NON WW & WW NEWBIES, OUR NEW LIFE, THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL

@trooworld Good for you for not buying those sugar-free Reeses! Those would totally be a trigger for me too. The body really doesn’t know the difference between real or fake sugar so if we give it sweet, it will trigger us to eat more. This is why I don’t make a lot of low-carb desserts. I hope you have fun at the event and meet some fun people!

@cbabie Sorry that you have been under so much stress. That is not a good way to lose weight!

@theslightedgeforever I still have my Advantage Response card on my WHY that I want to lose weight. It really is a great exercise to read the card and focus on each entry. I'm going to read it more often! I’m not sure what group you are referring to? The one I help run on MFP is the Fat2Fit challenge group. I’m blessed to have trooworld as one of my team’s motivators.

Hello! Not much going on today. I did a leg workout and upped my weights so that was good. One of the women on my Fat2Fit group told me about this website called Recipe Keeper. It’s amazing and I’ve already bought the pro version so I can store unlimited recipes. It even lets me menu plan for the week. It’s really going to help me organize get away from my out-of-control Pinterest food boards. I’m on day four of the DDF challenge and so far, I’m loving it. I got my first trigger, which is 85 mg/dL and now the goal is to not eat until it’s at that number or below. Last evening it was at 93 before dinner so I went for a 10-minute stroll on my treadmill, and it dropped to 79. This morning it was at 94 after lifting weights, which can happen. I like it because it keeps me mindful to not snack and the importance of eating enough protein to stay satiated. The app for the program will lower my trigger at some point. Reminds me of when I was doing WW and my points would drop. On the one hand, it was a good thing and on the other it was terrifying.

@teresaw1020 Yes, Fat2Fit. That's the one. Sparkpeople is closing down and I know some people have moved over to MFP. Out of control Pinterest boards. I have my "recipes to try" sorted by category now. Still don't try very many it seems. Most are yummy desserts. I'm thinking once a month. I love to bake and like doing a job well done and then enjoying the fruits of my labor. I'm eating the real thing. I don't like fake desserts. How many times do you have to test daily? I'm just thinking of the cost of the strips. lol The good news about this program is that it will make you do little 10 min exercise things here and there.

@trooworld The outfit sounds spot on. You sound on top of the world right now. Which is so important to mental health and our eating. Expanding your people group will also help although occasionally that comes with food choices. But it can be done. I do better when I'm with people than I do at home alone.

I went to PT yesterday and did some weights and some bike/elliptical

80/100-red
30 min PT
25% water

@theslightedgeforever I guess I am on top of the world right now! I think I do better with people, too. How's the knee? I've had some problems with mine but acupuncture helps mine.

@cbabie It sounds like a good trade-off, less anxiety and more peace. Thanks, I had fun. You are right about thoughts and emotions!!!

Hello all. Yesterday was kind of a lousy day: I had to go back to the dentist and start the process of getting a crown and a filling. They ended up having to laser away some of my gums! I thought my gums would be sore afterward but they haven't been. I ate tortellini for lunch and dinner because I wanted something soft. In other news, we are finally getting one of the two windows fixed (they were leaking as of Nov 2019 if you remember). This is the one we are responsible for, the other one is the HOA's responsibility and they are slacking. The company that we hired is going to take measurements tomorrow and then replace the window in the end of July. I'll be glad to get it done and maybe it will spur the HOA into fixing the other window.

My phrase for the year: CHANGE HAPPENS

@cbabie Yaaaay on your exercise. Whatever works to take your reduce your anxiety so you eat less. On days to move more, how about listening to an audio version of the Bible. You can even record your thoughts on the subject on your phone. There are days when we just need to sit and "be" and some days we don't. You said, "I have no self control on those things." Yes you do. This sabotaging thought is what you are choosing to tell yourself though. So it's good to speak back to those thoughts. Yes I do have control over these. I'm choosing right now to not eat any. You could even add, I'll have one tomorrow after lunch. Although by tomorrow you may not want any. If you were a smoker and you were trying to quit but your husband smoked the same brand as you what would you tell yourself? Temptation is the same no matter what. It's we tell ourselves and then our brain starts saying things like, It's just one. It's a miniature too. You could have eaten a regular size one but you didn't. It's not that bad. But then you do eat it and then later your brain says, Oh that was good. One more isn't going to hurt. It's still less calories than if you had a regular pack. It's okay. Go ahead. So you do. Then you feel bad and you say see? I have no self control over those things. So the first time you hear that phrase, stop it in it's track. It will be persistent though so you need to repeat like a robot and find a distraction. You are stronger than you think. Read my post to trooworld about my knee.

@trooworld My knee is almost good but still have problems getting up and down off the floor on that side. So I'm still working on that. It's hard to do child pose. Too much pain right on the kneecap. So she said don't do that right now and still work on the stretching and the building of the muscles around it. Ouch on the dentist. My gums actually hurt when I read that. Hopefully HOA will fix the other. It's a shame you have to pay and they aren't very good.

I'm headed to a surprise bday dinner tomorrow at a Japanese restaurant. I have looked over the menu to see what I can eat because not liking Japanese, it won't be much. lol I'm switching my yellow day to my green day from Saturday. I have preplanned all my food for tomorrow. I'm ordering miso soup, chicken fried rice, a strawberry mohito and I've saved carbs for the bday cake. I think it will be red velvet since that is one of the choices there. I still have 39 carbs left to play with just in case.

