How is everybody doing with the quarantine situation? For those who must stay at home, are you finding it easier/harder to stick with a healthy eating plan? What particular challenges are you facing?

I am actually having a better time eating well.

The people in my town (small town) buy out Smiths and Walmart, but Albertsons (a slightly more expensive store- bleh) has healthy food and I've been able to find what I need there. It's been easy to stick to a meal plan because, honestly, I don't buy snacks (my husband, girlfriend, and boyfriend do, but they don't eat them around me and they are kept in a separate cabinet) and I don't eat badly.

Because I work from home anyway, but can't go anywhere, I spend my free time playing video games (Beat Saber and other active games at the moment, or if I'm playing my switch, I'll use my mini under desk bike), and my boyfriend just bought me an actual bike, so I'm super looking forward to that.

So basically (and super fortunately), just super bored and trying to find ways to pass the time. Spent all day today cleaning out our shed and tossing old furniture and driving the rest to Goodwill (which is still open for today).

Meh. My PCP just put in my referral for a bariatric specialist last month but now with all elective surgeries cancelled, who knows now when they'll call! I'm so bummed out.

Hah! Before the stay at home order I was struggling to justify all the time I was spending being a couch potato. Now I don't need an excuse--it has been mandated by my Governor- I'm just being a good citizen! ?

1 hour ago, JRT Mom said:

Hah! Before the stay at home order I was struggling to justify all the time I was spending being a couch potato. Now I don't need an excuse--it has been mandated by my Governor- I'm just being a good citizen! ?

LOL w/ JRT Mom, I'm totally going to use that one!?

17 hours ago, JRT Mom said:

Hah! Before the stay at home order I was struggling to justify all the time I was spending being a couch potato. Now I don't need an excuse--it has been mandated by my Governor- I'm just being a good citizen! ?

I was asked by a male friend when can he come and see me, my sarcastic response was: I'm social distancing per the order of the Governor.

In other updates, I want to go walking in my neighborhood and get some fresh air, but I have pre-existing respiratory conditions and I don't want to chance it. I was really sick towards the end of last year and was off of work for 2 months due to respiratory problems. My stress levels are up and down, which I know compromises my health at times as well. Insomnia is real!!!

I still have to be optimistic about everything and pray for the best, while socially distancing myself from the world.

Just saw this on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/mxHvjV1cH3M

I had just started the process when the virus picked up and so far have been able to have my initial consultation, psych evaluation, and 1st nutritional meeting all within 2 weeks of first contact. I hope I am not missing out on too much by not doing office meetings, but they have been doing everything virtually and I am hitting all my action items. Have my 2nd out of 4 nutritional meeting in a couple of weeks, so have been working on eating better and trying to tone up prior to surgery, which would tentatively be in July. It makes it easier when I can't just run out and get my normal fast food :). Hoping those with surgeries coming up can get in soon. So excited for this journey!

On 4/5/2020 at 9:13 PM, Sammi_Katt said:

I am actually having a better time eating well.

The people in my town (small town) buy out Smiths and Walmart, but Albertsons (a slightly more expensive store- bleh) has healthy food and I've been able to find what I need there. It's been easy to stick to a meal plan because, honestly, I don't buy Snacks (my husband, girlfriend, and boyfriend do, but they don't eat them around me and they are kept in a separate cabinet) and I don't eat badly.

Because I work from home anyway, but can't go anywhere, I spend my free time playing video games (Beat Saber and other active games at the moment, or if I'm playing my switch, I'll use my mini under desk bike), and my boyfriend just bought me an actual bike, so I'm super looking forward to that.

So basically (and super fortunately), just super bored and trying to find ways to pass the time. Spent all day today cleaning out our shed and tossing old furniture and driving the rest to Goodwill (which is still open for today).

Like Sammi_Kat, this quarantine is actually helping me. I'm taking this time to relax, re-gain focus on my diet, exercise, and getting my house in top order! There is so much to do around the house, that between AM workouts and organizing my house, I am closing all of my rings on my Apple watch every day! So I'm actually more active than I was when going into the office and sitting at a desk all day, surrounded by cupcakes, cookies, and other office sweets. I shop at Sprouts and I'm enjoying picking up protein rich foods in small quantities, such as shrimp, shredded chicken, sweet potato bites, and other lean options. I'm enjoying how the world has slowed down just for a while, because it will pick back up soon enough! ?

My office closed and we started working from home March 12th. I was 184 that day. I am 175 today. So my weight loss has continued despite quarantine.

Is everyone doing well? I hope this nasty bug hasn't hit any of you...

I'm doing ok. I'm eating free breakfast and lunch from the local school so though it's not always the healthiest options like cereal it is better than anything I'd be getting from dunkin donuts or McDonalds by my job. So though I've been sitting home majority of the week I'm still down 66lbs.

