Hey violets,

Faded thanks for the recipe idea.

Lemon you make me tried just reading what you are doing. I use to be that active at your age. don't worry about a few cookies in the long run it's not that bad.

I have eaten a salad for lunch almost everyday for almost 20 years. I over did it. Just the thought makes me want to vomit. (Sorry). I use to not use the big tomatoes I used the grape tomatoes (yellow) much more like summer tomatoes. I find hot house tomatoes to be rubbery. I too like Les make a lot of soups. What I like to do is find soups with lost of veggies then add the protein as I eat them whatever might be leftover.

Les and Lemon just a thought a lot of my friends that have lost weight go to the Goodwill store or Salvation Army stores. Here on Wednesday at the SA stores it is half price on certain ticket colors. they get some screaming deals. Some things have never been worn still have price tags on them.

I use to go to Fashion Bug for my Plus size clothes they have closed

Where do you go shopping for your clothes?

Fashion was reasonable plus had dress and dress down clothing.

LG

The last time I needed a nice outfit, I went to Fashion Bug and bought a suit. Since it closed, I haven't bought anything like that. I have worn that suit with different shirts to several funerals/weddings, but it won't fit any longer, that's for sure. My mother always liked Lane Bryant, but I was never a fan and it was so expensive. And those closed down in my area, also. For now, I'm buying super cheap jeans since I'm not staying in them very long. JCPenney and Sears both have store brand jeans that are often on sale for $17. I don't feel like I'm going broke if I have to buy a new pair once a month. Once I lose the weight, I'll buy better clothes (and have more shopping options).

Mam: I hit the GW but haven't had luck of late because the larger lady section is always over worn, pilled and not my style. The other problem I have had is leg length, evidently most women who are larger are suppose to have short legs, at least in my part of the world. It's been hit or miss on pant lengths. But let me tell you, I have seen some nice things in the smaller sizes - so I am hopeful if my body keeps shrinking to help stretch and refill my clothing selection from there. The GWs I go to are part of college towns, so there is a lot of name brand barely worn coming through both younger and of course my moldy oldy age appropriate. But I have seen some nice items.

Les: I can't do the store labels for jeans. Never have been cut right for me. I saved my Eddie Bauers from when I was thin and haven't fit back in them since my girl was born so long ago. Maybe I was crazy to keep them, but they were all in good shape and I thought I'd get back there too. So if I do drop two sizes I will have jeans to wear. Yeah. And they are bling-less - even better!

AM: Soups - love them, just haven't made any in a while. My problem has been getting enough protein when I do soups and that generally is my achilles when serving them. I almost need to have a chicken breast with them. I'd love to have warm fresh bread, but we all know what bread does to a diet and when it's warm you just can't stop at one . Today I made scrambled eggs omelet style - as in all the things I'd put in an omelet I put in my scrambles. It was good and filling. I just find I tire of foods as I go along. Kind of like they wear out their welcome with me.

Tomorrow the super huge fabric store awaits my arrival! My DH will drop me off and take off to do his thing and then come back to get me. We usually end the trip by going to IKEA. I may splurge and have a piece of their chocolate cake - in the past we split a piece, perhaps we can do that tomorrow as well. Yeah. I have my lists that I need to combine and get ready to go with me. I am looking for many a thing at the fabric store. From Christmas to some fabric for new skirts or dresses for myself. Hopefully I will have a good time.

Off to make dinner. It's fairly simple, but still needs some prep work. Happy evening to you all.

Lemon, I have found that in the last few years, a lot of stores have updated their clothing styles. Places where I could never shop now have more flattering fits, so you may wanna try on some store brands when you need new clothes. And keep checking the thrift stores for sure, you never know when you might get lucky.

I'm up almost a pound today, but hoping it's back off tomorrow. I ate under my calorie limit yesterday, but drank half of my usual water amount, because I was so busy running around. I'll try and drink more today. I also haven't been walking as much, so I'll try and get some high step counts this weekend.

I hope everyone is feeling good and has a great weekend!

