Or, Mardi Gras, or you know, Tuesday at my house. As a Baptist-raised agnostic ,who loves the sounds of the Islamic prayer of muezzin, and who goes full on catholic in Paris, I started doing Lent a decade or so ago. Wow, That was a weird sentence. Let’s just say I have a weird, mostly positive relationship with religion.
So I often, but not always, participate in Lent. My personal rules and regulations are not exactly the same as the Catholic method. This year, there are 44 days in what that fool on RHONJ referred to as “The Lentil Season” which I have called it ever since.
Tamara Tattles Rules of Lent
According to my rules you give something up for the entire 44 days. Some of my Catholic friends say that Sundays are some kind of a cheat day or something. But I am all or nothing. I’m either a gluttonous eater and guzzler of booze, an incredibly strict steward of what I ingest. So I endure the entire 44 days and secretly hope I am scoring bonus points with Our Lord and Savior in hopes of balancing out a plethora of other bad acts. Like, you know, calling you all stupid cunts sometimes. Let’s just say I have a lived a long life, it’s getting late in the game, and I have a ton of shit to atone for, Like cussing and promiscuity and… well stuff.
Moving on.
So for those who don’t know, Fat Tuesday is when you get all your jollies out before enduring The Lentil Season of atonement. You are supposed to give up something meaningful to you. So I either give up alcohol or sugar. This year, I gave up alcohol and sugar at the end of January, and plan to push on through with that. But I don’t think it counts because I already did that change.
So, I haven’t quite settled on what to do this year. I think I will probably give up some time sitting on the couch on this computer. Perhaps I will focus on ex…exer…ex… waddling on a more consistent…daily!? basis. Or giving up my slothful nature and committing to cleaning up this house a bit every day paring down my stuff in preparation for a move. Which is sort of ex…ex…exercise. So maybe I will go with option Three. Either waddle or clean or both every day for forty-four fucking days. I am not giving up swearing. I don’t think God cares about swearing unless you are swearing at Him.
But …We Have Today For Some Last Minute Debauchery!
But today is Fat Tuesday and I designated it as a cheat day back in January. I intended to drink today. But, I am not really interested in a drinking day. It’s tax time and I have a lot of things going on both with the site and with financial planning that require a clear head. Also, I think I will get much more bang for my buck with something sweet. So, I am going to have my last coconut fruit bar (180 cal) today AND my last Oui brand mango yogurt.(160 cal) Both have too much natural sugars for my current diet. This is almost four beers worth of calories. I am going to be ruthless about my healthy eating plan for these 44 days. I need to see more movement of the needle on the scale.
So, I challenge you all to pick something of at least moderate difficulty to give up for 44 days. It’s a great chunk of time to commit to being very serious, and the bonus is, it happens right before swimsuit season! So you can get that summer body ready! Or maybe just fit comfortable in a coach seat if tragedy strikes and you can’t get in first class.
So who’s with me? Make you official commitment here in front of God and everybody.
Oh, and how are those New Year’s resolutions working out for you? Remember them?
Let’s keep this post upbeat. I this is not a place to post about your fatal illnesses, friends and families or dog deaths, your TUMAHs, or other unpleasantness you may be experiencing. PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
My absolute most extreme thing would be sweets/sugar. I will eat 2 10.10oz of mini m&ms every day. I think my body would go into panic mode if I stopped. So, I am incredibly impressed with your ability to give up sugar.
Did you kill anyone in the process? I only drink water, but the M&Ms are like crack,
Aaack. Maybe I’ll give up sloth and start exercising better.
I stopped Orangetheory in December because it was getting spendy.
The hubs and I need to start yoga.
BTW, we did switch to tequila from beer and it’s been amazing. No hangovers and sugar free margaritas on the beach are awesome.
Tequila and grapefruit or Fresca are my favorites.
Clase Azul Reposado.
Only in my adult life did a sermon make its way through my hard head when it was pointed out by that day’s priest that the denial of something we really, really really like isn’t the point of Lent–we are supposed to do something that ultimately brings us closer to God. Not something like well, it’s spring so I’ll give up chocolate and bonus! maybe lose a few lbs before swimsuit time. Now, I never knew this until my adult life so I am not criticizing anyone or their efforts. It’s new news to me and I am sharing. So for instance I go to daily mass during Lent, either I get up early, v early– and go to mass or I skip lunch and go to mass. That’s all I got, again, no judging, just something that opened my eyes after a long time of not really knowing the true purpose of the ‘lentil time’ 🙂
Great post
just a fun fact–when walking to daily Mass at lunch one season I stepped off the curb outside of the church ‘wrong’ and fractured my foot–ya just gotta look heavenwards and say ‘et tu savior?’ Thanks for the kind comment, I hope this gives you a laugh–true story.
I am with you TT. I will give up sugar and caffeine. Poor Cho, I am a survivor fan. I may have bitchy comments towards his post during the next 2 weeks. lol
I am having a bit of a Mardi Gras day today in preparation of ‘hitting it’ tomorrow. Apart from pushing myself harder in my recovery from surgery I am going to commit to intermittent fasting. I have been doing quite well with it in the past few weeks but for Lent? No more slip-ups!! In its most basic terms, intermittent fasting is no eating for 16 hours and then eating within an 8 hour period. It’s about all I can handle at the moment.
Good luck everyone with your Lent goals!!
I should warn you all…
If you give up sugar, you will drink more alcohol than ever before.
If you give up alcohol
You will eat a can of Betty Crocker icing with a spoon.
Don’t ask me how I know this. This is why I do both at once. Plus double the suffering may or may not get me in the VIP section of heaven with the Blessed and Highly Favorite congregations from all the prosperity churches! I really hope I don’t have to mingle with all of those unfavored and unblessed people dying of starvation and refugees from war torn countries! /evil grin
I gave up wine and the sugar cravings went away and I dropped 25 pounds.
Last call by midnight. Miller slite.
I just read your 2015 comments (it’s a suggested post below) Are you still fucking the Marlboro Man?
As of May last year that would be a yes.
I’m giving up liquor.. basically Vodka, I don’t really eat candy so that seemed like too much of an easy pass. Yes, just liquor still going to have a glass of wine… that’s still counts right?? This is my son Solomon’s first lent – I gave him the choice of candy or soda, I was told that candy was life.. I was going to even do Shrove Tuesday at church tonight but sweet baby Jesus it is crazy cold in the ATL right now! Good luck to all!
I KNOW! What is going on in the ATL, I opened the door to the beautiful sunny day to let the dog out and was nearly knock over by a polar wind. Getting ready to go waddle with the dog. He loves the cold. It’s going to have to be a speedy waddle!
HaHa! I am not Catholic, but my son went to a Catholic High School. They had to give up something. He gave up Green Skittles 🙂 Screw giving up alcohol, love my Vodka entirely way too much.
Last year, after your column, I took a Lent pledge seriously for the first time ever, as I’m neither Catholic or Lutheran and my denomination doesn’t do this. I stuck it out and was hoping you’d do a similar post this year. I’m giving up a slew of unhealthy types of intake and now, since I like your increased movement idea, I’ll also give up some sloth. Thanks for the call to action.
Today for Fat Tuesday it’s my last pan of brownies as we start keto tomorrow. I quit drinking years ago so I can’t give that up. I have no worries about staying on point (except the cost) with keto because I like to eat that way, but my roommate is a sugar fiend. We have been slouching toward keto for weeks to wean her off sweets. But now I need to figure out if I am supposed to eat lentils for the Lentil Season or give them up. Because lentils are not keto. Just when I thought I had it figured out… Maybe I can just make a collage out of lentils and macaroni of Christ On a Crutch or Christ In the Bushes instead… And maybe I will go to hell on a luge because the handbasket is much too slow.
Well, I just “stole” a bunch of daffodils today (I saw the bulldozers coming), so I might be in that luge, too.
Ru-roh, I’d have done the same…does that mean I’m on a luge too?
Which begs the question, if I’m on the luge anyway…?
Nope, gonna get up and walk this body outdoors tomorrow!
Forgot to add I love daffodils, tulips, daisies, and crocus! If that keeps me on the luge? I’ll be happy to see some friendly faces.
I keep meaning to cut the last of my daffodils. I love them, but they always show up in February and it seems to me they are just pointing out that I haven’t cleaned our the flower bed in months.
Maybe they’ll let us paint our luge a sunny yellow.
Happy Mardi Gras from NOLA y’all! Mardi Gras season officially starts on King’s Day, or Jan 6th, which is the day the 3 Kings visited Jesus after he was born in Bethlehem. The revelry continues until the day before Lent starts. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, which is why I opted out today. Before you give up anything for Lent TT, go to Kroger and see if they have a King Cake. I was in Atlanta visiting colleges with my daughter a couple of months ago and I brought one to some friends there. They told me that Kroger sometimes has them. It’s basically a cinnamon roll shaped in a ring with purple, green, and gold sugar or icing but New Orleanians will stand in line for hours for a good one. It’s serious stuff here.
BTW, y’all. You don’t eat lentils during Lent. Lent is 40 days, not 44. I grew up Catholic, I’m not giving up shit anymore.
No to the Kroger king cake! I’m partial to Paul’s Pastry or Randazzo’s. I know Paul’s will ship.
Randazzos ships too but we have to wait quite a while for another taste heaven. Thank god I live close enough to make the drive. I only got two this year. So sad. 🙁
I’m confused why y’all are talking about cake in the LENT comments. Like really confused, Do you go to AA meetings to discuss your favorite wines?’
King Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition since the late 1800s brought to NOLA from France. The three kings showed themselves (epiphany) to Baby Jesus on Jan. 6, the Epiphany, which starts the LENTIL season. (Every time I think of that I die.) The King Cake has a plastic baby hidden inside and the person who gets the baby has good luck the next year. (Unless they break a tooth, it wasn’t me for once!) In modern days the person who gets the baby either brings th next cake or buys a round. Traditionally, the Mardi Gras colors are used and the cakes I have had have MARZIPAN, but I guess that is not traditional. But delicious. No lentils in the cake.
So Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is the last day to eat King Cake until next year, pre-lentil.
Nanette, WE ALL KNOW WHAT FUCKING KING CAKE IS! THIS POST IS ABOUT LENT WHICH STARTED TODAY WHERE MANY OF US ARE NOT EATING FUCKING SUGAR.
SO TALKING ABOUT KING CAKE IS FUCKING STUPID.
THAT WAS MY POINT THAT YOU SO WILDLY MISSED.
PERHAPS THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT FOR YOU.
Sorry. I thought it was about Fat Tuesday. Last “indulgence” day.
dammit to hell…Lent is whatever the count is from Ash Wed. until midnight Holy Sat. (Day before Easter) for most of us non-Catholics…Y’all (Catholics) don’t count Sundays (a Feast day where you do not have to abide by your Lenten promise). And just fyi to you Catholics most Protestants ie…Lutherans. Episcopalians, and eventually Presbyterians and Methodists and yes…even Baptists celebrate Ash Wed., Maundy Thurs and other things since we all embraced a universal Liturgical Calendar….I grew up Southern Baptist and we never did some of those growing up but in the last…I dunno (10-25) year s we HAVE….
I gave up sugar years ago and don’t crave it. I’m taking aim at alcohol.
Please tell me how you gave it up! I think I will go in detox. Also, like they say in the south, I got the prediabetes. Even still, I will down a bag or two of mini m&ms like it’s my job.
