WEEKLY HEALTHY LIVING CHECK-IN NOVEMBER 18TH~
WEEKLY HEALTHY LIVING CHECK-IN NOVEMBER 18TH~
HEY EVERYONE!
WELCOME TO OUR "WEEKLY" HEALTHY LIVING CHECK-IN!.........
How has everyone been doing over this past week?
What things have been going well for you?
How many of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week? What things are you planning to do to stay on track?
Have you set or met any "new" goals for yourself recently? If so what are they?
What things are YOU Thankful for?!
What things would YOU like to talk about or share with us?! WE want to hear from YOU!! 
@Vivelespatates@DancingAlong @PhoenixAsh @Erato @BlueberryFriend @BridgetAileen @AffyAvo @TakeAStandAgainstBullying @Moj @AliNurse @RoseRael @sail46 @JLantern @Zeraphim @Sadme70 @Gardenlady @mimameid @MellieTronx @lovingbanana5204 @DogLover1991 @fruityvision @Essdee @Windflowers @Alia2 @DragonFaerie @Cloudysummer @888Butterfly888 @Kevan @inventiveWheel @softFern50 @brightCherry8538 @intuitiveWest8187 @DavidMatt @bubbleChestnut3363 @mm13 @SwampWitch @strugglingmegan @Ravenclaw7 @Iris22 @philosophicalperson8202
**AND ANY & ALL NEWBIES!!
**This past week has been alright... Had a few anxious moments, but pushed through them.....Got a few things done around the house that I've been putting off, such as cleaning closets, getting rid of excess shoes/clothing etc....
**Stayed on track with eating and working out....Taught a Zumba class and Co-taught another... Today is usually my rest day, but I attended a POUND Fitness class (since its only Bi-monthly I make it a plan to go!).... I Did a bunch of Dvd's this week as well since the weather hasn't been as warm and winter is getting closer... So no regular walking outside this week for me or the Pup.. I don't care to breathe in cooler air.
**Been Coordinating upcoming Thanksgiving dinner ideas and such with my mom to get ready for next weeks family gathering at her house. She is an Awesome Cook!..... then starting next Friday will continue with my holiday decorating inside & out.
**I teach a Zumba class next Monday, however I feel it is going to be challenging in the upcoming days to stay on track since there won't be as many Group classes open next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. So I have to figure out a way to keep myself challenged physcially next week in the form of activity/exercises.
**Today there was a local PetSmart event in my neighborhood, so after my POUND fitness class, I took my puppy over to Petsmart and got him a bunch of "FREEBIES"!... Lots of free treats, and free foods etc...which he truly enjoyed...
** I hope everyone else's week has been going well!
@PoliteOcean,
Rut roh!!! Don't tell Missy that I forgot to take her to PetsMart on Saturday. 
Little Miss Diva would *not* be happy.
And when you finish your closets and decorating feel free to come over and give my closets a good going over. 
Hopefully, you'll settle into a good workout routine for the colder months. I need to get a walking routine going with two of the dogs I'm watching. Missy and Nori would be very happy. And since the weather in my part of the country does get "cold", it doesn't get nearly as cold as it does further north. We don't get much in the way of ice or snow, either. So walking for most of the winter months would definitely be possible. Kobe is an elderly tripod with osteoarthritis. Poor sweet boy. 
So walks are pretty much out for him. He definitely wouldn't enjoy them. I wish I had your motivation to exercise!
@BridgetAileen
Hahah...ok I won't tell! I promise! lol .... shhhhhhh.... "Mums the word"!..
When or if you decide on a Winter workout plan, please feel free to share (as It becomes much more challenging to stay motivated for me thats for sure)... I really miss the swimming in the summer months, and with the days getting dark at like 5pm, its kind of null and void to get any type of evening walks in after dinner like I like to do through the summer months.....
Its great though that you don't get much ice/snow, we don't here either... so while it is possible, I can't tolerate the colder air much. So if we have some "nicer" days, I at least am able to get the puppy over to the lake for his walk at least.
You said you are "watching" some pups?! Are you dog-sitting?!..... I remember that you had a few of your own.....
Thank you so much for checking in this week! Always love to hear from you and everyone no matter what is shared!... Warms my heart to see how everyone is doing and how things are going in your week. 
