Simply Filling/Core - Weekly Chat: December 29- January 4

New Pages: Out with the old and in with the new!

:newyear:

Happy Monday everyone. I'm officially putting holiday eating behind me. No more excuses - I'm back to work and back on plan. I did OK over the past couple of weeks - I'm up but thats expected. The new at work program starts next Wed, so I've got over a week to get myself back on track. I"m actually thinking of looking into joining a gym. There is one local that is running a special of $99 for all of 2009. I would only be able to go on Tuesdays, Saturday and Sunday. So, I figure for $99 for the full year, that may be a good deal. I do walk, but I think if I could do a bike or take a class once or twice a week, it could only just help.

Vickie - how are you making out? I saw on the news that now that the ice is melted, you're facing floods. I hope you are OK

Rhonda - OUCH! Are you OK? Scary.

Sandra - Officially you don't need to be a senior to have senior moments. Or if I get them should I just call them brain farts??

Well, getting caught up at work. I'll be very busy all day, but the good thing is most people are out this week. One plus on taking last week off.

I am going to walk at lunch. The weather is about 40 or so and sunny. So, I'm taking advantage.

Have a good day.

Good Morning Ladies:)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas & Hanukkah.We had a great time with the grandchildren,but unfortunately we all go sick the day after. I have a very bad cough.Don't feeling like eating or doing anything. TG Leo didn't get sick,it just was my DD her DH MIL and me. We all have bad coughs & colds.

W-I today as Monday is my new W-I day and I only gained 3-lbs.Last year I gained 6+.so I far ahead of last year. Hope it get down to my 10% this year.

Going to rest on the cough for a while.,will come back later.

Hi Everyone,

Rhonda - Hope your feeling better today and the soreness is gone.

Paula - I too am officially past the holiday eating. Nothing planned for New Years and all the company is gone. We really enjoyed having the kids here, but 8 days was too long for the little children and DH and me.:?: I feel bad that DH and I felt that way. Guess we have gotten too use to not having them around all the time. We used to keep them all the time when we lived about 5 miles apart. Any way, we will miss them and then look forward to seeing them again... so goes the cycle. lol So I'm official OP again.

Marryann- I had a gain too, but thank goodness it was only .5 lb. I think that is because I was able to get back OP (pt wise) the next day. I ended up using all my WPA and some of my AP. I don't think I can use all those especially AP. I never use AP. I like to use those for any error in pts I may make. Another thing is I didn't get all my Simply Filling foods in. I really need my fruits and veggies. :hug:Sorry you are sick and grateful Leo didn't. DH and I have been fighting whatever the little DGD had. She complained about a sore throat and Tony has been fighting it and mine has been a little scratchy. Strange for me because I'm taking penicillin for whatever is going on with gum where the tooth was pulled. You would think with the antibiotic that I wouldn't be susceptible to anything.

Vickie - Hope you are doing ok weather wise. Are you safe from the flooding?

Well all out decorations are put away except for the ones we missed. Every year we get all the decorations put up and then find we missed something. Does anyone else do this? We used to miss one thing, but this year we missed 2. Had the Manora (sp) up for our DD DH since he is Jewish and he did all but the 8th day with it since he left that morning. So I think that
probably threw us off so we didn't see them.

Hope everyone has a great day.

:hug:

Trish, our stocking hangers were on the living room window sill -- all year!!! I forgot to put those away and tucked them on the window sill and completely forgot about them! Don't feel bad about the kids -- I just have one DD, I can't imagine having more than that visit for that long when not used to kids. I'm tired and she's my daughter! Glad to be back at work today! :)

Maryann, glad to hear you had a nice holiday. Sorry you are sick, hope you are feeling better soon. I like your view on your gain -- BRAVO to you for getting on the scale and back to your meeting. That is a HUGE NSV!

Kids for the holidays! I was going to babysit my godson's three-year old on New Year's Eve but I've been replaced by the mother's relatives. Not that that upsets me :lol:

We took my godson and his wife to Outback last night, and did I ever misbehave with the Blooming Onion! Oh well, that's done!

I read today that to maintain a significant weight loss you need to walk about 25 miles a week. No wonder people gain weight back. I think it's time for me to get back to the treadmill since walking is dangerous here now. It took me three-four days to get back to normal after banging my head. A friend's neighbor slipped on the ice and broke her leg in three places. Good grief!

Maryann, hope you feel better soon.

Trish, antibiotics work only on bacteria...colds and 'flu and related problems are normally viruses and antibiotics don't do anything for them...they would prevent some ear and sinus problems, but not much else.

