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

[Glenda]

                                     Lilac,  I don't know how old you are and you may already know that 1/3 of people over 65 fall down every year.   That sounds sort of clumsy and unfit right?  But 1/2 of younger people fall down every year!!!   Probably they are less careful.   Older people do worry more about breaking something & it does happen.  sometimes.  My husband fell on skates when he was about 45 and broke his arm.  He played golf a couple times before he found out his arm was broken too. Take care.  Glenda

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda  I'm 47 and I have rarely fallen in my adult life. I'm much too cautious. But I worry about breaking something because of my weight. I'm 327.8 lbs (as of this morning...down from 355 when I started here). I also don't have great balance and often have dizzy spells from meds I take. Ice skating is probably not the safest of ideas but it's a goal. If I can't do it, then I can't do it, but at least I'm working toward it and I will try. One of my high school teachers is in his 70's and goes ice skating several days per week. I must find activities that will keep me moving and promote an active lifestyle for the rest of my days. 

Off to bed! I have water aerobics in the morning!

[Glenda]

                                     Wow!  Taking medicine that makes you dizzy is a difficult situation at any age.  Maybe before you try to go ice skating you could try my little balance exercise.  I'm embarassed that I can't do it perfectly it is such an insignificant thing to try to do.  I have a tile floor in my kitchen and an island cabinet so I try to walk a tile grout line around the rectangular space without falling off, like a tight rope walker.  I can't do it perfectly all the way around.  I was trying to stand on one foot at a time , each day,   for a minute but have gotten out of the habit recently due to various distractions.   Evidently everyone is better at this when not tired, so morning is a better time to try this and look straight ahead at something.  I was better with shoes on than barefoot.  Most people are better on one foot than the other ,I read so you can check if that is true of you, if you try any of this.  I admire your effort and persistence to stay active.  Good for you!!!

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda  I find that when I'm out walking it will often feel like the ground is coming up to greet a foot, like I'm walking on waves or something. And if I look down to the ground immediately in front of me it is much worse. My head spins. So I always have to look up and further away to keep my balance. My medications are to control epilepsy. No getting around it, really. 

Everyone:

It is snowing again! We have another weather warning. My daughter is a couple hours to the northwest of me and she says they are being pounded. It is snowing here now and expected to turn to rain.

Guess I'll forego the pool again...( @A_Lurker This is when I could use an in-house machine) I'll do as much as I can around my house today and remember to wear my fitbit this time! Yesterday, I did my marching and walking in my livingroom for over 6000 steps and then there was the housework I'd done without my fitbit on me, so I probably got closer to a total of 8000. I suppose I could always take a bus over to the mall to walk a few laps. And get some groceries at the same time. I can't believe I'm out of yogurt! Nah, I just looked outside. I don't even wanna go to the bus stop.

If you'd like a good viewing, do a google search for 'train going through snow in new brunswick' and 'Moncton mega banks'. These videos are fun. 

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot Thank you so much for your kind words, focusing energy and hugs.  Just what I needed.

I love your idea of talking on the phone with your sister while you deal with paper work.  I hate paperwork too.  Whenever a friend says they have a lot of paper  work to do, I invite them over and we sit at a large table and put on nice music and work away.  Some things are so much better with someone by your side.

[Glenda]

Lilac, My step-mother has epilepsy and is 93 & 3/4 years old. That just seems like it should be an encouraging cheerful thought for you. I wonder if there is a different medicine you could take.... Surely there is more than one I hope. Glenda

[Bobbinyc]

The last few days I've been spending a lot of time sitting- either in waiting rooms or in conferences.  Lots of time to think about this darn weight not moving.  I've also been thinking about the others in this group struggling. 

My food is good so I've been thinking about activity levels.

One thing I decided is that activity should be fun, if at all possible.  Doing 10,000 steps is great, but steps in a museum is very different than steps that include fast walking for 30 minutes.  I don't think I've been doing enough cardio.

Besides cardio, we also need balance, flexibility, strength, endurance, agility.  Let me know what I left out.  

If you ever watch kids play, they get it all, all the time.  They naturally run, skip, jump, climb, make up active games and use toys like balls or playgrounds..whatever they have.

So..I made up a list of 6 things I would find fun to do, even if for 10 minutes.  I included belly dancing, which I used to do even though I don't think I can find my stomach muscles again.  (no one will see me looking like a fool so who cares). I also included using a hoola hoop (do they still make them?) and balance beams at a local playground.  Maybe I'll get a soccer ball, or basketball.  

I would love some more fun ideas.

