Good Monday morning all!

I had a pretty good day yesterday. I stopped when I was full at dinner even though I could have kept going with the yummyness of the chili. The only non-core snack I had last night was a little PB with an apple. Tony and I shared an orange and some popcorn.

I'm feeling pretty good this morning although still not 100%. I stayed up a little bit too late last night so I don't feel totally rested. That's usually what happens on Sunday night's, probably 'cause I stay up later than usual on the weekends. I'll have to be sure it's an earlier night tonight. I dread Tuesdays and Wednesdays because of the late classes and look forward to Thursdays every week!

I'm going to try to do a little something when I get home, maybe a little walking on the treadmill and then a little yoga. I'll see how I feel. I don't want to go all out on cardio but I feel like such a slug! I know, I know, patience.

Have a great one,
Judy

Hi all.

Judy, congrats on your loss at weigh-in! And for finding a good, OP way to have Chinese food. I’ve been really craving Chinese lately, but rather than ordering it in, I’m going to try to make kung pao chicken this week. It’s never quite as good, but hopefully it will keep the cravings at bay. I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling better and that you were able to get some yoga in. I know how much you hate not exercising. Sounds like you had a really great day food-wise yesterday. I love chili. Nothing like it on a winter’s day. And the superbowl seems to call out for it. Good for you for stopping when you were full. That's one of my big problems: when I'm enjoying something I pay more attention to my tastebuds than my stomach. The lentil chile was really good – give it a look. It wasn’t very spicy at all, so when I had some leftovers this weekend I put in some more red pepper and then topped it with onions and cheese and sour cream and it was super good. You asked what an olive burger is. It’s just as it sounds, a burger topped with green olives. Very good and it will be easy enough to make at home when I get a craving. How did you like the quinoa? I’ve been wanting to try it. I love grains.

TXMom – I’m sorry to hear that your back is giving you such trouble. I hope your meeting with the surgeon today turns out the way you want. Don’t fret about a maintain – it’s far better than a gain. I too am an emotional eater and stress just about makes me live in the refrigerator. Just keep identifying when you make bad choices, identify good choices you can replace them with and you’ll do fine. Good for you for going grocery shopping and having your meals planned. That’s more than half the battle in my book.

ChristinaMarie – Congrats on your maintain. Part of this process is learning how to make better choices so that even if we slip off program, we don’t do as much damage. I used to be a receptionist, so I know what a pain it is to have to ask someone to cover for you. I’ll echo Judy – five days a week of cardio is a great goal. Just don’t beat yourself up if you fall a bit short sometimes.

Karen – I hope your able to clear your brain of at least some of the work stuff soon. Hey, plodding along is sometimes the best we can do. As long as we’re still plodding forward and not running in the other direction, we’re doing fine. You’re right, I am getting into a good headspace.

I had a good weekend. I really enjoyed my dinner out last night - every bit of it, including the wine. Best of all I counted my points for it (a victory for me because I ususally just give myself a pass). And the good news is: I still have 7 flex points for today and tomorrow. No problem. It's a gloomy day here - no sunshine at all - but at least it's warmer. It's supposed to drop back into the 20s, which will be ok, as long as we get some sunshine. And now to get cleaning this house.

Have a great day.

Carla

Sargeant Judy, ma'am, private Carla here reporting that I JUST WENT FOR A WALK. I know, I"m shocked too. It was only for 17 minutes (which is quite long enough for today, per my butt and thigh muscles) but it was a start. I realized that the cemetary by my house is a great place to work on increasing my duration/distance. The way that it's laid out makes it easy to increase said duration/distance by small increments every few sessions.

May I add that I took this walk even though we have a misty kind of drizzle going on. I don't know what got into me, but I hope it sticks around.

Carla

OMG - **** froze over! Way to go, Carla!!! Back later when I get home.

Karen

Hi guys!

Judy - Glad to see that you are feeling somewhat better I hope that you are back to feeling 100% soon!!