Vickie, are you flooded? Ontario has been hit hard by the same weather, but we didn't experience much other than high winds which do any damage to us.

I've bought the ham for New Year's dinner...and, of course, the black-eyed peas because if you don't eat those the world will end!

Have a great OP day everyone!

Rhonda

Good Morning Ladies:)

Feeling a lot better this morning even though I still have the cough.
Decided not to go to the doctors unless it gets worse.

TRISH-You did great only gaining.5.Wish that was my case.My DD had more veggies on the menu than she very did before,and I filled up on those rather than the bake ziti or other junk her In law wanted.

PAULA-I don't go to meetings anymore,quit them last Sept going to use this board as my meeting place.I think I have to fill up on veggies in the future in order to keep my weight from going up.Lets hope that next year we will all hit our goal weights.

RHONDA-Leo bought be a portable DVD player so now I can go down into the basement and work out on my treadmill while watching a movie.My bike it up in the computer room so I always on that.Both machines are manual so the power to operate it is me.

Hi All -

Just stopping in to say Hi. I need to get off to WW and then to the grocery store. I'll try to stop back and chat later.

:wave: Tech :wave:

Hello Ladies,

This is one of those days I don't want to post, but will. After doing so well last week, I went wild with eating junk yesterday. I could just:kickbutt: myself for doing such a stupid thing. I :dunno: have any idea why I did it other than I am feeling so darn tired. I know I didn't get enough sleep when the kids were here so maybe my resistance was down. But I'm back OP today with the hopes that whatever it was is over. Just have to work at staying within daily pts the rest of the week.

Rhonda - You're right about the antibiotics and viruses and colds. I think my throat was sore from drainage, because it is better today. So glad you are feeling better and so sorry your neighbor broke her leg.

I don't know what we will eat New Years day, but we always had to have blackeyed peas and DH says for his family it was cabbage. Those old ideas were put into us so strongly that we probably do think our world would end without them. Isn't it crazy how those things affect us? When my 2nd hubby's Mother died, I found blackeyed peas in old purses and billfolds. She always said, "They meant you would never be broke".:dizzy:

Vickie - Hope your weather is better. I'm not sure exactly where you live but seems to be more of that junk in that area. Will it make it to you?


Maryann- Glad you are feeling better. I to start eating more veggies again too. I remember one time my previous MIL I just mentioned suddenly had the most beautiful skin. I learned she was eating mostly fruits and veggies. You would think that at 65 that would be enough to get me to eat more of them. She didn't get sick and start having problems until she quit eating them because her sister thought it cost too much and they didn't need to buy them any more. Her health went down fast and we lost her. There's a lesson there for me.

I don't go to meetings either, but I am doing WW online right now. Using the trackers on there are good for me and encouraging.

Paula, Sandra and anyone I missed - :wave:

Hope everyone of us has a very good OP day.

:hug:

Hi Everyone
Just popping in to say "HI" to everyone.
Not much happening here.
Went out to church today. And took down most of the decorations there. All that is left is the tree. But am leaving that for someone else to take down. They can put it away the way they want too.
Then came home. And been doing some laundry. And trying to pick some stuff up. Was going to work on taking my stuff down. But my Mom and Dad are coming on New Years Day. And Mom said she wanted to see our stuff. So guess I will have to work on that next week then.
Well at WW last night I got a nice surprise. I lost a pound. I was shocked. I figured I had a gain. Now to make it through New Years. I am not planning anything. But will have kraut and pork. And some black eye peas.
I hope everyone is doing ok.
I have to go and catch up with everyone.
Well got to go. Dryer just buzzed. Last of the laundry for today. Still got a couple more loads to do. So will do those tomorrow.
I am thinking of each of you.
coco

Coco - Congratulations on the 1 lb loss during the holidays. That is great.

:hug:

Looks like I missed Monday. Another brain fart or senior moment I guess.

Today I spent the day with 3 gf's. We had a wonderful time--and I ate too much. It was a great day with lots of laughter.

Tomorrow is another day. 25 miles a week? Hmmmmmmm......

Have a good evening, everyone. I'm tired and am calling it a day. I'll be back tomorrow.

Good Morning Ladies:)


Nothing new going on here. Leo & I are not celebrating New Years.Haven't gone out in ages and the TV shows are for the young ones some we just watch an old movies and than go to bed before the the ball ever reaches the ground.

Now it going to snow with winds howling to 50 MPH,it go to be safe & sound in bed than going out in that mess.

WW set me a free registration card along with one for a friend and just pay the weekly meeting.I have until March 1st to make my mind up whether I should continue on my own or go start up with them again.

