I'M HOME!!!!

I ate junk. And it was all bad carbs and bad fat and bad salt and now bad tummy...sigh...Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll start in tomorrow. It's only four hours away.

Lynn, I lost 1/2 pound this weigh in. Thought I'd post today so I don't forget.

The "good" me will be back tomorrow.

Morning!
I see everyone is busy, not many post this morning. Ditto, me too. Isabella, you really crashed when you got home! But tomorrow is here, get back on track girlfriend.
I love expermenting in the kitchen, I made some mock coconut pudding that turned out yummy. I tested it on DH, he didn't know it was made with zucchini. I asked him what the pudding tasted like, he said coconut. He liked it! I froze shredded zucchini in 16 oz. zip bags last summer. Everytime I'd grab a bag for something it reminded me of coconut. So I put this together for you to try if you loved coconut and have some frozen zucchini in your freezer.
Thaw zucchini and put in saucepan with the juice that forms when thawed. Cook until not quite tender, then drain if any water is left. Add two cups skim milk to pan with one Vanilla Sugar Free pudding and 2 teaspoons of coconut extract. I forgot to add additional sugar to sweeten the zucchini but it didn't need it. Be sure to use the 'cook & serve' pudding, not the running instant. Bring all ingredients to a rolling boil or like the vanilla package indicates. I put into 6 individual serving cups with lids, 51 calores per serving. Top with SF Cool whip, yummy!
I have a list of 25 people to address Christmas cards to, not mine but my dad's. He's 95 years old and it's too much work for him so I better get with it.
Enjoy your day everyone!

Weight loss for Lynn = 0 lbs.

Sorry everyone, I am NOT helping us to meet our goal this month.

In November, I went to a wedding of the daughter of a VERY dear friend. Because of my interest in genealogy, I made the bride and groom a Family History chart VERY BIG and took it to the wedding. The chart was put up on an easel and folks added missing information at the reception and emailed me after the wedding with other info. I brought it home and added all the new information. Today, I met with my friend to deliver the finished product. Turned out REALLY nice.

Lynn

I've been busy baking today. Trying to get a few goodies made for Christmas. I'm not spending much more time on baking as I can always whip up a batch of cookies on short notice if need be. I find that if I bake and stock my freezer with all kinds of cookies no one eats them like I thought they would and I have an over abundance of sweet temptations on hand until February or March. So this year it's going to be bare bones compared to other years. I've made cherry blossoms and peanut butter cups and a chocolate nut fudge ring. I'll make a few shortbread and a no bake square and that's it for the cookies unless I need more. I'll make 2 more cakes tomorrow and probably that's it for the cakes also. People don't eat sweets like years ago. I guess some of the SILs and BILs are all older and have medical issues with sugar. I'm going to make pickled eggs for sure in a few days. That should be a better snack than a plate of cookies.

Jess, I was afraid to step on the scales this morning. I'm going to leave it for the weekend and hope everything evens out by then. There was so much salt in the cheezies that I could very well be retaining a gallon of water today. I've had a good eating day today.

Bobbi, that pudding sounds intriguing. A friend of mine candies zucchini and colors it like mixed candied fruit that you use in fruit cake. She makes all her fruit cake with the fake fruit. But I like your idea. I like coconut but it sure does pack a wallop on the calories.

Lynn, you're doing lots of experimenting this month and last. You'll find what's right for you and then you'll start to see the weight come off again.

Not fit to walk outside today. It's the snow/ice on the sidewalks that keeps me indoors. I'll walk in just about any temperature as long as it isn't -20 Celsius or colder. I'm always warm enough as I can work up quite a sweat but that ice keeps me inside. The sneakers I bought when I was at DS's place are pretty good in the snow. I'm impressed with the "snow grips" on the soles. They're really good when I'm walking from the car to the store in the parking lots. As long as I stay upright I can take winter.

So I guess I'm on the bike tonight while I watch TV. DH goes to bed early and then I'll ride to no where. Hahaha.

A big wave to the rest of you gals. Everyone is busy this time of year. So when you get to read this know that I was thinking of you all.

Good grief. Is it four days since I've posted? Well, Micah is fine. Alternating Tylenol & Motrin got him back to a normal temp pretty quickly, Marcus spiked a fever next, but his responded well to the Tylenol & Motrin routine, as well, so they're both happy and healthy (knock on wood) as of this writing. And, Oh yes, Bobbi, I remember those scares well with my own babies. Back then, a high fever was something to get excited about, too. Now the doctors are saying that a high fever isn't really that worriesome unless there are respiratory symptoms as well. Luckily none of that for the boys. But, I did take Friday off from work and ended up babysitting as their nanny had to go to a funeral. Babysat again Saturday night so that my DD & SIL could go out to dinner. So, between babysitting, Christmas shopping and grocery shopping, and a visit with my eldest daughter Sunday afternoon, our weekend just flew by.
I wasn't exactly OP, but I wasn't exactly off, either, as far as eating is concerned. Had a few things that I wouldn't ordinarily eat during the week, but I think most of you know that I'm using the Wendie plan, which allows me one relatively high calorie day, so I plan that for Sundays. I still haven't weighed myself, and am still planning to do that the day before Christmas. My clothes are starting to get awfully drapey, tho, so that's a good sign, methinks. Wish I had the motivation to join you in stepping and jumping and what-have-you, Lynn. You're quite the little dynamo, my dear. In fact, reading about Isabella's walking (Isabella - I'm betting that a little junk food isn't going to hurt you much. Not with the way your normally eat, and all the walking you do, not to mention chasing around after that grandbaby of yours!) and Bobbi's steady moving and Freda's actual and (to me) astonishing enjoyment of exercise has me feeling guilty and I'm quite sure that it won't be long before I've started some sort of exercise routine up again myself, although I doubt that I'll love it the way some of you do.
Institches, I'm SO glad that your overtime got cancelled! I think I've been feeling so tired myself that just thinking about you having to put in overtime made me feel even more exhausted! Sounds like fun with your nephew!
Oh my, Karen. That's quite a recipe! I hope Tim enjoyed his birthday! And I'm glad you're feeling better, too!
Hi Kim - and JoAnn. Sounds like that diet is really working for you! Awesome. We all seem to do our best with slightly different methods, but hopefully, the end result is the same, right?
Donna, you always sound so cheerful....it's really nice reading your posts. Denver is still way too chilly for this chick, though. Why don't we all pack up and move to California?
Take care, all -

