maddiesmom - so fun to see you back here! Your life has got to be so crazy right now, I can't even imagine. I've been following a similar eating plan to what you describe - no starches no sugar - and all my cravings are gone which is a huge help.

lindy - ex called last night and we talked for a few hours. Glad he missed me I guess and we're still on for this weekend which makes me happy. I texted 2nd date guy before my ex called and he texted back a long message which I will reply to today. Nothing about getting together though so not sure what will happen there.

Totally annoyed with the scale today - up two pounds for no reason that I can think of. I ran one loop and walked another and stuck exactly to my eating plan (probably around 1300 cals). Oh well - I won't get another chance to weigh in until Fri am so those pesky pounds better be gone by then!

Off to pack for my trip and get in a walking loop.... Will check in from Phx.

Ladies, thanks for the welcome back! It's been awhile since I have been back on the wagon...when I was pregnant, I ate everything. Now, I can get back on track. Just wish I had my trainer, but he moved to IN (I'm in IL), so I'll have to do it without him. Looking to just get started with the working out and perhaps hire a trainer later...thinking the pounds will come off a lot at first no matter what I do.

The diet is going well - no longer craving the sweets, which is nice. All the other "whites:" potatoes, pasta, bread - I miss. But, I have been planning ahead, and was up until midnight last night, making lunch. My new fav for breakfast is a quiche, which is 70% veggie and 25% egg (with some ham and cheese for flavor). I make it ahead of time and slice it up and put into tupperware to grab. Lunch is easy: usually leftovers, today it is a salad with chopped rotisserie chicken. Dinner will be pork chops with sweet potatoes and fresh green beans. It takes some getting used to, not having those carbs, but nothing is ever easy, right?

Dance: Don't worry about those 2 pounds - could be anything and they will come right back off. Yes life is certainly chaotic, but all I have to do is see those babies smile, and I'm in heaven. Not to say it isn't a lot of work - it totally is. We have been lucky - they sleep through the night since about 7 weeks, except when going through a growth spurt.

Lindy: Gab is absolutely beautiful. Love seeing her pics on FB as well. Time just flies by too fast.

Sticking to plan, have fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge for snack. Feeling good!

Quick check-in.

Maddiesmom - do you have the recipe for the quiche?

Got to go again, lol.

Lindy: No real recipe - made it up myself (aren't I clever), but here it is:

6 eggs
1/2 cup sharp cheddar
salt/pepper to taste
1 green pepper chopped
1 green onion chopped
4 oz mushrooms chopped
1 frozen pkg chopped spinach, thawed (could use fresh, but that requires another step)

Put all veggies in a sautee pan with olive and cook through (if you don't do this, the veggies stay hard). In separate bowl, beat 6 eggs, mix in cooked veggies and cheese. I put mine in a pie plate and bake at 350 for 30 mins (or until top doesn't look so runny). You can use any kind of veggies, but I put a ton in mine where you really don't see the egg, you see more of the veggies. I slice it into 4 pieces and put in the fridge. Microwave for 2 mins and you are set to go for breakfast.

Wow - sounds amazing! Thanks for the recipe. So are you eating as many calories as you like, but just eliminating the "Carbs", so to speak? Do you have to eat fruits in moderation?

Lindy: the chiro said to start with the carbs, and we will go from there. She said not to count calories just yet, but my diet will be following they glycemic index, so I can have fruits, just not bananas and grapes, as those are the highest in sugar content. Lots of veggies and meats (including red meat, apparently I need more B vitamins in my diet) and fruit. But no coffee or soda, caffeinated drinks, etc. Which is going to be hard since I don't get a full night's sleep. She's doing everything in stages so she isn't overwhelming me.

Lindy-i took a day 30 pic from 30ds but havent gotten brave enough to share yet. There is a bit of a change just not real noticeable to me. sounds like your eating is on track. Its great your bf is on board too, that makes it so much easier when you physically have someone doing this with you. I think I have my husband on board too. Hes not a small man, Im sure youve seen him in some of my pictures. So even if its baby steps with him I'll be happy. Congrats on starting college. Hope you are feeling better.

Dance-we got home yesterday. Its nice to be back in my own bed. Now back to eating better and exercising. You are my inspiration. You have lost so much these last few months and I want to join you. Its always fun to get compliments from someone you havent seen in a while. Im sure those extra pounds will be gone when you get back.

Nessa-how is it going after the power outage?? How are you feeling after your surgery?

Vicky-welcome back, we've missed you. I really crave chocolate too, wonder if I should try some magnesium. My hubby has some. LIfe has to be hectic but I bet you wouldnt trade if for the world. Might have to try your quiche recipe, sounds yummy.

My stomach bug was a 24 hour thing so we left Alabama on Sunday and got home yesterday. Its always so hard to leave. Now I'm coughing. My niece has the flu. I hope im not getting that. Been loading up on vitamins. Hoping I'll kick it in the butt. I havent been working out much the last week so I have to get back to it. I only gained a lb on vacation so thats not as bad as its been in the past. Time to refocus and do this.

Hey girls!
Maddiesmom - quiche sounds yummy - will have to make one of those soon!
Lindy - how did you do for food and exercise today?
Burgundy - yay! You're back! So hope you don't get the flu - sounds like it's extra bad this year. one pound on vacation is amazing - I'm sure it will be back off in no time.

So the latest chapter in my continuing saga - my ex called last night telling me he missed me and we talked for three hours. This morning, when he realized I didn't need to leave for the airport until the afternoon, he asked if he could come over and like a wimp I totally caved - I missed him too. I guess it means the week or so apart gave us some new data. I'll try it again maybe after this weekend.

