Morning, turtles:

Well, I maintained at my Tops meeting last night. So, I was alittle disappointed since I thought I would be down abit. I guess that movie popcorn did do some damage, but still I would have thought with my walking that I still would have been down.

I have been staying on same plan for awhile, so maybe I need to shake things up abit. So that is my goal this week - to go through my journals and find some new recipes.

Have a great OP day.

I have been under the weather the last several days -- couldn't keep anything down and was quite uncomfortable there for a while but yesterday I felt "normal" again, as normal as I get anyway. I won't resume walking again until next week, though, will substitute swimming instead. All the muscles around my ribs and abdomen are sore from throwing up but that should be gone by the weekend.

I've been working on an applique block from Lori Smith's "Ode to the 30's" and finished the second half of the prep work yesterday. I'm doing this as a private block of the month and try to complete at least one applique block and one pieced block each month. This block has 4 flowers, each with 5 petals, and 4 fleur-de-lis shapes. I got half the prep work done and got impatient and started sewing. I think I like the results better when I glue it all down before I start stitching.

Time to get back to making food decisions based on point values as opposed to whether or not I can keep it down. ONWARD!

hi Turtles,
Bandit, for me the salt in movie popcorn would send me up two pounds. If you are at all salt-sensitive, you might have a weight loss today as the salt leaves you. In any case, hunting out new recipes is a great idea. If you find something yummy, let us know.

Donna, how are you doing? Got any good recipes hanging out?

I made tuna for dinner last night. Into the tuna (canned) I put a bit of pickle relish along with celery and light mayo. The relish perked it up a bit and I liked that.

Princess, how are you doing? I'd like to get moving, but in helping clear out the attic this weekend, I guess I've hurt my knee and hip. That's life--I finally feel like getting on the and now I really shouldn't. WEird!

Lauren, how are you and your dear family? Chime in when you can.
Fondly, Judy

Donna, you and I posted at the same time. Sorry you were ill, and am sending you : to feel better fast!
Judy

Hi, everyone. Sorry for the silence; I've been a bit busy.

I was out of town on business for a couple of weeks -- and gained 7 pounds!! Whoa! I'm still not sure what happened, since I ate pretty carefully. It's tough to do that in restaurants, I find, but I ate a LOT of salads.

Fortunately, about 5 have already come back off since Monday, so obviously there was some plain old bloat going on. The last 2 are probably going to take a bit longer. But I'm back on program, so I know they'll go.

Not sure if I mentioned what has been going on with my pop. He was just in the hospital again, this time because of vomiting blood. They scoped him yesterday and don't know what the problem is. It doesn't appear to be related to the cancer, and he hasn't even started chemo yet. (That's next week.) So we're all on a bit of a roller coaster at the moment. I just wish they lived closer; it's hard being so far away, especially when they have no support down there.

On the bright side, it's sunny and spring has finally come to Michigan. We have daffodils and tulips and happy birds, and this weekend it's getting into the 80s!

Oh, and I'll add that it's MUCH easier flying when one is thinner.

Congrats to everyone who has been doing well, and hugs to all who need them. I'm reading even when I don't post.

Happy Friday everyone! It is beautiful here today and that is a good thing since I have lots of yard work to do this weekend... it looks like a jungle out there with all the rain we have gotten lately. Doing good with food and made it to my zumba class last night.

Best wishes to all that are sick, struggling or have ill loved ones!
Princess

Lauren,
good to hear from you. I'm sorry about your dad and I'm sending prayers for him and your family.
Whew--you seem to gain weight the way I do. It doesn't take much extra eating and I'm way up in pounds. So glad a lot of the bloat is gone and I keep on thinking how successful you've been and how close you are to a really great goal.
Take it easy, be well, and to you. Glad you're back and posting.

Princess, yes--it's beautiful here too. I should get out and do some gardening work and prep. I'll be away for a little longer than a week starting next week. I've been successful planting morning glory, basil, and dill seeds indoors and I'm hoping the tiny plants survive my absence. I'll give my dh a hint on keeping them watered and I'll cross my fingers. I'd love to get them into the ground by the end of May. Also thinking of buying tomato plants, eggplants, and marigolds to have a tiny garden again this summer. It was great last year!
Donna, hope you're feeling much better by now.
Bandit, found any neat recipes?
Here's a quick one: top a baked pita chip with a slice of avocado and a cooked shrimp . I've never made it, but it sounds very easy and yummy!
Okay, gotta run. I'm tracking my points, my hip is feeling better, and the sun's shining. Looks like a great day!
Judy

A beautiful day indeed. Had my weigh-in today and posted a 3.4 lb. loss! Mostly due to two solid days of vomiting, I'm sure, but it meant I cruised right past the 10-lb. mark (my first) and boy that feels good!

DH has been requesting "cookies" so I bought a couple boxes of WW snack bars for the first time. I hope that will fulfill his craving and at only 2 points each they shouldn't do me any harm if I have one once in a while.

Did a quick trip to the grocery store on the way home. They had frozen salmon fillets (small) for only a dollar apiece, so I bought one to try. I know DH doesn't care for salmon and it's not my favorite fish but one of my vows when I started WW was that I want to try at least one new food or recipe that is new to me and I don't think I've had salmon in 20 years. Close enough to "new" for me.

I also bought another package of fresh mint. It comes with the root ball, supposedly to help it stay fresh longer, so I'm going to try planting this one. I would love to have my own little pot of fresh mint among our pot garden.

