@evangsimmons170 as always I am impressed by your strong goals! I am slowly trying to work back up to "normal" as my injury from a couple of weeks ago heals. I also just bought a used Fitbit! I am so excited to be able to connect with you and some of the others who use it. I won't be doing a lot at first, but it will help me to build back up again.

Once I figure out how it all works, I'll find you!

Monday more check-ins!

It is good to hear about your day. I actually got on the exercise bike this evening, food was on point today, and things might be looking up as far as my injury slowly healing and my blood pressure getting up to where I register as an alive person. It feels good to sweat on the bike!

I look forward to hearing about the No Sweat book - it sounds interesting and I'll be there will be some useful tidbits.

NEW FOR MAY! For those of you who tried the fitrockr experiment and found it wanting; for those of you who want to be able to count non-stepping exercise on our step team stats; I think I have a solution!

I found several sites that "translate" all different kinds of exercise into step equivalents. This might be a way we can all join in our internal team no matter what kind of exercise we do. For example, some people will continue to track their daily steps just as they do now. Some people will do their workouts, biking, swimming, or heavy yard work - whatever you would count as "intentional exercise" in your daily diary. Those minutes will be translated into a number of steps so that we are all using the same units. Some people might combine the two - do a certain amount as steps, and some other exercise "translated" into steps.

Have a look at these two (they are similar) and tell me if you think this might be a way to have fun egging each other on with our exercise in all its forms:
http://healthysuffolkva.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SOTM-Step-Conversation-Chart.pdf
https://www.arhs-nc.org/live-healthy/data/StepConversionChart.pdf

@micki48 and I would continue to put your reported numbers into our spreadsheet and post celebrations of how awesome you are at the end of every week. If you have another idea that could accomplish the same goal, splash it out!

Roller Coaster! That is how everything feels, and it is well reflected in our wonderful team here. Fantastic commitment, losses, and showers of tiaras! WTG @Terytha and @jguldi11

Thank you for the openness and support, even when feeling sometimes shaky @micki48 and @conleywoods . This means more than you can imagine.

And from the tough places you are here @Gidgitgoescrazy - the best thing you could do. You have stopped smoking again, and it is going to make you feel all the feels. It won't be nice sometimes, but actually feeling them instead of replacing with that little short-lived buzz we all love is the choice you know will improve your life in so many ways.

I'm feeling inspired this morning. I started listening to a podcast, which I rarely do, and it is really helping wake up many ideas. It is Unlocking Us with Brené Brown and her guests. The first episode I already mentioned is about the FFT - the effing first time. We are all in one of those, and the people who are cancelling camping trips are in one of those, and no one really knows what is going to work. It is hard. Ways that don't work will be discovered. This morning I listened to the episode with Glennon Doyle who recently published "Untamed". Among many things, they talk about overcoming addiction, and breaking out of expectations and "shoulds". It is a good conversation. Give it a listen if you're taking a nice long walk and want some company!

Thank you all for all these thoughts and for the way we help each other. I have been struggling with the changes coming up from not drinking any alcohol, being injured and not being able to do my usual exercise and other stuff, feeling hungry ALL the time, and other fun stuff. At the same time I do not feel anxious or worried, and I have not gotten far off track - it is a detached time of reflection in a lot of ways. But then I get angry or down sometimes, and have to put the bricks back together to rebuild. You all inspire me and make it easier not to give up!

Today it will be Pilates and walking, making a high-caloric treat for my son who cannot keep enough weight on him (poor thing!) without sampling too much , and playing my flutes for at least a little while. Tally ho, everyone! You're all fabulous!

Hello again wonderful people -

Some of the other teams are taking the last few days of the April challenge to stop, take a breath, and look at April and ahead to May. The format is quite beautiful. It was started by Mission Slimpossibles, and I am sharing it with you for anyone who wants to answer.



As we finish this last week of April (already!?), here is a new challenge/invitation for you. It's called Roses, Thorns & Seeds. Please take a few minutes to reflect on your health and fitness journey in April. The world has thrown us a few curveballs, but we are still here, and still working to get healthier together.

• Reflect on your Roses: What has worked WELL for you/made you happy in April, in terms of your working on Health & Fitness? If you're comfortable with doing so, share as many or as few items as you like here.
• Reflect on your Thorns: What has NOT worked well? Again, share as many items as you'd like.
• Reflect on your Seeds: What are the places you want to work on improving? Things you can see to work on next week and next month? Again, share any items you are comfortable with sharing here.

Thanks so much for considering this invitation, and for sharing your health and fitness journey! This is such a wonderful team!