Chats, Challenges & Laughs 2nd home

[Cele21]

For all my Chats, Challenges & Laughs peeps! Since we can't get on the threads I thought I would start a discussion area for us. We may not be able to keep track of points standings easily but we can still talk.

I miss you!

[Glenda]

Good for you CJ.  Doesn't it make you feel happy and proud when you get out of the grocery without the junk food you considered , but resisted?

[Jan2512]

So pleased to "see" so many people back on the forum.

I hope your Memorial Day celebrations went well.  We have ANZAC Day here on April 25th to remember whose who have served & particularly those who lost their lives.  We also have Rememberance Day on November 11.  ANZAC Day is a paid public holiday & unlike a lot of public holidays if April 25 is on a weekend we do not get the Monday off in lieu.  Remembrance Day is not a day off but you are expected to stop at 11 am for a minutes silence.  Is Memorial Day a public holiday?

We are halfway (hopefully) through our week long lockdown.  We have about 40 active cases and have been getting about five new cases everyday.  We are averaging over 40,000 tests per day & around 30,000 vaccinations per day since the lockdown started.  It is amazing how many people want the vax now, a week ago people were very complacent with a typical Aussie attitude of "she'll be right".  I regularly check the covid website for hotspot sites, there are currently over 150 sites in Victoria, fortunately for us the vast majority are in Melbourne and the north & west of the state.  We live 40 km or around 25 miles south east of Melbourne.

I made an apple pie today - the first when I have ever made, not bad if I do say so myself LOL.

I have been a bit slack with exercise & healthy eating but over the last couple of weeks.  My brother and I have agreed that starting tomorrow (Monday) we are going to back on track and that includes Daisie our border collie.

Take care & stay safe 🙃

[CJ_Here]

Yes, @Jan2512 , Memorial Day is a public holiday.  And, yes, @Glenda , I did feel good walking out of the store; better than when I got home and unpacked and realized how good I was LOL.

Two days of helping hubby plant 4,800 field corn kernels.  My sister, along with many others I'm sure, thought it was crazy to plant all the corn and none for human consumption.  Hubby is turning this farm into a hunter's paradise and feeding the animals at the same time.  It was back spasming work, but this morning I enjoyed listening to the various birds as I was planting.  I really need to get my flowers in the ground but haven't found the desire; yet - the day is not over yet.

Holding my own on daily calorie intake.  Tomorrow I'll check in on a weekly weighing and then Tuesday I'm taking my monthly measurements.  I only had this last week really on track, but maybe I'll lose more inches than I expect.

[MargaretG139]

Friday was 3 points (Exercise, posting and water) somehow after being diligent with tracking all my meals for the last 2 1/2 months, I managed to forget to track my dinner and didn't realize it until today. So now I have a blue dot day that I really don't think I earned.

Saturday = 1 point (tracking).

It's been rainy and cold all weekend so I didn't get out for my daily walk, but am planning on getting outside tomorrow morning before everyone else gets up.

I have a busy week coming up. Besides having an appointment for a hair cut (my normal 6 week trim) Tuesday,  I have an appointment to get my second dose of the covid vaccine Wednesday. That night my daughter has her pops concert. The first time we'll get to see the HS choir sing in person since December 2019. The concert is being held at an outdoor venue so hopefully it doesn't rain that evening. Thursday she and I are going to a Girl Scout "dinner" for graduating seniors. It too will be outdoors at one of the pavillions at our local park. Should I be suffering from side effects of my shot, hubby has already agreed to go in my place since we had to pre-order our meals. Then Saturday is Prom. It didn't even occur to me that her father and I should probably get her a corsage since she doesn't have a date. I just hope it's not too late order one. I am so glad I am working from home so I can run to the florist with the trimmings from her dress (which we picked up from the seamstress yesterday) to ensure the flowers don't clash with the dress.

Thanks for the reminder about taking measurements @CJ_Here, I haven't done that in so long, I can't remember where I recorded that info. I guess I'll just start over.

