Maintainers Chat: May 5 - 11
 

Happy new week! :coffee:

I hope it's spring wherever you may be. :sunny:

I'll be back after the gym to catch up. The past three days have been spent moving DS into his own apartment and I feel like I feel off the face of the earth. :dizzy:

Back from the gym and I have my mug of coffee, so all is right with the world. :D

I was on the exercise bikes at the end of my workout when the former star of my Weight Watchers meetings came and got on the bike next to me. Back in 2000 - 2001, I was gaining and losing the same 20 pounds with WW and she was the star who had lost 93 pounds, the one that the leader would have stand up and tell her story at every meeting and show her before-and-after pictures. I've run into her occasionally over the past seven years and each time she's been heavier but always had an excuse about how she was going to get back on plan.

Today she was enormous. She clearly had put back on all 93 pounds plus considerably more. :( So we rode the bikes and talked. She said that her problem is carbs -- that she just can't stop eating carbs. She buys 100 calorie packs and eats five or six a day. She said she eats them and feels like she eats nothing, but keeps eating them. She spents all her WW points on carbs, but then keeps going. And she's gaining weight, not losing!

I know that vicious cycle because I was trapped in it for years!! I was the biggest abuser of WW ever because I would eat 85% of my points in carbs and at that time, I didn't know what a complex carb or whole grain was. So I'd technically be OP but be eating sugar and junk.

It's always hard to know when someone just wants to talk and when they want advice, so I didn't offer much diet advice other than to say I try to limit myself to one starchy carb a day (oatmeal), after I work out, and if I stay away from carbs, then I don't crave them. She just seemed to want to say that diets don't work and WW doesn't work, so screw it all.

I told her that I'm there every morning from 5:45 - 7:15 am, so maybe she'll start coming then and we can keep talking. Honestly, it scared the heck out of me to see her like that. Here's someone in real life who lost 93 pounds and probably regained 130. And she's miserable and feels completely helpless. I know that could easily be me and it absolutely terrifies me. I don't feel safe and immune at all from what happened to her.

Thanks for listening! I'm not sure why, but I just had to come home and talk about it.

Thanks for sharing that story. yes it could happen to any of us. I have lost and regained many times and have actually been a lifetime member of WW TWICE! I was too embarrassed to admit I had regained so I just started all over the second time.. I decided this time I wasn't going to pay anything for someone to tell me what to do to lose weight. I have nothing against WW or various programs and their are some very good ones. I find calorie counting works best for me. I don't use the 100 calorie packs for the very reason your friend describes. I hope you can be an inspiration for her.

Just popping in to say hi. 35 days until my scheduled c-section. I feel awful, migraines and painful BH contractions, but time is short. Nine more work days until maternity leave.

I'll post more if/when I get out of my "I hate everything" phase that I'm going through right now, but realistically won't be very active around here until next month. I am still lurking, at least on the weekly thread, and my thoughts are with you all.

Anne

MEG ~ I think the part I left here in you post tells ALL of us WHY you had to come here and talk about it!

WE are all always so excited :carrot: to announce our 1 pound losses, etc. But we are all ashamed to tell others of our gains or our other losses, as in LILY's new thread.

We are all human....we are not perfect...we fail...

Thank God WE have this site! WE know where to come...for help...to share good losses...to admit...bad losses...

We all know why you shared that with us...it could be us...at anytime...anywhere...

THANK-YOU for sharing :hug:

Good morning all,

If you all are following the "no excuses week 2" thread you know that I went overboard with some sweets and food in general this weekend. I don't want to go into too much food porn, but let's just say I didn't totally binge, just overate repeatedly when not hungry (fine difference, but there is one). I did get in good workouts Friday & Saturday, and Sat. went out w/ BF on his (power)boat to help with a youth sailing regatta, which was a lot of fun. Sunday I went shopping again for a bridesmaid's dress. Of course the one I found that looks great on me is the most expensive one that is really out of my budget. I could buy it, but I really feel like that money should be going towards my students loans. *sigh*

I also went to the big grocery store in the city, and the co-op, so I have plenty of delicious healthy food for the week. I picked my first zucchini from the garden this weekend! It's such a beautiful green color. Mmm I'm going to grill it tonight.

