YOU: On a Diet - and other Oprah inspired diets - YOU: On a Diet - September chatter

Hey gals, happy September! I'm still in Michigan for my mini-vacation - will catch up with you later!
Cindy

New month .... new goals......yipee!!!!

Well, I managed to lose some over the weekend in spite of 3 days of no exercise and my husband's birthday party. Sort of felt guilty for doing well when cheating, can only hope I've got more lean muscle mass and am burning fat more easily.

Had a big trauma with the kitten I've adopted, had to rush her to the vet but she made it.

Good to start a new month.

Major YOU:turn and back on the wagon after a 5-day trip to Michigan in which I was not on plan much at all!

I knew there would have been meals that were not great, but I didn't know it would be most of them. I have only myself to blame - hopefully I didn't do too much damage!

The trip was great though - I've not seen my friends since my wedding nearly a year ago, and hadn't seen family since Christmas. These occasions don't happen very often, so I didn't worry about about the food part too much.

Back to work today, and back to the gym today, so all is well. I'm hungry because of carb cravings, but it should only be a day or so, I think.
Cindy

no exercise for me today. I have to find a way to deal when I go through the month end at the office..too many hours and I don't find time for myself.

Hi ladies! :wave:

I haven't been around much because I've been doing more calorie counting than YOADing. So I haven't felt like a true YOADer.

In fact I just had a reminder as to why YOAD makes so much sense. I had a sugary peanut bar earlier and now I'm reaping the results ... a craving for more food. I really need to watch it. I thought I could slip off of YOAD but am finding that my body rebels and craves junk when I do. I will keep trying to do both but save the food that causes cravings for the evening so I sleep thru the cravings. (I know I said that before.) When will I learn?

Anyhow, I'm still here. Originally I had posted that I was shifting over to calorie counting and wouldn't be around the YOAD forum much, but I see I need to keep motivated to do both.

OK, I'm back ... and I'll bet you never even knew I left. LOL! :lol3:

Have a great day ladies! :sunny:

Hey Serenity - welcome back! Actually, don't worry about not matching up with us on our programs - I don't think everyone here is strictly YOAD, and actually, by doing both - count calories, and sticking to YOAD foods, you will feel better, and have less cravings. Like you said, sugary stuff can really throw you for a loop.

The main focus of this group is to eat less processed foods, eat more whole grains, minimize sugar intake and move! A lot of plans are incorporating these things because they work! I personally think that Dr.Oz and company make it fun and easy to do those things.

Changing the subject, have I mentioned how much I *love* the soda Vernor's? In case you don't know it, it's a Michigan invention, a "ginger soda" that is a bit different than ginger ale. I'm not a huge soda drinker, but I can't get enough of this stuff, especially since it's not available near me here in Albany. :( We brought back 4 cases of it from MI with us this weekend! I am happy now, I can have it whenever I like, but will be so sad when it's gone! So, I have to make this stash last until Christmas.
Cindy

BfL Cat, thanks for the pep talk. And that ginger soda sounds interesting. I don't think I've ever heard of it but I do like ginger ale on occasion.

I had such a horrible binge yesterday. That's what I get for eating something so sweet so early in the day. It was just a downward spiral from there!

It never ceases to amaze me that when I get off of YOAD that I have such uncontrollable cravings to eat and eat and eat. I don't know how much of it is physiological and how much of it is psychological, but I know the trigger is definitely physiological in nature. It is almost like some mad woman possessed my body and was driving me to eat. (Perhaps it is the physiological urge driving the psychological urge? I dunno!) I do know this: Food (the wrong kinds of it) is a powerful drug! Is it any wonder obesity is a growing epidemic?

I can see this is a lesson that is hard for me to learn. Someone who's allergic to peanutbutter wouldn't gorge themselves on peanutbutter sandwiches everyday ... if the wrong kind of food has such an adverse effect on me I ought to treat it as such. But I think that's where one of the pyschological aspects comes into the picture ... I *thought* since I was counting calories to help keep me in control that I could eat something super sweet and stay on plan. Now I know better.

Does anybody else experience such Jeckyl and Hyde behaviour when it comes to eating things not recommended on YOAD?

