A new thread was started yesterday that introduced an article about the notion that there is no such thing as cheating. Check it out.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111627

Since I consider myself a calorie counter, there really isn't anything that is totally off limits as long as I can fit it into my overall calorie budget (whether that be a daily budget or for those that zig-zag, the weekly calorie budget). I think the overall idea is that you can indulge from time to time as long as it is not an out and out binge and as long as the infrequent indulgences are looked at as just that--infrequent. It's the "everything in moderation" idea.

I think I'm finally back on track after having an off week. It's TOM so I'm blaming that!!!

Susan, if someone told me this - even now - I'd just throw up my hands and give up! The ONLY way I can do this is to pick one thing and start changing that. For instance, every time I tried to follow a plan (WW, SB, etc) and jump into a full exercise program, I made it for a couple weeks, then something fell by the wayside, and eventually I quit. The thing that works for me is to work up to the "ideal" lifestyle. Small changes, baby steps. I can cut back on my portion size, and add a little more exercise. Once that's a habit, then I can look at what makes up my meals and cut out some more calories, and maybe add a little more exercise. In the same few weeks to months that it took me to go all out and then quit, I can be in a routine that I can live with and didn't cause me to go to extremes to get to. It's where I am now, and with occasional (okay, sometimes more than occasional ) tweaks, I can continue indefinitely.

I like the "no such thing as a cheat" thread, because I agree. Nothing is off limits. There are things that I only buy single servings of, or that I will only eat out since I know I'll overeat if they're in the house, but if I want it enough, I'll have it. Not every day, not unlimited servings, but enough to say "ah, that's just what I wanted." I'm better off having a reasonable serving of what I really want instead of eating a lot of something else which in the end doesn't satisfy the urge.

And reading this thread this morning, I was reminded to get my water. Usually I fill my bottle at the same time I get , but this morning one of the gals came to my office with a fresh pot and filled my cup. Now my nice bright red bottle is sitting here reminding me to drink it!

Have a great day.

Tara ~ you've mentioned often that you have no social life. Is this because you're new to the area that you live? What are the hobbies and activities that you like? Can you find ways to do them with others? Are there clubs, groups, gyms, or churches that you can join?

I myself lead what I call a very quiet life to maintain my mental health. I have to avoid stress and seeking out things to do can be stressful. Recently, I've taken up swing dancing and found a wonderfully friendly community of dancers to dance with. It was very stressful to drive the 30 minutes to the dance studio that first night - road construction, unfimiliarity with the route, general anxiety about driving at night. Then it wasn't easy that first night to follow the lesson, but I kept going back and now I love it.

We've made some friends in the neighborhood, but since we don't have children, we're not as connected to the community as I would like to be. In the summer, we go each weekend to the beach where we have dozens of friends and activities.

During the week, I'm more isolated since Peter's usually 2 hours north at our apartment. So I keep in touch with my artist friends via telephone calls and emails. I'm also involved in a number of art groups and organize exhibitions.

What I'm trying to say, is I understand being alone for big blocks of time - my art studio is in my house and aside from exercising and going to the food market and dancing on Wednesday nights, I don't get out at all during the week. But I try to connect with people every day. (My wonderful cat can only provide so much companionship, I need some people interaction as well.)

The chapter I'm outlining today is really good for you and me.

"Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People who have Lost Weight and Kept It Off" by Anne M. Fletcher, MS, RD

Key to Success #9: Get More Out of Life

"How's the balance in your life? Are your days filled with 'shoulds' as opposed to desires? How much time do you spend doing things you feel you have to do versus things you want to do? Do you put everyone else's needs first, always leaving your own concerns for last? Do you ever reward yourself with anything other than food? Does your weight keep you from activities you'd really like to take part in? Are you satisfied with the way you spend your time? Are your relationships what you want them to be?"

Develop a More Filfilled life
-Make a list of 20 things you enjoy doing and post it in a prominent place.
-Make a list of activities that you've always wanted to do and rate them from 1 to 5 with 1 being possible and 5 being impossible. Make a step-by-step plan to do the 1's, then the 2's, etc.
-Learn to Reward Yourself without Food

Well, it was either a false alarm or another major badness--there is some ambiguity about it, and I'm not sure if that ambiguity is good or bad . So I'm moving on, trying again next month, and using the next two weeks as an opportunity to get my eating cleaned up and my workouts more consistent.

Anne

Oh Anne, HUGS from me! And give your little one another one as well.

Rabbit

Here's a wee for Anne.

Thanks for your thoughts on that article gals. I'm not sure what makes the expert an expert. Does anyone have a couple issues of O magazine? I think it was Feb. The patient I snitched it from took hers home.
I agree wholeheartedly with Megan et al ... if 3 years ago, someone had told me I'd be counting cals still, lifting weights, walk/jogging several times a week ... I'da curled up in a ball and cried.
And the lightbulb business certainly applies to the fruit and vegetable thing. I always ate them but ... as the hugely predominant part of my diet ... nope.

Anne, Hugs, here's hoping that you get your wish next month.

It has rained here so much lately that my garden is constantly needing weeded. I worked 3 hrs. in it yesterday. My plants are looking great. I'll soon be able to pull up the potatoes. Yippee, then I'll have room to plant my watermelon (which I love).

