Wow this thread is popping! So many good discussions...
Rennie, You are nipping at my heels WAY TO GO!!!!

Mary Oh wow I hope you treat yourself to a new scale! You might be having a whoosh and your scale just isn't showing it. Any chance there's one you could use at work, or the place you used to volunteer, if it's nearby? Good for you for keeping on keeping on with will power though!

Bewildered Good that you are keeping that scale reading in perspective. Scales are are a little like men, lol, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. But your whoosh will come & I hope it's soon.
If you are in Oregon, there might be a tofu brand available up there worth trying, Hodo Soy. [http://hodosoy.com] I had to stop buying it because i just couldn't keep from scarfing it. Don't ask me why--there isn't a flavor pop (maybe it's a California thing, lol. Hodo tofu has better texture than most tofu, & more protein too, and it just has a nice taste. I put it into my salads and pretended it was Feta cheese. They make it also in thin sheets that I used as roll ups--lots of protein, low cal. I am sounding like an ad! I like my chicken, though, so haven't eaten it lately. I will eat regular tofu occasionally--the extra firm cubed and marinated in soy sauce/ginger, or softer crumbled up in stir fry.

Jacqui I love that sore muscle feeling, well, as long as I didn't pull a muscle. It sounds like your body is adapting to your WOE & workouts. You are getting so close to your goal. What's your philosophy of what to do with clothes that are too big?

chickadeee aka Queen of Green , you are gonna be one healthy chick. There are so many good things in kale! Btw another idea is to add it to your rice protein shakes. But then you would need something sweet to balance it, like grapes. But there might be something else on the sweet side that's low carb, maybe even a little stevia.Whatever you're doing is sure working well!

Carol Sue! What are you going to do with your kale?

Well my day still isn't over but so far so good with food. Weighing in so to speak on evening snacking....I'm playing with having broccoli available in the fridge. I steam it in some yummy rich chicken broth,stand by for another food promo lol! Usually a couple of spears are adequate. I don't like to go to bed hungry because then I don't stay asleep. Maybe I should give it another try though, now that I'm on this WOE and getting healthier. I've been sleeping longer since it is staying dark in the morning. I must be part chicken because the daylight has such an effect.
In other news, I caved and ordered some WF dressings. I just don't think i'm committed yet to getting that out of my diet. I'm not motivated to make my own dressing. Maybe once the scale gets rolling downward more consistently. Getting 0 cal 1000 Island for Big Mac in a Bowl, Balsamic, and Sundried Tomato/Italian vinaigrette. Better living through chemistry!

Big Mac in a Bowl! We do something similar we call Cheeseburger salad. Sometimes we get fancy and do a white cheese and onion/mushroom.

Did you guys know that you can get a "protein style" burger at red robin? They lettuce bun it for you and it's delish. I get apple wedges instead of fries. I am sure the salad would be healthier but I love the way it's the same shape as the steak fries so I feel like I am getting the experience.

Chickadeee, no, not a coach, lol, well, unless trying to convince high-schoolers to appreciate Shakespeare counts! Thank you for such a nice compliment!

Reenie, I wonder if drinking it after really would make a difference or if it's just hype. I noticed Amazon has some brands that are less expensive, and also Walmart online has it. I'll have to think about that one! Oh my, I promise I do try to rein in the mother hen! Perhaps because I was a teacher for so many years, I don't always say what people want to hear but rather what I hope will make them think and help them to make the best decisions. However, that may come across as too strong on here. I never, ever mean to offend! I always try to be supportive, but from your reaction, I can see I need to step back. I really, really do care, but I don't always walk the fine line so well and need to mind my own business more! Thank you for that reminder!

Carol Sue, I would never want to step on your toes and I think I may have, and I am so sorry! Sometimes I say what I hope someone would say to me if I were having trouble staying on track, and, well, sometimes I'm just plain wrong! I do apologize! I hope you'll forgive me.

Mars, way to go on the good eating day! You know, I've always kept clothes that are too big, and like a self-fulfilling prophecy, I've always ended up back in them! This time, I'm not doing that! If they are too old, I will toss them. If they are decent, I will donate them. Once I lose enough to move out of a size though, out they go!

Mary, my DH loses weight at the drop of a dime! All he has to do is walk and he can still eat brownies and cookies, and he loses weight lickety-split! I'm so jealous!

Bewildered, ooooo, a year to heal?! That would be awful! I don't think I'll be doing the negative reps again anytime soon. However, today I turned my arm a certain way, and I could have sworn I saw a small muscle pop up, lol!

Ok my loss after 1 week is 3.5 lbs.

I know it is not some big number like a lot of people have, but my diet wasn't terrible before and my sisters had me drinking lots of water before I started. I also am not as strict on the low sodium portion of my diet since I don't have hypertension. I do try to avoid sodium in excess and cook without as much!

