Sorry about your dog, Gertrude.
I drink a lot of flavored seltzer. Some of it we make using Soda Stream – so carbonated water and a flavoring. Anyone know if there are any dietary problems with that?
Does that flavoring contain any sweeteners? If not, I would not worry too much about drinking fizzy wate in moderation. 
This piece has a decent “popular science” description of what happens in the digestive tract of a person when the person consumes a 32-oz serving of ice-cold Coke:
(I do not endorse the above mentioned Association)
I’ve developed a liking for La Croix which is basically just carbonated water. I find it very thirst quenching. The rest of my family won’t touch it.
Sorry to read about your dog, @GertrudeMcFuzz. Been there, done that – so hard…
Welcome new members of this thread!
W-a-y back when I joined Weight Watchers to finally lose what I had gained from having 2 kids, I started drinking plain seltzer. We still drink it with dinner every night; I buy it by the case at Costco.
We didn’t make it to midnight the other night. We watched “Me Before You;” H hated the ending! Today we start UNdecorating, which is my least favorite holiday activity.
Hugs gertrude. So hard to lose a beloved pet.
On a happier note - welcome @raclut and@hoosiermom! I became a regular here only a little over a year ago and have found a lot of great inspiration,advice and support. Hopefully you will too.
@raclut - let me know if you are interested in the running/walking training I did last year and I will pm you with more info. It really is fun and I would love to see you there.This year’s registration date is already on my calendar.
Two hour holiday yoga class yesterday. I remembered that I like that particular yoga teacher but forgot that he teaches at a faster pace so it was quite challenging!
Not feeling great today, woke up with a sore throat. I’ll take down decorations while I watch the Rose Bowl Parade and hopefully will feel better so I can get some activity in.
Glad to see some new faces here - welcome everyone. I slept in this morning but will head to the gym later.
I like Spindrift seltzers - water and fruit juice, no sweetener, 10 calories. I find them at Target and at Costco - personal favorites being blackberry and lime/raspberry. I still admit to the occasional diet soda. The link between artificial sweeteners and weight gain is hotly debated but I think this is worth a read.
Good article sabaray. Tracks the findings of a Purdue University study in 2008. And look at who the naysayer is, a pseudo science organization funded by the artificial sweetener beverage industry.
I’ll do my annual promotion of the book “Salt Sugar Fat” by Michael Moss if you’re interested in learning more about processed foods. I have found I do best with maintaining my weight and fueling my exercise by eating simple, unprocessed foods - “Food Rules” by Michael Pollan is a quick little read and guide book to a healthy diet. You can also do a quick search and find all of the info online if you’re not interested in owning the book.
My goal for 2017 may just be to stop lurking on this thread and actually join in the discussions!
(Uh-oh, this post is autosaved. I don’t know how to delete it…Guess I’m committed now 
)
Welcome @JustaMom5465 !
Welcome! I’m so excited that we have new folks joining us. Please don’t be intimidated by any of us. Some of us have some real talents but also some real struggles. We are here to celebrate successes and support through slip-ups.
I can not STAND this gloomy weather. It is the only time I really miss Dallas and all the sunshine. It was drizzly and 56 degrees, but harder rain is coming later, so I pushed myself out the door to do “2 or 3 miles”. It really wasn’t bad once I was out there and I kept looping through streets and wound up with 5 miles. It’s back to work tomorrow, so I wanted to take advantage of one more morning without time pressure.
I wore my new Christmas Oiselle Roga cap (baseball style) and I loved it. It actually has a zipper compartment on the hat for money, key or whatever.
Back on the horse after a nice trip. Ran 3.0 miles yesterday. Will swim today.
3 mile run. More of a trot actually. Better than nothing.
We have the same weather here, MOWC - foggy, cold and damp. Decided against the gym but got out for 4 miles of running, including some neighborhood hills. I thought, if I’m going to be out here and miserable, why not be really miserable? I did walk for a mile to bring my HR back down post run.
Did you have anything in that zipper compartment? I wasn’t sure how that would work or if it would be annoying. I usually don’t wear a hat. I tried out my new Lulu tights - the Speed V - love them. Super comfortable, four way stretch. Folding up the cuffs gives reflective detail - good for those of us who get out there in the very early hours.
I didn’t put anything in the hat pocket. I agree- you definitely wouldn’t put something big like an iPod in it! It would be perfect for a $5 bill or a driver’s license or something. I also don’t usually wear that kind of hat, but I do it it is light rain to keep it out of my face.
Gosh you guys are so inspirational, decided to walk to my errands today, all hills and light deizzle, but still, it is after all socal. Lost 18 lbs since sept on 1000 cal diet on MyFitnessPal bit have plateaued so adding hikes and isometrics into my program. Cannot run, I’m allergic 
So besides fitness and food, the other thing we love to chat about here, is fitness clothes. 
Since it’s after the holidays, did anyone receive any great new fitness clothes? I didn’t get anything (I think the people in my life think I have plenty, but seriously there is always room for more). I did order a first mile 1/2 zip in olive and a run for cold pullover from lululemon. Haven’t received the run for cold pullover but I have the vest and it’s very nice. The first mile 1/2 zip came Saturday and I like it. I get a lot of use out of these kinds of items as I can wear them for a variety of things I do.
I also bought a few things from Target and have been really happy with the fabric and fit. Bought a high waisted pair of leggings that are super soft and comfy. Also bought this jacket http://www.target.com/p/c9-champion-women-s-victory-fleece-jacket/-/A-51042588. Which I liked so much, I also bought the pullover. The fabric is like the lululemon in sculpt but it fit me better. And a fraction of the price. Although I usually buy lululemon when it goes on sale.
Edited to say that these are the leggings I bought at target. http://www.target.com/p/women-s-freedom-high-waist-leggings-c9-champion/-/A-51031110
“Cannot run, I’m allergic.”
That’s OK! I am allergic to playing ball sports - love to watch, will never play.
@deb922 is so right - clothes make a huge difference! And shoes, oh, yes! 
Deb cute gear. Cannot wait to buy cute leggings! Still have 30 lbs to go
First day of my yoga challenge (21 days). Doing it through my yoga studio–challenge consists of several daily practices: 7 minutes of meditation and 1 hour of yoga for the first week. I am adding avoiding all sugar. I drink no
soda–diet or regular and even avoid seltzer. Too many sweets around our house over the holidays; we had lots of guests – kids and spouses/significant others for Christmas and afterwards the couple who stood up for us when we got married 36 years ago came to visit from the midwest.
We had too many geat food and wine celebrations. I am looking forward to the challenge–went to the first group meeting yesterday and did an abbreviated yoga class.
Problem today–my head is there, but I have the worst cold of the century and I feel like crap physically. (I got the cold from my D who came home exhausted after her first semester in grad school.) I have taken a decongestant (the one you have to show an ID and sign to purchase) along with 4 Advil. Managed a meditation this am and plan on yoga tonight. I hope I can stop sniffling!! Just want to get through the first day and not sit out. This will be a test.