Well, I don't have to remember to water my veggies this week. Rain all day yesterday and today!

I had a good food and exercise weekend, after a little negative blip last week. Let's hope someday the scale follows...

Okay...here I go again.

I know I have gained. Again. I can feel it in my clothes, which means it is substantial. And I am tired of this roller-coaster of my own doing.

So...today at lunch, I plan on walking to the doctor's office up the street and weighing. Not only does it give me about 1/2 mile of walking, but it gives me a pretty accurate weight. And more importantly, it's what I did back in 2005 when I started my weight loss. (Well, actually it took a few months, since I couldn't do that hill between here and the doc's at 328 lbs.) Anyway, I'm tired of throwing good money after bad and I think I may quit WW. Not that I don't love the program, but I can be an on-line member for $12.50 a month or go to meetings for $40 a month, and clearly, meetings aren't helping a bit. I had hoped they'd motivate me, but it's been nearly 10 months and I haven't lost. So meetings don't help me and I have to try something new. In this case, new is old. I'm going to try very hard to go back to the way things were in the beginning.

In the beginning, I walked to the doc's every Friday and did WI. Friday was good, because we were more likely to have dinner out on Friday night and while we watched our weekly target points, we allowed ourselves ONE "free" meal a week, where we just didn't bother to count. In the beginning, I was always hungry...as I am now...and so I cooked large, vegetable filled meals like stir-fries to fill up. In the beginning, I didn't allow junkfood in the house. In the beginning, I made a concerted effort to drink my water. In the beginning, (once the weather was good as it is now) I parked and walked 1/2 mile to work and also walked the dog (now dogs) in the evening.

Not in the beginning, but I know I HAVE to, I'll try harder to get on the elliptical. But if I don't, I still have the walking. There's no reason I can't exercise. Even if I'm exhausted, I can still do yoga at home.

Tonight, I have to get off early and take DS to the ortho. When that's done, I'll take him home, force-feed him the donuts that remain in the house so they are gone , then I'll go to the store - again - and get GOOD HEALTHY FOODS to cook. I will walk at least one dog.

I have to do this. This weekend was an SCA event. I didn't do much. I sat around mostly (and had a wonderful time, but that's not the point.) Sunday I was so exhausted I nearly fell asleep in church and later in the day actually took a nap! I woke up feeling like someone had beaten me and I didn't do anything to make myself that tired. My goal of being "overweight" instead of "obese" wasn't enough. My goal of getting back into my smaller clothes by summer, wasn't enough, but my dream vacation has to be. I have to be healthier and in better shape. I don't want to be so tired and achey after a day of sight-seeing that I can't enjoy the next day. I have one year. That's a long time. I may never see myself under 200 lbs, but I can see my lazy hiney get slimmer, my joints get more limber and my energy level get higher.

Help me. Ask me if I exercised. Suggest easy-to-prepare, healthy meals. Remind me of how physical that vacation is going to be. Remind me of how tiny those airline seats are. I HAVE to stay focused.

Thanks! For listening, supporting and encouraging me and each other - you ladies are THE BEST! (And for putting up with me all these years. )

Lilion- Hugs first of all!! I understand how you feel.Its amazing to me how fast clothing can get tight but take forever to get loose!! I know weighing in at my drs office really helps me more than anything else. You have the tools to do this...its time to make yourself use them!! We will be here to kick your butt if you need it...
Now drink some water today at work !!!
hugs

The results are in!!!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Just taking a quick lunch break to check in.

Lilion - First off.... Secondly.... I know how you are feeling. I know how hard it is, we can all relate....and we are all here to encourage each other. You've asked for help and you will get it!

You've made your plans for today and you know what you need to do...and you CAN DO IT! Yes...yes, you can! You've done it. Yep...it's hard to get going again, it's hard to get back in the grove, but this is your life and you deserve to life it happy and healthy!!!!! One day at a time...lots of patience, commitment and determination! Let's do it...let's go!!!

I need to do better at preparing easy, healthy meals at home. One of my most difficult things is planning ahead and grocery shopping. A few of my lifesaver meals are:

- Jennie-o turker burger - cook it up in a skillet with spray, cut it up over a big salad. Last time I did this I made a "burger dressing" w/ a little olive oil mayo, mustard, ketchup and relish. It was delish.

-Ground turkey tacos. Yum. Easy on the shells and cheese....lots of lettuce and salsa.

