Lily and Baff - I had a similar problem with WW points. If I could have say 30 (cuz I don't do math well!) then I would try to keep breakfast and lunch very low so I could eat a decent dinner. Well, even a decent dinner, meaning real food cooked at home, didn't always use up those points/calories, and I would be under. Yet I didn't lose any faster. So finally I gave my self "permission" to eat 1/3 of the points from getting up until but not including lunch; another 1/3 starting with lunch, up to and not including dinner, and the final 1/3 starting with dinner. I sat down and planned out several days at a time this way, and voila! - I was not longer ravenous, I still lost, and got in plenty of fruits, veggies, etc. It does take a little experimenting to find the highest number of calories you can eat and still lose, or maintain - depending where you're at. And my feeling is, why be hungry if you don't have to be? :lol:

If you eat protein with every snack and meal how do you deal with constipation?

Carol, I don't think protein is necessarily constipating. It's just normal food, like egg whites, cottage cheese, yogurt, salmon, chicken breast, turkey breast, etc. I eat lots of fruits and veggies, with some oatmeal, and get lots of fiber. No problems! :)

Thanks, Meg.

Baffled, thanks for your post. What you wrote makes sense. I will check out the cc forum for additional help with my food plan.

Pat, that 1/3 of total calories each time the way you divided it seems like that would be a great way to look at it. I've done a little better today at dividing my cals more evenly. I'm sure with practice, I'll get even better. Well, I say I've done better, but I've already had dinner and only had 920 cal's for the day. But, I have included protein with each meal and veggies and felt less hungry today. I made it to the grocery store and bought up a bunch of apples, oranges, grapes, bananas and a pineapple, so I now have plenty of fruit to snack on.

Tomorrow is my son's birthday. I had been trying to pick gifts for him that he will be able to take with him on his military assignments. I ended up getting him a portable DVD player,2 movies, a tape recorder that all the friends and family can leave him a voice recorded message on and made him a family photo album so he can have pic's of everyone with him. I think he will really like his gifts.

Today was my official WI and it was better than last Sunday. This time I'm DOWN a lb. instead of UP a lb. So, in 4 weeks since getting strict and getting back to regular exercise, I've lost a total of 4 lbs. Wish it was more, but I am happy that at least my holiday lbs. are starting to go away.

Meg, when you eat oatmeal do you only count 1/2 cup dried oatmeal? My box says 150 cals per 1/2 cup. I find it takes me a whole cup to feel full, hence 300 cal's plus the tiny bit of skim milk and SF syrup that I add.

I hope I am still maintaining ;)

Angie and I had dinner at the Elephant Bar on friday night...I had the salmon, rice and veggies...even brought a little home :). But saturday I had leftover shrimp scampi from a few days before and nachos...for breakfast :(...

We went down to San Diego to get some new shelving at the Container Store...since my daughter and :p son in law :p live near there, we took them to lunch at P.F. Chang's. I had lettuce wraps and soup :)...but then I nibbled...heavily...on their leftovers :(

One of my niece's (Ron's sister) was baptised at church on Saturday night so the family went for Mexican...Angie and I split a 2 taco 1 enchilada dinner...leaving the enchilada and half the rice and beans to bring home :)...but then I had the enchilada and leftover rice and beans for breakfast :(

Tonight we had sweet potatoes and corn :)...and bratwurst :( ;)

All is pretty well here...a lot of rain! Still getting miles in with the dogs or treadmill.

I see from the current pictures that we, here at 3FC, still have the best looking people on the web!! :)

Wonder what that MOTHER-DAUGHTER will do with their trophy for cutest couple? ;)

Gotta go....C-YA!

Lily, I'm not Meg, but I use either 1/3 or 1/2 cup dry oatmeal to twice as much water. After it's cooked I add walnuts (about 1 oz) and raisins or dried cranberries (1/8 cup) and a little skim milk. Sometimes SF syrup. Have you tried steel cut oats? They take longer to cook than the old fashioned type flakes, but are really good. I find them in the health food section of my grocery, usually I get Bob's Red Mill brand.

I'm sure your son will love those gifts!

Gary - step away from the leftovers!! They're out to get you.... :lol:

Thanks Pat!

Thanks Pat, I think I need to get a scale to measure food with. It's hard on some things to estimate my portion. Ex. especially nuts. I haven't found the steel cut Oats where I do my shopping. I was thinking if maybe I just eat 1/2 cup of the Oats and a boiled egg, that might be able to keep me full for a while.

Gary, it looks like you've had some pretty tasty food. Tonite my son dropped by and he wanted home-made Chicken Alfredo. I cooked it for him and the girls. I was happy that I stuck to my plan and cooked myself 1 boneless grilled porkchop, salad and peas. But, boy their food looked good! Unfortunately I've had to learn that I can't eat the way my kids do and keep this weight off. My son did let me off the hook by saying he doesn't want a birthday cake he just wanted the fresh pineapple for dessert. I'm terrible with overeating when it comes to cake.