Hello Everyone!! :D

I see everyone is doing great and hanging in there with this low carb diet!!! :carrot:

As for me I was not so good this weekend. I did excercise everday but for some of my meals I did not stay OP. As of yesturday I am back on track and going strong. My WI is on Wednesday but I have decided to wait until next week because I don't want to see the scale stay at the same spot or maybe even go up :?: So I will wait until next week and hopefully see a drop. :crossed:

Rafaella--hope you can manage and cook some eggs LOL!! Sounds like you are doing a good job on your diet. Keep up the good work and don't let anything or anyone stop you!!!

As for my Valentine's Day weight loss goal I did not reach it. But, I can't blame anyone but myself!! I know I could have made it but I chose to eat off plan!! I know I know bad me. But, I have learned my lesson and plan to stay OP from now on and reach my goal and look and feel wonderful. The way I see it is it is out of my system and I will continue to victory.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day and stay OP!!

Hi all. Still on plan. Crabby, when I stay on plan during a particularly tempting time when I'm surrounded by carbs that I particularly love, even if I'm in a good space and it isn't particularly hard, the next day, or even two, are especially trying. I think it's a backlash. What seems to work for me, is to anticipate the backlash, and make myself something really, really yummy to take away the subconscious (or not so sub) feeling of deprivation. My favorite sinful treat is Liinda's Low Carb no-bake jello cheesecake. I divide it up into little ramekins and I have one for the next several nights before I go to bed. Makes me feel smug and pampered. Jello with cream is good too. So I forestall the backlash completely, without going off plan. It took me months to realize that if I go to a birthday party where all the goodies are homemade and stunningly good, and I don't have any, I better make myself something special when I get home or I'll be out of sorts and feeling sorry for myself for a day or three, and vulnerable to bingeing.

Yep, SC, it's absolutely gorgeous out there. Still. The first year I moved here from the central valley, it was June 6 and raining. It rained for another month. then the next spring we had 70 degrees the whole month of Feb. before it started to rain again. Then that winter we had a real monsoon season where everything horizontal flooded (ain't nothin' horizontal within miles of me) and last year we only had 40% of normal precip. and everybody in Lake County left their scanner on 24/7 starting around August, worried about fire. Norcal is nothing if not inconsistent...Every year, I lost 20 lb in the summer and gained it back in the winter. Sigh. Not this year, though! Lost 36, gained 10, lost it, gained it back, am now losing it again. SOOOO much better this year!

I don't remember who it was who pre-bbq'd hamburger patties and had them for breakfast, but you know who you are, you brilliant thing you. I have done that twice now, 8 patties at a time, and it absolutely saves my butt when I just can't bring myself to expend any actual effort. Something good and good for me that I can just pick up and shove in my mouth when I'm hungry and previously would have made a peanut butter sandwich or a bowl of Frosted Sugar Bombs, or a box of toaster strudels, or something else that does not require an IQ bigger than my shoe size.

TTFN.

Bouncin - I am totally with you on the "be prepared" tip! You are sooo right...it's a mental thing...I think. When I had my superbowl party with cakes, chips, etc., I did want a piece of the homemade chocolate cake I helped my daughter prepare, but I didn't take it. Had I not had a piece of sugar free chocolate, I might have grabbed a slice. But mentally I didn't feel deprived of chocolate, cuz, in essence, I did have chocolate...so I didn't miss out!

Rafaella - Am I understanding you correct..."woman who works in your house"..."never cooked an egg before"...whoooo....way to go girl!!! I'm loving you already....smile. On a serious note though...I think it's great that your gaining control (along with the rest of us) over what your eating. How's things on the exercise tip??? signed...wishing I were you!!!!

Weightsmasher - Don't be too hard on yourself...that's what this diet is all about...fallin and picking yourself right on up and getting back on the horse. Remember, it takes 17,500 calories over your daily caloric intake (what it takes to sustain you) to gain 5 lbs of fat...I doubt hardly that your little "cheat" consisted of nearly that many!!! Glad to see you have the right attitude. You go girl!!!

Aud - Gymrat...heeee...I'm loving it!!! You go girl! I guess I was a hornball to begin with...it's just this weight loss makes the fire burn just a little more brighter!!! Menopause...huh...I thought menopause was my friend. I am sooooo waiting for us...can you send me your menopause...I love being hot, no periods, I'm a b*tch anyway...bring it on...!!! But really, what's so baaad about menopause? Everyone says hot flashes, but it there anything else that really bad about it???

Lynnar - thanks for your words of support. That client really made me feel like sh*t today...but I'm over it. Appreciate your words though...it's nice to feel accepted for who you are. Thanks again.

Ta ta...ladies...off to feed my starving child! Til' later. Joyce

Fay: I need some salty nuts!!!
 

Just kidding. For those of you that don't understand the pandora's box that Fay opened (no jokes about pandora's "box" Fay) you can check the peanut butter thread.

:love:Happy late afternoon all (it is 4:45 here). It's lovely to be home when everyone else at the office is still working. AND I got the benefit of being out in the wonderful weather today AND that involved some serious hiking around. I feel virtuous. Especially since I already did 1/2 hour on the recumbent bike before I left today (When I have to drive a lot I really crave some exercise. That is odd since I never feel the same way after I've been sitting on my big keister all day at my office.). I have switched from alternating slow and fast and alternating resistence on the bike to pumping the thing up to max and keeping up a slow steady pace. It is burning about 50 calories more in the same time frame and also keeping my heart right around the target point the entire time. I've added 2lb barbells that I do curls with also. :lifter:

So I have found something that is working for my cravings. First off I should say that I miscaculated TOM and it is due next Tuesday. Now I know where the cravings are coming from. They were freaking me out. Here is what is stopping them cold for a couple hours at a time. I have made up some chicken salad with mayo, capers and a dash of curry. A couple of forkfuls of that seems to be doing the trick. I thought for awhile I was going to have to call Dr. Bombay like Samantha did on Bewitched to treat her voracious ravenisitius. Now I am dating myself with 1960's television shows. "Dr. Bombay, Dr. Bombay, Emergency Come Right Away.

I took the measurement advice and did my measurements this morning and compared them to the ones I took the first day of the plan. I have lost a total of 10 1/2 inches. I promised myself I would stay away from that freakin' scale until at least the 25th. Let's see if I can stand it.

Oh Gawd! My cocker (obese cocker) has the worst gas right now. I don't know what she got into but I'm dyin' here. I know it's not me. I haven't had something that good to eat in a loooooonnnnnggggg time. Sorry if that was gross.

Well DH just got home and wants me to make him some pork chops for dinner. I think I'll give him some of those frozen mashed rutabagas as well.

ox
SC

Hey All! It's 10:30pm here...and don't usually post this late, but I'm so stoked tonight. I was feeling pretty sluggish these last couple of days...like working out was a chore, instead of like...brushing your teeth. I want it to be more like waking up, bathroom, hygiene, exercise, etc....so, tonight, I said f*ck it!...get off your lazy a$$ and workout..not just any old (just getting by) workout...but a push yourself to the limit workout, you coward!!!! And so....I did it!!!! Yeah ME!!! I went from level 2 on the recumbent bike to level 5 and knocked out 20 min + 5 min cool down..yeah buoy!

It's really hard for me to stay motivated guys...I'm a single mom (ex-husband lives in different state), in a new city (only been here for 1 1/2yrs), no friends here...just people around me who constantly need me...Nobody to just chill with or get support from (like a good workout buddy/friend). I don't go out (no clubbin, karaoke'ing, comedy club, etc.)....all I basically do is raise my daughter best I can and work! I think this is just what the doctor ordered...a new haircut (which I've already got...it's killer), a new body (in progress) and a heathier look on life...not sure what the future has in stored for me on the relationship tip...but we'll see????

Well, Joyce, I'm delighted that you're finding the weightloss gives an added oomph to your lovelife! You go, girl! But speaking as Single McSingle of the Clan McSingle, Lone survivor of Singlonia, I can't see myself adding much to your proposed Bowm-chika-bowm-bowm thread. But, you know, all power to your elbow! (Or other body part of choice.)

Bouncing - excellent work with the breakfast-planning! I thoroughly enjoyed this morning's leftover bacon-wrapped chipolatas, chopped up and fried with an egg and a bit of cheese. Yum! Easy cooked breakfast rules!

SC...whoops! Me and the double entendres - it's just automatic! But, really, resisting a straight line about salty nuts is more than I can manage! ;)

Meanwhile, last night I went to the first rehearsal of the little play I'm in for the Fringe. It was a lot of fun, but it's depressing as **** that I've only got four or five lines. I'm super chuffed for my friend, who's not very confident in her acting, and I know that she'll be excellent. But she's going to need some support to be excellent - right now she's not quite understanding the part or her lines. And I'm being the best friend I can be, and I'm sincerely chuffed for her. But - I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. Because I do understand the part and the lines already, and I could totally do this part, and I could be funny as ****...but she's tall and skinny and pretty, and I'm short and fat. So I'm playing the middle aged frumpy mouse, and she's playing the office b*tch - ie the main role.