Hey everyone! :wave:

Serenity - yes, that's exactly the type of reaction they say that HFCS causes in all of us, cravings for more sweets, and that has caused Americans to become obese. I have actually used the "allergic" analogy before to get myself not to eat stuff - it worked.

I'm struggling a bit myself - not because of cravings, but because there is junk in my house, and I got into the habit of eating it last weekend. So, I need to clean out everything and get back on track. I'm good during the day, it's just nighttime that's a killer.

We will be up at camp this weekend, so I'll be donating all my goodies to the neighbors to get them out of my face!

Happy Friday everyone!
Cindy

Hey everyone, I think one of the things that can help us with the cravings is to try new recipes that incorporate YOAD. Found a new website yesterday with a lot of healthy, mostly vegetarian recipes, per site policy I won't post link but just google 101 Cookbooks. I'm making a recipe from there tonight with whole wheat spaghetti, kale, garlic among other things.

I have gone off plan a few times in the last couple of weeks but the U-turn philosophy is great and helps spare me the guilt. I intend to basically eat this way forever , not just until I reach my goal. But I intend to enjoy occasional indulgences along the way, consider them treats, then get back on track. I know I don't feel well if I go off plan for more than a day or two.

Wow.....I got an email today and I am going to give it a try. I found by keeping a food journal held me accountable for what I put in my mouth...so now I am going to incorporate an exercise or activity journal. I am going to record my measurements and my activities to help me to determine what works for me and what doesn't. I have been finding it very difficult to walk 30 mins a day and to do the strength training when we have month end close at work because I just don't have the opportunity to find the time to workout. Maybe a journal will hold me accountable enough to make the time to move.

The HFCS stuff is in almost everything and it is true it causes cravings. I found a new snack that helps me get in my good for you oil (olive oil). I take a whole wheat pita pocket and cut into strips like chips. Put on a cooking sheet and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. I brush the pita chips with olive oil and sprinkle on some sea salt and bake in the oven for 2 to 4 mins at 400 degrees. Viola! good for you chips! I also like to dip these chips in hummus. so wonderful and addictive.

Hi! :wave:

Yesterday was so much better for me! Only things I ate that were "off plan" were some KFC chicken and some clam chowder, but they didn't give me any bad cravings or anything and were totally within my calorie count. So no standing in front of the pantry drooling for me! lol Today is going well so far too. I think I have learned my lesson about eating that sweet stuff early in the day!

Iwanawurkit, I've never had hummus. May have to try it. Sounds like a good alternative to traditional dips. And the chips sound good too!

karen0117, speaking of kale, was it you that posted the kale recipe? I was looking for it and never did find it.

BfL Cat, I wish I could clean out my pantry of all the junk, but hubby has to have it. (Well, I did buy myself those darn peanut bars that triggered my binge the other day.) Dinner gets interesting around here trying to please everyone's tastes! lol (And I'm not someone who enjoys cooking, so that makes things hard and convenient food, well, convenient!)

Have a great day! :sunny:

Hey -

I have just spent the morning cooking for the week. I used to do this weekly and have gotten out of the habit.

I made a BFL Turkey Meatloaf, a pan of grilled vegetables and I just put together 4 salads. I'll add protein each morning to one salad for my lunch. I also steamed some spinach and beet greens and after I workout I am going to make a batch of protein powder/banana muffins. Oh and I boiled a dozen eggs. Some of which I will make into deviled eggs. This food should take care of meals and snacks for the week w/ the exception of breakfast. Hopefully this cooking ahead will help me be a better dieter this week.

I still haven't read YOAD! From what I can glean from all your posts, however, I think the BFL diet and the Whole Foods diet must be very similar. When I get some time and need another good diet read I do plan to read it though.

Iwanawurkit, I have just been thinking of the journal thing too. I thought I might post my daily food intake on this thread for a while and also post on the workout thread.

I am ready to feel better and to feel better about myself.

