LA Weight Loss - Fall Plan - Harvest your dreams

Well, with the promise of a new season comes the hopes and dreams for the season. I sometimes despair that I will ever reach my weightloss goal. Still, it is a dream I seem incapable of letting go. I know the potential for reaching my goal is there. Why bother when it often seems so hard and unatainable? I have just been sitting with my journal and making a list of reasons of why I need to gather my motivation for yet another push toward my goal. It is just something I need to do for myself, it is something that I have put a tremendous amount of effort into though I spend as much time stalled out as I do moving forward it often seems. Anyway, as this project takes recommitment on a regular basis, I do want to keep in my mind that the dream can be harvested. That I can reap the rewards of finishing what I set out to do and that I am not giving up. Hope to see all you regulars on this thread with a feeling that what we want for ourselves is truly possible. As always, newcomers are welcome.:D

Hi Ledom. i just lefted note on other one and when i clicked send i thought oh the new one is above it. ha hahaha so here again. this is a cute name and yes all you said is so true. i need to do the same get more positive and list those things to. that is a great idea. we all can do this together this fall. we have before. this new thread will keep us going. a change is great. we can all change by getting with our plans and doing it. i have to for health. so no reason not to get it done. scales are down this morning more and oh a happy girl that makes me. i have dance tonite. so that is great. going to yes get with this and get it done before holidays. i have set that for a first goal to lose some before then..then move on. i want to be down to my goal the dr. first set for me by then. then move for the new year my new goal she has set. one good thing is the last 2 years i have not gained all i loss back. now that is good for me. usually i am starting all over for it. but have not.so i try to think of good more now. been eating the fresh fruit and vegies and its helping. then this fall when cooler i get on my more protein plan.. good luck ledom i love your sharing give me alot of inthusium this new day. Ok gals get in here on this new thread and others to if you want. more the merrier. we are all here to work together with this and share. that is so important to me. good luck to all . LaDean

Ledom - what a great name for this season's thread!

It's funny (but not so much) - you sound just like I did almost 2 years ago. My advice is that if you don't feel like working so hard, how about just staying in "maintenance mode" for a while? I wish I had thought to do that back then - instead I just threw in the towel, thinking it would be fine, and that I would maintain without any effort.

In hindsight I've realized that maybe where I was then was the best for my body at the time, and I should have been happy to stay at that weight for a while. Instead I kept pushing, got nowhere, got discouraged and gave up. Never again! I would give anything to be back there right now, so that I could make the correct decision as opposed to what I did.

One of the things that's occurred to me is that maybe I should have hired a persoan trainer. I was the best I could be on my own, but perhaps a trainer could have pushed me harder or in different ways to get things moving again? I'll be keeping that in the back of my mind in case I get to that point again. Maybe it's something for you to consider?

My weekend was pretty good - the little kitten kept me occupied the entire time, and as a result, I accomplished very little.

Unfortunately, I used him as an excuse to not do my cardio this weekend. :( But, no more of that - I'm back in the gym with a vengence this morning!

Still working out the kinks of my eating plan - I keep remember things I'd forgotten about for meals, so I'm working on getting my kitchen stocked back up so that I won't have excuses to fail there.

So, today is day 8 of my BFL Challenge, and I'm feeling pretty good about it!
Cindy

Good morning - glad you liked the thread title. It just seemed right for us.

Good ideas Cindy. I often think about how to pump new energy into my program. I haven't ruled out a personal trainer, but for now I am going to keep trying on my own. I have decided to get back to the old ways of reporting my workouts here. Just try to be more present with everything and to make time to rest because I think that is when I really get into trouble - when I am tired.

So, in the spirit of that I have just completed my workout and have my lunch and afternoon snack packed and I know what I am having for supper too. I hope to also get a little extra cardio this evening. I did good with food yesterday and made it to a yoga class after work. So far, so good. I am also thinking about the weekend and how I am going to handle it. As of late, weekend have been my undoing. Time to get a grip on weekends.

So glad to have you back in the fold Cindy. It sounds as though things are coming together for you. How is Buoy doing?

How was dancing LaDean? Yep, health first and foremost. It is the most important motivation if not the most exciting.

Hey everyone!

Had another good day - when my eating is on track, it's spot on! But then other days I just can't seem to get things right! Funny how that can happen!

I had a 7am teleconference at work today, so couldn't do my workout this am. I'm trying to figure out what to do tonight - I dislike working out before dinner, while I'm hungry, and then having to shower then as well. May skip today, which I shouldn't, but I really don't have time tonight. Making excuses, I know, but I think this is where I messed up last time around - I would try to force every day, and so then if one day didn't work, I'd scrap the whole week. I need to learn to work around my life/schedule. I have this call every other week, and I'll just adjust my workouts around those Tuesdays.

Buoy is doing well - although I really have to watch him around my two youngest - they went from hissing and avoiding him to trying to wrestle on the floor in just 3 days! But, they are waaaaay too big to be that rough with him - he's only 1.8# and they are something like 7 and 15! Pete is so oblivious to the circus around him, so it's me who's always figuring out where the "baby" is, and if they other two are playing nice, as opposed to batting him back and forth like a ping-pong ball! :o I guess I should have anticipated this with Jake being just 17 months and Smokey at 12 months. I basically have three kittens - just of different ages/sizes!

