This has been a bridge week for me. I haven't had big losses but I have made some changes that I think will work well for me.

I am down 1.6lb. I don't usually use decimal places but 1.6 sounds better than 1! I am not concerned-- it's still progress and I have had plenty of weeks where I have lost none even gained when sticking to plan.

I have abandoned tracking meals/calories. I was becoming too focused on food and eating and it didn't feel healthy. It's only been a few days but I can already tell this was a positive change. When I was counting calories, i was eating when I wasn't hungry because I had planned my meals. I still stick to healthy foods but now I am only eating when I am actually hungry. I am also doing really well with my water/tea consumption.

This is going to be a very busy work week-- and I am determined to use that to my advantage rather than giving in to the stress. I am planning some easy, healthy meal options for the week and I have 2 jugs of tea started. To help on the activity/mental health side, I am going to start a morning yoga/pilates routine to start my day off right-- and start strengthening my core.

I am feeling motivated and ready for the next week!

No loses for me last week. Definitely need to increase water and exercise to get the scales moving.

Funky, always use decimals! Everything means something if it's a loss.

I'm stuck in an up 2 over the weekend, down 2 during the week pattern. I need to be careful because I am now off for the summer and more time leads to more mindless eating for me. I am trying to structure my days so that I am pretty busy in the mornings with errands, appointments, exercise. There is a new Pilates teacher at the studio where I take classes and she is fantastic! I am trying to go to 4 classes per week (up from 1-2 during school year). Hopefully that will help! I will be busy and I won't want to undo my efforts after class.

Ate out twice over the weekend, neither time following my own MO. I think I did pretty well but "pretty well" at a restaurant = gorging at home IME.

I am down 1.6lb. I don't usually use decimal places but 1.6 sounds better than 1!

Funky, if you aren't using decimals is its 2lb. Just sayin'

LOL.. I just like seeing the big numbers change.

I wish I could better SEE my losses. I am seeing a big difference in how clothes fit but I swear my face looks fatter!

OK. I have an unexpected success today-- even though I have only lost 5.6lb since I returned the EF linen pants in my last trunk club box, they resent them in my latest trunk and they actually FIT! I wasn't even going to try them. So glad I did! Who knows, maybe they were cut slightly differently but I don't care! I am going to take it as a win!

So now I have 3 pairs of linen pants that fit (black, flax and green).. and a pair of white jeans. I still don't have blue jeans that fit well but it's been a grueling goldilocks search -- so I think I am just going to tighten my belt and wait.

I'm halfway to my goal. I worked Fri and Sat and walked about six miles each night. At work, they have giant tupperware boxes filled with snacks. Everything from candy to chips, to granola bars, to cookies. This week they began adding fresh fruit. I just can't go there. So I bring a salad and a piece of fruit. Today was the first day that I've felt comfortable in my body in a LONG time. I also went to the gym today and did 50 min on the elliptical. Losing weight is a slippery slope for me, though. I tend to get obsessive and over restrict myself. I need to remind myself that three meals a day isn't too much.

So glad you felt good in your body today, Jojoco! I think that is every bit as important as dropping a size or fitting into a pair of pants. When you feel good, it shows-- and it makes you that much more beautiful! 🌺

Awww, thanks, Funky. You are such a cornerstone of our group here--always so supportive.

Heading into my third Noom week. Today I looked at my daily weigh ins and charted that I am losing about 1 lb. a week. That's reasonable.

Recording my meals is really helping me to realize how little food a 1200 calorie a day menu contains. I have to be very picky, or as they say in Noom, "make good choices." My father and husband probably resent my insisting on cooking and eating healthy foods, since they expect me to cater to them, but they will just need to get over it. For example, my husband makes whole milk yogurt every week from high protein milk. He found that type of milk makes the best yogurt. I can eat it, but it is really better if I eat the low fat yogurt, more protein per calorie. So even though we have lots of whole milk yogurt in the fridge, I have to buy and eat my own lower fat version. Also with the hard core vegetarian options, I still have to watch my portion control. We'll see later if reducing the food I eat with the "bad fats" has any effect on my cholesterol levels. I have to have my blood tested every nine months for thyroid so I'll know in three months, which is also when I could be at my goal weight if all goes well.

On the plus side, I am getting out my spring and summer clothes and finding they all fit great again. Last year, I was squeezing into some like a sausage and having to buy stuff a size up, so some things I just didn't wear and was afraid I would have to get rid of them and buy all new larger sizes. So I enjoy just getting dressed and not having to take stuff off because it is too tight . . . I am down 19 lbs from where I started in Jan., but as I said, a lot of the early weight loss was just stopping the ridiculous level of stress eating I was doing and stopping eating all the saturated fats. Cheese is the hardest for me to limit . . .