- Purdue chicken breasts - I like to pound them thin and stuff with whatever...laughing cow cheese and sugar free preserves...ham and cheese. Just a little something to make them fun.

- Frozen Veggies that you steam in the microwave. Love these in a time crunch.

I would love to hear other quickie dinner ideas. For now I have to get back to work!

Barb

Thanks ladies! I did walk to the doctor's and weigh. And it wasn't pretty. Scale says I'm at 259 again. I WILL NOT SEE 260! I had a healthy breakfast and lunch and I have my healthy snack for later if I want it. Talked to DH and he agrees, we have to start all over. I always hate to cook when I get home, but it has to be done. He's home two days a week and those are his days to cook! The other days we'll work out. My DS has to start eating better too. We have a bad habit of letting him just have chicken nuggets or whatever, but at 14 he can start eating more veggies too. He may be skinny now, but it's not healthy.

Thanks for the ideas Barb. It's not that we don't buy healthy food, but we find it easy to fall into bad habits like eating out too much or ordering in. This weekend will be a bit of a challenge, since we won't have a kitchen because of the tile going down...but we'll figure something out. I think we'll move the microwave into the living room, so we'll at least have that.

So...one goal for the day done...WI. Probably the hardest too, since I didn't wear my tennies to work and that walk, even in my comfy flats, was unpleasant. I will WI again Friday and change my tracker then.

Lilion - what a tough post to write - do you feel better getting it out there? Hugs - a kick in the seat will be coming - right now I think you've done enough of that to yourself. Get through today and then tackle tomorrow. I try to plan a menu to make sure everything is in the house for the week - even if the days get switched up. This weeks list includes: shrimp stir fry, grilled chicken salad, steak, taco salad with 28g of baked tostitos and ground chicken, fish (always served with steamed cauliflower), and right now I can't pull the other two out of this ole Monday fried brain.

I'm with Barb - I love the steam in the bag veggies - they are a lifesaver. I always stock up.

Barb - love quick ideas - the chicken sounds wonderful - do you bake it?

What's everyone else do in their busy lives to keep dinner on schedule? Or for that matter other meals too?

OH my gosh...I think my arms and shoulders are broken.I raked and used a hoe on the garden area for 35 min.I could have never done that last year. I bet I wont be able to raise my arms tommorow.LOL
Hubby and I fight a battle every year..when to plant the garden.I was raised you didnt plant anything till May. His dad was always early with everything..so we have 3 tomato plants in the ground. He is planning on waiting to put the rest in till it warms up a bit.
My favorite quick meal is boneless skinless chicken breast marinaded in A1marinade and cooked on the george forman. I usually do a huge salad and cut them up on top.
We also do alot of pork loin chops, baked and roasted veggies.

Hi Ladies,

Before I write anything else let me say I truly hate to cook and when I'm being good, which is not often lately, my Foreman and my microwave are my lifesavers.

I got a flyer in the mail for a new WW Cookbook title is something like 15 Min/5 ingredient Meals. I bought it and everyone at work has been xeroxing recipes like mad. Now I just have to bring it home and use it myself. this stuff is doable, even for folks like me.

Another great magazine for healthy meals, most pretty easy, is Eating Well. I think I give this to about 10 friends for Xmas every year. It's got easy to read recipes and the articles are outstanding. It's worth the reasonable price just for the photos.

Hope these can help some of you with great meal ideas.

I did pretty good today, all things considered. The dog, however, did not get walked.

I went shopping, then ran out to the site of our medieval event to pick up our tent. We'd left it up for camper's to use because it was raining Saturday and Sunday. The decision had been made to just go get the tents today because they were soaked and finding a way to dry a canvas tent in a house is just not fun, but today was to be (and was) nice and sunny. So, I arrive to find that the tent was perfectly dry, but no longer perfect. The wind today was strong enough it caused the frame of the tent to rip right though the roof. ~The roof of our $800.00 tent. $800 USED. New we're talking $1200+. And we just spent our entire tax return on our floor. I don't know yet if it can be reparied, but I'm just still distraught.

Anyway, after that trauma, I cooked dinner and didn't even get myself fed (yummy healthy stir-fry) until the sun was fully down. All things considered, that I didn't eat lots of chocolate or drink is a victory.

Lilion -- I completely 100% relate. I have gained back 25 pounds. Up 2 sizes. Have to buy all new clothes for work and pack up all my pretty ones -- some of which I never wore!

I'm feeling it, too!

And I know WHAT to do and HOW but my mind won't let me stay on track for more than 2 weeks (and that was only one time).

