Healthy Living around the World Showcase ~ June 2016 WISH Challenge!

[Dr Gunnie]

Are you a team player in your life or in some aspects of it? Do you have a team that helps you with your healthy living or do you prefer to just do your own thing?

I'm very much a team player in most aspects of my life. The only thing I can think of where I'm not a team player might be my weight loss. My wife does help some, but I'm the only one that can be responsible for the decisions that I make and I can't blame my decisions on others (like I have in the past).

My extended family will talk the talk, but they really aren't "all in" on my weight loss journey. An example is last weekend we went out with my brother's family. At first they wanted to order pizza, which I fought. We ended up going to a newer place nearby which they had been to... all they had was crap bar food and pizza. The best thing on the menu for me was a turkey burger. So many restaurants have lighter options (and I brought up a number of them), but we had to go to one of the few that didn't. Plus, I hate going to places that don't have their nutritional info available somewhere!

 

[donac]

Glad to know you liked it. The price is $24 per person, but includes a drink, pastries and a meal. When I look at it like that, it's not really that expensive. Usual breakfast is $15 for Mickey Waffles at a hotel and a drink is $3.30 now. Add in a few bucks for the pastries and a premium for the space, I totally get it. Plus the "tip" is included in the meal. So really paying $55 for that meal isn't too outrageous when put into that context.

I'm leaning towards either the quiche, open face egg sammich, and the meat/cheese plate. I can't choose!

I have had the quiche at lunch twice. It is delicious. In Oct I really wanted something lighter since I wasn't feeling well but I had already had the quiche a few days before at lunch.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

I am the team planner for our family of 5. From food to vacations I do it all. DH doesn't do one stitch of planning on anything. I started off good yesterday but then my youngest cat had been throwing up all day so I decided to take him to the vets after lunch and he didn't come home. Lot's of test and IV he spent the night so I gave in to my stress cravings. All day worrying about the poor little guy I didn't eat right. I picked him up tonight but he has to stay isolated until he recovers and make sure he is still heading towards healthy. I have decided to try a cheap version of the 21 day fix since I can't afford the real kit. Did a bunch of food prep for it and am going to start tomorrow. Fingers crossed my cat stays in recovery mode.

 

[piglet1979]

Question of the Day for June 14:

We are still in France - and if we were in the real France at the moment we would be able to experience all the excitement of the UEFA European Football Championship! And not to confuse our American friends on this threads: We are talking about soccer here... This is the French National Team, also known as Les Bleus (the Blues):

The event runs from June 10 to July 10 and this year for the first time 24 teams are competing. There is a group stage and then a knockout phase starting with a round of 16, moving on to quarter finals, semi finals and then the final on July 10. The games are being played in 12 different venues all over France. And you can be sure that the whole country currently is talking football everywhere. I still remember how 10 years ago Germany hosted the FIFA World Cup and Nuremberg, where I live was one of the venues. It was such a fantastic party! I am sure the French know how to party as well (and won't some crazy hooligans destroy the party...).

Don't worry, I won't bother you with a soccer specific question of the day! But soccer is a team sport, so let's talk about teams! Are you a team player in your life or in some aspects of it? Do you have a team that helps you with your healthy living or do you prefer to just do your own thing?

My husband and I are a team. He helps me more then I help him though. He knows more then me about this stuff.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Sorry!! I did not find your update! Will correct it immediately!

You turned pink now!!

No problem. It happens. I've been trying to catch up but reading has been hard my left eye is having an allergy attack I think. Otherwise I'll need to go see Dr to make sure it's not an infection. It was dry and rough like it does when the cat bothers me. It just must be the time of year cat dander bothers me most. I took zyrtec when I got up. Then a claritin later still going. Trying Benadryl when I go to bed. Watching for signs of pink eye but it wasn't really red but the watering did crust up last night. I hate having allergies. VERY MUCH! I just haven't really been outside and yesterday I didn't go outside at all so it has to be something indoors aggravating it this much though it has been going on for quite a few days now. Just got worse. I will wash my bed linens too before I go to bed tonight. That might help. I'll probably have to start putting my pillows in my closet away from the cat so she can sleep on them during the day.

