Oh my, the summer is coming to an end. Normally I hate to see summer start winding down but for some reason this year, I am actually excited for fall! The mornings are definitely cool and I have had soup and sweaters on my mind!

I've been doing pretty well, the scale is down but I haven't been consistent walking the last few days. I need to get back into the groove ... I should slip out here soon but I am prepping for my mom's Birthday Party this afternoon so not sure it will happen this morning. Maybe this evening.

I am trying to keep my protein up but as always struggling with that ... and water. My main focus though will be getting out and walking each day. I need to make it routine .. just a part of my schedule.

walking each day

Walking is my regular form of exercise. Every day, without fail, for at least 30 minutes sustained. Sometimes it's very early if it's going to be a hot day, and in between raindrops or with an umbrella when it's wet.

I give a LOT of credit to my Apple Watch for making this a habit. It reminds me, guilts me, and gives me a tiny bit of fireworks when I complete my walk. I listen to podcasts most days.

I used to be in denial. I'd say I walked 3-4 times a week, but maybe it was only 2. Now it's every day. It's like flossing or taking a shower. I have to do it. I have other stuff going on, but walking always gets a priority slot.

ETA: I'm as lazy as the next person. But walking has truly been integrated into my life. I've had my watch *and* been walking for 4 years. I've missed maybe two days, one due to bad smoke in the air, the other a rain/wind storm.

My normal workout routine is yoga, mostly bikram with some vinyasa thrown in when that class time works for my schedule. today was the 4th sunday that I’ve done a 7:30am ’inferno pilates’ class. It’s a high intensity low impact work out in a moderately heated room. It is challenging for sure and I think I’m the oldest person in the room but feels so good when it’s accomplished!

There’s a nice youg woman (early 20’s I guess) that I’ve become friendly with and as we said goodbye I told her that knowing she comes also has been one of my motivations for getting to the class. She responded ’same’ so now the pressure is really on for next sunday morning—- I can’t back down.

Last week wasn't my best nutrition week. I've really been rationalizing some not great choices, went out to dinner several times, which resulted in a couple glasses of wine, which meant bad sleep, and the cycle started over. So, this week I'm trying to get back on track. I do better when I try to think - is this food good for me? Will I feel better or worse for eating it? Not, is it allowed or is it under my calorie limit. That just leads me to eat food that doesn't make me feel my best. Intuitively I know what to eat, but lately I've not been listening to myself.

Exercise was ok - luckily it's pickleball season so I've been getting lots of cardio. I slacked on the weight training however. I need to do my goal exercise in the morning and start out better/earlier with my food choices. It really can make or break my whole day.

Yes, Bunny.. that is what I am trying to work towards but with a very busy work schedule and long days, it can be a challenge until I figure out how/where I can fit it reliably. Today I have a new person starting and my day is booked solid. I had a time slot free at noon where I could have walked but there are some issues with the new employee's setup so I can't step away-- I should be able to fit it in before dark but I do not have full control of my schedule -- nor is my schedule always predictable. It's the way things go in IT. I like the idea of first thing in the morning but due to my vision issues, I need to plan for when the sun is fairly fully up.

I think the trick will be to just schedule walking the way I schedule a meeting. I have been urging my tech lead to do the same with her lunch. Early morning and early evening won't work year round because of my need for full light. I think lunch time is going to be the sweet spot!

I am very happy with being able to add regular exercise -- the hiking poles are so game changing for my exercise. Walking was not an option prior to discovering how well they work for my vision/depth perception issues.

Legomom, you are a step ahead of the game -- you are listening to your body and it's telling you it's not happy with your choices. Next step is to adjust your eating so that you feel better. If we don't feel well, we can't BE well! Maybe if you can figure out why you aren't following what you know works, you can find a new path that satisfies all your needs! Maybe it is just boredom or maybe your body needs something now that it didn't 6 months ago. Good luck!

Funky I must say I absolutely do admire your working through your vision problems. I try to remember that when migraines try to tell me to stop. Nope I'm not doing that! If Funky can have vision problems and work out despite of them then so can I with migraines.

In answer to your question if I am at the correct weight Funky; I'm not sure. My doctor says she's astonished that I managed to get to the weight I'm at and she likes all my numbers. My concern is that I still have the dreaded cortisol induced muffin top which worries me as it is hard on your body and your organs.

