Good Morning!
Tami thanks you did a good job explaining IP. I am glad you are a daily poster. I've found that it really helps me from quitting. In the past I did not have support from others in my shoes and it is the ticket for me. Good luck at the birthday parties. Do you have a plan to avoid impulse eating?
Donna so glad you are here. Your comment was not too deep. I don't think any of us are here because we over ate from true physical hunger.
Terra I think going down to one TV dinner is a wise move. If you want more food reach for some veggies. How long does it take you to do your chair exercises?
shan I feel so bad for your dad and family. Death is such a personal thing and everyone deals with it in such different ways which can really confuse/frustrate everyone involved. I am always talking to my loved ones who have passed. I truly believe their spirit is still with us when we need them.
I have a busy day planned BUT will I actually get any of it done?
So glad to have this community to share my fears, doubts, failures, new diet ideas, exercise guilt, losses and gains, hopes, dreams, and endless babble.
Have a blessed day!

Ubee ~ Yeah I think going down to 1 frozen dinner is a wise choice too, I didnt get any veggies but I go some pecans and walnuts I can eat if I'm hungry after I eat the frozen dinner. The video I watch for my chair exercises is 40 mins and I do it twice a day. Once a noon and again at night.

Good morning all from the very, very, very wet Northwest. Raining a lot here and we have what is called a Pineapple Express expected through early next week. So about normal for this time of year!

Ubee -- I'm sorry I worried you......although it is nice to know that someone would miss me. Just got busy that morning and forgot. Congrats on losing the Thanksgiving weight -- way to go!!!! You're going to get that 10 pounds off long before the end of the month at this rate. One of my favorite things about you (among the many) is that you, too, plan out the day and then accept that sometimes something better comes along. Loved your comments about the value of this group -- made me realize that our chat group provides my only source for talking about my weight issues and trying to get the weight off.

Shan -- Wow! I'm truly impressed that having your BF's food in the house doesn't tempt you. That's a truly big accomplishment. Is there any kind of ex-pat community that could gather for Christmas. So sorry about your dad not wantiing to be with family over the holidays. It's not convenient, but maybe one of your sisters could travel to him. Hope you have something fun planned for your long weekends. As hard as you work, I imagine that getting time off is definitely anticipated.

Terra -- Cutting down to 1 TV dinner at a time is definitely the route to go. If you're still hungry, fix a salad to go with it and use one of the no calorie dressings from Walden Farms. Your chair exercises sound interesting and good for you for finding a way to keep moving.

Donna -- Going to a therapist and discovering the reasons for our eating habits is great -- something my doctor has recommended but that my insurance doesn't cover (or maybe that's the excuse that I use to avoid facing up to my demons). Thanks for sharing your insights with us -- I know they are extremely personal as they are revealed. But, so much of what you've shared really strikes a chord with me.

Tami -- Thanks for the IP explanation. One poster in a thread described it as Atkins on steroids. Don't know if that's accurate, but there have definitely been some great success stories posted. I imagine that the combination of a strict plan, the counselor, and a really strong support group on here has played a part. But, you seem to have adapated to it very well.

I'm still working on being 100% on Atkins Induction -- keep sneaking nuts when I get hungry. I made some parmesan crisps which are easy to make and good, but made the mistake of putting them in a baggie and leaving them on the counter.......where Toby found them and ate every single one. But 1 more pound to get back to pre-Thanksgiving weight (you beat me, Ubee!).

This morning I was thinking of how much difference I notice with every 5 pounds on my ability to move and just breathe. I keep thinking that I've got to lose exactly 20 pounds to get back to my low point from 2013. I'll still be over 300 pounds, but can't imagine how much better I'll feel.

Off to the gym, then home to vacuum and do the bathrooms. I also have to figure out how to operate my new camera that replaces the one Toby destroyed last week. Yes, he still has a lot of the bad puppy in him although at least he's stopped eating the furniture and has become house broken! Have a great day.

Well they both are childrens parties and the first party I am dropping my little one off and finishing christmas shopping then at the 2nd party I'm just going to tell the hosts that I am stuffed from eating at the previous party ... LOL!!!

You know I tried Atkins but I had a really bad reaction because I wasnt getting the proper amounts of minerals/vitamins/etc. I guess you could say it is very Atkins"esque" though as your primary source of eating are animal protein and vegetables but its also very balanced with healthy oils, vitamins, mineral, etc. I also think its successful because its very EASY ... there is no thinking ... you grab your packs for the day and you go.

I can't wait to eventually get into the 300s .. I know so many are trying to get our but I just want in ... I was 375 the day after I had my daughter almost 7 years ago and for the past 2 years I have been up and down between 430 and 455 so I'm hoping that next Monday I will have a scale victory and break back into the 420s for the first time in 2 years.

Betsy ~ Yeah its definitely the right choice to go from 2 frozen times a day time to just one.

Evening all!

