Thanks Aphil, Great advice as always!

Good morning!
Let me tell you...I have been burning some butter this week! I am down 2 more pounds to 182-almost to my 30 pound loss mark!!!
To some of the newer people-I know that 3 pounds have dropped off in the past couple days-but I am not starving myself or anything-I eat anywhere from 1300-1800 calories per day, depending on my hunger level. My weight loss always tends to do this for some reason...I won't lose a thing for a month, and then it goes down in a spurt...stops again, spurts again...and so on. I guess I am just wierd. :dizzy:
My sister in law is supposed to be here this afternoon to watch the kids while I go to dance class tonight. The kids just love being with her.
My mother was over yesterday, and she cleaned out her jewelry box...she's like "I have this ring I don't wear hardly ever if you want it...I looked and it was one of those gold rings with the big clusters of little diamonds-there's like 23 of them on this thing! I was like "heck yeah!" (She must be nuts...who gives away diamonds?) Well I obviously scooped it up...and I am not going to wear it until I hit my 30 pound lost mark the next pound down...well, I guess that is my 30 pound reward-and it didn't cost me anything! :lol: Now I have some more incentive to get off another pound!
I hope everyone is doing well...I would like everyone to share their top 5 low calorie fixes for "sweet and or chocolate attacks." Everyone has their favorites, and it is nice to hear some new ideas now and then.
Mine-
1.) 2 Hersheys Kisses-50 calories-(I suck on them to make them last)
2.) Sillouhettes ice cream sandwich-130 calories
3.) Jello Fat Free chocolate pudding cup-100 calories
4.) Popsicle brand sugar free Fudgesicle-45 calories
5.) a cut up apple with a dab of Marzetti's fat free caramel apple dip
Aphil

Aphil - Free jewelry!! Now that's hard to beat. :p

Top 5 Chocolate Fixes:

1. Carbolite bar - 100 - 140 cals.

2. Tootsie Pop - 60 cals.

3. Low - cal Fudgesicle - anything under 90 cals.

4. 1 scoop Non- fat/ Sugar Free Blue Bunny Frozen Yogurt - 90 cals.

5. Chocolate "0 carb bar" that's really a meal replacement but I pretend it's really a chocolate bar. 180 cals.

***if I had a See's candy store nearby I'd get one of their chocolate pops. Don't know what the calorie count would be but they last a long time. Used to love them when I lived in Calif.***

Hello everyone,

I am sorry I havent been posting lately, but I really am having a hard time with everything. I think everything is just getting to me. I am really struggling to stay on program and cant seem to get past 180 pounds. I know my thyroid going all whacky again has something to do with it, but it has also caused me to lose all my willpower and motivation. I dont know how to shake it off.

This house still hasnt sold yet, Bruce and I are still 1100 miles apart. I still miss my kids, family and friends as much as ever.

I havent exercised in almost a month because of my stupid shoulder ( but its getting better). I feel like such a failure.
I sure wish I could find that person I was a few months back when I was so full of motivation and determination.

Ok sorry to be such a bummer :(

Take care everyone !

nancy :df:

Hi Snowey -

It sounds like you're going through a LOT right now. Just take care of yourself, and things will work out. Sometimes I have to work really hard to remember that just making it through a day or a week is a success, regardless if I did it gracefully or not.

:grouphug:

Hello everyone,
Nancy-I am sorry to hear that you are feeling so down lately. I am sure that your thyroid medication switch and your not being to exercise lately is the main cause for your "weight plateau." Just try to stay on plan as much as you can...and maybe go for a nice walk now and then since that doesn't involve your shoulder so much...it really will make you feel better. The key is to pump yourself up into doing it...that is the hardest part.
Do not feel like a failure! I, for one, WILL NOT let you fail. I care way too much. ;) I know that things are getting stressful, and that you must miss your husband so much. Just try to concentrate on not gaining, instead of losing right now-and that will be a success right there-not gaining weight when you are stressed and want toe at all of the time.
Have you asked your realtor about what you can possibly do to help the house go quicker? You might consider any suggestions they have...
I really do hope that you are felling better soon...try to get a walk in now and then, just do what you can-those exercise endorphins really will make you feel better. I promise. :D
Big hugs out to you girl! :grouphug:
I had a really nice class last night...our teacher taught us some traveling bellydance moves...like moves that you would use to travel across the stage rather than be in one spot. Let me tell you...I was dripping with sweat when it was all done with, and my thighs were burning, but it felt great. I really look forward to this every single week. I am getting to know a few of the girls in class a bit-and really enjoying it. :)
GeorgiaLady-that Tootsie Pop idea is one I am going to have to use. I need something that lasts a while to have when we rent a movie. What is it about movies that make you want to munch on everything in the house? :lol:
Well, everyone have a fantastic day-and take this one day at a time. Try to visualize yourself making healthy choices in a restaurant, or putting on those athletic shoes and getting in your exercise...I read that visualizing yourself making good choices beforehand helps you actually do it when the time comes!
Aphil

JEANS UPDATE...
 

Okay-some of you that have been here a while probably remember that a while back around Christmas, I bought a cute pair of Old Navy boot cut jeans in a size 16 for motivational purposes...(I wore an 18 when I bought them, and I was around 192lbs.) Well, I tried them on when I bought them, and I could get them up to about the tops of my thighs-no further. I have had them sitting on the dresser for motivation, and I actually FORGOT about them! I remembered them today, and thought, well I am 10 pounds thinner now, I should be able to pull them up...maybe after another pound or two I can even zip them. Well...I could pull them all the way up AND zip them!!!!! I fit into a size 16! (To all of the newbies, when I started back up after having my son, I was in a size 20) They are still a bit more snug than I would like, so I am not going to wear them yet, but I would say that in a couple more weeks I should be able to wear them around, after another couple pounds are gone. My goal is to wear them to my son's birthday party next month. (mid-April)
:cb: :cb: :cb:
Aphil

Hello everyone!

First - Nancy - I am reaching out to you, and giving you a warm hug!!!! I am so sorry to hear how down you are feeling. You are still that motivated person; but you have been SO strong to endure having your husband so far away, and you living alone, getting the house ready...of course you are feeling overwhelmed! Then injuring your shoulder, and having to curtail your newly-formed exercise program...and then thyroid being out-of-whack...you poor girl!!:(

But as Aphil says, we will NOT let you slip and become lost!!! We do care so for you, one of our sisters! All I can say is that things will get better, there will soon be a day that you will feel more yourself, and able to say "yeah, things stink now, but I'm okay with it" or something like that :p

Big hug again to you!:grouphug:

Hi Rachel - I live about 25 minutes north of Montpelier. My grandparents had a farm in E. Montpelier since 1940; that's how we came to love Vermont. And my dad was born in Montpelier. I met my husband in Pennsylvania; we took a trip up here in our first year of marriage; it was his first time here. He loved it as much as I (but he didn't see it in winter, hahaha :devil: ). We've lived here now for 20 years. The winters ARE killer, though; and this recent one is especially difficult as we bought two motorcycles last year, and are dying to get riding again!

Hi Aphil - CONGRATS on the jeans fitting!!! That is SUCH a great feeling!!! Keep it rolling, girl! When is that high-school reunion?...nothing like a little revenge to keep us motivated, haha! and thanks for the Applebees suggestions.

Hi Kina! Great list about yourself. Hope you are well.

Hi GeorgiaLady and RavenToy! Hope you ladies are happy, moving and grooving! Sheesh, that sounded lame :lol:

Hi Kanola! I hope your extra work-outs are making you pleased!

I'm seeing improvement each week with doing more of the leg exercises - maybe not so much visual, but I can get farther along in the video without the BURNING and the TREMBLING (and the FLAY-VIN for those Simpsons fans :lol: ) I don't think I've admitted yet my goal for my legs, would be to be able to wear shorts without feeling self-conscious; and the naughty goal would be to wear a mini-skirt with heels in public without feeling foolish!:D

Well, off to bed for me. Have a great day tomorrow, everyone!

Your friend,
Holly

Good morning everyone!
I hope everyone is doing well! I am just finishing breafkfast,and am going to get right into my workout-which is cardio/dancing today-and then a few extra minutes on these abs!
Holly-they have not set a date for the reunion yet-it is still in the early planning stages-I am hoping that it is later in the year, so I can really wow them! ;)
Aphil

Hooray for Aphil....That is so great. What an inspiration you are...you seem to be right about where i am now. I have lost 13lbs. so now I am at 180. Size 16. This is a great site. At times when I feel hungry, I read this site...so much to read. I have been doing my pilates machine. I love it. It works me from where i need it most,my stomach. I am sore and i never thought i would say this but it feels great. Thanks peeps.....

The Best Peeps
 

What a great group this is. I don't want to go through a single day without checking this thread.

Some of us are UP:flow2: and some of us DOWN :no: but we're all in this TOGETHER :balloons: and that's how we are going to achieve our goals. No one gets left out. When I first joined this group, I was very depressed. Had just been reading posts for a while before I started posting. Almost everyone here has been down at some point for various reasons and we can all say that things do get better!! ;) thank goodness!!

Nancy, hang in there and keep coming back because we all care about how you are doing.

Holly, you will be in those shorts before you know it. You are doing great!!

Aphil, your posts are my inspirtion....you have been so supportive to everyone, it is fantastic to see how well you are doing.

Keep posting everyone, I don't know how I'd do this without you!!:goodvibes

Good evening!
GeorgiaLady-thanks for such a sweet post! You are so right-we have all had our good days and our bad days...and we all are in this together. Yesterday for me was a very good day-with the jeans and all-but today has not been as good...so that just proves the point! :)
It hasn't been BAD, but today I have had all of the fun T.O.M. cramps and "bad food cravings." I have eaten some fattier foods today than I should have...and I actually feel awful now that I have eaten them. I can tell I am used to eating lower fat, lower sugar, higher quality foods. Now I feel like just laying there...BLAH. The eating bad-for-you foods just does not have the satisfying feeling that it once used to. I actually do not like the feeling now of being stuffed. I feel like a big old pig...:lol:
It is actually good for me to feel this way. I remember the feeling,and it makes me much likely to do this in the future. What is it with the monthly hormones that make you crave yucky stuff anyway?
I DID get in my exercise though today-and I plan on being 100% back on track tomorrow.
Aphil

Good morning everyone! Well, winter came back to us! We got 8 inches of snow yesterday and it looks and feels like a beautiful January day outside!! Spring will be here soon. Spring will be here soon. Spring....
Nancy, a big huge hug to you! You are so strong and you will make it through this yucky couple of weeks! You and Bruce will be together soon!
Aphil--congrats on the jeans! ANd, Old Navy jeans run small! I have a pair of ON jeans and they fit beautifully, but I won't wear them because I don't like the number! (I know, it's silly. But, I just hate to wear something when I'm not THAT size anymore!) You'll be wearing them soon and they'll be baggy before you know it! You are doing so well!
I never thought, in my 40 years that I'd say this, but don't you just love to sweat?!?! I went to my daughter's basketball game and they needed someone to run the sidelines. Phew! Was I sweating, but man, did it feel good! It feels so good to be able to do it. After so many years of planning NOT to exert myself, it feels so good to be able to!
Georgia Lady--I'm with you with the Tootsie Pops! Have you discovered the mini ones? I don't know how many calories they are, but if a regular one is 60, I imagine they're about 25 and they're so cute! We are driving to Florida next month and I need to munch when we're driving and thought I'd pick up some of those! For my sweet tooth, I also like:
1. corn pops cereal. I know they have no fiber, but I eat a cup for dessert sometimes.
2. Chocolate chip caramel rice cakes. Just enough chocolate and each one is only 60 calories.
3. The Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches that Aphil wrote about. Lately, I"m hooked on the coffee ones.
4. WW Giant sundaes, especially before TOM. They hit the spot and they're BIG! (Only 150 calories, though!)
5. Peppermint tea with an Equal in it. I'm not big on putting sugar or sweetener in my tea and coffee, but this little snack not only warms me up, but hits that sweet tooth a little bit. I make a big mug and sip it while I'm making dinner.
Well all, here's to a super day! Make it a good one!

Good morning!
Tryin'Hard-I did not know that Sillhouettes made the coffee flavored ice cream sandwiches! I am going to have to look for those, or ask our Wal-Mart to carry them! YUMMY!
I am also a lover of kid cereals...I usually stay out of them, but every now and then I measure out a single serving of Lucky Charms, Corn Pops, or Cookie Crisp and munch as a bedtime snack now and then when a sweet attack hits. That is actually a good "munching snack" to put in a little Ziploc bag and sneak into the movie theatre to have while you avoid the extra buttered fattening popcorn! My husband loves the movies, and I usually sneak in something and just order a diet soda-Jason eats the popcorn.
I have also seen those mini-Tootsie pops...my daughter got a couple in her bag last Halloween. They ARE really cute! :lol:
I am really trying to stay on track today after yesterdays cravings thing...I had Cream of Wheat cereal sweetened with Splenda and a Yoplait Light Strawberry yogurt for breakfast, and have already set out a banana on the counter for my morning snack...so breakfast and morning snack today only total 300 calories. I try to to what Georgia Lady does a lot-to find foods that are pretty large for the amount of calories they contain...bananas really fit the bill at 100 calories each for a medium one.
I have been doing a lot better with getting my dairy in...it was a mini-goal for me a while back. I have been getting in 1-2 servings of dairy every day for about a month now-when I was just getting it from a supplement-so it is much better. I do prefer Yoplait Light yogurt over all of the other brands-so that helps out a lot-finding a brand I like well.
Today is my strength training day-I really need to get busy and get it done. These arms really need it...I am starting to see some definition in my shoulders and biceps a bit more...hopefully my triceps and abs muscles will start to emerge when a few more pounds are gone.
I have noticed that my endurance is getting a lot better-I am not feeling like I am huffing and puffing when I climb stairs, and I do not get as tired when doing things like shoveling snow, etc. so I am seeing results in my overall fitness level.
I hoep everyone is doing well-and Nancy, I hope you are feeling better. We really miss you around here, and love you very much! I feel like I have a slew of wonderful friends here at 3FC, and I care about all of you, and consider you all very much friends.
Take care everyone,
Aphil

Hi everyone,

Well, I’ll tell you that we all have some great ideas around here!!! I didn’t know about the mini Tootsie Pops or the Sillhouettes coffee ice cream. I never was a big coffee drinker until about 2 years ago and my son (17) wanted half a cup in the morning so I just made myself one at the same time. I find that I’ve gotten quite fond of it now and am very put out if I can’t have it.:stress: I put f/f half-n-half in it along with a couple of packets of Splenda.

Now that I’m keeping a close track of what I’m eating, I’ve noticed that it’s easier to come up with meals when I have a “senior” day :doh: and can’t think of anything to prepare. I just start looking back through the note pad and select a meal I’ve used in the past.

Today, I’ve already had 3 mini-meals, although this is not my usual way of eating, and it’s working out. I need to be more flexible and try different approaches to my weight management.

I have a family birthday party to go to this weekend and I plan on eating at home before I go. Hopefully my willpower will be stronger and I won’t pig out.:ink:

Here's my list of low calorie favs that I like to fill up on:

Brocolli Green Beans Cabbage
Lettuce Onions Celery
Tomatoes Asparagus Mushrooms
Spinach Strawberries Grapefruit
Oranges Apples Bananas

There are many more but these are the ones I use all the time. If I NEED bread, I will have a piece or two of Earth Grains 35 cal. white or wheat bread. There's 2 grams of fiber in each slice. Yeah Fiber!!!!:hyper:

Okay, I saved the best for last. One more lb. down!! I’ve been so happy all day…just when you think the scale is NEVER going to move…BOOM!! :cb:

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!