Girls thanks for the extra support, ideas together and we all will be healthier.That is actually our goal is it not to feel good, look good and live a healthier life? I think that I am in on the chart idea too. I will work on one when I get home. Meanwhile hear is a bit of good news for me. I got up this morning looked at that closet door where my white scale lays in. Opened the door and said I have to do this. Thank God it was down 3.5 from yesterday. It must of been water wt. from salt or whatever? All I know is I feel better still up .5 but that is nothing. So just wanted to share. I am glad that it happened in a way as it motivated me to get off this wt. and do the right things. So yah liked the ideas and added to them now we are going somewhere girls. Julie please add in I know you have a mountain of good advice just waiting to add in. After all this is the direction we are all going for so lets do it. I like the idea of saturday wt. day as it will help with accountable fridays. We can all post of actvities, intakes, ideas and any kind of trouble spots. Olga I also liked the recipe please feel free to share more. I also think if you ck in on the south beach recipes you will find some similar ideas. That diet watches the glucose levels , sugars etc. Well off to have breakfast with a friend. I am ordering poached eggs no potatoes, and dry rye bread , coffee. I am only working until 3:30 as I worked over the other night so off to the gym. I am going to get another day in . Mon, thurs, fri.! This is more managable than my trying to do everyday and our goals have to be reachable. Olga I'd like to lose at least 11lbs. I also have thyroid disease, had surgery many years ago. I am sure it all has its toll but no excuses other than what I am doing to myself. I know I can be doing more to make some changes and I am going to do it! We all are right? Cause I sure do need support and company! Have a great day girls and thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carol

Hi Carol, glad to hear your positive outlook. Let's see how I've done on the rules today:

Rule one - 1500 cals a day - YES!
Rule two - no eating after 8 I AM DONE FOR TODAY!
Rule three - I ate off and on all day - have to work on this one a little more.
Rule four - Fairly good variety, not enough veggies or grains though, a little high on protein - something to work on.
Rule five - Mon, Wed, Thurs and I'm planning on tomorrow - a Four Day week!
Rule five - Tomorrow is weigh in.

I still don't like the word rules - what's a better word. Here's a draft of a template we can use - just cut/paste. Feel free to edit - this is a work in progress:

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES GRAINS FRUIT PROTEIN CALCIUM OTHER
SAT WEIGH IN

I'm going to try it for today, let's see how it works:


DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS: 1515
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK: M,W, TH,
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS: still needs work
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES__3__GRAINS__2_ FRUIT_3__ PROTEIN__4_ CALCIUM__2_ OTHER 1 (choc)
SAT WEIGH IN 175.4 last sat.

I'm going to try this in place of listing food and see how it goes. Let me know what you think - the simpler we get this and the better it becomes natural for us the better we'll do.

Have a great night!

Hi. Went to bed early last night so I was able to get up and start my workout early - great workout of a 3.1 mile run at 5.0 hill setting - tough, but glad I did it.

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:400 (so far, two oatmeals and a grapefruit)
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:M,W, TH, Sat
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:breakfast so far,
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES GRAINS 4 FRUIT 1 PROTEIN CALCIUM .5 OTHER (so far)
SAT WEIGH IN 173 (yeah! I broke 175 I'm on my way to 150 again!!!!)

Have a great day all! Take care.

Tiredoffat Hurray for you!!!!!!!!!!!
I like your idea for the charting and healthy choices great name. How do I put that chart on my site? Or maybe I can't? Is it something I can add in? I am not really sure how to if so. Can you explain it to me?
You came up with a good chart and we will make it part of our daily schedule. Once you have done something 10 times it becomes a routine and much easier. Lets hope it sounded good huh?
I didn't do too bad on yesterdays intake and I did manage to make it to the gym. But I was feeling a bit off and later in the night started the cough thing. I thought I was lucky enough to skip over it. At any rate I went to bed at 9.
Yesterdays workout 3.5 incline and 4.0 for 30min. on the treadmill calories burned 263, 2 miles exact, knee crunches 2 sets, 2 sets of 15 abs .
Today is wt. day!! 177.5 up 1 from yesterday.
I am not going to let it get to me though as I know eventually the exercise will kick in.
I didn't do to bad with my intake yesterday during the day bit high and unhealthy last night. I will curb that! I will make this happen.
Intake: good breakfast 2 pro., 2 gr.,1 veg. coffee 400
lunch: 2veg., dressing? 2 dairy, 350
snack: 1 banana 100
dinner: homemade pizza 400,
2 handfuls of carb well cereal 110
snack :300 before 8.
After adding it up it was a bit high got to watch those calories. I will try harder to day.
Again you did great and your my incentive to do better.
Olga and Julie are you out there???????????????
I will ck in later.

Hi Carol, thanks for the kudos. What you do is highlight the chart on the last entry, then hit copy under your computer's edit key. Then start your new entry and paste the chart into it. I hope that makes sense.

