Good Morning, all!

I have the dreaded summer cold or some such crud and feel yucky. The good news is food doesn't hold much appeal and I'm staying home from work. Now I just need to dig in and make sure I get in a workout today.

Hi everyone! I'm 'new' here, not new to 3FC, but new this forum. I've been lurking for awhile and finally found a place to land. This seems like such a nice group, and the idea behind a 21 day challenge really appeals to me. I've been yo-yoing for several months and now it's time to get serious for more than a week at a time!

Here are my goals for 21 days:

To stay on program (WW 1-2-3) eating between 20 and 27 points per day.

Water water water!

Exercise daily, even if it's only 20 minutes on my bike.

To limit myself to 2 snacks per day (4 points) or 2 snacks depending on how many servings of fruit and/or high carb veggies I have. (Of course I only like high carb veggies !)

To maintain a positive attitude and not beat myself up over any little slip up or mistake.

To try to be nice to the lady in the mirror, even if what I see isn't what I want to see, yet.

Have a great day everyone!

upandaway

...and 5 lbs officiallyoff !! Talk about your incentive to keep on keepin' on! I just wanted to share...will post more later...must get some sleep this morning...long day ahead of me and work AGAIN tonight @11.

official stats:
7/-5!/1

:sheep:
This is my chubby little self, doing the dance of joy!!

Have a great day, all...

Yo, Blockettes!!! After a doc's appointment yesterday and some number crunching on my part and wondering what's the deal with my life, etc., etc., I need to start this journey around the block over with a higher calorie level. I need to get a lot more stuff into my body sometimes and if I've already had meals and whatnot, it just blows the block thing and that frustrates me. My goal in doing this is really to start to stabilize (hopefully stabilize down 30 pounds eventually) not to pass out because my electrolytes are shot or something and I don't want to end my challenge because I really would like to get beyond this &&*** Day 2. So, my NEW plan is thus:

1) A daily calorie total of NO MORE than 2300 ... that's a bit more than my spreadsheet tells me would maintain 160 pounds (I'm at 164.5 and possibly more and trying to get to 135). My desired daily goal is 1750, but I just need more room to add calories if I need without getting all stressed and eventually reaching 4000 calories, which I am capable of.

2) My exercise goal remains at AT LEAST one session of any length, intensity or whatever per day (I try for an average of 1750 calories burned per week in workouts). I do quite well at exercise adherence and usually do two workouts.

Hope this change is in the spirit of the BLOCKETTE PHILOSOPHY! I do believe it is wrong not to adjust one's path or beliefs when something is clearly not working. I seek only POSITIVE experiences at this point in life and just refuse to give up on this block thingie. But I had way too low a ceiling for my personal body. (I lost 100 pounds on no less than 1800 calories a day, on average).

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!



Babette: Sweaters? Hmmm. I had one once but don't remember what it looked like! I'd send you some heat if I could pack it! And, BTW WTGON 3 LBS!!! Woo-hoo!

AND A DANCE OF JOY TOKATRINA!!!!who is FIVE POUNDS DOWN!!! Woo-hoo to that, too!!!

Hello, Upandaway!!! I love your positive attitude. Good luck on your block walking!

Eydie: Enjoy your day off! Hope you feel better and have a lovely relaxing soothing workout that you like.

Wildfire: I would like the Spanish rice recipe. Do you use brown rice. It'd be good with chicken, which I am planning for tomorrow. Hope your weigh-in is in the range that'll make you happy ... be happy regardless because you can be proud of how well you have adhered to your objective.

1/0/1 (ONE MORE TIME)

Hello all!!

Crone invited me to come and visit and I think I'll stay for awhile. At least 21 days!!

Ok, here goes, some challenges--
These may seem pretty obvious but I believe in reachable goals and then lifting the bar as the challenges are met.


Drinking at least 80oz of water daily

Move more than yesterday

Try a new recipe or food at least once a week

Stay within my point range, meet the low number at least 4 times a week and try to never go over the high number unless its banked points

Always look for the silver lining because thats where the real gold is

Double cool smilies for all of you-- You have all been really making awesome strides towards your goals-

Thanks for inviting me Crone!! I already like this place!

***YAHOOOOO***

I did it! I did it! I did it!!!!! 3.2lbs!!! I admit, I wore shorts tonight and that made a difference in my weight, but it's all good to me! Now, time to start a brand new week! I am going for that stupid pink 10lb ribbon with all my might!

