Weight Watchers - Counting down from 250 and beyond - Feb 7th and onward

Welcome to everyone!! We are a wonderful group of friends from all over and from various starting points. We're here to share laughter, frustrations, disappointments, and wonderful successes. If you're looking for support, we're here for all. Come on in and join the group.

Morning all!

I thought I'd take time this morning for a quick post. My version of going back to bed since I needed a break from racing to work by 7 am and staying to 5 pm.

I have to share my almost victory. As I have posted, I have been trying to plan our weekly meals. DH does almost all the cooking and its been a struggle getting him to pay attention to portion size and cooking light. That has been very hard on my efforts plus he needs to shed a few pounds. Wheneven I talk about cooking WW friendly, he acts stupid. I've finally gotten him convinced that he CAN read a recipe. Grilled meat and a veggie gets boring and I have a million recipes to try. So I've been planning lots of new things to fix and he's been making them. And now he's seeing that he CAN be a WW cook. Not only that, he's loving the food.

So here's what he made this week: This is a WW recipe from my online menu. The recipe doesn't look like its all that much as far as content; but the flavor is wonderful.

Garlicky-Shrimp
2 tsp olive oil (2 pts)
1 medium garlic clove, minced
8 oz shrimp, cleaned (5 pts)
1 cup cooked couscous (3 pts) (we used basmatic rice)
2 tsp parsley, chopped
1 cup sweet red peppers, sliced
1 small yellow pepper, sliced

Prehead broiler. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute. Add shrimp and season to taste. Saute until opaque. Combine couscous with parsley. Place peppers on a small baking tray, spray with cooking spray and season to taste; broil until done. Serve shrimp and peppers over couscous.

This says its 10 points total. Points will vary by how many ounces of shrimp. We used a pound of shrimp (half pound each) and 1-1/2 services of rice each and it was enough food.


I'll have to print the other thread out so I can make replies. Welcome Akasha and congratulations to those who have posted losses. Hang in there and keep up all the great work.

Better get moving now!

Merry Meet and Good Morning everyone :wave: I'd like to start this post, by saying thank you for all of the warm welcomes. You really made me feel good that I could have a place to come and get the support I need.

Well today is a new beginning for me. Time to put all my past food mistakes behind me and move on.

I cant wait to get to know each of you better and maybe somewhere along the way I can help you. I have started my own thread, not as much to gain a group, but as a personal journey to let everyone know how I was doing. I am determined to reach that mini goal before Spring. What if I dont? Well then I'll just gather my thoughts up and try again.

The secret to success is never to give up, and never give in.

Thanks again.

Hi everyone!

Quicky today as I am up to my eyes in half done tasks! Welcome Akasha - I checked out your web site - pretty cool! I like the black and purple rose thing. And Terri, I like the sound of that garlic prawn (to me, shrimps are tiny weeny prawn like things which small boys collect in jam jars... :) ) I had a new recipe that even your huspband could not object to. In fact I am going to run down to the kitchen and get it and post it



Phew! back. Here it is, and it was delicious and could not be easier.

Lamb Dhansak (curry)

points per recipe 16, per serving 4

2 large onions chopped
small can chopped tomatos
8oz pumpkin or squash (I used sweet potatos which added to the points)
large handful chopped fresh coriander
large handful chopped fresh mint (I did not have so left out)
5.5 oz soaked yellow split lentils
10oz lean lamb, cubed
1tsp tumeric
1tsp caster sugar
1tsp chili powder (I left out as I dont like it - I used a shake of curry powder here)
pint water
tsp ground cumin
salt and freshly ground pepper

Put all the ingredients in a large pan, bring it to the boil, and simmer for one hour or until the lentils and lamb are soft and tender. Sqash the lentils a bit with a fork. Eat. Yum.

Now I really am behind with everything and must fly:angel: :angel: :angel: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:

Good morning all!

I had a good OP day yesterday, and skipped the treamill because DH and I had an appointment to drop off our tax stuff with the accountant...

Re: Lent - I have decided to add daily prayer to my life during Lent. It doesn't matter when or where, just that I take the time to look at life daily and share with God.

J-Ann - So what if you gained a pound! I am certain it is muscle, if you are down a size! WTG! :)

Akasha - Welcome! We are always willing to have new participants! I look forward to getting to know you!

Determined - Your garlicy Shrimp sounded wonderful! WTG for getting DH to be a WW cook, and to LIKE it! A victory indeed!

Well that is all from me for now. Everyone have a great OP day!
G

oops! I forgot something in the recipe. It also has 4 tablespoons of vinegar.

Really, this recipe was v good for a throw it all in a pot type of thing!

love to all (esp those I have not talked specifically to in my post today!)
Lilac

Hello!

Akasha -- I'm in the mountains of NC as well -- near I-40 and the Tennessee border. I'm delighted to "meet" someone else who lives in our area. We moved here a couple years ago and, in part, because we work at home, home school and attend a very small Catholic Church, we haven't really gotten to know anyone locally -- thus, I'm always jazzed to know someone else online who lives in my neck o' the woods. WELCOME!

Terri -- Thanks for starting a new thread -- and the shrimp sounds like what the doctor ordered for us this weekend. I've got some shrimp I need to use and (until now) I had no inspiration to use it. :)

Lilac -- I'll pass the lamb recipe on to my folks. I'm not a lamb eater (related to spending a summer with family on a farm and, at the end of it, being told we just eaten my pet lamb) but my mom's a big ol' lamb/curry fan.

