The Me I Want To Be...Week of 4/19

[buffygirl]

I missed the thread last week, anyone else? But I couldn't think up anything clever as a topic. Well, I'm not much better off this week, but decided to start it anyway

I think we are 3-ish weeks into our psuedo 2 month challenge. How is everyone doing? Are you sticking with it? Or are you starting to lose motivation? What are you doing to keep yourself going?

I've been doing well with exercise, but not as well with eating. To keep myself going I've joined a little support group at my church which convenes this week for the first time and will go for the next 11 weeks.

How is everyone else doing?

BK

[pbutterfly]

I'm not seeing any changes, but I'm sticking with the exercise and working on making some small changes to my eating. Mostly, right now, I'm trying to not feel discouraged and working on motivating, postive self-talk.

One day at a time.... and remembering how far I've come (and that I don't want to slide backwards) is keeping me pushing forward.


lynne

[greysangel]

I definitely missed you all last week! But I was feeling too spread out to really focus here which is why I didn't come up with a topic I realized that the Self challenge was not giving me enough accountability. I started emailing a friend of mine who is also needing an @ss kicking and we email each other daily points totals and daily activity along with highs and lows. The highs and lows for the day can be weight related or not. It really helps to kind of focus on the total picture and not get sucked into one negative thing or one component of your life. We've done it all week and both are feeling the benefits of doing so. I'm still struggling for a compromise. My goal right now is to get back to where I was last summer which was the healthiest I felt and strongest I looked. Another goal is to abandon the all or nothing which gets me nowhere. I have to be moderate if I want to make this a lifestyle and I want to really learn to maintain. Eating 1000 calories for 4 days followed by a 4000 calorie day just doesn't cut the mustard and it's not any more "normal" than being severely overweight. We're also in the same "mental" place so it helps to have someone who knows your history and knows what you are trying to acheive.

I highly recommend highs and lows

My highs for yesterday:
Stopping when I hit the top of my points range for the day which meant around 7pm for me last night which was hard...but sometimes you just gotta say no.
Finding an awesome house!
More latex

My low:
Going to bed with a growly stomach - change that by spreading my weekend points out a little more..try to stay close to what I do during the week.
Food shopping - always a chore

Thanks for starting this Kim!

JeAnne

[buffygirl]

Ooooh, good idea, I love the highs and lows. There was a good movie a few years back (The Story of Us) where the family discussed their highs and lows everyday at dinner. I love that!

Highs yesterday...ordering a yummy salad at brunch even though everyone else was having "bad" stuff. I listened to what my body said it wanted and it said "I want a salad with some VEGGIES".

Lows...skipping exercise for the last week b/c of all of my pet issues. Just haven't had the energy. Eating ice cream as supper last night. Note to self, Go grocery shopping!!!!

JeAnne, congrats on the house. Tell us all about it!!!

Lynne, great job on sticking with it!

BK

[pbutterfly]

I love the highs and lows idea as well. I've had a post-it on my computer for the last month or so with something similar on it that I've been meaning to try --- that I haven't gotten to it is a sign that I need to re-prioritize a few things, I guess.

This is what the post-it says (it's from the book Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection by Gregg Krech):

"Daily: Make a list in response to these three questions:
1. What did I recieve today from others?
2. What did I give to others today?
3. What troubles and difficulties did I cause others today?

At the end of your week, review your list and write a thank you note to one person for something specific s/he gave to you or did for you."

Someday soon, I'm going to give that a try.

But, for today - so far- here's my highs and lows:
High: Realizing that I needed to take time to pamper myself and making the time to do so.
Low: Choosing a cookie as a snack when something healthier would, in retrospect, have been just as satisfying.

lynne

[nixmom]

Hi everyone!

We do something similar at dinner most nights, but our version is "tell me something new or something interesting that happened today." We usually spark some great conversations with that one! Here are my highs and lows:

Highs:
Taking 2 days off last week to spend with DS who was on spring break.
Working up the courage to step on the scale and face the music.
Talking to a friend I haven't talked to in quite a while.
Counting my points for the first time an a long time.

Lows:
Realizing that falling off the wagon means gaining 7 lbs

Lisa

[Kayaksoup]

Hi everyone! I am really starting to need this thread./ i don't know what's wrong, but I can't seem to get back on the wagon.

