Alcohol Free Is What We Want to Be! Tuesday, August 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:
One or more fruit daily: Yeo
One or more vegetable daily: Yep!
Dairy:
Healthy Oils:

AF: 10
AIM:
ANIM:
Exercise goal:

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY

Journal:
Move Accountability: Just movement around the house getting everything back in order
Sleep Accountability: Finally sleeping well again
Nutrition Accountability: Lots of good veggies in the fridge and did a little freezer cooking yesterday.
Happiness Accountability: Happy and grateful to be here
Habit Accountability:
Check in Daily Accountability: I'm here
Time Management Accountability: Very good
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
Start weight July 5:
July 12:
July 19:
July 26:
August 5: 159.6
August 9:
August 16:
August 23:
August 30:
Yay we have done great! September 2

Celebrate! Final weigh in:

Great success!

Good morning all! I spent a lot of time yesterday getting the fridge and kitchen organized. I have lots of good healthy food and now I need to do a meal plan to use it all up. I did a few freezer meals yesterday. I bought some disposable divided food trays so that will be handy. I plan to do a few more this afternoon. I'm going to ladies Bible study this morning. Remember I said that BIL's 98 year old mother is in the hospital. She had a CT scan yesterday and is accumulating fluid in her lungs. She already has a check tube in and the doctor said that the only thing they could do now is surgery and she said no. So they are switching to comfort care and think she will only have a few days left. My heart aches for them. I know the next few days will be so draining and difficult but I'm praying for some sweet time for them as well. I will try to check back this afternoon.
Murphy

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

NUTRITION ACCOUNTABILITY
Drink more water: daily goal 70: 80 oz
One or more fruit daily: 3
One or more vegetable daily: 3
Sober Spring AF: 202
AIM: 16

Fitbit Goal/burned: 2,000/2,397

JUST JOURNAL!

HABIT ACCOUNTABILITY
Move Accountability: Step goal 8,500: 8,373 steps, 11/11 hours, 65 PU, 10 floors, stretched, treadmill at Y
Sleep Accountability: 8 hours, 88 sleep, 82 stress, resting, HR 71 slept better
Nutrition Accountability: 29/23 new week, Cottage cheese, HB egg, tomato, avocado, turkey, pretzel flats, bean dip, cookie, banana, shrimp fried rice, Bao bun
Fitbit Macros: calorie goal @1500/1,698 cal 61% carbs, 255g, 17% fat, 31g, 22% protein 97g, fiber 30g, 51 over
Happiness Accountability: 4 feeling happy
Habit Accountability: Exercise bar 1/4. Morning routine, tracking,
Check in Daily Accountability: 5 I'm here!!
Time Management Accountability: 4 Y, thrift store, grocery, laundry, knit, Olympics, x stitch
What did you do for yourself today? 4.journal, knit, TV time
Please post a NSV (non-scale victory), LSP (little sign of progress), PA (positive affirmation) or quote: "I am saying "yes" to all the things that serve my health and journey today"

Start weight July 5: 194.6 cabin
July 12: 194
July 19: 194.8 193.8 at cabin today
July 23: 192.4 Now to hold on 
August 2: 194 WW
August 9:
August 16:
August 23:
August 30:
Yay we have done great! September 2

Good morning all. Already been a crazy day since I last checked in Went to the Y, took all my swim gear, but was too late after I walked as the pool closed at 11-1, maybe for lessons or something. But glad I got my AP and got there. I'll go earlier next time. Found some books at the thrift store, trying a Nora Roberts, inspired by Amy Got the laundry done, folded and put away before I landed on the couch. Got some knitting done, did some stitching for a break and just hung out with the olympics on. DH made a nice stir fry and added shrimp I had bought the other day. Within 5 minutes of finishing dinner I was breaking out in the hives again. I took a benadryl, looked up the amount they gave me at the ER last year when this happened, and took another pill. It doesn't seem to affect my throat or breathing but it sure i un-nerving when it's happening. We waited it out this time, no ER but it makes me crazy. I just had the allergy testing about 2 months ago. No allergy to shellfish and I had had shrimp for dinner about 3 weeks ago, no reaction. Some internet news says it can be the kind, farm raised Asian tiger shrimp cause a reaction in some when fresh alaskan or ? don't. I do know what I bought the other day was from the same store as the first time it happened. So do I just give it up for good or try again with the frozen I had no reaction from again :0 What would you all do, I really like shrimp!!! This morning I went to WW and of course the scale was up. Sure some is from vacation still but my scale had been down until last night's issue. I didn't want to WI but knew a lot of the puff was going to be from the pills and sodium. Just take the information and move on. In the mail yesterday there was a notice from the court for DS about jury business. I was worried it was a summons and figured if I forwarded him the mail he might not get it before he was supposed to respond. Didn't want to open it so I drove over to the court this morning to let them know he is working in Boston. They told me I could open the letter, I did there, and it wasn't a summons just an info sheet you fill out before you get called. They said I could fill it out, parent's do for college kids when they are away, or he could do it online. That made me feel better. I'll probably do it as who knows when he would get to it and get it done. Now watching women's soccer. It's much cooler and nice out as we had a big storm last night which the Benadryl made me sleep right through it. All our patio cushions are blown off the chairs, a tomato pot got blown over and one of the hanging plants is down. Tonight there is supposed to be a neighborhood meeting over at the park from 5-7. DH says no way but I will probably walk over and at least make an appearance. The neighbor across the street had sent me a text asking if I'd come. Never been to one, we don't have an HOA or anything, not sure what we do. Not even sure if we are supposed to bring something, no notice about food or drinks. I'll take my water bottle and check it out. Guess I better get busy doing something around here. Hope you all have a good Tuesday. I will check in later. Jan

