LAWL & Friends - January 2005

[vibrantecho]

Welcome to the new year! Whether your diet resolution is a new one or a carry-over from the year(s) past, we welcome you and look forward to your company on our journey to thin!

Don't forget LAWL Biggest Loser starts up again tomorrow.

See you all later - I've got a house to sell (I hope!) :lol:

Fiona

[Jibbelle]

Can you fill me in on the LAWL Biggest Loser?

Thanks for the new thread...that other one was getting a bit out of control. :dizzy:

[Tams]

The BL contest is just a contest between the posters on this board for a week to see who is the Biggest Loser!

Just for fun.

[SyracuseNY]

Welcome Roxy and Maria - hope you found this thread that Tams and I directed you over to. It's a very active thread during the week. Good Luck to both of you. I'm starting off this new year like a newbie myself. I'm doing the 1st day of 2 day take off.

Fiona: How was your opened house today? Meet any new prespective buyers? Thanks for starting the new thread. The "red" drink that you mentioned in the last post sounds yummy. What was the name again?

Julie: Hang in there. We will both make it to goal this year, sooner than later! I'm determined! We can push each other along!

Happy New Year to all, Sy

[roxy52]

Can anyone tell me the importance of low sodium. For instance I thought I was doing well using frozen chicken breasts that contained 400 mg of sodium. I was eating them regularly and gaining weight!!!! The fresh ones are 35 mg of sodium. What is up with this???

Roxy

[Meegs]

Good Evening Chicks!

Well, I am back. Did you miss me?!?! he he.. Florida was great. Chillly and rainy the whole time, but very relaxing. Then I was home for a few days before flying up to boston for the New year's weekend. I returned home this afternoon. Needless to say, for the last week and a half, I have not been OP at all. Sy~I am with you.. I know I need to get in there and face up to the gain, but I might wait until Wednesday to give myself a few days of being OP first. But then again, maybe if I go in on Monday, it will scare me back into being good again! Although I have not eaten correctly, I have of course been running my legs off! The 1/2 marathon is a week from today. Which really means that I can't be POP until next monday, cause on Friday and Saturday of this week, I will be loading up on Carbs!! YUMMY :) Of course awesome counselor knows about this.. which is why I purchased 30 more weeks to loose 30 pounds. As I have my good weeks and bad weeks.

I really need to get some things taken care of around here, but I promise to post more in the AM!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!

[Tams]

Does anyone know how many eggs constitutes 1 protein?

[aphil]

roxy-sodium can cause health problems if consumed in excess. For weight, too much sodium can cause you to hold a little water-although unless you are eating massive quantities of sodium you shouldn't really be holding more than a couple pounds of it from too much sodium.

If the chicken breast situation was before you started LAWL, I would imagine the sodium was not the only factor that contributed to your weight gain. You have to eat healthier choices-but you also still have to take in slightly less calories than you burn each day for effective weight loss. If this indeed was the case-it was probably a combination of too much sodium and improper portion control/too many calories.

BTW-I like the new thread being called "January" instead of a number. I may have to do that on my "home" thread as well. ;)

[vibrantecho]

Hey everyone (again)!

The Open went okay - I had just one couple stop in, which wasn't too bad considering there was NFL football on for the first two hours. I discovered (actually I think I knew this already) I need to learn to be a little more assertive in getting people's contact info! This couple seemed to really like the house, and I found out they are definitely planning on purchasing in that town, AND they have a house to sell first...but I let them go without getting any names! :mad: Oh well, it was good practice, and there are only a few houses for sale in that particular area so there's still a chance things might go my way.

Marcie - some of us on here are avid followers of the "Biggest Loser" TV show, so several weeks back we decided to hold our own "BL" contest each week, to celebrate the Chick that loses the most from Monday to Monday. So if you want "in," just post your beginning weight for the week after you weigh in (center or home is okay) on Monday, then remember to post again at the end of the week. The BL gets to be the "queen" :queen: for the week! :)

Roxy - Hi! I'm glad you found us!!! You will hear lots of testimonials to the importance of watching your sodium intake here! Aphil is correct that from a "dieting" standpoint, sodium is a concern because it can cause you to retain water (as well as the long term effects of a high sodium diet!). For the average person, the half a pound or pound that might show up on the scale a day or two after indulging in a salty treat isn't a huge concern, but of course, when you're focusing on fractions of a pound at a time, losing 4/10 of a pound is cause for celebration and at the same time, gaining 4/10 is tragic! :lol: So you'll see that avoiding sodium in all its forms - low sodium tuna, no "cured" foods like bacon, sausage, ham, no commercially produced soup - is something that LAWL promotes strongly. BTW, how long have you been doing LAWL - are you a veteran, or are you just checking it out, or somewhere in between?

Tams - according to my purple card, 3 large eggs equal one protein. However, I'm still on the "old" plan and they are a 2x/week limited, so I don't know if they went unlimited on the "new" plan or not, or if maybe they changed the servings...?

I'm off to the grocery store to see if they have the Knudsen's juice or something comparable. If I don't go now, I know I'll forget AGAIN! I'll probably check in again right before bed to see if there are any new posts, otherwise I'll "talk" to you gals tomorrow!

Fiona

[ndenial]

What is LAWL?

[vibrantecho]

I found the juice! Sy - it's you and me on TO this week! Good luck to us!

Fiona

[vibrantecho]

LA Weight Loss - LAWL - is a diet program similar to Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. You eat a restricted range of lower-fat, lower calorie foods and check in at a local center 1-3 times a week to "weigh in" and receive advice and counseling on your diet efforts. the website if you want to learn more is www.laweightloss.com.

Fiona

[SyracuseNY]

Good Morning. Sorry I have not had the nerve to update my ticker yet - maybe I won't have to after Take Off. Keep your fingers crossed for me! So far, so good.

Welcome newbies.

Fiona, I don't know how you can have the energy to go out to the grocery store at 9:30pm, but good for you and cheers (with juice of course). My DH and I sometimes visit open houses - it's fun. I hate having to give my name as I'm not an honest prospective buyer and I feel like I'd be wasting the Realtor's time - of course, you never know what could happen if the 'right' house was on the market.

Roxy: I thought that I was very sensitive to sodium - and when I first started LA - my hands and feet would swell up after using the Morton's Lite - so I think my sensitivity is more to the potassium stuff that they put in stuff. Man, it's in everything from Crystal Lite to the Free and Clear drink from WalMart. Also is many prepared and frozen foods. I know for myself that I have to stay away from that stuff. LA told me not to use the Morton's Lite and they noted it on my chart so no one hassels in for not having it. You know what else has lots of sodium/potassium in it - those roasted chickens you get in the grocery stores. We have 3 different stores in this area, and I can only eat the chicken from 1 of them. Lots of places 'brine' the chicken (and other meats) before cooking which means they soak it in some sort of sodium solution to make it tender and juicy. The other thing I can't have is pork that is sold by Hormel. Chock full of whatever cases my body to freak out and swell up (but hard to find real fresh pork in some stores). I've learned so much about my body since being on LA.

Well, have a great day to everyone.

Sy

[Jibbelle]

GOOOOOD morning all!

I dont have much to report...but I thought I would post a couple more recipes for those that dont have the cookbook.

Today's Theme: Veggies!

Stir Fry Vegetables
2 Vegetables

1 cup asparagus
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon Herbox very low sodium chicken bouillon
½ tablespoon cornstarch
½ tablespoon cold water
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

· Cut asparagus diagonally into ½ inch pieces. Mix 1/4 cup water and bouillon (dry); reserve. Mix cornstarch and cold water; reserve.
· Spray skillet with Pam and heat over medium high heat.
· Add asparagus and mushrooms; stir fry until asparagus is crisp tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in bouillon mixture; bring to boil.
· Stir cornstarch mixture; cook and stir until thickened about 10 seconds.

Asparagus with Dijon Sauce
1 Vegetable

1 cup asparagus spears
1/4 cup Herbox very low sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard or tarragon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon grated reduced-fat Romano cheese


· Break of woody ends off asparagus and place in skillet.
· Pour broth over asparagus. Cover and steam over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, move asparagus to warm serving plate to keep warm.
· Add mustard to skillet; increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour over asparagus; then sprinkle with cheese.


Herbed Green Beans
2 Vegetables

1 cup fresh green beans
1 tablespoon snipped parsley
14 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tomato cut into 1 inch pieces
1 clove garlic, finely chopped


· Prepare whole green beans by steaming or microwaving.
· Heat skillet sprayed with Pam.
· Cook and stir remaining ingredients until tomatoes are soft.
· Stir in beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until beans are hot, 1-2 minutes.


Sweet and Sour Cabbage
2 Vegetables, 1 Fat

1 cup cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup Sugar Twin brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
1/8 teaspoon pepper
5 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon diet margarine


· Prepare and cook shredded cabbage. Melt diet margarine. Stir brown sugar and flour into melted margarine. Stir in water, vinegar, pepper and onion.
· Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
· Stir sauce mixture in hot cabbage in saucepan, heat through.

[Karen]

Good Morning to all (new and old)
Well, I didn't do so well on my time off. New Year's Eve, I had 4 drinks, and a whole bunch of off plan foods. Then, New Year's Day I had pork and all the traditional good luck foods, plus dessert. Then yesterday it started out at a breakfast buffet and ended with steak and seafood with alot of cajun spice and oh yeah dessert. So needless to say, I got on the scales this morning, and was I ever up. (176.4 ) I weighed 168.4 Thursday morning. I'm assuming this is due to over indulgence in the food plus all the sodium. I'll probably drop 5 pounds by tomorrow. So anyway, I have adjusted my ticker (although I didn't want to) and I'm back on plan. Thank God the holidays are over. I can handle Valentine's Day when it get's here so I'm not too worried about that.
I was suppose to be off today and tomorrow but there was a death in the co-worker's family. I'm suppose to be off Wednesday and Thursday and then of course I'll have to work the weekend.
We finally have all the boxes (about 30-35) moved into the house and ready to be unpacked, when I get time. So that will officially move us all in when that's done. We had a productive weekend with cleaning out the storages.
Well, I guess this is all for now but I'll check in later. I hope everyone has a great POP day.

[vibrantecho]

Good morning everyone! Question for those of you who have used the Knudsen's juice to do TO: do you still dilute it 50/50 with water as per the LAWL juice, or do you prefer it straight, just 4 ounces instead of 8? Experiences, thoughts?

I got to work a few minutes early and am I ever glad - I don't remember leaving my desk such a disaster area, but there it is!

I am trying to decide whether to have my ticker be for what I think of as my "real" weight - in the morning before eating, naked - or if I should try and get back into the LAWL weigh-in mindset and only post my center weigh-in weights. What do you guys think?

