Silver, glad you are not in the middle of the trouble in London.

My doctor was a NCAA women's basketball player and still seems kind of like that. I have mixed feelings about her. On the one hand, she has always seemed to have an attitude of "we'll figure out what's wrong and fix it," but on the other hand, I feel like she doesn't always believe that my miscellaneous symptoms are actually part of a systemic problem. Hopefully getting a report from my rheumatologist will fix that.

Allison, have you tried cornstarch to thicken your sauce? Or maybe just use less milk to start with?

I am struggling with strange appetite issues this week. I don't know if it's related to the medications, TOM, or what. I feel like I am not hungry much, if at all. But then I feel like I need to eat, and sometimes I feel like I need to eat specific things. Like yesterday afternoon, I wasn't hungry, but I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to eat grains (I ate a Kashi bar). Then at mealtimes I feel like I should eat because otherwise I'll be hungry later, even though I'm not really hungry to begin with. But you'd think with all this not being hungry, I would be losing weight, right? Nope. :shrug:

I will try the cornstarch next time, Jessica. I don't really want to add more cheese or cream cheese as that just adds fat and calories. Although I did see one recipe that called for several wedges of Laughing Cow Light cheese. I think I'll go look at that one and perhaps create my own concoction next time.

I've been quite proud of my snacking less this week. I've lost the little I gained on my reunion weekend, but still have more to go before my trip.

I leave on Sunday for Montana and I wonder what eating will be like then. I like to snack on long trips, and this is a 3-day ride up there. I did buy some beef jerky which is probably a good idea (despite the sodium).

Hi all! My eating has been a bit lackluster this week. I finally went to the store yesterday and stocked up on salad stuff because I was almost out of vegetables (insert gasp here) and feel better about life. (Funny how veggies have a calming effect on me.) I think I need to get my rear in gear and prepare some healthy foods for when I'm snacky, if I could just find some time to do it. Besides the usual work, gym, walking dog BF's family is in town and staying at a rental house right down the street so seeing them is eating up any "Food prep" time I have. I'm thinking I'd like to make a chickpea salad of some sort... maybe a white bean hummus to eat with pita bread also. I'm going to the city this weekend and am hoping to stock up on good fruit then.

Allison, I also thought of some cornstarch or arrowroot powder to thicken your sauce. If you've got the space, maybe you could air pop a bunch of popcorn and sprinkle some popcorn seasoning on it. We've been doing that in the office this summer as our "afternoon snack" time - something about being out in the heat and then coming back in makes us all snacky. :p

Jessica, maybe while you're taking prednisone you shouldn't weigh as often? I mean, stay OP and keep your journal as normal, but I don't think you can get too upset by the scale right now. Just a thought...

Silver, I'm glad you and DB are ok. I've been listening to the news reports with a lot of anxiety. My thoughts are with you and your countrypeople.

The scale is moving in the right direction. I'm down 2.6 pounds this morning.

But I knew I would be. I think many of you know that feeling. I just felt ... lighter, and when I put on my sandals this morning, my feet appeared quite intricate, with all the veins & tendons showing. Which means they weren't puffed up by fluid retention.

I fear my loss will be offset by dinner at a friend's house tomorrow night. She married a man of Bengali descent. Since their engagement, she has become more into Indian cooking and Indian culture than many of the actual young women from India who work with us at my company. (In one 27-person department at my company, 24 are Indian immigrants.) Anyway, my friend has an epic dinner planned. That should make me happy. It does not. I would give almost anything to get out of this engagement. Which is why I am **making myself** go. And why I'm determined to behave well, and to impersonate a normal person, in spite of my food pathology.

If I keep up the impersonation, if I keep pushing myself, someday it may be true. I may be okay.

Good luck with the dinner, Saef. Try some new things and know that Sunday is a new day.

:wave:

I solemnly swear I will make good food choices this weekend. More later!

Good luck with the dinner tonight, Saef.

Midwife - did I ever tell you that you were one of my big motivations to start running? You were doing a 5k, and PhotoChick (remember her?) was training for one. I did my first ever 5k length run the morning you were doing your race, and the entire time I was out there I was telling myself 'Midwife already finished hers, PC is training right now, you can do this!' My crazy, competitive side then used the two of you (and EZ's 5ks that he used to do at that same time) as the fire on my tail until I could make myself get up and go just for myself. And, you were one of the first ones to comment and high five as my mileage increased. So, I credit you with a big part of my running success. Thanks. :)

I managed to cut my finger on a powered off fan yesterday, so I'm bandaged up now and pleased that I didn't require stitches. I'm a little annoyed that I had to cut short half of my workout - I had done the weight lifting section, but still had kickboxing and stationary bike on the plan. I'm also annoyed that weights will have to be seriously curtailed for a while, as it is hard to grip anything. :( I did manage some yoga today though. I guess that means I'm doing my downward dog right if all the pressure is on the palms and not the fingers. :)

LIKE

DISLIKE

I think this site needs a Like button. I am a member of a Labrador chat board that was exactly like this forum but did an update a few months back that added a Thank You button which is nice so you can click it to say you appreciated whatever the poster said.