Gina Marie -- That's what I love about Lent -- the possibilities for learning to strengthen and deepen your relationship with God. :)

Well, tomorrow we have to finish up a buying trip begun on Tuesday. We didn't bring enough $ for the buy, so we're headed out again tomorrow to pay off the rest and pick up the stuff. It was an astounding buy -- large and cheap. I'm pleased!

Today I went in for my monthly hair appointment and was greeted by my stylist with, "Wow -- you look so great!" Very pleasing!

And I have a new (used) laptop I'm fiddling with these days. Aren't moms the greatest?! *g*

Y'all be good -- and have fun!

I had a nice post all typed up and hit the wrong button and it's GONE. :?: No time to do it again either.
Just wanted to say hi. I'm still around. My weigh-in is tomorrow and I've been pretty well OP all week and have been swimming twice. Hopefully that will have had some effect.
I'll let you know my results tomorrow.
LindaBC

Ladies, I want to just curl up and cry. I had considered not going to weigh in tonite, but my mind kept urging me on. Hopeing I had lost at least a lil bit, when I stepped on those scales....no. In fact I was up .2 of a pound. I know its not even half of a pound, but I'm so disappointed in myself. I feel so desperate and alone right now.

Akasha, You need to belong to the WW Group I go to. They don't use tenths. Geez, they don't even use quarters. You have to show a loss or gain of 1/2 lb or they tell you you've stayed the same.

Dpn't let that .2 get to ya. It's probably just a recently swallowed glass of water, or a piece of fruit. .2??? I bet you could get a scale to change that much by just thinking of a dessert.

You're doing just fine ... forget this teeny tiny blip.

Off to work.

{{{{{Akasha}}}}} -- Akasha, you have done an incredible job taking care of yourself this past year. I can tell that -- not even knowing you well -- just by the amount of weight you've lost, by your choice to find a support group online, by how much it hurts when weigh-in goes differently than you'd hoped. When the scale moves up or down a little bit, it can be for all sorts of different reasons -- few of which have anything to do with whether your body is becoming healthier. Water, salt, heavier pants (I sell clothing online -- just changing the fabric in the clothing you wear can add or subtract entire pounds from your clothed weight!), and so on can all contribute to extra tenths of a pound. Next week, it'll be gone. And in the meantime you'll be healthier, happier, fitter, closer to your goal of being the healthiest you possible. So, let us comfort you ... but then wipe off your tears and hop back on again. :) We're proud of you!

Linda -- I just hate the missing post syndrome! Its only happened to me a coupla times and it drives me bonkers everytime. We'll be waitin' to hear from you today! Its my weigh-in day as well - but then I'm off on a buying trip so I may not be back here until tomorrow with the *gulp* results.

J-ann -- Hope work is wonderful for you today!

Bye for now, ladies!

Its Friday at last. it seems as if it has been a long old week. My eating has been haywire (what is a hay wire???), but I have put that down to pre-menstral janglies. I have been craving sugar and carbs. But I have been op, except one over day. I have made some good plans for food over the next few days. The key is not to have sugary things around when I feel like this. I ate some cake in front of the telly this week and that would have been fruit if the cake had not been sitting there (bought by housemate for the builders ).
Anyway it will be a good weekend, and I am out of the pre-men blues to the 'give me a hot water bottle and a couple of asprin' blues :lol: .

I went to sign on with a doctor today, as since I moved here I have been doctor-less. I was surprised by how ok it was. I was all prepared for the 'you really are overweight and need to lose a little bit' patronizing parental pep talk - but it did not come! Instead, nice man doctor just asked for a bit of family medical history, took my bp (low by nature), and listened carefully to me discribing the strange pains I have been getting in my head (and diagnosed it as neuralgic pain following the evening last autumn when an iron candlestick fell off a high shelf on to my bonce and wow did that hurt....apparently I have bruised a nerve and it can take up to a year to heal).

Akasha - sorry you are feeling so low. Bunny is right about clothing, and J-ann is right about .2 could be anything at all. you hang in there. And try weighing a few cups of water to see how little extra you have to have to be up .2 and also (as it seems to be my theme today :o ) it could be time of the month changes. I know that my weight fluctuates a couple of pounds over my cycle.

Bunny - Hope all is going well for you - you have been so on it for so many months now.

J-ann - that idea of not counting it unless it is .5 is good - we have that here as well. The whole thing about a few ounces is so disheartening (as Akasha is experiencing :( ).

Gina - How are you doing out there? I hope the daily prayer goes well in Lent. We are all so well rounded in the nicest of ways are we not :lol: ;)

Linda - grrrrr about your lost post. It has happened to me. The back button sometimes works to get it back but not always. Hope things are going well for you.

Well ladies, I am off to watch some of my new Angel dvd (I can pretend I am working but really be watching rubbishy telly - cool!)

love
Lilac (who needs a hotty botty today....:( )

Well! Happy Friday everyone!

I had a bit of a slip yesterday...:o My DH had some lovely Belgian chocolates (my farorite kind) delivered to me for Valentives day. Before the day was out, I had eaten 8 pieces! :eek: I had to cancel the popcorn that I was going to enjoy and get on the treadmill, which I had not planned to do... And, I was still over by 4 points for the day! Oh well... Back on track today, but I still do have more of those chocolates! :devil:

Lilac - We seem to post at the same time! Your Lamb Curry sounds great. DH & I do love curry! I have the pre-mens too! I think that is why I had that little chocolate freakout last night!. WOW! That iron candlestick crashing down on you does not sound like a pleasant experience! I hope your pains go away soon!

Bunny - Congrats on getting that great compliment from your hairstylist! The positive feedback from other people really does make you feel great sometimes, don't it!?

Linda - So sorry to hear you lost your post. That is so frustrating!