Fiona

[Karen]

Fiona...I was just talking to Star about that. I'm using my own scales for the ticker. That is the true weight anyway (first thing in the morning)

[Star]

:coffee: Good to be back! Won't bore you with details of how I did eating wise, But I will go to WI today and am not looking forward to it. However,it is a new year and I'm gonna lose this last bit of "hang-on" poundage if it kills me.... ;) I do want to tell you how thankful I am that you chicks are so honest, your stories make me feel more normal.......it's like I read something one of you think is awful and I smile "Oh, so I'm not the only one that did that" :lol:

Welcome all new chicks, shout out to all oldies....

Fiona - I'm using my home scale for my ticker - it's the one I know I'll be able to get to....

Tams - On the new Gold Plan, 2 whole eggs is one protein,up to 6per week.

I had a very eventful time off. DIL,who is pregnant and due 1/28 went to the hospital New Years Eve day with bleeding/cramps. They kept her overnight and then sent her home. She goes to her doctor today at 4 to see if they plan on doing anything or will wait for nature to call again.

Yesterday I got to babysit David,he's one now and is walking all over the house, he does stairs too. He is such a happy little guy, made my day for sure!

Sy - I'm right with you on the holiday eating and gain. BUT we will be down in no time.

Julie - If anyone deserves a ff icecream slip up - it's you for sure. You have been so good and come so far....I hope you totally enjoyed it. If I remember correctly,when I have done that you have always been the one with the common sense to share with me :lol:

Karen - I'm so glad your back, you by far have the best OffPlan stories! I always wish I lived closer to you ;) (All that good country food)

So chicks, has everyone got their new year's workout routine going on or what? As for me, yes - I have and it feels great. This body had made some big changes over the past year. I know I can still improve it and that's where I'm headed..... ;)

Okay, have to go and change my ticker....

Hugs

[aphil]

You don't need to dilute the Knudsen's juice. The water dilution is really for the "added feeling of fullness" anyhow-so if it tastes better to you, then drink the juice, then drink water before or afterwards. Since you are on such a low calorie plan doing Take-Off it just makes your stomach feel a little more satisfied.

[Karen]

Star...I didn't get up in time to do my 15 minutes on the bike but I plan on doing it in the morning. I guess all that food I had over the weekend made me sleep in this morning. I kept hitting the snooze..... :o

[textjewel]

Hi chicks!

Fiona, Karen - I've been using the LAWL weight for my ticker, although I'm all for using my home scale - although it doesn't track the fractions like the ones you all use.

I've decide to go to WI tomorrow, and give myself another day to flush all the sodium out of my system. I did have a good POP day yesterday, and inched up to 16 minutes on my stepper! :D

Fiona - I diluted the Knudsen's juice. I figured that any way to get more fluid in me was a good thing. Also, even in the new plan eggs are supposed to be limited to 6 a week.

Karen - good luck on getting your house in order. Your weekend sounds like mine. Valentines is not so bad for me, but I do love Easter candy - Jelly beans, and those peanut butter fudge bunnies. (And Easter is early this year).

Marcie -thanks for posting the recipes. The cabbage sounds terrific. So does the green beans.

Sy - I'm with you girl, let's push ourselves into goal this year.

Meegs - glad to see that you're back! Where are you running this weekend?

Roxy - I never thought I was *that* sensitive to sodium, but the thing with LAWL is that with all the WI's weight is often a fraction of a pound. And the sodium does tend to make a difference with water weight.

Star - thanks for saying it's okay to be 'bad' once in awhile - and to all you chickies. Bet you had fun with David yesterday, and hope that your DIL is okay. About my workout - my goal is to get to 30 minutes on the stepper by the end of the month, and in a week or so, we'll discuss weights, okay?

Does anyone read the Parade section of the Sunday paper - there was an article about weight loss - the writer suggested to try to break down large amounts of weight into smaller amounts, and then focus on that. And I think I might try that. Looking at another 63 to go is kind of mind-boggling.

So my next goal is to reach 195. That'll be wonderful one-der-land. And I'd really like to make it by the end of this month - but that may be unrealistic.

[Mitchypoo]

Hello all :wave:

My name is Michele and I'm starting LAWL today with the 2-day Take Off program. I plan to lose 70 lbs. in 35 weeks. That's my goal. My first goal is to get to LAWL 3x a week and to lose 8 lbs. this month. How did your first week on LAWL go? Need some inspiration here! :^:

[Karen]

I must be very very sensitive to sodium as well. I gained 8 pounds since Thursday morning. Wouldn't everyone agree.... :dizzy:

[Star]

Welcome Michele,
Good luck with your program. To lose 2 pounds a week you have to stay POP (perfect on plan)....But chicks on here have done it......current company excluded from those stats......
For you info - I am a LA Lite Addict - only choclate.....

[Jibbelle]

Michele-
Welcome to LAWL! I just started last week (for the second time...did it in 2001 too) and I lost 6 lbs my first week! Mostly water weight, I know, but still satisfying!!! Eight lbs your first month should not be a problem at all if you stay on plan!!!!

[sammyboy]

Morning Chicks and Happy 2005!

I did say a resolution but I have until 5:00 tonight to fullfill! I got up with all the best intentions in the world and then the laundry and appointments have taken over life again! Big kids are back in school so it was time to get the rest of the house together!!!

WI is this morning and after my luck at Christmas I think it has worn off!!! I have been hitting the chocolate hard and I don't mean LA Lite style!!! I am about out of the PB lites and starting to panic as I am out of Lites and not really wanting to purchase more!! I know I am going to be up but thankfully I had a little cushion and I think getting back POP will give me my cushion back!!

Sounds like everyone had a great weekend! I had a glass of wine and it sent me spinning so I know I am not in the mind set to do that again! We had finger steaks and Italian food while we were away for the weekend and it was great!!! Nothing is better than a big helping of Lasagana, right SY!!! It rates pretty high to PB!!

Kristi- hope all is well! DH is looking at a job in Redmond! Our job search is still up in the air and not sure what is going to happen in the next 6 months but he has got to figure it out before I go crazy of not knowing! :dizzy:

Fiona-so glad you survived the OH! I think it is hard for anyone to be assertive, you will get there!!

I looked at the FF,No Sugar Ice Cream, does anyone have a favorite? It is so tempting but still have to give up a starch!

Well I better get in the shower and head to the center. I am dreading it and my diary is bare so I better start making stuff up! Last week, they were so busy I only had time to wi so they did not even ask me all the questions we all dread!!! I am thankful the holidays are behind us all! Congrats to all the chicks who enjoyed themselves, we deserved it!!

Hugs and skinniness to all!!

[Star]

Chicks,

Did anyone else pick up the People magizine where they had a spread on the cover called "Half Their Size?" It was about about 6 women that have lost half their total starting weight and how they did it. There were many that did Jenny Craig and afew WW, but none with LAWL.......

Julie, I forgot to say this before. I like to set smaller goals too, they are easy to reach and always give me a boost to keep going. My current goal is 162.......baby steps......

BL weekly start weight 164.8 (ugh)

Hugs

[vibrantecho]

Hi Michelle! Glad to see you found us. I think Sy and myself are both doing Take Off this week as well - we are both LAWL vets but it's a good jump start after the holidays! My immediate goal is to be in ONE-der-land at my center weigh in by the end of the month. (You may recall that this was also my December goal - oh well!)

You guys should have seen me this morning, I was like a mad scientist with my juice! I decided that straight up was just too sweet (the mango, I think?) but then 50/50 was just too watered down...so I kept adding juice, then water, then juice until I liked the way it tasted - which ended up being 2/3 juice and 1/3 water. In case anybody cares. :lol:

Karen - I think eight pounds in, what, four days? must be a new record! I'm sure if you're even a little on plan today you'll be way back down tomorrow. Think of the head start it will give you for BL this week - LOL!!!! :queen:

Fiona

[Mitchypoo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/mitchypoo/graphic%20download/ccnewyear1_2005.gif
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone :) Does it matter if I finish my drink by the end of work? Or should i stretch it out until tonight? I like the taste of it and am not having a problem drinking it. Water is more difficult, but then i remember how fortunate i am to HAVE water to drink, so i'm doing it.

[Karen]

Fiona...If I lose like I think I will, I'll be taking myself out of the BL contest this week. I'll just wait and do it next week. I will be all the way OP today. I don't have a choice. I brought my food with me and I can't leave here until 6:30 tonight....Which is just as well for me....lol

[Star]

Karen & Fiona - That brings up a good point - Who is in the BL contest so far?
I'm in - Start weight: 164.8
Hugs

[Karen]

Start weight: 176.4

[vibrantecho]

Michelle - I also find the juice goes faster than plain water! I think one recommendation I remember getting, either to "get the juice down" if you don't like it, or to spread it out over the whole day if you do, is to just drink your juice with meals and water in between.

Wow, it's lunchtime already! Grilled chicken, here I come. :hungry:

Fiona

[SyracuseNY]

Fiona: When I used Knudsen's juice I tasted it first (like you did) and figured (the same thing) if I put 50/50 juice/water it would taste to watery. At the time I didn't know how many calories that the LA Juice was. The LA juice says it's 130 calories for 5.? ozs so I would think that a 8oz glass of Knudsen is equivelent to what you get when you use LA's juice. Day 1 (yesterday) was okay, but today if I see another piece of meat I think I will puke. LOL! Actually, I didn't plan too good for lunch and brought in my turkey meatloaf (LA style) for lunch. I would rather be eatting a big juicy steak - it's the 'no' condiments that is killing me. Good Luck today!

Star: On New Year's Day I took my great niece and nephew to see Sponge Bob Square Pants - what was I thinking. LOL! Actually, it was fun. But, I have to admit - cartoons have sure changed. I haven't been to the movies in so long - and Taylor (niece) wanted to sit in the front row. Yikes, are those seats dirty - I'm kind of grossed out by it. Now I know why I would rather rent a video than to go the theater. Are they all like that?

Karen: I really don't think it's possible to gain that much 'real' weight in that little time period. I'm hoping with you can others that we all have it off by the end of this week.

Mitchy: Welcome, and I'm doing Take Off (TO) too. I'm in Day 2. So far so good as far as sticking to plan. Of course, DH had to get ice cream last night because he's starting his diet today and said it was his last horrah. Well, needless to say - it was hard to get that stuff out of my mind but I was strong, cut up a cucumber and ate it instead. That is real will power for me. LOL! Michele, on my first Take Off I lost 8 lbs and never gained it back so if it was water weight - I kept up the lost until last week. It's the first time that I had a big gain since April and it was due to me thinking that I deserved to splurge because it was the holidays and now I'm paying the price for that now. Live and learn. Moderation would have been a better choice. Any questions or need advise - ask away.

Have a great day, Sy

[Bride2Be_Diane]

Hi Everyone!

