I think I got it right this week.

Aren't decimal scales great ? I'm using the fractions to my advantage. The 133 is really 133.6 but that doesn't register with the HTML code .

My DH is going to quit his job today (he says) and I have the week from **** starting this morning. I'm very determined to stay OP but don't know how much time and energy I'll have to post here. Will try to keep up

Dagmar

Morning!

Morning,

On my way to Memphis this week. Will post sometime later.

Good morning, although barely!

It's so cold in my office that my fingers are blue. I know I have poor circulation, but this is ridiculous. Why, oh why, (a) is this building designed so that one thermostat controls the temperature in 5 offices, and (b) are all the offices with thermostats occupied by Scandinavians?

The solution, clearly, is more coffee. Off I go...

Kim

I think shivering uses calories ???

Good morning!

It was a chilly 63 degrees this morning when I got up. Thankfully I bought a long sleeved shirt for running! Being a desert rat, I'm not used to temps this cool!!! I had my 2 cups of coffee this morning, but I'm craving more. Let's see....where is the closest Starbucks?

Today is the start of Operation Two Pounds! (Actually, with my off-plan days last week, I think it might be Operation Three Pounds now). I've picked out some of my lowest calorie dinners, I'm going to cut out the cheating--no more extra, unmeasured handfuls of cereal and other food that isn't counted, and I'm finally going to lose the last few pounds to get to my goal.

Dagmar--On cooking the polenta in the oven, the recipe I have says to use 3 1/4 parts liquid to 1 part polenta (so if you are making 1 cup of polenta, use 3 1/4 cups water, chicken broth, or milk). I'm usually a little generous with the liquid, so I probably use at least 3 1/2 parts liquid, more (sometimes a lot more) if I want it to be soft. Add about 1 tsp salt for every 1 cup of polenta. I also will toss in other spices like basil, oregano, or a bay leaf. Fresh rosemary might be good too (you could just throw in the whole springs and then dig them out when it is done). This week I am going to try saffron in it. When it is done cooking, you can stir in a little butter, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or nonfat cream cheese (not all four, just one of these) if you want to add a little more flavor to it (sometimes I do this and sometimes I just eat it plain). I find that 1/2 cup of polenta is plenty for four servings (and is about 70 calories per serving if made with water or chicken broth). Cook it at 350 in a covered casserole dish. Last week I cooked 1/2 a cup of polenta and it was done in about 30 minutes (if you are cooking larger amounts, it will take a longer). BTW--I also cook rice this way (although I start the rice on the stove first and stick it in the pre-heated oven once it boils). When I cook rice on the stove, it always sticks to the pan and this isn't a problem when I cook it in the oven.

Kaw--Now that I'm just a few pounds over goal, I find that I am always cold at temperatures where other people are comfortable. I was at a business even recently where the air conditioning wasn't working and I guess everyone else was really hot, people were fanning themselves and complaining, but I was just comfortable. I think I even put my sweater on for a little while.

Dagmar

So my DH gave his notice today after TWO YEARS of whining, planning, speculating, etc. Did I mention the whining?

And he's not doing a happy dance this evening. Still whining in fact. So, after a 12 hour day I'm curling up with the computer and the 3FC gang instead of the cookies and ice cream. This is a whining-free zone!

Dinner time and then back to my lair. Barbara, thanks for the polenta recipe. I will try it next week when I have some time to cook real food. Tonite frozen lasagna, salad from a bag, and whole grain rolls.

Later gals

Dagmar

Hi everyone!

Dagmar... wow. That's pretty major news about your DH's job! I hope he will be more relaxed now that he knows he's moving on. Does he know what he's going to do next, or is that part of the stress?

Sounds like most of you are having fall weather... we were, but then the heat and humidity cranked up for the weekend. Today was gorgeous though, and I got in a short (but intense because it was with a very fast friend) ride.

Hope everyone has a good week!

ps. Barbara - good luck with your plan this week. You can do it!

Hello All,

I made it to Memphis. Seems ok for now. I got here late so had a salad for dinner from a fast food joint. Of course I couldn't resist the small fries on the side. One day I'll be able to stop doing stuff like that.

Anywhoo, Dagmar, sorry to hear of your whining misery. It is definitely hard to be around someone who doesn't know how to be up beat. Hang in there. Hopefully his next job will make him happier.

Barbara, I know what you mean about the cold thing. Since I've lost weight I am constantly cold. I walk around with a sweater even in 80 degree weather because the minute I get in doors I am freezing in the AC. One thing that cracked me up....I was at one of my sites in Florida this spring and I mentioned to one of the ladies that I was cold. She turns to me and says "well if you had a little meat on your bones you might not be so cold". So you know I was howling inside. I mean I just took the meat off my bones. I just can't win.

Claire - glad you had a good ride. Sometimes having someone who is just a little faster than you is a great motivator for a good workout. I would love to take up riding. Do you street ride or mountain bike?

Whittlin Dieting is all about planning, yes? If you constantly have to change your routine/locale then the planning is all that much harder. And if there are other people involved (having to eat lunch at a restaurant after the appointment you mention) then harder still. Can you get the people you have to transport/care for to give you their appointments in advance? That way you can try to find eating spots nearby whose menus you can check out on the internet. Or maybe you can pack a lunch if you know which days you will have to leave your "planning zone"?

I'm very lucky in that I control breakfast and lunch every day. Dinner and whatever DH brings home from the grocery store on his own are a different story. He can never tell me quite what time he will arrive, so I just plan for a time and he has to reheat if he's late.

I think you have to take control of your own schedule and ask people to conform to it as much as possible. It's hard to say no - believe me I regret not doing so for this week - but it can be done.

Dagmar

Good morning!
Duty calls and I'm off to work today.
Nobody looks at me funny any more when I do a couple squats or tricep things at work.

Morning everyone! It's another bright and sunny day here in the middle of nowhere, NY. We're supposed to be up in the high 80s today (F), but then below freezing tonight. Dressing for the bus stop can be a challenge this time of year!

Barbara: I have perpetually cold hands and feet, which comes in handy when I need to roust DH out of bed in the morning but otherwise is a bit unpleasant. I imagine this winter I'll live with a little space heater in my office, hands in fingerless gloves.

(I like Operation Two Pounds, by the way. It sounds so official!)

rswlchic. I hear you about the winning for losing. I was whinging about my cold fingers to a colleague yesterday and she said, "well, what do you expect without any body fat." So much for sympathy from those quarters!

Susan: LOL with the air exercises. I do lunges in my office sometimes, as a break from staring at the computer. I have my own office with a closing door, so the people who work in my building don't get much of a view. The administrators in the building across the street and the students walking along the sidewalk can see me, though, and I'm sure they get a giggle or two out of seeing this head bobbing up and down at regular intervals. Oh well, more giggles in the world are a good thing.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Kim

PS. Down another pound this morning, to 134. Need to boost calories some more, I guess.