[kcaleece]

On 1/21/2023 at 1:11 PM, Everstorm said:

This week has been a little tougher with food in general, because my food prep keeps getting eaten.  I guess I need to prepare larger quantities to account for my husband and son looking for easy protein, as well.  I have started some prep stuff today and plan to do more tomorrow.   I also want to tweak the macros on my breakfast a bit to front load carbs for my morning workouts more, especially as the fatigue is starting to set in.

That definitely happens in my house too and it's usually my fault to be honest...my husband is the kind of person who can eat the same thing every day and be perfectly happy with it, whereas I am very much not. I do always ask before I eat any of his prepped food and always respect it if he says no though - perhaps just a quick chat to remind them to ask for permission first would help as well. 

 

Also, if you're messing with your macros for a morning workout, I used to eat about half of my carbs ahead of time and half of my carbs as an after-workout snack. I couldn't eat super close to my workout time or it messes with my stomach, but I would do a small, very carb-heavy snack before I got dressed (especially if I was driving to a trail or something), then come home and eat another snack after my shower that had a mix of carbs and protein. The only reason I stopped was that I don't usually get to do early morning workouts anymore, hahaha. Might be worth a try?

[Everstorm]

6 hours ago, Ziraiah said:

I'm following your journey. Your goals sounds great! Food prepping is such a good idea for those times, when you are suddenly super hungry and need something asap. That's a bummer though, that your food keeps disappearing. 

 

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Welcome! 

 

The food situation improved today, at least.  My husband and I arranged an equitable trade:  he ate my chicken and I ate his steak. 😋  I also made a double batch of the enchilada-inspired bake I made tonight.  There were enough leftovers to freeze some and still have enough for all parties to enjoy it for lunch tomorrow.

[Everstorm]

3 hours ago, kcaleece said:

my husband is the kind of person who can eat the same thing every day and be perfectly happy with it

Yassss!  I don't know how they do this.   My husband ate basically the same thing every day for two years and lost 80 lbs.  I'm not sure even guaranteed results like that could make me eat such a repetitive diet.  

 

3 hours ago, kcaleece said:

I used to eat about half of my carbs ahead of time and half of my carbs as an after-workout snack

 

I am looking to do something along these lines, yes.  Like 35% of my carbs at breakfast and another 15% in my pre-workout shake, then another 30% or more at lunch.  Not sure how much I need afterward for recovery yet.  Will take some experimentation. 

[Everstorm]

I am very glad I decided to report movement this week, because otherwise I definitely would not have met my goal today.  I got a glorious 10 hours of sleep last night, thanks to the lovely cold, rainy weather that kept my room blessedly dark in the morning.  I felt like a new woman.  However, the very same weather inhibited me from taking my planned walk as the bulk of my movement today.  I had a plan B, which was to clean my house and do some mobility work instead, but I got sucked into a lengthy phone call with my mother about helping my brother with the landscaping at his new house.  Two hours later, we were still discussing suitable plants for a guy with impeccable taste who also has little time for yard work because of his long work hours.

 

Anyway, the day kind of got away from me and I told myself it was too late to get any movement in.

 

Then, I imagined writing the post in which I admitted I got no movement in.  Nope.  Not gonna do it.

 

Grocery shopping 10 min

Household chores 23 min

Mobility and pulling exercises 12 min

 

Just need to get another 10-15 minutes in during halftime and I am in there.  Go Cowboys!

[Rurik Harrgath]

23 hours ago, Everstorm said:

My husband and I arranged an equitable trade:  he ate my chicken and I ate his steak. 😋  

 

I would make the trade for steak like this anytime, any day.   

[Everstorm]

47 minutes ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

I would make the trade for steak like this anytime, any day.   

Yeah, I wasn't exactly cut up about it 😂

 

High carb breakfast seemed to go well, although today's workout wasn't super intense in any case.  I was practicing backwards and forwards rolls.  My stomach may have not have appreciated doing rolls right after chugging a portion shake 🙃 

 

I went to the craft store today to get science experiment supplies.  While I was there, I picked up some little trays for mixing ink washes for my Inktober 52 adventures.  I tried to shop for new clothes, but my brain keeps going noooooo wait for new pantsize.  So I bought nothing.

 

In addition to the MAP:

Shopping 30 minutes

Walk 20 minutes

Dance 5 minutes

 

And now it is curl up with a good book time.  Or at least a new book.  It's quality remains to be seen.

[Snarkyfishguts]

2 minutes ago, Everstorm said:

ut my brain keeps going noooooo wait for new pantsize.  So I bought nothing.