BACK ON TRACK TODAY! I'm afraid to go WI because I know I haven't been on plan...AURGGGH! :devil:

Low Sodium Soup from Campbells is in my opinion not very good. Here I am with a horrific cold and a sore throat and all I want is soup and nothing can replace the real thing...just my thoughts this morning. :lol:

How is everyone? Hope everyone enjoyed their New Years!

Fiona - You will learn from every open house you do and every floor time you have. I have lost hot prospects just from simply being new. Keep it up and tell the people visiting the open house that it is at the request of the Seller that everyone signs in. This usually works! Keep the sign in simple with name, address, e-mail and phone#. They might not fill it in and there's not much you can do. Good Luck on your next open house! ;)

Today is the day that my New Years resolution will begin. I am going to get on the treadmill 4xs a week :tread: and I am also going to stop in at a Jazzercise center this week. Does anyone know anything about Jazzercise? I'm thinking that it is similiar to aerobics...might be fun! :^:

I'll talk to you all later!
:goodvibes I'm sending skinny vibes to all :goodvibes

Diane :flow1:

[Star]

My counslor told me not to drink the juice all at once to spread it thur-out the day. But I did drink it before five (didn't want to lug it home).

[Bride2Be_Diane]

I'm in...but will WI tomorrow! :goodscale

[Star]

Diane- Welcome back.....
About Jazzercise- what a blast from the past. I use to do it back in the 80's, it is more fun than most aerobic classes for me. That's becuz it is based on dance moves. Geez, I haven't seen any Jazzercise classes offered around here, cuz I would be doing the boggie dance all the way there.....you go have fun!!!
On the same line,I saw an advertisement on tv yesterday for some tapes called "Booty Yoga Ballet".....now that looked like a good time workout. Anyone else see it?
Hugs

[Karen]

On the subject of the BL contest. Are we all posting how much we weigh?

[Bride2Be_Diane]

My Center (actually the Manager) told me that instead of buying the TO juice because it's so $$$ we could use a cantaloupe instead! So for all you chickies who want to mix things up you can have a cantaloupe cut in 1/8s - 4 pieces each day instead of any juice. Just a thought!

[Bride2Be_Diane]

Me again...I'm a chatter box today! :lol:

Just weighed myself on my own scale (antique health-o-meter I bought at an estate sale) and it had great numbers on it - around 214ish! Could it be right? I'll have to visit the center and compare. My fiance fixed up a room for just me and my work-out equipment! He's such a keeper. He also agreed over the weekend that all the bad food he eats has to leave the house in order for me to be successful. I'm glad he's starting to be supportive. I can't stand eating chicken and veggies when he's eating pizza and corndogs and french fries! I need some water...these thoughts are making me hungry! :lol:

Diane :flow1:

[Star]

Diane- Is your keeper skinny? Just wondering,cuz that's the case alot of times.

[brittyboo07]

Hey Hey Hey!!!

Im back from my extended holiday! I have missed you guys but i was so off plan and so busy that i didnt have time to check in. Im so glad the holidays are over. I gained a total of 3 lbs over the holidays as i did go to WI on new years eve. I went to WI this morning and i was down 1.5 so thats not to bad considering i havent been POP over the weekend.

BL Weigh In: 246.75 (what a bad number lol)

Well as of today i am POP i went to walmart this morning and got me something things that will assist me in making my lunch here at work and i want to have all my fruit in by the time i go home. That is what i am having the biggest problem with is my fruit. I sure hope we get the new plan before winter is over! Oh and get this on friday when i went to WI i noticed they had a poster on the wall about the LAWL salad dressings. Well i made comment about them saying oh when did we get those in. She said oh we dont have those but they sent us that poster like a month ago and told us to put it up. Im thinking ok hello why would they send you the poster if your not gonna get the stuff??? So my next question is how many of you have tried them and are they any good?

I have so much to catch up on its gonna take me a few days i think lol. I just wanted to drop a quick note and let you all know i have not fallen off the face of the earth. But i have to get back to work. Oh yeah someone had mentioned exercise for the new year. I start tonight actually! I will walk on my treadmill when i get home and will also do pilates. so i hope to get in a good hour of exercise tonight. Ill drop by this afternoon!

Britt

[Star]

Britt - Welcome back, your ticker is cute, never saw a turtle in the snow before....lol
Your workout plan sounds great!

[Karen]

I tried the bleu cheese, thousand island and honey mustard. The honey mustard wasn't bad but I didn't like the others. They have the ranch back in now but I haven't tried that yet. I'll probably just stick to my Hidden Valley Ranch Lite.

[Jibbelle]

Fiona-
That is the same ratio I use for the water/juice!! I make sure it is SUPER cold and add in ice too. I think the stuff is nasty (although I love most juices) and that is the only way I can drink it. It is still a struggle!

[Bride2Be_Diane]

Star - Actually he's 6'2 and about 285 lbs. He's a big guy that could lose a good 40-50 lbs. himself. He's starting to realize that it is not as easy to lose the weight as it use to be in his 20s :devil: . He bulks up every summer/fall for semi-pro football, but now it's time to lose for our wedding! :D

Welcome Back Britt!

Diane :flow1:

[Karen]

Geez, Is anyone else hungry today? I'm really starving after my 3 day pig fest. That should teach me.....

[lisalutzi]

Hi all!

Everyone is very chatty today!

I went for WI at lunchtime. I'll join in on the BL with a WI of 131.6. I'm up 1.8 from Friday but it's probably water weight from the salty pork and saurkraut that I had for "good luck" on Saturday. I'm hoping it's gone when I go back on Thursday.

[vibrantecho]

:eek: Was I gone for an hour or a week?!? :lol:

Diane, congrats on nabbing a good one! ;) My DH is pretty supportive too, although he tends to forget sometimes. Like when he went shopping for "supplies" for our NYE party and came back with four pizzas, a gallon of ice cream, a giant box of chips and the dip to go with, and three cases of soda! He says to me, "I thought you said holidays were exempt!" I'm like, yeah - when we're at your parents' house and we get to choose between munching celery sticks and enjoying your sister's homemade manicotti, not when it's OUR money involved and it's never all going to get eaten in one night! I actually used the phrase "emotional sabotoge," which actually caused us both to crack up laughing. But I think he got the point!

Fiona

[Karen]

I think I might go back to using the ticker factory tickers. These on here don't show the .4 etc. Mine should read 176.4

[Meegs]

Afternoon Chicks!

Well, this morning before I went to the gym, I stepped on the dreaded scale. I was only up 2 pounds since my last early morning weigh in. Not too back, I thought it would be much worse.

It's amazes me that I show any gain at all, with all the running I have been doing. The 1/2 marathon on Sunday is in Disney ( I forget who asked that!). I am excited. However, they do say that when you are training for a full or half marathon, you usually gain weight (muscle). ahh, the annoyances of LAWL and their number on the scale!

I am going to the center tonight if I can leave work before they close!

talk to you all soon!

[brittyboo07]

Ok so i got back on here while i was eating my lunch and realized that we could do tickers with 3fatchicks.com now. So of course i went and played around for a few with that. I thought an exercise ticker was in order to get this new year off to a great start! i guess i better starting eating on this apple before it turns brown yuck!! So far so good with my food today and water. im on my 3rd 16oz glass and im working on my fruit i promise!

Kristi you said they are $11 on the commerical you saw? WOW that hits you where it hurts! I did notice when i was in last friday one of the girls was on the phone with someone and they were offereing her a special it was $3 per week. I was like man why couldnt they have had a special like that for me! I paid $8 per week.

I got a small crock pot to keep here at work so that i can come in and start me a pot of soup or something and have it ready for lunch time! Now i have to get all the stuff and keep on hand here at work.

What do some of you do to make it easier to eat OP at work? Since i spend most of my "eating time" at work i went today and got a few things to keep on hand. Like a toaster and the crock pot and also a Rice & Pasta Microwave cooker you can steam veggies in it too!

I am so not motivated to do any work today! I dont know why that is either haha. (YAY the apple is gone now) But i guess i better get back to it. Ill check in later.

Britt

[Star]

Britt,
I just bought a bunch of Lean Cusines and brought them to work. Also some SF/FF Jello and ofcourse my fruit - I make my work place LA friendly.......
Hugs

[Star]

Karen,
As usual, I'm tagging along, I need to see that point whatever it is.....lol

[Karen]

I had too much time on my hands.. I changed everything again. :dizzy:

[Star]

Karen,

Very peaceful - I love it.....
As far as having too much time on your hands. This habit is a good thing, it could be alot worse....
Hugs

[Karen]

I also bring in lean cuisines, chicken cut up to bite size pieces, salad (I keep my dressing here) and for fruit, I buy the little 4oz cans of lite fruit and bring 3 a day. I also bring yogurt for my dairy. Hard boiled eggs are always a good choice too.

[vibrantecho]

Lol, you guys. :) I like tickerfactory better too, both because they do decimals and because they have a wider selection. I'm too picky. ;)

Is anyone else on here thinking of joining the Fit For Life bok discussion later this month?

Fiona

[Star]

Chicks, I have a question :?:

If I may be so bold ;) If you made new years resolutions - what are they?
I'll go first
1) To reorganize my :strong: :barbell: :tread: to get the most out of it.
2) To add in more :love: and count it as exercise.
3) To eat on plan everyday, to limit "life happens" events if possible ;)
4) Be a nicer person :angel: even to people I can't stand.
5) To let our kids live their own lives, even if it's painful to watch.
6) To follow a budget and concentrate on retirement.
7) Help DH with more of the housework and to totally appreciate him for the awesome catch he is.....
8) Spend more time with my mom and grandbabies.
9) Change this list as much as I want to, whenever I want to....

[Star]

Okay I need to rethink number 4......
hugs

[Karen]

Star.....Here is mine.

Get this weight off preferably sometime this year. And oh yeah, exercise more. :p

[vibrantecho]

Mine are:

1. To eat on plan every day, no excuses.
2. To never skip a weigh in because of guilt or minor inconveniences (funny how the inconveniences pop up on the same days as the guilt?!?).

Those are the big two. Everything else I want is attainable if I stick to those two things.

Fiona

[Karen]

I'm going to check out the Thin for Life thread. I read that it's suppose to start January 10 in the maintainers forum. It should be interesting.

[sammyboy]

:wave: Hey Chickies!

