hey y'all,
Well it's a dreary, rainy Monday morning...argh!! I was up a little this morning, but I spend the whole day outside yesterday doing strenuous yard work and planting lots of pretty flowers...for almost 6 hrs...so I'm always up a little after a big workout....never fear, Monday's here!
The hubby is in a permanant Painkiller coma...wink, wink.....he's been a hoot to be around let me tell you....all I have to say is I know why it's us that give birth....if it was up to the men, the species would die off!!!! Big babies!! I'm doing my best to be a good accomodating wife and trying not to roll my eyes too often...lol!
Sassy.....all is good.....water under the bridge....congrats on One-derland...hoping to join you within this month!!!
Chachee....way to stick to the challenge!!! You go girl!!!
Linda...congrats on the noticable difference....it's always nice to hear!!
Dotti....hi ya!
Heather....still thinking of ya...you were in my prayers yesterday.

ok....I'm still losing, but have to say I've really been contemplating counting pts again.....almost as a refocus type thing...I don't know...technically I've been losing more my way....just had pts withdrawl....I know y'all will give me some feedback on that..hehe.
Well that laundry won't do itself...so better get to it!
Michelle

Well, here I am at the end of the day. I ate a stupid cookie this afternoon, lost control..... don't know what it is with me lately - can't seem to keep focused. But, I am journalling, drinking water and exercising, so the scale is back down the one extra pound I gained back.
But, tomorrow is my ww meeting and I will know for sure how well I'm doing! Michelle, can't hurt to get back into journalling. I'm wondering if I might consider taking the weekends off journalling here and there. I am not proud of myself for thinking that way.
But, a few weeks into ww and I am feeling "confined".
OK, guys, does anyone know any one or two point sweet treats that will satisfy my urges and keep me on track? Chocolate preferred!
Linda

Hello ladies!

Linda: Hey, we all struggle! The important thing is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and realize we all have those times when it's not going to be easy. We'll get past them with each other's support and look back and wonder why we thought it was so hard! Keep the consistency up and you will be a success.

Dotti: How is that new treadmill? Congrats on your loss also! Slowly chipping away at that 20 pounds is the right way to do it!

Michelle: Hey, if the laundry does end up doing itself, let me know! I'd like it to talk to my laundry and learn a few things about being independent!! As far as the points go, do what feels right for you. You know where I stand for myself--if I don't ABC it (All Bites Count) then I will be so far off track I won't know what hit me. The days I don't point and journal are the days I don't do very well at all. Just me, personally, but I need to do it for myself. If nothing else, to keep a record and look back on what I did on the weeks I was really good with losses! Hope hubby is out of LaLaLand soon!

What happened to Julie??

Hello Heather. Hope things are okay at your house. You continue to be in my prayers.

Hey Sassy! Still stressed out??? Silly Sassy!

I'm struggling a bit, because of my plateau. I know it will pass, but this is always where I give up. Not this time, because I will be a success. I just wanted to let you all know so you can get on me in case I start not doing so well!

Okay, gotta scoot!

Have a great Monday!

Chach

Linda, we crossed posts!

Some snacks that I really love are:

Special K breakfast bars: the icing is really sweet and it's pretty filling
Mini 3 Musketeers bars: just enough to calm down that craving and still be satisfied
Sugar Free Creme Savers: 5 are only 1 point, and very sweet. I like the strawberry!
Graham Crackers with Lite Cool Whip on them: very low points and you can have a lot! I usually have 2 whole cracker sheets and just dip them in the cool whip. I give myself about 3 points for that. Sometimes 4 depending on how high I can stack the cool whip!

Hope it helps!

Chach

Hi guys!
Well, I'm going to my ww meeting soon - I'm going to come in with a loss! I know this, but who knows (as my scale and theirs don't agree anyway) how much? I'm glad.
Also, TA DA!!!! I am wearing skinnier jeans today. These are NOT the jeans that are my ultimate goal to get into, with no elastic, etc, but they are jeans that I've not been able to wear comfortably in several months. That makes me feel so good!
Chach asked about Julie.... she's not posted in awhile. I wonder if we lost her and a few others. Seems like a we may have a few drop outs? Or is it that they are just having way too much fun to stop by here? Hope it's the latter!
When I hit a nasty plateau with my weight loss in the past, I was always told to step up my activity level. One thing I have noticed in this past week, if I run on the treadmill instead of walk (can only do this for 1.5 minutes, but at least I am doing that!) I seem to lose extra weight. I was told that picking up the pace increases your metabolism for the rest of the day. So, maybe trying to pick up the pace is what you need, Chach? If you are really and truly following program, and doing everything else right, maybe that is it?
You might also want a ww leader to look over your journal and make "corrections". One time I was having lost of instant chicken broth as it was 0 points and would make me feel fuller, etc. A leader pointed out to me, when I was on a plateau, that all the sodium in that broth was probably making me retain fluid.
I love some of your ideas for low point snacks, keep em comin!
Will post again after the we meeting.
Linda

Just checking in.....today is going pretty well....I'm working on wedding cakes today, so of course craving cake!!! Only 28 more to bake and then they'll be out of my house for good!! Darn sister-in- law anyway!!
Going to tan and then do some more gardening tonight, it's been giving my back a workout, but looks so pretty in the long run.
Hope everyone is doing good....yak at ya again soon!!

Well, I did it! I'm down again!
Today's weight 157.6, lost this week 1.4 pounds
last week: 159, lost 1.6 pounds
starting weight 162.4, total lost since the beginning of this challenge: 4.8 pounds!
I'm motivated!
Came home from my ww meeting and raked leaves for 40 minutes, earning me 2 points.
I'm on program for today, have had lots of water, still have 13 points left and a 7 point dinner planned! So, I can have popcorn this afternoon and frozen yogurt tonight as well! I'm psyched!
Hope you all are doing well. Posts are pretty sparse from the others..... I'm really worrying that some have lost their way. Please let us know how you are doing, even if you are not doing well. We can maybe help you get back on track?
That's all folks!
Linda in So. NH, where it's supposed to get up to 87 degrees today!

Hello all!

Did my monthly measurements this am. I lost another 5.25 inches last month, bringing my total loss to 33.25 since mid-February. Almost 6 inches off my waist and hips each! I guess even though the scales not moving as quickly as I would like it, the exercise is really helping tone me up and lose a lot of inches! Great little pick-me-up.

I have a Pampered Chef party tonight. Am leaving a bunch of points so I can sample the great food. I also made a bunch of other WW healthy snacks, so I will be good! I had 11 points left over yesterday. Remember earlier when I was eating everything not nailed down? I couldn't GET hungry yesterday. I ate because I knew I should, but was not just hungry at all....Dear Lord, please let that feeling come along more often. I know I should not have left that many points over, but I just didn't want to eat for the sake of eating last night. Wow, what a long way I have come!

Linda: Excellent!! Great job on your loss again. I'm so happy for you! Aren't those skinny jeans so much nicer? I love getting into my closet and pulling out the other smaller clothes! As far as the exercise, I am adding weights in next month, but I am going to keep the cardio the same for now. It's something I can do and maintain. I don't want to go overboard, because when Winter comes, I don't want to totally change my exercises. Thanks for the good ideas, though, about the journal. I might have her take a look at mine.


Michelle: I am also a baker, just like you. I love to do it, but wish the cleaning fairies would visit my kitchen once I am done! I bet your yard will look very nice. They came through and did the final grade on my yard yesterday. Topsoil this week and seeding next, I believe! Don't ya just love new construction? Brand new house, no yard yet!

Okay, weigh in for me tomorrow. I just want one! One to get to 20!!

Have a great day!

Chach

Still not many posts from you guys. Sassy? Heather? Julie? Where are you guys!!!!! Heather, actually, is dealing with a death in the family, so I know she is busy with family and we'll probably hear from her soon. I hope so.

Michelle, I love to cook and bake too. I love preparing "goodies" that are treats for my family and have to find ways to treat them and let then know I love them that are NOT food related. What's that saying about the way to a man's heart to through his stomach? Well, I am the queen of that for my entire family. I can still make them things, but need to learn resistance. I also need to lighten up for their sake as well. I don't want my kids growing up obese (they aren't right now, but my 13 year old daughter is heading that way).

I have gardening to do as well today, and I look forward to it, as I earn points that way!

Chach, I am proud of you! Those measurements sure are promising. I wish I'd taken my measurements at the beginning of all of this, so I would have those numbers (which I know are good!) to report. Maybe I'll do that later on, anyway, to have something for later on when I lose MORE!
Wish I lived near you, Chach, as I'd come to your Pampered Chef party! Escpecially if you made a bunch of low point snacks! I was thinking of hosting one of those parties as well, as a way to introducing some friends to each other and getting to know my new neighbors, as I moved here in December.

Speaking of friends, who was it (Chach? Michelle?) that had the out of control friend who had to go out and buy more snacks as the soda cake and other things weren't "enough". I'd love to hear an update on how she is doing, I can relate to her situation and was wondering about her.
Yes, my "skinny" jeans are so much nicer. I can't wait to wear the REALLY skinny jeans that I own. I have two pairs, one blue and the other summer white. If I can get into those (size 8), I know I am "there". One day.....
But, all my "current wardrobe" jeans are feeling so much more comfortable on me! Maybe I won't split the seams on the inside of my thighs on my pants anymore? Maybe a few pairs of summer shorts that haven't fit in a few years might even fit me now?
So, before I go, I was on program all day yesterday. I exercised in the form of yard work (which I will do again today) and had all my water, etc. I feel good and I know I can do this!
Linda in NH

Well it's a lovely Wed morning today....sun is a shining and all it good....I'm baking more cakes today....16 down and 24 to go......can you believe it...she wants 40 cakes....for all the tables to have their own.....*rolling my eyes*, but the what the bride wants, the bride gets!
Decided officially Monday I'm back with the masses and counting pts!! That should make y'all happy....jk! Can anyone tell me what the pts for the McDonald's Fiesta salad are???
Michelle

Hello, all.

