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!

[CJ_Here]

So, the prep was not pleasant - severe vomiting.  All in all, I must have been cleared out enough for a successful procedure.  Besides diverticulosis, one polyp removed which I'm sure will turn out to be benign.  Per the Dr, I will need to have them every five years.  They've charted, and I will remember, so next time we can use a different prep.

It's so enjoyable to have our blue skies back after weeks of cloud / smoke covered skies.  And, cooler temperatures which means I need to commit to walking again... but not today 🙂

[Jan2512]

Lockdown # 6 - I am so over this, but I am abiding by the rules, even though some are not.  We will be in lockdown till at least September 2nd.  Victoria currently has 246 active cases with 12 in hospital, 2 of those in ICU, so the numbers are not high but we don't want to get like NSW where they had 633 cases today alone and three people have passed away.  Even New Zealand has gone into lockdown due to a few cases as they had zero cases for over six months and were living a life like it was 2019.

We did have a couple of weeks between lockdown # 5 ending and #6 starting.  Fortunately during this break we had several medical appts booked so we were able to attend them.  I also had to have to have emergency dental work, as it turned out nothing too serious but it was painful.  Back in the 1980's I had root canal work done on one tooth, my current dentist thinks it is great that it has lasted so long but a part of it broke off so I had to have it filled, still a little sensitive but nowhere near as painful as it was, but it happened on the Saturday and I couldn't get to the dentist till Monday.

Myself, my Mum and brother are now fully vaccinated with Astra Zeneca, so that is a relief, but under lockdown we don't go anywhere anyway.  Only about 25% of eligible people have been fully vaccinated in Australia and I like many others blame our Prime Minister ScoMo (his proper name is Scott Morrison, but everyone just calls him ScoMo).  At the start of the year Australia was well placed with hardly any covid cases, and the few cases we had were in hotel quarantine having come from overseas.  Our smug PM didn't take the opportunity to ramp up vaccinations and rather smugly told us "it's not a race, it is not a competition" and didn't push for people getting vaxed.  My family still went ahead and got jabbed as soon as we were deemed eligible (based on age).  Now our government is practically begging us to get jabbed.

@CJ_Here 

- I hope you are feeling well and that your results are good.

- Glad to hear your bathroom reno is finished and you are more or less happy with it.

@Cele21 

- I hope you have recovered from your fall.

- I agree with Catherine regarding your Aunt's roommate, they should be made to wear earphones or turn off the device.

@Katrin 

- Have you had anymore counselling sessions?  Are you benefitting from them.

@ElaineJ27 

- I am a hoarder and a lot of it is sentimental, but like you a lot is not.  I don't think it is laziness but more a sense of being overwhelmed but the amount (and time needed) that you have to sort through that it just becomes easier to keep it where it is.

Well, everyone look after yourselves and stay safe.

[Jan2512]

Just a couple of things I forgot to talk about.  

I thought the Olympics went off well.  I admit I was against it going ahead due to the pandemic, but all in all I thought it was very well done.  I was also good that Team GB came 4th and Australia 6th, very pleasing results.

The slang term "scarfing" is very similar to our term "scoffing".  Scoffing is used mainly in relation to eating quickly.  I love how we all speak English but there are so many differences in terms and phrases.  I remember being in an America hotel and we had to go to the front desk as there was a problem with the tap in the bathroom.  No one understood what I meant then I remembered you don't call them taps you say faucet.  One thing I don't like is how here a lot of people say going to the "bathroom", why they have stopped saying toilet or "loo" is beyond me and if I'm in one of those funny moods ask them if they have a towel as I assume they are having a shower or bath.  The reason I say this is that the vast majority of people have separate rooms for the toilet and shower / bath.  In my house for instance we have a downstairs toilet and the room next door has the shower and the bath.  Upstairs we have a toilet and the separate room has a shower (when we added the upstairs we didn't have room to put in a bath, which as it turned out wasn't too bad as due to my arthritis I can't use a bath).

Just thought I'd add something lighter rather then my diatribe regarding the lockdowns and my government.

