Good morning all. Hope everyone has had a great last week and is going to have a productive this week.

I stepped on the scale this morning as I do on Sundays and those two pounds are still gone. Don't know where don't know how. Has anyone else ever lost weight without meaning to or making an effort to? Or are those the same thing.

My plan for this week is to make sure that I get my running in on Friday. I am still at the knees level of push-ups and can't do very many without collapsing in a heap. I keep hoping I will turn the corner but it seems like that is not the case.

When you try to increase your proteins do you find that you really need to add more flavour? We are out of salsa and that is what I usually put on things to kick them up a notch. Then I add a spritzer of real lemon and my spices and herbs if I need them. Right now I feel like everything is nekkid..

Ive been sick all week and not really thinking about food ... haven't fallen off but haven't been putting any effort into meal prep or planning.

Not too worried about Thanksgiving-- there will be plenty of fairly good options and I am not all that interested in our desserts. I think I will be ok.. I will stock the fridge though with healthy quick-reach items as it will be a busy week and the easier I make it to stay on track, the more likely I will stay on track.

@yeonassky I also struggle with adding more protein but I don't really struggle with needing flavor. I guess it depends on what proteins you are adding .. some of my go-to protein meals are chicken or turkey meatballs with either asian or italian spices, chicken with lemon, rosemary and onion. I don't really cook with salsa that often but i think that's a great idea. Sometimes I will get a split turkey breast and put butter, herbs and either bits of orange or grapefruit under the skin. For lean beef and pork you could do a chimichurri or rosemary garlic and balsamic vinegar. Google is your friend for finding new interesting recipes that fit your preferred flavors and way of eating. Good luck ... and really, I am amazed by how you keep up with your exercise routine. Keep with it and you WILL see progress!

Yay, yeonnasky! I have had that happen when I would be in a plateau then all of a sudden something like a 2 lb. loss, so eventually the body does catch up. The functions involved with energy balance are not linear and immediate.

Funky, sorry you are still feeling lousy. I am glad this week is TG break from school because so many are sick, and TBH many have already left town. I have review days this week so they do not need to feel that they have to be there. Too many coming to school sick and flu is super high regionally.

I’m still struggling with the balance of carbs and fiber. I can get to 15-20 g fiber but seem to have trouble getting over that. But OTOH fiber should be ramped up gradually so I’ve still goe time to figure it out. I am also adding the Benefiber gradually, too.

TG day I will track as best I can and save my carbs for my favorite things like pie! We ordered a BBQ smoked turkey so I will enjoy that. I told DH there will be some days I go over. It is unlikely I will stop eating pizza or enjoying Thanksgiving. Many programs allow a ”cheat” day every now and then.

Last night he was very sweet. We looked at DoorDash and ordered Korean food which would be more carb friendly for me. But good news I am generally not hungry or having cravings, so likely the program is keeping my blood glucose level. I should probably invest in a simple glucose meter from CVS.

Yes to resistance band around elbows for pushups! Definitely helps you get back up.

I have been reading along here and I'm so impressed with the determination and grit! I only have a little to lose, but I easily fall off the wagon (get into a snacking habit) especially as the weather turns colder. My exercise level is generally high but my food choices are the problem. I'm working on it and find all of your stories, experiences, tips and hints helpful and motivating.

Funky so sorry you have been sick! One of my sisters was very sick with vertigo and earache that move from ear to ear and what they called a covid pneumonia. At first they thought her heart was engaged because she also swelled up like a balloon. But luckily she does not have heart problems. Take very good care of yourself it seems that people are getting very sick.!

Thank you everyone. I'm not sure if I've blown it or not.. you see there were these three date brownies made out of black beans that seemed to disappear when I was near. I don't remember the last time I had any thing remotely resembling a brownie so not sure what the result will be. There was no refined sugar in them and so the only sweetness was the dates. Perfect amount of sweetness and yet there was a little bit of mint flavor as well.

It certainly was pleasing to eat. Oh my I think I like those a little too much. Here's hoping I don't gain weight and I don't get migraines or a sore throat...

I tried to write this note on Garden web but had to write it elsewhere first and copy paste. I sometimes feel like they're trying to get rid of us. I also sometimes think that they just aren't spending any more money on the garden web side. It is just not a money maker for them I suppose. It's too bad to see this Grand Gardenweb Dame disappear in many ways.

Note to self borrow one of DHS resistance bands and put it on the arms to help with getting back up.