The dinner was incredibly good. I ate several foods I don't eat any more, such as white rice, Indian bread, a glass of red wine -- why do people pour such big balloon glasses of wine? I left most of mine undrunk -- and also a dessert that I'm trying to look up the name of. It was a tiny scalloped-edge cake, very rich, with pistachios and cardamom and vanilla -- like the missing link between a pound cake and a kind of halvah or fudge.

(Found it. It's called Peda. In fact, here's a picture of it. It's the yellow rounded cake in the right-hand box.
http://www.bengalisweet.com/item_det...sp?item_id=277)

When I bit into this cake, to be honest, my first thought was: "Oh no, I am putting sugar into my system." And my next thought was: "This is sooo rich. It's really not like a cake." And then: "This is incredibly good. I'm so glad I'm having it at someone else's house, because this is binge stuff. Most definitely."

And I had that weird fixation on the plate filled with cakes, always conscious of it sitting there through the conversation, and conscious every time someone took another one. And another one. But I didn't go for a second one. I practically sat on my hand so as not to.

We had coconut curried shrimp and a wonderful simmered soft eggplant dish. I ate a normal portion, then had a small second portion, as my host and hostess went back and got even more.

I felt physically okay afterward, not too full, and not panicked. Sort of in free-fall. And wonderment at how normal it felt. I think that I looked and behaved normally. We talked a lot about Indian food, spices, and cooking and food preparation in general.

I didn't stand on the scale this morning. I'm going to wait a little to check.

I keep telling myself that people on this Board do this all the time. They call it a cheat meal, or a treat meal. It doesn't undo all their work.

But I know that when I used to have a meal like this, it would often take me two weeks to get rid of an excess pound or two. Yes, maybe water retention, but still, how it stayed and stayed. The two weeks of scale-watching is so very rarely worth the food consumed.

I had a good night out with friends. That's what counts.

And I'm amazed at myself for worrying so much. People around here are great restaurant-goers. I go out often. But I'm much easier at restaurant meals -- that's normal & unexceptional -- I think it's because I have more control at a restaurant, whereas at a dinner at someone's home, I have to give myself over to someone else's choices.

Oh well done, saef! I'm very pleased for you. It sounds like a positive experience to build on.

Still toughing it out in London with the mogs. This week is very character-building. Food is passable and exercise is poor. If not quite in combat mode, the DB and I aren't on sunloungers by the pool either.

Shannon you are so sweet. I'm an emotional mess right now and you kind of triggered the tears to start flowing. I can find my way back to running regularly. You are such a rock star with your exercise (:lol: at the fact that the primary concern with your injury is how it will effect weightlifting!). Thank you for reminding me of the person I used to be. It's such a struggle right now. We just got home from taking DD to school and the only thing I want to do is crawl into bed for 4 months. I need to shake my funk.

Allison, I often look for a "like" button around here too!! Amazing how FB has come into my psyche!

Saef, strong work. I'm hypersensitive to food too. I wish it were more of a background noise to my life rather than a hook to my memories and time with others. I do believe that moderate portions of good real food is good for you. It's all the fake junky crap that's bad. I'm sure the foods you are were quality nutrients.

I wish you moments of joy and relaxation in London, SB. Be in the moment with your DB.

That's what it is all about. It is not about the food.

Weekend = 2 steps backward. It is, however, fully documented. Moving forward.

Saef, congratulations on having a "normal" evening with friends!

Midwife, I commiserate. Funks suck. (say that 3 times fast!)

shannon, boo about the fan-bite! They look so innocent when they're sleeping, don't they? :mad:

Will be back later. I have had a wildly unproductive morning and I will make getting ANYTHING done a reason to come back. :D

I stayed pretty much okay with calories over the weekend, but had way too much sodium. So right back up to 138 today. Don't know how my rings would fit, as I can't get them on over the bandage. :( Like Becky, my restaurant food is also documented, so all I can do is start with clean eating again this week.

I also find myself looking for like buttons. :) I'm on another board with this format also, and that one does have a Thank button like the Lab board for Allison.

Saef - the friendship is definitely what it is all about. Don't obsess over a pound that sticks from it - you made great choices, enjoyed good food and good friends, all good things.

Birchie - Glad you aren't in full combat mode still. I hope you can enjoy the rest of your time.

Becky - being productive is overrated. LOL

Midwife - :hug: You've been on my mind lately, feel free to PM me or hit me on FB if you ever need to chat or vent or anything, anytime. :)

Midwife - you certainly can shake off that funk! We know you can!

