[loveandlaughalways]

Thanks for the welcome. I am glad to be here!

hikein-yes two children are very picky, and my other one will eat you out of house and home if you let him. I have three growing boys 13, 9, and 5.

I need somemore healthy quick simple tastey recipes; does any one have any favorites to share?

[spanky]

Hi!

Here at work--I work midnight shift when I do a weekend. Prolly I'm the only one awake on the boards at the moment! Despite the wacked hours, I've been staying on plan and even looking forward to my first Monday weigh in. That'll be my first weigh-in of 2007 and my hope is to make every weigh-in a good one this year.

I had this great NEW attitude hit my mind today: I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and, as usual, noticed my fat spots. But THIS time I thought "those won't be there by Easter". WHOA!!! Was that me??? I'm thinking that this time I actually trust myself not to let myself down. And I trust that this plan I have is really do-able.

Gosh that was a great revelation!

Good Weigh-In vibes to all!

Ipa

[**Jennifer**]

Love & Laugh- here's a link to the recipes that we've collected from all the chicks here, past and present. There should be a lot of good ideas in there for healthy, and not too complicated meals.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47230

Ipa- what a great attitude and thought! You definitely won't let yourself down...you've got a plan of action, and you're kicking butt with it. I'm sure it will be a positive weigh in tomorrow.

Julie- now with the good food in the house, things will be easier. The planning & preparation- that's so much of our succes in the past. And we're getting there. Step by step. No more excuses left now, are there?

Today is going to be the last of the food prep, and getting Monday & Tuesday breakfast & lunch planned & made. Laundry, some cleanup, and some chill out time that is well deserved after the ridiculous amounts of stuff we did this week. All good, though. I can't complain. Happy Lazy Sunday!

[JKitty]

Lucy = sick as a dog. I haven't updated, I know - sorry! I've been pretty much couch-ridden since Friday because of this stupid cold. My head feels like a giant helium balloon, and I've actually sneezed so hard I hurt myself. *lol*

Anyway... food has been okay - could have been a lot worse, let's put it that way. I have been drinking Coke/Sprite because it helps me feel better, btu I'm working on water, too.

I'm hoping to be back up & running tomorrow. Until then... take care!

[chaarli]

Well today is the start of a new week for me and I'm hoping I do better than the last week.
It took me a while to get myself on track but I'm getting there.
Today is Weigh in day and I have lost 1 pound so that's better than nothing.
I need to get back into my exercise routine though, it's summer holidays here and the children are home from school so I just haven't sorted my routine out with the kids being at home.
I finally seem to be getting my food under control so that's a good start.
Will be away for ten days from Wed and won't have internet access for that time so won't be able to post but hopefully will have a good loss to post when I get back.
Keep up the good work everybody

[nicvic6]

Chaarli~ Hee hee. I had to do a double take on your profile. Summer holidays threw me off for a minute. Although, the weather here in Georgia is so wacky, it felt like summer yesterday.

Jennifer~ Keep up those trips to PUBLIX. You are like my private shopper. I sent the hubby today to buy as much chicken breast as he could.

JKitty~ I hope you feel better!!!

Ipanema~ I need to start thinking like you. We have college friends coming to visit Friday-Sunday, and I want to hide in the bedroom all weekend.

hikein2005~ Way to go on the exercise. Let's challenge each other to do 3-4 days this week. I only did 3 last week, so I need someone to push me to do the fourth day. But, by Fridays, that extra hour of sleep is so nice!

Love and Laugh~ I have some recipes which my kids usually eat. I will send you a PM with my email address on it.

Have a super night!!

[miss_elisha]

Morning chicks!

to everyone I haven't said hi to yet!

I don't have a lot of work lined up for me at the moment (that doesn't mean it won't come later though), so I'm just going to work on this post for as long as it takes to say something significant (this is probably going to be a long one... haha). It's 8:50 right now, let's see...

Well, this week was significantly better for me. I didn't exercise over the weekend though. It's been a few days... since last Wednesday. So today I'm putting it first on the list when I get home, specifically because I have a lot I want to get done and I know that if I don't exercise FIRST I won't do it.

But I am down 3.6 pounds this week, and I know that is largely due to my increased water consumption and the reduction of bloat and the ending of my ToM. Whatever, I'll take it.

Yesterday Steve and I went to the grocery store (after breakfast at IHOP ) and got some healthy foods, including fresh fruits and veggies. Not a lot, because a different store has better produce, so I will get more when I get paid on Wednesday. But we have enough to last us a few days, and at some point today or tomorrow I am going to make up menus for the next couple of weeks so I know exactly what I need to buy and cook.