Carla - Congrats on doing such a good job staying within your points! I know what you mean about craving Chinese food as well. Tomorrow night my husband's family is getting together at a Chinese buffet to celebrate with some family that is coming in from out of town. I'm planning on steering clear of fried foods and eating a little rice and steamed veggies. Chinese is a major weakness for me, but I know there will at least be some good choices that I can make. I have found that my appetite has decreased significantly the past few weeks, which is a big help. Congrats on exercising as well! Can you pass some of your motivation this way please

My doctor's visit did not go as I had hoped. After waiting almost 2 hours to get in and see the doc finally, he shocked me by telling me there really was nothing he could do for me at this time. He referred me back to the pain management specialist again (I feel like a ping pong ball between these two...). The results from my test have shown that I have two bulging discs and three that have tears and are leaking fluid. (Total of 3 bad discs). The doctor said that if it were only two - they could do surgery and fuse them together, or if it were only one - replace that one disc. However, being three bad ones, they do not like to fuse all three together because it creates a severe problem for the patient. In the past, he says, it has been done but it has left patients with little or no range of motion and in turn, makes the other good discs fail as well due to the stress. That I can understand and really don't even want him to try to do a surgery like that.

Well, after talking to him for five minutes and him shaking my hand and wishing me "good luck" and telling me to come back if all the other options the pain guy tries fails, he left me in the office. His nurse even seemed kind of shocked at his coldness and I swear - if the guy doesn't see $$ around your head he gets out of there as quick as he can. My husband asked her what my other options are and when she started to talk to me I ended up busting out crying. I am so worn out from this. I have been bounced back and forth between these two doctors for 6-7 months now, have done everything they suggested and I seem to be getting worse. My husband asked about replacing one disc and doing a 2 level fusion, which she said is something they are considering doing - but it hasn't been approved to be done yet. They call it a hybrid surgery - it would be the only surgery option for me, but who knows how long until it is approved to be done. So, on Wednesday I have an appointment with a physician's asst. to the pain doctor to make sure I did not get an infection from the discogram test. When I called his office to say I needed to see the doctor directly though - I was told I can't get an appointment to see him until March 24 to talk about other options! Then I know from there - whatever he suggests will be scheduled out at least another month from that. I am just so upset that it seems it will be at least another 2 months before I get to try some other option!

They are not optimistic that they will help my situation but it is my only choice right now. If that doesn't work - the only other option they offered me was to just continue managing the pain - which they haven't done that great a job of yet either. I have not slept more than 2-3 hours a night for the past 6-7 months, am in agony at my job all day and just do not enjoy my life much right now. I know I don't have it as bad as many others do - but I never realized how much having a bad back can affect everything a person does.

Anyway - please keep your fingers crossed for me that this surgery is something that will be approved sooner than later for people to have done. I'm going to do some research on it tonight.

I hope that everyone has a great week ahead - and gets to feeling better! Thanks so much for the kind words and support. You guys are wonderful.

~P

Crap! I just lost a long post!

Carla - pardon my flippancy earlier. It's just so cool to see you motivated AND exercising! I swear its true that the only way to lose is to move. What did you end up having at the restaurant last night?

Judy - Hope you were up to some exercise tonight. I missed the part about you having quinoa...I discovered quinoa a couple of months ago and love it. We made a killer barley and shitake mushroom casserole a couple of weeks ago...must do it again. I've been enjoying playing around with some "different" foods.

TXMom - Sorry to hear that your appointment didn't go well. I hope you'll be able to find some relief with the pain specialist, and that the hybrid surgery might be an option for you. Chronic pain is a horrible thing. Are you familiar with any of the nontraditional pain management techniques?

I had a good food day...I took hundreds of snacky things to work and more or less ate every 45 minutes or so, and ended up not hungry in the afternoon. The commute home was nightmarish - it generally sets me off into a funk, but I arrived home funk free. Have done an upper body workout with Mike, and was full of good intentions to treadmill, but it's going to have to wait till tomorrow. I'm going to bed.

Have a great day tomorrow...

Karen

Hi all.