[Glenda]

Jan,  I don't think you are a hoarder because you are lazy.  It is lots more work for you to do anything with unnecessary, un chosen, disliked useless stuff in the way.  It ISN'T easier to keep junk you will never use.  It makes every thing you do more work.  I have a friend who is an amazingly good cook.  She feels unmotivated and overwhelmed,  at the thought of how much junk is in her house and doesn't know how to start .  I suggested maybe she could consider all her cooking stuff.  It might be easier for her if she got rid of all the stuff she never used and didn't really like, which would make it easier to find and use the things she does like and uses.  etc.  I work on the one LITTLE thing that bothers me the most at the moment in my house.  

[CJ_Here]

Enjoyed reading your update, @Jan2512 .  I try not to say bathroom and say 'restroom' instead and then thought you might ask if I needed a blankie for my nap.  Minnesota reached the 70% immunity but it doesn't seem to be enough.   It really surprised me that your country is only at 25% as it seemed that your numbers were so low.   I pray somehow this comes to pass for all soon.

Just found out that the type of polyp I had would never turn into cancer so I don't have to go back for 10 years, even with my brother having had colon cancer.  Maybe because in a 20 year span there hasn't been anything concerning.?.

I went for an overnight visit back to the area we had lived for ten years.  A group of four former co-workers came together for lunch which was very enjoyable.  I then stayed at a nice hotel.  I'm hoping it's a change I needed to turn my current situation at home around.  Hubby and I are not seeing eye to eye.  I think we are into a new stage of life / living together.  I need to do some research or something to try and help us.  I don't want to give up my identity (that I'm still trying to find since retirement) just to appease him.  Sad.

[CJ_Here]

Hope everyone is doing OK.  Looking forward to updates.

So, I've been contemplating what can I do to get back on track.  Right now the LoseIt app isn't calling me.  I don't want to track...probably because of the way I've been eating out of control.  Years ago, like 25 years or so, I attended OA meetings.  I was never that successful at losing weight, but I learned a lot and had a core group of ladies to bear my soul, to.  We found out that WW will not be opening the studio I used to attend and right now my sisters do not want to start our own accountability-type of group.  So, I joined an OA community on Facebook.  Today, I read about an app that I downloaded.  I'm not sure if the free version will be free after seven days.  It's basically a day/hour/minute counter of sobriety of whatever your addiction is.  There's a huge list to choose from along with the drinking addiction.  I set my timer, told my husband that I'll be following OA (AA) 12 steps...and then we went to run errands and stopped in at the coffeeshop where he had a sandwich and I had a plain mango ice tea.  And then; they brought out fresh baked rolls (after this I am going to try and not say the item since that can trigger someone else).  Anyway, we picked up one each of the two kinds to share.  So, I relapsed within three hours of starting.  BUT, I did some reading; re-set my timer and am admitting that I need to really surrender this food addiction once and for all.  OA will give me my focus and I am committing to committing to this program.

[Cele21]

Three weeks since I posted! Guess things aren't settling down as much as I thought.

@Jan2512 - LOL, scoffing has a much different meaning here:

adjective

1. contemptuously ridiculing or mocking someone or something.

   "a scoffing cabin crew tells her there's no shower on the plane"

noun

contemptuous ridicule or mockery.

"he had to overcome the scoffing of theoretical physicists"

I love the minor differences in language, though people should know what a tap is when referring to a sink.

@CJ_Here - I too have been trying to find the right mindset where I am successful again. Groups don't interest me (except for you all). It has to come from me, from being willing and ready and having a viable plan. When it all comes together it is very successful, then I get complacent, fall off the wagon and need to start all over until I hit that sweet combination again.

I am happy to report that all of my bruises are gone, the only reminder of falling is an achy shoulder and I think that has to do with the way I sit and type at work.

My sister is in her apartment and her dog is in Minnesota with her son. 

Hubby's aunt was allowed to go back to the assisted living place (her own apartment) last week and is catching up on much needed rest. She has another appointment to have her wound checked out on Monday, fingers crossed she can get off the wound-vac. She has lost some ground speech and mental acuity-wise due to lack of social contact, etc. but she did receive some physical therapy so is almost back with movement.

Hubby and I have been going out to the movies about once a week to just relax. His work has ramped up and he is burning out quickly. He has a project due by the end of the month and is worrying he won't make the deadline and will be written up. When he was sick, I developed a very good "what will be will be and if I can't change it, I will deal with it" attitude. He on the other hand became more of a worrier than he already was. He projects outcomes and responses in the worst possible light and then frets about it non-stop, taking his projections to the most extreme outcomes. I have to try to rein him in and point out that he can only handle the 'now' not the 'what ifs'. Going to a movie allows him some relief if only for a few hours. The theatre has remained mostly empty no matter what we see. We do go to matinees or $5 Tuesdays as much as possible which helps.

