Good Morning my lovelies!

4 points yesterday.....woo hoo! I've discovered I can eat loads of brown rice if I put just a little pesto and lemon juice in it. YUMMY! Then I tried fiddling with it to try and get the calories down cuz there's alot of fat in pesto (olive oil, though, which isn't bad) So.......I figured that pesto is just basil, parmesan cheese, garlic and oil. So I cooked the rice with a bunch of basil and garlic, and then just put the parmesan on top afterwards (plus lemon juice, cuz I likes it puckery). It was pretty good! And I probably saved like 200 calories in oil.

So now when I get those carb cravings for pasta or toast or pastries, I'm eating this stuff (I keep a bunch of it in the fridge). It fills me up alot! And it doesn't set me up for cravings like real rice or pasta does. Just thought I'd share that with you all. I've also seen recipes for brown rice pudding using splenda.....and I used to eat it with soy sauce fairly often in college.

Jaymie--glad you got home safe and sound. I think you should pay close attention to what happened in TX.......you ate, you didn't exercise (except for daily running around) and you lost. That should tell you something, and I really hope you don't go right back to your old patterns and starve yourself again. Maybe you could rent a Mommy and Me aerobic video and exercise WITH your daughter? It would be teaching her great things, and you don't have to fret so much about having the "perfect" time and place for exercising.

Susan--BOY have I been where you are!! Actually, if I don't lose anything this month, I'm STILL where you are Give your body a break! Don't think for a minute that your 30 pounds is insignificant!!! You achieved something great, that many people have failed at. Congratulate yourself, and find a way to at least maintain your accomplishment. When you're ready, you'll get back to business. I've only lost 5 or 10 pounds since Xmas, myself........and I'm more than frustrated about it. But I know that I'm not going back, so there's only one way to go. Plus, finals week sucks!! Who doesn't eat their brains out during finals??? Don't beat yourself up. And keep coming here......even if you're not actively trying to lose anything, at least it keeps your head in the right place.

Beth--sounds like you're a little more cheery now. I guess you must've done something with the hot air, cuz it's supposed to be mid-80's today. Yesterday it didn't get above 53 and I had the wood stove going! I love Maine!

Faye--any luck with a plastic cast? Sorry the docs are being jerks.....you'll get through this. Just don't make the medical stuff the focus of your whole day.

Carrie--you know you can get back op. Just don't force yourself to go back whole hog, unless that's your style. Maybe you need a week or so to ease back into things.

Amanda--didn't see a post from you.......must be too busy doing situps to write!

Well, the kids are tugging at me, gotta get em to school. Hey, only 4 more days and we're off for the summer!!!!

Later babes,
Julie

TUESDAY: Today is Target Tuesday. This week take one emotionally issue that you have trouble with, be it a family problem, a growing up problem, anger, sadness, depression, whatever and work on eliminating it permanently. This is not necessarilly going to be a one week deal, but make it a target to start dealing with it.

Julie: I am ok now. I have decided just to go back to my life as it was. They told me yesterday the fracture is tiny so I am going back into the pool and just protecting the one arm so I can get back to a normal life! As for the pesto rice, if you like the taste of the olive oil, get some of the olvie oil pam and when it is all mixed up spray some of it on just for the flavor.

I have chores, housecleaning, and pool this morning so better hit the road and get started!

Faye **thanks for all your good thoughts for me girls**

Morning Everyone -

I get 3 points for yesterday. I didn't get out and exercise. I've been kind of down the past couple of days and it was storming yesterday so I used that as an excuse to be lazy. I sure had a battle last night. Depression always makes me what to eat. I decided I wanted a pizza and nothing was going to stop me from having one lol. It wasn't that I couldn't control myself I just didn't want to control myself. I had convinced myself that this whole diet / weight loss thing was stupid and useless. It is amazing the mind games we can play with ourselves. I went so far as to get money out of my purse and cut a coupon out of the paper. For some reason I kept putting calling off. In the end I never ordered one. I was rewarded with the scale going down today so that is something. I have a feeling the battle isn't completely over lol.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Beth

I only got 3 pts yesterday...

Julie - Yeah I know I can get it back off and that was my philosophy while on vacation, I knew I would gain but I also knew I could get it back off...I may have to ease into it as yesterday was very hard and I had the ever popular
"hunger headache"...

Beth - You seem to be pretty down most of the time...You mention that you are depressed, are you taking any anti-depressants? I did a few years ago and they really, really helped me....if you arent taking any you might want to check into it before it gets any worse....I know, I have been there...

Faye - Glad to hear that you can still get in the pool and exercise...I wish I had a pool to get into, especially today as it is going to be around 90 degrees here today.

Everyone have a good day...

Beth: Fabulous! I am so glad you obstained! I know it gets tough and when you feel crappy about all of it and yourself, it is kind of a what the **** mentality, but we have to be strong!

