Thanks Frouf...I think I'll cook up some soup while I make pies tomorrow.

Angela

I had the cheesecake pudding last night and it was delicious but I can't say that I got a huge cheesecake taste. I think it does taste like cheesecake but I think my brain was hoping for the texture too. What was I thinking? How can you expect that much from a poor little box of pudding?! I'd buy it again in a heartbeat and next time I'll do the cooked fruit trifle recipe for topping.

Have to get running early today. Have a hair appointment and have to get breakfast, exercise, and lunch done first.

I just had to laugh at that!!

I'm on a mission now to find that darn Arizona Total Trim Rx -- even if it KILLS me! I just got off the phone with the corporate office and they gave me the number of the local distributor. Now I'll start in seeing if they can tell me where they place it, if they even do! Ugh ... to get hooked on something only to have it discontinued at the store level is a HORRIBLE feeling!!

Kathy, have you tried any of the convenience stores; like 7-11 or Turkey Hill; maybe you do not even have them there. I saw the Arizona iced teas there yesterday, don't know if they had that one. Is it that good?? What will you do if I find a truck load here in Pennsylvania?? Or what about Walmart or Target? I might have to start looking for it. What is so good about it?

Lisa

I can find regular flavors of Arizona tea, but this one is special. I made a separate thread with a plea for help!

Here are the ingredients: premium brewed green tea using filtered water, grapefruit juice from concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid, garcinia cambogia extract, sucralose (splendaŽ brand), carrot juice, vitamin C, guarana extract, acesulfame potassium, L-carnitine, panax ginseng, chromium nicotinate.

I love grapefruit juice and can have it now because I'm off the Lipitor. It tastes good too, and is a great sub for cokes (my greatest downfall).

Now if you find a truckload, I'll just take half of it! Or whatever $100 will buy me! The other Rx tea is called Stress Tea and it is sold here for about $15 for a case of 12 bottles. I'm going to look at Whole Foods and some health stores later on today.

Hi all,

I'm actually working for a change today! How weird is that? Spent the holiday yesterday at the laundromat, since the one lone authorized repair company for my brand of dryer can't come out until Thursday. I'm still big time aggravated that my 3-year-old dryer needs repair.

At any rate, thanks Vickie, Froufie, and Lisa for the pep talk and sensible advice. I've eaten on track today, thank goodness, and plan to get in my elliptical work out once I get home this afternoon. I did finally buy some 3-pound weights so I'll start the wonder exercises from the O Magazine ... I'll just do them in the afternoon instead of the morning since I can't bear to give up that 10 minutes of sleep!

I think since I'm doing this on-line, I'm going to select Flex as my plan so that I can journal for a week and see just how many points I'm really eating. I still intend to follow Core but the only way you have access to the on-line WW journal (similar to Fitday but with all the points, etc., already figured out and stored as you compute them) is to be registered as a Flex follower. So we'll see how that goes.

Froufie, hope you're able to shed that headache. There's not much worse than a headache that won't go away.

Vickie, I'm glad you're feeling better also! I've found the lemon SF/FF pudding (haven't made it yet but will probably do so tonight!) but haven't been able to find the cheesecake flavor. I'm sorry it didn't quite live up to your expectations. Maybe if you use that flavor mixed with the SF/FF yogurt, you'll get more of the cheesecake texture?

Angela, I also want to say thanks for the daily recipes. You're so creative in the kitchen. And what a tower of strength you are to make all those pies and desserts! I hate to think of how many points I would use licking the bowls!

Lisa, way to go on doing that WATP!

The high point of my weekend was FINALLY finding some rhubarb at the grocery store. I just love that stuff and I can only find it at the grocery store about 4 weeks out of the year down here. And it's so expensive too ... about $2.00 for 6 or 8 small stalks. I can't wait to make up that rhubarb compote stuff (a South Beach concoction) to eat with my hot cereal in the morning! Yummmm!!! It is so tangy and tart ... Vickie, you would probably like it since you're partial to cranberries.

Kathy,

Sometimes Big Lots carries Arizona Tea products ... particularly ones that aren't the more popular brands. They have a pretty big selection of various kinds of bottled teas in their juice/tea aisle and they also have a separate diet aids aisle that might carry it too. If you ever shop there, it might be worth a quick peek. They carry this Glacier Ice water that I love ... raspberry flavor. Naturally, they're the only store that carries it but half the time they don't have it! So I sort of know what you're feeling in not being able to get a product you really enjoy. Good luck in finding it!

Good luck Kathy - hope you find your "secret potion" - of course as a canuck I can't be of much help - have not seen this product here!

Sorry about your disappointment with that little box of pudding Vickie - but I bet w/the cherry topping it will taste even better!

Deborah - good for you for sticking to it - and getting those weights! I did not exercise yesterday (as I was feeling crummy) but might venture into my gym shoes tonight!

