Morning, turtles:

Judy - good luck with your weigh in today!

Lin - I agree, we can make much healthier versions of our favorites.

Msmeri - thanks for all the information. But, I prefer to stay away from too much fast food. Even if you count it all it is still junk food & I need to stay away from it as much as possible. You have done fabulous on your weight loss - keep up the good work.

Everyone else - good luck on your journey this week!

Okay, I finally did it. I'm down 30# and I'm so happy. By the way, even though I've been up and down this summer, since our summer challenge began I'm down about nine pounds and my summer goal was 10#, so I think entering the challenge and cutting myself some slack here and there has been a very good thing. :

Princess, glad you dh found a great suit and looks handsome! Yay! Crosby Sills and Nash must have been great. Here's : to get your groove back. I bet you've done it already and you're back on track.

Lin, Eating out right before WI is a challenge, but you seem so calm about it. Weigh to go on your loss! Yes, I know handling the WW computer for tracking recipes can be labor intensive, but it's worth it. I also bet that if you estimate before you calculate, since you know so much about nutrition that you will be darn close on those points.

MsMeri, Okay, I'm envious. So many times I've been at a motel and wanted to try to , etc. and never did-----so I am inspired by your using the workout gym. Weigh to go! You're doing great.

Bandit, You are having such a nice summer. I know exactly what you mean about the scale showing up those extra ounces, etc. I also know that you're like me in that we can't deviate much from program and exercise and expect to keep on losing. I'm sure this was a temporary gain and you'll have it off next WI. Good luck! You've done great and it's wonderful that friends are really noticing your weight loss!

Okay, gotta run. food today is great and I hope to get on the again today. Have for the past two days, and I'm taking it easy by only exerc ising for 20 minutes so I won't inflame my hip. Good luck and : and to all.

Ladies, we've had a few very nice people join Turtles lately and I'd like to extend a second to all. And Cherry, we're here for you. With a new baby, I know it's hard, but write when you can because we're wishing the best to you.

Judy
234.6/203.4/199.8 and finally into onederland

Judy - Congratulations!!! You have worked very hard this summer & have been rewarded at the scale. I am sooooooooo proud of you. Keep it going!!

Hi!

Go Judy! Here's hoping for a good number for you.

Bandit, I, too, stay away from fast food. I overeat it because it's not satisfying. I'm still feeling hungry after eating a reasonable portion.

Today was good. Costco sells some crab and shrimp ravioli that are very good. I made a sauce with fresh thyme, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and olives. Paul made the salad and the dressing was already done. So, it only took about a half hour to make. Turned out good.

Keep on turtlin'!

I am down over 4 pounds for two weeks, was away @ San Jose last week. Not bad for being on the road, looking back I see room for improvement. I can report I have added Leslie Sansone's "You Can Do it" Yoga every morning to my routine, usually while it's still dark and in my PJ's. LOL I thought it might be to "new age" but it seems to be a positive/relaxing way to begin the day. Last night my leader gave me a beautiful pair of hand made purple tiger eye earrings for passing my half way mark. It's my second reward from her. She has two more weeks left of her exercise goal and I am taking her out for a pedicure and Henna tattoos on our feet! Will post a pict.

Lin ~ I gotta have some crab and shrimp ravioli w/ artichoke hearts &sun-dried tomatoes

Judy ~ Wow I don't know what's better the 30 or the almost 10 for the summer thing. Shows how hard your working. You go girl! Did you give yourself a reward for reaching the 30 pound benchmark?

Bandit ~ Your absolutely right about the fast food stuff (toxic garbage) With the exception of Pizza night, a long standing tradition in our house, I pretty much don't eat it. Just can't stop my self so I try not to start. Now that my son is older and away from the house so much connecting w/him on Friday Nights with Pizza is way important.

Princess ~ When this shin dig happens you best be posting a pict of you in that dress and a hansome man on your arm.

Worried about H1M1 precautions the schools are making out here in Calif. Anyone else?

Judy - thanks for the encouragement. I am here and reading everyones posts. Oh and i am so proud of your 30# down.

I haven't lost any weight cause i am still eating to much but i am now getting exercise in. My DH bought a game for our wii called Wii Active Personal trainer. On it, it has ready made workouts, you can make your own up, or do the 30 day challenge. My husband and i have started the 30 day challenge with rest days included in the schedule and we are on day 4.

Msmeri - Good to hear you got through the half way mark. That is a great accomplishment.

Lin- that pasta sounds great. I love shrimp and your sauce sounds really good.

Bandit and Princess- Hope things are going well in your plans.

Hi turtles

Cherry - nice to see you back & posting. Try to stay positive & small changes add up quick. Nice job on the exercising.

Msmeri - fabulous on your weight loss. You are losing lots at a quick pace.

Lin - your recipe sounds yummy!

Judy & Princess - hope you are both having a good day.

I was down 1# at my Tops weigh in last night. I have really been struggling over the summer with not having regular meetings - just a quick weigh in & thats it. I really need structure & guidance to stay OP & motivated.
I also got in my walk last night so felt good about that.

This next week I am going to try and shake things up. Something like the "Wendie Plan" where you have some low points days followed by high points day, but you end up having same amount of points by weeks end.
Maybe that will help - instead of trying to do same thing everyday.

