[summer8386]

GOOD MORNING LADIES.......RISE AND SHINE!!!!!!

I am sending POSITIVE {{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}} your way so you all can have a great day. Come on, you CAN do it!!!!

I am so thrilled that I am back in leeway. For 3 days, I really struggled to take control of my eating. I always do well when I cut back on the carbs and eat more protein, lean meats and green vegies....but as we all know, getting away from those carbs, ie starches and sweets, is easier said than done. I had to really restrain myself after meeting so that I didn't come home to celebrate my victory and I did fairly well.

Mickey, I saw your post on the other thread and you sound a lot like me. As you can see by what I posted above, I have to eat a lot of protein and vegies to subdue those carb cravings. It usually takes me 2 to 3 days for the cravings to start going away.....the hanging in part is the hardest and at times I feel like I want to 'kill' for the sweets. You might want to try what I suggested, but you do need to give it a chance. Know that I sympathize with you.....

Sherri, so glad to hear that you are back on track. Now, when you are out of town today, don't forget to eat sensibly and that your weigh-in is tonight. Remember that butt...it's gonna keep shrinking....or I'll kick you in it.

Christie, Come on sister, I need some company in the KOPS korner!!!! You are so close and I want to pop the cork on my carbinated water bottle to help you celebrate soon!!!

Eleni, how are you??? Your ears should be burning with all the good thoughts I'm sending your way. Remember that story of the lady (I told you all about from my rally), that crawled up on stage to accept an award vowing that she was going to lose weight so she could just walk again. All the 'little bits' add up to wonderful losses. vibes, vibes, vibes.....

CoCo, What a great loss!!!! Did you know that TOPS has a 'half way to goal' charm???? See if your chapter has one if you are interested. I like the 'old' Aerosmith myself....keep striding and a rockin'!!!!! What eating plan are you following? any helpful tips you can pass along to all of us here?????

I know there are some newbies on the board that I am missing. A HUGE WELCOME to you all. Keep coming back so we get to know you.....giving you support.....and in turn, you helping the rest of us too.

For those that haven't posted for awhile, come back!! We miss you!!!! Cbabe and jinky, are you out there???? Jinky, I really miss hearing from another KOPS. Come help us out!

O.K., those {{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}} are still going out, so have a wonderful, healthy day. Look forward to hearing how you're all doing!!!! Don't forget to get that water in too!!

TOPS Hugs,
Summer

[Eleni]

Good morning--- Summer you have done a really great job. I do think about that lady and many others often. That's what keeps me trying. It does not look like the slim fast is going to work. I will find out tonight but my scales show no loss and I can always use them to know what my weight will be. It looks like it will be close to just get a turtle. So I will try something else starting tomorrow. Round and round we go. Over and over again.
It is good to see the board more active. It is great to hear from you all. Have to run as I will be late for work. Hope you all have a great day

[Christian]

Summer- Thanks for the good vibes lady!!!! I needed them, And dont you put that water up yet cause I am determined to get that status back by next week, thanks for the encouragment....oh and Great job on being back in lee way!!!!!!

Sherri- I am so glad your throat is feeling better I tried to get ahold of you all day on and off yesterday to check on ya, And I am so proud of you getting in all that walking YOU GO GIRL!!!
Oh and yes I am still OP, Dont know if it will help much at this weigh in but it will show up soon I am sure of it!

Mickey- I just know you will come back out of this slump, we all hit these periods in this journey where that kid of stuff happens, the important thing it to just keep going and take it one day at a time, What you do today can be another step in the right direction,,, we are here for you

Coco- Again WAY TO GO!!!!

Eleni- keep trying girlfriend, I know you will find the right plan to fit you, you may want to try the lower carb that Summer does.... It works great, but whatever you do know that we are still here and we love ya

and I am with summer on missing people, JINKY??? POOHQUILT??? STEPHMNS? MOTIVATION?? SHELLY? and many others, we sure miss you guys!!!

[flatlander]

What a great way to start a post! Positive {{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}}back atcha one and all.

I am loosely following the diabetic diet. VERY similar to the TOPS exchange program. Big changes I made include no hamburger or wieners and really upping my veggie portions.

