Karenso

Welcome! It's nice to have you.

Tere! What part of Estonia are you located? I'm in Lääne Virumaa.

Hey everyone! Ugh! The heat will NOT let up. I'm ashamed to report that I've been slacking off a bit. My two dinosaurs have been having a hard time in the heat and Bao-Yu had a gnarly ear infection. All of that (plus writing a workbook for my group this fall) has gotten me a bit bummed. Dementors have been a constant in my life and recently all of the chocolate in world (of which I only ate a little, I promise) has not kept them at bay. I've been walking around 6km every other morning and started a weight lifting circuit mixed with my favorite thing in the workout world: jumping jacks. ​I'm saddened to hear my friends are also melting. Well then, let's be a pile of sticky awesome!

The heat helps. No one is grilling meat because of the fire danger, so I'm not tempted my the smell. No one seems to have an appetite these days. We aren't like you guys . We get crabby when the temp goes above 25. We would never survive Australia.

No rain. I think my cat senses I'm bummed so he gave me a gift this morning: a decapitated mouse....He spoils me. Day 3: (Yesterday) Sun Salutation Day 3 of 30 Yoga 100 Jumping Jacks 40 push ups (modified) 30 sit ups I walked to Säästumarket on the other side of town. Again, I took the scenic route. Food: peach, handful of prunes, banana pepper, 1 bowl homemade veggie soup, 1 1/2 grilled cheese on whole (rukkijahu) wheat, 2-3 cookies (i didn't finish them so hubby got them) 100gram bag of crunchy leib (black bread) and garlic snacks. Drink: 1 cup coffee, lemon/cinnamon/honey tea, 2 glasses soy milk (I'm now considered an addict), 1/2 liter pineapple juice, 3 liters red tea (homemade), 2 glasses of water. Other than that, I'm still working on the now named "Rainy Day Activity Box" aka "Box of time killers to keep you all from acting like sugar-filled howler monkeys" I hope everyone is doing great. *sending hugs and kisses*

I know how you feel. I have yet to find anyone from my neck of the woods. But, I'll be your buddy.

Way to go Dan!!! Color me impressed Keep it up.... *giggles* I love that word.... "bloke"...*giggles more*

Thanks everyone! I was watching the weather report yesterday and we are (hopefully) getting some rain. I was sitting outside this morning and it seemed cooler already. (huzzah) I would like to add some running (my turtle- like version of running anyways) and some playground workout (without seeming like too much like a creeper). Previously on "Chubby's Road to Redemption"... Day 2: Sun Salutation and Day 2 of 30 Day Challenge. ... Who else is having trouble with Downward Facing Dog? I mean, I have two of the giant beasts right next to me on the floor. Can't I channel their doggy powers just this once? 200 jumping jacks (my favorite) 50 modified push ups 25 tricep dips NOTE: Right now I'm still on vacation, but I'm searching the internet (Pinterest mostly) for games, crafts and activities for my little ones when I get back to work in a couple weeks. I tend to wait until the last moment to plan anything and it is nerveracking. Unfortunately 2 and 3 yr olds can smell fear. so... I was working with free weights (my son's 1.5 kg free weights), alternating arms and pinning games and craft ideas for about an hour. My arms are tight but not a sore as last night. I also took the scenic route to the pharmacy to pick up my 2 new inhaler refills. MUAHAHAHAHAHA! NOW I CAN BREATHE AND NOTHING CAN STOP ME!!!!!! FOOD: I ate the leftover bean spread and salad mix for breakfast along with a coffee and soy milk and 2 tsp white sugar. The rest of the day: 3 peaches, 1 plum, 1/4 of a grapefruit ( I plan on eating the rest of it today after yoga), 1 carrot, 1 banana, 1 cup of tea, 3 cups of lemon water, and I polished off the rest of the soy milk. Dinner was the old standby: egg noodles with packet cheese and broccoli sauce. I know it isn't healthy. Oh the shame. I think a soup day is in order. I will recap with day 3 tonight so I won't forget anything. YAY!!! GO US!

Happy Day 2 everyone!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone! I've tried diets and fitness routines countless times and always ended up quitting fairly soon. But here I feel like I have a strong support system. (single tear falls on grapefruit half) I wanted to keep a journal of my routine and regular goings on. Day 1: I found these two channels on YouTube (YouDoYoga.com, "30 Day Challenge" and Psyche Truth " Complete Beginners Morning Yoga Workout For Energy, Sun Salutations Flow & Flexibility Stretches") and so far I find them easy to follow and they offer a realistic set of challenges for me. I woke up around 7:30am checked my e mails I started with the Sun Salutation then Day 1 of the 30 Day Challenge Between doing laundry, walking to 2 different grocery stores on opposite sides of town (Maxima does not carry soy milk), scooping dinosaur poop from the yard, and my normal cleaning routine (which has been a nightmare ever since the vacuum exploded), I managed to squeeze in 30 push-ups (modified for now) and my hip video (Exercises to Trim Your Hips - Health & Fitness - ModernMom). FOOD: had a cup of tea, a plum, a 2 apples, another cup of tea, 2 glasses of soy milk, piece of banana, 2 large glasses of lemon water, 3 homemade blueberry muffins, 1 (huge) homemade bean and cheese burrito with mixed greens, 1/2 of a cucumber, cheese, and salsa quesadilla, and another plum. *It may not seem like enough, but the weather here is biblically hot and completely unnatural and I have no appetite. "Estonians don't tan, they thaw" I got to bed a little after 10 because I was watching "Võimalik Vaid Venemaal". (praying to Taara) Please let there be a break in the weather tomorrow so I can get out of the house without being set ablaze.

Crap! I put my goal list in the wrong thread!!!!!! Let's try this again: I'm Karen. I'm a 30 year old mom in 'rural-ish' Estonia but I'm originally from Maryland (not the bay region, more the hillbilly, moon-shiner, mountain folk region). A daycare worker by day, crime fighter by night... and the rogue tutor on the weekends. I have been toying with the ideas of fitness and eating healthy (raw, vegan, vegetarian, etc.) for years and enough is enough. MAIN QUEST: Lose Weight I hate being the stereotypical "fat American". I am also in terrible shape. Case in point: Estonia has a song festival every five years. In the month(s) leading up to it, a torch (the spirit of Estonia) much like the Olympic torch, is carried through the country and is escorted from town to town by choirs on bikes. We rode only +-25km and I didn't make it. It was embarrassing and heartbreaking. Especially since I was the ONLY one having a problem. This brings me to my 3 goals. Goal 1: Keep eating healthy with fewer cheats (but none is better) I have been doing the "raw till 4" thing for a couple weeks and I really like it. As for the cheats, I won't say 'no' to occasionally sharing a chocolate- mint iced cream sandwich with my son. (Mint + Chocolate is my kryptonite) I will NOT, however, be eating them alone. I should also stop eating at the computer. GOAL 2: Find local workout buddies I know I can't do anything on my own. Since I moved out here, I find it hard to make friends. Any friends. I don't have a single one. *sigh* (forever alone) GOAL 3: Yoga every day I was really into yoga for a while but for the life of me I can't remember why I stopped. It's nice to know I have great people here who are also going on this crazy ride. I can't wait to hear back about your progress. Let's do it !!!! For motivational purposes I will submit a "before" photo. *eek*

Geez Louise! Hopefully third time is a charm

Is anyone else doing Raw Till 4? I started it about 10 days ago and I can see a slight difference and I feel less bloated. Lately though, I have been having intense sugar cravings. I was wondering if anyone else in doing it too and what do you do when the cravings for human blood..... I mean sugar hit? Also, what do you eat after 4pm?

Congratulations! I have always been afraid of the migraines so I often give up halfway through week one. You, my dear, are one tough cookie.

A huge glass of lemon water usually does the trick.

I started this thread to find new recipes for vegan and vegetarian goodies. If you know any good vegan or vegetarian snack recipes, please post them here. Soon we can overturn the evil monopoly on snacks and treats. MUAHAHAHAHAHA! During my time living in Estonia, I have collected quite a few super easy salad recipes. They mostly involve shredding veggies like carrots, cabbage, cucumber, etc., and are essentially the same: shred, mix, eat. Carrots and/or Cabbage 1. Shred carrots (or cabbage) 2. Add finely chopped: (pick one or more) apple pineapple pear orange shredded cucumber shredded cabbage 3. Mix and Eat * The salad can be super sweet (carrot and apple) with NO sugar necessary. This is the easiest way I have found to get kids involved with cooking and 9 times out of 10 (I promise) the toddlers and preschoolers I have worked with have eaten this with no complaints!

I'll just squeeze in here. *sigh* This is nice and cozy. My main goal is to lose weight and meet interesting people. It seems I'm already halfway done!

Hey there Spockgrrl! I love your goals. You are right about the importance of mindfulness. I can't wait to hear about your progress.

They have suspended service

A journal sounds like a great idea.

Let's try again in the right thread shall we.

I'm so sorry katastrophenkatzchen!!!!I'm new to the whole forum world and I got a little lost. Won't happen again!

Hi Dan! I moved my goals to the (hopefully) correct thread. Good luck with the running. I'm also glad to see another parent. I will definitely keep in touch. That's how we stay motivated, right? LET'S DO THIS!!!!

Well hello there! I'm an ex-pat living in (what feels like) a galaxy far, far away from anything and everyone I knew. Estonia is a VERY sport and fitness mad country. I hope I can find like minded folks here. After looking through the threads I have a sense that this is a place I can feel like I truly belong.