:(

This makes a small, shameful part of my soul feel decidedly jealous and self-pitying.

But I'm trying to use it as added motivation for me to shed all this bloody weight. I am f*cking THROUGH with people comparing me to Dawn French (fat British comedian); I want them to compare me to Drew Barrymore*. And in a year's time, that's what they're going to be doing, damn it! Meanwhile, we perform in March - I can be down another stone (14lb) by then. And in a year's time, when the next Fringe comes up, I can be competing with the hot chicks rather than consigned to the fat mousy frump roles on the basis of my build.

Meanwhile I got a callback for the production of Neil Simon's Rumors that I auditioned for on Monday. Fingers crossed on that one - there are 2 roles that my build shouldn't interfere with, insh'allah, so I'm a little more hopeful. But on the other hand, the competition IS scarily good. The audition on Monday felt a bit like Pop Idol! But it was still fun. And I really do want a part in this play - I could kick ***! It would be great fun! And it would help me to be a better friend and support my mate in this fringe play if I knew I'd got a part in Rumors waiting for me. (Plus - so exciting to think about how much weight I can have shifted by the end of May! Should be down at least another 32lb by then, maybe more...)

*several people have done this before, you see, and as we're the same height and similar ages and actually not all that dissimilar looking, I've made a little montage of pictures on my fridge of me and of her (and Gillian Anderson, whose height and age ditto), by way of inspiration for the end of my weightloss journey.

BAB - I could soooo see you as the "skinny little actress"...you want to be. Must more important...I see a beautiful you right now! Talented (as a writer definately), articulate (sp???), with a beautiful spirit...and yes, I do see the Drew Barymore resemblence!

I think you should help your "co-star/mate". I think it would be more helpful to you than her. Try not to be envious...but encouraged. What I mean is look at her and see the you - you want to be! Who knows...she could be shallow, educationally challenged and lousy in bed (oops..mind in toilet again!) Changing the outside (believe it or not) is easy...it's the inside that's a b*tch!...and you've got that covered. Keep going strong with your new WOE no matter what...who knows...you could get the role in "Rumors" and then 3 months later...have the producers tell you, "sorry, but your too skinny for the part"...Don't let anything stop you...it's your health...it's your life...it's your personal self esteem...and....it WILL BE YOUR sex life!!! (damn...that hornball is popping up again!) hee hee! Joyce

What I found: Sigh. I found a photo of myself stuck into the back of an old address book last night. In the photo (probably about 1986 or 1987 )I only weighed about 109. My head looks a little largish to me but at the time I felt fat. I must have been nuts. Maybe if my ticker actually starts moving again and I feel some measure of success I will adjust my goal down to the 109. It seems absolutely a fantasy number to me now. All I remember really about that time was having my first apartment in San Francisco (A very cute studio with french windows overlooking chinatown on one side and union square on the other), going to dance class for hours at night, and being hungry all the time. Oh, I also remember my best friend Kelly going through my closet and throwing ugly, or what he termed to be unflatter shoes out the window so they landed in chinatown. "Cork wedgies? You must be mad! Look at this thick rubber sole! Let's go shopping right now!"

SC

HI AUD-Thanks for missing me, Leo and I are going to a trying time right now. We don't know for sure but it looks like the cancer came back to Leo's lung. Several weeks ago,Leo took a catscan and the doctors told us it was scar tissue,and he should have take an x-ray to make sure. Well our reg doctor called to say that the x-ray showed an infection in the lung,and he send the results over to the Oncologist, last Thursday and now its Wed[whole week] and we haven't heard from them.


I so frustrated not know what it is, as Leo don't want to call them.I think hes afraid to find out.
That why I have been missing

Hugs :) BB

WI day for me and I'm claiming a one pound drop for a total of 12 since the first of the year. I'm really trying not to let my WOE crumble around me, but I'm entering the danger zone. I've been doing this for too long without enough weight loss to really motivate me. The one or two carbs that keep creeping in are just so hard to avoid. Like last night, I got home late and had already eaten the "dinner" I planned (left over stir fried chicken zapped at work), but I wanted something else. I had left DD and DH a casserole of pasta and I didn't go there! But the only I thing I could find that didn't take preparation was pre-cooked sausage patties. It didn't help that when I complained to DH ("I can't find anything to eat") he started suggesting stuff that wasn't really OP and then getting annoyed when I refused it. So the sausage was probably 2 carbs, and the cheese I melted on it another 2 and the Beef Jerky DH "found" for me- another 2 and the extra cheese I ate later, another 2. Eight carbs for a snack is probably too much! It's those stray 1 and 2 carbs that put me over every time.

