Vixsin - have fun! sounds like a nice time. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

Diana - I just used spring roll wrappers that I got at the natural foods store, soaked them in water in a pie pan for about 40 seconds, plopped some raw shredded carrots, sweet red peppers, and cucumber, and rolled them. Mixed up chunky peanut butter and soy sauce together for dipping sauce and voila. I think it would be tasty with thai basil and other flavors, like in the recipe. And, thanks for your empathy about my work situation...just have to remember that three weeks from now I'll be on vacation in Peru! Chinese buffets...man, I couldn't even go in the door.

Nicole - when I tried WW, I found that I could stay within my points and exercise and not lose. The problem for me I think is that I was eating too many carbs and not balancing carbs with protein, and I have insulin resistance which means my body goes crazy with carbs. So maybe try staying within your points but changing up the ratio between carbs, protein, fats, and veg. Just an idea. Way to go on cutting out processed food - it's not easy but SO much better for you.

Playground - welcome! Today is a new day.

MamaP - way to go on getting out of the line! "Step away from the funnel cake..."

Roxanne - stay strong! We are with you on saying no to halloween candy. Not worth it. Not at all. Congrats on your trip to the gym, sounds like a good class. I love gelato, too, as a sweet, low-cal dessert.

Lindsey - I've got homework too...reading and writing. I emailed in a paper to my prof yesterday and already need to get started on my next one. I'm in grad school part time and work full time. Good luck with your schoolwork, and great job staying OP.

My Friday:

breakfast - wasn't very hungry, sometimes that happens around TOM. But made a smoothie w/ skim milk, FF plain organic yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, banana and drank about half of it. Also coffee w/ skim.

lunch - pinto beans with cheese, homemade salsa, tortilla

snack - triscuits (whole grain and tasty) with cheese before my run

dinner - spaghetti with meat sauce with added veggies (red peppers, carrots, garlic) and green salad.

snack - hot chocolate...just melted a few chocolate chips in a pan with skim milk. It was a delicious treat for one of our first cooler fall nights.

Exercise - yes, I worked out. Told trainee in no uncertain terms that I was scheduling in a work out, and did it. Four and a half mile run - I didn't push myself too hard, but definitely got the heart rate up for about an hour and it felt great.

Today is first day of TOM, so not weighing as the scale is often up 5-7 pounds around this time. But it's nice because my appetite has been a little less than usual...sometimes before/during TOM I am ravenous but sometimes appetite is diminished which makes keeping eating under control easier. Still feeling annoyed about my work situation, but working on having a positive attitude and not letting the track of negative, cranky thoughts be on repeat in my head...you know what I mean?

I forgot that I attempted these planks last night before bed - http://www.mytrainerbob.com/blog-pos...tructed-planks . I was only able to hold it for about 10 seconds, but I did it 5 times. Will have to add these in to my daily routine.

Kris, good job on the plank! The first time I tried one I couldn't do one at all and I thought it was impossible! I prefer straight arms planks over the bent arm planks myself. I also like the 'spider' planks, where one arm at a time you go from a bent plank to a straight arm plank. Adding movement seems to make them more tolerable

I'll have to try those.

Roxanne - That's GREAT!!!!! Congrats on the loss!!!!! That's awesome you're in the nursing program. How do you like it?? I'm going to school for healthcare management. Hopefully I'll be finished spring 2012!

Blueridge- Good luck on your homework too! As much as I am not looking forward to writing this paper I find that it keeps me from snacking because I'm concentrating on my homework! What are you studying in grad school?

Yay for water aerobics Roxanne! If it makes you feel any better, most people are so self-absorbed, they're not paying any attention to us plus-sizers at the gym. They're staring in the mirror at themselves and really just getting it done. I've always noticed this, but this time around, even more.

Didn't end the day well last night... snacked after I posted last.

Had a meeting at 8 this morning and started out with lots of energy, but it's now 12 and not that much accomplished yet.

Coffee/natural sugar/cream
1 egg, turkey bacon, 2 biscuits, sawmill gravy, tomato 700 total w/coffee

Question, it seems to me that you can make gravy that's not too unhealthy. A teaspoon of oil, a little flour, and skim milk... salt & pepper. What do you all think? I'm sure it's not good often, but for those 4 or 5 times a year I crave it for breakfast, I don't feel too bad about it.

Determined to hit the gym in the next hour or so. Will check in later!

Happy Saturday everyone!

Dallas, I feel splurigng on something every once in a while is perfectly fine. Its when I feel I can have ___________ every day that I get myself into trouble.

I did it!!!! A whole hour of aerobics! Thought I was going to die. After ten minutes, which I never work out on my own for more than that, I was thinking I want to quit. But then told myself, I can go a little longer. And I did.

At half hour, someone left the class, and I thought, I can too...but then told myself, I want to stick it out a little longer.