Seeing someone who has lost and regained so much weight provokes a lot of reactions from me. A big one is fear, certainly, that it could happen to me. I honestly can't imagine my adult life as a plus size - I haven't been plus sized since college. It is humbling, and a reminder to me to be vigilant. And also makes me grateful that I do have so much support here at 3FC from all of you.

Anne, :hug:.

Let's have a great week! :carrot:

Good morning maintainers,

Glad it's Monday - fresh start.
Had a little detour this w/e from staying on plan.
I was hitting the elliptical everyday for at least 40 min...but since Thursday my leg has been giving my such grief, I have to take some time off.

Made me frustrated - went off plan - end of story.
Back on track this AM.

Hope you are all well

Anne:hug:

-S

Meg, that is a pretty frightening story and one that's all too common. I know I don't want to be one of those Weight Watchers who gains it back, and I'm staying right here so that I won't.

Anne, only 35 days-yippee! Although I'm betting you wish it were 5 days.

Megan, you're being really smart about the bridesmaid's dress. You'll only wear it once (does anyone ever wear a bridesmaid's dress again?). Zucchini already? Lucky you!

Susan, I hope your leg feels better.

I have to be out of my house for the next three days because of asbestos abatement in my family room. The house was built in 1972, and there's asbestos in the popcorn ceiling and in the vinyl that's underneath the carpet and other vinyl. Even though it's a small amount, it's quite the ordeal (think hazmat suits) to remove it and dispose of it. But it will be fun staying with my friends and having a kitchen to use.

After a short run, I spent yesterday pulling weeds and planting. It was a perfect spring day--no clouds, sun, and 70 degrees.

Happy Monday!

Hi everyone! I'm back from my long weekend in Philadelphia. I didn't eat great, but I didn't eat terribly either. I drank a lot more than I usually do at home, but not that much compared to how much everyone else did! :lol: I only felt stuffed after one meal, and I feel like I made reasonable choices, plus did a whole lot of walking all over. Scale said 140 today but I know that at least 2lbs is water weight.

Meg - that is such a sad and scary story. At least she was at the gym, right? Even if she was being negative, she was doing something positive.

Megan - mmm, zucchini! DH planted his tomato seedlings outside last weekend. Our lettuce is growing pretty big too!

Sznn - I hope your leg feels better soon!

Anne - :hug: Hang in there!

Sheila - sometimes I'm afraid in 20 years they'll find out that my whole house is constructed of toxic materials! :lol: It's only 4 years old, but who knows what might be dangerous about cement fiber siding or the foam they use for insulation?

Spring is completely here and feels like it's turning into summer already. Our yard looks great and our veggies are growing. The peas are about a foot long now, the lettuce is growing fast, and there are teeny tiny peaches on our peach tree! DH dug up part of the lawn and made a flower bed for me. :D I'll be at the garden shop this weekend, that's for sure!

The dog is doing great. We signed up for private training for him, and we think he'll be able to get past his bad first reaction to seeing other dogs and also be able to be more comfortable with strangers. He has still been sneaking onto the couch when we're not home though! What a sneak.

I'm going to see the knee specialist tomorrow. My fingers are crossed that he will say I just need to go to PT or something. The knees haven't been bothering me TOO much lately but after all the walking I did this weekend I can definitely feel them complaining.

Oh, I have to rant about something. I was at the airport last night waiting for my flight, and I was kind of hungry. My gate was across from Mrs. Field's, but I remembered passing an Au Bon Pain earlier. So I went all the way back to a different terminal to ABP so I could get some yogurt with granola in it. I found the yogurt, but I could totally not find the little granola cups that always come with it. When I checked out I asked the girl where the granola was. She looked at me like I'd grown a second head! I was like, "You know, the little cups of granola that always come with the yogurt?" and she said they didn't have any. !!! Every ABP I have ever been to has granola with the yogurt! I was so angry. If I had known they wouldn't have granola I would have bought something else. Of course after eating the yogurt I was still hungry and ended up getting a cookie from Mrs. Fields to satisfy my craving for granola-type carbs. Ugh.

Aw Meg :hug:....thanks for posting about your morning. I am also afraid of gaining my weight back. I lost and regained 30 pounds twice before this latest effort....and now I have lost 40 pounds (good gravy---I have lost 100 lbs!) and I am nervous and anxious and afraid.....

