Weight Watchers - Supporting Each Other On Our Weight Loss Journey

It's great to be starting a new thread as the old one was getting too long! Join those of us who have been chatting for awhile and we will help you as you will help us.
This is a great thread, I think many of us are really getting someplace with this and it helps that we are encouraging each other!
We have a group of great people who are posting what is going on in their lives and we are working together. Sometimes I feel like our group is kind of like a mini dose of a WW meeting on a daily basis. We're making it work!
C'mon and join us and we'll help each other. We talk about what works and what doesn't work. We share recipes and we applaud and we sympathize!
Linda

:hug:

I'd like to join if no one minds :)

I restarted WW three weeks ago. I had 1.5lb losses the first two weeks, but I knew I had not been as strict with myself as I needed to be... Then fell back into some comfort eating for a few days at the end of last week and nearly undid my initial work. I'm back on track again and find I have held the 3lbs loss... Thankfully.... And am going to keep on going!

My main source of anxiety right now (anxiety which easily causes the emotional comfort eating of last week) is financial... Money is the scarcest it's ever been in my life right now. I'm dealing, though, making sacrifices and banning myself from eating out till things get better. However, my fiance (who I'm LDR-ing with, he's in Canada) is always talking about how little money we have, how being poor sucks (btw, I don't consider us poor. We can still pay rent and pay for things like internet at home), how if we had more money we could do x y and z... And it's driving me up the wall. He's so fatalist about it all. Last night I just had to go to bed after talking to him, or else I would have found something to dig into in the kitchen. I just don't know how to handle him and his negativity all the time... I'm generally an optimist and he's most definitely a pessimist... What's that about opposites attracting? Do I need him in my life to temper my boundless optimism? Gah. I just don't think focusing on what we don't have is helpful at all. It just causes stress and concern and anxiety.

Anyway. This issue is the main one right now that makes me desire to consume copious amounts of comfort food (buckets of ice cream...). Thought I'd share, just in case any of you wise ladies have advice on how to deal with someone so stubbornly fixated on the negative that it starts to rub off...

Totally OP day planned today, though :) It'll be great.

Happy Wednesday all!

I had a really, really good eating day yesterday. After dinner I kept thinking that I would have dessert, and before I knew it, it was bedtime! I didn't really want sf pudding, and I didn't want to blow it on other junk, so I guess I was ok without anything.

I just looked at my calendar, and in exactly 4 months from tomorrow, I will be on vacation at the shore. I really need to step my efforts up instead of half-doing it. I am challenging myself to lose at least 8 lbs each month. I really want to be comfortable wearing summer clothes...I'm not even thinking about a bathing suit, I just want to be ok wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt! I don't want to feel self conscious and have it be a dark cloud over my week.

Laura-Thanks for the compliment on my age. LOL...I FEEL old! It doesn't help that I go to school with a bunch of 18 and 19 yr olds! I turn the big 2-7 on Friday. That 30 mark is looming! LOL!

Linda-Congrats on the loss! I know you were worried; I'm glad it turned out ok!

I just feel so excited to start the day. It has already warmed up to 33 degrees...it says it's supposed to be a high of 40, but I bet it will be higher than that. It is sunny, the sky is beautiful blue! I have my cake decorating class this afternoon, so I'm excited for that, and I have a cake "order" for a friend due on Friday! I'm just feeling very positive today!

Hope everyone else has a cheery day!

Hi everyone,
Well, had my WI last night, and I lost 1.5, so I'm happy with that. I just like to see my ticker keep going down. This week, I'm really going to work the core program. Last week I really was pretty lax with my flex points, so I just need to keep better track. Does anyone know if the FF, SF pudding is CORE?

Paige-I'm right there with ya in terms of the sun and the warmer temps, just changes everything!

Have a great day everyone.

I'm going to copy part of what I posted last night as it is in the other thread - but I do see that Paige saw hers!

Erica - I reported my good weeks and my bad weeks. Everyone here is so supportive for both! I had to get rid of all the chocolate to break the horrible habit. I am always able to have it back in the house after a week or so of not eating it. Chocolate is really a Red Light food for me along with ice cream.

Ann - slow and steady really is the answer and the mantra I need to adopt. One of the big losers highlighted over at WW said you need to find a mantra and keep repeating it over and over and over. Slow and steady may be mine.

DJsmommy (is it Barb?) - yes give us your sister's name and I'll definitely keep her and your family in my prayers. Glad you had such a good weekend. Some small delights to help offset the bad huh?

Haylo - whatever route you choose to do, meetings or at home, just keep coming back for support. People here are great and it's a daily fix when needed.

Emma - you'll have to give us some insight on maybe how the WW program is different in NZ - besides the weight conversions of course. We have a member who attended meetings in Europe this past summer and she has some interesting things to tell at our meetings about differences. It almost sounds like the "try out" the changes on Europe before they bring them here.

britomart - welcome!!!! Emotional eating is a huge obstacle to overcome but you can do it. The first key is to recognize it for what it is and to stop before you do it. I'm right there with you. I eat for all the wrong reasons and being hungry is not always the reason. Good Luck and keep coming here. There's great support here.

Noelle and everyone else, check in - would love to hear from you and how your week is going.

WHOO HOOO - another great day behind me. Right on track and rolling through to my WI day tomorrow. I'm jived and excited. It's been a while since I've felt this way. Hope everyone is getting the warmer weather that we're getting and seeing the beautiful sun

Hey guys,

How have you all been. I believe I missed alot since I last posted. It's been awhile for me and I have been so out of control :?: :o :devil: . ALot going on here so I think I can finally get back on plan after tonight's weigh in. I want this off so bad. I have to get a control over my emotional eating because that is what is sabotaging me. My boyfriend went away yesterday for work and I am truely missing him and I want to have total control when he comes home for his turnaround.

Weigh in is tonight so I think I may have to add on maybe 7 pounds to my tracker. I know lot is retaining fluids but I won't let it get me down. I did it to myself so I have to deal with it.

Congrats on the losses I misses, welcome to the newbies, and hey to the regulars......

Take care and talk to you soon,
Kim

Erica-Yes, the ff sf pudding is core. I can only find them in the mix, and then just use skim milk. In the cups there are either ff or sf, but not both in one.

Kim-Glad to see you back!

Re-started WW today, am already hitting the sugar cravings though, i'm a real sweet tooth, think it'll be harder this time than last time i used WW, hopefully i'll stick to it though.
It's great to hear about how well everyone is doing, keep it up!!! Hope i can be saying the same in a week after i weigh myself :D
How many different WW schemes are there now :?: Mine's mega old, 123 Success... don't even know if that was what they called it in the states as that's where most of you guys are from...

Hi all, congratulations on the losses. Paige it is so awesome you sound so upbeat and motivated. How exciting about you cake order for Friday. Enjoy your class this afternoon. I know that is a given you seem very passionate about it. Laura I think I will use that as my mantra too if that is okay with you. I think I stole it from Linda. I recall her using it before and I thought that sounds like me.
Erica way to go on your loss last night. I also can't wait to go on holidays we are going south for March break. It will be nice I am sure.
Barb, I will add your sister, you and your family to my prayers. May I also ask my other friends to pray for your sister?
Hi Hannah and Brit, welcome.
Welcome back Kim, I was worried about you as I had read in a post that your boyfriend would be going away for work. Hopefully the time will go by fast and it won't be too difficult for you. Did you get that huge snow storm?
Linda thanks so much for starting this post and way to go on your weight loss last night.
Hi Ginny and Noelle and Emma.
I hope everyone is doing well.
I am so happy to see sunshine and being able to toboggan today in this nice weather. My butt got wet tobogganing though. I know too much info.
Take Care
Ann

Jaime, you are welcome to join us, of course! Money issues are really rough. I've been there. Weight Watchers costs money and sometimes I feel like eating healthy costs more as well. Maybe some of us can help brainstorm about ways to save money and eat well. I do know that when times are the hardest, I really read over and circle things on my weekly sales flyers from the grocery store. I clip coupons and try very hard to take advantage of sales. I try to make big batches of things like soups, stews and the like and freeze things sometimes.
What are the best buys right now for produce? I know fresh peppers are through the roof, last week the red ones (which we love, of course) were $4.49 a pound. So, what is a better deal?
Paige, I am glad you are feeling positive. Are you still following CORE? Are you noticing that you are less "out of control" both physically and emotionally?
Erica, yes the SF/FF pudding is CORE if you make it with FF milk, which I do. I really enjoy it, well... let's clarify by saying I really enjoy the chocolate variety.
Speaking of chocolate that was what I gave up for Lent last year, and today is the first day of Lent and I have decided to give up soda. I usually have at least one diet soda per day and I really kind of "live for it". I get sick of water and it's something with a flavor, but I will commit to it. Who knows, maybe it might even help with my weight loss? I gave up salt one year and that was really hard to do. Catholics generally give up something for Lent and I am a Protestant, but one time our pastor suggested it as a way of "recognizing the sacrifice" and giving yourself a reminder of what someone else gave up for me (all of us, or whatever). Since then, I have chosen to do this on my own each year. It's kind of a personal challenge of self control, I think, and sacrifice. So, tonight I go to Ash Wednesday services and from today until Easter, it's no soda for me!
Laura, I like your slow and steady mantra. Mine is "never give up, never surrender". I must say that when I am bone tired that I drag myself along and say that over and over to myself. I literally almost gave up on Monday... not sure what it was, but I was exhausted and just felt like gooey cheese and comfort food. I found myself wondering if I could just give up for a few days and have what I wanted. Luckily, I didn't do anything. I took a nap instead. Do any of you feel overwhelmed and like giving up if you are over-tired?
Welcome Hannah! Schemes? Hmmm.... it's been awhile if the last plan you were on was 1,2, 3 success. I think that was about 6 years ago?
However, the 1,2,3 plan is similar to what they now call FLEX, I think?
CORE is different and there is a list of special foods that you can eat, this is the plan I am on, but you can choose which of these plans suite you and go from week to week on different ones according to what is going on in your life.
Ann, I may have been the one to say "slow and steady wins the race", but I forget! It's true, though. I think about the old fable about the tortoise and the hare, I am definitely the tortoise - but I will not give and I will get there.
I often get "jealous" when I sit in WW meetings and hear people announce proudly their large weight losses of things like 6 pounds, or 7 pounds in a week, or something like that. You all know the type. They show up and they are all excited and "perfect' and then three weeks lately, you don't see them again. Then, maybe a year later they show up again and do the same thing, having put all the weight back on again - and then some. I'm not going to be one of those people. I lose a bit each time. I have a hard time, I fight it sometimes and want my "old life" back with all the bad eating habits. But, then I square my should and "move on".
My phrase, "never give up, never surrender" is something that repeats in my head and I know that I must never give up. I've sat there in WW meetings and heard them talk about having a lifetime plan and a new way of eating that you can stick with the rest of your life. I finally "get it" and I know I can do this. In fact, I just HAVE to do this as there is no going back, unless I want to spend all my spare money and time on doctor's visits for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems, cancer, diabetes, etc. No way, not me!
Linda

You guys have really motivated me to come back to WW, this is my plan and I am sticking to it. You guys may have even convinced me to go back to a meeting. I am sure they are sick of me joining and re-joining but oh well. I guess this was another reason why I have been hesitant to go back, I don't want them to think what is wrong with this girl, she can't stick to plan. I counted calories Monday and Tuesday and noticed that although I was sticking to my calorie range I didn't seem to be taking into account fat. I think it will be easier in the long run for me to put the three numbers together into one (calories,fat,fiber) then for me to have to calculate three different totals at the end of the day. Today I calculated points and it just seemed like second nature.

Jaime: I am right there with you on the money thing. I have a good job and get paid well but I am still suffering the consequences of paying off student loans, and credit cards from when I was a student it seems like my pay check comes and goes.

Linda (derrydaughter): good point about putting the money in now vs. later, I guess I hadn't really thought about it that way. I like your motivation to stick with the meetings no matter what. I too need to figure out what to give up for lent funny thing is I thought earlier maybe chocolate, then I thought maybe soda.

Haylo - I lost track of how many times I've joined WW - but I'm probably a whole lot older than you and I remember exchanges. I have NEVER been made to feel bad that I'm rejoining. We have a leader who joined 5 times before she finally "got it" and made goal. You can do it just like anyone else here. It's all a state of mind.

I just had to come here tonight to tell you I got a NSV today. Someone told me they can't believe how thin my face looks and my legs. THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!!!!! I didn't jump up and down but I surely wanted to. WHOO HOO!!! WI tomorrow

Good Evening ladies,

I weighed in tonight and I am starting fresh tomorrow morning as soon as I get up. I gained of course.....I've been gaining and losing the same pounds for the past three months.

We didn't get the snowstorm here on my side of the island Newlifestyle. St. John's got hit hard but luckly we didn't. We had alot of snow a few weeks ago and I think that was enough. This is night number two that I am alone.....I think I can make it until Duane comes home in 4 weeks. Bedtime is the worse.....I'm not use to sleeping alone and I get cold at night. Oh well lots of bedclothes and flannel PJ's...lol

Anyway better get DS off to bed and finish watching American Idol.

TTYS
Kim

Rosegarden: I am glad to know I am not the only one who has started and restarted. Congrats on you NSV.

Good morning all.
I hope you all have a great day.

Ann

Good Morning - I just wanted to ask if it would be ok if I started posting here. I know some of you from other threads. I just started going to WW meeting on 2-2-07. I had been trying to lose weight on the Winning Points from on the the WW Cookbooks that I purchased back in 2003. I lost 25 lbs last year between July and November. Then I injuried my knee and had to give up walking so I put back on some of the weight. Now I am trying to get in some walking but I still have to be careful because of my knee. I have lost a little over 3 pounds so far this month. I had freinds staying with us the first two weeks I was doing WW this month...needless to say I didn't do as well as I thought I would...but that is about to change. I am doing the Flex plan. Thanks for you support.

Good morning everyone,
So nice to see how encouraging and positive everyone is. My WW meeting is like that, and truthfully I'm botherd by the fact WW changed their meetings to only 30 minutes now. I really enjoy my meeting and get so much out of them. Anyway, I'm just sitting here trying to wake up before I head out to the gym. I feel like I really need to dig my heels in at this point, as I get closer to goal and it's going to get harder and harder.

Anybody have any good CORE things they've been trying lately? Last night I sauteed some garlic, red onion, spinach and mushrooms in some chicken broth and white wine. Then I tossed in some couscous and FF feta at the end, it was sooo good! Can't believe it's all CORE!

I'll check in later.....

Good morning everyone! Glad to see so many new faces! Scalewatcher - I've seen you around since I came back to the site in August. Glad your knee is back on the mend and you are back to program. Remember this is about a lifestyle change forever and some days/weeks/months are better than others. It's all about choices. That's what I love about the program.

Erica - my absolute favorite meal is the following:

Cook Whole Wheat Pasta
Take the following and toss them in a hot skillet with olive oil

onions
matchstick carrots - cook until the crunchy part is gone (not mushy)

Add to the skillet

Slivered zucchini
diced tomatoes
mushrooms

Feel free to add seasoning to taste and cook just a few minutes - do not make them mushy

Toss over a serving of the hot pasta - Add Fat Free Parmesan or reg Parmesan for some points. I feel like a chef and it is so yummy and filling.

For some protein, you can add some strips of cooked chicken

Hey thanks Laura!
That sounds really yummy. And you answered my question w/o even asking if there was FF parm. cheese out there, yeah!

Laura: that meals sounds great.


I hope everyone has a great day. I am going to try to go sign up for the plan today depending on what time i get off of work.

OOOOHHHH YEEEAAAHHHH!!!!!! I knew this week felt great. Down 5 lbs!!!!

I also realize that part of that is that stoopid 3 lbs that I gained last week and probably were other factors at work but hey! This is the lowest I've been and I'm 1 1/4 from 10% - closer, closer, closer

Wow, Laura!!!! Way To Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That recipe sounds great, i might just give it a try :D

i had no idea 123 success was so old!! i was just given the books by a neighbour when i was younger to try and give me something easy to follow, well it was easy enough to follow before so i guess i'll stick to it and see how it works out i guess.

Rosegarden, well done on the loss! keep going for 10%, yay :carrot: !

Hope all is well with everyone, take care
Hannah
xxx

Hello ladies, I've been going kooky and off plan this past week--so many things going on with my family, socially and with my physical therapy, it just wears me out. I have to be honest and say that I haven't kept track of my food either for the past week. This morning though, I went to the grocery store and restocked my work fridge and got things that I needed to be OP. Having the things you need at hand definitely gives you an edge rather than just flying by the seat of your pants.

Laura, congrats on your recent success!! I'm proud of you for posting of your troubles and then overcoming them like a champ. You will hit that 10% next time, I feel it! :cheer2:

Paige, you too! :cheer:

Barb, I am keeping you and your sister in my thoughts and prayers. Keep your head up and your spirits high.

I know I've missed a few days but just wanted to say hello to all and welcome to the newbies. :grouphug:

Hi everyone, thank you so very much for all of your prayers and thoughts..... She is free from colon cancer Yipee, now it is the breast and she will not know for sure until next month about that . She is starting a new insurance and we are hoping That it will not be considered a pre exsisting sickness, and she will be covered. I swear that is the stupidest thing in the world...You would think with breast cancer it would be ok. Who knows we just have to wait and see. I also just talked to my other sis and her dh just found out he has prostate cancer. Can you believe it.....This is unreal, I feel so bad for him he just had mouth cancer last year and now he has prostate.... I think at this point the doc said all he needs is radiation.... they just had a second opion and this is all new news....I will find out more as time goes on........It makes you wonder what is causing all this cancer in people. I am sick to my stomach for sadness for everyone.....

Congrats to all of you on your weight loss. Whoo you are doing great.......5 pds rose garden ...wow

Sorry I have not been checking in and did not get to read everything. Believe it or not my kids had a late start yesterday due to fog and ice. So I lost my morning and I am still trying to catch up on everything...From Vacation to all the days off they have had......We are leaving tom to go to our home town for a dinner dance. My dh family puts it on for a fund raiser for people with Downs...He has a family member with it and we do alot to raise money for that cause. There will be 450 people there. That was what I was baking for...The sweet table.... Thank goodness I gave up sweets for lent.....Any way looking forward to an evening out.......Again thank you for the prayers ,my sis name is Theresa.. and bro n law is David...I will check in with you all on Monday........ Barb

Haylo, how many fat calories would you allow yourself in a day if you were just counting calories? Sounds like it would take lots of time and effort.
Fat is so odd, I used to think (and so did everyone?) that ALL fat was bad and now WW is requiring that we all have our "essential oils" each day. Whoops, I didn't eat mine today. Tomorrow, I shall do better.
Laura, way to go with that NSV!!! I, too, have re-joined WW more times than I can remember. I lost my way and then recognized it's the only thing that I can do and stick with and finally get to where I need to be.
I really think that I have finally "got it" in terms of eating a certain way for the rest of my life. And, Haylo, we ALL will spend the money in the end at doctor's offices, on medications and even on an early grave if we don't truly get this right. It's a matter of life and death. I hate sounding morbid, but I am 52 years old now. I'm scared. I know I have to get it right, it's now or never for me. Do I want to live only into my mid-60s, or even LESS than that as I have had such an unhealthy lifestyle or would I rather be in my 80s, or even older than that, and healthy. I would love to live to see grandchildren and maybe live to see the silly world we live in be at peace, for once (sad to think that might not happen in my lifetime) and be of sound mind and body. It's up to me. No one else holds the fork and shovels the food into my mouth. I control my own destiny.
Kim, I'm an American Idol fan as well, however, this year there doesn't seem to be anyone I'm really keen on. Last year, I loved several of them, though not the guy who actually won it, oddly.
Hmmm..... I'm thinking you need to have what I refer to as an attitude adjustment. Think about your situation, Kim, your darling partner is away for four weeks. This gives you an opportunity, I think, not to be influenced by someone else's bad eating habits! (I live with Mr. Ice Cream Every Night, I know this well) If you think about it, this time alone can be a wonderful learning opportunity and you can control exactly what is in the house. Your DS (son) is how old? You can certainly have nothing but the healthiest of foods and no one can stand in your way. He can come home to a thinner and more amazing YOU!!!! You go girl!
Scalewatcher, no problem with you joining in! You sound like you have been doing quite well. So, keep up the good work!
Erica, since when is white wine core???? Your sautéed stuff sounded really good to me, though! I would have done the same, and just counted the wine points. I kind of strayed from CORE yesterday for a little bit, but am right back on my usual eating plan today. I'm having a tough time emotionally with some hard family related decisions and I am a real emotional eater. When life is on an even keel, so am I, when I get my emotions worked up, I'm kind of lost.
I've not found any FF parmesan "out there" and I keep looking all the time. FF feta is hard to find, but I get it at one market in particularly.
Laura, great loss, good job!!!!!
OK, now, you must share what you ate that you think contributed to this great loss! Enquiring minds need to know!
Hannah, if 1,2,3 works for you, and you can't afford to go to meetings and pick up the new plan, etc. then go for it. It worked for many people and I think it's still a very good plan. WW needs to "tweak" it's plans periodically, either when new research is done or in order to just have some new promotional stuff to offer people, and keep them spending money, of course. There will be some major differences from what you are doing and what we are doing, but what truly counts is your motivation and your ability to work it!
Barb, any word on your sister? How are you?
Well, that's it for me. I am going to try to "chill" emotionally. Peace!!!!

What did I eat?

Well, first of all. I re-read Week 1 as if it was totally new. I pulled out my book and pt finder for every item I ate to check the points, even if I was pretty sure that I knew.

I switched to non-fat plain yogurt - 1 cup w/Splenda and a fresh fruit. This week it was pineapple. Heavenly and filling. So that was 1 milk in every day. Then I made sure I got my glass of 1/2% milk every day and I measured everything. Including the milk. I ate all my fruits, all my veggies. Probably 90% of my healthy oils (that one is a HARD one to get in). I had a multi-vitamin. I got all my vitamins in. I wrote down EVERYTHING I ate and drank even if it was just coffee and tea. I wrote down the snacks at night, even if I had enough points left or if I didn't, I subtracted from my 35 flex points. I got some exercise in. I change from a negative attitude to a positive attitude. I quit beating myself up. I ended up eating 20 of my 35 pts. I never felt deprived. I tried a couple new items this week. I switched it up.

I know lengthy but that's exactly how I beat it this week.

I'm off for 2 days to Chicago on a girls weekend shopping trip but being 1 1/4 lb from 10%, you KNOW I'm going to be counting everything again this week.

Hello ladies!
Hoping you don't mind if I start posting here as well. I'm on a couple other threads too, and it's so motivating to communicate w/several people who are going through exactly what you're going through! some of you I know from the other thread, glad to see ya! *waves*
I look forward to getting to know you all!

Hi all,

I know what you mean derry and that is the way I am staring to think. I have four weeks to get this in my head and get on a healthier road and become thinner before he comes home. I will do this.....

I had my swimming lesson tonight and boy wasn't it fun. I had a great time and did wonderful for the whole hour. My instructor is really amazed with my friend and me. I felt great when I got out of the pool tonight.

I better go now and iron my uniforms for the weekend. Talk to you soon

Kim

Laura, I'm glad your post was lengthy about what you did for the week, I'm proud of you! Keep up the great work. I am inspired to do, as they say, "keep on, keepin on". I've been rather lax about writing down what I've been eating. However, being on CORE does allow for that, but I've not been writing down the non-core foods. With that in mind, perhaps I'll start just a quick flex point tracker for my 35 points?
I've actually done so well eating only CORE foods that I seldom go over just 3 or so FP per day. I have said before that I save up the majority of my FP for the weekends. This weekend (by the way, I won't be on line) we are going away tomorrow morning and coming home Sunday afternoon.
AJ's Mom, welcome and it's interesting how we have DJmom and now AJmom.
Kim, brrrr, swimming in Newfoundland in February just amazes me. I am so proud of you that you actually go out on a cold winter's night and do this for yourself. I know you will do this! If you can swim in February ( I don't care how much they heat up that pool inside, it's just cold!) you can do anything!
Today will be a better day for me, I hope. I was on program yesterday except for four melba toasts along with my lunch. By the way, I did have my healthy oils at lunch yesterday on my salad, I had just forgotten.
We are eating out tonight, I think, but I think I can be on program somewhat at the place we are going, I'll end up with white rice rather than brown, but I can order plain fish and veggies there.
We are going to my in-laws tomorrow and I do not know what will be serviced for food there, always a problem. We'll see how it all goes.
Linda

Good morning to everyone.

I have WI this morning.:eek: :yikes:

I don't have much time right now just wanted to say thanks to all for the support.

I'll post my results later.

BTW congrats on the big loss Laura.:hug:

Good morning all...

I'm not really sure what today and the weekend is going to have in store for me eating wise. Tonight dh is bringing home my favorite cake for my bday (I asked for it, actually) so I'm going to really try to be op other than that. Tomorrow dds are staying the night with my mil and dh and I are going out to eat and then going to go hang out with another couple. I think tomorrow will not be op at all! I'm not really sure how I feel about it because I don't think I've lost anything this week. I almost feel like saying forget it, I'll start fresh on Sunday or Monday.

Anyway...I'll probably check in with you all again later.