Have a good week everyone.

[CJ_Here]

@MargaretG139 .  I had to laugh about trying to find recorded measurements.  I had to start fresh in May, also.  To my horror, somewhere in this house in some storage container are a couple years' worth of measurements details.  Thanks for the reminder of another incentive to get through all those carts. 

We did go for a treat last night and I did eat 3 servings of chips.  However, I started with the whole bag, but talked myself into picking out a servings worth.  I did repeat, BUT, I then tied up the bag and put it away.  I will now stay away from those for a couple of days.  While I went over in calories yesterday, I was under for the week so I call that a first week success.  I hope to hear from more of you on how your weekend challenges went. 

[MargaretG139]

Sunday = 3 points (water, posting, tracking)

After a two day break, I went for my 2+ mile walk again today thanks to blue skies and sunshine. Since I joined the same 165 mile challenge I had participated in last year (only about 6 weeks earlier this year) I have to track my distance and discovered the extra bit I added on to my usual route gives me a little more than a quarter mile extra! I also discovered that this is a bad year for ticks in our area! Over the course of the last several weeks I found ticks crawling on me as I was getting undressed for my shower two or three times. Today I found two!. It's not like I'm walking through underbrush in the woods, I am walking along our road, past a few neighbor's yards and lots of wide open fields (this year they will be growing corn after several years of growing soybeans).

Time for dinner!

[Cele21]

Hi Everyone! Don't leave! 

We had some crazy drama at work and lost our new receptionist - she went out with a lot of fireworks! My job was already crazy busy and now I have to pick up half of that position until we get a new person (again) who I may be training (again). Our company opened a new branch in Wisconsin and bought out another company in our area at the same time. So totally swamped with no time to get on the site and leave a comment.

Home has also been crazy - my hubby's 92 year old aunt went through a spate of medical issues in just a few months and is now at an assisted living facility about 5 minutes from our house. Hubby's brother is her executor and person to make all decisions for her and set everything up and was doing everything until he moved to Florida at the end of March. We now check in on her several times a week, do her grocery shopping, check her mail, etc. and are the go between with her and brother-in-law for her needs. 

When we were not busy with that, we had our first small trade show in over a year (non-sport trading card, action figures, etc.) to get ready for and do. It went VERY well. The weather was good, people were eager to get out of the house, it was the first show of it's type in the area and between stimulus checks, tax refunds and not spending their hobby money in over a year, they were spending what I like to call 'stupid, crazy money'. Again, to our benefit.

We have gotten to see a couple movies recently, went this past Sunday to visit our daughter and see her house for the first time, and are moving on with life in general.

Weight wise - I'm back up.  197.2

I had thrown all my intentions out the window and we have been eating fast food again. Of course that means, chips, fries, soda and occasionally dessert. My knee and opposite heel are both horrible (calling the doctor this week to get x-rays of the heel and discuss next steps) so movement is once again minimal. Stress levels were up and any down time was strictly that - down on the couch watching TV or playing games on my phone.

My intentions are to stop the carousel of craziness (or slow it down a bit) and start getting back to where I want to be, eating better, moving more, losing weight again. 

I will try to keep you all posted on my progress in a more timely manner. 

[MargaretG139]

Monday = 4 (Exercise, posting, tracking and water)

Beginning of the month weigh-in and measurements complete and recorded (someplace where I'll know to find them next month). While I'm back in  onederland, I need to stay diligent as I'm just barely there - 199.8.

@Cele21I'm sorry to hear about all the craziness you are having to deal with, but glad to hear about your successful first show back.

[CJ_Here]

Had a fun sister lunch at a great restaurant which totaled over 1,120 calories as best I could tell.  Luckily, I did not stop at the 'Sugar Shack' for baked goods as I received a call back from my blood work.  My cholesterol numbers are not good and asking if I would go on medication.  I said I wanted to try one more time to improve naturally and so I've been doing my research.  I really hope this is the push I need to stick with healthy eating an moving more.

