[jen519]

I know I've said it before, but I LOVE this thread! I almost always get a chuckle before I'm done reading. And it's so inspiring to hear about all the successes. I'm looking forward to the "onederland" as well, but my next goal is to get below 220.
Huntress, I know you're not the only one who has weekend troubles. That's my biggest downfall and I bet there are lots of others who do too.
For me, I'm beginning to believe it's the lack of schedule that causes me problems. And I'm not so busy I don't have time to think about food like I am a lot of the time during the week. Unfortunately, eating and relaxing go hand in hand for me and I love food. It's hard for me to even understand people who just eat because their bodies need fuel. I feel like I've got myself in a catch 22 right now. If I stay "busy" all weekend, I don't get to rest up much. If I relax, I tend to overeat too. Something for me to work on and think about. I've never been much on handwork, but that's probably a key. What does everyone else do on the weekends?

Jen
238/226/140

[Tigerlily]

Ripping the closet apart for something flattering to wear was unsuccessful. I'll end up wearing my denim capri's, red nike mules, and a tshirt of some sort. It's been my main outfit all summer. At least not too many in my family have seen it. I did find the next article of clothing I want to fit into whlile digging in the closet. (the denim capri's were my last article.) Next is a straight kakhi skirt. It will be good for fall. I think I grew out of it before I wore it twice.
Does anyone have any good/healthy crockpot recipes? It's soo stink'n hot/humid. The last thing I need is the OVEN on. And, it's hard to cook around football practice. The crockpot would be the perfect solution.
Jen, I read when I'm not busy with something else. Hard to read and eat at the same time...I'm not that talented anyway. I just read a book that someone gave me. I usually don't do romance novel type.... steamy stuff.

[Tiffany123]

Tig, I posted a freaking BOOK on here, and somehow, it got erased. So, I will re-post tomorrow.

I don't have the calorie count for this, but it looks like it would be low cal....

Tortilla Soup

2 chicken breast halves, boned, skinned and cubed
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 mild green chile, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 corn tortillas, halved and cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro


Combine chicken, onion, garlic, tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper and green chile in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hours. Process in a food processor or blender until pureed. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add tortilla strips. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towels. Reheat soup if needed and spoon into individual bowls. Top with crisp tortilla strips. Sprinkle with cilantro.

I'll keep looking....
Tiff

[Tiffany123]

Or...

Chicken Chili

3 whole small chicken breasts (1 1/2 to 2 pounds, cut in one inch pieces)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 16-ounce cans Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 15-ounce can chili beans
2/3 cup picante sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt


Saute chicken, onion, pepper and garlic in vegetable oil until vegetables are wilted. Transfer to crockpot and add remaining ingredients. Cook, covered, on low, for 4 to 6 hours.

Try www.justcrockpotrecipes.com at the top is a list of ingredients to search by. There are no meat ideas, and chicken, and everything.

Tiff

[GeTtInG_ThErE2]

WHAT IS THIS!
Tiff.. ..i posted TWO friggin gigantic messages about my friends dramatic lives and me being stuck in them JUST so you would get a chuckle out of it and you never even comented!!! lol!!!! shame on you!!! hehehe
ANYWAYS! hope everyone had a terriffic day!!!! i just got off work! soooo tired!!! im BEGGING my dad to take me up to camp to visit tommorrow.....i miss it SOOOO much! heres to praying **** take me!!! n e way! have a good one ladies!
luv
kayla

[huntress]

Good Morning............why did I wake up at 2:30 am?

Tiffany - CONGRATULATIONS! Another 'decade' behind you. Take a bow, you've earned it! Here's a dancin' banana for you..

Tiger - I'm doing the same thing before my trip........trying to find something to wear. I broke down and bought a pair of shorts and spent way too much on a Ralph Lauren shirt, but I just had to have it! I rarely buy new clothes when I am losing weight and usually just make due with what I have but I couldn't resist getting something new. Have a good time at the reunion.

Jen - I love food too and you are right about weekends. Recognizing the problem is usually the first step for me and I am just gonna have to make a concious effort to stay busy and out of the kitchen. It is much easier at work since I am limited to whatever I have which is usually only some fruit, yogurt, low fat crackers, lean cuisine and low fat SF ice cream of some kind. I've also found that buying things that neither I or my kids need on weekends is a problem so I didn't buy any of that junk the last time.

Jello - have you tried the SF fudgesicles? They are very good and 1 pop only has 45 calories. I have one every day during the week after my lean cuisine and it is just enough to kill the sweet tooth. I switched from the Skinny Cows because of the calorie savings and you get 12 pops in a box for $2 at Walmart. Also have you tried the Lean Cuisine Healthy Portions meals? They have a few more calories than the others, but there is a little more food (mostly veggies) but sometimes that little extra does the trick. Hey, congrats on making the decision to go for the program, I know you will do great and it will be well worth the $$$.