Brittany, I just stopped. I used to drink way too much Coca-Cola, probably 6 pack a day, plus sweets. I switched to unsweetened beverages and use sugar substitute when I make baked goods. My husband was diagnosed with diabetes, so I keep the sugar out as much as possible unless the grandkids are coming. But like TT mentions above, my adult beverage consumption has taken it’s place. I’m tackling that now.
I see the Catholics are rolling in as expected to tell us we are doing it wrong and can’t count. It happens every year.
I am off by a day though, Tamara Tattles Lent is 43 days this year.SOME YEARS IT IS 46!!! Because the fourth Sunday falls on Easter.
I just ate my coconut fruit bar popsicle thingy. The 365 brand from Whole Foods is the ONLY decent kind. It you are one of those skinny folks trying to lose weight they have 180 and come four to a box. I could eat all four in one sitting and almost did last time.
I feel closer to God just eating them. I’m going to have to waddle today. Fat Friday or not.
It’s not that we don’t think you can count. The 40 days is mostly symbolic but the logistics have to do with fasting and penance. https://www.uscatholic.org/node/425
You don’t say? Fasting and penance? Thanks for the link. This is my first time with lent. I really never knew what it was about. So it’s a Catholic thing, you say? That’s fascinating. Please, educate us. This really needs awareness. I think we should make shirts with lentils on them. Would that be appropriate?
Hair shirts with dried lentils. Brings mortification to another level, just as TT brings it. Your pineapple jelly beans and mortal soul hang in precarious balance.
Oh hair shirts would be perfect! Who here has some goats and a spinning wheel?And a loom. We’re going need a bigger loom for me. TIA.
It’s like people who only go to mass on Christmas & Easter, or people who don’t believe in Jesus but put up a Christmas tree
I just like the sparkly lights!! No religious fakery in my Deep South secular home. Lol. Honestly though I’m still in awe of my parents managing to raise us without organized religion in this area.
People who don’t believe in Jesus but put up a Christmas tree… wait what? What does a Christmas tree have to do with Jesus?
I would give up lentils, but I don’t eat them.
I rarely drink any more, gave up sodas, caffeine..
Now and then I get a bunk of cake at Ralph’s that is sinfully good.. I wish I had some now. So I will try very hard to refrain from caving in for the duration.
Well I thought about all year and I’ve decided to join you and give something up for the whole 44 days. Then it was trying to decide what, so I asked for for suggestions from my children. I already an sugar free and alcohol free so I asked…what if Mom gives up coffee? My sons both looked at me, they are men 25 and 30, and said simply Mom you will end up in jail without it! Ok strike coffee. Cigarettes? Same answer from those men I raised alone, they have so much faith in me huh? Ok I’m giving up cleaning in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. I have terrible insomnia and when I wake up and can’t get back to sleep I start scrubbing crap in my house and never end up going back to bed. May sound strange to you all but my children would like me to stay out of trouble and get some sleep.
Before you get all carried away, Jo. How bout I fly you down to the ghetto for a lovely stay in a ghetto shack where you can clean t your hearts content!
Sure, it has to be getting warmer there than it will Jersey. Warning though I never finish a room it seems…I get bored and move on. Last night after 2 hours of sleep I just paced my house with the deep desire to pull out the cleaning supplies and be productive. I suck at being productive while the sun is up but when insomnia hits I become super home maker…but only with insomnia otherwise me and the germs are on friendly terms!
Coffee should be given up in stages over a week or two or the caffeine withdrawal will make you feel like you are coming down with the flu. Just mix it with decaf in gradually decreasing amounts of regular to decaf until you are all decaf & then you can drop it altogether if you choose or stick to decaf or switch to a different beverage. (I’m all iced tea & hot mint tea now.)
I’m going to do sugar and swearing. I just found out I’m pre-diabetic, so hopefully this will help me. Fingers crossed!!
SWEARING! Perfect. Thank you. That’s what I will give up. Something I like but should do less of. I used to give up gum because my cousin did. But I didn’t chew gum, so … Mom wasn’t Catholic and never explained the giving up. And after being beaten at Catholic boarding school Dad had his own ideas about Catholism, but still made us all go to church.
I’m going to do it! I need to lose 50 lbs. Thanks for the encouragement TT! I am going to cut out added and natural sugars for the next 44 days. No sweets, even fruit, during Lent and then after Lent I will add only fruit back (hopefully). I’m a Methodist and giving up things for Lent was not emphasized in our church but I think it’s good to mindfully sacrifice every day to remind myself what God did for me.
I’m Methodist too. We’re always sort a vague group. Not a lot of anything really “thumping” or extreme. Community and fellowship is really strong in the Churches I’ve joined. That said, lent and the resurrection is the subject of sermons this whole season in every church/visited or joined (there are a lot because I used to move around a lot…hoping to go again soon). The subject of sacrifice is common with most religions that I’ve been exposed to and actively participated in when invited….
I’m not comfortable stating my whole “system of belief, religion” that’s probably my Protestant upbringing but I will say there’s good reason to partake in a season of thoughtful self denial of worldly pleasures. For me it gives me a pause button so to speak. I wanted to not participate this year but realized I can be held accountable for wanting more outdoor time and stay away from the sugar that makes my middle aged belly bigger!
I’ve written too much, glass 2 of wine after 4/13 hour shifts 60 miles from my home, where I will now have 3 days to recoup, starting tomorrow morning walking in my beautiful part of the world! Taking Igor too! (My dog) thank you TT for the open forum!
If someone were to make an alcohol out of lentils, would it be ok to drink that during Lent? 😉
I am committing to exercising at least 2 days a week (I currently do no days a week and what to make it achieveable) and giving up sugar. Sign me up.
I think I bought some dried lentils a few lents back just for fun. I probably still have them in the zombie apocalypse pantry for when the zombies come. You know, just in case they are Catholic.
I’ll google for lentil wine? lentil liquor? recipes? It has to be better than pruno. I wonder if ole Peter Thomas is having pruno tonight?
Perhaps the Catholics in the crowd can tell us, since they are the experts on lentils.
“…that fool on RHONJ referred to as “The Lentil Season” which I have called it ever since.”
Love it. 😂
Which fool was it? Melissa, who thought Amazing Grace was a song about a wench like her, or Teresa, who’s very picky about her ingrediences?
I am giving up 30 minutes of couch phone time. When I get home from work, before the ceremonial bra ditch/bathrobe cocoon, I will be productive and do some kind of chore. Super vague, but tidiness is not my forte. I’m that chick who has all clean clothes/dishes/etc, but they’re still out.
TT, for lent this year I am giving up all drive thru fast
Food/drinks. This will require some additional healthy food shopping, meal prepping and actually brewing my own coffee at home! I do have 1/2 expensive to-go mugs that are desperate to be used! I can’t imagine how great I will feel by Easter, not to mention the extra money in my bank account, the extra steps on my Fitbit app, and the discovery of multiple new healthy cooking recipes! Good luck people, looking forward to it!
So piece of shit first time commenter “OldLady” would like us to know she “is saved by Jesus so she an’t giving up (shit emoji).
She’s in the WLS letting the other assholes know she is exceeding blessed.
She also reminded me why I don’t go to the Baptist church anymore. Though I doubt her bitch as does either. i
Giggle, waving!
Ok. I don’t really have anything to give up so I’ll start exercising-ish. All this lentil talk and I’m going to find my recipe for Indian lentils. Yum!
Love me some lentils. Especially those!
Hello everyone! I’m giving up Dr.Pepper. I’m having heart palpitations already.
Happy Lentil ya’ll. Spent first six years at a Catholic school with the real nuns…the ones that wore habits. :😁. I’m with ya TT…already started the eating better and moving so had to really think. Going with, track foods, get in 7,500 steps, 50 sit-ups, and spend 30 min cleaning EVERY day. So today, I tracked, got 2,836 steps, 0 sit-ups, no cleaning sitting on my ass playing with you peeps May the Lentil be with you all!
Being pregnant, I’m not drinking alcohol by default…
I feel like if I give up sugar then I’ll never make it through this third trimester. *Sighhhhh*
I’ve been walking 30 minutes every single day, so exercise is taken care of. I really can’t think of anything…
Maybe this isn’t my lentil season/year. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s updates!
I just saw the other commenter, Carol, say she is giving up fast food/drive thru! She inspired me. I’m officially doing the same thing.
Goodbye my sweet chick fil a!
I was just coming to suggest you give up cooking and make the Daddy do it. Or give up tired feet and get a foot massage every day of Lent. 🙂
I like the way you think, Tamara!!!! 😉 I am picturing many scenes of Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom right now!
Betsey, thanks for joining me! I’ll miss the chick fil A Diet Arnold Palmers the most, but i’ll Make those at home too! How hard that? 2 ingredients unsweetened tea and diet lemonade! Ok- admittedly I probably won’t be squeezing fresh lemons! Ha! Best wishes for your pregnancy!
HAHA! I hear you on the diet Arnold Palmer’s…they are delish. And I have been guilty of a diet Dr. Pepper as well. 😉
Good luck! We can check in on each other and keep each other in check!
sheesh! A few days away from screens, and look what all i’ve missed! Everybody is getting out and exercising and supporting one another! Today marks one week of no drive thru/no fast foods! Its all happening! LOL. Keep up the good work Betsey and TT!
So glad to hear you’re still on track. I think we made it through the hardest part! I almost caved a couple times, but like you said the extra money in the bank is huge motivation as well!! Glad you checked back Carol! 🙂
Betsey! We are almost there! I can’t beleive i have made it all this time with no drive through at all! Woot Woot! Life is good. Have a happy Easter weekend!
i can’t count. I think it is actually 46 days. Whatever . Easter is when we can be gluttons again. Technically we are supposed to fast tomorrow and the Friday before Easter but I don’t usually do that. Plus some folks break fast at dark and that is when I start eating normally. The current healthy eating plan requires me to force myself to start eating as soon as possible after I wake up. I still rarely eat until around 3.
I am giving up my nap. Instead, I’m going to tackle one of the piles of mounting stuff all over the house. I plan to play a game with myself, and if I get thru 2 projects, bring on the nap. Otherwise, start sorting.
I will join the giving up fast food crowd. I need to lose a few or 20. And have a little more moolah.
Okay, okay already! Geezer I was going to let this slide on by without me this year.
No way I’m giving up alcohol, I need a glass of wine or three after my stretch of days at work. I really need to quit smoking, probably not happening tomorrow.
I like the sugar thing, I don’t have a huge sweet tooth but I’ve noticed I’m eating more desserts lately and the scale is creeping up a bit. No sugar. The weather should be nice enough for me to walk 3 days a week (outside, giggle). There I’m in.
Btw, I love lentils, make soup with them alot… enjoy the evening everyone!
Last October Halloween season I found something called frooties, fruit flavored tootsie roll things. I’ve eaten at least 5 lbs a week since then. Luckily I have the metabolism of whatever the hell the fastest land animal is so I’ve never gained an ounce. However I do love them and I have thought some wicked things about the current administration, so I’m giving up Frooties. Fall back is smoking actual cigarettes since I now vape I smoke 2-3 a week real live Camel cigarettes and about a billionty mg of vape juice whatever the hell that is.
Wait… Frooties help you deal with the current admin? OMG, how can you go cold turkey when it is still in place????
Well considering I gave up the box wine almost 4 years ago, that can’t Court. No way in hell will I give up olives and pickles again. So since I’m being much more diligent on the needle on that huge ass elephant scale (ok it’s not big, it’s a normal size but it sure feels judgmental to me) I weigh myself on, I’m going to keep on that track and start walking daily, rain or shine. With my ankle weights and hand weights!