I'm checking in because I had a good day but right now I'm tempted to go wild. I won't though because I'm checking in here to get strong and I don't want to gain the weight I just lost. I really want to get to my goal weight of 150 as I know it is a healthy weight for my body and life!!!!! I will do it, thanks for listening.

I went to a party today. Before going I had a healthy filling snack. I planned what I would and wouldn't eat - no alcohol, no desserts, lots of salad and a little of other foods. I did it!!!!! I was so proud. Then for dinner I ordered that huge antipasto and that's what I ate mainly plus one piece of pizza. I simply do not want to eat fat foods unless it's something I absolutely love at a time when I can enjoy it a lot!!!!!!

Exercising in the morning seems to curb my desire to eat! That's good. Have you noticed that or read anything about it?

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:1480
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:M,W, TH, Sat
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:breakfast so far,
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES 2-3 GRAINS 5 FRUIT 1 PROTEIN 2-3 CALCIUM 1
SAT WEIGH IN 173 (yeah! I broke 175 I'm on my way to 150 again!!!!)

Hi all. Tough day here for dieting - really tired and crabby. Why? I don't know probably the weight of what I have to do plus tired bones from yesterday's workout and the boys' arguing. I keep having fantasies about beaches and sunshine. Hope all is well.

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:1240 so far
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:new week
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:yes, so far
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES GRAINS 5 FRUIT 1 PROTEIN 2-3 CALCIUM 1
SAT WEIGH IN 173

Tiredofat I am home sick today and was sick yesterday. I went to the 24 hr. care and it is a sinus infection. The med's have knocked me for a loop. I will try to ck in later. This is one way to only get in my 1500 calories for the day. Gotta go lay down only got on to transfer some funds to cover my cks. written for the doc. Presp. were 60.00 and that was with ins. Wow!
Carol Keep up your efforts and do a bit of exercise for me!

Hi, I hope you're feeling better. I had one of those sinus infections once and it was the only time in my life that I felt like I knew what it was like to be sick enough to die - it was awful. I hope you'll get better soon. All is well here - no big news, just struggling to stay on track. I'm sending you good wishes and hope you are better soon.

Is your name Carol? I thought is was?

Take care.

Hi, just popping in after a few days to say hey! It looks like you're coming up with great ways to check in with each other. I'm focusing on following my plan much more closely for the next two weeks, despite stress, social events, and wanting to choke my co-workers now and again I've been losing weight, but very slowly, because I haven't been watching my portions, and I've been using social events as reasons to cheat. And in my defense, I have been fighting mild flu-like symptoms off and on for weeks, someone around me at work is always sick lately. I'm not counting calories, but I'm recording everything that I eat.

Here's my eating plan: protein shake with fruit for breakfast, veggies and 4 oz. protein for lunch (usually a big salad with chicken, tuna or an egg), veggies and 4 oz. protein for dinner (Lean Cuisine with more veggies, or beef, chicken or fish w/2 cups of veggies). Usually no AM snack, an apple or an ounce of almonds if I really can't wait 'til lunch. Protein bar for a late-afternoon snack, and either another protein shake or one last fruit-protein combo for dessert.

Exercise: I just joined Curves (strength training and cardio circuit), so I'll go two evenings a week, and Saturday mornings. If the weather's too bad for walking outside (which it was a lot in January, unless I wanted to wear snowshoes to work), 40 mins cardio indoors at least two days a week. Ideally I get up early to either do yoga or meditate.

So today, I was up at 7:30 instead of at 6, because I'd been out late dancing and my feet are still killing me! I had a blueberry shake for breakfast, salad w/tuna, a cup of minestrone and an apple for lunch, protein bar for a snack, chicken, brussel sprouts and V8 juice for dinner, and kefir and a pear for dessert. I went to Curves this evening, so assuming I don't roam around in the kitchen after I send this, I had a good day!

Carol, I hope yo're feeling better! A sinus infection is a real drag. I prescribe mass quantities of chicken soup.....

Tired--I'm also fantasing about warm weather. I have to be in sunny Florida in March for work, and am trying to figure out if I can afford to lounge around at a spa or something for a few days while I'm down there.

Will see if I can meditate at night without dozing off. At any rate, I'm going to sleep well tonight!

Hi Judy, you sound on track. You're doing a lot of exercise with all that dancing and working out. Good for you! You sound like you have the three meals-two snacks routine going too which I've read is good. Have you ever thought about tracking your calories. I've had such good luck with that, it also gives me the chance to eat lots and lots of different foods. I pretty much avoid unhealthy foods though, but I try to eat some foods in every food group each day. Good luck and thanks for joining us.

