Sandy-hope you get to feeling better soon. When we have a party that requires finger food, I do baked chicken fingers using breasts, low cal dips with lots of different cut up veggies. Homemade hummus with a fraction of the fat and salt is a great choice. Just put two cans of chickpeas with the juice from one can in the blender, a half cup of lemon juice, and a couple of heaping tea spoons of chopped garlic, and the same of parsley or mint. Blend smooth. It can also have some chilli powder added for kick. Also try mixing non-fat cream cheese and salsa together. I use baked pita chips instead of regular ones. Get some no-fat ones, cut into 4 or 6 pie pieces, spray the baking sheet with pam, and lightly coat the chips with pam so stuff will stick, then sprinkle with seasoning and bake at 375 until crispy. Sometimes I use Mrs. Dash garlic for the coating, or chili powder or even steak seasoning. Experiment with things you like. No one has every complained about the lack of potato chips because the pita ones hold more dip. Salsa is as low cal as you can get, and you can make your own bean dip with no-fat refried beans mixed with salsa. All these were high protein since you said you were going to do South Beach
Tara-Welcome. You are right, as long as you keep trying, you can’t fail. You only fail if you give up.
Debbie-I just read an article a couple of weeks ago that the most important thing that obese people need when exercising is support, and not just a good sports bra. Someday, someone will design exercise clothes for us to keep all that skin from flapping when we are trying to get fitter. Maybe some kind of spandex suit to wear under our sweats that has adjustable panels to tighten around various flap and fold areas. And don’t get me started on ham. When I eat that, I blow up like a Macy’s balloon.
Rat-6 hours of DDR sounds like some kind of torture, although I remember dancing that long when I was in college. That was during the Urban Cowboy era, and I could two step until 2am every night. Maybe I should have kept that up.
Cyn-I loved going to the YMCA in Florida. My insurance company paid my membership fees, so that made it extra nice. My dad used to say that free food tasted better.
Val-I’m with you. I’m not waiting until New Year’s to start again. I went to a lot of AA meetings with my former roommate, and something someone said stuck with me. It isn’t the 20th drink that gets them drunk, it’s the first one. I also can never allow myself that one bite because I know that it will lead me down the wrong road, real quick, and it is so hard to get back again.
Battle-Between Christmas, his cooking while I’ve been down, and generally not being mobile, I’m not going near the scale for awhile either. I know I can’t avoid it forever, but I have a feeling if I got on it right now, there would be a hissy fit in the brewing. I can gain just unreal amounts of weight in a short period of time. I once gained 40 pounds in one week. I sure can’t take it off that quickly.
Annie-the last time I had an office job was before the internet, so I can’t imagine how hard it would be to get work done with that on my desk. I actually had a standing desk, so the computer wouldn’t have worked. It had a tilt, and a computer would have slid right off. I used to pace while working, so I used this long, tall, slanted desk that was designed for editing newspapers. My secretary could only see my head above it from the other side, and she said it was like watching a duck in a shooting arcade go back and forth. I wonder now if she ever thought about knocking me off when I started pacing. I once burned a cookie monster doll in effigy. I found one at the Goodwill, and we had a big bonfire for it. I’m not sure if it helped any, but it sure made the neighbors mad.
Donna-how was the Christmas weather on Long Island? My oldest brother lives in Sound Beach, and I haven’t heard from him yet this year. His wife died 2 years ago, and she always did the Christmas cards, so I’m lucky if I get his by Easter.
Colleen-My family also celebrates with mass quantities of everything. I have now recognized that as a trait of coneheads. I suspect that we have some of that in our bloodline. My genealogy hasn’t shown that yet, but I’m still digging.
Linda-Although I do love to talk just to hear my head rattle, I’m sure you’d get bored and fall asleep long before I got to any good parts. It’s taken me 6 years to get to where I am. I lose for awhile, and then seem to hibernate for months at a time. I haven’t lost any weight in the last two years, and gained about 40 that I’m now yo-yoing with. I haven’t given up this time, and that is the thing that is most different from all the other times I have tried losing weight in my life. Plus, I just “know” this time that eventually I will be at a goal weight. I’m having to unlearn 45 years worth of bad habits, one at a time. I’ve accepted that it will take as long as it takes.