Akasha - Sorry to hear that you are down in the dumps. I hope you are doing better today. I agree with Bunny and the rest. A glass of water, a heavier article of clothing, all can make a big difference! When I used to go to meetings (I do WW at Home now), I used to wear the SAME EXACT thing every weigh day...

Have a great Friday everyone!
G

I am joining Akasha down in the dumps today but I'm gloomy and discouraged because, in spite of my good efforts this past week, the scale at WW showed a 1.5 lb gain. This is totally unacceptable to me. Anyhow, I have read all your encouraging posts to Akasha and applied them to myself. Trying not to let it get to me so much. I just don't understand why the weight WILL NOT come off. Three years ago I went on WW by myself and lost 30 lb in less than 4 months. It sure hasn't happened this time and I've spent a fortune on meetings and such. I don't even want to think how much each of my 15 lb has cost.
Anyhow, I drowned my sorrow in a restaurant breakfast of French toast with butter and syrup, sausages and fruit cup. It used almost all of my points for the day and will probably totally screw up my blood glucose tests for the week. Darn! Why did I turn to food for comfort?
Anyhow, I'm over my snit now and hope to be back on track for the rest of the day. I'm not going to starve but will just eat my usual low point meals. Hopefully, by staying at the lower end of my points range for the rest of the week and exercising I can work off this binge.
Have a good weekend.
LindaBC

Good morning everyone:wave: Its a new day and with it I'm going to have a new attitude. I want to say thank you for all the encouragment, and your kind words have actually given me an idea. My weigh in days are Thrusdays, so from here on out, I'm going to make a note of what I eat up until the meeting (going to keep it as light as possible) and what outfit I wore. Every week I'm going to keep the same rountine, and then see how that affects my weighins.

Yesterday was my birthday and for the first time in many years, I wasnt worried about gaining weight on this day. I knew that I had enough knowledge and self control now that I could push myself from the table instead of having to waddle from it.:lol: But it turns out, I was called into work...so I didnt have the big dinner after all.

Well I have to run guys, I'll check back in later. I hope everyone has a good day.

Linda, I hope you are feeling better than yesterday. Just hang in there. We all can do this, together.

Hello Everyone,

It's been a couple of weeks since I stopped in, glad to see you Akasha. That Garlic shrimp sounds "good", will give it a try - Teri.. my DH likes Lamb so will try that one also . Lilac..

My last 4 weeks at weigh in have all been sloww additions of the pounds I lost... to a total of 6 pounds up. Not impressed with my self, in fact totally discussed:mad: :mad:

Need to refocus? rethink? reform? remotivate myself!!

I need to come here for encouragement from you good people, on a regular basis... I tend to withdraw when I don't have success... and turn to old eating habits!

Well, I guess that is the end of my confessions and now I have to set my mind on working really hard to re-loose those 6 pounds plus more...

293.2/291/275 for now

Hello Everyone,

It's been a couple of weeks since I stopped in, glad to see you Akasha. Terri: that garlic shrimp sounds good! Lilac: my DH like lamb so will give it a try!

My last 4 weeks at weigh in have all been going in the wrong direction...up...up. 6 pounds to be exact. Not impressed with my self, went out and ate a big breakie after weigh in, totally discussed with me!!

I know, re-focus, re-think, re-motivate myself... so easy to say, but so hard to do:devil: I need to come here for encouragement from you good people on a regular basis... I tend to withdraw when things go wrong, and beat on myself, and turn to bad eating habits.

Well, I guess that is the end of my confession and self pity. Thanks for listening!

Good morning everyone :wave: I wont be around much today have to leave for work at 2pm, but I wanted to see how everyone is doing. Me? Well I am sill hanging in there. Yesterday could have been better, but it could have been much worse. My spirits are much better, and I feeling stronger about my plan again. I'm determined to hang in there. Theres really nothing new going on with me. Weigh in is this Thursday again, but I'm feeling better about it. I know I can do this, and I know you ladies are there for me when I slip and when I sucedde, and I'm going to make this. We are going to make it! Thank you again for the encouragement.

Well, our car broke down while we were down in Greenville, SC -- so we ended up having it towed back to our home (near Asheville, NC). A friend of ours drove down to pick us up and return us home. Long wait, very dull, and I hadda go to that bathroom really, really bad. :o When we finally got home, it was kinda sorta a boring, yucky day. So on Monday we'll have two cars in the shop and none at home. I'll be doing lunch with a friend who'll also take me into town so I can ship stuff -- at least I hope our business won't be too disrupted by the car stuff.

Lunch today was a great tuna sandwich with a slice o' lemon poppy seed pound cake (12 points total -- a little high but worth it). Dinner will be open-faced crab melt sandwiches (I've posted that recipe before I think). Yum! :smug:

Lilac -- I'm glad your doctor's visit went well. I've been blessed that I've rarely (if ever) had a doctor who railed on my for my weight. I ascribe this to the fact that most o' my doctors have been, themselves, quite overweight. :lol:

Gina Marie -- Yummy chocolates -- bane of the dieter's existance! Hope the rest of your weekend was more on track -- but just as yummy!

Linda -- Emotional eating is hard one to overcome, I think. I know that even my skinny friends have issues with this - so maybe its less something to overcome than something to work with. So you binge in some way today 'cause you're down, then tomorrow you eat even more moderately than usual 'cause you know you binged yesterday. Like that. :) That's my theory anyway.

Akasha -- I'm glad you're feeling a little better. I'm great at remembering why other folks should be okay with a slight up during weigh - in but less good at remembering it when I'm up. Go figure? We're over in Waynesville -- so that makes us practically neighbors. :D

Teaki -- Glad to hear from you again! Coming here to see us every day or two may be one of your first steps to gettin' back on track. I know we'd be glad to be there for you!

