Mornin' y'all-I've got a lazy day planned. I've got some housework to do, but I plan to get in some reading, too.

Paula-Are you staying on core and eating non-core stuff then counting points, or are you binge eating, too? The reason I am asking is that I've done both, and have lost some weeks and gained some weeks. I really can't figure it out. I guess we are all different with how we can eat to lose weight. Hang in there. You've come this far and you can keep it going!

Tracie-For some reason, I am crazy about saving my oil for the evening. I think it comes from when I did old ww and used my fat choices for my veggies or recipes for casseroles, etc. Have you ever tried the granola without the oil? I imagine it may not get as crunchy.

GTG get more coffee! BBL

Sloanie, this is the first time that I will be making "core granola". When I made the regular granola, I always used oil, so I haven't tried it without the oil. But 2 TBLSP with 4 cups of oats isn't much. I think you would have to eat an awful lot to get in your 2 tsps, so I probably won't count any oil when I eat it.

Tracie-the reason I asked is: when I got the recipe from the core board, it says that one serving counts as your daily "good fat". I may try using one tablespoon. Also, I wanted to tell you how proud I am of your loss. I have been telling my daughter about you. She is about the same weight as your starting weight, and she is 5'2". She is about to return to college, and I am trying to encourage her to lose weight. You are an encouragement to me, as well. Keep up the good work!

Hey everyone...sorry I have been so out of touch...
Looking forward to reading the posts to see how everyone is doing .

I have not been very good about staying on core but not eating bad either.
I am at the same weight I was a month ago so I guess I am maintaining
right now.

I have decide to go back to work . I am a speech therapist but haven't worked since my kids were born. Now after 18 years I have to take the professional exam to be recertified . Yikes!! I found a good review book online so that should help. I was going to take it next week but decided I need more review time.

I have slacked off with my walking also. My walking partner bailed on me so
I need to find a new walking pal. That kept me from skipping the walk.

More later..I have missed you guys!!!

BB...praying for you and Leo

NANCY!!!! I'm so glad to hear from you!!!! Sounds like you've been hangin' in there. Just stay conscious of what you are eating, and once things settle down, you'll be back to core. Congrats on your decision to take your test and go back to work. I know you'll do fine, although I'm sure it's stressful to face taking the recert test. I know if I had to take my state boards again, I would be nervous. You CAN do it!!!

Hey Nancy! Glad you are back!!

I'll bet taking your recert test will be nerve racking, but I'm sure you'll pass with flying colors.
I remember when I went to school to get my degree. This was back in 2000. I always wanted to get my bachelors degree but never seemed to have the time. Well, I started in 2000 and got it at the end of 2004. I remember my first class. I was so worried I was going to fail. I worked very hard to get a good grade and I did. I got an A.

Sloanie, as for the granola, I think you could probably leave the oil out. The syrup is what gives you the moistness, so if you wanted, you could leave the oil out when making it. I made two batches as I planned, one with almond syrup and one with coconut syrup. I did use the oil this time, but will probably leave it out next time.

Hi Ladies

I'm back!! on board again,and feeling great after a horrible week.Leo us feeling great also,hes eating again,which is a good sign.

Nothing new, watching the English Open.Air pollution's index is bad for the entire weekend. just going down for the mail at the end of the road and than back into the A/C house.

Our DD told us that Long Island has very good weather,she opened that windows to the whole house to get fresh air circulating inside.
Can't believe that we out in the ocean having is having HH & H.

Just came back to say hello,I have to read and see what going on with you ladies.

SLOAN-He's going to have a different treatment from the one 2 years ago this time around he will have a 4 hr chemo treatment every 3 weeks for a period of 6-8 weeks. He can't have anymore radiation, the chemo will be the treatment for now.Thanks for your prayers oh by all means we do believe in prayer & have faith in God that Leo's cancer will go into remission again.

Good for you stying hard core. That what I trying to do today as Friday [my first day after W-I]was the greatest. hope to do a
little better this week coming up.

PAULA-The treatment begin this Monday and he'll be at the cancer center right next to Cape Cod Hospital.The first time around we were in Boston at Brigham's Woman and than Dana Faber,but we transfered to the the Hyannis center right after.

I have a strange question I found a Summer Muesli on a core WW board with all core foods but when I entered it on the WW web site it read 2 pts. Whys that. I'm on the Core Plan and the Flex.

NANCY-Thanks for you prayers,really appreciate them. You did great maintain for a a month with gaining. Soory about losing you walking partner. Maybe you could just do some marching[WATP's tapes] in place with weights and that will do,until you find a new partner.


Have to go,thanks for all you support & prayers

Hugs BB

BB, I'm glad to hear your DH is feeling better and eating. You both are in my prayers.

As for the ww board, it doesn't work for core. I've used the recipe builder and had the same problem. I email ww about this and they said it doesn't work for core. If the recipe is all core foods than it is core. If you are using the planner, just add it as a quick food with zero points. I don't know why they can't fix it to work for core members, but they haven't.