This liver needs to stay in remission from all that box wine I drank before God and sobriety.
Yep – gonna wall and eventually run myself to 25lb weight loss.
Is that asking too much Tt? I’m 45, never married and can’t have kids… this woman needs a man STAT!
Well considering I gave up the box wine almost 4 years ago, that can’t Court. No way in hell will I give up olives and pickles again. So since I’m being much more diligent on the needle on that huge ass elephant scale (ok it’s not big, it’s a normal size but it sure feels judgmental to me) I weigh myself on, I’m going to keep on that track and start walking daily, rain or shine. With my ankle weights and hand weights!
This liver needs to stay in remission from all that box wine I drank before God and sobriety.
Yep – gonna wall and eventually run myself to 25lb weight loss.
Is that asking too much Tt? I’m 45, never married and can’t have kids… this woman needs a man STAT!
Oh and catch up on my blog!!!
Didn’t me court in that first sentence. “Do that” is what I meant…
Happy Mardi Gras, baby. I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago and caught a couple of parades. Sorry to be missing the fun today. I have a trip to St Lucia in a few weeks and it would be too sad not to drink on my Caribbean vacation … so … how about no dairy for Lent. No cheese, no sour cream, no butter, and no ranch dressing!! I also love the call to prayer.
I don’t always give up things for Lent. One of my best friends in high school was Catholic, and he always asked the teenagers to consider giving up time to do good works. Volunteer somewhere or give time helping relatives even.
The one year I really stuck with it (we are NOT a religious family, so I’d forget) I gave up buying lattes every day. I had quit teaching, and while my new job paid a little less in take home pay, I was no longer buying school supplies for my classroom. So had more jingle in my pocket and I splurged on a fancy drink every work day. This was back when I often had a mocha and sometimes put extra flavoring like raspberry syrup. (I’ve since given up sugar in my coffee, and those drinks taste disgusting to me)
But the real incentive to keep at it was every day I tallied up what I would have spent on the drink (plus tip) on a sheet at work. At the end of lent, I went and spent that amount on pet food, and took it to the shelter where I adopted my Simon. (who is now an 18 year old cat). I never went back to the daily habit too… at most, it was a Friday treat, or when we had finished with a big task at work and everyone was indulging. Now I do stick with regular coffee at work most of the time!
Even before I saw the post (and I wish I had earlier – I would have feasted or something…) I’ve been thinking about doing something.
I’m going to start taking the allergy pills again and try to give up the afternoon naps which perpetuate the vicious insomnia cycle. I’m going to go to bed no later than 11:30, and I’ll turn off the electronics (besides Alexa and her white noise) at least a half hour before.
I’m also going to work on cleaning out my house. I think it is time to move, and I need to have some work done before I put it on the market. Before I do that, I need to clean out, clean out, clean out. It would be nice to be able to park the car in the garage again 🙂
Maybe it’s better if you didn’t get to feast. I think I burned up all the advantage I could gain from giving up sugar by cramming it in all day yesterday in anticipation.
same, sis, same
I think I’ve got a sugar hangover today.
Even before pre-Lentil season, in preparation for keto, I baked to use up everything we had in stores. And ate as much as I gave away. Not overeating, just eating “bad” things. And something weird happened… I ACCIDENTALLY lost weight! I warned the nurse I had probably gained weight and explained why and she said I had lost several pounds. After being careful for years, I lose weight when I expect not to…
Sadly, I can’t say that’s ever happened to me. What a dream. Lucky you.
With you Erica on the clearing and moving. Already doing calorie count, gave up smokes five years ago. Don’t drink enough booze to make it a true sacrifice, so decided to pick up the pace on clearing and prepping house for sale. 30 years in one place. Lots of unnecessary shit piled up!
Good luck, everyone. I look forward to Tamara’s lentil martydom every year!
I had an evening meeting, so yay, no nap! I’m wiiiide awake though, and I am not sure I’m gonna make the asleep by 11:30. Oh shit…. only have a minute left to be on here. But I’m not done watching RHONY.
Oh well… I have always thought I should convert to Judaism.
My husband is Catholic, is it okay if I ignore him for 44 days? And this post is why I love this site so much.
So I’m Catholic and still do the antiquated no meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays through Lent. I also give something else up, to ease the guilt of inevitably forgetting the no meat thing and making a turkey sandwich on a Friday. I love the giving up of fast food, so I’m
going to try that as well. If we all work together and keep each other accountable (like our lovely Teddi M would say), we’ll get through it 🙂 Happy Lentil y’all!
One year I gave up swearing at other people when they cut me off or drive too slow. Which for me, is HARD.
ALRIGHT SLACKERS! I just went for a Waddle for Jesus. 2.5 miles in 45m and TWENTY EIGHT SECONDS. I jogged most of the last half mile and those 28 seconds piss me the fuck off. and another half mile cool down lap for a total of three miles/55 minutes.
I always over do on the first day back. I will be thrilled with a mile walk more days than not. I got a 27 minute walk in yesterday with Banjo, but his fat ass can’t speed waddle.. I’ll probably geat another 15 minutes in later on toda. Days with the sun out are rare these days. It’s in the forties today.
Only 44 days left! I really need to go to The Publix. but I’m not sure I have it in me. Banjo likes this new dog food we tried and I think it is on clearance it’s some sort of hippy dippy shit from Colorado and I think it is on Clearance and I need to get there before they sent it all back to the vendor.
I ate a salad! Has yet to do a waddle for jesus.
Waddle for Jesus could be a good name for a book. Lots of possibilities for subject matter. Or maybe a “race” every year on Ash Wednesday.
Ate healthier sandwich for lunch, and even though I was in this brew pub that has these amazing fries and FRIED CHEESE CURDS..
I ordered a salad with smoked salmon!!!
YAY! Salmon has TONS of protein. I bought some canned safe catch tuna that is like five times more expensive because there is no mercury and some canned salmon today. It’s easy to add to salads and I like it.
I have been eating lots of mangos. I hate chopping them for coooking but they are so good, and I never really bought them at the grocery until recently. I refuse to look and see the calorie count. But they are good for you, right?
I’m of the mindset that all fruit is good, because I never get what you are supposed to be eating every day in! I always have a hard time finding mangos that are ripe – so if you are finding ones that are good, eat away! I did a quick google… this article says they are low calorie and good for you!
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/are-mangoes-good-for-you#3
It was a great salad too…. had apple, craisins, kale, spinach, pecans, pickled red onions, and an amazing vinaigrette as well as the smoked salmon (which was done very well. No bones! Just make sure your canned salmon is WILD salmon. That farmed stuff is scary – I won’t eat it. I wish I liked tuna – I like fresh, wild caught, but not canned.
Yes, very good! Good for the brain, for lowering B P, good source of magnesium.
My answer didn’t stick! I googled, and mangos are really good fruits to eat! Lots of fiber, some essential vitamins, and lower calorie! (I’m actually one that doesn’t believe in avoiding fruits because of sugar unless you are an actual diabetic. They don’t have refined sugar!
Make sure your canned salmon is wild! I do NOT trust that farmed shit!
The salad was really really good. Kale (but it wasn’t tough!), spinach, fresh apple (cut into nice sized pieces!), craisins, pickled red onion, and a nice vinaigrette!
I am giving up pasta. I’m having withdrawal symptoms just thinking about it. I’m a self proclaimed pastaholic. I can’t give up my coffee or my occasional smoke, I would be a very angry person. So please pray for me.
Yay, TT! Keep inspiring us! I made it through Day 1 of no sugar, not even fruit. I love reading stories of other people’s Lenten plans and successes! Sacrifice as He constantly does for us.
Remind me what God has sacrificed for us lately? I have a terrible memory. I fine with any news from the last thousand years or so.
😂😂😂 touche, TT. Just reminding myself why I’m really doing this and that the weight loss is secondary.
Still pondering the last 1000 years…
But after finishing some excellent chocolates, I am adding all chocolate to all came and cookies to my Lentil List. I have never sacrificed for Lent/il.. We were Methodists, no communion wine, just grape juice. (And no little mini bride dresses for first communion) But We ate chicken on Fridays until my dad was anemic and he chose rare steam over lived and that was our Friday dinner.
Methodist here too…. only grape juice at Communion. I didn’t even hear about sacrificing during Lent until high school from my Catholic friends. I haven’t done it every year but I’m doing it this year because it’s a daily reminder of the ultimate sacrifice. It’s good for my soul and good for my body.
I forgot to mention the grape juice, giggle.
I didn’t go for a waddle yesterday as we had gale force winds here yesterday, it’s windy today but not as bad there’s a loop of road I can walk out here that’s 2 miles,
going to walk ot today folk! Thanks for the accountability. No sugar yesterday. scale battery is dead so hopefully once that’s replaced the number won’t be too scary.
So, today I am 2.8 pounds more than I was yesterday. Le sigh. I speed waddles three miles and only ate salad with shrimp and mango and pineapple and lots of raw cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, etc.
I did eat two large salads but there was no dressing at all other than the pineapple and grapefruit juice and jalapeno juice from cooking the shrimp and pineapple and mango, And it was like two tablespoons of liquid.
It’s Lymopause. Before, I could drop 5 pounds in a weekend. Yes I know it was mostly water weight but it’ still made me feel good to see the scale plummet. Now, I can eat only a thousand calories a day for 3 days and the scale will show I gained 2 pounds. Go figure. I still track the scale number but when I start a diet, I set aside a pair of jeans that are tight. Then when the scale depresses me I put those jeans and feel how they are a little looser and that makes me feel better.
Yeah, my jeans are looser. It takes me about 20 pounds to change a jeans size because I am 5’9″. Which is great when you are going up. But excruciating when you are going down,. Especially if you want to go down three or four sizes.
Hang in there Tamara. Not to be captain obvious, but working out causes water retention so the number increase on the scale is probably just the water. Give it a couple weeks after you started the waddling before you see a drop on the scale! Great work. 🙂
Smoked meats are on the bad list now .. Smoked salmon.. Interesting as Salmon is an excellent source of omega 3, and on all lists of food good for the brain, heart, etc.
TT, I weigh every day and quite often will gain the day after a day of eating well and exercising (walking), but it seems like the results come a day or so later.
This lentil thing for me is a challenge taken because others are taking challenges here with TT. Nothing to do with religion for me.
I will be tested on Saturday, as I take a bus tour to Shambala, which is a preserve for big cats started by Tippi Hedron and her Roar foundation. On these trips they always pass around large stashed of mini candy bars and cookies or crackers. No cookies or candy bars for be.
Take a pack of almonds!
I’m currently weighing in my pajamas and it’s been cold so I am in my heavy fleeces pants and a long sleeve T. I have a lot of these in various colors. I did change to new ones yesterday but they are literally the exact same pants.
I know I should be weighing naked but I am holding off on that for when it gets closer to a middle number change. LOL.
Also, my um, digestion has changed. When you drink a lot of wine, things then to err…. move a bit toooo often. Now despite the high amount of fiber in my diet, The process is much slower. I think my body is just adjusting to having a lot of protein when it previously functioned on wine and soup. So it went from zero protein to a ton of protein, That said, I am about SEVEN WEEKS IN and can’t keep a consistent ten pounds off. Le Sigh.
Also, whether you are joining us for the LENTIL SEASON CHALLENGE for religious reasons, health reasons, vanity reason, or just trying to make some improvements to your character or body….those are all good reasons to participate. It’s nice to know that other people are making sacrifices whether for religious reasons or personal reasons at the same time.
