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!

[ElaineJ27]

We arrived home, unpacked, and started laundry. I only have 3K steps for today, but had 11K each of the past three days. 

Meals and exercise are planned for the week. 

@MargaretG139 , I use a generic “Yeti” 30 oz cup for water and a 24 oz thermal cup for unsweetened iced tea so I keep track of how many of each I drink. If I drink less than 80 oz a day, I have a headache and feel lethargic. 

[ElaineJ27]

I played golf this morning and so far (2:00 pm), I’m on track with my eating. My “curious post-vacation” weigh in showed me down 2 pounds from last Wednesday’s official weigh in. We’ll see where I am this Wednesday. 

@CJ_Here , do you have a lot of humidity there? It wasn’t overly warm this morning and periodically there was a breeze, but at times I felt like I was in a sauna. My daughter gave me a cooling cloth, which is a long scarf-like object that you wet and it keeps you cool. I tied it around my forehead and tied it at the back of my neck, then put on my baseball-type hat. It accentuated my fat face but I wouldn’t have finished my golf round without it. 

[Cele21]

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 - I spend money on the occasional Frozen lunch/dinner (Lean Cuisine type) and bagged salads and eat them for lunch at work.

No - I don't feel guilty. Salad is from Aldi's and is usually under $2.50 and frozen entree is from Walmart and around $2.50.

I brown bag all the time and sometimes I just don't want to make a lunch the night before (I never wake up early enough). It's so easy to grab something out of the freezer on my way through the kitchen and out the door. Same with the salad. I try to do one salad, more would not agree with me, one soup (Campbell's Chunky or similar) and one entree per week. Most of the time, it's less than that but last week I had a breakfast burrito every day -  yes, still for lunch (box of 12 from Sam's Club for $13).  I never spend high dollar amounts and never order out.  Not always the healthiest but definitely the easiest/cheapest.

@MargaretG139  - I used to have a 32 oz stainless steel water bottle that kept the water cold all day. My goal was two per day but always made it through one. I now have a 26 oz bottle and it's a breeze to finish two per day - go figure. It has a pop open lid with a drinking spout - Zulu brand from Target or Walmart.

@Jan2152 - My ortho appointment was made today for June 22nd. X-ray for the ankle and will discuss the knee.

Hubby's aunt seems to be getting just a bit more anxious about everything that is on her mind. We'll tell her we are handling something and the next day she call's my brother-in-law saying there's a problem and it's not working. Not that she forgets, just that it's not happening fast enough. On Thursday, Brother-in-law told her he ordered a new debit card for her. On Sunday, she called to tell him it wasn't there yet. He reminded her that it might not be there until Tuesday. She remembered that he had told her that but ended the call by reminding him again it wasn't there yet. She is stressed about having enough cash on hand when her daughter comes to visit next week so just keeps looping back on how that will happen. Hubby thinks that she has nothing to do all day but be in her own head about everything and all the things she used to do for herself are now being done by someone else so she feels out of control. I'm hoping it's not slipping into alzheimer's/dimentia.

[MargaretG139]

5 for Sunday

I did end up having a late evening snack attack BUT, I'm so determiend to get a streak of blue dot days going that I figured out the points for what I was going to eat BEFORE I put it in my mouth.

Thanks for the feed back about the water. @Glenda After hearing and reading so many different amounts - the trainers at the gym at work even advocated for a half oz for every pound of body weight - at around 200 lbs, I'd have to drink 100 ounces!!! Maybe if I spent the entire day hiking up mountains in 90 degree heat, I could manage that, but on a normal day - no way! The best advice I've read (don't remember the source) is to use the color of your urine as a guide.The lighter the color the more likely you are to be getting enough.Besides using that as a barameter, I too get headaches if I'm not drinking enough and have figured out I need at least 48 oz a day, but 64 is better. Of course that means I'm getting up at least once over night though : (

@ElaineJ27so excited to hear you are down two pounds after your long weekend away. Now to not let them find you again.

@Cele21I can only imagine that no longer having complete control over her affairs is causing your huband's aunt to dwell on all the things others are now taking care of for her. Does she have any hobbies or activities that she could spend at least some of her time doing to reduce the amount of time she has to spend worrying that everything that needs to get done is being taken care of?

[ElaineJ27]

5 points for Monday. I have had several 5-point Mondays when I restart. My goal right now is to make TODAY a good day. 

I played golf in 80 degree, 90% humidity. I’m not counting the water I drank while golfing because I’m sure I lost more in sweat. 

It was satisfying to go out on my deck last night and cut spring mix lettuce for dinner. I’ll go out and cut some dill for my chicken salad for lunch. 

[MargaretG139]

4 for Monday (exercise, water, tracking, posting)

@ElaineJ27I can relate in sweating out everything you drank - Although I walk around 6:30 / 7:00 in the morning, with the high humidity the last two days I was soaked from head to toe by the time I got done. Thanks for the comments about harvesting your own lettuce and dill - reminded me that I want to go to the local pick your own farm to pick strawberries... Unfortunately, we're supposed to get rain / thunderstorms for the next few afternoons 😞

I got a notice in my WW app that I've tracked my food every day for the last 90 days. I went back to see if it's actually having an impact on my weight and it is! - 8 pounds gone over the last three months. I can't give tracking all the credit because I also started my 2 mile a day walks around the same time.Now if I can just maintain those habits...

