Ammi--meh, I'm done messing with tiny goals I tried it, and it didn't work for me. I kept thinking things like, "Oh, I only have 2 more pounds till my next goal and still have another 2 weeks to meet it...I can have this slab of cheesecake today and have plenty of time to work it off..." Having a big number means, hey, I really have a LOT to lose--I'd better keep crankin'! It's a mental game for all of us here, and finding what works best is usually the hardest part of all Of course, this is what works for me today...next week, I may be back to focusing on 5-100 pound increments
Oooh, Chinese food...one of my MAJOR weaknesses! The thing about it, though, is that it is SO high in sodium, so you may still be retaining some water tomorrow, so keep that in mind when you step on that scale if it shows a little gain. And heck, if it shows a loss, know that maybe your real loss is even a bit more than it says
Val--congrats on losing the stress weight! You are so positive in what you write to everyone else here...I'm with you, behind you, and all for you, too!
mechell--glad to hear you are feeling a bit better
Sandy--congrats on resisting the carrot cake! It is one of my favorites as well (mostly because of the cream cheese frosting ), so I know how challenging (and, therefore, rewarding) that must have been!
Brenda--I just have to say that I REALLY like your top in those photos! I love the look of halter-style necklines, and I also love anything sparkly. Sorry the party was dull, but you definitely looked good!
Lilion--I wasn't trying to tell you you need to exercise. That's something we all know. I guess my point was more that it'll happen when it happens. I used to exercise like a fiend when I lived with my sister in Va Beach, but then I moved and pretty much just stopped. For the past 2 years, it's been kind of off and on, and then for most of this year, it was nonexistant, until my recent light switch in mid-October. I have no idea what caused the light switch to finally flip on, but I'm sure it'll happen for you, too, when the time is right. In the meantime, know that "experts" say the weight loss battle is 80% diet, 20% exercise, so you've got the hard part under control
As for me, I just made 5 salads in plastic containers and tossed them in the fridge to eat during the week. And, man, do they look good! I went to Trader Joe's last night and got lots of easy ingredients to throw together, so my salads are romaine lettuce, grilled chicken strips (just thaw and eat--gotta love it), chopped mango (frozen, so again, just thaw and eat), almond slivers, and diced tomato (from a can, rinsed to remove excess sodium). I also got a really yummy TJ's salad dressing--sesame ginger soy vinaigrette (or something like that).
I also got some peeled, cooked, tailless shrimp to try on salads and stuff. I always say I don't like shrimp, but I honestly haven't had it in a few years, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Again, it's one of those fabulous "thaw-and-eat" products, so I have no excuse not to try it Let's see...any other good TJ's buys? OH, yes! I got a bag of frozen vegetable pot stickers (wontons). I was skeptical at first, thinking they would be high-cal because of the dough, but you can have 8 of them for 200 calories, so only 25 calories each! I thought that was extremely reasonable, and they microwave in just 3-4 minutes.
Oh, and I KNEW I was retaining some water...whereas yesterday my scale read 300 even, today it read 297. I won't change my ticker till it stays there for a few days just to make sure, but it's still better to see I'm going in the right direction with my planned eating. Today's menu is quite similar to yesterday's, and I'm already almost finished with my second liter of water. We're going to a concert tonight, so I'll be sure to eat before we leave. No need to spend the money they ask for concert concessions
Jill - if you had been into those little goals you will have already reached that one I suggested You are moving away from that 300 lbs already I understand where you are coming from with the big goal motivation, and I really do hope it works for you
Thanks for the reminder about the Chinese food, though I do believe if I had the thing I had really wanted a Kebab, chips and garlic bread with cheese, I may have found an even bigger gain come the morning's WI. So I shall just hold my breath and hope for the best.
QUESTION for ALL now?? It's been 5 years since I had TOM and last month it decided to rear iit's ugly head again I wasn't sure if it was going to be a one off thing or a regular occurance and it seems that it's going to be a regular occurance again YUCK. Anyway, my question is, when does TOM effect your WI most, the week you are due on, or the week when you are actually on? It's been so long since I had a period and was dieting that I just can't remember
Jill -- Glad to see the scale behaving. Those salads sound great. And eating before you go is a great help, I find! I always bring a snack of my own, just in case, and then I'm less likely to eat those concessions!
Hi Ladies - I got some walking in with John yesterday, so I'll be adding that to the exercise thread! My trip is coming up fast now! I'll be in Victoria in 8 days!! Unless I decide to wait and leave when John starts his vacation, then it's 8 additional days. Either way...coming up fast! No real news here...I'll check my weight on Tuesday and see the damage. Hope everyone is well!
dogpal - Thanks for asking! If all goes well I will get getting a little female Chihuahua.
Hey Ammi,
The TOM that gets to me the very worst is the week before. It's when I lost all drive and motivation. (remember earlier this week) I, like Brenda, tend to gain A LOT, 10 pounds +. It's so depressing, my clothes get tight, I can't wear my wedding ring etc. I hate it. But, the week after, I'm all good again.