@PoliteOcean, I used to have three of my own (Nikki, Lily, and Ruby). They all crossed Rainbow Bridge within a year (August 2016-June 2017). That was so very hard on me. Lots of deep depression during that time and right afterwards. One of my good friends and her husband are in South Korea for two years (he's in the Army and is stationed there). Their three dogs (Kobe, Nori, and Missy) are seniors, and my friend didn't think that any of them would really do well with the long flight. So I'm dog-sitting while they're gone. They're all very calm, sweet, and well-behaved.
The thing I dislike most about the winter months is how early darkness decends. I've started anticipating the winter solstice because I know that after that, the days get longer by about two minutes each day. Funny what teaching science to first and second graders made me aware of. LOL!
@BridgetAileen
Wow...2 years!... You are truly a great friend!..... I couldn't imagine taking care of someone else's pet that long. You have a huge heart to do so....I'm sure your friends are very grateful for you......On the other hand I am so sorry for your loss... I do remember us chatting about the first one that you had lost last year, and I knew you were concerned for the other one as well... I didn't realize everything hapened so soon... Our pups are our babies, like family. I'm sure it was a terribly difficult time for you.
And yeah, I was thinking that same thing about the winter solstice lol..... I keep thinking once we hit that mark, the days will start getting brighter again. Some days its not so bad, like today has been a nice and cozy day.. but today has also felt like 9pm the whole day lol.. I looked and it was only like 6pm... and it felt so much later.
@PoliteOcean, I know what you mean about the days feeling like night. Mom and I went to a coloring group at the library on Tuesday. It was from 5-7 pm. When we came out, it felt like 10:30 at night! Fortunately, we had some sunshine today instead of it being overcase. I felt like I really had a real day. LOL!
I've dogsat these dogs many times...just not for two years. Usually for 1-4 days while they were out of town. It does help keep me from missing mine too badly...but I still miss them so much.
@PoliteOcean
How has everyone been doing over this past week? I have been doing pretty good, but work has been stressful
What things have been going well for you? self-care time every day
How many of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week? What things are you planning to do to stay on track? I am! Probably work on portion sizes.
Have you set or met any "new" goals for yourself recently? If so what are they? I haven't
What things are YOU Thankful for?! my support system and family
@Mellietronx
Wow Mellie!... Its great that even though you are feeling stessed at work, that you are managing to make time for Self-care! And daily is even better! Thats awesome and always a good thing. We need that for ourselves for sure.
Its great that you are also taking into consideration that while celebrating the holidays next week, you will be mindful of your portion sizes!
Also having a support system / Family are wonderful things to be grateful and thankful for! Awesome check in this week. Thank you so much for keeping us up to date and letting us know how you've been doing!
How has everyone been doing over this past week?
I've been hanging in there. Not bad. Not great. Just hanging in. That's pretty much the way life has been for quite a while now.
What things have been going well for you?
While I'm still not doing perfectly at the vegan/plant-based eating, I'm finding it easier and easier. Animal based foods are less and less appealing.
How many of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week? What things are you planning to do to stay on track?
I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family. I'll drive my mom and aunt down to my youngest sister's house. She and her husband have a nice big house in the country. She has a huge kitchen that I absolutely drool over. All we gals help out with the food. The guys, of course, watch sports. After dinner, we usually play some games. So it's all great fun.
My sister will make it easy for me to stay on track. She's already called and asked what kinds of things she can have and how she can alter favorites to accommodate my new eating habits. So I will just be aware of what I eat...choices and portions. But I'm not going to be legalistic...it's one day. I'll do it to the best of my ability; but if I'm not perfect, I think all will be okay. I'm a work in progress.
Have you set or met any "new" goals for yourself recently? If so what are they?
No new goals since deciding to go vegan/plant-based. That's been keeping me pretty busy learning lots of new things and looking for new recipes and substitutes.
What things are YOU Thankful for?!
I am so very thankful for my family and friends. My family is so understanding and supportive. They actively look for ideas, products, and recipes for me...even when I'm not with them. They offer to accommodate. As far as my depression, they're just as supportive. They never criticize, tease, ridicule...nothing like that. Ever. The friends I've chosen to have in my life are the exact same way. They're all so wonderful that sometimes I feel sad that I must disappoint them by not getting better or succeeding more quickly. 
