Give me veggies, lots of veggies! Our garden is finally caught up and we're swamped. We have lettuce, broccoli, peas, chard, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, and zucchini (nearly ready). The potatos are not ready yet, but that's about all. Also plenty of raspberries, but DH picked the last of the strawberries on Wed.

On a side note, he came home with 1/2 dozen oysters last night and proceeded to eat two of them raw - ewwww! I had one which he cooked for me, but that's plenty. He also bought some donut peaches, which are cute (and pricey) but imho not as good a flavor as regular ones.

Yesterday started out good as any. I had a satisfying lower body work out and was happy to see that using the stability ball is a huge challenge for me...in a good way.

However, the day crumbled toward the end. I fell off the wagon. Hardcore. Cookies, candy bars, and left over pizza whenI got home...I'm not really sure why, but I do remember chewing on something, deciding it wasn't worth it and throwing the rest away... when I fell into a crying fit later in the night, it became clear to me that I was having a manic episode.
Today's a new day. I started it out with coffee and a peanut butter sandwhich, later I had yogurt and deli sliced turkey...
Last night i looked at my body and could swear I saw where the cookies and candy bars had deposited themselves...but this morning I see where muscles are peeking out, and how my clothes fit just a tad different.
Where I thought i failed, I see it as a learning experience and a success in that I recognized the behavior rather than keeping on with it.
I am unable to work out thus far today because it's so hot outside, but i will be doing much housework and will go for a walk this evening...
My favorite cookies come from the bp station...now when I see the commercials for bp, it makes me sick to my stomach..yuck...
It's hard for me to see the grey areas of life. I'm so black and white about everything...but I"m working on it.
My next vegetable I want to try are artichokes. I never had them, but read that they are one of the best vegetables in terms of nutritional punch.

Pat-- I just caught that line about raw oysters. Yuck! I've never had oysters but that sure doesn't sound appetizing.

I joined you in the veggies Lydia. I had a salad for lunch with tons of broccoli, cauliflower, garbonzo's, purple cabbage (yum!) and cheese sprinkles. Unfortunately, the dressing I like is not the best, but in every day we must have some fat, soooo.....

Also got some cherries from the store after reading how yummy they are on another thread. Then promptly felt my throat bother me after eating 1/2 cherry. Very sore, dry like I needed water and raspy. A different kind of allergic reaction than I'm used to, bc no swollen lips and itchy tingly throat - thank goodness! Apples do that to me, but a quick google taught me that apples & cherries (and pears, which I don' tlike anyway) often form an allergic trio. Nice. Sigh. None of this stuff bothered me until 2-3 years ago, which is also normal supposedly.

This happens to me more than I care to admit as well! Although the next morning instead of seeing the muscles poking through, that's when I see the cookie/runaway carbfest glued to my abs and thighs. I also swear I can see it in my face as well. Most of it is psychological because if the scale shows the decrease the next day, then instead I see the muscle/definition that is forming instead. The reality is that nothing has really changed that is visible to the unaided eye. It's all in what I think I should expect to see.

But I think you did exactly the best thing you could do the next day which is a habit that will certainly enable you to reach your goal. You just picked right up where you left off with the correct belief that this was not a set back but another experience in this journey in which to learn from. I'm having them all the time...

Fran: You're allergic to cherries and apples?! And this can occur for the first time in adulthood? Thanks for the heads up. I have never had a reaction to any food allergies and probably would have no idea what was happening to me if I did. Scary stuff. Pears too? Oh, that's too bad. Really ripe bosc and red pears are one of my favorites. The only food I can not tolerate is onions. OMG. When my mother would cut a fresh onion in the house I would have to run outside for fresh air or else she would find me in the corner of my room with a towel trying to get through the dry heaves. Don't even let me bite into one of those nasty things in a dish that has been prepared for me in a restaurant.