Have a great Sunday, ladies!

Sorry for the double post... the first one disappeared into thin air - no pun intended!!! LOL

I am just waiting for the other caregiver to arrive, I have been here for a very long 48 hours with my lady with Dementia. And I can hardly wait to go home and shower (she smokes and i don't), then see what nutritional supper my DH has prepared for me tonight. He is a good cook but doesn't always make wise meals for me, but once a week, I can appreciate any meal that I don't have to cook. The couch is calling me tonight, tomorrow I going to try and finish one of my paintings.

Lilac: chin up, you just keep doing what you been doing!

Gina: chocolate is my weakness! Right now I have the craving for a sweet after eating a healthy meal... Bad habit. How you enjoyed the rest of the weekend.

Linda: You are going to have to get with a strong and motivated friend are weigh in... I'm working on becoming one of those people. Together we can do it!

Akasha: I was told to exhale my breath and then I would weigh less.. yea, right... and what if I can't hold my breath out for the leangth of time it take the weigher to read the scale... dead faint and embarrassed me!! LOL Seriously, I do try and wear the same clothes each time.

Every one have a good OP week!

It is monday morning and I am on my way to work in a few minutes. Just popping in to say hi.

A few of us seem to be struggling at the moment. I find February difficult in all sorts of ways. It is that whole post christmas should be a better person thing that really gets me every time.....I have not been journalling for a few days and sure enough I have eaten over points. Lunch at my mum and dad's yesterday was a bit of a points disaster, but I had been prepared for that. Today I have made myself a flask of beetroot soup (will she drop splodges on her nice pink sweat shirt.....:lol: ) which is zero point and I have packed a chocolate ww bar for 1.5pts. Breakfast was red berry and oat porridge with soya milk (3.5pts). And dinner tonight is low fat ceasar salad with grilled chicken - I need to check the points but i think it is 10. That will get me back on track after yesterday.....:) then back to normal points tomorrow.

It is easy really isnt it? It is just a question of not eating food with lots of sugar and fat in. :lol:

I have a busy week. I have loads of appointments and then I have computer training on thurs and fri (advanced Excel and beginners Access), then the weekend is an assessed weekend at college, which is a bit nerve racking. Then quite a busy week next week too, although I have blocked out next thurs pm and fri all day as 'no appointments' to try to get my sanity back. But until then I am go go go....I am absolutely not going to be eat eat eat though. My brother is coming for an easter visit, and will, in the nicest possible way, comment on my increased weight from the last time I saw him unless I lose another 10 or 15 before then. I dont see him very often as he lives in Germany. It is not a very good reason to stick to the straight and narrow, but it is certainly a factor!

Also we have 'body awareness' as a weekend at college in June (I think June) and also 'sexuality' in the autumn. I am going to feel more comfortable with both of these topics if I can at least fit in to the chairs.........:lol:

Off to work now. Remember to fill up with veggies and gulp down that water...
love, Lilac

:?: Ok, only 5 seconds ago, there was a post here I was working on.....:cry: Where did it go???

Oh well, if I double post I'm sorry, but here goes again.....
Hey ladies, how are you all doing this morning. Well I'm still hangin in there. Made it through the weekend without too much damage. Working nites has its good and bad qualities. The main good one is, my job gets me so busy, I sometimes forget to eat. But then on the down side, if I'm not careful I really pile on the food when I get home. Last nite I did fairly well. I eat a beefjerky at work, because I was feeling week, then came home and had some greenbeans and a 1/2 slice of meat loaf. :T Thank the Gods for moms who can cook good.
There is a lady at work now who is trying to shed a few pounds, so she has become my tempory weight loss buddy. I say tempory because she kept encouraging me to go get some diet pills, when I tried to explain to her about WW and about how I dont like using pills, and for this this isnt a diet, but a way of eating for life now, she just didnt get it. Dont get me wrong, I'm not bashing diet pills, they honestly do help some people, but for me someone who has to lose over 150 pounds, lets just say if I depended on diet pills to do that, by the time I was done, I would have put enough money into the company to own part of it:)

Well I guess I better let every get back to their busy life. Thank you guys for listening to me rant and rave, lol. I have to work again tonite, but I'll try to check back in later with ya'll. Stay strong and OP. Have a great Monday.

Morning, ladies!

Yesterday sucked. :dizzy: Busy, angry, frustrated -- all good words for yesterday. I hate being without a car (albeit temporarily) and so does the rest o' my brood -- so we were all bit on edge and pickin' at each other by the end of the day.

So this morning I woke up and decided today would be different. I started it off on the right foot by making breakfast for my family -- french toast with strawberries and ff whipped cream. Slurp-a-licious! My husband is now showering (I brought him his breakfast in bed) and the kids are home schooling already. I'll pull items for shipping in just a bit as I have a friend coming by to take me to the post office (and lunch and the garage).

I've decided that today's watchword is: <b>positive attitude</b>. If figure if I can keep in mind that I'm supposed to have a positive attitude - I will have one -- and that will go a long way towards making today productive instead of dismal.