Hey, time to go home! Hurray! I'll try to at least get a walk in tonight.
Cindy

Cindy thanks for sharing the picture of your kitty. its so cute. i like cats to. but just got a dog. a boston bull terrier . enjoy him so much. there just like babies. well he is my baby a big one. ha ha i got him on a eating plan to. smaller amts. ha ha we both are doing good. Hey i loss 4.75 lbs this week gals. so i did a happy dance today. i go to Tops so was best weekly loser to. so happy there to. oh a good day it has been. canning was shut down today. ha ha so i did some house work. had tops this am. then washed my long cared for car. its needed it for so long. so feel good. ha I hope everyones day has been as good. i am only 2.75 lbs from goal again. yehhhh i will get there. have a good evening to all. LaDean

Good morning. LaDean, it sounds like you had a great day! Congrats on being the best weekly loser at TOPS, that has to make you feel good. When you say canning was shut down today do you mean you are through for the season or just for the time being? What's the weather like out there these days?

Cindy, Buoy is darling. Wow, three kittens - I bet your house is more fun and filled with energy than I can imagine. Anyway, he is so cute and so TINY!

Don't forget The Biggest Loser tonight. I am really looking forward to it.

Cindy you are right about being flexible with your workouts. Creative too. A walk in the evening seems the perfect thing to do when your morning workout doesn't work out. I know that if I at least get a walk in I feel as if I am still on track with things.

So far this week is going better for me in terms of "sticking with it". Today is my rest day but I am going to try to hike for a little tonight. I am ready to push through this plateau. I don't really think it is plateau though, I think I just have not been trying hard enough.

Ledom. your doing good. sometimes we push ourselves to much. just hang in there plateaus pass we know this. No its not over. In fact this am got tomatoes ready. just a one day shut down. there out there on vine and ready each day to pick. but thankful we can do it and have it. to give to others that do not and for ourselves. people depend on it yearly. ha but he loves doing it and sharing we love to do. we have given so many tomatoes away this year. usually not enough just for canning. and apples oh my will be starting on them next. getting them in off trees and in boxes in shop. ha Its been so nice this week, 85 of day. rain is coming end of week some. so trying to get alot done with the garden before. got the old cucumber plants on one side pulled up yesterday he did and got this side sprayed. jsut a busy time. but hey when busy not eating. if so a cuke or tomatoe. ha or apple. so that is good. have a good day all of you....Aleka and judi come in to say hi. miss you lots.

Still jealous of all those tomatoes LaDean. There was a crop failure here this year and I just didn't get enough. I like making tomato sauce and freezing it in quart bags to add to turkey meatballs. I bought every fresh, homegrown tomato I could find this summer and ended up with less than a dozen bags.

This week has gone well for me. All my workouts in and great food choices. I am now entering dangerous time for me though. The WEEKEND, I am trying to mentally prepare myself. Today is my first challenge, lunch with a friend. It is terrible to not even want to go because the food is less in my control. Hopefully we'll go someplace that is easy, but I have even considered the possibility of a Mexican restaurant. I think I could order something with shrimp and stay away from the chip and salsa and come out ahead. Anyway, I am up early this morning and will be getting my workout in early today. Hope to hike a little tonight.

LaDean, You said you were near goal.....how much did you lose and what plan did you use? Did you put your story in Goal?

I'm super-jealous of the tomatoes - I only had 3, yes 3 (!) all summer! I just never got to anywhere where they were selling them - this area is a bit strange in that it's hard to find any farm markets in the urban areas. Sucks for me, because I love fresh tomatoes, and I have deer, so can't grow my own. Oh, well....

My week is going well as well - I did get my cardio in this morning - actually pushed it to an extra set of intervals (I'm easing my knee into this)for the first time. I'm sore today from a hard UBWO yesterday, but it feels good!

I'm planning to do some major cooking this weekend - dinners and lunches for myself, but also I want to make some protein bars - I'm going through too many Zone bars right now, out of necessity, but I'd feel better eating "real" food.

The kitten is integrating into the household well - he's basically a new play thing for my older "kittens". I have to break them up often, as play gets too rough for such a little guy, but I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with them being unsupervised while I work out or shower. I'm still locking him in his "nursery" at night and during the day, but that should only be for a few more days I think.

Hope lunch went well for you, Ledom.
Cindy

Carol. i have been in tops for years. finally reached goal in 2004. i loss 34 lbs. then i gained back like not 10 lbs and said ok now its coming back on get this off and keep it off. so dec. 31st i will have kept it off for 2 years. that is history for me. never did this before. then last year i was told i was a debetic and more wt had to go. so now i am heading in that direction. but reaching this goal first given me and stay there for while. then first of year want to go for my new goal. another 30 lbs to lose. I have been on all plans. but loss this on the atkins plan. so now in fall that is plan i stick to alot. summer months its alot of fruit and vegies and all. to hot to fix meals. ha ha but i watch portions alot. this week i started on weight watchers pts again. i have the program so i like it. can have all you want and keep track of the pts. so i mix my plans and have variety. I started line dance monday nite. i use it for exercise. i love it. so just to turn on music and move is great exercise. i also walk. but hot i do not. so now its getting cooler evenings so i plan to get out. i put variety into exercise to. these boards like this and all my friends help me the most. i love to come on and share and listen to others how they do it and there lives and all. this gives me inthusium.. have a good day. LaDean together we can do it and make it fun.

