I am totally addicted to this site...If I don't check it at least once a day, I don't know what to do with myself. Here it is after 11 p.m. and I'm finally able to read a few posts. It's been one of those days...started at the doc's office and went downhill from there. Been dealing with TMJ flare up and severe sore throat since we got back from Orlando...must have picked up something there. Guess I'm not as good as I used to be to handling stress and germs as I used to be. This doc. is really nice...actully gave me a pain med. to help me sleep at night...it's kicking in so I know I'm rambling a bit.

Anyway, hope you all are doing great. Missed seeing any posts from anybody today.

They've got the walls up on the pool...I was really surprised by that....if I felt better I'd be more excited but I truly am thankful. Been trying to learn all about pool care with some books and videos. I may get some help to start out with till I feel more confident about taking care of everything.

My bright shining moment today was when I stepped on the scale and it was down to 156!! I really am pleased to have finally lost these two lbs. I put on during the trip. Now I just need to keep going...in the right direction.

Enough rambling...the medicine is definitely kicking in and hopefully I will actually be able to sleep tonight.

Night everyone!

Hi everyone, well the last week and a half i have really been struggling to get on my plan. I find once I drift off of it and is really hard to get back on.

bev

Its my life...I feel your pain. Everyday, I start out okay. But lately in the afternoon, I've been having these massive sugar cravings. And if I give in, I give in all the way. So today, I decided I'd work a little low-carbing into my plan for a week or two to break the sugar habit. Then, I made the goal for one week. Now, I'm down to just trying to get through today. Luckily what I'm craving is not in the house. I'm just trying to make myself stay away from my car. But all you can do is keep trying. I can and you can succeed!

Hey!! I have been sooooo busy with the new job lately, I have not had time to post!!

Holly - crickey about the deer incident!! I get nervous in the country at night here... but for Kangaroos, Koalas and those silly Wombats!! I don't ride to work, I have to wear a suit and makeup and look all professional, and it is too much work to carry all that on the bike and get ready at work. the city traffic here is horrendous and I work right smack in the middle of the business district. So much easier to get a train.... stand/find a seat and get stuck into a book!! I have no stress on my commute to work. I wish I could ride to work, it would get those km's on the bike and the experience I need!! The train costs me $150 a month... so I am sure I could save money too if I rode!

The weather here is yucky... cold cold cold and wet. Much better than snow tho!!

BFL seminar - it was all about high pressure sales and selling their training packages. I had a few good tips, got some free myoplex and got out of there in one piece..... not wanting to spend $3K on a trainer 6 days a week.... but I wont' go into my thoughts on that topic... I think it is worth it if the trainer is good, but I don't need someone every single day!!!

BFL - going great!! Starting week 7 tomorrow... my weight has moved up and down consistently for 6 weeks so I am about the same when I started... but.... I feel stronger, the workouts are much harder and most of all.... I am looking smaller!! Can't wait for these last 6 weeks to tell the story!!

Hang in there everyone!! Take it moment by moment, and don't let your last indulgence completely toss you off your path. This is not a diet... it is life, and sometimes s**t happens just don't let it get you down..... or like Joe Dirt says.... keep on keeping on.... have not watched that movie for awhile.... I just might have to go toss it into the DVD player!!!

Have a good weekend everyone!
Nola.

Been VERY busy here...we have pulled in just over $400 in our rummage sale...yippee!!!!
Well, off to clean up the rummage leftovers and to get ready to go to the lake/campground for the night! I will post more later!
Aphil

Talk about rain....it's been coming down in torrents!!! We now have a huge mud hole in the back yard.

I'm starting to feel better and even had a chance to read "Food and Loathing" by Betsy Lerner. I would recommend the book to anyone...an easy read too.