Paige, you can do this. I took my birthday weekend "kind of" off and still had a .6 loss when I weighed in on Tuesday, which actually surprised me.
BUT, I made some really good choices along with the birthday indulgences that I think saved me. Firstly, we had dinner out three nights in a row, plus I had two pieces of birthday cake - one on my son's birthday (Friday) and one on my own birthday (Sunday). What I did do right was to eat my regular CORE foods throughout the week. I drank extra water and when I did order in the resteraunts I had what I wanted, for the most part, but made my "sides" more reasonable. For example, instead of the fries I wanted at Longhorn Steak House, I chose mashed. For my salad dressing all three evenings that we were out, I chose oil and vinegar. I got in my healthy oils (they always use olive oil) and controled how much oil went into my salads. Dressings in resteraunts are such "unknowns". I use a bit of salt and pepper as well as the O+V and I think I save tons of points and with healthy oils, on CORE, you don't need to count the points at all! At Longhorn, I had Filet Mignon (CORE again!) and my side did require me to count points, but not all that much. On Saturday night, I had baked stuffed shrimp and I even dipped my shrimp/breading in the butter they gave me. Now, THAT is living! But, my side of a baked potato and again the salad with O+V were CORE. Just remember that the dressings and fancy sauces really are what to watch for when you go out. I did not order, as I always would have done in the past, an appetizer - where many points are I am sure. I still have bread, but asked for oil to dip it in, so only the points for the bread needed counting.
I had ONE glass of wine each evening as well, which was such a treat for me as I don't have it all the time. I enjoyed every bite and it was great "fun" as I equate "fun" with food, of course. The main thing I go out for is to enjoy my family/friends and get "waited on". My main "thrill" when I go out is the entree. So, I made sure that each time I ordered something that would be satisfying. I didn't feel deprived, I "lived" right along with my WW plan. I saved up flex points and was particularly well behaved during and after the weekend and I made it through.
The Linda pre-WW would have ordered completely differently. I would have also had ice cream on top of each of those pieces of cake, but I passed on that this time. I can have ice cream another day when the sun is warm and we go over on a Sunday drive to the beach and "celebrate" the arrival of spring. I have my WW frozen treats for 2 points each that deal with the ice cream related cravings or a small serving of frozen yogurt or "lite" ice cream on other days. I'm ok with that.
I think the worst thing you can do for yourself is to feel "punished" on your own birthday. I would have that cake, enjoy every bite and remember that it's only one day out of the year, sweetie! Enjoy yourself.
If you end up with gain, which I did expect that I would have had on Tuesday, so be it. The WAR is not over, it's only one battle. Slow and steady wins the race.
You have to take it all as just one day/one weekend and forgive yourself. One thing we all have to get past is the way we are as unforgiving of ourselves. It is perfectionism and no one is perfect, I'm sure not!
We are going to my in-laws for the weekend, for example. I have no clue what will be served. My MIL doesn't want me being an annoyance and showing up there with all sorts of dietary restrictions. It's bad enough that I have a food allergy and they have to always cater to that when I am there, so I keep my mouth shut and eat what I am served. I can have more of the CORE foods, and there are always those choices everywhere - you just need to look for them and eat very little of the rest.
Maybe I'll go for a walk (the broken toe is healing and with sturdy shoes, perhaps I'll be able to deal) and if not, it's just ONE weekend. Life happens to all of us. It's what we do in the long run and 85% of the time that is going to win this war, it might take some of us longer to acheive goal but if we get into this mode of thinking and "give up" that makes us feel like a failure. Don't be a failure, live with it and make good choices. If we just live our lives for once, then we are not setting ourselves up for failure.
Be kind to yourself and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! :hb: :woo: :hug:
Linda

Linda-Thanks for the pep talk! You are right, too. I haven't decided where I want to go yet for dinner tomorrow night, so I think I'll go online and look at some menus to help me make a decision. I don't usually let myself get a steak or something like that, but it's on core, so why not this time, right? I know we are going to be drinking at our friend's house, too...but I don't drink hardly ever, so one glass of wine kind of does me in!

You know what else I didn't realize? I didn't realize that the healthy oils were core. I thought you had to take them out of your flex. What are the actual benefits of them?

Healthy oils are core, but remember that only 2 teaspoons are what you should have daily. But, if you dip bread in it, 2 teaspoons is about right for an average size dinner role. I've measured it, believe me!
Hmmm.... actual benefits of healthy oils. Let's consider that. It's very heart healthy, I know. Think about how you grease a car's engine or a machine (even my sewing machine needs lubricant). I guess our bodies need to run like a well oiled machine, so we NEED some oil in our diets. Where we go wrong is when we have too much of a good thing.
Some oils, like those trans fats and animal fats, clog the arteries. So, I guess the healthy oils lubricate and help things along? Just my own layman's thoughts, I am not a professional.
Omega 3 oils (fish oils) are supposed to also prevent cancer. I've done some reading on the Eskimo or Japanese diets, their culture, and the amount of cold water fish they eat really contributes to lower cancer rates, so there obviously must be something healthy about them!
Paige, what WOULD you order at certain types of resteraunts? Examine what the choices at each place offer you and think about your personal tastes. Look at the core lists of foods. Sirloin, Filet mignon and lean meats are on there. It's the rib eye and prime rib (I think prime rib, don't have my lists in front of me) that are not there. These red meats are "marbled" with fat, which does make them more tender or tastier to some people, but I'd actually enjoy a filet more anyway.
Also, if you like to drink beer, Beck's lite beer is only one point, it's the lowest in calorie of any beer on the market, and it's actually quite tasty. It's saved my neck more than once. Most resteraunts don't carry it, though, but for an at home beer - that is the brand to choose. If we all keep buying it and asking at a bar for it, though, sooner or later you'll see it available in dining establishments. Just think, you could have 2 beers and only spend 2 of your flex points! Sutter Home wines (not my favorite and not availalbe in resteraunts) are what I drink at home as 4 ounces is only 2 points, most other wines are 3 points for that amount.
You can do this!
Looking on line is a really great idea. Sit back with a nice cup of tea and read the menus. You'll have it all figured out ahead and not be "thrown" by a craving if you know ahead and kind of set your tastebuds up for a certain food.
Remember that if the group you are with orders appetizers, any clear liquid soup is core as well as bean types of soups like split pea. If you order french onion soup, ask for no toast and cheese over top. It's really quite good that way and then it would be CORE!
You'll really do ok, truly.
Good luck!
Linda

I am not a beer drinker, and I VERY rarely order drinks at a restaurant. I can't justify the price, ya know? Normally if I did order a drink, I like the "frou-frou" girly drinks, but after the beverage service class I took last semester, I've gotten to where I really enjoy a nice glass of wine, especially white. At least wine is much lower in points.

I think we are going to go to Pizzaria Uno; dh hasn't ever been there, and there is one down in Monroe now, and the couple that we're going to meet up with lives near there. I looked at their menu, and they offer a sirloin steak that comes with 1 side. I checked out their sides, and they have roasted veggies that sound yummy. So I think that will be my plan.

Thanks for all the advice, Linda, you are awesome!

Thanks, Paige, I don't know about awesome... just a bit more experienced with this plan.
Also, if you check out the Uno's vegetable soup, I think it's only 2 points and it MIGHT be CORE if you check your WW materials or Dottie's weight loss zone.
I'm sure you will be just fine!
Linda

Good afternoon everyone- I had my WI this morning and I was down 1.8 pounds. I am every excited.:D

Paige- :bday2you:

Linda- the way you explain core I think that when I hit another plateau I may switch to it for a while.

Happy Birthday Paige. I hope you birthday cake is awesome. Enjoy your dinner.
Hi Linda that is a lot of great advice.
Barb, I hope that you are doing well. I will keep you and your family, and Theresa and David in my prayers.
Congratulations Laura and Scalewatcher on your losses.
The recipes looked awesome that were posted. I tried doing core yesterday and I don't find it as easy as flex for me. I think with flex it is easier for me to gage what I have to eat. Oh well with time I am sure I will get it.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Take Care
Ann

Hey ladies, well, my WI didn't go too well this morning--I was up 2 lbs! I guess it's a reflection of my bad eating during the week huh? :lol: I did have to eat breakfast before WI which sucked, because I have to take my meds before going to therapy or else I want to keel over in pain... but enough excuses, I was up 2 lbs after a breakfast of shredded wheat, soy milk and fruit, oh and a bottle of water to wash down the pills. On the plus side though, my leader said since I ate breakfast today, I could really start eating breakfast before each WI and my progress should be shown from there. I dunno if I want to take her advice though, it just doesn't seem right to me to be eating before stepping on a scale :lol:. Only 2 more weeks of therapy though :crossed:

Paige, happy birthday young lady! :hb: Enjoy the cake and all the good food choices you CAN indulge in just for the day.

Ann, so you are trying Core out? Good luck with that, doesn't Linda make it seem so easy? I may give it a go if I stall out, I'm a little chicken though, because I know that flex has worked so well for me in the past, I just have to stick to it.

Linda, you always have such great advice. Enjoy your time w/the in-laws.

scalewatcher, congrats on your loss! :cp:

Barb, you have so much news to deal with right now w/your sis and BIL. They are both on my prayer list. My oldest sis had a recent scare and had to have a hysterectomy 2 weeks ago. She is healing well though, although it is difficult for her to move around. She has a 16 month old daughter they just adopted last year so we are helping with that. I don't know what I'd do if I lost a sister...

Welcome AJ's mommy :wave:

Laura, I don't know if I said this already but you did awesome girl! :bravo: Enjoy your weekend shopping trip.

Well, I have to go and make some dinner. Just baking a salmon filet w/some yogurt and dill. :hun: Have a great weekend everyone.

AHHHHHHHHH, I had written so much and then lost it so here I go again:

Linda: You are right about counting all those things fat,calories, fiber, it is a lot to write and as much as I hate to write stuff down, I think it just complicates things. I think it is much easier to just write down on number. I was going to go to a meeting yesterday but decided to go tomm. just because sat. seem to be easier. I am excited to get back on track. I agree with what you are saying about the Omega oils, I am not a professional in this area either but I too have heard of the many health benefits.

Paige: Happy B-Day



P.S. going back to the oil conversation: I had purchased an Omega complex at Sams it like 240 pills for no more then 14 dollars. The omega complex contains CLA (conjugated linolic acid) it is supposed to help with muscle-fat ratio. I learned this information one time when I went to GNC and told the guy that I had hypothyroisdism and that I wanted something to help support weight loss, but that was natural so he recommended an Omega Complex, while the CLA doesn't make you loose weight I have read that it does help with lean muscle and supposdly helps you retain this lean muscle for longer (of course with excercise). I don't know how true this is but in the long run, like I said before I have learned that Omega's are good for heart,skin,hair,nails, cancer prevention. Oh yeah, if your allergic to fish I wouldn't take any kind of supplement like this because the primary source of the omega oils in these supplements is fish oil (no they don't taste like fish). I use them on days when I haven't had any type of oil. I think olive oil is a good source of omega 3 (don't quote me on that). I have read a lot on this topic because of my hypothyroidism and I have heard that this is a good supplement for people with hypothyroidism to implement into their diets (once again, I am not a professional so I don't know the validity of this information.)

Haylo, my fish oil capsules don't really "taste" like fish, but I "imagine" they do and make sure I take them with my coffee rather than water to have some flavor to balance off the fishy taste. The interesting thing about it all is that when I burp (not that I ever do) I have a fishy taste sometimes. It kind of grosses me out, but I continue to take it as I know it's the right thing for my body as I tend not to eat tons of fish, though I had broiled haddock last night.
Scalewatcher, I started on CORE, myself, when I was on a plateau. It worked so well that I decided to stick with it. It's helped me break a barrier that I couldn't seem to break. I was maintaining awfully well. Now, I am back down to a weight I have not seen since 2004 before my dad got sick and died. My thought/advice for the morning is that if you are in a sad time period, like having a dear one sick and dying, do not try to make yourself feel better with chocolate doughnuts. It truly doesn't help in the end, though at the time I could have cared less about that part. But, I did this to myself and pay the price each day (and dearly each week at my WW meetings!) for what I did to myself. Food is not the answer, but during that time period it was my drug of choice.
Noelle, when I was going to a morning meeting, I would have just 2 slices of lite bread toasted and coffee and bring fruit to the meeting and bottled water. I'd take all my vitamins/meds AT the meeting alongside the fruit. I couldn't bear to have my usual full breakfast and then to weigh in. So, I've been there. I don't like weighing in during the day as I have eaten. My morning weight, before breakfast is always such a "kind" weight, but it's not really what I can use to go by. In fact, if I weigh myself (and I've admitted before that I am a scalaholic) before breakfast and then weigh myself later in the day I feel cheated, somehow. I'm so silly about it.
Well, it's off the the shower and then pack an overnight bag for me. I hope to be able to find a way to exercise in RI and also not eat all the wrong foods. I shall do my best, but remember to LIVE and not punish myself if I do eat a few things I shouldn't eat.
I remember that I am trying to find a healthy way to eat for the rest of my life. I like saying that over and over to myself. Weekends away, vacations, parties, birthdays, holidays and all those things will continue on for the rest of my life. I have to find a balance where I can eat at those events, without guilt, and be able to eat so well and so healthy the rest of the time that are not special occasions. So many special occasions exist in our day to day lives that they have become "commonplace" if you think about it. One day a year, Thanksgiving, I allow myself to just forget WW exists, the rest of the time it is on my mind and I have to use what I have learned and my good choices. Christmas was almost like Thanksgiving, but I did not allow myself quite as much indulgence.
I'm so thankful for the CORE food list and how easy it is to find satisfaction by eating from a wholesome list of foods.
Talk with you all after I return and be good to yourselves!
Linda

Linda: I haven't noticed mine to taste fish like either but I guess there could be some out there that do or maybe mine do but I haven't noticed either. That fish burp thing happened to my mom,she got disgusted and never took one again. I haven't had this experince, one of her friends told her it indicated a lack of something (I can't remember but I will ask her) I do rememember her saying that if you keep taking them eventually your body gets what it needs and you stop producing this types of burps. I have also read that if you are someone who does not eat fish on a regular basis then your body is not used to using the enzymes to break down fish, but if you eat fish pretty regularly then your body is used to breaking down these enzymes so you don't get the fishy burp. I will ask my mom what her friend said. I eat fish at least once a week so maybe there is some truth to that since I haven't experinced that. I have also heard that if you freze them that it is supposed to reduce the burping after effect. With my luck, probably if I take a supplement today it will happen to me. :D

All I can say is wow! Y'all give some amazing advice here!

I hope it's ok to stick my nose in and poke around. :) I only found this site today so I'm still trying to get my bearings and find my way around. I introduced myself in the big forum at the top of the board so I won't do thru it all again. Readers Digest condensed version I started gaining weight 18 years ago when I had my first child and pretty much didn't stop. I started WW the last week in Sept (as a belated birthday gift to myself) and I'm down 37 pounds so far. WW has been a godsend for me.

My biggest challenge is eating when I'm online, which when I'm home is ALOT. LOL....plus my husband works for Panera Bread so he brings home bread quite a bit (which I appreciate) so knowing how much to eat and learning to control my portions has been the largest part of my challenge.

Thanks for all the wonderful advice I've seen in this thread. :)

Becki

Welcome Becki :wave: I love the eyes of "Nick Newman" :whoo:

Good morning everyone,
Welcome Becki
Noelle, I like your avatar (I think that is what it is called). It makes me think warm relaxing weather.
Linda I hope your weekend goes well. I know how hard people can make it for us when we are in their home. It is almost as if they are trying to control us, that is just my thought. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of supportive people out there and just a handful that try to make us fail, not sure why that is.
I did much better on core yesterday. My leader thought I should do as Linda suggested and write down my food choices with points while I am learning to do Core. (Flex/Core) at the same time. She feels I am not eating enough points on flex. I eat all day long, I honestly don't think I could eat more. She suggested going to 2% milk instead but I really enjoy 1%, however I will give it a try to get my points. What a journey this is.
I went to a birthday party on Friday and I felt like I was out of control. They had all this finger food and I realize when I use a plate I can figure out better how much I have. The other way I felt out fo control. This was a good learning experience for me.
I hope that everyone has a great day.
Take Care
Ann

I joined WW last week and already lost 4.4 lbs BUT I can't stop eating. I'll eat breakfast and about an hour later I'm hungry again! Its annoying because I have hunger pangs and I have to stop whatever I'm doing to eat again. Anyone have advice??

Hi all....soooooo with all the advice from our dear Linda, I still did not do very well yesterday! To tell you truthfully, I'm kind of ok with it. Letting it go...today is a new day! I'm back on track. One thing that I haven't been doing is keeping track of how many flex pts I'm using, so I'm going to start my week fresh today and start keeping track of those extra flex. I am really determined to make this work.

Nothing else new and exciting here...welcome to the newbies!

Hello everyone,

Well I am happy to say that I went back to ww yesterday and signed up for the monthly pass, I like having the etools options because I hate writing stuff down and putting it in the computer is much easier for me. Yes, I grew up with the computer generation.

I am also happy to say that I was down 1 pound :carrot: I am very determined to keep going in this direction. Yesterday I stayed on track, I did use up a little of my weekly points but I think that is to be expected during the weekend.

Miami: That happens to me sometimes as well, I think you might have to try to figure out what types of food's keep you fuller. I have discovered that things higher in fiber keep me fuller in the morning, some people need protein (I have a friend who need to have protein or she feel hungry). Try drinking more water, and I try to keep a piece of fruit or a high fiber snack around for when I get hungry. I am

Hello everyone, I'm back from my overnight trip. Hope all is well and that Paige's birthday was great! Paige, I read what you wrote, and it's not a big deal. One day is not going to ruin things for you, it's what you do the rest of the time.
Haylo, I eat fish probably about once a week, but I think the current dietary recommendations are something like 3 or 4 times a week. I do fall short in this category and I truly don't know if shellfish count as "fish" in this case.
Becki, of course you are welcome. This has turned into a very busy thread. Don't get upset if you can't keep up, just drop in anytime and we're here. I do keep re-starting this thread when it gets too long and try to keep watch on it.
Ann, I always find it incredibly amazing when WW leaders tell people "you aren't eating enough points" as I have NEVER once had that problem, ever! I have always (when on Flex) eaten all my points, and all my flex points as well, and I think a few more than I was allowed. I am a volume eater and I could graze all day. One thing that has helped me is that the CORE plan makes me feel fuller, I guess all the "whole" food that adds bulk is making me not feel starving all the time. If I do want something in between meals it is usually 94% FF popcorn or fruit.
By the way, I was kind of out of control at my in-laws as there were also some finger foods. I was hungry and there were not any of the choices that I needed, on core. But, it was only three meals and a few snacks. I can live with that. Though, I had dessert last night too.
Miamigtee, I'm wondering if the hunger will diminish or if you should think about what it is that you are eating. Maybe have certain other foods in order to feel satisfied for longer? For example: I used to try to eat lite bread, toasted, with lite margarine and fruit for breakfast, that would be 3 points and I'd be starving very soon afterwards. If I eat instant plain oatmeal and an apple, I feel fuller due to the fiber and I don't get as hungry.
You can cut up an apple and sprinkle Splenda and cinnamon on it and microwave it, covered. It tastes like apple pie.
If you are hungry in between meals, though, eat fruit or popcorn, it makes a huge difference in terms of what you choose to eat.
By the way, my stomach is upset today and I'm wondering if it's from eating non CORE foods for a few days?
Oh well, it's back on track for me - dinner will be all CORE tonight and lunch was as well.

I was quite surprised to check in here this morning and find that no one else posted since late yesterday afternoon. I'm wondering if that is not a good sign? Were you all out there EATING????
Well, seeing as it's a Monday and I like beginning things on Mondays, I'm going to challenge myself to do a few things this week. I think that it's very easy to be "lax" after you've been on program for awhile and I feel that I'm becoming that way as well.
So, it's time to "mix it up a bit" or whatever they say when you need to really work hard and re-focus.
So, my goals for the week:
1. Plan menus ahead
2. Cut up fruit and veggies and store them in zip lock bags in the refrigerator
3. Journal, again. I've not done this in weeks and I keep wondering if I need to really try again.
4. Get on the treadmill at least 4 times this week. When I broke my toe a few weeks ago, I lost my momentum. I think it's OK enough now for me to try again. I've been doing what they call "buddy taping it". It's not hurting unless the tape is off it and I can walk quite regularly now.
5. Try something new! I'm going to get out my WW cookbook or an old Cooking Lite magazine and try a new recipe. I hope it's one I will like and one that maybe I can save leftovers for lunches.
6. Try to keep my house cleaner and set aside at least an hour each day for me. I tend to be a "giving" person and "give away" lots of my time to charitable tasks and my family. At the end of each day, if you were to ask me what I did for myself, I would often give you a blank stare. Time to be good to myself.

So, everyone, what are you goals just for this week?
Linda

I'm back from Chicago. We had a WONDERFUL time. Except for the snow storm but we're back home safe and sound and a good time was had by all. I'm exhausted and I'm ready to be back into routine. Didn't eat too bad but I'll need to crack the whip the rest of the week to try to get to my 10%.

I hope everyone had a good weekend and you are staying OP!

wow alot of post since I last checked in..... I have to say way to many to read.....I will catch up later, when I have more time... This weekend stunk as far as recording.I did not record a thing nor watch anything that went into my mouth...The good thing is I am staying home for 3 weeks and so I will be in control... Yipee. I am so afraid to wi tom,but know I need too. I am off to work out and than I will for sure be back on track. It looks like I need to read the post cuz you all seem to be givng some new tips or ideas any way... I may do core on Tuesday......Than I know I will need your help.. By the way the fund raiser we had this weekend raised 20000 for the disabled..... Yeahhhh..It was a lot of fun... chat later barb

Gooooood Monday morning all! So yet another snow storm here! My classes today got cancelled, which I figured they would.

So far so good today. I started a quick track for my 35 flex pts today, so I'm really going to start this week keeping track of those. I guess I haven't really been truly following core 100%, so I am going to be anxious to see the results next Monday.

Nothing else too exciting here. I need to do a really good cleaning of the house today (super exciting!) My back is still out, so it's not going to be a fun job.

I'll check with you all later!

Laura, glad you had a nice trip and didn't get stuck in snow. It's snowing here as well, but not amounting to anything.
Sounds like everyone is echoing about the same sentiments today, we all need to crack that whip and get back on track.
I did journal my breakfast today and did get on my treadmill for 20 minutes. I got out a WW cookbook and have considered trying a new recipe for tonight, but I don't quite have all the exact ingredients on hand. I'm not sure if it will work if I use a few substitutes, but I am thinking about trying.
Linda

Good Morning to All-

I have had a great weekend. My DH and I spent yesterday walking on a trail. We did over 8 mile total for the day. This morning we went for a 3 mile walk. I ate OP yesterday. Today when I weighed I had lost 3.6 lbs since Friday. I am really trying to refocus and make this WW work for me again. I am writing down everything I put in my mouth. The weather is beautiful here in Florida, but we are scheduled for rain later today. I have to go I don't want to spend too much time sitting still.

Good morning all...I'm Lou and I have been doing WW since Nov. I am been gaining and losing the same lb for a month now and I am tired of it.:mad: I am so close to my goal and I would like to end the already....
I haven't been able to stay for the WW meetings since I take my 2 yr old with me so this forum will be a GREAT substitute for me. (I can't make it to the "Mommy and Me class")
Linda...I like the apple idea. Do I slice and peel it? How long does the apple go into the microwave for?

My goal for the week will be to journal...

God Bless you all, Lou

Hi Lou nice to meet you, I'm maria. I know what you mean, I have 2 of those, a 3 month old and a 4 year old. I can't make it to meetings so therefore I'm doing it on my own! Wish me luck. This week I'm hitting the treadmill for 30mins everyday (I hate treadmills). You'll do great good luck! :)

i've been on WW for about 5 weeks now, with a 12lb loss. Last week I started reverting back to the old habits, and didn't track points once. I am tracking again now, and hoping to keep up with my weight loss.

Hello everyone,

I hope you all have had a good day so far.

my goals for this week are to stay on track

Hi there, and welcome to everyone.
Just so you know, I microwave my apples for 2 1//2 minutes on high. I don't peel them, as I like them that way - but you could do whatever you wanted. It's really quite tasty to use a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and Splenda.
I have been on program all day and am starving! Dinner is almost ready and I can't wait.
Weigh in day is tomorrow, maybe this week will be a loss.
For those of you who have really young children and can't make it to meetings, perhaps you might consider a babysitting co-op and take turns watching kids of another WW member while you each go to meetings? I would maybe post a notice at your local WW center, but of course then I'd really get to know this person before leaving my kids with them.
It's awfully hard I know to do things for yourself when you have young kids. Do the best you can! In the meantime, you can come here to this web site and get the effect of a meeting.
Good luck!
Linda

Hello and welcome everyone.
I hope you are all doing well.
Linda that apple in the microwave sounds great.
I am starting to get the hang of Core, but my weigh in will tell for sure.
Have a wonderful evening all.
Take Care
Ann

Please help me. I have just started WW 9 days ago and I have only lost 5llbs. The same 5llbs that I lost in the first 4 days. I feel like more should be coming off. I have been very careful about counting points and sticking within my ranges. Started drinking water and everything. Will I be stuck at 230 forever?

Hi everyone,
Welcome to everyone that is new. This thread is the best, everyone just really supports each other and gives awesome ideas, it's very motivating.

Linda-thanks for the encouragement to set some goals for the week, it only took me an extra day to get my act together to do it and you gave me some really good ideas....

This week I NEED to
1. Be more prepared with the cut up fruits and veggies, it's always good to have them to reach for instead of my beloved chocolate.

2. Ok all, at your repeated suggestion... I'm gving up having the dark chocolate in the house. I'm just getting too lax with it, and I'm not enjoying my (((one)))square like I use to, it turns into 5,6,7 oops it's gone! That's what always happens to me when I start getting close to my goal, I lose my focus because I'm looking and feeling good (in my mind) and I give up in a sort of way and just do it half-a**ed, and never reach my goal, talk about self-sabatoge!!!!! My sweet is going to be the FF SF pudding, especially the pistachio, I love that stuff. Or maybe I'm going to try Linda's "apple pie", that sounds really good. After I'm done here I'm going to the cupboards and I'm throwing it away, all of it!!

3. I've been slowly incorporating some Spring cleaning tasks into my daily chores. So when Spring does get here, I'm not trapped inside cleaning when the weather is so nice. I just need to keep that momentum (I'm a TERRIBLE housekeeper). Keeping myself busy like that allows me to be focused on something else other than needless snacking out of boredom.

4. Keep reminding myself that I haven't reached goal yet and that I can never go back to my "old ways" if I want to enjoy a life at my goal weight. I love the saying, "If you always do what you always did, then you'll always get what you always got".

Have a great day everyone!!

Good Morning everyone. Welcome Notinshape. I always want to have huge weight losses but they have taught me here that I didn't put all the weight on in a week so I am not going to take it all off in a week, day, month. I realize that a loss of 1-2 pounds is safe, and when I haven't lost weight just maintaining it is part of my journey with this new lifestyle. Don't worry you will not be stuck at 230 forever. It does take time. I remember complaining to my husband, I have only lost 10 pounds. Remember 4 sticks of butter is a pound, so you have already lost 20 sticks of butter...That is great!

