Thanks for the "stall" link. I read it over this morning and will try a little variation to see if that gets me back on track - however, this morning I did see a small shift in the scales, so maybe I'll get over this hump.

We went out to eat last night and I feel like I did really well with my selections both carb and calorie wise and I literally felt like I was full to stuffed after eating so that's a good thing. I chose a blackened talapia with a salsa topping, grilled green beans and sliced tomatoes with a balsamic vinegar and drank water with my meal. It was a Ruby Tuesday special and delicious. I was able to stave off my cravings for those tiny little biscuits they serve before the meal and let my husband have mine. I also resisted the urge to get a side salad. I had plenty of food with the standard meal and I know that salads can get to be pretty high in calories when you add all the toppings. For the first time in several years I saw the scale just before the 150 mark. I think seeing that 149.6 gave me a bit of incentive. Also the lowering of carbs has helped a bit with the extra tire tube around the middle and I was able to get into a dress I hadn't worn for a while for a funeral I attended. I was actually wondering what I was going to wear and found that even though I haven't lost a huge amount of poundage, I have lost some in inches. I wish I had measured the inches before I began this quest.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and most of all for giving me a sense of accountability to someone other than myself - maybe accountability isn't the right choice of words, but a sense of involvement and that someone actually listens to the trials and tribulations of my weight loss journey. So thanks bunches.

The 149.6 was short lived. This morning I weighed and the scales said 151.0 A 1.4 pound gain and not sure why. I ate well and stayed actually well below my carbs and calories. I made a two hour trip to and two hour trip from a funeral, eating at home before I left and when I returned and for dinner last night I had a blackened shrimp salad - the shrimp were grilled and blackened on a bed of greens with ranch dressing on the side. I had water with the meal. For breakfast I had a serving of lean/drained bacon (2 slices) and one scrambled egg with black coffee. For lunch I had a serving of grilled chicken about the size of my palm with green beans - no bread and drank water. I had water throughout the day and one diet soda. For a snack I had one small bag of pork rinds. That fell well within my calories and carbs so not sure why the weight gain.

Katzz - maybe the sodium in the pork rinds caused a water weight gain. That would be temporary, so I wouldn't worry about it. Also, instead of getting weighed everyday, maybe you could pick a day to be your weigh-in day, since there are many fluctuations in our day-to-day weight. Another thing, traveling for any length of time will cause me to hold water, so if your trip was two hours each way, that could very well be affecting you, too.

Trish - thanks! Holden's pics are on FB. The one of Neal holding him is so precious!

WebWoman - I love pumpkin and am very interested in the recipe! A big YAY for you, losing more!

OKAnnie - Yahoo for you, too, on your downward journey! You'll be at your first goal before you know it!

Marie - how's it going so far?

Hello to Mary, Bunti, TeaGranny and anyone else reading this!

The baby is coming home today, and since DD and her family live next door, I'll be on him like a duck on a June bug, haha.

I ate too much unhealthy food at the hospital the past couple of days. I didn't go over my calories by much, but I can tell a real difference in how I feel.

Have a good weekend!

Jane Congrats on the baby. My daughter lives next door and has blessed us with three beautiful grandsons. The twins were first and they have just turned four and the baby is now 2 so not much of a baby anymore, but wouldn't trade anything for them living next door. Enjoy!

Congrats Jane on the new grandbaby. I haven't posted in awhile but have been lurking some.

Welcome and howdy to those I've not met. This is a great group of people.

I am still losing...s-l-ow-l-y. At the rate of 4-6 pounds a month. If this continues, I will make my goal in September next year. And Jane, my program allows for some leeway, which is keeping me from that all or nothing feeling as well. Webwoman, I would love the recipe for the muffin. Trish- my doctor said something similar, but it was more of a per month total. She said that my weight-loss is right on track, 4-8 is what they would recommend. I guess it doesn't really matter, as this is a way of life for me now. I have to believe this. It is not a diet-- but a positive lifestyle.

Jane Saw the pics on FB and the baby is precious. Loved the great pic of proud grandpa and grandson too.

Bunti I started reading The Complete Beck Diet for Life again and I agree with you this is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w but it is for life... I am also considering this as a way of lifes not a diet.

