Hi gang! Boy, I am SO envious of all this gardening talk. If the snow would ever melt and then NOT come back, I'd love to get out there and start prepping my garden areas. And by prepping I mean just clearing stuff away at this point. Raking and pulling old stuff out. I actually enjoy that.

Lucky, I've ordered from both SpringHillNursery.com and MichiganBulb.com with no problem whatsoever. I'm pretty sure both of them have guarantees, even performance guarantees. If for no other reason, the catalogs are good for getting ideas, so that you can go to Home Depot and know what to look for. We have a HUGE nursery around here that I buy most of my annuals from, $7.00 a flat. Oh, I can't wait for Spring!!!

I have such a lousy cold, my head feels like it's going to explode. I'm off to the couch now. I will say that even with this cold, I got to the gym both yesterday and today! Last night it was almost 6:00, the gym closes at 7, and I made myself do it. At first I was thinking "Well! Not enough time!" And then I figured that anything that I got done would be more than NOT GOING. I got quite a bit done, my whole weight routine and about 20 minutes of cardio. This morning I headed over right after work for an Aqua Run class. I love the class but find the people who take it really rude and annoying! They talk through the entire class, they interrupt the instructor, thinking they're being funny...they're not. But the class is such a great overall workout, I just try to ignore them!

Anyway...I'm looking forward to weighing in tomorrow, come what may! I have to say that I LIKE weighing and measuring and counting and writing down every thing that goes into my mouth! Make me feel very much in control. I like being able to look back and say, "Okay, I've had all my milks, I need two more veggies or one more fruit or whatever..."

I made a GREAT little sandwich yesterday...easy. low points, yummy. Had it again for breakfast today. Not really breakfast, just the meal I had this morning. <weird night shift worker that I am> It would be great on a salad too...I don't know what it's called but here it is:

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
red onion, chopped (I guess about 1/4 onion)
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup feta cheese
baby spinach leaves
1 T olive oil
3T lemon juice or vinegar (I used lemon juice)
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 packet Splenda
dash salt

Toss together first four ingredients. Mix dressing ingredients and shake well. Pour over chickpea mix. Add feta and toss. This probably makes about 4 servings. I stuffed the spinach leaves into a pita first and then added the chickpeas...that was last night. Today, I had it as a wrap. It was good yesterday, even better today!

Ooh! Another great find! Kashi Go lean Crunch cereal. Anyone try this? So good, it's like granola. I've had it as cereal and as a topping for yogurt and strawberries. Bulky and filling...just what I like!

All right, I'm taking my stuffy head to the couch now to laze about until I have to fix dinner. Maybe I'll look at my Spring Hill catalog....and dream of Spring!

Have a great rest of the day, gals!

Lucky Lady Bug:

The nutricounter is like a palm pilot. I love it. I tried the fitday program before and did not like entering all my foods for the day. It was hit or miss. The nutricounter goes with you anywhere. It's easy to use at work, or for dining out too. It also comes with a video tape to use for intructions. Plus you can program in foods that you eat all the time. I programed in my different low calorie breads and cookies and things like that. Also you can type in the word generic and 10 calories comes up in the display window then you just hit the portion key for example 8 and it will come up 80 calories. I use that all the time. You also use the portion for example if you eat half an apple the you put in .50 for the portion and it will automatically figure what half and apple would be. Anyway, when I use it, it works. And definately those little things like condiments and dressings add up. I think I paid 100.00 for the nutricounter but you may be able to find it on ebay. Anyway so far today it's kept me on track and I do a better job about spacing my calories throughout the day.

Anyway, I also think I'm going to weigh every day. I need to know where I'm at so that I will not get off track as badly. Hope that works out the best.

It got up to almost 60 degrees today. I took tootsie for a walk and it was just a wonderful day. Got my house clean and that feels good too. Went and did the grocery shopping and bought lots of healthy fruit and vegetables for the week.

I like to get my plants from Lowes too. If you watch when they get their deliveries or call and ask what day they come in you can get the best selection. Plus we have a wonderful greenhouse only a couple of miles from our home. I love to get my plants from there. I think in about 4 weeks I can put some pansies in some pots and get some color on the front porch.