But we arm ourselves with knowledge and we practice behaviors, and when it comes down to it, it is our behaviors that direct our weights. This ties in so well with LaurieDawn's post about disordered eating and also our no excuses thread. Plan, practice, repeat. Over and over and over. You start the weekly thread at the crack of dawn, hit the gym, and come back to be the next post. Every single week. I have been awake in my time zone when you post the weekly thread, and it is EARLY! You eat 6 protein packed meals sans simple carbs every day.....you will be fine. I have faith in you (no pressure or anything, 'kay?) But those behaviors are exactly why you maintain.

We control our weights by controlling a thousand tiny decisions every day. So Self magazine may label us all disordered eaters, but screw 'em.....cause with 60% of Americans overweight, discipline and control and planning are the only strategies that keep us from rejoining the majority.

One of my fellow midwives asked me this morning how my diet was going. I said fine, but my inside voice yelled, "This isn't a diet. This is my way of eating and exercising for the rest of my life." I have been to the place where old habits recur and weight piles back on. I have been where that WW person is, and I am not going there again.

Vigilence.....And I am so grateful for 3FC, for all the fabulous losers and maintainers here. Cause no one else really talks about it. And no one else really understands. But you guys do. :hug:

Anne, hang in there!!!

Hi everyone,

Meg, thanks for sharing the story. My Aunt is in the same situation. She went on Atkins last year and lost from 227 down to 191. She is now up to 267 which is 40 lbs. more than she weighed to begin with. She is 4'11 and her health is deteriorating quickly. It is very sad. I pray that she will be able to turn it around. For now, she is hiding junk food from her family.

Anne, I hope those last 9 days of work go quickly and without event. 35 more days til baby is here, that is great news.

EZ, I definitely admit I'm not perfect. I am proud today though, Day 3 smoke-free for me.

Megan, I'm jealous about the zucchini. DH never did till my garden. I've dug around enough myself to be able to plant some tomatoes and that is all.

Sheila my house was built in 1978 , hope we don't have asbestos and not know about it. Have fun staying over with your friends.

Jessica, my dogs sneak on my new furniture when we go to sleep . I've woke up and caught them. Sorry you didn't get the granola with your yogurt.

I'm proud to say that I made it back to the gym yesterday. Not a full-blown workout , but better than nothing. I plan to go again this evening.

Meg~I can totally relate to the carb issue. I find that if I have a carb it usually makes me crave more of them. I can sometimes manage the day with an ww English muffin in the morning and not crave any more during the day, but if I start out with cereal (and sometimes even oatmeal) I crave carbs all day and end up fixing some sort of sandwich for dinner. Crackers and chips do the same thing to me. I have to have enormous will power to stay away from the pantry at times. I do allow myself Triscuits with cheese once or twice a week, but can't let DD bring in Cheese-It's as it would be disaster. I think that's why South Beach phase 1 will be a good thing for me.

Morning all! It's far from springlike here - but at least it's above freezing. :lol: My prennials are all coming up, they're about 2" now.

We had a nice dinner with our friends last night, and now I'm ready for another busy week.

Lily - good job getting back to the gym.

Anne - Wow, just over a month left, and only 9 days of work left! Hope you're feeling better.

Meg - it's very scary. Like some others, I've gained weight back twice, the first time quite a bit more. THe second time, which I'm now working on losing, I didn't gain all the way back - whew - but it's lots harder getting off again. Having all of you here for support makes a huge difference in how I'm approaching both losing and planning for the rest of my life.

Gosh, Meg, your story scared the holy heck right out of me! :fr:

I find that I can back off from carbs IF I get enough protein. If I don't, and I make the mistake of giving in on carbs, then the result is unpredictable. All bets are off.

I feel so bad for that woman. I've known others, too, who have lost and then ran out of steam and then GAVE UP. :eek: That's the awful part! They didn't try to maintain, they just gave up...

Must. Stay. With it.

Jay

Sorry, just trying to do a billion or so things today. Won't be back on the comp til waaaay later tonight. I did read everyone's post, don't have time to respond.