Then I watched this tv show called "Growing Bolder" (not older) and saw a segment "neverleave the playground" on a man in his 70s who created games for himself for balance and agility.  It was fascinating.  He has managed to become stronger, more agile, more flexible, etc.  All of it is good for the brain.  I think it is worth seeing his youtube.  I found it inspiring.  And fun.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh0PlR27qJ0

[HeartBiller]

Well today I was down 2 of my 3.6 pounds I gained over the Thanksgiving Day Break.. (I was off 6 days) So For the past 4 days I have been guzzling water in hopes of losing some water weight or any weight...lol. So I guess I will be happy with the 2 pounds and I will continue to guzzle the water and hope for some more loss by Tuesday (my official weigh day).

I got through the end of month at work, and lived, So now its on to the new month of the Christmas season. I love the lights, and decorations of Christmas. Nothing beats the REASON for the Season. Our Precious Saviour's Birth! So I am looking forward to seeing more and more of the decorations popping up. We put a tree up in the office I am at today, and will put one up again tomorrow in the office I am at tomorrow..lol. I put my tree up at home... But it is not decorated yet, so I don't know if that counts..lol. I hope to finish it this weekend.

I hope everyone is having a blessed and happy day!

[Glenda]

Lilac,  Fitbit is in many countries and I mentioned Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) that may not be in all those places.  The article about it was probaby  in Prevention Magazine.  Maybe you coud google. If TOPS  is in your area it is free to visit and if you don't think you would fit in with one group you might find another group near by that you would enjoy more.  

I Yahooed epilepsy side effects and it said if you have one, like feeling dizzy you should be sure to tell your doctor.  It could get better after a while, if the drug is new to you, or the doctor might have you take less or not all at once, or a different time of day, or change the medicine .  It is important for you to tell him you often feel dizzy to avoid injury from falling.  A mistake my step-mother made years ago was getting a prescription from a doctor for something, and not telling him  she had epilepsy, and he gave her something  the drug book said "Do not take if you have epilepsy".  I guess she didn't feel it was necessary for him to know that, and people in her generation (age 93) had a different view of things.  Today they usually have you fill out a questionair that woud have asked her that?  

    Anyway hope that gets better for you.

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda It's my neurologist who prescribes the epilepsy meds. I've been on all of them but only one seems to help. I've been on combinations, etc. Every time I'm in to visit I tell him I'm dizzy, give him an extensive list of my seizures and any side effects. It says on every label of every epilepsy med that it can make you dizzy. (many of them also have the side effect of 'moderate weight gain' ugh). I am now being refered to an ear, nose and throat doc by my family doctor to make sure there isn't something else. Yesterday, I had a severe pain in my left temporal lobe (where the seizures are) and at the very same moment my left eye went wonky and my vision swam. So, I think it's just brain related. 

Today I am back to the pool after having taken the last few storm days off. I NEED the exercise. I'm feeling crappy and swollen and that sedentary monster is telling me to just stay home. I CAN'T. 

Everyone get moving today!

[Gayle1018]

finally decided to face the music and weigh in yesterday - up 2.5 over Thanksgiving 

So, trying to stay motivated and do christmas baking --argh!  Still shooting for my goal for Christmas challenge, just have more to go now.

[nmroadrunner]

Hi Everyone!

We're getting cold here in NM and there is some talk of snow by tomorrow but we'll see. In spite of the cold and wind, Hubby and I have to go out as he has an eye appointment to check on the transplanted cornea. His vision is much improved as is his disposition (hee hee). 

After the weight gain for Thanksgiving, I got down and serious and it seems to be working.

USW   199

CSW    174

CW      170.6

GW    <170

UGW <150

Keep on stepping!

[_Lilac_]

Phew! Did I ever need that movement I did today! I had my water aerobics class then Mom offered to take me to do groceries. We did three laps of our speedy trek around the mall (4200 steps) before shopping. I'm currently at 12k but I really really want a nap! I think I'll take one. 

For tomorrow I plan to walk down to the library to attend the writers group meeting. The dogs need a good long walk too after being stuck in the house with the storms. Our sidewalks aren't clear though, so it might not be the safest to take them out in the neighbourhood.

Alright, everyone have a great active day. Find something fun to do. Have a laugh. Eat green!

[hannahbebrave]

@Bobbinyc What a great post!  Thanks so much for those ideas about finding fun ways to be active.  

I watched that youtube on Stephen Jepson.  What a kick!  He is so free with his ideas.  I just love all the ways he plays and uses his body.  He must be so strong and injury-proof.  Those things you list, like balance and agility and endurance.  He has it all.  I'm going to figure out how to try some of those things.  That is just so fun.  You are right, getting healthy should not be a chore but fun and something to look forward to.  I think I'll splurge on a toy for myself too.

Thanks.

[A_Lurker]

@Bobbinyc- I think you've hit on some of the issues with doing X number of steps each day.  I am more than 6000 steps short of where I ended up yesterday, yet my estimate of calories burned will be only 100 calories less (this assumes I do nothing for the next 5 hours).  I look at my activity over the past two days and there's a huge difference in my pattern.

