Yesterday was POP.
I've not run since last Thursday. I brought my stuff to run at lunch. Hopefully it will work out!

I think both my computers at home are over 5 years old and I don't have any problems with iTunes. Although I'd probably go crazy if they did!

I'm still hanging there at 150. I thought for sure I'd be down this morning, but no.

Tonight is DS's back to school night--first at the new high school. I get to meet his teachers and see what this school is like (DD went to a different HS).

Hi Folks!

Yesterday I attended a goodbye lunch at an Italian restaurant. I settled for the wilted spinach salad w/toasted goat cheese (the spinach is supposed to be tossed in olive oil but I asked them to hold the oil -- I know it's a healthy fat but I was afraid it would be swimming in it). I love toasted goat cheese and there couldn't have been more than a couple ounces, so the lunch should not have been more than a few hundred calories (go me!).

The scale has been flopping around so it's hard to tell, but I think I am down at least a half pound from my mini plateau at 137 (I did have one day at 137.5 but every other recent day has been below 137).

But I have a huge challenge coming up on Saturday. It's a party for my daughter with a dinner at a dim sum restaurant. This is my favorite food in the world, and there is no "entree" portion. Too much like a buffet. In the past, I've done dim sum as an off-plan meal and maybe I will go that way. But I've been struggling so much with each pound that even one seriously off-plan meal will probably undo weeks of work.

We will be going to a show before the meal, so I can't eat a big salad or soup just before the dim sum. Anyone have any other ideas?

Warning: this post has nothing to do with weight loss at all!

Doing mental calculations - I believe it's just over 6 years old. My iPod mini is 3 years, and I have whatever iTunes version came with that on my computer. Plugged in my brand new nano, it didn't like that version of iTunes. I read the instruction manual and discovered I needed a newer version of iTunes. Went to work, downloaded iTunes and brought home to install on home laptop. Then it said I needed a newer version of Windows Installer to install new iTunes. Back to work, download new version of WI, installed onto home PC without problem. Pop iTunes back in to install, and now the iTunes installer says my older version of Windows XP isn't good enough! Since buying a new operating system for a 6+ year old computer is silly, I won't be doing that.

At this point I don't know what else to do. I'll just try to install everything on my BF's new laptop (which he offered) and at least try to transfer my music from my old mini onto his laptop onto my new mini. I'll at least be able to listen to the music I have, I just don't want to start populating my music onto his computer b/c it doesn't "live" at my house so I don't always have access to it.

A new, inexpensive laptop is definitely on my Christmas list. Or rather, I don't expect my parents to buy me a laptop, but "all I want for Christmas" will be gift cards to Best Buy or some similar store. Then I can use them towards the purchase of a new laptop. I do have other uses for it besides stupid iTunes!

Sorry to digress...

Megan, you probably need XP service pack 2 or service pack 3. Since you had the old version of the windows installer I'm guessing you have the original version of XP (since SP2 includes the new installer). They are free updates that usually run through windows automatic updates (which, if you don't have the internet at home, I assume you haven't run). You can download it from microsoft's site, look here for info. PM me if you need help.

Jessica, I was thinking that the SP2, 3 etc. were more up-to-date versions of the operating system, not free system update downloads. I guess I've fallen off some of the computer savvy wagon in my "poor internet-less" years. I'm downloading serving pack 2 right now, I'll try that tonight - thanks!

Megan, I hope you get your itunes problem worked out. I know music can make a big difference for a workout. I go to Curves so I just listen to whatever soundtrack they are playing.

Midwife -- I hope you got your run in at lunch. I think being active is very important for losing the last few reluctant pounds.

I am working on my plan to deal with dim sum on Saturday. Shaving some cals off each day (Plan A) doesn't seem doable. I am already at the low end of cals, and I've notched up my activity level so I didn't end up any lower on the cal count yesterday (1300). But, I am attacking the problem on several fronts.

Now I am working a 200 calorie serving of TJ's thai shrimp dumplings into each day (starting yesterday). I love those on a par with restaurant dim sum. So, I think those will help take the binge-trigger edge off the meal. I plan on packing a couple pieces of fruit and a 0-cal drink to snack just before the meal and then limit myself to 7 pieces of dim sum (it's really funny -- I negotiated this number with DH -- he was pushing 10 and I was suggesting 5. He wanted 8 and I got 7 by pointing out that I would have eaten the fruit. He is going to be with me so I've got accountability, lol!). I am going to estimate 100 cals per piece so there is no way the day will come in on plan. That's OK, since I do want to give myself the slack to go out of bounds for one meal once in a while, but I want to avoid a no-holds-barred pig-out, which is how I've dealt with dim sum in the past.

