Janette, sounds like you have a nice weekend planned. Thanks for explaining the muscle fat/thing so clearly. It make sense to me now.

Vickie I really admire you for being active every day when you weren't doing anything before. When that doesn't feel challenging any more, I'm sure you'll do a bit more. But you have already made a huge change that will add years to your life! And your clothes don't lie!

Cheers

Thanks, Robin. It hasn't been easy but I'm determined. I have to do it every day...it's just a rule. I couldn't do 3 or 4 days a week because I would make up a million excuses about why I should do it on another day.

I went to a family party tonight and it was really hard. I brought a baked potato and FF sour cream and ate chicken with no skin and cauliflower while everyone else at mashed potatoes, potato dumplings, polish sausage and birthday cake. I decided I didn't want to spend my 35 points on this because I gained last week. Hope I'm rewarded on the scale next week! I keep telling myself it was the company that was important.....right?

Hello! I am Jami. Mom of Kennedy 19 mo. I have a great husband. I have been at WW 2 times befor now I am down 8.8 in 2 weeks. I have to weigh in Monday. I am trying to reach 10lbs. My goal weight is 155 I am at 173.3 now. I am also trying to get pregnant again.. I did wel on Atkins but never kept it off plus It made me sick while I was pregnant I was on it before I got preg. I had Hyperemesis from it they think So have to stick to WW this time I lve this chat room

I hear you Vicki, headed to an 80th birthday party for my MIL today and it's also Thanksgiving here... luckily turkey dinner is mostly core. I will have a sliver of cake today and a sliver of pie tomorrow (we are having our own turkey dinner on Monday, which is a holiday). It IS the company that's important but I've spent years associating that company with too much food, and I've also used food at those kinds of events to smooth over the rough spots. So I think it's harder than it looks to get through these family celebrations.

Are you Polish, Vickie? I'm 1/2 Ukrainian!

Janette, homemade potato soup sounds very good, just what I needed. Could you post the recipe?

Jami, great to meet you. You've gotten a great start on your weight loss!

Hi everyone!! and Welcome Jami!! Good going on your weight loss..keep up the good work....I say, if you work it, it works!
I wanted everyone to know my results today (3rd week Core) DOWN 2 (more lbs)
on Core Plan = totally for three weeks....8 lbs. Not too shabby, for someone who was quite the holdout on Core. Now I am so used to it, I can't imagine doing points. and I was the BIGGEST points fan......go figure :-)
We also went to a dinner last night, and I must admit, I was very, very good. Did not eat anything I shouldn't have not even the dessert, instead came home and had a slice banana and 36g oz of FF coolwhop = 1 pt. hmm hmm dee-lish. Like my very own banana cream pie. I was proud of me, and W/I this morning showed that.
Robin enjoy the celebration, and enjoy the Turkey and perhaps a baked potato. Maybe some fruit for dessert....this coming from someone who always stayed away from fruit on pts and now fruit has become my friend. YOU can do it Robin and if not there is always the next day, and let's not forget our WPA. So you'll be fine, just enjoy the celebration.
And YES Vickie it IS the company that is important.
Let's face it, this is an everyday battle and life long battle for us, and we can do this, together with the wonderful support of this board.
Janette, I hope all is well with you and your famiy... and look forward to your next post.
Want you all to know I am so enjoying Core, and I am here to tell you it really isn't all that bad....for sure we make matter choices, and I even am used to not having my bread at lunch, and my Wow chips!!! Just wanted to share with you all, and hope you all are having good days out there.......Talk with you later............Linda (L.J)

Jami, Welcome and way (weigh) to go! You are doing incredible. I am really enjoying this board and hope you'll post often. We can all learn from each other.

Hey Robin, Happy Thanksgiving and Congratulations to your MIL. You have a couple of challenging days ahead of you. It sounds like you've thought about it and made a plan to cope so I bet you'll be fine. I'm not Polish. My Sister the genealogist tells me that we are Irish and Austrian. I've just always loved Polish food and really any European country comfort food. There is nothing like a good plate of pierogi! Don't even get me started. Last night, the little voice in my head said "Have a couple of potato dumplings, you have points, go ahead". Darn that voice! I didn't eat any but I sure feel a little week this morning. I was starving when I got home and made some scrambled eggs and ate them before I went to bed. That was bad....but not as bad as dumplings.