I think when I read this book before that I forgot or missed the Memory Cards. My first one was Thursday when DH and I went to eat at Ryans. My favorite food at Ryans is carrot cake. I have been known to go to get a piece of cake and see something else and eat a piece of it too. This time I made Memory card of the fact that I went to I knew Tony would go get his regular dessert that he likes at Ryans. He doesn't get tempted with other foods, so I asked him to cut and bring me a small piece of carrot cake when he went to get his dessert. Accomplishment I ate only what I planned to eat and no more.

Hope everyone is having a great week end.

Hello all,

Katzz - my older daughter used to live where Katie lives now, and she had twins, first, too. I was glad to help out, and goodness knows she needed it! Nothin' like those grandbabies!

Bunti - I think losing 4-6 pounds a month is great! As you said, it's a positive lifestyle, and not a diet, so it has to be something we can live with long-term. You're doing great!

Trish - we have a Ryan's in Terre Haute, and yes, their carrot cake is scrumptious! I am so proud of you for how you handled the situation! That took planning, and determination, and you did it!!

Hello to anyone else reading this.

I've been busy with family, and now helping Katie with the baby. Today I showed her how to hold him while washing his hair. Little guy didn't think much of it, haha.

I over-indulged this weekend, but I'm right back OP. I really don't like the way I feel when I eat the wrong things. Kind of lethargic, you know?

Have a good day.

Jane, thanks for the welcome. I have four huskies. There are actually two in the little avatar. I skijor with two of them and just bought a dog scooter to scoot-jor with three of them. The elder is 10 and has bad hips so she observes and howls at us. Congrats on baby Holden. I love that name!
OKAnnie, congrats on that downhill weightin!!!!!! And thank you thank you thank you for reminding me about NSVs. Since losing the weight and slowly gaining again, I haven’t thought of those victories that helped me lose. I’m going to make those forefront again and use them to get the 12 pounds off.

WebWoman, I’d be interested in the recipe. Especially right now as my stomach is growling and I won’t feed it. BTW, I did WW for 13 weeks (gained weight since I’m fruit crazy). But the app they have for the iphone is easy to use. Of course the $30 every three months was a little high.

Katzz, the temporary weight gain can be anywhere from extra sodium to wrong time of the month (even if you’re no longer cycling). I find there is almost no explanation. I have always wondered why I gain “weight” after spaghetti (I make the pasta and marinara so I know exactly how much cals and sodium is in it). Lo and behold, I’m allergic to wheat and eggs – pasta ingredients. Of course that ah-ha came with the $$$ med tests. So I wouldn’t sweat it. Or perhaps you could “sweat” it out.

Bunti, you are doing so great. September 2012 is just around the corner. It’s amazing how time flies at our age.

So here I post 6 days ago and disappear. That wasn’t my intention and for once I have a valid excuse. My granddaughter was hospitalized last week and was diagnosed with a problem that would require surgery. We wanted a specialist as she is only 2 months old and 7 pound, 4 oz (Holden’s size). So she was transferred to the Children’s Hospital in Portland. Long (really long) story short, she was misdiagnosed and didn’t need surgery. She’s on meds and doing better. But it did take me away from home for several days.

I made good food choices overall but I learned something. I can find excuses to make bad food choices. Travel, stress, tired, scared, etc. If there’s an excuse to be found, I will find it. But exercise is another matter. I exercise for the mental aspect (another long story) and I NEVER find an excuse to skip my workout. Never. I started walking as soon as I could stand upright after surgery. I exercise when I have a cold, when my asthma has me using the rescue inhaler a couple times during the workout (ok’d by my dr.), broken arm, strained muscles. I exercise no matter what. WHY of WHY can’t I get that mindset with eating?

I am on track and doing well. A little sore today since my Sasha husky decided to take off after a bird that flew in front of us yesterday when we were using the dog scooter. Almost a huge wipeout but I got stopped before the ditch. But many joints were jerked and twisted. I’ve got to get that girlie to leave distractions alone. My lead husky didn’t even blink and fought the ditch as much as I was.
Back to work for me.
Marie

Marie I love Huskies. They are beautiful. My late husband and I took care of our son's husky and wolf for a while because he couldn't keep them in his appartment. The problem we had with the husky was that she wouldn't stay in the fence. DS put the animals inside an electric fence to keep her from getting out. She would cry knowing it was going to zap her, but she would jump it any way. He finally sold her to a man who lived in the country and I understand that the man took her everywhere with him. Someone poisoned the wolf. I have to say they were both a pleasure to have around except for the husky wanting to roam the neighborhood.
Marie I did WW new plan and loved it and have thought of doing it again, but I have the same problem with the fruit. I heard somewhere that we should eat more veggies than fruit, but I could easily be a fruitarian (is there such a word?) I've also wondered why I can be so strong with other things and lose it when it comes to food. I wonder sometimes if we have dieted so much (I've been a yo-yo dieter) that we just get it in our heads we can't help but fail. However, the one thing I've always done that I hope is in my favor is that I always figured that if I kept trying someday I would be successful.