cindy, your kitten sounds so cute with the other ones. glad hes working in. animals are so fun. i just have my beau... a boston bull terrier. hes so loveable. is 9 years old. loss my one at 12 years we had him. so had to have another. oh girl if you were here you could eat tomatoes tilll your hearts content. i mean this year never seen it like this before. a late start with them to. we canned 28 qts yesterday. most we did in day is 47. we give alot of the juice away to friends and family.. but hey cannot let it go to waste. gave lots of tomatoes away this year. normally just have enough for our selves and canning. oh next is apples. cannot believe the year for them.. so wish you all were here. we would all go on a tomatoe diet. ha ha had cucumbers the same way... just blessed with a good garden year. flowers were even so pretty... i have eaten them lots. i love btl's and have them for breakfast. well to all a good day. LaDean

Good morning ladies! Hope you are all having a good Friday. I think all Fridays are good, as the weekend is just around the corner! Actually, I'm playing bit of hookey today - am "working from home", but not so much, if you folllow...;)

I'm pretty happy with how I've been doing this week - with the exception of some pre-dinner snacking - small amounts, but I shouldn't be doing it, and then later, after dinner, when DF starts snacking, it's all I can do to make it until 9pm, when I can have my 6th meal. I've been having Kashi Go Lean and skim milk for that last meal, as I have a terrible cereal habit, but I want to work on switching that to something more "legal" - maybe I'll pull out an old BFL "apple pie" recipe and try to entice myself with that. The recipe is in the LWL recipe thread for those of you who aren't familiar - basically a microwaved apple with oatmeal, plus cottage cheese topping, all mixed with a bit of cinnamon and Splenda. Yum!

I just made a resolution to try to eat fish at least once a week for dinner. I already eat tuna for lunch once or twice, but I want to try to get DF to eat it as well.

A big part of my weekend will revolve around planning meals and cooking. I've been eating a lot of Zone bars, and want to make some homemade protein bars for breakfasts instead. I'll be going through the old recipe thread, but am open to any new recipe suggestions anyone might have.

I'm challenging myself to get 2 cardio workouts in this weekend - BFL calls for one, which I didn't do last weekend, but I don't have the kitten excuse this weekend - things have settled down considerably, as my others have gotten used to him, and he to them, so they can actually just hang out in a room without attacking each other now! But, back to cardio - I'm sure that the fact that I only ever did 2-3 cardio sessions a week during my prior BFL Challenges was part of the reason I didn't have as dramatic results as I had hoped for. I *hate* cardio, so it will really be a challenge for me to get more in, but I'm really going to try to do it!

LaDean - congrats on keeping that weight off for 2 years! I know it's much harder than it sounds! Where do you live that you've had such a great garden year this year?

Ledom - how did lunch yesterday go? How are you doing so far, with this almost being the WEEKEND? You can stay on track - I know you can!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Cindy

Cindy - you sound good. You are on your way!!!! Go for those 2 cardios. I have been doing a little extra each week as I can and I kknow it makes all the difference. My extra of choice is a 2 mile hike, or a yoga session. My goal is to do 3 "extras" per week. Well, yesterday wasn't great but could have been worse I guess. My friend, and this was business related, showed up at my house with lunch which just took all the control I thought I might have away from me. For the most part it wasn't too bad. She had been to a meeting and appropriated two of the catered lunches. A nice salad, a ham sandwich, a brownie. I ate it all. The worst part was that it was at a weird time. 1:30! I knew that would be the case so I had my afternoon snack in the morning. I felt bummed about the lunch even though it wasn't horrible. It was enough to make me think I should have a very light supper though which was a HUGE mistake. I should have just had my normal supper because I ended up eating more than I intended of some stuff I shouldn't have. Still, it was relatively contained. I saw where I was heading and cut myself off before it turned into a full blown binge. Still didn't want to weigh this morning. You are so right about it being the weekend. As you know that of late I have really been struggling w the weekends. I am just trying to be really conscious of breaking that habit, already talking to myself and planning the weekend carefully. I know I can pull it off.

You will get those little snacks and evening munchies under control. You have already made a great start at breaking the habit. Getting some more good things cooked will make a huge difference. And that BFL apple pie will just taste so good there will be no looking back. You do have the BFL cookbook don't you? The turkey meatballs are my fave recipe from that book. Well that and the cheesecake which I did stop making because I needed to. Anyway, those meatballs w/ spaghettie squash, broccoli and a sprinkling of parmesan is the meal I love most.

judi - alice hope you check in soon. Hey carol and ladean.

Hi, i live in Oregon. garden was late but oh this has been the best year ever i think. just perfect weather for it i guess. even fruit trees of all kinds are loaded. we have been blessed. ha ha alot of work. but hey working and not eating. i just got to start now its cooler doing more exercise. your doing so good planning and all. that is what its about i think. all of you are doing good. keep it up. i will join in. ha ha so far good for me. scales up a bit. just got 3 days now till tops so got to buckle down. have a good weekend all. LaDean

Happy Saturday everyone!

Ledom - I do have the EFL book - are you talking about the meatballs from the Turkey Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe?

I just made myself a pot of the "Dad's Green Chili", or whaterver it's called. If you've not tried it, you should - it's quite good. A bit high in sodium, due to the chicken gravy mix used, but it is yummy!

