Koaladle

14 hours ago, T2sarahconnor said:

What garbage can can I walk buy and get an unopened beer and smokes?  Sign me up!

You would love the bus stop by my house. 

3 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

You get a really fancy badge if you hit 30k steps in one day, just sayin  

My top one is for 20,000 so I have some work to do getting there. I definitely want to snag as many of them as I can before this tracker dies. I'm thinking I might switch to Motiv in a year or two once the Android software gets ironed out. 

3 hours ago, Starpuck said:

I hit the 30k on a vacation when I did two hikes in one day.   It was glorious!    A neat side-effect was that, heh, if I walk that many steps per day, for a few days?  I can eat WHATEVER I WANT FOR DINNERS (with healthy breakfasts and lunches and trail snacks) and still lose weight on vacation.

 

Clearly, I need to give up my day job and be a professional ... um, HIKING D&D PLAYER?   Is that a thing?  Can I make it a thing?   LOL.

 

Awesome awesome job with your hubby!  That is so great that you guys could communicate like that and find a work-together on the food.    

 

He sure is!

And with Instagram you can do ANYTHING and as long as it looks pretty or interesting you can get famous. 

Yesterday was wild, but not as wild as the following.

I knew that I wouldn't have time to do all the steps if I waited until after the game, so I worked on them first thing and was almost done by the time I had to start getting ready. I got cleaned up, looked in the mirror to put on a cream from my doctor and the irritation I had in the first place had spread some. I called in sick for the game and not half an hour later had an allergic reaction to the cream I got from my doctor. We went to the ER, I got a couple shots that got me super woozy, and on the walk back to the truck I hit 10,000 steps. XD Anyway, we got burgers while we waited on prescriptions (it'a past 9 PM at this point and I hadn't eaten since breakfast) and in my wonked out state I still insisted on ordering something that fit into my calorie budget. 

Stay on your toes-es and catch those roses

I'm birthday baking and then doing the thing. I really need to get knitting and sewing though--all the more reason to get done with everything as soon as I can! 

OH AND I'M OFFICIALLY AT 245! I'm wearing my reward shirt to celebrate--it's a teal, Lucy brand racerback tank that I got for a Walmart price at an REI clearance sale. I'm pretty fond of it. 

Ranger brains are the best kind.

6 hours ago, Fonzico said:

Super frustrating when you feel like you're being sabotaged, even though I'm sure that's not his intention.

We had a Big Talk about it, and he genuinely didn't know how much effort it took for me to work off calories, how quickly 1600 calories goes if you don't make healthy decisions ("this pudding cup is only 180 calories per serving! How many servings are there let's see here... oh, three... so I shouldn't bring it home? -.-   -.-   -.-), or how something like eating a ton of pizza could set my progress back so dramatically. I wrote out a list of things I need from him to keep this effort going strong and he taped it to his monitor (our main takeout ordering apparatus). He gets now that I only have the discipline to say no once and after that he either needs to drop it or do what he wants ten miles way from me. I've opened up about why I get stupid about food in the context of "and now I have to fight all these instincts if I'm going to lose weight equal to our dog, twice" and I think that's helped put the pieces together for him. 

"Sure, I guess I could get a Whataburger Jr, but no fries or soda"

*ten minutes later*

1 hour ago, obax said:

you need to know about Canadian pop culture is hockey and weather, our two national pass time

I live in Florida which is basically one long conversation about rain, hurricanes, and humidity and I LOVE hockey (GO SHAAAARKS) so I definitely think I would find my people in Canada. XD 

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

My response:

 

I'm the same way with pizza by the way.   A funny story I told my bestie (same bestie that deals with the above scenario) is:

 

"If someone tells me I can have only 3 squares (that's how we cut pizza in Chicago) of pizza as a reasonable portion, I am going to take that plate of 3 squares and throw it at the wall, then grab the box and go."

So glad I'm not alone in this. I love Chicago pizza, New York pizza, next morning pizza... as long as it's not previously frozen or covered in anchovies and arugula, I'm going to go nuts.

SO! Yesterday I walked like a maniac and hit 17, 2something steps! I have a goal of making it to 25,000 in one day (it's the next Fitbit badge to earn and I have serious niffler tendencies) and for 10,000 to look like small potatoes is just fabulous.  It's raining and I have a game today so I won't be walking there and will spend a lot time sitting, but perhaps tomorrow I'll hit the thing. 

When husband gives me a ride somewhere

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY:

Get to band on time

Put dishes away once dry

Make cupcakes for a birthday thing tomorrow

Wash/hang dry workout stuff

Surpass step goal

Follow meal plan

Do creative outlet because that's been suffering lately -.-

Mount bike rack on the bike instead of leaning it up against the wheel because how is that going to carry things, Koaladle?

