Are you looking for support on your health and fitness journey? If you are, then this thread is for you.

There are no expectations in this forum. Post as often as you like. Post anything that you feel is relevant to your own personal health and fitness goal. Here are some ideas:

• Monthly health and fitness goal
• Daily health and fitness goal
• Progress (or setbacks) in reaching your goal
• Personal stories about why you are joining this topic
• Healthy recipes that you feel others will enjoy
• Links to articles or books that you feel others would find helpful
• Food Choices (healthy or unhealthy)

Remember, your health and fitness journey is your own. There is no one program, method, or philosophy that is right for everyone. This thread is for support only.

Happy February everyone. Hope you made your January goals and are excited to start new goals for this month or continue improving on the goals you set last month.

I managed to lose 1.6 lbs. from Jan. 1st til today. Starting out the month at 237.2. I'd have liked to see a bigger loss, but any loss is better than a gain when it comes to weight loss, so I'm ok with that number. My goal for this month is to lose at least 2 lbs, more, if possible.

What are your goals for this month?

Well, the scale said 241.4 this morning, which is way better than the 245 earlier this week. 
At checkup yesterday, my BP was high again. So, it is time to get serious!

Streaks that I do most days, but still want to track so I know if they start slipping: only marking a miss.

• up at least one flight of stairs
• down one flight of stairs
• exercises from the Hybrid Calisthenics app missed 2/2
• BP and vitamins BEFORE bed and not when I get up in the. Middle of the night and realize I forgot them. Missed 2/6

Streaks I will stop tracking because I have the habits firmly in place with reminders as backup:

• thyroid med first thing
• light box

Streaks I need to track and tweak to make them happen more consistently, but started tracking 2/7

• oatmeal every day 2/7
• eat within 2 hours after getting up x
• first meal mostly protein 
• RespErate
• at least 10 min walk
• brush teeth before leaving house instead of scrambling to get places and brushing at work.

streaks I'm considering adding but maybe not till next month to have tracking not onerous:

• exercises from Vedral focusing on arms to tone my flabbiest area
• warmup exercises from Younger Next Year
• Biking, though this wouldn't be every day
• having small salad or cup of soup to start lunch to add nutrition and then eat less of other stuff
• increasing the walk length OR adding a second daily walk
• cutting off eating at a certain time before bed..l might wait for this one because I work late so many days and then need to eat a bit to take all the night pills
• balance exercises from Classical Stretch

The only streak I've been doing and am consistant with is checking my blood pressure daily.

Slept little last night and then after church walked and part of the way rode the bus to the basketball game and back. This game attendance also involved a LOT of stairs to and from my seat. So now I'm falling asleep...

Hope you slept well Margaret.

Today I'm 235.2. Getting ready to head to the library and find some good books to read.

Was in a rush this morning and forgot to weigh before getting dressed. No big deal. Went to see my friend Phyllis this morning and stayed a couple of hours. They stay so busy these days that it's hard to find time where she has time for me to come over. But we talk on the phone daily.

No big news on my end. The new semester is now in full gear and going really well. I think I've settled in to what will be my new routines.

I am still in my maintenance zone. It is hard to switch from maintenance to weight loss again, but at least I have not gained any weight....just hanging in there. I wore THE skirt again yesterday, the one that took me months to fit back into last year, so clothes are still fitting well.

You're doing great Heather. Keep it up.

In 2021 I was about 20 lbs. smaller than I am right now and my biggest goal is to fit back into the tops I had bought then. I lose weight first in my bust area and it's also where I gain first, so tops that fit then are too snug across the bust area now. And the tops are really cute so really want to be able to fit back into them. But if you could see what all I ate today you wouldn't believe I was trying to lose any weight. Everything I've eaten today is very high in sodium.  I went on and weighed just a couple minutes ago and there's a 3 lb. gain from yesterday, so I know it's excess fluid. So tomorrow I'll have to really watch the sodium and drink a lot more water to flush the sodium out.

My weight has been up the last 3 days (239.8). I'm trying to get it back down but it's being stubborn. Hopefully it'll be heading back in the right direction by Sunday.

