Hi- I thought I'd take the liberty of starting this thread as I have just had a major NSV.

Over the last 2 weeks someone has come and stolen the ring of fat that sits round my waist (the bit inbetween my bust and hips that looks like a buoyancy aid!!) I have not really lost much since starting Sonoma this month but there is a definite physical change.

On the downside, I'm going to a birthday meal at an all- you- can eat Chinese buffet tonight, so it'll be a test of willpower. I WILL only have one plate (or 2 chinese soup bowls) and stay away from the peking duck and deep fried dim sum to concentrate on prawn stir fries. I've even decided to try tofu if it's there. I'm trying to plan but these kind of events aren't a good will power motivator. Wish me luck!

Good luck at the chinese! Clareh

My NSV has to do with being naughty... but not soooo naughty as before Sonoma. I craved a few non sonoma things... and ate them. But I did manage to make them healthier. I had an ice cream sundae. BUT with splenda ice cream and splenda hot fudge! A small bag of microwave popcorn rather than a huge one.

Good job on losing the ring of fat, Clareh! And I think this NSV's timing is really good: hopefully you will think of that as you bypass the the deep-fried and greasy stuff at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Awesome news buddy!

Eat the soup and lots of veggies!

They always have stirfry with chicken/ beef / pork or shrimp. It maybe loaded in MSG, but at least it isn't the deepfried covered in sauce!
Sometimes called - Moo Goo Guy Pan

Chow Mein is also good - Bean Spout noodles, veggies and meat, there is a sauce, but usually it isn't a thick one.

WonTon Soup also has meat and veggies.. unwrap the meat hidden in the noodle and ditch the noodle (wontons). Quite good.

Also try the "Egg Foo Young" (SP?). It is veggies and egg made in to an omlette. Skip the sauce, it is quite tasty on its own.

They also have BBQ pork slices sometimes and it is marinated and roasted. Not saucey, but quite tasty.


Good Luck!

Non-scale victories this week? Hmmm...I can practically RUN up the stairs at work without huffing and puffing by the time I get to the top (definately couldn't even walk them before without doing that before this)

My workout today also consisted of 30 min lap swimming and 30 min stationary bike. Now admittedly I had to stop and take a small breather in between each lap, but I don't think I could have done laps for a full 30 min prior to January 1st! Makes me feel alive and so motivated to continue!

NSV - I'm craving exercise when I don't. I've been bad with a cold for the last week, and there were a couple of days, when anything strenuous would bring on a coughing attach.

But I got out and walked not as strenuous, but it felt good.

I have clothes that are definitely fitting differently and I can see some curves coming back.

I have decided to throw the scale away for February...not quite sure how this is going to work for me, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I've noticed a pattern with my body...with whatever diet I do (WW twice, for example) I get to the 10 pounds lost stage like I did earlier this month, and then I kind of plateau there and even start gaining back. Well, instead then of just sticking it out, I get all depressed, tell myself what the use in trying is...blah blah blah. Well, not this time...I already hit my 10 lb plateau and had gained back. Sometimes my scale was reading as much as 5 lbs! I checked yesterday and I was back down to 1.5 lbs over that 10 lb mark...but for February I'm not going to even look at the scale at all...besides I'm going to be too busy packing for the big move (that's if they approve us...we find out tomarrow)

I'm going to stick Sonoma as best as I can. I really feel it has become my lifestyle finally. I really feel out-of-my-skin so to speak if there's nothing Sonomish around. In fact, yesterday was dh's 30th birthday. We went to the casino for breakfast brunch. They always have shrimp, plus they had crab legs left from Friday. Here's what I ate. I immediately attacked the shrimp and crab, but was still probably the proper protien size since once you remove the shells there's not much crab meat there. I then had a salad with all my veggies on it, some blue cheese, some parmesian cheese, and italian dressing (the dressing probably didn't meet all sonoma guidelines, but it's better than the creamy dressings that they also offered) I also had some chinese vegetable stir-fry. For desert? Strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. YUMMY! Oh, I did have one indulgence...a cheese blintz with strawberry syrup. It was small and satisfied my desire. I never did feel deprived, and never complained once that "oh I can't have that..." DH on the other hand....TWO slabs of prime rib! I almost asked for a bite but didn't...the thought of all that fat kind of disgusted me!

Now, last night was a different story. We went over to a friends house who made cheeseburgers and hot dogs and mac n' cheese and baked beans from the can. With white buns, of course. I had a little of each, and went back from more mac n' cheese and baked beans. At least the baked beans had some fiber, but they are also loaded with sugar! Oh, lest I forget...a big honkin' piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! Oh, well!

So, like I said...no scale, no "goals" but maybe to have my pants start fitting me loosely! Oh, and not to fall into the fast food habit while working my a$$ off this month cleaning and packing! Trying to look positive about tomarrow...but I'm still a bundle of nerves We need OUT of that house!!! I think though that I still may weigh in on the 14th just to make sure that I am still 10 lbs down to meet that goal for my tracker. Then, not again until March 1st! How about this...not until after we move into the new apartment! It will represent victory on so many levels

For me, exercising this morning when I had a totally legit excuse not to. See exercise thread for details.

Also, we were at a group picnic today and though there was loads of blecky traditional picnic food, I ate my turkey bacon sandwhich on wholemeal along with some olives, roasted red peppers and fresh tomato slices. I drank only water and my thermos of tea with sweetener and some milk. I did eat a packet of crisps and a handful of Pringles but if you would have seen what I passed up, you'd be so proud!

Today was a good day!

I'm feeling more in control again. I felt I was starting to slip but I know I can do this! Just need to marshal the troops every once in awhile, eh?