I don't have much to report -- I have been eating dumb meals, grabbing what is easy when I can (Tonight it was toast and an apple) and while I have been somewhat more active, no real focus on exercise. It's that crazy time of year.

I get a booster tomorrow and expect to be semi-down for a day (based on past boosters) ... from there I need to cook for Christmas Eve, assemble/wrap gifts and pack for my trip and be charming and social. :) And then clean the house! Pretty much what we'll all be doing, right?

I am a little bummed that I didnt make a hair appt in time -- bleh. I'll just throw it up in a clip and make do!

How are you all doing?

Not much new here either - but I have not been exercising and I can tell - mainly from a mental health and sleep aspect. Exercise just makes me feel better, but when I am busy and out of the routine, I just can't get myself back into the groove.

Food wise, I've been ok. Not great, but ok. This is another busy week coming up. Exercise will probably be cleaning the house and shopping :)

Good luck with your booster tomorrow Funky!

I’m fine to wait until the new year and we can all start fresh!

Enjoy your holidays everyone! Funky, don't give it another thought...after New Year's we can all re-commit! Enjoy your travels!

Eld, just to be clear -- I believe Jmck is referring to my note in the OP saying I would likely be unavailable to start the threads the next 2 Sundays. I don't think any of us are saying we're going to wait to start working on our improvements until the new year .. please feel free to start the threads if I do not.

I just received a grocery delivery with all I need to make a pot of soup. I think that is going to be the key to get through the next few days of holiday prep with healthy, low-cal meals.

I’ve examined my weekly Lose It! app summaries for the past two weeks and see I am not getting enough protein, so I’m going to make an effort to ramp that up. FYI, to determine the number of grams of protein women need daily, multipy your weight in pound by 0.36. It’s the recommended amount and of course doesn’t apply to all cases, but it’s a good quick check of where you are.

Although I haven’t been exercising per se (except for the three dog walks per day up our street’s very steep hill) I lost almost 3 pounds this week even though I was at or up to 100 cal over my calorie count for each day. Apparently I am grossly underestimating the exercise value of babysitting! Not trying to lose but not really concerned, which is my new attitude about weight. According to the calculators I **could** stand to lose 10 to 15 lbs but my doctor is happy so I’m not going to worry about it—-although I may be singing another tune by January 1st 😁

hmm Eld ... you didnt need to delete your post! I was just explaining where I think Jmck was coming from. You still had a valuable update!

And great attitude, Kswl ... I hope I will get to a place where I can have that attitude -and- keep up healthy behaviors. I am too quick to go there now-- when I still have a lot to lose.

<< FYI, to determine the number of grams of protein women need daily, multipy your weight in pound by 0.36. >>

omg! I'd have to eat a side of beef!! 😂

Funky, we can’t filll in for you because we will be busy eating cookies 😀

LOL!

Funky, thank you! I just thought I sounded snarky, which wasn't my intention.

FWIW Eld, I read your comment and thought you were just stating your truth (I think Funky would agree), and didn’t think it was snarky. We all approach healthy from different places, it’s always educational to read how others are managing.

No no, Eld.. I didnt think you sounded snarky at all! In fact, I thought it was a good reminder to stick with it even with some days of indulgence! I appreciate your inputs!

I hope *I* didn't sound snarky ... sometimes I am more direct than works well in print (vs IRL conversations)

I've been getting on the treadmill 30 min a day. Wore my knee brace and ran the park w/ DH yesterday. I'm trying NOT to add any more stress to our household by getting a dog or puppy. But...I'd get out more if I had one. :0)

Nicole, wait until it is warmer.

Well, I weighed myself for the first time in .. well, I don't know. I haven't been weighing all that consistently. It's been at least 10 days --- and well, I had a stomach bug so figured it was a good time to weigh LOL! I am down 5 lb from the last time I weighed-- 2lb down from my lowest weight thus far.

I am happy to see the lower numbers but I am not feeling like I am down. My face is looking fleshy but I guess that is normal each time I lose, it takes my face a little time to tighten up. I guess at almost 60, it may not continue to tighten :(

Hoping to stay on this path now .. seeing lower numbers is motivating!

Correction: When I went to log my weight in myfitnesstracker, i discovered I am back at my lowest weight. Not 2 lb below ... still it's movement in the right direction! I intend to keep it moving!

I am back! I've missed checking in the past two weeks. We had exams and final grading. Now I'm scurrying to get Christmas cards mailed, gifts ordered and wrapped, etc. I go back to the orthopedic tomorrow so maybe good news on my wrist. I've had Pilates private lessons which have gone well, but I seem to have strained a gluteal muscle from yesterday. Have been doing Zumba so that is good and doing lower body and core work here at home.

Eating could be better for sure. Weight is kind of stagnated. Tracking could be much better. Ugh. I guess I can take this downtime to really try to hunker down while I am on winter break.

I'm willing to start the thread on Sunday. We aren't going anywhere.

Glad to see you, Gscience! Also glad to hear you are healing and doing well!

I think using the slower winter months (excepting the actual holidays) to regroup and restart is a great plan! I will join as soon as I return from vacation! I should be too out of bounds eating wise while on vacation.

Yes, please do start the thread on Sunday (you are welcome to start it any Sunday if you beat me to it!). I will be here but very busy. Sunday the 31st I will be out of town. I may check in but it would be great if you could start the weekly thread! Thanks-- I'd love to see the momentum pick up again after Christmas!

OMG, can I tell you all how much i LOVE Ashley, the girl who cut my hair today? I said something about my thinning hair, and welcome to old age. She lamented that turning 30 (!!!) had been hard, and she was really dreading 40 (!!!!!) in about 6 months, so I said WAIT until you get to 65, like me.....at which point she stopped dead, and said, NO WAY you are 65! The girl in the station across said, "What??".

I LOVE Ashley.

Just have to share a meal we had last night that was so simple but yummy. We had spaghetti squash with chicken meatballs (meatballs were pre-made from whole foods) with a sauce made just from canned marzano tomatoes with some seasoning added. We almost never have pasta any more so it was easy to convince my taste buds that I was having spaghetti and meatballs!

Oh I haven't had spaghetti squash in ages. I never quite embraced it. I like it ok but I never loved it. I should try it again. I have been slipping on my veggie intake lately.

I have also heard the lentil pastas are pretty good -- specifically the one at Trader Joe's. I also really like the Bio Naturae whole wheat pasta. It isnt gummy and doesn't have the flour taste that a lot of whole wheat pastas do. I don't have pasta often either but every couple of months, I really enjoy it.

I didn't weigh this morning but I am feeling better about myself knowing I am at/around my lowest weight. I am still not eating normally-- sticking to soup, eggs and toast for now but I am thinking about some healthy "date night" meals for next week. It is funny how just a little progress gives me so much more resolve and motivation!

Speaking of motivation-- I need to get moving!

I love Ashley, too!

Not much to report. My eating has been good, but my exercise is still down. I'd like to get it back to the point at which it was prior to Thanksgiving, when I caught C'vid.

Funky, enjoy the next few weeks!