Today I have to make up those menus, work out a budget for the year (I need a raise!), exercise, and finish taking down the Christmas decorations. And it would be really nice if I could get some sleep, because I only got about 3 hours last night. I wonder if anyone would notice if I shut my office door and took a nap.

In other news, I've decided that I'm cutting back on carbs for a while. I'm not cutting them out entirely, and I guess I'm not even going "Low Carb," just lower than I have been. The Christmas season filled me up with sugar and flour, and my blood sugar is being all wacky, so I know I need to flush them out a bit.

Of course, I've still got way too much sugary creamer in the coffee I'm drinking right now. But I don't have any starches or sugars (other than fruit) for lunch or snacks.

My menu for today looks like this:

Breakfast:
2 c. coffee w/creamer (white chocolate macadamia nut creamer... )
1 whole wheat English muffin
1 sl. FF American cheese
1 T. FF mayo
1 egg

Snack:
Dried apricots

Lunch:
Salad: 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber w/vinegar
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light (OMG, have you guys tried that? SOO good!)
Apple
Diet Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper

Snack:
1/4 c. mixed nuts

Dinner:
TBD, but something with veggies. Probably a big salad and a piece of smoked turkey breast. Maybe some peaches or pineapple for dessert. We'll see.

Exercise today is going to be a set of weights , a routine that my online friend the personal trainer (affectionately known as Coach Joe, only without so much affection--long story) gave me to do, maybe some cardio but I doubt it. We'll see. Usually after I do Joe's weight routines I'm all wobbly and cardio isn't a good idea, but he'd yell if I did cardio first.

Also, Steve and I were talking about our gameplan for the next year or so, and I might have mentioned this before, but we're looking to have kids maybe next year . I've decided that I want to be below 200 before we even start trying, so that's 32 pounds to go. I can do that in a year! I can have ALL of this weight gone in a year, but that 32 pounds simply HAS to go.

You hear me, 32 pounds? You're TOAST!

Egad, I'm a spaz.

And can I just say that I don't get this icon at all:


And now... comments!

Nikki: Can I be in on the 3-4 days exercise challenge? My goal is really 4-5 days, but I guess I've got to get to 3-4 before I can make it to 4-5, eh?

Chaarli: on the pound loss! Woot! It is always hard when starting out with a new routine, but the only thing we can do is take it one day at a time and make each week better than the last. Have fun while you're away, and good luck staying OP!

Lucy: I hope you feel better soon! Just remember, drinking lots and lots of water helps flush those icky germs out of your system. (OK, I don't really know if that's true, but it sounds good, and with all of the other good stuff water does for it, I wouldn't be surprised.)

Jennifer: Good job at getting all of your food prep! Life is so much easier when you have things ready to grab and go (as you are aware). And for all the exercise you've been doing!

Ipa: Staying on track when your schedule varies is tough to do, so to you! Your revelation sounds like a good one, and it's great to hear your positive attitude. Let's hope it's contagious!

LoveandLaugh: I don't have kids yet, but I have the same problem with my hubby. Sometimes he's all "yeah, that's great, let's get healthy," but the vast majority of the time when I say the word "diet" he totally flips out and heads straight for Wendy's. But you know, that's fine, as long as he doesn't bring it home. We've got to be a positive example and hope we'll rub off.

Julie: Doesn't it feel nice to get things DONE, even if it's only a little? I can't wait until I finish taking down my Christmas decorations simply because it will be one less thing I have hovering over me to do. It WILL get done sometime this week, PERIOD. Are you up for a 3-4 day exercise challenge this week?

MsRD: You sound like me... I always get two out of three working right, and the other is just totally off course. But you can pull it back around! Getting back into a normal schedule this week may actually help you get your eating back on track. At least that's what I'm telling myself! And that's so cool about the planes. The closest airport/base/anything exciting around here is Pittsburgh, so about an hour and a half away, so we never get to see/hear anything like that. Occasionally they'll do flyovers at football games, but that's about as close as we get.

OK, I think I've gotten everyone on the page that I can see, and if I've missed anyone I apologize. Actually, it's about 9:25 right now, and no one has come in to distract me, so it's just taken me that long to type out this entry. Eesh. Anyway, I have a meeting in 3 minutes, so I guess it's good that I've covered everything (everything under the sun, that is).

I hope you're all having a wonderful, healthy day, and remember to drink LOTS of water! It does a body good, you know!

Elisha

[**Jennifer**]

Can I get this written in 10 minutes? The challenge is on! LOL. Shoot, Roid interrupted me, so this is going to be composed offline, and posted as soon as I come back to my desk. I have to cover for the receptionist from 1-2pm, and then I have a dentist appt, so I'll be leaving at 2:40 for the day.... I'll post more when I'm back home, and after I WATP

[**Jennifer**]

Ok, going to try to get this in quickly, since hubby is working on dinner now...

