It's time to celebrate June 18th! This week's challenge is only today - so hop right on over and join the party
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10800761/special-day-june-18th-celebrate-for-the-heck-of-it-challenge#latest

jugar wrote: »

It's time to celebrate June 18th! This week's challenge is only today - so hop right on over and join the party
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10800761/special-day-june-18th-celebrate-for-the-heck-of-it-challenge#latest

Hey, Slimsters! This week's challenge thread is so uplifting and inspiring! Head on over and check this out. It will be worth your time just to read the amazing, inspiring post by @raleighgirl09 !

@trooworld - Yum to your homemade pizza! I have a pretty simple pizza dough I make with a can of beer. Not as healthy, but it's quick and the Teenager loves it!

@raleighgirl09 - I am right there with you on reading... and then thinking about a reply but not always getting one done. And then I think I have.

Your post this morning is so inspiring to me!

One small step for Maria, one giant leap for being kind to Maria - conquering the hold the scale has on me and wrangling it to its place as a tool.

One of the places I have been grumpy about scale numbers of late is the pushme-pullme argument in my head about wanting to keep the scale number down versus legit wanting to add some more muscle. I used to carry more muscle, and I'd like to be building it. I found that we have an inexpensive fat caliper in the house. So I went and measured my body fat. Hmm. Maybe I'll try tracking "% Body Fat" as an additional measurement on MFP? If nothing else, it's a nice reminder that the number on the scale is not always the best measure. It's just one tool, as you say, to help me look at wheter I need to make a course correction!

Okay, I am going to go catch up on the challenge thread, and then I'll play, too!

gwamajtw91
Thursday
PW: 165.3
CW: 164.9

@TeresaW1020 I am also a puzzle lover, but have not attempted one with that many pieces (my max has been 1000), so very impressed!!

Hey Slimsters!

@gwamajtw91 - Brilliant weigh-in! Congratulations!

@TeresaW1020 , I may need to do through my closets if there is this kind of demand for puzzles, as I think I have a few!
Hurray for your wearing a mask to Goodwill and to the American Thrift Store! If it helps to know you have nerdy company, know that I am out there wearing a mask when I go to the store. Gloves, too, truth be told. We have friends that have gotten it, and it sounds like something to avoid if possible. As @Cornanda says, take care of Teresa. We are find of you and want you to be healthy if at all possible!

You are right about measurements. I'll see if I can find my measuring tape and start tracking those. I still weigh in every week, as I figure that number should change very little week on week.

@TeresaW1020 and @Cornanda - The Russian feast tonight was a huge success! That stew is easy to make with no oil and/or vegan if desired. The Pagac bread was an even bigger hit! I found the 15 minutes of kneading and the 10 minutes of fooling with a design on the top of the loaf both very relaxing! Anyway, my husband ate two small pieces. The teenager has wolfed down more than half the loaf. He may be done for the night, but I am not assuming.

Great loss, hope it keeps going down for good

THURSDAY CHECK-IN: 🟡/🟢 FRIDAY GOALS
@Cornanda - Hang in there! 👐🏾

@trooworld - Safe travels! I love audiobooks and long drives! Aside, these days, from negotiating gas stations and thinking about germs, that's my idea of a good time. I hope your books are fun! And your baking plans for your husband's birthday sound awesome! "Too Much Chocolate Cake" sounds super fun. Here's the Beer Pizza Dough recipe, since you sounded interested! I use it to make a deep dish pizza for the teenager, and blind bake it to keep the crust from getting soggy. 🚘🎂🍕

@cherrymajoni - Great weigh-in! Even if things even out some next week, you sure look on track to do well this month! Yay! And super great that you have gotten the spiritual benefits from that fast! 🙏🏾

raleighgirl09
Friday check in

Hiya gang! Well, Merry Friday and Happy Weekend!!!!!

Today has been great - got a good walk in and was busy all day. Cals great, water great, sleep good! I've been feeling a little....something....about a job. I'm still looking and doing, learning more from LinkedIn and trying all of the tips and things I can think of. I had a few minutes yesterday where I felt a little panicky and weirded out but I took stock, made a plan and am keeping at it. I know it will happen but it's so easy for the inner demons to come calling.

