Well, I managed to make it through yesterday without eating anything off Core....(except for the WW 2 point bars I had. I had two of them). But I came so close several times to eating something really bad... Today is going to be another struggle day I think, but much better than yesterday. I made pancakes for the kids this morning, and while the thought ran through my mind of eating some, it really was not that tempting. I will make me some eggs here in a few instead.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their support. Y'all are such an inspiration.

It is funny, but when I was on WW in 97 I lost 30 pounds. (I was MUCH smaller back then too). My mom was also going and before weigh in she would start pulling off all her jewelry....rings, earrings, necklaces..... and then she always had to go right to the bathroom to get every ounce of "water" out before finally weighing in. She wasn't the only one either. The bathroom was always full of women doing the same thing. Some even brought slippers with them because at that time you had to weigh with your shoes on. I always thought to myself, that is so crazy. Either you have lost the weight or you haven't, a few ounces isn't going to make any difference. Fast Forward now to the present day. On weigh in days I try to wear the same outfit that I wore the previous week, and I always try to choose the lightest clothes I have. This past Thursday I had forgotten to change and when I got there and realized it, I felt a sense of panic wondering if these clothes would weigh differently than my others.... ANd you can bet that before leaving the house you will find me in the restroom trying to make sure I have every ounce out!! And I do not wear any extra jewelry on those days....

Hi everyone, and thanks for the warm welcome. My 6th weigh in was Thursday, and I lost 2.6 lbs for a total loss of 13.4 lbs so far!

I'm so happy with core! I'm a volume eater and don't do well unless I go somewhat past "until satisfied." I get hungry too fast after a meal and find myself thinking of food an hour after eating. So, I go to "full" and am much happier. But, because of this, I'm amazed that I've lost weight every week. I'm so used to dieting and feeling hungry and deprived that my mind is still not used to actually being happy and not food obssessed AND losing weight. I know I'm not going to lose every single week though, and I think I'm ready for those weeks (?).

It's actually getting chilly in the mornings here in Phoenix and today I had hot tea with a teaspoon of my homemade sugar free spiced tea mix. Ah, what luxury, and no points!

Um, yeah. I'll second that! I had a big ol' blowout day yesterday, just completely lost my mind and ate whatever didn't get out of my way fast enough. The scale showed a pound up this morning (I know ... I shouldn't have even looked!) but it's probably because I drank absolutely no water so now my body is chock full of sodium and holding onto it! I won't worry though ... it's like I read somewhere recently: if a day of falling off the wagon were to make us gain a pound or two, then back in the old days before we started this program, we would have been gaining a pound or two EVERY STINKIN' DAY! And you know we weren't! I guess our bodies have a way of compensating for our little slip-ups and not holding it against us until it starts to be completely out of control and a regular habit!

Enough about that -- I'm also looking forward to starting a new week and concentrating on treating my body with the respect it deserves. No empty calorie JUNK! If I don't take care of myself, who will?

(((stepping down from my soapbox now -- what on earth came over me???)))

Wow, where is everyone! Hope you all are having a great weekend.

I had a party to go to yesterday. Luckily for me it was with my family so I was able to still eat Core. My Niece and I are both on Core and she cooked a delicious ham and made homemade Core cranberry sauce. I made Core potato salad and sweet and sour cole slaw that came out pretty good. My Sister also made us homemade applesauce with Splenda. Good eating for us! I had to spend 4 points on my Snackwell cookies. I was going to try not to eat them but I could smell the dark chocolate cake (one of my favorites) across the room. Once I had the cookies, I didn't feel so deprived anymore. I really love this program.

Kathy, try not to beat yourself up. You know we are all just one bad food decision away from a slippery slope. I know that if I eat something non-Core, and it tastes good, it might just trigger a couple of day slide. You hang in there too, Teri!

Carol, great loss! You must be very pleased with your progress. Any secrets you want to share? What's a typical menu day look like for you? I'm a big cook so I wouldn't mind having your spiced tea recipe or any others you like.

My husband talked me into weighing myself this morning and I have lost another 3 pounds! I try not to weigh during the week anymore so I will not be discouraged, but after arguing for a while with him, I finally decided to get on just to shut him up! Boy was I surprised that it was down! TOM still has not arrived, although I am feeling crampy so I know he is just biding his time to torment me a little while longer. But so far I have stuck to the plan, and the only things I have splurged on are the WW 2 point bars. I am just hoping I can keep this 3 pound loss this week, for when I officially weigh in on Thursday!

This is a short post, because I have homework I need to get done today. Good luck everyone, and for those that strayed off plan a little bit.... Good job on not letting it get you side tracked, and getting off plan for good. That is what I used to do in the past. What a way to get right back on that bucking horse!!

Vickie, your party food from yesterday sounds yummy! It must be great that your sisters is doing Core too, so she understands! If my DH wasn't doing Core too I don't think I'd be doing as well as I am so far. He's lost 11 lbs and it's great to go to a restaurant and discuss which things on the menu are Core.