CARBS are EVIL. They are sooo not our friends. Carbs are evil......... 100 calorie packs, what WERE they thinking???????????

I just couldn't leave the house without saying how stories like the one Meg told us, scares the living heck out of me. Actually, I think it may sadden me more then scare me. Don't get me wrong, it scares me plenty.

I am soooo aware of the pitfalls of losing weight and then gaining it back. So aware. I think all of us here are. That awareness is what we need.

And umm, yeah. That fright too. So, I say be afraid, be very, very afraid.

Must be vigilient. And focused. And aware. And determined. And commited. And on our tippy toes. And, and, and, and. Oh - and very thankful for 3FC.

Gotta run. Don't have time to post on both threads. But I made my friends dinner with NO BLT's!!!! Thankfully hubby was home to be my "taster".

TTYL folks. Be well.

We talked with a friend this weekend who has lost 28 pounds in the last few weeks on Atkins. He's lost 50+ pounds before on Atkins, maybe even more, and always regained it. I asked him if he thought that was the best method for him and he said, "well, it works." Does it really work if you regain it all and then some more each time? He's probably 350+ right now, so getting some weight off is really important, but why do it the same way it didn't work before? I just can't see the logic.

I think part of the reason I'm not down about not losing as fast as I want to is knowing that I'm not gaining. I've really changed this time - no diet - just a different lifestyle. It's really a relief to know I can stay put. Stories about regaining just scare the snot out of me!

That's true for some people, but not for all of us! Pasta and rice are still staples in my diet, and I eat cold cereal for breakfast every morning. I find 100 calorie packs a great way to help me with portion control, so if I am craving a snack I know exactly how much I'm allowed to have.

That said, I do keep an eye on what kind of carbs I am eating, and I have been eating more whole wheat pasta lately. I still have trouble with brown rice, but we always buy whole wheat bread and my breakfast cereals all have at least 4g of fiber per serving (raisin bran has 7). I don't eat 100-calorie packs every day, nor do I buy them every week (or month), or eat them on a regular basis, because eating junk food, even a small portion, every day will not work for me.

Like we've seen over and over, maintenance is all about a plan YOU can stick to! Whether that's South Beach, Atkins, sugarbusters, weight watchers, calorie counting . . . as long as you are getting good nutritional value from your food I feel like you can be a success.

Meg -

Thanks for posting about the WW woman. I think her issues are the ones I had in the past, so I'm hoping that now I've figured out why my successes were so short term. I've lost as gained as much as 50lbs before and while it's not 90+ it's still as heartbreaking.

I'm not to goal yet but having lost what I have it's already a maintenance thing. I also can't get away with the 100calorie packs and skinny cows in the house because empty carbs like that are huge triggers and I WOULD eat nearly the whole box.

Everyone else here - Hope you don't mind but I may start de-lurking here as I start running into the home stretch. 47lbs doesn't seem close to "home" to some people but for me it's way closer then I've ever been. :) In fact I hadn't seen under 200 for 15 years until this week.

In fairness to carbs... My partner has never been overweight and she does very well on carbs. Trying to eat the same food as she does helped me to gain 30 pounds... So these days we don't eat the same things, and it works out well for both of us.

Those who can, should. Those who can't ...

Jay

Angie has 100 calorie snack pack and she is fine ~ as for me....I grab the 12 oz. bag of Lays...wavy or not and I'm a goner...er...well they are!

Yup, carbs in general don't do me in. Unless of course they are salty :lol: Not so much the chips, Gary, but don't let me near a box of wheat thins! I do try to stay with the whole grains: brown rice, ww (or a blend) pasta, but even when I don't, I'm usually fine and don't develop a craving.

I eat a lot of carbs--usually around 50% of my calories come from carbs--so I'm definitely not a fan of low carb diets and I think of carbs, especially whole grains, as my friends. Sugar and empty carbs will make me crave more food, bot whole grains help me stay satiated. Also, carbs are the only kind of energy your brain can use, so they are important to healthy mental function.