I'm with the ones who walk. That is my go-to exercise. Plus walking with dogs is so enjoyable to me. That said I haven't been walking as much as before.. For years it was 5 to 8 hours a day as a dog walker. Hopefully the dancing is taking place of some of that. Plus I still walk my dogs 2.5 hours a day

Ah Yeonassky -- but I would never exercise with a migraine! I can't even imagine! I have only had one migraine in my life (knock on wood) and it was completely debilitating. I couldn't do anything but be flat on the ground in the dark. I have had bad headaches and am not likely to exercise then either because it tends to move into major vision issues ... so don't make me the reason to press through major pain. Again, I think it is important to listen to your body-- and a migraine sure seems like your body screaming at you!

I am sure you know best! Do what works best for you and your body!

Oh don't worry Funky the medication I take knocks out most of the migraine and I have doctor approval. But thank you for your concern. I was more speaking to the fact that I didn't want to use anything as an excuse not to take the next step towards more exercise :-). I am basically lazy.. Migraines is one of the excuses I used to use...

Just as an aside exercise is very good for migraines but exercise can make migraines feel worse. When I didn't have good medication there's no way I could have done this. It is always a conundrum because for me absolutely everything that you could think of that can set off a migraine sets off my migraines. Ibuprofen and Tylenol have made my life 1 billion times easier. I'm not exaggerating.

Congratulations jmck! Wonderful news. What an accomplishment I am very happy for you.

Yay, jmck! I hope to follow in your footsteps in retirement. My sister has a regular schedule of teacing Zumba at retirement communities. Most of these pay pretty well, better than the Y. I have Pilates private lesson Wednesday and group class on Friday.

My biggest problem is settling into a new schedule now that school has started, but I was interrupted by the fabulous trip to San Diego last week for my nephew’s military retirement ceremony. Today we are heading out 2 hours for a concert not certain what the weather will be. We need to leave work early and get home to head out together. It is outdoors! It may be pouring and maybe delayed or suspended if there is lightning. We were more worried about heat/humidity. Ponchos are packed. Then the band is supposed to play Jacksonville and Tampa Florida after this, and there is no word if those shows will go on. I can’t imagine they will play Jacksonville tomorrow. Then we have to come back in the morning to work.

Oh well, things will calm down after this week. We only have 1-2 concerts a month for September, October, and November. We bought festival tickets for Ohio next May, so DH says this is incentive to be at a better weight.

Congratulations @jmck - that is a real accomplishment. Way to go!

Let me add my congratulations also-- I know you've been working on this for awhile so great achievement! I also think it's a great plan for retirement!

Retirement is right around the corner for me too -- well, if I want it to be. I need to think about what I want to do, if anything. It would be easiest and most lucrative to stay in my field but I think I may want something new! I love that you are carving out a plan around something you love!

Funkyart, I am so very happy you have discovered you can go walking with assistance from the poles! This is a game changer for you for sure! May you enjoy many miles, especially this fall with cooler weather.

And jcmk, congratulations to you on your accomplishment in becoming a certified Pilates instructor. I absolutely love my instructor. She gave up her corporate job to follow her calling, and still goes for more training periodically. Here is a link to her current studio where I attend twice a week small group sessions. Her studio is small but effective. Her dad built the yoga wall and it has moved with her (twice). She only teaches Pilates and has others who come in to teach Yoga and some who teach a few Pilates classes.

https://www.corereactionpilates.com/

I’m still holding at the same weight loss, despite over-celebrating during my birthday week with desserts and good food and a trip to Kansas City where we ate out a lot. No gain is good.

Oh yes-- loving the cool mornings! It is 52 this morning ... my walk was short this morning but it was lovely! I am just so glad to be able to get out!

I just saw a short video about clothing fit .. they did a comparison of a "good enough" fit vs "proper fit". Her point was that many women can/should go down 1-2 sizes. I have noticed the same recently .. sure, I have gone down sizes as I've lost weight but right before my vacation, I realized I was still wearing a number of clothes too big. Of course, I have lost a lot of weight and I am not going to replace my whole wardrobe so I do have some clothes that are oversized .. but even in the clothes I am replacing, I was sticking too close to my old sizes.

My new strategy is to size down an extra size on base pieces and then keep wearing my oversized tees, sweaters and jackets. I went down an additional 2 sizes in tanks and an one size in long sleeve tees and athletic shorts. It has made a huge difference.

