Thanksgiving to Christmas 2016

[dancefoxtrot]

Our Challenge this time has 31 days so we can set realistic goals for 4 weeks of weight loss or maintenance. Come and share your stories, successes, struggles and what you are learning on your journey to a healthier life.

OSW= 153 Feb 2015

CSW= 149.3 Today

GW =  145 12/25

UGW= 135 and maintain it

OSW= Original starting weight when began with Fitbit

CSW= Current starting weight

GW= Goal weight for this challenge ending on 12/25

UGW=Ultimate goal weight.

Okay we going together toward healthier bodies and minds. Sadly holidays have been commercialized to focus on consumption including lots of sugar, empty carbs and calories.  We can make much healthier choices since we are not mindless puppets of the greedy manufacturers. 

Let's give ourselves and others the gift of healthier food and attitudes.

All the very best on this Thanksgiving Day.

Anyone want to share a few things that they are thankful for to inspire us?

I'm thankful for my home to keep me sheltered from the storms.

I'm grateful for my work teaching exercise and health to older adults and it

helps me, too.

I'm grateful for still being able to dance.

I'm thankful for my son and his kids just 1 hour away.

I'm grateful for my sister and brother across the country that I can call.

I'm grateful for my garden with some organic veggies and fruit.

I'm thankful for the good nutrition that my late momma taught me to eat.

I'm thankful for my Fitbit friends that are so kind and supportive.

We are doing this one day at a time and we can reach our healthy goals!

Hugs to all our fierce challengers,

Barbara G

[FluterDog]

I have redefined the definition of a "goody." I had been hooked on sugar all my life; 6 months and 25 pounds lost later, sugar and I have split up. Now the good stuff is organic oranges, or how about a cup of organic raspberries? Splurged on some smoked wild salmon from Maine--100 calories and 13 grams of protein. If I need an indulgence, a squirt of whipped cream on a spoon, but really, a dab on coffee is enough. A couple of times I went ahead and ate too many cookies or soda and I felt so sick afterward, my body just won't let me be dumb anymore. I'm working on my last 10 pounds now. 

New York, F, 58, FitBit One and Alta and Aria

[dancefoxtrot]

@FluterDog

Love stories like yours. Our bodies relearn to like healthy eating. 

Congrats on your loss.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@

@HeartBiller

Me too. Procrastinating Christmas shopping. Hate the pressure of commercialized aspect. Love the lights tho..

Stay strong,

Barbara

[A_Lurker]

Just a quick check in today just to say hi.  I've just become super busy, but the bulk of that will be done by Monday.  Then I'll just be back to medium busy. 

I've been busy with the Christmas baking (I take a lot of stuff into the plant for all three shifts) and I had committed to doing 20,000 steps a day for December.  If nothing else it should keep me steady to make up for more social eating.  The weather has become cold and snowy this week.  I went back to the plant at ~8pm to get my phone and I had to switch routes because I couldn't see the road on the route I usually take.  I'm only 5 mins away but my usual route takes me to the edge of town and there are open fields on both sides.  I was amazed at how poor the visibility was.  Today I was off at 2:30 and made a point to shovel out to the hot tub.  By the time I was done I decided to get into it for a bit.  Next time I'm going to put my swimsuit on under my clothing so I can get in faster once I'm done.

I'm also making a point to have a shower in the evenings.  Mainly because in the mornings my slightly damp (okay fairly damp) hair is freezing into clumps while I'm shoveling the front step in the mornings.  I have a guy who comes and does my driveway, but I clear the steps before heading out to work.

Hope everyone is doing well, I see @HeartBiller got to 40 pounds down - congrats!  Next week I'm hoping to be a little more present.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Yes, I've heard about the legendary food. Will have to walk, dance or work out after each meal. I'm covering my skin with sun screen for sure.

The dermatologist called to say I have a nodule of basal cell ca on my nose. It will be frozen off in Jan. using Mohs technique. Lovely... but it is contained and the procedure is 97 to 99% effective for getting it all. It is noninvasive so I'm lucky.  Read about it and I hope it gets done soon. 