Those are great goals Erica.

Linda thanks for suggesting it. I am so glad that you brought up goals. As I was deciding what I would pick as goals I finally came to the realization that is part of my problem. I don't set goals, I just go day to day and if it happens great, if not that is okay too. I realized that if I don't set a goal I don't have to worry about it if I don't make the goal. I don't have to really think about it at all. I have decided to set basic goals at first until I am can face the rejection just incase I don't meet a goal, (okay for when I don't meet one). This is going to be a good experience for me because I will now have to acknowledge when I am successful and when I am not. (Scary for me)(I am new at this, did I mention that....) Okay so here goes.
My goals for this week will be.
1) Drink 64 oz of water per day
2) Eat 2 oils per day.
3) Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
4) Stay positive.
I know they are basic goals but I need baby steps.....

Thanks again Linda, it was one of those lightbulb moments for me....

Is the ff,sf pudding pre-made or do you make it?

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.
Take Care
Ann

Notinshape, welcome and I want to caution you that you just cannot expect weight to come off all that fast. Five pounds in 9 days is just fabulous. Please talk with a WW leader about this and get it straight from them. WW expects a person to lose a pound to a pound and a half a week, on average. Congratulate yourself on how well you have done and please do realize that losing tons of weight really fast is unsafe and you will probably go off the wagon and put it all back on if you keep on at a pace like this.
You NEED to attend meetings so you learn.
No, you will not be stuck at 230 forever. If you follow the program, you will succeed, but don't be impatient.
Erica, ah.... that chocolate. It's my downfall as well sometimes. One piece does lead to another. I've found that Hershey's is making a sugar free dark chocolate that each piece is individually wrapped and one point each. They don't taste sugar free to me at all, they are pretty good. If I just am going nuts and have to have some chocolate I have one of these, with a cup of tea. I sit and eat it in several small bites and savor each bite and drink some tea in between. Often, it's stress that makes me want chocolate. Do you all find that as well? The sitting and having tea with the chocolate MAKES me relax and therefore I then feel comforted. If it's a really bad day, then two pieces of the chocolate, but no more - I force myself to get up and move on to some other activity.
Erica, you said one of your goals it to keep reminding yourself that you can never go back to your "old ways", etc. So true, so true.
The old ways were not realistic, at least for me. I was always the one who would sit down at a restaurant and order onion rings as an appetizer "for the table". Who was I kidding, I was the one who wanted those onion rings and wouldn't think twice of having an appetizer and full meal on top of them. No way, not me anymore. I order a salad with my oil and vinegar (getting in those healthy oils!) and allow myself bread and a meal, but I am satisfied. If my husband has onion rings (he's skinny and can eat whatever wants - darn him!!!) I can have one or two, period, and stop. I wait to take one or two of his OR's until after I have eaten my meal and am not starving.
Ann, good for you setting goals for the week.
I don't know about all of you, but a goal for just one week or one day is about all I can handle. Setting goals for a year, for example, like a New Year's resolution are just way too much for me. I'm lucky if I can do a week.
I didn't cut up fruits and veggies as I said I would today, I'm going to do that later on. I was kind of thinking of not using zip lock bags (though they keep better that way) but making like a veggie platter, the kind you'd make for company with veggies and dip. Maybe I can make my own dip with FF sour cream or something like that - then it's all CORE! If I want to snack, I can take my pretty platter out of the refrigerator and feel like I'm at a cocktail party or something and maybe have seltzer with lemon. My kids will think I'm nuts, but I can do this and if it makes me feel better, why not?
As for me, I'm about ready to have breakfast and then get on my treadmill. I have a busy day ahead and need to plan for it.
Take care!
Linda

So many new people! How awesome that you have decided to join our *little* group! Welcome all! I'm glad you've found us, and I look forward to getting to know you!

I had a really good eating day yesterday! I only used 4 flex pts, and the rest was core. I think that was pretty good; I think I've really been kidding myself on the amount that I've been eating that has not been core. Dh has been cooking a lot lately, too, because I've been going to the chiropractor 3x's a week. He knows the flex program, but doesn't know core, so he doesn't know what is ok for me to eat and what isn't. I need to start preparing meals before I leave so I can be sure they are core friendly. Also, by the time I get home I'm usually pretty hungry (my appts are at 5:30 and are a 1/2 hr away) so I've just been grabbing whatever.

Exercise is totally out of the question right now. My back is so out of commission it isn't even funny. The chiropractor has been doing physical therapy with me as well, and it was getting better for a few days, then I must of lifted dd wrong and reinjured it. Now it is just getting worse and worse. I can't bend over at all, any movement shoots pain down my legs. The dr said that if it's still like this on Friday he's going to send me to have an MRI. Why can't things just be NORMAL for once? No flu, no cold, no broken toes, no back problems?!!!!! Seriously, you'd think I was an old lady instead of 27!

My goals are two things pretty much....stay on core today and have only a few flex pts and to try to get my house clean! LOL! Erica, I'm right there with you...I'm a terrible housekeeper and my dds are huge messmakers!

Check with you all later....

Hey ladies,

It sounds like everyone is doing so awesome. I am hoping to back on track as of today. I am going to go out and do some snowblowing then come back inside and jump on the treadmill for 30 to 45 minutes maybe. I really need to do this. I know i've said several times that I was going to get back OP but I am feeling something awful. I get to about lunchtime then something happens to me and I eat, eat, eat. When it's time to go to bed my stomach feels terrible. I have three weeks left before Duane comes home for his turnaround and I would like to be back to eating healthy and exercising again.

I have swimming tonight and I usually feel pretty good after it so wish me luck that I get through this day ok.

Kim

Linda- hahahahaha, you just reminded me of some Hershey's chocolate that I have stashed in the cupboard that I totally forgot about!!!!!! It is the 100 calorie individually wrapped dark chocolate that is so-so in my book, but guess what? It's going in the GARBAGE!! The veggie platter is a really good idea, in fact, I'm going to do it! Now what will you put with your FF sour cream as a dip? I have some dip mixes that a friend gave me as a gift, maybe I'll use those, hoping that they're CORE. Maybe I'll even do some fancy slices of orange, grapefruit, apple (sprinkled with lemon juice to keep their color). Which reminds me, ya know what is really good? If you peel an orange and then slice it as you would slice a tomato crossways, spread it all out on a plate, then drizzle with your olive oil and sprinkly with salt and pepper, it is sooooo good. I have an Italian friend who taught me this unconventional way of eating a plain orange in a very special way!

Paige- so good to hear there's another person out there who struggles with "keeping house", we must stick together you know!!

Ann-I think you are one of the most postive people on this board!!

Linda said: Just so you know, I microwave my apples for 2 1//2 minutes on high. I don't peel them, as I like them that way - but you could do whatever you wanted. It's really quite tasty to use a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and Splenda.

I just want to add this quick additional ingredient that I got last fall and that is to drizzle diet red pop on top of the apple and cook it with the Splenda and apple pie seasoning and it tastes like an apple dumpling. It's very very tasty and a warm indulgent freebie for those of you on core and an easy 1 pt treat for those of you on flex.

Doing okay but I didn't write down my bites yesterday. I didn't eat badly, just didn't write it down. Gotta change that today. and I have got to get my water started for the day. Wow - today has already gotten out of hand

Hi everyone. I'm in need of severe motivation. I worked out yesterday for 40 minutes to a PUSH TV DVD that I got and boy was I tired afterwards. But I went way over on points. I have a workout at Curves planned for tonight and I just revised my work out schedule. Could you do 1 40 minute work out in the morning and a 30 minute workout in the evening or is that too much? I've got everything schedule to where I work out to the PUSH DVD on Mon., Wed., and Friday and Curves on Tues., Thurs., and Saturday. Is this too much?
Also, how would I count the Curves work out for my APs? Anyone know?
Thanks!

Yummy, that apple with cinamon thing sounds delicious. I am curious about the orange thing also (sound a little different, but I'd be willing to try it)

Wow you guys are good cutting up vegtables and fruits I am so bad about cutting things up for myself, but that is a really good idea. I think I might go to the store and get pre-cut stuff saves me time, but I know not money. I even have the perfect dip I bought the other day at costco it is a garden veggie dip made with yougurt.

Linda and Erica: I am not much of a chocolate eater except around TOM, and times when I just feel like having some, but I definatly won't be eating chocolate for a while. They were having a baby shower for someone at work and the had diaper smeared with melted chocolate bars and you had to guess what chocolate bar it was, let me just say it looked disguisting (like baby poop) my first thought was , I guess I won't be having any chocolate for a while. Sorry if I grossed you guys out, it wasn't my intention I just thought since you guys were talking about chocolate and the babyshower was today I thought it was coincedental. On a more positive note, isn't chocolate supposed to have health benefits (especially dark)

Hello everyone.
Paige, my DS is also a huge mess maker. It is like chasing the tasmanian devil around. He just laughs. I am trying to be more relaxed about it. It is just as soon as something is picked up and put away he comes along and dumps it. I know it is a game to him.
The cut up fruit/vegetables is a great idea. I am going to try the oranges, I am not sure how they will be but I will try it. I love oranges.
Hi Kim, I hope swimming goes well for you. I find swimming so relaxing, but I am not in lessons. I went on my treadmill today and ran 5 kms. It was nice and then I went for a walk because I wanted to eat everything in my house. I think it is because we bought stuff from the bakery for my DH and it was so fresh and smelled so good.
Erica that is awesome you could throw out all your chocolate.
Laura that apple tasting like apple dumplings would have been great this morning. Did you change to Core?
It is my weigh in day tomorrow. I changed meetingd from Friday to Wednesday. I think I will like this meeting much better. The only thing is I weigh at night now rather than in the morning. I always weigh more at night.
Well everyone have a great evening and enjoy your day tomorrow.
Take Care
Ann

Weigh in was today, and I was down .4
Well, any loss is fine with me and I am at a new low. I think it was good to have a loss as we went away over the weekend and I truly didn't have any control over what I was being served. I was good before and after the weekend, so I guess that helped.
Do any of you have an "official weigh in outfit"? I wear exactly the same thing each week to weigh in, even down to the underwear and socks. This way, I know if I have a true loss or not.
Paige, stick with it, you will see success! I'm so sorry about your back, that must be horrible. One positive thing you will discover about losing weight is that the stress on your back (as well as the rest of your bones and muscles) will be decreasing. I have had back issues in the past and know it can be just awful.
Kim, I was having that kind of trouble with afternoon eating as well. I would recommit myself each and every morning to "do it right" and then by mid-afternoon I would fall apart. I don't have all the answers and once in awhile I still have days like that. I do find that a planned snack helped me and it still does.
Erica! hahahaha to you! I did make my veggie platter this afternoon, I also purchased grapes, strawberries and fresh pineapple. I cut up all the veggies and they look so nice and colorful. I have an orange pepper, grape tomatoes, broccoli, and a cucumber. I truly didn't make my ff sour cream dip yet - just ran out of time today. I'll mix up something tomorrow.
Lipton onion soup mix, of course, comes to mind but I don't want anything that strong tasting. I was thinking of using salt, pepper and perhaps just a tiny bit of FF Italian dressing. But, I am truly not sure. I was almost thinking of putting a bit of ff sour cream in a few small bowls and trying to mix different things in with it to see which I prefer.
Laura, what is red pop? I'm not sure what that might be. Is it Dr. Pepper or something, diet of course. Tell us more!
Gee, Summer, (welcome by the way) I am tired just reading about all your working out. Truly I do not know what is too much when it comes to working out. I have to admit to being really lazy and I try to increase my activity lots of the time and it's my biggest downfall. It sounds like you are very motivated to me.
Haylo, that baby shower thing sounds pretty gross. Some people sure do think oddly, don't they? I don't think anything could ever turn me off from chocolate, though.
Ann, my kids are mess-makers as well and they are 19 and 16! They drive me nuts with leaving stuff everywhere. I think it's just WHAT they leave that changes when they get older. I began cleaning my daughter's room, in frustration, a few weeks ago with a trash bag. My thought was that everything left on the floor was not negotiable and it was then trash. Interestingly enough, she cleaned the room after that, at least, and I think it was in fear that I would throw out her stuff!
Well, that's all for me this evening. You are all doing so well!!!!

I have been going to the funnest excercise class and I just got back, unfortunatly when I got back I was starving so I think I might have over eaten but I am sure I excercise enough to compensate for it. My class in a cardio groove class and every week we learn a new dance, last week it was salsa, this week it's swing :carrot: This has been my first week that I am really counting points and everyday I have dipped into my extra points, I was hoping that wouldn't happen today but I am sure I dipped in a little.

Linda: congrats one your loss, any movement downwards is
a step in the right direction. yes people do have strange ideas at times.


mama-angel if you can motivate yourself to work out the much and that consistently more power to you. I know what you mean about going over your points sometimes when I excercise I get really hungry and other times I am not hungry at all. I have done that before when I go way over my points, I guess sometimes our bodies think we need extra food.

Good morning everyone,
Well I had my WI last night and I'm down another pound. There are some nights that I'm really just surprised when I step off the scale, having expected to maintain. I guess it just reinforces to me that all the hard work does pay off. With regard to exercise, I am at the gym at least 6 times a week. Exercise has been a huge part of this for me. I have worked my way up to 60 min. of cardio and 45 min. of strength training every other day. On my non-strength training days, I do at least 60 min. of cardio and ab work.

I heard Oprah last week talking about how much she hates every minute of exercise. She also said that exercie is an absolute must to weight loss and being able to keep it off. That was pretty motivating for me to hear. My pattern is usually, whenever I'm in "reduction mode" as my WW leader calls it, I excercise faithfully, always at the gym, and then when I feel like "I'm done" with weightloss, I stop going to the gym, stop working out all together. Hmmmm, and then the weight creeps back on. Ya think I'd have learned by now? Well I have. I was talking to my gym buddy the other day, that consistent exercise is going to be a way of life for me. And I'm not talking about going for the occasional walk on a sunny day, when I reach maintenance I need to be doing it 4-5 times a week. I always thought that with three kids and living on a farm that my active lifestyle would be enough, but it's just not. Unlike Oprah though, there are somedays that I really love my workouts.

Erica, I just needed to read what you had to say this morning, and your remarks as well Haylo.
I'm dearly in need of some inspiration to exercise. I hate it and I'm with Oprah on that, for sure. My mind tells me that life is going on without out me while I am "wasting time" (not a waste, I know) with exercise. Gosh, I'm on the run all the time driving my daughter here and there and I get tired and it seems like I never have enough time to accomplish all the things I need to do, the house is a mess and I get really bummed out about it.
Of course, housework IS exercise, so I should maybe take command of this place and work at keeping it really clean? I could make myself happier that the house is in order and I would be burning points just the same.
How many of your count your exercise points? I don't nowadays, but I used to when I was on FLEX vs. CORE. I needed each and every fraction of a point that I earned. Now, I don't care and if I do exercise it goes into my "bank" of 35 flex points, I guess. I was vowing earlier in the week to keep up a journal and I did that for ONE day and then got off track again.
So, this morning, I am feeling bummed out and kind of lacklustre.
I guess it's time for me to kick myself in the butt?
I shall try to re-focus!!!
Linda

Just want to add one more thought regarding my above post....
Why is it that I just HATE housework? Even when I get it all done and this place looks great, I still fight it so. It's exercise so it's a double bonus if the house gets cleaned. I feel good about my environment and spiritually, but still I fight it. I guess it's boring?
What can be done so it's not boring? Or, so that exercise is not boring?
I'm truly bored with it all, yawn!
Linda

Good morning Ladies.
Erica way to go on the loss. You are doing so well. Remember a pound a week is 52 pounds in a year....(this is motivation for me). You are only 13 pounds away from goal. That is awesome.
Linda, I used to hate housework and exercise but I love making to do lists and then checking or crossing off what I have completed as it makes it seem like I have done so much. I write on my list like this.
1) Clean Bathroom
2) Run on treadmill (30 minutes)
3) Empty dishwasher
4) Vacuum
5) Laundry
6) Read for 30 minutes or 1 chapter
7) Grocery shopping

I know this sounds silly but it works for me. It makes me feel like I have a purpose and helps to keep me motivated.
I may not do everything in one day but once myl list is crossed off then I make a new list. It is just fun for me. I try to do the least favourable ones first.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Take Care
Ann

Happy Wednesday all! Today is my little dd's 2nd birthday. It's hard to believe that exactly two years ago this minute I was just being induced! Whew, thank God that's over!!! LOL!

Sooooo not such good news with my back. My chiropractor thinks that I have a herniated disk, and the problem is that he's been doing physical therapy and it's getting worse. He's going to be sending me for an MRI. Maybe I'm in denial, but I don't think my back problems have anything to do with weight. I started having problems just after high school, and then I was at a normal weight. Ever since then I would turn wrong or bend wrong and hurt it again. This time, though, the problem is that the side that is injured is the same side that I carry dd on. I've been having to make her walk and get into and out of the car by herself now, which is good, but I still don't trust her to hold my hand in the parking lots or crossing streets. Anyway...I'm worried that my dr is going to suggest surgery since treatment isn't working, and that isn't going to be an option until the middle of May (the end of the semester!) Blah blah blah...

I had another good eating day yesterday! Last night I was feeling that munchie feeling, but instead of eating some of the chocolate chips that are in the cupboard, I made some popcorn and a cup of ff hot cocoa. The cocoa especially hit the spot.

Linda-I'm not one that should be giving advice on housework (my husband would have a laugh at that one) but I always put the music on really loud while I'm cleaning. It just seems to make it a little more fun.

Erica-Congrats on the loss! You are getting so close!

Chat more later...

hey guys, I'm doing WW and I left my points book at home, does anyone know how many points is an everything bagel w/ cream cheese??

1 tbsp of light or regular cream cheese=1pt
1 small bagel=3pts
1/2 large bagel=3pts

HTH!

Hello everyone. Again this thread is loaded, You can not miss any days or you are behind. Paige good luck on your back.....I hope it all works out for you.I have worked out and today I am again,So I think I got my groove back....I started to do core/sb and I swear I have lost around 4 pds.....I have not wi this week, but I will next hweek. I have a tyroid issue and I went for blood work this week and my results are on Thursday. I just could not see paying until I am sure it is balanced out. I have been feeling cold and pain in my hip and that is an indication that the meds are not up to par. So if all checks out ok I will be back on the scale.....

Congrts to all of you who losts some weight.

Thanks for the apple recipes .Looking forward to trying those .

Well, I will second Linda on the whole house cleaning thing. I dread it as well. I have though, over the years, figured out some ways to get through without being so miserable while doing it. First, I have to be in the mood, if I'm not, then I call myself the "angry cleaner" and no wants to be around for that. Second I'm an ADHD cleaner so I have built in distractions, like first making myself a nice frothy latte (w/ skim milk of course!) to have on the counter that I can visit and revisit during real hated tasks like sweeping and mopping the floors. I'll also put the TV on in the kitchen with a good show that I can listen to as I pass by it, like The View or something. When I feel myself getting irritated while I clean as I often do b/c I'm always cleaning "someone else's mess", I tend to go something that I've learned actually relaxes me, like.... folding clothes, or hand washing dishes. I also sit down to the computer periodically to do whatever, just built in breaks. And when all else fails on a really unmotivated, "bad cleaning day" , I glare at the sign that hangs right in my kitchen that reads, "A clean house is the sign of a dull woman", which I bought for myself mind you! Happy cleaning!!!!:D

Howdy everyone - another busy packed week. Doing "okay" but not fantastic this week.

B'ball season is soon to be over - whew - I'll be a bit melancholy and thrilled all at once.

I hate housework also, my motivation for working out has come from a little thing I have called a pedometer. The school district I work for gave us memberships to a local gym for free and we get a pedometer with the membership. Anyways, we log on to their website download our steps and you earn prizes for each level you get to, there are five levels. It's amazing what a little competition will do. I have to say though today I feel a little frustrated because I have a friend who is doing a research study and she counts calories and takes a pill (diet pill or placebo, she doesn't know which one she has) anyways she has been doing this since around thanksgiving and has lost 17 pounds so far. I am happy for her, but it's so hard for me to keep motivated when someone else is having such an easy time, and not having to work out. The only thing I can think is hopefully I am learning better habits because once she is off the research study no more pill and no more some one looking over everything she eats. It also didn't help that I weighed myself this morning here at home and I was up a pound. I know I shouldn't weight myself so frequently but I just can't help it.

Anyways, enough of the feeling sorry for myself and back on track.

paige: i hope you get better from you back
djmommy: what an excellent job your doing, I have hypothyroidism so I know what you mean about how it plays such a huge part in weight loss and gain.

I am so with you ladies. I LOATHE exercise and housework. I put it off so long that it's time to clean up the second time and I don't have it done the first time.......:o

I was home from work today sick so I haven't exercised or drank most of my water. But the good thing is I actually stayed within my points. A little below actually. That is a MAJOR plus for me considering I have been totally off plan for a month now. I don't think I ate within my points for the whole month. Alot over really.

I"M BACK!!!!!!!! With one day under my belt I can do this now.:carrot:

Kim

Ann, thanks for the list idea. I tried it today. I did get quite a bit accomplished, but it was not as much as I wanted. But, I can carry over items for tomorrow. It helped, great idea. I'll try to remember to do that.
It was one of "those" days around here. I took my daughter to the DMV and she failed her drivers test. What a hard thing for her and for me, the mom. I cried along with her. I was astounded that she failed, but she must have been awfully nervous, she looked terrified. I think the officer who tested her might have been having a bad day or just one of those nasty guys. I truly felt she was ready. If you had asked me two or three weeks ago, I would have said no.
I came home and ate. It was almost like I was punishing myself or something like that. I deliberately went after a snack that was not core and not on my plan for the day. I can't imagine how she felt, lots worse than me about it and here I was the one eating.
Paige, so sorry about your back issues and that they are still continuing. I don't know if weight would contribute to what you have or not. I find myself wondering. Weather it contributes or not, you are at least trying to be a healthier person and you shall succeed!
I'll try the loud music tomorrow afternoon when I am trying to get things done around here. I really want this house fully cleaned and it seems that no matter what I do, I finish each day more behind. I just sat down here for a few moments of peace and quiet before watching American Idol on TV, I admit to being addicted. I'm hot and want to cool off as I washed my kitchen floor mere moments ago. It was (according to my checklist made according to Ann's suggestion) supposed to be done before lunch, and I felt I didn't want to let the day go by without doing it. Usually chores are never done in this house after dinnertime, that is a time for rest. But, today was so busy that it just go pushed aside. At least it's done now.
DJM, good to hear from you. Glad you got your "groove back" it's so important. I'm regretting my snack this afternoon when I was feeling so sad for awhile, but I can make up the difference and get my own groove back!
Erica, I smiled when I read what you wrote. I have ADHD when it comes to cleaning as well. The only time I ever seem to really get this place what I would call "company ready" is when I force myself to stay in one room. I think I waste lots of time as well. I shouldn't be on the computer (but I LOVE you guys and so many other people I know on line!!!) as much either, it's a huge distraction. I should probably shut it down during mid-day and not turn it on until after dinnertime and go on line in the mornings only. I have cut back on computer mailing lists that I was on as well so I shouldn't have as much e-mail to read/respond to. It certainly eats at one's time, but it's so fun as well. I couldn't survive without you all, I know!!!!
I did a half hour on my treadmill this morning, at least. So, that is two days so far this week that I have done deliberate exercise, not to mention some floor washing and stuff like that. So, at least I am accomplishing some of my goals.
Oh yes!!!! And the winner is..... on my taste testing for mixing something with plain FF yogurt to make a CORE dip for veggies, it's salsa. Try it! Salsa is CORE and so is FF yogurt. The veggies are CORE as well so my lunch was veggies and dip with pita bread (not core, but counted the points) and leftover steak tips (CORE). The beauty of salsa mixed with yogurt is you can vary the strength based on your taste and you can use hot salsa if that is what you like. I like mild, but imagined that a medium salsa might even be good with the yogurt as the yogurt and veggies cool it off a bit???? It was really good and the salsa made it a pretty color as well, and don't we all like our food to be pretty? : ) I would actually call the salsa/yogurt mix "refreshing".
Haylo, I keep thinking of getting a pedometer too. Isn't someone else on our thread also into that? I think so, but I forget who it is. I think I'd surprise myself as to how much I actually do walk. I did buy one, once, and it was so complex my technophobe brain couldn't figure it out and I tossed it! Whoops!
Kim, I hope you feel better. What is it our moms always told us when we were sick? Drink plenty of fluids!!!! So, maybe you should go drink an extra glass or two of water and it will help you feel better faster?
You know, everyone, today I am very thankful to have you all. I was really down in the dumps when I logged on and I am cheered up by all of you and your great attitudes! You are all awesome, pat yourselves on the back.

Linda: I am an american idol addict as well, I even got my mother hooked this season and she typically hates these kind of shows. I missed tonights because my dog had obdience class but I did record it of course. I know what you mean about the computer being a distraction but at least the reason you are coming to these sight is to provide and recieve motivation and inspiration to others. I have to get on her a check for people's new responses a couple times a day. Everyone here is so great about keeping the motivation up.

Haylo, I come here a few times a day as well, it truly helps my own motivation.
By the way, I don't think this year's AI contestants are anywhere near as good as last year's. But, maybe I will feel differently in a few weeks.
I am going to stay home all day today, I hope. That is HUGE for me and rare. Perhaps it will help me to stay on track as I won't be feeling as stressed and pressured.
I smiled when I woke up this morning and my cut up veggies were ALL GONE! My daughter "found" them and munched on them last night. I don't mind that she ate them all as they are so good for her, same as me! It means that I now need to cut up more. I am going to also make a lovely fruit salad today with fresh pineapple, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, etc. It's always so appealing to have it all prepared. I'll be having some with lunch and some FF cottage cheese on the side.
Big goal for the day: Get in those healthy oils first thing, along with breakfast! I forgot yesterday. I need to make sure I get them in and I guess sauteing peppers and onion for an egg white omelette is a good morning choice. Peppers, onions, diced tomato and FF feta cheese are yummy in an omelet, by the way!
Happy Thursday, it's almost the weekend!
Oh yes, we are trying to conserve spending. We usually go out to eat on Saturday nights. But, we decided to have a family cooking night and stay home. I think we'll make something Italian. Any ideas of some things we can all make together as a family that are fun, healthy and enjoyable?
Linda

Good Morning everyone,
Wow, the sun is out this morning! That is a very rare thing for where I live. I wanted to share with you all a recipe I made yesterday that was very, very good. They are Oatmeal Bars:
3 cps. Old fashioned oats
1/2 cp. apple sauce (I used unsweetened)
2/3 cp. Splenda (optional, but I used it to get them sweet)
1 cp. Skim milk
1/2 cp. egg beaters
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Mix together and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. You can also add whatever to them, I added blueberries, but you could add apples or bananas, or play with the grains, like substitute 1/2 barley for 1/2 the oats etc. I'm sorry that I don't know the points for this, as I am on CORE and these are all CORE ingredients, which is amazing to me!!

