I'm the main cook, although my wife cooks some too. It really is great having us all on the Core plan though-- because we've rid the house of all junk food and almost all non-Core foods. Until a couple months ago, when my 18-year-old left for college, we were constantly buying stuff "for him" (plus, he worked at Little Caesar's and brought 2 or 3 pizzas and Crazy Breads home EVERY NIGHT!) It's much easier now

Oh, and Vicki, I'm with you. I have about 160 lbs to lose, depending on where I want to end up. I know I'll never make WW's weight chart, nor do I want to; but when I lose about 160 lbs my doctor will be writing me that note to authorize a higher "goal" weight!

Daniel, I'm sure you'll get there before me but it will be nice to have some company along the way!

Any new, creative recipes to share? I'm convinced that I need to cook while on WW. If I have to eat plain baked potato, steamed vegetables, and chicken every night it ain't gonna happen!

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while because I have been somewhat discouraged. I have to go see a urologist this morning and this appointment has been very upsetting to me. You guessed it, I have used this excuse not to follow the CORE program. However, I am convinced if my appointment goes well and I can put this behind me I will get back on track. I truly love CORE because I have been dieting since I was 17 years old and quite frankly it does get a little old. I am within 7 lbs. of my goal again and am convinced I can do it one last time!

Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas. They are all very helpful in getting started and staying on track. This is an awesome group and I am only too happy to be a part of it!

Take care,
Nita

Nita, sorry to hear that you have some health issues....but hang in there. I know you'll get back on track.

Hey Nita......I hope all went well after the Dr appt. You hang in there...we are here to support you emotionally and mentally. All else will fall into place with the program, it will be like falling off the bicylce. Remember your signature "If It's To Be, It's Up to Me"
and you will. Take care of yourself first...Please let us know how things went. You are always a great inspiration here. Please don't be discouraged. We are here for you.
DANIEL, welcome to our group, nice to have a guy around, and one that cooks. Ya gotta love it. Good luck to you and your family on your weight loss journey, glad to have you along for the ride.
TXLAWCHICK- Weigh(way) to go on the 2.8!! awesome!!!!
KATHY - again your weight loss is fabulous
VICKIE- although said, I too want to reiterate what Sheila and Janette have said about muscle to fat ratio....the explanation is correct and it makes sense doesn't it?
JANETTE-

OPPS!! SORRY!!
OK now....JANETTE-first and foremost I hope all is well there I am thinking of you and your daughter and keeping you in my prayers..but again was glad to hear about the good news Just wanted to tell you again that Journaling works for me. I need to see what I do. This core thing is working well for me, and can't believe I am doing so well with it. You'd be proud of me.....I have three fruits a day!! Thanks to you!!! :-)
SANDI- I don't know if I told you but I am going to try your Chicken Cacciatore recipe - I was suppose to do it this weekend, but things got turned around a bit.
Well I hope everyone else is ok out there. I am doing well on program and am actually surprised at myself. I think it was Vickie that said, isn't it funny how things we thought we couldn't do without change when working this program.....so my Wow Chips and Bread now take a backseat to "my" version of Banana Cream Pie and I can hardly wait to have it at night....
Look forward to reading your posts tomorrow...till then......Linda (L.J.)

Hi Everyone,

I want to thank everyone for being there for me. The appointment at the Urologist didn't go too well and I have to one of those cystocopies--the only bad part is that I cannot get this done until December 3rd. I did walk on my treadmill today but my eating has been way off track. I need to just get with the CORE program as if it was my first week and seeing all of the success most of you have achieved is certainly giving me incentive to do just this.

As I said before, this support group is awesome and I am so happy I found all of you!

Nita

Just think Nita, now more than ever you have to take care of yourself so that you have the health and energy to get through the tests etc. We are right here cheering for you! I'll keep you in my prayers.

Nita, I've never had a cystocopy and hope I never have to have one. I have had an endoscopy of the upper GI tract. I was scared to death but I have to tell you, the drugs were great and I slept through almost all of it. The took a couple of biopsies and there were no side effects nor did I know what happened later. I'll be hoping that it will be a smooth test for you as well. I'll also pray for a great outcome.

Sandy, glad you're not MIA and .5 loss is better than no loss at all! I would have taken that over my .4 gain last week! Keep at it.

Tonight I'm making General Tsao's chicken with brown rice and broccoli for dinner. Tommorrow will be Chicken Smothered Barley. Yum! Then the weigh in on Thursday. Lately, my life is bracketed by weigh ins no matter how much I try to ignore them!

