Starting the topic - be right back

Sabrina - those microbrews sound yummy. Glad to hear your commitment for the coming year.

Carla - it sounds like you did really well during the holidays even if you dipped into the cookies a bit.

I didn't get to my meeting this past week (it would have been a no weigh day) but my eating this weekend has been much better. Yesterday I was totally OP and that's how I plan to keep at it this week, even during New Year's Day at my sil's. I did change my doctor's appt to Feb 3rd and am focused on there being less of me when I get on his scale!

Tony and I decided to go to Mohegan Sun (casino in CT) on Friday, staying until Sunday morning. Unfortunately, that means I'll miss my official weigh in another week, but I plan on keeping close watch on what I eat.

Unfortunately, I'm working today and tomorrow (although today is from home) and I'd better get to it. Have a great one!

Judy
163.6/156/135 (last week's numbers)

Hi all.

Sabrina - I agree, those microbrews do sound yummy. Yay for you for your renewed committment.

Judy - I'm glad to hear that you had a good weekend, program-wise. Good for you! Have fun at the casino this weekend!

I did ok over the weekend. Not great, but ok. I stocked up on a lot of veggies at Whole Foods yesterday. I know I have to get my 5 fruits and veggies a day in, or even if I'm on program I won't be reaping all the health benefits. For lunch today I made a great wrap with red pepper hummus, cucumber, radish, carrot and oninon. Yummy and very filling. I've also decided I have to get in at least one of my milk servings a day by drinking a glass of milk. No more eating two Slimfast snack bars and calling it two milk servings.

Have a great day everyone.

Carla

Carla - good for you for stocking up on the fruits and veggies. That wrap sounds absolutely yummy - I'll have to try that. I love the red pepper hummous - lots of flavor - but I never thought of putting it in a sandwich or wrap! You are so right about concentrating on reaping the health benefits. I was reading an article online on Scientific American about the "new" food pyramid and want to try to incorporate some of the suggestions in my diet - Tony agreed to try having some whole wheat pasta mixed in with the regular pasta and I'm going to try to incorporate more nuts (in measured quantities) in my diet. As a matter of fact, my breakfast this morning is WASA Fiber Rye with PB. So, has anyone tried any whole wheat pasta, and if so, any suggestions of brands that you like?

I had a good day yesterday - I did a great step tape and ate within my points range. Tonight we are going to our usual neighborhood restaurant - I had them fax me a menu yesterday and have calculated points and made some choices. Afterwards, we'll just come home and open a bottle of champagne - our usual quiet New Year's Eve. Tomorrow we are going to my sil's. She is making a ham - salty but better point-wise than the usual sausage or fried cutlets.

Is anyone up for a New Year's exercise challenge? I do this every year through videofitness.com - you commit to doing a certain number of workouts during the year - I commited to 240 for 2002 and did my 240th workout yesterday. I came up with that number because it's based on 4 - 5 workouts per week. Of course, you can decide what goal works for you. A workout consists of a class, a tape, a walk, yoga, weights - anything that you do for about 15 - 20 minutes. Heck, I even consider shovelling snow a workout. I'm going for 240 again for 2003. Any takers?

If I don't get back on, I hope you all have a wonderfully Happy and Healthy New Year!

Judy

Hi all.

Judy - I'll have to look for that article. John subscribes to SA; if it's not in the magazine, I'll go on-line. I've often thought about trying whole-wheat pasta, but just haven't picked it up. I did buy my Rye Krisp at the store yesterday. I haven't had them in a long time. I remember though, what a great snack a some Rye Krisp with ff cream cheese and salsa made. You know what, I'll join you on that challenge. I think it's just what I need to keep me on track. I just finished up being part of an on-line group started by a local newspaper columnist that was dedicated to spending 30 minutes a day 6 days a week working toward a "someday" goal - you know, "someday I'll.....". Anyway the accountability of that worked well for me. I think I'll commit to 220. That's pretty much 4 a week with a few extra thrown in.

We're having a quiet new year holiday. Ana asked me to make spaghetti and meatballs, her new favorite supper, so I've got my sauce cooking. Then we might take a night walk. After that it will just be the T.V. Tomorrow we are probably going to my MIL's for dinner.

A Happy New Year to you all and all your loved ones. You are all a blessing to me and I look forward to our continuing friendship in 2003.

Carla

Hi Everyone

Just have a couple of minutes coz I'm at work...

Judy - Lucky you to be going away for a few days, nice to recharge the batteries. I will read the SA article too. Whole wheat pasta is not bad. I get the Catelli spaghetti once in a while, it's best eaten with a fairly robust tomato sauce. I'm up for the exercize challenge too. I'll be amitious and commit to 240 as well.