When I was a kid we didn't have a lot of money but we always had great food. That was how my parents showed love. And, we were required to clean our plates or we didn't get any dessert. Well, you know I cleaned mine! That's why I've started serving myself half sized portions. That way I can still clean my plate and not get into trouble.

LJ, I think it great that you are enjoying Core and great success. I remember when you expressed concern about giving up your bread and WOW chips. Isn't it funny how this plan gets rid of some of the cravings? Like I have a taste for chocolate but it's my brain thinking it more than my body craving it. Weird little program.

LJ, you cracked me up when you talked about your own little "banana cream pie" because that is EXACTLY what I said when I tasted mine. It really is good, isn't it! I wouldn't even have considered that dessert a month ago.

Enjoy your Sunday.

I will post the potato soup recipe in the recipe thread but I wouldn't call it a recipe, just the way I cook it!

It has rained all weekend here. But we managed to have a good time at the car show anyway.

Talk to you all later.

A quick intro:

I'm 51, and I've been on 3FC off and on since 1998. I've been on WW off and on too. I was the "inspiration" behind the Bootcamp Buddies, but they and I ended up having a parting of the ways (guess they are still doing well.) I lost around 130 lbs on points, but then had some health problems and other problems and used them as an excuse to say to **** with WW. Unfortunately, I've regained everything I ever lost, plus some more. BUT, I'm back now, and I'm trying the Core program, with mixed results so far.

I lost 4.4 lbs the first week, 6.4 the next week, gained BACK .8, lost 8.8 (no kidding!), then gained back 6.8 of it the following week. A wild and wooly ride so far, to say the least! :)

I have some problems with the vagueness of some of the "Rules" and clarifications of the Rules and whatnot. This is, unfortunately, typical of WW when they introduce a new program. It looks bad, though, when there was already a page full of corrections to the Food Companion being circulated here on 3FC before I could even buy it!

I'm concentrating this week on limiting my portion sizes. My whole house is on the Plan (my wife and 15-year-old son, plus me). We have nothing in the house that is not a Core Food, except diet hamburger buns and bread, plus my coffee creamer. We use Flexpoints for these, of course. BUT, I think we're eating too much, and eating when we're not really hungry. We'll see if watching portion sizes a bit more helps. I DO find the Plan ridiculously easy to live with, though, and I'm a LOT more enthusiastic about it than the Points plan (which, after all these years, I'm totally burned out on.)

Hey, Daniel. Welcome to our little corner of the world! You've really been doing fabulous. I'll try not to be jealous...you know us women folk are always jealous at how much faster men lose weight. Another of God's little jokes!

Seriously, it's great that you are getting support at home. I don't know if you read our back pages (and committed them to memory!) but my husband is also doing Core with me and it really makes it SO much easier. Sorry to hear that you gained all the weight back. That stinks. I've gained and lost the same 75 pounds so many times I could scream. I've 150 to lose. I've lost 6 on Core in 4 weeks which is actually good for me. I could live this way.

Do you cook or does your wife?

I'm the main cook, although my wife cooks some too. It really is great having us all on the Core plan though-- because we've rid the house of all junk food and almost all non-Core foods. Until a couple months ago, when my 18-year-old left for college, we were constantly buying stuff "for him" (plus, he worked at Little Caesar's and brought 2 or 3 pizzas and Crazy Breads home EVERY NIGHT!) It's much easier now :)

Oh, and Vicki, I'm with you. I have about 160 lbs to lose, depending on where I want to end up. I know I'll never make WW's weight chart, nor do I want to; but when I lose about 160 lbs my doctor will be writing me that note to authorize a higher "goal" weight! :)

Daniel, I'm sure you'll get there before me but it will be nice to have some company along the way!

Any new, creative recipes to share? I'm convinced that I need to cook while on WW. If I have to eat plain baked potato, steamed vegetables, and chicken every night it ain't gonna happen!

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while because I have been somewhat discouraged. I have to go see a urologist this morning and this appointment has been very upsetting to me. You guessed it, I have used this excuse not to follow the CORE program. However, I am convinced if my appointment goes well and I can put this behind me I will get back on track. I truly love CORE because I have been dieting since I was 17 years old and quite frankly it does get a little old. I am within 7 lbs. of my goal again and am convinced I can do it one last time!

Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas. They are all very helpful in getting started and staying on track. This is an awesome group and I am only too happy to be a part of it!

Take care,
Nita

Nita, sorry to hear that you have some health issues....but hang in there. I know you'll get back on track.

Hey Nita......I hope all went well after the Dr appt. You hang in there...we are here to support you emotionally and mentally. All else will fall into place with the program, it will be like falling off the bicylce. Remember your signature "If It's To Be, It's Up to Me"
and you will. Take care of yourself first...Please let us know how things went. You are always a great inspiration here. Please don't be discouraged. We are here for you.
DANIEL, welcome to our group, nice to have a guy around, and one that cooks. Ya gotta love it. Good luck to you and your family on your weight loss journey, glad to have you along for the ride.
TXLAWCHICK- Weigh(way) to go on the 2.8!! awesome!!!!
KATHY - again your weight loss is fabulous
VICKIE- although said, I too want to reiterate what Sheila and Janette have said about muscle to fat ratio....the explanation is correct and it makes sense doesn't it?
JANETTE-

OPPS!! SORRY!!
OK now....JANETTE-first and foremost I hope all is well there I am thinking of you and your daughter and keeping you in my prayers..but again was glad to hear about the good news Just wanted to tell you again that Journaling works for me. I need to see what I do. This core thing is working well for me, and can't believe I am doing so well with it. You'd be proud of me.....I have three fruits a day!! Thanks to you!!! :-)
SANDI- I don't know if I told you but I am going to try your Chicken Cacciatore recipe - I was suppose to do it this weekend, but things got turned around a bit.
Well I hope everyone else is ok out there. I am doing well on program and am actually surprised at myself. I think it was Vickie that said, isn't it funny how things we thought we couldn't do without change when working this program.....so my Wow Chips and Bread now take a backseat to "my" version of Banana Cream Pie and I can hardly wait to have it at night....
Look forward to reading your posts tomorrow...till then......Linda (L.J.)

Hi Everyone,

I want to thank everyone for being there for me. The appointment at the Urologist didn't go too well and I have to one of those cystocopies--the only bad part is that I cannot get this done until December 3rd. I did walk on my treadmill today but my eating has been way off track. I need to just get with the CORE program as if it was my first week and seeing all of the success most of you have achieved is certainly giving me incentive to do just this.

As I said before, this support group is awesome and I am so happy I found all of you!

Nita

Just think Nita, now more than ever you have to take care of yourself so that you have the health and energy to get through the tests etc. We are right here cheering for you! I'll keep you in my prayers.

Nita, I've never had a cystocopy and hope I never have to have one. I have had an endoscopy of the upper GI tract. I was scared to death but I have to tell you, the drugs were great and I slept through almost all of it. The took a couple of biopsies and there were no side effects nor did I know what happened later. I'll be hoping that it will be a smooth test for you as well. I'll also pray for a great outcome.

Sandy, glad you're not MIA and .5 loss is better than no loss at all! I would have taken that over my .4 gain last week! Keep at it.

Tonight I'm making General Tsao's chicken with brown rice and broccoli for dinner. Tommorrow will be Chicken Smothered Barley. Yum! Then the weigh in on Thursday. Lately, my life is bracketed by weigh ins no matter how much I try to ignore them!

I'm gathering recipes for thanksgiving. I already know that I'll be making fresh cranberry sauce with splenda and whipped sweet potatoes with splenda brown sugar. Anyone else have any good ideas or recipes? I could use a good stuffing. I'd really like something close to bread stuffing....or should I just count the points and be done with it?

Vicki this dressing is all core except for the bread and it turned out pretty well. It has potatoes in it which is the tradition for this region.

1/4 cup oil of choice
Fry 1 onion, 1/2 cup diced celery, 1 can water chestnuts drained (and sliced), and 1 clove garlic. Add for spices***: 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp summer savoury (or if you don't use that, use 1 tsp poultry seasoning), 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp salt or to taste. Add to 2 cups mashed potatoes and 3 to 4 cups soft breadcrumbs. It mixes best if the potatoes are warm and the bread is fairly dry.

***I think you can mess around with the spices and use something you are familiar with. I use sage because I'm used to sage and onion stuffing. My sister in law uses 1/2 tsp marjoram, 1/2 tsp summer savoury, and 1/2 tsp thyme, and salt and pepper.

VICKIE would you mind sharing those recipes....they both sound sooo dee-lish!!
SANDI I have not tried the Chicken yet, will this weekend, got a little side tracked this last weekend, but I DID not stray off program!!
DANIEL how's it going?? Let us know how you're doing??
JANETTE how 'bout you??? are you ok?? and your daughter??
NITA are you ok?? please let us hear from you too.

As for me I am still hanging in there and still liking Core...who'da thunk :lol:
Just can't see doing points anymore. I did consider it, but it last about an hour. I am getting my servings of Fruits in, something I never did on Points, and now I actually craved my Red grapes. But my favorite is my 'Banana Cream Pie' after dinner treat. I love it, just before I veg out on Law and Order!!!! Except tonight is NCIS. I am a BIG forensic fan and love and watch everyone of those shows. Law and Order, NCIS, CSI (but not Miami) Cold Case, Without a Trace etc, ect etc, but enough of that....lets keep it program oriented -sorry :( Got carried away :lol:

I am looking forward to dinner, Shrimp and WW spagetti. I do notice that I get satisfied a lot faster lately, which is a good thing. Core is most certainly satisfying me more so than Pts. I have noticed also that I don't hear myself say, "gee I'm hungry" Anyone else noticing that??
Well all that is it for now, I hope EVERYONE is doing well not only with the program but in all aspects.
Well till next time........you all take care, and be well....... :goodvibes
PS please note that this is the first time I am trying to post the fancy scmancy way....well here goes..............................

Hey it worked!!! but I forgot to sign off........I was so excited to get that right..................LJ (Linda )

Hi Everyone,

I want to again thank all of you for your concern regarding my health problem. The good news is that I feel very well and in fact walked on the treadmill today and yesterday. I am also almost back to being on the CORE program. I did manage to get my test moved up to November 10th. Perhaps after this is done I will be in a better frame of mind. You ladies and gentlemen give me a lot of incentive to hang in there. I did go bowling on my league today and I bowled 100 pins over my average for the three games (538). I just hope I do as well in the tournament on Sunday.

Well tonight is salmon, veggies and a salad.

Take care,
Nita

OOOHHHH, Robin, I love water chestnuts. Never thought about putting them in stuffing. I'm not a big fan of sage so I'll probably play around with the spices. So do you bake this and for how long?

Linda, here are the recipes. You have to count the cornstarch in the first recipe. I think 1/4 cup is 1 point and there are 4 tablespoons in a 1/4 cup. So the cornstarch almost isn't enough to count.

General Tso's Chicken
Serves:4

Ingredients
¾ cup chicken broth
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoons Splenda
2 Tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium
1 Tablespoon White Wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger -- freshly grated (I used 1/2 teaspoons ground)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 medium scallions – chopped
2 medium garlic cloves -- minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut in 2" pieces
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cups cooked brown rice -- kept warm

In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch, splenda, soy sauce, vinegar and ginger. Set aside. Heat oil in wok over medium high heat and add scallions, garlic and pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Add reserved sauce and simmer until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Serve over rice. No real explanation came with the broccoli. You could toss it in the gravy or serve on the side. If I make this again, I would add mushrooms and water chestnuts.

NOTES : One serving is 1 cup with 1/2cup rice.
POINTS: 6 with rice, 4 without rice

Here is the link for the Chicken Smothered Barley. I didn't use the mint flakes or the cinnamom. It is fabulous and filling. You could make this for lunch and freeze the leftovers into individual portions. It freezes well.
http://www.barbosdietkitchen.com/archive.pl?read=11747

Hi Everyone. I'm breathless trying to keep up with all your posts!
Daniel, I remember Boot Camp Buddies. I used to read your posts all the time. You and your group helped me get to goal the first time. Unfortunately, I got tired of counting points and thinking about food all the time and gained some of it back. I liked your no excuses approach.
Nita, sorry you have to go through those tests. I know how stressful they can be. Just know that staying on Core and getting your exercise can only help your body cope with whatever happens.
Jamie, welcome to the group.
L J I love those grapes too.
I lost 2 lbs. last week. That makes 10 lbs. on Core and 20 lbs. total!
Time for bed. Talk to yall later.

Hi Daniel, and welcome!

Nita, I can tell you're a fighter. Good to see you back on board. Good luck in your tournament.

Vicki, oops I never thought of putting in the time and temp. I bake my stuffing in the bird (yes I know, they say not to but somehow my grandmother, mother, and assorted aunts and cousins have survived it). I guess you would bake at 350 for an hour, maybe two. You might want to put a bit of broth on it if you are going to do it separate from the bird. When I do stuffing out of the bird sometimes I find it dries out, but the potatoes keep this dressing moist.