Sounds like everyone is having a great op day! I kind of messed up, me and the water are battling. Had a taco for lunch and it was good! I went for wi and was up .4, whew, I was releived! They gave me the rest of my stabalization and maintenance packet. I guess it is over for me as she said I only have to wi once a week. The counselor I had today which I just love, said she eats McDonalds on occasion and has a cheeseburger happy meal, and diet coke and that seems to work for her when she has cravings. I told her I did that last week but had the hamburger, no cheez and the apple/carmel dippers and DCoke. I am glad to know the counselors are human as we are!! You all know they did not eat OP either and they just won't admit it!!! I think we should have an LAWL counselor fear factor and make all the challenges tempting foods and see how well they do. :devil: She did also tell me that New Years 2004 she had 2 margaritas and they whiped her out so that was indication to not have any more drinks. She crazy as I think I would go nuts in the summer without at least one drink!!

Kristi-so glad to hear from you! How is staying home treating you? I hear you on the TO! I know last time I tried I gave in and could not get through the first day! I think when we know we "have" to do it it is different.

Star-What great resolutions! My main one was to exercise but it feels like pulling teeth. Why do you think that is? I am dreading it as much as I am dreading the WI!!!

Good luck to all those doing TO! I raise a glass to you!!

Okay, I am working on learning to knit those cool scarves with the fun fur in them and that is my goal is to have one day by the time I start school! :lol:

Britt-when do you go back? Don't forget about your Carb Cravers meals! PBJ sandwiches count as 1 protein and you still get a starch and veggie! Do you like applesauce? I have become addicted to Carmel Apple Applesauce. I know it is not on plan but only like 5 calories more than what we are supposed to have! Oranges and Mangos are great this time of year!!! The LC meals are great for lunch and you can always make the turkey loaf and nuke them! How about tuna on saltines or wheat thins? I know I lived on the canned chicken that is like tuna ( a little high in sodium) mixed with a little mayo and mustard and my 3 crackers or 5 saltines with a tomatoe was delicious!! Another favorite is cottage cheese on tomato slices. How come nobody mentions cottage cheese? I love it and egg salad on a slice of toast for lunch was/is a favorite!!! Okay, enough food talk!

I am with Karen I am hungry this week!! I got to get my stomach shrunk back to LA style!!

Hugs!

[Karen]

Sammy....You have done great. Congratulations to you....I can't wait to get to goal. Way to Go....... :cool:

[brittyboo07]

Hey Sammy! I go back Jan. 18th! When do you go back? Ok i have seen everyone talk about the carb cravers stuff but nobody at my center has ever said anything to me about it. Anyone care to fill me in about the whole carb cravers thing? I did the LC the first few weeks at work but im trying to stay away from them except maybe once or twice a week just because i dont think they satisfy me as much as if i had a full protein/starch and i only do the pasta or pizza lol That way its a special treat for me. As far as the fruits go im so picky! I dont like cooked fruit at all lol or applesauce either. So my fruits are kind of limited until i get the new plan. Once we finally get the new plan i dont think that fruit will be a problem at all.

Well i have to go and take down the christmas tree (my least fav part about the holiday taking everything down lol) Then i will probably go hit the treadmill for 30 min (well it would be better if i would walk on it instead of hitting it huh lol) Then make dinner and later do pilaties. Talk to everyone tomorrow!

Britt

[vibrantecho]

Next time you weigh in, ask them for a "carb cravers menu." It's a whole two-sided sheet of carb-based menu choices - like PBJ sandwiches, spaghetti, PIZZA...!!! It counts as a protein (sometimes a protien and a veggie, depending on the item), so you still get your full allotment of starches for the day, too.

Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choices are both on sale here this week, but I think I'm going to pass because I tend to rely on them too heavily (more than 1-2/week) when I have access, and I don't make the effort to cook!

I was almost perfectly on TOP (Take Off Plan, lol) today. I did indulge in five peanut M&Ms at work during the afternoon! :eek: Okay, I know that for TOP, butter, oil etc. is unlimited, but what about mayo and/or salad dressing? How about dairy? I can't remember! :?:

G'night everyone - well, maybe. It's early yet, I'll probably be back at least once more before turning in!

Fiona

[roxy52]

Hi,
I am on the end of week one and boy am I every still hungry with some headaches. Please tell me I will adjust to this. If I don't then what? I do not use the bars as I feel they are a big rip off and the girl who tried to sell them to me was so aggressive I almost quit before I started! What do I do about the hunger pains on purple plan?

Roxy

[vibrantecho]

If you aren't doing the bars, you should probably be on red plan. It has an extra serving or 1/2 serving of protein, I think...? And maybe an extra starch? Anyway, it's hard to say without knowing your pre-LAWL eating habits, but as a general rule you shouldn't feel hungry. Why don't you share a typical day with us (what did you eat, and when? When did you feel hungry, and what did you do about it?) and maybe we can make some suggestions about portion spacing or menu suggestions?

As for the headaches, were you a caffeine drinker who went cold turkey or cut back significantly? I was a major soda-holic pre-LA and I had caffeine withdrawal headaches for almost two weeks after going cold turkey. And I have to be really careful about my caffeine intake even now because my body is prone to relapses! If it's not caffeine, it could be sugar, if you used to eat a lot of processed foods, or just your body adapting to that new eating pattern.

Funny, I was re-reading through the packet of materials my center gave me when I joined, to see if I had any notes about doing TO in there, and noticed on the sheet about the LA bars: "LA Nutritional Bars are also priced below popular protein bars that are often packed with hidden sugars, fat and carbohydrates." HA! Maybe several years ago before high-protein, low-carb diets became such a fad. Now we all know that you can get comparable-nutrition bars for less! :shrug:

(Told you I'd be back!)

Fiona

[vibrantecho]

Kristi - on the online menu, look for the "olive branch" icon to indicate lower-fat items, and it also suggests asking for whole-wheat pasta...both of which make for "less" cheating. The Chicken Giardino sounds pretty good. :) Good luck!

Fiona

[Bride2Be_Diane]

Hi Everyone! :wave:

:cheer: I DID IT! I FINALLY GOT ON THAT DREADFUL TREADMILL AND WALKED FOR 20 MINUTES! YIPPEE! :cheer:

My main New Years Resolution was to conquer the treadmill and hopefully today will be the start of a good habit. Why is it so hard to start working out????

roxy52 - Hi! When I opted out of the LA Lites I was on the Red plan. It gives you more protein and starch (if I can remember right). I am on the Purple plan now, but this is because I began using the LA Lites. I found that I was hungry and snacking on all the wrong things. I know the bars are expensive, but they do help with the cravings.

eBay is such a wonderful internet site. I have been busy buying things for my wedding and in the last week I've bought wedding albums, garters, a tiara, necklace and earing set, a veil, shoes and so much more for such a bargain! I love eBay!

Star - I love your list of resolutions and I think #9 is my favorite and definitely the most important! :lol: #2 sounds great too!

Well I'm off to bed...Talk to you all later!

Diane :flow1:

[SyracuseNY]

What a chatty group. Glad that everyone is doing great. I will not be joining the BL contest this week as I have not been to the center to WI. I did successfully do the 2 day Take Off - and I'm not sure if it worked or not. At the center, they said that it would start me off right as it would get rid of some of the hungry feelings that I had after the holidays when trying to get back OP. Sammy, the mangos are awesome - our grocery stores have had the smaller 'red' mangos for months - finally the yummy green ones are back. I love mangos and was craving 1/2 of one on TO yesterday. Had 1/2 for breakfast. YUM!

Star, great NY resolutions. Mine this year is to make it to my WL goal and maintain my weight once I'm at goal. I'm hoping to get below my original goal, but 1 thing at a time.

I'm not sure who said they do not do the bars and is on the purple plan. I don't know what I would do without the bars. I look forward to each of them - twice a day. Especially in the evenings after coming home from the gym. Seems to hit the spot. I know that when DH was doing Atkins, I was buying him protein bars and LA Lites are about the same price - if not a little less money. If spending that kind of money was good enough for him, it's good enough for me - that is my justification for purchasing the lites. Also, I would just be buying some other type of food in place of them, so why not enjoy what I'm eatting. Oh, I'm not trying to talk you into them, I just enjoy them.

Diane: Congrats on getting on the treadmill. Believe me, if you do it for a week - you will get into a routine and will look forward to exercising. 2 years ago - that was my only NY resolution - exercise. Well, I started off 5 minutes each night on the Nordic Track and by the end of the week, I added a few more minutes. I took baby steps. Then, I started riding a bike as soon as the weather was nice, and did a bike marathon (100 miles) that summer and cried my eyes out when I hit the finish line because I was so proud of myself (and the fact that my butt was killing me! - LOL!). After all that, I just had to join gym or do something because I knew if I stopped exercising for the winter months - I'd be a gonner. Good Luck, and remember - baby steps are okay too as long as you keep moving. You go girl!

Karen: We will all make our goals this year! What is all the talk about other treads? What are they all about? Do you have a pointer? And, there is a start date? Where do you get your info?

Well, I feel like do-do today, somehow caught another cold from someplace. I'm not sure if I will go to WI today or tomorrow. The lady at the center said that I could just WI and write in my weight on the paper at the scale because they will be swamped this week as it's their busiest week of the year.

Take care, Sy

P.S. As far as TO, I know that June use to use cantelope on TO and did great. I just don't think that a 1/8 of a cantelope would do the trick for me. I have to admit that I love the LA Take Off juice and the Krundsen is very close to it in very way. I'm saving my TO juice bottle so I can remember about the ingredents and calories for future reference.

[Jibbelle]

Roxy-
Go to Walmart/Target/Grocery Store and buy some protein bars...look for 160-180 calories, 4-6 g fat, and 8+ g protein. Two of those a day will DEFINATELY help with the hunger!!!!

Kristi-
Olive Garden has a few items on their menu listed as "garden fare". It is their light dish. They have one that is grilled chicken, fresh veggies, and bowtie pasta in a light lemon sauce. Get that, if you go, eat the chicken and veggies and control your pasta eating. : ) I have had it before and it is yummy. Forget the salad and breadsticks and have some minestrone soup....some, not a lot. : )

Regarding TO: I have used big oranges a day instead of TO with the same results...that is what my center in St. Louis suggested for those who didnt like the TO drink or who couldnt afford it.

Have a great on plan day all!!!!

[textjewel]

Good morning, chicks!

Boy, did you guys chat yesterday afternoon! Had a headache from too much screen time, so I didn't log in again. . .

By my home scale, I was at 201 this AM - that's only 6 away from 195. . .We'll see what the center says later today.

Regarding TO - We could probably get similar results by just dropping the starch, dairy and fat from our regular plans. I've thought of this, but haven't tried it.

My goals this year:
1. To reach goal weight
2. To be strong and flexible (through daily exercise)
3. To finish the book I've been working on. . Then submit it someplace, and start on the next one.
4. To not let fear of unknown situations stop me from doing things
(Here I am being philosophical again).

Sy - take care of yourself!

Sammy - sounds like you have a great counselor! Now, the question is, do they give you any hints on how to use Canned Soup in Maintainence???

