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!

[Jan2512]

Not very happy.  I did a massive workout - really felt like it, then my Charge 3 would not sync.  Dealing with Fitbit online was difficult.  They agreed to replace it but haven't sent me the necessary labels I need to send it back.  However, I have now got it restarted but I has not recorded anything today.  So, now do I send it back or chance that restart has worked (my warrantee runs out in January).  On top of this my emails are playing up again - I can see them but cannot open them.  And people wonder why I hate technology!

[Glenda]

@Jan2512   Poor dear!!  So sorry you are having such a time.  We all have days like that.  I agree too about technology.  Your Charge 3 is probably good to go but you are so smart (!!!) to be aware of the warrantee limit I think I would send it back anyway.  LOL

[CJ_Here]

I definitely would send back the fitbit, @Jan2512 .  I don't think you've had this one very long.  I wouldn't think you would have any issues yet.  Better safe than sorry.

Had a good eating day.  Cleaned up the kitchen while cooking Chicken Veggie Soup W/ Dumplings.  Yum.  I had 60% success on my 1st week of IF re-start.  I have not weighed myself all week; although, I almost did today.  I'm trying to not weigh for a month.  I feel good and I know this is not a quick weight-loss plan so I need to stay strong and not rely on the scale.  I was bummed at my scale weight (and overate (binged) for a few days after my first month on this plan did not show results) even though I knew I was eating way too much.  I need to focus on what is important.  Weight loss is so insignificant in this time of the pandemic and country unrest.

[ElaineJ27]

@Jan2512 , I would send it back before the warranty runs out. 

Yesterday afternoon, I made meatloaf and roasted potatoes for dinner and browned ground beef, cooked rice, and cut up vegetables for stuffed pepper soup today. I also have vegetables chopped for my egg muffins tomorrow. 

After church this morning, I got caught up on paperwork and read my book. I have my week planned. I only have kids on Tuesday, so hopefully I won’t relapse into depression. 

I have to check with my gym tomorrow morning before I go to find out what new restrictions we’re under. For Thanksgiving, Hubby and I are going to our local daughter’s for dinner, along with her in-laws. I’m having trouble getting motivated to do any Christmas shopping but I will buy gifts for our immediate family. I have a feeling that extended family gatherings will all be canceled. 

[ElaineJ27]

I made it to the gym this morning even though it was an hour later than I planned.  But I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and did my nautilus workout. New restrictions are that you have to wear a mask at all times. Weightlifting is possible but I had difficulty with the cardio wearing my mask. My home elliptical may be getting more use if it’s too cold to walk outside.  There was a man on a treadmill about 15 feet from me and he left about five minutes after I started so I basically had that portion of the facility to myself. 

I ordered a few Christmas gifts for my grandkids and a humorous “mother-in-law” T-shirt for my son-in-law so at least I’ve made a start. I plan to start decorating for Christmas on Friday. 

I’m chalking up (does anyone still say that) last week to experience of what not to do and starting over, again. I keep thinking about how well I felt a few weeks ago compared to how miserable I am now and wonder why that isn’t enough motivation. 

[CJ_Here]

Well I weighed in on Monday, with a weight gain and so I do my old usual of jumping off the wagon.

So, here it is Wednesday, and all I can do is work on making better choices today.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving no matter how small your group is.

[Jan2512]

I hope you all are having or will have a nice Thanksgiving (not sure of the time difference).  Apart from having a turkey dinner I don't really know much about Thanksgiving.  I know why it is a celebration, but don't know anything other than families getting together & eating turkey dinners.  For me when I hear Thanksgiving I think Christmas is on the way.

Recently I had a mammogram, a skin cancer check & a thorough eye check up including for glaucoma and I am pleased to say everything is fine.

I will be sending my Charge 3 back tomorrow - Fitbit sent my prepaid labels for posting but they wont print properly so I have to go to the post office & see if they can help me.  The Charge 3 started working then just stopped during the day and then started up again, so I don't know if my steps etc are accurate.  By the time Fitbit receives my Charge then sends me another one I think it will be very close to Christmas or even next year.

