Thanks Mars Did you see that I had ordered the 6 flavor sampler yesterday? I'm excited and you still had a loss with your extras at Panera. WAY TO GO!

Oh yes Rennie, I saw that & can't wait to hear what you think. But then I wasn't sure, with you starting Dukan. I can't wait to hear about Dukan, too. I'm gonna go look it up now. How are you feeling after all that exercise? I hope if you are sore that it's "good" sore.

Thank you, EVERYONE, for your kind and thoughtful comments, sympathy, and prayers. I do have to focus on the fact that my brother is happy and out of pain now. He's with my Mom and oldest brother and I'm sure their reunion is a joyous one. I know he is feeling an incredible peace now and for that I am thankful. I could keep dwelling on how heartbroken I am, but I am prone to depression, and my brother, who was very protective, would not want that for me, so I'm trying to think positive. He was a great big brother. Thank you ALL so much! Your kindness has really meant a lot to me.

Rennie, yes, that is why I big-sister/ mother-hen you! The damage diabetes can do is just so awful. You haven't had major complications yet and I don't want you to! My mother and brothers may have had type 1, but diabetes is diabetes and no matter the type, it can wreak absolute havoc on one's body. My mother went blind and had to have surgery to regain some of her eyesight, suffered seizures, lost her amazing vocabulary, lost her ability to read and write, lost some toes, had to have dialysis, and died from a stroke, My oldest brother suffered depression, went into many diabetic comas, and died after going into a final diabetic coma. My 2nd oldest brother, who just passed, had an open wound in his foot and needed to have it amputated, had a heart attack, was on dialysis, and died of a massive heart attack. Now, my next oldest brother is a type 2 diabetic (the only type 2 in our family) and the good news is he is ON TOP of it. When he found out he was diabetic, he changed his whole lifestyle. He stays active and eats extremely well--lean meats and fish, non-starchy veggies, only occasional starchy veggies. limited fruits, limited whole grains, rare sweets on special occasions--and he never overeats. His A1C is constantly a 5. And he has a really happy life, which just doesn't happen to center around eating food anymore! He stays aware of food--he has to--but he isn't abusing his body with it anymore. That's what I want for all of us here! Good eating, good numbers, good health, and a good (LONG), active life! I am so happy to hear that you got your treadmill back into your house and have started on it! And just in the nick of time, girlie, because I hit the 170's today! And look at that, you're already smokin' me, lol! Congrats on the BIG whoosh! I know you used to use your treadmill time as worship and prayer time, which is an excellent idea! Yay for restarting the Dukan Diet! That's supposed to be very healthy, and your menu looks great! I'm happy for you!

Chickadeee, I hope your doctor's visit went well! Keep walking those pups! I had no doubt you all would keep the thread hopping and y'all did! This group is the best!

PrairieQueen, you'll get your scale moving again in no time! Just cut back on the potatoes for a while. I know with that garden of yours, you have lots of other amazing choices!

Mars, woohoo! I'm so happy to see those dropping numbers! Love the 160's!

Carol Sue, too funny on the good dog listening to Christian radio! Lol! I hear you on the difficulty of cooking for 2. I grew up in a family of 8, so we always had lots of food on the table, and it's taken me years to try to figure out how much to cook and I still don't have it down, haha! The smaller plate idea works for me because I don't put out the extra food on the table (I keep it on the stove) and I don't allow myself to go back for seconds (which I ALWAYS used to do!) I'm finding I really am triggered by the sight of food, so I tend to keep it out of sight as much as possible now. I don't even allow myself to watch food commercials anymore. I found myself even averting my eyes away from a McD's billboard as I was driving. I can talk about food, no problem, but seeing it is another story, and less on my plate is a good thing for me!

Mary, I hope things are going more smoothly for you at work! Good luck on moving farther down the new decade! You can do it!

Hi Bewildered! Miss you!

Ichabod still can't walk on his own, but yesterday he started moving his legs with me holding his tail and today he can stand on his own and he can walk (practically run) with me holding his tail. Two days ago he wasn't moving his legs at all, so he's going in the right direction each day. I just need for him to keep it up! His mood is great and he seems like himself except for the fact that he can't walk. I take him out into the front yard multiple times a day and he just rolls around and plays. I massage his legs and feet and do leg exercises with him. And I walk around with him holding his tail so he'll have balance. I can only imagine what that looks like to the cars going by, lol! (We live on Main Street!) As long as he keeps having good days, even if there is an occasional bad day, I'm going to keep doing my best for him.

I have been wondering why my joints have been bothering me lately. 1) Stress I'm sure. It aggravates my RA. 2) No exercise. Exercise is good for my RA and I'm sure my body is missing it. 3) I'm always bent over or on the ground with Ichabod, lol! (Totally worth it!)

I am down to 179.5 today! The 170's are a decade that seemed so far off (because I started at 220)! It doesn't seem real!

Week 18: High 190.5, Low 186.5
8/30--190.5
8/31--189.5
9/1--188
9/2--187
9/3--188
9/4--187
9/5--186.5 Carb Day

Week 19: High 186; Low 183.5
9/6--186
9/7--186
9/8--185
9/9--184
9/10--184
9/11--184.5
9/12--183.5 Carb Day

Week 20: High 184, Low 180.5
9/13--184
9/14--184
9/15--182.5
9/16--181
9/17--181.5
9/18--181
9/19--180.5 Carb Day

Week 21:
9/20--181
9/21--181.5
9/22--DNW
9/23--180
9/24--179.5
9/25--
9/26--

Today's Meals
Breakfast
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water
Green tea with Splenda

Lunch:
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
A handful of walnuts
Mio Water

Snack:

Dinner:
BBQ pulled pork
Steamed broccoli and cauliflower
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
None

Good for you on your new decade, Jacqui. You are rockin' this! And good for Ichabod to be able to get around a bit. I'd like to drive by and see you holding him up by the tail.

I agree that your brother is in a better place, but it's still sad to lose family members. None of us is going to live forever, but it's hard to see people suffer.

Prairie Queen, I call my DH Mr Potato Head. That is his main food. He can eat a big plate of fried potatoes for dinner and be satisfied with nothing else. He has never had a weight problem. He always tells me that I will never get fat eating potatoes and I reply "No, YOU will never get fat eating potatoes." They are bad for my weight and also my diabetes. Very small portions only.

Chickadeee, how was your dr appointment?

Rennie and Mars I tried Dukan for awhile. Bought the book and everything. It went the way of every other eating plan for me. Sigh...I'm hopeless!

Mary, Rennie was saying the same thing about the snide remarks from co-workers. I have felt that too in the past, and sometimes I think maybe we are reading too much into it. I have a tendency to forgive people, or maybe I'm just too stupid to realize they are insulting me. Try to ignore it.

I haven't had TOM for about 18 years. Don't miss him one bit!!

Mars, I figure I will cut them in half. Since they have so much protein and fiber that should do the trick when I want to snack or need to eat while at work but can't break away. I'm not aching at all but I'm not pushing it either. As bad as I want to run as soon as my thighs or anything start to hurt I slow it down. I'm gonna have to build it up to where I was and I know that is gonna take time. I don't know the last time I really really did one of my brisk walk/job exercise. I have only managed to do 1.5 miles and I just stop at 30-31 minutes instead of trying to go further. The Dukan Diet isn't hard for me other than the fact that I am really not big on a lot of eggs (due to burping when they are boiled) though I prefer them boiled and I can't eat them scrambled or fried daily either. I quickly get sick of them that way. I am not big on meat either (eating it all day). I am only supposed to be on the Attack Phase for 3 days but I ate popcorn last evening so I will add yesterday back in and hope that I eat only what I am supposed to today.

Jacqui you know I'm gonna print that and post it to read over I'm glad I have you to look after me, thank you. Glad Ichabod is doing better. I wonder if you can make a type of sling to hold his tail in the position that helps steady him. I saw this walking apparatus for cats/dogs somewhere once. Look into it. It will surely help you too with not having to bend over. GO YOU on the 170's. This means that I can't go back to the high 170's so I've gotta do right .

