Hi All!

Angela, I'm glad you don't have mono but strep would be awful too. Hope you are resting now and feel better in the morning.

Cher, it sounds like you're getting back in the swing of things. Hang in there!

Anna, good luck with whatever you decide.

Melissa, I was wondering where you were and I was a little concerned. You do sound a little better. Big cyber party when Aaron gets the job! Enjoy your movie.

Sandra, it's actually my elbow that is bum but I do have a heal spur that I'm ignoring! I could use an ortho pillow. I think I'll check them out. My neck is always sore. Maybe because I have such awful posture.

Kathy, you have had one unbelievable life so far girlfriend! I've heard that viral infections really never go away they just go dormant. How are your MS symptoms? Did the Doc decide to do tests or just wait for another episode?

Terry, glad that you are well now! Don't fret. You'll do great. I can tell because I can feel the twitching!

I just popped in before I make my strawberry pie. It'll have to chill for 4 hours so I won't be able to have any until we come home from the ballgame tomorrow. I really don't need any more food tonight. I feel like a bloated blimp. I'm going to have a great time tommorow and I'm going to be as good as I can but I know all the choices won't be Core. Ugh. Also trying not to dread Thursday's weigh in. It is what it is and I'll have the benefit of starting a new week. I'll try to get some extra exercise at the ballpark.

Talk with you all tomorrow!

well, I decided not to use the cook and serve anymore because the first ingredient is sugar and I don't want to unintentionally derail core. THe strawberries don't look good here anymore anyway. Hope everyone is feeling better by tomorrow. I live in FL and got in a 30 minute walk today after 8 PM and it is still hot.
Vivian

Vivian, the recipe calls for SF cook and serve. There's no sugar in it. Congrats on your walk!

melissa, enjoy your evening. i'd be stressed, too, waiting to hear from dh's new job. they're really dragging this out, aren't they? i know you're ready to find out. again, enjoy your evening. we're going to lose this weight. we're focused.

Froufy, I love Disney. were hoping to go in August. I hate that the kids will have to miss school, it just starts so early here. Can you believe they got out may 18th so they have to go back on AUg 4th. Good thing they are young so a day or two wont be too bad. Thomas' best friends parents(who he adopted as his own in highscool) live down there so we always visit them once a year and take a day for Disney. My kids love going down there to see their wela & pap pap

I think im going to stick to core for a few weeks and see how I do first before switching to flex. I really like Core and the gain isnt the diets fault it's mine for not following it.

Hey, chickies! I'm home from my work thing, have fed and watered and pottied the dogs. I need to clean up the kitchen but am sorta pooped, plus I'd really like to watch basketball. Little DD just left and said she wasn't sure if she was coming home tonight, so it's another one of those sleepless situations for me. I think I'll take the cell phone upstairs and have her call me if she's staying over at the place she's headed to. It's the not knowing that bugs me -- like did she try to come home and have a wreck on the way, get kidnapped, etc. or did she decide to stay? Yes, that's what I'm going to do. Just talked myself into it.

I did very well at the party tonight. I had one hamburger patty with a piece of cheese melted on it, four little cubes of cheese, a spoonful of salsa, and about 2 spoonfuls of guacamole. I also drank a 32 oz. bottle of water, a 32 oz. bottle of Sam's Choice sparkling ruby red flavored water, and a diet A&W Cream Soda. It felt good to be in control of what goes in my mouth. After all, if I don't watch it, wonder who I think *IS* going to? LOL!!

Angela, I'm glad it's not as bad as it could have been, but don't you just wish they could give you a definite answer sometimes? Well, do what they said and take it easy.

Melissa, sounds like your day was a teeny bit better than yesterday. I'd be a ticking time bomb if I was waiting on news as long as you guys have had to wait! Good grief, make a decision already!

Vickie, so far so good with the symptoms. That crackpot neurologist wasn't too enthused about ordering the MRI so if he doesn't care, neither do I. I'm not going back to him anyway so if they symptoms come back, I'll get my PCP to refer me to someone else and go from there. Meanwhile, I'm hanging in!

Spurs are on and I've already missed quite a bit. They need me, so I'd better get in front of the TV and help out.

Nighty night to all -- and don't forget, today ends at midnight. Tomorrow's a new day! Yay!!!!