TRISH-I tried so hard not to eat the junky foods that was severed before & after dinner,but I still managed to gain,even when I stayed away from them. I guess I didn't have enough veggies. That wonderful about how your MIL skin was so clear.,she must have been good looking,eat veggie & fruit.


COCO-Due to me not feeling well my decorations are still up going to take them down this weekend. Big:carrot: Congrats on you losing 1lb:carrot: That's wonderful during a holiday weekend. I wonder how many can say that.??????


SANDRA-That's Ok I thought you were still away for the holiday.Glad you had a great time with your friends,Laughter is the best medicine,and will help to keep you healthy & happy.Twenty five miles of waking a week would be 3 miles per day that great.



Have a great:newyear: New Year Eve :newyear:

Happy New Years Eve everyone! Here I am at work, with about 1/4 of the staff. Its snowing and is going to get bad. DH is home with DD. I'm going to leave around noon or so after I send my staff home. We are due to get about 6-9 inches today. Maryann, are you getting snow or rain today?

I'm doing well back on plan. I need to make sure I journal everything on line. I was home yesterday and was able to get the house cleaned and a walk in while DD was at a friends house. My cleaning lady was supposed to come yesterday but she called and she was sick with a stomach bug. KEEP AWAY! So, she'll be by on Friday afternoon. Since the floor was picked up, I decided to vacuum anyway.

I did get some cooking done yesterday as well - made turkey chili for my lunches and we had core shephards pie for dinner. It was yummy! I also roasted some carrots (left over raindeer feed). They were very good roasted in the oven with a bit of olive oil spray and salt on top. I need to make some pudding or jello for night time snacking. Otherwise, I'm back in control.

DD and DH are running errands this morning - one is to get our dinner for tonight. We do lobster on New Years eve. Yesterday at my grocery store they were only $3.99 a pound. YUMMY.

Coco, congrats on the loss!

Rhonda, put the onion behind you - today is a new day. Those are sinful though :)

Well, got to get a few things done before I pack it in. OH, good news for our ww at work. We have more than enough people for 12 weeks and possibly for 17 weeks(need 17 for this deal). So, next wednesday we start again. I'm thrilled.

BBL

Hi all,
I am back on 3FC after trying to go it on my own again (dumb I know). Congratulations to all of you who have met your goals and to all of you still working toward them.
I look forward to spending a happy and healthy 2009 with all of you!

PAULA-Its snowing hard this morning.At first they said about 2-3 " now they talking about our town getting snow effects coming off the ocean that will cause a accumulative of 12" of blowing drifting snow :brr:BLIZZARD:brr:

Hope you get home safe & sound.

Mandalynn-:welcome3: back. I've been back just a few weeks myself. This is a fine group of ladies you will enjoy being here and will get a lot of support.

Maryann- We don't go out either. Went to the store today and we will be home for the rest of the weekend except for church Sunday morning. The first New Years after DH and I met, he lived in FL and I in TX. We couldn't be together exept on the telephone so we watch the New Year in together on television by phone. We started with New York and finished with the last one in Hawaii. Now we just watch the ball drop in NY. Hope all is well with you and Leo and y'all stay warm. I can't even imagine 12" of snow. brrrr

Paula- DD was going to make shepherd's pie when she was here and changed her mind when she went to the store. I'm thinking I'm going to have to check that out.

Vickie- Hope you are ok.

Rhonda, Coco, Sandra and everyone else :wave:

Y'all have a Happy New Year's Eve and a safe one too!

Thanks for checking on me everyone! Our weather has finally calmed down. It's really cold and windy but at least the precipitation has stopped. I can handle the cold.

Jim and I are staying in tonight with a bottle of red wine and some snacks. Not Core but ready to be Core soon. We are on a movie binge. We saw Mama Mia last night. It was very light and made me smile to see Meryl and Pierce singing. We have more to watch tonight.

what are you all doing?

Just want to wish each and everyone
a safe and happy new years eve.

We're here at home trying to stay awake till midnight. We haven't opened the wine yet but will soon. I got some cheese and crackers to go with it.

Today's been an off program day. Life goes on.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Happy New Year!

Good Morning on this first day of a new year, with all of its possibilities!

We had a quiet night at home, watching DVD's then turning to CNN to watch the ringing in of the new year. Have I missed something? Since when have we had to stare at ads for Toshiba in the area where the ball should be dropping? Since the economic meltdown, I guess.

