Sorry for getting this up late today-- honestly, it slipped my mind. As I noted in another thread, my seemingly very healthy BIL had a heart attack overnight this weekend. It was a big jolt of motivation to stick with my plan to lose weight, improve my overall health. I want to do all I can to make sure that I stay healthy for my own sake-- and also to stay strong for my whole family.

My digital scale has crapped out again-- it's been intermittent the last few months. I haven't weighed myself for the past week because of this (but i have ordered a new one!). I think that may be a good thing so I stay more generally focused on healthy eating and less tied to the scale.

Considering the time of year, I have really been enjoying fruits and vegetables lately -- so it has been pretty easy to keep my eating on track. I do need to build up my stamina and strength as I feel like colds/covid have caused me to take some backward steps.

I think the key is to keep the healthy lifestyle goals forefront in my mind. Even when I am not making leaps forward, I can still take STEPS forward. It's all about the forward momentum.

Hope you are all doing well ... I know I haven't been online as much so not as attentive to this thread. Please don't take it personally-- I am sending good wishes to all even when not posting!

Funky, I am sorry to hear of the heart attack in your BIL and your nephew's kidney disease challenges.

It's the little things every day that add up long term. I keep telling myself this all the time.

Had a very busy week at work. Good with workouts, step counts, resistance training, and Pilates. I was over my carbs some days, but at least I tracked. Oh, and I think I'm buying a new used car, too, so that is a great boost to my mood. I found a car in the color combo I want for a reasonable price. My current car is a 2010 and has 140,000 miles. I really want better safety features.

Funky- I am so sorry your family members are struggling right now.

We have been traveling for the last week and I have been a mess! My food choices were the worst and my CGM let me know for sure. I have to do better traveling with food- I have no excuses. I could have gone to the grocery store. I let myself get too hungry and then ate what looked good too many times.

I did stay pretty active and continued my Pilates rollups that are really helping my core and my back. I did better with the alcohol, all but one night.

I am actually looking forward to getting home and back in the groove. I just feel better when I eat better.

I know what you mean about what you want to eat when sick, Sue.. I am the same. My wegman's shopper is loading up my veggies as I type here lol. I am preparing some dishes for sister's family today and that means my fridge will be full of good food too.

Legomom, I am sure your activity level helped balance out your eating while away-- and you can always double-down on your return!

GS you are really doing a great job with exercise and activity! WTG.. and good luck on the potential new car too!

Thank you all for the well wishes for my family. Much appreciated!

Funky, there is rumor Wegmans is coming here. A shopping center near MIL is going to be redeveloped and they are supposedly one of the tenants. Traffic there is already crazy, but that will take it to another level.

Oh exciting, GS.. I do 80% of my shopping at wegmans. I do NOT like going to the store. It's too big, too overwhelming -- but since I no longer drive, I have everything delivered anyhow. They have lots of international products, health foods/special diets and some healthy prepared options. Let me know when it opens-- I'll share some favorites.

My whole extended family shops at Wegmans in Buffalo. They have such awesome prepared items for lunch the last time I was there.

Had a meeting today at a coffee shop, and I had some wonderful blueberry tea. Wow, was that good. Also did Pilates today and she said she can really see a difference in me, so that is good. I can really feel it, too. And I am getting stronger and my balance improving.

Getting the new used car tomorrow, so that is very exciting!

Congrats on the new car ... and on actually seeing positive improvements with your pilates! That has to feel good, GS!

I thought I had a pretty healthy diet (when I don't vear off into potato chip/snacking land).. but with my BIL's heart attack this weekend, I am seeing more areas where I can improve. I have been a salad dressing making fiend this week ... and also preparing some low fat/low sodium foods. It's keeping me on track too. New scale arrives on Friday so hoping it shows some positive results.... even if not, I know I am eating well! I am definitely learning more too which is only going to help in the long run.

Oh.. and I am finally more or less off the Diet Pepsi! Finally! I still want to add it to my orders ... but i am holding strong so far.

I can see the creep come in very slowly with adding in new foods and I've gotten back to hardcore elimination of everything extra.

To basically no condiments if they have calories cutting back way back on nuts and butter and no cheese.

It is surprising how many calories are in the add ins/nice to haves .. counting calories intermittently reminds me to keep a sharp eye on them.

I don't give up ALL.. I just accomodate them in my daily totals. I am not willing to give up on the cream in my coffee. I don't often add cheese to my salads or sandwiches.. but I haven't given it up completely. Instead, I choose cheeses that have a big impact from a small amount (parmesan, for example).

I guess that's part of making healthy eating a lifestyle-- finding the balance that works for you. I still want to enjoy my food and I find with a little research adn creativity, I can cut calories and still enjoy.

That said, I allowed myself to get too loose too often over the holidays-- I am in cut mode now.

