BBR -- Friday, 01/27

Good morning Judy and all to follow.

Thanks for the support I got yesterday for posting from Beck's blue book, the Diet Trap Solution, and I'll do it a couple of times a week, starting tomorrow.

Wow, that's a lot of questions to reflect on.

My main victory is a very recent one, that Beck has showed me how to follow a food plan and get healthy, finally, at age 65. I still can't quite believe it, have often said, "I've got this" only to have it turn out to be just my latest euphoric response to a new diet or plan. This feels different, but time will certainly tell. Challenges remain my work schedule with long commutes both ways and resulting fatigue, high responsibility job, living alone (which is both a plus and a minus), a fair amount of travel (mainly to see a grandchild out in Colorado but also vacations), and just decades of the same behaviors and thought processes of how I'm entitled to eat what I want when I want it. I have learned ways of dealing with that now and am so grateful.

I am not where I had hoped I would be by this point but by doing what I'm doing now i will be consistently able to answer that question affirmatively in the future. And moving forward, I want to keep doing what I'm doing now but adding more exercise into the mix.

My big win is finally getting a handle on my digestive "issues" which had been going on for so many years, I had become resigned to living with the problem forever.  Hip-hip hurray!  I credit changing probiotics and stepping up my meditation practice.

Like all of you have said, I'm making progress but there is still more to do. I don't think I'll ever be "finished". There is always something to improve on. For me, that is strength training. I'm trying to do more weights but it's just not a natural thing I do. My daily 2 mile walk with DH every morning is a habit now and we know it does us good. I need to get this way with the weights.
As Pam said, losing the holiday gain has shown me I need to stay OP all month, all year long. I've been much more diligent in January planning healthy meals. I'm also focusing on eating more protein. I've been double tracking with WW and My Fitness Pal which showed me I was too low in that important nutrient. For instance, in my turkey sandwich at lunch I now have 4 oz. instead of the 2-3 I was having. I think I'm showing some progress in that area as my weight has slowly drifted down this month. My goal is to get 2 pounds below goal so that WIs aren't traumatic. Progress is slow but I'm in a better place than a month ago.

Good morning,
My big victory was getting to my goal weight during the past 6 months.  My challenge is to figure out exactly what (how many points) I can eat each day to maintain this goal weight.  Even after one solid year of tracking and being self-disciplined, it's still easy to fall into old bad habits.  I think I know what I need to do to lose (or maintain), it's continuing this for the rest of my life now.  I'm proud of myself for regularly getting on my stationary bike, and consistently tracking what I eat.  I am where I want to be right now.  The harder part is from now on--maintaining my level of commitment.

Promised recipe
Smoky White Bean and Winter Vegetable soup

3T olive oil (I used 2)
1 small onion chopped
1 large stalk celery chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 small bunch of kale - ribs removed leaves roughly chopped(I used baby spinach)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
6 C low sodium veg broth (I used chicken)
1/2 small butternut squash cut into l/2 inch pieces
1/4 to l/2 t smoked paprika (important really had delicious flavor)
2 can cannellini beans - drained and rinsed (I used small white beans)

Saute onions,celery, garlic in oil
If using Kale add now and cook 3 minutes until wilted (I added spinach at very end of recipe)
Season with 1/4 t salt and pepper (each)
Add broth, bring to simmer and cook l0 minutes
Add squash and paprika and simmer until squash is almost tender 6 minutes
Add beans and simmer 3 minutes stir in l/4 t salt and pepper (I added spinach here)
Top with Parmesan if desired.
4 servings

I like all of us here am still a WIP.I do well eating at home and most of the time eating out even on days like today when having a bad day wanted to eat everything on the buffet.I kept hearing an inner voice saying food will not help your emotions and thank goodness I listened.I didn't go off plan and had 3 small bites of DH's desserts instead of getting one of my own like I wanted to.

My biggest challenge now is learning how to eat more points.I have eaten 30 SP the last 2 days and I really want to keep it up but don't know if I will get that many every day.I did have a 1.6 lb loss this week and while I know that's good I really want to learn how to maintain.

I am in a place I never thought I would be in and in a size I never thought I would see.I credit Beck and all you supportive people for keeping my mind in the right place.