129/150 Yellow Day
No movement
50% water

@cbabie It's supposed to heat up here, too. I'm not looking forward to it but at the same time, I feel like you do, I'd rather have heat than too cold lol. You'll do better today. Yeah, it's time to fix that window before the rainy season comes back. I am really happy when I talk about art!

@theslightedgeforever I'm glad your knee is getting better. Yeah, the dental stuff sounds worse than it was lol. Yes, our HOA is really lame. I hope you have fun at the birthday dinner, that was smart to look at the menu ahead of time!

@TeresaW1020 Yes, I'm glad for no pain, too! It hurts a bit when I brush my teeth and use my Waterpik, but other than that, I'm good. The HOA keeps saying that because of the freaking pandemic, things are slower and at first, they were going to have to kick the people above us out for a few weeks and put them in a hotel and those people didn't want to do that because of the freaking pandemic. Then they came up with a grand plan to not have the people move out and they still just put it off. I'm not sure what the hold-up is now. Yes, they certainly would harass us if we didn't pay our fees! I'm sorry the scale isn't cooperating, especially because you have to stab your finger! Eek! BUT...that's a great victory to be leaning out.

Hello all. I am back on plan. I haven't tracked since Monday but I will track today. BRB...there I just tracked for the day! I ordered a new sequin shirt for Saturday's art opening event. I'm going to make it artsy by wearing distressed jeans and combat boots. I have a chunky necklace to go with it. I also ordered a sequin face mask to go with it. I don't know how many people will be wearing their masks since we are so close to the time when we don't have to wear them but someone here just died from COVID even though they had been fully vaccinated so I'm not taking a chance in a crowded art gallery.

My phrase for the year: CHANGE HAPPENS

@teresaw1020 That's great on your body leaning out. Like the Tower of Pisa? it's all that exercise you do. Keep it up. Eventually the scale will move.

@trooworld How is your food this week? Have you been eating within your points? Oh yeah, just remembered you didn't track. So what happened there? I'm a heat versus cold person too. My dd lives in MN. She loves the frigid artic weather. Yaaay on tracking. For a moment I forgot we were in a pandemic. (I know, how is that possible) When I read about your mask, I was thinking ooh you're wearing a sexy masquerade mask. lol Then remembered covid. Better safe to wear your mask. Especially a sequined one. I love the shirt. Those are my colors.

@cbabie That's a great ice cream hack. As long as you get the taste and it satisfies you. I don't like the cone part. I remember getting sugar cones as a child and it would leak out the bottom and be all messy. I have a thing with messy foods. I'm surprised you love Troo's top. I figured it would be too flashy for you. Are you turning into Mom after all these years? lol I think controlling our thoughts is most of the battle in being successful for weight loss.

173/238 Green
Rest Day
75% water

@cbabie Thank you! I wore the fancy combat boots (they have an alligator texture to them but are all black). I think it looked nice.

@TeresaW1020 I actually will be entering 2 abstract paintings I did. No photos this time around! Yeah I loved the top and the mask. Unfortunately, I did have to wear the mask. The rules are still in place and everyone wore a mask, so I just shut up and wore mine lol. Hopefully at the next one, I won't have to. That's weird that your workouts make your blood sugar go up. I haven't laid out to tan in years, I just go pale lol. It was really hot yesterday here and is only supposed to get hotter. I've never watched Downton Abbey but will eventually try it.

Hi all. I did artwork for most of yesterday trying to come up with something I like enough to submit. I made 4 pieces, scrapped 1, and then chose the two pieces from the 3 I kept. I made another piece that I entirely don't plan on submitting, I just made it. I ate okay yesterday, no snacking. I have to go to the job today. Hoping I'll stay out of the vending machines.

My phrase for the year: CHANGE HAPPENS

I didn't realize I missed a couple of days. I thought just one. I had to make a trip to the airport. My youngest son is visiting us for 5 weeks while he's on summer vacation. He likes his new job at the school just because of summers off I think. lol I realized today that one house guest left and now another one is here. Then I'll go on vacation. So I guess the lesson to be learned is how to stick with a program and lose weight while I'm not in my routine. lol I lost 1.1 lbs since last Sunday.

@trooworld Hooray on your weight loss. Little by little makes a big deal after a while. You are beautiful. I loved the smoky eye and the chunky necklace. All of it really. Plus the combat boots. oooh alligator. Very edgy. I'd rather wear a mask and be out at an art gallery than stuck at home not being able to go out.

@cbabie Yaaay on your bike ride. I bet it felt good to move your body. Plus you stayed within your calories.

@teresaw1020 Tower of Pita. Here's some fun pita jokes https://upjoke.com/pita-jokes So how does your program factor in exercise? I would imagine it would have to somehow. Can you factor it in yourself after seeing a pattern and losing some weight? I know tan legs look better but be careful of skin cancer. I never got into Downton Abbey but my dd loved it. Even had to go to the NY exhibit when it came a couple of years ago. Of course I said the same thing about Game of Thrones. I didn't start watching until they were doing the last season and then I started. Loved it.

112/100 Red
Rest Day
66% water