Teaki -- You paint? Do tell! My daughter has always wanted to be a painter and I keep tellin' her to be a painter one simply has to paint. A lot. :)

Lilac -- I participated in an absolutely hysterical "sexuality" weekend when I was in college. Truthfully, the school hadn't had any luck getting folks to sign up and my boss (at the school's computer center) asked me if I'd be willing to go if they (a) paid for the entire weekend and (b) paid me hourly for the hours I'd be attending the workshop! So I of course asked my husband and then went! I was the oldest one there and the only married-with-children as well. And I was the only one there who didn't appear to be a cheerleader or cheerleader-wanna-be. On the other hand, I had a b-l-a-s-t 'cause I was also the only one there who was comfortable with the topic. :D

Akasha -- Ah, diet pills. I think that comes from the idea that somehow weight-loss will be "easy" if you just use pills ... I have an overweight friend who is always lookin' for a new media article explaining the latest "why my weight isn't my fault" theory so that she can lom on to it and make it her own (ie, "It isn't my fault; NBC news just said that 15% of the population suffer from .... which makes losing weight just about impossible!"). Its impressive as **** that you've recognized that a new life style is a better solution than drugs. ;)

J-Ann -- Wheredya go?

More to come!

Good Morning All!

My weekend left much to be desired. On Saturday, I lost it because of one of those changes is plans where you thought that you were going to eat x at y o'clock and you end up not being able to eat until WAY later than that, so you freak and pig out! Then yesterday we had dinner at my folks, good low point food, just WAY too much of it! Besides I had eaten too much before we even got the invite! So it was treadmill on Sat and Sun, but it didn't do me much good. The PMS moster has gotten me bad, and I have already eaten a bagel this morning instead of my better choice oatmeal!

WI this morning, lost 1 pound, but I still think with all the treadmilling that I am doing that I should be losing more! :?:

Linda - I am sorry to hear about your gain this week! I know that frustrated unacceptable feeling. Shake it off! I will try to shake my funk off too, and we can go on from here! P.S. - I LOVE restaurant breakfast!

Akasha - I am glad that you are going to go with a WI routine. It can't hurt. Just don't starve yourself the day of WI. I used to do that, and I would end up shaky and ravenous by the time I hit the scale. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!! You had a good plan working for yourself, too bad you were called in to work. It is nice to hear you in better spirits. Good for you for not falling into that diet pill trap. They make me too jittery to make them worth taking for me.

Teaki - Nice to meet you! Try not to withdraw when you need us most! We are all here for you, but better yet, we UNDERSTAND! How nice for your DH to cook for you once a week!

Bunny - 2 broken cars! :eek: I hope you get that sorted out soon. Sorry to hear about your bad day. We all have them, but your positive attitude plan is really great to get the day off to the right start and to carry you through the rest of it!

Lilac - February is my worst month. It is the shortest, but seems to be the longest! Dark dreary middle of winter... blech! Don't forget to take some time out for yourself during these buzy weeks coming up! I can totally relate to wanting to fit into those chairs! I am flying in a little over two weeks, I am NOT looking forward to it! The vacation, I am looking forward to, but not the 6 hour flight!

Oh well! I'd better get on with my day! Hope you all have a good one!
GinaMarie
291/288/262 - 10% goal

I'm not among the missing, really.
Just had a quiet weekend at home. Was able to stay OP even tho there's a gorgeous chocolate cake in the kitchen.
I've been reading everyone's posts but can't get together individual answers right now. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow.

Off to turn up the heat. It's cold here today. Burr.

j-ann, I don't think personal, individual posts are required. I for one rarely have time to post to everyone else's post. I just want you all to know that I DO read everyone's post and cheer and/or sympathise where necessary. :dizzy: Mostly I just come here to tell all of you how I'm doing and hear how you're doing and it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's struggling this month.
The day started off pretty good. I had multigrain toast with light cream cheese prior to going to the pool. I felt really exhausted after spending a bit too long in the whirlpool after my water workout and, of course, instead of having a nap when I got home I ate something. Just oatmeal with apple & milk but it brought my morning points up to 10.
This afternoon I went grocery shopping and picked up a light Sub sandwich (5 points) on my way home. Didn't stop with that though. WOund up having four cookies as well. Darn! Still, not too much damage done. Dinner will be roast chicken, asparagus, baked potato with light sour cream and possibly a diet jello dessert. Trying to keep to within my points exactly. No more fooling around trying to stay lower than my lowest allowable points. I just end up binging when I do that.
Yesterday I worked in the garden for a couple of hours. Actually had DH home and together we pruned the fruit trees and the grape vines and then I did some trimming of other shrubs that I hadn't gotten around to last fall. Some crocuses are blooming as is the winter heather, the Lenten Rose blooming right on time for Lent and the clematis have fat leaf buds. Pruned them too. Nice to be out in the fresh air.
Another gorgeous sunny day today. It felt like shirtsleeve weather. I know that rain is on the way though.
I'll check in tomorrow.
LindaBC

Hey ladies! How is everyone doing? I'm doing ok, had a few moments before dd gets up so I thought I'd catch up with everyone.


Slutbunny- I'm so sorry to hear about your car. I'm in the same boat. Mine is sitting in the drive and refuses to run. Me and my lil one was at Walmart and it stalled out, then I had to drive home with no headlights, because when I turned them on, it would die, go figure. Hope you get yours back on the road soon.

Gina- Girl do I know what you are talking bout. I have those days all the time, just remember nothing hardly ever goes as planned, just pick yourself up and move on. Great work on the treadmill. I hope you have a great day.

j-ann- I havent gotten the change to say hey to you, since I'm new here, but cant wait to get to know you better. Have a wonderful day.

Linda- I envy you, I'd love to be able to get out and work in my garden, I'd love to be able to grow a garden, lol. Thats not one of my strongest features. I hope you have a great day today.

Well ladies I'm off. Hang in there, and remember, we all can do this.

Hello All!

