That's exciting. I love it when you reach for something you remember as being too snug and it's too large. And the impossible clothing item buried in the back of the closet that fits!!! That's a great feeling. Now, all those shirts that were too lose - stick them in a bag and donate them. Great way to clear out your closet and make an extra committment to yourself to not gain back the weight. I couldn't have any comfortable clothes around. When I gained over the holidays - it wasn't much weight, but the clothes were uncomfortable. I remember going in and saying, I have to take off the extra 12 lbs because I'm too cheap to buy anything bigger!!! Thank goodness I didn't have any fall back clothes. I don't know how far I would have "fallen" before I put a stop to it!!

Wow! So many new photos.

lv2ski I finally can put a face with a name (btw what's your real name?)

Finz: great light in the new pic was that taken on your recent trip?

Gina, you have an infectious smile. I love biking with others so the same must be true with running as far as time passing more quickly with company.

It wasn't Cafe Pacifico, was it? (Holding my breath here...)

And yep, pannekoeken is up there on my list of Dutch treats - a Sunday tradition when we were there. We'd go about once a month. DH would have a savory (like ham & cheese), I'd have a sweet (apple was my favorite) and we'd split them & share. Yum. I have an authentic recipe, but without the special syrup it's not quite the same...

Great pic - looks very Dutch & makes me quite nostalgic...

**YEA** Congrats on starting stabilization! It took me 8 weeks. The first week I was on it was Thanksgiving week and we went on vacation that week. So needless to say, I didn't follow week 1 as well as I could have done if I was home.

WOW! That's awesome! And how great that you can make a commitment to do the marathon. That's impressive!

MrsPhibes, no, my new avatar photo was taken right here at home a few weeks ago. My husband and I take the dogs out to run along the bay on the weekends and he happened to have his camera along and snapped that of me.

Meemo, the restaurant was Los Pilones Mexican Restaurant,near Leidseplein. And the pancake that I had was apple and bacon--it was really delicious. I wish I could remember the name of that place-I'll have to email my friend that lives there and ask her.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hey ladies! Hope everyone has had a great weekend! My first week on stabilization has been crazy. I may ask to repeat week 1 since the kids have had spring break, we went skiing, and have had company for 3 days! Needless to say there hasn't been a lot of focus. I'll see how things go when I go weigh in Monday! Tomorrow should be a nice calm day!!!

Good Morning!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We had the best weather here this weekend , it was just amazing. Now? Notsomuch. But, I'll take it... Still love it here.

Got my week 3 menu on Saturday.... dairy hmmmm. I don't drink milk (haven't in 9 years) but was happy to see the choices of rice milk and soy milk. Also, yogurt was a nice addition this morning.

I also lost another lb, so I'm down to 172lbs now and have lost a total of 183lbs.

I'm 2 weeks from my California trip home and it's bringing up a lot of old issues for me. I love seeing my family don't get me wrong. I love being by the ocean. I love love love seeing my best friend. But when I go home sometimes I spend a lot of time thinking about who I was when I lived in that house.... before I moved away at 20. Destructive, Addicted, Weak.... Sometimes it can be overwhelming. So, the other thing I decided to do this time (or tackle I should say) is to go through my old boxes of "stuff". When I left at 20, I literally grabbed some clothes and left. Moved to Ohio with friends to just get away from everything. So, my sister and Dad just boxed up my room. My sister put it all in her storage room and for 18 years, that's where that "stuff" has lived. Here's the thing; I would say that I didn't care what's in there but I do. There's likely my diploma, my gap and gown, pictures (and I have no pictures currently from high school), my sketch pads, my art, and some things I've recently remembered.... like an old old camera that belonged to a great great great uncle that I used to play with as a child and kept through the years. Anyway, I'm not concerned about these things being a eating trigger for me anymore.... just emotionally wearing me out. And, I want to enjoy myself with my family and friends and that beautiful ocean. So, that's where I'm at this morning.... thinking and processing. Getting a "plan" together.

I'm so happy to be able to say these things to you all because I know you understand and love me no matter what!

I faced the music this morning and went in for my post-vacation WI. Not too bad--I was up 2 lbs. It honestly feels good to be back in the normal eating pattern again and I hope to have shed those 2 lbs by the next time I go in. Maintenance sure keeps you honest!

I'm quite sure you will be back down on the next weigh in....

Good job, getting into the center. I would think that's the hardest part!:hug:

Denise, you are such a different person now than you were then.:hug: Look at the strength you are carrying within and know that will get you through those old issues. The fact that you can clearly see those issues is half the battle! I have total faith that you will handle it all with perfectly and take delight in the good things that are in CA for you.

Congrats on continuing to drop--that amazed me about stabilization :)
Have you tried the Greek yogurt? I've been having the nonfat version of that with some fruit for my dairy and it's like a dessert.

Hope you'll be able to check in with us on your trip!

Thank you so much. I often do look back at the girl at 20 and she was sooo different. I'm sure many people feel that way. I hadn't found myself yet at all, was in a totally abusive relationship with a guy who just took manipulated me like no one ever had before or has since, and I was just so so so not me. I went home a year later and I was totally different. Then again 3 years after that, totally different. And each time, I've grown and become more. I just never wanted to deal with all that "stuff" before and I guess now I feel ready. It's a process apparently; my process is just taking a bit longer than most! ;) :dizzy:

I haven't tried the greek yogurt; I'll have to look for it. Can you get it in the regular grocery store? And where should I look for it? By the yogurt or the sour cream? It sounds great. I just had yoplus this morning. Yesterday, I had rice milk... I'm kind of boring. :D

Denise, I'm so glad your ready to go through the old stuff. Knowing you, it might be a good idea to journal while you are there. Looking through the boxes will be "raw", but it might be interesting to look at it from where you are now. I was suprised when I ran across some old stuff. Some things were not as bad as I remember, and others made me want to cry for my old self. It was a little worse than I remember, but it made me appreciate and recognize that I was much stronger than - more than I realized. And you're right - we are here for you and love you no matter what. Just do what you can do and focus on the new memories you are making with the people you love. We're here for you!

I missed my wi on Saturday (apts ran late) and went in this morning. I was up (had a couple bad meals out over the weekend). I really thought they would make me repeat week 2, but I got to advance to week 3. I start that tomorrow. I don't know why I didn't think of this last time, but I have a cuisinart ice cream maker. I found the recipe book, and I can make fat free, sugar free frozen yogurt! Not great for breakfast, but when we get it added in for the evening, it will be great!! And I ran another 4 - 4 1/2 miles this morning. Still a little swollen from the bad cheats over the weekend, but I feel like I'm in control of the situation and ready to move on!

Just Curious
 

I am on MRC Beige menu and looking foward to maintenance. Can someone describe how maintenance works? I am just curious as to what and how you add back in to your diet. Thanks!

They walk you through a 6 week process where they re-introduce foods back into your menu, one week at a time. Most people continue to lose the last 6 lbs during this time. Then you get the menu/calorie guideline that you will follow forever. It's a little scary getting foods back in, but your body adjusts since they do it slowly.

Denise, the yogurt that I've been getting is FAGE and it's in the same section as the regular yogurt. It's very creamy so people who like a lighter yogurt may not like it as well. One of the MRC counselors turned me on to it. The have a website: fageusa dot com
I buy it at Publix and I've also seen it at Fresh Market in my area. I had some earlier and added some blackberries and a little splenda to sweeten it a bit.

ShineOn:

What do they let you reintroduce? Pasta, etc?