Good afternoon,

ledom, your D is still very young, and someday she may want to start studying again, but right now she is doing something that she's good at and that she loves to do. That's all that really matters anyway. It's good that you've decided not to let it all twist you up inside. I envy you thinking about kayaking already. I could put runners on my canoe, hoist a sail, and let the wind whip me across the ice.

waypast40, welcome. I'm glad that you found us again and hope you post here often.

judi, our weather had been nice for a couple of weeks in the 40's to almost 50. Quite a bit of snow had melted, but then we got some snow the other day in that east coast storm. We only got about 3", as the storm stayed well south of us. Another storm is supposed to hit tomorrow and that is supposed to stay even farther south, so we may not see anything more than flurries. Then we're supposed to get cold again. How nice that you're thinking about your yard and spring cleanup. We've got about another month or so before we can even consider it.

LaDean, hope everything is going well for you and that you're feeling better.

Have a wonderful evening.

Ah Alice, I know you must be sick of winter. Well, when I am sweltering down here in a couple more months, you'll be a lot more comfortable I bet.

My poor mother has a bad cold, she is 80 and just not doing as well as I wish. I have been going over there every few hours last night and today. Luckily we are only 2 miles apart. I can tell that this is going to be a big part of my life for the next few years. I have got to get my own self more organized in order to take this on in the way I want to.

Yes, you're right about DD. She almost seems more motivated now that she told me and I didn't yell at her. Like now that she doesn't have to worry about that; it is her problem that she can own. I hope I am not reading too much into the signs I think I am picking up on. It'll all work out. She is coming home for spring break this evening and I am looking forward to us having a good time together.

The least little thing can really throw me, my mom has me stressed a bit and of course the first thing I want to turn to is food. But, I'm not going to. I know it is really important for me to get the right food in my house, prepared and easy to grab cause it will help out with this so much if I do.

Ya'll have a great Friday.

Hey a good weekend wish to all of you. I was up 2 lbs at tops this morning. the no exercise for all these weeks has not helped me. i miss it and love my exercise. to me it goes in with my plan a big part of it. so i hope this next week i can get out and do it. my cold is some better its allergies alot to i think. comes and goes so that makes me believe its more the allergies. I am ready for a end to it.. Hey Ledom enjoy your time with dd. we have to just except things as they are. this is what i have found out with my daughter anyhows. and son and family. things are the way they are. lol

Aleka, Hey are you all snowed under again??? i hope not. Hope lacee is ok. tuffy is ok. i think hes losing as he looks good. we got him on his food and less. if i have to he has to. lol Hope your plan is going good and all. Mine is but was up. oh well new day and new week. this is how i look at it. ha

Judi and cheryl and way just have a good weekend and stick to your plans as best you can. we will do it together as friends all of us. just come to the board often and share. i love this part of it.. LaDean

Happy Sunday morning ladies. Dinner party last night was fun, enjoyed being with good friends. BUT, now that my house is semi-clean and all the preparations are behind me it feels like official spring break. Yippeeee! I have some diet muffins in the oven, some brown rice simmering, and plan on logging calories the rest of the week in fitday. I also am looking forward to some long and unrushed workouts. Ready to get down to business here.

We had a high of 80 yesterday and a high of 50 expected today. Gotta love this Arkansas weather. I had the windows open yesterday and just left them open so that it is brisk in the house but it is getting a nice airing out. Good after a winter of closed windows and excessive cats! Brody has been making a new friend. Actually he is the only kitty that never gets to go outside. There is a stray that is hanging around our yard and the stray sits on the outside of the window screen and Brody on the inside. They just sit and stare at each other, don't growl or anything. It is sweet.

DD is home and sleeping all day and staying up all night. So what do you do? I personally am keeping my mouth shut and going about my business. Actually, I think she is working on homework and memorizing lines for the play. So far so good, when we do sit down and visit it is nice. Sigh!

So, off to get my sneaks and workout clothes on. Ya'll have a nice Sun. afternoon.

Ledom, glad all is going good your way this sunday morning. is here i am dressed and ready to leave for sunday school and church. i feel lots better. nice sunny day here to. i am hoping this week i will be out walking in it. I am glad you and dd are doing good. glad your ready to start your program. i am to full swing with it. I am just setting me calories and go from there. this no more of not this or that and so forth. I figured got to burn what i put in. so going for it. i can live with that for life.

To all a good sunday.. hope plans are going good and all. they are here.LaDean

Hi LaDean, I am glad you are feeling better. I hear you on the subject of finding the thing you can do for life. It has to be that or it is pointless IMO. My problem lately has been either I can get the exercise in for a week, or I can watch my diet for a week, I have been having trouble making the 2 coincide. I am VERY slowly lowering my weight but know that I could do better. I am planning to spend some time w/ my journal and my private quiet thoughts on this subject this week. I want to find that place that I can lose 4 or 5 lbs. a month, be satisfied with my food and exercise level. What it boils down to for me is consistency. I have all these tools and good habits, but I don't do them every day. That is what it is going to take for me to see the difference I want to see. I am working to get to that place.

