Hi everyone -- oy vey what a week -- crazy stressful work week, computer outages and problems....and now I'm on days off for next couple days. I've been eating better this week with counting calories, still not eating many carbs, but do have this popcorn thing going on.....DH has even notice (when I'm getting ready for work and make popcorn sometimes there are a few on the counter I don't pick up before I race out of the house to work. Being popcorn-deprived for the last few months has me sort of having rebound popcorn! But I took an old plastic see-through bowl and measured popcorn and then marked the sides of the bowl with a black marker so I can see at a glance how much I ate to account the calories. I have been exercising on the stationary bike and walking today, but haven't made it to the gym yet. According to my scale I've lost some, but my official weigh-in is tomorrow morning at my TOPS meeting.

Selway -- SEVEN POUNDS is an amazing loss -- wow, wow, and WOW!! :carrot: You GO GIRL! I'll be having to look at what you eat/do to pull off a number like that. Does 7 pounds qualify as a WHOOSH??? (It does in my book!!)

And Riddy, Shaw and wuv2bloved a TWO is nothing to sneeze at. Good JOB!

Your efforts show dedication and focus.

Riddy -- congratulations on going to Onderland!! YAYYYYYY! As a woman who DREAMS of onederland, I'm delighted you are there, and you inspire me and give me hope that the Land of Onder truly is possible. Also, the chance to go to simple "overweight" from "obese" (still remember the first time I heard a doc use that word years ago).

Mel -- many years ago I dated a guy who spent summers in a fire tower in the Sierra Nevada mountains. He took me to it and it was really interesting, I remember the interior was pretty drab -- except for the great views all around. He read a lot of books up in that tower. He would read and look up and read and then go check all around. It was interesting. That was a long hike -- good for you, sounds wonderful (except for the kids' whining part). My 21 year old whines sometimes -- still don't like how it sounds ;-)

Bette -- I loved hearing about the garden -- what do you grow? Have you been gardening long? There is this great book called "The $64 Tomato." It's a fun read -- it may be at the library. Something a gardener or wannabe gardener can relate too. Now me, I'm a WANNAbe gardner, but I have the know how, and the weight has gotten in the way of getting it done . Here is my sad gardening saga: Your post started me thinking about my overgrown garden, and it is way too late to plant anything this year, and DH hates it when I want a veggie garden. I dug out areas in the grass in the back yard to plant my veggies, but the grass grew back all the time and I couldn't keep up with it. I had bought fencing for the garden area to keep my doggie out of the garden and altogether it cost almost $300. Then I planted a garden, but had some problems with it (grass taking over all the time) and then went to my sis's house for a week for her wedding and no one watered it and most everything died. When I got home I had 3 tomatoes. My DH pointed out each tomato cost $100.00 :eek: We had quite a discussion over that :tantrum:, so tonight I told him I wanted to garden again NEXT spring. My plan is to cover the weeds/grass in the garden area with plastic and weight the plastic down with bricks to kill the weeds/grass. First I'll probably spray with vinegar which I have heard helps the process but our summer heat will kill it off. A gal at work recommended Round-up BUT I don't want to use that. Then I'll have to put in gypsum to soften up some of the hard pan, and just basically get the ground ready to have a fall crop of lettuce, broccoli, etc. I'm a farmer's granddaughter and just love gardening, but I need to do it better. I'll admin the put the veggies in the grass area idea just didn't work out. Bette, I just think gardening is just a wonderful way to save money(?!) -- well it SHOULD!! lol Well at LEAST it is good exercise!!!

MaryShady -- I agree that first step is the hardest -- sometimes when I'm trying to make that first step it feels like I have cement shoes :)

BigChiefHoHo -- I love dried fruit -- and those calories add up fast....doesn't seem quite fair when it taste so yummy. Dried pineapple is my favorite -- well WAS my favorite until I found out it was SUGARED -- THAT's why it tasted so good! :D

Zogo -- passing you my popcorn bowl (what I eat for stress)....Oh my gosh 3 teens in the house -- my house is quiet for two weeks. My son is house sitting four hours away. Other than the occasional panic call ( such as mom, my girlfriend's wallet was stolen, what do we do?) I don't hear much from him,and without his coming and going with friends, I can run to the laundry room in bra and panties to get stuff out of the dryer without having to cover up!!! YAYYYYY! (small freedoms ;) )

wuv2bloved -- congrats on the # and the "'s -- WOOHOO!