Another problem has been solved -- historically after dim sum, we go to a Chinese bakery and get peanut and coconut rolls. These would be very hard for me to pass up, but we've decided to come back home for cake and ice cream, which I am perfectly capable of passing up. I guess I should plan for a very small piece for form's sake.

The scale is behaving at the moment -- clocked in at 135.5 again, so I am optimistic about my goals for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday accountability:
Snacks: check
HIIT: no, knees were bugging me so I walked instead
Workout: see above
Calories: check, 1355

Yoyoma - I feel you on the dim sum. I don't think I've ever gone out for dim sum and not completely gorged myself. Are you going to one of the restaurants with the carts? Those are the hardest! Limiting the number of pieces sounds like a great idea. Some dim sum restaurants also have carts that sell vegetables, which could be a great way to fill up.

Finally, my iPod is in business! I will stop hijacking this thread as an IT help-line. Now I've got to start running again - that's the exercise that gets my heart rate up, but I've found impossible without good motivational music. I've been doing the elliptical too much.

Food & workouts POP and the scale has been going down a bit every morning to 159 today (but I won't post an "official" number until my weigh-in Tuesday).

Yoyoma, sounds like a good plan to get yourself "used" to dim sum. An ounce of half-ounce of nuts would also readily fit in your purse and help keep you from being starving by the meal, if you ate them a bit earlier. You can do it!

Jessica, way to stay on target! Thank you so much for the computer tips!

Allison, maintaining is better than a gain, right? You'll get there, keep going!

midwife, did you make your run?

We can do it everyone! "Do or die"!

Megan - glad your iPod is back in business!

Just two days ago I was fussy about weighing more than I wanted to and today I had a cookie with my lunch because I was irritable and fussy in general. I need a tattoo on the back of my hand of a large "STOP THE SUGAR" sign that I'll see every time I pull out my debit card... And, I've eaten out so many times this week that I can feel my rings fitting tighter today. I made good choices on my eating out meals (with the cookie today & a martini Tuesday as exceptions) but the sodium! Wowza!

Earlier this week I was tempted to take a picture of my muffin top hanging over the waistband of my jeans and hang it on the inside of the pantry door, so that every time I open it to get something to eat I would run screaming from the kitchen instead. But I didn't; my husband would make incessant fun of me and I would have to explain it to the kids. I hung an awesome picture of Dara Torres in there just now. :grin:

Paperclippy -- yes it is a cart service restaurant. It's tough because new goodies keep rolling around (oooh, yeah I want that too!). You'r right though -- there should be at least one veggie dish I love (baby bok choy) so I think I will allow that along with the 7 pieces. Thanks for the reminder!

Megan -- the nuts are a good idea too. I usually eat almonds with my breakfast, but I will save them for the show. Congrats on overcoming your IT problem!

Shannon -- I know you are joking about the tattoo, but I often write notes to myself on my hand. Maybe a reminder would help! Congrats on making good food choices while eating out a lot. My willpower gets worn down if I have to eat out too many times.

Wardhog -- I've clipped a few pics of models I hope I could resemble out of catalogs and taped them to the fridge along with my daughter's artwork, lol. We have similar numbers. I'm pretty annoyed at my midsection too and I'm having a real tough time with these last pounds. I guess I need to keep notching up my activity level.

I was POP today, 1295 calories, long walk plus Curves. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be as active tomorrow (work) or Saturday (party), but will try to squeeze in some activity.

Megan, glad you got the iPod working!

Shannon, when I was in high school I always wrote all my assignments down on the back of my hand so I would see it all the time and remember what I had to do. It was surprisingly effective.

LOL Ward, that's definitely a more positive message!

Accountability for Wednesday:
Snacks: check
HIIT: N/A, strength day
Workouts: check, #3.5 of the week (.5 for Tuesday's walk instead of run)
Calories: check, 1278

Dara Torres in her bathing suit (a good ab shot) should motivate anyone!

Has anyone seen the latest ESPN magazine? Inside are tons of different kinds of athletes in various modes of undress. Very tastefully done and it shows that there are so many kinds of bodies.

Hi everyone! Just breezing through. I am doing pretty well, lost a few pounds have stabilized a bit. Need to lose 2 more, though! September was a tough month.