Yes, I’m having a hard time getting back in to the eating swing of things. I was going to try a 36 hour fast to break the cycle, but I haven’t succeeded in that. I’m just hungry. But can’t quite remember what I was eating before my trip that was working for me!

I’m going to focus on vegetables and protein. I find myself turning to nuts and cheese too often otherwise.

Congrats on the Diet Pepsi win Funky, that’s a good one!

@gsciencechick- you are doing so great with all your changes! I bet you are getting strong. Pilates is hard.

I’m coming up on my year anniversary with my CGM and my nutrionist. I thought that would be an end for me. I pictured some before and after one year success post. But I realized I’m still on a path and learning, still a work in progress, so I’m going to continue with both. It’s working for me. The knowledge and accountability are really good for me, and like the quote goes- “I’m worth it”😀 My health is worth it. And I’ve noticed an improvement mentally from stable blood sugars, good food, and exercise.

" I’m coming up on my year anniversary with my CGM and my nutrionist. I thought that would be an end for me. I pictured some before and after one year success post. But I realized I’m still on a path and learning, still a work in progress, so I’m going to continue with both. It’s working for me. The knowledge and accountability are really good for me, and like the quote goes- “I’m worth it”😀 My health is worth it. "

@legomom23 this really resonated with me this morning. I didn't think I'd be "done" by now but I definitely had visions of being closer to my target weight, stronger and just more generally healthy. My BIL's heart attack really brought home the message that there is no "done". It's a lifetime commitment. BIL was never overweight and is always active. If he can have a heart attack, any of us could. I do recognize that there are a lot of factors at play-- including genetics-- but I am going to do all I can to better control my eating and my weight.

I am not happy with where I am today-- sure, I made some good progress and I am not going to sniff at that... but I am not going to let myself coast anymore. If I am honest with myself, I have been coasting for at least 4 months. I have been ok with "mostly healthy" which has allowed me to justify some major deviations. I need to accept that "mostly healthy" isn't good enough if I want to get to a healthy weight ... and that means many more vegetables. I have been more "hungry" this winter... but have I really?? I think I have been bored, prone to indulgence and have had a need for comfort. Those aren't hunger issues. They're issues to manage in my life.. not my diet.

Legomom, I think we have both responded well to the volumetrics approach to eating. Fill up on the good stuff. I enjoy eating like that ... and I don't have any real excuse for why I stopped.

The other thing I have noticed is that when my healthy behaviors took a dive.. so did the quality of my sleep. Diet pepsi didn't help either LOL. Now that I am moving back to a healthier routine (and not drinking DP), I am sleeping better! It makes such a difference in my day.

I'm down 2 lbs of "holiday inflammation," so happy with that. It's been difficult to get outside, but I'm doing well with weights and indoor cardio. I have my yoga mat in my LR and have gotten into a good habit of yoga and stretching in the evenings while watching an episode of "For the Love of Kitchens," my new streaming favorite. I go to bed relaxed and stretchy, and it's helped my sleep.

My eating has been good. Still intermittent fasting, and still trying to amp up protein. I used to take collagen supplements, but found a powder that also has protein, so that helps. I just finished a batch of chicken breasts that I made last weekend, and I need a break from those.

Funky, I hope your BIL and nephew are recovering. That kind of stress is difficult, too.

Legomom, if it's any consolation, whenever I travel, I eat like an unsupervised middleschooler with a $100 bill in a 7-11.

Funky - you are so right about me and the volumetrics eating! I enjoy food, I want it to taste good, and I want to feel satisfied when I am finished. Luckily I have found some food that works for me that way, and if I include enough protein and fiber, the satiety lasts. But it's easy to get in trouble with overdoing the wrong things.

I really feel like I have learned a lot about myself, and a lot about nutrition and using food as medicine the last year. As one of the people I follow posts a lot - no one can do it for you. You have to do it for yourself - eat the right things, move enough, sleep well. So many of the things that are important to your health can't be delegated. You have to do the work.

Yes, I keep learning too --in fact, I have learned tons over just the last week. I am really interested in the foods that help heal the body... and as I research what foods are in/out for a heart-healthy and kidney-healthy I am picking up changes I can make too. I am also learning how quickly I can get lazy with eating!

My nephew is in surgery right now-- has been for about 5 hr. I keep wanting to reach snacks. I know I am not hungry. Im anxious, nervous, sad. I do not tend to be an emotional eater but today I am. I have limited the snacking to cut pineapple .. but I really want marcona almonds and popcorn for dinner. I suppose it could be worse.

My new scale arrived and while I am eager to step on it-- I am going to wait until Sunday to start the week fresh. I don't FEEL much lighter but we'll see. Tomorrow I have some outdoor cleanup to do ... and I think I'll pull out the jump rope again. I really just need to keep busy.

Sending all the best to your nephew. I hope the surgery goes well.

Thank you ... he's out of surgery now. Still not awake but surgery is done.