Hi all, Happy Monday :)

I had a 'skinny cow' sandwich a while ago - I swear I can't eat this stuff anymore. So, chalk it up to lesson. But I had a high-protein brunch, so that's good.

GettinFit, that's a good journal. I think I'd benefit from journaling as well....see you later...

I just don't know if I'm going to be able to stay completely sugar free. I keep cheating and it's all on liquids. Every single time I have cheated it's been either on soda or sweet tea with my dinner. I think I'm going to do better if I allow myself to have sweet tea with dinner and water for the rest of the day. I use a little under a cup of sugar for a gallon of tea. I think I'd rather be sugar free EXCEPT that one glass of tea with dinner rather than feeling like a failure for cheating all the time. I'm doing great on cutting out sweets and other things with refined sugar. I just hate having water with my dinner.

You know CurvyNerd, some may disagree, but I think that this is supposed to be a life-long change and if that dinner tea keeps you sane and honest otherwise, go for it.

PS, have you tried iced tea without sugar? I used to drink really sweet iced tea (my grandma made the best sweet iced tea - it was almost thick :o ), but now I really find plain iced tea refreshing.

I have. I've also tried adding things to hot tea as well. I'm a southern girl and I've never been able to drink unsweetened tea.

Hi CurvyNerd, Have you ever tried stevia? It is a great substitute for sugar. In most stores you will find it in the powder from, but I like it best in it's natural state...it's actually a plant. I was able to find dried stevia leaves in a herb and spice store. I love putting a couple pieces in my hot tea. Maybe this will work for you too.

Well, if that's your only nutritional 'vice' you are ahead of the game, my dear :) Go for it :)

Hi GettinFit, Hi Lulu, have a great day all !

Good morning ladies,

CurvyNerd - I agree with Exhale on your tea. If you are still successful with your weight loss and it doesn't bring on crazy cravings, I'd let that be a daily treat. Maybe you could gradually cut down on how sweet you make it.

Hi Exhale & Lulu - I hope you ladies have a great Tuesday:D

Yesterday was much better for me. I stayed on track all day and rather than counting Points, I tracked my calories on My Plate. I thought I'd give calorie counting a try for a week just to change things up a bit. I did Hip Hop Abs yesterday and I got in a 15 min walk at work. I just gotta lose some weight so I can wear my clothes on the cruise. I refuse to go out and buy any larger sizes!

Here's my journal for the day:

B: Mc:mcd: Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, coffee w/creamer
L: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer Bowl, Yoplait Delights Parfait
S: Blueberries, Greek yogurt, pretzels
D: Turkey on Marbled Rye w/Lettuce, tomato, mayo
Exercise: FIRM Workout - done

I had 4 small toostie rolls today...totally not a part of the no sugar diet. Well tmrw is a new day...lol.

Lulu

Good morning ladies,

Lulu - Hope you survive the Tootsie monster today :D I love those things and once I get started with them I can't stop.

I finally had an awesome day yesterday. I ate good, counted calories and did a workout. I restarted my Beck Diet Solution Workbook and it has been very helpful. I am hoping that I will get what I need to stay committed to my plan and lose the amount of weight that I need to. My past experience has been that I will stick long enough and lose between 20-30 pounds and go back to binging. This time I am trying to stick with it for good.

Hello CurvyNerd & Exhale - I hope you ladies are having a great day!

My Journal for 7/18

B: :mcd: coffee, Greek yogurt, blueberries
L: SmartOne Santa Fe Rice & Beans, YoCrunch 100 cal yogurt
S: Pretzels (1/2 pk) 2 wheat twins w/laughing cow wedge
D: Turkey on marbled rye, 1 sl cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, 2 pcs dark choc
Exercise: Firm & Walk

Holy cow I just got home from the hospital. It's 1 AM here. I was sitting at home at 9PM minding my own business when suddenly I had this severe abdominal pain on my left side. I knew it couldn't be appendix or gallbladder (because I had my gb taken out 6 years ago). I was vomiting and in a lot of pain and I drove to the emergency room. I was in the parking lot and I suddenly felt better and I walked around the car and had some soreness but no intense pain.
So I drove back home.
30 minutes later the pain came back and it was worse. When I was finally able, I drove back to the emergency room.
they did ultrasound and a cat scan and said there was a kidney stone in my ureter.
Well it must have moved along. I feel OK now. My wife came to the hospital to see me and we went back home 30 minutes ago.
That's a first for me! I've never had kidney stones before (I'm 52) - my younger sister has had them but I never expected to be so afflicted.

My BP was crazy; 153/100. I need to go back to the doctor and get back on BP medication. I don't want to blow a gasket.

Hi guys :)

So far, so good :) Actually, it's too hot for me to think about fatty sweets !

Lulu, I haven't had a tootsie roll in ages...were they good?

GettinFit - great journaling....my only question is the Yoplait products....added sugar? I find that all of the yogurts, except plain have a lot of sugar or sweetener added.....

darius - ! how scary ! take it easy and feel better.

Stay cool :)

Darius - WOW - I'm glad you're feeling better. Definitely go to your dr so you can get the B/P under control.

Exhale - I need to check to see how many grams of sugar is in the yogurt. I absolutely love the stuff and find it to be so satisfying. I've never tried plain yogurt (except to make salad dressing). Do you add fruit to yours or eat it plain?

I hope everyone else is having a good day.

GettinFit, I sometimes eat it plain, especially the Greek yogurt is so delish - the full-fat one is a great ice cream substitute, and even the low - or- no-fat is great. With the 'regular' type of yogurt, I usually add some fruit. The best thing that I like is to cut up some strawberries and add that to the yogurt, let it 'sit' in the fridge for a while for the strawberries to turn the yogurt that beautiful pink color. You can do that with other fruits, of course.

My thinking is, even if I have to sprinkle a little bit of sugar, or honey over the plain yogurts, it's still less sugar than what they add to the pre-made. Cinnamon and/or Cardamom are also good :)

Wow Darius, I hope that this was a one time thing!

I haven't tracked in two days but I've eaten on plan. I did have some tea yesterday but that was my only cheat so I am counting that as a good day. I did gain some but I'd eaten a lot of salt so it's just water weight. I'm glad everyone is doing well.