I am feeling much better today, thank you. I made a discovery on my treadmill last night... I can control the speed that I walk at by tenths of mph. I had been walking at 2 mph and an incline of 8 because 3 mph was too fast for me. I HATED it! Now last night, I started at 2 mph and worked my way up to 2.4 mph and I walked 1 mile and a quarter! I feel very good today. I did well food wise yesterday too. It feels good to be back on track!

j-ann - Thanks for checking in. WTG staying OP with that cake in the fridge. We all know how bad I am at resisting chocolate!
:devil:

Linda - Your garden sounds lovely. DH and I are going to need a lot of help in the garden of our new home this spring... We have no clue! I eat at the top of my points range just about everyday. I have some kind of bizzare theory that if you keep your body fuled adequately, that you will burn more calories...

Akasha - What is it with us and car troubles?!? Mine is in the shop as well. Needs a new clutch! That should run me a pretty penny that I dont have! :eek:

Well, I hope you all have a great day!
G

Today I was out most of the day. I started off with two pieces of grainy toast, one slice with thin ham and the other with some light cream cheese and jelly.
Then I took a friend to my daughter's house where she has a home salon (very busy too) and we had our hair done. Then out to lunch and that's where my problems began. I had Lime Chicken Breast and rice which wasn't bad but first we shared nachos and hot spinach dip. Very nummy and addictive. Still, I don't think I did too bad. I think some of their salads are probably higher in calories than the chicken and rice.

You know, it's one thing to know the benefits of exercise and quite another to actually get up and DO it? I know that it helps to keep my blood glucose under control and I should do some every day. I even have this dumb aero-glider thingy sitting in my guest bedroom but I really, REALLY hate it. The motion just isn't natural to me and it wobbles something awful. I want my daughter to pick it up and get it out of my sight. Why, oh WHY does exercise have to be such a PAIN??!!! :?: :?: :?: :?:
The rest of you all seem to get such satisfaction from it. All I get is PAIN. I know, I know. Just DO it, Linda. (sigh) I'll try.

Another gorgeous day here. The sun sparkled on the snowy mountain peaks and the birdies at the feeder were singing their hearts out. Nice to see more spring blossoms blooming. Love my pussywillows. I have a large p-willow tree and they're purrrrfect right now. Wish I could give a bunch of them to each of you.

LindaBC

Gina- I am so sorry to hear about your car too. I think mine is the alternator, I think. I'm not macanic so I dont know.

Today was horrible for me. Talk about a new beginning, well I needed one all day. I knew it would be bad. As hard as work it, I think I'd rather be at work, because when I'm here all I seem to do it eat. Well I'm going to go study some. Hope everyone has a good nite.

Hello ladies!

Sorry for being AWOL for so long. I had good intentions of my week being less hectic last week but I was being naïve. Life will slow down sometime soon; it has to!

The dog and I started obedience training again. We are repeating the class we took last fall as reinforcement and prepare for the next levels. The dog was insane because of all the other dogs and wanting to play with them all. Except that he has about a 100 pounds on almost all of them. I'd finally get him all settled down and a Corgi would growl and snap at him and we'd start all over. I was frazzled by the time class was over.

Thank goodness for brothers. My oldest brother came by with a friend Saturday and they came with chain saws. We got the front trees trimmed and the debris stacked up. One tree is a locust thorn! Those thorns are like big nails. My other brother came on Sunday and we worked on the back yard. I feel like I made 400 trips dragging debris to the curb. That had to have burned several points. And to top all that off, I'll have to rake the whole yard before we can mow in the spring. More points to burn.

I had a great food week going until Friday (Taco Bell), Saturday lunch at work (2 slices pizza) and Saturday night at MIL's (KFC). I was just hungry. Oh, and as if that wasn't bad enough, I attacked a bag of snickers Sunday afternoon. I was really hungry.

Ladies, I think I'm going to jump off the deep-end. I was out browsing the American Diabetes website today and saw that they have a fund-raising bike ride. It is June 23, 2002. I think its about 40 miles. I told DH today that I am going to sign-up. I have four months to get in bike riding shape. Several years ago, I rode a 100 miles in 8 hours and weighed 225. I have to do something to "up the ante" so to speak so that I get off this dang plateauing.

A little catching up:

Gina - Looks like you had a rough weekend foodwise too. That's my downfall time. I'm cheering you on with the treadmill. Keep it up and soon you'll be speeding up and for longer distances. You'll be surprised at how quickly that will come. I too have trouble with trying to walk fast on the treadmill. I can do better outside but it doesn't feel like a natural gait.

Akasha - Belated happy birthday! Hang in there and don't let the dumps defeat you. You'll find your groove. We're all here to help.

Bunny - Okay, so it was a rough weekend for just about everyone. Hope you're mobile again. I went shopping at Dillard's sale again. I bought a beautiful Elisabeth purple shirt. I'm addicted now! Wow, breakfast in bed. My DH would think something was up if I did that!! :D

Teaki - I agree with everyone else; keep on posting even when you're struggling. Sometimes just writing it all out to share makes a big difference in getting back on track.

Linda - That hot spinach dip is a killer (tastewise!). Don't beat yourself up about the exercise either. I'll be sending positive vibes your way. Wow, spring blossoms already. I can't wait!!

Hope I didn't miss anyone. I must get myself headed towards work. Ladies, have a great day. Be strong!! Remember, how good thin will feel; much better than the junk food now.

Good morning!

Yesterday was pretty good for me. Ate OP and did 30 min on the treadmill. 1 and a quarter miles. Not much else going on...

Linda - Sorry to hear you are in low spirits on the excercise front. I wouldn't say that I get a lot of satisfaction from excercise. I truly do hate it. I just do it because I know I have to. I think you should give that aero-glider away and find some kind of activity that suits you. If you can't at least tolerate the activity, you will NEVER do it! Personally, I used to LOVE bike riding, but it has been many years and many pounds, and I don't even have a bike anymore! DH likes bike riding too. Maybe in the spring or summer, we will make another investment...

