Hello all, Well good news on the scale this morning. I was about to panic. Since my good weigh in on friday i have been up 3-5 pounds each day...FINALLY this morning i am back down to weigh in weight. I KNEW i hadnt done that much damage but you still hate to see those numbers go back up when you feel like you have accomplished something.

Did great yesterday with food and exercise, not so great with water, dont know what my deal is with water. I am bord with it. Time to start adding lemon or orange wedges, something to dress it up.

Sno-I am glad the next holiday is a ways off too. I didnt even think about "no grill" areas, i would be nuts if i couldnt grill...i grill everything. Maybe you could broil the peaches, i promise they are worth it, so good and good for you. Just enough to warm them, not make them mushy then add some ff whipped cream...double yum. That sucks about your cravings yesterday. I went in to the bank this morning and there is a chinese place that was smelling awefully good. I hadnt even thought about chinese until i smelled it and i almost had lunch there and i would have really regretted it. I hate the craving issues. Once i give in, it is just all over...binge city.

Golfs-That is great about the weight loss this week. So sorry to hear about your father. My prayers are with him and you.

Lach-I do the same thing. If i wait too long to eat, i eat anything and everything. Terrible. I have to eat just slighty before i am actually hungry. If i wait it is too late.

Card-I think there are some new meds out there for migraines. That sucks that your apt is so far away and boss is being evil. I plan and grocery shop the same way you do. I just pop in the store once in a while to grab some fresh veggies but otherwise i have my quickfixes and my longer-fixes ready in the freezer...it keeps me from taking the easy way out with eating out and pizza.

Trob-Sounds like the 3 # you put on was just water weight. I did the EXACT same thing until this morning, i am back to preweekend weight.

NAW-Looks like you had a good day yesterday. I like the alternating cals thing, i kind of do that with my weekends. I am always afraid that if i stay low there will be no where to go the more i lose and i dont want to platuea at like 1100 cals a day. So i think that is wise for the long run. I do hope you try the peaches, i am hooked. It tasted SO indulgent, i had to look at the calories twice just to make sure.

Well i wish you all a good day. I just ate a lean cuisine for lunch and the chicken was really fatty, couldnt eat half of it, now i am still hungry...bummer. There is a vending machine here, hopefully there will be some crackers and cheese or something worthwhile to choose from.

Okaya-I feel in control today--I got worried last night because I had a brief binge flashback--eating really fast etc. I came online several times and read the messages and it really helped me--made me focus on what I want to do--what was that quote about stress eating being a short term fix which creates a long term problem? Anyway I am doing it. Also preparing my food on my fitday last night really helped--I made sure to include some of my favorite foods so I would not feel deprived. I know I am extra vulnerable right before TOM and I need to make sure I have food I like and dont try to skimp right before.

So today I went swimming--and I ate breakfast before but my stomach was growling by 930. I went to Starbucks and did not want to use up the calories to have a decaf latte--200 for a tall, so I had tea with a mini scone which I split with the DH--those are deceptive--they range from 160-200 calories and they are teensy! Good thing I split one.

I usually swig back a 32 oz water first thing when I wake up--I dont eat right away so by the time I eat all that water is gone--and I have had a fourth of my water for the day. I am still trying to drink 128 oz--which is four 32 oz of water per day--I use those wide mouth gatorade bottles and that way I can quickly chug one if I get behind. I think it is helping with the water retention.

Did all the weeks shopping and I am now beat! Ready to relax! Hey, I discovered those Smart Dogs from TJ are 45 cals apiece--yes I know they are tofu, but with some sauerkraut and mustard that is a 220 cal lunch for four! I like that one--it makes me feel like I am getting a lot. You can pretty much eat as much sauerkraut as you want--it is so high fiber and low in cal that it is a great diet food--except for the sodium, and I guess you can get lo-sodium sauerkraut!

Getnhealthy--congrats on your good news! It is always a relief when that scale gets down there. You are doing great! I like lime in water, my sister puts a mint tea bag in hers to give it a boost.

