1theresamcvean wrote: »

melaniedscott wrote: »

@kandi3570 Yes! and I don't bake cookies. Or do dinners. I only just finished 'shopping' yesterday. For a lot of friends/family we make personalized calendars. This year I photoshopped our bears (teddy, not real, live bears, I promise) attacking Wisconsin Lighthouses. It was fun...but a lot of work. Usually I'm done by the end of October.

So, the (hopefully short) story of my obsession with very exotic (to many) cuisine starts in Minneapolis in 1994. One of my cousins lived there and introdued several family who visited (not me) to a restaurant called The Blue Nile. About a year or so later, she was killed in a car accident. I had been dating a guy who was not a nice person. Her brother decided in her honor to encourage me to exit my relationship, which was rapidly getting worse. As part of this crusade, he decided to introduce me to other cultures...and invited me to The Blue Nile in Kansas City, MO. Also, introduced me to good Greek/Mediterranian food. Said guy and I did split up (yay!) and over the next 9 months or so, I started trying new stuff on my own, like dating a guy from India (who recommended my favorite Indian restaurant) and a guy from Ethiopia (met at the Nile) and trying Thai food. By the time I met my (now) husband, I was actively pursuing cooking these dishes because I was a college student and couldn't afford to go to the wonderful restaurants all the timr (or to drive to the city all the time). And I created dating rules in there...any man who couldn't take the amazing food I love couldn't be happy with me. Since then I've added Vietnamese and Korean Then I met the Lee, and he passed all the tests and does a dance when I make Ethiopian and Indian and Thai. He isn't a fan of Korean...but I guess I can forgive that.

That's awesome. My reason for learning different cuisines is less resonant but it's for my international students. I learn their family foods so they don't feel homesick. I've learned Colombian, Mexican (not TexMex), and Vietnamese. My favourite day was when Wendy said I nailed one Vietnamese recipe. I asked if it was like how her mother made it and she said no, it was like at a restaurant. Wow!

1theresamcvean wrote: »

melaniedscott wrote: »

@kandi3570 Yes! and I don't bake cookies. Or do dinners. I only just finished 'shopping' yesterday. For a lot of friends/family we make personalized calendars. This year I photoshopped our bears (teddy, not real, live bears, I promise) attacking Wisconsin Lighthouses. It was fun...but a lot of work. Usually I'm done by the end of October.

So, the (hopefully short) story of my obsession with very exotic (to many) cuisine starts in Minneapolis in 1994. One of my cousins lived there and introdued several family who visited (not me) to a restaurant called The Blue Nile. About a year or so later, she was killed in a car accident. I had been dating a guy who was not a nice person. Her brother decided in her honor to encourage me to exit my relationship, which was rapidly getting worse. As part of this crusade, he decided to introduce me to other cultures...and invited me to The Blue Nile in Kansas City, MO. Also, introduced me to good Greek/Mediterranian food. Said guy and I did split up (yay!) and over the next 9 months or so, I started trying new stuff on my own, like dating a guy from India (who recommended my favorite Indian restaurant) and a guy from Ethiopia (met at the Nile) and trying Thai food. By the time I met my (now) husband, I was actively pursuing cooking these dishes because I was a college student and couldn't afford to go to the wonderful restaurants all the timr (or to drive to the city all the time). And I created dating rules in there...any man who couldn't take the amazing food I love couldn't be happy with me. Since then I've added Vietnamese and Korean Then I met the Lee, and he passed all the tests and does a dance when I make Ethiopian and Indian and Thai. He isn't a fan of Korean...but I guess I can forgive that.

That's awesome. My reason for learning different cuisines is less resonant but it's for my international students. I learn their family foods so they don't feel homesick. I've learned Colombian, Mexican (not TexMex), and Vietnamese. My favourite day was when Wendy said I nailed one Vietnamese recipe. I asked if it was like how her mother made it and she said no, it was like at a restaurant. Wow!

minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

As we reach the end of the year, it’s a great time for reflection on where we came from and what we’ve been through.

Personally, this year has been a wild ride for me, but one of the things I was most grateful for was the invitation to join this team from Theresa, @1theresamcvean , in June. Little did I know back then that I would eventually become a co-captain with her when Lisa, @cafelelia , stepped down just a month later. I was not expecting to find such a supportive community, and I most definitely was not expecting to enjoy being a part of it – my health journey has so often been a solo adventure. Today, I hope to never go it alone ever again.

And now, we reach the next stage of Team Weight No More, as Theresa decides to become one of many great previous captains and steps back into being a team member. Theresa has been such an incredibly positive presence in the group, and I someday hope to be able to connect with all of you as well as she has.

Which leads me to an open invitation to all of you:

HELP WANTED: Co-Captain of Team Weight No More

Start Date: Transition scheduled for the end of December into the beginning of January

Responsibilities:
• Enter weights for your team into the spreadsheet by early Sunday morning (Eastern)
• Be active in team discussions
• Answer questions and help new members
• Encourage challengers to participate in challenges and in group discussions
• Create and post daily / weekly challenges and/or topics to promote team involvement and help keep the team engaged
• Remind challengers when they are due to weigh in - tag or message them if necessary – pester those who are late
• Encourage participation in the full group challenges
• Work with your co-captain and motivator(s) to keep the team going strong
• Refer any changes needed in the spreadsheets, problems with members, or other issues to the Moderators
• Participate in the Captains Lounge chat thread, and look there for announcements

Benefits:
• New level of accountability
• Really cool co-captain (ahem)
• Dental plan*
• Undying adulation from the team members

*not valid in all countries, see underside for details, terms and conditions may apply

This role really hasn’t taken up too much of my time – I think the most I’ve ever worked on anything for the group is this message, and that’s just because I took a break between writing the first and second paragraphs to get lost in my MFP inbox to get the dates right. And for whomever steps into the role, know that you are not alone in completing all captain responsibilities. Theresa and I have a relaxed breakdown of tasks, and I am not planning to become a stickler now that she is stepping down.

