Hi again everyone!

Today is my official start day. I did read the book last week, and thanks to this board, I found out about the shopping guide. I picked that up this weekend and felt I was ready to go (I also got the cookbook from the library). Below is my meal plan, let me know if I'm wrong on anything.

I'm an addict to cold breakfast cereal in the mornings, so I started off at 7am with the Shredded Wheat N Bran cereal and 1/2 cup of 1% milk. Got hungry about 10 am and ate a pear. Lunch will be a salad with 2 lean chicken/spinach/feta sausage links. Snack for afternoon will be light yogurt. Dinner is still up in the air, but I'm leaning towards shrimp with ww mac & Cheese and tomato slices.

Does this seem about right?

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Just a minute to reply to some messages:

Rosalie, I'm sorry your lunch plans got cancelled. Things happen for a reason. But icy roads could be dangerous. better safe than sorry. I still eat fried fish. Ocasionally, but try to eat half a potato or a salad with it. It doesn't seem to bother my wt loss.

Monet, I can't get one thing on my mind or I'm up all night. Hope you get that freezer moved and your kiln in place. Fire her up. Hoper your blood is better today.

Stef, hope you are staying warm. It is really cold here.

Melf, Congrats on your loss. Of course you will take it. Be proud of it. Find some motivation for you. How ong has it been since you did something for you. All your life it has been someone else first. You are important. Do it for your health and for you in general.


I forgot to mention earlier, that this is my 3 yr anniversary being cancer free. It is a big day to me. It means I am strong and will beat this beast. Every day is a gift I am so thankful for. Of course, all of you, my dear friends have been with me and beside me all or part of the way. I thank you for that. I love you all.

Pika, I forgot you, sorry. The only thing I can see in your menu is maybe add another fruit. Either at breakfast or in the afternoon. Make sure you are eating enough calories or your body won't let go of those lbs. Good luck.

WTG Jackie!!!!!!! That is GREAT news!

I'm a little late in welcoming you back Sef but welcome back. It is so good to see you.

Welcome to the new members. This way of eating is great. I did good for the first four years and I've kind blown it the last year but I'm working my way back.

Monet...hey lady. I hope you are feeling better.

((Everybody)) It is time for me to cook dinner but I wanted to pop in before I forgot again. Every week I say I'm going to do better about posting. I REALLY REALLy am this week.

Love and hugs,
Crystle

I went to install a game on my pc last night & my cd/dvd burner didn't work. Would not recognize any cd's at all! I fought with it a while then finally called DELL support & spent 3 hours on the phone with them only to find out that they couldn't help me fix the problem either!! GRRRRR Good thing is that it's still very much under warranty, as it's only a few months old but a file for my Outlook Express dissapeared & I can't get it back & I have had it crash a couple of times so something is definitely wrong. They will send a tech to change the burner & bring new installation disks incase I have to sart all over. I have to find some way to save all my pictures before the tech comes out. I do have an older model of an external CD WR that I had for my first computer so I guess I will have to dig it out & see if I can install it on here. What a mess!

DD & I went to Lafayette yesterday & had lunch with DH. We ended up at the Golden Wok but I was very selective of my choices. I had a large salad & the grilled chicken & steamed veggies off the buffet. I did NOT eat anything in between meals & then another salad for supper with some turkey chopping in it. I'm proud of myself for doing as well as I did!

pika, I agree, add more fruit & veggies, otherwise menu looks great.

Monet, hope you're feeling better today. Sounds like you're very excited to get your shop set up. Maybe all that activity is adding to the BS dropping if you're not adding calories too?

Rosalie, the maintaining was what did me in. Of course it took me 3 years to gain it back but all the stress of those 3 years with all of our children moving back home with their kids, 1 family at a time sure didn't help. But those are excuses. If I had been more careful, more determined to keep it off I would not let it get so out of hand. At some point I just gave up. But I think you've done a great job of keeping yours down at least to a limited gain! You should be proud of yourself for that. WTG!

Solly, you're absolutely right. I have to do it for ME! Not anyone else. The age is of course not helping in the battle but I know I can do it. Maybe not get as low this time because I let other people convince me that I had lost toooo much & looked sick. I didn't think so ...so why should I have listened to them anyway???? WOOHOO!!! Congratulations on your 3 years CA FREE!! That MUST feel great. A big sigh of relief!

Country, yes, we can do it together!

