A delicious thing to do with cukes is peel, slice them thin, and toss with chopped onions, dill, nonfat or lowfat plain yogurt, and red wine vinegar. you can add salt, pepper parsley to taste and it's low in calories and crunchy and creamy and YUMMY!

Thanks for the tips on the cucumbers. I'm just not a veggie eater but I think its time I learned. Here are a couple of smoothie recipies from the provida.com website. It includes your fruit and protein. On their diet plan, that is what I am to have for breakfast. You can also put in protein powder instead of egg whites. I would use about 1 oz of liquid egg whites if you don't use the powder. I'm trying to see if I can find more information.

My daughter found my skates so I am going to try that tonight for some fun and then do some sit ups on my ball and some toning.

Pina Colada Smoothie
• egg whites, pasteurized (available in carton)
• 2-4 packets of Splenda (or to taste)
• 1/2 cup pineapple (use fresh, canned or snack pack variety packed in own juice. Be sure to drain juice before use.)
• 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1 1/2 cups ice
• 1/3 cup water (more or less

From member Rmsot60-Shell. I tried this when I needed a new way to get my protein. I take this with me for snacks. I make it in the morning or the night before and freeze it. You can prepare it with or without fruit

• 1 cup prepared Crystal Light, any flavor
• 1/2 packet of Sweet-n-Low (or any sugar substitute)
• 1/3-1/2 cup of any fruit you can have (optional)
• 4 teaspoon powdered egg whites (all natural no additives) or 2 egg whites, pasteurized (available in cartons)
• 1-1 1/2 cups ice

I think it says on the carton of liquid whites how much equals one egg. I'm going to make some tonight and freeze and bring to the office for a mid Am and mid PM snack. See if I can rev up my metabolism my eating 6 small meals a day.

I can't wait to try the smoothies...I will probably use the protein powder instead of egg whites since I have lots of that around in different flavors. Oh i did log on to Fitday and signed up so I'm looking forward to logging in my food and exercises. I think I'll be able to go for a bike ride tonight...I'll drag hubby with me I'm looking forward to being out in the fresh air...
P.S. Be careful on those skates

Leshia

Blue sky, that recipe sound good...I can't wait to try it myself!

I also salt the cucumbers before I make it, but I omitted that step because I know a lot of people watch their sodium intake. it is SO GOOD- My grandma's reipe from Germany!

Thanks to both of you. I am going to try the cucumber in the baggie thing tonight when I get home and then eat them later in the evening. I don't have any yogurt right now.

On Fitday, what you using for your calorie intake? I put down a goal of 1000-1200. Think that is too low? I know I will have days that are higher than that. I am 5'4" and currently weight 164 (will weigh tomorrow morning for sure) and want to get to 153 (150 would be nice). I know. Calories in, calories out. Exercise. Ug.

The general consensus seems to be 1200 for the average woman... most people say not to go below that. I put 1200- I am 135, goal 120, 5'4.5", and my exercise is moderate. I will let you know how it works!!

Sher, I haven't gotten that far on Fitday...I was hoping they would recommend how many calories we should be eating for our height, weight, goal weight, etc. I just got a username and began trying to enter what I ate for breakfast today, until I hit a snaffoo with something I ate...Have you ever heard of GG Scandinavian bread crisps? Well, they are the best...they are these 16 calorie thick bread crisps with no fat and the 3 carbs it does have are 3 grams of dietary fiber...we can all use a little more fiber in our days I put fat free cream cheese, fat free cheese slices, sugar free marmalade, and even make mini pizza with them using salsa, fat free mozerrella cheese, 2 piece of turkey pepperoni and a litte orgeno and italian seasoning...Also for a chocolate fix I spread Walden Farms no calorie,no fat no carb chocolate dip on them and freeze them and put a little fat free cool whip on them..umm umm good..taste great and very filling, but no guilt..check out
www.brancrispbread.com and www.betterhealthstore.com for the chocolate sauce and marshmallow dip.

Leshia

Leshia,

Do you buy these things locally or do you have to get them online? I got your PM by the way! I will email you soon.

The temp here is about 83 so I will probably wait to skate tonight until after dinner, maybe around 7:30 but I am going to do some toning. Let's see, what else? I picked up a copy of First Magazine today and they have some good diet and fitness articles that are interesting.

Dinner tonight is a protein shake and a salad. Nothing exciting but it will work for now. I use a Rosemary Vinigrette dressing that I really like. I'm going to freeze smoothies for tomorrow and make the cucumber thing too. Thanks for all your motivation. I will talk to everyone tomorrow and we will see how we all made it thru the evening.

I actually get them on line, I have yet to find the bran crispbread at a store, however, I'm sure they sell the Walden Farms products at some health food stores. When I order them online the shipping is really fast. It's pretty hot here to about 80, so I'll be waiting awhile myself before I go out.. I'm having grilled salmon, my zuchini-squash veggie medly over a half cup cooked brown rice. Look forward to hearing from you tomorrow, send me a PM.

Leshia

BRAVO GIRLS!!
That is why we now say "lifestyle change" because it is no longer a diet - but a change you make for life.

Wow, I feel GREAT after the first day doing this!! I ate whenever I was hungry but just made smart choices and plugged everything into Fitday and ended up around 1200!!! Actually closer to 1100 which is even better because it means I have room for one more fruit or small treat in my daily diet! <Patting myself on the back>

Oh those smoothies sound delish, I have pasterized egg whites daily in my oatmeal in the morning I may try those smoothies for a change or a snack...

Here is my recipe for breakfast ...

1/3 c oatmeal
1/3c water..........stir with a wire wisk microwave for 2 minutes
add: 1/2c eggwhites 1/2c soy milk ......stir with wisk again for a minute, microwave for a minute
-- stir with a wisk again, microwave again....
-- wisk it again and put in a bowl let it sit till cooled a bit it's very hot when it first comes out... it tastes like a custard,

I just wanted to add that I eat 5-6 small meals/day and I am NEVER ravenous since I've been doing this and in a much better mood too AND losing weight of course ....

Ok ladies, made it thru day one. It's nice to start something on the first of the month. I weighed in this morning, since I did not do it yesterday and my starting weight is 160. Believe me, that fluctuates so much, by the time I weigh in again on the 16th (since I will be on vacation next week) it could be higher. With vacation, I will settle for it being the same, and I am promising myself to not get on the scale every day.

I did the cucumbers last night and they were good. I did water, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper - using 2 recipes from you all and from the internet. I now have a new veggie. I am so pleased.

I rollerskated last night. It was fun and I sweated a lot. No soreness this morning but last night I found muscles I forgot I had. Friday my son and i are going to bike ride if my daughter's bike does not have a flat.

I'm going to be swamped at work today so I may not be able to post much. Everyone have a great day and good luck. Remember - moderation and Let's enjoy life a little.

My wonderful fiance wants to take me out for italian tonight. What are some good things to eat there and stay low cal? I'm thinking escarole and beans without too much oil.... broiled fish.... or maybe a SIDE of pasta with a veg? The chicken dishes always sound good but i KNOW they sneak extra fat in there... I guess as long as I avoid the really cheesey oily stuff I should be ok right?

In keeping with this moderation thing I am going to remember not to let myself get too hungry before dinner.... otherwise I may attack the bread basket