Haylo- that sounds like a pretty awesome program with the pedometer and logging in to try to win prizes. You are so right about your friend who is doing this w/o exercise. Just think of the real lifestyle changes that you are making. With WW, that is what it's all about, the lifestyle changes, who wants be to continuingly trying to lose weight for the rest of their life? I don't know of any other programs out there that really care about people for the rest of their life. I actually use to be a WW leader, and I would get frustrated at how little WW payed me to be a leader. But then I would think to myself what an awesome program it is, and how their mission really is to set people up with a learned set of skills they can use for their lifetime. What other program tries to do that, w/o all the gimmicks, and $$$ products. So you are doing such a great thing for yourself and learning so much all along the way.

Kim-hope you're feeling better soon, there's nothing worse than feeling sick.

Ann- OK, so I think we need to throw a little cyber party for you when you get to 50 pounds, you are so close girl! I am really cheering for you over here, I can't wait for it!! Only 3 to go!! You can do it!! My 5 yr. old probably weighs around 45 pounds, and when I give her a piggy back ride upstairs to bed, whewh what a workout that is on my legs, think about that, you are doing awesome!!

Paige- I do hope your back gets better. My mom has been going to a chiropractor as well. There is an article in this months issue of Weight Watchers about "Back Health". I was surprised to read that getting a massage is really recommended as well to help with back issues. But it sounds like what you're going through needs a lot more than a massage. I hope it gets better each time you vist the chiropractor.

Linda-what a bummer that your daughter didn't pass her test. I can't even imagine having to feel that disappointment at such an exciting time. I don't blame you for having the non-CORE/unplanned snack, sounds like it was well deserved. I think the difference now though, with all of your new lifestyle changes, is how percetive you are about yourself, your eating and your emotions. I think being unaware of the things we do when we emotionally eat, is what gets us into that spiral... so you recognized what happened, counted the points, and moved on from it, today is new day!!

Ok, well I'm off to a good start today, just mentally for now which is so important, man what a difference when I wake up and that sun is shining so bright, I don't even care that we're suppose to get some storm later tonight and it's only 14 degrees out now. Catch everybody later......

Good Morning -

Linda - I am a pedometer girl. I walk around 17,000 steps a day. I love to walk and this way it lets me keep track of how my I am moving. It really motivates me to keep moving. I love to see the numbers on my pedometer increase and a plus is that my weight decreases. I have been doing great on the flex plan so far but the core is still calling me to try it. I will try it when I hit a plateau.

Today starts a new month for tracking my steps. My goal is 310,000. That is 10,000 a day. I also try to go over and I usually don't have a probelm making that happen because I can't sit still very long.

As far as housekeeping goes, I really don't mind it. I have a daily agenda in my PDA and I love to check off things that I accomplish. I also turn on music really loud when I am cleaning. I can tell you that cleaning is a lot easier now that my 4 kids are out of the house. But look out when the grandkids are over. I have 9 of them. We have "Family Night" once a month an the 2nd Saturday. We usually have a themed dinner where everyone brings a dish to support the theme. We have a mininum of 19 people at my house on that night. It goes pretty well if the weather is nice and the kids can play outside. If not I have my sons old bedroom is now a playroom for them. It has all kinds of things for the to play with in it. Then when the go home they try to put everything back. But then the next day I go in an re-arrange everything the way I want it.

I have to go an do my exercise now. Hope you all have a good day.

Erica, you used to be a leader? Good for you! I want to be a leader one day. I know the pay isn't great, but I think the job satisfaction must be really wonderful. Your word "mission" is a good choice of words as there are so many things people do in life that are truly what my church refers to as a "mission". Helping people to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle and feel good about themselves is truly a wonderful mission.
I copied your bar recipe and maybe I'll give it a shot. I'm wondering if it's maybe something I could use at breakfast. I disagreed with WW's "new" plan that they announced in December limiting the in between meal snacks to certain foods, but I actually agree with it now and realize that some people (me?) were taking full advantage of the "eat til you are satisfied" thing and allowing CORE to give them permission to each anything they wanted throughout the day. So, I think if I used one of those bars as a breakfast treat and added fruit and plain FF yogurt to my breakfast, I would feel full and satisfied throughout the morning. I miss "treats" at breakfast sometimes like cinnamon buns, etc. I bet if one added even 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to that recipe, it would give that coffee roll kind of impression? I'll try it!
Speaking of recipes, check this one out:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1826,153171-230194,00.html

It's a totally CORE meatloaf recipe. You can use the proper hamburger CORE requires (93% lean) and even use egg substitute if you'd like. You could use some salsa in it or on it as well to give it a "kick". I'm really wanting meatloaf and mashed potatoes, a comfort food thing. So, this will help me. If I use FF milk in my mashed potatoes and allow family members to add their own butter or margarine at the table, I would think it would be a totally core meal, with peas of course! That being said, though, portion control is essential with a meal like this. But, the fact that I could have this entire meal as a CORE meal, and not have to figure out points is a huge plus for me.
Erica, thanks for the thoughts on my daughter. It was certainly a hard thing to deal with. My daughter is also going to WW with me and she has lost more than 20 pounds since June. She is down into the 140s now and they set her goal to 115. She is 5' 2" and according to the teen charts WW has, 115 is her proper weight. She is now wearing a size 11 pair of jeans when I was buying her size 17, which was hard to find. I'm very proud of her accomplishments. She works hard and it's awfully hard to be a teenager when all the other kids can seemingly eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce. She needs me, by the way, to stick with this program. Sometimes, that is what truly keeps me going. I just HAVE to do this for her, not only for myself.
Scalewatcher, ah so it was YOU!!! You go girl! Sounds like you have a good time with your family, how wonderful! You'll have to tell us about your themes and what they are sometime.
You are lucky to live in FL where the weather is cooperative as far as walking outdoors most of the time, though I doubt you are happy doing much outdoor walking in July and August? Do you swim then instead? I think I would.
Well, it's off to shower and on with my day. I'm going to wash that silly floor again.... this will make the 5th time since Sunday. I'm really sick of it. But, I guess I'm surely getting some exercise in. : )
My darling DH spilled about a quart of OJ on the floor Sunday at lunchtime. It's sticky and nothing I have done, so far, has taken away the sticky feeling. This is a fairly new Pergo type of floor and I don't want to destroy the finish and use products that will harm it. I guess perseverance will pay off. Today, I shall resort to plain water again in hopes that another rinse will finally get rid of that sticky feeling.
Linda

Good morning everyone - it's WI day for me. I'm just thrilled even if the scale doesn't show it today. I got into a pair of lined tweed pants that I found in my closet. I bought them a couple years ago and they never buttoned. I think I wore them once or twice with the rubber band cheater but then shoved them into the closet. THEY FIT - THEY FIT and I have them buttoned and I can sit in them. I had a co-worker tell me I looked "cute" today as I have on a new hoodie sweater that I bought in Chicago last weekend and an omega necklace with a cute mother of pearl slide that I bought also. Even though I'm wearing my glasses, I feel great!!!!!

Isn't it funny the small things that make a difference in this program!

Nibs/Kim - Stick with it. You know how I was struggling. Once I got one day under my belt totally OP, the rest just followed.

Erica - I'm beginning to get a complex. It's like I never post here cuz you never acknowledge me ;0)

Paige - hope your back is much better.

Scalewatcher and Haylo - whoo hoo - the pedometer sounds like a good thing for you. I've not worn mine the last two days. I'll have to change that up tomorrow (it's sitting on the bathroom sink so I won't forget it - slaps head)

Linda - love your posts and all your core hints. I too have been using non-fat plain yogurt for lots of stuff. It is a great staple to have in the house. I had a leader suggest that I switch to it instead of the premeasured cups as it has more substance. She's totally right. I love this stuff for lots of things now and it's making it easier to get my milk in for the day.

Sorry if I missed anyone else as I can only see the posts for this page. I read EVERY post and like Linda and others, I stop by frequently even if I don't post.

Good afternoon everyone,
Well today is going so far so good, even though.... there were four boxes of girl scout cookies just dropped to our house. But at one of Linda's suggestions, I made my coffee and sat down, with two, I repeat, two of them and enjoyed every bite with my coffee. So different than just grabbing one everytime I walk past the box and just mindlessly shoving it in my mouth not even enjoying it.

Linda-yes, I use to be a leader about 5 yrs. ago. I have realized though, that although I love motivating people especially when it comes to weight loss, I enjoy being a member instead. And I love my current leader, she is awesome. That is great that you're doing this with your daughter. I often worry about my oldest daughter. She will be 8 in two weeks. She is going to be tall like me, I'm 5'10. Everyone always thinks she is older because of how tall she is. This time of year, she seems to have a tendency to gain a little weight and I just recently had to go buy her all new pants a size bigger. I feel horrible as a mother b/c of course I feel I'm responsible for her. She generally is a healthy eater except when we go out to dinner. She loves fruits and some vegetables. I just feel bad, b/c there are times when she is aware that her pants are too tight on her, age 8 just seems too young to have to deal with it. I think a big part of it is we just aren't as active this time of year. Anyone have any suggestions out there? I did recently read somewhere that if a child is a overweight that you should work on just maintaining their weight until their next growth spurt happens.

Laura- oh man, now I feel bad.... isn't that something when it hits you that someone isn't acknowledging you? Please know, that I'm just an airhead when it comes to this posting stuff, nothing personal or intentional. There is this woman at the gym I go to, and she is really odd, I have chit-chatted with her a few times, just friendly talk. And for some reason now, she really goes out of her way to make sure she doesn't even make eye contact with me, let alone a Hello. I think to myself how silly people are to spend all that energy on being so cold and unfriendly. I think it takes so much more of an effort to do that. Anyway, thank you for pointing that out to me.... :)

Well, I've played around enough today, it's time for me to get some work done......

Laura, congrats on your NSV!!! (non scale victory!) and I am sure you must be feeling so very good.
I meant to say non fat sour cream vs. yogurt when I was talking about mixing it with salsa to make my dip, but I have used yogurt as well. The items are awfully similar in taste and texture. Whoops!
Fitting into something new/old that wasn't fitting before is a big deal. I'm glad you felt good!
Erica, now I have some thoughts from a parent of a WWing child. First, I bit my tongue with her and decided my relationship with her was more important than nagging her constantly about her weight. She started to get what I might call "chubby" about about 10 or 11. Let's face it our kids are bombarded with so much snack food on TV and they are watching so much more TV than we (I'm 52) did when we were kids. My mom used to "throw us" outside and we were out all the time (in good weather) and didn't come back until dinner time. My parents had a player piano in the basement and we took turns pumping (what great exercise!) the player piano with our feet and tried to go as fast as possible. We would roam the woods (there was no fear of us being kidnapped) and play outside, riding bikes and using hula hoops, etc. No one had to put us on a diet. We were not in the house to eat constantly, we were outdoors with our friends. There was no such thing as video games and we were more imaginative. I remember being over a fellow teenager's house in their room playing music and dancing together for fun rather than watching tv together. But, life is different and our kids are growing up in an entirely different world. We have to help them, but nagging at them is something that creates conflict. I started nagging my daughter about what was going into her mouth and then realized that we were constantly battling each other and it was not worht it.
My daughter would eat out of boredom. I was beside myself worrying about her. I knew that I just had to fix it for her, but I decided my best choice was to set an example and that worked better. I went to WW meetings and would come home and make a big deal out of losing a few pounds here or there. She was interested and finally, when she was about 13 or 14 she approached me and asked quietly, "Mom, will you help me lose weight?". My first step was to make a doctor's appointment for her and asking about a child coming to WW meetings. We saw our doctor and began working with the doctor, with regular weigh ins with them about every 3 months. She had permission and a tiny goal set for her to go to WW meetings. She was about 160 pounds and she went down to about mid-140s. However, then my dad got really sick with cancer. Everything fell apart at our house and both she and I stopped going to meetings and put back all our weight. I didn't care and I don't know if she cared either. We had a rough time but not that part is over and we are both back on track.
When I returned to WW last April, I asked her if she wanted to go back and she got annoyed with me and said NO! So, I resorted to just setting the example for her again and going to my meetings. Then, she asked me if she could go back. Now, she has surpassed me (it's harder at my age to lose weight) and has lost almost double what I have lost. I'm very proud of her and she looks awesome. The day she made her 10% WW goal, she was asked out on a date by a boy - now that was quite the reward!
At any rate, she is now 16 and looks lovely. She still has weight to lose, but I think she looks more "normal" in comparison to her peers. I have to say that when I pick her up outside the high school, I take note, sadly, of how many kids walk out of that school that are overweight.
By the way, her best friend moved away recently and she bravely asked one girl if she could sit with them at lunch. She now sits with a group of girls she refers to as "popular" where she told me she was a "geek" before. Her self confidence is improving as she loses weight. I'm not saying this because she is my daughter, but she is a truly beautiful young lady and now the rest of the world is noticing it too.
Thank you too WW!!!!! Where would we be without it!
Linda

Hey ladies, I have been MIA here and see that this thread is just jumpin'. Too many posts to reply to individually but know that you guys are all big motivators to me.

I've been keeping busy w/physical therapy and it's been kicking my butt! It feels good though, even with the pain because I get more mobile each day. Anyway, new month, new dose of motivation. I am weighing in tomorrow and hoping to have lost those pesky 2 lbs I showed as a gain last week. Slow and steady wins the race right? All you ladies have a great evening.

Congrats to those w/scale and non-scale victories and welcome to the newbies. Keep on giving it your best and the best will come back to you. :D

Hello everyone,
I can't believe how busy this thread is. It is awesome with all the great support here. I weighed in last night and stayed the same. I am not worried as I am trying to learn to eat all my oils and more protein and just generally more food as my leader tells me if I do this I will start losing weight. I am finding core is making more sense to me. If I keep on track, I sould have a loss soon. I love the recipes and the fat free sour cream/salsa idea. I did have a NSV, I went down two bra sizes...yeah. I thought I was toning up even though the scale is not co-operating.
Well have a great night all and stay safe for those in the storms path.
We are supposed to receive a lot of snow.
Take Care
Ann

Linda: I know what you mean about this season of american idol, the contestant just don't compare to the ones in the past, I wonder if it's just because I haven't been able to find a favorite. I think when they start narrowing it down more we will hopefully see the talented ones rise to the top.

Erica: thanks for you friendly reminder about why it's important to do things the healthy way then just to take the easy way out.

Scalewatcher: I started with trying to get 6,000 I am not working my way up to 10,000 steps it really is motivating

Rosegarden: yup, for some odd reason the pedometer does the trick for me. It also help that everyone in my school is walking around wearing them as well as people throughout the district.

Everyone else I missed: good luck tommorrow, congrats on any lossses and stay motivated
Yall's recipies sound great, I am going to have to print them out and go shopping and try some of these. Getting a little nervous as I am getting closer to my weigh in day, but I know I have been eating better and excerising so something good has come out of all this.

Wow this is crazy, You miss a little and forget trying to catch up... Man those oatmeal things sound great...I need to copy that down. You all have such GREAT ideas....

Question for you all, I just went to my doc about my thyroid and anyway it still needs to be tweeked and she wants me to try a compound pharmasist?????It is actually callled Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy... Have you ever heard such a thing??? I did research it a bit but need more time. I heard Suzane sumers (sp) is in to this and not sure what to think... Just wondering if you all have any input.....I will need to check back often just to keep up with you all. Jeez I swear I am busy and this site is crazy, when I am slow this site is too. What is up with that....Some days I wait to see some action..... I suppose I can catch up on it all this weekend...


Dh is painting my bathroom and i am painting the laundry room. Whooo It has been a year in a half that we have lived here and I have wanted it painted for sooo long. Anyway, Chat with you all later....

Good Morning to all:)

Linda- Family night this month - our theme is "Irish". We have not worked out all of the menu yet. I'll let you know when we have all decided. About walking outside in July and August, its not that bad. I suppose that maybe it is just because I have lived here all my life. When I get done with my walk I go straight to the pool and jump in. It feels really great.

haylo921- just remember that 6000 steps is more that doing nothing. It is very motivating to watch the numbers climb up and up.

djmommy- I have not heard of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy. I have hypothyroidism and a multi-nodule goiter. I am currently not on medication. I have had hypothyroidism since 1984. I stopped taking meds in 1990. My counts are a little low but still with-in range. I have to go every 6 months for thyroid scan and blood work. I go again April 2. My youngest daughter has a multi-nodule goiter also.

Ann- Congrats

Paige - glad you back is getting better.

Laura- Congrats

Today is my WI.:o I am looking for a lower number and lower number will make me happy.;)

Good morning!
Noelle, keep up the good work with your physical therapy. I hope you have the loss you expect!
Ann, I'm actually surprised you didn't have a loss, but these things are sometimes unexplainable. I asked once at a WW meeting if anyone knew how soon it takes the body to recognize a loss in relation to what/when you are eating. I don't think anyone knows. Though, I do know I can go wild eating on a weekend and it seems to catch up to me by my Tuesday meetings. But, there are times when I have been really "perfectly" on plan throughout a week and then when I weigh in the loss I expect isn't there. Then, oddly, a week or two later the scale will suddenly drop and often after I have been "bad". I have read all the stuff about the body not releasing weight thinking that you are starving it and I kind of believe that in a way. If your body thinks it's being starved then it will not give up weight. So, if you eat MORE once or twice (not permission to pig out though) then you can often realize success.
DJM, I've never heard of that type of hormone therapy before. Tread softly and research is my only advice. I have gone off all hormone treatments, personally. I was taking Prempro (I think that is what it was called) and I felt great but I read up on it on line and made a decision that the possible side effects, particular breast cancer risks far outweighed the benefits of being on the stuff. I am off it. I'm not feeling perfect, but I am less worried about my future.
Losing weight is taking away my breast cancer risks and if I combine that by not being on a medication that could contribute, I am less worried. But, I shall still get mammograms, etc.
With that, I shall get off line and have a healthy breakfast. I am looking forward to some fresh pineapple this morning and I shall have oatmeal, made with skim milk.
Take care.
Oh yes, Kim, our Newfoundland buddy, hope you are OK. I hear you have tons of snow up there!
Linda

Hi all...I guess I was a little MIA yesterday, seeing all these posts! I spent a good part of the day working on dd's birthday cake. So far it looks pretty awesome! We're giving her a Blue's Clue's party, so I'm doing a 3 tier cake to match (not that it needs to be that big, but I need practice on doing multi level cakes...most of it will be given away or tossed!) I'm so excited to finish it today! I even sculpted a little Blue out of white chocolate modeling dough. Ok, sorry...enough talk about that...the pastry chef side of me just gets excited!

I have come to the conclusion that I need to get a new scale. The one we have is pretty easy to manipulate, and dds keep messing with the dial. So now, it will be on "0" before you get on and then after you step off it will either be 3 or 4 lbs above or below "0." I'm a little scared to get a new one, though, because I afraid that it is going to weigh me higher than the one we have now. The dr, the gym, and WW always weighed me higher...yet anyone that ever came to my house and weighed on my scale said that MINE weighed high. So anyway...I have a gift card for Target, so I think I'll run there tonight and pick up a digital one, that way dds can't mess with it so easily.

Has anyone heard from Ginny? I haven't seen her posts in awhile.

Barb-I agree with the others...really do research on the side effects before you take the plunge and start taking the meds. Sometimes the negative side effects outweigh the benefits.

Erica-I have a little advice, too, on your dd. I was overweight as a child, and I can remember my mom always having "talks" with me...it just never sank in. I can see now how difficult it must of been her to see me like that. When I was about 14 it finally "clicked" with me, and I lost about 100lbs. You can't make someone lose weight if they don't want to or are not ready to. Maybe what you can do is just try to eliminate some of the foods that are making her overweight...just don't buy them or have them in the house...and try to get her involved in more activities. I think the key thing is just to not make a big deal about it...it will only make it bigger in her mind and make her feel worse about herself. IMHO!

Gotta run...check in later!

Anyone else having "issues" getting here? It just sits and the page doesn't open up. I've been trying since before 8 a.m. But I'm finally here.

Well weigh in was not a great day. I was up 2 1/2 lbs. But I am not depressed. I did my trip to Chicago and enjoyed myself and made GREAT choices but the intake still was higher than it should have been. My guess is that the 5 lb loss was probably an unrealistic one the week before. So I get back on the horse and make the program work for me this week.

Erica - thanks for the "shout". I don't know why I noticed, but I did. I know it wasn't intentional. I am proud that you are able to grab 2 GS cookies and enjoy and not overindulge. You've come a long way baby!

Linda - I LOVE YOUR POSTS!!!!

Paige - that cake sounds perfect. Go ahead and talk away.

Noelle, Ann, Haylo, DJsmommy, scalewatcher and everyone else. Keep stopping by and posting. I get so much incentive from you guys day-to-day. I love getting a peek at all of your worlds.

It's snowing AGAIN here today and the roads are treacherous. Spring cannot come soon enough this year.

Ok Everybody I am not discouraged just disappointed.

I had my WI this morning and I always weigh at home before I go, in the same clothes and shoes every time. At home I had lost 2.4 pounds but at weigh in I had only lost 1.8 pounds, (not that 1.8 pounds is not good). When I got home I weighed again and sure enough I had lost 2.4 pounds. Well, I sat through the whole meeting wondering what had happened. Then one of the ladies said she was very upset and that she had gained 2 pounds and she knew it should be a loss. Then the leader said that Jim one of our guy members had lost 19 pounds this morning when he stepped on the scale... of course, they had him re-weigh and he had actually
(?or not?) lost 4.2 pounds. Then the leader said that they were having trouble with the computers this morning. I think that the scale is wrong today. I wonder how many other people there felt like I did. SO to make a long story short... I am not believeing that I only lost 1.8 pounds because my scales always matched theirs before. But on the good and upside of that next week should be a bigger loss if I play catch up with this weeks weigh in not registering correct.

I have to go and do cleaning around the house see you all later.

Hi everyone,
Ugh, had a terrible night sleeping last night, and now I'm just trying not to eat all day to try to "wake myself up".

Scalewatcher-you're probably right that you lossed more than the WW shows. When I was a leader, often times our scales would get moved around and this would "throw" them off. So hang in there, 1.8 is awesome, and you're rigt, next week you'll have more gone!

Linda and Paige- thanks so much for sharing your stories with regard to my dd's weight. I really am going to take a closer look at her eating habits and see where I can alter that. Without a doubt, we need to be more active during these dreary months.
Thanks!

Hi ladies,

How is everything going for you? I have three days of great eating under my belt. Trying to get back into drinking my water...up to 4 glasses a day. Maybe tomorrow I will hit the 8 glass mark and I'm going to start on my treadmill agin tomorrow also.

Great job guys on the losses and the maintains. Keep at it to those who gained. This is certainly not an easy task losing weight.

Hey derry, the snow hasn't been too bad on the west coast of Newfoundland. The East coast is getting hit pretty hard though. Saying that, the snow will probably be up to the roof tomorrow.....jinx myself:o :dizzy:

I haven't had a good nights sleep for over a week now not since D left. I'm going to try to get to bed now in a few minutes and see if that helps with my motivation in the morning.

Hope you all have a good night and I'll be talking to you tomorrow. Take care......

Kim:)

Hello Ladies,
Kim congratulations getting back on track.
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful supportive posts, it is keeping me motivated. Erica, I didn't realize I only had 3 pounds to 50. WOW. The rate I am going it may be a while. I am okay with that though.
I went to another meeting on Friday and the leader there mentioned that along with more protein, fats and just generally eating more, I may not be losing because I run 5Km a day and I walk for about an hour. She thinks I should take the running down to 3 times a day and maybe walk the other 4, just until I get the food part down(on track). I guess that is why they don't put activity in until the third week. I am willing to give it a try. I am happy that I am getting so much support from all you ladies as I think I may have given up before this. Here I keep thinking I am eating enough and I keep be told I am not. I will master this for sure with a little help from from my friends here. Thank you.
Take care
Ann

Good morning all,
Well yesterday just wasn't good for me. I had a terrible workout because I was really tired. Then I came home, really tired and just proceeded to eat all day long. What really got me were those darn girl scout cookies, and I ate them mindlessly all day, I wasn't even hungry, full in fact, but I just kept piling them in my mouth. I didn't even step on the scale this AM, which is rare for me. I just know that I would be up, and I didn't want to start the day out this early thinking bad about everything. Well yesterday is over, in the past, nothing I can do about it today. Today will be much, much different.

Good Morning Everyone,
Erica you are up so early. My DS had me up at 5:15 playing hide and seek.
I hope your day is better today. You are doing awesome, only 13 pounds to go. Those darn cookies. My trigger food is anything with caramel. Once I eat it, I go almost crazy. I can't help myself. Caramel makes me want to eat everything in site. I had it in the house originally but once I realized how addictive it was for me, I don't have it in the house. I found a buddy at my ww meeting and we exchanged phone numbers so that whenever we feel like eating like crazy, or not exercising, we call the other one and we talk each other through it. Hopefully, I don't get the urge to eat like a wildwoman in the night.....just joking.
Have a wonderful day.
Good morning to everyone and have a great weekend.
Everyone remember take care of you, you are worth it.