I am here, too. Just busy, like Monet. Derek was home yesterday and I didn't get any of MY things done. We've been having Lake Effect snow here...but not in MY back yard. Literally, the band stopped a few miles from my house and our school district was, literally, the ONLY school not closed in the entire county and all the way to Syracuse. Shelley was totally bent out of shape. Derek and I went to lunch in Watertown just to see the snow...it looked like someone had a gigantic snow machine...or the business end of a snowblower where the snow comes out...blasting all over. Or like someone sprayed fake snow on everything. It was cool! Or...cold? Anyhow...it snowed about 3 inches per hour, but, like I said, not in my back yard. We're just a hair too far north to get the lake effect that often. Once in a while...but. They had Mike Siedel from the Weather Channel in a town called Pulaski and now in Parish, NY, where Derek's best friend, Brian lives. Mike Siedel is the guy they send in to do live shots when a hurricane is coming in...but this was to show the lake effect snow. It was funny...one time they showed him and his entire right side of his body and face was totally white. He was looking like he'd have preferred a hurricane. But, Pulaski is about an hour from my house.

Anyhow...have to go clean up the living room. Jeremy is coming today after school. That kid is a total terror. If I have the room clean before he comes, it's not so bad to know what he's dumped, damaged or destroyed when he's leaving so I can have him clean it before he leaves.

Back later!!

Hi,

Nothing exciting with me. Got in 50 minutes of cardio last night. For some reason, the gym is packed on Mondays. It is hard to get a machine.

Country, ok, we are going to hold you to posting more this week.

Melf, you must be very computer oriented. If mine went out, I would be useless. My idea would be to throw it away. The are great when they work, but when they don't it can be a nightmare. Hope you can get yours fixed w/o losing your pics. You did great at the Chinese place. You should be proud.

Monet, I can't imagine how having Tom home is hard. We have our routines and they just don't understand them. Any luck with his job hunting?

Tech, Now I would be happy that everyone else got snow and I didn't. I bet the kids were bummed about having to go.

Bob, how are you doing?

Missy, Feeling better?

They are calling for 1-2" of snow this afternoon. I just hope I get home before it hits. Traffic will be a nightmare. A little snow and people forget how to drive. We probably won't get it after all. They never get it right.

Got to run. Have a great day.

Monet, yes having a DH under your feet 24/7 can take up your time. lol I remember when my dh was out of work for 4 years back in the late 90's. He even tried to get on at McD's but couldn't even get a job there or bagging groceries. Anyway, that time finally worked out & although I was working & wasn't here all the time, he was a great help with the house work! LOL

Tech, stay warm! I'm tired even after a visit from my 3 y.o. GS. They stayed with us for 3 weeks this past month because the heater in their mobile home went out, so I can imagine having a 4 y.o. under foot.

Solly, I can't imaginbe doing 50 min cardio..you're doing great! I have had so much more energy yesterday & today. Not sure why but I'm excited about it because most days I don't want to get out of bed.

SEF, BOB, & Missy where are ya???

Yesterday was such a good day. My old walking buddy and I got out for almost two miles. We hadn't talked in ages so that only added to the walk. Today I made some lentil and spinach soup. I threw in some left over taco meat and it was quite tasty. The meat didn't ruin the soup thank goodness.
It is beautiful outside so we are hoping to walk shortly.

Tech...I would love to see all that pretty snow and ice.

Rosalie...enjoy those grand kids...I talked to Lilly on the phone and she kept blowing me kisses...LOL She is 16 months old today.

Solly...WTG you are always so faithful with your workouts. I need some of your energy. We got good news yesterday on my father-in-law. They had called his family twice to his deathbed about 6 months ago...three doctors told him he was terminal just a few weeks ago..now they are saying he is cancer free and in remission. I always thought you had to be cancer free for a while before they told you that your were in remission but we were happy for the good report.

Monet...I totally understand about your hubby being home. My routine is always thrown for a loop when Robert is home on vacation.

((Everybody)) Each of you is on my heart and in my prayers today.

Love and hugs,
Crystle

Eating was really good again today.
B. 1/4 c. yogart with 1 tsp flax seed & coffee
L. salad with 6 triscuits
snack_ raw carrots & brocolli (fresh from DH's garden)
S. Turkey Meatloaf (posted the recipe a few days ago & it's delish!!)
Brocolli & cheese
Buttered & steamed spaghetti squash

Didn't drink enough but still working on that. My supper was oh soooo good. Serving size was good too. Not counting calories or carbs but portions were about right & it sure was filling.

Rosalie, enjoy those GC's while you got em!

Country, WTG on the walking. That's what I need to start doing again.

BOB, keep your chin up!