@magic71755 bisky and I met 'here' over 4 years ago, so we'll be meeting in person for the first time. I think it's really cool, too I love these ladies that you post.
Just like us! Though none of my hats are that cool.

Nice job skipping the margarita, Mihani. I missed that your prepper friend is not doing your veggie prep. Is that a new permanent change, or are they on vacay?

I was expecting to post this morning that I was all signed up for the 'Lose It' fitness program at the gym, but that isn't the case. The kid at the front desk answered questions and was friendly enough, but when I asked to see where the workouts would be he just said it would depend on the trainer and what we're doing that day. He said the class size varies because when you sign up for a specific time slot you can go at any other time whenever you want. But generally 14 or less in the first 3 weeks, dropping off significantly over time.

So, no tour of the gym was offered, and though he said they would have modifications so everyone can join in, I just don't think it is the program for me. I can still change my mind but tomorrow is the last day to sign up at the discount. I think the constantly changing instructors would be stressful. Never knowing what was going to happen. I don't know. I don't want it to be something overwhelming that I feel like I failed at.

If I don't join, I'm still going to get Joe to come with me to their pool. I think we'll get a 1 day pass at first, then 10 time punch cards if I like it. Those gym contracts can be a problem and we're trying to avoid signing up, at least until we're very sure we'd keep it up.

Okay, that's all you ever wanted to know about my gym quandary and more!

plan:
breakfast: smoothie
not sure what is in the rotation for dinner tonight. It is getting close to grocery shopping time, so it will be whatever is left in the fridge.

Carla, salad prepper broke a tooth! So she was getting it pulled and in pain, which I guess is a pretty good excuse. Definitely good idea to go with your gut on the gym. Hope the new one checks out better.

Nanc, what do you put in your burrito bowl?

I ended up sleeping in this morning so I got laundry done but didn't make it to the store before the gym. Going to run to the grocery here shortly, then home to cook and do some work. Took my first barre class this morning and really liked it! Kicked my butt but I feel so limber and good now.

Plan for cooking is a pot of lentil soup, a batch of mashed potatoes, big skillet full of stir-fry peppers, onions and greens.

Mihani, if I don't take my B12 for 5-6 days in a row, my skin (especially fingers) will start to feel tingly, like the nerve endings are being excited or something. Congrats on 10+ pounds off.
Carla, how great that Bisky is doing that for you. I hope once you get to Mexico you can relax and enjoy it knowing that your babies are being well taken care of.
So glad you found a gym you like.
My fried green tomatoes were a bust. The recipe I used put just a light coating (flour and cornmeal) on them, no egg or milk. But I think since the coating was so thin the tomatoes soaked up the oil in the pan-fried ones and ended up soggy. The air-fried ones got a little dryer and harder, but the coating never really cooked, it stayed somewhat floury.
Here's my before and after pics:


The left were air-fried, the right pan-fried; top to bottom were AP flour, whole wheat pastry flour and oat flour. I liked the taste of the oat flour the best.
The tomatoes themselves were delicious - I kind of feel bad for them that I ruined them with my little experiment.

Oh no, Spring! Sorry your tomatoes didn't turn out well. I can't seem to get them right either. There simply has to be a fail-proof method for oil-free out there, but I've tried quite a few that I found online over the years and none of them have been that great.

Woohoo for a decent night's sleep, Nanc! I have somewhere around 20 pounds left to lose as well. There are about 18 weeks left in the year so if I can continue losing an average of a pound a week through the end of the year I should be there.

That said, I'm going ALL IN for September. Continuing at the gym, plus a good home workout on Thursdays so I will be getting 3 strength workouts every week, plus I'll be sure to get at least 5000 steps and 30 zone minutes every day in addition to my PT exercises. Will track calories with MFP to be sure I don't go over 1400 per day (generally I'm around 1200 to 1300), continue no alcohol. Also going to try to stick to intermittent fasting every day. I don't particularly like eating all my meals at the office to stay in an 8 hour window so I'll try to put off breakfast until 11 am so I can have dinner at home.

I'm a little sore from classes yesterday and core exercises earlier this week as well. I am feeling my core muscles for the first time in a long time and they are protesting! LOL

Still need to get my stir-fry veggies made. Not making mashed potatoes until later in the week since I have potatoes in the lentil soup. My plan this week is pretty much as follows:

B - 1/2 cup oats with frozen sweet and tart cherries, cinnamon, couple walnut halves, diced apple. By the time I am ready to eat breakfast at the office the cherries are thawed and I add just enough water to moisten the oats before adding the apple.
L - lentil soup, salad, watermelon. Salads will be very simple this week just lettuce and grape tomatoes topped with cooked kale, onions and peppers. Lately I've been adding a few splashes of bragg's liquid aminos and dijon for "dressing".
D - smoothie (power greens, frozen berries, couple slices frozen banana, a tablespoon of chia/flax, plant based protein powder, water)

Hi Esmer! So glad you joined us and I think everyone here can certainly relate to your story. I have done the "next week" thing for sure. The number one priority for me to stay on track is having food prepped. I work long hours and I don't have time or inclination to cook every night. I eat pretty simply most of the time and stick to things I know I'll enjoy so I won't be searching for something better or different.