She emphasized that they will do it a way that won't be too ugly when it heals. Glad that I noticed it and asked to see a dermatologist. 

Best to all,

Barbara G

[A_Lurker]

@dancefoxtrot- years ago I came back from a cruise lighter than I left.  I did the same the year I went to Alasks as well.  There are lots of great options and the portions are not usually huge.  This is mainly because you can eat up to four courses at most meals.  However, you can have some wonderful 2-course meals as well.  Also, lots and lots of active excursions are good.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc  

Yes it looks like the Russians helped elect an macho maniac for Pres.. Why can't it be over turned and re do the election? Just heard that in Detroit and Flint they have found 75,000 uncounted votes which would have caused Hillary to win that state.  Not the Russians just partisans cheating to win. The Trump lawyers are winning in court to block the recount. Thieves and cheaters.  I feel scared. Why can't we over turn this insanity? Bush was warned about 911 5 weeks before it happened but ignored the intell.  Trump won't even bother to read or listen to the security briefings but he has time for victory rallies this week. Disgusting narcissism. 

I wrote to Pres. Obama and Nancy Pelosi on Facebook tonight. I posted it on my page. Come see if you want to please. I try to share news with others to not feel overwhelmed and hopeless in the face of this nightmare. 

I'm making steamed veggies right now since the news is on again. I can drink more water too. So that is the plan.  I like your angry walking strategy also and will try that as well. 

Best,

Barbara Goodridge

Sebastopol, CA

[dancefoxtrot]

@A_Lurker

What an image of shovelling a path thru the snow to climb in the hot tub. Brrrrr. You are  brave. 

I think it is cold when it is in 40-50s F but you have a real winter where you live.

Barb G

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  I am glad you are getting the MOH's.  That is what I had on my foot for the melanoma.  It basically means they rush the biopsy and make sure they've gotten everything before you leave the office.  A friend just had it for basal near her nose too.  It did look awful at first, but it healed perfectly.  You are very smart for seeing the doc right away with suspicions.  And yes, we all need to be wearing sunblock.  

[_Lilac_]

Winter....we have a cold weather warning for tomorrow morning. It will be -20C (-4F) and then drop to -35C (-31F) later in the day. *big sigh*  The upside is that I saw the city workers preparing the outdoor ice surface at the local city park yesterday. They need to get that place flooded before this nice deep cold hits. 

I dropped a pound this week, not as much as I expected. My loss has slowed so much I'd think it is a snail now. Not sure what's happening. *insert whining and complaining*. I get good activity in (sustained heartrate, getting good sweats on for lengthy times), and my eating is good. UGH. 

Off to the pool for water aerobics this morning. *grumble grumble*

[_Lilac_]

@dancefoxtrot  The mother of a friend of mine had a 'dry patch' of skin on her cheek one time. She'd put cream, vaseline, etc and nothing would work. I looked at it and did comparisons online and told her to go to the doctor right away. It was some kind of skin cancer. They removed it and it never came back. It was extremely slow growing they told her and probably sun damage related. She always gardened and spent a tremendous time outside all her life. I hope all goes well with you and I'm positive you'll be happy with the results of the removal. That crap needs to get off you!

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  Your body is probably just trying to adjust.  You have been pushing so fast, it just needs to "catch its breath" and catch up to you.  At least, that's my guess.  

How on earth do you prepare roads for that weather?  And flood it with what?

It's 23F here, and even though I like the cold, that is ...cold.

A friend of mine used to live in Wolfville many many years ago and misses it terribly.  Don't know if that is anywhere near you but he said it never got quite that cold in his memory.  Gulf stream and all..

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc Roads are salted here ahead of snowstorms and icy conditions. Our city has a massive fleet of plows that keep the roads in drivable conditions. Some places use dirt after the snow falls because it will get too cold for the salt to melt the snow/ice. When they are making skating rinks in the park, they build a border then flood the area with water. It freezes. Then they keep it clear of any snowfall so people can skate.