I messed up already. I’ll admit it – I ate a cookie. I hope I don’t get smote. Tomorrow is another day…
Well, I’m not going to tell you it’s great but you’re being honest about it and it was 1 as apposed to how many normally? You’re going to get this! I literally threw out food (Valentine’s candy) today. I hate throwing out perfectly good food (I know it’s not “real food” but it’s edible and yummy) and normally I would take it in to work and share when we need to share something like candy or fruits/veggies that are going to go bad before we can eat or preserve
something we don’t want to go bad but I don’t go back until Saturday and since I’m not doing sugar, that’s all I could think about today and all I could focus on when I was in the pantry this am…so I threw it out, now I’m thinking I need to go do a grocery run tomorrow for more fruit and salad makings.
Eggs, mushrooms and spinach omelet this am, tomato bisque soup about 2p, not really hungry yet but know I need to eat, cooked family fettuccine alfredo for supper, I’m being mindful I probably shouldn’t have that si maybe more Bisque? Plus Top chef is coming on shortly…never a great idea not eating before TC!
Sorry for the rambling TammyinVA, I feel the need to stay connected in this post otherwise I won’t stay accountable myself and I do want to cut sugar and be outdoors more! I walked my loop today and I feel so good (if not a little/lot wind blown)!
Down 4.6 pounds after “gaining” 3 yesterday. I know it is just my water weight going up and down. I drink an insane amount of water and drink at night when I get up to pee. So it’s always crazy. But all of the numbers are less than where I started. I’m focusing on that.
The weather is wet and depressing today. But I need to get out in it and waddle because it is only going to get worse this weekend and apparently we are all going to die on Sunday (tornados). I’d like to be four pounds lighter before I die. I think you shit everything out when you die, so that should be a real help.
🙂
If you’re anything like me, that one big fright a few years ago caused me to lose water weight, so to speak. So there’s that, as well.
My father had a colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago, and weighed himself immediately before and immediately after the “prep”. He lost 4.5 pounds. Assuming you are as full of shit as my father, you are ready in case you die in a tornado Sunday.
After hearing that, I have decided I am going to automatically deduct 4.5 lbs poop allowance every time I weigh myself.
Banjo and I NEARLY DIED on heartbreak hill today. You can lower the damn incline on the tread mill, but if you are dumb enough to take the route home with the big fucking hill your fat ass has to get up it to get back to the safety and comfort of the couch. I’m not sure Banjo will want to go with me again. It was new smelling territory for him and I dam near broke his neck trying to keep him from pulling to go pee on new things.
I always weigh before eating and after I empty out 😉
I am sure Banjo was tired but enjoyed peeing on all the new scents.
I went to Mother’s Market to acquire some giant Honeycrisp apples and large tangerines. One of each will go with me on my outing tomorrow to Shambala. Other items tbd.
The high in that area of the San Gabriels will be 50ish, so I figure eating outside will burn some calories. And we will be walking around the place as well. Just have to say no to the demon tiny candy bar.
I did say no to the Girl Scouts who knocked on my door today.
Thank God I live in the ghetto where girl scouts fear to trend. Plus I never answer my door. Because I don’t know how, as a former brownie and girl scout (Troops on Foreign Soil) I think I might cave at the site of a doe-eye girl bearing thin mints and samosas.
Let us not think about this again.
Oh and I did the hill a second time today. I almost killed Banjo (again) I’m going to have to stop taking him.
I was planning to walk more near Mother’s Market but the wind was chilly and I had not realized that, while I was dressed, even had earrings on, I drove over there in my fitflop slippers. While they are quite sturdy and I do walk around my condo and complex in them, they look sort of disreputable. Actually, it was more about the cold and wind.
I guess Banjo is celebrating Lentil with you.
My cat, Katniss, like most cats, considers that she already leads a perfect life and thus she has chosen to just continue her life of good naps interspersed with sudden spurts of energy where she will bounce off walls and fly up and down the stairs. I am on my own.
I can’t take Banjo to do the hill anymore. I’ll take him around the short flattish loop a time or two and then drop him off and go do the hill. It is actually two hills, the first one is long and steep then you have a block or two that is mostly flat but curvy. Then you have a hill about half the length and double the size.
That is what a doctor said here in a lecture: walk the dog, drop him back home and then walk!
Hill walking is good. Very flat around my place, but I have a great hill walk at one hospital, with a lovely view of the bay and the Pacific, and out to Santa Catalina at the top.
I am up way too early today for my bus trip.
And plateaued in weight for three days.
I weigh exactly the same today as I did yesterday. I’ll take it. down a bit over two pounds for the week. I’ll take that too.
For sure, take it!! 2.34 miles walked today, though it was stop and go. Beautiful cats.. Lions, Tigers, Mountain Lion, etc..
And I said no to the evil mini candy bars.
I could do the mountain lions. I’m seriously considering moving to Costa Rica already freaking out about the monkey. I need them all to be put in nice lovely cages for my arrival.Where you at a zoo?
I’m kind of shocked by my lack of interest in booze and sugar. It’s been really easy. The processed foods on the other hand. Every fast food commericial seems so tantalyzing and I am not a fast food fan.
And today I came THIS CLOSE to putting some Marie’s bleu cheese dressing on my salad and ate it pretty much naked instead. I’m going to treat myself to jarred salad dressing at some point. I make great healthy dressing with jalepenos. But that bleu cheese and ranch in the door of the fridge is the most tempting thing left in the house.
Do you have Bolthouse dressings in your grocery? They have a yogurt ranch that I love!
I was at Shambala in Acton, CA, which is a rescue for cats (they are licensed for elephants, but don’t have any now) that Till I Used in started long ago. At one time she had a lion as a pet, but later realized just how dangerous that was to family. Her daughter is Melanie Griffith.
Anyway, all the cats they have are in large enclosures and they are super strict about visitors. All visitors sign waivers and are escorted. We were warned about staying back from the enclosures.
Each cat came from people who thought having one of these cats was a good idea, or from a rescue that closed.
The one cat who came from the wild was a lynx that was hit by a car. He had surgery to save him, but couldn’t survive in the wild. He walks with a noticeable limp.
CA
The employees, of which there are 8, love their work. They also have dedicated volunteers.
Lunch (we each brought out own) was outside, and I could lean back and watch ravens circling overhead and in valleys and over leaks near and far. It was pure joy!
And I managed to gain .4 pounds.
I love walking! But getting myself out to walk can be really difficult.
That sounds AWESOME!
I got way too much pleasure out to the idiot selfie taker who crossed a barrier to get closer to a jaguar to tale a better photo this morning.
I should probably work harder at the whole Lent thing. I’m laughing at other’s suffering. Maybe that’s why I had to clean up dog poop on a walk with Banjo today. I’ve only ever had to do that twice in ten years….
Yes, awesome. They are all about the cats. They told us all the rules. If a cat came at a fence and was in danger of hurting itself, we would be good to move along immediately. They had someone in front,another at the back of the group, plus the guide.
They told us no crouching down to get a picture at eye level and no camera lenses crossing the limit lines.
The lunches we brought were taken and stored, no food allowed near the cats.
They are inspected with no warning every year and have an A rating.
Sadly, because of incidents like the kids climbing in with gorillas, they cannot bring in anyone under 18. As the head guy who spoke to us while we ate said, that is unfortunate because that is the audience that needs to hear any a lion is not a good pet.
They have a verbal has come in for 35 years and has not charged a cent for her services.
Sorry.. Rambling on, but it was special.
I will consider the same trip next year.
Oh, this is one place the coyotes avoid. They are all around, but are smart enough to know they would not be the apex predator there.
Tangerines are in season here (or wherever they are coming from). Makes me happy.
I wonder if the tomato season will start late this year with all the crazy weather?
TT: A low-cal fix for blue cheese dressing is to take a container of blue cheese crumbles and mix them in a container of low fat cottage cheese overnight. Put it in a blender the next day with a little skim milk if needed.
Thanks. I don’t want to know that much about how the sausage is made …so to speak. 🙂
I just crumbled a little feta on and that seemed to satisfy.
That works, too. Feta makes everything better.
Have been slogging at this since mid-January and lost 15 pounds. The true test will be when I get to 20. Twenty is the magic number my body needs to think I am in starvation mode and I start eating all the stuff I’ve deprived myself of for months and regain it and then some. Why it takes months to lose and mere moments to gain is one of the world’s most vexing mysteries. 😉
This is the third attempt to break past the 20 pound loss. Third time’s a charm. So they say. I will come here for needed inspiration to keep it moving. The warmer weather and longer days helps.
YEP! It is really nice out and I need t get up and get out there! I could not do yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well plus I went to the grocery store and had tons of heavy water and stuff to carry in.
I am eating this odd cajun like bean soup over rice for the next couple of days just for a change of pace and because I haven’t gotten around to doing all the damn chopping for salads yet.
I ate way two many sunflower seeds and such yesterday and I knew I would be up today because of the olives but I wasn’t I was even down a smidge. So YAY
My pedometer says 4.8 something miles today at work. This is why I want to do my walking outside, I can do the steps but after I get home I collapse and watch a lot of TV, read a lot of TT (not your fault people, I need one good day to recover…not 3!) I look out of my windows and wish I was outside where it’s pretty. Then I like to lay back down.
I got a 2 mile walk in at home (outside) Thursday. I’ve thrown out candy and have had no sugar since (fat) Tuesday. I weighed myself at work today and sure ‘nuf weight is up…
I’m needing this group right now. Thank you Tamara!
I gained at first too, Kipper. I think I am starting week eight now and I am finally losing. Also I go up and down all week. I have a little calendar on my laptop that I think goes with my screen saver. I have been putting my morning weight on it for the past week and a half or so. I just did today and it is three pounds lower than last Sunday. So try not to freak out about the day to day changes as they go up and down but if you compare Sunday to Sunday or whatever day you choose, you will like the numbers a lot more.
And five miles at work is INSANE! I get negative miles at work. I just sit all day.
PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST Hey Y’all. I just rigged it so that that we can get here from the black bar at the top of the site. If you look at the very end of the bar you will now see the letters FT for Fat Tuesday. It will take you to all the Open Forum posts. I don’t make those much anymore because they get SOFA KING depressing and I’m trying NOT to be depressed.
So anyway, if you click FT then this post will pop right up for you at the top of the list and you can click right on it anytime to share your success or your epic fails. 🙂
I am struggling with Taco Bell LIMITED TIME rattlesnake fries. I am sure they are terrible. But they look so good on the damn TV.
Let’s keep chatting here!
xo
~tt
I just saw this after scrolling for 5 mins! Thanks for the shortcut haha.
Love reading everyone’s updates. Your motivation to stick to 8 weeks of healthy living is inspiring! You should be so proud!
And yes, I am drooling over the rattlesnake fries. No fast food, for me though! I have been successful so far. Also, still getting those foot rubs from Mr. mom 😂
I’ve been healthy eating for about 10 years now for health reasons. It’s interesting reading what you all have to say
TT~ Those Taco Bell french fries look gross and they will make you feel like shit.
I go off the healthy eating diet all the time because I have a really hard time with sugar, especially Coke, I just started creeping back into healthy, it’s hard, but worth it.
I eat a lot of salmon, avcados, tomatos, eggs, salads, chicken, mangos, etc.. It gets hard because you have to cook everything you eat, except fruit. You can’t just eat a sandwich or processed food.
