Ann - Welcome!

Paula - Writing things down always helps me too, though I most often write things down here online instead of in a handwritten journal. I seem to stick to that easier. And thanks for the snack tips, I did check out the recipe section here and found a lot to work with! I am going to experiment with beans to make some kind of dip/spread, and will definitely try the cornmeal chips recipe.

Tracie - exactly my problems with flex! the counting, feeling like I'm "wasting" points on healthy oils and dairy, etc. Thanks for the snack ideas, I didn't think of blending cottage cheese to make a savory dip - I have done that before and added splenda & cocoa powder for more of a dessert type thing.

Sandra - Good luck getting back on track. You can do it!

Donna - Since I'm new over here I don't know much of your back story but what you posted sounds like good news!

Maryann - Hope the divided plate trick works out for you. I also find it helpful to eat from a salad plate instead of a dinner plate - I serve myself FAR less food that way.


Ok, this may be a silly question. For you who have eTools, how the heck do you get back into the food planner part of the site?? Ever since I told it I was switching to Core I haven't been able to find my way back to it. The side bar thing that says "Welcome Jaime, CORE PLAN" has a button that says 'planner,' which if I click on it it takes me to a popup window called 'what's new.' if I click on 'core food list,' it takes me to the popup window called 'what's new.' The what's new page talks about how much easier it is to access tools now, but for the life of me I can't figure it out!! If anybody can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it, otherwise I will have to take my Q to the WW boards, and I do not like visiting them much...

I figured out the plan manager thing. If I go in with IE instead of Firefox it sends me to the right page, FF must not be compatible with whatever updates they've done. I guess.

Now I have a question, though. I was entering my food for the day and it tells me that a raw apple counts as a point, but a cup of skinless sliced apple is Core? Is apple peel not Core? That seems a tad ridiculous, doesn't it? What do you all do?

Morning/Afternoon Chickies! I've been MIA with Sandra! I totally fell off the wagon, bumped my head and blacked out for a couple days! Oh well the past is the past, I'm back up to my WI from 2 weeks ago, so I gained 1.8 during this lapse. The BF and I have vowed not to cheat again until we go on vacation on Dec. 19th. We'll stay mostly on plan then too, but I imagine staying at my sisters it will not be all that easy, but not that bad either! Had a good core day yesterday, went to the gym and worked on Back and 20 min of cardio. Here's to a new week!

MaryAnn - Good luck with the Dr, I hope you get to the bottom of things, its frustrating doing the good stuff and not seeing results! Good idea about the section plates! Like Jaime, I use salad plates as well and make sure half of my plate is veggies, quarter carbs(if i eat them, and I only have carbs for dinner, since its after the gym), and quarter protein, controls my portions sooo much!

Donna - Happy Birthday, and I think you did just fine, considering it was your birthday! Good news coming your way, I hope it stays on that course!

Rhonda - Good job keeping up with your goal! Keep on keepin on!

Sloan - Have some envy for you staying core all weekend. I'm planning on being able to say that next monday!

Jaime - WELCOME to Core! I hope you find this not so tiring as counting, its seems as if you could get activity points for having to count everything, jk! I eat something small every two hours while at work. I love cooked veggies too, so I keep a bag of frozen veggies in the freezer at work, a glass bowl at my desk to cook it and use it as a snack all the time, I'm addicted! Anywho, good luck!

Sandra - Welcome Back! I'll be working to stay on track this week too, I know you can do it!

I hope everyone has a good day! Talk to you soon!

Steph

Jaime: I just eat apples whole, skin and all. I buy organic apples and wash them with a liquid that is supposed to get rid of pesticide residue (there shouldn't be much, if any, on organic fruit). I do that because apples have a thin skin, like grapes and berries, and are considered among the worst for having pesticides on them. Also, I eat a lot of apples...at least one a day. It's worth the extra expense, IMHO.

Welcome back, Steph..you and BF can do it!

Rhonda

Jamie, I emailed WW about core foods. They did acknowledg that there is a bug in their system that they are working to fix. Its been over a week! What I've been doing is just add in my food using the section at the bottom so I can say core things are 0 points. Otherwise, the WPAs get used up due to the system issue. I hope they fix it soon.

Had a busy Tuesday - got dd on the bus, went grocery shopping, went for a 40 minute walk, got out of my cleaning ladies way and had a pedicure. Just finished lunch and have 3 hours until the bus. Not sure what I'll do this afternoon.

Have a great day!

Donna, I'm glad dh is up and about more. Thank you for the I totally enjoyed the meeting this AM.

At the WW meeting we talked about "What are we hungry for?" Some discussion was about non food and the rest was about food and how to handle mindless eating. It was a good meeting. I'm glad I went.

Maryann, that's an excellent idea about eating off a sectioned plate. I eat with a salad fork instead of the regular but larger dinner fork. That helps me. A tip you prob already know is --make sure you can see "plate" between your different foods. Don't let anything touch.

