[dannyb]

Hey - lost 4.8 this week - a few pounds better than I had expected! I'm PSYCHED!

[Angie-Wangie]

Great Job Danny!!

[Nita]

Great Job Danny! Like I said earlier today I have had this cold for the past few days but I am still sticking with CORE. It's so great to be able to eat salad, a baked potato and a piece of steak. Tonight I am going to try Lentile soup and salmon done in George Foreman's grill. I made some last week the same way and it was really delicious.

Well I had better go and make dinner.

Great to read all these wonderful posts--they sure are motivating!
Nita

[WWEnthusiast]

WAY TO GO DANNY!!!! WhooooHoooooo You Go Guy!!!!
4.8 That is Inspirational!!! Keep it up, way up...keep it up!!!
Yes, Nita this board is the best....we all have to stick together!!! We can Do This, let's keep on being losers!!!! And Nita I hope you are feeling better soon. YOu take care of yourself for us.
Again, great job, Danny............L.J

[derrydaughter]

Danny, sounds like you are doing so very well! Congrats on using control at the Italian place, really hard to do with others eating other things you would love to have and trying to maintain portion control! You had such a great loss. One time a ww leader told me that men do so much better and lose weight faster than women. Wonder if that is so and why?
By the way, we should all put pressure on (by asking, writing notes,etc.) our local Italian restaurants and start asking for whole wheat pasta! If we explained WHY, perhaps they would understand! Some (not all) Italian entrees aren't that bad for you (probably more olive oil than our 2 tsp a day, though) if they are served with whole wheat pasta. I think we, collectively, as Core people need to express what we want. After all, dining establishments are in this to serve and retain their customers, wouldn't they WANT to know our interests and needs?
Cin, I am definitely trying that pumpkin thing! I love pumpkin anything!!!!! Yummy.... sprinkle some nutmeg on over top as well, maybe????? If you find the right "pretty" festive serving dish, it will be a "hit". Yes, Martha Stewart is truly lurking in my head.... I had a vision of spreading fall leaves and gourds on the table and putting this pumpkin stuff in wine glasses and tying orange bows around the bottom of the glasses. Actually, I do believe that presentaion sometimes can affect how we feel about what we are eating!
I used to live near a ww leader. She would invite me over for lunch sometimes and serve what ww used to call "personal cuisine" to me. She'd microwave the frozen meals and would NEVER put them on the table in those plastic containers! She scraped them out onto her BEST china and put lettuce and tomato and such things on the side and made them "pretty" and served our water in tall wine goblets clinking with ice and lemon. Our "boring" ww meal, became more of a treat. We lingered, chatted and enjoyed the meal so much more. Try these things, it really makes a difference and you only spend a few extra moments. Isn't a moment worth it to make your day a bit more pleasant?
Thanks for the clarification on the deli type of stuff, if you find out more - do share! I know that at my local grocer they have what is called "in store roasted...." and it looks like what I would consider a "real" roast beef to look like, but it's large. So, that is probably "safe". I would think any of the "Thin and Trim" brand is probably safe as well, is there a way of knowing for sure? I have the "specs" on it, having picked up a brochure at the local grocery store. They give the full breakdown of sodium, fat, etc.
You sure didn't bore me to tears, I think we are all new to this and NEED to know!
I sure hope that, along the way, ww comes out with one or two core frozen entrees. That would make life so easy on hurried days. I'm sure it's being considered, but who knows if they will???
I thought about bringing along my own sour cream or stuff like that to restaurants as well, sure with I could find the right kind of container to do that with! It's pretty awkward.
I sure hope it's only that Kettle corn that is NOT core, I don't like it anyway! And, "idealperson", welcome!!!
LJ, keep trying! I do think I am feeling better these last few days being on core than I was before. I think my body is adjusting and my digestive tract is happier for sure! I can tell. I am not craving some of the food items that I was before, I feel like a period of adjustment is taking place and I am doing well!
Now, brainstorming.....
Aren't Boca Burgers core???? If they aren't ignore this thoughts (will look them up later on) ...... what about baking them to defrost for a few moments and then using one of those as a base to make a mini pizza? Put them on foil that you have turned up the edges so they won't make a huge mess all over your oven! One could use diced tomatoes, fresh veggies, artichoke hearts and ff mozzarella and sprinkle with a drizzle of olive oil and some oregano? I'm thinking about doing that for my lunch today. I'm craving pizza! Don't want to blow my flex points on crust for sure!
Also, take an apple, cut it into bite sized chunks and sprinkle with a packet of Splenda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Microwave, covered, for about 2 minutes. Tastes like apple pie and if you serve it over top of ff, sf, vanilla pudding, it's really yummy!!!!! Again, put it in a tall champaigne glass, layer it like a partfait and sprinkle nutmeg and a bit of cinnamon over top! Make it look like you went to really special trouble! A tiny bit of cool whip (but this adds a point) might look and taste really good here as well!
Well, I grocery shop today and will be looking for all sorts of inventive things. Love to shop when I have time....
Good luck to all!
Linda in "Coresville" USA

