Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a good weekend. We had delightful weather. Had a rumble of thunder go through a little while ago that got the dog all upset. Thankfully she's calmed down now.

ANNE, hope you are doing ok. I'll be thinking of you at 10:00. I also wanted to wish you a Happy Canada Day tomorrow!

nikki, how is the SB diet coming along? I officially started it yesterday. I tried Sat., but I felt kind of nauscious around lunchtime, so had a turkey sandwich. But yesterday I was fine. I also joined Prevention so that I can post over there. They seem so nice and helpful. I had kidney beans last night with my cheeseburger (no bun). I couldn't find anything in the book that said whether or not you can use canned beans. I assume you can. Did you camp out over the weekend?

Last night I noticed that I have a lily problem. I noticed on a few of them there is all this black stuff attatched to the leaves and stems. Whatever the black stuff is, has killed those lilies. I don't think it is bugs, because nothing was moving. Could it be some sort of fungus? I was hoping either of you might know what it is.

Take care and have a great day.
Aleka

Hi,
Anne, said a prayer at 10am for you and your family, I prayed that God will bring comfort to your hearts and strength to endure. I know this has to be a very difficult time for you and yours, my thoughts are with you too.

Aleka, I'm doing ok on SBD. I'm not exactly legal, I've had a problem with caffiene. I just love my coffee and the caffiene gives me such a boost to get going in the morning. I've never had a problem before with insulin reaction to caffiene, so I'm drinking it anyway. The diet is going good, I have to keep reminding myself to eat and it's inconvinent. It seems like I just get started doing something and I have to stop and go fix something to eat. I need a larger variety of quicker foods. I bought some lunchmeat and fat free hotdogs and am trying to keep stuff that is quick in the fridge. Can't find any fatfree lunchmeat, so I'm using 98-99% fat free. I bought the Laughing Cow cheese and forgot to get the lower fat kind, in fact, I can't find it. But, this is so good, I had no idea. It is conveniently packaged for a quick snack. Anyway, I've been doing this for 3 days, exercising doing Body Flex and the Gazelle and I've lost 2 lbs already. What I think I'll do after the 2 weeks are up, is dig out my old Jack LaLaine Juicer and start to juice again. I really should use more vegetables and that is the quickest, most convenient way to do it. I never felt better than when I was drinking fresh juice (possibly all the natural sugar from the carrots), still, I think it's a healthy thing to do at least once a day. Will just use an apple instead for the sweetening. Some vegetables just have to have some kind of sweetener or you can barely get them down.
I'm sure canned beans are fine. We had grilled hamburgers, green beans and sauteed mushrooms (in olive oil) for supper. It was really good and DH said he now likes sauteed mushrooms.
I put some seasoning in them to perk them up.
We just visit the campground now, it's so loud at night, I don't think anyone sleeps there.
Your lily problem sounds like a fungus to me. You've had a lot of rain out there and now your getting heat. Mold spores are growing like crazy. I don't have any lilies, except for one bunch that DH keeps mowing over. I do like them and think I'll plant some next year in my rock garden.
Take care, Nikki

I'm still drinking real coffee too. I've never had an insulin spike using the real stuff. I look at it this way, I drank the high octain stuff when I was on WW and I still lost weight. You know, I am not hungry between meals, and I don't eat. I probably should, but never think of it. I am having a hard time finding some of the low fat cheeses. I am lucky to be able to find low fat shredded cheddar cheese. Good for you losing 2 lbs. already!

ANNE, I had company at 10:00 and I am sorry I didn't get to say a prayer for you, but I did think of you and hoped that you and your family were doing alright.

Aleka

Hi,
Hope your doing ok Anne, think of you often.

I'm on day 4 of the SBD and I lost another pound this morning. Thanks for the praise Aleka. I looked back on my calendar and in June, I lost 6 lbs total which was pretty good. Unfortunately, it's the same 6 lbs I've gained and lost since Feb several times. Hopefully, this time is the last time I'll see those lbs. I have stayed pretty legal today, missed a eating a couple of times, kind of went off at supper when I had creamed spinach, at least it was a low fat sauce and not much of it.

Aleka, how's your lilies? If you want a homemade recipe for plant fungus, I have one, but I've not used it, so can't say how effective it is.

