Relapsers getting Real Healthy Accountability group- 2020-2021

Hi everyone! Here to check in - last night I was starting to feel a little sad/tired/grumpy and normally I would have gone for whatever food was handy and tasty, but I managed to resist - big victory! I'm slightly frustrated that the scale was *up* this morning when I've been really good the last few days, but I drank extra water today, and I'm assuming it was a fluke. I had a pretty active day today - I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and then spent the afternoon taking apart my old desk & putting together my new one. I ended up at over 13k steps! It was a lot of work, and bring desk parts up and down the stairs, since my office is in the basement.

@Gold6767 - welcome!
@ClearNotCloudyMind - everyone has bad days on occasion, but the key is starting fresh tomorrow! Hope tomorrow's a better day for you.

Hah! Thanks for the good vibes @melichalupa and @HealthyTrent. Today was a much better day.

First day my week at home on “study” and eating stayed pretty much exactly on plan. Did very little exercise so the plan for tomorrow is to cycle into town and get the food shopping for the rest of the week.

Hoping for 73.5 at the end of the week, which puts me on course for my mini-goal of 73kg by xmas and a dive into my old clothes cupboard as a reward. Staying focused on that!

Best of luck in NY @melichalupa. Lived there for 3 years back in the 80s so it still feels a bit like home to me. So sad how hard it’s been hit this year 🙁

Hello All, I hope you are all doing well, keeping safe/healthy and that it's okay if I join this group and connect with you all I have been having a hard time as well like you Rashmi. I totally get where you are coming from and I am happy for us all that we aren't giving up and trying again as hard as it feels going back to square one.

I suffered from a pretty horrible illness a few years back and am having long-term side effects including less energy and major insomnia, frequent headache just to name a few. This whole Covid situation does make things hard for me as well... I don't know about you guys, but I was going to the gym before this all hit pretty frequently and looked the best I had in a long time. Plus I was eating fairly well. Fast forward to now, I have moved to a newer town with my partner and am feeling pretty isolated not being able to pick up some of my favorite hobbies which are typically grouped based (for example kickboxing), and not having those connections locally. It doesn't help that my partner isn't happy either and mostly plays video games and barley talks to me lately... As you can imagine I have turned to eating more and not being as active (I have just been feeling SO rundown and tired. It's not an excuse I know and being unactive makes it worse). What do you all do to keep yourselves motivated?

The part that makes me the most mad at myself is I have the means to be healthy (Equipment, a heavy bag, ability to go for a run, free weights and a rack) and I know how to cook well enough, but I feel like I am turning to junk

For me there isn't really any trigger foods other than chocolate or chips. Now I do buy chocolate but my partner keeping bringing home mass bags of chips. How do you all manage when tasty snacks seem to find themselves magically making themselves into your home? The worst part is he knows what I like so I end up eating it too.

I hope we can all support each other during this time

Hi everyone! Checking in for today. Enjoyed my 1st day with my at home sit/stand desk. I definitely had more steps at the end of the workday that I would have otherwise. I can't always stand & work (like if I really need to concentrate hard), but sometimes it works well, and depending on what I'm doing sometimes I'm able to walk in place while working. I walked 15 min at lunch on the treadmill, and am waiting for my dinner to settle before I go back & do another 45 min or so (the length of a tv show), before bed. I made a yummy side dish tonight for dinner - black beans combined with onion and garlic that had been sauteed in butter, plus some spices and spinach that wilted in with the beans. I made enough to have it with a few meals. I'm typically a follow-a-recipe type person, so I'm proud of myself for making this on the fly. I'm trying to reconnect with my enjoyment of delicious home-made meals.

@melichalupa - good job prepping!
@ClearNotCloudyMind - glad you had a better day. Sounds like you're setting yourself up for a good week.
@roxinronni - welcome! Sounds like you already have some ideas on what you can do to get on track.

Checking in:
My calories were too low with the fruit and soup... so odd because I ate until satisfied. Ugh... sometimes I think the most difficult part of this journey is finding balance. Let’s start AGAIN and get it right.
I have also been tasked with making about 1000 sugar cookies for a cookie decorating activity for my sisters children for Christmas. (They have enough kids between them that they can start a small school) It was difficult to say no as the Cool Childless Aunt. We will see how this works out for this weekend.
@roxinronni Welcome! I store most fruits in the fridge before I want them to ripen completely, to prep I cut some fruit and just squeeze some lemon juice on top. That’s enough to keep most fruits looking fresh for at least 2 days.
@HealthyTrent Great way to make some black beans-I LOVE BEANS ❤️ They are pretty much the perfect food. I am a big fan roasting chickpeas. Try it... you will love it.