Ann

Paige, you are so right about the talks your mom had with you when you were young and how it made you feel. Our pediatrician had said to me to leave her alone as if I made a huge deal out of things, it would lead to eating disorders. When she came to me and asked for help, it was the right time.
Wow, you lost 100 pounds at age 14? That is pretty amazing. I hope it was a healthy loss at that time.
Laura, sorry about the gain, but you know it will come off. I've been there, believe me and I know it will happen again.
Also, Ginny??? Are you out there???
Scalewatcher, I've never heard of a case where the WW scales were off like that. Interesting. I hope they get it fixed. I find myself wondering, at times, how accurate their scales are. I am told they are calibrated regularly to make sure they are accurate. My scale at home never matches theirs, I always weigh less at home.
Erica, make sure you don't go overboard with your daughter, though. I'd rather have a well adjusted kid who is a few pounds overweight than a binge and purge kid!
Interesting, yet again, to read that the scales would get moved and be off sometimes. By the way, you are making me WANT G.S. cookies. No one offered them to me at all this year, I guess I should be glad? I adore those thin mint cookies and it is an addiction and I can't stop once I start. So, I am better off without them in the house, I guess. Last time I purchased them, I brought them to a meeting so I wouldn't have them all just sitting in the house.
Kim, good to hear from you. I was worrying. I was sent some amazing photos from cousins in St. Johns and the snow was drifted up over the second floor levels of some homes. They showed themselves digging DOWN to get to cars that were completely buried. Amazing.
We lost electrical power here for over 7 hours yesterday during our storm. It was not fun.
Ann, I sure wish someone was telling me I was not eating enough.... I'd be very glad to hear that. Oh well. Just remember that old fashioned saying "you are what you eat" so I guess you need to be careful what you add on.
Now, as we had no power at mealtime last night, we did go out to dinner. Our small section of town was the one experiencing power outages so one could leave the house and go places that were open. So we ate out. I was a good girl and pretty much had CORE foods. I did indulge in bread and butter, my weakness, but only one piece.
This restaurant is not a chain and everything they have is homemade so it's easy to know what is in things for a change. I had minestrone soup (core!) and it was chock full of veggies and delicious. Then, I had a grilled shrimp garden salad with oil and vinegar. All the points I had to count were for the bread and butter, not too bad. I had water to drink as well, no wine and I was fine with that. But, the best part of the evening was that when we got home, our power was finally back on! Yeah for heat that works!

Hi all...

I am waking up a bit frustrated today. I got my new scale last night, and sure enough, it weighs higher. *sigh* A lot higher. This morning when I got up I weighed myself, and it was about 12 lbs more than my old scale. OUCH! I hate to say it, but I know it's accurate, too. I guess I was kidding myself before. So today I'm going to start totally fresh and new, wipe the slate clean.

Linda-My mom was never "mean" (my mom doesn't have it in her to be that way!) about losing weight, but the constant talks and "looks" when I ate something made me very aware. I did develop an eating disorder (bulimia) although I don't attribute that to my weight loss. I had lost the lbs by the time I was starting my junior year, I think? I was very, very involved in sports but I also didn't eat much either. I chose to start working, too, when I was 14...I worked at a local mom and pop grocery store every Saturday and Sunday for 5 years, and practically every day in the summer and on breaks. We were so busy most of the time that I never ate when I was there, either, even though the food was free! I still struggle with bulimia...that's why when I said awhile back that I'm embarrased to talk about my binge episodes; it's not the binge part that I'm embarrased about. It don't let many people know about it (for some reason it's different here...you guys know me but you don't *know* me) because I don't want to be judged, you know? It's not usually about the food anymore, either...it's all related to emotions. I think as I'm getting older it's getting better; I'm learning that I have to really try to control my stress. I'm also learning that the binge feeling is momentary. If I give it a few minutes, I will be able to talk myself out of it. Anyway...............


I've got to go finish cleaning for dd's bday party today. I'll try to check in with you all later. Hope I didn't get too personal for anyone...I just really wanted to let Erica know how important it really is to not bug her daughter about it, even nicely! The best way is to make changes as a whole family, so it doesn't seem like she's being singled out.

Good morning everyone! The snow still accumulates. It's March -ppppllluuueeezzzeee can Spring come now?

Paige- I'm glad you are comfortable enough to tell us about your food/eating issues. We're here to be a helping/listening ear, not to judge. We all have food/eating issues or we wouldn't be here huh?

Nibs - CONGRATS!!!! Everyday you are successful leads to the next successful day.

Linda - your posts as usual are great.

Ann and Erica - chocolate does that to me exactly what you both write about. I know that when my GS cookie orders come in, I'll have to mail out the Thin Mints right away to my Navy son and hand the Samoas over to my youngest for safekeeping in his bedroom. It's the only way I'll be able to deal with them. GS cookies - so addictive.



Boy don't I know about the food eating for the wrong reasons. I let yesterday get out of my control. Not overly bad like I would have in the past but it was off the points by a bit. DH has been going through some testing for his heart and his intestines and it has been stressing me out. Thus, eating for the wrong reasons and not planning what the day holds.

My goal today is to get back on track and let that all go behind me. Some of the testing came back and the bad stuff isn't as bad as we expected. So this too shall pass and I'll plod forward.

I'll stop by later to see how everyone's Saturday is going. I'm just hanging around the house today which is a good thing as it helps me get back into the place I need to be.

Good afternoon, I went to WI today and I am happy to report I am down another pound. It's not much but a pound for me is a big deal because of my thyroid condition it makes it harder for me to loose anything.

Little nervuos about tonight I have to go to a wine tasting/dinner and then to a party for one of the teacher's at my school. I am trying to visualize myself eating maybe half my portion of food and maybe not drinking all the wines that are presented to us.

Paige: No judgements from me, I am glad that you were able to feel comfortable sharing your experince with us.

Ann&Erica: those darn girl scout cookies, I actually forgot I have a box and a half of thin mints here at home. I didn't touch them all week, but I might have to work them into my points sometime this week.

Good afternoon,
Just enjoying a second cup of coffee here, really trying to just stay in control today. The FF, SF chocolate pudding seemed to do the trick for me today after lunch.

Haylo-that's awesome that you're down another pound, that is the way, down each week.... keep it going.... down.....down....down:)

Laura- so you have a son in the Navy? Where is he now? Hang in there with the stress, it's not easy by any means.

Paige- after reading your last post, I think you "scared me straight" about not making a big deal about my daughters weight. By no means have I ever singled her out about her weight. I try to encourage healthy choices (for all three dd's) whether it's about food or being active. But I thank you wholeheartedly for sharing your experience. I totally get it in terms of even how the nonverbals can play a major role in how kids can feel like they're being singled out. After I read and re-read your post, we went grocery shopping and the girls helped with picking out some really healthy snacks. So again, thanks for sharing that, it really meant a lot to me.

Linda- thanks for your sharing about what it was like when you were a kid in terms of "play", that was fun to read and visualize you as a teen dancing, I use to do the same thing... So true, so true about how we were just told to "go outside and play". I grew up on a dairy farm and that is all we did was build forts, play in the barns, bike ride up the tractor roads. Now our kids are growing up on a dairy farm as well but there is definitely a difference in terms of computer time, TV time etc. nowadays vs. when I was growing up. So thanks for refreshing my memories about "outside play". My DD's have already been outside twice today to play in the snow, even the 2 yr. old! It helps that they have to go out to the barn to bottle feed the baby goats, they have a purpose to get their little butts outside!


Ann- you are so right about trigger foods. I love caramel, yum! For me, I think it's like cookies and candy. As soon as I have just a little, it's like I get a taste of it and can't stop. Big mistake thinking I could have the GS cookies in the house and just will myself away from them.

Kim-ahhhhh the water thing, so hard to be consistent with that. Some days are easier than others for me. At least you are really trying. It always seems to be the one thing that helps me the most with having a good WI.

Well, DH and I are going out tonight, not sure what we're going to do but I've already decided that I'm not having any alcohol. Sometimes just a glass of wine will make me break down and overindulge in something I didn't plan on doing. I had my "fun" last night with the girl scout cookies, OK I'm gonna stop mentioning them now.....

Firstly, Paige, I didn't mean to imply that your mom was mean with her talks. Most moms aren't trying to be mean, but if they see their child going down a path that is "misdirected" it's hard to keep one's mouth shut. I have to admit I was starting to be the queen of looks and sighs with my own daughter and I just had to put a stop to it. Any time I "talked" with my own daughter about it, I was making her feel (at a very young age) that eating was somehow bad. I was trying my hardest to steer her towards healthy foods and smarter snack choices, but all she heard (again being young) was "don't eat".
I'm really sorry to read about the binge and purge thing and I am very glad you are not doing that all that much nowadays. It's ok to tell us and you have to understand that it is ok to actually tell anyone. :hug: It's not something to be ashamed of. We all care about you and your health here and support you. Please feel free to share more about this. I hope it is a thing you can put in the past. I don't know all that much about it, but I know it is common in teenage girls and in the entertainment and modeling industry. I know everyone else here (as people are just so great) will be understanding and maybe that, in itself, will ultimately let you know that you can be more OK with it and open to talking about it. Perhaps the final "cure" for you will be to be able to tell anyone, and know that not a single person you tell would ever make you feel badly as a result. I also hope that others who post here know more about it than I do (perhaps having done it themselves?) and can offer you words of help and knowledge?
Laura, good to get those cookies away from your direct view! You have a Navy son? I hope he is out of harm's way someplace. Tell us a bit more about him if you can.
Haylo, I congratulate you on that pound loss! It's more than I had this week and I don't have a thyroid condition. You seem like you are working really hard.
I think we should write to the GS cookie people and suggest they make them in 100 calorie packs like all the manufacturers seem to be doing. It's really a great portion control thing, wouldn't you agree? Though, I have heard confessions that lots of people aren't stopped by those individual serving sizes, but I find it helpful.
Erica, as far as your daughter is concerned, I truly hope that you do whatever is best for you and for her. I know I started down the wrong path with my daughter and had to pull back. It was hard to bite my tongue and watch her overeat. Her biggest problem is eating out of boredom and she will just be lazy and grab whatever if available and easy. I started to make and buy healthy snack items to have on hand without pressuring her to eat them, as well. I'd use low fat (she's not big on the taste of sugar free products) pudding and lite cool whip and make pudding parfaits in my tall champagne "flute" glasses and top them with a cherry. They were low in points but very tempting looking all pretty in the refrigerator. I would also cut up fruit and veggies and have them all prepared and make sure I had the fruits that were her favorites on hand. There was always a covered bowl of air popped popcorn all ready to eat on the counter and generally always strawberries and grapes, all washed, in big bowls. That helped, but then I would walk into the kitchen and find her microwaving a ton of butter to pour over top of that healthy popcorn and cringe. I'd stop in my tracks and I'm sure the looks and sighs were pretty plentiful, but I am only human.
One of the problems I have had with our household is that my husband and son are not WWing people. They pretty much eat whatever they want and whenever they want it and don't gain. It's hard having them in the house, but I can't force them to eat low fat foods or snacks. There always "has" to be chocolate chip cookies and full calorie premium ice cream in this house. I have learned to resist it all, but my daughter had not for the longest time. She's doing much better now and can, most of the time, stay away from these things. By (again waiting until she asked me to help her to lose weight) taking her to WW meetings with me, she has learned tips for others in meetings and when she hears the leader, who she views as a profession vs. a nagging mom, telling her to use butter spray on her popcorn vs. that butter she was melting, she gets it and it sticks with her. ;)
Erica, going out to bottle feed baby goats sounds like quite the draw to me vs. sitting in front of a tv. Sounds like you have a wonderful "science/biology" teaching facility right outside your door, lucky you! By the way, envision "The 70s Show" when you think of me as a teenager dancing to the record player (not even 8 tracks or cassettes in those days) together. We thought we were so cool, of course. We had the genuine hip hugger, bell bottom pants and mini skirts. By the way, I would hike my skirt up by turning the wasteband after leaving the house so my mom wouldn't see how short my skirts really were!
We stayed in last night and we generally eat out on Saturday nights. It was an ok evening, nothing special. I did eat ice cream though. But, I think I am ok with the points. But, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I really can't say the last time I had real ice cream.
Dinner was grilled boneless chicken breast, couscous and asparagus. Plain and simple. I had one glass of wine (Sutter home - 2 points for 4 ounces).
Today, I shall strive to be totally CORE if I can. Haven't planned dinner yet, but I will make a quick trip to the store later.
Stick with it, all, and Paige I truly am glad you told us your "issues" and so appreciate your trust in us all.

Good morning everyone. Wow - we had a productive post day yesterday and it was on a weekend!!! That is TERRIFIC!

My eldest son is 26 and has been in the Navy since right after 9/11. I'll tell you a little bit about him. He is my rebel child. He has piercings, tattoos and certainly has not walked the "normal path of life" whatever that is. At the point of 9/11, he was deeply in debt, no permanent home, was living on friends' couches and no direction in life. He had taken his tests for military and had talked to some of the recruiters but decided military life wasn't for him. As a side note, DH's brother (son's uncle) had been a lifer in the Army, raised a family and saw a lot of the world and DS kind of liked that idea but the whole military life didn't appeal to him. After 9/11, I got a call from him saying he was joining the Navy. I was shocked and told him that he knew that Pres. Bush would be going to war with Iraq. He said yes, he was aware of the possibilities and wanted to serve his country. Off he went to the Navy, he went in as an independent striker with an aim at being a submariner. If you enlist as an independent, you only have to do 4 years as a submariner vs the 6 that is required if you state that goal at enlistment. See, he still was trying to do the little for the most.

Anyway, he did his 4 years, was on one of the first submarines which fired VLS missiles at Iraq at the start of the war. Has done 2 tours of duty in the Iraq war basin, been all over the world. Was based out of Hawaii for a couple years. I got to visit him before he was transferred to Connecticut in July. He married a wonderful girl from Hawaii and they are living in CT. He re-upped last year with the condition of transferring. He called me on Tuesday to tell me he was leaving for the North Pole for 2 months. So he pretty much is seeing the world like he wanted to. Albeit in the belly of a sub, but he is traveling and seeing places he never would have seen. His wife is a child of a former submariner and is certainly used to the life.

There a little bit about my Navy son. A boy who was a total rebel, converted to serve his country and has made me proud every day. We loved him as a rebel too, it isn't that. But it has amazed me the change in his attitude. I won't tell you that he still doesn't have his piercings and he has definitely added some tattoos but his heart and soul have always been in the right place.

So the least I can do is to get the boy his Thin Mints

Laura, give me his address I will send him my caramel too....ha ha
He sounds like he grew up and found his purpose. That is so admirable to serve one's country. I understand your pride. Do you get to see him much?
Paige- I hope your DD birthday was great. Thanks for your post because until I read it, I never realized how my DH harps at my DS for not eating. I think he needs to be more relaxed. My DS only eats when he is hungry. He doesn't it huge amounts very often. He is not a fussy eater just eats until he doesn't want more. I was not aware of how my DH harps about it until after I read your post and I was thinking about kids and eating and then I heard it, I mean I really heard it for the first time. He does it all the time but I never paid attention to it before. Thanks for making me more aware.
Linda I was laughing so hard as I visualize you as a teenager with your skirt rolled up at the waistband to make it shorter and "The 70's show. Thanks for your posts they are always so great.
Erica, we should all go on a field trip to your dairy farm. It would be so much fun. The kids must love it. When I was growing up I used to visit my friend on her dairy farm. It amazed me how hard they worked. How was your dinner last night.
Kim, I hope sleeping comes easier for you. I know it is hard when our loved ones are away. It disrupts our routines. Did you get all your water in today?
Haylo how was the wine tasting/dinner?
Barb- Have an awesome day.
Ginny- we miss you!
Noelle,- where are you?
Dawny- Come back soon.
Scalewatcher- Keep on walking. I tried my pedometer and I just love it. It shows calories used and I was suprised how many steps I walk in one day.
I hope that everyone is doing well. Sorry If I missed anyone.
Take Care
Ann

Great posts, Laura and Ann.
Laura, I could almost see my own son a bit in my head when I was reading about yours. By the way, we toured the sub base in Groton CT last summer and maybe your son was among the many people we saw walking around? We got to go on a sub and tour it as well. I'm not sure I would ever want to do that, but my son said he might like to enlist in the Navy and be on a sub as well. Go figure. At any rate, the chicken, known as Linda the scared mom has truly held him back and advised him not to enlist. I'm so scared about this war and that they would send my darling "baby" over there. He is strong and brave (not a tattoo and piercing guy, but he has his own issues) and I don't ever want to lose him. As some of you know, I've had my share of losses and can't even begin to think of losing one of my kids.
Ah, so this is a weight loss place, so I truly must find something to say about that, right? It's almost lunchtime here and I am starving. I took some homemade chicken soup of of the freezer to have for lunch. I'm all congested from my cold/virus thing (not really sure what it is, but it's not fun) and maybe the chicken soup will do me good. It's a CORE soup with all fresh veggies, brown rice, barley and WW pasta in it. I look forward to it.
I was looking in my freezer for some of the WW garden vegetable soup but, alas, there is none left. Time to make another big batch.
My advise to any of you who make that is to take the time to quadruple the batch, at least, if you are going to go to the bother of making it and freeze a whole bunch of it. It's always great to pull it out of the freezer and just pop in the micro. I wonder why WW isn't making that and selling it?
Why there is an idea for an ambitious cook, make it in huge vats and sell the stuff! I'd be buying it for sure if it was not like "processed" soups and the canned varieties one buys, which are boring.

Hi girls,

My day today is going alright so far. I am going to try my best to get in my water and exercise this evening. I am invited down to my mother's this evening for supper so I will watch what I eat. She's having roast chicken and vegs. I am not going to eat the salt meat and only have very little gravy on the potato. No desert either only fruit.

Yesterday I didn't do as well but it wasn't that bad either. It could have been alot worse believe me. I had the intention of treating myself more than I did but I suffered with heartburn and indigestion from supper. That saved me from sabotaging myself more thank god.

I want to be down on wed. night at weigh in.

TTYS
Kim

Ann: well the winetasting/dinner thing turned out to be more then just a few little sips of wine here and there. They failed to tell us that the food they were going to serve was just like one meatball with a glass of wine, one piece of bread with a glass of wine, before I knew it I had drank way to much wine and not eaten enough food so I felt :dizzy: I think we sampled between 8-10 glasses of wine, everyone was definatly past their limit of couse I don't think anybody was able to drink each and every glass. It's amazing what a little sampling here and there will do. I am currently in recovery mode. It was fun though, and although the portion sizes of the food was probably perfect for WW, it didn't do much on the absorbtion of the wine. I ended up going dancing after all of that and picking up a small hamburger.

Linda: yes I have been working very hard at this, last night was an exception I wouldn't do something like that every weekend, I do feel a little guilty that I overindulged but, I started anew today.

Rosegarden: I have at least on member of my family (cousins mostly) in each branch of the military. I currently have a close cousin in Alaska right now he is in the Army, he will be going to Australia and then off to Iraq in october. I have another cousing going to Iraq I believe sometime this month he is in the Marines. I am constatnly sending prayers to people in the military who are put or who have been put through going to Iraq it's scary to me. I am glad your son found his calling.

Hi all...

It's been kind of a lazy day here today! Yesterday was so busy, so dh and I just kind of did nothing today. We ended up having 16 kids here for dd's bday party...our little house was busy!

Well, today eating wise I did have a piece of birthday cake, but I decided to throw the rest in the trash. Other than that, I've made good choices. Tomorrow, however, is going to be a TOUGH day. It is mandatory for the culinary department to go to this food show that is in the city, and from what I've heard, it's the one to go to if you want to stuff your face and come home tipsy. I'm really excited to go because they are having the US pastry competition, but I'm nervous about all the free samples that are going to be given out. I think because of core I will be able to make better choices, but I'm still a little nervous about it. Send me some willpower!

Gotta run...dinnertime!

Good morning.
I hope everyone had a good weekend and that you all have a great day.
Mine was pretty uneventful, which I consider a good thing. It was just doing stuff as a family, running on the treadmill, going for walks, and oh yes, eating all my points on Sunday.....I see we have snow today. Will spring ever arrive?
I will keep you in my prayers today Paige. Have fun at the food show.
Have a great day all.
Take Care
Ann

First, just to backtrack a bit.... I never offered my sympathies to you, Paige, for the new scale and the new number that was really a hard number to deal with. But, you are off to a new start and you know where you stand. So, I guess (gulp) it's time to move on from it and just accept what you have to lose? I have two scales in the house and I favor the one that weighs me lighter, even though I know the one in my bathroom is more "true", or at least "true" meaning close to what WW scales tell me. It's only a number, I guess?
But, I felt bad and I didn't want to let it go by without mentioning that.
Kim, you are a doing well. Sorry about the heartburn and indigestion. Was there something spicy in the meal that you had? Certain foods "get" to me. For example, though I love it, I can no longer eat split pea soup, it "kills" me for about two days afterwards. It's weird as I can eat other legumes of all kinds but we all have our weaknesses. I also have acid reflux "disease" or whatever you want to call it. My father in law once kind of insulted me and told me that it would go away if I lost 10 pounds. Maybe I know I need to lose weight, but it's always hurtful if someone else tells you that you need to lose. We know in our own hearts without being reminded??? Also, I think acid reflux is not the same as normal indigestion and I don't really think it will go away with weight loss. I take daily meds for it.
Haylo, that party sounds like a truly fun time! No lectures from me, I'm the one who had ice cream and some wine on Saturday evening as well. My motto has to be that you have to just live once in awhile and you can forgive yourself and move on. I truly believe that the people who take it all too seriously are the ones who will ultimately fail. Glad you had a good time and if you went dancing afterwards, you probably burned off some of it!
I have a second cousin who was in a medical unit in Iraq, he is home now and safe. I pray for all those who are serving and who are there. I truly wish our country had a resolution to this "mess" we are in. I am glad not to be in a decision making position and I honestly do not know what I would recommend we do. Actually, if I could, I would turn back the clocks to pre-9/11 and freeze time, I think. What a "safer" and naive world we were in.
I was almost at goal weight right before 9/11, by the way. After that was the beginning of a long time period of gains. I was so upset over what happened in our world that I went right into comfort food mode.
I had recovered a bit from that, lost more and was on track and then got word that my dad had bone cancer and things fell apart, yet again.
I am truly an emotional eater. That is not the only reason I eat, but it seriously affects me if I am emotional and upset.
I have come a long way, I think, in recognizing all of this about myself and maybe another time I wouldn't reach for the macaroni and cheese, hugs are much better!
Paige!!!! :dust: for the special school show/event thing. It must be so hard working/learning in the food industry, but you can be empowered. Look at Rachel Ray, she looks great and cooks all the time. She obviously has found a way to deal with food as a livelihood and to also live well.
Ann, an uneventful day is an ok day as far as I am concerned. I look forward to tomorrow being uneventful as well. I have no plans other than to bring my daughter back and fourth to school and want to stay in (it's going to be very cold) and just get caught up on things around the house and behave. Tomorrow afternoon is my weekly meeting. It's supposed to be wind chills of -10 throughout the day and I'm not sure I am going to weigh in due to that. I might bundle up and wear all my heavy clothing instead of my "official weigh in outfit". I think I might have a loss this week, so far, but I can live a week without knowing that and be warm. The WW center I go to meetings at is usually kind of cold with people coming in and out. I don't think they turn up the heat unless they are having meetings in the place and I think we get the benefit of having the place really cold before they come in for our meeting. Brrrr.......
Have a great day, everyone. Paige I hope the event went well, but if not you won't be at those things every single day, especially when there was a birthday in the house on the same weekend.

Linda: you are so right about moving on, we all have our day's and without them we wouldn't have what we call life. I love to dance!!!!! I did get right back on track today and yesterday. Although I think I am a little short on points today.

Paige: I hope things went well for you.

Ann: walking and running on the treadmill, sounds like you had a nice quiet weekend, sometimes those are the best.


I am worried about the things that are going on in Iraq, but lately I have had the global warming thing on my mind. I saw that documentary the inconveninet truth made with Al Gore, it was very scary. I am so sad about the things we have done to our earth. Today I went to the grocery store and bought some tomato plants and a cucumber plant, and all I could think about was how we have done so much to harm our earth and that I should be thankful for what I have. It just makes me think here we are sending people over to Iraq into such a scary situation and yet how often do we take the time to save our environment. It just makes me think how sad that these people are fighting for our county, I wish we could unite and work on saving or earth. Please don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those fighting in Iraq, I just wish we could get it over and done with.

Anyways, enough of my environmentalist talk for today.

Hi all...just letting you all know that I did very, very well today! The food show was basically a trade show with HUNDREDS of vendors set up (from gelato to pest control!) and they all were giving out samples. I had a few licks of gelato and a small (as in the size of a medicine cup!) sample of wine...I was too afraid to start sampling anything else, so that was all I had from about 7am till I got home at about 8:30pm! The food to buy in the convention's cafeteria was expensive, and I was too cheap to spring for lunch. I guess I survived! It was an interesting day!

Haylo, I echo your feelings on Iraq and the environment. Have you ever heard of a hymn called something like "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". I might have it a bit wrong, but we should all take time out of our lives to try to be at peace with our fellow man. I wish we could find a way to start peace talks with the middle east, but I truly wonder if their thinking and ours are so different that we just might not be able to understand each other. But, if we somehow found a way, as just people and not a country to reach out to each other, we have a chance? I want to get our people home, but I don't want to pull out of there and leave a huge mess behind us either. What is the right choice? I'm just so glad I am not in charge, I wouldn't begin to know what to do.
I haven't seen an Inconvenient Truth, I am kind of afraid to see it and I also find the maker of that film not my cup of tea. Maybe I should try to get past the maker of the film and see it? I'll think about that. However, I do see the news and read and I feel I am quite aware of what problems we have with our environment. Maybe we each need to think of just ONE thing we could do each day to help things along, one small sacrifice for mother earth?
One thing we can do, I suppose to buy fresh foods that are good for our bodies and to try to purchase things with less packaging. This kind of defeats our beloved 100 calorie packs, doesn't it though? But, I have to say that being on CORE keeps me away from that kind of food a great deal of time. A banana peel is much more biodegradable than a package of cookies!
For those of us who live near and can safely walk to the store, post office or to work, we can rely less on internal combustion engines. And, if we all shut down our computers when we are not using them (a huge thing for me) we could probably save a great deal of electricity? I like to just hit the space bar on my computer and the screen comes right back up, so leave it on. What a waste of electricity that is. What else can we do? Small things add up! We can combine our weight loss efforts, I think, with ways to help our environment???
Paige, I'm glad you survived yesterday quite well. Sounds like you could have gone "hog wild" (to coin a phrase!). I'm glad you did well, let it be the beginning of several successful days!
As for me. It's freezing cold and we have very high winds today. I'm concerned we could lose power and then I am "sunk" as the pipes could really freeze and freeze fast here. I am need to think of what I need to do to keep things warm here if this happens.
The first day of spring is only 15 days away and it can't come too soon for me!
Linda

Good morning all! I'm feeling very upbeat and motivated this morning! I actually hopped on the scale when I got up and it was 4lbs less than yesterday morning...I'm going to work VERY hard to maintain that this week. I know that it's probably from not eating very much yesterday, but I really do feel motivated to work hard this week to keep it off. I almost even stopped at McDonalds last night on the way home (you know that feeling...you reason with yourself that it is ok because you haven't eaten all day!) but I decided that it wasn't worth spending my money on, and then I remembered that I had an unopened box of gardenburgers in the freezer. I love the Morningstar gardenburgers! I'm so glad I didn't give in to fast food...this morning I woke up with that "thin" feeling!

