[Coothleen]

Deb – I hear you. Those two random very early posts are bugging me, not sure why they are out of order like that and then Rashmi’s post at the very bottom.

But – I think if you reply directly to a post (by clicking “reply’ right next to the post number) it puts it immediately under that post and indented, but if you post a totally new post by using just the empty box at the bottom of the page, it puts it all the way at the bottom, where it may appear out of order. We’ll get it figured out I’m sure … every system has it’s quirks and I’m sure over time things will get resolved.

[Coothleen]

Woah that’s long 😉

That’s what I’m known for, right RC????  RIGHT?!!

[Coothleen]

Hey guys –

Those two random very early posts are bugging me, not sure why they are out of order like that. I think if you reply directly to a post it puts it immediately under that post, but if you post a new one at the bottom it puts it all the way at the bottom, where it may appear out of order. We’ll get it figured out I’m sure 🙂

Argh I didn’t realize I didn’t turn on my email notification so I didn’t know there was so much chatter going on in here! I’ve turned it on now so hopefully I’ll be better about replying from now on.

Rashmi – When you don’t plan and you turn to junk, most likely it’s not a deep emotional issue – it’s ease of accessibility, it’s everywhere! Like the costco drawer at work, or the donuts the boss brings in. Regardless, you still have the ability to say “no thanks.” I try to live by the idea (not a “rule” trying to move away from hard and fast rules, but still the concept is good even if it’s not an absolute) that “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”  Meaning…just because something is available to you and you CAN “get away” with eating it (ie…one donut, or costco junk food drawer) doesn’t mean it’s the best idea for YOU.  Maybe have a back-up plan for days that you don’t do a good job of food prep or planning, but you know what better options are still available around where you are. I’m sure there’s SOMETHING around where you work that would provide reasonable/healthier options – even a grocery store? If not, just bring a few things in to work with you and have your own “food drawer” for emergencies. Glad you found your wallet!

Hey Deb – glad you’re back! I’m sorry you’ve been feeling overwhelmed 🙁 I know that feeling well, and I’ve let it get in the way of me taking good care of myself plenty of times. Like Raphael said, focusing on what you’re actually in control of and trying to let go of the things you’re not. Sometimes for me that’s easier played out if I can pause for even just 5 minutes and really just focus on right here right now and have a lil’ conversation wtih myself, like …”ok….you literally have 90000 things to do, you could literally work 24/7 and all the work would not be done, so let’s try to get realistic here because you know that is NOT. You can truly only work on one thing at a time – what am I doing right now? I will focus on that, and let the other 89,999 projects go, until this one is complete or at a stopping point. Then I’ll regroup, do this again and pick the next thing.”  All you ever have control of is what decisions you make *right now* regardless of all the craziness that is going on around you – so pick right now to focus your control, take some deep breaths.

To answer your question about programming…hard to say. I’m really working on what I guess is best described as “intuitive eating.” I followed strict macros and calories for a *long* time and it served me really well, but there came a time when that got a little crazy and then it didn’t.  It’s been a long road…so starting sometime back in September, I really truly let go of the constant tracking, meal logging, etc and it’s been working well for me since. I’m not actively trying to lose, though I’d like to lose about 20-25 at this point, I’m really just trying to learn to trust myself and my body. I’ll be honest though, I had hoped that adding in some cardio (I hadn’t done ANY for a long time – long story) would naturally start some weight loss, but…no luck.  Once I’m ready to really *focus* on actively losing, I’m not sure how to resolve this intuitive eating thing with that, but…that’ll be something I figure out when I get there, I guess 🙂

Bobbie Jo – wow, that is rough. Like Deb you’re probably feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of online schooling and a killer part-time job (that is HARD work!). You say you’re slacking on the gym and the spin classees that you love, anyway to make that your “me” time so you prioritize it? Hubby? Family? Hey I need an hour, can I get some help here? Or drag those kids with you and put ’em in the kid care? HOw old are your kiddos?

New job is keeping me BURIED, plenty of work to do. Some is easy stuff – just tedious. And some is really diving in and learning some new things, so I’m excited about that part 🙂 I got really sick earlier this week (Monday night/Tuesday) – vomiting and migraine and all kinds of good stuff, but Wednesday I started to feel better. So ended up doing no workouts Mon-Wed. Yesterday morning i did some Yoga and last night we did our C25K which is now off by a day, but that’s ok. Today is a short BW workout and another run tomorrow.  Gotta make a plan for workouts next week…turkey day is a run day and I feel like the BF may wanna skip out, I’d prefer to stick to the schedule. We’ll see – work it out this weekend 🙂

Ok all – time to get busy!

[Coothleen]

Good morning…
Heading into my 2nd week of work and I’m getting frustrated with not knowing some things, the expectation seems to be that even after just 5 days I should know. I know once I get through this (the first time on any new job is always a lot of feeling like “huh?”) that it’ll be fine. But for now, frustration city. The good news is that no one seems to work on the weekends – at least, if they are they aren’t bugging me about it, which is *awesome*  and a big change.

Completed my first week of C25k (or some variant of it) and wow…I have a long way to go, but even by the 3rd day I felt improvement, so – hopefully it won’t be too painful.

I’ve been doing a good job managing my food this first week back to work too – with Retrofit I was challenged to eat…time to prep it and time to step away for a moment and just eat it, but I’m starting this off making sure that’s a priority , and so far so good.

Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day, but last night I ended up with a *very* flat tire. I almost changed it myself 😉 But it turned into kind of a nightmare project. Had to jack the car up *5* times, omg. With the most messed up jack ever. Anyway – after about 2 hours I was a dripping, sweaty total mess, and pooped. I’ll do some light yoga, today – but that’s about it.

