BambiS - My congratulations for the progress you are making! From my perspective, arranging one's environment so it works to support one's goals is an incredibly productive action to take; well done. Wow! Riding a roller coaster in the dark at 30 degrees certainly sounds like an adventure to me!
Rebecka22 - Very nice! I'm happy to know that you are feeling better and have confidence in your plan for starting this year.
Fantastic achievement in meeting and surpassing your exercise goals for the past year. I think it is laudable that you are striving to integrate your physical activity into family outings with your young one; please let us know how that progresses. Huzzah!
JaBee - Seems like an excellent start! I think framing your efforts from the perspective of health, rather than an exclusive focus on weight loss is a really helpful and supportive framework. Carry on!
Starflower - Glad this felt like a good week for you! If you are looking for recipes for specific condiments, feel free to let the group know and I imagine we can come up with some variations with no added salt. These posts from
wildgoose on
sauces/gravies/toppings and
ketchup might be a starting point to build upon. Onward, indeed!
rlechols - It appears that you are moving in the right direction, Rachel! I appreciate your observation about how journaling is supporting and reinforcing adherence to the recommended behaviors; much as you describe, I found the process of writing things down produced a strong desire to avoid "exceptions," and being able to reflect on my choices definitely helped me recognize useful patterns. Keep at it!
CUgorji22 - I'm so glad you are feeling better, Chesca, and that your holiday was great in spite of those challenges! You seem to have done a great job getting back on track and settling into a solid routine. I can very much identify with you about how GREAT it feels to come home to our familiar, supportive, and curated environment. Feeling different in the best way - that sounds excellent!
Gimmelean - Happy, healthy New Year to you, too! You've made definite progress in regard to your adherence; keep going and you'll be back to 100% before you know it.
I'm pleased to know you are able to appreciate the substantial progress you have made. A self-assessment of adherence to the recommended pattern of behavior serves to direct our efforts, but looking backward to see how far we have traveled has real value, too. Keep heading in the direction of your goals!
Artista - Hang in there, Nancy! Do you feel any particular situation or event served as an "inciting incident" for this experience of struggling? I will do my best to respond to your questions, and feel free to follow up with other questions if they arise.
Artista wrote:Do you still follow all the 10 points of MWL?
Yes. At this point, I would say that those behaviors are habitual for me.
Artista wrote:Do you ever go off of it?
No, not really. An exception is when I travel by plane, I usually fast during my travel time, just because it makes everything simpler for me (and because I like to stay masked). I wouldn't necessarily recommend that for everyone, as it could lead to binge eating in the wake of the fast, but I feel like I'm experienced enough and it hasn't been a problem for me (so far anyway). Also, when I'm traveling, I might occasionally skip including a preload course for my meals, if my accommodations or situation make that particularly difficult. I REALLY miss my salads on those occasions, though.
Artista wrote:Does it still work for you in terms of being easy to follow and an enjoyable way to eat?
Yes. It feels completely routine for me now, and I love my meals (because I eat all the foods I love the most).
Artista wrote:Do you see positive outcomes in terms of health and wellbeing?
I do. All my biomarkers are excellent and my BMI stays in a healthy range. That said, it isn't a panacea for me. CRPS/RSD has no known cure at present, and very few proven, effective treatments. Managing my condition requires ongoing, regular, and continuous physical therapy, and some medication. By the same right, I am 100% sure that my diet and lifestyle put me in the best position to live with my disease, and minimize inflammation (which can be a MAJOR issue with CRPS). Please always feel free to ask questions like this, that is what we are here for, right?
Artista wrote:One of the problems I face is falling into the thinking that I need “healthy fats” in my diet.
This was something I really used to worry about, too. I spent a year inputting every single thing I ate into CRONometer (yes, that was crazy-making, and NO, I would not recommend it), and I was never lacking in essential fats as measured against
Jeff's recommendations. Most of my Omega3 fats come from lettuce, greens, and even strawberries, but they seem to be present, at least in part, in almost everything I eat. I feel confident that in adhering to the recommended behaviors, I am meeting all my nutritional needs.
JeffN wrote:- Nutrients and the RDA/DRI
The RDA/DRI’s do not always apply to those following a healthy starch based diet. However by following the guidelines, especially starting meals with a soup or salad and the 50/50 guideline, ones diet with be very nutrient dense. In regard to weight, we do not recommend tracking your nutrients. Follow the plan, and the nutrients will be there.
Kudos to you for your perseverance! I think you have outlined an excellent plan to maintain your focus where it will best serve you.
This post from
wildgoose might offer useful insight and inspiration for your questions, too. Keep doing your best, lean on the group when you need support, and don't forget to treat yourself with kindness and compassion!
VegSeekingFit - Great way to start the year, Stephanie! I'm happy you had a wonderful time at that party! I'm impressed and inspired by the intentions you have set for 2024.
Fabulous idea to combine physical activity with social connection. I expect you will be a pro pickleball player before long!
Wishing you all the best!