GrizzledSquirrel Member

@cwolfman13 @AnnPT77 @emmamcgarity @spiriteagle99 @sijomial @Djproulx - thank you so much for the time you have taken to write such kind and considered answers. I am grateful and encouraged. I am even more grateful that your broad messages are all very similar - i.e. stick at the overall fitness and maybe build in some…

Firstly - well done for losing 3st! Amazing. Take a moment to think about that and acknowledge your achievements. You are capable of doing this. You’ve proven it. Now you just need a change of strategy; a change of scene - just like getting a new haircut. Some ideas: 1. Reduce the items you are spending your…

I take the points about pro-anorexia above, but as somebody who has never frequented those websites or suffered with those challenges, my personal experience of this phrase simply represents the constant struggle between fighting the urge for instant gratification (e.g. a doughnut) and achieving long-term results (fitting…

Ratatouille! (Donkatouille?)

Hiya! I am using 1st Feb to arbitrarily get started. Been in a terrible rut for the last 12 months and my weight has crept up as my motivation has slipped down (I suspect I’m not the only one?). Back to MFP as it is the only thing that’s worked for me in the past: SW - Feb 1: 157lbs No GW for end of Feb. I just want to…

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ YESSSSSSS! We could all take a lesson from how you have responded to your doubts! Well done you!

What stands out strongly from your post is how strongly you are linking your weight loss success to your environment. Birthdays = hard, Winter = challenge. The question is: why? You are in control of your reaction to these events. Re: social occasions - yes, you can enjoy them, just save up calories (or build up calories…

This is such a simple idea that I’m embarrassed I’ve never thought about it - but it makes complete sense - thanks! Funny - because instinctively I know I would never complete a “Couch 2 Marathon” programme. But a Couch 2 5K followed by a 10k and progressively build up from there: sure, why not? Why am I so “ultimate goal…

Be a lover, not a hater. (did that help?)

Rant away @skinnyrev2b . We can’t all worship at the altar of “motivational memes” every minute of the day. Sometimes you just wanna tell the person telling you to “Just do it” to “do one”. And sometimes it’s legitimate to ask yourself if “Living your best life” shouldn’t actually consist of eating your body weight in…

And further - why not also get rid of time zones. Why not have a single time across the world. What does it matter if in some places, you’re eating breakfast at 18h00? It doesn’t change when the sun rises and sets just because of what we call it. 😊

Thanks @HungryTraveler - and if your name is anything to go by and you love (like me) to travel, then you’re probably feeling doubly miserable at the moment. Strength to you. And where that fails - I hope the wine and ice cream bring you joy! Hang on in there. Our traveling days WILL return! X

You don’t know what my targets are. 😊. For example, I might set my target to aim for a weight loss of 1/2 lb oer week, but I try for more. Doesn’t mean I under eat. I set my steps for 10k a say but as soon as I do, I NEED to smash that target by 50%. Just how my mind works.

Great advice from @rosebarnalice - try not to look at getting healthier as something that will add to your stress but something that helps to alleviate it. Then - just do it. Anything. Motivation will come later. I started with adjustments to my diet and then started back with walking, setting achievable targets. Once…

@Xierrax all power to you! Well done on week 7! Fabulous job! I hear you on tech being more trouble than it’s worth sometimes. Re: earphones for exercise, I swear by over ear headphones. They look terrible but you can’t beat them for staying put. Like the idea of tech-free time though...might try that.

Just to add - eating food whilst wearing your baggiest sweatpants, halves the calories whilst eating in your tightest skinny jeans, doubles them. Fact.

And if they fall on the floor, but pick them up and eat them within 3 seconds, you can half the calories again.

Well done on your journey so far. If you just want to lose weight, I’d always recommend making sure your diet is nailed on. A mindless mouthful of a high calorie food, eaten in 5 seconds, can do more harm to your weight loss than an hour of intense exercise can do it good. However, exercise is awesome and so good for…

Thanks @rosebarnalice. I managed to stave off yesterday’s urges, but your words will help in times I can’t.

@Xierrax sorry....I missed you posting that you had actually completed week 6 now. Very well done! It is great to finally break through a barrier which has previously eluded you. 🎉

I finally completed C25K last year after starting it a few times, only to peter out around week 6 (something would always get into my routine and I couldn’t pick it back up easily). The breakthrough last year (apart from more time and access to a treadmill through lockdown - which I admit was a real luxury) was to create a…

I disagree with you ENTIRELY!!!! I reckon it is around 97% mental. 😘 But seriously, that was a timely reminder - THANK YOU! It’s amazing how, by giving those naughty emotions a bit of time to calm down (e.g. by crying for help on MFP), your perspective returns and your “quick-fix” cravings subside. Thanks guys. 🙏🏼

I give you a loving tap around the head for giving enough of a damn to reply. Thank you!

Of course you’re right. Just don’t have the strength for good logic just now.

Like.

Can’t speak for the OP, but I always try to beat my “targets”. You’re right that this is semantically nonsensical - but it pushes my dopamine buttons.

For sure it is a tradition in some places BUT, like most traditions, is based in reason: I don’t know the science, but the milk counters some of that bitter, mouth-drying tannin in the tea. Lemon does a similar job. Have you ever had a cup of black tea with a steak? Works like red wine - the tannins complement the meat…

Bulletproof coffee. Just. no.

Something probably REALLY obvious but I hadn’t thought about properly before it was pointed out to me on a tea plantation is how different teas are better with and without milk. In the UK (I am also a Brit, but now living abroad), we traditionally favour quite strong teas (e.g. English breakfast or “builders’ tea). This…

My sunny disposition