Are you looking for support on your health and fitness journey? If you are, then this thread is for you.

There are no expectations in this forum. Post as often as you like. Post anything that you feel is relevant to your own personal health and fitness goal. Here are some ideas:

• Monthly health and fitness goal
• Daily health and fitness goal
• Progress (or setbacks) in reaching your goal
• Personal stories about why you are joining this topic
• Healthy recipes that you feel others will enjoy
• Links to articles or books that you feel others would find helpful
• Food Choices (healthy or unhealthy)

Remember, your health and fitness journey is your own. There is no one program, method, or philosophy that is right for everyone. This thread is for support only.

Happy March everyone. Hope this is a very healthy month for us all.

I'm starting out the month at 250.3. Really hoping to see at least a 5 lb. drop this month but time will tell if it happens.

What are your March goals? Mine is to start walking more as my back and hips will allow. Right now it's a struggle to walk to the mailbox and back which is about a 10 minute walk. It's slightly uphill going but easier coming back as then it's slightly downhill. I used to walk all the time so it's frustrating that I have so much trouble now. But with the warmer weather now, I'm going to push myself to take walks each day, even if it's only around the loop where my apt. is. To complete the loop is about 1/4 mile, staying within sight of my apt. the whole time. If it starts getting easier, I'll walk further out. To get from my apt. to the main road is about 1/2 mile, so to walk to the main road and back would be a mile total. I can use my cane if need be. But I'll work on just making the loop for the next couple of weeks.

I'm starting March at 196.4, up 1/2 pound thanks to sweet potato fries out at lunch with friends.  Staying healthy otherwise.  

There's a news piece on Good Morning America about use of weight loss medications, and resultant weight loss, costing marriages because of changes the body goes through.  I don't know about you but my late wife would have applauded the use of medication if it meant my weight loss!  Yes, a body goes through changes with weight loss  but it is to be expected that anyone who has many pounds to lose will naturally change shape. 

I'm up again this week! 225.6. And I swore I wasn't going back over 225 again! But last year around this time I weighed 245. So there's still hope.

I am working overtime because it is tax season, so realistically, I can't do all the health routines I'd like to do. Some days I even forget to take my BP meds because I just fall asleep before I intend to.

Daily Goals for March:

• weigh, but just for information. Don't stress
• take BP meds!
• take BP reading
• do the RespErate breathing
• fill out knee chart
• drink tea instead of Diet Coke

Yes, Margaret, don't lose sight of how far you've come!!!!

I tabulated my February running miles.

25.62

My goal was 20 miles, so I'm happy with the total!

I've been doing longer runs on Saturdays, of which for February I was able to do every Saturday. I love longer runs, so maybe I can do one or two more a month. But, like Margaret, work gets busy sometimes, so we shall see. I'm about to do my first ever Friday afternoon long run now, so that's at least already one additional.

Heather, WTG on the running miles for Feb. That's awesome!!

Teri & Margaret, you've both come so far in this journey. You're doing great!

Having to go back to the hospital on the 8th for a second mammagram and possibly an ultrasound. I have dense breasts and I guess the first mammagram wasn't clear enough for the doctor. I'm not worried. It's just annoying to have to go back. Thankfully the cost of the tests are covered 100%.

I'll do my official weigh in tomorrow. I weighed this morning but I had already gotten dressed so weighed a little heavier than I would have in just underwear, as I normally weigh each morning. Subtracting for my clothes, I'm about the same as I was yesterday.

Jacci & Steve, hope this month is starting out well for you both. Chime in and let us know how you are.

I'm up 1/2 lb. from last Sunday on this stormy,rainy day. Having huge thunderstorm and heavy rain right now. At least it'll knock the pollen down.

Happy Tuesday everyone. Haven't heard from anyone the last couple days. Hope all is well and you're reaching whatever weekly goals you have set for yourself. My weight is up big time today but not unexpected. Woke up at 3am and couldn't sleep so eat about 1/2 a dozen peanutbutter & saltine crackers while scrolling facebook. Too much sodium and to late to be eating anything and expect a good weigh in a few hours later. I'll watch the sodium closely today and drink plenty of water and hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Its amazing how focussed I become when a doctor appointment is coming up next week, LOL! Down a pound. Going to visit friends but I asked for only coffee, no snacks.  Going shopping for fresh veggies today too. I always do better when I can make veggies half of any meal except breakfast.

Down to 203 from 245.  Counting calories and macros. Working great. ð

Good for you, Scott!

My friends who I went to visit today submarined me! They got a special treat for my visit, thinking it would be okay.....a bakery blueberry muffin! Inside I cringed while outside I exclaimed what a treat! That looks wonderful!  And I ate it. It was pretty good!  When I got home I went into my Carb Manager app and input the muffin, planned the rest of the day..chicken wirh a side of spinach. No more unscheduled treats until after the nephrologist next week!

WTG Scott. You're doing great!! 

Teri, glad you enjoyed the muffin. Having something once in awhile is a treat, and should be enjoyed.

Everyone knows how I've been back and forth over the scale, and my love-hate relationship with it. And I've come to the conclusion that I'm truly better off without one in the apartment. I know I'm never going to be skinny again and I'm ok with that. I just want to be as healthy as I can be regardless of my size. And my mental health is as important as my physical health, if not more so, so the scale is going by-by, and this time it's not just being put in the top of the closet. I'm giving it away. The only time I will get weighed is if the doctor has me weighed. And usually I will only see him 2-3 times a year. That will be more than enough. I'm not out to impress anyone and the ones that truly love me only want me to be happy with myself. I think 45 + years fighting to be a certain size, and hating myself for not being able to reclaim that size after menopause is more than enough. Now my focus is going to be on being the best me I can be and enjoying each day to the best of my ability. And my future posts will show that. My health IS important to me, but it doesn't have to have a number on the scale attached to it.

