They just need to be in the freezer long enuf to hold their shape (clouds)...then we stuffed them all in a freezer bag to freeze solid. Still lovin' them and just knowing I have them in there keeps me off the ice cream/candy thoughts.

air0: "The whole stress eating thing is a constant struggle. Mine started after I left my son's dad three years ago and he still can trigger that reaction in me and I know that eating something that will make me feel bad the next day doesn't help and all I'm harming is myself but it's a hard cycle to break. But I do know I am determined to lose the weight even if I fall off the wagon a million times in the process and it takes me 3 years.

Thanks for posting that GF . . . it's me to a T!

I know rho posted about a make-up stick for color - what do you have anaB? I've bought two things in my life from a tv infomercial and ended up LOVING both: My Magic Bullet and Bare Minerals Make-Up . . . I've been out of the BM's for ages - mainly because YES, I am the lady putting make-up on while I drive and it was just too messy.

Worked 5:30 til 8am this morning . . . went a bit OffP even knowing I was doing it due to exhaustion . . . dusting myself off and the rain has stopped enough (I hope) for a 5k bike ride.

Will check in later and hope to see steph back . . . and also icard!

I am rubbish with make up Aud, I never wear any. I get my eyelashes tinted so they aren't almost invisible and that's it. I wasn't allowed to wear make up when I was youngand so I never got into the habit... of course now the baby sister wears so much I'm inspired to buy shares in mascara companies! The stuff you got sounds great rho, it's nice to have some colour.

I would highly recommend the Boomsticks to anyone - I'm loving them ... You can look it up by looking for Cindy Joseph Boomsticks - she has some very informal videos on YouTube showing how it works ... I did the Bare Minerals too but it took me longer and I found it would dry my skin too so I just stopped unless I was going out - this I have been using daily because it is so quick and easy. And I just look healthy not made up if that makes sense. And there are no choices on colors or anything the one color does it all and does it for all skin tones .. I bought the whole shebang so it was 3 sticks and a small moisturizer it was around $100 but I can see it will last for a long time - I like the moisturizer but I may not order it again because I'm a coconut oil girl and have used it for a decade or more so will stay with that (but I may decide to get it because it does feel nice on my face) - I've been using my coconut mix at night after I wash my face and putting hers on before I do the sticks..and that is a very very little bit too so it will last a long time.

How often do you have to get your eyebrows tinted - and you must have full eyebrows still right - half mine are gone or very thin.. Wonder if it would be worth doing?

So we had our dinner out - I had salad, a small piece of lasagna and a small piece of fruit tart with some homemade whipped cream on it .. Woke up and was down .2 so I was thrilled.

So my other new thing is I've been reading about Protein Power has anyone done that?

And I got a few of the EAS carb controlled chocolate shakes - had one last night before we left for dinner and I think it really helped me stay strong.. I liked that it had a good amount of protein in it and it was pretty tasty. 4 carbs 1 fiber 17 grams of protein I can see using that as a meal replacement since I tend to forget to eat a lot.. And I could throw one in a soft sided cooler and take with me when I'm out and about and have something if I start to flag later in the day.

Anyone heard from our MIA members - hope everyone is ok.

Ugh gearing up to get tax stuff together today ugh ugh ugh ..

Hi Rho! How do you use the coconut oil? I'd like to try that.

I get my eyelashes tinted but not my eyebrows. The eyebrows are pretty pale but I'm used to that and I think I'd looked startled if they were more noticeable. My eyelashes are great tinted, makes them look much longer as they are naturally quite pale (and so invisible). People always notice that I look different but can't pinpoint why, it's quite fun.

Yay that dinner went well! Congratulations on the loss!

I've read both Protein Power books and I really like the Drs Eades (Dr Mike has a good blog). I get quite different calculations for protein amounts between the two books, and the higher amount in the second one is quite hard for me to do (especially breakfast) but I follow the guidelines. Their second book has a lot of really interesting info about other topics, vitamin D, iron, magnesium etc that I use as a reference.

The EAS shakes, where do you buy them? They sound great and I need something like that for when I'm travelling in the states/canada this july.

Still no sign of Steph! She's such a regular poster, I hope she's ok :-(

Who posted that they have a tendency to think "gadgets" will change up their life/lifestyle back when we were talking about convection ovens? I just wanted to agree that I have that tendency too and comment that I think that's what happened when I bought dh and I bikes about 3 years ago. We both had 10 speeds for years while the kids were growing up, and I for one, just never got the hang of the gears, so that became an "excuse" (in my head) for not riding a lot. I bought these "plain" bikes - sturdy but no gears/bells and whistles - and thought (in my head, of course) I would then enjoy and become a regular bike rider.

It's been sporadic . . . until recently that is! I think I've finally made riding that bike on the "mapmyrun" 5k I told you about a habit . . . a healthy habit that I enjoy! Made it out and back every day of this long weekend - and one day way farther.

I'm cautiously thinking of another gadget lol for the bike (Mothers Day?) cuz I'd really like to have a basket and light on it . . . (and NO I won't be solving murders if I get one.) I biked by the $ Store for a few things and it was awkward with the bag on the way home and also didn't let it being late in the day stop my nite shift body, but it did get too dark a few times . . .

Wish I could combine the healthy exercise with staying OP tho . . . it's like I can only get one right at a time.

This will be a 5 day week for a change . . . but off early Tuesday for the election. I'm unopposed but still going for the count and for the other candidates.

