Discover the Wild (and Healthy) Side!! – WISH May Lifestyle/Weight Challenge

[iivye]

Just back from a weekend at my parents in VA, I ran my goal race for this training cycle there and came home with a new half marathon PR of 2:45:14. I took 10:53 off my last time!

Congratulations!! That's a huge victory!!

What is your approach in your healthy living, more science or more fun or both?

Mostly science to begin with but as others said, if it isn't a lifestyle change I can stick with then it's not a permanent change. It's the constant battle of doing what I know is good for me vs what I enjoy.

BUT I have great news: My foot that has been acting up is fine! Yes, there is an issue, but I will get new inserts that will help, I am supposed to cool my foot to get the inflamation down a bit more and the best news is: My running inserts are perfect and I am free to run!!

Awesome news! Congratulations on getting back out there!

 

[Lady Marie]

So, Dinoland shows us that you can see something from the purely scientific point of view or you can have a lot of fun with something. What is your approach in your healthy living, more science or more fun or both?

He talks about finding your "best weight", which is whatever weight you reach when you're living the healthiest life that you actually enjoy. I think that this is a great concept - finding a balance between science (healty lifestyle) and fun (enjoy).

Most people KNOW (to varying degrees) what they SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be eating to maintain a healthy diet... but the practicality/reality of doing it is another thing entirely.

Basically what was said above. I know what I should and should eat as a general rule... but integrating that into real everyday life can be a challenge. I am really really striving to find something that is sustainable. I would say, scientifically I am making conscious effort not to have copious amounts of sugars or carbs, and have more protein in general. But I am not a slave to it.

As for exercise, I am not in love with what I am doing-- I see it as a means to an end. However, now that I am building strength, I am not as afraid to try other things that in the past were intimidating to me. I think I may find barre classes fun, but til now was afraid to try. After I get to my original goal with Orangetheory, I think I will find another gym with more fun classes (barre, zumba, etc), so I can balance a little more fun into the exercise to keep it sustainable for me.

@HappyGrape 's post is so true! And yes, we can all use a little reminder on what the end goal is-- to be happiest and healthiest at the same time at whatever works for your body!

 

[HappyGrape]

my photo dairy of today. I won't post them every day, but today really hit the spot for me! And I have 300 calories to spare if I fancy snack little later. Picture form nearby tiny park where often go for my walks.

 

[sweetpeama]

Do you watch how much protein you eat? Have you seen any effects on your weight loss success depending on your protein intake? What sources of protein do you prefer?

I really don't keep track of how much protein I eat. I do know that when I am able to eat a diet higher in protein at least 60% of what I eat being protein that I do tend to loose weight easier. I prefer animal sources of protein but do occasionally have nuts and seeds.

What is your approach in your healthy living, more science or more fun or both?

Give me fun and if there is any science involved if it's not fun not doing. I don't do anything involving math though from time to time will put in what I have been eating and just check to see if there are any major adjustments. Haven't done so for a number of years as the one I was using which broke things down really well into the entire list of you could even see how much copper you got in your diet for the day or week. The site was closed and since that computer crashed on me I can't even remember what it was. Honestly I was at one of my healthiest times doing that because I could play around with things and have those in check much easier. To do out regularly on my own well I would need at least a masters degree in a different field, lots of charts, and more time than I have available.

 

[HappyGrape]

I end up adding 2 snacks to my day yesterday. I can't help but wonder - is this habit I want to keep. Snack one apple, raspberries, greek yoghurt. Snack 2 banana and greek yoghurt. Nothing bad, and still hit my calorie deficit goal but I was very active yesterday, I am not as active every day.

The scale however is going in the right direction with very good speed, so perhaps I don't need to worry about the extra snack! Doing little happy dance! It's awesome to remind myself that I can eat meals I really enjoy, feel satisfied and still maintain or lose weight if I want to!

I am down 1.7 kg in the last 11 days, and had good few meals out, drinks and didn't eat any food I don't enjoy!

 

[Flossbolna]

May 10

Woohoo Wednesday!!​

Yes, it is Wednesday already! Share something positive that happened to you or your loved ones today or sometime in the last week! Let's find plenty of positive energy today!!