@roxinronni try it out, if you don't like it you can always leave. Something I've been encouraged to do by people who have had success with weight loss is to try things, if it doesn't work try something else no biggie.
@HealthyTrent 3 miles is a lot don't downplay that! I started jogging in March when the gyms closed and it was mostly walking at that point but you'll see improvement if you keep at it.
@melichalupa I just buy roasted chickpeas cuz I'm lazy like that lol they're really good with some craisins and almonds

Oh man, I've got a headache and am feeling tired and cranky. This is typically when I would go and binge eat... so I've gotta stay strong this afternoon/evening!

i’m glad I found a group that doesn’t have so many pages already I think the more posts in a thread, the more anxious I get when trying to post and possibly join in (if that’s okay?).

Anywho, I tried to read and catch up a little before I jumped in - it’s been years since I’ve logged into MFP, but I’m going to try and make things work.

I’ve regained 65lbs but I’m also already past a round of therapy for my back, so I’m hopeful that I can get exercise back on track along with weight loss this time. I think accountability posts are a great idea!

Trent’s step counts and recipe mentions are inspiring. I’m averaging less than 5k lately and my breakfast was a thunderbird pecan and date bar and zero sugar beef stick...

I’ve got a set of resistance bands coming in the mail to add to my collection of fitness gear and a list of exercises to do at home. That and calorie counting is going to be my first set of goals.

Happy holidays, hope to see more updates from you guys soon!
G.

@ClearNotCloudyMind Thanks! yeah I get pretty anxious and random on threads, I’m a bit of a goofball. :laughs: i’m looking forward to having something to focus on each day when it comes to a health and wellness reminder - I figured having a group chat with would do it, so I’m looking forward to this as well.

It’s overcast and the day before a retirement party for one of my coworkers, at least we won’t be having a bunch of food because of distancing issues. she’s retiring after 35 years, and I tease that I have another 32 minimum to go myself. ha!

I managed to miss the third of my four alarms this morning, so I had a bit of a late start. I had to talk myself out of a very late night snack yesterday, I tend to wait until after midnight and try to call it another day. But I think I’m gonna avoid that this time. it kind of sets me up to fail if I’ve already got calories in before I wake up in the morning.

i’ve got my PT re-eval this afternoon, i’m hoping just for homework. Paying for this was pretty much my Christmas gift this year, so I’m not sure if I can budget another round. i’m kind of overwhelmed with to do lists at the moment, so I think I better focus on that this afternoon.

plans, plans, plans... it’s never ending.

Checking in! Hope everyone's week is going well I am making a new goal of myself, reading a few posts here has really inspired me to try for 10,000 steps minimum, 4 to 5 days a week if I can. I think I can do this, I've made over 10,000 the past two days— I haven't been able to say that in a VERY long time.

I have made my net calories the past two days, but I don't know if it is my new medication or what but the last month I have been LITERALLY starving... I only started tracking again, so seeing how much on paper I am intaking does help. Man do I even need to find some more low cal, easy/healthy snack options. 😅

I also just quit coffee a week ago, pretty sure I have a caffeine sensitivity, so I am on to tea now. I have noticed this week my sleep is improving. Just wanted to throw this out there incase anyone wanted to try. It might now be the best option for everyone, but if you have tried everything to help you sleep and nothing works it might be worth a shot!

Hello @Dukare— welcome back! You are doing great, starting and logging on is half the battle! You have a lot on your plate and you are doing an amazing job Your motivation is really inspiring!

@ClearNotCloudyMind Thanks so much for the encouragement! You really put it into perspective for me about the snacks and just saying "they are not for me". It really is a mindset isn't it?! This actually saved me last night from have "just one chocolate" which usually leads to 4 or 5 😳

Checking in:
I’m sick of the stupid soup I prepped. Of course... so I am trying to have more vegetables during the day.
I am going to go for some free yoga my hospital (work) is offering... at 6am. 🙄 wish me luck!
@HealthyTrent I hope your dog is feeling better!!! I miss having a dog 🐶
@ClearNotCloudyMind I don’t think you are doing anything wrong, I’m also going lower than usual in calorie intake this week but also feel pretty full. I think you need to listen to your body. If you feel well and MFP is freaking out I think it might be ok to ignore for a bit. I try to hit 1200 but sometimes I’m at 1000 and having been eating all day... so I guess it’s alright.
@roxinronni I also stopped drinking coffee this week for a short break. It’s been difficult but I have found Chai tea helps me pull through the day.