Carri: I am so thankful for this pool and no one every goes out there first thing in the morning, so it is so relaxing even doing aerobics. You can think and ponder etc. We are going to be in the 90's for a week or so. The pool water is still pretty chilly so I hope this warms it up some.

I am trying to relax a bit before tackling the house. I think it will be downstairs first as dh dumped baked beans all over the floor last night and I mopped but the floor is still pretty sticky.

Have a wonderful day girls!

Faye

Carri - Thanks for the concern. Actually I was seriously, clinically depressed, for about 4 years. I don't mean just a little depressed, like oh my life sucks, poor me. I mean being so removed from life and myself that I forgot how to do simple things. Like how to do the dishes. How to relate to people. How to talk to people. How to hang up my clothes. I don't mean that I didn't want to do those things anymore. I mean I simply couldn't figure out how to do them. At the time I described it to the doctor this way: I felt like I was in a clear plastic box without doors. I could see what needed to be done. I knew what was on the outside of the box, but I simply couldn't get to it. I couldn't figure out how to stand up, walk over to the sink, turn on the water, wash the dishes. It was simply beyond me. Most everything was. The world had no revelence to me. I was no longer a part of it and daily I moved further away from it. It was as if I was falling backwards into a bottomless black hole. The world was disappearing and I didn't care. That's what scared me the most at the time. I longed for that darkness. I don't mean death. At least not a physical death. I was aiming for comatose at the time, but never quite made it lol. Not enough drugs I suppose. I'm such a happier person now. I know it might not seem that way to the casual observer, but I have just been having to deal with a bunch of stuff the last few months that does get me down. That's all it is though, an off and on blue funk, not actual depression. Believe me I know the difference lol. No, I don't take any meds. I don't like them anyway. They never helped at the time and only made me tried.

My relationship with the b/f has kept me on a roller coaster for the past 6 months and a few other things in my life. If you knew me from before you'd be able to tell the difference, for the better. Actually you would never of known me from before because I basically didn't leave the house for 4 years! Part of my problem right now is just boredom. I'm out of school for 4 months with nothing to do. I do my best to keep busy, but there is only so much I can do. I'm also alone for the summer which gets old after awhile, but not much can be done about that either. I would say what I am now and have been off and on for awhile is sad. Sad is a normal, heathly emotion unlike depression. Sadness goes away with time. Depression is a friend that moves in and stays, although it never helps with the rent lol.

Anyway, I fine, actually much better than fine. But again thanks for the concern. I'm sure that was way more information than you wanted lol.

Beth

Beth - You are welcome...no that was all good information...I too was in a similar state years ago, so we have that in common
Just wanted to make sure you were alright

Later

Hey Girls!

I have been soooooooooooo ill!

I think it is the last effects of coming off my pills, as I have reduced them to every other day and suddenly I feel like I have been hit by a bus! I think I may have overdone it with the weights a bit aswell - they didn't feel that heavy so I was really going for it, and now every muscle in my body aches like crazy! Nigel said to me at the time to take it easy, but i was like 'I'm fine, stop going on at me!' - man I hate it when he is right!! My body feels so heavy, and I feel dizzy and nauseous - and all of this in the middle of a heatwave!

Consequently, I only got 1 point yesterday for my water - I couldn't face cooking so ended up having something from the freezer and loads of bread, which took me way over my points. But in the past i would have called for a pizza - I thought about it for about two seconds, but honestly didn't really want one! So I am pleased about that - knowing that I have my pizza as a Friday night special treat seems to be really working for me, I've even got one in the freezer ready for Friday, but I didn't eat it last night as i want to save it!

Today I have been a bit better and stayed on programme, but I'm still not up to exercising, which I'm not happy about - now I know how you feel Faye!

BETH - I can identify your description of your past depression - you described it very eloquently. It's a disassociation isn't it ? I avoided meds for years, but finally gave in because I was going to lose my job if i had any more sick days (in the end i lost it anyway! ). I must say my life has improved dramatically since taking them - the ones I am introducing at the moment make me quite drowsy, but I kind of like that - it is better than feeling tense and agitated! Nigel calls them my 'cuddle drugs' because they chill me out so much! I'm glad you are happier now, as am I - it's a horrible horrible illness isn't it?

Take care you guys!

Love Amanda x

Woohoo got a call that my MRI is scheduled tomorrow. Only I would be excited about being slid into a round coffin and having to lie perfectly still! I just want to know what is wrong with my knee and if they can fix it or do I have to live with it?

Amanda: Oh sweety I am so sorry the "coming down" off the pills has been so tough. We are here for you though so come and b*^%$ all you want, ok?

Man is it ever hot here. Even in the house it feels hot and it really isn't. I did get 4 pts today though, yippee!