My State is waiting for the daily announcement tomorrow of hopefully (fingers crossed) 28 days of triple doughnuts - no new covid cases, no covid deaths and no active cases.  If we achieve that the borders with most of the other states will be open, and we can work towards a more covid normal.  We already as of last Monday only have to wear our masks when going to indoor venues, outside you do not need one if you are on your own or with members of your own household.  If you are with non household people you can avoid wearing a mask if you can social distance.  It does make a big difference as we are heading into summer although we feel like we are already in summer as it has been quite hot over the last few days and this weekend it is supposed to be getting hotter.  We have been doing a lot of covid tests, between 10.000 to over 20,000 tests are done each day so it's not like we are only doing three a day.   I hope you are all safe, when I look at the US and Britain I really feel so lucky that we went into such a hard lockdown for so long (about 16 weeks).

Even though I won't have a fitbit I will be checking in on the posts and posting when I can.

Elaine - people do still say chalking it up.  I know how you are feeling - I was doing well then I just get overwhelmed and the wheels just fall off.  I am looking forward to seeing the back of 2020.

CJ - That's all we can do, jump back on the wagon and hope it doesn't go over a cliff lol!

Catherine - I could also see your post.  Are you still travelling around or has covid stopped all that.

[Glenda]

@CJ_Here @ElaineJ27  Weight loss if you need it can be  significant in the pandemic..  It is a virus risk factor which may be killing some people and it can lead to other things that are detrimental to your life and happiness like diabetes.  On the other hand thin people get diabetes too and one study I read said mortality isn't any worse for obese people, which is unexpected and confusing.   Gyms seem to be a very risky place to go during the pandemic.  I would consider waiting for the vaccine which they expect every one can have by MAY, if you can believe that.  

                I have just discovered and fallen in love with microfiber sheets.  That is my Xmas present for my daughter  They are so soft & yet much less expensive than nice cotton sheets. I bought a Queen size set for $16 (for myself).    Walmart had a better selection than any department store around me so I bought  a $22  set and a $32.  King set, to see if it was better, for Crystal.  Feel some if you get a chance and see what you think.

[ElaineJ27]

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you had an enjoyable celebration even if it didn’t resemble your usual holiday. Instead of two large gatherings of 25-30 people, we had dinner with our local daughter and her in-laws. With only eight people, the kids got to eat at the “big” table!

 I ate more than I should have but certainly not not what I would have in years past. I took leftovers to my mother-in-law and my mom. I left my mom’s food at the entrance and called to have a staff member take it to her. Then I walked over and knocked on her window. She heard me and opened the blinds so I motioned for her to answer her phone and we talked for a bit. 

I have had serious sinus issues since Monday. I feel better today and can’t help but think the sunshine has something to do with it. It’s been dreary and windy for a long time. 

[CJ_Here]

Friday Fresh Start.  I think I'll have every day be a Fresh Start day as that is all we have.  Today I shoveled around the garage and house while Hubby did the snowblowing of our driveway.  It was just a few inches and the day was beautiful.  Day 1 of exercise 🙂

[MargaretG139]

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. Ours was very quiet, just hubby, DD2 and me. While I ate more than I needed to, I only had one helping. In hindsight I could have done a better of job with my portion control, but that's in the past and can't be changed. All I can do is learn from it and make better choices going forward. I'm trying not to think about what our family's Christmas celebration(s) will look like...

I didn't meet my goal of having two point days since the last time I posted. The weather finally cooperated and I ended up taking a 5 mile walk last Sunday which gave me 3 pts for that day, but all the other days were zeros. It didn't seem like I was walking that far/long as I was on the phone with my sister the whole time. While I end up walking longer / farther when I'm on the phone with her, the intensity is much lower as I obviously need to be able to carry on a conversation.