BTW, someone mentioned the low sodium soup yesterday - I always add a splash of vinegar to mine - either balsamic or red wine vinegar - it really adds something to the flavor.

Britt - for some reason the carb cravers is like a deep dark secret in LAWL. They don't tell you unless you complain about the variety of starches. I'd ask about it - just say you have a friend on the LA plan in another part of the country who's mentioned it. However, the CC meals are all listed in the guide you get on the new plan. They seem to be the same as on the sheet. Also, I agree with you on the LC/HC not filling me up. I do use them sometimes as a treat - like for pizza, but I think the portions sizes are more suited to the gold plan.

Fiona - the LC's are on sale here this week too - and a coupon in the sunday paper. . .

Roxy - I was hungry for the first couple of weeks, too. Are you close to your TOM cycle? Once that was past, the constant hunger was gone. Also, I was used to eating much more starches, which kept me fuller. Also about the bars - you can substitue luna bars for the la bars - I've found good deals on ebay. But it is an additional expense anyway you look at it. But they do help.

Hi, Kristi - glad to see you back!
The skinny fairy is sending good vibes to all today (at least I asked her to)

Sorry if I missed anyone
((Hugs))

[Tams]

Hey Chicks,
I told my counselor last week that I wasn't going to buy anymore LA Lites becuase I just couldn't afford them and didn't want to put them on my credit card as I did in the past. She said they would have to put me on another plan.
So, I'm on the Gold Plan now. What plan would be the next one up and how much more protein would that plan have?
I also bought 5 more weeks of WL, becuase I had only 4 weeks left and 14 lbs to get to my goal. At least they were on sale for $5 per week.
I wish they would let you buy the lites on a smaller scale like they do everything else. I am constantly purchasing Jet Start, they keep me from drinking my Starbucks!
Anyway, I'm not happy about being put on another plan. She told me that the WL would be slower. UGHHGHH!

[Karen]

Tammy...What plan were you on before. I don't think I could do the gold plan without the bars. I would starve to death.

[Karen]

Oh, and about the other thread with the Thin for Life thing. They are starting to read the book and discuss it in the maintainers forum. It will have it's own thread starting January 10th. They just said it was good for weight loss. I'm not sure what it's all about. I think it was Fiona who first mentioned it.

[aphil]

The Book Club in the Maintainers forum is going to be a discussion about a book on maintainance. Basically the book is by an author who interviewed a ton of people who have lost at least 20 pounds *I think* and have kept it off for at least a few years or more.
The goal of the book discussion is to find out what things the people have done to KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF after making goal-and not end up gaining it back a year or two later.
You can get the info on the thread about it at the top of the General Diet Plans forum-and order the book at Amazon.com.
I think they are going to read a chapter a week-and discuss each chapter.
Aphil

[Karen]

Is there anyone else not doing the bars. I would just like to know what plan they have you on. Wouldn't it have to be one with more food?

[aphil]

It should be by all means-or you are going to be starving. I mean that is over 300 calories a day missed! Go buy Luna bars-they are cheaper than LA Lites-and I think the Lunas taste pretty good-especially the Peppermint Stick ones-they taste like Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. ;)

[Tams]

I told my counselor that I would buy Luna Bars and she said that becuase I am not "listed" as buying Lites, that I would be moved to another plan.

I am still on the Gold Plan. She hasn't moved me yet, as I have 2 more boxes left.

[Star]

Tammy - The next plan up from Gold is Blue - it is 1/2 more protein and 1 more starch.

Hi All you chicks!

[lisalutzi]

Kristi,

I just looked in the Restaurant Guide in the LAWL plan. I remembered seeing Olive Garden listed in there. There are 4 menu items on the list:

Chicken Ceasar Salad - 2 veg, 1 protein
Garden Fresh Salad - 2 veg, 1 starch
Grilled Salmon with roasted veg - 2 veg, 1 protein
Minestrone Soup (8 oz portion) - 1/2 protein, 1 starch

I'm on the Blue Plan - not sure if the selections are different between the plans. I hope this helps if you go to Olive Garden tonight.

[Tams]

See, I don't need the extra starch! That would just mean trouble for me. I may have to just buy the Luna bars and "fib" on my diary!

[vibrantecho]

Tammy - I would guess that if you were on gold and they were going to move you up, it would be to purple. I think the difference is one more veggie and a larger serving of protein?

I almost gave myself a heart attack this morning! You all know about my scale obsession, so no comments, please, on the fact that I weigh myself twice in the mornings! (lol) Sometimes I can get the scale to drop an extra .4 or so after I move around a little bit but before I eat breakfast. Anyway, when I weighed myself first thing, it said 208 (woo hoo!) then when I weighed again it said 209.2! :eek: I stood there on the scale for a whole minute before I realized the problem - I had gotten dressed. :rolleyes: DH laughed and laughed at that one.

So anyway, I'm down 1.6 from yesterday (I think I will pass on BL this week too, what with the TO and all). I know the juice isn't magic and a pound and a half a day loss isn't sustainable, but sometimes I wish it was! I would drink this goofy juice every day for the next 43 weeks if it would make me not want to eat the things I'm not supposed to eat! But I suppose we all do at some point, right? ;)

Have a good morning - I have some stapling and folding to do!

Fiona

[aphil]

If they want to change your plan because you did not buy Lites from them-tell them you just got a bunch of LA Lites from a cousin who just went off the plan who gave them to you...or that you got some off Ebay-or anything you want. FIB!!!

The reason they are changing your plan if you are not buying LA Lites from them is to KEEP YOU THERE LONGER. They will add more food to your plan to keep you paying for more weeks by slowing your loss. They are going to try to get more money out of you one way or another. That is their goal. They can't "make you" change your plan. You just have to go in with a firm attitude-they are like wolves-they can smell weakness. :rofl:

[Jibbelle]

Tams-
Try Target if there is one close. When the bars are about a month from expiry the Target here puts them at clearance prices on an endcap. I have bought luna and balance bars like that. Eating two a day, I get thru them before the expiry and I only spend about $0.50 each. Downside....dont get much flavor choice. hehehehe Variety is the spice of life right??

[lisalutzi]

Morning chicks!

I have seen lots of posts referring to Luna bars. I was at a local store over the weekend and saw Luna bars for the first time (I've been looking for them everywhere). Anyway, they were on sale - the sale price was $1.30 per bar. Since I haven't been able to find them anywhere else, I was unable to compare prices and had no idea if that was a good 'sale' or not. I also was not able to find out what the 'regular' price was at that store. At that price, the Luna's cost about the same as I spent when I bought the LA Lites in bulk at the beginning of my plan.

When I started, I bought enough LA Lites to have 2 per day through weight loss and stabilization and then 1 per day through a year of maintenance. The counselors keep trying to get me to buy more so that I can have 2 per day in maintenance. I found it kind of funny. They were having a 'sale' on Lites a few weeks ago - $8/box. They asked if I wanted to buy enough to have 2 per day in maintenance and I said no. They asked why and I told them it was too expensive. The response was, "Well, at $8/box, another 52 boxes would 'only' be $416." Yeah, 'ONLY'...

In any case, I found Knudsen's juice at the same store as the Luna bars. I bought a bottle of the Morning Blend because I remembered reading here that some of you have used that one in place of the LA TO juice. There were a ton of other flavors there, has anyone used any of the other flavors in place of TO juice? There was a BIG difference in price on the juice $3 for Knudsen's compared to the $15 I paid for the LA juice (and I think that might have been a 'sale' price)!

[Star]

Tammy - Is that the baby in your old picture? What a cutie he is....

[Mitchypoo]

Hi all :wave:

Day 2 of TO....i'm feeling good, but I forgot my lunch on the counter. :o :dizzy: :?: So i think i'll go home at lunch to get it and have lunch quick. I didn't have trouble making my 2 eggs this a.m. even though i was running a little late. Last night i felt a little hungry, but i had a cup of FF/SF coffee (Decaf too), it satisfied me and I feel that I slept better. That may be because I have physical therapy for my back and i worked hard on the circuit. I did the whole circuit in about 30 minutes.

I haven't had the bar talk yet, and not looking forward to it.....i don't think i want any of that stuff. But i'll be open to it and see what they have.

Have a great day!!

[Karen]

I just bought some Luna bars off Ebay. I got 2 boxes of 15 bars each for 21.20. That was 9.95 for the bars, 9.95 shipping and 1.30 insurance. I have done this twice now. Then I have a luna bar in the morning and save my LA lite for at night.

[Tams]

Star - yes that is my "little man". :cloud9: I still could just "eat him up1" :lol:

Anyway, don't get me wrong, I looovvvveee the lites, but just can't afford them. :devil:

I will tell them about the Ebay thing. Whatever, I am not moving up a plan. :nono:

[vibrantecho]

Michelle - Personally I think the bars are worth it. I've been "barless" (lol) for about two months now, and I really miss them! Also at my center (franchised), they had different levels of discounts based on how many boxes you bought - you didn't HAVE to buy your entire program's worth up front. You have to stand firm, though! I bought 20 boxes because that was the amount of money I felt comfortable spending right then. I'm currently analyzing my budget to see where I might have some padding so that I can buy more when I go back this week! :write:

Fiona

[Star]

I could not be on this plan without the Lites - I'm totally ADDICTED to the chocolate crunch and double chocolate. Matter of fact, Tammy could you tell me how I could legally fit in three lites a day and how to count them? I will pawn family airlooms (sp?) to get them......lol

[Tams]

Star - You could probably knock out :rollpin: a "starch" and get by with eating 3 if you like them that much and could do w/o a starch.

But the Gold plan only has 2 starches, so that may be tough. :dizzy:

The counselor did tell me one time if I indulged in a "sweet tooth" to go w/o my fruits that day.

So maybe you could alternate days with fruits and lites!

[SyracuseNY]

Aphil: I agree, some of them centers do have wolves.

Tams: You are too close to goal to listen to that person at the center. If you are on the gold and want to buy the Luna's - just ask them to write on your folder 'DO NOT SELL' so they stop asking you. Man, if you can do this at the beginning - who are they to tell you what you can do? And, they may switch the plan, but continue eatting per the Gold Plan. I don't think they will pay that much attention this time of year and if they do, face the music and tell them off.

Sy

[Star]

Tammy - Your right,I don't know if I could give up a starch - they are few and far between on Gold. Fruit, on the other hand, I could probably live without in exchange for a Lite.......hum - I knew you would have the answer - Thanks!
You know I thought about making my New Years Resolution #10) Next time a counslor at LA pi_ _ ed me off to punch em' out.......lol
Sy - Great advice to our resident exchange counter!