Everybody have a great night and I will try and post first thing, but have to be at the hospital at 7:30 so I may be late getting in. Just remember it is gripe day!

Faye

WEDNESDAY: Today is Wednesday's woes. Gripe away!


POINTS FOR YESTERDAY:

Julie
Beth
Carri
Amanda

Check in later

Faye

Good Morning Beautifuls!

3 points for yesterday.......procrastinated the exercise just a little too long and I succumbed (succame?) to the couch. Adjusting to the heat.......it's one thing when you slowly go from 50s to 60s to 70s to 80s over the course of a few weeks or months.....but 50s to 90s in one day is ridiculous! Not that I'm complaining

Should be a good 4 pointer today, though......got dance class tonight and it's too hot to eat much.

Faye--hope you have good news from the mri!

Jaymie--Brown rice and white rice do have about the same calories, but they are VASTLY different in what they do to your body. White rice is almost completely starch which breaks down into sugar quickly and often goes right to fat stores. This also means that you feel hungry quickly and you will have cravings for more sugary substances. Also, the only vitamins it has are the ones that are sprayed on by the processor. It has very little fiber, because it has been stripped of it's outer layers.

Brown rice, on the other hand, has tons of fiber, little starch, lots of vitamins. It doesn't give you cravings, keeps you full for a long time. The taste does take a little getting used to, if you really like the white stuff. I actually prefer the taste of the brown.

The same things can be said about brown/white bread or brown/white pasta.....not eggs though. Those are identical except the shell color, so I just buy what's cheapest.

Hope that helps!

Amanda--so sorry you're having a hard time with the meds. Don't let it throw you off your game, though. You're doing so well! Tough it out, do your exercise, stick to your eating plan......and then ***** about it all you want to.

Beth--Honey, you need to find something to do! Get a hobby.....here take one of mine, I've got hundreds!!!! Seriously, it sounds like you would have a great time taking some kind of class where you get out and socialize, make new friends and learn something you've always wanted to learn. If you're lucky, it will take over your life and you won't even notice the summer flying by. I would (ahem!) modestly suggest a belly dance class But maybe something water related since you're in Florida....windsurfing or something. Or an art class, pottery, weaving, painting, writing, learn to sew your own clothes (now THERE"S an addiction!)..........ANYTHING! Boredom is what made me fat and what makes me depressed. Get yourself out of the house and make some new friends. Anyway, that's my MOM advice for you. Oh, and WAY TO GO on not ordering that pizza!!!

Well, the kids are buggin me........gotta fly.

Everyone have a super day!

Julie

Hello Everyone -

I'm going to make this short. My stomach started hurting last night, I have no idea why, and it is really bothering me now. I get 4 points for yesterday.

Julie - Thanks for all the advice...Mom lol. I will do my best.

Actually my summer plans just changed completely. I was planning on going to SC for about 3 weeks in August to visit my parents and sister and her husband. Well, my sister called me last night and she wants to come down this Friday and then have me go back with her on Monday and stay until the first week in August. So it looks like I'm going to do that instead. I'll be there two months instead of 3 weeks. Not sure what that is going to do to the diet, but it will be nice not to be sitting here alone all summer.

My father is one of those people that could stuff his face from the time he got up in the morning to when he goes to bed and still lose weight. I joke that he is on a two-hour feeding schedule like a baby. Every two hours he has to eat. Unfortunately he wants someone to eat with him lol. Then my mother refuses not to bake cookies and cakes and so on and dinners no matter what you say. Also whenever I'm around my father wants me to make him fried chicken and gravey. It's really a no-win situation lol. My goal is just going to be to maintain until I get back. My folks have this HUGE yard. My father works in it 3 - 4 hours a day so I figure I'll help him with that. He also walks so I will do that as well and then keep the food fest down to a minimun. That should keep me where I'm at now.

Well, I'm going to go lay down and hopefully get rid of this stomach pain.

Beth
Day 29 on-plan

@ gripe day Faye, i don't think i could have an MRI if my life depended on it i definitely would have to be sedated for that one! I suffer from terrible anxiety/panic attacks and would literally "fight" to stay out of that machine listening to your WOES about your arm reminds me of what happened to me a couple of years ago, i fractured my wrist in THREE places and the doc missed it! I was in terrible pain and my hubby is one of those "stop whining" type of guys it was 10 days later when they rang me to say that the radiologist had determined that it was fractured and displaced it was put in a cast for 6 weeks and hurt like **** and today i'm left with a deformed wrist that still aches like ****. I hope they finally sort your problems out

Its my turn to have the "blues" i feel like Susan did last week i'm eating like a and don't have much motivation at the moment i've got to shake myself out of this and get on a losing streak again

Carri, @ missing your boobs thanks for making me smile today

Beth, that depression sounds terrible i'm glad that you're much better these days