And talking about energy, I will leave you with a picture from the Finding New - The Musical show at the Theater in the Wild between Dinoland and Asia in Animal Kingdom:

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[HappyGrape]

how are you doing flossbolna? You mentioned you are feeling little iffy few days ago, hope you are feeling better

I had good week over all, and this week feels much easier than last. My salad today was pretty amazing - I love all my food but for some reason this salad was real hit and made me feel supper happy. I walked on my lunch break to tiny little local store and bought fresh bread, hummus, produce, lean burgers, fillet steaks. All local and good quality. I am feeling very positive!

 

[Flossbolna]

The salad does look delicious!!

how are you doing flossbolna? You mentioned you are feeling little iffy few days ago, hope you are feeling better

Thanks for asking, I am feeling better. I got three nights of good sleep and I think that really helped. I am planning on going for a run tonight after work (and am planning on posting this as my woohoo for today).

Also, despite three horrible eating days (yesterday was a waste as well), the scale has moved down again slightly. I know that it is water weight, but it still is so depressing. Especially since my numbers currently are not good ones at all, even the lower ones. I just seem to have so much trouble losing the tiniest bit of weight. I try to not beat myself up about it, I cannot force my body into anything. It is what it is and I know that eating more and losing less is better for me. I actually had a big success on Saturday when I went to a party and managed to stay within my maintenance calories (yes, I did not manage the 500 kcal deficit I am trying for on a normal day, but I did not try for that either). For me this was a huge success as I tend to overeat at parties.

And I guess I already answered the QOTD there with my woohoo - still planning on adding on another woohoo after my run!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I'm leaving for my cruise with DH in 2 days WOOHOO!!

So, Dinoland shows us that you can see something from the purely scientific point of view or you can have a lot of fun with something. What is your approach in your healthy living, more science or more fun or both?

Ok I am mostly fun but I feel like there is no denying the science involved in losing weight. So science does have a place just not as big of a place as fun

 

[HappyGrape]

@Flossbolna a I am sorry you are finding it hard. You will figure it out, keep trying. Something will click and you will find what will make it easier for you. You did well not to set yourself for unrealistic goal on day out.

 

[Oneanne]

So, yesterday was a no-go day for me. I woke up tired, with a thick head, headache and what felt like a bit of fever (don't have a thermometer I could actually measure with). I ended up staying home from work because I thought I'd gotten the the cold that's been going around. I slept for another five hours and when I finally got up I was pretty OK and was feeling guilty for not sucking it up and going in to work, then within minutes my head was totally congested again. Today I feel OK, but a bit like I'm running on empty.

So on to yesterday's QOTD: I guess a bit of both. I think if I found cooking to be more fun I'd be having better success, because the fun part is definitely important. The science side seems to change on a regular basis, what's good for you this week might be considered not good next week, all depending on who's talking. I'm trying to listen to my own body and work with that.

Woohoo Wednesday - well, I managed to get out of bed this morning . We've now had several days of sunshine and warmer temps, which is such a blessing and seeing the sun helps so much with general well being. And being able to open up the house and get the winter stuffiness out is so nice. This weekend there's a fiber festival I'm planning on going to... it'll involve a nice long drive out in to the country, which I haven't done in a while. And there will be sheep!

I had my weekly chiropractic appointment yesterday and we finished looking at my x-rays. There is some arthritic degeneration in my upper spine, but again a manageable amount. After last week I was thinking about all the things that happened to me in high school: a car accident where we were t-boned from the right side: getting hit on the right side of the head by a volleyball: bouncing off the back of a motorcycle and landing square on my behind. I'm pretty sure the root of the neck stuff is the accident/volleyball, and when he was looking at the upper back we talked about the motorcycle accident and sure enough that's the kind of shock/compression that would result in where I am today. But all in all a good report for someone of my *cough cough* age.

Happy Wednesday everyone... let's make it full of woohoos!

PS: I rarely go in to Dino-land at all. Dinosaur is my absolute least favorite ride, all dark and bumpy and screechy, and there just isn't anything else there to draw me in.