I have to head to the office but just wanted to welcome you to the group.

Thanks, Magic. I'm working from home today. Had coffee and fruit for breakfast. My plans for other meals:
Lunch: leftover whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce
Dinner: homemade vegetable soup with the crunchy, crunchy end of the French bread I'm planning to make today.
Snacks? Not too sure. Fruit, possibly a few crackers.

@esmereldaSP welcome to the group! so happy you decided to join and share your struggle. I can totally relate. TOTALLY! I was in my groove, losing weight and down about 50 lbs. The entire time the borders were shut down, I couldn't see any of my family (they are all in Canada). I gained back all of the weight and then boom my family was able to come see my usual fat self LOL. I've re-lost most of that weight and just got back to onderland at the start of this month. The first week back on track can be the toughest but you'll be back into it in no time.

Mihani, yes I think your prepper friend has a good excuse! Hope they are feeling better now! ouch!

Yesterday on our walk in the park, I stumbled on one of the many roots and took an awkward tumble while my startled shriek rang through the forest. Luckily, I decided to wear pants instead of shorts at the last minute so my knees didn't get skinned too badly. Both ankles got more tender as the day wore on. I'm going to skip the park and walk on the treadmill today to keep moving but not make things worse. (btw, I was a sight to see! It was at the end of our workout so I had built up a sweat from jogging and then I fell into a bone dry dusty path. I was breaded!) ((sound familiar to anyone? I think I fall more often than most...and I almost always end up breaded in something!!))

today
blueberry & greens smoothie
mushroom veggie red sauce over bean pasta w/ walnut parm and baked tofu
half of a caramel apple or strawberries / mixed fruit

TGIF Nanc! How was the get-together with the family?

Esmer, your plan sounds great! What are your favorite fruits?

Spring, I discovered I enjoy smoothies even more in the evenings and like you said it keeps the late in the day calories lower.

Oh Carla! Glad you weren't injured (much) but sometimes the soreness can last a while. You reminded me, I totally forgot I was going to cook the tofu that's sitting in the fridge. I think it hits the best by date pretty soon so I need to get on that.

I ended up switching up my plan a bit. I made a BIG skillet of onions, peppers and kale so I froze the lentil soup in portion containers for next week. My salads are now spring mix, grape tomatoes, some of the cooked veggies, black beans, all topped with salsa. Kind of a fajita salad, and SO good.

I had a headache and scratchy throat today which always makes me a bit nervous now. I've lost count of how many people I have heard from who have or had covid over the past couple months. But I'm extremely prone to sinus issues every time the weather changes, or sometimes if it doesn't change at all, so it could just be the usual. I'm going to bed early tonight and hope for the best. I don't have any fever or cough or anything.

Happy Tuesday and last day of August!

I had a wonderful weekend as my college roommate from 40 years ago and her husband came to visit!!!! I was stressing a bit due to the celiac's disease about what foods to serve. Turns out 10 years ago she was diagnosed by biopsy for Celiacs. She was a wealth of information for everything I have been struggling with: anemia, brain fog, stomach pain and weight gain. It was so fun catching up and their visit was way too short. They love dogs, have dogs and are into animal rescue. Plus their son has several aquariums and breed fish so they were interested in our aquariums. Solved the problem while we will be at Carla's....automatic fish feeder! Who knew?

Sparks I am so sorry about your back. Are you taking anything for the pain? Those green tomatoes were beautiful.

Carla - Oh that fall sounds painful. Brooks has been looking up trails in your area! I think I will bring my collapsible hiking pole as I am a klutz. I was thinking the real challenge to weight loss is keeping it off. I know the symptoms of when I am gaining weight back: no weighing for longer than a week to a month, choosing loser clothes and less dedication to exercise plus increase sugar. At first it seems I can get away with it but then boom. Its back. I also gained during covid, having covid twice and the anemia.

