Jacqui- Thanks for the welcome!

Chickadee- I think I could learn a lot from you! My husband has lost 120 lbs doing the DASH diet (it's just a diet for hypertension like the diabetes diet is for diabetics). So anything with beans are good here!

Our other favorite thing is sticking zucchini shreds in everything LOL!

I saw where you were posting about your cabbage rolls. I love them but for a "less work" version my sister and I have done ground meat, cabbage, and a tomato base for a cabbage roll stew. I don't like rice much so I just leave that out. Hubby isn't a big fan of soup due to his mom doing a weird leftover soup every week I love it though, and I may have to get some in the freezer for myself on busy days.

Hi All, Running late, so this will be just a little gabby as opposed to normal gabby
Welcome Dairy Fairy!
WTG Carol Sue! You too Jacqui---wow!
chickadeee Oh well re cabbage, at least it was eaten I've been slicing into 1" 'steaks', top to bottom, spritzing w evoo & garlic powder, baking 15 min on each side at 425. (time may vary)
Rennie! Hope your back is doing well.
Obie
Bewildered Please ramble away! I love reading your posts It's so helpful to have a thread like this, sometimes to read & sometimes to write. Thanks for reminding me that I have been a successful dieter! Re coffee, someday I will cut back but it's low on my list of priorities. I was on the Columbia River last summer and love love love Oregon! Your locale sounds lovely. How about posting planned meals AND actual eaten meals, if that helps?

We had unusually hot, humid weather, now back to normal. Whew, I feel much better. Wt. still up from Carb Day to 168.8. I realize that I need to distinguish between Carb Day & Binge Day. I have no social meals this coming wknd and may just have a small treat. Since I am having more carbs in my daily plan, I don't see any physical need to stoke the carb furnace.

Did some one ask about cocnut oil--was it chickadeee? If so, I eat mine with a spoon out of the jar. I also use it in chili and stews on the veggies before all the other things are added. It's nice with lentil, too.

Yesterday:
Omelet w veggies/avo & sauerkraut, whey shake & coffee
L big salad w chicken,kidney beans, avo, quinoa, evoo
D chili - -beans, grd turkey, beans, carrots, lentil, quinoa, tomato, mole powder
S whey shake/coffee, quinoa, chicken, avo---snacky evening
2L cold herbal tea/stevia ex: 10 min mini-stepper

Bewildered, how do you drink your lemon water? Do you drink it all day? I typically have a 32oz cup in the mornings. My mornings are super early so I should probably add another during the day, huh!

Jacqui, good job on the 1/2 lb and on the walk Have fun with your grandson Yay Jacqui for losing after carb day And still losing That wasn't my highest weight for the week see below, smh.

Mars, this is the best plan for me or ALL low carb plans for that matter and I still can't get it together. My main issue is time. The other is planning. I'm tired all of the time so I pretty much do everything I can on my way from work, then I come home and sleep. My eating hasn't been the greatest, smh. Mars thanks for asking my back is better, but I'm taking a back pain med in the a.m. before work also. But only once a day. It typically last through my shift.

Chicky, your fried cabbage sounds really good. I hope and pray that all is well (will be well) with your husband and that he notices the affect he has on you with this matter. Wow, this is so on point from Bewildered --> I know it is hard to do, but when something happens that causes me to start stressing, I just have to keep telling myself that it is out of my control and worrying isn’t going to make it better. I know how tough that is to do, but it sometimes helps me. You need to stay healthy for DH! LOL Chicky this is me except I don't like brownies so I'll use birthday cake --> I am sticking to my thoughts that a Carb Day is not for me, I allow myself something special once in a while, because I know that is reality for me. I am not going to say I am never eating another p of bday cake, but I can control it (and not eat half of the cake). Chicky I have found that dairy in the early morning often times doesn't set well with me. It gases me up like you wouldn't believe

Obie, great NSV You'll be fine this week

Mary, to the thread thanks for the recipe idea. I like the mock potato salad with the cauliflower. Yum. to your husband on his weight loss. Is he still losing or is he maintaining?

You all are getting your exercise in Keep up the great work. I walk and lift a ton at work so if nothing else my arms look great My legs are pretty good shape also. It's just my middle that I need to work on. I would still love to make it to the gym. The treadmill has always been my friend.