TXMom - I'm so sorry that things did not go well at your doctor's visit and that there doesn't seem to be a viable option to relieve you of this pain right now. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the surgery is approved soon. Are you stuck with these doctors due to an HMO? I believe that surgeons aren't always known for their bedside manners. But for you to have to wait so long to see a pain management doctor seems ridiculous. You may want to look into non-traditional pain management techniques as Karen suggested. Althernative medicine is not so far out of the mainstream these days. My doctor is with the physician's group at a teaching hospital here and they have an alternative medicine center right on the hospital campus. I'll keep you in my thoughts. And good luck with the Chinese buffet. Fortunately, we don't have a Chinese buffet in my town to tempt me, just some killer restaurants/take out places. I could do some serious damage at a buffet....

Karen - You made me laugh out loud, truely. And you're not too far off base. After enjoying weather in the 40s and 50s, we're headed back to the 20s and the forcasters are calling for some snow. Perhaps **** really did freeze over! Who knew I had such power. As for my dinner at the restaurant, I had a lovely chianti, some bread, a delicious salad with lots of veggies (including green beans), bleu cheese, and a balsamic vinegarette, and linguini with pancetta and onions in a light tomato sauce. It was lovely and I ate every bit. We split a brownie that was served warm, with crushed pecans, a chocolate sauce and vanilla gelato. It was very small, so it was just really a few bits of heaven on a fork.

It's late here and I have to convince myself that I'm tired and get myself to bed.

Night all.

Carla

TxMom – I’m so sorry about how the doctor’s appt went and I am so angry with that doctor for treating you as poorly as he did! I hope the hybrid surgery will be approved soon. I echo what Karen said about nontraditional pain management techniques. It’s also so hard, I know, when there are things that affect you so and you have little or no control over them. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Good luck today at the Chinese buffet. I’d try to stick with some veggie dishes – they have to be a little lighter on the points side and don’t go there hungry! Have a little (low point or no point) snack before you leave.

Carla – YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Private Carla! Um, I mean, hoo ahh (or however you spell what the marines say!) And don’t give me that “it was only for 17 minutes” – 17 minutes is 17 times more than nothing (well, not strictly mathematically, but you know what I mean). Even better that you did it in not great weather. Now, Private, here’s your challenge. When it gets colder (which it is going to do here too, you WILL NOT slack off. You WILL do something, in the house if you must, like walking in place or hoisting some cans – whatever! Is that understood?? ;-) Great job on the meal out and for not only counting points (which sometimes I just don’t do when I’m out for dinner) and have so many left over! Your dinner made my mouth water – yum!

Karen – Mmmm, I swear, you guys have the best meals - barley and shitake mushroom casserole – yum! Good for you for bringing all those snacks – sounds like eating every 45 minutes worked well for you – especially if you could get home from a nightmarish commute funk free! You are really being consistent on your workouts, treadmill or not – way to go!

I had a good day yesterday – I got home early – well, right after work and that doesn’t happen a lot these days. I did a little bit of a light cardio workout – I took it easy and ended it early and then did a tiny bit of yoga to stretch and relax. The good news is that I feel OK this morning. I have a tiny bit of lingering congestion but the kind that lasts for a couple of weeks afterwards. BTDT so I think I will try to stay at the level of workout I did yesterday. It felt good to move. Eating was good – and I weighed myself this morning for the last time this week. The quinoa was really good – I like the texture. I was a bit gassy yesterday though – I wonder if it was the quinoa – maybe my body has to get used to it?? I dread Tues & Wed because of the school schedule. At least tomorrow is my last early tutoring session. I plan to do about 10 min yoga when I get home tonight and try to get into bed on the early side.

Have a great one!
Judy

Quick Good Morning before heading for the shower. I've just finished tm'ing and had breakfast. Have a good day...be back later.

Karen

Where the heck is everybody?

Judy, I'm making my barley casserole again tonight. Mmmmm.
Carla, have you exercised again?? Your dinner sounds like it was devine.

Been out brisk doggie walking at 6 a.m. for the last two days. Had a small chocolate slip up yesterday, but at least it was organinc and dark.

Hope you're all doing well.

Karen

Karen - I'm here! I went into work at noon instead of the evening yesterday and then just never got on last night to post. Enjoy your barley casserole tonight. I'm guessing that in my extensive library of cookbooks I have a recipe or two for a barley casserole. I'll have to look because I do love barley. It always reminds me of my grandma. She made a killer beef and barley soup.

