Alcohol Free Is What We Want to Be! Saturday, July 6

Labor of Love
NEW CHALLENGE
July 5 through September 2

The word labor implies a specific task or effort, many times painful or arduous. A labor of love is doing something because you really want to, not because of any monetary reward you might get for it even though it involves hard work.

This challenge is all about a labor of love, reminding yourself to love yourself so it becomes your norm.

How often do we do something for someone else because it makes them happy and in turn makes us happy. But as the saying goes “how can you love someone else if you can’t love yourself”.

There are many ways we don’t show ourselves love. We are harder on ourselves than on anyone else. We go over and over “why did I drink too much” and the ever popular "if I lost weight I would be so much happier”. We are not showing ourselves love by overeating and over drinking, we are doing the opposite. To start, give yourself grace and tell yourself yesterday is done, tomorrow isn’t here, so let’s deal with the present.

We worry about so many things, things we have no control over. Resilience, happiness and freedom comes from knowing what to care about and what to not let us get bogged down. Let go of things that do not work for you, help you, or encourage you. It is hard! You want to be a good person but be good to yourself first. Send out positivity but give yourself positivity.

We all have bad days, nothing goes right, nasty people out and about, stress levels are over the top and you have no control. This can be true in many ways but your control is to step away, love yourself.

Journal it, put it down on paper, and then let it go.

So each morning give yourself an affirmation. Here are some suggestions:

#1. I am worthy.
#2. I am enough.
#3. I am beautiful inside and out.
#4. Even my “flaws” have good and helpful aspects.
#5. I love and approve of myself.
#6. I am delighted with who I am.
#7. I fully approve of who I am, even as I better myself.
#8. I approve of myself and love myself completely.
#9. I am happy in my own skin and in my own circumstances.
#10. I am surrounded by love.
#11. I am treasured for who I really am.
#12. I am worthy of happiness and love.
#13. I enjoy my own company as I get in touch with my true self.
#14. I am at peace and happy when I’m alone.

It may sound like Stuart Smiley but go with it!

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 products – 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: 40/75 oz goal
One or more fruit daily: Y
One or more vegetable daily: Y
Dairy: Y
Healthy Oils: Y

AF: (mostly alcohol free since August 16, 2006): 6533
AIM: 0
ANIM: 1 (021221)
Fitbit Goal/burned: 2170/1923

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY

Journal: Y
Move Accountability: 3, 11,800+ steps, 250 steps 8/8 hours, ran sweeper, walked farm loop, mall, at fireworks
Sleep Accountability: 3, up late for fireworks, slept in, 7+ hours, Fitbit score 89, stress management 84
Nutrition Accountability: 2, banana, protein bar, protein shake, Cheerios, ham & cheese grinder, M&M's, salty snacks
Macrosfirst: Protein: 81/137 (19%), Carbs: 221!/100 (52%), Fiber: 19gm, Net Carbs: 202!, Fat: 54/45 (29%), Calories: 1650/1353, 297 over, whee!
Happiness Accountability: 4, enjoyed family time, time outside, fireworks
Habit Accountability: 3, drinking more water than diet Coke
Check in Daily Accountability: 3, I'm here!
Time Management Accountability: 3, ran sweeper, shopping, made cake, went through pictures
What did you do for yourself today? Lots of activity

Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or motivational quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ―Aristotle

Start weight July 5: 160.4? Mom's scale
July 12:
July 19:
July 26:
August 2:
August 9:
August 16:
August 23:
August 30:
Yay we have done great! September 2
Celebrate! Final weigh in:

Great success!

2024 Goals:
11,000 steps each day: 175/186
At least 7 hours sleep: 89/186
Lift weights twice/week: Wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13:only once, 14, 15, 16, 17:only once, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Starting weight: 179.8
Get to the 160's: March 10, 2024
150s: June 24, 2024
140s:

I ran the sweeper yesterday morning to pick up the dead flies, etc. We headed into Kokomo around noon to get lunch at Mancino's, a pizza and grinder restaurant. I got a ham and cheese which was delicious, but I could only eat half. Then we went to the Markland Mall just to walk around. I got a couple of discounted books at Books a Million. They no longer give out bags, so I bought a tote for $2.95. There are so few brick and mortar bookstores anymore, I try to buy something every time I visit one. We went to Walmart for some groceries, ended up buying a lot of snacks also. When we got back to the farm I did a few laps on the farm loop, talked to my brother and nephews. One of the nephews had lit the pile of wood junk and there was quite the bonfire going. When I got back inside I made an angel food/pineapple cake for today then went upstairs to look for a specific picture. My mom has boxes, trunks, and piles of pictures everywhere. I've made a goal to try to go through them all, pick up items of interest to scan. I found what looks to be a love letter from 1945 to my mom from a man who is not my dad. I'm taking it to my sister's today to discuss. We headed to Sharpsville for the fireworks around 8pm. We thought we would get something to eat there, but while they had food trucks, there was only one still open with a really long line, so we skipped it and just walked around. I figured we would see someone we knew, but I didn't recognize anyone. We went into the gym briefly, the only thing left of the high school where DH and I went as freshmen. The fireworks were fantastic, probably the best show I've ever seen. Usually there are pauses, but they started off strong and kept going for about 20 minutes. When we got back to the farm it was after 11pm. We were all hungry so we got into the Chex Mix, Cheetos, Sun Chips. I also had a protein shake. I sure wish I’d brought home the leftover sandwiches from Grinders. I slept well once I got to sleep over DH’s snoring.

It’s a sunny, pretty day with little chance of rain. Should be a great day for our family get together.

Vicki- Yay for having weeklies left. Sorry about the headache and muggy weather. Have fun with Rylee.

Jan- WTG steps, PU, stretches, tracking, progress on your projects. I’m enjoying the lightning bugs here. We have some at home but our neighborhood has too much light. GL at the flea and enjoy your time at the resort.

Cindy- WTG practicing the stairs, hope more icing helps. Hope there’s nothing serious wrong with the upstairs A/C.

Cathy- WTG for the scale coming down, doing reading and reviewing. Glad you were able to talk to your daughter and she is doing OK with the flooding.

M-W Word of the Day

mogul 
noun | MOH-gul

What It Means
A mogul is a powerful and influential person.

// The music mogul's latest album has been nominated for several awards.

I look to 2024 with a renewed commitment to Progress”
“Out the Door in 2024”

NUTRITION ACCOUNTABILITY
Drink more water: daily goal 70: 70 oz
One or more fruit daily: 3
One or more vegetable daily: 3
Sober Spring AF: 180
AIM: 8

Fitbit Goal/burned: 2,000/2,382

JUST JOURNAL!

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY
Move Accountability: Step goal 8,000: 8,732 steps, 10/11 hours, 750 PU, 1 floors, stretches, marched around, packed car for flea
Sleep Accountability: 6 hours, 84 sleep, 90 stress,
Nutrition Accountability: 36/23 pts 1 weeklies, cottage cheese, peaches, granola, LO ribs, beans, turkey chili, coffee cake.
Fitbit Macros: calorie goal @1500/1,574 cal 46% carbs, 191g, 36% fat, 64g, 18% protein 75g, 29g Fiber, 58 left
Happiness Accountability: 4 feeling happy
Habit Accountability: Exercise bar 4/4. Morning routine, tracking,
Check in Daily Accountability: 5 I'm here!!
Time Management Accountability: 4 Library time, packed car, made cake, sis came out, knit
What did you do for yourself today? 4.journal, knitting, reading, outside time, visit with sis
Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or quote: "Sometimes you have to choose what is right, not what is easy."

Start weight July 5: 194.6 cabin
July 12:
July 19:
July 26:
August 2:
August 9:
August 16:
August 23:
August 30:
Yay we have done great! September 2

Celebrate! Final weigh in:

