Hi all.. nothing really new to report. I continue to press forward but my motivation isn't as strong as I'd like.. I am in a phase of change and don't seem to have a good pattern. My work hours have changed as has my eating. I thinkin I am doing pretty well with my calories but more than once, I have eaten more than I needed. I need to better and more quickly identify that I have had enough. I have been going all day without eating and then having a mid-size to large meal that leaves me uncomfortable. I need to either eat smaller meals more frequently or recognize that I don't need to eat a full meal or all on my plate. I suspect this change is because i am not eating many salads and have increased my protein.

Not much going on exercise or activity wise. I have been slightly more active but nothing regimented. I need to get moving. I am soft and not strong. While I have limitations, there is plenty I can do.. I just need to carve out the time and make it a priority. I think I was saying the same thing last year ... and three months ago. I need to "just do it"!

I think the difference this time for me has been the accountability and the CGM data. Having a health coach that I meet with has really helped me. She has taught me a lot, and also is now someone to help hold me accountable. That's a big deal for my particular personality. I always have new goals and things to work towards that I have to report on next time we meet. And for me that has kept the changes in the front of my mind and also given me lots of mini type goals along the way to work toward.

Also, changing my mindset to aging well and not just losing weight does take some of the pressure off when the scale doesn't change. I know there are certain foods that are better for my health, and I know exercise is key to staying strong as I age. Having elderly parents, each aging in different health directions, helps keep me motivated to grow older as heathily as I can.

I still would like to lose some more weight, and I have lots of room to get healthier. I continue to concentrate on getting stronger, growing some muscles, and drinking alcohol less often- and eating less chips! .

Overall the last week was good for me. My weight went up only .2 of a pound and we spent quite a bit of time eating away from home with unknown calorie counts. Not sure how I gained so little, it it may catch up on me this week. I have been good at keeping up with weight bearing excercises but not at my cardio. Lots to work on but I am not stressing just moving forward.

We leave for vacation next week, we have a combined land vacation and cruise. My downfall is at sea days, we will have 5 out of our 17 day trip, all toward the end of our trip. I need to take advantage of the gym and put in my time on those days. We have 5 days pre-cruise and 7 port days, I am sure we will get a lot of walking in each of those days, we love to explore, but it is likely we will enjoy our food so losing additional weight is probably not in the cards.

Sounds like a great trip, Jill... hopefully you do as well as you did this last week. I find as long as I stick to "real food" vs processed foods and junk foods, I can have some variations without gaining. I might not lose.. but I don't gain.

I haven't been weighing much lately. I got tired of not seeing the needle move. I think I will return to counting calories for a week or two since my eating has changed .. and if I am counting, I'll restart on the scale too. I need a kickstart!

I guess I'm "Cheating" in a sense....

I've been on 1/week Ozempic since November. Got moved up to the 1mg dose in Feb., after starting @ the 0.25mg for a month. Then 0.50mg. Was diagnosed as "Type 2" 5 yrs (??) ago. Got put on the almost universal Metformin at that time. After being on the 1.0mg for a couple months, I get SO FULL with so little food! I know that's the whole point....but it's still so strange!

Anyhoo-

Down to 277lbs. now!! Hopefully I'll get to 250. A1C is a click below 7.0!!

Faron

Great progress, Faron! However you get there, being healthier is the shared goal. Congrats!

"just making me more mindful..." mindfulness is a tool for so many of our health improvements, Thank you for the reminder, @Feathers11. I need to keep working on this!

I'm back from my traveling and of course the scale is up a few pounds as always seems to happen. I'm trying to quickly get back on track. I was not nearly as strict with my eating this trip. I am trying for some fasting days, maybe a 36 hour one, no alcohol, and my coach wants me to try 3-4 days of really strict keto once a month. That keto part seems doable. I have grown fond of eating though, so I am finding the fasting more difficult than anticipated.

Welcome home, Legomom!

I just saw this recipe come through email this morning and think I'll give it a try (will need to swap out yogurt but all else should work). I just had groceries delivered early this am and don't have cauliflower but I'll pick some up at the farmer's market this weekend.

I would try first without bread/rolls.. I don't completely cut out whole grain breads but I eliminate when I can.

Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches Recipe - NYT Cooking (nytimes.com)

Funky, I just saw that recipe this morning, and the only downfall for me is the lack of good protein. I'll end up swapping the cauliflower for chicken anyway! I love that combo of flavors, though. I have a Vadouvan curry mix that I really enjoy.

yes, good point. It has walnuts and that's about it as far as protein.. I love cauliflower tacos but they didn't stick with me long. That said, if i like the recipe, it will be good for summer when I like to keep at least one of my meals pretty light. Also, since I don't intend to put it in a roll, it could be a side salad to pair with something(s) else.