No workout today due to a bum knee - guess I overdid it at the gym yesterday, so now it's best not to aggravate it - I'll wait until the swelling goes down. Guess I'd better get to doing my ITB stretches again!
Cindy

Hi, hope your knee is better. yes its best to lay off for while till better. today was good. had a potluck at church but that was all 3 meals. ha ha so not to bad calorie wise. i got to get with my exercise. i just got in from walking my dog. so that was good for both of us. he was down a 1/4 last week i was so happy. ha so were both trying. ha ha i know you have so much fun with your cats. My beau had a cat with him when we got him. and now he sees a cat out saw 2 tonite. he just wants to go up to them. i want to call her so bad and ask her about the color and all. has been over a year since i have had him. told hubby wondred if i should call her if it would bother her still. so undecided. well hey have a good evening to all of you. LaDean

Good morning gals!

I'm doing well - feeling great after this morning's cardio. I didn't get any in this weekend due to a bum knee - I have a very tight ITB (iliotibial band) on the left leg, and it pulls my kneecap out of place. If I happen to bend my knee while it's like that, the knee becomes irritated, swells some, and puts me out of commission for any repetitive activities for a few days. I'm working on getting it more flexible, but it's pretty hard to isolate and thus hard to stretch!

Food was pretty good this weekend - only a few snacks, so no real free day! Hurray for me!

My engagement ring is feeling a little looser these days, which is a welcome sign that I'm moving in the right direction - my hands and feet always would get a bit smaller first, then my body would follow.

I made Dad's Great Green Chili from the EFL book this weekend - if you have the book and haven't tried the recipe, do! It's wonderful! I only use half the green chilis and no jalepeno, and it's nicely spicy for me. If you like spicier food, by all means add what is suggested.

Speaking of the Eating for Life book, are there any other recipe favorites out there? I used to make the Singapore Shrimp a lot, but the shrimp prices are ridiculous lately!

Well, time to get to work - I could spend all day online if it weren't for my job!
Cindy

Cindy you sound great. Way to go. My weekend was okay, not as good as I had hoped but not horrible. Still trying to come to terms with weekend splurging and getting the scale moving again. I think I am really ready now, I know I said that last week but now I REALLY am. Enough said.

I was cruising the sale rack at Dillard's this afternoon and came across a pair of Karen Kane jeans for $24 marked down from $96. They looked pretty small for me, size 14 but I tried them on anyway. They fit! Well close enough, snug but a 16 was too big. I really am in a 14 now, yesterday I wore some 16 culottes and I had to keep yanking them up all day. My goal is for two weeks from now to feel totally comfortable in my new jeans. Actually I think I would now, but I do tend to wear clothes tighter than I probably should.

Ledom - glad you survived your weekend - I've been wondering how it went for you. Congratulations on the size 14's!

I thought of you today while I was reading a Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle thread today. It motivated me to *finally* break down and buy the e-book. You have it, right? I'm thinking it might have some guidance in it for you right now, as you've mentioned you feel stalled out.

Anyway, I'll be doing a lot of reading of it in the next weeks or so - I'm hoping I'll learn some things that will get my fat loss moving, and get it to keep moving this time.
Cindy

I do have it. Just need to find it.

Ledom and cindy. good for the both of you. yes i am joining to i am with it. already done some exercise this am. made me a chart and checking it twice. ha ha got to start with all my ex things i have around here. so doing it. eating is going good to. adding to my calories and see if i can break this standstill in losing... good luck to all. have a great day.. Oh ledom good for you in a smaller size of jeans. now that is great news for sure. you are doing great go girllllll. ha LaDean

Morning everyone. My day off and there is so much to do. And I want to go kayaking - the Monarch butterflies are migrating now and I love to be out to watch them. Hope I get around to it. Must get workout, some food cooked up, some errands for my mom, actually and endless list.

I missed TBL last night - did any of you see it?

Hey gals - busy Monday for me, so no time to be online until now. Hope you all had a great weekend, and a good jump start to your week.
I'll write more tomorrow.
Cindy

Hey Cindy - thanks for checking in. I had a good weekend diet wise. It was about time! Kind of gotten a second wind on it which feels good. How did everyone else do?

Hi all had a good weekend. eating and exercise wise. i had 2 teeth pulled yesterday so really a good one. ha ha they were absessed just did it in couple days of course a weekend and all. but ok now so better. liquids yesterday so scales look so good this morning. got to stick with that. ha ha have a good day to all LaDean

LaDean - sounds like a painful way to get the scale down! Hope your mouth is feeling ok.

I had a good UBWO this morning - although my left bicep is killing me - which may be a bad thing - perhaps I overdid it?

I had a good feeling yesterday - both my pants and my engagement ring seemed pretty loose - looser than normal, so I hope that means I'm shrinking a bit!
Cindy

Ouch LaDean - glad you are feeling better now.

Cindy that is great - you are on your way and I know you must be feeling great about your progress.

My scale is responding too. For the last week and a half I have been doing everything right. Not missing workouts, eating on plan, gee it's amazing that it works when you work the program. So the plan is to keep on keeping on. Ihave lost 4.5 lbs. and I am 1.5 lb. from my ticker weight. That makes me so happy. I'd just love to hit that projected ticker mini-goal (4.5 more lbs.) by the end of the month. If I stay on track for the rest of the month maybe I can.

Good job gals. so happy for you. yes we can and will do this LOSE and stick to our EATING PLANS. its so fun to come in here and share. yes today was better feel good. the infection is still there some but he said will take few days. at least not sick.. yes ledom a sad way to lose wt. but i felt good. i think now every so often i will go on a liquid to clean body out some. i feel better. ha stick in there and share together that will get us there. gee i love it when rings and clothes are lose your doing great. Ladean

Hi LaDean and Cindy - A couple years ago I did a few days of cleansing. I bought a juicer and copied a cleansing diet off the internet. I remember it being a good thing but I haven't tried it again! I was so anxious to obtain that juicer but now, like so many other things, it is just cluttering the cabinets.

