QUESTION: What were your "small wins" this week? Anything you did right when you really wanted to fall back into old behaviors - these are your small wins. And they add up to big wins over time. So what were yours?

-Mica

@DrewsAnna - my fiber strategy is to add nuts to almost everything. (Almonds, cashews, pistachios)

DISCUSSION QUESTION: How do you celebrate your progress without using food as a reward? I didn't really reward myself. Like @micaroo4, the progress itself was a reward to me.

I know the dentist said no cardio but it's been 5 days, so I did a low impact cardio this morning. I'm doing well. My husband was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so he will be eating the same foods I eat now. I'll also go back and grab some of those recipes @micaroo4 posted. The nurse said she drinks one of those 40g protein shakes when she eats stuff like pizza to balance out the carbs and keep her glucose from spiking. Wow, does that really work? Well, we'll see how this goes.

QUESTION: What were your "small wins" this week? I continued to find ways to stay active even with restrictions....win, win!

💪Mission Slimpossible Strong 💪

@Veta2018 - Combining foods - like adding protein and fats to balance out the carbs - can mitigate a glucose spike. Just know one important thing - not every idea will work for every body. For Rich, pizza registers pretty much like a candy bar on his blood glucose. You DH should do glucose testing to see what these hacks will do for him. Here are some things that might help

• Eat low carb vegetables first. So before eating that pizza, have a salad.
• If your meal is nicely separated into veg, protein and carbs, eat in that order: low-carb veg, then protein, then carbs. This slows how fast the carbs are digested.
• If your meal isn't separated nicely, you should add protein and healthy fats to the carbs. Rich loves oatmeal for breakfast, with honey. So he has a measured amount of oatmeal, and he adds walnuts, pecans, ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and cinnamon (along with the honey). Generally his blood glucose doesn't go over 150.
• Eat a savory breakfast like eggs (no potatoes no toast) and there won't be a breakfast spike. Rich likes cottage cheese mixed with peanut butter.
• After finishing the meal - go for a walk. Even if it's only 10-15 minutes, movement is the key. Activating the muscles causes them to soak up the glucose from the blood - lowering the blood glucose without using insulin at all. I think this one probably works for everyone.
• Volume matters - I'm sure that walking after Thanksgiving Dinner will help, but the total carbs in the meal are likely to cause a substantial spike.
• Some diabetics have a glucose spike in the morning, even after fasting all night. Rich has this issue, the "dawn phenomenon". If your DH takes Metformin, have him take it in the morning to help dampen that spike if he has one.
• Eat very light at dinner, and stop eating about 3 hours before going to sleep.
• Rich noticed that if his blood sugar is well controlled during the day, it's much better in the night and through the next morning (the dawn spike is lessened).
• They also say that a tablespoon or 2 of Apple Cider Vinegar taken right before eating carbs will help to lessen a glucose spike. That one might work, but it's nasty stuff. Rich only tried it once and he won't do it again.

If your DH likes pasta, try some non-traditional pasta and see how it impacts his blood sugar. I tried a very high fiber pasta with Rich, and he liked the taste and it wasn't that bad on his glucose readings. Wild rice is better than brown rice and probably steer clear of white rice. As for bread, Rich pretty much has to avoid it entirely.

-Mica

ugh!!! Two days of feeling like I’m starving and extremely overeating! I haven’t felt this in a really long time. What’s up? Smh!!

@trooworld Today was the last day of the researcher right? Grilled cheese sounds delicious right now! This has been a cold week. Congratulations on fitting in the jeans! Love the finds when getting your tires done it’s a lot more fun clothes shopping smaller isn’t it? Your chicken cobbler sounds amazing. It must be bittersweet saying bye to students. I hope you make it to the dentist on time despite the rain. Your salad sounds delicious!

@micaroo4 Thanks for the recipe I just saved it, sounds so good!

