AWRIGHT...I lost 1.8 pounds..that calls for a dancing carrot icon. Let's see if I can do it

I had really hoped for more, but I'm celebrating....not too much, just enough. But, oh my goodness, I want those enchiladas Sandra cooked for us all.

Actually, tomorrow we're going to try out a new up-scale Mexican restaurant...of course, "up scale" and "Mexican" don't go together for most Texans but it's so difficult to get good Mexican food here that we're willing to try almost anything.

kathy, i hope tomorrow's a better day for you.

rhonda, congratulations!!! that's a great loss. you are on your way. (i don't have a clue what this is dancing, but i think it's cute.) i didn't eat any of those enchiladas either. i had a lean cuisine one instead. that way i knew exactly how many pts.

No, Rhonda ... I can believe upscale Mexican! For instance...

Blue Mesa
Abuelos

It's not all El Chico anymore!

I have really had a rough couple of days. I am down and maintaining my 141, still eating pretty much all day, but feel just totally lost! I can't figure out why! Maybe I'm subconsciously wanting to gain so that I can get back in the losing mode! Who knows?

So even though I'm technically "there", I still feel odd. I really must sit down and examine these feelings thoroughly so that I understand them. My WW goal was 145 which was passed long ago, but my personal goal is 135 and I can't seem to get there for some reason.

Oh sure, Kathy...I know those places but I bet they serve free chips and salsa. This new place is proud of the fact that it doesn't!!! Which is good, isn't it. Last I checked those chips are just NO NO's regardless of how much exercise you might do! Nothing "core" about them!

I'm interested to hear about your feeling "lost." Not to diminish your feelings but I'll be glad to get to that point!!!

Hey Chicks! I'm home and TIRED. We lost the game in extra innings. I'm sad. I had my Kosher and it was fabulous. We left at 11:15 and didn't get home until 5:50. We were home for 10 minutes and left for dinner. We didn't get home from dinner until 8:00. Lordy...it was a long day.

Stacey, great job today by the Yankees. Too bad we didn't do our job. BTW, I guess I'm a Yankee fan for at least 3 more games. I hear that you'll be playing Minnesota next. We may be fighting them for the wild card. Will you see what you can do to get them off our tails? Thanks in advance!

I'll be back in the morning to catch up.

Rhonda, Blue Mesa has sweet potato chips. I consider that to be Core ... sorta like the Terra Chips. Do you have Terra Chips in your area? Anyway, you should try to swing by Blue Mesa when you're here. There's one in Fort Worth on University just south of I-20 (near the zoo) and then there's one in Southlake (actually Grapevine, but on the line). It is very, VERY good. We had our rehearsal dinner there and they did a great job considering we had a little over 100 people to feed.

Vickie, glad you enjoyed the game! I'm going this weekend, and it'll probably be my last. I usually go to at least 10-12 games per season and this year I've only been to 4. Not good! Of course, I've watched them all on TV, but it's just not the same.

Oh and Rhonda, I'm still studying the psychology of why I feel lost. It seems as though I purposely sabotage myself just to stay in the "losing" mode. I really must figure this out soon.

Judd and his friend went to ride their mountain bikes tonight, and when they were done they called me to meet them at a seafood restaurant on the lake. I just got back; only had a little to eat and brought the rest of it home. I'm sure someone will eat it. Tomorrow I'll try to stick very close to the plan and also drink a lot of water. I think I have a lot of "ick" to flush out.

Good too early morning Chicks!

I think I tried to go to bed too soon after inhaling a big spicy and garlicky meal. I let myself get over hungry. That, the spicy food, and my hormones have conspired to make it NOT a good sleep. You know they tell us old girlies to give up the spicy food, but I love it so! Anyway...here I sit with my tummy aching. Thank God that I have nothing on my schedule today and I do not have to work. I had thoughts of starting to clean my house. That might have just gone out the window.

I'm going to see what you were all up to last night.