Scale says 243 this morning. Not really budging.

i went through the Wendy's drive thru yesterday on my required errand to the vet. I did NOT buy a key tag for a free mini Frosty with every purchase this year! I got a Diet Coke and a plain baked potato, so at least I made some good choices!

I worked 8-hour shifts on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and did not manage to make time for walks those days. I did do the exercises from the Hybrid app each day but only managed RespErate one of those days. I am going to get a haircut today as it is driving me nuts. I work 4-8 this afternoon, so I should be able to get some things done!

Last year I found this man's YouTube channel and started watching it from time to time. He used the Healthi app to lose 125 lbs and it was his walk-through video that taught me how to use the app. That's besides the point though. The point is he recently posted a video about how he gained back some of the weight over the last few months. He struggled with deciding what to do about it....nothing vs trying again. He's just a nice, relatable guy, and I thought I'd share the video here in case anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/GyGze_XCGMY?feature=shared

Thanks Heather, I'll check it out.

Ok, I subscribed to his page and will watch a few of them.

Margaret, do you think your weight gain is from too many meals of fast food, or is it something else? I know with mine it's been way too much sodium. But I seem to be stuck currently at 239.8. Today is day 4 at that weight. I don't go out to eat but I've been buying foods that I get a lot for the price since money is tight, and those tend to be heavier in sodium than I like. Next week I'll be doing a big restock of groceries since fridge & cabinets are pretty bare, and my store has a lot of buy 1, get 1 free items that I'll stock up on. Hopefully then I can get the number to start heading back into the right direction.

Vicki, I think the weight gain for me is a combo: not getting exercise and eating sugary treats. Of course fast food doesn't help, but I'm eating way less fast food than last year, and cooking more of what I eat for myself.

This morning I woke before 7, and I'm debating whether to get a bit more sleep or to just get up. I went to sleep at midnight, early for me, because I was so tired last night.

Glad you liked the video, Vicki. He has a more recent one from four or five days ago where he officially "starts" his weight loss journey again. I'm glad he's sharing his new journey in videos and decided not to give up.

It's interesting to be sure, Heather. I've watched a couple of them today.

Margaret, I know sleep can play a part in our weight/loss/gain cycles. A lot of things can contribute to it. Hopefully this coming week will be a better week for us both.

Starting out the new week at 238.2, so number is down a little. Down 0.2 from last Sunday. Hoping this week to see a steady loss in weight.

Wow this week I have indulged my mouth, not my health. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.

It seems I've done the same as well, Margaret. Tomorrow is my grocery day for the month and I've been adjusting my grocery list so many times that it's a wonder there hasn't been whiplash. Anyway, hoping the rest of the month will be better for both of us. Current weight: 239.2

Well, I went and did my grocery shopping early this morning, and after working on my grocery list and changing it at least 15 times over the past week, I ended up still getting mainly foods that you nuke or can fix in the toaster oven. Not the real high sodium items but single serve meals that take very little time to prepare. At least this way I don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Today I'm at 237.6. Yesterday was a very light meal day and the number this morning reflects that. Hoping to keep it going down.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow and if you're alone, that you can still do something you enjoy to celebrate the day.

Sticking to the light meals and today I'm 236.4

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

I apologize for being scarce. Meggie and I are dealing with winter weather. A lot of cold, snow and ice. Always hauling in firewood. There's going to be another, bigger snow storm Saturday into Sunday. So whether I want to or not, I'll be best prepared if I bring in another wheelbarrow full of wood. Poor Meggie! Housebound. And beginning yesterday she's been plagued with a persistent itch over much of her back and sides. I have NO idea why.  The only thing that makes sense is that a bug or spider came in on some firewood and bit her.  I've been giving her a Benedryl every few hours or when she starts itching again. She's made it through the night to 4 am yesterday and today before needing more and that's most of the night. We just nap through out the day.  I think she'll get through this without the vet.  I'm still iced in my driveway. I ordered some baby aspirin but it won't get here til Tuesday. I really don't think she'll still be itching by then but I would liked to have had some baby aspirin to give her for inflammation.

Valentine's Day doesn't mean anything to me.  I can't really think of a holiday that does mean anything to me.

I'm rewatching the Great British Baking Show. I love the first several episodes. I couldn't stand it after the two young women, Sue and Mel, left the show.