SO BOTH eyes are swollen today, cant even open the left to get the drops in, despite taking the medications and drops consistently for the past week. WTF. At least i have a specialist appointment today. Hope to do some personals later when i can actually see what I am replying to!

@ Quiet Ballerina - I love homemade pizza as well. I really need to pick up a couple cookbooks. Can you recommend one?

@Iconised Ghost- Oh my goodness. Good luck with your appointment! I hope your eyes are wide open again soon

My boyfriend, his parents, and I are going to the movies tonight. They usually eat dinner at the movies...super unhealthy. So I made a sandwich to eat before we go. I might sneak a milk dud or 3, but i'm gonna go for another walk right now! How does one resist movie snacks?

Rachel: I like Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast
To get an idea of the recipes:
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/qui...0400000053319/
Really, that site has a lot of recipes, so you could always start there.

They have a few versions if you look on Amazon. If you're able to, I'd browse the cook books in a bookstore first to make sure that you like enough of the recipes to buy the book. They (unfortunately) aren't ideal for cooking for just one person, but sometimes the recipes can be tweaked.

Better Home and Gardens Weight Loss Cookbook!

Amazing recepies! A lot of them are easy and quick (of course there are more involved ones too). They have ALL kinds of foods, and snacks and desserts and a holiday section!!!! I LOVE that book!


...and the movies... Well, I got used to it from my college years when I didn't have money to go to the movies AND have snacks... Maybe if you by a drink instead you'll still feel like you're getting a treat, but not actually eating anything bad! OR instead of getting all that crazy popcorn and butter, and cheese and nachos -- a lot of movie theatres now have frozen yogurt! That could also feel like an amazing treat, while still not being all that bad!

Good Luck!

Iconised Ghost: I am sorry about your eye! Hopefully your appointment today will shed some light on it. and even if it's not ideal, maybe the flare up is good on an appointment day so they can see what is happening?

RachelRawr: I worked in the concession stand at a movie theater. I am trying really hard to think if their is anything decent to eat. We had ben and jerry's and their fro-yo. but no one would buy it so it was old.. Movie theater popcorn is probably the worst thing you could eat ever. Oh, I shudder when I think about what that popcorn went through day after day. And that "butter". I would pack something instead of eating there. I recommend getting a kids meal from Chipotle (I recommend the taco kit. You get a free pop and chips! but remember forks!) They don't care if you bring your own stuff but they like for you to be sneaky! Have fun at the movies!

I can't skip this chat thread for even a day or I get too far behind!

namaste you have the right idea! I should be hiking or doing something to burn calories instead of laying down coloring. But sometimes I just want to relax.... hehe
Hope that skin infection clears up soon. Keep it clean.

1yr2mkovr Fantastic news about your breakthrough! Keep us updated. The only time I drop more than a pound or two in a week is when I'm sick for a weekend and living on soup broth and water.

ghost Oh no! Hopefully you'll be able to see better soon. I can't even imagine that.

RachaelRawr What movie did you go see?

I had the weirdest dream last night. I was trying to go through airport security (with a laundry basket as my carry-on) and among my stuff I had some yogurt, coffee ice cream, and frozen waffles! A friend of mine was working airport security and he tried to explain why I couldn't bring them on the plane and I was like "What?? Not even the waffles?!?" And he kept saying that I had to put those items in my checked luggage. I was trying to explain that I didn't check any bags. That I was only bringing my laundry basket on the trip. It was the silliest thing! Maybe I was hungry last night...

Rachel- Hope you figured out a healthy snack for the movie! Usually when dbf and I go to the movies we go to the dollar store or drugstore beforehand and sneak them in; you could pretty much get the same snack for $1.50 cheaper and you would have more variety to choose from. Also, I don't know if ya'll have QuikTrips there (they're mostly in the Missouri-Illinois area I think since their HQ is about 2 miles away from my house), but you can buy bananas, apples, oranges, limes, grapes, and pretty much anything you want there for less than a dollar. I think am/pm also sells similar items if you have those too.

Ghost- That's no bueno. Hope you get something that will help you soon.