The funeral was yesterday; I was one of the pallbearers, which was an honor. It's been a rough week. Tomorrow will be tough, as well, because it would have been her 85th birthday. It's hard to believe she's gone. I honestly was OK until we took her out of the church and to the cemetary . . . then it just was too real.

Amazingly enough, I have maintained my current weight. I haven't been following program (i.e., have been eating junk), but haven't been eating much, so I guess the AMOUNT of junk was low enough to not result in a gain. Still am waiting for DH's first disability check, which is *supposed* to be here today. Once it's hear, I'm going back to WW. So, hopefully I'll be at a meeting either tomorrow night or Saturday morning.

Time to get back OP. Today should be an ok day for that-- breakfast was light; lunch is a picnic lunch at work, and most of the stuff is fairly healthy. And supper . . . well, I determine that, so I can make it healthier, too.

Anyway, just wanted to let y'all know I'm still here. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers-- they mean a lot.

hi Heather.
the mcdonald fiesta salad is a total of 10pts and if you have no sour cream it is 9 pts. i have taken time out to read all your post and want to once again congradulate you all on the big losses you guys are having...i wish i had similiar results. i am 190 and dont seem to go anywhere. but yet againg i have poloysistic ovaries which makes it even harder for me to loss any weight. i started journaling my pts and i am going to begin walking in the morning 1 mile and in the evening another mile. i just hope all my sacrafice pays off. i entered the may challenge wanting to loose 10lbs...you think its possible?

Hello Ladies!

Linda: It was me who had the friend that was sabotaging/out of control eating. She was actually at my PChef party last night. I put out all the healthy stuff and then also purchased some caramel dip and some green apples. Well, she did not wait for the spoon to get in the caramel before she was dunking the apples in it. I sent her home with the cookies I made for those not on diets, and for the kids. She also took the chips mix. She keep commenting on “give me back my cute jeans” or “those jeans are really cute”, never “wow, you look good” or “You’ve lost a lot of weight”. So, when she said I needed to “give her back her cute jeans” (which are my new smaller ones, by the way) I just told her, “Hey, you can have them soon because they are slipping off me”. I wasn’t being mean, but I think she got the point. She was a little quiet for awhile. I’m approaching it with a different attitude now. I take it as she is jealous of me and unhappy with her current weight/life situation and that’s what it is. I don’t think she’s trying to be mean, but sometimes it comes across like that. I just keep plugging away and try to not let it bother me. Our other friend was there last night, the one who goes to WW with me, and she said I handled the situation very nicely. My sabo friend found out about a week ago I was attending the meetings. She finally asked if I had been losing weight (DUH) and how I was doing it. I told her I had lost around 20 pounds and it was through WW. All she said was “How much does it cost”—nothing else. So, long story short, she knows, continues to sabotage me, but I am handling the entire thing much better now!!

Michelle: You crack me up! To count points or to not count points…that is the question! Have you thought about one of the Points bracelets? Just wondering if that is something that would work easier for you. How are the cakes coming along today? How is hubby feeling?

Heather: Big hugs and more prayers your way from me. Now it’s real, huh? That’s the hard part for me at funerals, it’s the final goodbye. You are doing so well considering all that you have gone through this last month. How is your hubby doing? Are the fluid leaving his body yet?

PR Goddess: Welcome to the thread. I think it’s really possible to lose 10 pounds. Keep on track, do your exercise, and watch what you are eating. I do my Gazelle for 20-30 minutes in the am, walk 2 miles on my breaks at work, and then usually something at night with my son. The scale hasn’t moved much, but the inches have!

Okay, weigh in tonight. I shall succeed in hitting the 20 pound mark…..I WILL SUCCEED! (Or someone/something is going to get hurt! Heehee. I’ll try to check in tonight and let you all know how it went.

Chach

Hi Everyone.

Weigh in was good. Down 3.6 this week, to hit not only 20 pounds, but 22.6 to be exact. Big smile for Chachee! Way to go! Only 2.6 more to my first 10% goal. I'm very happy with myself. I can only imagine how big the number would have been had I not eaten so badly this weekend!

Chach

Hi all. Just a quick check in have been busy this week. Things are going ok. Staying on points, loving the treadmill and pushing down the water. Actually decaf ice tea sweetened with splenda. Hate water.

Chach. WOW. So good. You must be over the moon. Keep it up.

Welcome Puerto Rico Goddess.

Linda, Michelle, Heather it sounds like things are going good for you guys also.

Well got to run. Have a full day with hubby. He has some health tests to take today and I have to get in the traffic to get there by 9 am. See you.