It's like one week of the month is miserable, one week I'm recovering and the other two weeks, I'm trying to get ahead for the next two weeks. Men are so lucky. I didn't get this way til my mid to late 30's.
If you haven't had TOM for 5 years, you might want to check with your dr that all is ok. You're awfully young to have gone thru the change, but stranger things have happened.
Abby and I made cinammon car air freshners this morning. I finished the stocking for my grand kids (all, but attaching the loop to hang them, those have to be hand sewn. I painted the names on them so I'm waiting on them to dry. I have Abby's cup cakes in the oven and I'm gonna make a splenda cake for Andy and I to take to work this week for lunches. I'll let you know how it turns out. When the cakes are all out of the oven, I'm gonna put in our roasted chicken and potatoes. I love roasted chicken with rosemary, thyme and garlic sprinkled on it. YUMMY!
Have a good rest of the day ladies!
Just rushing through but wanted to say hi to everyone!!! I just put a yummy looking ground turkey meatloaf into the oven and the smell is starting to permeate the place... yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm can't wait!!!!
Ammi.... LOL yes I changed the avatar photo on Friday; you are the first one to notice.
Brenda - wow that is a big gain every month thanks to the dreaded TOM isn’t it! I can certainly understand how that would be upsetting even knowing why it’s happening.
Sandy - I have been on an Implanon contraceptive for 5 years, and that has been known to stop TOM altogether. So I assumed that is why I stopped having it. When I had a period last month I went to the doctors about it. He said that it’s nothing to worry about because it’s more than likely down to the fact that my body isn’t in shock anymore after all the surgeries it has endured, and of course there’s the weight loss. He said the only reason he would investigate it further was if the bleeding carried on, non stop, then they would do an internal to check for other reasons for the blood. I guess it’s nice to think my body feels normal enough now to have periods, but I hate them so much. I have enjoyed not having them for 5 years!
I love the sound of the stockings you have made for the grandchildren, I hope you will take photos so we can see them. Abby is a lucky girl to have such an arty mommy. How did the cup cakes and Splenda cake turn out?
Heather - thanks for your input about TOM. I am so up in the air with mine. Last month I was on for 5 days, but then spotted for the next 10. Then it all stopped, and now I am showing signs of TOM again. So I don’t know if I will have fluid retention because of it, or if it’s not close enough to make a difference. Oh well if I don’t lose much or have a gain tomorrow I can blame it on TOM instead of the Chinese meal I had
Sue - mmm that meat loaf sounds delicious. Did you make it yourself? Is it something that could be eaten on WW? Please do share the recipe if it is
Oh I am glad I noticed that you changed your Avatar and that you only changed it on Friday. At least I am a bit more observant than I thought
Ok off to do some emailing now, will check in before I go to bed,
Misti -- the meatloaf sounds good! I am waiting for my "skillet chili mac" to finish up. It is smelling really good too! I also threw some brown rice in the rice cooker for later this week. Me "on plan" cooks food, and I haven't cooked a lot in the last few weeks. I'm already feeling more on plan!!
Ammi -- I think sometimes it would be great not to have TOM every month, but then, given that I'm not on anything that should keep it away, it would signal a problem (or the change).
I have been on contraceptives for... wow, nearly 20 years, and I have had a lot more spotting the past few months. I wonder if it's because of weight loss...
Patti -- *kicks in butt* You KNOW you can get back on track, dear!!!! Tomorrow is a new day!
foolish me i know what my trouble ws this weekend i have not been keeping a journal ! plus i was walking around looking at all the christmas candy i USED TO BUY and thinking well i caanot buy that anymore. i will be better monday
Patti -- I think it's important to figure out why we head off track. Looks like you are doing that. That is a victory imho! You've come a long way already and will keep going. Don't let one bad weekend ruin all that work. I've been struggling a bit lately, but I keep seeing how much better I'm doing than I ever would have before.
i think we all need a little extra support especially this time of year but we all have come along way i think goodness everyday for this web site to get me back on track! see you tomorrow over ont he exercise thread!
I tried it, and it didn't work for me. I kept thinking things like, "Oh, I only have 2 more pounds till my next goal and still have another 2 weeks to meet it...I can have this slab of cheesecake today and have plenty of time to work it off..." 
Having a big number means, hey, I really have a LOT to lose--I'd better keep crankin'! It's a mental game for all of us here, and finding what works best is usually the hardest part of all 
Of course, this is what works for me today...next week, I may be back to focusing on 5-100 pound increments 
You are moving away from that 300 lbs already 
I understand where you are coming from with the big goal motivation, and I really do hope it works for you 
My trip is coming up fast now! I'll be in Victoria in 8 days!! Unless I decide to wait and leave when John starts his vacation, then it's 8 additional days. Either way...coming up fast! No real news here...I'll check my weight on Tuesday and see the damage. Hope everyone is well! 