Wow, @Cele21 , my stress level rose just reading your post.  I hope your work situation can be rectified soon.  You're so busy on all fronts, I can totally get have some down time on the couch.

@MargaretG139 , are you walking on gravel or paved roads and still getting ticks or are you walking through the fields?  Knock on wood, we are out and about in the mowed fields, stepping into longer grass, etc and haven't had a tick yet.  

[MargaretG139]

Tuesday = 3 (Exercise, posting and tracking)

@CJ_HereI walk on a paved road. I occasionally walk through the edge of neighbors yards or the edge of fields where the township mows when there are cars coming from both directions. In hindsight, I think I've only had a tick on me once after walking in the early morning before work. It seems like I got the majority of them during my afternoon walks when it was a lot warmer. I'm not sure if that means anything of if it's just a coincidence, but tick checks are now part of the routine right after I finish my cool down / stretches, before my shower. 

I got my second jab today. So far my arm is just a little sore - not as bad as after the first one, but it's a good thing I got it in my right arm again since I predominantly sleep on my left side. Hopefully that's the worst of it.

[ElaineJ27]

Our family cookout on Saturday was great. We mostly had healthy foods and a lot of visiting, playing games, and driving tractors! One of the Chicago nieces brought her boyfriend who drove his first tractor. He enjoyed it but he’s not ready to give up city life. 

Hubby and I spent the rest of the weekend at the farm with our camper. I did a lot of reading and we planned where to plant new trees for the next generation to enjoy. @MargaretG139 , luckily no ticks!

Yesterday I had a follow up with my general doctor regarding my sinus infection. My blood pressure was great but I am on meds for that, as well as cholesterol. I also received a tetanus vaccination on the advice of my doctor. My arm is more sore than from either COVID vaccinations. 

@Cele21 , I’m glad that your weekend sales were good. Hopefully your work will level off soon. I am so glad that I no longer have to deal with that. In my 30s and 40s, I thrived on a hectic schedule, but by 50, I just didn’t want to do that anymore. 

Hubby and I are leaving early tomorrow morning for Grand Rivers, KY. As we have a cottage, we are taking most of our food. We are stopping at the railroad museum in Paducah on our way. We are such nerds! We’re planning lots of walking and renting a sailboat. 

I’ll check back in on Monday. 

[Jan2512]

Back in lockdown which has been extended to June 11th.  This is all because one person caught covid due to a breach in hotel quarantine in South Australia where he was doing his 14 days quarantine after going to a wedding in India.  This has caused the whole state to be locked down, tomorrow the regional areas will be out of lockdown but with restrictions whilst we have to stay home for another week.  I was looking forward to going to our rugby league match this weekend, now it has been moved to Queensland and who knows if our team will come back to Victoria - not good when you are a member who has paid for a seat especially as we paid for all of last year and never got to watch a match live (admittedly after negotiations they applied half of our membership fees to this year, but still we are out of pocket.).  Also there is lots of movies I want to see.  It is not the same watching on telly at home.  Sorry for the vent but it is frustrating especially when the total cases for the entire state is less than 70 and several cases are being classified as false positives.

@CJ_Here - Sorry to hear your cholesterol levels aren't good.  Ironically I am the heaviest in my immediate family but the only one not on cholesterol meds.  Mum is only on 5 mg & Roy is on 10 mg.  Dad was put on 80 mg until shortly before he passed.

- Good willpower not eating the whole bag of chips.  I am an all or nothing person.  If the chip packet isn't open I'm fine but once opened I find it hard to stop.

@Cele21 - Did you get your legs xrayed?

- That is a lot going on in your life.  I hope things settle down soon at work.

- What kind of merchandise sold best at your trade show?

- What movies have you seen and do you recommend them?

@MargaretG139 - Good on you for getting back into onderland.  I will have to wait awhile.  I am aiming for the under onederland as I weigh in kilograms.  99.9 kg is 220 lbs, I would like to get there by mid October.

