Sorry i have not written personals. I am going to do that later today.

Coolmom, I hope you have an awesome trip. I know you will !!!

Thanks to everyone who wrote the kind messages about the death of my friend. I am better now with it all. I believe she is doing well where she is. Just was hard finding out the way I did so late at night. And my concern that I would have to tell her closest relative in the middle east. Because I was likely the only person who had been in very occassional and scant email contact with her. But it turns out there is someone in charge who told me to send her the woman's email address ( no one would have her phone number) My friend had no close family in this country. Even though she grew up here.

I continue to gain. eg: I gained 2 lbs yesterday while eating 1520 calories. My newest theory is that I no longer am suffering from many years of malabsorption ( sorry TMI). So what I eat is causing me to gain.

It looks like I will have to eat less than a thousand a day. I am starting today. Today will be 880 calories. ( tomorrow will be less because the frozen lemon protein stuff with coconut oil will be gone). Hopefully I can lose on that. I guess this will be the new normal until I get back down. I cannot tolerate this continual weight gain. All vegetables will now be eaten without anything on them. I used to use a tsp of oil, lemon, stevia, carrot puree and celtic salt as a dressing. Now there will be unadorned raw celery, cucumber and cooked cabbage ( because of thyroid I can only eat cabbage cooked).

I am sure I will be able to lose with this. It will be boring and annoying. And not the healthiest way to eat. But I cannot stand being around myself like this. The weight gain has to stop. Tomorrow I should be able to reduce intake to 840. I have to lose 6 lbs to get down to where I can fit back into my pants. It will be okay. I can do this. Even if it takes a month, I can do it. I honestly think it will take less than a month.

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

Up 2.8lbs to 178.6lbs today.

Breakfast was eggs, razor clams and sardines.

Lunch was fish and salad.

For exercise, I ran 8 miles before breakfast and did 60 minutes weight training before lunch.

Diana, the job offer is a bit confusing at the moment. I applied for a sideways move which I got. But then my current unit wants me to stay and says they will engineer a promotion for me if I do. So I am staying and hoping the promotion works out. Else, it will be a bummer.

Flower, thanks and good luck with the eating plan. I, too, found I need to eat less than 1000 cals to lose. I have adjusted and don't feel too deprived...most of the time.

Flower, I don't know how I missed it but I'm sorry about your friend.

I want to scream because I really want to know what it's going to take to get below 140. It's not even an unrealistic goal and I've been at this 3 years. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but it shouldn't be this hard. If my anxiety disorder wasn't a factor to keep going (cardio keeps it at bay) I would honestly quit at this point.

Now I'm reading that Lipitor could possibly cause weight gain. Wonderful.

I quit the cortisol suppliments because I'm tired of all these pills right now so nothing to report. Maybe I'll try them again another time.

Hi Everyone!

volet Hi and welcome to the check-in.

CoolMom Have a wonderful trip!

Ian Good luck with the job situation. Either way, I hope it works for the best for you. Keep us updated.

Mossy I think Belleruth has been very helpful so far. I am listening to several of her CD's throughout the day/night. One in particular is the one on Grief. I recently remembered something about my Mom that made me feel really good. I have really been stressing about DH's upcoming tests. I can easily stress eat/binge eat. I am usually able to avoid it but the battle literally leaves me exhausted mentally and physically. I have been doing really well with this extra stress right now. I still have the daily battle, but it's not as tough. I'm thinking it's because of the Weight Loss CD as well as the other CD's that emphasize taking care of yourself and your body is your oldest ally, etc. Which CD do you have? I am looking at these CD's like they are my personal therapy sessions. I listen to each of them in their entirety every day. Then if I have extra time I will listen to the affirmations from each one again. The weight loss one is on in between everything else. I also listen to the Weigh Loss affirmations any time I am in the car. I'm not sure if it will help anything in the long run or if I will be totally brainwashed

This will be a quick post tonight. I was limited on my time today. DH stayed with me most of the day since it was raining and he couldn't go hunting. My workout was short, but at least I got it in.

