I just put that sloppy joe recipe in my book of Core recipes (gotten from the ones you all have posted) and it looks so good! I'm going to try it soon. Also I think I'll make the cola chicken this weekend as it's going to be cold and rainy and I will be wanting to stay inside and cook!

Hi everyone.

Does anyone else out there get wicked PMS cravings. I couldn't get enough salt yesterday (and, of course, it did show up on the scale this morning). Today, I have, if you can believe it, been sitting at my desk biting the ends off the "old maids" in a leftover bag of popcorn. I made Ma Po Tofu last night with lots of salty bean sauce and ended up eating more of it for breakfast this morning. The perfectly lovely oatmeal with blueberries I intended to eat just wasn't going to cut it.

Honestly, I think I might lose more weight if I just gave up and ate nothing but Doritos and M&Ms for a few days. Those of you who get this way--how do you get past it?

Bleh. I'm going to make some tea and see if that helps get me through to lunch.

Hi everyone,

Back at work today - but still feeling crummy - would have stayed home but I have an important meeting w/consultant this pm that I could not miss - and boy lots of messages and emails after just one day off!

I've tried the cola chicken and it's great - kids loved it too. Can't wait to try the sloppy joes!

Kathy - you are gorgeous - looking tall and slim to me (yes that's my problem I'm vertically challenged - if only I could stretch a few inches!).

Thanks frannie for the kind words. I agree that dh's rationale and thinking are a bit "skewed" and I'm hoping that with some professional help maybe we can work thru this - one way or the other!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBORAH - hope your day is great and that all your wishes come true!

I was on a cruise last August and may attempt to post some pics here! I love cruising (vickie let me know when you're ready and we'll take one together!)...actually you are all invited! I'm really ready to go somewhere warm cuz it's like -31 degrees here today - tons of car accidents (black ice) and stalled cars due to the cold. My car never really warmed up in the 20 min drive to work.

TOM is really nasty this month - lots of headaches, bloating and feeling yucky. Hope all this bloating subsides by sat am weigh-in!!!!!!

Otherwise I am tired and feeling pretty lethargic - need to get thru this meeting and try and get some work done. May take tomorrow afternoon off (have a retirement lunch party to go to which will probably go til 2pm - might as well go home???)

Frouf

Froufy, Cher, and even Vickie, I think ... so sorry you all are having a vicious TOM. Thankfully, it won't last forever, although it doesn't seem so at the time. Cher, my first day is generally my insatiable, gotta-have-something-bad day. Otherwise, I'm not too prone to cravings that I can blame on TOM. My own fat cells are my culprits ... they keep begging to be filled to the brim! Wicked things!

I went to lunch with DH ... he had an unexpected training day at my workplace today so we got the rare treat of having lunch together. It wasn't Core by any stretch ... Chinese with a nice portion of vegetable lo-mein and some fried rice and cashew chicken. And let's not forget the egg roll. I know ... I was very, very bad. But it sure was good. I'm drinking water as I type to at least flush out all that tasty sodium.

DH and I are going to pop by Sears after work today to test-drive the ellipticals. I tried out one a while back by Nordictrac that has the ramps and I really, really liked it. But since it cost a bit more than what I wanted to spend, I thought DH should try it too to see if he likes it. My daughter likes it, which is a good thing since she much prefers her computer and television to exercise. If he likes it, we'll get it, I think. I really do feel an elliptical is a far better workout than what I can get on a treadmill or stationary bike, IMHO. The elliptical will be my birthday present and an anniversary present for me and DH ... 17 years on Monday! Boy, I'm getting old!

Angela, let me know how those cola recipes work with the Diet Cherry Coke. That and Diet Vanilla Coke are the only diet cokes I have in my house ... for my DD since I can't stand the taste of any diet drinks other than the Diet V8 Splash and the light Minute Maid. I might try it with the sloppy joe mix and tater tots ... are tater tots core? I need to go check my list!

Deborah

oh no, i lost my journal, i had it and had completed 5 of the 7 days in it and now i don't know where i put it......i was doing so well, is this a sign that i should not have tried to write down everything anyway.......?? so absent minded today.......

TOM came and left and came back again, then left again.......man oh man, ready for this part of my life to be over sooooooonnnnnnnnnn, now really, with an 18 and 19 year old would i really want to start over again?? no thanks, those diaper days are gone oh and yes, i craved salt salt salt.......and could feel the retention in my hands

kathy thanks for the Life in 2005! i immediately passed it on to a co-worker next to me...hahaha, so true!

Hey Cass and welcome I'm a newbie to this site as well. These women keep me rolling They have given me alot of ideas with WW and the encouragement is GREAT :cheer

Boy, oh boy, did I just do something hard. We have a cool theater room in our basement that's totally tricked out - (dh's brother worked for Ultimate Electronics and got us around 75% off everything) Anyway, dh fixed a friend's computer, and as a thank you, she gave us two huge popcorn bowls full of microwave popcorn packets (movie theater butter flavor) and box after box of movie theater candy. Rargh!!! Included in the candy was a huge box of Milk Duds, my absolute favorite. After eating some yesterday and today, I realized I can't keep it in control, and I THREW IT AWAY! That was SO hard. But I did it, and I will be glad in the long run, right? Dh took his favorites and hid them away, at my request. The other kinds, which aren't so tempting to me, I am giving to the kids. But, boy was that hard. Whew! Maybe I should take the trash out now, huh? I was seriously thinking about eating up the whole box today so it would be gone, and then I thought of you guys and how hard you work, and, let's just say, I made the right decision.