Murphy Sorry to hear about you BIL mom, hope they get a little more time together and she is comfortable. yay for getting stocked up on healthy choices and doing some meal planning. Enjoy your bible study this morning.

Amy Sorry to hear about the bees! Ouch. Does sound like ground bees, they are the mean ones. Did you like this Costco quiche better than the last one? I will look for the Quest chips. I did use to like the WW "dorito" ones for that salty flavor. Today's meeting was about adding protein, WW wants you to eat more but it seemed hard to know if you're getting enough if the app doesn't tell you how much you are getting. Glad you avoided most of the storm and rain.

Cindy Were vim and vigor waiting at the breakfast table for you today? Sorry to hear the GF is still playing the guilt card and being so needy. No ring on vacation. Not sure when the "right" moment will be Glad you are not having to drive into Dallas right now with all the traffic mess. A knee pad sounds like a good idea. Maybe you could start with a part of a kneeling pad and then add your own cushioning on top of that. Just found books at the thrift, surely didn't even need those but taking a break from my other mystery series for a bit. I did watch a lady put a cross stitch kit of a snowy owl in her cart right before I saw it. It was really pretty and I would have bought it even if I know it would be forever before I did it. Probably for the best.

Carole Glad you got through the storm, was it bad there? Much flooding? Hope the new gym works out and yay for it being closer to home. HOpe you get some good weather to finish out your stay. My DSIL hasn't worked for a number of years, she feels if she waits for her SS to grow until she's 70 it will be better. At this point she is missing our on at least these 3 years she hasn't taken it yet and she made my brother wait til 70 so I'm sure if he passes first she will just end up with his anyway. My biggest GGRRRRR is they have an old!!!! Toyota, over 200,000 miles that's a junker. My brother takes the train and the bus to Green Bay where I pick him up to come to the cabin because she doesn't want him to drive that far in the car, she stays home. If she would take her SS she would have a great car payment, she could stop paying her Medicare out of his money and blah blah blah. She had worked in some mortgage industry and "knows about $$" I'll step off the Soap box now

Cathy Hope you are having a good day. Is it getting any cooler by you or still hot?

Later friends

Hi girls. I’m still here. There’s just so much going on right now! DD’s house was listed last night. They did a really good job with pictures. DD said she hopes the people aren’t disappointed when they see the actual house! They make the rooms seem so big! Last night we had our women’s ministry meeting and had a woman come to lead us in gentle yoga, which was basically chair yoga. As we were doing it, I mentioned that we did a lot of the stretches in Silver Sneakers. She said they stole them! 😆 Today I did my 2 classes and then went to lunch with the girls I used to work with. Lots of fun. I got to the restaurant and realized I was at the wrong place! I was only about 5 minutes away though. I would have had an OP lunch, but my friend ordered the potato chip appetizer. They were delicious. Tomorrow is Bible Study, then if it doesn’t rain, I am swimming with a friend. DH is going to help DSIL with little things on their house. Then Thursday after swimming, there’s a funeral at our church, so no Silver Sneakers. As of now, there’s nothing planned for Friday! Time will tell.

Amy: I’m glad you weren’t stung worse! It sounds bad enough as is!

Jan: Yay for getting to the Y. Yes, now go earlier to get into the pool! I’ve been going to Silver Sneakers long enough that I’m getting to know more of them. Next week we’re going out to lunch to celebrate a member that’s turning 90! That’s strange about the shrimp! I think our kids go back on the 26th, except for Rylee. She goes back September 3. That’s why she’ll be with me so much the end of the month. Grandma Camp!

Carole: What did you do at the airlines? Glad you survived your first tropical storm!

Cathy: That’s a lot of produce! I know you’re paying attention to all the stuff going on, but stay safe! Believe me, none of us like the stock market losses!

Cindy: My 2 cents on the camo. If you don’t have any to wear, wear what you want. You certainly won’t be the only one that won’t have it on! Your friend wouldn’t expect you to buy something you’ll never wear again. Sorry F/G is still hanging in. Tell DS to stay strong!

Murphy: I’m so glad you’re back to posting! How are you feeling?