Good morning everyone!

Ilene~I was thinking about you this morning--wondered where you'd wandered off to.

Dagmar~we have a green bin here, too, but they request only yard waste in it--no food waste.

I have a story. The other day I picked up a dozen jumbo eggs at Trader Joes. I noticed one egg was much larger than the rest. This morning, I couldn't resist--I wanted to eat THAT egg (even though I still had a couple from the previous dozen). Well, that egg was a double yolk egg! Pretty yummy, but it put me over on the daily calorie count.Attachment 27541The brown egg is a large, the white one in the same hand is a jumbo from the same dozen as the single huge one.

Laura: Onions are one of the top foods for causing indigestion, especially if eaten raw (tomatoes are another). I developed an intolerance for raw onions in my mid to late twenties (long before my current low-fat diet) and haven't been able to eat them since then. Even just a small amount gives me indigestion for days. No other food bothers me, just raw onions. Luckily, they are pretty easy to cut out of my diet. If a recipe, like salsa, calls for raw onions, I just saute them with a little cooking spray for a few minutes or roast them in the oven before adding them to the recipe.

I don't think it's rude to ask for your dressing on the side, to skip the soup course, or to ask for a box for half your meal. I eat out in a business setting with clients quite frequently and it is quite normal for some people to have the soup and others to skip it, some people to have dessert and others to skip it. I don't order a box at the start of my meal, but I do frequently draw an imaginary line through the middle of my plate and only eat half the entre. No one notices. I suspect that the reason your partner asked what soup everyone was having was because he wanted to make sure he wasn't the only one having soup. In that situation, it's fine to say that you just don't have room to eat both soup and the meal.

Mudpie: I struggle with not eating the entire box of cookies too and there are definitely some things (like nuts) that I just don't buy because I know they will be a problem. (And I don't care what charity is selling them--if the Girl Scouts want my support, they can come up with something to sell that isn't going to make me fatter. Or if I want to support them, I can write a check to the organization without buying anything--that's more money for them anyway). But I am sometimes successful with a couple of strategies: 1) I make sure I know exactly how many calories are in whatever I am eating. I multiply the single serving by the number of servings in the box. It's not foolproof, but I often find that it is a lot harder to eat the whole box if I know how many calories it is. 2) I tell myself that if I eat more than a serving per day, I'm going to have to throw the whole thing out. And I have thrown stuff out before. If it's something I really like, knowing that I'm going to have to throw it out can stop a free for all.

Va va vavoom
 

This is going to sound really conceited but here goes anyway.

I just tried on a dress I looked pretty good in at about 138 lbs and now, at 133 I look HOT :devil:!

I'm gonna wear it out to dinner with the DH Saturday night and just blow the poor man's doors off :p.

And it only took me 37 years to learn to really like (****, maybe even love) my body! IMAGINE THAT! :dizzy:

Dagmar ( :flame: one hot mamma)

Good for you Dagmar! You strut your stuff girl, you deserve it :cp:. I don't know if I'll ever look hot again, but I sure hope so.

Welcome back Ilene. Sure have missed seeing you around here :hug:.

Those are some BIG eggs Allison :o. I don't think I've ever seen any that big.

Happy Thursday to all. Boy, this week went fast (at least for me). To be honest, I haven't done too well this week with the calories. I don't know what my problem is but I need to get it worked out soon. I don't think I've gained any, but I sure don't think I lost any either :mad:.

Any way, I will get my act together in the next day or two, cause I sure want to see that 140 mark by Christmas.

Hope everyone had a great day :wave:

I just found a recipe on Food Network that I absolutely LOVE:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/reci..._21472,00.html
I used Swanson Natural Goodness Chicken Broth (1 cup has 15 cals and no fat!), substituted buckwheat soba noodles for the linguine, and substituted swiss chard for the bok choy (just because I had some). This is such a simple recipe (not even a recipe, really - just throwing things in broth), but it tastes so refreshing and is so filling. With the above changes (and with larger portions of the veggies than the recipe calls for), it's 345 calories, yet filling enough for a whole meal. Awesome!!!

The best part is, I am currently 226 calories under where I'm supposed to be according to DailyPlate for the day, and I'm still going to do about an hour of light weights. So I can treat myself with a little something! (Though I should prob just stay under today, because tomorrow is going to be a bad day for me eating and drinking-wise). We'll see :)

Banking your cals
 

Laura That might be the solution for you when eating at business functions. If you know you're going to a high-cal lunch then eat less the night or whole day before.

That also might backfire as you'll be soooo hungry that you'll overeat :devil: at the business function. I guess you just have to work out the "ultimate" solution yourself thru trial and error :p.

Welcome to the healthy lifestyle ;)

Dagmar :flame:

On business meetings, here's a solution: become the boss! That way, if anyone gives you sh**, um, grief, you can fire their a**, em, erm, butts. :D

Shees, who put the vinegar in my coffee this morning? :lol:

Kim

Blog?
 

Hey Kim!

Sorry, not up on the terminology but just read a few of your entries on 14 x 40, (is that what is referred to as a blog?)

OUCH! But a lot of it rang true.

You seem to have a lot more motivation than most folks. I think serious weight lifting ( and compared to most of us that is what you're doing) takes a lot of concentration and focus and is extremely goals-oriented, yes?

Would that have had an effect on your ability to successfully diet? Practicing focus and control in one area leading to the same habits in another?

Dagmar :flame:

Ha, I really like that idea, Kim :)

I just went to a cardio sculpt class that totally kicked my butt! Wow. I wasn't planning on going, and found out about it last night while I was leaving the gym (after a pretty intense upper body workout). This class turned out to be much harder than any other group fitness class I've done, and it was awesome. I think I will be sore for a while but I feel great! So now between the workout and saving some calories last night, I have about 600 extra calories I can use today, which is definitely much needed.

Have a great Friday, everyone!

Morning folks!
I'm off to the chiropractor in an hour or so. I yawned and stretched yesterday and something popped in my neck. We were short staffed so I couldn't go home. In desperation, I took a muscle relaxant last night. ZOMBIE! I slept off and on for over 13 hrs. I do not recommend this.

Now that I'm up and about, it's not much better ... and I got called to work for 3 pm (still short) so ... hopefully Dr Tom can help me.

I don't like this whine whine whine ... And I KNOW that stuff like this doesn't happen if I exercise regularly.

Hope you feel better, Susan!

My room at the office today has a big platter of pastries that just smell all... pastry-y and delicious. You know, that doughy, frosting-y, fruity smell? I am having a hard time but so far haven't succumbed, and have been sucking down water to keep my mouth busy. I'm going out to a business lunch and then later a business dinner, and then for drinks after that though, so I am already getting tons of extra calories and cannot let myself have one of these. Sigh.

My chiropractor is one of the sweetest men you'd ever meet. So incredibly nice! But I know I've been told!
I missed an appt a year ago (a year? seriously that long?) After we'd been discussing how important it was for me to be careful of my shoulders especially if lifting weights.
So it's me and an icepack all weekend and another appt first thing Monday morning.

Good morning everyone! And happy Friday!!!

My big plans for the weekend are to get my hair chopped and then plan my menus for the next few weeks. I'm going to eliminate bread and pasta for a few weeks to get back on track. I kind of go overboard when eating either of those things so I've got to steer away from my famous panini sandwiches and pastas.

I think I should ask DH for a gym membership for Christmas--perhaps if HE goes to buy it, he'll get one for himself.

It's never the getting of the membership that's a problem with my DH - he's joined 4 gyms so far. Goes for 2-3 weeks and that's it - over. Music too loud, machines not right, no trainers handy , etc. etc. SIGH.

Dagmar

Did you all read this post of Meg's?
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126818

I loved it!
There's a line about if you can shoot it or grow it ... Fabulous! Kinda reminds me of 'lean proteins and things that grow'. Not muffins and chicken pot pie huh?

Shoot it or grow it
 

That is a great line! I'm already looking at the stuff in my fridge with "new" eyes. :carrot:

I looked at those pics of the women bodybuilders with the six packs and that's definitely a look I don't want for myself. I have strong belly and back muscles but I like to have a bit of "softness" covering them. I've even grown fond of my little "menopot".

I can wear quite low rise jeans without any "muffin top". The trick is to have a tiny bit of stretch in 'em so they hug you instead of squeezing you. Two of the three brands I found at zazu (?) fit beautifully.

I tried weight lifting at the gym a couple of times but was too intimidated by the other people there :(. I also found it way too narcissistic to spend that amount of time "sculpting" my body.

I applaud everyone who does lift and who has a killer body that they put that kind of effort and dedication into. It's just not for me personally.

Dagmar :p (still soft and cuddly)

I want a somewhat sculpted body (arms and legs defined), but those abs were a bit scary-looking to me. I'd like to have a trim waist but not that six-pack.

Unfortunately, yesterday even though I avoided those pastries, I drank too much and went nuts at night and so was over my calories for the day by 1,773! Even after saving 200 calories the day before, I basically ate two days of calories. Ew. Today I have my figure skating class, which I usually count as my exercise for the day, but today I'm definitely going to hit the gym as well and also try to eat lightly. That was unfortunately way more of a cheat day than I was anticipating!

Hope everyone else had a better Friday than me and is staying on plan!

Bad news: went off plan today...loaded baked potato...steak...you get the gist.

Good news: take a peek at my ticker...143! I haven't been that low in probably 3 years!

As for my holiday party plan: I plan on filling up on water and carrot sticks before...so I just have a couple of goodies and not the whole tray! As for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day only...anything goes (after all, it is a holiday)

Sometimes you just have to forget about the whole diet thing and just enjoy the holiday, the food, and the company of those you love.

You can always repair any damage within a few days. I'm taking the same tack with eating out for dinner. I am making smarter choices (had poached fruit last night instead of chocolate cake for dessert) but I'm leaving the calorie counter/plan and all the rest of the dieting paraphernalia at home.

I know I have to eat less calories today and already did yesterday to allow indulgence at dinner so I will be fine by Monday.

Dagmar :p

This is funny but a little OT
 

So the DH and I went to an upscale restaurant last night. I dressed for the occasion because it so seldom happens. We generally eat at "no tablecloths" places :hun:.

My "hot mamma" dress has quite a plunging neckline and I also bought a new bra that enhances what cleavage I've got :flame:. Now you have to understand that I never had cleavage until menopause - sometimes life gives you gifts at the most unexpected times, yes? And I don't exactly have bountiful breasts.

So there we are, in this fancy resto with mirrors all around, and I keep looking down at my own neckline and checking myself out in the mirrors. I think I can sum up what kept going through my mind as follows:

"Wow, this is really cool. I have cleavage, out in public. This is really kinda cool".

Then I look across at the DH and he is just struggling to keep from bursting out laughing. So I stick out my chest and throw him a little pout (I never do stuff like that) and he just goes off into hysterical laughter:rofl:. He had to get up and go to the rest room to compose himself.

Well, I "cleaved" him 3 times during the meal :devil:. I think our waiter was a bit concerned that we were high or something becasue we were laughing so hard.

You can dress me up but . . .

Dagmar :lol:

Lol!

That's a great story!! I suppose since you don't go out much, it's even more important to make the experiences....memorable. :D

Just wanted to jump in and say "hey." It's been a rocky road since August. Lots of ups and downs.

However, I'm trying to turn the ship around and get back on plan before I slip much more. It might be dumb to start this two weeks before TG, but it feels right.

Wish me luck!!!

Welcome back!
 

Good luck KylieH and welcome back!

TG is just one day. If you can get back OP before then you can take a break that day and then get back OP that much quicker.

And, of course, I've already had my TG last month :devil: so I can hand out all sorts of advice with a free hand (I dimly recall an incident with a pumpkin pie, a strawberry rhubarb pie and . . .)

Dagmar :flame:

Because my mother is handling most of the food for TG, I think my plan is to make a few healthy substitutes that I can eat to reduce fat/calories. For example, I'm planning on making mashed cauliflower to have instead of mashed potatoes, making my own gravy out of flour and fat-free chicken broth, and then steaming some green beans instead of having the green bean casserole my mom always prepares. Those three things are pretty easy to make, so I think it will definitely help me to enjoy my holiday favorites without killing my diet. Because there is no way I am passing up a slice of my mom's homemade apple pie!

Dagmar, I enjoy the pies that you mentioned.............or did before dieting.I have a dilemma tonite, going to a church potluck.

Oh my gosh, Dagmar :rofl:. You really tickled me there. I couldn't stop laughing. Our computer is in the living room and my DH asked me why I was laughing. I read your post to him and he was laughing too. It sounds like something he and I would do.

I'm glad you had a great night :lol3:.