Kayley-Psych meds are horrible on the waist line. My former roommate was bipolar too. She was an ultra rapid cycling type 1 (mostly manic). She was on at different times, lithium, depakote, nuerontin, and a bunch more. She put on about 125 pounds in the first year on depakote. She started to pass protein in her urine, and her kidney function was borderline, so she was going to have to go on insulin. That’s when she decided to try the diet I was eating, and not only lost all the weight she had put on, and now has kept it off for 3 years, she never had to go on insulin, and her kidney function and blood sugar stabilized. It is doable, but it is harder. It isn’t fair, but it just is. You can do it too. Just remember, that your mental health has to come first. Stay on your meds no matter what. Get as much fiber and exercise as you can, and watch out for sugar. Those meds can make you much more susceptible to diabetes.
Carol-I got back on the horse this morning, so you can too. We didn’t even really have sweets this year. We ended up with 7 pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving, so I guess everyone thought they didn’t need to bring anything. The invitations actually said that if you wanted something with sugar in it to eat or drink, you had to bring it yourself, and only one person brought anything, and that was a small fruit cake. At least I’m not eating pumpkin pie for breakfast right now like I was after Thanksgiving.
Heather-after the holiday “indulgences” I always want to get into one of those old time sauna machines and just sweat it out. They don’t come in my size though. Maybe one of those Turkish massages where they beat the stuffing out of you would make me feel better.
Johnnie-The prep wasn’t that bad for the party. I spent 8 years in a wheelchair, so I’m very good at cooking sitting down. I just rolled my desk chair into the kitchen. I’ve only got three large pans left to clean. Clean up tends to be harder than the prep. I hate doing dishes. As for feeling full, at least now I can. There was a time that I could literally eat all day, and never get full. The idea of eating so much that my stomach hurts is still a new feeling.
Story-I had some cheese cake when I was in Banff, and half way through it, I realized that it really didn’t even taste good to me anymore. Your taste buds will change, if we let them. I remember seeing an older man put a whole jar of salsa on his eggs once in a diner, and the waitress must have seen me watching him, and told me that old alcoholics lose the ability to taste, and it takes a lot for them to taste their food. I’ve often thought that I had overwhelmed my taste buds by coating them constantly with food. They can now “taste” things better, and I no longer want things that just coat my mouth with fat.
Nancy-I don’t have any great ideas on how to get back on the horse. I have lots of trouble doing the same thing. I’m trying to just grit my teeth and take it a minute at a time. Sometimes that’s all you can do. You can’t stay away from cookies forever, but I can for the next 5 minutes. I can do anything for 5 minutes. I’ll worry about the next 5 minutes when I get there.
I’m getting ready to take my first steps out the front door in over a month. I’ve been going without the crutches for two days now. I will use my crutch with spikes on the bottom while outside. I’m going to the corner to go get my package containing my new textbook. I’ve already gotten my syllabus. That’s going to be interesting to have textbooks and syllabus before my class starts for a change. So wish me luck that I don’t fall on my head.
I made it a block and a half to the bus stop, on the bus two stops to my favorite thrift store, found 3 books in a series that I didn't have, then across the street to the post office to pick up the package with my textbook, then a block to the return stop, on the bus, then a block and a half home. I didn't think I would make it all the way home, but I did. My body feels like it has burned twice the calories I normally would have on such a short hop. When you can only take steps half as long, you have to take twice as many to cover the same distance. I got to sit at the bus stop benches, and I sat down in the thrift store for awhile to gossip with one of the salesmen about the Christmas party. It was about -5, so not too cold. I got by with shirt, sweatshirt, hooded sweatshirt, and down vest. I needed to keep my arms free as much as possible in case I fell again. I stayed warm until the very end. I wish the sun had been out. I haven't seen it in over a month. It snowed a bit on me on the way home. Tomorrow I'm going to try somewhere else if I can. The biggest hurdle is getting over the fear of falling. I've got to keep going everyday if I can just to get over the fear, and build up my stamina.