Switches I have made include Cheerio Snack mix (Nacho or BBQ) instead of chips, York peppermint bites instead of a chocolate bar, Angel Food cake or Low Fat brownies instead of cake

Tricks- buying full fat oil and vinegar based salad dressings and pouring off all the fat.

Grocery day I buy family pack meats and weigh 4-5 ounce portions and wrap and freeze them individually. I do this with cooked Pasta as well. I store them in a plastic box in the freezer marked Mom's Diet. This way it is a snap to assemble a dinner. Meat, carb and fresh veggie. Voila, dinner is served with minimum of hassle and dirty dishes.
I lo carb only when on a plateau and only for a day or two, I just gotta have my carbs.
If I am REALLY hungry, I mean REALLY hungry, I turn to potatoes. 3 cups of frozen hash browns, 1/2 can reduced fat mushroom soup and water into a casserole, little cheese on top, pop into the oven for about an hour and it is mine, all mine.
I also am pretty faithful to my workouts. Joyce Vedral's Bottoms Up! (the gut buster is a killer, but man you see results fast!) and aerobics (treadmill, bike, walk) everyday.

What are you guys doing?

Go confidently in the way of your dreams.
- Henry D. Thoreau

Coco

[Mickey]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I really appreciate everyone's thoughts.

I weigh in tonight! Just hope I don't break the scales!

Summer, I am going to take your tip. I'll let you know how it works for me!

I will try to work in exercise today. Someone once told me that if you say you don't find the time to exercise that's not planning that's accidental! You must make time, that's planning! SO I will MAKE time to exercise today.

There is no failure until you fail to keep trying! Guess all those good vibes reached TX.

Busy day, must go.

Micky

[lady06498]

Hey all,

There is so many positive (((((((VIBES))))))) here today. It is great to hear everyone so up beat. The boards haven't been this upbeat in a long time. It is great to see so many people back posting and doing great.

First off,

Coco congratulations on the big loss this week. You are doing so great. And just think 1/2 way to goal or more is wonderful. I can tell you are so pumped now. See you can do it and so can't I. I can't wait until I can say those words to that I am 1/2 way to goal. It won't be long if I keep up with the way I am going. Keep up the great work I am proud of you for all your efforts. Keep the tips and recipes coming. I know we all love them.

Summer,

What can I say woman. You did it. I knew you could do it I had faith in you when you didn't have faith in yourself. I said a prayer or two for you in hopes it would work. Now please continue on this great path so you don't scare me to death again about losing your status. You know what to do and you proved it this week. Just think you accomplished that in only 3 days of really trying hard. See what a few weeks could get you. Keep up the great work and don't forget your workouts. Use it as a way to blow off all the stresses in your life that you have to deal with. I am so proud of you I am smiling so big for you. Here is a big TOPS hug for you. Keep up the great work and you WILL have a loss next week to. Stay away from the carbs though.

As for me I did great today and I am very proud of myself for it. I did go out to lunch with my boss today but all I got was a tossed salad and that was it. No chef salad for me. Then I had an apple muffin. So that was lunch and I had my oatmeal for breakfast. I did make myself walk this afternoon. I had to go by myself and I almost didn't go but then I reminded myself that my butt was getting smaller so I said I have to go if I am going to lose this weight. I was glad I went. It was nice out today. Warmer this afternoon then it was this morning for sure. It was only in the 30's this morning so at least I had warmer weather to walk to. My sister is going to be back walking with me in the morning but then I am on my own for the weekend again. It is nice walking alone though with no music or anything. I walk around the block in my neighborhood and I think of all the great times I had there when I was growing up. Remembering things that happened in different places along my path. Like this one road that is lined with trees on both sides. When we were little we had a tree house in 2 different trees on that road. So it was nice to reminisce. It made me feel good. And it made me stop and think without anything else going on. It is relaxing for sure. I don't know how I will do when the real cold weather strikes but I am going to keep going as long as I can. I won't walk in the rain though like some people can. I don't want to end up sick.LOL I hope I have another loss tonight. But I did have some things I shouldn't have had over the week but overall I did good. So hopefully I won't gain. If I do then I can tell myself that I don't have anyone to blame but me for it. I am the one that ate the tacos and the ice cream. Next week will be better for sure.