I do eat dark chocolate 85% cocao for my sugar crave, it’s low in sugar and carbs. I also eat almond butter instead of almonds, it has like 1 gram of sugar.
It’s nice to see everyone eating healthy and don’t worry about weight loss, you will lose weight if you keep eating well.
This is Day 4 of no cussing and Day 2 of full-on keto. I do not weigh myself because even though I can guess at the number I do not want to SEE it. Next doc visit I will ask for the difference in weight — hopefully less. I use my clothes as a guide. I hope to fit in some of my “normal” (I have 3 sizes) clothes soon. Sick of the JUMBO clothes.
IF keto works, it will be the easiest eating change ever. I already quit drinking, so that was not an issue. I didn’t get the gummy bear cravings today in the checkout, so I guess all the Slouching Toward Keto we did was worthwhile.
One of these days I am going to slip and say Lentil Season to one of the uninitiated. I will get the same “pity the fool” look I get when I pronounce forte as “fort” instead of “for tay.” (For tay reminds me of Ramona.)
I am going to do this one slip on cussing … on DBT, I kept thinking that Kim’s lips look like a monkey’s asshole. That contrast liner is SO DATED and SO FUG.
I’m going to call my accountability coach, ha, as it helps me to be doubly accountable for maintaining the commitment. I’ve lost a couple of pounds and am feeling motivated. So, thanks.
So my kids were off from school yesterday and wanted McDonald’s as a treat. I just got them their food and made some fish for myself at home. Not getting a Shamrock shake almost brought me to tears, it felt so sacreligious. But, I stayed strong. And am posting it here because I know y’all will understand what a huge feat that was 🙂 LOVE hearing how everyone is doing. We got this!!!!
SHAMROCK SHAKES ARE BACK? JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.
I actually have not had a shamrock shake in a few decades. I quite fast food for years awhile back. I still don’t do it often but when I do it i usually Taco Bell. There is a Mexican Drive thru just down the street that I can actually go to because it is just a bunch of Mexicans making authentic Mexican food. A taco, for example is a homemade torilla with some sort of meat on it. If you get it with everything, they add cilantro and jalepenos…maybe onion? I could go there as long as I didn’t get the order of chips and queso and the Mexican co-colas (plural).
But for some reason, ANY FAST FOOD commercial is my trigger. Alcohol and sugar no longer appeal to me at all. I get plenty of sugar from the fruit I am eating all the time. Fruit is what is saying me, Every day it is like THIS IS THE BEST GRAPEFRUIT I HAVE EVER HAD! I’ve learned to slice them up and put them in the little plastic packages strawberries and other berries come in and grab them when I find myself staring into the fridge.
BUT FAST FOOD COMMECIALS ARE KILLING ME. All of them. I’ve gone to get things like rattlesnake fries before I was on the good foot and was VERY disappointed and would though half of it away. But my BRAIN is telling me they would be fantastic! lol.
I’m glad to see us all hanging down here in the basemen where no one else has to scroll past posts of us talking about diet and exercise or not swearing or whatever else we are doing until Easter.
Thansk for being here!
I have avoided fast food but the bus tour stopped at a McDonald’s for a bathroom break before the big cat rescue and I needed to break a $20 for the driver and guide tips so I got one hash brown, well done. Second time in years, both times on these trips.
I have still had no cake, cookies or chocolate, but the rest will come when I shop for yogurt and fruit.
Tamara, I also really love the healthy stuff I eat. I just cannot force myself to eat something I hate, but the hard part is avoiding had things I love!!!
I am loving all the posts in here. I told a friend about Lentil.. Not sure she got it. She is 83! and has amazing willpower..
Banjo and I managed to waddle 48 minutes today. I was aiming for 30 and we ventured out a bit too far. lol. Banjo was not amused AT ALL the last ten minutes.
Go TT! I’ve taken back my 30 minute unpaid lunch break that i usually spent at my desk eating while i worked (like a dummy) and went walking today! Popped in my headphones and listened to one of my favorite podcasts. Feels good to get outside and move AND reclaim the time that is really mine to spend how i like! Poor Banjo, you’re lucky he just didn’t sit down and refuse to budge!
I love that you have taken your lunch back!
Today was a rough day for me. No reason just happens. I did get 23 minutes of walking in but the other 23 hr 37 minutes were total inertia and a bad headspace. Tomorrow is another day.
Yesss take that lunch back!! Oh TT I hope today is a better day. I’m not feeling well either here today, stomach and head are killing. No walk for me today which sucks because it’s actually nice out. It may actually work out that I get sick before Sunday because St Patrick’s Day is my favorite day of the year. Make tons of corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread and actually have a beer. I won’t be able to eat for a week after but it will be worth it!!
Oh I may make corned beef and cabbage! I used canned corned beef (I know, I like it. I also like deviled ham in the can. I was raised on my parents frugal budget. They died with a lot of money in the bank. Was that a win?)
Anyway, I’m not even sure where corned beef is in the store. Please enlighten me. I really want the processed version though…
Ooooh yay! Omg it’s Heaven. Salty Heaven. Here in Mass it’s all on sale and in the meat section near the beef. It’s pre packaged and just waiting to be cooked and eaten! This year I’m getting it from my local deli where they corn it themselves. More expensive but God I can’t wait to try it. Now everyone has their own preferences, but I suggest getting the red flat cut. In my opinion it’s a little less salty and comes out really tender. You’ll have to let me know how it goes!!
Taking my lunch back is super empowering ! Knee was not so happy with the walk, but I went to my gym today and did a recumbent eliptical to burn calories and i feel great! Loving this supportive thread! Let’s keep us all supporting one another!
I hope y’all are still here. I am fleeing her after all the stupid comments in the project runway post . If anyone reads them please let me know if there is anything to be removed. I just want to punch a lot of people over there in the face.There are plus sized models this season and people are losing their minds. It’s not fair! They need more material! Material costs money! The forms are the wrong size! blah blah blah. Then there are the people hating on the sort of homeless girl for crying because she got to stay despite having a bad week and a really poorly made design. I’d like to enjoy the season in peace. So if anyone reads the comments please let me know if anything needs to be deleted. Like today, when some jackass though it was cute to rhyme someone’s name with “child molester.” I just can’t.
Sorry. Needed to vent.
Oh to cabbage and corned beef. I tried to buy fresh corned beef but it only came in giant quantities so I reverted back to my can of Libby’s corned beef. In big numbers on the can it says 120 calories. I get that is per “serving” but the can is small. How many servings can there be in a can? I guess three. I was wrong. Its six.
So I won’t be eating anything except corn beef and cabbage today. If I eat the whole small cabbage and can of corned beef it will only be 720 calories plus somewhere in between 180 and 360 calories from protein shakes depending on how much coffee I drink.
I’m down about 15 pounds. I didn’t have a very accurate scale when I started this so I tended to approximate my weight and most certainly ignored a couple pound or so, but 15 for sure.
I’m going to change my middle number again this week!
Yesterday I fasted. It wasn’t intentional. I don’t usually eat for the first few hours after I wake up. It’s wrong I know and I have been trying to work on it. Then I took my car to he Car Spa for the first time in years and got everything done that they do. It took four hours. It needed it. I actually scrapped ten tons of dog hair out and then vaccummed all the mats and the back seat getting THE MAJORITY of it done before I showed up with it looking like crap. It wasn’t cheap but it was worth it. Now I just have to replace my speakers which I blew out a few weeks ago. I usually don’t even listen to music but I was driving back from my sisters and ran across an eighties station and it was really bad weather so I cranked it and blew out all my speakers. oopsy.
Now I can’t stand the silence in the car.
Anyway, I am still plugging along losing about 2 pounds a week. Let me know how you guys are doing.
YOU ARE STILL WITH ME, RIGHT? RIGHT? We have 35 days left! At two pounds week, we could lose ten pounds by Easter!
Definitely still at it. My count is 6 lbs., so serious respect for your 15. It’s coming off easier than last year. Still, my favorite candy season is Easter and I just want to weep every time I see the number of days left. We went to the Lindt store yesterday so I’ve got some serious incentive once I can eat sugar again. Thanks for the support group because I’m so tempted to cheat, but it has helped to have a crew. All the yard work is helping since it’s been warm enough to get out and get some tasks off the list.
Wait they’re complaining that there are plus size models?? God forbid real women be represented. Oh no! I wish I could send you some, but I’d rather you not get food poisoning lol. I’ve been fasting too due to a stomach thing, so I’m ready to eat today! My sister came over with Shamrock shakes. I had a few sips but made my husband drink mine (the skinny bastard can handle two shakes!) and am not eating until dinner. I’m down 3 lbs and will probably add that back today so I’ll grind this week. But it will be worth it! TT, 15 lbs?!?! That’s AMAZING!! And good for you for going to the car spa. It’s always a good feeling to have a clean car:) I’m not a morning eater either. I have to make myself have oatmeal by 10am. The baby has already had 2 full breakfasts by then lol. Maxie, this is the toughest for sweet lovers so good on you for staying strong!!! We got this ladies-we will kick ass together!!!
Thanks, PKC. I’m going to remember your encouragement the next time I eye some Easter candy.
Haven’t weighed since Tuesday, kinda decided maybe once a week so as not to get discouraged. Down 3lbs. I really only have about 7 more to lose. I need to exercise/walk and the more I do outside the better I feel. Going to work in the dark, and then leaving work in the dark is no beuno. I also need to add wgts, I have a lot of flabby skin. Adding small wgt routine and stretching, (feel so old) a few days this week. Hanging in there with you guys, damn Tamara you’re hitting it! Congrats!
Also, the “last ten pounds” or if you only have ten pounds to lose are supposed to be the hardest.
Also a clarification. I started my plan on or slightly before Jan 19. It was the 19 that I decided to do something long term to address the situation because my back has been really horrible lately. Oddy, yesterday I sat on a hard wooden chair wondering how I could feel my bones hitting the seat with so very much padding. I was working on the site and prepping for upcoming posts so it was a nice change of venue actually and there was free Starbucks! l brought a 1.5 liter of SmartWater with me, and a carton of protein shake so I was prepared for the duration. 🙂
Anyway, I didn’t want y’all to think I was claiming 15 pounds since Ash Wednesday. ALTHOUGH, I didn’t lose much weight at all for like the first FOUR WEEKS. So this two pounds a week thing is kinda glorious. I really want three this week. But we shall see. I’m still sitting my ass on the couch online today and it is GORGEOUS outside. I really need to get out in it.
Weighing once a week is the smart way to go. I’m going to go hard these last 35 days of Lent because I have to do the Family thing on Easter and I hate being the ginormous person in the room. There are no fat people in the family. I have siblings who also drink a lot and they are not fat. HOW IS THAT FAIR? HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN? They drink liquor though and I try to avoid that because I drink large quanties of whatever I drink. I drink about 3-4 liters of water when I am on water but lately i have been drinking coffee from sunup to sundown with protein shakes as a creamer. I drink CONSTANTLY when I am awake and if I am not careful that is where I get all my calories (sweet tea, gatorade, Mexican co-colas) So when I do lent I usually only drink water and plain hot tea (which I like with no sugar, iced tea needs sugar. I know I am weird) But this time I am making pot after pot of coffee. At least it gets the protein shakes in me.
Off to make cornbeef and cabbage. I can’t wait to hear how y’alls turns out. Mine will be great but I am totally violating the whole processed foods thing with this dish. OOPSYl. It’s a HOLIDAY! lol.
I must confess, I tucked up. Being a wee bit Irish you see. Now I have to go to summer lent.
