Alcohol Free is What We Want To Be! Thursday, February 29

SHAPING UP FOR SPRING!
February 11 - March 31

Spring is coming!

Supportive Friends
Progress not Perfection
Renewal of Being
Inspiration
New Habits
Great Success!

This can be your Spring! This can be your success! No more rationalizing and making excuses.

This challenge isn't just about being alcohol free though it is the focus of the board. It is about finding and giving encouragement, getting healthy, loving ourselves, and finding what works and what doesn't. This is NOT about making ourselves feel badly about the unhealthy choices, it is about celebrating the healthy ones. So let's go for it!

As always, the rules aren't complicated. Simply no alcohol and staying on your food plan. If you get off track, don't give up....don't throw away the day, the night, the week. We are working on progress not perfection.

You may have alcohol issues that you cannot manage on your own and our group is here to support you and encourage you to get the help you might need. You may have alcohol issues that you can control but have to exert the motivation and our group is here to support you.

Spring clean your cupboard early! If you have junk food, tempting alcohol, or trigger foods in your kitchen, you are setting yourself up for failure. Give it away, dump it, GET RID OF IT! Temptation is always going to happen. Don't make it easier for yourself to give in to it. Assess your kitchen, ask if this helps or hinders me. DO NOT have sentimental attachment to food or alcohol. The stuff will always be there, it does not magically disappeared but your health can be compromised! This is your life! Make it the best!

REMEMBER….
1. Work the Plan and the Plan works! Think of your new eating plan as a lifestyle change -- one that will have ups and downs, with good days and (very few) bad.

2. Don't deprive yourself. A food plan should be about SATISFACTION. Find foods you LOVE that will help you meet your goal.

3. Drink lots of water. Water is good for you.

4. Listen to your body. It knows things. Pay close attention to your body cues.

5. Live one day (or even one MEAL) at a time. Don't be discouraged and beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. Just get back on with lots of helping hands.

6. Get exercise with activities you enjoy. If you don't like what you are doing, then you won't stick with it.

7. Keep track of what you eat. Write it down. You WILL 100% without a doubt make better choices if you hold yourself accountable for

Good Morning!

It is raining but going to be a good day! It is in the low thirties and not expected to warm up beyond 45 with wind chill factor.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Will be back later!

Hugs, Cindy

SHAPING UP FOR SPRING EQUINOX!
February 11 - March 31

THE EIGHT GOOD HEALTH GUIDELINES
1. Eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day.
2. Choose whole-grain foods, such as brown rice and oats, whenever possible.
3. Include two servings of milk precuts – low fat (1%) or fat-free – each day.
4. Have some healthy oil (olive oil, canola, sunflower, safflower or flaxseed each day.
5. Ensure that you are getting enough protein by choosing at least a serving or two of meat, poultry, fish, eggs or dried beans each day. Many dairy products are also good sources of protein.
6. Limit added sugar and alcohol.
7. Drink at least 6 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
8. Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement each day.

NUTRITION ACCOUNTABILITY
Drink more water: 80 oz
One or more fruit daily: Y
One or more vegetable daily: Y
AF: (mostly alcohol free since August 16, 2006): 6414; ANIM: 1 (021221)
AIM: N
ANIM: N
Fitbit Goal/burned: 2210/2134
JUST JOURNAL!

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY

Move Accountability: 4, 12,900+ steps, 250 steps 8/8 hours, walked the nature trail, workout video, laps in the basement, counter pushups and stretches
Sleep Accountability: 3, trouble falling asleep but then slept pretty well, 7 hours, Fitbit score 87, stress management 91
Nutrition Accountability: 3, 25/23, 21 weeklies left, blue dot, chips, ice cream
Happiness Accountability: 3, enjoyed the day, watched UpTV movie, stitched, read before bed
Habit Accountability: 3, drinking more water than diet Coke
Check in Daily Accountability: 3, I'm here!
Time Management Accountability: 3, walking, couch time, laundry, puttered in the dirt
What did you do for yourself today? Reading, couch time, time outside

Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or motivational quote: “Whatever you do, never run back to what broke you.” ―Frank Ocean

CHALLENGE START WEIGHT 2/11: 173.0
February 18 weigh in: 173.2
February 25 weigh in: 172.6
March 3 weigh in:
March 10 weigh in:
March 17 weigh in:
March 24 weigh in:
Final Weigh March 31:

2024 Goals:
11,000 steps each day: 59/59
At least 7 hours sleep: 31/59
Lift weights twice/week: Wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Blue dots: 50/59
Starting weight: 179.8
Get to the 160's:

The HVAC guy showed up earlier than expected yesterday morning. He didn't find anything wrong, but upsold us on some kind of gizmo to protect against condensation overfill. When he was done we took the golf cart to the nature trail. It was gloomy and really windy, there were lots of folks out, probably trying to beat the rain. When we got back I planted some sprouted potatoes in a grow bag, potted up a rogue tulip that had sprouted in the front flower bed, and also planted some sprouted lettuce in a pot. The little lettuce leaves are about 3 inches high, hoping I actually grown enough that we can eat. After lunch I had some couch time then went down to the basement to get more steps. We had sandwiches with roast beef from the deli for dinner.

It's partly cloudy today in the 30's, heading to the 50's. The rain comes back tonight. I noticed yesterday that I messed up the Stridekick challenge to start next Monday. Cory texted that he's not coming for dinner tomorrow b/c a friend is visiting from out of town.


Happy Leap Day!

Vicki- Woohoo for the scale being down despite negative weeklies! Sorry about the stink bug.

Carole- How is the production assistant job different than what you are doing now? Sorry about the burns and the wild weather. Glad the MRI went fine, fingers crossed for the results. WTG being AF at the shower. Enjoy the Sunday brunch. The golf cart is so much better with the lithium battery. We made it all the way to Publix and back with the charge level still in the 80's% and it has much more power on the hills.

Jan- WTG steps 11/11, PU, stretches, blue dot, 60! days AF, no junk at work. Woohoo for your Aldi finds with your fun money. Have fun snooping the vintage shops. I still have 7/10 Oscar movies to watch, but it should be doable. I got my first 2 donut pans at a garage sale. It seems like all the recipes make 18 donuts, so I bought 2 more on Amazon so I would have enough pans to bake all 18 at once.

Cindy- Thanks for getting us started. Crazy that you went from 90's to snow flurries! Sorry about the Chase snafu. Hope you get some answers about your teeth soon. LOL over not wanting friend/girl to use Ainsley's blanket. Happiest of birthdays to DS! Enjoy collecting the leap baby freebies. 1461 days until the next leap day. The cats are all fine, Bill & Sookie are pretty much back to normal with each other and Annie has been more frisky than usual. It's getting warm enough on some days to open a window for her in the basement, which she loves.

Cathy- Glad you could check in. WTG not buying wine. Hope you are feeling less tired.

M-W Word of the Day

demean 
verb | dih-MEEN

What It Means
To demean someone or something is to cause that person or thing to seem less important or worthy of respect.

// By refusing to condemn the unlawful actions of her supporters, the governor demeaned the office she was elected to hold.

Hi All!

A fun albeit cold day! Dozen glazed Krispy Kremes, two coffees from Dunkin, a cookie from Crumbl's, queso and chips from Chili, finished with Starbucks. He was offered a free drink at Chili's but said no so they gave him a coupon. It was funny when we stopped in at JoAnn's. DS commented on Leapers day....and yup he got a small sewing kit. It was fun. We did a bit of shopping but didn't buy anything.

Gave DS a signed copy of Martin Short's book which made him happy. Gave him a few other odds and ends sorta like a birthday stocking.
Dinner was a success! Think it is the best version yet that I've made for over the last twenty five years. Of course I always tweak it.
F/G asked to come over and DS said no...more nicely than that. He got several nice gifts from friends that weren't expected. So all in all a nice day for DS.

We are watching the Tourist on Netflix. Finding it interesting.

Jan, fifty hours!! I don't think I function that much in a week. Nice to have fun money. I should use my tax refund for practical things but want something fun though I don't think buying a new blind for a front window is fun. What are you thinking about buying?
DS still has a decorative chocolate set of Peter Rabbit chocolates from about 10 years ago...they may have mummified. Enjoy your book!

Amy, I agree with Jan...let the planting begin! I've decided no more bulbs (famous last words) just going to buy plants. Glad the HVAC guy showed up. Is the upsell on an outside condensation pan or one in the attic? Yay for a rogue tulip! I'm not sure if I'm suppose to do anything for the Stridekick challenge but appreciate you taking on the responsibility of creating them.

Carole, hope your burns are healing and you've had a wonderful day. Count down to Florida! Will Lexi take care of the furbabies?

Cathy, glad you could check in! What's on the schedule this week?

GG, loved the birthday FB photo! The cake looked delicious.

Hi Liz! Hi Murphy!

Happy Leapers Day!
Hugs, Cindy