I dug out my hymnals to find my favorites for when I'm struggling, and came up with these:

Come Thou Fount (lyrics)

Abide With Me

In Christ Alone (which is so ridiculously popular your favorite artist most certainly has a cover <3)

Nearer My God to Thee or there's this version from The Piano Guys

Almost all my favorite Christian music comes out of hymnals with That Old Book Smell, but I hope it can bring some comfort. 

18 hours ago, Enforcer25 said:

Giving a speech about my job tomorrow, will see how that goes

On 1/3/2018 at 1:06 PM, Jedediah The Wolf said:

On another note, I’ve learned that music can help depression and because of this I’m considering listening to less metal and more classic rock as it is generally a more cheerful music. Any opinions? It may be time to finally get Spotify lol

I love classic rock, but I've found that it takes a variety of music to help pull me out of a bad slump. Plus, there's only so much classic rock out there and I spent a decade listening to is exclusively. Anyway, here's a sampling of my go-tos:

The entire "Rainbow" album by Kesha, but particularly Learn to Let Go (music starts at 0:35)

Almost everything from Carly Rae Jepsen (oddly, I like everything but her big hits, and am particularly fond of "Cut to the Feeling")

Any type of Latin or Hispanic dance music

The new Cardi B and Bruno Mars song, Finesse

Grace Vanderwaal So Much More Than This

Lizzo Good as Hell

Sofia Jannok Irene

For me at least, the good stuff makes me want to get up and dance. It's uplifting, getting my soul out of the pits of despair and my butt out reclining chairs. Whatever you can't help but turn up is perfect. <3

33 minutes ago, RES said:

Why would anyone want to? That sounds horrible!!

I think that gets filed under "rite of passage on 21st birthday". 

On 1/7/2018 at 5:52 PM, obax said:

Sounds like things are going pretty well for you down there on America's Wang (jeeze, I really hope that's not offensive to you but after the Simpson's I can't unknow that term. Feel free to discover unflattering Canadian terms in retaliation). And cograts for soldiering through the Lady Time. Birth control was the best thing I ever did to my Lady Time, I do not miss that misery at all.

 

Also, it's a bit after the fact, but I can't not comment on this:

 

 

But did your pants accentuate your booty the way the lady's on the far right do?? 'Cuz that's just amazing...

 

(Also, I don't actually believe I just used the term 'booty' in normal conversation. I think that's an official first for m...)

All I know about Canadian pop culture involves a band called The Garlics and six seasons of "Heartland" so, I guess... way to be charming and heartfelt?

It's called "The Horsey Show" in this house

I'm one of those people who've had issues with birth control side effects. Even if we were trying to prevent a pregnancy, I'm not sure I would want to be on it. -.- 

I do have pants that do that thing!  That particular day I went with Wonder Woman yoga pants and those do a pretty respectable job as well.  

On 1/7/2018 at 8:08 PM, RES said:

Such good advice! I'm reminded of it when I've been up, cooked breakfast, and taken the dogs out and mine still reads 0...I know I'm not floating around  

So true. When I have a lot to carry and I'm wearing my boots, I put the tracker on the put-boot-on loop. By damn I will get the credit I'm duueeee!

Weirdly, I've been having a lot of trouble getting on the laptop. I have no idea why it's been such a struggle to set aside time for it. Step goal is back on track, calorie count has been abysmal for two days--husband brought back my favorite pizza in the whole damn world, and all that self control I'd built up went right out the window. I'm roughly 800 calories over budget in the last two days alone and.... it's not good. I've told him a number of times that he CANNOT offer to bring me major treats like that because even the slightest hint of resistance to my initial no (which is reliable) can sweep away my resolve. I've been SO GOOD at asking for a healthy option if he's bringing home food--but my favorite pizza, from the other side of the city when I'm starving? I need re-enforcement by the dozen.

Anyway, I took a long look at the numbers today and was just gutted. This week, if I'm really, really lucky, I might come out even. We got into a moderately sized grump-fest that ended with him committing to be my workout buddy three times a week and promising to be my food advocate. I'm not going to demand that he eat nothing but leaves (or leafs, if you're from Toronto) because I do, but at least don't bring my weaknesses home--carrot cake, cheesecake, and pizza have all made appearances in the past week so I'm really not surprised I caved. Going forward, however, he swears he's going to be sensitive to the fact that I'm just a mess when it comes to food. There's a lot to unpack there and until I'm ready to take all that on, I just need temptation way the hell away from me. 

Journaling still isn't a daily habit yet, but I'm at least checking in every other day. It's something. 

I am really struggling with the disappointment and frustration tonight. I will watch this gif until that dissipates. 