Mel -- have fun solo parenting....remember to take care of yourself too! AFter all they have to sleep SOMETIME!

MonteCristo -- hang in gal -- weighing in an earlier day will probably be helpful. Sending you will power vibes!!

Okay, I'm involved with a wedding on Saturday, and doing wedding errands on Thursday with bride, and Friday is go to the church and do test shots (I'm doing the photography). Friday night is rehearsal and dinner. Saturday is the wedding and reception dinner.....OH MY GOSH -- just realized there is a hecka lot temptation there. Sigh. But I'll get through it. I'll just keep my hands wrapped around the camera -- can't eat junk and take pictures at the same time! Not sure I'll be posting in next couple days.

I apologize if my posts are long -- but...well....I'm just "wordy".

We're coming down to the last half of the week and last chance workouts and last chances to eat well -- and yes I know someday I'll have to snack on more broccoli than popcorn......

:cheer::cheer::cheer:

Sending WILL POWER VIBES to my TEAM. GO RED! GO RED! GO REDDDDDD!

Good Morning fellow teammates!!!

Yesterday was so busy had an inservice so had to leave early. Ate a little off plan cause went out to lunch but made good choices. Was exactly at last week's weight this morning. Woke up yesterday morning with my hip hurting. Don't know if I slept on it wrong or what. Didn't do anything to hurt it! I have so much to do this weekend with getting the yard & house ready for my son's graduation party next week! Can't afford to be hurt!

Have a great Thursday!!

Sometimes are bodies are becoming more muscular. You can't really lose weight and gain muscle at the same time. So your body may be in an adjustment period. Muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. The only explanation I can think of. And celebrate it cause it's not really the number on the scale but how you look and feel in your clothes...kwim?:D

Enjoy why you have him home!!! My dd came home after being away this year and I am loving it!!! Of course my other two children have already moved out!

What ever happens you look amazing. Your weight loss is truly an inspiration to all!!!:carrot:

I always weigh in on Saturday so I won't forget. You can always adjust it on Sunday if you lose more by than. But I know me and I know I will forget. Sounds like we are on the same diet! lol! Good all week...stinky all weekend.

:welcome:What plan were your following before when you were restricting carbs?

Mel: :goodluck: this week all alone with the kids. Brave woman! lol!

Good to see everyone!!!

We lost our router (luckily, the project I had due on Monday was by hand) .... JUST got it fixed.

I did join another gym, though, and just came back from zumba class. It was fun in a humiliating way.

Shanhat- I made the honey beans- spinach recipe you posted for dinner. YUM!! Thanks for sharing.

I let the crappy weather dictate my mood today which made for a poor choice of a palmier cookie with an afternoon coffee. Off to walk the dog in the rain for my penance.
Frustrated that the scale isn't moving (I wonder why? Palmier any one?)even though I should be elated that I can now do a 2 min plank.

Do you find it difficult to celebrate victories when you are struggling in other areas? Is this the I want it all now syndrome?

Elizabeth - I love how "talkative" you are. I never know what to say and feel that my posts look awkward.

In case the board is quiet this weekend because of the holiday (if you are in the U.S.), everyone have a nice holiday! Weigh in early if you want to - you can always update it on Sunday if you have time. We don't want to lose anyone just because of the holiday!!

Haha, I just changed my official weigh day to Friday from Saturday, because I seem to weigh less on Fridays than Saturdays. Odd, because I rarely cheat on Fridays. Although today is my Friday this week - worked last weekend, so I have tomorrow off - and it was crazy at work tonight, so I'm having a drink. :drinkup: So I'll probably post tomorrow's weight, but change it if Saturday's is lower.

I did do my 22 minute yoga workout twice today - I woke up before the alarm for the 2nd day in a row and did it this morning, then felt like I needed more after work.

Tomorrow I'm thinking Pilates and a walk with the mutts.

Shanhat, I gotta say Zumba intrigues me, but I am SUCH A KLUTZ. I've sprained my ankles multiple times just walking around, and I even blew out my ACL in a St Patrick's Day drinking & dancing incident. :o :drinkup: :o It might be fun, or I might break my klutzy neck.

Happy Memorial Day to all the Americans!