 

[piglet1979]

My woohoo is that I have been eating better. I did miss getting 10,000 steps yesterday. All excuses but my daughter had dance class and then when i got home I need to help my son with his homework. I could have walked while my daughter was at dance and I could have walked and left my husband in charge of homework so they are just excuses. To day I will go to the rec to get my steps in. Also since the weather is nice this morning I walked up to my desk from my car. It is about a half mile I think and you have to go up a huge hill and and about 2 stories of stairs. So a good start today. I will also walk back to my car this afternoon. I only get about 30 minutes for lunch so i am hoping to get in a little bit of a walk in. I am hoping that I can make up a good portion of my missed steps from yesterday.

 

[Lady Marie]

Woohoo! I bought tickets today to see Avatar in 3D on Saturday at Disney Springs as the lead up to the Pandora passholder preview on Sunday! I haven't looked at any of the media out right now on it so I can just be super surprised when we see it! We are so excited to experience it!

 

[HappyGrape]

I was thinking about making it hard/vs making it easy for myself to lose or maintain weight

When I stop thinking about loving my meals and having meals I enjoy, and I just get on with it, I get bored and start craving other, more calorific food. If I want to make it easy for myself to stay on course, I need to focus on enjoyment of my meals.

Having half plate of veggies or veggies of fruit definitely makes it easier for me

Eating out at least once weekly made it easier for me. Trying to give up eating out just doesn't work for me and if I try to do it I won't be able to stay on course. I try to be sensible, adjust the rest of my day slightly but keep eating out.

 

[Flossbolna]

Here is my woohoo: I ran 5 km despite feeling I would faint of hunger after 2 km. I decided that there was no reason to be that hungry as I had a snack before my run. By km 3 I had forgotten how hungry I was. Got home and had a lovely lentil soup. And now I have even some calories left for a snack!

I really needed a good day and I got it! Motivation is way up again!!

 

[katmu]

The last week has been tough. I somehow managed to aggravate the disc issue in my neck so I've been on bed rest for the last 4 days. I'm slowly feeling better but this was not how I thought this month would go.

On the plus side, my appetite seems to be down a bit.

I hope everyone else is doing better.

 

[HappyGrape]

Good Morning All!

I won't post every day diary here, but if someone is interested I set up a Instagram account for it. I would love to see visually how the 47 days go, what is the result and I hope to be able to see that you can be moderate, enjoy your food, don't beat yourself up in the gym and still lose weight

I woke up today thinking 43 days to California! Such great motivator. Vacations are very big motivator for me. Short term, I want to feel healthy, fit and confident. Long term - I want to be retired and still enjoy activities I do now, as active vacations. Have you ever thought about your long term motivators? I find it stronger and better adviser than short term. Example if I feel like skipping social occasion to get to x weight for my vacation the long term motivator will advise me that this is not the life I want to live, and I want to enjoy myself and be social. Short term I may think I am on vacation now, overeating doesn't count. Long term this is not behavior I want to be dealing with when I am 60+! It is also reassuring when trying to develop good solid skills, as it reduces the pressure to push too much and the risk to compromise with sustainability. There isn't pressure to be x by y date..

that's my thinking this morning anyway while drinking my coffee! Today will be busy and I plan to visit the gym after work. I better get up and start making my breakfast & lunch and getting ready for work. I hope you all have a healthy and happy day. I will check in tonight to see the question of the day!

 

[Bethislucy]

I know I'm late I would like to join in. My goal is to lose 6lbs and get 120 minutes of exercise. This is a starting place for me. I want to get overall healthy not just lose some weight.

 

[HappyGrape]

welcome @Bethislucy

 

[Flossbolna]

May 11

Expedition Everest

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We are moving on to Asia and the first attraction we encounter is Expedition Everest - a roller coaster that encounters the Yeti! Quite thrilling... But we are going to look at a less thrilling, less known, but still fascinating fact. If you look at the houses at the base of Expedition Everest you will notice that many of them have wood beams on the roof:

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Wood is a precious commodity in the Himalaya foothills and it is stored on the roof to keep it safe. You can see that some people are richer than others because they havve large amounts of wood on their roofs - you will notice that those buildings are generally better well kept as well. The wood on the roof is a status symbol there.

What food is so important to you that you store it? Do you have a large food store or do you mainly buy fresh? Are there any foods that are vital for you to have around? Do you have any special foods that are good to keep in store for quick healthy meals?

And I also have a more "heavy" bonus question: Talking about status symbols, do you think healthy living and exercise is being used as a status symbol in today's world?