I love Farmers Markets. I really don't go enough. I need to take advantage of all the great fruits and vegetables that are available now before everything freezes up and doesn't taste as good throughout winter.

Robert, I was thinking about you. Do you really skip dinner? Is there a way to save a couple hundred calories to leave some room for that? Weight Watchers has a great "0 point soup" that is pretty low cal. That would be a great option for you if you have some calories to spare. I hope that came out ok and you don't feel like I'm criticizing your program. Everyone is different, but I know for me, skipping a meal would lead me towards sabotage eventually. Just some thoughts.

Missed Jazzercise last night, which bummed me out. Little Miss has cheerleading tonight at the Y, so I think I'll drop her off and go to the gym for a half hour. What a great way to sneak in a workout. I work in the world of immunizations and flu season is here, so I'm a little busier than normal. Those are the times I easily am swayed into grabbing a quick bite to eat and not eat with purpose. But, being aware of my old habits is what will help me to maintain my new habits.

Boomerang, I agree with Dana that you rock my world. I'm so thankful for having somewhere to check in. I'm surprised at how quickly I've fit in...I haven't even hit my 20 day mark! I think tomorrow's the big day for me and I'll be able to get a flashy signature to mark my weight loss. Yay!

I'm still struggling to "train" those around me. My wonderful hubby brings me my coffee every morning and puts too much foofoo creamer in it. I hate to ask him to change it up, because I'm so thankful he does such a kind thing for me, but I need every extra calorie I can get!. I know I need to suck it up and ask him to ease up a bit. He's so supportive of me, I'm sure he won't mind my suggestion.

Hope everyone has a good day. It's our last 80 degree day before we start dropping. I think I'll be having a funeral for my capris soon. They served me well as my "shorts" this last summer, but they'll be too big for me next summer. Yay for that!!

Hi all
Well, if our humidity of the last week hadn't frustrated me already, today we had the guys cut our lawn and I like to apply whatever (grass seed in this case), right after they leave, so it has a week to get into the ground before they vacuum it up again.
I changed my clothes, dug out the spreader and the seeds, plopped it onto the lawn, got my audiobook going and it started to rain . I quickly put the whole thing in the garage so the seeds wouldn't get wet, came back in, changed my clothes and within 5 min. it stopped. Repeated the entire routine and when I got halfway through it started to rain again. Can I add a couple of extra calories to my daily 1500 just for frustration alone? Lisa, I think in WW that would be about 6 points or so, right?
Lisa, you guys are really breaking my heart with your kindness Thank you. I am really happy that we all found each other.
Your suggestion to Robert made me think that, had I not found a couple of women here to tell me that it was ok to tailor my WOE to my needs, I'd still be struggling. Sometimes you offer a suggestion and someone can have an epiphany! That happened to me when I landed here again, around the beginning of the month. Since then I am sooooo comfortable and happy again, but more importantly, I have hope that I'll be able to maintain once I get there. I think we know that people here offer suggestions because we care
Way to go, figuring out a way to get in a workout! I can't wait to see your flashy new signature and OF COURSE you fit in! You are charming, helpful and supportive and I so enjoy seeing your posts! As for your capris, they'll take the place of your sweatpants next summer
Hmmm training well meaning loved ones.... Is it absolutely horrendous to suggest a bit of subterfuge? If you are the only one using your foo foo creamer (that just cracks me up!), is it possible to mix it with something of similar texture and color but that has lower calories? This would reduce your intake somewhat, if you think it is worth the hassle. Your loving hubby could still do his thing and you'd reduce the cals. Of course, you could always tell him the truth and if that works it is great, but then he might bring you a muffin to make up for the reduced amt. of creamer
Have a great day, everybody!

Lisa, can you make a casual comment as you're making your own cup of coffee sometime? "Ah, I need to lay of the foo foo creamer a bit and save myself the calories for something else." Also, I'm sure if you just ask him to use a little bit less he'll be fine with it- it's not like you're saying "ugh, I HATE the way you make coffee, you terrible coffee maker!" It's just you trying to make some modifications. I know what you mean, though- when someone does something sweet for you, it's hard to tell them to do it differently without feeling like you're spanking them!

Boomerang, I sure am glad you came back to this place! What region do you live in? We are having NO humidity here. It's just dreary and chilly. I am not looking forward to the winter. I'm from the northeast and I thought I was used to cold- but this place gets bone chilling cold! Ugh. I had never heard of those exercises you mentioned- I will have to look into it! Although now that it's been a week since the interview it's seeming like a very slim chance. Disappointing, but I told myself at least the commute would be decided for me!

All that sweating has to count for at least a few extra calories!

1,710 Cal today (62 gm Protein).

Lifted free weights 1 hour and 30 min. Cardio (450 Cal)

Lisa for me the evenings are always the big problem and eating can make me even hungrier, especially on this (for me) extremely low calorie plan. My actual appetite is for 5-6,000 Cal so I have to be really careful in the evenings, because my body wants to make up that big deficit I ran up during the day.

