My turn to start!

I'm still thinking about cookiing related goals. I'm wondering about cooking for a soup kitchen, maybe. I certainly don't have any experience cooking in large quantities. I also don't entertain much. Not sure why. I guess that's the introvert in me. Maybe that's something to work on-cooking for other people.

petra - great idea! I see an advantage here in that you may have a chance to teach people that healthy food doesn't have to be blah and boring, too - as well as giving you a sense of sharing. I would like to hijack your idea and go for one vegetarian meal a week to start (will probably be very inspired after Thanksgiving - )

We have two massive BBQs each year - Memorial weekend/Indy 500, and Labor Day. Sometimes 4th of July weekend too (DS10's bday is the 5th). We usually have at least 40 people for those. Spouse fires up the smoker and BBQs scary amounts of meat. He worked in restaurants for 8 years and it's impressive to see him prep food. The hardest thing when dealing with huge food seems to be the timing and getting everything ready to serve at the same time - he becomes a real drill sergeant at that point. After years of watching this, I think the key is in the menu planning. Pick ONE intensive dish, and choose the others as things that can be done ahead of time. There are a lot of dishes that can sit happily in a warm oven for an hour, or be served cold.

Regarding casual entertaining ... easy peasy lemon squeezy (ahem). Potluck. High-quality disposable plates/silverware/glasses. Guide guests with "side dish" or "salad" or "appetizer". It's a great way to have a captive audience for a new recipe. Our group of friends rotates these events about once a month, because we follow those rules.

RARELY ... we host a full-blown dinner party for 8. These are formal events - not black tie, but certainly dress-up, and the fine china comes out. Spouse shows off four or five courses and the kitchen is trashed for days. We don't do it often because he refuses to do any of the cleanup - the "prep crew" (me) is supposed to just deal with it.

Petra- like you, i need to pull some clothes that are getting bigger on me --- or i hold onto like security blankets because they're big and I feel "covered" in them....

Can you look at the recipes and find ways to alter them to keep the calories in check?

OnMyWay - sorry it was a rough weekend, but i have good news for you -- today is a new day!

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I ran last night, and I pack today! I leave for vacation tomorrow. I'll probably do a quick check in tomorrow morning, but my brain may be in other places. I don't leave here until about 1pm, but my pre-travel nerves kick in

Here's to a week of safe choices on vacation, and keeping moving!

ooh, ooh...Petra, or start writing your OWN cookbook with recipes you create with healthy options!

ICU - morning, just saw you posted too...it must be impressive to see him prepping and cooking it all - and great tips

lambchop - you are doing so well with the running! I'm glad you found us - seeing more and more posts from people like you helps me so much! I know you'll have a great vacation and get back with us soon - with tales of victory! (and pics - we LOVE pics!)

ICU-thanks for the great ideas/suggestions. Can you imagine coming to my house for dinner and the main entree is goat? I know better than to do that but I couldn't resist the idea.

I have thought of another nonscale goal. I want to wear a bikini and look good in it. I've never worn a bikini in my life.

Lamb-have a great vacation. We'll miss you.

bikini - you and me both! Okay, well - i wore one until i was about 18....but 18 was a long, long time ago LOL

ICU- thank you for the kind words..was nice to read

petra - honestly, having traveled extensively in Mexico, I wouldn't be thrown by seeing a goat on the BBQ, but I know a lot of people would. Not sure if the spelling is right, but cabritas (braised young goat) is DIVINE. I almost hopped up and down when I found it at Roast (Michael Symon's restaurant in Detroit) as the beast of the day! I'm what they call the adventurous eater, I guess!

Bikini? You go, girl! I haven't had one on since I was about 5, when my head started getting screwed up about how I looked. You could easily be ready by the time the season rolls around!

lambchop - I meant every word, and you're welcome!

ICU-you would do well at my house if you are an adventerous eater. So am I. Goat is on my list of things to try with the "eating organic, trying to be more authentic" thing. When I went to Greece during my residency, goat was frequently on the menu at restaurants. I wasn't brave enough to try it at that time. For some strange reason, it is readily available in this part of MS. In fact, there is a goat farm right up the road from me and I live in a planned subdivision. I have several authentic mediterranean cookbooks that include recipes for all kinds of interesting things including goat, rabbit, partridge so I expect my menu will get very interesting in the next year.

I scheduled my massage today for my 15 lb reward. It's on Dec. 5th at 11 am. Is it customary to tip the massage therapist? I imagine it is. I've also decided what my 30 lb reward is going to be. I'm going to get some real yoga clothes. I wear sweats and t-shirts now, most of which will be way too big by then. That's a nice luxury item I wouldn't normally splurge on so it will make a nice reward.

Giv: Yes, I'd love that recipe! It's already using 3 of my favorite ingredients! Dining together is such a good way to get to know the neighbors - we could use a little more of that.

Petra: I can check off some crazy stuff from my travels during my road-warrior era. I usually draw the line at organs/guts but other than that, if I see somebody eat it, yep, I'm in. You just never know what's going to be ridiculously good! Re massage therapists ... yes on tips, at least from what I've read. I've tipped 20% on the times I've had them. Money seems so trivial after a good massage

Straddling on 150.0 AGAIN. I've been hosting the same 3 pounds for almost 2 months now. It's a little aggravating, but I'm going to chalk it up to the increased exercise and just wait til the 1st of Dec when I take measurements again. If they're going down (I think they are from the way my pants are fitting), I'm going to keep to plan and try to ignore the scale for a while. To me, it's not a true plateau unless BOTH the scale and the tape measure stall. Kind of looking forward to my next round of blood tests in late January - hopefully my HDL will be high enough to get my doctor off my back about my cholesterol.

Giv-yes on the recipe here too. I have cauliflower and zucchini in the house right now so would be a way to use them both. Just need to get some spinach. I'm planning to poach some pears in port wine for dessert for Thanksgiving so planning on at least 1 more trip to the grocery store anyway. You need firm pears for that so you can't buy them too early.

ICU-I also don't eat organ meats or insects. But am otherwise pretty open minded. Do you drink wine? If you have a glass, a few times a week it will help your HDL. Red is a little healthier than white. I drink whatever goes with the meal though. All that exercise should be helping too. Despite my high blood pressure, my cholesterol has remained good. I credit my mediterranean style eating for that. Certainly not my genes.

Petra, yes it's customary to tip a massage therapist. I generally tip from $12-$20 based on the cost, how long the massage was, etc. I worked in a spa (have my skin care license) so I usually tipped a little higher, usually in the $20 range...(30 mins msg/maybe $12 - hour+ massage $20)...or 20% also works well

Giv - the recipe - before i'd be like...no thanks, but these days i'm more willing to try things and i'm finding i like them! SOoo, on that note, your veggie dish actually sounds like something i'd try! Congrats on the treadmill

ICU - straddling 150 - eh, say goodbye to the 150's, allow them to leave you...talk to them..tell them you're finished with them, and while they served you well before, you're letting go of them

Marie, Hydra, OnMyWay, CAT(if you pop back in) - sorry i missed you today, and I'll see everyone next week!
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Excited I leave later today, but also nervous. I'm trusting myself to make the right choices, because i'm proud of the time and work i've put in so far. This is a good test for me...maintaining is going to be the same game. It's not about just losing weight, it's about new habits and changes..healthier choices - on that note....see you when I get back -- probably won't be back online until Dec. 1.

Cheers, Deb