2024 Healthy Lifestyle Discussion

[caroca]

Down 1.2 pounds this week. Trying to make better choices and reduce mindless snacking. Haven’t been able to exercise because I pulled something in my leg (maybe lower back?) and I can barely walk.

[ners]

caroca Good job on weight loss.  Hope whatever you pulled starts feeling better soon. 

[greenthumb59]

1/3/24    ....160.8
1/23/24  ....161.0

Up a bit this morning.  Still working on my gluten free food choices.  I'm doing okay with it, but I'm beginning to notice when I do eat gluten I will have a tummy ache.  Ugh.

Giving up dairy has been much harder.  I'm finding I don't like many of the vegan dairy choices.  I am supposed to limit my exposure to cashew, so that means I have to stick with items that feature coconut.  I don't dislike coconut - yet.

It's been about 8 weeks since my last microscopic colitis flare. The flare itself lasted nearly 3 weeks.  My first flare back in 2021 lasted 6 months and of course I had no idea what the hell was happening to me at that time.  

So sticking with weeding out the gluten, pondering my dairy choices, and keeping my colon happy.

Our weather is much better.  It's 46 degrees right now!  I've walked the dog and will walk her later. 

Meeting several friends for lunch.  All of us except one is retired now.  It's nice to sit, visit and not worry about rushing back to the office.

[Iggy aka IG]

caroca I hope you recover quickly.

greenthumb59, have you tried almond milk?  I put it in my coffee and use it to bake/cook with.  I also use coconut, primarily in sauces and smoothies.

[Lizard Queen]

Back down 1.2 from yesterday, so I guess it was just a blip.

[greenthumb59]

Hi Iggy!  Yes I have tried almond milk.  I just forgot to mention it!  I am currently trying a blend of almond/coconut milk in my coffee to replace heavy whipping cream.  It's called Nut Pods, and it is also flavored with French vanilla.  Of course it does not compare to HWC, but it works okay.  I am still obviously in mourning about giving up dairy.  I am still a 4 year brat deep down inside!

[countrygirl2]

I haven't been on this thread before, but sure won't hurt me.

I'm one of the older of you all, will be 78 this year and have a litany of health issues and yep are taking meds for all of them. I have been doing pretty good keeping everything stabilized with the help of some good docs the last year. But again got sick in Washington state while there and still trying to recover, and I will.

I have managed to lose from 195 to 152. over the last couple of years but only with the help of Ozempic. I have bounced around from 149 to 152, but since Christmas visiting am 155, so don't want to go higher.   I have to give credit to Ozempic as I have hypoglycemia so I would eat and eat to keep my blood sugar stable. Had glucose pills in every car, on the lawnmower and everywhere in case I would break out into a cold sweat and get shaky, had a couple of times barely made it to the pills. Have not had that issue since taking it, so it has helped that and as a wonderful byproduct I have lost weight. I'm sure it help because it slows emptying of the stomach.  Ironically it states it can cause low blood sugar??, not for me.

I have a minor heart valve leak.
Osteoarthritis in spine, hip, and ankles, developing in wrists
My blood pressure and heart rate are low, always have been so ok
High cholesterol take Nextlizet, works wonders, no pain like statins
Have neuropathy in top of feet and up shins, got it from docs trying at least 7 types of statins
Developing essential tremor, only noticeable when tired

Still at my age, I feel very fortunate. The weight loss has allowed me to walk well now and get rid of the braces on my legs and I'm actually getting around better than in years. I don't want to lose this benefit, the best thing that has happened for my health in years.

Kind of long, I tend to be wordy, sorry. 

So goals, I have a home gym in the basement, treadmill, exercycle, weight machine, and bench so yes I need to use it. I cannot walk a long way because of foot issue, but I can walk. I really like to be with a group and we also have them at our small town hospital fitness center. If I go to the Y in the town 40 miles away they have a heated exercise pool.

I want to start chair exercising with a senior group they have started in our nearby community.

Also I am going to try and continue eating healthy, I think one day the insurance will stop paying their share for ozempic and I fear I will be back to square one. But I have read if you quit taking it you will regain the weight, I sure hope I can keep it off.

[busymom]

Good to see you here, countrygirl2!     Everyone here is at least trying to live a healthier life.  


I've managed to keep exercising an hour a day.  Not seeing the results yet, but I wish I could remember how many weeks it took for me to see REAL results the last time I kept steady with the exercise.  I think it was somewhere between 8 & 12 weeks, which sounds awful, but that much time is going to go by anyway.  Might as well try & make improvements.  And right now, my joints feel better than usual.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 24, 2024 11:51:08 GMT -5 greenthumb59 said:

Hi Iggy!  Yes I have tried almond milk.  I just forgot to mention it!  I am currently trying a blend of almond/coconut milk in my coffee to replace heavy whipping cream.  It's called Nut Pods, and it is also flavored with French vanilla.  Of course it does not compare to HWC, but it works okay.  I am still obviously in mourning about giving up dairy.  I am still a 4 year brat deep down inside!

That sounds great, greenthumb59!  I've not tried Nut Pods and put the sugar free version in my grocery cart for next month.     And, LOL at being a 4 year old inside.  

[greenthumb59]

I hope you like the Nut Pods!  I remember seeing another flavor but I can't recall what it was.  Our Whole Foods store is always a freakin' madhouse.  I try to get in and out of there as quickly as I can.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 24, 2024 11:51:08 GMT -5 greenthumb59 said:

Hi Iggy!  Yes I have tried almond milk.  I just forgot to mention it!  I am currently trying a blend of almond/coconut milk in my coffee to replace heavy whipping cream.  It's called Nut Pods, and it is also flavored with French vanilla.  Of course it does not compare to HWC, but it works okay.  I am still obviously in mourning about giving up dairy.  I am still a 4 year brat deep down inside!

Givng up dairy was really hard for me, and I have certainly not done so completely. I stopped drinking cows milk about ten years ago and ice cream about five years ago. I still have cheese. Because CHEESE. I buy Silk Almond creamer for my coffee. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I had two way over eating days this week--Wed and Thurs.


January 2 ...166.5
January 7 ...166.4
Yesterday morning, my weight was 168.0

I worked out on Monday and Friday so far this week.

[daisylu]

I did 1 and a half workouts today. I had ordered a journal that contained exercises with a schedule, thinking that would help remind me to take time for myself. Well, I got halfway through and was reminded how out of shape I actually am so I switched over to one of my WATP dvds. 

I do like the journal and the exercises but it is going to be a while until I am ready for that. At least I have a new starting point. 

[ners]

Weekly check in

Debated whether to update since I am struggling to find something good.

I guess the good is water intake is higher than last week.

Started strong with steps and then faded fast.


Goals will remain the same.

Goals for week:


1. No eating after 9:00 PM
2. 42000 steps
3. average 30 ounces of water per day. Number is arbitrary and is above last week's average.


01/01/19 177.2
01/01/20 165.2
01/01/21 169.0
01/01/22 167.2
01/01/23 172.2
01/01/24 187.2
01/08/24 187.2
01/15/24 186.6
01/22/24 186.4
01/29/24 187.2

[daisylu]

My glutes are still achy from the half workout that I attempted - that is a good thing. I will continue to try, only going as far as I am comfortable, and switch off to something else.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I've worked out three consecutive days!

[greenthumb59]

Yesterday was just strange.  Right off the bat I managed to spill almost a full cup of coffee into my open purse.  I am very talented when it comes to klutziness.

I had several friends with birthdays yesterday.  Did all the happy birthday texting.

Walked the dog on her "long" walk.  It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the sunshine.

But our home just had an off vibe to it.  My DH is an alcoholic.  He doesn't drink all the time.  But I kinda knew - when he said he was going to check out a new Asian market store in a nearby town - I knew he was going to get some booze and hide in the garage and drink.  And that is what he did.

My only living sibling called me about 4:30.  She had to put her 14 year old dog down yesterday.  She was crying, driving home and super upset.  We all knew this was gonna happen.  14 year old dogs don't get better.  But its still sad.  I loved the little dog too.

So yeah yesterday was weird.  Getting my long overdue hair cut and color today.

[Iggy aka IG]

Hugs greenthumb59.