Last week I did make a very low calorie onion soup (caramelized onions and bouillon cubes) which is a good choice in the evening and sometimes I do eat low calorie vegetables and drink unsweetened "Arnold Palmers".

Tomorrow I am going to do my Cardio in the evening which is another good hunger suppressant.

Dana The tomatoes, onions and peppers are really good right now at our markets. I will be doing a lot with those ingredients this week.

Dana, could you please send some of your temps down my way a bit? PLEASE? I hope you will get the job you are hoping for but at my age, I've come to believe that more often than not, things happen for a reason. If you do not get this one, I believe that something more suited to your needs will come your way.

I will do what I can, boomerang! As long as you can take the rain with the cooler temps The brisk weather in the fall is just the best. But it's so much better when it's sunny and brisk.

And thank you for your insight- you are so right- everything does happen for a reason.

Wait, no Dana, no! I reread my post several times and nowhere did I say anything about rain. Lemme make sure that my order goes in correctly: 1.Temperatures in the 50s 2. Dry 3. A nice, light breeze. That's it. Now wasn't that easy? And thank you very much, you're the best!

Ha ha! Well, if I'm going to send you the chilliness, it's going to come at a price. With rain. But I can't send it yet because it's still here. And I'm sipping on my gigantic coffee because all this dreariness is KILLING ME!!!!

But, I will still do what I can!!

I hope you guys are having a great day! I skipped the gym this morning even though I was awake. I had set a goal to make it all five weekdays and then skipped today. I had to be at work a bit early to meet someone and played it safe (and lazy). Oh well. Trying not to beat myself up or be so "all or nothing" as I've been in the past. I'll just go for a little bit longer on Saturday or Sunday.

Hi all! Jazzercise tonight, which is good since I skipped Tuesday. Things are starting to cool down here as well. High of 64 today. I'm a little sad as I kissed my boys off this morning. They're headed up into the beautiful Colorado hills for a two day outdoor class for school. Hubby is chaperoning. Not sure how I like that I get the farm field trip and he gets outdoor school. My son is excited about the Elk Ecology they get to do and I know they're going to have a great time.

Someone mentioned audiobooks. I love them! I used to borrow from the library and put it on my mp3 player. Then I could only listen to it when I was working out. It gave me such incentive to go do my workout so I could listen to my book. I was told today I have to take a work trip next week and it'll be a four hour drive. Looking forward to a library trip to pick out another book.

Happy Thursday! Make it a great day!

Lisa

That sounds like a fun trip, Lisa...I would also rather have the outdoor school, too! But I hope you are able to enjoy some 'me time' while the family is away!

I love the idea of audiobooks as well. I listen to podcasts that I download when I work out, and I really like your idea of only listening to the book when you were exercising. That IS a great incentive!

Hi early risers
Dana, so sorry, really about your depressing days. Here: (wish we had a sun emoticon). I was in Scandinavia a couple of times and even in Aug. it was dark and cold and rainy and I wondered how people were surviving. We got rain this morning too.
I think the dedication to your exercise regimen is great but I agree, being somewhat flexible with your schedule may actually be motivating. I find that if I don't walk first thing in the morning, I rarely go. I just miss it for the day and I LOVE walking. By not having this all or none attitude, as you said, you'll probably be more likely to (still) get a workout in, at some point. Good for you!

Lisa, I'm with Dana on the excellent suggestion of getting some "me time", though I can imagine how you miss all you boys.. You guys blow me away with all our exercising. I don't do any. I just hate it. Maybe when I'm done with the loss I'll see if I can do some stuff at home to tone my arms. I SO admire you!

Ahhh audiobooks. One of the greatest things that was ever invented. When I was working I'd be driving for 2-3 hrs a day sometimes and I could not believe that I was being paid for "reading"! I use my audiobooks during every activity that is not incompatible with reading. I went to the supermarket one time and a woman who was behind me on line exclaimed "Hey, YOU ARE READING!!!". I laughed and confirmed her observation. She said "I hate shopping, I never thought how much easier it would be with a book". Hmmm, yeah, me too
At my library, you can download books through a program called Live-Brary. I haven't taken out any audiobooks in more than a year. I have this tiny player called a Sansa Clip. It is about 3x4 inches and I can download about 30 books on it at a time. I use my membership and that of my husband and my parents and I am set for months! I have three of these players and I give one to my mom. The nice thing about it is that you don't have a deadline for returning the books. When I go on vacation I have several dozen books with me and I got one of those splitters that allows a second person to listen too. The units can be charged from an electrical outlet or the computer (no batteries needed). OMG, I guess I really love this thing, ha?
Yesterday I was in a cooking mood. That happens extremely rarely. I used a recipe for wholewheat crackers and adjusted it to make it healthier and lower in cals. I ate the entire portion (over 700 cals) but that was ok because my limit is 1500. I felt like I was binging without actually binging. I was one happy camper!
Hope you all have a great day

I'm crabby. My house is still in turmoil as we're still putting things back together after the remodel. We are NEVER home so it makes it hard to do what needs to be done. When I am home, I don't want to be here because it's just such chaos and clutter. Makes me sad and I'm just overwhelmed. We'll see what I might be able to accomplish this weekend. I hope I can fix things back up so I'm not feeling so yuck.

Sorry for the negative post. I think I've got a little "woe is me" happening and I need to snap out of it. Hoping for a loss on the scale tomorrow for my official weigh in.

Pity party for one? I obviously had a rough night and am feeling much better this morning. It's Friday! AND....I'm down 2.5 pounds, making my grand total 10 pounds!! That's a reason to celebrate!!

Not much going on today. Tomorrow we're having date night and going to see the movie Courageous and have dinner with friends. My plan for tomorrow is to make wise choices, but allow myself a little splurge. My plan is to cut the portions in half and give leftovers to hubby to eat. Hoping to go to Texas Roadhouse.

Next week, I'm leaving on Tuesday, spending two days in a workshop, and then returning on Friday. I will be missing two Jazzercise classes, which really bums me out. Oh! I should look and see if they happen to have a class in their area! I doubt Buffalo, WY has one, but certainly worth looking into. If not, I have checked and the hotel has a gym. I'm committing to a one-hour workout on Tues/Thur in place of Jazzercise. And a half hour workout on Wednesday. I am putting this here to hold myself accountable.

Hope everyone has a super great Friday!

Lisa

boomerang- First of all... thanks for the sunshine! It hasn't reached here yet (UNBELIEVABLE!!!) but as long as I know it's coming! I am the same way with any kind of exercise... when I get home from work (where I sit on my duff all day, so I don't know why I'm tired), I'm just done for. I'd rather sit around and read trashy magazines and watch the ridiculous amount of things I have on my DVR. There are just a billion excuses to *not* get your exercise in- and it feels so good to just 'get it done!' I never thought I'd be a proponent of doing anything in the morning... but this, I feel strongly about! Thanks for the live-brary suggestion! I am going to look into it. The first thing I do when I move anywhere new is get a library card because I'm a big nerd. Well, not the first thing... but you know.

I love those cooking moods! Take advantage of it while you can is what I say! Those crackers sound delicious. And sometimes you have to go for the "binge that isn't really a binge." I did that last night with popcorn. I feel like I can sit there and snack absent-mindedly, which is something I LOVE to do (but before it was with cookies, brownies, leftovers, whatever..) I try not to do it a lot but heck, whatever works, right?!

Lisa, I hope your day is better today. It already sounds like it is- isn't it funny how the day after a horrible day never seems quite so bad? Sometimes you just need to sleep on it! Congratulations on the loss, that's wonderful news! And sounds like a great plan for double date night. I really find that a night (or even two) of going out to dinner doesn't derail me too much- I think the big problem was when I used it as a license to eat whatever I wanted for the rest of the day. Enjoy!

I made up my lack of exercise from yesterday, somewhat. I didn't have to be at work until 10, so I got up at my normal time and did an hour on the elliptical as opposed to my usual 40 minutes. I did wimp out on monday and left before my 40 minutes were up, but I think if I add it up, I still exceeded my exercise goal for the week. I really do feel a lot better getting a sweat session in, but by the time I left one office for another, I was already dragging and stopped to get a huge coffee. Second day in a row. Yesterday I was like a crazy person for most of the day after that coffee because it was so strong. I used to be such an addict but now that I'm sticking to my one cup in the morning, it has a different impact on me!

On that note... off to get some stuff done! Have a great day and a great weekend, all!

OMG Dana, thank you for your cosmic gift!!!! I was in heaven this morning! It was chilly, it was dry, it was breezy, it was sunny! I am so glad you enjoyed some sunshine too.
You know, sometimes I feel like doing absolutely N O T H I N G!!! In fact, I often feel like doing absolutely nothing and when I feel that way, popcorn is my "go to" eat a lot without piling on the calories food. At least you work out! And you also don't eat thoughtlessly from well...all our favorites . I am participating in the no binging thread too and today I reached day 21. When I think of all the days, months, years, when I'd stuff my face all day for absolutely no reason. When I was eating the way it was recommended, I was starving. Then, at least I had a reason to overeat but the mindless eating was just so self destructive. We're moving forward, my friend and adjusting our behaviors.
I've been reading the blog of one of the success stories. It is a woman named Lyn. Am I allowed to offer a link if it already appeared on this site and it is written by one of the 3FC members? If you guys say yes, I'll offer it here. It has so much wisdom, so much hope, so much honesty and together with you guys and the people from the no binging thread, I feel hopeful that this time I can not only "do it" (I've done it dozens of times) but know what to do when I get there.
Lisayou do not need to have a one person pity party because we're joining you. That's what we're here for. You are going through a lot and the whole point of our being here is to support you when things are difficult and to rejoice with you when you lose an impressive 2.5#. Ten pounds must feel like such a milestone and the fact that you've stuck with your eating plan and exercising just shows how determined you are. Good for you!
I hope everybody has a good weekend. Dana, I may be tempted to try those crackers but make them sweet. I'm also thinking of trying to make some healthy cake???? Is that an oxymoron, people? All this no saturated fats, no sugar, no all the stuff I've been living on all my life is really throwing me but I'll keep movin' on.