Exciting - Wednesday I broke the 20,000 steps barrier and yesterday - almost 23,500. Shazam. Saw my sweet baby granddaughter Hazel yesterday, which was way fun and we took a walk in their 'hood. Went to a chiropracter for my hip early this week - it's been really bugging me with accompanying shooting pains in my leg, knee and ankle just for kicks. It helped quite a bit and I'm going next week again. I felt so good that I was able to do a lot of walking, happy about that! I don't expect to break 20,000 very often - that is quite the time suck as it takes me a couple of walks, 1.5-2 hours for exercise. Not too cumbersome when not working but, well, I'm hoping to stop that soon!!!

@trooworld and @AustinRuadhain thanks for the notation on the challenge post. It actually became a bit of a motivator to write all of that out - it reminded me of how far I have come and...that it is important to share the journey with others and maybe provide something of value to the journey they are on.
@TeresaW1020 so glad your puzzle-deep in pieces!! That's quite some plan for fasting, I had no idea it could get that complex. I think I often fast unintentionally when I have low hunger days, often I don't eat between 9p one night to 1p the next day. I have noticed that when I end up eating really late for the first meal, I'll only eat 2 meals and have an easier time eating lighter cals. If I can do that with any kind of consistency, I do find weight loss is almost a given.
@AustinRuadhain it's always heartwarming when someone gets something from what I share, thank you for say so! It's one of the things I love about this team - it's easy and safe to share and there is a lot of support to give and get. I totally get the scale issue and you working to do some intentional structure of your body - very inspiring to *me* as I think about life on the side of not constantly looking for a loss. I wonder if I should get calipers...? I have a lot of loose skin and fat that I fear is not going to go away but I also wonder about a different measure to have to look at...? Maybe this is conflict avoidance on my part... =< Btw - that Russian bread....omg, I would want to eat the whole thing! WOW, does that look good!
@Cornanda right there with the rest of the team - hang in there. I like @TeresaW1020 's approach - assess and attack!
@trooworld oh yes - me, too! At some point in time, all of the diets worked and if they stoppe....well, I moved on to something else! I eat kinda low carb now just because higher carbs are more calorie dense and hubby eats lower carb and we end up leaning that way. I do sometimes have a conflict like the Fathead but BOY was it good!!
@cherrymajoni that is some loss, lady!!! I am so delighted for you, and to have also had a spiritual experience is amazing - but I may have that backwards; you had the amazing spiritual and also lost weight. Very humbling that you stuck through it and saw such results for that effort. Hey - how is the baby sleeping? I hope that the wee one is allowing mom and dad a good night's sleep on the regular! You're doing a great job with the 5k training, too - all of these wins are just such validation to your commitment to you.... =>
@davors19 awesome job maintaining and.....drumroll.......IN THE GREEN!!!!!!
@gwamajtw91 wow, great loss - congrats and way to go!!! =>

Friday check-in
Calories- under
Exercise- seated cardio, arms, yoga, foam rolling
Water- so-so

Habits
Cardio 30 minutes- done
Weights- did today
Yoga- done
Recipe- zip, can't do right now

Just trying to keep my head above water, wasn't too successful the last few days but am pulling out all my mental tricks tonight.

mrmcgrath wrote: »

This week was a really bad week and quite honestly, nearly deleted my whole myfitnesspal account but I committed to a few challenges and just didn’t want to be a quitter.

So a little late but my official weigh in is 190.

@mrmcgrath I am so glad you didn't delete the account!! When you have re-righted yourself and are doing what you want to do for your goals, you will be glad to have the data from when you were not doing well - those are as important, and many times more important than the successful days and wins. It's kind of like the mechanic can't fix the car when it isn't making the noise, or doing the jerk or whatever the issue is - he needs the data for the problem in order to know how to fix it. Keep on logging, keep on tracking, keep on thinking about the best way to right yourself - dissect and analyze....which is right in your wheelhouse! => That spreadsheet is your best friend, right now, and you will get back on track. We're rooting for you - you are the expert at getting you back on track and you will find that sweet spot again.

I had a crappy 5ish weeks from mid-April to about 3rd week in May - I gained weight, I lost a little, I gained more, I lost a little but not enough to close the gap to where I was; it took me weeks to get back on track and feel strong and confident. I didn't do 100% tracking and logging (some by paper, was still doing that) at the time, but I am so glad now for the data I did keep. I wince when I see the gains and extra food and/or alcohol - but it tells me a story and shows me what does not work for my weight loss. Valuable, despite the sting.

Hey, everyone! I just got caught up on everyone and I'm so glad you are all here. I was looking through the message boards yesterday and came across a link for a calorie counting/BMI info and one of the things that was written on the website was Zigzag Calorie Counting. It's when you eat 5 days at a lower amount and 2 days at maintenance, but where all 7 days would total a 1pound weight loss for the week. I hope I'm explaining it correctly. It made me think about how I would stall after every 15-ish pound loss and I'd eat something high calorie and greasy and it would kick start the loss again. The next day, I realized that was exactly what I was doing on WW years ago...I'd save my flex points for the weekends...so I was probably eating around 1200-1300 daily during the week, but 1500-1600 on the weekends. I'm totally going to give it a try

As I've been immobile for the past 3 weeks, I just KNOW I've gained weight. Laying around, just grazing all day basically. When I sit up, my stomach is too big and it makes it hard for me to breathe. I am determined to get out to the dunes and hiking trails and beaches as soon as the doctor clears me for it. I have all of YOU to thank for this! I have lived by Lake Michigan my entire life and I have taken it all for granted. NO MORE!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend...do some exercise for me. I can't wait to get this stupid cast off!

@TeresaW1020 - I get a big bag of goji berries at Costco every so often, but that would be risky if you aren't sure you like them! My regular grocery store has goji berries in the "health and fitness" aisle, and I have also seen them at Natural Grocer and Whole Foods. I just happen to like them, but really they are a dried berry, so a relative of raisins.

What an excellent day you are having! So glad to hear you are such a happy girl!

@vegan4lyfe2012 - I am so impressed at your finding silver linings during this time of recovery from your injury and surgery. 🥳

raleighgirl09
Saturday night check in

Kayaking was fun! We only went about 8 miles but did get some choppy water in - 'sporty' as hubby describes it. I am always glad I did it but at the moment it's happening, I'm a little skeered and can get whiny. My best paddlin' partner knows this - we survived!

@digger61 so glad to hear about your day and that you're doing well! Thinking of you - excellent on preplanning meals! I find that and preparing in advance to be quite helpful, too
@TeresaW1020 I am so-so-SOOOO happy for you being able to go to church tomorrow!!! Even with changes and steps to stay safe - nothing beats seeing the beautiful faces of friends in person.... What a great fast, it must be really amazing to see the research and practice come together with tangible results!!!
@vegan4lyfe2012 I can only imagine how happy you'll be to be free of the wretched cast!! Well - 'we' had fun on the paddle today and I'll be sure to take you along on some walks tomorrow!!!
@AustinRuadhain I was thinking calipers would give the info on the body fat percentage...? I looked this up online and had a chuckle at this statement: "Disadvantages: The method requires practice and basic anatomy knowledge. Also, some people don’t enjoy getting their fat pinched". I ask why I care - well - one spends so much time on a weight loss journey only to realize that there will probably always be a good sized belly or legs or arms; the ravages of a lot of weight on the body before working to lose it tends to stay with folks unless they lose as a lot younger person with more elastic skin. I'm not complaining but this is a reality I am exploring and getting comfortable with again. Even at a size 8 - I'll have the belly, etc., just way smaller than it was. I'll take it. I know there are some body image things to work through - someone said to me last week - "do you not know how different you look?" - and I'm thinking...I guess not. Figure I look the same, just smaller. My face hasn't changed, right...? These are some of the things I recall having to work through before. At least this time, it's familiar.
@trooworld well, I gotta say - when I have a day of that much driving, I'm not thrilled about it!! Haha on the snacks - so easy to do on a long drive! Hey - yeah, I found the going from one plan to another, one method to another, changing tactics, philosophies, etc., was KEY to me knowing what I need for successful weight loss. It has taken years but I've really fine tuned what works for me; it's all so individual. Also, I'm exactly the same with goals and have to be careful. If I say x pounds by x date, I am almost certainly hosed because I feel like my weight loss is not so linear as to be predictable. I have made an exception of my 170 by 11Aug2020, my 57th birthday, but I feel like that is more manageable because I started with around 10 pounds over like - 3 months when I decided that; it's a shorter time that Itypically have issues with. I do feel like I have to keep an eye on it and not get so wrapped in the x by x that I start up some bad reactionary habits. I like @AustinRuadhain 's take on this - maybe make the goal(s) be action based, knowing the actions should get results? The outward measure of consistent action is a corresponding result, 95% of the time. What actions that support weight loss do you want to make consistent by the time you head back into the office? I think for me and my BD goal, I need 5 or 6 days a week at lower calories - and walk as much as I can.