Total Approx 1400 calories +

Breakfast (400 Calories + coffee)
spritz oil in pan
egg 70 cal
egg whites from carton 60 calories
Mediterranean Blend Veggies or Zucchini w/Tri Pepper Blend
1/8 cup feta cheese 40 calories
Rudi's Whole Wheat English muffin 130 calories
1 teaspoon pumpkin butter 25 calories
juice 75 calories
coffee w/sugar and cream

Lunch (450 calories)
chicken salad on wheat bread 450 calories

Dinner (550 calories)
chicken salad on wheat bread 450 calories
apple 100 calories

Exercise:
HHA's Fat Burning Cardio
Oxycise Commuter workout

Waving Hi all around! Enjoy your evening!

E: Nothing. It's Sunday.

B: 1 apple, 1 orange, and a slice of peanut butter toast.
L: 1/2 large potato, 1 cup broccoli, and a light garlic bechamel.
S: 1 chopped carrot, 1 tbsp peanut butter.
D: 2 cups cereal, 1.5 cups almond milk, 1/2 cup juice, 1 triple oreo (I didn't even know they made those!).

Diana: Even if the 160s were temporary for now, if they showed up on the scale that means your average weight is probably trending downward. At least that's what I tell myself when something similar happens.

volet: Congrats on your day!

Mossy: interesting plateau-buster diet. I haven't heard of it. Let us know how it works.

for today ...
b: banana, barley coffe
s: slice of bread with vegetarian spread
l: veggie risotto
d: don't know yet - probbably 2 weetabix with ricemilk

exercise: bodypump

so far so good!

Hi all. Time for personals. I went back to the 20th and started answering from then. So for some people I will be answering lots of things they said over the past few days. Thanks again everyone for your kind words of support about the passing of my friend.

Veil, I hope you had a great time at the cooking party. Sometimes having fun is more important than staying to the diet. Thanks for asking about my friend Laura. She was a really good herbalist. Great reputation. For decades she had an awesome herb shop. That's how I met her and how we became friends. You wrote: "I send out love & calm into the world. I know it will come back to me." Somehow it will. Even if it does not seem so now or in the near future. I just am sorry that things are so difficult at this time in your life.

momwithdogs, so glad you had good food at MOA.

MadeToThrive, I read a recipe where people put the coconut oil with an equal amt of butter into coffee in a blender. It is supposed to be amazing. I got unrefined virgin organic coconut oil. Re: not writing as much on the thread, all things are right at different times. Maybe the amount you can write here is just right, for now. HUGE congrats on the book. I did look it up. The cover of the book is great ! Loved reading what you wrote here. About how proud your grandsons are.

Coolmom, by the time you read this you may be back home. IDK if you will be on this forum while you are away. I am imagining you are having such a good time. And surprising your friends when they see your new awesome body. Although honestly, an awesome self is what is most important. And I have a feeling you have always had that.

Novangel, so glad to hear the good news about your father's successful surgery. I can only imagine how relieved you all are. Glad you are listening to your body and holding back on running. Thats the best way for things to heal. Sorry you are having such a hard time getting below 140.

Syckgirlsfv, thanks for the charts. You rode 26 miles? That puts you hero status as far as I am concerned Glad you rocked the Econ final. Not surprised though.

Kelijpa, if you still are camping I hope you have fun. And I hope it is not too cold.

Diana, Woohoo on getting into the 160s. Okay, well i just read on and it seems that was, for the moment fleeting. You will get back there. I know you will. You wrote in a later post " I can easily stress eat/binge eat. I am usually able to avoid it but the battle literally leaves me exhausted mentally and physically" I hear ya. It is SO exhausting.

PennyB, yes it was hard finding out like that. Thanks. Your diet is very healthy. lots of good choices. Or that's what I think when I read what you write.