Fall is great for this strategy -- I now have a few pairs of jeans, a short jean skirt and a long jean skirt that fit fairly well. I can add a belt (i splurged on all new belts a few months ago) a trim top and then layer on whatever I want! It helps that I have broad shoulders as I can carry off an oversized sweater or jacket. I am ready for some fun fall events and outings!

I know this is a fairly self-indulgent post lol ... but I do think that looking good and put together as I am losing weight helps keep me motivated and most importantly feeling good about myself.

I still have 60-70 lbs to lose so I think this strategy will also help me be wiser about what I DO buy. I admit, I bought some dresses this summer that weren't my best picks. They made me feel great when I bought them but 10lb later, they are too big and not as flattering as they were when they fit perfectly. I shouldn't be buying styles that are so fitted that 10-15 lb take them from sharp to dumpy.

One final recent lesson-- I am fairly anti-shapewear. I am anti spanx. I just don't like squeezing myself into shapewear and I don't like how I feel wearing them. I feel like I am trussed and bound and can't move comfortably. Enter Shapermint -- they are SO easy to put on and really do help smooth the bumps and bulges particularly in stomach/muffin top area. They are also pretty affordable compared to some of the other shapewear products. I don't wear them every day -- or even regularly-- but I could! They are comfortable and easy enough to wear that I will throw them on with a pair of jeans if I want to look especially smooth and trim.

I know it is not all about appearance -- improving my health is the goal but part of good mental health is feeling good about ourselves. I feel great about my progress but I haven't always felt good about my appearance. These little tweaks have me feeling good about the face I am presenting to the world so I am more inclined to go out and be more social. I smile more and I engage more.

So many of us struggle with our appearance ... we focus on what we perceive as our flaws. We look in the mirror and frown (or is that just me? lol). Let's make an effort to be good to ourselves this holiday weekend! I don't have any plans or events this weekend but I am going to make sure that I don't look in the mirror and frown! I will smile at the people i see instead of looking down at the ground or stare off in the distance. I will engage positively with myself!

Outside, thanks for sharing the link to your Pilates studio. I love seeing how others have set things up, what equipment they use, etc. I appreciate everyone's congrats!

I want tto add my congratulations on your pilates certification, jmck! You’ve created a secondary purpose for your exercise, thereby insuring you keep it going as you age, and expanded your post-retirement options all at the same time. That’s a really smart life choice and I admire you and others here who are taking that path.

While we were on vacation i was determined not to overeat as I worked diligently to ditch my ”pandemic pounds.” Learning my true resting metabolism (low!) and calorie requirements (lower!) over the past year (along with the Hashimoto’s dx) means I have to choose food carefully. Having cut out almost all alcohol already, it was easy to just turn over my wine glass as soon as I sat down for lunch and dinner. DH doesn’t drink at all, never has, so no temptation there. The food was beautifully presented and the portions far smaller than is average at most restaurants in the US, especially those in my town. But I really craved simpler fare; by the time we left I just wanted a good ham sandwich and a bowl of soup! Many times I skipped meals and ate an apple on deck or in our cabin. The result was that I lost six pounds— on vacation! I walked on the deck track those days when we did not go on excursions (I stayed behind many times to be with DH, who was not up to the physical challenge). My GP is a big believer in people my age carrying a 10 lb buffer over their ideal weight as those who do have better outcomes after illness and surgery, so I’ve felt no pressure from her to lose. I may gain it back or not, either way I am at a very healthy place despite this obnoxious Covid we contracted as soon as we got home!

Oooh, I like that, a ten pound buffer!

I have a new motivation to eat well and exercise: going on a trip to Denmark/Norway with my 29 yo DIL! We will do some hiking and lots of walking and in addition to not wanting to ”feel fat” when I’m there, I also want to keep up with her. (As much as possible…I mean, she’s also thinner and about 8” taller than me.) I have been lazy in all aspects this summer but now I am focused, also because I just have been feeling sort of blah and I know it is at least 75% due to not eating well and moving enough. I have less than 3 weeks so can't erase a full season of bad behavior but can make some progress.