Akasha - Sorry to hear about the bad day. I get the urge to eat badly at home to. It is so hard to watch television without munching on something. Sometimes I read a magazine during commercials to keep me busy.

Determined - Sorry to hear that things have been so hectic. Glad to hear that you got your trees cleaned up though. Making all those trips sure did burn off the points, I am sure. My yard is full of sticks from all the wind we have been having. DH and I are going to have to bundle them up and put them at the curb soon too, or we will never be able to mow! WTG on signing up for that bike fund raiser! I am sure you can do it!

Well, that is all for me! Hello to all that I have missed!
G

Good morning, this Ash Wednesday! We've been to mass and back -- and I've been out to replace my old, broken glasses with new not broken glasses! Today is a day of fasting and abstainance for me -- so I'm guessin' I'll do just fine point-wise. :D

Weather here is beautiful -- and we're expecting it to continue in this same nice vein for days yet. Life is good!

Gina Marie -- A pound down -- wahoo for you! I'm always hoping for quicker losses than I seem to achieve -- but I try to remind myself that every pound (or half pound) is another one I've kissed goodbye forever so its worth celebrating!

J-Ann -- Glad to hear you've been a good kinda busy lately. :) Time off-line is something I only dream of! LOL! The disadvantages to working an online business, eh?

LindaBC -- Boy, can relate on the exercise woes. :( I'm not finding the motivation I need lately to make exercising happen regularly (and today, for instance, I'm using the fact that I'm fasting as an excuse for not workin' out fully -- sigh). It comes down to finding that movement which is comfortable and sustainable. I haven't found it yet -- so I'm still trying all sorts of different things hoping something will "click".

Akasha -- Definitely sounds like car troubles are goin' around!

Terri -- OOOO -- shopping! I hit Belk's yesterday and Dillard's too (got some cute as can be Liz Claiborne shoes for my upcoming trip to Cali). I just loooooovvvvveeeee to shop!

:( All ofthe above :(

Here I was thinking what a successful week I'd had. The scale at home was showing a nice downward trend. When I left for my WI I figure I was down 2 lbs. Maybe even 3!!! :) What I surprise when I got on he scale and heard "Uh ... you're up a pound". :( :( :( I was the first person on the scale today. I hope it's just screwed up. They offered to weigh me on the other scale after I said "You've GOT to be kidding!" I was so pissed, and trying not to show it, that I said "no" and packed up and left. I'm not much for staying for meetings. I've been to so many of them that I feel lke I'm hearing the same stuff over and over and over. I'm going to try to NOT let this get to me. But it was a huge let down. I need to go forward truly believing that I lost last week and hoping it show on the WW scale next week. This is a rough time of year for me. Always has been. Don't know why either. we're thru the holidays, the days are getting longer and Spring plans are getting closer. But this is when I fall apart weight wise. I recognize this now and have been trying really hard to stay OP just for that reason.

Oh well, I know I have you ladies to commiserate with. And this group is a lifeline for me weight wise. I have to recommitt myself to the WW way of life, go forward and feel good about myself and my success thus far. I may go kick the wall, and I know I feel better just by being able to put my feelings into words. Off my soapbox and feeling better all ready.

I CAN DO THIS!!!!

J-Ann - {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}


Oh J-Ann, I felt your pain and frustration so much when reading your post. I have been there so many times. I truly hate the scale. Just hang on to the belief that it was a mistake and don't give up. We're hear cheering for you. You can do this and you will.

Keep up the faith!

Hello everyone! Yesterday didn't end so good for me. Not only did I declare it a treadmill vacation day, but I ate over points by about 5 due to a jelly bean pig out. Today doesn't seem to be shaping up much better. Someone has already put a chocolate on my desk, and I have 4 Belgians waiting for me at home. I will try to eat moderately and journal, and I will treadmill tonight.

Oh J-ann, I can soooo relate to your huge let down at the scale this week. I have been there many times. If is so frustrating. Who knows how those things happen. Kudos to you for trying to not let it throw you off track. I am sure you will show that much more of a loss next week!
G

J-Ann - oh hang on in there. I have to tell you something. I have always been so inspired by your committment to your weight loss. I remember when you posted last summer about a party you had and you were barbecuing and you were chosing all the healthy things to cook and eat that you could have. And I remember you struggling with and winning the Eating In the Car war. You have been doing really well. Then you hit the dreaded plateau and now are struggling on it. Remember that it is part of the process. Remember to feel good about yourself - not because you have lost x amount of weight, but just because of who you are - ie a woman who is creative, supportive, brave, strong, determined, loves nature and the world.....all of those things. You are all of this and your body and soul know best what they are up to right now. And remember that living the healthy way is what this is about, not being rewarded with a weight loss. All the time you are eating good food and moving your body, you are on the programme, and the weight loss is only a measuring tool. A measuring jug if you like to help you get the recipe right.

So, dust yourself down, drink some water, plan a few of your favourite healthy meals and treat yourself as you would your most loved daughter/sister/friend. You deserve it. Good luck and come back for more of a rant if that is what you need. That is what we are here for! Love to you - here is an angel to keep you company :angel:

Terri.......there is so much I could say, but I am going to stick with I am so impressed with your bike ride thing!

Everyone - I have read all your posts and I am rooting for you all.