Well Carol you have known me for a bit. I don't seem to stick with anything long either. But I do think my issue is once I have a major up on the scale not just a pound or two I get the attitude of "oh well, one more day won't hurt and I just keep eating the same mess" then I get upset and start all over with something else instead of going back to what was working before I screwed up. I think most things (for me) would work if I just took the time to follow through correctly. I'm learning to forgive which has got to be one of the hardest things to do. I now keep my praise and worship going while at work and ignore all of the side conversations. I pray on the way there and thank God that I made it through the hours there without allowing my tongue to get me in trouble I can't wait for TOM to leave me forever

Well today I only had a 0.4 loss. I should kick myself because my son had popcorn. Popcorn is a setup for a mess with me. The sodium is a killer. I did so well yesterday but my rings were tight this morning so I know that had to be it since it was the last thing I ate. Gonna keep is 100 today. and after my check-ins I'm gonna get my walk in

Carol Sue, thank you! Yes, I imagine I am quite a sight bent over following behind Ichabod holding his tail as he walks across the yard, haha!

Rennie, thank you! I wish I could find something that could hold Ichabod's tail. That would be great! I tried putting a cloth belt under his belly to hold him up but that must have confused him because he just stretched his legs out straight and wouldn't walk, silly cat! Yep, you have to keep doing your best now and get into those 160's!

Ichabod is still improving little by little.

Yay! The new decade stuck! I ate a late dinner tonight though, so I don't know if I'll still be in the 170's tomorrow morning or not, but I'm hoping! It'd be a nice way to start Carb Day!

Week 18: High 190.5, Low 186.5
8/30--190.5
8/31--189.5
9/1--188
9/2--187
9/3--188
9/4--187
9/5--186.5 Carb Day

Week 19: High 186; Low 183.5
9/6--186
9/7--186
9/8--185
9/9--184
9/10--184
9/11--184.5
9/12--183.5 Carb Day

Week 20: High 184, Low 180.5
9/13--184
9/14--184
9/15--182.5
9/16--181
9/17--181.5
9/18--181
9/19--180.5 Carb Day

Week 21:
9/20--181
9/21--181.5
9/22--DNW
9/23--180
9/24--179.5
9/25--179
9/26--

Today's Meals
Breakfast
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Polish sausage
Black beans
Mio Water

Snack:

Dinner: @ local sports grill with friends
Large salad with grilled chicken, craisins, and ranch dressing
Water with lemon
Hot black tea with Sweet 'n' Low

Today's Exercise:
None

Jacqui on the new decade!!! That's a tribute to your loved ones. So is the way you support us on 3FC I can just imagine you & Ichabod doing the tale walk on Main St. The cats I've known are super sensitive about who they allow to touch their tales! He must really trust you! I'm trying to think of something that would spare your back. Maybe something like a seat on wheels... a tricycle?? I hope you are getting back to your exercise routine & feeling better soon.

Rennie .4 loss is almost 1/2 lb in one day. That adds up fast. And it was after the fluid retaining popcorn. I hope you aren't too hard on yourself for that small slip. The longer I watch my weight or diet, the better I get at figuring out how to make it all work...learning the a lot from the times I've fallen off the wagon, in little or big ways.

I'm the opposite of you re eggs & meat. Will the egg requirement ease up after 3 days? Hope the bars help--good idea to eat them in small pieces. I scarf them & then they sit heavy in my stomach. Way to go on the exercise! Especially being smart about building up gradually.

I'm looking forward to Carb Day tomorrow. I feel heavy & sluggish, but it might be because it's hot.
B mushroom omelet, whey shake/coffee
S B up Cinnamon bar
L salad w chicken, quinoa, Walden Farms balsamic vinaigrette/evoo
D turkey chile with mole dulce seasoning yummmm!
S whey shake/coffee, broccoli
2L cold herbal tea
WI 168.4

Mars, thanks! Yay on the 168.4! Haha! I think I'd be even funnier-looking on a trike following Ichabod holding his tail, lol! He's actually too fast for me to try to scoot along with him. He speed-walks!