Thanks ledom, i hope to get with ex tomorrow. i sure miss it. love my exercise. I am finally going to get this act together this week. i am the same way. do good couple days and then bingo its off and back on. so now i think just doing it this way will help me alot. did before. just get onto something that helps some friend or something. so i think this i can do. good luck to you also this week. just start out slow with the ex. i use variety then do not get tired of it. hey i turn on music alot and just do my thing. its fun and a good work out. then i walk, exercise bike and keep it different. that might help you. Hey the rest of you gals hope the weekend was good. i am getting WITH IT THIS WEEK. SO JOIN ME ALL. LaDean

Hi Way a not so good way to lose. but hey if i lose i do not care.ha I have been struggling now for weeks. but still hanging in there . decided its just what i want to eat and count my calories now. that is life time. i am going to get back to exercise cold or allergies are better today. so have a good day.. good for your loss.

Aleka, cheryl, judi and Ledom.......YOU TO HAVE A GREAT DAY.... LaDean

Oh my goodness! We have a thumbs down on our thread! What could that mean?

Sorry about the thumbs down! We just upgraded the forum this weekend, and the images were shifted around a little.

Good morning,

Thank you Suzanne for explaining what happened.

Waypast40, congratulations on your weight loss! What you are doing seems to be working for you. Keep up the good work. Are you converting the calories to points on your own, or do you have a points finder? Sorry about all the colds. They aren't any fun. My sinuses usually start acting up the end of Feb./beginning of March and I can assure you they didn't let me down this year.

LaDean, glad that you're feeling better. Are you taking anything for your allergies? Also glad that Tuffy is doing well. Lacee is fine being her -ish self.

ledom, OMG, I can't believe you had 80 deg. weather! I can only imagaine how that felt. We're leaving for FL in 2 weeks, we are counting down, and hopefully I'll experience some of that weather. Glad that you dinner party went well and that you had a wonderful time. What are your diet muffins? They sound interesting. I'm finding myself slacking off in the dieting and exercising dept. myself. I feel like I'm in diet burnout where I just can't seem to stick to anything for very long. As both you and LaDean mentioned, it has to be something you stick to for a lifetime. My last WW meeting, I was sitting and wondering what I was doing there. Sorry for the rant.

judi, where have you been? Did you go to CA with your DH?

Take care and have a good day.

Good morning Alice. Well, I am glad Florida is in your future. I know if I was having the weather you NE girls are having I'd be really sick of it. As I look out the window here, everything is tinged w/ green.

Chocolate Muffins
Ingredients

12 egg whites
1 1/4 c. uncooked quick cooking oats
9 T Low sugar red raspberry jam
Dash of vanilla extract
1 1/2 T cocoa powder 4 T Nestle no sugar added chocolate milk mix powder
Splenda to taste

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Blend ingredients in a blender and pour into muffin tins that have been sprayed with Pam.
Bake for 20 minutes.

Actually I make these in 4 mini loaf pans and cook for 30 minutes. The recipe makes 4 servings. I split them in two, toast and spread w/ lowfat cream cheese sometimes. Here is another of my favorite recipes.

Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey breast (make sure this turkey BREAST and low fat)
1 c chopped onions
4 egg whites
1 c chunky salsa (I like the Rotel Spicy Italian tomatoes)
1/2 c uncooked oatmeal
1 package knorr's Vegetable Soup mix
1/4 tsp.pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. ketchup

Procedure

Mix all ingredients except ketchup until well blended. Place in a meatloaf pan. Cover with ketchup. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 5, 4 oz servings

Serving Information

* Serves: 5

I will make a paddling anaolgy for how I feel about dieting. It is when you are trying to paddle against the current and you barely make any progress, sometimes you even appear to be going backwards, but you are trying as hard as you can w/ slight incremental steps forward, sometimes.

ledom, thank you for the recipes and analogy about dieting. That is exactly how I feel. The muffins and turkey meatloaf sound YUMMY!! The muffins will be just the ticket to take on our trip for snacks and/or dessert. I have found Polaner all fruit jams made w/Splenda at Super Walmart. The jars are larger than what you get in the grocery store. They only have 2 flavors, that I could find, raspberry and blackberry. I don't know if they make anymore flavors made w/Splenda. Maybe if it goes over well they'll make more.
Thanks again for the recipes.

WP40, as you are counting calories do you also pay attention to ratios of protein to carb to fat? I am doing a little experimenting with that. I tried a low carb day this week and ended up falling off the wagon big time right before bed time. I won't be trying that again. I have been quizzing an e-mail buddy who has remained faithful to BFL for a year now w/ spectacular results. It makes me want to kick myself for not having more faith in the wisdom of this WOE. I am back on it as of today.

Spring break has been glorious so far. I have a camping trip planned for Fri. night along with paddeling. Yesterday I hung out with a work friend. We had so much drinking coffee at the bookstore, going to the green house, having lunch. What a luxury just to visit and gossip the biggest part of the day. Very relaxing. D and I are having fun together too.

I do not have a exact amout of carbs ..but I try to keep them down to 3 portions a day.
I like the Diabetic's food counts ...6 to 8 oz of meat or protein,3 starches ,4 veg, 3 fruit,4 fats, 2 dairy.
Although I dont always follow it exactly ...it is in my head .