Oh, yes, it would make a nice side salad!

Congratulations @Faron79 on the weight loss and A1C progress! Huge achievements!

Really great to hear @legomom23 finding a system that works for you. I think that's definitely the key.

I am working really hard to motivate myself out of a bit of a rut. I am slowly losing a few winter pounds, but am really really struggling to take any off. I've been working hard to do 2x 36hr fasts per week and it's helping budge the scale a little, but not much. Frustrating for sure. Otherwise I'm trying to focus on eating healthy foods and being more mindful of snacking. I've also been doing well sticking with my no alcohol during the week plan to keep my alcohol consumption really low. It's never been a big problem for me, but I feel it is healthier for me personally to not drink alcohol most of the week, and then only in moderation when I do. Today is another 36 hour fast. Wish me luck as I power through this.

As far as exercise, I am struggling with a really sore shoulder/back/side/arm situation. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong, but basically any effort with my left arm, especially over my head, is quite painful. Sometimes it's been painful just doing nothing at all. I took an extra day off of swimming (between normal non-swimming days) to try to rest it and it's a little better. Massage this Friday evening should help too. Meanwhile I'm trying to keep running (weather is finally warming up) and swimming most of my other normal days. My sweet sassy dog has been a little aggravating to run with. I want to speed up our runs a bit, but she just doesn't. It's important to get her exercise too, so I won't leave her behind. I did have the vet check her last year when she was doing this to make certain nothing was wrong.

One frustration I ran into last weekend: photos. I am terrible at posing and apparently I sometimes pick unflattering clothes. We had a big get together at our house and the group decided to do a group photo quickly with a phone. I was wearing a brand new shirt and feeling reasonable about myself after my weight loss over the last year. But when I see the photo, somehow I'm sticking my stomach out and my shirt is bunched up unflattering. Bottom line, I look like I have a gut. I don't think I do, but that's sure what it looks like. UGH.

On a positive note, the ladies at our get together (that are mostly younger than me) commented on how good my skin is looking. I do hope that's a reflection of trying to eat healthy for many years (despite over consuming calories through certain periods) and I hope I can keep it up. I certainly can see some aging in my face and definitely in my body, but I hope my efforts to take care of myself, eat nutritious foods, get plenty of exercise, make a difference in the long run.

On a final note, I am really bothered by the judgement I sometimes hear about peoples' weight and bodies. A woman I know is beautiful and has always been thin, sometimes extremely so. She has never once had to worry about her weight. She exercises to have a body builder type body and it shows. But she has never in the 25 years I've known her needed to do anything special to maintain or lose weight. She made a comment about a lady at her gym, who in her words, was heavy but was working out a lot. She commented that the lady must not be eating well, otherwise she would be thinner. It really got under my skin. Ever since adulthood, I have struggled with my weight. Even when I am exercising 6-7 days / week and eating healthy foods, I absolutely still struggle with my weight. This is the first time in a long time that I've felt like I am making progress and it has taken an unbelievable amount of self control and quite honestly, hunger, to get here. Every body is different. Different metabolism. Different capacity for building muscle. Different bone structure. The amount of effort one person might need to put in to maintain a healthy body weight is different than the amount of effort another person may need to put in. And I am so sick and tired of the judgement and the assumption that being fit and thin only requires exercise. I didn't know what to say to her so I said nothing, but I wish I'd had a thoughtful way to help her understand that not everyone has the same experience that she does with weight. Apologies for ranting, but I feel like I don't have anyone with whom to share that frustration.

@pricklypearcactus - I hear you on your rant! It's just not that easy for a lot of people. A lot of the people I listent to bring up the point that obesity and all its health impacts has literally boomed in the last couple decades. There have to be some societal reasons for that. We all just didn't get lazy all of a sudden. I know for me personally, I have some ingrained love of fast food, grease, chips, etc that I go back to for emotional reasons. The salt, fat addiction is real for me. If you don't know how to cook, or don't like to cook, it's almost impossible to eat well. Even eating salads out - it's not real cheese, the dressing is loaded with junk, etc. You have to go so far against the current food system to find truly healthy choices. It's not easy. And there are a lot of studies about how your body changes once you gain weight that makes it even more difficult to lose again and again .And then the loss of muscle - any kind of quick weight loss, is likely to result in the loss of muscle instead of just fat. And without muscle, your metobolism decreases, your insulin resistance increases. It's a vicious circle!