Better get busy and fix some supper, have a good one. cheryll

Kat & Cheryll, thanks for all the information.

Off to surf - not long and Desperate Housewives will be on. I missed them not being on last week cause of some award show.

I can't believe the weekend is almost over again. It goes so fast.

I exercised today, washed clothes and washed my car. Oh, and raked mud again, as it was in the 60's and I could flatten out tracks in the driveway.

Good Morning Are you a morning or night person? I find i am both but I love the smell in the morning when everything is fresh. Very invigorating.

How is your cold Kat? Don't you just hate getting sick? Nothing taste good and when you bend over to pick something up, your head feels like its going to explode.
I also agree with you in how annoying people can be. In my water aerobics class there are a lot of women there that come to socialize more than they come to exercise. When i get stuck standing next to them, i try to ignore them and just try to follow the instructor. When the instructor tell us to move our arms rapidly, well that is just what i do. I cant help it if they get splashed with water. I know, i am a bad person.
I am going to try your sandwich recipe. I love feta cheese and black olives. Have to go food shopping today so will pick up the ingredients to make it.

I forgot to tell you Lucky, at Lowe's and Homepot they have a discount place. These are the plants that are not pretty and sometimes to small to sell at regular price, so they sell them at a discounted price just to get rid of them. A lot of times i can get herbs there for 25 cents a container. I give them lots of T.L.C. and they are just fine.

Mother-in-law and i went to see Hitch: The Cure for the Common Man with Will Smith. Funny movie. My mother-in-law even laughed. She is getting a little senile and cant comprehend a lot of things. Anyway, we both enjoyed it. I did fall off the diet wagon this weekend thou. After the movie, i was in no mood to cook so i picked up some burgers at Checkers. I figured if I'm going to cheat, might as well go all the way. I had a double cheese burger with everything on it. Water to drink but that was because i was out of soda.

Well the morning is almost over and i need to get going. Have a great day everyone.
Gloria

Good morning everybody. Hope all is well with each of you.

Lucky, I know just what you mean when you say you feel fat and clumsy while exercising. The good news, though, is that it doesn't take but a few workouts to get over that feeling. I found that it wasn't the physical me that felt fat and clumsy but the mental me. One fatal mistake that I made in the beginning was looking around me at all of the other women working out. The gym I go to is for women only so we have our share of the perfectly fit. It was discouraging to compare myself to them as I plodded along. I guess for some seeing lean women like that is an inspiration and something to strive for. But, for me it was so far off and in some cases down right unattainable. It isn't very realistic to look at a pert 20 year old whose never had children and think that I will ever have that body. Not going to happen. So, I grabbed a magazine and slapped on my headphones and really focused on what I was doing. What is interesting is that I don't have to do that anymore. Keeping up with my exercise has given me so much confidence and made me feel so mentally strong that I can actually appreciate how fit some of the other members are without envying them. Well, without envying them MUCH. And, too, I always felt I was being stared at like I was the fat lady at the freak show. But, the truth is, everyone there is doing the same two things; either visiting with the person next to them or minding their own business and trying to talk themselves through to the end of their workout.

Anyway, I know none of this is news to you. Just jump in there a do it. You'll feel better in no time.

Kat, I also like being able to look back through my food journals and love the feeling of control that the measuring and weighing gives me. I just get tired of the actual act of doing it.

We've got more rain today but we had a beautiful weekend so I guess I shouldn't complain. But, Gloria, I'm looking forward to be able to tan out in the sun like you. For the time being though I have to settle for good ole fake-n-bake. I don't go overboard but I do try and get somewhat of a base tan before we start spending a lot of time in the sun. I am self conscience enough feeling like the fatest person and the swimming pool. Doesn't make any sense to show up and the the palest too.

Our Kroger has Lean Cuisines on sale for half price. I stocked up yesterday and filled my freezer. I try not to eat them too often but find that they can be a real life saver if I'm short on time or on days/nights that I don't cook. Sometimes the kids will ask for plain old hot dogs for supper and that leaves Greg and I to fend for ourselves.