The exercise youtube I listened to today talked of using pillows to go down as far as you can as well. You stack pillows as high as you need to get down get down to your point of collapse and make sure you've got good form and do as many as you can and once you're comfortable with that remove a pillow etc. I'm trying every technique :-). I'm consoling myself with the fact that I am exercising even if I don't have the strength for any real push-up yet. Time and challenging my muscles will ensure that I prevail.

Today in NYTimes there is an excellent opinion piece about the recent obesity conference hosted from the Royal Society in London. I know a few people who went in person (jealous!) and then I was able to watch some of the scientific sessions on YouTube. They were super early, of course, because they were in London.

I've gifted the article from my NYTimes subscription.

Link to article.

Some of the highlights:

" In other words, there were no quick fixes or magic hacks in that London meeting room. And while there was excitement about medicine’s incredible strides in treating patients with obesity, the effective drugs and surgeries weren’t talked about as end-all solutions for the public health crisis.

When I asked many of the researchers how they’d tackle obesity, given the uncertainties, they pointed to policies that would alter or regulate our environment, like outlawing junk food marketing to kids, banning school vending machines and making neighborhoods more walkable. They talked about changing the food system in ways that also address climate change — a related crisis once met with policy inertia that now has international momentum. But when it comes to obesity, governments are still accused of being nanny states if they try to intervene with regulation.

This is in part because instead of viewing obesity as a societal challenge, the individual choice bias dominates. It’s steeped with misunderstanding and blame, and it’s everywhere. People are simply told to eat more vegetables and exercise — the equivalent of tackling global warming by asking the public only to fly less or recycle. Diet gurus and companies mint billions off food and exercise fads that will ultimately fail."

I will upload a photo of my lunch today. Due to a major traffic incident I have to stay here longer, and I planned to be home for lunch. Here's some good protein and fiber:

Quinoa base

then some seasonal sqaush (not sure if butternut or acorn)

butter beans

feta cheese

additional blackened catfish

Very good! LoseIt says 6 g fiber and 40 g protein. I am not 100% sure on the protein becase the size of the catfish was not editable in the database.

Here is photo

Looks wonderful -- i don't think I've had butter beans before they look delicious!

I am FINALLY down a lb -- just in time to add it back tomorrow! ;)

Yay @Funkyart!! its always nice to see a new number on the scale.

Congratulations @yeonassky and @Funkyart on the losses! I'm also sorry that you've been sick, Funky. I hope you feel back to 100% soon!

@jmck_nc glad to have you chime in. It's been great to have this supportive group for all of us.

My weight is still hanging in just a pound or two above the goal weight I hit at the end of summer. I'm not going up further, but I'm not getting it back down to that level either. I'm still doing IF 5:2. I think am stress snacking on my 5 "normal" days, so I am going to work on being more mindful about that. My husband was quite sick last week so that altered some of my eating as well since I was trying to accomodate his needs. The good news is that I think all of this work to improve the health of my digestive system seems to be working because I don't seem to have gotten sick.

Last week I missed two days of exercise, but I'm not going to feel guilty about it. One day my husband needed help with things before and after work and I just ran out of time. The other day was the service for the child in my family who passed away and I underestimated how draining that would be. Afterwards I came home and curled up and couldn't get myself to go exercise. But I'm back at it going strong this week. During one of my swims this week I chatted with a friend and he had some drills he's been trying out so I tried them out the next time and woah did that give me a good workout. I really struggled lifting weights this morning with my shoulders and back so tired from the swim yesterday. I even managed to force myself out running in a light snowstorm today despite my laziness screaming in my ear about getting cold and how much nicer it would be inside the house under a blanket. Now I have the benefit of seeing my dog completely passed out from the exertion.

For Thanksgiving, I'm going to stay in my home town and eat with my parents and sibling who are gluten free and vegetarian capable cooks. Unfortunately this means my husband and I will be apart for the holiday since he is going to his mother's home which is 4 hours away from our house. He's driving from a completely different state (due to his work) and so if I want to go, I'd have to drive there alone. My family tends to cook fairly healthy, so I'm looking forward to the food. I will try to be reasonble in my portions, but I'm not going to stress about it too much. I will be eating pie. :)

On a clothing note, I ordered several dresses in preparation for the service for the child who passed away. I ended up keeping several of them because I think they will be good additions to my wardrobe in the future as well. But the biggest thing for me was feeling like there were several good options that actually fit my body. With my weight going up and down over the years, I was definitely at a high weight and low morale at the beginning of this year. Being able to work with my doctor to make a plan and stick to it to really get fit has been so rewarding. I am more physically capable of being active. And it sounds vain, but having clothes fit well really helps my morale. I even ended up order one more dress that I found on sale that is not for a funeral but I ordered it anyway and I feel fabulous in it. I never would have picked something like this a year ago. This is a picture of the dress (on a model, not on me).