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:1510 calories
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:Monday - 30 min. swim
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:yes
VARIETY/#: VEGGIES 3 GRAINS 3 FRUIT 2 PROTEIN 2-3 CALCIUM 2
SAT WEIGH IN 173

Hi, Ladies:

Sorry I haven't been around. My fiance's son had his soccer trophy party yesterday at Shakey's Pizza. It was a pretty trying weekend. I missed my weigh in with my aunt. She is an Herbalife Distributor and I decided to give it a fair shot. I fell off the herbalife wagon over the weekend although I did weigh in at 158lbs yesterday and this morning. I went up to 160 lbs tonight but I think its the food and liquids I have had today. Sounds like you women are doing great though other than being a bit sick cacmsc. I hope you get better, look on the bright side-you might burn a couple of lbs. But I do hope you are feeling better.

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:?
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:none

Breakfast: Oatmeal (late) 60 calories
Snack: coffee 200 cals & slice starbucks lemon loaf ??????
Lunch: Salmon & Veggies & 1.5 fried mozerella sticks, green tea
Dinner: Special K Almond & milk 460 cal
Snack: Coffee & Raisins

SUN WEIGH IN 158 in morning, then tonight @ 160 lbs

Not bad for falling off the wagon, but not good for the overall goal. I am going to make my official weigh in tomorrow night so wish me luck.

Olga

Hi Olga, good luck to you! What's your goal weight? I've been thinking that this health journey really takes lifestyle changes. I really want to make some changes to affect my health and the health of my family. One change I've already made is changing the foods I buy for the house. Now I'm working on including more veggies in meals throughout the day. I want to think about how we spend time too. I want to add more fun, active, family building activities. Any ideas? We like hikes and we love to swim. We belong to a pool and go often, but could probably go more.

Have a good day all. Carol, I hope you're feeling better. It's awful to be sick. Take care.

A good start today with a very tough workout!

DAILY HEALTHY CHOICES
CALS:
EXERCISE DAYS THIS WEEK:Monday, Tuesday 45 min treadmill, 5.2 avg, hill
THREE MEALS, TWO SNACKS:
VARIETY/#: 2 eggs on wheat English muffin for breakfast
SAT WEIGH IN 173

Hello everyone and thanks for your good wishes while I was ill. I feel much better and will rtn. to work on Wed. I don't know if I lost any wt. but I sure wasn't eating much but I also wasn't moving to far away from the fireplace and the couch. I did manage to go to the library today and put a couple of books on order. Dr. Phil and South Beach just for some extra ideas. I am going to continue to count calories for now as I think if I give it a fair chance it will work out. Tiredoffat my sister and her kids had a snow day and started a fort. They spent hours building it and it got them all together on making something fun and exercising. Does your family enjoy hiking? Find a lake if so and explore something new, take some hot cocoa for the trip. Good luck.Your doing well with making some positive changes for your whole family. You go girl! Olga I copied your recipe but haven't tried it yet. I did manage to make some chicken soup on sunday. Judy a friend of mine has done really well with curves good luck to you! I will get back to the gym thurs. to exercise. Intake:
Breakfast: 1 cup of carb well cereal w/ 2% splash of milk, 2 slices italian br. toasted w/ little marg , 1/2 banana =420 on the high side!
Lunch: 1 cup chicken , rice and broc.w/ garlic sauce 350
1/2 egg roll 100 cal.
snack: 1 orange 100 cal?
Dinner: smoothie made w/ fat free yogurt, blueberries, 1/2 banana ? calories I have to figure it out. Maybe a little bowl of soup ?
I am trying to watch my portion intakes more as sometimes I tend to take more than a serving. All changes are for the good. Last week when I tumbled off a bit I read and the article said its part of learning new stragies and noticing shows lifestyle changes. So maybe it was for the good? Who knows I will chalk it up as one of lifes little learning experiences. Talk to you all soon and keep up the good work. I like reading the intakes it may give me some ideas.
Carol

Hi all. Carol, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better. Portion control is one of my challenges too. Good day today. Managed to fit in all the food groups and stay around 1500. Had a good workout on the treadmill. I'm starting to crave exercise - yeah!! I have to stop talking about this health journey at home - my family is getting tired of it. Has anyone else experienced this? Take care.

I ended my evening intake with an omelet made with 2 eggs, splash of 2% milk and reduced fat jalopeno ch. and broc. Not too bad and decided not to do the smoothie tonight. I think for the day I ended up around 1400 or so. I read some place to eat around 1400 one day, 1500 the next and then 1600 and back down again its suppose to help with your metabolish rate? Anyone ever heard of this? Oh well if so let me know just wondered. Tiredoffat sometimes family members get sick of hearing our ideas or in my case I have a hubby that can eat anything its hard. Don't let it get to you on here you can say what ever you feel because we are all in this together. One idea or way may trigger one of us to lose or be healthier. Your ideas and thoughts are always welcomed ones. I guess to others we get a bit boring? I don't think of it that way but they might I guess. Just buy healthy foods and try not to say much they will appreciate your changes down the road. Keep up your good efforts and don't let anyone stop you from feeling good about your accomplishments. Remember your doing this for you thats important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk to you soon and hope this helped. I am done eating for the day except for a small little red apple.
cAROL