Hi, all, :wave: apologies in advance for a me-me postie but so tired, been putzing about all day, typing on the internet when I could be working productively, but that's okay, too.

I am ending eating day at 1535, exercise was a walk and gardening, pretty much.

On second day of returning to my ovo-lacto vegetarian roots, which isn't a problem to me as I did it 30 years or so before going carnivore some years ago. Think it'll help me.

Doing three hours of yoga classes a week now. Mondays and Fridays are restorative yoga with singing bowls being played and we do it all on the mat and it is lovely, and Wednesday went to my first ever hatha gong class, actually the first ever in my gym. It was heavenly. A huge professional gong is played (expertly, I thought) by the instructor who instructs a different kind of hatha class in synch with the gong and the poses are meant to be held long enough to feel vibration from the gong, which I didn't but it was beautiful anyway and I can't wait to do it again. I am massively out of practice and was very klutzy and have to modify my yoga due to past injuries, but it was just the nicest class.

Have to go to bed, guys.

Total cals-1955, Ex-long walk with my neighbor. I am trying to be good but I admit I had some wine tonight. Oh well, it was yummy.

Marie-I am so glad Blizzie is happy again. I figure we all have stuff to deal with as time goes by and we just make it work. I love my Belle just the way she is. Good job on the calories.

Lucinda-good idea to fill up on salads before the big feast.

Am2-we posted at the same time again! I enjoyed reading about your yoga experience. I have practiced some yoga at the Y in the past but not so much recently. I do think it is great exercise though. When did you decide to go vegetarian?

Todays cals-2185, no exercise.

Although the calories are high, this is actually pretty darn good. Hubby and I went out for dinner at Frankies (Italian) and I kept the wine to one glass, the garlic rolls to 1.5, a small serving of salad and only half the pasta and marinara with mushrooms.

Marie-You know the low calories will eventually equate into lost pounds. Patience Grasshopper. Keep up the good work.

Terapet, I was an ovo lacto vegetarian for decades then switched to carnivore in the early part of the 2000s, not sure what year. I just decided to go back to my roots earlier this week, think it was Wednesday. Only this time I am much more casual about it and if I feel a need to eat some meat, I'll do so and not worry about it. :laugh:

This is an experiment really, just to shake things up.

Marie, yea, the lower cals WILL translate into lost pounds. The scale is just messing with your head!

Ended eating day here at 1445, with exercise being a mini hike of 60 minutes at a local park.

Feeling not so great tonight, like I am coming down with something. Going to bed soon. Wootness!

Have a great Sunday everyone. :wave:

Yesterday was not so good. The culprit was football food-grilled hot dogs, coleslaw, home cooked baked beans and frosted brownies and two lite beers. Phew, good thing I saved those calories with the lite beer.:) To top it off-I watched TV more than half the day-yikes. Although it was fun-no more "football" Saturdays. It is way to detrimental to my waistline.

Am2-I think a change in diet is a good idea. I personally get really bored with most of what I eat but it is just easier to eat the same stuff all the time. I don't really care if I eat meat or not but I just don't have that many simple ways to feed myself that do not include meat. Same with bread and pasta. I am just not sure what to subsitute and still keep cooking easy and simple. Plus the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables can be very inconsistent. I keep working on it anyway.

Terapet, sounds like a fun Saturday and I wish I'd been there lol.

I also get bored with the same stuff but seems like I keep coming back to it.

I think working on it is all we can do, we just have to keep going.

Hmmm, ending the eating day at 1445 and still not feeling well so won't be snacking tonight for sure. Exercise was a run for time and then some jogging, slept a lot with this flu.

My weigh-in was exactly the same as it has been for the past two weeks, 138.6! Maintain is good, though, so I'm happy with that. Sort of wonder if the scale is broken, though.

Have a good night, all! Woot!

Another bad day- I had a frosted brownie at breakfast, lunch and dinner. At least they are all gone now. Estimated total cals- a whopping 2840. I used to eat like this all the time. I actually feel kinda gross. I need to focus on losing weight by choosing healthy food and getting serious about the calories.

AM2-Sorry to hear you have the flu. Lots of sleep is good when you are sick of course. I hope you feel better soon.

Total cals-1645, Ex-60 mins of step class at the y. Yeah for me!

Woot! Huzzah to Terapet! You are doing great!

Ended the eating day at 1460 and today's exercise was a 60 minute walk.

Lol, short postie as have to go back to bed!

:) Day. Total cals-1550. Exercise-60 min Y strength training class

AM2-You are doing great.