I am having a mixed experience with this quarantine. I work for a school district. We went on Spring Break, just as school was cancelled for 2 weeks. A week later the schools were closed an additional 2 weeks. And then of course, eventually our schools were closed for the rest of the school year and we were given "stay at home" orders. After Spring Break though, we were immediately transitioned to "online" education. I am not a teacher, but have been working from home since this all began. It is weird. I have a position in which some days I have a lot I can do (but not all of it from home). And there are days I have NOTHING to do. But, I MUST be available to work if called to duty. This is where the challenge comes in. I have to sit by my phone and e-mail all day long, and I have to be able to go to work at a moments notice if asked to. So... I end up sitting by my computer way too much of the day. Much moreso than I would if I were at work. I am doing my best to take a long walk before my work hours start. I am enjoying these long early morning walks. But then sitting by my computer/phone for 8 hours is really difficult. I do try to do chores and projects, but I find that I have to be very careful what I get into... because I lose track of time and I MUST check my e-mails all the time. I also find that running around the house I tend to lose track of my phone, which I must also answer the minute it rings. So frustrating. And then by the time I have gotten through my work day.... I am too tired to do another workout, so I end up sitting and watching tv. My motivation stinks by the time my "shift" is over. Food: On one hand, I am doing the grocery shopping instead of my husband most of the time and that is great. I do a much better job of buying food the family and I can and will eat. I also am making a point to cook myself - a family meal that I can and will eat with my family. Again, husband usually cooks, but I can never eat what he cooks. So... again... this is good. But what is NOT good is that before I had surgery, my sons weren't living at home and I was able to convince my husband to get rid of our "stockpile" of emergency foods (aka canned food). I also got rid of all the junk that I didn't want in the house (aka junk food, non-nutritious carb heavy foods). It was great because there was very little temptation. Now, with colleges cancelled, younger son has moved home. So now we have two kids at home again (daughter is in high school). And since we are ALL home ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY, this means we needed to go back out and buy all the crap that I had gotten rid of! Especially since hubby works in a hospital. This means the chances of us getting COVID-19 are much higher than the average family. And if we do, we need to truly quarantine for a minimum of 2 weeks, meaning don't go out even to the grocery stores. So... every-time we went to the grocery store, we had to buy a little more of all the "emergency" food that I worked so hard to get out of my life and pantry. How am I doing with that? Well, I am resisting most of the canned food which is great. The only thing I eat of that is baked beans now and then, and we cook with stewed tomatoes all the time (always). But I do find myself eating more carbs as a whole. Not a ton, but enough that it is definitely having a negative effect. And the sweets... I am finding myself craving more and since there are m ore in the house for the kids, it is getting harder to resist the cravings. I literally just reached my goal weight a week or so ago. Now I am bloated and up 7 pounds. SEVEN. Today was a much better day, but I need some serious will power. I have been home all day every day for a month now (with the exception of quick trips to the grocery stores and into my office to take care of some things I can only do there). The first 4 weeks were fine, but week 5 was bad. And we are going to be home at least another 2 weeks, and I won't be surprised if it gets extended. But even if it doesn't get extended... I already know I have another 5 weeks of working from home. Sitting at my computer and phone all day. And that is definitely going to be tough. On the bright side... I have fixed up my backyard and have been enjoying spending time in it relaxing and taking care of my fruit trees that I planted last year. And I have been trying to declutter. And I love having my son home again (well, that one is mixed... he is being a lazy bum and not cleaning up after himself lol). And I am hoping to get into a better routine in the next couple days. The AM walks are not enough... need to get myself going in the evening too.

Edited to add... the worst part of all this for me personally is that I have been forced to cancel my summer plans... my "walk across Spain". That was my motivation to keep going with my fitness routine. That was my reward for all my hard work. That was my way of finishing the journey of getting physically fit. And now it is gone. (First world problem I know). I am extremely grateful that my family is healthy. My oldest son I think DID have COVID-19... he had ALL the symptoms plus pneumonia and several work related risk factors... but they did not test him. He did test negative for the flu, but we will never know for sure about COVID-19 unless they do antibody testing on him. But a few days after he wasn't tested, a co-worker did test positive. Anyhow... he is healthy and back at work again. Grateful for that!

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by momof3_angels

15 hours ago, momof3_angels said:

... the worst part of all this for me personally is that I have been forced to cancel my summer plans... my "walk across Spain". That was my motivation to keep going with my fitness routine. That was my reward for all my hard work. That was my way of finishing the journey of getting physically fit. And now it is gone. (First world problem I know).

Im sitting in the same position but wanting to go to Japan. Think of it this way, it gives you more time to save up some money. Why not start up a virtual vacation and plan it in detail? Save all the sites, videos etc and make yourself the perfect vacation.

Worse comes to worse, you are more than welcome to come visit me in Sweden (once this all blows over) and walk to your hearts content. I have plenty of space here for peeps and vacationing here is quite reasonable if you have someplace to stay. Stockholm isnt anywhere near as hot as Spain during the summer and we have the Midnight Sun!

PS I also work for a school.

Edited April 17, 20206 yr by Krestel

6 hours ago, Krestel said:

Im sitting in the same position but wanting to go to Japan. Think of it this way, it gives you more time to save up some money. Why not start up a virtual vacation and plan it in detail? Save all the sites, videos etc and make yourself the perfect vacation.

Worse comes to worse, you are more than welcome to come visit me in Sweden (once this all blows over) and walk to your hearts content. I have plenty of space here for peeps and vacationing here is quite reasonable if you have someplace to stay. Stockholm isnt anywhere near as hot as Spain during the summer and we have the Midnight Sun!

PS I also work for a school.

Awe, how kind! I would love to visit Sweden someday. I was looking at rescheduling my flight for December, and among the few places I could book with my airline are Sweden and Norway... but I am afraid I would be too cold to enjoy a winter visit. But summer there sounds great! In the meantime... still hoping my Spanish Pilgrimage will be in the cards for next summer, if not this one!