Not really anything remarkable to share from last week-- I am transitioning to fall foods vs summer foods and as I mentioned in a prior thread, realized I need to be mindful of eating too much. More than once, I ate more than was comfortable in my stomach-- even when sticking to serving sizes. I haven't eaten much meat over the last year and now that I am adding it back in, I am wondering how much I really want to add back. I won't give it up completely, but I also don't need it every day.

I made a pot of mushroom and wild rice soup-- it is very earthy and warm but I wanted a little more complexity in the flavors. I will make it again and experiment with the spices and flavors. I think soups are going to be key in keeping my calories down while still hitting my love of comfort foods. Today is rainy and grey .. so going to heat up a bowl now!

Still swimming and while I haven't lost more than a pound or two, I feel much better. I've done several home maintenance projects that I'd put off for years. Just feeling like I have more energy and motivation.

Mushroom and wild rice soup sounds fabulous.

That soup does sound delicious this time of year. It's still fairly warm here, so I'm still grilling. But I'm anxious to try this apple cider quinoa kale fall salad from Wyse Guide.

I unexpectedly gained a few pounds this past week. I initially couldn't figure out why, until I remembered I had an impromptu Bloody Mary with a friend, followed by a high-sodium meal. I felt so puffy and bloated. I've increased my water intake, and it's helping. But am I really that sensitive to sodium now? I guess so.

Our fall weather has been so lovely that I've increased my outdoor walking and biking, at a bit of the expense of strength training indoors. But that will likely turn around soon, as temps are dropping later this week.

Have a good week, everyone!

Our temps are going back up in a few days-- but the rain and cold these last few days really called for soups and warm foods.

The Mushroom Wild Rice soup was much better today. I added a little garlic powder and more pepper when it was reheating.. but mostly, I think it just needed to sit overnight.

This is the recipe I used.. though I skipped the milk/dairy (lactose intolerant). Next time I will probably use a variety of mushrooms, add more garlic and maybe add a touch of rosemary.

Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup - Iowa Girl Eats

Feathers, that salad looks great.. I am getting excited for fall salads also.

@Feathers11 - The quiona salad looks delicious, want to give that a try. Thank you.

We are just back from a short cruise with neighbors from our desert community. Not a lot of healthy eating or excercise happened. This week I will be getting back to the program with emphasis on including a lot of plants in my diet. My best friend when I am trying to lose weight and eat healthier is vegetable soup, love veggie soup, I will be making a big pot of soup and also keeping lots of chopped veggies on hand.

We were away for several days and went to a wedding…split a creme brulee (one of my weaknesses) with DH one night and had a cupcake at the wedding we attended (but skipped the pre-dinner cheese and apps) — otherwise just ate like ”normal” and did not pack any road snacks or junk food (we stayed at airbnb). I have had a nasty cold so have lost momentum on exercise but we did go on a 2.5 mile hike one day.

Heading out on a 10 day Canada vacation this week and hoping lots of walking will help to offset the extra calories that always come with lots of restaurant meals.

I will say I was relieved that one of the many dresses I bought earlier this year still fit me well for the wedding (of a friend, not my kiddo)!

Still trying to shake this cold (not covid, have tested 2x) after a week. Grrr.

Oh, as often as I have said I don't usually have a sweet tooth, creme brulee is one of my weaknesses too. I always try to talk my companion into ordering one so I can have "just a spoonful".

Sorry you aren't feeling well, Sue.. hope you recover and have a great trip! Eating is part of the travel experience IMO.. so I think your plan for lots of walking is a good one. It's all about balance!

That's great, Justdoit .. the first step out the door is the hardest! Pretty soon you'll be up to 4 blocks.. then 8 blocks! Be proud of yourself for walking out that door-- twice!

As far as the stress on your feet and thighs-- are you wearing good supportive sneakers/walking shoes? Worn out sneakers or flat soles can really cause issues with feet, knees, thighs, hips and even your back. Also, make sure you stretch-- I get it. Around the block isn't the same as a couple of miles but the temps are cool and your body isn't used to walking so take a few minutes to stretch!

I've got new walking shoes several months ago in preparation. I think the issues I'm having are simply due to no activity whatsoever for 2 years during Covid. While at the office everyday I did 3 flights of stairs multiple times per day.

Around the block isn't the same as a couple of miles

Tell that to my thighs!

JustDoIt, those short bursts of activity are important! You can make up from the covid delays. Keep it up!

Well, i am supremely peeved. I am completely addicted to swimming every other day (I'd do it every day if I could) and went to go to the pool tonight only to find they've changed the schedule and it's now only open two evenings a week for lap swimming. I've got to start scoping a new location. The only other pool within a few miles of us is closed for renos for the next five months.

