Thoughts after 1.5 weeks

 We started Optavia 1.5 weeks ago. We chose it for several reasons I've already written about. My biggest concern going in was being hungry. And I have been hungry at times, but not miserable. And it's generally only a few minutes before i'm supposed to eat again. If it gets too uncomfortable they do have some "snack" options you can use to help tide you over. One thing I didn't expect going in was those few days of having no energy. That is much better! I can't say I'm at 100%, but I'm at 90-95%. And that's with adding in CrossFit. I lost 4.8 pounds this week - 7.8 since I started.

I found a terrific website: http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/ which has loads of recipes for our dinner meal as well as "hacks" for the Optavia fuelings. There have been a couple of things we weren't terribly impressed with, but overall the food is pretty good!

Pros:

Easy - you really don't have to do much thinking other than to plan your evening dinner. And you can even order those, although the choices are limited.

Convenient - easy to take "on the go" - whether traveling or to work. Even with no access to a microwave at work, T has a decent variety. If all you had a work was a microwave you could eat anything they offer. Being at home, I can take advantage of some of the hacks (I've taken the instant mashed potatoes and turned them into potato soup or a potato cake for example). 

Helps you learn portion control and educates you about the "hidden" sugars/ carbs/ calories in your food.

Cons:

Cost - at roughly $3/serving (and you eat 5 a day!) it is more expensive than eating at home. But it is cheaper than eating out and/or if you buy a bunch of junk.

Repetition - If you had a LOT of weight to lose and/ or were on this program a long time I think it would get boring. It also limits a large number of foods (like fruit!), which could become difficult over time.

Overall, I'm glad I'm not on this forever! Am I learning anything new? Not really, BUT it is teaching me (yet again) about weighing, measuring, portion control, choosing foods wisely etc. I'd love it if it would stick, but honestly, given everything going on right now I'm not beating myself up too much about it. I still kept off the bulk of my loss (and T kept off a huge chuck of his as well) so I know we can be successful long term when we come off this.

Take care, Happy Halloween, have a good weekend!

So far so good.

 We did our week 1 check in with our coach last night. I typically record my weight on Fridays, bu we started this on a Tuesday (T had the day off and thought it would be easier to start then). In one week he dropped 16 pounds and I dropped 6. Granted the bulk of that is water weight since we are doing a low carb diet, but we are both feeling better already.

The food isn't too bad and it's help me get back to the discipline of not mindlessly eating or eating for reasons other than hunger. I've made some really excellent dinners. T used to turn his nose up at cauli rice & that sort of thing and now he's eating it without complaint!!

You guys, I had been hovering around 160 for a while and then skyrocketed up to 182. I felt miserable and completely out of control. I can give you a list of reasons but one of the big ones is I was tired of going it alone. I am so thankful we are doing this together, I can't even tell you. 

Take care of yourself. I know it's hard, believe me. Big hugs to you all.

What we're doing (and why)

 I have regained a good chuck of weight since the end of March, and my husband has as well. It hasn't been a straight trajectory - I've made an effort. But the combination of no gym, no dress code, no social interaction, and every kind of stress imaginable has made it an uphill battle.

He finally indicated a readiness to lose weight. We aren't always on the same page, but this is something I wanted us to do together. For that reason I told him to pick a diet and I would do it with him for at least 30 days. My rationale was that even if it wasn't the diet for me, at least I would understand how to feed him. Part of our challenge is his schedule at work coupled with the fact that he works in a restaurant. It would actually be a health code violation for him to take home prepared food in! So that meant packaged food for him during the day. 

You guessed it - we're on Medifast (only now it's rebranded Optavia). He has used it in the past and lost 80 pounds. He regained a chunk after he & his ex split, then lost a good chunk, then (with me during covid) regained some. But he knows it works, is doable with his job, and he knows what to expect. Like I said, I agreed to try whatever he wanted for 30 days. We're on day 4. My energy is beginning to make a comeback but I'm still hungry. Having said that, I'm NOT starving and miserable. I will keep you guys posted!

Oh, and I am trying out the local CrossFit gym - I gotta do something for my sanity!

Vacation Recap Part 4

 Day 7 was T's most anticipated day - an airboat ride through the Everglades! After breakfast at Cracker Barrel (don't judge, it was right next to the hotel) we made our way almost all the way across the state on Hwy 41 to Everglades City. Yes, we saw 2 alligators during the ride. It was pretty fun! We grabbed some lunch in Everglades City (I of course had to order alligator!). On the way back we took a road marked "scenic drive" (and it was, but it took longer than expected. lol). We did stop in for a short visit to Big Cypress National Preserve but then made our way back so we would have time to hit Schnebly winery in Homestead. All of their wines are made with locally grown tropical fruits and they are amazing and unique! So that was a blast. I have to say the overall experience wasn't as fun as the last time we went. I think a large part of it was that it was near the end of the day, there were only a couple of people there, and the employee was more interested in his phone than the customers. So bummer. I think this was the night we ate at the Italian place in Homestead (or was that the day before and this was Pollo Tropical??) and then we pretty much crashed out.  It doesn't sounds it, but it was a busy & long day!

