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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 13:01:39 GMT
Welcome to Alcohol Free is What We Want To Be! We are glad you are here with us! If you have been struggling with your weight and have found this board you undoubtedly have your own unique, complicated relationship with alcohol and food. Laying out the problem honestly can give you the extra push you need to succeed in getting it under control. A few questions for you to think about...do you wake up at 3 AM wondering what did you do? Do you sometimes have no recall of the evening before or do you try to recover your memory of the evening before you even get out of bed? Is your spouse angry with you...or do you simply think that A is taking over too much of your life, affecting your weight loss? These are hard questions but know that you will find understanding, love, encouragement and support on this thread. We are each in a different stage of this journey but you will find others have shared your experiences. There is no judgment, just an acknowledgement that we have been there, done that. This board of great people will support you in your journey.
Some of us have been here for several years, others are new, but all are welcome and if you have visited before but didn't stay, there is still and always a place for you. Don't get overwhelmed, take your time, if something strikes you, respond. We are great at giving advice, whether you want it or not....you will get tough love, if necessary, but you will also find help. We practice positive self-talk and support, we encourage and gently hold each other accountable. We each have stories to tell, share and suggestions to help. We post different challenges during the year. Please join us if you think this is the group for you. You will be glad you did.
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 13:02:03 GMT
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 them.
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 13:02:32 GMT
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:
One or more fruit daily:
One or more vegetable daily:
Dairy:
Healthy Oils:
AF:
AIM:
ANIM:
Exercise goal:
HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY
Journal:
Move Accountability:
Sleep Accountability:
Nutrition Accountability:
Happiness Accountability:
Habit Accountability:
Check in Daily Accountability:
Time Management Accountability:
What did you do for yourself today?
Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or motivational quote
CHALLENGE START WEIGHT 2/11:
February 18 weigh in:
February 25 weigh in:
March 3 weigh in:
March 10 weigh in:
March 17 weigh in:
March 24 weigh in:
Final Weigh March 31:
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Post by tatermom on Mar 17, 2024 13:32:54 GMT
This can be your Spring! This can be your success! No more rationalizing and making excuses. "I look to 2024 with a renewed commitment to Progress” “Out the Door in 2024” SHAPING UP FOR SPRING EQUINOX! February 11 - March 31 Spring is coming! Supportive Friends Progress not Perfection Renewal of Being Inspiration New Habits Great Success! NUTRITION ACCOUNTABILITY Drink more water: daily goal 70: 60oz One or more fruit daily: 3 One or more vegetable daily: 2 Dryuary AF: 77 Dampuary AIM: Sauced ANIM: Fitbit Goal/burned: 2,000/2,380 JUST JOURNAL! HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY Move Accountability: Step goal 7500: 7,669 steps, 11/11 hours, 75 PU, 8 floors, stretches, AP Sleep Accountability: 7 hours, 87 sleep, 84 stress, Nutrition Accountability: 31/23 points -7 weeklies Omelette, sausage, toast, watermelon, ham on bun, banana, apple slices, 2 cookies, meltaway chocolate, meatloaf, corn, baked potato, Fitbit Macros: 1,816 calories, 48% Carbs, 35% fat, 17% protein. 64 cal left. 1693 avg for the week. Need to get back in the 1500's Happiness Accountability: 5 feeling happy Habit Accountability: Exercise bar. 3/4. did tiny habits, morning journal, quiet time, tracking it all Check in Daily Accountability: 5 I'm here!! Time Management Accountability: 4 work, grocery errands, putting food away, knit, tv time, read What did you do for yourself today? 4 Knit, TV time, journaled, read, Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or motivational quote. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out" CHALLENGE START WEIGHT 2/11: 201 official at WW: 201.8 February 18 weigh in: 200.6 WW February 25 weigh in: 200. At home March 3 weigh in: 199.5 at home this morning March 10 weigh in: 200.6 at WW 198.8 at home this morning! March 17 weigh in: March 24 weigh in: Final Weigh March 31: Good morning all. Happy St Pats. Gray and colder here this morning but warm on the couch with a cup of coffee. No big plans for the day. May do a snoop about in the morning and then focus on my knitting and some food prepping for this week. I know we have some short ribs that need to get cooked for dinner. Ive written out some goals for the week. One is to really get in my 5+ fruits and veggies each day and to get my protein number above 20% and my carbs and fats down. All I can do is be more aware and try. All those carbs and fats have been coming from sweets and I have to knock it off. Refocus and work hard until the end of the challenge. I'd like to lose at least 2 more # before April. DH was happy last night as the Ducks won the final Pac 12 championship and now will get a chance to be in March Madness for a bit. Give him something to watch besides the news, and even he has given up a lot of that for now. I should probably get moving and start the rest of my day, just enjoying the quiet and "normal" routine this morning. No cats meowing, DH is sleeping in, no lunch to make or frantic getting finished up so I can get ready for work. Looking forward to "retiring" again soon.  Have a great day all. Jan Cindy Sounds like a good idea to get a second opinion about DS eyes. I've never tried the crock pot liners but I've gotten really good about using foil or parchment on the cookie sheets and in the pans when I make things like meat loaf to help with clean up!! I'm prtty sure the tax office will go on. I'm pretty sure if Carrie, the "boss" didn't return, I wouldn't go back. She said she'd like to keep working, just not be in charge. I like the $$, and the work isn't hard, but I sure enjoy when I have my days off. But maybe they feel so nice again because I"m working so they aren't so run of the mill. Amy Thanks for getting us going. Have the storms passed so you can get out for walks? How many days until your trip? I saw where our passport renewal checks got cashed this week so let's see how long it takes to get the booklets now. Will you be going back up to the gardens to see the daffodils and tulips? I need to find a place around here to go to. We still probably have a month before things really start to pop. Waving hi to all. Will check in later. |
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 13:50:02 GMT
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: 72 oz
One or more fruit daily: Y
One or more vegetable daily: Y
AF: (mostly alcohol free since August 16, 2006): 6431; ANIM: 1 (021221)
AIM: N
ANIM: N
Fitbit Goal/burned: 2170/2236
JUST JOURNAL!
HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY
Move Accountability: 4, 12,700+ steps, 250 steps 8/8 hours, walked the nature trail, Walmart, workout video with weights, laps in the basement, counter pushups and stretches
Sleep Accountability: 2, up too late, <7 hours, Fitbit score 84, stress management 83
Nutrition Accountability: 3, 29/23, 49 weeklies left, blue dot, French toast, breaded shrimp, green fluff
Happiness Accountability: 3, enjoyed the day, watched Hallmark movies, Irish Wish on Netflix, 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, walked, shopping, did skills checkoff for BLS, puttered outside, couch time, finished stitching on Patriots flyswatter, started on tissue box cover
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: “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” ―Marcus Aurelius
CHALLENGE START WEIGHT 2/11: 173.0
February 18 weigh in: 173.2
February 25 weigh in: 172.6
March 3 weigh in: 171.6
March 10 weigh in: 169.8
March 17 weigh in: 169.4
March 24 weigh in:
Final Weigh March 31:
2024 Goals:
11,000 steps each day: 75/76
At least 7 hours sleep: 38/76
Lift weights twice/week: Wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Blue dots: 67/76
Starting weight: 179.8
Get to the 160's: March 10, 2024
150's:
I went for my BLS skills checkoff at 1pm yesterday, it took about 10 minutes. I think I'm going to ask for a pass on needing the certification if I'm still working in 2 years. I stopped at Walmart for just a couple of things, $150 and a full shopping cart I was back on my way home. There were girl scouts selling cookies at the Walmart entrance. I thought about buying DH some Thin Mints, but decided he didn't need the temptation and kept on walking. I bought some creeping Jenny to fill in some of the bare areas in the backyard, some yarn, cat food, and a few groceries. When I got home I puttered around outside for a bit. Most of the houses in our community do not have mailboxes but have wooden posts with the street number. Our numbers have faded and we have not been able to find replacements. Most of the time it doesn't matter b/c the grass plant covers up the numbers anyway, but since I've given the grass plant a butch cut they show again. I got DH to take out the bolt that holds the number sign on the post, brought it in and colored in the numbers with a metallic gold Sharpie. It doesn't look great close up, but looks pretty good from a distance. The HOA had been sending out notices for faded numbers, but then rescinded them since they couldn't find a source for the numbers either. I presume at some point they will find a source or decide on a new community standard. When I was done outside I had some couch time and a short nap then went to the basement to do my second strength workout for the week. We had leftover broccoli soup and some breaded shrimp for dinner. I watched Irish Wish with Lindsay Lohan on Netflix. It was silly, but had a couple of actors from Outlander, which made it interesting.
I stayed up too late figuring out the Patriots tissue box cover, but slept well.
It's mostly cloudy this morning, with a slight chance of rain. I think most of the rain will stay south of us. I need to fill the bird feeders in the front and am hoping to finally get the rhubarb starts, creeping Jenny and collard seedlings in the ground. We are probably going to get a freeze tomorrow night.
Carole- Yay for working out and being AF at bunco. My yard is not that amazing, but I enjoy it.
Jan- Yay for a good day at work yesterday and getting out by 1pm, yay for DS working on music. I have not read any of It End With Us, I see that it's going to be a movie this summer. I'm not sure where the Watergate name came from either, but saw that some call it that when googling the recipe.
Cindy- Your roast with carrots and veggies sound yummy. We use those crockpot liners too, DH calls them shower caps. Sounds like a good idea to get a second opinion on the treatment of DS's retina issue. DH & I usually do our own thing regarding food until it comes to dinner time. It seems like he is always eating, but he's lost weight so I guess it works for him. Sorry you didn't get a chance to see how retirement would have been with DH, hugs!
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 13:54:56 GMT
Jan- WTG steps 11/11, PU, stretches, AP, blue dot, AF, making goals for the week. Enjoy your day off. It's a little over a month until our trip. I would like to go back to Gibbs Gardens this week to see the cherry blossoms.
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 14:04:13 GMT
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Post by amyj on Mar 17, 2024 14:04:49 GMT
M-W Word of the Day
blarney
noun | BLAR-nee
What It Means
Blarney refers to false but charming talk that often flatters the listener.
// The bartender laughingly asked her gregarious patron if anyone ever believed his blarney.
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Have a great day all. Jan