Rhonda, do you know who did the study on Alzheimer's or do you have a link to the article? Mom died of Alzheimer's and my Sister and I are pretty rabid about doing whatever is in our control to avoid getting it. Was one kind of fruit or juice better than another? I guess I'll have to risk the bugs in the blueberries again? You probably don't know but I found a huge bug in my blueberries after I had been eating them for a while. I only wash what I'm using....usually. I won't be doing that again! But, more importantly, on your 1.8 pound loss. I was disappointed with my loss too but if we lose that every week.....well it would be grand! Keep up the great work!

Patti, safe trip! Enjoy your DD's. I know you miss them a lot. I'll behave but you know the rest of them are just always out of control!

Ohhh Sandra, WW used to make an enchilada suize that I loved. It was very spicy and good. I wonder if they still make it. It probably is nearly Core and wouldn't be bad for a rare emergency. Hmmm.....I just realized that maybe my tummy is sick from the kosher. It's not used to having that kind of food in it. I hope you still lose today. My Leader says that we need to learn to minimize the damage and only lose control for a meal or a day and not go on a slide. It sounds like you are getting better at that. I'm trying and doing pretty well to....now at least! Here's some blinks for good luck . I'm hoping that you won't need them. I'm not changing my weigh in day. It will still be Monday's but I can't go this Monday because it's Labor Day and my Center won't be open.

Frouf, I've lost exercise momentum myself because of my darned ankle. Sadly, it's still not ready yet which is why I'm thinking about cleaning. At least I'll be moving. I hope you did not go into a full blown migraine. I hope to never have another one of those again. So where exactly will you be on your cruise? It will be so much fun for you to pack and go enjoy yourself!

Kath, I think maybe once we all get to goal we will spend a lot of time in losing mode. I think that's just the reality of maintenance. Maybe trying to get to 135 is what is keeping you from going over 145. If that's what works for you then keep doing it. It's just too bad that you aren't enjoying 145 a bit more ! Just exactly what is the "ick" you need to flush out. Nevermind....I better not know. The thought of "ick" is upsetting my already upset tummy even more. I think I have "ick" too!

Well you all weren't very talkative yesterday. Perhaps this holiday weekend will be chattier.

What do you all have planned? We have nothing after Wicked tomorrow. Oh I am SO looking forward to that!

Sandra, I just posted a Core enchilada casserole recipe in our recipe thread. I'm not sure how it compares to the real thing since it uses polenta versus tortilla but it might be a nice compromise.

Ok...fine...so no one is here for me to talk to. I'm going to go eat my breakfast and try to start watching season three of 24. I'm supposed to be cleaning house but I don't want to.

BTW, my scale is up 1.2 pounds over yesterday. Darned salty kosher. I've got to pound water today! No way I ate that many calories.

Good Morning All:

OK, Blue Mesa it is going to be when we travel back to Texas!

The Alzheimers study was published in The American Journal of Medicine. I don't have the exact reference or link. I just got the abstract on a listserv that I'm on. I haven't checked Google but it might be there. The abstract was published and copyrighted by Agence France Presse. Perhaps they have a website.

It was conducted by professor Qi Dai of Vanderbilt University (Tennessee). They report that the active ingredient is thought to be the polyphenols, the antioxidants in juice, tea and wine. I am wondering if you wouldn't get the same benefits from eating the vegetables and fruits in their unprocessed state...raw, in other words. I've written to a friend of mine who might know and I'll report back.

Have a good day everyone. I off to Pilates and then to the new restaurant later for lunch.

good morning chickies,
In reading posts I realized I wasn't here yesterday. Come to think of it I pretty much wasn't anywhere. Work was lousy. Yesterday was one of those days I wish I didn't work for my brother. What is it with men, why are they so clueless to what's going on around them? Everyone was bit--ing and moaning about him and I just sit there listening depressed.