The weather is getting hotter and more humid every day. I'm amazed at how light it stays in the evening.
My zucchini are producing lots of flowers and some little zucchini.
I have some cherry tomatoes that will be ready in a day or two. Seems like summer is flying by. Why doesn't it last as long as winter?
Take care, Nikki

Good Evening Ladies:

Thank you for your kindness and prayers. It was really a tough
one. The funeral was a touching ceremony. We were all given
a lovely book of hymns and prayers with a picture of David on
the front. It was called a Celebration of Life and Love. On the
back of the book it says "Grieve not...nor speak of me with
tears...but laugh and talk of me...as though I were
beside you. I loved you so. 'twas heaven here with you.
It broke my heart to see my aunt and uncle in some much
heartache.

Do you ladies have any plans for the 4th of July? We had
a lovely BBQ with my parents today. The kids really enjoyed
themselves.

Our weather is hot too!! A real July day.

Talk to you on Wednesday...

Anne.

Anne, that sounds like a beautiful service.
We have no plans for the 4th, DH has to work. It's never been a big deal for us. The fireworks are impossible to get to, too many people want to see them and the traffic is just to stressful. I'd rather stay home in ac and watch tv.
Talk to you tomorrow, Nikki

Yesterday I snipped a couple of stems off the liles that had some of the black stuff on them, put them in a zipper bag and took them down to the local garden center. The black stuff turned out to be some sort of a worm, and the black stuff covering them was their poop which they hide under! The woman at the garden center said that these worms were brand new to this country, only appearing in the area last year. Nobody knows what they are, or where they came from. They attack the exotic lilies first then go onto the other lilies. The daylilies are fine so far, but it's the Pygmy lilies that have these worms on them. She did say that they were hard to get rid of, and gave me a bottle of Sevin. So, I left there armed with the bottle of Sevin and DH sprayed all of the lilies. I'm sure we'll have to get one or two more bottles to make sure we get rid of them.

ANNE, what a nice verse that was on the hymn and prayer book. It sounds like it was a very moving service. Glad you had a nice Canada Day with your parents.

nikki, congratulations on losing another lb. I got on the scale this morning, and I've lost 3 lb. I find I'm not eating all the meals I'm supposed to. Went out to lunch yesterday with a friend and I had a cheeseburger (no bun) and a side salad w/oil & vinegar dressing. When it was time for dinner I had no desire to eat, and I didn't, except for a dish of ricotta w/chocolate s/f Davinci syrup. I told you I was addicted to the stuff! I honestly do not feel like eating. How long do you plan on staying on Phase I?
You know, I used to wonder why January was so much longer than July even though both months have the same amount of days.

Take care and have a great day.
Aleka

HI,
Big day today, got to move the camper back to town and it's going to be 92 with high himidity, I can just imagine how much fun this will be.
Aleka, that is something about the lilies. Hope the sevin works, it sure does a good job for other worms. At least it's not fungus, I was reading about that and it will wipe out your lilies for sure.
That's great about your 3 lbs lost. Feels good doesn't it? I still haven't made the ricotta dessert. I've been looking through my old SS recipes and found several to make. Will be making a Eggplant parmesan tonight. I am also making a turkey breast, I know they don't exactly go together, but what the heck, I'm getting a little bored with steamed veggies. I ate a protein bar for breakfast. I know it's not part of the diet, but I couldn't resist it, it was quick. So, I guess my phase one is already a phase two, But I'm going to try to stay in phase one for as long as I can. Or rather, keep my cheating moments to just phase two foods, or like this morning, something that I think is healthy but not on phase one. I think I'm making an honest effort to stay on track, but I'm not going to be too concerned about a few things that aren't approved by the diet plan. I'm losing weight and that's the main thing. I have a big problem with overeating, like I can eat a whole large bag of peanut M&M's. Some people would stop, just because they were full, but I'll eat till I feel like I could throw up (but I don't) and then keep on eating anyway. Then I'm miserable for hours afterwards. I seem to have no off button, only overdrive.
Anne, hope your day at work flys by quickly.
Got to run and do some errands, later, Nikki

Good Evening All:

You both are doing great on your program It must
make you feel great to see the pounds melting off!

