AHA! "no whip" = no whipped cream. I was having all sorts of mental images of the baristas in the US using wire whisks to froth up drinks and wondering why we don't have that here :?:.

I used to love the coffee "slushie" at Second Cup until I found out it had over 500 calories. They can make even coffee fattening :devil:, given the chance!

Isn't it great that now calorie counts :carrot: are on almost everything and every menu? Makes life so much simpler.

Dagmar :dizzy:

:eek: about the hot chocolate drinks! Makes me glad I haven't tried them!

Dagmar, LOL about the fish curry goop. Today my lunch is what my DH has been calling "brown poop slime." :p It's a winter veggie stew with a can of sweet potato puree in it (mixed with molasses). Sad, but it is actually brown and looks slimy. Tastes good though.

Megan, I'm a coffee addict too. Not especiall fond of the flavored drinks at Starbucks though. And i'm happy about that. Most of those have way too many calories! Why would you make yourself eat cottage cheese if yu don't like it? So many other things to eat that you actually like.

Shelia, Yes, 30 year olds have MI's. And any chest pain that radiates, especially to the jaw or the left arm, needs to be checked out. Even if the pain is gone now he needs to get in and be checked.

Meg, I love squash but haven't tried that one. I keep saying i'm going to, but wasn't quite sure how to prepare it. Thanks.

Allison, Hope you're feeling better. I had that last Thursday. it only lasted a couple of days, but it wiped me out.

Dagmar, Honey, I'm sure your food looks and tastes much better than your discription! Fish curry goop? um, no thanks, i'm full.

Mitchele, Crossing my fingers that you get that call from WW tomorrow!

Make it a good day, Freda

Oh, feeling much better today, although after an hour of cleaning my desk off at work I started to feel a bit light headed. Not hungry at all (must have been all that sleep yesterday!). But I'm back on plan today!

Don't get me going with Starbucks. I really love most of their drinks but tend to order an Americano when I go just because of the fat and calories. But it doesn't satisfy like the lattes.

While we have Starbucks - in the grocery store = no atmosphere - I prefer the local coffee shop. I usually have a latte with ff milk - no syrup, no sugar and count it as a milk serving (i.e. a little more calcium for the day, and some protein in my snack). I drink coffee black anyway, so for me the sweetner isn't necessary. I do however, LOVE eggnog lattes, which even if they cut the eggnog with skim milk, is way over the top in calories. I don't however like eggnog straight - never have it. My DH however, drinks it the whole holiday season - with extra nutmeg. :)

Went to the doc this morning, and all my blood numbers are good. Weight is within a pound of 3 months ago. My top BP number was a little high, but I'd slipped on the ice going in (didn't fall) and she took it as soon as I took off my coat, so I suspect it's fine now. The lower number was fine however.

Allison - glad you're feeling better. I hate that light-headed dizzy feeling.

Dagmar - I do love that calorie counts are on so many things. I need the little guy to come and give me the calories, etc. for my homemade dinners. :lol:

It's warmer here today, and it's :sunny: Yay!

Hi everyone,

I've been out on the boat all day and just got back in. I went out with my former roommate that I work with still. She & my other former roommate moved in together at a different place (LSS other RM was planning on moving as soon as she found another job elsewhere, but hasn't found one yet so she's still around). RM1 told me they had a huge blowout fight 2 nights ago. I tried to act sympathetic without saying too much - frankly I'm sure I would have gotten in a blowout w/ her soon if I hadn't moved out - just makes me so happy to have my own place. :D

Ya'll make me want a foofy coffee drink! I did (finally) get my half & half to my coffee this morning, mmm.

Allison, I hope that was just a 24-hour bug and you're over it today!

Freda, well I had a big container of cottage cheese to make protein pancakes, but I'm not using it fast enough with the pancakes. (I can double the recipe but if I quadruple it I just don't have the right size pans to fit the batter so it will bake evenly.) So I'm trying not to waste food. I don't normally force myself to keep trying food I don't like.

I can't believe your son just forgot to fill out his forms on time! I agree with everyone that he should get checked out - and fill out those forms! Once you don't have insurance, it's much harder to get it back, or get coverage that is affordable. I know, I didn't have it for several years b/c my work didn't give it to me and I couldn't get approved for it.

Jessica, Dagmar, I make Turkey Eggplant casserole sometimes (old weight watchers recipe) that has ground turkey, diced eggplant, and stewed tomatoes. It ends up looking mostly brown/reddish and chunky when it's all mixed together. I think it tastes delicious but BF is always dubious when I serve him a plate of it, and he normally will eat any "diet" dish and/or vegetables I serve without complaint. It's true it doesn't look very appetizing!

Have a great day everyone. :)

Just a fly by to tell you about my son. And, Megan, I didn't think about him not being able to get approved now. Sheesh! He's the kind of guy who really has to learn the hard way.