Christie,

I am glad to hear that you have still been on plan. I was here for most of the day yesterday but to go to an appt. so you must have called then. Sorry I missed your call. I just love chatting with you. We could talk all day. Boy do I wish that we all lived closer. You imagine what kind of a group we would all make together. It would be awesome.
Keep going girl the KOPS status is right around the next corner. If not tonight then next week for sure.

Lara,

Glad to see you are posting again. Where have you been and how is the little one doing? Are you still sick from the pregnancy. We have a girl that is pregnant in our group to. So it is exciting. I hope all is well and you are eating healthy and not overdoing it. Just remember the more healthy you eat now the less you have to take off after the baby is born. You can do this. I know you can.

Micky,

I am sure you won't break the scales. As long as you eat healthy and exercise you will start losing. I agree with you 100% about the making time for exercise. In todays society we never have time for anything. It is sad. We are always rushing around from here to there and 1/2 the time we don't even know what we did for the day. So if we are going to do anything for ourselves then we have to make time for it. We have to schedule in things for us. Like your exercise. I find that if I do it first thing before I get dressed for the day after I eat my breakfast then I do it longer. But if I wait until night or the afternoon you can forget it. I usually don't do it at all. We make all types of excuses like we are too busy or too tired. If we have to then set your alarms earlier so that you get up 30 min earlier so you can exercise. Once you get into a routine it won't be any problem getting up and doing it. Plus it gives you so much more energy for the day if you do it first thing then it is out of the way to other things. But it is the same for anything that we are adding in to our lives that we want to do. We plan for everything else so why not this. Good luck with fitting exercise into your daily routine. It really does make a difference.

Eleni,

Hey you I didn't forget you. Thanks for the call today. Sorry I wasn't here to get it. I was with my boss today in Vermont. I was home by 2 today so that wasn't bad. We actually got back into town around 12:30 or so and he treated for lunch.
I made a new goal for myself. How about this the next time I see you (this coming summer) I will be at my goal. We are planning on coming back down to florida to stay at the same place probably that we did last time. It was very nice and we all loved it. Then I can go to your meeting with you again but be thinner this time.
Remember what you told me about jumping around with plans. I am sorry that the slim fast isn't working but you will know for sure tonight right? I am sure you will do fine. You have to remember that you have a lot of obsticalse in your way also with your medications and all. Have you given any thought about seeing a nutritionalist. I know that most insurance policies cover them nowadays. Especially if your doctor refers you. It might help you to get headed in the right direction. Do what you knew to work in the past and do that. You can do this. I know you are getting so frustrated and I can feel for you. I was there myself but my health wasn't in danger like yours is. That is why I am so concerned for you. I really hope you have a loss this week. If you don't PLEASE don't give up you can do this and you are doing the right things and really trying. I am sure you will have a loss this week. Let us all know.

I am going to get out of here to get my husband dinner so I can go to my meeting. I am not eating tonight before meeting because I need all the help I can get to have a loss this week.

Take care and I will check in later with the results. I hope they are good ones.

Sherri

[Christian]

Sorry guys but I seem to have went up in the wrong direction, I am up 1 1/2 and now am at 149, So I hated to break up the good vibes if you know what I mean... I wont give up though and I am working as hard as possible to get the weight off and adding exercise too, Hope you all had better news.... BIG TOPS HUGS TO YOU ALL

[Eleni]

Hi guys, I managed to squeak out a 1/4# loss. I am not going to continue with the slim fast. Will start something different tomorrow. Going back to trying to control portions and doing some exercising. Drinking meals is just not for me.

[lady06498]

Well christie,

I am with you unfortunately. I had a gain tonight to 2 3/4 lb at that. I ate my way through tonight but I am starting fresh in the morning. I already looked up my food chart to see what I ate. So I am going to duplicate that week and do better and lose what I gained this week. I am not giving up either. I am going to start putting a 1 lb weight on each leg while walking and see what that does for me. Maybe I won't be able to walk we will see. I am going to try it tomorrow. Maybe I can burn more calories that way.LOL

Eleni,

Way to go. I knew you could do it. Glad to hear you are giving up the slim fast. It is much better to chew your meals you get more satisfaction from that I think. Plus it lasts longer. I think that is a great accomplishment. You are working hard keep up the great work.

I am out of here. I am going to bed in hopes for a better tomorrow. I am going to keep reminding myself that tomorrow I weigh in so that hopefully I can stay on track.

Sherri