But I don't eat 100-calorie packs (for me, they are like eating 100 calories worth of air--they are just never satisfying). I also rarely eat crackers or chips (well, I'm allowed one chip per day with lunch). Most of my carbs are from fruits and veggies and whole grains. Today's carbs include High Fiber Cereal, raspberries, apricots, sauerkraut, whole grain bread, bananas, red and green bell peppers, brown rice, a Fiber One Muffin, a Banana-Cherry-Chocolate muffin, cucumbers, mushrooms, radishes, lettuce and leafy greens, low-cal salad dressing, oatmeal, and sugar that occurs naturally in dairy products. That's a fair amount of carbs, but I feel pretty good about all of them.

How much fat do you all eat? I'd like to ask about fat. I really struggle with fats. I've got plenty of protein snacks that I eat and I certainly do well enough on carbs, but I really struggle to get enough fat in my diet. Usually only 15% of my calories come from fat; I suspect it's one reason I am having problems with my knee. Do any of you worry about getting enough fat? What do you eat to get good fats in your diets? (Note that nuts are sometimes a problem for me, so I really have to be careful bringing them in the house.) Are there other good sources besides salmon, avocados, flax seed, and nuts? Should I switch to reduced fat dairy instead of non-fat (but isn't that bad fat)?

Meg: Your story reminded me of something that happened to me at the gym over the weekend. One of my trainer's other clients made a comment to me about me being his most dedicated client. I couldn't quite put it into words, but I what I wanted to say in response was that I wasn't the most dedicated, just the most afraid. I know the odds are against me and I don't want to be the person I was before. So I'm at the gym every day in a desperate struggle to beat those odds. It's not dedication; it's fear. :fr:

Megan: I really struggle with what you are going through. I'll be POP for weeks, sometimes months, in anticipation of an event or even just some arbitrary date that I've picked. Having that end date in mind really helps me to stay on plan in the period leading up to it. But the problem is, when I get to that end date, I go WAY off plan. I don't know what the answer is. Do I need to be stricter (no end dates, ever)? Should I be less strict (so I don't feel deprived)? Do I just accept the off-plan moments as a part of my life--so far they haven't interfered with my ability to lose or maintain; they slow my progress down, but I get there eventually. I don't know. :dunno:

How about a good olive oil in a salad dressing? Newman's olive oil and vinegar dressing is very good. I use only 1 TBS on a large salad and toss it well. Or you could make your own...

Jay

Yes Jessica, you are right. And the others as well. I shouldn't have been so general in speaking about carbs. My apologizes. For some people carbs are simply fine. As are the 100 calorie packs. I should have said, carbs are evil for me and they are not my friends, and 100 calorie packs are not an option for me. Again, I do apologize.

The funny thing is, is that I DO eat carbs. Well some carbs. I have to be very, very careful with the ones that I choose on a regular basis. I have high fiber cereal. Each and every day. And loads and loads of fruits and veggies with carbs in them. But I must stay clear of the other ones. The pasta, rice, bread, - even the whole wheat varieties.

Reminds me of something that happened today. I was in my local produce store today, which also sells a good deal of groceries. I go there several times a week. I was at the register & the owner shows me an enormous box of Kelloggs Frosted Flakes, it was actually 31ozs. He says they just came in, they're about the size of a suitcase and would I like to buy one. And I said something to the effect of, "No way. A box of Frosted Flakes, any size box is a single serving size for me". He said, "Really". I said, "No kidding, really". For me there's nothing worse, carbs and added sugars. Oy, oy, oy. Then again, like Pat, salty and carbs aren't so great either. I too LOVE wheat thins and all those cracker things. You know what the trouble is? I simply don't do these things "moderately". For whatever reason. And therefore I am better off not doing them at all.

Last week after overeating the carbs on Passover, I was feeling so lousy. Not just about my weight gain, but I actually FELT lousy. I was feeling listless, sleepy, lethargic and without energy. Now that I am back on plan, 7 days without that stuff, I feel totally energetic and well, almost - unstoppable again. I am once again feeling like the energizer bunny.

Like has been said many times before, there is certainly more then one across the board, "correct way" to lose weight and then of course keep it off.