Hope you guys have a great Friday. Stay strong! I will be hanging poolside with a friend making sure 5 boys don't drown or get into bad shenanigans

Are you kidding Mary, that's a fantastic loss by any reckoning!!!!! WTG!

I was up to 205 (yikes!) but am now back down to 200 and a smidge. Like I said before, I know what I did wrong.

I am going to try CALP. No food is completely off limits, just when you eat it. It will allow me to have a bit of carbs at dinner when I cook it for DH. If it doesn't help me, I can always switch to something else.

Jacqui, sometimes I get in a bad place and just want to be left alone. The only thing that helps is time. You know like Little Bow Peek's sheep..."leave them alone and they'll come home, wagging their tails behind them." What you were saying might be the truth, but I wasn't in a frame of mind to be receptive to it.

I have always been of the mind to keep a few of my nicer fat clothes on hand. Even though we don't want it, sometimes we do have a regain, even if it's just temporary. Nothing is more depressing than having to go out and buy some bigger clothes, so it's safer to have a few bigger things to get you through until you can get the regain back off. JMO

Bewildered, I can guarantee that I will NEVER have a muscle injury. LOL

Mars, my usual way to cook kale is to saute some onion and garlic, maybe some sliced mushrooms, then add in chopped kale, reduce the heat, add a lid, adding a bit of water or chicken stock if needed, and just let it wilt down. How long depends on how tough the kale is. If I have it, I sprinkle some Feta Cheese on it. Today, I am going to try something new. I have a butternut squash. I am going to peel and cube it, saute it in some butter, then add some chopped kale near the end of the cooking time, add a lid, and let it wilt down. I might sprinkle some cinnamon on it.

Rennie, the tofu was an impulse purchase. For one thing, I don't like to say that I don't like something if I haven't actually tried it. I was browsing through the produce aisle and saw it, and this package said it was baked with teryaki flavoring and it looked good to me. I figured if I don't like it I could throw it away. It was ok, but not something I would eat on a regular basis. There are other things I would rather have. But now I know what it tastes like. As far as soy safety, I read that if you're going to eat soy, have it be natural soy, such as edamame, which I love, rather than processed soy.

Dairy Fairy, although I agree that daily activity is good, after I had my heart issues my cardiologist told me to walk. It was not a suggestion. LOL I told him I moved around a lot at work and he told me when it comes to heart health, walking, specifically, is beneficial to heart health and that sporatic walking is not the same as exercise walking. It has something to do with forcing the blood flow from your legs up to your heart.

Chickadeee, I also recommend a FitBit. There's something about seeing how many steps you have taken that wants you to move more. It's just something to consider. You seem to be doing very well the way you are. I just love gadgets.

My DH doesn't take care of his health. He only goes to the doctor once a year when he needs his blood pressure pills refilled, and that's only because I insist. He will not do any bloodwork or test for anything else. Otherwise, the only way he sees a doctor is if he is carried into the ER on a stretcher. I worry, because I want him here, but in the end, it's his life and who am I to tell him how to live it. Right now he is active, not overweight, and just has aches and pains like the rest of us.

Mars, enjoy sleeping in, that is a gift! WTG on having a good food day! I might even eat broccoli if I had you cooking for me. Thanks for the Tofu suggestion while in Oregon. I’ll be honest, I don’t even know where in the store to look for it… The more I research it, the more skeptical I become about trying it. It has to be stored in water? Has no taste, but picks up what it is surrounded by? Acts as a filler? That might be only something a good cook would appreciate and that is not me. I know nothing about seasonings past the basics. It might be better for me to try it when I have my own kitchen, too. Who knows, I may fall in love with it and then not be able to find it elsewhere.

Mary, outstanding loss!!! I’m lucky to lose half a pound some weeks when I have been exceptional. Great job! That is a good to know about Red Robin. People keep telling me they are getting these bunless burgers at various fast food places. Every time I ask about it wherever I am, they look at me like I’m crazy. I usually only stop at fast food when traveling, for the wifi, but that would make me want to eat, too.

Jacqui, there is nothing better than seeing definition in the arms after you’ve been lifting regularly. I look forward to seeing that again one day. Actually, it took about 15 months before I could lift my left arm past a certain point and it would kill me at night along with not be able to lie/lay? on that side. Ironically, it has only been a couple of weeks that it is starting to feel normal again; I had reconciled to the fact that it would never be the same again and my lifting days were over. I injured my shoulder in April 2014 and it was from doing something that I had been doing for over 10 years in the yard with the shovel, but something just went wrong or my age caught up with me. Most of my muscle that I worked so hard on has now turned to fat. I am thinking now that maybe I should have kept working the right side and been lopsided. Hah. That is why I’m only using 10 pound weights now until I can increase my reps. I’m just happy that I might not have to have the surgery after all. I hate needles and would probably have been too stubborn to even go through with it!