Quick post because I'm off to bed but wanted to check in real quick. It's been an emotional day for me but I've stayed on plan and got my gym time in. Today would be my dad's 58th birthday. He died when I was 4, killed in a motorcycle accident by a drunk driver. It really got me thinking about my friend I lost this year and how hard life can be sometimes. I really miss them both so I had a bit of a cry session this evening. I needed it and feel better...just miss them both so much.

I have done good being on plan this week. Only had that one slip up on Monday with the candy. It made me realize how fast I can really mess up my progress during the holidays if I don't watch it so I have been very careful and will continue from now on especially through the holidays.

I think my scale batteries may be near its last leg. I got on it a few times to test it this evening and I got a different reading everytime. I won't worry about it until Sunday at weigh in just hope its not broken since I only just got it in January.

I hope everyone's day was nice...I also wanted to say how nice it is to know that people truly care about me here. It means a lot that I have you guys for support and I promise even if I miss a day or two I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for the long haul! Have a great night everyone!

Woke up at 5:00 a.m. this morning but I didnt want to get up. Anyway I let Clyde outside already and now he is sleeping on the floor on one of his dog pads. I'm currently eating breakfast at 6:40 a.m. My plans are to clean the bathroom and to do my noon chair exercises and my night exercises and thats it. I hope everyone has a great day.

Good morning all. It's a dreary day here, so I think I'll turn on the lights on the Christmas tree and get a fire going in the fireplace (pressing that remote button for the fireplace is such a luxury!).

Terra -- Sounds like you've got your day all planned out. Have you had any trouble with hunger pangs with going from 2 to 1 frozen dinners? It's always kind of a shock to see what we're supposed to be eating from a portion perspective as opposed to what we want.

Sam -- Days when you would normally be having a little family celebration only the person is gone are always hard. And with your dad passing when you were only 4, you don't have a wealth of memories of him. It's certainly natural when you're thinking about missing loved ones to think about your friend -- that one has to be still pretty fresh and raw. Staying on plan had to be hard, but good for you -- learning to deal with our demons without resorting to eating is a big step towards success.

Tami -- Glad that IP is working for you. Our bodies do have a way of letting us now when they're not happy with what we're taking in. I love your approach to dealing with the two parties. I need to remember that concept.......it's ok to turn down food. What a novel idea!

Hope everyone else is doing ok -- really quiet on here today. I cooked a chicken breast last night and used a technique called dry poaching. Basically you season the chicken, oil a piece of parchment paper, and then tuck the paper around the chicken breast and bake at 400 degree for half and hour. It was to juicy and tasted wonderful. Have to remember how to do this.

Lots of odds and ends chores to do around here today plus having my weekly call with my girlfriend. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

I had quite an adventure last night! With these inside-only kittens, we have to keep a really close watch when we open the doors to the outside. They will eventually grow up into cats who have no interest whatsoever in trying to get outside, but right now they're too young to know the rules.

Well, last night when the pizza delivery guy arrived with the pizza for Bob & Grace and salad for me, I was distracted and forgot to look behind me before opening the front door. Oscar bolted right through the opening, out into the dark night! I didn't have shoes on, just socks, and it was raining, but that didn't matter: of course I ran right out the door after my baby. When I got past the bushes around the front door, the light from the street lamp enabled me to see Oscar, pretty far away, moving tentatively across the lawn toward the street. I made a flying leap, landed prone on the lawn, and grabbed him.

That was like a football tackle! I haven't done anything that athletic in many years. And amazingly, I was completely uninjured. And this morning I am still just fine—no bruises, no sore places, nothing. I mean, I'm so out of shape I get sore from just walking around the block, so whoa...I can't believe it.

I think this Qigong stuff is doing more than just warding off depression. I think it's having a profound effect on my body. I've already noticed that my balance has improved by a huge amount, and that I stand taller. When I was young I was nearly 5' 4", but for a long time my height has been 5' 3". I haven't measured it to check, but I may well be back up to my former height. (!!)

In other news, Grace and I had another terrific Friday together. I let her pick background papers from my collection and mount them on cardboard, then I showed her how to use rubber stamps to make complex patterns (using both ink and acrylic paint) on those papers. She took home eight ready-to-go layered backgrounds to make collages on! She was very happy. She has a natural eye for composition which is getting better all the time. She's becoming quite a fine artist, at the tender age of 14. =grin=

Meanwhile, Nénu bit off all the external stitches but one from her incision after being spayed on Thursday, so the vet had to put an Elizabethan collar on her, but that's another story... (she's doing fine)