Still not doing very well with my exercising or having energy. At this point, as long as I can keep a weight that fits me into most of my clothes, I would much more appreciate sleeping better and having more energy than a whole lot more weight loss. I have 2 lbs. to go to make it into the "not overweight" cut off for my height and age. I would still like to get down a little more so that I am in the middle of the range, not just inside the limit.

Trying to remember to add an occasional iron tablet to my vitamin regime. I take my thyroid early in the AM so I am usually more focused on that than remembering to take an iron tab. One has to take it also on an empty stomach (and with vit. C) for it to be optimally absorbed. Once or twice a week would be enough for me but I haven't taken it much over the past couple of months . . . or ever. I'm not iron deficient but it would be a nutrient I could get low on, possibly, so doesn't hurt to take some now and then. Too much of course is not good, it's a toxin at higher levels.

@l pinkmountain I think 1lb/week is great for someone so close to goal and "just over" the overweight mark for your height/age. Of course we all want to be able to lose multiple lbs a week -- but with an avg of 1lb/week, you'll easily be in the range you want by the 4th of July! Great work!

Starting my third week. Last week week was a hard week for me, our 17 y.o. dog went over the rainbow bridge and my MIL announced that she is ready to move in with us. We invited her a couple of years ago and she said ”definitley not”. Looking at lots of work. She owns a 5 bedroom, packed with things house. Need to get it ready to sell and then hold an estate sale once it is in escrow. If this sounds familiar, almost the same scenario as my mom. Thankfully, my MIL does not hide valuables, so that will be very helpful. Anyway, I ate a bit too many snacks and cocktails. Thankfully only 1 pound up, I thought it would be worse.

I sure wish sweets and alcohol (or better yet, a combination!) weren't so good at relieving stress! I've got to create a better arsenal of alternatives!! Mindless TV viewing is OK but I can't afford all the streaming services, and the ones with commercials are all for VERY fattening foods!!

I'm usually OK during the day keeping myself busy to relieve stress, but getting to sleep is another matter . . . now that I have said "no" to my doped-up sugar and alcohol stupor, I have to figure out some alternative. I've tried reading, it just doesn't seem to hold my attention the way it used to . . . even inspirational reading has a "been there, done that" ring to it these days . . .

Jill302 - so sorry to hear that your dog has passed. It sure sounds like you have a number of life changing stresses on your plate. Wishing you the best in navigating and orchestrating the emotions and work to move your MIL in. Healthy practices will help -- sleep, healthy snacks, etc -- but make room for a relaxing cocktail or 2. We should share healthy cocktail recipes!

@l pinkmountain - I hear you. All of the streaming services have increased their rates recently -- but one of the services I love is Acorn.tv ..and it is the least expensive of all at 6.99/month (less if you pay the annual total). That's less than a bottle of wine a month! I also think you'd like their lineup.

Also, when I struggle with reading and focus, I turn to mysteries... cozy mysteries, mystery thriller series. All basically brain candy for me. I know that may not be for you but might be worth a try. (I also watch the mystery series on tv-- even the old, dated ones!)

I am ready to join in, post Covid, post semester, post birthday. I feel like I've been through a wringer. At least I have Zumba today. I would like to maybe have some personal training or Pilates, but with Covid cases rising again, including hospitalizations, i am fearful of going back to the Y, which I am paying for! I took all precautions and still got Covid. I enjoy the virtual Zumba and then I have the dumbbells and the TRX.

I should probably restart Noom. At least Pink and I can commiserate there. I've also used LoseIt to track food. But what I liked about Noom is that they push you towards the yellow and especially green foods.

Well, tomorrow is my colonoscopy prep and then late Thurs. AM I am having the procedure. So maybe that will be good for some weight loss . . . (on the plus side). I might just reach my first goal! (Trying to think positive).

Pink, you know that colonoscopy loss will be gained back within a day unfortunately.

Maybe. I can't imagine feeling like eating much for a few days. Maybe if there was nothing wrong with your colon to begin with, but I have one prone to inflammation. In fact, I think that is why my appetite has gone way down already, making dieting easier without a huge desire to pig out anymore. And some of my trigger foods, like sugar, dairy and alcohol (some), I am happier without and not feeling well is a motivation to not indulge.

I think Eld is referring to gaining some weight as you rehydrate. The prep will release a lot of water and you will be at least slightly dehydrated.

Good luck-- i hope you get some answers!