Linda-That is my absolute favorite hymn. Whenever we have a hymn-sing at church, I have to request it. I agree with what you are saying, too. I want our people home, but it's going to leave a mess back there. I don't think that things will EVER be ok over there. I was talking to a good friend of mine who is in the Air Force, and she said that part of the problem is that the Iraq people can't trust each other. Brothers can't trust brothers. They don't know who is REALLY good. That is something that the US can't change.

Anyway...dds are fighting...gotta run...

Hmmmm, I could have sworn that I posted yesterday (:dizzy: ) Maybe not as it was a crazy day at work and my home computer has taken a dive. I've had it since 2001 but dang. Amazing how addicted you get huh? My new one which I ordered last Thursday at the serious warning signs arrived today at DH's work. So I should be up and running tonight.

Life is same ole, same ole. More extreme cold, another snow storm predicted. I feel like a broken record but it is MARCH Mother Nature. Time for some change. I do have to say the sun is SHINING and that puts me in the mood to walk again. So me and the dog (hhhmmm, maybe after the last pull her home incident) are going out for a walk tonight.

Gotta sit at lunch and make a good menu for the next couple weeks because DH's truck went down once again and it's killing the budget.

Paige - did you ever post that Pizza crust recipe in the recipe section? I need to come up with a place for my "good" recipes so they don't get buried and lost. Anyone have it? I know it's the 3rd time I've asked for it. SORRY!

Have a good Tuesday everyone and stay warm.

Good Morning to everyone- I have not posted much this weekend. I have been very busy with my DH. He is only working a half day today so he will be home soon. I have had a pretty good weekend food wise and I have gotton in some long walks. Tomorrow is my shopping day so I try to post after that. I enjoy the inspiring posts from everyone. I try to read them even if I can't comment on them. Thanks for everyone being able to share your lives with us. I look forward to reading as often as possible. Have a good day.:hug:

Uggg.....I need some serious motivation today. I didn't work out yesterday so I worked out for 30 minutes this morning and will be doing another work out later today as well to make up for yesterday. I'm having a hard time adapting my body to the new eating schedule. I'm so used to not eating breakfast and only eating 2 meals a day and this is making it rough on me. Any tips or suggestions? I'm open for all!
Thanks

hi everyone so glad I made it back.I almost gave up...I keep getting these advertismnts on trhis site than my comp is ssoooo slow that I just shut it down.. Yes I need a new computer it is just the money is not in the plan for that yet.....

Went to wi and I lost 4 pds. Thanks to all you doing core that is what I am trying
hto do.....Loving it..Keep the suggestions coming

Going out to dinner tonight with the girls.I must say I am thinking about canceling for fear og eating wrong and money . But after reading all the challenges some of you faced,(paige way to go about the burger) I feel I should at least try. So I will wait and see how I feel. I guess I am in a slump....

Iraq?...What a mess. I do not know a single person over there but I pray for them and I feel for the families.... It really saddens me to see so much, but what amazing men to go there fro our country...Heros big time. My little one had a photo taken of a military man next to a army truck. He nelt down and posed for us with him and it brought a tear to my eye.....Here my son has NO idea what this man is doing for our country but yet he still is sees him as a hero.. Does that make sense...???? It is a sense of heroism that is given to these men ,that even the young can feel..I just pray for them all.

Again I have to apologize for not really mentioning everyone,I did briefly catch up...Summer not sure whatyou mean? Are you not eating breakfast??? I am not a big breakfast eater so I like protien of fruit shakes. Quick and easy..At least you are working out .. Give yourself credit for that..

Sun is shinning today. Snow in forcast tom.. Can not win everything. Waiting for the summer months.

Hi everyone,
I too have not posted that much this week. I have not worked out since Friday, and I don't even have a real good excuse for it. I got TOM on Sunday, and I have totally given in to a lot of my usual cravings. I've only missed one WI since when I started the week of Thanksgiving, and I'm really toying with the idea of not going to WI tonight. 50% of me thinks I should go no matter what, see the gain, which it definitely will be, let it be motivating and have an awesome week from here on in. 50% of me says just take a week off from WI and go next week. I'm worried about that choice though, the fact I haven't worked out in 4 days, I have TOM, the combination just is not good. What to do, what to do...... anybody out there?

Hi all,
It is nice to read all the posts. Is it Spring break there? We are going away next week. It should be nice to get away from the cold and the snow here.
I need warm weather. Just a little bit warmer, springlike even. Paige congratulations on your success. I don't know if I could have done it in the same situation....Way to go.
My computer keeps freezing up and it is a new one. I am not sure why. I guess there could be a lot of people on the 3FC site. Oh well when I lose what I have typed I figure I probably should just give up and try at a later time.
Barb that is an awesome loss 4 lbs, Core is working for you. Yeah. You must feel good about that.
Linda I love that hymn. It is great to be able to walk everywhere. We very rarely use the car. People are shocked we enjoy walking.
Summer I started eating breakfast about a year ago. Now I couldn't go without breakfast. I like to have yogurt and cereal for breakfast.
Laura, try and stay warm. It is cold here.
Scalewatcher, are you ever walking a lot of steps, way to go.
Hi Erica, Noelle, Kim, Dawny and anyone else I missed.
Have a great night.
Take Care
Ann

Hi Erica, I was getting worried about you. When do you go on holdays?
As for the weigh in, maybe if you go the meeting will inspire you. I know when I am practicing avoidance, as I like to call it, I find once I confront a situation it spurs me into action.....just my thought. I hope that you do what is truly best for you, and you know in your heart what that is.

Take Care of you!
Ann

Hey Everyone, I am a little dissapointed that I have to miss my favorite excercise class today, I have to stay late at work today.

Linda: Yes, I have heard that hymm. I know what you mean about watching that documentary, I wasn't to thrilled about myself but my parents were watching it and I started watching it with them. It is scary, but very informative. I agree with what you are saying, I am glad I am not the one in charge having to make decisions that impact a whole population of people.

Paige: great job sticking to your guns and not going overboard with sampling.

Erica: maybe you could go to the meeting and not weigh in, sometimes when I get in that mode, I force myself to go and weigh in so I can be forced to get back on track.

Mamaangel: I try to get something everyday for breakfast, sometimes I have to plan it out, or sometimes when I don't have time I grab something quick yogurt and fruit is a big one for me, oh so is oatmeal. I try to spread my food out, our plan zero point or low point snacks through out the day so that I am not just eating two meals a day. Another words I might have breakfast and then bring a long fruit or veggies for a snack, and do the same between lunch and dinner. I just try to figure out how many points I have during the day and see what I can snack on. Popcorn is a great option especially the 94% fat free one, I think it is like 1 point for a bag and it has a good amount of fiber.

Erica - wish I would have been here when you needed me. Yes GO to the meeting. It will give you the umphf to go for it. I promise.

As far as the site, there are some nasty popups loaded on this site which horribly slow down my computer at work and here at home. Some times of the day are better than others but I sure wish they didn't have to load all that ugly stuff on the site to pay for it. (I'm assuming that's why it's here)

Had a great dinner. George Foremaned a chicken breast, tossed some cabbage, carrot sticks, onions and mushrooms in a skillet with a bit of chicken broth and nuked a small Yukon Gold potato. YUMMY and I'm stuffed. I love it when what I eat satisfies me. It's not always the case and I'm disappointed when it doesn't. That can sometimes triggers a bad food episode.

Hello everyone,
Ann and Haylo- thank you for that last minute pep talk about going to the meeting. I did end up going, and I was only up .5 pound. My regular leader wasn't there, which was kind of a bummer, b/c I really look forward to her each week.

I just have to say too, that reading these posts each day, which I don't miss one, is really like a daily vitamin and my meeting is like a shot in the arm each week. Even if I don't respond to everyone, I'm reading them all, and it really keeps me going for the day. So I'm sorry if I ever miss anyone.

Well, I'm really going to have a good week. The girl scout cookies are gone.... But.... I came home from my meeting tonight and my husband is baking a cake with my dd's!! Now I will really show my strength. I'm gathering up all my WW material and I'm heading upstairs while they all indulge in that beautiful smelling cake. Have a great night everyone!!

Hi ladies,

Stayed OP all week. I didn't get in any exercise though but I am hoping to start getting that in daily starting today. Did drink my water though so that is a plus. I have to weigh in tonight so maybe I lost some.

I worked the last two days and this morning I am exhausted. Got to try and get up and do a few things around here though.

Have a good day and I'll check back in a little later.

Kim

Hi everyone.
I lost my long post I had going. I will try to remember what I said and repost.
Kim, congratulations on staying OP all this week and getting all your water in.
Good luck on your weigh-in, I have mine tonight too.
Erica, it was great to see you did go to the meeting. That is a good idea to take your ww material and go away from the cake. I think I will re read my material too. It is nice to hear all you Girl scout cookies are gone. I wish they could make low fat ones, no that wouldn't work because I would eat the whole box. I think it is because they are only available temporarily not all year long. I know you will do great this week.
Haylo, sorry to hear you missed your favourite exercise class, that thing we called work gets in the way of life....but it is a necessary evil.
Laura your dinner sounded delicious.
Hello Linda, Paige, Barb, Dawny, Summer, Noelle, scalewatcher, and anyone else I missed. Have a wonderful day and stay warm. It is still cold here.
Take Care
Ann

Good morning. Thankfully, that yummy dinner held me through the evening and there was no urge to snack or grab anything. We ended up getting pounded with snow again so the walk was out. We got another 4" last night. It really is March now and it needs to start to look a bit like a warm up is coming. 16 degrees out there right now. Amazing.

Hoping for another OP day. How's everyone else doing? Erica glad you made your meeting. Kim - stick with it and add your exercise back in slowly. Soon it will become a habit again. Ann - good luck at weigh in. GS do make lowfat GS cookies. Not nearly as tasty but they make them.

Gooooood morning all! It a warm and balmy 7 degrees here in my part of NY. And spring is only a few weeks away? At least it is supposed to be back in the 40's by Saturday.

I did really well yesterday. Stuck with core, and only went over 2 pts for a granola bar and a few points for some moz cheese. You know what is really helping me along at night? Sf, ff hot cocoa! I have that the same time dh and dd are having their ice cream. Since core only allows 1 serving a day, I really find myself looking forward to it during the day, so it does feel like treat. It's especially nice to have something warm and *cozy* like that a little before bedtime.

So I have my cake decorating class tonight. I am super excited for it because we are going to be working with sugar (pulled sugar...like the sugar sculptures.) I've worked with it once before, and that was just kind of messing around with it. At the food show on Monday, they had the most amazing sugar sculptures...someday I want to be able to do that!

Laura-Your dinner sounds great! I know what you mean, too, about not being satisfied. I might be full, but just not satisfied with what I ate, and it will definately trigger something in me. How long did you cook the veggies for?

Here's the recipe....I guess I should post it in the recipe section!

1 packet instant dry yeast
1 cup very warm water
2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
flour

Stir the yeast into the water, add in the salt and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Add enough flour until it forms a knead-able dough. Knead for a few minutes. Let rise for 1 hr.

I can't remember now how much cheese and sauce we use because dh and dd always take over at after I make the dough. I think it's 5- 1/3 cup servings of part skim moz cheese and 3- 1/4 cup servings of pizza sauce. When the pizza is cut into 8 slices, it equals 3.5 points per slice.

You can also add 2 tbs olive oil to the water mixture (before you add in the flour.) It will increase the points value, of course...1 point increase per slice. It's good if your are trying to get your oil in, I guess...1 slice would equal 1 tsp of oil. I don't necessarily notice a huge difference in taste between oil and no oil. The no oil is a little bit dryer, maybe.

Kim-Great job staying op this week! I'm anxious to hear if you had a loss!

Erica-Good for you, facing the music and going to the meeting. .5 isn't that bad, either. Dh gets hit up for girl scout cookies and all sorts of other goodies at work all the time...he KNOWS that anything he buys does NOT come home with him, or he would be in trouble. I'm such a snob, too...I don't like people to bring baked goods to my house. Baking is the one thing that I do really well, so I almost take it as an insult. LOL...that's so dumb, but I can't help it!

Haylo-You probably mentioned this somewhere, but what exercise class is it?

Barb-Fabulous job with the 4lbs! That is so exciting! Did you end up going out to dinner?

Summer-Back in September when I re (re-re-re-re) started WW, I was skipping breakfast, eating lunch very late and then having some dinner. There were days when I would have 18pts left! Part of it was that I had a very busy school schedule last semester, but I guess thinking back on it, I could of found more time to fit in some snacks. Anyway...I lost 22lbs fairly quickly, but boy did I gain half of it back even quicker! As Haylo said, find snacks (I'm a big one for the 94%ff popcorn, especially since it is core) that you can fit in during the day. For breakfast, I usually have oatmeal with a banana...quick, easy, and really good for you. I have noticed, too, that the more I stay away from snacky type foods (sorry, but I'm not a fan of the 100 cal packs) the easier it is for me to lose.

BTW, for those of you who are having problems posting....maybe you could try highlighting and copying your post before submitting it. That way if it's lost, all you have to do is paste it back in the reply box. It's an extra step, but it might save having to retype!

THANKS FOR THE RECIPE PAIGE!!!!

I copied and pasted it to my work hard drive - now I should have it

The sugar stuff sounds fun. I love watching the Food Network contests when they work with that stuff. They make great creations out of it.

Erica: I am glad you went to your meeting , .5 isn't bad you can get that off in no time. It's funny how we get so attached to our leader's isn't it.

Paige: it's a cardio groove class at my gym, every week we learn a new dance last week we learned swing and the week before we learned salsa. I am planning on going tommorrow he teacher the same class all week so by the end of the week you know the routine by heart. It is just so fun, but at least now I have tomorrow to look forward to. It's just hard when you get a schedule down and then something comes along the way and messes it up. Your classes and cooking adventures sound so fun, I love to cook. God idea with the hot cocoa.

Well I have been doing fairly well this week with sticking to points I think I was a little over on Monday, and I am a little worried because I haven't excercised all week but I think I am going to try to do a little something today, for sure tomm. and maybe on friday. Oh yeah, my pedometer broke it's counting my steps but isn't letting me download my info. into the website from my gym, I guess I'll be making a tirp to the gym today after all.

Good afternoon all!
Forgive me if I don't list all of your names and make specific commentary, a busy day. 1st, my darling daughter got her license! Thank goodness.
Then, I have been a bit under the weather, lots of coughing. I didn't get on line this morning, so missed several of your posts. But, after a three hour nap, I'm awake at least.
One thing I have done lately (not all the time) is to type up my post to you all in outlook express on a blank e-mail. I do spell check and proof it there and then copy cut and paste it here. Then, if it gets lost, I have it. I was losing many postings and wasting time, so I figured this would work. After I make sure my post "takes" I delete the unsent e-mail, that never had anyone in the "to" section.
I weighed in at my meeting yesterday and lost .4 , not bad considering that I was wearing heavier clothing. It was so darned cold out that I couldn't bear the thought of wearing my official weigh in outfit, which is my lightest weight clothing.
So, if I am a "good girl" next week I might even have more of a loss if I wear my special outfit again.
That's all for now, take care everyone!
Linda

paige great idea about the sf coco. Sounds like something I should do...
Linda congrats on the loss
Erica .5 is not bad at all I bet you are glad you went.
Haylo, sounds like you have a good program going... Hey things come up and you may not be able to make it to all of them but I bet you will work hard at your next one. I took a dance one a few weeks ago. I laughed so hard.I moved parts of my body that usually do not move that way.. It was fun though.

Rosegarden, You have to be all most finished with the snow..... We got an inch but melted by the afternoon.... I can see spring coming ..Hang in there.

Paige thanks for the pizza recipe..We usually go toa pizza place and buy the dough for around 1. My dh wants to make his own...I think it is easier for me to run up there and buy one , but I will try it for him..

Well my dinner was a riot.... I did Ok. I orderd the chicken Marsala and changed the pot for veggies. I only ate one piece of chick. and took the rest home. I had one glass of red wine and 2 pieces of bread...I just could not resist .. so all in all i did well. Alot of laughs... It is nice to hang with the ladies once a month

I feel great. I am wearing some clothes, pants that I have not been able to wear in a while Whoo.The scale may not be showing it but the working out is paying off.

Great news my ds is cancer free. It was or must have been a cyst or something on her xray... That was scary I saw the xray and it looked like a nodule... I am so happy for her... Life can only get better for her at this point...

About Gs cookies..My dh bought 2 of every kind. ARGH... I put them outside in our freezer. Out of site out of mind. I put a few in the lunches and that should get them out of here soon. They are too good. I do have hto admit. I put 2 of each kind in a bag and that is my treat through out the year. If I am having a good week I may pull them out to have one or 2...If I remember them there....

If I missed anyone Hello and I am trying to get the hang of saying Hi to you all. I am a little slow and stink at typing so bear with me.... Have a great day Barb

Hi ladies,

Went to weigh in tonight and lost 3.25 pounds. I feel like I'm on a roll again. Hopefully The losses will keep coming this time. That's my plan anyway.

Congrats on the loss Linda. A loss is still a loss, even 0.4.

Good luck Newlifestyle on your weigh in tonight.

That's a good idea djmommy about the cookies.

Hope you had a great OP day Rosegarden

I wouldn't be able to have your will power mpaigew. To do the baking you do and trying to lose weight. Sounds like alot of fun though.

Anyway, better get going and try to watch a little TV before I fall asleep. DS may be up thoughout the night again. He has a really bad cough and head cold. I may have to take him to the doctor tomorrow.

TTYS
Kim

Good morning all! It is really cold here right now. We've just got to get through today and tomorrow, and then it looks like we'll be in the 40's for awhile.

Nothing new really going on here. I've been doing really good staying op this week! Hopefully I will be able to maintain some of that 4lbs that showed up on the scale the other day.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Good Morning everyone,
Well, I feel like I'm finally back on track. TOM is over and my cravings have subsided. I'm going back to the gym this morning after almost a week off. I went grocery shopping yesterday and stocked up on a lot of veggies, fruits, and just good CORE staples. My favorite lately is grilling a huge portabello mushroom and putting it into my meal, they are so meaty and full of flavor.

Paige- my husband and I are going to a food show next week, and I'm already gearing myself up for it. For one, it's on my WI day, so I have to be good. It's a food show put on by SYSCO which is where we get most of our supplies for our business, so it's all tasting, all day long. I plan to only have CORE foods no matter what. It'll be good that my husband is going, he can be "the taster". The SF, FF hot chocolate has helped me too, I feel I need to make it a ritual at night though, so it's something I look forward to as well. Thanks for the idea!

Kim-way to go with that loss! I haven't had a "big loss week" in a while now. That's pretty awesome, so how'd you do it?

Barb-ugh, the whole GS cookie thing, good move with putting them outside, wish I could've had the forsite to do that.

Linda-hope you feel better! You cracked me up about your "weigh-in" outfit. When I was a leader, there were several women who had the "weigh-in" outfits. This one woman would always crack me up. She started WW around Christmas time and her "weigh-in" outfit were these red kind of stretch pants with Christmas trees on them and like a red Christmas type turtleneck, tell me we weren't sick of seeing that outfit in April!!

haylo-thanks for the reminder about popcorn, that is going to be my friend this weekend.

Laura- yes, I think Spring will arrive this weekend, and with daylight savings as well, it'll be an extra treat.

Ann-thanks for all the positive support, I read your posts and it always lightens things up for me, thank you!

Well, I guess it's time for me to get the breakfast routine going. My fav. breakast right now is warm Oat Bran with bananas topped with NF yogurt, all sweetened up with Splenda, thank GOD for Splenda!!!

DJM, such good news that your sister is cancer free! I so wish everyone who is being tested could have such great news. You must be so relieved. Something like that experience can give a person a "new lease on life" and maybe help them live better and rethink all their choices? I have a dear friend who is a breast cancer survivor. She treats her life so differently and with so much respect. She is very much a "live in each moment" person and I admire that. By the way, as the Bible says, the body is a temple and we should respect it (not exact words, but you all know the phrase) she is the perfect example of someone who never really eats anything without first analyzing if it will "bless" her body or not. We could all learn something from that!
Sometimes I like old cliché sayings, and that old saying that today is the first day of the rest of your life is so true. We should all take something from that, I guess.
Kim, I sympathize with your son. I'm doing this one post to you all and returning to bed. My cold is hopefully going to be gone soon, but I am tired and a nap will help heal me. I'm not coughing as much today, but my voice is all "froggy" and I am just worn.
Paige, keep at it. I like that you are setting mini goals for yourself. I think it's so overwhelming when people look at weight loss numbers and moan, gosh I have 50 pounds to lose, or something like that. If they set small achievable goals, it's so much better mentally.
Erica, thank God for Splenda too! I'm drinking coffee right now with some in it. My first coffee of the day is never sweetened, but after a meal (breakfast) I like sweetener in it, kind of like a dessert. I find that Splenda is good on my oatmeal or if I have cream of wheat cereal. Those are both my good CORE food "solid" breakfasts. I made them with FF milk to get in my milk servings as well.
I deviated from my "favorite" breakfast this morning and had an egg white omelet with FF feta. I sautéed onion and pepper in my 2 tsp EVOO, to get those healthy oils in at the start of the day. I've been having either oatmeal, cream of wheat or shredded wheat with FF milk and fruit each morning for ages, but I wanted something else for a change.
An interesting phenomenon is occurring (maybe as I have been sick, though) I just can't finish my breakfasts lately. I wonder if the CORE foods are just so filling that I don't need as much food? I also am not really starving in between meals either. That's a good thing for sure.
I have to report that I tried the "new" meatloaf recipe that I had sent a link to you guys for last night for the first time. It's 100% core. I substituted FF milk instead of water in it as I needed a milk serving and I know my daughter does as well, she seldom gets in her milks.
It was good, all three of us that were home liked it. It uses oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs as well as egg and ketchup with Worcestershire sauce. I made mashed potatoes with it and we had kernel corn. It was a nice comfort food kind of meal. The only thing that wasn't CORE was the margarine (and I count points for that).
So, off I go to the land of napping, my pillow is calling my name. I shall cozy up with my two cats (who are the king and queen of napping - they are experts if you need to be consulting anyone for sleep disorders) and I shall sleep away the morning. The laundry, ironing and cleaning will just have to wait for another day.

Linda i hope you feel better soon. The meat loaf recipe sounds very good I may have to try that next week. My dh LOVES meat loaf and than I just send it in sandwhiches to work iwith him. Makes my life easier ..I just double the recipe.

Kimmy hope your boy feels better

Erica sounds like you got your grove back...

I am off today to get a crown on my teeth.. I swear every time I go any more my teeth need something.. I really do not think I have any more teeth left to crown after this...So much for mine and dh night out this week.,the money will be going to my teeth. Aghh Oh well things could be worse.

Anybody have a great core recipe for tenerlion chicken.... Something my kids will eat without gagging?????? My one ds hates chick, I think it is a texture thing with him.. I often bread it for him.. Any way I do need something if you have one thanks...... Off to pick up a little before I go to my FAVORITE place THE DENTIST.... YUCK seeyah Barb

I found some I went to the core part on this site. There are alot of good ones. Still open though for any others . Thhanks

I'm off for weigh in in about 1/2 hour. Today's been really crazy at work with all the Microsoft upgrade for DST and the rush work. I'll try to type more this afternoon. I had probably a good 5 out of 7 days but I didn't write it down so you know that is never a good thing.

I'll report later.

I lost 800g this week.. that makes it 3.4kg lost in 3 weeks! :carrot: this week i've started branching out into other exercises - I purchased two exercise DVD's off the net, and have done them both a couple of times.. one of them is actually really fun!

Wish I was smart enough to know how kg compares to lbs. Something us Americans are bad at I know.

I lost 1.5 lbs this week. I'm challenging myself to hit 10% in the next 2 weeks. I'd love to do it next week but that's 2.5 lbs - I know I can do it if I try hard but I'm giving myself the 2nd week in case it comes in close.

I'm starting this week out right by writing EVERYTHING down. I had to throw out my tuna at lunch today because the can opener failed at work and it would only punch one or two small dinky holes in the top and it failed. GGGRRRR. But DD was so good to me that she had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich ready for me when I got home. I'm getting such good support from my family.

Have a good Thursday evening everyone.

Hello everyone, well it's getting closer and close to my weigh in day. I got to go excercise today it was so fun. I was a little under point so I ate a piece of bread with a little peanut butter. I calculated everything and I ate a bunch of little things, so it seems like I ate a lot but I guess I didn't. I was so happy today I hit 10,000 steps on my pedometor for just today. Usually I get a little over 6,000 so I am glad to see I was so active.

Rosegarden & Emma: congrats on your loss
Linda: take care of yourself I hope you feel better soon
Erica: I actually used the popcorn today, and it filled me up, I didn't even eat the whole bag, and it was one of those snack size ones.

everyone else I missed good luck on whatever the day brings you.

Happy Friday everyone,
It's been a great week for me so far (food wise). I went to my "Yummy Mummy" group last night and there is always a lot of wine and good appetizers flowing. I did have two small glasses of wine, and two appetizers, but I stopped at that. Oh and two small pieces of chocolate. But I planned for it all day, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Well, that's the difference now, I just really feel like my lifestyle changes are taking hold. It just feels so good to be in a situation like that, and have an awareness and be in control.