 

[4Mickeys]

Yesterday was some what busy. My daughter had an eye doctor appointment with a specialist. I have answers to what is wrong but not really what I wanted to hear. We have know for a few years that the inside muscles of her eyes are weak which makes it hard for her to cross her eyes to read. She has more going on then that. Her brain is also not firing the signals to her eyes to do what they are supposed to. Also her eyes are not working together. Thankful this should be fixed with therapy. We will be doing this for 18 weeks and it is not cheep and they don't take insurance. I did get some insight to what she is seeing. She was telling the doctor that when she reads she sees double and it is blurry. After being told a month ago that she does not need glasses we were told yesterday that she does. She is not happy about that. She hates them. She only needs to read. They will have a prism in them to help her read correctly. We will go today to pick them out. I feel bad for her but after the 18 weeks she should be good.

Sorry to hear you got the news you didn't want - 18 weeks will fly by and hopefully her vision will improve

Are you a team player in your life or in some aspects of it? Do you have a team that helps you with your healthy living or do you prefer to just do your own thing?

I can be both. At work even though I might do some tasks alone they always require a team mindset - if that makes sense. Whilst I am a solo at parenting - I have always thought of my kids and I as this little team against the world. For my healthy life its is being led by me because well no-one else can do it for me (although I wish for some pixie dust or a fairy godmother to wave her magic wand somedays!). I do have a little team of friends to workout with. My brothers and sister probably don't really think I'm a team player - I'm the baby of the family and they think its all about me (not in a good way - their perception). My parents are also part of my team I really couldn't do half of things I have done without their support - but that goes both ways and I do lots in return for them also.

I had an awful morning at work but came home tonight to a new sports top which he'd bought me at lunchtime - I know what I'll be wearing to the gym tomorrow morning!

Oh what sweetie he is.

 

[HappyGrape]

I think participating in forums as this makes me team player as I get inspired by others, but also love trying to give some support back when needed.

I paid my flight to Orlando in October today. How devastating time for my happiest place on earth. The young lady that lost her life. 49 killed and many injured in such pointless, heartless and cruel attack and this little toddler from last night. My heart goes to all impacted. I know this is not the forum for it but as it's the forum I read daily I hope it's ok to share my heartbreak




I paid my flight off much earlier, on purpose today as it is place I love and I will go to this October.

 

[Flossbolna]

I think participating in forums as this makes me team player as I get inspired by others, but also love trying to give some support back when needed.

I paid my flight to Orlando in October today. How devastating time for my happiest place on earth. The young lady that lost her life. 49 killed and many injured in such pointless, heartless and cruel attack and this little toddler from last night. My heart goes to all impacted. I know this is not the forum for it but as it's the forum I read daily I hope it's ok to share my heartbreak




I paid my flight off much earlier, on purpose today as it is place I love and I will go to this October.

I was just wondering whether I should post something as well. I absolutely agree with your sentiment how horrible it is for Orlando to be hit with one tragedy after another. Knowing people who live in Orlando makes it all the more real for myself. And I think many of us who have so many wonderful vacation memories from that city share those sentiments.

 

[Flossbolna]

Question of the Day for June 15:

We are still in France and are talking about the Eiffel Tower. If one would have to pick one structure to symbolise France, it would be the Eiffel Tower for sure. No wonder that the Epcot World Showcase version of France sports its own Eiffel Tower:

​

It is built to a 1/10 scale, so is only 103 feet tall. But it does add a lot to the World Showcase skyline!