[Tams]

Sy- Man, I like your attitude :dancer: . I will definitely stick with the Gold Plan, I've got it down pat and don't want to change :D

Hey, I've fibbed before on my diary, why stop now :cbg:

[Meegs]

My you ladies are chatty this morning! Well, yesterday morning my scale said 165, today it was 162.2!!! :lol: Amazing what a day of being OP can do for you! I also did not fit in all my foods yesterday. BF and I are going through some things and the thought of food made me ill. (hmm, maybe this does have a bright side!) However, I also am not going to participate in BL this week. I have to start eating more carbs and drinking a lot of Gatorade (ohh, the counselors would LOVE to hear that!) in order to prep my body for the 1/2 marathon. I am going to finally go in and weigh in tonight. But then I know I won't be back to WI again until next Wednesday. Oh well, I paid for the extra weeks, I can go in as I please! :devil:

Tams, I agree with everyone else! You know your body and what works for you better than any counselor. Stick with what works for you! I don't know what I would do without the lite. My favorite is the caramel. When they moved me up to the Red plan, due to the running they tried to tell me to do the Shake LA Lite once a day and one bar. Apparently the shake has less calories. But I don't do that on a normal basis.. I like my bars too much! Honestly, I need the calories. However there are some days that I don't run, and I will occassionally have a shake instead of a bar on those days.

Star~ Loving your resolutions. Mine is to run that Marathon on April 30th. And to cross the finish line with a smile on my face. When that happens I know I will be in the best physical shape of my life, no matter what the nasty scale says. They say when you train for a marathon you gain weight.. I hope to prove them wrong!

Good morning to all you other chicks! Here's to a POP day!! :coffee:

[Karen]

This is what was posted by Suzanne 3FC about the book discussion:

Coming Jan 10 -Learn how to lose the weight AND keep it off!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coming January 10, 2005! We're putting together a book discussion group to study the revised edition of Thin For Life by Anne Fletcher. From Amazon.com:

Quote:
What a novel idea: if you want to know how to successfully lose weight, study the real experts--the people who have done it! Registered dietician Anne Fletcher did just that. She surveyed 160 "masters" who succeeded in losing at least 20 pounds and keeping the weight off for at least 3 years. This was the minimum; most lost far more weight--an average of 63 pounds--and more than one-third have kept the weight off for a decade or more.

How did they do it? Thin for Life presents their success stories, strategies, motivation, inspiration, and tricks. Most had tried "many times and many ways" to lose weight before discovering what worked for them and how to prevent and recover from relapses. Some techniques worked for many--such as keeping a food diary and increasing exercise. Others were highly individual and will spur you to do your own creative thinking. Fletcher compiles the "10 keys to success" that emerged most often, lets the masters speak for themselves throughout the book, and fills in additional, valuable information and resources. Whether you have 10 pounds to lose or 100, this book will help you do it--safely, effectively, and permanently. Highly recommended.

It's our favorite book in the Maintainers Forum because it focuses on permanent, sustainable weight loss. So grab your copy of Thin For Life - or put it on your holiday wish list - and look for us in the Maintainers Forum in January!

And did you know that everyone's welcome in the Maintainers Forum? Even if you're not anywhere near goal? Maintenance is something that's going to affect every one of us so stop by and check out some great discussions!

[brittyboo07]

Morning ladies!

I will ask tomorrow when i go in about the carb cravers. Like i said they have never mentioned it to me before but then again i have filled them in on stuff already lol. Well i didnt get to do my exercises last night because i ended up going to a business dinner but i was POP. I had a nice little breakfast here at the office this morning. 1 piece of diet toast with i cant believe its not butter spray, a cheese stick (string cheese) and a mini omelet 1egg made in the microwave i was impressed lol. Very easy to make so im glad that im able to stay on plan this way so simple.

Im glad to see that everyone is doing well.

~Tammy
your little one is so cute. I dont blame you i would stay on the gold plan its what your body is used to and get the luna bars my target has two different flavors by the box and more flavors that you can get individually however get this you can get them cheaper if you get them individually than by the box cause they are 99cents eachand the box is 5.99 for 6 every penny counts right lol.

I have to say that i really enjoy the bars a lot! Now i have missed a bar here and there but it doesnt happen often and it has to be something like im sick or just not hungry for me to miss them. dang! speaking of that i just realized i left my bars at home! Thats not good. Guess i will have to make a quick run to walmart and pick up two bars.

Ok i guess i better run for now ill check back in later.

Britt

[Tams]

Thanks guys for all the encouragement! I will definately stand my ground and check out the Luna bars.

Does anyone else love the Jet Start as much as I do?

[SyracuseNY]

Karen: Thanks for the info on Thin for Life. Also liked your idea of using a Luna bar in the morning and LA Lites in the evening. Why didn't I think of that? LOL! My sister is trying to get my niece to go to LA - and I will make that suggestion to her as she is short on funds due to her separation and/or pending divorce.

Megs, good luck on the marathon in April. If your anything like me, I cried my eyes out from the excitement and accomplishment when I did the MS 150 bike marathon a couple summers ago. I was smiling inside. LOL!

[Karen]

Can you refresh my memory on the Jet Start. I can't seem to remember what it is.

[Meegs]

I have read the Thin for Life book. It is interesting, but really nothing more than what you know already (somewhere, in the back of your mind!). It highlights a study that followed some people who had lost significant amounts of weight loss to see how they 1) lost the weight and 2) kept of off for 5+ years. At the end of it, there is a food guide with a weight loss plan.

[Tams]

Karen - The Jet Start is the new cold coffee drink they just brought out. It counts as a fruit and a dairy.

If you like cold coffee, it's really good.

[Karen]

Tammy...Oh yeah, that's right. I wanted to check into that when it came out but forgot all about it. Thanks...

[brittyboo07]

Ok so i went and picked up two luna bars at walmart ($1.17 each) and i got the dulce de leche flavor its alright but not something i would want all the time i think its really sweet. anyway Tammy you were asking about the jetstart and i do like it i have only bought it once but it was good. Also if you dont like cold coffee just pop it in the microwave for about a minute or so and its great warmed up. I like it better warm than cold because i think its to thick when its cold but to each his own!

Kristi are you finished with work? I have been gone and havent gotten to read up for the past week or so since before christmas so i wasnt really sure when your last day was.

Meggs i so admire you for doing the 1/2 marathon i dont think i would ever be able to do that but its great for those who can. Running just isnt my thing lol.

Karen i agree that its a great idea to do the luna bar and LA lite hadnt thought about that before however for me i dont really care for the luna bars all that much so ill just stick with the la lites! lol wow i really am picky huh haha.

ok ill check back in later there is suddenly paperwork on my desk ugh lol.

Britt

[Jibbelle]

I also like the one luna/one la lite idea. I think I will try that!! : ) Back to the store. hehehehe

[Karen]

Kristi...I agree. I always feel much better when I'm on plan. I seem to have more energy and not quite as tired during the day. Must be all that healthy food.... :dizzy:

[Karen]

Hmmmm.. Does that coffee drink taste like a coffee milkshake when it's cold. If so, I think I would like to drink it cold if it's thick...yummy ;)

[Meegs]

Karen~ if you like thick and cold things, you should buy some of the LA Slim Downs. I get the chocolate ones, throw it in the freezer about 4 hours before I want to eat it, and it is like a Frosty from Wendy's (or the LA equilivant of one!) I love it. They count as a starch and protein. A lot to give up, but I have found that when i do one of those for lunch at least 4 days a week, I loose at least a pound more that week than if I had a regular starch and protein. I DO NOT like them just refigerated like they say. It tastes really chalky that way!

[Star]

When I was off plan, doing my holiday eating, I noticed that no matter how good the off plan foods tasted, I never felt really good. I too feel much better when I'm eating on plan - what's up with that?
Hey Kristi - good to hear from ya!

[Jibbelle]

Does anyone else get migraines?? I have noticed that I dont get ANY when I stay on plan. Good motivation to stay on track.

I bought a health o meter scale today!! The scale I had was a $9 one with a dial....that was not so trustworthy!!!

[Mitchypoo]

Marcie~I get migraines sometimes. They are just awful, but problem is there are so many different types and related to so many things. Sounds like it's good incentive to stay OP if you don't get them. I know that if I had too much sugar or food that would convert (like potato, or alcohol), that sometimes it would trigger one. Mine are also related to Aunt Flo....It'd be great if that is a side affect for me too.

[vibrantecho]

Marcie - I also get migraines, but I haven't discovered any food triggers - mine are generally related to changes in atmospheric pressure (like when a warm or cold front hits). I also get tension headaches from carrying stress in my neck and shoulders, and I clench my teeth in my sleep which doesn't help! I have found that eating on plan keeps me more alert, especially through the afternoon sag - like, right about now. :dz: It also seems to make headache medicines - I prefer Advil - more effective when I am dealing with a tension headache or a migraine. I guess because my system isn't all bogged down with bad stuff!

fiona

[Tams]

Karen - oh yeah, the coffee drinks are awesome. Just like a coffee milkshake.

I get migraines too. In fact I have one right now. My triggers are barometric changes.

I like the Slimdowns too!

[Meegs]

I just remembered, and thought I'd share this with you all! The LA Chocolate Pudding (yummy, creamy and delicious especially after leaving in the freezer for about 20 min after mixing it up!) Counts as an LA Lite. At this is what the counselor at my center told me.. even though it's not listed as that in the new plan! hmmm??? However, around TOM time, I love the chocolate pudding, but HATE loosing a starch and fruit for it. I'd be willing to trade it for a Lite! :D

[Jibbelle]

Hmm...I was thinking of getting the pudding...if it is a lite I will try it!!! I will have to ask!!

My migraines are mostly food triggered...mostly from processed foods and fast foods...and alcohol. I cant drink at all. I call it "insta-migraine". Within minutes of drinking I get a migraine. Odd.

[Karen]

I can't drink either. I had 4 of those cranberry twisters on New Year's Eve and I had the worst headache before I even left our friends house.

[textjewel]

Woo, chickies!

You all have been chatty this afternoon! WooHoo - amazement strikes - I was down to 204.6 at the center. Down from last Friday!

Tammy - what a cutie your little boy is! BTW, I have also purchased luna lots off of ebay, and I use them interchangeably with the bars. I like chocolate, but sometimes I want something different. Also, I did purchase the bulk rates of the lites through the weight loss, but not for the following 52 weeks, and I thought it would be good if I could spread out the ones I purchased as long as I could. . . I try to pick up at least one box a week even if I don't use them. But I always try to use the older boxes first.

Liza - at my grocery store, Luna bars are on sale for 1$/each occaisionally. They are usually in the 1.50-1.70 range.

Question - has anyone tried any of the blueberry breakfast bars? My guide says that one is equal to a starch and a fruit. When I weighed in today, I checked the calorie count - it's 210!

Tammy, the purple plan only has two starches too.