Anne, :hug::hug:

Today it's only 8 days of working left ! I hope you feel better soon,

Rabbit

Idealmuse, :welcome2:

Jay

Barbara, this has been one of my biggest problems since I went on maintenance in 2005. I don't do moderation well. The best "solution" I've come up with (though I don't call it a great one, and I'd like to do it differently) is to make the POP stretches "count" for more than the bad stretches - 3 steps forward, only 1 or 2 back (or 3 steps down the scale, only 1 or 2 back...)? It works ok when I'm on maintenance, but not as well when I'm trying to get back to my goal weight. I don't know either! At least we're not alone. ;)

About fat - I used to not eat enough, and I ended up being too hungry to restrict calories and would binge. I get close to 30% of my calories from fat now (not coincidentally my hair and nails look much better). I did start eating a serving of raw nuts in the afternoon, but I understand they're hard for you. Do you have the same problems with seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)? Or not with particular nuts? I also eat hard-boiled eggs for a little fat and protein. Olive oil and vinegar on a salad or raw veggies is also delicious. I put flax seeds in the "pancakes" (Mel's recipe) that I make for breakfast sometimes. I do love salmon, and try to sneak avocado into sandwiches and things, too.

Idealmuse, welcome! Glad you de-lurked.

In regards to this latest off-plan few days, well, I did finally get some skinny cow ice cream sandwiches for when I'm totally craving ice cream. Since they are single portions I can control them a little better. I always juggle between not wanting to keep any sweets in the house, to wanting to have something just in case b/c it will be better than the pint of Ben & Jerry's at the corner store (and they don't sell skinny cow or many similar options in my small town, so I have to get them when I do go to the city and bury them in my ice chest :p).

I was totally OP yesterday, made my lunches for the week... seem to be back on track.

Happy Tuesday all!

Robin - It's funny that you ended up with *more* carbs during Passover when so many of them are not allowed! :lol: Last year I was going crazy with my lack of carbs during Passover. And you don't need to apologize, I totally understand that for some people, carbs ARE evil.

I discovered a great low-cal snack last night, since we had two very ripe bananas and I didn't want to make banana bread since I know I'd eat too much. So we made banana "milkshakes": for one serving, put one ripe banana, one cup of skim milk, and a dash of vanilla in a blender. Blend until smooth, then enjoy! It's about 190 cals, and gives you one serving of fruit and one serving of dairy, plus the serving is actually a whole glass full (not just 6oz or something).

Good morning everyone!
The beginnings of my weeks are always so hectic that it is hard for me to post. So, I'll say a blanket "hello" to everyone and agree that Meg's story has me scared and thinking hard! This is the first time I've lost a considerable amount of weight and I certainly don't want to do it again.
I still feel if I have a bad day or two that I will gain all the weight back overnight!
I hope to check back in later.....

Morning, maintainers.

Barbara -- I try to keep fats around 30%, but I don't obsess about it. I find that as long as I'm getting my protein, I get enough fat, because there's only so many chicken breasts one can tolerate before the urge to eat a big ol' juicy steak kicks in. Yes, these aren't "good" fats, but I also eat a lot of avos etc and no hyrogenated fats. And, I've never had a problem with cholesterol and neither has anyone in my family. I lucked out on this front.

I suppose if you are a vegetableatarian this doesn't quite work the same way, but even tofu has some fat.

On 100-calorie snack packs: I don't eat buy them because (a) I don't eat empty carbs, (b) they're extremely expensive for what you get, and (c) I try to minimize the amount of packaging we consume, and single-serve packs are by definition huge trash-producers. (Yes, I reuse plastic wrap ... :))

Kim

About fats: I don't track my fat consumption specifically, but I try to avoid eating excessive amounts of sat fats and incorporate more healthy fats.

Easy ways to get more fats into your diet:
- cook with oil instead of PAM, and be a little more generous with it. Olive oil or canola oil are good choices.
- use regular salad dressings instead of low-fat (at least, if they are the kind with good oils in them)
- switch to low fat dairy. I know having a lot of sat fats isn't good for you, but I think it is fine (and maybe even healthy) to incorporate at least some in your diet.
- along those lines, eat more cheese
- eat hummus. It's basically just chickpeas and olive oil.

Hi everyone, I'm heading back to OK City this afternoon with Lacy. She is having an EGD tomorrow morning.

Still smoke Free. Yeah!