When the Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution, it was consideren an extraordinary acchievement. But it was also highly criticised and considered to be a crazy project by Mr Eiffel. But Mr Eiffel was an engineer who believed in doing the "impossible" - a few years before he helped to construct that present from the people of France to the USA, now known as Statute of Liberty. Interestingly, this statute might be the structure one would chose if one would have to pick one structure to symbolise the USA. And to come to another Disney connection: It might very well be the only statute that plays a role in two attractions in different Disney parks - at the American Adventure in Epcot as well as in a small display on Main Street in Disneyland Paris, where you can watch the opening ceremony for the Statute of Liberty.

So, Mr. Eiffel appears to be the specialist for doing crazy and impossible things. Tell us the most craziest thing you have done, or something that you did everyone would have deemed to be impossible.

ETA: I totally forgot that it is Wednesday today - the Woohoo Wednesday will be rescheduled to Friday this week. So keep your woohoos until then and we will celebrate the end of the week in style with lots of woohoos!

 

[pjlla]

Question of the Day for June 14:

Don't worry, I won't bother you with a soccer specific question of the day! But soccer is a team sport, so let's talk about teams! Are you a team player in your life or in some aspects of it? Do you have a team that helps you with your healthy living or do you prefer to just do your own thing?

Well.... as a WW member and leader, I think I am definitely on the "WW team". And I have been a fairly active participant here on the WISH board challenges for over 8 years now without an official month off (although admittedly sometimes I am less active than I would like), so I believe I am a team player for "Team DIS-boards". And I'd like to think I'm a team player at my school.... I try hard to step in and step up and fill in whenever/where ever it is needed.... sorting mail, cleaning up trash, teaching, filing, running errands, covering lunch/recess duty, etc.

As far as the "home team" goes, I am definitely part of a team.... but sometimes I feel like it is a one-man team. I lost the majority of my weight while DH was just not at that healthy place in his life and I didn't lose BECAUSE of him or ALONG with him, but DESPITE him (and his daily stovetop popcorn and ice cream habits). Any time someone gives me the excuse of "I can't lose because xxxx has food in the house" or "I have to have the junk for my kids", I get frustrated. That is nothing but an excuse. Does it make it harder?? Yes.... but losing weight is HARD... eating out is HARD, food at work is HARD, holiday/vacation food temptations are HARD. Learn to deal with it, learn to work around it.... or you will never be fully successful. Even after DH's accident and his weight loss related to that and his progress after that, he is a solid ATKINS style eater (when he is on plan) and that is pretty different from the WW eating plan..... so our household is definitely a "house divided" when it comes to eating, meals, and food. I try VERY HARD to make it work AND to be supportive of his eating plan while not sabotaging my own plan. I try had to find new interesting recipes and low carb alternatives to things that I know DH craves (his cheats ALWAYS involve pizza, cinnamon rolls, and burgers and fries). I am forever tweaking recipes to reduce the carbs (for him) and the fats (for me) and still come up with something tasty that we can both eat.

Anyhow.... obviously that long rambly response tells me that you hit a nerve, at least with me (and not necessarily in a bad way). Having a TEAM to help with this is WONDERFUL... and I have credited "Team DIS-boards" with at least a portion of my ongoing success! Especially during the years when I was doing WW on my own at home (not attending meetings) and struggling with DH's unhealthy habits. I could always count on a group here to let me vent and to cheer for me when I was successful and lift me up when I struggled. The members of the group have changed over time (I'm thinking that @donac and I may be the only original members still active), but the group MENTALITY hs remained strong!

I'd say I'm mostly a do your own thing kind of healthy living person. In the past, I've always joined WW when I was successful. I think it's a great program that really teaches you how to eat. But, the $$ part of it always gets in my way. I think it puts too much pressure on me...actually it doesn't put the pressure on me, I put it on myself. Even though DH and I earn a pretty good living and I can afford it, in the back of my mind I feel like if I don't lose every week, I'm wasting my money. I know it's completely silly and probably goes back to the not good enough to spend money of something for just me, but at this point, it's how it is.

