Amarantha - you are so funny! I have not had those moments with sugar but I am sure I will! Congratulations on the 6 weeks!!! And for saying good-be to your relationship with the cupcake.

Edyie - I am in Raleigh but went to grad school at Wake in Winston so sort of know that area. I am scared of Greensboro - it has grown so much and I always get turned around. Are you up 29? I think that area is so pretty in the fall. Maybe because it is at the edge of the mountains? It's gorgeous!
Also, if your cake and icing turn out well, will you please share your recipe?
Congrats on the new pilates machine!

Red Balloon - I feel like that sometimes. I have a friend who was a little overweight for years and one day she decided that was it. It took her many months but she lost the 40 or so pounds down to a healthy weight (she did WW). Anyway, she always said it took her a long time to put it on and knew it would take awhile to take it off. So that is one way to look at it. Also, while I believe my problem is simply too many calories in, too little energy burned, I do think there are a few people out there who have medical condition/genes that make it harder for them to lose weight. Have you had bloodwork/thyroid/ etc. tested? I am having the same problem, and thinking that sugar/white flour is not my only problem (see below). Don't give-up!! I think there are always challenges. Maybe set a small time goal and then just eat according to your plan for that time frame but don't think about anything else (scales, tight clothes, etc.). See how you feel at the end of the time frame.

Hi Kaylets!

Arabella - Thanks for the link. I actually went and got his book yesterday.

I have decided that my 'cupcake" is wheat! I gave up sugar last Sunday and have been fine but instead of eating less, I just fill up on any whole wheat bread I can find. Friday night I was miserable - so bloating and still craving whole wheat bread. I woke up on Saturday and decided that was it. So, I gave up all wheat products!! My goal is to try it for 2 weeks. I have eaten some brown rice and plan to eat oatmeal but all other wheat (even disguised in my other products) are gone! I am reading False Fat but as I do not eat meat, I probably will keep some of those things - like peanuts, corn (real whole corn, not corn-based products). Tomorrow, I am also going to give up juice (just for two weeks). I am my own guinea pig!

Good morning people. Monday here, distracting myself further with posting when I should be doing some work before going to the office! Oh well.

Eydie, don't those Pilates machines take up an awful lot of space? Maybe there are a few different ones. They look some sort of torture contraption! I hope you like it and will get use out of it. I have never been able to get into Pilates. It's so frustrating, the total opposite of my personality I think. Maybe that's what I need! Yikes, seeing a new candy bar and knowing you'll never get to try it. I don't think I could do that. You're brave. I hear you on the relationships and trying to start again. It is sad. Hope you're ok now!

Macon -- thanks for the encouragement. I think I'm still somehow packing in the calories, though I find that hard to believe. Maybe I just need more time. Wow, good luck on the no wheat products. I'm afraid to do it just yet. If I gave up all sugar AND all wheat I wouldn't have anything to eat unless I really prepared my foods I think. Nah, heck, that's just an excuse. I could do it. The thing is, the wheat (as in rice crackers) have become the thing I turn to instead of sugar). It's the only thing I have. But that is probably what is stopping the weight loss. I may start small and do it for a day or two this week. You are my inspiration! Good luck, Macon.

Good morning! Amarantha, your little experiment has become a very active thread. Do you think we should start doing a weekly thread?

I had a temptation laden weekend. On Saturday, I ate my usual white-flour treat that I talked about earlier, and then ended up eating a few more white flour foods that day. Saturday night we went over to visit some friends, and the wife was pushing a very delicious looking cake on me. I told her no, but she cut me a piece anyway. My one-year-old thought the cake looked good, too, and had a few bites, but I'm happy to report that I did not. I left rest of that sorry piece of cake right there on the plate. Then Saturday night I dreamt that was eating cake!!!

The trauma continued on Sunday. I went to my sister-in-law's, and she had all these yummy looking pastries. But I successfully refused them all. The bad thing is, when I'm faced with a lot of temptation, I end up overeating in an effort to avoid the forbidden stuff.

I LOVE MY NEW PILATES MACHINE!!!!! It takes up a lot of room, but it folds up small and will fit in the coat closet. I've done the mat exercises for a few years and the machine really has a different feel. Last October I taught a Pilates class at work and am scheduled to teach again in May. I've got to get into "teaching" shape again--I don't want to be a flabby instructor!

RedBalloon, the weight loss thing is so confusing. I don't know what to say. With my program I'm eating about 300 more calories every day, and exercising less, and I lost weight pretty effortlessly--so go figure. Kinda flies in the face of everything I'd ever thought about weight loss. I understand your frustration. I thought for years that I should be an absolute stick because of all I do! Don't give up--just keep reading and trying new things.