Oh, also, I think it was Gloria that mentioned liking tilapia a thread or so back. I can't stand "fishy" tasting fish so I am always looking for a mild type. I've have gotten addicted to Mahi Mahi. It is mild, but also has a real meaty flavor. I grill them, blacken them, bake them - they are good with just about any flavor added. I buy fresh when I can but Sam's carries a frozen variety that is really good. The filets are individually sealed in air tight bags. That makes it easy to do as many or as few servings as I need to. Also at Sam's I've found a 2 lb bag of large, uncooked shrimp by Member's Mark. It has been peeled and deveined so all you have to do is thaw it under some water but, since it is uncooked, you can make it anyway you would fresh shrimp just without the time and mess. I've been steaming it for a snack (only 70 calories for 10 large shrimp) or I'll saute it in a non stick pan with a little lemon, garlic, and seasoned salt and stuff it in a pita or put it over a little pasta. mmm, mmmm, good.

I'm off to try and talk Jake and Addie into going to the gym with me. They usually don't mind but when the weather is yucky that tend to get lazy on the couch. I can't say I blame them - it is very tempting on a day like today.

Hope you all have a great day!
Tricia

I swear Tricia, you are so funny! You crack me up. Fake-n-bake? To funny. I do the same thing when i make a cake for Carl. Fork it to death. There may be just this little over hang of icing, so I'm thinking, one little thing of icing wont hurt. Before you know it, i have the over hang of icing and the cake in my mouth. Then Carl comes home and wants to know "What happen to the cake"? "Over hang dear, over hang". The problem with not having and kids in the house is, no one to blame things on.

I have tried the Mahi Mahi and like it a lot. It was getting hard to find here and when i did find it, it was a little on the pricy side. That is when i tried the Tilipia. Also individually wraped, very mild tast but easer to find. I put cajun seasoning on mine and it gives it just a little bite.

I go shopping at Win-Dixie most of the time, and they have buy 1, get 2 free of boneless skinless chicken breast of sale this week. Guess what i will be eating the rest of the week.

Hope to talk to all of you soon.
Gloria

Here's a little funny a friend of mine sent me this morning. Thought you guys might enjoy it too!

Chuck & Lisa Schwartz are getting ready for bed. Lisa is standing in
front of her full-length mirror, taking a long, hard look at herself.
"You know, Chuck," she comments. "I stare into this mirror and I see an
ancient creature. My face is all wrinkled, my boobs sag so much that
they dangle to my waist, my arms and legs are as flabby as popped
balloons, and...my butt looks like a sad, deflated version of the
Hindenberg!"
> >
She turns to face Chuck and says, "Dear, please tell me
just one positive thing about my body so I can feel better about
myself."
> >
Chuck studies Lisa critically for a moment and then says
in a soft, thoughtful voice, "Well ...there's nothing wrong with your
eyesight."
> >
Services for Chuck Schwartz will be held Thursday morning at 10:30
at Beth Israel Synagogue.

Hi Everyone!

I've been so good for two days I feel great. I feel the spring in my step again. I've measured and logged all my food on my nutricounter and found that I've been able to eat and have a couple of snacks a day too. Just making better choices. Duh?
Also I guess I have to put my two cents in about working out with the talkers. Hope I don't affend anyone, but here goes. I happen to be one of the talkers. Yep, for me it's as much for social reasons and physical reasons I work out and exercise. Sorry but what does my saying something to the person next to me keep anyone in class from getting a good workout. I don't get it. When I'm toning how does my talking keep you from lifting your legs up. Sorry, but I'm a stickler about this. I lay my hard earned money down just like everyone else and if I want to come to class and have a conversation with the person next to me I don't see the harm in it. If I wanted to be alone and workout I'd stay at home and pop in a video tape. That's just my opinion.
Anyway, no big deal.