Anyway, thats my plan for upcoming week as well as getting in my walking.

Have a good one, ladies!

Bandit and : Soon you'll have the full support of your TOPS group in the fall. In the meantime would it help if we each sent you a WW tip on the day of your WI? Just a thought. I love it when the Turtles send up tips because it keeps me motivated.

Cherry, weigh to go on the exercising. Yay! Don't beat yourself up too much. You're handling a lot, the exercise will show up nicely on your figure, and soon you'll start tracking and getting the food where you want it.

: and to us all. This group means so much to me.
Judy
234.6/203.6/199.8 and into onederland

Morning turtles:

Judy - good idea about ww tips. Any are welcome, thanks!

The last few days have been nice & hot up here but not complaining since we have had the coolest/wetest summer this year. I love the heat!
Enjoying it while I can.

Today am getting my hair done, then my mom is coming for visit this afternoon. Then probably head up to trailer for evening & then tomorrow suppose to be going to singles dance with girls from my ladies group.
So, busy weekend but should be fun.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Question - anyone have any idea how many points (calories) and in polish shish-kebob & cabbage roll (the kind from restaurant with rice). I tried searching internet and couldn't find "polish" style.

Thanks

Hi, Everyone,

Lots of posts to reply to. It's great to see how you all are doing.

, Judy! Nice weighin and meeting those milestones are extra special.

Ms. Meri: Nice going with the 4# in 2 weeks. Hope you had a great time in my neck of the woods. Enjoy the .

Cherry, you go!! I want a Wii and one of the things I want it for is the exercise thing. The other is to download and play the Nintendo games I loved when my kids were growing up. I enjoy video games and it was a way to connect with my sons and their friends.

Bandit, good luck this week. It's hard when you lose the supportive environment you're used to. I wonder if you might not want to think about an alternative support group you could try to put in place for next summer. Maybe starting a walking group. Or attending WW meetings just for these few months for support. Or getting together with some of the other TOPS members of your group to talk after the weighin. Don't know what would work for you, but you might want to think about it.

Sorry, I don't have any recipes for that dish, so I can't even estimate points for you.

Today is my weighin day. I'm down a pound and a half. The online tracker is tracking my weight loss from the trial I canceled in June, which has a higher start weight. According to that, I've lost 5% of my body weight, so that's my milestone for the week.

Keep on turtlin'!

GO, JUDY!!!!! 30 pounds down!! I am SO proud of you!! I just cheered when I read that. You have really been working hard, and it shows!

Other than that, just a quick drive-by here. Working from home today, so I'll be out on the porch until it gets too hot. Heading to MIL's this weekend over in Canada (hi, Bandit!).

I'm still pretty much maintaining, which is OK by me for now. We've been doing a lot of traveling, so I'm good with a maintain at this point. I'm at the point where even eating an extra piece of fruit each day will stop my weight loss. I'm having to get much more careful about what I eat now. I did go try on some clothes while we were visiting friends in Ohio last weekend, and that was motivating. I should do that more often.

Have a great day, turtles -- I'll try to check in again soon.

Hi All,

Lauren ~ That doesn't sound very promising, an extra piece of fruit??? I am very very scared my weight will creep back on (going to tell bandit) I keep telling every one this counting is good now. I am learning about portion control and all. But I don't want people noticing (as they did) that I actually count every crouton to make sure I am at the correct serving size for the reported nutrition info. That just can't be a life long thing. Is is?

Lin ~ Great milestone. Did you take measurements before you started? That's always encouraging to see. Everything went down on me except my biceps they went up

Bandit ~ I am going to try and remember to send you stuff. Do you get the weekly emails from WW? Do you get the magazine? Are you on their site? (don't wanna send something you already have) Anyway you are right about the "quick pace" I've lost 77 pounds in 30 weeks. The minute I hit 50 pounds I freaked, that was a big number, never before attained. I am so driven to work out but it is in fear! I don't like when people say I'm looking good or whatever. I am not doing this for them. I have been wearing most of the same clothes so I just don't get how far I have come. I tell my WW girls it just comes off easier for me cuz I had so much more to loose(315+) I was a couch potato and litterly slept 12 hours a day so any little amount of exercise makes a huge difference.

Cherry ~ I love the Wii. We use it at my WI on Wednesday nights. We play yoga, Jillian Michaels, Boxing, Active, and my leader is going to get the new Daisy Funtes Piliates one. My DS friend wants to sell his used one. Seeing as how we are getting DH's vacation payout at the end of the month I think it's perfect timing.

San Jose pic for Lin

must type something here it says

Sainte Claire

Hi turtles:

Lin - yes, I have thought of doing something else for next year over the summer and going back to WW did cross my mind. I definately need some "action plan" when my regular meetings are cancelled. Two months is just too long for me without some structure. And even though I know what I should be eating & doing - I seem to need the extra support to keep me in line. Thank goodness I have all you ladies & it has been helpful, so thanks to everyone for that.

Lauren - welcome to Canada! Whereabouts are you visiting? I live about 40 miles east of Toronto & am about 1-1/2 from the US border in Buffalo.
Hope you have fun!

Msmeri - yes, I have all the ww literature & go online lots of times for tips & recipes.

Have great weekend!