[novabubble]

Susie, at those business functions do they usually have a tray of seafood? Because you could have shrimp, or even smoked oysters. I have a conference in a month and I think it will be pretty hard to eat core. Also going to mom's house first-- maybe I will just count points that week.

Things are going well here. I find I take a lot of bean salads, casseroles or soups for lunch. I am going to try to make curried couscous this weekend (like my curried rice recipe). If it turns out ok, I will post it. I eat curried almost anything!

Here was today's insight-- I stopped at a corner store on campus and bought two pieces of fruit. It cost me $1.10, which is LESS than a muffin at Tim Horton's and so much nicer (a small banana and a pear). So I think I need to quit complaining about the cost of core food!

Robin

[novabubble]

Cin-- Sorry, I'm a little slow on the uptake. FOr the pumpkin custard do you add any milk at all, or just put the powdered mix into the pumpkin? Thanks

Susie, I've cancelled my online membership as well. I do not need to pay $20 a month to be able to count to 35 every week.

cheers all
Robin

[d_rowland]

Great going everyone - Week 3 under my belt and 2.8# less under it Less than 10# to goal. Wish work wasn't so busy, so I could participate more in the the discussions, but I appreciate all those who can and look forward to slowing down some day! Lookingf or that curried couscous recipe Robin - I love curry too. I have just bout some couscous and haven't decided what to do with it.

One more note - GREAT job Danny - you'll be at goal in no time with a loss like that!

[dannyb]

Thanks, everybody.

CIN - I went grocery shopping early this morning and got a sf vanilla pudding package and a can of pumpkin; I'm going to make it for tonight.

BTW - I went really, really early, and there was no one at the deli counter. I bought some packaged deli meats after confirming they were very low in fat and had no added sugars or other filler. I can't see any harm coming to me by counting those as core.

That leads me to another thought. At my last meeting, a woman asked about "Take Control" margarine. That is one of the spreads that has plant sterols added to them. They have 0 transfat and have been demonstrated to significantly reduce cholesterol - - and the FDA has approved that claim, and it is very effective when you take 2 servings/day. I credit this, along w/ niacin, with reducing my cholesterol from 235 to 180 and my LDL down from 190 to 115. The leader gave the "party line" that margarines are not core and must be counted as points, and the poor woman is now going to stop using the stuff! To my thinking, this stuff is at least as heart healthy as olive or canola oil, it provides the necessary fat, and does not contain more calories.

I understand the point that much thought went into the plan and that we should trust it and not try to change it - - BUT - - doesn't common sense come into play. Heck, it is my body, and so long as I'm losing weight, I'm going to stick with the the few little tweaks that I've given the plan to make it work better for me. E.g., in addition to using one of the plant sterol margarines, I also have a couple of servings of soynut butter (which is extremely healthy and is basically ground up, roasted soybeans without any added oil) and celery sticks a week.

But, if I don't keep losing, I guess I can't be blaming the plan, can I?

Linda - I love that idea re the Boca Burger Pizza! I've also been craving pizza (a craving that I caved into, for just a piece, last Sunday night, actually!). I made a pizza omelette for breakfast the other day, but that wasn't the most satifying thing. Have you found out whether it is core or not - - I can't imagine why it wouldn't be.

Debbie - 10 lbs to goal - - now THAT'S exciting; Go for it!

I've really been filling up on fruit and various vegetable soups lately. I'm worried that I haven't been getting enough meat. I know that I can't keep this weight loss pace up, but I'm trying to get a good start going into my trip.