Give me an F.
You are not getting off that easy, young lady. You will do the rest of the 34 days (I mistakenly counted Easter Sunday earlier.) with the rest of us. So get your ass back up here on this wagon!
You may choose one of the following penances
1) Fast on Good Friday.
OR
2) Do an extra sober day on the Monday after Easter.
I was about to come here and confess that I am REALLY fighting the urge to drink like a fish. It’s been one of those shit days when everyone (present company excluded) is an irritating fuckwit. And my walk got fucked up by some jackhole that parked in front of my house for 45 minutes apparently taking a phone call. He weren’t from around these parts. So by the time I got Banjo to the fucking park I was already irritated. Then because it is the first really nice day in months everyone and their dog WAS AT MY PARK! I usually have it all to myself.
I would like a few glasses of scotch or a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 and a few dozen Mexican co-colas.
Also. We are all disappointed in you.
Alright TD, I stand with TY. You’re not getting off that easy! Being a wee bit Irish myself, I definitely had 2-3 plates of corned beef and cabbage. And couldn’t be rude and not have a cookie that the father in law brought. But it’s a day! A holy day! So we will be forgiven if we repent because HELL NO to Summer Lent! 🙂 TT, stay strong love. Tomorrow when you don’t wake up hung over and feeling gross you’ll thank yourself. And then we’ll have to inforce a summer Lent if we all fuck up and just no. No. So dont drink for yourself and all of us. And, most importantly, don’t drink so we can avoid summer Lent!!! ❤️❤️
Summer Lent sounds horrible! I was good in Las Vegas since Friday! Didn’t gamble or eat sugar. I did have 2 skinny margaritas at supper last night..yikes!
Now see here, I’m one beer away from dancing a jig and two beers away from self flagellation.
There is no time for self flagellation! You only have a few hours to drink before it’s TOMORROW and you are back on this stupid mutherfucking wagon with me.
Is it wrong to accept you’re own human imperfections? My faults are many an my virtues insufficient. Ride the pony. Heartfelt love to everybody needing some.
i have keto cheesecake baking in the toaster oven. It is almost the same as regular NY cheesecake, except using Swerve sugar sub. But baking in the toaster oven can be wonky. The crust with crushed toasted almonds and the batter were delicious, so I will be pissed if it doesn’t turn out. Landlords need to replace oven broken by last partier tenants. Trader Joe corned beef is in the Instant Pot. I am only putting in cabbage and onions and garlic and one carrot to take the bitterness out of the cabbage. (No Orange allowed on St. Pat’s dinner table,) Not that I have a table. (In storage.) I stopped drinking 8 years ago forever (this time), so keto is easy.
Still here! Weighed today and am stuck at the exact same weight as last week, even with stepped up activity. Please Lord don’t let 15 lbs be my stopping point!
My calves are still hurting from a mountain hike Saturday, but decided to double my walk time this week and be extra careful with calorie counting to break this mini plateau.
The sweet little Girl Scouts keep hounding me at the entrance to the grocery store. I finally bought a box and gave it to a woman in the parking lot.
Ugh Katherine it’s so discouraging to plateau but it’s just a moment.
You will lose next week!! I’m feeling so Rolly polly today after all the salt yesterday. Have zero desire to eat at the moment. How is everyone else?
I keep meaning to get over here to see how everyone is doing. I’m trying to get 140 minutes of walking in per week. That’s 20 minutes a day. I have somehow managed to get 30 minutes in more often than not so I can have some wiggle room if I need it on the weekends. At my current weight that’s around 4,000- 5,000 calories a week. I remember the last time I lost a good amount of weight my asshole principal asked me what I was doing. When I said walking he didn’t believe me and I felt like I was being accused of something. Thinking of that reminded me that walking works for me.
I have seen a middle number change for a few seconds this week before settling on the same ole middle number with a zero on the end. I was a 9.8 one day. I’ve got three more days before I do my Sunday comparisons. Well really two to lose before the readin on the third day.
So exercise is going well. Still no alcohol or refined sugar.
Areas that still need work include eating breakfast or eating something within a hour or less of getting up. I get up and open the laptop and start putting out fires. Some days I don’t have time to eat and just do a fasting day. I very rarely have an appetite but I do enjoy the healthy food I make when I can be bothered to plate it.
I am also still not keeping good hours. I am so slammed all day that it is times like now that I am finally able to do anything I actually want to do, like check in here.
I’m starting an old movie that I have seen and read the book but don’t really remember much of so that hopefully I will fall asleep soon. But I kind of need to play some solitaire to destress and release some negativity.
YOUR TURN!
PS if you dont already know, there is a short cut on the black bar to this post. Click where it says FT.
Hope you got some good sleep.
I have to stop weighing midweek! Bumped my walking schedule to minimum 40 mins fives times a week and did 4/5 so far. Damned rain kept me in yesterday but managed a short walk thanks to high energy foster dog who didn’t mind getting soaked.
Discovered a nifty feature on Fitbit that tracks activity by the hour, and only credits you when you do at least 250 steps in that hour.
Now I have another obsession. Was at it all morning and then the fucker decided to quit tracking. Ugh. Recharged it and it seems to be working.
You can definitely lose weight walking. A friend lost 15 lbs doing 30k steps a day. She was like a shark, constantly moving. Unfortunately, she was walking and talking on the phone one day and ran into a glass cabinet and had to hit the ER.
The lengths we go to…
Walking is dangerous.
I would like to go to a bar and start drinking straight tequila (which I do not drink because it makes me really depressed) or rum (which I do not drink unless I am at the beach because it tastes too good) until I fall off the bar stool, crack my head open and rushed to the hospital and lie in a coma for a few years.
Is that so wrong?
Its only wrong if you don’t take us with you! It’s been a hell of a week, I weighed in and didn’t gain or lose so I’m ok with it. I really thought I had gained which would have sent me over the edge. It’s a beautiful day here though so when the baby wakes up we are all going to the park and I’ll do some laps around the track. Hopefully this coming week is better for everyone!!!
Well, it is weigh in Sunday. Why is it so much less encouraging to lose 1.8 pounds than 2 pounds? I didn’t walk Friday because just continuing to breath in and out and stay upright was a bigger priority. Then yesterday I went to Whole Foods and after walking around in there and then unloading three cases of sanity water and assorted other expensive items I liierally could not walk to the kitchen. Something was boiling over on the stove and I couldn’t walk quickly enough to stop it.
I have some sort of a “thing” that I have had for years where if I walk even at a moderate pace and then sit down I can’t walk right for quite a while. Maybe I will finally get diagnosed in Costa Rica where I doubt they have all of the “syndromes” we have here when doctors want to give you a label and send you on your way.
I need Banjo to be especially cute today to get me in my Asics. I can usually convince myself to do one lap around the block which takes about seven minutes. Then once I am going I can try to push to 20 minutes which is the real minimum and from there sometimes I can get to 30 minutes. Baby steps. Literally.
Exactly. Baby steps!!! You’re doing great. The healthy eating is paramount anyway and it seems you have that down pat! I don’t have a Whole Foods, I mean “wholepaycheck”, close to me, but when I feel like spending a whole paycheck, I’ll waddle over there, Haha. It’s about and hour away from me.
I literally never walked before this pregnancy and I decided to take it up during these 9 months. Now I’m up to 35 minutes everyday! Walking has now become my afternoon habit and I don’t even think twice about lacing up the asics each afternoon. I’m excited to keep this habit up after the baby is here and I may even spend a pretty penny on a jogger stroller and join the other yuppie mothers in this town. Real Housewives of Okeechobee, Florida! 😂😂😂
Keep up the stellar world, Tamara!!!
Thanks Betsey. Most of the time once I get started I’m fine. Some days I go harder than others, but for me as long as I’m waddling I’m not too hard on myself.
What I haven’t been doing enough of is drinking he electrolyte water since I have taken up coffee as a way to get the protein shake in. I’ve substituted coffee for water and I really need to get back on the water bottle more aggressively.The depression and anxiety is creeping back in without it. This keeps me from putting the shoes on. And of course it is when I most need to go.
Congrats on the pregnancy.I don’t know if I knew this! My brain is full so maybe I did. lol.
I would like to lose ten pounds by Easter. We have ALMOST four weeks. But that would require a lot more walking.
I REALLY stepped up my walking this week with two walks over an hour and four days of 45 minutes or more and only two days off due to meeting with the tax man and getting speakers installed in my car.
I really wanted to lose three pounds this week and I did at one point. But today on WEIGH IN SUNDAY I am only down 2.6 pounds. I’LL TAKE IT!
Still shooting for three more pounds by next WEIGH IN SUNDAY!
WEIGH IN EASTER SUNDAY is only three Sundays AWAY! That’s three weeks for a big finish (only I will not be finished on Easter, but Lent will be.
Um, Where did everyone go? Why do I get the feeling you are all going to hell for not sticking to Lent? 🙂
Heaven, hell or purgatory I*m still Dixon’s to haunt Cho’s attic.
Fixin’. Spell check needs to stop trying to fix thangs. I swanee!
Good for you!!! That’s awesome that you’ve been getting out more. You’re totally on track to lose 10 by Easter! I lost 1.5lbs due to stress because my eating has been crap lol. I have my baby boy turning two this week, the girl turning 10 the following week and hubby turning, ummm, 29 for the 13th time the week after. It’s going to be birthday cake madness up in here! I’m expecting to gain your ten and everyone else’s in the group by Easter 😂😂 I hope everyone else is doing well.
Congrats! That’s great, TT. I am still with you, girl.
Just got back from an hour hike and did one yesterday. Many hills and my butt is feeling it! Like you, I chose to bump my walking/hiking time. Fingers crossed that I can continue with that goal this week.
This past week was hit or miss with my walking, mostly due to lack of sleep and general malaise.
Got on the scale today with high expectations and was down 2.3. It seems soooo slow. But impatience is what does me in every time, so I am just grateful to be headed in the right direction. Walking gets easier with every pound you lose.
Will check out the electrolyte water.
Two pounds a week is the healthiest way to do it. I’m happy when I get the full two pound and any thing over that is gravy.
If you have a liter of water hanging around, that’s about 2.2 pounds. It’s gratifying to feel what that amount of weight is like.
Drinking lots of any water is great. I have found that for me the electrolytes help with the crazy (as does eating right and exercising).
Or word of caution, most people are dehydrated, so your body will hold on to all the water it can get for a while. maybe even a couple of weeks, before it decides it is going to have a steady supply of what it needs and will then start releasing more of it. So your weight may go up a tiny bit, or plateau for a bit before it all settles in.
I go to bed every night a few POUNDS heavier than my morning weight. I pee right before I fall asleep. Once about three hours later, maybe again a couple of hours later and then right when I get up. Then I weigh. I have been know to weigh before bed, get horrified, and weigh again every time I get up through the night to watch it go down. I’m becoming quite obsessed with the diet thing.
Throw that fucking scale out. Body weight consists of muscle and bone as well as fat. You’re probably getting healthier while you’re fretting about a pound of flesh.
Absolutely getting healthier and feeling better, TD. You have a point about the scale but I ignored it for too long at my peril!
So, TT, is there a specific brand of water you’d recommend?
Logged nearly 6 freaking miles today in DC looking at the gorgeous cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin. I could never have done that without major pain if I hadn’t been walking and losing, so today was validating and motivating.
Awwe Kat that’s awesome! Feeling less pain is HUGE. I’m dying ton know the water brand. I am feeling so depleted and all I drink all day is water.
I buy anything that says ELECTROLYTE WATER. I guy the Whole Foods 365 1.5 liter bottles by the case at $1.49 per 1.5 liter bottles. You used to get a case discount but since Amazon bought WF they don’t do the discount anymore on 365 brands, I bought three cases about a week ago,
Today I went to Sprouts. They have their own Sprouts Electrolyte Water, Same prices $1.49 for the 1.5 liter botttles. I bought two cases.
I feel like both of those store brands are just SmartWater under a different label. Smart water is about $2.69 for 1.5 liters when it is not on sale and never gets down to $149.
Any electrolyte water will do. I bought some CORE water today, made famous by the blatant shilling on Below Deck.
When I want a fizzy soda substitute I drink Gingerade Kombucha with a Perrier.Half and half in a pretty glass with a slice of citrus if I have some and a colored straw. It makes me feel fancy. LOL and Kombucha is good for your gut. A happy gut is good for weight loss.
I can go through three 1.5 liters a day in the summer. I always have at least one bottle in my car because I like to “drink and drive” I have one by my bed. I have one next to me on the couch at all times. It’s pretty much all I drink.
I also drink Perrier as like a “treat”. Ditto La Croix. Instead of a wine collection, I now have a water collection.
I also bought a couple gallons of Alkaline water with electrolytes at Sprouts because it was on sale for $3.99 a gallon. I picked it up before I found the generic electrolye water.
Warning. WATER IS VERY HEAVY both to carry in and in you after you drink it. So don’t freak out when you “gain weight” your body will get used to it. You will pee it all out. And just only weigh in the morning.
I used to mock people for drinking Smartwater, but I am a believer now.
Also for joint and muscle pain I take tumeric capsules twice a day. I also take Apple Cider Vinegar capsules. And milk thistle because I am sure my liver is probably still fatty from all the heavy drinking. It should be like new though by the time I hit my goal weight (whatever that is). I’ll probably be doing this until the end of the year. I’m kind of enjoying it.
I’m eating almost exclusively fish and raw fruits and veggies. I make lots of tasty weird salad dressings. And I drink one or two Atkinds Protein Plus Fiber shakes a day. 180 calories 30 grams of protein. I take them in my coffee which I drink all damn day for some reason now.
Did I mention #ABitchLost20lbs
Omg! I am so jealous! I LOVE DC! The last time I was there for a conference I fricking hit it hard when I could, absolutely no tolerance for stragglers! My coworkers would crack up when I’d reappear, blisters and sun burn be damned! No one wanted or cared to keep up, I literally found part of my group at the Air and Space museum sitting on the floor, against a wall on their phones! Ugh!!! I waved, kept it moving and hit more Smithsonian museums…
Side note..I did an Easter egg roll on the White House lawn as a very young child, probably age 3ish. I had a melt down (common for me as a child and still now) and who knows why? I’m sure it was vital to my happiness! Hah! I need to follow up with Mom re this story. I remembered the px’s and experience as a child because I was in trouble! I don’t remember much now. We both had on white gloves. Mommy, a beautiful wide brimmed hat with flowers around the front of the band, Easter Sunday finest and matching coat. Me, a sailor kinda dress, dark blue beret w/2 ribbons hanging down on one side of my home cut pixie haircut head (’cause my mom was over the “combing of the hair” meltdowns & the hair salon melt downs too…lol). My mother is fricking a thing of beauty!
Aw. DC is amazing and I am lucky it’s close enough for day trips. Planning more visits before swampy summer hits and it’s miserable there. The new African American museum would take days to take in.
Kelly, you are such a good cheerleader! Thank you!
TT- 20 lbs is AMAZING. I am pretty close. Thanks for the excellent info. I just bought a shit ton of tumeric root. Was making a golden tea and looking for more uses. Going to get my electrolyte water today. I don’t have any fancy grocery stores near me, but will see what I can find.
Like you, I am keeping this train rolling.
It’s weigh in Sunday!! This week was really good, I’m down 2.5lbs! Lots of walking with the kids, eating less. Today is the first of 3 birthdays in a row. I will have a small slice of cake with the family, had no breakfast and am making a big salad for lunch. I hope everyone else had a good week. The tad bit lower the number is nice but feeling better and even a little lighter is a huge win 🙂
Congrats! PCK! That is amazing! I am disappointed that I “only” lost 2.2 pounds this week. I know I should not be, but I am trying to hit a BIG goal for Easter Sunday and I did accidentally walk 5.5 miles one day this week on Wednesday. But I only walked two days this week, Wednesday and Friday. So what we have learned here is you can’t do your walking for the week in one day. Or maybe that you can, because I did loset 2.2 pounds.
I need one 3 pound week to make my Easter Goal (new middle number plus down 25 pounds.). Wait, Actually, I don’t it seems all of the .2 .3 losses are adding up. I need to lose about four and a half pounds by Easter. AND I AM GETTING SERIOUS FOR THESE TWO WEEKS!
Your body mass is shifting exchanging muscle for fat. Try weighing only once a week and keep up the walking. Left! Left! Left, Right, Left! Your boots are heavy, your pants are light, your balls are swinging from left to right.Left, Left! Left! Left, Right, Left!
Thank you for this comment. It reminds me to steel myself for the plethora of such comments I will be getting from my equally everso helpful family all day on Easter Sunday.
Breathe In, Breathe Out, ignore the helpful idiots. Breathe In, Breath Out, ignore the the helpful idiots.
In other news, I am trying to get in the mood for Spring Cleaning. Yesterday I tried to get started with some regular housecleaning I should do every week kind of stuff. LOL. I am making a tiny bit of progress. The post about MAFS has been trending on Google mobile apps for some reason this weekend so I am getting enjoy page views that I can stop to catch my breathe and do some things offline. It’s a Christmas miracle in April!
Today I FINALLY threw away my favorite handbag. I have several very nice, very fancy handbags that have been gifts. But I have…tears… had this tiny little Radley envelope bag with a nice long strap that I use for everyday. The lining was all ripped out and it was gross to dig around in, but I loved that little bag.
But today, I said goodbye to it, and the mans wallet I thought would be “just fine” because it was pretty leather and on sale.
I switched into an expensive handbag and an even more expensive wallet that I purchased a year or so ago. I know. I’m weird. I don’t like change.
But now I have a VERY nice handbag and an EXTREMELY nice wallet that screams “I’ll Rich Bitch” to carry to Easter Sunday Forced Family Fun.
Living in the ghetto, I try not to draw any attention to myself that might give anyone the idea that I have anything in my house other than piles of beer cans and empty wine boxes and nasty old man pajamas littering the floors. And sometimes I do have those things! LOL. But I am not a flashy person. I somehow manage to garner a lot of attention anywhere I go. I don’t need the help. I like to move around unnoticed. It;s a lot easier when you are old and fat.
But Spring Has Sprung! And I am going to stop dressing like an old fat lady, and start attempting to wear clean clothes that match and such. 🙂
And I’m going to start ONCE AGAIN trying to clear out this house for a move. You know, just like I said I was going to do last Spring.
Hope springs eternal…
So I am issuing the purse challenge. You don’t have to change into a new one, but you do have to clean yours out. I found a lot of things in there! 10 TEN! Free lighters from the smoke shop, my Valet key for the car that was so gunked up even after cleaning it may not work anymore. When was the last time I valeted my car somewhere? My God. Oh and an OB tampon. So…um… it’s been a lifetime with this handbag. Time to start a new chapter. I did keep the tampon. You never know when you can be a savior in the ladies room. Or if you need to plug a hole in a boat to keep it from sinking. Also, I struggle to get rid of things. 🙂
Your turn.
Good for you on the loss this week! A loss is a loss and you are well on your way to your 10 pound by Easter goal!!! Families are tough but you’re going in there on Easter with many positives. Oh God spring cleaning. It will happen but I have to get through the birthdays and other stresses first. I haven’t had a new handbag in forever…I’m very tempted to rummage through the closet to find a new old one!
Tamara,
I hate change too. I’m the worse at it. I had this little white pocketbook that was so comfortable and cute. I even wore it in the winter. I had to get rid of it because it ripped apart, I tried to find the same one on Ebay but couldn’t. I ended up buying a bag a little bigger than my white one. I was able to use a wallet with this one, so I got a silver leather wallet that is very pretty, so now I’m good.
About the weight loss, no sugar. I don’t drink so that I didn’t have to give up, but the sugar!! I only eat a tad of dark chocolate that has like 4 grams of sugar, I know I know, no sugar, but I couldn’t do it. I have been on this low sugar, low carb for years off and on
for health reasons and if I don’t have a little bit of sugar, I get sick.
I’m jealous. I don’t know how you don’t have an appetite. I am hungry all the time. When I eat healthy, I’m always hungry b’c a condition I have puts me on a restricted healthy diet.
I am very happy for you though. Keep up the good work. You’re doing great. Eating healthy is the best. Maybe we can all swap stories of our favorite healthy dinner on here.
My easy go to is avocado and cucumber salad with tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, olive oil, squeezed lemon, salt and pepper. I add chickpeas to mine, It’s good, very good, but I’m getting bored with it.
I also enjoy baked chicken, lean steak, salmon and basically all seafood. I love veggies too.
I’m suffering from body dysmorphia I think I look better than I do. I was looking to see what I had to wear to Easter. I thought perhaps I should go buy a new outfit. Then I remember that I used to buy clothes before I decided to live in giant old man pajamas for YEARS. So I went into my Wardrobe Room. My house is from the 50s and has no real closets of any size so I have like dresses in one closet shirts in another and pants an a wardrobe. I’m huge. I also measured my waist for sizing purposes of something I was looking at online. Reality came crashing down.
I’m doing great, and making progress that I am pleased with. However, MY GOD there is a long way to go.
I’ve been so busy with the site this week I haven’t had time to walk. Correction haven’t MADE time to walk until today. I did a new part of the trail and there was a rather steep downward slope going in right toward the beginning.
You go out the way you go in and LORD HAVE MERCY I was looking for the DECREASE INCLINE button on the way back to the car. 🙂
Then I had to go make up with Banjo by not taking him with me by taking him on a walk once I got home. I tend to do my walking for the week in one day. I need to spread it out more.
As for the appetite thing I drink coffee all day with a chocolate or vanilla flavored protein shake. I like the Atkins protein Plus ones they have 30 g of PROTEIN and 1 Gram of sugar. I think it is the constant stream of protein that keeps me from being hungry. I use the shakes like creamer for the coffee. It is actually quite tasty. They have about 200 calories each and I drink one to two a day via coffee drinks. Lots of coffee drinks. At my weight (massive) I need a lot of protein.
Oh man, we are in sync here. I finally hit the 20 lb loss last week. ( celebrated with some Prosecco. Ack. I am such a silly cunt sometimes.) Anyway, I got the grand idea to try on some things that I had grown out of, and was so disappointed at the muffin tops rolling out of the waist band.
BUT, it just gave me a new focus as I have historically fucked it up after a 20 lb loss. Maybe We should just pick a pair of jeans to try on every few weeks for motivation?
Started hand weight routines. Definitely feeling stronger.
Did some research on the electrolyte water; all good news. Been drinking what I can find, but also got some stuff to squirt into filtered water.
Am prepping my house to go on the market this summer for a big move, too. Everytime we fix something, something else falls apart! Septic in December; had to rip out downstairs bathroom after that little incident. Now furnace guy tells me the furnace and AC units need replacement. Fucking house is falling down around me. Cannot wait to get out of here!