So, this time, I'm trying to do it through MFP and even though I'm not breaking any losing records, I'm ok with it. Thursday will be 4 months since I started and I've lost 29.5 pounds. I hoped it would be more by now, but I'm happy with where I've gotten. We leave for vacation Thursday and will be gone for 2 weeks, so I know I won't lose a lot during that time, but I'm hoping that by this time next month, I'm back to where I am now. That will leave me a little leeway on our trip and time to get back in the swing of things when we return.

That is great progress.... don't be discouraged by it!! Just be sure you have a solid plan (date/time) of exactly WHEN you will be back on plan when you return. Have a wonderful vacation!!

I just saw this and it has some great points from the book State of Slim by Hill and Wyatt

Be active every day
There's no getting around it -- to stay lean, you must be consistently active, and there are certainly strategies that can increase your step count. Without regular movement, your metabolism becomes slow, sluggish, and inflexible. And an inflexible metabolism makes weight gain inevitable and lasting weight loss next to impossible.

2. Fuel up on real food
At restaurants and at home, the emphasis is on quality, not quantity. A healthy-size portion of a great-tasting dish is better than a huge serving of fare that's filled with refined carbohydrates, fat, and sodium -- even if that big portion costs less money.

3. Create your own healthy environment
It's our communities and immediate surroundings -- the plethora of parks, the bike paths in our neighborhoods, and our friendly walking groups -- that provide an important nudge for healthy living.

4. Stay true to your purpose
We all have an inner purpose (what we want to accomplish with our lives), but you may not have ever connected your purpose with weight-loss success. Consider this: Is the way you are living your life consistent with what you want to achieve?

5. Believe you can succeed
Your mental outlook can determine how effective you are in making permanent changes in your life. Instead of saying, "I'll believe it when I see it," Coloradans tend to have the mind-set that if you believe it, you will see it.

6. Make healthy living fun
We've seen other diet experts urge people to become vigilant about their diet and physical activity program, but Coloradans have taught us that this is a backward approach. Yes, people who succeed at weight loss and healthy living do spend a lot of time thinking about healthy eating and physical activity. Yet it's not from a place of anxiety or a desire to be "good." Rather, they relish and look forward to these things. The key to success is savoring this lifestyle and doing it in a way that brings you happiness rather than a feeling of hardship. We know this is possible, because we've seen it in our friends, neighbors, and colleagues and in people across the country who have succeeded in losing weight and keeping it off.

I love ALL of this! Thank you for sharing it! I'm going to go look up that book!

Hmmmm... I guess I'm a little bit of both. At work definitely its all about the team. In my personal life I go it alone most of the time, but I've also been really tuned in to finding "my tribe" and getting connected. As a matter of fact I was just talking to my doctor about this tribe... Disney+Healthy Living. My womens Glamping club is another tribe, and as already mentioned earlier today I'm currently searching for my wool tribe. I will say though that I really struggle with asking for and accepting help, which is a skill I need to develop as it is part of being in a team/tribe.

OOOoohhhh... I love the thought that we are a TRIBE!! That makes me feel like a bada*s !!

I'm very much a team player in most aspects of my life. The only thing I can think of where I'm not a team player might be my weight loss. My wife does help some, but I'm the only one that can be responsible for the decisions that I make and I can't blame my decisions on others (like I have in the past).

My extended family will talk the talk, but they really aren't "all in" on my weight loss journey. An example is last weekend we went out with my brother's family. At first they wanted to order pizza, which I fought. We ended up going to a newer place nearby which they had been to... all they had was crap bar food and pizza. The best thing on the menu for me was a turkey burger. So many restaurants have lighter options (and I brought up a number of them), but we had to go to one of the few that didn't. Plus, I hate going to places that don't have their nutritional info available somewhere!