Anyway, we are having a non-commercial day at home. I'll go see my former MIL in the nursing home, then cook a meal for us and a friend. The menu is baked ham, sweet potatoes and black-eyed peas, with banana pudding for dessert. I'm not going to be OP obviously, but I'll be restrained.

Have a great day!

Rhonda


PS:

The weather is making headlines all over, so I'll bring you up to date for Ontario. There are still 30,000 households without electricity. The figure was 240,000 when the storm first hit, and that is twice as many as there are in what is considered a bad storm. We have also broken all written records for a wet year...more rain and snow in 07-08 than ever before.

Good Morning Ladies and a very Happy & Healthy New 2009 Year to All:)

Didn't to to much with the celebrating as I still have that nasty cough. Watched the Twilight Zone Marrithon on Scifi last night and went to be at 10PM. Leo was already sleep when I came upstairs.

Try to stay on the core but wavered off when eating a slice of stollen with my home made egg nog. Today Leo & are are having a slow cooked brisket with chili sauce. The recipe was given to me by my DD MIL and boy the chili sauce makes a difference in the delicious favors that it gives to the cut of meat.

Not going outside today as our temps are 07% to cold for me.We didn't get the 12" of snow promised but we did get 4" instead,but the cold winds that we got last night into this morning are making all that snow into ice. We are so fortunate that we have such kind neighbors that shoveled the walkway and looks like he cleaned off our car,so my dear Leo didn't have to go out in this mess,and hurt is scared lungs from the cancer. We are really grateful for his kindness.


PAULA-Is that Core recipe for shepherds pie good. I know its not the real mc coy but it does it purpose.Just wondering whether I should start up again,even though I been using the board as a meeting room,being there in person is so much better.Going to see if Leo will pay the $40 monthly pass again. I let you guys know what his answer is. Like I posted above we didn't get the snow that they predicted.

TRISH-What an romantic story,That must have been hard to be so far away.Since I'm married I on;y missed one New years even ball droping and that was last night. I just didn't like 2008 giving Leo the cancer again after being in remission for 2 years.Here's :cheers:to 2009 that it a good and healthy new year for all of us.

VICKIE-Hope you enjoyed the red glass of wine along with the movie Momma Mia. I saw that movie last summer and and I loved the story line & the music. Want to see it along time ago when it was a play,but never made it to Boston. I going to make a German warm punch made with Burgundy wine for this afternoons foot ball game.

COCO-Wishing you and the ladies the same.

SANDRA-You correct life goes on!! going to enjoy the New Year with wine & traditional foods and get right back on the core,as on Monday its my W-I day.

Have a great New Years and I be back later

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Rhonda, we had our b e peas today, too, along with some chicken tenders, baked potato, country gravy and cornbread. Yep, I'm off program but will get back on after wi in the morning.

I didn't realize so many folks were without power. I'm glad ya'll are all right. What's the projection for those folks to get theirs back? How are your temperatures?

It's coolish here but not too much so. We're planning to just kick back today but will work outside tomorrow when it's warmer. I'm thinking of getting some peat pots so I can start some flower seeds. Lowe's has what I need. I already have some seeds from Ed Hume's and Park Seed. They're burning a hole in their packages. Just not sure how soon I can get them started. I know I'm not supposed to transplant them outdoors till after the last frost.

Is that more than you wanted to know? Sorry about that. I'm wound up.

Hey Chicks! I skipped the wine because I felt so guilty about the snacks. We're watching the Blackhawks play the Red Wings play outside at Wrigley Field. It's freezing here but we're snug inside.

I got one of the "slankets" for Christmas. I'm a big fan!

:cheers: :newyear:Everybody,

Wrote this early and got kicked off line. Lucky I had saved it so just going to post it. Nothing much going on here. Just watching movies on tv.
Well, I decided to weigh this morning out of curiosity and glad I did. I have my incentive to stay OP today. I have lost the .5 lb I gained so I'm starting the New Year coming through the holidays without a gain or loss. If I behave myself, it is possible to at least lose a lb or at least half a lb by my WI Monday. We will be having ham, cabbage and blackeyed peas. DH bought a peach cobbler he wants so depending on the points. I kinda got a routine going now with eating and exercise which I started the exercising today. I'm hoping that by having a routine started that it just might become a habit.

Maryann - I know 2008 wasn't too good a year with Leo and Tony going through their cancer problems. I just thank God we still have them. I felt so sorry for my Daddy when I talked to him last night. My step-mom is in the hospital and won't be back home for a couple of months. No way to for either of them to spend New Year's eve. I pray 2009 will be much nicer ro all of us. What a nice neighbor you have. Glad you didn't get the 12" of snow.