I've been working on having something to eat within an hour or two of getting up in the morning. I want to see if it actually helps get that metabolism going. I've been eating cottage cheese or drinking an EAS drink. Doing the several small meals a day thing is harder than it sounds. Especially if your usual routine was to wait till 1:00 and eat for the first time of the day and then snack till dinner. I don't even want to think how many calories I was consumming then.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Hi everyone!
Whew! This was one busy weekend for me!
Well ladies-I am starting a new challenge here on this thread, and I encourage you all to join on in!!!! I want to start a 90 day challenge here. For the next 90 days, I want everyone to give it their all-we can do this! For those of you already at your weight goals-I would like you to challenge yourselves by stepping up their exercise-either by adding a little more if you tend to slack in that area, or by trying something new-say step aerobics if you usually walk for cardio, or walking outside if you usually use a treadmill, etc. and by either upping your weights or otherwise kicking up your strength training program if you do one. You may be at the same weight, but lots of changes can still take place-you can get even firmer, lose some of your body fat percentage, improve your cardiovascular endurance...lots of great stuff.
For all of us still losing-Let's bunker down and get busy! Let's do what it takes to stay on plan and eat clean. My goals for the 90 days are to lose inches and a ferw pounds, and to hopefully go from my current size 16's to a size 13/14. I have two class reunions to go to this year-one in late August, the other undecided-and I want to look great! (Besides, the newer class reunion that the date is still undecided on will include "one that got away!" Gotta look good before I can see him again! Talk about motivation!!)
I am committing myself to a lot more smaller goals in my diet-limiting diet sodas to 1 a day, and upping my water intake, getting adequate protein, eating very little simple carbs-getting my carbs from complex sources like fruits, veggies, and whole grain products over white breads/bagels and other simple carbs. I am also committing to 5 servings of fruit or veggies a day, and getting my 100% drv of calcium. This requires me to plan my meals ahead a little, but knowing that I am feeding my body what it needs-treating food as fuel for my body and not using it for comfort purposes will be worth it in the end.
I have one more class to go in my basics dance class and then I go to the continuing level for the summer-so that will be one of my exercise challenges. I will be posting what day of the challenge we are all on up here, so everyone can keep track.
What are your goals going to be over the next 90 days? To drink a certain amount of water each day? To lose in your body fat percentage? To lose measureable inches? To get 2-3 servings of fruit each day? To exercise a certain amount of hours or minutes each week? I would love everyone to tell their goals, join us in this challenge, and see each other through it and keep each other strong!
Aphil

Aphil, whoo-hoo, I am with you on kickin' it up a notch!! My goals/desires:

1. Got to get back to drinking the 8 servings of water daily. To achieve this, I need to bring a larger-sized water bottle to work, keep it full and drink it!! I know that drinking the water: a. keeps me from getting dehydrated (duh ) b. keeps hunger pangs away c. keeps over-forty skin a little more moist

2. I would like to pare more bodyfat, to allow more muscles to show. To do this, I would also need to get my complex carbs from non-grain sources. I have been letting myself have a treat such as a small muffin or piece of baked goody each day (but also consciously cutting out a serving of bread/grain to make up for it) but we know that "feeding" the sugar/carb habit just keep it going...so I need to cut that out!!

3. I am having great success with doing my newest Gilad tape, that really targets legs, but I can't forget my other tapes; I just did the Greg Smithey Buns of Steel today; that one I can always feel in my butt a few hours later!

4. I have a photo in mind, to use at my motorcycle forum, as an avatar...something to do with me sprawled on my bike, with thigh-high black vinyl boots (which I don't have - yet ), and wearing my black vinyl unmentionables that hubby got for me - can you say "biker girl from ****" - LOL! But will only pose for such a pic if I feel like I'm in "killer" shape - so that's something to work for!!

So there are MY goals/plans!!! I am already on a good start today - breakfast was a whole grain toaster cake (130 cals), a nectarine and a small yogurt (about 200 cals); lunch was a can of tuna with a spoonful of lowfat mayo, celery and cukes; now I'm going for some water. And cut the grass - when it dries out.

I had to highlight your comments, 'nola - they are so great!! ( I also enjoyed "Joe Dirt" alot!!)

It's good that you have public transportation available, but a bummer that you can't get more miles in that way. Commuting to work is how I really got my practice in, but it's also just like a peaceful drive in the country, with very little traffic.

Aphil, $400 from your sale?! Super!!! And I am going to make that microwaved apple snack for myself and my son, when he gets home from school today.

Georgia Lady, I have also read that eating something healthy first thing in the morning is good for starting the metabolism. I'm afraid that all I want, the very first thing, is a BIG mug o' java! Congrats on your happiness at the scale being down! I hope your TMJ pain is gone.

