Milestones (Amy's diary)

LaMa, when you say ... what parts don't you agree with? (And don't worry about my overdoing it when going down with one knee bent - I didn't get that far! )
Nothing major and nothing relating to the exercises themselves. Just some details in his rationalizations. Glad to hear you´ve started to implement some of it! It takes a while but it does get easier and balance is so important in the long run.
 
I know that problem, I can consume a few thousand calories "tasting" while I am cooking.
:smilielol5:
Have you ever (not now, of course!) "tasted" the hot jelly/jello to "see what it's like" before it's set! I have! :blush5:

LaMa - thanks! Yes, I've started, gently, and hope I keep it up. Oddly, I've found it easier, so far, to balance with shoes on than barefoot.

And I've tai chi'd three times so far this week - I think I should be able to manage the goal of four times a week.
 
Maybe my Tai Chi teacher made it up! As you lift up your right knee, you raise your left arm, balance then down & then the reverse. Slowly of course
 
Haha Amy I loved that tai chi video. I’d never explored that before and that looks like some fine practice for a sobriety test. :rotflmao:Not that I’ve ever had one, but I’ve always secretly suspected I’d fail one miserably while completely sober due to nerves and clumsiness.

How is your week shaping up?
 
My week's going pretty well, thanks Pam! I was a bit crabby yesterday that an inescapable work/social/eating obligation the day before had meant a waste of several days as far as weight loss goes, but on the other hand I've stuck to tai chi and the balance practice every day so far, and I'm heading down weightwise again. :) Hope springs eternal.

I like the tai chi, Shell! I'm not sure how much it helps me with mindfulness - my mind tends to jump all over the place most of the time anyway. I'm
not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I will suddenly realise, after being distracted, looking at a bird in a tree or whatever, that my body has been continuing uninterruptedin the flow of the movements. If I was truly mindful of the movements, I would be concentrating on them, not the world around me - so that makes it a bad thing? - on the other hand, I've practised the movements so much that I can do them without thinking, so that makes it a good thing? I have no idea. As for the balance part - I'm still working on that!

Ah-ha! Cate! :D I do know the part you're talking about - but I thought "moon-walking" was the walking as done by Michael Jackson, which looks like walking, but actually is going nowhere, or backwards? I don't mind that part - the one where
...you lift up your right knee, you raise your left arm, balance then down & then the reverse.
The part I wobble most (or put the second foot on the ground) is where you stand on one leg with the other knee bent up in front, then spread your arms (like a flower opening) above your head, while extending the bent leg out forward.

LaMa - I bet your old ladies love it! :)
 
Hi Amy I get what yo mean when a social event causes problems with weight loss. I have avoided some but we got to live too so now I just accept them and move on . Tai chi sounds interesting
 
I absolutely love Brussel sprouts! We had some with our lunch today.
Re: sisters "not noticing" your weight-loss-competition and/or jealousy may come into their mindsets?
Reading back a little of your diary Amy and I have noticed this too. I have lost 20lb and I swear no one has noticed . About 3 people have commented . Family members have not .
 
Hi Amy! That's awesome you are doing Tai Chi! I am not good at following movement and find it mind boggling, and so can't relax. I can do yoga though and people say they have similar benefits. I also go on automatic and am generally day dreamy. I practice mindfulness with things I already love to pay attention to, like sipping tea. I don't make it into a formal exercise because then it isn't as enjoyable, I just enjoy sipping and noticing the nice things around me in a relaxed way, things like that...

Petal, I lost 45 pounds and some people didn't notice at all! Some people are very self absorbed, and I try not to take it personally because literally (since they are focused mostly on themselves) it isn't!! I bet you look fabulous, but more importantly, feel a lot better! I definitely feel worlds better in so many different ways!
 