[CJ_Here]

Mon - 2 pts; Tues - 3 pts / I am giving both of you @ElaineJ27  and @MargaretG139 giant cheers of admiration for walking / golfing with such high humidity.  I've been out one to two hours at a time and can't take anymore (it takes hours to cool down - does it take you that long, too?) and it's more gardening than walking.  Thank God our humidity hasn't gotten as high as yours (more like 60).  I'm like a dirty, wet dishrag thrown in a corner in weather like that.  I haven't gotten the ambition to set my alarm to go walking before 8am and it seems like we just tag team some daily project and then we hunker down in the house.  Tomorrow I'll be going to town to meet the sisters for lunch and I need to pick up my final flowers.  I'm already dreading it due to the heat.  

[Jan2512]

Still living in lockdown but hopefully we will be out of it on Friday, although with a lot of restrictions which haven't been confirmed but it looks like we will be about to travel 25 km (15 miles) from home and restaurants can up for up to 50 people.  Gyms are to remain closed, no visiting other homes although 10 people can meet up outside.  No mention yet on whether we will need to wear masks at all times or whether hairdressing etc or cinemas will be opened.

So, I have been spending most time doing things like sorting through old clothes, shredding paperwork and binge watching tv shows.  Just finished two good shows, one American "Mare of Easttown" and an English show "Life".

Catherine - In answer to your question, yes I do buy healthy convenience meals but no I never feel guilty.  Why feel guilty we deserve to do things we like and make life easier for us providing no one (including ourselves) is impacted negatively.  

- Sorry to hear about your pains and that you aren't particularly happy at this time.  It is a strange time for all of us.  At times I feel down & I put it down to living in this covid world.  I find it hard to remember a pre covid existence.

- I like that your boyfriend sends you pics of your cat even though he isn't actually with your cat.

@ElaineJ27 - Your trip away sounds idyllic - particularly to someone in the middle of winter who due to lockdown can only travel 10 km (6 miles) from home.

@MargaretG139 - I too have been struggling to keep a blue dot day streak.  I have changed my weigh in day to Thursday from Monday.  I know that it all balances out over the week but I think from an unlogical standpoint I know I eat more on the weekend so I will weigh more on Monday than Thursday.

@Glenda - I agree water drinking is a very individual thing.  I drink more in the summer and when exercising, but I also drink tea, coffee and diet colas and other varieties of diet carbonated drinks.  I do drink alcohol but not regularly.  

@Cele21 - Good luck for your xrays.

- I hope your hubby's aunt is just confused with you taking over her day to day things and that it is not dementia.  Does she like puzzles?  Here there are loads of puzzle books where you can win prizes.  Mum & I do a couple each week but have only won a couple of small things.

@CJ_Here - I wish I enjoyed gardening.  I love to see a nice garden & I love flowers but I just have no interest in gardening, I admire people who do.

[CJ_Here]

@Jan2512 , I watched 'Mare of Eastown' also, which got pretty intense.  And, I think my interest in gardening has changed over the years.  In my late 30's and through my 40's, I really enjoyed it and knew how to care for plants.  Now I feel like a fish out of water and worry more that I'm killing them than feeling full-filled.  Maybe if they grow and look good this summer, I'll enjoy it more.  When I first saw a picture of this house, I told the realtor that 'it' looked really sad.  The homeowners were in their 80's, the husband had died earlier in the year and nothing had been done to the beds for years maybe.  So, I'm trying to put down some roots (since we've moved so many times) and perk up the place.  We really need new siding on the old girl, but that probably won't happen this year.  My older sister has turned to putting artificial flowers in her garden beds.  Her husband is close to end of life and so she needs easy.  They live on a lake, their place is so peaceful; I just pray they have many days finding pockets of joy during this sad, hard, hard time.  

[MargaretG139]

4 for Tuesday (exercise, water, tracking, posting)

@Jan2512  I'm so sorry that you are still having to deal with lock downs. Are the vaccines readily available in Australia like they are here (now)?

@ElaineJ27 and @CJ_Here I wish I had your green thumbs. I love eating fresh out of the garden herbs and vegetables. I need to get over my aversion to weeding before I can even think about putting in any sort of garden though... maybe when I retire...

[ElaineJ27]

LW: 266.6

CW: 265.6

I’m not putting down a goal weight but will strive to make each day a 5-point day. 

5 points for Tuesday. I slept in today and have not (let’s be real: I’m not going to) exercised today. I did make a grocery run and almost stuck to my list. Now I’m boiling eggs (we like them on salad) and cutting produce. 

@MargaretG139 , I may be a farmer’s daughter, but I don’t have a green thumb. My lettuce and herbs are in containers on our deck. Tomatoes and peppers are in the yard, spaced so Hubby can mow around the cages. We don’t have a magazine-worthy yard but it works for us!