I made it to 27 consecutive step goal days! Unfortunately, I missed it by 200 yesterday (lost track of time in the evening -.-) and was SO disappointed. I was just grumping all over the place when Husband reminded me that I probably did actually get that many--between time working in the kitchen without the Fitbit on, carrying things with the Fitbit hand, and a general habit of not naturally swinging my arms when I walk, 200 was just the number of missing intentional, wild arm swings. "Don't let the app rule your life" was the reminder I never thought I'd need. 

So the goal for today is to hit the steps well before bedtime and to just do the evening wind-down as bonus time. Sundays are delightfully unscheduled.  

Best, most relaxing weekend EVER. Husband has a weird schedule and hasn't had two consecutive days off for a few weeks, so we caught up on hand holding, cuddles, and Koalaty Time the last couple days. 

Today, once completed, will be day 27 of tracking food and completing at least 10,000 steps every day. The last two days I've managed over 15,000 and husband has challenged me to hit 20,000 today. Yesterday, I carried weights for a while and I was surprised at how tiring it got after a few minutes. 

My other goals are a little shaky but usually getting done to the minimum standard. Journaling every day is my weakest habit, oddly, but I'm going to start doing it right before bed after I'm done for the day. The other shaky habit is getting to the gym. While I am doing a great job moving around, I'm more than happy for a perfectly logical reason to stay home rather than get in there. Part of it is just the general anxiety of it all, part of it is knowing it's going to be packed right now and thinking I'll be in close proximity to people while I'm working out (I've had to deal with a lot of gym harassment over the years, including a couple times at this location). Anyway, I have plenty of equipment at home to keep me occupied and I'm considering cancelling the membership once my contract is up in March. Husband is much more likely to work out with me at home than a gym, too. Mixed feelings about it all. Do I try to keep tackling gym anxiety or just keep doing what seems to work and handle that later?

Oh, and something that has been going well: I DROPKICKED MY PERIOD. It has been YEARS since I've been able to halfway function despite cramps and by the grace of Midol I did it! It's about over now and I'm not facing the usual bombardment of chores. Really proud of that effort. 

Not sure of any weight loss progress, as I'm still de-bloating. I've decided to give it another week before taking new measurements and officially getting on the scale.

I think that's about it! My big goal today is to hit a ridiculous amount of steps ( with weights, because easy is boring), with little goals of make dinner, wash up, pick up bean soup from my neighbor's, and get ready for the quilting meeting tomorrow--I was asked yesterday to take notes for minutes, and I'm both delighted to be considered and TERRIFIED because I am still learning last names. We have lots of ladies with the same name and it's hard to know everyone when you only see them once a month. 

Due to inclement weather (is it raining? is it freezing? WHO KNOWS!) I won't be riding to the gym today. The only appropriate item I have for near-freezing rain is grit and a bad attitude; unfortunately, neither of these prevent hypothermia. Indoor workout it is!

GOALS FOR THE DAY: 

Track Food: Basically as long as I eat moderate portions of what we have in the house, I'm golden.

Workout: Steps and a something, brain are not function

Self Care: Nurse cramps, stay off the scale because the bloat is real 

Creative Outlet: Knit like crazy

Do Chores: Fold laundry that I did yesterday or deep clean kitchen

Eat With Family: This has been a challenge recently and we decided to change it from "eating at the table" to "being together for at least ten minutes before evening gaming". I need to eat dinner before he gets home and there are times he has a work lunch and isn't hungry for dinner SO editing this into Family Time or something.

1 minute ago, Elennare said:

Little One burst into tears, because he was convinced the TSA guy took his books. 

Oh no, poor baby! GOODNESS.

Cross stitch?! Oooo, what are you working on?

Nothing wrong with starting a little late. You'll get going when you can, and then just start kicking asses all over the place!

5 hours ago, Fonzico said:

Good idea. Not a terrible start to the new year, shark attack notwithstanding.

Doing the thing! And soup cures all ills, in lieu of time.

 

I'd much rather hang out with the San Jose Sharks but it's whatever. 

1 hour ago, RES said:

What gym closes on NYD? 

This made me laugh...mine don't look nice if they're there too long

So true!

Midday Pupdate because I'm taking the rest of the day off from my laptop, aka time vacuum:

I did the food prep (no soup, cramps got crampy), cleaned the kitchen (a couple things are soaking, but like basically), have been like okayish at remembering Midol, am about to start knitting, and have three liters of various teas ready for consumption (hydration and all that). Dog is giving me the most impatient harrumphs for grabbing the laptop rather than doing the cuddles, but the long and short of it is that I'm going to hit most of the goals by the end of the day. :-) By the grace of Midol I'll be able to finish the steps for the 23rd day in a row (whooooooo) during my usual evening routine. Anyway, time for gritty French crime dramas, cuddles, and yarn! 