Tera, woot, you are in the groove!! :wave:

Marie, I decided today to drop the ovo lacto vegetarian diet. I never was vegan. But anyway I am going back to being a flexitarian omnivore, e.g., I'm going to eat whatever I wish, no foods off limit, even sugar, although I still want to stay low sugar. But I am going to go back to having treats.

Lol, I like my avatar better than the no sugar one, too.

As a matter of fact, I had cake today!

Congratulations on the scale loss! Woot!

Sensible attitude of liking the pain gone more than eating, although I like eating pretty much more than everything also lol.

Ended the eating day at 1960, exercise was a 60 minute walk in the morning and 15 minutes weights. I also walked 30 minutes in the evening.

Just checking in to say I'm about the same...boringly stable, up and down I go. Today I decided to restrict my beloved mochas to only one a day, probably breakfast usually. At least I will try.;) I have done this before but never lasts. Also trying to cut out the dried fruit...that is very hard this time of year and I may not actually do it. But all that concentrated sugar makes it hard to maintain good BS. Our plum tree has produced greatly and the fruit is SO good both fresh and as prunes. We have given lots away but are still enjoying a lot too. I had to put them in bags and refrigerate because otherwise I will just grab one or two every time I see them on the counter without thinking. Friends also gave us Asian Pears even though we told them we can't possibly eat so much fruit (and they are diabetics too!), plus I bought a little of several types of fruit when grocery shopping last week which we still need to eat. Guess I shouldn't buy so much but fruit is such a temptation to me plus I love the variety this time of year...and since it's healthy it is doesn't seem right to restrict it. I started out my day with high bs today but after breakfast and my workout, my bs was good. I got off track somewhat past few weeks but am trying to get back OP. So far so good.

Marie-Congrats on the scale loss. The low cals are paying off. Good for you getting your exercise in before work. I agree with you about the food log. It makes a huge difference for me as well. If I am not logging it is because I do not want to admit to myself how much I am eating. I also need to adjust my ticker but that is another thing I do not always like to admit.:)

AM2-Good cals and exercise. Flex eating is a good idea. I bet you will naturally end up eating the good healthy stuff the majority of the time but not feel deprived either.

maryea-I like your new plan. I was off track lately also but I am feeling good and motivated now.

Total cals today-1720. Exercise-60 mins step class at the y. That makes three days in the row to the Y. Yes!

Marie, congratulations on the scale loss and glad the pain is better for you. I also am of the camp that though food is wonderful and I love it, it is definitely secondary to no pain.

Hmmm, it is secondary to wearing my little capri pants and feeling good in them, too.

Mareya, stability is not boring. Woot! Congratulations on being stable. Your fresh plums from the tree sound wonderful. Sorry it is hard though to have that available and manage bs. I admire how hard you work on that.

Tera, congrats on three days OP! Woot! :wave:

I ended the eating day at 1425, exercise was walking (75 min).

Going back to bed! Woot!

Truthfully, it is secondary to keeping decent numbers on the scale, too, but just barely lol.

I know we aren't supposed to feel the numbers on the scale are that important. That is what the world of "lifestyle" experts say to us these days, but I do love my scale numbers to look the way I like them to.

Food, though, is high on the list and yea lol the cake tasted amazing. I was very careful to weigh it and log it and then enjoyed it a LOT!

Woot on the weekend, thing, I am resting a lot, not feeling up to par.

Was very excited about buying the Nutribullet (the new BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL, AND MORE EXPENSIVE Magic Bullet). It works great and came in handy today as my knee is inflammed and actually am having a lot of aches and pains, so I made an energy drink with PITTED frozen cherries.

Cherries are a potent anti-inflammatory but their pits are on a list in the Nutribullet booklet as among pits and seeds that should never be consumed or put in a smoothie as they contain a chemical that releases cyanide in the body. Apple seeds are on the list, too, and I had planned to put the whole core in as the machine does a really good job of making a smoothie out of pretty much everything.

I actually wrote a long blog on another site about how much I love this machine.

Anyway, ending eating day soon in the 1400s, was in the 1700s yesterday.

Exercise today was a half an hour walk (knee is bad) and 5 min abs.

Marie, no. I used pitted frozen cherries, they didn't have any pits. Nope I would never use the pits in a drink even if they did not contain a chemical that releases cyanide in the body.

Yea, the Nutribullet is a bigger and more powerful version of the Magic Bullet. I am always careful never to recommend things because others might not like them as much as I do, so I'll just say I love mine.