Ledom - check out this "99 second" version of YOU: On a Diet - it will help you to better understand, and yes, you're right, a lot of these plans are very similar. The main complaint people have had about YOAD is that it's hard to find foods w/o HFCS, that it's too rigid (as in you should only be eating whole grains), and that there's not enough direction - it's quite flexible in that you can eat what you want, within certain nutritional guidelines. A lot of people like diets that give you meals to follow. Actually, there is a 2-week "jump start" menu on the RealAge website, if you're interested.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134720

Good for you for cooking all that ahead of time! I only have one more week of camp, and then my weekends will be my own again! Which means I'll have no excuse not to plan and prep as you have.

We used to have a food diary thread here - feel free to start one, and I'll join in as well.

I have "supper club" tonight -the theme is Asian Fusion, so I don't think the food will be too bad. I'm making Asian chicken noodle soup, with lemongrass and chilies in it, with angel hair pasta as the noodles. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Cindy

Hello everyone! :wave:

OK, so who else retains water after eating white bread? I put on 3 pounds after eating an Arbys turkey/bacon club sandwich. I thought I would be fine eating it (because it was within my calories) but then WHAMMO the evil scale fairy visited me overnite! At first I panicked because I've been doing well for several days now with exercising and eating and couldn't figure out the gain, but then I remembered I opted for a white bread (ciabatta roll) sandwich instead of just making dinner at home. No white bread or pasta for me for the rest of the week! I gotta weigh in Friday for two challenges!

Ha! This time the adverse effect wasn't cravings but bloating! Now that I'm really starting to pay attention to how foods affect me, I'm REALLY learning why I need to just avoid certain stuff (or pay the consequences)! Will be drinking lots of water today to offset the damages!

So how's everyone else doing?

Blue Serenity: You should find the kale/tilapia/black bean recipe under the Recipe thread. it should be the last entry (posted on 8/21) I also tried a pasta dish the other night with kale, pine nuts, black olives, whole wheat spaghetti. It's on a website called 101 cookbooks, called something like Spaghettini with Harissa. (harissa is a spicy paste in a tube, someone gave it to me a long time ago, don't know how hard it is to find but it's another great recipe with kale). Also, if you go to the Food Network website Giada DeLaurentis, who does Everyday Italian, has a great kale recipe with mushrooms and green beans.

Thank you Karen, now I found it! I was looking in the main recipe forum not the one in YOAD section. lol

Hmmm, what exactly is fennel and where does one find it?

Blue Serenity:

Fennel seed is what you're looking for. It is in the spice section, should be able to find it at any decent sized grocery.

This is different from the vegetable fennel, which is pretty yummy also.

Thanks Karen, I thought it might be some type of a seed (I'm not much of a cook). Just need to gather a few more ingredients to make it.

Blue Serenity and I are on the Blue Team for the new Biggest Loser Challenge! Anyone on the Red Team? Just curious.....was down 1.2 pounds this past week.

Good job Kim!

I didn't join TBL this time around as the chatting was all a bit too much for me - I just couldn't keep up!

Good luck to both of you though. I am doing a challenge with my Mom instead - she's 68 and retired and overweight due to quitting smoking. I'm trying to find something to motivate her to exercise.

When does the 3FC TBL challenge end?
Cindy

Hey just popping in because I finally CAN! Hurricane Ike blew through central Ar. Sat. night and I have not had power until today.:carrot: It got really old really fast.

I, of course, missed the opening episode of TBL. Good luck to you blue team members.

13 weeks....I think. You are so right with the chatter.....oh my gosh. I don't keep up very well. But I have been knocking it out on the exercise, water and food.

Ledom - glad to hear your power is back on. I assume work was closed due to this as well?

I did DVR TBL Tuesday, but have no idea how to download onto my computer or DVD. If anyone does know, I could send it to you.
Cindy

Hello ladies :) I am climbing back on the wagon with a gian U turn this a.m. so I thought i'd drop in and see if I'm still welcome.