I am really pushing myself out of my comfort zone this fall, which may become a theme as I enter my last year in my 50s. DIL will be in Europe for work, so I'm flying alone to meet up with her. Only my second time leaving the US solo, and the last time was just a direct flight to London 25 yrs ago. I will have 3 days to explore on my own while she's in the office. She said I could use the car to go see other towns…what! drive around Denmark by myself? At least they drive on the right. 😬 Then a couple weeks later, I am going to NC for a whole week solo! The first half of the week will be a class at Penland craft school, then I have the rest of the week in Asheville to explore. (I have been there once, with my family.) I am so excited.

So many good things going on! Ugh, our concert was a disaster. Weather was great after rain in the morning but I could see some very lofty clouds as we got to the amphitheatre. During the opening act, it starting pouring like we were in a car wash. They could only do 3 songs and said there is too much water on the stage for them to safely continue. The stage is not well covered as in other venues. So then there was a lightning strike and we all had to evacuate to our cars. Lots of miscomunication about whether the show was canceled or not. So the weather improved and we waited and waited. The concert was rescheduled to Thursday and we planned to go back. They had to cancel their Florida shows due to the hurricane so they had the date open. Turns out the band‘s equipment was damaged due to lack of sufficient cover and they could not do the show so it was canceled again announced on Wednesday with no chance of makeup. So, it has been very disappointing. Now we are thinking do we fly to Austin tomorrow to try to catch them? But we need confirmation the shows are actually happening today in Houston and tomorow in Austin.

I had good Pilates sessions this week both private and group, and my vertigo seems to be resolved. Whew. But that has really thrown me off, literallfy and figuratively. I am not doing well on tracking! I feel my diet has really slid and I need to right the ship. I have a long way to go. . Though work lunches have been good and I’m packing them. I’m slowly getting caught up in work.

The weather is amazing after the tropical storm went through the other day. Did step aerobics outside this morning. Maybe we can take the bikes out tomorrow if we don’t go to austin. DH would like to invite MIL over.

Here is the studio. You can also look up Rock Hill Pilates on Instagram. School wanted updated photos of us being active so I had her take a photo after class yesterday.

I enjoy reading all these updates from you beautiful people! Adding my congratulations to Jmck, too!

I'm happy to report that my eating and exercise have gone well this week. I'm consistent with both water and protein intake, and this has reduced cravings. I've never had much of a sweet tooth. But a friend gifted me a bag of apples from her sister's orchard, and one of those seems to round out a meal.

I'm continuing to strength train and see some progress. And I'm in a routine now of 2 long bike rides a week, with hills... which are getting easier.

Funky, my BFF regularly tells me I need to wear tighter clothes. And not skin-tight, but more fitted. I've always leaned toward loose clothing, and now I can see it's not doing me any favors. I'm starting to pay more attention to how clothes fit me.

And, <sigh> I need a vacation!

exactly, @feathers! Not skin tight-- but correctly fitted.

When i was younger, I loved oversized fits but I was built differently then-- and moved differently. I feel younger and more trim in slightly more fitted clothes-- or at least some pieces more fitted.

And great progress with your water and protein! I did better with protein but still lagging with water. It is so easy to drink water-- I don't know why it is such a struggle!

And thanks to you, I just added apples to my shopping list! They are great for busy work days too-- an apple with peanut butter makes a great lunch!

GS, so sorry about your concert -- but love that you are taking advantage of the great weather! Your commitment to being active is inspiring!

I had a convo with SO about bike riding. I really want to pick it up again but given my double vision and depth perception issues he's very concerned for my safety. "If you can't drive a car, you can't safely "drive" a bike unless you are alone on a wide open expanse!". It's true. Even the dedicated bike paths (which are not all that close to me) are fairly congested.. serious riders and families. I tentatively agreed it wasn't a good idea -- but a friend of mine just got back into riding and is posting her trips. It makes me want to try. I just need to remember that it isn't physical limitations keeping me from it-- it's my safety.

Ugh, Funky... that's a tough call. I'd initially advise you to give biking a try midweek, during the day, when the paths are less busy. BUT, a fall could derail you and hinder the overall progress you're making with your health. A friend broke her ankle a few months ago. She's gained some weight as a result of not being as physically active as she once was, and it's disheartening for her. Of course, she's still beautiful and wonderful, but she's not happy with herself. I'm with your SO--it's not worth it.

Yeah, I appreciate it, Feathers! SO was VERY helpful in getting me walking -- not just encouraging but helping me to find hiking poles (ok, I didn't need help but he jumped in and sent me links and actually saved me money) ... but most importantly, he got me out and walking all 10 days of my vacation.