Golfs: Thanks again and hang in there. Your words of wisdom really hit the spot for me last night. If you need any help from me or anyone here just post a message.

Esmeralda: (I LOVE that name by the way). I think eating plans are so individual. As you can see everyone on this thread has a different thing going. I like just counting calories right now--I use fitday which is free--log onto www.fitday.com and am trying to keep it around 1700 calories right now. I will probalby have to lower it as I go. I can create whatever I want as long as I eat the right portion. I also create my menu the night before for the next day--even if I change it, I still have a good idea of what portions to eat etc. Nawchem taught me this and it really helps. You can click on the My Fiday link under my name and see what I eat. Or try low carb--I did that for 11 months and found it really easy--just no carbs except veggies is the easiest way to 'splain it. Nothing with sugar, flour, potatoes, any kind of grain. Very limited fruit.

Ch--my husband is out of luck if he doesnt want to eat what I am eating. He can make himself a sandwich or heat up a can of stew or soup or order take out. No wonder you get stressed with your second job as short order cook at your home!!


Dolly: yes I get hungry watching tv--I admit I love zoning out and snacking! That is why I try to brush my teeth after dinner so that I know it is all over for eating--somehow having clean teeth reallly helps. I have been including rice on my menu and I find it very satisfying.

Nawchm--you are doing great, keep us posted!

Sorry this is a monster post all!

Sno how did you get your fitday link to work, I can't get mine to work

Huh--that is weird dolly--I dont know--I just followed the directions in my profile to have the link there. Maybe you should re-enter it?

golsalot-i love reading your post and it brought back so many memories. i lost my dad 4 1/2 yrs ago to cancer. he was diagnosed in sept. and died in feb. it is so great that you dad has done so well for long. keep the faith and stay strong. it is not an easy thing to get through but food will not make it any better. i know from experience.

i am back down today and actually weighed less this afternoon than i did this morning. a slower day with the pedometer...only a little over 11,000 steps today. later

I FEEL GOOD!!! I spoke to my dr. He says he wants to test my sugar levels, seems they may be dropping off too fast, hence the headaches and dizzy spells. So today I had a small bowl of cereal at 7:00, a plum at 9:45, a salad and some crackers at 12:00, a small bowl of cereal at 300, then my eating got messed up over time and a staff meeting and kids needing school supplies, so I had a teeny tiny burger at 8:00 and am having some perogies before bed. I feel really good but this is way too much startch and not enough fruits and veggies. So tomorrow I will try replacing one mini meal at a time with a fruit or veggie and see what happens. But boy does my body love eating this way, no headache, tons of energy. I don't even want to know how many calories are in all that.

I am not going swimming today because my shoulder feels a little sore, so I think I need a day off. But I kinda feel at loose ends--what do I do with myself without swimming? The last few mornings, I am always rushing around getting it together. I have plenty to do, believe me.

Eating is back on track. I felt hungry last night after dinner, but felt I had enough food for the day, so the stomach just needs to shrink! I brushed my teeth and called it a day for the food.

Card: So happy that you have found out what is wroing. You are still eating very little. Actually they find that eating lots of mini-meals can boost the metabolism and aid with weight loss. And it sounds like you did not have that many calories--except maybe the pirogi which are I dont know how many calories.

Trob: you are awesome on that pedometer. "food will not make it any better" is so profound--I think I will make that my motto!

yesterday was ok for me, i didn't have any of the monthly birthday cake nor did i eat a bagel at any of the meetings i went to. it is funny, i eat those things even though i don't really like either of them, bread always makes me feel weighted down. i have started questioning what i eat, everytime i think about eating something i think of why i am eating it. it is refreshing to do this.

i suppose that once i finish doing this rethinking i will have to actually get on a diet, but for now this is good. (plus it is just about TOM and i really want to eat a whole bag of candy or chips)

card: I am trying to eat that way instead of eating just lunch and dinner. i had been skipping breakfast and i end up so hungry by lunch time i didn't pay attention to what i was eating. i am sure you could just replace some of those mini-meals with a piece of fruit or some veggies you will be set.

dollypie: i think it might just be time for me to do that. i have really gotten everything out of this experience that i can, which is mostly the understanding that stress makes me forget to take care of myself. LOL. last night i started applying to new jobs, which felt really good.