BB-glad to hear you and Leo are having a good day. I notice you and Leo watch a lot of golf. I love to watch golf, but have never played. Are you players?

Tracie-how does your granola taste? I hope to stop by World Market sometime in the next couple of weeks and pick up some syrup. Which flavor do you like best?

I made the chicken stroganoff for dinner, and everyone liked it. GTG watch a movie with the fam. You chicks have a great night.

Sloanie, the granola is ok. Not as sweet as I'm used to, but it's granola and better than not having it at all. Next time I might add a little brown sugar twin, or splenda.
Now I might try the ff plain yogurt, add some fruit and top with granola. Actually, I wonder how the ff plain yogurt would be if I added the vanilla syrup to it, making it vanilla yogurt. I think I'm going to try that. I always loved getting the ff vanilla yogurt, adding fruit and granola. Actually it's like McDonald's parfait. I got this one time, and loved it, but wanted to use ff yogurt so I started making my own parfaits.
I mixed both kinds of granola together so I'm not sure if I like one better than the other. They are both tasty!

Tracie-Thanks for the review. I like the McDonald's parfait, too. Using the vanilla syrup in the plain yogurt sounds like a good idea.

Good Morning Ladies

Can't post long as I have to get ready for church.

TRACIE-What going on with WW. I feel like a lost child at my meeting also.My leader,briefly spoke about the core and I could see the other members being bored. I guess we will have to stick together and get all the information that we can get on our own. Thanks for the prayers & update on the WW site.

SLOAN-We love watching golf but unfortunately we don't play,with the both of is having bad backs.


Have to go,will be back later


Hugs BB

BB, to tell you the truth, the last two weeks I haven't stayed for the meetings. I wi and then leave because my dbf has his daughter and Wednesday nights, and the last two weeks she has come over to come swimming, so I get out of work, go wi and go home. By the time I get home it's 5:35 and my dbf has to leave at 7:30 to get her home by 8:00. So that doesn't give us a lot of time together. His daughter is just like having my own. She loves me and we have a great time together. I told him I need to start making my meetings, but on the other hand, we don't get to see her often, only every wednesday, and every other weekend, so I want to see her as much as I can. He has an ex wife that won't bend at all. If the courts didn't say he can see her, she won't give him an extra minute for any reason. So we take what we can get!

I have been baking, cooking today. I made a double batch of the cherry berry jam. I still have some left, but it won't last long and it's so good. I also made some carrot cake but made them into muffins and this time I used apple sauce in place of the oil. I also made another huge pot of vegetable beef barley soup. I wanted freeze some for lunches last week, which I did, but once the soup that I had in the fridge was gone, the kids started in on the stuff I froze for lunches. So, I only have one container left. They love it too. So I decided to make another huge pot, and this time I will freeze some, and put it in my freezer downstairs and maybe they won't find it. I leave them plenty of it to eat, they just love it and eat it so quickly. So I've been busy.

We are doing beer can chicken tonight(although I have ceramic holders, we don't use an actual beer can) and I'm not sure what liquids we will use tonight.We've tried different things. Lemon juick with spices in it, beer, other juices with spices. We bought some fresh lemon thyme at the farmers market so we are going to use that in the liquid and see if we like it.

I agree with you two, BB and Tracie, my leader does not talk a lot about core, either. I don't stay for the meetings as often as I should, but I feel like I've been at a meeting every time I get on this board. You guys are so supportive and informative. I get what I need right here!

Tracie-sounds like you have been busy! I haven't done too much cooking and freezing this summer, but when school starts I will have to if I want to stay successful. Will you cook your chicken with the skin on? On a cooking show that I have seen, they loosened the skin and stuffed spices under it before cooking, then removed the spices and skin before eating it. It sounds really good, but I haven't tried it. Also, on your cherry berry jam, did you use fresh cherries or frozen. My store does not have fresh cherries right now.

We are cooking burgers with friends tonight, so I plan to have a burger with salad. I may take a watermelon so I can have something sweet. I'll check in later. TTFN

Wow you guys are good about staying on this over the weekend.

BB sorry to hear about your husband but it sounds like it will be fine. Hang in there.

Tracie you have so many good ideas!!! You are also always busy with cooking... Good for you.

Hello to everyone else.

Camping was a lot of fun. My cousin did very well. She brought many good choices of food, but I must confess I choose the wrong things. I did eat fruit but I had chili on my hot dog, I did not eat anything I packed. Oh well. Dust off and start again. The problem is her dh is this amazing cook and I LOVE his food. Tom is a new day.
It was sooo hot but we had a great set up.. We actually used fans outside/. The kids had their pool we brought up, and water guns and balloons. We bought a water balloon sling shot. They were trying to get us all weekend, but we enjoyed it because it was soo hot. I have washed everything from camping and now am planning a vacation for 2 weeks in Oscoda Michigan at my brothers homes. So I will be with my dear mom and hopefully will be more careful of my foods. It will still be hard but even if I JUST do not gain.

That is about all. I am so tired and need to go chill. I will catch up more tom.