Today was a good day OP - drinking water - eating well - until I got home from work and for some unknown reason opened the one and only box of candy from Christmas and proceeded to make sure it tasted fine. The time when I come home from work is always my very hardest time - probably because mom always had a snack for us after school - cmon GG grow up! Healthy snack portion has been a bit of a problem the last few days too. Justification seems to reign after all the new year is coming so I will require perfection of myself - ever heard such a line?
I am continuing to try to stay OP because of the damage I could do between now and January 1. Also I really don't like how I feel physically when I don't eat right. I miss my vegetables. I so look forward to feeling the same way very soon about exercise. Today I spoke with the personal trainer I will work with for the classes I talked about earlier - sounds like a perfect match.
A belated thank you to all for the Christmas cards - each one helped make the day special.
A heartfelt welcome to all the new peeps here. This is a fantastic place for whatever you may need - even if you don't realize that's what you need at the moment. The intuition among this group is phenomenal. Keep on posting.
Cyn - how the did Y check out for you and your friend. What a great idea to be able to have the kids get some activity in also.
Debbie - how is the DDR coming along? We got the PS2 version for my niece and she said it's pretty hard and definetely wouldn't do it while anyone is watching. She was really excited to have it as an additional exercise tool.
Kayley - glad to see you again. Be sure you take some pics now as you try on dresses so when the professional pics are taken you will see such a difference. Hugs to you.
Sandy - how are you feeling? I still have this horrible earache/sinus thing. I wish I knew what to do for the ears. Will you get more snow from this latest storm - we're to get about 6-8 but who really knows? Did you get the aprons finished? Hugs to you.
Val - yeah on the snickers. The first bite is too much and the 100th is not enough for me. I wish I didn't have to be so black or white - I really want to learn what the grey area is.
Heather - where's the vacation spot? Hope you're having a fabulous time - you deserve it!
Annie - Hi to you - I'm watching your ticker with nervous anticipation - each time I post. You are a true inspiration my friend. I loved the scale smashing pics - what a feeling that must have been for you and Joel seemed to capture your spirit in them. Glad to hear you are listening to your body - getting back in to a different routine can be trying on your body - even if you are superwoman - you take care of yourself!
Johnnie - I love your list of 3 - I think I will post it where I see it often - where I can be reminded. The last few days I have fixed a plate and not been able to finish it - really almost sick because I was too full - I am not one to leave food on my plate but I have - even food I normally would binge on.
Catherine - do you have an inventors hat to put on too? I think you should design the support sportswear - is the sewing machine motor fixed? How was the walk to the corner? Will you be able to start the water aerobics soon?
A big hello to every one else. Nancy, RK, Battle, Colneen, Ammi, Sharon, Peggy, and everyone else - thinking of you. It's about to get very busy in the health and exercise world - let's be a strong and supportive part of it.
Feeling great in 2008 - I'm up for it - anyone else?
Nancy, just remember how far you've come and how short a distance you have left to go. You don't want to go backwards!! So just start taking the steps to better eating that worked for you before. I know you can do it!!!
Catherine, you might just have invented something that would work!! Yep, the ham will definitely bloat us like crazy.
So glad to hear you had a good day outside...finally!!! Hurray for you!! I bet it felt so good to get out there and walk around instead of the confines of the house.
I think I am back to the usual level of challenge with staying on plan. Yesterday, the first day back to healthy eating, went not terribly, although I ate over the max calories for the day. I ate because I was hungry. My body needed to adjust, and I went along with its needs. It was a good strategy.
Today was closer to a typical eating day, and my body was ridding itself of all the toxins. Phew.
I can't wait to feel great again, and I'm sure it will happen sometime early next week, after the worst of TOM is over. At the moment, PMS prevents me from feeling too much better.
One of my friends, the one who said that at least she's not in the plus sizes (uhh....ok), lamented about her continuing weight gain. She swears she hardly eats anything, and even went to an endocrinologist because she was sure she had a thyroid problem. No problems were found, and to be honest, I don't believe she hardly eats anything...but that is her deal and she'll have to figure it out for herself.