I'm with you on all of that!! Sometimes you are just swimming against the current with other folks. I have been known to go out to eat with a group and order only a plain side salad because of a lack of healthy or trackable choices (our local Mac and Cheese restaurant comes to mind)... and then go home and eat an OP meal. Sure, it is a PITA, but I certainly felt SUCCESSFUL! I just try hard to not rub it in the face of others who are making a different choice. Good for you for making the best choice possible.

I am the team planner for our family of 5. From food to vacations I do it all. DH doesn't do one stitch of planning on anything. I started off good yesterday but then my youngest cat had been throwing up all day so I decided to take him to the vets after lunch and he didn't come home. Lot's of test and IV he spent the night so I gave in to my stress cravings. All day worrying about the poor little guy I didn't eat right. I picked him up tonight but he has to stay isolated until he recovers and make sure he is still heading towards healthy. I have decided to try a cheap version of the 21 day fix since I can't afford the real kit. Did a bunch of food prep for it and am going to start tomorrow. Fingers crossed my cat stays in recovery mode.

Are you married to my DH?? Anyhow.... prayers for your kitty! My own sweet kitty girl sends her love.....

I think participating in forums as this makes me team player as I get inspired by others, but also love trying to give some support back when needed.

I paid my flight to Orlando in October today. How devastating time for my happiest place on earth. The young lady that lost her life. 49 killed and many injured in such pointless, heartless and cruel attack and this little toddler from last night. My heart goes to all impacted. I know this is not the forum for it but as it's the forum I read daily I hope it's ok to share my heartbreak




I paid my flight off much earlier, on purpose today as it is place I love and I will go to this October.

I was just wondering whether I should post something as well. I absolutely agree with your sentiment how horrible it is for Orlando to be hit with one tragedy after another. Knowing people who live in Orlando makes it all the more real for myself. And I think many of us who have so many wonderful vacation memories from that city share those sentiments.

I think this is the PERFECT place to post your feelings about all that has happened in Orlando recently. For some people, stress about things like this happening in the world can definitely impact their mood and food choices. We all LOVE Disney which automatically relates to a love of Orlando and when something so REAL and tragic impacts our "happiest place on earth" we all feel it deep in our souls.
********************

Morning all! I'm fully into vacation mode now that school is out but my summer job hasn't started yet.... and despite having a to-do list of a BILLION things to get done before DS's graduation party next weekend, I'm sitting here on my butt cruising the Disboards, Facebook, and Pinterest. Time to get moving along!

Have a great day!.....................P

 

[pjlla]

Question of the Day for June 15:

So, Mr. Eiffel appears to be the specialist for doing crazy and impossible things. Tell us the most craziest thing you have done, or something that you did everyone would have deemed to be impossible.

Easy...... I lost 86 pounds and kept it off over 8 years. Statistically I've beaten the odds.

BTW, that photo was GORGEOUS! Did you take it??? .................P

 

[Flossbolna]

BTW, that photo was GORGEOUS! Did you take it??? .................P

No, I borrowed it from the Disneyparks Blog... Originally my plan for the thread was to go through all my picures. But I really found that that would add so much work to the project, so Google picture search has been my friend for this thread... I try to use pictures from the DIS (wdwinfo.com, they have a large library) when possible as those pictures are for use on the boards. Otherwise I try not to use someone's private pictures, but more official "sources".

 

[Dr Gunnie]

Tell us the most craziest thing you have done, or something that you did everyone would have deemed to be impossible.

Here I was expecting a woohoo Wednesday question today and you got my thinking for the past 15 min about anything crazy/impossible that I've done!

I really can't think of anything crazy or impossible that I've done... the easy answer would be the weight loss or recent running journey, but that isn't crazy (probably the opposite - might be the smartest thing I've done) or impossible (hard, but I truly believe anyone can do it if they have their mind set on it and want it bad enough).