I am off today with SO MANY CHORES that I don't even know where to start. Yard work, house work, darkroom work. When it gets so overwhelming I seem to do nothing at all. My goal today is just to keep moving. Of course I won't get it all done but maybe I can get some of it done.

I am in a good place dietwise the last few days. I think about wanting to eat something extra but just don't. I wish I was this strong all the time. It is hard to say what clicks that function in my brain on and off as well.

judi and Alice, been missing hearing from you two. I hope all is well with you guys.

Happy Monday gals!

The scale fairy was nice to me and was down another couple of pounds this morning! It's about time!

When I think about doing some sort of "cleansing", I think of a cabbage-soup weekend. Remember that old diet where you'd eat just that for like a week? I used to like to do it on occasion, but only for a weekend at a time. I really should make some though, I do love good cabbage soup.
Cindy

:high: Way to go Cindy!!!! I guess I could say the scale fairy was kind to me too. I weighed the same Mon. a.m. as I did Fri. a.m. - that is always a good weekend when that happens. But hey girl, you are on your way - good job.

Certainly is time for soup. It is cold and rainy here this morning. Made it harder to get out of bed for that workout, but i did it!

Ledom - good job on the weekend maintenance!

I really need DST to happen soon - I got on my elliptical in the dark this morning at 6:45 - couldn't even see the display enough to find the intensity control! I leave the room dark so the whole neighborhood can't see me, and usually I can see, but the days are getting shorter and shorter... Geez - just looked at the calendar - DST not until 10/29! Guess I'll have to get some sort of lamp in my workout room for now.

Rain on it's way here today - got my grass cut last night so it wouldn't be a big mess with all the leaves and grass too long. Haven't had to rake yet, but I'm guessing by the weekend, I'll be out there weekly for a while. I have a yard full of maple trees that are about to drop!

Hope everyone else is doing ok - LaDean you hanging in there? Judi, Alice? Pop in when you get a chance.
Cindy

Hey Cindy - good girl. You are doing great on that treadmill. This morning I missed my first workout this month. I had to have my car at the shop by 7:30 a.m. so I could get to work on time. I set the alarm for 4, but there was no way I could get up. So, evening workout for me today. I guess I am a little frustrated because I have been really really good and I have stayed the same for a week and a half. Now is the time to really just concentrate on keeping on keeping on. Surely I'll have a good loss soon. I am thinking I might need a little extra cardio and maybe really count calories for a few days to make sure I am having what I think I am having. I really want to see my ticker move again!

Hey cindy good girl. that is a good loss. i am happy for you. i gained 2.25 lbs this week. i have no idea why really. retaining some water. but i tryed. guess just try harder. i am adding exercise and this causes a gain at first. so sticking to it and just taking it as it is given. ha been walking beau 2x day so that is helping us both. then i danced last nite and worked up a good sweat. so more of it this week practicing. Ledom you always do so good. we can do this girls together. Hey where are the other 2 dals come in miss you. LaDean

Hello everyone - too quiet here!

I've had a rough couple of days - feeling out of sorts and skipping workouts! Food not too bad - a couple of things I shouldn't have eaten, but overall pretty good. Don't know what my deal is....

I do feel like I may be coming down with something - I'm trying so hard not to - I've been taking Airborne for weeks!

Oh, well, I'll just deal with it if I have to. I promise I'll get back to my workouts tomorrow!
Cindy

Cindy- I am recovering from a disappointing weekend myself. Camping was my excuse to abandon my principles. You know, it ain't worth the fed up feeling I had with myself this morning, or the lack of energy poor food results in. Eating back on plan today and tomorrow morning scheduled workouts begin again in earnest. I am hoping to get home early enough for some cardio this evening at least.

well you girls will get back with it. i have been going down a bit every day on scales since tops last tuesday morning. so i ate 2 times saturday and was so scared. but sat. n ite went to a laui at our elks lodge and ate but danced alot to. lots of us line dancers there. so had a ball. stepped on scales and was down. this am i am down a 1.50 so happy dancing here in Oregon for sure. got line dance tonite. and just walked my beau. we do 2 walks a day now. we both need it. so a nice sunny day here. got a dentist appt at noon. figured hey no better day to have one. ha ha so good luck to both of you and have a good day. CALLLINNNNNNGGGGGGG ALICE AND JUDI.. HEY MISS YOU 2. COME BACK SOON.. LaDean

Good morning gals! My scale was down a bit this morning again, hurray! I have to take it with a grain of salt - this scale is never the same twice, so I just look at the first number I see, and look at the trends. I've really got to invest in a better one - any suggestions?

I had a great cardio session this morning - did an extra HIIT group, so I've pushed it to 25 minutes so far. Trying to hit at least 30 minutes of intense working, so I'm thinking one more 4-min interval will do it. My goal is to start that by next week.

My other exciting news is that I ate clean at Taco Bell yesterday! They have those Ranchero Chicken soft tacos - only 170 calories a piece, 5 grams fat, and I had two. Nothing else! I amazed myself. DF, on the other hand, probably had 1000 calories!

Well, best get back to work - procrastinating today!
Cindy

I haven't been here in awhile but decided to try Atkins for awhile. Did you say once that you had lost doing Atkins, LaDean? I have a table full of veggies in the garage I need to use up so maybe this will help. Does anyone know if you can freeze eggplant?