Work is getting better (2 new hires that are working out well) but I am now dealing with the results of the last 4 months worth of chaos and playing a lot of clean up. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel but it is only getting closer a centimeter at a time.

Weight has gone up and I have been out of Onederland for the past two weeks, but just barely so I think I can get back down soon.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

[ElaineJ27]

I have tracked my food for two weeks and only had three days of overeating in that time. I have gotten in 5K steps each of the past two days. That goal seems like it should be easy to hit considering I used to walk at least 10K regularly. I have been a sloth for waaay too long. 

The chapter in the book my friend and I are working through last week was about discipline and self control. While channel surfing the next day, I caught a well known televangelist mention discipline and self control. And on Saturday at Women of Joy with my sister, I opened a book to “guess what” topic! My sister and I ate conservatively while we were gone, even packing a light meal to eat before the Friday night session instead of grabbing fast food. Unfortunately, I fell hard on Sunday and ate everything I could get my hands on!

My friend also fell off the wagon so we recommitted to our daily accountability. The way I managed the past two days was to pretrack my food for the day and not add to it. If I got hungry at 10, I knew what I was having for lunch and was satisfied to wait. When the desire for evening snacking arose, I reminded myself that “the kitchen was closed”.

@CJ_Here , I attended OA meetings for a few months when I worked in Springfield as there are no chapters closer. And the the group I joined only had four other people and folded shortly thereafter. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to check out OA online but that is now on my list. 

Our local WW also is not reopening and I don’t believe that doing it online would help me as I really needed the support from the group that I had become attached to. When that was discontinued, I left WW. 

I have “posts” to all of you running in my head often. I plan to be more diligent about logging in and actually sending them!

[CJ_Here]

Great posts.  I hear you, @Cele21 , as far as the plan having to come from within.  The problem I am having is that I am not feeling anything.  How does one get their 'drive' back?  My sister will be staying overnight tomorrow which was to be my drive to get my craft room cleared ... it didn't work.  Today I need to get the basic cleaning done for her room and bathroom and call it good.

I feel like I've been to a Women of Joy event with my sister years back, but I'm not sure.  Or maybe I went by myself.  Do they go around the country, @ElaineJ27 ?  Do you get to see your sister much?

I have been abstinent for 1.5 days.  I need to get back to posting points.  Since I don't log food, my point for that will be to be abstinent.  To be abstinent now means to not overeat.  I am working at eating healthy and staying away from food items that lead me to overeating.  Yesterday, I said 'no' to a super sweet bakery item and to some crunchy food.  I went to bed early with a slight hunger due to not overeating.  I know today is going to be tough as I'm working sweet out of my diet.  So, Sat was a 1 for logging. 

[ElaineJ27]

I have stayed on track with my eating for several days by tracking all of my food for the day in the morning. On Sunday I walked 12K steps at the Illinois State Fair. I went to see Christian music groups, ending with Danny Gokey, who got his start on American Idol. It was too hot to eat junk food but I drank three bottles of water. 

I change our bed sheets every Monday morning and today, Hubby and I deconstructed the bed to clean under it. No unwanted items but I emptied at least three cups of dust and cat hair from the vacuum! I put an old towel under the bed in hopes that the cat will confine his shedding to that area. 

I ran errands and grocery shopped and have my meals planned for the week. I did not prep vegetables so I need to do that first thing tomorrow morning. I plan to brown some turkey sausage with peppers and onions, then add some to scrambled eggs for breakfasts. I’m also putting a roast with potatoes and carrots in the crockpot since I have to take my mom to Springfield for a heart doctor checkup tomorrow afternoon. 

I will end today with only 4200 steps but actually accomplished quite a few things on my to do list. 

@CJ_Here , my sister lives about a two-hour drive from here and she not only has a handicapped adult son, she had been home schooling her grandchildren. They are attending school in person this year so hopefully we can schedule some more sister time. We used to try at least one weekend together a year, even if it was a hotel a few blocks from her house!