I'm gathering recipes for thanksgiving. I already know that I'll be making fresh cranberry sauce with splenda and whipped sweet potatoes with splenda brown sugar. Anyone else have any good ideas or recipes? I could use a good stuffing. I'd really like something close to bread stuffing....or should I just count the points and be done with it?

Vicki this dressing is all core except for the bread and it turned out pretty well. It has potatoes in it which is the tradition for this region.

1/4 cup oil of choice
Fry 1 onion, 1/2 cup diced celery, 1 can water chestnuts drained (and sliced), and 1 clove garlic. Add for spices***: 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp summer savoury (or if you don't use that, use 1 tsp poultry seasoning), 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp salt or to taste. Add to 2 cups mashed potatoes and 3 to 4 cups soft breadcrumbs. It mixes best if the potatoes are warm and the bread is fairly dry.

***I think you can mess around with the spices and use something you are familiar with. I use sage because I'm used to sage and onion stuffing. My sister in law uses 1/2 tsp marjoram, 1/2 tsp summer savoury, and 1/2 tsp thyme, and salt and pepper.

VICKIE would you mind sharing those recipes....they both sound sooo dee-lish!!
SANDI I have not tried the Chicken yet, will this weekend, got a little side tracked this last weekend, but I DID not stray off program!!
DANIEL how's it going?? Let us know how you're doing??
JANETTE how 'bout you??? are you ok?? and your daughter??
NITA are you ok?? please let us hear from you too.

As for me I am still hanging in there and still liking Core...who'da thunk
Just can't see doing points anymore. I did consider it, but it last about an hour. I am getting my servings of Fruits in, something I never did on Points, and now I actually craved my Red grapes. But my favorite is my 'Banana Cream Pie' after dinner treat. I love it, just before I veg out on Law and Order!!!! Except tonight is NCIS. I am a BIG forensic fan and love and watch everyone of those shows. Law and Order, NCIS, CSI (but not Miami) Cold Case, Without a Trace etc, ect etc, but enough of that....lets keep it program oriented -sorry Got carried away

I am looking forward to dinner, Shrimp and WW spagetti. I do notice that I get satisfied a lot faster lately, which is a good thing. Core is most certainly satisfying me more so than Pts. I have noticed also that I don't hear myself say, "gee I'm hungry" Anyone else noticing that??
Well all that is it for now, I hope EVERYONE is doing well not only with the program but in all aspects.
Well till next time........you all take care, and be well.......
PS please note that this is the first time I am trying to post the fancy scmancy way....well here goes..............................

Hey it worked!!! but I forgot to sign off........I was so excited to get that right..................LJ (Linda )

Hi Everyone,

I want to again thank all of you for your concern regarding my health problem. The good news is that I feel very well and in fact walked on the treadmill today and yesterday. I am also almost back to being on the CORE program. I did manage to get my test moved up to November 10th. Perhaps after this is done I will be in a better frame of mind. You ladies and gentlemen give me a lot of incentive to hang in there. I did go bowling on my league today and I bowled 100 pins over my average for the three games (538). I just hope I do as well in the tournament on Sunday.

Well tonight is salmon, veggies and a salad.

Take care,
Nita

OOOHHHH, Robin, I love water chestnuts. Never thought about putting them in stuffing. I'm not a big fan of sage so I'll probably play around with the spices. So do you bake this and for how long?

Linda, here are the recipes. You have to count the cornstarch in the first recipe. I think 1/4 cup is 1 point and there are 4 tablespoons in a 1/4 cup. So the cornstarch almost isn't enough to count.

General Tso's Chicken
Serves:4

Ingredients
¾ cup chicken broth
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoons Splenda
2 Tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium
1 Tablespoon White Wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger -- freshly grated (I used 1/2 teaspoons ground)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 medium scallions – chopped
2 medium garlic cloves -- minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut in 2" pieces
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cups cooked brown rice -- kept warm

In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch, splenda, soy sauce, vinegar and ginger. Set aside. Heat oil in wok over medium high heat and add scallions, garlic and pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Add reserved sauce and simmer until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Serve over rice. No real explanation came with the broccoli. You could toss it in the gravy or serve on the side. If I make this again, I would add mushrooms and water chestnuts.

NOTES : One serving is 1 cup with 1/2cup rice.
POINTS: 6 with rice, 4 without rice

Here is the link for the Chicken Smothered Barley. I didn't use the mint flakes or the cinnamom. It is fabulous and filling. You could make this for lunch and freeze the leftovers into individual portions. It freezes well.
http://www.barbosdietkitchen.com/archive.pl?read=11747