Then I spent my whole day after work as a cab service to my older DD and my DH. I wish his bike hadn't been stolen so I didn't have to get him to the train at 6:30 am and pick him up at 6:45 pm. I went shopping after work, stocked up on some core items including whole wheat egg noodles. As soon as I got back in the car, Nikki calls and asks if I can pick her up at the mall. Sure, no problem, I love my daughter. Drop the groceries, grab little DD and head to the mall. Come home. Sit for 3 minutes when Nikki says could you take me to my friends house? Sure, I love my daughter. DH calls to say he missed first 2 trains because he left his wallet at work and had to go back and won't be at the station until 7:35. No problem, I'll drop Nikki and sit at the station for 30 minutes waiting for you. Shockingly, he couldn't understand why I didn't want to cook dinner when I got home. Ahhhhhhhh, I feel so much better getting that out. Thank you all for being here. It does help alot. Even after that, I ate really well and only used 5 points.

Vickie, Go Yankees!!!! A-rod is coming out of his slump. Boston is sinking deeper into a hole and all is right in the world. If we're up against you in the playoffs I promise to be kind.

Rhonda, way to go! It doesn't matter how much just as long as its down. Even at my best, I usually only lose .4 to .8 a week.

Anyway, I guess I should do some work. Maybe we'll get out alittle early. I want to go to the craft store. The junior attorney in the office and his wife found out yesterday they are having a girl in January. I have alot of blankets, hats and sweaters to make. See ya all later.

Vickie, I hope you feel better by now! At least you have a really good day and meal to blame your tummy troubles on!

And you are so right. Maintenance is 10 times harder than losing was, in my opinion. I lost it fairly quickly; I think the first 15 were in the first month. Of course, it was gained mostly by inactivity (first broken foot in 2003), steroids and anti-inflammatories. When I got out of the cast, out of the wheelchair, could move my butt again, and could stop taking those meds, it started coming off in a hurry. I know my body probably wants to be here in the low 140s, but *I* want it to be in the mid 130s, and I'm in charge, so I will win.

My "ick" was actually just fried popcorn shrimp. I got it from the appetizer menu, only ate about half and took the rest home, but I still felt a little ick. It seems as though it doesn't take anything at all to throw my body off-track. For the last 3-4 days, my morning weight has been 141. This morning it was 144.8! Now, no way on EARTH did I eat 13,000-14,000 (yes, THOUSAND) calories extra, so I know that's not 3 or 4 pounds of actual fat, but it should not be on my scale! Period. End of story. I am so salt sensitive too and hate it! And now my goal for the next 3 days will to be to get back to 141 or hopefully below, so that on Monday when the 2x2 challenge is over, I will have had my 4 pound loss. I know we were shooting for 2 over the 2 weeks, but I started 2 up so have to lose 4 to report 2 gone. Clear as mud?

I'm only working 9 hours today -- I've got things to do tonight and just don't want to sit here for the usual 10-11, although there's plenty of work that I need to be doing.

Stacey, it sounds like buying your DH another bike would be cheaper than you driving back and forth to the bus station! Maybe not, but good Lord, that was a whole lot of taxi driving. If you're like me, the last thing I want to do after working all day is run everybody else around town. It's hard enough getting the cooking and cleaning and laundry and housework done each night in the few hours after work -- throw some taxi driving in there and the evening is shot!

Okay, gotta get busy now. It's a new month and I didn't get my monthly journal bound, so I have to go to Kinkos after work. They'll do the spiral (coil) binding for about $4. I'm putting two months together. This is my new cover. I used to make the cover from cardstock (like the one I sent you, Sandra) but now I have these very cute, shiny, professional covers! In with their free stuff sale, Vistaprint had large postcards that you could design. They are 8-1/2"x5-1/2", exactly the size of a half sheet of paper, so I made my journal pages, cut them in half, and then will use these for the cover. There were 50 per order, so I'll have them for quite a while. I thought they were pretty darn cute.