Marie, yea, it is humid during the monsoon season, and other times as well.

I love diet coke. Gave it up, but every now and then crave it.

Good night, all. Just popped back on for a second.

1250 calories, 12.7 carb ser. It was a good day and I had no problem with my eating. I practiced the tools from the book I'm reading which goes so nicely with my usual approach. This afternoon I was feeling a little discouraged about something and I decided to make popcorn. Dh was working outside so had no one to share with and normally under those circmstances, I would eat the whole bag (250 calories). I immediately knew I was eating for emotional reasons. Even one serv was really too much for that time of day for me (I'd already had a mocha!), so I started exploring my feelings and realized why I felt the way I did and the negative belief behind it. Unfortunately all the time I was doing this I was eating the popcorn! So not exactly the way you're supposed to do it! But I quickly realized what I needed to know, and to my surprised realized I was feeling very full and had only eaten 1/3 of the bag and only got a little over 80 calories. So I put away the bag and didn't eat anymore without problem! So this exercise really does work.

I love Coke/Pepsi...switched to diet several years ago...thought I'd never get to like it but I did and I drank a lot. About 5 years ago we decided not to keep it at home. Bad for the bones and at the time my bones weren't good. Now we only drink it in restaurants although sometimes at fast food places, dh will refill the cup and bring some home to share at another meal.

You're all doing well!!

Mary about following the book's advice to explore your feelings why you want to eat while munching on the popcorn. That is so what I'd be doing!!!!! Good job on your cals and carbs.

Yesterday ended at 1658 cals and I did 40 minutes of the dancing game again. I think I've killed my shoulder and was up a bunch of last night. My right arm was in pain and falling asleep. It still feels weird. I'm thinking it was because of the nasty allergy shots in that arm as well. Regardless, no dancing today. I'll either bike or elliptical. Calories are not on track to be within range. I have my friend's ten and twelve year old until Sunday morning and eating is a fun pastime with kids. See Marie rationalize...
Marie

Huzzah, I was just on the GG thread and discussing one of the readings Maryea posted. Thanks for those posts, Maryea. Good job on the popcorn.

Popcorn is a disaster for me, I just can't eat it, can't stop. Have to face the fact that it is a diet killer for me.

Marie, hope your arm got better or that you went to the doctor to get it checked out.

Ended my eating day at 1610, was happy with that. Followed my new rule about planning food for days I work meetings and the planning helped. I was careful to take a protein shake in the cooler and drink just before the meeting tonight and so had better control all evening.

Exercise was walking and a little standing pilates.

Have a good day, everyone.

1620 calories and 13 carb serv. Not terrible but remember I'm really supposed to have only 9-10 to lose weight or 12 to maintain. But since I count calories I tend to allow myself 12. I think my dh is beginning to realize how difficult it is for me. He can have 15 carb serv and also doesn't have as large an appetite as I do. Plus he really doesn't count his carbs that closely and occaisonally he does go over and has high bs but mostly his bs is on the lower side. What saves him mostly is his lack of appetite. He simply doensn't eat much.
Today he watched me trying so hard to be careful and didn't say anything (he just thinks it's my poor will power), but tonight he said how can anyone get along on 9-10 (he knows this what I'm REALLY supposed to stick to). I told him you can but you basically can only eat the healthy foods and only one snack a day. Rie is a good example of how to do it. So I know it can be done, but for me it sure isn't easy even sticking to 12. Today I messed up again by having two snacks this aft Started with just 1/2 serv of mocha which believe me is almost nothing, then thought 1 serv of popcorn would be ok..should have checked...dh didn't want much so I ended up eating 1 1/3 serv and that was too much. Gotta be thinking all the time...

Marie - Hope your arm is better today. Did you forget you're in the over 50 crowd now and still trying to dance like a teenager?

Marie, I often change my food plan when I do one, too. I put the items in My Net Diary and end up changing it but it does help me on busy days.

Glad your arm is better. Woot!

Maryea, you are doing great! I could not stick to that carb level, although our calories are similiar. I should look at my carbs and see how I am doing.

I do tend to favor protein and I watch that on my tracker, that I am getting enough.

It is RAINING (YAY). My yard is a lake with an ocotillo moat in the center.

Exercise was a 70 minute walk, with 5 min of standing pilates, which is helping me a lot, going to step up the pilates next week.

Ending eating day at 1560, have to work some more this evening. Huzzah, all! Good night!

Woot! Lost a pound and am back in the 130s! Happy day!

Ending eating day at 1550, exercise was 60 min walk, 15 min yogalates, 15 min jog, early this morning.

Have a good week, all!

Hello Girls!