Nikkic, man oh man can I relate to that MM story you told. I
have eaten so many "family sized" snacks single handed over
the years you would never believe it!! Every bad habit I have
ever had I had in a "big way"

Aleka, I hope the Sevin works for you!! You sound like you
really enjoy your gardening.

It was a hot one here today. We are in the midst of another
heatwave


Talk to you Thursday!
Anne.

Good morning,

The heat and humidity are supposed to be back today. Our a/cs will be humming I'm sure. It'll be good at night because I know there will be a lot of fireworks around for the next few days and it really bothers Lacee, she's a quivering mass. Hopefully the noise of the a/c, fans, and TV in the bedroom will drown out some of the noise. I feel so bad for her and hate to see her like that.

nikki, I find that there are some foods, like pizza, that I will eat until I am extremely uncomfortable and vow never to do it again, but I still do. I have made the ricotta dessert, and I also find that whenever I am hungry I'll eat the ricotta right out of the container! I too am looking at some of Suzanne's recipes to make. I got the ingredients to make her lasagna, using egg crepes. DH & I really love it. Last night I was feeling kinda and thought it was because I haven't been eating a lot of carbs and thought I might just jump to phase 2. But, this morning I feel a bit better, so I may hang in there a few more days, to make a full week, or continue another week. I am not looking forward to the long holiday weekend because that's when I am tempted more to cheat. I haven't decided about the 4th yet. Tomorrow is time enough for that. I may have a glass or two of wine, we'll see. On that note, I want to wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July. Are you doing anything special? We're going to our summer cottage by the lake and spend the day. It's only a hop, skip, and a jump from our house.

ANNE, are you still doing Suzanne's diet? This is sort of like SSizing, especially phase 2, without the food combining and rules to follow. I can use her recipes, but make them lower fat. Hope you are keeping cool in the heat. I heard on the news that Toronto has lifted their SARS ban. You must be very happy that you can take your mask off at work now. I think the only country that still has their ban is Taiwan.

Take care and have a good day.
Aleka

HI!
Well, I'm back into phase one for awhile. Even though I did lose 1/2 lb yesterday, that protein bar just made me want to eat more stuff that I shouldn't. We had the eggplant parmesan, hamburgers, salads and an onion that I cooked in the microwave for supper. DH loved the eggplant parmesan and I found out that if you bake them on metal they turn out great and if you use glass they are mushy. I would imagine the same is true for baking zucchini that is coated in parmesan too.
I was wondering the same thing Anne, are you still SS'ing? And, do you get to go without a mask now?
Aleka, that sounds like a wonderful way to spend the 4th. We aren't doing anything. We never do, but that's ok, it's too hard to try to go anywhere. We're suppose to get a big storm tomorrow.
Are fireworks legal in NH? They aren't here, but they are everywhere anyway, we live close to Missouri and they are legal there and easy to get.
Guess I better go pick some beans, it's suppose to be even hotter today than yesterday. I love summer but when it's over 90 and humid, I feel like I'll just melt.
Take care, Nikki

About the fireworks. Stores can sell them, but it is illegal to use them here. People do anywhoo and nobody says anything. In my honest opinion, why bother with the law.

Good job on the weight loss!

It's starting to get hotter here and I've already turned on the a/cs

Aleka

Hi,
Happy 4th of July, Aleka, hope your having a wonderful day and your dog is not too upset with the fireworks.
I couldn't believe it, DH asked if I'd like to go watch the fireworks tonight. We are suppose to get a big storm, so I doubt it will happen. The weather has been really weird today, or rather the atmosphere has felt strange and the sky looks off. The wind has blown quite a bit and my cats are crying and want me to hold them all the time. They are big babies though.
Still, it's been better than yesterday. It was so hot and humid, just like walking into a furnace. I went out to pick beans last evening, and in a few moments, I was drenched in sweat. My male cat came walking by me, he started to meow when he saw me, didn't stop walking and kept meowing as he passed me and walked on to the garage. Guess he was complaining about the heat too. Today is better and I was able to weed one of my gardens with no problem.
Anne, how is your day going? Are you still using your gazelle? I've been using mine, but only 10-15 min a day. Just enough to get my joints loosened up and my heart going a little bit. Sometimes, there is only so much time for so many things. I know you have a really full schedule all the time.
Take care, Nikki

Hi there! I started a new thread. See ya there!!!

Aleka