Judy and Ann. It's good to have you here.

Paula, I like to journal even if I'm eating Core.

Steph, I think you and I bumped into each other while we were rambling around in our blackouts. Congratulations to you for hopping back on that wagon.

I think they need some sort of "wagon" smiley for us to use.

Now I'm off here to fling a few arrows. bbl

Judy and Ann!

Sandra-I think you're right, a wagon smilie would be very appropriate.

I am having a planned "escape" from the wagon this weekend when I attend our school's all girl "choir" practice. We are going to spend the night at a cabin on the lake and sing (drink), sing (drink), sing (drink) It is going to be one of my "eat whatever you want to" days. I am not even worried about eating off core. Core has become such a lifestyle for me that falling off of the wagon does not even make me nervous. I am confident that I will be back on core as soon as I get home.

Tracie and Jamie-I thought I would try flex a couple of weeks ago while I was on my loooooooooooong plateau, and I just hated it! Something in my brain really rebelled against counting and journaling, and I ate like a maniac
I think the thing I love most about core is the freedom

I'm staying after school with a student who has make up work,and she is almost done, so I've GTG. I hope the rest of you chickies are having a wonderful afternoon and have a yummy core supper planned!

Sloan, you are an example of how it's supposed to be.

Hi Everyone
Hope everyone is doing ok.
I havent went through and read the post yet. But at a glance it looks like we have some new ones.
SO WELCOME NEWBIES.
Well went to WW last night. Just weighed in. Didnt stay for the meeting. Wanted too. But was tried. And my back was hurting.
Had a Dr's appt. Was there for 2 1/2 hours. Just sitting and waiting to be seen. Then went to the hospital to see my Aunt. She had a small stroke on Sunday. She seems to be doing ok. Her speech is slurred a little and her mouth is drooping a little on one side. She should get to come home tomorrow. Then we went to Wal Mart. And then I went and weighed in.
I dont know how. But I managed to lose 3 lbs again.
I need to go and get some more fruit. Might do that Thursday. Have to go for the dreaded mammogram.
Well ladies I am going to get off here. And go catch up on everyone.
Hope everyone is doing great.
Thinking of each of you.
coco

Coco, I am SO happy for you! Keep it up my friend.

For those fruits and veggies that aren't organic, I use the following homemade wash that I got on Oprah. Its much cheaper than any of the prepackaged brands

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
Combine all ingredients in a large container. Then, transfer to a spray bottle with a pump. Spray mixture on produce, and rinse thoroughly after 5 to 10 minutes.

*Grapefruit seed extract is available at your local health food store.

Congratulations, Coco.

Good Morning Everyone,

Not much going on here, made it back to the gym yesterday, and I'm pretty much back to the weights I was using when I started How is it that a month off can undo 6 months of work???? Maybe it'll come back faster. Got my socks done last night I'm pretty excited, I'm notorious for starting projects and not finishing them.

Coco - 3 lbs is great. You must be doing something right.

Ann - Welcome! Did you used to be newlifestyle?

Tummy's growling so I need to go get bfast (I've noticed this happens more with eating the big meal mid-day). Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Steph - good for you getting back on the wagon. It's nice up here, I hope you'll stay. I am taking your snack suggestion today, I brought in some frozen peas as it was the only frozen veg I had on hand besides corn on the cob (imagine eating corn on the cob in front of a computer.. hmm...). What a great idea!

Rhonda - Apples are so good right now, too! We went picking this past weekend so I have a big bag at home. I am still not sure though whether I need to be counting a point for apples I eat with the skin on. eTools confuses me.

Paula - Good to know about WW Online. I'm glad I'm not crazy, they are having actual problems. Sounds like you had a good yesterday, hope you managed to fill up your afternoon!

Sandra - thanks for the welcome. I hadn't heard the trick of being able to see your plate between each part of your meal, that is interesting!

Sloan - It's funny you say what you love about Core is the freedom, that's what everyone says about Flex too! The grass is always browner on the other side of the fence? Have fun with choir practice, it sounds like a blast.

coco - Congrats on the loss! I am sorry to hear about your Aunt, I wish her a speedy recovery.

Donna - I am the same way with knitting projects. I have to keep buying needles because I will start a project and forget about it, and subsequently forget about the needles being used by the half-finished project... I am trying to get better, though, as it's a waste to keep buying repeat needles (I think I have 4 pair of size 8s by now).

Speaking of knitting, I need to spend some time with my current project this week. I'm about 6 inches into a baby blanket for my niece who was SUPPOSED to arrive Nov 19, but came this past weekend instead. Everyone involved is healthy and doing fine, but darn it kid, I needed that extra month!

Went to the gym last night and fought my way through a half hour on the elliptical... I never thought I'd say it, but I think I do better working out in the mornings, I seem to have more energy to spend even though I'm half-asleep.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.