Heather~We missed most of the weather that Chicago got, but it is sleeting out there now. I sure don't want to step foot out the door now. We are supposed to get 1-2 inches of snow. It looks like it could start any time now. I hope you are weathering the snow okay!!! Don't go out if you absolutely don't have too. I am watching the foot ball games and exercising my bootay off!! Pat

Ladies, I have a major problem . No, I am not joking! I absolutely L O V E bing cherries and red grapes. A local store has cherries on sale for 1.99 a pound and red grapes for 1.88 a pound. Why is this such a problem for me? I can eat both by the pound, like candy. I can eat a 2 pound bag of grapes while watching a football game. With absolutely no ill effects. I took a 5 pound bag of green grapes to work and the bag was gone by the end of the day. I didn't eat any thing else, just snacked/grazed on the grapes. Cherries are much the same, I will snack/graze on them all day instead of eating. I realize there are much, much worse things to snack on, but is over indulgence a good thing? Buying a small amount and making due won't work either, I will go back and buy more. WARNING I am buying a red grape vine for the garden this year, so.............I need a plan! I don't want to make myself sick, but I could live on fresh fruit. I love fresh picked veggies too. I already am drooling over seed catalogs. I have the garden all planned out. I need a tiller and I am ready to go. Pat

I love apple pie but haven't made it in many months because it's just me and it's so fattening, and what am I going to do with an entire apple pie at home? Eat it, of course. Here's my recipe for apple "pie"

Cut up an apple into bite-sized chunks. I didn't peel it because I didn't figure it would make that big of a difference, and it didn't.
Sprinkle it with apple pie spices. I used cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
Microwave it until the chunks are soft. I did it for about 4 minutes.
Sprinkle with a bit of brown sugar. I also did a drizzle of honey.
Microwave for another 30 seconds so everything is warm.

I based this on a recipe I found on the Internet that called for a sprinkle of graham crackers before the 30 seconds at the end, but I didn't have any. It tastes fine. Not exactly apple pie, but it's close enough to be somewhat satisfying. I think next time I might try cutting the apple up more ahead of time and letting it sit with the spices and honey on it for a bit, to see if that adds to the apple pie taste.

Confession time: When I read here that someone has weighed and had success, it makes me want to weigh and see if I could be praised for losing. Then I feel bad because I think that it ought to be about me being healthy, not about me being able to report that I've lost weight. Ultimately, I end up feeling sad and guilty when I read that someone has has a scale success. Not pretty, but that's what I'm feeling. Anybody else feel like that? It's confusing, and I don't know what to do about it.

Happy Saturday All,

I was craving something sweet so I came here to enjoy something sweet without calories. Thanks!

Vanessa-I think spaghetti squash is delicious but then I like the taste of most vegetables. I don't think it has a very strong taste at all and I would certainly not include the word dirt in a description. It just taste's like squash.
The unique thing about it is the consistency is similar to pasta. Merely close though. It is not exactly like pasta.

DixieMae-I just follow the directions on the sticker to cook spaghetti squash. After removing the seeds you can microwave it or bake it cut side down in a dish with about an inch of water. I usually bake it because I am not usually in a hurry and I have more experience cooking with the a conventional oven then a microwave oven.


Let me emphasize I like vegetables to anyone thinking of forking over the $$ to buy it.

Dixie and Heather - I'm jealous....I wish it would snow here!

Dixie - Yup...today is the Titans first playoff game! Hey try looking up some good recipes for homemade grape jelly or jam and try your hand at that and can them and sell them! YUMMY! Nothing like some toast with a little I Can't Believe its Not Butter spray and some fruit jam!


Well.....I have cleaned the kitchen and almost done shampooing the carpet. I plan on getting in my push ups and sit ups today still.....then I think instead of doing 30DS I will go to my sister's house and jog on her treadmill.....while watching the game!!!!

Ufi- That sounds good, I think ill try that. Im sorry, I wont weight myself again, I promise. I dont want to make anyone feel bad or make them want to weigh themselves.

Dixie- Im a little south of Chicago, we really only got a few inches on snow...so far. I have to work today so unfortunatly I gotta go out in it, but on the plus side its only a mile away, so im sure it will be fine. Hope you guys dont get too much ice.

Melissa- Snow isnt all the great, well its pretty but not to drive in. I know , you guys never get any though, understandable. Good idea about jogging on the treadmill while watching the game! Sounds like your doing good.

Well not much to report. Been babysitting, just put my nephew down for a nap, well actually he fell asleep in my lap so I put him to bed, so now im just getting ready for work and getting food together for tonight. Hope everyone has a good night, talk to you all later on.

Gotta funny for ya. I was teasing around with my son. I jammed my hands in my pockets. My pants fell down to my knees!!!! uuhhhh I think i need a different size!! rofl

Mell~Home made grape jam is the bestest thing going. I made some years ago. I remember how wonderful good it was!!Thanks for the great idea!!
Pat

Haven't been by in a day or so--I did 5 days of cardio this week (since last Sunday), 3 days of the push-up/crunch challenge, and one day of 30DS. Today was my first day of 30DS and I did it after I did 45 min on the elliptical and my W2D1 push-ups and crunches. Mistake. Never meet up with Jillian in such circumstances. I'm amending my exercise schedule to 6 days--three of just cardio and the push-ups/crunches and three of Jillian.