I was going to ramble a bit about the importance of 'being in the moment' but then I realised that might not be best if one is in a funk. So how about 'being alert'? I think that can be useful. I was alert to the dangers of delicious pastries this morning and only bought one for the DB. I was very pleased with myself.

Have to go. May be back later.

Hi folks. I am up a whopping 4 lbs since Friday to a high for the year of 141.2. How does that work? :p Oh, sodium and constipation. :rolleyes: Hopefully it will disappear soon. DH and I have co-opted a great analogy we heard on Mystery Diagnosis about my variety of constipation (okay, TMI, TMI): "Dropping off boxcars but the train never leaves the station." :rofl:

Midwife, I hope you can kick your funk!

Saef, sounds like you had a wonderful dinner with your friends.

Probably, I should be going back to basics and tracking all my calories. But I'm not. I'm going on vacation next week where I can't track, so it seems silly to bother about it this week rather than just wait until after vacation. My goal for this week is just to avoid eating when I'm not hungry. And really, I'm not hungry all that much.

Okay, 2 of the 4 lbs disappeared overnight. Phew!

Did the train leave the station, Jessica? I can't remember, are you taking probiotics?

Thanks for your support, guys. :)

Today I packed my breakfast and lunch and I brought my running stuff for my daughter's practice. My plan is to run a mile but then keep walking or whatever until 30 minutes have passed.

Step by step.

My inner 10-year-old boy just can't stop laughing about this.

I'm with Midwife: I need to know if the train left the station.

[How many times have I logged onto 3FC, wondering if a member who posted in distress the day before has finally pooped. It's been more than three times at least. Maybe more. I really think there's a psychological component. Maybe because we're all on here, trying to rid ourselves of something else -- fat, or weight -- which for all of its solidity, sometimes seems very intangible and mystical and shape-shifting. Which is exactly what the other stuff isn't. It's about as basic and tangible as it gets.]

I don't give a s***. :rofl:

Jay

:rofl: :lol3: :rofl:

I love you guys. Saef, DH and I had a great laugh when we heard that line on TV. Then again, we probably talk and joke about poop an excessive amount compared to most couples. :o

FWIW, no, the train has still not left the station (although it continues to drop of boxcars). :o :lol: Midwife, I'm not taking probiotics, but I am taking a fiber supplement and a stool softener and eating a big bowl of yogurt for breakfast. Why is it that pretty much every medication you take for anything causes constipation as a side effect? :rolleyes:

Midwife, great idea planning to run during practice! Good luck!

Here to stop the crapfest and end the slothfest. Need ONE DAY, just ONE DAY of on plan eating. Ballooning here.
Need to move tomorrow.

Midwife, I like the idea of run what I can and then just keep moving until I'm done. Thinking about a run is rendering me immobile.
Jessica, umm, movement?
FB chicks, yes, I find myself wanting to LIKE your comments often.
Shannon, you do rock.
Allison, what's your status with medifast, on it again?
SB- ALERT, yes.
Saef, sorry you're back but boy do I love to read your posts :D
Becky, documentation, now there's something I need to revisit.
Jay, you little wisecracker :)

Alright, you will see me back here tomorrow, accountable, come heck or high water.

Kitty, make today that one day!

Okay, I think the train is departing. :rofl: Switching to two glasses of fiber per day seems to be doing the trick. My weight is correspondingly down another pound today so I am back at red line now.

I love the poop discussion, and the 'dropping boxcars, but no train leaving the station' analogy. That totally describes me right now, too. I'm taking probiotics, colace and for the last week I've added in digestive enzymes and I'm still not seeing much on the train front. LOL Makes me crazy.

I don't feel particularly rocking right now. I haven't exercised since the whole finger in the fan incident - life has gotten in the way. We had DSS this weekend which took a lot of time, and we bought a new tv which consumed Saturday & Sunday in pickup and setup and hanging blackout shades. Now I'm working at our catering office and got out late on Mon & Tues, then had to drive 1.5 hours home. Mon I just didn't feel like working out even though I was home by 6, last night I didn't get home until after 7 and ended up running out to Lowe's and buying and installing undercainet lighting in the kitchen. We ate out both night, and there was dessert involved.

I can get back on the exercise, but I think I need to accept that food is beating me down right now. I can't make myself stop with the junk food. I am consciously choosing to overeat, over and over. I think at this point it doesn't matter if I figure out my trigger or why I do it or anything else and I just need to put my foot down and stop it. Let's see how that goes.

Jessica - what kind of fiber are you drinking?

Choo choo! Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo!!!

A great metaphor for pooping and weight loss. Keep it moving!!