I must have something wrong with my computer. I just realized I can't see any of Bewildered's posts in this thread! I went back to see when she last posted, and I can see where we all responded to her, but I can't see her posts! I see them in our last thread, but not this one. What the heck? Is anyone else having this trouble? Bewildered, I miss you (apparently more than I even realized!)

Morning All,

Jacqui I can't see any posts either. Bewildered Hope you are doing well.

I got up really early and ate a full serving of turkey chili. My weight is at 170, but I usually weigh on an empty stomach so I won't move my ticker. I'm working on adjusting to eastern time in the next 5 wks, in anticipation of travel. We'll be on the road before dawn to get to bird areas. I don't like to be awakened by an alarm So I'm working toward getting to bed at 8-9, getting up 2-3a. We'll see how that goes, hopefully I won't need to eat a bowl of chili, going forward

Rennie, Did your son take you up on the WL challenge?

PS Awww Jacqui, I bet you'd look cute on a tricycle

According to Bewildered's public profile her last post was around Aug 12. Maybe she just left?

EDIT I do see that we were answering posts from her long after Aug 12. I don't know why that would be. It's like someone removed all her posts from this current thread. Hmmmm I hope she's OK.

On another forum, they have a MIA thread where you post if you are going to leave for any reason you post its there so people don't worry about you.

I think we all have to realize that weight gained from fluid retention, such as from eating popcorn, is not fat. Other than the fluid retention, popcorn is fiber and is good for us, actually. We are interested in fat loss. This is why we should not be concerned with the up and down fluctuations.

Rennie, I guess I only remember you for how well you do sticking to a plan, once you set your mind to it. This is the Rennie I know. I think when you get messed up you tend to stay away, or post on threads I don't visit, so I am not aware of it. Or maybe I just like looking on the bright side!!! How could you have a WL challenge with a young son? They lose so much faster, but maybe because they're young they don't get as determined about it.

Mars, I have always been a big egg eater. It's my go-to when there's nothing else I want. I notice that I am losing interest in meat. Mostly I eat it because I'm cooking it for DH. When I eat out I'm trending toward angus burgers without the bun because nothing else seems to interest me. I don't know what's going on, but I'm wishing it would cause a loss. Not today though, because an argument with DH drove me to eat a half of a sub sandwich we bought from the firemen. Grrrrrrr!!

Wow, so up to this point, through all the highs and lows on the scale, there is only a 1-lb difference between the last time I did this diet and this time. I am down a lb but give it a few days and it will be even again or I will be up again. It pretty much always evens out. So I gave up Diet Dr, Pepper and I drink more water, I exercise a lot more, including with weights this time (well, except for in the last two weeks), I have tried to eat more moderately on Carb Days, and yet the rate of weight loss is basically the same. I find that so interesting! I just know that that says something about no matter how hard we push our weight loss efforts (within reason), the body is going to lose weight at its own rate, so we just need to relax, be patient, AND strive for health. I'm going to continue to do my best to stay away from Diet Dr. Pepper (never a guarantee), not because as some research indicates diet drinks affect one's weight negatively, but because I don't think it's good for me overall--my kidneys, my joints, my teeth, etc. And I'm going to continue to exercise and lift weights because it helps my RA, it makes me stronger, and I like that my body, although flabby, is not as flabby as before. (Of course, if I don't get back into the gym, it's going to get that way!) Looking at this chart though, I don't feel so compelled to push myself on exercise so much now. At my age and with my RA, I'm going to hurt myself if I continue trying to do more and more (and I was starting to experience some of that with a sore hamstring), so I just need to do a moderate amount each day. I'd like to shoot for 1 to 1.5 hours a day instead of 2 to 3 hours a day. Just a mile or two walking and not-too-heavy weights 3-5 times a week is plenty! And I won't concern myself so much about what I eat on Carb Day (as long as it keeps being easy to return to slow carb the next day). Of course, sticking to my way of eating now is imperative, for both continued weight loss and maintenance! There's no going back!