Hey Aud, that was me My closet is full of gadgets that were supposed to change my life I finally got rid of my rollerblades because a decluttering blog helped me realise that I was keeping them in case Fantasy Life Ana ever wanted to use them, Real Life Ana finally accepted that she wasn't that keen on rollerblading at age 20, she sure as heck wasn't going to re-start now

But that's great that you're using your bike! And I think working on one habit at a time until it sticks is a pretty fair way of going about things, it works to break the perfectionist tendencies that derail us.

Still no Steph?

Aud: we're finally getting nice weather here and I've been thinking about getting a bike but at the same time I really don't know how much I would ride it.
Nice to hear about easy makeup ideas, that's one thing I never have time to do anymore, it seems once I had my son I stopped wearing makeup.
I'm still struggling to get back OP, things went from stressful last week to really stressful and had some triggers, my son's dad was being a pretty big jerk which caused the backslide to keep going but I'm working on eating mostly OP which is at least a step forward. I'm also still going to physical therapy twice a week and working out for at least a hour so hopefully that balances things out, they want me in three times a week but I have no idea how I would have time for that.
I guess my revised goal for Easter is to hit 215, I weighed myself yesterday and I was 220 so up 2 pounds. I don't have school this week only work so I have 0 excuses to not eat OP and refocus my energies, just have to successfully battle myself.

Fantasy Life Ana??? Omgosh, just snorted Crystal Light all over myself . . . too perfect and how true is that??? I'm pleased to meet you (and Real Life Ana too!)

Sincerely Yours,

Fantasy Life and Gadget Aud!

I'm getting better with age tho . . . really I am.

I used to be in a walking club thing and loved it, but my knees are giving out and just dread walking. I feel like I'm "getting somewhere" on that dang bike. Weird I know.

Hate the ex stress air0 . . . my dh is my saboteur . . . just noticed he's got another loaf of that yummy oat bran bread that I have a hard time resisting. I'm back to thinking of him as "the enemy" . . . which sometimes works lol . . .

Forgot to weigh today but OP and rocking on . . . sitting here waiting for the Election Results . . . some good friends in close races (I think) . . . check back after weigh in a.m.

Missing steph and get in here rho!

Hey guys! I'm sorry I haven't been on in awhile. The fact that you all missed me so much makes me feel good about myself though

I was in a rut last week and decided to take a week long break off the diet. I ha been doing it almost 2 months straight and was feeling blah. Our friends also flew into town last week and this gave me a little more time to drink a glass of wine with my old best friend.

I went back on Atkins yesterday weighing 185.6 and this morning I'm at 183.4 which shows those carbs made me retain water.

I do feel refreshed and I'm glad to be back with you guys Next time I take a break I'll let you guys know first so you don't worry!

STEPH!!!!! I'm glad to see you

A break is good, and I find it good feedback seeing how they make us retain water. (scary feedback... but helpful!) And yay for catching up with old friends.

Hi all been down with a multiple day migraine ... Weather/season changes I suspect.

I have a small Rubbermaid container with a screw on top that I keep in the bathroom - I use it on my skin when I get out of the shower and use it in my hair in place of a conditioner most days - like I said it doesn't take much at all and I would rather put too little on then add more later if necessary. For my hair I put a little on my hands and rub them together to melt it good and then run my hands thru my hair... Very little .. It goes a long way.

I've been getting the EAS carb control shakes at the pharmacy but when I go to the warehouse store I will look there to see if they are any cheaper .. I haven't been so much worrying about getting x amount of protein at each meal just trying to get the total in during the day ... I may tweak it later on to do the right amounts each meal but right now I'm looking for easier to actually do it lol .. I was finding I wasn't hungry and wasn't eating enough either calorie wise or protein wise so this helps me meet the protein goal at least.

Anabee where will you be traveling maybe it will be places we know or have been to and can steer you to fun places you may not think of..

I just changed my challenge goal .. To something more reasonable in the time left I hope

I was just placing a grocery order and I got a chuck roast that I will grind to chop meat myself - is anyone else as freaked out by the possibility of getting pink slime in their hamburger as I am ... Bleech

rho, the pink slime thing has me glad that we got our meat from a local butcher. It looks fresh and great!

Ana, it definitely does make you bloat!

183.0 today, down almost another half lb! Feels good to be back on plan and eating right

So glad to have you posting again Steph and doing so well too

I was thinking long and hard about my stuck .. And I know I have lost weight this last two months just not consistantly and it seems I have played the lose a half pound put back a half pound game then I would lose a lb ... But I realized i am almost at the lowest weight that I have been in over a decade ... I'm sure my body is fighting and holding on to this and I will just have to work thru It and it will then let go and lose again. And hopefully quickly for awhile ..

I increased my calorie goal and started trying to get in enough protein daily and I think it is helping. I don't count calories per say but the tracker I use has it on it so I was seeing that even though I wasn't hungry that my calories were consistently under 1,000 and I think my body went into protest thinking I was starving it .. So I set my calorie goal at 1300 - and while I don't get there every day it is consistant enough to make my body realize maybe that it isn't starving - and I'm shooting for 80 gr of protein a day. And I think the EAS carbadvantage shake is helping me ..

So I'm trying to decide if I want to do a personal challenge for my birthday or add a few days for June first which will be a year since I started - I did WW for a few months before I came back here but that was the date I got serious.

I reckon that'd be the case Rho, your body is fighing you. Congratulations on being at the lowest weight in so low, that's awesome! And you're enjoying what you eat and you're keeping at it, your body will get used to it eventually. Upping the calories is a good idea, 1000 is pretty low.

I had fallen badly off plan after a crazy few weeks but have just done a big grocery shop and I'm googling slow cooker pot roast, lol. I need to find new ways of eating meat.