Are we really already in the 3rd week of September?! Time is flying at warp speed for me. Still don’t have my act together. Not totally off the rails but definitely not where I want to be.

I was thinking about my life since I first joined this group in February of 2019. I was living in North Carolina, exercising, losing weight, and watching my new granddaughter was my new job after teaching for years. Then, a pandemic hit, we were stressed and isolated. I was entering menopause. My son in law nearly died after Covid and an upper GI bleed. My daughter got a new job in Pennsylvania near where we used to live. We all moved, lived together for a year, I went back to working at my former school up here. I taught in my granddaughter‘a PreK class, while selling my house in NC and buying one here right outside of Philadelphia. I am now a couple years post menopause. My weight was at its low the week before we went into lockdown in March of 2020. About 185 I think. Gained during pandemic. Lost under stress of the move north and felt terrible. Gained after 1st move and stress improved, but felt better. Lost weight again before second move and was at around 201, now that we’ve moved, gained again and I’m around 214. Thirteen pounds since May. Ugh. I have had more pain than I care for at 59. My joints ache so bad when I get up in the morning and sometimes throughout the day. I really think it’s the disappearance of all my hormones. Sad in so many ways. So here I am. Trying to find motivation and desire to do what I know. Reactivate those good habits I had. Find time to exercise when leaving my house before 7 am and getting home slightly after 5pm. I KNOW I would feel better and it would be better for my health if I lost weight. I caught a glimpse of myself sitting in a chair the other day and I did not feel good about what I saw. Like I’m right back at the beginning and I kinda am. I joined this group at 217– I’m 214 now. I do not want to go above that. So the time is now. I know it will be harder now than ever before because menopause is no damn joke. It’s done a number on me. But I will log tomorrow and work to hit my step goal and drink 64 ozs of water. Wish me luck.

OK - I'm 10 years older than you, and lost the weight around your age. I just want to give you one piece of encouragement - post-menopause is much easier than during. The mood swings calm down, you can stay at a more even keel. That said, we need less food than before. And some kinds of foods might need to slowly bow out because your body is different now than it used to be. Like all changes, once you get used to it, it's easy! The getting used to it is the work.

I appreciate your response. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience. I had some annoying hot flashes during peri menopause, but it was nothing compared to how I feel now. Joint aches, extremely dry skin and everything. Even my eyeballs are dry. 😂 Mornings are very rough and slow. Now, I am sure that it did not help that I turned my life upside down at the same time. I was told and read that estrogen loss is not gradual. It’s a cliff and every cell in our bodies use estrogen. Now they are starved and rebelling. (My observation. Not research based.😘) Just venting still.

That said, I have logged my breakfast. Need to work on changing my mindset. I can do this. I can feel better. I can exercise. I can lose weight. ❤️

Good evening! Still technically Monday here in CA!

PW: 238.6
CW: 238.1

Headed in the right direction again - only 3lbs to go to hit where I was at the beginning of September. It's alright, I'll get there, still learning what works and what doesn't - hint, beer doesn't work, running does. Have a 5K I'm working up to and am feeling cautiously optimistic that I'll be able to run the full thing. Did this run two years ago before my injury and there was a point where I couldn't walk, so this is real progress - shout out to the physical therapists who helped me get here. I've also started working with a personal trainer to help get stronger to hopefully prevent further injury.

Anyway, that was a lot more than I was thinking I would share, but I had a great day and felt like sharing!

Went to soccer practice tonight and the healthy thing hurt me.. I pulled my quad and I'm not getting around so well. Boo. Hoping it's short lived.
In other news, my Peloton has been getting good use. Brad and I are doing a challenge that has us doing a minimum of 3 rides a week.
He's still away on business and I miss him.

@micki48
So sorry to hear your daughter has COVID again! Hopefully her symptoms are mild this time around.

Well my sore quad feels slightly better today.. used some Voltaren, did some walks, and then spent 30 minutes stretching tonight. Did my best to do the right things. Also sitting with a warm Magic Bag on the area as we speak.

I don't want to jinx it but I'm thinking tomorrow is going to be looking very GREEN! Yay. Boy that feels so much better doesn't it?

See ya in the morning.