We had a busy day -- did a lot of pick-ups and errands today, so I got lots of walking in too. I'm really happy about that, but I hope I don't pay for it tomorrow with sore muscles; oh well, will just have to rest for a day if I do. The was out today as well and that made our trip even more lovely ...

RUTH ~ hope things go smoothly with your new PC; lucky duck!

MAD ~ maybe smoothies will turn out to be a good alternative for you. Once in a while I make one with skim milk, a small banana, frozen blueberries, and WPP, for a snack or a quick pick-me-up. For a while there, the metformin was giving me huge cravings in between meals, so a fruit smoothie would help a lot.

Here's a simple recipe I found on this site somewhere --

* YOGURT SMOOTHIE *

1 cup light & Fit yogurt/110
1 cup no-fat milk/80
3 large strawberries/25
1/2 cup blueberries /45*

Whip in blender and drink; this makes over 2 cups. T = 260 cals.

MR. Z ~ did you already share your Smoothie recipe with us?

TIMOBA ~ on losing 8+ lbs for forever ... WOWIE -- that is quite a big loss. Oh my, please do share with us all how you did that! We'd love to know all about it ...

I have been using flavored protein powder mixes for awhile now. It was a little pricey in the beginning, but I've learned where and when to get them for cheap. On DietDirect's website, under the "shakes" diet food category, is a good list of protein powdered packets. For my breakfast smoothies, I stick with those packets that have the word "smoothie" in their name. The end result will typically be thicker and less watery with a "smoothie" packet.

Smoothie Mix (approximately 250 calories without any substitutions or additions)

1 cup ice
3 whole frozen strawberries
3 cups water

Set the blender to the crush ice setting and fire it up. Blend until strawberries and ice are crushed. Switch blender to low speed and add the following.

almond and vanilla extract
2 packets of protein powder
1 tablespoon of PB2 powdered peanut butter (regular or chocolate flavored)

After adding the last ingredient, let the blender run for about a minute and then power it off.

Real bananas spike me too much and I can no longer use them in my smoothies. Fortunately, when I need a banana fix, I modify my recipe. In place of one of the protein packets, I will instead use a single scoop of Muscle Milk Light protein powder (strawberry banana flavored). I have also been known to substitute 1 cup of water with 1 cup of Turtle Mountain So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage. Greek yogurt also makes a nice addition on occasion (1 to 2 tablespoons).

Oh, one important note. Keep the blender running on low when adding the powdered ingredients. In the beginning, I would turn off the blender to add the powdered stuff. When I would restart the blender, I noticed that the powder would get shot up to the top and get caked to the lid.

I may eventually wean myself from the flavored protein powders I use now to something much cheaper, like whey protein powder. At the moment, I have a supply of pineapple-orange and mango flavored smoothie packets. I make sure not to use two packets of the same flavor.

thanks for your smoothie recipes friends. I am drinking a raspberry smoothie now. I am planning a ski this morning and didn't want to be over full.
I may take the leftover with me for a pick-me up after ward.
The new snow is just begging for some tracks.

so I am having some spikes after exercise. According to my diabetes for dummies book, this is because I am releasing glycogen at a higher level than I need. Apparently I don't have to worry about this. Will this affect A1C? Are the highs temporary and will work out without doing anything. The book doesn't go into details.
Had a really good and long cross country ski today with a friend. But back and neck stiff again. Don't know what to do for that. Going to put the tens machine back on.

MR. Z ~ THANKS, for sharing your smoothie recipe and tips with us; it is very appreciated. That's a great idea to use banana flavored mix instead of the banana: I wonder if SF banana pudding mix would work the same? I use small green bananas whenever I can to lower the GI response; as I read somewhere that the green bananas have less sugar in them. As they ripen, they get sweeter; and you can tell that by the taste too.

I have heard that certain foods (bananas being one of them) elevate some people's BSL's too much. So far, I am fortunate that if I eat the small green ones in moderation, I am OK; that's why I have them for my snacks now. I used to put them on my cereal to bring the cals up a bit too; but would use only a half and freeze the rest.

MAD ~ you are doing great to be able to go out skiing; you can burn a lot of calories doing that for sure. The closest I am to that is SKI-WALKING, which is a good workout for me. I wear a good pair of boots and picked up some good poles -- that gives me a whole body workout. This sport is becoming very popular these days; and is called NORDIC walking in Europe. I tried to halve my smoothies but that didn't work out as they would be too thick; so I make the regular size and save the other half for later on (keeping it in the fridge). Here's my recipe:

My Berry-Delicious Smoothie ~

1 cup skim milk
1 small greenish banana*
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 tsp sugarfree berry metamucil
1 tbl Vanilla Whey Protein Powder

* OR you can use other fruit as desired; you could use strawberries or raspberries or peaches. Whiz this up and it is pretty much like a nice thick fruit shake. This makes 2+ cups; and is about 270 cals in total. Sometimes, I add 1 tsp cocoa powder for variety.

Have a great day ...

Upping the exercise is working. Have also lowered carbs but not calories.
I celebrated losing another 2 pounds by updating my signature and am going cross country skiing at a special resort.
Have a party to go tonight, and superbowl party tomorrow, so will have to work hard to eat right.
Have a great weekend friends.

PC is back in business now except the darned C drive won't open. I was very please to be able to reinstall it all by myself. I think I can do a wee trick with a paper clip to get it open.