I'm glad that we had some people over last night to help us eat Garry's birthday cake. It turned out really good, and begs me to partake of it. So even though it's sweetened with rice syrup it's turned out to be a real trigger for me. That is, it makes me just want more!

It's snowing like crazy here! We're snowed in for sure--I even had to cancel my mammogram appointment. [Don't worry, I've rescheduled for the March 14th!]

Gypsy, good job on dodging all the desserts!

Darlene,

Sorry to hear you had a difficult week-end, you were put to the test and over came the temptations. Not everyone has that kind of will power. More power to you!!

Are you sure you over ate or are just being hard on yourself? Even if you over ate they were the right kinds of foods for you.

As long as we are only dreaming foods that we have chosen to leave behind us it is ok that we crave them in our dreams. They can not set us back only make us stronger in our resolve to stay on our given plans & prove to ourselves that we can be tempted and we can also overcome those temptations set before us. Hang in there and have a really good week and give that baby a hug for me I real miss having toddlers. Enjoy everyday.

During trying times, keep trying!

Oh one more thing, I bought a used Pilates machine yesterday and I think I'm going to love it![/QUOTE]

Eydie,

What kind of Machine did you buy? I have 2 reformers at home. The Allegro Reformer is installed in the dinning room that I use frequently, huge machine. I have tapes, dvds and manuals that I got when I got my certification for Pilates Instructor through Polestar.

MP

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated
the
Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red
vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy
lives.

Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
and
Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?"
And Man
said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some
sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure
that
Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat,
and
sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to
size
14.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented
Thousand-Island
Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and
Woman
unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil
in
which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and
chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained
more
weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food
Cake," and
said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it
"Devil's
Food."

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose
those
extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man
would not
have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and
cried
before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.


Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming
with
nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the
starchy
center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and
still
satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent
double
cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied,
"Yes!
And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into
cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs.

Thought for the day ....

There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today
than on
Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large
elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely
no
recollection of what to do with them.



If you don't send this to five old friends right away there will be
five fewer people laughing in the world

Hope no one minds, but wanted to share my journal entry for today so just pasting it in here, too:

This is Day 44 ... think that's right ... and an odd thing happened. Had a very brutal morning (HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE PROFESSION I AM IN) ... and came home to work in the afternoon. After work finished I went to the drugstore, still upset by some things that had happened (nothing new for me to be upset) ... well, here is the odd thing, I haven't been in that drugstore since before Sugar Busters ... I used to go there when upset (or its counterpart in whatever area I was working in) and walk around and look at all the pretty candy, cakes, SUGAR stuff in its bright wrappers ... today I did that, contemplating once again whether that "medication" would help me feel better ... but for some odd reason, I again went into that "alien" state of mind: I was a visitor in an exotic culture whose strange food didn't interest me. I bought macadamia nuts and ate about 1/6 of the small jar in the car, then came home and had sprouted toast and skim milk.

I will be taking a mental health day tomorrow. Maybe I'll look at the sugar stuff again.

Still mad at the world, but my blood sugar's stable and my new jeans fit.

In a month, I don't think I'll remember what Cupcake looked like.

Life's sad sometimes.

P.S. Sorry for lack of personal replies, I'm a bit overwhelmed by life sometimes.

Gypsy, weekly threads would be good or however anyone wants to do it, IMO.

Dani: I'd love to have a reformer ... I think the Pilates machines are being used more often again, rather than just the mat ... they are fascinating.

Eydie: I used to think rice syrup was ok but now it seems highly sweet to me (not that I've eaten any for ages). I know Sugar Busters just considers it a sugar ... well Sugar Busters considers most things sugar ...


RB: I'm kind of having the same experience as E with weight. It's coming off slowly but steadily now and I'm actually eating a bit more on most days ... of course, not bingeing is bringing the cal count down. In Sugar Busters you don't count cals (they're a myth, according to the authors) but I do ... anyhow, the weight loss is now effortless ... and I am eating wheat, BTW.

Macon, have you tried barley as an option instead of the brown rice? It's really healthy and low glycemic and sort of tastes good ... it may be an acquired taste. I think I like it.

((Hugs)), Amarantha. Sorry you had a bad day, but way to go in not bingeing on sugar because of it.

Jana--thanks for sharing that story. Very funny!

No time to respond more thoroughly now--I'll see y'all tomorrow.