I'm adjusting my day count, if that's okay. I've been on the block for seven days, but OP for two weeks. It's going to get confusing if I try to keep track of both with starting weights and how much lost, so I'm simplifying.

Crone, adjustments have to be made if things aren't working. As long as you're comfortable with them and they work for you, that's all that matters. Better to go a little more slowly now than struggle and keep crashing. (Rice recipe at end.)

Katrina, awesome!!! Way to go!!!

Eydie, hope you convince the crud to visit with someone else and feel better soon.

Welcome Kaylets and UpandAway!

Spanish Rice Recipe:

1 large onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 tbsp fat free margarine
160z can diced tomatoes ( I chopped mine finely)
~drain tomatoes and reserve liquid
1 cup rice - not instant (I used Uncle Ben's Long Grain)
pepper and other seasonings ( I used a little garlic, basil, and chilli powder)
water

In a 2litre (8 cup) casserole, combine onion, green pepper, and margarine. Cook in microwave on high power, 4-5 minutes, stir once.

Add enough water to reserved tomato liquid to equal 2 cups. Add liquid and all other ingredients.

Microwave covered on high for 8 minutes, then on med for 16-17 minutes, or until rice is tender. Let stand to absorb remaining liquid before serving.

1 cup serving = 3 WW points

This produced a mild, fluffly, colorful rice. I'll definitely make it again.

Crone, I don't see why you couldn't use brown rice or even throw in some cooked chicken near the end. For a really colorful rice, red/yellow/green peppers could be used, or whatever other veggies are preferred.

14/188.8 (-6.4)/1

Hi everyone,

What a great way to start my 21 day challenge. I weighed in this morning at 239lbs (I checked 3 times). Down four lbs from my last weigh in. I was leery of weighing in, but I'm starting on a positive note. I did really well today.

Congratulations Wildfire, Katrina, and Babette. You're right on the block. And Crone you're maintaining your weight. Congrats to you.

I didn't formally join WW. Does anyone have the trade off for exercise? How many points do you bank?

Take care,
Malia

Good Morning, Blockettes!


Wow! We're getting a parade going 'round the block. That's great! Welcome, Welcome, Upandaway and Kaylets!

And we're doing so great!! Big congrats to:


Katrina -- 5 POUNDS!!!! That's FANTASTIC!!!

Wildfire --3.2!!!! YAHOOOO!!! And, unless you were wearing a fur coat at your last weigh-in, I bet the clothes don't count for much!

Malia, 4 POUNDS gone where the bad pounds go. Yay for you!!! I looked up my trusty point counter:

At 239, high intensity exercise (basically anything more strenuous than walking at a fast pace) for 10 minutes gets you 2 points, 15 minutes gets you 3, 20 minutes gets you 4, and so on.

Moderate exercise [for example, biking, or walking at a good pace] 10-18 minutes get you 1, 18-30 gets you 2, 30-41 gets you 3, 42-58 gets you 4, and an hour or so gets you 5.

For light exercise [stretching, of walking slowly], 10-27 minutes gets you 1 point, 28-45 minutes gets you 2, 45-62 gets you 3, and so on.

The way that you use these is to add the numbers to your total allowable points, and you can save them, just like you save points you don't use. I think, especially if you're trying to keep your points low, that it's a good idea to use these.

I find myself amazed every time I look at the difference high intensity makes and vow anew to get at least a little high intensity exercise every day.

Eydie, hope you're feeling better -- sounds like you got the same thing i'm just getting over. Except that, as per usual, very little ever affects my appetite. I was even hungrier than usual, but maybe that just meant i was burning extra cals? She said hopefully. Take good care of yourself.

Crone, feel free to adapt your plan as you see fit. I think that it's wise to have a high top of the range -- people normally eat more some days than others, and it's psychologically counterproductive to feel like we've blown it. I really feel like having approx. 2000 cals as the top of my range is helping me lose. 'Cause when I blow it, I BLOW it!

What a happenin' place this block is getting to be! Let's make this day count, Blockettes!
xo
babette
9/208 (-7)/2

Wow, one full week under my belt, and no end in sight! Imust stay strong...next week should bring the PMS monster and I'm off now for 5 days...ahhhh...I need to stock up on the old fruits and veggies again...I'm having fun trying things that I never tried before...this week I was on a tomato and avacado sandwich kick... So good! I also had an egg white/asparagus/mushroom/tomato omelet for breakfast a few times...also very good! Try slicing zucchini and yellow squash and marinating a few minutes in Italian dressing, then sauteeing til tender-crisp...even the kids liked that one.

I bought a juicer too, I'm anxious to try it out...will look it over once I'm done here...I'm gettin' there!

Welcome Kaylets and upandaway! I think you'll like it here...it's a good group and a great concept...Good luck to you both!

Wildfire...the spanish rice sounds great! I'm going to try that tonight with brown rice...will report results! Thanks!

Time for beddy-bye for me...see ya'll later!

Well, I was just about to give up last night as changing my plan didn't help stacked up against TWO flat tires (one in the mountains at midnight) and a stressful assignment. I wrote a long post after I finally got home but the system wouldn't let me post it because it had too many smilies, it said, so here I am again and reading all your positive messages has inspired me to try, try again!!! So, I added up all the calories from yesterday and it comes to a grand total of 3240. Exercise was a 30-minute a.m. walk outside and 60 minutes of Leslie Sansone before I went to my assignment.

Katrina: Congrats on a WHOLE WEEK on the block and FIVE UNFRIENDLY POUNDS TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN ANOTHER COUNTY!!! Enjoy your break ... time for an in-home spa vacation enjoying healthy haute cuisine? I think that's what I'm going to do soon.

Babette: Your numbers look so good! I'm going to start posting mine with the actual weight, too. I never used to like to post the weight but it doesn't seem to bother me anymore. It's kind of motivating to see everyone's numbers. You're right, this parade around the block is quite a "site" ... soon I'll be marching in smaller jeans!!!

Prism: FOUR POUNDS fled at the starting gate just 'cause they knew your determination and figured they never stood a chance!!! That's great, congratulations.

Wildfire: YOU ARE DOWN THREE POINT TWO POUNDS!!! That's a substantial drop, congratulations and also on your two OP weeks. Thanks for the recipe!!! I think brown rice'd be good with this with turkey slices.

Woo-hoo, Kaylets!!! I'm so happy to see your positive self strolling down this block!!! Your plan looks good and with your upbeat attitude, you can only succeed!!!

Well, here are my numbers from the start of this challenge. I thought about posting my highest known weight of all time (approximately 247) but that's an old story and this is a new journey:

1/164.5(-0)/1

Since the system doesn't want me to post too many smilies, I'll just put in a few of my favorite one.

Our beloved cat (The Kitten) was missing for a few days and this morning my neighbor found him dead in his backyard. We had heard a little screech of tires the other night when we were going to sleep. It didn't sound like much. But then The Kitten (we couldn't agree on a name until it was too late -- he knew his name as "Kitten"). He must have been hit by a car and then run into the back yard. I can only imagine that he was unconscious (I know he wasn't dead for a day or so, because he's in a state of rigor mortis now, so he must have been alive for at least a day or two) because we were out there calling to him -- he would have responded if he'd been able.

I feel like my heart is broken. He was such a lovely cat, beautiful and affectionate. A big, super-fluffy, dark tabby cat with huge round deep green eyes. We loved him so much, and will miss him so badly.

We're going to bury him in the yard, and plant something beautiful over his grave.

Thanks for listening.

babette

I'm so sorry, babette...I'm just so sorry. {{{hugs}}} to you and a big shoulder to cry on, any time you need to. Please take care.

Babette, I'm so sorry this happened to Kitten. I know you're really hurting now and it's best to feel all of it but trust me, there'll come a time when you can talk about what a sweetie he was without your heart breaking. I hope that you can take some time for healing.

That's a lovely idea to plant someting over his spot. We planted daisies over our beloved old dog, and instead of grieving now it makes us happy to see the flowers on his grave and we always say, 'there's Remus, pushing up daisies, still making us smile!'

Hugs......

Oh, Babette, I'm so sorry to hear about poor Kitten. Trust in your heart that he knew how much he was loved and had a good life with you. Eydie is right, in time you will remember him with a fond smile for memories of your time together.

I have two cats myself, and am about to inherit a third from my sister who has four, but she has sold her house and is moving. A large, clumsy, loveable orange cat named Buddy is about to become part of our family. I just couldn't let him end up at a shelter or with someone who wouldn't commit to him for life. I just hope my other two will accept him eventually.

Pets bring such happiness to our lives, even through the sadness in parting because it makes you remember all the funny things they did, and how cute they were, and then there are "baby" pictures...time goes so quickly. I keep framed pictures of all my furbabies I've had through the years. They are family to me, too.

*HUGS* Babette....come talk if you need us.