I am HOME TODAY!!! Did not sleep well - wanted to smash the clock radio to bits this morning when it started up!!! Still a bit of leftover headache so I called in sick. Had to drive dd to school tho as she missed the bus (also overslept), so treated myself to breakfast at mcdonald's - had an egg mcmuffin, coffee w/cream and got to read the WHOLE paper, front to back while I enjoyed my breakfast. On the way home, stopped at Winner's to do some shopping - looking for some "vacation" clothes for dd who is now at 13 very difficult to please!!! Says she will only wear black? (or hot pink) and is very fussy (won't wear shorts or dresses either). Found a pair of black dress pants, and a pair of grey capris which I hope she won't reject. And some sandals - she has none (that fit) and we need these desperately.

Also got myself some "treats" ...a nice mauve t-shirt top, 3/4 sleeves, like a mottled mauvey purple color with some light mauve beads along the top, not too fancy, but nice enuf to wear for dinner in a tropical climate??

Now there were also a pair of earrings I have been checking out. Chandelier style, mauve and light blue stones, a bit dangly, quite pretty. About a month ago there were $40....today there were in the sale section, down to $29, but it seems today was "markdown day" (this is a discount designer store where they have all sort of stuff so you really need to have patience to search), and on my way out I went to look at the earrings again and they had been marked down to $20! - they are now in my possession and look great with the mauve shirt I bought and another mauve/turquoise top I already own! (gee I wonder if it got cheaper if I hung around all day? )

Headache basically gone now - just had late lunch...still trying to finalize trip details, but gf (w/sick fil) is now having "marital difficulties" which is only compounding our plans.....I think I might just make the reservation for me and my dd (before the trip we want disappears) and be done with it!

Later,

Frouf

Ugh guys, I know TOM is on the way, but where's all my self-control? All I feel like doing is laying around, eating. Haven't had a decent drink of water in days, keep cheating. Blah. At least I was smart, and for dh's birthday, didn't make a whole huge cake, but made cupcakes instead. This way, I frost one for each person (minus me) and put the rest in the freezer for dh to eat at his discretion. They don't tempt me when they're in there, but if there was a huge, half-eaten cake on the counter, I couldn't resist. I almost wonder if I'm on the verge of getting sick. Two out of three dd's have really runny noses & a cough. Well, at least if I do get sick, I could actually have cold medicine for the first time in 6 1/2 years!!! I was always pregnant or nursing before. Yay, my body is mine! Just gotta tough out this slump I think, and hope TOM is on one of it's short cycle months.

Angela

Angela, hang in there! WOW! You have already lost 35 lbs. We all have days where the eating seems to get out of control. Just say no and get back OP tomorrow. We all know how finicky TOM can be. Sometimes I have cramps for weeks before he comes, and others I feel nothing and he just shows up. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you.

That was a smart idea you had with the cupcakes. I'll have to try that. I also have no control when there is anything sweet lying around.

Lisa

Hi Ladies I ahve to make thisn quick b/c dinners in the oven and I ahve to make some Barley!
Frouf WHAT a DEAL!
Angela you're a saint if i was baking I'd have to eat
Hi Deborah!
Kathy have you tried an online grocer?
Hi Vickie
My brain is pudding from work and a one hour online orientation followed by a one hour sexual harrassment seminar online DEAR GOD!
I will try to bbl tonight or early tommorrow
Now i found out I can secretly use the puter at work one of my colleagues gave me the skinny

Angela, don't you just hate that darned TOM? Mine is almost gone but boy I have been an eating machine. Haven't gone over my points but geesh!

Frouf, sorry your still not feeling well. I'm not 100% but gotta keep going! Sounds like you had fun shopping though. If I were you, I'd go ahead an plan my trip. You sound like you really need it, with or without your GF!

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, and am really enjoying all your posts. I have a quick question regarding following the Core plan. I joined online, so do not have access to all the materials I would imagine are available at the meetings. I printed out the list of 'allowable' foods, and I am trying to figure out what's not on there? The only things I see missing are chicken skin, most bread, potatos, 'white' pasta and sugar. Maybe I'm missing something, but I am trying to figure out how I will lose weight on this? Thanks for all your help!

Welcome, Laurie! I'm doing on-line only also so I can't be of much help. Most of the ladies here do go to meetings so they should be able to offer some guidance. There are some links somewhere to other websites that have some pretty good information. I think on the WW official site, on the WPA forum, there are some links to a site called Kippy's hard core info (or something to that general effect ) and I recall there is an actual post entitled what is not considered Core. Of course, nothing is "forbidden" if you have the points for it, right? Off the top of my head, white rice, all variations of Cool Whip, FF cream cheese, and nuts are not considered Core. Again, welcome! You'll get lots of help and support here!

Froufie, I'm glad you took a much-needed "me" day yesterday and enjoyed your shopping trip. I think you should go ahead and make your reservations for Mexico, with or without your girlfriend. It does sound as though she has a lot going on right now and might not be able to join you. After all the snow and ice you've been getting, you need some warm sunshine!

Kathy, how goes the quest for your tea?

Kierie, it's good to see you again. I'm glad someone at work showed you how to get on-line ... it's a good way to fill those idle moments, right? Everyone knows we would NEVER not do our work just to visit with our buddies here on the Core board!

Laurie, one other thing. Potatoes are permitted on Core once daily but only if you haven't already eaten rice or whole wheat pasta, I think. I believe the rule is potatoes, rice, or a whole wheat pasta once per day. I'm only starting my 3rd week so this is good review for me too.