Highs yesterday:

-Choosing the grapefruit over the scone.
-Walkingt to and from class instead of taking the bus

Lows:

-Not making it to Curves
-Having a late-night, post-hockey binge on leftover roast beef And a spoonful of peanut butter.

I have started preparing individual lunch portions to take to work so I don't have the temptation of ordering fast food. Last night I made a batch of Morrocan Chick Pea Stew with a lean lamb chorizo. MMMMmmm.

[Chris415]

So thanks for starting this Buffygirl!

I like the ideas of the highs and lows. Here's my lists for the past week or so:

Highs:
• Sticking with the walking and yoga classes. Walking during lunch and even sometimes before dinner. And really walking during my long weekend in Maine.
• Starting to see results from my walking! Hips are looking a little better!
• Stepping on the scale at in-laws (I don't own one) and finding my weight was less than I thought it would be--and that was with sneakers on!
• Taking care of some things that have been hanging over my head for a while: getting the car taken care of, making an appt. for my kitty to have her teeth cleaned , handing in my violin since I don't play it any more. Taking care of these things have given me a real sense of relief.
• Also, dealing with some issues here at work that needed to be addressed and out in the open.

Lows:
• Although I did a lot of walking in Maine, my eating habits didn't really reflect that. Though, in hindsight, I shouldn't be too hard on myself, it was really about three meals that were on the unhealthy side.
• My eating habits in general. This is the week before my time of the month, so I'm going to have to be disciplined! Why oh why did I bring salt water taffy back for my co-workers?!
• Wanting (and needing) to meditate and not taking the time to do it.

I hope everyone is well!

Cheers!
Chris

[badunnin]

Cool topic!

Highs: 3 days left of student teaching and counting!
Great job fair yesterday - I am positive I will be gainfully employed in August, possibly in German, my preferred field!
Awesome trip to Boston last week
I went running? Huh? This girly doesn't run!

Lows:
3 days left of student teaching and counting.
Girly went running at 1am to blow off steam from working - too many nights up until 4am. So much for spring "break"

[badunnin]

*bump*

[nixmom]

Linda, I sooo know what you mean! I've been counting points this week, mostly to make myself concious of them again, before diving back into WW, and it's been tough getting back into the swing of it.

Today's highs:
Turning down the ice cream bar the boss offered me
Working out at lunch for the 2nd day in a row

Lows:
The major mistake I made about 5 months ago that the boss found today (although he's been looking at the same spreadsheet for the last 5 months too and didn't find it until now! :mad: ) I hate it when that happens!

Lisa

[buffygirl]

Highs - starting my new class, having a non-plan lunch and not letting it ruin the rest of my day.

Lows - not exercising and not having time to sqeeze it in.

[pbutterfly]

Yesterday's Highs: Getting back to a WW meeting after 2 weeks and only gaining .8, making good choices at dinner (ordering an appetizer for my entree), spending the day with a friend, seeing an amazing production of "Assassins".

Lows: Gaining .8 at WW , making not-great choices for lunch (went for easier instead of healthier), seeing a confusing show at the matinee ("Jumpers")that gave me a headache.


lynne

[Kayaksoup]

Yesterdays highs:
Taking a two hour walk in the sun along the seawall, sprinting up stairs etc.
Making good food choices during the day.

Low.
Long quiet boring day at work and my butt and thighs were killing me after my walk.

[Susie Quzie]

It's nice to have company in the struggle to be "the me I want to be."


My highs for this week: getting a TON of writing done on my novel. Got about 180 pages written, closing in on the halfway mark in only four months! Having an acquaintance, a published author and former NY Times editor tell me my story was exciting and publishable! Getting to work on the extensive garden beds I inherited when I moved into our new home last October.

Lows: Scale stuck at 198 lbs, 8 lbs over my lowest weight. Not quite having eating in hand, eating too much for mouth satisfaction, not listening to body so well...

Ha! This is a great accounting because in the scheme of things we're talking about 8 pounds! It's not the end of the world!

Susie

[nixmom]

Todays High:
The first payday after my raise

Low:
Eating waaaaay too much at lunch, to the point of being uncomfortable later. :mad: