Hi all,
I eat embarrassingly boring foods at work...egg whites, cottage cheese... but compared to the protein shake I drink, these actually feel like treats! Also recently tried gnu bars and have ordered vita muffins. Trying to find little ways to keep myself excited about the process.

I'm trying to get movitated again...seems like I'm just dragging. I've been good about hauling my behind to the gym, but I seem to be running so low on energy when it comes to anything else. Work has been really stressful lately, and I've been curling up and hiding in my shell a lot more than I can afford to do.

52 days until we leave for our wedding... then a whole month of vacation. I'm going to have to hold off on any major life decisions until after that.

Sorry for being so scattered today.

Hi ladies,

The last couple of days have been hard. I am already tired of dieting. It is so hard with two kiddos around, who are eating snacks and little goodies. We have been going to McDonalds less so that's been good for them too.
I am doing well with exercise, which has never really been a problem. However, it does make me so much more hungry. Which has not been easy.

I think it would be easier to have just health food in the house, but my farmer DH and kiddos have to have good hardy meals. Which makes it really really really.....HARD!!!!!

Heather

I know what you mean. My DH was bringing ice cream, cookies, beer, chips and what have you into the house while I was trying to eat fruit, low fat yogurt, and veggies as snacks.

Maybe you can slowly start giving your kids a bit more fruit and some of those granola type bars instead of their regular snacks. And hearty meals can include a lot of veggies, protein, and carbs which should fill everyone up.

You could also explain to your husband (and the kids if they're old enough to understand) that you're trying to eat healthier foods and would like their support. Everyone has their own way of coping with family and friends. I know many people on this board, including me, have said that 3FC is their main support. I'm glad you found it too!

Dagmar

Heather - i grew up on a farm and man do i know what you mean about hearty meals! my dad still doesn't understand my eating habits. I like to cook for him sometimes, which alternates between going over well and flopping because he just doesn't feel satisfied with something that doesn't include meat (with the skin/fat), potatoes, and butter. like dagmar said, you CAN make healthier meals that are still hardy, it just takes a little work to make them appealing to everyone in the family.

i had a good workout today but i'm still fighting not to scarf down everything in sight. i know i eat more at this time of month, but i can't use it as an excuse to eat two servings of pasta and half a pint of ice cream like i did last night. if i estimated my portions correctly, i'm just within my calories for the today - gotta stick to it!!


cos i need some and i want to share it with the rest of you who are struggling right now!

Thanks Iris, I'm gonna need that for tomorrow My team at work is having a "celebration" tomorrow (read: bringing in lots of sugary, fat-laden, carb-y food) and I am trying to prepare myself mentally for it. I am planning on bringing in my usual bag lunch, but maybe with an extra piece of fruit or two, or possibly a low-fat dessert that I can eat instead of cookies & whatnot. If I know I have a bunch of yummy snacks in the fridge at work, it's a lot harder to justify eating treats that have little nutritional value. With my diet lately though, now that I've cut out the junk, eating yogurt with 2g of fat plus a cup of berries tastes like dessert to me!! Wish me luck ladies...

Tomorrow might be a rest day for me, since I am kinda sore and have gone to the gym every day since Saturday.

Silverstar, what kind of diet are you on that you have to eat such boring food ? It is possible to lose weight by eating real food. Fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken , fish, lean meats, non fat yogurt, non fat milk. Laughing cow low fat cheese wedges , low fat cheese slices, sugar free puddings and sugar free jello. Many other good foods.

Isn't it odd how people always celebrate with such high cal/high fat foods? I think it goes back historically to when, if times were good, everyone got to eat, and they starved if times were bad.

You might try bringing in sliced up fruit (plentiful and not too expensive this time of year) and relatively low fat vanilla yogurt as a dip to work. I think some of the plastic container people now make really cheap disposable chips and dip bowls for such occasions. It looks pretty festive and is healthy and not too high cal to boot.

I do this at celebrations at my sister-in-law's. I bring veggies and relatively low cal dip. She asked me to do it once years ago. No one but me ate the stuff at that time but most of the family has come around and now eats at least one healthy appetizer.

And I've heard you should exercise one day on/one off to give your muscles a chance to recover if you're doing workouts of any intensity. I alternate strength/yoga. Find out what works for you so that the soreness doesn't discourage you from your exercise plan.

Dagmar

I usually take off 2 days per week - I try to do something different every day, alternating various types of cardio, and I don't work the same muscle group two days in a row. I might just walk on the treadmill today to loosen up, since I can't walk during lunch (rainy today ).

At work, Friday is a goodie day- most people are coming around to healthier offerings- this is one of everyone's favorites:

fruit pita pizza - we serve it cold although some do put it in the toaster oven.
any fruit can be used in place of strawberries

4 whole wheat pita bread (the small ones, about 8 inches around)
1/3 cup apple butter
2 kiwi, peeled (or just scooped out)
6 large strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 apple, thinly sliced (any variety)
cinnamon, to taste
Directions
1Place pitas on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 300.
2Spread the apple butter over the undersides of the whole pita breads.
3Arrange the apple around the perimeter of the pita. Next put a circle of kiwi slices, then some strawberries. Place a kiwi or berry slice in the center.
4Sprinkle with cinnamon
5Bake on the center rack for about 15-20 minutes, till the fruit is softened. Slice in half and serve.
some put a dollop of yogurt with it


Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 (109g) = 1/2 of the pita pizza

Recipe makes 8 servings

Calories 152
Calories from Fat 9 (5%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 1.0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 174mg 7%
Potassium 181mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 34.2g 11%
Dietary Fiber 4.1g 16%
Sugars 12.9g
Protein 3.6g

Claire- eek! Is it that time of the month for you? Maybe that caused your gain?

Dagmar- I think you'll be beyond your goal weight for NYC. That is a good idea about veggies and dip.

Kimberly- I eat lots of baby carrots with FF dressing as a dip. Oh and I have Peanut Butter on a slice of super healthy bread for breakfast each morning.

time2shine- welcome!!!

trailgroomer- mmmm fruit!

Iris- bet your pound will be gone when TOM is over!

silverstar- sorry work is so stressful

Heather- that is hard. One thing I do is eat my meals on a dessert plate. It makes me more aware of my portion sizes.

I have nothing major planned for today. I need to clean the house a bit since my mother and sister are coming to visit us next week. I did not get a walk in this morning due to DH's work schedule.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Agh. I am out of control. I have eaten constantly for days on end and I cannot stop. I feel physically uncomfortable and I feel doomed to be fat forever more. Beyond that I have reached a plateau. What is a girl to do...

Welcome back by the way Leigh

spoz. It is okay. Just promise yourself to indulge for one day ad get back on track. Each day is a new challenge.

Good Morning Ladies,

Well I am feeling ok today. After my workout today I had lost two lbs. That would mean I had lost three in all, which I feel good about however I am not putting it in. Silly I know. But it helps me know for some reason.

Seems like everyone is having a time getting back into the groove after the holidays.
I made squash pattys last night and probably ate too many, but man they were sooo good. Atleast they were squash right?

Heather

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted here before. I've been kind of discouraged, I have been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, exercising everyday (I missed 1 day in the past two weeks) and I am up 3 lbs! I know I ate bad a couple of days but the other days I was so good, and I tried so hard. My husband was eating ice cream amd I was eating a granola bar and water! I feel so frustrated.

I plan to continue working out and try to further clean up my eating. As for a goal, I'd like to get back to where I was, then maybe finally lose my last ten lbs!

You all sound so dedicated and amazing to me. I hope some of your willpower rubs off on me!

chiquitaberlinda : welcome to this spot - I am on the newer side too just this summer! sounds like you are off to a fine start w/ the jillian program - is there a food component to follow? I haven't really drop any either and on another forum they pointed out that the food balance to exercise is critical so now I am also trying to figure out a better balance


also, MercerMom, I love squash and would like a recipe for the squash patties please.

Linda