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

[hollyquaiscer]

I gained 4 pounds this month!!!

So I just ran 4 miles on a treadmill!!

I cannot believe I gained weight considering how much snow I shovelled this month! Must be all the free expired cheese the co-op manager let me have.

No more cheese for you...are you sure you didn't make some macaroni and cheese, extra cheese???

[hollyquaiscer]

OK my peeps, I've been reading back through the thread since it's inception on January 1st. It's now been 30 days. People are up, their down...hell a few of you have even just gone sideways..but it's time to get serious here. January is over today!!! That means only another 59 days until Easter Sunday!!!! I love being the cheerleader, but today I'm acting as the teacher....well just for this post It's time to get serious! I realize that we all have huge issues in our lives that crop up, but for the most part, with a bit of effort, we can do this. You guys deserve the very best life possible, you are all my friends and I care about each and every one of you, so dam it...listen up! You are no good to anyone if you don't have your health. It has taken me so many years to learn that, and it took almost dying for me to realize that I am important, and people need me. If my body isn't healthy, I;m not healthy, I have no energy, I'm cranky, and miserable at the way I look. You guys need to get with the program!!! On the weekend, or at night, or whenever you have time away from kids, spouses, parents and general life, you need to head to the kitchen. Prepack snacks...healthy ones. And if you want cheese, well then measure a 1 ounce portion and put it in your snack bag, along with other veggies and the like. Make chili, make soups, stews, anything and freeze it in proper portions. Eat lots of protein (and remember it should be the size of a deck of cards only). Cut out fats as much as possible. Eat apples with peanutbutter for your snack or anything else that's good for you and fills you up, and eat every 3 hours. OK....enough of this, time to get back to the old me. I just want you guys to know that I care about you all and I want you all to realize what it took me YEARS to figure out....NOW GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

[Patty Smyth]

Oh, crap, I well remember those...has she accused you of taking her things, yet? Is she hearing people at her door or outside trying to "get her stuff', too? What an awful time.....you do so much for them and then they accuse you of stealing from them or collaborating with "those people"...Of course they can't know what they're thinking when they do that, but it still hurts, at least it did me, even if I did know that. You're in for a rough time from here on, Patty...we're here for you whenever you need someone to chat/vent with...You're under so much stress......

Yeah she thinks there are people in the room at night, thinks things are being stolen, wonders when she is being picked up, that has already been going on for a couple of years but the sundowner is just thelast year.

Another sleepless night last night.

[hollyquaiscer]

OK, I'm going to share this picture with you all. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I'm so very proud of myself. I made it to my goal, just Monday I've been working at this goal and it took me almost a year. Many times I wanted to give up, it was hard. Every time I would make a gain of 10 pounds, something would happen, or I would get sick again and I would lose at least 5 of those pounds. I know it's the total opposite of what you guy's are trying to do, but it's the same program. I can't eat crap, not bad fats (they make me very sick), not gluten (I'm a celiac), and I can't eat big meals (I throw up because my body can't handle it, to many operations). It's been really hard for me, I've had to drink truck loads of ensure, and protein powders, but I'm here, and I healthy, and I love the way I look. If anyone would have told me that I would look better in my 60's that I did in my 30's, 40's or even 50's I would have peed myself laughing so hard. But I do and I'm dam proud of myself. So here peeps is how I look today I finally can purchase clothes from regular stores that sell more than size 00. And you know what else....so many of my great friends here were an inspiration, and this thread keeps me on track! So thank you all my wonderful friends Now, I get to go out and get some new clothes...my old ones are getting tight I cropped out my face on purpose...no make-up and was sweating something terrible...it was our sweltering day 2 days ago!

[Granger]

OK, I'm going to share this picture with you all. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I'm so very proud of myself. I made it to my goal, just Monday I've been working at this goal and it took me almost a year. Many times I wanted to give up, it was hard. Every time I would make a gain of 10 pounds, something would happen, or I would get sick again and I would lose at least 5 of those pounds. I know it's the total opposite of what you guy's are trying to do, but it's the same program. I can't eat crap, not bad fats (they make me very sick), not gluten (I'm a celiac), and I can't eat big meals (I throw up because my body can't handle it, to many operations). It's been really hard for me, I've had to drink truck loads of ensure, and protein powders, but I'm here, and I healthy, and I love the way I look. If anyone would have told me that I would look better in my 60's that I did in my 30's, 40's or even 50's I would have peed myself laughing so hard. But I do and I'm dam proud of myself. So here peeps is how I look today I finally can purchase clothes from regular stores that sell more than size 00. And you know what else....so many of my great friends here were an inspiration, and this thread keeps me on track! So thank you all my wonderful friends Now, I get to go out and get some new clothes...my old ones are getting tight I cropped out my face on purpose...no make-up and was sweating something terrible...it was our sweltering day 2 days ago!

You are beautiful! Congrats and thanks for the inspiration. I know I need to get with the program, I've been derailing myself this week. No excuses.

[Patty Smyth]

You are tanned!!!! B&^&*ch looking good although I am telling all of you now I will not be poting bathing suit shot lol. But when I make enough progress that it shows I will post a before and "during " pic. Maybe at the end of this part of the challenge. Right now I am at 40 ish pounds lost, very happy but still a ways to go.

Sorry I was not on yesterday WOB Happy belated Birthday.

