I just had to share this image. I know it describes how I feel at times. I am trying to think before I eat. I had a NSV last night. I walked to the kitchen to hunt for a treat. I had many choices, too many choices. I stopped and had a short conversation with myself. "are you really hungry, don't eat cookies - you can have an apple - do you want an apple- no - go walk around the house instead - no I deserve a treat- but that will mess up my diary - I walked until my fitbit hit a good number and went to bed!!!!! I DID NOT EAT SOMETHING SWEET JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT - I CAN DO THIS - YOU CAN TOO - It is OK to talk to yourself, sometimes you get good advice that way.

@jedaschultz - congratulations on the new house, such an exciting time.

@ljdanny - praying that your appointments go well.

Check in for Tuesday
Food-logged and under
Water-64 oz
Exercise-30 min walking tape, PT and stretching

I am heading to the shore this afternoon and have a busy day morning ahead. I am not sure if I will be able to check in but I will try. I have been doing well and need to keep this going!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

@tryingagain5 Nice loss! You had a good week!
@debbiewsharpe Lol! Love that picture! I actually love the idea of asking ourselves when we are snacky if we want to eat an apple or something else healthy. You are right, if we don't want an apple, we aren't hungry! Great job last night, that's the way it is done!
@minstrelofsarcasm Having those jeans fit is an awesome NSV! I know I do get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that I forget it doesn't tell the entire story.

WELCOME MARCH! Welcome new members and faithful returning team mates! I took last month off in every aspect of the word "OFF". I finally got under 200lbs for the first time in about 5 years and decided to take a Maintenance month. Good news is that I'm still teetering at 200lbs, bad news is that personal situations and the declining health of my mother and her extra care have been railing on my mental health. Truth be known, I was considering quitting the group but then I realized that I need this connection with you guys (my online family) to keep me sane! I haven't been much of a motivator as of late, and for that I'm sorry. I'm still here lurking in the shadows and reading all of your challenges and accomplishments, you guys rock every day and for that have pride in yourself!
(Enough emotional *kitten* for now!)

A little bit about what makes me tick!

I was a former competitive athlete (Cycling in my 20s) trying to live the best life that I can. I was a single Dad who raised my two boys into a couple of very fine respectful men! I worked the same job for 31 years and suddenly I was unemployed because of the company downsizing. I quickly found employment at a wonderful company with a future. The only problem is that it's a second shift position. For thirty years I would get out of work then workout then sleep, to wake up refreshed for the next day. Now, if I workout, it's before work (Therefore my workouts are less than beast mode) and the night shift becomes very difficult because my body wants to recover while I'm at work. I had gained 60 lbs in 3 years of working the off shift. I'm still looking for the balance, but it is becoming easier. I just have to keep working on that balance!
Balance........That's what life is all about now isn't it!
MARCH, IN LIKE A LION PEOPLE!

Week 1
Pw 147.2 lbs
Cw 150 lbs

I know I did not gain 3 lbs in a week, its been a bad 3 days for bloating and I always retain water like crazy when working out more for some reason. That being said I'm cutting down sodium which is difficult since I love salty foods. Finally been back at the gym and do my legs ever feel it, I've increased my speeds for running thanks to my treadmill, but the strength training may get me lol. Goals for the week 5x workouts, more water and less sodium!

pacsnc6 wrote: »

Since reducing the dose of the Keytruda last week my joint pain has reduced a lot. I am definitely less stiff when getting up from a chair. YAY!!!

So of course yesterday I fell and hurt myself. On the way back to my car after getting the vaccine I tripped - dragged my foot - and down I went. Now I hurt a lot more but I think it's mainly tight muscles in the back and hips. It will get better!

Taking yesterday as a rest day was a good decision. It's not that I was extremely sore or fatigued, but my brain needed a break from the constant need for competition. Between spin class and lifting, I feel like I constantly need to push myself, and that can't be a healthy mindset, especially right now.

Food:

I'm still eating girl scout cookies. Lots and lots of girl scout cookies. But now I'm actually logging them. Which is good. It's holding me accountable to the delicious delicious junk I'm putting into my body, which, in turn, makes me put less of it into my mouth in the first place. Not none of it, but less of it.

I've also been paying a lot of attention to when I've been likely to eat outside of my standard meal schedule, and it's whenever I crave something sweet after a meal. Right after a big, savory, lunch is not the time to make a mug cookie, or indulge myself in my beloved pretzels and jam. Immediately after dinner is not much better, even if my dinners tend to be smaller meals than my lunches. So I'm working to negate these cravings by introducing cups of tea, and may go back to brushing my teeth immediately after dinner to reduce my likelihood of reaching for a snack.

Exercise:

I'm paying close attention to my muscles. I know that building muscle is a slow process, especially when not explicitly eating more than maintenance calories. But I want to see more of my biceps. I want to see how many different curves truly exist in my calves. Heck, my butt is even more noticeable.

I think I've found my routine, and I'm still going to listen to my body and make changes as I go, but my 4 resistance + 5 spin classes regimen seems to suit my body and current level of fitness quite well. The real issue is remembering to stretch often and drink tons and tons and tons and tons of water. Recovery is so much more important than I ever expected it would be, and with the addition of resistance training, it's less about rebuilding muscle than it is preventing injury.