Thanks for this comment. I have been TRYING to get here all day. I’m in bed trying to get through Sunday’s emails. REALLY great job on hitting 20 pounds. I know how very hard that is to do. It’s a great accomplishment!
I had lot to say but am too tired now. I am down two pounds this week. Though I was down around three this week from Sunday to Monday. I knew it would come back but it came back over three or four days so I started to worry. I need to lose anything more than two pounds to get to the middle number change I want for Easter.
I may not have much time to work out this week. We had tornadoes today and the weather has been nuts. I was up all night last night with Banjo being odd. I thought he was dying, he’s getting old. I would have drank had there been anything in the house. He was much better today but I feel SO GUILTY going to walk without him because it’s too much for him after about ten or fifteen minutes. I have been walking him after I walk. I really hate being away from him at all at this point.
If any of y’all are still going to diet and exercise with me beyond Easter, I’ll keep at least trying to do my Sunday weigh in with yall. I’m just hoping for 2.1 pounds are more by Easter.
I’m making sort of a variant of the Dolly Parton soup and eating that while salad withers in the fridge. I’ve been very depressed all week and for some reason, all I really want is soup and maybe some yogurt with blueberries when I am “in the hole.” I’m also very prickly this week. Some kind soul has taken to emailing me with nothing but GO WALK! I was not particularly kind about it. But dayum. When will I learn not to tell people I am walking and eating right. Why do people think we need to be told what to do by skinny people? Or fat people for that matter. ARGH! I much prefer this group where we all commiserate and encourage.
Has anyone figured out why losing weight is so hard, yet even breathing near carbs makes you gain weight? Not that I’m happy that anyone is struggling, it makes me feel less alone. My girl turned 10 yesterday by vomiting all weekend. Had to cancel her party, cake is in the freezer. I’m praying she doesn’t share it with the rest of the zoo but she’s still not feeling well. It’s been a tough week/weekend. Plus side there’s no cake and no real appetite for me since I’ve been cleaning up and staying awake with her while she’s been sick. I weighed in today and lost 2.5. Last week Husby took me out and we took a pic-I may be down to 5 chins from the reigning 6. So yay! TT, you’re doing great. I’m so sorry Banjo isn’t doing well, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be. Just do what you can do. Getting through the rough days without alcohol is a HUGE feat, truly. You’re kicking ass. Kat, congratulations on the 20lbs!! That’s amazing. I would love to continue this past Easter. My goal is to get to 3 chins for summer. My 13 year old is graduating junior high in June and we are having a pool
Party for him and his friends. I would love to have a nice picture with him and not worry about the chins/ best way to stand so the fat rolls aren’t popping out 🙁
I have a magic bathroom. Have I mentioned this? Well it’s true. I am beautiful in my bathroom mirror. It must be something about the light. Then entire 1950s bathroom is tiled in blue tile. It’s the color of blue a Tiffany gift box would be if it sat our in the sun for a few years and gathered some dust. What isn’t tile is painted a similar color. The mirror is a tacky old medicine cabinet.The lighting is those clear big bulbs from the top. I don’t know what it is about this combination, but gurllllll. I look GOOD in that mirror, No chins. I have good hair. I like myself.
.
Then, I went and got my Driver’s license. I do not know that person. She’s gross. She has chinZ. She is jowly. Even her hair isn’t pretty. And her head is GINORMOUS.
I can only assume that God is trying to keep me, and my pretty face modest.
Oh and you are KILLING IT, PCK! Must be chasing after your zoo all day. I’m so sorry your girl missed her party. That must be like the end of the world for a ten year old.
Omg 😂 Ok so the DMV is EVIL. No one in the history of the world has ever taken a good DMV pic. It’s scientifically impossible. Can we all move into your magic bathroom???? Sigh. I think to gage the reality is to go somewhere beteeen the magic bathroom and DMV. Living room maybe??? She’s so sick she didn’t really care about cancelling 🙁 That’s when you know it’s bad! Once the whining about waiting 2 weeks for the rescheduled party starts, I’ll breathe a sigh of relief lol. We’re ALL kicking butt!! Even if hanging on by a thread while doing it!!! We got this and have each other. We can’t lose! Well, we can lose but still win by losing…you know what I mean! 😂
My bathroom mirror reminds me lately of that weird mirror from a carnival. I remember screaming when I was young when I looked at it. Now, the carnival mirror is in my bathroom and I scream everyday now. haha.
As for DMV, they make them here in NY where it looks like your face is attacking the drivers license! The face is huge! I have a thin face, small head, whatever. But DMV blows up your head. It’s oddly funny and nobody wants to reveal their license to anyone. It’s an unwritten no no to show it.
UGH. On Wednesday, I was ONE POUND from my Easter Sunday goal. On Tuesday I had done a 70 minute walk with a large hill covering 3 miles. Wed I did a slow 25 minute walk with Banjo. Thurs day I did a 69 minute walk/jog covering 3.25 miles AND a slow 25 minute walk with Banjo because I new Today was going to be a washout due to horrific weather. And somehow yesterday I was up like FOUR POUNDS. Since Tuesday. I’ve yet to go down since. I’ve also been virtually fasting and doing mostly protein shakes and cabbage soup and the occaisional sunflower seed or an ounce of feta. This would be way less annoying if I had not gotten withing ONE POUND to start with.
Moreover, I’m concerned about how large the difference is from my morning weight to my evening weight. The past few days its been as much as 8 pounds. That cannot be normal.
It’s technically Saturday Ladies. How did your plans for Lent go?
Yeah that’s an extreme jump. Well with how extreme you’ve been from morning to night, you could wake up 5 pounds lighter tomorrow. I’m
Happy to have made it through Lent. Today my stomach is off, I’m praying I didn’t get the girls stomach virus. Husby’s Birthday is today, I’m making a big ham dinner. Don’t know how much I’ll partake but I’ll weigh myself tomorrow and see the end result. Thinking of you all and hope that even if the numbers don’t align, that you feel good and healthier!! Happy Easter ❤️
Half a pound to go!
Oh and New post is up for the last day….
Try weighing in, once a day, first thing in the morning. My intent is to encourage not discourage . Water weight can fluctuate by five pounds from day to day. I weigh in to make sure i am not dehydrated. T you have always marched to the beat of your own drum. If it makes you feel better I want you to know I failed.
I’m pretty sure at our age we don’t need to be told how and when we must weigh. It would seem highly likely that we have perhaps acquired a piece of information here and there on the topic. Or it has been brought up by multiple other “encouragers” here in this very thread in the usual “I HAVE NEW INFORMATION YOU MUST NOT BE AWARE OF” manner.
At any rate, there is no fail in Lentil Season, only try.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER 65 day challenge in the new thread. That’s 19 days of penalty time for you!
Good luck!
Um, Ya’ll…..
Remember the three sizes of the same Tommy Kors jeans thing? I had two pairs in the size I couldn’t believe I was. I bought one pair in the size I SHOULD have been at that time, and one pair the size below that for when I got back to a slightly less disgusting size. I’m off to the mall for the first time in a million years looking for a pair of shoes. I hate shoes. I literally have one pair. I’m not kidding. I threw all my shoes out in a spring cleaning frenzy one spring. So anyway. I thought I might look to see if there was anything good to wear tomorrow. I had hoped to where the small pair but recently thought I might try on my fattest Levis and and they were like four inches from closing. Not wanting to be disappointed again, I opted not to try on the smallest Tommy Kors.
So today I decided to try that smallest pair of TKs.
AND THEY FUCKING FIT!
It’s a Lentil Season Miracle!
I told you truth the scale lied. Happy for your success.
All hail and major congratulations. The same to all who even attempted. To me, sizes are a better indicator than weight. I love it most when things fit again. It’s been a rough ride with a great finish.
For the folks that are just getting responses to these comments, on the new post from today, there is a new two monthish plan beginning on Monday. WHO WANTS TWO MORE MONTHS OF SUFFERING WITH THIS CRANKYASS BITCH?
Earlier this week I determined Monday would be the start of my new, healthy life. BecauseBI have to. Can’t out if offoany longer. Off the sugar, very low carb and exercise. Plus, off the beer. Just read your it her post, so I’m in.
Wish I could edit the above. Hope it’s discernable anyway.
Oh sweetie. We get it. We are right here with you. Thanks for joining us! I post cranky shit and all sorts of mean things to the occaisional “helpful” person with such pearls of wisdom ass “only weigh once a week” and other random crap You are stuck with us now. And you are required to check in. We don’t judge. or bark orders. We;’re all in this together. And we in fact DO give great hugs.
I’m in for the duration! Welcome Daintyfeets. We feel your pain.
Okay the FT tag is now a thing and will continue to take us to FT the Sequel lol. xoxo y’all thanks for being there with my grumpy self. And I’ excited for chapter two and our secret meetings.:) PS our secret meetings are still public to anyone who cares about what the fat chick is eating and if and when we walk.Or whatever other vices we are giving up. But the only people who will seek us out after a while will just want to join in.
xo ~rr
I gave up beer, which I drink like water. I feel so much better. Sleep better, too. I’d love to be a part of this club!
(I’m not sure why everything I ‘m posting today is awaiting moderation. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Maybe that’s it?)
I think it might have been the 61 I don’t remember that part in your name. Or the site is just being weird.
I drank bourbon last night. First alcohol in three months. This morning I woke up with those bad feelings and thoughts. Totally not worth it. I will probably re-re-re-re learn that lesson in June.
ALSO I LOST A POUND MORE THAN MY GOAL FOR EASTER SUNDAY AND AM ABOUT TO GET DRESSED IN MY INSPIRATIONAL JEANS TWO SIZES SMALLER THAN I WAS WEARING IN JANUARY!
2sizes? Fuck me im late to the party but this Is good motivation
I was ginormous to start with. But I am going to be out of plus sizes by June if it kills me! lol.
I started yesterday like I told myself I would. Worked all day in the yard and garden for my exercise. Bought healthy food for a week. Threw out what I had and wouldnt be eating. Went to prepare dinner and way back, tucked in under a shelf were 4 beers. I’m a beer counter. I always know how many beers are in my fridge. Somehow these 4 slipped through. I had to drink them. It’s in my DNA. so yesterday was my start and today is my first without the beer. I’m so looking forward to looking and feeling better. Ive gained 50 lbs over the last year and have been extremely uncomfortable. I’m down to my last pair of fat Jean’s and nothing else fits. It’s a relief to finally be doing something about it, other than stewing in my self-loathing. One day at a time. Happy days ahead for all of us.
I had a successful first week. No carbs, no sugar, no beer. Lost water weight so I’m not so bloated. Feeling good and proud of myself. Way to go Daintyfeets.
Yay Daintyfeets!!! After 2 urgent care visits for dehydration due to stomach bug, I had no real food for over a week. I’ve lost a chin and a half and some muffin top as well! I want to eat all the food now that I’m feelind better but so far have stuck to salads and grilled food. May cave and get Chinese tonight. Too much running around with kids and their various practices to cook a decent meal.
I’m down a total 27 lbs so far. Staying off the carbs and sweets. Still have beer periodically. I was so overweight (and have 30 lbs to go), people I see all the time havent even noticed.
I’m down about 35. I’ve been slacking on the exercise. I’m drinking too much and in the hole. I could stand to lose another forty.
I am really blubbery. Which is good. It means the weight is dropping still. The monsoons have stopped in Atlanta. It’s time to motivate and go to the walking trail. Tomorrow. Maybe.