Ok you girls are motivating me to exercise. Andrea 25 minutes on the bike is excellent!! You go girl, I'm so proud of you

I'm so out of shape it's not funny. I will try my hardest to either walk or do pilates tonight...depending on the weather. DH and I are trying to turn over a new leaf and go to bed without the TV on. Last night I read instead till 10:30. We have a real bad habit of watching M*A*S*H from 11 p.m to 1 a.m...or until we fall asleep.

Funny story This morning I had ice on my passenger seat, I started my car thinking that was weird...then I noticed I was sitting on ice, there was ice on the floor between the seats, on the dashboard, and ALL OVER the interior roof of my car. I started driving trying to figure out what it was. Then I had to pull over to investigate. Some little angel had an unopened can of diet root beer in the cupholder in the seat behind mine. Well it exploded and there's root beer slush all over my car, I mean everywhere! I had to pull over and wipe as much as I could out with a piece of newspaper I found. Ugh, what a mess, it wil probably be worse when I get out of work and see what happened to the melted chunks.

I just finished making myself a weekly chart to track my food, points, vitamins, water, exercise and weight loss. It's in Excel if anyone wants it. I put one week on one 8 X 11 sheet of paper.

Don't you wish we could fast forward ourselves 6 months and be 50 pounds lighter!

Hiya ladies! This looks like the right group for me. I've been lurking around (mostly) for the last week and was just thinking this morning how nice it would be to really find a group to get in with.

I'm 34, married to Dave, and have a 2 1/2 year old girl, Kayleigh. I started back on program last Weds, but I'm just now starting to feel like I'm back in the zone. I've done countless programs in the past, but am doing WW on my own right now, with a South Beach twist. i.e. trying to stay within points by eatting the glycemic index way. When I go shopping, I try to stay on the outskirts of the store (where the fresh stuff is) and not get into all the processed stuff in the middle. So far so good.

We have a fitness center at work, so I've been going there three times a week and doing one of the cardio machines for 30 mins. I keep meaning to add some strength training at home, but I'm usually pooped once I make it home, and then my daughter usually wants most of my attention once I'm there. Not an excuse, just realizing that I need to address that issue and make time for it SOMEWHERE. Was actually thinking of signing up for a triathlon and having something to train for. I've done the Breast Cancer 3-day twice and I just really seem to focus better when I have something like that to make me get out and move. That idea has had me on the YMCA website all morning trying to find an indoor pool to train at.

Anyway, babbling now. I have roughly 50 lbs to lose and hope to get there by the end of 06. I'm willing to swtich my weigh-in day if we want to pick a common day for all of us. In the meantime, I look forward to learning from you all and supporting you however I can.

Hi Tina, it looks like you fit right in! That's so great that you have a gym at work. Awesome goals too My reward goal is taking a trip to Rome, it's ben a dream for a long time. Once I start losing, I'll look into making reservations! Thanks for the shopping around the perimeter tip, it makes a lot of sense. I weigh in on Monday but I think some others weigh in on Wednesday, whatever day you want to post is fine. Talk to you all soon!

Hi ladies!

Maureen: I have found those wonderful treasures that kiddies leave behind with their random acts of being messy. Gotta love 'em, even though they can stress us all out a bit at times. It's part of being a Mom. You are doing great with tracking what you are eating. I decided to sign up for WW online--so I could have the benefit of logging my points and looking up everything electronically. I know its an added expense--but I really thought it would help keep me on track (and really needed that help). So far so good. I like how it tabulates everything for me.

tinabinab: Sounds like you are off to a great start! I have heard that shopping on the outside of the store is the healthiest way--where all the whole foods are and not all the processed.

Andrea: Great job with exercise while watching Wife Swap. I watch that show too--and I love American Idol. It is one of my favorites. Sounds like you have a good plan to move while you watch. Keep it up!

I almost forgot, Maureen--I was going to tell you that my husband is from Italy (I met him there when I lived there while in the Navy). I lived in a town called Brinidisi (very southern Italy). I spent some time in Rome and Naples. It is bellisima! Beautiful! That is a great goal to have and well worth it!

Hope everyone is doing well today....I am off to the YMCA in a bit!

Karen in Ohio

Hi Tina, Welcome A triathlon? You rock! talk about motivation!!

Maureen, I too have had a couple "surprises" like that. My daughter had one of her friends spend the night last week and while I was driving her home (she lives about 20 minutes away) her and my daughter were chowing chocolate in the back of my car, got it all over my seats, I don't know if they dropped it and didn't realize it..... at any rate, I feel your pain.