Pricklypear, I am so sorry for the loss and sending healing thoughts to you and your family.

Funky, yay!

Oh yeah, doing well today then had a piece of my dutch apple pie, which it is super hard to resist warm. I honestly have not had a sweet since the weight management clinic. I have little cravings for sweets now like i did before, so the higher protein and carb does seem to help here. Tomorrow will be a carb fest for sure even if I limit them as much as possible. We have BBQ smoked turkey with sides of collard greens (good fiber apparently!) and mac and cheese.

Good luck tomorrow, everyone!

@pricklypearcactus thank you so much-- I am feeling much better. I feel at about 90%!

And wow, I love that dress and what a triumph after all your hard work this year. I can just imagine how nicely it shows off you fit, strong, healthy body! I don't think it is vain to want to look and feel your best-- especially when you are not compromising your health to do so!

And so glad that you are taking the 2 days off in stride-- a death in the family especially of a child IS draining and you need to tend to your emotional health as well as your physical health. You are back on it this week so you clearly did what you needed to do!

@gsciencechick I am so glad you are in a groove! You sound so much more enthusiastic -- and love that you are getting good results!

I just returned from doing some prep and pre-cooking with my sister. The table is set, the fire is ready to light, and the drinks are ready to pour! LOL. I am not too worried about the carbs-- they aren't the big draw for me. I'll pass on pie and have only a bite of stuffing and mashed potatoes. It will be a calorie laden meal for sure-- but I am sure that I'll bounce back from it and we were good tonight and only had salads. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all here -- I am so very thankful for the support and encouragement you have provided me this year. We've been at this thread since, what? May I think.. we have all come so far in our journeys to improve our healthy behaviors! You are a big part of the reason I was able to drop 56lb so far this year!! You guys are awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone enjoys the day without too much worry about what you are eating. One day will not matter if you get right back to your plan the following day. Funky, I noticed you said you were "good" and only had salad. I think you were smart to only have salad in advance of the big eating day. We should all reframe our thoughts about that...I'm just as guilty! I don't have a problem eating lightly on Thanksgiving since I don't like most of the foods but I may eat all my splurge calories in mashed potatoes! Since my pilates studio is closed and I have access due to being in teacher training, my husband and I plan to get in a workout while the turkey roasts!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Right it is one day and then get back on track.
I have the Pilates appointment on Saturday but virtual Zumba this morning.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was very nice. I did my best to track the foods I ate but it's hard to remember all that grazing.

I'm not sure what to think of my weight loss app goals - but everyone says to give it a few weeks to catch up. I lost 3 pounds the first week, so it upped my calories. Then I gained a pound back. So now it looks like I lost two pounds in two weeks, which is the goal, so it left my calories the same. So, we'll see how this week goes I guess. I feel like it's too high for me, but I'm willing to test it out a few weeks. I just filled in the calories with wine though. And I know that's not a good weight loss plan.

I used a lot of extra calories yesterday though, so the rest of the week will be a little lower than normal to get the weekly average in.

I have been doing better with my resistance training. Getting in about 3 30-45 minute sessions of that and stretching. That feels really good. It's a good start of a habit for me.

@Funkyart - 56 pounds! Wow, you are doing so well. That's an amazing accomplishment. For me, it's important to look back at the big picture and not get caught up in the daily plateaus. I'm sure there's some science to it I don't understand but I think it can be helpful to give our bodies and minds diet breaks along the way. To me, a plateau is a good thing - not gaining, adjusting to this new weight, etc. I'm trying to be happy with mine!

@pricklypearcactus - That's a great dress!

@legomom23 thank you for the perspective on plateaus! They are a reality when looking to lose lots so I need to get a better attitude. I am pleased with my losses overall but I have been stalled for a few months. The first 2 months it was my fault .. but the last month I did all things "right". I am back at a weight I maintained for a long time-- a number of years-- and I think I do tend to plateau at weights I had previously maintained. I guess my body finds them "familiar" .. may be silly but I have seen it before.

I did well with Thanksgiving -- I did have a taste of most things but kept it in control. We don't do appetizers (too much food in the main meal) and I didn't have dessert. Believe it or not, I was down a lb today! I will be keeping it light today because honestly, i don't feel great after all the food and drink yesterday. Yes.. I drank more than usual. I kept it light though-- vodka and club soda loaded up with blackberries, raspberries, grapefruit and lime (i couldn't choose so I added ALL of the fruits lol!)

I know that to continue to lose weight, I need to add more exercise. I will be working on that for sure!