Hi carol... welcome back nice to see you again. yes i loss all my wt on atkins and have kept it off for 2 years now. got to get with it and lose some more. so now its fall is my time to go on atkins. so starting in am i am on it again to. i have had garden and lots of vegies to.. i still have few little tomatoes eating on and enjoying. i do not eat egg plant. what i been doing and so good is scramble eggs and in them cooked some green peppers and then took some bacon bits and pored in them and cooked. oh so good. love it.. just an idea that i been doing. good luck with atkins i loss on it so going back to it.. just decided here tonite. have a good week. hey everyone good news i loss 4.25 lbs this week and i am .25 away from goal again. so i was dancing here in Oregon for sure.. join me and we will do this together. hey alice and judi i am surly missing you 2 come back and join us.. LaDean

Good morning. Carol, I have never frozen eggplant. I think if I was going too I would bake it first and then freeze it, but only a guess. I use eggplant to make dip so perhaps that is the way I envision freezing it.

Cindy, I have one of those weighted Drs. scales, the old fashioned kind. They are big, but you never have any doubts about the accuracy. I have never regretted buying it. Good job on seeing a loss.

LaDean, you are doing great. Keep up the good work.

I am doing pretty good. Food is back under control and I am not down to pre-weekend but getting there. I haven't worked out this week. My body and psyche pretty beat up this week from a lot going on in my life and the weekend of hiking and paddling. I know it is know excuse but kind of where I am this week. Yesterday I was so busy I didn't eat as many calories as normal and that sure helped me shed some of that water weight from the weekend.

Yes, Alice and Judi - I miss you too. I hope you'll come back

Ledom. good for you girl. glad all is going good to. thanks. i am up a bit this am but back with it. use tuesdays as my do what ever day that is with eat what ever. ha ha so a new day and going to get with it. I have the dr. scales so i love them.. our tops use to have them. but got diginal... there ok but to me i like these others. oh well changes .. i wish you all a good day. LaDean

Well, my first day wasn't so good. Oh, I ate just fine but I was so hungry. I would have thought I had upped my prednisone again but I didn't. I was also tired and figity. This morning I am tired, too. But I have figured out quite a few low carb meals as I still have a table full of veggies in the garage including eggplant, cauliflower and beans. That garage is about the temp of a normal fridge right now. And having a farmer veterinarian for a husband we a have 2 freezers full of lamb, beef, pork, etc. I made a good soup yesterday with those low carb veggies and a soup bone. I just need to get more creative.

carol your soup sound good. we eat alot of soups to this time of year. we love them. and nothing like having garden fresh things to make them with. i watch the carbs to. eat the lower ones. i am starting tomorrow on my atkins again , i did so good losing on it figured hey go for it again. so i will join you and stick to it.. good luck. LaDean

:comp: Just want to say "HI!!".

It is nice to see you girls are still here. I haven't been dieting.

I am taking another course in the creative writing dept. at the university. It ends in Dec. I don't think I will take another one until summer. I don't want to drive in rain and snow. I have been doing a lot of reading.

I picked up a bit in the exercise dept. but still loathe it.

How did you house turn out Ledom? Is it all repaired?

Marley turned 13 last Sat. He is having trouble with one eye. I wish I had bought pet insurance because it has cost a fortune.

Alice are you around?

LaDean did you can or freeze all your summer produce. It has been ages since we could get Florida oranges here in BC. I miss them, mostly now the oranges come from Australia.

judi, judi, judi- So good to see you.:hug: We missed you!
That is so neat that you took the class again. Did you enjoy it as much as the one you took this summer? What are you reading? Right now I am listening on CD to Alice Randall's "Pushkin and the Ace of Spades". It is so good and so smart. I ordered the book last night so I can read it.

Yes, my garage was rebuilt and it just looks better than ever. My neighbor who was my contractor did a great job. I think they finished it in record time - in retrospect that is - while construction was going on it seemed endless.

So sorry to hear Marley is having troubles. I know you are taking good care of him.

Please don't disappear again. It is good to have you around.

Hi, yehhhhhh JUDI your back . so good to see you.. we canned it. now the last 3 days into the apples making apple sauce and i fixed some for apple pies in jars. soon they will be done.. had a special year. oh i would love some oranges love them . never even got a fresh peach this year. my favorite.. well still eating on some tomatoes i picked and put back.. there so good. love them and truly miss them when gone. oh well you will get back with it . i am hanging in there. line dance again and love that. i been walking beau couple times day. we both need that. oh writing i was so tempted to take a class. so spendy though so have not yet. i just do my thing. ha ha good luck with it glad you are. well hey have a good evening. LaDean

Alice calling alice<>>>>>>> come visit us.. miss you.

Hi

Ledom, I am reading Frank McCourt's last book "Teacher man" and I have just finished "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs (he is the fellow that wrote the book "Running with Scissors"...what an amazing title, eh?) I like this course but I think the group of people in the first course were really special.

LaDean glad to hear you and Beau are out there walking and you are still line dancing. That is great. How old is Beau now? What kind of apples do you have? It sounds like you have such a nice place.

How many cats do you have now Ledom? Since the weather has gotten colder our male cat loves sitting on the footstool in front of the fire. If anyone puts their feet on it he looks at them accusingly until they move them. Sometimes we light the fire just for the fun of seeing the cat sit before the fire.