Rhonda -We watched the ball fall on Fox. Didn't see the ads. I guess that's because Tony said they had a lot of ads in between things. What a weather record. With all the record cold weather we've had so far, I've heard a lot of people on television asking... "where's the global warming we keep hearing about?" Your New Years eve sounded much like ours. We played games on the computer until almost midnight. Came in to watch the ball drop and then watched dvd Hellboy 2. Then I went to bed.



Coco, Sandra, Vickie and everyone else - Hi there
Have a great day!!!

Trish, I heard that global warming encompasses more than just "warming". Supposedly, it will make changes in normal weather patterns. I haven't researched to see if that is true or not.

Happy New Year everyone! Things here were quiet as usual. We had out lobster dinner, I did have my wine to go with it. Its the one time I like to drink a white wine is when I have lobster, otherwise I'm a red girl. I did manage to stay up until midnight and watched the ball drop in NY. Otherwise we are close to home today. Yesterday's storm gave us about 9 inches of snow, but as Maryann said -- its sooooo cold today. I don't think our thermometor got over 15 all day and its very windy. I did go out for a walk with our dog -- poor thing, he needs boots! I broght him home and went out for a bit longer. I was nicely bundled and it was actually nice. I also got all of Christmas put away and my living room cleaned. So, I guess it was a productive day off.

I've been doing well OP. I too made it through the holiday's with out a gain or loss. So, I'm happy and back on track. Having surf and turf for dinner ( we actually had one lobster left over -- we had 6!) so that will go with steak tips, sweet potato and broccoli and green beans.

Rhonda, hope you are well and keep your power. Your situation sounds like MA and NH about a week or two before Christmas. We had a bad ice storm and there were some areas without power for almost 2 weeks.

Vicke, I hope 2009 finds you on the wagon with the rest of us. I hope the time is right for you soon.

Trish and Maryann -- for the shephards pie, Its very simple, no real recipe. Brown up lean ground beef or ground turkey or a combo with some onions, garlic and mushrooms. Drain if needed then add in some salt, pepper, and worcester sauce then I either add a small can of tomato sauce (core) or a good squirt of ketchup. Then add some beef broth to make a nice sauce. Cook this all together until the sauce is the way you like it. Then add in a can of corn. This goes into a baking dish. Then make mashed potatoes and that goes on top as the crust. Bake 375 until bubbly. I'll make this on a Sunday and cook on Monday night. Hope you like it!

Well, off to get dinner going. Take care everyone!

Next week is my birthday. Almost every year I try not to eat cake because of having gained over the holidays. Well, I bought a single slice of white cake/white icing and a single slice chocolate cake/chocolate icing and a container of ice cream. Curtis and I just finished celebrating. WI in the am is my official "to it" kickoff. And Monday we begin working out at the fitness center.

I'm watching our resident large woodpecker. He hops in the feeder, grabs one sunflower seed, then takes it to the birdtree (dead tree with feeders we've kept for birds) to eat. This is his normal routine. He's a hoot.

Vickie, We have that hockey game on tv, too, but right now we're watching a bowl game.

Paula and Trish, congratulations to you both for not gaining during the holidays.

Well, I think it could be a year before I'm hungry for cake and ice cream again. It was good but now I'm about sick. Got what I deserved, didn't I?

Hello old friends! :) Some of you have no idea who I am, I'm an old core board chickie who has been gone for a long time. ;) I came to the site today to find some recipes that I love and thought I'd drop in to see who was chatting! I was so happy to see several of you who were here with me, especially Sandra and Vickie! Hi guys! :wave:
While I'm here I guess I'll let you know my news--I'm having another baby! Crazy, right? It was a complete surprise but we are happy (scared to death, but happy). I'm due 6/30. So expect to see me here after that point!! I'm on a diabetic diet, they already have me on insulin, so it's not like I'm eating too far from core as it is. That's why I came by to get some recipes. I've only gained about 4 pounds I think, and I'm 14 weeks along. Not bad. :D Hopefully I won't gain more than 20, but that is a pretty low goal. I gained about 32 last pregnancy but took it off (plus a little more) rather quickly. I can definitely tell a difference this time with starting the diabetic diet earlier. I'm just now starting to wear maternity clothes.
Well that was more than I meant to type, especially for those of you who don't know who I am!
Good luck on your endeavors and I'll try to stop by occasionally!
:newyear:

Good Morning Ladies:)

Its still bitter:brr: cold out,but Leo & I have to venture out and get some groceries in for for the weekend.