Yesterday I was a little active at the start of the day, spent 45 mins working out before going out for dinner.  I came back with plenty of steps/calories to make up.

Today, I started work at 6 and was pretty active.  I found an issue that I spent some time working out.  This involved many back and forth trips through the plant, hauling around a couple of heavy items.  I got a little smarter in the afternoon and borrowed a cart.  After I came home I did a little time on the rower, made dinner, etc.  The scales between the days are different, but a more constant activity level over the day gives me a much higher calorie burn than periods of being sedentary with periods of exercise.

My mother in her younger days used to be (what I call) the queen of NEAT.  NEAT is an acronym for "non-exercise activity thermogenesis".  I've seen a number of articles describing it, but looking at how she did things shows that a woman who ranged between 110 and 120 could eat lots of food, and had her secret candy/chocolate habit and didn't gain weight.  If I have things to go upstairs I'll collect them on the bar and do it the next time I go upstairs.  My mother would do that trip multiple times, when she thought of it.  I would collect my gardening tools and take them to where I was working, and accomplish the task I wanted to do.  She would take a few tools and head off to do a task.  When passing something else she would go back and get the string and scissors to tie something up.  While doing that she would notice something else that needed doing, so she would go back and get new tools and do that.  She probably did way more movement (and I'll point out that her original planned task might not actually get done).

The catch is that we can try to make ourselves generally more active, but sometimes it is hard to overcome our nature.  Today when I was naturally more active I could get away with not doing anything else today.  I've already hit my minimum calories burned by 7pm tonight.  I'll probably do more, but that's just because I'm chasing that elusive 20K/day at the moment.

[DJC_63]

@Glenda  I love your list! I'm going to save it for those days when I feel like I don't have much.

[Glenda]

Thank you. It helps me a lot. Especially the first one, but being glad to pay taxes is good too. And you can't appreciate recorded music sufficiently unless it was taken away. I saw a video of musicians playing their instruments beside a cattle farm fence. All the cows came close to listen. Life wouldn't be as good with only little music boxes and a few people here and there with a violin. Would it?!! My brother who just got home from a rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. I certainly don't have any right to feel sad or less than happy about anything, for sure. I'm not a patient at the moment.!!!

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda  I am so sorry about your brother. Crap news like that certainly makes us aware of the situation we face as humans. We are temporary and fragile. We might as well make the best of what we have so we can be happy and healthy. I re-started this journey after a year and a half of taking care of my husband who'd been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He passed in June. In that time I'd become so sedentary I could barely make it around my block to walk the dog. All I'd done for so long was sit and watch tv with him. But I had decided I now had to take care of myself. I didn't want to end up 400lb+ and someone having to care for me if I got sick. I found my fitbit in a box, I logged in, I took the dogs around the block and then I went further. I went to the pool to avoid gravity. My life has really changed. Now I can go and go. I'm so impressed and happy and proud that I got out of the chair and dedicated myself to ME. There are so many things to be thankful for. 

Music. I wish I could play an instrument. I'm the creative, artistic sort of person but I've never been able to 'get' music. A few months ago I'd decided I'd find an easy instrument to begin to learn. I ordered a recorder...one of those beginner whistle things from elementary school. It is still sitting in its plastic sleeve, unused. I just don't know where to start, ya know? There are videos online, there are beginner tutorials about reading music, etc. But I still just don't know where to start! How do people just pick up a guitar and learn? I have no dexterity in my fingers (though I'm a quick and accurate typist). I'm at a loss. 

Ok, I need to figure out what I'm doing today to get my butt out of the chair. Wish me 10k lucky steps!!

[Glenda]

                                   Losing a spouse is so devastating.  I still miss my husband so much after 9 years!  Good for you for not gaining a lot and now working to get healthier!!!   I  do admire all of you "towers of will power"  who even go outside to get exercise.  Having a dog does make a difference I'm sure.  We all do crazy things for animals.  I have 5 shelters outside for a stray cat for heavens sakes.  Nuts right?    I have a library  a mile from my house and I'll bet even though it is raining all day today a lot of you would walk there to get the 2 books suggested by my group or get them on Amazon.  Body in motion  by Sarah Keys and 4 hour body by Tim Ferriss was the other.  One fixes any physical problem and the other promises quick huge weight loss and a great sex life.  ho ho ho    You can download the first 50 pages of the latter book at TheFourHourBody.com and my group thinks it is better to buy the paper version of "reference" type books.  I think I'll check them out at the library first though because I'm trying so hard to have less stuff of all kinds including books.

[A_Lurker]

I drive to do my errands.  I make up for it the rest of the day though.  We're getting to the time of year where I don't even remotely want to be outside.