It may still be cold (35 deg here in PA this morning) but Spring is trying to break in! Snowdrops are dancing across my front beds and the sun is shining! It makes me happy and ready to kick into spring prep .. and spring foods!

Today I am making a turkey sausage and zucchini soup as it is still pretty cold .. but later this week, I think I'll make a tom yum soup which feels more "spring like"!

I survived the week of many social events without any major missteps .. weight is holding steady but I am ready to drop a few lb. I am grateful for not gaining through the winter but I am not happy with just maintaining. I have a significant amount yet to lose and I need some actual progress. I am going to give either a fast day or very low calorie day a try-- just to spark some motivation and break a few habits that have slipped in. My coming work week is heavily administrative -- I am staffing up my team for a new 4 yr project so the week is full of interviews and a ridiculous amount of paperwork to onboard those we've hired. These are the kind of days I am more likely to pick and snack ... but I have lots of little tomatoes and fresh veggies so no excuse for not sticking to plan.

I am having lots of issues with my eyes lately-- I know I need to update my prescription on my glasses. That won't address the depth perception and double vision but I do know it will help. I am hoping to at least improve things enough that I can walk on the open road without too much anxiety. In the meantime, I need to pull out my pilates for weight loss videos. I don't see any reason my vision will cause issues with them. Also need to get back into the swing of using the jump rope! It's perfect for 10-15 min breaks through the day!

Looking forward to a good week-- for me and for you!

The last week went well, not as much weight loss but it continued in a downward direction. We had a few days without rain and I was able to get some long walks in. The rain depresses me, which negatively affects my productivity, both excercise and household. Raining again today, groan.

This week I will have dinner out at least 3x so it is going to be challenging.

Sorry for the cold weather. We have had really nice spring days, but the pollen is already out of control! We are at April levels. I washed my new car Saturday and it's already like I never did it. Oh well, at least it's green on top of green, lol.

DH is finally feeling better from his cold to grill, so we did that Saturday and took some over to MIL. She was also sick (not C**** either) so it was nice to see her. I did not catch it from either of them.

@legomom23, good luck with the blood work. We just got an email that we have our "free" annual screening on campus after spring break, so I will sign up for it. I was thinking of doing it through my primary care next week while on spring break, but this is with no copays if I do it on campus, and it's only a week later. Otherwise, I will have an office visit charge, and if there's anything that requires follow-up, I can then see him. He retires in June, so I do need to see him before that time.

Carbs were higher because of grilling, but I will work to get those down, but I did have beans. Did Zumba step Saturday and some weights and then Zumba with my sister on Sunday. I can really feel a difference between the Pilates and the weights.

I think our internet will be restored in our building today! It has been very frustrating, but it has been squirrels and raccoons that have damaged a lot of the cables. They even had to relocate a nest of baby squirrels through a wildlife rehabber.

Funky so sorry that your vision is such a challenge. Of course it sounds like you're used to challenges. I just wish you didn't have to have that one as well. I hope they can address it with a new prescription to some degree. Just to let you know with glasses I have 20/20 as it were. I am very nervous on an open road as well. There are people there and cars and they don't always mesh well.

Would you please give the name of your Pilates tapes. I could use all the help I can get. :-). And I've always envied it people speak of Pilates because I've always wanted to do it. :-).

Cold weather something we have to live with but I am so happy we are closer to Spring! I still do my squats and lunges on dog walk days before I start work outside wherever I am. In whatever weather. I won't allow myself any excuses. :-). I get funny looks but I just remind myself of all the ladies whom I see practicing their Tai Chi and yoga outside in front of everybody. I pretend to myself that it's my winter sport. :-). And then I love my run afterwards. Short and very sweet to be able to run.

Good luck with the blood work Lego! So glad you have reached the year mark. It's not an easy journey but it's an interesting one at least :-).

Guess what I was craving all this week. I can't eat them unless I make them myself and I'm basically too busy too right now but potato chips! DH made me some homemade fries and it wasn't quite exactly what I wanted but it was very close :-). I think we have to give in to our cravings occasionally. I eat potatoes quite frequently I just don't put anything on them except for salsa. I don't think baked or boiled potatoes are all that bad right? It's all the junk we put on which is really tasty.


I have not done very well with the weight training. In fact I don't use weights at all and I really need to because as you know no push-ups right now. My upper body strength is dismal. I'm glad you are finding that you can do it and you are seeing results.


Jill302 I must admit that I don't mind the rain. I thought I would begin to dislike it as I got older but it has not happened. I'm so sorry that it is a depressor for you. One of the things that I'm always saying to my sisters is take a little bit of a risk take a little bit of us action and build on it so maybe you could do that with rain take a bit of action go out for a while in it and that will be quiet your dislike of it because your brain will think oh she doesn't mind this. At least that's the theory of going with :-). Take what I say with a grain of salt as it usually works for most things for me but Monday still is an ugh for me :-( :-).

