I just found out I am a fabulous cook. My mom gave me a bunch of low-carb recepies and I tried a few of them yesterday. None of my family is on Atkins... but they loved the food I made! Mom especially loved it because she didn't have to cook or mess up her kitchen- I cooked it all at my place. I have never roasted a chicken before, but it was pretty good, if I do say so myself. Course, I basted it with butter... something my mom would never dream of doing, the health nut she is. I didn't tell her.

I had a horrible carb craving, though. I could barely stand it. I called my friend Andrea in NC, and without even knowing, she talked me out of it by telling me about how well she was doing with her diet (not Atkins) and going to the gym. She doesn't even need to lose weight.

Ellis - try my clam chowder recipe. You'll die a million deaths of happiness, I swear :D

Morti - That's exactly what it is. I love being able to look at something and go 'I did that.' It's actually a very sore point with DH right now because as wonderful as he is, he's also quite possibly the most unmotivated person on the planet. :p

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Mr. Mucus is back in the office! Kill me! Kill me! Kill me! I've got me headphones up all the way and can still hear him. Ack!

Brenda: Hope you get to feeling better -- that sounds miserable!

Jane: The scale can be very scary! Like Star said, drink lots of water. I had 4 liters yesterday and my scale says I'm back to where I started before the weekend.

Leenie: Love that attitude! Let's go get those pounds! Also, thanks for the broccoli-bacon salad recipe -- that sounds fabulous.

MrsH: Hope you get some more energy soon.

Shimma: Hope you get a job you're after!

TG: I forgot yesterday was Tuesday, too. It sounds like you're doing great so far!

Star: Enjoy your wood project! I'd love to see the finished product!

Morti: I really admire you for your job. (I'll keep saying that over and over and over again because it's something I could never do.)

Ellisdeekat: I was a closet cook, too. Once I started making low-carb dishes, I found out I'm a regular chef, and I love it!

Well, my first induction day went really, really well! I was so happy to make it through one day. When it came time for snacks, though, I couldn't figure out what to eat. I had become seriously addicted to peanuts and almonds, and I couldn't remember any good induction snacks. I finally settled on BBQ pork rinds. This re-induction will be good to remind of all the low-carb foods I'd forgotten.

Oh, and this is a major accomplishment for me! I went to McDonald's yesterday with a friend. I ordered a chicken Cesear salad! This may sound silly, but walking into a McDonald's and seeing and smelling the fries and burgers and not ordering them is huge for me! I didn't even snitch any of my friend's fries. Amazing! I was seriously strong yesterday!

I need to do some shopping. My size 12s are getting big! When I went to a beach cookout on Monday, I finally decided it was time to pull out the shorts. All I had left were two pairs from college. One, I'm not sure what size they were... no tag, but they fit. Another, was a size 10 from American Eagle, and they fit great! I can't believe it. I'm the same size I was in college, but 30 pounds heavier?!?! Does this mean my sizes will keep dropping? That would be exciting!

Well, I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Take care,
Jina

Star: Have you tried using 5F5? That is the stripper that I have always used and it seems to work the best for me. I love refinishing furniture. I hope you are right about the water Star......I am guzzling as I type.

Morti: Good for you but bad for them whoever the poor person is ;)

ellisdeekat: Congrats on becoming such a good cook. Isn't it fun!

TG: Good luck with the cleansing :fr:

Leenie: Could I blanch the broccoli for a second instead of using it raw? Probably but wanted to check.

Rhonda: Hope you get a job soon. Find something fun to do over the summer.

Mrs. H: Glad to hear the sickness is lessening. Take your naps...they are good for you :)

Jina: ooooooohhhhh new clothes to buy. I loves buying new clothes, really I do. (if no one else is old enough to remember that stupid cartoon character then that just made no sense) :lol:

Jane - are you talking about 'I love him raaaaaaaaaally I do'? I love her!

Jina - happy shopping! I'm becoming a serious shopping addict again. I love hanging out in the juniors section without feeling like a total fool :D

Good morning.