Another exciting thing happened we look out the window and found that this cold bitter cold weather caused a crack right across in our windshield.Leo has a appointment tomorrow morning when the shop opens to have it fixed. TG we have coverage,no lump sums of money has to be taken out of the bank for this repair.

Well now that the holidays are over its back to staying OP and see if I can get this weight off once and for all.


SANDRA-This cold weather has brought lots of power outages in the north west & other areas. Fortunately we in our complex has our power is under ground.The other wires that on the top of the telephone poles are branch free as they cut the trees from interfering with the wires.The temps are still cold,like the cold better than hot but these amounts are ridiculous.Happy :hb: Birthday and enjoy your pcs of cake as you didn't partake during the holidays. You deserve to have you cake and eat it too.

TRISH-I know what you mean,you & I really went though a lot with our guys having cancer last year.Hope and pray they both of our DH's cancer stayed in remission. Sorry:sorry: to hear about your step mom,hope she out of the hospital shortly.


VICKIE-That was smart of you to avid the bubbly. I couldn't resist to have my favorite German Punch Gluevine that made with 1c burgundy wine, & water lemon,cloves,cinnamon stick & splenda in a pot and bring to a boil,strained and pour in a mug and you eat it with stollen.

PAULA-Thanks:thanks: for the Shepherds Pie recipe your version sounds yummier that the Core recipe,well have to try it .

SEPTEMBERGOALS-Congrats :carrot:on your on coming birth of your baby. I came to the thread last June. after trying the flex for 13 weeks and than switching over to the core.I like this plan much better as I don't have to weight& measure foods. Stay around,the board & thread are still very friendly and supportive.


Have to go,will come back later.

Well hello old friend and congratulations to you and Aaron and Emily! I thought of you the other day since Emily (that was her name, right?) just turned one year old. Lordy, Lordy! A similar blessing happened to my friend. It took her forever to have the first baby. Now she and her Sister are about 19 months apart! I'm sorry to hear that you are on insulin, but it's best for you and the baby. Hope to hear more from you and see a picture of Emily. We've never gotten to see her!

Thanks! It's good to "see" you! Here is a recent picture of Emma (you were close, Vickie ;) ).

Hi Ladies,

SEPTEMBERGOALS I'm new here so Hello, Welcome and Congratulations. Hope everything goes well for you. Your Emma is a precious little doll.

Maryann So sorry about your windshield. Bundle up for your time out in that cold weather.

Just a quick Hello to all of you. Started today out using the Food tracker on the WW website to plan my meals in advance and print it out so I'm ready to go for today. Hopefully it will help me stay OP and within my pts. I also hope this will help me to use more SF foods and less of other stuff. I'll let you know how that works for me .

Have a great day.

Oh Melissa, Emma is SO beautiful! What a blessing and a miracle besides. Thank you so much for sharing her with us.

I feel like an honorary Auntie. Well, that smile could melt your heart.

Hi Melissa. Congratulations on the pregnancy and thanks for the picture of Emma.. a cutie for sure.

I've taken down the Christmas decorations today and mostly rested when not doing that.

I wanted to tell that I made the mushroom soup from the WW "New Complete Cookbook" and it was very good. It does take some work with all the chopping, but it could more easily be done in a food processor. I served it last night and the leftovers were even tastier today.

Rhonda

Ohhhh please share, Rhonda! Jim and I love mushrooms.

Melissa!!!! What a wonderful surprise seeing your post! And seeing Emma, too!!! Congratulations on your new baby. Girl, I don't know if I can wait till after the baby gets here to hear from you. Please come here as often as you can. You are loved and missed. I'm sorry you're having to take insulin, but it's sounding like you're doing well.

Maryann, have you made any soups? It definitely sounds like soup weather where you're living. Beware of comfort foods. Thank you for the happy birthday. I enjoyed every bite. Of course, my scales are up this morning. Oh, well, they'll come back down.

Vickie, I think we are cyber aunts. Guess that makes us related. :lol:

Trish, I hope planning your meals in advance helps. I'm not that organized.
Maybe I should be.

Rhonda, your soup sounds good. I made some potato soup the other day. It was 77* here today and tomorrow is to be warmer. Then Monday? 40* And that's the weather report for North Central Texas. It's almost stockshow time. You know what that means. (ice)

Happy Saturday everyone. Great news, my scale is happy! Yes, its moving down -- I think its back to where it was the last time I had an official WI. I'm looking forward to our new at work session starting next Wed. I think we'll have the 20 people needed to do the 17 weeks. I WILL GET BACK TO GOAL!