Food has been OP for the most part--I do plan and eat one cheat meal--not cheat day--meal--a week. That was Thursday night. I was right back on the horse yesterday, and have been OP today, albeit a little higher in calories (1450) rather than what I usually eat (12-1300). I try to mix up the amount I eat during the week so my body doesn't get used the calories.

I haven't submitted my recipe yet as I am still thinking about what I want to do. Tonight while cooking a recipe from TBL Family Cookbook (yummy BBQ Bacon Meatloaf), I was modifying a Food Network recipe that is a family favorite in my head. So I hope to get that to you soon.

Have a bunch of pages to go back and read!

A huge CONGRATS and and for everyone fitting into smaller jeans. I am proud of you all!

Today was my day off the training plan, and my legs are pretty sore...but I feel strong and almost thinner again. I am going to bed early tonight so I can get up early and hit the track for the first workout in week two of training!

I walked 3 miles in exactly 55 mintues yesterday, so that is my starting point. I can't wait to see how much I improve by the time for the actual event.

Hi! I just finished 1 hour of stepping and 2 sets of 50 wall push ups. I finished my 64 ounces of water, eating is op. I am okay for day!!!! Pat

Ps: I did another 30 minutes of stepping watching the first quarter of the Panthers game

Congrats on getting into the jeans. I thought I had multi-quoted someone else with jean success--size 11 being too big. Sorry I goofed on that, but congrats to you too!!

I have a pair of jeans hanging on my closet door as my test to see if the weight is coming off.

I must admit, I agree with the message that reading about others using the scale makes me want to use mine. I'm at the beginning of my weight loss journey, and only 1.5 weeks in, so nothing visible yet. I did have my dd hide the scale from me.

I don't think you are behind--our week ends on Wednesday--I just did W2D1, too. I'll do D2 on Monday, and day 3 on Wednesday. That said...do not force your body to do something before you are ready. You don't want to injure yourself. The continued health of your body is more impt than finishing the push-up challenge in 6 weeks. Stick with the schedule that works for you--you'll still see results.

The Titans played a crappy game of football and lost by 3 points I think. Any way I am very disappointed. The Titans could have won the game if not for 3 turnovers and 12 penalties! Maybe the second game will be better. I will do some exercise while that game is on. Maybe my fav team will win this one. I am a Panthers fan. Pat

Nessa! congrats on the new Jean size woot wooot!! you rock!

UFI: Love your 'apple pie' treat! im all about comfort food like that! I have a good you apple crisp recipe around here somewhere. its freakin YUMMY! I bet you'd love it.. I will try to find it for ya

Dixie: bahahhaa! WHoops! down with the pants! lol i think a see a new clothes shopping bonanza in your future!

I did one mile jog WATP dvd and W2D1 pushup challenge.. wow.. pushups are getting harder! but i do see lots of progress. I was gruntingand everything during my last set! lol

Here's my RECIPE for ya! I love my bread. It's one of my many triggers. But I found a way to make a sandwich with all veggies instead of bread.
EGGPLANT!

I made this up myself more or less.. so the 'recipe' is kind of up to you to fool around and make it your way.. here it is..

Abby’s Eggplant hot sandwich!

Turn on Broiler to high!

Slice eggplan into long strips ( about size of slice of bread.)
brush on oil, balsamic vinigar, sea salt and pepper to each white side of eggplant.
Put on a pan and broil on high on both sides until SLIGHTLy dry.. About 5 mins on each side tops.

Take off of pan and allow to cool.

Stir fry asparagus pieces, slices of red pepper, and mushrooms in olive oil and pepper. (about 2 cups of veggies. Use any that you like!)

Make a sandwich as follows:

1 slice of eggplant
stir fry mixture
feta or goat crubled cheese
Pepper
second slice of egglant
one more sprinkle of cheese.
Broil or microwave until warm

cut in half and eat with a fork!

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I'm also a noodle lover..but spaghetti squash is a healthier alternative. Here's a recipe I made up one day to fulfill my craving! lol

Abby's Asparagus chicken wraps on a bed of cheesy spaghetti squash

the chicken part:
-take a chicken breast and butterfly it open. beat it down to make it as flast as you can.

-season it with pepper and lemon juice.

-use it as a wrap and wrap up a bunch of aspargus spears lighty oiled with EVOO.

-secure the chicken around the asparagus with a toothpoick or two

-bake it in the oven covered with tinfoil at 400 for 15-20 minutes. Then finish baking until cooked through uncovered.

the sauce part:

heat up and whisk together 3-5 laughing cow light cheese triangles and a few 'splashes of milk. Heat and whisk together until a saucey consistancey you prefer. Use medium to high heat. It will thicken up more after you let it set. Add pepper some a few squeezes of lemon juice.

The squash part:

-Cut a spaghetti squash in half and scoop out the inner seeds and goop.

-Wrap in plastic wrap and microwave for 10 minutes or until tender.

-drag a fork along the insides of the squash. It should come away from the skin ina stringy, spaghetti like style.

PResentation:

Put approx. 3/4 - 1 cup of spaghetti squash in the center of the plate. Pour the cheesy sauce on top of the squash ( 1/4 cupish). Set the chicken/asparagus wrap on top. ENJOY!

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Fauxtini~I laughed a good long time at myself. You hit 2 recipes on things I dearly love!! I will copy them down and use them often. Thanks for sharing. Could you please post your muffin recipe??>? Please I put on my best pouty face. I missed it the first time around, I want to try it. Cause it sounded so good!!!! Thanks so much pat