Edyie - Glad you love your new machine! I heard you all got a lot of snow - it is cold and raining here which makes me want comfort food but luckily, work was so busy that I did not have time to think about it. Where is spring?? That is great that you are teaching Pilates at work. That would be a real motivator. You continue to amaze me - I still can't get over the "never going to meet the candy bar" declaration!

Jana - Thanks for the funny story!

MP - Which machine do you like best?

RB - How are you today? I will not give up wheat for forever. I am just trying to see what works best for my body and then find a balance.

Darlene - Good for you for turing down the cake and sweets. It is so hard while you are mentally trying to not eat something tempting but after you went home, did you not feel so proud of yourself?! Just enjoy it in your dreams! I think this has come up beofre but I think we are all different. If you have the ability to eat one small piece of chocolate or whatever a day or once a week, I think that is great and that is the plan that works for you.
I do not have that ability (I am definitely an "all-or nothing" girl!).

Amarantha - First, sorry work is so stressful! Is there any hope of changing that in the near future? Second, that is great that your body is now choosing better foods, especially when you feel stressed! Your "just say no" seems to be working! And I am follwing in your footsteps!

I quit drinking OJ today and I have to say - that was HARD! Sugar, okay, wheat, fine, but OJ - apparently, we have a special friendship! LOL. I made it through the day but I was SO GRUMPY this morning! Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. I think I was just replacing craving sweets with a glass of OJ so this week sugar-free will be a lot harder.

Maria-Paz, my machine is made by Stamina Products--a reformer-style machine, I love the fact that it folds up, otherwise I wouldn't have room for it. Tell me about your certification. Did you have to travel for it? I'd really like to be certified someday, but have never really looked into it. A friend went for her yoga certification and it took forever, lots of travel, lots of money.

Jana, great story!

Amarantha, I know what you mean about the 'alien state of mind'. When I was eating sugar, I guess I didn't realize how sugar is everywhere. I thought it was fun to wander around and find my 'special treat'. Now all the displays seem...well, obscene.
Sorry work is difficult now. Do you have a plan to get out?

Macon, yes, we have about 8" of snow and will be staying home again today. About the orange juice, do you think you could compensate by eating oranges. If you've never tried clementines, they're great. Nice and sweet and easy to peel!

Edyie - I LOVE clementines. I buy them by the box at Whole Foods and always have some in my fridge. It's just not like my OJ. I drink Indian River OJ and it is just the best. Ahh...Can you tell I am having another rough morning?

Hope everyone has a good day!

Eydie - I got my certification through B.Body. They have several Seminars all over the country, you have to choose one that it is close to you. In my case they had one here in Denver 3 times a year, so I attended to the whole seminar. Once each 2 months I believe.

http://www.pilates.com/allegro.html
For certification...
http://www.pilates.com/cert.html

Macon - Stay away from OJ, Sabotaging Devil for any diet. As Dr. Agaston from the SB Diet says "You need 5 oranges at least to fill one glass of OJ, imagine the amount of calories you are putting in yourself with one glass". He suggests to put a slice of lemon in a glass of water. Maybe you can do the same with an orange slice. I have been buying flavored water in Costco, great flavors with just 1 calorie in a bottle and sweetened with Splenda.

What Pilates Machine I like the best? I am not sure, all serve a different purpose. The trapeze/cadillac is like the reformer but has pilars, you can hang yourself from legs and arms from the top, very good to do excercises like in a trapeze.

http://www.pilates.com/trapeze.html
I would love to have a barrel to do abdominals and side abs., but I use my ballance or stability ball to do the same excercise with no money invested.

http://www.pilates.com/ladderpedapul.html

Amarantha - I know what you mean about the Pilates Machines. They are also more accesible than in the past, if you get one that is not brand. I have a couple that I will list on ebay and see what happens.

MP

Hi there all. Sorry, I just haven't had enough time to post. Will try to catch up later. Wanted to say that yesterday I cleared my three-week mark off sugar! Yeah!! AND, I am able to fit into my pants better. Seem to be losing the weight mostly around my waist and butt. I do not have sugar cravings anymore either. But I know this is a dangerous time as we start to think "just a little bit" won't matter. It won't . . . the thing is, it never stays at just a "little bit!!" Best of luck to you all!

RB - That is fabulous! And congratulations on fitting into your pants better - a true reward for all your hard work and discipline! Thanks for the inspiration!

MP - wow - "You need 5 oranges at least to fill one glass of OJ, imagine the amount of calories you are putting in yourself with one glass". That is a scary statement and will help me when I am having a craving. Thanks!

How is everyone else?