I wish I could find a way to really up my exercise, but that comes down to scheduling. I go to class 3X a week and that's really all I can afford to miss work for. I admire all of you that do tapes and bikes at home. I just don't seem to have the energy to exercise at home after work. If I don't do it during the day, it doesn't get done.

Faye, I think half the battle is self image. If you never accept yourself as the frumpy mouse, you're half way to the Drew Barrymore body. I know you'll do it! And who can blame you for being jealous of your friend? It's better to acknowledge the jealousy and then help her as much as possible. We'll all be hoping for the Rumors part!!

Bambi, I can't beleive you're having trouble making friends! You're so much fun on here. But taking the time to work on a healthy body may be exactly what you need. I'm not finding menopause very difficult. My DH is thrilled with the hot flashes, now we don't fight as much about turning on the furnace! And I don't miss the missed periods, although the complete and total unpredictablity in recent cycles is a hard. Everyone is different, even in how they react to menopause. I'm probably pretty lucky. If I've gotten *****ier, no one has noticed (and maybe that's not a good thing).

SIC- 109? I don't think I ever weighed 109. I think I went from being a skinny kid to an overweight adult in about two days. I skipped from 90 pounds to 140. Now I'd do about anything to be 140 again (except stay on a diet long term - of course). My goal now is 150, but I'd be thrilled to get under 200. Really thrilled.

Lynnar - Don't get discouraged too fast!!! 20 grams is only the induction limit...not the OWL limit (in which you will continue to loose FAT). Remember Fat loss is much slower process than water loss. The first 2 weeks, we mostly loose water. I've only lost 13 lbs since 1/5/08...and given that and what the other newbees are posting...you sound like you are right on target. Working out 3 times per week is great!!! Congradulate yourself...you deserve it!!! Anyway...stay in there...I'd miss your post...smile. Oh, BTW, thanks for the compliment...it's not that I can't make friends...it just that I don't have time to...I own and run 3 businesses, have an 8 yr old, a 21 yr old, and 2 grands....it's nice though that I get to talk to you guys...sooooooo DON'T GIVE UP!!!! Joyce

BB - So sorry to hear about your DH. Hey...don't be afraid to call, call and call again to the Oncologist...they should have gotten some info back to you all by now! My dad had cancer (colon) and fought it for almost 2 yrs...unfortunately he died in 1997. If he had taken the measures to get it detected early...he would still be here today. One thing I learned from that is...don't be afraid to persist with these doctors, get 2nd opinions, and demand answers that you can understand. Most times though...it's good when you don't hear from them...it usually means that it's not benine. Anywhoo...you are in my thoughts...stay strong and wish you and DH a positive outcome! Joyce

Beach Bum. just saw your post. Sorry to hear about Leo. Of course, he should call. It might not be bad news. Of course, he doesn't want to! I can't imagine how scary that is. If writing about it here helps, go for it! Sometimes I find its easier to "talk" on the boards. We're all on your side!
Bambi, three businesses? Wow!

What STRESS you must be under beachie!:( Surely the oncologist would call by now if it were that suspicious - but I don't want Leo to be a statistic of a poorly run medical office dangit!:mad: I say take the phone in another part of the house & call & DEMAND to know the status TODAY - while you're still on the line - don't let them put you off! Good OR Bad! Then if they need to see him - tell them you'll have him there in the morning - WHAT TIME? Later, you can tell Leo the office called you guys.

I'm switching my prayers from cloudy film to infection - that's already cleared, that is. Hang in there & so hoping you'll let us know how its going even tho' its such a trying time.:hug:

THOROUGHLY enjoyed all the Posts over coffee . . . but now gotta FLY - could have wrote your Post weightsmasher! We'll get thru this somehow!

I'll write Why I Hate Menopause when I get done laughing & crying bambi!;)

Have a Great Hump Day Everyone!:carrot:

(Up 2 lbs to 230 on my w/i)

LADIES,LEO JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE ONCOLOGIST,AND ITS RADIATION BURN OR AS WE CALL IT SCAR TISSUE.-The reason it took so long for the results were The Radiologist was off on Monday & the Oncologist was off yesterday.The two doctors compared the two [catscan and x-ray] and saw no cancer cells anywhere. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!It was a roller coaster ride for the two of us,but we managed to to come down safely on the ground. Thanks for all of your concerns. We do appreciate all that you've done for us.


Hugs:) BB

BB - I'm soooooo happy for you both...Yeahhhhh!!!! Whew! Joyce