Brenda, you got the right idea. I was watching GMA this morning and they had a segment to weigh loss. They were talking to, I think, 14 people who had lost weight and kept it off. They said their success was their physical activity. They made sure that they had some kind of activity for at least one hour every day. One said that she breaks it down into two half an hour when she is pressed for time. They also said that the majority of them consider just plain walking as the bulk of their physical activity. So I think by challenging yourself to beat your May equator trek you are going to be very successful this month.

Jane, sorry that you gained 6 pounds, but I think most could be just water gain and hopefully you would be able to get back to your last week’s weight before your next weigh in. Maybe try and drink more water for the next few days. Hopefully with warmer weather we want to drink more water anyway.

Leenie, I like your idea of oldies music. I am going to tune in an oldies radio station and go for a nice one hour long walk at lunch time. The weather is cooperating nicely too, it is sunny.

Lisa, I hope that you feel energized by your vacation.

Rhonda, I too am going to cross my finger for a good fun summer job for you.

TG, I think easing to induction is the way to go. I too tried to ease into it, LOL! I eliminated my nightly Jello dessert in favor of one can of diet lime coke. Now if I can eliminate that today too I will be a happy inductor, LOL!

Star, it is so much fun to give a new life to something old. I have three flower pots that are crying, LOL, to be cleaned and painted. I meant to do it this past weekend, but I was too lazy. I just sit in the sun and read mindless fictions, it was great.

Laura, having things to do at work is a good thing. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of day always makes you feel good, doesn’t it?

Ellis, I too have discovered my passion for cooking since I switched to low carbing. Before this I loved to bake and hated to cook. Now it seems that I love to cook. I’ve got two low carb cookbook a few weeks ago and have been trying two to three new recipes a week. Also good for you on talking to your friend and staying away from carbs. I have read in so many places that when the craving hits we have to try to do something to get our mind off of it. It seems that it is only in our head and if our mind is busy with other things it wouldn’t want to be bothered with a sly thing like carb, LOL.

Jina, way to go for staying away from those fries. I totally agree that this feeling of being in control is priceless. Also congratulations on fitting into your size 10 shorts. You are obviously more tuned and fit now than when you were in college. Being heavier and fitting into the same size is the indication that your body is more muscle now. That is great. Congratulations.

dude, that's awesome.. congrats! I'm not sure if I wuld be able to do that. I would at least have to sneak a fry.

Here is your 50 sarge! :rofl: Sorry that's how I ended up when I hit the floor.

Sounds like everybody is having a pretty good day.

Lisa, sorry you are still sickly but it will pass.

Karen, are you still sick today.

Rhonda, good luck with the gas station job. That will keep you moving unless the gas prices continue to climb :devil: then no one will be going anywhere. HAHA!!

I am off to do some shopping for the restaurant so will check in later. Oh yeah, I eat the Russell Stover small candies when I cannot take it anymore and they are so good they will curb the craving really well. If you have not tried them I would highly recommend them.

A quick Hi to all the great ladies here!....Star- Mucus? * covers ears* LALALALALALALALALALALALA!!!

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY

Star: that's her!!!! :rofl: Raaaaaaally I do! :rofl:

OH crud. I can never catch up on days that it's more than 1 page. And if I do I won't have time to do the exercising I want to or go through any other posts. The curse of being online early in the morning and not being able to check here throughout the day.
I'm determined that despite the stupid :censored: cramps I'm going to exercise. I've got to today because tomorrow I have to go and mow lawn (again) and Friday I've got a thingy at the youngest DD's school. So no time on those days (unless I commandeer the tv at night...and THAT'S hard to do). So it's off to read a few more posts and then get to exercising. :)

Brenda - aerobic exercise will help relieve cramps. Get to it, girl!

I'm going to update my picture first. Keeping the pic of DH and me from Christmas but now showing the one taken on Memorial Day. Wish it showed me as thinner. But someday (and standing that way didn't help. :lol: )!!!