Carol Sue, WTG on getting those l-bs off! You know what you are doing. I hope you find a plan that works for you! Haha on the lack of muscle injuries. I heard that! I don’t know why men are so stubborn about going to the doctor? Big dummies!

6 good days in a row. I'm pleased because it has been awhile since I've strung together that many! Have a lovely day everyone!!!

Week 1 - High 238.6 - Low 234 - Avg 236

7/18 - 238.6
7/19 - 238.0
7/20 - 236.2
7/21 - 235.2
7/22 - 234.8
7/23 - 235.2
7/24 - 234.0 Carb Day

Today’s Exercise - 2.4 miles walking (working on speed over distance to get my heart rate up) Increased average 2 minutes per mile; highest increase 4 minutes per mile

Ysd’s Menu
B: 2 boiled eggs and 3 small sausage links; coffee with 2 packets Stevia and 4 mini moos
L: Hamburger in steamed cabbage and onion
D: Albacore, mayo, mustard, dill pickle relish and raw cauliflower

Bewildered 6 days in a row is great, esp considering you are not at home in a routine. Yeah I hear you on the tofu. I always regarded it as a heathy food because it is a staple in Asia. But I don't feel fed unless I eat meat. Thanks for the cooking compliment! No one who knows me has ever accused me of being a good cook

I'm at the same weight today as yesterday, .6 lbs up from a week ago. One more day to get it down beofre i move my ticker. Other than a feeling of impatience to fit into my clothes, I'm happy with it. My WOE is good. Carb Day is tomorrow. Plan is to eat healthy things yielding 150 net carbs, just to see what that feels like. I am sensitive to both too high and too low carbs. But other than enjoying social eating, I will no longer have Carb Day, at least not until my weight gets down a little.

Carol Sue That kale/butternut concoction sounds to die for! Butternut squash is my power food! I like to roast it with coconut oil, garlic, and have tried a little cayenne pepper, but cinnamon would be great.

Jacqui My best ever teacher was for HS English. She got me to love Shakespeare Please feel free to mother hen me anytime! I appreciate it and your advice is always spot on.

TGIF everyone, even you, Carol Sue for whom everyday is Sat

My butternut squash lunch turned out fantastic! I have never cooked butternut squash before and have only tasted it when my DIL made appetizers with it over the holidays. DH cut it up for me and helped peel it. It is so hard, and I'm always afraid when using a knife. I started putting it in the saute pan with the butter and it wouldn't all fit, so I put the extra cubes in a freezer bag in the freezer for next time. If I do this again, I will cube it then freeze it in individual portions. After I browned it, DH said it looked like home fries and wanted to try it. Rennie! LOL He took one piece and said it was "ok." To me, the natural sweetness makes it better than home fries. When it was almost done I washed and chopped some kale and added it for the last 5 minutes on low, with a lid on it. The kale didn't really add any flavor, but in my heart, I know it added loads of nutrition! This is something I will use for the carb portion of some of my carb meals. It is much more nutritious than potatoes or rice.

Mars, I saw several recipes online for this, some using savory herbs and some making it sweeter. I chose the cinnamon because it went so well with the natural sweetness of the squash, and cinnamon is supposed to help lower blood sugar.

Bewildered, I never ate hummus until the past couple years. But, I like to try things that I've never had before, and I love it. It is made with garbanzo beans, but can also be made with canned canneloni beans or roasted eggplant. I like to make my own because I can better control what goes in it, but the hummus I've been eating lately has been from Aldi's. They have different flavors, but I like the Significantly Spicy. Hot, but bearable. I love beans and I think it's pretty healthy. It goes well with tortilla chips, but is healthier with celery. Unfortunately, when I find something like that that I consider to be healthy I don't take into consideration that portion sizes count, even with healthy foods.

I love chipotle with butternut squash. For Thanksgiving my sister was being very kind to my husband and made sure he had stuff he could eat. Instead of the gooey marshmallow sweet potatoes, she did chipotle mashed sweet potatoes. Oh. My. Word. If you have leftover butternut chunks, you can throw them in chili. It is so good!!! It sounds weird but just try it. Squash is the new onion LOL

Mars- thank yoU! I guess I am used to losing a ton of water weight in week one but maybe I didn't have much to lose this time. I definitely don't expect that much every week. I will be THRILLED with 2 a week from here on out.

Carole Sue- thanks for the info on the heart health! That's definitely something I am concerned with just since so many of us have it without even knowing.