Gscience what a good idea to save money wherever you can. I would do the same and go get my blood work done where I don't have to pay quite so much or even any possibly. Glad your DH is better. My DD and her DH got sick and it is hanging on to her DH. Glad my DD's better. Hope my son-in-law will get better quickly.

Hugs to everyone and have a great week!

The Girl with the Pilates Mat

I've done a few of her videos!

Thanks, Yeonassky ... my vision issues are pretty much a way of life these days but I do find I am generally much more cautious since the issues escalated about 7 yr ago. I stopped driving about 4 yr ago.

Well, I am having chex mix for lunch today bc I can’t seem to plan ahead for our road trips to/from gymnastics meets. That’s how it’s going.

Sue you probably won't take my advice and nor should you or anybody else. I eat sardines and crackers to keep from junking out. Luckily DH also eats sardine and crackers. :-). We try to avoid restaurants and junk food as DH can't stomach it and my head can't take it.

Another thing we do is have boiled eggs at the ready in the fridge so I can just grab some. We do have a plug-in cooler which sits in the car ready for us. That also makes a difference.

Good luck figuring it out.

Fortunately/unfortunately, gymnastics season is almost over so I'll be running out of excuses. ("Unfortunately" only because it will be the end of DD's gymnastics career after 14 years and I think it's going to be quite an adjustment for her...) We do have another 6 hour drive this weekend and I have promised myself to pack a small cooler with healthy snacks. Total no-brainer but I have just been lazy. DS wedding is only 6 weeks away now so I need to pull myself together! I am going to try on my dress tomorrow for the first time since last summer...that should be motivating. Yikes.

@Sueb20 - good luck with the dress - and the car snacks!

I found Lesser Evil Popcorn to be a decent snack in lieu of potato chips. Less calories, not fried, coconut oil, decent fiber, salty and crunchy.

I've been working out this week, walking every day, had a good day of pickleball. I "think" my diet is ok. I'm wavering between stopping weighing myself and being content where I am while working on daily good habits - and tracking every calorie for a few weeks to see what I'm really eating! It's a tough choice :)

And I know this is a repeat - but sleep is so vital for me. Today I am tired - and I really feel like I'm chasing energy with food. I catch myself thinking a snack will turn my day around, make me feel better. I catch myself doing it all the time now, It's kind of fascinating, really. I never connected the two like that before.

I had a long day today and feel like I've "earned" a treat ... a really good burger, a steak, pasta .. this is one of my challenges so I opted to come here instead. Food isn't/shouldn't be a reward. It can get especially tricky for me because I think I deserve prizes and rewards all the time LOL :)

Otherwise my week has been good foodwise.. i haven't been tracking calories or fiber, etc but I have cut back on calories and I am feeling good. Mostly I am paying close attention to hunger-- eating only when I am actually hungry.

Safe travels, Sue .. and all the best to your DD this weekend!

This week I did add some quinoa to my salad and had beans twice. I did not yet make the chia pudding, but I bought some things to make it. Had follow up meeting with the student dietitian,and I will continue to work on fiber. . Workouts going well, Pilates going well. This upcoming week is spring break, and alhtough it will be a little chilly, I wil take this time to focus on healhty habits. Maybe I will book a massage or facial or some other type of spa treatment. I did a manicure yesterday, and since I did a pedicure about 2 weeks ago, I don’t really need one yet. Weight is good, down a little bit.

Yes, good luck to DD, Sue!

During our 6.5 hr drive yesterday, I had an orange and a protein bar. No “rest area” junk! Dinner last night was a salad with chicken and…well, a margarita. Baby steps. LOL

@Sueb20. Enjoy the meet I and take it all in. As you know those days won't last forever. I miss our on the road for volleyball trips. Such good memories for all of us.

GS sounds great-- I had more beans this week too and I will keep that up. I like them and they are sooo filling! And thanks for mentioning facials, massages etc .. your post encouraged me to use self care kinda things for "treats".. the next bunch of weeks are going to be a strain and my birthday is in April. I will definitely be wanting treats and rewards that are not food! I think I may get some new sneakers too-- I have been wanting to try the On Cloud sneakers ever since I bought my niece a pair in Oct.

Sue, great roadtrip options! Hope you have a great trip! Is this the weekend in PA? I had actually thought about going into Phila today but nixed that when the temps plummeted. Among other things, I wanted to go to the Weitzman museum downtown to choose another trovelore pin for my jean jacket.

Instead, I will make a pot of soup today -- not sure what as yet. I have to consult the pantry and go from there. I am also going to do some shopping for tops and/or jewelry to up my video game. I have been doing 5-6 interviews a week and I have been looking blah. i want to perk up my look!

Funky, we are staying in Phoenixville, which has a very cute downtown!