Carla - sounds like you've been "in the mode" all through the holiday season. Good for you! That focus group sounds pretty interesting. When you look at it as only 30 minutes a day, it's not really a huge chunk of time is it? I probably spend that much time everyday justifying to myself why I'm not following through on whatever.

Tonight we're staying in and watching a PPV hockey game. I'm working tomorrow, so didn't feel like making any plans.

With a new year starting tomorrow, I'm taking my weigh in weight as a baseline number. I've kind of blown it over the holidays, so rather than posting a big gain, it's start over time.

Happy New Year, one and all. Here's to a great 2003.

Karen

Happy New Year everyone!

Karen - Sounds like your New Year's Eve was like our's - nice and quiet. I did manage to stay awake till midnight. That doesn't happen every year. The group I was in was interesting. It ended the beginning of December and I miss it. Lot's of interesting people doing interesting things. Check out ericzorn.com/sin if you're interested.

Like Karen, it's start over time for me. I guess I managed to undo any good I did over Christmas and I'm right back where I started. Yuck. So my weigh-in becomes my baselilne again. I swear I'm getting this done this year. I'm going to be under 200 by the time I turn 44 and I'm not spending the latter half of my forties fat. I'm just not. With that in mind, I had a good breakfast this morning (english muffin, Morningstar "sausage" patty and milk) and I whipped out my journal and wrote it all down.

Here's to a healthy and happy 2003 for us all!

Carla
271.4/271.4/140

Happy New Year!

I snoozed the New Year in. Fell asleep before 10:00 pm.

Way to go on a fresh new start Carla! I will go check out that website. We are going to have to accept this year that in order to lose weight, we have to eat well, journal, drink water, and exercise regularly - enough to work up a sweat. I know we'll do it!!

Karen

Karen - Since eating anything in site, ignoring my journal, staying away from the faucet and making like a slug didn't work, I guess you're right about what we have to do. :-) You're right, we will do it. One day at a time.

Carla

Carla - I'm glad you'll be joining me on the workout challenge. "Since eating anything in site, ignoring my journal, staying away from the faucet and making like a slug didn't work, I guess you're right about what we have to do. :-) You're right, we will do it. One day at a time" - I love it - I couldn't have said it better than that. I'm up for this year making the difference. I've already started the latter half of my forties (I'll be 46 in March) and I'll be dam**d if I'm spending the rest of my forties at this weight!

Karen - I'll look for the Catelli spaghetti. I'm glad you'll be joining me on the workout challenge. I really found that counting, and comparing the total to where I should be to get to the year-end goal really helped me stay consistent.

I'm so glad to read all the commitment in your threads - I feel the same way - this is the year I'm going to do it. I'm going to shoot for getting to my 10% by the end of March. That's 10 pounds away from where I was last week. I've started my commitment by asking Tony to throw out the leftover chocolates that have been sitting in the dining room since Christmas. I've had a few too many "walk bys" with those things. I had a pretty good day yesterday - I did a strength workout in the morning and I ate moderately at my sil's - but I had a couple of those chocolates last night to put me over my points range. I plan on doing a step workout later today and I WILL eat within my points range today.

Have a great one!
Judy

Good Morning from the wet west coast -

It's absolutely pouring here this morning, and windy too. It's going to be extremely damp getting the dogs out for their run today, but go out they must.

Judy - yay on your workout...I'm going to the gym this afternoon to go some weights, and will spend some time on the treadmill this evening. I think I'll join you in aiming for 10 lbs by the end of March - it sounds pretty doable.

Carla - you're too funny. Do it we will. Kicking and screaming sometimes.

I'm going to shop for some dumbbells tomorrow so I can do more of my strength training at home. Still haven't picked up any exercise vids, but it's on my list to do.

Have a great day!

Karen

Hi all,

Judy - Ok girl, we're definitely doing it this year! Our forties, or what remains of them, are going to be fabulous. Sorry to hear about the walk by munching of the chocolates. They are pure evil. Good for you for getting in a workout and eating moderately at your SIL's house. I'm really happy that you put the exercise challenge out there. I really think it will help me focus. (You'd think the threat of blood pressure pills would help me focus but oh well.) I've written it on top of my exercise log so it's always top of mind.

Karen - I don't envy you going out in the wet and wind. Have a nice cup of tea when you come back in. Hve fun at the gym! I have to "cash in" the one-month membership I got at the silent auction in May. It cost too much to just forget about.