I'm so fortunate to have each and every one of them. I hope I offer the same level of support to them in what they deal with. I know I try to.
@BridgetAileen
What a great check in!...
You are doing such a great job at staying on plan with the new eating lifestyle that you have chosen. I think I could use some of YOUR motivation there as well!...lol.... Not sure if I could give up certain things completely.... (I've had to give up some things to accomodate my stomach like onions and garlic etc..etc..) things of that nature. And I LOVE those things :/
But you are doing pretty awesome!... Its even great that you have a loving supportive family to accomodate you as well... My mom is really great about doing that and always asks me in advance. Sounds like you are VERY fortunate to have So much to be Thankful for!
Its also even greater that they support you in your time of Depression..... I've barely confided in many at all about mine (the anxiety/depression)... Its not that its hard to talk about , but it becomes challenging in who I can trust to be there for me if I do decide to tell them. So thats great that you have so many to help you and turn to!...
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful check-in with us this week. I always love to hear from you. I have missed seeing you so much! And I hope you have a wonderful time with your family. Sounds like its going to be a Blast!!
@PoliteOcean, I've really missed you, too. One of my goals is to be around more often. That span of months when my three furbabies crossed the bridge just really did a number on me. :/ I did more reading than anything. So you should be seeing me around more again.
I learned a new recipe this week: lentil salad with apples. It's very tasty! 
100% vegan, kids friendly, perfect for lunchs or for assimilate the lentils, healthy.
lentil salad with apples
1 can of 540ml / 19 oz brown lentils, rinsed and drained
2 firm red apples, unpeeled and diced
1 french shallot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
Salt and pepper
In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. then add the Apple and maple dressing and mix together.
Apple and maple dressing
30 ml (2 tablespoons) maple syrup
15 ml (1 tablespoon) apple juice
15 ml (1 tablespoon) Dijon mustard
5 ml (1 teaspoon) of cider vinegar
1/4 cup (60 mL) olive oil
In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients in the dressing, except the oil.
Pour the oil in a thin stream, whisking vigorously to create an emulsion.
@vivelespatates, that sounds amazing!!! Nom, nom, nom!
That definitely needs to be in my recipe file. Thanks for sharing. :)
@vivelespatates
Thanks for sharing Viv... This is a nice , healthy staple for one to perhaps make and include in their Up-coming Thanksgiving Dinner as a desert or side-dish!
I've started eating Lentil Pasta a few months back.. I really like it. .... Thanks for checking in!
@PoliteOcean i love lentils, they are small, have a good texture and are polivalent due to their size and dont have a taste so pronounced. they can easilly be mixed in something else and no one will see them. but adds an interesting nutritional value
This week was a lot like last week for me. I ate pretty well, did not do all my exercising because my stomach continues to bother me every day. My doctor appointment is Friday morning. We did have a nice family event on Saturday and I got to see both of my sons. I will see them again on Thursday when we go to my older son's house for Thanksgiving. Twice in one week is a nice treat!
@SadMe70
I'm sorry to hear that you're still having Stomach troubles... I really hope that they get that figured out for you at your appointment. Glad that you are going to be seen soon.
Also glad to hear that you got to spend time with your sons. I know how special that is... I love spending time with mine when I get the chance to see him which isn't often when he works so much. I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving with them and have a great day! You deserve it. :) Thank you so much for checking in this week and for letting us know how you've been doing. Please keep us updated on how things go for you with your appointment. Good luck with that, healing energy being sent your way
Hey! Just very thankful for everything. Not that everything is perfect. My sleep patterns got off track a bit these day... but that happens sometimes so i'm not worried. My head is full of ideas and i'm enjoying the anticipation of Christmas. Wait! It's still Thanxgiving coming. Love this holiday!
Hugs to everyone!
@HopefulSong17
Hopeful you sound so excited!... I love the Holidays as well.. just everything about them. Even all the "busy-ness" of it....But especially family time. I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for checking in this week and for letting us know how you are doing! Thank you for sharing all the "Positive Vibes"!