I’ve slacked with my 10,000 steps and my diet has been tricky. Up in my weight. I plan to get on track this week.

Oh, eld, I could write the same!

I’m just so happy I can go back to full Pilates. I did weight bearing on my arm with a plank on the reformer and no pain, so I was pretty happy about that. I really need to up my resistance trainign game in 2024. That will be my focus. Honestly it’s more about consistency than anything! As we talk in class, not enough people exercise, particularly resistance training, so too many people get into the weeds about sets, reps, etc., not focusing on that more people just need to do it, and do it consistently.

2-3 days per week, but honestly 4-5 is better.

8-10 different exercise focusing on different muscle groups, 48 hours between workouts for same muscle groups, don’t let the exercises get stale

reps really don’t matter, 8-12 is general but anything works as long as last few are challenging, if you want strength you need to work up to higher weights with lower reps in 6-8 range.

What you do doesn’t matter: free weights, machines, bands, bodyweight, TRX,

One thing that is frustrating is that the Y is once again raising their prices. I am not sure if I go enough to justify going. I go more in the summer. They are closed today but open tomorrow. I will be paying $84 per month! Plus I pay for Pilates private lessons and small group classes (I buy packages so I get a bulk pricing but still not cheap), and virtual Zumba. So, I am paying a lot for fitness.

I’m supposed to have a weight management appointment this week, so we’ll see what suggestions they have for me. My last A1C is back up to 5.7 so I need to make better changes.

Good news mammogram was clear even though the hematoma is still there a little bit, but I’m dealing with another female health issue that needs follow up and likey some kind of procedure. After losing my colleague to ovarian cancer in April not something to mess around with any GYN issues. But at least it’s not that.

Today for NYE DH will grill a tenderloin since it’s a nice day, and we’ll have some green beans and roasted potatoes with it.

Whew that was longer than I planned!

Eld I am sure you will get your program back to where you like it to be. How can we resist all the temptations of Christmas etc so everyone is in the same boat.

Gscience so glad your hematoma is not an issue. So sorry you are dealing with more health issues. I hope everything is cleared up quickly. Hugs to you.

I am probably a good candidate for adding more weight training. I do body weight training three times a week which include 2 sets of 80 lunges and two sets of 40 squats. I also do two sets of 25 to 30 jumping jacks depending on how energetic I'm feeling. And the other exercise I do is two sets of 25 or 30 of skip rope. I do not do any weights.

Also very little jogging

Despite Christmas and New year's the above Exercise still happened. I am doing my regular 3 days a week program Plus have added 2 days a week going exercise dancing. I go to Zumba and bolly x at the y. As long as I'm going we will continue to stay signed up but the minute we stop going three times a week approximately and using all the equipment that's when we will just decide no.

Of course no weight loss but it looks like I could be able to lose some weight as for some reason my hypoglycemia has calmed down. Doctor thinks it's the intermittent fasting. She says that because I allow my body to rest from around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. to around 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. the next day I have not been over taxing whatever it is that causes hypoglycemia. I still have to be careful and eat some cheese and sardines when my blood sugar tanks and everything looks black. Like I said before though there's no longer a worry about passing out.

I like yeonassky's routine. I'd like to copy THAT.

My right knee is sore from jogging 4.5miles. I'm wearing a knee brace and going again today. Twice a week seems to be ALL my knees can stand. Walking every day is my new goal, on the treadmill. The weather at my house is snowed in trails, icy...could-fall-down roads, cars-could-run-you-over. :0) I can drive 3 miles to a high school track and the weather is clear. I've gotton lazy.

They added rubber bands, one on each side of the full mouth-metal-dental-braces. Now my teeth hurt. I made turkey burgers, those are soft enough to eat. But...now...sucking on Reeses Peanut Butter Cups is a thang. Ooops....