Sunday- good, all around. Food prep, good food choices, 2 different resistance bands workouts, and plenty of movement around the kitchen. For dinner we tried a recipe called Chicken Vicious, which I swear, tastes like something that should be on the menu at PF Changs. We cut back on the vinegar, and substituted Spenda for the sugar, and it was super yummy, with brown rice, and green beans.

Monday- ugh...Roid has been on my very last nerve, and I'm surprised I haven't snapped yet. It's coming...just wait for it.

12oz diet coke on the way in
Breakfast:
1 cup Post Cranberry Almond whole grain cereal
1/3 cup of ff coconut cream yogurt (couldn't finish it all)
18 oz water

Lunch
1 cup green beans
1/2 cup brown rice
3oz Chicken Vicious
36oz water

Phone coverage & dentist- didn't get my 4th glass of water in before leaving, but having a 44oz glass with dinner, momentarily.

Dinner
1 chicken breast w 2tbsp Jack Daniels Barbecue sauce
2 cups green beans

Dessert/snack
1 small (110 calorie) cranberry orange muffin (the Krusteaz ones we bought- they are SO good!) if I'm hungry close to bed

That's it for the day...we've already taken down the tree & taken that out to the curb for pickup tomorrow, and swept up all the needles, and put away the christmas village & train set.

Ipa/Spanky- ok, so what do we call you? cute pic there.

Lucy- feel better, chickie!

chaarli- good going with that 1 pound- that's more than 4 sticks of butter- gone!

Nic- I'll be sure to have your new list ready for Thursday So how much chicken DID he come home with?

Elisha- OK, no fair- you get a door. I'm even MORE jealous now.

Julie, MsRd, IpaSpanky, how did we get all these Michiganders (or are you Michigeese? ) together? Would loved to see the fighter planes- how cool!

Ok, I'm running off to have dinner with hubby. I'm supposed to have a hot date at @9pm with a friend, so hopefully all works out

How's everyone's first week #s looking? (I'll know tomorrow)

[spanky]

Hey There!

It's the fat chick formerly known as Ipa. Now Spankie. :

My first weigh-in of 2007 says I'm down 2 pounds. Let the carrots DANCE!



That's the right direction! 2 down for the month and 3 to go.

Hoping to make myself exercise at the hospital gym tonight after work, but with the way I crawl out of work it may not happen. I got up too late to get my walk in....

Here's to another decent week!

Spankie

[MsRD]

Hello Hello!!

Ok.....weigh in was disastrous. I have now gained back the 2 pounds I worked so hard to lose over the holidays! Now, that may not sound catastrophic to you.....but this is the umpteenth time. Gain 2 pounds.....lose 2 pounds....gain 2 pounds.....you get the idea. And I have had ENOUGH! Officially, as of right now, this diet is going into hyperdrive.....no more worrying what goes on after 8pm.....or whether it is Saturday or the 4th of July.....this diet is now a 24/7 proposition! Every stinking moment of every stinking day....no excuses! I WILL beat this! I WILL be successful! And I will never ever ever weigh as much as I do today!

And then today was Monday......and I had a car accident on the way to work. Somebody lost a bunch of rusty metal parts off their truck.....and they all came bouncing and rolling down the freeway toward me. I avoided most of them....then hit one of the big ones. Ok.....no one was hurt.....I spent the day on the phone with the insurance agent or the car repair shop. All is well.......I am fine.....car is fixed (nearly $800)....and we are waiting for insurance company to bless the whole transaction.

Ok.....I am done venting. Thanks, chickies.

Love & Laugh......Welcome! To 'take better care of myself' is the key to this whole journey.....and it sounds like you have all the specifics nailed! The mother of 3 boys? And one a teenager? I hereby nominate you for sainthood!

Jennifer.....Wow! When you 'prep and plan', you really do a fantastic job! Now when you just grab something for dinner.....it can be healthy!

Julie....How sweet of your DH to pick up fruits and veggies for you! It is really a help when the hubby is in your corner, cheering you on! (My DH, on the other hand, brought me home donuts and sweet rolls! *sigh*)

Lucy....Feel better chickie! Keep guzzling that water and make sure you get enough rest! I look forward to seeing your posts!

Chaarli.....Down a pound!! You are fantastic! You said you would be away for 10 days.....I am hoping for a well-deserved vacation!

Nikki.....No hiding! You get out and enjoy your guests.....and let them see what a wonderful person you are!

Elisha.....Wow! Nearly 4 pounds gone! You are really rocking this challenge this time!

Okay.....I'm off to do WATP!

[hikein2005]

I'm starting to get into the groove now. Today was much better food wise and I am drinking more water now, so that is a good thing. I really had to guzzle tonight as I had some ham for dinner and it was full of salt!