Meegs and Sy - I've never run a marathon, but I did do the Avon breast cancer walk a few years ago. That was about 50 miles over 3 days, and the ending was so emotional, I wept buckets.

Star - I found that when I was eating off plan at the restaurant, etc, that food was really salty and greasy. Also, I decided I did not have to clean my plate just because it was there. (Now, THAT was a revelation!)

Tammy and Fiona - I'm so glad that some one else gets headaches because of atmospheric pressure changes. I've had one for two days. And I've been OP. I ususally take regular aspirin, but maybe I'll try advil.

Anyone going to watch BL tonight???

Hugs

[Tams]

Julie - Try Execedrin Migraine, they usually work for me, but this time nothing is getting rid of this migraine.

I love the Blueberry De lites. I eat those every other day for breakfast. Stick them in the microwave for 25 seconds and spray some butter and they are yummy!! They are really filling also, lots of fiber.

Oh, thanks for the compliment on my little man!

[SyracuseNY]

Hey Sammy: Sorry I forgot to mention this earlier. My sister made scarfs for all of us for Christmas out of yarn and fun fir. Mine is red fun fir and the yarn she mixed with it has red, yellew and blue. It's very pretty and I get so many compliments on it - mostly from stangers. Now I want to learn to knit just so I have make a couple myself in different colors. Where can you learn how to knit? I have tried reading from books before, but forget that. Maybe a local AC Moore or someplace like that, I'll have to check it out.

Julie: I have tried the blueberry breakfast bars. It counts as a fruit and a starch and to tell you the truth, I would rather eat a starch and fruit. Don't get me wrong, they are very good - just don't seem worth the exchange to me. I got a free box a while ago and have only eatten 1 of them. Maybe if I was on the run and really couldn't get in my starch and fruit for breakfast I would consider taking 1 on the go. The lady at the center said that she spreads FF cream cheese on it and warms it a little and it's like eatting blueberry cheese cake. Okay, maybe I don't have that good of an imagination but did try it and it would be a stretch to say it tasted like cheese cake. LOL!
Thanks for the reminder about BL tonight! Julie, thanks for sharing that you also wept after your accomplishment in your Avon Breast Cancer walk. It's an awesome feeling. To bad the brother-in-law that my sister is divorcing is the person that I rode the MS 150 with and for some reason, I think it will be very uncomfortable to ride with him again. Reason why we didn't do it this year is because they were separating. Hey, never say never - maybe we'll do it again sometime?

I feel bad for all of you that get migraines. I knew this guy from work that use to get them and found that he was allergic to sorbitol found in diet soda and sugar free gum - and he suffered for years with them.

Later, Sy

[vibrantecho]

On the subject of fundraising walks, I did the MS challenge walk (3 days/50 miles) two years ago. It was amazing! Such a thrill, and I raised $2400! :dancer: One of my close friends from high school was diagnosed with MS not two months after I signed up to do the walk, so that's become a cause close to my heart. Unfortunately they changed the date of the walk the next year, and I had a conflict. I'd like to do it again this year - means I gotta get my walking shoes on!

On the subject of headache medicines: Excedrine Migraine and regular Excedrine have exactly the same active ingredients. They just put fancy labeling on some of the bottles after they got FDA approval to promote Excedrine as "effective against migraines." :rolleyes: But in any case, the stuff works! I only don't take it because of the caffeine (I USED to live for the stuff, but gave it up when I gave up Mountain Dew! I realized I was only prolonging my caffeine-withdrawal misery).

On the subject of other LA supplements: eh, I don't have anything to add here! I haven't tried anything except the bars - they just seem overpriced and undersized for the exchange you have to make; I'd rather eat real food.

Here is a question for you all: do any of you have "off-plan" food hanging around your kitchen that you don't think you'll eat, but aren't sure what to do with? :shrug: I was making turkey meatloaf (muffins, of course) and noticed how many cooking ingredients we have that aren't on plan - like regular Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki marinade, a whole box of regular spaghetti, a box of "instant" scalloped potatoes, couple different kinds of soup (I love grilled cheese sandwiches, but it's just not the same without tomato soup!) and probably some other stuff! Some I know I can donate to the food shelf, but some of the stuff (like the pasta and the sauces) is opened and I hate to think of just throwing it all out. Grrr!

BL in 20 minutes - just enough time to get my "muffins" out of the oven! See you all post-BL! :comp:

Fiona

[Jibbelle]

Fiona-
Advil and Advil Migraine is the same way!!! Both have 200 mg of ibuprofen! I work for Wyeth and bought some in the company store...got back to my desk and was mad! I thought it would have another active ingredient to make it work on migraines. GRRRR. I have to take prescription stuff for my migraines...nothing OTC works. I have tried EVERYTHING and also almost every prescription migraine med. So far only two things work...and demoral. LOL Which they gave me when I had one so bad I had to go to the urgent care clinic after 12 hours of thinking I was going to die.

[roxy52]

Is it okay to drink wine for real? Since 3 oz counts as one fruit, I really prefer to drink my fruit some nights. This is the first plan ever that said drinking wine is okay. Will it really make a difference if I do induldge and what kind would be best? You guys rock!

Roxy

[vibrantecho]

I think red wine is preferable to white, I think mainly from a health standpoint (you hear good things about red wine and heart health, not so much about white). I don't know enough about how wine is made to know if there's any other significant difference.

Cooking tip! Maybe this has already occurred to you, but I've always been bugged by the way ground turkey doesn't really taste like "meat" - it just picks up the flavors of whatever you cook it with. So finally it occurred to me - beef boullion! :dizzy: duh! So now, even though my turkey meatloaf is all funny and pale, at least it TASTES like the real thing! :D

Fiona

p.s. BL was so good! :tread:

[Marial2]

I think 2 Eggs equal 1 Protein
Hope it helps!
Good Luck!
Maria

[Marial2]

Hey Everyone!
I Hope you are all feeling great but I was just wondering what everyone's favorite LA lites are. I buy mine in bulk soon and the only ones I've had a chance to try are Chocolate Crunch and Cookie Dough...both I thought were pretty good :)
Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
Good Luck, Maria

[Bride2Be_Diane]

I just wrote a super long message and I lost it all..UGGGH!!!! :( Dang Computer! :rollpin:

Talk to you all tomorrow...

Diane :flow1:

[Jibbelle]

Fiona-
I never thought of that!!! I will pick some up next time I am at the store. Thanks!

Maria-
I like the carmel and chocolate crunch the best....I get mint or double chocolate on occassion. The carmel has a different consistency than the rest of the bars...it is more like a rice krispie treat....more airy than the other bars.

[auditgirl]

Good morning ladies,

It’s been a while, but I’m back. We had a great trip to Iowa to visit our parents and a plentiful Christmas. I was glad to get back home and then came down with a wicked cold and have spent the last 4 days either in bed or on the couch. Forced myself to work yesterday and was in bed before 8pm last night (taped BL). Have doctor’s appt today, though I doubt she can do anything for me that I haven’t already tried.

It took forever catching up on all the posts…boy, you girls are chatty…I love it! I spent about 10 days in complete excess and have 4 extra pounds to show for it, but I’m back POP and expect to drop that by the end of the week. Being sick I turned to old comfort foods and haven’t been on the treadmill in weeks, told myself I was going to last night , but am still far too weak…will wait to see what the doctor has to say this afternoon. I haven't even completely unpacked and we've been home since the 30th!

I’m not even going to try to address everyone individually right now, but saw many new screen names….Welcome!

I haven’t tried any of the supplements LAWL sells, except the calcium (and that’s only because I got it free). I’ve also have the blueberry de-lite muffin tops (also free) and love them, but find they don’t fill me up as much as a real piece of fruit and starch (plus it kind of feels like cheating, leading me down a path I don’t need to be on 

My favorite la lite is cookie dough in the mid morning and I usually have a chocolate mint after dinner (it’s like a soft thin mint girl scout cookie). It’s the last thing I eat at night and it’s kind of my signal that it’s time to stop eating for the day.

Glad to see everyone is back from the holiday safe and mainly healthy ;-)

Jen

[textjewel]

Good morning, chickies!

Okay - BL last night. I was so surprised that Mo was voted off. Although I did think he did deserve to be - his percentage was so much lower than the other three. But I'm glad Ryan and Gary did the right thing and let the woman (dang, can't remember her name) stay the course.

Sy and Tammy, thanks for the info on the blueberry bars. I was just wondering if I could use some of the granola bars in my pantry (sound familiar Fiona??) as a replacement. . . Also I was surprised that the calorie count was 210, when a starch and a fruit is about 150 max. . .

BTW, Fiona, you can have regular pasta - even if it's only once a week on the old plan, or with a CC meal. On the new plan it's not limited, but you can only have 1/3 cup.

Sy - I think that's one of the hardest things about a broken relationship - it's the extended family ties. I mean - if you really like the guy, but it just gets too weird to see him because then you're being disloyal to your sister. . .And then you start editing your activities because you may see him . . . Anyway, I can't imagine riding a bike for 150 miles. Walking for 50 was tough enough, but at least I didn't have to worry about hand brakes!

Fiona - I also have a pantry full of off plan food - canned soup, chili, canned vegs (I do love canned peas and canned corn) - and I'm just holding on to them. They are not so bad in themselves - just high in sodium - so I've been using them on days when I'm sort of off plan - like New Years day. . . :devil:

Roxy -wine is allowed, and the hard stuff - I haven't had them very much since it seems to make me retain water. . .

Maria, my favorites are the cookie dough and the honey nougat - I like the honey ones for breakfast - I also do like the caramel; they have a nice gooey center.

Jen! Glad that you're back safe and sound. . .

Have a great POP day, chickies

[Jibbelle]

It looks like the cookie dough la lites are getting good reviews! I may have to try a box of them. I just bought 45 Luna bars yesterday (on ebay) but I will need another box of lites to last until they get here.

Here are a couple recipies for today!

Theme: CHICKEN!

Chicken Marsala
1 Protein, 2 Vegetables

6 or 8 ounces of boneless/skinless chicken breast
1 cup of fresh mushrooms
5 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons of water
1/8 teaspoon of Morton Lite Salt
1/4 cup dry Marsala or cooking sherry

· With meat mallet, pound chicken to 1/4 inch thickness.
· Spray skillet with Pam. Preheat over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until tender and no long pink. Remove chicken and keep warm.
· Add mushrooms, green onion, water and salt to skillet. Cook until mushrooms are tneder and most of the liquid has evaporated. Add Marsala or cooking sherry to skillet. Heat through.
· Serve chicken topped with vegetables.