@daisychain Zn3b I'm so sorry! I know exactly how you feel. Similar things keep happening to me and it is so frustrating. I'm going to check out a 3rd swim location in the next week to see if it might have better hours.

So far I'm feeling a little blah about my health and weight. Seeing just a tiny uptick in weight from my goal weight when I was prevously seeing a tiny decrease before. So I need to take a hard look at what I'm eating and make some adjustments. I'm doing ok with exercising considering my schedule has been pretty crazy over the last week, and my swimming pool schedule was significantly changed as well. Most days I'm either swimming or running and I think I've gotten in about 5 days of weight lifting. It's starting to get cold at night so this week I'm trying to switch and lift weights inside in the morning when it's cold and run around noon when it's been about 65. Unfortunately that also means that more idiot dog owners are letting their dogs approach me and my dog off leash now, so we had several off leash encounters yesterday. I was very proud of my dog for behaving admirably. I mentioned that I was having a toothache and towards the end of the week it was calming down pretty well, but then I did my usual Saturday morning swim and it was quite cold (about 50 degrees outside and the water was chilly, allegedly around 75). And that seems to have set my teeth off again, though not as bad as last time. I went out to dinner at a new place with a friend on Friday and although nothing I ordered should have had gluten, I think something did and I ended up suffering that evening. It could have been much worse (from what I've read), but it's really annoying. I'm going to keep it up swimming, running, and lifting weights this week. And I'll be trying to refocus on how much I'm eating to manage my weight.

@JustDoIt that's fantastic that you're getting walking in! I've heard it's great to exercise multiple times a day just to get the body moving. I hope your feet and thighs start getting used to it so you feel less discomfort. I know when I stop and start exercise or increase my exercise, my body often complains for a bit until I'm more used to it.

Everyone is doing great. Really, just paying attention to the food we eat and getting some exercise is a healthy lifestyle. We are all paying attention and doing better. That's a good thing! For me, when I drill it down to concentrating on eating whole foods, a big variety of plant products and moving every day, it pays off. No one can argue those aren't good for you!

I'm really status quo over here, and I guess that's good. I am not really losing any weight, a real plateau/slow down, although I think all the things I am doing are the same as they have been. So, maybe this is it for me? I don't know how to decide on a goal weight. I had a lower number in mind, but maybe this is good enough? I feel good, my labs are good, my clothes look better. Or maybe I'll slowly lose a couple more pounds, Haven't really decided how much more intense I'm willing to go at this point, or what to switch up to see more loss. Other than the darn strength training part:)

Justdoit - you are doing great with the walks - it really does all add up. And 10-15 minute walks after every meal are wonderful for your blood sugar. I can see that on my glucose monitor without fail. Those really do make a big difference.

I'm so sorry about the pool situations - that makes it tough. Pickleball is such fun and efficient cardio for me, and I'm sure I'll be in the same boat in a month or so when we can't play outdoors as often. Right when you get into a routine, you have to change it up!

@legomom23 I completely agree that everyone being more mindful of food and exercise and health in general seems very positive. For me regularly weighing myself is something I need to stick with. In the past once I've reached a goal weight I find myself slowly not weighing anymore and that's when I think I start to backslide without realizing it. For me personally, it's too easy to have my weight slowly creep up and next thing I know I'm wondering why my pants are too tight.

The goal weight I picked was something I was fairly certain would allow me to fit into a clothing size at a previous low weight moment (around the time I got married) and would be within a range that would be considered healthy for my height. Now I do wonder if losing another 5lbs would be good, but I also would be ok maintaining where I am. I think I am struggling a little with looking in the mirror and whether or not I am happy with what I see. It seems like for my whole adult life I've always visually looked a little "soft", especially around the hip / thigh area, even when some of my muscles (back, shoulders, quads) are visibly defined, and I think that's just how my body is. It feels like we are bombarded with media that at least for me, sews a seed of doubt. I suspect receiving an off-hand and (probably) unintentionally unkind comment from a friend over the weekend that I've "never been skinny" hasn't helped my confidence at this very moment.

Legomom, thank you for the reminder that just being conscious of our eating and exercise and what we want to improve is a good thing. I can put too much weight on the metrics and undervalue the general achievement of a healthier and more conscious lifestyle.

Pricklypear, I am sorry someone made such a thoughtless comment over the weekend-- I am sure/hope they didn't mean to question your progress or to make you question your goal. Please don't allow the comment to take residence in your head. You have made such great progress over these past months--you have been an inspiration to all of us. I am especially inspired that you have stuck with both your healthier eating and your exercise routine through some health issues.