Shanhat81 Zumba is the one class at the gym that I have never been able to really stick to. I am really uncoordinated and feel that by the time I think I have a move down they are onto the next one. It's good that you a least had fun.

I have just started looking at the group exercise classes at Goodlife and am trying to come up with a schedule to get to as many different ones as possible.

I went to two this week, BodyAttack (sports conditioning) and YogaFit. I will definitely go back to both. Now all I need to do is work on not eating crap after all that exercise.

I've been busy as usual but came back to all of these congrats! Thank you!

I did a 5K last week and was not happy with my results so I think I will be amping up my prep for the Marine Corps 10K in October. The concern is not that I won't finish. I don't have an issue walking those types of distances. I just walk slow as molasses, lol. So the concern is finishing it in 1 hr and 33 minutes as the MCM stipulates. I have another 5K in September I plan to do, hopefully I can walk/run that one.

Happy Friday all-
Hope all of you in the US are ready for your long weekend!

selway- thank you for reminding people re: weighing in!

canuck- bodyattack sounds like a great challenge type class

Elizabeth- I LOVE airpopped pop corn with parmesan cheese

Well, I managed to get a weight posted, and it is even a loss (though a very small one)! I'm hoping I'll lose a bit more today and have a chance to update, but at least I know something is there. I'd be so discouraged if I got dropped from the competition from my own stupidity!

I'm about to head out to mow my grass. I consider it my nice little bonus workout (pushmowing) for the weekend. :)

Argh -- up 0.6. But it's unsurprising ... in 25 days, I worked over 350 hours! That's a lot of time of sitting on my butt.

Zumba class #2 was equally fun ... but omg .. I look like a bouncy tomato with a ponytail.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!!!

I'm making this tonight -- from Skinnytaste, 10 Points Plus per serving (no cheese and no bun will cut it down to 6) ...

Buffalo Turkey Burgers with Blue Cheese Broccoli Slaw

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups broccoli slaw
1/4 cup skinny blue cheese dressing (recipe follows)
1.25 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
2/3 cup grated carrots (grate in food processor)
1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 clove garlic, grated
1 tbsp red onion, grated
1/4 cup Franks Hot Sauce
salt and fresh pepper
oil spray
5 slices reduced fat cheddar
5 whole wheat burger buns (I used Martin's 100 calorie Potato Whole Wheat Buns, just like she recommended)


Directions:

In a medium bowl combine broccoli slaw and skinny blue cheese dressing. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, carrots, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Makes 5 equal patties, 5.5 oz each. (I zero out a plate on my food scale and measure each portion before I make the patties.)


Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, lightly spray the oil. Add burgers to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low.

Cook on one side until browned 4-5 minutes, then flip. Cook another 4 minutes or until burgers are cooked all the way through (keep heat medium-low to prevent burning); top with cheese and place on a toasted burger buns topped with broccoli slaw.

If grilling, clean grill well before cooking and spray with oil spray to prevent sticking.


Freezer Tip: To freeze raw, place them on a baking sheet with wax paper in between, when frozen transfer to ziplock bags.

To freeze cooked, you can fully cook them, then freeze in ziplock bags for quick meals; to re-heat you can microwave or thaw first then place on a skillet.

Skinny blue cheese dressing:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
1 tbsp light mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and freshly ground black pepper


Directions:

In a small bowl, mash blue cheese and yogurt together with a fork. Stir in mayonnaise, lemon juice, vinegar, and garlic powder until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 1 cup.

(Or, for one more point, you could just use Ken's Lite Blue Cheese Dressing!)

Hi Red Team,
It's good to see everyone is doing so well. I'm doing ok, but need to get back on track with both my diet and exercise. We went to the cemetaries today for the Memorial Day, 5 of them and visited 7 generations of family. I guess my roots here are pretty deep. It was so peaceful and I enjoyed walking around and looking at all the flowers. I remember my Grandmother and Mother going when I was little and then I went with my mother and since she is gone I take DD and while we are there I pass on the stories that were told to me.

Elizabeth- Weeds are a fact of life in a garden especially if you want to be organic. My secret is that by midsummer my garden is one big grassy weed patch but as my mother always said most vegetables originated as weeds and they are just getting comfortable. Mom could grow the biggest weed patch you ever saw and produce bushels of veges. I do know if we don't get a lot more rain my garden isn't going to do much.

Everyone have a great weekend!!
Bette K