Good morning ladies, and gents if there are any... are there?
I posted yesterday morning about my idea for a "cheesecake" crust and I tried it yesterday and it was just awful. I'm bummed out as I thought it would be good, but it's NOT. I do think I went too far with sweet ingredients such as sf maple syrup and Splenda in the same recipe. Perhaps one or the other and I found the maple taste not pleasing at all, so that is now "out". I'm going to try it again, if I get brave enough. I might add "butter buds" and maybe a bit of salt. I think I shall sweeten it with Splenda and use evaporated skim milk vs. SF maple syrup to make is pliable and to be able to stick together a bit. These things need "time" but my "dreams" of a CORE cheesecake still exist and I'll keep trying. I was writing down things as I went along so I would have a real recipe with measured amounts, but literally tore it up after I was done, it was sooooo bad! I also want to adapt the recipe for a simple crumb pie crust to use in a yogurt based quiche recipe that I have, it's wonderful and it's really only the crust that isn't core if you use plain ff yogurt.
I weighed in yesterday and stayed the same, which was better than gaining, at least.
I wish I had used more self control when I dined out over the weekend, but this is not a race, it is a lifelong learning experience and I have to find a way to deal with all the temptations in a satisfactory way. Not sure what that is yet, but I shall figure it out.
Dining out is a huge trigger for me. When we go to special places to eat, I get "upset" thinking "I hardly ever get to come here and I really love their _______. I just have to have it tonight". Then, I spiral out of control. For some people, it's drinking, for me it's special foods at various places we dine out at that make me lose control all the time.
A nutritionist once told me that people would not be overweight if there was only ONE dining establishment everywhere as boredom would set in. Let's fact it, you drive down the "main street" of just about any decent sized town in America (or probably in the world???) and see a line up of all the various "chain" places to eat. We ALL pretty much know the places, what to expect there, etc. Their brightly colored signs and "fun" looking buildings invite us in with open arms to sample the high fat and other enticing and highly advertised foods we've been coaxed into wanting during our tv watching, etc. Are these ads subliminal messages? Just had to say that!
At any rate, I didn't eat at a chain fast food place this weekend, but I sure think about them. We went for more expensive and "nicer" places, which was even more of a trigger for me. We eat out all the time, yet I always find myself getting enticed by a wonderful menu and the thought that "eating out is a special occasion" and it's NOT special, we eat out every weekend, it's part of our regular meals. So, I need to figure out a way to learn how to deal with that. I know all the tips about filling up on clear soup (sure, when it's 90 degrees I'll really be wanting that soup!) and having a low point snack before leaving, but what if you've been away from the house for a long time and haven't been prepared? Ideas? Thoughts? Sympathy?
Linda in NH, wrestling with a "lifetime" eating plan

Mornin' just checking in.....will read later.....I have my day 'planned' with what I am having and without tonights penciled in 'snack' it 16 points so far......Take into consideration what is Core and it's 1 pt.
So I am making good choices.... I just HAVE to keep it in control and portions. I am all about measuring and weighing, guess I just have to, do not trust myself to depend on the full/satisfied.
I actually took the breads and Wow chips away and substituted those for Asparagus and 1 slice FF cheese......so I am good to go....but I have to have to weigh and measure....but look at the better choice I made... I am not AGAIN expecting a loss on Saturday but I do feel better knowing I am not depending on MY understanding of "am I full or satisfied" Guess one could say I am Floring
Well time to get ready to leave......see you back here later...
Hope all the Tues and Wed weighers have a good weigh in.....Lj

LJ, one thing to consider.... something I've heard in my WW meetings before is "can you live the rest of your life this way". I, too, am wrestling with that issue. I can't spend my entire life weighing and measuring. I doubt I can stick with CORE my entire life, either, though perhaps my own "version" of it? I need the proper balance to energize me, maintain and healthy weight and to help me lose at this time, but then to maintain. I'm not there at all yet.
I don't want to be weighing and measuring, I do miss breads (even lite breads) and things like that. Where is the happy medium?
Linda, with no answers but not giving up on the quest in NH

Morning Girls!!!

I did well yesterday including a trip with DD15 to Fazoli's for dinner - they have the WW penne and I got it with the spicy Marinara and grilled chicken...yummy - the portion was huge and I brought some home.