Hows it going all? Doing well here. My weigh in is tomorrow, so i always get nervous if i havent lost by this point in the week. I was up .2 this morning from last friday, we will see what the day brings.

I want to get a podometer, i have no idea how many steps i take in a day but that would be a good motivator i would think. Maybe as a reward for good behavior this week, ha ha.

Sno-A mint tea bag in my water sounds good. And i love any kind of citrus to brighten it up a bit. GLad your eating is back on track. I have gotten hungry at night too lately. Brushing your teeth is a good deterant. Really strong gum is a good one for me. Also, if i just tell myself to wait 10 minutes and then re-evaluate, usually i forget about it, at least long enough to do another 10 minutes, ha ha.

Card-Hopefully the more frequent meals will help, glad you got through to your doc.

Bertine-Good job on resisting temptation. Man, what is it with people bringing all kinds of temptations into the office? Yesterday we had donuts, today its brownies. I am SO sick of everybody i talk to having their mouth full of tempting food. Why doesnt anyone ever bring in a basket of apples? Oh yeah, not as much of a crowd pleaser, ha ha.

Ok, thats if for me, kind of a slow day for me today.

Howdy! How is everyone? I am having a good food day so far and had a good workout this morning, but I am so sleepy. It always hits between 2-5pm at work. My eyes start to glaze over and I just want to close my door and take a nap, yeah right. I read about some quick breathing techniques to wake you up but it did not help. I am having a diet coke to wake me up.

Getnhealth-pedometers are great! I try to wear one on the weekends when I don't workout just to make sure I get in my 10000 steps.

Bertine-good for you on applying for new jobs. it took me about a year to find a new job that i like and it was a big adjustment. regretted at first, but now I would never go back to the stressful job

Sno-try some stretching, it makes a world of difference. I try get a good stretch in three times and week and my body loves it.

card-glad to hear you went to the doctor and are figuring things out

trob-how many steps do you usually aim for a day?

Hello all I am glad to hear you are doing well sticking to things. I'm back on track now with 6 mini meals a day. I'm still having trouble finding an exercise I enjoy. I live out in the country, in Canada, so swimming is no longer an option, I had to drain my pool last weekend. I'm still crying. I walk to work most days, they switched my shifts so 2 or 3 days a week I start at 7:00 now. I am getting my dh to drive me and then walking home. So I'm still getting my 30 walk, but I really feel the need to get more. Any ideas, videos are out because I have to fight my dh and 3 children for tv time. I didn't like dance dance revolution, boring after the first 10 mins.

Hi all--

well I walked yesterday but went about 400 cals over my goal--I think I might just allow myself 2000 cals next month when I am TOM--it is hard to stick to plan--we'll see. I have a good plan for the day.

Not exercising because I have a big household project to do today which involves lots of lifting carrying and cleaning--I think I will have enough exercise. If I feel I need it, I will do an exercise tape.

Have a great friday all--and I am preparing mentally for the weekend!

sno

Thank goodness it's Friday! Made it too the gym today and had a good workout. Tonight my DH and are going to the high school football game, we missed the opener so he is really excited. Actually they will be filming the game for the new TV show "Friday Night Lights." Oh well I should burn alot of calories jumping and yelling. Everyone have a great weekend!

Man am I beat!

DH and I took the house apart today--we had to bugbomb because we were infested with spiders. So we took everything out of the kitchen, pantry and bathroom cupboard and cleaned them, after wiping down everything in the house and dusting and vacumming, plus washing a bunch of dishes and pots that were dusty and then taking everything back in and re-arranging it. It took about 5 hours altogether. The house looks great. I am a wreck. Food was find--didnt have time to overeat. And I bet I burned a bunch of cals.

Whew--hopefully we dont need to do it again for a while.

Now for rest.

Sno

I just looked it up on Fitday--I put in 4 hours of work--it came to 1893 calories--so maybe that will help me offset some of the higher cal days this week!