Back from the gym, did the modified Cranky Knees workout:

10 min elliptical
3 sets FreeMotion bi's
3 sets FreeMotion tri's
10 min crosstrainer
3 sets rope pushdowns
3 sets rope curls
10 min bike
3 sets two-hand DB overhead extensions
3 sets BB reverse curls
10 min bike

I'll get in another 20 min on the elliptical later.

Food is planned:

M1: Turkey sausage and cream of wheat

M2: Protein shake w/ blueberries

M3: Salad w/salmon, strawberries and my LF dressing

M4: Fage 0% yogurt w/ a few dried cranberries and cinnamon

M5: Apple and natural PB

M6: Roasted asparagus and beef tenderloin

It looks like a lot of food but checks in right at 1200 calories.

Here's to a good day, everyone!

wow Meg! good for you!!

Question, did you eat strawberries WITH the salmon? how does that work? (really curious, because I LOVE both, I just never imagined them together

Can you also tell me how you roast the asparagus?

Sorry to ask in this thread - hope it's ok!!

Roasted aspargus is the BEST!!

I just spray a cooking sheet, which I've covered with aluminum foil, with cooking spray. I then spray the asparagus some more. Sprinkle with onion & garlic powders and a bit of salt. Cook at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus, til it's cooked, but still crisp and firm. DELICIOUS!!

Renee, of course it's OK to ask in this thread! (silly girl )

I slice strawberries and put them right in the salad with the salmon, then I use a creamy homemade LF dressing. I got the idea from a salad I had in a restaurant that had grilled salmon, strawberries, and almonds (which I leave out because of the calories and my lack of nut control ) It's a fabulous taste combination -- give it a try! I've been on a kick and eat it almost every day.

As for the asparagus, I've done it Robin's way (which is great,) but this time I bias cut the asparagus into 2" pieces, sliced red onion, and tossed it all in a tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh thyme and roasted it for 20 minutes at 400 degrees, turning once.

Meg, your asparagus sounds simply scrumptious.

All right, I'm trying to not make any excuses here, but it is raining AGAIN. Yesterday I managed to get a couple of miles of walking in, in the rain, but today........... I just want to stay in until I go to work and avoid the cold, raw wet weather out there.

Mmm asparagus... Meg, your salmon, strawberry (& almond) salad sounds delicious too. I might try that for lunch next week. What kind of homemade dressing do you put on it? An olive oil vinaigrette seems like it might be good...

I posted my food for yesterday & planned food for today in the maintainers food accountability thread already. Stayed OP yesterday, and was having a bad day but felt a lot better after my NRLW workout at the gym. And I had a great weekly weigh-in this morning, which just gives me more motivation to stay OP this week!

Great job everyone! Keep up the great work!

Megan, I've used a fruity vinaigrette on the salad and it's very good that way too. Here's my favorite salad dressing recipe -- I use it on everything, including cabbage to make cole slaw.

Meg's Salad Dressing

Place all ingredients in a food processor:

1 cup low fat or nonfat mayonnaise (I use Hellman's reduced calorie mayo)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup Splenda
1/2 cup red wine vinegar (can use balsamic)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 small onion, quartered

Process until smooth. Keep refrigerated.

Per tablespoon:

25 calories
2 grams fat
1 gram carbs
0 grams protein

Love that dressing recipe!

I was good yesterday - I faced down two cookie temptations! One of the admins at work who ALWAYS has snacks had a pacakge of grocery store bakery snickerdoodles on her desk all afternoon. I love snickerdoodles! I just kept reminding myself how snug my favorite comfy brown skirt felt when I tried it on Sunday. Then, I stopped by my favorite organic grocery store after work. Lately, in my "well, it's healthy and I'm entitled" mentality, I've been getting one vegan energy buzz cookie every time I go. They really are GOOD (chock full of pumpkin seeds and flax and raisins and a little chocolate) but they are COOKIES and I don't NEED a cookie right now, so dodged that temptation as well.

Thanks for the recipe Meg! I will try it very soon. I'm trying to make more of my own salad dressings these days.

Great job resisting those cookies Glory!!!

Monday's fitday came in at 1465, but I just remember that I didn't put in my afternoon snack. That will probably take it up by 150-200 calories. Yikes. DH and I did our evening power walk (which I'll have to do two of for the next few days).

So far today I'm off to a good start. I have to take prednisone for this procedure and the side effects are increased appetite. I'll pray that doesn't happen!

I made it through yesterday, yeah! I spent the morning washing my kitchen walls and cabinets so I don't think I'll need to work my arms today. I will walk on the treadmill or around the park while ds has soccer practice. Food today is:
B-2 eggs, 1 potato, pico de gallo, coffee
S-oatmeal bar and coffee
L-tilapia, brown rice, stir fry veggies
S-strawberries, low fat latte(decaf)
D-spinach salad, chicken breast, green beans
S-tea, almond biscotti

apple, orange, carrot or green pepper sticks as needed

Yesterday was a little rough -- "dessert night" in my cooking class, eek! -- but today will be better.

Nice work everyone and keep going!

Yesterday turned out better than I anticipated - mainly because of this thread! I skipped my afternoon snack, which wasn't awful since my friend had planned dinner earlier than I usually eat. I had larger servings of salad and veggies and less of the main dish (a yummy casserole) and then didn't eat dessert.

And y'all are keeping me from the homemade oatmeal cookies currently residing right next to the coffee pot in our staff kitchen! I have an orange all peeled and ready to eat, along with some cottage cheese - and they'll taste delicious (just not like oatmeal cookies )

Today's plan:

B - 1.5 scrambled eggs, 1/2 kiwi, 1/2 c strawberries, 1/4 c yogurt, ww toast w/whipped cream cheese,
S - orange, 1/2 cup cottage cheese
L - leftover salmon, leftover veggie/rice stirfry, 1/4 avocado
S - Cliff nectar bar (found these at the grocery yesterday after Glory and Barbara were talking about them - I'm a sucker for new stuff - and they were on sale!)
D - homemade chile with added zucchini, large salad with whatever I can find in the fridge

Roasted asparagus, yum! It's finally in our grocery store, so I'll be eating that for dinner tomorrow. Tonight it's the already made chile as I have to run home and eat between work and a meeting.

Speaking of roasting veggies, I bought a jar of Best Foods (Hellman's for those of you on the east coast) olive oil mayo, and there's a recipe on the label for roasting root veggies using mayo!! I can't picture it! Even DH, who loves mayo, said ewwwwww.

I didn't think I needed this thread, until I walked into the break room for a fork for my cottage cheese and discovered the remnants of a catered lunch....chicken, green chile, sour cream, guacamole, chips, 3 kinds of salsa.

No excuses! No justifications for off-plan behaviors!

Adios, guac!

ok going to have to come back in here tomorrow morning (it's 10pm now) and make sure I read all the good food talk in here. Meg, can I leave out the splenda in the dressing mix? how much does it change the totals? (we don't have splenda here, and actually I never use anything like that so I wouldn't know what to do with it!)

Another great day - 23.5 points out of 24 daily, 30 minute brisk walk, down to 1.5 points in the hole from Sunday. THAT deficit will definitely be gone tomorrow!!