At 45 minutes I told myself just a little longer you can do it. And I DID!!!!

Best part....I weighed myself on their scales which are more accurate than home scales...ladies I LOST a pound!!! All this time I have been super depressed about not losing weight and I have been! Doh!

I'm on top of the world!

Roxanne
Started my journey on 9/8/2010
mini goal: 10% loss


For every 5lbs lost:

62 minutes and 755 calories on the elliptical. A mile+ walked with the dog and a friend.

Breakfast: Above - 700
Snack: Crackers/cheese 150
Snack: 3/4 Biscuit w/tomato, turkey bacon, spinach, miracle whip. 200
Snack: Grapes 100
Dinner: LC pizza, spinach/basil salad w/onion, tomato, yellow pepper, mushrooms, a bit of parmesan and light ranch. 600

1750 at 7:00pm

Not sure where the night will go. Have been invited out to the local pub. The university had a football game today and it should be hopping tonight. Not sure I'm up for it. lol

Congratulations Roxanne! That's awesome!

Blueridge: Peru!!! I was wondering where you were headed. What takes you there?

Patchwork, Lindsey, Lauren: Love the pics of the puppies... I may change my pic too. The current pic is from a "Madmen yourself" website.

Little Lindsay - thanks for the link!! It's super helpful!

MamaP - will definitely try the planks, too!

roxanne - great job!!!

Alright, so...I was at a 30th birthday party with a bunch of old friends and I knew it would be challenging to completely stay away from ALL food. So I tried to 'save up' points/calories throughout the day and I think I stayed pretty much within the limit.

B - 2 crisp bread with 1 tsp of 0.2% cream cheese and jam

L - fruit salad with 2 tbsp of 0.2% curd

S - soy sauce glazed snap peas with 2 tbsp of bulgur

D - 2 veal sausages, 1 small pretzel, tomato and cucumber salad (skipped the potatoe salad and the fatty spreads) plus half a glass of champagne to toast and a small piece of a WW cake (gotta love friends trying to lose baby weight )

I drank a TON of water today - probably around 3 liters. I fully expect to be up a few times tonight , but drinking water helped me keep my hands off the candy/snacks/chips so it'll be worth it.

The gym was closed today so no real exercise, but I walked quite a bit during a 3 hour photography excursion, plus I was carrying all the equipment .
Overall, not a perfect diet day, but not as bad as it would have been in the past. I'm super busy tomorrow and I've got the call-back interview on Monday so we'll see if I'll manage a proper work-out. The good thing is that I'm already missing it and I can't wait to get back on the elliptical trainer!

10-2-10 check in

Busy, busy day. Took my mom to the Hallmark store, then to Radio Shack, then she wanted to go through the McDonald's drive thru for a sandwich . . . and apple pies (I got nothing. ) Then after I brought my mom home I came home long enough to each lunch, then I went to the hospital to meet my new niece, then to pick up prescriptions, then I went to David's Bridal and ordered a ruby red wrap to go with my dress for the ball, then to a shoe store and found my shoes, then to my mom's to drop off the flavored waters I picked up for her at Walmart while I was getting my prescriptions. Whew . . . now I'm home long enough to grab dinner and then I'm off to the grocery store to do my mom's grocery shopping.

80+ ounces water (so far)
20 minute Zumba Express (before bed tonight) ~ not happening since it's 10:00 and I just got home from the grocery store. Did some planks instead - better than nothing.

Breakfast:
Soy Flour (low carb) pancakes - yuk yuk - topped with cottage cheese and melted strawberry preserves

Lunch:
Pork Loin Chop
Sauerkraut

Snack:
Fiber One Bar

Dinner:
Big Lettuce Salad with 3 ounces shredded roast beef and 1.5 ounces provolone cheese
SF Fudge Bar

Total Calories approximately 1220.

Hi Everyone!

Total approx 1615 + Morning Joe

Breakfast (365 Calories + coffee)
spritz olive oil in pan
egg 70 cal
egg whites from carton 60 cal
Handful of spinach
2% Reduced Fat Cheese 40 cal
high fiber English muffin 100 cal
1 teaspoon jam 20 calories
coffee w/sugar and cream
juice 75 calories

Lunch 300 calories
Grilled chicken snack wrap, no sauce 250 calories
Venti Iced Coffee w/1 sweet 'n low & cream 50 calories

Dinner (950 Calories)
Salad (lettuce, tomato, cukes, celery 1 tablespoon low fat Asian dressing 100 calories
Hamburger steak 200 calories
1/2 cup rice 85 calories
1/8 cup gravy 15 calories
1/2 cup field peas 90 calories
Green beans 100 calories
iced tea 100 calories
Pepperidge farms petite cake slice 260 calories

Exercise:
Peak 10 Cardio