Love2b150 I am dieting and losing. I had a routine dr. Appt. in June this past summer (after a fabulous 10 days in Normandy at friends' and Paris) which kind of shocked me (I knew I was big for my height and frame but never really worried too much about it. I'd been wearing same size for at least 7 years). But I didn't plan on losing. When we got back, my veggie gardens were weedy because I'm organic. So I was spending three+ hours a day out there for a couple of weeks weeding and planting. I started to lose. Then I made a conscious effort to get healthy and slim down slowly (but surely). I'd been super skinny until my 20s, then I gained to no longer being underweight and really looked good until my mid 30s, then I changed careers and became a teacher. That's when the real trouble started. Now I'm 50 and need to downsize �� I'm sure this is way more info than you wanted, but that's my story :)

That's not too much info for me, Prairie Queen. I like to hear lots of details about what others are doing and compare it to what I'm doing to see what's working for them. Do you not eat between meals? That's a big problem for me. I can open the refrigerator and pop something into my mouth, just because it's there. No self control at all. Rennie is a lot better at that than I am. Even when I worked and was busier, I wore a lab coat with big pockets. I could fit a lot of snacks in that pocket and munch on them all day. I thought once I retired that snack food would not be around, but it hasn't made a different. I still have a habit of "grazing." That only works if that's your whole WOE. When you do it and still eat your meals, it spells trouble. I just can't get serious about this.

I don't think I am going to have a weight loss or lower blood pressure when I go to the doctor's. My weight is up a pound, right at 200. I have no idea how that could be because I was in the bathroom all night. Can't imagine how much my gain would have been if I hadn't pooped it all out!! LOL I know, not funny.

Lol Carol, sometimes I wonder the same thing! Thank-you for your kind words the other day--I feel the same about you & it will sure be fun to catch up once I'm back.
PrairieQueen, I second what Carol wrote. Also interested in what grade/subject you teach, if you care to share. My mom was a primary teacher. She loved it but came home sooo tired. I can remember every one of my teachers--important people.

Hi Rennie!

Jacqui Can't wait to hear about your Boston adventures, culinary & otherwise!

Getting my last minute stuff checked off for early departure tomorrow to Miami. Among all the details of planning, I have the goal of getting a couple of my whey shakes through airport security. We'll see. They will keep me satisfied & away from junk food in the airport & plane. so worth the try.

I am a high school chemistryteacher. I teach college prep and AP in a wonderful community. I started in the inner city as part of my scholarship commitment. Before that I was a food scientist, nothing glamorous or exciting...processed meat, yuck! I very rarely eat between meals and then it's pretty wholesome. But that wasn't always the case but it was never a problem either. My biggest problem was portion control and eating out once I started teaching (and the cocktails and constant get-together in my old neighborhood). I also started eating diet food in the 90s.....diet coke, margarine, low fat milk, processed this and that....I really think that had a lot to do with the weight gain. Once I kicked the diet coke habit, everything else has been a lot easier.

Yesterday's menu:

Break - McD's sausage burrito w/hot sauce, ice tea w/stevia
Lunch - leftover bourbon chicken and rice
Snack - skinny popcorn
Dinner -2 pieces of Pizza from donatos and three light beers

PrairieQueen do you make your own bourbon chicken? We love the taste of the mall bourbon chicken. :)

Aw Carol, thanks I miss you too :hug: Glad you're feeling better. I hope the cough and nose blowing ceases soon :crossed: The potatoes come out really well when baked in that bag. I'm hoping to get my Mom one. I don't go to Big Lots often since there isn't one near me. I like trying out kitchen gadgets also. I saw this spiral crank thing on tv and forgot to write it down. I was gonna tell the kids that's what I want for Christmas :) Carol, that's how I feel sometimes, like I can't get serious about this!!! but why??? :shrug: LOL Carol, that is funny. It made me laugh out and shake my head ... you're funny :) but I do hope you are done pooping for the day. Do you know what caused you to go like that? Oh Carol, I bought the Joseph's flax oat bran & whole wheat pita bread. I'll try it tomorrow with tacos :)

PrairieQueen, you're response was fine ... not too informative, you laid out what you're doing and how you came about it :) I really like your menu that's why I asked :D

Hi mars :wave: I only remember the teachers that I liked ;) Good luck with the whey shakes :crossed:

Jacqui, :hug:

my weight was way up today 175.2 that's up 2.7 from yesterday. My son and I went to burger king. I came home showered, went to bed pass my bedtime, overslept and voila :rolleyes:

I did make my own. I've never had the mall stuff though. I just sounded good and it was very good. I kind of melded two recipes and made my own version. Hubs loved it and so did I. It will be on the winter rotation :) ( and I used bourbon even though the mall stuff doesn't have it).

Today's menu....

Break - more leftover bourbon chicken and rice
Lunch - 1/2 peanut butter/pear butter sandwich (Ezekiel bread)
Snack - skinny popcorn
Dinner - Swiss steak, smashed potatoes, sweet corn
Snack - skinny popcorn, a skinny margarita and skinny sweet and sour

That's a lot of skinny Prairie Queen! Bourbon chicken/rice sounds delicious for breakfast.
SeeMyFeet, take note, there has been no mention of sauerkraut today :)
Rennie I'll bet that's sodium. Is the DS with whom you have diet challenges?