Anyway, all this setup is to say that in her lamenting, she decided that it was time to get back to a serious exercise program. She planned a challenging bicycle tour for June and invited me to join her. I doubt I will be able to go, but agreed to train with her on occasion. Bicycling is a great way to set out on the New Year. I have a bike, love cycling, and am happy to have someone to bike with from time to time. I have to bring my bike in for servicing, which I don't really have the money for but will work it out somehow, and then I am in business. Yay! My new exercise for 2008 is here.
This being CA, it gets cold but not too cold to bike, although it does rain a lot in the winter. I should be able to get out at least a little bit over the next few months.
-----
Catherine: Big congrats on your first excursion since injuring yourself. You probably did burn off a serious amount of calories. I just can't get past the idea of -5 not being too cold. brrrrrr!!!!!
Carol: hey, how's that perfectionism working for ya : )
If you keep at it, you'll normalize the eating again. You got through most of the day, and tomorrow you can get through all the day without overeating. Can't wait to hear how the personal training goes.
Debbie: Hi and good night!
Donna: Hugs and Happy New Year to you!
Annie: Great job staying OP today. I'm sending big gusts of wind to blow away that last pound for the big finish of the year.
I had a pretty good day today, although no workout. I had cramps SO badly. Usually, the first couple of days, they are so painful, I can barely move; back to the grind tomorrow, hopefully. I just need to figure out which eating plan I want to start with next week. I've done South Beach & Weight Watchers. I think I might try South Beach again, because that's how I lost 60 pounds in 3 months...and since I'm trying to get down for a wedding, that might be the best. Heh. And eventually go back on Weight Watchers, because it's far more flexible.
Hope you all had a great day! So good to be back here, even if for just a few minutes a night.
CATHERINE, the AAA first drink analogy is right on. When I'm doing well and someone keeps insisting that I something like the snickers, I tell them it's like giving crack to an addict - I simply can't stop with one hit, so while I'm greatful to them for being generous, I really prefer not to. It would be great if I could just except something politely, hide it away and dispose of it out of their sight, but I'm not there yet. If it's in my hand or pocket, I know where it's going next.
Yesterday morning on my way to the car for work, I put my hand in my coat pocket and found a couple Hershey kisses. I whipped them across the yard immediately, because if I hadn't, I'd have eaten them before work and the whole day would have been far worse. Of course, then I realized that the dogs might find them, but by then it was too late.
What I meant to say, CATHERINE, is bravo for that walk and overcoming your current fear. I'm glad that the trip sounds like it had many rewards, and I hope you continue to mend!
KAYLEY, Hugs! I'd still adopt you in a heart beat! Back on the horse, as we say, right?
I'd love to do more personals, but I have 15 minutes left to get out the door to work. Baked chicken for B-fast again today - off to a good start. Even the scale was kind this morning, but I'll wait until Wednesday's to change it.
A VERY quick one.....
Annie WTG!!!!!!!at this rate you will be at 150 before the end of the year.xxxxxx
Kayley, I'm sorry to hear of your health issues BUT at least now you're diagnosed & on meds so things have to get better. There are so many diets I'm sure you will do FABULOUSLY once you start, so here's to a New Start, New Year, New (healthy) You. (I include myself in that wish too, lol)xxxxxxxx
Gotta go, but hugs to everyone, I am SO OFF THE WAGGON...words cannot say how bad..a new start is right around the corner, at this moment things are hard but soon it will be time to get my life sorted. Sadly things have been awful at home, if there weren't any children I'd have left Christmas day.
xxxxxsharon
I just need to figure out which eating plan I want to start with next week. I've done South Beach & Weight Watchers. I think I might try South Beach again, because that's how I lost 60 pounds in 3 months...and since I'm trying to get down for a wedding, that might be the best. Heh. And eventually go back on Weight Watchers, because it's far more flexible.
So good to be back here, even if for just a few minutes a night. 