I am getting back on track. DH and I are doing our version of Dry January, which is only drinking once a week, and then only one. If we go out to dinner, I do like a glass of wine. I rarely drink unless we are out or entertaining, but between traveling and the holidays, cocktails have added far too many calories to my life over the last few months. We are at our beach house this week, so no access to our ”home gym” which is just a Peloton, but I am walking every day. Making a big batch of vegetarian chili today. We can have leftovers for lunch for a few days. Getting back on the best ”diet” (hate that word, it’s really just eating well) that works for me, which is no sugar, no bread, very little dairy, and lots of veggies and protein. Mark Hyman’s pegan diet worked well for me a couple years ago so that is essentially what I’m getting back to.

I have had a foot problem that is just an annoying pain on one side. It has probably been a year. I waited a long time to complain to my pcp, who sent me to a podiatrist, had MRI and 2 cortisone shots, etc…now trying PT. The MRI showed a ”soft tissue mass” so the podiatrist wants me to see an orthopedic oncologist, just to rule out anything scary. The PT thinks it’s a compressed nerve. Anyway, I hope to get this all sorted out this year! Just the thought of being in an oncologist’s office makes me nervous! I doubt it’s anything ominous, but my cousin died from a cancer that started in his thigh muscle so that is the only thing that makes me think, ok, better look at every possibility.

You are all very motivational! I'm impressed with all the exercise especially. I have not been on a good track for the last couple months. I didn't adjust well at all to the change in weather. It threw me into a funk last year, and I'm seeing a pattern this year. I'm always cold and I don't want to leave the house. Spend way too much time sitting under a blanket being very unproductive.

Luckily, I am going south for a couple weeks this Thursday. That will help, but I also need to be better about "blooming where I am planted," and having a better routine when I'm home. I'm not depressed, but I definitely become apathetic during the winter months.

I have been better with drinking my water. I have a 33 oz bottle to help me track. I have switched to hot tea in the evenings. I don't have wine at home anymore, only when out to dinner or at a party and I have cut back significantly then. I would like to cut it out completely, but I just really enjoy it, so I'm not there yet. Food choices have not been great -so much sugar and snacks around these past few weeks. Somehow I haven't gained any weight, which is a plus, but I definitely don't feel as good in my body and my mood has been altogether more "blah" without my usual food and exercise routine.

We started the New Year with our annual hike!!!

According to Garmin, it is my 4th year to do so. I got the SmartStart Badge for doing a strenuous activity on New Years Day. I laughed when I read it, because it says repeatable, but a maximum of 250....LOL. Started too late, dang it!!!

The hake was wonderful, with a BIG group of hikers. Normally, there are about 10 in this group, and this time, 20 or so. About 1/2 were in the 50-ish age group, 5 or so in our 60's, and several that are about 70. The trail started out with a fairly steep rise, and everyone settling wardrobes and things, so we stood still a good bit, until the groups got their own space and pace worked out.

This week,it is back to daily Pilates. We are doing some sort of Reset program at the studio, but she sent out a message that she wants us to do some sort of green drink in the morning, and we should stock up on protien powder, peanut butter powder, and bananas for smoothies. I will do the green stuff(includes vitamins, minerals, pro- and prebiotics), but my intestines despise that powdered protien, and The smoothies just trigger cravings, so I am passing on those.

I told her my word is Balance. I need to balance my Horse work, Pilates, and the other animals, plus housework, and then, mowing in the Spring and Summer. DH has to work in gym time.

Happy New Year!

Jumping on board!
I would like to lose 20, but would be happy with 10.

Today I did a spin class and walked 7,000 steps with a friend. Ate fairly well. Biggest weakness is carbs. I cheated and ate some crackers that were wafer thin. Think host at church 🤪. Even with them being host like, I ate too many. They crunched. Chrunch is also a weakness 🤪

I am going to try and walk every day. I can do this and be consistent when I have a walk and talk buddy. A great chatty phone call gets my steps in also. Not always easy and sometimes difficult to get someone every day. 5,000 steps a day and a class would be ideal.