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 ???.?, Low ???.?,

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 ~
7/23 ~

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 slices of turkey
32ozs lemon water

Lunch:
2 eggs,
1 sl American cheese & shredded cheddar
1 tbsp OM bacon pieces
2 slices of oopsie bread w/ jam

Snack:
deviled ham
18 rice thins

Dinner:


I need to lose 3lbs in two days in order for this week not to be a total flop. NO POST TOM WHOOSH for me Jacqui

Rennie...he is trying to maintain. I was out of town and he gained a few pounds because he was being fed as a volunteer ump at little league. He lost them right back and was glad when I came home. I worry about him because most times he absolutely will not eat unless I cook it except for a few restaurant meals he knows he had during his weight loss. He is really scared to be fat again, but he will partake in ice cream about once a week, so that makes me feel less antsy. I mainly get scared when he runs 8 miles or more because he won't grab something carby on the way out the door for energy. He's to the point people ask him if he is sick with something bad. It's kind of crazy how you can be fat or thin but you will never please other people!

I am so off plan it's ridiculous. My weight is sky high and I don't even want to talk about it. I know what I'm doing wrong. I'll fix it.

It sounds like everyone else is doing great. That should encourage me.

Hi Dairy Fairy! Running has a tendency to make you lose a lot of upper body fat and it makes you look gaunt. But he's OK. People need to leave him alone about it. He's doing great and I'm glad he so determined not to regain.

Mars, I had to make that distinction between Carb Day and Binge Day also. I just have to think of Carb Day as a day when I can have a couple of things I normally don't get to have, rather than a day to eat, eat, eat, eat, eat! Since I love sweets, I really want to eat my regular slow-carb meals and just have a sweet or two to go with them. That's what I did this past Carb Day. If I'm going to have something like pasta for dinner, I'm probably not going to give up my sweets, so I might gain a little more water weight, but I do try to watch my portion size, and definitely no seconds! The only time I really veer from that is holidays. Then I tend to eat till I'm absolutely stuffed! That's not the plan for holidays, but that's usually how it ends up and I want to work on that too! The thing about binging on Carb Days is this: The last time I did the Slow Carb Diet, I found I was eating more and more on Carb Days, and by 6 months in, my cravings had gotten stronger and stronger. On slow-carb days, although I was patting myself on the back for not "cheating" on quick carbs like bread and sweets, I was actually eating more, going for seconds, adding a little more ranch dressing, snacking on LOTS of nuts, etc., because my hunger was triggered. I started going up and down over the same numbers. Then of course, once I got busy with other things in my life and away from 3FC, the cravings took over as I convinced myself, "Oh just this one (quick-carb) won't hurt. Just this other (quick-carb) won't hurt." I still believe that Christmas Day was the beginning of the end for my progress last time. I just couldn't seem to bounce back from the cravings after that. I didn't gain a lot of weight the day after Christmas Carb Day, but I never had as strong of control after that. That's why this time I really am trying to limit the amount of quick-carbs I allow on Carb Days in general and why I want to slow it down even on holidays.

Rennie, oh, I'm sorry you didn't get a post-TOM whoosh! That's the one good thing about TOM! Well, you just keep fighting! I know you can beat this! You've done it before! You were not meant to stay in the 170's! THAT is NOT your REAL weight! You keep fighting until you reach the weight that you feel comfortable with!

Mary, it's true people always have something to say about one's weight! I think they have it in their own minds how you are supposed to look and if you lose or gain more than that, it doesn't look right to them, even if you are at a good weight!

Carol Sue, if there is ANYthing we can do to help you, just let us know!

Jacqui Thanks for being such a great coach!

Hi all! I’m really sleep deprived so I hope my horrible grammar/writing skills makes some kind of sense today. I’m sure all the teachers cringe at my posts. I was all set to write only a short story today, but I didn’t realize how much had happened since I was last online. The subscription email thingy must not be working on my end. I may need to check in twice a day to keep up. I just love this group of gals so much already. I look forward to seeing each and every post each day. You all rock!!!

Obsidian, Yay for Day 2! You can do it!!! Great NSV. Movies are tough for me because I love the popcorn drenched in butter.

Chickadeee, Sending you positive thoughts and I hope everything turns out positive for DH. On the coconut oil subject, I used to buy the good stuff by the truck loads on Amzn and tried different recipes that seemed interesting at first but I just couldn't make myself like it enough to keep at it. I’ll have to try it again on some of the ideas mentioned once I get settled. I loved using it on my skin though and just recently ran out. Unfortunately, I love EVOO way too much and have to limit myself to going over board with it.