Amberkkski- We miss you and hope you're doing well!!!!

Hey violets,

Going to the big E today with the family. It will be a lot of walking. If also will be challenging food wise. I have been very careful with my eating today so that I can indulge a little.

I went to the doctor yesterday I am able to go to work October 5. In a way I am glad in a way not so much.

Lemon I know what you mean about the plus size clothes at GW. They are stained and worn. But like you say the smaller sizes have some incredible bargains.

I am drinking my warm tea today it helps to curb the hunger pains.

QOD: What helps to curb your hunger?

LG

Happy day ago you all! Totally bad on the diet these last few days. Will get back on the horse starting with tonights salad for dinner. Went to celebrate the lowly cranberry today - last fest of the summer really. It's a crazy time, we went and left quickly so we weren't inundated w/crowds and that craziness. Now we are working on the house projects and we have a ton of them. So I am moving as I have eaten. And I am forcing the water today, so that will be a help. You fall on you fall off, you pick yourself back up and try to make better choices. That's what I aim for. But that chocolate cake was good - I even split it w/DH so we shared and I didn't get the full amount of calories.

Glad you both had some family time at the big E and the cranberry festival.

I am so sick, got a horrible stomach virus, and lost 2 pounds overnight. Today I can't keep anything down except powerade. It's full of sugar but since I am not eating food, I figure it's fine. I'm logging it, also. Hoping to feel better soon, and I'll check in when I do.

Hope you guys are doing better than me!

Les sorry your sick feel better.

Lemon I did the same thing as you did split everything with DH. My main thing I wanted was the turkey leg. It was delish... WE call them bam bam clubs LOL.

I walked so much yesterday. We were there for 6 hours. I put some miles on. I did sit when I got the chance. But was tired at the end. DH was too. I must have done something right cause I lost a pound. I didn't really over indulge but it worked OK.

Gonna start doing my fall cleaning this week I usually do it in October but figure I can get a jump start on it.

Hope everyone is well.

LG

Ok, I think I am feeling better. Managed coffee and toast this morning. Back up .6 pounds, but I'll take it if it means this stomach virus is gone, haha.

I'm gonna go easy with the food today, just some soups and maybe more toast at some point. I'll try and stick with water instead of the sugary powerade, though. I will say it was nice to drink it yesterday after having mostly water for 6 weeks.

I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday!

Morning violets!

Not sure on the shrinking here. Jeans are a tad looser yeah but I wasn't able to hop on the scale this am because DH brought me breakfast in bed. That was nice. I had an egg and bacon and a slice of toast. Oh and my coffee to keep things warm.

Les: I'm sorry you are feeling poorly. Having that never feels good. The only benefit is when the scale drops. I do hope you feel better and food stays down.

Mam: sounds like you had a fun time as well at your fair. You an my fil with the turkey legs. He enjoys those when he sees them. Good for all the walking as well. How have you been w your healing?

Happy day to all violets. Going to try and work it well and start moving that scale down again. I'd love if it dropped into the 230s as that is generally where my ring starts to fit again. Maybe I'll try and workout this afternoon when football is on too. I've got to finish my baby gifts and get them ready for the mail. So my goals today seem lofty and I aim to get my full bunch of water in me and maybe the scale will follow.

Hey violets,

Good morning, I am able to go back to work in a week. It is kinda a good and bad thing. But it doesn't matter I need to work 3 more years until I can retire. That will be 40 years so I am able to retire early "60".

I am going to get some cleaning done, and really concentrate on program. No more excuses. I need to go get some veggies and stock up on them.

Les glad you are feeling better. It sucks when you have stomach issues.

Are you doing any kind of special cookies for the holidays? My niece and I made melting snowmen last year it was so much fun she got to be creative. We made peanut butter and oreo balls they were a big hit. Those were for the guys.

This year we will make the same for the guys. But for the women it will be some kind of ornament for the tree. I am thinking of a snowmen.

Lemon it is so nice when clothes start to get loose. It shows that your program is working. What are you doing for the baby gifts? 230's I haven't seen that in a long time.