Take care, all, and thanks for all of the encouragement.

[CIN]

Hi Room,
I did e mail my trainer and inquired more about deli meat...she said she still stands on what she told us....................but to also ask the deli people.they should know!

To make to pumpkin pudding:

2 cups skim milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 pkg sf ff instant butterscotch or vanilla pudding
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice ( I also add cinnamon )

Mix well & set!

Think I will go make some now for tonight.

I went to Sam's for Tilapia ........we love it! My Grandson (age 4 ) wants to know where Sam is?

BBL
Cin~

PS Someone ask something else and I dont remember what it was.....sorry

[WWEnthusiast]

Thanks CIN I was just in the process of getting to write that exact question.....Pumpkin Pudding details.....I am going to try it this weekend. If I can have a great dessert waiting for me at the end of my OP day then I just may be able to try CORE for an entire week!!

Linda- you come up with some great stuff. If I could be 1/2 the cook you are boy I would have it made :-) As I was writing this I was having a afterwork snack which just happen to be a Boca Burger. So if I start my full core week this Saturday that IS on my list!! Seems you have found comfortability with CORE. I guess it takes time and more than the 2 days I gave it, but after seeing that +.5 that was it. I had been losing every week for 12 weeks and then BAM!!! Could it have been the bag of JollyTime 94% Ff popcorn I ate the night before?? I won't ever know but I do know I am NOT a popcorn eater normally.
Anyway......enough of that........on to good thoughts, and how good everyone here is doing.

Debra...you are doing great.....congrats on the 2.8 loss...awesome!! Did you switch from Flex Plan to CORE or did you start WW when Core rolled out??

Danny are you making your own soups or buying them from the store? I was thinking of making soup with Barley this weekend and some chicken and vegetables. It sounds good and totally CORE ---- if I go that route :-)
Keep those SWEET desserts coming and I just may!!
Thanks everyone for all the motivating posts here......you are all a great bunch of people..........it's like having a meeting right here each day.........
Talk with you all later.........LJ

How is everyone else doing?

[Nita]

Hi Everyone,

I went to my first restaurant since I have been on CORE. Can you believe I told the waiter I was on the new CORE program, and I am sure he had no clue what I was talking about. It happened to be an Italian restaurant and they served the most delicious garlic toast which only my husband ate. At one point I did think of just tasting it but opted not to. I ordered a grilled chicken breast with grilled veggies and I made my own salad at the salad bar. I added oil and vinegar to it and when I got back to my seat I added a little sweetner to it. They also served an absolutely fabulous ice tea. I left there feeling totally satisfied and at least my husband was able to eat a "regular" Italian meal.

Thanks also for the pumpkin recipe. I believe I will be making that tonight as well.

It's really great to see the wonderful weight losses on this board. And I am still excited about not having to journal. It's really like eating as a "normal" person and I also see it as going back to the basics!

Take care,
Nita

[novabubble]

Thank you SO much for that pumpkin recipe. I'd be quite happy eating fruit but my husband likes dessert. Once in a while it's nice to have something we can both eat.

A friend brought over the most delicious soup tonight. He made it with a dried soup mix called "13 bean soup" but I'm sure you could do this with any dried or canned multi-bean soup. Stir fry 2 tomatoes, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, one zucchini, and 2 pounds of halibut or haddock (all chopped up). Add to 4-6 servings of any type of multi-bean soup (if you are using a dry soup mix, make sure the soup is fully cooked first). I might have spiced it up with a little cayenne but it was incredibly good. The guy who made it knew nothing about core-- he just happened to have those ingredients, so that's what he made. I was thrilled because I could eat it without spending any points.

Way to go on that loss Danny, and Debra. I'm happy that the program is working for you!
Cheers all

Robin

[ShelleyM]

I am having trouble following Core. Yesterday I went crazy and had a few Triscuits and Quakers rice cakes. I was just craving carbs. I ran 7 miles yesterday, so I don't think that it hurt that much, but I may have to go back to Flex just to cover myself. I was home yesterday for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, and ate mostly salad and fruit, but then at about 5PM, is when I couldn't stop myself.

[Angie-Wangie]

I think it is especially tough for someone who is a runner not to crave carbs! Hang in there and do not be too hard on yourself Shelley!!