Day 8 was tough. Our intent was to see some of Everglades National Park. And we did do a little bit but there is a lot of road construction so we didn't see as much as I had hoped and spent a fair bit of time stopped. We headed out to make a noon lunch date in Sunrise at the beloved Sunrise Pita Grill where we saw a guy my son went to high school with down there. It was great to catch up and we met his lovely 1 year old daughter! Then the plan was to drive to Savannah - a long drive but manageable. We hadn't counted on all the time in the car at the park, the off & on from the turnpike to the restaurant, and then a missed turn left us stuck on the turnpike until practically Orlando! We stopped for a quick bit at a random Panera and pushed on until we arrived in Savannah - tired and CRANKY. We went to bed but we were both so wound up it took quite a while to actually fall asleep.

Day 9 was supposed to be sigh seeing in Savannah, but at this point we were so over tired & ready to be home. So we got up, ate breakfast, and headed home. I kissed my dogs (but not the ground), but man it felt good to be home!

Vacation Recap Part 3

 Days 5 and 6 we didn't have anything booked in advance. We wandered over to the sister property for breakfast, chilled out at the hotel's beach, walked over to El Siboney for an amazing Cuban lunch, then did the trolley for a while. We had dinner at a place called Salute! right by the hotel (again, walking distance for the win) and then did the haunted Key west trolley tour, which was loads of fun!

The next day we lolled around the pool & beach of the Waldorf (the rooms were mediocre and the overall property felt like it needed from refurbishing, but the beach & pools rocked) until time to check out. We stopped in Marathon for another Cuban lunch (not as good but still good) and made our way up to Homestead where we were spending that night. Dinner was Pollo Tropical which is a fave of mine.

Vacation Recap Part 2

 Day 3

I had booked a glass bottom boat tour at John Pennekamp State Park for the afternoon. That morning included a trip to the sandal outlet for shoes for T. Of course I ended up getting a pair as well. :-) Lunch was a sub from Winn Dixie so we could scoot over to the park. The glass bottom boat was awesome! It was a lot of fun, although T did started getting a tiny bit seasick. Dinner that evening was at a Mexican place in Key Largo.

Day 4

This was (for me) the most anticipated day. We headed down to Islamorada to Robbie's for lunch and SNUBA diving (very much like SCUBA but no certification required). Since T isn't certified I thought this would be a good way for him to try it out and see if he liked it. Unfortunately he had a panic attack in the water. :-( It was really a shame since the conditions were perfect. Not only that, but there was a professional photographer on board and he made a short video for us!! After the dive we headed down to Key West, checked in at the Waldorf, and ate an incredible diner on the beach. 

Vacation Recap

 We're back and had a lovely time!!

We thought long and hard before we decided to pull the trigger and take a vacation. I was able to use points & vouchers for all our hotel rooms, which kept costs down. Because the Keys have been very strict about masks & safety and our activities were largely outdoors, we decided the physical risk of potential exposure was outweighed by our mental need for a break

Day 1 of our trip was boring driving. We left home, stopped in Columbia for lunch at a place a friend recommended called Henry's. Sadly she was in quarantine so wasn't able to meet us. After a yummy burger we pressed on, stopping for dinner in Jax at a Cracker Barrel. We had hoped to make Merritt Island and have dinner with my step sister, but it wasn't to be. We didn't even get to her place until nearly bedtime! She is an interior designer and her home is a really cool contemporary design that is reminiscent of art deco - lots of curved walls and glass block. She has some art that is reminiscent of Florida in the 30s and 40s - all in all a lovely and unique home. We had a brief visit before crashing. It had been a long day and what I thought would be the single longest day of driving.

Day 2 was breakfast and a nice visit with Tracey before we pushed on to Morikami Gardens in Del Ray Beach for a lovely stroll and Japanese lunch from their restaurant. Then we were off to Coral Springs to do a drive by of my old house, stop at Costco for booze, and a long visit with my dear friend Ellen. After that we were off to the Mai Kai -- longest running Polynesian show in the US! And while it is a bit cheesy, the band and MC were all from Polynesia and the dances were very well done. It was truly special and a unique experience. After that it was about an hour and a half to our hotel for the next 2 days - the Hampton Inn in Key Largo.

Great buy

 The best money I've spent so far this year is definitely my inflatable hot tub!! Our yard is small so there isn't a place for a traditional hot tub. We are seriously enjoying this one!

"Guests"

I love the term guests. Lol. Yeah, technically. The couple worked for Tim's company and found themselves rather suddenly with no place to stay (they had been staying with a relative). They were trying to save up for a deposit and we agreed they could stay for a week. Then my stepdad died and we were out of town so we asked them to stay on so the house wouldn't be empty. So 7 days turned into 28. I didn't know them until they moved in. They certainly aren't bad people, they are just very different form us. It was hard and let's just say I learned from the experience.

We are going to the Florida Keys. I have a Hilton American Express, so I earn points with my spending. I generally get a free night per year, but I was allowed to roll my last one so I am using 2 free nights plus points for 5 others, then staying with my step sister on the way down. It won't be a cheap trip, but since we aren't paying for any accommodations it won't be super expensive either. I'll post pictures!

I started walking the dogs again and I am slowly getting back to a routine. This year has been so crazy.

Have you guys seen these people on youtube? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmohanMEufw They live about an hour away, but I can so relate! It reminds me that I'm not the only one going slowly insane in the privacy of their own home.

You guys take care.

Baby steps

 Besides my stepdad passing away, work being all over the place, T going to physical therapy, the angst of quitting my beloved gym - did I mention we had a family of 3 staying with us for the last 4 weeks? It was difficult and I may have lost my mind. And liver. 

They moved out Sunday and I am slowly working to reclaim my house, my routine, and my sanity. We are leaving for vacation a week from today. I need it. So very much.