I've kept track of my food for the whole week (except for one day).
I have planned my meals for the week, but still need to plan this week's meals.
So far, so good. Exercise was 3 days for the week! I exercised tonight for about 10 minutes, but my stomach was too full and too upset to exercise, so I stopped. I will (PROMISE) get on that bike or do WATP in the morning if it kills me...ok, I won't go that far!

I'm on for the exercise challenge this week! I will do 4 days (can I count this day as 1/2? LOL!!) this week. I am going from Monday to Sunday for my week. Just works out better that way.

I'm afraid to get on the scale. I weighed myself last week with clothes and shoes, etc...it was up 2 lbs!!! I usually take my shoes off and my sweater if I'm wearing one...and all my keys out of my pockets....so that has to be at least 2 lbs, right??? I'd be happy about maintaining right now, but sure would like to see that scale move downard! I know it's only up to ME!!! And I have the power to do it!

You all have been so kind with your comments! I really need to go to bed and in the morning after I work out, if I have time, I will come and post again and post some comments along with updated goals. Drinking water is going to be one of them.

I like the idea they have on another challenge. They call it WEED. At the end of their posts, they list their Water, Exercise, Eats (food), and their daily goal or affirmation or daily something. I was thinking we should do something like that, so we get everything in, but make it shorter! We could come up with another acronym, like HELP (H20, Exercise, Lickin's (food), and daily Plan!

Alright...gotta get going...mine eyes are getting sleepy...
I'll weigh in tomorrow...I PROMISE!

[patae]

Well, I am already a little behind on this thread but here it goes. I have done my shopping and am prepared to start a healthy diet and exercise program tomorrow morning. I have my meals planned out and am going to walk for 45 minutes at lunch.

[JKitty]

I feel a little better but held off on a formal workout again today. My head feels like a giant goo-filled balloon still, so none was needed. My heart races just tryin' to breathe!

I did make 3 MAJOR wins today:

1 - drank NO SODA YET!! WOOO!! (Altho a sprite may be needed if I have to take cough syrup - that stuff just... EW.)
2 - Got a WW scale at Costco. Tracks weight, and it was cheap! And my hubby wants to use it for himself (the skinny butthead thinks he's fat because he has a 2% body fat limit - pssh! But he's supportive and sweet so he's ok with me hehe)
3 - Got a 36 pack of 110 cal, 1g fiber, 6g protein Pria bars! IN YUMMY FLAVORS!! They're PERFECT for my breakfast - either with yogurt, a banana/an apple, or a bowl of cream of wheat.

MSRD - Sorry to hear about the wreck! No fun at ALL! I hope everything works out okay - wrecks SUCK!

Julie - Deep cleansing breath - You're doin' a great job!

Jennifer - Thx for the well wishes! Hope the troll doesn't bug you much tomorrow, and sorry you had to deal with a dentist - yeech!

And to everyone else who wished me well, thank you! I'm proud of you guys (girls, chicks, whatever) and thank you SO MUCH for being supportive of each other! Knowing that I have to post at night keeps my butt on track.

So off to drink another gallon of water *gag* *sniff... I miss Mt. Dew* and watch the rest of My Name Is Earl, Season 1. Nothin' like rednecks to make you feel better!

Take care!
~Lucy

[hikein2005]

as promised...
I did do some exercise this morning, but a continuation of the stomach not feeling well prevented me from any aerobic stuff. I got in some much needed stretching & toning, so that felt good. I have my own routine that is sort of Yoga-ish!

Comments:

Lucy...glad you had some accomplishments yesterday. It always feels good, doesn't it? Sorry that the head is still stuffed up! Try some "REAL" Pseudophedrine! Always works for me!

Welcome Patae! Glad to haveyou here with us!

MsRD...I'm sorry about your car accident, but glad that you weren't hurt! Insurance companies are certainly a pain to deal with...glad my hubby is around to take care of that!

Spanky(ie?)/Ipa...Don't talk yourself out of a good workout! You can do it! Great job on the 2 lbs!

Jennifer...Did you get your WATP in yesterday? Miss you!

Elisha...LOL at the nap comment! Somedays I wish I could do that, but they'd certainly miss me if I wasn't running around like a chicken with my head cut off every day! Did you get your Christmas decorations taken down! I am sooooo done with Christmas it's not even funny! I found a few odds & ends and people keep dropping off their "leftover" decorations at work, so I have a box to put them all in (it happens every year, so I plan for it)

Gotta scoot...I'm running late now, dang it! Talk to you all later. Plan (I typed "hope there, but changed it when I realized that is setting myself up for failure) to get in some Aerobic activity tonight after work.