I guess my answer is leaving my job as a technical recruiter two years after I graduated from college and taking a job as a teacher aide that paid next to nothing - this allowed me to go back to school to get my teaching certification. Best decision I ever made... maybe not for my bank account, but every other aspect of my life! I learned that year that teaching is what I wanted to do and the following year I got my first teaching job. Fifteen years later and I'm still at it!

 

[Flossbolna]

Here I was expecting a woohoo Wednesday question today and you got my thinking for the past 15 min about anything crazy/impossible that I've done!

Arg!! I totally forgot that today is Wednesday!!! Sorry!

 

[Dr Gunnie]

Arg!! I totally forgot that today is Wednesday!!! Sorry!

Not a problem at all!!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

I think we will have a woohoo Friday this week instead. Tomorrow is already taken with a very special topic that is time sensitive!

 

[DVCFan1994]

ATTQOTD: Crazy stuff I have done, tough one. I'm a pretty tame person, so I am struggling here. I would say the challenges I have taken on since my weight loss journey began is the best I can do. I have lost over 40 pounds and kept most it off (never went overweight again) for 6.5 years. I think me doing a sprint triathlon shocked a lot of people. I am entirely unathetlic. I could never do sports as a kid due to severe asthma. So the fact I took on a triathlon as my first ever race of any kind was surprising to many. I enjoyed the running the most, so I then decided to do a half marathon. Of course right after I committed to it they announced the Glass Slipper Challenge, and I decided to go ahead and register for that, having never run more than 4 miles. I guess my fitness journey has made me a bit more brave. I am a highly anxious person and generally used to shy away from anything I was not sure I could succeed at. But, now I see the preparation for success as a fun part of the journey.

The news out of Orlando is so sad and depressing. First the horrible mass shooting, and now the gator attacking a two year old. The happiest place on earth seems anything but lately. That said, it is a reminder that every day is a gift and you never know what tomorrow brings.

 

[Oneanne]

Question of the Day for June 15:

We are still in France and are talking about the Eiffel Tower. If one would have to pick one structure to symbolise France, it would be the Eiffel Tower for sure. No wonder that the Epcot World Showcase version of France sports its own Eiffel Tower:

​

It is built to a 1/10 scale, so is only 103 feet tall. But it does add a lot to the World Showcase skyline!

When the Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution, it was consideren an extraordinary acchievement. But it was also highly criticised and considered to be a crazy project by Mr Eiffel. But Mr Eiffel was an engineer who believed in doing the "impossible" - a few years before he helped to construct that present from the people of France to the USA, now known as Statute of Liberty. Interestingly, this statute might be the structure one would chose if one would have to pick one structure to symbolise the USA. And to come to another Disney connection: It might very well be the only statute that plays a role in two attractions in different Disney parks - at the American Adventure in Epcot as well as in a small display on Main Street in Disneyland Paris, where you can watch the opening ceremony for the Statute of Liberty.

So, Mr. Eiffel appears to be the specialist for doing crazy and impossible things. Tell us the most craziest thing you have done, or something that you did everyone would have deemed to be impossible.

ETA: I totally forgot that it is Wednesday today - the Woohoo Wednesday will be rescheduled to Friday this week. So keep your woohoos until then and we will celebrate the end of the week in style with lots of woohoos!

My first thought was that my crazy thing is yet to come... Chucking this corporate world and living a fully creative life. But looking backwards I think there have been moments of craziness throughout my life. In my late 20's I sold everything that I couldn't ship FedEx and moved to Washington DC. I had a job so there was that bit of security, but didn't know anyone and had never been there before. Traveling to London on my own six years ago was kind of audacious. Again I had the safety net of joining a tour mid-trip, but I traveled to and from on my own, zigzagging across the country on a free ticket with wild routing. I also spent the first few days wandering around London on my own. Even the recent trip to Texas... At first it didn't seem so unusual to go to a new place and drive around exploring for a week, until I met up with the trailer gals for dinner and we talked about such adventures, and how many people wouldn't/couldn't do it.