[CJ_Here]

I've logged three days of abstinence and it's been going pretty good.  Yesterday I cooked and cleaned to ready for my Michigan sister to spend the night.  I made a turkey meatloaf which isn't as good as some I've made in the past.  My roasted veggies weren't as good either.  She's a great cook / baker; maybe I felt intimidated, lol.  She arrived late and didn't want to eat so she may not even try any of it since she's moving on to the next family this early afternoon.  I don't feel I'm a very good hostess.  I think I put off a tense vibe.  I want them to feel comfortable, but feel they aren't.  She has a bad back so we'll see how the newly purchased 'rolled up' mattress worked for her.  I ended up ordering the 14" LinenSpa brand.  Maybe I should have gotten the Purple brand as advertised on tv.  Anyway, we'll be having healthy leftovers for a couple of days.

[Katrin]

LOL @ElaineJ27 I don't know about your cat but if put a towel down for mine to sleep on to accumulate the cat hair I could assure you that he would sleep everywhere BUT on the towel. He's lucky he's cute at least!

Hi everyone, sorry for the long delay. I've been reading from the emails but it's kind of difficult for me to log in to respond since when I do it from my phone I think only I can see it and since there's that issue with my password, I can't log in from my laptop or tablet and I can't reset the password. Thus I'm confined to just one of my 4 devices and it's the least handy of them . . .

Anyway, I agree that some of our terms vary from country to country despite speaking the same language. As a matter of fact, they even vary within the US for some things - I drink "soda" or Diet Coke but my cousins drink "pop" for example. And I believe most of the country "gets" or "buys" groceries but in some places in the south including Southern Virginia and that part of the world they call "East Cackalacky" they "make" groceries. Years ago while working at the front desk of a hotel, a guest asked my co-worker to "post" a letter for them and the poor thing had no idea what that meant despite being handed a letter to put in the postal service box.

So news with me - I had my colonoscopy/endoscopy on Friday last week. It was a much more non-issue than I'd made it out be. Because of my ongoing issues, the prep wasn't as terrible as I'd led to believe - more like my usual once or twice a week upset slightly amped up. I didn't throw any of it up and because it was so yucky, didn't feel all that hungry either. My results are not bad at all. I do have a hiatal hernia which is allowing stomach acid to more easily rise up into my throat and losing weight should help with that. However, I don't show any damage from over indulgence of advil from the prior 6 months and there was nothing cancerous or ulcery to worry about. I'm to continue with my calming medication that controls stomach acid, increase fiber and lose a little weight and I should be good.

On that note, I'm down 13 total pounds (13.6 to be precise) and have set a goal of losing just 5 more. If I do, that will put me down another
decade". Obviously, once I get there I'll set another goal but rather than get psyched out from failing to reach it, I've decided to just focus on the first 5. I am currently at my lowest in about 2 years so I'm at least reversing the trend.

I am continuing to see my counselor and that's going well. I feel like it's productive and I'm rebounding much faster than I was expecting. Having a third party to speak with who has no agenda of her own and who isn't relying on me to help them is really huge for me. I'm in a much better place to help those I love who lean on me.

My ex? boyfriend started texting me again last week. He's super passive - not one to declare himself much - so I can't tell for sure what he wants but my theory is he's horny and wants sex. (we'll see if that gets through the fitbit sensors lol!) He's sent a bunch of lame messages about the wildlife he sees on his walk and the fact that he's finished a book I loaned him. He's completely not addressed any of the issues from the last 2 months. Now he wants to deliver my book to me on Saturday despite my acceptance of his offer to mail it to me if that's easier for him. I believe he wants to show up here this weekend and pretend the last 2 months never happened. However, in the last 2 months, I've changed my mind about a few things. I've started thinking about what I want in my NEXT relationship. Now, that doesn't exclude him - maybe he can be that guy - but there's a lot of work he'll have to do first and I don't think he has any idea it's coming . . . I'm already feeling anxious and frustrated. But, this list is non-negotiable and if he wants to be that guy, couples counseling is part of it.

My magazine company moved my deadline for publication and now I've got several more months to go. That created a huge breach of my trust and I'm actively looking to get out now and start earning a real paycheck. I've had one in person interview at one place, a phone interview at another place, and two phone interviews at a third place for a job I'm super excited about and I asked how I'm doing and looks like I'm advancing to next stage. I have an in person interview tomorrow for a "safety" job - office manager for a granite/stone company - like countertops, etc. The guy is super sweet but I don't think the pay is anywhere near what I want. But it's close to home and would pay more than the retail job is and anything that pays will be paying more than the magazine and likely be easier too. I'm just trying to drum up options right now and hopefully start earning actual money in September.