Jacqui, Woohoo on another ½ lb down! I’ve read various things about coffee; good and bad. The last thing I read said something about helping memory, but I think you had to drink 3-4 cups and I’m a one cup gal. My memory is not good so don’t quote me. I’m also a mother hen so no worries there. I like being on the receiving in for a change so thanks! I’m more of a mother hen to my mother than she has ever been to me so I’m lacking.

Mary, the slow cooker sounds good. I haven’t owned one in years. I am a big fan of cauliflower so that killer mac recipe sounds delish. My biggest problem is the shrinkage when I don’t eat it raw. I have a hard time limiting myself so I can only cook a serving at a time.

Mars, Oooh, I want to try the cabbage steaks sooooo bad! I have no oven unfortunately. I bet it wouldn’t do well on a stove top or microwave??? You are sweet about my long posts. I’m comma deficit and I have a hard time writing short sentences. I write like I talk which is super fast like Spanish but in English with a southern drawl. Hah! My college degree was definitely not in composition. LOL Yep, the Columbia River is lovely. I spent time in Vancouver last summer and walked the entire Columbia River trails there. I lived off and on in Portland in the late 80’s/early 90’s due to my first husband’s job. This has always been my favorite part of the U.S. I just wish the cost of living wasn’t so high, but if you are in CA, then you are used to that sort of thing. I purposely went through Nevada coming up here to avoid the gas prices. And they were still much higher than I am used to.
I hear you on the Carb Day does not equal Binge Day. That is going to take some restraint on my part. Not sweets, but salty snacky stuff like chips, nuts and cheese especially if I involve alcohol.

Rennie, You are still lower than your high of July 10th and down 1+ lbs in 10 days is good for you light weights! I’m sure the rest is just mean ole water.
Great that your back is better! May I ask if you pain med is OTC? IF it is, what do you use? I can’t find anything that helps mine and my doctor won’t prescribe anything but that high dose ibuprofen which has too many side effects for me to feel good about taking and didn’t help me anyway.
I buy fresh lemon and use a lemon/orange squeezer. I used to buy those 20 ounce bottles of water and I would put the juice into those. I haven’t done that in a while because it was making my teeth sensitive and I was on the road, but it does seem to help with water weight. And no, I wouldn’t drink it all day. I would usually drink 2 bottles of regular in the morning and the lemon water in the afternoon. For some reason, once I drink lemon water, I find it harder to drink the regular. The biggest issue REALLY was that I was up all night using the ladies so I would suggest drinking it way before bedtime. But, I have a bladder the size of a pea apparently.

Carol Sue, since you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll just say, YOU GO GIRL!

As for me, I am still trucking along. I’ve strung together 3 excellent eating days and the scale has been lovely. The water weight is coming off slower than I gained it, but I’m just happy to see it leaving. I pushed myself too hard this morning on the mileage and on the way back really felt my age. I’m glad to have a day off tomorrow from official exercise. I had thought about walking while my car is in the shop, but I’ll be lugging around too much stuff for that to be practical. I’m already getting stiff and have to remind myself to get up every 15-30 minutes to stretch. Dumb arthritis. I will post my stats/dailies in a separate post to break up this novel. Trying to get a system going.

Have a great afternoon everyone!

Week 1
7/18 - 238.6
7/19 - 238
7/20 - 236.2
7/21 - 235.2

Today’s Exercise - Walked 3.7 miles; Strength - 10 reps with 10 lb weights - upper body routine of exercises

Ysd’s Menu - Anything not water or seasonings:
B: 2 boiled eggs; 3 mini sausage links
Coffee with 2 packets Stevia and 5 mini-moos (half and half)
L: Hamburger patty, romaine, tomato, onion, mayo
D: Steamed cauliflower in EVOO and cut up chicken breast

I've been craving peanut butter and milk at night something awful. Hopefully, that will pass soon.

Mary, he sounds like my husband ... he will only eat healthy if I cook and sometimes when the boys cook. Otherwise he will eat, cookies, ice cream and chips. He's tall and thin other than his Pepsi gut Does he like any of the protein bars? They may be an alternative if he just doesn't want to eat anything heavy, just a thought. Nope I agree on pleasing people where weight is concerned. I was told about a month or so ago that I looked like I was gaining weight! You could see it in my face she said ... then she said it looks good, yet she's skinny. Then another comment about a week or so, it's ok to add some weight, it gives you substance, again from a skinny person but a male this time.