What is your favorite and quite go to recipe for losing weight?


LG

Mam: curbing my hunger - water, sting cheese, almonds or sometimes even a walk. As for my go to place for recipes - i am always trying new ones. I have gotten some good ones from the diabetes website. I have always used taste of home (I like the original TOH, not the RD TOH as much, but they now have the numbers posted per each recipe). Magazines sometimes pique my interest as well. I guess not just one spot, I also have been adapting old time recipes and/or entering the recipe into a builder so I know what I am consuming which is a huge help. Not quite soup season for me yet. Maybe the first really cool day of fall.

Les: How are you feeling this morning? Hopefully lots better. I aim to do better today food wise. Hopefully you kicked the powerade to the curb. That stuff id just nasty in any form. My DD always thinks its great until she has it again and then it's the worlds worst stuff. I have to laugh w/that.

Morning Violets!

AM: Well today I aim to be better w/what goes in my mouth. Festivals are all done really, so that's first help. Second help is that I don't have anywhere to do errands to today so I am home all day. Third help is I like how I am not hurting as much after periods of sitting or laying, so that in itself is the best bonus to keep moving forward.

I haven't been on the scale since friday or saturday. Now granted I had a gyro on Saturday and my chocolate cake on Friday, so I am sure I am up. But TOM is past and that too hopefully reduces down some more this week. It's always interesting when you have strong cravings and then they die down for three weeks only to strike again. Crazy world.

Anyone see the eclipse last night? The moon was so bright before hand, I watched it periodically as it was covering over and then once fully covered. Always a unique experience to see. We let DD stay up to watch it as well. She thought it was different but was more pestered by the mosquitos that linger on.

Happy loosing weight day to you all.

QOD: What gives you the best all around feeling and help to loosing weight in the form of body movement? Do you feel you don't loose anything if you don't sweat profusely? How often do you increase your workouts - be it in length or in toughness (adding on resistance, time or both)?

Ok, I'm finally feeling better, but the weight has been piling back on since. Was back up to 208 this morning, and feeling pretty bloated tonight, so I'm not expecting a big drop in the morning. Maybe it will all even back out in a few days. Didn't have a problem letting go of the powerade after one day, haha. Luckily I never cared for it, just Coke.

It was too cloudy here to see the eclipse. Got a few glimpses here and there between clouds. Saw some cool pictures online, though.

I don't really have any recipes or exercises that help me lose weight, since I'm still so new to all of this. I'm not sure what will work in the long run. Trial and error, here I come.

Hope we all have a truly awesome week!

Hey violets,

Les you have been sick try not to worry too much if you put on weight this week. I know it is hard. But don't let this derail you. Just look at this as a test and move on. You will have many more times in your life when you get sick.

I don't mean to preach to you but just getting stressed about a few pounds will not help you. That is what happen to me. It stared slow then one day I stepped on the scale and I am even more then I was before.

The trick is to be very on top of it. It is not a diet it is a way we have to eat the rest of our lives. Dieting is only temporary.

Eating right and exercising has to be for life. I am saying this to myself also. I am getting off my pity wagon and starting to take the bull my the horns and face my weight and know this is hard. But it is something I have to do no one can do this for me.

Lemon thanks for the reminder. When I am successful I try a new recipe every week. This gives me variety. Your snacks sound great.

Exercise: I like to do aerobics "Sweating to the Oldies" with Richard Simmons is my favorite. I am sweating by the end. But also in the middle I get to check my heart rate and I see I am in the zone for losing fat. 17 to 21 heartbeats in 10 seconds.

I started out with 3 times a week. Then when the scale was starting to slow down I would exercise more 5 times a week.

LG

Mam, don't worry, I need the preaching. I was really letting these couple of pounds make me feel bad, but you're right, this will happen many times. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hope it goes back down.

I used to love doing Sweating to the Oldies with my mom when I was a kid, lol. I remember thinking it was fun. I just bought a few beginner yoga DVDs and I'm hoping to start doing those. Good luck today, everyone!