Hi all;

Dcap: I love making soup, today it started out just being veggie soup, green beans, corn, carrots, celery, onion, cabbage and anything else hanging out in the fridge . . . then i decided to add wild rice, then I had some leftover chicken breasts and pulled them apart and added that. No "regular" chicken wild rice soup usually calls for cream and a roux of flour and butter but I don't really like the cream soups anymore, soooooooo I left it as it was, added salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and cumin, then let it simmer most of the day. I warm up 4 corn tortilla in the microwave (they are 60 calores for two, about 6" across) and chow down. I like to use the tortillas instead of saltines . . . better for you and makes it more filling and you will definitely get all your veggies in if you make this . . .

Another favorite of mine is bean soup, just use a can or two of pinto beans, onion, jalapeno (I remove the seeds), garlic, a little salt. Saute the onions & peppers in just a little oil until they are tender, dump the beans on top and add about 1 can of water for each can of beans. Let is simmer for a bit and I will eat this either with corn bread or corn tortillas. Good protein and very filling . . you can add a little salsa too if you want (either Valentino's or Cholula hot sauce) just for an added little kick. (if you like spicy)

These are my two favorite recipes, both can be made in a crock pot and frozen easily . . .

Just a quick edit to say GREAT JOB RESISTING THOSE OFFICE GOODIES, you should be sooooo proud!!!

Summer is coming, summer is coming, summer is coming . . . it's soooooo cold here, dang wind . . . summer IS coming . . . I just have to believe and I'm going to be READY!!

Oh and :welcome: spunkystar

This was my first week at a new school and I am loving the possitive atmosphere. A bonus is that there are a lot of stairs, and the school is huge, so while traveling with students I am getting a lot of extra steps in my day.

I have been eating on plan, but I will need to start thinking about some more interesting lunches soon.

Hi Spunky - Welcome!!

Madam - thanks for the ideas - they sound SOOO good!

Envelope - Glad you like school! Being in a new place can really throw me, so I'm glad you're adjusting. It's like you read my mind about lunches - for some reason, I just CAN'T wrap my mind around making a good, satisfying lunch. I have all the stuff, but it's like i blank when the time comes. I might just have to make it in advance.

I'm worn out - but i know i should exercise. I'm trying to get up the energy to do it.

Hope everyone's taking it easy out there!

i would love to be 117 by then:)

1st week DONE!!
 

Wow ladies, a week sure flies by fast . . . Our first weigh in tomorrow . . . I have been good all week, food and exercise wise, let's hope the scale angels visit me in the morning . . . I will take whatever it says . . . <sigh> If it's not down much then it will be down more next week, 1 stick of butter at a time . . . . I had a big drop last week so I'm not really expecting a whole lot, all I know is that it is trending downward and that's what we are going for . . . but I have been doing Zumba this week in addition to my normal workout :belly:


Hope everyone is doing well, just keep moving, don't quit and MELT THAT BUTTER AWAY . . . :carrot: :broc:

Madam - it's funny, my week didn't fly at all. Yet here we are, are the eve of the first WI...

Honestly, I'm not sure how I'm going to do. I've been OP, but TOM (pseudo) is creeping up on me, making me want to eat EVERYTHING. Granted, there's not a lot of garbage in the house, but still, overloading on anything is a bad idea. But I'm working on it :)

I'd like to jump in! I'm just off of a self-imposed break/setback (gained 7 pounds after flirting with Onederland!) and I need something to help keep me motivated now that I'm back. I've been bad with keeping up with challenges, but I'm desperate to lose a significant amount of weight by Spring/Summer, so I'm hoping that I can stay motivated through this one. I want to be able to wear real Spring and Summer clothes instead of covering up!

I'm going for a loss of 40 lbs. I already weighed in Thursday, so when I weigh in later today it'll probably be similar to what's on my ticker. Hopefully I've lost something, seeing as I've exercised for 20-50 mins over the last four days (although I'm still easing into limiting my caloric intake again after my crazy binge last month :dizzy:).

Anyway, good luck everyone! ;)

Hey Northern - Welcome!!

Ok, so this morning, I'm 257 - down 1.6! so a little less than I wanted, but who cares?! I didn't gain :carrot:

Great!!
 

dcap - GREAT job - That's 6 sticks of butter

I was Very happy; down to 175.2 (down 2.0 = 8 sticks of butter) :belly:

How's everyone else doing?????

Just remember, it is what it is . . .

I am at 195 today, which is down 1.2 this week.
I bounced up a little from my weight of the last few days. I am sure it will balance out by next week.

Thanks for the welcome, dcapulet!

I'm down one pound from Thursday. I'll take it, especially considering I've been gaining up until now. I can't wait until I really get back into the swing of things!

I have to be careful today. Today is the Bears/Packers game and I will have lots of those pesky snacks around me. I'll need some willpower today!

northern - I'm with you on the snacks idea. My son is a HUGE Jet fan, and he asked me to make goodies for the game. Normally, it would be homemade wings with LOTS of butter, chips, dip and BEER. But instead -

Boneless skinless buffalo chicken salad with blue cheese and celery
Hummus dip with veggies
Crystal light lemonade/ice tea

Sending willpower your way!

I want to lose 35 pounds by Memorial Day. I am 271.4 now, so that would put me at 236.4.

dcapulet, thanks! I'll certainly need it! There'll be chips, dips, cupcakes, Italian beef sandwiches, pop, etc. I already know which things I'll definitely be avoiding, but everything else I'll just eat in moderation with my calorie allowance in mind. It also helps me to eat something healthy/slightly filling before going around all those snacks in order take the edge off of any cravings I might have.

I love that you're going with the health-conscious snacks. That buffalo chicken salad sounds amazing! Would you mind sharing how you prepare it? I'd love to try that sometime!

Count me in!
 

I would like to be at or around 180 by Memorial Day, that would be 34# from today and should be about 2# per week if my calculations are correct. Here's hoping for no plateaus along the way!!!
SW:214
CW:214
GW:180(ish)

Thanks for the extra motivation! :carrot: