Good morning, alice - it felt so good to eat 1/2 as much food yesterday. After spending a day eating less I felt even more confident about what I am doing. I did get hungry in the middle of the night last night and it was one of those stomach growling miseries that kept me awake so I got up and had a 6th meal. I think it was because my 5th meal got cut short by company and that I drink 2 strong coffees in the evening. I will see how it goes w/ 5 meals today.

When I was in high school I made all my clothes. Back then you did it to save money. Now sewing materials are SO expensive. Since having a child my sewing has mostly been limited to making costumes for one thing or another. I do enjoy those projects though. DD says she wants to help make this costume so hopefully it will be an opportunity to teach her how to sew. My mom taught me and it is something I would like to pass on.

Glad you have some pretty fresh air. Today is our last day of it before it turns hot again so I plan to get out and work in my yard.

Everyone have a great weekend. Oh yeah, I DID finish developing my film, next step, 34 proof sheets. That is how many rolls of film I developed.

Sat. morning
 

Wow! Ledom! That is an amazing amount of shooting.

Yes, it is funny that too much food can be a problem isn't it? It is the same with the MT. But one thing, I don't have cravings on this diet and I was always craving something on the Prevention diet and WW. I think it is because I have eliminated wheat and sugar and also the food combinings are probably good for me.

Today is our anniversary, 26 years. Had a nice talk with the DH this morning on the phone. My D is there too.

It is going to be hot here today. My garden is loving it. I am going to go out today and cut a bunch of garden flowers and bring them in. Right now foxgloves and shasta daisies are making me a meadow.

Alice, Marley is on cloud 9, being king of the castle. He has lost some wieght on the MT too. He isn't getting any bread products which he loved and often got several time a day...my little carbo loading man.

Hi Cher and Cheryl!

Monday...
 

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Since it was so nice here weatherwise, quite a few people were around. I'm sure a lot of people took this week for vacation.

I was in the middle of posting a little while ago when we had a few rumbles of thunder...so needless to say I shut the computer down as fast as I could. We had mostly rain, but enough thunder to get her nibs all upset.

Well guys...I started the South Beach diet yesterday. Prevention is promoting it, so I figured it has to be healthy. There are 3 phases to the program. Phase I is the strictest, where I cannot have any pasta, bread, sugars, alcohol, etc. for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, or possibly longer (if you wish), you go to Phase II where you reintroduce some of these foods back into your diet. You stay on Phase II until you reach your goal weight. After you reach your goal weight, you go to Phase III, which is a lifetime commitment. It's really not low carb nor is it low fat. You eat good carbs and good fats. So, I decided to give it a try.

judi, HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSARY!!
I am sorry you were unable to celebrate with your DH. Will you be celebrating when he gets home? It will be interesting to see how both Marley & Esteban react to each other when your DH comes home. Also, I want to wish you a Happy Canada Day tomorrow! Are you doing anything special?

ledom, how did it go the next day having 5 meals? I'm glad eating less worked out better for you. The costume making will be a good opportunity for your D to learn how to sew. My mother did not sew, so that's where I probably got it from. A friend of mine used to sew dolls to sell, but developed joint problems so had to give it up. She tried to teach me to sew once, but it was a lost cause!:^: Did it get hot again? It has been a little less humid here, but the temps have been in the 80's.

Hi Cheryl and Cher :wave:

Have a great day ladies.

Hey Girls,
 

I am feeling so energized and I attribute it to the change in my diet. I think I was so busy eating and digesting I didn't have any energy left. I don't know why I couldn't see it more clearly while I was in the midst of it, but I am feeling much better. I am dedicating myself to eating fresh vegetables too. My current favorite is fresh green beans, and roasted squashes and eggplant w/ tomato sauce. I am finding that if I plan my veggies just right I can manage at least one meal a day w/o a carb. I am also weighing my carbs, like 6 oz. of potato is a serving or 3/4 cup oatmeal which I am having 4 times a day. Yesterday I was able to do 5 meals instead of 6 by timing all my meals a little later. I am just going to let the 6th meal be optional and not freak if I have it most days.

Alice, you new plan sounds interesting. I am hearing quiet a buzz about it so it'll be interesting to hear your experience with it. I started my "plans" at the end of Sept. 2002. I like setting a certain amount of time to try something. When I look back over the last 9 months there have only been about 3 weeks that I have not been monitoring my food. I know that is an improvement I have made this year.

I am also getting some more variety going w/ my exercise. I am adding a little cardio back in and I did a yoga tape over the weekend that was a bit of a revelation to me. I'd like to try to do it once a week.

Hiked this morning w/ my girlfriend on the mtn. We were through by 8:30 and felt very virtuous. I have my veggies cooking, my shower done and have energy to do something besides taking a nap. I hope to get some good things accomplished this afternoon.

Hope all of you are planning a good week.

Goodmorning
 

Hi gals!

The diet sounds very good Alice, I like idea of the phases. I had to introduce peanut butter and no fat cheese to my diet as well as tvp (textured veg. protein) because I couldn't stand the fish anymore. The scale seems to be inching its way down so I guess it is ok, just slower, but soy is really for the living lean section of the diet and not the reduction part. Keep us posted on the diet.

The other day I mixed a cup of TVP with a 7 oz. can of pizza sauce, let it sit for 30 min., stuffed a pepper with it and baked it until the pepper blistered...sort of "pizza pepper" and it was my protein. It was great. I now have made a few of them to have on hand.

What foods are you eating now Ledom? How much carbs? Any in the form of flour etc.? I am weighing carbs too on this diet. This last while my primary source of carbs other than fruit and veg. is a no salt brown rice cake. This diet is very diff. then before because I was always eating so many diff. beans and lentils and now I am having NONE.

Ledom, I am glad you are feel eneregized though you always seemed pretty highly powered to me.

We are having a nice gentle summer rain today.

I don't know if the DH and I will do anything for our anniversary. Probably not, but a few years back he took me to New York, I had never been at the point and I was over the moon. He can coast on the glory he got from that trip still for a few years.

My friend & cleaning lady is coming today to do my house and then I am taking her to a very nice tea house on the island for lunch. Give her a little treat, I wouldn't want to do without her.

Well I had better start the day. Everyone enjoy!!

Good afternoon/evening everyone!
 

judi, that "pizza" sounds really good. That's good the scales are moving in the right direction. How was your lunch with your friend. That was awfully nice of you to take her. Speaking of beans and lentils, you are allowed kidney beans & black beans on Phase I of this diet. I was really surprised because usually on low carb diets, this is a no-no:nono:

ledom, I too am glad you seem to have more energy and that that tweaking your diet was just the ticket. Did you get any remnants of Bill?

Cheryl, have you heard any results from your test yet? Please let us know.

Hi Cher

Have a great night.

Morning Girls,
 

Judi, The carbs I'm eating are from oatmeal, yams, white potatoes, and brown rice. I am not eating much fruit now, but occasionally have an apple or blackberries. Most protein is from eggwhites, and poultry w/ one serving of lean beef and 1/2 serving of cottage cheese a day. Vegetables at 3 meals. I am trying to eat really lean for the next 5 weeks and see if calorie reduction works :lol: . I'm also adding variety to my exercise, adding some walking and yoga in. I journaled for 12 weeks on BRx judi and this week I have just suffered burn out. I do need to do a nutrient check on a days eating, but I have just been having 5 portions of protein, 4 portions of carbs, lots of veggies and for now that is my guideline. I also have some fat in the form of UDO's and Virgin Coconut oil. The thing I'm LOVING is fresh green beans, they are so tender now. I eat them plain as a side but what is great is to cook them 'til just tender but still crisp, drain and chill and put a huge handful on top of a salad, dress w/ udo's, spicy brown mustard and red wine vinegar, salt and pepper and yummmmmm.

How was your lunch judi? Hope you enjoyed your special days this week. What does everyone have planned for the 4th. I'll be grilling w/ my mother and daughter.

Costume construction has begun. I am making mourning veils for 4 characters in addition to d's costume. Dress rehearsal is July 14.

I do have more energy. Also, yesterday the scale kerplunked down 5 lbs., it was 5 lbs. of bloat. I don't know what it means but I like it.

Hey,

I did indeed get the results from my test back--Everything checked out fine, and I am very grateful for that!! I do still have a trip to the ob/gyn scheduled to find out what's wrong with me! I'm just not as nervous now.

Thanks for the thoughts!

More later, Cheryl

P.S. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well on her respective programs!!

Cheryl, that's fantastic news! I bet you are relieved.:flow2: When do you see the OB/GYN?

ledom, congratulations on your weight loss!:cp: It must have been nice seeing 5 lbs. gone. I look at it this way, 5 lbs. is 5 lbs. no matter where it came from. I love to eat fresh green beans cooked the way you described. I also like to eat them raw.

Hey judi, whatcha up to today?

Have a good evening everyone.

ledom, Cheryl, Cher....
 

I want to wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July!! Is anyone doing anything special? DH & I are going to spend the day down to the lake, as it's supposed to be hot and humid.

Hey judi, how are you and Marley doing? Do you have Bentley while your D is in CA?

Have a good day!

multiple persoanlity/judi/esteban
 

Hi everyone!

Cheryl! Well PTL that is good news!:cp:

Ledom, good for you on the weight loss...FIVE pounds:smug: ! That shows me you were right about that ice cream cone that you resisted.

I am having a lot of steamed green beans on salad or just by themselves. Same with asparagus. Rapsberries are also in season here.

Alice, Bentley is with his human dad. I am letting Marley's coat grow out long again...I am always trying to but give up because when it long it so much work but he is SOOO cute...just a little musk ox. He was seriously tring to bite me though when I was brushing him, he might have arthiritis and it might hurt or him...OR...he could just be a brat. Anyway he will go on Monday to the doggie hairdressers. I guess the CAT my daughter said is getting HUGE. I miss him, maybe they will be home on Tuesday.

Ledom, my carbs are mainly brown rice cakes. Today I am going to a baked potato.

The scale stayed the same this week...I think I messed up with the addition of the forbidden dairy even though it no fat:( So I am back to tuna for week four.

My lunch with my friend was very nice. The tea house has very English sandwiches and desserts and huge assortment of tea.
Have fun grilling Ledom!

Have a wonderful FOURTH of JULY!!!:balloons:

Good morning gang
 

How is everyone? I just finished my 2nd yoga session. I feel so renewed from it. I am adding it on once a week. I really looked forward to it all week and it did seem a little easier this time. I am not very flexible.

judi, I know you are getting ready to have your family back - you'll have a lot of catching up to do.

How was everyones holiday. Mine was spent doing a lot of grilling but I got a lot of the next weeks cooking done as well. D and I went to see Legally Blonde 2 last night. Very silly, but cute - we enjoyed it.

The costume is coming along nicely, my house is torn apart and there is sewing stuff everywhere but it is kind of fun.

Have a good diet week folks.

HI!
 

Sounds like you had a nice 4th Ledom. Hey, how many times a week do you do weight training? How many times yoga?

I did the upper body resistance exerercises today, you do them once a week and then a lower body once a week. They goal is to do them in 18 min. increasing the reps week by week. It took me a 1/2 hour reading the book and trying to figure them out. It felt good though and was Surprising! kind of fun. I am going to do my "fat burning" exerecise (walk or treadmill) in a couple of minutes. Fat burning exerecise is supposed to be done everyday. My goal for this month is to exerecise 5 times a week. Also I am trying to get in my 100 0z. of water..glug

Ledom, on your diet do you have to have lots of water?

Alice, I have been lurking on your other thread...you have been doing really well. Where do you get that syrup for the topping? I have had sugarless jello and you are right, it is a good reg dessert substitute.

Today I put on an exerercise top and shorts and took poloroids of views of myself (minus my head) using the camera's timer. Not a pretty sight:lol: but I want them for "BEFORE" pictures...I am presupposing there is going to be an "AFTER".

It was cosmic to order MT for me I think...I have only ever seen it advertised once on tv (that time I ordered) and never again, though I have been watching for it. The food really is good for me, I get no cravings at all...first diet ever.

I bought a wheat free, sugar free, fat free baking mix...so I made a cake using applesauce for the fat, sugar twin for the sugar and egg whites for the eggs. SO I have a more interesting thing for my breakfast carb. I had it with a dollop of lf vanilla yogurt mixed with raspberries. It almost tasted like something normal.

Today when I was lying on the floor doing an exerercise Marley was concerned (he had never seen THAT before) he kept licking me and trying to bite the handles of the resistance thing.

Hi Cher and Cheryl! What is up?

Good afternoon....
 

We're having some delightful weather, the 3 h's. I actually got in swimming yesterday. We are expecting some storms later on this evening into tomorrow morning, and it's supposed to be less humid.

I really have not been very good these past couple of days with my diet. I did lose 3 lbs. last week, but got on the scale this morning, and have gained back 2! I have done a week of phase 1. I know you are not supposed to do this, but I honestly don't want to start over again and have an extra week of eggs and some sort of meat every morning :p. So, I've decided to jump right into phase 2 tomorrow. I want to stick to this woe because it really is healthy.

ledom, glad you are enjoying yoga so much. I'd like to see Legally Blonde 2 also. I saw the first one and liked it. I really think it was because of the dog.:D Good luck with your sewing project.

esteban, what happened to judi:?: I buy the Da Vinci s/f syrup online. They have a lot of great flavors. My favorite is vanilla, which I put into my oatmeal. There are some stores that carry it, but the only place I can find it is in Super Walmart, and sometimes they don't have the s/f. Here is the website for you to take a peek. www.DaVinciGourmet.com You were in Marley's territory when you were on the floor doing your exercises. Usually Lacee starts kissing me, I start laughing, then we end up playing. I am happy for you that you have found the woe for you. You really are doing great. Your DH, D, & Esteban should be coming home pretty soon.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Yep judi....lotsa water!!!!
 

Are you going to journal your workouts judi? I do 4 strength days, 1 yoga day, and this last week I hiked or walked the other two days. I think I am going for that for the next 4 weeks. i can't believe I am about to start week 3 of this clean living. That is one of the joys of journaling those workouts, when the entries start to pile up and you have evidence of how hard you have been working.

I have taken to wearing my fat jeans from about 5 years ago around. THEY, make me feel better. I remember when they were stretched across my belly and now they are very very baggy. It is a slow journey let me tell you. Jeans I wore last year still fit just fine and I find that so frustrating!!!!

Alice, glad you got out in the lake. Floating in the water feels so good doesn't it?

Cher, Cheryl, hope your fourth has been a good one.