[Lynn49]

Holly, is there anything you won't do for us?!!
First of all, congratulations on your weight-gain...you look absolutely fabulous and any of us would love to have that body (okay, maybe not the guys)! I could hear the concern in your encouraging post and you're right; we have no right to be like this, because it does make us cranky and miserable to those we love. We also have to set examples for our young people who might be heading in the same direction...so many here have young ones...and it's a horrible way for them to go through school...we want them to be busy, athletic (if not athletes), have friends, and unfortunately being a chubby kid does affect them! You just have to watch an episode of Biggest Loser when the 3 kids are on, to see the hurt in their little faces. So thank you for the slap upside our heads, Holly!

I've pretty much stuck to my diet all week because I know I'm taking a break on Sunday, for the Superbowl (GO RAVENS!)...hubby and I bought football-snacky food, and there will be wine. But I will be back on it on Monday, you can be assured of that! Like I said in an earlier post....I've spent too many years regretting the months that I could have dieted and looked darn fine in the spring and summer, yet didn't do it. THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT!!

Good luck to everyone!!!!

[i_forget]

Congrats Holly! You look amazing. Thank you for being an inspiration and for keeping us motivated!

[Abby5]

I am going to step on the scale tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration

[SassyAshley]

This is how I try to do it but right now with it being our off season at work we are doing alot of projects and I find come the afternoon, I am no longer in my office I am in some other part of our building and do not get a chance to have my afternoon snack. Plus my other issue is I am so used to eating earlier (trying to cook on off peak hours for Hydro) where is my mom prefers to eat later so most the time lately she will not even start dinner until I am home and than it still needs a couple hours to cook. I think I finally have her seeing my point but we will see what happens. I just wish life would stop getting in my way of my dieting.

SassyAshley, it's never good to let your body get to a state where your so ravenous that you can't wait to shovel anything into the pie hole! Perhaps you should try what a lot of us do, and that's to eat at least 5 smaller meals a day. Believe it or not, it works. You can even do this when someone else in the home is doing the cooking (or baking). Just prepare a bunch of smaller snack and meals, on the weekend. When you leave for work, make sure you EAT breakfast first, then along with your lunch, bring a mid morning meal and a mid afternoon meal. The meals can be anything from a healthy sandwich on whole grain bread, a boiled egg and some cheese and veggies, or the one that I love and ALWAYS keep a person full is a protein smoothie or shake. You can make them up a day or 2 in advance, then just bring one to work with you. If you do this, when you get home and your mom has prepared dinner, you won't be starving and tempted to overeat. You can be a bit more choosy as to which of her wonderful dishes you want to eat, and more importantly what the serving size will be.

[SassyAshley]

My grandfather had this, at night he would walk up and down the drive way as he could not settle down. It was explained to us years ago (maybe they can explain it better now) is it usually when there is nothing is going on there brain becomes over active which was exactly what it was with Grandpa. Come 4 pm when all the chores were done, dinner was cooking he had nothing to do so he had to walk. He was than ok again until bed time because we were all in the house there were things to be done but at bed time again it would be struggle as this was when he would think things would happen that did not (ie our hydro being shut off). It is extremely sad and hard to see this as they cannot help it.

Well my dad being away has done one thing, I have finally figured out what's up with my mom at night. She has Sundowners syndrome, now to try and take measures so we can all get some sleep. Another sleepless night last night

[Patty Smyth]

My grandfather had this, at night he would walk up and down the drive way as he could not settle down. It was explained to us years ago (maybe they can explain it better now) is it usually when there is nothing is going on there brain becomes over active which was exactly what it was with Grandpa. Come 4 pm when all the chores were done, dinner was cooking he had nothing to do so he had to walk. He was than ok again until bed time because we were all in the house there were things to be done but at bed time again it would be struggle as this was when he would think things would happen that did not (ie our hydro being shut off). It is extremely sad and hard to see this as they cannot help it.

Some suggestions that I have been reading up on include giving them a little chores to do to take their mind off the time of day. I gave her a whole box of photos to look at, this sort of worked as she i asking later now when she is going home. I am also going to get a laundry hamper fill it with small towels and face clothes so she can sit and fold them. I tried circle a word puzzles but she can no longer do them. So sad as she used to do hundreds of crosswords a month.

[Abby5]

Some suggestions that I have been reading up on include giving them a little chores to do to take their mind off the time of day. I gave her a whole box of photos to look at, this sort of worked as she i asking later now when she is going home. I am also going to get a laundry hamper fill it with small towels and face clothes so she can sit and fold them. I tried circle a word puzzles but she can no longer do them. So sad as she used to do hundreds of crosswords a month.

Great idea! My grandma use to love pairing and rolling socks. She also sorts items like beads etc..I really hate it when she asks when her husband will be back (he did 16 years ago) some days she cries like she just found out and other days she says who? Or good I hated the ! (She would never of thought of even saying that before!)

[Patty Smyth]

BMI calculator

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18781786

[Patty Smyth]

Great idea! My grandma use to love pairing and rolling socks. She also sorts items like beads etc..I really hate it when she asks when her husband will be back (he did 16 years ago) some days she cries like she just found out and other days she says who? Or good I hated the ! (She would never of thought of even saying that before!)

That is typical of the disease Abby doing things they never would have done before. My mom went through a stage where if my dad turned his back on her after saying something nasty(he did not for many years understand the disease, and still does not) she would give him the finger. I didn't even know she knew how to.