Hi,

I haven't checked in for quite a bit. I feel like the stress bus finally pulled over and I jumped off as quickly as possible 🙃 I read the past few pages but have definitely missed a lot of posts. Hope everyone is doing well.

Yesterday my dad went to the doctor and received the very good news of cancer free. He feels very lucky that his original test was a false positive. He is still awaiting one more test but the doctor felt confident he was fine.

I finished up this semester of my masters program. I am always so stressed to take the tests. Mostly because they have someone watch you take the test through a camera. I can't take them at home because our wifi just doesn't get enough reception up on the mountain. I need a private office which I don't have at work. I was able to use the speech therapists office for my test. It was so loud outside the office and they had about 60 preschoolers outside my door waiting for the bus. I was wondering if they would cancel my test! Luckily I made it and passed. One more semester to go!

I also needed to plan a trip back home to see my 90 year old grandma. My mom and I don't always get along and she has been really rude to my husband in the past. Not a super comfortable trip to make but I survived. Got to see my grandma and brought home 2 sets of china from her. Had dinner with my mom. My sister and niece came to the hotel and swam. It was quick but successful!

It feels good to check some things off the list. I basically haven't worked out this month to focus on extra sleep. I have been emotional and anxious this month which isn't like me. I'm ready to get back to a more consistent routine.

@jugar - Thanks for adding me to the team!

My name is Debra. I am 50 years old and 4'11" tall (?). I joined this group in WeightNoMore in 2021 (I think). I was around 160 pounds and reached my goal weight about 6 months later. My goal zone was 122-128. After reaching my goal, I stayed active in the group for a while, but I eventually just dropped off the radar. My resolution to myself was to keep the weight off for a solid year. My motivation was my grandchildren. I wanted to do the things that they expected me to do when we play.

Here we are. It's now 2023. My weigh in this morning was 126.8. I'll use that as my start weight for the group. I'm trying to tweak this goal zone down just a bit. I'm feeling like it should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 115-122. I may tweak that again depending on how I feel. For now, I think I will look into it at 2 pound increments.

For a little background: My weight loss journey actually began in 2010. I joined Weight Watchers then. My first weigh in was 196.6. I knew when I saw those "Official numbers" that I could not continue on that same path. Weight Watchers was great. I lost the weight in a year, and I reached my goal of 124. After reaching my goal, I became a Weight Watchers leader. I stayed in that position until 2013. At that time, meetings were being cut back. That cut my income so I sought employment elsewhere.

Things I learned from Weight Watchers that worked: GROUPS! Definitely 1000% effective. Having a support group is HUGE! That support can be the cheers, the "Hang in there"s, the competition (healthy, of course), and the celebrations! It works! Also, the meal tracking: Tracking your food down to the macros - Track even when you go off the rails! Log your mood at the time. Make notes, lots of notes in that food diary, even if you don't feel like it. Do it anyway! This helps to see if there is a pattern to any gains, moods, etc. Once you see a pattern, change it. Purposely throw something different in the pattern... a walk, a craft, a visit to a friend, meditation ... something.

In 2014, I had a series of events that made me not care about anything.... anything. I stayed in that slump until I found that I had put on almost 40 pounds. With a lot of support (and some therapy), I learned to find myself again. That was when I found this group. I'm glad to be a part of this group again. I'll always be grateful for the healthy competition. I have a competitive nature, so I like challenges.

This go around, my motivation is still those grandbabies (age 3-2-1-1). In addition to that, my daughter is getting married in October. She picked out the Mother-of-the-Bride attire. I have these "bat wings" that are just not conducive with the outfit. I'd like my arm to stop waving when I do.

Happy to be a part of this group while I try to be a super-fit grandma.
I look forward to knowing each of you and cheering from the sidelines along the way!
I'm choosing Saturday as my weigh-in day since my FitBit week also starts on Saturday.

Unofficial Stats:
NAME: IDebraK
WEIGH IN DAY: Saturday
HIGHEST EVER WEIGHT: 196.6
CURRENT WEIGHT: 126.8
GOAL ZONE: 115-122

STEP GOAL: 13,000 per day
Current (unofficial) FitBit stats for the week:
I'll make the weekly post on Saturday as well to include a Friday stat
75,968 steps 44 floors 29.7 miles

Hi WaistAways!

PW: 177.6
CW: 176.8

Like many of you, January is proving to be hard for me. The kids are getting little sick bugs over and over, we're munching on (delicious!) lunar new year foods, we're stuck inside because it's cold, and because of the sick bugs I'm not going to the gym as much.

That said, today is a day for the gym, I'm going to make a chicken curry tonight, and put it over cauliflower rice for myself so I can indulge in some garlic naan. Breakfast will be either toast or oatmeal with an egg, cashews, and sriracha. I'll probably only have a small snack for lunch.

Have a great day, everyone!

IDebraK
WEIGH-IN: Saturday
CURRENT WEIGHT: 127.4
HIGHEST EVER WEIGHT: 196.6
GOAL ZONE WEIGHT: 115-122
GOAL THIS WEEK: 126.4

I knew the extra sodium would creep up on me. I'll take it. Yesterday's weight was 126.8. Flushing the system with plenty of water today. Goal for the week is .5 pounds. I should be back to that yesterday weight by the end of the day tomorrow.

Healthy habit this week: Take my vitamins. I take them, but I am hardly consistent. Making a conscious effort this week.

Weigh in (late)

PW 210.9
CW 212

Still a gain but smaller than it was. Weird off week. Went back to eye dr. Checked everything and looks fine, but I’m still seeing a bit blurry (dryness?) and getting headaches. Maybe it’s just post menopausal crap. It’s such a betrayal. Blah. I am not a headache person and not liking it a bit.

I’ll catch up soon. @conleywoods so glad to hear about your dad.

@DianaGetsFit512 Yes! Let’s make it a great week. Also now that I’m in PA it’s a lot closer to you. It would be great fun to meet up some day.