I am glad to hear your house is back to normal.

Food wise I am really trying to be aware of when I am "full" and stop eating. The amazing thing to me is I am full after a couple of forkfuls and so then I try to stop eating. I also try to keep my fruit for the evening snack so I won't be tempted to snack. I have almost given up chocalate:( and have given up wine entirely:( :(

I am babysitting this week. My grandson is almost 3 and I am just amazed at the vocab. he has...are toddlers smarter now than we used to be?? It seems like it.

Hi, beau is 9 years old. we have had him a year. i thought about getting an older one and all. but he was here and we got him. oh so happy for prayers answered. i needed him so bad. never thought after tuffy there would be another one. but God knew what was best. we have 4 different kinds of apples i think. these are the best for putting back and eating. so we will do that. its a melrose i think he said. there winter apples. this year was good for it all. well its just that we bought a lot across the way and one on side of our place. so put a well in and had it piped to across the road to. so got the land and water and so share alot with friends and neighbors.. as they have no room and watering with city water is quite spendy.. we have like 8 apple trees. just small ones now. but enough for us. ha ha my flowers were even nice this year. we had the heat this summer for garden more to.. being retired gives us something to do especially hubby which stayes busy all the time. now me i help but i am retired. ha ha and i have a meaning for it...ha do when i want and what. ha ha ha hve a good day all. LaDean

Oh, LaDean, You are so funny! I only lasted on Atkins 4 days. I am not a meat person and can't have calcium so that really limits me for that kind of eating. So I'll have to try something else. Where do you live? We had such a good garden, too, and we live in WI. Maybe you said where before but I can't remember. Getting old?

Hi, oh getting old here to. ha oh i live in Oregon... love it. today its raining and my kind of day for sure. getting ready to get in front of the wood stove and finish a book. got lunch on and kitchen done. when hubby worked before we retired 4years ago. he worked nites. so our big meal was round noon. so today i started that again and lighter of evening. atkins was ok i learn to eat the meats as i am not a meat eater. and so is hard to get back with it.. i did have my treats halloween. ha ha guess the kid still in me... well hey have a good day. i think what ever plans we do works if we move forward and stick in there.. Glad you had a good garden to. we love the fresh vegies and all. have a great day all LaDean

My daughter lives in Portland. I think we have discussed this before ha! It is very lovely there but SOOOOOOOOO far away. I miss her and the family which now includes 2 little boys. The older one ran a race here in Aug even though he is only 4. So cute.

Hi, yes i remember now we h ad mentioned it. i am 100 miles from Portland. been there lots as sister and family lived across bridge there in washington. but i have not been up in while. of course when i go to reno i go to portland airport. oh how cute. there so cute when they do things. my grandbabies are 9 and 7 and still my grandbabies. they do not mind it for now being called that so suits me. ha ha oh i know its hard to leave afar from them and all. mine are just 35 miles and do not see them as often as i would like. time changes so much.. gee mine were with my folks alot. oh well I except what is given me. having a last 3 days good. i have decided to do the food groups in losing. makes sense it can be a life time plan. i loss the other 33 lbs with atkins. but i just am not a meat eater much so just cannot get back with it. this one is more sensibly.. good luck and have a good week to all.

Aleka i miss you so much.. come back soon..

GOOD MORNING... HEY WHERE IS EVERYONE. I DID NOT WANT OUR BOARD TO HIT BOTTOM HERE. HA HAHA so come back i miss all of you. i am hanging in there. gained a lb last week. so trying hard to reach my goal again this week. i need to get there before holidays again. then first of year go for my new goal... figured new year new goal goooooo. so hey come back . I miss you alice and hope to see you soon.. LaDean

LaDean - thanks for keeping us going. We're kind of dying on the vine here, huh? Is it the approaching holidays? I don't know - I have been struggling the last couple of weeks. I feel like I have already had any holiday indulgence I might have allowed myself this year. Been bad. But, I know I have to get a grip or start feeling really reallly bad about myself.

I just got back from a short road trip. A little hard to explain but I took off 4 days of work, threw in the weekend, and drove out to New Mexico. It was straight out and straight back. I took lots of pictures, that was my excuse - a working holiday - and just had tons of time while driving to think about all sorts of things. I reallly needed to recharge and it did seem to help. At least while I was gone. Got back yesterday and spent the day fighting off the blues.

So, anyway, I am back at it. Not quite at my fighting weight but ready to reclaim my purpose.

Hi, thought you might be gone or busy... glad you got away. sometimes that helps. at least you do not mind just taking off alone. i wish i was not lery of it. ha ha i am ready for a vacation again to. i have gained the last 2 weeks. just in a slump. cannot seem to get act together i guess. i am trying so guess that is worth something when we are. added some to exercise a bit. i just get to where so tired of trying and thinking of this wt. ha ha have not gained it back in 2 years so that i am thankful for. i wish i had never been told to lose more. that seem to change it all together. ha ha oh well i want to lose more so better get with it. ha ha this is my best time of year is the fall and easier for me to lose. after holidays i will get with it. have a great day. I hope to see alice, judi and carol back in here soon. miss them alot. glad we are here to keep it going. LaDean

Just thought I'd pop in to say "Hi!" and to wish you a very :thanks1: :turkey:
Hope all of you are doing well. I haven't been doing very well in the diet dept. I'm not dieting at all. I'm eating what I want and stopping when I'm no longer hungry. It's amazing how relaxed I am around food now and I've somehow managed to lose a little weight. Also, Lacee & I walk just about everyday.