:wave: Morning. It's another cool, gray day here. WHERE IS SPRING??? :lol:

Interesting how we all deal with carbs. I've never eaten a 100 cal pack in my life, but then I seldom eat cookies, unless they're homemade. I'd say that I don't as a rule eat a lot of processed carbs, but I certainly don't stay away from pasta, rice, or bread - just eat them moderately.

As for fat, when I lost a 70# back in 2000, it was religiously counting and journaling WW points, and unwittingly I'd find myself eating less and less fat, and my weight loss would stall. Add back a couple of points worth (100-150 cals) and I'd see a loss again. Now I aim to keep good fats in my diet. I eat 5-7 walnut halves most mornings; I eat avocados 1/4-1/2 at a time; I use a little olive oil rather than Pam to sautee things; and we drink 1% milk rather than skim. Oh, and of course we eat a lot of wild Alaskan salmon (sorry :) ).

Lily - hope that Lacy's test goes well, and you can keep smoke-free.

My day is very quiet so far and I'm getting some work done on a project that has a looming deadline, so I'm feeling good about that. Hope it lasts!

I don't think you really meant that "sorry." Thanks for rubbing it in, Pat. Hmphhhh.




;)

:D Meagan!

But, really, I miss a lot of the fresh stuff that we can't get here. I can never count on finding a really good melon, and tomatoes and corn on the cob - forget it. DH took down our greenhouse before last summer, and while he's buying material, I'll be surprised if we have it back this year. When we do, I grow tomatoes and one cucumber plant and I'm a happy girl.

Hummus is a good pick for healthy fat. Also, avacados. My problem with them is I want to make them into guacamole and then I need chips. Fortunately, it's pretty good with some Wasa pieces.

We've been trying to eat more of the oily fishes now that it's grilling weather again. I love the taste but can not stand that smell in the house, so they're "summer" foods for us. Salmon, tuna, etc. are all "good" fats. We also eat some beef and pork but I do try to stick to the lean cuts. And you're right - you can only eat chicken so many days in a row before you start to cluck.

I've eaten well today and don't seem to be having any trouble with that end. I'll be glad when finals are over so I can put some more time into exercise, though. My dog walking isn't cutting it in the cardio department!

Have a great day, ladies!

Hi Gals ~

A quick check in here. I am down another pound to 176.0 this morning :carrot: I may get back to 170-1 yet :)

Had Mexican for Cinco de Mayo yesterday, nothing new since we do Mexican food in some way at least once a week. I watched my portions!

Ok PAT I am with MEGAN on the salmon ;) I have a can of salmon on the counter right now, with some mushroom soup, peas and rice for a casserole tonight.

But we have had nothing but wonderful weather here in southern California for a few weeks...almost summer conditions! So gotcha there :)

TRACI...yep! That's why with our guacamole last night we skipped the chips and just put itin the tostadas or burritos! In the old days...a few avocados...a big bag of tortilla chips...dinner!

Great job LILY...such a quitter ;) Hope all goes well with Lacy.

JESSICA how's that new pup doing? Good to see you KIM and MICHELE :)

ALLISON Have fun on "The Beach" :) ROBIN I hear ya on the "moderately"...I'm usually all in!

JAY I love just olive oil on my salad sometimes. Have you tried those new "spritzers" for salad yet? Angie and I like them. BARB I am liking the "reviews" on the Tamale Pie...thinkin' of trying it :)

ANNE :hug:...getting closer :hug:

SHEILA...bummer dear, your house is at the tail end of the asbestos in materials. SZNN way to get back on track. MIDWIFE stick around here...keep doing our 5K's...that weight ain't comin' back :hug:

Meg you have your hands full in NO EXCUSES!

Traci - I agree, salmon can really smell up the house. We keep our gas grill on the deck, and I use it until the snow gets too deep. :lol: Baking salmon is not quite as smelly as broiling. The very best way, of course, is on the rivershore, over a campfire.....

Gary - one of my favorite casseroles!

Pat~I'll never forget my first cruise to Alaska. One of the side trips ended with the bus load of us going up to some old mining camp in Juneau and they had a salmon bake for us. They fixed it on huge grills over coals and the sauce they drizzled was some sort of lemon and brown sugar mixture. It was absolutely to die for--but I'm sure the fish really didn't need the sauce because it was so fresh! For dessert they fixed s'mores over the same fires.