Mindset:

I had a long visit with my neurologist yesterday and I left it feeling incredibly relieved. My most recent MRI in January showed that there was no active deterioration in my brain, still nothing spread to my spinal cord, which is a clear sign that my medication has been working. After I do a quick blood test this week, we should be able to confirm whether the drug has done any unnoticed damage to my body, and then I'll be able to transition to a less rigorous testing schedule.

We also discussed the Covid vaccine. Given that the Moderna vaccine trial had been halted due to issues cropping up in someone with a neurological autoimmune disorder very similar to MS, I was unsure how safe it would be for me to receive it. But, given that I donated some of my spinal fluid to a study regarding the interaction of immune cells with the vaccine, there is now explicit proof that I can safely get the vaccine when it's available to my demographic.

Nothing else matters right now. I can get the vaccine AND my medication is doing its job. Everything else going on in my life is just gravy. I'll go back to complaining about water weight next week, I promise.

Hi all,

Apologies for the late posting, this week has totally got away from me! Will try and catch up with all your posts later but hope everyone is having a good start to the month. The scales are being weird - shooting up and down by crazy amounts, so will post a weigh in tomorrow if that's ok.
My food has been ok, more carby than I'd like but have been having complete cravings this week so have been trying to just keep it roughly within my cals. Exercise is still rubbish lol. I've been trying to at least get a short walk in, but there's a lovely new bakery just opened on the route I usually go in - so that's a whole new temptation! I gave in the other day and while it was totally yummy I think the walk would have had to be twice long to balance the cake calories

Weigh in day Friday
Pw-202.4?
Cw-201.2

Check in for Thursday
Food-not logged and over
Water-64 oz
Exercise-30 min walk, PT and stretching

Happy with the loss but need to get it together down here. I am doing the exercise and getting the water in, not too good with the eating and wine drinking. I have two more full days so I need to get it together.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend

@podperson1 hopefully the warm weather will make it easier to get some exercise in. Spring will be here soon. Plus you have the added motivation of the bakery along your route lol!
@callsitlikeiseeit Still a nice loss! Have a good day too! Hope you are enjoying the new horse

Hi all, I had a good day yesterday and planning on continuing that today. I’ve been keeping the habit of putting my meals together at night for the next days breakie/lunch so it’s a quick grab and go.

I had got into a bit of a habit with stopping at the drive thru so my focus is eating meals that I’ve prepared at home.

I’ve got registration for my exercise classes coming up. That round will take me to June. I’ve got a good balance and it leaves me with a few days off to hit Planet fitness for weight training and running with my kiddo.

It’s finally getting melty outside and I’m getting close to being able to walk/run outside. The snow and ice is really thick and I’m nervous about really getting going in case I wipe out.

Cheers everyone

Weigh in day: Friday
Previous weight: 136.5
Today's weight: 135.6
Weekly Steps: 51,588

Username: KUMEcyclingteam
Weigh In Day: Friday
Week: 1
PW (Previous Weight): 198.2 (end of January)
CW (Current Weight): 199.8

Good morning all. It has been a pretty good week. The sun is finally shining in NC and I was able to get some outside walks in this week. I am still doing good with drinking water from the juice glass several times a day, just seems easier to drink a small amount so I get it done. I have also established a new routine. While my coffee is brewing I set the timer on the microwave and do 10 minutes of arm exercises with weights. 10 different exercises one minute each. So far this has worked well.


@minstrelofsarcasm- good to see the rest day worked well for you. You do know that you can freeze some of those Girl Scout cookies! Finding a routine that works for you is great news, I think I am still searching. So happy that your appointment went well and that you are cleared to take the Covid shot.

@sleepymom5 – Enjoy your time at the shore! Yes, most of eating right and exercise is a mind game. Do your best to get your brain, mouth and your body to work together. 

@podperson1 – temptation is hard, feeling guilty after shows you are making progress! The scales are not the end all but from 182-188 is a big difference. Clothing, scales level on the floor and at the same place every day ??? You can do this, I believe in you!

@callsitlikeiseeit- have a good weekend, congrats on the loss!

@gottagetthisdown- Congrats on the loss, impressive! You have a good plan, I also need to work on balance in my food. Protein and fiber and less empty carbs. We can do this.

@goingape – always good to hear when our friends have a good day! Keep on keeping on….. you got this.

@Ljdanny- congrats on the loss!

@lennoncpa – weight and steps both good, enjoy your weekend! You did great resisting the cravings.

@Kumecyclingteam – still under 200!

@debbiewsharpe - thank you x Yup, I weigh first thing in the morning each day, same(ish) clothes, scale in the same spot. I'm used to having maybe one day when it fluctates but I can usually say, oh I went overboard yesterday, I had xx with loads of sodium, it's totm etc. and then it will balance out the next day, but has never been so constantly up and down and for no real reason I can figure. Super confused!

Maintenance weight 136.0

Total steps 50790