I imagine it would do frappes. I use frozen fruit and veggies in my drinks and it has handled them great, I get a better texture than with my previous blender or Magic Bullet. I haven't added any ice for frappes, might get to that.

Did have a LOSS today (finally) of 1.6 pounds!

Exercise was a 60 minute walk.

Hi Ladies,

You two are doing so well. Woohoo! Congrats on those losses.

I am happy with myself because I did not gain weight this week. Yeah! I was definitely not dieting this weekend but I was trying to keep things in check. It is so hard with eating out and watching football and family stuff. Friday we met friends for dinner and they picked Mexican-on the good side it was the only meal out all week. On Saturday hubby put his TV on the screened in back porch and we had three different football teams to track-2 close losses and one win. This week it was beer, tortilla chips and guacomole. You would had thought the chips Friday would have been enough but I had bought the avocados on Thursday. Didn't want to waste them. On Sunday we celebrated my future daughter in law's birthday but except for the alcohol, everything else was pretty low cal because she is on a diet for the wedding next summer. We had watermelon for dessert. Today was good for me-total cals-1965 Ex-60 min step class at the Y.

Woot!
 

Huzzah, Tera, congrats on the maintain! A maintain is ALWAYS a great thing and a success! :carrot: I love guac also. I make it with just a mashed avocado and maybe some piquante sauce and I eat it with Triscuits to avoid a lot of corn chips, although at a restaurant I can certainly put away the corn chips.

Marie, congrats on your loss and the change in ticker by 6 pounds! Woot!

I also had that issue with the Magic Bullet. It didn't get the frozen berries perfectly smooth and I had to sometimes stop the machine and unclog things. That did happen with the soup I made as I filled the cup a little too much with frozen mixed veggies and not enough water. So I stopped the machine and put in more water and it made beautiful soup.

I've had no problems with strawberries or anything with the Nutribullet but I do cover them with water and make sure not to go above the fill line.

I'll try a frappiccino with ice soon.

Nothing in the book I bought with it or the recipe/instruction book that came with the system mentions using frozen produce or ice. Maybe the Magic Bullet literature didn't either, but I've always used it with the MB. I agree the original Magic Bullet didn't get all the ice. I used to make a coffee/soymilk thing with ice in the MB and it was good but am hoping the Nutribullet will do better.

I did have trouble when I first got the Nutribullet (just as I did with the Magic Bullet) separating the blade/lid from the cup. It was stuck at first but I managed.

There are a lot of good blenders, I know. I loved the big blender I had but gave away but it was, er, BIG and I only make individual servings. Plus this machine has given me the best texture I have achieved on frozen drinks and soup.

Going to try frozen bananas in it today, makes ice cream. Woot!

Er, but as I say, not meaning to advocate for this machine, just like it.

I AM missing an extra gasket I thought I ordered. It was nowhere to be found in all the stuff I got. I ordered for two as a friend wanted one and I ordered a second one and gave it to her for Christmas. I don't know how she likes it.

Todays cals-2000 Ex-60 min strenght training class at the Y

Feel free to skip this part since I am simply whining.---I ate too much tonight. My husband made pork roast and mashed potatoes. It smelled so good so I had to have a glass of wine (okay maybe 2) with it. I made him put all the leftovers in the fridge and the wine is all gone so hopefully I can manage to be good tomorrow. I don't want to gain weight so I am making myself come on here and admit what I am doing-overeating. Tomorrow is a new day. I will focus and I will keep my goals in mind.

Am2-the MB sounds very useful. I use a blender for smoothies and a hand immersion mixer for soup.

Huzzah, ending the eating day at 1550 and I took a long walk of 120 minutes for exercise.

Tera, good going on the strength training class. The meal your dh made sounds delicious. Everyone overeats sometimes. I think it actually aids a weight journey in the long run. Personally, I do calorie cycling, sometimes high, sometimes low, more often somewhere in the middle. It is all good, I think. Our bods like change.

Marie, I already know I LOVE my Nutribullet but haven't had a chance to try a frappe with ice. I haven't done it lately but I also used to blend frozen fruit with almond or soymilk, occasionally dairy and coconut milk, but really love the richness of almond or soy and yes, used Silk. I am more a person who loves dairy most and then coconut milk but the almond and soy work so well with the fruit. I also used to make a chunky sort of frappe in the MB with ice and just soymilk and liked that.