My biggest challenge these days is the weekend. I'm just more lax, especially late in the day. I'm really hoping for a busy/active weekend. We make maple syrup, and this weekend is going to be perfect for it. Trudging through deep snow to get our trees tapped is going to be a good workout. I much prefer those types of workouts, doing actual physical work!

haylo-way to go with the steps, i'm thinking i need to dig out my pedometer and wear it for a day, i'd be curious to see just how much i'm walking each day.

Laura-yeah!!!! 1.5 that's great !!! you can definitely reach your 10%, we're all here routin' for ya!!

Barb- hope the dentist went well for you. Hmmm, let me think about the chicken thing. I usually grill it on the stove, I drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sounds kinda boring I know, but then I put it over a salad or into a CORE recipe, like with couscous or something. For the kids I typically bread it with bread crumbs and then bake in the oven. I use to fry it, yikes!

Linda-hope you're feeling better.... weather should be warming up in your neck of the woods right? I have yet to try that meatloaf recipe.... I need to though, it sounds really good. I have to say Linda, that I'm jealous of your stick-to-it-of-ness with CORE. I find myself hearing your voice in my head when I "bend" the CORE rules with myself and my cooking. I thank you for the reminders of doing it the honest way.

Paige- Sunny and warmer weather hits NY, Yeah!!!! I think Spring just might be here for a few days anyway. And with daylight savings this weekend, it'll feel like summer nights are just around the corner.

Well, I just finished my second cup of coffee, so I better get the house awake and going for the day. I'll check in later....

DJM, sorry about the dental visits. I hate going, I put it off and wait until things are really bad. I have a few crowns and had root canals in the past. The more recent root canal I had was a "piece of cake" rather than the first one about 15 years ago, which had worse pain than labor pains!
They have developed new technologies in recent years, thankfully. It was almost pain free, or very close. The previous one required several visits over a few weeks and this recent one was one day, and done. Thank goodness for new ideas!
I'm not sure what you mean by tenderloin chicken, do you mean boneless chicken breasts? My kids like it when I use a bit of olive oil in a pan and I put that seasoning "Essence of Emeril" on both sides of the chicken and pan cook it. It's simple, easy and tastes good. If you can't get Essence of Emeril, you could use Lawry's Seasoned Salt or something like that. I sometimes use just salt and pepper and a tad of garlic salt if I am adventurous.
I used to make "Mommy McNuggets" for my kids when they were small, I'd dip cut up pieces of boneless chicken in egg and then in breadcrumbs and cook them on a cookie sheet sprayed with non stick spray. I forget the temperature, but they cooked fairly quickly. The breadcrumbs are not core, but everything else is and my kids enjoyed them with dipping sauces.
Hi Laura, sorry about the computer stuff, it will get better.
Also, Emma, just want to say that I love that baby photo you use, she's a doll! I wish I knew how much 800g is... I'm not good with metric measurements, if that is what they are! I see Laura also wonders.
If you've lost 3.4kg in 3 weeks, I wonder if that is like losing 3.4 pounds to us? I need to go back to school, the kids are taught all this stuff nowadays. I think no matter what - any loss is a good loss though! If you are 5 feet tall and your goal weight is 58kg, I wonder if that might be equal to about 125 pounds?
Can anyone clarify?
Haylo, thanks for the well wishes. I'm feeling MUCH better today, thank goodness. I still sound like a frog, but I got some sleep last night and with a nap yesterday that was nearly 3 hours long, I'm "good to go". I won't say I'm ready to exercise today, but I probably won't need a nap, or at least a three hour one for sure!
I see Erica has about the same chicken ideas as me. Maybe we are both pretty boring? Not serious, though. I like to put mine on a salad too, though. I laughed to myself when I read your thoughts on how I stick to CORE.... I didn't last night. I had a piece of pound cake, whoops! I made it for my husband as it's one of his favorites. I couldn't resist having some of it. But, the thing that I have learned from my long term WW participation is that ONE piece is sufficient and I can stop at that. He'll finish off the rest while I will revert back to SF/FF chocolate pudding with my lite cool whip over top of it or a WW frozen dessert.
So, my "voice" is in your head! I wonder what it sounds like in your head, is it soft, deep, yelling at you or nagging? I hope it's not nagging. If you asked my teenagers they would say I am the world's worst nag.
Now, as for me, I have to decide what is dinner for tonight. I may make pizza, inspired by Paige a bit. I have a bread machine and I have a pizza dough that I have made in it before and it works nicely. It takes care of the rising and kneading all for me. It beeps when it's ready. I have two pizza stones and enjoy using those as I think the crust is more crisp.
However, having pizza is dangerous territory. The crust is NOT core so I will be using a polenta pizza crust for one pizza and making another pizza with "normal" crust. I can have one piece of each for dinner.
Here is a deep-dish polenta pizza recipe:

http://food.realsimple.com/realsimple/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1586987
Of course, my parmesan will be low fat, I can't find a FF parmesan anywhere, so I will have to count points for that low fat. I will use a combination of part skim and fat free mozzarella in my "pies" (as the NY people would call them). I would rather count the points than have totally FF mozzarella on a pizza, it just doesn't have the "character" I desire, the FF mozzarella is good, but kind of "flat" in taste and texture, and it doesn't have that "stretch" we all like in a pizza cheese.
This polenta one will be as close to CORE as I can get and it will have the flavors and textures I desire. I will allow myself a slice of the regular pizza too and I shall be satisfied. I usually have salad alongside pizza when I serve it and it keeps me from overeating. Also, if I were going to the store today (doubt it) I would pick up a few of those really huge portabella mushrooms and make mini pizzas using them, they are totally core and with the right toppings, are quite nice.

Gooooooood Friday morning all!!!!

So I messed up some last night, but I feel ok about it. Thursday nights is our grocery night, so by the time dh gets home and we go, dinner is questionable. Last night our older dd really wanted pizza, so I gave in and we went to Pizza Hut. I think something is trying to tell dh and I that we shouldn't go out to eat anymore. We either get really bad service or no service at all. Last night it was really bad service. We were there for 2 hours! We ordered a pizza for us and a personal pizza for dd (she doesn't like toppings.) It took an hour to get our pizza, and they never made dds! So 20 minutes later, they bring hers out...with pepperoni. As soon as she saw that it had pepperoni, she wouldn't touch it. So they took it back and 25 minutes later brought back out the right thing. When dh went to pay, they had asked him how everything was, and of course he complained on how long it took. The waitress proceeded to tell him, "I would like to see you work here!" That set dh off because he used to work at a Pizza Hut that was packed every night of the week...and THEN the waitress started telling us that she was doing the best that she could because she was SICK! UHHHHHH, WHAT?! You are SICK and you just served my kids food?!!!!!!! EXCUSE ME?! I know how it is to be in the service industry, so I am usually very nice to retail and restaurant workers, but I was so pi**ed off!!!!! And on top of that, we got out of there so late, we weren't able to go get groceries! Serves me right, I guess, for giving into the temptations!!!!! LOL!!!

Erica-We just to do maple syrup when I was growing up. At the time I don't think I liked it very much, but now looking back I really treasure those memories. My parents own about 100 acres, and there is an old sugar shack on the property...I can remember sitting in there with my dad while he boiled the sap down. We would take hot dogs and eggs up and boil them in the sap. It really is such back-breaking hard work, though, especially if you are using the buckets. When my dad put the line in from tree to tree....omg that was so much easier! Ahhhh the memories...lol! I remember one Easter, too...the buckets (hundreds of them!) were in our garage drying out. My parents had the smart idea of hiding our (there were 5 of us at the time) Easter baskets under the buckets, so in order for us to find our baskets we had to pick up and stack all the buckets.

How long before your bakery opens back up?

Kim-I have "baking willpower" pretty much only when I'm at school. That gives me hope for when I get a job, though...I just don't sample there. Last semester in my baking class I had a guy that was my official quality control person, and he would taste everything for me. At home it is a lot harder to not sample. I think it is getting a little easier because I am trusting my skills more and more. It sounds really snobbish to say this, but I know that when I bake something (unless I burn it! LOL!) it is going to turn out good. LOL...that sounds really conceited, but baking is just my THING, ya know? If things must be sampled, though, I usually will have my husband try it or I'll take some to the neighbors.

Gotta run...check in with you all later.

Good morning everyone. My mantra this week 2 3/4 lbs. I pulled out my stuff and that's the actual weight I need to lose to hit 10%. So every meal and at the top of every page of my tracker is 2.75. Only a few issues this week - basketball playoffs and meeting some internet friends at Middlebury at the Amish restaurant on Wednesday. The only fortunate thing about the meeting is that it is the day before weigh in so I'll be less tempted to indulge myself. And as far as the playoffs, that won't be much different than regular basketball season. At least at the band booster meeting last night there were no yummy drinks and treats. The co-chair is a WW leader so she never has treats. The other chair ALWAYS has treats and they are always homemade so it's hard to pass them up.

Anyway, have a great TGIF day everyone. The sun is shining here and they are calling for 40s and rain glorious rain this weekend. WHOO HOO!!!!!

Where is everyone today? LOL!

I am having a tough, tough time today. It's TOM any second...ugh, pmsing big time. I want to eat everything in sight!

Well tommorrow is WI, I can tell I have become more concicous of my eating decisons, today after work I went with a friend for happy hour and we shared some chicken nachos (probably not a good choice) but in the past I would have eaten a lot more of them then I did today and I had a michelob ultra, in the past I would have had several margaritas. I don't know how long it has taken me to figure out that eating all that heavy bad food just upsets my stomach, but I have finally caught on to it. Anyways, hopefully tomorrow will bring good results.

This next week is going to be a challenge for me because it's spring break. Yes, we are experince spring like wheather in Texas, I am going to Lousiana to vist my cousin so we will see how that goes.

Paige: I hate when TOM comes, I think TOM is going to pay me a vist soon as well.

Rosegarden: I did the same thing in my calender for work I put 1 pound at the end of each week, so that I can try to remember my goal for the week is to try to lose at least 1 pound. It seems to help a little because everytim I see open my calender I see it, it's nice to when I accomplish that and then I get to put a little check mark next to my nore in my calender.

Erica: WOW making maple syrup, I can't imagine how fun that must be. I didn't even know people did that kind of stuff. How amazing!!! Of course here in San Antonio tx, we don't get snow either, we are lucky if we get rain. As matter of fact we are getting close to a water restriction which means we can only water the lawn on certain days and certain times, due to the lack of rain. Oh yeah, and it is interesting to see how many steps you can get in a day. I am sometimes suprised to see how many I get a work.


Well I hope everyone has a good day tommorrow.

Paige, OMG! What a nasty experience. We've had times like that at certain dining establishments as well. But, that sounds particularly awful.
I think I would go on their web site (surely they have one) and write an e-mail about this to their customer service department. They should know.
If that had happened to us, I'd have expected them to take the PPpizza of the bill, in particular, but the rest is just really poor.
I suppose if you sample/taste something, you can always spit it out - yeah sure, like I'd be doing that, right? Ha Ha!
Cooking eggs and hot dogs in maple syrup, by the way, sounds kind of strange, but I'm sure it was something you all enjoyed?
By the way, one of my fondest childhood memories is baking pies with my family and I groaned that I was being "forced" to help when I was a kid. We used to go apple picking each year and pick two bushels of apples. Mom and Dad would have a pie baking weekend where that is all we did, assembly line technique. We had a big chest freezer (the very one in my garage now!) and dad would make pie boxes to freeze them in so they didn't get crushed. We would have a year's worth of apple pies for holidays and Sunday dinners. In those days, we had Sunday Dinner, and it was always special after getting home from church with pie, ice cream and dessert. We usually had company. We never seem to do that nowadays in our rushing society. Of course, in those days, all the stores and businesses were closed on Sundays and people stayed home with their families. I think the world is very sad sometimes when it comes to everything being open every single day of the week, it's not a religious thing but just that society should slow down for once and simply enjoy family and relaxation a bit more.
Laura, if you go to any basketball games/meetings bring your own food!!! You can do this!
Paige, I saw your "where is everyone" posting, sorry!!!! Guess we were all out there in the world? I was paying bills and working on preparing tax stuff. I hate taxes. By the way, I read that participation in "certain weight loss programs" is a tax deduction for medical purposes. I'm copying my daughter's and my WW weekly weigh in things (what are those called, logs?) where they stamp every time we go to the meeting and tallying up what we spent. I shall send DH to H+R block next weekend with that as well as other stuff in hopes we can take our WW meeting fees off as a tax deduction. Wouldn't that be cool? We have a very lousy health insurance plan that doesn't pay for much of anything (DH is self employed) and we have many prescriptions that are not paid for or hardly paid for so we are up to $23,000+ in medical deductions at this time, but if I can add the WW fees to it, I figured it out (based on attending 40 meetings in a year for the two of us, as we didn't go every week and really started up again in June) to be $960.00 for the year. I'll have to do an official count, but that is a fair amount of money to deduct if it's acceptable.
I got really sidetracked working on taxes and didn't make my dinner and we had take out food. I may have done OK by getting a Greek Salad and having my own O+V on it rather than dressing and only ONE slice of pizza. But, I totally blew it on dessert. I have to be extra special good today and until weigh in for sure!!!!
So, today is a lazy day. I was going to grocery shop as we got paid yesterday and I can now afford it, but I am not going to. I might run to the store and pick up a few odds and ends, but not do the major trip that I need to do. I need a break!
Hope the rest of you are ok!

Good Morning Everyone.

Successful night at the b'ball game. The boys won their District Championship. On to Regional Playoffs next week. Linda - I ALWAYS pack my own food. I learned about 3 years ago that a person cannot live on hot dogs and pizza twice a week for 3-4 months. It's the Afterglow Party that is tougher. Everyone brings a dish to pass and believe me, our small town has some GREAT cooks. But I did okay and only had a brownie and a small glass of wine, which I certainly had enough points for.

Off to a band festival today but that will not involve food - thankfully. Well actually the kids will want pizza and drinks but it will be easy for me to pass that up.

You know, when you start Weight Watchers, it seems so easy. Then you start to take a look at how much our society has revolved around food for every occasion. You used to be able to go to meetings, band events, etc. and not expect food but now society has filled every event with food. No wonder we're a nation of overweights. We do love our food don't we?

Have a great day everyone! I'm making Paige's pizza for dinner tonight but my toppings will be pineapple and veggies with some cheese of course.

Laura, how right you are about every event being tied into food.
I saw a TV report on kid's obesity recently. It was talking about a certain school system outlawing bringing in cupcakes or treats for a class when it was a kid's birthday. I totally agree, even though I know my kids just loved it when it was their special day. But, their special day didn't have to be about food, it could be focused on every kid in the class drawing a picture or writing something special about their classmate like "what I like about Johnie is ________". The kid could also hold the flag during pledge of allegiance and lead the lunch and recess line that day, etc. A special crown could be worn during this time or whatever the teacher wants, it shouldn't be all about the food!
Thinking about an average classroom having something like 25 kids (some are higher in fact) and that each kid gets cupcakes brought in, for example. In our school system the kids with summer birthdays were allowed to select a day during the school year as well. At any rate, let's say each cupcake is 500 calories and each kid eats a cupcake on that day. That is 12,500 calories a year consumed by kids for school birthdays. As each 3500 calories supposedly equates to adding a pound of weight on a person, that is 3.57 pounds per year a kid could add to their body, just for eating those cupcakes. As kids are inactive in comparison to kids of the past who didn't have video games and lots of TV watching, you must consider what we are doing to these poor kids! Then, if you add the elaborate b-day parties thrown by the parents nowadays, it's a real eye opener.
I hate to sound like an old lady, but when I was a kid I might have gone to two birthday parties a year (I was really a popular kid too, not a geek!) and my kids used to go (now they are teens and it's not as big a deal) to elaborate parties at various facilities with snacks and meals and probably attended 3 a month, on average, that were truly extra meals in between our regular meals and then cake and ice cream too. What are we saying as a society about eating to these kids?
The focus IS truly on food at so many events we attend.
Recently, I attended a music department honor's event where all the kids were given certificates, a few scholarships were announced and a performance was given. It was a nice event, but there was coffee/punch, brownies, cookies and all sorts of food there. I don't ever remember going to things like that when I was in school where we even had coffee. I'll bet the taxpayers are paying for all of this as well, but that isn't even anything I care about, it's merely that people expect food to be where ever they are.
Even in our bank, over the holidays, there was a "spread" of mini muffins, cookies and beverages. So you can eat your way (or should I say weight!!) through all facets of your life and be obese, wearing awful XXX large clothing that binds as you walk. EEEEwwwwww!!!!!! Not me!
With that, off to tally more tax return stuff. I should learn to be MORE organized throughout the year.

Good morning everyone!

Linda-We didn't cook the hot dogs and eggs in the syrup, we cooked them in the sap....it's pretty much just cooking in a sweetened water.
I had thought about writing to the company, but decided to let it go. I'm taking a sanitation and food safety course right now, so things are kind of magnified...but it does upset me how management would let this person work if she wasn't feeling well. That is one of the main causes of food bourne illnesses.
That is awesome that you might be able to claim ww on your taxes. We did our taxes as soon as we got all of our stuff (we did them online this year.) This was the last year that I was able to claim a credit for school, and it got us an additional $1200! We made out REALLY well...unfortunately all but $350 went to pay off a credit card! UGH! Dh and I haven't used credit cards since xmas, and we just transferred the balance on our other card, so now we really are not able to use them anymore. Anyway, that's neither here nor there...

Laura-You are absolutely right, everything in our society is revolved around food. Even tomorrow at church, we are having brunch after service...so what am I making right now? Maple cinnamon rolls. LOL...I know I actually won't eat any of them, though. It's funny...I love feeding people. It's almost like I get more satisfaction out of having people eat food that I made than I get out of eating it myself. LOL...is that weird?! It sounds like you are so busy with your kids! I can see myself being that way when my girls are older.

Anyway...I think I've decided to go back to flex. It is getting too difficult to find meals that both dh and I will agree on. I'm not doing core correctly, anyway, I don't think. I'm just really going to have to stay motivated and count my points.

Check with you all later...

Good morning everyone, sorry I haven't posted, we are on holiday.
On Wednesday I lost .5 pounds. Better than nothing.
Paige, that is awesome you are such a confident baker. It doesn't sound snobbish at all, it sounds like you are aware of your skills. You should be proud....way to go.
As for the conversion from kg to lbs.....2.2 pounds equal approximately 1 kilogram.
Linda, that sure is high medical stuff, wow. We have provincial insurance so we don't pay for doctors visits or xrays or needles or hospital stays, unless you want a private or semiprivate room (for that you need coverage).

Erica and Paige, I may have driven by your houses on my drive,that is if either of you live near I81. We drove through New York on I81. It was nice and sunny and it looked so pretty with the snow.
Making maple syrup would be a lot of work I think, but it is so yummy.

I went to the Hershey World of Chocolate and ate only one miniature chocolate. I have a huge bag full of chocolate and other stuff in my trunk. I hope I don't go out and eat any.

Laura and Emma way to go on your losses.

Haylo, good going on your steps. I like my pedometer but I can't figure everything out on it. The steps I am okay with.

Linda I hear your words too, they are positive and make me make better choices regarding core. I brought my book and have gotten it out each time we stop for a meal so I can choose Core food.

Paige I really like your ticker it makes me think of spring.

Well I hope everyone is having a great day. I will post when we find internet access.
Take Care
Ann

Linda-I know what you are saying...it's starting so young, too. I get so annoyed at the amount of JUNK that the other parents bring into my dd's preschool for their parties. Just for Valentines...OMG, you should of seen it. When I was a kid, we would have the little paper valentines, but apparently that isn't the way it is done anymore. She came come with her backpack STUFFED with candy! She's 4! On top of that, other parents brought in cupcakes, chocolates, cookies, chips, etc etc for them to have at the party. I am good friends with dd's teacher, and she and I both expressed concern about how much was brought in. What are these parents thinking?! LOL...and this is coming from me, the future pastry chef. It's almost like the junk food is forced upon these kids. Dd went to the same preschool last year, and I remember that I did bring in cookies a once or twice...but then I saw how much was being brought in. So at their last party, I decided to make little finger sandwiches. I made rainbow homemade bread and used ABC cookie cutters to cut out the sandwiches. Don't you know...the kids gobbled them up before touching any of the sweets?! This year I made pizza rolls for one party, and at the Valentines party I brought in the napkins, cups, and table cloths. Luckily my older dd isn't a sweet eater, so all the candy she brings home pretty much gets thrown out, and she doesn't really touch much of the junk that she is given at those parties.

Having said that, though...it's hard for me to not want to make her a cake to take in for her birthday, especially since she sees the other kids bring them in on their birthdays. She is funny because she doesn't really even eat any of it, she just loves looking at it and "helping" me make it.

I know what you mean Linda and Paige,
For my DS's valentines party I brought in cut up fruit and vegetables and the teacher was shocked. It was nice because the teacher mentioned that the kids picked the fruit and vegetables before the cupcakes and sweets.
For birthday's at his school, they celebrate with writing and drawing about the person who is having the birthday and we are told not to bring in anything. It is funny because I never realized that this is a better way than a food celebration.
I must be a slow learner.

Well I went to way in and I was down 2.6 pounds, I was in shock. I have to say it was really motivating and encourage me to keep on going.

As far as food in schools, in the school district I work for they are only allowed to have 2 parties during the school year, we are not allowed to give the kids any type of food items. It has become a lot stricter, I agree thought some of these kids are so inactive and extremley food motivated. They get sad that they can't bring sweets and stuff to school, and that they can't have parties all the time, but I think it's for the best.

Hi everyone,I survived my tooth ordeal.I was so sore though for a few days...I am still taking motrin..Anyway, It is done and I just hope it does not go into a root canal.

The diet is not going well. Core is not working this week. I went out to dinner last night with the family and had a fried jpickle again... OMG they are so yummy and I did order cod oscar but I ate some fries and than I also had a beer. I only ate 1/2 of my meal and brought the rest home but I still ate those dang fries. I did tell dh at least I did not eat as much as I would have in the past . Today started off well I worked out , had the other half of dinner for lunch and than we went to a carnival at the school. I nibble on some of my sons nachos and had a slice of pizza,.. Dinner wasa hamburger no bun and some home made fries with egg whites. Dinner was not bad if I was on flex...anyway I am sure I will gain this week. It is so hard to stay on track that I get so frustrated and want to throw the towel in...... So I stay fat for a while.... I CAN NOT GIVE IN.........

Linda I agree with the party thing... I give my kids parties at home. We have sooo much fun planning them. I can not afford to do parties out. As they get older they may be able to pick a fewfriends to do a movie or to come by to hang out. I do not allow them to have parties every year.... They have sooo much stuff that they do not need any more junk. One time we did a cowboy party. I served hot dogs and macaroni and cheese in pie tins and dh got bails of hay and made a fake fire that they could sit around. We sang songs and we had a rocking horse that they could try to throw a hola hoop around the neck and used water guns to shoot down empty water bottles. They loved it all. They are fun to plan and do. We also only do 1 treat for the parties at school but they do celebrate bdays there.

Maple syrup Yummy, How fun.... We use to grow popcorn.... I remember shooking(SP) the corn and than my dad would make this wonderful popcorn at night for us kids. We had a huge garden and did a lot of canning and baking too. I hated sitting with my mom peeling apples and the bees all arond us. I wanted to play.....Now I would give anything to sit on days like that with my mom..We take that stuff for granted...

Linda, I also agree with you about society... I refuse to overwelm my kids with activites too. One activity a season. If they do not want to that is fine. But I told them when jr high comes around they must be in one activity or work....I can not believe how young these kids are in sme of these sports. Have of them do not want them to be there. My kids would much rather be home playing. I love our Sundays. We try to hang as a family as much as poss. In the summer if they are gone to much playing we do tell them they need to keep Sundays open for family time.... Time goes by to fast ..I want to enjoy them as much as I can..

Haylo congrat on the loss

Anne hyummy Hershy choc...I want to go there with the family this summer.I have been looking into that myself.

Paige I am with you on the flex. It might be easier to do that but watch the carb intake....

Rosegarden comgrads on the victory.....

Have a great night..... Tom it is suppose to be a beautiful day...All this talk about choc.. I am hungry for choc now....I am going to have some sf hot coco... Barb

Good Sunday Morning everyone,
Whewh, I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. Maybe it's the time change? Well the weekend is half over and I'm doing OK. I just really want to have a good WI this week.

Barb-thank you for saying that I "got my groove back". That keeps ringing in my head, because yes I did, and it has been good to keep reminding myself of it. Your family grew popcorn? That's pretty awesome. We grow popcorn as well, but it's to sell. We are always making our kids do exactly what we do on the farm. Starting in the Spring they'll be harvesting the asparagus. They like that job for about the first two days. Little do THEY know that we have been putting the profits of that crop into a savings account for them. The 5 yr. old still loves it, she's a little worker. I truly hope that one day they will cherish all the memories of these "grulish chores" we are making them do.

Ann- Yes, if you came down I-81 you went right by where we live. We are just South of Syracuse. In fact we give a lot of people directions to our Pumpkin farm from I-81. So did you go to Hershey, PA? Was Hershey Park open?

Paige- That's a pretty cool story about the sap buckets and your Easter as a kid, I can just imagine that. When my DH and I were just dating and first married, we made a lot more syrup than we do now. We sold our evaporator, b/c with everything else we have going on, it was just too big of a commitment to be making all that syrup to sell. So for now, we make about 20-25 quarts just enough for us for the year. I'll probably open our Bakery late Spring, I'm going to see if I can sell asparagus quiche, then start in with my jams, jellies, and fruit pies for whatever is in season. We'll see though, it is my first official summer with the bakery open.

haylo-well I'm still impressed with all of your pedometer action, I still have mine sitting in the drawer, OK I think I'm going to put it on right now!

Laura- did I miss your WI? Or, when is it?