Kitty, success begets success. You can do this!! Isn't it funny--I love to run and I've run some fairly impressive distances (as have you!) but once a week or two go by without running, I get intimidated. Is that what is going on with you? I'm addressing this by setting laughably short distance goals, but it's working. Yesterday when I started my run, I felt like a runner. For about 50 yards. And then I felt like a narwhal in concrete boots. But it will get better!! I have "Operation Haul My *** Around the Park or Up and Down the Arroyo" and you are welcome to join me in an Operation Haul Your *** as well.

1.3 miles yesterday, and then walked to get to 30 minutes. And then, I did core!! Woot!!

Good luck sorting out all of the food stuff, Shannon. Success begets success, right?

Jessica! Congrats on the 1 lb! Choo choo!

Midwife, great job on your run! :high:

Shannon, I use Citrucel. It was recommended to me by a colorectal specialist a number of years ago. I put a heaping Tbsp into a cup, fill with about 8oz cold water, stir vigorously, and drink it down in one go. If you take too long to drink it it will turn into sludge. I've tried a couple other brands (Benefiber, Metamucil, etc.) but I think Citrucel tastes the best. I think it is like 60 calories per scoop for the standard version but you can buy the sugar free variety and it will be fewer calories.

Great run, Midwife! Woo hoo!

My problem isn't all food, my meals tend to be pretty good even when eaten out. My downfall lately has been ice cream... I never used to crave it, but it is a serious go to food when I'm tense now.

Thanks, Jessica - I'll check it out. I know I don't currently get enough fiber.

TOM and massive bloat, coupled with zero willpower. Will not get on scale til Monday. I don't have a clue about what I weigh, but it feels like every bit of 170. Blech!!!!

I got in a run yesterday, which was desperately needed. After a week off from exercise 3.25 miles felt like 1000 in the 92 degrees.... I also ended up going to bed with only 980 cals for the day. Not planned - circumstances conspired against me. Had I planned it I would have gotten more protein like Jay & Allison's medifast days. :) It did cut a lot of water out though.

How's your hand, Shannon?

:wave: Hi, all 5-10ers!!

Hey I ran 2 miles today! That's 4 runs for the week. :carrot:

Great job on the running, Midwife! Woo hoo! My hand is feeling better - still can't bend my finger well, though.

About my encounter with my scale this morning: Fail.

Up four pounds since last Friday, which goes to show me that the Indian feast last Saturday and the stress of attaining escape velocity from my job this week -- which left me eating at odd hours, not sleeping enough, snacking healthily but too frequently, and drinking coffee coffee coffee -- is not a good combination. I'm as heavy as I've been in all of 2011. I have kept up my exercise routine, but as someone wise here once said, you can't out-exercise bad eating habits.

I'm about to set out for the long drive Upstate. It's a vacation of sorts. No work, anyway. I'm staying at my mother's house, where it is actually possible to eat sensibly and very nearly in my usual way. We'll see what next Friday brings upon my return.

I'll check in from there probably on her PC, which is actually rather a decent system.

Trying to put the morning weigh-in behind me and not beat myself up over it. I chose my job this week over my health, which wasn't good. But it was stressful & something had to give.

Less of a funk. Am very sore from playing in high Lake Michigan waves for hours on Saturday afternoon; I feel like a human piñata! :). Job change is on the horizon, as I have cleared 3 of 5 hurdles. As soon as my risk-averse side is satisfied with the level of inevitability, I'll turn in the letter. Spouse said I could quit in advance (because I have a bathroom to remodel!). If I do this right, I could get a couple of weeks off, which my mental state would deeply appreciate.

Good luck, ICU!! Keep focusing on the postives and the relief you will feel with this change!

Here, back from vacation. Spa living, it wasn't ;)
But, that daily weighing does help. NO doubt.

am looking forward to posting something positive soon...
:)

I blew up to 140 briefly (Friday morning weigh-in) while my eating buddies were here. Now they're gone and I'm somehow down to 131.5. I feel absolutely massive though, I've definitely lost some muscle and I can't find the motivation or drive to do pushups to fix my arms because I'm always a little bit tired. Darn early mornings (work starts at 7 am 5 days a week).

I'm so afraid to see what the scale will say Thursday morning. All the food at the reunion was way too fatty and carb laden. Beans and corn two nights, pancakes, sausage and bacon every morning. Lunches were okay--sandwiches with fresh fruit, but we were only there for one lunch (golfing the other day and DH and I decided on a Cliff bar to get us through to dinner).

Interview on Friday at 1:30. I took 1/2 day vacation, cuz Friday is our bluejeans day at work, and it would be extremely suspicious to show up in interview-wear. :D. Feeling just a little hope that maybe, just maybe, there's some work-life balance in my future. That being said ... I have no delusions that less stress will cause 10 pounds to magically fall off (but I do think there will be benefits). Wish me luck, chicks - the deck is heavily stacked in my favor, yet life has few guarantees!

luck!!!

Good luck Friday, Becky!

Fingers crossed, Becky.