I've gradually been crawling out of my funk and finally feel like I'm ready for a restart. Good thing, as I'm up 8 lbs since the end of September. As of this morning the scale says 204 lbs.On my birthday (not a milestone) last month I decided my mantra for the next two years will be "60 by 60" I want to lose 60 lbs (not sure that the resulting weight won't be too low to maintain, but I won't know that until I get much closer) by the time I turn 60 - That's less than 3 pounds a month (even with the recent gain). I've also updated my "why" - There was always something about my original why: "to feel better, to look better, to be better" that I didn't like. I think it was the word "better" implying that there was something wrong with me. My second iteration, "to be an active, energetic grandmother to my future grandchildren" also didn't work - as my father so lovingly reminded me when I was pregnant with DD2, "if this child waits as long as you did to have children, you'll be 80 before you become a grandparent". There's no guarantee I'll ever be a grandparent at all and even if I do, with my girls being 17 and 22 I hope it's not for a while yet. So my new why is "to avoid needing to start taking and eliminate the need (or at least reduce the number and/or dosage) for the medications I am taking".

@Jan2512I know this is late, but I too agree that you're doing the right thing by returning your fitbit before the warrenty runs out.

@ElaineJ27I can't even imagine needing to become a homeschool teacher. I give you a ton of credit. I can only imagine how exhausted you must be at the end of the day. Remember to breathe both while in "teacher" mode as you transition out of that role.

@CJ_HereI like your idea of doing something. My "somethings" for today were to track my food, to explore the workouts on the WW app - I even did two of the "walking workouts" during my 45 minute walk this morning, and to clean the window beside our front door. My something for tomorrow will hopefully be getting up early and "practicing" the new worday routine to see if it's actually doable.

@Katrinso glad you were able to post here again.

Unless I manage to get another 1000 steps before I go to bed in a few hours, today will be a 4 point day. I'll take it. 

[CJ_Here]

Thank you for reminding me of my something, @MargaretG139 .  Good to hear from you.  It is difficult to get down to the authentic "why".  I don't think I ever did.

I just made a comment to my husband, "I don't feel like anything".  I seem to have lost my 'mojo'.  Maybe I need to accept that I don't have the gumption, the drive, the 'want-to'.  Maybe it's an age thing.  I read a FB post with pictures of winter decorating of a past co-worker in her 40's.  It was a beautiful day yesterday and she had gone in the woods and gathered nature to make planters and wreaths.  I barely got a walk in.  Where has my desire gone?  I don't feel depressed.  Or, am I depressed and don't know it?  Or, am I just plain lazy and all I have to do is accept it.?.  And, then what?  I still seem to blame it on Hubby. He watches tv all the time and so I sit with him...just waiting for him to leave so I can do something.  How stupid is that?  Yes, our house is small, but there is an upstairs and even so, if he gets bugged by my moving around him maybe he'll do something.  I just work best alone.  How did my co-workers stand me?  Everybody drives me nuts (he's doing it right now looking up something in the atlas and talking out loud while he's doing it).  I am a loner.  I need my alone time.  How do I get it?  I want to sit in this chair without the tv on; but, that is not going to happen.  I want to write, or read in silence.  I need alone time to 'be'.  Everything is "what are you doing?".  Ugh.  Guess I am still trying to figure out all this retirement together time.  It's been almost 1.5 years since retirement with 2 home moves.  I've had the last 2 months of down time and I haven't gotten into a rhythm; a reason; a happy place.  Shame on me.  When do I get that I only have today?  "Seize the day" and all that.  Seize what?; why?....  As I said in the beginning; I never got my 'why'.  Well, that's my rant for the day.  Now, CJ, do 'something'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ElaineJ27]

@CJ_Here , I totally understand what you’re saying! Even though you think you should have your retirement routine figured out, the two moves have kept you from settling in. I know that I am inherently lazy and sit in my recliner thinking of all the things I should do, as well as what I’d like to do, but then never get up and get started. 

I had planned to use Friday and this weekend to decorate for Christmas. I intend to go through all the Christmas stuff in my basement and either use it or get rid of it. On Friday, I watched the two Christmas Chronicles movies (Kurt Russell as Santa), then several episodes of “Lost”.  I’m halfway through the last season and just want to get done with it. Yesterday, I cleaned out desk drawers and rearranged paperwork so we can easily file the papers we need to keep. Hubby and I watched Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas together. 

After early church this morning, we grabbed fast food breakfast as all the restaurants are again shut down. The temperature is mild with no wind so we put up outside decorations. Now I’m going to plan my week and make a grocery list. Flying by the seat of my pants hasn’t worked well at all. 

