really yummy too!

@Theslightedgeforever, I like that quarantine challenge idea. Even my little skinny women are complaining about eating too much since being stuck at home all day. Restaurants are able to reopen today if they follow the guidelines. So far the only one I’ve heard of that is opening for sure is Waffle House.

@mswatson0777, today was my day one of Barre Blend, which is a mixture of barre, Pilates, and cardio. It was intense but I think I will love it. Yeah, tomorrow is our day to get out and clean the patio furniture. Not looking forward to it but at least I will finally be able to go sit without getting yellow pollen all over me. My DH and I also had a discussion on getting a power washer. What did you decide?

Hey everyone! Well, I went to Walmart this morning and there were stickers on the floor everywhere telling us which direction we could shop. Like each aisle either had a green arrow telling us to shop in that direction or a do not enter sticker. Seriously! I rebelled several times since it was 9 am and not very many people were in the store. Then I came home and realized that they or I forgot a bag of laundry supplies, so I drove back up there and customer service let me go and get what I forgot.

And Amazon just dropped off my newest puzzle which was a gift from my sweet husband! I’m going to get started on it right now!!! 5000 pieces of fun!! It's going to take up my whole dining room table.