Just finished spending all morning with a friend and her kids. I love them to bits but soon glad to be alone with mine. funny how a family just fits together with their quirks after a while.

Thank you all for your support so far. I know I have only been on here a week or so but I feel like I am really doing it this time and I look forward to coming on here!!!

ladies I am so sorry, I'm tired, I have read all of your post, but I don't feel up to commenting individually at the moment (too much thinking) . I am happy for each achievement and glad that we are finding our way ...

Week 01: High 175.5, Low 171.5, -4.0

7/10 ~ 175.5
7/11 ~ 174.2 (-1.3)
7/12 ~ 173.2 (-1.0)
7/13 ~ 172.2 (-1.0) only .3 lower than where I started 7/1 and 1.5 higher than on 7/3
7/14 ~ 171.7 (-0.5) LTTOM
7/15 ~ 172.1 (+0.4) TOM
7/16 ~ 171.5 (-0.6) TOM

Week 02: High 175.3, Low 169.9, -5.4

7/17 ~ 171.2 (-0.3) LTTOM
7/18 ~ 173.8 (+2.6)
7/19 ~ 173.9 (+0.1)
7/20 ~ 175.3 (+2.4)
7/21 ~ 174.1 (-1.2)
7/22 ~ 171.7 (-2.4)
7/23 ~ 169.9 (-1.8)

Week 03: High ???.?, Low ???.?,

7/24 ~ 169.8 (-0.1)
7/25 ~
7/26 ~
7/27 ~
7/28 ~
7/29 ~
7/30 ~


Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
Triple Zero Oikos vanilla
Carbmaster banana cream
32ozs lemon water

Lunch:
pineapple mango smoothie w/ 1 scoop of SF vanilla
burger w/Amer cheese, ketchup, mustard (no bun)
20oz water

Snack:
one fry with ketchup
deviled ham on pumpkin seed tortilla chips
20oz water

Dinner:
1.5c sauteed squash & onion

Carol Sue, got it! Onederland is right around the corner! Great job! My problem with keeping bigger clothes "just in case" is that I never take it as a wake-up call to turn things around and lose the weight again so that I can get back into the smaller size. Instead, I just work my way back up my closet! I've done that for years. This time I want to try something different. I actually want to make it inconvenient. I want to have nothing on hand in the larger sizes so that if I have to squeeze into something because I've gained weight, I'll have to make a decision right then and there either to take steps to lose or to go out and spend good money buying a bigger size that I don't even want to be in! (Hopefully, I'll get it right and won't end up in my DH's sweatpants out buying clothes, lol!)

Mars, thank you! That's kind of you to say. (Now don't forget you said it! j/k) I'm so happy to hear you had a good English teacher and that you love Shakespeare!

Bewildered, you and me both, sister! I HATE needles! I hope you don't ever have to have surgery! Oh, but what an awful experience you went through! I'm glad it's getting stronger now! Yay on being 1.2 lbs down! I hope you're having a great Carb Day!

Mary, 3.5 lbs in a week is fantastic! Way to go! I'm glad you joined us too!

Rennie, I hope you get some needed rest! Good job on keeping that scale moving down! :

Chickadeee, Obie

Maintaining! Works for me!

Week 9: High 199.5, Low 198.5
6/28--199.5
6/29--199
6/30--199
7/1--198.5
7/2--198.5
7/3--198.5
7/4--199.5 Carb Day
Week 10: High 200.5, Low 196.5
7/5--200.5
7/6--200
7/7--198.5
7/8--197
7/9--196.5
7/10--197
7/11--197 Carb Day
Week 11: High 198.5, Low 195
7/12--198.5
7/13--198
7/14--198
7/15--196.5
7/16--196
7/17--195
7/18--195 Carb Day
Week 12:
7/19--195.5
7/20--195
7/21--194.5
7/22--194
7/23--194
7/24--194
7/25--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Greek yogurt with Mio
String cheese and deli chipotle chicken roll-up
Broccoli, cauliflower, radish, and carrot salad
Mio water

Snack:

Dinner: @ a local BBQ place with friends
Pulled pork BBQ
Green beans
Water with lemon

Today's Exercise:
1.2-mile walk around the walk park (Missed the Y today and too dark to walk more at the park--oh well! It will have to do! )

finished with my eating today...on plan...feel my period coming on. I actually had lost this morning so that makes me feel REALLY good.

And I ordered that new scale! I don't expect it to tell me I am skinny...I am just tired of the wild swings and hangups this one has! I was reading a scale can have a 2 percent variation. Now if I am 250 lbs almost, that's a 5 lb swing. Better scales have smaller variations. Considering I got the cheapest thing at walmart, I am pretty sure I have the full 2 percent variation. No thanks! Every pound is precious!