My “why” is that I want to get back to how well I felt a few weeks ago when I made exercise and healthy eating a priority. My first step needs to be a regular bedtime and get up on time. 

So, let’s stop beating ourselves up and start enjoying life!

[Cele21]

USW - 218.0

LW - 191.4

CW - 190.8

Glad everyone had a decent Thanksgiving. I now have enough food to feed a small army. Leftover pork tenderloin from Wednesday, leftovers from an 18 pound turkey for three of us and leftover pork carnitas with rice and beans and potato salad brought over by our neighbor. It was just hubby, son and myself but I made the turkey that had been in our freezer for a couple years (thus an 18 pound bird for three people). Daughter called for a video chat as we sat down to eat and then made a very short visit on Friday. She had a couple items that need alteration so my sister stopped by too. We all stayed masked and socially distant and the visit was only about an hour and a half.

@MargaretG139  - I have found that finding a 'why' is very difficult. It takes a very, very deep soul search and much self honesty. It also is very fluid as life changes. My current why was in three parts and they all came together in one day. I turn 60 in December, my knee was killing me and I was tired of being overweight for sooooo long. So my current why is to weigh less at 60, to weigh less before knee surgery and help it feel better in the meantime and to show myself that I CAN do it. After I turn 60 or after knee replacement, who knows what my 'why' will be or how long it will take me to find a new one?

My weight had gone up over the past few weeks but I think I have it back under control and will dive back in starting tomorrow with calorie counting. Hubby and I also had a discussion of exercise that I can do without a gym and that won't irritate my knee. He has really come a long way and is embracing the idea of cheerleader instead of nag.

Take care and stay well!

[CJ_Here]

Late afternoon update.  I guess I needed a rant.  Hubby does not have the patience or understanding of me trying to explain myself.  After I got off the computer, we went for our daily walk about the property (day 2 of our new plan of daily walks).  He almost talked himself (I was going regardless) because it was quite windy.  I told him you just dress for it and off we went.  We only ended up getting around 1300 steps which was a bit of a downer, but I need to remember walking around fields and woods is a lot different than walking on a sidewalk.  Also, it is getting me outside for fresh air and mind-clearing.  I then ended up putting away the fall decor.  He did ask what I was doing, but I replied with 'just in my own little world doing something' and he backed off.  I also worked with him to get an ad on Marketplace to sell seasoned firewood.  We were left here with a full wood shed that we'll never use.  We plan to load, deliver and unload which will get us outside and give us exercise; plus, generate some free cash from the purchase price of this place.

I appreciate your posts which allows me to back off of myself and see in a new light.  

[MargaretG139]

Saturday ended up being 4 points.

I had intended to take a nice long walk today in the beautiful sunshine with temps in the 50's, since I won't be getting outside during tomorrow's downpours. That didn't happen. I did clean my big bay window so it will be ready to put up the Christmas lights. That will be next weekend's project.

Although retirement for me is still many years away, being home since March and struggling to figure out a productive routine despite working full time, I'm already starting to get anxious about retiring. Right now I'm enjoying the opportunity to spend so much time with my daughter - Although her school switched from hybrid where she was physically in school 2 days a week, to full live the week before last, she spent the week of Thanksgiving going to school virtually since there were staffing shortages at the high school. School is closed tomorrow, and then she'll be virtual until the middle of next week as she doesn't have any Keystone exams. Whether she physically goes into the building or has school virtually, she's done by noon as she elected to have senior release. Given the current situation, she seems to think she won't be going back to full live before Christmas. I'm just taking a wait and see approach.

Did I mention she now has her driver's licence? Since our oldest still doesn't have hers, it's a brand to new experience having another driver in the family. It's been nice not having to drive her to school or work or to her friend's houses.

I finally decided to pay for the Calm app as I got a 50% off offer. it'll be nice to have some new sleep stories to listen to. I also want to figure out what meditation series I want to do first.

I can relate to the challenges @Katrin must have been having posting here as both yesterday and today, I too had some difficulty posting.

Remember tomorrow is a new day.