Wolfville is in Nova Scotia. It is somewhat close, across the Bay of Fundy. For some reason the air currents and weather changes at the Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia gets milder rainier weather, whereas New Brunswick gets colder and snowier. When you look at the radar maps as a storm comes through, the line of where the snow and rain meet usually follows straight up the Bay. 

Well, I went to the pool and our water aerobics instructor had traded her shift with someone else and then that person traded with another person...and no one showed up. Some people left but most stayed and floated around or did their own activities. I worked really hard for 50 min. I did a better workout than I usually get with an instructor, based on my heart rate and the number of in-water jogging steps I got. I had a good breakfast and now I am going to fold my laundry and consider if I'm walking part way to my movie tonight to finish off my 10k steps. It's still snowing a bit so the roads aren't the best for walking. I might do the treadmill instead. 

[HeartBiller]

You all are such an inspiration... I am not gonna lie, I have to really work hard to get my 10,000 steps in... and @A_Lurker doing 20,000.. You are a machine. I guess where I work a desk job, it is so hard to always be able to get up and move. I do aim for at the very least getting my 250 steps per hour while at work, but it doesn't always happen. I was in a meeting this morning and missed one of them. It always crushes me when I miss one.. but it is very hard for me to get them all every day.

@_Lilac_I can't imagine walking in the cold like you do.. I am such a baby,,lol. I HATE cold weather. I would not survive where you are...lol. When it gets below 70, I freeze to death..lol. I need to live in an even warmer climate then I do, but don't see that happening in my future...lol.

@dancefoxtrotGoing dancing... I guess I am realizing just how lazy I am..lol. Not only lazy, but boring..lol. I work, go to church and am raising a grandson, and I feel like I can't find a minute to breath by myself.

You all are an inspiration to me and each day I will push myself more to add in more activity in my life.

[debb21]

@Lilac I just read in Health magazine that when we lose weight our brain tries to tell us we are hungry so that we eat more and get back to our original weight.  Isn't that "great"? YUCK!

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot Hi. Thanks for sharing your facebook page.  Those letters are great.  You have so much on your page that is important/scary/horrifying, etc.  Frankly, I'm glad you are taking a cruise to have a break from this.  We all need that just to keep our energy going and our minds as calm and focused as possible.  Are you going to the Women's March? 

You haven't mentioned dancing for awhile.  How is that going?

[dancefoxtrot]

Thanks for the feedback about the cancer spot. I guess that I can keep it covered when I go out while it is looking ugly after the doc digs it out. I'm calling the doctor right now to try to schedule the surgery soon. They are waiting for approval from my Medicare plan. 

I walked for 41 minutes before I realized that I didn't have my Fitbit on! So I walked some more and did the math to find that I have 2563 more steps to add in manually from walking for 41 minutes. Clearly a very slow mile but hey I got up and walked. More steps to take today and only some steamed veggies to eat as I'm serious about losing a couple more lbs.. 

Best to you all and stay safe in the icy weather,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi @debb21

So we know now to listen to the part of our brain that remembers our goals not the hormonally driven hunger center. 

We can eat piles of veggies, non starchy ones, to help us feel full.  We can drink lots of water too.

Good to remember not to listen to hunger alone.

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Where and when is the women's march? I guess I get to google it. Maybe if it is in Santa Rosa about 30 minutes away I will go. 

My coach is sick this week so not lessons. 

You are right about calm and focused minds.  I'm wrought up due to these cabinet picks but more about the blocking of the recount after they found 75.000 uncountedballots in Detroit. Why can we not discover the real outcome of the election. How dare the court block it.

Yes you are right I need to be calm since cortisol makes weight loss harder. 

My sister Carol actually lost a couple lbs and is 186 as of today.  She even seemed a little interest in the Fitbit watch so I'm elated. She cut down on bread and lost weight so there is an idea. 

Take good care of yourself,

Barbara G

Hope that you had 

[A_Lurker]

@dancefoxtrot- I didn't clean up tonight (it was pretty windy) but all of this was clear yesterday.  I took this picture for you.