I'm don't feel like I'm doing as well this week as before. Too much eating out! We went to a buffet restaurant and the other night and I had a BBQ beef rib, which, according to the Dining Out Companion is 8 points per serving! Is one rib considered a serving? I also got dessert. I spent 15 points that night and another 5 for lunch today. I've never used up all my 35 WPAs and I'm tempted to try using them all this week! After all, what if I use my 35 points and I still have a good loss? Then maybe I could relax a little and enjoy a few more non-Core foods every week! But what if I did use all my WPAs and didn't lose anything? Should I or shouldn't I experiment? I mean, those points are there to use, right?

I'm enjoying cooking again thanks to Core. I've been trying different dishes I've found here or other sites and adapting others to Core.

Here's the Spiced Tea Mix I adapted a little. Unfortunately I've lost the site I got it from!

Sugar-Free Hot Spiced Tea Mix

1 tub Crystal Lite Sunrise orange drink mix
3 tablespoons SplendaŽ granular
1 packet Splenda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon dry lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon dry orange peel
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger

Measure all ingredients into a small jar. Tighten lid and shake well until mixed. Keep mix dry. Use one teaspoon of mix to one large mug (equal to 1 1/2 cups) of hot tea per serving, or adjust to taste.

Tonight I made an Asian Pesto Sauce I got off the book "Fantastic Foods with Splenda." I spooned it over salmon and it was delicious! I highly recommend this book!

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while but I enjoy reading all your motivating posts. I am not doing well again but perhaps after I get my ultrasound results, I will get back on track.

Carol -- I see you live in Phoenix--so do I. It's pretty rare on these boards that you find someone from your own home town. I live on the west side.

Since I am a State retiree, I have the opportunity of joining WW for $50 for 10 weeks. I am about ready to do just that. I am like 8 lbs. from my goal again and I really need to get serious about this before it's too late.

I am definitely going to stay with CORE. I agree it is a program that keeps you filled up and not looking for more food!

Well I had better go.

Take care,
Nita

Carol, thanks for the recipe. Have you seen the Barbo recipe site? It has many great Core recipes on it. Let me know if you need the link.

Nita, sorry you're still waiting for those darn results. Worrying about your health can be stressful. Just keep trying to be as on program as you can in the meantime.

I never heard that WW offers any discounts. I am a Federal retiree. I wonder if I could get a discount too? Do you have any information on this or can you tell me where it might be on the WW website? Thanks!

Good morning everyone. Not feeling great today, due to the TOM and all that goes with it, which arrived this weekend. I did not do great this weekend, but I could have done worse. TOM is always hit or miss when I'm watching what I eat, sometimes I have virtually no cravings and all is well, other times like this weekend and now, I am bombarded with cravings. I ate an entire steak Friday night, not terribly bad b/c it was CORE, however I ate well past the 'satisfied' mark. Saturday, I had a craving for a sandwich, so I had a Jason's Deli Club Royal, instead of chips I got a fruit salad (thank God), but it case with a fruit dip sauce, which I consumed, of course. Then yesterday, I went to Sonic and had a typical Sonic meal.

I know this is all hormones, but I am bummed, b/c I am so close to the 10lbs. mark and I feel like I've gained all that I've lost and more. So hormonal and blue that I did not make my lunch last night and woke up too late to make breakfast. I will go to the gym this morning to get some cardio in, I had the sense to grab an apple and banana before I ran out of the house, just had the apple, will do lunch as close to CORE from the cafe in the building, and the banana this afternoon. Also, have been sucking down water like there is no tomorrow.

Someone, posted earlier something to the effect that if what we ae accounted for a lb. or two gain, then we would have gained every day. I am trying to keep that in mind. Why didn't I buy "safe" things for a sandwich and whaever else I was craving, b/c I didn't want it in the house, i.e. a loaf of bread, etc. However, thinking about it the damage would have been far less. Wish me luck and congratulations on your losses!

HI everyone,
I was away for a week visiting family and going to a conference. I ate out a lot and now I realize how huge eat-out portions really are. I didn't stick to any form, permutation or slight hint of WW. Amazingly I only gained a pound. I think it is because at the conference at least I didn't have the time or opportunity for any snacking. So even if I ate a lot at meals, I didn't have a lot inbetween. And when I visited my parents I exercised every day (ugh, two of those days included shovelling snow).

Today I'm back on track and had my black bean soup for lunch, which was excellent. One thing I discovered is that Core foods are fairly gentle on the tummy (although I do get rather gassy from all the beans!). Eating more fat and refined stuff, I found my tummy was always on edge while I was away.

I am very psyched to lose 10 pounds by Christmas. I think this is achievable if I eat sensibly and get 2 APs every day. That seems to be a formula that works for me.