Cafe - sushi sound interesting, I've always wondered what it's like. How did you ever get a recipe for it. I too should probably buy a new scale, still haven't done it.

Sorry if I missed anyone, it's very early and I'm brain-dead from not getting enough sleep and having so much to do before the weekend. Took my son to the doctor yesterday, he is fine and no longer contagious, geez, I hope I don't catch that stuff right now. Sitting here looking at my suitcase which is completely empty, normally I would have been packed and ready to go 3 weeks ahead and everybody making fun of me. If I don't get a chance to post again before I leave I hope you all have a great weekend, I look forward to coming back and catching up.

LJ
225/199.5/150

[Tigerlily]

Hi All!
Today is the day. Waterpark. What a terrible word. I will be mortified if we see anyone I know.
Huntress, have a good time on your trip!
I'm off to pack beach towels and sunscreen...and put on a bathingsuit.

[Cafe976]

Good morning, everyone!

Huntress - If I didn't already miss you have a great trip! Glad to hear your son is better, too. If you want to give your immune system a little boost, eat something with lots of garlic or just take some.

[For a real down-to-earth fix I just grab a clove of fresh garlic out of the bud, peel it and cut into asprin-size pieces - and swallow them with water like pills. If I've really got a cold I take 2 at night and make sure I shower in the morning. ]

Jen - yeah, weekends are tough because there's more opportunity to eat all kinds of different things. In the last year I've learned to knit...

If you want to do something crafty but lack know-how you could check at your local Jo-Ann or specialty craft store (like a scrapping store or a specialty yarn shop) and see if they have classes... Ususally they're not a big commitment. My first knitting class was $35 and 5 2-hour classes on a weekend morning - and we made mittens, start to finish! (with homework).

Seems like so many things involve food - the bookstore is a place I can spend endless hours without eating, esp if they have comfy chairs like Barnes and Noble. I guess I could use some more ideas, too.

Tiffany - I love justcrockpotrecipes.com, too!

There is also a thread just for crock pot recipes here on the 3FC WW forum. There is nutritional information, which helps for any plan.

Tiger - hope you can let go and have some fun once you're actually at the park!

[Jello]

Hi all! Boy, it's tough keeping up with you guys! So many posts. So many subjects. I love it.

Was at the gym yesterday and decided to stop into the office to see why no one has contacted me about the weight loss program yet. The Dr. in charge was ticked and said he'd "straighten them out". Hope I didn't get anyone in trouble. He says he'd make sure someone contacted me SOON. I gave him my work number to make it easier. We'll see.

Meanwhile, I'm still doing good. I've been OP since Monday. 2 whole days! For me, WOW!! I've been good today but now my stomach is starting to rumble. I have some grapes in the fridge but told myself I wasn't allowed to eat them until I finish this bottle of water.

...pause ... Glug, glug, glug....

Ah, refreshing! With this heat, it's been easier to get in lots of water.

Tiger, hope you have/had a great time at the waterpark! That's the place to be in weather like this. Like Cafe said, just have a great time. That's all that's important.

Cafe, I've heard a lot about garlic and my ex was a big fan of it but ... well, other people around him suffered for it. (Sorry to be gross.) I've seen tablets made with garlic and parsley and those name brands like Garlique that are supposed to be odor free. Are they any good, do you know?

Jen, I like Cafe's idea about crafts and things like that on the weekends. I love shopping in the craft stores and buying all sorts of paints and brushes and "things". I have absolutely no artistic talent but have a great time down in the basement (very cool in the summer ) workshop. Usually, the final product is nothing that I'd want to give anyone, or anyone to see for that matter, but I enjoy doing it. My latest thing is making stepping stones. Just a bag of cement, a bucket or two of water and lots of little colored stones and things to put in them. (Wooden pieces, buttons, paints, etc.) They're not beautiful but they're functional.

Huntress, I do like the SF fudgesicles but they just can't seem to replace my beloved Skinny Cows. We just bought an ice shaver machine for making snow cones but can't seem to find the low-sugar syrup for them. Found some at 90 calories a cup (better than others at 170 calories a cup ) but still. At least they're non-fat and very refreshing.

Tiffany, thanks for the website. Crock pots are heroes to folks like me. Master Chef!!! NOT!!! I hate to cook but I can handle dumping ingredients into a crock pot and letting it do all the work. I use it a lot during the winter. Good for stews and chili, etc.

I have a problem similar to Tiger's. Going to a bridal shower on Saturday and have to dig through the closet and hope I have something to wear. Not panicked just yet but by this time tomorrow or Friday... Hoping the outfit that I just dropped off at the dry cleaner will do. I'm going directly from the shower to a cookout at my sister's. Rich is picking me up and we're heading to the cookout. I'm thinking of changing my clothes in the car on the ride. Hope we don't get pulled over. I can see the headlines now...