@ClearNotCloudyMind I would say that being under isn't necessarily a problem, but be careful going less than 1200 - that is the minimum for a, healthy, human (under is technically starving or malnutrition). While people do go under, you really shouldn't. I would try to at least make that with perhaps more light snacks like veggies/fruits or something? I found broccoli, aloha peppers (don't knock before ya try!), pretzels and red roasted hummus, carrots, various fruits. They add up but don't super fill.

@Gefiun welcome! It is definitely hard catching up... I also stayed in bed later than I should have, but sometimes, you just gotta haha.

@Gold6767 it is always such a fine balance between healthy diet and activities and social life... I am a firm believer of never omitting what you want from life - eat what you want, but that being said, moderation is key. If it is just on game day (once a week), enjoy it! Don't eat several chickens worth of wings, but a few is okay! Don't beat yourself up. Maybe do some extra workout to offset will help too! All about planning.

I've found it really helps to count days before giving into a craving. If I want something for 3 days, I really want it and let myself have it (in moderation) because it isn't just a fad or because I'm shopping or bored or any of those other reasons. Lol. It really helps! Makes these efforts to lose weight n maintain lifestyle easier... I've found.

@roxinronni if you can (and anyone else)- Highly recommend Ito En green tea. It is a game changer! Chilled. I drink a cup every morning and feel Amazing. It is a Great version... something magical about it haha. Feel incredible, and gives energy from the caffeine.

@melichalupa try aloha peppers. And hummus. They've done the trick for me before, maybe they'll help! Hope you got in that yoga! I love morning workouts but end up usually getting to it in the evenings...

@HealthyTrent I am in awe of your walking/steps hha. I have been known to put in 6 mi but now I'm still at 3 mi for my limit aha. Glad the pooch is well!

Okay I'm likely forgetting someone or more but I am running out of time to post 🤣

So my update! I weigh myself and track every day to get trends... and I've been 224 lately, but this morning I was 220.2 guys. You all may understand just how heartening this was to see. Made me fee Amazing and I really needed it. Yea it was the baby hormones but man, I almost cried I was so happy to see it ahha.

Being busy at work is helping me control my eating better, which helps when I can't get exercise in. I'm optimistic about the coming year!!

Hope you all stay strong, healthy, and hopeful! As always, WE GOT THIS!

Yoga at 6am update: I was late... but I got in 20mins of activity. I think I might try different instructors throughout the rest of the week to find one I really like. Also, this was a zoom yoga class that everyone had their video on... which was funny because angles are important people... very important.
The hospital has partnered with “Ompractice” to give us free virtual yoga for 2 months. So I am going to try yoga maybe once a day- or maybe twice to get the most out of it.
Lots of different places are also offering free virtual exercise and yoga classes, so if you are interested in these type of workouts I would definitely research with your job or I have even found some on Eventbrite.com

Hi all! I had a good day yesterday - I did a little under 2 miles on the treadmill (ended up with about 11k steps) and I ate pretty light due to the day prior. MFP didn't like my calorie intake, but I figured for one day given the circumstances, it was fine. The scale was down this morning losing all of yesterday's gain plus some.

I placed a grocery order yesterday for Saturday pickup - lots of veggies, healthy protein, some frozen fruits for smoothies (I add protein powder), and some healthy snack foods like yogurt and cottage cheese. I just got an order of chickpea-based pasta the other day that is much higher in protein and fiber than normal pasta. Once I pick this up on Saturday I should be set for the next 2 weeks! I also ordered some new produce keeper Tupperware that are supposed to keep fruits & veggies good longer. With my holiday gift shopping I'd earned enough points on my credit card to pay for them, so I thought it was a worthwhile investment.

I'll come back a little later and catch up on everyone else's posts!

@HealthyTrent way to go! Did you know, wrap lettuce in aluminum foil and it should stay better? That's what they say at least. My mom also puts carrots n celery in water. I can't wait to hear how those keepers do. Always a trial keeping fresh produce fresh... best of luck! Great job on that walking! So many steps🥳💃

My shopping is either today or Wednesday morning. Covid and Christmas shopping.... yeck. But we gotta get stuff!

@ClearNotCloudyMind glad you enjoyed! I have lost when I did a lot of working out and managing my calories, but I always had a high caloric day, usually Friday. It actually worked really well for me! My body just needed a little extra sometimes... and my soul 😆😁👍. You can enjoy and kick butt! I have faith in you!

Can you guys tell I'm getting sleep? I'm actually on her more lol. She's slept 6 hrs through the last 3 nights, and I'm getting my green tea in (Ito En. It's amazing guys). Might not have done much yesterday between a hectic work day and feeding her but I got my shower in, dressed and attended my hubby's work party (virtual), and made dinner! I'm proud Haha.

Here's good luck for going into the weekend and the holiday week! Stay strong my fellow mfp friends!