@lindamtuck2018 ...I use to live in Northern Cali but now I live in Central Cali ...We need the rain since we have been in a drought for many years ...but I can do without the heavy wind and thunder and lightning

1. Tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? What are some of your hobbies? Etc.
First things first - the reason I’m finally doing this… my username was MissGyst and I just changed it so I want you all to know who I am! Old username stood for "get your s**t together" and I feel like I’m not the mess I once was, so I’m now using a nickname I've had since I was little. I’m from New York - born/raised on Long Island, 12 years in Bklyn, and live in Queens now. No kids for me, but I have a gaggle of niblings and great-nephews that are the greatest gift to me. The joy of loving and raising all of these awesome kids without having to pay for them? Sold! Lol Hobbies - I am a huge hockey fan (NYI), I like ice skating and skiing, and anything at the beach that's not fishing.

2. Why are you on this journey? What pushed you to start?
I feel like I’ve never not been on a quest to lose weight, but I’m back to the Downsizers after a hiatus because I’m almost 50 and I’ve never been happy in the skin I’m in. I think I owe it to myself to really push and make the sacrifices to get there.

3. What are your triggers and how can you avoid them?
My biggest trigger is being too hard on myself when I fail (at anything) and it leads to binging and/or drinking too often/much. I’ve been able to calm that a lot with weekly therapy and medication. Also exercising - once I got past the misery I actually found the dopamine!

4. Do you have a favourite diet you go by? ie keto, low carb
I count calories and keep my macros as close to 45% protein, 30% fat, 25% carbs as I can. I'm on a medication that requires me to eat a lot of protein.

5. What is your favourite way to workout?
I love to dance, I really enjoy walking when the weather allows, and I just found the FitOn app which has a bunch of free classes. I also bought one of those TikTok weighted hula hoops and it’s so much fun! I use it between periods when I’m watching hockey (or during the game if Leah Hextall is calling it).

6. What are some of your goals this month? Year?
My goals for the month are to consistently log food. My goal for the year is to get into my healthy weight range.

7. What do you expect to gain from the team? Do you have any suggestions?
I’ve always gotten so much encouragement and great advice from this team that all I hope is for that to continue!

8. Share some words of wisdom with your teammates.
Come back, even if you missed a weigh-in, even if you missed a month, even if you gained. Being a part of a team and keeping yourself accountable for what is going on with your health will push your progress that extra mile you really need sometimes!

@Megan_smartiepants1970 my steps for the year so far - I'll update on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Sunday 12/1: 5,423
Monday 12/2: 9,003
Tuesday 12/3: 8,496
Wednesday 12/4: 4,627
Thursday 12/5: 7,989
Friday 12/6: 8,086

leeniekat wrote: »

@Megan_smartiepants1970 my steps for the year so far - I'll update on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Sunday 12/1: 5,423
Monday 12/2: 9,003
Tuesday 12/3: 8,496
Wednesday 12/4: 4,627
Thursday 12/5: 7,989
Friday 12/6: 8,086

Can we start for January? ... I have already posted the results and grand finale for December .... I need 1/1 - 1/7 thanks

LMK02020:

Weigh in day: Saturday
PW:127.5
CW: 127.3
GW: 120.0

@Megan_smartiepants1970 , My daily step goal is 14,256 or 5 miles for Fitbit,

Good evening. First weekend of the year is half over. Only 51 more chances for you to enjoy it.
Check in for 1/7:
Steps - 13531. Nice palindrome.
Calories - 2450
Exercise - walked for 1 hr 26 min.

Slowly getting the apartment back to normal. Felt good to have everyone in their own bed again. Have the big bed in a bag but am using it until wednesday.

LMK02020 wrote: »

@Megan_smartiepants1970 ,
I am interested in the step challenge. Just curious if we can track miles instead of steps ? Thank you 😊.

I will get you added ... Happy to have you join ... We track steps each week ... I do have a converter chart so I can convert most exercises into steps Do you have steps for 1/1 -1/7 or do you want to start today which is January week 2 which runs from 1/8 - 1/14

inshapeCK wrote: »

lindamtuck2018 wrote: »

Great job for a week that you weren’t feeling good. I hope you do feel better this week. Dealing with health issues and losing weight is not easy. I did not get your pm. We have to be friends in order to send a private message. I sent you a friend request.

@lindamtuck2018

Thanks. If I hadn't had a weigh in to post I might not have done so well. Accountability and challenges do help me be more successful. I also hope I am healed of my many health concerns soon. They are a challenge physically, emotionally, and mentally. I did manage to get a long walk outside today, although the person I walked with walked too fast for me for my current condition even though I told them ahead of time that I could only go for a slow stroll. Happy for the fresh air and exercise though and the pain was manageable.

Not sure why you didn't receive my email via MFP private messages. I have emailed people before when we are not MFP friends. I accepted your friend request and resent the email and will check to see if it shows up as read by you now that we're MFP friends.

The messages when not friends hasn’t worked for awhile. Not sure why. Great job on the long walk. Is walking your preferred way of exercise?

LMK02020 wrote: »

LMK02020:

Weigh in day: Saturday
PW:127.5
CW: 127.3
GW: 120.0

Nice loss!

JaysFan82 wrote: »

11 months ago my blood pressure was 148/101

I checked it today and it was 111/73!

It’s so nice when our weight loss pays off in measurable health benefits.

cormierannie
Weigh in day Sunday
PW: 137 pounds
CW: 137 pounds

Megan_smartiepants1970 wrote: »

leeniekat wrote: »

@Megan_smartiepants1970 my steps for the year so far - I'll update on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Sunday 12/1: 5,423
Monday 12/2: 9,003
Tuesday 12/3: 8,496
Wednesday 12/4: 4,627
Thursday 12/5: 7,989
Friday 12/6: 8,086

Can we start for January? ... I have already posted the results and grand finale for December .... I need 1/1 - 1/7 thanks

OMG.... I wrote 12 lmao... I'm so sorry! These are January!!! 🤣
Sunday 1/1: 5,423
Monday 1/2: 9,003
Tuesday 1/3: 8,496
Wednesday 1/4: 4,627
Thursday 1/5: 7,989
Friday 1/6: 8,086

and yesterday 1/7 was 7,126.

@Megan_smartiepants1970

1:5419
2:3254
3:3242
4:2608
5:3286
6:1861
7:3445

Thank you!

@lindamtuck2018

Yes, walking is my preferred way to exercise. I try to do a bit of hiking too. I used to walk or hike almost every day and I used to be able to walk at a fast speed and do some hills and walk for longer periods of time but my body and piling up health problems have made even regular, slow speed, flat surface walking for shorter periods of time difficult for me.

Hope you are able to choose wisely at your pot luck. I usually take a small amount of whatever interests me and if something is really worth it after tasting it then I might go back for a little more. Maybe you can take a healthy dish.

When I go to restaurants I often look the menu up ahead of time so I can make my decision before I go.