He went to a clinic this morning where they gave him an EKG, which showed something (he didn't remember what), but nothing too bad. The dr. did tell him to start taking a daily aspirin and to quit smoking (I expected that one!). Tomorrow he's getting an MRI, although he's not sure what for, but it's his upper body. The dr. asked him to get a family history and I guess the dr. was interested in thyroid issues. Since I had two adenomas on my thyroid (age 12 and age 23) plus my sister had some kind of growth, I'm guessing my DS might be having thyroid problems. My thyroid never malfunctioned so I don't have experience there--could it cause chest pain, a lightheaded feeling? I know it can cause lethargy, which he's been experiencing.

Happy Halloween everyone!

P.S. The only thing I drink at Starbuck's is a coffee frappucino light--supposedly only 90 calories for a tall.

Sheila, depending on the type of thyroid problem, there can be different cardiac effects. Hyperthyroidism can cause palpitations and arrhythmias, and hypothyroidism can cause excessively slow heartbeat, pericardial effusion, and even increased cholesterol. Some other thyroid conditions can cause combinations of both types of symptoms. But also a lot of the time thyroid problems never develop to the level of causing those! Hopefully they will get good news from the MRI.

Actually speaking of thyroids, I got my results from yesterday's labs back. TSH is still low, 0.07, but free T4 and free T3 numbers were okay. She's dropping my Synthroid dosage but keeping Cytomel the same. I also talked them into starting tapering me off of Cymbalta, so I can hopefully get rid of these annoying side effects!

I'm hoping that the drop in synthroid won't be too damaging to my weight since they're keeping my cytomel dose the same. Fingers crossed!

Megan - I used to know an older woman (in her late 70's then) who called any casserole that looked like that "Blindman's Casserole" meaning of course that only a blind person would find it appealing from the get go..... :lol:

Megan, I'm sure you're glad you got out of that housing arrangement when you did! I hope that person at the office leaves your creamer alone! or at least has the decency to replace it if they use it. By the way, how is the new boss?

Pat, My BP is always a bit high at the doctors office. "white coat syndrome" I suppose, since it's always good when I have them take it at work. If yours was just a bit off i'm sure they understood. Besides, you don't make a diagnosis with just one BP.

Shelia, I'm glad you talked you DS into going to the Dr. With the family history of thyroid it might be that, but the symptoms were still scary! Tell that boy to get those papers signed for insurance!!! How about the MRI? is that covered on something? Those things cost a lot.

Jessica, Hope the change in meds work out well for you.

Everyone excited that Halloween is almost over? No more candy floating around the office to tempt? But then, there is Thanksgiving, Christmas....always something.

Freda

Good morning all,

I turned off my alarm this morning that was supposed to get me up and to the gym early. :o I've got a later meeting in the city today and will be home late after the drive home. I'll either be able to get back early enough tonight or do something tomorrow morning before BF and I leave for Georgia.

An elderly friend who BF was very, very close to (half father figure, half drinking buddy) passed away yesterday morning. He's had health problems for several years and has been in the hospital the last 1 1/2 weeks, so it wasn't unexpected, but is still sad. I'm glad BF got to say goodbye to him. We're leaving tomorrow to go to Georgia for the funeral and will come back Sun. PM or Monday.

Freda, thanks for asking but I don't have a new boss yet. We're boss-less and running amok, lol (just kidding). The job opening is accepting applications... so it will be a little while still.

Pat, Blindman's casserole is funny. Probably describes a lot of my meals - I have several variations on the meat, tomatoes, veg, mix it all together, that I love to eat but doesn't look nice. Tasty though!

I hope everyone has a good weekend! :)

Jessica, thanks for the thyroid info. I hope all goes well with your dosage change and that you get rid of the side effects.

Freda, my DS has to pay all on his own--no health coverage at all.

Megan, :nono: I should talk--I haven't been to the gym since I moved. I'm sorry about your BF's friend--that's good he got to say goodbye. Losing someone you love is always sad, no matter if it's expected or even welcomed because of pain.

My oldest son sent me a video clip of 99 Balloons that was on Oprah's show about miracle children this week. I didn't see the show, but watched the clip (http://www.oprah.com/media/20081001_tows_99balloons#), which was inspiring and sad at the same time. This particular story hits home with our family because my granddaughter has the same disorder. We're so lucky because our 8-year old miracle child beat the odds.

I joined the YMCA today. I'm so looking forward to getting back to exercising regularly.

Happy Halloween!

I heard from WW this morning that I got the position for receptionist! Woo hoo!
They said business (here anyway) has dropped off, so they don't want to start training me for about a month so that I'll be fully trained come January when they get very busy. I am excited about the opportunity.

Trying to stay away from the Halloween candy that someone put into my box at school.... feeling very hungry...... chewing gum and drinking water.....

Congrats Michele!!! How exciting! :carrot:

That's right, in January the gym will also be full again! At least my gym will be moved by then, and rumor has it they're buying more equipment - no waiting for elipticals or treadmills!

Thanks everyone. Just got back from the city, off to go home, make dinner, and pack. Remember to set your clocks back, U.S. folk!