DH is working a 16 hr. shift today and DS is gone to Drill. So, today me and DD will be mowing the whole yard. What a fun time, LOL.

I'm down to my last lone apple, so grocery shopping definitely today also. If I'm out of fruit, I'm out of food. LOL, it used to be that if I was out of Mt. Dew that I was out of food.

Anne.

I spent my morning making egg salad tea sandwiches which I will be taking to a New Member Tea for my charity group. I believe we have 12 new members this year. Soon I'll be taking DS to Karate for his leadership class (he's learning how to be a class assistant--part of his training to one day be a black belt). Then I'll go to the Tea and afterwards come home and make chicken enchiladas for Cinco de Mayo. I'll probably have a margarita, too!

DH and I went out for our customary lunch yesterday and I overate (after having had a huge breakfast!). When dinner came, I was not hungry at all, but fixed a very light chicken dish. The chicken was broiled and once done, was topped with a mixture of sauteed vegetables (zucchini, tomato, onion, mushrooms and fresh basil with balsamic vinegar). It was just what I needed (but then the ice cream an hour later I didn't need! LOL). Anyway, all that eating and my scale still dipped half a pound! Since my eating will be light today as well, I'm hoping to be back to ticker weight by the end of next week. Then, I've recommitted (again) to losing the last few pounds. I have a plan this time. It should work.

Meanwhile, work is becoming stressful. DH and I are in the process of buying out our business partners as they wish to retire. Wow, all the work involved! We have to create a new business, get new a tax ID and new bank accounts and credit cards, re-register all the vehicles to show the new ownership, get new insurance.......it's all so overwhelming. I'm hoping the attorney will be able to handle some of it for us as I still have to keep up with the day-to-day business.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!!

Allison, that sounds like you are really busy.

I have a quick food question. Does anyone know if when making my wheat pancakes, can I use 2 egg yolks instead of a whole egg?

Lily, I think what's important in a recipe is the volume of liquid and I'm guessing that two yolks are probably about the same volume as one whole egg (about 1/4 cup?) So liquid-wise, I think you're OK. But I don't know if substituting 2 yolks for one egg would change the texture or consistency. When you bake cookies, leaving out the whites gives you a shortbread cookie - kind of tender and crumbly. I don't know if something like that would happen with pancakes.

Thanks I'll give it a try. I eat wheat pancakes almost every morning for my breakfast. I love them.

I am having such weird food cravings lately. All I seem to want for lunch or dinner is a turkey or grilled chicken sandwich on wheat and a gala apple. The other day I was cravings peaches so bad that I made a special trip to the store to get some. I'm at least thankful that I'm not craving junk food.

My bad - I ate popcorn for dinner last night. All I can say is it was Herz Light with no buttery product on it and only 150 calories per serving, but I ate half the bag so that was at least 2.5 servings if not 3. Plus, zero nutrition. Truly empty calories. And I ate two big handfuls of Sun Chips at lunch from the bag I bought for my DH only.

I knew these were trigger foods and I bought them anyway. Bad, bad, bad.

My exercise today and yesterday was mowing the lawn. My forearms are really sore from muscling the mower over our sand and moss cover yard.

Tonight we're going out to eat at a Mexican restaurant for a surprise bday party for our next door neighbor. I'm thinking fajitus will be lower cal than all those cheese laiden entrees. After yesterday's binge, I've got to steer clear of the chips and salsa.

"Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People who have Lost Weight and Kept It Off" by Anne M. Fletcher, MS, RD

Key to Success #10: Don't Go It Alone

"Many masters turn to others for support, some on a regular basis, others as needed."

"Weight-control experts have determined that support form family and friends is associated with long-term success at wieght control. Conversely, lack of encouragement and interpersonal conflict can lead to relapse."

What Can a Support System Do for You?
-Advice and new ideas.
-Empathy, encouragement, and commendation
-Education
-Assurance that you are not alone
-Help with getting you problems in perspective
-Heightened accountability to yourself
-Constructive criticism for others
-Reminders of where you've come from and what you need to do to stay there

Types of support
-Individual counseling - registered dietitian, physician, psychologist, trained employee of a weight loss organization.
-Group support - TOPS, Weight Watchers, 3FC
-Friends & Family

I think that "expert" needs a vacation. I mean doesn't "everyone know" that breastfeeding is important? That domestic violence is a problem? That smoking is unhealthy? Yet, I spend a lot of time every week addressing those same issues. Why? Because some people truly DON'T know! Maybe they are young and they never really thought about breastfeeding. Maybe there is general ignorance re: violence and how common it is. Maybe, even though they have heard in the past that smoking is unhealthy, today is the day they are ready to LISTEN and HEAR and CHANGE. Every individual comes with different levels of knowledge, motivation and readiness, and to assume that a person does not need certain information is to lose a chance to make a difference.

tsk tsk tsk

And as for small changes, has she never heard that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step?

sheesh

(((Anne)))
Well, for a busy, busy weekend this weekend hasn't been bad food wise. I took our own snacks to soccer games. I ate lots of apple slices and a cheese stick instead of the pizza and nachos for sale. I even turned down a brownie at Brownie Scouts. Of course, the refried beans in the kitchen are calling my name. Maybe I'll have a salad with salsa instead.