Z

Hi everyone..i finally got my computer back running..it seems my laptop wasnt reading the wireless router but its all ok now.winter is in full swing here all frosty and snowy outside..ive kept busy making a charm bracelet for my gf,,she finally has her ist grchild so i took the babys picture and made it the size of a dime and then used whats called diamond glaze fixed the photos to heart charms.. painted some of them and used crystal hearts and beads it turned out really nice..i decided to not bake this yr as i cannot leave it alone am glad your grbb's are better ella..i admire those who are sticking to their plan of choice and even baking..im so happy to be back amongst everyone ttfn rosey

I fully agree with ya! If just ONE diet worked for everyone - then we would not have so many diet books and plans! I just wish I would have FOUND this one a LONG time ago! But I'm really glad to have it now!

See ya Lighter!
Kim

Greeting from Minnesota, brrrrrrrrrrrrr it's below zero this morning. We have errands to run in town so my whole morning will be shot.
Kim...I think we've all been on every diet in print, I could lose on most of them but always gained it back. I never learn! I always come back to the one diet that works the best, calorie counting. I have most everything programed into Fitday so It's really easy for me to do. Sometimes it's a pain in the butt to weigh food, especially meat but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Quote:
I fully agree with ya! If just ONE diet worked for everyone - then we would not have so many diet books and plans!

Isabella...I've never pickled eggs before, DH would probably love them. Want to share the recipe?


Nice to hear from you Rosey, what's happening with your upcoming by-pass? I didn't know you were a craft person, your charms sound very nice and personalized gifts are so treasured.
Lynn... Sorry about that, you sure try hard enough. Is the new juicer working better for you? I hope it doesn't zap all the fiber out of your fruits and vegetables. Did you sell your first one yet?
Zoe...I hate exercising too, I mean really hate it. I don't know how Freda and others enjoy it. The stepper I use works for me and I don't mind it a bit because I have a mystery novel set up in front of me that takes my mind off it. If both my feet didn't have heel spurs and plantar fasciitis I would run. I did enjoy that and love being outdoors, even in the winter time. But years of working retail have ruined my feet for good. I was a manager of a collectible and gift shop and if I had all the money back I've spent on collectibles, I'd be rich! I'm gradually selling all that 'stuff' on ebay right now.
Congrats on the drapey clothes Zoe!
Hi Jess and Karen, what are you two up to today?
I'm going to go powder my nose and get beautified now, you all have a good day.

Bobbi, this is the recipe I'll be using for the eggs. I have my own pickled beets so that's what I'll use but at DS's house I used a no name brand of picked beets that worked nicely. I added a little cinnamon, allspice and a pinch of cloves to the beet juice. But you can just leave it unspiced as well. There are dozens and dozens of recipes for these but this is the most simple one I've found. There are also recipes for eggs without the beets as well, but I don't like them because they are too sour for my taste buds. I'll post this in the recipe section as well.

Pickled Eggs with Beet
12 medium sized hard boiled eggs
16 oz. can pickled beets, sliced or quartered (or pickle your own)
Sliced onions (optional)

Place peeled, cooled eggs in a 1 quart container. Pour beets and all the juice over eggs. Add onion slices, if desired. Chill. Turn the eggs from time to time to thoroughly pickle eggs and maintain nice uniform color throughout. These will be ready to eat in about 2 or 3 days.

Hi Bobbi,

I dropped the cap & it broke. They are sending me a new one. I gave my old one to my DD. The one with the broken top maintains EVERYTHING! All pulp and fiber. Of course, the "juices" are kind of chewy!

Lynn

Hi Isabella,

Just eating too much. No excuses. I do well when everything is the same. Holdiays/vacations/celebrations... throw me off.

Lynn

Hi Zoe,

So glad to hear everyone is on the mend. I am a convert to exercise. Basically, started for health reasons - for the arthritis in my back, cholesterol, diabetes... Now it is such a habit, I HATE it when I can't get to the gym. Just wake up, get dressed, feed the cats, stop at WaWa for my coffee and protein bar, and get to the gym. Watch the morning news while I do my aerobics. For a while, I was up to 3 hours. However, I decided to drop back down to 90 minutes. Probably at least part of the reason I'm gaining again.

I'll deal with everything after the holidays. Just don't want to gain too much before then.

Lynn