I hope you don't mind me dropping in after my long absence. My dog has been keeping me very busy, especially in the middle of the night. It turns out at least part of her problems are due to bladder stones and she was in a lot of pain and of course potty issues and it was totally wearing her out (and me!). I pretty much figured she was dying for awhile there but we put her on a special diet and she seems to be getting much better now. Phew. So hopefully I have time and energy for fun things like 3fatchicks again. I had been all out of whack with my exercise schedule and was picking up some old bad habits to boot but I am doing better lately although I have lots of things to work on. I just finished reading The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman and I am very interested in trying to implement some of his ideas. I am not diabetic but I saw him on PBS one night and really liked him. Today has not been so great but I know you will all help get me back on track. I just wish I could get myself to give away the homemade cookies in my freezer. They are soooo good though. (I ate five after work today!!!!!!)

Huzzah, nice to see ye Terapet! Woot! My cat had kidney stones and a diet cleared it up also. Amazing how much the right food helps. I've read Mark Hyman's Blood Sugar Solution. I like all his books. I am not diabetic but also like his ideas.

Marie, lol, I like complex carbs also. I have had to ban donuts while I am on this "diet" to 125. I may have to come to terms with the fact that I can never eat donuts again. My bro has told me never to eat donuts again. He is adamantly a low glycemic eater and worries about me, but since I have lost more than 100 pounds and more or less kept it off for decades, I just tell him I know what I am doing. I am very fond of my bro lol.

I used to have that guilt magnifying thing you describe about being off track diet wise. Diet is important to me. I am NOT ever going back up that major weight gain ladder so I do focus on it a lot, but I don't mind. It is my hobby lol. So I think I don't feel that guilt thing much. Until recently I was a little frustrated at the 20 pounds or so I wanted to re-lose and how I couldn't seem to put in the effort needed to get the job done. I was working on it but holding back. Sort of a Frost thing: "Something we were withholding made us weak."

I think it helps to have a reason why one wants to lose smaller amounts of weight when technically one's weight is within normal parameters. For me it is because I was obese in the past so I am aware that it can come back, plus I am aging (NOT ... well a little lol) and things don't work as well in the bod yet I still desire to live the active life I always have, so I need to exercise a lot to manage weight, stress, and stay active because if I lie on the coach all day, I rust. So exercise includes weight bearing things and for that my joints think keeping the pounds off is helpful to lessen impact.

Anyhow, sorry for the ramble. Ended eating day at 1560 and my streakity is:

MONDAY: July 16, 2012, Day 295 of streakity streak of no day missed of daily exercise, 15 min weights, 15 min jog, 60 min walk, (music: Island Jams/Jimmy & the Parrots; 50’s Hits/Biggest Loser Workout Mix), total streakity streak minutes so far 22,270 (Previous: 288 consecutive days of exercise, 18000 exercise minutes!)

Marie, for me weight training is essential but I haven't been as diligent as I used to be for awhile, mostly because of just being burnt out with it and joint pain, etc., etc.

Weight training per se helps build bone and prevent osteoporosis, so I am told, but I'm not sure that is true, given the extent of the arm injury I had two years ago.

Also if I gave the impression I think weight training helps with joints, I'm sorry, didn't mean to imply that. It makes muscles grow, improves the metabolism, fights depression (for most people), makes one lose inches but maybe gain weight in the early stages and then lose MORE weight, but it can be hard on joints, actually.

I've lifted weights for decades and can't imagine that I will ever stop doing it, but there are lots of ways to strength train without weights. Pilates is one, although people don't realize it has some similiar benefits. Bodyweight workouts are awesome.

I have been missing the mojo for some time, though, am doing two short sessions a week for awhile and subbing other stuff.

My streakity was a 75 min walk and 5 min of standing pilates. Was an active day, though, SO hoping for a loss this week so I'll stay in the 130s.

Ending eating day at 1495. Had two moderate to high days so need to kick back today.

I spent half a day playing with spark recipes and doing makeovers that I might plug into My Net Diary. I need to expand my preplanned "diet" meal repertoire.

Marie, I have a bunch of the running and walking apps. I think they are so fun. I don't know how I ever exercised without all this stuff lol.

I love all this conversing about exercise. I am a huge fan of strength training. I concur with the many health benefits. For whatever reason, it helps a ton with my back pain. Without my classes, I am a mess. I find that form is very, very important though and I learned that from pilates. My usual MO is to attend twice a week body strength classes at the Y. In fact, I was there tonight. My Thursday night instructor is killer. Marie, I believe yoga is a great way to get in strength training also. It is just the body strength classes are more convenient for me and I am used to doing those.

I finished those awful and wonderful cookies today so at least they are gone. Unfortunately, the reason they are gone is because I ate them all (written with a satisfied smirk on my face). I have not been counting calories lately but I have not gained any weight lately either. I eat a lot less meat than I used to and I think it must make room for my many dietary indiscretions. I need to get serious though if I want to lose weight. I mostly eat fruits and vegetables but I also had cheese, nuts, seeds and tunafish for protein today.

Marie-when is your birthday? Do you have some fun plans in mind?

AM-wow, 256 days of exercise. That is impressive. Congrats on reaching the 130s. What a lovely number.