Have to share my new toy -- dh got me a multi cooker for Christmas. It ended up being back ordered and arrived yesterday. Its a slow cooker, rice cooker and pressure cooker in one. I've never cooked with a pressure cooker and I've been searching receipes. I've found a few I'm going to try -- first up is chicken catciaatore that I'll make tomorrow. Then i also found a vegetable rice and beef stew. If anyone has used a pressure cooker in the past and has any tips -- please share. I do need to get a pressure cooker cookbook. I'm courious as to how to best convert recipes, if that's possible.

Maryann, right now its a balmy 30.9 degrees! Better than the fridged weather we had earlier this week. Hope you are doing well.

Trish, I love using the online tracker on the WW site. Once you get meals defined its even easier! I never liked tracking points but have been for a while -- some estimates, but with the online tracker its a quick click and done.

Well, got to get dd ready for gymnastics. Going to stop at the grocery store and get my chicken catiattore stuff first. Stuff should be fine in the car for an hour.

Have a great day!

Cream of mushroom soup from "WW New Complete Cookbook"

Makes 4 servings

1 pound of mushrooms
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 onions, finely chopped
1 carrot peeled and thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
ground pepper to taste

(I didn't use either the parsley or the marjoram, but added a little red wine at the end of cooking)

In a saucepan combine 3 cups of the mushrooms with 1 1/2 cups of the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer covered for about 20 minutes. Puree in a blender, then return mixture to pan.

Heat the oil and saute the onions, celery and carrots until softened (about 5 minutes). Add the remaining mushrooms, cook and stir for about 10 minutes. Add this to the mushroom puree in the saucepan, along with the rest of the stock.

In a small bowl, whisk the milk and flour until smooth and whisk it into the mushroom mixture. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly and do NOT boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the parsley, marjoram and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.

Points: 3 per serving

Enjoy!

Good Morning Ladies:)

Its till cold out this morning and poor Leo had to go to the shop to have the windshield placed in our car.He said it going to take 1 1/2 for it to be installed.So I didn't expect him to be home until 11 AM but to my surprise he was back with in 45 Min. They say we should leave the window opened a crack so the glass can dry.We 're not going out today or even on Sunday.I 'm so afraid :fr: of falling on the ice and breaking my hip,as I do have hip problems on the right side.

SEPTEMBERGOAL-ARRR!!! Your Emma is such a beautiful child God Bless her thanks :thanks:for sharing the photo of her.

TRISH-More so than it being cold the ice its what bothering me, but we warm with our fireplace gas insert and we also have a abundance of food in the house so there's no need to go out in the icy weather.

RHONDA-I took my decorations down also yesterday and just left the tree for over the weekend and than will take that down. That will be easy as I don't have that many ornaments on it as it ta table top with mostly garland and the tree folds up,so that will go down on Monday.


PAULA-I have books & books of recipes for soups.I love making my own soups & stews,and your correct its the season for make warm home made soups. My favorite WW shortcuts cookbook has Easy Vegetable Gumbo.for 6pts. & Cream of broccoli for 2pts.
Have you found any soup that follows the core plan???I guess I will have to look in the recipe section.MY DD gave me a crock pot cookbook and I'm returning it to her as she uses the crock pot more than I do.As far a pressure cooker we had one when were were fist married 42 years ago we made all our stews & goulash,but now that I'm older, 5 ingredient 30 mins cooking is all I do.


Have a great morning,will check on you gals later

A quick :wave:Hello today Ladies. I'm waiting for DH to get up and get ready to go to the store with me. I was going by myself, but we both need to get out of the house. Got to make a grocery list. Need more SF/Core foods.

Rhonda -Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'm definitely going to try that.

Maryann - I have to say that is what I would do to with ice on the ground. In fact I've been told that when it gets that bad around here that everything closes and stops. We would have a hard time getting off of our street as we live at the bottom of a hill. Although, I'm sure it could be done.

Paula - I haven't figured out how to work the meal part of the tracker. I thought I did, but when I went there it didn't have it. I eat the same oatmeal breakfast almost everyday so it would be so nice to have it where I could just hit it, but for now I just type it in. It is easier for me to track that way rather than on paper for some reason. I can just print it out and punch holes and put it in my notebook and I'm through with it. May even go to a folder instead of the notebook. Any way I'm loving it.

Well, better get to that grocery list. Busy day tomorrow too. I think we start our evening classes back up at church tomorrow night, so may be Monday before I get back here.

Everybody have a great day and weekend!