Have a good one!
Cheryll

Cheryll, agree with you to an extent. I don't have a problem with friendly chit chat at the gym. I have a problem with chit chat in a class that becomes disruptive. Some people don't display the courtesy that you do while talking with others. I've had classes where a person was talking so obnoxiously that the rest of us couldn't follow what the instructor was saying. Or talked constantly to the instructor and effectively inhibited her ability to coach the rest of the class. THAT is a problem. Because, like you said, I shell out good money to workout and I don't like not getting my money's worth because of someone else's lack of respect for the rest of the class.

Also, I don't mind someone on the next bike or weight machine striking up a conversation. What bothers me is when someone KEEPS talking to me if I indicate that I'm not receptive to a conversation (sometimes I love to socialize, sometimes I'm at the gym because I've listened to kids scream all day and I just want to be alone with my own thoughts). The other day I had a great chat with the lady on the elliptical machine next to me - it really passed the time. Not long before that, though, I had another lady talking my ear off as I was trying to put my headphones on - if I'm wearing headphones I want to listen to my music, not hear about somebody's son's new house and how her daughter in law is decorating it in the ugliest color of yellow ever. I mean, I finally got my headphones on the the women is still tapping me on the shoulder because she's worried I can't hear her! DUH!

I guess what I'm saying is that there is nothing wrong with socializing at the gym as long as it isn't disruptive to a lot of people and as long as the person you are trying to socialize with is receptive.

Speaking of which, I am headed to the gym now. I'm moving up from the basic step class to a more advanced one. Wish me luck!

Hope you all have a great night.
Tricia

When you are out and about do you feel like you are the ONLY overweight person in the world? EVERYONE is skinny but me!!!! That's how I have been feeling lately - I know it's not true but that's where my head seems to be.

Also, what do you do when you want chocolate? Is there some trick I don't know to NOT eat it? Any good substitute? I thought WW had some ideas?

Tricia: good joke. Mahi Mahi sounds good but I doubt I will be able to find it here. I, like you, don't like fish tasting fishy!

Gloria: The closest Lowe's and Homepot to me is 2 hours away.

Cheryll: Way to go staying on track.

I am going to need you all to help me keep on exercising - feeling clumsy and fat - until I am NOT!!! I know to lose weight and to get and be healthy I have to do this - but I have so far to go

If I can just keep it up until I can start to see some change

Well, it's 7:30PM and I haven't had dinner yet - hmmm I have some salmon in the frig I may try.

Night. Oh, I lost 2 lbs. - same two I have lost before but it's a start.

Have you tried my recipe for the chocolate milkshake Lucky? I posted it in our last thread. I found it in the food section of 3fatchicks. If you don't like this one, then there are lots of other recipes for chocolate there. I go into the South Beach food but there are recipes for WW and low carb.
Chocolate Milkshake.
1/2 cup part skim or low fat ricotta cheese. (I used fat free cottage cheese)
1/2 to 2/3 cup skim milk
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
3 packets Splenda
1/2 teaspoon caffein-free instant coffee (I used 1/2 cup of left over regular coffee and just put in more ice to make it thick)
Splash of vanilla
Ice (as much as it takes to make it thick.

Put all ingredients in a blender, and blend until thoroughly mixed.

If you ever get the hanker-in for ice cream, try this one. It tast like your cheating, but your not.

Cheryll, if i have offended you in any way, i am sorry. You sounded so upset and that is the last thing i would want to do is upset you. I do however find people that talk in my class annoying. The exercises that we do in water aerobics class can really get your hart pumping if you do them correctly. It is physically impossible to talk and do these exercises at the same time. What happens is, these woman talk instead of participating in the class and they talk to the instructor which is very disruptive. With that being said, i hope i didn't hurt your fellings in any way.

Hope everone has a goodnight and i will see you in the morning.
Gloria

Hmmm...Not to offend, cheryll, but we're ALL paying good money to belong to the gym! The talkers in my class are extremely rude and disruptive. It's a distraction to those who are next to them, not talking, who are trying to hear what the instructor is saying, especially when the music is so loud! It's also a distraction to the instructor when they call out to her as she's trying to keep the momentum going with her routines. I'm all for socializing, but there's always after class too! Same thing goes on at Weight Watchers...any one I've ever attended. The leader is up there talking and there are ALWAYS a few different groups yakking away on their own, not even trying to keep it down. Very distracting and not fair to those who want to hear what the leader is trying to say, or to the leader. Just my opinion...