Take care and enjoy your day tomorrow.

Hi aleka, so good to see you here again.. yehhhhh. i also wish you a very nice thanksgiving. i got alot of mine done this evening. i will have 15+ people. so start nite before. i am tired and getting ready to go to bed. just want to say glad you decided to do this with eating to. i did. one day i was just thinking and was so tired of having to face the atkins plan again or any in that matter of fact. ha ha so i said ok it has to be life. and i know what i like . so eat what i want and eat less and exercise and all. so i started doing that and like you i am so relaxed more and all not dwelling on it what i can eat and what i cannot. ha ha oh good girl so happy you are doing this to.. we will do it together now. beau and i also walk daily. added another walk so do it 2x a day. that is till the storms and rain and wind have started. but i watch faithfully and when theres a break out we head. he loves them. loves to dig out in the leaves and all. so cute to watch. i know lacee is to. well hey lets all do our best tomorrow. i think with me its a age thing so tired so this is working good. have a good tomorrow all. LaDean

:thanks1:

I hope you all have a warm and festive day. Don't work too hard and don't eat too much!

Alice - it's so good to hear from you. You sound great.

:thanks2: :turkey: to all of you i wish a good day... i am up early and got turkey in oven. right on schedule. ha ha LaDean

:tree: :ginger: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU...:snowglo: :shocksn: :coolsnow: :santa: WHERE IS EVERYONE.. COME BACK I MISS YOU LOTS... i am finally on a losing streak again. its about time believe me. Hey aleka i am just eating what i want and counting those calories.. are you still at that. I am just a lb from goal again. then new year i plan to head for a new goal . I WISH YOU ALL A :newyear: :gift2: :COME BACK SOON:clause: :rudolph: LaDean

Hi LaDean - sorry to have abandoned you here. It has be quiet. I am struggling right now - never as much fun to post when that is the case. But I am not out, just taking a little break. I am gearing up to get right back with it.

I thought of you guys this week when I had 4 raised beds built in my back yard for a little garden. I have 4 4 foot square plots. I am really excited by the possibilities. When I had the fire this summer I lost 5 big trees in my back yard, up til then I never had a sunny spot to garden in before.

Take care and Merry Christmas. I'll start us a new Winter thread at the end of this week.

Hi La Dean & ledom,

Sorry I've been MIA, but I just didn't feel very much like posting. I am struggling a little with my eating. I am still learning to listen to my body and some days are better than others. I want to start walking again. Lacee & I were doing so good there for a while, but it got humid again, I stopped going, and am having a hard time getting back into the swing of things.

La Dean, when I heard of the storms out in Oregon I thought of you. I was wondering if you got anything and if you did that you were ok and didn't lose your electricity. Glad you've started losing weight again. Keep it up. Yes, I'm eating what I want and stopping when satisfied, but I'm not counting calories or anything.

ledom, it sounds like you've been busy creating a nice garden for yourself. Have you decided what you're going to plant? Are you having a mild winter too? Up in NH the temps have been in the 40's & 50's. We did have a cool spell down here a few weeks ago. One day it only got to 64° and was quite breezy. We had wind chill! :lol:

Enjoy your day!

Hi, oh no damage to us. but very high winds and loss electicity for couple times during the nite. so got a chance to burn candles i have gotten.. i love them. and of course we have wood heat so stayed warm. but i do not like winds like that. lasted till after 10. alot of people still no lites and all in a few areas around. we were lucky. oh come on back girls. i have the same time struggling. but we will do it together. i have days to.. i have been at a standstill of gaining for 2 months now. yes ledom a new thread would be nice for new year. we are having cold frosty nites now. i try to take beau for a daily walk. but this am so frosty he got hafe way and was ready to come back. little paws cold. he loves his walks and does not mind the rain. has his jacket. but he does not like the winds.. scare him. but last nite inside he was so comfy was not nervous at all. well girls have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. I am all ready. my family just want gift certificates. there shoppers so love to go after christmas.. so easy for me and i love it. have dinner at my son's and family so i just eat and relax. at my age i am going to enjoy each holiday. haha have a good sunday. LaDean

Just wanted to pop in to wish everyone of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
:ginger: :xcheer: :wreath: :tree: :hohoho:

:santa: :coolsnow: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A :newyear: :gift2: :tree: :ginger:
TO ALL OF YOU. This has been a fun year on the board sharing with all of you. it helps me so much. i am really getting with it starting first of year. so join me and lets all do it this year together. now that is just try and do our best that is all we can do. we are only human. i guess its a age thing with me. ha haha but i do plan to enjoy my christmas and all. so lets do it and have a good one. LaDean

Hey Alice - you okay? Did the tornado miss you?

Hey ledom,
Yes, I'm ok and thankfully the tornado did miss us. All the nastier weather was north of us. We did get a thunder storm around 1pm and fortunately it wasn't a very bad one, just a lot of rain.

Hi all, Haven't been here for awhile but thought I'd say hi. I pretty much stick with the IE thread but thought of you and wondered if there was a winter thread yet. Guess winter is sort of missing us this year in WI and maybe lots of other places. I had a really good Christmas day dinner. Hardly ate much after preparing food for 14. Felt energetic for the first time in a long time. Today I am babysitting 3 of my grandkids ages 9,6, and 1. Now that is wearing me out. ha!

Carol that babysitting sounds like the ultimate workout. I'll start us a winter thread.