QB- Bahaha that is too funny. Maybe your friend was afraid they would spoil on the plane, they'll last longer in the unheated cargo bin. lol

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I managed to gain a pound yesterday. I think it was adjusting to getting home and there being a lot of sweets in the house. Unfortunately I'm low on funds due to travelling and mum bought a bunch of sweets and candy and TV dinners for my sister, and didn't buy anything healthy yesterday or today, and since I don't really have a job right now I just eat whatever I can. It sucks but it's life, my mum tends to dote on my sister anyways so this is nothing new for me. I asked her for a few dollars and she yelled at me that they were broke (trust me, they're not), so I think I'll just have to wait until I have funds again. It's better than getting into a losing argument.

In other less disturbing news, I have hit 3 of 5 fitness goals in the first month of the Exercise challenge on this board. I thought I was doing good getting those done by October, but it is even more of a surprise that I did it in the first month! I am very happy with those results.

So apparently if your IgE is more than 260 times normal, you're going to have a bad time >.< What a palaver yesterday! i have to head to work but I can seeeeeeee! Just goes to show, upping your antihistamine dosage by 320mg a day really helps xD

QB: I was laughing out loud when I was reading your dream! I def think you were hungry OR just getting over some of your faves much like a smoker who quits smoking and then dreams about it! lol! Thanks for sharing

namaste984: Hang in there. It's def a tough situation. I guess if you don't have a lot of control over what you eat, then you will need to pay really close attention to the one thing you can control, which is how much of everything you eat. Sorry to hear that the situation is less than ideal, but you're doing an amazing job with your workouts so I'm sure you'll get there!!!

IC: Congrats on getting your eye sight back! YAY!


NOTE TO...
katiekish
Hotaruchan
Katbot24(though I know you're on vacay... So you are somewhat off the hook...)
Where ARE you guys!!! I'm sooooooo used to seeing your comments, that your absence is really noticable!!! Are you guys OK? What's going on?

--

So I had a little bit of a breakthrough today! I hesitate to post it in the mini-goals section because I seem to enjoy celebrating every little thing, and perhaps I should ease up on that stuff, BUT I was at the mall today and I was passing by a store that I used to shop at when I was in high school. I have "grown out" of the sizes in that store, and haven't shopped there for a few years, but I was passing by today when a dress caught my eye... So I went in a bravely tried it on... and... IT FIT!!!! OMG! I couldn't believe it! I was so excited! So I went and piled up a whole bunch of other shirts and dresses and actually baught an item of clothing!!!!! Soooo exciting. I wasn't brave enough to try on their pants, AND it wan't ALL their stuff that fit but it's a start! Now I'm confident that at my next mini-goal (184 - no longer obese) I'll be able to go in there confidently and try on more stuff. YAY!

QB: That is a crazy dream! Crazy dreams are the best... but I wonder if they would let you take a laundry basket as a carry on. You know, as long as it fits in the over head compartment..

Ghost: Yay!! That is awesome!

1yr: That is exciting! I think every goal should be celebrated. Even the ones you didn't plan to have!! Weirdly enough even at 265 I was able to fit in an xl shirt.(I think it's my shoulders, I have the shoulders of a tiny, little, petite grandma) But getting into mainstream jeans is a big goal of mine! Congratulations!!! And your next mini-goal isn't too far away!!!!

1yr2mkovr - I'm here! Visiting my mom this week so I'm online a lot less. Trying to keep up with this thread but it moves too fast for me!

That's so exciting about going into that store!! What a great feeling! Congratulations!

namaste - having sweets around the house is the worst... the temptation always sucks me in. even visiting my mom i am tempted by her stupid fig newtons that are in the cupboard - i never even used to like the things but now i'm craving sweets so i just go for it. I know a 1lb gain can be really demotivating, but i hope you're not letting it get to you too much - especially since you're doing so well with the exercise challenge!

ballerina - mmm waffles on a plane would be awesome.

KatieKish: Hope you're having fun with your mom! I'm doing the same. It's weird how good things like fig newtons sound when you're denying yourself normal sweets!