I'll try not to be a stranger so much in the future!

[CJ_Here]

Good to hear from you @Katrin .  I hope your job prospects turn out to your liking.  And, I hope you get a chance to let your old boyfriend know what's what.

Tomorrow is 'sister's day'.  It'll be the first time in two years that all five of us have been together.  We plan to eat sandwich loaf and cake; play card games; have a ton of laughs and I'm thinking exchanging gifts.   In the past anyway, we've always gotten little 'what-nots' for each other so I am prepared.  I had to ask hubby if I could move the remaining containers from my craft room into his room so I could get to my sewing machine.  It took me 45 minutes to thread the darn thing using the machine's automatic threading, lol.  I still don't know how I finally got it.  Anyway, I made each of them a pillow from different kitchen towels that I had purchased for this project prior to Covid.  I'm happy with how they turned out and enjoyed hanging out and listening to my cd's.  I signed up for a class on 9/10 to learn how to sew a blouse to fit me from a current blouse I like.  I think I better make sure I have the bobbin' and thread set up since I think this four hour class is going to be stressful.  I've only sewn a couple of garments in high school and this might be the only one I make.  I hope I can stay late after class if need be so I leave with a completed project.  With the material and tuition, it's going to be a very expensive blouse!

So, we have a major fire burning in our neck of the woods - just 60 miles east of here (or closer depending on the wind's direction).  So far 26,000 acres have burned along with 12 home and 60 outbuildings.  We have unhealthy air quality from it and have been staying indoors; and even so I still feel it in my lungs.  The smoke is just hanging.  It's zero percent contained and they are thinking it won't be out until snow comes.  Our whole area is in extreme drought and we are fearful of additional fires (besides the four or so that are happening up in the BWCA).  This Greenwood fire started from a lightning strike.  Our area is known for our wildness which is why it's impossible to contain and sad to know how our landscape in the far future is now changed to burned forests for years to come.  And, as we all know, this is so prevalent out west; something they have been dealing with for years already.  

My longest abstinence was three days.  I keep re-setting my clock.  It's a process, but one I will keep working on.

[ElaineJ27]

Wow, it’s been two and a half weeks since I last posted! Sorry about that. 

I fell off the wagon with pretracking my food but haven’t had a full blown binge so I’m holding steady. Hubby and I played golf a week ago and that’s the only time I’ve done much activity in six weeks. I have had several morning appointments and it’s been too hot to be outside after mid morning. 

We were going to go camping this weekend but rain is supposed to move in by noon and stay until Saturday night. I’m going to help Hubby mow at the farm now, and we’ll plan on a campfire and overnight in the camper at the farm Sunday. 

I have scheduled tee times for three mornings next week and the extended forecast looks good to be outside. 

I don’t remember if I mentioned having trouble with one of my eyes and wearing my glasses more often, but at my eye exam, it was discovered that a piece was broken off the edge of one of my contacts. I wore my glasses exclusively for the two weeks to get a new contact, not able to do much because of poor vision. When I put in my new contacts, I was disappointed to discover that I still can’t see well unless I constantly blink because by not wearing my contacts, the shape of my eyes returned to their “abnormal” state. This is the fourth day of wearing my new contacts and it gets better each day as the contacts reshape my eyes. Headaches and frustration have plagued me!

I hope all of you are staying safe from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, etc. We now are supposed to wear a mask indoors at public places but it seems that locally, that order is being ignored. 

[ElaineJ27]

It’s been a really dreary Saturday and I’ve done my best impression of a sloth. I have also grazed continually trying to find the taste that I really want. It’s 6:00 and I only have 1,000 steps. 

I know what steps I need to take to get back on track and I can visualize the plan, but my follow through just doesn’t exist. 

