39flavours wrote: »

Hi all, I've had a good week and finally feel like I'm making some headway, after spending months in the high 140s. I've gone 10 days alcohol free, which is a big achievement for me as I'm normally a daily drinker. Cutting out alcohol has made it so much easier to stay within my calories, as previously I was trying (failing) to stay within 1,200 and having at least 2 drinks a day most days. So now I can actually eat more than I'm used to and I'm losing weight, yay! Plus I feel so much better, anxiety has almost vanished completely, I'm energetic and my skin looks so much better and less puffy. I've also upped my steps and am hitting around 14,000 most days, thanks to walking the hills and fields in my area in the morning, before strength training at the gym. I'm 0.2lbs away from the healthy bmi range and it has taken 5 months to lose the 22lbs to get here. I am away on holiday for the last 9 days of this month and am really looking forward to feeling more confident on the beach and in summer clothes for the first time in 8 years.

You and me both! I have stopped all alcohol since May 3rd - and yes! It feels terrific. Lots of energy, able to eat more things (yay!), and having more hours of the day to be active is wonderful. I'm so glad you're hitting a new level, a new stride, and fitting into those summer clothes like a boss.

ashleycarole86 wrote: »

PW 201
CW 197.6

Back to ONEDERLAND! You are turning things around, curbing those urges to soothe with food even when things are tough. I hope you did not melt on the golf course. We're quite chilly these last few days, but I'm not going to complain about that

@cleaneater80 Congratulations on getting into your Master's program! Even if you're not sure why you're getting into such a thing, I'm sure you'll enjoy the discovery and exploration, not to mention the mastery of the material. I hope you enjoy it.

@ashleycarole86

Exercise numbers:
Wednesday - 6869 + 20 strength + 15 Pilates
Thursday - 14304 + 30 Pilates + 45 bike

@wdalzell5401 I feel for you with finding a care home for your dad. My 95 year old dad was moved into care a couple of months ago, and it was quite a long process to find just the right place. My stepmother and I visited quite a few, sitting through all kinds of sales pitches - but it turned out well. She was not willing to go with a broker, but then she is retired, had the time, and wanted to take the decision based on her personal evaluation of all the possibilities. In any case, it has been going very well for dad. He is more active and stimulated, less isolated, and seems to enjoy being there. He is pretty far into dementia, but in good spirits and able to take part in all kinds of things. The best effect has been on my stepmother who went from full-time caretaker to someone who is now rebuilding her life after these past few years of so much 24-hour a day responsibility. She is still very involved in his daily life, but she no longer has to worry about the caretaking part and can be a spouse again. I hope you find an equally positive solution for your dad! I know @eggfreak and @ashleycarole86 are both caretakers for an elderly parent, and there may be others on the team as well. Feel free to share your struggles, progress, and all the things! It is a huge responsibility.

OK folks - the week is about to be wrapped up! Saturday and all days previous - numbers, please!

@TessieMac833
@graceojo999
@MoonlitMuse
@alydanbeads
@EvMakesChanges
@micki48
@wishfuljune
@IDebraK
@CupcakeCrusoe
@zankash23
@carlsoda
@veronica1359

Thanks!

Non-negotiables. This is a great question to address @ashleycarole86 - taking a stand and sticking to it! Even if it is a very small thing, this is a great muscle to keep using. I'm going to go on a bit about this! I have been thinking about it lately, and finding ways to stay responsible for my own wellbeing. I am not sure that these non-negotiables are necessarily what we fall back on when things are hard - they are (or can be) things that mean a lot to us and we need to fight to stick to them when things get hard. The rewards are great.

One important thing for me about non-negotiables is that they should not aim at something negative, or it is hard believing in them. Instead of aiming to eat less, stop doing this or that, ask how can you feel your best, happiest, most fulfilled? Controlling your eating might be one of the tools, but try to see it as a way to fight for the best life, not as a deprivation. It is going to feel better than those short-term "thrills". Remember what you love about feeling on track, the long-term thrill of getting healthier, stronger, all the good stuff. And success does not have to be 100% all the time! I am sure all of you are doing better than when you started. I know we tend to go for measurable goals and all the numbers, but it works best if it is in the service of our best life and feeling amazing.

My non-negotiables come in a couple of different flavours. These are some of them.

Some are concrete no-go (or always-go) actions:

• I will always get some form of exercise every single day, even if it is stretching or breathing exercises. Strength building and working up a good sweat are important!
• I always stand on one foot while brushing my teeth.
• My diet is centred on vegetables, with low levels of grains and careful amounts of healthy fats.

Some require a plan (before) and consequences (after, if the plan is not followed):

• I will not eat to the point of feeling grossly full, or seriously regretful about how much I ate.
• In general, at home, I'll stick to my meals, aim to be good and hungry for all of them, plan, pre-log if it feels needed.

The plan varies for different situations. If I know a restaurant or group meal is coming up, I plan ahead. I might decide (firmly!) to avoid bread, drink only water or seltzer, skip dessert, etc. I will also decide to have a great time and enjoy feeling healthy after the meal.

Consequences for breaking these commitments include a careful eating plan all pre-logged for the next day(s). For a more serious stretch of transgression, I do a period of time (week, 2 weeks, etc.) with no flour, no grains, no whatever I think will help to tame the triggering reactions and general portion mania. Perfect days, in other words.

Of course, consequences for sticking with the plan is celebration! It feels good!