Hi Violet, great to meet you. Glad you are here. Is Barley coffee any good? If so, could you please tell me the brand name of it?

Ian, I hope you get that promition. I just know you deserve it.

Mossy, thanks for writing out the eating plan. Why the 2 cups of water before each meal? I thought that waters down digestive enzymes that the body produces. But hey, I do not know much about this stuff. Just curious what his reasoning is. Because I am willing to try that. Nice that you got in that 45 minute walk. AND nice that you have a dog. <3 Sending lots of good energy that the new plateau busting diet works great for you

Fluffy, i hope your weekend was good. And that he who shall not be named, aka the food monster was kept at a distance. <3

If someone posted and I did not see it, I am sorry. Hi to everyone who I did not mention. s wildly and enthusiasticlly

L: Chicken sausage. Salad with lettuce cucumber celery and cooked cabbage with dressing made of an ounce of carrot puree and lemon juice. 300 calories
D: cod fish and salad, same as above 260 calories
S: Lemon protein coconut oil frozen thingy 250 ( I made it the day before. But no more)
S: Cocoa /low acid decaf low taste coffee with a small amount of unsweetened cashew milk. 150

Today I was mindful of my sodium intake. I ate around 960 calories. I know that I will not lose much this way. But at least I will not gain. tomorrow I will have less calories because I decided to stop the coconut oil. If I eat 200 calories I want to enjoy them. Maybe if I lose the weight and stabalize it, then I will reconsider.

I have to get on that jogging trampoline for at least a little while.

Good Morning, Everyone!

Last night I added on:
Tamilee Webb's Total Body Stretch (standing)
A Meditation for Relaxation & Wellness

No Oxycise, yet. I have to get a move on it this morning. I have to get to the shop early since DH has to take a customer to the airport.

Calories for yesterday: 1400 +
Weigh In: 170.4
Up: .4

Have a great start to your week!

thanks, everybody
flower123: i use an european brand, so i guess you don't have this particular kind in the states. however, i've looked up the listed ingredients and it's just dissolvable barley extract (i use instant barley coffe) and it's sugar free. to me it tastes almost as coffee, plus it has a lot of vitamines, that coffee doesn't.
some barley coffees have driend fruit in it, but to me it just tasted weird, so i wouldn't recommend that. the basic dried barley coffee is fine too, but you have to cook it and this takes about 15-20 minutes. the basic barley coffee tastes a lot like the instant sugar free version that i drink.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LOSE UP TO 20 POUNDS IN 21 DAYS!

In The Skinny Rules, celebrity trainer and coach of NBC’s The Biggest Loser Bob Harper delivers the ultimate strategy for healthy, long-term weight loss and “thin maintenance.” But what if you have a big event looming—a reunion, wedding, beach vacation, or other special occasion—and need a fast-acting plan to meet your short-term goals?

Jumpstart to Skinny features thirteen short-term Rules (no one gets thin on mere suggestions) that will supercharge your weight loss. Taking any confusion or decision making out of the equation, Harper also provides a day-by-day plan for success, including his body-toning “Jumpstart Moves” and deliciously slimming recipes specially designed for your get-skinny needs.

Jumpstart to Skinny lets you in on the secrets Bob shares with his red-carpet celebrity clients. This is not a marathon diet; it’s a quick sprint to the finish line. And the victory lap comes when you slip into that sexy dress or swimsuit and feel fantastic. Get started today!

THE FOUR-PART JUMPSTART PLAN TO A SKINNIER YOU

• Your Jumpstart Rules: Thirteen must-follow principles to get you ready for your own “big reveal,” including Rule #1, a precise breakdown of the proper protein/carbohydrate/fat proportions for every meal, and Rule #3, which explains why you need to just say no to complex carbs after breakfast during this three-week plan. These are the Rules that Bob Harper and his celebrity clients use to get ready for their big events—and now you’re in on the secrets, too.[