This happens to me too.  I end up buying a travel size wardrobe for the season. A couple pants, 4 tops, and a sweater, and they all mix and match.  So I have a nice wardrobe until I'm ready for the next size down, and I never have that "What shall I wear?" because I only have so many options  

[Everstorm]

27 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

This happens to me too.  I end up buying a travel size wardrobe for the season. A couple pants, 4 tops, and a sweater, and they all mix and match.  So I have a nice wardrobe until I'm ready for the next size down, and I never have that "What shall I wear?" because I only have so many options  

That's a good strategy!

[Elastigirl]

1 hour ago, Everstorm said:

High carb breakfast seemed to go well, although today's workout wasn't super intense in any case.  I was practicing backwards and forwards rolls.  My stomach may have not have appreciated doing rolls right after chugging a portion shake 🙃 

 

Yeaj, that's not a good combo for me.  The best I've found is just chicken and rice

[kcaleece]

19 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Yeaj, that's not a good combo for me.  The best I've found is just chicken and rice

Chicken and rice is a classic for a good reason! I also got a lot of mileage out of Greek yogurt with various fruits, oats, or whole wheat bagels. 

[Everstorm]

20 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Yeaj, that's not a good combo for me.  The best I've found is just chicken and rice

If my workout was a little later in the day, I would definitely go chicken and rice.  I can't seem to bring myself to eat that at 10am, though.  It might have just been the rolling that was upsetting my stomach, though.  Other workouts have been fine on the protein shakes.

 

1 hour ago, kcaleece said:

Chicken and rice is a classic for a good reason! I also got a lot of mileage out of Greek yogurt with various fruits, oats, or whole wheat bagels. 

Yeah, I was just thinking I might try oatmeal later this week.  I don't have a gym workout tomorrow, so I won't need the early carbs.  Thursday and Friday might be good days to try this pumpkin oatmeal bake 😋 

 

Movement:

MAP 1 hour

Walk 40 min

Cooking/cleaning 1 hour

 

I prepped 4 lbs of chicken and a bunch of protein+ pumpkin flapjacks (mostly so everyone doesn't eat mine lol).  I am coming to terms with the fact that I can only expect the chicken to last two days.  This time, I spoke to my family about how much I was willing to share, and how much I specifically needed to count on being there when I go to eat.  They were very understanding, so hopefully I won't get derailed by specific prep being missing.  My husband also did some of his own prep today, so that should also help.

 

I did a lot of introspection today on how the challenge is going.  Generally about now, I am really feeling the stress of limited food choices, low energy while making high energy demands, and frustration with how slow weight loss is going, even when I am successful.   I am, in fact, having all of these feels.  However, I also normally attribute these feelings to a) I am not strong enough/disciplined enough to stick to the plan and/or b) this plan doesn't work for me and is unsustainable.   So I quit.  This time, however, I realize that OF COURSE my plan is unsustainable, it was never meant to be sustainable, nor was I meant to have the inner fortitude to stick with it for the long haul.  I only have to endure the unsustainable pressure for a short time, and then I will --not quit-- take a respite to catch my breath and gather myself for the next unsustainable push. 

 

It's not a lifestyle, it's a diet.   

 

Will I need a new lifestyle once my diet is over?  Yes, but this ain't it.  You have no idea how empowering that change in mindset is.  

[KB Girl]

15 hours ago, Everstorm said:

Will I need a new lifestyle once my diet is over?  Yes, but this ain't it.  You have no idea how empowering that change in mindset is.  

 

I can imagine a little bit  good for you! 

[Everstorm]

5 hours ago, KB Girl said:

I can imagine a little bit  good for you! 

😊

 

Movement:

Walk 50 min

Mobility/pulls 15 min

Chores 20 min

Belly dance 7 minutes

 

I seem to have an excess of energy for no reason I can fathom.  In fact, I slept terrible last night.  Whatever, I am getting a lot done, so I'll take it.  I even filed my taxes today 🤮

[Everstorm]

So...my pool just exploded and the resulting tsunami washed out my fence and the pool pump, which had been bolted into cement.  Fml

[Snarkyfishguts]

How did it explode?! That’s scary!

[Everstorm]

56 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

How did it explode?! That’s scary!

Not really sure what caused it and the security video is too dark to see much.  There was a big storm last night (tons of wind and rain).  We heard what I first thought was thunder, but my husband didn't think it sounded right.  He looked out the window and saw that the pool had collapsed,  a large section of fence was gone, and the pump was prevented from floating away only by the power cord.  My husband thinks the flash flooding created too much pressure, but I think there must be other factors as well.  We have had much worse rainfall (like a literal hurricane) that didn't destroy the pool.  It looks like there might be rust damage that was hidden by the pump.