Congrats on your loss Janette :)

I am still hanging in around 180, which is ok because I have not been doing well every day. I will be happy to stay at 180 til I come back from my business trip October 24. Then I am going to go full guns and work on the next 5 pounds. I'm not a quitter, I just realize the next couple of weeks will be very challenging and huge disruptions in routine. For me, not gaining in that kind of situation is a victory in itself!

Cheers to everyone!

JANETTE Weigh (WAY) to Go!!!! :bravo: I too am doing well on Core, never thought I'd say that....but I am. Just got in from work and I have my RED GRAPES on the ride home.....geez they are so juicy!! Gotta go in and unwind for now.....Ciao for now
Talk to you all later..............Linda

Robin, think of it as practice for maintenance! Plus, when you do get back to Core it will be like starting over again so maybe you will get a big loss :^:

I popped over to another web site and read some posts and several people on there were talking about how they got rid of their cravings and "hungry all the time feeling" since they started Core. Even those that were afraid they would overeat were saying they are eating less than they ever thought possible and still feel satisfied. I feel the same way. I just am not hungry after I eat dinner and don't think about wanting a snack before bedtime. There is something about the foods we eat on Core that does the trick. Or maybe it is the foods that we are NOT eating that does it. I for one am so glad I finally found something I think I can live with over an extended period of time.

Temps are predicted in the 40s tonight and 70s tomorrow. Fall is finally here! I took a nice long/brisk walk this evening. That's twice today I have exercised--hope it helps.

If you haven't gotten all your veggies, milk or fruit in for the day, and you're not hungry, do you eat them or forget about them? On Flex, I would eat them. On Core, I'm not sure how that fits in with the "eat until satisfied" scale.

The whole veggies, milk, fruit thing has always been a SUGGESTION, right? A "Guide for Healthy Living"? As such, I don't take them as seriously as staying within Points on Flex, or not eating a non-Core Food on Core. So personally, I'd forget it. Tomorrow, have milk and fruit with Breakfast! :) And a BIG salad for lunch! :)

Two things from today: a mashed-up banana is GREAT in oatmeal! BTW, isn't it fantastic that a BANANA is a Core food? I LOVE bananas, but at 2 Points each, I never ate them on the Flex plan.

The other thing is, one of my coworkers came into my cubicle and ate take-out PIZZA in front of me, and offered me some-- and I said "No, thanks!" Hooray!! :)

Doesn't it feel great when you can say no to bad food and not feel like you have been deprived! The week I started core we had Krispy Kremes in the office (about 4 dozen) and I just ate my yogurt and apple and watched my co-workers eat way too many. They all felt sick by the end of the day but I felt great.

Kathy

Good job Daniel. Isn't it wonderful to be in control, in contrast to food controlling you? I agree about the bananas, I avoided them on Points too, as well as milk. Now I can't get enough of milk!

Shelia, what did you eat that you didn't get in veggies, fruit or milk? Since that is the main focus of Core foods, I'm just curious what you did "fill" up on that was Core. Did you use WPAs?

For me, I get my milk, veggies and fruit FIRST before I think about anything else to eat. For instance, I have a glass of milk at every meal (unless I am eating cottage cheese for lunch). I have fruit and sometimes veggies for my morning snack. Lunch usually consists of either a large salad or tomato soup (with actual tomatoes in it) or fruit and cottage cheese. I load up on veggies with my small portion of meat for dinner - sometimes dinner consists entirely of veggies if we are having beans and cabbage. On the rare occasions that I am hungry before bedtime, I drink a small glass of milk. However, I don't actually "count" the servings, I just know that I am eating a lot of them. So maybe you are getting more than you think.

As Daniel said, don't worry about one day, just make sure you start with them the next day. I would be concerned, however, if you find that you don't get them in on a regular basis. This is about getting healthy as well as losing weight and IMHO there is no better way to do that then with veggies/fruits/milk on Core.

Hope this post didn't sound "preachy" cause I don't mean it to be. I just get very passionate about whatever I am doing.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Hello everyone -
Its great to read though the posts and see how much interaction and support there is here. It's been a while since I checked in and wanted to offer congratulations to all losers lately - seems like you have all found success with Core and are doing great! Janette - I am so happy that things are working themselves out for your family.