Mars and Carol Sue, oh I just hate the thought of Bewildered no longer posting! I hope that's not the case! But it does seem that her posts were deleted from this thread...although even if she were leaving, I don't see the point of that. I do hope she shows up again! Bewildered, if you are taking a break, just know you'll always be a part of our group, so come back as soon as you are ready!

Carol Sue, I really like the idea of a MIA thread for anyone who might want to take a break or who knows they are about to get too busy to keep posting for a while, so we won't worry about them! I'm sure when I disappeared a year ago, it worried Rennie, and when I came back and Rennie wasn't around, I worried about her. And when Chickadeee took a short break recently, we were all concerned. Now we're wondering about Bewildered. So an MIA thread would be great!

Mars, your turkey chili sounds yummy! And I think it's a great idea to prepare for the time change for when you go east.

Rennie, on the idea of what Carol Sue said, what I remember about you was your penchant for planning everything you were going to eat. I also remember you used to give me fits because you used to eat so little! In fact, here's a quote from you one time when I was asking you about it: "I eat when I'm hungry and I'm not a big eater so I do get full but I know that's not healthy. Now if I'm eating junk (starchy stuff) I tend to over eat and then feel bad later, stomach ache, bloated." You definitely need to find the middle ground, girlie, lol! Not 700 calories and not overeating on junk food, just somewhere healthy in the middle, Goldilocks, haha!

Carol Sue, I couldn't agree with you more on not being overly concerned with the daily water weight fluctuations! Preach it, sister!

Speaking of which, I'm up a half lb today! And it's Carb Day and Ohio State game day, so the scale will be up even more tomorrow, but that's okay! It will come back down!

Week 18: High 190.5, Low 186.5
8/30--190.5
8/31--189.5
9/1--188
9/2--187
9/3--188
9/4--187
9/5--186.5 Carb Day

Week 19: High 186; Low 183.5
9/6--186
9/7--186
9/8--185
9/9--184
9/10--184
9/11--184.5
9/12--183.5 Carb Day

Week 20: High 184, Low 180.5
9/13--184
9/14--184
9/15--182.5
9/16--181
9/17--181.5
9/18--181
9/19--180.5 Carb Day

Week 21: High 181.5, Low 179
9/20--181
9/21--181.5
9/22--DNW
9/23--180
9/24--179.5
9/25--179
9/26--179.5 Carb Day

Today's Meals
Breakfast
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Half a waffle
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Manwich hamburger sauce (no bun)
Mio water

Snack:
5 pieces of Ghirardelli mint chocolate candy ( So good but I'm lucky all that rich chocolate didn't trigger a headache!)

Dinner:
A slice of pumpkin roll (I was too full for a meal and dessert, so I had to make a choice, and I can have a meal any old day! )
Green tea with Splenda
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
None

Is this thread open? Can I join in?

I need to keep the calories AND the carbs nice and low to see any progress. I'm not willing to give up fruit, and I just can NOT do Atkins--not for long, anyway. Feeling desperate, yet motivated, and since the fan of life is not slinging cr@p at me right now, it's a good time for more action.

...was going to read through the back log of postings from this thread, but instead spent an hour trying to figure out why the web page is not resizing when I increase the zoom....I have to use the scrolly at the bottom to read the entire line of text....happens on all my browsers, but only for the last set of posts from this thread, and not earlier posts...annoying...

...DANG, Jacqui_D! Those are some Mighty Impressive spreadsheets! The Reproducibility of Weight Loss! The Consistency of daily weigh-ins! You could keep several PhD students busy for years with this data! HoleeEEEee Cow!

Lol!!! SeeMyFeet, of course you are welcome! I'm so glad you are joining us! I'm sure you will keep us in stitches, funny lady! You don't have to give up fruit. As long as fruit does not get in your way of losing weight, there's no reason why you shouldn't have it! Of course, some fruit contains more sugar than others (bananas, cherries, grapes <<< my favorites--it figures!) and some have more fiber which helps offset sugar (oranges, strawberries, raspberries), and some are specifically touted as good for weight loss (pears, blueberries, grapefruit), so just be smart about it, and you're golden!