I too am processing the recent events that have rocked Orlando and the entire country/ world. Reading about the child at Disney World this morning cut particularly deep, partly due to the personal connection to the place and the feeling of safety of being in the "bubble" being burst. I don't have any words of wisdom to share, and haven't figured anything out it is all just very heavy and very saddening.

 

[SarahDisney]

So, Mr. Eiffel appears to be the specialist for doing crazy and impossible things. Tell us the most craziest thing you have done, or something that you did everyone would have deemed to be impossible.

I love this question!

I'd have to say...
Running. I've run 10 miles. I've done it 2-3 times now.
I'm someone who has had knee problems since I was a teenager. There were days when I could barely walk. Running was out of the question.
But eventually ... I convinced myself that I could try. Just one block. Then a minute at a time. Somehow, a few years later, that became 10 miles.
Definitely crazy. But pretty amazing too.

My heart is really breaking for Orlando right now. So much sadness in what should be such a happy place. As crazy as it sounds ... I really wish I could be there. I wish I could just hop on a plane and fly down to show my support for the city. (And, while I'm there ... hang out a bit with my main mouse, Mickey)
Unfortunately ... not possible for me right now.

 

[courtneybeth]

My extended family will talk the talk, but they really aren't "all in" on my weight loss journey. An example is last weekend we went out with my brother's family. At first they wanted to order pizza, which I fought. We ended up going to a newer place nearby which they had been to... all they had was crap bar food and pizza. The best thing on the menu for me was a turkey burger. So many restaurants have lighter options (and I brought up a number of them), but we had to go to one of the few that didn't. Plus, I hate going to places that don't have their nutritional info available somewhere!

I totally get the lack of family support on the journey. When we started our endeavor about this time last year, every member of my husband's family was inconsiderate to our food limitations as we began weight watchers. Thanksgiving was held at a restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet. (Really!?) So we had to make smarter choices - salads without dressing. Proteins. No fatty sides. It really just became about smarter choices and as I got used to the program I learned to be flexible. Sometimes you will be stuck in bad situations like you mentioned but you made the best of it. In your shoes, I'd probably have eaten the meat inside the burger (so no bun) and asked for a salad in lieu of french fries. Or you eat small and eat your usual food at home.

I'm still learning how to eat in real-life scenarios and it's difficult for me. But know it's a process and adapting to these are part of the journey. You're doing great on your progress - some weeks you'll stagnate and others you'll lose a lot. Sometimes all you need is a shock to the system. Eating that Turkey Burger probably did more good than bad because now you've confused your body and it'll work it off

I paid my flight to Orlando in October today.

Woot woot! That's something to celebrate for sure!

Easy...... I lost 86 pounds and kept it off over 8 years. Statistically I've beaten the odds.

That's phenomenal, P. If you don't mind me asking, what are the statistical norms. I've always been curious!

I guess my answer is leaving my job as a technical recruiter two years after I graduated from college and taking a job as a teacher aide that paid next to nothing - this allowed me to go back to school to get my teaching certification. Best decision I ever made... maybe not for my bank account, but every other aspect of my life! I learned that year that teaching is what I wanted to do and the following year I got my first teaching job. Fifteen years later and I'm still at it!

Wooohoo. And now every day you make a difference in your students' lives.

I'd have to say...
Running. I've run 10 miles. I've done it 2-3 times now.
I'm someone who has had knee problems since I was a teenager. There were days when I could barely walk. Running was out of the question.
But eventually ... I convinced myself that I could try. Just one block. Then a minute at a time. Somehow, a few years later, that became 10 miles.
Definitely crazy. But pretty amazing too.

Amazing that you've run 10 miles. So you're almost to the half marathon distance, yes? Thinking about signing up for Tink in a couple of months?

I thought of you during our Tinkerbell run because it was the first weekend it rained in So Cal. I seriously had pondered if you were in town since you mentioned you have that luck.