Trish, to save a meal, enter in all the food as you normally do. Then in the same line as the "Morning", "Midday", Eveneing header there is a button on the right side -- shaded green. Save as Meal. I think its been there a while -- it wasn't until recently that i actually noticed it! HTH

Hi Everyone
I hope everyone had a Happy New Year.
I will have to go and check up on everyone.
Just getting on here for a few.
Seems like I am as busy now as I was getting ready for the holidays.
Was thinking things would slow down. But so far they havent.
I havent even gotten my Christmas tree down yet.
But wont get to it until next weekend.
Well I gotta go. Got clothes in the dryer. Have to get them out.
I am thinking of each of you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
coco

Good Morning Ladies:)

Still have the cough and runny nose,so I didn't go out to church.The roads are still icy also.Not going out and cause a fall,especially in the hip area.

TRISH-Going to try something different by limiting my breads,starchy veggies,and grains for a while.I think I might have to lower carbs for a while to get my metabolism going again.Had too many carbs,especially over the 2 holidays and must get it back to normal again.

COCO-Take it easy Roman wasn't built in a day. I haven't taken my tree down either.The rest of the decorations are down but the computer/ guest room is a real mess,but so far no one using it except us.


Have a great weekend what left of it anyway.

Good Morning All:

My eating was totally disorganized yesterday. I don't know why really but it won't be again today.

I started the day with a tasty frittata made with shallots, mushrooms and egg substitute. The rest of the day will be leftovers of Core meatloaf, and ham, with some veggies.

I think I'm going to pay more attention to the kinds of vegetables I eat, adding more of the dark green ones like spinach, collards and kale. I tend to eat too many peas and corn, I think. I don't eat much bread but I'm going to go a month without any except for the toast at night every now and again.

I hope you all have a great day. I've got to go back to work tomorrow...starting the 6 month count-down! :woohoo:

Rhonda

Hi Everyone
SEPTEMBERSGOAL :congrat: on the new baby on the way. Your little girl is so cute. Keep us up to date.
Well not much going on here.
Went to church. Came home. Now waiting until the time we leave to go to hubbys' niece's for dinner. But I am going to have a very hard time. They are having creamed chicken and biscuts with mash potato's. And not sure about dessert. Told hubby I am going to take me a WW chocolate chip cookie and some tea. Maybe with the tea. I can get by without the cookie. Just want to be prepared. Not sure what flavor I am going to take. Either Vanilla Chai or Gingerbread Spice.
It is raining some today. So a dreary day.
Did anyone see the Goodhouse Keeping magazine out now. The weight loss stories are people that did WW. There are five of them 3 ladies and 2 guys.
BEACHBUM Sure hope you get over your cold soon.
TEJAS I am afraid I will be out of control today. But I keep thinking. I cant. I weigh in tomorrow. So that will help me keep focused.
PATTYGIRL Hope you had a good day out.
ONTARGET How's your weather been.
BLESSEDWITHSARAH Have fun trying new recipes in your cooker. It sounds really nice.
VICKIE how are you doing. Been thinking about you.
Well I better get off here for now.
I am thinking of each of you.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
coco

Happy sunday everyone. Just wanted to stop by quick before I take our dog for a walk. DD is at a friends for the afternoon, that girl was here yesterday. I made chicken caciatorre yesterday in my pressure cooker. I love it! The chicken was very moist, I used breasts. I never used breasts in the slow cooker since they dry out. I'm going to try a pot roast on Tuesday in it.

Things are going well OP. My scale is down still.

Rhonda, congrats on the 6 month count down!! Wish I were in your shoes. Oh well......

Maryann, should warm up a bit over the next few days. Lets hope all the ice goes soon.

Hi to Coco, Sandra, Vickie, Trish and anyone I may have missed. BBL

Hi there, Chickies. My eating's been op for almost 3 days. Yesterday I ate Fiber One bars while we were shooting. One point each was much better than the normal 4 point granola bar. Our next challenge will be next weekend. We're going to Houston to visit family and friends. Almost every meeting revolves around food. Oh, well, life goes on. (And I'll have a new week beginning Friday.)

Rhonda, I admire you for quitting bread. I am a creature of habit, too, when it comes to veggies. One thing I've noticed, though, is that I don't eat as many potatoes as before. We go to Susannah's for veggie plates about once a week now. That helps us get in a variety.

Coco, we've had gorgeous (70ish) weather lately but a cold spell just came through and it's 40ish today. The sun is shining and the birds are all over the feeders. What kind of WW cookie do you like? I've tried the chocolate chip and the oatmeal. I like them all right but Curtis doesn't care for them. Guess that leaves more for me.

Paula, I'm glad you're getting your WW at work class back. You sound very excited. Makes me smile.