Had breakfast at the diner this morning (ww toast and peanut butter) and ended up being semi-forced to eat a hot dog for lunch and a fundraiser for the soccer girls! I was there doing the PR thing with the mayor and it was hard to say no. Anyhow dinner will be healthier - roast pork tenderloin, green beans and salad.

Exercise has been shivering in the wind chill. Winter carnivals are cold in February around here. At least I didn't have to skate the lake!

welcome back ruth. I know about the cold, I went skiing today and it was -20 at the cross-country area. I was warmer since I was exercising and I got warm that way. good for you installing the drive yourself. Face those techno-demons.
I am doing ok with the the smoothie thing too. I am surprised, I thought it would be unsatisfying not to eat my breakfast and drink it instead. But mr z is right, and its a good brekkie and oddly satisfying. I'm a convert.

happy superbowl tomorrow, watch out for junk food.

HI RUTH ~ nice to have you back so soon; and you installed your programs yourself too! When you say your C-drive won't open; do you mean your compact disc drive or the dvd drive? My C-drive is my hard-drive (and it doesn't open); my A-drive is my mini-disc drive; my D-drive is my back-up storage drive; and my E-drive is my cd burner/cd drive. Does that sound familiar to you? Hope you get it all sorted out!

MAD ~ good for you eating well; and getting in all that exercise. It's nice to see the reward so quickly; losing 2 lbs forever ...

Just stayed home and did lots of research today; we had a visitor this afternoon who makes and rents/sells motorized bikes from down in the Ottawa area.

He shared some tips with me about losing weight; he is on the FIT 4 LIFE plan and has lost 40 lbs in only just over 2 months; but he started high. I read that program when it first came out in the 80's and instilled some of it's ideas when I could. I may give it a whirl for a day or so to see if I can master it. I already have the dinner on some nights; and fruit and snacks alone now, but putting the whole plan together will take some planning and extra effort, I think.

Have a super Sunday ... Rosebud

I meant the D drive, of course. I guess I'm not ready to work for the Geek Squad.

Very low BGL again this morning at 3.2. I think it's time to cut the glyburide but will check with my doc tomorrow.

Ruth, looks like you did fine, even if you are not ready for the geek squad. Job well done, at least you are communicating well with us!.
I got out for a walk in the sun and did an hour of hot yoga yesterday. Today I am going for a short ski and then yoga, and a longer ski tomorrow is planned as long as the weather holds.
I managed well at the party on Saturday and had a few snacks, but no junk food, just some cheese and salmon on triscuits, and a couple of shrimp. Was quite pleased with myself.
I overate at the superbowl gathering yesterday, but that was real food, chili, chicken wings (not breaded) lots of veggies and more shrimp.
I had to leave the room where the game was being watched tho, was having trouble not continuing the food fest, so I went to another room and did some other activities for fun. I am not a big football fan so no hardship there.
I did manage to avoid the junk food, no chips of any kind at all!
I have been on holiday for a week now and have certainly been getting diet and exercise under better control. feeling good about it.

Good morning! Doc says to not take the glyburide if I've had a lower carb supper or more than two glasses of wine. I guess I need to pay more attention.

I must admit I did go off base on Sunday at my grandaughter's party - everyone knows there are no calories in birthday cake, right? There was a little scale blip due to Chinese food the same day but my ticker is now truthful again.

Tonight my bookclub meets here and I provide the snacks. I'm thinking hummus with veggies and ww Triscuits and maybe some fruit. Those that want wine usually bring it but I'll stick to diet gingerale.

You know, those smoothies look great. I may try them. Drinking breakfast would sure speed things up in the morning.

Happy Tuesday.

so after 3 days of smoothies, which have been great in every other way, I am having some fibre one with yogurt and peaches today. I have not been moving my bowels in the usual way since I started the smoothies. I have been adding benefibre to the smoothies, and have been making sure to have at least one slice of ww toast per day, (not big on the bread generally) but am not
"going" as per usual. Am also eating lots of veggies and some fruit so am surprised, they all have fibre too.
Mr Z, how do you deal with this. You said you don't add fibre to your smoothies, so do you get it the rest of the day?
What with all the exercise and water, the yoghurt etc, I feel things should just be nicely active in my guts.
Todays' plan is for a good long ski. I am teaching tomorrow all day, so I thought I would plan an evening yoga session to relax after that.
Have been thinking a lot about incorporating my exercise into my worklife when this holiday is over. I don't want to lose this muscle I am building.
Ruth, enjoy your book club tonight. What are you reading?
I am going off my personal beaten track, (mystery/crime novels) and going for something different, "the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" .

Howdy, all.
It snowed the last couple of days. This morning was chilly, but no snow. The sky is clear and it's sunny out now.

Fatmad - I get backed up only when one or both of the following occurs.
1) Didn't drink all my water. (1 gallon daily)
2) Ate large quantities of protein (fleshy meat) and didn't compensate with even more quantities of leafy greens.
I try and limit my carbs to mainly veggies and fruit. The only time I can remember being constipated was when I indulged myself at a BBQ and didn't eat enough greens or drink enough water. The next couple of days I added some fiber to my breakfast smoothies to get me back on track. I have noticed that my morning bowel movement is much less than what it used to be prior to changing my eating habits. Now, I only go once a day in the morning after I wake up.

Did you ever get an answer on this? That's kind of the question I am here to ask. Basically what is the deal with post exercise spikes. I shouldnt have had any glycogen LEFT after the workout I had.