Food plan today turned out to be great and OP. DH decided he wanted to get Zaxby chicken fingerz and come home and eat. My first reaction was "oh no, not again". Seems to be his favorite food lately, but then I could see a Wendy chicken salad that I have eaten before. DH and I always half the Zaxby 5 pc chicken fingerz. So I decided that I could come home and make a big salad cut the pieces into it and stay OP. That is what I did. I made a huge salad and ate the fingerz and a little over half the salad. Saved the rest of the salad for dinner and had it with a pork chop. I've had my evening fruit of grapes with an oz of cashews. Except for getting water I need to drink before going to bed -- the kitchen is closed. I'm very pleased with the way the day turned out food wise.

Hi everyone,
It's been raining cats and dogs here in SW Ohio - we got over an inch overnight, and then we got hit with another thunderstorm! I just want to know where all this water is during July and August when the grass dries up.

I've been chugging along, and haven't gained any weight, but really want to drop below 170 just to reach that mini goal - but my body seems to be resisting, and Easter is just around the corner. <sigh>

Here is the link to the Healthy Pumpking Muffin recipe. I use regular FF yogurt, not greek, and I like to add Craisins instead of raisins. These are really filling, so drink lots of water with them. Enjoy!

Patty, I take aim at my eating the same way as you. I look at it as long as I keep fighting it, I will win or at least the battle will be close and someday the war will be permanently won. Congrats on the OP day! Huskies are runners - that's ingrained in them not to be fenced in and that roaming is their best option. We have a 6 foot fence partly buried since huskies are notorious diggers. Then we have boulders lining the inside and outside of the fence. We have't had an escape in several years. BTW, I could be a fruitarian as well. My son could join us on that adventure. I LOVE fruit and some veges are ok.

WebWoman, thanks for the link. They look yummy. Why do you think it asks for WW pastry flour? I mill my own whole wheat - do you think that would be good enough. I do get why I'd use greek yogurt - it has so much more protein than regular FF. The first time I read the nutrition label on Greek yogurt, I was amazed. I even converted a male co-worker to the stuff just based on the protein content.

Ended yesterday at 1450 calories. I'm aiming below 1600 but prefer the 1400-1500 zone. YEAH! It was a good food day. Enjoyed my elliptical workout yesterday and this morning the sky wasn't falling (aka raining) and the full moon was bright and beautiful. DH and I walk the huskies at 5:00 am for 1.5 miles every day. It was so awesome to see that moon. I live in the "desert" and I just don't get how they can call the last 3 months of rain desert. So it is sunny out and I can see a big honkin' mountain from my desk. Mt Shasta has been hidden in the 3 months of clouds. A beautiful day!
Marie

Marie,

I don't know why they call for WW pastry flour for the muffins. I couldn't even find it at a BIG grocery store here, so I had to use WW all-purpose flour instead. Enjoy your beautiful day - there are ducks swimming in the puddles in our yards here!

I love watching ducks in the spring. I did enjoy our weather yesterday and the rain/snow has returned. First inclination that the weather returned to yucky was after my DH said it was dry out and I got ready for the husky walk with the thought it was dry. Mistake. It started raining as we walked out the door.

Finished yesterday strong and OP at 1467 calories. I do love LoseIt! iphone app. It makes tracking calories easy. The fates tried to throw a wrench into my plan because my friends chose a restaurant that has no healthy options. The few that had potential had either soy or peanuts and I'm deathly allergic to them. Anyway, I had a french dip and had them hold everything but the meat. It worked. I stayed on plan and was still sociable. I hope I NEVER have to go that restaurant again. Heck, McD's would have been a better choice.

DS stopped by my office yesterday with DGD. She's doing much better and she even gained a couple ounces since her hospital visit last week. Then last night he texted me that she rolled over. I responded "Bet there's not many 7 pound babies that can do that!" And he said that was a good point. Anyway, she is starting to grow!!!
Marie