I also wanted to comment on what Daniel said about the Guidelines being a "suggestion". I used to look at it that way (and still don't stress over them too much) but I do find that if I look at them as a requirement - I do much better. I really do believe in the "new reports" that indicate getting enough dairy helps in weight loss. I'm not convinced that the dairy industry isn't behind them but willing to go with whatever works for me. I also firmly believe in the 2 teaspoons of oil for overall health and well being. Admittedly - that's not a hard one for me to follow but I do make sure to get in. Fruits and veggies aren't quite as easy for me and I have to work at that a little harder now that V-8 is out of my CORE repertoire. I do love the prewashed packages of green beans at Trader Joes. They are a great snack for work or TV watching. Heat them up in the micro and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Another great idea for them is to stir fry with hot chille sauce or reconstituted dry peppers for sort of a thai/african type dish. Delicious. I have also found that I can eat a boatload of Edamame. Again I just cook them up, sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy them thoroughly. The ones in the shell are best for me - guess I'm easily entertained by the process. Shelled Edamame is also very good as a replacement for peas in salads.

I have gone back to Flex for a week and think this is a good thing. I was getting a bit low on ideas for lunch and have a big weekend coming up so I thought I'd mix it up a bit. Along the same lines - do you think that it is the Core program itself or the shake up in what and how you eat that jump started your weight loss? It's probably a combination but if you think that the shake up had anything to do with it - it makes sense to switch back and forth between the two programs once in a while. For me its a good idea to do this just for a points reality check. It amazes me how I let serving sizes creep up if I don't take time to measure and verify. Seriously - I could be eating double my WPA's within a month of not measuring.

Anyways - better stop the rambling and get to work. It is a beautiful day here in the Northwest and if I get after it - I may just get time to enjoy the sunshine this afternoon.

Susie, I find that I eat differently on Flex than Core. I'm liking Core because it is helping me to eat healthier. I think it's great that we have the option to switch back and forth, especially for those of you who travel and can't control what is available to you. I have certainly been in that position. It's even hard to be on Flex in those situations.

I've decided to stick to Core no matter what. I'm afraid if I have a regular taste of bread and sugar again, it will be too hard to go back! On Flex, I choose poorly and am always hungry so my portions started to grow. We all know how that story ends. I'm not hungry on Core. The weight loss is slow for me but there are other factors.

At first I was very unhappy about my forced early retirement at 48. Now, however, I'm seeing it for the plus that it is. For the first time in my life, I have the time to focus on myself and my health; and I'm taking it!

Hello everyone!!! Don't have a lot of time today, but wanted to check in. Weighed in yesterday due to a conflict today and I am happy to report that I am down 2.2 lbs! That brings me down a total of 6.4 since my start date. Very pleased and so happy to be out of the 200s, now it's time to focus out of the 190s!!!!

I hope all is well with everyone and I will try to read and post more later.

Good job txlachic!

Well, I'm back from my weekly date with the scale and I'm down 2.4 for a total of 8.4 for five weeks. As long as my average stays at or above 1 pounds per week, I'll be a happy woman!

Can't wait to update my "chick" to 10 pounds lost. Hope it happens next Thursday.

Torrey, what great success you are having. Congratulations!

Janette, you are so close to your goal. You must be getting excited! Having been on both plans, do you think you'll continue on Core until you reach your goal? What do you eat in a typical day? Do you eat starch at each meal? Just curious. I like to see if I can model after those who are really successful. Sometimes I think I'm consuming too much starch even though I'm staying with the program. It is really outstanding to lose 2 pounds in one week when you are so close to your goal weight.

Janette and Vickie, thank you so much for your words!!!! Congratulations to both of you on your CORE success. Janetter, like Vickie, I would be curious to know how you "positioning" your food. I'm trying to be more conscious on the time I have my starches, which is a throwback to when I was more supervised in my workouts and eating. I typically only had starch during the day and my last snack of the day consisted of my last starch. The rule was that you cut off starches 8 hours prior to your bedtime, the thought is that you give your body a full 8 hours to burn off those resulting sugars, etc. This has been etched in my mind for years and I tend to try to stick to that during the week, although I have not been as much later.

For better or for worse, everyone says something different and it just depends on what works best for you. I have a friend who has completely transformed her body in the last year and she can not do w/o her starches at dinner and she's had great success. It all depends on you. I would be curious to know what other tips others could offer.

Y'all have a great weekend!