[Jan2512]

Sorry I haven't been on the forum for awhile but nothing much is going on here.  Melbourne has the dubious honour of being or becoming the city that has been in lockdown the longest in the world.  We entered a "five day" snap lockdown about six weeks ago (our sixth lockdown since March 2020).  We still have a nighttime curfew, can't move more than 5 km (about three miles) from your house.  Most businesses are closed or open only online.  It is frustrating and it is getting me down (and most of the rest of the citizens of this state).  Our useless Premier offers no hope just vague timeframes when he thinks some restrictions will be lifted.  The NSW Premier at least offers hope to her people and they have loads more cases and deaths.  I live in a LGA (Local Government Area) known as Casey, we have a population of about 300,000 people and we have 28 active covid cases with less than a dozen places where covid may have been caught from.  We are treated the same why as an LGA with a population of less than 200,000 people and over 400 active covid cases and over one hundred affected sites.  83% of all active cases are in the north and west of Melbourne and they are the lowest areas for getting the vaccinations.  I live in the south east and my household is double vaxed yet we get nothing for this yet it is obvious the people in the north west are not following the rules.  Sorry for the rant but I am just fed up.

At least we are now in spring and it is getting a bit warmer, not that we can go anywhere.  But we have a back garden and a nice large patio to sit on, so I have been taken advantage of the light evenings and been doing a bit of reading.

I did go for a long walk on Saturday with my brother (we are allowed to exercise outside for two hours a day either alone or with people from your household).  We walked for over 90 minutes and did just over 4 km (about 2.5 miles).  I haven't walked that far continuously for about two years, I did pay for it the next day.  I still do a fair bit of exercise about four days per week but I do about 20 to 30 minutes then sit down for a few minutes before doing the next workout.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

[Jan2512]

Hi Everyone, we seem to have gone a bit quiet again.

I won't go on about our lockdown again, cases are getting higher but at least there are very few deaths but a lot in hospital and some on ventilators.  I have decided that "it is what it it is" (this seems to be the quote of the year) and I have got to change things.  Recently my eating and spending online has increased but my daily sleeps have really decreased.  So, today I have decided to change things and get more motivation in the right areas.  I need to break this negative cycle and the feeling that everything is getting on top of me.  Please if you can think of things I can do to change what I am doing I am really prepared to listen.  I have got to change but living in a very restrictive lockdown is difficult.  How did you all manage lockdowns?  I am not religious so pray isn't for me but I am open to meditations and alternative therapies, I rather like the idea of some new age types of things but I am skeptical of a lot of things, I can be quite complex at times.

Well, I hope you are still out there I need your support, encouragement and words of wisdom.

Stay safe. 

[Glenda]

I guess I don't even know what a "lock down" is But I mostly stay home along doing yard work or getting rid of junk in my house.  I don't think I would consider a long does very much of problem unless I couldn't go to the grocery store.  Do they stop you from doing that???   Horrible.

[MargaretG139]

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted here. More of an update to follow when I have more time / am not at work.

@Jan2512 You mentioned being open to meditation. I have the Calm app. I had the free version for a while but eventually purchased it. The free version gives you a small sampling of what's available on the paid version. I would suggest trying out the free version to ensure it's something that you would benefit from before putting out any money. I don't believe there is a time limit on how long you can use the free version.

The app has multiple components - meditations, sleep, music, masterclass, calm kids, calm body. I've used the meditations in the past and enjoyed them but have gotten out of the habit.... have to get back to that. I regularly listen to the sleep stories at night before falling asleep and occasionally play some of the music on my phone while I'm at work. The masterclass and calm body are newer features that I'm not as familiar with, but the calm body looks interesting - appears to be primarily stretching exercises. When I paid my one year subscription, I didn't realize that a lifetime option was available, I definitely would have invested in that. I believe @Katrin has mentioned using the app in the past as well.

[ElaineJ27]

@MargaretG139 , it’s great to hear from you. I’ve been wondering how you are. 

@Jan2512 , our governor has mandated masks be worn in all indoor places but not many are following. I wear mine in Walmart mostly because I know there are a lot of snotty kids running loose there. Since they have to wear masks in school, hopefully most of the back-to-school viruses can be avoided. 

We have not been in full lockdown in over a year and I don’t believe the general public in this area will stand for it. I don’t check numbers but I know we have significantly more COVID cases than you. Maybe your PM is correct and saving many people but I don’t think anyone has the right answers. I just don’t get close to people and hand wash/sanitize constantly. 

I am impressed by the amount of activity you have been doing. I have been very sedentary and thus have little to no energy, in addition to bad eating. It sounds to me like you have half the battle won!

As for motivation in healthier eating, my only success comes from planning and then remembering how bad I feel after eating sugar and empty carbs.