My eye is on the mend, thank god! It was so bad when I finally got to the specialist, but I think that at least he could see it and say "no, this is not conjunctivitis" (yes, thank you GP, like i've been saying for 2 years, this is not conjunctivitis). I think he basically said it wasnt a bite, medication reaction, or infection, leaving only allergy, and that there is a 50/50 chance we can figure out what it is. The appointment was nuts too, we went to it in the central city, then went to a specific pharmacy that would give us the unfunded meds at less than retail price, then went to get the blood test done at a specific place that I like because they dont stab you horrendously- it was a bit out of the way, about 17km away, but I was a bit fed up by then, really, and could have done without being bruised at the same time. So we went there, to be told that the only place that does the test I needed doing was a different lab, 25 km away from there! Arg. So we went there. By this time I'm hungry, tired, stressed and distressed, and wanting to get into my $300 worth of meds (!!!) but too scared to in case it stuffs up the blood test. Ended up needing 6 vials taking, through a butterfly needle. Got a bit nervous when she asked if I'd had breakfast, said that they needed a butterfly needle because of the number of vials and then counted them out. Anyway, after that, went to my parents house for a medicated bath (another 22km away) and then crashed on the couch while watching River Monsters and then home! So all in all, a long day and a 85.5km round trip! And I get to go back to the specialist on Tuesday again. But hopefully, no more blood tests. Just a food allergy test.

Looking forward to getting back into eating better and exercising again real soon too, I'm dying for a run. I found out we have lululemon here, and there are so many things I want! So I am saving them for rewards for myself. I've set myself up a 5 week challenge, and hopefully I will get some results out of it. Tomorrow starting on the eating, then maybe running on Friday depending on how much sleep I can get. The steroids and antihistamines really dont help you feel alert and full of beans!

1yr2mkover- that is so exciting! congrats! i think you should definitely celebrate your little successes, this journey isnt all serious business you know!

namaste- that sounds really tough. But you have made great progress in the exercise, and you should be proud of that! there will always be situations that are harder for you than others, so just do your best and then at least at the end of the day you can say thats what you did

quiet ballerina- do you always keep your food in your laundry basket?

namaste Ha I know, right? In my mind I was thinking "but...my ice cream will melt if I check it."
What are some of your fitness goals? Which ones have you hit?

Ghost I'm not sure I understood most of that first post. But you can seeeee!!
Regarding your second post: Oh man. That's a lot of tests and blood. Eek.
I like the look of lululemon, but their stuff is so pricey. Maybe one day I'll find some bargain pieces on ebay. Haha no, I do not typically keep food in my laundry baskets.

1yr2mkovr Ha I'm not sure. Maybe you're right.
That is such good news about the store! I drool over outfits in pinterest and in stores. But I don't want to spend money on them right now.

beahawkins I was thinking about that too! Because it wasn't a tiny laundry basket. It was a plastic one. Like this:


I don't want to jinx it, but I'm too excited not to talk about it: Tonight I'm going to look at a condo, and from what I've seen/read, I *really* want to move there! So after work I am going home, going to get fancy, and hopefully make a great impression on the owner. I'll post more info about the place later on tonight or tomorrow after I've seen it in person!

Update: eh. The condo has some great points, but also some big cons (namely: only one parking space, no elevator/it's on the 3rd floor, and the 2nd bedroom is small). I might have to keep looking. Oh well. Still nice to look at it.

QB- I remember those laundry baskets from college dorms, lol. At times it doubled as a carrying case for detergent and heavy groceries so now it all makes sense! Lmbo! My fitness goals were to hit 90 lbs of resistence on the ab press,m 50 lbs of resistence on the leg curl, 40 lbs on the tricep extension, and walking doing bicep curls with 10 total pounds of resistence. I also wanted to walk two 5Ks in September and October. As of yet, I've done all of the above except the two 5Ks and the 90 lb weight on the ab extension. Right now I'm hitting about 55-60ish on the ab press. I have added completing C25K and a 150+ lb calf raise by October.

Katie- Yeah my parents actually used to eat really healthy and then my mom stopped and is about 100-150 lbs overweight. My dad still eats very healthy but rarely eats at home since he spends a lot of time at work. So it's very hard to find food! Also sometimes my mum eats my food or gives it to my sister so that also gets annoying. It is not an ideal situation but my relationship with my dad keeps it going.

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So, I went into Weight Watchers today and was shocked to find that I had actually lost the 2 lbs I gained from the trip. Because of the difference in scales I showed a 0.4 lb gain but that's okay, I am happy with all the work I have done to lose the weight! I will do day 2 of C25K tomorrow and try to behave myself the rest of the day. Hope the rest of you have a good day/evening.