I'm sorry about the picture too - I know that's not a big deal in the big picture, but it is to me too. Vain I know, but I have started taking a selfie in my outfit before big occassions. Because some outifits, as cute as they are, just aren't flattering in pictures. Also - I am impressed with 2 -36 hour fasts a week! I could never do that! I didn't even make it 24 hours yesterday. I did do strict keto for lunch and only had the one meal. I was back down some today. It is effective to get me back on track after vacations though.

@Feathers11 - Great work on the strength training! I am getting better, but not consistent enough with that yet. I think it's a big key! Nutrition first for me, then weights. It's still a goal I'm working towards.

I can't open the recipe, but I love all things cauliflower and walnuts, so I'm sure it's a good one!

@jill302 - Enjoy all the good things on your trip! It sounds amazing.

An alternative to the cauliflower salad. If you want to avoid the bread, wrap in a big piece of lettuce.

https://inmyownstyle.com/chickpea-deli-style-sandwich-recipe-wfpb.html

I've mentioned before that we starting eating low carb and IF at the beginning of the year. My A1c went from 7.1 to 5.8 and I've cut my meds in half and stopped my BP meds. We feel great. We have lost some weight but have been at a plateau for several weeks. We went on vacation last week, cheated some but didn't go crazy, and really didn't gain any back. That was a win for sure.

I have been exercising but my right knee just kills be afterwards. I was told many years ago that I would get new ones at some point. Like KSWL, it's hard to know when that time is here.

Here's to a good end of the week!

@legomom23 that's so smart about taking a selfie. Maybe I can give that a try. I struggle to know if it's aging or something else that makes weight management more difficult every year. As a vegetarian, and now gluten free, I don't even eat fast food and so many of the potentially unhealthy things I liked are off-limits now too (desserts, pastries, bread, etc) so you'd think it would be easy to manage, but it's still not.

@RNmomof2 zone 5 congratulations on the A1C improvements! That's phenomenal! And fantatsic that you've been able to cut meds. Similarly I was able to cut my thyroid meds (though haven't been able to eliminate fully). I too am working on my A1C. It was creeping up and I wanted to do better before it became harder to turn it around. I hope you can find some exercise that doesn't hurt your knee. As an avid lap swimmer, that's what I'd suggest!

Woo-hoo on the A1C drops for RNmom and Faron! This is great news.

Add me to the "plateau" group. My weight has been bouncing around 1 lb or so for awhile. I am just planning that once the exams/semester is over, I can regroup. My birthday is early June, and I'd really like to be down a few more lbs. by then. That being said, gotta think of the long haul. I'll do another body comp with the BodPod next week. I know I have put on some muscle mass. Still, I think there will be some small positive changes.

I had managed to lose a few lbs before DS’s wedding, but made the mistake of arriving in town 4 days before the wedding and eating and drinking too much. By the time I put my dress on, oof, I had to suck in my gut. Of course I look at the pics now and my eye goes to my fat arms … and the video of me dancing with DS? Well, he is 6’3” and thin, I am 5’2” and not thin…and yeah, I am too critical of myself. But I wish I had been more disciplined and lost about 10 lbs.

Now I am re-focused. We are going on a vacation that involves a lot of hiking in about a month, so I need to get out there and practice!

I have been a terrible supporter ... work days have been crazy hectic and eye strain has me staying away from the computer in the evenings. Things should get better soon-- at least my 10 new team members should get settled in soon. Hopefully new glasses will help too (crossing fingers)

So impressed to see your improved A1Cs Faron and RNmom! Amazing!

@pricklypearcactus and @legomom23 I am also working through the plateaus and diminishing motivation. I think it is natural to hit these moments in a long health and weight-loss journey but this is testing me. I am also struggling with my appearance as my face is even more loose and fleshy than before. It doesn't help that I have to see my face on camera every day.

I try to stay focused on the benefits to my general health but it really isn't enough for me right now. I need to make visible, measurable progress. I am back on IF.. eliminated any of the occasional "treats" and exceptions that test the limits of my healthy eating. No real progress yet but I think i will get some payback soon.

@Sueb20 you looked beautiful at the wedding! We'll all pick ourselves apart in photos but we don't see ourselves as others do. No one looks at a photo and sees arms (except maybe my mother) ... they see your style.. your joy and happiness ..

Oh a vacation coming up! I think a vacation is great motivation to get out and hike and increase stamina! Are you going somewhere fun?

Have a great day all-- it is gray, wet and windy here but it IS Friday!

We are going to the Azores! First time. Taking DD for a graduation celebration. She has earned a vacation!