my accountability thread Day one

Happy Wednesday everyone! I weighed in this morning and had a loss of 2lbs. Got back into logging my meals and went for a 1/2 hour walk. Felt so good. I also had chips last night, but managed to eat just a small bowl (progress for me as I could in one sitting chow down a whole bag in one sitting; progress happening slowly). My goal is to lose 20 lbs by December 31, 2024 and to be healthier, more positive…even in life’s curve balls that are thrown at me.

Beverly, my husband and I are often going to church potluck’s and they are not very diet friendly. However, I have learned to be selective with portions and stick with the vegetables; hope this can be helpful for you. You are so fortunate to be able to run in any kind of weather. My knees hinder me, but I still get out to walk. I have also found some exercise websites for seniors that I have been enjoying. I do like variety.
Taking one day at a time and enjoying the moments with others. Have a wonderful week…🤗🕊💞

Good Morning!
Welcome End326! You can always come here to share your eating and exercise ups and downs. We all have them. I remember how hard it was to eat healthy with young children. If we were as active as them we could eat like them!!!
Sweetheart, Thanks for the vegetable advice. I guess even swimming in sauces the vegies will be a better option then spaghetti or tacos! Congratulations on your 2 lb loss!
It's always good to hear from you Sarah!
I quit drinking in 2001 and besides the empty calories it is a lot cheaper to drink water!
My plank challenge is going well. We got in the bed last night and I realized I forgot to do the plank so I got up and did it right by my bed. Like running, planks are something you can do anywhere and anytime you want. Today is 60 seconds, which I will do 3X but eventually I will only do one plank as the time increases!
My Action for Happiness Calendar is going well. btw, not sure I like the name of it because I was happy before I started it! Today 1/4 is to write a list of things I am grateful for and why.
Going for a run this morning. It is a progressive run which is my least favorite. I start at one pace and increase the pace the last 10 minutes.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and I look forward to hearing all about them!

Happy New Week !
I've had a head cold, with sniffles, sneezes and coughs. Yuk, I think my body is telling me to rest. Hubby said I got it from playing with my neighbor's baby while daddy ran errands! If that was it then ok, baby Myra is worth it! I've put my happiness calendar on the back burner and sticking with my plank challenge and added a squat challenge. I'm also trying to do Push ups and one upper body exercise. Today I didn't feel up to everything so only did the plank (2:30- 1 time) and squat portion. I don't want to overwhelm myself which will lead to quitting everything. I've been making a new recipe, Cabbage Roll Casserole. Hubby even likes it and he is more of a chicken fried steak kind of guy

I wish everyone a Happy Mid January Week!!!

I just wanted to check in to say I wont be posting in the next few weeks. I fell on the ice and broke my arm. Every movement seems to hurt. We are hoping I can let it heal naturally without surgery. Another xray Friday should help see the progress. Y'all keep up the good work!

Good morning everyone!
I haven't checked in for awhile. Hope everyone is well.
Can you believe that tomorrow is February already?
I have reached and surpassed my goal weight. I still weigh in on Wednesday. I am maintaining my weight within a pound up or down. Not much has changed food wise. I occasionally add an extra helping of something or a treat now and then. I do some kind of exercise daily such as walking or
rebounding. It isn't always easy but it is worth it!

Hi all!
@Marla86336 Congratulations on meeting, surpassing and holding your weight goal!
and @sarah7591, so happy to hear you are still at your goal! In the past I have done good over the holidays only to gain the weight back in Jan by rewarding myself for doing good! Anyway, I think you have it figured out! I gained back the 4 pounds that I had lost, Excuses: having a cold and then breaking my arm. I think the medication is causing me to hold some water and no exercise. And the negative mental effects of the medication. My arm broke close to my shoulder so it hurts when I attempt a lot of things. Like lifting my arm to type, ouch. Even walking has been painful, we use our arms more than we think. But, today I walked 2 miles and feel a soreness. It could have been a lot worse and I am grateful for all I have.
Welcome back @cory17 ! Edamame, yum, I used to eat that as a snack also. Thanks for reminding me!

Well, slinking back. I've logged in for three days now. The discipline of tracking shifts something in my brain and I become more conscious. I hit my goal weight of 172, then put on ten pounds. The good thing is I've been rowing, biking, and also a bit of free weights regularly and my cardio and muscle strength is very good. But, a 25 minute rowing session and a couple trips on the bike can't offset enough calories to make a difference in weight.

I've been doing a lot of reflection and journaling around the psychology of binge eating. Part of the drive to overeat is driven by imbalances in dopamine, epinephrine, and serotonin and also insuline. Part of it is emotional/psychological. I've been dialoging with the part of me that wants snacks, and bringing it into meditation. Just opening up to this aspect is helpful and there's been some integration around this. I want the issues around food to relax and the energy around eating to settle down.

Last, I have a jar of beet kvass fermenting. I used a recipe with some cabbage and a small amount of onion, and I added a few kefir grains. You chop uncooked beets into a mason jar and add water and salt. It ferments after a week and makes a potent probiotic rich liquid that can be drunk or put on salads. This helps rebalance the gut biome. It actually tastes really good.

The kvass is done, and the best batch I've made. The onion turned sweet in the mix. It's very good, and there's a feeling of strength and energy during the day after drinking a small glass.
Sadly, the goddamn weight is on me like a cheap suit. Actually up a pound today. I've been doing better with diet and eating, but perhaps age has slowed my metabolism and I need far less food. Hard to embrace this without feeling a sense of sacrifice and anger. Like, what the hell. Feels like the mandate is lean protein and vegetables 80%, and once a day allowing beans, rice, lentils, beets, potatoes, and squash. Probably would benefit from the regimen of cramming my meals into a 6 to 8 hour timeframe with around 16 hours of fasting but I'm just not ready to do that. I've cut way back on cheese, and post-dinner snacking hasn't been too bad but the slightest misstep seems to immediately carry a 2-pound punishment.

Last, our weight issues come with a lot of self judgement. David Whyte, a modern mystic, is offering Three Sundays in March, $65, a Zoom based exploration he calls Re-Imagining Shame. I've signed up. Lowering the blowback from emotions can make the journey to fitness much easier.

Good Sunday Morning!
I stayed within my calorie budget for the first 2 days of the month - YAY!
I also try to get in 20 minutes of exercise each day, which could be stretching. So far so good!
Today the challenge will be the exercise bc church keeps me busy several hours today.
I hope everyone has a Good Day!

Hello All!
Well, the weekend is almost here, not meaning much to an old, retired lady!
I went for my 2-week ckup after surgery yesterday and I wasn't totally ecstatic. He wants me to keep wearing the sling until I go back in 2 weeks. I thought I would start PT, but he said I am not showing any stiffness, so PT is not needed yet, yet??? I would also like to get off of the pain meds, but he said he doesn't want me to take Ibuprofen, the only other option that works because ibuprofen slows the healing process. So here I am, not driving, dependent on hubby
Ya'll are eating so healthy. I am still struggling with counting calories, haven't advanced to macros yet. I do look at them and am within reason. I've cut down a lot on carbs since I'm not running, so that is a plus. I know I will increase the carbs when I can run again.
@cory17, I noticed on your profile that you want to climb Mt. Whitney. Have you done that yet? We went to CO for a month last summer and are going for 2 months this year. We climbed Bierstadt, our 1st 14er!
We loved it and are hoping to do one or two more this summer.

Thursday is Thor's Day - so let's be tough!