@ElaineJ27 - Driving tractors, I think that would be a sure fire way for me to do some serious damage - to myself and everything around me (I don't even have a drivers licence!).

- I think the railroad museum sounds fun.  I like all kinds of museums and art galleries etc.  But I also love theme parks.

[Katrin]

Hi Everyone,

Wow, there's been a ton of activity here since I last stopped in. I've been reading from the emails to try to keep up but it's really exciting to see so much happening!

I don't have much to say myself. I'm feeling a bit low - my foot still hurts and my stomach issues are not improving so I finally have an appointment with a GI but it's not until July. I'm tired of working a part time job that's hard on my feet and pays so little but also not making money at my full time job. And my parents are really struggling right now with their computers and keeping track of things like their taxes and paying their bills so I've spent 2 entire Saturdays over there making so little progress but working really hard at it. I'm just not really happy at the moment.

Vent over, on the blessings side, my sister is having some success finally in her job hunt and my boyfriend is still wonderful. He has started texting me pictures of my cat when he knows I have a rough day. The funny part is, we still don't live together so he takes these pictures while he's here and then saves them for later.

I'm going to throw out another question for us to ponder and respond if we like in a second post.

[Katrin]

Question for thought and optional discussion:

Do you ever spend money on a healthy convenience or short cut and do you ever feel guilty about it? Which healthy conveniences and short cuts work the best for you?

My answer is YES and YES. Years ago I used to be really good about preparing fresh salads from raw whole produce and even made my own salad dressing but over time, I just couldn't keep up with it. It was in part because I traveled so much that I couldn't consume it all before it went bad and in part because my home time was so limited. So I got into the habit of buying the salad kits and even the salad bowls. I feel a little bad because it's a more expensive way to eat healthy and I'm less in control of what I'm eating but at the same time, if I didn't do it, I wouldn't be eating much salad at all.

I also rely a lot on Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice meals. Even though I'm eating most of my meals at home, between the day job and the retail job, I'm keeping some long hours and just don't have the energy to put into cooking. I know they are loaded with salt and preservatives but sometimes that's all the time I have. At other times, I just have a bowl of cereal because I don't even feel like waiting for the microwave.

I also splurge sometimes on Cava - it's a DC based chain that is spreading across the US but I don't know if you have it near you yet. I've seen it in Richmond VA, Baltimore MD, and Charlotte, NC. It's a mediterranean restaurant similar in concept to Chipotle where you go through the line and they assemble your meal. Unlike Chipotle where my usual is 1140 calories if I were to eat the whole thing, my Cava bowl is only 510 calories and the pita is another 150 - again if I eat the whole thing. I usually can't because it's so dense with fiberous ingredients. I fill it with mixed spinach and romaine, whole grain rice, tons of veggies, felafel and only a little bit of the fatty dips like tzatziki and hummus. I get the salad dressing on the side and use it mainly to dip the pita in so I use only a tiny bit of it. Cava is more expensive - about $12 vs $8 so I can't really afford it much right now but when I eat it, my body feels really good - clean and healthy and light.

[ElaineJ27]

This is my idea of just about perfect: our balcony looks out over Kentucky Lake, the weather is great, and the baseball game is on the radio. 

It was a five-hour drive to Paducah, where we were the only visitors in the railway museum. Since we then had a late lunch, we got a bagged salad and a package of deli chicken at the local market for dinner. 

Our plan for the weekend is walking around this area and some nearby trails. I will have my 10K steps within the hour. 

In answer to the question, since I am no longer working, I cook more from scratch. I try to do batch cooking and freeze extras for later meals. When I cook taco meat, I make three pounds and freeze two one-pound bags. I usually grate cheese about every ten days, so I can fix tacos in less than ten minutes on a busy day. 

[MargaretG139]

Posting for the point...

Wednesday = 5 Yay me!