Finally made it to the nursery yesterday; a lovely place. Unfortunately we got there 15 minutes before closing but we enjoyed what we saw and learned that everything will be 15% off next Saturday, so that's when we will get the dwarf navel orange tree that DH has been longing for. We had to get approval from the front office before we plant, and learned that they won't allow us to plant it where we had planned because of the possibility of hitting the irrigation lines. They suggested right in front, close to the mail box. The nursery folks will deliver it and plant it so that part is painless.

I have a few hours alone in the house so it's off to the sewing room I go!

Hi Turtles,
I'm doing so much better. It feels good to be on track--not perfect, but pretty good!
Hey Donna, weigh to go! : Ten pounds down is fabulous.
Everybody have a good weekend; it's lovely here and I got a few things done.
Take care:
Judy

Morning all and happy Monday! I woke up late this morning so I feel a bit "off" so far today but hopefully that will pass as the day goes on. Made it to W/I on Saturday... was up 2.0 but I knew that I was going to be so it was not too bad. Next week will be better. Well I guess something must have happened between WW and the leader that does our Saturday morning classes because she is no longer with the company, that does not make me happy but I will not allow it to change what happens with me and my weight loss. Worked in the gardens and yard all weekend, did not take a walk but with as much work as I did I think that is count for something.

Congrats to Donna!

Judy: How was your weekend and how did all of your travels and activitys go?

Bandit: Did you have a nice weekend? Anything new up your way?

Morning, turtles:

Busy weekend for me - on Friday my gf came & we got in a 2 mile walk at centre then a nice swim/hot-tub & had liver/onions for our dinner. We have that every once in awhile, not often & it was pretty good. Then Sat, I had a Tops rally thing to go to that took up most of the day - lots of information about the committees etc. Stayed in Sat night & watched TV. My dd came home yesterday & we went to centre & she worked out & I got in another big walk. So, I have gotten in lots of walking this week. As for my menus they have been pretty good. Had a sub I didn't need, but that is about the only over indulgence I had. So hoping for a loss this week at the scales.

Weather has been funny up here. Sat was sunny all day until evening then a big storm came up & there was lots of damage with trees in area & we lost power for awhile. Yesterday was cold & rainy, so I didn't get any yard work done all weekend.

Congrats Donna on your loss & Princess, I hope you drop that gain right away.

Judy - I made your veggie pie last night & enjoyed as usual. That is so good.
Brought a portion for my lunch with salad.

Hope everyone else is doing good & lets all have a great week!

It's the start of another week and I have already accomplished my most important task for the day: walking 4 miles with Leslie S. It was the first time I've gone that distance. Just 7 weeks ago I was huffing and puffing at the one-mile mark; now I'm just starting to break a sweat at the one-mile finish. I'm glad that I can see some progress. Also went swimming yesterday for 45 minutes. I'm starting to intersperse a few laps of side stroke with my "bicycling" to get the heart rate higher. I was very upset, though, when I went to use the spa after my swim and found the water there colder than in the pool! It's supposed to be 105 degrees; some idiot turned it down. DH is calling the office today to complain and so is a friend of his mother's who was there at the same time. Many people here in this over-55 community depend on that spa to help with arthritis, etc.

Planning on making chicken caccitore tonight for the first time and the recipe calls for a cup of "dry white wine." I've never used wine in cooking; can anyone make any suggestions what kind of wine I should get? And does wine add any calories?

Veggie pie? Don't think I've seen that recipe; anyone care to share?

Hoping to spend some time today in the sewing room. I want to select the fabrics and begin prepping my next applique block. Lots of stuff to watch on the telly, including "Caberet" from Netflix, and I enjoy it more if my hands are busy.

Hope everyone has a super day!

Donna D., Hemet, CA

Hi Turtles,
Princess, that's weird about the WW leader leaving. I hope your new leader is as good as the one you are used to. Hey, here's to a new : this week. You deserve it!

Bandit, liver and onions, hmmm. That sounds tasty, especially with mashed potatoes on the side.
You are and and exercising like fabulous! Keep up the good work. (My hip is starting to feel better and I should be able to start exercising again soon.) Good luck at your WI.

Donna, I always ask the salesman at the liquor store for suggestions. One dry white is a riesling. And yes, adding alcohol does add calories. Try out the WW recipe builder to see how many points it adds. I know drinking 4 ounces counts as two points, but I don't know how many calories get burned up when wine is cooked in a dish. Hmm. I'm not much help, but that's a good question.

Okay, here's the recipe for Veggie Pie. I've been making this for forever. I like it because it's good for lunch, it freezes well cut into individual portions, and with a big salad it is a low point dinner.

Impossible Veggie Pie
Whoops, Donna, I've misplaced my recipe. I'll go online and see if I can find it. Be back soon.
Judy

Hey Bandit,
I have lost my recipe, checked in my WW builder recipe account and that saved recipe is not the one I want. Would you be able to print out the Veggie Pie recipe for us?
Thanks :
Judy
Nice quiet weekend. Eating is quite good. I should lose a little this week and then I'm off to NC to visit with my sisters.

Morning all and happy Wednesday to everyone! Rainy here all week, ugh. Hard to get motivated when it rains all the time but mother nature has her reasons I guess.

Food has been good this week but the scale is not budging, going to increase my water today, I drink a ton anyway but will drink even more to hopefully get things moving.

I have that recipe somewhere but I have no idea where, sorry that I can not be much help there.

Have a great day all!