Hi all. First time I've been able to get internet all day. Was too late to go to the library after the flea as sis had texted and said she was heading out to the cabin with Subway for lunch. I was still downtown, so packed up and got home. Had a good day there, made @ $90, and that was mostly selling a lot of tools and books for a dollar each. All those tools were like a farmer feeding frenzy Glad to hardly have to bring anything home, and there are more in the barn. So sis brought a chicken, bacon, ranch sub, not my choice for points, but tasted good and I was glad she thought of it and treated. She left here about 3 and I"ve been reading and knitting since. Been a beautiful sunny day, got pretty warm sitting downtown but there's been a nice breeze from the river. I've been watching the hummingbird wars, sometimes 6+ at a time fighting over the feeders. I just made up some more food so I can refill everything before I go and they have some next week. Tomorrow I will just relax, could get rain, and then head home Monday. Sis said her DH is enjoying all the cake I sent home, knew I couldn't have it in the house for 2 more days. I enjoyed my last piece with my coffee after I set up my tables, kept me from walking across the street to snoop the bakery. Got to sort of see part of the parade as most of the floats, tractors and fire trucks drive up the main street in town to get to the other town up north so they don't have to go on the highway. No other big news, enjoying the nature out the window. Have a great Sunday all. Safe travels home Amy. Check in when I can. Jan

Carole Glad you had a good workout and could visit with dad. I'm afraid to ask whose politics are whose I don't even mention it with my sis, not even sure what would come out of her mouth but pretty sure I don't want to know. I just finished The Women. I did enjoy it, but The Great Alone is still my favorite of hers.

Amy Sounds like you had a great trip. A good mix of family, chores, fun and food Best kind of vacation. I'm trying to work with my cousin on picking a time in August where we could do a dumpster by the day up here and clean out the barn again. I'll keep taking some things to the flea but there's old paint rollers, kid toys from the beach that aren't worth anything, glass jars, all the usual accumulation. Yay for finding books at a book store. Wish you were here to go through some of my boxes :0 I probably sold at least 15 tho, so got rid of some. Curious minds want to know about the secret love letter to your mom. Did you recognize the senders name or never heard of him?

Cindy Be Careful on those stairs, but glad you are trying to get back to normal. Sorry about the AC! Sounds like an interesting wedding. Hope GF got the message and finally went home. Will you get any rain or storm from the big storm? The cake entry is just under the catagory Bundt cake. I remember my mom making this coffee cake, a recipe from Dinah Shore, remember her? Called Loser's Coffee Cake. Sour cream, cake flour, then a steusel in the middle of chocolate chips, cinnamon, sugar and pecans. To me these days it tastes awfully sweet and my fear was getting it out of the Bundt pan. Not 100% sure that's what I'll make but we'll see.

Cathy Hope you had a good day. Yay for the scale ticking down.

GG Hope you had fun with Rylee.

Waving hi

Hi All!

Friend/Girl still here. She slept in my office on the sofa but left her phone in the family room. Someone started calling at 7 AM and after 10 rings, would start again. Have no clue who it was but someone, maybe her Mom, wasn't happy she wasn't home.

I made a new recipe for dinner, Philly Cheesesteak Pasta...okay but recipe went into the trash. F/G and DS seemed to enjoy it. Not much got accomplished today, did some wash, changed the bedding which was a slow process and did a few odds and ends.

Amy, thanks for getting us going. I'm interested in the letter also. My parents made sure that they destroyed all sorts of correspondence, they just felt it was private. But you made me think I do have a "declaration of love" letter from way back in Boston. It came with jade earrings...I should probably destroy it. Sounds like a wonderful time down memory lane. Glad the fireworks were wonderful!

Carole, that is wonderful that your friend has started a running club! Very glad that DH and your Dad didn't get too far into it! I shouldn't ask but was there a specific issue? Ignore me! I still have boxes of photos from my Mom and I still need to go through them. It's been about 20 years since she passed. It is just hard.

Vicki, hope you are having a wonderful time with Rylee! Enjoy the weekend!

Jan, yay for making money! I have tools from my Dad that all have wooden handles...somewhat antique but just have memories. Glad Sis's DH enjoyed the cake. Nope FG stayed and she is still here. DS and I talked about it before they went to the wedding knowing she probably wouldn't go home. We haven't had any rain to speak of and thinking I might have to turn on the sprinklers. Definitely remember Dinah Shore! The cake sounds delicious but I'm with you, sounds sweeter than I want to have. With that said Nothing Bundt Cake has a new flavor "wedding cake". May have to buy a bundlet.

Cathy, hope you and your daughter were able to chat today. Glad the flooding didn't affect her. Were you able to connect with your DS today? Yay for scale coming down, reading and reviewing!

Had to do lots of icing today but so be it. I'm trying to do some kneeling but not sure it is working! Keeping the faith.

Hugs to all, Cindy