Chicken Parmesan
1 Protein, 2 Vegetables, 1 Dairy (4 ounces)

6 or 8 ounces of boneless/skinless chicken breast
1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
5 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup skim milk
1 cup of frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

· Combine Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Roll chicken in mixture to coat lightly. Reserve any remaining cheese mixture. Place chicken in baking dish.
· Spray small skillet with Pam. Saute onion until tender. Stir in flour. Add milk all at once. Cook until thickened; stir in spinach.
· Spoon spinach over chicken; sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture.
· Bake at 350" for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.


Cheese and Apple-Stuffed Chicken
1 Protein, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fruit, 1 Diary (4 ounces)

6 or 8 ounces boneless/skinless chicken breast
1 small apple, divided
1 ounces reduced-fat mozzarella or cheddar cheese, shredded
5 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup Herbox very low sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon water


· With meat mallet, pound chicken to 1/4 inch thickness
· Chop half the apple; slice the other half. Top chicken with chopped apple and cheese. Roll-up, folding in sides. Secure with toothpicks or string.
· Arrange apple slices and green onion in a baking dish. Top with chicken. Mix cold water and cornstarch; pour over rolled chicken breast and sliced apple.
· Bake at 350" for 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.

[brittyboo07]

Morning!!!

My center opens in about an hour so i plan on leaving about that time to go WI. According to my scale at home i have now lost the 3 lbs i gained over the holidays but we shall see what the center scales say. I didnt get everything in yesterday but i have been doing better at least lol. I think im getting sick the sneezing has started lol.

Anyway big news on the work front. We are moving locations. So for the next month i will be extra busy getting everything moved and cleaned at both locations. The bad thing is i start back to school on the 18th so that will be fun work, school and moving all at the same time. I will probably start packing a few things here and there today that i know i wont need until the move. But it should be fun im excited.

Ok so favorite lite hummmm..... i would have to say peanut butter and caramel. Im actually not a big fan of caramel however i really do enjoy these bars they have just enough but not to much in them and they are like a rice crispy treat. Speaking of that everyone will be happy to know that i didnt leave my bars at home today! :cb:

Oh and Marcie i love that you are putting up the receipes up for everyone thats so great. I have the cookbook at home but never thought about sharing it like that. Your such a smart chickie!

Now onto the biggest looser. Is anyone here wondering what the heck Gary and Ryan were thinking? I mean when they were talking last night they even said to each other if we pick Moe one of us will win. I think they might have screwed theirselves over. And also it makes no sense for Ryan to vote off Lisa and then he kept Kelly. I mean he said he was playing to protect himself. I dont think he did that last night. Now having said that im really excited that Kelly actually made it to the final show. Oh and i didnt know that Moe was from Nashville! I live about an hour away from Nashville. He was on the news here this morning. Now if you saw at the end where it said he has now lost 80 lbs well he has lost over 80 but my mom didnt tell me exactly how much just that it was over 80. I also know where he works out haha. Cant wait for the final show next week when everyone will be back.

Ok well im starting to feel hungry now so im gonna run and have me some breakfast and then do a little work before i head out to the center. Ill check back later.

Britt

[Star]

:coffee: Morning.....I have BIG news...

:bb: Katie's (DIL) water broke and is doing well in hospital right now.....We will have the little :bb: - Princess :angel: Diva. :cb: Her due date is January 28th, but she spent the night in the hospital on New Year's Eve and has been having mild contractions ever since. This is her first and she is very happy to be in the safety of the hospital. Plus we got like 6 inches of snow last night, so there was several reasons to be worried about her being safe. :crossed:

I'll keep you all posted - Hugs.......

Star/Biker Grannie

[lisalutzi]

Star...that's great news!!! I hope labor goes quickly for her.

Marcie...it's really great of you to post the recipes from the cookbook. I have a copy at home and have made many of them. I thought the Chicken Parmesan (included in your last post) was good but reminded me more of Chicken Florentine. I'm thinking that they labeled that one wrong. I've never heard of Chicken Parmesan without any kind of tomato sauce.

My favorite bar is definitely the Caramel. Besides that, I also like the Peanut Butter and Mint. In addition, I also like the Cafe au Lait and Hot Chocolate (which each count as a lite). Once in a great while, I save up a fruit and starch and have an LA Biscotti with either the Cafe au Lait or the Hot Chocolate. It's almost like having a real dessert.

I have been doing LAWL since early September. I have stayed POP the entire time with two minor slips - an extra 1/2 protien at a Christmas party in early December (just couldn't resist the steamed clam appetizer) and 1/2 cup saurkraut on New Years Day. I have felt satisfied with the amount of food on my plan all along. But now that I'm within 5 lbs of my goal, I am hungry ALL the time. I started on Gold but was switched to Blue within the first week because it just wasn't enough food for me. I'm still on Blue and losing at a slower pace. You would think that after losing 33 lbs that I would need fewer calories to get through my day, but I'm just so hungry all of the sudden. Since my loss has slowed some as I'm getting close to my goal, more than one of the counselors has commented that I should consider moving to Green. But Green has so much less food than Blue, I would never make it! Any ideas on what's going on here? Maybe it's just psychological because I know that I will be able to eat more when I get to stabilization and maintenance and the closer that gets the more I'm anticipating it?

[vibrantecho]

Morning! I finished my TO down about 2.5 pounds...I'd like to chase off another pound at least by the end of the week. We shall see. I'm actually kind of missing my trusty juice this morning! I'm going to try for true POP today. I didn't really dress for weigh in, though, in heavy wide-leg pants and a sweater (it is COLD here today!), so maybe not today. :no:

BL: I was sad to see Mo go, but I think it's neat that the end will be a "real" competition between three of the top performers. I definitely think that they should have based "weight loss" on body fat composition, not just pounds lost (or even percentage of body weight lost). But be that as it may, I think Ryan deserves to win simply because neither of the other two are anywhere near his total loss - pounds, percentages, body fat ratios - really, he IS the biggest loser! Assuming he can keep it up out in the real world, of course.

I loved the "train the trainer" part! I thought Jillian was kind of a poor sport, but like someone (kelly?) said, she's a control freak so it was to be expected. But most importantly, I think it really crystalized for the contestants (and the viewing public) that they actually have learned something about how to keep up their routines without having a trainer in their face every day.

Lites: I like the chocolate crunch absolutely the best. I also like honey nougat - I also tend to eat them in the a.m. instead of chocolate. The cookie dough ones are all right - they taste like cookie dough the same way a DeLite spread with cream cheese tastes like cheesecake, I bet. The caramel ones taste great, but something about the texture of the crispies turns me off. Double chocolate is good for those really strong chocolate cravings or as a special treat, but I couldn't eat them every day!

Auditgirl - welcome back! I'm glad you had a good trip and I hope you feel better soon!

Marcie - make sure you look for the "Herbox Very Low Sodium" boullions, regular boullion is LOADED with sodium. They are in green (chicken) or red (beef) boxes, about 3 inches square. Took me forever to find them on the shelf the first time I went looking for them!

Julie, I know we can have regular pasta once in a while, it's just that DH and I have decided we like the whole wheat better! :shrug:

I think a couple more posts have come in since I started typing - I'm going to go read then I'll be back - lol!

Fiona

[Mitchypoo]

I lost 3.6 lbs. on my 2 day TO! :cb: :dance: We went over everything, and I'm on the Red Plan for now. It's a little confusing but i think i'm ok, i have things planned for the next couple days. I'll get more familiar. I woke up feeling great and have more energy. They gave me a variety box of the LA Lite's and a loose one of the Caramel, which was really good. It seems like this is going to be too much food, but again, i'm going to just do it and see.

Congrats Star! How exciting!

Hope you all have a great day!

[Tams]

Star- that 's great news, please keep us posted.

My fav LA lites are the chocolate crunch, honey nougat and double chocolate. I have to go w/i today and I've only seen a .2lb loss on my home scale. I've been exactly the same for 3 days and have been OP. I don't know what' going on. Maybe my body just likes being 172!

[auditgirl]

Star-Congrats!!! let us know when the little one arrives!!!

Michele-Good job during TO, it's so great to see the scale moving in the right direction. I remember thinking it seemed like a lot of food in the beginning too, but now if I don't eat protein I'm pretty hungry.

Lisa-I had a friend who moved to green during her last few pounds and actually started gaining. It wasn't enough food and her body was starvation mode. do you exercise at all, perhaps you could tell your center you've been exercising and need more food.

Fiona-Glad TO was successful for you, I plan to do it as soon as i'm feeling better. I'm off to the doctor and hope she can help!

Jen

[auditgirl]

Just had a thought...haven't seen my doctor since last year around this time...wonder what she'll say about the weight loss or LAWL in general....

[sammyboy]

Morning Chicks!

So glad to see everyone up and at em this morning! I have a dentist appointment that I am just dreading! Teeth cleaning was bad enough but throw in braces on top of that and let the fun begin!!

Lisa-We were about the same place, I started LA at 156, had a goal of 125, by the time I started nearing the 130's my body was like enough, this is good enough, I had had it with the whole dieting thing, they never put me on green as they thought I exercised three days a week and I made it to 127. I think unless you are really short it is hard to maintain that 125 mark, they discouraged it all along. I know it is totally up to you and if that is where you are comfortable great but listen to your body, it may be trying to tell you something! I don't know how much it really changes in 5 pounds, but one of my counselors suggested 130-127 as a cushion and I have been happy with that!! Good luck, why don't they have you try gold vs. green or blue??

My favorite lite is the PB for sure! I am only allowed one in maintenance so I have been planning out my day as to when it will be most satisfying!!

Star-grandbaby 2, how exciting! How lucky to have a diva! My mom has hoped for a diva 6 times over and no luck!!! I know she loves the boys but a girl would be nice to whip them all in shape!! I hope all goes well with deliveray! I can't remember, is she in same town as you, I thought one of your sons lived in Texas still?? How was Christmas with David? Noah was totally into it this year first time ever!

SY-how are you and how was TO?

Fiona- so glad TO is over for you!!

Jen-welcome back and feel better!

Britt-school starts for me Monday night and I am dreading going back!! I am so close, it is kind of like the weight loss thing, close but it feels so far away!!

Okay, have to get ready to face the dentist demon today! I think Noah and I are going to the Incredibles as we have free tickets and it will be like our last big hoorah before I go back to school! DH got his job offer he has been waiting for so he starts the 18th of Jan, and I become a single mom 4 days a week, not sure I am up for this, in fact I am ready to bawl sitting here typing the obvious!

Oh yea, BL was great! I want Gary to win, for some reason I have really started liking him, maybe it is the dimples or the accent but I really like him! I was glad to see Mo go I think they only kept him as long as they did because he was so nice and I was glad Lisa got voted off several weeks ago and Kelly and Ryan deserve to be there!! I can't wait for next weeks episode!

Hugs

[sammyboy]

Congrats Mitchypoo!

Hang in there the first few days always seem overwhelming but you will figure out a routine and it wil