I can't speak to your specific goal-- but it sounds like you aren't quite sure if you are there or if you want to keep working. My best advice is to live with it for a few months. Stay conscious of your food choices, continue your activity levels. Enjoy the benefits of better health and wait and see how you feel. Don't compare yourself to others-- don't pick apart various small parts of your body. Embrace and celebrate the good health, good habits and healthy weight that you have achieved.

Not any updates here-- I am not feeling well and have spent most of the last 24 hr in bed. I am feeling a bit better but going back to bed now.

Thank you so much, Funky. I think you're spot on that maybe I should try living with it for a few months. I might need to shift my thinking about a "goal" to a goal of maintenance (of weight, healthy eating, exercise). You are absolutely right that I'm not certain whether I am there or not. I do feel physically healthy and capable. I also need to remember how much better my digestive system is feeling since a year ago. My friend's comment did hurt, though I don't think she intended it to be hurtful. I do have a tendency to let negative comments eat at me and I need to learn to let them go. I'm so sorry you're not feeling well! I hope you can get some good rest and feel better very soon. You've been an inspiration to all of us!

Are we all losing steam? Or just busy with all the fall activities?

I am not exactly losing steam but my patterns are shifting and I haven't yet found the "sweet spot". My body is not digging the more substantial fall foods so I think I will slip back to making more soups. It feels kind of lazy but I love soup and it is an easy way to limit calories and load up on veggies. This weekend, I will make a favorite spinach lasagna recipe where I replace the pasta with zucchini planks. I first made it years ago because it was low calorie/low carb but I keep making it because it is delicious!

My dental work is pretty much done as of yesterday-- a few weeks of adjustments and that's it so I should be able to branch out with food soon. I can't wait for some raw veggies and harder fruits like apples and pears! I suspect I'll need to work up to them but they are in my near future!

This weekend is going to be glorious here so will be doing some sort of outdoor activity.. also some yardwork.

How are you all doing? Any plans for the weekend?

My bluetooth keyboard broke, and the new one is supposed to come today, but I am losing hope...lol. I have only posted short blurbs on other threads, but reading this, wishing I could post!!

crossing fingers for you!

Congratulations @Funkyart on completing dental work! What an ordeal! I've had some dental work this year, but yours sounded far more in depth than mine. I hope your mouth is feeling great soon and ready for some crisp fall apples and pears.

Thankfully I've been keeping up with exercise this week and managed to get in 3 of 4 swims (1 more tomorrow) and 3 runs as well as 5 days of lifting. I'm definitely having to make adjustments due to fall weather and scheduling changes at my pool. I need to take a look at soup recipes soon. I picked up a red kuri squash and kobocha pumpkin at the grocery store yesterday and I'm looking forward to finding a use for them. Saw a good pumpkin thai curry recipe somewhere that I need to track down. I want to make a mango tofu rice bowl recipe, but I'm not quite certain if the mangos I purchased are ready tonight or if I need to wait. They're a different variety (Kiett) that I'm not as familiar with. This weekend we'll be going to a trampoline park for my niece's birthday (just family) so that might be some good exercise. I've never been and don't really know what to expect.

Looking forward to Springroz's update when the keyboard arrives.

SO happy your dental work is done, Funky!!

Prickly, you make me tired, just reading!, lol. You are amazingly active!!

They moved Fedex to Monday....will they deliver on a holiday?? I am hoping to be hiking, anyway!

Thank you, thank you! I am glad to be on the other side. Unfortunately, they discovered they failed to bill me for some of the hardware so I had to fork over another chunk of $$ -- that was a bummer but now I am done paying also!

I so appreciate you all! ❤️

@Funkyart - Congratulations on coming to the end of this dental work, so happy for you.

I am happy with my progress with healthier eating the last couple if days. It all started with making a pot of vegetable soup. I am out in the desert now and was looking forward to using my community gym here, of course it is closed for the running track to be resurfaced. Will figure something else out. Likely working out to videos.

DH and I are going to a party Sunday evening, I will pregame with vegetable soup to cut down on my grazing at the party.

Hope that you all enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Had a horrible week with renovations to my apartment and a horrible plumbing disaster that was not handled well by plumbers/landlord and I am very stressed. I have done very well for a long time since I was diagnosed with diabetes a year and a half ago, bringing my A1C from 10+ to 4+ and keeping it there. But I ate some food from Sonic today and today had over 100 grams of carbs, way more than usual and more in one day than I have had since my diagnosis. (Looks down in shame). Will go back to my healthy lifestyle tomorrow.

@lucillle an A1C in the 4’s? That’s incredible! Congrats to you. What an accomplishment. Wow Wow!

It’s been more of the same here. Food is good. Cardio is good. Need weights and more water, less wine. It’s like a broken record with me.

I will say, there is nothing like hotel room bathroom lights to make you realize- no, you’re not quite done with this weight loss journey😀