The fun's over! It's time for an Easter (Sunday, March 31) Challenge!

[Lynn49]

Morning everyone!
Down (down!) .9 this week. Not 1 , lol...just .9
But, as Kw01ai said, small victory, but a victory nevertheless....I'll take it!

How about everyone else?

Patty.....that's THE BEST chart ever! I'll be emailing it to our DD for a giggle. Oh! It's Friday! She's off! So I'll send it to their home.....

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!!

[Patty Smyth]

Up .7 , no biggie. I had not weighed in for 2 weeks because I missed last Friday.

[thriftygranny]

Down .8 for a weight of 163 lbs. Have been doing the squat challenge and I am feeling it.Not going to have a free eating day this weekend, want to stay on track!!
Today's eating plan is oatmeal with blueberries, cottage cheese with fruit and bbq'd venison steak with salad, snack will be veggies and hummus.and lots of water!!good Job everyone.

[Lynn49]

Ugh. Water.
Our DD says it's so absolutely important, and I quite dislike the stuff...she suggested plonking a big pitcher of the stuff on the diningroom table,and taking a glass of it every time I go by. I'll try...{{{holding nose}}}....

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

[thriftygranny]

I don't like water either, I am just not a thirsty person.I have been forcing myself and I really notice I have lost a lot of bloat so I am powering through,tossing a lemon wedge in to make it a bit better!!

[Lynn49]

....maybe a splash of scotch..........that'd work.....

[walkonby]

ha ha ha Lynn and Thrifty! I used to be awesome with the water drinking, now I can hardly choke down 2 glasses a day, blech! I did lemon and lime in it too...but enough procrastinating, my weigh in was sad ( only for me though). what did I expect after letting loose over the w/e?
I am up again by 2 full lbs., so yikes bad bad yo yo person here.

Right now I am so zonked, work today, and I just ate after I got home so want so badly to nap now.

ok, chin up, let us all know how your w/e affected your weigh in today, couldn't be as bad as mine.

[thriftygranny]

Two pounds is nothing to worry about after the week you have had. Keep going Walks!!!

[Lynn49]

The "HOLLY" theory.
Which is, in fact, correct.

[Lynn49]

[Lynn49]

[curt81]

-1

[Lynn49]

Good for you, Curt! Beat me this week, that's for sure....I'm going to have to try harder next week...

So BTW!! Our DD finally calculated the calories that Herbal Magic has her on IN her first level of maintenance: 695 calories!!!!! WE were speechless! They were shocked....That's scary!
So I calculated my usual 20points in WW, and it's 1000 calories / day. Which is fine.
Now, our DD eats very healthy, she gets in her 2 protein, her veggies, carbs, fats, dairy, etc, but what she's doing apparently is eating all low cal foods; for instance, she should be eating regular yogurt, yet she's eating 0 cal yogurt...she's eating chicken and fish, and they suggested red meat once in a while...anyway...they've added another protein, so we'll see what happens...no wonder she lost weight so fast!!!! From a size 12 to a 6 in just a couple of months!! They're slowly raising her calorie intake so as not to suddenly have her put it all back on again!

[Patty Smyth]

For all women whether you are a parent or not. DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU!!!

Minimalist You: Self-Care Is Not Selfish

This post is part of Stress-Less Parenting Club's second workshop. Asha Dornfest and Christine Koh, co-authors of Minimalist Parenting, are sharing their best advice on simplifying family life. Here, Christine asserts the importance of "me time" for parents.
The term parenting is most readily defined as the act of taking care of and raising children. But parenting is also the act or process of becoming a parent, which we believe is as much about taking care of you as it is about taking care of your children. Because here's the thing: When you become a parent, your priorities naturally shift. But that doesn't mean you should disappear.
Carving out time for yourself and internalizing that you have a right to that time is easier said than done. Not only are there real constraints on your time, money, and mental capacity, there are cultural associations between parenthood and martyrdom. To pretend we're immune to those pressures just isn't realistic.
We devote the majority of Minimalist Parenting to helping you declutter your emotional, physical, and time-oriented space. But we wrap up with a chapter on self-care because we want you to finish the book thinking about YOU.
Part of the Minimalist Parenting journey is learning to think of self-care as a habit and an attitude to develop more than something to simply "check off a list." In the book, we provide lots of practical tips on how to build self-care into your schedule; but if you're still not convinced there's room in your life, here are some tips on how to move beyond the typical roadblocks:
"I don't have time."
Hands down, time is one of the biggest scarcities for modern parents. But everyone can carve out 10-20 minutes a day for self-care time. Yes, it may require reallocating and prioritizing (I, for one, recommend foregoing perfectly-folded laundry), asking for help or getting creative with how you build the time into your day.
For example, one way I fit self-care into my schedule is by building it into child care transit time. I push my 2-year-old, Violet, in the jogger to day care and then run home (or run a longer loop ending at home). It's a win for everyone; Violet gets to hunt for dogs, buses and trucks en route, and I get my self-care.
We all deserve at least ten minutes a day to focus on ourselves; schedule it in the calendar as a non-negotiable meeting!
"I don't have money for self-care."
Self-care doesn't have to mean expensive spa treatments. We define it as whatever feels relaxing and rejuvenating to YOU. Curling up with a book or magazine, going for a walk, writing in a journal, sitting with a cup of tea and doing absolutely nothing? All are forms of self-care and all are deliciously within your reach.
Another crucial aspect of self-care is looking after your health. While getting a mammogram isn't exactly the relaxing "massage" we look forward to, it's one example of the importance of caring for yourself.
"My kids are my first priority."
Of course your children are a priority. And you deserve to be a priority too. Remember that kids see and hear everything. Self-care sets a crucial example for your kids about the relationship between taking care of yourself and being able to take care of others.
"It seems selfish to take time for myself."
Repeat after me: Self-care is not selfish. When you treat yourself well, goodness trickles down into your relationships with your partner, your kids, your friends and your community. It's like a big circle of awesomeness. Your ability to take care of others is directly proportional to your own vitality and happiness.
"Why bother? My partner doesn't notice."
Trust me, they will. I'm not just talking about whether you decide to wear a snappier outfit today. If you are depleted and cranky, your partner (and your kids) will notice. One of the many benefits of taking care of yourself is the natural brightening effect it has on your relationship with your partner and those around you.
Have I convinced you that you deserve to make self-care a priority? I hope so! Remember, you get to define self-care. As you customize your approach to your new minimalist life, keep in mind that you are driving the bus. Make joy a goal. You deserve happiness. Every day.
Minimalist Parenting ultimately makes room for you to experience life more fully. To quiet your mind. Relax your body. Breathe deeply. Eat mindfully. Be present. Each time you find yourself with free time, grab it with joyful hands.

[walkonby]