So on to better health !!!!

Thanks for sharing, Vicki! I'll be curious to know how you feel in a few weeks.

I've decided to make Friday afternoons a permanent longer run day. I felt so good last week doing both the Friday longer run with the Saturday run the next day. Both days I did 3.8 miles in 45 minutes, which includes a slow 8 minute jogging warm-up at the start, so the actually running is 37 minutes. But I count up my total distance including the slow jogging. I'm getting stronger. In January I was doing 3.4 miles in the same time. February was 3.5 miles in the same time. 

I'm not as organized on this as much as i want to be yet.  I've started a routine of scrambled eggs and fruit for breakfast.  I start with blueberries and add orange segments or banana.  I'm switching to sour dough bread so I only eat half a piece when I eat bread.   What does everyone do for lunch?  I need ideas in that area.   For dinner I generally plan a meat and vegetable.  Like meatloaf and green beans.  I also like sugar free jello after dinner.  Any tips on what I can do better or lunch ideas?  I would appreciate them.  Sounds like everyone is working at it!  Way to go on the losses too!  :)

Hi, Jacci,

Great question! One topic that comes up here from time to time (often by me) is making sure to get enough protein. A ballpark is to get 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. 

Example. A 150 lbs person weighs approx 68 kilograms. This person would need approx 102 grams of protein each day. Depending on what meat you're eating for dinner, you're definitely getting some. If you're eating two breakfast eggs, that's probably 12g (6g each egg). 

Our friend Scott here can run some numbers for you based on your weight, activity level, etc. if you send him a PM. 

I spend a lot of my food focus on making sure I'm eating enough protein. Otherwise, without enough protein, it's just spinning your wheels. Women often suffer muscle loss and bone problems because of low protein.

Some ideas: Greek yogurt, lentils or black beans in a salad, tuna fish with lemon on crackers.

Oikos triple zero yogurt is 100 calories for 3/4 cup (which is actually a lot of yogurt) and it gives you 17g protein.

A four-ounce serving of canned tuna in water gives around 20g grams of complete protein for just under 100 calories. Tuna in oil has more protein I think.

1/4 cup of Bob's Mill green lentils gives 10g protein for 160 calories

1/2 cup canned black beans (drained and rinsed) is around 7g

My husband likes to get frozen bags of edamame and eat it as a snack. We get the Pictsweet brand with edamame in the shells. The bag is 1 cup with 14g protein. Just pop the little beans out of pods to eat.

Heather, those are some great ideas!  Thank you!  I love greek yogurt and tuna.  Planning a tuna sandwich or lunch today.  Greek yogurt is my go to if I don't feel like cooking eggs but that would be a good lunch idea too. I appreciate your response.  :) 

Last night I went to Urgent Care. Some time during the afternoon, I picked up a tick that latched onto my back just out of my reach.  I know time is crucial in getting ticks off but I couldn't reach my neighbor to ask her to help me. So that left Urgent Care.  They removed the tick and gave me a one-time dose of antibiotic. The bite will be red and itchy for a few days. Oh, well. Its spring and its time to check both the dog and my pant legs after being outside.

On the bright side, I had a very late, very light supper after I got home and today I have hit 194 again.  That means 56 pounds lost in 3 years.   Since my doctor visit is Tuesday, I'm being  especially focussed until then. 

I'm glad Urgent Care was able to help you Teri. WTG on the weight loss!!

Jacci, what was the web site you mentioned in your letter to me? I want to check it out and already answered your letter and tore up your letter for the trash.

Sorry about your urgent care visit, Teri, but glad you are ok!  

Vicki, the site is Healthi. Another one is Loseit!  Both have free versions and premium versions.  

Jacci, thank you so much! I just spent the evening looking into Healthi, and that seems right up my alley. Have you or someone you know tried it?

I checked out both sites plus myfitnesspal, and all wanted money up front when joining. I couldn't find a way to get in to any of them free. So I'll just do my own thing. I'm pretty much eating low carb these days, mainly eggs with cheese and bacon bits. I switch it up with corn beef hash & eggs at times. Still eating soup once in awhile and have single serve fruit cocktail as a sweet when I need something sweet.

I see my doctor tomorrow for results of all tests and lab work, and he'll give me the paperwork to schedule the biopsy. Hoping I can get it done by the end of the week.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Yw, Heather!  Yes, I've used Healthi and its good.  I'm sorry abobut that Vicki!  Bummer!  I just went on Loseit!  And it did want me to upgrade and pay but i stayed with the basic.  I won't be using a Fitbit I want to connect to the program or anything.  The Healthi basic is very basic too.  The premium version of that one has lots of restaurants and other resources.  I just looked those up on my own and created them as one of my foods.  

Sounds like you have good plan, Vicki.  My weight was up almost two lbs so I'm looking more carefully at mine.  Hope we all have a good start to the week!  

I've decided to use the Healthi app!! - and in a surprising turn of events, so has my husband. He's always been a big exerciser and has always been pretty fit, but he's very interested in the ability to track his data in the app. I'm doing a "bites" plan, which as far as I can tell has similarities to weight watchers points. He's doing the straight calorie counter. We like that it gives us protein/carbs/fat.

It took me a while to navigate the app (but YouTube videos helped!) and to pick a plan (I ended up tracking everything I ate yesterday in four different plans, and then chose a plan - that was time consuming but I feel like I picked the right plan for me now that I see how they all work). I like that it has me watching serving sizes, and that I can pre-load things I know I'll be eating on future days. I like that I can proactively plan out what I want to eat in the future, rather than just reactively track it after the fact. The future planning lets me adjust serving sizes or make different choices if it's getting to be too much. 

Thanks for sharing about that app here, Jacci!