Hope you guys are doing great....

Good morning girls!

It is so nice to see the whole group back together again. :-)

Dance - you are not a wimp, you are just in love. :-) And hey...if he is telling you that he is missing you, there is no reason to play games. I am verry h appy things are transitioning with you two in a positive way. As far as my eating, I did ok. I do a smoothie every morning and am quite pleased with doing that. I have vegetable soup for lunch yesterday and munched on craisins and peanuts for snacks. For dinner we had spaghetti and meatballs and I'm not gonna lie....nothing healthy about that but I dont care. I am not going to go hard until after my trip. I am still not allowed to exercise due to my bronchitis. This cold is kicking my butt and I am no where better and my doctor said it just needs to pass and I need to rest. How is your business trip going so far?

Maddiesmom - slow and steady wins the race. I like your doctor's thinking. When we are dieting we tend to jump in hard and want quick results and I think a few pounds here or there is what will make the difference. Keep me posted as she tweaks your program, it sounds interesting.

Burgundy - welcome back girl! Only a pound gained is impressive. Did you workout the whole time you were up there? Sorry to hear you are catching something. This cold I have is nasty and I cannot shake it. It is upsetting because I leave for my trip in 1 week and it does not look like I am going to be any better.

I wish I had some major strides to post on but you guys will have to wait another 2 weeks before you start seeing me post numbers. Then I am on board 100%.

Ugh, I had a hodge podge of crap for lunch. I dont think anything was horrible it was just a bad mix and wasted calories. Again, not trying hard but trying to at least do well at breakfast and lunch.

I did a smoothie for breakfast, some peanuts for a snack, throat losengers all day...which I hate because they are wasted calories, tuna sandwich with onions on italian sliced bread for lunch, tostitoes chips with salsa and yahoo chocolate milk....we wont even go there with what a bad mix that was, lol. I had craisins as an afternoon snack and are doing philly cheesesteaks for dinner. *sigh* I might as well enjoy it now because things are going to change on January 22nd. :-)

*sending healthy vibes in everyone's direction* Hope everyone gets back to feeling 100% soon - being sick is sooo tough.

Doing pretty well so far on this trip. Stuck to plan last night (ate roasted chicken and veggies at dinner), went for a verrrry early walk this morning before our meeting, and have been on plan so far with food. We are going to a swanky italian place tonight for dinner so I'm planning a salad and lamb with veggies which would be exactly on plan for me. I drank water with dinner last night so I get one glass of wine - woohoo!

Am going to try to get up super early and walk 4 miles tomorrow - wish me luck!

Dance - I cannot say this enough, your dedication is truly inspiring. I cannot wait to get back from my trip and get on track like you. If you can travel and still be successful, there is no excuses for the rest of us. :-)

Have you heard from you ex while you are gone? And what beach are you going to Feb. 9th, I couldnt recall.

Getting back on track!

Went out for a business lunch yesterday and they always order a ton of appetizers, etc. and I had lettuce wraps and some ahi tuna for apps. Then for lunch, after pouring over the menu FOREVER, I had a lean steak and veggies. Water to drink. They always give us muffins and fresh baked cookies when we leave, so I gave my muffins to a co-worker and took the cookies home for Matt and Madeline. I gave Madeline 1/2 of one last night, I had the other half in my hand....and put it away. Didn't need it. I ended up eating dinner late (Hubby was out while I had all 3 kids) and I ended up having oatmeal with chopped apples and some nuts at 9:30. So, still on track. Had quiche for breakfast.

Dance: you are doing so great! There's no way I could get up earlier than I already do, to work out.

Lindy: have I told you lately, how jealous I am of your cruise? I sooooo need a vacation. It's going to be awhile. Last vacation I had was Sept 2011 when we took Madeline to Disney. Then pregnancy happened.

I think another week or two of eating well and I'll be ready to start the workouts. Just waiting until I don't feel so exhausted so I don't get sick. I also want to wean off of the breastfeeding so I can have my body back 100% of the time.

Hey ladies!! I am finally out of my anesthesia and drug.induced stupor! Lol everything looked good and for that we are happy. But the dr. Has no idea what has been.causing all my probs!!!! So she is just praying this fixes it. If not i dont know what we will do. But man....healing gets harder the older you are! I remember when i was in high school i could get hurt.or sleep.in the floor or whatever and i was fine the next day......now at age 29 its not that easy! Lol any who i am on restrictions from lifting and working out etc. But thats ok for right now.....i still feel like junk. But my hubby has been absolutely amazing.... He has not let me even lift a finger!!!!

My grandfather has gotten alot better....he has even been trying to get out of bed and into his wheel chair. Which hasnt happened in weeks! But now that he is doing better he is telling all of us that he will not be with us much longer. So were not sure if he knows something we dont or if hes just depressed.

Ok so im behind on everyone.....but ill try to keep up now!!!!! How is every ones day going so far!!!

Maddiesmom - great job on the eating choices! I am a social butterfly these days and that is definately the biggest challenge for me. I didnt realize you are still breastfeeding...my hats off to you. I breastfed Gabriella and had ZERO time to myself, it was awful. I mean...it was good but still awful, lol.

This vaca is much needed considering the year I had last year. I cannot wait. And its the first time I have ever traveled without the kids. I am nervous and excited at the same time. Ill catch up later. I am the only one at work today and have to hold down the fort.