Thanks SMF! You guys aren't rid of me yet, lol! I will be (attempting) to post from my phone from Miami for a couple days. I read the TSA sometimes allows tamper-proof packages of liquids, so worth a try. I ate my travel snack nutsyesterday--predictably. So will eat light today. There I said it, now gotta do it.

EDIT TSA made me toss my shake. But the shops were open & selection of healthy stuff was surprising. Got ine more shake in checked bag for Tues pre-flight marathon.

SeeMyFeet you are spot on with the thoughts of dinner keeping me from snacking. It's easy to not snack at school....my room is a chemistry lab so it's a no-no. I do keep "emergency" almonds/dried blueberries in my desk. I've dipped into those four times this year (less than 1/4 cup each time). My room is on the second floor and far-far away from any snack machines or the cafeteria areas. Our school has a lot of healthy choices but I've not bought anything in three plus years now. The weekends get me though...I like my adult beverages and popcorn, chips, salsa, guac, etc., etc.

And as for dinners....I'm a really good cook actually and I love to do it so I make sure I behave during the day. As you prob figured out, I make just about everything from scratch which helps with keeping out hidden sugar and salt (and gmo oils and everything else).

Rennie, I think my Metformin caused the bathroom issue in the middle of the night. When the DR first increased my dose I was to take it 3 times a day. I took it AM, at dinner, and at bedtime. I had a lot of 500mg left, so I took 850 at breakfast and dinner and 500 at bedtime. All was well. When I ran out of the 500s I started taking the third 850 at bedtime and found that I was throwing up in the middle of the night. DR said I could cut back to 2 daily, although my rx still says 3 daily. I recently decided to try taking the 3rd one at bedtime, and instead of throwing up, it was otherwise. Two nights in a row. So now I am no longer taking the 3rd dose each day. I should probably have him change it to 1000 2 X day instead of 850.

SMF, sorry to hear the spouse is still hanging around. LOL

PrairieQueen, it sounds as though you are very intelligent and are very knowledgeable about what you eat, and don't eat. Good for you! I can always use your input.

Rennie, I am also wondering what spiral crank thing you are talking about. LOL

Mars, sorry you had to toss your shake. One time coming home I accidentally packed my psoriasis rx cream in carry-on instead of checked baggage and they made me toss it. I told them it was RX but they didn't care. Now what was I going to do with a tube of psoriasis cream???

Jacqui, where are you? in transit?

And where in the heck is that Chickadeee? Did she fly south for winter?

We only get about 3 kids for trick or treat so we went to the casino instead of passing out treats. I did well there!!

B Sauteed kale, eggs, bacon, coffee w/HWCream
L Tuna with EVOO, FF Ricotta
D Steak, green beans, salad, FF Dressing

Evening hike

PrairieQueen please share your recipe, thanks :D :drool: PrairieQueen you're just good all the way around. I wish I had your will/mindset that would surely help get me to goal quicker :)

mars, yes he's the one :) He told me he was going to BK and I said, "wait ... I'll go with!" guess who paid? ;) mars, lol I hope that works for you ... "now I said, so I gotta do it!" Ha I tell myself something similar every morning and what do I do ... just the opposite :D Sorry about having to toss your shake. How much did the one at the airport cost? the same amount that four to six would cost??

SeeMyFeet, you crack me up :lol: re: comment to mars :) I think it was http://www.wards.com/spiral-fruit-ve...qHkhoCZ0Dw_wcB one. I know in the commercial it was red and had a crank :D I sure do like the idea of making my own zucchini noodles finally. Someone on here told me how to make the cauliflower rice without grating it but I forgot who and which thread it was on :( SeeMyFeet, this potato bag reminds me of my daughters makeup bag. It's cloth you can throw it in the laundry. My middle son said he thought it was a pencil pouch until he saw the directions on the back :) Ha I wish there were no white "toes" in our house but someone is always making fries, tater tots or hashbrowns. The oldest boy makes home fried potatoes almost as good as the ones my Mom makes :drool: ok enough of that, now I want some. :nono: SeeMyFeet ????? re: spouse, I'm guessing you want him gone or you want some me time ... either way I understand. Hope things get better. Well with Carol's comment I guess once again I missed something regarding your spouse. :hug: LOL on the essay. Our kids went to church for the Harvest Fest ... they said they ate most of their candy while they were there ... stingy I'll tell ya :D

Carol, Metformin used to make me unbelievably nauseous when I first started taking it. I don't know if you remember me talking about it. I am on two 1000mg a day. Well I hope you are feeling better now that you aren't taking it late in the evening :hug:

Hucklebeary, :wel3fc: and to the thread :) Your menu looks good :)

I had a small .5 loss, not bad considering we had sweet potatoes, peas and bbq chicken thighs for dinner. I love love love green peas :)