Good Afternoon. I really struggle with food when I don't get on here in the morning. Then again almost everyday can be a struggle. Saint Nick came last night. All my daughter was interested in was the orange and nuts. The foil chocolates became objects to sort and rearrange. Not having learned my lesson I bought her gluten free cookies and pretzels at the store. She took one bite of the cookie and handed it to me. She then went on to rearrange them. When I gave her the pretzels she used them to put dip on and then reused the same one over and over again. I need to stop the craziness. I am buying these foods for myself!!!!
Fi so glad you caught Oscar in time. Sorry but I had to chuckle when I pictured Nenu in her collar. Not a happy cat? I'm glad you are enjoying your Friday routine and in the process making a positive influence on a teenager. I would love to see some of Graces art work if she ever feels like sharing.
Betsy a fire and tree lights sound relaxing. I loved how the other day you said you were experiencing a pineapple express to me that sounds like a warm gentle breeze. I have a feeling I may be a little off on that one. Your chicken does sound good, of course I would slowly add veggies... to it until I had to put it in a turkey roaster.
Terra just curious, what do you eat for breakfast?
Sam sending you hugs. Betsy put in to words once again what I also am feeling. She just has a better way of saying it. I am so proud of you. I am also grateful for the energy you bring to this thread.
Tami love the idea for the parties. Good thinking. We will be here when you get into the 300's and we will be here while you work to get into the 200's.
Hi to everyone else!
Almost forgot my new correct sized/length shirts arrived. I took them out of the package and thought these are huge! Tried them on and of course they fit. I do feel a lot better in longer roomier shirts.
Have a peaceful day!

I have a food-related problem that maybe one or more of you would have some advice about. I have a problem with making myself eat salad. On my modified Atkins diet, I'm supposed to eat salad every day, but I'm lucky if I eat it once a week. The whole process of eating a salad just annoys me: so much bulk, so much chewing, so many separate little bits to get hold of and put in my mouth...I don't mind the taste, but the texture and the actual eating of it are so dull and time-consuming, I just go "Blah....I don't want to do that."

I'm perfectly happy eating meat and cheese and occasional nuts, plus of course my required muesli to prevent depression, but salad just drives me up the wall. I have much much more willpower to resist eating things like cookies & candy, than I do to make myself eat salad.

And I've already tried the obvious things, like making salads only out of my very favorite ingredients, having them made for me and delivered, other ways to make it easy and appealing. I'm at my wit's end: how do I make myself eat salad?!!

Betsy ~ I'm not sure yet cause I havent had any of my frozen t.v dinners yet but I will let you know when I do.

Ubee ~ This morning I had a homemade ham and swiss foot long sub with pickle. I know I could of had something healthier but I LOVE subs.

Just reconciled the checking account to make sure I hadn't overspent on Christmas shopping, etc., and I thought I'd check on here because I have a wild desire to go make up the chex mix that I put off for Thanksgiving. Don't be surprised if I start posting 5-6 times an hour. I've decided that if I put a craving/cheat want on here, it will keep me from doing it because I know that Ubee will figuratively kick my rear end!

Terra -- Don't know if you're aware of it, but there are several types of low calorie/low carb breads out there. It's very hard to give up bread, but some of them are quite good.

Fi -- So glad you caught Oscar, and I have a feeling the vision of you flying through the air to grab him will stick in my mind for awhile. Glad you weren't hurt. Oscar and I would still be out on the grass waiting for the EMTs to pick me up if I had done that. How important are the salad dressings in eating salads for you? I like my salads smothered in dressing, but why make a salad if I do that? I've found that Walden Farms puts out a line of dressings that are pretty good that are calorie/carb/gluten free so I can smother my salads. The only other thing I could think of is to either turn your salads into a wrap or sushi. Chop up the veggies, but wrap them in lettuce leaves for wraps or use seaweed (we carry it at our Coop) and make sushi only without the rice. Other than that, no ideas as I eat a big salad pretty much every day at lunch. There's also a web site mentioned in the Atkins group here on 3FC that has lots of recipes that are induction approved. Some interesting salads might be in there. I'll check and see.

Ubee -- I have trouble sticking to plan and I don't have other family members who might like to have something other than what I should be eating. It is hard and it's always hard at this time of year. Glad your new clothes arrived and hope you can enjoy them even if you feel like they're huge. Since you weigh quite a bit less than I do, just tell yourself that Betsy would be thrilled to be able to get into these.

OK. Time to empty my recycling box in the office and go read the user guide for the new camera. It's 220 pages long. How can a camera need a 220 page user manual?! Hopefully I'll be down tomorrow because I've lived in the bathroom today with a whoosh. We're already at flood stage out here and this might put us over the top.

Oh, Ubee, a Pineapple Express is a severe wind and rain storm with lots of rain, power outages, trees down, flooding, etc. However, since it comes roaring out of the South Pacific, the temperatures are actually fairly warm (40-50s). Normal storm for this time of year.

Have a good rest of the weekend.

Fi -- I looked up the site that has so many Atkins recipes. It's genaw.com. Any recipe with an * beside it is approved for induction. There's a whole section on salads. Maybe trying different kinds of salads will help.

If you're like me and forget the name of the site after a couple of days and don't bookmark it, it can be found in Diet Central > Carb Counters > Atkins > Sticky > Atkins Induction Basics.

Hope this helps some.