[TrashcanCarla]

Geez that's nuts! Sorry to read about your exploded pool. I hope that your insurance covers everything.

 

Separately, I'm very glad for you that you are feeling so empowered! Kick butt!

[Everstorm]

1 hour ago, TrashcanCarla said:

Geez that's nuts! Sorry to read about your exploded pool. I hope that your insurance covers everything.

 

Separately, I'm very glad for you that you are feeling so empowered! Kick butt!

I think we won't file a claim, unfortunately.   Our deductible is high enough that it wouldn't be worth it.  We looked into the warranty, but 1) it wouldn't cover installation and 2) we just passed the deadline for 100% replacement 5 months ago 🤦‍♀️.  At best, we would get a 40% discount on the cost of a new pool.

 

On the upside, not having a pool means that we are no longer legally required to replace our aging fence and could just tear it down if we want to.  The trade off in expense is almost equal

 😆

[TrashcanCarla]

Well ... Shoot.

 

Always looking at the upsides, aren't you! Love it

[Everstorm]

5 hours ago, TrashcanCarla said:

Well ... Shoot.

 

Always looking at the upsides, aren't you! Love it

I try!

 

It will surprise no one that my movement doe today was disaster response.  I spent the better part of two hours cleaning up debris and trying to collect hundreds of tiny landscape rocks that are now in the yard.

 

I did try adding oatmeal to my breakfast this morning, and I was really pleased with my energy levels during my workout and all my activity the rest of the day.  Front loading the slow carbs seems like a winner.

[Harriet]

On 1/23/2023 at 1:14 AM, Everstorm said:

Two hours later, we were still discussing suitable plants for a guy with impeccable taste who also has little time for yard work because of his long work hours.

 

 

I am going to steal this and use for my garden discussions with Mr Harriet. It's a very good shrubbery gif.

 

On 1/23/2023 at 1:14 AM, Everstorm said:

Then, I imagined writing the post in which I admitted I got no movement in.  Nope.  Not gonna do it.

 

Hahaha awesome. Just say yes to peer pressure and exercise.

 

On 1/24/2023 at 11:55 PM, Everstorm said:

 This time, however, I realize that OF COURSE my plan is unsustainable, it was never meant to be sustainable, nor was I meant to have the inner fortitude to stick with it for the long haul.  I only have to endure the unsustainable pressure for a short time, and then I will --not quit-- take a respite to catch my breath and gather myself for the next unsustainable push. 

 

It's not a lifestyle, it's a diet.  

Diet overreach, followed by diet rest and fatigue management. Makes a lot of sense!

[Everstorm]

9 hours ago, Harriet said:

Diet overreach, followed by diet rest and fatigue management. Makes a lot of sense!

That's the plan, and I am sticking to it.  😊

 

More yard clean up today.  We basically have all the pool debris removed.  We'll be picking up rocks for a while, though.  Plus we need to decide what to do with the giant bare spot in the yard.

 

Made more prep yoday, but I overcooked the chicken.  Meh.

[Harriet]

Overcooked chicken is sad, yet very familiar, since my father overcooked everything. How are you doing?

[kcaleece]

On 1/27/2023 at 7:14 PM, Everstorm said:

More yard clean up today.  We basically have all the pool debris removed.  We'll be picking up rocks for a while, though.  Plus we need to decide what to do with the giant bare spot in the yard.

That sounds like a huge job indeed! If you don't already have one, may I suggest maybe turning the bare spot into a fire pit/patio sitting area? We don't have a built-in pit, just one we bought online and had shipped to us, but it's made the backyard far more welcoming (and frequently used!) for sure. We planted some daffodils and lilies there and my kid has been asking for a bird feeder too.  There's tons of stuff you can do to customize spaces like that in some really cool ways.

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 1/24/2023 at 5:55 PM, Everstorm said:

Yeah, I was just thinking I might try oatmeal later this week.  I don't have a gym workout tomorrow, so I won't need the early carbs.  Thursday and Friday might be good days to try this pumpkin oatmeal bake 😋 

 

Probably shouldn't recommend this, but my wife introduced me to spice/carrot cake mixes from the box... when added alongside a can of pumpkin puree AND NOTHING ELSE, you get a fairly healthy and nutritious dessert that really isn't far off a true cake.

 

Still trying to perfect protein icing though 🤷‍♂️