I bought a new water bottle yesterday, but don't like it . Kinda wierd to be picky about water bottles....but I know what works for me to drink a ton and this isn't going to cut it.....I need a squeeze bottle type.....and can't seem to find a nice one.

I am cleaning today getting ready for the onslaught of my small family to celebrate my parents 50th for the weekend.......so between my walk (shortly) and all the cleaning today, I should be good in the exercise area.

I am also headed to my first meeting tomorrow in about 10 years.......why didn't I just keep off this freaking 10 lbs???? My friend wants my support and that was my goal while I was off this summer.

I am making one of the 5 can soups you all suggested for lunch today....Have a great day everyone!

NH Linda, I eat out ALOT and I sympathize. It is nearly impossible to stay Core without planning ahead unless you are willing to eat dry baked potatoes and veggies, which I am not. I also carry my salad dressing, Smart Balance, and FF sour cream in containers to restaurants. Even today, I'm packing my salad dressing in a cooler with ice because we are going out to a restaurant after the ballgame and I want to be able to have a salad and I'm not crazy about oil and vinegar. As the other ladies here know, I'm a nut about eating out in restaurants. I interrogate every server to make sure my food has no added or non-Core oil. I ask for things to be prepared a special way and if they don't have Core food available then I don't go there. My friends and family now know that this is how it has to be for the next 3 years. When the subject of dining out comes up they usually say, Vick, where can you go? Now I'm not implying that you should do this too. I just wanted you to know that I understand how you feel. Obviously, I like to eat all those yummy dishes too, which is how I got to be 307 pounds. It's just that I LOVE to go out to eat and didn't want to give it up while I lose these darn 150 pounds. I also didn't want to slow down my weight loss any worse than it already is (about a pound a week) by treating myself. I do feel deprived once in a while but I try to tell myself that at some point, I'll be able to eat Core most of the time but go out to special places and eat special non-Core meals once I get to my goal. I'm sure it's harder for you since you are way closer to your goal than I. Maybe you could save all of your points for restaurant visits and just eat all Core/no points when you are eating at home?

Linda, you go girl! You WILL find the magic formula that will work for you. As long as you don't give up you will be successful. Don't give up hope on the Saturday weigh in yet!

Cindy, great job at Fazoli's! Wish we had one closer to us because I'd eat that once a week. I understand being picky about a water bottle. I always heard that Eddie Bauer makes a great one. Maybe when Terry gets on she can tell you where to find a great one. Since she's a runner, I'll bet she's tried a few. I don't use them because I never feel like I get them clean enough. I'm a kookoo bird about some things! Cindy, you might find that the meetings will help you get off those 10 pounds.

Gotta get ready for the ballgame today. I woke up at 5:30 with a VERY upset stomach. I don't think the pineapple/yogurt combination agrees with my tummy. This is the second time it's made me queasy. Poor Jim is at Walmart now getting me Pepto Bismol since he's afraid that I won't be able to do to the game. I don't think I'm going to walk on the treadmill. I'll do a couple of laps at the ballpark later if I feel better.

Terry, here are few extra for good measure!

Hope you all have a great day. I'll be with great friends all day watching my beloved Chicago White Sox!

Morning everyone! I felt terrible yesterday, and told dh to go out and get whatever he wanted for dinner. I really just wanted comfort food. He did great - he came back with Chinese, and my favorite ice cream for dessert. I certainly wouldn't eat that way all the time, but it was so comforting, and I actually felt much better after eating a small serving. I'm back on track today, as I have weigh-in tonight. We'll see how it goes. My throat/neck is still really hurting, but I got over 9 hours of sleep, so I don't feel so run down at least. I just really hope my girls don't get this - it's NO fun!

Angela

Angela, I'm glad you're up and about. It's also really good that you're learning how to have just a bit of comfort food without going overboard. Signs of a true Lifetime Member! I'll keep my fingers crossed for a good weigh in for you and that your throat and neck feel better soon! You do NOT want to have your girls sick again.

Good morning! I'll be back later but I thought I'd pop in and post this picture from last night. Someone took a bunch of pictures and uploaded them so they'd be available for us to see this morning. I thought that was pretty thoughtful -- and fast! I'm talking to one of the Air Force guys here.