Judy - I'm glad to hear that you were able to get in a light cardio workout. You'll be back to full strength soon. I'm definitely going to look for quinoa at Trader Joe's when I go shopping tomorrow. I'm sure I could also find it at my regular grocery store. I just happen to be going to TJ's tomorrow.

I'm pleased as punch (sugar free punch, of course) to report a 5.8 pound loss this week. I'm guessing the three pound gain I had over the previous two weeks was water and that I lost that and some fat as well. Yee ha! I did have a bit of a binge last night. It happened, it's over and I'm back on track. Since I tend to get antsy when all my flex points are gone and since yesterday was a weird eating day anyway since it was a day of fasting, I'm just going to start counting points today and chalk up yesterday as an abnormality. I don't know what that will get me at the scale next week, but since it will help me keep on track, I'm doing it. The challenges this week will be a party on Saturday and possibly dinner out on Monday. Saturday will be tough because I have to work all morning and then come home and have about an hour to get ready for the evening. We take Ana to Spanish class in the afternoon (a few towns away) and will leave right from there for my mom's house so she can babysit. Since John and I usually go to Panera bread while we're waiting, I think I'll plan on having a nice bowl of chicken noodle or black bean soup there. The party will be appetizers only, so that might be ok to handle. On the exercise front... it's cold here, but it's a brisk cold rather than damp and the sun is shining - the kind of day I love. So I celebrated by taking a walk. I increased my distance by a bit, but I must have also increased my pace, because I clocked 17 minutes again. So that's two for the week, which is two more than I've done all year, so it's progress.

Have a great day.

Carla
278.2/270.4/145

Yay Carla! What a great loss! And way to go on walking again - that's awesome that you increased your pace a bit. I'm sure with planning you'll do fine with your challenges this week.

I am here as well. Although I am battling some major emotions at this time, I am for the most part trying to stay on track.

Carla - That is a fantastic loss! Congratulations to you!! Send some motivation my way to get walking or doing something. I'm just kind of nervous as to making my back pain even worse =( but I know I have to do something to get back on track with losing.

Karen - way to go on getting out and exercising

I am still plugging along and in no way ready to give up. I did OK at the Chinese Buffet the other night, had very, very small portions of a few things that I normally would just totally overeat on. So that was a good step at least. I've been bringing my Smart Ones to work everyday and snacking on carrot chips and Light Done Right ranch dressing. I'm also eating a yogurt everyday and drinking more water (although I'm not a plain water person - I use Crystal Light individual packets). Now, like I said - just to get my butt in gear...

Talk to you guys soon - keep up the great work!
~P

Hi all,

Karen - I'm actually naturally a moderately fast walker, so the pace part isn't too difficult for me. You're right, planning will be the key for this weekend and Monday.

TxMom - Sounds like you did just fine at the Chinese Buffet. I've found that in buffet type situations, a little bit of the things you like leaves you satisfied and really doesn't do too much point damage, if any. Sounds like you're doing really well with your eating during the day, too. As for exercise, I can see how that poses a dilemma for you. Any possibility that you could see a physical therapist for some suggestions on exercise that won't aggrevate your back? I give you huge credit for trying to stay on track what with the physical and emotional pain your back is putting you through.

I had a good day yesterday. I actually ended eating under points (not intentionally, it's just how my appetite worked out) so I made up some for my mini binge Wednesday night. The sun is shining again and I'll try to get out for another walk, although the day is kind of hectic. I should be able to squeeze one in, though.

Have a great day and a terrific weekend.

Carla

Ugh - my office celebrated Valentine's Day today...LOL
I came into work and had little boxes of candy on my desk - needless to say I ate a few pieces (was an extremely stressful day today) and it is the first time I've had chocolate in about 3 weeks or so, other than Sugar Free pudding. Now....I feel totally sick and could care less if I EVER eat another piece of chocolate.

LOL I never thought I would hear myself say that - so that I know is a major step for me.

Here is hoping we all have a great weekend and successful week ahead

I got on the scale this morning and have gained 2 pounds back it seems. Tomorrow I am going to try walking slowly on my treadmill for as long as I can stand it and slowly work up to a comfortable pace for myself at this time.

*hugs!*

~P