Have to work now. Yeah, someone's gotta do it. The old *itch's daughter had a baby yesterday and all anyone has been doing all day is sitting around chatting about it. Yes, she's the first person on planet Earth who's ever given birth. Whoopee.

Talk to you soon!

[Tiffany123]

Well, I did post a MONSTER post last night and then I erased it somehow. So, I will try to recreate it the best I can.

First of all,

Kayla, did you REALLY think I would have let your posts go without mentioning it? (hold on and let me stop laughing first!!)

Let me quote:

Ryan is my friend i always talk about....Lisa is another girl that is a good friend of mine, Ashley is another good friend who has known ryan her whole life...megan is another girl we counseled with last year but couldnt come to camp this year. the rest of us all counseled together THIS summer. Marie is a girl that totally broke ryans heart two weeks ago.......NOW! Lisa likes ryan, and gets me to tell him for her, so i do, ashley finds out and confesses that SHE likes him and wants to tell him she does, Megan, also likes ryan and he knows it.

WHAT THE??????? My daughter is 14 and ALL of her conversations start like that. All I can do is sit there with my eyes rolling back in my head until I pass out.

You seriously crack me up. And for some reason, every time I read one of your posts, I hear this little voice in my head saying, "This one time, at band camp...."

Jo! You are so dang funny. But then, that IS your main job here, to entertain me and keep me laughing. (Oh yeah, AND lose weight and exercise!) Good for you for getting on those people. That is a lot of money to have them sitting around twiddling their thumbs. And good for you for staying OP!! I know some days it is so much easier than other days...but you are an inspiration.

Cafe, congrats on that fabulous sushi AND the compliment. And hang in there with the upcoming period and ensuing emotional rollercoaster. You know we will be here for you!

Tig and Huntress, good luck and enjoy your trips. Summer is almost over and these trips will be coming to an end soon. Winter, we will all really crack down and get thin and next summer, we will be SO excited about our trips!

Jen....I also wanted to say something to you. *In a big regal gesture, I place the exercise crown upon your head.*
Yesterday I bought a bike. I haven't had one since I was in high school, um...*cough, a couple of years ago, cough* I decided to ride it last night, and I headed off down the street. I got about half way there and my legs started killing me. Right above the knees, the lower part of my upper leg. So, I huffed and puffed, and finally got off and walked it. While I was walking it, I was thinking..."JEN likes to exercise, JEN could ride this bike, JEN is SOOOOOO athletic, I would like to STRANGLE JEN." So, I got back on and rode it around the block (loooong block, LOTS of hills) and then came home. So, in a way, you were the reason I didn't give up.

Thank you so much for being so motivated and focused on exercise, I need that, and I appreciate it!

Ok, Good news. I have a job. I am still planning on going to school in the spring. But, right now, I need to make some money, the kids are going to school soon and need supplies and clothes, and the money will help that. I will be an assistant office manager for a woman at a huge furniture company. I will get the furniture for cost once I have worked there for a while. That could be dangerous. LOL....I start on Friday and won't have internet access until evening, so miss me!!!

So...I have no clothes for work. Mike took me shopping for work clothes, and we went to Saks... RIGHT...Actually, I went to K-mart. HAHA...I don't have any INCOME, people, like I could shop at Saks. We went to the Plus size section, and the clothes were GROSS. I mean NASTY. I was so pissed. As I stood there like this panting and cussing the clothing industry, we marched past the Misses section, and Mike says, "Why don't you try on some of these?" and I was mad. I jerked a Jacklyn Smith blouse off the rack that was an XL and looked at it. It looked VERY small compared to the 2x shirts that I HAVE been wearing. I told him, "Oh sure, I haven't crammed my rolls into clothing that is too tight yet today, so why not?" I took some stuff into the dressing room and it freaking FIT. I started crying. (Although Misses at K-mart does carry pants in an 18.) The pants fit nicely, I got 2 skirts, a short one and a long one which were XL, and 2 blouses that were XL. And a brown suede like jacket that belts in the front and a long skirt to match. They were both XL too. I was stunned. Granted, one of the skirts is a little snug, but it will give me room to lose a little more. So they will last throughout the winter.

We were checking out, and the chick checking us out was so busy flirting with Mike that she forgot to ring up the fake-suede outfit at all. I got home and was looking at my receipt and was like, "**** yes, K-mart deserves it for selling ugly fat clothes, the industry deserves it for making ugly clothes and the skank at the counter deserves it for FLIRTING WITH MY MAN.