I understand leaving your furry babies. My friends and I who share dog sitting with have the same fears but at least they won't be in a kennel or neglected in case of a snowfall and someone can't drive to your house. I will send pictures. When we went to Tripler AFB from Japan to Hawaii for Brooks' cancer workup and treatment we had to leave dogs and fish for 4 weeks. I had 3 groups of friends. One was a neighbor who had 2 old big dogs and she was in charge or morning walks & feeding. Plus opening the dog door. Then another friend had aquariums took care of my fish. Another couple, friends from Aviano who were also living in Misawa would come over in the evenings to watch T.V. and sit with the dogs. I had bought a 65" screen led TV for Brooks' BD right before we left. Never wanted a big TV before but he always did. We were all restricted to base due to Covid at the time so our house became the movie place and frequently my friends would message each other to see who was going to be there that night and what they going to watch and who would be responsible for closing the dog door. Plus they sent pictures of the dogs laying on them watching T.V. It was such a relief to know they would not be lonely. The person who walked the dogs was extremely athletic, an olympic pentathlon competitor. She met her hubby in Colorado Springs while he was at the Air Force Academy and she was training at the Olympic center in Colorado Springs. I think the dogs were happy to sleep all day after their long walks and then ready to party with my friends.

Mihani - do you have home Covid tests? My friends attributed sore throats and sniffles to allergies and then tested +. I tested + as soon as I had symptoms. Congratulations on 10 lbs gone!!!! That is a great achievement...plus you lost more fat as you are gaining muscle. Muscles take up less space but weigh more than fat. It is fun and the true measurement of clothes getting loose.

Esmer - I understand how real it is and the struggle. I was on a roll before Covid hit. In 2019 I was 40 lbs down, swimming, biking, hiking and participating in short triathlons. I had Covid twice, severe anemia with unknown cause until recently, requiring multiple iron transfusions and could not walk a mile this spring with out my heart racing. Was diagnosed last month with Celiac's disease. Cause of malabsorption of nutrients including iron. I recently just started swimming, biking and walking again. I am glad you are here and let us know how we can support you! I have learned so much from the women here. The good news we survived Covid. I lost friends and family before the vaccine came out. Lets not beat ourselves up but encourage each other to find our health again. It seems we are all struggling with health issues here.

Marilyn - I love that post about doing what you can do. I have to settle for what I can do after I swim and walk the same day. I am still recovering from the anemia. Before I would walk everyday and alternate swimming with bicycling. Now I walk everyday but can only do a real cardio exercise every other day. I am going to ask my Dr. after my next set of blood draws if I can start lifting weights. Have you seen the kidney Dr. yet for answers?

Magic - thank you for the heads up about Trader Joe's salsa with sugar. I love TJ but so disappointed when I find sugar or wheat in something I believe is going to be healthy. Especially high fructose corn syrup.

Brooks made the black beans this weekend. Yay!!! He also made me a huge pot of garbanzo beans. I think I need to freeze half, make hummus with 1/4 and find a soup recipe before they go to waste. We had a great swim after he came home for work yesterday. I don't think I am ready for the 50 m pool as I still get short of breath after a 25m lap. I did more cleaning and reorganizing the pantry today. Bought lazy susan's to round up stuff and a great spice rack so we can easily see what we have. Now need to find a garbanzo bean recipe...suggestions happily appreciated.

Thank you all for the well wishes and suggestions. I feel a little, little bit better today than yesterday, so I'll see how I feel after a week. If I don't have significant healing in a week, I'm going to go to the doctor and have things checked out.
bisky, sounds like you had a fun and insightful visit with your friends. I've been just taking aspirin yesterday and today, but might switch out to aleve for a day or two if it's still really stiff tomorrow. I hear they work better for pain I've never tried one. It's so great what you're doing for Carla, and it sounds like you had an awesome group of friends in Japan!
Mihani, DH and I always thought it might be fun to have an aquarium but the cleaning part always kept us away. Glad your throat and headaches have cleared up.
Magic, sounds like you had a great dinner - I could never pass up hummus in a Persian or Mediterranean restaurant, they definitely make it better than store bought or mine.Thanks for the sleep aid info. Good job on weight loss.
See everyone in September!

Bisky, I used fish tank water on some small trees I planted when I moved in and my neighbors were all asking me what I was doing because those trees shot up like magic beanstalks! I just had little tropical fish, and about a zillion cory cats because they breed like rabbits. They thought they lived in a mansion. LOL

Nanc, you're doing great, and I'm glad you are enjoying time with the family.

Carla and Spring, glad you are both feeling better.

I have stuck to plan this week. I have 4 pounds to go to be back to a normal BMI so that's a big motivation at the moment.

Thanks for the welcome,everybody. Carla, my co-worker and friend, also Canadian, couldn't go see his family either. I know he worries about his mother's health and it was very hard for him. I'm so glad you were able to see them finally--weight or not!