Idealperson, Whoa, 6 pounders gone in two weeks! I love that you are feeling so "energized and sexy"! Way to go!!

Zadie k, I'm not sure what doses of caffeine are recommended...as Aphil said, it would be wise to "counter-act" each cup of coffee with an additional glass of water, for a start. Do you feel you need to cut down, are you feeling jittery?

Hi to it's_my_life! Hang in there, take it one hour at a time (or on tough days, minute by minute! I know THAT feeling ) and come here often for support and motivation!

Hi missymont, how are you today?

Hey Jacklyn, glad you're feeling so much better. It's SO true that it sometimes takes an illness to make us appreciate just how damn good we feel , when we're NOT sick. Yay to you for keeping that feeling, and going for good health as a life-long goal!

Hello to everyone else, and hope you're having a great day, and doing the things that you need to do to feel good about yourself/which translates to feeling good about family, work, life!

Your friend,
Holly

Ladies, the storm has past (Thanks for asking Vermontmom). This is my 3rd day back to eating right and exercising, I even got my weight training in this morning. I'm back to feeling positive again!

Aphil, I'm jealous. I didn't make anything close to that when I had a garage sale.

Right now, my 90 day goal is to get back to where I was back in April. I want to build back up to working out an 1 & 1/2 to 2 hour workout a day. I'd like to be in the low 130's as far as pounds. And I want to reduce those refined carbs, so I won't have another out of this world sugar craving.

Missy

Here is e-diets list of the 101 of the worst foods. I put my favorite subsitutions in parenthesis. Let me know yours.

101 Of The Worst Foods

• Donuts, breakfast rolls or any rich confectionary item (NO SUBSTIUTE..JUST EAT SPARINGLY)
• Anything loaded in sugar and/or deep fried (ANYTHING DEEP FRIED CAN BE BAKED& USE SUGAR SUBSTIUTES)
• Fast food hamburgers such as Burger King's Whoppers or McDonald's Big Macs or Quarter Pounders(THE REGULAR BURGERS ARE NOT TOO BAD BUT MUST HAVE WITHOUT FRIES)
• Rich, high-fat ice cream (ALL THE NEW LOW-CAL AND LOW FAT ICE CREAMS…YUM)
• Deep-fried shrimp or chicken -heck, any deep-fried meat fits the bill (BAKE IT)
• Latte with real whipped cream and other calorie-laden flavorings (TRY THE LOW CAL KIND)
• Regular soda pop with sugar (DIET SODA OR WATER..DUH)
• Mashed potatoes that are loaded with butter (BUTTER BUDS OR SPRAY)
• Full-fat cheeses (LOW-FAT CHEESES)
• Whole milk (FAT FREE MILK)
• Most pizzas (HOMEMADE PITA PIZZA)
• Most pies
• Macaroni & cheese
• Rich salad dressings (LOW CAL & LOW FAT ONES)
• French fries (BAKED POTATO STRIPS)
• Cheese fries
• Onion rings
• Potato tots
• Baked beans with brown sugar and bacon
• Canned pork with beans
• Traditional potato salad
• Regular sour cream (LOW FAT/LOW CAL SOUR CREAM)
• Cream and half-n-half (LOW FAT/LOW CAL SOUR CREAM)
• Potato chips (BAKED POTATO CHIPS)
• Corn chips (BAKED CORN CHIPS)
• Regular waffle/pancake syrups (RED SUGAR/LOW CAL SYRUP)
• French toast
• Meat pot pies
• Pork bacon (TURKEY BACON )
• Heavy gravies
• Most breads
• Heavy cream sauces
• "Hungry Man" or other "supersized" frozen dinners
• Manhandlers soups (HOMEMADE SOUPS)
• Most candy bars
• Frosted breakfast cereals (FIBER CEREALS)
• Pre-cooked breakfast sandwiches
• Breaded fish and meats
• Canned pasta dishes
• Cashews (HMMM I LOVE CASHEWS..NO SUBSTITUES)
• Cashew butter
• Canned stew (HOMEMADE STEW)
• Cream-filled cupcakes
• Macadamia nuts
• Manicotti
• Mayonnaise (FAT FREE MIRACLE WHIP)
• Potato pancakes
• Most stuffing mixes
• Cornbread
• Tortellini
• Calzones
• Malted milks and milk shakes (PROTIEN SHAKES)
• Eggs Benedict
• Chicken Kiev
• Regular peanut butters
• Canned pie filling
• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Corned beef hash
• Liver dumplings
• Creamed oysters