Anyway, I am off to Steak and Shake to meet my mother. I found some interesting information at....www.dwlz.com Dotties site has some restaurant information and Steak and Shake isn't too bad for its fries and a burger. Although their hot chocolate is like almost 700 calories!!??!! So, I am off to take a shower.

Talk to you all later!
Tiff

[GeTtInG_ThErE2]

hey there!

WELL! its a good thing you commented tiff! i was starting to think i was being shunned! OK OK! i promise ill stop with all the ryan stuff! BUT!!!! im going to see him tonight! and all of my other friends from camp........hopefully.....if i clean the house my dad will give in and take me.....i hope.

anyways....its not BAND CAMP....its BIBLE CAMP! lol!!!!! thats bad!
but this one time, at bible camp?!? it has a ring to it! hehehe!
anyways!!!! POWER TO THE TEENS! HEHEHE>..holy im hyper today!
but i gotta jet.....gotta get cleaning....then going for half a toasted bagel with light cream cheese!

talk to you all soon.....
luv
kayla

[Tigerlily]

I survived the waterpark! I did a lot of looking...felt I was in the middle...could look a lot better, could look a **** of a lot worse. I can't believe how much skin women are willing to show, and I'm not talking about the skinny twits. I don't wear a skirt'd bathing suit for it's fashion statement, know what I mean...
Tiff, the band camp comment...too funny. DH quotes that one all the time. Furniture for cost! I'm dizzy just imagine'n!
Oh, I have the luck of a chapped *** (another one of DH frequent sayings). Right before we left the house for the waterpark, TOM! What luck. I took 3 Midol and headed out the door.
Gotta run...gonna sweep out the truck, then off to ftball.
Later taters!

ps. Tiff, thanx for the crockpot recipes.

[Tiffany123]

I am a stress eater. I have just discovered that. I start work on Friday, and I have been pulling things out of my closet and then fixed the kids a pot of beef and noodles and I ate a Lean Cuisine and some light bread. Then I ate a noodle. Just one. Then I got a bowl and had some. Then I had seconds. Then I ate some more.

What the **** is wrong with me? I hate this. I feel like puking.

I had a plain steakburger for lunch and a small fry for a total of 485 calories. Then my lean cuisine and bread was 350...so, I had 835 calories before I broke down and ate a ton of beef and noodles. So, God knows what I am at now. I think I will go for a walk and try to work through my nerves and fears. See if I can deal with it rationally instead of eating my way through it.

Thanks for giving me a place to vent!

Thanks,
Tiff

[Jello]

Tiffany, Tiffany, Tiffany!!! Breathe, girl, breathe!!!

Come here anytime to vent. One of the reasons we're here, right? Also, welcome to the Stress Eaters club. (I'm not just the president, I'm also a client!) And I'm a member of the Boredom Eaters Club, the Anger Eaters Club, the Sadness Eaters Club ... well, you get the picture.

How are you feeling this morning? New day, right? Yesterday's done and over with. Nothing to do about it now. Today, you will drink gallons of water, get some exercise and eat a little lighter. I SAID SO!!! That's an order. Don't mess with me, girlie or you're gonna get yourself some big time stress!!!

...Having said that, I'm going to add my frustration to this forum. I've been good for 3 days. Ate well. Drank rivers of water. Made it to the gym AND exercised at home. I've been behaving.

Got on the scale this morning and GAINED two pounds. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY!?!?!?!?!?! I don't mind telling you this really s**ks!! Man, if I'm going to gain weight anyway, I might as well eat! Grumble. Hm, maybe this is me? Looks like the StayPuft Marshmallow Man. (Anyone see Ghostbusters?)

I have to go. Guess I'll just *sigh* refill my water bottle *ho hum* and keep on plugging.

[jen519]

Hey folks.
I just have to say to Tiff and Jo. "Been there, done that." I tend to eat more when I'm stressed, but just about any strong emotion can send me to the kitchen. I just never learned to deal with 'em.
And gaining weight when there's no good reason for it. That's just not fair! The last time that happened to me, though, a week later I had not only lost the weight I gained, but 2 pounds more. I can't remember if it was on this thread or another, but someone suggested to me that only 1 weigh-in a week really counts. So if you're a scale hopper like me, try not to let any of the numbers phase you at all, except on your "official" weigh-in day. Of course, that may be the ONE day when the scale decides to puke all over you, but hey, the odds are better.
Oops! Gotta get ready for work. I'm so looking forward to the weekend! Have I mentioned that sometimes I HATE MY JOB!
Oh Kayla, your energy is ALMOST contagious! Keep posting. Maybe some I'll finally pick up some of it. And Tigerlily, it was knowing you were going to the waterpark that finally gave me courage to not only take my daughter to the river for a swim, but get in MY bathing suit and go with her too! We had great fun. Thanks so much!

Jen
238/226/140