I am doing well I think. Down one pound this week in spite of a lot of food. I was thinking about what you were saying Linda about the pain of exercise and I feel a really similar frustration. I find it comes and goes and weirdly, I feel it is easier to exercise when I have more water in side me, so maybe that might help a bit, but I doubt it. I think that exercise is just hard hard hard when you are carrying a lot of weight. I am now walking everyday for about 12 mins in the morning and the same in the afternoon, and it is making me feel much better although it hurt my knees and hips and puffed me out at first. I like it as I get to be outside for a bit which I like. I think you have to pick some form of movement which appeals to you, and try and do more of it. If the thing in your spare room is not it for you, then get rid of it. You deserve better than having it clutter up your house making you feel guilty. Yuk. You will find something to help you move more. Maybe tomorrow an idea will come to you.

I had my box of organic veggies delivered yesterday so I feel excited about that. I think I read somewhere that in america and canada people are not so in to organic food as we are here. Organics are foods grown and produced without preservative or insect repelling chemicals (of the artificial kind). The box I get is of seasonal veggies (not flown in from africa etc, but just delivered by road from farms in england, or sometimes france and spain for a few more exotic things like seville oranges or whatever). they come all covered in dirt not washed, and in paper bags not plastic. Anyway they taste wonderful - more real. I think it is because they are much fresher. I usually make soup, or just steam them. Yesterday for lunch I had steamed broccolli and steamed pak choi with a bit of hoisin sauce on. Yum!

Big excitement here this morning as I woke up to hear my (absent) neighbour's fire alarm going off, I went to investigate and saw smoke coming out of the side of her house :eek: So I called 999 and within 4 or 5 minutes two big testosterone red fire engines turned up, from which about 12 testosterone filled firemen jumped down and rushed in with pick axe type things and all the kit............only to wander out again looking all limp and deflated (the image is irrisistable....:lol: ) on finding no fire. The 'smoke' I saw was just steam from the boiler apparently.:o and how embarrassed do I feel??? But in the panic of the alarm going off at half past six this morning, surely anyone could have mistaken steam for smoke?? surely?? Anyway, it was all very exciting, once I realised that my house was not about to burn to the ground with my cats and all my Buffy the Vampire Slayer videos, and my organic veggies. What a relief.

Must go and try to remember not to make any more nuisance calls to the (young and thrusting) emergency services.....
Lilac

Well, yesterday turned out to be a disasterous program day for me and DH! We ate way too much between dinner and sweets! We both still feel ill! But is was really fun! :devil:

Today, it is back OP and LOTS of water!

Lilac - First congratulation on that pound down! WTG! Those organic veggies sound soooo yummy! I could almost see them from you description... Many people in america get turned off from organic grown food because it is VERY EXPENSIVE! You know what I think? I think you called 999 just so you could watch those thrusting fire brigade men! (Do they still call it the fire brigade?) You did the right thig, though. A fire alarm and steam still could have spelled disaster!

Well, all, have a great weekend!
G

J-Ann, I'm kinda in the same spot you are, except you have a lot less weight than I to lose. Last week I really thought I deserved to lose and instead I gained. This week I KNEW I didn't deserve to lose and I most certainly DID NOT.:( Funny, tho, I felt thinner. What is THAT?? :?:
I think I really let it get to me last week and I sulked and pouted and ate more than I should, basically cutting off my nose to spite my silly face. Why do I do that to myself. Anyhow, I guess gaining 3 lb in 3 weeks isn't the end of the world or even too shameful and I think I'm ready to get myself back on track. No more stolen handfuls of frozen baking almonds (handful after handful...munch munch) I will prepare healthy snacks and stick to them. I will also (groan) try to get in more exercise.
Thanks so much for all the supportive advice. I really appreciate this place. In fact, I appreciate it so much that once my WW prepaid WW membership expires, I'm not going to renew. I get absolutely nothing out of the meetings. Been there. Done that. Tired of doing it again and again. I get more motivation right here and from other on-line WW buddies.
I'll drop in to check on you all over the weekend. Shouldn't we be starting a new thread about now? I'd do it but not sure of the procedure.
LindaBC

Thanks so much for all of your support.

I've got my smiley face back on :) :) and I'm feelin' good about myself again and MY scale showed another downward trend today.

Got right back OP yesterday, jogged in the pool for 1.5 hrs (It felt sooo gooood!) and the Pilates Magic Circle arrived. :o * It's a somewhat pliable steel ring about 15' diameter, with a soft plastic coating and on two sides little padded things on both the inside and outside of the ring. It's definitely a resistance training thing. You press in and it pushes out. The exercises are slow and you use it with your arms and legs. This cookie was sore this morning. Didn't hurt when I was working with it but this A.M. I found muscles in my upper arms that haven't used in years. I think I'm going to enjoy using it but I'm gonna take it slow.

Glad to see some of us are dropping some lbs. this week. I sometimes
wish I could give up going to WW but I need the committment to show up once a week and climb on someone else's scale for a WI.. (Even if their scale is on my s..t list right now LOL!) Everytime I've quit and decided to go it alone, woosh, the weight came right back on! So I'm sticking with them. Even treated myself to the one year membership for Xmas. Besides I've met some really great folks at the meetings and I don't stay unless I really need a pep talk or if one of my friends needs some extra encouragement. This month 4 folks from my office joined so it's made the food situation at work a lot easier. Trouble is they are all watching me ... I don't even dare grab an M&M anymore. :lol:

Hey Lilac, be careful chasing those firemen. You don't want to get a reputation in your neighborhood. :devil: You did the right thing tho. Better they come out for a false alarm than someone lose their home, or worse their life, because smoke was ignored.

Keep up the good work ladies. Talk to you later this weekend.

A happier, once again back in control (but yep, the car still makes me salivate as soon as I start the engine, just like a Pavlovian dog. Thank God for fruit and FF Pretzels) .

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