Just got off of the bike. I did another 25 minutes while watching American Idol. I'm very proud of myself if I must say so..... two days in a row......it's got to be a record, if I could only keep it up. Maureen, you mentioned that you have a bad hip/back and don't really like to walk out in the weather much. Have you ever thought about buying a walking DVD or VHS? Then you could do it in the warmth of your house. I know If I had to think about walking out in the cold I could probably find about 20 different reasons why I shouldn't go. Just a suggestion, has your WW leader mention Leslie Sansoon I think her name is? Some swear by her.

Karen: how was the YMCA tonight? Do you swim everynight?

Well I should hit the sack! I'm pooped.

Hope you all have a great night and a successful day tommmorow.

Andrea

Hi girls, just a quick note to check in. Everyone is doing so good!! With all the inspiration last night I did 15 minutes of pilates and 15 minutes of the exercise bike while watching HGTV. I blobbed while watching some of Idol!

I'm just doing WW from memory. How much exercise constitutes an "earned point"? I was thinking of doing WW online also. Let me know how you like it.

Cute kids in the avatar!!!

I'll write back later after the boss leaves. I hope everyone checks in today! Is in weigh in day for some???

Maureen

Ok hi everyone hope your day is good. I just weight in and lost 6 1/2 pounds this last week!! I'm so happy and excited about it. I know it has to do with eating right and exercising almost every day! Just had to share my news. My DH lost 6 1/2 pounds also so it really nice that his in on it to with me. Well need to run.

Yeah Cindy!!!
Wow you must be so proud of yourself. Congrats to your hubby as well.
That is a lot of weight for one week, way to go!!

Hi girls: what a yucky day here. It’s pouring out and the wind is supposed to hit 60 mph. They shut the NYC bridges down earlier this morning because of the wind. Hopefully it will die down before I leave for home.

Karen: I SO want to go to Italy! I’m Irish American and my husband is from Ireland (County Mayo) and we go there frequently but I’ve always longed to go to Italy, especially Rome. I’d also like to go to Southern Italy and Tuscany. I always browse through the travel books and websites. It must have been exciting in the Navy, I guess you’re quite the adventurer! Have you gone back to Italy to see your husband’s family at all?

Andrea: Way to go on the bike!! I’ll check out the Leslie Sansone tapes.

Karen: can you answer a couple of WW questions for me. I’m doing WW from memory and my little dry erase card where you mark off your points shows 35 bonus points at the bottom. Are they (free) points of mine for the week or do I have to earn them first?

My menu (only way to keep me honest!)
B: cereal w/ blueberries & tea 5
L: tuna on WW bread, yogurt, grapes, water 7
D: Grilled veggie wrap, mango tea 6
S: 1 ½ graham crackers & cocoa 3
Vitamins: yes (but have bad stomach cramps from them again)
Water: only 1 bottle...maybe 1.5
Points used: 21 Points saved: 5

Good evening all!

Hope you are all having a good day!

Cindy: Way to go with the loss! That is awesome! I am sure you are feeling really pumped up about that!

Maureen: For WW points you do get an extra 35 points for the week to use how you want (either all at once or spread over the week). I know that with the exercise you don't start earning points for exercise until I think 3 weeks after the starting point--and then I think it depends on the type and length. I will have to double check the website and see what it says about that. Because I plugged in some activity points but it didn't give me any extra points. I have gone back to Italy twice since I lived there (during the 2000 Christmas/New Years and the 2005 Christmas/New Years). Our goal is to go every few years to see everyone and so our girls have a chance to visit with their many cousins, granparents, aunts, uncles, etc. My husbands family kind of acts like the characters from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"--if you have any clue what that is like. Crazy, loud, and opinionated! But a very loving bunch!

Andrea: Great job getting moving while watching TV. I watched AI as well...pretty funny stuff to start. I don't swim every day--but just happened to feel energetic to do that two days in a row.

Does anyone have some snack food suggestions? Or how about a tasty low-fat recipe? I am always looking for new ideas.


Also, what is everyone's weigh in day? Mine is Monday. And for once I am not going to even check until Monday rolls around. I am usually obsessed with the scale (have been known to weigh myself one time after another to see if the number changes--I know I am not alone there!) I am trying to change that and just wait until the week goes by--and think more about how I feel and not so much about the number. Because I really do feel better when I stay on track and don't feel bloated from eating too much of the wrong food choices. Know what I mean? One step at a time!
--
Karen in Ohio

low fat snack thoughts other than fruit.....
granola bars, microwave popcorn, rice cakes, graham crackers, yogurt, You can check out dwlz . com (dottie's weight loss zone), she has a list of 1 point foods I think. I used to go on her site a long time ago and I just saw that she regained her weight but is back on track, I wish her luck. She's got a great site although you have to skim past a lot of advertisements to find the good info.