Pat: I wish I could invade your vegetable garden. Mine is full of weeds this year. I was (ahem) too busy at the gym this spring to take care of planting those veggies when then needed to go in. (yeah, that's right...) One of the neighborhood children referred to it as my wish garden. Lovely child.

Anyway, I did get some veggies in today but not enough. I don't thing romaine lettuce counts though. It's just so much easier to eat fruit. I did get plenty of grilled chicken, cottage cheese and protein powder in today so that helps. Tomorrow I head in for my first workout in six days off. I've downloaded some new tunes, charged up my ipod and got my bag packed. LETS GO!!!

Don't like onions, Lydia! DH swears I don't know how to cook without them. Not a huge fan of raw onions, but otherwise, bring them on.

Have a great time at the gym LYDIA!!!
We went to a great Orioles game last night at Camden Yards. Great, bc they won with lots of dbl plays and a man caught between bases - nothing like seeing that live. We had great seats in the first row behind the home team's dugout, but man oh man, what's up with stadium seats??? Has anyone been in one lately? Lemme tell you, they are smaller than airline seats for sure! OUCH. I think I have 2 permanent bruises from the metal rods in each thigh. Talk about a clear voice telling you to lose weight. And this is a fairly modern stadiu, so I would think it's not bc they are old design. Sheesh.

Cleary I'm spending too much time playing games and earning points online for my kids' webkinz account. Lydia, have you gotten hooked on these yet? Oh boy.....just wait! It requires reading, but I think your oldest is at that point, right?

Pat: Last weekend my neighbor had prepared a lovely Thai dinner for us. Everything but the chicken was prepared with onions. As I was "politely" serving myself tablespoon sized portions of the cucumbers and slaw DH leans in close to be and says "Good luck with that... Fortunately, the chicken was just grilled and there was a lovely peanut dipping sauce that saved me.

Fran: Sounds like you had a great time! I haven't been to a live baseball game before so I can't comment on the stadium seats. But if they are smaller than airline seats then they are really going too far.

Oh the Webkins live in our home too. DS1 has a group of friends from school who exchange webkin virtual gifts that they mine? I recall him talking about jewels or something for a crown. It's a cute way for the kids to play with one another when they aren't at each other's home. In fact, we've had kids call and ask if they could play webkins with him over the phone. It's a different world than when I was his age. We actually had to be in the same room to play with our friends.

Had a great time at the gym today. I ran, I hiked on an incline on the treadmill, lifted mostly lower body and did a number on my quads doing step ups. I think I have mastered a really good technique for step ups after tweaking it all summer. Slow controlled and all in the glutes. Yow. DH had the boys today so I didn't have to rush through and could even spend time doing extra core work on the mat. : Very relaxing.

I did do better with the veggies today. How's this: broccoli, tomatoes, and asparagus. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

I've been dieting (this time lol!) for about 6 months. Maybe because I'm older, or maybe all the yo=yoing has caught up but boy that weight just won't come off. I have off 19 lbs since march and have another 38 to go.....
Any way, I did body for life about 6years ago and did well, lost 25lbs but then I went on vacation and have been on vacation ever since. So, even though the summer has been crazy and I have been on 'diet' hiatus, I kept up with exercise and only gained a few lbs back, which I quickly lost when I started back keeping track of my food intake. So, last week, I decided to add bfl back in, dusted off my weights and started on monday with upper body.
No prob there, a little sore....but no biggie. Cardio, no prob. Today was lower body. I am one walking....no, make that crawling, charlie horse....my thighs are protesting seriously. Now, I do remember being sore, really sore, in fact to save my poor dh's hands I had him pull out the rolling pin to massage me lol! (hmmm, where is that thing these days?)...but I don't remember being one great big charlie horse....any thoughts on that??? sorry this got so long by way of intro etc....
thanx
tracyg

I haven't posted in a few days, but have kept up with what everyone's up to. I've been doing ok with my work outs. I find that the upper body is a lot more challenging than my lower body. Could also be that there are more muscle groups in the upper body. Went out to Red Lobster w/ my husband, where I had to take the majority of my dinner home. One biscuit and a ceasar salad later, I was comfortably full. I started to take notice that I can be satisfied by smaller amounts of food, and in the end, less food.
Today I ate a bit too many dried fruits, so I was more liberal with the protein when choosing my meals. I don't think I've eeked out 6 mini-meals yet, but I'm also not hungry at all....

