Over the years I have left, came back, left, came back, blah, blah, blah.

Why do I leave? Like so many areas in my life, I just lose the enthusiasm, desire, motivation, whatever, to stay on track and keep logging.

Why do I come back? Because I really miss this group when I'm away, you are always on my mind, and I'm wondering how everyone is doing! And, back I come!! I don't comment, encourage, support, as much as I'd like, but you are all very special, and I normally read every post, every day, and give a like, hug, etc.

Hugs!!

@SummerSkier Actually, I didn’t put the date in my phone. Thought I did, put apparently didn’t. If I did, I would’ve posted early and on time.

So I pray for grace and not to be kicked out the tribe. Just trying to adjust and put it all together.

19/02/2022
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes?
• Jogging 8.01 km in 1:02:26 (7:47 min/km); VO2max: 37
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes.
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes
Pass days: All used

@StayFITTer

All three of your posts are exceedingly important! Thank you!

I have heard Carol Dweck speak twice in person & followed her research closely.

Some of the most important things (related to her work & your post) I had to do to be successful with my weight loss & my maintenance were:
a) forgive myself for my past restaurant diet & stretches of time with no exercise. The phrase I came up with was: “The Past is passed.” Which was codespeak for let it go; there is nothing you can do about the past. You are forgiven. Focus on NOW.”

b) I only pay attention to averages & trend weights. All of our numbers bounce a bit. I set a goal of 4lbs per month for my weight loss so even if a plateau happened, I would lose that much. I lost weight more slowly than anyone on MFP lol I didn’t care. I was changing habits & never hungry, Monthly & Yearly Averages of 10,000 steps helps me if I am sick or have a colonoscopy- over time I get my averages back up. Same with weekly calories. The individual ups & downs along with the vagaries of scales make daily readings pretty irrelevant on their own. My codespeak: “It’s just a data point.”

C) Dweck’s work in education around the importance of practicing what is difficult for us has been an underlying aspect of my 6+ year journey.
1. Honestly, what is the most important thing for me to focus on right now? What is tripping me up?
2. Brainstorm solutions and approaches
3. Create a small habit to practice
4. Modify habit if needed to make it better or figure out there actually a different habit that is more important.
Once solved… go back to #1 and begin with something new.

I spent about 16 months 2016-17 slowly doing this. My emphasis was not on weight loss; it was on tackling the dozens of things I needed to identify and problem solve. Organizing an easy to use kitchen. Clearing our out of date foods from pantry. Getting broken oven replaced. A new dishwasher. A coffee machine. Figuring out keeping groceries in stock. Discovering healthier substitutes. Portion sizes. Then weighing foods. Finding apps. Locating additional apps for the averages & trend wts. Figuring out how to make walking more engaging. Adapting to changing body & figuring out how to handle the ones I did’t like that much. Body image.
Where to buy clothes now that i can do so everywhere was overwhelming- baby steps. Giving away clothes that were too large- forgiving myself for not catching this health issue earlier. Adapting to Maintenance. Handling 1st time I went over GW. Sleep improvement. Handling 2nd time I went over goal weight. Identity based goals. “My time is valuable.” Stopped worrying “Take action or Relax” Created an art practice That fills me with bliss & joy. Finally adapted to retirement, transplant, and quarantine (when others can go out.)

For me, it’s not just about weight loss. It’s been about creating a whole new me.

I hope this helps! Basically we have to be kind to ourselves as we dive into each issue that is holding us back from being healthy.

If you had told me Jan 16,2016 that I would be HAPPILy walking 10K steps every single day (and looking forward to it), I would have thought “no way”

Ditto if you had told me I will have cut my sat fat down to <11g even 2 months ago, I would have said “No way; I’ve got a fat tooth - never gonna happen”

Ditto if you had told me I had given up long term friendships who several times showed me they did not honor my requests of no sugary gifts or who made rude remarks about some aspect or other, I would have said “but I’ve known them so long…”

I’ll Stop.
Never underestimate the power of Dweck’s life work. Spend time on the parts that are difficult. Solve them. Give yourself the
time to slowly make changes.

I gave myself 3 years to lose 59 lbs which ended up being 70 (I was shorter & healthy BMI is 24.9, not 25.)

I also gave myself 3 years to explore my interests in art online & at 3 years THE perfect project for me appeared.

This approach works. It will empower you to tackle the next & you will be healthier before you know it! But remember, Dweck’s work is based on students being in an environment where mistakes are not Punished but rather are seen as Important Information to master in order to improve & learn.

❤️
Maddie

Saturday

Exercise 45
Tracking complete
Calories under
3 pass days remaining

✅ Exercise: 78 mins
✅ Calories: under goal
✅ Tracked

Remaining pass days: 3️⃣

Tracking, staying under goal, and exercise is just what I do. I stay with UAC because it’s members are a mine of helpful information.

1/3 pass days.

I don’t think I could leave this group some I could but not the UAC. This group of people have shared part of my life towards a healthier life, we share advice, life’s great moments and it’s really hard times. We are all here to learn to be better at what we do and what we want. I am not sure how this group could be better, just knowing someone out there may have an idea that will help me is a gift for health. If it isn’t broke why fix it?

Thanks @jamcnewman you held me accountable this week for my exercise I think I made it 😊 with your help.

I logged I tracked I exercised. Once again snow shoveling but good cardio.

✅✅✅

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes, 40 minutes Peloton bike and 10 minutes stretching.
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

Why do i stay @SummerSkier ? Well I just learn so much from you all. You are all so nice and supportive and it makes me stay accountable and feel part of this wonderful community. Some months I do amazingly well and others not so well but the main thing is i stick with it cause if I do it makes getting back on track so much easier. Prior to joining UAC wen I went off plan it would take me weeks to get back to it but now it only takes me a day or so. Xo