Stepping off my soap box now...

Speaking of WW...I did weigh in today...I'm down 5.8 lbs! Feeling very proud and accomplished and on my way!

I'm still fighting this cold...feeling better, but not great. Sleep is the answer...that's where I'm headed!

Nighty night, all...see you tomorrow!

Hi all,

I'm here. I haven't fell off the earth. I have been so crazy lately trying to get things done for the house and my sister came down, and my cat is sick. And I have been working on the baby shower gifts I am making my sister-in-law, the shower is this Sunday and I still have a lot to do.
I do miss you all and I need to get back in here and post everyday, it just that I haven't been motivated lately. I think the winter blues are starting to kick in. I am ready for spring. I was the same for the 2x2, didn't lose, didn't gain. I just finished reading the G.I. Diet. Rather interesting. Might have to try some of his ideas.

Lucky, I am like you, thinking I am the only fat person around when I go out, and everyone is staring at me. I have been feeling like that alot lately.

Anyway, I promise to get in here and post more, I just need to get this baby stuff done. I love and miss you all.
Hugs and Kisses,
Skitt

Good morning everyone!

Please don't think I'm upset by the difference of opinions in this forum. I just needed to give another perspective to the whole talking in the gym citiation. I guess I just feel so strongly about the whole thing because I've been working out for 16 years and have gotten to know so many people and make so many friends from all the classes and different gyms that I've gone too. I'm one of those die hards that has stuck around for a long time. Definately a minority. But alot of times I haven't seen people for awhile and it's nice to catch up. Obviously when I'm doing step class I'm a little to winded to have a major conversation, but during toning I see no harm. Anyway, I am not affended by anyone here. Moving On!

Lucky Lady Bug, as for feeling fat and clumsy when working out I always tell myself mentally that even if I can't do everything the instructor does that's ok. I will gain strength as I progress. When I first started exercising I would tell myself all I want to do is stick with it, if I do one stomach crunch to every 3 the instructor does that's ok.
I must work at what my fitness level is for me. 1 push up for me while other do 3. Eventually you will get stronger. But by all means you need to push yourself to do the most you can. Not use being fat as an excuse. But it litterally is one step at a time.
And honestly you are working harder than alot of the skinny girls because of the extra weight. Yep, your definately working harder. Hang in there on the working out.

Well, I got some wonderful cantelope at the store and got that all cut up and packed for work today. Made a low cal wrap with chicken lettuce and salsa. I too have a weakness for chocolate. I buy those sugar free pudding cups. Only 60 calories. Sometimes I break up a choc. grahm cracker and stir into it. Still not bad.

Gotta go to work, Later gators, cheryll

Absolutely not, cheryll...that's what makes us unique...our differences of opinion! That was great advice that you gave Miss Lucky, by the way. Everyone is clumsy the first few times they do something! Don't let that stop you! You are doing great, just DOING something...it will get better as you go!

As for chocolate....Jello Fat Free/Sugar Free Instant Pudding is very good! With some fat free Cool Whip, you've got yourself something very creamy and comforting. Fudgsicles are low in calories, actually. There are also WW desserts, but I don't get them usually because they're kind of pricey. I bought WW 2 pt bars at my last meeting...chocolate covered, crispy little things that can get me through a 'chocolate moment.' Swiss Miss makes a great sf/ff hot cocoa mix. If I think of my chocolate-y goodness, I'll post it!

I'm off to go shopping with Mom and Sis. Last thing in the world I feel like doing...the couch is calling me...I still have this lousy cold, and it's raining and, oh well.....

see you all later!

PS...Glad to see you still with us, Skittles! And don't worry...
You did WAY better than I did! I'm still trying to lose what I GAINED during the 2x2!