I just keep starting over, but my head isn't in it like it used to be. A lot more of a struggle... Past 3 days were good. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Good evening to all you gorgeous souls.

Major cramps and TOM for me...I just wanted to stay in bed all day, but had to find a lawyer and had to tell my parents about the divorce. The next hurdle will be telling my sons, but I don't have to do that for another month and a half.

Definitely not feeling like exercising these days with my sleep cycle off so badly. But I'm going to take my melatonin now and make myself go to bed and get up in the morning on schedule.

I gained back 10 lbs. this last week, so I'm right there with you Heather and Lilion. I fell into an 8-piece bucket of the Colonel's Extra Crispy a few days ago. Took a few days to eat it, but I was shooting for feeling full and not wanting to feel much of anything else. And now I just feel bloated and crabby.

Been chugging water ever since, and going for healthier fare. Tonight I sauteed seasoned chicken breast fillet in a little olive oil with shallots and garlic. When it was browned on both sides, I splashed in some low-sodium fat free chicken broth, threw some rapini on top, place a lid on it until the chicken was cooked through and the rapini steamed. Then I squeezed some lemon juice on it all to brighten the flavor. YUM!

I do like meals that come together quickly most of the time. I like to keep ingredients on hand that facilitate "dumping" into a pot, and in my house, one pot suppers are generally the rule. When it's cold, I go for soups and stews, and that usually involves canned beans. I was using a lot of those canned fire-roasted tomatoes or the Rotele tomatoes with chilies, but then I read the label and saw how much salt is involved. This summer I plan to put a lot of home-grown tomatoes into the freezer to use instead.

For summer meals, the time of year I really don't want to be stuck in the kitchen, we eat more salads and grilled meats. I love Salade Nicoise, with steamed French green beans, steamed baby potatoes, Nicoise olives, hard boiled eggs and tuna fillets, all from Trader Joe's. (I sound like a commercial!) To add extra greens, I'll serve it over a bed of arugula or baby spinach.

I also like lettuce wraps, a lot! I can cook up ground turkey and season it and have it stored in the freezer in containers ready to microwave. Then I'll have romaine hearts washed and bagged in the fridge, then just spoon some of the seasoned meat into the romaine, top with chopped scallions and cilantro, squeeze some lime juice on it and voila! Can even do it with boiled shrimp or tuna.

My kids also like crab cakes and salmon cakes. I leave out the breadcrumbs from the recipe but add extra parsley and scallions or chives, or mix in sprouts. They're quick to put together and good with just salad or steamed veggies on the side.

There are foods that make me forget my goals, so I stay away from pizza, lasagna and other cheesy comfort foods. But maybe once a year, usually during TOM, I go weak in the knees for a big plate of fettuccine Alfredo!

Georgia

I wanted to drop in and let you all know that I am still alive and breathing. My days are pretty full though. I haven't had much computer time.

I have lost 20 lbs all together now and feel much better. I gave up sugar. Never eat the stuff anymore. That and the fact that I stay on the go all of the time has lead to the loss. It is not even a planned thing anymore.

The relative (she doesn't want me to talk about her). is doing ok. No one seems to know or care about the condition she has. It is so sad. She has pretty much given up on finding help, so I am doing what I can for her and waiting until some big wig gets that d---- stuff so that attention will finally be focused on what is going on. Sorry! Didn't mean to get on a soap box about something other than weight loss.

I hope you are all doing well. Ruth

Good to see you, Ruth!

On the topic of quick meals... we do a lot of "one pot" meals that I cook on Sunday and then can heat during the week. Some favorites: skillet lasagna, and skillet chili macaroni. They are like hamburger helper, but MUCH healthier. I use more veggies and ground turkey instead of hamburger. I frequently cook up several pounds of ground turkey and then freeze it. Then it's even easier to make the 'one pot' dishes.

Two other favorites: chili, red beans and rice (technically 2 pots).

I love love love turkey tacos!! Again, I often cook up a couple pounds of ground turkey seasoned with the taco seasoning ahead of time and freeze the extra. Then it's VERY easy -- just heat the turkey and shells and cut up the veggies (lettuce, tomatoes).

Salads are another fav dinner, but honestly not that quick if you're only doing it once a week....

Finally, we often grill up a "protein source" on the week, like chicken, pork or fish, and then have it for during the week for easy meals. This week it's chicken breast...

In other words, I usually only "cook" once or twice a week and work on leftovers for the rest of the time.