I know that taking on responsibilities during a pandemic may be scary, but I can honestly say that the additional structure has been nothing but beneficial for me.

If you would like to state your interest or have questions, please direct them to me and/or Theresa. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

So... yeah. That's all.
~ Ashley

minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

As we reach the end of the year, it’s a great time for reflection on where we came from and what we’ve been through.

Personally, this year has been a wild ride for me, but one of the things I was most grateful for was the invitation to join this team from Theresa, @1theresamcvean , in June. Little did I know back then that I would eventually become a co-captain with her when Lisa, @cafelelia , stepped down just a month later. I was not expecting to find such a supportive community, and I most definitely was not expecting to enjoy being a part of it – my health journey has so often been a solo adventure. Today, I hope to never go it alone ever again.

And now, we reach the next stage of Team Weight No More, as Theresa decides to become one of many great previous captains and steps back into being a team member. Theresa has been such an incredibly positive presence in the group, and I someday hope to be able to connect with all of you as well as she has.

Which leads me to an open invitation to all of you:

HELP WANTED: Co-Captain of Team Weight No More

Start Date: Transition scheduled for the end of December into the beginning of January

Responsibilities:
• Enter weights for your team into the spreadsheet by early Sunday morning (Eastern)
• Be active in team discussions
• Answer questions and help new members
• Encourage challengers to participate in challenges and in group discussions
• Create and post daily / weekly challenges and/or topics to promote team involvement and help keep the team engaged
• Remind challengers when they are due to weigh in - tag or message them if necessary – pester those who are late
• Encourage participation in the full group challenges
• Work with your co-captain and motivator(s) to keep the team going strong
• Refer any changes needed in the spreadsheets, problems with members, or other issues to the Moderators
• Participate in the Captains Lounge chat thread, and look there for announcements

Benefits:
• New level of accountability
• Really cool co-captain (ahem)
• Dental plan*
• Undying adulation from the team members

*not valid in all countries, see underside for details, terms and conditions may apply

This role really hasn’t taken up too much of my time – I think the most I’ve ever worked on anything for the group is this message, and that’s just because I took a break between writing the first and second paragraphs to get lost in my MFP inbox to get the dates right. And for whomever steps into the role, know that you are not alone in completing all captain responsibilities. Theresa and I have a relaxed breakdown of tasks, and I am not planning to become a stickler now that she is stepping down.

I know that taking on responsibilities during a pandemic may be scary, but I can honestly say that the additional structure has been nothing but beneficial for me.

If you would like to state your interest or have questions, please direct them to me and/or Theresa. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

So... yeah. That's all.
~ Ashley

minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

As we reach the end of the year, it’s a great time for reflection on where we came from and what we’ve been through.

Personally, this year has been a wild ride for me, but one of the things I was most grateful for was the invitation to join this team from Theresa, @1theresamcvean , in June. Little did I know back then that I would eventually become a co-captain with her when Lisa, @cafelelia , stepped down just a month later. I was not expecting to find such a supportive community, and I most definitely was not expecting to enjoy being a part of it – my health journey has so often been a solo adventure. Today, I hope to never go it alone ever again.

And now, we reach the next stage of Team Weight No More, as Theresa decides to become one of many great previous captains and steps back into being a team member. Theresa has been such an incredibly positive presence in the group, and I someday hope to be able to connect with all of you as well as she has.

Which leads me to an open invitation to all of you:

HELP WANTED: Co-Captain of Team Weight No More

Start Date: Transition scheduled for the end of December into the beginning of January

Responsibilities:
• Enter weights for your team into the spreadsheet by early Sunday morning (Eastern)
• Be active in team discussions
• Answer questions and help new members
• Encourage challengers to participate in challenges and in group discussions
• Create and post daily / weekly challenges and/or topics to promote team involvement and help keep the team engaged
• Remind challengers when they are due to weigh in - tag or message them if necessary – pester those who are late
• Encourage participation in the full group challenges
• Work with your co-captain and motivator(s) to keep the team going strong
• Refer any changes needed in the spreadsheets, problems with members, or other issues to the Moderators
• Participate in the Captains Lounge chat thread, and look there for announcements

Benefits:
• New level of accountability
• Really cool co-captain (ahem)
• Dental plan*
• Undying adulation from the team members

*not valid in all countries, see underside for details, terms and conditions may apply

This role really hasn’t taken up too much of my time – I think the most I’ve ever worked on anything for the group is this message, and that’s just because I took a break between writing the first and second paragraphs to get lost in my MFP inbox to get the dates right. And for whomever steps into the role, know that you are not alone in completing all captain responsibilities. Theresa and I have a relaxed breakdown of tasks, and I am not planning to become a stickler now that she is stepping down.

I know that taking on responsibilities during a pandemic may be scary, but I can honestly say that the additional structure has been nothing but beneficial for me.

If you would like to state your interest or have questions, please direct them to me and/or Theresa. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

So... yeah. That's all.
~ Ashley

sleepymom5 wrote: »

@minstrelofsarcasm Your post was timely for me! One night of drinking and a half a calzone isn't going to take away all of my progress. I am glad you are starting to feel better. Also, I can't get myself to get up when they are out of the seat on the bike. I feel like I am going to break the bike. I guess that will come as I get stronger. I also can't move my legs as fast as they are, I am peddling my heart out and am not even close! Lol! I plan to be more consistent in January on that bike.