January/February Weight Management Challenge

[Catrin]

I think it makes a lot of difference to our bodies to mix up our types of exercise - that is one thing I've really learned in the last year. Also increased stress of many kinds can raise cortisol levels which doesn't help. It is important to get enough sleep (I could take more of this advice), there are just so many things that can make a difference in this area...

[Crankin]

I've also been trying to get more sleep. Given that I get up at 4:50 a least 2x a week, it's hard, as I work later hours now. If I get in bed at 9, I'm OK, even if i stay up until 10:00.
Stress, yeah. I am getting sick of my job; not the work, per se, or even the burnout that comes in my profession, more the driving all over to go to my client's homes and the fact my office is further away than almost all of my clients. Yesterday was my first drive home in a snowstorm since 2007, when I was teaching. Of course, I was at the office, 26 miles away and I was not happy. I keep telling myself only a few more months, which is true, but somehow everyone has the idea I am there for the long haul, when really, almost everyone comes here to get their requisite experience for their full license, whether they are social workers or professional counselors.

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin, if it helps at all, I am usually at my lowest weights when I drink wine daily. When I was in the 101-102 range a few years ago, I had a glass of wine pretty much every night with dinner. Here, because wine is so expensive, I usually drink a beer or rum drink, and I figured that was why I had put on a few, but I am still doing it and have now lost those few lbs., so who knows?

[goldfinch]

I have really upped the intensity of my biking. I did 560 miles in January, by far the most miles I ever have done. Even though my weight loss is minimal, about 2 pounds in a month, it is in the right direction. But like Crankin, I am having trouble getting enough sleep. The old dog wakes me up at 5:00 am to pee and she urgently has to go. We go to bed about 9:00 pm but I just cannot get to sleep. I've been averaging only about 6.5 hours a night. I've tried taking the dog out and then going back to bed but I can't go back to sleep. Tonight I am taking the dog out later and will try to ignore her between 5:00 and 5:15 to gradually try to get her to sleep later. I don't know how much luck I will have as she always has been an early riser.

Because of lack of sleep and lots of biking I am spending too much time on the couch being tired. I sure need balance.

[Crankin]

I'm sleeping OK, I'm just trying to get more sleep (as I say on a day when I woke at 4:50 for the third day this week, to go to spin).

106.0

Less than last week, downward trend, but I have been really scrupulous in my eating. No wine since Monday. Smaller snacks. Absolutely no grains since Monday, not even Ezekial bread or quinoa. I can do this for about another week, which will, hopefully, get me into the 105 range. We have no plans this weekend, so I will cook tomorrow night, but Sunday might involve going out with my son and DIL.
We are going on another x country ski trip Feb. 14-17. That is pretty close to the end of this challenge and I am afraid it might ruin my goal for me. Last year, our trip came right at the end of the challenge; I gained back all of the weight I had lost, but it was gone a week later.

[emily_in_nc]

104.0

Very happy with that as I have a sore ball-of-foot and have been unable to do stair climbing or any walks other than short ones. I think the stair-climbing (tile on concrete) brought it on, so I won't be doing that again. And I'm wearing shoes inside our tiled condo all the time now, as it hurts to walk barefoot. Even yoga hurt on Wed. At least riding doesn't bother it, since on my beach cruiser bike I am more behind the ball of my foot on the pedals. Hoping I don't start gaining again due to less activity!

[goldfinch]

110.2. Happy with continuing back in the right direction.