Linda-tax stuff, ugh! That's all I have to say about that. All this B-day party talk. My daughter will have her 8th this week. I too have boycotted in a sense the big event b-day parties. My dd is allowed to invite 6 girls who will be getting off the bus at our house, we'll play a few games etc. here, maybe they'll go out in the barn play if it's nice, but that's it, it's all about play. In fact for years I have had people wanting me to "run" their b-day party at our Pumpkin farm. I tell these mothers to save themselves some $$ and just come here with a group of their child's friends and just play for a few hours. I think a lot of times it boils down to parent laziness and "keeping up with the Jones family", they just want someone else to do the work. Let me just say that I'm not meaning to offend anyone who has had these types of b-day parties for their kids.... it's just my opinion, my experience:) .

Well, my dd's are sleeping in today, what a Sunday it's starting to be. I'll probably go to the gym at some point. My DH is out right now starting a fire to begin the sap boiling, at least I know we'll be outside a lot today. I'll check in later..... hope everyone is having a good weekend. And it's been fun talking about this little side tangent of our childhood memories etc. It has definitely validated to me what we are doing with our kids, thank you!

Erica and Anne I noticed how much weight you both have lost.. For some reason I never looked at all this and today I noticed.. Wow what an inspiration. I am so ready to throw in the towel. Did it take you a long time to get to this point????? I tell yah I need to record or forget it.... I need my grove back AGHHHH... Please tell me how long for you both......Barb

Good morning everyone! Well, it's MONDAY again and I am vowing to do a better job this week staying on program. I may have a loss tomorrow (if I get to my meeting, that is as I have plans during the day and might not be home on time) but if there is a loss, it will be a small one. I was not very good on Friday and Saturday, but yesterday I was better again.
Congrats to those who had losses.
I'm still working on the tax stuff, it's really annoying, but we are making headway at least. My DH meets with H+R Block next weekend and we need everything organized and totalled up before he goes.
I'm grocery shopping today and I look forward to re-stocking this house with healthier choices.
Paige, what is it about CORE that isn't working out for you? Maybe we can help? I know I have issues with my husband and son not liking WWpasta and brown rice. I have found that Success Rice is making an individual serving to microwave of brown rice and I like it. So, if I make white rice for the rest of the family, I can micro my own portion of the brown rice. I find myself also cooking two boxes of pasta at a time when we have pasta. I don't mind doing this at all as we are big on pasta being used for leftovers and in other meals. So, I might have the WW pasta for lunch on another day. I heat it up with canned diced tomatoes over top (no points and CORE!) and put FF mozzarella on top of that. It's tasty and a CORE lunch.
By the way, I'm going to buy stuff to make WW Garden Veg Soup again, that is always such a help to have on hand.
So, off I go to the shower and for groceries.
One more thing - I hate changing the clocks and daylight savings, etc. I wish our society wouldn't mess with it and just leave it one way or the other!!! Such an annoyance. Wouldn't it be cook if they just set the clocks a half hour in the middle of the hours we change each spring and fall and just leave them year-round. Oh well, no one listens to me.
Take care everyone!
Oh yes, when I turned 12 my mom had a birthday party for me and I asked her to cook us a turkey dinner! So, I had a tableful of my buddies for dinner, what a switch that was, but it was a fun party. I think it was the only party I ever had growing up?? I also remember only getting those paper valentines as well, Paige. What has happened to us all?

Good Morning everyone,
I hope you all have a great day.
Barb, for me it is slow and steady, I know I feel like giving up sometime but I know if I keep on track I will be successful on my journey. I know sometimes I complain to my DH because I haven't lost weight (well .5 of a pound) in three weeks. Now that I have to lose 2.5 to get to 50 pounds lost, I feel like it will be forever, but I remember when I had lost 15 pounds and I never thought I would ever get to 20. It is so true that slow and steady wins the race. At least my race. I have bad days and then really good days. I have weeks where I feel I should be losing tons of weight and I stay the same. The doctor told me not to worry about the scale as there are so many factors that contribute to the scale. She told me to keep focusing on losing inches or in my case that I can go down a size in clothes. What I am trying to say is stick with it, you are doing awesome and I think with the warmer weather we will all get our motivation back. Erica can give us groove dust and we can get our grove back.
Linda you have so many good ideas for core. Thank you.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Erica I will wave from the hiway on my way back through.
Take Care
Ann

Good morning ladies- Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I have been busy with my family. I had my 3 of my grandkids staying with me. 3 boys-the oldest is 7 and the twins are 4. We had a great time but I am really glad they are now home. Spring break here in Florida. So everyone is out and about. Wednesday I will be going to WDW with daughter-in-law and 2 of my granddaughters (1 is 3 yrs and 1 is 7 mths). I will get a lot of walking in that day.

Well, I did WI on Friday and was down .8 pounds. I am glad it was down. I really blew it on Thurday night . My DH brought home a Classic Italian Pizza from our favorite local Itailan Pizzaria. OMG I ate 3 slices!!!! I thought I was going to be sick. Why do you think I did that? I LOVE PIZZA. It is my weakness. It had olive oil, fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and mozzarella cheese. Boy was it delicious. I know I should have only had 1 piece but I could not help my self. :devil:

Sorry about the long confession but I feel better having said it.

I'll do better this week on food and at WI.

Have a great day.

Hi all...

It seems like our little board was so busy for awhile, now it has slowed down some. I think I'm having a little bit of withdrawl!

I "weighed in" this morning, and I was down 2lbs! I'm kind of thinking about maybe starting to go to meetings, and take the money out of my school refund check. Still thinking about it.

Linda-I don't think I really was following the core plan all the way. I was eating too much non-core foods and not counting the flex points, and to be honest, I was starting to get a little bored. I think I might of been eating too much of the core foods, though, too.

I'll post more later...dd is bugging me to let her play on the computer. Can you believe that a 4 year old already knows how to completely use the computer, including type?! It's incredible what they are taught in preschool these days!

Hello everyone, well I am off to Lousiana to vist my cousin, I hoping I can stay as close on track as possible. For some reason this weekend I went a little overboard, but then I felt guilty about it so I am going to start off this week right. My parents are going with me to Lousiana and my mother is also trying to watch what she eat so I think it will be a help for me to have some one else watching what they eat. She's really good about ordering salads and grilled stuff so maybe I'll just copy her food choice. Anyways, I hope to get a chance to log on sometime while I am gone. I need ya'lls daily reminders and info. If not I hope ya''ll have a good week.

Paige: congrats on the loss
Linda: I am right there with you on getting a little off over the weekend, I think it's because I am not at work and I tend to be a little more lax with myself and let myself get off track.
scalewatcher: I probably would have done the same thing with the pizza
Erica: pull out your pedometer, I bet you can come up with some sort of competition for youself. I am actually going to take mine with me on my trip to see if I can get some steps in.

Quick question...so this morning when I got up, I had my weigh in. Since then, I've had 2 cups of coffee, a banana, and about 24 oz of water. I just weighed myself again and it was down 2 more lbs. Should I take the original 2lb loss or the 4lb loss?! I even moved the scale around to different parts of the floor, but it still weighed the same (this new scale seems to be pretty good about that.) I think I might just take the 2lbs and count the other two next weigh in (in addition to the other lbs that I will be losing this week!)

What do you guys think?

Paige, congratulations on the loss. Way to go. Is that while you were on flex?
Erica the Hershey Park opens in April. You can smell the chocolate from blocks away. Maybe it was my imagination.
Haylo, have a wonderful time visiting your cousin. I hope you can eat healthy. I am finding that I really have to pay attention to everything. It is easier to do flex I found for travelling.
Scalewatcher have fun in WDW. We want to take my son there in the fall.
Linda that soup is so good. I went to trader joes today and they have coffee there. It was a great price and I asked some people shopping there who had coffee in their carts if it was comparable to starbucks and they said it was. I will have to try it once I get home.
Have a great day everyone we are off again.
Take Care
Ann

Good AFternoon - I'm been MIA since Saturday. Life gets in the way easily.

Paige - I'd take the 2 lb loss if that is when you usually weigh. If it's a true additional 2 lb loss, it'll be there next week if you stay on program.

Haylo - good luck in Louisiana. Enjoy your visit.

Not much to tell today. Had a rough day yesterday but I'm back on track today. Why is it those days come along?

Good luck everyone and have a great remainder OP day!

Hi everybody,
Well it's 4:30 popcorn time for me here, so I thought it'd be a good time to catch up with everyone.

Paige- Guess what we did yesterday?? We boiled hot dogs and eggs in the sap!!! Thank you so much for the idea, it was so much fun. My DH just had this look on his face the entire time, like, "I've been making maple syrup all these years, and never thought of this??" I think it'll have to be a ritual, thank you!!!!!

Barb-I started WW the week of Thanksgiving. December and January were really hard core "losing months" for me. Now, I've got about 13 pounds to go, and it's been very slllooooww. But I just keep chuggin' along, one workout at a time, one meal at a time, one snack at a time, one attitude adjustment at a time, that's what it's all about for me. I have such a determination right now. Even my DH has noticed on several occasions "the fire" that I have inside me to lose the weight. I lit that fire back in November, and it has definitely waned at times, but never for more than a day or two at a time. My older sister just asked me the other day where I'm at in terms of my goals, and I told her, I don't care how long it takes me, I'm going to reach it. Typically I would have petered out by now. My clothes are fitting me again, I've been getting the compliments, but I have to forge on and not get comfortable because I'm just not done yet.

Laura-I think without the tough days, we can't realize how important the good days are. Hang in there....

Haylo-Here's a thought for trying to stay on track while you're on vacation. About a month ago my leader gave us all a pretty green stone and asked us to come up with something that the stone could represent as far as our goals. For me, the stone represents all of my hard work that I have behind me. I carry the stone in my pocket sometimes when I know I'm up against a challenging food situation. It does ground me back to those goals. Just putting my hand in my pocket and feeling it etc. The fun part has been when I put a pair of pants on days/weeks later and find that stone in my pocket when I have totally forgotten about it (like this morning). I take it as a sign, that I'm gonna need some grounding back to my goals.

scalewatcher-pizza, my total downfall too. Sometimes now though, my stomach just can't take it because it's just not use to all the grease anymore. Never in my life thought that would ever happen.

Well, guess I better go and decide what to make for dinner.... always the question this time of day. Hope everyone had a good Monday

Ann, my losses are very small, don't be impatient - stick with it!
It's time for plateau busting ideas for you, my dear! Let's all see what we can do to help you out. You are so close to that 50 and I am so proud of you!!!!
Drink water, journal, step up activity - even just a little bit. Also, watch out for those BLTs (bites, licks and tastes). If you've been on CORE, maybe switch back to FLEX for a week? If you have been walking, try skipping rope or if you have a place for indoor swimming, try that? As my leader say, "mix it up a little". Also, do read that Wendi Plan stuff on this site, that is a real eye opener, it was for me. The main idea is to vary what you eat a bit. If your body is on a plateau, it's "bored" and used to the same amount of fuel and same amount of "gas mileage", kind of.
Scalewatcher, I won't even confess what I ate over the weekend, but it was not on program and I wasn't a very good girl. Yet, I am positive and feel that I have to live now and then. I'm right back on program and I know the weight WILL come off, even if I have a bad weekend now and then.
Paige, I wish I could help you more. But, you must do the plan that is best for you and your lifestyle. I don't find CORE foods boring at all, so maybe that is on my side? I felt so limited by the small amount of point that I am entitled to. I don't honestly think I could LIVE on that little food and be happy, I was being driven crazy constantly being hungry and thinking about food all day long. Maybe you get more points than me and can survive?
Haylo, at least we were both "off" on the same weekend. I just really lost control, and I just do that every now and then. I have no explanation or excuses, it just happened.
Paige, I think you are right and should probably just take the 2 pound loss, if the other "better" loss is true, it will still be there next week. I echo Ann's question, was this on CORE or Flex? If it was CORE, maybe you ought to keep trying a bit longer, if it was Flex, then go with that! You've been really down on yourself and have not reported losses in awhile, especially such a nice one. So, whatever it is you are doing, keep at it!!!!
Laura, ah-ha, another one off track. What was it about this particular weekend that did that to some of us? Maybe changing the clocks? Maybe the thought of spring? Who knows!
Erica, I do like your attitude! I also like the stone you carry with you. It's a very good idea. As for me, for awhile, I had a straw in with my WW materials but I tossed it finally. A leader handed them out to us at a meeting once and asked us to consider "what was the last straw" that led you to join WW and start losing weight. I kept that straw and it reminded me to think of how tight my clothes were and how many things in my closet didn't fit me any longer. Now, nearly everything fits - but I still have a few pairs of skinny jeans that just don't work for me. Oh well, they are totally out of style anyway!
Take care everyone, I'm so glad we had some spring-like weather the last few days, it's been great.

Hi all...just a really quick post!

I had two really motivational things happen today. I got back in touch with an old friend, and found out that she has lost over 60lbs! I can't help but feel so stinkin jealous!!! I am so excited for her (she looks incredible...I literally didn't recognize her) but I also felt really upset with myself that I haven't been able to really take the bull by the horns and just lose this weight already. It just really made me feel like if she could do it, I know I can do it.

The second thing...I am good friends with the nurse and dd's school, and know the rest of the teaching staff pretty well. The nurse was telling me today that they are starting a weight loss club, and she asked me if I would like to join (not meanly...she and I are always sharing our weight troubles.) Everyone puts in $1 a week; everyone has to journal their food intake and weigh in weekly. I'm not sure what the time frame is, but whoever loses the most at the end, gets all of the money that gets put in every week. I am up for it!

I'll write more tomorrow...just am feeling quite motivated right now!

Linda,Thanks for your thoughts. It is funny I was wondering those same things, if I should maybe exercise more, or vary my eating or switch back to flex. I have done well this week. I have run 5 km every day. Swam twice a day and walked for 30 minutes three times this week. I should show a loss. I wanted to eat everything in sight and then I saw Erica's post and had popcorn, it is funny how that made me feel much better. Thanks for all your support and great ideas. For some reason when I feel like I can't do it, I read these posts and realize I can with all of your help. Thank you everyone for posting here. I am thankful for all the encouragement and ideas you all offer.
Paige what a great idea having a weight loss club. It will be great support.
Erica the eggs and hotdogs sound great. Did the children enjoy it too.
When you were mentioning about parties, it reminded me of my ds, he has never mentioned he wanted a party so we have not had a birthday party for him yet. I can't believe all the people who comment on us. He has friends over and he plays with a lot of kids but he has never had the desire to have a party.
Well I should turn off the computer and pay attention to DH,
Welcome back Laura.
Take Care everyone
and thank you.
Ann

Good Morning,
Well today should be interesting. DH and I are going to a food show to taste test our way through the day to try to find new menu items for our business. I will be armed with bottled water and chewing gum. I find that those two things really help me in tough food situations. We are going at lunch time so at least I can plan a meal around it.

I plan to only stick to CORE foods. I can invision some nice cuts of meat, but because of the nature of the industry so much of it will be prepared foods (not CORE). It's a good indication though of what is out there being served in the restaurants. I think as far as CORE goes the best restaurants are the ones that serve "clean foods" and really know how to prepare them in a way that is full of flavor. In fact, our good friends up the road who own a pretty nice restaurant said that they wouldn't even be going to the food show because it isn't their focus in what they serve. They are like the perfect CORE restaurant, they mostly serve excellent cuts of meat prepared with such artform, always a side of either lightly sauteed spinach or broccoli, and an awesome baked sweet potato or garlic roasted red potato. They will do anything you want them to do in the kitchen as far as your meal goes. We feel so fortunate to have them right in "our back yard". They come to our farm a lot to get fresh asparagus, sweet corn, and winter squash to serve in their place.

I feel like I'm struggling a bit right now. Although I love CORE and the thought of going back to FLEX makes me shudder (I thought hard about it after reading Linda's post) I feel like things have stalled for me. I'm playing around with the same 2-3 pounds for about a month now. For me, after doing both CORE and FLEX, it seems that FLEX=hunger and CORE=satisfaction for me. Maybe I should try flex starting tomorrow and see if I lose anything this week? I dunno.... Well guess I better go wake the house up.... I'll check in later.... have a great day.....

Hi all!
Maybe we should try a competition? What about those on CORE compete against those on FLEX to see at the end of a certain time who has lost the most weight. No cheating allowed and whatever exercise you do regularly is what you continue to do while we do this time period - so if you "win" it's not because you cheated and added 2 miles a day during that time when you ordinarily were a lazy slug? It would be an experiment for fun only, but it might give us all something to have a good time with and see which "team" wins? Silly, but it might just motivate some of us to really stick with whatever programs we are on?
If any of you are "game", we could even set up a signature line with the "FLEX/CORE competition" and mark losses on it separate from our regular signature lines with our losses? We could do it for something like 2 weeks as it would get "old" for a month and a week might not really be long enough?
If we are "bad" and don't stick with whatever program we are on, it's all for fun anyway, but we can still track who loses the most and on which program?
I think it might be interesting?
As for me, I had plans to visit my cousin in MA today (my uncle that passed away in January's daughter) and she called last night to say she was sick. I get a "day off" to stay at home and I am kind of relieved, though I would gladly have gone to see her and my aunt, who are lonely.
But, seeing as I am going to stay home, I am going to make Garden Veg. Soup!
Weigh in day/meeting is today. I think I could have a loss, we shall see. I don't know how and why my scale is showing a bit less, considering that I did "cheat" over the weekend, but maybe that "mixing it up a bit" thing is paying off? Not that I would ever recommend anyone eating what I did.
Paige, the weight club sounds like a fun idea and for only a dollar a week, it could work. But, what is the "end" to determine who gets that money? I wonder if there were monthly awards? I'd do it if you think it would motivate you. Are you still going to your WW meetings as well?
Linda

Good Tuesday morning everyone! LOL...I actually had to stop for a second to think what day it is!

Linda-Last week I did 1/2 core, 1/2 flex. With the new plan, I get 30 pts per day, which really is kind of a lot. The only thing I'm not sure of with the new plan is at what rate it decreases. With the old plan, every 24 lbs it went down 2pts, so I'll probably just do that unless I'm finding that I'm not losing.

The competition sounds good! I've always tried joining the challenge threads, but I think because I don't know the other people, it was hard for me to get into the competitive spirit. Two weeks sounds good, too.

I'm going to hold off on going back to WW meetings for right now. I want to see what happens with the weight loss club, as I think that in addition to you guys would be what I need. Plus, it isn't looking like my chiropractor visits are going to be slowing down. I had one last night, I have another one on Wednesday, probably one on Friday, and then have to go back Saturday morning for the MRI. My back is starting to get better, but I have to be so incredibly careful to not hurt it again. The slightest little thing (not watching and picking up dd wrong, for example!) could do it. After spending a lot on copays each week, spending $10 a week for WW doesn't seem that bad! LOL!

Erica-I'm so glad you tried the hot dogs and eggs. I'll have to tell my mom I passed on one of our "traditions." I hope you have fun at the food show today! Let us know how it goes.

You all know what else has been pretty motivating for me the last few days? THIS WEATHER! Today it's supposed to be 56 and tomorrow 63! The air just feels so clear and not so COLD, it just makes me feel like running a marathon!

Hope everyone has a spectacular day!!!!!

Maybe 1/2 flex and 1/2 core is a good thing, seeing as you lost 2 pounds, Paige? When I was doing flex, I used to get 22 points, plus my 35 flex points, but with the new program, I lost 2 points a day. I just can't live on 20 points a day, even with 35 f.p. Being over 50 (sigh) I have to have 3 milk servings a day and when you think about 3 milks at 2 points each (6, though I know a WW yogurt counts as a milk and is one point, but for the most part my milks would be 2 points) and 2 tsp of healthy oils a day (2), that is 8 of my points out of 20 a day on things that I really don't count as true filling food. Can you imagine getting to goal and being cut to 18 points a day and still having to eat the milks and oils too? You know what would happen, at least with me, the oils and milks would go "out the window" in favor of real food. The new guidelines seem truly unreasonable for someone like me. For someone like you, 30 points a day, plus flex points, it really quite a nice diet, I think. Even if you eat the milks (at your age you only need two as well) and the oils, you still have some points leftover for actually eating. Wow, eating, what's that? : )
So, with CORE, I feel satisfied and can eat something at least, feeling full for a change and I still lose weight. I am lucky, at this point in my life, to not consider the foods boring. I guess I am also at a more "accepting" age. I hate getting "old" and 52 is not really ancient or anything, but I accept that the foods that are on CORE control me a bit and I need that control. Leaving (for the most part) white flours, rices and things like that out of my diet are best for me. Having more fruits and veggies are best for me as well. I look at what I eat each day and really do think I eat like a diabetic. But, this kind of eating, I know, is truly quality eating that I can stick with for the rest of my life, at least about 90% of the time - which is really good in comparison to how I might have eaten in the past, slowly but surely killing myself and gaining more and more weight.
If I want to be a very healthy senior citizen one day and live to see grandchildren without those horrible ailments associated with old age (high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, etc. etc.) I had better eat like this.
So, my theory is that this is best and I accept it. When I was your age (aren't you 27?) I would have fought tooth and nail if someone threw a "diet" like this at me. But, if you can be on FLEX and incorporate lots of the healthy CORE choices into your diet, I think that would be a very good choice for you?
Now, I am going to play with some signature tracker things for a competition. No obligation for anyone who posts here to be in this at all, so if you want to do it, starting today and ending in two weeks, on March 27th, you can be part of the competition. I declare myself a CORE competitor!
Linda

1. I added a challenge to my signature, you kind of need a goal weight to make these signature trackers work, so I abritrarily put in 10 pounds. One can choose anything the want, though.

2. One more thing, this thread is getting really long again. I'll probably re-start it again tomorrow and will post a link for the new thread. Keep an eye out for it!

Linda

Paige I hope you see this post before Linda starts a new thread but the hot dogs and eggs boiled in the sap brought back memories for me too. I grew up on a farm and February-March was always sugaring season. It was hard work but the rewards and the lifetime memories are priceless. We did the sap thing too and always boiled a pot of sap on the wood burning stove to make maple sugar candy too. YUMMMM, it was the best when it was still warm.

I'm up for the challenge Linda - I'll go play with a second ticker too. It could be the kick in the butt to get me to my 10%. I am afraid that my Sunday really jinxed my weight loss this week.

I feel good today after being on program all day yesterday and thinner but I'll keep my fingers crossed. I even got a long walk in with the dog yesterday.

Erica - the stone idea is a great idea. I'll have to find a pocket talisman. I have a tiny piece of towel in my materials zipper case which represents the towel. It is for when you want to throw in the towel or just need it to wipe your brow for a job well done. Visuals are a great reminder.

Ann if it weren't for popcorn, I'd be in big trouble. What a great filler.

Scalewatcher - I totally agree. That was my downfall this weekend. It just tasted SO GOOD!!!!! I haven't had issues eating just 1 or 2 pieces in the past but for some reason, I just couldn't stop. It was Paige's recipe and was limited cheese and full of veggies and Pineapple but it was AWESOMELY good and I shouldn't have let myself go so long without eating it.

Off to Regional Basketball playoffs tonight. Hopefully DH will help me out with a great dinner I can eat in the car that keeps me on program. It's getting old having to grab food in between work and games in the car.

Have a great Tuesday everyone and I wish you all a great OP DAY!

Hello Ladies.
Linda, the competitions sounds awesome. I weigh in tomorrow and I will go back to my regular exercising since we are starting this week. I was just trying to "ramp up" (for lack of a better word) my weight loss.
I have to figure out the second ticker.
Laura way to go being on plan yesterday and good luck with meals today, you have such a busy schedule. Thanks for the suggestion about the towel.
Erica have fun at the food show. That restaurant sounds awesome, I always feel awful asking for my meal prepared a certain way. I need to learn that it is okay. Oh yeah thanks for the idea about the stone.
Paige this weather is great, it helps me feel more motivated.
Scalewather and Laura, I think I want pizza now, maybe I should wait until after my weigh in tomorrow.
Haylo, I hope you are having a nice time in Louisianna.
Hello Barb.
I hope everyone has a terrific day.
Ann

So I just added my second ticker...I'm going to shoot for 4lbs for the two week period. I also spoke with the nurse at dd's school today, and she explained the weight loss club to me a little more. It is going to be over a 3 month period (basically till the end of the school year) but every two weeks the person with the biggest % of their weight lost will win the money from that two week period. So there are six different times that you could win money. It looked like there were quite a few people signed up, too. You have to weigh in every week and also keep a journal of your daily food intake. I'm actually on day #4 of tracking, which for me is pretty good! I started a notebook yesterday and am keeping track of everything I eat (with pts values) and the amount of water I'm drinking. Because of my back, though, I'm still not able to exercise. I actually asked the dr yesterday if I could start going to the gym and just do the eliptical, and he said no.

Linda-I think with core I was using up my flex pts way too quickly and then just giving in and not counting them at all. We actually only use ww pasta, brown rice, and ww lite bread...we have for a few years now. I think, too, it was getting to be that I was craving something that wasn't on the list, and telling myself that I couldn't have it made me obsess about it...which eventually caused me to binge. It's better for me to let myself have things that are lower in points (low fat ice cream, low fat granola bars, dd's fruit snacks) and not feel like I'm cheating because it's "not on the list." You know what I mean? At first when I was doing core, it was good...the bad stuff wasn't on the list so I just didn't eat it, but then I get that craving for something, and the obsessing begins. With flex, it's just getting back into the routine of journaling and tracking it all. I just hope that the things that are going on now can keep me motivated.

Well, I'm bummed out. According to MY scale and how I was feeling, I thought I'd have a loss to report to you all. But, nothing. However, I guess I can be relieved that I didn't have a gain either. What a way to start off this two week challenge, with a big fat zero.
Oh well.
Next week, surely, I will have something to report.
Linda

Well, I had my WI tonight and I lost 2 lbs. I was very happy, especially with the incredible food show we went to. The food there was just unbelievable. But truthfully, I got a lot of enjoyment watching my DH indulging in all the food. He was pretty psyched to be able to go. Another challenge under my belt I guess.

So I put another ticker down below, I hope it works. I propose to lose 5 pounds during this challenge. Kind of a lofty goal, especially because we'll be on vacation for the second week of it. But maybe it'll challenge me to work even harder while we're away. Tomorrow is my is dd's 8th b-day, I made a low-fat cake, and I'm making Manhattan and New England Clam Chowder for our families. Well, I'll check in tomorrow.

I feel like things are really picking up around here in terms of motivation, could it be short season is just around the corner? I love it!

Here is a link to the new thread:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107133

C-ya there!