Carol Sue, what are you doing wrong? Maybe I'm doing the same thing. Please share so you can help me

Jacqui, you are so on point with how carb day can get you if one is not careful. I'm sure you've noticed my menu I'm trying not to exclude something that I want. It will definitely mess me up later. I am also trying not to over do it when I do eat something that is not no carb or low carb. But this way of eating usually keeps me safe. And you are so so right ... I am not meant to be in the 170's. I need to tell myself that also. Gosh you're good

Bewildered, LOL on the mother hen ... it's all good. And the same with the commas and run on sentences. I sure have my share. I too am a chatter box and delete most of what I type because after I read it sometimes it doesn't sound great but it is what was in my head so it should have been kept there I do enough mothering here with all of my children so I just sit back and take the talks I take the Rite-Aid brand, back pain reliever. It was recommended to me by a co-worker. I was taking generic OTC ibuprofen from Walmart, but it stopped working too quickly and I was having to take more. I didn't like that so I finally looked for the Rite-Aid brand. It's a red box, white oblong pills. I have the kids juice me a lemon before they go to bed, I get up about two hours after that and take my 32oz cup of lemon water out of the door with me I then drink the Sam's Choice 20oz bottles of water the rest of the day. I too stay in the bathroom if I drink too much of anything. Coffee, tea and Coke Zero send me to the bathroom constantly. Off topic but I was told that caffeine also causes me to over heat (sweat) more. I'm trying to take notice of that but I get up so early, sometimes I need the caffeine to get me moving like I need to or should be moving Can you use a toaster oven while you're there? That would be a great way to make those meals that you desire Good job on the 3 days of eating OP Oh I bought those to-go packs of peanut butter when I have that craving. It's just the right amount to kill the craving. And you can eat it on celery for a healthy snack (if it doesn't cause a trigger) idk, the kids like it but I personally have never tried it

Chicky & Obie

Well it's almost bed time, enjoy the rest of your day. Gonna eat some sauteed squash and onion for dinner. Nite Nite

Thanks so much, Rennie! If that is the Rite Aid "Extra Strength Pain Relief Backache Relief" with the Magnesium Salicylate Tetrahydrate (580mg each), then it is the same active ingredient as the Doan's, but half the price! That might be the one OTC that I haven't tried. I'm excited to buy some tomorrow and hope one of the local stores have it in stock. Woohoo!

I hope you rest well!

p.s. I'm not a celery person. I can eat my PB completely naked right off the spoon. I just have to weigh it or I'll eat 3 servings at once, but I do try to get the "natural" version.

Completely Naked PB

That is too funny.

THIS is what me laugh, Chickadeee, lol!

Mars, thanks! It's just I've been there (and I'm still trying to figure things out, lol)!

Bewildered, woohoo on the 3 good days in a row! Look at that scale drop! Great job! Btw, your grammar/writing skills are just fine, lol! Luckily, we aren't having to write formal essays on here. If we were, I'd have to give my own writing an F! Uh-oh, I was a little worried you might be pushing it too hard on exercise, especially since you were just itching to get going with it. Now let me mother hen you properly and tell you to slow down, take it easy, there's no rush to do it all at once!

Rennie, I hope you can get to a daylight schedule soon so that you can start planning your meals like you used to. You were always so good about that! I always used to wing it. You always used to plan it out. I'm still winging it, lol, but I know you do better when you can take good control of your menu and don't have to rely on takeout, etc. Even with the schedule you're on though, you have what it takes to lose the weight, because you have great determination! When you set your mind to do something, you do it!

Today:

B: Eggs, veggies, coffee
S: Cucumbers, almonds
L: Ham, tomato
S: 3x zero yogurt
D: Grilled chopped beef, big salad

I need to get back to drinking more water, I forget to reach for water when I think I am bored, because I know I am not hungry.

I am still thinking about the naked PB, that is too funny, I will never look at it the same again. I know sometimes a spoonful of PB does the trick for me, and then it is over.

I am resting tonight, I did not sleep good last night, so need to catch up and it is still muggy here, 80's all week with no rain in site.

Just want to thank you guys for the support, I think I will be fine (I just remember when I use to stress eat for 20 mins and then wonder why and feel awful. So maybe posting on here made me more aware of it happening again, and I will not fall backwards, only forward motions here!)