Hello,
Wow it feels like awhile since I posted.

re: 90 day challenge
I would like to keep to my plan, exercise every day rain or shine (this is one that I have trouble with), and hit my weight of 140 (though if this does not happen in 90 days I will still feel very good about eating well and exercise, and I know it will just take patience to get there). This is about a pound a week, which seems safe and reasonable.

re: reasons for giving up caffine
I have two groups of friends - high strung law students (or recent graduates) who practically live on caffine, and laid back hippie types who say that caffine is not good for you, and if you must only drink it in tea. It is a pretty powerful diuretic and it can cause hypertension and muscle tension. Particularly bad for those of us with tmj problems (though I have not had trouble for years). The book "recovery from addiction" talks about caffine at length and how caffine addiction effects the body and it is not pretty (it also had a good discussion about nicotine, sugar and alcohol). At any rate, I would like to give up the caffine at some point, but I do not know if now is the time. It is trying to find the balance between making a new lifestyle with eating and exercise, and not becoming too overwhelmed with the changes all happening at once.

re: worst foods
I love them all (except the meat). My hardest thing to give up (or cut back) was cake. I love making layer cakes from scratch. I figured out the calories and fat in a slice and it was not too pretty (but not as ugly as it could have been). Now I can only cook my layer cakes for special occasions when I can take the cake to someone elses house and be assured that I only eat one small slice and the rest gets eaten by others so I do not have leftovers sitting in the house. My kitchen aid mixer is lonely. I think I will start maaking bread with it.

zadie

What I find interesting about that is it isn't stated really clear WHY these foods are on the list...some of them are obvious, because they are well known nutritionally barren and high fat foods, such as the french fries and tater tots...but some of the others aren't so obvious. The canned soups are on their due to their high sodium content...so if you eat canned soup, I recommend Campbell's Healthy Request, or Healthy Choice brands, because they are lower in sodium. The macaroni and cheese is on there because of the fattening cheese and butter used to prepare it, and because 99% of the time people use regular refined macaroni noodles instead of buying whole wheat macaroni-so it is like this: refined carbs+high fat/calorie cheese=fat butt. The large sized hamburgers like the Whopper, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, etc. are simply on there due to the larger portion size-if you have it, you should be having a regular hamburger for around 300 calories.
I would like everyone to look at this list and use your brains...and see if you can figure out why some of these foods are on the "worst" list.
Well, day 1 of the new challenge went very well for me...I stayed on plan, had 6 servings of fruits and veggies yesterday, and did a great strength training workout. I am looking forward to having today (day 2) go just as well.
Everyone have a fabulous day 2 of the DITOFW challenge, and if temptation strikes...use your brains before you use your mouth! Think about where that Chunky candy bar is going to appear on your body if you eat it!
Aphil

I seem to slip on the vegetables. I sneak in a high cal not satisfying snack and then don't eat enough vegetables. I'll be working on that. I've also been investigating prepared foods when I'm normally notorious for prefering 'natural' or 'whole' foods. I'll be keeping an eye on that too.

Hello Friends...I've missed you all! Last Wednesday I had my wisdom teeth removed..all 5 of them, (I had an extra one on my jaw line). I am such a wimp, I passed out and my BP dropped to 60/40. All the teeth had been loosened and they couldn't gey my BP to rise, so they took me by ambulance to the hospital to have me put under and the teeth extracted. Now I have 15 stitches in my mouth. Before this I was getting tired of salads, now I am craving them!

The good news is I weighed in last night and lost 2#, I am only four pounds from my WW goal!!!! Another good was when the nurse was giving me a prescription for Tylenol with Codein, she said: "take one or two every four hours, but since you are small, you should take only one." No one has called me small since grade school, so even in my pain, THAT FELT GOOD!

Georgialady-glad you liked the berry cobbler, it's my favorite too!

Can someone tell me why canned pie filling is on that list, (?) I know thay have alot of sugar and fresh fruit is better, but they are low in points and great in some desserts....

Have a great day everyone and drink your water....