Thursday = 1 (Tracking) : (

I'll answer @Katrin 's question tomorrow

Good Night

[CJ_Here]

Hmmm, what's happened since I last posted Wednesday.  Well, I curtailed my unhealthy foods for my cholesterol for about 12 hours.  Our local coffee shop where Hubby displays / sells his woodworking projects now produces ice cream cookie sandwiches.  Oh, boy.  And, along with other things along the way last night I indulged in a 5 serving bag of pretzels - yes, I had the bag on my lap, intentionally, and ate them all.  Today I'm continue to help empty a container of caramel rolls.  Hope I haven't set anyone off with my specific food mentions.  I guess that's my convenience buying / eating along with the bags of salads.  I haven't been buying the kits and use lite raspberry vinagrette (sp) but it's so much easier to buy a bag that have a variety of greens along with grated carrots in it.  Right now I'm not trying to label my food choices good or bad.  Instead, it's my decisions and how can I improve upon that since each day (hour / minute) I have the choice.

Yesterday, I went outside for an hour midday to continue work on putting out my lawn ornaments around the planted flowerbeds.  I still have half to finish along with putting down patio blocks.  It's midday now and I'm contemplating sweating it out one more time, but after getting so overheated yesterday it's anyone's guess if I'll follow through or not.  We have a couple of graduation parties to stop in on or it won't be long before I'll need to get ready for that.  Hubby is only attending one and doesn't want to go so I imagine it won't be too much temptation calling from the food tables for the few minutes we are there.  The second one I'm forcing myself to attend so I doubt I'll be there long either.  

Your trip sounds wonderful, @ElaineJ27 .  I'm thinking it must be hot there also and you are out and about walking.  Maybe it makes a difference when it's a vacation.?.

[MargaretG139]

Friday - I think was a 3 (exercise, posting and tracking) I know I didn't hit my step goal but 24 hours later, have no idea (anymore) how much water I drank.

Today, for the first time in a very long time, I stayed within my daily WW points. I need to make days like today my new norm. @CJ_Here I've had more days like you discribed with the whole bag / box or whatever container of (insert unhealthy, empty calorie item here) in my lap not caring how much I consumed then I want to admit. I need to figure out how to start caring again.

I just spent the last hour and a half on the phone with my sister... I need to go to bed - I'll answer the question tomorrow.

[MargaretG139]

Saturday = 5

I couldn't resist the chocolate covered grams and ended up going over my daily points budget but, since I stopped after 3 cookies, I still earned myself a blue dot. As I write this I'm 2 points below my budget for today and probably won't be eating anything else. It's been so hot I've been drinking water like crazy. Between the heat and the water belly, I have no desire to eat and when I have have made good choices.

To the question: Do you ever spend money on a healthy convenience or short cut and do you ever feel guilty about it? Which healthy conveniences and short cuts work the best for you? Yes and No

When I was working in an office I almost always bought lunch in the cafeteria instead of "brown bagging" it. Even though it was more expensive, I was fortunate that there were a lot of healthy options. I had much more variety then If I would have brought food from home. If I had, I'd have been eating the same thing days on end just to use up the greens (for example) - as others have mentioned - before they went bad. I didn't feel guilty about it because I was doing something good for my health. Besides, I almost NEVER bought breakfast in the cafeteria. It was definitly cheaper to buy the 32 oz tub of greak yogurt, put some in a small container with whatever fruit I had in the fridge or freezer, throw some whole grain ceral in a zip lock bag to pour over the top whenever I was eady to eat.

I'm close to another 5 point day - need 650 more steps and about 10 oz of water (I think). I really struggle to keep track of how much water I'm drinking. What do you all do to track that?

[Glenda]

@MargaretG139  I'm very impressed with your thoughtful intelligent choices.  Good for you. You probably have a good reason for the water question but the Mayo Clinic suggests we drink when thirsty.  I never understand the water goals.  Also everyone talks about 8 glasses of water a day.  A glass isn't even a measure.   LOL  I don't drink water.  I drink LOTS of coffee, cola and wine.  I'm behind tonight.  9 PM and I haven't even had any yet.