I read a book over my school break that inspired me to look into Rucking. I knew of this for many years...my son would sometimes bring a backpack with a 25 lb dumbell in it on our walks, some guys in my neighborhood are seen doing this. I decided to try it yesterday to power up my morning walk (2-4 miles depending on day). Yesterday we went 2.5 miles and I added 2 (5 lb) dumbells wrapped in a towel in my excellent backpack (has shoulder and hip straps, fully adjustable). It felt great but added a little extra effort. I'm going to up my weight weekly until I'm at 30% of my body weight. Further incentive to lose some body weight LOL! Here is an article about rucking.

https://www.twopct.com/p/why-women-should-ruck?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

My nephew does Rucking ,,, his hikes are pretty intense but I could see it would be a benefit for my level walking. I tend to carry all my stress in my shoulders and back so a backpack with a hip strap would be key, i think. Something to keep in mind when I pick up longer outdoor walks in spring (yep, I have become a cold wimp!)

Ive done fairly well with eating this week-- a busy work schedule helped that. Also, my appetite is down. No idea why my appetite is down but happy to roll with it.

I was down .8 lb this am-- but I was holding my phone so I am going to mentally mark it as 1lb down lol. Not going to get too excited yet. I need to see more consistent losses ... but it's a good start and I plan to keep it going!

How did you all do this week?

Loving all these positive posts! Had a good Pilates private lesson on the Cadillac machine, which is much higher off the ground from the other reformers, and I did the small group reformer yesterday. I’m also trying to use my treadmill in the evenings.

Had the weight management appointment, and I was up 3 lbs. from my last visit, which is not bad given the holidays and my recent setbacks. So, I am taking the plunge and am going to try Zepbound. I just have to wait for it to come in. I got the savings card from Lily but it will still be $500 per month. I am fortunate at this point of my life I can do this. Especially after my newest female problem which can also be an obesity related issue it is enough to put me over the edge.

I saw that Zepbound was approved but I havent read much about it. I am pretty committed to taking on my weight-loss goals without drugs-- at least as long as I know there are areas for me to improve. I KNOW i can improve my eating and more so my exercise. I am not completely opposed to drugs as a tool but I am committed to doing all I can on my own. I can always reevaluate-- but I am interested in hearing about your experiences, GS!

Zepbound is the weight management drug that is originally Mounjaro for diabetes, just like Wegovy is to Ozempic. It works on two gut hormones vs. 1 and seems to be even more effective. I have a professional contact who has done incredibly well on it. So, they’re both drugs that have been around for awhile. One of the things it does is reduce appetite and ”food noise” so this should be interesting. You still have to do lifestyle change, so it’s everything in combination. But with A1c, watching BP, female problems all tied to weight, it is time.

Checking in before the week concludes... my eating has been good, and I'm back on track after the holidays. I'm shifting my diet a bit, still focusing on protein but getting more from non-meat sources. I'm not going vegetarian entirely, but when I amped up the protein last summer/fall, I relied too much on meat.

I've had 2 good workouts with weights this week, as well as 3-4 walks, and a few yoga sessions (just at home). I find yoga feels so good in the winter, slow and stretchy. I incorporate a lot of plank work into my routine, which helps with my core.

I have a flexible work schedule this month, and between this and the holidays, I've gotten into the bad habit of staying up late, reading or watching a movie. Then, I sleep later in the mornings. It's all fine, except that with winter's shorter days, I feel like I'm not getting enough sunlight hours. I need to shift my sleep schedule.

Congratulations to everyone on your successes, especially this time of year! Thoughts are with those of you with health issues, and I hope they're resolved soon. Hang in there.

I just bought a weighted vest! I walk with friends at least once a week but they walk at a leisurely pace and I always think, well that didn’t count as exercise. So I am going to wear the vest at least for those walks, and see how I feel.