[msventoux]

Sorry greenthumb59 some days just suck more than they have any right to.  Hopefully getting a cut and color will provide a distraction and make you feel a bit better. 

I was starting to get discouraged as my weight has been bouncing all over the place by a few pounds.  I know that’s part of the process so looked at my progress year to date and am currently down 6 pounds.  Exercise is still an issue.  We’ve been vacillating locally between several inches of snow and temperatures in the -20’s so pretty much the only exercise I’ve gotten is shoveling snow, snow blowing, and trying not to freeze. 

Eating is going okay overall. I’ve been meal planning and prepping fruits and veggies.  While I’m not following the meal plan exactly, the prepped items do make it much easier to throw together an acceptable substitute. I was dying for something sweet so decided to make meringue cookies for the first time. I managed to find a rotten egg, so ditched that idea, tossed all the eggs and now currently have no desire for sweets. 

[greenthumb59]

Thanks Guys - the haircut and color did help.  I've known my hair ladies for many years so it was good to see them and catch up on everything.

DH had sort of started dinner.  He marinated a couple of large thick pork chops.  So I made mushroom risotto in the instant pot while the chops cooked.  It was a good dinner.

Earlier the dog and I did her longer walk.  I need to get back in the habit of walking her this way.  It's good for both of us.

[flamingo]

greenthumb59, hugs. I hope things get easier soon. 


I weighed myself over the weekend and was unhappy that I was up 2 pounds. But later in the day I realized it’s bc it’s that time of the month, so hopefully by the end of this week I’m back down.

ive gotten up the last 3 days in a row to work out before work (I traveled for work Sunday). Anyway, I used to work out before work all the time, then the pandemic happened and I changed to a middle of the day or after work exerciser. So bc I’ve felt so good the last 3 days, I’m doing it again tomorrow. I know I’ll go, but I wonder how I’ll feel by the end of the day and if I’ll keep it up after tomorrow, lol.

[busymom]

The scale was kind this morning.  I've FINALLY lost pound #4.  I'm hoping now I've begun that gradual decline that happened the last time I was exercising regularly.     I'm still exercising an hour a day, and breaking up the time into 20-minute sessions.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My weight has been up two pounds for the last several days. 

I have now worked out five consecutive days. 

[busymom]

Jan 31, 2024 21:41:20 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

My weight has been up two pounds for the last several days. 

I have now worked out five consecutive days. 

    Don't worry.  Muscle weighs more than fat, so the scale might go up a bit before it moves steadily down. 

[Iggy aka IG]

I lost 5.4 pounds last month.     I keep bouncing around the "same decade" so this month's goal will be to move down to the next one.

Happy weekend, friends.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I've successfully exercised all week! Much credit to my DH for getting us out to the garage gym. 

[ners]

Weekey check in

Hit step goal.  

Water intake a little better than last week however still needs improvement.

Several evenings ate after 9:00 PM

This week's goals

1. 43,000 steps
2. No eating after 9:00 PM.
3. Average 30 ounces of water a day


01/01/19 177.2
01/01/20 165.2
01/01/21 169.0
01/01/22 167.2
01/01/23 172.2
01/01/24 187.2
02/01/24 185.6
02/05/24 187.2

Have a good week everyone.

[wvugurl26]

I need to select a new tracker watch. The last firmware update is draining the battery of my not even 2 years old Fitbit. The support forum is full of posts about it and BBC reported on it. They are doing nothing to fix it.

I'm not sure I want a Samsung and all the distractions of texts and calls buzzing on my wrist. I might get a Garmin for that reason.

[busymom]

Nice work on hitting your step goal ners!  


There was only one day this past week that I didn't hit the 1 hour mark on exercise, and that day I was at about 44 minutes.  The scale is still bouncing around 2 pounds up & down.  Oh well...

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 23, 2024 14:58:19 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Back down 1.2 from yesterday, so I guess it was just a blip.

I missed some updates. I was up 0.6 from this point on the 23rd, down 1.8 from that on the 7th, and back up 0.4 as of today. A bit of a roller-coaster, but trending the right direction overall. I haven't had much time to exercise, and I feel soft. Eating more veggies, though. I fear it's going to be a rough go for a while with my schedule. I just hope to maintain for the next month, at least.