@TeresaW2024 My black kitten is named Georgia. I actually did write up stuff about my kittens plus typed up a sheet of their current food and litter plus favorite toys. At the first adoption I ended up with two people adopting 3 kittens at the same time so wanted to make sure if I didn’t talk to them everything was covered. I’ve been thinking of seeing if another adopter wanted to trade off a couple hours so neither of us have to be there all day but don’t have to think of it for a few months. Yes no excuses you got this set yourself up for success! You ARE a young widow, glad you had fun at the potluck and totally get not wanting to do more with the “elderly” quite yet. I hope Maggie does well with the groomer. SO sorry to hear today is the two month anniversary of losing Joe, sending lots of love your way. TOPS is a great idea and getting out will be good for you both. I hope you find Maggie some great toys! Oh no I hope your neck feels better fast! Go crush those weights!

@txcritter69 Hugs hope decorating the tree helps lift your spirits. Have fun with the old friends! Cleaning, decorating, and walked with Diesel is a great plan! I feel more productive being a morning person too, hope you aren’t too tired while swapping things around.

@Cornanda Congratuations on wearing a “too small” top and your smallest size jeans, yay! My kitten’s name is Georgia, I was trying to post a pic last time I was on but my email was having issues. Wish we could post pics from phones here instead of it needing to be on laptops. No waiting until Jan we got this!

@DrewsAnna Congratulations to your grandson on winning the championship game! Sorry to hear the Seahawks lost that’s depressing. Wonderful job getting so much done around the house! I hope the book is just what you need to enjoy the Bible more. Fingers crossed for your weigh in! Great job getting rid of all those clothes and getting the closet straightened out! I need to borrow you to help with mine! Great idea on journaling at a different time.

@Veta2018 Your poor uncle that’s horrible! Sounds like you’re busy taking care of family. I hope your mouth is feeling better from the teeth being pulled. It does help to have protein with carbs with diabetes like that. I hope you and your husband are more motivated to eat healthier doing it together. You’re going to be a huge help to your husband with your health knowledge.

@vegan4lyfe2012 @19shmoo69 @Veta2018 Great job last week top winners!

@gemwolf110 Love your Monday memes!

@AustinRuadhain Great food choices today! The best Tex Mex is worth some bloating, I know you’ll turn this around. Congratulation on the new bike, looks like you had a wonderful ride! Have fun at the game!

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE YOUR PROGRESS WITHOUT USING FOOD AS A REWARD? I’ve honestly not been celebrating but have also not been doing that well. I should probably think of a new reward that used to help a lot!

@bobboyardee Woohoo keep that streak up, you got this!

@FushiaKat Congratulations on first place for the Halloween contest! I’m so glad to hear you settled your court case and it was worth it. Thank you for the congratulations!

QUESTION: WHAT WERE YOUR SMALL WINS THIS WEEK? Did my workouts and am choosing healthier snacks.

@19shmoo69 Oh no I’m sorry you’re struggling right now, that does seem to happen sometimes where we’re starving and struggling more. Are you doing more physically? I always want more comfort food this time of year.

Hi team, all caught up! Having a cold, rainy day I was in the greenhouse early and was super cold when I got home so ended up in bed with the heating blanket which the cats loved. At the community garden we had a bunch of thornless blackberry bush cuttings donated and we planted 20 along the fence there. I brought some home and will probably get them in tomorrow depending on if the sun comes out. My new cat/kitten is doing great with my cats really happy how they’re all getting along. My brother’s cat is coming for a week so we’ll see if things stay calm or not. Have a great Friday! Here's my girl in an AI costume I put on her.

Reminder for Friday weigh-in @Cornanda @davors19 @Katmary71 @trooworld

@Katmary71 - Georgia is a GORGEOUS gal! Beautiful fur and eyes! (and she wears costumes too- I think that might be a no for some cats)

Friday weigh in
Cornanda
PW: 143
CW: 143.2

@txcritter69 Oh no ! Poor Diesel. I hope the weather gets better for you. I feel more productive when I get up early, too. Buying a new outfit is a great reward, that's kind of what I do, too.

@TeresaW2024 HAHAHA ! That's good she doesn't eat the stuffing. I am not sure if Violet would eat it, or just tries to manipulate us into giving her a treat (we "exchange" the stuffing for a treat, and she seems to be onto this lol). That salad was pretty and good. I hope you enjoyed your salad. I hate when I sleep wrong! I got some things on Amazon, too, nothing too exciting (except this heated poncho/blanket I am excited about lol). I hope you aren't too sore from leg day!