I am not really sure if it would give you that thick, creamy frappe you want. I'd have to experiment. So far I have been focused on getting just the cherries in a fully macerated state with what the Nutribullet calls the "extractor" blade but it isn't extracted juice at all, since one gets the whole fruit.

Huzzah! Just chilling tonight and not eating unless blood sugar goes low, which it won't.

Todays calories were better despite going out to lunch today. Maybe I can do this. Often I ignore activities and certain food so I am not tempted but I really need to get in a place where I can be around high calorie situations but still make wise choices. I need to build up my fortitude. Todays cals 1670 Ex-60 min step class at the Y.

Marie-Good for you for maintaining-with those cals it won't be long until you see the scale go down again.

AM2-Wow that was a long walk. Sounds lovely though.

Tera, you can absolutely do it! Woot!

I thought I posted recently but now can't find it so perhaps I got distracted. There have been a lot of distractions recently.

Marie - I have a pulse Ninja..not the regular Ninja...you cannot just set it and let it run, works only on pulse. It is great for frappes. It was not very expensive. Dh complains that it is very loud and I tell hm at least it's only for a few minutes. Funny thing...yesterday I was about to blend my mocha, looked out the kitchen window...a squirrel was into our bird feeder ..I yelled and knocked on the window...he didn't even look at me, didn't faze him at all (even though sometimes it does so I know he can hear me!). So I gave up and turned my blender on to make my mocha and that squirrel (and the one on the ground too) took off so fast...made me laugh. They ran up the tree, then peeked around the tree at me, then took off for the neighbors, sat just inside his yard (behind the fence) and watched me. When I turned the blender off of course they came back. I thought Joe always says it's really loud and guess he's right. LOL I got it at BB&B.

Lol, that is a cute story about the squirrels and the blender, Maryea.

May I ask if you would share the ingredients in your mocha drink?

I am going to make one this week, need some ideas.

Can relate to distractions, glad you are here. Woot!

I ended the eating day at 1605. Exercise was a 60 minute walk, 15 minute job and 5 minutes for my little 100 Bodyweight Squats Workout.

Plus was pretty generally active all day.

Have a great Friday, everyone!

I had dinner out tonight and tried to mitigate the damage by only eating half of it but it was still pretty high. Todays est cals-2000. No exercise. Today would normally be an exercise day but we are going out of town tomorrow and there was too much to do. I am thinking of going on a real, true diet when I get back. Not a lifestyle change, a diet. I will see how I feel on Monday.

Marie-glad to see you back here. I enjoyed the squirrel story. My husband always complains about the squirrels, perhaps he can use your method.

Am2-another good day for you. Awesome.

Huzzah, Marie, just wanted to clarify that I wasn't advocating for anyone getting the Nutribullet lol. I was just sharing my pleasure in my new acquisition.

Tera, my weight loss journey has always been a "diet," not a lifestyle change. Funny how people seem to hate that D word and insist that we call it a lifestyle change.

Ending my eating day at 1535. Exercise was a 75 minute walk and 60 minutes weights.

Stayed active all day, but did take the nana nap awhile ago. Woot!

1160 calories, 12 carb serv. Bs was ok today.

Amara - I use Cafe D'Amore Mocha Free Frappe mix. I get it at Costco. I vary how I make it according to how many cal/carbs I have to play with. I use 1 oz of it usually (you have to measure as the scoop is more) and mix it with 1/2 cup NF milk and usually 1 T or PB or PB2 depending on how many cal I can use. Sometimes I leave out the PB/PB2 and sometimes I even just use water if I don't have enough calories/carbs left. Occasionally I also use 1 1/4 scoops of the mix if I can afford the calories. I admit I'm addicted and my mochas probably cause more problems to my diet than anything these days. I also eat healthier if I don't drink too many. I am trying to limit them. I did ok today but I still could have eaten heathier.

Todays meals
Breakfast - PB mocha
Lunch - cabbage/beef/potato soup with crackers (very little meat and potatoes)
Dinner - Pizza Rolls and salad (abt 1 1/2 cups)
Eve Snacks - less than 2/3 serv peanuts, 1/2 lg apple

Stationary bike - 30 min on 8

Thanks, Maryea. Your mocha drink sounds good. I actually found an Atkins shake that comes in two coffee flavors - caramel and mocha. I didn't frappe it in the machine, just put ice cubes in a glass and poured the shake over it. That satisfied my craving today.

You are doing great! Woot! Menu and exercise looking good!

I am ending the eating day at 1470, exercise was a 90 minute walk.

1554 cal, 13 carb serv

lunch out