@Jan2512 , it’s almost hard to remember living in such restrictions. Here, the only place you see people wearing masks is in a medical facility. I wore mine into the drugstore on Monday and even the employees weren’t wearing masks. 

I do think people are more aware of “personal space” and while it’s not six feet, are maintaining distance. I enjoy not feeling crowded in a store, which is about the only place I go with very many people. 

[purple_vacuum]

I'm in regional victoria so we are mostly out of restrictions now. 

Right now my biggest challenge is the abnormally bloated and distended stomach. I don't know if it is just bloating from food intolerances or if it's mostly fat. Or if it's 50/50. I've been working hard on diet and increasing movement for 6 months and nothing is changing. I've had lots of tests and nothing. I feel helpless.

[CJ_Here]

Hi, @purple_vacuum .  I hope you find this a safe place to share your triumphs and struggles.  My hubby deals with bloating due to gastroparesis.  Some days he is in much pain and nothing seems to help.  His lactose intolerance increases the symptoms.  It's so easy to forget to take a pill before he has milk products or overeat the wrong foods for him.  I hope you can dial down to what is triggering your issues.  Mine, on the other hand, is mostly fat.  My intestines and joints let me know when I'm eating poorly, but lately my bad habits of binging on the wrong foods win over being responsible.  So crazy that I know I'm going to end up on a cholesterol medicine this fall if I don't change my ways.  

3 points for Wednesday - at least I'm getting in my water again.

[MargaretG139]

4 for Thursday (exercise, tracking, water, posting)

I'm finally applying my 2021 word - consistency.

My blue dot day streak ended at 4. I still have an opportunity for 6 out of 7 days this week though.

Welcome @purple_vacuum !

@Jan2512and @CJ_Here how interesting that on the day you both mentioned "Mare of Easttown" (which I had never heard of) that I came across this while scanning the news articles on one of the Philadelphia television station's website: https://6abc.com/food/wawa-celebrates-delco-opening-with-mare-of-easttown-day-/10771562/

[ElaineJ27]

3 points for Wednesday (posting, tracking, and water). I also stayed within my food limits for the third day in a row!  

@purple_vacuum , I was also going to suggest that your bloating may be a result of dairy or possibly grains. Have you tried eliminating certain foods for a while to see if there is a difference?

I attached a photo of my fashion statement cooling cloth under my hat for playing golf. I wouldn’t have finished without it even though actual temperature was only 85. I took a few short breaks in the shade as there was no one playing behind me. Next week I’ll see if I can play at 7 am. 

 

[purple_vacuum]

Thanks @CJ_Here I'm seeing my gastro this afternoon so hopefully some ideas from him

I know it's a combination of fat and bloating from food intolerances but my gastroscopy shows erosive gastritis in my stomach so something is up. The worst part is I don't drink, smoke and I eat 90% a healthy diet. It isn't fair!

[purple_vacuum]

thanks Elaine, yes I'm coeliac and have fodmaps sensitivity but that's all managed so it can't be causing the current issues

[ElaineJ27]

5 points for Thursday with over 12K steps!

 I’m going to see if I can start playing golf at 7 am because even at 10, the heat is horrible. With this heat, I don’t understand why the fat doesn’t melt and run out with the sweat!

DD1 and family are coming this weekend. I assume they’re staying with DD2 because I wasn’t told directly. I would just have to put sheets on the guest bed if needed. And I am not stocking up on “kid” food that doesn’t get eaten, except by me later. 

So I don’t know what the weekend plans are and will be eating “on the fly”. I hope my good decisions all week set me up for a successful weekend. 

[CJ_Here]

So, I attached a copy of me from last night after some final gardening.  I giving the thumbs up that I'm done (except for some final mulching).  I was so hot and miserable and it was nothing like you, @ElaineJ27 , and your golfing.  I don't know how you do it.  Today we picked up branches from the storm for and hour.  It was only 65 with 80 percent humidity and I was miserable.   I do have some cooling cloths some where.  Last night I did wet a towel and cooled my head and face down.  As far as eating, unfortunately, it's all carbs.  That doesn't help!

[MargaretG139]

First I have a correction to make - the points I previously posted as Thursday's were actually Wednesday's. Real Thursday points = 5 and Friday was a 3 (since I forgot to post).

When I came home from my walk yesterday, I was soaked but NOT from sweat - temperatures took a nose dive yesterday - but from the unexpected rain shower that ended up turning into quite the downpour and lasted all day. In addition, I brought two ticks home with me even after flicking two others off. 

Congrats @ElaineJ27 on staying within your food limits for 3 days in a row and getting 12K steps. Keep it up and all the effort will pay off. I hope you are enjoying your visit with your daughter.

@CJ_Hereit must feel so good to know that you are done with the gardening (at least for now).

I am about to head out the door now for my daily walk a little later than normal, but at least I can multi-task and talk to one of my sisters on the phone while I walk.I'm also looking forward to seeing how much the corn has grown since yesterday. Over the last week it seems like the growth has been noticable each day - must have been the heat and daily rain...