So this week’s w/o look like this:
Monday: – light yoga but mostly rest
Tuesday – BW w/o in AM, C25K PM
Wednesday – off
Thursday – BW w/o in AM, C25k PM
Friday – yoga
Saturday – C25K

🙂

[Coothleen]

Good morning 🙂

It’s been a little crazy this week because I was getting ready to start a new job. Day 1 went well! Day 2 promises to be busy, but good 🙂 My biggest struggle here is related to setting some boundaries and good work habits right from the start, and not working 24/7 since it’s a work from home position. So yesterday I worked about 8:30 till just after 6, and while it was the first day, I DO have a lot to do and could have kept working. But I didn’t. Small victory 🙂

Hey Deb! Checking out the menu and deciding ahead of time seems like the right way to go to me 🙂 How did your Saturday dinner go with the hubby? What’s been your biggest challenge with staying on track lately?

Rashmi where did you go?

So today I’m starting the C25k program with my BF. So I’ve run before, lots…but I feel like it’s been so long that’s all gone, right along with my cardio capacity. So we talked and decided to try it together 3 days a week. The compromise is that 2 of those days will be in the evenings (I’m a morning w/o girl) and once in the morning on Saturdays. But the weather is cooling off now in FL, so it’s a good time to pick it up. Also today (this morning, in a few minutes actually) is a short yoga session.

Onward…

[Coothleen]

Hi Rashmi,

I’m glad you posted, this is really a great tool – and like one of Raphael’s quotes, “One of us is never smarter than all of us” (or something like that 😉 and sometimes we need just a little bit more support. Happy to hear Deb will be joining us too!

I agree with RC, I would love to hear your post about what happens when you hit goal. It’s my belief that it may be a little different for each person, but the underlying themes remain the same. I still struggle with it too, and despite RC’s posting of my testimonial today, I’ve gained some weight back as well – but today I’m ok with that (I don’t LOVE it, but I’m accepting of it – some days more than others ;), because I know I’m learning from everything that’s happening, every day, as part of this process.  It can be hard, but switch out the negative crap that might be running through your head – all the disempowering words that say “I can’t” and “of course you’re gaining it back” and “you’re just meant to be fat” and anything else that might be going on in there – and make it a lesson you can learn from, about how your body and your mind work, and retake the control you have.  Because you’ve obviously got it in you 🙂

How’d your workout go? Legs then treadmill is tough!

[Coothleen]

Hey Rashmi!
Glad to see you on here 🙂 How often are you spinning and hitting the weights these days? Pretty dedicated doing two-a-days at the gym (spinning, then going back for strength training). That’s kinda hard core 😉

I had a tough weekend food-wise but with some help on Sunday I ended up prepping a ton for the week, which is exactly what I needed. We hit the farmer’s market and got soooo many fresh fruits and vegetables. The cool thing is once I had all that stuff on hand, i really *wanted* to prep it. Good stuff 🙂

Anyway – gym time for me now too, hope to see you more!

[Coothleen]

Started the new workout today – it felt great, but yikes! I’m wiped out this afternoon. Just a small increase in what I was doing…

It’s hard feeling like a beginner again, and my instinct is to just dial it allllll the way back up to 11. Not sure why but that’s what it is (despite my exhaustion this afternoon, duhhh 😉 but someone told me today, “The beginner frame of mind is good sometimes. You can find mistakes you didn’t know you were making before and go stronger in the long run.”  And that’s totally applicable here I think…this time I can learn to listen to my body better instead of just pummeling it into submission.  Slow and steady it is 🙂

[Coothleen]

So, as you predicted, I did fine 🙂  Came back less than a half pound more than when I left for 4 days in Orlando, for all meals dining out – that’s not bad!  Over the weekend I had a delicious meal for my birthday dinner, and a drink plus an ice cream, and last night I enjoyed a drink as well, and ended up a pound less today than when I left last Monday.

The planning and thought is always there, and at some point I guess I’ll learn to trust that I GOT this 😉

Otherwise, looking forward to my shiny new workout on Wednesday and making sure my nutrition stays on track while I’m HOME (possibly harder, yet I never seem to worry about THAT hmmmm). Back to tracking and logging everything today.

 

[Coothleen]

Yup! The plan is “just stay the course” haha, eek! It will be fine, thank you – I will succeed 🙂
I’ll just start repeating that over and over again till I believe it.

[Coothleen]

First post! Kind of exciting, kind of scary – feeling a bit *vulnerable* but someone had to jump in here and break the board’s virginity 😉

I’m Cathy 🙂 I’ve known Raphael since ~2004 and have worked with him first on major weight loss and then on this whole maintenance thing and everything in between. I’m kind of excited about this place, thinking it will be an awesome community of support and well being, and one place we can all count on for hearing the truth.

So the norm I think is likes and dislikes? I’m into powerlifting, but for various reasons we’re taking a break from one another right now (we’re not broken up, just ‘on a break’ ;). I’ve got two cats, but I’m totally not a cat lady. I love peanut butter more than so many things! Not a fan of cardio (though we’re also on a break so it’s all good 😉 or horror movies.

Next week I’m heading to Orlando Monday-Thursday and then when I return, my birthday is on Saturday (kind of a big one too, last of my 30s coming up!). I always do just fine when I’m away whether it’s for fun or business or whatever, but even after 10 years of proving that to myself over and over, I always stress over the food thing when traveling. So that’s my big upcoming challenge – manage next week without gaining and without being overly restrictive and freakish while I’m on vacation and for my birthday.

[Author]

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