The big excitement today was that I actually got out and walked, for almost an hour. It seems like a mile in Illinois is longer than the miles I walked in Wisconsin. It was 75, but it was more humid than I realized until I was on my way back... and then I noticed it:

My legs do not interfere with eachother when walking. My thighs do not rub together. I no longer feel like I am going to start a fire...

It's back to upper body tomorrow because I have more time before work.
I find that this way of eating and lifestyle has really worked well for me. I'm happier, healthier, stronger and a bit stronger.

It looks like everyone's been very busy, probably w/ back to school and getting what you can out of the last bit of summer.
Unforunately my work outs are on haitus for a few days. I'm ill, and not sure how long it's going to last. I think part of it is my body forcing me to rest, and maybe even relax. I feel much better today, but don't want to take any chances. I don't like being side lined like this, but it's better to heal than possibly make myself worse. My eating is kind of out of sorts because I'm sleeping so much. I'm just not taking as much food in...

Optical: Sorry to know that you are not feeling well. You are right to take care of yourself first and heal/rest. Injuries can occur when we ignore the messages our bodies send us and try to push through.

WannaB: How's the foot?

Tracy: HI and congratulations on your 19 pound loss! Oh I remember those first few uhm months...while I was beginning BFL lifting/eating. It is an adjustment but since you have done this before I'm sure you kind of remember that too. You may want to be certain that you are getting enough protein in your diet to help your muscles repair themselves. Also try to eat a small balanced meal of clean protein and carbs following your workout. I also try to drink plenty of water before during and after my workout. This kind of helps with the soreness. With all of these preventative measures you will be deep down muscular sore for a while. I was and still get this way when I try a new exercise for a while. If it is bad enough to keep you awake through the night I would take enough time off for the pain to subside and in the meantime do some cardio to work out the lactic acid buildup. Good luck with your efforts!

I am crazy busy right now so my postings are sparse for the next few weeks but I'm still working hard. No workout today but I'll be there tomorrow doing a FBWO following 50 minutes of cardio. Sometimes taking an extra day off gets me very wired for my next workout. Sick I know but there you go.

I think my strength has increased this summer. Yesterday afternoon I took DS2 to a playground that had monkey bars and I was able to crank out 10, count them, 10 underhanded pull ups. Love those back and biceps muscles actually doing something outside a gym. : I'm still a little gun shy about actually trying this in the gym though. I just think for some reason I won't be able to do it there like if I can do it outside on the kids playground its not quite as challenging.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

((sigh)) I have found yet another food I can't have: dried fruit mix...they make some at Target that I just love. At first I noticed that I had a tendency to over eat it. I didn't think it was that bad because it's just fruit........ at 110 calories per 1/4 cup! I know it's not the kind of thing I can have in the pantry and eat on occasion. It's an all or nothing sort of thing .

I've been between feeling pretty good to feeling pretty bad, and exhausted either way.

I used to do weight watchers, and had success with it. Being that over eating makes me feel fat and re-evaluate how I eat,ect makes me wonder if my success is because of both how i eat and how i exercise, or would I have the same success with weight watchers and the same exercise routine?

I'm not even sure if I'm eating a decent amount of calories because, well, I don't count them, and even if I did, what would I do with that info?

I don't own a scale, and I'm not going to get one just so I have a starting weight to put into fitday... scales make me obsessive and depressed. Thier just not a good day.

Off topic: I've heard women wish for 'perky' breasts. I never understood that description. My bust isn't Katie Couric.How can breasts be 'perky'?

I'm kind of down because my health is messing up my eating and exercise... hopefully soon I'll feel better....