@Veta2018 I'm glad you are doing okay . Sorry about your husband's diagnosis, but that will be good if he eats the same foods as you, right? Make it easier?

@19shmoo69 What's going on with that ? Are you eating different things than you usually do?

@Katmary71 Yes ! I am done with them now, thankfully. It's been cold here, too, and rainy. Thank you! It is more fun, it is so much easier. And the shirt and the dress were size LARGE. I started at an XXL! It is bittersweet to say goodbye to the students: I love to see them succeed and go off into the world, but I really miss them when they leave. I hope they know that! Thank you! I love heated blankets. I just ordered a heated poncho/blanket from Amazon...it has a hood and everything! I can't wait to use it. Georgia is gorgeous and I love the picture! I'm glad they are all getting along.

QUESTION: What were your "small wins" this week? I WANTED to get a fancy coffee drink at work yesterday, but instead, I got coffee from the coffee machine. I held off treating myself at work to breakfast from the cafe, I made it until Thursday, when I caved and got a bagel with cream cheese. That is better than a breakfast sandwich or any other option I would normally get.

Hi all. I'm done dealing with the researcher, yay! The rain held off until nighttime, so I was able to get to my dental appointment on time. The dental office had added a bunch of extra things on the estimate, an additional $340 worth of services, which upset me. I didn't get most of it done, only what was necessary, but I don't like that they did that. I had leftovers for dinner. Today, after lunch, I am supposed to drive up to the mountains with a friend and volunteer at the older dog rescue, but if it is raining, we are going to cancel...I don't want to drive on the windy mountain roads in the rain. I gained 0.2 lbs this week. I'm not surprised, I've been snacky this week. Time to reel it in.

Water intake yesterday: 48 oz

Count your steps/activity with us: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-c4S-GIz9asx1ghzcAnNdyEH1LkXL670f-2mZ4AFUqk/edit?gid=852256075#gid=852256075

1. Weigh, measure, log all food. ❌️ tired, went to be. I think hubby is literally making me sick.

2. Journal every night. ❌️ I forgot that I was going to do it earlier.

3. Eat 2 veggies per day. ❌️

4. Protein goal 100-110 gr.❓️

5. Fiber goal 25 gr.❓️

6. Get some form of exercise for atleast 20 minutes. ❌️

@19shmoo69 Hmmmm ...interesting. Are you drinking the same amount of water as usual?

Hi all. It was raining in the mountains, so we canceled our volunteer shift and I just worked all day. I skipped the gym last night: after the week I had, I felt like I needed to decompress, so I went to the coffee shop and read for a while. I had put Swamp Potatoes and Sausage in the crockpot earlier in the day, so when we got home, I didn't have to cook. Swamp potatoes and sausage is really good, it's just green beans, potatoes, smoked sausage + dry onion soup mix and some seasonings. Today, I am going to LA with a former coworker to go to the Getty museum. It should be fun if traffic isn't too bad.

Water intake yesterday: 8 oz

Count your steps/activity with us: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-c4S-GIz9asx1ghzcAnNdyEH1LkXL670f-2mZ4AFUqk/edit?gid=852256075#gid=852256075

Weigh In Day: Saturday

PW (Previous Weight): 205

CW (Current Weight): 203

The November Week 4 Group Challenge is open and ready to begin on Sunday, November 23rd. Please join us for a rousing week of Thanksgiving Bingo and share your daily adventures by posting stories, pics and your covered squares each day! Here's your link:

November Week 4 Group Challenge - Thanksgiving Bingo — MyFitnessPal.com

Look forward to seeing you in the chat thread and sharing your adventures.

Jessica 😌

Username:micaroo4
Weigh in day: Saturday
PW: 131
CW: 131.2

User Name: Katmary71
Weigh In Day: Friday
Previous Weight: 171 (I think?)
Current Weight: 175

My roommate made chili over cornbread for dinner Thursday night and we're both way up today, yikes!

The monthly genres for 2026 have been selected and posted! Head on over to the Book Club page to explore the genres and make your suggestions for our January read!

Page Turners & Portion Burners Book Club

Have a wonderful weekend!