@JillyBT - my thoughts are with you. What you are going through is painful and both mentally and physically exhausting. Going through the grieving process while our parents are still alive is … I have no words. The anticipation and our need to have them present is overwhelming. Be kind to yourself and know that you are loved.

I find the daily topics thought provoking and the responses well thought out. Thank you to all those taking the time to create the topics and for all of the responses. I find myself reading responses, doing a bit of research, and incorporating new things quite often.

I exercise to maintain (and hopefully build) muscle, stronger bones, heart and lung health, reduce inflammation, etc. I exercise to try to minimize (and hopefully reverse) my osteoporosis, arthritis, and a host of other things. I eat to fuel my body for an active life and do my best to use good fuel as often as possible. I found it difficult when I was overweight/obese to exercise. It was both mentally and physically difficult. I didn’t have the stamina. It seems to me that we have been bombarded with CICO but that seems so simplified. Some posters elsewhere on MFP scream a calorie is a calorie. I do not believe all calories are created equally and many foods actually cause/contribute to insulin resistance and disease. It is important to eat within calorie limits but to also focus on the quality of those calories. For me, eating well and staying active are so intricately intertwined that they cannot be evaluated separately. I cannot accomplish my goals without both.

Sunday, September 5

Tracking: Yes
Calories: under - way under
Exercise: Yes, serious yard work for 6 plus hours. I skipped lunch and figured I’d go in for dinner. When I got in, I took a shower and climbed straight into bed. I’m hungry this morning but the big field looks fantastic.

Pass days to date - 0

Exercise: Yes, barely squeaked it in, and wouldn't if not for the challenge - 15 minute walk and 15 min stretching
Tracked: Yes
Under calories: Yes
Pass days: 1/3

I have never been much of an exerciser, but times that I have gotten a lot of exercise I have found it really helps with maintaining calories - I can eat whatever I want and stay the same weight, but I can't not eat whatever I want (because I am too hungry). All of my weight loss efforts have been accompanied by only moderate exercise - more than moderate and I get too hungry.

JillyBT wrote: »

Sept 5

To much stress with my parents dementia. My mom was mad at me for not telling her I was her daughter. But then today (Sept) she knows who I am and said she loves me. Stress is my biggest hurdle. I can exercise all day and this situation never gets easier to deal with.

@JillyBT I can relate. My Mom has advanced Alzheimer's and will be living with me three years this December. It's incredibly overwhelming and the disease has not only robbed her of her life, but me of mine as well. Working on weight loss, exercise, and focusing on my wellness in dozens of little ways has helped me feel that I have some sort of "control" in my life. It has really helped me, but yet some days I feel I just can't cope with it another moment.

So, virtual hug.