I have been really unmotivated lately, mostly because I feel kinda crummy and while it makes no logical sense, I don’t want healthy food when I’m feeling blah. Long story but looks like I’m experiencing ”long covid” which totally stinks. I can’t exercise the way I want to. I get winded easily and I’m achey and just blah. I am in the process of getting back to proper eating because I know that’s the right thing to do. And I can walk — just not very fast! — but I did 3 miles the other day and survived. At my last dr appt they said not to do anything strenuous until test results came back — I have a followup on Mon and will find out then what they say about attempting to push myself more.

I’ve got yummy berries in the fridge and frozen fruit for smoothies in the freezer, hard boiled eggs (love them for quick breakfasts), and a big salad already prepped so…no excuses!

Sorry to hear you are still dealing with the aftereffects of covid, Sue! I am sure it makes shopping/cooking less enjoyable .. and I too want comfort foods when I don't feel well. It sounds like you have a great start for today. I have been loving the berries this year too-- in fact, I just received my grocery delivery with both raspberries and blackberries. Yum!

Hope you are feeling back to normal soon!

With all the fresh produce, I find this time of year easier to eat healthy. Last night my plate was mostly cukes, tomatoes and cantaloupe. I only had a large spoonful of chicken casserole. The veggies fill us up more and in the last couple of weeks I have not served one bit of bread. I have had small portions of bread when eating out a couple of times. I have all kinds of frozen fruit for smoothies but am just not in the mood for them at all. Maybe further into summer. I love boiled eggs for breakfast, but fresh boiled and hot. Don't laugh but I have a container on the counter for EGGSHELLS. For our tomato plants LOL.

ETA: I am another who does not do well with weighing often. I go more by how my clothes look/feel. I only weigh occasionally.

I was really worried I'd be disappointed hitting the scale since I had three meals out over the last few days with friends in town visiting and a work party for my husband. Somehow, I'm not. I seem to be down 1lb which is fantastic. I'd have been satisfied with no weight gain. I've had to officially switch to my summer workout schedule which is now morning swimming or running and I've managed to get in two lap swims and one run. And I felt great on my run this morning. I need to keep this moment in my head if I struggle to maintain this weight loss since it is incredible how much better I feel running when I'm not carrying all that extra weight. And I need to stick with weight lifting at lunch time, which is easy for me to forget when I'm busy with work.

@l pinkmountain I really hate how much food advertising there is on streaming and on the internet. I do ok fasting (up to 36 hours) 2 days per week, but I have to find something other than TV to entertain myself because of the commercials. They just wreck me and make me so hungry. Maybe it's not just inactivity but food advertising that has made weight such a challenging thing for our society.

@Funkyart congratulations on the pants fitting! That is seriously such a wonderful feeling when something you wanted to wear and couldn't before now fits your body.

@jill302 I am so very sorry for your loss! My heart is breaking for you. I'm glad you gave your dog a wonderful home for 17 years but I know the pain of losing a beloved fur family member. And to add the stress of a MIL moving in at the same time. Wow. That is a lot to deal with all at once.

@Sueb20 I'm sorry that you have long covid! That's just awful. I hope you start feeling back to yourself soon. I think walking, at any speed, is such a wonderful form of exercise. And that you're able to keep up with exercising when you feel so crummy is a testament to your willpower and strength. Keep it up. Hopefully the moderate exercise will help your immune system heal your body too.

Sueb, that makes total sense about not wanting to eat healthy when you are feeling under the weather. And I'll add slightly depressed. That's how I put on so much weight recently. I just can't get to a point where I feel "good." Combo of IBS, fatique and sinus issues. A lot of days I just feel blah and that makes it harder to motivate myself to make and eat healthy meals.

I don't know why, but I somehow have managed to break my intense food cravings when watching TV commercials. The other night they had a repeating commercial for Sonic with every imaginable addictive food shot, but it just had no effect on me. I've never been a sonic fan, way too salty, but who doesn't love an ice cream float. For once, it was just noise to me . . . same with all those fattening fb videos . . . I guess that's a good thing.

Edited to add that I am always sick for months even with "just the flu" which is one of the reasons I never pooh poohed covid. It's no fun dragging yourself around for months. My only advice would be to just take it easy. Long periods of rest is how I manage to kick out the flu from my body. We expect way too much from ourselves sometimes. Wouldn't it be nice to just relax for a month and be nurtured and tended the way I have to tend my garden!! Unfortunately, for most people, if we don't nurture ourselves, that's about all we can expect, not necessarily anyone else waiting in the wings to do it. And if you are a natural nurturer, well at some point people need to realize there is an energy cost to that . . .

Kswl, That is serious accountability. Brilliant.