Angela (still picking caramel out of my teeth - mmm)

Yes, take out the trash. If you're anything like me, I'm not above changing my mind and digging thru the trash to get something!

Welcome to all!! We're so glad to have you!

BACK AWAY FROM THE TRASH CAN! Actually you can pick it up and take it out. No more sugar to pass your little lips! I know it's so hard to pass up when it's your favorite - but you did the right thing Angela - GOOD FOR YOU!

I'd probably be licking the butter off my fingers after inhaling the movie theatre popcorn...yumyum.

Speaking of which I am pretty hungry now! Had a meeting this pm and drank another 18 oz while there (yes I had to pee like crazy!!)...anyhow was hungry when I came out, had some cut up veggies (cauliflower and baby carrots) which only filled the void temporarily - it's 5 pm now - time to pack up, head home and chow down!

I too am feeling "tight" around the fingers/rings - I know there is still some water retention happening! Flush it out!

Froufie

Cher, I get TERRIBLE salt cravings. But...I love salt every day. I indulge a little bit because I have to have some. I try not to eat too much though, because then it makes the cramps that much worse. I absolutely refuse to eat salty stuff the night before a weigh in though.

Frouf, sorry you're still feeling so crummy. Glad you like the Cola Chicken though. I'm making the Sloppy Joes tomorrow night for dinner. I just bought some 1 point hamburger buns to go with it. Woo Hoo! It's 20 degrees here and I'm freezing. I can't even imagine -31!!!! Yikes.

Deborah, congratulations on your anniversary! I have a Core Chicken Fried Rice recipe for the next time you're craving Chinese. Let me know if you want it. Hubby LOVES it and eats the leftovers the next day.

Frannie, I'm ready for this to be over with too! I have my annual exam on Monday. My TOM never came but I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up on Sunday night! LOL! Hope you find your journal. That can be so frustrating. I hate when I do that kind of stuff.

Angela, your room sounds so cool. My Hubby would die to get his hands on that setup. Well, we retired so it may be out of our future. I am SO impressed with you for throwing our the rest of the candy. Way to go, girlfriend! I really feel like we all do help each other. You still have to do it yourself but it sure is nice to have a little support and help along the way.

I hope everyone is doing well. Froufy, my thoughts are with you as you tackle this bad patch. Like Kathy said (I think) you're among friends. It's okay to vent. His issues are his.

To those experiencing TOM, good luck and fingers crossed that it will be swift and as gentle as possible. Sounds like it's that special time for everyone except me, I had the pleasure of having mine two weeks early!!!!! How lucky can one girl be?!?!?!? But I guess early is better than late! Aside from the weird sandwich craving during TOM, I have been known to polish of a box of Little Debbie snack cakes and Salt and vinegar chips - not so much now, but the urge is still there.

Kathy, which chili recipe do you use? I made a CORE chili recipe, but was not very overjoyed.

Vickie, do you mind posting your Chicken Fried Rice recipe? Also, is the Sloppy Joe recipe really CORE? I saw that a bit of flour was used, does that matter or can I make it w/o the flour? What kind of 1pt. buns are you using?

Okay, I'm done with the question portion of my post. Thursday night and Friday morning weighers, have a good one!!!!

Torrey

So dh gets home, I tell him about the candy, and HE digs it out of the garbage!! But I'm over the craving now, and am looking forward to my cabbage rolls for dinner. Yes, movie theater butter popcorn is one of my favorites, but it takes more preparation than grabbing some Milk Duds, so generally, my sanity gets the better of me before I actually make and eat some.

Vickie, I'm interested in the chicken fried rice recipe. I have a shrimp fried rice one that's really good, but we love Chinese food, so I'm always on the lookout.

Angela

Alright, I have another question: Has anyone tried Kraft's Carb Control (or whatever) Ranch or Italian Salad dressings? I was in the store last night and came across those I believe the Italian was 1 pt. per 2 Tbls. (did not check the Ranch). Wondering whether they taste like pooh.

Wow once again, I am soooo lost in all that has been written since just yesterday....
I can't get on line as often as most of you, especially at work. I am in an Accounting Data base all day.....so 'unfortunately' no time. Wish I could :-)
Froufie I hope that all is well with you or as well as can be. How sad all of that is. It truely does sadden me, and I am so sorry. Take care of YOU first, that is most important. I dont' get here much but I am here for you like the rest....we are a great bunch!!!
To all those who have weighed in today....I hope it went well. Frannie I hope you found your journal
Kathy you still are TOO funny!! and love the pictures. You look awesome!!!
To everyone else hanging in there.....good going.
I can't seem to keep up with all of you.....you all are way ahead of me on the posting.
I'm hanging in there........talk to you all soon.....
Linda

Hey, Torrey -- two things. I have tried the Kraft Carb Well (wait let me look at the bottle) ... yes, that's it. It's the caesar dressing and it's good. Really good, in fact. Next, I just made up my own recipe for the chili, but everything I used was Core legal, so I'm assuming the whole thing is. It was very good and I spiced it up greatly.