I had a pretty good day yesterday. I was all ready to call it a minimum point day, then late-night munchies got me. But I still managed to bank a point. Plus I got in my milks, my fruits and veggies, and lots of water. So all in all it was a success. Today I'd like to stick closer to minimum. I'd like to jump start my weight loss and I'd like to be at least a couple of pounds down when I go to the doctor. I hopped back on the bike this morning and am enjoying the post-exercise euphoria right now. The next day or two I'll be hauling out the weights and starting that again. John's taking a long weekend this weekend (he ended up going into work both yesterday and the day before, both of which were holidays for his company) so we will either go away somewhere not too far or spend time doing things in the city, probably the latter. So my challenge will most likely be going out to eat. I'll have to eat low points during the day and remember that the restaurants we go to and the food they offer aren't going to disappear the day after we go there. I have to stop using going out, which we thankfully don't do that much of any more, as an excuse to pig out.

Have a great day everyone.

Carla

Karen - I saw your wet and windy storm on the weather channel. We had quite a rainy day yesterday and tomorrow we are supposed to be having some rain/sleet/snow - not my idea of weather to drive up to Mohegan Sun in, but oh well. Way to go on getting some dumbbells at home - btw, the plain ol' iron ones work well for me. I'm glad you are with me on the 10 pounds - it is very doable and we will do it!

Carla - Yay on banking a point yesterday and getting all the milks, veggies, etc in! I love what you said about the foods at the restaurant not disappearing! Do you and John ever split things? One of the things Tony and I did on New Year's Eve was that he agreed that he would eat half of my appetizer (fried calamari) and I would have half of his (crab cakes) - it really helped on points, and it was nice to be able to have a little of a high point food - it was very satisfying. Anyway, I like your attitude about eating out!

Well, so much for my plan to do a step workout today. I ended up with a migraine so if I get any workout in, it will be some *lower* ab work - nothing there that will make my brain slosh around. I'm planning on doing the step workout early tomorrow before the half day of work - then it's on the road - in the not so great weather. I'm planning on taking some gym clothes so I can hit the gym at Mohegan Sun on Saturday.

I hope to get on tomorrow morning but if I don't, have a great weekend!

Judy

Hi...

Managed to get out with the dogs without drowning, the rain actually stopped for a while, which was very nice. Tomorrow we're getting up early and going for a long walk. Did weights and cardio at the gym: 1 down and 239 to go! Actually, in my daytimer, on the list of things to do for the month of January I've numbered my workouts 1-20, and took great delight in putting a big "x" through number 1

Judy - Hope your headache is gone. That's so miserable. I printed and read the article from Scientific American. Very interesting. We're definitely going to phase out the white carbs & replace them with whole grain when the shelves need replenishing. Watched Oprah this afternoon, was her new year get health show; Bob Greene is strongly advocating no food whatsoever after 7:30 pm. Apparently that little "gnawing" feeling we get in the evening which prompts us to eat is our bodies going into fatburning mode...if we eat when we get that sensation, we don't lose. Don't know how scientific that is, but if it works, whatever. Thought you'd be interested as you're queen of the evening snack! Hope you have decent weather for your w/e away, and a safe trip!

Carla - I had a brief look at the website you told me about, and am going to get back there later for a good read. Good for you for getting on the bike - it feels good when you're done, doesn't it. Enjoy your long weekend with John whatever you decide to do. That's so right about restaurants...it's just a meal that we don't have to cook, and we don't have to go nuts. I'll remember that next time I go out!

Have a good one!

Karen

Karen - I'm glad the skies cleared for you to go out for a walk with the dogs. Way to go on getting in workout #1 - what a great idea to mark off the exercise sessions in your daytimer. You know, I watched Oprah yesterday and I saw the part about that nighttime snacking and how if you don't feed it, you go into your fat stores. I don't know if it's scientifically true either, but it sure helped me last night. I decided to cut off my eating 2 hours before bedtime and just before bed, when I got that feeling, I thought about Oprah saying that for her that's when it goes into her butt...for me it's my tummy pooch - you know what? It worked, I just went to bed instead!

I had a good day yesterday. I ate under my max and did get a lower ab workout done. I snacked vey little last night and as I wrote above, stopped eating 2 hours before I went to bed. This morning, I did a step workout (#3 for the year) and had some yummy PB and toast. I'm planning on packing a sandwich for the road (the food on the interstate to Mohegan Sun is just awful - point wise and otherwise) as well as a couple of bottles of water. I packed a workout outfit and plan on getting to the gym at the hotel tomorrow for some weights and maybe a little cardio.

Have a great weekend!
Judy