I'm another not doing 'strictly' YOAD. I'm combining it with the clean eating and weight training espoused by Tosca Reno. I tried BFL but I had breast reduction surgery in June and can-not do over half the upper body exercises involved in that so I am back to what was working for me pre-op: eating fresh, whole foods as close to the source as possible. Not organics or farm fresh right now as the budget doesn't allow it, but mostly perimeter of the store type foods- whole boneless skinless chicken breasts, 90/10 ground angus as a treat/cheat food, lots of fruits & veggies, limited to no soda, complex chemical chains, etc. It worked for me in the spring and up until my surgery, and I know it will work for me again. It's just a matter of sticking to it. :) I'm also back to posting to my fit day for activity & food journaling & calorie counting.

anyways, didn't mean to make a book out of it, apologies for that. I'll be back later

Ledom - the premier episode of TBL is available to watch at nbc.com, so you can watch it online!

Welcome back mkat - glad to have you back with us!
Cindy

cindy would you say it is worthwhile? Did you enjoy the new episode?

In answer to your question about if school was out, no, the power outage was a local thing mostly. Though there were about 41,000 folks w/out electricity in this and the next county. Hard to be pitiful when there are people who have lost everything but it was a major inconvenience. I had to throw away everything in my refrigerator. It's now stocked up with healthy food again though.

So, mkat, interesting choice of words, "making a U turn", another phrase, but a similar one has been going through my head today. "Turn it on a dime". I don't have to think and prepare to get it going again. I KNOW what to do, and it is time to do it! Glad you're back. We are going to do this!

Hey gals - how was your weekend? Anyone do anything really fun?

One fun thing I did was that I got to have 7-week old kittens at my house for a day.

But, I had the flu, so the poor things spent most of the time alone in my small guest bedroom! My other 4 were all put-out by the visitors, but finally settled down and would watch them through the baby-gate I put up.

I was literally in bed all day Saturday - that never happens to me! Some bug I picked up somewhere - I'm never around kids or sick people, so I have no idea where this came from. Really annoying to lose a beautiful fall weekend this way!

But, since I didn't eat for 2 days, the scale was down 5# - that's the one good thing I can't complain about.

Now I need to work this to my advantage - I'm still not really able to eat much, so I'll use it to pare back my intake in general.
Cindy

Cindy...sorry to hear your not feeling well. Make sure you get plenty of fluids so you don't dehydrate..that wouldn't do you any good.

I have incorporated YOAD with what I eat for weight watchers and I move every single day that I can. I saw a 4 pound loss this week.

Hey everyone - I am feeling *much* better today finally! I guess there is a bug going around my work building and I was one of the first to get it!

Anyway, I've not exercised this week so far, but I think I'll be back at it tomorrow.

Food is doing well - I was able to ease myself back into it. One exception is that I've been eating a lot of yogurt to sooth my stomach, and some of it had HFCS in it (poor planning on my part). As a result, I'm having hunger/cravings that I should not be, and that's a pain right now. Guess I'd better get myself to the store and get some good yogurt!

Kim - congrats on the 4# - that's wonderful. Amazing what staying on plan can do for a person! Maybe I should try that sometime soon!

How is everyone else doing?
Cindy

Sorry you've been sick, Cindy. Sometimes that helps weight loss but not the best way to do it.

The last 3 weeks haven't been great for me (recurring knee problems, a few social occasions influencing me to go off plan). Seem to finally be back on track and off my plateau. Need to up strength training now.

My kitten is great and is best friends with my dachshund.

Cindy, Ledom and Karen......how is everyone doing? Has anyone tried using the BodyBugg? I sure wish I could afford one sense everyone is raving about the thing. It is supposed to tell you how many calories eaten, how many calories burned and your projected loss.

Kim, I must have been out of it, haven't even heard of BodyBugg. got to go check this out.

Karen

RE: Bodybugg - I'm not up to speed on them either. Here's a thread that has a lot of info and discussion about them.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146354

Hello everyone,

Any one on the YOAD? Do you do the exercise routines? I have been walking 30 min a day since monday and taking my daily vitamin, I started doing the shoulder routine and the medium difficult push ups, and swinging my hands up and down in front of me, but the other stuff seems to hard...how are the rest of you doing on it.

Monique:

Welcome. I've been doing the You Workout since June. Not so much this past month, but don't worry, just work up to it. Slowly build up reps & endurance, I could only do about 5 pushups when I started.

Last day of September.....I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Hope everyone has a tremendous OP day!