Never apologise for noticing the birds. I think you're doing great!
Thanks, LaMa! :)

Petal - the trouble is when it's the social events I'd rather not have bothered with anyway - a few weeks back I had a comparatively boozy lunch with a dear friend (750 mill of Margaret River Cab Sav between two - which is very boozy for me) and it was great and did us both good. I wouldn't care tuppence if that put on a few pounds (this was when I was visiting, and didn't have access to scales). But to have gone to something because I had to, and then see a gain - grrr!

On the people noticing side of things - one thing that narks me is when people who "don't notice" weight loss still feel entitled to monitor my food intake - which one of my sisters was doing.

Marsia - I'm not great at following movement either - I think it's a natural gift some people have, like Posy in Ballet Shoes (children's book reference - not important, but it's a shorthand for the sort of gift I'm describing). I don't have that gift, but I struggle along, helping myself by using words (to myself) or counting ("stroke the phoenix' tail, three steps back, hold the globe and turn..." :D

This morning's weight was back down to before the compulsory evening out, anyway, so that's one good thing.
Today's experimental cooking includes okra - is there any okra enthusiast out there? and fake-fish cakes - ie made with tinned "fish" from the vegetarian shop. (I will check the label - but I just wanted to try!)
 
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Hi Amy! I would not do well with someone monitoring my food intake. It's like back seat driving, only worse! If I had a sibling (which I don't so take with a grain of sand!) trying to "help" with what I am eating without asking, I would start monitoring them when they did that: "she is now giving me unsolicited dieting advice and I am wondering if I should give her some unsolicited advice on some nice, loaded topic in return?..." Actually I would probably just tell her it's annoying if I was brave enough!

I have to talk to myself when I do yoga, too, and even pat which one is my right arm or leg, because when they are all twisted up, it's really hard to tell!

Glad your weight came down, and hope the evening out surprises you and is pleasant and healthy eating!

I used to cook okra with a Cajun spice in a stir fry with rice especially with sautéed garlic. I don't add a lot because it is a little slimy, so a little is nice, but a lot can be an unusual texture. I slice them up maybe 5 or 6 slices per okra. Hope it comes out good!
 
Learning new movement patterns is harder on some people than for others but some of it is just habit. If you started learning stuff like that at ballet when you're 4 (and keep doing it) you'll have an easier time learning new patterns when you're 30 than if you hadn't, even if you never get good at it. Either way learning new movements must be good for the brain!
 
Thanks, LaMa! :)

Petal - the trouble is when it's the social events I'd rather not have bothered with anyway - a few weeks back I had a comparatively boozy lunch with a dear friend (750 mill of Margaret River Cab Sav between two - which is very boozy for me) and it was great and did us both good. I wouldn't care tuppence if that put on a few pounds (this was when I was visiting, and didn't have access to scales). But to have gone to something because I had to, and then see a gain - grrr!

I so relate to feeling frustrated at having to go to an obligatory social event and screwing up your progress. For me, I usually don't want to be there in the first place and then to have my diet ruined just makes it so much worse. I've been thinking about what to do in these situations and I guess the best thing would be to eat a minuscule amount of everything so you can say you've eaten it and comment on the flavor and the calories will be insignificant but that takes a lot of self-restraint. It'll be a skill to work toward for me.
 
...It'll be a skill to work toward for me.
And for me! I didn't think (until afterwards, and then only when my food-monitoring sister asked why I didn't) that I could have asked for a half-size
portion. (There was nothing to suggest it on the menu.) And/or I'm going to have to learn to be comfortable with leaving food uneaten.

... Either way learning new movements must be good for the brain!
I hope so! My brain needs all the help it can get. :D

I wasn't brave enough, Marsia - and as well, the fallout wouldn't have been worth it. Thanks for the tip re cooking with okra! :)
 
I'm assuming your pesky sister is your older sister & is svelte :)
I love Tai Chi but would be happy to keep going to beginners classes for the rest of my life so that I am not expected to remember all of the moves. Our teacher used to make it fairly easy to follow & I loved her classes ( & her) but then she moved to northern NSW :( She's moving back again soon, but won't be living nearby.
Glad to see your weight has come straight back down again, Amy xo
 
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