5 hours ago, PrincessMononoke said:

Quick Update:

 

SO...... Aunt Flo has still not showed( Sorry fellas if this grosses you out but it’s part of life and creating it). However, BFN today.

(Big Fat Negative)

 

I will test again tomorrow morning if still no sign of AF. I was hoping to kick of the new year with a BFP (Big Fat Positive). I am adapting though and pushing through the rest of today. I have goals to meet and pups that need me. Not to mention Wolfies home from work and I wanna enjoy him also.

 

Happy New Year from the Wolf Pack! Update more later when Wolfs off the computer .

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

5 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Biology has never bothered me. The most common euphemism on here is Shark Week. It's commonly discussed an no one makes a big deal about it.

Incidentally, for those who suffer from PMS "The sharks are circling" makes a really great metaphor.

And this is why I love this site: we can just be adults about periods and the challenges they pose to health goals.  

Woke up this morning to an ultra cuddly family, rain, and a will to pants. I'll take it. 

GOALS FOR THE DAY

Track Food: I need to make both avgolemono and the sweet potato soup for both easy tracking and easy eating, seeing as I could collapse into a lump at any point. Gather ye roses and make hay or something

Workout: The gym is closed for the holiday and it's raining anyway, so I'll do steps with weights in my hands for at least half the time and do some body weight stuff. I was success-sore yesterday from my shopping experience so I think it's time to make the step goal a little harder.

Self Care: Stay on top of Midol doses. Sometimes things are so bad that it seems like painkillers don't help but that doesn't mean I should just sit around waiting to be debilitated.

Creative Outlet: Knit! 

Do Chores: The kitchen has been neglected the last couple of days and infinitely patient husband needs me to run laundry. DO NOT LET HUSBAND DOWN, HE DESERVES BEST EFFORT

Eat with Family: Get dinner on the table. We don't buy groceries to look nice in the fridge.

Journal Updates: This is the first day of updating the journal I made! I still need a supply or two before I finish binding it, but the pages are ready to use. 

DAY NEGATIVE ONE PUPDATE

Today was not productive schedule-wise at all; I hoped to get ahead of schedule in anticipation of a poop week, but alas! The cramps came in full swing and I've spent much of the day curled up in a ball of misery. Fortunately, I mustered up enough gumption to do the step thing in small chunks, take a shower, and put on pants. I eventually found a break from the ouch long enough to get the grocery shopping done with husband (lots of easy stuff because I cannot be relied upon to cook during Shark Week) and am working on the last 2000 steps until I hit my goal for the day. I'm hydrated, my chocolate consumption isn't too crazy (this is a MAJOR accomplishment) and once I'm done writing this up I'm going to put away the laptop and focus on the knitting. 

A little blip: I went into the kitchen to make dinner and had a total meltdown; the kitchen is a mess and I have at least twenty minutes of dishwashing to do before I could start cooking. Husband authorized a pizza order so long as I do the dishes and cook dinner tomorrow for my chore requirement. The goal with the pizza is to not exceed 1800 calories for the day (so like, a couple pieces can fit in) and to eat is slowly and enjoy it. I've been really, really good about sticking to a meal plan for three weeks so I'm going to savor the hell out of this treat. I have roughly 950 calories before hitting my limit because I've been nauseous and I plan to have a glass of cider for the New Year so it works out. 

Welp, I need to finish up these steps and make progress on this blanket, so happy New Year and Day One of the Challenge!

3 hours ago, A Phoenix Rising said:

(I'm a jog-waddle-jog type

This speaks to my soul and I love it. <3 <3 <3

7 hours ago, RES said:

 I'm ready to get into a place where I don't have to crawl out of the end of the bed every morning because there is NO ROOM.

We were camping in our driveway for a few months waiting to repair some hurricane damage and believe me I know that UGH THIS IS CANCELED feeling! XD 

2 minutes ago, RES said:

I'm in the river city as well!  Born in California and mostly raised in TX (with a whole lotta other places thrown in, no we weren't' military...I get asked a lot)

I thought it sounded very similar to the weather we've been having but wasn't sure  

Wait a sec, we tried to meet up last spring for a race! HA! I remember now!

I definitely prefer Jacksonville over the San Francisco Bay. All the perks with half the cost, traffic, people, and distance to the beach. The humidity is murderous, but my spring challenges are going to involved trying to acclimate. 

3 hours ago, RES said:

I looked at those but went with the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro since I have the Samsung phone...I like that they play nice together, (translation: I can turn off my alarm in the morning from my wrist instead of searching for the phone  )

Hahahaha, that sounds dangerous! If I have to be up earlier than normal and set an alarm. I need to hide the thing entirely.