It is really nice to see you all. Believe it or not, I missed you!

Torrey, don't give up. It's not to late to just get back on program. If you keep flushing with the water and start eating right, I'm sure you'll successfully minimize the damage. Hormones are WICKED! I have the same problems and the struggle occurs at every meal during my TOM. It really helps to have safe things around. Maybe it will help to force yourself to plan a safety net for yourself for next month. How much time do you have to recover before your next weigh in?

Hey Robin....welcome back. I was wondering where everyone was, especially over the weekend. I'm happy for you that your damage was only one pound. You can get that back off in a flash now that you are back on program. I was hoping to lose 30 pounds total by January 1. I'm at 9.8 right now so and my current losing rate, it isn't possible. I'm going to keep shooting for it anyway...I'm just not going to shoot myself or be disappointed if I don't make it. Especially with with holidays between now and then.

Hope you all have a great week. I've been struggling a bit this week with TOM but I think I will have at least a small loss.

Hello all,

I am new to this website but I am so happy that I found it. A place to find encouragement and receive it. I love the support everyone shows!! WOW

I am going to be missing my weigh in on Thursday night for a Randi Travis concert......could not resist. So I won't have a weigh in until next week. I think it is going to be hard. The scale keeps me honest with myself.

My weight loss on CORE thus far has been:

5.6
1.6
.6
1.6

and this morning I stepped on the scale to find a 2.0 so that means maybe I am gearing for a 2.6 or 3.6 loss next week. This is my hope. And what is with the .6 ??? Too weird! But I will take it. So in order for my hope to come true I made the WW Veggie Soup. My husband even likes it! I really delved into it the first week I was on CORE so I am hoping it has the same affect this week!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hey! And thanks for listening.

I have the quote If It is to me, it is up to me as well. At grade school where my children attended when they were little, this quote was often used! It has stuck with me to this day!! Love it!!

Cheers until the next time,
Walk on the Sunny Side of Life!!

Welcome, Frannie! Congratulations, it looks like you are well on your weigh (pun intended!) to Core success. Hope you'll stop by often and keep us posted on your progress. How much do you have to lose? What is a typical day menu for you? Exercise? Please share the tips and tricks to your success!

Hi Frannie, I've seen Randy Travis twice in person-- years ago. Definitely worth missing a weigh-in for! Have fun!

How is everyone? I went off plan on Sunday! We had to go get my oldest son from his Dad's house in West, and on the way back we were all hungry, so we stopped and ate Whataburger. I could have gotten the salad, but no!! I had to get the Whataburger with cheese, french fries, and drink. I did opt for a diet drink.....I had been planning on going off plan this week for my birthday Thursday but not on Whataburger!! Oh well.......It sure did taste good!! Sunday morning I went to my Grandmothers as we usually do every Sunday, and did very well. I ate only what core foods I could find, and I passed up the pecan pie she had made, and the lemon pie. Then blew it at Whataburger.

I weighed that next evening and I had gained 3 pounds! But I weighed again this morning and the 3 pounds were gone....so I will just have to see. I am hoping to average 2 pounds weight loss per week. If I can then in a year I will have lost 104 pounds! So far if I do keep this 3 pounds off, that will mean 6 pounds in 3 weeks which averages to 2 a week. If I can keep it up I will do it!! My weight loss so far has been 3 pounds then .3 pounds. and as of today 3 pounds this week, if I can keep them off until my official weigh in Thursday night. BUT Tom is still being stubborn, and has not come yet. I am feeling all the symptoms for it, I wish It would just come already!!

I used to be SO regular, which might be why I was SOO fertile! ( I have 4 kids, and 2 of them I was on the pill, and one of them there was one night in the entire month that I could have gotten pregnant, and wouldn't you know it I did!! ) But after my 4th I had my tubes tied, and ever since I am extremely heavy the first 2-3 days, and I am not very regular any more. Sometimes it comes as a total surprise, I do not feel anything, and other times I cramp for days before actually starting. I don't know WHAT is up with that!! I am finally getting over my sweet cravings that I was having, but when I actually do start they may come back.

That reminds me.........has anyone else been asked when their baby is due, or if you are expecting when you AREN'T!!?? Yesterday it was raining so I went inside the school to wait for my 4 year old to get out of Pre-K, and there was another mom who had a little girl with her. I asked how old she was (4 months). I noticed the mom kept looking down at my stomach and then she said are you expecting?? I said no.......I'm just fat. Once upon a time I would have been devastated, humiliated, and had to fight back tears. Yesterday I was a little embarrassed, but also found it mildly humerous! What is wrong with me!! Have I gotten so comfortable with my weight that I don't care anymore?! Or maybe it is that I know I am going to lose it this time, and this is just one more of the reasons why it is so important for me to do it this time..........

I hope everyone has a wonderful Weigh IN this week!!

Good Luck!