This week I made grilled veggies on an indoor grill then put them in a wrap with either LF dressing and/or asiago or some type of hard cheese melted inside, or you can do chicken, salsa and LF sour cream in a wrap. Tomorrow I'm trying a new recipe, I adjusted a regular one from allrecipes.com It's called salt and vinegar chicken I have BS chicken thighs marinating in 1 cup cider vinegar, 3 tsp salt and some old bay seasoning. I'll let you know how it comes out tomorrow.

I'm always searching for snack food too, it's hard because you want something but you don't want to squander your points. I might go munch on some dry cereal before bed. DH looked up tonight that a snickers bar is 7 pts! He's doing well but he has to kick his dunkin donuts coffee w/ cream habit. I've had a sore tooth I think from sinus trouble so it hurts to eat, although it hasn't stopped me!
Your husbands family sounds like fun. Better to be like My Big Fat Greek Wedding than the Sopranos! DH loves the Sopranos. The Irishman walks around with a Bada Bing baseball cap

Well I didn't exercise because DH was sleeping in the bedroom with a sinus headache but I did dance for about 15 minutes with the kids on the Dance Dance Revolution game, that tired me out! I'll write tomorrow while I'm at work. Good night and congrats again on the 6 1/2 lbs!!!

Hello ladies:

My Wednesday menu:

Cereal w/ blueberries, tea, tuna on WW bread, yogurt, granola bar, apple, salad w/chicken breast, rice cake. Total points = 20
Water: 32 oz. at most
Vitamins: no
Exercise: 15 minutes of dance, dance revolution

DD was sick last night around 3 a.m. (throwing up). DH stayed up with her, but I was still late for work though! She did go to school today so that was good. It was windy again here last night, a neighbors tree fell down. Where are you all from?

Andrea, Regina, Tina, Hockey, Cindy...are you still with us? I hope so!

Happy Dieting Day! Mo

Hello ladies,

I just typed a whole message and lost it.....darn it! I am only home for a quick lunch so I will have to make this short. And tonight I coach my girls soccer team so I may not get a chance to log back in....but wanted to say hello. I just put my dinner in the crock pot (chicken, green peppers and tomato sauce) and grabbed a bite to eat (turkey on wheat bread).

Maureen: Great idea checking out www.dwlz.com website for 1 point snack ideas. I use that site sometimes--it has a lot of good ideas and great for restaurant points! Hope your dh feels better soon. Great job with the workout! I have done the dance dance revolution--it is fun. What better way to workout--making it fun is the way to go!

~Karen in Ohio

Hiya all!

Thanks for posting the snack ideas and the dwlz link! Snacking is my biggest problem area - esp since nearly everyone around my cube has a candy jar on the edge of their desk! I've done well abstaining for over a week now, so I'm very proud of myself for that.

Congrats Cindy on your and DH's weightloss - that is awesome!!!

I just got back from working out - did 30 mins of interval walking and running. I know a triathlon is a VERY lofty goal. DH actually laughed when I suggested the idea - he's come around though now, asking if he can do it with me! (He lost about 70 lbs last year and does better when he has something like that to work towards also.) It's a LONG term goal though - probably '07, not '06, but I'd like to participate in a few 5k's and bike races this year to get prepped. I'm very excited about it!

I'm switching my weigh-in day to Mondays. I changed my siggy because I had serious doubts about the validity of the numbers my scale at home was giving. I switched from the analog type to an electric one last night, and it measured me above what the analog one has been. (...and of course I'd been picking the best weight of the four numbers the analog gave me!) I feel like I'm starting at square one, but at least I have confidence that my scale is correct now.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a healthy, low-calorie day!!!

Sorry been crazy last couple days....

Cindy congratulations on the weight loss, that is wonderful!!!!! You must feel so proud!!! And you should!!!

I think I'm going to change my weigh in day to Monday, just to stay in sync with it seems like everyone else. (its not really that far off, I was weighing in on tuesday) At any rate, I'm feeling pretty good and have resisted the urge to weigh myself everyday as well...... (yes I have that problem too). I did the bike again last night another 25 minutes while watching AI but I couldn't sleep last night,, too much going on at work,,, so hopefully I'll find the motivation tonight as well.

Thanks Maureen for bringing up DWLZ, I forgot all about that website, but I'm going to tool around it tonight. My DH is a huge Sopranos fan as well. He is salivating waiting for the new season to start.

At any rate, I should run.

Good luck to everyone today...!!!!!