[CJ_Here]

HW - 280

10/12 start of IF - 244

11/9 LW - 242.7

CW - 245.7

Ugh.  So much for not weighing myself for a month.  Maybe it's a good thing.  I fell off the wagon last week due to a gain.  I was disgusted this morning, but I'm not doing this binging crap.  Struggling if I'll stick with IF, but there isn't anything else that I'm inclined to follow at this point.  I ate past full, but not a binge and I closed my window a couple of hours ago.  We have our first firewood order to fulfil tomorrow so that will help the morning go by fast.  So, just acknowledging that I've put on 25 lbs in the past seven months.  Maybe if I had put in any effort I could have lost that amount of weight.  That's less than four pounds per month.  I was always disappointed when I only lost a .8 or .2 a week when WW was in person.  People would congratulate the weight loss and I felt that they weren't real sincere; how could they be?  That's nothing....  Well, now I get it.  Had I lost 0.2 over 30 weeks, I would have been down 6 lbs so 31 lbs lighter than I am now.  Isn't hindsight grand!  So, here we are today.  I need to forget where I was and accept where I am.  I will focus on healthy eating; period!

Too many great shares lately to name / recall individually.  I just have to say that I'm cheering for all of you.  Onward and upward!

[MargaretG139]

1st day back to work... I really should have logged in yesterday, even if just for an hour or two before the rest of my family got up. It's well past lunch time and I'm just now starting the first thing on my to do list (after getting caught up on everything I missed while out). 

Sunday = 3 pts (posting, tracking, water)

Monday = 1 pt (tracking)

I've found new motivation to track - Back in the spring I discovered that I could use the WW "wins" I earned to "buy" (actually donate) food. Well, with everything else that was going on, I didn't manage to stick to it very long. Now that WW has updated their app and is awarding "wins" for tracking sleep and awarding bonus wins for streaks when tracking breakfast, I can accumulate the "wins" I need much faster to make another food donation. 

While I still have a long way to go to be happy with my eating habits, I find that by tracking what I eat, I have a tendency to 1) make healthier choices; 2) limit the binges to a reasonable portion rather than the whole bag of cookies or chips and container of dip. Since hubby does the grocery shopping and cooking I don't have complete control over what we have for dinner BUT, I can continue to request healthy meals, and control the size of the portions of the unhealthy items he makes. I figure eventually he's going to get sick of my asking "and what vegetables are we having with that?". I just don't understand why with his family's health issue history, he doesn't care more about what he puts in his body / his health. 

@CJ_Here I completely get what you are saying  - I can move the number on the scale 0.2 lbs just by exhaling. Over time, all the little losses really do add up especially when, like you said, you consider all the weight you don't gain instead.  The only thing the past is good for is as a learning tool - look at what worked and repeat that and don't bother with what didn't work because we can't change the past, BUT we can have an impact on our futures through all the little choices we make each new day.  

OMG - I can't believe how frustrating it is to post. Is it just me?

[CJ_Here]

I'm not (knock on wood) having any trouble posting at all.  Hope this doesn't become a real deterrent for people.

Oh, I remember coming back to work and wondering why I ever took time off.  I give you credit for what you do, @MargaretG139 .  I wish I would have checked out this page earlier as I ended up eating three times the sweets I needed.  Hubby went into the coffee shop and came out with a box of treats.  Although, he did not force it down my gullet.  So, now that is in the past and I'm starting anew.  Sometimes it's every minute!

We are officially in the firewood delivery service.  Delivered our first load and then the guy requested another which we did immediately.  The morning started at 6 degrees, but was up to 30 by the time we were done.  It's supposed to be beautiful out all week.  Love the blue skies in winter 🙂

[ElaineJ27]

I was about to mention that I don’t have problems posting until an “unexpected error” occurred and wiped out the post I had just typed. 

@MargaretG139 , I also remember the return to work nightmare that canceled almost all benefits of time off. 

@CJ_Here , you inspired me to get outside and walk because you go out in the tundra, so I should suck it up and enjoy our milder weather. Today’s temperatures are in the low 40s but the sun is shining and there is no wind. The sun did make me wash the handprints off my patio door!

This morning I brought ALL of the Christmas decor from the basement. For the past several years, we’ve only used a portion of what we have but this year, if we don’t use it, it’s leaving the house.